Okay, we're on YouTube. So, um, and we are recording. Okay. So, all right. Good evening everyone. We're going to call the meeting to order. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stands one nation
indivisible and justice for all 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 posting notice on the official municipal bulletin board on December 27th, 2024. We ask that everybody please place your phones on mute. Roll call. Terry. Mr. Coffin here. Miss Nunes here. Mr. Simon here. Mr. Zadic present. Mayor
Talico here. All right. Order. Order. Ordinance introduction and first reading. Ordinance number 2025-05 is an ordinance amending chapter 142 peace and good order of the revised general ordinances of the township of
Maple Shade County of Burlington, New Jersey regarding prohibited items at the township sponsored events. Motion for introduction. Second. Comments. Roll call. Mr. Coffin. Yes. Miss Nunes? Yes. Mr. Simon? Yes. Mr. Zed? Yes. Mayor
Talerico? Yes. Public publication date June 6, 2025. Public hearing will be June 26, 2025. This is the public portion for the consent agenda items. Anybody from the public wishing to speak, come on up. State your name and address for the
record? Anybody? Seeing none, can I have a motion to close? I'll second. Second. All in favor? I. All right. Consent agenda. Resolution number 2025-R104 through resolution number
2025-R110. We would like a motion to approve the consent agenda. I'll make that motion. Second. All right. Comments. Roll call. Mr. Cauman. Yes. Miss Nunes. Yes. Mr. Simon. Yes. Mr. Znick. Yes. Mayor J.
Yes. Okay. Approval of the expenditure list. Susan. Thank you. Current fund bill is 3,728,85.81. 81. Utility fund $127,197.20 capital fund is $10,458.40. Utility capital is
$18,759.80. Our trust fund is $19,198.50 and our grant fund is $2,873.60. I have reviewed the above bills as submitted and recommend payment when funds are available. Okay. Thank you. Can I have a motion to approve, please? So made. Second. comments.
Roll call. Mr. Coffin, yes. Miss, yes. Mr. Simon, yes. Mr. Znick, yes. Mayor Trico, yes. This is the public portion. If anybody from the public would like to come up and speak, please state your name and address for the record. I almost closed. Is it on? I was going to say I don't
think um hello. My name is Bobby Lin Lumis. I live at 132 Fellowship Road. Uh, I'm not up here tonight as a former political opponent, but as someone who still believes that Maple Shade can and should be a place where public servants lead with dignity and respect. Our residents
deserve transparency, collaboration, and professionalism. However, what I've seen and heard from this council recently is beyond alarming, and not just for me, but for many others in our community and even outside of it. Last meeting, Mr. Simon Sex stated that since he's been
here, nothing's been done. And I understand that. I anticipated a learning curve. I empathized with that. But is your top priority and first big order of business as new council members seriously to create an ordinance requiring the township manager to
relocate? Or is it that you want her out altogether? You ran under the slogan of people, not politics. and that phrase inspired a lot of hope in this town. However, the behavior that is taking place at these meetings sends more of a
person, not people vibe. Andrew Simon's choices have been not just unprofessional, but aggressive, combative, disrespectful, and incredibly unbecoming of someone in a leadership role. As both a resident and a teacher in Maple Shade, I am embarrassed and
disappointed that this is an individual representing our town. Leadership requires integrity, compassion, and a willingness to serve all residents. I will continue to be a voice for accountability, transparency, and fairness in town. I'm here tonight
on behalf of that and also as a voice for kindness and just simple respect. Deputy Mayor Zeratnik and Mayor Telerico, do you condone Andrew's tone and tactics? Are you proud to represent Maple Shade next to him? I'm asking you
