Are you serious? She loves you. >> Yes. >> Absolutely. Yeah, that's fine. Let the record reflect. We've reconvened with all members present. Council member, council President John Forte is
option excused. For those who are able, please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I ask you to remain standing after the pledge. >> I 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. Tonight we remember one of the great residents of Madison passed away on June 1st, Rose Agnes Holm
Zipper. She was born on July 23rd, 1920 in a private home now in the area known as Green Village to be a corner of Britain and Green Village uh to be exact, which is part of Chattam Township. Her passing came two months short of her 106th birthday.
She lived in Madison for 100 years. Her father, Carl Holm, was part of the horiculture industry, which gave Madison the name of Rose City. I'm guessing that might be where her name came from. Also, Carl E. Home nurseries on Greenwood
Avenue was her home with two large steam heated green houses in the back, acorage planted with trees and shrubs for sale, chickens and farm horse named Pete that Rose and her three sisters could ride. Memories of a far different time in Madison, that's for sure. Rose had
identical twin Lillian who passed away at the age of 37. and her husb also her husband Eugene, her older sisters Katherine, Margaret and her daughter Jean, her grandson Christopher, also predesceased Rose. Rose and Lillian attended St. Vincent
Martyr Grammar School in Madison High School, graduating the class of 1939. Many classmates noted they could never tell the two apart and would just call them twin and sometimes double trouble. They rode the train to New York for a
few years working as secretaries and Rose enjoyed telling a story of how she and Lil shared a single driver's license knowing no one would be able to tell who was actually driving. Nice to tell that in front of the police right here. Rose married Eugene Edward Zipper at St.
Vincent on June 8th, 1947. So today would have been their 79th anniversary. Eugene was a World War II veteran. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 99. Together they raised five children in Madison. Carl, Jean, Barbara, Richard,
who's here tonight, and John. Rose's father, Carl, lived with the family on Greenwood Avenue until the age of 97. Some great health in that family. Rose was a member of the S. Vincent Martyr Parish all her life. She was active member of the Rosary Society. She was a
59-year member of the Thursday Morning Club and her son Richard just told me how they really showed up at a viewing yesterday and and she also served multiple leadership roles with the Thursday morning club. She and Eugene were
charter members of Noi Pond Club where she played tennis and uh paddle ball leagues and where the family swam in the summer. I'm pretty sure she and my mother also played tennis against each other. They also delivered meals. She and Jean delivered meals on wheels. And
as a member of the Rose City Steppers Walking Club, she earned a com commemorative Y2K award for walking every street in Madison. Might be the only person to do that who was not campaigning. She was a leader for her daughter Jean's Girl Scout troop. She was also a member
of the Madison Ambulance Corps for a time. She was accomplished seamress and knitter. She taught sewing classes for Madison children at the community house. She sewed hundreds of baptismal bibs for St. Vincent parishioners. She was
awarded several first place ribbons by the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs for knitting projects entries. And growing up during the depression taught her make that making clo clothing and items for a home was better than buying. All her children and grandchildren were blessed with their
handmade sweaters and quilts. Rose live by the motto, if you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all. Have to work on that. She She taught her children to respect all children and all people and all the
differences and their differences without ever having to say it. During her long busy life in Madison, she joined or volunteered for just about every club, organization, committee, league, or group in town. And Rose and Eugene rarely m missed
of coming every other Monday in this very room sitting at council meetings and Rose was just there at Eugene's side as he came up would always speak saying Eugene Zipper I've lived on Greenwood
Avenue for a few years and uh Rose was sitting there to support him at every council meeting he attended and always had some good suggestions and her children believe her picture appeared in Madison Engle more than any other resident past, present, or future.
That's probably uh true. We'll uh put bread on that one. Rose will be deeply missed by her children, her nine grandchildren, her nine great grandchildren, and certainly Madison has lost a matriarch.
So, let us now remember Rose Zipper, and let us pass our thoughts on to her family and friends that she leaves behind. Thank you. >> May I have a motion for the executive minutes of April 29th, 2026? >> I'll move it.
>> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I >> and a motion for the regular minutes of April 29th, 2026. >> I'll move them. >> Second. >> Any corrections or changes or comments? All in favor? >> I.
