down. Down. Hello everyone. Uh welcome to uh Livit Town Council's regular meeting April 6, 2026. This is our uh sunshine statement. Um this this is a statement of compliance
with the sunshine law NJSA 104-10. This meeting is being held in accordance with the open public meetings act and adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as required by law. Specifically, the annual notice was emailed to the West Tribune and the Star Ledger on January 5th, 2026. The agenda and resolutions for the meeting are
available on livingstonj.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 and 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 Livingston Council meeting will be livereamed via Facebook at https
backw.fas.com. Livingston Township NJ. 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 shared with township council before the meeting. Each speaker should follow the
rules of order in Livingston code 2-15-3. Uh Carolyn, please call the role. Council member Minhardt here, Anthony here, Vieira >> present, >> Deputy Mayor Banani >> here, and Mayor Klein >> here. >> Okay, if we can please rise uh for a
moment of silence uh and a pledge of allegiance. Roger, will you please uh lead us in the pledge of allegiance? >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic
for which it stands. One nation, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Uh county updates is the next uh on our agenda. I don't see Eileen here. Um so we'll move forward. Um proclamations and
presentations. Tonight we have two. The first is um for Parkinson's awareness month. Um do we have someone here representing for Parkinson's? Okay. Please. Okay. Good. Thank you. Um if you could please uh come forward for us. Um
and uh just explain um you know why this is an important thing for the township to do. Yes, please. And please introduce yourselves. There's a microphone right here on the far side of the uh the banister. You can come right through. Yep, there
you go. Please. Yes, please come in. But you're all you're you're all invited. I'm sorry. I should have been a more gracious host. Please, everybody, come in. >> And uh you can uh grab the microphone so that so everyone at home can hear you. Good.
>> Can you guys hear me? >> Yes. Perfect. >> All right. Hi guys. My name is Veriani Kapor. I am a Livingston Township resident and I work for the Parkinson's Foundation and um I brought some of my friends here uh who can introduce themselves and uh just wanted to uh
thank you for uh for being here. >> Hello everyone. My name is Kathy Hinton and I'm an ambassador for the Parkinson's Foundation. So, I work with Varyani very closely and we do a lot of education in the community and I also facilitate a support group twice a month
at the Livingston Senior Center. Hi everyone, my name is Carolyn Chen. I'm a senior at Livingston High School and I am the co-president of the LHS Parkinson's disease awareness club that I started in my junior year. and me and
my co-pres have been working with Varyani and the Parkinson's Foundation a lot and have done a lot of awareness throughout the Livingston community. Good evening. My name is Karen Malcin. I'm a person with Parkinson. I was diagnosed in 2017. I've become a Michael
J. Fox advocate as well as a PMD Alliance ambassador and I am the lead for Spark the Night campaign through PD Avengers which is one of the reasons we are are all here tonight because we are bringing global awareness to Parkinson's
disease. My name is Karen Mulgund. I'm a Livingston resident and a Parkinson's Foundation ambassador and I'm working with Kathy and Varyani to plan a symposium on Parkinson's on April 18th in at Cranes Mill and West Caldwell.
>> So, um thank you all for coming here. Um we have a plaque. I'm just going to read a little bit of it uh just to proclaim that this is uh is April and Livingston will be Parkinson's awareness month. Um really important that you guys are doing this work and thank you so much and especially thanks for people who are
actually contending with the disease to be here and to be an advocate for yourself but not only for yourself for for all the other people who may have it or do have it. Yeah. Um if the council wants to come down so I just want to read a little bit of the proclamation. Um whereas Parkinson's disease is a chronic progressive neurological disease
and is the second most common neurodeenerative disease in the United States. Whereas Parkinson's disease is estimated to affect approximately 1 million people in the US and the prevalence will rise to 1.2 million by 2030 and is the fastest growing neurodeenerative disease with 90,000 new people diagnosed each year in the US.
And whereas Parkinson disease is the 13th leading cause of death in the US according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And it is estimated the economic burden of Parkinson's is at least $52 billion annually. Incredible. Um including direct and indirect costs such as treatment, social security
payments, and lost income. So uh now therefore, uh uh you know there's a few more data points, but I just want to say that it therefore be proclaimed by the mayor and the council of the township of Livingston that this month of April shall be designated Parkinson's awareness month. So thanks so much for coming in today and uh giving us an
opportunity to recognize this. Um and uh you know this is important work. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> I'm not having a good look here. Thank you. There you go. Hard to do with one hand. >> Um you want to come in and take a picture? Okay.
Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> See you tomorrow. >> Thank you for having us. >> Thank you very much. Maybe I'll see you tomorrow morning. >> Thank you. >> Have a good Now I know you guys Tuesday morning. Now I know why. I told
our next presentation uh is for Arbor Day 2026. We don't usually have someone here for that. Is anyone here for Arbor Day? No. Okay. So, we're just going to um I'm just going to read through our proclamation here. Uh whereas in 1872 Jay Sterling Morton proposed to the
Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. And whereas this holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with a planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska. That awesome a million trees. Um and whereas now Arbor Day is observed throughout the
nation and the world. Um where uh whereas trees wherever they are planted are source of joy and spiritual renewal. Now therefore, I Shauna Rlein, mayor of the township of Livingston, do hereby proclaim April 24th, 2026 as Arbor Day. In the Township of
Livingston, we all we urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands. And further, we urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations. And we are going to be planting a uh a tree here in town
uh as is our custom every year. Uh what was the date on that that we're doing that? 24th at 2 o'clock over by the gazebo. Um all those beautiful cherry trees uh those are you know we get planted each year and uh you know we add to it each year in a in a very nice ceremony. So
anyone wants to come out and uh be with us we're happy to have you. So that's all right. Uh we'll now move on to um the approval of meeting minutes pending any corrections. Uh we have the regular and conference meeting uh minutes from
uh March 16th, 2026th. Can I have a motion to approve the meetings uh pending corrections? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. Now we will move to um we have
some budget uh items that we need to uh to move forward with. And the first is uh ordinance 12-2026 which is to uh you know madam clerk can you read that by title? >> Sure mayor ordinance 12-2026 to exceed the municipal budget
appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank >> and this is the first reading. Uh can I have a motion for ordinance number 10-2026 for introduction? >> I'll move it. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion on the ordinance? >> Madame clerk please uh proceed with a
roll call. Uh, Council Member Minhardt, >> yes. >> Anthony, yes. Vieiraa, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Baptani, yes. >> Mayor Klene, >> yes. >> And Mayor, they uh public hearing for this ordinance will be at the next meeting, Monday, April 27th. >> Thank you, Caroline. Uh, that brings us to a couple of resolutions that are
related to the municipal budget. Um, can you please read the first one, Madame Clerk? >> Yes. Uh, resolution 26-155A introducing the 2026 municipal budget by title. Can I have a motion for resolution 26? >> I'll make the motion 155A.
>> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? >> Can you please call the role of clerk? >> Council member Minhardt? >> Yes. >> Anthony? >> Yes. >> Vieiera? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Baptani? >> Yes. >> Mayor Klene? >> Yes. >> And the public hearing for the budget
will be at the May 11th meeting. >> Thank you. >> Uh and then uh the second resolution, please. Resolution 26-155B to establish 2026 municipal open space tax rate. >> Can I have a motion? >> Moved. Second.
>> Is there any discussion from members? >> Let's call the role. >> Council member Minhardt? >> Yes. >> Anthony? >> Yes. >> Vieira? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Ruptani? >> Yes. >> Mayor Klene. And um yes. Uh as I just mentioned, the the budget hearing will be May 11th. >> Perfect. Thank you. Um that brings us to
H. Uh, can I have a motion to open the public portion on agenda items only? >> I'll make a motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. At this time, the meeting is now open for agenda items only. There's a 4minut time limit per person.
Anyone wishing to come to the phone? Uh, please state your name for the record to the excuse me, the microphone. You >> close the motion. Close the uh the part of the meeting. >> I second it. >> Okay. All in favor? I >> opposed.
Okay. We have one ordinance uh tonight for um for introduction. Uh I am recused from this ordinance. So I'm going to turn off my microphone and the deputy mayor will uh move forward with this portion of the meeting. >> Thank you, mayor. I'll take it over for
this ordinance. Madame clerk, can you please read the ordinance number 13-2026 by title? >> Yes, deputy mayor. Ordinance 13-2026 adopting 576 to 586 West Mount Pleasant Avenue Overlay District Rede redevelopment.
>> May I have a motion for order December 13, 2026 for introduction? >> Second. >> Okay. And the date for the second hearing? >> Yes. Um the the public hearing will be April 27th at uh 7:30 p.m. >> 22nd. Okay. Uh do I have a motion?
