So we really can't wait. Good. Madam clerk, you ready? >> Welcome everyone to the township meeting Monday, May 4th, 2026. This meeting is now called to order. All please rise to salute to the flag. Councilman Murphy,
lead us in the salute to the flag. But we've been states to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God. >> Madame clerk, at this time, please read the statement of public notice.
>> Take notice that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in accordance with NJSA 104-8 and NJSA 104-10 as follows. A notice of the meeting was prominently posted on the bulletin board at the municipal building located at 225 Main Street, Little Falls, New Jersey on January
14th, 2026. A copy of notice was sent to the North Jersey Herald and News and the record on the same date. Additionally, a copy of the notice was filed in the office of the township clerk on set date. A link and a telephone number to join the meeting virtually can be accessed on the township website at littlefallsenj.gov. Electronic provisions have been
established for the public to participate during the public comment portion of the meeting. >> Thank you. At this time, Madam Clerk, call the role. >> Council member Patel, >> present. >> Council member Murphy, >> present. >> Council member Habits. Council member Vaneri, >> present. >> Uh, he should be present, but he's not signed up.
>> Can you hear me? Can you hear me? >> He's here. >> He's here. >> Yeah. Same. >> Council, can you hear us? >> I can hear you. Can you hear me? Can you hear me? >> I'm here. Can you hear me at all? Oh my goodness.
Of course. Okay, >> Councilman Ventur, can you hear us? >> I can hear you. Can you hear me? >> President, he typed present in the chat. >> So, you're good with that? Okay, fine. Markhamm present. >> All right, Council President Scoba. >> Okay. Uh, present.
>> Mayor Dan Mano, the floor is yours. >> Thank you, Council President. This evening we have couple of proclamations, one for Lyme disease, we have one for mental health awareness month as well as one for AsianPacific
Heritage Month. Uh and these are all celebrated in the month of May. And I'd like to do these three before we get into the remainder of the agenda. First being the Lyme disease awareness month proclamation and reach whereas May is a time to help bring awareness to Lyme disease and tick born disease. Whereas
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection brought on mostly by an infected deer tick with symptoms that may include headache, fatigue, skin, rash and fever. And whereas the center for disease control and prevention estimates that 476,000 people are diagnosed with the disease in
the US each year. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Mayor James Belfford Demiano, on behalf of the Little Falls Township Council, do hereby proclaim May 2026 as Lyme disease awareness month in the township of Little Falls. Next, we have proclamation for mental
health awareness month in whereas mental health is a part of overall health and whereas mental health helps to sustain an individual's thought process, relationships, productivity, and ability to adapt to change or face adversity. And whereas mental illness adversely
affects those abilities and often is life-threatening in nature. And whereas one in four adults experiences mental health problems in any given year. And such problems can contribute to onset of mental illness. And whereas one in 17 adults lives with mental illness such as
major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. And whereas approximately 1/ half of chronic mental illness begins by the age of 14 and 3/4 by age 24. Whereas long delays, sometimes decades, often occur between the time symptoms
first appear and when individuals get help. And whereas early identification and treatment can make a profound difference in successful management of mental illness and recovery. And whereas it is important to maintain mental health and learn the symptoms of mental illness in order to get help when it is
needed. And whereas every citizen and community can make a difference in helping end the silence and stigma that for too long has surrounded mental illness and discourage people from getting help. And whereas people uh public education and civic activities
can encourage mental health and improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. And now therefore, be it resolved, I James Belelfford Demiano, mayor of the township of Little Falls, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as mental health health awareness month in the
township of Little Falls to increase public understanding of the importance of mental health and to promote identification and treatment of mental illness. And for those of you who may not be familiar, as you drive through Little Falls and many of the other towns
through New Jersey, uh there are stigmafree signs that often times you see. They're typically green signs as you enter different towns throughout the state. And stigmafree is something that towns push as an initiative, including Little Falls, uh to break the stigma
associated with mental health issues and encouraging people to get help. So when you see those, that's what those are for. in order to help break the stigma associated with mental health. Finally, we have a proclamation for AsianPacific Heritage Month and it
reads, "Whereas AsianPacific Heritage Month is a time to acknowledge the contribution made to our history, society, and culture. And whereas we honor the first immigration of the first Japanese resident to the US in 1843. And whereas we celebrate the vast diversity of languages and cultural
traditions that strengthen America. And now therefore, be it resolved that I, Mayor James Belelfford Damiano, on behalf of the Little Falls Township Council, do hereby proclaim May 2026 as AsianPacific Heritage Month in the township of Little Falls. And as far as
updates throughout the municipality, Council President, uh, the lights on Stevens A, I'm happy to report, have officially been lit up. So, our streetscape along Stevens A now has the lights on and working at night. Stop by. It looks beautiful as you come down that
way. We are addressing a couple of the lights in front of some residential homes who have asked for shields to be installed in order to shield the light directly from their homes, but still illuminating the uh the roadway and the streets obviously for safety and keeping our sidewalks nice and bright. Um that's
all I have far as updates and reports. Council President, unless there's any questions from the kids. >> Thank you, Mayor. You have a motion to open the meeting to the public for general matters and agenda items. >> So moved. >> Moved by Councilman Murphy, second by Councilwoman Habltz. There's a voice vote. All those in favor? I.
