WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=DFQib-HxLko

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: DFQib-HxLko):
- 00:07:14: Meeting Call to Order, Pledge, and Roll Call
- 00:09:06: Public Comment 1: Inquiry About Municipal Budget Details
- 00:09:57: Public Comment 2: Request for Rooster Ban Discussion
- 00:14:45: Ordinances: Salary Wages, Budget Appropriations, Tree Removal
- 00:22:46: Resolutions: Self-Exam Budget, Municipal Budget Introduction
- 00:25:59: Consent Agenda Approvals and Committee Reports Introduction
- 00:27:45: Committee Reports: Mental Health, Recreation and Library
- 00:36:11: Committee Reports: HPAC Update
- 00:37:20: Committee Reports: Road Work, Beautification, Central Park
- 00:41:56: Administrator's Report: Road Updates, Planning, Finance, DPW
- 00:50:32: Administrator's Report: Police and American Water Discussion
- 00:56:12: Fire Code Updates, HR Bill, Chicken Ordinance Discussion
- 01:03:44: Public Comment 3: Chicken Setbacks/Zoning Problems
- 01:08:00: Garbage Can Ordinance Discussion and Common Courtesy
- 01:14:19: New Business, Memorial Day Parade, General Announcements
- 01:16:36: Public Comment 4: Garbage, Flag Program, Advisory Committees


Part: 1

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started it. >> All right. >> Good evening everybody. Uh, welcome to the May 13th Longill Township Committee meeting. Would every Well, no, actually, Megan, please uh read the statement of presiding officer. >> In compliance with the open public

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meetings act of New Jersey, adequate notice of this meeting, specifically the time, date, and public call and information were included in the meeting that was electronically sent to the Morris review and posted on the township website. The agenda and public handouts for this meeting can be viewed online on www.lonhillj.gov.

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A public comment period will be held in order it is listed on the meeting agenda. Failure of the governing body to provide a live broadcast of this meeting or technological problems encountered during the meeting that affect remote viewing and/or participation will not invalidate this meeting or any action taken including but not limited to the

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adoption of any ordinance, resolution or motion. >> That's the best reading ever. Well done. Uh meeting is called to order. Would everybody please rise and join me in a pledge of allegiance? I alian to the flag of the United States of America and

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to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Megan, please kindly take role. >> Committeewoman Fettis will not be joining us tonight. Committee Liberado, >> present. >> Committeeman Verlesa, >> present.

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>> Deputy Mayor Dorsy, >> here. >> Mayor Pergia, >> present. Item number four on the agenda. Meeting is open to the public. Please, if you could, remarks and statements pertaining to agenda items only. Try to limit your comments >> to three minutes.

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I have no comments to make about resolution 26-125 which is the introduction of the 2026 municipal budget. And the reason I have no comments is because I can't find any details anywhere. There is a one-page

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summary which is apparently the all that the public is allowed to know with regard to the introduction. But I looked on the website and there is nothing there in terms of the 50 pages that normally backs up the municipal budget. So I have no comments to make, but as

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fast as I can get a copy of the complete budget, you'll hear from me. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dennis. >> Thank you, Dennis. Any other members of the public in the audience? >> Hi, Michael Pavlo. I'm here with my wife

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Debbie. Um, my question is I have comments about the potential uh rooster uh agenda item. Is the comment for that now or after that's discussed? I looked at the agenda and it looks like it's further down on your list of items for

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tonight. It's only for discussion. Say yes, please. >> Now, now would be good. Okay. So, I had sent an email earlier. Uh, did all the committee members get a chance to read it? I sent it late last week. >> Yes, sir. I >> do. Should I should I synop if you

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haven't had a chance? Should I >> go? Feel free to >> Okay. I'm just going to read it as quickly as I can >> or summarize it if you want to get to the key. >> Okay. So, the reason we're here is because um we have a neighbor that has a rooster um and it's become very

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disruptive to our health because of a lack of sleep. It wakes us up every morning between 4:30 and 5:30 um and quality of life. It's uh it doesn't, you know, our my my experience with roosters is like the old Bugs Bunny cartoons where the thing comes up and goes back.

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This thing crows all day long. Um, and I did some research and um, I really can't find any other town in New Jersey that allows chickens but doesn't ban roosters. For example, uh, neighboring towns, Chadam bans all chickens,

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including roosters. Berkeley Heights the same. Uh, Warren allows hens with limits like how many you can have depending on your acreage, but also bans roosters. Uh, Basking Ridge and Bernardsville ban roosters in residential areas. And of course, I couldn't look at every single

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town in New Jersey. Like I said, I was check I didn't find any other town that allows a chicken coupe but doesn't ban a rooster. Um so um our presence here is to I uh respectfully ask that you

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consider instituting a rooster ban. >> Not that it matters. I apologize. It was in your email. What's your address again? >> We live at 539 Chestnut. And I mentioned this in the last meeting. That's where it came up. >> And I think it is in the

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>> Okay. So, you know, >> Yeah. >> You can't sleep. >> No. >> So, it's disruptive to the entire neighborhood. >> Yeah. And And there's no there's no mitigating it. Yeah. >> Oh, absolutely. It was all winter. >> I'm sorry you're going. >> Well, I appreciate that. And and we have

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actually had a Mother's Day party and we had friends and relatives and and they hear it and they're like, "Is is that a rooster?" We're like, "Yeah, you're not hallucinating. That's a rooster." Like, "When does it start? Does it wake you up?" We're like, "Yeah, it wakes us up at like 4:30 every morning." So, that's

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why we're here. Um asking that you consider instituting a rooster ban. Um, I think uh after 29 years in the township, it's rare that we complain about anything. We're so pleased with uh living here. We're so happy, but this we

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just couldn't we just couldn't ignore it anymore. >> What draft? The one that's going to be discussed today. >> Oh, okay. I wasn't aware of that. Okay. >> Yeah. But I'm glad I'm glad you explained it. By the way, the irony is I hear what you're saying. I'm a Jersey

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City boy. I live Hill. We live next to Hillview Farms and a rooster crows or whatever it's called in the morning and then shuts up the rest of the day. I don't >> not this one. >> I don't >> Not this one. This one is in change. That doesn't change what is being proposed, right?

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>> It specifically says Oh, >> you mean the one that you're going to >> beautiful. So I I would I I stole your thunder maybe a little bit because >> in terms of your life being disrupted, I think I saw an email tomorrow not getting paid. Is that right?

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>> Right. Well, the good thing about that is the machinery will drown out the rooster. So, well, I appreciate your attention. Thank you. >> And thank you for coming. >> Sure. >> So, Jack, if I may ask, so if somebody already has one, then does that get

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grandfathered in or how does that affect it? >> No, because it's not a zoning regulation per se. If you have a shed that violates the new set, keep it there. Did we want to discuss this under?

