##VIDEO ID:fLSHQsZ6fR8## we're good mayor okay good evening everyone we're going to call this meeting to order please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance all right public notice of this meeting pursuant to the open public meetings act has been given by the township Council in the following manner notifying the Township Clerk December 27th 2024 mailing notice to the carrier post Central record in Burlington County Times on December 27th 2024 and the posting notice on the official Municipal Bolington board on December 27th 20 20 24 roll call please Terry Mr Kaufman Miss noon here Mr simonick here Mr zadnik here mayor T Rico here um the closed session has been canceled for tonight so we're just going to take a brief U brief recess it's probably gonna be about 20 minutes and we'll come back where we going e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e good evening think you may be muted all right we're live we're going to start again we're g to um start with the open Board of Health meeting and as quickly as we started we finished there was no reports so I will have something hopefully next month okay this is the public portion of the open Board of Health meeting does anybody have anything comments questions okay motion to close I'll make that motion second second comments all in favor I I all right motion to adjourn the Board of Health meeting the I'm sorry I'll make that motion yeah any second all right all in favor Okay resolution number 2025 r-31 appointment Township attorney for the year 2025 I'd like to make a motion to appoint Ellen McDow I'd like to second that comments roll call Miss Nunes no Mr Simi yes Mr zadnik yes mayor T Rico yes okay at this time does Ellen come up yes take the seat good good all right this is going to be a public hearing to submit the Grant application for Jake's laws playground 525 Buttonwood Avenue okay so gonna get Annie to come up first okay we're gonna have Annie come up and do a present small presentation and then we have Bill oh he's for bill is for um later okay so an I just have to yeah let me just get this on the screen oh I know why it's not on the screen I got be plugged in I got all this extra stuff extra stuff tonight there now I get the right input technology is just special yeah Annie why don't you go ahead and start at least so we can get there and then yes please hi everyone my name Annie Oro I'm a professional engineer Remington berck and I am helping with thewood Park located atest located Elementary School off road two blocks away from High School Oni Aven and it's also the department again this is specifically called the whole point of this is just to make but Park a completely inclusive playgr it's going to promote access for everyone with disabilities but everyone in general so some of the playgrounds we looked at includ concert Trio seesaw sensory wave wall and we also have a custom playr for clinging but think a shade and definitely aote health and Community for all the users we have some stuff up here if you want to take copies of plann renderings and then on the far left we have a petition if you want to side if you're support would really help and just boost our application that's really it it's a simple I didn't want to go Spiel anybody has questions I think Annie if we could ask just um just kind of what is entailed in the park with the the play surface is going to be what kind of pieces of equipment is we're going to be what what we're exactly trying to accomplish with this and who we're going to be catering to so um this is once again it's for Jake's law and the purpose of Jake's accessible for all children and adults so right now um when you drive into the park there's not a real accessible route between the parking and for the to the first playground and also the playground equipment where the slide is and the swings are kind of separated from the second part so right now it's not accessible you know somebody with a wheelchair um the purpose of Jake's law is to there certain criteria so for example this whole playr it's with in place asphalt surfaces um under drain that capture stor water run off but also the is entirely F that's one of the safy requirements to make it and so this is the as soon as you through the gate weting we're going toes to um that's part of the accessibility requirement lot and once you get in you see the C have someip on and as you and we have swings and ACC swings bucket seats and then we also have a quiet corner some down time toed so here we have Wall more benches and a littlebody ask any question sure well that would be the hel H yes I think so this was like the Charlie Memorial Park yeah Charlie hust okay yeah oh H yes do that thank you thank you have he just has a question he has a question right anybody need a questions yes they they anybody have any questions G you have to come up to the mic can you come up to the mic state your name and your address please hi my name is Kathleen I live at chamber which is the house right to the left par couple questions that or concerns I have I should I think of the park the play a wonderful asset to the town I do do I think that there's other locations that would be safer yes there's definitely I didn't see anything about Collins Avenue that would be a perfect location in the middle of the Walking park it's away from a street right now Buttonwood Avenue has a lot of traffic it's single Lane when people are parked on the street the playground I sit in my family room and I look out at that playground every day I live there 40 years almost and I grew up at that Park going to that Park also and that was actually land that was donated from Jim DIC Bradford's jul Mrs Bradford's father and I think it was like a 1962 but um and it is actually a bird sanctuary that's what it was proper use of it was he didn't never want anything to be built on it whatever but that's going a different