Excuse. [Music] [Laughter] Hello. Good evening and thank you for your patience. Uh we we were currently conducting and interviewing at grand a little bit. Um it was important that we
spent that time with the individual. So um proper notice adequate notice of this meeting of the Lawrence Township Council being held on Tuesday, July 15th, 2025 has been provided through the posting of
the annual meeting schedule of said council in accordance with section 13 of the open public meetings act. Sent notice was forwarded to the Tranilian, the Times, and the Princeton packet on December 15, 2024.
We'll now have our inspiration. May we carry out our work at this meeting in a just, honorable, and sincere manner. Always bearing in mind our duties and continuing to give Lawrence a wonderful community in which to live. I pledge algiance to the flag
of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. M ready to call the role, please. Mr. Bobby, uh can't be with us this
evening. Uh Mr. Kaki here. Miss Perry here. Mintos here. Mayor F here. And now we don't have any special proclamations or recognitions at this time. We will move now to public
participation. I understand um that we have a guest in the audience that's going to make a presentation regarding um 250. If you could step forward, please sign in. Thank you uh mayor uh for inviting me
and uh members of the council. Uh my name is Brad Fay and let me just first by beginning begin by saying congratulations on being a victory town in the American Revolution. Uh Lawrence is one of 200 towns roughly uh between
New England and Yorktown, Virginia that witnessed the passage of French and American troops on their way to win victory in the major uh final decisive battle of the American Revolution in October 1781. And the reason I'm here,
um, I am the director of a a program called Victory Towns 250 with an organization, a nonprofit called W3R. That is a shorthand for a very long name, which is the Washington Roshambo
Revolutionary Root Association. A mouthful. Uh, it's the name of a route that was taken and actually is recognized by the National Park System. It's part of our national parks. Um, and
not a lot of people realize how in these towns that an asset of our national parks passes through. It follows uh largely Route 206. Um, it's the trail that was taken, often known as the King's Highway back in those days. Um,
and uh just 1% of all US municipalities are on this trail. Um, combined population is about 12 million. Each town has a unique story. uh as part of this um uh march to to Yorktown where they found victory. In fact, our
historian tells us that 7,200 troops marched through this town um between August 31st and September 2nd, 1781. Um there was also a rear guard to protect them um from New York that
encamped overnight at um the Shab Creek. And I apologize if I haven't said that quite right. I know you all know how to say it. Um and uh our organization is engaging with these up to 200 towns on the trail to help commemorate the 250th anniversary
in a way only trail towns can do. Um, we're offering uh knowledge, ideas, access to historians, uh, a unique formal letter from our historian to your town about its own unique story. Um,
school curriculum materials, access to banners, flags, and other relevant materials that you might want to do to signify and to add to your other commemoration activities that you're planning. And there's also the possibility of of a large historic marker uh through the Pomemeroy Foundation that would sort of declare
you a victory town. It'd be hard probably for you to see it from there, but I I brought a copy of a what it might look like with me and I'm happy to leave this behind. Um and that's provided um by the a partnership with the Comroy Foundation.
So other nearby towns are joining with us on this effort uh including Princeton, Montgomery, Franklin Township, and Morrisville, PA. Uh talking with many more up and down the trail. And we'd love to be working uh with Lawrence Township uh in this
regard. Um and at whatever time is appropriate, love to follow up with with you or your staff about it. Thank you. Thank you very much, Beck, for that presentation. Um, did we have anyone with any questions or comments?
Thank you again. Brad, I just wanted to confirm the marker would be donated or is there a course? There there is some cost associated with the program. Uh, it it's it's modest, I think, but uh the the um that would
cover the the sign, for example. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. [Music] Is there any other comments from the public at this time? All right. Um, seeing none, I um
actually will be making comments on behalf of the mayor's task force for the Lawrence Community Center. Um, as you all know, um, for the last several months, we have been receiving, um, updates on what is taking place in the
community center. So, um, this evening, I will be the one um, giving the update on the days. So, good evening, council members, manager, and residents of Lawrence Township. It is with deep appreciation for your continued
commitment to inclusive governance and thoughtful community planning that I share the this intern progress report from the Lawrence Community Center task force. As you know, the task force has been established to help guide the
township council in four key areas. One, advising on the concerns and priorities of Lawrence residents. Second, addressing the mission statement and future vision of the center. Third, engaging the community to ensure
decisions reflect collective needs and aspirations. And fourth, preserving the cent's legacy as a vital and inclusive space. Since its formation, the task force has worked diligently
diligently and in full consensus to carry out its charge. Their approach has been rooted in transparency, equity, and collaboration reflecting the trust this body places in them to lead a process that is both inclusive and
communitydriven. To inform their work, they undertook multiaceted outreach strategy. This included direct engagement with flyers, a townshipwide community meeting, surveys, and a radio broadcast, small
group interviews, and emails. The task force also issued multiple updates to the council to ensure alignment and accountability throughout this process. Thanks to these collective efforts and under the guidance of a volunteer
community research professional named Dr. Mary McKill, they have developed a set of unified recommendations in full alignment with the feedback they received. These recommendations are guided by the
diverse voices of Lawrence residents and a shared understanding of the cent's historic role in the life of the township as well as the cent's future potential. Across all four stages, the task force
has found strong agreement that the Lawrence Community Standard should serve as a townshipwide hub, one that is inclusive, missiondriven, historically grounded, and equitably governed. In addressing the charge, the task force
unanimously supports a vision for the center that honors its legacy while expanding its role as a place of belonging, learning, service, wellness, recreation, and connection for our residents. A comprehensive presentation
of findings and full recommendations will be delivered to the council and the public at the September council meeting. In closing, I wish to commend the task force for their dedication and integrity and I thank the council for supporting
this important work. The community has spoken and the task force has responded together with law force. Thank you. And are there any other comments for public participation at this time?
