All right. I'd like to call to order the regular meeting of the township of Okacon for December 3rd, 2025. Uh please, if you would um bow your heads for a moment of prayer. Pledge allegiance
to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 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 1975 by advertising a notice in the star ledger and the express times and by posting a copy on the bulletin board. >> Roll call, please. >> Councilman Del Caro
>> here. >> Councilman Marinelli >> here. >> Councilman Mcuade >> here. for council president >> here >> here. Wade, would you summarize exe executive session please? >> Yeah. Uh the council met executive session where it discussed the following
privilege matters. Personnel DPW attorney client privilege PBA grievances. Uh contractual PBA contract, attorney client privilege lawsuit update 110 South 6th Street, and contractual LAA contract. minutes from the executive
session will be released as uh as such time as the council deems no public harm will come from it and no official action was taken. Um at this time uh if there's a motion uh to deny the PDA grievance as discussed in executive >> I'll deny it.
>> We need a motion. >> Okay. >> I'll make a motion to deny the uh grievance. Second >> Councilman Delaro. >> Yes. >> Councilman Marinelli. >> Yes. >> Councilman Mccle. Yes. >> Council President. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> That's it. Okay. Public comment on agenda items only. >> Seeing none, move on to old business uh minutes. Approve executive and regular session minutes for November
5th, 2025. If anybody has any corrections, deletions, or anything like that. >> Not. Could I have a motion in a second? >> Motion. >> Second. Roll call vote. >> Yes. >> Councilman Belcaro, >> abstain. >> Councilman Marinelli, >> yes. >> Councilman Quay,
>> yes. >> Council President Bledo, >> yes. >> Yes. Uh consent agenda. Items 1 through 11. Motion and second, please. >> Motion. >> All roll call vote.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Delcaro. >> Yes. >> Councilman Marinelli. >> Yes. >> Councilman Clay. >> Yes. Mr. Council President Leo. >> Yes. >> Right. >> Yes. Uh we have an announcement. The end of the year meeting will be held on Tuesday, December
16th or 13th. What? >> 16th. >> 16th. I thought we said 13th. >> January. January. >> Oh, that's January. Okay. Uh December 16th, 2025. >> Um council reports. Rich. >> Mayor and council. I just want to report
that I attended the Philsburg sewer meeting on uh November the 12th. I made some notes as a result of my inquiries and I'll read them so that our constituents will know. The rate study is being prepared. Uh it will be
consistent with the old agreement. Once that draft rate study is finalized, they will share it with us. They're trying to get it done by the end of the year. The agreement may not happen in the event that they privatize, but they are still working on the agreement regardless in
case they are unable to privatize. So, uh it looks like that they are trying to move forward with privatizing. That's all I was able to get with my inquiry there. >> Lou, I think I'll report. No, >> Scott. >> No, nothing at this time.
>> Uh yes. uh recreation. I submitted the application to the county for a grant for music in the park and the recreation committee is working with the fire department for Santa to be at the Striker Road Fire Station. Uh Saturday,
December 20th from 1 to 3. Great. >> It's all for now. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Um I just had a few things. I just need to had a few calls this past week. Um got a pro call again on the property of southwest corner of Stonehenge Ren School.
Uh what's it that house that's fallen down there? We did we get anything on that? The old picket house. >> Yeah. Uh that has a 30 or 50year permit from the DP
so that they can remediate that property. So, I don't know where it stands as far as if they it doesn't look like they've done anything yet, but um there it is permitted for for some sort of remediation.
>> I can look into it further. >> Yeah. Well, we have council look into it and see if we could push him on it or something. I don't know if it's possible. I don't know if we can. >> Yeah. Yeah. I reach out to D and what's going on. Yeah. >> I mean, cuz we got to get That's crazy the way that's looking over there. >> I I the other day it doesn't look good.