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>> I I we started talking. >> No problem. >> Randy, who's running this meeting? >> You are, sir. >> Okay. >> We're trying to kick. >> We're going to carry it over to the discussion. >> Okay. >> Uh All right. So, the meeting is still open to the public. >> Anybody in the courtroom?

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>> Seeing none. Megan at home. >> Anybody online would like to make a public comment in regard? Nope. Anybody would like to make a comment in regards to agenda items only, please raise your hand now. >> Don't see anyone. Mayor, >> thank you, Megan. Item number five on

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your uh scorecard, ordinance 586-26, salaries and wages ordinance, introduction, first reading. Um Randy, maybe this is your world. >> Sure. What this ordinance is doing is is taking a look at the salary and wages

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for u each category uh that we have in the township and um either adjusting the low end high end uh depending on what that is. Uh there are two positions that are being eliminated in this

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ordinance. Those are uh public safety director and executive administrative assistant in the police department. Um and this also takes consideration minimum wage increases that the state has incorporated. So this is an ordinance at the salary ranges not

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necessarily the salaries which will be done by resolution later. Great summary any questions for Randy from the council committee. Seeing none can I have a motion to pass on first reading ordinance 586-26. Committeeman Liberado.

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>> Committeeman Verza. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dorsy. Yes. Mayor Peria. >> Yes. This is in Jersey City. You don't get to vote twice. >> Just write that from the record. Ordinance 587-26. Introd introduction first reading

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calendar year 2026 model ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriations limit and to establish a cap bank. That's always a question gets a little bit convoluted but this is standard. I turn it over to this is a standard ordinance that we do with every year with the budget. Uh this year the

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appropriation budget is set at 2%. Uh this it will increase the uh appropriation cap to three and a half%. Um, if we do not utilize the cap in its entirety, it'll go to what's called a cap bank that can be used in later

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years. >> Great summary as always. Any questions for Andy from the TC? Seeing none, can I have a motion to introduce and pass on first reading ordinance 587-26? >> So move. >> Second.

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>> Committee Liberado. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Verza. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dorsy. >> Yes. Mayor Peria. Yes. Uh, ordinance 584-26. This is amended an ordinance regulating the removal of trees and providing for

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the preservation of trees throughout Longill Township and amending chapter 23 of the township code in its entirety and supplementing section 150 of the township land ordinance entitled development design standards. Jack, this

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is you. Hopefully your summary is uh shorter than what I just read. >> It probably will, >> Mr. Mayor, before before the attorney um says anything, um the liaison to the shade tree commission is not here

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tonight and I know she was reviewing and she has given Jack some uh some some comments, but I understand that she's still uh going through the ordinance. So, I don't I I'm not 100% sure if you we talked last meeting about, you know,

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let's let's review this. Let's get all the changes corrected and make sure it's correct before we introduce uh you know this is a long awaited ordinance. Uh so I'm not sure if one more meeting would would hurt but uh

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>> well I certainly Jack >> I suggest we do these changes because any of Teresa's will be relatively minor and these are a lot of changes and then we'll have a cleaner copy going forward. But this this is subject to any changes that Teresa wants to make. Uh I can go

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through them briefly. I changed some of the nomenclature from big trees to landmark trees which is what the shade tree commission uses now. Uh that was throughout the ordinance. Let me just scroll down here.

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It's a long ordinance. Bear with me a second. Ordinance is about pages. Actually, this version still has the contractor registration in there, but I checked uh did some legal research and I think that's been preempted. Yeah, you

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show it's still in here. Must not be the late >> That is the latest one that you gave me because it highlighted. >> Oh, okay. So, it's coming out. Uh, at the last meeting, Megan uh commented that it didn't contain the tree contractor registration that our current ordinance has, but that's actually been

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preempted by the state who now regulates tree contractors. >> So, so we can't we don't need it in our ordinance and we can't I guess the >> and we can't have it if they preempted something. >> Okay. >> So, I I also changed the penalties. Uh the ordinance as written had we can only

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impose penalties uh in accordance with state law and what we do in all our chapters in the township code is refer to section one hyphen 5 which sets forth the penalties for any ordinance violation. That way if the state law changes we don't have to go through

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every section and make those changes. I also took out some of the trees and uh vegetation uh that should be taken out according to the shade tree commission. >> Yeah. The other way I think

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>> Oh. Oh, that that's a comment. >> Okay. uh that uh talks about the state law that preempts. So, so that's why but all of you have copies of all these changes. So, I would move if you don't mind to

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amend the ordinance as outlined in the redline version and continue the public hearing to the next meeting. And as Randy said, if Teresa has any other changes, we can make those. But at least we're making progress. >> Any questions for Jack?

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So you need a motion and and and a vote. Motion, second, and a vote with the amendments as stated. >> So move for a second. >> Second. >> Committeeman Liberado. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Verza. >> Yes.

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>> Deputy Mayor Dorsy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Peria. >> Yes. So item number six on the agenda. >> Mayor, could you clarify? Are we on an amended ordinance with the tree? Is it first reading, second reading? Just recap for the public where we are.

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>> It is second reading and tonight the township committee made some additional amendments. So the ordinance will be carried for public hearing at the next meeting. >> That will be the second reading. Is that what you're telling? >> Correct. It it's it's the first reading on the

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ordinance amendments as amended. >> Okay. So, so it doesn't say that here. So, this was the first reading of the amended ordinance. >> Correct. >> And next meeting will have the second reading of the amended ordinance. >> Correct.

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>> Please, in the future, let's highlight that so we don't have to have these questions. >> Thank you, Chuck. So, now item number six on your agenda, resolutions 26-124, resolution for self-exam

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budget. Randy, I mean, is this something you describe or I mean, it's standard, but >> yeah. Uh, two out of three years in the in if you meet certain requirements uh set forth by the state of New Jersey division of local government services, you can do a self-exam,

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uh, the budget year. Um, as the uh, certified finance officer, I do that certification. Um, although I don't do it blindly, I do send the budget to the auditors for their review and comments. Uh, they made some some comments and and

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uh so forth. Uh and uh just for clarification, it does this does not mean that the state never sees our budget. We still have to file it with the state. They will still review it, but we don't need their review to move

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ahead for adoption in uh June. >> Perfect. Megan, so what happens here? Right. That's not on the consent agenda. Do you need a vote? Okay. So, we take a vote on each individual one above the consent >> 124 and 125.

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>> They can do that together, right, Randy? >> Yeah, you can do that. >> You can ask for a motion. >> All right. So, now that you've explained it, it can >> So, let me explain the 125 is the introduction of the municipal budget. Uh the int this is only the introduction of the municipal budget. We

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will have a presentation um at a later date. the adoption of the budget and public hearing will be on June 17th. Um, as always, uh, the budget is never available prior to the introduction of

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of the budget. Once it is introduced, it will be put on our website tomorrow as uh introduction of 2026 municipal budget along with a user friendly budget and uh for for review from any any uh member of

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the public. The public can also come in and get a copy of the budget from the clerk's office. >> Well said. Uh well we still have three so we can any uh consent agenda items.