>> All right. Few uh things before we some very special business. So, thank you for all those that have come out on this beautiful evening and it was nice to have some warm weather, weekend weather for the Madison Community Pool finally. >> Yeah. three weekends into the summer. On
Wednesday, um I attended the 25th anniversary for Hollandach Family Chiropractic. And as I mentioned, the celebration, this was not only a recognition for 25 years of business in Madison, but for 25 years of Dr. Jim Hollandach's commitment to Madison. He's been a member of the Taste of Madison
committee, I think since its inception. He chaired the Madison Mayor's Wellness Committee and has been a mult multi-term uh member of the DDC. And that's just a few examples of his overall volunteer work in Madison. So we congratulate him on 25 years in business in Madison
and also for thank him for all he has done. And then this past Saturday we recognized Trail Days by walking the uh new and in fact not quite completed trails in the Memorial Park. The event organized by Councilwoman Melissa Hanahan and it celebrated our partnership with the county
commissioners and their trails program funded through the county open space. And this of course supplemented by our open space recreation historic preservation fund. We were joined by county commissioner director Steven Shaw who uh joins us every year for uh we do
trail days for for a walk. And while our group was not that large, what was really great was we ran into quite a few hikers and uh dog walker walkers as we went through uh Memorial Park and they were all raving about the new trails. And once completed, they will not only
allow for a great walk in the woods, but uh provide connectivity to the Madison Plaza. So you can go plaza to ball fields to Delbarton to the um pool and so on. And I'm sure we'll probably hear some more about this from Melissa. And
then also on Saturday after that, I crossed the border to uh visit the Fishawak Festival in Chattam. So it was nice to walk the street fair with uh council uh burrow mayor Dempsey along with council and committee members from both Chadams. And then we were joined by
our newest congresswoman Mahia. And uh just a update and um I know uh those that are here for other occasions, we're not expecting to hear about rats, but it's been a uh high on a list for one of our neighborhoods. I just want to
uh bring an update. So, as you know, we had residents from the Greenwood Britain Alexander neighborhood sharing concerns about rats coming from commercial property. I visited the neighbors uh last Thursday and noticed some issues which I shared with the uh property
owner and the health department. I also have a summary of additional actions the health department have taken since the last council meeting because no matter where this happens in Madison, we will take it seriously and follow through. They visited the im the immediate neighbors and inspected uh inspected uh
neighborhoods. They inspected the dumpster area. They completed another walkthrough inspection of properties on Alexander Avenue and no evidence of rodents were found there. They spoke with the commercial property owner about having pest control vendor being more proactive. Additional proactive actions
have taken place since this conversation which includes pest control services have been in increased uh and pest controls being provided additional measures to eradicate the rodents. They've have increased uh
visits to the dumpster have taken place. A notice of violation has been sent to the property owner. And today there was a communication with Walgreens about the importance of keeping their dumpster closed and sanitary. This is on the same lot but a different location than the one that's been in uh consideration. The
inspection of the Walgreens dumpster did not reveal any evidence of rodents. And since the last council meeting, there have been eight visits to the dumpster site to check on activity. And that's just that is in the twoe period. And two additional visits occurred today
as follow-ups to the um reports and sightings that I shared after my visit. And uh we don't I don't see any neighbors here right now, but uh they may be checking at home, but for anyone, I fully understand that what I've just reported is helpful to know, but the
neighborhood just wants to see the rats gone and gone for good. and all the action taken by the health department have that in mind and they will continue inspections and enforcement until this is achie achieved. I also understand that the desire to have the dumpster
moved to another location and we have ongoing discussions with the property owners but the bottom line is the conditions that attract rats cannot be allowed anywhere. So that the location of the dumpster is secondary to eradication of the problem. And so we
will enforce dumpster maintenance and erodence elimination until it is clear. I know I talked too long there. Sorry about that. >> Okay. All right. Shifting gears very quickly
here. I have an announcement for the employee of the month and the employee of the month very appropriately for today is Liz Osborne and it's appropriate that we announce it today because 17 days this very day Liz Osborne started working for the burrow
of Madison. She start Yep. She started full speed as um f that her very first day was a council day. So she was sitting right up here at the end of her workday at next to then Mayor Holden. So uh
congratulations. But that is not why you're the employee of the month. The reason you're the employee of the month in addition because in addition to your regular workload, Liz has been covering registar duties during employees long-term medical leave. And she's also coordinated three elections already this
year with another one coming up in November. And while for everyone in the room, election is just a quick trip to the polls, each election for Liz includes several days of early voting. And then on election day, she gets here at 5:00 a.m. and often doesn't finish
until about 10 p.m. So congratulations. Right, come down below here. Two things, Kenisha. This is a proclamation for Friday, June 19th as Junth. And uh if you've been walking through downtown, you see our hidden figure signs are back up, banners
are up, and just a reminder of the great impact in Madison. And um I think Junth this year is taking extra special meaning because there's uh national parks and places of history where history is now
being hidden. And we have to remind everyone that United States freedom did not start 250 years ago for everyone. it was much later. So, it's an honor to present this proclamation. Whereas on June 19th, 1865, two and a half years
after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived at Galvincson, Texas with news that the Civil War was over and enslaved people were now free. And whereas with its origin in Texas in
1866, Junth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of ending slavery in the United States. Since then, Junth has been celebrated in communities across the United States, providing opportunity to mark the emancipation of enslaved people. And
whereas Junth symbolizes for many African-Americans what the Fourth of July does for all Americans, liberty, freedom, and justice for all. Whereas Junth is a day for us to reflect on suffering caused by slavery and commit to being allies of our African-American
friends, family, and neighbors. And whereas Junth commemorates the strength and resolve of African-Americans throughout our history and serves an opportunity to celebrate the rich and numerous contributions of African-Americans. And whereas Junth is opportunity for
Madison residents of all races, nationalities, and religions to acknowledge the painful history and lasting systemic impact of slavery and racial injustice in the United States. Now therefore, I, Robert H. County, the mayor of Burough Madison, on behalf of the governing body, hereby recognize
Friday, June 19th, 2026, and call on all residents to join obs observance education celebration of this historic day. We are Thank you, Mayor Connley, and the burough council for your consistent commitment in ensuring that Madison
remains a community where all members are represented, safe, and protected. Thank you for acknowledging that uh the pivotal moment in American history that serves as a unique reminder of our duty to ensure that all people are rewarded the freedoms and liberties secured in
our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We once again stand at a threshold which uh um vital for the that the pursuit continues. So, thank you. And I'll do a shameless plug. Um, as mayor mentioned, the banners are up. So, throughout the
month of June and July, I will be leading um walking tours. So, if you want to visit our website and just um select a day that works for you, um please sign up. And um thank you again for your commitment because we also have a uh plaque ceremony that's coming up
with the work with the um cultural religious studies um and conflict. we earn a marker for Madison um as a part of the New Jersey State um Black Heritage Trail. So, you can h hold that date on October 8th. There'll be a
plaque ceremony that will um also commemorate another historical moment in Madison. Thank you. All right, Michael Ramos, please come up and family and the chief. Yes, that's family. We're
a big family here. Just a little bit background on our newest officer. Michael Ramos was born and raised in Union County and has lived in Kennallorth his entire life. Kennallorth is the Madison of Union County in case you're wondering. He graduated from David Burley High School
in 2018 where he was a three sport varsity athlete in football, baseball, and basketball. After high school, Michael went on to Montlair State University where he earned bachelor's degree in science. Michael played football for Montlair State University, was a two-time captain of its team.
