Good evening and welcome. Is that working? It's not working. Good evening. Adequate notice of this meeting of the Lawrence Township Council being held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 has been provided to the posting of the annual meeting
schedule of said council in accordance with section 13 of the open public meetings act. Said notice was reported forwarded to the tranonian, the times and the princet on December 19th, 2024.
Um, we will now ask everyone to stand please for a moment of silence for former County Executive Brian. Thank you. Read a brief statement. On behalf of Lawrence Township, we
extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of former Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes. Mr. He has dedicated many years of distinguished service to Mercer County, consistently sh champion the needs of
all towns within our county. We are profoundly grateful for his unwavering commitment and leadership which have had a direct and lasting impact on Lauren on the Lawrence Township community in many ways.
His legacy will be remembered fondly and with deep appreciation. Mayor Patricia Hendrick Smer and the Lawrence Township Council. I don't know if anybody needs to say anything. I I understand um that flags
will be um flying half mass tomorrow in the state government, county government, and here in our municipal government as well. By direction of the governor, by direction of Governor Phil Murphy. And with that, um we'll have an
inspiration May we carry on 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 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.
Madam cler, if you could please call the role. Mr. Bobin here. Mr. Kaki here. Miss Perry here. Miss Santos cannot be with us this evening. Mayor Farmer here. Okay. We do have um an amendment to the
agenda for the proclamation in celebration of Mr. Fred Jacob Chuchillo 99th birthday. We will be holding that at a later time. Excuse me. And with that, we will now have the mayor's task force
presentation, an update on the large community. Okay. Am I just standing in front of it? Oh, you can. We'll take your chair on the other side. That's peculiar. I don't know why. As we all can see, we are downstairs as the
upstairs chambers are under renovation. Okay. Uh, good evening. My name is Bonnie Gigglio. I am a member of the mayor's task force on the future of the Lawrence Community Center. In October 2024, Lawrence Township Council adopted
resolution number 34624, establishing the mayor's task force to advise the council on concerns of Lawrence Township residents, address the mission statement and future vision of the Lawrence Community Center, engage the community to ensure decisions
reflect township needs, and preserve the cent's legacy for all residents. To that end, the task force has met with and gathered information and opinions uh data from many people throughout the community over the la the past six months, culminating in an in-person town
hall style meeting in May and an online survey. The task force has met once since the town hall meeting where we heard from another community member who has graciously volunteered to help sort and analyze all of the data that the committee has received. Mary McKillip is
a township resident since 2010 with two children in the district and she has a PhD in sociology and over 15 years in education research. She shared with the task force her data analysis and the task force is grateful to her for lending her expertise and valuable time
to helping analyze the data collected. At this time I'm able to share with the council and the community at large where the data that has been collected has come from. Information has been collected from the community in the following ways. The May 13th meeting had
about 100 people in attendance. There were 16 public commenters, notes from facilitators at 12 focus group tables, and 24 individual comment cards. The online survey was open April 15th to May 15th. There were 159 survey responses,
including 91 open-ended responses. There were 34 additional respondents via email and the pre-servey. The task force is still analyzing all of the data received and hopes to be able to have more information to present at the next council meeting next month. Thank you
for your time. Thank you, Miss G. And also just want to um uh share thank you to the Lawrence resident that has agreed to work on the um the results of the survey in using her skills. We are
most appreciative of that. Thank you. And next we will have Mr. Fred Green, board of directors of the Lawrence Mountain Housing. package for 10 and the council people. Okay. None for you. Okay.
[Laughter] [Music] Thank you. Uh members of the council, good afternoon, good evening um to all who are here. Uh I'm here to represent
um the board of directors of Lawrence Nonprofit Housing, the sponsors of Edgar's Crossing Village. Um, little did I know at the time that we um were building Edgar's Crossing Village
that 50 years later I'd be here in front of you giving you a little lowdown on what's happening at Edgar's Crossing Village. Especially when um when we were fighting
for Egos Crossing Village, we had people in the audience say it wouldn't last 6 months. So I think that's a big difference to uh from 6 months to 50 years.