>> All those opposed? That man motion carries. Madam Cler, >> anyone wishing to address the township council may do so through the council president. It is preferred if you give your name and address for the record. Comments are to be limited to three minutes. However, if appropriate, you may be granted additional time in the sole discretion of the council
president. Members of the public who have joined the meeting virtually and desire to provide comment shall raise their virtual hand in the Zoom application. The meeting moderator will cue the members of the public that wish to provide comment and the council president will recognize them in order. Members of the public who have joined the meeting by calling in must press star six to mute and unmute themselves
and star 9 to raise their hand. Members of the public who have joined the meeting via the Zoom application must click the reactions icon and then the raise hand icon. Once the process is complete, we will return to the regular order of business. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. The floor is now open. For those that'd like to speak, just come up to the podium. You can
state your name. You do not need to state your address. >> Is there anyone in the chat that'd like to speak to us? >> No. >> See no one come before the governing body. Have a motion to close to the public. >> So move.
>> Moved by Councilwoman Patel. Second by Councilwoman Hlettz. All those in favor. All those opposed. Motion carries. Mayor Damiano 1 through four. Thank you, Council President. This evening, the four items on the agenda are the resolution to introduce the 2026
municipal budget. And as we do every single year, I'm asking that this council approve the municipal budget this year. Uh unfortunately, as I laid out in the presentation last month, there are a number of increases within the budget that are outside of the
control of myself and this council. uh the single biggest ticket item being medical insurance contributions from the municipality which by itself totals over threequarters of a million dollars. Uh that increase by itself uh results in
nearly a 5 to6 point tax increase in just health care uh the municipal portion of it on behalf of municipal employees. Uh it's an expense that in speaking to other mayors and other administrators throughout the the county and various counties, it's an expense
that everybody has seen similar increases to because of the state health benefits if you're enrolled in them. Saw an over 25% increase in in contributions this past year. Uh so that is a significant portion uh of it. And of
course, as part of this year's budget, that was one of the considerations in the total increase in costs and expenditures that the municipality will be seeing. Uh the next is the resolution authorizing the increase in deferred school taxes for local and regional high
school taxes. And again, as I explain every year, the municipal budget runs on a different timeline than the school budget. Schools run July 1 to June 30. Municipalities run January 1, December 31 on calendar years. Uh and that is the disparity and that is why each and every
year we pass a resolution authorizing the increase in deferred school taxes for our schools. The item number three is the resolution providing for an increase in reserve for uncollected tax percentage. And in reviewing this uh further in just the
past several minutes uh one of the things that we have noticed and recognized is that the total percentage collection for the 23 24 and 25 calendar years is slightly off in the total calculation and so is the three-year
average as a result. And that the total calculation is really 295.9 not 294.9. And that the three-year average is actually 98.63 63, not 98.3. Uh, so in connection in consultation with our auditor, I'm asking that the
council approve this resolution, which he will uh bring down to the state and the director of local government services confirmation as to whether or not this needs to be adjusted accordingly. >> Mayor, is that like a.3 difference? >> Is a 33 difference because the total was
off by one. So the three-year average was off by.33. >> Thank you for clarification. All right. And uh the fourth item is ordinance 1543. It is the calendar year 26 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation. Uh and as have
many many municipalities throughout the state this year. Uh the amount that the township is paying is just exceeding uh the municipal budget appropriations of 2% and we are passing a resolution in order to do so. This was done by many of
the surrounding municipalities uh this year. as a result of significant increases that we have faced. >> Any questions? Thank you, mayor. Have a motion to approve uh the following application for New Jersey State Fireman's Association.
>> Moved by Councilwoman Patel, second by Councilman Murphy. This is a roll call. Madame Clerk, call the role. >> Council member Patel. >> Yes. >> Council member Murphy. Yes. Council member Havs. Council member Vaneri. >> Yes. You can hear me, right? >> Yes. Yes.
