Okay. Good evening everyone and welcome to the uh March 17th, 2026 meeting of the Maplewood Township Committee. I hope you're all here for good things and not here to yell at us.
I'm going to read the uh open public meetings out. You're going to do the roll call first. >> No, no, you do. >> I'll do the I do the reading first. Pursuant to section 5, chapter 231, public laws 1975. This is a state for the record. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided to the public by posting and maintaining the annual
notice of regular meetings on the bulletin board of the municipal building by mailing the annual notice of regular meetings for 2026 to the news record in Starled December 2025 and by filing said notice in the office of the township clerk. >> Mr. Adams >> here, Mr. Collins Golding
>> here. >> Mr. Daffis >> present. Merman >> here. >> Mayor Duca >> here. Whereas chapter 231 public laws in 1975 commonly known as the open public meetings act required all meanings public bodies be open to the public and
whereas section 7 provides that the governing body has the discretion to permit prohibit or regulate the active participation of the public at any meeting and whereas desire of the governing body to comply with the provision of this act same time to conduct its business in an orderly and
expeditious manner now therefore be resolved by the Township Committee Township Mapwood does hereby prohibit except to set forth an informal agenda. Active participation in deliberations of the governing body by the public and except as otherwise prescribed by law
does limit the public to the observation of the actions and discussions of the governing body at all of its regular and special meetings. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Madams, >> yes. M >> Collins Cing, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. M >> Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca,
>> yes. Please join us in the salute to the flag. >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. So, we've decided to move the uh swearing in of the new police sergeant to the end of the meeting. >> Kidding. >> So, I'll tell you it is a jam-packed meeting because we're we have the pleasure of swearing in our new
sergeant. After that, we're going to have a resolution on transgender day of visibility. We also going to have a a proclamation rather and we'll have a proclamation on development disabilities awareness month. We're going to have a report from the community board on police. We then will have our first
public comment session on agenda items only. We'll then have a public hearing uh on pre-qualifi prequalification regulations for uh improvements at the woodland. Uh we have two ordinances on final passage and we have three
ordinances on introduction. We'll have our administrative reports, reports from elected officials. We have one discussion item tonight on a municipal homeless trust fund. And then we have our consent agenda. And then at the end of the meeting, we have another public
comment period on any item whatsoever. So, with pleasure, we're going to move into our first resolution. And, um, our clerk is going to read the entire resolution, I believe. Right. Yes. >> Uh, thank you, mayor. This is resolution
number 106-26. It's a resolution appointing new police sergeant of the Mapwood Police Department, Anthony J. Dolan. >> Move it. Whereas a vacancy has occurred for the position of sergeant of the
Maplewood Police Department and whereas Anthony J. Dolan has long served the Maplewood Police Department in many capacities. >> Whereas Anthony J. Dolan possesses all the necessary qualifications to assume the duties of sergeant of the Maplewood
Police Department. Now therefore be resolved by the township committee, the township of Maplewood County, Essex State of New Jersey. that effective March 17, 2026, Anthony J. Dolan is hereby appointed as
sergeant of the Maplewood Police Department. >> Chair, I move for the adoption of this resolution. >> I second. Please call the role. >> Miss Adams, >> yes. >> Miss Collins Golding, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Miss Herman, >> yes.
>> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Congratulations. Woo! We'll have the oath of office uh administered by Elizabeth Fritzen, our township clerk. I
always I will just Yeah. Sergeant, I know you're not known for talking, but I didn't know if you wanted to say anything. Thank you, uh, Mayor Duca. Uh, thank you everyone for for being here. Uh, this is
truly an honor, uh, to be named the next sergeant here at Maplewood Police Department. Now, to start, I want to thank the entire council. Thank you everyone. I'm truly honored by this and humbled, and I'm looking forward to serving the community in this new role. I want to say thank you to the entire police department. Without your
encouragement and motivation throughout this time, this none of this would have been possible. I also want to thank Sean Hall University for preparing me for this role. Uh without them, I don't think I would have made it this far. So I'm really grateful for the time I had there and the mentorship and guidance
that I received. And lastly, I would be nothing without my family. Thank you mom and dad, my entire family for being here today and over the years ongoing support and encouragement throughout the way uh really made all the difference and I'm very lucky. Thank you. Thank you everyone.