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So that's item number seven and including the two that Randy just described 124 125 that you would like further discuss. >> Oh they should be all right. That's why you can vote on 24 and 25 together. >> All right. So any questions for Randy

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regarding uh 26-124 26-125. If not, looking for a motion to approve. Same. So move. Second. >> Committeeman Liberado has stepped out so he'll >> liber.

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>> Yes. >> Committeeman VZA has stepped out so he'll abstain. >> Deputy Mayor Dorsy. >> Yes. >> Mayor. >> Yes. So now item number seven, consent agenda resolutions 26-126

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through 141. Any uh resolutions that you would like further clarification or need to recuse yourself? Seeing none, looking for a motion to approve. Same. >> So move

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second. >> Committee Liber. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Verza is abstaining. Deputy Mayor Dorsy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Peria. >> Yes. And here comes Mr. Valza.

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>> Were you getting yourself psyched up for the uh recreation report? >> You want to go first? >> Fire himself up. >> He's back there hitting his head against the wall. >> If you're ready, you can go first. Did you

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>> I'm sending the wrong check to the wrong utility company. >> Let's see. Did you want us to go to a different report as you're looking this one up? >> Oh, no. Sorry. >> Let's get right to it.

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May is mental health awareness month. May 1st, 14 communities across Morris Union and Essex counties will unite to launch the second annual paint the town campaign in recognition of mental health awareness month coordinated by the New

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Jersey cross town mental health coalition participating towns including New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Chadam, Fanwood Park, Longill, Livingston, Madison Township, Mountain Summit, Scotch Plains

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and Westfield. coming together with a shared mission to raise awareness, expand access to resources, and reinforce that mental health matters. So, when you see those green ribbons around town, know that we

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are trying to bring attention to the cause and emphasize the importance of prioritizing mental well-being. >> You okay, get your phone. >> And I want to just a shout out to to New Providence and Berkeley Heights.

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They started this five years ago. They started the the mental health awareness uh program five years ago and then they've added towns. Wong Hill Township joined uh two years ago I guess uh maybe last year and now it expanded up to

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include towns in further north from us. So Form Park uh the Mendum as you see. So, this is a a critically important issue, especially for our young people. Uh, anybody who would like to put up ribbons anywhere, we continue to put up ribbons around town. Uh, you'll see them

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near the schools, you see them in Caner. Thank you to Lisa and her team. Thank you to Al uh for for partaking in this. And, uh, and Chuck, thank you >> the first volunteer uh, who went out, I

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think, at what was it? 5:00 a.m., Chuck 642 >> 642 >> uh and and Chuck went out there. He was the first person to put up the rivers in this town. He was the first person to volunteer to do so. So I want to thank personally thank Chuck. Chuck Arentozitz

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for those who don't know him, but I think Chuck, your uh your reputation precedes you. So everybody knows who Chuck is. And and and uh Troop 56, I guess it would have been. They put up a bunch of ribbons. Uhhuh. to put up a bunch of

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ribbons. I know uh I guess I don't know who did the painting in the in in Caner uh their ribbons recreation did that. Uh and anybody who would like some green ribbons to put in an appropriate part of town, please let me know. There there are more to go

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around. I'm sorry I cut you off there. That's okay. >> Moving right along. Please mark your calendars for Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th. We will have our parade beginning at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Memorial Day

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service at Central School. Anyone interested in marching in the parade should contact the parks and recreation for more information. Registration is now open to get your membership to Sterling Lake. We will be opening the lake on Saturday, May 23rd

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for swimming and then be open every weekend until June 20th when we begin open seven days a week. Consider joining us on May 28th for a Red Cross first aid class. Upon completion of the class, participants

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will receive a certificate good for two years from the Red Cross. The cost is only $39 per person and registration is currently open on community pass. This is probably the last time this class will be offered to the public until the

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fall of next year. For all Long students in grades 5 through 7, mark your calendars for our spring lake dance on Friday, June 5th, chaperones are needed. Remember, this

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event does not run unless we get our chaperons out there with us. Interested in having some fun with us? Please contact the parks and recreation office to let us know you can help. More information is also available on our website.

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Summer camps registration is now open on community pass. Check out the website for more details. Registration is open until May 31st. Don't delay. We can't wait to make some great summer memories with the kids again.

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Parent meeting for summer camps will be on Wednesday, June 3rd at 5:30 p.m. in the library. >> Okay. Rock on long hill with the dog days of summer concert series. We just announced our summer lineup

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park rules reminder. All bicycles shall be shall ride all bicyclists shall ride with reasonable regard to safety of others. Bicycles cannot be left lying on the ground or

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pavement or propped up against trees, curbs, etc. in any place where the other person may trip over. When entering Matthew Ganter Park, bicycles must be dismounted and walked on pathways in the presence of

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pedestrians, mini bikes, allterrain vehicles, mopeds, snowmobiles, dirt bikes, and all other motorized vehicles. including ebikes and e scooters are not permitted on any athletic fields, park areas, or other

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recreation areas except when authorized by the township. And that is township ordinance 297-12. Want to get more involved in the community? Consider joining the recreation advisory committee and have some fun. Please contact Lisa or Bill in

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the parks and recreation department for more information. All right. And last but not least, parks and recreation. We believe that every day should be Earth Day. Please encourage everyone to take good care of

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their parks and keep garbage in its place. And that concludes the recreation update. Thank you. That last graphic was great. I love it. It's a updated. I think AI look like an AI one. Matt,

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>> what the library is open seven days a week. >> All right. It still is. They have lots going on for all ages. >> Let's see. Slide three. >> Yes. >> All right. We have the tiny art community community art project. Pick up

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your tiny art canvas today. paint and return to the library by the end of the month and art displays will be in June. So if you want to do a little art project, bring it in and we'll display it. Dance class for local business this Friday. Lots of fun. Free concert at the library. Flamnco

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Fusion this Saturday, May 16th, 12 to 1. We have multiple online art talks each month. Register online or with the front desk. Our annual bike parade in Caner Park is upcoming. Thanks to the Long Hill Police for providing a bike safety

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briefing before we start the ride. And finally, Pat Wells will present on the American Revolutionary War in New Jersey in person. Uh our 250th anniversary programs and events are part of it. Lots more to come, but this will be a good one. So, come out and see Miss

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Wells on Saturday, May 23rd, 11 a.m. Thank you, Madam Clerk. >> Thank you, Matt. >> I have information. I attended that meeting

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on May 6 and thank you. I just turned it back on. Thank you. Anyway, the meeting was uh attended uh by the HPAC committee, historic preservation advisory committee on May the 6th. And it was nice to introduce myself to them. Some of them knew me,

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some didn't. So, it was good to kind of get a feeling for what they focus on about historical items related to the town. And actually, one resident was there uh about applying for a plaque for their home, which had historical significance. and uh their meetings are

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open to the public so anyone can attend them when they have them once a month. This calendar's on the website. Their next meeting is June 3rd. It's held at 7 PM at the Old Mill Schoolhouse. And if you have any interest in history and want know more about our town's history

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or the homes, it's a very good wealth of knowledge. The members there have a lot of information to share. uh and uh it was it was a good experience and I encourage others uh to attend >> Frank. Thank you.