both to figure out where you stand because if you don't speak up, the silence will speak for you. That silence implies agreement and our residents in this town deserve better. Leadership isn't just about who has the loudest voice. It's about who has the courage to
speak the truth and do what's right for our town. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else? Good evening. Linda Marriott, West 10 North Chestnut Avenue. At the May 8th council meeting, Councilman Simon Sack went on a tack for three of our township
employees. The first was the recreation board director. He states, "We have a recreation director, and God knows what she even does. It's been five months since he's been on council. Why does he not know this? Maybe he could take some time and
familiarize himself with that department before he attacks it. Or is it easier for him to sit here and grandstand by discrediting her without her being rice noticed or even present? She does a great job for our community. Every month
there is a newsletter of upcoming events on our township website. Some of the events are concerts in the park, movie nights, touch a truck, health fair, Easter egg hunt, photos with Easter Bunny, letters and photos with Santa. Here are several flyers that are
listed of past events and upcoming events. These events are wonderful for our residents to enjoy, for seniors, for families and children. Then he continued with attacks on our township clerk and our township manager. It is out of order
for a council person to attack township employees in a public meeting or anywhere. Mr. Simon second is outbursts are putting the township at risk for possible lawsuits. From all of these attacks on the township manager and township clerk on May 8th, it's apparent that this is
all personal. I'm wondering, Mr. Simon, if Miss Dansen were to step down from her position, would this all go away? It's really a simple yes or no question. I'm going to reply to all this when you are all finished. Okay. Well, you can re
raise your voice when you want to, but we still know what the answer is. Thank you everybody. Don't mind me asking the question. Thank you. Anybody else from the public? Don't don't comment. Comment. All right. Seeing none, can I have a motion to close, please? I'll make that motion. Second. All in favor?
I. We're going to go over to staff and professional comments. Sandy, can we start with you today? Well, uh, we just rolled into June, so in the near future, the kids will be getting
out of school. So, start getting into your head that we have to be careful and make sure that we're looking both ways because the kids aren't going to be doing that. So, I'm just uh reaching out to the public to just uh for safety,
security for our kids. Thank you. Thank you. Good. Yeah. You ready? Yep. I have several things I'd like to address. I often go to Collins Lane Park um to uh walk. It's a very nice, very
nice park. However, I can't understand why people insist on graffitiing the nice lampost that we have. If you keep your political comments somewhere else, not on our
property, it's it's it's unbelievable and very very disrespectful. Um, besides that, I want to shout out to DPW. They do a awful nice job of of cutting the grass down there and trying to keep up with what happens down at
that park. Um it's one of the it's a nice park. Uh it's good. Many people walk there. People walk their dogs there. Kids ride their bikes there. Uh it's very very nice. But for those individuals that insist on putting that graffiti there, I don't
understand. Go somewhere else with your graffiti. Um, I happened to walk by uh, Gazebo Park, I guess one day, and there was a lovely concert going on there. U, I had seen that it was going to be there, but
I forgot that it was there, but when I got there, I couldn't believe the number of people that were sitting all over the lawn up there, all into Wallace Avenue. Um, it was it was quite uh quite nice. And I understand there's another one coming up the 10th. Interesting.
So, um, the other night I can walk do I do a lot of walking. The other night I walked by and there was a farmers market at that park. There it looked like it was very very nice. I didn't stay too long. Uh, but I did see it and uh it looked like it was very very popular.
