I'd like to call to order the township of Pacon reorganization and regular meeting for January 7th, 2026. Please bow your head for a moment of prayer. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of
America to the Republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided indicating the time and place of the meeting in accordance with
chapter 231 of the public laws of 1975 by advertising a notice in the star ledger, the express times in the town website at www.lopacontownship.com and by posting a copy on the bulletin board in the municipal building.
Uh, first of all, we're going to swear in our two councilmen, Scott Marinelli and James Fo to their three-year terms. Who's first? Bible, raise your right hand, please. >> I in your name, I, Scott, do solemnly
swear Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. to the governments established and to the government established in the United States
>> in the United States and in this state >> and in this state under the authority of the people under the authority of the people that I will faithfully I hold faithfully >> and partially impartially and justly perform and justly perform all the duties all the duties of the office of councilman of the office of council according to the best ability according
to the best of my ability answer. >> I am your name. >> I, James Pledo, >> do solemnly swear. >> Do solemnly swear. >> Do I solemnly swear >> that I'll support the Constitution of the United States. >> That I will support the Constitution of the United States. in the Constitution of the State of New Jersey.
>> The Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> that will bear true faith and allegiance to the same >> that I will bear truth, faith, and allegiance to the same. >> The governments established >> to the governments established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> that I will faithfully >> I will faithfully >> partially >> partially
>> and justly perform >> all the duties >> all the duties >> of the office of councilmen >> the office of councilmen >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability to go. Okay. Roll call, please. >> Yes. Councilman Delaro, >> here. >> Councilman Marinelli,
>> here. Councilman Mcuade >> here. >> Council President Leo >> here. >> Here. >> Okay. Uh Wade, would you summarize executive session, please? >> Yes. Uh the township council met in executive session where it discussed the following privilege matters. Attorney client privilege and Kong Park project.
Contractual team serves local union number 469 DPW negotiations. Contractual PB PVA contract. Attorney client privilege PBA grievances. Contractual LAA contract litigation 110 South 6th Street. Minutes from the executive
session will be released at such time as the council deems no public harm come from it and no official action was was taken. >> Thank you. Public comment on agenda items only. John, come on. Uh
if there's any if there's any any information tell us about the water and sewage uh utility utility um temporary mist and sewer utilities. >> John, do you just want to state your name for the record?
>> John Betts, uh Breaking Gardens, Red School Lane. >> No additional update. >> No, no update. >> No new news. >> No new news. Okay, thank you. >> Anyone else?
Okay, seeing none, uh, reorganization, uh, we need a resolution to, uh, open nomination for, uh, the point county president or council president. I'll nominate Jim Pledo. Have a second, please. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> I. >> Anybody else going to nominate? Anybody else? Not. All in favor? >> I >> I uh reorganiz reorganization consent agenda items 1 through 38
on number six. >> Okay. >> Uh the 911 coordinator does not have a deputy, so I just want to remove that. >> Oh, okay. >> Anybody else have any corrections or want anything removed?
Seeing none, we get a motion in a second, please. >> Motion second. >> Roll call vote, please. >> Yes. Councilman Delaro, >> yes. >> Councilman, >> yes. >> Councilman McUade, >> yes. >> Council President, >> yes. >> Yes. Consent agenda for items 1 through
three. Anybody see any corrections or anything? >> Can I add something to that? Um, does that have to be a motion for new business? like you say what it is first. >> Uh to approve the payment of the bill the invoices for the lights used by the
Lakhan Athletic Association the football fields. >> Football fields we do it every year so I don't see a problem with time. >> One through four. >> So one through four. >> All right. Can I have a motion? Second, please. >> Motion. >> I'll second it. Op.
>> Yes. Councilman Belcaro. Yes. >> Councilman Marinelli. >> Yes. >> Councilman Quay. >> Yes. >> Council President. >> Yes. >> Yes. Announcement. Special council meeting will be scheduled for Tuesday, January 13th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Executive session for executive session and 7:30 for public session. Uh before we go into public comment, uh our new fire chief is here, Jim Marinelli. Would you come up Jim and give us a few uh words?
