Good evening everybody and welcome to the North Township April 8th 2026 meeting. Megan would you kindly read the statement of presiding officer >> in compliance of the open public 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 Echo Sentinel Morris daily record and posted on the township website. The agenda and public handouts for this meeting can be viewed online at www.longhillnj.gov. A public comment period will be held in the 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 this meeting that affect remote viewing and/or participation will not invalidate this meeting or any action taken including but not limited to the adoption of any ordinance, resolution or
motion. >> Thank you, Megan. Would everybody please kindly stand the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> You're gonna do something before. >> All right. So, tonight I have the pleasure of introducing Teresa Fettis. Some may know
her as Teresa. Teresa Fettis, if I could say that. Matt. >> Yes. >> Would you mind saying a few words as to what we discussed regarding >> we discussed something? >> We did. >> When >> last thing we discussed was about Big
East basketball. Last conversation I remember having with you. >> No. Where we chose Teresa? >> Oh yes. Okay. Thank No. Teresa's uh was was provided by us by the local committee. Was an excellent choice.
Teresa grew up on Essex Street. She's a lower Sterling person. She's uh she's an attorney. Uh she grew up here. She actually uh bought a purchased a property across from the hotel on the corner of Roward Avenue she lives in now. She's recently married to uh Sergeant Fettis from the Berkeley
Heights PD. Lieuten Oh, I forgot. Sergeant Lieutenant Lieutenant Fetis from the Berkeley Heights PD. Thank you for the correction. Um her family lives in town. Her family lives on Essex Street. She has a sister that just bought a house in Gillette. She has another brother that's got a family that bought a house in Gillette. So her family's entrenched in the town. Um she
grew up here. She's been on the planning board how many years? >> In my sixth year. >> She's in her sixth year on the planning board. So she's has intimate knowledge of the master plan and a lot of the goings on in town. She's very involved in a lot of the drafting of ordinances and uh and overall she's a great person,
very approachable, and just a very friendly person. So she'd be an excellent addition to the township committee. >> Thank you, Matt. >> Thank you, sir. I think that uh I concur with what deputy mayor Dorsy said. Looking forward to working with you and I know your
husband very well. Great guy, great family. Both families great in the area and I think a lot of good things are going to come forward especially with new voices here. I think we're going to get a lot accomplished. Really look forward to working. >> What's left for me to say?
speechless. >> Very much looking forward to working with you. Uh know you grew up in town, know your family. Uh you you've volunteered in town. I have no doubt that you love the town and uh we look forward to having you on board for a
long time. >> Thank Thank you. And I concur with everything uh that has been said and I very much look forward to working with you as well. Uh Can I have a motion? All right.
Anyone from the public to make a comment regarding the appointment of status? Anyone? >> If anybody online would like to make a comment to the township committee appointment of Terresa Fetis, please raise your hand now.
I don't see anyone. Mayor, >> thank you. Now, can I have a motion to approve resolution 26-102? And I'll read it. Accepting resignation of Scott Lavender as a member of the township committee of the township long and appoint
to fill the remainder of his unexpired term. >> So moved. Second. >> Committeeman Liberado. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Verza. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dorsy. Yes, >> Mayor Bergia. >> Yes. Megan, would you kindly administer
office? my name. >> I, Teresa Fetis, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the State of
New Jersey. that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same government >> and to the government established in the United States >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people
>> and that I will faithfully >> impartially and justly >> all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of the office of township committee >> the best >> according to the best of my ability >> that I will not use my office >> and that I will not use my office
preferial treatment >> to grant preferential treatment >> to seek >> nor to seek personal gain >> favor >> favor or advantage >> to the general public >> not available to the general public. >> So help me God. So I know there's a lot of family
members out there. So would you kindly come up so is a great photographer. And then if I could also ask Yeah, Thank you. Love messing with everything. Back to work everybody.
So, Portresa doesn't have a name yet. >> No, it's over there. >> Oh, okay. Congratulations. You're on. Now, Miss >> Committee Fetis, >> Committeeman Liber, >> present. >> Committeeman Vlesa, >> present. >> Deputy Mayor Dorsy
>> here. >> Mayor Peria, >> present. So I'd like to open up the meeting. This is line item number three. So the meeting is open to public remarks and statements to agenda items only. If you could kindly
remark, >> anybody at home would like to make a public comment regarding agenda items only, please raise your hand. Now I don't see anyone. Mayor, >> thank you. >> All right. So line item number four.
Watch on Dr. Joey, superintendent, and Bill Schulz, business administrator are here. And we do appreciate I want to point this out. We do appreciate coming here. We don't have to drag you here.