Councilman, can you hear us? >> I can hear you. You can't hear me. >> No, I'm here. I >> hear I'm here and for some reason you can't hear me.
>> Well, we're gonna Yeah. >> This is so frustrating. Yeah, >> thank you. >> Hey, I'm just going to put you next to the mic. >> I'm going to put you next to the mic. >> You're on.
>> You're on. You're on now. We're gonna do it. We're gonna do it via phone. You're live. >> Okay. Could Can everybody hear him? I think they're giving you a roll call on this, Chris. So, just your vote. >> Council member Van Ferry. >> Yes. >> Council President Scola. >> Yes. Thank you. We have a council person
who's um away on business that's coming in virtually. So, there's been a little technical operation uh problem. Uh do the council does any council member have any problems in approving the resolutions one through four in one clip or should we take some uh
individual? If not, can I have a motion to approve resolutions A through D? Moved by Councilwoman Habs. >> Second. >> Second by Councilwoman Patel. This is a roll call item. >> Just council president, just as amended as the >> as amended uh to the numbers that were
uh verbally presented by the mayor. Thank you for clarification, councelor. >> Council member Patel. >> Yes. >> Council member Murphy. >> Yes. >> Council member Habas. Council member Vaneri. >> Yes. >> Council President Scoba. >> Yes. Uh, madame clerk, please read ordinance
1541. >> Public hearing of ordinance number 1541, an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the township council of the township of Littlefold in the county of Cay State of New Jersey to add chapter 203 short-term rentals of the code of the township of Little Falls. >> Thank you. I'd like to table this
ordinance uh 1541 until May 18th. Have a motion to table ordinance 1541. So move. So moved by Councilman Patel, second by Councilman Murphy. >> Madame Clerk, call the role to table 1541 until May 18th. >> Council member Patel. >> Yes. >> Council member Murphy.
>> Yes. >> Council member Havitz. Council member Vaneri. >> Yes. >> Council President Scoba. >> Yes. Uh Madame Clerk, reading ordinance 1543, please. Introduction of ordinance number 1543, an ordinance entitled calendar year 2026 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation
limits and to establish a cap bank with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for May 18th, 2026. >> Have a motion uh to introduce 1543. >> Moved by Councilwoman Habitz. >> Second. >> Second by Councilman Murphy. Madame Clerk, call the role to introduce 1543.
>> Council member Patel. >> Yes. >> Council member Murphy. >> Yes. >> Council member Habits. Council member Vaneri. >> Yes. Council President Scoba. >> Yes. Um, so we're going to do council reports. We start off with Councilman Venturi since he's the most difficult uh to connect. Thank you, Councilman.
Council Venturi, your report. >> Nothing for me tonight. Just, you know, a little frustrated not being able you guys to hear me. So, nothing for me. >> Let the record show that for the first time, Council Member Perry, I said, quote, "Nothing for me." Make sure
that's in the records. Councilwoman Hlettz. >> Um, some library updates. Uh, there will be a preschool yoga on Friday, May the 8th, uh, at 10:15 a.m. Um, you do not need to register. They just need to bring a mat or a towel. And the
library's historic New Jersey um feature will conclude on May the 6th at 11:00 a.m. Um it is on the Revolutionary War episodes um with a visit to the Fort Lee Historical Park. Um as always, all the updates are on their social media and
their website to see uh further events happening at our library. Um our run club will begin again on May the 17th. Uh the Run Club is um leaving from our new location at the Little Falls train station of the farmers market at 8:30
a.m. Um all are welcome, all levels of uh runners. It's just a short um um one and a half mile run um with the run club and walkers are welcome as well. And then that will be followed by the grand opening of our farmers market at 9:00
a.m. on the 17th at our new location uh the Little Falls train station. Uh there will be parking available on site and the local streets and our municipal lot if need be. Um and hope you all join us. That's all I have. >> Thank you, Councilman Havs. Councilman Murphy.
