All right, if you can find your way to your seats. Hop. Sorry about that. Let the record reflect, have reconvened with all members present. For those who are able, please rise for Pledge of Allegiance. I ask you 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. >> Let us take a moment to remember a
couple of long-time Madisonians we lost over the last few weeks. Vincent Palma passed away on July 16th, age of 87. Born in 1938 in Madison, he was a lifelong resident of the community he proudly called home. He dedicated more than 50 years of his
career to the construction industry working as a construction manager for Damon Douglas Company in Cranford. Proud union member, Vincent was known for his strong work ethic, dependability, and commitment to his craft. Outside of work, he found great joy in spending time with his extended family.
He was an avid fan of horse racing, enjoyed trips to Atlantic City and Las Vegas, and golf was another favorite pastime, played each week for many years. And after he was no longer able to play, he never missed watching tournaments on TV. As the youngest of six siblings, he
cherished his family, especially looked forward to annual two-week visits to California to spend time with his sister. He was predeceased by his brothers Pasquale, Frank, Anthony, and Mike, and his sister Frances. And we also remember Dolores Ricci,
passed away on July 14th, age of 99. She's survived by her two daughters, Denise and Karen, and her son Charles, along with their respective spouses. She is also survived by one brother, Randy, and three grandchildren, including Megan Avallone, who in her role with the Westfield Health
Department is Madison's health officer, so please pass your regrets on to Megan. She also leaves behind four great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph. Born in 1927 in Newark, she was the daughter of the late Orest
and Ida DeFranzo. After graduating high school, she pursued her ambitions by completing secretarial program which led to a fulfilling career as administrative assistant to superintendent schools in Chatham Borough. Her dedication to her work was a testament to her strong character and commitment.
She married Joseph and together they settled in Madison raised their three children. As a mother, she was a source of unconditional love and support and her pride in her grandchildren great-grandchildren brought her immense joy. She loved baking, reading, traveling,
exploring numerous destinations around the world. And she was a long-time parishioner of St. Vincent Martyr. And we remember Antonetta Oliva Oliva, Oliva, sorry. Lifelong resident Madison passed away July 9th at the age of 63.
She was preceded in death by her father Raimondo and is survived by her mother Louisa. She was active member of the Arc Morris County for years where she learned many life skills and was loved by all. My wife knew her very well from my her time at the Arc.
She always took great pride in having her nails done by her neighbor Janice and special trips to Burger King on Saturday with a friend Joanne. She loved watching her favorite TV shows including Little House on the Prairie and Golden Girls while flipping through well-worn magazines. Her smile, giggle, and gentleness warmed
the hearts of anyone blessed to know her especially her caregivers. Now let us remember Vincent Palmer, Dolores Ricci, Antonetta Oliva, and let us pass our thoughts on to the family and friends that they leave behind. Thank you.
>> Right. It's a motion for the executive minutes of June 2nd, 2026. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All ready to discuss. All in favor? >> Aye. >> And a motion for the regular minutes of July 22nd, 2026.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Any corrections or changes? All in favor? >> Aye. >> All right. Welcome all on this somewhat stormy, unpredictable day. Uh before I get to my regular comments, I do want to recognize that
today is National New Jersey Day, which I didn't realize until today. I think we deserve more than one day, but we'll take our day. Uh a day to celebrate everything that makes the Garden State such a special place to live, work, and raise a family. As we know, uh this time of year, no one
can come close to our corn or tomatoes that we uh that are grown in the state. Here in Madison, we are proud to be part of New Jersey's rich history and bright future from North Jersey and Central Jersey, if you do accept that, uh and to South Jersey, our state is defined by vibrant communities,
dedicated public servants, thriving local businesses, neighbors who consistently come together to support one another. And while we we may never settle a debate over whether it's Taylor Ham or pork roll, one thing I we can uh all agree on is New Jersey is a remarkable place to call
home. Just a quick side story, last weekend I was at a wedding in South Jersey, and I'm glad I didn't eat gas because I would have pumped myself because I thought I was in a different state, but uh cuz I'm just such a North Jersey boy. Um but it is a great place to call home.