direction um main concern is I see children every day run out they run out it's so close to the street unless that I mean and that is very close to the street right there I mean there's still space to utilize in the back of that but if you move it back there's such a drainage issue um which has not yet been fixed by the town just they tried many different things um the gentleman that I used to speak to about that because we now flooding in the back of our yard because of this dream okay um and that will essentially affect the asphalt if you move it back I mean it can move back some but um but parking is another issue right now there's not many spots in the front of that per par right and it said that it's low usage there's not many children in that area so I mean it's been that way since I mean I've had three children grandaughter and it's never been crowded I think by placing it right there you're going to really get more Street traffic off at 38 I think that's what you're going to have I don't think you're I mean the daycare uses it um things like that in the summer and there is usage in the summer but I don't think that's in the section of town that you want to that would be in a neighborhood essentially I think Cal down you would be I didn't even see that anywhere on there um I thought at first and it was my mistake the Gazebo Park I thought that's what colins Avenue was because I knew there's gizbo in there and and then I read it and I was like Main Street I that would that wouldn't even be right that wouldn't even be a point of discussion that um was there another area that was also looked into so we do we're going to be doing um improvements over to Aces Park already that would have been so that was not we needed to find something at least when we were looking at it it was something that again a little bit off the Beaten Track but still very off the Beaten Track but something that would be able to offer again it's because of the what who we're trying to um attract and again it's you know it's for people with sensory issues and right some children's with the Ada at least there we felt that it was I I work with handicapped children every day so I we that and I'm for it for the town I think that's wonderful but you have to think about safety issues Buttonwood Avenue Park is far from safe I watch it every day people don't watch their children right there we have speeding up and down for that Dunkin Donuts and and just people coming off the 38 cutting through it's not it's a dangerous area to have a park um right now the the low usage is probably a good thing um because even when they put the spe it didn't it didn't help it helps when they hit that speed thing that's it the sign it's just right there this right here if you don't mind I thought it was going to be bigger because um this is the only parking right there there's nothing it's not all way across from the side at least with cs Avenue you have a parking lot and it set back off of the street and you know that's our opinion there's nothing living next to the park they would have to do a lot of clean up um around the park there's poison iy around the whole perimeter of that Park I go out and I tell people all the time um I don't mean to be going on and on but I just think that there's better places that should be thought of first and how you would go about that I mean is this the only place that you're looking at right now it is the one it is what we selected yes how many parking spots do you have there so just um we're proposing two that's two yes but there's a lot of existing spes there's not aot that's but that's two handicap spaces right hand space purely just for accessibility for everybody to par and I just I mean I live right there I look at it is there any dedicated parking at all for regular people it's yeah they could park it's like dirt anywhere on Street well I'm saying like there's no area where it's designated at all there's no parking lot area I mean you just have the very that is on the street so people get their kids out all the time believe me we sit on our porch we watch my heart drops a lot just watching um and I am one of the little that sit there watch I like watching the children out there we have a grandfa who go to par um and reget that par it's never been heavily used and the equipment is fine I mean I don't know I just think I think Colin should be thought out a little bit more before or at least have an option there okay thank you very much thennis did you have a question you can come up and state your name and your address if you have a question I just can't yell from the audience I was just saying uh can you state your name and your address please uh Dennis Weaver 324 South liite Avenue thank you I don't have no big involvement with it I was just saying it just uh looks so looks like the parks fine you made don't need nothing over there okay thank you I don't think so I don't think so anybody else have any questions on that no sure come on up my name is Leon gak I live at 55 B I just want to add just if there's going to be money spent on the park to make it you want to make it or we are you going to is part of the money to be spent to clean up the perimeter of the park is at the back of that partk there's overgrown weeds there's I mean it used to be back it used to go back 15 ft but it's it's now encroaching on the park that's there now and on the side of the park I think my wife mentioned it's all poison is so if you're going to if if the goal is to have people come to the park we should spend part of the money to clean up Park as well as build that playround in my opinion so I just want to know if anything was considered about spending part of the money to clean up the park we are going to clear the site so yeah the site will have to be cleared now that will not something that's completely included in there is site work that gets done it's not that everything