Thank you. Wow, it's really loud in here. Uh Andy, well done. So, I just want to say first of all, I'm um before we even start the formal meeting, we obviously don't usually have our meetings in here. It's great that everyone found their way over here and it came to us. Um, I want to say thank
you so much to the DPW and to Andy Muns in the back there who set up this entire room for this meeting and it just looks it looks beautiful and professional in here and and what a great job they did doing this. So, I'm really proud of the work uh that the that the town does day in and day out and it's just worth uh
pointing that out. So, um yeah, so thanks for the appreciation there. Okay. Um so, today um sorry, I'm opening up the wrong document here. Give me one second, please. Okay. So, welcome everyone to our uh
January 27th um 2026 regular meeting. Um this is the uh sunshine statement. It's a statement of compliance with the sunshine law. Uh the me this meeting is being held in accordance with the open public meetings act. An adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as required by the law. Specifically, the
annual notice was emailed to the Westers Tribune and the Star Ledger on January 5th, 2026, and a 48 hour notice was emailed to the same publications on January 15, 2026. The agenda and resolutions for this meeting are available on www. livingstonj.org.
Certain portions of this meeting may be closed to the public for the purpose of personnel and/or other matters as outlined in the Sunshine Law. Decisions made and or discussed in close session will be known to the public at a later time. notice to the members of the governing body and township staff. Any use of electronic devices during this
meeting shall be used solely for the purposes of township business and any communications are subject to the Open Public Records Act. To the extent possible, this evening's Township of Livingston Council meeting will be livereamed via Facebook at https uh www.fas.comlivingston
township. Questions or comments will also be accepted by emailing live comments at lemsonj.org by 4 pm on the day of the meeting and shared with the township council before the meeting. Each speaker should follow the rules of order in Livingston code
2-15.3. Uh madam clerk, roll call, please. >> Council member Minhart >> here. >> He's attending telephonically. Uh council member Anthony is absent. Council member Vieiraa >> present. >> Deputy Mayor Baptani >> here. Mayor Klein
>> here. Um, if everyone can please uh join me uh for um a moment of silence. Um, Governor uh uh Richard Cody was laid to rest yesterday. Um, he had 50 years uh representing this district and uh the
legislature and the senate. Um, as well as of course serving as our governor. Um, many people here uh paid their respects uh went to uh the ceremonies around his uh burial. Um, let's please keep his uh his family in our minds. Also, Livingston lost a longtime
resident, Ira Coleman. Uh, many of us older Lancers may remember going to Coleman's tuxedos for their for their proms um uh when prom time came around. And uh we're sending uh much love to his family and those who are mourning his passing. >> Thank you. Uh the American flag is over
to our right. Uh Andy Muns, would you lead us in the pledge of >> allegiance? Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. Okay, everyone can have a seat. Um, Eileen Fishman from the county. Uh, is she I don't see her. Um, okay. So, we'll move along. Uh, we have a few different uh proclamations and presentations tonight.
Uh the first one uh we so we have a couple here. Um and I think it's really important to emphasize this the right way because there are some uh we all understand the excellence of the of the of the children in this town and some of their accomplishments are almost hard to
believe. Um and I uh the first group we're going to bring up are the 2025 national champion uh ac academic ball team. Um we're going to call them up. Um, we have a plaque for you and
certificates. And I just uh want to say that, you know, these kids are are competing at the national level and taking home major prizes for uh in representing our town. Uh, it is something that should all make us burst with pride. It certainly makes me uh thrilled to be a Lancer uh as as a
product of the high school. Um, so uh we'd love to uh have you come up so we can uh recognize your achievement and honor you. So this is going to be for the academic bowl champions. Okay. >> So, yeah. So, I there's just a few names here. So, maybe I'll just uh I'll just
take care of this one. Um so, why don't we do you want to come in the front or um we can take this right here. >> Okay. >> Call everybody up. This one's live. Andy, is this mic on? >> It's on. Okay, good. Perfect. Okay, so
um this is a I'm going to read a citation and call up the members. Uh the mayor and members of Leontown Council are pleased to recognize the academic bowl champions. Congratulations to Livingston High School academic bowl team for winning the 2025 NAQT high school national championship tournament
in May. Listen to this number. defeating 336 other teams from around the United States and Guatemala. And someone's gonna have to explain why Guatemala is the other country here just just to understand that better. So, um, team, uh, there,
not everyone's here, uh, but we'll say, of course, their names to honor their achievement. Um, team, uh, co- captain Robert Wang, who's now a freshman at Columbia University. If you're watching at home, way to go, Robert. We've got a certificate for you. Um, we have uh team
co- captain Arav Caoic. Am I saying that right? Okay. Senior at Leon High School. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Uh, the next member is uh Kevin Zang, who's now a freshman at Yale University. Kevin, if you're watching at home, thank
you for making us proud. Uh, we have team member Ben Lasco, currently a senior at Livingston High School. There you go, Ben. Okay. Um and then we have um LHS advisor uh
Miss Brin Smith and Mr. Guy Rabner. Are they here tonight? >> Okay. Well, we want to hand over the microphone to you guys. Please tell us about what it was like to compete on this team. Tell us the situation. Just tell us the story. You want to hear about it and tell us why Guatemala. >> Well, first off, why Guatemala? There's
one kid who likes to come to the tournaments. Uh at the middle school level, there's also South Korean teams sometimes. So, that's definitely interesting. I'm actually friends with him. We've gone to a lot of tournaments together before, especially online, and he's just a great guy all around. But more specifically to the tournament experience, uh, I get to say it was stressful, very stressful, being on
stage, especially multiple times in front of a recording audience and a bunch of other teams, a bunch of people that I know, people I don't know as well. Uh, I don't know if I can speak for Ben in this regard, but it's definitely stressful to be on stage trying to perform your best in front of all those people. And part of it is the
weight of expectations. Like we were ranked very highly going into this tournament. So part of me felt that like if we didn't hold up to those expectations then I might have be letting someone down. But I think that I'm really proud of how we did. Obviously national championship is pretty awesome. >> Tell us about what what you know they
hear academic bowl. What does that mean? What what does the competition mean? >> Yeah. So, academic bowl is a fourperson typically team competition that is basically asking questions across a variety of academic subjects and it's kind of a depth game where it's not about how many things you know but about
