Hello everybody. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. Um, all right. Let me just get to our place here. All right. So, everyone, welcome to uh this is the uh town council uh regular meeting uh dated uh January I'm sorry, February 7th uh
2026. Um this is a statement um of compliance with the sunshine law. Uh this meeting is being held in accordance with 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 Star
Ledger on January 5th, 2026. Carolyn, was there a followup on that because there was no date for followup on the agenda. Did we rem? >> Okay, fine. Okay. Um the a the agenda and resolutions for the meeting are available at livingstonj.org. Certain portions of this meeting will be
closed to the public for the purposes of personnel and/or 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 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 uh colbackwww.fas.com/livingston township. All one word. Questions or comments will also be accepted by
emailing uh live comments at limstonj.org by 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting and share with the council before the meeting. Each speaker should follow the rules of order in Livingston code 2-153. Um madame uh clerk, the roll call, please. Council member Minhardt >> here. >> Anthony
>> here. Vier >> present. >> Deputy Mayor Mayor Baptani >> here. >> Mayor Klene >> here. Uh please uh uh if you can rise and join me in a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance. I'm sure a lot of people um are following the story of um
uh the kidnapping and uh uh it's very sad and hopefully uh um she'll be returned. Um so moment of silence, please. Chief Marshoots, will you lead us in the pledge of >> allegiance? Pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty, justice for all. Okay, everyone can be seated, please. Essex County updates. I saw Eileen
Fisherman. Hello. Good evening, Eileen Fisherman. Um, welcome. This is Livingston's representative from Essex County Executive, Joseph uh Devanchenzo. Please let us know what's happening at the county. The only thing I have for you this evening is um about the deer management program which is taking place
at South Mountain Reservation and the Hilltop Reservation. And uh that'll take place at South Mountain on the 10th and the reservation will be closed and the Hilltop on the 12th and 19th of February. That's it for this month. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome.
>> Okay. Um, we're going to move along uh to um Livingston Police Department um officer promotions. If uh the chief could come on up, please, and uh lead us in this. >> I'm sorry. Swearing in. >> Thank you, Mayor.
>> Yeah, >> I have my own microphone now. I've arrived in life. Can everybody hear me? Okay. Okay. Uh, my name is Gary Marsh. I have the privilege of serving as the police chief here in Livingston. Um, my first
message tonight for the Jewish community of Livingston. I just want the Jewish community to know that the Livingston Police Department has nothing but love and respect for you. And that is unwavering. And I just I'll say that again. We have nothing but love and respect for the Jewish community. Uh, that being said, I'm going to go forward
with our presentation tonight. I always bring a few stats with me when I come to the uh council meetings, especially when Mayor Klein is the mayor. When Sean Klein's the mayor, he loves stats. So, I'm bringing some stats here tonight for you, mayor. Um, in 2023, I'll be real brief because we have
a presentation here with uh three new officers. Uh, and I certainly don't want to take uh anything away from our three new uh officers that are out there patrolling, but uh real quick, our stats are on burglaries. Now this includes attempted burglaries, commercial burglaries and residential burglaries.
In 2023 we had 74. In 202 uh4 we had 39 and in 2025 last year we had 18. So over we are definitely moving in the right direction. Uh 74 to 39 to 18. That includes commercial residential
burglaries and attempted burglaries. Um car thefts in 23. We are uh hold on. I'm gonna have to put my glasses on. I apologize. We cars >> the number is so small you can't see it. >> Yeah, we we're going down with stolen
cars from 35 and 23 to 11 and 10 uh 11 also in 25. But um a lot of this is due to the great work of the Livingston police officers who out there who are out there 24 hours a day uh 7 days a week. um they're very proactive out there, but also because of all the
technology and all support that receive from the we receive from the township council. Um they certainly give us uh state-of-the-art technology and that has uh given us a lot of um uh help help with uh how we protect the township, especially at points of entry and egress
in the township. And um also just this is always an interesting stat that we follow as well, eluding a police officer. So that's a pursuit. So, in 2023, we had uh 55 pursuits in town. We don't like that number. Uh they're very
dangerous. They're dangerous for the officers. They're dangerous for the suspects. And they're also dangerous obviously for our residents. So, in 2023, we had 55 motor vehicle pursuits or looting, we call them. Um in 2024, we had 16 and then last year we were down
to six. Six motor vehicle pursuits. So, we're very happy with these stats and I I thank you for letting me share them with you. Good. So, I'm going to uh share with you a project that our community policing uh unit has
been working on. So, on January 1st, 2026, we reassigned a new officer, not new to Livingston, uh, a new officer to the community policing unit, and that's Michael Barrero. Uh, everybody knows Joy Clappel. Joy Clappel's here as well. Joy Clappel has been a fixture in the community policing unit Livingston for
as long as I can remember. Um, so Michael Barrero is now a new addition to the community policing unit. And, uh, Joy came in my off office. Joy and I have been, uh, doing community policing together for a long time. We share a lot of idea off of each other. And Joy Clapp, Officer Clappel came into my
office and said, "Boy, Officer Barrero, he's he's already he's been in the unit for a week and he's already got some really great ideas uh for for us to work on." And uh, of course, I'm always like, "Well, I'm all ears. Let me hear it." Right. So he she uh basically through
the chain of comp through the chain of command through um Captain Deandria, I found out that Michael Barrera wanted to uh copy a Norman Rockwell painting that um is an illustration that uh basically has the theme of theory of community
policing which we feel like we're we're all about in the Livingston Police Department. So, with that being said, you know, obviously Captain DeAndre gave him the community policing unit permission to run with this idea and Michael Barrero, who um was in the unit for about a week and Officer Clappel,
they just ran with this project and we love it. And I'm going to let them come up now and share with you the number of hits that this project has received on social media. But they couldn't do it by themselves. They enlisted a lot of help. So, I'm going to call up uh Martha Arian, our photographer, to come up, right? Um, David Felman from the diner
who's in who's in the photo as well. Everybody knows David. Um, we have the uh Katano family, right? They're going to come up. You want to come up as well? Michael Lizo, our community policing officers. Can you guys come up for a minute, too? Do you guys know how to get in here?
Who did I forget? >> Oh, how can I forget? Matthew, I apologize. Okay, so this group of people ran with this project. And hold on. Now I really got to put my glasses on. Hold on a second. I always I always try to do it without
the glasses. I should just give up and accept the fact that it's not going to work anymore. So I asked Michael for a little Hold on. So, I asked Michael for a little summary. Michael Barrera, Officer Barrera, for a little summary of this project. And uh I'm going to read I was
going to um change it around, but Michael, you did such a great job. I'm just going to read your uh summary. Oh, why don't we put the photos up? I'm sorry. Can you guys put the photos up on the easels? Okay, this is um I asked Michael to give me a summary of the project and I'm just
going to read Michael's summary because he wrote a beautiful summary here. Um American painter and ill illustrator Norman Rockwell was born on this day, February 3rd, 1894. Known for capturing everyday American life. His work still resonates today. To tip his hat to the
past, LPD recreated a modern take of Rockwell's iconic 1958 Saturday Evening Post cover, The Runaway. Swapping a red bindle for a backpack and classic uh shoes for Jordans. Our goal was to show that while times have changed, Livingston's strong
sense of community remains. The photo was staged last week at the Ritz Diner with the help from the owner, David Feldman, photographer Marthur A Marthur Aman. Martha Acriman, I'm sorry. Uh, Mount Pleasant Middle School student, Aiden Katano. Where's Aiden? You're
here. Gotcha. Okay. An LPD officer, traffic officer, one of our traffic professionals, uh, Matthew Debiazi. Livingston sense of community is still ever present. For 103 years, the Livingston Police Department has taken pride not only in protecting and
serving, but is uh, being woven into the very fabric of the Livingston community. Special thanks to the Katano family, Marian and David Feldman, and the entire Ritz Steiner staff, along with uh Livingston public information officer, Michael Iso, and photographer Martha
Acriman. Can I get everybody? So, one second. How about a round of applause for them? What a great project. And just for the record, Aiden did not actually run away. Okay. So, he did not have to be saved by Matthew Debazi,
right? Yeah. I would never run away. Do you have an Xbox? >> No. >> No. Oh, okay. Maybe maybe run away. I don't know. Um, all right. So, real quick, can we take a photo? Uh, >> who's taking a photo now? is I'm used to
Michael Lizo taking photo. Okay. >> Um you want to >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Can I make a suggestion? Do you want to leave the council up there and we'll pull them all over in the middle? >> Right.
>> And then some someone should just hold it. >> Yeah, we can hold it. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. I I never thought of that. Yeah. >> What's the difference between the two on the end? >> Oh, so thanks for bringing that up. You want to hold one? >> So, it's got a filter. It's got a filter on it to make it look older.
>> I saw it online. Okay. >> Can you Well, grab that photo. >> I'm just going to get these out of the way. >> Grab that photo. I'll grab >> There you go. Scary, isn't it?
>> So, we have one that's an actual photo and then we have one that's um what's that? Like chat filtered. Is that what it's called? Filtered. So, the filtered one looks more like the original Norman Rockwell. But certainly, obviously, we like David Felman, too. So, it's and the
uh everybody in that photo. So, um, we are going to definitely hang them up around the police station and throughout town if possible. But again, it's all about the spirit of community policing, which is very strong in the Livingston Police Department. So, thank you to everybody for making this project such a success. How many likes did we get on uh
>> Well, we're up to 54,000 views. >> 54,000 views. So, yeah, all the politicians are very jealous with that kind of attention. So, >> so, uh, >> so we're very proud of Michael, all of community policing, all the officers
involved, and certainly everybody who made this success, uh, successful. >> Yep. Yep. And, uh, yeah, and just so you know, Michael was a sergeant at the in the New York Police Department and chose to leave uh, his role as a sergeant in the New York Police Department to come serve the community of Livingston. So,
we are very fortunate to have Michael with us. >> Um, >> good job. >> Yeah. Um, I left my notes, though. >> Do you need Did you get a copy of those? Uh, >> yep. I got them right here. Okay,
let's honor our new officers who work so hard to get here and to get to this point to this day and uh out on the street serving um the community. So, first I'm going to call up Officer Shawn Croker. All right. >> Okay. I'm going to read their bios and
then they're going to call up their family and we're going to swear them in. So, Officer Sean Kroger, uh, badge number 296, uh, currently holds the rank of corporal while serving as a machine gunner in the first battalion, six marines of the US uh, United States Marine Corps. Uh, Officer Croker
graduated from the Mars County Police Academy class 104 in June of 2025. Following the successful completion of the field training uh field training program, he was assigned to the patrol division where he's serving on the night squad right now. Officer Croker would
like to thank his family for the years of love and support. Uh, Officer Croker will be receiving his badge tonight. The pinning of his badge will be from his father, Kevin Croker, uh, who is now just recently promoted to a captain of the Livingston Police Department.