And the second property is northwest corner 57519. The old Tantini barn that's all collapsed over there and the store has collapsed in on itself. Now I know there's a silo across the street by the stream over there. >> Yeah,
>> I almost said creek, but I said stream >> and uh so I don't know if that area could be cleaned up because that's a mess coming into town and just like and I agree with the people. Yeah, if we could Um, and that's all I have for myself.
Um, engineer report. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, make sure I'm miked up. Uh, yes. So, to give uh everyone an update, the Fox Farm Road storm damage repairs, we're still
still working on uh processing the D permits there. Um and we're working towards getting it uh a scope of work for the council's approval uh for the design of those improvements. Um the salary board project uh was awarded last
month. Working on getting the contracts to the contractor processed and getting all their paperwork in order to start construction. Um I have the plans ready. I'm going to be sending those to the contractors tomorrow so they can file for building permits and we'll be scheduling a pre-construction meeting hopefully in the next two weeks.
uh the park improvements project and the pool. Uh the project is out to bid and bids are being opened uh next week on Tuesday, December 9th. Uh so we'll be reviewing those bids uh after they are opened and uh going towards hopefully uh hopefully an award for that project. Um
Stonehenge Drive Improvements, those uh that work started, I believe just about two weeks ago. Uh they've substantially complete on the sidewalk work. Uh they're planning as long as the weather holds out for the rest of this week, finishing up all the concrete uh work on the sidewalks and doing the drainage
repairs. Uh paving might may have to wait till the spring. We were hoping that we would get, you know, warm early December to get the road paved. It's really a two-day paving job. One day milling, one day paving. Um but if the weather doesn't hold out, then we would would have to delay that paving work
until the spring. Um so we'll see how that how that works. um jade jade lane improvements. Um again, we're working on uh scheduling the striping contractor out there to do a little bit of crosswalk striping and some school markings uh on the road. Uh
the public works garage that works complete and we're working on the final payment and project close out for that. Uh and then um last week the South Fifth Street curbing improvements were completed. Uh the concrete curving was installed along the south side of uh of
South Fifth uh addressing the runoff issues along that side of the road. Uh and that work's completed at this point. So we'll be processing that close out with the uh the contractor as well. So that's all I have. >> Thank you.
Uh police report, Chief. Thank you, Mayor Council. Last last month, I was um um brought to the to my attention uh some traffic complaints on Charles Road, uh Stonehenge, and Liberty Road. So, just to report to uh council and mayor, uh
the police department has picked up uh visibility on on those roadways, and they'll be continuing for the ongoing future. Um and then, um just last week, we're able to participate in a uh statewide um endeavor. It's uh called
gold goal zero uh trying to u drive vehicular um um deaths down to zero. It was a statewide effort and uh we were able to use uh funding through the state to uh initiate that. So it was a it was
a good success. And then the the old the overall uh November traffic report, we had a total of 291 motor vehicle stops with 45% of the uh drivers receiving citations. And out of those uh receiving citations, 23% of those were uh u
commercial motor vehicles, overweight vehicles. And that's my report for November. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you. Thanks. All right, DPW. Yeah, this month is uh hello person. This month is uh basically about leaves.
All right. I mean, every day is leaf pile day. All right. Um what I would like the public to know is that uh you are once we pass your house, you're not allowed to put them out anymore. We will not be coming back to pick them up. All right. Um it's coming to a to an end
here. All right. >> Um and then uh Row Lane will be closed down, which you're aware of tomorrow. Um I just want the public to know that it's not really a road everybody uses, but some of us do. >> All right. Um so that will be partially
paved in and out of different areas. Um we did sign Der Brothers agreement um for them to come in and that's taken care of. Um, so thank you cuz all the other companies backed out, right? I can't I can't understand it. Um, had the Warren County Health Department
reach out to me for the generators and different things. I'm hoping we can uh get away from um through the state. Adam is refers to you guys a little bit. Um where Stone Hedge pump station shouldn't is is on the on the verge of not having
to be registered. I'll be letting me know that um whether we need to do that because >> the sanitary sewer the sanitary sewer pumps >> the sanitary sewer generators that keep it running. It's a million BT use or more slightly under. >> Okay. >> All right. And uh we're hoping we don't
have to pay the monies and all that up front to to have to register that anymore. All right. So that saves the town a little bit of money and time and stuff. All right. Um and the rest is just basic work around the town. You know what I mean? doing things, keep giving things, put the street signs up, they're running over. Um I would like to
talk to Scott a little bit about you with you with some ways or I don't know if you know I'm not saying we do this, but uh Baltimore strikers um where they connect I I bet you once a month, once every month and a half I'm putting a a corner sign they're taking them out left
and right and you know what I mean the cops will be able to verify that. Um, I don't know if you change something there or we put, you know, three-way stop or something there. It's getting getting pretty uh productive there from our side. >> Okay.