is included in that doesn't look like it goes back that far looks like the construction system correct Limited in so there has been discussion with DPW of how we're going to handle that that and we are aware again of the drainage that was that was an issue there and one more thing I know few minutes but the trees that are in that area that you're building there's almost every one of the trees has dead limbs on it and they should probably be trimmed up no one wants the trees to be removed right but the what there's trees that exist now they're they're in bad condition they need a that's correct so I just like to know if it's that's going to be considered as part of absolutely that's really all I okay thank you thank you anyone else from the public no just like to make a comment sure if we're gearing that towards handicapp people and we're going to have a park that's geared like that and we only have two spots I don't think that's enough I know what that Street's like and if those people are going to have handicapped kids or wheelchairs that are coming down the street and there are concerns about cars that are speeding down the street that it's a main use very coming off the 38 I don't think that's an the best interest of people that are handicapped we're going to have to provide more parking for a a a a playground like that as far as I'm concerned especially if handicapped people know it's there they're going to spread the word and becoming there and then we're going to be generating other problems maybe we need to look at one of the other parks where there's existing parking that is off the street has a a parking area ready that we can utilize that space okay okay anybody else yeah John no no thank you okay that's all thank you so much I'll okay this is the public portion for the consent agenda items only members of the public wishing to speak will be permitted to address comments or questions to council regarding resolutions listed under the consent agenda only um mayor if we could we do uh ad just as clarification we have uh Bill Olen from seran and Edwards okay Bill can you hear us I can hear you can you hear me excellent yes thank you thanks for holding too Bill if you could could you just give us a little overview of the resolution regarding I believe it is number 41 resolution of the Council of the township of Maple Shade committing to round four present and prospective need affordable housing obligations just so that the public has an idea of what it is and Council obviously being new we can give them an explanation sure absolutely so the Mount Laurel Doctrine in New Jersey uh is the affordable housing doctrine that was created by a Supreme Court decision in 1975 uh there have been a couple of Supreme Court decisions um you know since that point uh regarding this issue but of most import was the adoption of the fair housing act in 1985 which created the Council on affordable housing the Council on affordable housing was tasked with uh adopting rules and regulations for how a municip ality can comply with its affordable housing obligation and um the Council on affordable housing adopted regulations in 1987 and 1993 uh for Rounds 1 and two for rounds three which was due to begin in 1999 COA attempted to adopt two different versions of the rules that were eventually overruled by the court COA was unable to agree upon a third set of rules uh for round three at that point the court declared the Council on affordable housing to basically be Mor abund or a non-existent a non-existing non fun functioning agency uh in which case it uh made municipalities in round three uh proceed with the court process uh in 2015 and so round three went from 1995 until 2025 uh and beginning July 1st of this year uh is round four for a municipality's affordable housing obligation uh in March of this year the uh legislature and Governor Murphy uh enacted a bill Cally known as A4 which revamped the Fair Housing Act uh which eliminated the Council on affordable housing uh and changed the way municipalities are able to comply with their affordable housing obligations instead of starting round for just on July 1st of 2025 they set deadlines for municipalities to meet to uh basically kind of establish the process early uh and so by January 31st 1st of 2025 a municipality has to adopt a what is called a binding resolution uh basically you know declaring what it believes its round four number is going to be um and so that is the resolution that is currently on the agenda tonight uh the way that they calculate the round four obligations is the uh there's three different methods or there's three different um considerations the first is the uh non-residential evaluation Factor which is basically the um all of the non-residential evaluations uh for property taxes across the region are calculated and then each municipality has their their overall general property tax for non-residential valuations uh you know calculated against that to get a certain percentage there's the income capacity factor which does the same thing uh but with census data and then there's the land capacity factor which is basically um the the same thing but with you know developable acreage and so on the first two factors the non-residential uh you know Equalization factor and the uh income Factor since that those are are fairly objective measures um those measures are pretty accurate uh the land capacity Factor can be open to interpretation um however in this scenario the the Department of Community Affairs uh calculated in a report uh from October the all round four obligations for all municipalities in New Jersey and for the township of Maple Shade pretty low uh land capacity Factor um in which case you know we looked at it and we determined was pretty accurate and so in this resolution um the township is adopting the uh Department of Community Affairs uh number for Round for uh pursuant to that