building. I don't know. Moving staff. >> Good evening everyone. Welcome to uh the council meeting. Uh we'll begin this evening as we always do by saying for the pledge of allegiance. I'm sorry. Just to clarify, we were in close session. We're now back
in open session. Um and for the record, we did uh discuss um during client matters related to both employment contracts and repeat development agreements. Um so the sign will rise for the pledge of allegiance and ask to remain stand for a moment of silence in
honor of our allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. One nation and justice for all. Thank you. Please. All right. We will uh continue on with uh opening our public participation. Uh
this is a time when the public is invited to step up to DAS and develop a day to the podium unless you have issues. Uh we would ask you to state your name, your address and your briefing and simple time for comments or
questions on council may or may not resp the workers at the DPW for being out there as much time as space and uh you know keeping trying to keep the streets as clear as possible. But you still have some really major problems especially in
my area south end of town piles of pardon rock you know people not being able to park. Um but I'm not here for that. I just wanted to mention that I see that uh that the uh
the partners that came in uh back in May are back again with the new proposal or at least part of a proposal. And as someone who's been involved with development issues for over 50 years, it seems like the old developers playbook when there's a large public outcry and
you back down and say you're not moving forward and six months later you come back with a revised piece of a plan. And that is my concern and why I'm here today. They're here today calling for 150 seat event space for weddings and
other things. Um, which is only a little bit smaller than our first proposal. But since our zoning still allows hotels and since they're coming in for use variance for private parking lot to pay that the rest of that
plan very easily come back and that is really why I've been saying this all along that we need to change and modify the zoning for hotels and either limit them to Bridge Street area or put conditions on them or limit their side because they could come back the day
after they you know get their use varants for the um which they may or may not get, but if they get to use fairings, they need to come back the next day with uh proposal for a hotel and there's no reason they can't do it. They can add up on visiting buildings even places
of undoing visas. The second piece is on parking. Our parking ordinances are terrible. They're only they're only offering 50 spaces and they're also want to pay a lot if they get that is variance and again I'm I'm not a big believer in variance. We have zoning for a reason and you have to have special
permissions and public purpose to really use. So I don't know what's going to happen at the board. But my concern is that if they do get that marriage, they will be back with a death meto. And so unless you fix your your parking and your and your CBD when it comes to hotels, I think we're going to be back
seeing within a year basically that original proposal that came out and they're going to try to sneak it through. But that's what they do. That's that's all that's always been part of the uh the developers play something. So, I really want to flag that because I think this is the beginning of a lot more than what we just saved. And so,
I'll just end with um one really quick thing. Um, I was involved in a case up in Bergen County with an MOU. Um, and the county attorney said to me that once you sign anou, when you when you get out of theou, you have to do it through
basically coming up with reasons why theou is defective because when you sign anou, it automatically invests certain legal rights to the other party. And that's what happened to some extent in the pubian. And no one told the public
or told the council that their attorney felt clap but once you sign an M or redevelopment agreement you're vetting certain rights and you have to follow certain procedures you didn't do it not all I'm also speaking about the development that
>> would you identify yourself, please? >> Right. My name is Karen Taylor. I'm at 28 Jefferson Street. And was there something else supposed to be for the name? >> No. >> Okay. Um I'm also very concerned about this development. The only purpose the
developers have here is to make money, which is understandable, but you folks have been elected by the residents of Lambertville to protect Lambertville. its businesses and its residents. And so I'm asking you not to allow any
variances and to insist upon a full sight plan before anything is approved. That's it. Thank you. Anyone else wishes to make people join us today? Please great. Um
all right. Um and we got a motion to close the vote now in carry please move. So move >> second. >> All in favor please say I. >> I can't. >> Um yes. I don't know what control the
council has on what the zoning board does or doesn't do. It's a separate independent body. It's quasi um no. >> Thank you. Yeah, it was definitive work.
>> And you know, we could sit up here and say a lot of things and it's up to the zoning board to either approve or disapprove uh anything that comes in front of them. Uh it's not the planning board where we
have two council members, the mayor and a council person on it. We have both. But as far as relief from existing ordinances, we're we're kind of parallel. >> Um and um just for the record though, I
think that we could we can also just talk about some some of the thoughts that were raised um aside from that were not on the board. And um I do think I I will say feel free to say that I think
you bring up a great point of asking for variances without a full sight plan. It's it's very concerning. I will disclose I live within two I got my 200 foot notice. But that's how we all I found out about uh about the application.
uh some of the concerns even though I'm within 250 that little bridge over 40 street and how are we going to be able to handle how does that handle when it has been talked about for uh uh replacement how does it handle the traffic so you know some of the things
that you know the word will have to look at is whether or not you know what the DOT disposition on that some of those things also looking at our ordinances in terms of allowing for private parking lot. Uh we have a practice in town that
if you have a private parking lot, you don't have a private parking lot without, you know, city approval participation. when there was a private parking lot there and they set up a park mobile that they were asked to file to file to legitimize it and withdrew it
and took down signs. But they had gone ahead set up the business without asking for for city approval. And those kind of you know those kind of instances you know are a little you know concerning.
