##VIDEO ID:OZErvPr42yM## I'm ready okay good evening everyone and Welcome to our first meeting of the Year 2025 adquate notice that this meeting of the Lawrence C Council being held on Tuesday January 7th 2025 has been provided with the posting of annual meeting schedule of the set Council in accordance with 13 of the open public meetings act said notice was forwarded to the trony the times and the Princeton packet on December 19th 2024 I'd like to just take a moment um for a moment of silence um in honor of um the passing of our 39th president um President Jimmy Carter moment of silence thank you and now for 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 keep Lawrence a wonderful community in which to live I pled Al to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for stands one nation under God indivisible liy and justice for all Mr Bob here Mr Kaki here Harry here Mr Ryan cannot be with us this evening um mayor farmer here okay this time do you have any special confirmation or recognition presentations this will bring us to our first opportunity for public participation good evening Kevin Kieran Gainesboro Road um New Jersey statute 40a 669 a-81 creates a Town Council manager phys as defined in this statute since 1970 laen residence is always trusted appointe appointments or positions to the manager in the past seven years the current manager has made Staffing decisions just like the previous managers of the last 48 now select council members want to user that power taking decisions Away by introducing ordinance 20 48-24 this further proves that that a new Council body is becoming a trans arent although a promise it's not becoming transparent although it promotes transparency I'm sorry it paves the way for Council hiring Poli appointees of the Deputy municipal clerk over appoint promoting a current employee that will have full certification in a matter of months the council is supposed to represent all of the township residents and not a subset based on the non-transparent decisions to not approve the only Township resident as a council on for the recreation committee recommending opening in further creating a m task force for the community center and appointing a task force that only represents a small subset of the township residents and not the now this ordinance proposing cement the council not commit non-c commitment to residents of Lawrence but yet the special interests of their their s I'm sorry transparency re spet a special interest interest in self-promotion rather than a representation of the Town we've got to stop this and start representing the whole town not subsets and listening to your residents not to your special interests thank you thank you I'm sorry you want me to comment on that yeah yes please um we've researched this I've research this uh the appointment of the Deputy municipal clerk is completely permissible by New Jersey statutes by this Council under a special under no special or you need an ordinance this is not a debate let me finish what I'm saying uh there clearly is a legal ability for this Council to to appoint a deputy municipal clerk majority of the 563 municipalities in the state of New Jersey have the Township municipal Council appoint if they if they have one the deputy municipal clerk of the 60 some um municipalities in the state of New Jersey that operate under our form of manager Council form of government U approximately 30 to 35 have the council appoint um the deputy municipal clerk uh the township of East Winder which is the exact same form of government we have has the uh uh deputy clerk appointed by Council it's perfectly uh legitimate uh it's it's transparent because it happens right here in in the open I'm not saying that I'm in favor of it against it whatever I'm just giving you my my interpretation and expression of the New Jersey statutes that's all I'm going to say thank you madam mayor may I make a comment and just for clarity we will not be disc discussing employment information here but the process is that someone is in the process for that position we're not creating a new position it's something that just has not been filled yet so please allow the process to continue and it is fully transparent they heard me see no additional public comment at this time okay is there are there any revisions to the agenda that um request for an executive session on the agenda on the agenda adoption of minut we need to table at this time so we have um sufficient quum to approve those minutes but the additional minutes we want to go through do I have a motion well mayor I'll make a motion to table uh AA regular meeting of August 20th 2024 just to stay in order I second with the motion is second Madam clerk if you could call the RO Please Mr Bob yes m Mr Kaki yes M Perry yes uh mayor yes the awarding and reject May I'll make a motion to move 8B close meeting of June 18 2024 second the motion second call Mr Bobby yes Mr Kaki yes M Perry yes mayor farmer yes yes I'll make a motion for 8 C close meeting October 1 uh 2024 I second okay mad can you call the RO Please Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes M Perry yes mayor farmer yes I'll make a motion for 8D close meeting October 15 2024 second have second second you call Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes m per yes mayor farmer yes I'll make a motion for E Clos meeting November 7th 2024 a second M you call pleas Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes M Barry yes mayor yes and finally eight I'll make a motion to introduce a f Clos meeting December 3rd 2024 I second m Mr B yes Mr Kaki yes M car yes mayor Bara yes okay we have um our first awarding of Mayor I'll introduce uh 9A number 54 authorizing awarding contract to techn Pro electrical LLC for traffic signal maintenance 2025 okay Mr do you have any no this is a ward we have uh we are responsible