In in u 2022, we paid off our 48-year mortgage and we had to come back and renew our parliament, which is payment in lie of taxes um to the township
um which we were graciously given. And we also part of that the re refinancing of the mortgage um we did improvements uh in the village and we told we we told
council from time to time we would come back and give you an update on uh how the money was spent and what we were doing. And that's what I'm I'm here tonight for. Um we ha we have uh after I
left managing the development we hired a management company uh called PRD who u who is doing a very excellent job. So, and and what I have given council
and and the uh um town manager is a um copy of what I have and it's um pictures. They say photos speak um
louder than words. So, what what you have here is pictures of of the improvements that we have done thus far. Um, exciting updates from Edgars Crossing Village.
Lawrence Nonprofit Housing is proud to share the positive momentum occurring at Edgar's Crossing Village. Our affordable housing community dedicated to low to moderate income families. As part of our commitment to creating
safe, supportive, and thriving neighborhoods, we've made significant strides that we love to celebrate with you. Community enhancements. Recent property improvements have enhanced both the functionality and curb
appeal of our community, allowing residents to take pride in their homes. These $2.5 million improvements consist of the following. An expansion to the office and community space used by every child value. That's
Every Child Value is our after school program that we started 20 years ago. Update updated underground repiping of the entire complex. That's that's completed.
Uh before that uh every winter we started having at least two or three and this was even before I left as manager. We started having um we would have two or three um breakage of water lines uh
disruptions and it it even got worse as as the project got older. So we have completely new water um lines in throughout the development. Install all new hose bib bibs throughout
the facility. New HVAC units throughout the complex. That means that each apartment unit has a new um uh heating and air conditioning unit.
updated camera system for the safety of all who call Edgar's Crossing Village home. We began updating the kitchen and bathrooms and you you'll have photos of those.
Resident Empowerment. We broaden resident services including job training workshops, youth tutoring programs, and financial literacy classes. All designed to help families grow and succeed.
Family focused events. Edgars Crossing is more than just housing. It's a community. We've ho hosted seasonal gatherings, culture celebrations, and wellness fairs to bring neighbors together and strengthen
community ties. We've also started a recently we've started a culture club that um we're planning on taking um bus trips just like we used to do when we had the
little center. when we had the little center um we used to take bus tours to DC um all over the place and I mean we'd have 40 and 50 kids with their families.
Uh we invite council members, community partners, and neighbors to visit Egar's Crossing Village to witness these inspiring developments firsthand.
Together, we can continue to build stronger and more exclusive Lawrence. And we do we do wish you would uh just take a drive through um Edgar's Crossing Village and not only Edgar's Crossing
Village, but Edgars Crossing itself. Um as as I have said, I grew up in in Edgar's Crossing as a as a child. Um, we lived when my family moved into Edgar's
Crossing, we lived in substandard housing. We had dirt roads when I was a kid, outouses, pig pens, chicken coops in in everybody's backyard. Um, and today,
my street has $600,000 homes that are built. I mean, if if if the men who I grew up with in Edgar's Crossing could come back, they must be looking down and say, you
know, Acres Crossing is going to hell. [Music] So, council folks, uh, just take a ride through Edgar's Cross and Ages Crossing Village. You'd be amazed um how far
we've come. Um and you know um and you know I I always tell people I'm 91 years old now. So, if you hear me tooting my horn, um, I'm going to toot it
because, you know, I don't want you to talk about Fred did all this good stuff, um, when I'm dead and gone. I want to talk it before I'm history. Thank you, John. Ladies and gentlemen,
thank you, Mr. Vern. and uh keep on and as a proud member myself at others crossing the community. Um I can remember a lot not as much as you but I know you know the the work that you have
done and what is currently happening at Edgar's Crossing Village with the improvements. um the the residents there are truly the beneficiaries of the work um the PRG is doing and I'm super excited to hear that culture club is
back because I do remember again those field trips and how valuable they are to young children to get them out of the neighborhood to see other places like Washington DC or even Philadelphia is a tremendous um opportunity and a great
impact for their education. So thank you [Music] Fred, I looked at the picture of the kitchen. I remember that old kitchen we had to work in on the fish fries and being there setting up. I'm ready to
come back and do the hush puppies for you. That's good, Tim. I'm ready for you to come back. And I I I also want to say Jim was mayor when u they the town fans
a proclamation to name the street after me and I thank you Jim for that. Yeah just so that it's on the record what Mr. Green just mentioned is that um Mr. Kaki was the mayor at the time that we
created the Fred Marine Avenue or Fever Road, right? This road. Um, and I had the great pleasure of meeting one of your new neighbors on Fred Road. And yeah, the neighborhood has has changed quite a bit.