>> We invite ourselves >> and you graciously accept our invitation >> and on behalf of committee and more importantly residents of we do appreciate that. So if I could just turn the floor over to you. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. Please give my best when you see her as well. I
miss her. >> Thank you. >> Um I see her around town sometimes. Uh, so I I actually am realizing Mayor Persia, this is my 13th year doing this. Have Have I been doing this with you my entire time at Watching Hills? >> Yes. >> I was say and and Deputy Mayor Dorsy,
it's been a long time as well. >> So, um, >> it's not as great. >> Um, I do genuinely appreciate, uh, and want to thank you for allowing us to come and and give you the the highs and lows of our budget every year. Um, it's
I enjoy the time as set aside for us to actually come and have a face tof face with the township committee. Um we are, you know, so dependent on the support of the four communities that we serve. And so it really is nice to have the the great relationship that we do with you. So we thank you for that. Um this is the
first year you're getting to uh to meet uh Mr. William Schultz who is our business administrator that started in August and I have to commend him for um following in Tim's footsteps because he did an outstanding job in a very very difficult financial year is everyone's
facing you know whether it's township budgets school budgets um and we came through this really in in really good shape. Um, our board is tremendous in being very committed to providing outstanding opportunities for our students but doing so in the most
fiscally responsible manner possible. And that is the budget that we've come to to finalize this year. Um, so you know what I always like to start off I get to give the positives and then I turn it over to the business administrator to share the the fund numbers. Um, so our enrollment has been
you know slowly declining. When I started in 2013, we were at about 2,300 and next year our projected enrollment is 1651. Um, and what we have done through the years is we have reduced staff and we've been able to do that mostly through attrition each year um,
which has been nice. So, it hasn't impacted for the most part um, you know, people in existing jobs um, because we've been able to do that through retirements and and other um, vacancies. We continue the the students and the staff at Watchon Hills, as you know,
many of you have uh or will have students through there are what make the the school so special and they accomplish such amazing things every single year. I just highlighted a few that are are particularly notable. Um our we we use different data to kind of
to gauge our progress. It's certainly not the end that we're looking for, but they are nice indicators that we're moving in the right direction. Um, and one of the the indicators that we do look at are AP results. And it's not just the number. It's number one the the improvement and the number of students
involved. Um, and I can really proudly say that our staff committed to a goal um about 13 years ago of increasing access and performance on our advanced placement exams and that has occurred. We administer over 1321 AP exams and
it's that involves 533 students. So, it's not that we just have a small number of students taking a lot of exams. It hits a lot of our student body. Um, and that is, you know, something that certainly helps prepare them for college. The highest score you can achieve on an AP test is a five. And our mean score of all of our exams is
4.25. So, that's pretty darn impressive um on the teachers part and the students part. And 284 of those students earned AP recognition. Um, we had four National Merit finalists in this current class of 2026. that's through the the PSAT. And uh last spring and we're continuing
it this year, we we obviously we offer a tremendous amount of co-curricular opportunities for students in terms of clubs and athletics. And last year was our inaugural year for our unified um flag football program, which are our LLD students and our general ed students. And that has actually expanded the the
adviserss of that program have expanded it to unified choir, unified arts, um a unified bowling event. There are a lot of activities um that the students are are doing uh together through our unified program and we also started girls flag football last spring which was tremendously popular and continues
to be so. Um so those are just some of the highlights of the things that we've been able despite the very challenging economic times that we've been able to add into the budget and actually I believe we had uh grants through the New York Jets for both of those where we um they supplied some of the equip. The Giants I believe are handling New York
and the Jets are doing New Jersey. So, just for those Giants fans versus the Jets fans out there. Uh, but it is nice to get that that support. A couple of the other things that we're really starting to focus on are um alternative sources of revenue. And we did just uh
we're in the final uh process of our next of developing our next five-year strategic plan. And one of the goals in that is all about finding alternative sources of revenue because obviously um finances are becoming more and more challenging. Um and Mr. Schultz will talk a little bit about what some of
those challenges are. Uh and then the other piece is we will also be looking for to do another referendum, a another taxeneutral referendum. We have a number of our bonds that will be coming off and and um maturing, I believe, around 2028.
And so what we're looking to do is roll another referendum so that when those come off, the next one comes on so that there's it's it ends up being tax neutral. And you'll be hearing more about that um in the coming year. what most of that will be. It's not going to be anything flashy. We have a 500,000
square foot building to maintain and so it's hard to do all of that in the regular general operating budget every year. Um, and so, as you know, we've gotten creative through the referendums that we've done where we've gotten debt service aid, used our capital reserve. So, this one we will be looking to utilize a lot of debt service aid again
where we get that money back from the state since we certainly pay them a lot of taxes and don't get a lot of that back every year um in our state aid. So, we'll be looking to do that and I'm sure we'll be coming to speak to you uh at length about that. But what I'll do now is I'll turn it over to Mr. Schultz to talk to you about some more of the
details of the budget. >> Thank you, Dr. Jwitt. Uh thank you guys everyone for having us. Congratulations on being elected. Um thank you for having us. It's great to meet you all finally. It's my first year here. I've been thrilled to be here. Mr. Sty has some big shoes to fill stepping in. He's
here for a long time, but he's been extremely helpful to me ever since I stepped into the role. So, it's my first budget this year and I think it went pretty well considering a lot of the um the economic factors at play here. I also want to thank Mrs. Proa who's here and Mrs. Feler Rosski who serve on our
operations committee. Uh the board the board is very supportive throughout this whole budget process and they they were great and I know it's a lot of time and a lot of work and they put in a lot of a lot of effort as well. uh some some of the highlights of our budget. Our budget includes a lease purchase which includes our onetoone Chromebook initiative for
nth graders. Uh some new smartboards and some other technology improvements for our arts, English, soul studies and fizzed uh classrooms as well as some upgrades in our south auditorium and our performing arts center. Uh Mr. Sty started doing lease purchases for some of our big ticket equipment items a few years ago. So this will be the fourth
year of that. So once the first one is paid off in the next year's budget, then we can have a cycle where we keep replacing it each year for new new needs. We have about a million dollars worth of equipment rolled into this lease. Uh some of the other items we have included in that is a replacement dump truck with a salter and plow which as we know we had a couple of those big
storms this year and our trucks are pretty old so we have to do some replacement there and also a new dump truck as well for our I'm sorry a pickup truck as well for our buildings and grounds team. Uh the budget also includes the repaving of regional drive and upgrades to our digital media lab.