Seeing none, I will close our public participation and we will now review and do the revisions of today's agenda. Madame Mayor, I would like to make a motion to table to the next meeting when
full counsel is here. Can you hear me? Okay, Madame Mayor, I would like to make a motion to uh move to the next meeting when all of council is here. Um, miscellaneous H number 265 appointment to the
Lawrence Sewage Authority. Yes, I object to it. Your score was here tonight. It is a quirm. This position has been hoping since John left us. It is very important. We have one person that we're
looking at and it's very important that we fill this position tonight. It is hurting. I'm on Elsa and it is hurting us at Elsa. We need this third name and the person that put his name in is
well qualified an electrical engineer. and what's going to be happening at Elsa over the next couple months. We need somebody like that. I'm an electrician by trade, but not an electrical engineer with that. We need
So, there's a motion to take. We should There should be a need. We need a second. We have a second. Second. Madam clerk, if you could call the vote, please.
Mr. Kaki, no. Miss Perry, yes. Miss Santos, no. Mayor Farmer, no. Yeah, the motion fails
because of the tie vote, right? So, it says it stays on the agenda. Stays on the agenda. So, we do have other items that u need to revise the agenda. Well, yes, we we
a couple things uh in discussion um with some of the council members. first uh was brought up that we do not have full council membership tonight. Um Mr. B is out of state. Uh it was requested that
16A under new business the agenda meetings be tabled for the next available meeting when we have a full council so that can be discussed. mayor that that would be more
appropriate to have all all the council members here. It's up to you as whether or not you you want to have a motion to table. Yeah. A second. Second. Roll call, please. Mr. Kaki, yes.
Miss Perry, no. Miss Santos, yes. Mayor Prime. No, the other thing, [Music] the other area, excuse me, the other
matter involves the u uh 3131 uh Princeton Pike. Um there has to be there was a change uh with regard to the uh approval of an application for
financial agreement by statute after some thorough review and and discussion with with the manager that has to be done by ordinance not by resolution. So, we have amended the uh agenda to reflect
the introduction for first reading only of an ordinance uh of the township approving an application for financial agreement for tax exemptions, execution of a financial agreement with Canvas NJ urban renewal LLC for the redevelopment
of a project commonly known commonly known as 3131 Princeton Pike. This would uh this now comports with the provision of title 40 that require an ordinance.
We originally thought it could be accomplished through resolution. Uh but as I say after thorough review we determined it would need an ordinance and as such excuse me as such this would be just
first reading tonight with no public hearing. There would be a full public hearing on this at your August uh meeting. Um there is still the resolution on
um I marked it's number 264. That's a resolution approving an amended redevelopment agreement assignment a redevelopment agreement to campus NJ urban renewal LLC
as redevelopers of the study area commonly known as 3131 princip. This is simply I'll call it a housekeeping resolution. There was a requirement of the land use board to consolidate the lots
into into one lot which is not unusual. That is being done but the developer is changing the name having a new sing what's called single asset LLC that will encompass the entire project. Excuse me.
and that will be under the the new name of Canvas NJ urban Renewal LLC. It does not change anything involving the approvals. Uh the approvals run with the land. They don't run with the name of
the company that may own the land. You can have you can have a piece of land that will change hands 10 times. Uh but the zoning approvals run with the land and are not affected by a corporate name change. So that is really a u for lack
of a better term a housekeeping uh item is simply to acknowledge that there is a new LLC name uh for the ownership interest in the property. It does not in any way change anything involving the zoning approvals.
Um so that is uh resolution number 264. I believe Mr. Dwinsky that covers those two items. Yeah. So we have um we motion to um add introduction of ordinances for the new ordinance that's going to be added and
then also a motion for the new resolution that repl. So, so we would like to make a motion authorizing resolution approving the amended redevelopment agreement and assignment of redevelopment agreement to
Canvas NJ urban renewal LLC for the study area of 3131 Princeton Pike. That's a motion to add it to it to the agenda. You need a second. Second. Mr. Kaki. Yes.