for maintaining certain traffic signals this is the annual contract for $ 3698 second second call pleas Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes M Perry yes be Farmers yes introduction of ordinance introduction of ordinance 10A ordinance number 2481 d24 an ordinance amending chapter 10 article 6 of The Lawrence Township Administrative Code section 10-38 entitled municipal clerk hyphen Deputy municipal clerk position second Mr s Could you um provide some explanation for us with regards to what is needed to vote this is I'm sorry this is just introduction of the ordinance there's no hearing tonight on this this just allows it to be introduced and at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the council which I believe is the 21st there would be a uh there would be a uh hearing on it so the the motion tonight is simply to introduce there's no legal authority to have a hearing tonight okay so it appears that we will need to table those for this evening there's no second yes there's no second okay thank you motion to table we would need a motion to table that would be to a date certain of the 21th 1 of January okay you want make a motion I'm not doing first someone needs to make a motion to table motion to table yes I'll do it I'll make a motion to table 10 a um ording number 2481 d24 to a date certain of our next meeting uh January 21st 2024 or 25 25 I knew it was going to get me thank you counil we have a second second M if you call Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes Miss Perry no uh mayor farmer yes okay so now for adoption ofes that was there is none okay brings us now to the manager report good evening everyone I want to wish everybody a Happy New Year um I look forward to working positively with everybody into this new year my uh report is simply limited to acknowledge Christine Buck who was was a long time Animal control officer I worked for this town for many many years she is she retired very recently and I just wanted to acknowledge her good service to the community and to our municipal government um she interacted very positively with many many uh Community residents and I want to wish her good luck in her retirement and whatever she decides to do in the future she's a snake whisper and that I don't have anything thank you Mr s um the only thing we need to put on our agenda and and the uh managers aware of this uh bringing the our planner in if she's available at the next meeting on the 21st so that we can pass a resolution dealing with the affordable housing changes uh I am already preparing a draft resolution uh that I will have literally within the next day or two for distribution uh and I want the uh manager and the planner to uh and our engineer to review it uh this is a requirement under the statute so we will need to have U this uh addressed U at the next meeting because we have to report to DCA by January 31st 2025 that's all I have manag that should just extend an invitation to come to the next meeting okay I'm sorry did you indicate that was gonna be making I'm sorry did you indicate that our yeah we are hoping that our planner will come in and give a brief presentation on the numbers yeah if she can't make it I've asked her to give us just a report on her feelings and and recommendations with regard to um the our affordable housing obligations um she's working on her schedule to to come um if not uh our and I will be here obviously next time and we can have an open discussion about our affordable housing obligations at that time I don't p i don't perceive a lengthy presentation um we we'll discuss it that night but I I think we'll we'll be able to review it and uh pass a resolution accordingly that night relatively quickly mayor can I ask a question has this conversation has this topic come up at the planning board at all as the planner spoken about it yes it has come up with regards to her coming to before Council and presenting but but no conversation amongst the planning board itself and I I was just wondering what the planning board's feelings discussion about it yeah I'd have to problem I mean she's coming next she's coming in week that's fine thank you thank you Mr anything to report got a few things to report here we're going to be having a special school board election coming up on March uh 11th 2025 I think I sent you um information on that um the deadline for that V is registration for that is going to be February 18th the deadline for the vote by mail will be March 4th the mailing they're going to be mailing assemble ballot out probably March 5th and then uh to apply will be um in person will be March 10th so and you know that's all on the clerk's office to do so we'll have it that one so then June Al the June primary election will be moved from June 3rd to June 10th the chronological log isn't out yet to tell us when that is because you know we have two seats up so um when I get that I'll make sure you get that so you'll know um everything with nominated petitions and things of that nature uh The Star Ledger um as of February or or the time in South Jersey um they won't they're going out of print uh print circulation as of February 2025 so the governor put in a fast track kind of thing to allow us to use the papers you know those who use the times especially the municipalities we use the tonian so we're okay but we can use that if we need to uh let's see boards and committees I gave you updated list of some more people uh that's on there and we are really busy in the cl's office we sent out the dog licensing we are uh finishing up trying to close the minutes for 2025 and we're also doing the rental landlord listings um that is required by we're we getting the we had over 3,000 of those to get uh established so we're we're we're working and happy New Year everyone bring us now to unfinished business new business appointments