good evening everyone thank you for coming out on this beautiful Tuesday almost spring day and notice of this meeting of the Lawrence Township being held on Tuesday March 18 2025 has been provided through
the posting of the annual meeting schedule of St Council accordance to section 13 of the open public meeing act said notes was forwarded to The Trentonian the times and the prin packet on December 19
2024 and in light of wom's History Month I'd like to read one of um Council woman Perry and myself a favorite quote from Maya Angela and it says people will forget what you said people will forget
what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel Maya Angel and with that we'll have our inspiration Madam CL may we carry out our work in this meeting and AD just honorable and
sincere man always bearing in mind our duties and continue to keep Lawrence a wonderful community in which to I pledge alance to the of the United States America the rep for it stands one
nation indivisible Mr Bobby here Mr M here Mr Ryan here mayor far here with that this brings now excuse me to a special uh presentation we will have a presentation from the mayor's
task force regarding an update on the Lawrence Community Center and Dr Chris Wy will be presenting on behalf of the commit of the task force hello uh thank you jisha farmer and uh Township counsel for allowing me
to speak uh my name is Chris Wily I'm speaking on behalf of the mayor's task force created by uh Township Council to gather Community input um on the use in the future of the Lawrence Community Center otherwise known as Lawrence Township Council
resolution number 34624 uh my purpose this evening is to bring the council up to date uh on the progress made by the task force um as the resolution States the community center was originally ini initiated by
the Lawrence Township community and since then has played a vital role in fostering Unity addressing economic challenges and promoting inclusive development within the township of Lawrence in the past the community center has provided shelter food clothing and other services for family
in need Township Council created the task force to advise Council of the concerns of residents of Lawrence Township address the mission statement and Future Vision of the center engage the community ensuring decisions made
reflect the overall needs of Lawrence Township and the community and preserve the center's Legacy for all residents of Ls Township since the adoption of the resolution our task force has been on multiple occasions to brainstorm Community engagement strategies to
accomplish the goals set by Council we review uh review history and the governance of the center and develop a plan for inclusive Unity uh community outreach a critical part of our efforts is ensuring that all voices are heard
and we are committed to engaging residents in stakeholders across Lawrence Township to that end we are organizing a community meeting uh tenda set for May 13 2025 um at a location to be determined this event will provide residents with
an opportunity to share their thoughts concerns ideas regarding how the center can best serve the community moving forward the speaker will provide a his a history of the of the facility at 6:30 and before this group discussion begins around
seven uh in addition to this meeting we'll be Distributing commun a community survey to collect both qualitative and quantitative data on preferred uses for the center we'll utilize a variety of communication channels including cluding school and Township Outreach email lists
printed materials to maximize awareness and participation our Outreach strategy includes engaging Key Community organizations we'll be including um not exclusive of but including Local Schools Civic groups faith-based institutions
social service providers to ensure board represent uh broad representation we're also Gathering data on current Center usage uh and Recreation Department data to better understand existing programs in the community and the community's
needs following these engagement efforts the task force will analyze survey responses and community meeting feedback draft a report uh outlining residents concerns and priorities propose a mission statement and Future Vision for the center develop recommendations that
reflect community community input while preserving the center's Legacy and establish a timeline for followup of council we we appreciate council's continued and support and look forward to sharing Comm communities insights and recommendations in the coming months in the meantime we encourage all council
members to attend the May 13th community meeting and help us spread the word to ensure broad participation I want to thank you all for the time and commitment to this important initiative we look forward to working together to ensure lawren
Community Center remains a vibrant and valuable resource for our residents submitted chair friend and T po members Martinez David Spalding Jeffrey bamos Heather verman Lisa Robinson and
N so that's the update on we will be happy to continue to come to Council meetings and give you updates as things progress and Survey data comes in and um we U we following this council meeting
um we to begin our Vmail email Outreach tomorrow so you should be getting each of you should be getting an email I'm asking all residents to please reply give any suggestions you may have on the use of the center and send then forward
that email on to friends so that everybody knows uh what's going on so if there any questions I'll be happy to try to respond thank you very much Dr thank you are there any questions in the council or comments
okay if you have questions later I'll I'll here okay have a great with that uh we now have the first opportunity for public participation um it's a five minute limit we just ask that you come to the
podium and state your name and address so [Music] sir good evening my name is Tom rer I live in a COR Lake Grand on tribe we here tonight also representing Lake
Park we're here this evening to discuss a Potential Threat to an ecologically sensitive area in colonial Lake Park the location is between the Southshore line night dve in the base of pul Aven
running approximately 97 ft in addition to a variety of young trees this area of approximately 1.78 is home to an appr appreciable number of Beach and oak trees at ages greater than
100 years Our concern is related to Elsa's plan to run a new shore line through colon Lake Park currently includes going through the sensitive section of the park home to the aforementioned trees which make
an unmatched environmental contribution to the ecological stability of the park this includes is the inter relationship with people and the many species of birds not the least of which are a pair of American bed
Eagles the threat is not so much that of taking a tree down it is more like death by root destruction however we feel there is a reasonable and workable solution that avoids the sensitive area and at the
same time OB Ela an equitable alternative it essentially is for the sword line to exit the park before entering the environmentally sensitive area this solution not only removes the Potential Threat but from an engineering
perspective it offers an equally good path to their sword line according to their engineering consultant in closing we respectfully ask Laurence Township Town Council to support this local modification logical
sorry modification a proposed plan to run to cor Lake Park respectfully friends in Coral Lake Park nonprofit good evening everyone good evening good even audience quite an audience my ADD
many here on behalf of the lake and it's unfortunate that we find ourselves back here again but anyway good evening Council good evening Moun with um again yeah it's unfortunate that we find ourselves back here again five
years um after a developer was going to knock things down and approach on the park with a hotel only this time now we have a public entity looking to encroach on the park and as Tom rder the president of our group just said our
nonprofit just said uh you know quite potentially uh deal a debt flow to 100y old trees uh nearly a couple of dozen of them in the entryway to the park there uh
so a neighbor who's here tonight sent a movie to me today from her visit to the park she was there today as the mayor just said picture perfect day beautiful Clear Blue Skies and there in her movie is the precious bald eagle our national
symbol parched up in the trees and dropping off to hunt in The Lakes trout stock Waters so I can text or email this to anyone on the council who wishes to have it I have a couple of numbers mayor I mean former mayor Ryan may have it and
anyone in the public who wants it for that matter or maybe our friend will post it on Facebook I don't know up until two months ago that national symbol the bald eagle and the Osprey another frequent visitor to Colonial Lake were both on New
Jersey's list of endanger species in January both birds were moved from the endangered list to the more generalized non-gain species list though the bald eagle status importantly is listed as quote of special
concern this is from the State Department of Environmental Protection more on them in a moment as Tom mentioned we're asking the Town Council to seek a Green Acres waiver and to formally oppose this obviously
disrupted and on its face disruptive planned by Elsa because of the the threat to the trees I'll have everyone here know this is not our first time Tom and I went to Elsa and we personally asked them to pull this
plan they said we need a 30 foot waiver from from Green Acres well go get it you don't need to do this so you're not our first stop not even our second stop more on that in the so the these are reason enough for the
council to oppose Elsa's Wally ill advised plan and seek that Green Acres waiver so if I have a moment here with still within that time frame as I mentioned we did go to Elsa also in January that was December in January we