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>> So, a couple of quick points. Uh I had the pleasure of meeting with the Mom's Club earlier this afternoon. Uh they had a lot of great suggestions and comments. Some things may be practicable, some may not be, but they're going to give me a list. I will sit down with Randy. So, thank you. A shout out to the Mom's

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Club. Big uh uh compliments to the police department. I see Chief Jim Bello here. Uh they spoke incredibly highly and I concurred with the work that the police department does. Uh so thank you. Uh Chestnut, there was an alert that went out. I don't know if everybody

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receives Longill Alert. Chestnut Street between Central Avenue and Windingway will be closed through traffic from 7 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for milling and paving 514 5:15. Then paving will be 518 519 weather permitting. Local residents and the buses permitted access when and

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practical officers will be on scene uh to assist motorists. I received some questions. My road, Randy, we're going to be meeting with NJ American Water uh sometime in the next week, two weeks, somewhere in there. >> We did. Okay. So, maybe you can give an update and which will include my road. I

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live in Myersville for those who don't know. And obviously some people have come up to me and said the road's a mess. Well, of course it's a mess. They just put in the sewer line. Jack, you and I discussed this. uh NJ American Water who's doing the work. So from Longill Road to the Circle and then from

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the circle when it when that happens all the way to the Chattam border. When the sewer line goes in, the road has to settle. So it cannot be milled and paved immediately, but it will be curve to curb. So for those, you're just going to have to put up with that for a little bit, including me. I drive that road

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multiple times a day. And last but not least, in in my head and I did listen to the meeting uh last meeting from London. Uh the idea to combine the beautifification committee and the open space uh committee sounded good in my head. I

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thought it was a good idea. In retrospect, it was not a good idea. Uh the beautifification committee and the open space committees do excellent work. Uh and I'd like to just pull whatever I had recommended and go back to the way it was. I would appreciate the

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volunteers on each of those committees were to stay. I know some people had expressed concern and maybe they would step down. Uh but I would encourage those to stay. And I especially want to point out u the open space committee. Even I have said publicly that there's

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no more open space in town to purchase. That is not a correct statement. There are properties in town that can be looked at uh and should be looked at. So I think the open space committee should get back to what it was doing if they ever want to. pollinate ideas and attend

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each other's meetings. That's great as well. One of the things that I discussed with the mom's club and we've discussed publicly is what we have called Central Park across. Uh that's in motion. Vic, thank you. I know you've done a lot of work on that. The trails are getting

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it going to be built at some point this year or is it Yes, that's what I thought. If you want to give an update or you want to give an update, >> uh that's good. Now, that's the initial stage. Not just the purchase of that property with the intent of developing

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uh some something there u isn't just walking trails. You've got about 75 acres across used to be called the curse property. You have 40 acres that go behind the Sterling Hotel. Uh so that's about 120 acres. Only about seven or eight can be developed I think Vic.

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>> Uh and so the rec recreation department open space beautifification everybody public you have ideas. Uh the Club, they're very uh forthcoming with ideas and suggestions what they would like to see and that's great. We It's your park.

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You're paying for it. So, uh please if you have ideas, you can reach out to me directly. And speaking of which, our emails are on the website. If you want to reach out to the township committee on any topic, feel free to send an email. Mr. Pavof, you would sent and

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Mrs. off. You were sent an email and there was a response in this case uh one that I think was a positive one. So, uh please if you have ideas, we're not mind readers. Uh and we encourage you to reach out to us. So, please do. That

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said, I think we are now up to what we've all been waiting for. >> The administrator's report item number nine. already mentioned street being

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right after that first of road hopefully next week weathering but we will get out alerts with the specific dates on phase two meeting that award um New Jersey American water

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they're still doing shore work throughout the township uh with the sore extensions. Uh we will be they will be providing information to us that we'll be posting on the website with more um

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focused dates, times and the years of the different phases. Uh keep in mind when when they do uh extensions to the source system, there's a lot that goes involved including D approval. Um in some areas there could be uh pump

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station requirements uh force mains and so forth. They are completed on Southfield Road. They are currently working on Meyersville. Um there is another extension off Meersville. Uh

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that um is in the next phase or the phase after because again that's requiring some acquisition of property to pump station and so forth. Uh they believe that they um have all that um

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set will be settled shortly. Uh but they will be giving us uh information that we'll be putting up on our website um that that will give you more um more idea of of the scheduling and so forth. Um

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on May last Wednesday, so that was May 5th, right? I think >> May 6th. >> May 6th, I'm sorry. May 6th, uh the Somerset County was here for their uh

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Valley Road Bridge crossing uh project. This is a joint project between Somerset County and Morris County. Somerset County has taken the lead. Uh this project, uh they anticipate going to construction probably in in 2028 and

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into 2029. uh they figure an 18month uh project. Uh there were residents here expressing some concerns, asking questions uh and and giving some comments and recommendations as they saw it. Uh the

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the um not only the engineering department from Somerset County was here, the engineer consultants were here. they took uh took the notes uh discussed uh some of that uh some of those items and uh we'll go back and and

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uh look at that. So um I think it was I think it was an informative meeting. They do have a um a link on our website uh for you to go to. They have not updated it uh from the meeting, but I expect that to be updated

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shortly that uh residents can go on and take a look at that. Um Jersey. Okay. Planning and zoning. We have six applications before the board of adjustments for various residential improvements. Uh 44 Planefield Road submitted an application for amendment.

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Uh but they are not complete with their application yet. Uh so they're not scheduled uh for a hearing yet. Uh there's one planning board application that was submitted. 12 zoning permits were issued u in the construction department. The main uh thing that that

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is going on with um fire prevention and construction is Gillette Crossing. They have started uh you you could probably see uh they're up on the first floor uh well which is the second floor of the uh first floor above the garage and they're

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moving forward. Uh clerk site office issued 32 dog licenses last month issued one yearly parking permit and 568 daily permits and they had 122 other registrations license request process.

