Good evening everyone. Um, we want to welcome everyone to uh the agenda uh today's meeting for the count town council dated April 27, 2026. Uh, I'm going to read the sunshine statement uh which is as follows. This is our statement of compliance with the
sunshine law of NJSA 104-10. This meeting is being held in accordance with the public meetings act and adequate notice of this meeting was provided as required by law. Specifically, the annual notice was emailed to the West Essex Tribune and the Star Ledger on January 5th, 2026. The agenda and resolutions for the
meeting are available on Livingston and NJ.org. Certain portions of this meeting may be closed to the public for the purposes of personnel and/or other matters as outlined in the Sunshine Law. Decisions made or discussed in close session will be made known to the public at a later time. Notice to members of the governing body and township staff.
Any use of electronic devices during this meeting shall be used solely for the purposes of township business and any communications are subject to the open public records act. To the extent possible, this evening's township of coun uh excuse me, Livingston Council meeting will be livereamed via Facebook at www.fas.com/livingston
township. Questions or comments will also be accepted by emailing live comments at livingstonj.org by 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting and share with the township council before the meeting. Each speaker should follow the rules of order in Livingston Code 2-15.3. Madame Clerk, roll call, please.
>> Council member Minhart >> here. >> Anthony here. >> Vieira, >> present. >> Deputy Mayor Baptani >> here. >> And Mayor Klein >> here. If everyone could please rise and join me in a moment of silence, followed by the pledge of allegiance. >> Um, if we could think of uh Assemblywoman uh Rosie Begley's mother
passed away this morning. So, if we can hold their family in our hearts, please. Pledge allegiance to the flag United States of America and to the republic for it stands nation indivisibley and justice for all.
First of all, welcome everybody. It's great to have a full room here. Um, lots to celebrate, which is terrific. Uh, we're really proud of uh, our hockey team, so it's just great to have them here. We've been waiting a little while to get this done. So, welcome to everybody for being here. Um, we're going to move down here to Ess's County
updates. I do see uh, Essis County uh, Representative Eileen Fishman, if you could please come along. right there. >> Here we go again. >> Yes. Okay. Good evening. I have two announcements tonight. And the first is
that we have our hazardous waste event on Saturday, May 2nd from 8:30 to 4, and it's at um the DPW site on Bradford A in Cedar Grove. And then the next one is um
our electronics event and that's uh Saturday May 16th from 9 to 3 same location. We always have lots of good things going on at our zoo as well as our environmental center. >> Thank you Eileen. >> You're welcome.
>> Okay. Um that will bring us to um we're going to jump to number three first just because I know that um there are some people here for autism awareness and they asked if they could uh come on forward first and we're happy to uh do that. Um if you want to uh step forward
please. We have we want to um we have a proclamation uh to recognize autism awareness week. I want to um I'll read through uh parts of the proclamation and then I want to um well why don't we have you guys uh speak first. And I know that um uh Deputy
Mayor Bhutani just wanted to make a couple comments as well if that's okay. >> Sure. So, we'll just let's turn over the microphone to uh Deputy Mayor Bhutani. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Uh Livingston's uh advisory committee for
special needs. I think it's ablely led by Bob and there are quite a few friends who are quite intense in uh creating awareness for autism. Um we were there at the autism awareness event organized
by LCD and one of the thing that we talked about over there is awareness is one thing let's turn that into action. So I think this is the kind of uh you know next step that we look forward to and thank you all for doing the amazing work and thank you uh Pam Ter for
bringing that out and uh board of education president Paul Kempka for mentioning this to kind of see how we can create more awareness and and I'm so glad we are doing the proclamation today. Um so all in all a great uh event, great great proclamation here,
great celebration of how we bring awareness and hopefully more action. So over to you uh whoever wants to take the microphone and talk about it for for a second. >> Good evening. So my name is Bob Gabro. I'm the chairman of the Livingston
Advisory Committee for Disabilities and I feel very fortunate to have that opportunity. Um I do a lot of reading about longevity and one of the things they stress over and over again is get
yourself a purpose. So this committee has given me a purpose in life. And for those of you who are a little uncomfortable, you know, speaking with or getting to know somebody on the spectrum,
take it from me. It's it's really an opportunity. It's inspiring. It's it's very different. It's it's refreshing. Um people with autism uh are special. And and what makes them
one of the things that makes them special is they tell it like it is. Okay. You know, I've been around this world for quite a few years now, and I find that a lot of people from the general population don't tell it like it
is. You know, there's too many games being played, but people on the spectrum, they got something in their head, they're going to they're going to let you know, you know, and to me, it's very inspiring.
So, so try it. Try it someday. I don't think you'll be disappointed. I recommend it. And I want to thank the other members of the committee that I work with. We have a bunch of great people. We do a lot of stuff. If
anyone's interested in learning about the things that we do here are your people you could talk to, you could reach out to me anytime. I want to thank Kaitton Banani. He's our liaison to the town council. I also want
to thank the town council. They are always there for us. Um we had an event just Thursday, this past Thursday. They were there and and we have a spring party coming up. Huge party. They'll be
there again. They're they always have our backs. So that's about it. all I have to say, but would anyone else like to add anything? >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Hi. Um, my name is Pam Ter. Um, I also
just wanted to add that um my I have a 26-year-old um with profound autism um which is more on the higher support need level of autism. And um we've lived here for 20 plus years
and it started it's we started meeting um the other families in town who not only have children with special needs um with an autism diagnosis but many other
special needs as well. We've navigated the Livingston public schools um which was not always so easy. we've um we're now navigating the adult world and um that's not any easier. Um I believe
it's harder. Um so I I I just wanted to say, you know, again, thank you. Um we continue to have needs. Just because we might have graduated um our our school doesn't mean that we don't need the
support of our community. It's um something that we will we will always need and it's pretty much why so many of us um decide not to leave after our kids went to school here because we're part of this
community. It's um the place where we feel supported and we have challenges. Um, autism awareness month of April is a month. Um, autism awareness day is a day. We're doing this
every day, every night. Um, and uh, some something that I created not too long ago was a t-shirt that said autism awareness every day. Um it's it's our life and you know we we know many people
that are not in our special needs world and we appreciate every smile at the grocery store, every um chitchat, every question that my son an asks you even though he doesn't know you just because you're wearing the Livingston shirt he
might be interested. Um so so thank you and um thank you to to you all as well. Um specifically um Kan and Ed for listening um most recently when we started to talk about what what do we need moving forward and I appreciate all
of you for always listening. Thanks. >> Thanks Pam. >> Anyone else? And I just also just say that um you know uh there are a lot of really giving people up here in front but I uh Bob comes up for you know and
and other people come up for other reasons but I will say this is sort of Bob's specialty right I mean it is incredible how much time and effort and love you put into this uh into you know into this passion of yours to uh to help
with people and you know the whole town has a huge debt of gratitude. It's just something it is amazing to see the the time sheet that you put in on this stuff just day in and day out. It just it it inspires all of us. So, I just want to say thank you to you for that. Um I also will just say at the library Yeah. for Bob. Absolutely. Um
that doesn't take away from anyone else. Everyone else up here does an amazing job, too. Um the we we just also had a um a special resources fair at the library. Um and the library has been recognized, you know, in a similar vein for uh for um being accessible to everyone. And uh we just had a big fair
there with lots of different um providers of services for uh people who who you know who might need those kinds of services and and it was well attended and that was terrific also. So I'm going to read a little bit about the the proclamation uh that you know that we're going to be uh uh handing to you tonight. Um whereas autism is a
neurological variation that contributes to the rich diversity of the human experience sharing the unique ways individuals perceive and interact interact with the world. And whereas the township of Livingston recognizes that neurodeiversity is a strength and our community is much more vibrant by the diverse perspectives and talents of our
autistic neighbors. And whereas true inclusion requires acceptance, the active effort to ensure that all individuals have the support, accommodations, and opportunities necessary to lead fulfilling, self-determining lives. And uh there's a couple more paragraphs, but um we you know, I Sean Klein, mayor of the
Township of Livingston, County of Essex, state of New Jersey, here I uh proclaim April 26 as autism acceptance month in the township of Livingston. Thank you everyone for coming up and and and putting a highlight on this important issue. You want to go down and take a picture
with them? >> This is for Okay. We're going to get to this. >> Can you come by and see me tomorrow? We're gonna Yes, we got the hockey team.