Miss Barry. Yes. Miss Sanchez. Yes. Mayor Farmer. Yes. And then the second motion is to add introduction ordinances to this new ordinance. I'd like to make a motion for
introduction of an ordinance approving the application for a financial agreement for tax exempt and execution of an financial agreement for the redevelopment of 3131 Princeton pipe. For the record, that would be ordinance
number 2499-25. Second. Second. Madam Bl. Mr. Kaki. Yes. Miss Perry, yes. Miss Santos, yes. Mayor Barber, yes. Motion passes.
Thank you. Thank you. So that's everything on review and revision of the agenda. Now we have the adoption of minutes of the previous meeting. Madame Mayor, I would like to make an a motion to adopt the minutes of regular
meeting March 18, 2025. Second multi. Yes. Miss Perry. Yes. Miss Santos. Abstain. Mayor Farmer. Yes.
Have you awarded and or objected in? If it is um at will, I would like to make a motion to submit for approval 9 A number 243
through 9E number 268. So they have the bid separately. The awarding of the bid a number 243 authorizing award of bid number 25-03
2025 Allen Lane sidewalk Improvement to Manny Concrete LLC. Madam clerk, can you call the role please? Yeah, just for the just so the public news as well. Um this is for sidewalk improvements that going along Alene as
far as our pedestrian improvements and safety program. Um so this will offer a safer path for um pedestrians from Alen Lane to route one. So
thank you for the clarification. Is there any comment from the public? Seeing none court. Mr. Kaki. Yes. Miss Perry, yes. Miss, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. I would like to introduce the award for
a bid on number 244 authorizing a contract with unlimited builder construction for the rehabilitation of 343 Fontaine Lane. Second. This is under our affordable housing rehabilitation program and it's for improvements to that qualifying
property. Okay. Do there any comments from the public? Seeing none, madam clerk, if you could call the role, please. M Mr. Kaki, yes. Miss Perry, yes. Yes. Yes.
9C number 245 authorizing a contract with Unlimited Builders Construction for the rehabilitation of 347 Fontaine Lane. Second. This is under our affordable housing rehabilitation program for improvements to um the property that is
qualifying under the program. Any comments from the public? Seeing none of the clerk, if you will call the role, please. Mr. Kaki, yes. Miss Perry, yes. Miss, yes. Mayor Ber, yes. I'd like to make a um propos Excuse me.
I'd like to 9D number 246 authorize a contract with unlimited builders construction for the rehabilitation of 81 Phillips Avenue. Second, same thing. Affordable housing
rehabilitation program improvements. Any comments on the public? Seeing none clerk, you call the role for Mr. Kaki. Yes. Miss Perry, yes. Miss Sanchez, yes. Mayor Farmer, yes. I would like to present the bid for 9E
number 268 authorizing award of bid 25-11 municipal roads and park improvements to Mako Inc. second. This is a part of our road improvement program and um specifically the work
that we've identified is the milling and paving for our municipal complex as well as other road improvements. There's no additional road roads for the municipal complex. It's just improving the paving sites that we have now. Asphalt as correct.
Any comments from the public? Seeing none. Madam clerk, if you could call the role, please. Mr. Kaki, yes. Miss Perry, yes. Miss Santos, yes. Mayor Farmer, yes. Number 10, introduction of ordinances.
First read 10A is ordinance number 2498-25. An ordinance amending ordinance 2494-25 salary ordinance of the township of Lawrence unclassified and or exempt seasonal emergency non-union employees
for 2023 through 2025. as title of deputy municipal manager schedule B grade 22. Second. Okay, this starts the process. You may want to have a discussion with regard to this. As you may know, Amanda, you
weren't here at the time, but last January or so, there was an um expressed concern about the amount of respon responsibilities of the municipal manager and there was a thought that um we should give some weight to um adding
this position to uh help um um spread out the responsibilities and to allow more proactive work to be done by myself. uh in terms of the roles that I will retain any discussion from council.
There's no public hearing today. No. Yeah. So, we'll have that public hearing the next time and go forward with all the details. This is just to put it on for the agenda for public hearing in
August. Second clerk, if you could call the vote, please. Mr. Kaki, yes. Miss Barry, yes. Miss Sanchez, yes. Mayor Burma, yes. Uh, number 11, adoption of ordinances.
Wait, did you do 10B? 10. 10B. Oh, I thought we covered it with you. Need another vote on that. Yeah. Okay. 10B, an ordinance approving the application for a financial agreement for tax exemption and execution of a
financial agreement for the redevelopment of 3131 Princeton Pike 10B, ordinance number 2499-25. Second, this is a mandatory part of the process, the legal process um for a pilot program
for this particular redevelopment site. And so this introduces the necessary um legal document required um which will be the subject of a public hearing at the next meeting. Thank you. We have a second.
Okay. Madam clerk, you could call Mr. Kaki. Yes. Miss Perry. Yes. Miss Santos. Yes. Mayor Farmer. Yes. And now for the adoption of This is the we
brings us to the manager's report. I have nothing to report at this time. The attorney's report. I have matters that will be discussed in close session. May there mad clerk. Uh just a couple things here. I have the
um I'm glad to announce our finding Oprah uh Oprah uh new program we're gonna be or on on boarding um in August 1st. So we're very excited about that. Um there was a new bill that passed
about um the uh public notices that it's going to be required. I think I sent you something on it u that's going to be required to be on our website. So, it's going to include we're have resolutions, proclamations, and that's going to take
effect March 1st, 2026, but we're going to get some, you know, start uh working on getting everything up and ready before then. I put before you the the league um conference. Um they are doing early registration.