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Um there are food trucks uh in Millington every weekend in the summer. Fire prevention, there were 28 business inspections, 21 food truck approvals in including the street fair, 18 home sale

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inspections. Uh Mr. Huber, Fire Marshall Huber, issued a $3,100 penalty uh for excessive false alarms. Um unfortunately they have not paid their penalty. So they will be getting another penalty and if they don't pay uh the combined

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penalties they will be getting a summon to go to court. Um there were 18 fire incidents where four investigations were completed. Um and for code enforcement uh they had 35 complaints that come through the came

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through the office. All 35 complaints were investigated and notices and/or summones were sent out as appropriate. Four temporary sign permits were requested uh that had 43 signs uh put up around town. Uh finance we had uh

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collected 2,491,55726 taxes, 45,383 and delinquent taxes. Other revenues were 88,294. Parking utility we collected 4,927. Total uh dispersements. The local school

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tax was 1,594553 and that's paid on a monthly basis. Uh regional school was 637868 paid on a regular monthly basis. Other dispersements were 2,417,763. Um in case you're following, yes, that's

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about 1.2 million higher than normal. That's because of the pension payments to the state. Um, parking utility, we uh paid out 2310. Municipal court, there were 76 complaints issued, 63 township

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ordinances, 13 other. There was 132 tickets issued, 26 parking, and 106 non-p parking. There were 158 tickets pending at month end which consisted of 87 pending trial, 10 pending DMV, 23

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eligible for FTA under the 14 days and 38 other. 79 complaints were pending at the end of the month which consisted of 42 pending trial, 17 outstanding warrants collected in the during the month of April was $10,51.7.

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township share of that was $3,76258. So, uh, DPW, I have, uh, two things. Next week is bulk pickup week. Uh, we just wanted to remind everybody it does not con does not take consist of metal

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collection or electronics collection. Six items per household. Um if you have metal um metal can you can contact public works for the schedule to pick up metal. Electronics uh recycling is done at the

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public works. We are um due to our DPW director we are uh starting a new recycling program for mattresses and box wings. >> Um that uh is is on our website under

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DPW. Uh you can call DPW, you can either drop it off or for a uh and this is all fee based. There is nominal fees. Uh or they will pick it up at your household. I can tell you for the residents, it is

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cheaper to have DPW pick it up than the junk guys that advertise. So, uh, it's a it's a good bargain for the residents and and, um, I give a lot of, uh, kudos to Al because he's always, uh, looking for additional recycling and and, uh,

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and Matt always challenges him. So, Deputy Mayor and and Al make a good team with the recycling. >> He's been working on this for a while, so I know he came up with the idea, came up with it, but he learned about it, working on it. So, Al, thank you for getting that through. Now, he's got to find something new to work on. Is >> that the 16th, right? Is that the 16th

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item that of the full menu? I think 16th to 17th. And I know Matt, Deputy Mayor Dorsy has been heavily involved in this as well. So for police, they had calls for service in April 2462,

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which total uh year to date 10,768. Um, wow. There were 15 motor vehicle accidents. Um, two three with injuries. Uh, one resulted in a DWI and all the others

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thankfully have had no injuries. Um, so that's a that's a pretty busy month for for accidents. U some notable events in in the police department. On April 18th, they had the PBA annual fishing derby at Sterling Lake 8 a.m. to 100 p.m. I heard

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it was a big success. Everybody had a great time. Um officers were in attendance also at the street fair talking with the residents and talking with the patrons to the street fair. So uh they always do a great job uh in police uh community policing as I call

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it in the street and out there and asking answering any questions residents have and helping the people out. Um, I think that's enough there. >> Randy, that was a great report. I appreciate it. Shout out to the chamber for the street fair. That may may have been the best ever. Uh, I had my world

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famous sausage and peppers. Um, so thank you. And I just want to circle back one thing to the uh NJ American Water, the work they're doing. So far they've spent I think $50 million 5-0 believe it or not uh in the

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first five six years and they're budgeted to spend another 50 million over the next uh five years. So that's a lot of money that's going into this. One of the reasons and and and for the work that's going on in Myersville and elsewhere uh we did require in the bid

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specs which were and the bid that NJ American water had submitted and won was that they would sewer an additional portion of the town. At that time we had 88% of the town had been sewered. Uh the rest was septic or leaf field etc. They

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are required to get to 95%. So that's what some of this work is. Um and and one of the challenges which we didn't know then I think the state changed the law regarding septics. >> Uh and unfortunately a neighbor of mine found out the hard way and it reached

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out to us. Uh but there was nothing we can do because it's a state law and and it's it's u not enforced, but uh the board of health has to say you can no longer uh the resident has received a bid to fix his septic which was maybe

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$3,000. Uh unfortunately, if you're selling your property, uh you cannot fix an old septic beyond a certain number of years. I don't know what the number of years is. And so instead of three grand, I think it cost 50 grand in order to make

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the transition. So my point is anybody who's going from septic to sewer, this is a huge win. Huge win. Um because uh for the very reason I just said, even if

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you you can't put a band-aid on this septic uh system anymore, it has to be replaced. >> State law, not ours. You mentioned a good thing about New Jersey American Water and and and connections now that there's they're expanding the the uh system uh for uh people that that

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couldn't connect because of the sewer ban. Uh you need to contact New Jersey American Water to get uh permission to connect. Uh they do have they do have a phone on your uh phone number on your uh

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water bill and sewer bill that you can call. um they will be providing us uh this week with um some better information. I would ask residents that if you are calling New Jersey American Water, use Longill Township. Do not tell

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them Millington. Do not tell them Gillette. Uh their their operators are having a difficult time when you say Gillette or Millington or Sterling because they reply, "We don't service you." They know it as Long Hill Township. They're trying to educate uh

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their their operators to accept all the villages, if you will, uh and educate them that yes, all this is part of Long Hill Township, but please refer to it as Long Hill Township, and that would help smooth things along. Um and you do need

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to get a plumbing permit in from our uh construction department. Um, I would uh tell you not to connect if you do not have permission from New Jersey American or the uh building department, construction department. There are hefty

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penalties. So, make sure you're you hire a contractor, make sure that they do get the per proper permits and everything because New Jersey American Water will find you. So uh just uh just that and and if you have any issues, please

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contact our offices. Uh we we will certainly help you if you are having a difficulty with New Jersey American water. >> So it's not like splicing at the cable or something. >> No, it's not like splicing the cable. Nope. >> All right. So uh now we are item number

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10 on the agenda. Chapter 17 update. Jack, that sounds like you I think. No, it's actually from the construction official. Oh, >> I think fire. >> Oh, fire. I'm sorry. >> Fire official. So, we're going to turn to Randy. >> So, this is just cleaning up the uh

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ordinance uh chapter 17 of of the fire code um some terminology um has changed over the years and uh the fire marshal Don Huber is just asking to um basically clean up the language.

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That's that's all it really amounts to. Um I don't believe there and I looking at it there is nothing no significant changes or anything. Um I don't see anything where there's any significant change. It's just all

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language clean up language. Yep. Yeah. The state uh puts in new things and we have clean up. Fair enough. I have it for the next meeting. Beautiful HR bill 2289. Who wants to take that one? >> You Lieutenant Cathy.