>> So, something to look at. All right. >> Thanks, Michael. >> Uh, fire chief here from fire department, EMS, no one shade tree. No, we have a school report.
Uh Ernie. >> Hi. Thanks for having me. I'm Ernie Gal from the Bachan Board of Education. I've been asked by the board to share these highlights from the district um with the council and with the community. Um since since last month when our district
uh superintendent made his presentation, we're pleased to let you know that the district's completion of New Jersey quality single accountability continuum, also known as school. Um it's a comprehensive review of the district that's completed once every 3 years.
That's mandated by the state. There's five areas that are reviewed for evaluation. Um the first one is instruction and program then fiscal management governance operations and personnel and state law requires achieving a minimum of 80% of the
weighted indicators in each of the areas and you're happy to report that Lakhan has achieved this and more and also attained designation of high performing you which is good. Also in in the county our middle school is the highest
performing school in the county. Uh second, we we're proud to say that our students in both the elementary and middle schools, they they did a food drive and they collected enough food to provide complete meals for nine families. The food collections are continuing in both of the schools um for
the December holidays. So, thanks to our students and our staff and our families who participated in that. And uh lastly, we wanted to make you aware that this Friday and Saturday, our middle school drama students will be presenting High School Musical Junior for anybody who wants to attend.
Um, so thanks for allowing us to share these highlights this year with the community and everything. And >> thank you for coming. Appreciate it. >> All right. Uh, approve department reports. Have a motion and a second.
>> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> uh payment of bills. Motion second, please. >> Motion. >> I'll second that. Roll call move, please. >> Councilman Alcara. Yes. >> Councilman Marinelli. >> Yes.
>> Councilman. >> Yes. >> Council President. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Public comment. Three minutes. >> Stack it back up here. >> How you doing? Uh Richard Murker, 1400 Belvadier Road. Um two things. one uh
myself and my fellow neighbors uh on Smith Street, we uh we'd like to ask if the town would be willing to take that road over. Um I guess it was owned by the church. Uh they they gave up their rights to their previous owners of the
houses that we live in. It's, you know, uh it's used a lot by kids walking down Smith Street. It's got potholes and you know, uh it's one of those things that once something happens, a kid's going to
get hurt and then who are they going to look to to be responsible for it? So, water and sewage, right? Um are right down there at the end of um Red School Lane and Smith Street, right? We'd like my neighbors would and I would like the
access to water and sewage and then ultimately have that road paved because it's just a hazard. And then that's that's the first request. And then the second is um the sidewalk. Um is it ever going in on my property there?
>> There's Yeah, it's been going back and forth with the county and the state and the DOT. Um, we have to have another, we've submitted, resubmitted to the state and resubmitted to the county and I have to schedule a meeting with the county to go. They haven't gotten back to me, but I have to follow up with them.