wrote to the town clerk honorable clerk Carter uh and that was I'm just going to read a couple of lines to open that because it's self-explanatory we are writing at the request of councilman James Kaki Christopher bobit and mayor Patricia
Hendrick's farmer as they have individually and informally in conversation following this past Tuesday evening's Town council member meeting expressed interest in drafting a Town Council resolution to change the path of a planned Elsa Sur line to a colonial
Lake Park so as to avoid imp Parn Irreplaceable 100y old trees in the park in an area that borders Lake Drive skipping over some introduct here this letter was originally drafted with the intention of being sent to the
Department of Environmental Protection Greenacres program and in hopes of having as signatories in support the township council state senator Shirley Turner assembly members Anthony gerelli and Verina Reynolds
Jackson potentially the Mercer County Board of Commissioners and the board of the UN Lawrence seage Authority Elsa so again our fine Representatives have said
put this to the clerk and we'll make a resolution out of it and the reason for that is because I gave this letter to Senator Turner who Chief of Staff wrote back strong letter great letter however the senator sees this as
a home rule issue have the township Council adopt a resolution and then the senator will join with the council and the assembly people she'll get the assembly people and they'll go to the uh Green Acres and get this darned waiver
okay 30 feet we're talking about I also saw Senator Turner the esteemed Senator Turner um out in public not that long ago and we discussed this again so that letter that the council some council members wanted as a
potential draft of a resolution reads that the uing Lawrence sewage Authority and by way of explanation to our public and to put it on the record at the council has plans to run a new sewer line from Ewing Township through Lawrence Township including Colonial l
park to the authorities sewage treatment plant located off Whitehead Road in Hamilton Township the current plan is woful ill advised yet on the plus side can be easily remedied with a in the pathway that is not only far safer for the health and
life of the parks existing flora and fauna including our national symbol the bald eagle as well as ospre the beled king fisher other countless other important species but also more efficient and likely less costly as well I'll just add as a parenthesis I'm not
really sure that's true now as I look back in navity but the distance we're talking about is three football fields 900 feet so unless you're going to line that pipe with gold it's doable so first some background the current plans call for the line
necessitated by development growth in Ying Township to run through the park at first in a grassy area along Colonial Lakes Western Bank before Beering left at the top of a hill to follow existing pathway that takes it through the heart of a Grove of century old healthy trees that serve as a natural entryway
wildlife habitat and shaded buffer zone alongside and over the top of the walking path along Colonial Lake Southern Bank because installing the line means trenching or drilling several feet deep to accommodate I believe it's a three-foot line this route would imperil the health and potentially the
very lives of these stately centenarian trees that are irreplaceable signature asset of the park thankfully this can be very easily avoided with an alternative pathway that impacts none of these trees and which lies less than a stone throw away from the planned path on top of
this it is in fact even more direct and efficient for Elsa's plans than the pathway that is currently charted in those PL in one of those interesting ironies in life that so often give well-meaning governance a Bad Name the reason Elsa chose the pathway through the trees
rather than avoiding them entirely at least this is what they told Tom and I when we visited their meeting at in December was to comply with a decades old easement granted for El granted to Elsa for an existing pipeline by the state of New Jersey's acclaimed Green
Acres environmental program the purpose of the easement was to restrict El set to a 30 foot Zone Beyond which it would not be allowed to further dis disturb existing Parkland I got about 45 seconds okay the Green Acres Program created in 1961 is according to the website of the
State Department of Environmental Protection which administers the program quote to achieve in partnership with others a system of interconnected Open Spaces whose protection will preserve and enhance New Jersey's National environment and its historic Scenic and recreational resources for public use
and enjoyment by restricting Elsa to the existing easement the Green Acres Program would unnecessarily and likely unwittingly be putting In Harm's Way the very centenarian trees centenarian the easement was designed to protect in the first place by Shifting
the line mere tens of feet and the mayor has walked this trail with me councilman Bob is there often by shifting that line near tens of feet I could throw underhand the trees are protected and the project continues
unabated we the undersign therefore beseech the stewards of the dp's Green Acres Program to save the park centenarian trees from the grave threat this plan pipeline poses and Grant relief to Elsa from the Green Acres easan in this area for the purpose of
this project respectfully submitted by Tom Ritter and Jim hooker together with the entire Executive Board of transon Lake Park any questions yeah I just um get clarification sure and just check on the timing and the time and the timeline
if something um has changed or something is occurring I don't know Mr Kaki can you give us any update on the pipeline sorry it would it would appear that that the information that may be available was
discussed in in a uh privileged uh context at the Elsa meeting I wasn't there uh but according to uh Mr kanaki who was there and uh is not yet uh been afforded uh the ability to be public So
based on that representation I don't think he can he can comment on that mayor addition what what's being asked of the council is to um complete a resolution in support uh Green Acres and
easement is that something um within our yeah I mean I I would assume there's no real legal issue with that it's up to councel if they they want to entertain that unless unless there is some uh
other reason uh that we're unaware of that Elsa may may have involving that I just you know don't have enough information to give you more than that um manager nnsky do you have any um thoughts on this
particular I will not step on the toes of Mr cek with regard to this but the council has routinely um um provided resolutions in support of one thing or another I don't see there's any difference if if if the consensus of the
majority of council is to propose a resolution that resolution is basically the council speaking as a body saying this is our position and you know you and Lawrence sewage Authority they they're they're a separate Authority you can't tell them what to do however we've
got two members of council that are on there so they can even deliver resolution to it so that that's my uh that's my thought on this there's nothing Township operational wise that that I've been afford of that's different I know that Mr filler came
here previously was it in December maybe November way way back way and his presentation has has not changed his his that plan has not changed since then so just the request for the resolution I do remember um was more recent oh yeah what
I'm talking about but I am familiar with the El's came here they described the plan there was opposition to it then and it continues and the plan has not changed yet so the window for Council to pass a
resolution um is closing it's it's closing right so I think maybe sooner better than later better than later okay mayor respectfully can I ask whether the council can um okay a resolution and then we'll get the senator will back it
etc etc etc hopefully Elsa would can this can the council block Elsa from running this line through their park no I don't see they have there's no jurisdiction there's no jurisdiction of uh the Lawrence tenis of council to
block the activity by Elsa which is a separate governmental unit okay but we can show our support by resolution and in addition there are other legislators that can also support the the the
um say movement or you know waiver so I think that I don't know I need to take a poll with Council this evening to see if we're in support if there's any Mr if you want to make any additional comments or I I did have one question mayor if I
may whenever it's appropriate okay so one of the things that that Mr hooker has brought up is that his his from his understanding Elsa is planning on running a pipeline through the stand of trees
along the path sort of in between pulk Avenue and Winchester is that correct that's correct along Lake Drive the path that's just in between Lake Drive and and the and the shoreline which would disturb quite a number of trees now I refer my refer you to back to a letter
that was received by you it was addressed to you but it was shared by all Council thank you to the clerk uh July 15th 2020 24 um it reads let me scroll down um Elsa took note of the comments received from long Township Council in public participation
regarding work in or near the sewer easement in colonial Lake Park and then uh a number two uh and this is written by uh the executive director Mr filler number two Green Acres only allows construction the existing easement within green Acer lands with that
condition we are able to design the Dual dualized Force main in Colonia Lake Park re to public Street to prevent tree clearing within the existing sewer easement within the park there is only one tree in question and Elsa will require hand excavation within the drip line of that tree else is agreeable and
further will require an arborous to be on site for inspections during excavation and pipe installation in and around the noted tree now I I read that publicly because that was sort of the that was sort of the basis in which I I said yes to the council's resolution to