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>> It's HR bill 2289. Where' that come from? I don't know. >> Megan, you want to take this one? >> Or can we ignore it? >> Carry it. So, this was an email that was

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circulated um by Bob Dalor to Randy. >> I think this is regarding federal regulations, >> correct? >> Right. That are looking to change um

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the communications laws in at the federal level that will impact us locally, believe it or not. U and the uh JAG organization is is very against it. Uh we could we'll bring it

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back for >> I was going to say in fairness is not here anyway. >> I'll get a a summary because from what I remember, but I I'll have a summary from Bob that >> explains it all. So we we'll we'll carry it to the next meeting and we'll have a

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full fuller discussion and we can put what it is in in the agenda so even the public can read etc. >> All right. The so-called chicken ordinance. Yes. Let me preface my remarks before I make my remarks that we're following the

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the uh procedure that t committee adopted to discuss ordinances at one meeting and then introduce it at the following meeting so that the public has a chance to comment before it's introduced. Uh the the original purpose of this ordinance was to change the

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setbacks required for chickens. uh it's currently 40 ft. And so what the first thing this ordinance does is that it uh changes that to the setback requirement for the district in general. The second thing it does is that it limits the

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number of chickens to four and Mr. Pavlov will be happy to know that it also prohibits roosters. So those are the three main points of the uh of this ordinance. >> And something you had said earlier to Frank's question, it's not if you have a rooster, it's not grandpa. That that

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that's correct because it's not a land use and it's the land use you'll see it's got two parts. One it refers to the land use ordinance but then it cross references to section 320 which is under police regulations general police regulations. So there's no

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non-conforming use for a police regulation. >> So it would fall under their perview and not >> not not the police department. police police regulations just means that the ability of the township to enforce those kind of ordinances. >> So if that ordinance were to get passed

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>> Yes. >> on the books then anybody who has a rooster would then be in violation of that's correct they would have to get rid of >> That's correct. >> To be clear any residential property a farm can have a rooster. >> Yeah. Farms. >> So this doesn't affect any farm

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property? >> No. And because I like my rooster >> plus farms are also he go all day. Farms are also protected by the right to farm act. So we couldn't a whole separate entity. >> They have state protection. So we couldn't but this only applies to >> in a residential area. That's correct.

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Not >> pertaining to farm. >> In fact the the name of the section is chickens in residential zones. So only residential zones. >> All right. So we'll we'll introduce first reading at the next meeting. At the next meeting. Vic has a question. Sorry.

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>> Yes. So let's say that there are existing roosters or in the future someone thinks it's a good idea to have a rooster. >> Yes. >> Uh would that be code enforcement of that? >> That would be code enforcement who would enforce that. The term police

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regulations is misleading. Those things are not in most cases enforced by the police but rather by the code enforcement officer. >> Perfect. So to avoid frustration a resident having that issue would call town hall. code enforcement and action

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taken in that matter. >> Correct. >> Of course. >> Yes. >> My question is so a current owner of a rooster would not be grandfathered. That's correct. If this passes >> because it's not it's not a land use regulation. It's a police power

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regulation. >> Okay. So then I think back to a story I heard about Jeff Bezos where he's in violation of something and they just keep giving him summones and he just keeps paying them. What >> um >> um Okay. So if it's I don't know what

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the penalty would be if it's a code violation. If someone decides to pay the penalty they get to keep the rooster >> every day is the new violation. >> Okay. So it would be >> Okay. Right. And and Judge Bride, if you come in for the third or fourth violation, is going to increase the

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fine. >> Okay. So, that that answers my question. So, I'm just we're just going to have to extend our patience a little bit longer. >> Two readings. First reading and second reading. You want to make sure that the penalty actually has some bite. It's not $10, >> right?

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>> Okay. >> Okay. Well, I appreciate uh your your uh attention very much so. Thank you. >> And thank you for the history you're telling surrounding towns because you don't want to be too ownorous on property owners either, but

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>> we're the only town Right. I mean that's >> I really care about other >> immediate vicinity. Nobody allows it. So >> right that was my you know that was my education was that uh >> you know it just when the problem first arose we kind of relied on common sense

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would take over and if month after month after month it hasn't. So then we we had to act a little bit. Okay. Thank you again. >> Thank you. >> So we're good. And and and it's funny you use common sense or I would say common courtesy for the next >> I think you have someone else.

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>> Okay. Sorry. >> Good evening. For those in the room that don't know me, my name is Sir Derso, formerly of 76 Long View Terrace, currently of 23 winding, 91 Central Avenue, and also 10 Bay Street. I'm a

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lifelong resident of the township. I have chickens. I have had a chicken now. for 11 months and um I rehomed uh a rooster about 10

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months ago. I wish one of my neighbors would have been neighborly and come to me first before shooting off emails calls to the code enforcement. I

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first got a nasty gram um from the township about chickens in February. I'm a contractor. I'm also in public safety for 21 years. I'm a volunteer in this township for 22 years. I'm also the

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shill interviewee for Mr. Bar for the director of OEM a year and a half ago. Still waiting on that email that I didn't get the position, the courtesy email, Mr. Bar or the fact to say, "Hey, thanks for

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interviewing Either way, I digress. I've gone to zoning twice, have brought my survey in, which was rejected twice because it's not the correct survey.

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Since then, I've called the original survey company. I bought my house in 2007. Unfortunately, all they have on record is my invoice. So now I have to go get a second survey and present it to

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zoning just to tell me about the setback which I already know. They said it was four to six and I asked days and they said no weeks. So I'm about a month and a half from

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getting a survey to provide to zoning. Tomorrow I have a 24-hour shift. I have to be in court at 3:00. So, I'll discuss this with Judge B further uh and let him know what's going on with my application. But this all could have

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been avoided. I'm not a good neighbor. I'm a great neighbor. For 42 years, my company has beautified this township and the residents in it that live here. So, I just wish we could have been a little

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bit more neighborly about this. The fact that you're now not allowing or potentially not allowing um I guess livestock in a residential neighborhood. We'll see what happens and we'll see

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exactly um what comes of it. But I just wanted to put it on record there that I've gone to zoning. Unfortunately, you know, it's it's a challenge because I'm sure if you've done it, um the members that you've hired are are difficult to

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work with sometimes. Mr. Andress has been pleasant. When I leave him a message, he calls me back and I get an answer and whatnot, but he said, "Listen, you're on the right side of of things once this application is through." Now, an email gets sent and uh

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looks like it's not going to be the case. Just want to air out my grievances. I appreciate your time and thank you. >> Chief, what's wrong with the servings? My Somebody else had a similar issue. >> It has to be original, the large sheet,

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and it's going to cost me roughly $1,000 without the markers. >> So, they want like a sealed sealed raised so they could set it back, you know. I sent three and they said, "No, no, no, no." >> And what did you actually submit? I had

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my application. They saw my survey. >> What survey you actually submitted? What was that from? >> The copies that I had on my file when I did my closing. >> Oh, okay. >> So, it's it's got a fax on it. It's been that long. >> All right. >> You can see it's a fact. >> No, some of us have been here a while.