So, >> we're going to uh You're going to do the first four names. Okay. So, we've been uh emailing back and forth the representatives of the hockey team for uh probably a couple months now because we really wanted to honor this
team and their achievements this year. Super exciting for the town. I'm sure super exciting for the team also. I'm going to read what our citation says and then we're going to call everybody up to uh to give them a copy of that citation. Um, the mayor and members of the Livingston Township Council are pleased to recognize Livingston Lancers 2025
2026 Varsity Boys Ice Hockey Team, the 2026 McKinnis Cup Conference Champions, and the NJIHL Team of the Year. We thank them for the pride they bring to our community. Their commitment to hard
work and excellence led the team to become the McKinnis Cup champions, the first time in 13 years. And the N and the New Jersey intercolastic ice hockey team of the NJIHL of the year. And we're going to bring up the players, please. Uh and and uh
handies out. >> Yeah. We're going to get down to it. Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Who's first? >> All right. So, let's >> mention your name, please. >> Yep. All right. So, Andrew Donnie.
All right, Andrew, come on in. Andrew, congratulations. Congratulations. >> Then we have Jacob Stevens. Congratulations. Here's yours. >> We have Isaac Horn. Congratulations. All right.
>> And Jayen Rogers. All right. Aish Chry is here. All right. Aish. >> All right. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> All right. Next up, Matthew Zox.
>> Wow. >> The captain. The captain has the cup. I say the cup. >> You get to uh congratulations. >> All right. Uh Judah Le. >> Oh, good. Congratulations.
>> Congratulations. >> All right, Judah >> and Noah Stevens. Is that it? >> Wait. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Next, we have Drew Kipnis.
>> All right, Drew. Congratulations. >> All right, Drew. Way to go. Congratulations, Drew. Here, take this. >> There you go. Next, we have David Gaul. Yeah,
this is a Yeah, she's gonna >> Here you go, David. Hey, wait. Shake his shake right there. smile. >> I know David well. He's although he's a Hurricanes fan. Um, next we have uh Chase Loro.
>> Congratulations. All right, Chase. >> Chase, great job. Here you go. Thank you. >> Congratulations. Next we have Max Cohen. >> All right, Max. All right. All right. >> Here you go. >> Congratulations.
>> Next we have Ben Diamond. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. All right. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Then we have Ryan Korn. >> Congratulations. >> Rise Bernstein. Thanks
>> and David Winri. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. Here we go. >> Eli Wheeler. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you.
>> Josh Lloyderstein. >> Did I get that right? >> Yeah. >> All right. Zack Gner. >> Congratulations. Here you go. >> Congratulations. >> Tyler Saft. >> I'm not sure. Congratulations.
>> And our last player, Brody Titlebomb. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> And then uh we're going to get to our coaches. Head coach Dave Conklin. He received the NJI HL coach of the year award
as well as the sportsmanship award. >> Congratulations. >> Uh and assistant coaches, uh Dave Maluch Oh, wait a sec. Did I give you two of those? Anyone get doubles? We're missing a couple. Okay, we got to get a couple more of these. Um, and assistant coaches, uh, Dave Maluchcci.
Yeah. You know what? >> I'm gonna give you the plants so I can see. Yeah, >> that one's for you. >> Good save, Al. >> There we go. >> Congratulations. >> Oh my god. Yeah. Um, and then, uh, Zachary Dorfman,
real. Hey, we owe you I owe you one. All right. >> Yeah. No, you're good for you. Okay. Good. >> Um, and we've also just Is Mr. McInness here? >> Can he come out? Where is he? Come on out. This is the the big tournament, the
McInness Cup. This is the namesake right here. >> Dave, do you want to just talk about the team a little bit and then we can even I think I'm gonna leave it for the captain. >> Okay, let's >> All right. Um, >> I just wanted to um thank the board for
having us here today. It's a big honor and a big accomplishment for my team and it was a great year. Uh a great win for all of us. Uh great experience for Livingston Hockey and I'm thankful for it all. Thank you. Not the real coach.
Short and sweet. Fantastic. Okay. Um why don't we get everyone in? We're Why doesn't the council go upstairs? Yeah, we're going to go upstairs and uh Yes. Let's get a picture. Yeah. Can we get the the cup and uh >> give the cup to >> There you go. >> That is his cup, right? You guys should
uh >> tell us who >> Yes, he's the So, do you want to talk about the cup in the tournament? Can you at least >> you prefer not to? >> Um Dave, do you want to just talk about just explain what the cup is and how come Mr. McInness is here tonight? Can you just give us some comments on that?
So, the uh McInness Cup is uh is named after Paul McInness, who's a lifelong hockey guy in New Jersey, and our conference is uh named after him. So, we are very pleased to see him here. We didn't realize he was coming. So,
everybody um you're you're looking at a legend right here, guys. Uh this year's team, we were 20 and four. Uh we won the McInness Cup. Um which was a major accomplishment. Uh last time Livingston did that was 2013.
Um we've been to the championship game, I think eight times in the last um 12 years. So um winning is uh is very difficult. Um these young men right here did tremendous job
uh all year long and um very very proud. Um especially honored to uh to win the McInness Cup. The division is one of the toughest in New Jersey and to be able to uh uh bring home a championship is
really something special. So, um, these boys deserve all the credit and we're extremely proud to, uh, to win for Livingston. So, congratulations, boys. And, uh, Mr. McInness, thank you very much for, uh, for coming.