After earning his degree, Michael coached football at high school and college level. He was then hired as a per DM dispatcher for Madison Police Department. Shortly after, he accepted opportunity as alternate route candidate at the Mars County Police Academy where he was then hired by the Madison Police
Department. Michael graduated from the Morris County Police Academy on June 1st, a week ago today, as a member of the 106 basic police class. I was honored to be there along with council member Landeran. Uh Michael finished number one in his
class for physical fitness and was also the recipient of the 200 club Mars County award which present presented to the recruit whose outstanding effort and attitude best exemplifies the training goals of the Mars County Police Academy. During his spare time, he enjoys coaching football, spending time with
his family, friends, and girlfriend. Michael is extremely honored to be hired by such a great community and police department. I'm sure you wrote that and I didn't. All right. right hand of the Bible after me.
>> I state your name. >> I, Michael Ramos, >> solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that >> I will faithfully >> that I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly perform >> and justly perform >> all the duties of >> all the duties of >> police officer for the Burrow of Madison. >> police officer for the Burough of
Madison. according to the best of my ability. >> according to the best of my ability. >> I further solemnly swear >> I further solemnly swear >> 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. >> And I will bear true faith and allegiance
>> and I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the governments >> and to the governments >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. So help me God. Welcome
aboard. There it is. Thank you. All right, for those still in the room and those watching at home, we now uh report on uh have reports from committees
in public safety. Mr. Landrean. >> Thank you, Mayor. from the police department. On June 1st, Chief Misha, members of the governing body, and members of the command staff attended the Mars County Police Academy graduation of patrolman Michael Ramos at
the Birwood Manor. Patrolman Ramos graduated with high honors, earning the number one ranking in physical fitness and receiving the two thou 200 club award for outstanding effort, attitude, and exempl and exemplify that
exemplifies the academy. Chief Miser presided over the graduation ceremony as the president of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association. During the end of May, members of the Aruba Police Force visited New Jersey
while traveling to Washington. The n for the national police for national police week. Madison, the Madison Police Department was proud to host the group at headquarters during their trip to Yankee Stadium and provide an overview of our operations at community policing efforts. On June
11th, Chief Misha and Captain Longo will appear before the New Jersey State Association of Police Chiefs accreditation board for the department's accredit reacreditation hearing. They will testify to the police department's compliance with standards and its
continued commitment to a department policies and excellence in law enforcement services. We are proud to be one of the few agencies to continuously achieve impeccable ratings thank to thanks to our officers and staff. On June 11th, the officers of the
Madison Police Department will be at Badass Cafe of Ma of Hawaii on Lincoln Place for coffee with a cop beginning at 8:30 a.m. Please stop by to meet with our officers, share concerns, and some conversation. We hope to see you there.
From the fire department, the month of May, for the month of May, the fire department responded to 202 calls. 123 people were transported to the hospital by the EMS division. The fire department's EMS division provided EMS
support to the Drew University commencement and mass junior lacrosse platypus festival. One volunteer firefighter started the accelerated fire class this past week. Two more are scheduled to take the class
in August. On June 15th, the fire department will be hosting a blood drive for from 1 to 7:00 p.m. Currently, there is a blood shortage emergency. All donors will receive two vouchers for MET tickets. In May, the fire prevention bureau
conducted 37 inspections in the burrow. There were also eight fired permits processed. Fire prevention in investigated three fires. The Madison High School forensics class recently performed a project of building a small wooden model of home, a small wooden
model home. Engine 3 along with Captain Blair and Chief Wickman visited the school and lit each home on fire in the parking lot so the students could watch and record how their homes would h would hold up under fire. The students learned
about fire investigations. How to see how to see hot Wait a minute. Got to see how hot each home burned during the department's thermal imaging cameras. Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you, finance clerk, Mr. Range.
>> Thank you, mayor. From the tax collector this evening, the new annual tax bills will be sent out next month. Each year we need to wait for the state to pass their budget and to certify the budgets of the bureau, the school district, and the county before we can send new the
new tax rate and begin creating bills. The bill will include the third and fourth quarter amounts for this year as well as the first and second quarter payments for next year. As in years past, there will be a one sheet document included in this mailing with various
information, including a summary budget, major appropriations, and services provided to each resident by the bureau. From the finance department this evening, the finance and administration teams have been meeting with our bond council to discuss the steps needed for
the bureau to uh fund uh the bureau to borrow funds to complete the purchase of the Drew Forest. A bond ordinance will need to be adopted which will allow the bureau to issue either one-year bond anticipation notes or long-term bonds.
The bond ordinance will be introduced within the coming weeks because certain grant funds will be coming in over the next 10 years. Administration is recommending issuing bond anticipation notes annually with the hope that the debt will be paid off within this
10-year period. And one other topic this evening, mayor, uh at our last meeting, uh the mayor issued a proclamation declaring June as Pride Month in Madison. Coincidentally, we also issued a proclamation recognizing gun violence awareness day.