With that, we'll now have the first opportunity for public participation at five minutes for things not on the agenda. Good evening, mayor, councel. Uh, quick question. Resolution H18 authorizing a close session of council meeting calling
regularly to discuss the litigation and list the court case there. Apparently, that court case was settled. And my question is, I'm just curious when will the public see a resolution outlining the terms and and the terms of
the settlement and the public vote? Better know if that was for for now to discuss it something on the agenda or should I address it. Okay. So, we have not received any uh information with regard to um settlement paperwork that
needs to be executed by the mayor or the governing body. So, as soon as we receive that and execute that, then that will become information that would be made available to the public. It's still it's still technically on the docket as an active case and we have not received any of the documentation. It could come
tomorrow. It could come understand. But hopefully by the next meeting we should hopefully have something and there'll be a public vote on that I would assume. Of course. Thank you. Thank you council. It could be this could be the appropriate time just to let me just put
on the record. Yeah. Um on u just as a a background on Friday, I think May 29th, I received information from our attorney with regard to
litigation that's captured Capone at all versus Coreo at all. It was a matter that was scheduled for trial on June 2nd and apparently the parties had uh gotten together and were attempting a
resolution um that I didn't know the details on that Friday. that Monday um we received a request from the insurer that um the governing body had to
convene to discuss any proposed um resolution to the case. Um I indicated to our attorney and to the insurance carrier that we were scheduled for a June 17th meeting and we would we would discuss it at that time. The superior
court judge apparently indicated that that was unacceptable and that we needed to uh gather the governing body on an urgent basis over the next couple days. And because of the 48 hour notice and because of all the schedules that were
involved, we were able to get that together on June 5th at 100 p.m. And that's when we scheduled our special meeting. Um and uh we went into close session after a motion by Mr. Bob to go into close session for litigation
purposes and it was seconded and we had the discussion at that time. Um the matter is still technically pending at this point. So what we said just a couple minutes ago still stands. But I just wanted the record to reflect that at that meeting um the case was not uh
described the case was not um on the agenda but the matter was litigation and uh litigation is one of those uh subject matters that are appropriate for um executive session. So for the purposes of clarity, it was for Capony at all
versus Gloria, a matter pending in the Superior Court, Mercer County, and I don't know if we even have a need for a close session tonight with regard to that matter. No, I I think that adequately covers our our concerns. Uh
and as indicated a couple minutes ago, we're still awaiting the documentation with regard to the exact terms of the settlement. So, I don't see any need for a close session this this evening. Thank you.
Thank you for that clarification. Is there any public participation? Apologize. I feel like sitting with my back to everybody. Apologies. Martha friend. um here with my Lawrence Neighbors Together hat on and I just wanted to give a couple shoutouts after
our very successful and very wet first annual Lawrence Pridefest. Um but there were some folks who I needed to thank. Amy Landau from the Lawrence Health Department was exceptionally helpful.
Chrissy Vincent who secured us an ambulance at least until they had to go for transport, not a not an emergency. So that was good to hear. and the two wonderful EMTs, David Zevaki, Jim Lopez, who jumped right in. They were cheering for the runners and the walkers, helped
us a little bit with some of the um traffic. Uh our police chief reading, Captain Le, if I'm saying that correctly. I've only emailed officer Everest. Uh and former police chief Chris Longer, who attended our event.