>> Thank you, coach. Coach of the year right here. Um, so we're going to ask everyone to just spread out. We'll right along the front here. The council go up on top. Um, I'm going to give this to you, coach. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Put this back in. >> And you boys should see how your parents
are beaming in the audience. No joke. Very exciting day. Good job. WOO! GOOD. All right. Good job guys. 6 a.m. All right, we're going to move along
here. We have one more proclamation for this evening. Uh this is a recognition of public service uh for public service week. Um this is a recognition that honors all government employees who helped to make this nation run, who
helped to make this nation great. We have some government employees that are sitting amongst us right here. Hi Carolyn, how you doing? And to our managers, right? And to our and Coochie, our CFO. So uh we certainly have very You got to leave the door
open, guys. >> It's got to stay open. >> Perl. Can you can you open the door? Is that all right? >> So uh certainly in Livingston, we know what it's like to have great public servants and we have some up here. Uh and this is a proclamation uh for this week. It's it's public service
recognition week and uh we are absolutely proud to recognize our outstanding public servants. Thanks for thanks for all the work you do for the town and um I'll just uh give this to whoever wants this. This is for all of you. Thank you. All
right. Good. Um and that's for you too by the way. Excellent public employee. All right. Good. Uh we're going to go to uh we're going to move on to the approval of the meeting minutes. Uh pending any corrections? Uh these are the regular conference meeting minutes
uh from April uh 6, 2026. Uh can I have a motion to approve the meeting minutes? Pending corrections. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> I >> Okay. Opposed. Okay. We're going to So those are all good and we're going to move to So I had
a Jared if I'm we talked had a couple emails about the the you know legal formatting of this. I just step on me if I do it wrong. But uh so we're going to this is the public hearing and adoption of the 2026 business improvement district the bid budget. Um so the resolution um 20 uh do you want to read
the resolution Caroline? >> 26 uh yes resolution 26-158A authorizing the bid budget to be read by title. >> Okay. Now I have a motion for 26-15A. >> I'll move 58a. >> Second. >> I'll move it. >> Okay. Is there any discussion?
>> Okay. >> Uh madame clerk please call the role. Council member Reinhardt, >> yes. >> Anthony, yes. >> Vieiraa, yes. >> Deputy Mayor Baptani, >> yes. >> Mayor Klein, >> yes. And we're now going to move to the 26 bid budget public hearing. Can I have a motion to open the hearing? >> Motion.
>> Second. >> Second. >> Any uh all four? I Okay. Any against? >> Okay. Um the the budget public hearing is now open for the bid. Are there any speakers? >> Motion to close. Second.
All in favor? I. >> Any against? >> Okay. Then we're going to move forward to resolution 26-158B. Carolyn, >> resolution 26-158B, adopting 2026 bid budget. >> Can I have a motion for that resolution? >> Motion.
>> Second. >> Second. >> Any Is there any discussion? >> Okay. Uh, Madame Clerk, can you please call the role? >> Council member Minhart? >> Yes. >> Anthony? >> Yes. >> Vieiraa? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Baptani? >> Yes. >> Mayor Klene? >> Yes. Okay. Uh,
>> meeting on public comments on agenda items. >> Motion open on public on agenda items only. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. Um, okay. At this time, the meeting is now open for agenda items only. There's a
4-minute time limit per person. Residents can come to the phone. Um, if you come to the microphone, please state your name uh and whether you live in the town for for the record. My name is Eleanor Cohen and I have to say this is a joy to be at a meeting like this to see such a wonderful
outpouring of kids and people who care about this town. We're lucky to be here and I am delighted to see that you have the ordinance for us to purchase the Federated Church. We have wanted for many years to have an arts center in
this town and I think this is the golden time. So I want to thank the council. It's only taken us 40 years but it's wonderful that it will be here. I'm glad that I will live to see it and that we will all come and enjoy all the
wonderful offerings that will happen at the church. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you, Ellen. Anyone else? Four minutes public comment on agenda items only. >> How you doing? Tim Foley,
president for over 50 years, fourth generation. Uh I just got a a quick question on um ordinance number uh 12 uh 2026. I understand you're looking you're
looking at for a 3.5 uh% increase on the budget. Um my my question is, you know, we have approximately I'm probably underestimating 500 homes that their tax rates are going up because they're knocking these starter homes
which our kids aren't going to be able to afford and you're getting increased tax revenue there. So, just for instance, my house, I pay a little over 10,000. For quick mathematics, just quick mathematics, I pay a little over
$10,000. Neighbor across the street, same size house, got knocked down a few years ago. And unfortunately, that new um resident is is leaving town because of uh business uh uh reasons. Saw his tax what he plays in taxes now.
It was the same size house, same size property. He's paying 30,000. So there's a $20,000 difference there, which the township gets approximately a third of that. So that's uh >> 60 6,700.
>> About 20% of it, actually. We actually had 18. We actually had 18% this year. >> 18 cents every 18 cents on every dollar. >> Okay. Still, where's all that money going? That's a lot of money out of $20,000. >> So, and that's just one house. And
there's 500 h at least minimum of 500 houses that are being knocked down in this town. Again, with the overbuilding and between the, you know, the commercial buildings and all these homes, you know, are being knocked down. Our kids, that's why I always say I'm the fourth generation and probably not
going to be a fifth generation in this town because my kids and guarantee all your kids up there will not be able to live in this town. We are shutting out generations. And I'm not the only one that's been here for, you know, my family has been here for 40 years. I
mean, four generations. There's plenty of them. But none of our kids are going to be able to raise our kids or their kids, my grandkids, your grandkids in this town. So again, not sure why you're looking for 3.5%. Because of all this
extra tax of uh all this all this housing, just the housing now. Now all this money that's supposed to be coming in commercialwide on the commercial properties. Again, I just don't understand why you're looking for a 3.5%. >> Barry, can you speak to that? Because
the 3.5 is the capback. It's not the same thing as the tax that budget. >> So the ordinance that's on the agenda, uh, state of New Jersey imposes a couple of different caps. One is a three and a half% cap cap on uh appropriations. Well, you can go up to one and a three
and a half%. They impose a a a cap on your appropriations, which is what you spend regardless of how much your tax revenues are. It's totally focused on the spending. There's also a tax levy cap, which is 2%. The three and a half% cap on spending that you can go up to,
which is this ordinance allows us to go up to that cap. That does not mean we're going to go up to that cap. What it allows you to do is if you do it and you are less than that, you can bank that cap for if you have a future year that has a higher demand. Um, this year is
particularly challenging notwithstanding the new ratables that you talked about because the health insurance as everyone I think is aware of has gone up pretty astronomically. Um, we've had other significant expending increases. Our insurance, not only health insurance, our regular insurance, things that are
beyond our control. But the the bottom line is this particular ordinance only allows us it on paper authorizes up to three and a half%. Uh if our appropriations are less than that we can bank that cap for future years. The tax impact which is actually the more I
think relevant to the individual homeowner is a tax levy cap which is a 2% cap and we are not going to exceed that 2% cap on the tax increase. >> Okay, that's understandable. But still, it it's it's it's weird that we're we're asking to to hold off that, you know,
that $674,000, I think the number was in the in the pamphlet that I that I looked at. So, but all right. Thank you for the answer. >> Thank you. >> Seeing no other speakers, can I have a motion to close the public? >> Motion. >> Second.
>> All in favor? I >> opposed. Okay, we'll move now to passage of the ordinances. Tonight, there are two ordinances for second reading. Um, the first of these ordinances, uh, madam clerk, please read the ordinance number 12-2026 by title.
>> Thank you, mayor. Ordinance 12-2026 to exceed municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank 2026. >> I'll make a motion open to public hearing. >> Second. >> Second. >> Do any council members have any comments on uh uh ordinance 12 uh 12-26? I think
Councilman Mayor opened up the public hearing. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I'm I'm I'm I'm past my point here. Go ahead. Yes. >> There's a second. >> Okay. Yeah, there's a second. No. Public hearing on on 12-2026 ordinance. >> Okay. >> Um >> seeing none, motion to close. >> Second.