uh statute okay council do you have any questions other questions or I don't anybody else have questions no okay thank you Bill appreciate it thank you thank you okay does anybody from the public have any questions or comments you can come up state your name and your address this is this is for the consent agenda only I thought you said for comments for the consent agenda items only what does the word consent so it's the items on you have an agenda so there are 10 10 resolutions on here that's just going to make a comment about affordable housing okay Dennis Weaver 324 Seth liing cut okay I basically thought Maple Shade that's what it has always been affordable housing you had the little tiny Bungalows and you had the little tiny Rancher houses and it was basically the lowest level of housing each step it away afford okay thank you anybody else sure and just to to clarify quickly um all municipalities have this obligation um you know regardless of of you know kind of whatever type of municipality it is um it's just placed upon all municipalities pursuant of the law okay thank you all right anybody else okay seeing none motion to close so me I'll second all in favor I I okay uh before I read the consent agenda I think um John did you have something before I I'd like to make a motion to table uh R34 at this time okay second it okay do we need to do a call for that we we have a second yes and oh I'm sorry I didn't hear that it's Okay tbling resolution R34 and what does that mean it will come off the agenda for the for tonight I think I think we just need a little bit more time to look at it and go over it yes alen do they need a roll call uh yeah yeah okay roll call Terry Miss NES no Mr simik yes Mr zadnik yes mayor T yes Okay resolution number 2025 r-32 is a resolution to affirm the township of Maple Shade civil rights policy with respect to all officials appointees employees prospective employees volunteers independent contractors and members of the public that come into contact with Municipal Employees officials and volunteers resolution number 2025 r33 is resolution adopting rules of theorum for Township Council and board meetings resolution number 2025 r-35 is a resolution establishing guidelines for Township officials in the use of electronic communications in compliance with the open public meetings Act resolution number 2025 r-36 appoint Gina Cape to the Maple Shade planning board to fill a vacancy as a class 4 with an expiration date of December 31st 2025 and to appoint Barb RAB as a class 4 with an expiration date of December 31st 2025 resolution number 2025 r37 appoint Laura kazari maybe done to the Maple Shade Zoning Board of adjustments aill vacancy as a class four with an expiration date of December 31st 2027 appoint Daniel McDonald as alternate number one with an expiration date of December 31st 2025 resolution number 2025 r-38 amend contract for County Avenue Water System Improvement improvements and approved change order number one in the amount of $ 32,1 21 resolution number 2025 r-39 is a resolution authorizing the award of a non-fair and open contract to gen Pro franchise development of South Jersey for municipal building cleaning resolution 2025 r-40 authorizing the submission of a Green Acres application for improvements to Buttonwood Park for an inclusive playground resolution number 2025 r41 is a resolution of the Council of the township of Maple Shade committing to round four present and prospective need affordable housing obligations a motion to approve the consent agenda I'll make that motion second second comments roll call Miss NES yes Mr Simon s yes Mr zadnik yes mayor Ric yes okay approval of the expenditure list thank you current fund bill is 91442 $254 Utility Fund $67,200 General Capital fund is $332,900 60 our utility Capital fund is $449,800 4 our trust fund is $68,900 is $ 54648 um just so everyone knows obviously those bills come through for December and January because we only had the one meeting in December okay and only are paying one bill list in in January our current fund does include our first quarter of our GIF payment which is over $400 ,000 and then our trust fund also has our December and January Max payment so that's why the numbers seem a bit inflated but it is two months worth of bills um I know that you were all sent the bill list to review as well well if there were any questions but I have reviewed the above Bill list as submitted and recommend payment when funds are available okay thank you motion to approve so made I'll second comments roll call Miss NES yes Mr Simon yes Mr znik yes mayor T Rico yes okay this is the public portion do anybody from the public would like to address Council come on up state your name and your address sorry you have do it again uh Dennis Weaver 324 South lipincott Avenue uh there's been a number of I'm the I'm the uh president of the Maple Shade Historical Society since uh June of 2023 and I've been an active member since 2003 and um story in the Maple Shade and uh there's been a number of issues where we really got pretty lousy response from the township over the past uh year and a half uh they get it I it took me a year to get the key to get the locks combination to get under the school to get a termite inspection everything has been a big uh a big monkey show it has to happen every after everything that happens and uh right now we're to the point where uh I don't think there's been a contract under Betty procopio for her 20 years of uh being the president but since 1956 the Maple Shade Historical Society has uh leased the school for $1 a year and poured poured a poured a lot of money and a lot of work into that school over the years and uh what I going to say uh I don't think Betty Betty I found uh through paperworks and stuff an old contract which I I shared with the council and the town manager of the dollar a year and so the last one that you sent was