And so I I I just want to affirm that I hear you what you're saying and we hear what you're saying although we don't sit on the board and there are a lot of concerns when folks come here of of you
know of kind of dealing with everything appropriately but there there are definitely some concerns and things that are going to need to be addressed and look looked at. It's a lot. It's still putting, you know, a lot of a lot in a
little place that where you can't there's no two-way streets and it, you know, what is it? You're putting a five pound bag in it something or something. You know, all sugar bag analogy my mother used to use. But >> it it's a concern and and I hear you.
Yeah. And I think we need to follow this at all and not >> I I agree with very concerned about scope size of the project. Um I was from the first go around and
I'm more concerned or as concerned no more concerned now that that short of hotel rooms they're coming back with the same increased use of the Strand Theater for uh uh as a as a venue
and as a vent venue for hundreds of people in a really tight area with very limited circulation and and uh and parking of which the city
already has an ordinance that they're looking relief from to do that. And it's uh I would hope that that's under consideration uh at the board that it goes in front of. Um,
so that's my uh I'm very concerned about it and the reason I brought it up is because so we can speak so the public can know that we can speak freely about it and not jeopardize the other board's
decision making pro processing or zoning or even the planning. So, uh, yes. Uh, I I don't see, well, maybe I've said too much. I might as well finish saying too much. I don't
see any benefit to the city for what they're doing. Uh, the rationale I heard at a meeting we were at uh talked about uh repurposing old dilapidated buildings and bringing them up to the 21st 2nd
century. Here it is. This year and that doesn't justify u my mind of of flooding a neighborhood although it is in the CBD I might add with additional
traffic and additional con uh uh congestion in an area that is hard to negotiate now. So that's my my two cents. Should we hear the mayor opinion on situation?
>> Well, we close public close public comment. >> Um, are we having another one? >> Yes, >> there'll be public comment at later on in the meeting and you can step to the podium at that time. >> Offered opinion and also
>> I I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you said. >> I just said two others offered their opinion. I was just asking the mayor if you would all >> Oh, I'm >> okay. We're going to move on to discussion items. >> The bill's list. >> Oh, I'm sorry. The bills. Yes. I'm
sorry. Thank you for choosing that. Um, so we just have a couple bills that you want. >> Well, yeah, two. There are two vouchers for Prince and Hydra. >> Right. >> So, um, make a motion to pay the bills. Is there a second?
>> Second. All please say I. Okay. Motion carries. Now we'll move on to discussion. Um so we'll keep the agenda as it is. Uh okay. Yeah. She's not able to come. So >> okay, good. >> So uh first on the agenda for discussion
items is um notary services. Um and I'm going to ask Cindy to review the process and proposed changes for uh the notary notary services here in the city. So Lindsay and I have discussed this at great
length. We're both notaries and um you know of a lot of municipalities. We reached out to everybody in the in our 26 municipalities in the county to see who was charging and we found very few were charging. Uh a good amount of them
were only notorizing documents for their own residents. Um and some of them were not doing it at all. Um Lindsay and I don't want to limit this service um and say if you're I don't want to say to somebody who's driven a couple of miles
for a notary and we don't want to charge but there are instances where we're put into a situation where we're asked to notoriize uh actually do a mortgage or what really has become quite uh lengthy is the the
wills and they can take up to 30 minutes to 45 minutes to sit with someone. And if there's only one of us, then you get the people backing up in the hallway. We'd like to continue with the notary services, but say that we're not going to notoriize wills and we're not going
to notoriize um uh we're not going to handle mortgage closings. First of all, we don't feel qualified to do either one of those. And second of all, it's a risk for the city for us to be doing that, but it's also a personal risk. And um
you know, we love our residents and and we're fine with notoriizing, you know, someone's, you know, um car thing, title or whatever, or uh somebody who children are in school and they need to have a form notorized. No big deal. We're fine
with all those quick notary in and out. But it's when I, you know, there are times when people have brought wills to us. Um, and it's not just one person, but like they bring their family. So, you're tied up for sometimes like an hour. Um, and uh, most of the time
they're not from Lambertville, which means we're not able to give our attention to our own residents. Um, now again, I don't want to say to somebody who doesn't live in Lambertville, I'm not notorizing your document. We don't want to charge a fee. The state law says if you're going to notoriize, you can't
limit who you notoriize. You have to accept everybody. Once you charge a fee, you have to charge a fee for everyone. And the fees, quite frankly, are nominal. So, um, if you were all supportive of that, we'd like to put a resolution on the agenda for the 19th
stating that this is our practice. And the reason we'd like that is that we will then make sure it's on the website. We'll post it at city hall and that way people understand why we're doing it. It's not that we don't want to notoriize, it's that we don't have the
time or the expertise doing wills or to be doing mortgage closings. >> What you said something like that my virtue correctly that if you're a notary, you have to notoriize everything.