how well you know those things. So, even if it's asking about all different subjects like history, science is specialty, literature is mine. You have to know a lot about that subject and not just like a lot of things. You have to know those subjects really well and really thorough to get those points because it's a race against the other
teams to buzz on those questions. It's kind of like Jeopardy in the sense that like you're trying to race to the buzzer to get the question, but the questions are a bit longer and bit more complicated than that. >> So you have to have someone who's a specialist for each subject sort of. >> Yeah. The way our team worked was that we had Robert who was very good at history, geography, and current events
like major political stuff going on in the world. I was very good at literature and fine arts in that regard. Ben was our main science guy. Kevin was really good at math and mythology and a lot of other subjects that were coming up very often. So we kind of split responsibilities among all four of us to kind of get as many different subjects
as possible. But every so often we would just get something out of category. Like sometimes I would get history. Robert would definitely get many questions on books over me. Kevin got stuff over all of us. He was awesome in that regard. >> I don't have anything. >> Yeah. It's just very fun, especially
because you're doing it with some of your very good friends. Me, Ben, Robert, Kevin, Ethan, and Jack are also here. We've all been doing this since I think middle school now, over six years now. So, it's definitely been a bonding experience throughout all of that. And part of our success is tied into the fact that we are friends and that we're
able to push each other, not just as teammates, but also as like friends who are like, "Hey, we're going to do better, but we're also going to do better together as one unit, as one group." And I think that's definitely part of our success. >> I I just think it's fantastic. and the other 335 teams that you beat should all
be following your example. So, um this is a plaque. I don't know I if we would give this to um one of their captains or maybe to one of the supervisors, but I want to make sure you guys get this as well. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. YEAH. This is
>> the history. Okay. >> So, the history bowl Yeah. has some of I guess some of the same people who are um very good at academic bowl are also very good at history bowl. >> Yeah. Thank you. And so I'm going to just read uh the citation for this. Uh
the mayor and members of Livingston Township Council are pleased to recognize the History Bowl champions. Congratulations to Leon High School History Bowl team for winning the tw for winning the 2025 National History Bowl, defeating 96 other teams from around the United States. I mean, this is
incredible, right? Absolutely incredible. Um, so, uh, there's a little bit of a of a different mix here in terms of the participants. Uh, so team captain Robert Wang, uh, who we mentioned before, now freshman at Columbia University. We have team captain Arab Cowsik, if you come
back up one more time. If you're going to beat all these teams, you get to come up twice. Um, he's, as we said, current senior at LHS, team captain, Ethan Lou. Come on up, Ethan. Also a current senior at Livingston High School. And team member, Jack Lou. Come
on up. Another senior at Livingston High School. And again, LHS adviserss are uh Brenn Smith and and Guy Rabner. Um, Ethan and Jack, because you haven't been up here yet, we'd love to hear from you about your experiences and uh, just tell us what it was like to beat 95 other teams.
>> I mean, it was definitely a little bit uh, similar to what Arv had said before about Quizbolt that um, I mean, we have been the def at least Livingston has been the defending champions of History Bowl uh, for a couple years now. And so the expectations are definitely really high um, for a tournament like this. Um,
a a lot of our victory def definitely plays into our teamwork and the fact that um, as a team, the four of us, we know each other very well and we can definitely play into each other's um, specialties. Uh, yeah. Um, I don't have too much to add. I just
want to say that like being on a team with my friends just helps like that like help us helps us to do like that much better because we can practice like not just in school but outside of school and it gives us like an opportunity to not only like get better but also to bond with one another and that's what I enjoy so much about like history bowl
not just like competing but also just spending time with friends. >> So Robert Wang was the fourth and he's in college now. So you guys presumably have this year to to win again hopefully, right? Do you replace him with someone else? What's what's the strategy there? >> Uh yeah, so just like academic bowl,
history bowl is also teams of four. So me, Jack, Ethan, probably going to nationals again this year as well. Looking for someone else from either the seniors or juniors to join us. Don't not fully sure who that is. We got a few ideas in mind. We recently attended the state championships a few weeks earlier
and we definitely had some standout performances from seniors and juniors there. The reason I'm not mentioning sophomores and freshmen is because that's a separate division at both the national and state championships. And we've definitely got a strong class there. So, we want them to focus all their attention not on our side of the varsity field, but on their side of the JV field. And they've got a real shot at
it this year. Like, they've won their regional championship in Northern New Jersey. They've won the state championship. They placed very well last year, even though they didn't take home the gold. But this year, I have high hopes for them, and I believe they can do it. >> Where's the Nationals this year? >> Nationals is in Arlington, Virginia. Right. >> Is it also separated the same way like
you have different topics? >> So, so you have in history bowl as well. Thank you mayor. Uh history bowl as well the se separate topics like you know political history and other history. Is that how it goes? You have a strength amongst all four of you. >> Yeah. So history bowl is kind of like
how academic is divided into all the major categories. History B is divided into categories such as American history, European history and world history as the main three with further kind of subdivisions within those three. So you'll see a bit more emphasis on like American politics because that's what American high schoolers might be expected to know more than say world
politics, but it's kind of all relative to kind of creating an equal distribution representing history from around the world. So some of us definitely have our specialties like I know Jack is very good at ancient history and ancient civilizations. Robert's very good at like modern history, especially post World War II. Ethan's very good at geography and the
geography of history and where things are located and where things happened. I'm more specialized in like political science in that regard and how that plays into history. So, it's definitely a matter of coming together once again to show our respective strengths and different strengths and creating a unit as a whole. And like Jack said, it's all about like understanding who each other
are, what each other's strengths are, and being able to play off of that. >> And and just so everyone heard, we've got a deep bench, right? You're saying the freshman and sophomores are also doing great. So, it's really it makes this town really proud. We are this is, you know, I obviously I feel this way, but I think we should all feel this way.