Seemed like there was a lot of people there. Quite a few vendors. Um, I was proud to be at the Memorial Day ceremony on Memorial Day. Uh I along with uh Deputy Mayor Zeradnik and Councilman Simon Sick did place a a
a roof a wreath there on the uh along with all the other wreaths. In addition, I had the opportunity to present the brief from the HA Rotary on that on that day. Finally, just let remind you that
coming up is primary election day here. So get your opportunity to vote. I know there's no local races, but there are a couple uh well there's a big governor's race coming up and in addition to that there is a some council not council um
some state representative positions coming up where there's elections. So if you don't vote don't complain. That's all. Okay. Thank you. So, I'd first like to say that
uh I wasn't elected here to uh do pleasant things or do things that are just rubber stamped. Uh I've been being attacked for four years by the people in some of the people in this room and still continue
to be attacked by them. And whether people like me or not, or the way I do things is irrelevant to a point. Maybe you think that I'm out of line. I don't think I am. But whether you like me or not, I'm up here defending you and the
things that this town needs for the best interest of this town and transparency. The things that I'm bringing up are things that my running mates and I spoke about and talked about when we were running for this job. And maybe some of the people in this
audience doesn't want that change, but just like the predecessors that changed it and did what they wanted to do that that this board has changed whether people like it or not. Most of the people that are attacking me don't even know me. And just for for instance about
defending the people of this town, there was a a a discussion about having the water bill charged to the water and sewer for the schools. Okay. Maybe you people are all okay with that, but that's us getting charged twice as
taxpayers for that money. That bill and that cost is already incurred in doing business with our water department. And the people in this room and the people of this town own all that. So maybe you folks are okay with paying the bill. The people that don't like me will send that
$16,000 bill to you folks and you can pay double taxes on it. But that's one example of the things that are going on here. And maybe people aren't happy with the way I do business. I am frustrated with a lot of things. And I have been being attacked and continue it as I said
earlier. So if you don't like me, that's fine. I don't really care. I didn't get I didn't come here to do this to be liked. I came here to defend the people of this town whether you like me or not. And that's what I'm doing. John,
I just want to reiterate what uh Chuck said. The farmers market I thought was very well attended. Um, and I'd like to thank Mr. Kaufman, Mr. Simons for helping me place the wreath. I was a little nervous about the speech, but I thought the Memorial Day went very well. Um, I'm not sure if
we're going to have another meeting before school gets out, but the kids are getting out of school soon, so let's just be careful with the driving. and Susan, they're gonna start that project soon on Fort Fork Landing. They haven't had the be after the kick out. So, there's going to be some construction
around my neighborhood. So, I would suspect sometime in like late July. Just keep an eye out for it. That's all I have, Mayor. Thank you. Okay. Shameless plug. Food truck festival June 9th, a week from today. I just stole my whole Oh, sorry. You You go. No, go
ahead. Kidding. Is that all? Yeah, it's I think it starts at 5 to 8:30. Yeah. Behind the act in the municipal law, right? Yes. Sure. Thank you, mayor. At the May 8th meeting, something was said that I
must address. As much as I'm offended for our township employees, I will only address the part that pertains to me. The statement reads, "The clerk's the clerk appointed by the township council and not the township manager." So just a clarification, the role of the township is to make sure the township manager
does their job. The role of the clerk is basically our secretary. And to me that the township manager has the secretary, plain and simple. But the clerk was always appointed by the township council. And for me, I would rather appoint the township clerk working with us because the person is supposed to
take the notes and work with us and make make sure everything is getting done. And to me that that to me there's a conflict of loyalty when you get right down to it. So I'm going to make a motion that we make the ordinance go back to that. I
truly hope the statement was not made out of hatred. NJSA4A9-133 states in every municipality there shall be a municipal clerk appointed by the governing body of municipality. The clerk is by state law appointed by council. Our township
ordinance chapter 4-10A states the council shall appoint a clerk who may be a manager or she who shall serve under the manager's direction. This law is clear. The second part of that statement was quote to me
there's a conflict of loyalty. I'm a 35 plus year employee of this township. I served 21 years so far as the township clerk. I've worked with five managers over 16 council members. I lost count how many co-workers and professionals and most importantly the residents of
this town directly and indirectly. This is the first time in my life I've had to defend my loyalty to my community. To be clear, the definition of loyalty is being consistently dependable and and steadfast particularly in relationships, commitments, and obligations. It