>> You have to you you have to notoriize for everybody. You can't limit who you're notorizing a document, >> but you could notori what type. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, we could say we're perfectly legal saying we're not doing mortgages,
we're not doing wills, but we'll do other things. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think there's a ton of risk for notorized will coming in there. I mean, there's competency issues that you've got to say this person was competent. Uh that's uh too much risk, I think, there for for you. Um that's what we are
lawyers for. Uh let them go to the law office and do that that would I think ultimately you want a will that's enforceable and if you notoriize a will that the person is not competent that is not enforcing their will. So don't do anybody any favors. So I think that's a big mistake for us. So I agree. I think that makes a lot of sense. um in law
schools I did a civil practice clinic and one of the things we did there was a woman who had her house taken away from her because the mortgage the quick clean deed sorry person notorized that we went after and you know because it was a sham type thing so yeah it's it's just it's
it's not necessary there's banks that do that for a fee it's a nominal fee too um so I completely agree I think it's too much risk I think it makes a lot of sense so >> thank you >> agree yeah Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thank go.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's um >> that's We're not in that business. It's a public service, but it crosses the line to business. Yeah. Especially with the liabilities, >> right? And there are things that we know legally we can't notoriize. Sometimes
people bring in their birth certificate and they want us to copy it and notoriize the copy and say it's a certified copy. But legally, we're not allowed to do that because the certified copy is your your notorized or your that's the make what makes that valid.
So, um we just want to clean it up a little bit. Um so that moving forward, you know, we can still take care of our our people and we're comfortable doing our job. >> Okay. Thank you. Write it down. Put it down for the 19.
>> We'll do. Uh and then also for you uh if you could give us an update on the food licenses. I know we've talked about this in a couple of meetings now um changes here in county. >> Yeah, we have um we've been actually working with the department of health. I think Councilwoman Kaminsky actually had
attended one of their meetings and they've gone through and made some significant changes. Um which means that we're going to have to amend our ordinance so that uh we are in line with theirs. And with that, I'm going to ask
Lindsay to speak to our changes. So yes, basically the county is now going to be requiring an annual inspection of all of the different food trucks and
mobile vendors. And that's a change from what they previously did, which was to inspect each vendor upon each event. It's a It's a big cost savings for the city because we were paying the county per inspection
and now they only do the one annual inspection and the person is free to operate within the county. They are still required to check in with the city and get a permit to operate in the city. So, it's not
just cart blanch for them to set up every day somewhere in the city. So the changes that we are working on for the ordinance just update that requirement to specify that the operator has to have
their county annual license. We're also proposing to reduce our event fee because right now it's 95. It was that high because you were covering the inspection costs. So, we were thinking that $50 might be a little more
reasonable for a one to three day event. So, that that covers anybody coming to Shadfest. It covers little vendors here and there um for other events and each time they come to the city to operate, that's what they would be
charged with and it helps us keep track of when they're in the city. Um, the only other changes that we were looking at were to increase the annual restaurant licenses by $50 a piece. Uh,
we haven't updated that in in a while. So, we were we would be bumping that from 250 for the majority of licenses to 300. And that's that's about it. >> Do you know how many restaurant licenses we have?