Um so um you might want to look at it, you know, with the documents and everything like that. And we have uh are in the process. We are doing our renewals for our rental registrations which has been very very busy in our office this month. We did we sent out
almost 3,000 notices and it has been busy. If I could just commend you and your office for all the hard work um that you've done um with that. I know that is a new directive that came down from the governor's office and passed into law
and I just I know how hard your office has worked um and I just want to commend you publicly for that work. So, thank you for Thank you. Yeah, my staff really worked on that for we worked on getting the database up and running for six months
um you know to bring everything together because it's commercial properties and rentals now and um it was a late starter but we did a good job on it. They did a great job getting it out. Um so yeah, I'm very happy and pleased. Uh this was
our first renewal period. So yeah, you did it and that's it. Unfinish. Sorry. So do we have any unfinished business? Tons of
[Music] question. Yes. Okay. New business. Um so that is currently um still on the agenda and we'll follow up with it on the next meeting. So
[Music] it's for discussion for discussion now that motion failed. The motion we can just I guess talk about it and share with the public what it is that we're attempting to do um with that
agenda item. And I guess I I will start. Uh basically what what it is that we're looking to do as a council is create an agenda meeting. Um many councils throughout our um throughout our um the
municipalities that are surrounding us um take part in an opportunity for council to review the agenda together um under a caucus where we are not making any decisions but it gives us an opportunity to speak with one another
prior to our public meeting here in front of all of you. um the the way the law is set up is that we cannot ever create a quorum among ourselves other than when we're here before you conducting the business of the people.
So what we're looking to do is basically create an opportunity for um a prior meeting to this meeting where we can review agenda items if we need to make um if we have questions that we want to ask each other. um it gives us a working
time to do that. It is open to the public. It's not done, you know, in secret or in private, but it just gives us allows for the flow of our work to be enhanced, so to speak. And so we are
looking as a body to um have that uh discussion as to whether or not the five of us are in agreement to having that opportunity. Um and also um just to give us another opportunity to work together
to get the kings out of some of the things that we are um preparing for the official council meeting. So that's what we're looking to do. we are discussing and there are so few various views about it. Mayor, if I may, just so it's clear,
this is a for discussion purposes only and there's nothing on the agenda in terms of a vote or decision tonight. It just starts a discussion that council can have and can continue if it wants you have another meeting, what whatever whatever the pleasure of of the uh
council. So there's no definitive decision making process tonight on this. Thank you. Madame Mayor, at this time we would like to open public participation for a threem minute
limit if anyone has anything to to Sorry. [Music] I first we need to um decide if there are any other comments from the council or concerns about this notion of
creating um a caucus meeting an agenda meeting I guess so we if we decide to move through with it we would go to this at next month's meeting potentially it's up to you there's there's no time
table it's It's yours to agree, disagree, uh, sponsor. It would it would need an amendment to our code. So, it's it's not just, you know, you would have to go through a process to do it. And would we um be looking to do this in
person or virtually? That is um it could potentially be virtual. Yes, those are the things that we would discuss in detail. Um, it has been my experience. I've participated in something similar similar to this um in
other committees and virtual is us you know is an option. It's usually a very it's a short abbreviated um meeting to review you know what the agenda is because we see the agenda for the first time um and then a few days
later we're acting on it. So it gives us another opportunity to review the agenda to see it as a body without taking action. And we still have to sunshine this. Absolutely. It is public meeting. Public meetings.
It is a public meeting and I am against it. I will tell you that straight up. It creates a double agenda for us. It puts it puts every we would have to push back everything that we do um to Thursday
before um now are cut off for our departments who have a hard enough time getting everything in on Wednesday but at 12 noon um they now will have to be because the way the agenda have to be set this have to be sunshine have to be
put out and agenda have to be done for you to have your agenda session then another agenda have to be done basically for you to vote on everything that you need to. Um I have spoken to uh other clerks that
do it. I had a couple meetings last month with the clerks and uh and like I said it would affect every single office here because it would be basically they would have to have everything in to me by Thursday, no later than Friday the 4th.