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>> Two months ago. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, the next item, the garbage can ordinance. And this is an example of what I would consider not what was just said, but uh common courtesy. It came to our attention that there's a

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part of town where a garbage can or a recycling can has been left out for weeks on end. U so we're going to update the ordinance, I believe. >> Yes. To say you have to bring it in within a reasonable amount of time like 99.9% of the residents in Longill

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Township do. I don't like having ordinances to enforce uh common courtesy. Uh but it appears we're going to have to >> feels like we're becoming an HOA. >> What's do we have any enforcement mechanism whatsoever because I was

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prosecuting Toukesberry was just about a year and a half ago and this guy just absolutely refused to bring his garbage can in from the street. Absolutely refused. So they just kept finding him daily. I don't know what happened. I don't know if you ever paid it but they had something on the books but this wasn't Here's an issue with purchase. He would leave it there for days and weeks

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at a time and bring the garbage down to the street. >> Can we just take his garbage can? >> It's abandoned property. >> Actually, as it sounds right away, it's abandoned property. In my mind, that might get

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my my concern. I know what Frank or Vic said about the HOA is I don't like to legislate for one person. >> That's the problem. There's one jerk. I I don't want to legislate for one person and punish everybody else. But if there's some other way we can punish that person, I have to give him like I don't know if he can get through a

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local, not a local ordinance, a obstruction of a public passage ordinance. Not an ordinance, it's a state law, but I don't know if that applies to people or if I block the street with cones or something else. I think it could. So we could always hit him with the obstructing of public passage or >> Yeah, I I thought of that too, Matt. But

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and looking at the photograph that was included, it didn't look like it was obstructing anything. let his attorney figure that out in court. But >> yeah, well, it's up to you guys. The recommendation was, you know, made that we do this. >> Well, I look, I'm um I I just want it rectified and and I agree with Matt. I

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hate >> putting an ordinance in place when 99.9% of the the public >> I wouldn't even say complies. It just they do it. >> So, I I don't know. I'm the one that asked

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an ordinance, but I'm open to ideas. You know, it's certainly up to you guys. >> The code enforcement officer, we looked at uh the I looked at the ordinances that he has available to him and and quite honestly, um the ordinance is questionable because we would we would

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cite them for storage of cans in the in the front of a house. >> It's not really the front of the house, it's at the street. And and that was meant to prevent people from storing the garbage cans in the front yard, right? But not for nothing, as this township knows, we live next to a 9,000 acre

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wildlife refuge, >> and I've seen on Facebook more and more bear sightings in this town. We even got garbage can out. I still remember this day, >> we we left a garbage can outside, >> you know, the garage, which typically we bring it in. Next thing I know, I hear

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screaming and there was a bear looking at my wife and I said, "Well, he's outside. What are you screaming for? >> That didn't go over well. >> Probably not. >> It wasn't a good answer. >> I I mean, the problem is if you do have this, you know, one person doing this, you have no means to enforce it current.

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>> I know. And >> I know I position. >> Well, I mean, I I don't know. Maybe uh 2C33-7 obstructing highways and other public passages. >> Yeah. But I think the proof there would be difficult. I mean, >> that's that's their problem, not mine. If if it's in the roadway, right, and

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it's not sitting on a sidewalk, >> right, it would fall under maybe a police matter. >> And what if it's sitting in the driveway at the end of the the driveway >> that's on their property obstructing the public, >> right? And it doesn't

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maintenance or anything like that where >> no think it's >> Yeah. Look, I as much as I agree with Matt, I just think this needs to be resolved. So, >> I mean, you can put it on for introduction, see what the public thinks, too. It's up to you all. Like I said, I don't I don't vote. >> Let's put it on. Okay. My recommendation

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is we put it on for introduction and have a more robust uh conversation. Uh I agree with everything Matt's saying, but it needs to be resolved. >> Yeah. It's got to get fixed. That's the problem. >> And this is a very liberal, >> you know, ordinance in that you can't

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put it out before 10 or 1 p.m. on the day before garbage pickup and you have to pick it up no later than 10 p.m. on the day collection is made. So, a lot of towns have 6:00 the night before and >> by the way, there are people that go away and the can may stay for two or

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three days, but the neighbors understand very often the neighbor will take the can in for them. >> Yeah. And they're not going to get at night, >> right? You know, it's like people would park in the street when their driveway is being sealed. But in this particular case, this can has been left out for months, I think. >> Yeah. Yeah.

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>> So, the only thing I would recommend is we change 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. to make sure people get the can out there because we and I would remind people because we've had a lot of phone calls uh recently. Well, I usually put my can out at 10:00

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a.m. and if there's a new driver, as we had uh this past week, he did the route different so the people didn't have the garbage can out there and they get picked up. So, you get don't get used to a specific driver because if drivers get

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changed, they could do the route differently. So, I would recommend 5 a.m. to make sure there's no issues of of uh people getting missed in the garbage on the garbage. If you guys decide to move, >> just to push back on that a little bit

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to put it out the night before as their problem I mentioned earlier, then you know it's anyway it's not a perfect time. >> So, we good? >> Yeah. So, we'll we'll introduce it at the next meeting and Matt will have a comment and hopefully members of the

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public, maybe some members of the public will comment tonight. Uh, but we'll carry that. All right. So, old new business announcements. Uh, and Vic, you already did this. The Memorial Day parade May 25th starts at 9:30, but I would

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strongly encourage people to get there a little bit early, about 30 minutes early. Uh Dennis is guaranteeing uh good weather again as he did for the Main Street Fair. Uh that is a wonderful wonderful event. Uh so anybody who is in

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town >> I know but you gave us good weather. >> Yeah, but he has nothing to do with weather. your weather. >> You relinquished your >> the man up top. You relinquished your your title. >> Well, we had good weather. A little

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chilly, but uh so the Memorial Day parade again, May 25th, it's a little bit earlier due to calendar, uh but 9:30 a.m. Try to get there at 9 a.m. at this point. Any other announcements

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from members of What? >> We'll be doing hot dogs after they break. Correct. >> At the Sterling Lake, right? >> Asking us, >> Vic. That's your >> That's your firehouse. >> Oh, we're going back to the firehouse. >> Yes.

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>> I told I'm sorry. Is that still on? >> Frank's cooking. >> Is it the hot dogs at the firehouse? >> Yeah. uh chief shooter uh chief chief tuma said that we will be doing hot dogs at the fire house. >> We will be. All right. So why don't you

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you make the announcement? You are a volunteer fire department uh member. So you make the announcement. >> So we will we will be providing hot dogs with the town's assistance uh after the parade at the firehouse. Sterling Fire. >> Sterling Fire. >> 321 Somerset Street. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.