>> You did already. >> Did that. You did that. Yeah, we got to do the roll call discussion. >> No. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? >> Council member Minhart. >> Yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> Vieira, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Banani, >> yes. >> And Mayor Klein is recused.
>> Back to you, Mayor. >> Okay. Um, I will take the reigns again. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Um, we are now to the portion of our consent agenda. All matters listed with an asterisk on the agenda are considered to be routine and non-controversial by the council and will be approved by one motion. There
will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the 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. Does anyone uh do any council members wish to have any items removed from the
consent agenda for separate discussion? Okay. Uh, madame clerk, please read all the resolutions on the consent agenda by title and number. >> Resolution 26-147, appointing member to township committees. Resolution 26-148, authorizing purchases under the North
Jersey Wastewater Cooperative Pricing System. Resolution 26-149, authorizing purchases under the state of New Jersey cooperative purchasing program. Resolution 26-150, authorizing the award of a contract to Stanziel Construction LLC. Resolution
26-151 authorizing the award of a contract to Rivax Contracting Corp. Resolution 26-152. Resolution of the Township Council rejecting proposals. Resolution 26-153
designating 156 East Cedar Street as an area in need of rehabilitation. Resolution 26-154 authorizing preparation of a redevelopment plan for 156 East Cedar Street. Resolution 26-156 appointing to zoning board alternate to
retroactive to January 27th, 2026. And lastly, resolution 26-157 authorizing the execution of a funding agreement with Cedar Street Livingston LLC to provide for the funding of redevelopment activities on block 3000, lot 1.01.
>> I'll make a motion to approve the resolution. Second. >> Um, madame clerk, please call the role. >> Council member Minhardt. Yes. >> Anthony. >> Yes. >> Vieiera. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Baptani. >> Yes. >> Mayor Klein. >> Yes. This brings us to public portion on
any subject. >> Motion open up the meeting to public portion. >> Second. >> Okay. Um all in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. The meeting is now opened on any subject with a threeminut time limit. Um if uh if you come to the microphone, uh may we please have your
name for the record and whether you live in town. >> Good evening. Joyce Armando, 7 Greenwood Court. Um, I'm here tonight with an update regarding the ongoing noise behind my house generating from the
express car wash. Um, and I have two questions as well. On March 20th, Essex County conducted another sound test at my property line. The results showed the car wash is still over the 65 del residential limit. Because of that, they
were issued a $3,000 fine and an additional $3,000 fine tied to the very first fi violation that was never corrected. So, this is now a repeat violation with monetary penalties. Since the last violation, the car wash, the
first violation, the car wash installed an enclosure around the turbine motors um in an attempt to reduce the noise. And even with that mitigation in place, the operation is still out of compliance. So this proves that that
this is not a temporary issue. The current setup simply just does not meet the required limits. So at the prior meeting, it was stated on record that if Essex County confirmed continued non-compliance, the vacuum stations
would be shut down. Um so that has now happened again. So, my questions are, will the township now shut down the vacuum and air hose operations? And if a shutdown is going to be ordered and the
operation continues to run despite being shut down, what specific enforcement will the township take? So, right now, the violations are confirmed, the fines have been issued, and the residents are still living with this impact every day. Um, so we were told action would be
taken and we want to know if you're going to follow through with it. >> Done. >> Okay. Um, Barry, my understanding at least, and correct me if I'm wrong, is that you said because the county is the county would be the one that has to actually do the um enforcement. >> Well, the county is the enforcing
agency. I have not and and just prior to the meeting, there was an indication. I've checked my emails. I did not get anything from the county. I don't think Mr. uh Caner did either. I don't think the mayor did. Um I will certainly reach out, get their report. Uh and then I'll consult with Mr. Caner as to what our
abilities whether we work in conjunction with the county as he thought enforcing agency. >> The county said they were going to shut it down. I think that's part of what you said. >> The county can't shut them down. They said they can only issue monetary violations and that it's up to the township to shut down. >> Okay. Let me let me confer with uh with Mr. Lewis. I don't know if we have to
issue a summon. Let our municipal court handle it or if there's something we could do >> through the civil court. I'll get the report from the county. I'll reach out. >> How often are you are are you able to register a complaint so that there is more monetary fines because at some point >> I can keep doing it and I have tried to
do it again and there apparently has been some reorganization going on um in Essex County in that department because the the person that took the decibel readings has been transferred to New York City. It's impossible to now to get somebody on the phone.