>> Uh, I'm sorry, East Police Department. Thank you. >> Yeah. So, so uh, quick story while we have uh, Captain Croker coming up for this. Um, kind of full circle how everything ties in. And I've known Kevin for a very very long time, but uh we almost lost three
officers in the uh flood and rainstorm where three of our officers got pulled into a uh uh swift swift swift moving uh water and we almost lost them. And Kevin Croker was in charge of the ESU team, emergency service team in East Hanover.
And uh anybody who doesn't know East Hanover surrounded on three or four sides by rivers. So they were more advanced than we were with swiftwater rescue. Now, we have since created our own swiftwater rescue team, but um you know, one of those officers is with us
tonight. Also, Nicholas Lorocco. Where's Nicholas? In the back. And he'll be up here later on pinning the badge on his brother. So, there's a lot of connections here tonight. But we do appreciate um Captain Croker now who uh made the trip to Livingston during a storm to help us rescue our officers.
So, you want to call up your family, Sean? And >> so Mayor Sean Klein is the first one up. We only have three getting sworn in tonight. So we're only going to be able to use the mayor, the deputy mayor, and the senior most council member tonight. So I apologize for that. But we did hire
five additional officers. So in about two months from now, we're going to come in with one officer for every council member. So, >> okay. So, uh, somebody's gonna hold the Bible >> and then hold on. We got to get another microphone or >> do we have another put your right hand,
left hand up? Good. All right. >> Um, you can follow along with me or >> mic. Sorry. >> You'd have to wrestle the mic away from the chief. >> All right. >> I state your name. I, Sean Kroker, >> do solemnly swear
>> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the governments established in
the United States >> and to the governments established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people. I do further solemnly swear >> I do further solemnly swear >> that I will faithfully impartially and justly >> that I will faithfully impartially and
justly >> perform all the duties of a police officer >> perform all the duties of a police officer >> in the township of Livingston >> in the township of Livingston >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations. >> Thanks
Nice to have you. Congratulations. Thank you, man. >> Yeah. >> Great. There you go. Thank you. Sean's assigned to Lieutenant Dats, right? He worked for you on nights. >> Yes, sir.
>> Was he on burglary arrest? >> Which one? >> One sec. >> One of the five. >> Lieutenant Lieutenant, Lift your hand. He's working a night shift every night for us, keeping us safe. That's our watch. one of our watch commanders at
night. Great. >> Thank you. >> Okay, next up is Officer Benjamin Surat, badge number 297. Benjamin, come on. Come on down. >> Haveor with us.
>> Thank you, Chief. Uh, Officer Benjamin Surat attended and studied business administration and management at Ithaca College. Officer Surat graduated from the Mars County Police Academy, class 104 in June of 2025. While at the police academy, Officer Surat finished first
amongst his uh, recruit class in academics and received the academic achievement award in his class. Out of how many recruits? >> I don't remember. >> Then you say 4,000. Yes.
>> Um, okay. Following successful completion of the field training program, he has been assigned to the patrol patrol division. Of course, they all have to start out working a night shift and I think he's working for Lieutenant Dats also, right? That's correct. Uh, Officer Surat would like to thank his girlfriend Alexandra
uh Cordado >> Croado. Crisado. I did actually practice there. um and his family for the years of love and support. So, Benjamin, you want to call up your uh family and do the
>> uh Yeah, the oath. Yeah. >> Do we have these? >> Yeah, >> just the name. I just saw a name. Deputy Mayor Bhutan is going to administer the oath. >> Ready? All right. All right. So, say I
state your name. I, Benjamin Sarat, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and
allegiance >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same and to the governments established in the United States >> to the same and to the governments established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of of the people.
>> I do further solemnly swear >> I do further solemnly swear >> that I will faithfully, impartially, and justly >> that I will faithfully, impartially, and justly >> perform all the duties of the police officer >> perform all the duties of police officer >> in the township of Livingston
>> in the township of Livingston >> according to the best of my ability. >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> All right. Congratulations. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Congratulations. Congratulations. >> Thank you.
>> Yeah. Yeah. uh photo, family photos, and then every all the recruits have to come back up again. Recruits, officers, they're not recruits anymore. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Okay, we only have uh three tonight. We did hire five new officers that are um
going to come in a few months. They have to complete their training first. But uh last but not least tonight, we have Officer Matthew Peek, badger number 298. Okay. Officer Matthew Pek attended Rowan University and graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in
marketing. Officer Pek graduated from the Mars County Police Academy, class 104, in June of 2025. Following the successful completion of the field training program, he has been uh been assigned to the patrol division. And you're on the other night squad,
right? So, not with Lieutenant. Uh Officer Pek would like to thank his girlfriend, Mariah Leech, and his family for the years of love and support. Uh, Officer Pek will be receiving his badge from his brother, Nicholas Saraka, a patrolman with the Livingston Police
Department. So, Nicholas, come on down. And, uh, family as well. >> Everything good? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Council member Vieiraa is here to swear in. >> Yeah. Go ahead. You got this.
>> Thanks. I, Matthew, swear >> I, Matthew Peek, do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. >> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same >> and that I will build bear true faith and allegiance to the same >> and to the governments established in the United States. and to the governments established in the United States >> and in this state under the authority of the people >> and and in this state under the
authority of the people. >> I do further solemnly swear >> I do further solemnly swear >> that I will faithfully and partially and justly >> that I will faithfully and partially and justly >> perform all the duties of police officer in the township of Livingston. >> perform all duties of police officer in the township of Livingston.
>> According to the best of my ability >> according to the best my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations. CONGRATULATIONS. I just want to welcome. Thank you. And mom got to do this twice in Livingston. Congratulations.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Well, I'm going to pull up um the officers back up. >> Think that's it. >> Okay. That's going to conclude the police department's uh pre presentation for this evening, but I'm going to call back up the new officers, the two captains, so we could take a photo with
the township council. There you go. You're up for promotion. All right. I'm being told one family didn't get a photo from Deputy Manager Jones. So, we were missing a photo. So, we need Croker family to come back up
again for a redo. Thank you, Mr. Jones for uh letting us know that >> you just got >> We got to get you good. >> All right. Just filming a camera. You're dangerous. >> Mayor and council, thank you very much
for inviting us here tonight. >> Thank you. Thank you very much from everyone from uh Livingston Police uh department who came tonight. Thank you for coming. Um, I think that you can see, you know, especially with the the current uh leadership we have now in
place and and uh all these best and brightest that come forward every time we're swearing in new officers. Um, you can see why the crime rate is dropping so precipitously. So, thank you so much, Chief. Mayor, if I could just briefly, I'd also like to uh recognize, it's always so such a proud moment when we swear in
such qualified people, but I also want to recognize not only Chief Marshoots, Captain DeAndre, Captain Mueller, who together with me are sort of the final panel, but the real work gets done. Lieutenant Collins, uh, Sergeant McNamera, uh, our human resources director, Kathy Baffa, they go through a
very rigorous process beginning with a written test from the chief's association where we actually have to cut off the applicants at 150 people, how many people want to come work here and they call it down and conduct rounds and rounds of interviews. And so, just a huge credit to the entire department,
uh, which is what leads us such great candidates. >> Thank you, Barry. Thank you all for protecting us. Uh we're going to move along to the uh more mundane stuff. Um the uh approval of the
minutes pending any uh any corrections. >> Motion to approve. Second. >> This is for January 27th uh 2026 the regular conference meeting minutes. Um we are then going to move forward to public comment on agenda items only.
open the meeting for public comment on agenda items. >> Do we Oh, all in favor? Okay. Sorry. >> Yeah. Um, >> all in favor of approving the minutes? >> I. >> Any against? >> Okay. >> Make a motion to open the public comment on agenda items. >> Second.
>> Okay. Um, >> all those in favor? >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Okay. >> Anyone opposed? Okay. At this time, the meeting is now open for agenda items only. There is a 4-minute time limit uh per person. Residents can come to the microphone for their four minutes.
>> Motion to close public comment on agenda items. >> Second. >> Okay. >> Okay. Hearing no more comments. Um All right. We've closed. Um on Oh, you're coming off, sir. Do you have comments on agenda items? Okay. Let's reopen that then. Just your uh
your name and whether you live in town. >> I'm Everton Scott. I am not a resident of the town. I am the senior public affairs manager for >> just so they can hear you on the microphone. Is that okay? >> Yeah. >> Hey, good afternoon. I'm Everton Scott.