>> It's about 60. But part of that is u we have um in addition to to restaurants there are some of them like um the wonderful world of wines and walkers liquor they get a risk one license which is substantially
lower I think it was$125 we're proposing again to raise that by $50 and our justification is that we've gone done a lot online with SDL SDL fees are high um so this will kind of counter
those fees and we we initially were $350 back prior to uh 2015 for food licenses and we dropped it to 250. So, I think we're justified in increasing it and then the only other change would be um
and I think we discussed this before for people who are really late in um filing like first you get the $50 late fee then it goes to 100 and then I think if you go beyond January because our licensing term is July 1 to May 31st if you go
beyond January then you're subject to lose your license to to to operate in Lambertville because we spend every year I know it's not always the same the same people, but uh we right now we have one license that still has not renewed. So,
and it's it's a lot. We have to keep constantly checking and calling and trying to reach that person. And so, I think if you're not going to license by January of the following year, you should lose your license. >> They're the changes. >> Great. >> Yeah,
>> I support them. any concerns your writings and I encourage you to move forward with great >> with that as well. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. Um, next would be just an update on the farm market. Um, so as
everybody knows, I've been working with a committee of local residents uh in pursuit of a potential farm market in the library parking lot on Sunday mornings. We've had a lot of uh community outreach and a lot of support from uh the community. We are currently
actively soliciting farms from anymore and boss county. Uh we've got a number of vendor applications that have been submitted. Uh the the one thing I'll note with the vendor applications that we've received so far, one of the questions that we included in the vendor
application was do you need access to your truck? And uh so far we've said no. So that's that has the potential to, you know, ease parking in the in the area of the library should we move forward. Um and and that's really all I wanted to say at the moment. You know, we've been
the committee has been working very hard this meet up people here in town. We've been meeting every between two weeks to four weeks um to you know kind of dig deeper into what's required. to to our commitment is to if we we come back to
the council for consideration to establish the market to do it well and and it's complicated. It's surprisingly complicated to put together a a farm market. Um when you have vendors that it's important to have at least one or two produce vendors that commit to the
whole season that are there as your anchors. Um and then you have a variety of markets that you want to have there on a regular basis or a half season. and then you have pop-up market. So, it's a lot of moving parts to sort of sort through as we're as we're considering this. So, so that's where we are. I
think we'll have a good grasp on um the viability of the market for this year within the next month or so and I'll report back to the council and uh be happy to answer any questions or more, you know, move forward, go deeper into conversations about what what a market would mean in terms of resolutions,
parking, that kind of thing. Okay. um an update on the on the city's u move from for um health from the state health benefit plan to the central Jersey health insurance fund. So uh as everybody may or may not know uh the
council did approve withdrawing from the state health benefits plan at our last meeting. We are now transitioning over all of our employees and our retirees to the health insurance fund. Uh and so far that's going pretty well. who can attest to uh probably a lot more activity than
I can. We uh do have uh two open office hours this coming week for employees and retirees to meet with um uh the consultant uh who's helping us make the shift. Um and uh we'll need to have basically all our paperwork done by a
week from tomorrow in order to get uh benefits transferred over. Um most of the benefits will be sort of passively transferred into the new system. Um, but we want to make sure that we meet the deadline in order to get uh all of the actual cards to our employees and our
retirees by April 1st. Um, I've met with a number of retirees. I've connected on the phone with retirees and, uh, CBiz, the the consultant conference who's helping us with this. And so, uh, we'll continue to make our available. Sue's been enormously helpful to people, um,
answering questions that I don't have the expertise to answer and helping guidance process. um from soup to nuts. So again, thanks to Sue for that and um I'm looking forward to getting everybody switched over and uh feeling good about
um process and where they are. Does anybody have any questions about that on council and um and the last item I wanted to talk about this evening was um something related to Shadfest. Um, so
I heard from um, uh, Carolyn um, who is the vice president from the chamber. Um, she sent the council some information and need some information to see whether and typically the council's not necessarily involved in decisions about vendors uh, at Shadfest. But um this
particular conversation we wanted to have in public to make sure uh that whatever you know concerns potential concerns uh that we may have as a as a body or as individuals are kind of addressed. And and so basically um what she has asked us to consider is whether
um the the city would permit the distillery and um invertase to have a location during the Shadfest weekend probably over on client's court. I would be they would be responsible for pulling their own licenses from the state and
meeting all of the state requirements uh which are numerous. Um and uh people want me to go through the list here. I'm going to do that. >> Yeah, I read the I read that uh document. >> Okay. um that it may be good for me just to go through a little bit of this so
the public uh understands sort of um so in terms of the required permits um you have to license real retail consumption licency you have to apply for festival event permit with the New Jersey convention alcohol beverage control you have to submit your
application there are deadlines there um there are um particular uh periods When alcohol is served, they can't be exceed more than four hours each, although you can have multiple sessions in one day. All alcohol must be purchased and owned by the festival permit before the event.