This is a really special place. This is not a place where you see these kinds of things over and over again with, you know, year after year. Um, Livingston is special. Uh, let's get a picture. Fantast. Another one. All right. Okay.
All right. So, our next um presentation um is uh to uh observe uh Muslim Heritage Month. So, um I'm going to have uh my fellow councilman uh start to read through the uh the proclamation if they would. You ready? Good. Whereas the
mayor and township council of the township of Livingston are proud to recognize the contributions of the Muslim community and declared the month of January as Muslim Heritage Month. And whereas on April 29th, 2023, Governor Philip D. Murphy signed Joint Resolution
number six by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey designating the month of January of each year as Muslim Heritage Month. And whereas Muslims are the world's second largest religious group with two billion followers representing approximately 26%
of the world's population. And whereas there are nearly 30 uh 300,000 Muslim Americans in New Jersey representing one of the largest Muslim American populations in the United States. and sorry and whereas Muslims have made
significant contributions throughout history including notable achievements in philosophy, mathematics, chemistry, physics, astronomy, medicine, music, architecture, literature and the arts. Their philanthropy, humanitarization
humanitar um civic responsibility and cultural help to enrich the United States socially, economically and historically. And whereas the uh township of LinkedIn supports the rights of all its residents and calls upon our community to eliminate prejudice and
bigotry everywhere, celebrates the great diversity of all our citizens and extends the promise of our country to all. And now therefore, it be proclaimed by the mayor and the council of this township of Livingston that this month of January shall be designated Muslim Heritage Month. Um, please come on up
and >> I know that uh this is on. Yeah. Okay. Uh, just some comments, please. We we really appreciate you coming in and uh and helping Livingston to observe this event. >> Thank you so much, Mayor Klein and the whole town council. I have to be honest,
I did not prepare remarks for this evening. Uh, usually these efforts are led by our sister Sabah Khan, who is out of the country, but has really been a trailblazer for our community and getting our community recognized. Um, but I am joined here by Sara um with the
uh Livingston High School Muslim Students Association who we'll hear from, as well as brother Muhammad from our newly formed uh Livingston Muslim community center. Um you all have seen in recent years we've started doing community ears during the month of Ramadan, a crescent lighting at the
start of Ramadan. Um and now we've kind of started to formalize those efforts with the Livingston Muslim Community Center. Um at a time where we're seeing Islamophobia in like across the country from elected officials, uh it's really really
meaningful to have our elected representatives u support us in this way. So, we thank you for that recognition. And with that, I will pass it to Sara. Um, hi, good evening. Um, my name is Sarah Caroline. Um, I'm a senior at Livingston High School and I've been
running the Muslim Students Association since I think my sophomore year. Um, and I really appreciate the town's effort to celebrate diversity and acknowledge the contributions of the Muslim individuals and families who are important and part who are an important part of our
community. Um, on the behalf of Livingston High School Muslim Student Association, I'd like to highlight the meaningful community service of our students um along the um over the past few years. Um, the MSA is a le
studentledd club that promotes an understanding of Islam, organizes community service, cultural celebrations, and social events. So, since 2023, the MSA students organized multiple drives throughout our community, such as winter clothing drive to support Livingston philanthropies,
Thanksgiving food drives in which we collected over 300 bags of non-p perishable food items, which benefited the Holy Trinity food pantry and the interfaith food pantry of the oranges. Um during Ramadan, the MSA students
volunteer at a soup kitchen at the NIA mosque and community center in Newark to help prepare hot meals to be distributed to those facing hardship. Um the MSA also the LHS MSA also organized a Muslim Heritage Month display at the Livingston Public Library earlier this month um to
celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Muslim communities. The display featured artwork from students, local artists, and community members, including calligraphy, pottery, Islamic geometric designs, and paintings. In addition, our students proudly supported the LCDI's MLK Day of Service and helped
organize a toiletry drive last year for the Holy Trinity Food Pantry. This year, organized over 150 winter accessory kits to be distributed to those in need in local communities. Um, together these efforts reflect the MSA students ongoing
commitment to service, compassion, and making a meaningful impact within our community and beyond the classroom. We look forward to partnering with the newly established Muslim Community Center of Livingston. Um, thank you for your time and acknowledgement of the contributions of
the Muslim community in Livingston. >> Good evening. Thank you so much. This is means a lot for us. It's not only an honorable um proclamation. It's more than that. It's really present to the Muslim community in large and our Muslim community of
Livingston Center of Livingston. We really thank you and thank all the members, the council members and we we continue to work with you and we encourage everyone to you know to be with us and hopefully we will celebrate uh the month of Ramadan and we see you
again inshallah uh God willing and I end up with we have some sweets for everyone if you can help yourself really we're getting ready for Ramadan inshallah and thank you so much it means a lot for us >> thank you I I would just say also that I
think the entire council has been at every crescent lighting. I know these are new uh traditions but the entire council's come out for those as well as the ifar dinner and so we appreciate the invitations to participate and uh and please invite keep please keep inviting us and we and and we will of course keep
uh you know approving these these important uh requests uh that are made by the community. >> Good. Thank you. our last um new setup. Um, our uh last uh proclamation or
presentation today is the League of Women Voters. Um, so uh Robin and Amy, if uh who who are you here with today? Just as it a big group or just two of you or it's hard to see. I see two purple shirts. Okay, good. Come on over. >> Perfect. Yes. Good. Okay, good. Um, do