allow Elsa to move forward with this this this plan now it sounds like from from what friends of the colonial Lake are saying the um two members that we've heard so far something has changed and I would like to understand why and and and if it has changed I think we need to
have a letter at some point so that we can make an informed decision about this mayor I could yeah councilman Baba I could tell you that I had a communication with and I shared it I think with all of you uh in email communication pointedly asking as
something changed in the plan since it first was presented to council and there was an emphatic no from Mr Phil um so take and that was a couple weeks ago like within a couple weeks ago
so um you know I just want you to know like that that that question was posed there was an answer and here we are today so but there would be no harm in us as a body um as the resolution in support of
the makers wa so I think do we have a majority of Council in agreement with that yes yeah of course absolutely I you is there any way um I am on the Elsa
board along with councilman Kaki may I suggest maybe if we can get Elsa we get the out there to flag the area the pathway actually show us with the flags out there I think that would
do a lot it would help to come out and say not just point here there we put Flags out the path of it Mr Ritter and I Council M with respect Mr R and I both walked this path with Elsa we didn't
walk the entire path but we stood there with the blueprints because we were invited back to for blueprint to look at it we did and I saidwhat are we standing here in this building for looking at blueprints let's go look at it with 5 minutes so we did and we were there with Mr Fuller and the engineer and boom
right there right through that heart of the park right through those centenarian trees is this pathway and the engineer and Tom Ritter is my witness and he probably you know he cop to it as well there's a man whole cover right here I mean we're talking really
granular stuff right here at our Council as we should because this is our so here's the vanhole cover goes straight ahead to that exit door and you're out on P Avenue you are away from those trees what they want to do or yourselves as Elsa board members is hang
a left and go directly through those trees burrowing underneath as Mr Ritter says you know dealing a death now to these trees with Lord knows what in these roots you know a guy across the street from me had his sidewalk redone 10 years
ago big beautiful Sycamore there our neighborhood is defined by these big beautiful sycamores a lot of them right councilman and I watched and they they they cut a big old rout like I don't know a foot around or so something and don't you know it was probably a tap rot
because then that tree withered and died that's what's going to happen underneath the ground in this in this situation and we can't have that go straight out you're coming all the way from un Ying Township millions of dollars spent how Lord knows how many roadways you're
going to be digging up go straight out and avoid 900 ft Mr Ritter purchased one of those roll the thing and measure it because I said felt like a couple of football fields he bought it he measured it it's 900 feet three football fields
get the hell out of the park and go up the block okay well I think we're all in agreement that we um would um a resolution in support of what and um it sounds like time is of the essence so we will move on that very
quickly may may is also the the pipe that is there Mr hook I'm telling and Mr Ritter and my friends here I've been 40 years in colonial leag um it's at his max that you can get out and it's
something should happen that's why that that argument doesn't wash with all respect because we're putting in you're putting in a new line an extension of a line that will take off
whatever burden the other line has and if you if it did break and you had to go in there well you got to go dig around a 10 foot circumference what whatever it is not a 900 foot circumference so that doesn't wash respectfully you don't put
a on but we we are agree we are in agreement that we will resolution and support and and then look for the additional support legisl I did use the hou hockey sticks mayor I apologize for that I sort of get a
little bit and so but uh it's it's on behalf of the trees and um hopefully we will between yourselves the senator and the assembly people maybe the Commissioners will get on board Elsa Let's Get on Board and and we'll
straighten this thing out uh literally and keep the heck out of the trees okay and you've walked that we've walked it together there I appreciate it thank you very much thank you while we're waiting for the next I'm not I'm not trying to stop I'm just trying to fill some time um can we
direct the uh the manager to put an adult warning on the YouTube feed so that whenever Mr hooker's coming up [Laughter] pg3 so can I make a recommendation mayor it seems like there the consensus is
clear would a council member uh tonight propose a resolution to oppose the present plan Elsa intends to install align through the certain sections of
colonial Lake Park to request a waiver from Green Acres to divert that line consistent with the proposal presented under the friends of colonial Lake plan just what you said would you like to U
so make the proposition just one of you would have to say I make that motion and then you could take a vote in this way instead of waiting till April 1st we could craft the resolution now put committ it to writing and then just be
able to send that you think that that's appropriate well it's it's certainly comports with our our code and Robert's Rules and it's really you up to councel if they feel it's appropriate they have
the legal right to do that you you you're going to be adding that obviously to the AG end it but uh that would be legally permissible okay just a couple minutes before we vote is that what you're saying
before you can vote okay so [Music] move what are we doing we're um if you could give us we're going need to take just a few minutes of recess for um
offline mayor won't take long okay thank you minut bre how you doing sir how are you doing and we're back I got Wars I got Wars okay we're back
session and I believe we're having some additional public comment did we vote no somebody could somebody can make that motion we already second it if you could okay Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes M
Barry yes Mr Ryan Yes mayor BR yes resolution passes is there any add oh Debbie she already signed in she bought the ticket my name is Deborah dner I live in Lawrence Township I've been in Lawrence
Township for 40 years um of course I live in colonial Lake I'm part of the offens colonial Lake um nonprofit and um I was just looking back to 2020 I guess it was when the whole
purchase of the other property took place and know that the township the county the state open space PA a lot of money for it and um I'm bringing that over now to the other side of the lake thinking about those trees and that just
happens to be where I do my story time and if any of you know me I'm all about the kids matter of fact my first here and I do monthly story time in the spring and summer I've been doing it for three
years and I picked that area specifically because it's far enough from the playground that that doesn't steal the kids attention and it's also beautiful their shade because I do it when it's still very been very hot and it's still
sunny um and they have a beautiful view of the lake and I do a lot of environmental stories and on their level sometimes the kids are too young but I do stories and activities we talk about the Eagles the
kids have seen the Eagles sitting in those trees as a matter of fact one of my former there he is he also cleans up the lake and and supports uh friend of colonial Lake he comes to the cleanups he's very active
and he's a week um so you know I bring the children done it before um but thank you and I thank you for for listening and I hope that we
can make this done the right way hello Council this is my first time I've been up here I just wanted to point out a oh I'm sorry Edward L 17 dog leg Lane uh just point out a very dangerous
uh road crossing I'm I'm a walker I walk up 206 and just past the park to the police Crossing uh the exit from 295 south you can't see cars coming up you
know that roadway and you know I I look I don't see any cars I'm the middle all of a sudden there's a car right up there I'm pretty quick on my feet so I'm able to dodge it but there may be some people that are not so quick and I check to see the signs there on that exit there a sign you know showing pedestrian
Crossing and a speed limit of 20 mph these cars are coming out a lot faster than 20 mil an hour and I think it's an easy fix there's a lot of lowline brush that's head high you can't see cars coming from that you know coming from the interstate so I think just clearing
that brush you'd have a clear view of cars coming the other way coming down 206 South you can see cars coming so there's no problem Crossing coming from the when you're going south down but I think that needs to be checked because I think it's you know it's amazing that no one has gotten killed so far
where exactly is it 206 it's if you go right past uh the uh you know the police uh parking lot you you cross the you know the exit coming from 295 before you go go over the overpass and you just you the RO the
road winds you cannot see a car until it's right on top of you because of that brush okay it's the um the entry the the entry ramp off 295 yes the the exit ramp going
I can make I can make the request of our New Jersey D representative to look at it and address the situation and I put my name down already so my name my name is Jim Bird uh I used to wrestle against you guys I went to
hopwell Valley and I live in hopwell Township and I was a mayor in hopwell Township the reason I'm here tonight is a little bit different than what you're going through in this situation because what you're doing is