So, on behalf of the Borough Council, I thank everyone who helps Madison and New Jersey such a wonderful place to live. So, happy National New Jersey Day, everyone. A couple of other things before we come to a very special ceremony. I want to thank Council President John Forte, not only
for covering the two meetings while I was away, but for handling the storm of July 3rd, being out there, providing support to our residents, and and our borough employees. It certainly makes a big difference when they see our elected officials out and about, understanding
what's going on. So, thank you for the coverage. Uh last Tuesday, I cut the ribbon at Rose Court Brewery on Central Avenue. They had their soft opening on Saturday, July 18th, and if you remember that day, there was a lot of passing storms, but
there was a lot a line out front all day long. So, congratulations to Logan and Angela Rice for great addition to Madison's downtown. And uh yesterday, I made my first uh visit to the Madison community pool since the splash contest on opening weekend, since I've been away for a
little bit. And I received a lot of thank yous from the members on behalf of the governing body for our effort to ensure that the pool would be open this summer. They're certainly enjoying everything. And it was great to see the families there on a warm July weekend. And I also discovered that the
refurbished uh twist slide is a whole lot faster than it used to be with a new paint job. So, poof. I thought I was going to launch to the shallow end as it came out the bottom. All right. Uh Travis Dandel, please come forward. Along with family.
Chief. >> Just a little background on Travis before we do the official swearing in as sergeant. He was born in New Brunswick, raised in North Brunswick, graduated from North Brunswick uh high school in um
town uh 2008. Dedicated hockey player since the age of 12. Competed in travel hockey throughout his youth and was recruited to play college hockey at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. During his four-year college career, he earned numerous NCAA honors and served
as team captain during his senior year. 2014, he graduated from University of Massachusetts, Boston with a bachelor's degree in exercise and health science. He attended the Morris County Police Academy as an alternate route candidate before accepting a position with the Madison Police Department.
He graduated from Morris County Police Academy's 86th basic police class and began his law enforcement career with Madison Police a little over a decade decade ago, May 2016. Throughout his career, Travis has established himself as a respected leader and mentor within the department.
He has served as officer in charge and field training officer where he played a vital role in supervising operations and developing newly hired officers. He also educates Madison youth serving as a DARE officer. Travis continues to play competitive
hockey as a member of New Jersey State PBA hockey team where he has proudly represented Madison for the past decade. His professionalism and commitment to public safety has earned him numerous departmental uh commendations and awards including recognition of Morris County 200 Club
for his exemplary service to the community. His record of service reflects his dedication to both the Madison Police Department and the community he proudly serves. So, Travis, it's a true honor to uh be giving you the oath of office as our
newest sergeant. I will now swear will be holding the Raise your right hand, place the left hand on the Bible. Repeat after me. I, state your name. >> I, Travis Daniel. >> Do solemnly swear. >> Do solemnly swear. >> That I will faithfully >> That I will faithfully >> and partially >> and partially
>> duly perform >> and duly perform >> all the duties >> all the duties of >> police sergeant >> police sergeant >> according to the best of my ability. >> According to the best of my ability. >> I further solemnly swear >> I further solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of
the United States >> and the Constitution of the state of New >> and the Constitution of the state of New Jersey >> and that 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. >> Congratulations, Sergeant Daniel. >> Thank you. >> [applause] [applause] [applause] >> Well, I just want to congratulate Travis, um,
you know, as a as a fantastic addition to our already unbelievable police department, dedicated uh, public servants and officers that we have here in Madison. So, um, I wish you the best of luck. You know, you have every officer here to lean on and along with myself. And, uh, you know, it's a great
night for you and your family and and the Borough of Madison. So, congratulations. >> [applause] >> Yeah. >> All right, we will move on to reports from committees. Community Affairs, Council President Forte. >> Thank you very much, Mayor. Uh from the Downtown Development
Commission and the Director of Business Development, the next meeting of the Downtown Development Commission will be held on August 20th at 7:15 p.m. in the second floor committee room of the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building. The public is invited to attend. The 2026 Madison Farm and Artisan Market
is open on Saturdays through December 12th. The market will be closed on the 4th of July and Bottle Hill Day. New vendors can request information by emailing Lisa Ellis at ddc@rosenet.org. Information regarding Bottle Hill Day on
Saturday, October 3rd is now available on rosenet.org. And from the Community Arts Center, every Tuesday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Caesars seniors play mahjong and canasta. And A Work of Art Productions is showing Mean Girls from July 30th to August 1st
and Legally Blonde Jr. on August 2nd. Wednesday, August 5th at 7:00 p.m. the Platform Literacy Open Mic and Writing Workshop brought to you by Arts by the People. And Thursday, August Thursday through Sunday, August 6th to 9th, Cafe Theater
is back with four chances to see these summer inspired comedies served with coffee and cake. Wednesday, August 12th at 7:00 p.m. is a music open mic night. Every second Wednesday, local musicians perform two songs each and all are welcome to perform or attend.