you do you want us to come around? How what how you know? >> Um, I could just do it up front. >> Perfect. Okay, good. You have the microphone? >> Yeah. Good evening everyone. My name is Vignnatha Tagala. I'm a junior at LHS. And for the past three years, we've collected letters from the youth of
Livingston to write to the mayor. And this year, we actually have a pretty hefty amount. Uh the letters range from children aged 8 to 18, which is elementary school to high school. And we don't give them any
specific topic to write about. We asked them to write about anything they like about Livingston, anything they dislike, anything they love and they hate. Overall, a lot of people, just as we've seen before, love the diversity of
Livingston and how accepting the town council members and everyone involved are in ensuring that traditions are upheld no matter who whose traditions they are. Many multiple have stated that they
would like the roads to be smoother and >> and some even mentioned that they would like to be mayor for a day. >> Overall, we we think that this is a great opportunity and it shows how the youth of Livingston feel comfortable to
share their true feelings about Livingston without shying away each year. and we're glad that we have the opportunity for you to actually read them. Um, that's all I have for now. And just to wrap it up, be aware that there
is a special election February 5th for the seat of Mikey Cheryl. So, go out and vote. >> Thank you so much. Um, I I just would just say just speaking generally, first of all, it's wonderful that high this high school students are involved with
the League of Women Voters. Um the league does such important work. Uh they're they are nonpartisan. Their whole goal is to make sure that everyone is participating in our democracy. That is to me the most noble goal that you could have. You're you're really just trying to make sure that the
institutions that we care about are carried forward, that people participate in them, that they're educated about them, and they and they appreciate how how special they are. Uh it's what makes our country great. So it's wonderful to have um people in high school, you know, following uh the the the example. Um, and if we want to uh take a picture with
everybody. Um, I'm excited to read the uh these tonight. We have the regular and conference. Sorry. Yep, it's back on. Thank you, Andy. Um, that brings us to the approval of uh of the meeting minutes pending any corrections. Um, today we have the regular and conference uh and close
session meetings from uh January 12th of 2026 and the close session minutes of uh the same date. May I have a motion to approve the meeting minutes pending corrections? >> I'll make that motion. >> Second it. >> Okay. All in favor? I >> I opposed.
>> Okay. Um we're going to move to >> Do we had a vote or >> I'm sorry. >> We had a voting or no? All right. Good. >> No, it's not. It's by voice vote. Okay. Uh we're going to move on to public comment on agenda items only. >> Mayor, I'd like to make a motion open the uh public portion of agenda items
only. >> Seconded. Uh uh voters will be excuse me um commenters will be limited to four minutes. >> We have a motion to second, right? >> Yeah. >> You have to call all in favor. >> All in favor? Sorry. Thank you.
>> I uh any any against? >> Okay. Um Okay. So, anyone who wants to speak for uh has a form a four-minute time limit, they can uh please approach the mic and state their name and whether they live in town.
Motion to close the public comment. >> Second it. >> Okay, that closes uh public comment on agenda items only. All >> in favor? >> Um all in favor? >> I >> I um All right. Okay.
All right. This gets us to um the passage of ordinances. Uh there are no ordinances tonight for second reading. We do have uh three ordinances uh for introduction this evening. Madame clerk, can you please read or uh ordinance number one uh 2026 by title?
>> Yes, mayor. Ordinance 1-2026 creating a new chapter 129 in the township code entitled electric bicycles and electric scooters. >> Uh may I have a motion to amend and reintroduce ordinance 1226 for for introduction and a date for second
reading of public hearing? >> Motion. >> No, this isn't this is this Oh, I'm sorry. motion to that >> motion. I think >> a second. >> Okay. Um is there any discussion? >> Uh mayor, if you I would like to say a couple of words here. Um this ordinance
has number one. I think that's the kind of priority we are looking at here. Um we and the council and I think many residents have seen the dangers of uh the new type of vehicle on the road and it is the electrical electric bikes,
electric scooters, the e vehicles um and the residents have come across and said you know they are concerned for a variety of reasons for the riders themselves. Many a times these are youngsters who are not following
particular uh order also inexperienced their parents are concerned. There are folks who are riding alongside they are concerned because it's not that simple. It's not very usual for them to ride along. Um we introduced this ordinance
to create that awareness to create some sort of uh rules and guidelines around it. We talked about it in the last meeting and after that the state has passed their own ordinance, their own rule book um which is why we are reintroducing it. Uh the state has
mandated that there is a licensing requirement for each of the ecooter ebikes or ebikes rather and beyond that they will they will have their own um number of rule books or number of number of clauses. What we are doing with this
is and Barry I would like to uh for you to add a you know what um the the details of of the ordinance is about but what we are trying to do with this is really create a framework for our residents to have the guidelines helmet
requirements safety requirements. How do you ride a bike closer to the right right side curb? Make sure what you're riding along the vehicles how you're keeping yourselves aware of all of this. the separation between a 15 year old or younger and above. You know, how do you
really look at those things and also strengthen the hands of our law enforcement in town to kind of tap on this wrist and say, you know what, you're missing something. You know, you are you're violating it. Here is the first violation, second violation, third violation. So, these are the kinds of
things that we are trying to create here. Everything is is obviously as we go along we learn but this is needed in a way that it is uh so much safety related our focus is on the residents the the kids as well as their parents
and families. So Barry, if you don't mind, give us some details. Um, and that would be my >> and um son um we were and and as Deputy Mayor Patani uh mentioned, we're on top of this and looking at this and I think concerned about what everybody sees on
the street and had developed an ordinance uh in the interim, the governor just a couple days ago signed state legislation. So, like to thank our uh township attorney who's uh Julie's here tonight, but um and Mr. Caner's office as well. They they had to go back