>> Okay. So let let's let our let's since we're just learning about this like give us a chance to figure out what options are available to the township and we'll be in touch with you. >> Mayor Mayor, so just did you send Barry everything that you got from the county? >> Did you get a copy of their report? >> When I asked for a copy, he said that he
doesn't have anything to give to me even though he walked up to the car wash to give them the two violations, but there was no copy that he can give to me. And that's why I've been waiting to tell you because I wanted to send you something that proves. But he did say that I
forget her name. Moy Moira or >> Maya Maya >> is in touch with you guys and he and that she would >> so >> I'll reach I'll reach out tomorrow directly to the county. One quick question. Do you know the subsequent tests? Did they do it without like with
just the turbine and not the >> air guns? I'm wondering if the like the wall fixed the turbine but the air guns are still a problem or if the wall didn't even fix the >> turbine how they did it. >> I I'll get copies and uh and one quick one quick question Barry. Every time the
violation happens the fine amount increases is what I understand daily fine. >> I could do this daily. >> Yeah, of course. But I think the idea is that it increases and the amount >> it just accumulates. So it's not it's 3,000 plus 3,000,000 every day.
>> All right. Barry and Jared, just uh whatever we can do to to quicken this up because summer months are coming and I know you have a swimming pool and everything and um so so let's not hold it up on our part. Let's do the do whatever we have to do. So we'll get the information county even if I have to
oper it and then we'll um and then we'll see the best way for the township to handle the enforcement the quickest way because there's there's a few ways we can go about it but I think we want to do what's most efficient and effective. >> I'm just going to ask to be CCd on any email. Uh Barry, please make sure when you are talking to Ess County that I get
CC on that one as we speak. >> Okay, good. Thank you, Joyce. >> Hello guys and gals. Uh Tim Foley, Livingston resident for over 50 years, fourth generation, and unfortunately probably not another generation after
this because of all the building that's going on. Uh I'm just up here. I'm just going to keep it fresh in everybody's mind that again, I just think you guys are doing something wrong by just tableabling this position that you're trying to get rid of.
Uh, I'm hoping that you have changed your mind because Adam is a big asset to this township. He's done a lot of things for us and I again the the way it was done is inappropriate.
So again, I just think it's wrong. Adam's 90% of the time that I'm here I'm hearing you guys praise him on whatever job that he that he did. And I I just don't understand why you're doing this
back way back door saying it'll try and eliminate his position. I just disagree with it and uh just disagree with it. So that's all I got to say today. So take care. >> Okay. Thanks Tim.
>> Make a motion to close. >> Motion to close public comment. Second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I >> uh we will now go to uh reports of township officials. Uh town manager Barry Lewis.
>> Um just a couple of quick ones. We did recently receive and we'll be reaching back out and um the updated um not updated but um proposals and cost estimates for open space improvements. uh following up on the effort of all the uh open uh public meetings and the
committees and all uh that's for the STRM and Lucari and Orchard Hill properties. So, I'll be sharing those and we should have a discussion as to next steps. Um and uh other than that, just hope everyone had a uh very happy holidays uh over the weekend. Thank you.