And over the course of a year, we issue proclamations for mental health awareness to support law enforcement. Tonight we had one for Junth to raise awareness around many mental health issues, cultural groups, and milestones. On June 1st, as we have for several
years, the burrow hung pride flags on Waverly Place. We do so to recognize the contributions of the LGBTQ plus community, acknowledge how far the fight for civil rights has come, and recognize that there is still work ahead. For those wondering why this is something we
continue to do each year, you need to look no further than the comments made on the social media posts of your friends and neighbors or even the bureau's own official social media channels. Or you can look at an email that the mayor and council recently received from
a Madison resident and business owner downtown using words like disgust and pedos and claiming those flags must represent less than 1% of Madison residents. Let's be clear on a few things. While it is difficult to determine the exact number of LGBTQ plus
residents in Madison or even nationwide, most reputable surveys place the figure somewhere between 5 and 10% of the adult population with some estimates particularly among younger generations reach reaching considerably higher. These are your friends, your neighbors,
and yes, probably some people you don't like. But that's no different than any other demographic group you would look at. Our downtown flag program celebrates many different people, organizations, events that make up the fabric of Madison. In the coming weeks, we'll fly
Dodger flags celebrating the my school high school seniors. Over the course of a year, we fly flags recognizing our university communities um at the beginning and end of each academic year. flags for the Shakespeare Theater season, Bottle Hill Day, other local
events, and even the New York Jets. We fly flags alongside the American flag and the burrow flag outside of Hartley Dodge Memorial that flies every day. American flags are predominantly displayed throughout downtown and along our streets year round, especially
around Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day. This July, we'll also be displaying flags commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. We also have other programs and events
that recognize our veterans, Madison's hidden figures, cornerstone community organizations like the Rotary Club and Thursday Morning Club, the Christmas Committee, the holiday events, and many others. The contributions of Madison's large Italian-American community is
recognized year round through the Columbus Monument near the early near the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts. While not every group or event can be included in every program, the great thing about our flag program and being a welcoming committee, our community, is
that included inclusion is not a finite resource. It isn't pi. Celebrating one group in a particular way does not diminish any other. Recognizing one community does not lack does not mean we lack the capacity to recognize others.
We can celebrate multiple parts of our shared community and at the at the same time and in various ways. The mayor mentioned in the proclamation the Stonewall riots of 1969 as a beginning of the modern LGBTQ civil rights movement. While Stonewall was certainly
a watershed moment, I encourage anyone interested in understanding this history more deeply to also learn about the lavender scare of the 1950s and early 1960s. During this period, thousands of dedicated public servants were investigated, dismissed, and forced from
federal employment simply because they were suspected of being gay or lesbian. These actions occurred alongside the Red Scare and reflected a belief that all LGBTQ individuals pose both moral problems and a security risk. It serves as a
important reminder that the discrimination against the LGBTQ plus Americans are not ancient history and occurred within living memory and continues right up until today. If you're interested, read The Deviants
War. It's a great book covering this history. And if you don't like reading uh and would rather watch a TV show, check out Fellow Travelers, which is a cool uh dramatized portrayal of that error. In short, the events and conversations of the last eight days has
served as a reminder for me and many others in our community of why we fly the PI pride flags and it remains an important thing to do in 2026. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions and beliefs and are protected
by arguably the greatest of all the amendments to the constitution, the first amendment. But as individuals and as a community, we must decide how we respond when speech or actions are inconsistent with our shared values. Madison has long aspired to be a welcoming and inclusive community and I
believe we should continue to strive toward that ideal. Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you very much for your comments. And public works engineering, Mr. Pas. >> Okay. Thank you, mayor. Welcome everybody from the community. Thanks, Eric. Very well said. Hopefully we never
have to repeat that again, but that was great. Uh, I took some notes, too. A few things I should look up. Uh, from the Department of Public Works, something a short message. Uh, the DBW has been planting and mulching street trees
around the community, and they've also been patching potholes, which there are a lot of around the burrow. Unfortunately, it was a rough winter, but they're they're working hard to cover them all up. The parks department has been preparing fields for all the spring sports every week, soccer,
lacrosse, baseball, and softball. And they also assisted with our annual Platypus Platypus lacrosse tournament, which is a boys lacrosse tournament held every year welcoming about 20 towns. That was uh the weekend of May 30th and
May 31st. Our uh DPW mechanics assisted the Central Avenue School annual bike rodeo. They checked and fixed bikes as needed. The DPW assisted the water utility with new water connections
from the engineering and land use uh prepared by Jim Savage, our official there. Uh Madison Road projects, Shady Lawn Drive to DS Meyer, Inc. started work June
22nd, Sephelian Suns, East Street. Uh I don't need to tell you all all the um the uh people who are doing the jobs, but Dogwood is starting soon. Uh Spring Garden Drive and Ashlin Road and Tooth
Place. Uh GVR, Green Village Road, Wilmer Pedestrian Improvements. Uh concept designs are complete. The plans and specifications are underway. Green Village Road in Woodland uh new traffic signal intersection design
kickoff meeting has been held the end of May with the Morris County Engineer and Police uh capital projects. The DBW garage windows replacement notice to proceed has been issued. Shop drawings and field
measurements will be has been uh pushed ahead for a final building department inspection punch list items and uh Cook Avenue punch list and contract closeout that's the Cook Avenue parking lot is being coordinated
right now uh HDMartley Dodge Memorial EW project continues coordinating electric elevator shaft mechanical sprinklers Glenn Wild and the GBR sewer main update kickoff this
Parks and Land Memorial Park. Memorial Trail phase three surface trail is near complete. Rose soccer field plans are ready for residing uh bidding. Anticipate bidding in the next few weeks. Possible construction this year
or the spring of 2027. Uh we got a notice to proceed issue for the wayfinding signs. Yes. Gateway phase one. NTP issued for Shadyon. I don't know what that is. Awarded wayfinding sidence
phase two for emerge to prepare the second bid. Awarded design of Glenwall Green Village Road sewer main replacement. This is a big one. Madison PAS study proposals have been received. The burough interviewed three consultants to
present the study and concept plan. We're finalizing the selection and award of the contract. Coordination with PSEG gas construction lines and milling and paving throughout the burrow including Garfield Avenue has
been completed Holden Lane, Park Lane and Woodland Road after the school lets out in June of end of June 2026. Danforth prospects to be repaved in August September of this year. Uh, one