And Friday, August 14th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Summer Stage Series featuring two bands, Brian Hanson Band and The DTs. There will be a food truck and local craft vendors. For tickets, visit Madison Community Arts Center events homepage and the calendar is at
rosenet.org/mcac. And from the Madison Community Pool. Madison Community Pool operations continue to progress with a full lineup of programs and events for members of all ages. Over the past week, we hosted toddler yoga and story time, float, flex and flow, beginner water polo and the
highly anticipated moonlight swim, ensuring there has truly been something for everyone. We also recently concluded this year's cornhole tournament. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the league another success. Earlier today, the pool closed at 6:00 p.m. to allow staff to prepare for a
staff appreciation event recognizing our employees for their dedication and hard work throughout this even this season. And I was there and was able to thank them on behalf of the mayor and council. This evening, the Holiday Hoopla in in July preteen party is underway bringing a little winter magic to the middle of
summer with snow, games, crafts, activities and activities for our younger members. And yes, I did say snow. They are having snow tonight. >> And actually, there also was lightning in the area, so I don't think they're doing any of it. >> Oh, did it Oh, Bummer. I didn't get that. Okay. And uh uh the Barracuda swim team
participated in divisionals today and will conclude its season on Thursday at Meet of Champions. Congratulations to all of our swimmers for on an outstanding season. I'd also like to recognize our coaches, staff, volunteers, and parents whose countless hours behind the scenes make every practice and home meet possible.
Looking ahead, Friday, July 31st, will be our next $5 non-member day. Residents who have not yet experienced the Madison Community Pool are invited to spend the day enjoying the pool all the pool has to offer for just $5 with no member sponsor required. The event also falls
the day before our August only memberships become available. Any guest fees paying during paid during the $5 non-member day can be applied toward the purchase of an August family membership. So, you can go check it out for $5 and decide if you want to join for August. And there's even more to come. Be on the
lookout for our details on upcoming family fun day. We're putting the finishing touches on the event and can't wait to announce the date, activities, and entertainment lineup. And as we approach the full month of the pool season, the final full month of the pool season, I want to thank everyone who has contributed to this year's
success. Our volunteer advisory board, our dedicated employees, and most importantly, our members. This has been a year of learning as the borough assumed direct operation of the pool. Every day we continue to refine our processes, make operational improvements, and invest in repairs and enhancements to ensure the Madison
Community Pool remains the community treasure it's been for generations. We sincerely appreciate the patience, the understanding, the feedback, and the encouragement we've been receiving throughout the season, and we're already looking ahead to make making sure that the 2027 season is even better.
Thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you. >> I do have Debs as well. Okay. Whoops, I My microphone was not on. Sorry. >> Okay. >> From the >> Go ahead. >> Okay. From the Police Department, uh the Madison Police Department is preparing for paving this week. The roads included are Woodland Road,
Prospect Street, Holden Lane, and Danforth Road. More information will be provided in the engineering report. However, expect many detours and local street closures. The paving of Madison of Main Street is expected to occur within the next couple of weeks. More information will be
released once the paving is scheduled and finalized by the Jersey Department of Transportation. The paving will occur at night. To get the most up-to-date information about road closures and paving, the police department is requesting that you register for Alert Madison. If you
haven't already registered, we encourage you to do so today at alertmadison.org so you will be ready for the next emergency. Alert Madison is the Borough of Madison's official emergency notification system. Whether it's severe weather, power
outages, road closures, or other emergencies, Alert Madison delivers important updates directly to you by text message, email, and or by phone call. The Madison Department Madison Police Department would like to remind all residents who are traveling and will be
away for the remainder of the summer that they can register their home on the vacation list at and visit rosenet.org to do so. This past Monday, the police department traffic safety board, along with Mayor Conley and other borough officials, met
with representatives from the New Jersey Department of Transportation to improve mid-block crosswalks and crossings along Route 124 or along the Route 124 corridor, which is Madison Avenue and Main Street.