>> Okay, let's go to uh Russ Jones, town deputy town manager. >> Uh thank you, Mayor. Nothing for tonight. Thank you. >> Assistant Township Manager Adam Learner. >> Uh just a few things, a heads up. Uh our building is going to get uh some beautiful flags put up for 250. We're
going to be celebrating. Uh the mayor's uh uh picked out some beautiful banners that we're going to be putting up front and starting our celebrations. So, thank you. That's We're looking forward to put those up. Um also, keep an eye out. Uh you're going to start seeing um summer
events. We're going to start posting things that we're getting ready. We have the summer months ready, which is June arts, July concerts, and August uh movies. And so we're going to start posting those. So keep an eye out and uh hopefully keep your Wednesdays open in
summer. >> Okay. Thank you, Adam. Uh township clerk Carolyn Mazuko. >> Uh thank you, Mayor. Just a reminder that next week is the uh April general special election. So this is round two
for us to fill fulfill the Mikey Cheryl vacancy and I just urge everybody to come out and vote. Thank you. >> That's on the 16th. Correct. >> It's the 16th. Yes. >> Okay. So April 16th >> that is um right. So there are two people running for Congress uh a
Democrat and Republican and um uh we're just urging everyone to come out and vote. Livingston should be using its voice. Okay. Uh let's uh hear from CFO Anne Coochie. >> Thank you, Mayor. I just want to thank everyone um mayor, council, and finance
committee for their support on getting this budget introduced for the first time on time um and very responsibly. Uh Barry Lewis will be doing a presentation when we do uh the adoption, but we're
way ahead of everyone also because we've been so responsible in planning that we didn't have a huge hit like a lot of the other townships. So I want to just thank all of you for the prudent planning and and working with us
over the last few years so that we are in much better shape than most. Thank you. Thank you. Uh we will now turn to town. >> Can I just quickly add uh I just want to thank an for the amount of work that you do and Barry uh that's outstanding. I
just want to reciprocate what she said and it's not easy job to to bring it to the on time responsibly filling it up and sort of putting it in front of everybody. So great job. Thank you. >> Thanks, Mayor. >> Okay. Uh we will now turn to uh attorney
>> Jared Caner. >> Uh thank you, Mayor. Uh I have no report. Uh Mr. Lewis, do we have anything for close tonight? Because I normally announce it. I don't have anything either. >> Which property? >> Okay. Uh we now turn to uh Councilman Ed
Minhart for our uh our report from uh the council. >> Thank you, Mayor. There's a whole bunch of stuff coming up in the next few weeks before our next meeting which takes place on the 27th of April. On April 8th at 6 p.m. the board of ed is hosting a 250th anniversary of the USA at the LHS
auditorium. On 49 at 6:00 pm uh the Hillside Elementary School is having their trips program on 417 Lancer Fest will take place from 6:00 to 8 at the gazebo. On 4:18 at the Hindu Temple at what time? 11 o'clock I 11 o'clock is it
>> okay there is an event you'll have to give me the exact name of it but uh there's an event that takes place there um >> I'm sorry >> celebrating 50th anniversary >> celebrating 50th anniversary on 4:21 is the intergenerational prom which will
take place from 5 to 8:00 p.m. 4:22nd is Israel independence celebration 4 to 7:30 with a flag raising here at town hall around 6:00 6:30 uh 4:23 is the shine a light on autism at 6:30 7:30
6:30 not really sure what time nobody gave me that one 6:30 or 7:30 um >> 6:30 >> 6:30 okay on 4:24 as we previously mentioned we will be planting a tree at 2 p.m. across the street. Uh on 4:26, a very busy day. At 8 a.m. is our fourth
or fifth annual Pick It Up Day. At 11:00 is the Unico Man of the Year honoring uh Livingston Police Chief Gary Marshoots. And at 3:00 is the Women of Livingston event. And on the 27th is our next event. Just two real quick things. Hope everybody had a uh happy and sweet
Passover and a very festive and happy Easter holiday. And um two personal notes. just want to reach out to the LPD and give them thanks. Uh my mother-in-law fell and passed out at the ShopRite on Friday night, last Friday night. Um and um the response time by
the LPD was truly unbelievable. So I want to thank them for that. And the same thing happened uh again with another friend of mine's mother at Nurero the other night and also the LPD was right there. And so kudos to the LPD for being everywhere everywhere taking care of us and taking care of the silk
and elderly as well. So thanking them. Thank you, Councilman Minhart. Um, I uh also wanted to take an opportunity to wish everyone a happy Passover and a belated uh happy Easter. Um, and I wanted to give a hats off to Does anyone here know who Nikki James is? This is
someone who was new to me. >> Oh, yeah. >> Um, >> she sung a national anthem. >> She Right. And she is so she is a Livingston High School graduate who is starring in Daredevil. Daredevil Born Again. Um, and I just found out that she's from from here. So, um she's a Broadway very accomplished Broadway
actress. She was in lay miz. She was in um uh uh Book of Mormon where she won a Tony. Um I did not know that she was from Livingston High. She graduated from Livingston High School. So, we can all be very proud of her and she gets a a mayoral hats off uh for her
accomplishments. Uh that's that's what I have for tonight. Um we are going to adjourn and uh we're going to uh go back in to continue our conference meeting which is open next door. Everyone is welcome to join us. Um and uh we're just
going to just have a few minutes left to go around the table there. >> Yeah, there should be no further action taken in conference, but we reserve our right to go into close if anything comes up in conference that requires it. >> Thank you. Okay. Sorry, that was really quick.