>> Thank you, Council President. I'll be brief tonight. Just want to say I'm proud to be a part of history with uh Councilman Cherry shortest report ever made. Um just just real quick, um we do have a uh domestic violence awareness committee committee meeting tomorrow night in the
upstairs room of town hall at 7:00 p.m. Um just a quick note, uh we are no longer virtual. Uh so Zoom is no longer an option. We're in person back live. Now the weather's uh nice. So upstairs room 7:00 uh tomorrow night for a domestic violence awareness committee meeting. That's all I have. Council President, thank you. >> Thank you, Council Murphy. Council Mint
Patel. >> Uh thank you, Council President. Just a few updates for the public health committee. Um, tomorrow, May 5th, the health department is hosting a mindfulness workshop that's going to take place at 6 p.m. uh at the Clifton satellite office where they're going to
be doing rock painting. So, for whomever wants to relax, unwind, and get creative, you can register by calling 551-2373151. Then Wednesday, May 6th from 2 to 4, there's going to be free foot screenings at Clipton City Hall. And again, all
events that occur in Clifton are open to Little Falls residents. So, I do encourage everyone to attend these. And then on May 7th, they're going to do blood pressure screenings again at uh Clifton City Hall, and that's from 10:30 to 11:30.
And on Tuesday, May 19th at 11:00 a.m. at the main memorial library, uh, the Clifton Health Department has partnered with RWJ Barnabas to hold a program highlighting the importance of quality of sleep. Registration is required for
this. So, if you want to attend, please contact Leel at 973-470-5773. And then John Bego was here with his team at the last meeting. And both our 2025 annual report from the health department and the 2026 rapid health
community assessment. They're going to be posted on our website under the health department page for anyone who's interested and wants to view them. And then finally, our next public health committee meeting will be Wednesday, June 10th at 6 PM at the Civic Center. That's all I have. Council President.
>> Thank you, Councilwoman Battel. This past Friday, the senior advisory had their spring fling. 70 seniors attended. It was awful lot of fun and eating and dancing. It closes out this uh portion of the program until the fall where we
have our fall program. I want to thank Councilwoman Habits for helping out, Mark, TJ, Dominica, Marie uh for working really diligently and and uh putting the program together. have a motion. Councilman U I'm sorry,
Mayor Damiano. >> I'm going to ask that everybody count this towards Councilman Ventur's time because this is the Memorial Day update and this is typically a report that he would give. So, uh, count this towards his time. Memorial Day weekend on Friday starting at 6 p.m. We'll have our concert in Wilmore Park. Uh, we have a
Little Falls band. Uh, we will have You've Got 90s band there. They will be uh there from about 6:00 until about 9:00. We'll have some food trucks. So feel free to join us in the park to kick off Memorial Day weekend. And then on the Saturday of Memorial Day, starting
at 10 p.m., the parade will happen through town. It will start uh at 10:00 a.m. at American Legion Post 108 in the Singak section of town. We'll make our way down Main Street ending at the park at around 11:30, maybe a couple minutes before or after that, where we'll have
our Memorial Day service in the park hosted by the American Legion. So pe please feel free to join us for the parade and the ceremony on Saturday, May 23rd. Again, if you want to join us for the end, we'll be at the park around 11:30 to get there a couple minutes early just to be safe.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Have a motion to introduce the meeting to the public. >> Moved by Councilman Patel, second by Councilman Habitz. All those in favor? >> I. >> All those opposed. Thank you, Chris. All those opposed? Motion carries. Uh, Madame Clerk, >> anyone wishing to address the township
council may do so to the council president. It is preferred if you give your name and address for the record. Comments are to be limited to three minutes. However, if appropriate, you may be granted additional time in the sole discretion of the council president. Members of the public who have joined the meeting virtually and desire to provide comment shall raise their virtual hand in the Zoom
application. The meeting moderator will cue the members of the public that wish to provide comment and the council president will recognize them in order. Members of the public who have joined the meeting by calling in must press star six to mute unmute themselves and star 9 to raise their hand. Members of the public who have joined the meeting via the Zoom application must click the reactions icon and then the raise hand
icon. Once the process is complete, we'll return to the regular order of business. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. The floor is now open for anyone like to address the governing body. You come up to the podium, sir. You could just state your name. You don't need to state your address.
>> Uh my name is Casey. I am the operating emerald key supply company which is a licensed dispensary at the service that uh a few months ago I reached out to the mayor business administrator and warmed
up about the storm and they connected me with the health department who educated them all what that actually smoke shops and up cities
all these but a lot of the smoke shop that selling uh the products at all and since uh the enforcement of the ban in the little building has been uh in
line with what the state and I just wanted to thank for that the opportunity to educate on that position because for us that are trying to build regulated in line with what the state had regulations and then
it helps us uh build up build our business and then build a trusted. So thank you. >> Thank you for coming to this governing body and explaining that. We appreciate your time. Thank you. I wish you good success. You have to come up to the podium.