Our Lawrence clerk, Miss Carter, very helpful. her exceptional staff, our assist our deputy municipal clerk and in fact one of the other staff members who was a vendor at our event which was wonderful. Manager Ninsky with his expert advice and support department
of public works. Um we had 50 runners, walkers and rollers show up in the rain. We had 32 vendors sign up to participate. We didn't get them all because it was a very wet Sunday. We had 12 committed organizers
who met repeatedly always at small businesses in Lawrence so we can give them our business. Always we have our meetings there. Um and the so many volunteers who showed up to support folks just driving by pulled over. We had a couple of those wait what's going on? Because you know it's so hard to get
the message out. Um and they stayed to help. Connections were made. This benefited the entire town. Um, I don't want to waste everybody's time, but the event sponsors, if you haven't seen our website, are wide ranging and many of
you are on this list. Thank you so much. But I encourage you to just check out our website, Lawrence Pridefest. It will be up until I guess we start planning the next one. We're meeting this weekend to see if that's going to happen. Um but just I think it's worthwhile to look um
at the expansive list of folks who said I want to support this. Um and even looking at those vendors we worked so hard to make sure that we were going to lift up our small businesses. Um and of course the owners of the Lawrence Shopping Center who gave us permission
uh to hold this event there in hopes of bringing some love and support to our Lawrence Shopping Center. So thank you to all those who attended who supported Lawrence Neighbors Together is very very grateful. Thank you. Yes. And extending kudos to Lauren's
neighbors together and to Lawrence Pride Fest, our very first one. Um it it to me was a tremendous success. Um it created a lot of community good and we were there and people um really had a good
time. I didn't mind the rain at all but and the rainers, you know, the runners uh did a great job and the coordination of your of the committee is to be commended. Seeing no other public participation, uh
we'll close that section out now and move to the adoption of minutes from the previous meeting. The review and revision of the agenda and I do believe we have a revision on the agenda. Yeah, I would like to make a
motion um to remove 18H18 the close session to discuss uh litigation as it sounds like there's nothing to discuss at this moment. Correct. So, I'll make that motion. Second. Is
there all of them at once? We also have another revision. We're going to um under new business, new business 16A. We are going to uh move to the next
meeting for July 15th, discussion of agenda meetings. Okay. So that we can have full council present. And do I have a second? Second. Okay. Any other changes to the agenda this
evening? Seeing none, madame clerk, if you could call the vote, please. Mr. Bobit, yes. Mr. Kaki, yes. Miss Perry, yes. Mayor Burma, yes. Number eight, the adopted adoption of minutes from our previous meetings.
Mayor, I'll move 8A regular meeting the minutes of the regular meeting of February 18th, 2025. Is there a second? Second. Madam clerk, if you could call the role, please. Mr. Bobin, yes. Mr. Kaki, yes. M. Perry,
yes. Mayor Farmer, yes. Mayor, I'll move the meeting minutes of uh I'll move 8B, regular meeting minutes of March 4th, 2025. Do we have a second? Second. Okay. Madam clerk, please call
the ro. Mr. Bobbit. Yes. Mr. Kaki. Yes. M. Perry. Yes. Mayor Farmer. Yes. Okay. Thank you everyone. And now we'll have the awarding and or rejection of bids. Mayor, I'll move 9A number 209
authorizing award of bid 25-7 colon 2025 residential concrete sidewalk program. You have a second and an explanation. This is a part of our sidewalk improvement program, concrete program. Um because of the
number of participants that um and the scope of work was known made known, we were able to calculate that the projected contract would be $2,937. Now, this is money that's not this is money that will be paid by the participating property owners over a
period of five years as a part of our sidewalk program. Okay. Um, Madam Clerk, if you could call the role, please. Mr. Bobby, yes. Mr. Kaki, yes. Miss Perry, yes. Mayor Brahman. Yes.