I would have to start the agenda on Monday or Tuesday um in order to have it to the manager to get the reports um I mean to get the manager's report and then make sure that you get it out on time. Yeah. So logistically those there are
definitely things we can look at. I know the freeholder board and other councils in Morris County do this and they do it quite well. I'm quite I'm quite familiar with what they so you know there definitely you know we received the information by Friday I
know hand delivered to our homes I think that there could be opportunities to look at that I mean I don't believe the deadlines would change I think that it could still remain the same with regards to deadlines and I think it would just need to be able to streamline some
things to be more you know um speed up I think we could definitely discuss and we could share um some examples of how other towns are doing it and other towns uh also don't have uh uh like a manager report. I understand what you're saying by talking and wanting to
do that but you also do have the re review and revision of the agenda um where you can talk about certain things because when they do those kind of things they go like almost line by line by line with resolutions to discuss them. Um our when our agenda comes out,
it comes out in full with a staff report that gives you a summary of everything. Absolutely. A lot of these towns do that because they do have strong mayor forms of government where only their mayor, their
um BA, their um vice president and the president meets um and along with the clerk and they establish this. So their other members and bodies don't I do know that there are falter um towns
who do this actually that's who I discussed this with was another municipality that is that has and they do it virtually um I'm not saying they don't we're even if you're a Faulner act town you could
be a a council mayor but they do have a week mayor I think it is under there but a as I said before it would affect this entire township and it would really just for you can just discuss item by item
something that I feel you get full enough disclosure on to make a sound decision. It would um it would definitely be a change and I understand that change is difficult but it would also I I wanted to well I think the council needs to um from time to time we
can review processes that are currently in place and sometimes there may be um there may be requests from council that we want to look at things maybe a little different and I think we should be open to that and have that discussion that's
primarily also again to have an agenda because to review it and to make the adjustments the night of the meeting um gives puts us at a disadvantage I think and it would help us um lessen the tableing of items because we would have
already had one goround um discussion about what is on the agenda. So we be more familiar as a body and be able to make more informed decisions I believe um by adding a level of transparency and
the public too would see that as well. So I think there are a lot of pluses too and there will be pluses for the public too because the resolutions will start being um available to them to see as well beforehand and I agree with you change could be but if it's going to put
a burden on other departments and our office then I'm not in agreement with I don't and we hear you and that's why we give you an opportunity to voice your opinion but I know that it can be done successfully. I think that it can be
done streamlined and I have experience myself in in having agenda meetings and I think the benefit outweighs online but you haven't done them before. But I but I do understand this and I do feel like the council here does give
their books because our code reads by 5:00 on the Thursday before I mean on the Friday before. So you do have adequate days to be able to review. I'm not saying that what you're saying and proposing isn't um um is wrong or
anything. I'm just saying that you're not I'm just not in agreement with it because I think it would put more of a burden on our departments and and our office and offices that already are overburdened with work.
So I I have a quick question for clarification. So if we receive our books on Friday and we decide on let's say Saturday morning, okay, which is a burden on us because it gives us less time
so that we can all be on a zoom to discuss matters and be more cohesive so that we are presenting the best thing to the township. What is the difference with that? Well, the difference is for 50s something
years prior to this council, everybody has been able to get this, read over the material, understand the material, and be a with the staff report that you get because you get a summary of everything that's here from our manager and to make
a very sound decision. Even if I was just the person and I'm just the clerk just doing this if I can read it over and even if you had if you wanted to discuss it because when you had that meeting you're still going to be discussing it publicly. You still have
to have a public comment period. So it's still you're just not going to be acting on it. So, what difference does it make if you're going to discuss it under review and revision of the agenda while you're here versus having another meeting that would create more work for
our office? I think you're missing the point. You are missing the point. You're missing the point. Um, and we'll we will have further discussion and then, you know, if we need to tweak some things, you know, we can do that and we'll have it, you know, we'll have some more discussion offline. Um, but we'll
have more discussion in public as well. Um because I just I feel firmly it's valuable to us as a council to have more opportunities to speak with one another so that when we come before the public body we um are not uh doing it for the
first time. It's almost like a rehearsal so to speak. And I think it's important that you know it's a short period of time. I mean, I don't know if the public realizes that we receive all of this information on a Friday at 5 to be here, you know, Tuesday evening fully prepared
and at our best and presenting that and we just um want to look at this option as a possibility. Thank you. Should I make a recommendation? Sure. If if there are if a majority of council
wants to continue the discussion, then I think maybe it would be in everybody's best interest if if the clerk and myself and um the department heads were to uh write up the issues that we're going to
have to get through that what what because this will be a wholesale change of our code, right? Our code talks about Tuesday meetings, right? If we're going to do an agenda, then our code's going to have to include an agenda. When is that going to come? And if it's going to come on a Monday, I
Saturday is not is not a thing. That can't happen. We won't get the level of participation that we need. And I think the uh the public would probably have a problem with the Saturday because they're off doing their their lives. So then it won't let me just finish. Let me
just finish. Then it leaves Monday. Monday we have um planning board meetings which two of you are are a part of. So there is a lot of um financial implications to this. I'm sure if my if the CFO is listening, he's probably
trying to figure out how is this all going to get done where we comply with everything. Um you're looking at it from an elected officials perspective and that's completely fine. That's your role, right? But there are internal workings of the of the municipal government that will be imp impacted by
that. And so to keep this discussion going, if there's three or more of you that say, "Hey, let's keep it going." Then we'll take the time to uh come up with all the issues and logistics that we'll have to um go through before you make the vote to change our code and add
this addition. The only thing I don't know what I just No, you don't have to change the form of government. I'm telling you other bodies do this. And not to, you know, be a dead horse, but you know, school board do this all the time. I know we're not a
school board, but I'm just saying it is a matter of when we get the information, having the opportunity as a body to review it together in caucus. That is all we're asking. We're not asking to change deadlines or anything.