more. Mayor NJ do DOT municipal aid 2027 grant application due June 30th. We're preparing a grant application for old greenhouse lane. Evaluating. We're evaluating a solar carport at the community pool. That's awesome. Planning
a 2027 road program, milling overlays, reconstruction signals. We're evaluating Spring Garden Drive area for a storm water hydraulic study and D coordination. The NGP annual storm water report is
completed. GIS development for required watershed improvement report required underway. US EPA audit of MS4 program scheduled for June 11th. integrating storm water system GIS on engineering
and last milling and paving crack sealing curb and sidewalk line striping co-op contracts are all being planned scoped and awarded to vendors we're anticipating the CDBG grant funding award for Britain Alexander sewer lane
planning a summer summer burough storm water outfail inspections for MS4 permit so this hasn't been reported for months That's why. So hopefully everybody got some good information out of that. And one more from the Environmental
Commission. Very short. They have an event tonight. Um the MEC reports the Burough of Madison has been joined by Morris Township and the Cadams in launching the quiet summer campaigns. In all four towns, quiet summer is
simple. All it involves is a phone call to ask your landscaper to pause gas leaf blowing from now through September. Last Saturday, the MEC promoted quiet summer in Madison at the farmers market and they'll be out again this weekend. Their response is very enthusiastic. Residents
listened. They took flyers and quite often said, "I can make that call to my landscaper." Pausing gas leaf blowing is an easy request to make. It involves asking a landscaper to do less and no equipment purchased is involved. Last Saturday, the MEC held a native plant
giveaway at the farmers market. Members potted up some 150 extra plants from the yards. More native plant giveaways will be held in July and August. To get on the MEC's list for the news and events, please email merosenet.org. That's all. No shade tree management
board. Thank you. >> Lot of information utilities miss. >> Okay. From the water department, uh there were several reportable points. upgrade services from 3/4 inch to 1 inch for new construction after a tear down
of an existing home at 8 Lorraine Road and 31 North Street. They dug and repaired four curb boxes and shut off valves in need of repair. Installed a 1- in service for new construction at 41 North Street. They excavated and
searched for a leak at 212 and 214 Main Street after a Route 124 contractor confronted running water. Wells B and D have been manually run in anticipation of scattera control upgrade and alarm certification and the Dwell booster pump has been inspected and will
be pulled and sent to the remanufacturer. Um upcoming events include a hydrant relocation to the roadside of Chateau Tiier. Uh, also from uh, Jim Finelli at the water department, a reminder to
residents that we are still in a drought and you should be limiting your water use and should limit the amount of water you use on your lawn. From the electric department, standby was called out to 15 Nwood for a reported power outage.
Electric department has been working on a pole replacement and transfer on Green Avenue and Hillside Avenue from a carpole accident. Uh the department has been doing work on Madison Avenue to prepare for the new building that will be taking place in Geralda Farms and the electric
department finished transformer upgrades on Ferndale Avenue. They also continue make make good progress with treeine clearance. Uh thanks to the mayor for joining uh among others uh for National Trails Day at Memorial Park. Um, I think
the best feedback I heard was 86year-old young, I guess, um, was thrilled to be able to walk on something that was accessible and safer for her and so she can keep moving forward with her exercise. So, uh, it it is true. We ran
into a lot of people, a lot of dogs on leashes and, uh, everybody was happy happy to be in the woods. Um, and congratulations to the police department, the Madison Police Department and Fire Department for uh their participation in the torch run for
the Special Olympics this past week. >> Very much. And with health and community affairs for John Forte, Miss Cullen. >> All right, I'm going to start with Madison pool update. We had another great weekend at Madison Community Pool with warm weather finally bringing many
members out to enjoy the facility. A reminder that deep water testing is required annually for members wishing to use the deep end. For those unable to test over the weekend and additional testing opportunity will be held on Wednesday, June 10th from 4 to 6 p.m. at the pool. This will also provide an
opportunity for those planning to attend the fifth grade party and wishing to use the deep end to test in advance of the event. The cornhole tournament completed its second week this past weekend. Congratulations to weekly winners Corey Green and Mike Bruno. Additional pop-up tournaments and activities including
whiffle ball and basketball are planned throughout the summer. We are continuing to explore programming opportunities for our youngest members and look forward to announcing those soon. A reminder that guest policy changes that the guest policies change this year. Madison resident non-members are permitted to
enter the pool as guests a maximum of three times throughout the season. Beginning June 19th, Madison community pool will officially open seven days a week for the season. There is still time to join us poolside this summer. or visit madisonpool.org for membership information and details.
Leading into the uh business development, Healthy Italia had their 10-year anniversary celebration on Saturday at the Madison Arts and Community Center. Uh lots of food, uh people, uh and it was a rousing success, and we're thrilled that they've been
here for 10 years. Downtown Development Commission, Director of Business Development. The next meeting will be held on July 16th at 7:15 in Hartley Dodge. The public's invited to attend. June has been cancelled. The 2026 Madison Farm and Artisan Market is open on Saturdays
through December 12th. It will be closed on the 4th of July and Bottle Hill Day. New vendors can request the information by emailing Lisa Ellis at ddcrossnet.org. Information regarding Bottle Hill Day 2026 went out to past vendors and is now
available on rosenet.org as well. From the Chamber of Commerce, the Madison Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring fire extinguisher expense inspections on Tuesday, June 9th from 11 to 4 at the corner of Central Avenue and Main Street. $30 per inspection, $25 for
chamber members. Make checks payable to the mayor. Sorry, not to the mayor. To the Madison, not to the mayor. To the may to the Madison area Chamber of Commerce. All businesses and the general public are welcome. Take advantage of this great service. Madison Community Arts Center
has a ton of stuff. Um the seniors are continuing to play ma jang and canasta on Tuesdays from 1 to 4. Tonight uh right now the Madison Environmental Commission is and the nature of reading are presenting when the forest breathes. Wednesday night is music open mic night which is every second Wednesday. Local
musicians perform two songs each. Friday, June 12th, Just Say Gay Comedy Show. Celebrate Pride Month with a night of stand-up comedy community and queer joy. June 13th at 800 PM, too old for that, the improv comedy show. June 17th is comedy open mic night, which is every
third Wednesday, local comics take the stage to try out new and old material. June 19th, the Summit Film Society is showing Reading Lolita in Tron. Saturday, June 20th at 7:45, Steal the Spotlight 2.0 monthly drag competition show all stars. The winner from each
month will compete for the crown. Uh links to the tickets can be found on rosnet.org. And finally, the health department. Uh, for the month of May, the health department completed the following activities. 51 retail food inspections, seven environmental complaints, 16
communicable diseases. The health department has opened their new WIC site in the Summit Community Center, 100 Morris Avenue in Summit. For appointments, call 9089945141. There will be a bone density screening on June 25th from 11 to 2 in the courtroom right here in Hartley Dodge.