Congratulations on uh Thank you, Mayor Election. Um so, just a few things wrapping up 2025. The Leakum Fire Department responded to 247 calls for the year. That was the most most calls we've responded to since um within the last 10 years that we have uh our
reports from. So, it was a busy year for us. Uh we had a 5 minute and 20 second response time, average response time, uh from the time of dispatch to the first unit on the road responding. Um in 2026 so far, we've responded to five calls, including one reported structure fire,
which was yesterday in uh Limmerch Lane. Um very minor damage to a kitchen. Uh few other things. Also, oh wait, update on the new tower ladder coming into town. Um, we just got notification that
the tower will be completed in production January 28th. So, it's actually ahead about a month ahead of schedule than we originally thought. So, it'll be completed January 28th and our members will be flying out to Wisconsin that day to complete the final inspection at the Pierce manufacturing
facility. And then we expect delivery back to New Jersey from the truck in sometime in February where it will go to fire and safety services in South Planefield for all the tool mounting final inspections. Um then we will complete a final inspection there also before it's
delivered to us. we believe sometime in March, beginning of March, end of February, and then once we complete our training on it, it'll go into service. >> Great. >> Uh, one last thing I have is uh I had the ability to meet with um the mayor
and uh Counciloman Marinelli on December 29th at Delaware Park Firehouse to go over some of the things that need attention of the building. um the new apparatus building or newer apparatus building at Del Park.
Um some things that buildings and grounds just we we need some some assistance in that need attention to the firehouse. Uh all of our signs on the exterior of the firehouse are aged and falling off. The mayor and
councilman were able to witness all this. The retaining wall that surrounds the firehouse is a hundred and some year old foundation which was the old silk mill that burnt down. Um that wall is starting to crack and severely kind of
become damaged and that holds up the alley behind the firehouse. Um the storm drain in the rear of our building is sinking and every winter it seems to be sinking more and more. Uh so we are concerned about that. And then uh
the pavement around that area where it's all sinking. Uh garage doors and the trim around the garage doors from all the salt being on the pad which is needed to uh for us to safely get in and out is starting to
deteriorate the metal building itself. It's starting to eat away the metal building and the bottom of the garage door. So um that and uh just general cleaning of the outside of the building. But, uh, all these things are things that we
believe need to be addressed. And I'm just presenting this. Mayor, I'm going to hand you a paper here, which is the copy of everything. >> Yeah. I asked Jim to come by because it concerns me is that back alley. That back alley is being held up by that wall.
And uh, so we'll uh, need to turn this in for capital expense, I guess, right? >> And not just the back alley holds out property to the old firehouse. runs between the two buildings and holds up the foundation of the >> old firehouse. >> Um, and then one last thing on there too
is the a fence surrounding the back lot. >> So, we utilize the back of the firehouse for uh vehicle extrication training and also where that wall is behind the alley. There is no barrier between the alley and going over the side of the wall. So, we've had issues with um young
kids and stuff riding bikes jumping it off the wall into the back lot. So, we're looking at proposing an idea of being able to fence in that back area to one once we have a vehicle extrication drill and there's a cut up car sharp objects glass that we are able to enclose that and lock that in for us to
train on and kind of create a barrier in between the alley and then coming over the wall which becomes a safety hazard. >> I'm surprised the car hasn't come off that alley to that parking lot. >> You mentioned that a couple of your members are going to Wisconsin. >> Yes. Uh to test the truck. Yes.
>> How is it being transported here? Is it by train or they driving it here? >> Oh, so once it once the final inspection, they put it on a tractor trailer. >> Okay. >> A low a low bed trailer and they drive it back from Wisconsin to New Jersey. >> Okay. Okay. >> I was hoping they wouldn't drive it back.
>> Yeah. Yeah. No, it doesn't get driven back. It gets gets transported back. >> You should break it in that way. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thanks, Chief. Appreciate it. >> Couple car fires going away. Okay, public comment.
Anybody public comment? >> Bob Bruce, 11 Harwood Road. Could you just tell us why we're having a special meeting when I think you said January 13th, an additional meeting this month? >> Because we pay bills the second meeting of January always. >> Okay. Very good. Thank you.
Anyone else? >> All right. Seeing none. Motion for German. >> Motion. >> Second. Second. All in favor? >> I. >> All right. Thank you for coming out everyone. >> Yeah.