On July 30th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., the Madison-Chatham Coalition and Project Community Pride of the Madison Area YMCA are proud to offer basketball and volleyball at the Y. Come and shoot around with Madison and Chatham police officers and learn about
Project Community Pride, the Madison-Chatham Coalition and other programs at the Madison Area YMCA. Snacks and prizes will be provided. It's open to members and non-members. Madison is hosting National Night National Night Out on Tuesday, August
4th. National Night Out is the annual community building campaign that promotes strong community policing partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more care and more caring places to live and work. National Night Out
enhances the relationship between neighborhoods and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. All residents are invited to the festivities which will take place from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the public safety safety building. Any questions can be directed to police
officer Stephanie Aquino at 973-593-3034 or nno@rosenet.org. And finally, the Madison Police Department is seeking school crossing guards. Interested candidates should visit rosenet.org for more information or apply today.
Okay, now from the Health Department. There will be a lead consumer goods testing on Wednesday, July 29th from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Madison Library. Walk-ins are welcome and residents can bring spices, toys, dinnerware, and other consumer goods for
testing. The department completed its tobacco age of sale enforcement TASE inspection program. This program is designed to to protect youth from nicotine addiction
by holding devices and nicotine by holding the smoking devices and nicotine oral pouches. 11 inspections were completed. During these inspections, not only does the department focus on underage sale, but also inventory also the inventory which
products are being sold and making sure that all products are legal and the proper signage is posted. The next board meeting is on August 3rd at 7:30 p.m. at Hartley Dodge Memorial Building. There will be public hearing for the following
two ordinances. An ordinance to permit manage the managed care for chickens and an ordinance to require proof of extermination during rodent infestation. Okay, there will also be blood pressure testing on Monday, July 27th from 11:00
to 10:00 at the Madison Library. Water Walk-ins are welcome. There will be lead consumer testing on July 29th. Okay, walk-ins are welcome and residents can bring spices, toys, dinnerware and other consumer products. Okay, and then during
the storm, the health department assisted by providing guidance to retail food establishments without power, inspecting reopening reopening retail food establishments and directing residents to cooling centers. Thank you, Mayor.
>> Thank you and finance and borough clerk, Mr. Range. >> Thank you, Mayor. From the finance department this evening, it's almost August and that means that the administration is preparing the 2027 budget. Administrator
Ray Codey, CFO Jim Bernat and director of operations Michael Plisky and the tax collector Chrissy Moller will be meeting with department heads over the coming 10 weeks or so to discuss capital and operating needs for the upcoming year. We anticipate a budget calendar similar
to last year, which means our public conversations will start in December. A one-sheet flyer was included with all recently mailed tax bills. This document includes a very high level of the 2026 budget, as well as other pertinent
information on municipal operations, including details on where your tax dollars go. It is a short summary of three major initiatives that the bureau has taken on over the past few years, and those initiatives include the bureau taking over the EMT ambulance services as part
of the Madison Fire Department, and the community pool operations that Councilman Forte referenced earlier. And of course, uh the steps we've taken to date to finalize the purchase of the Drew Forest. I
strongly encourage residents to review this document, and residents interested in learning more are encouraged to visit the annual budget process page on Rosenet that has several versions of these documents that go into various levels of depth of the budget and the
budget process. From the tax collector this evening, uh the tax collector reports that tax and pilot bills will were mailed out last week. Uh all residents should have received them by this point. The tax rate was delayed from the county
this year, which in turn delayed uh issuing of our tax bills. Due to the delayed billing, the third quarter grace period um has been extended to August 20th. It is very important though um that payments to note that payments not
received by 4:30 on the 20th will be charged full interest all the way back to the statutory due date, which is August 1st. So, if you can, pay your tax bill by August 1st, and then you don't have to worry about it. As a reminder, we cannot accept uh
postmark date uh postdated checks uh or other uh other methods. If you have not received your uh bill by now, please contact the tax office so they can send you another copy right away. The tax collector also reports that the
annual tax sale will be held on September 10th. On that day, any property owners with unpaid 2025 balances on their taxes or utilities will have a lien placed on their property. Official tax sale notices were mailed out to affected properties last
week. The tax sale process is a way for municipalities in New Jersey to obtain the full amount of property taxes owed and other charges needed to support the annual budget while providing the property owner with additional time to pay off what they might owe. And that's all from finance and borough clerk.
Thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you. Just a quick reinforcement from some of your comments related to budget. I was on a webinar earlier today with a DCA, uh Mike Rogers from DCA, and part of it was uh best practices related to uh budgeting, and it could have been
Jim Doing Hard's annual uh presentation because Madison nailed almost all those best best practices. Pointed out there's four towns that still have not approved a budget and here near the end of July, including one who had employees furloughed for part of a week because
people walked out of a meeting. So, we do things very well here. And move on to uh public works and engineering, Mr. Alan Putter. >> Thank you, Mayor. Welcome from the community council. Uh from engineering and zoning, work on the Rosedale soccer field
continues to progress. Installation of the new grass turf is underway. Once completed, the field will remain closed for a short period to allow the infill and surface to properly establish before reopening for the fall soccer season. I saw a photo of it today, it looks great.
Go over there, it looks like carpet. PSE&G is currently completing milling and paving operations following recent gas infrastructure improvements. The project has been divided into three construction zones. Woodland Road from Loantaka Way all the way to Sampson,
Prospect Street, Woodland Road down to Keep Street, and Holden Lane, and also Danforth Road partial. As work progresses, project updates will be a continue to be provided through the Rose Net, bureau social media channels, and targeted alert Madison notifications
for impacted roadways. Special thanks to the Madison Police Department for the Traffic Safety Bureau for their assistance with traffic control and detours throughout the project. We're excited to announce that our new bureau engineer, Christine Bogel, will be starting in Madison on August 20th.
Certainly welcome her. The land use boards continue to have a large number of applicants that they are progressing through at their respective board meetings. Bureau roadway reconstruction projects continue to progress. Milling and paving operations are scheduled later this summer on Harvard Drive, Dogwood Drive,
and East Street as part of this year's capital improvement program. Complete milling and paving operations have also been added for North Oak Court and South Oak Court. Residents can find project information, construction schedules, and daily
neighborhood updates at rosenet.org/r 11 or 11. From the Department of Public Works, brief notices. DPW finished the storm debris pick up finally. Uh they have assisted the water department with a water main break and
repair to a water valve. The DPW patched roads from the water repairs and potholes. The DPW began repainting road stop lines, crosswalks, and parking spots. Sewers are being cleaned out, catch basins, and any problem areas in advance
of the recent storms. DPW continues to maintain recreation fields for baseball and soccer, as well as the parks, and also assisting with the community pool. We're going to remind everybody that yard waste should be tied up in bundles no longer than 4 ft long,
put in barrels or yard waste bags for collection by the yard waste contractor. And yard waste bags are available at DBW garage and the clerk's office. From the Shade Tree Management Board, the Shade Tree Management Board is planning for 30 new street trees this
fall. If any residents would like a new tree, a new street tree by their house, please contact the Department of Public Works 973-593-3088 or email them at dpw@rosenet.org. And from the Environmental Commission,
just came in, hit the wire. Let's see here. The MEC will be at the Farm and Artisan Market on August 11th with free native plants and information on how to have a quiet summer by asking landscapers to pause leaf blowing in your yard. This is an ongoing campaign
all summer long. The MEC would like to remind the public that a new Skip the Stuff Law takes effect August 1st. There was a presentation on that at the previous council meeting. Restaurants will no longer be permitted to hand out single-use cutlery and disposable condiment packs without a
request from the customers. This law follows 63 local Skip the Stuff ordinances and is an easy way to help restaurants save money and cut unnecessary waste. Finally, the MEC reminds the public that despite the rain, Morris County is still
under a drought warning. The Borough of Madison has responded by implementing mandatory water regulations to protect the aquifer where we get 100% of our drinking water. Lawns may only be watered during certain hours, midnight to 8:00 a.m.