very pertinent for your uh for your community but what I'm here to talk to you about is something that's Statewide and it's involved with the affordable housing law and what you should do is take an
opportunity and look at your property tax because at least 15% of your property tax is going to the school board this is a Major
Impact as we talk about affordable housing and I'll go into more detail as we progress but uh what I suggest is take away the tunnel vision and I say this also to the
council members take away the tunnel vision and look at the state situation with affordable housing now there was a bill that was passed and I think it was in October and it was
S70 in which they talked about we'll make things a little bit smaller if people need to make a a challenge you know we'll listen to them so on and so forth what I've done was
just gave a uh a copy to the uh to the council here and it's the impact of proposed amendment to fair to Fair Housing Act enrollment and basically it was done by
the attorneys of NJ GA and they're the attorneys that represent the different municipalities throughout New Jersey they're the individuals that took the time to look at this law thoroughly and I think what
they did was very significant because what they were doing was they realized that there's a big a big hole or a big circular area and that's where the affordable housing is but it's one of
these situations that nobody really knew what type of equation was there and nobody still knows what they did was this they took the time to look at this and they said what we should do is look
at 2 uh 2010 to 2020 and look at the cosos of that period of time throughout New Jersey also they said take out places
where you've taken down a house and then rebuilt there that doesn't that doesn't go along with this so what they did was they checked it out thoroughly and then they put together an amendment and no one always no one
really thinks about Amendment but amendment is also a bill it works along with with an existing law and what they said and if you would look at number seven or page seven for
lawren Township right now they're saying that you need to have have 320 affordable housing units from 2025 to 2035 if you slide your hand to the right
you'll there then you'll come to where we're talking about the c or excuse me the s465 and in that we're saying that for Lawrence Township you're talking about 70 affordable housing units now there's something very important
about affordable housing units and that took place with the builders remedy back in 1985 and what it did basically said was you know in order if no one meets the
criteria of the state then the developer comes through and puts in the affordable housing and he does it on a 20% affordable housing but he also says but
I also want to make money so he'll get 80% of the market value that's why you look at your taxes and all of a sudden all of a sudden remember when you know because I've been around for almost 73
years in Hell Township and I've seen I've seen the taxes increase and increase and increase we we agree that there should be affordable housing but at the same time it has to work along with this with
the property taxpayers in New Jersey so I ask you to look this over and I'll be back to uh discuss it a little bit more when we uh at the three minute time thank you if you have any questions and
and by the way my name is Jim Bird my my uh email is jim. D gmail.com and if you have any question please feel free to call on me and if
you have any questions feel free thank you thank you syvia coas um I would like to thank the council for tonight's uh resolution for the uh front of bonal Lake to try to
save those trees uh I think it's very important that we look at all of this especially in South Florence where we are running out of green spaces and um we need to protect everything that we
can especially uh trees are over 100 years old because those are Priceless and those little nuggets all over the um South lawence that are still green and need that protection and um I think
that's wonderful that you resolved to have that safe today for for the Colonial Park because as a lot of us from from my neighborhood Colonial Heights that Park that Park saved us
from a going insane during pandemic we all took nice walks in that Park but the reason why we from Colonial Heights had to go to Colonial Lake Park is because we don't have those beautiful spaces
right in the neighborhood and as a gentleman here mentioned difficult Crossing um on 206 by the uh 295 um the white head circle is not much
safer to cross to go to a colonial Lake Park to enjoy that so it would be great to have really nice spaces um to to have to enjoy that kind of shaded uh walk
also in our neighborhood Colonial Heights so once again thank you for saving once again Colonial or at least attempting at this point to save the Colonial Park um and um I I hope that in the future
you will also uh stand up for our green spaces in Colonial Heights so I truly appreciate it thank you good evening Council and members of council meeting tonight um I didn't
think I was going to talk about affordable housing Mr you just have to speak for the oh fredine Fred Jun Road I want to thank councilman Kaki for
that on my 80th birthday Mr Kaki presented me with that resolution of U naming my road after me so thank [Applause]
you also Mr um I would hope that the next time you come you will also tell Council how many affordable housing units that hope have built so
far and um I want to thank Council for passing the resolution for the task force and I just want to take this opportunity to invite
Council and and all the members that are here tonight to just take a ride down through aar's Crossing um I know it's not the best place that you'd like to take a drive
but I want you to see the difference and and I know you don't know the difference when I grew up in egar Crossing um my family moved there in 19 1941 that's when we had dirt roads and
shacks and subed housing and out houses today folks we're having $600,000 houses built on my road that I grew up
on and that's nothing to sneeze at um because I would like Council or I hope that the task force can do it to do an analysis of
what taxes that came out of that black community at one time from when you know do 10 years analysis of taxes that was that was coming to the township compared to what
is coming out of that little area right now and that's that's the legacy of the neighborhood center now do you think
that if we can we can turn that around in the day's time with developing the diversity of Lawrence Township if if we can make that that change not
overnight in in the finances that come out of that Community from the neighborhood center and develop that into lives of people what and everything that's everything starts from
Community everything starts from the community and that neighborhood center has developed that community of egar Crossing into a
gym into a gym we you know I I I live you know I I look at my out my door and you know they put a fire plug right up the street for me I took a
picture of it and I said a fire plug comes to eggar Crossing and you know and there's there's Indian families uh white families it's it's it's is what a
community should be in diversity and that's what that neighborhood centered done and it can do the same thing for the community of lawence Township and and it it's a place where
people can come and do things socially and so I just invite you to take a drive to my neighborhood now because um uh we're more than proud of it I
might not be able to afford my taxes anymore but it's it's all worth it it's that fire [Applause] plug mayor mayor if I could just add to what Mr grein said this is definitely the time to go down uh Johnson Avenue
well soon enough when the when the trees are in blue [Music] hi everyone uh my name is bve bosio I live on Villanova dve lar Colonial lakelands um for a little curveball I
want to talk about a couple things and updates hopefully you can provide me um up the road 206 um there's a abandoned lot uh it's right next to the I guess tobacco shop or the vape shop I just
wanted to see if there's any updates on what's going on with that lot um it's been probably around five years I know there's been some testing and I just wanted to see if there's any other plans to update it or remove it
um sure you would like me to if you would sure so that's the pit stop known as the pit stop so um um I don't know if you're aware of the history of the pit stop but it's currently owned by a defunct LLC where
the principal member is deceased y um so um it has a complicated history and it's known as a zombie lot because there's nobody that's uh willing to purchase it because there's so many tax leans and uh D leans on it um and it's also a
contaminated property and so the town um five or six years ago um took it upon themselves to try and uh figure out a situation how could we address this how can we remove the building that was there that was an isore for decades um
and we were able to um convince one of the uh um Children of the of the LLC owner that was deceased to allow us the opportunity to apply for the new a grant
uh to the New Jersey de to uh study the contamination and start remediation processes on uh with the idea that once the D funded um the study and the removal the the air to the property
owner would de the property to Lawrence Township for $1 and then the condition from the D is that nothing is supposed to be built on it it's supposed to be preserved as passive park right that's still the plan
okay right now we are in the process of having a second round of remediation efforts done because now that the building's been removed the the soil that was underneath the building can finally be tested and um removed
remediated and there's a lot of underwater uh water that's involved in that so that's where we are right now we're in the process of waiting for the D to approve that final testing there is we have a consultant remediation firm retained currently doing the well