>> Okay. Can I have a motion to move ordinance 12-226? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Okay. Any council members have comments on 20 on 12-2026? >> Listen, I'll just make one comment about M what Mr. Foley had to say before about the housing values in Livingston. Um,
and I I understand what he's saying. I just think that I think a lot of people would be very much upset in this town if the housing values had decreased by 50% instead of increasing by 50%. I think that's a big sign I think why you see housing increasing so much is uh I think
Peru left she was here our board of education we had we had a member of our board of education here. I think one of the reasons why you see the housing values go so far is because of the great school systems that we have as well as well as to be a great town to live in and a safe town. So I just want to comment on I know it's not on this agenda but just what what Mr. Foley said
about the housing values. I personally am glad that my housing values have gone up. I definitely understand what you're saying about kids not being able to afford it. It's definitely a problem not only Livingston and in all of northern Jersey and probably southern Jersey as well. there's nothing. I mean, I I agree with you about that and I I don't know what's going to happen for that
generation, but it's just tough to say that I think most of us in this in this in here are happy that the that that our housing values have gone up, but that's all I got. >> Um, Madame Cler, can you please call the role? >> Council member Minhart, >> yes. >> Anthony, >> yes.
>> Vieira, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Batani, >> yes. >> And Mayor Klein. >> Okay. For uh ordinance 13, 2022, I am recused. I'm handing over the uh the meeting to Deputy Mayor Buphani. >> Thank you, Mayor Klein. Uh madam madame clerk, please read the ordinance number
13 2020 2026 by title. >> Yes. Ordinance 13-2026 adopting 576 to 586 West Mount Pleasant Avenue overlay district redevelopment plan. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. May I have motion to open? >> Motion to open public comment.
>> Second. >> Seeing none. Motion to close. >> Second. >> May I have a motion to >> Motion to move? >> Move. >> Second. >> Call. >> Roll call, please. >> Council member Minhardt? >> Yes. >> Anthony? >> Yes.
>> Vieiraa? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Banani? >> Yes. >> That brings us down to the ordinances we have for introduction. There are three ordinances for introduction this evening. Uh, madame clerk, can you please read ordinance number 14-2026 by title? >> Mayor, I think we decided to pull
ordinance 14 in conference. I'm not sure. >> Yes, >> I think we 14 20226. We decided to pull. >> Oh, okay. >> That was not being clear to me that it was getting pulled. Fair enough. Okay. Uh, let's go to 15. >> Ordinance 15-2026 authorizing the purchase of that certain
property known as block 1409 lot 10. I'll make a motion to approve the ordinance for introduction. >> Second, >> is there any discussion? >> Mayor, I I I want to say a couple of words and I'm as excited and probably even more excited than former mayor Ellie Con about this uh uh project uh
purchasing um a historic church um and actually keeping it from the wrecking balls of another residential um development coming in. Um, and actually, if you've ever taken a walk over at that church, you literally have the history
of Livingston. Um, there's a um, a cemetery right in their backyard. >> Let's just be clear what we're talking about. This is the Federated Church right in the main cross-section of the town. Just so people understand, >> on the corner of uh, Northfield um, I'm not sorry, on the corner of uh, South Livingston Avenue and uh, and Mount
Pleasant, Route 10. Um, the the cemetery alone is the founders of Livingston. if you've ever gotten uh a chance to go in there, it it's beautiful and uh I I can't wait until we get our hands on on being able to to elevate that that cemetery so people can actually go visit
it and and look at the history of uh of of Livingston. I do want to thank um Reggie Sims and Kimberly U Hornload from the church. Um they they've given us or some of us the history of that church and there's a great big history. I know Tim your your mother uh is from that
church and uh I'm happy that uh you know what again maybe it will become something with the arts council but what I can definitely say is that it's not going to get into the hands of any developers. I just mayor I just so I just also want to comment I agree
100% with what Councilman Pier said. Um uh I think Councilman Anthony and I had a chance last summer to walk through it and we saw the for I think it was the 14 original families of Livingston in the back. Some of the names in that cemetery are really really cool. Baker Collins you know other name Riker. So the really interesting when you when you look at
those that cemetery and you see and you put that to the town you know very interesting names that are back there. So in addition >> I'm sorry street and school build but but I'm saying but like what a cool thing like it is probably one of the things that 99% of the residents don't
know it's back there like that's that's the thing. So I look forward to to cleaning that you know that that cemetery up cutting the lawn and making sure that a lot of people know about that. So I mean people who live in Livingston you know Tim fourth generations and I'm only one generation but it's still a cool thing. It's really I think it's great to know the history
of the town that you live in. uh in addition to keeping out of developers hands and whatever else that we can make out of it. It's a great purchase. I I am thrilled that this council was able to get this done. Thank you. And I'd like to thank I know uh Jared Cancer did Jared you did a lot of work on this. So, thank you very much. And Barry Lewis as well getting this in front of the
council tonight. So, thank you both. >> Yep. Uh much has been said already. I'll just add a couple of things. Uh when I took the walk, uh this was about a year and a half, two years ago. um when it was more of a historical purposes. There is an office in that old church and the
and the uh the head there actually showed the maps and that had a history of maps, the streets, how Livingston looked. It's one of the first addresses of our town, one of the first taller structures of our town. If you look back
at our uh bicesentennial book, you will find photographs in there where the roads were not paved dirt roads and then this church had a tower up there. So, it's it's that historical. Uh we're so thrilled to have it coming to the open space and great job everybody and I'm as
equally thrilled. Thank you. >> I just I won't repeat what everyone said. I do want to give uh former mayor uh Ellie Cohen a lot of credit. Barry, you and I met with her. She made a reference. It was a couple, it wasn't four years ago, but it was about three years ago when it first uh became available. Uh not only did she meet with
us, but she did a um uh an a letter to the editor for the West Essex Tribune, and she's been on this uh all along. And uh I want to thank everyone here, council, Barry, uh Jared, everyone here for actually getting it and keeping it
out of uh developers hands. So, thanks everyone. Th this is uh one of those things uh you know if you didn't know anything about Livingston, you know anything about the government, you would look at that property and say, "Boy, that would be a great place for the town to be able to have a park um and to be able to have some common uh public
space." Uh you don't get to hit home runs all the time in government. This is a home run. This is so great for our town to have this. And uh I'm I I'm super excited about I know the council's super excited about it. Um the whole town should be super excited about it. This is a great thing for for this
township. Can you call the role, please? >> Council member Minhardt, >> proudly yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> Vieira, >> definitely yes. >> Deputy Mayor Banani, >> absolutely yes. >> Mayor Clint, >> yes.