I'm the senior public affairs manager for PSCG. And uh Mayor Klein, I want to thank you and the administration and the and the governing body for your patience and understanding. as we look to improve the
gas delivery system in in Livingston. I knew that you had gotten uh a couple of complaints from residents and you sent them over to me and I think we we dealt with them in in in quick fashion. the the work I will continue and especially
with the temperatures that we're seeing now uh which could uh conceivably cause people problems in trying to heat their their homes. We just want to um ask the council for a little bit more patience
as we do this and and and as as as we move along. And you know talking about just the administration I want to say thank you to Barry and thank you to Adam uh for the work that they have done. In fact um you know with with Barry and
Adam being in your administration I've worked with Adam and for example we've held quite a few of our meetings here in this building and it was because of Adam and this close relationship. Um, Adam also invited me to come speak
at at a redevelopment issues for the Livingston Mall because we have the transmission line that cuts through Livingston Mall and um and and that was great and and I was really really thrilled that he uh asked me because we
had some uh >> I'm sorry is this on an agenda item? Is this >> There's a second portion that's devoted to public comment on any topic. This is for just thing items that are on the agenda. >> Okay. All right. Well, >> mayor, can I ask you a question since he's up here? >> Yeah. >> So, since you're up here for PSCG, we're
getting a lot of complaints uh from the town about the bills, why the bills have skyrocketed so high over the last two months. Can you can you give a little explanation as to what happened to all the why the bills in town because it's not something that we can control, but we are certainly getting a lot of emails
about what happened to your PSG bills. >> So, that's a that's a it's it would require a lot more than I can say now. We but but in short what what happens that there are two sections to your bill. There's a delivery cost and then
there's a supply cost. The the delivery cost is what we control. It's set out in tariff by the board of public utilities. Those rates are capped. They're you look at the tariff and you can see what those
>> one door has to remain open. the the supply portion is simply a pass through from the utility to whoever manufactures the power and puts it up into the grid.
That's controlled by PJM, the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland independent system operator. They control the supply of power in 13 states plus the uh the the the down in Delaware
down in DC. So that's where the increase in rates that you saw last summer uh for PSCG went up about 20%. For Jersey Central it went up about 17%.
Because not only do we have to buy power to supply residents, but there's also this thing that's called the capacity. And what the capacity is is that if we look at the residents in New Jersey, let's say, and we look at what if
everything in New Jersey was turned down all at once, how much would the grid operator have to supply to us so that people uh can keep their lights on and so on and so forth. So that's a capacity
charge. So we we pay them for what's actually consumed plus we pay for this capacity and the capacity auction is where that uh major driver for that 20% uh that you see. So again it's not PSCNG
although it's on our bill it's reflected on our bill and so we we we have to take ownership for it because it's on our bill but the fact of the matter is that it's not our doing. That's because of the uh open market that the BPU goes to
to to procure energy to uh to supply New Jersey rate payers. >> And so the other part of it, the other part of the bill didn't go up at all. The first part that you mentioned, there was no increase in that. >> There were there was no increase in the delivery part of it. I just it's interesting because my bills
I think and others who I've talked to the last two three months my compat my my usage has gone down and my bills have gone way up the last couple months. So since you're here you know it's you know it's it's you know and it's unfortunately there's a monopoly sort of between you know there's nowhere else to
go but it's it's a shame that because it certainly helps people especially on fixed incomes. >> Okay, any other questions? Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Okay. >> It's It's not on the It's not on the agenda.
>> You're welcome to come afterwards. >> Okay. Um Okay. Are there any other comments on agenda items only? >> Motion to close. Second. >> Okay. Uh all in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Opposed. All right. We're going to
move to passage of ordinances. Uh we have three uh ordinances uh for second reading tonight. Uh madame clerk, can you please read ordinance uh 1-2026 by title? >> Yes, mayor. Ordinance 1-2026 creating a new chapter 129 in the township code
entitled electric bicycles and electric scooters. >> May I have a motion to open the public hearing? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All those all in favor of of opening? >> I second. Okay. The public hearing on
ordinance number 1-2026 is now open. There's a 4minute time limit per person. Residents may come to the microphone to speak on this ordinance. >> Motion to close. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed.
Okay. Um we may now have a motion to close the public hearing on ordinance uh one. Oh, we just did. I'm sorry. This is um >> I'll move to motion motion. >> Sorry, I have a hard time reading through this. >> I'll second. >> Mayor discussion >> discussion. >> Yeah, now you can.
>> Okay. Um can I have a um is there any discussion among the council members on ordinance 1-2026? >> Yes, I would like to say a couple words. >> Please, deputy mayor. >> Um so this is uh I think I mentioned this last uh last meeting. This is
really the result of how the community engagement works. Um and when it gets brought to our attention, we bring it to the closure. Essentially, there is no shortage of modernization. So with in Livingston, we continue to
modernize with intention. This ordinance brings clarity, consistency, and common sense rules to a rapidly growing category of mobility, which is e- vehicles. Um we welcome innovations because this is innovative product. Uh,
our community thrives on it, but innovation must come with accountability. This ordinance sets that up. Uh, and I must thank Barry, the police chief, uh, and the entire staff on both the offices as well as this council to really take a hard look at
it. Um, we ended up going through what state passed. We were ahead of it and we actually adjusted and made sure that our township is safer for mobility. in fact safer for our families, children, protecting our families and children.
That's our first responsibility. Uh this sidewalks uh you know how the uh e vehicles operate on them. Uh the clear guidelines what police can do, what the uh what the uh general public or the residents can do. Uh it is creating a
sustainable structure. Um and this is why I personally am very proud of it. And I just want to call out uh Tara Hedman and I don't know whether she is here. Uh it started with a conversation and a coffee chat with her. Um and it
just ended up being you know one after the other ideas after ideas and that's how we we arrived at at something so innovative something so forwardlooking that as I said protects our residents,
township uh employees, the police. It gives a power to the police as well as creates the accountability on how this new vehicle, new types of vehicles gets operated on this uh on our streets. Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Um I would just also are there any other comments from
other members. I would just say this was even an issue in my own household. Uh you know, my son's been looking at a uh an electric bicycle and uh it's it's worrisome and we certainly feel a lot better. uh first that they um in our in our house we were talking about how that
the town was going to be passing ordinance to help protect uh all these kids running around on this stuff and and adults too. Uh and then we were happy to see that the state uh came in for the for all of us. So uh it was a good thing and thanks for all your work on this deputy mayor. Terrific stuff. >> Thank you mayor.
>> Um madame uh clerk, please proceed with the roll call. >> Council member Reinhardt? >> Yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> De'arra, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Banani, >> proudly yes. Mayor Klein. >> Yes. Uh that brings us to uh the second of three for this evening. Madame clerk, please read ordinance number 2-2026 by
title. >> Ordinance 2-2026 amending and supplementing chapter 274 streets and sidewalks article 7 street openings. >> Thank you, Carolyn. Can I have a motion to open the public hearing? >> Motion to open public hearing. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> opposed.
>> Okay. The public hearing on ordinance number 2-220 uh 20 2026 is now open. There's a fourm minute time limit per person. Residents can come to the microphone please. >> Motion to close >> I can open. This is open comments or just
>> this is a >> this specific ordinance >> motion to close. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh all in favor? I >> opposed. >> Okay. May I have a motion to move ordinance uh 2-h 2026?
>> Make a motion to move ordinance. >> Second. >> Okay. Do council members have any comments on this ordinance? >> Okay. Um this ordinance uh I just have a comment on this is a result of um you know uh gentleman from PSENG was just
here. Um, and they had done a lot of work uh in Chestnut Hill and the neighborhood was left in bad shape afterwards and uh we got a lot of complaints from residents about what those streets look like and um I mean
I'm still getting those complaints and and um you know there's a plan now in place uh to uh correct those uh those defects on the streets uh in the coming March. Um the work can't be done before that. Um although there has been some patchwork that was done in the interim, but there there's going to be a more
complete um uh fix uh come March. Um but we spoke to um with Barry help with this and with uh with Janette Hardby, our township engineer, and we've come up with a new ordinance that's going to protect the township and and basically hold uh anyone that comes to open up our
streets to a higher account on how those streets have to be finished and and uh and and when they need to finish them uh in that way. Um and so it's going to protect us uh and make sure that uh we don't have to you know some of the streets in Chesnut Hill were like pretty brandly brand it was pretty brand new uh
that they've been uh fixed. So we really want to make sure that we protect our streets uh and this ordinance helps us to do that. Madame clerk, can you please proceed with a roll call? >> Council member Minhart. >> Yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> Viera, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Banani, >> yes. >> Mayor Klein,
>> yes. Uh we are now on to the third of three for this evening. Uh, madame clerk, can you please ordinance uh read ordinance number 3-2026 by title? >> Yes. Ordinance 3-2026 authorizing a rights of way use agreement with Verizon. >> I'll make a motion to open public
hearing. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. The public hearing on ordinance number 3-2026 now opened. There's a 4m minute time limit per person. Residents can come to the microphone, please.
>> Motion to close. Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. >> Okay. Can I have a motion to move ordinance 3-2026? >> I'll move it. >> Second. >> Do any council members have any comments on ordinance 3-2026?
>> Madame clerk, please proceed with the roll call. >> Council member Minhardt, >> yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> Vieira, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Baptani, >> yes. >> Mayor Klein, >> yes. There are two ordinances for introduction this evening. Uh, madam clerk, can you please read ordinance number 4-2026 by title?
>> Ordinance 4-2026 amending and supplementing chapter 29 traffic and parking stop signs. >> Thank you. May I have a motion to amend and uh introduce uh and reintroduce ordinance 4-2026 for introduction and a date for second reading. Um Jared advis
us that we need to amend. There's a small change in in what we had originally put uh were putting forward. Right. I >> wasn't that wasn't that this was for this ordinance that we were >> I don't believe so mayor. >> Okay. So >> I'm unaware of any amendments to this ordinance. >> Okay. >> So I'll make a mo I'll make a motion to
introduce >> Okay. Thank you. >> Second. >> Um is there any discussion? >> Uh maybe if you don't mind, let's have uh our manager Barry Lewis. Can I? >> Yeah. Just in summary, uh, periodically our township engineer in consultation with the police and the traffic division
review all the intersections in town and either based on crash data, tickets, etc., they make recommendations of additional intersections that are suitable to have stop signs installed. So, this ordinance just simply adds some additional intersections to have stop signs.