We need public participation for that. I'm sorry. the sidewalk. So, we're good. That's not an ordinance. Okay. All right. Introduction of ordinances. Um, adoption of ordinance 11. Mayor,
I'll move 118, ordinance number 2497-25, ordinance amending ordinance 2449-23 by the Township of Florence, County of Mercer, State of New Jersey, in order to revise the description of the improvement herein. Improvements to municipal buildings, council chamber
improvements, including furniture and audio visual updates, and town hall interior office painting, office furniture, and storage. Second public hearing. Oh, public hearing. Was there any questions from the public?
Seeing none. Okay. Did we get a second? Second. Second. Okay. Madam cler. Can I just provide a brief explanation to the public? Um, so this is a this is a budgetary requirement for
us. Uh, this is not an expenditure of new funds. Rather, it's a reallocation of previously approved funding to provide for renovations for our council chamber, which revises the capital budget in accordance with New Jersey budget law. So, um, we have been going through the process of renovations.
We're in the process of getting pricing and uh to be quite candid with everybody that the chairs are becoming a little bit of of a struggle in terms of pricing in terms of quality. So, we're going through and doing our due diligence with
regard to it. Um we want to uh have something that's nice, respectful, but not expensive, but will also stand the test of time. So, we're looking for the appropriate um chair for that. And so that's honestly what's kind of driving the ex the expenses, you know, where we
find ourselves um in a situation where they are more expensive than we anticipated. So we're still working on that. I'll share with you those numbers when I get which has to be a great investment because we're going from wooden pieces to shed. So I know the
public will appreciate in more than 50 years. More than 50 years. Yeah. Thank you. Okay. So, we have um a motion, a second, and an explanation. Madam cler, pretty good call. Mr. Bobbit. Yes. Mr. Kaki.
Yes. Miss Perry. Yes. Mayor Bmer. Yes. And now, uh for the manager's report, um I just uh I had I was going to talk about the renovations. Um so, we are going through our renovations of the uh council ch uh council meeting room. our
public works department has really stepped up and has been able to do a lot of the things that are reducing what we thought was going to be our cost estimate. Um I think we've kind of figured out it's they've done uh knocked off about $20,000 worth of with the value of the contract would be to get us
in the game with regard to getting the chairs that we think are appropriate. So I want to thank the public works department for jumping in and doing a lot of that work. We are hopefully on schedule to returning to that room in September. And again, it's all about the
chair. So, we'll figure that out once we get uh our information. Um, as you know, we're our CFO is is scheduled to retire December 1st. We put out an advertisement um and we are getting responses. I'm sharing them with Mr.
Cypek who's acting as the point person. This is a governing body appointment. Um, so we we have some interesting candidates and um we'll continue to receive more resumes. But my recommendation um to you all is let's
get um let's have these interviews of who we believe is um appropriate for the job that meets all the criteria. let's do them sooner rather than later on a scrolling basis instead of waiting because we want to try and place the CFO
in um by um September if not a little bit sooner so they have the time to spend with our current CFO so the transition is as seamless as possible. There's a lot to learn in terms of how we do our financing here
and that time is critical and Mr. security has agreed to uh do all that he can to be available, be there and pass the torch to somebody else. Okay. And appreciate that. That's all I have. Okay. Thank you.
And now Mr. Sipek, do you have anything to report? No. Uh we we will have something hopefully by next meeting with regard to the litigation. Nothing else for this evening there. Thank you, Madam Clerk. We had an election year. We had an election. It
was successful. Everybody did their did a great job. The county uh working cohesively. So, we were great. I'm looking forward to our next one. That's it. Can I just jump in for one second? Um um Mr. We were talking about I just
an announcement for the 2025 fourth round housing plan. Yes. the the um planning board met last night had received an excellent presentation from our planner Elizabethanis. Um that presentation is posted on our website
for anybody to see and the fair our fourth round housing plan was passed by the uh planning board. It's to be submitted to the state for review and certification. Um, so that could take a couple months, but it's it was
significant work by the planning board and our our planner. So that's something um that I wanted to inform the public about. And madame mayor, if I may, we will have a resolution necessary to be passed in all probability at the July
meeting involving our our fourth round housing plan. Uh it would be at your discretion, council's discretion if you want to have the planner here for a brief presentation uh that evening maybe at you know beginning of the meeting. Uh
it's your call. It's it's a it's a complicated issue that we we think we've met the requisite criteria. I had a long discussion with her today over it. Uh so uh I'm looking towards the July meeting
for adoption of a resolution and it may it may behoove you to have the planner here just briefly and I told her of the date and I think she's available so it's up to you. Um I'm I'm in agreement with that that we should have Miss Mattis come before
um council um and I think you know to answer any questions and to give a good um presentation. So if the council is in the same presentation she gave the plan board. Yeah. I think that would be most helpful. The um presentation that was
given to the planning board yesterday evening. I think not only could council benefit from that but also the general public would find interest in that. So um we'll move forward to extend that invitation to Miss Mance.