As Dr. Jwitt mentioned a lot of our big projects be coming up in this upcoming referendum that we're planning. So we try to do the some of our more need needed projects that we're using the capital reserve for for regional drive paving and a digital media lab which is the TV studio at the school. Uh the
proposed budget is 56,126,677 that represents a 2.37% increase over spending over last year. Um for state aid, the good news is that we received more state aid this year. Uh we received 51,543 more this year compared to 2526.
Uh total is 2,760,080. Uh good news is that we receive more state aid. But the bad news is it's only about 6% of our total budget. So it's not a huge revenue portion, but if we lost it obviously obviously we'll take what we can get. Um one of the big challenges and I'm sure you guys are facing it as well working on your budget
is the healthcare costs. We worked out we actually did pretty well. I never thought I'd say this, but a 12.8% increase on health benefits. And I was pretty pleased that we wound up getting that number compared to some of these other districts in the state. >> Speak to our CFO about >> a lot of the other districts and local
districts there are facing over 20% upward near the state plan at about 30%. And it's we the board was very proactive. Um, in January they approved switching over to Benard for our prescription plan and that locked in 14 months at a 5% premium discount to what we're currently pay paying. So we're
locked in until the end of June of 27. So that helped out for this year. We'll see what the rates are at that point. >> But at least we kicked it down the road for a year and and it helped our our premiums for the next budget cycle. Uh, another thing that actually helped our budget this year, I know Mr. Sty talked
about this in the past, was our special ed tuition costs continue to increase. This the costs actually keep increasing for special ed, but we actually have tuition costs decreasing by over 750,000 for next year due to uh students graduating. We have some parental settlements that are on the books that
are coming off the books at the end of this year. And a district has been working hard to keep more students in district and not sending them out to some of the private schools. Uh between the transportation and the cost of the actual tuition for the schools, it keeps soaring. But if we keep as many kids as we can in our uh in-house programs, it's
super helpful to the budget. So, we were able to re repurpose some of that 700,000 to other areas of the budget. This way, we wouldn't have to burden the taxpayers with that. Um, so the tax impact on the average 2026 home, the assessed value of the homes went up from 622,466
in 2025 up to 68,1743. The tax impact on the average assessed home is going to be about $55.51. Our overall general our general fund tax levy has gone up 3.95%. Uh overall, that's using part of the healthcare waiver that we have. Uh the
2% plus the healthcare waiver that we had, it was about 700,000. Um so the average assessed home went up about 9.52%. And then there's actually when you look at the tax rate, the tax rate actually decreased due to the um the assessed ratables increasing at a greater
percentage than the actual tax levy. So the actual tax rate has a decrease of 0.0274. And uh any additional information can be found on our our website. I posted a lot of the uh spreadsheets and information on our website today. Uh you can find at
www.whrhs.org and our public hearing is currently scheduled for April 28th where the the board approved the budget to send down to the county. It's at the county level right now and our public hearing is scheduled to be on the 28th. Anyone have any questions or comments? >> Just a quick question. Um you were able
to keep healthare increase which is excellent compared to whatever. >> You said there was a waiver or something that was allowing you to hold it at that. I'm just intrigued as to how you were able to do that. >> Not so much to hold it at it, but we're allowed to increase taxes over our 2%
cap. The state has had last number of years they've had a healthcare waiver. So you can go up to depending on what the state health benefit plan is and depending on what your rates are, they have a calculation in the budget system that you can you could raise taxes over the 2%. So, we use 1.95% over the 2% to
get to that. Um, what we did, we're we're part of the shift, which is a uh health benefit group. So, we we get a little bit better rates than anyone who's up on a private plan. And obviously, the the switching the prescription plan to Benard as well. That that helped. So, I think I think we were at 14% last year and it actually
worked out great this year. I think that we wound up at 12.8 with some districts are at over 25 and 30%. And that's a huge deter. that transportation costs. Those are the big costs that keep soaring and we're trying to manage that along with salaries through the roof. >> Fuel now of course. Yes.
>> Very very big. >> Yes. >> Um I last question was and maybe you may have mentioned I what is the cost per pupil? >> Cost per pupil. I think I have that in the budget. I think it's a little >> I didn't have time to look at any of your >> No, that's okay. I think it was on our presentation. I think it was just under
24,000 using the state um state formula. Yeah. Using the state budget software, it was 23,983 as our per per people cost for for all districts, not not just Long Hill, >> right?
>> Yeah. Yeah. For all for more. Yeah. For the whole Watching Hills, >> right? >> Yeah. For Long Hill, we have about I looked at the uh projected enrollment for next year. Looks like we have about 359 students, which is roughly about 22% of our enrollment for next year.
Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Good. >> It's a thumb up. Thumbs up. >> Thumbs up. >> I told him you were going to haze him a little bit, give him a hard time. So, this is way too easy. >> All right. I have one question.