monitoring so we're in the middle of that process it's it is has taken some time um but we're not the owners of the property but we're pushing it Forward because our en would be to have that be a focal point for our community in terms of a a great passive park with maybe a
gazebo and and something for the community to enjoy that's awesome so um just a follow up on that um the contamination part when you guys are testing or when you hire someone to test do they test the houses that are in that area or no is just confined to that one
area it's that one area now if there is it's now this is controlled by the D supervised it's not the township employees doing this at all right so these are licensed um environmental remediation special Specialists if there is um evidence to them that it has gone
off um site for some reason then there are steps that the de takes to notify um other property owners perfect so my parents live back there and my dad has a garden and I eat those vegetables I will I will tell you that
there has nothing crossed my desk over these last five or six years that indicates that the contamination has gone uh any further perfect thank you uh one additional I know I'm running out of time but um is there any update on what's going on in the Lauren shopping
center with the gym that's potentially supposed to be put there yeah so the owner has has uh oh you're talking about finally um complied to the satisfaction of uh the inspectors to that the inside of it meets all state
and federal safety standards I think we're probably a week away from issuing Nobody Hold this to me because I'm away from issuing a a temporary um certificate of occupancy um if not a
full occupancy so it's been a long process but urban urban I'm talking about Urban you talk about Urban talking abouty let me go that long without that's Urban a the gym is currently um
LA Fitness owns the rights to build a gym has continued to um continue the permit process but they since the pandemic have been in a a retreat mode not building new so they have not abandoned the site they're still there
and maybe when their business process is in expansion mode um they'll select that lawence site as the site to build one because I think it would be a great great addition okay sorry about that I didn't mean to yes they extended their permit so they didn't have to reapply again to
yeah to do the whole planning work right so it was ready to expire they extended it just in case they're ready to know right have to reapply and then real quick because I'm a member of nonprofit uh at PL Lake and uh two things real quick one um I know
sometimes you hear like 100y old trees and you think they're old uh they're actually not those trees can last between 300 and 400 years old so technically they're younger than me basically 25 years old I'm 46 I'm get up there um so that's that's one don't
think that they're old and that it's okay you know you disrupt them or you know possibly take one or two down and then the second thing is is I'll never forget this it made me think about this uh I was looking for a new home with my wife probably three years ago and we were driveing to these brand new
beautiful communities huge homes gorgeous but it always felt so cold driving in and driving out and the reason why because the trees are this whole in those communities so there's no warmth there's no love there's no
connection uh so please I know they said a lot today I just want to confirm that you know anything you guys can do we greatly appreciate it uh thank you seeing no additional public participation we're closing public participation at this
time um okay have any rision to the agenda May mayor you had the resolution that you did verbally you should add that to the agenda mayor also I'd like the uh to add
in close session there the tax assessors discuss that for personel we need to vot on we just make those adjustments okay adding resolution and we're also you have to vote to
okay I thought we voted but no you have take a v vote to amend the agenda that's all you're doing that's all you're doing second Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes mry yes Mr Ryan
yes yes now if I can have a motion for the adoption of minutes May I'll move AA regular meeting uh November 7 2024 second
yes yes Mr rain um yes um motion the awarding of bth Mayor I'll make motion move 9A number 136 authorizing awarding a bid number
25-4 law service to RJM landscape and design a second second Madam CL if you call is there any discussion of it start do we need any
discussion the bit listen it's it's a bid to supplement our um lawn maintenance um that we do Public Works does the line share of it but we do have to retain a private um
company to do some of some of our breath lawn work so it's the rewarding RJM landscape and design and the amount of bid is $44,500 is there any public participation regard to this
closing 9 number 136 call yes Mr K yes yes Mr yes may you're excited about that
one now introduction mayor I'd like to move 10 a ordinance number 24882 ordinance amending ordinance 2427 d22 by the township of Lawrence County of Mercer state of New Jersey in order to revise the description of the
Improvement herein acquisition of fire/rescue equipment ambulance and Equipment a second second okay Mr anything to add so this is a capital uh um
fund that requires uh you to authorize a change in the description um of the AC for the acquisition of an ambulance um from a brush truck that was going to be
purchased for um a fire department I had uh Mr Oakley prepare a memo that was attached to this that hopefully that you all read from time to time our needs change and circumstances change so in order to comply with the the state law
we do have to revise the description to include this and I hopefully seek your approval to get this done okay Council Perry is there anything you want to add no looking forward to okay is there a question
on is this um because I saw uh Mr Oley put on the the memo right there and I didn't see anything in his was pres is it in the budget or because he didn't present it in the budget at all
so this is this is currently in our budget not not the new budget the budget that was already passed like you guys already funded correct this amount of money right so all we're doing is not we're not spending more money we're just revising the description of what we are
going to purchase so it was it's not adding to a bond not adding to anything it's just changing a description so instead of purchasing one thing we're going to purchase another thing because that is a more present need to get an ambulance serving the community well I was just I was just asking on it not to
yeah to Hash on it you know because with the B when we get to that also because it's also similar to it we're pulling we're pulling from two different sources because he didn't put in what his presentation I watched it it's not for 2025 budget it's already been in the budget it's already been approved
something that's been around for a while okay very good thank you who ready to vote M cler Mr B yes Mr K yes yes Mr Ryan Yes mayor yes I can have
a motion for the next mayor I'd like to move 10B ordinance number 2489 d25 ordinance amening ordinance 24 49-23 by the township of Lawrence County Mercer state of New Jersey in order to revise the description of the
approvement here in acquisition of rescue equipment quote ambulance and equipment I second Mr yeah it's the same it's for the exact same thing we're just revising it under
two different um funds as you can see the a was ordinance 2427 d222 point2 and this is 2449 d223 so this is what has been in in the budget for that period of time and now
we're we're just redescribing what we're going to be doing and we're ready to make the purchase well this is the first start if we can have pleas Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes yes Mr Ry
yes may yes one more mayor i' like to move 10c ordinance number 2490 d25 ordinance adopting the regulation of invasive B do we have
second so uh this this came about because I received an email uh from a resident who um is has a adjacent to a property that has bamboo that is not being managed
bamboo is awesome right but it's very aggressive and it requires people who have bamboo to consistently maintain it and uh in order for us to assist property owners who are being encroached upon by this invasive bamboo we had to
revise I had Jim par viser zoning officer do some research on how we can amend our present ordinance to give it more enforcement power so the township officials can work with property owners um to comply nobody's looking to remove
all bamboo from from all all lands within Lawrence Township it's just allowing us to give relief to property owners who are um being subjected to this invasive growth not to their liking
so so relief would be that we would service it and take it out no the relief would be would provide a code enforcement officer to work with the the property owner and you know have them remove
it in in a very non invasive agressive good words we have a second Mr Bob yes Mr yes M Perry yes Mr Ryan Yes mayor
yes now we move on to the adoption of ordes I will tell you mayor the resident is going to be floored by the fact that within three weeks we got this thing done before you imp passed so I'm excited to at least send them an email
saying um it's all taken care of good oh thank you thank you okay we have mayor I'll move 11a ordinance number 24862 five ordinance providing for sidewalk
improvements in and by the township of Lawrence and the county of Mercer New Jersey appropriating $ 57,5 therefore and directing the special assessment of the cost thereof all right do we have a second
second okay Mr manager this is a part of our sidewalk replacement program where we are able as a Township to negotiate very reduced prices um for uh property owners who have sidewalks in need of repair to um