the two expired in 2009 I believe was that the last one you found yeah yeah okay that was probably the last one as far as I know Betty probably just on paying the dollar year I never paid the dollar year cuz when I got in it was all a crazy time of hell I got in Betty was being taken away to assisted living and the township still had the key to the schoolhouse from when the 2022 100th anniversary and they had things from the Historical Society at the municipal building and had the take them back but they return okay so anyway uh I did send you an email did I assume you got my email we are working on it yeah but I just wanted to show up just to uh enforce that everybody's working on it basically we are we get your emails so uh I hope that the township uh has the benevolence of like this ain't the same government of Maple Shade that it's been all these years years this last couple years we know the history of the star Society I was I I mean the Township's attitude towards the schoolhouse I don't think nobody from the township ever went in the schoolhouse all them years and there was a lot better now it's just sort of like part of the Parks and Recreation here's the road department guy as a key and he's going in there right and left and the Fire Marshall guy he has a key and he's going in in there whenever he wants and and the issue why I'm here anyway is the fire box that was installed in the schoolhouse the schoolhouse it took a lot of money and a lot of effort and years to get it on the national register right and uh and the national register I mean it's down to uh we can't just go into school room and say hey why don't we paint the room green or blue or purple no it it was all approved with everything you see in sight it was approved Margaret Westfield you know I I have to I have to laugh at well it ain't funny but I mean the school room was blue all these years and Margaret Westfield decided oh no the bottom put put that brown and put the but the when they did all that they had all these old people in school and town now they're now they're 70 years dead probably by now but I mean they had all these people in town around and maybe they said this was what the school looked like it was blue when we went there but whatever it doesn't matter if it's brown and white but we got the the historical societies has open houses the first and third Saturday of the month 1 to 4 p.m. okay and then in spring and summer I think I'm going to make it the second Saturday in for moreal like if I feel like it or not more not we are working on the I know the issue is the fire fire box out of there we're we're looking into it um I believe thank you and then we got to I guess get a new contract for a doll a year and okay all right thank you very much have a great night anybody else from the public please state your name and your address for the record name is Steve Schmid 52 Sunset Avenue first I want to express my condolences to councilman caufman I know he's not here for the recent loss of his wife um standing here the residents need to understand a few things about tonight this Council has nominated Ellen McDow for solicitor as recent as last Friday night she was in court against the township about one of the several lawsuits she has filed over the last few years against this Township she represented Mr Simon sec in most of these lawsuits this Tuesday she filed for a change in attorneys in that case so she can get this position with the township the one she has spent years suing I believe there's a conflict here I question both Allen and Mr Simon sec's ethics the residents should do the same something's not very transparent here and you three do remember that that was your your campaign slogan to run on transparency so me here guys thank you anybody else from the public would like to address Council good evening uh my name is Brian lzo from the firm mman wiro and Miller um I'm sorry Brian lazuk l o z u I wanted to introduce myself because as the council is aware the bids for Township Council were due yesterday at 10 o'clock um again I wanted to introduce myself and quite frankly I'm somewhat surp surprised and perplexed that the appointment for solicitor is made without any deliberation um whatsoever by Council um I do have a question to the township manager whether a bid summary was prepared for Council yes there was okay and is that available it will be tomorrow after this meeting yes is it available now this evening we don't I don't have one right here with us but yes it will I can make one available for if you wanted to stick around afterwards okay and and I think it's important for mayor of council to understand and appreciate that the position of solicitor is the highest paid position whether as an employee or official I believe last year was budgeted $235,000 so my question quite frankly is to Miss D McDow could you please just for the public provide what your experience is at municipal government well specifically representing municipalities Planning and Zoning works I don't really think that's appro council's already voted well I believe it is qualifications were Pro were provided in my proposal uh council is determined that I'm qualified and I don't think that I need to answer to someone from out of town I I am not I'm not question I'm just answering again a simple question whether you could share for the mayor and council members of the public what your experience in representing municipal government and Theses I have been a lawyer for 37 years I have been in this found for 25 of those years more than 25 of those years I have represented municipalities before I'm currently representing this municipality and another municipality I have I am well familiar with the issues before this town that are facing this town and the opportunities facing this this town I am an experienced litigator a bankruptcy lawyer a real estate lawyer a land use lawyer I have