>> Well, if that you're waiting for your fence, right? >> The fence is a cost of so eventually I'm going to get to it. But it ain't cheap, believe me. Uh, >> one thing to think about is the sidewalk. If Smith Street, like I said, a lot of kids walk down Smith Street. If
it was paved, it'd be a different route for you to take instead of putting in that sidewalk. Right. I know. I got to cut extra grass if you don't put the sidewalk in. >> Well, I went over there the other day parked in front of us at Blackford's house and uh walked around and stuff
like that. Terrible. We got to get fixed. All right. But we got to find out who owns the property. Does the church own it? >> Well, I think it's owned by the church, but they've relink relinquished the rights to the four homeowners that are on Smith Street. I mean, my address is Bel. >> So, we would have to get We'd get the
attorneys to check that out. You got Yeah, I talked to the church and no problem turning it over to the town. Um, >> can I get your name and address, please? >> Uh, James Blackford, uh, 1380 Smith Road. >> 13 >> 80 Smith Road.
>> Thank you. >> Um, I've been talking to the church back and forth and they have no problem turning it over. Um, we can't keep maintaining it. Just >> yeah, >> even if we had it paved and our neighbors were able to take a snowb blower and run it through, that would be
if you know, Brian and the town can't do it. At least if it's paved, we have a >> we we you chatted about it a few times. U need to get fixed. The only problem is how about Jim down the end? I mean, if we take the road over, I don't know if
they'll make us open that end up onto >> that's why we're here to talk about that. >> You know what I mean? I don't know what it's illegal. I don't think he would like that, would he? >> Even if we made it made it a dead end or >> or something like that we'd have to do. Yeah. Because uh you'll have people cutting that corner off and they'll be
flying through there and then now then we got another danger. You know what I mean? >> When I moved in, my lawyer had me put uh private no trespassing signs because if somebody does get hurt, none of us signed off on that road with
the church. It was the previous owners. >> Previous owners of the houses, you mean? Yeah. >> I mean, I've been there 8 years, >> right? >> And um the person that I bought it off of, he signed off on it, but then that was it. >> Is there something written in the new deeds?
>> I have a thing from an easement from the church that shows that we're the other people were responsible for maintaining it. >> The people that owned it before you. >> Correct. But now, >> right, >> we can't that road used to go all the way through.
>> Yeah. >> Before I was back in the day. Yeah, see you can see that. >> I don't know if it's still cut out. I hope it isn't. >> The the down, >> you know, show it was >> and I see the kids riding those two
wheel skateboard things and there's nothing but gravel, right? >> I mean, >> I don't know what would happen if somebody got hurt. I don't know whether we're responsible. We never signed off on it. >> I to church. I don't know. But but that's beside the point. Let's try to get it fixed and let's try to get um if
you have any paperwork, get it to Beth. Okay. >> We'll have the attorneys work on it, see what we look, you know, what we could do. And how long is that road? I would say 50 yards. >> Well, the actual from >> No, not let's say to where uh was I forget Jim's last name. Um where his
property he probably won't want to go by. So, >> we're okay with that. >> Maybe like a dead end there. >> Yep. >> Um >> and we could, you know, let's How far would that be, would you think? >> Just a 200 ft. >> Is it that far? Yeah. >> Yeah. I have a picture of the street. Yeah. >> And I'll give it to her.
>> But also, uh, we don't have, uh, you know, sewer. >> Well, that's out of the sewer >> water, >> right? >> Our wastewater management plan doesn't allow this out of the se service area. >> Yeah. >> But now he hooked up to it. >> He hooked up when we he first moved in
and I was going to hook up. >> Did your line run down to uh, Striker Road? >> No, it runs the Red School. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's what I meant. We were going to hook into his pipe. >> Yeah. >> If he ran from from my house to the rest. >> Yeah.
>> Well, that would that So going that route would probably work. It's just that you know cuz that's part of the source service area is red school wing. >> But uh having to run a pipe. I don't know what you know.
>> I mean that might be something you guys have to do that. I don't know. But let's let's get it let's get it moving and look at it. How's that sound? >> All right. Good. Thank you, sir. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> All right. Yeah. Just drop everything once and then we'll we'll move on with the attorneys. >> Thank you, guys.
>> Anyone else? >> Seeing none. Motion for a German. >> Motion. >> Second. Second. >> All in favor? >> Thank you for coming out. >> All in favor? yet. Okay.