get those repairs done and have it um be collected from the tax collector's office over a fiveyear period of time interest free so it promotes pedestrian safety and gives uh Property Owners the ability to get this thing done without
huge financial Hit Upon them so it's been working really well and probably if more people knew about it um they would take advantage of it so we continually try to get the word out with regard to it but so this year the the number is $57,000 and now that's not taxpayer
that's not from us not from the municipal budget it's going to be collected from property owners who take advantage of the sidewalk program may ask a question is there a code enforcement for um for
sidewalks is there a code if a a property owner does not if any property owner feels that there is a sidewalk that is hazardous it should report it and and and we we'll follow up with regard to it and I I was just
curious what is the average cost oh it's it's by I'm sorry it's it's by foot so foot yeah I can tell you um the rate is significantly less than if it was you know you're dealing privately with
follow question yeah where do they report it to to the zoning office to Z all right is there any questions from the public see none I'm glad if you could call open Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes M Perry
yes Mr Ryan Yes mayor B yes we can have another reading of the 11 11b May I'll move 11b ordinance number 2487 d25 calendar year 2025 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget Appropriations limit limits and to
establish a cap bank for the township of Lawrence County of Mercer njsa 4A 44514 have a second sorry second this is a fudg uh a function of New Jersey budget law that allows
municipalities to uh create a bank of uh of money not spending money just create a bank um of up to 3.5% um to use or not use over the next couple years should that the need come
you know should we have a need to do it so it's not expending monies it's just allowing us to take advantage of the budget ball may I ask a question um how many times in the last three years have we done a bank we do it every
year every year and the average amount oh that it varies I can get you that information with regard to the bank so would it be 3.5 of the 60 million or the the normal budget no it's actually the the law provides for exceeding to
2.5% to go up to at least 3.5% an additional percent percentage okay there any questions from the public see none M CL call Mr Bob yes Mr
kak yes M Perry yes Mr Ryan Yes mayor F yes okay thank you very much now this brings us to the from where we will now have a review of the budget for
2025 um and Mr NY will guide us through that process I'm guiding through the process I'm sorry it's my understanding that you you wanted a line by line reading of the budget the budget is the governing bodies at this point in time I provided
the recommended budget back in was it February 4th um and now that budget becomes your budget to deal with it's already been introduced um so if if you are inclined to read the budget line by line that is
your inclination to do that okay I I will be here if there's anything that comes up but I want to remind everybody here that the uh we had scheduled for April 1 the the budget hearing that's
when the budget hearing is supposed to take place so we are after introduction the state law requires 28 days before the budget is up for adoption and public hearing so we are in that time space now so there is no there should be and I'll
defer to council with regard to this budget hearing that's taking place so um this budget that you're going to be reading line by line has been available yes on for anybody who is interested to read line by line um on the website
were're available if they needed it from some other way um so and we're still within our time frame to be we're um we're still within our time frame for the hearing for what for the um adoption the adoption of the
budget okay so the adoption so um so we passed a resolution like all municipalities that sets a schedule for our budget timeline to be consistent
with uh the directives by the state of New Jersey okay and our budget timeline set forth uh the recommended being on a certain date February 4th and the introduction of the budget being was it
March 4th and in between that time we had um department heads come over over two back in February two yeah meeting to present present their budget and to answer any questions that you've had so
during that space of time before the introduction after the recommendation and before the introduction that is the time frame for Council to revie review the recommended budget ask all the questions of myself Peter kirus and the
department heads because when we get to the introduction of the budget which was passed now the function is to get it to adoption so if you ask me if there's time there there's if your intention is
to change this budget in some way that that puts us in Peril of not meeting our deadline so so all I would do just so um I would recommend for the next for 20126 yes I'm still here do it year at
the February 4th or at the int at the recommended budget you say to me Mr nnsky we would like your recommended budget instead of reading the message that I read to you you we want you to take us line by line through that budget and I will absolutely do that because
it's still my budget and that's my way that you're saying give it to us that way what you're saying is you turned it over to us now and that's that's the function of it now so it's your budget to review um and if if you deem it
necessary to go line by line that's your prerogative to do that um I will tell you on April April okay we're cut on April 1 there's going to be two things that happen there
will be a resolution that will be um put for your vote to um adopt the budget by title only and if that's rejected you would have to read the budget line by line again so and I don't think there's
ever been a time where the the resolution to ad job by title has not been done it's just a function of government to do it that way right so that's how we did okay so with that being said um because it is on our agenda to review the
budget is there is there a recommendation that you to know questions no there we'll just go to April 1 I we'll go to April 1 are are we good with
that with our budget claim it and but but we will but um in the in the coming year in 202 I think it's fine you got this is one of this is the most important thing that you guys do right so if you were to tell
the municipal manager at the time we'd like for you to present it line by line that will happen at the recommend at the recommendation in February right yeah that would be the earliest possible date and then it gives us all the time to have The Interchange that we're supposed
to have um so you guys are fully informed when the adoption comes up and you vote so however I would say I will be available to all of you guys from now to the adoption if you've got questions I want you to know this budget so
okay councilwoman is there any additional question that you have no okay that was all my notes okay so we will now then move to the manager report oh talking so much
okay so I I just have one thing to report and it's an interesting thing it has to do with the tra traffic L at Federal Point and I'm reminded by Carly LaVine um who was such a staun advocate for this um as you know this has been
going on for quite a while we looked to um um provide a shared agreement with ying and Hopewell to address the concerns of federal City Road at Federal Point and bullrun Road um not to belabor
it it it it ended up where hope well anding um opted out of our desire to install a light for Federal Point residents who are elderly and are having
a difficult time getting in and out of their Community from 295 people come coming from 295 to Ying and from Ying there um and the new development that so we proceeded and we did design uh work
it was funded in the budget to do it we submitted to the New Jersey do and um part of the design of the light is is on Hopewell land because it's the other side is is um I don't know the name of
the Woodmont okay yeah so hopwell has um objected to our proposed plan because they want more improvements done they want to add um left turn Lanes uh where our uh consultants and Engineers
Engineers felt it was not necessary to do so obviously that increases our cost substantially um in the meantime I received a call from Aaron uh Watson who is the business administrator from Ying
who described to me that there is a plan that's being considered for Bull Run Road that would um include the acquisition of a portion of property and have a roundabout control the flow of federal City
Road and I think that they and I think you were involved in some of the meetings they wanted us to partici they want us to participate that's a present tense they want us to participate in that and they want us to abandon the
light at Federal point because they believe that the roundabout will control and assist Federal Point residents from getting in and out because it'll stop the flow of traffic it will not stop the I'm not a I'm not a traffic engineer but
the the traffic coming from 295 uh will not be controlled by the roundabout okay so um so U Mr Watson asked for um Township officials myself our engineer to meet with business
administrators and Engineers of both Hopewell and Yan to discuss this possible change in circumstances um um and a change in course um I will tell you that I firmly believe that our residents
are best provided for with a traffic light at Federal Point to assist them in and out I think that gives them the greatest sense of going in and out with safety so I would be against abandoning that light at this late time um but I am
certainly willing if you so instruct to to meet with our um hell and Ying to go through their plans um I just feel like um traffic experts and Consultants will provide opinions um
that will meet the needs of whoever is paying them whoever is paying them I'm not GNA disparage it but what I'm saying is their tra their traffic experts are saying do this do this roundabout and they'll all be provided for my only conern because um both projects that