Uh there's no removal. Alcohol cannot be taken off the site, original containers, all kinds of things. brand registration, age and safety rules, uh individual fenced in areas, uh you know, IDs checked, um the staffing and training
requirements, must offer sufficient uh non-alcoholic beverages and food, um and and so forth. So, there are a number of things required at the state level to uh to to have a license to do this kind of thing. So, I just wanted to open this up
to the council for questions. um and see whether you know you have any feelings about this or where your films aren't. >> Well, it it no I think the details of it is and and really kind of it's more helpful too to have input from
Lieutenant Brown and and and you have a lot of experience in the shack festival. So, are we creating like a like we used to have a and I I'm going to be beer garden like so when we since we're creating an area then that would be like
cordoned off for drinking only and so if we were at a client's court like what like would that area be? And then does the size then of that area reflect like how much how we need like police
officers for it and and how you monitor it and and I you know so there's a there's some stuff around that right because we don't have any more beer liquor at the Shad Festival. So this would be Right. So
>> I'm gonna There are there are security requirements as well. I'm sorry I didn't note that. But uh >> the uh the only well other than this there was the station which has the license that covers their property and they follow the rules.
>> It's not I don't think it's chamber sanction but they can you know they have that wide of a license. The Triumph did a beer garden on their property. Um, and even Steve Williamson in the old
days next to the bar and they were on their property. >> I don't I don't think that we should have distilleries or alcohol in the layout of the shed festival.
For years it was promoted as an alcohol free event. It doesn't mean it's a free alcohol event, but it used to be promoted that way on the applications that went out. Um I I don't think that
they should be able to although they are landers is be able to distribute any alcohol or tastings. They have businesses they can attract people to go to their
businesses from their setup. But I don't I don't think it's appropriate for them to do it during the festival itself. It's my two >> I mean I think Shadfest is great for so many businesses. It really I mean it's
it brings a lot of people to town. It's great you know um they want to participate. I I don't know if I have as much of a concern about it. I'd like to hear you know from Lieutenant Brand to make sure that he thinks >> Yeah. I'm just curious what the parameters were. I really, you know, I
always thought we were like going on and off. >> We actually did on Bridge Street. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Right. Church Street House did it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But they were on their >> Yeah. >> Yes. And they were like they were kind
of off the beaten pair, right? You had to go in the back. >> And I think the thing that I'm maybe not so comfortable with is this is kind of like smack in the middle. um of
the shad festival food and you know other activities um >> and it's not their property right it's trying to use it so then are we like opening the gates other somebody else
you know that says well maybe wonderful world of wines wants to do the same thing but now we got to have you know >> so a couple of thoughts Uh so the so the plan has changed. Uh so last year was the first year when the food vendors were more spread out, right? So I think
and and Caroline sent through an email. She wanted to come tonight, but she's not feeling well. So she didn't send an email, which I'm happy to just sort of laying out a little bit more of kind of >> I think we >> No, this just came in at >> this just came in at uh 5:40
right right before we started the close session. Um, so, so you know, the idea is to have it isolated, if you will, and that's probably not the right word, but on client's court, right? So that you're not really on the main section. Um,
contained. Thank you. Isolated is not the right Yeah. contained, which allows for more, you know, kind of security and and I think um, Lieutenant Brown, do you have anything that you want to say about this? I don't want to put you on the spot, but at the same time, >> we've been involved with it. It's got to
be, again, it's they have it's a special permit, so they got to do a whole site plan form and um fenced in area. And even if there's one or two um um uh businesses that are going to be offering up alcohol on that in that section, it's
all going to be fenced in. Um there's parameters all set up. So really, they can present just my thoughts here. don't take the for but I think you know they should present with us a site plan with everything in there for us to look at that they're going to submit to us in the state and before they do that you
know submit it in they we should you know take a look at it and you can look at that and at the end too is that it has to be separated so if you have two businesses that are going to be doing this um and I don't know if that's what >> they have to have separate entrances and exits so they can't be
>> and we can and we can as as the city mandate which I would probably recommend is having having to them paying for it's excuse me two places for Apple two law enforcement officers paying for or just provide security at the we can't be
inside the event but right outside the event make sure they come or go but there's security there they're monitoring the the alcohol that would be another thing that we can prevent on the special permit is how much alcohol is going to be you know given out if it's two drinks three drinks u but going back
to what we've done in the past for shadfest if you Right. We used to uh there used to be a peer garden in the municipal lot when I first started. >> We did that on city property even at the municipal lot you know we actually s
other special events uh going back we've done you know have in the past maybe one or two events like that but we're allowed to say that but I think site plan will be helpful for everybody to look at to see where the fence area is going to be. Um, and it's not going to I can't imagine the whole them wanting to
fence in the whole street because how you're going to how are you going to contain that? It's going to be a small area with a parking space or two. Um, because street is still going to be open up for public walk through. Well, in in addition, a lot of those booths are set
up to allow emergency man emergency vehicles go down them. And Klein's Court is not a wide street. No, that's why I was saying it's not going to be the I can't imagine their site plan being the whole street. It's going to be designated into electric parking spaces like they have now through the roofs,
but that well my understanding Carolyn was talking there will be the only ones they're the only vendors that are going on that street. So, it's going to be contained into the parking areas just like the vendors are at last or previous ones prior to that. But you also have to
take into consideration that the bank no longer owns that building. Those parking spaces along client's car court are not sanctioned by the city or controlled by the city. So that's another level of permissions that someone's got to get if
they're if they're if they're thinking about doing clients court, they have to do their homework because it's not on city street, it's on a parking lot. uh owned by the new person who bought the bank build
and it limits access to that and I just brought just to bring that >> sorry last year I've had some calls with the owner do for another one so um legit else.