>> Okay, we're going to move along to um >> Mayor Public hearing date. Madam Clerk, >> excuse me. Um the public hearing will be May 11th. >> Thank you. Uh this moves us to um 15 uh-2026 >> ordinance 16-2026 amending and
supplementing chapter 29 traffic and parking. >> I'll make a motion to uh approve the ordinance for introduction. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> Madame clerk, please call the role. >> Council member Minhart, >> yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> Vieiera, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Baptani,
>> yes. >> And Mayor Klene, >> yes. And this will also have its final hearing on uh Monday, May 11th. >> Thank you. Uh that brings us to the consent agenda. All matters listed with an asterisk on the agenda are considered to be routine and non-controversial by the council and be approved by one motion. There will be
no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the govern governing body so requests in which case the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda as part of the general orders. Do any uh members of the council wish to have any items removed from the consent
agenda for separate discussion and voting? >> No. Okay. No. No one. Okay. Uh Madam Clerk, please read all the resolutions on the agenda by title and and number. >> Resolution 26-160 authorizing the sale of surplus
property. Resolution 26-161 authorizing the award of a contract to Pumping Services, Inc. Resolution 26-162 authorizing the award of a contract to Rio Supply Inc. Resolution 26-163
authorizing purchases under the new North Jersey Wastewater Cooperative Pricing System. Resolution 26-164 authorizing the award of a contract to Granada Construction Corp. Resolution 26-165 appointing new member to LCDI in vision
2020. Resolution 26-166, authorizing approval of change order number one with Utility Service Company, Inc. Resolution 26-167, authorizing approval of change order number one with Scofar Contracting, Inc.
Resolution 26-168, designating area in need of rehabilitation, block 3000, lot 1.01,156E 01156E Cedar Street and resolution 26-169 establishing tree replacement
performance bond account. >> Mayor, I'll make a motion to approve the resolutions. >> Second. >> Madam Cler, please call the role. >> Council member Minhart, >> yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> Vieiraa, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Banani, >> yes. >> And Mayor Klein, >> yes.
>> Motion to open up public portion on any subject. >> Second. Anyone can come up. They have Yes. The Oh, sorry. All in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. Opposed? >> Okay. Meeting is now open on the subject of three-minute time limit. Residents may come to the phone. Please state uh
your name and whether you live in town. >> Good evening. My name is Joyce Armando and I live on Greenwood Court directly behind the Express Auto Car Wash, but you guys all know that already. Um I am here tonight with several of my neighbors to make clear that this is not
an isolated noise complaint. Um it's affecting multiple um homes in our neighborhood and I invite my neighbors to come up here and stand with me and that includes the McInnesses. Thank you. >> Excuse me. We have we have to I mean they can stand but they can't if they're going to speak
>> that's fine. They can stand and they will have their time to talk. Um okay. So, um, we can hear this car wash operating inside and outside our homes. That is not normal for a residential
neighborhood and it's not acceptable. It is not something homeowners should have to live with and it did not happen by accident. This town approved the operation based on specific conditions which included a 38 decel representation which they have failed to reach even
with a recently constructed enclosure around the motors. 15 vacuum stations, not 17 that were built, and no air hoses, yet 17 are operating. What was actually built and still currently operating does not reflect those conditions in the final site plan
approval and residents are now dealing with the consequences. And that brings us me that brings me to the bigger issue. What is this doing to our property values and whether we can even sell our homes now? Because when a
potential buyer stands in a backyard or inside a home and hears the level of commercial noise, it affects marketability and the value value throughout no fault of our own. So this is not just about a number on a sound
reading. Okay? Sound readings have varied depending on when and how testing is done, but that has not changed what residents are experiencing inside and around our homes every day. This is about a commercial operation disrupting the use and enjoyment of our homes. And
it never should have been approved this way. This configuration should have never been approved so close to a residential to our residential backyards. It's been eight months now and nothing has changed and residents are the ones living with this every day.
So my question is simple. What's the township going to do to fix the impact that this approval that you provided has created for the residents who live here? I'm done.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you for coming and uh thank you for all the residents for coming who are neighbors. Um I think we it's been very clear uh that we uh also feel terribly about the predicament that uh that that you guys have been in. Um and we've been
dealing with the county who has the supervision uh the supervisory aspect to to a lot of this. Um when was the last time that we heard from the county? >> Yeah, so the the county as we've discussed before is the enforcing agency on the noise. Um obviously was was very
disappointed to hear that the person went out, found the violation, told him about the violation, then apparently resigned his job like the next day before actually issuing the report. I immediately then asked director um the director of the county uh health to reschedu I was under the understanding
that they were coordinating that with you. So then when I saw your email that said they came out like on a Thursday I thought that it was going to be >> 9:45 in the morning when >> nobody's there which um and they did not coordinate that with you >> that no they coordinated based on your recommendation to come out. Maya said
come out at 9:45 in the morning when there was not one car there. Now, I'm happy to share the emails, but the indication to me was they were going to come out the next day, but instead we're going to coordinate with you >> and they did find a time and there was not there was one car at the car wash for an hour.
>> So, I when I heard that that person came out and not surprisingly didn't find violation because nobody was there. Uh I will follow up but the uh my request was that they coordinate directly with you find out when the busy times are and have they contact you at all or >> so I have asked several times over the
as over the past eight months for them to come out on a weekend when it's peak and they will not do it because they don't want to pay their inspectors overtime. So, how am I supposed to get a violation? And regardless of whether it's 65 dB or it's 61, which it was on
Friday, we have to live with this sound. Whether it's 65 or 61, it's still inside of our homes. It's outside of our homes. And we're hearing air hoses and vacuum cleaners all day long. That's not fair to us. That's a problem whether it's
it's it reaches the state decibel limit or not. >> We have lived with Livingston Car Wash behind our our homes for over 40 years. And we have never had a complaint ever because there was never vacuum stations
and never air hoses. And this is all we hear all day long. And it's not just outside, it's inside our homes. You guys wouldn't like to hear this. We don't want to hear this. Yes, >> Barrett. >> If the air hoses weren't part of the you said the air hoses were not so that but
that I I would think that that should be our >> that should be on us to shut down. Yeah. So the not the county >> the air hoses we are we we are looking at as to whether that was presented as part of the application. I don't believe it was I shut on the planning board. >> Based on the opra request that I I
requested 15 vacuum stations were approved 17 were built. So, two are out of compliance and there was no air hoses on that final compliance, fi final approval, >> Barry, >> and all of a sudden there's 17 air hoses.
>> Barry, in all due respect, and I do respect uh you and and and the staff a lot, but for you to say we're looking into it when we've been working on this for for months, >> for months. >> What What's holding us up on trying to get an answer on on the air hoses? >> So, the air hose I'll work with uh Mr.
caner to figure out legally what we do about the air hoses because I did review that. Um I had understood that they were either changing them but apparently they did not or turn them down or they were >> they turned them down enough to not get a violation but enough to aggravate all
of us all day long. >> So let me explain something. So the inspector came out and when he said I can't get a violation because they were not hearing any air hoses. When he left my house, he walked three houses further
away from my house and I came out and I said, "Do you hear it now?" Because the air hoses are now going off. And he came back and he took a measurement and two scales of that reading measured over 65. And supposedly Maya said it's still not
enough to issue a violation. >> I I asked her about that because we I you know I obviously we've been communicating by email >> and that was one person with an air hose, not 17 one. >> The the weekends are very different. It's a very different story when you hear what's happening on the weekends.