depend on do approval and participation we're we're through we're through do we have advanced our project and we are through it now there's going to be a fight with Hopewell who should be sharing in this
this light that's that on the other side is more than 300 units I mean it's seems clear to me that they should be sharing um so there's still going to be a continuation of a fight because I don't know if we want to incur the cost for these additional left and rightand turns
because bu Run Road May eliminate that requirement if if they do the roundabout so my my advocation is going to be let us do the light as proposed and if there's going to be if there's still issues after you guys do your thing at down at Boran road then we'll address it
at that time but our people need relief it's been going on for years and I don't want to delay it but the key point you mentioned though is you need the particip of C even for is that correct need the participation we need to Advocate that our proposal is the right
proposal so I'm not they're they're not contributing to this L at this time I would say though please do engage in the conversation absolutely and report back to counselor because um it's being looked at as a collaboration and I know the county is also involved
in in this project as well so they I will tell you if we are this been going on for more than two years okay okay but if there are um you know just keep us the breast of how one
how far we are in our process like how far away are we from a light our our our design work has been reviewed by the do and hope well has now provided their opinions to the D so
we're not we're not shoveling around right for sure at so I will absolutely continue the conversation and I will reaffirm to all of you that Hopewell and Ying are our partners in many ways and we have shared services all along this is a this is a
um an issue that we will view in a vacuum and continue to advocate for our residents I will say though our roundabouts must be quite popular because we have more than I think other town we have at least three or five
round that roundabout won't be won't be on Lawrence Township property it'll impact the flow into Lawrence for sure and I'm not saying that that roundabout is wrong at all it could be completely right but does it do the best for our residents and I'm not convinced
that it will mayor can I ask the manager one question I think I heard the answer but I just want to be abundant clear of that that does either part of the intersection of Bull Run Road and federal City Road include Lawrence
Township or is it m simply ying and it's primarily ying and hope I don't I don't want to go on the record saying it's Lawrence doesn't have a a sliver in there but I don't I don't think it does I think we do I'm pretty sure yeah thank you we have Mr
S I have some matters we will discuss in close session thank you and then Madam C just a few items here we had the special School Board election it went fantastic
a to the county they did a fantastic job yes and I gave you a copy of the um results unofficial unofficial results so we had like um it did pass the
2641 yes and 1,790 yes okay also um let's see you know the 24th is the deadline for the nominated petitions June 10th I know it's it's a
little ways away but it's coming that's the next election they did extend the dates um uh for early voting from 3 days to six days just so you know so that will take place between June 3rd
in June 8th Financial disclosures I am working on updating the rosters you will beginning those very soon soon as I get the okay from the local Finance
board and that is about it for my updates thank you thank youby very long any unfinished business mayor yes uh on the unfinished business we have uh for the deputy clerk I I like
a motion to uh put back the deputy clerk back on there and also add the NJ to it and the clerk's association with it we you put on for another month okay that's the advertisement correct so to advertise it in the um
League of municipalities also um the uh newy the original and then add to I believe you said the clerk Association and the municipal Municipal Clerk's Association of New Jersey
right mayor can I ask a question yes coun uh have have we received any further uh applications or is it just sort of been quiet since that initial round well the deadline pass the deadline did pass but you did receive
one today and I actually um to get that to you today did one did come any new business may go I'm sorry on the new business um I believe that
um with the also we can add um art I sent out an email to you last Wednesday I believe and I think you were a little Al the rails a little bit I spoke to you today about it about the clerk's position um yes that was a we received
an email from the the manag to say that you know we we're a little late but we did send it out I send it out to you on night to see if you can look at it yeah I'm reviewing that and there there is some so we can get that out changes on that okay may may I ask what or may I
ask councilman Ry what exactly is he's you know I this is this is new so I'm trying to understand what's going on um Council M what what happened was after um mam clerk well I was blinded I had no idea
of a resignation retirement yes it wasn't a res retirement letter of retirement which is welld deserved I can tell you that right now yes it is um the position is open so I just Googled it and said art could you this is on the on
the New Jersey Leal municipalities can you look into this and just send us something back so we can get it going that's it no vote no no no no no no no I would just like to make a motion to table this item for now and we'll
discuss is there a second is there a second second do we Mr Bob yes Mr can Nik yes Miss Perry yes Mr Ryan yes and mayor pmer yes thank you okay this brings us to the second
opportunity for public participation at a three minute limit three minutes three minutes is all you're going to give me hold on a few seconds you a few things
one of these but get I guess I don't know how many there and then you got see only ahead okay yep all right thank
you uh jimber hell Township I said I was former mayor in Hell Township and uh and we too had had situations of just concentrating on Hopewell Township that this is where we talk about the entire
state of New Jersey with the affordable housing and what we've done was put together a letter that we've sent to uh to Senator Singleton uh to Senator Turner
assemblyman verell barelli assembly Reynolds Jackson the president of the Senate the Assembly of the the assembly speaker and the governor and what basically is saying is
it's time to say yes to uh to the bill s465 in order to make it work favorably for the people who are in need of affordable housing but it's also very
favorable for the taxpayers because as I said if you look at what your taxes are and how they've climbed it will continue to be that way but this starts to slow things down to a degree that would be very
advantageous we also uh got a reply from uh Senator Turner and it it always makes it important to me to realize that there's a big difference between government and
politics and when you read the the information from uh the from Senator Turner you'll find that politics comes through on this considerably but the very important factor is there's no
there's no way that this will pass unless both parties approve of this bill what I'd suggest I've as I said J.B gmail.com I will send you all this
information I've also given you information here in regards to the bill itself if you have the time just go online to New Jersey state of New Jersey for S
4065 in order to understand exactly what we're talking about but the very important thing is you as well as the people here at the council have to be the people that step up and make
a a positive step for the affordable housing so it can be advantageous for all parties in the in the state and if you have any questions I'll be here please feel free to ask thank you thank you
mayor I have a question yeah Mr B yes can you get back up there for certainly um one of my functions is the director of affordable housing and I will tell you I will tell you that Lawrence Township has always been at the Forefront of meeting the obligations
of um but one and I have not reviewed this at all but I want if you could just briefly answer uh two questions of mine the first question is how does it impact property taxes like what's how
does it how does it property tax reducing reducing affordable housing right and the reason being is this the very important thing is in 1985 because from 1975 when it came into
affordable housing came into existence until 1985 every municipality in New Jersey Sid sted in 1985 they came out with the builder
remedy and the Builder's remedy was very interesting because they said okay if COA which is Council on affordable housing if the municipalities did not meet the criteria of
COA that's when the developer would come in purchase property and then put in affordable housing but what his affordable housing was fine but it was only
20% and it was only 20% but the other side of it was 80% of market value home and I don't know about you but I know Lawrence pretty well too and I know every
municipality throughout New Jersey and everybody had to probably put up a new elementary school at least Hopewell Township we also had to increase the
size of existing schools okay as well as the high you're talking building infrastructure to handle the influx of families coming that whole thing and so the second question I have is this does does this bill stop or give any um uh
leverage to a Township to stop Builders coming in to build 350 houses or is it giving them the advantage of building 350 H houses and not have to worry about providing housing to people that would be that would qualify under affordable
housing does it does it do any restriction understand what you're saying what I'm saying is the Builder comes into our town right and we've now reduced the obligation uh we you win you're advocating and now all of a sudden Our obligation is greatly reduced