quite a bit of experience sufficient no doubt to do this job that I've just been appointed to it's a my honor to be appointed I take it very seriously I hope that I've answered your question so I guess the answer is there you have no direct experience being appointed a solicitor for any municipality not as a a general solicitor I have been a tax appeal solicitor for municipality for over 10 years okay that's it thank you very much thank you it's nice to meet you anybody else from the public like to address councel T I promise I'm not coming every meeting please state your name and gr and after spend a little time here I figured out why I but Lou manell 19 South Boulevard Avenue Maple Shade New Jersey um think we're hearing a little sour grapes here tonight but that's as negative as I'm going to get u m mcdal is not a resident here but she's made Maple Shade her home I remember uh when we first got an award from the state of New Jersey from the uh uh Department of Community Affairs the chairman came down I was mayor I had the pleasure of introducing uh M McDale as the uh president of that organization I think she's still involved in it um when we started Sustainable New Jersey uh we had a very little time to get an award for that so I had to put a dream team together I think Heather you were there right yes M mcdal was there also whenever there's a need in town m mcdal there you saw how she just handled herself when being surprised which I know attorneys don't like surprises and neither do courts allow surprises you sure you saw how she handled herself so you made a a wonderful decision on behalf of the township thank you thank you would anybody else like to address councel okay seeing none the motion to close I'll make that motion second second second all in favor hi hi I I have a comment on that um it says comment make a comment about the agenda okay I would just like we already your stff join your staff and professional comments but we are going to staff and professional comments okay you want to start sure okay I would like i' like to say that I have the utmost confidence in Ellen in appointing her in this position and I thank her for accepting the position knowing that it was going to be a very hard go so thank you anything else are you sure okay councilman s good nothing councilwoman yes I would like to say send my condolences out to our councilman Chuck Hoffman his family he's gone through a terrible loss losing his wife and our heart hearts go out to him and his family it's been very difficult for him this week and that's why he's he is not here and also we have um Bill Todd condolences to his family he was a lifetime uh uh first aid Squad member and uh it's just very sad sad week and uh on a lighter note I would like to thank Joe Dugan for his dedication to our town for plus 50 years uh on the planning board as chair and also 24 years as a councilman and it's very unfortunate that he was not able to finish his term uh on a planning board this year but I thank him for everything he's done and uh with the utmost respect so thank you thank you I would also like to send my condolences out to the call family um I've known them I've known his wife for a long time it's very upsetting time and I just want to say that everybody please stay warm and stay safe that's really all I have going over to Old business sure thank you um again just to uh reiterate what mayor both what you and councilwoman news had said our condolences go out as everyone knows Diane was um uh an employee here so it affected our family up here as well um we have reached out to Chuck and told him whatever we can do so if he's listening to Chuck we're here um again so just the condolences there okay uh just to give uh just a quick update Food Bank project is nearing completion the contractor is finishing up some trim work hopefully they'll come and pick up that trim tomorrow it's been sitting in my office for the last week and I expect that to be installed tomorrow and then uh we'll be able to do our grand opening soon Tuesday evening the bedc held their first meeting of the year the commission discussed their short-term midterm and long-term goals also wanted to remind our residents that the paper program is ongoing and those wanting to purchase a Pap to memorialize or honor someone can still do so by reaching out to Jen Nixon the installation of the papers will begin once the weather breaks our Auditors will begin their end ofe work starting Monday once complete the CFO and I will be able to put together the preliminary budget documents and we can begin our discussions as a group our DPW has been in full snow operations everyone knows it's no secret I am team no snow but I am losing that battle this year uh Crews have done a great job the last two storms prepping and keeping our roads safe we would like to remind our residents that according to our Township Code when the forecast predicts that snowfall will be measurable and cover the roadways all vehicles vehicles and objects in the roadway must be removed doing this will ensure our trucks can get down the street safely and efficiently we take a lot of questions um from residents that say oh I don't have any place to park what if I place you know I park on my lawn know is someone going to come code enforcement is not coming out to knock on your door when you're parked on the lawn because of snow so if that's the only place that you can go and you don't mind parking there that would be very helpful to us they can always Park in our Municipal Lots um again it's just more importantly to get everybody up off the street so that we can uh we can get our plows and our salt trucks down and then lastly just some end of year Department numbers that I wanted to share with everybody EMS ended the year with a total of 3,49 calls that's compared to 2020 three where they did 3,144 calls so just about an 8% increase fire department