and revise our ordinance to make sure that we weren't in any way conflicting with the state. So, um a number of things that the state has in it uh we we've had to remove because the state supersedes us. But uh we still have some additional um local controls including
things over some u uh uh I don't what you want to call them vehicles for lack of a better word u that are not currently regulated um by the state ordinance but uh pose some of the same problems. Um so we uh we have
kept what we can in there and and and obviously our uh police will also be able to enforce the state ordinance. Um this is all geared towards the safety of not only the pedestrians and citizens and cars but also those riding them. Um
the uh again as as uh deputy mayor alluded to uh we have certain distinctions that we are able to draw between younger riders what type of device they're riding the power the speed that they could go where they can ride it when they can ride it. Um so overall I think particularly now in
conjunction with the state because the state was able to do things that we just at the local level couldn't do. So now the state requires lensure and and tests and things that we locally couldn't do. So I think the combination of the two really provides a great comprehensive framework to ensure that you know people
are still and we recognize that this is you know an a mode of transportation that some people rely on uh but this ensures it'll be done in a safe manner uh for everyone concerned. Yeah, >> thank you Barry for the details. So, two two parts stand out and I would like to call out uh
>> uh Barry's help. A lot of details that went in. Barry, thank you. Uh Jared Caner, who is our our town attorney and and Julie and the whole staff of uh Jared's office. They really brought all of the components together. These are not these are not the laws that we take
it lightly. uh we also don't want to override what state has and in addition we actually want to enhance it and make ourselves um a safer town. uh so with those two I would like to make one other thing uh a request here is that let's create some sort of you know awareness
campaign of the nitty-gritty and the details of this Barry as we go along when's the second reading pass or in between that so there is more engagement from the residents and they can more >> and I think it's important and and only fair that people know about this and we will certainly work with uh Mike ISO who
joined us last year as our communications director and I'm sure he'll do a great job getting it out on all social medias and to the press. >> Thank you, V. Thank you, mayor. >> I would just briefly comment on this to say that um this was definitely a concern, you know, even my in my family
that we would watch these kids uh zooming around in the neighborhoods and we would just be thinking to ourselves, something terrible is going to happen here. Uh and uh this council and uh and uh the deputy mayor in particular uh really had a fire lit under them to try
to create some safety here and the state ended up superseding us. But we were working on this before we knew that the state was doing this stuff. Um, and I think uh we can all sleep a little bit easier understanding that these vehicles which certainly look dangerous um now have some strong measures of protection
around them. So uh I'm really glad that uh we're able to do this tonight. >> So Mayor, I don't like uh I never like repeating anything, but I I am going to repeat what both uh you and the deputy mayor had said. We were very proactive. Uh we didn't even know the state was working on something like this. We've been working on this for such a long time and uh you know we really did it
out of safety. Safety for the riders and safety for uh the the uh the general public because uh there were some issues and uh you know there were some deaths in other uh towns and uh we just didn't want a death in in Livingston. So uh uh I just uh hope that um that when this
passes uh the um the riders will actually follow the laws. >> Madam Clerk, can you proceed with a roll call? Council member >> Council Member Minehardt. >> Yes.
C >> Council Member Anthony is absent. Council member Vieiraa. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Buptani. >> Yes. >> Mayor Klein. >> Yes. >> And mayor, the public hearing on this ordinance will be at the next meeting, February 9th, uh, 2026. >> Thank you. Uh, Madame Clerk, can you
please read ordinance number 2-2026 by title? Ordinance 2-2026 amending and supplementing chapter 274 streets and sidewalks article 7 street openings. >> Mayor, I'd like to uh to make a motion to approve the introduction. >> Second.
>> Okay. Is there any discussion? I have some comments on this uh just to be clear because some of these letters are going to complain about the quality of the roads in town. Um and uh and this is actually uh a reaction to this. So, um, one of the utilities came into town and,
uh, in Chestnut Hill specifically, and really tore up the entire neighborhood, like all the streets. It was, um, they did a very poor job fixing the streets after they did the work. They were upgrading some of the uh, some of the underground pipes. Uh, and they did a
lousy job fixing it. And, um, we were really unhappy about that. uh this uh ordinance is being rewritten to regulate what the uh anyone who opens up our streets or you know by law they were entitled to do that. Um and we can now
have some regulation on the books explaining how they must repair it and uh what steps have to be taken so that we're not stuck uh having a huge problem with our streets after people do work here. We've also been in touch uh with the utility um and expressed our sincere
disgust with the job that they did uh and they are making preparations to come back early in the spring to to uh to redo some of the damage that was done. So they are being cooperative now and we're happy to see that. But it's it's uh you know it shouldn't have come to this. So we have redone our ordinance to try to prevent this from happening again
in the future. >> Uh Madame Clerk, if you can proceed with the roll call. >> Council member Minhardt. >> Yes. Council member Anthony is absent. Council member Vieiraa, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Papatani, >> yes. >> Mayor Klein, >> yes.
>> And mayor, this will also have us public hearing at the next meeting on February 9th. >> Thank you. Uh, madame clerk, can you please read ordinance number 3-2026 by title? >> Ordinance 3-2026 authorizing a rights of way use agreement Verizon. >> May I like to make a motion to approve
the uh ordinance introduction? >> Second. >> Okay. Is there any discussion? Madame Clerk, the role, please. >> Council member Minhardt, >> yes. >> Council member Anthony is absent. Council member Vieira, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Batani, >> yes.