involves a strong sense of faithfulness, dedication, and support even through difficulties. Loyalty is built upon trust, honesty, and the ability the ability to consistently be a person someone can rely on. I end that to maple shape. I've been
a resident of this township for 65 years and learned how to be a volunteer through my mom when I was a kid of 10 years old serving meals on wheels and have given back to this community ever since. Anyone anyone wanting to challenge that part of me should get to know me and any other employee being
made making such hateful and hurtful remarks. Words matter. I'd like to clarify on record two more words. Powers and duties of the clerk. Serve as clerk of council. Keep the minutes and records of the proceedings. Maintain and compile
its ordinance and resolutions as required by charter. The definition of compile to compose out of materials from other documents to put together in a new form out of materials from other books and documents. And lastly, powers and
duties of the attorney. Draft or review and approve as a form and sufficiency all legal documents, contracts, deeds, bonds, ordinance and resolutions made, executed or adopted by or on behalf of the township. The definition of or used
to introduce another choice or possibility used as a function a function word to indicate an alternative. As I said, words matter. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Terry. Susan, did you have anything? I have No, I'll do my
operations. The only thing I had, as Chuck mentioned, uh, our concert in the park is next Tuesday the 10th from 6:30 to 8:30. Uh, the Main Street Food Truck Festival mentioned, is Monday, June 9th. They do have 24 trucks and they're also going to have crafters. Um, that is all
I have. Moving over to old business operations. Thank you. So, council, as you know, we've been informed that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Garden State Preservation Trust have approved our application for a Green Acres Grant in the amount of
$740,250 and then a loan of $9,750 to create the ADA Park on Buttonwood. This funding is contingent upon the passage of legislation of the legislative appropriation and our final plans being submitted. I did find out today that the
money is going to be appropriated. So that money is in the budget and that will be coming. So we've also been discussing with the township engineer the 2026 NJ dot grant application if council does not have an issue which I don't believe that anybody does as I did not hear anything other than affirmative
responses. Uh we're our recommendation is going to be apply for funding for Thomas Avenue. So, I will already give uh I've given Rick the go-ahad that will be for the um 2026 NJ dot grant application along with the local transportation fund grant and we'll address all of the flooding that's
happening over there. Thank you. Um there's also a new grant cycle for the Burlington County Municipal Park development program. We're going to be applying for the $250,000 to install pickle ball courts at the site of the former tennis courts at Woodlon. We did get an estimate for that. That estimate
to have the barriers, the sound barriers as well as the soil soil stabil stabilization came in um very favorable. So that 250,000 should go a long way. We're also looking for additional grants to make up the additional money for that. The sewer main work at Fork
Landing and Broadway has been completed. However, the repairs to the roadway will be fully completed once we can finalize the plans for the storm sewer. We continue discuss to discuss this both with the township engineer, New Jersey Transit and Conrail about the flooding and maintenance issues to that area. The hen committee met on Monday, May 19th,
and is currently reviewing existing ordinances, exploring ways to integrate new ideas into the township's current policies. Further discussion is expected as the review continues that we're looking for another meeting on June 16th. As everyone has mentioned, our next concert at Gazebo Park is June
10th. It's a Bonjobi tribute band. Um, and just, you know, to kind of piggy back off of council what you said, both evenings we had well over 200 people in attendance. So, um, definitely something that's starting to, uh, to pick up and and something that's being, you know, enjoyed by everybody in town. Rose
Avenue water main replacement project has begun. Last Wednesday, we opened bids for solid waste. We received two bids with a third vendor attending the opening, but opting not to submit due to concerns with the township's current bulk collection process. Miss McDow has been given the presumed lowest biders
bid package for re review. That's the only reason that we gave it to gave you the trash bid. Um, if you find it to be in compliance, then a recommendation for award will be made for approval at our next meeting. Just so everyone knows, pricing for the manual curbside collection appears to be the most
affordable option. However, that cost did come in just about 25% higher than what we currently are paying for collection. We did anticipate that in our budget, so we're okay to be able to move forward if that is how council chooses to act. Saturday, we held the
annual township shredding event here in the municipal building parking lot. The event was a huge success. We filled over 15 of the vendors large carts that I have. It was a It was a great event. It was you see es and flows every year. So, it was some of the first, you know, some of the people that had come up the first