>> Thank you, Barry. >> Okay. Um, can I have a roll call, please? >> Council member Minhardt, >> yes. >> Anthony, yes. Vieiraa. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Bipani. >> Yes. >> Mayor Klene, >> yes. >> And the public hearing on this ordinance
will be February 20 Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. >> Um, madam, so the uh the second for introduction. Madam clerk, can you please read ordinance number 5-2026 by title? >> Ordinance 5-2026 amending chapter 306 trees. >> May I have a motion to approve ordinance
uh 5-2026 for introduction and fix the date for a second reading? >> Motion. >> Second. Is there any discussion? >> Uh yes mayor. Um this is also one of those uh initiatives driven by an
inquiry from a Naweer resident and he is in the audience. Rob Rob Kun here. Rob, thank you for bringing this to to my attention. Uh Rob saw on his streets and around town the new trees being replaced. So
essentially what's happening is uh a house comes into the market gets reconstructed the front yard mature trees goes away and does not get replanted uh and that gradually is removing the shades and uh changes the
streetscape. He was very concerned about that. He brought that to our attention. I know mayor is very very passionate about trees. So is the rest of the council. So we started talking about it and we have unanimous support on this. Uh I think I will first ask Barry to kind of uh talk about what we are doing
here and then I'll continue. Thanks Barry. >> Yeah. So um the township has uh for some time expressed its commitment to preserving and replacing trees. We have a pretty comprehensive tree ordinance that requires permitting to remove trees and based on the size of the tree
removed has a requirement to replace trees. Uh the bigger a tree you remove that obviously you can't replace a 30inch tree in one piece. So you may have to put in five new trees. Um in order to ensure that was done, we had a required posting of performance bond uh
by a developer, a builder. They had to put up a bond. Unfortunately, the bond amount was set at the amount it would cost us to replace the tree. And what we unfortunately discovered in part after the gentleman brought it to our attention, we started reviewing the files was that more and more builders
found it more expedient to just forfeit the bond because it would cost them just as much to replace the tree and they'd forfeit the bond that would go into our tree fund. So what we've done with this ordinance is uh the amendment as proposed uh to be introduced would uh
instead change that to a fee um a performance bond amount set by annually or more often if necessary by the council by resolution with the intent being that we're going to increase the amount to uh make it more punitive to be what was intended to be an assurance
that you actually plant the trees because that's the desired outcome is actually planting the trees. Um so that that's the the effect of this ordinance. >> Thank you Barry. So once again just to underscore I think this is where uh Rob and I had a conversation and it is the intent of this council as well. Intent
is not to really increase the funding of the of the tree uh tree funds. It's not that it is about replacing what we had to as much as possible as close as possible a tree that really does not change the streetscape. So essentially
it's a inspiration. And it should be it should be driven by motivation uh for a new you know a new homeowner or a construction uh you know company as they build it replace what is what is what we are losing uh which is what our town is the character of our town is pretty
green town go around the streets and the neighborhoods we have shades and that's what Rob has always uh talked to me about so once again thank you Rob uh thank you Barry and in the previous ordinance as well I wanted to add that Jared in your office worked on the e- vehicle as well as on this one. So,
thank you. Thank you everybody uh for bringing this to the next step forward. Thank you, mayor. Other comments? I would just, you know, the deputy mayor pointed out that trees are important. Uh certainly I I think they're important
for the town. It it affects the character of the town. No, you know, one individual tree doesn't seem to make much of a difference, but you cut down, you know, over years and years, all these trees keep getting cut down. and it changes how Livingston feels. Um, we have a lot of money in the tree fund right now. Uh, if anyone here or anyone
at home wants a tree planted at their front yard, there uh you can find on our on our uh homepage a request for trees and we will come and plant trees for you because we want to retree this uh this town and we will we have money to do it. So, if you want a tree, please let us
know. >> Uh, Madam Clerk, can you please call the role? >> Council member Minhardt, >> yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. Yes. >> Viera. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Baptani. >> Yes. >> Mayor Klein. >> Yes. >> And mayor, the public hearing will also be Tuesday, February 24th. >> Thank you. Next meeting.
>> Uh that brings us to the consent agenda. All matters listed with an asterisk 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 bodies are 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. Madam clerk, can you read the uh consent agenda, please? Resolutions. >> Resolution 26-102, endorsement of NJ Department of Transportation improvements. Resolution 26-103,
appointment of municipal public defender for 2026. Resolution 26-104, enabling supplemental funding request, Green Acres. Resolution 26-105, authorizing the award of a contract to
Jessco, Inc. Resolution 26-106 authorizing the award of a contract to PowerPlace Inc. Resolution 26-107 authorizing approval of change order number one with Associated Appraisal Group Inc. Resolution 26-108
authorizing the award of a contract to Rio Supply Inc. Resolution 26-109 authorizing a contract to Pumping Services Inc. Resolution 26-110 authorizing purchases under Morris County Cooperative Pricing System.
Resolution 26-11 authorizing the approval of change order number two with Anteneelli Caner Rivera Affordable Housing Council. Resolution 26-112 author authorizing the award of a
contract to R&D Trucking Inc. Resolution 26-113 authorizing an emergency contract with Ceier Mechanical LLC. Resolution 26-114 authorizing approval of change order number two with Suburban Consulting
Engineers Inc. for Little League Fields. Resolution 26-115, New Jersey I Bank form and sale of not exceeding 12,400,000 ponds PAS treatment phase A. Resolution 26-116
authorizing the award of a contract to gov pilot. Resolution 26-117 designating area in need of rehabilitation to planning board block 3000 lot 1.01 01 and resolution 26-118
awarding a contract for professional engineering and planning in evaluating township pool options to Remington and Vernick engineers. >> Madam clerk, you must be exhausted. >> Mayor, I'll make a motion to approve the resolutions. >> Uh does anyone want to pull out any
resolutions? >> Um can we >> can we should that >> I want to pull Let me Sorry, I apologize. I want to pull one out before I ask. You're right. Um I want to pull out 26-102 so we can vote on that separately, please. So um please let's just uh pull that out.
>> Can we get Can we also pull out 26116? We get a little more explanation, please, about that one. >> Line number 15. >> Yeah, line number 15. >> I'm sorry. You won 115 and 10 15 and 102. Okay. So, if we can have a a motion on the
rest of uh taking out resolution 102 and and 116 and uh uh just the rest of those, please then we'll go back to those. >> Okay. Um >> kind of a motion on the rest of the remaining. >> Uh yeah, you need a second. I I did motion.
>> Second. Do we got a second? Okay. >> Council member Minhartt. >> Yep. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> Vieiraa, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Banani, >> yes. >> Mayor Klene, >> yes. Uh, mayor, do you want me to read the first pulled out resolution? >> Yeah, 102, please. Thank you. >> Resolution 26-102, endorsement of NJ
Department of Transportation improvements. >> Um, so I I would just make a comment on this that this is um, you know, a step in a major transformation of our uh of our Livingston circle. Um this project
was proposed by um by New Jersey. Um well it was uh it was proposed by the Department of Transportation I think seven years ago now. Councilman Vera do you remember? Tell me somewhere about seven years ago. I mean you know very long time ago and it's finally they come back to us every once in a while and
they're telling us it's progressing but it's hard to keep track of uh how fast it's going to go here. Um, but one of the things that we uh that I, you know, I was uh insistent on and and the rest of the council agreed with was that because there's now going to be when they finally build this sidewalks that
will uh make uh the circle actually walkable, um that those sidewalks also should continue down uh Route 10 because, you know, with the uh with the housing that's going on around Route 10, we do not want people getting into cars every time they want to go somewhere.
And there's certainly lots of stores on Route 10. Uh, and we want to make the area walkable. Um, and that will help with reduce traffic and make those places a little bit more desirable to live, make them feel a little bit more like a neighborhood. Uh, so we were able to negotiate with the state and they have agreed to include um sidewalks all
the way down Route 10, uh, you know, to the to the border of East Hanover. Um, and I've there was someone here from East Hanover before. I would hope that East Hanover would continue the sidewalks even past there if they chose to do so. But when this finally gets done and it's not happening imminently, uh Livingston is going to be a lot more
walkable, which I think is something we can all be proud of. >> Mayor, to the credit of this council, also if you recall, um they only wanted to do one side and we pretty much uh insisted that I think they only wanted to do the westbound lanes and we pretty much insisted that sidewalks on both
sides. So uh that was uh something that we were very successful on. >> Good. Um, yeah, I think that's something that will probably be here long after this council's gone. And, uh, something that >> I was on that Zoom with you. >> You said, "I'll see you in eight years." Five year. I think it was more
optimistic. Five maybe. >> Oh, four more years. Right. I think it's going to be right. It >> was a little better. It wasn't. >> Just to be clear that the um, we said, "Well, this is fantastic. These plans look great. How long till the we start construction on this circle?" They said, "Oh, about four years."