>> You asked. I was wondering. So, you said that the cost is just under 24 or $25,000 based on the state formula. >> Yeah, state formula. >> What does that exactly mean? So the state has a formula in the budget software that ex they try to make it unified among the state because some
districts that they won't have transportation costs. They don't everyone's special ed out of district cost. So they back that out of the calculation for the when they figure out the per pupil cost. So it doesn't include our out of district special ed cost some transportation costs because every district varies greatly depending on how what your enrollment is and how
many kids are going out of district. So that when you when we worked on the budget system in for the state website, they have a unified calculation and that's how they come up with that number. This way you can compare apples to apples comparing to other districts. >> And what would be the cost if you added all that stuff in? >> Do you have that number?
>> I don't have that off the top of my head right now. >> I was just curious not >> that essentially with all of that added in. I mean I guess it's essentially our entire our budget divided by the number of students by the amount of students. So it's definitely going to be more. Um, but the reason the state backs that out
is because those certain costs are so variable that if we want to compare like because what we'll do every year is we look at other regional districts to see where we lie with our people co with our per pup people cost because we want to make sure we don't want to be the cheapest but we don't want to be the the highest. Um, so that's why the state does that so you can actually kind of
compare but it would be higher. Um, certainly. Thank >> committee woman. >> Did I get this right? >> What were the student number totals that you gave? You said 2,300. >> Oh, you know what? >> That was
probably um I probably No, that Yeah, that was when I first started in the district, we were at about 2,300 and now we're down to um 1651. >> 05 was about 2400. So,
was very Yes, it was that because and that's when they built the giant addition because the high school like doubled I think in the late 90s early 2000s and it stayed pretty stable and then I mean honestly and my theory to that is people love these towns and so even when their kids get older they
don't move out so that's why our enrollment has decreased a bit because empty nesters are here uh because people do love these communities so they don't necessarily leave when their kids are out of the district 11:30 down to 763 and that surprised me.
>> Yeah, I I think and now I do think >> whatever. >> Yeah, I mean that's that's just my kind of you know my thinking of what you know where that would come from. But I do we do expect it to start ticking back up just with all of the the construction obviously and the um housing going up.
But that it we don't think it'll hit us at the high school for about four to five years. >> What was the enrollment in 2025 2026? >> Uh last you know we only lost about I want to say 20 >> yeah 15 to 20 students from last year to
this year. So not too much but you can I mean you can feel it in the hallways because it's not nearly as crowded as it used to be. It's still crazy getting from one class to the next, but I mean that you used to not be able to move. So, you can definitely feel the the difference. And that's one of the challenges we have is trying to maintain
the programs that we have with the lower enrollment because, you know, we did have to years ago we went from six languages to four languages just because we couldn't sustain them with the numbers. Um, so those are some of the tough decisions that the board, you know, and the administration will be grappling with over the next couple of
years because one of the the advantages of being a large comprehensive high school is you can offer a lot to the students. Um, and so we don't want to sacrifice that. So we, you know, we've been very creative at trying to to maintain that. question asked again I want to reiterate
thank you thank you Mr. Schultz thank you Dr. enjoy it. You come each year, 13 years, I guess. >> So, and really, thank you so much. I we, you know, always appreciate um getting to speak with you and if you ever need anything from us, you can always reach out to us directly. Um you know, we are
happy to answer any additional questions that come up, any questions you get from taxpayers, please don't hesitate to to reach out to our office. And congratulations again, new committee person. And thanks everyone. >> Thank you. Pleasure meeting you. >> Take care.
Carol, thank you for coming tonight. >> Okay. Item number five, ordinance 584-26, introduction. First reading. I'll read the ordinance. An ordinance regulating the removal of trees and providing for the preservation of trees throughout Wville Township and amending chapter 13
of the township code in its entirety and supplement section 15 of the township land use development design standards. That's a lot of words. Can you summarize what's happening here? >> Yes. This is a tree protection ordinance
which has been in the works for probably 30 40 years. Uh this version came from the planning board about 10 years ago and it was not adopted by the town committee at that time and it's come back under this current committee.
Regulates the removal of trees requires replacement of trees creates a uh tree protection fund that gets paid into by developers and very detailed for the protection of trees.
>> Thank you. And I could speak to what uh Jack just referenced. I was on a township committee as Dr. pointed out, but I was also on the sh back in the day when this was first introduced. What I want to say is
every town in the immediate area has point out that this is as David Welch had pointed out years ago that this is a ordinance. It's not excive compared to other towns
and others. So I think this is a good compromise working with the sh committee now right and they have the planning board also correct >> yes >> right so >> we're in sync
>> we're in sync yes >> this has been in motion for sometimes in that case not to put you on the spot but I know you're on the sh I don't know if you want to at any point or you don't have to >> no I know that they've talked a lot
about this I have two comments whenever just I think like just errors in here that be cleaned up whenever I don't say now or later >> depends on who made the mistake >> okay great well of was slightly more And
again, I don't know if you want the >> substantive >> the appendix B, appendix A and B, right? They list out the actual trees one. There's just a duplicate on both. So, it should either be in the um invasive section or in the recommended
section. I don't know which one. >> The sawtooth oak. So, we can look into that. >> The Yeah, that's fine. So, the sawtooth oak is on both, but then the wisteria is just generally named and it's been brought to my attention. I am not I don't have a green thumb like this, but
um I think like Japanese and Chinese wisteria is considered invasive, but American wisteria is actually being >> this first and I think those changes we could the same not really
>> changing the substand if I may. Mayor >> I also believe that Arbor Day is our second meeting in April. commission should probably be here. >> Comments, questions? No. >> Oh, I'm This is a long time coming in my
opinion. I'm very pleased. >> All right. Uh it's first meeting. So I would look for a motion to approve on first reading with the is going to go
back to street commission to clean up the things that committee just referenced. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Committeewoman Fettis. >> Yes. >> Committee Liberado. >> Yes. >> Committee Verza. >> Yes.