year that I was here that we did it. So, it definitely a great event. Thank you to DPW. um they were lugging things out of people's cars when it started to rain. People didn't have to get out of the car. So, it it really works well. Council was provided uh last week with a copy of a proposed additions to
our rental ordinance that addresses short-term rentals like Airbnb, Vervo, and the newly popular Swimply social media sites. Who would have known that renting out your private pool is something that is um very popular nowadays, but it is. We have several of
um these types of properties in town and we're also finding that what they're doing is they're advertising large parties. We had one over Memorial Day that was supposed to happen over Memorial Day weekend. The police department had found out about it. It came to us through different social media sites. Fortunately, we were able
to get a hold of the homeowner and explain to him that one, you don't have the legal uh permits to have a public pool because that's really what it is. There were no inspections of it. Um, and then also just in general, you know, the these these parties that are happening,
they get out of control. And the party that was advertised was advertised all over South Jersey, uh, upwards up even into New York. We heard that a couple people were coming. So, it really could have been, um, disastrous really in the way. So, kudos to the police department. They're really on it. But again, the
ordinance is a way for code enforcement in the police department to ensure the public health and safety of our residents. Uh the recommendations are to prohibit such short-term rentals throughout the community. So if there's any questions on those, um please definitely let us know. It'll be something that uh I'll be sending over
to Miss McDow if uh council chooses to move and to amend that portion of the ordinance. June 5th, we're going to be conducting the bid opening for North Kohl's from Park Avenue to Lansancy. That also includes improvements to Roland Avenue. This morning, I met with
Remington and Vernick engineers. We discussed several projects, but one in particular was North Terrace that was going to un it's going to have to undergo utility infrastructure first before we just do the paving. During that phase, we would like to address the water line connections for the sump
pumps. Uh a template letter is being drafted for those residents so that we can advise them of the proposed work and that part of the project will include installing a line for them to connect to their sump pump systems to our storm sewer system. The actual connection, however, to the line would be the
responsibility of the um of the resident. But we're going to put the line in so that we can start addressing those issues. Um we are discussing a few other options in hopes to encourage residents to take advantage of this and to get those illegal connections fixed. Um if you didn't see it today, if you
didn't pass by, even if you passed by tonight, you'll see the bright blue new basketball court at ASUS Park. Uh basketball court was sealed today. There are still several items on the punch list that need to be completed with the contractor, but the nice weather certainly brought everyone out today. When I had gone over, the park was
already being used. Kids were playing basketball. I had stopped and spoken to several of the kids and they were just ecstatic and couldn't say thank you enough. They were so happy. Um, so there's we just asked, you know, the residents, please still be careful out there. There could possibly still be some construction debris that needs to
be cleaned up. Um, but with the nice weather coming, it's kind of hard to tell the residents not to use the park. So, um, DPW will be out there again tomorrow, um, making sure and looking for any excess debris. And then lastly, uh, just for residents to know, our summer hours will begin for the
administrative offices on Monday, June 23rd. Um, as everyone should be familiar, the only change to our current schedule is that the offices will close at 1:30 on Fridays. We're still open 8:30 to 4:30. However, lunch was will only be a half hour. Um, we found this to be extremely effective the last
several years. That's all I have for my operations report, Mayor. Thank you. Thank you. Uh BEEDC, do you have a report? Yes, I do. Okay. This is a little bit of an extended report, but I'll I'll get through it as fast as I can. Uh we did welcome two new
members. It would be David Smith, Senior, and Gina Capate. Uh both volunteers that everybody is well aware of and they will do a fantastic job for us. Uh Jen Nixon also started a future Ford and student outreach program initiative which engages uh high school
students and two port vision series. Uh the key findings that they found well what she found was that the students are unaware of existing township programs highlighting the need for better communication. Uh things keep constantly
changing. So kids do things different ways. Facebook is out uh and Instagram is in. So that that's the next thing is suggesting township in uh set up an Instagram uh account and u actually do
announcements at the school so the kids can actually know what's happening and uh a stu a student liaison uh would be a possibility so they could uh keep us updated on things that they would like to put in our newsletter as a township.