>> You were incredulous. I was incredulous. I think Barry was incredulous. We were all incredulous. This is uh we we work a little faster in Livingston on a lot of stuff than uh than they might. Um anyway, so uh I just wanted to just say that I think there's a lot of good news when that finally does happen. Uh can we read uh so can we have um
>> a motion to move that 102? >> I'll second it. >> Okay. Uh vote on that, please. >> Council member Minhart, >> yes. >> Anthony, yes. >> Vier, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Vani, >> yes. >> Mayor Klene, >> yes. Okay. and resolution 26-116
authorizing the award of a contract to Gov Pilot. >> Okay. So, I'm a little bit confused by this because we've heard nothing but kind of complaints from a lot of the department heads about Gov Pilot about how it was instituted, how there was no service given to the department heads
and um they've complained to various people about this and I don't understand why we're adding $75,800 to this. >> Okay. So um just by way of background um previously we utilized a company called spatial data logic SDL uh that provided
our online portal for uh GPS information uh tied to properties and some other things. At the time um we discovered that even though we were paying for 8 to 10 modules covering all different departments it was really only being used by a couple departments. Um we at
the time uh reviewed a company called Gov Pilot uh who has uh been up and growing for a number of years. Um it was introduced first at an initial meeting um to all the department heads. Uh all department heads were given more uh many many opportunities encouraged to
contact. They had plenty of available training. Some availed themselves, some did not. Um we did not finally pull the trigger and actually switch over to gut pilot till nearly two years later. Um at the time there was some resistance by some department heads who were very
comfortable and had used SDL for a long period of time. Um I think we've worked through most of those hurdles. Uh admittedly the roll out uh and implementation probably could have been handled better in hindsight. Um that having been said we've been on Gov Pilot
now for uh two years. this is a renewal of that product. Um in the interim um any thought of potentially switching back to SDL uh was taken away because GovPilot bought out SDL and SDL is now merged into and the new company continues and everybody's being
rebranded and reissued with the GovPilot product. Um overall again I think there was certainly some hiccups along the way. Um but I I think it's a good product. I think the departments are finally getting on board. It is being you utilized by I think uh increasing number of departments but will
eventually get up and running and and the beauty of it is it integrates them all into a single portal where anybody including the public uh can look up all kind of things tied to property. Um so admittedly there were some issues along the way but I think um certainly it's my recommendation going forward uh that
we've committed to gov pilot um that a lot of those uh problems have been worked through and and again uh SDL is no longer an option in any event. >> Any other comments? >> Mayor Mayor I have a comment because I I think one of the major issues was some
resist resistance. Nobody likes something new and I think uh the SPL was very easy to use and people were very just used to uh to it. However, I do want to thank uh Barry Lewis and Adam Learner because uh they got us through uh the phases of Gov Pilot and as Barry
had said, SPL has now been bought out by GV Pilot. SPL no longer exists. So actually, thanks to Barry and thanks to Adam and their staffs, we're years ahead of now other towns who now have to switch from SPL to Gov Pilot. We're already on Gov Pilot. We've been doing
it for two years. So I just want to thank you guys very much for that. SDL, quick question for Barry. >> Uh so uh it sounds like this is a transition thing, right? from one one product to the other and if other towns
uh had not gone to co pilot uh they would be transitioning uh and that would be because one company was bought over by the other how much we paid because of because we are ahead for the transition from SDL to go pilot
because we want to be ahead and and also sorry and also how much service we got from them. >> Yeah. So, so >> I'm sorry. Um, I don't know what other if there's fees or what people are associated. I do know the fees for Gov Pilot and new clients they are bringing
on board are higher. We were sort of grandfathered in to an older fee structure. Um, we went from SDL which at the time we are I think the last time that we actually paid SDL was closer to 100,000. So, it's more than what we're paying Gov Pilot now and that was three
years ago. Um, I mean, as far as comparing what new towns are paying, I don't really know what they're paying, but I do know that the new price scale is higher than what we are because we're an existing client. Uh, and the second part of my question was how much service we got from Gov Pilot to transition.
I um I am privy to and have been on more meetings than I care to remember, both virtual and in person um, Gov Pilot and I've seen reviewed email correspondents. Um when I heard concerns raised by department heads and I spoke to Gov
Pilot, they were more than uh prepared to show me uh a lot of correspondence where they had reached out and they had offered and um if you know department heads unfortunately had not availed themselves uh but they certainly made every effort and I think went above and
beyond to provide implementation training, answer questions, develop custom modules etc. So, so two two things came up from this conversation. I think I'm just uh going to summarize just from my perspective.
One is uh I am absolutely for new technology forward-looking better products go for the transparency. I think that is the key that should be the key that's driving should be driving every technology enhancement. We should be increasing transparency
what's happening inside our government to the residents. That's number one. And if co-pilot is doing that, it sounds like there is resistance, you ended up saying lots of kudos to department heads as well because they are the ones who are doing most of the work. Uh so that's
great. The other part of it which you can probably uh sense from this conversation that it's not very crystal clear to the council to the governing body that what and why are we continuing to do that. So I think that transparency is probably
required. Uh that probably is a lesson takeaway I would think. Uh so that the governing body is more aware as well and so that we can relay that the idea for all of us is really what that if it is client facing meaning if it is resident
facing we are the ones who are reaching out to residents and we can help usage add usage of co-pilot if that's there is a there is a portal to it. So that's the that's the reason I'm I'm talking about uh of adding transparency internally as well.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Um any other comments? >> Um can I have a motion to approve uh resolution number 26-116? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second.
>> Okay. Madame clerk, please call the role. >> Council member Revinehardt. >> No. >> Anthony. Uh, yes. >> Vieiera. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Baptani. >> Yes. >> Mayor Klein. >> Yes. Uh, we now come to public portion on any subject with a time limit of 3
minutes. Uh, may I have a motion to open public portion on any subject? >> I'll make that motion. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> Thank you. Uh, all in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. Meeting now opened on any subject with a threeminut time limit.
Residents may come to the microphone. Please state your name and uh whether you live in town. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Ricky Begoli, Wilshshire Drive in Livingston. I am here on behalf of the assemblywoman from the LD27, Rosie Begali, with an announcement. She just wanted to let
everyone know that there will be a tax assistance info session that's being held at the Livingston Community Center on uh March 3rd, 11:00 a.m. I think it was postponed from the bad weather, so we have a new date for it. It's going to be in conjunction with the Livingston
Old Guard and the AARP for uh their tax assistant program and it's open to the public for assistance uh for getting your taxes done. >> Thank you, Ricky. I hope uh lots of residents uh can avail themselves of that. Any other speakers?
This way. I'm not that tall. Uh good evening town council uh and mayor and deputy mayor. Um my name is Barbara Saxs. I'm the uh president of arts council of Livingston. And primarily I wanted to come tonight to thank all of you for the support that you have given
us over the years. Uh if it wasn't for the Livingston Town Council uh mayor, we would not be in the position where we are. We really appreciate you coming to our events, our art shows, uh specifically the newest property that we
have at 240 East Northfield Avenue, the old Lucari Farm, uh that has turned into the uh our newest gallery. We've had a lot of successes with that. We've been glad to see a lot of you there, and without your help and support, we would
not be able to have that. Uh specifically I would like to thank uh town councilman uh Michael Vieiraa as our liaison for this year and many years. Um he has helped us in so many ways and has always been uh by our side
and has always been reachable. But beyond that there is another person who is very supportive of our group and of all of the arts in Livingston and that is um Adam Learner. uh he has been offering suggestions to us for things
that we could do. As a matter of fact, last June he um asked us if we would like to have June as the month for Art at the Oval. Um he listens to our concerns. He is always available to us for meetings. He brings so much energy
to our group because he knows that it's not just about arts council. It's about bringing art to the community because that's what Livingston is all about. People move here for the education, but they move here for the arts and the culture as well. Adam understands that
just like Michael Vieiraa does. And as arts council, we are very, very appreciative of what these individuals have done to support us. And knowing other town c other arts councils near us, they don't have the support that we have. And when they ask us, well, what
do you need? We kind of need the Livingston Town Council and somebody named Adam. So, thank you so much for what you've done. We hope you continue to come to our events. We always enjoy seeing you and uh the support that you've given us. So, thank you very much.
>> Thank you, Barbara. Yeah, uh 29 Carne Terrace, member of uh arts council. You know, I too want to reiterate what Barbara has said to thank all the people at the hold deis and for
supporting us both spiritually and uh now with a a space to show artwork. I say spiritually because our junk lived next to Mikey Cheryl's office for about four years and finally it found a home. Uh now that we've reestablished after
four years upstairs in in the closet, we are now just starting to get a foothold. Yesterday we had a a poetry reading and uh we're going to have a continued events along those lines. Now that we have a place we can we've established
and expanded into more of the arts. Um if you get a chance, drive over. Uh kids have built a snow wall over there that is absolutely the wonderful uh KGER and Ives version of a Lego wall. It's just
outstanding. Uh and I I hear what you fellows do every session that you meet. I hear all the decisions you have to make. I hear the pile of complaints and the piles of accolades that you receive.
But when we reach out as a group, we reach out to someone who is going to respond to us. And when you reach out to people who are as busy as the council, uh it's not that we don't get response because I I do get responses and I have
most immediately but when you need something yesterday we were reaching out to Adam Lerner and Adam has been a friend to us through the opaces of Michael Vieiraa and I do believe that
having that kind of reachable attainable person mid-range person always aids to expand the culture in town. I know that things and decisions are made, you know, through committee, but being able to sit
and talk with somebody who is of like mind, who we we dream along the same wavelength. So, uh, I do appreciate everything that the administrative body in total has done for the arts council and I'd want
to be able to expand what's going on on the Lucari property and more trees. >> Thank you. Here. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Caroline Puma, Livingston resident as well. Hi, my name is Laura Tamayo, resident 2 and uh we're
part of Sasson committee and uh first of all we want to say thank you so much for always participating in all our events for coming and supporting us. Uh recently we have Sasson Sumbaton uh
which was a fundraising event and gratefully and happily it was a success. Thank you so much for participating, for sharing all that with the entire community and we need to also appreciate the entire community of Livingston for coming together in a very cold day. But
they were there to support us and we always do all this with a lot of heart and putting all our efforts and work together as a team to bring um a very nice very nice um festival in September
for the entire community of Livingstone. And also we want to appreciate Adam Learner for always supporting us and working with us and um helping us on this event. Thank you so much. >> No, absolutely. on behalf of Saon, thank you to the mayor, to the consulants that
have always support us, but a special thanks to Adam. He has always been there. Um, and we really appreciate that you always made time for us. you help us to fix our budget, to get our dates
ready, and I truly believe and and I'm we're very thankful for your professionalism, your responsiveness, uh for being so friendly with the community, with the culture that we wanted to bring to um Livingstone. So,
thank you and we really need you there and your support and thank you to everybody as well. Thank you very much to the township and to the entire community and mayor and deputy mayor and all council members for always being there for uh Saison. Thank you. Thank
you so much. Appreciate it. >> Thank you ladies. >> That was a truly amazing event by the way. That was so much fun. >> All right, mayor. I won't take up much of your time this time, but um Councilman Ed, I know we were uh doing
our exchange. I told you that the prices were set in tariff. By the way, if if if you're cooling your house and your consumption in 2005 was say 205 megawatt
hours and then in 2026 it goes up to 250 megawatt hours. Yes, your delivery price will go up. So, I just wanted wanted to make that clear. >> I appreciate that. Just that the number my usage has gone down and my prices keep going up. >> Yeah. And I was I was surprised as well that delivery don't go up, but it sounds
like delivery does go up. >> No. So, delivery goes up based on consumption. So, it's based on how much you use. So, if you use less than the year before, delivery should go down. If you use more, delivery should go up. But again, the the the where you're seeing the biggest price
increase is on the supply side. Again, delivery is in 1999, we signed the Electric Discount and Competition Act in New Jersey, signed under Governor Christie Whitman. And and based on that,
we were we were no longer allowed to be vertically integrated. you had to uh spin off your generation assets and you had to spin off your transmission assets and all we were responsible for are the
poles and the transformers and the substations going going down the roadway. So, and with that, I just wanted to also mention real quick that the Livingston substation is done. It's up and running. It's energized. And so
if anybody on the council, any one of you guys would want to take a look at the Livingston substation right there by 280, just let me know and I can arrange that so you can go in and see. And again, it's been great working in Livingston. Thank you, Barry. Thank you,
Adam, for everything that you've done for us. >> Mayor, can I say one thing? I I just want to thank you very much because when you're the mayor, you always have direct correspondence and connection with you and you always always respond right away. So, I want to thank you on behalf of all the residents of Livingston as
well because whenever we need you, you're always there. And so, we I can tell you I think we speak for this entire council that we appreciate everything that you do, not for this council, but for all 32,000 residents, at least the ones who use PSCG. So, thank you very much. >> Right. And that was that. So, mayor, I
haven't seen the new ordinance yet, but I know I know I see the new ordinance and I'll be hitting my head against the wall, but uh but it's it's Yeah, it's okay. I'm hoping that Barry and Adam can
help me to climb up from on the rock. >> Well, we're looking forward to seeing lots of you in March. >> Everdan, I would like to uh just take you up on that offer of the tour. Yes. >> So, uh, I'll get I'll call you during the week. >> Okay. Please do. Please do. Thank you. >> Thank you, Everton.