>> Deputy Mayor Dorsy. Yes. Mayor Burgia. >> Yes. All right. Item number six, consent agenda resolutions. Are there any items that a member of the counc 26108 I think it should specify that uh James Lavender is the class memberntioned And then the uh the
resolution itself. >> So the planning board is a critical board ora is going to move into class three. Correct me if I'm wrong. >> Yes. That's a t committee appointment. You have to make that appointment later
in the meeting. >> Right. And uh mayor's designate will be Scott Lavender and James Lavender will move into class. two. I just wanted to point that out because that's an important
>> Yes. And the class >> the class two is the township >> official. So James Lavender will also be on the tree commission as the township. >> Thank you for pointing that out. And you just fired him. That's what it
sounds like. >> No, that's not what I said. Okay. All right. So, there's a motion out there, right? >> No, >> nobody made a motion. >> No, we didn't get to it. Jack interrupted it. >> We're working on it. >> Good luck.
>> Good luck. >> We've been trying that since what? Dr. >> Yes. >> All right. So, now I'm looking for motion, right? 26-103 through 26-108. >> So moved.
>> Second. >> Committeewoman Fettis. >> Yes. Committee Liberado. >> Yes. >> Committee Verza. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dorsy. Yes. Mayor Bergia. >> Yes. >> So reports Teresa.
We already gave one tree. So that's that's >> all right. Let's see. You have slides. I'll read the first one. >> Exciting news from the health department. Question, persuade, refer training. QPR, not to be confused with
CPR. Uh QPR mission is reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training in three steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide. This training is free to anyone who's 18 years or older and is interested in learning suicide
prevention techniques. Um, there's a seminar being held April 23rd, 6:30 to 8:30. It's online and if you go to the health board of health, Bernick's Township Board of Health website, you can scan the code or register. So that is April 23rd, 2026, 6:30.
Next, now we move on to the library. Library is open Monday to sun every day. I don't know why I say Monday to Sunday. There's lots going on for all ages. Typically, at least five different offerings. A few programs are hided highlighted below.
All right. Our hours are no longer now longer. Okay. Go to the next slide. Monday, April 14th, 7 p.m. a Zoom presentation, the Museum of Early Crafts and Trades. Learn all about America's sport, the history and superstitions,
the magic. Call to register or do so via the libraryies website. Wednesday, April 16th, 6:30 to 7:30 in person at the library. Dorothy Smullen is presenting uh from the Long Hill Environmental Commission is doing a presentation. Learn the history and
ecology of the Great Swamp. Music Weekend, Saturday, April 18th, 1 to 2 o'clock, a local band, the Randos, are playing a family-friendly concert at the library. And on Sunday the 19th, from 2 to 3, Alex
Gintas is performing songs in honor of America's 250th anniversary. Thank you, Randos and Alex. And finally, Saturday the 25th, hosted by the there's the shredder is coming um by the friends of Long Hill Township's hosting it Saturday
the 25th 10 to one municipal parking lot. It's fundraiser from the library and actually people were asking me about this a couple weeks ago. So mark your calendars. The Shredzilla is back. >> Thank you madam clerk.
>> Let's go Frank. I don't have any committee. You would >> I have an announcement later when we get to that section. >> I'm going to turn you for that one. So, we'll go to Vic. I want I want to >> bring your ring. >> All right. I'm trying. I'm going to try because this is a long one.
>> Very long one. >> Okay. Our wreck update is as follows. Spring has sprung. Lots more activity in the parks. Saturday, March 28th, we all bundled up to hold our annual spring egg hunt.
Peter Cottontail got to the park extra early to put out 11,000 eggs for all the good kids in Longill. 72 eggs had additional prize tickets in them for additional prizes. We had a great crowd. Special thanks to the Long Hill Chamber
of Commerce for also joining us and the SE Shannondoa Farms from Jackson, New Jersey for bringing a petting zoo for the kids and offering a and offering free pony rides. We also had a jelly bean counting contest. Uh the answer was
2,162 jelly beans with the proceeds going to one lucky winner. Long Hill TV joined us and there is a video from the event posted on the website as well as photos from the event. Be sure to check them out.
Special thanks goes to out to two really good eggs, Larry and Ernie and LMB audio for joining us extra early to provide sound for the content.
Thank you to the Long Hill Recreation Advisory Committee members, volunteers from the community, and our township committee members for coming out to help. It truly takes a village to pull off an event of this size.