of boards and committees I believe we're going to be doing that at our next meeting it's up to you when you want to do them okay do you want to do them at your next meeting at the next meeting that way had an opportunity to review all the applications that we've received the reappointments okay now you have all the ones that I have so far yes okay okay and I did um reach out and call a few people so we have some more people on the list okay does that sound okay with Council yeah mer uh do we want to interview uh applicants for I believe the zoning board we can I don't know that we have you you have to do the yeah we do you hold on a second and I believe we have an Elsa opening as well should probably in oh yeah because Elsa is due the end of this month okay problem Elsa there the 21st is Elsa's meeting at 12:00 that's how B's last day yes we then reorganized uh February but we we need to know who's who so we could be ready for our February meeting to reorganize okay so will the 21st be enough time if you know the person then or or you're saying because it's at 12 o'clock you in the day wow what is we can make the 21st work okay all right we could go to Elsa's meeting at 12 it everything that the executive director could talk about he won't be able to make nominations that day until our February's meeting all right because we we make the nominations in uh January meeting to take effect February we so he can hold off not the way we do it but well historically how have you done it then how has it been done historically interviewed the first meeting we would had interviews tonight okay yeah because we normally send that over to Y as well I send a copy of the resolution over to that letting them know as well okay Mr if we wanted to um well we could also do a special meeting if we want to um to so that we can meet the the time frame for Elsa so that there is so how does council feel about that we were to hold a special Mee that sounds fun to interview the two is that okay yeah any agreement y okay so I will Circle back with Madam CL we will get a DAT time and we'll reach out to I believe we have two candidates for that position which one yes okay so we'll take care of that and then on your Z what about your zoning and you can do same time okay very good you'll give adequate notice obviously yes absolutely any other discussion with regards to boards and committees that we discuss okay we'll get the interview set up for the Elsa Zing prior to the first okay this now brings us to the next part in our meeting for public participation 3 minute liation EXC me happy New Year everyone er um just two things um first thing was on um for the appointments of boards and committees um I gone to the township website I have an interest in a couple of them and perhaps putting my name in um when I click on the link the application it went to a dead page so it didn't like link to the actual application so I just want to alert you guys to that and then um I'm a little more plugged in obviously because I come to all the meetings so I'm kind of aware of the cyclical nature of like appointments and reappointments and stuff but I was wondering if and I believe this might have been done last year posting all of the positions for these boards and committees um on Township social media maybe even sending it out in the township newsletter just so that people who might not know that these vacancies exist um or even ones where they're open and it just you know it creates new interest um yeah do remember they did do that last year on I think it was down social media although I think the planning board vacancies weren't on that list so um just little you know measure twice cut one sort of thing make sure it's all there um because I know that there's a couple that aren't in fill at all so so that'd be good and then the other thing I had um I think it was maybe like three or four months ago but I'm might be Inc correct um I kind of suggested the idea of just to kind of better educate the public um if with these agendas when they're posted online if the actual bodies of the resolutions were um included with them um because of that my only question was for um the block of f with all the Professional Service agreements um all the other resolutions kind of articulate like who is kind of being contracted with or where you know kind of that money is going whether it's um you know safe the animal shelter or Tres shield for you know Municipal security guards so um if we could have red off um just F1 through 12 um who that V there is for the professional service agreement and for how much that' be very appreciated okay thank you do that I'm sorry mayor which one was that he would like to know yeah one the PSA talking yeah he's talking about professional professional Serv now I think with regards to putting the the language on the online that goes with the agenda the attachments I think there was there was an issue with that no the thing is is that resolutions are really only good for one year now if you want to just have on there on your resolutions um the amount of money who we given a vendor to it's always been where you can get a copy of that resolution in question from the clerk's office I don't want to have to put 409 resolutions attachments in there we have an attorney that reviews our um our agreements and we also have a council up here that that does it so let me just before just just um what you're interested in is the body of the resolutions right so so if it would be available say for instance on the table or I know that you know just the availability of it to read in answer the Mee yeah um other other governing bodies like um the mer County Board of County Commissioners so like when they have their agenda it's all the listed resolutions and then the actual resolutions themselves because for example like if I for example you know