>> Hello everybody. Tim Foley, uh, resident for over 54 years, fourth generation in town. Um, you know, I'm not here very often complaining or wanting something to look be looked at or or something to
be done, but please explain to me why you are trying to eliminate the assistant manager position. Adam has done a lot of things for this town in the short amount of time he's been here.
Spoke to a few of you the other day just really quick and the one the one thing was being topheavy. There are so many departments in this town that are topheavy. If you want to talk about it, close session with me. That's fine. But I'm
not going to bring up the other departments that I think that are topheavy. In the short few years that Adam's been here and the meetings that I've been at, I've heard praises on what Adam has done
for the town and you're trying to eliminate his position. Don't get it. There's other positions that actually you can try to get rid of.
one. I mean, you know, I know a lot of people in town. They everybody talks and I hear a lot of things. Like I said, I've been around here for over 50 years. I'm part of a lot of organizations. I've volunteered with you. You, you, and you.
Sorry, I u I haven't done anything with you, uh, Sean, but four out of the five of you, I volunteered with you. So, you know, I am around town and what I do for the town, you know, >> you're Mr. Santa Claus for us. Absolutely.
>> So, but the the the problem that that I see is why are department heads running to the five of you complaining? If anybody, those heads should be going to Barry first off. That's it. Barry.
Barry's the one you guys control and hire and fire the town manager. Anybody below the town manager is the town manager's problem or issue. So these heads are
crybab that are coming to you to try to get rid of somebody. That's uncalled for. So those people should be be uh reprimanded that I what I how I this is how I feel. It's my opinion. See, I wrote stuff down. Usually I never write stuff down.
Um, I don't know Adam that well, you know, like he's only been here for a few years, but every time I've I've dealt with Adam, he's been a gentleman and he's gotten stuff done. Like I said, every meeting that I'm here, and I'm not
here that often, I hear praises about Adam. Great job to get that project done. >> Mayor, can I just have one more minute? Like I said, um, all the praises just like the last the last meeting, he
got the he got the internet working in the community center like again and then all these other people, everybody that's been up here has been praising Adam and you're going to try to eliminate his job. I think it's wrong. I think it's the back doorway of of getting rid of
somebody and I think you're all wrong. I know a couple of you are, you know, we've we've spoken, but the the at least three, I believe, are trying to get rid of him and it's not right. So, please rethink this. And
Adam, the township employees also have your back because I talked to them. They're they don't want to come up here because they're afraid of losing their job. So, you have employees in this township that back you also. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. Good evening everybody. Rob Coun
Longacre Drive. I've uh shockingly realized I've been here 20 years. Um just want to thank you all for your support for this tree ordinance. It's evolved over the years of course. Um, more importantly, Deputy Batanti uh for his time and listening. Simple
conversation over a cup of coffee goes a long way. Um, but I think something's missing and I don't know the details of what you're changing on this ordinance. So, I'd like to um put more time into it if I can, but I feel that the developers
and the development in this town has evolved of course over the years. 20 years ago, we were talking about McMansion laws, but now we're not even worried about the size of the houses, the footprint. U I'm hoping all the variances are getting approved, but I think the tree ordinance has to show a
before and after on a development project, regardless if it's commercial or residential. I don't think we have an acute number of what trees are on a given property. Uh Marty quickly responded to me thankfully from uh the building department when I pointed out a
road on Elwood Avenue. They actually cut down town trees on the easement of the corner house. Um so I don't think in that process of getting permits or varants or whatever we're getting an acute, you know, or uh an inventory number of what trees are there before
construction. Um and that would hold the builder or developer more accountable. Um, that's, you know, where I I don't know where all that is in this uh process of changing the uh ordinance. And the other thing I want to say is thank you to the mayor, deputy mayor,
uh, and my recent correspondence with you guys with Harrison School. We're clearly having some tra challenges in the neighboring uh, back streets. And it turns out it's because the school has changed the drop off and pickup routine that used to go on the property itself.
Uh, I promise I've sent enough emails and pictures. I think you get the point. We'd like to also thank the police chief and Livingston Police Department. They've made an initial attempt and hopefully we can uh get to a better uh resolution in the future. As I said
earlier, this is an ongoing challenge every year. So, thank you again for all your time and uh support. So Rob, we um we we actually discussed this again with there's a two-on- two meeting with the board of ed and uh I think Barry you said we'll try to you know we part of the reason is that or part of the
difficulty is some of the snow that of course is not melting is is not quite up to the curb and so we're going to try to get people back out there. Uh and then also there was discussion about having you know certainly during drop off time uh and pickup to have uh a little bit more you know if police are not covering it every day until the snow is gone then
certainly they should. This came up last year to a significant extent and there were people here on the council that worked on this and you know we we rearranged the the uh the traffic flow uh and I think things were working better for a while. I think this storm has really put that set us back. >> Okay. I mean >> that's been I think that that's been my
impression from >> it's a half hour in the morning and a half hour in the day. I'm right now working remotely so I see it more than I have in the past. >> It was working better until the storm until the storm had passed. >> You agree with that? Last year um because of the drop off, people were allowed to park on both sides of the street, right, which essentially
narrowed it down to one lane. So you got cars going. So we did last year we eliminated parking on one side of the street. >> And so that seemed to work until now the snow's back down to one lane. So >> So we're going to try to, you know, see what we can do in terms of clearing out a little bit more snow there. Um Barry,
can you just rep uh respond to uh Rob's and thank you very much for all your your your feedback for us um >> about the tree. Can you talk about that? I'd like to understand where we are in terms of, you know, when you see property, you know, you see a tree plan when you when, you
know, on a lot of these things that are submitted. I guess your point is is that, you know, where are the trees going to be planted? You know, we shouldn't be saying this is where the trees are going to be planted at the, you know, once construction's finished. >> No, I want to know. They shouldn't you, the town should know what trees are there now, right? So, >> because I think the developers are
abusing >> Yes. >> cutting down the trees. >> Yeah. The tree level permit in the code. and I'm happy to send you the whole ordinance and I can even by all means call me. We can discuss the change we're implementing. And I pulled it up while we were sitting here because you said it specifically requires um a tree removal
permit requires a tree inventory plan showing all trees on the site, their species, size, condition, and location and indicating those that the applicant wishes to remove. So, they are required up front. Now, whether they're doing something beforehand, uh I don't know if you're suggesting they're cut cut first
and then apply, I don't know. >> It seems that way. I mean, just >> we'll definitely have to crack down. >> It's complete chaos that they wipe out an entire property of trees that we can't replace. I mean, these are 200-y old trees in some parts of the neighborhood. >> And the shades that you mentioned, >> right? And everyone's complaining about
their energy bills. Without shade on your property, your electricity is going up to cool the house. >> Even the quality of life walking in the neighborhood. We need to just stick to time limits a little bit more. >> One last thing, I still want to follow up on the shade tree commission that we used to have participation in. I don't
doesn't seem like we're doing that anymore. >> Yeah, let's let's work on that. We'll we'll talk about that in the conference. Thank you very much. >> Can I just talk about the ordinance? I'm sorry. Can I ask one question about the ordinance, the tree ordinance? So, what happens in a situation like we have on um Eisenhower Parkway where the trees
were cut down three maybe four years ago, complete forest three, four years ago and obviously there's no building, there's no construction, there's no going on. Do we are we able now with this new thing that we just passed find the developer? So, um, they would have presumably gotten their tree removal permit in
connection with the I don't know if it was with the planning board application or prior to that. Um, that would have required a tree replacement plan. Clearly, they've not replaced any trees on site. Um, I don't know if that's waiting until they actually do the development. I I can look into that. I
hope they certainly didn't just forfeit the deposit, which is the evil we're trying to cure now because it became more expedient just to forfeit the deposit than actually plant the trees. But I will definitely look into that property. I think that's a very good example. >> Can we can we, you know, maybe um change the ordinance a little bit to so they're
not grandfathered in? >> I agree with that. >> I don't think you can do that. >> Well, I I'll also I'll also add I think I I like the idea. I'll also add, Barry, uh the inventory that that Rob mentioned, every building permit. Why don't we take the inventory of what we have before we issue a permit and before
any trees is gotten down? So at least the ones that we know rather than boiling the ocean, at least the ones that are undergoing the the the revamp of the property, we know what was there. >> Yeah. And I and I think and I I will certainly talk to the construction official about the timing of because it
is a concern. Do they come in and get building permits before they file for their tree removal permit? And then are they doing things so that the inventory they're submitting is after they've already removed trees or something? So I I I think it's it's a point well taken that we got to ensure that we're getting that inventory at the very beginning.