Registration will open this week and will be posted on the board of health's website. There will be a blood pressure screening on June 29th from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the library. No appointments needed. The department continues to offer free vaccinations to adults 19 and older who are non-insured or underinsured and free vaccinations
and physical exams to children up to age 19. Please check our website for information on how to schedule an appointment. And just a very quick followup to Councilman Rang's comments, which thank you. You summed it all up nicely. Just a reminder as we tell our high school students and middle school students, what you put on social media
can be screenshot and sent anywhere. It's not necessarily just to who you're sending it to and being respectful. And as the late uh Miss Zipper said, if you can't say something nice, don't say it at all. >> Thank you. Very good. A lot of lot to
report tonight. Now, communications and petitions. >> Uh yes, mayor. The mayor and council received an email dated June the 8th from Laura um Benu Bonudo of Woodland Road supporting a ban of gas powered be leaf blowers.
Right now we move on to invitation for public comment. This is when you may comment on items that are on our agenda discussion which we have none tonight and anything on our consent agenda. I will go through the consent agenda right now so you know what to comment on and you will also understand what is under
the consent. So resolution 182 is ratifying salary increase for full-time confidential employees excluded from union participation. This is a $1,500 increase uh effective July 1st and this uh just
puts the non-union on par with the union employees. Resolution 183 is renewing liquor licenses for the Bureau of Madison for the 2026 2027 light license term. And you will note that during when that
comes up that council member uh Hyen Putus will be recusing himself as a partner of license in town. License 184 is appointing Connor Benway to the position of public safety communications officer dispatch. Uh this is at annual
salary of $54,281. Resolution 185 is ratifying appointment of Riley Barara to position of assistant swim coach at the community pool at $18 an hour. Resolution 186 is um trust fund
grant application for restoration of Hartley Dodge memorial clock tower. And um if a straight state grant is approved, it will require a matching grant from the from us for 1 uh 285
million. Uh 18 resolution 187 is authorizing the purchase of three police vehicles, accessory equipment, and other related equipment from the police out outside duty fund. It should be noted that our goal is to purchase hybrid vehicles, but they are a year to two
years out and uh we need to replace vehicles now with the life of police vehicles. We will get to the point where we can get those hybrids in a timely manner. Uh resolution 186 is authorizing the three vehicles through the Mars
County Cooperative Pricing Council. Resolution 189 is authorized an award of contract with Dubbury engineering for engineering design and permitting services for PAS enhanced treatment facility master plan and related work
and this is not to exceed $52,94. Resolution 190 is ratifying the appointment of Owen Duffy as paid intern in the engineering department. Uh resolution 191 is um updating our
personnel policies and procedures and this is uh to uh keep uh in response to a new state law that was signed in by Governor Murphy last year. Resolution 192 is appointing Stephanie Coberly as part-time per DM emer
say at the rate of $30 per hour without benefits. Resolution 193 is uh ratifying the appointments of water safety instructors Riley Ferrara, Cecilia Timonss, and Ethan Sims for the uh community pool at rate of $17 an hour,
no benefits. Resolution 194 is appointing uh appointment of Anthony Albanesey's position of truck driver in the in DPW annual salary of 56 $986 which is in accordance with the collected bargaining
unit um union contract and resolution 195 is a resolution for us to be able to participate in a uh co-op pricing system for um Camden. Thank you. And this is allows
one that specializes in natural turf. Um so you may comment on those resolutions. If you wish to comment on any of those resolutions, you step up to lecture and state your name and your town and state the resolution you're commenting on. Anyone who wishes to comment, please step forward.
Seeing none, I close this part of the meeting. And we have no agenda discussion. So, we move on to ordinances for hearing. Will the clerk please read the statement? The ordinance scheduled for hearing was introduced by title and passed on a first reading at the regular meeting of
the council held on May the 27th, 2026. It was posted and filed according to law and copies were made available to the general public requesting same. >> I call up ordinance 27-2026 for second reading as bur clerk to read
set ordinance by title. Ordinance 27206, Ordinance of the Bureau of Madison, amending and supplementing chapter 195 of the Burough Code entitled land development to prohibit data centers data centers. >> Either way,
>> um, anyone wishing to comment Ordinance 27, please step forward. Seeing none, I close the hearing. >> Mayor, I move ordinance 27- 2026. >> Second. Any council discussion?
>> Just of note, this was before the planning board last week, two weeks ago. Um, and was deemed to be not inconsistent with the master plan. >> Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Landedan, >> yes. >> Mr. Range, >> yes.
>> Mr. Harold Pudis, >> yes. >> Monahan, >> yes. M. Cohen, >> yes. >> I declare ordinance 27-2026 adopted and finally passed. I ask the clerk to publish notice and file the ordinance in accordance with the law. And now we move on to our second of uh
invitations for public comment. This is when you may comment on any topic. Anyone wishing to comment, please step forward. Are you sure? mostly. I just want to share with you two Um, Norine from the Madison uh
Historical Society today uh presented me with this whole sheet of stuff she researched about my mother and my family. And um this first one, just to show you, you
know, how long she's been around here, this was published in the Madison Eagle in 1935. And um it's about uh
scholarship and things uh in the um class profic proficiency in scholarship, department, honor, courage and leadership. And they have a number of
names here and mom was one of them. Um but the most interesting one here that she gave me was the fact that um three Madison women shaken up in train
wreck um down in Philadelphia and my my uh my son googled this train wreck and it was a huge huge train wreck. 79 people died and 115 people were injured.