This year, we tried something new, an adult egg hunt using a phone app called Goose Chase. From March 20th through the 28th, long-hill adults got to bring on their silly and very competitive skills to earn points. At the event, several
additional challenges were released, which had to be done at the actual egg hunt. As you could see from the photos, the participants had some fun with this. In the end, it was Quaz Wabbit aka Donna
Fucci who took home the grand prize. We look forward to building upon the success of this event and holding other events like this in the future. And congratulations, Donna. Our birding in long-hill contest ended
on March 31st. It was hard selecting the winning photographs photographers. We had to bring in tiebreaking judges, but in the end we ended up with our three winning photos. Our winning photographers are Larry
Mimone of Sterling, James Morren of Gillette, and Jill Degrazio of Millington. Congratulations to all of our entrance. The photographs were amazing. They are all linked to our website in a photo album for all to see
and on display in the lobby near the recreation office. Consider joining us on April 23rd for a Red Cross CPR/ AED class. Upon completion of the class, participants will receive a certificate good for two
years from Red Cross. The cost is only $39 per person and registration is currently open on community pass. Dates for our spring yoga programming have been announced and registration is
open on community pass. Now there are just a few more spots open for these classes. All levels accepted. There is important information on our website from the Bernard's Health Department about the aven bird flu and
how it is affecting birds in our area. Now, it is transmittable to humans and pets, although not easily. You will want to read more about this to understand what you should do should you encounter a sick or dead bird.
For everyone that applied to work in the summer programs with us this summer, please make sure you are checking your emails. Email is our primary method of communication and you'll need to check every day. We are also posting general
updates on the employment in the parks and recreation tab on our website. 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 service at Central School. Anyone interested in marching in the parade should contact the parks and recreation department for more information. Summer camps registration now open on
community pass. Check out the website for more information. Are we uh listen we out of stride here. >> It's not my computer like froze >> and I'm like two
Memorial Day parade. That's what it's doing. attempting to rec here. >> Sorry. >> So close to an >> I was feeling it.
>> Can you do the last two without >> trying? I would do the last two without slides. >> You can do it. >> The last two Uh, wait a minute. No, I I don't Did I talk about the Long Hill Dog Days? >> No. >> No.
>> All right. So, then I got three more to go. >> Rock on long with the dog days of summer concert series. We just announced our summer lineup. All right. What would be slide number 13?
Want to get more involved in our community? Consider joining the Recreation Advisory Committee and have some fun. Please contact Lisa or Bill in the parks and recreation department for more information. And last but not least, Earth Day is
officially on April 22nd. However, we think every day should be Earth Day. So, show some love to your parks and keep trash in its place. >> Who tells us to keep the trash? >> Oscar the Grouch.
And that concludes my recreation update. Thank you. >> You know, so just a couple of things. A shout out to one, Larry Bazinski. He's the gentleman that provides the uh the sound system, not just for the Easter
parade there, the egg hunt, but also for the concerts, Memorial Day. Incredible amount of work he puts into it behind the scenes. And I like to thank him publicly because he hates that. So there you go. Lisa Scan Bill
uh from the rec department and all the volunteers in the recreation group uh what they do for this town is incredible. Uh they go above and beyond all the time, the concerts and everything you mentioned tonight. And I do want to thank uh Chief Chamberla
and I see somebody in the back and All the volunteer emergency services fire company in Liber is here. Longterm long time volunteer. Uh Chief Gallow, I always call him Chief Gallow.
>> Uh even longer with an emphasis on longer volunteer. >> Uh so the Millington Fire Department, the Sterling Fire uh uh company companies and the first aid squad, what they do for this town is incredible. And
they don't get enough. and they don't want thanks, but they deserve it. So, thank you. Uh, and anyone, it's always the proper time to donate to our volunteer services if you're able to. Um, and at that, I'm going to turn it over
to Randy, our administrative, CFO, and all around good guy. >> Thank you, Mayor. I just have a couple announcements. Uh, we have a lot of projects in the works. Uh we're going to be having um some construct pre-construction uh meetings this month
and and getting contractors out to the roads. Uh Longhill phase one chestnut and long hill phase two. Uh hopefully they'll be out in the streets in late April, early May. We also have work
going on in the park uh with the basketball court and the tennis courts. Uh so we're We're hoping to get that uh restarted uh once the weather breaks, hopefully uh in the next week or two. Um and we'll be moving along with that. I
do want to um point out that on April 11th is World Parkinson's Day. Um they have a program, Spark the Night. Uh so if you want to participate, uh they ask that you uh
show uh blue lights. visible um house uh wherever we're going to be having our board um out front uh with a blue screen for on April 11th to honor the uh to make aware not honor but make aware of
Parkinson's uh disease and and Parkinson's day. This is a world event so they're trying to get as many uh people to participate as possible. And that's all I have right now. >> And the long road that you were
referencing is the east part. >> Yes. >> Which is we don't have and do we expect anything in terms of scheduling for the county side? >> The county is going to be doing it this year. We don't know the dates yet. Once
they have the dates, uh we will we'll be posting everything online. We'll be getting out alerts to people. Uh obviously Long Hill is a is a very busy road. Uh so we will be getting we will be getting a message out when they will be constructing any roads. Um the DPW
director Gallow and I are working on our mill and pave program also. So uh you know that'll be in the mix probably thinking a little later uh than these roads. But um you know we have a lot going on >> and to Ben's point every time the