might want to weigh in just as a member of the public on say the planner who you know it's no secret here that I'm not really satisfied with the work that they've done you know I might want to come up and say I would encourage Council to vote now but there's no real way of knowing if if it's the same person or if it's a new person or what have you and I think that what I've noticed just as a pattern is a lot of folks come up with those sorts of questions and if it was just included in the digital copy you know as this so it's like you've got the list and then you've got the actual resolutions that'll be voted on with the body so then it's like okay so maybe I think that's too much or maybe I think it's not enough if it's you know it's just yeah exactly for information thank can do that hello everyone Eric barash resident of Mercer County since 1965 planning on making a return to Lawrence Township sometime this year I was here specifically on the 17th with a friend in the hospital um I always enjoyed that meeting even though I'm Jewish because I consider that like the Christmas meeting I specifically came for item 10 it was tabled because Olympia wasn't here and John wasn't here and now it gets tabled again till the 21st I have an interest in ordinance number 2481 d24 so what exactly is going to happen now on the 21st when I come back a third time I'm just curious well may mayor uh it's my understanding that it's been tabled for introduction there's a process of intro excuse me introduction and then following the next meeting would be the actual public hearing so if it's going to be a date certain for the 21st of January uh that would be for introduction only there would be no public hearing okay and then I just follow the process by coming to the meetings I guess as it goes to fruition whenever said position whatever it is I mean it's just I'm just curious so yes all right I guess I'll just follow the process that's correct okay can't he and I'm just trying to understand because you said that based on New Jersey statutes is legal without an ordinance but in 40 I'm sorry it's leg what did you say to the appointment of the Deputy municipal clerk that is legal and then um I just want to show you know 4069 A- 89 appointment of Municipal manager and Clerk and others the m and I'm only going to paraphrase the first sentence in this the municipal Council shall appoint a Municipal manager and a municipal clerk yeah specifically it calls out under 40a -135 the deputy municipal clerk this position may be created by ordinance adopted by the governing body term of appointment compensation power duties and functions are determined by an by the ordinance so you need this ordinance to usurp the power of the it's notur it's not usurping it's notur appointing it and not the township manager it is you're taking power away from them you're the let me finish the legislature of the state of New Jersey has put a mechanism in that allows for the governing body to appoint the deputy municipal clerk by ordinance but that is permitted by State Statute not usurping anybody's duties if you're you're literally stating that the Town Council is now appointing this position versus a Township manager correct did you youur that no you're not no you're not no the legislature of New Jersey has has put a mechanism in that allows for just this particular position not talking about any other position this particular position can can be at their discretion appointed uh by the township committee it's not usurping anybody's uh okay so you're introducing an ordinance that says conformance with the New Jersey statutes there's an ordinance being put forth to be to be read and further approved for the Town Council to make the recommendation and hiring ability of this position yet it was stated that this position this person's already in place so has nothing to do first of all we're not going to discuss anybody's Personnel position there's nothing to do that this person is quote in place there's nobody in place in the Deputy Municipal cl's position because it does not exist in the T alance the position doesn't no it hasn't been created I thought it was created in the past it's not created not that's that's that's what we were discussing 10 minutes ago or whatever uh there's the ordinance has been tabled till the 21st of January at that time it'll be up to the uh Council to determine uh whether or not they uh move forward with that there is no position created in the uh ordinances of the township of Lawrence for this position right now so forget me because it a pointing not creating in this orance well it's a garbage difference it is a point it is a point it's not create it's already been created by the state of New Jersey by the legis it's up to them to implement the statute if they want to yet in the past 55 years that position has been given to the township manager in this form of government it's up to the it's up to the council it's not I understand it's not the statute I interrupt you don't interrupt me the statute does not say that it's up to the manager the statute says if they want to do it they mean the council uh they have that Authority I didn't create the law they didn't create the law the legislature in New Jersey created it and the governor signed it thank you Mr thank you resolution see no additional questions or comments from the audience for public participation is now closed mayor mayor mayor speak for a second is regarding this last subject I just want to it's my understanding that the state law provides the opportunity for a governing body in our form of government to decide whether it appoints the deputy municipal clerk or the manager does we've had in our ordinance the deputy municipal clerk it was VAP right it was subject to interpretation and we all we all reviewed it and and we determined even though the town has been