Um, it was Mrs. Carl Holm, her 23 year old 23year-old twin daughters, that's my mom and her sister Lil and this was from 1943.
Um, Lillian and Rose of 197 Greenwood were on the once great congressional limited when the crackup occurred. Um, they were in the dining car at the time of the accident and were thrown
almost the length of the car when it upended and turned into a gigantic slide. And if you they googled this and this was one of the largest train wrecks uh in history at the time but 79 people
were killed. It was down in Philadelphia. They were coming from Washington DC up to New Jersey after visiting someone down there. But um I just thought you might find that interesting, you know. I mean seems like uh there was kind of a center of gravity
surrounding her. Um, and that was just one of the things that happened to her over her lifetime. And luckily, she wasn't one of the 79 people that were killed, but they lost all their luggage. Uh, and once again, mayor, I want to
thank you for all your kind words and um say that Madison is a great community. >> Thank you for coming down on a very difficult time. um certainly appreciate it and your m
just to add a few your mother was just one of the kindest people to know and always always smiling. I think the last time I saw her she probably was setting the record for the oldest person ever watched one of our parades in town because this is only maybe two years ago maybe three at most
>> Memorial Day. >> Yep. Memorial Day parade and there she was >> missed it this year. >> Yep. Right on the side. and uh we we we will miss her and Madison is a bit greater place because of her presence for 100 plus years.
>> Thanks. >> Anyone else wishing to comment, please step forward. Seeing none, I close this part of the meeting. And we now move on to introduction of ordinances. The ordinance is scheduled for first reading. Have a hearing date set for
June the 22nd, 2026. They'll be posted on the burrow's website, posted on the bulletin board, and made available to members of the public requesting copies. >> I call up ordinances for for first reading and ask the burough clerk to read that ordinance by title. Ordinance
28-2026. >> Ordinance of the bureau of Madison appropriating $60,000 from the general capital improvement fund for signalization improvements. >> Mayor, I move ordinance 28206.
>> Second. Council discussion >> just for m maintenance. Yeah, this is mayor just uh uh money that we have in capital improvements for uh maintenance of our signals around the burrow.
It's all routine stuff >> and um I I found it interesting in the packet that you know you must push the button. Please push the button so that the new signals work properly for the pedestrians.
Point push the button campaign is on. >> Yes. Exactly. >> Any other comments? Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Landrean. >> Yes. >> Mr. Range. >> Yes. >> Mr. Harold Pudis. >> Yes. >> M. >> Monahan. >> Yes. >> Miss. Cohen. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 29-2026.
>> Ordinance of the Burough of Madison amending and supplementing chapter 195 of the burough code entitled land development. >> Mayor, I move ordinance 29206. >> Second. Council discussion
and this this is related uh to two different things in land use coming through the planning board subcommittee. One is um garage attached garages to make sure that they uh are not uh ports in the
front of the house that they can only protrude a certain amount. And the other is um for uh developments that have multiple homes that there's a variety in the design and the v and the design variety
is not just a mirror image which is often used that it actually has to have some different elements in there and this would be uh came from the planning board go back for consistency and then come back here again. Any other discussion? Roll call vote please
>> Mr. Mr. Landeran. >> Yes. >> Mr. Range. >> Yes. >> Mr. Harold. >> Yes. >> Miss Monahan. >> Yes. >> M. Cohen. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 30-2026. >> Ordinance of the Bureau of Madison appropriating $250,000 from the general capital improvement
fund for the Hartley Dodge Memorial roof, doors, gutters, clock, and clock tower. >> Mayor, I move ordinance 30-2026. >> Second. Council discussion on this one.
Uh this is uh uh our portion of these uh improvements to Hartley Dodge, notably the clock tower which is in severe disrepair with water intrusion and
structural problems at this point. Um so we'll be seeking grants from the county and the state. I think both. Right. Right. um as well as uh financial support from our friends at the Harley Dodge Memorial
Trustees. >> Thank you. >> Any further discussion? >> Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Landeran, >> yes. >> Mr. Range, >> yes. >> Mr. Harold Pis, >> yes. >> Mahan, >> yes. >> Mr. Cohen, >> yes. >> We now move on to consent agenda
resolutions. Will the clerk please read the statement? >> Consent agenda resolutions will be enacted with a single motion. Any resolution requiring expenditure is supported by a certification of availability of funds. Any resolution requiring discussion will be removed from the consent agenda. All resolutions
will be reflected in full in the minutes. >> Mayor, I move consent agenda agenda resolution 182 2026 through 195 2026. >> Second house discussion. So, so mayor, I
would recuse myself, please, from resolution 183 2026. And I also am not in favor of resolution 187 2026, which is our purchase of three new police vehicles, uh, gas combustion
police vehicles. We've had this discussion at previous meetings that, you know, we're trying to promote ourselves. >> Hold on just a second. >> You don't want to know. Oh, sorry, ma'am. >> We'll pull that one and then you can make make that comment. >> Okay. Sorry ma'am. >> Thank you. >> I'm just recusing myself from 183 2026.
>> Yep. So that'll be in 183 will remain in the consent but you just mention as we uh do a roll call vote just >> sorry >> uh reaffirm your recusal and it's 187 188 that we will uh
>> All right. So the consent agenda has those. Any further discussion on the consent agenda minus those two? >> Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Landeran. >> Yes. >> Mr. Range. >> Yes. >> Mr. Harold Pudis. >> Yes. I recuse my I have to say it again.
>> I recuse myself from resolution 183 2026 and don't approve and no don't say anything about the other two. >> Those are >> okay. Stay tuned. >> Mrs. Monahan. >> Yes. Miss. >> Yes. All right. I will take a motion for
resolution 187206 and 188 2026. First one is authorizing the purchase of three police vehicles uh from uh using um police outside utility fund account and the second one is authorizing the use of the um Mars County co-op and um so
entertain a motion. Hey, mayor. I'll move agend agenda resolutions 187 2026 and 188 2026. >> Second. >> Council discussion. Mr. Helen Fus. >> Okay. Sorry, Mayor. I >> That's all right. >> Didn't remember the protocol.