>> Yeah, I think having the idea then presented us looking at it see everything makes sense. We're not saying yes or no, but I think you can see more details and make sure these concerns are addressed. >> The uh they are off the beat track of being able to participate in the shadow
festival. It's >> Oh, I don't think they should participate. I just think they should they should promote their business. They shouldn't they should direct people to their businesses and give them some type of a coupon where they can go in and get something
and promote their businesses that way rather than doing it at on site. That's that's my two cents. Um so all record is saying that I'm supportive of it if if uh if we can make
it work. So, um, that's my interest. Uh, and because it requires a 60-day notice with the state, um, why don't I see if Caroline can present the plan at the next council meeting because we're we'll be running close up top. >> Did they give us dates for Shadowfest
yet? >> Yeah, Shenfest is um in a on April 2 and 26. And I I also think that that that North Union Street parking lot was used on a Friday night. It wasn't used during
a shad festival. There was something else going on. >> Yeah. It's just an informal kind of community thing. >> Yeah. It wasn't it wasn't a shad dress too. >> Yeah. >> And that was a completely different thing. I think I think the idea of having a
police officer there is good, but I'm just worried about staffing. If you do you think you'd be able to staff that we would um form that out to an outside agency. We do outside employment for that. Yeah. Yeah. Would not be utilized more than >> you know. Yeah.
>> As someone who supports the distillery personally, >> you know. Yeah. I'm I'm just one voice up here. That's all. One voice. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. See if
>> Okay. So, that's what we'll do. What's that? >> There's some that was my little like a 12y old. Sorry. Yeah, the coloring book. It's been
>> I do sometimes. I really do. I'm much better when I'm doing two things at once. Trying to focus in that. >> All right, let's move on. >> Um, we have no correspondence to share this evening and I don't have any updates on
ongoing projects. I will in I will in uh the next meeting. Um, I I will just speak generally to the snow. Um I think J for compliments to the DPW.
Um you know this was a wonderful was pleased that we were able to get the um uh the CBD cleared and especially grateful that we could get free HV cleared. Thank you um tool with that. Um
and uh you know there was I'll know for the record that there you know that there were a lot of people in the residential areas that have expressed their concerns about ongoing issues with the snow pile up and we had a lot of conversations about it. So, um,
you know, I don't really want to have any more conversations about it tonight, but address everybody's concerns and I think that, uh, you know, I've reflected sort of shared some of what my individual conversations with the council members were. I think that it
was a tough storm and uh, you know, to clear snow from one residential street, you really have to kind of commit to doing it as many as you can and our crew just does not. We just do not have a crew. and to contract that out. I don't not even sure what the process is, but
certainly it's thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars. So, um you know, I I completely understand and um you know, how how hard it can be to have competing priorities uh in life uh as a
as a mayor and as somebody who who enjoys getting things done. Um but uh you know hopefully we'll get some warmer weather after the weekend and we'll start to see some melting. Although I will I will say like the website. >> So well the TPW has been out and they do
have plows and I have encouraged them wherever possible to open up more parking. Um so so they have been doing that unless you know did end up clearing. We we had some staff some some staff shortages this this week and we had to you know get through the two
weeks of doing fashion cycling. So it's been a it's and they're outside weather. So I think we've done a pretty good job overall and I'm I'm happy to hear what people have to say about always happy to have about it. Maybe in this upcoming budget, we can
put more money into snow removal and if we don't use it, we can transfer it out. Then budget budget more for snow removal. Uh this this storm is so like
from out of nowhere, but I certainly hope it's not going to be this way. next year. But if we can budget to be able to uh hire a subcontractor to
help I know that we don't have the crew to go through with a plow and do you know curb to curb parking spaces. We just don't have the people. And uh I I would this we can uh talk about