following a certain path for 53 years uh it was determined that we wanted to clarify we meaning you wanted to clarify um our particular ordinance under the code to make certain that the governing body is the is is the appointing authority for the deputy missal Clerk and that's what I think is being proposed right now in conformance and compliance with state law um we had something in place that the majority believe needed clarification and this ordinance uh will make that clarification if voted uh favorable I just wanted to have that that's excuse me that's accurate it's up to the council whether or not they want to uh allow the deputy Municipal Clerk's position pursuant the state statute to be part of the ordinances of the township alars there there is a need for clarification we we've been talking about this now for a couple months it's up to you and it will be at at hopefully one of the future meetings now moving on to resolutions mayor I'd like to introduce uh some of the resolutions block but I wanted to make sure that uh my colleagues are all right if I introduce I'm uh all but the Professional Service agreements in a block is that all right oh yes we're okay so I'll make a motion to move 18 D1 and then H1 through I8 in a block councilman can you please repeat that so i' like I'm making a motion to introduce resolution D1 which is a refund skipping over the fs uh there are no G's or grants so starting with h and then in addition to D1 H 18 H1 and miscellaneous including all the miscellaneous and then going through the state contracts and I all the way up until I8 so from D1 18 D1 and then 18 H1 through 18 i8 in a block y do we have a second okay M cler Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes yes may yes all right mayor one one moment mayor let me get this ready all right do you want to split it I'm good I'm all right uh if I may I'd like to introduce uh 18 F1 uh number 42 authorizing professional service agreement authorizing a Professional Services agreement for Bond Council for 2025 McManaman Scotland and Bowman LLC do you have a second second mad Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes M Perry yes may bur yes all right mayor i' like to move 18 F2 authorizing professional service agreement for a municipal auditor 2025 that would be more do we have a second second mad cler you call the all Mr bobin yes Mr Kaki yes Perry yes mayor farmer yes I'd like to make a motion to introduce 18 F3 number 44 authorizing a Professional Services agreement for special Council for Labor Relations for 2025 Mr Armando vrio Esquire we have second second Madam C you call the RO Please Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes M Perry yes mayor fmer yes I make a motion to introduce 18 F4 number 45 authorizing Professional Services agreement for the municipal attorney for 2025 that would be Murphy Orlando LLC you have a second second mad cler call the Mr bobit yes Mr Kaki yes m p yes mayor farmer yes motion introduce 18 F5 number 46 authorizing Professional Services agreement for acoustical consultant for planning board 2025 and that is the noise consultancy LLC you have a second second Madam cler call R Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes M Perry yes mayor F yes a motion to introduce 18 F6 number 47 authorizing a Professional Services agreement for planning board attorney for 2025 and that would be Mason Griffin and Pearson we have a second second mad cour please call the RO Mr bobit yes Mr Kaki yes Miss Perry yes mayor yes I'll introduce 18 F7 number 48 offer Professional Services agreement for planning consultant for the planning board 2025 and that would be you have a second second CL Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes m per yes mayor farmer yes I'd like to introduce 18 f8 number 49 authorizing a Professional Services agreement for planning board traffic consultant for 2025 and that would be aora and Associates PC you have a second second Madam CL please call the rooll Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes M Perry yes mayor farmer yes I introduce 18 F9 number 50 authorizing of Professional Services agreement for zoning board attorney for 2025 that be Mason griman do you have a second second M cler please call the RO Mr Bob yes Mr kak yes yes mayor yes introduce 18 F10 number 5 authorizing a Professional Services agreement for planning board consultant for the zoning board for 2025 and that would be Kyle mcis you have a second second Madam clerk please call the r Mr Bobby yes Mr Kaki yes Mr Perry yes mayor farmer yes I'll introduce 18 f11 number 52 authorizing a Professional Services agreement for zoning board traffic consultant for 2025 and that would be Aurora and Associates PC do you have a second second Madam cler please call the r Mr bobin yes Mr Kaki yes Barry yes Fair farmer yes I'll introduce 18 F12 number 53 authorizing service provider for payroll services for 2025 and that would be prime point we have a second second Madam cler can you call the rooll Mr yes Mr Kaki M Perry yes may yes I hope that mayor I hope that satisfies the public I TR we can also if they need some um later they can call our office to get them let we don't have any grants to discuss miscellaneous brings us now to we're look at the author authorizing the adoption of the 2025 temporary budget did it's that's been done thank you still here all right um contract that bring us to council initiatives and to report um the only thing I wanted to report is that we are in the process of receiving um bids for the RFP and uh it will be closing on FR there any other and in communication I don't believe we have anything to this evening okay well then this brings us now to our executive session can we have a motion for executive session second second all in favor hi okay thank you to the public for coming out this evening for first meeting of 2025