Uh also inspired there was discussion about adding a student representative uh whether it would be a rotating student or not that would attend council meetings or beedc meetings just to share school related updates and student concerns and we did have a student did
come to the last meeting and it was very helpful and I think that's probably going to be something that is going to take off because they seem to be very very excited about it. Uh next thing is number three is we have committee work and initiatives that we've been dealing
with. So we have a budget and funding uh committee preparing for mural and beautifification project cost exploring uh fundraising and other grant opportunities uh so we can bring some new ideas to life. The next thing is uh ordinance
review. They will be focusing uh improving the business district process and aligning with council goals as as things move forward. Uh public art is another committee. Two major projects underway. Repainting the graffiti on
Route 73, the train bridge by the end of 2025 and creating a mural on Main Street by 2026. uh outreach to the property owners uh has already begun and uh they're just gauging, you know, what their interest
is with that fundraising and grants. Uh proposed events for fund initiatives, Maple Shade Color Run and Walk uh 5K for the arts will be in the fall. I don't believe there's a date set for that yet. No. Uh Maple Shade Day at the Phillies
is also something that we're kicking around. Uh so that will be in being discussed uh to be determined what the date is going to be and other ideas that were kicked around and uh I know Gina Capate said she has a great chili
recipe. So it's a chili cook off. Let's record it now. Yes, that's it. And it's supposed to be spicy. So uh and also a super 5050 raffle and partnership with the sustainable to benefit both organizations. So there's there's a lot of different things happening uh as far
as that committee is concerned. Uh event planning upcoming events include community connection day tentively scheduled tentatively scheduled on October 12th. Um let you know as as time goes by here continued support for the
new events created last year which also include the New Year's Eve party, Bubble Fest, and Small Biz Bash. So they they have really hit hit the floor running. They've been very very busy. Uh we did have feedback from uh Mayor Telerico and
John Zeradnik, Deputy Mayor. Uh they did emphasize streamlining business approval processes and reducing the red tape while staying within the state regulations and uh we we've discussed that through the years and there's been different things that have have occurred.
uh we're going to get back on top of that and uh make sure things are much easier for our businesses. Uh they also suggested uh creating a checklist, improving in interdep departmental communication for new businesses that are incoming.
uh re recommended publishing of an annual event calendar uh possibly beginning January 2026 uh so everybody's on the same page with what's happening in town and um encouraged creative promotions you know
we have some vacant stores and uh talking about putting displays in the windows QR codes uh sharing community info and window signage uh let's see So called for coordinated efforts among commissions and
organizations to ensure fundraising grants and beautifification projects are aligned and not competing because there's so many things happening in town. So it would be great to run that through and make sure everybody is not going to be doing things on the same day and we're not stepping on each other's
toes. So our next meeting is July 15, 2025 and I'm sure it's going to be just as uh jam-packed. Thank you for listening. Thank you. Uh the Maple Shade Green Team sustainable report. I just have a quick one. The grand opening of the farmers market was Friday. Uh they had a great
turnout as we all discussed. Uh the next one is going to be June 13th. Moving over to new business abatement ordinance. Susan. Yes. So um Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Old business. Yes. Um, Terry, I'm sorry that uh you feel that
way or misunderstood what I was trying to say, but I would think that uh I'm trying to eliminate politics out of this and protect the clerk's job because right now, the way I see it, if you have one person that is your boss when you
could have five and you could probably withstand a three to five or you know, have the votes that you need to stay here instead of worrying about being fired or misplaced or whatever the case says I don't know but the way it was done it had been done that way for a
long time and one person to obtain that much power in a town where they're hiring and firing is not the way I see it to run the town ran f I'm not I've known you for a long time I'm not questioning your loyalty I've done things side by side by you and I'm sorry
that that's the way you took it but it wasn't meant that way it was really meant to protect you so that you didn't have to worry about, you know, having one person as your boss when you could have a council that would be voting for you to stay, go, whatever the case is.