We're not I mean, it is a Friday, you know, we get in on a Friday. One scenario will be are all the department heads going to be required to attend this agenda because this agenda is built by the department heads comes from them in terms of their detail. The
public works department um the engineer department it all comes to them. So, let's move on. Mayor, the other just so it's clear, the other consideration, and I defer to the clerk, is the open public meeting act notice that we're going to have to go
through. Yes. The calcul and I haven't worked on this at all, but the the calculation of when we have to do that to be in compliance with the law. So there's there is a substantial amount of of preparation
work that we would have to go through. But I'm not taking a position either. If you Yeah, because if you wanted to have a meeting on a Monday, it would be better to have it back to back like Yuing does have it like 6:30 there's a start but sometime it may carry over
because they have public participation in there like last their last meeting it carried over for an hour and something. Well, they do have it where it's webinars. You got people in the webinar that want to speak. you got somebody people in the audiences waiting and so
by the time they get to their regular agenda that's only maybe 10 minutes or so but their whole other agenda that's before that because you must have public participation on air was a whole hour and a half now if you're going to have
this and the reason I said about the time frame is because if you're going to have it on a Monday say you wanted to have it on a Monday Thursday would be the day that we would have to sunshine this notice get the agenda a agenda out to the public, have everything ready. If
you want to have it on before the meeting on a uh like like New has it at 6:30, then we would have to do it on a Friday, but the sunshine notice must go out because it would have to be done in the same manner that we do this agenda
right here. And as the manager just said, this agenda isn't created by our manager. This is created by every single department in this entire township. And I'm not saying other towns don't do it and get together.
Uh when you have a stronger mayor from a government, they sit there and create some of the things. It's not about I'm not saying that. I'm just I'm just saying different forms of government. Okay. So I will bring examples to our
next conversation of what I'm of of what I'm talking about. I know. So I clerk and I looked it up and re I will bring those examples to the next meeting that we discussed with something in front of us.
Um I Mr. Ste this might be a question for you. Um are there alternatives to an agenda meeting that don't require ascension? You know that are No, there is none.
You have to my question is I want to tell you straight out Saturdays I'm busy know this is going to be extraation right okay so it's an extra meeting am I going
to get and everybody else on this council paid for this extra meeting that is a very good question and I would more than happy to look into that. I would more than happy to look into that for you. Very good question. [Music]
That brings us now to public participation 3 minute minimum maximum. [Music] [Music] Uh good evening council Greg Woody. Uh
for once I don't have a horse in this race of what you're talking about but just a little historic perspective whichever way you should go and I agree with the mayor that communication is key and that's a tough one to tackle. But back in the day in 1996 when I got on council, we mirrored the then called
freeholder meetings and Tuesday nights we would have an agenda and god this was even before Kathy Mora was correct. Thank you. Um we would have an agenda meeting on Tuesday and then we would have the action meeting on Thursday and that
would happen two times a month. Now at council's wisdom that time we thought we were all prepared you know we communicated and I'm not saying you're not communicating because it's a different day and time but we thought at that time it was better just to knock it
down to just the two meetings. So that's how it was done in the past if that sheds any light. Thank you. And I remember that in 1996 because I was here. I didn't want to put you on a spot there.
[Music] Okay. All right. How you guys doing? Um I just wanted to make a quick comment. Oh, Mark. Snow. I'm at the 381 place. Um so during this meeting I noticed that um first I want to thank um you know all of
our paid township workers. I know you guys are doing you know working really hard here and I was just kind of concerned that um Mayor Farmer directly honestly that um you were kind of trying to push extra burden on uh our full-time
employees. Um, and it's a little bit concerning that having 3 days to review a report seems like it's not enough, right, for uh council if that's was that the uh is that the problem?
Yeah. No. We want a I'm just I'm just trying to understand the process because like we were talking about having an extra meeting and then we talked about transparency talking about the public and then I just don't see that as being
more transparent. Um sir respectfully the reason why is that we are trying our best to make sure that we are giving you our best and in order to do so it is best as in
any corporation for a discussion to be made before major decisions happen and we are not allowed to talk to each other at all before those decisions happen as a body. So, as many municipalities
throughout Mercer County, they do have an agenda meeting and we have a team that is working hard and excellent. And the last thing I want to do, because I know my plate is rolling, is to put out anything more on anyone else's plate.