And I would like to just say one more thing. Yes. I don't know if y'all met our deputy here. She wasn't here the last meeting, but I'd like to just introduce her publicly to everyone. So, I would be remiss. So,
happy. Yeah. Okay. Unfinished business. Yeah, I don't see any for us. um new business. I just wanted to make this right now location or just um that tomorrow we
will have our Junth celebration um at 10:00 a.m. here at town hall at the steps and we're looking forward to um Assemblywoman Verelli Lenos Jackson will be our speaker and the Lawrence Township Gospel Choir will be performing
10 a.m. and we'll have a little breakfast. So you can make it [Music] anything else. Okay. Then this brings us to the second opportunity for public participation.
This is a three minute. Okay. See no movement. Um we're along to um the first resolutions. Mayor the council. I'll move all the resolutions in block. I'll move 18 C1
through H17 and then H19 as well. Second council preparing. Okay. Okay. I guess we're call Mr. Bobby. Yes. Mr. Kaki. Yes. M. Perry.
Yes. Mayor Farmer. Yes. um council initiatives and layers on reports. So we can have um go ahead. So I would like to give you an update with the fire survey. Your microphone's off. Don't judge.
Okay. I would like to give you an update with the fire survey. We will be presenting our final findings to the council on July 15th for a final determination in our August meeting so that we can move forward and award the bid.
Any other reports? Let's see. Um well, as I mentioned, the planning board as was mentioned the planning board met uh last night. We reviewed and voted on the housing study. So that will be coming before you all July 15th. And there is
information on the website under the planning board for additional information. Moving right along. Is there anything else? I'll go to written communication. I know I know I know Councilman Kappy won't say anything, but I just want to say good job on the uh Memorial Day
parade. wonderful event. You always keep us always keep us on track. You you are not lying when you say it's 10 o'clock sharp. We get this going and we all hope follow suit. So, thank you.
Thank you. Absolutely. All right. So, we're going to um written communication. Um in light of Junth, um we have a letter from Senators Shirley Turner and the New Jersey Senate. Um she so graciously also
provided us with um a proclamation for our Junth celebration. So, I'll just read um the the letter that came along with it. It's a dear Mayor Farmer, I'd like to extend my appreciation to Lawrence Township upon its second annual
Junth commemorative commemoration event. Such events are important for honoring Junth's historical significance and encouraging a deeper understanding of this key moment in American history. Junth, which marks the emancipation of
the last enslaved people in the United States, is a day of reflection, remembrance, and celebration. The town's commitment to commemorating this day shows this day shows dedication to acknowledging the past and working
towards a more united and equitable future. I am grateful for the opportunity to educate our community and gather together to reflect on the meaning of freedom and equality. I would also like to thank the Lawrence Township DEI committee for organizing
this important commemoration. Events like these are vital for promoting cultural awareness and celebrating the richness and resilience of African-American history and culture. and we are fortunate to have such a dedicated and hardworking DEI committee
in our community. Please accept the accompanying resolution to properly acknowledge and honor Lawrence Township Junth's commemoration. Sincerely, Shirley K. Turner, Senator, 15th District. And it's a as this we will not have an
executive session this evening. So, wow. Okay, I think we're record time here. Do we have a motion for an adjournment? Motion for second. Second. All in favor?
All right. Where did you go?