construction when it can take place when the funding comes in, you know, when scheduling works, the contractors and stuff. Sometimes when schools are open, uh, you know, you just have to be patient. Our police department will work diligently to make sure you get your
children to schools safely. No need to complain on Facebook. Um with that so the discussion items number nine on your agenda town committee l on possible
action. >> So Megan do we have to vote on it? >> Well you can you can do the standing committee um resolution. You could do 26109 based off of uh the working
document that you have in front of you. So you could adopt resolution 26109. >> Okay. >> Um amending the standing township committee appointments. >> Okay. >> And we've discussed this briefly amongst
us. So if there are any comments or questions otherwise I'd look for a motion. We need a motion 26-109. We've had some changes as everyone knows. So I don't see any comments.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Committeewoman Fettis. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Liberado. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Verza. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dorsy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Bergia. >> Yes. Thank you, Megan. And the same same comment for advisory committees and ad
hoc committees. >> That is the working document that Jack provided for you guys that you are looking to maybe codify into an ordinance where you would be appointing the chairs I believe for >> so if Jack I don't know if you want to
shed a little light on it. >> Yeah based on prior discussions the idea was just to get a handle on advisory committees uh and ad hoc committees. Uh this would not apply to statutory boards and commissions like the planning board, the board of adjustment of the
environmental commission and it does two things. is it codifies everything in one place for all the uh ad hoc and advisory committees. Uh it creates one-year terms and the only reason for that is so that it's easier to keep track of the members. It's hard when there are three
or four year terms and they're staggered terms and people leave midterm. It often gets out of whack. So you have you know five people appointed one year and none the next. So the only idea behind the one-year term is that it's easier every reorg have the list of on the committee
and you can reappoint them all as you deem appropriate and as Megan said it also provides the tax committee would appoint the uh chair usually with upon the recommendation of the committee itself but the library
>> right but but the idea is really just to uh get a handle on it from an administrative viewpoint and you're right the mayor does appoint the chair of the environmental commission which is one of the statuto commissions. So it's up to you all. We we have discussed it in the past, but
that that's the intent behind. >> This is something we've been discussing, Jackie, when I have your experience working with another town. >> Yes. >> This is not atypical. >> No. And and like I said, it only applies to advisory committees. >> So any questions from the town?
>> All right. So we have to >> So if you wanted to because the the new way of doing things. We kind of talked about >> having a discussion and then bringing it back to introduce at the next meeting. So if you want, we can put that on for
first reading um introduction at the 422 committee meeting >> it. No, it'll be next. >> Okay. >> We're trying to discuss meeting and not introduce ordinances on the next meeting.
>> All right. So you you have direction. >> Yep. >> All right. Good. All right. So under old new any old new I have one but other committee members. >> All right. So Jack uh the township committee has discussed this and exact where it was properly discussed.
>> Yes. >> But if you could explain the situation with Verizon. >> Yes. There's an an obscure and archaic statute that allows municipalities to tax personal property of telephone
carriers like Verizon if they uh and I want to get the exact language provide dial tone and access to 51% of a local telephone exchange. And that local telephone exchange is not just the township. It's an area designated by
probably the DPU. I'm not sure. Uh but in any event that's been in place for many years and like I said it does not apply to Verizon real property. So they have a facility in in a town that still gets taxed like any other you know real
property. Uh so over the years uh they submit a form to the assessor uh give reporting the value of their tangible personal property and that's the amount of the assessment. uh in 2025 uh the amount they reported was
4,714,539 which resulted in taxes being assessed against Verizon for the personal property in the amount of 103,767. Then out of the blue last year uh in I believe March, they filed tax appeals
against towns across the state alleging that uh the towns could no longer tax them under this statute because they no longer provide dial tone and access to 51% of a local telephone exchange. And as the assessor explained in closed
session, this is not a typical tax appeal where like on a comparable sales and the county tax board or the tax court may come up with a number in between or based on those assessments. Here it's all or nothing. So for the 20
26 tax year, the assessor assessed their personal property at zero with the idea that we would then file an appeal against that. The benefit to that is if Verizon is successful, for example, for 2025,
Longill and other most every town in the state as far as I know would have to give them a refund of a little little over $100,000. So to avoid that impact of having to make a refund, the assessor, like I said, assessed the 2026 value at zero
dollars and suggested that the township then file an appeal from that, which will still keep us in the game. Uh but as I say, we won't have to give a refund and this could go on for years. So that $100,000 could add up over over time. So the idea
was that by motion tonight, you would authorize me to file an appeal on behalf of the township saying that their assessment is too low and you know that'll protect us going forward. And so for the benefit of the public, this committee discussed it
exact where it belongs with the tax assessor. The recommendation from the tax assessor and from council was to authorize uh township attorney Jack Ben to file a tax appeal. So any member of
the public who wants to ask questions on this, I know that sounded complicated, but it's pretty straightforward I think committee. So what I would do is for authorization for Jack by motion. Right. Simple motion.
>> Yes. >> So I we have to do anything first or second and we just move to have do that >> motion and then a second. >> I have a motion to allow Jack to file the tax appeal for 2026 to preserve our rights.