increasing snow removal part of the budget. If the money is not used, it's not used because we've really been lucky over the past >> five, six, seven years. >> I think it's been probably 10 years since we removed snow from
about a decade. >> Um >> so we could if we use it, we use it. If we don't, we don't. >> Listen, I think it's worth exploring. Um I I agree with your point. I also you know I don't know about you know the process right so how
quickly you get contractor whether you have to you know the procurement process and I also don't know whether what the D regulations are specific to snow removal. I think that uh there's latitude when an emergency is declared. Um but as I said repeatedly over this
week to people who uh wanted more snow removal. You know there's also a finite amount of physical space where the city can put this snow. Um and you know it has to stay in the city and we have to be very sensitive to the fact that we're near we have three creeks that run
through the city and we have a river on the west side and we have hills on the you know on the east side. So you know just the capacity to effectively and safely for the environment you know put snow in a particular place is also a challenge. So >> like a snow melt
>> like like they have in New York >> snow melt >> heat for the whole city >> but then only the entire New Jersey 1.3 per burrow. All right. So, I thank you everybody uh
for your for your patience and I know it continues just driving up and down North Newton Street. There's a lot of courtesy that's involved uh if you want to avoid getting into accidents. Um so, thank you to everybody. Um announcements dog and cat says are due no later than February
27th. I hope my dog can use that late fee and short applications are now mobile unit back and land real IDs uh the 17th 20th um and the job opens up on
Monday January 26. So yes, >> can I make a quick addition to the landlord and rental? Um this year the applications are not being accepted without the proper lead testing
certificate and the company that we contract with Lou they have offered to send out violation letters on our behalf. So residents might be getting landlords might be getting them um on behalf of the city.
>> Oh that's great. That's um that's one of the volunteer steps for us, right? >> Yeah. If they understand just also want to say Lindsay has invested an awful lot of time in working with Lou Environmental to make the
notice more uh >> friendly. Yes. >> The first draft rough. They've had a few first draft letters that have made it so that the snow removal by them
um February holiday also the office closed Monday February 16th for President's Day and with that I will open it up to the second uh participation public participation decision concern session
same rules apply as before 3 minutes please to the to the microphone to make your comments that council may or may not t3 on a totally different topic, but this is going to be one of the worst winters
in 65 years for wildlife. One of the worst winters in 65 years for wildlife and people should know that. And if they have extra bird seed or other things to put out, birds or bird squirrels um and
other animals that uh it's going to be it's going to be a very bad year because you have deep snow that's solid in the rock and deer and other animals cannot get to the food. Uh you know, so I just think that something people should realize that this is a bad year for for them worse than for worse than driving
up and down here. Um the other thing I was going to just ask about um since they're coming back for a bunch of variances for the development of Strand the same partners in their other location uh has had a series of
violations over the years last year or so on violations of revenue and zoning and construction and smoke and you know is does a town have a a list of violations and any
presentation of any violations from the town. I know there's county and there were safe things also any like be able to get a hold of if they compiled any back in June. >> Uh that's a question for you know I can't
answer it honestly. Um we haven't compiled a list now. Um and of course all that would be in terms of Oprah. Um the the smoke um concerns have been dealt with through the county. Um and so
you know they would have been no that I know but there were noise violations. There was some disruption that was done without permitting. I believe there's some zoning issues as well at one point. >> I honestly don't know. Um certainly uh you know if you want to make a request
we have to get that information to your trust with the answer. >> I also may say one other thing. So what thank you for the the uh the remarks or the comments about wildlife. We can put something together
and put it in the newsletter next week. Um I think that's a really good point. I've been keeping my feeder and my sew it and all of that uh very every every morning as much as going. So we could call from that >> first on chase the world.