it doesn't stop building corre from happening it's just it it gives more is more money to the builders to build and sell at market rate right is that fair because what it is is if you now
have I think we said 70 affordable housing units yeah we have 330 is Our obligation you know doesn't scare so that's so that's 20% yeah so what what is 80% 20% of what 20%
of the 3 so somebody's building if somebody's building 100 units we have an ordinance that says 20% must be set aside for affordable housing correct and so what are you asking I oh no well it seems to me this I think the builders are in this a little bit no I'm just saying like it's just seems to me
that we're Paving the way for more market rate housing to come in and benefit is going to be for Builders that's not it at all as opposed to the people who may qualify for affordable housing and can't that's all it it doesn't have that effect it doesn't have
that effect well thank you for your for coming here and yeah as I say feel free to ask me any time I used to be on the planning board in New in opal Township too so thank you for your time anybody else have any other questions please get
in touch with your people of the state New Jersey for this thank you I'll you can I just do it right here we need the mic [Music] walk pres Park and all of our
neighbors um we want to thank you for the resolution you passed over this evening regarding the longevity of the trees appreciate thank you for thinking I'll be quick since I gave such a herang
earlier I thank you for I'll time it mayor our work you know I don't want to say unfortunately because it's so positive but I won't say unfortunately I'll just say as a matter of fact our work is not done because we
got to get El to uh move its line and but this is going to be a tremendous help Senator Turner has said in writing and in person you know get this from you guys and
she's happy to put a shoulder to the wheel as she often does and with a state bureaucracy we didn't want to try to do Greenacres ourselves tremendously helpful and then maybe the Commissioners will jump on board and maybe also will jump on board too and and then the right thing will
happen and I really appreciate everybody's attention to it I appreciate you walking it there air and uh the town has been great and responsive and the council and and the management and we really appreciate the manager as
well all right thanks so much thank you thank you for your that will close public participation and moving on to our resolutions mayor if there are no objections I'd like to move 18 A1 through H5 and the block you added
one H6 apologies I withraw that start there are no objections hearing objections before so I would revise I'd like to move 18 A1 through H6 in the block I have a question you have a second no question
um you need a second May second I second and now I have a question um number four authorizing appointment to the senior executive committee we do that there or should we do it no no no it's done correctly we we do those one like when
uh at the beginning of the year because we have so many when we do them individually but that's just one resolution and one person keep it miscellaneous okay and it goes to L all right that was my [Music]
question Mr Bob yes Mr Kaki yes yes Mr yes may yes okay now Mo on to the council initiatives and on reports May I
yes I just want to publicly acknowledge the work that uh the Environmental Green advisory committee did this Saturday they were at H Glenn Avenue uh doing a stream Bank restoration they had um over 20 people there on a kind of gloomy day
I see Miss Copus she was there we had a lovely conversation afterwards I still am thinking about about some of the things you said so don't worry um but it was it was great to see uh families young and old kids uh driving in rebar into the stream bed and then planting
staks um that's uh to help uh slow down soil erosion which would then impact you know less than the amount of silk that would go into Colonial Lake um they had Dr Chris o Roba sorry doctor um from Ruckers who uh
sort of guided the process um it was it was just a really um talk about Community it was a really great uh feeling to start that day and then I went to say bals later um and so again just feeling the Lawrence love on last Saturday so I just wanted to say do a
big shout for that all right thanks Adam mayor like to give an update of the growth and Redevelopment committee so I'm happy to announce that forgive me it's on my phone the growth and Redevelopment um committee will be holding
a small business networking event on April 30th from 5:30 to 7 o'clock at the Lawrence Library the purpose of this event is to share um best practices to help um other businesses and also to
network to see if there's any Synergy so we are looking for speakers and looking forward to continuing the strength of small businesses in Lawrence and then also I would like to give an update on the um Public Safety
subcommittee we received seven proposals for our RFP and what we have been doing in the um the last almost two months is reviewing them based on a in-depth rubrics which um we're looking to make
sure that um the process is comprehensive and to ensure that it all the information that was presented to us meets the minimum of the RFP but just for you to have some information of how the process is moving along we're
looking at the depth and breath of knowledge and experience of the consulting firms including their current local projects we're looking at the proposal in the presentation and and the content we're looking at the um project
understanding that the proposals have um outlined also um the team that the Consultants have to go forward and do the the project um looking at uh professional um the professional
qualifications of the Consultants the scope of an analysis of the detailed project do they really understand and have they outlined what we had requested which just to remind you the RFP was to study the feasibility of
centralization and or cons consolidating the uh Township Fire emergency services and what is the best model for Lawrence Township um the last few things that we are reviewing is also um the project
timeline what they proposed and the budget and the cost so our Target is to at the last meeting of April to come back with um clear recommendations to propose to Council on um the different
um the different Consultants that have presented to us and we will make a outline so that you could see based on the rubrics how many stars did they get and that will help you understand how we really have been digging through this
and we thank you for your patience and your time because we want to make sure we get it correct so our Target is April if there's a hiccup or something comes up we will definitely let you know because this is too important to rush and uh most of them are at at least 50
pages thank you any okay um give an update on the master plan the planning board met um last night and the planner indicated that
uh she's in the process of finalizing the documents to um do the actual formal written report which is is expected to be completed um at the beginning of of the uh I guess by June we I think it's
what she said all of the stakeholder meetings have been completed um the subcommittee um shared some input um on the planning board um they're mapping out various conditions and the recommendations and ideas are scheduled
to have a preliminary drafting for the public um to here and have some more input see um on March 25th um and I gu this has
worked with the di committee there will be in bailing on Lewisville Road for the lville road marker that will take place March 25th at 4M on Louisville road on the campus of the lville school so all
are welcome to come to that event see what else and also trails in open space let me just read some of their was I just um two of the things that they're looking at trails and Open Spaces um
asking the council to consider a resolution um asking P this up asking to perhaps consider um the township LS that Trenton blocks
to be added to the rosy and also looking if I said that correctly the trails and open States committee is interested in a resolution asking the township to add to the township own attra boot to the and they
um gave a draft of the resolution and also they are asking um for walk and to review the princess Road DNR Conor and suggesting u a walk through through the route to take a look
at um the half mile between the I think the Amazon warehouse that is close to the Blackville Road and they're looking to review the DNR Canal princess as a possible Trail
and that's it additional that sense sense they're looking to do the resolution one to consider the charity area and also the one of the
things you're asking Mr ninski the Amazon there was a a bypass through the Amazon and the DNR came out are you familiar with that okay so they're looking to um for some
improvements in that area and we're wondering if uh if we the trails in open space committee were to do a walk through there if they needed to ask permission to the owner yeah if it's on Amazon property we should probably do that okay because I guess there was some sort of easement or relationship that
I'll mayor could I just ask all that sounds very interesting and I would love to see sort of the the the recommendations so if you could forward it on to the clerk to forward to all of us that would be incredible because it I heard you know I know Mr lson has been has spoken to me
about that easement in the past you know other things all sound really great and so I'd just love to to read what they say so thank you abely think I got this will now bring us to number 20 written
Communications okay all right thank you all for coming out this evening we will now be entering into our executive session I appreciate everyone who came out this beautiful beginning of Spring
day motion to go and exective session motion thank you all in favor I I agree