>> I I just I want to comment that I'm not in favor of these. I I appreciate that the department wants to have the newest uh possible vehicles to to uh operate in the burrow, but uh we've had this type
of um request before and we've pushed the police department and they have responded a few times finding at least hybrids which are more in tune with what our climate action plan is stating for the burough that we're trying to move as
best as possible. possible away from at least total gas combustion. Uh if we can keep the vehicles that are still in our fleet operable for another year or two while we wait for the hybrids to come available, I would I would appreciate us
trying to do that. So that's that's my opinion. >> So Bob, Eric, and then De. >> Okay. Well, I appreciate what you're saying, Tom. Um I did have a conversation with the police chief. vehicles in question have in excess of a
100,000 miles on them. And unlike a personal car that you or I might own, these vehicles need to be fully operational and dependable because they're responding to emergency situations. It's not really I don't want to say it's not an option, but it's not a wise move to put off the purchase of
these. And he also indicated that there seems to be a quite a long delay in getting the hybrids. We're saying two years could be longer than two years. uh for some reason the dealerships have stopped making them and now they're playing catchup. So I don't see while
the the burrow has been very good at adhering to what the environmental commission has done and the police chief did say to me they're committed to doing this. They can't do it right now. They need these new police cars and sooner
rather than later. Eric, >> and just to echo Bob Bob's points, but uh more importantly, I think Tom has a reasonable point here. Um, and we've run into this the last couple of years where
we have these long runways and we have to kind of fit and start and stop. Um, so I don't see this problem unless Ford drops out of the sky and starts making hybrids at like twice or three times the
rate that they're making them. Um, so I wonder if there's an opportunity, not for these cars that we need right now today, but is there an opportunity? You know, every year that I've been on council, I feel like we've bought at
least one patrol car. So, if we know this is coming, how do we get in line in 2026? So, when we get to 2028, the hybrids are actually there for us when we want to buy them. And I'm sure
that there are procurement and, you know, financial tom foolery we need to do to figure that out, but um it seems to me like Ford's not going to fix our problem. We're going to have to be creative in in
how we address this because, you know, I don't think anybody on council wants to just kick the can down the road, but we need reliable vehicles um that are not, you know, older engines that are, you
know, that and these cars do idle, right? They have to idle um to run all the equipment and and so on and so forth. So, um I would be highly in favor of that. And the the chief has also indicated to me in more than one conversation that he's also
um interested in some of their support vehicles being not only hybrids but fully electric. um vehicles that may not be fully appropriate for day-to-day patrol, but like the
traffic pickup truck or the community policing vehicle or vehicles like that. So anyway, I think, you know, we should be looking now at how we prime the pump for the hybrids because this has been a conversation for three years now that that we do this. So Tom, I think it's a
a fine point. >> Yeah. Deb, >> um, just to make it clear, it's not that the police department wants the newest vehicles. I mean, we'd all love a new vehicle. I'm driving a 14-year-old car. Um, but that it is because of end of life. Um, so I just wanted to make sure
the public understood that that it wasn't they don't want the the newest vehicles. And then Bob and Eric already covered everything else. just I Tom, I I feel your frustration because we've been here before. So I I I like the approach that Eric has made is
uh let's not keep getting at the end of the line. Let's figure out a way to get get in the line so that we're not having this conversation next year or the year after. So um we can check charge the chief with that. Any further discussion? >> I want to say something else, Bob.
Excuse me, mayor. Well, to your points, everybody's saying if we knew the end of life was coming, and I'm not following this. So, if somebody had said to me in February, you know what, in a few months, we're probably going to have to replace our cars. But when you tell me the day of the meeting that this is up for discussion, it's not really any time
for us to discuss it either. Don't know anything about the conditions of the vehicles. I'm not challenging them on their, you know, u good faith uh information to us, but to all all of a sudden three of them have to go at the
same time. I I don't know, Bob. And I don't know for a fact that you have to wait two years because we got one recently, didn't we? >> No. >> Yes, we did. >> We We did, but it was after a couple years wait. >> Yeah. Okay. But we got one somehow. I didn't know what the >> We got in the line and then had to I
think we also had to buy some gas vehicles in between. >> Yeah. Yeah, I do remember that we had So, like I said, we had this discussion before, but of course, I'm in favor, like everybody else said, of us having the most suitable equipment to protect the community. >> I just, you know, don't want to see us
continuing to keep the can. And we're not going to get rid of these probably. We're just going to replace other ones with hybrids. So, hopefully the new electric option shows up in a couple of years, it's viable, and that'll be the best way for us to operate. It doesn't take long for a police cruiser to get
100 or 150,000 miles. I mean, we're a pretty small town, but >> drive back and forth. >> Yep. >> And pointed out >> 10 times a day you get there. >> That doesn't, as you point out, that doesn't reflect the >> All right. I may have roll call on
resolutions 187 188. >> Mr. Landrean? >> Yes. >> Mr. Range? >> Yes. >> Mr. Harlon Pudis? >> No. >> M. Hon. Yes, Miss Cohen. Yes. >> And there is no unfinished business. We move on to approval of vouchers. Will
the clerk please read the voucher totals >> from the current fund? $474,52142 from the general capital fund. $64,921 from the electric operating fund. 376,6367 from the water operating fund, $11,35853 from the water capital fund, $3,520.
Even from the trust, $63,83086. The total is $984,95969. >> Mayor, I'll move the approval of the vouchers. Second. >> Any discussion? >> Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Landrean, >> yes. >> Mr. Range, >> yes. >> Mr. Harold Pudis, >> yes. >> Miss Monahan,
>> yes. >> Mr. Cohen, >> yes. >> There is no new business. I entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Mayor, I move that we adjourn the meeting. >> All in favor? I >> thank