But just because things have always been done a certain way, doesn't mean that it's time for a little bit of improvement because this is a completely new body. Mr. Kaki is the veteran and Mr. Bobbit. So, we want to be able to have a
communication as a body to work best. If there's a way for us to accomplish that, as other um municipalities have, we would like to consider that. If not, we have no problem reviewing everything we need to review in 3 days. But we're
in silos. We have no communication with each other. In your company or your position or just in general, wouldn't a major decision would be made with a discussion before it's actually decided on? Yeah, I maybe I'm mistaken. I thought
that's what this meeting was. Um, you know, when we discuss it, you're discussing it public hear. I didn't realize you had to have a second one to redis. So, all right. That's all. That was clarification. Yeah. uh Sylvia Kovas. Um I just want to say
that um coming to the meetings on very regular basis for the past 3 years uh I've noticed a big change especially with this council that we actually have a lot of discussion and I want to commend
you the elected officials for doing that to for discussing everything very clearly with us and um of course the the hardworking paid um employees um they everybody works
hard in this township that's what I I have noticed in through the past three years and um if there is a way of having more cohesive meetings um
for the township council uh that would be great because sometimes there is a discussion here in in front of us before the actual vote and then other people say, "Oh, we're we're appearing here
like we're not one body." And people discuss that, "Oh, it's not one body. You, the council." And I think that maybe a meeting ahead of that would iron out those um feelings for people who
don't like the um vivid discussions that sometimes happen here um happening at the official meeting. So I want to say thank you for you to you all for thinking all about all of those improvements that could be made. I
understand it might be more work for other departments and I I feel bad for that. But um and I feel your pain, but also for us the public when we see that the elected officials
are trying to improve communication with the public and improve what they're doing and how they're doing it. I'm also going to say thank you for that. And I do appreciate the clerk's office and the manager's office and the attorney and
all of the other departments that work really hard to make this township a wonderful place that it is because it is a wonderful place to live in and it's it's being improved day by day and we
all notice that. So, thank you Thank you for your comments. I'm a fan of lively discussions of this. So, are we seeing no additional public comments at this time on closing public
participation [Music] that will now bring us to the resolution and [Music] Madame Mayor, I would like to um present resolution A, bond acceptance
one through one, excuse me, A 1 through 3, straight through to H four. If I may, I think you want to move those
in block. So it would be 181 through 18 page four. Yeah, it's 67 89. Did you want to vote on them separately? So you want you want to just vote on two
uh 264 separately. 18. Are we pulling out number five? No. Okay. So, let me rephrase that. Madame Mayor, I'd like to move in the block 18 A1 through H9.
Second call. Mr. Uh, Mr. Kaki. Yes. Miss Perry. Yes. Yes. Mayor Burma. Yes. Now we'll have our council initiative for
[Music] I did want to mention this past Saturday I have the um tremendous honor and opportunity to um go for a walk in the woods with the trails and open space um community. We actually um walked through
the ship talking very fast talking um for those and it was quite an eye openener um it's um locationwise it's Princeton Avenue. Is that not avenue?
That's Princeton's road near the Amazon um warehouse. Um there were uh five members of the committee uh along with me. I had beautiful pictures. I'm sorry I don't have them here to share with you all but uh we walked along um an area
that um was quite interesting just to give you perspective. So you have the Amazon uh warehouse. You have the Princeton road uh which lead Princess Road which leads out um to attention they said. And then there was an old
farm uh homestead I think they said that actually had um what appeared to be an old paved road in the woods. And it was just really interesting. Um if you're on the other side of the woods, it's where
the Delaware American Canal um meets and also where parts of the park are. And the best way I have to describe it is where the overpass of the bridge of the Delaware and Rarin Park on Route One is located. Um, so I got to
get real up close and personal with root and the woods and the wetlands. There's a a significant amount of wetlands and also some ash trees that um are are dying. But um it was um a great
opportunity to be out with members of that committee who were who were very interested um in seeing what the township could look at in the future. But um to be there we saw turtles, birds. Um it was just a really lovely um
possibility looked like of some of our um open space. And I just wanted to share that with all of you know we are so fortunate in this town to have such beautiful locations. Um, you know, I've driven past that area
on route one, going onto that bridge and never actually had the opportunity to be on the ground and it was just um a real treat and I just wanted to share that with you all that the um trails and open space committee. We're working in the
summer. We're out there um walking around. Um I've already given an update on the mayor's task force um the planning board. We um are continuing to uh work on the master plan. We did not have a
meeting um this month but um we are you know moving forward in you know by next meeting we should be able to have some more updated information. I know we just completed our housing plan. That was a big uh undertaking. So um looking
forward to that. Um the I can't remember if Junth happened after our last meeting night. Yeah, June 19th. Right. So um we I just wanted to thank um the diversity,
equity, and inclusion committee, the recreation department who does an awesome job in um helping us support that event. We were fortunate to have the Lawrence High School Gospel Choir perform um at that and um it was a very
nice community gathering celebration and recognition of a historic time for those who were formerly enslaved. Um and uh I think that's all I have other than I know the historic and preservation isn't
met but um we are working on the Lawrence 250. That committee is active and working. I think they've had uh at least uh two meetings and are going on to their third meeting uh very soon, I