>> Okay. I Okay. >> I just So So Barry, can we invite uh Maya um Harlo uh to a Saturday meeting? Okay. and and just have the meeting over in that driveway. So at least she listen >> we invite her. I don't know whether
she'll she may not be the one who could take the >> but she's the dire she's the director. So you know what she she's the one that's actually telling her staff what to do. I have no problem contacting Maya and myself but I need somebody's approval from this dest fellas and and with all due respect it's
my backyard. I know when the peak time is. So if by by the town manager or anybody else telling them to come out at 9:30 in the morning or whenever it is, it's not helpful. >> Joyce, when is the peak time? >> It's the weekends. Okay. It's it's a
beautiful sunny day when it's lunchtime or or something else. But they have turned those air hoses and the vacuum stations down to the to the point where the vacuum stations are not picking up any anything in your car. and the air
hoses aren't even blowing anymore. However, it's still enough that we hear it inside our homes, but it's not catching a violation anymore. >> So, what happened was on March 20th when they did catch those two violations for $6,000, but never followed through, it
tipped them off that, hey, we got to lower this just enough so we don't get a violation. But we are still experiencing it's miserable for us. I just want to say also I I ran into my edit at you know like running around the county and um
>> what she did specify also and and this is a hurdle for us to climb over is she said the law and Barry I don't know if you've seen this she said this to me last weekend that technically the law says that the sound has to be above the 65 decel for 15 minutes in a row. >> So this is something you're aware have
you heard that before? This is what I'm going to ask the town because the the permit or the resolution that was submitted to you guys said 38 dB and that's what you guys approved. >> So why all of a sudden is it changed? So why at 15 was approved 15 vacuum
stations but they built 17? Why didn't you guys make them take two out the two closest to our homes? Why? And and and the air hoses. There's there was no air hoses on that final approval. Nothing. I have a copy through an OPER request.
Zero air hoses existed in that final approval yet there's 17 operating and that is what's driving us mad. So why are you guys still allowing this? This is what you guys approved but based on the final approvement it was never
there. It should never have happened. >> I would say this is this is this is on Maya. I think this is on you guys. >> So I I I I agree on this particular portion absolutely. I think if we have a partic that this is what we approved that would be the first thing we should
be doing. I think I don't think and maybe maybe there is a legal part of it but it shouldn't be taking this long. I I absolutely agree with that. I think we need to that is the first step. There is no Maya no county here. That is on us. I mean that is that is agreed. I mean we
we should be taking an action on it. If that's something that is black and white that's black and white, >> right? And then then after that it's it's the part of it >> on the other half. On the other half I mean so I agree with that but on the county side so if they don't want to pay overtime for the 20 cents of every
dollar that we pay for taxes why don't we just chip in and use out of our budget and pay one gentleman for three hours overtime out of our own budgets and have them come up on a Saturday between 11 and 1, which I assume will be the best times to do it and pick a nice day. Go look a week in advance when the weather's going to be nice on a
Saturday. We'll pay for the guy to come up overtime. If they're not going to use their 20 cents of every tax dollar, which we talk about all the time that we seem to get nothing really back from, then let's pay it ourselves and have him come. And if the hoses were not on the app, if the hoses were not on the plans, >> then they're essentially installed without permission.
>> We don't know though, like I assume they put permits in and there was inspections of the hoses by our inspectors. We we really have to look to see how those hoses came about and what the township approved and didn't approve on the site as as built. >> Thank you. Okay. Okay. But Joyce has been coming here for for for eight
months and and and deputy mayor, I'm not disagreeing with you about saying that Maya is not responsible, but you're saying that we're responsible. Why aren't we doing anything then? >> That's exactly what I'm saying. >> Yeah. I'm not like I said, I'm not disagreeing with you. Listen, Joyce, I know you have a Joyce, I know you have a beautiful yard and I know that the weather's starting to get good. I know
my pool's about ready to be open. I'm sure your pool's about ready to be open. I know that you want to have a nice quiet summer and this is not going to be a quiet summer for you. It's not going to be a quiet summer outside, but it's not a quiet summer already for us when we have our windows and sliding glass doors open. It's miserable for us to
hear all through our house. That's what we hear. >> So, can I can I Jared, >> on on a legal end, what can we do? Because we've always asked Barry on on a on a um on an inspection end, but on a legal end, what can we do? Again, I I
need to understand if the township approved those hoses on the ground and inspected them and and and provided them. I mean, >> they were not on the application or the final site plan. >> I understand if you don't like the answer, the answer is the answer. I mean, if they weren't if they weren't on the site plan and the township approved
them on the ground, we have to understand why that happened and how that happened. >> I'm not saying they should have. We don't know that they did or they didn't. But what I'm assuming is >> Well, if I didn't inspect them, >> but so I guess my question is if I had the Oprah request and I have the final
site plan approval and you look at that approval in the plans and there's zero air hoses attached to the vacuum stations. How are they operating still? How why are they operating? >> Jared, I have I have a question. What
happened if our person messed up? Do we so do we just go by his mess up or is there a corrective action that we can do after that? >> So it it would be very close legally on how much reliance they could have had on our inspectors at the time. That's what and and how how much that affects their
business. So that's why I'd want to look at the approvals and see. >> Not very close legally what happened to their property. >> I mean I don't know. I mean I don't know. I'm assume the hoses were inspected at some point. I'm sure somebody looked at it. Well, if the hoses were inspected, then why wasn't
the 38 dB inspected? Nobody even raised a red flag that 38 dB was not even it was double and triple the limit when they first opened. >> No, I think the answer is the same. I I think the answer is, you know, this municipality doesn't have >> saw this opening. >> This municipality doesn't have a certified person for noise. Some do,
some don't. So, when you don't have a certified person for noise, you have to rely on the county. >> But this is eight months. So you're saying the county came >> the county came and inspected I think the background was they found the violation we were going to enforce their
violation or see how their violation be enforced and by know that the individual who found the violation quit his job and never filed the report so they don't have a report of it you have to step up to the mic and give your name and your address we can't mayor we can't have this open dialogue
>> yeah let's just have the right to quum so Joyce Mike we say your time is If someone else wants to come and speak, it's supposed to be three minutes. >> I would like to before my neighbors speak, I would like to hand it over to Anna Drago. >> Hi everyone.
>> My name is Anna Drago. I'm a local real estate agent here in Livingston. I've worked in real estate both in New York City and New Jersey for the past 20 years. I personally visited the home and heard this noise both in the backyard and inside the home. I show homes to buyers in this area, including
properties like those located behind the car wash. I can tell you from experience that when a buyer hears ongoing commercial noise, especially commercial noise in a residential backyard or inside the house, it immediately raises red flags.
Buyers notice this kind of noise right away and it affects whether they want to buy the home. With the noise like this, it can reduce buyers interest, make homes harder to sell, and ultimately impact the property value, creating real real financial consequences for the homeowners.
Commercial noise is something buyers react to immediately, and it it's absolutely does influence their decision on the value of the property. And I'm sure you guys would agree with that. I mean, you wouldn't certainly wouldn't buy a home with a car wash in the in the back,
>> right? had no problem with Livingston car wash. >> No, we didn't. >> M the McInnesses. Would you like to go up to the microphone? >> Okay. May I move this? >> Yes. You're It'll bend down. Yeah. >> Okay. I'm Carol McGinness, Six Fellswood
Drive. Paul McGinness is my husband. We had two daughters. I was JV cheerleading coach at the high school for four years. five years and um
I had a captain of the cheerleaders. We were at every hockey McInness Cup game but the last one and that was the one that the kids won for us.
And so it with this car wash, it's not a wonderful thing. The old car wash, we didn't hear any noise. We didn't have any problems. We
There was no problem. >> We're a good neighbor. >> They were a good neighbor. And now the neighbor is not good. He's not pleasant. It's a It's a miserable thing.