Um sure mostly but if you don't need to bring on it and um I currently work for the finance department of another municipality um in the state and we also just dealt with the uh increase in insurance. Um I just wanted to know what I know that
there was an issue switching carriers this year. Um a lot of townships have the same problem. So, I just want to know if this is something that will continue to be revisited year after year given that it's projected that the state will continue to increase um premiums and percentages uh year after year going
forward. It doesn't seem that it's trend. They're not going to trend in the other direction. Um so, I just want to know if there's any proactive plan. I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner um in the budget season to ask these questions. I know it's kind of a little late now, but I just wanted to know if there was
anything we had. >> Well, it's a great it's a great question and uh it's a great concern on behalf of a resident to come here. Yep. Health insurance, right? It's a big great big topic amongst everyone. Um, and the costs that are uh, and the mayor
will comment more on this, but the costs that are going through healthcare insurance, whether you're a personal person getting healthcare, a business owner, a municipality, um, the increases are a lot more than projected. Um, which is causing a lot of municipalities that to struggle and find
monies elsewhere to do the offset. I think going forward I I agree with you. Unless there's the governing body of the state is going to step in and and do something with the uh insurers probably we're going to see increases for the next two to three years uh at
this probably same or even a more alarming rate. Uh but the mayor could comment on how we go about looking at providers. George like you 26% increases on multi multi-million dollar line items
for every single municipality bigger cities even more than that is simply unachievable when you're trying to balance a budget and not increase taxes. This is not a little falls issue. This
is a statewide issue as you've indicated. And what's worse than even the taxpayers having to make up this difference in this astronomical increase is that so many employees get a raise at the end or beginning of a year but still
take home less money that following year than they did the year prior because of their contributions to the medical insurance increasing at these new rates. It's not sustainable for municipalities. It's not sustainable for employees of municipalities. something needs to be
done. Something needs to be done at a higher level than local municipalities can do themselves. Exploring other health care options is something that can certainly be looked into. But of course, sometimes that comes with modifying health benefits to individual employed or all of the employees uh in a
municipality which often times can affect the their carrier, the individuals who are able to provide them with services. And we know that when a lot of people become comfortable and familiar with this particular medical provider, having to be forced to change
medical providers is sometimes an uncomfortable thing, especially when you have sometimes major health issues where you have found someone who you feel is treating well and able to manage whatever issues you are having. Uh it's certainly something that not only Little Falls, but everyone in the state's going
to have to continue to explore and look into. Trying to figure out how to keep these costs more balanced. Again, at the higher state level is something that's going to have to be pursued. There are millions upon millions of individuals in New Jersey who are on state health benefits as just one example. Whether it
be public employees, whether it be police fire, whether it be teachers, whether it be millions and millions and millions of of individuals saw 26 plus% increases in the total cost of their medical insurance in a year that a lot of them are sharing depending on how
much they're earning, 35% of the cost of. It's not sustainable. Something needs to be done. Uh it's certainly a major topic at a lot of the the conversations that I'm involved in with other mayors, with other municipalities. Uh and in talking to employees in this
town, I know a lot of people are unhappy saying, "Well, I got a raise, but I bring home less money than I did last year." Uh something needs to be done. Uh I don't know what exactly it is that can be done, but it's certainly a topic that needs to continue to be explored. >> Please. Okay. Um, so my other question
is I know that there have been uh change over in key positions uh within the last year in this town. So really my my main concern is that the um current department heads that are in charge of these types of things will remain proactive in the years going forward as
these increases continue. That's really just my concern. I don't >> Well, and thank you for that concern. It's uh through the mayor and the council, the staff. Um that is their charge to look at uh those companies and
to do an evaluation to make sure that yeah, it's easy to say we could go with something else, but are are the benefits the same? Are we getting the same services? Uh people go into municipality industry or benefits. Not only just for pay, yes,
they want to be paid, but one of the main reasons for benefits, right? So yeah, that's a constant lookout for our staff. We appreciate that you you bring that forth front, but that's being done every moment. Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to approach this governing body? I don't
see no one in the chat. Am I correct? All right. Thank you. Have a motion to close the public comment. >> So moved by Councilman Murphy, second by Counciloman Habits. All those in favor? All those opposed? That motion. Thank you. That motion carries. Want to thank Mrs. Krauss and Mr. Trone for assisting
me putting this agenda together. Have a motion to adjourn this meeting. >> Some moved. >> Moved by Councilwoman Habitz. I'm sorry. Moved by Counciloman Mattel, second by Councilwoman Habits. All those in favor? >> All those opposed? Motion carries. This meeting is now closed.
All right. I'm going to cut you off. Thanks.