But you are my boss that the law is that. Now, I don't know what you're trying to I understand that. But by us picking you, do you understand that you have a better chance with five people voting than one to have it keep a job or lose it or get it? you you have a board
of people here that is is responsible for putting you in power which has always been the case and I think your chances for survival are pretty long the longevity of that is is a good thing chances were at risk you did you have what I'm trying to
explain have you said you spoke I mean it's not going to be back and forth do you have anything else under new business yes I do business old business old business old business thank you so I I I'd like to hear what the thoughts are from the other council members about
that ordinance being changed. What a what do you call the No, we we're not for for the township council to pick the clerk, not be hired by the township manager. We do. You do the clerk. That's what I'm trying to tell
you. I'm aware of that. Okay. Well, it's my understanding that the ordinance or the the hiring and the firing for you is underneath the township manager at this point. She just she works under the direction of the township manager. Yeah, I'm well aware of that as well. The
clerk also the township clerk also has a tenure status statute to it. So, you cannot after the clerk achieves tenure. No, not 10 years. 10 year. I know 10. We cannot you cannot get rid of her unless it is for gross misconduct and negligence. So again I think the
ordinance is in place that allow council appoints the clerk but the clerk on the daily activities obviously follows under the direction of that's where I was going with it Terry. Well that's what I was trying to explain but okay it's already that way. It was never a question of your loyalty. I appreciate your clarification.
Then the next one is the the rec board. I brought it up. I'd like to hear what the comments are for the uh the council members on the rec board. What did you bring up? That I was going to bring it up this week. Okay. Where's your What's your plan? I want to reinstate the rec
board. What is the rec board? What do they do? The rec board? Yeah. They have the the all the different sports organizations. You're well aware what the rec board does. I know. Are you to bring it back? Yes, I am. that that that it's that that they collectively give
guidance to us so that they can uh you know get the needs that they need for their sports organizations. You know, we had talked about this. I I I'd like to hear if that's something that you're going to move forward with reinstating the old
record board. Yes. Or we or or we or we start and and redo the rec board. John and I talked about it. He wanted to redo some things with it. Nothing's perfect, but we have to start moving and doing something. Well, we have been doing a lot. I know.
I know you keep telling us we haven't, but um so I did put together um in anticipation for tonight and some I jotted some ideas down and put them into a uh I guess an
ordinance. Um so it's the creation of a recreation committee. I spent a lot of time on it because when I do things, I plan them out and I'll just shout out titles of things. Um, so it has some oversight to it. It has some membership. If everybody's okay with moving forward with this, um, I would like to send it over to Ellen to maybe finalize or draft
up something we can put in place. We would have to see we would have to move forward. Um, just a quick thing. It's just it's going to be called the recreation committee. They will consist of seven volunteer members and every every member will have accountability.
They won't just sit on the board and complain about things, right? Uh they will have to run a uh a fundraising effort or chair. And it just lists what I what I think personally it should consist of in a member form, duties and
responsibilities, the terms of office, the requirements, meetings, you know, every six times a year, not every month, just six meetings. Um and what their effort should be. And it shouldn't just be for you, for sports organizations. It should be for a dog park. It should be for new club houses. It should be for a
town theater. Should be for redesigning a skate park, which we have so many issues with. Uh should center around the youth, the adults, and the seniors. So, I can send it out to everybody if this is something that you are interested in and we can move forward with that. It takes a little time for my brain to work, so I can't do everything on
January 31st when I'm, you know, put into place here. So, moving on to the next thing. Andrew, go ahead. What's the next thing you have? The next thing is township manager to live in town. Okay. Does anybody want to change the ordinance with township manager? No. Next. It's the ordinance is already in
place, isn't it? Yes. Good. Anything else for new old business? No, that's it. Okay. New business. Abatement ordinance. Yes. So, um the abatement ordinance that we have expired December 31st, 2021, um that ordinance has to be
renewed in order to be able to give abatements to organizations or to businesses that want to come in. So, basically what I need to know from council is are you one, are you for abatements? Do you want to reconsider? We do have some things that could be in the horizon and in the works. Um is it
something that you want to consider? If so, then we would have to basically readopt our abatement ordinance um and make, you know, make some changes for what's current. So, we have we need to get on top of this because of it's