or 8:00 p.m. to midnight. These are the hours when evaporation is less likely to occur. The regulation also calls for watering on odd even days depending on your street number, house number, odd or even, that's the day you can water. If it's even,
that's the permissible watering day. Automatic sprinklers should be recalibrated. That's all, Mayor. >> Thank you very much. And utilities, Miss Hanahan. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh from the electric utility, we have the standby numerous standby calls. Uh one for
Canterbury Road for low-hanging wire across the front yard. Uh pole leaning on Belmont Avenue was replaced and wires were transferred to a new pole. Uh multiple power outages where standby came out and um addressed the issues.
Electric Department responded to 17 Madison Avenue for power outage and also held crews back until the storm uh passed. Um Standby was also called to kill power to a house so the water department could
fix a water leak. From the water department, uh dug and repaired water main and valve on Albright Circle and dug and capped leaking old water service line on Main Street. Dug curb box to turn off water to building for two building slated for
demolition. And last night uh there was a water main break uh which was repaired. There were multiple tests inter- tested the interconnectedness with American Water. Continued to man- manually run B and D
wells to meet demand during communication change over SCADA monitoring. And scheduling for hydrant replacement, there are six presently earmarked by age and operation. And along the lines of
uh of the watering water restrictions, um just to share some numbers that were stunning to me and I think uh as residents we can do better. Between 4:00 and 7:00 a.m. pumping we are pumping approximately 4,000 gallons
of water a minute. That needs That means that of our wells are running at the same time to maintain the rate. After 7:00 a.m., we can maintain tank level with just two wells running. That means everyone
a lot of people are watering their lawns. Uh including on days that it's raining because they haven't calibrated their sprinklers. Uh during win- just as in comparison, during winter um and cooler months, the
water consumption is approximately 1.4 to 1.5 million gallons. In the summer, on hot days with sprinklers running daily, right now it's 2.8 to 2.9 million gallons of water. So, um
Yeah, it's something to think about as we conserve our drinking water because the water that we use to water in Madison is actually drinking water. Thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you. And now we move on to communications and petitions. >> None received, Mayor.
>> All right, now we move on to our first of two invitations for public comment. The second one, which has no limits on it, will come up very quickly because there's nothing to actually in between, but we we do we still will have the two separate opportunities. This one you are
limited to our agenda discussions, which there are none, or you may comment on these resolutions. Resolution 230, and these will also be part of the consent agenda at later in the meeting. Uh 230 is authorized execution of emergency water interconnection agreement with
Borough of Florham Park, uh which helps both municipalities in case of water emergencies. Resolution 231 appointing Claire Sybert as part-time per diem EMT at $30 an hour without benefits. Resolution Resolution
232 is approving raffle license for the Elks um for raffle on October 10th, 2026. Resolution 233 is also for the Elks uh, for daily instant raffle games including
Sundays. Resolution uh, 234 is authorized and release of escrow and bond to RPM development for the uh, housing projects at Civic Center site and the community play site. This is um,
a uh, $32,800 and uh, $33 um, escrow and bonding and also a performance bond of $745,000 and cash guarantees the amount of $5,000 and safety guarantee the amount of also
$5,000. Uh, resolution 235 is awarding contract to Schifano Construction for paving improvements to the Morris County uh, co-op an amount not to exceed $90,000. This is a funded through ordinance 6-2025.