>> Mayor Klene, >> yes. >> And mayor, this will also have its public hearing on February 9th. >> Thank you. Uh, this brings us to the consent agenda. All matters listed with an escarisk are considered by to be routine and non-controversial by the council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate
discussion of these items unless a member of the governing body so requests in which case the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda as part of the general orders. Um are there any uh does anyone want any
resolutions pulled out? >> Mayor I'd like to pull out 26086 for separate vote. >> Okay. Any others? And mayor, if if I can pull out 83, the first one, and
the NV5, which is 10th 92 26-092. So 83 8692. No, 8. Yeah, 83. 86. Is it Michael? >> Yeah, mine's 86. >> 92. So there's three to be pulled out. Um can uh madam clerk, can you please read
all the resolutions that are remaining? >> Yes, mayor. Uh resolution 26-084 authorizing submission of a grant proposal to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs fiscal year 26 local recreational improvement grant program.
Resolution 26-085 approving official publications for year 2026. Resolution 26-087 authorizing the award of a contract to Rio Supply, Inc. Resolution 26-88 authorizing the award of a contract to
Morton Salt Inc. Resolution 26-089 authorizing purchases under Union County Cooperative Pricing System. Resolution 26-090 authorizing the award of a contract to National Fuel Oil Inc. Resolution 26-091 authorizing the award
of a contract to SJ Fuel South Company, Inc. Resolution 26-93 authorizing the award of a contract to Gold Type Business Machines, Inc. Resolution 26-094 authorizing an emergency contract with
Sincere Mechanical LLC. Resolution 26-095 authorizing alcoholic beverages. Resolution 26-096 authorizing transfer of 2025 budget appropriation reserves. Resolution 26-097
appointing commissioner and alternate commissioner to New Jersey Intergovernmental Insurance Fund. Resolution 26-098 authorizing 2026 temporary emergency appropriations. Resolution 26-099
award of a contract to Fair View Insurance Agency Association. >> Mayor, I make a motion to um to approve the uh the resolutions that were just read. >> Seconded. >> Okay. Uh call the role, please. >> Council member Minhart,
>> yes. >> Council member Anthony is absent. Council member Vieiraa, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Bani, >> yes. >> Mayor Klene, >> yes. >> Uh, that brings us to I guess the first one pulled out was 83. If you can read that, please.
>> Resolution 26-083, mediation agreement before the affordable housing dispute resolution program. >> Do we have any comments on that? >> Yep. Thank you, mayor. Um so the reason I asked to pull this out is to is to make sure we have uh a highlight and a
conversation around it. Affordable housing has been an important topic. Um we have been hearing you know construction more housing uh population growth and everything about the town. Many of it uh we know that it has been
driven by the laws that are outside of this jurisdiction. is driven by uh laws created in in Trenton at the state level there is a real challenge affordable housing is required is it is it's a problem in the state how you implement
it is another story and uh we are abided by the rules that are driven as I said written outside what we can do is the best we can defend our township without try and keep the character as much as possible intact of what we know as
Livingston In doing so, uh I want to give kudos to of course this council just has done a a phenomenal job of defending ourselves Livingston in the fourth round where we are not at this time even after all
these lawsuits and the mediation you're seeing is the response of it. We are not required to build additional homes. Um the lawsuits would have driven another 600 units in town. And I would like to give kudos to Jared Caner, our our
township attorney, his office, uh our adviserss, Topology, uh our town manager, Barry Lewis, and the and the office around around him. Um with me, uh Ed Minhardt, Council Ed Minhard, then
mayor. We were on numerous calls uh defending our time in this mediation which is what drove this resolution with a full support of our council here. What we ended up doing was really defended what these mediation agreement is is to
ensure that we don't lose the credits and we are not forced to build additional units. That's what this resolution is about. So, I just want to ensure that we have the folks who have really worked hard on this and worked on
it and successfully defended our town get the acknowledgement and and and and credit for it. So, thank you, mayor. >> I I just I want to reiterate a little bit of what uh the deputy mayor just said. So, we had a mediation. We had a agreement with for our affordable housing.
There was a time period where developers could come in and challenge our agreement. And there were four different challenges totaling over 600 units. And we were because of the strength of the work that our professionals had done before, we were able to uh to successfully defend against all four of these and did not have to worry about
adding six in addition to all the other units that we were uh had to deal with an extra 600 and change on top. So this this victory is a major win for the town. Happened just a couple weeks ago. And it's something we can all be proud of. And it's it's really thanks to the to the people uh who did the hard work
at this table. and uh one of our town attorney Jared who's not here but this was a huge win for us and we all have to you have to step back and and uh recognize that I think um uh to appreciate the professional work that was done. Okay. Um
can I have a motion to approve uh resolution 26-083? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh can you call the role please? >> Council member Minhardt >> very proudly yes. Anthony. Mayor, uh, Council Member Anthony is absent. Council member Vieiraa,
>> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Banani, >> yes. >> Mayor Klein, >> yes. Uh, that brings us to, uh, Madame Clerk, if you can please read resolution 26-806. >> Resolution 26-086 authorizing a hold harmless agreement
with Essex County for installation of improved pedestrian signage. >> Any comments, >> mayor? I asked for this to be pulled out, mainly just to give a couple of thank yous. Um, so we had a resident come to us and talk about a a dangerous area off of Northfield and and Wood
where children were crossing the street. And uh I do want to thank uh Michelle uh Lemieux. Um she she came to us a couple of times with with this concern and uh we worked through it. And you know, it's important to to note that you know what, Michelle
came to us and we actually did something about it. Um, and that's um and that's something that I should also um stress to other um of our residents. If there's something out there that that you need us to do, come to us. We may not know it, but come to us. And I'm very happy
that um talking to the county, the county had agreed that um uh yes, we could put an illuminated sign. It's not going to be a real crosswalk, but it's going to be illuminated sign just as Michelle said, just like just to make sure that people know that there's children in the area. And um this this
resolution uh today just basically uh is a technicality that holds the county harmless because it is a county road. But the point I wanted to make is I wanted to thank Michelle for coming with uh to us uh with a uh a dangerous situation and uh the council listening to our residents and taking care of the problem. So again, Michelle, thank you
very much. I want to thank the county. I want to thank Barry and Adam for and and Russ to uh for working on this. So thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you, Michelle. Uh, can I have a motion to approve uh resolution 26-086? >> I will gladly make that motion. Second
it. >> Can you call the role, please? >> Council member Minhart, >> yes. >> Anthony is absent. Council member Vieiraa, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Batani, >> yes. >> Mayor Klein, >> yes. That brings us to 26-092.