>> That's the noises we get >> in our houses, outside our houses, and it's not right. Our girls got a good education in the high school, a wonderful education.
We have we have wonderful daughters. and wonderful students. It's just a miserable thing to have to wake up to that noise. Paul has
dementia and we have we have a problem. And with this noise, it's not really good for him. I don't know what else I can say. It's just a miserable noise,
>> choice. >> Thank you, Miss. >> That was perfect. >> Okay, >> if you want to speak, you have to come to set to the microphone, please. Thank you. You can go. >> Thank you guys.
>> Good evening. I'm Kian Fan and this is my husband John Huang. We live in 18 Felswood Drive right behind the car wash and we always can hear the noise from starting the early of the day and then we have two young kids with us living
with us. We even cannot enjoy opening the door, stand outside of the our backyard and play. And that is for the past couple months that we have been sue. We were appealing by the good
school system and the good neighborhood and then we didn't expected to have such a like a noisy environments around us. Thank you. >> Thank you. Michelle Florio. I live on Sparrow
Drive. I've been following this debacle from the beginning, hoping that someone here in a position to correct this untenable situation would step up and do the right thing. I fully understand that we need thriving community businesses,
but never when that interferes with the tranquility, quality of life, and property values of local inhabitants. I don't live near the car wash, but I've been there. I've heard the earsplitting cacophony. I could never tolerate this
constant, loud, irritating noise in my home. So, I'm here tonight because if you let it happen in one neighborhood, what's to stop you from allowing it in another? Next time, it could be mine. Every homeowner is entitled to and
expects the same level of response, the same environmental quiet, the same measure of attention if the situation were occurring in your neighborhood. From the start, I've had trouble making sense of why this has been tolerated.
I've heard over and over that the initial application does not align with the final construction. It was at best inaccurate and at worst intentionally misleading. They aren't new to this business. They
knew what they wrote and they knew what they intended to build. They lied. They lied and so far there's been no penalty, no change, and no relief for these homeowner taxpayers.
I always refer to myself as a lifer here. I've lived here for 68 years. I'm hardpressed to express my disappointment and frankly my anger at your failure to act. What reasonable steps have you
taken to remedy the situation? And why do you continue to shift the onus to the homeowners? We count on you to protect our property values and enhance our community. You've
done neither. I was going to ask what your plan was, but after all the previous conversation, I I see that you don't have one. So all I can really say is shame on you. Christine Ceir, 54 Elmwood Drive. So I'm
here today obviously as a concerned and long-standing resident of Livingston and primarily a support to my friend Joyce who I've been friends with for just about 50 years. Know her family. been in that house from when I was a kid. Like I
said, and like we've all said, Livingston car wash was never an issue. That backyard that we've we we live in up until this day, we go there was never a problem. It is become a huge problem. I worry about my friend. I worry about
all the neighbors. I'm, you know, three blocks away. When I pick her up and I pull up outside her house in her driveway, I can hear the car wash with my windows open and it's just become ridiculous.
And as strong as she seems here, she's not. When this is going on, it's emotional. It's hard. It's destroying her peace. Her parents are older, their peace. She can't work from home properly. Her son can't work from home
properly. other people, I'm sure, in the neighborhood are experiencing the same problem. It's a problem. And as somebody that's watched these videos after, you know, after you've she's been up here, she sends me the videos to watch. As
somebody watching it and watching the responses she's been getting from this council, and obviously it's happened here today where everybody is looking at everybody else trying to figure out what's going on. You're supposed to be the council for the people. And I get
it. Businesses are important. We need them. We need development. We need all of that. But you're supposed to be here for the people. And she's been standing up here for eight months. And nobody can give her a straight answer. It's terrible. It's frustrating. It's mentally draining for her and for her
family and for all the other neighbors. So, you all need to really think about that and do something about it. No one here, as we've established, wants that in their backyard. Nobody. It's miserable. So, please take this under advisement
and do something about it. It's It's a real problem. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Jerry from 12 North Ridge Road Livingston. I'm not associated with them. I don't know them at all. The only reason why I'm here
because uh I just happened to be here with Sam and I heard about this. Um the only reason also that I'm here is because I'm a civil engineer licensed in the state of New York and this is one of the topics that we work on typically and
I'm also familiar with the permits. So out of the stuff that I was told up over here, uh the only thing that came into my mind is uh when a permit is issued, there's a certain parameter that's set up in there, which I heard 38. So if 38
is listed as the decimals that the uh car wash has to stick to, anything more than 38 is considered as a violation. It's not 65, it's not 61, it's nothing, it's 38. So the car wash should do what
they need to do to bring it under 38 and and that's how it is. Otherwise then the township has to do what they have to do to basically have them work towards bringing it below 38.
That's it. Thank you. Seeing no other speakers, can I have a motion to close public portion on any subject? >> Hello, Tim Foley, president for over 50 years, fourth generation. Um, again, I'm going to bring it up to every meeting. I'm just wondering. I know you guys
can't talk about personnel, but I'm just, you know, I'm I'm upset that the way this is being handled and right now it's being pushed on the back burner, and we all know what that means. It's the the the assistant manager manager's
job. Uh again, the way it was brought up to you guys is inappropriate. The department heads, nothing's being done about them. come in the wrong direction. It should have went to Barry first.
Barry Barry's the one that hires and fires everybody. You guys aren't supposed to be able to fire anybody and this is the back way of doing it is eliminating a position. That's wrong. Again, Adam has been
wonderful for this town. four years ago. I just saw a video about the uh one of the the meetings for um I'm now I'm drawing a blank. I'm sorry that one of his first things that he had
to do was bring back the Zoom meetings and he's done a wonderful job with all this technology that's in this room so the the people can hear these meetings. So again, I think it's the wrong way you're doing things and and again I
think you should look at the other uh other ways or other people that you know if you're looking at for because it's topheavy between you you have to look through the whole the whole all the departments would be topheavy. So but again I think you're doing it the wrong
way and I support Adam. I'll continue to I'll continue to come up here and support him every every meeting because he's done a great job and seriously 95% of the time I'm here you guys are praising him for doing something that
that's going to help be helpful for the town. So again I think you guys are doing it all backwards. So again thank you >> thanks Tim. >> See no other speakers and I have a motion to close the public portion on any subject. So moved.
>> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. >> Uh that brings us to the reports of township officials and professionals. Uh town man township manager Barry Lewis. >> Uh just a couple. I I want to uh personally thank the council for the
autism uh awareness recognition. As you're all aware, I have a profoundly autistic adult son. So it means a lot to me. and more so than just passing a proclamation, it's how much this uh mayor and council day in day out support all the individuals with disabilities uh throughout the community. So, it does
mean a lot to me personally. So, thank you. Uh also, I'd like to just join um it's one of the few proclamations I actually signed as well as a public service recognition week. Um, so I I certainly appreciate and I echo uh the uh the support that the council provides to all of the department heads and I
think I speak for all the department heads who would also uh echo that to all their employees uh all of whom we can do our jobs. So uh I I would just again thank the council for recognizing uh all of the employees. >> Uh Deputy Township Manager Russ Jones.