believe in July. And that is a committee that will work on our the 250th celebration of America on a local level. Madame Mayor, may I also thank the parks and recck for the excellent um work with
the July 4th um fireworks. It was amazing. Everyone had a great time. Everyone was safe and thank goodness nothing caught on fire. It was such a great great time for the to see all the community the blankets of
people. It was it really gave you a good sense of the community and how lucky we lucky we are to live in this township. I heard a little rumor that we were the best fireworks in Mercer County. I'm just putting that out there. Can can I just add that that that event
involved the police department vol uh the five the fire department, the EMTs, the public works, the health department, a whole bunch of citizen volunteers um and and I want to thank publicly Ryder University for allowing the
community to go and mass thousands of people um and their officials who took the time to work with our officials to make sure it was a safe and successful event. A lot goes into those events. It was hot. It was money. And the citizen volunteers and our our uh paid staff who worked
overtime to do it. Kudos to everybody. It was it was an incredible event. And I we we appreciate all the volunteers that that participated in that. We have a mayor on your agenda's executive session. I just want the record to reflect that we have approved
a resolution to have an executive session specifically on pending litigation involving the Trenton Waterworks which is a Superior Court of New Jersey pending matter. And we also have discussions involving negoti excuse me negotiations involving
open space acquisition all uh well within the purview of a close session under the open public meeting act. And if I have a point of privilege uh mayor, I would like to um
announce uh to the assemblage here that this Saturday at 3:00 sharp the Anchor House Ride for Runaways come comes into Quaker Ridge Mall. This is the 47th year in a row that they've come into the
mall. Um this is Anchor House. For those who don't know, it is largest home for runway and abused children in New Jersey located on Center Street in Trenton. Um it it consists of 180 riders and support
crew that will be coming in the center of the mall on their bicycles. It's an exciting event. It's a uh it's the largest nonprofit fundraising bicycle event in the United States. Wow. and it's right here in Lawrence
Township. Um, if you've never seen it, it's exciting. They come right in right into the mall. Our police department is is very helpful in the sheriff's department and in uh bringing them in and they're going to raise well, last year they raised
$63,000, excuse me, in one week and that's all no professional fundraisers. that all goes to the house and um it's it's it's quite a sight. So if you you want to you want to see
participate and see something that's uh quite exciting, stop by the mall. They come in at 3:00 sharp. I know the mayor is going to have a introduction in the welcoming speech. Short one, mayor. I was there 47 years ago. We raised
$5,000 that year. Was a mountain amount of money back then. Still a mountain of money. Now they're they're doing over they'll do by the end of the year with all the pledges about 600,000. And and what's amazing is the average pledge is $25.
Wow. So it is something that that I think we have I forget how many 10 or 12 Lawrence Township residents are participating. Uh the mayor is come up with an idea to
honor them at a future meeting which a lot of municipalities do. So I I would I would I would ask if anybody if anybody has a few minutes. It's really it's really an exciting time to uh see and support what is one of the
best I think one of the best organizations we've had for literally well it's almost 50 years now in Mercer County and it it terminates right here in Lawrence Township. So thank you. Thank you.
I just um in that's been communication I just wanted to share. I think we all received this in our packets. Just um Central Jersey Legal Services um sent a letter to us. Um and I'll just read the first paragraph. Um we are the legal
services corporation funded by Civil Legal Aid organization that serves residents of Union, Middle Sex, and Mercer County. We close our fire and otherformational materials that describe our services. We stand ready to assist in any way we can when constituents come
to your office looking for help with issues including landlord tenant disputes, domestic violence, custody access to medical care, public benefits, consumer and death issues, and many other things. So, I just wanted to just read a little bit about this because if
there are any members in our community who are in need of legal services, um this is a an opportunity to um help out and that's the Central Jersey Legal Services um inc of Mercer County
Division. I just say one more thing. I'm feeling Nancy Bergen from the recreation department staring at me now. Um I don't I just want to really highlight her and her staff for what they do for that the fireworks and all the community events.
I know you mentioned the recreation department. Um I just wanted to just personally um we are lucky to have her and her staff. Yes. And they work really hard and I did not highlight them and I should have. Thank you for the opportunity.
And she was working on her birthday the day. they drew and also um public works because we had a little bit of a storm um and uh I know
that there was road closures and um our head of public safely also was in keeping us a breast of the of the weather conditions and um what has been going on in our town. So, I just wanted to also
recognize them because I saw them clean up that one tree that fell on my rider that smashed the um the bus stop. I saw that. It was like I rode by one time.
I rode past and it was totally de like down and out and then I rode past again and I saw them out there and they were within 24 hours or less they were cleaning that up. We've been in touch with the DOT that that particular one will be that will be taken care of. Yeah.
So, you know, you see them. They're out there. We're very appreciative. We we do have a tremendous uh workforce here in Mar Township that does so much on behalf of our residents and we don't um take that
lightly. Okay. So um think we are at the part of our meeting now where we need a motion to go into executive session. Um do we have that? Need a second. Second.
All in favor? Again I want to thank the public for coming out and um attending our meeting, seeing our larger discussion and your input as well. So thank you. Have a good rest of your evening.