>> Resolution 26-092 authorizing approval of change order number one with NV5, Inc. So this is about uh mayor if I if I may this is about uh a pedestrian bridge but before I go into it the title does not really justify. So if you don't mind
Barry if you can give us a little bit of more background so everybody knows it and then I'll I'll say my words. >> Yeah. So the uh the background is this refers specifically to the pedestrian bridge uh immediately behind uh town hall that connects over to Falcon. Uh
it's very heavily used. It was put in a little over 20 years ago. Um because they used at the time untreated steel by design so it rusts over. I don't think they were thinking about the road salt that we put on it to de ice it. Um the we knew the condition was was of
concern. So we hired this company NV5 that specializes in bridge and engineering firm. The original expectation was they were going to do an assessment and come up with a plan to rehabilitate the bridge. Um based on their assessment and their recommendation, uh they believe it better to remove the the super
structure, which is, if you will, the the fixed, uh part that you walk on that sits on the two concrete peers on either side of the brook. Um and instead replace that with a new state-of-the-art better materials that won't rust. U instead of uh you know, lumber or wooden
planks that get splintered and cracked, they're going to use the fiber and all that. And um so this is a change order some additional fees for them to design the new one. >> Thank you. Thank you Barry. So just for context this is the pedestrian bridge that connects the Falcon Road and the
town hall. Now those who are familiar with the area a whole lot of residents cross that bridge when it comes to celebration celebrating July 4th when they want to go to library when they are in on a summer walk going to the oval.
uh similar engagement as councilman Vieira said on another bridge and Michelle is here. She engaged with us on another pedestrian bridge. So these are the kinds of things the council does. This is an absolute proactiveness where we saw an opportunity that's something
that's gets absolutely heavily used um that we that we want to make sure it's a correct infrastructure. it is not creating safety uh hazards for our residents and we ensure that our investment really yields for majority of the residents and we continue to
flourish. >> Thank you. I >> I think any you know we we put a number of bridges pedestrian bridges in town. The last one was I think seven or eight years ago Barry. Was it before you? Uh >> it was right when I got here. >> When you got here those bridges are really important because anytime you have a bridge it's a safe way for people
to get around town. They don't have to get in their car every two seconds. They can take a walk outside. It it it people can get to school walking on the bridges. It makes life better. It just does. And uh you know, we've uh always been the lookout for other bridge locations. And if people have uh suggestions, we're our ears are open.
But we think we've got a a good number out there right now. So, >> mayor, that bridge is, if I may add, that bridge is used by bike Livingston almost. I mean, anybody who wants to enjoy that bike ride crosses that bridge. So, it's that important. So, thank you. >> It's also heavily used on July 4th.
mention that >> I use it every July 4th actually. >> All right. Um, let's see. So, uh, Carolyn, uh, can we please, um, we need a motion? >> I'll make a motion. Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Council member Minhart,
>> yes. >> Council member Anthony is absent. Council member Vieira, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Banani, >> yes. >> Mayor Klene, >> yes. Okay. Can I have a motion to open the public uh, portion on any subject? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh, all in favor?
>> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. The meeting is now opened on any public on any subject with a three uh minute time limit. Residents can come to the microphone. Please state your name and whether you live in town. Okay. Motion to close the public meeting.
>> Oh, sorry. Go ahead. >> Sorry. Norin a Livingston resident. Sorry, I don't want to take up too much time tonight, but on the topic of street safety, I lived at the corner of Bernett and East Harrison for a long time. Um, and that intersection is also very
dangerous. Um, cars come whizzing down from Northfield Road trying to get to Hobart Gap. A lot of kids u play and um use that corner. So, um, on the topic of getting some signage, I think it would be great if we could have something there encouraging cars to slow down as
they're turning that corner. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Motion to close public comment. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. Uh we will now go to reports of township officials and
professionals. Um township manager Barry Lewis. >> U. Yeah. So, I would um just sort of echo all the thanks that people gave in recognition of public works uh and the outstanding job they did with the storm. Um I just got back to town yesterday and
in the course of returning home I probably drove through 50 other towns and I can say the roads and living center better than any of the other towns I drove through. So, uh that's it for me. >> Great. Thank you. Uh Deputy Manager Russ Jones. Uh >> no report for tonight, Mayor. Thank you.
>> Okay. Assistant Manager Adam Leoner. >> Um, couple updates. Uh, the project that we were working on in the community center has been completed. As you may notice, your cell phones are actually working in this room tonight. Uh, this was a upgrade that we had done, uh, for
the lower level of the community center. And so, uh, we have completed that. Uh, the veterans banners, uh, we have on our website. Now, if you go to our Livingston homepage, then go to government departments township manager under the hometown heroes program, you
can see the map and list of where all the banners are. So, if you want to look up a name and find out where in town that veteran is, you can now look that up. Um, on that note, veterans banners, we had um quite a few requests after the fact, after once we close the application. We are going to be opening
it back up between February 2nd and the 13th and we're going to try to order another round of Veterans Banners uh to have up uh for Memorial Day. So that's all I got. >> Terrific. Um
uh Carolyn, anything for you? >> Um just really quick, I think Vnatha, is that how I say is that right? um as she mentioned is the next Thursday, February 5th, a week from Thursday is the uh special primary election for the Mikey Cheryl vacancy. We are the 11th
congressional district. So, um you get a chance to come out and vote and we will be open in three locations, the community center, town hall, and the library. >> Good. Everyone come out and vote. >> Is it the primary? That's just the primary. >> That's the primary. >> Yeah. >> What about early voting?