affordable housing. Correct. Correct. Correct. With affordable housing coming with with what we know is coming down the pipeline with the businesses that have come in and questioned and have asked, they're going to ask if the township has an abatement ordinance. Currently, right now, we do not. So if a if a business wanted to come in and and
ask for an abatement, the answer would be no. Not a bad thing. We haven't had something in the last couple years. Well, we've given abatements, tax abatements, right? What is that? Just like they ask and we say, "Yeah, okay." or "No," or Yes. So they have to ask. It's something. It's not It's not something that we just give, but you'll have to have an ordinance in place to be
able to do that. Um and then obviously they're all We have done Yeah, we've done pilots and abatements before in the past. It's just right now if a business were to come in, we can't. I mean, I know we've done abatements. I just didn't think that. I thought we had an ordinance. So, we do. It's just it's expired. It's expired. Okay. Now, we put
a date. I think it was put into place because of the muse. When the muse came in, they did that. That's my understanding. Yeah. When the muse got the abatement. I think it was 21 that it wasn't renewed. Uh, and now we have a different look, different things that we have to accomplish. So I think probably
that would be the best thing to do to get people a developer in here if they wanted to do some full house. The tax assessor had brought it up and obviously there's people that are starting to ask. So I will send over what we have. Ellen, you and I will get together and then we can kind of look at some and see what we're going to go what we're going to do. I know that things have changed. So
council is interested in it. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Well, I I have one question for maybe Ellen and Susan combination. With that ordinance, would that just be a blanket ordinance or it still would be considered on a case by case basis? Case by case basis. Okay. Thank you. Case by case basis.
Okay, we're good there. Okay. 2025 Burlington County Municipal Parks Grant. So the um idea here again, we know that the 2025 grant is coming up. There's $250,000. We'd like to move forward with the pickle ball court. I had put it in my activity report. I heard back from
from three three and a half of you. Um, is it okay for a pickle? I want to make sure that's all right before we get well into this. And you're I think we should try and survey and see the need for it. I mean, we've had
tennis courts down there that never got utilized. I think maybe if it's not really something that we're going to need for just a handful of people. I mean, they're using other facilities at this point in time now. Uh that we use that space for more uh more of a thing
that would be conducive with the what the town's needs are. If you want to check with a couple different townships that have pickle ball, you'll find that one pickle ball thing. It's nuts in this town will not be sufficient. Yes. So, we have had several people arguing over
who's going to Oh, yeah. be at the pickle. We've had a lot over the LA probably over the last two and a half years, we've had a tremendous uh taken off requests. We've had a lot of requests. Why can't we do a pickle ball court? Can we have it here? Why isn't why haven't the tennis courts been changed to it? Um and many times it has
been one the cost. It's been you know in the beginning it's not cheap. Um two is the noise. Um so you know but there is there has been at least from Lauren standpoint and what I get in the manager's office there has been a a you know a desire to put pickle ball. space
has been vacant for a very very very very very long time and I think we should move forward with it. Yeah, I believe and that grant would cover the entire cost of it. Correct. Almost all of it. It doesn't. So the the um the estimate that we got from uh the engineer was just it was like
$390,000 is what it is. $390,000. That would include the two most expensive portions of that which would be the soundproofing and then the soil stabilization. Um, and then we're going we would like to look for other grants to offset the rest of the cost.
Okay. Everybody good with that? Yes. Okay. Anything else for new business? Yes. I reached out to uh Senator Beach's office about a tax abatement program for the seniors in the
town. uh they've sent over some information uh about it and uh I'm currently talking with the uh people his staff on seeing about having somebody come down here uh to talk with the seniors uh to try and
get them relief and uh cut their taxes in half. I don't know how long the program will last in Jersey, but if we can take advantage of it and get the seniors on it now, it'll help them out greatly. Isn't that a new program that they've already offered? Yeah. Yeah.
It's the one we put out already. Yeah. As a senior, I can tell you that I've already applied. I have applied also. Yeah. If you're a senior in town, you should have gotten in the mail from the state an application for tax abatement, tax
freeze. There's three programs. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They're combining the home. Homestead home tax freeze. There's three there's three programs there. Anything else? Nope. Okay. Resolution
number 2025-R111. Resolution to meet in executive session in the following. Yes. We need to meet to discuss potential purchase, lease, or acquis acquisition of real property at 794 Forklanding Road.
Okay. So, motion to close. I'll make that motion. Second. All in favor?