>> I don't think it's uh and maybe Lieutenant Brown can chime in. I I think on the state level it's illegal to feed deer. >> Well, I don't know about
you property. We have an ordinance for public property. >> That's right. Yes. No, you can't feed the dots in the wildlife on public property in building that which I know. Um I don't know if the DNR can help commission or I don't know what their fault but their legations are
>> not that there are any deer if there are there really >> or again I just like your name and anonymous. I don't really like >> um I'd just like to ask you again your opinion hear your opinion about the
Strand Theater. >> Uh how you feel about it? >> Well, I might make a remark about the Strand. I haven't looked at the I haven't looked at the zoning application. I haven't sit on the zoning board. I do >> you're aware. >> I am aware of it. Sure. But I don't sit on the zoning board. So, it's not within
my purview. Um I do have a great respect and trust for the zoning board. It's been uh you know cafety's been the chair for many many years. Uh I full confidence in zoning board's ability to look at any plan and to make the appropriate decision or to make a decision
>> that the citizen you'll back the citizens then if they don't want this they're against it. I'm not going to get into a back and forth on this question for the mayor. >> Right. And one I don't want I don't want
this to be confrontational. I'm not there's no requirement for me to answer any public comment. >> No, you don't have to. I mean, others offer it. I mean, I just think you're a mayor offer. >> Well, I am offering you offering you what what what is my what my perspective is. We have a body that is responsible
for making this decision. So, it doesn't matter what I think. >> I don't have an opinion on it because I haven't looked at the plants. It's not something that that I looked at. >> Call me back then. >> Okay. >> That's me. Maybe you'll have an opinion. I I don't necessarily need to have an opinion on something that does doesn't
doesn't fall under my purview. So I I've been and that's just a that's just a way of being. That's a way of sort of making sure I mean uh the council members are everybody speaks for him or herself and and everybody's absolutely willing to
share opinion. My my view is that the zoning board is it's an independent autonomous board that has uh legal jurisdiction here and I'm not a part of that board and and I also feel as though it's important for me to be as neutral as possible because I never want to be
perceived as somebody who's putting a thumb on the scale or making a public comment about something over which I have no jurisdiction. Um, so for me it's an issue of sensitivity and fairness and respect for those individuals who make the decisions that that pertain to that
particular uh that just because I'm the mayor doesn't mean that I one need to have an opinion or two should weigh in on everything that that doesn't fall under my >> protect of course of course I protect the city. I do everything I do everything in my
power to work for the best interests of the city. >> Okay. Khovven still went through though, right? >> I'm sorry. >> Khovven up on the hill that still went through even though you of course it went through. We have a
court order. So, yes. Well, yeah. Get that. >> If you have more comments, you're welcome to make them. >> Thank you. >> There's lots of time to stop that. K. >> Any of our three people if they're still with us? >> We have four now. >> Oh, four. Oh, welcome.
>> Um, that's a 15% >> increase. >> Um, may I have a motion to close the public calendar? >> I I just want to say I didn't get a chance to put on the record my thoughts about the project and I had a lot of concerns about it. I think that, you
know, anybody who went to the meeting last year and saw the more than 100 people packed into the room listening to it. I mean, there's a lot of concerns and everyone always asks, you know, how does this benefit the city of Lambertville? And I think that's what everyone is, they want to see and they want to hear. And I haven't heard much
out benefits. And I think for any project to work there, they're going to have to figure out how is this going to make the city better? How's it going to make, you know, how is it going to fit in with the residents that live there? Uh, and I would just encourage if those property owners want to develop something there, they really have to listen to the residents and they really
have to figure out how is this all going to work. To date, I have not seen it. Um, I think 150 venue, wedding hall, whatever it is, is I just don't see how it's going to fit there. Um, I have big concerns about public safety about if there's a a fire or something or an
emergency there. I mean, anyone who wants to drive on Corell Street right now, if there was a 150, you know, person wedding there, you would not be able to get out Smith. So, big concerns about that. And I would just encourage those property owners and developers to listen to the residents, remember what
they said at that meeting and try to find a plan to >> encourage people to go to the zone board meeting. >> Absolutely. Right. >> So, mayor, just I might as well chime in. Um, not to be let down. Um, I also have concerns about the project. I have concerns about the um manner in which
it's being sort of uh say circulated. Um I think some really good points were raised earlier uh by my count fellow council members regarding um you know what we need what the city should be seeing from
the developer and to councilman lies. We need to understand what the benefit to the city is going to be. Um, you know, I don't think anybody on this deis is anti- business or anti-development and
it's not about it's not about stopping. It's about scaling. >> So, we want it to be rightsized. You know, change is inevitable and we have to we have to work with those change agents to make sure that they
don't overwhelm us with the change, but that we're integrated in a way that, you know, is is um kind of assimilates into our our community and we can function with it and it doesn't take over the community.
>> Thank you very much. Um, did I ask for a motion to close Oh yes. Just need >> all in favor please say I >> and ask a motion to don't forget about
the truck. I very very did it come. Oh, you can make an appointment for it. >> In terms of everybody holding