>> And also Barry, that will be especially important when the price of cutting trees down becomes more expensive. >> Right. >> Because they're going to try more motivation to avoid, >> right? That's right. So the other thing, the other important point is that the ordinance that we passed tonight regarding this did said that we would set the tree price by resolution. Um, so
I, uh, Carolyn, can we please have that on for the next agenda that we, uh, we will talk about, uh, price per tree at the at the next meeting so we can get that resolution done because otherwise more sand's going to fall, you know, between our fingers, so to speak. We got to get that done. >> Yeah. And I think it it also means, mayor, just one other quick 30 seconds
is that all of these suggestions, I think, in the final reading, let's have that on the ordinance, so that in the final reading, whatever is needs to be go needs to go on the ordinance should be on the ordinance and then rest is resolution. Yeah. Thank you, Barry. Yes.
>> Hi, Martha Acriman, 80 Spring Brook Road. 20 years ago, actually, first of all, I want as a member of the UNICO citizen of the year committee. I'd like to formally invite you when we honor
Chief Gary Marshoots as citizen of the year on April 26. that it will be announced this week. Um I'm not a UNICO member, although I really wish I was Italian. Um and but I'm part of the committee, so we're excited to be doing that. Second of all, uh 20 years ago, we
came to the town council, uh Fatima Calco and myself, and the town council has supported Children's Theater of Livingston for 20 years, and we are so appreciative that you've sat through our very little kids singing and dancing and
having a grand old time. And coincidentally, at the same time, well, Humahan was I hope he's still here, was involved in that creation. and we'd like to thank you on behalf of uh Children's Theater of Livingston. But at the same time, something much more important was
happening and it was working together with Alan Carpass for us to form HCHY during the 20 years of uh HCHY's development and we now have eight organizations that fall under our umbrella. Livingston Neighbors Helping
Neighbors, which you have been tremendously supportive of, has been building and growing. As a matter of fact, today we just dropped off 700 cans from Bernardet Hill from their Super Bowl, get it, Super Bowl, uh, collection. And we know that at any
given time when we need reaction and involvement, we can always count on the town council and Adam who calls us at very odd times of the day to tell us that the refrigerator may have broken in the um pantry and that there's a
terrible smell in town hall and what can you do? And I'm like, well, Alan said, Martha, what can we do? I said, "Well, I'm driving home from Michigan, but Adam took care of it." That type of receptiveness, that type of immediate response is what
this town needs. And I am have been very disheartened to hear that there is a consideration of removing him from the position and removing the position altogether. He's brought technology to us. He's always at our events and you
all know that I'm involved in a couple things in town. We can always count on him. So, I'd like to thank the town council for always being there to support us. Children's Theater of Livingston, HCHY, Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors, and of course the
Arts Council, which Children's Theater of Livingston is part of. Please, please take into consideration what his contribution has been in his short time that he's been here.
Our groups are extremely appreciative of your responsiveness and how much you care. Thank you. >> Thank you for all the things you do in town, Martha. >> You're welcome. You're not going to >> You're welcome, Tel. All right. Um, oh,
he is. Okay, here we go. >> Bill, the framework wrote, "As you can see, I sit in a very big shadow. Uh, I was listening to this tree ordinance thing, and it sounds like, yeah, you can cut down the trees, you can build your stuff, and sooner or
later, you might plant a couple of trees." How about something in the ordinance that says, "From the time you chop that tree down, you pay a monthly fee until it's replaced. to encourage the prompt replacement, not
four years down the road. Just some kind of impetus that there's an ongoing cost not to not planting those trees. >> Thank you for the suggestion. Yeah, love the engagement. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay.
>> All right. Seeing no other speakers. >> Mayor, may I make a comment? >> Of course. >> Thank you. I I wasn't quite sure if I was going to say anything this evening, but I did write it down because I wasn't quite sure if I was going to say anything, Councilman Anthony, but um and I'm going to repeat myself uh in in the
future weeks uh uh and go further into detail um when this uh council formally presents an already prepared ordinance eliminating Mr. Learner's job title, an action that would effectively leave him out of a job and in my view overstep our
council's authority by terminating a town employee. this that authority does not rest with us council members. We made no secret I've made no secret on how strongly I support our assistant town manager Adam Learner. Many of the positive changes this town has
experienced in recent years bear Adam's fingerprints, his dedication, his professionalism have made real differences in Livingston. I do not stand with my colleagues in their decision to eliminate Adam Learner's position. I encourage our residents to
continue to call, email, and text politely, of course, uh, and let the council members know how wrong that decision is. And to anyone who has suggested privately or otherwise that I am on a mission to save Adam, let me be
very clear. I am, this is real life. His name is Adam Learner. He has a young son named Dylan. He's a family man. He is a hardworking, dedicated employee who has served this town with integrity and has made positive impacts. And yes, I am doing my best to save Adam Learner from
what I believe is a wrongful act. Thank you. >> All right, we are now going to move to reports of township officials. >> Mayor May make a motion to close the public hearing. >> Oh, thank you. Please a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? I
>> opposed. Okay, we're going to now uh move along to uh reports of township officials. Uh town town town township manager Barry Lewis. >> Uh nothing other than uh we addressed it the last. But again, a big shout out to
DPW for the original snowstorm, their continuing efforts, and for stepping up this weekend when we had trees down that knocked powers out. They rose to the occasion together with Jen Walker and got the uh community center open as a warming shelter. So, uh, kudos to them. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, Deputy Township Manager
Russ Jones. >> Nothing for tonight, Mayor. Thank you. >> All right. Assistant Township Manager Adam Lerner. >> Just want to say thank you for all the kind words that people came out and uh I appreciate everything. It definitely warms my heart. Thank you. Uh, on another note, um, the veteran banners
application is open. Uh, it is open for one more week. This is the extension because of the uh success that we had the first round. Uh so we have opened it up for a two-e period. We've received a lot of applications, but that will close on Friday for the next uh that will go in this 2-year period.
>> Thank you, Adam. Mayor, if I if I can have a quick question for on that program. Uh so first of all, that's that's a great program. Uh I agree. Uh let's have all the veterans applications come in. Uh and amazingly proud that we
on the council are able to move on that and that program is really effective. A quick question, Adam. I got a feedback uh that several of those signs along Livingston Avenue uh they are facing the Livingston Avenue. It should be facing
diagonally, meaning uh it should be like, you know, as you walk, you should be able to see it. So, I'm not sure if there's any quality check we do when we put those signs back up. So, um, they've had to adjust some of the signs because because the low, uh, the size or the
height of our poles, some of them impede the sidewalk, which then blocks the ADA standards for pedestrians going down that sidewalk. So, some of them had to be turned along the street to accommodate. They cannot block traffic and they cannot block a pedestrian >> and they they're not going to go up uh,
they're not going to go up in the height. They're going to remain like this. Is that the >> They're at the very top, unfortunately. um as we expand, we can maybe adjust where we put the polls as we kind of expand down um further as we kind of continue and we might be able to make
those adjustments, but it's really working with our public works department, but we can definitely look into those things. >> And last time when we put it up, we didn't have that consideration because they were differently differently applied there. We we haven't had this many banners up and so that's one of the
reasons why you're seeing some of them having to be turned because uh we received complaints on the sidewalk. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Okay. Uh Carolyn >> for me tonight, Mayor. Sorry. >> No report tonight, Mayor.
>> Okay. Um an >> Yes, I have something. Thank you, Mayor. Um, we put something on the website about the water bills being late being mailed out. Um, we think we fixed it. There was something wrong with the program and the paper that goes through
the printer and the printer. So, I have to thank Stephen back there and Viva and Xerox and Edmmonds and we managed to get it to work today, but they're going to be two weeks late but they're the due
date is going to be 30 days later. you know, 30 days like normal as of the date of the billing. So, in case you hear anything, that's exactly what happened. And on another note, I I encourage the residents to go online more often. Um, I
had a woman come to our office, you know, we get complaints all the time, but I had to sit with her. She was elderly, I guess, and doesn't know how to get into the computers and things. And her water bill got there. It's it
was mailed on December 16th and she got it last week. So, I don't have a solution per se. I I have been in touch with her and we're talking about how she can get rebates and kind of anchor programs and things, but I I'm open to
suggestions on how to help these people. But I asked her to call our office, you know, in a few months. But just in case you hear that, she did pay the interest of.7 cents, but because we really can't wave that. Just in case you hear
anything, we're trying to resolve all that. >> But thank you, >> mayor. One other that I forgot uh and until she said it, I do want to recognize also Carolyn and her whole team for the special election that was held. Another great job. They had student poll workers who are always so great to see out here. Did a great job.