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>> And the mayor the mayor will be there handing out hot dogs and the condiments. >> That is correct. They don't nobody allows me to cook. My wife doesn't allow me to cook. Nobody allows me to cook. >> Uh, so now the meeting is open to the public. You know the drill.

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>> Mr. Sandow, but you still have to state your name and address. >> My name is Dennis Sandow. Is this on? >> Yes. >> Yes. My name is Dennis Sandow and I live in Millington

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and I sometimes go away for the weekend and put my garbage can out before I leave and when I come back on Monday or Tuesday, it's still sitting there unless the garbage man has thrown it onto my

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lawn, which is okay because if it's not on the street side of curb. What difference does it make where it is? So, what I'm going to have to do now is I'm going to have to

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hire one of the neighborhood urchants >> and tell him that if he sees an empty garbage can in front of my driveway, what he must do is kick it 10 feet past the curb so it's not in the

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right of way anymore. Because once it's on my front lawn, that could be my normal storage space. You can't dictate where I store my garbage can. >> That's already prohibited. >> Sorry. That's already prohibited.

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>> I actually keep it normally inside the garage, but I'm not going to tell the neighbor kid how to take it into the garage when I'm not home. So just putting it on my front lawn should be adequate as long as it's not in the right of way

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or across the curb in the street. But and I don't know how many days in advance I can put it out. That's becomes the bear problem. But once it has been emptied, it's no longer a bear problem.

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Also, I would suggest that we ask the scavenger contractors, both of them, to please honor the town ordinance, which says no garbage collection before 7 a.m.

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The county in particular sometimes gets to my neighborhood before 7 a.m. and makes a lot of noise. >> Garbage or recycling? You said, >> huh? >> Recycling or garbage? Because they're different companies. >> Yeah, I know. I said the county. >> Oh, that's what I thought. So that's

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county county is recycling. Okay. >> Uh the garbage usually comes any damn time they want. As late as noon or as early as 7:15. >> They for some reason they don't operate

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on the same route every week or they don't start the route at the same time one or the other. But that's not the reason that I'm here. The reason that I'm here is to talk about the big lie that the mayor gave

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about 30 35 minutes ago. And that is that lie is we want to hear from you. Send us an email. Now, I'm here to tell you that earlier this year, unbeknownst to the members of

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the old beautifification committee and the old open space committee, both those committees were disbanded for reasons unknown and unstated and a new committee called Open Space

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Sutification was created in its place and it was allegedly an advisory committee. Now, in my dictionary, an advisory committee is constituted by the township committee in

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order to give advice to the township committee. So after our first meeting in April, which was about four weeks ago, I sent an email to all the members of the township committee, specifically addressed to

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each one. And that email listed nine items of advice that the Open Space and Beautifification Advisory Committee had discussed at great length.

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and were willing to offer up as advice to the township committee which in fact had constituted the open space and beautifification advisory committee. Well, surprise. Not a single member of the township

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committee even acknowledged that they had received the email, much less put it on the agenda for further discussion or caused action to be taken in the form of resolution. One of the items, for example, in our

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advisory listing of nine items that were ignored, one of those nine items said, "Does the township committee really want to pursue the Veterans Flags program or is that just more work than you want

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to bother with? Tell us because we'll stop talking about it if you're not interested in pursuing it." We do currently do that. >> We do currently what? >> Veteran flags. In fact, we just had one delivered uh this week. I Yes. And I

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noticed that Veterans Flags is on the front page of the town website, far ahead of street openings and repavings in terms of what's really of interest to the town population. But setting that aside, there were nine

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items. None of them have appeared on tonight's agenda for further discussion or for resolution or even as a return email from one of you members of the township committee saying, "Yeah, Dennis, you might be

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right about that one. Let let me make sure it gets brought up in executive session." But nothing. I got absolutely nothing. So, I'm wondering what is the purpose of an advisory committee if you don't even acknowledge advice when it is given? I'm not saying agree. I'm just

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saying acknowledge. >> And and perhaps that's fair, but I I have an advisory role in my house. I give advice to my wife and she ignores it. So, you know, just because you give advice doesn't mean we're going to do it. >> But what is the point of having a bunch of people

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>> I should have I should have acknowledged receipt. >> What is the point of having a bunch of people talk about issues that where the committee has asked us for advice? We spent a lot of time doing that, a lot of time writing it up and then it goes into

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a black hole. >> No, but I think in this particular case, what happened is it was my brainchild, not any other member of the township committee to combine uh the two advisory committees. In retrospect, I did not think it was appropriate. So, we're

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going back to the way it was. If you I'll go back and look at that email and I'll go over that. we can discuss it or we you know maybe at the next meeting you can bring up some of the ideas or perhaps an advisory committee can come in like you're doing now like we used to

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do. >> Well, I could actually challenge you as as a in the comment session on each of the nine items. I will not do that. I'm only concerned about being ignored. And if in fact the advisory committees are

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going to be ignored, then do away with them. As it is, we're all down for one year term, which means our terms are only got another seven months to go. And at the end of that, who's going to stay? >> Well,

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never enough, >> right? Pretend go back in time back to the future or whatever. that what happened over the last three months regarding these two committees. >> According to the according to the website today, there is a web page for

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this committee and every member of the committee is listed as having a one-year term and there is an an a a place at the bottom where you can click to send an email to the committee. All right. And nobody on the committee gets those emails. Ry's going to ensure tomorrow

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with Colette if that'll be fixed. >> If someone would actually talk to the advisory committee chairman, he might be able to willer some suggestions as to how to handle this instead of trying to invent everything yourself. Like for example, I noticed the executive session

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tonight lists possible acquisition of open space in Meyersville. Interestingly enough, your open space advisory committee did not make any recommendation and in fact your open space advisory committee doesn't even

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know where those addresses are. And if in fact you want to consider open space purchases in Meyersville, you might want to ask the advisory committee to study it in great depth and offer you some advice. That's what we're there

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for. And if you're not going to use us, if you're not even going to listen, >> we're listening right now. >> I await a flood of responsiveness.

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And if it doesn't happen, I'm going to come to the meeting a month from now and recommend that the advisory committees be disbanded. >> Agreed. That's fair. with one exception, HPAC actually does a real job. And

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because nobody on the township committee knows anything about historic preservation, you pay attention to them. But you guys are all experts on recreation. You're all experts on open space. You're all experts on beautifification.

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So what do you need advice for? We'll give you that advice in November. Thank you, Dennis. >> Thank you, Dennis. >> Any other member of the public present? All right. So, anyone at home, Megan, >> anybody on Zoom would like to make a

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public comment, please raise your hand now. I don't see anyone there. >> Motion to adjourn to exact session with no further action. >> Thank you everybody. See you on Memorial Day. >> Thank you.