closed out the year with 473 incidents eight working fires two extrications 22 public education events Fire Marshall conducted 629 inspections and 12 investigations they've also reported an unofficial revenue of $18,200 leer will report more on that next uh meeting that's compared to 2023 in which they answered 24913 calls just about a 7% increase and lastly our construction Department conducted 1,845 inspections issued 730 permits that two is up uh from inspections in 2023 so that's the end of my report for this evening thank you you um SL plan we did not have a January meeting um um next is trash collection trash collection so uh I know that you were in the audience when we had spoke when I had spoken about it with uh last Council however I do need to get some sort of feeling from this Council of how you feel the big question is going to be bulk pickup um yes we're going to put out a bid speec that includes bulk pickup but I need to know if you're going to be okay with bulk pickup going to less than um or being advertised at least for less than every pickup that currently that's how we do it every pickup residents are able to put some sort of bulk out okay um the discussion amongst myself and previous Council was that we would not we would put in the bid spec that we're looking for prices to not do that and change that to a once a month if it is something that you really do not want to do then I would prefer not to include it in the bid speec um because there are going to be a lot of other options in there and it's important for us to limit the number of options in the bids speec because the bids speec is so lengthy I'm I'll be needing to get that spec out I'd like to get it out by the middle of February because there is a 60-day requirement um just kind of need to know what your thoughts are if you have any if you're not ready now to you know to discuss it that's okay too we can definitely have um a discussion at the next meeting where I can be ready just to go you thought either way I mean my thought is uh there's many towns for in over the years that have gone to one once a month um I've been down here 37 years and they switched that 37 years ago before even Jersey two once a month so you know I think we should probably consider that to save some money I mean the prices have gone astronomical uh we're looking at a what 28% increase if not more about now is where those numbers are coming in these last probably the last three months anywhere between 15 and I mean 35% have you had time to think about that you were in a lot of the meetings the issue is tonnage not to service per se everything's going up but the cost of trash is going up and you can do bulk twice a month and the people are going to just save it and the tonage is going to be the same they're going to just wait two weeks to put it out so we have to address something maybe that will address the tonnages and try and get the people of the Town involved not putting concrete into the trash steel all that kind of stuff adds up to tonnage and that's where it costs our money corre and part of it too is is the labor of it because right now we are at a manual pickup we pick roadside and manual labor so that's every single single pickup we have bulk so it has to be someone that gets off the truck to pick it up um so yeah but I do agree that the tonnage it if we don't we have to think about it but again if we're going to adjust it um you know are we ready to to make that and we do have the drop off once a year at at the DPW yeah we do that full week for a week for a week is there any possibility of doing it twice year we certainly so we could save some money on that front we certainly could okay John yeah I would be okay with the once a month um the savings would be significant um they should be am I correct they should be yes and my other question is uh councilwoman NS touched on it if they have bulk they want to get rid of it right away can they bring it to the municipal yard and that would be an option yes P Pat and I are working on that so that we can have extra dumpsters there so that will all be in again this is more just knowing so that I can construct the vid specification so that we have those things in because I know some people if they want to get rid of a sofa don't want to leave it in their house but they're going to wait till the month but if they have someplace they can take it that would be an option yes we would make that option available okay thank you okay thank you okay moving over to new business well I have none anybody under new business I just wanted to bring up uh the appointing of a conflict solicitor for the year of 2025 okay um I think that's something we can discuss and right just want to underneath business so we can discuss it okay want to have that discussion now or would you like that for the next agenda I would say the next agenda that's my just my why you open you brought it up next okay I just want I mean we can discuss it but yeah we can put we'll put it on for the next agenda okay anybody else for new business no okay I make a motion to go into close do we have a reason do we need to go into close no it was on the agenda I don't I don't have so it's always left there on the agenda just in case as the past Council we had a our closed session in the beginning and then if they needed to reconvene is why we kept it on the agenda but actually I do think that there's one item that needs to be discussed in now that I think about it okay and so what is that under is that under was it on what's the litigation litigation yeah litigation on what and which litigation the um ordinance litigation which is that the 202312 yeah okay so no not anymore what's that not anymore okay so okay so somebody I'll make the motion we go back in close anybody want to second that second all right all in favor I okay thank you everybody for coming out tonight have a great night for