>> They are. They starting on the 29th, so Thursday, >> but it's not in >> right. The early voting is at the zoo at the uh at the education center there. >> Correct. >> Yes. Thank you. >> That's the closest early voting location. Uh CFO and Cooji, >> nothing to report. Thank you.
>> Thank you. And uh Julie, anything on your end? >> Nothing to report. >> Thank you. Mayor, can I can I ask a quick question to to deputy manager? Uh Russ, do we have a new timetable this week for the recycling? Do you want to make an announcement? Is there a new for
the residents to know? >> Um, recycling is being picked up in all the zones. Uh, it's being treated this week as a holiday since they couldn't work on Monday. All zones are pushed back one day. So, they'll be working through Saturday. So, today we were
picking up actually uh the Mondays. >> All that information is on the town website. Yes. >> Yes. Yes. It was all posted and sent out. >> Right. So, garbage is you just get your next regular pickup. they don't have an extra day to reschedu. So, >> so if there's any questions or confusion about recycling and garbage, please go
on the town website. We have all that clearly listed there. >> Um, Councilman V will be doing the uh council report for tonight. >> Thank you. And uh before I do, I just want to uh say thank you and congratulations to Adam. It does make a a a life a lot different when you have
Wi-Fi and internet in here. So, uh please thank uh everybody who had a part in uh in getting this done. So, uh, great job. So, also, uh, Barry on my list, uh, is to, uh, to thank, uh, the Department of Public Works for for a great job. And
I'm not saying a good job, a great job how they've, uh, dealt with our snow and and, uh, everything that they do. So, uh just uh I want to uh just uh on behalf of myself and I'm sure I could speak on behalf of the council also just uh please let the uh the men and women of the uh department of uh public works
know how how proud we are and how thankful we are for them. Uh also this week um the arts council um had a um an event at the Lucari House and uh over at the the farm on 240 North uh uh East Northfield Road. Um it's called the love
of art. It was uh there's a gallery over there where the horse farm used to be. It'll it'll be open for a couple of more weeks. Uh you can go on their their website to get the times, but uh it it's really great. They have a whole bunch of different artists showing their uh their artwork and everything. And it was really nice. So uh please if you haven't
visited um the um Livingston um art gallery, please do so. It's really uh wonderful. And uh it's actually even nicer uh when the weather gets nicer with the uh the rolling hills over at the uh the old horse farm. So, um LCDI um is um going to be celebrating Black
History Month, uh with a banner raising at the pergola. The pergola is located on um at the corner of uh South Livingston Avenue and Northfield Road. Um that that banner uh raising will be February 1st at 11:00 am. Um Saison uh
which uh is another group that also um falls under the LCDI is having a fundraiser because they do have a uh a Saison uh event uh I guess uh probably late uh late spring. Um so they're going to have a Zoomathon fundraiser on February 7th here at the senior center
uh 10:00 to 12:00. Um I'm sure some of that information will be on the the town website. Um and then u the last thing uh we did have a ribbon cutting uh a very very unique ribbon cutting. It was a um it was called um all square performance
and it was a chiropractor who also incorporated um golf screening golf screens where you could play golf too inside the the chiropractor. It was really interesting. So uh we did open that and we want to wish the uh the owners uh best of luck and uh thank you for coming to Livingston, Mayor. That's
it. Thank you, Councilman Vera. Um, I would also just reiterate uh two things just to be clear. So, it it's been a major project the last few months that cell phone uh access here. So, if you get on your cell phone, there is Wi-Fi, but you will have cell access. So, if
the Wi-Fi is a little spotty with the all the brick, you know, concrete walls around here, the Wi-Fi was tough uh a tough nut to crack. Would have been very, very expensive to get that throughout this entire facility. But what we were able to do is get cell phone access. So your like your 5G plan, you'll be able to use it in the building
and anyone who spent some time here knows that that's a huge improvement over where it were before. So we something we can all be really uh happy about. It's actual progress. Um which is great. Um and then uh I want to take a hats off again uh that Councilman Vie mentioned this but to the DPW they are
you know a night like uh like last night they're up the entire time like these are these are not eight hour shifts that they're working. they are, you know, driving and uh and and salting and plowing all the night through for, you know, for all of our benefits. So, they work really, really hard and and again,
I just uh sitting in the mayor's chair, I just would be really remiss not to give them a hats off on that. Um I do want to plug a couple of events that are coming up. Um the South Indian uh Telugu community Sanskriti event will be happening um on January 31st at 5:00 at
Heritage. uh something that the council's been invited to and hopefully that'll be a great celebration. Uh and the same night is the big uh Chinese association event. Um actually I'm sorry that uh the Sanskriti events at 4 it was moved to not five. Uh and then there's a Chinese association event uh which is
their absolutely huge dramatic show that they do once a year. I mean it is really a spectacular um anyone who has not seen that before should uh should try to get in there to see it. Um that's at 5:30. Uh and uh my son is the MC. He speaks a little Chinese, so we'll see how that
goes. Um, but I'm very excited for that. We'll be I'm sure he's going to make his parents very proud. Um, we are at the point uh where we're going to adjourn. Uh, we are going to go back uh to continue our conference meeting. So, um, thank you everyone. We are
remaining in open session. Uh, there is a room just back uh outside the main doors just to the left there where we're going to go back and finish our conference. Um, and anyone is allowed to go back in. It's a it's a public session. Uh otherwise, I'm going to adjourn the uh the regular meeting.
Thank you.