>> Is there a second? >> A second. >> All in favor? Is that good enough? >> Any opposed? Hearing none carries. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Jack. >> Uh,
we lost the number. >> So, >> we'll go to announcements. This is item number 11. PBA local fishing derby April 18th at 8 a.m. It usually goes to about what time? 1 8 to 1. All right. So, 8 to 1. That is
always a great day. U I don't want to put him on the spot, but I think uh Sterling Motel donates. Well, I won't go too far. I haven't cleared that. >> EDA derby, local fishing derby, April
18th, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sterling. Sterling Street Fair, April 26th, begins at 10 a.m. I think it goes to 5:00 pm. U Dennis Sand who I see in the audience guarantees
sunny weather. Uh and with that, I think Frank has a an announcement. >> Yes. So, piggybacking on the street fair, just want to let everyone know that the Sterling Fire Company will be cooking again at Street Fair with
sausage and peppers, famous sausage and peppers at the corner of Somerset Street in Maine. Um, we'll also do hot dogs. We'll have some drinks and uh we will also have our trucks on display and the children can check out the trucks and meet the firefighters and uh we'll have
some uh little giveaways for the children also. So, it's going to be a nice day and that is guaranteed sunshine. So, I'm looking forward to it. >> Uh, any other announcements that we can do? No. All right. So, now item number
12, meeting open to the public remarks statements pertaining to any matter if you could out of respect other members of the public limit comments to three minutes. Order is yours. props.
>> Sandal Millington. >> I am here to confess to a crime. A crime that I recently committed and I brought with me the smoking gun. I I adise you that the chief of police
is sitting in the audience and a member of >> Well, I don't know if the chief of police has the authority to enforce this particular ordinance. This is ordinance 22-13.4F, 4 F,
which says that you can't pour into the sewer any substance with a pH greater than nine. Now, those of you who don't remember chemistry, look it up. I'm not going to explain pH to you.
>> Why are you snickering, Mr. Dorsy? >> You didn't take chemistry. >> I was forced to, but was your grade in chemistry. Your brother I know got a great >> Yeah, probably. So, I passed. >> At any rate, drain cleaner has a pH of 12. It is
unlawful to pour drain cleaner into your drain in Longhill Township. According to our ordinance, now I don't know whether that ordinance was enacted in order to create business for plumbers who could come out and snake the drain and not have to use
drain cleaner. I don't know if it is lawful for Shopright to sell drain cleaner. They're not allowed to sell tobacco products without warning signs and they're not allowed to sell
marijuana at all in this town, but they are allowed to sell drain cleaner, which is patently unlawful under our ordinance. >> So, what do we think? >> That's an interesting comment. because it can be bought here and used someplace else.
>> I would say >> now the the problem is with 22-13.4F is although we have an ordinance that prohibits pouring drain cleaner. Incidentally, lemon juice can't be poured into your drain either because
it's too acidic. >> That ordinance was passed in 2004. which makes it more than 20 years old. And I'm not sure why that ordinance went to so much specificity in 2004 because there's no possible way to
enforce it. Are you going to have a guy patrolling the street ringing doorbells at 11:00 at night asking to see if you're going to pour drain cleaner into your drain overnight? >> We rely on people self-reporting. >> Excuse me. >> We rely on people self-reporting. for
example, >> or are we relying on the public being honest enough, as I am, to stand before you and admit to having created, having committed this malfeasance? >> Does the ordinance require a fine?
>> I I did not take chemistry, so I assure you I didn't write it. Now, the the the other difficulty with this particular ordinance is that it is so badly codified
that if you went to court, I could easily get off because the judge would say, "This ordinance makes no sense. It's not comprehensible English language." Now, I know what it says because I know a fair bit about chemistry.
I know what it's supposed to say, but it doesn't actually say what it's supposed to say, and it needs to be corrected. No, it needs to be removed. Now, back in October, you may recall, you do recall back in October what I said when I stood
here. What I said was we have a whole bunch of ordinances on the books regulating one public utility, the sewer system,
and that's a leftover from when we ran the sewer system. But we don't regulate electricity or gas connections anywhere near like we regulate sewer connections. And one of the ordinance, one part of ordinance 22-13
is that you have to get a permit to connect to the sewer system. Well, surprise. In the past six months, nobody has applied for a permit to connect to the sewer system. I have that
on good authority. Interestingly enough, I know that there has been at least one new connection to the sewer system since the sewer ban was lifted in December, but not with a town permit, although the ordinance requires a town permit. And I
brought all this to your attention in October in the hopes that most of this section on sewer regulation would be deleted from the ordinances. So far, it hasn't been. So, I'm back six months later with yet another piece
of junk in our ordinances. Now, you may recall that last summer there was a human cry from the public about parking construction vehicles overnight in driveways in residential neighborhoods. And at the time this
committee promised or the committee last year's committee promised that they would look through the ordinances and try to remove all the stuff that was obsolete. Please put sewer or regulations on that list when and if you
ever get around to it. And I thank you very much. And you can keep the smoking gun and turn it over to the proper authority if you can figure out who that is. That's a tough act to follow. I see Chuck considering
>> so any other member of the public in the courtroom. >> Seeing none, >> seeing none, Megan, >> if anybody on Zoom would like to make a public comment, please raise your hand now. >> We don't see anyone. Mayor, >> thank you, Megan. >> Motion. >> No, no, hold on.
We're going to go into exec session. No further action. >> Correct. >> Am I barred from that? >> No. >> And so now I will look for a motion to go into exec. No further action. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I.
>> Thank you. Good night everyone.