>> Uh yes, Mayor. Um, we had an Eagle Scout complete a project for us this past week which I signed off for. They built uh some park benches. One which is going on Crossbrook on that parcel of land that's at the Triangle. And then there are two others that they were built for the
Mount Pleasant School. So, we're looking forward to his ceremony coming up. It hasn't been set up yet, but when we we'll let you know. >> Thank you. >> Uh, assistant Township Manager Adam Lerner. >> No updates at this time. >> Okay. Township clerk Carolyn Mazuka.
>> Nothing for me tonight. Thank you. >> CFO Anne Coochie. >> Nothing from me. Thank you, Mayor. >> Township attorney Jarro Caner. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, I'd like to add for close session a personnel matter and I'd also like to add um the car wash issue under attorney climb privilege. >> Thank you.
Okay. Um, we get to uh council comments. >> Is that uh Kate, are you doing that already? >> Yes, mayor. Uh I can I can go to first half and we'll we'll bounce off each other. Uh Councilman Minhardt will do what's going forward. Um so it was a it
was a pretty busy calendar for the council. Uh started almost the day after we had the previous meeting. So April 9th we had um the annual Trep Hillside Elementary 10th annual and uh it was my
first ribbon cutting of the trap. mayor uh filling in for you. So, it was it was pretty pretty good and I think it was it was awesome. I think u Councilman Minehard and Councilman Anthony were were with me on that. Um the April 10th
was social justice readin. Uh that was one powerful uh session where students came in and read uh what it means to them uh about social uh justice. Um, Councilman Anthony was there with me and we had um
we had given our thoughts as well to to students uh television in terms of what they mean what that means to them, how they are experiencing and what they would like to see in the in the in the social world in in in our world in real world. Um, April 11th was u a memorable
day. I think I saw mayor through the first pitch correctly and the second pitch was little little bit over the zone. mayor uh at the the little league opening day, but it was it was still still awesome. Um Pat Patito always does
an awesome job uh there. So, thank you Pat. Um and thank you for all the parents and the games over there. uh April 12th, I had a chance to to go to our uh our exemplary resident Ellie Barnes's home where there was a chai for
change uh session was brilliantly presented in terms of how uh you know uh thought process can really bring in about change starting from this the age of students was was brilliantly done. April 16th, um, uh, Councilman Minhardt,
Councilman Anthony, and myself, we were at the documentary presentation at Temple Bernet Abraham, uh, where we had, uh, wait until 8th, uh, was the, uh, was was the, uh, organization and they have done a fabulous job reaching out to
parents, having a conversation going about, um, you know, how it means to have the use of cell phones, smartphones, what it what it does to kids uh you know to their to their thought process it takes away the conversations but there is also another
side to it so there was a good conversation there and a documentary was was fantastically displayed uh Lancer Fest uh on April 17th followed by ribbon cutting of blue uh that was a packed house over there and I think they are
opening uh formally opening in about a week's time or so um April 18th we had a 50th year anniversary of Sai Temple which is at the border of Livingston but majority of the residents go. Um and I think it was uh mayor you were there and
Councilman Minhardt was with me and we had a we had a good time there. Um intergenerational prom all of us were there uh and we served um dinner to our sen seniors and there was a there was a very beautiful always a very beautiful
event and and we we have a lot of fun there. Uh, April 22nd. Um, 5,000 is what the number I heard. Uh, Livingston celebrates Israel. Uh, shout out to the to the organizing committee. I know how much hard work that goes in there. Ena
Elisovich, Susie Lagashi, and and Shayla. Uh, along with a number of volunteers. Uh, and it was brilliantly done. Followed by the flag raising. We're all there. Uh, it was nicely done there as well. April 23rd, uh we were at
the Hillside Elementary Gala. Uh Councilman Minhardt and Councilman Anthony, we were there. It was nicely decorated um in a room at the um the manor uh Hanover Manor uh very nice done there. We had shine the light of which
we were talking about earlier. So I wanted to read that but there was a it was a nice event. Um after that on the next day at April 24th we had a unique walkth through uh PSCG substation walkthrough that was unique I think um Anthony Council Vor Klein and I was
there they were showing us all the new equipment and and what it means to Livingston uh as the fire department if anything uh need to be addressed over there. Um followed by on the same day it was Arbor Day celebration. Uh and it we
we were happy to plant a tree and it was it was a nice picture there with uh with mayor. I think you were in the suit and all of us were in some sneakers and stuff like that. But that was that was a good tree planting. Uh and the final one was pick up Livingston over the Sunday. Uh and would love to would like to
commentate um our chief um Gary Marshwitz. uh he was awarded the UNICO um citizen of the year. So Gary uh and and Gary Marshoots that's that's how we say it, right? Um >> Marshoot Marshoots.
>> So Gary Marshoots is is and I it was it was a fun fun conversation over there about the last name. So it was purposeful but yeah Gary Marshoots but he is um he was awarded this Unicode citizen of the year uh with true with his leadership and the true positive
force that we have and the performance of Livingston Police Department under his fantastic leadership and followed by another memorable event uh done by LCD LCDI that celebrated uh uh four women that were in there in person overall
five um women were were awarded and they were uh they were honored. Uh Claire Gao, Carmen Michael, uh Venita Kana and Shan Hean Maggie H. She they were awarded the they were they were there in
person and it was a fabulous event as well. So all in all um it was a very busy time. Over to Councilman Minehard. >> All right. Well, the next two weeks are also extremely busy as well. Starting on 4:30, the AARP fraud awareness uh
speech. On 52 at 12:00, the LA LCD spring party, which is a great event to be at as well. Uh on Sunday 53 at 11:00, we have the Journey for the Living. It's a Mark Shonweter uh education fund. Uh walking around the Oval at 11:00. At
1:30 on the same day, we will be celebrating Holy. Uh also at the Oval. Uh on 54 is the Livingston golf outing. So, if you haven't signed up, please do so. Uh 55, we'll be celebrating Cinco de Mayo as well. Uh on 57, we have the LACD
talent show at 700 p.m. at the community center. Um and uh we also wish everybody in the meantime, we won't be back here before Mother's Day. So on 59 Mother's Day, so wish all the mothers a very happy uh Mother's Day as well while we celebrate all the important work that
they do for all of our families. Um, and just on a personal note, um, Livingston lost a longtime resident and a longtime business owner in this town. Uh, Freddy Slater, whose family owns Nero, passed away this past week. So, I just want to shout out my condolences, uh, to, uh,
his wife, Trudy, and his two sons, Adam and Evan, good friends of ours. And, uh, Freddy's been in this town forever, and he will be sorely missed by a lot of people. So, thank you. >> Thank you, uh, Ed and Kaitton. Um
we're going to uh adjourn the meeting now uh and uh go back to uh the conference meeting. Um thanks everyone for coming out. We're remaining in uh open session for a little while longer and we need to go. Should we go into close to start? >> Uh mayor, that that's up to you. But we're going to be going into conference
and the only further action the council will be taking is a resolution approving the close session. But it's up to you mayor. >> Well, no, we haven't gone around the table and uh >> No, no, we still have a whole conference meeting. >> We still have a conference meeting to have also. So, um, >> the order is up to you, mayor. >> I I think I I just we have a couple of
those matters in closed, uh, just to talk through. I think it's a good idea to get >> So, the council will be going to close session. Um, we'll be coming out. I estimate our close session take about 45 minutes if anybody wants to stick around for the rest of the conference meeting. >> Okay.