And resolution 236 is authorizing a uh, execution of a consent order final compliance certification with fair share housing. And then uh, resolution 237 which is big news for our seniors who
use the shuttle bus is a contract for national bus sales uh, in the interlocal purchasing system for a purchase of a 2026 Endura electric shuttle bus. And this is um, an amount not to exceed $307,000
and this is um, covered basically by six uh, 67% about 2/3 by a grant. So, that will be a new bus is coming. So, you may comment on any of those resolutions. If you want to comment on anything else, just stay tuned
because we'll have that in just a second. Anyone wishing comment on those resolutions, please step forward, state your name, address, and the resolution you're commenting on. Seeing none, we close this part of the meeting, and we now move on to agenda discussions, which we have none. And we
move on to ordinance for hearing, which we have none. So, now we have invitation for public comment, and this is when you may comment on any any topic you wish. Please step up to lectern, state your name and address, write the same on the clipboard, um
and actually just state state your name and town, but write your name and address on the clipboard, and try to keep your comments to 3 minutes, but we will give you that 1 minute grace and stop you at 4. >> Hello. Um Bridget Daily, Madison resident. Um I'm going to just read uh public
comment submitted by Josephine Salco, since she's not been able to attend in person. Uh Josephine has an academic background in neuroscience, public health, and medical health humanities. Dear Borough Council, I'm writing to
express my strong support for the proposed ordinance restricting gas-powered leaf blowers. This is not only a neighborhood quality of life issue, but also an important public health issue. Gas-powered leaf blowers expose residents, workers, children, older
adults, and people with asthma or other respiratory conditions to unnecessary noise and air pollution. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai notes that gas leaf blower emissions can include pollutants such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde,
benzene, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. These pollutants are associated with respiratory harm, cardiovascular risks, and other serious health concerns. This issue is especially personal to me because I have many family members with
long-standing histories of asthma and reactive airway disease. In the past, they would often experience flare-ups after using gas-powered leaf blowers and other gas-powered landscaping tools, even when near the pollution they produced. This is exactly or not near
the pollution they produce. This is exactly why my family switched to an electric leaf blower and since making that change, they no longer have those same problems from our own yard maintenance. For families like mine, cleaner equipment is not just a preference. It can make a real
difference in day-to-day health and well-being. As someone with a background in public health, I am especially concerned that these harms affect both the broader community and the workers who use this equipment directly. Peer-reviewed research has shown that fuel-powered
leaf blowers expose workers to significantly higher levels of noise and carbon monoxide than battery-powered alternatives, making the transition away from gas equipment an important step for both community health and worker protection.
I'm also especially concerned about landscape workers who are often exposed to this equipment at close range and for extended periods. A gas leaf blower ordinance would help protect not only residents, but also the workers who help maintain our community.
Noise is a significant concern. In the article Characteristics of Lawn and Garden Equipment Sound, Erica Walker et al. found that commercial gas leaf blower sound can remain disruptive over distance and time. This kind of noise pollution can
interfere with concentration, rest, stress levels, and overall well-being. I can personally attest to this impact. The noise from gas-powered leaf blowers makes it difficult to concentrate and can leave me with headaches for hours afterwards.
This is not simply a matter of annoyance. >> And one minute. >> It affects people's ability to focus, rest, and feel well in their own homes and neighborhoods. I'm in full support of an ordinance that includes a reasonable transition period of no more than 2 years and encourages cleaner,
quieter alternatives such as electric equipment, raking, mulch mowing, and leaving the leaves practices where appropriate. The goal should be to support a healthier community while giving homeowners, landscapers, and small businesses time to adjust. Gas power Gas-powered leaf blowers
create health, noise, and environmental harms that are out of proportion to their convenience. Cleaner alternatives already exist, and I respectfully urge you to adopt an ordinance to protect the health and well-being of residents and workers. Thank you for
your time and consideration. Sincerely, Josephine Salko. >> Thank you, Bridget. >> Good evening. I wanted to speak about the two-stroke engine. >> Uh name and town, sorry, Brian. >> 18 Myrtle. >> Yes, thank you. Brian Mortensen, so just
talk. >> Brian Mortensen, 18 Myrtle. I even wrote it down. I wanted to speak about the two-stroke engine tonight because the recent legislation that passed with e-bikes was ran through, and I don't think it was very well researched or written, and I'm
trying to avoid the same mistake because a lot of people confuse gas-powered leaf blowers and two-stroke engines when two-stroke engines are really the issue that we have to be concerned about. Traditional two-stroke engines are dirty by design.