And she's going to be in for four elections this year. Yes. >> So great job >> and an Coochie >> Ann and Caroline the whole day. Um I also um Jared there was that comment uh
question from some uh from a previous resident who had come in to ask about uh the US checking ordinances uh for displays and for political protest. Uh, and if you could just just take a minute to respond because I know that she was
uh interested in getting >> in today. I spoke to her and I'm going to send her some stuff. She gave me her email address. >> I just want to also just say to her that we that we that we that we said it from the day because she's looking for answers and I know that uh Jared had some information to share with her. >> Sure. Thank you, Mayor. I don't know if
we were waiting for uh for for Gene to come, but I'm I'm happy to to to give >> She's going to come, but she's not here. So, >> but I'm sure I'm going to have to repeat it when she comes uh in the future. Um just so so by way of background I serve the municipal attorney not only Livingston but also in Milbourne North Kawwa Morris Township in response to the
questions that Gan raised um or the resident raised. I've not only reviewed the municipalities which I serve as attorney um but several municipalities um that are adjacent to Livingston and near Livingston including West Orange, West Cwell, Rosland, Floren Park,
Springfield and East Hanover. and I could repeat those or I could put those in writing to her. Um, but I think what's important is when we're talking about the right to protest, it's a it's a constitutional right, uh, the right to
assembly. Um, so when our permit and I looked at I just wanted to give everyone the background on legally what a municipality could do to restrict um, protests. So what I found is when permits requirements are constitutionally permissible, first off it's very important that any restriction
be content and viewpoint neutral. So um we can't um limit um for example pro one country um um um demonstrations while not allowing other country demonstrations. So it must be viewpoint
neutral. Um, we can regulate time, place, and manner, but not message. And any of those regulations must be narrowly tailored to serve a significant government interest. And this is because um it's such an important fundamental right in the constitution that any restrictions we place on it must be
narrowly tailored. Um, so in doing so, we we'd have to, you know, lay out our clear objective standards. Um so I think one of the issues was you know fees and costs. So what that's
called is is a heckler's veto when uh public entities and municipalities make the costs too high uh for demonstrations. Um it's considered a limitation. Um, so you can have an administrative fee, but most don't. Um,
because it's just such a slippery slope and such a hard you you leave yourself open to litigation uh that you're putting a cost on to try to quell um to try to quell whether or not you know people can come out and protest or assemble or be heard. Um you know for
example um Supreme Court has had various cases um in which they've struck down fees as being unconstitutional. Um the typical restrictions that the Supreme Court has found to be uh constitutional are typically based are
safety based and it's typically based on crowd size and capacity um and regulations on storage. Um unconscious restrictions have been found to be um pricing is a big one. Uh charging more because of a counter
protest which I think is very uh relevant to Livingston. Um we've had some protests and charging because we know there's going to be a counter protest when you pro protest has specifically been found to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Um and also mandatory permits for small
spontaneous sidewalk protests where there's no closures involved have has also been found to be uh unconstitutional. So, uh, in my review of of the municipalities, um, only West Orange and West Cwell, um, have adopted ordinance that specifically relate to
demonstrations. Um, and they pretty much mirror what Livingston does without those ordinances in place. Um, Milbour, Morris Township, Rosland, Floor Park, and East Hanover. Um, they do not have a protest specific permitting ordinance
like Livingston does. instead they reg regulate the lower larger more complex gatherings like Livingston does. Um so you know it's it it's based on size um and you know if we can't if they can't you know protest or gather where they want to we have to find another location
all the things that Livingston does. So what I have found is despite the fact that West Sergeant West Coal do have ordinances um in all the towns substantively we do the same as our neighbors um and I think that everything we do is constitutional and I believe um
you know charging fees um charging because there's counterprotests um will leave us um you know at risk of litigation. And there's no towns around us or that you've heard of where if there are protests uh with certain flags
of certain countries that you could mandate that other flags of other countries are are brought as well. >> So mayor I I would say that was that would be strictly prohibitive. Okay. They must be again they must be I know we're making joke but it must be content neutral and I just want Jean to know that we we've done our research and you know with through Barry and you know
we've you know his administration always does a great job and our police chief and our police have done an outstanding job and everything they've done and I believe all actions taken by the township have been constitutional and protecting the those rights of the residents to assemble. >> And uh one other just additional point I
certainly defer to council but I would think he would agree. One question the resident also raised was even assuming we had some fee that was actually defensible, we can't differentiate between residents and non-residents. She wanted us to only charge non-residents and I I defer to Mr. Caner, but I
>> So, so the sidewalks and the streets are public streets. They're not Livingston resident public streets. So, they're open to the public. >> I listen Barry and Jared, thank you very much for the work and time and effort. Um, you know, I think it just shows that when residents come here and are asking questions and want answers, we're going
to do the best we can to do that. And I'm uh, you know, I Jean will probably be stopping by uh to to get those answers again. But, uh, you know, we um, and, uh, but I just wanted to be clear that we're, you know, we're not, uh, we're not going to avoid answering tough questions that she might have. And that's that goes for everybody else as
well. Uh, we are now going to go to council comments. Uh, Councilman Anthony will be giving the council uh, >> mayor. Appreciate it. Um, I just want to say thank you Carolyn for a great job on uh primary day and my daughter Bella is here. You may have a potential worker uh
with you. Uh so I'll have you speak with her. Um but it was a great job as usual seamless and you got four of them this year. It's crazy. Um okay so uh the last few weeks we had the Chinese festival. It's the year of the firehorse. Uh
beautiful festival over at uh the gym at LHS. It was actually two parts this year. Uh the show was about a week earlier and um uh the mayor's son uh mcded it and uh spoke Chinese and very nice. Bella, you know, Jack, he's a
superstar, right? So they then had the Chinese festival on the 6th and that was the uh just a great oh I don't know if it's thousands a couple thousand people. Um there's the usual uh games, prizes, food shows. Um just a tremendous job put
on by the Livingston Chinese School, the uh Hawasha Chinese School, the Living uh Livingstone Christian Church, uh the Livingston Chinese Association, LCA, and then a committee of that Livingston Chinese Culture Day Committee, LCCD,
as well as LHS, um the World Language Department. So, another great job. Uh and we look forward to the year of the horse. Uh we then had uh we a couple days before that we had on February 1st we're celebrating uh Black History Month. We have the banner hanging up uh
on the corner of Northfield and South Livingston. Um we also had on the same day um the four chaplain ceremony which is a beautiful ceremony. If you've never caught it, uh maybe you catch it next year. It's always in February because it celebrates uh the Doorchester going down
on February 3rd. um and four chaplain uh giving up their life jackets uh from different faiths um and and so other people could survive. And it's just a beautiful ceremony put on by our uh our veterans. We also had the YMCA had a
kickoff fundraiser that was at the east uh at the Hanover Manor. Uh and and as you can see the progress going up there. They're still still scheduled for a December um ribbon cutting um the 8th. December >> 8th actually.
15th. Okay. So, there you go. That he said uh you know Rick Goreb said they're still on schedule there. So, that's good news. Um we are celebrating uh American Heart Month. Um as there's literature out here. There was a uh go red um there
was a photo the other day. Jessica Kelly does a real nice job there. Uh as well as everyone uh at town hall um that you could get literature still on heart disease. Uh there was blood pressure screenings that day. Uh as there was also on Sunday uh yesterday the Sanreedi
heritage day uh the school the Srei school heritage day and again there was shows there was um there was the kids performing. They're just amazing. They get up on stage and they put on a really nice show and there's a lot of colors um and speaking the language. Yes. And
there was uh Shiv's third eye um that that was on I think it was the same day. Was it February 1st? February 1st. Thank you, Kaden. And and always um a beautiful event run um uh by Chopo. Did
Chopo run? Yeah. Did a >> Yeah, there you go. Just a great job by her. Um let's see. We have uh I think the next meetings on 3:16. Uh we have the Ramadan crescent lighting. I >> Oh, I'm sorry.
>> Is it 224? Okay. So, up to 224. You're right. because only I only have one thing before the next one is the Ramadan crescent lighting and that's at 5:00 pm uh at the community center. So that would be uh this Friday. I think that's it. >> Thank you, Councilman Anthony.
>> All right, my voice is back. >> Yes, we he's got it back. Terrific. I I miss those duid tones. >> All right. Um, I'm just going to give a few uh mayoral hats off uh to um we got a letter uh to to address to me, but I
think also to the council from uh Bradley Liberman in particular, wrote a beautiful letter uh and he was recognized by um he's coming out from the uh Mount Pleasant Middle School and was recognized by Principal Liry uh sending the letter for uh recognized uh
the importance of MLK Day and all the projects that he had been involved with and he wrote to the government to to explain what he had done and that he wanted to thank us for all the work that we do. Um they took everyone stole my hats off to Carolyn for the uh for the work. There were a lot of people who
were doing a lot of electioneering and you know it was a very messy election day. This was not a run-of-the-mill day. It was busy and messy and thank you for the great job that you did with all that. Um, hats off to the ice skaters who were out on first of all to our DPW for uh making sure that ice skating was
available, but hats off to the ice skaters in uh 10 degrees who were doing twirls and playing hockey and that's just fantastic. And right now we have a projected uh date for when the ice skating is going to be around till >> every day, but it's still even though we're going to get quote warmer, we're
still in the very low 30 below 32 for a lot of so I think we could have a good run here. >> So ice skating is still open, right? So, if you have ice skates at home, come on out. Um, it's really really fun to watch everyone making circles and uh and all the rest of it. Uh, and then the last
hats off is again to uh Livingston Police Department. When you hear those statistics uh at at the great work that they're doing over the last couple years that these that crimes are down 70 and 80% across all these categories, it is really uh you you really feel uh when
you're reading the Tribune, for example, that the front page is not um you know, the latest crime story. Livingston feels different right now. It feels better. I think the steps that this council has taken and the work that the police have done has really made a difference. So, hats off to the LPD. Um, we are uh this
is our German. Uh, we are I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. something was bothering me uh and I thought one of our managers uh will will mention this but I I just it just uh appeared to me occurred to me here that there is a very important meeting uh inviting
residents for safe routes to school grant program and this is we are inviting everybody to come participate from can you expand on that Barry uh I thought one of you will will mention that >> yeah no and uh my oversight Um the safer
roads to school grant program, we were awarded a half million dollars in grant funding. Uh the project will install uh new concrete sidewalks on both sides of Northfield from uh the intersection with South Livingston Avenue all the way to
uh the circle and will also go down um hillside to Foxcraftoft uh which will provide tremendous connectivity. in this public hearing uh welcomes the public, invites them to come learn more about the project, ask any questions and understand it. But it's it's an exciting
project. It's the first major one in in an ongoing commitment to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety around town. >> Yeah. Well said. Thanks for remembering to include that. Um good. That should be a very exciting meeting. I mean, one of the first things everyone says is, you know, they talk about the roads and they talk about the sidewalks, and this is
just going to be this is some of the busiest sidewalks we have in town, and it's going to be great that they're going to be uh reassessed and and and, uh, and fixed. Um, so we're adjourning, we're going back into the conference meeting, uh, which will also have a closed session. Do you want to speak about um, so the the only further action
that the council will be taking is we'll be passing a resolution to go back into close session at the conclusion of our uh, conference meeting for a personnel matter. >> Good night, everybody.