They mix oil directly into gasoline, and some fuel escapes before it's fully burned. The California Division of Voting and Waterways says a traditional carbureted two-stroke can release up to 25%
of its fuel unburned into the air or water. That means fumes, burned oil, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, smoke, and fine particles in our neighborhoods. These pollutants contribute to smog and can make breathing harder, especially
for children, seniors, and people with asthma. This is also unfair. One homeowner gets a cleaner yard, but the noise and pollution travel into neighboring homes, yards, sidewalks, and playgrounds. One household gets the benefit, the
whole neighborhood pays the price. Instead of offering real solutions, the landscaping industry is preparing for a fight using fear, threats, and misinformation to defend the status quo.
History is clear. Leaded state and gasoline until the public demanded action. Ozone-damaging chemicals remained in use until governments required change. Industry rarely gives up a profitable
practice simply because it harms people. It's because of government regulations that we have seat belts in cars, not because of the automobile industry wanted them. In fact, the auto industry felt the that they made their cars
appear unsafe and fought against them. Battery-powered equipment has no tailpipe, no gasoline, no oil, and no combustion exhaust. We should call the industry's bluff. Set a reasonable deadline to phase out this equipment and let landscapers
adapt. That's how a free market works. Businesses invest in better tools and compete to serve customers. By delaying action, we are delaying that adaptation. And a weekend town-wide ban has no real
downside. Landscapers can work in other towns, use cleaner equipment here, or adjust their schedules. Their convenience does not outweigh our community's right to peace, clean air, and a quiet weekend. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Brian. Very good. Anyone else wishing to speak, please step forward. Seeing none, I close this part of the meeting and um great comments and uh appreciate the uh comment on the e-bike rule, which was
well-intended, but uh is not what really was needed and good example to make sure we do we do the same thing as we approach uh leaf blowers. And now we move on to introduction of ordinances. Will the clerk please read the statement? >> Ordinance scheduled for first reading
has a hearing date set for August the 10th, 2026. It will be posted on the borough's [clears throat] public notice webpage, posted on the bulletin board, and made available to members of the public requesting copies. >> I call it ordinance 33-2026
for first reading and ask the borough clerk to say read ordinance by read said ordinance by title. >> Ordinance 33-2026, ordinance of the Borough of Madison amending and supplementing chapter 98 of the Madison Borough code entitled filming.
>> Mayor, I move ordinance 33-2026. >> Second. >> Council discussion. And this is just uh clarifying that um if there are um that would be requirements to hire firefighters to uh be on site in case
there's any uh use of uh pyrotech technical and so >> pyrotech >> Yep. Pyro- it's got more than two syllables, so I needed help on saying pyrotechnics. Yep, and also changes the fee for nonprofits and um
thanks with um just a quick side with at least Lisa Zellis' effort, we are uh film friendly uh certified for for movies. Any further discussion? Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Landrigan? >> Yes. >> Mr. Range?
>> Yes. >> Mr. Haralampoudis? >> Yes. >> Ms. Hanahan? >> Yes. >> Mr. Forte? >> Yes. >> All right, we 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 uh resolutions R-230-2026
through R-237-2026. >> Second. >> All right, any that need to be pulled or any uh quick discussion? Okay, roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Landrigan? >> Yes. >> Mr. Range? >> Yes. >> Mr. Haralampoudis? >> Yes. >> Ms. Hanahan? >> Yes. >> Mr. Forte?
>> Yes. >> All right, there is no unfinished business. We'll move on to approval of vouchers. Will the clerk please read the voucher totals? >> Yes. From the current fund, $4,829,756.38. From the general capital fund, $355,373.86. From the electric operating fund,
$1,021,492.28. From the electric capital fund, $418.50. From the water operating fund, $76,730.85. From the water capital fund, $8,036.51.
From the trusts, $41,738.12. That makes the total $6,333,546.50. >> Mayor, I move approval of the vouchers. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call vote. >> Mr. Landrigan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Range. >> Yes. >> Mr. Haralampoudis. >> Yes. >> Ms. Hanahan. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Forte. >> Yes. >> And under new business, uh I'd like to recommend the reappoint of Diane Driscoll as a uh council um member to the um as a commissioner to the Housing Authority effective
August 11th, 2026, 5-year term through August 10th, 2031. >> Mayor, I'll move the appointment. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Aye. >> Aye. And I'll entertain a motion for adjournment. >> Uh motion to adjourn.