We're >> so happy for you. >> Congratulations. >> That's true. We're going to take a fivem minute recess photo >> or Oh, get started. Um, we have a
proclamation on transgender day of visibility. I'm going to ask committee member Daffis and I believe we have some uh guests that are going to join Mr. Okay. >> Yeah. >> This celebration continues out there.
Thank you, Mayor. Um, this is our annual tradition of recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility, which is officially on March 31st. Because of our next meeting being in early April, we wanted to mark the occasion this evening. And I'd like
to be joined up here, if they're willing and able, uh, a couple special guests. We have we have the Soma Actions newly reinstituted LGBTQ committee uh co-chared by Robert Saffron,
Regina Henley. We also have Jane Buchanan. You're welcome to come on up with me. We also have with us someone who doesn't need any introduction, our very own trans advocate, Maple Woodian.
So many accolades. Uh, next to their name, Shannon. Cuddle. Shannon, come on up. Come on up. Do it like this so we can kind of get on the Can you hear me on the mic? I think that the mic is a little bit low. Can you
hear me? Okay. All right. So, transgender day of visibility. I think it's really important, especially right now in our country, to mark the transgender day of
visibility. I'm going to talk about what it is and why we do it in a minute. >> It's you all for being here. Thank you all for being and welcome again. Okay, so I was saying that it's particularly
poignant this year for uh for us to honor and stand together uh in honor and recognition of Transgender Day of Visibility. I'm going to talk a little bit about what it is and why we do it in a minute, but it's particularly important in this moment in time in our
nation when the LGBTQ community is directly under attack and threatened by a lot of hate and violence uh that is being sown by our very hateful and divisive federal administration. And
this is having an effect not only in Washington but in all of our respective communities across the nation. Even here in New Jersey in liberal democratically held in both houses of the state
legislature New Jersey, we see that the national hate and weaponization of gender identity, of sexual orientation, of equality in the LGBTQ community, of opportunity for the LGBTQ community.
Those things are causing um our legislators to feel like they can no longer stand with us. And that in turn has a significant impact on who you think. Most often than not, our youth.
Our youth who are struggling already with lots of challenges in our schools coming out of COVID learning uh inequities and other challenges. Now we also see a mental health issue
and challenges there and that is particularly particularly heightened in our LGBTQ community especially our students who identify as transgender uh or gender non-conforming gender
binary non-binary excuse me. So, um, I'm I'm proud that we're doing this and I'm proud that we're joined by our special guests. And again, for the record, because it was noisy earlier, we are joined by Soma Actions LGBTQ Committee
co-chairs, Robert Chaffron, Regina Hanley, Jane Buchanan, and our very own Shannon Cuddle. So in 2019 in 20 in 29 2009 excuse me uh
RachelRandle Crocker an executive director and the co-founder of transgender Michigan first organized and recognized transgender day of visibility. Actually, last year, thanks to Shannon Cuddle, we had the honor of
having Rachel Crannle Crocker with us via online. Uh, but we had the honor of having Rachel with us to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility. Each year on March 31st, the day is celebrated to raise awareness about
transgender people, to honor their achievements, and to draw attention to continued societal obstacles the community faces. According to the Williams Institute, there are 2.8 8 million individuals aged 13 and above who identify as trans,
non-binary, gender expansive in the United States with an estimated 65,000 adults living in New Jersey. Maplewood is a welcoming and inclusive community and we believe that all persons belong
here, including our transgender friends. You belong here. We see you. you matter. But not only in Maplewood, also in this state and across the country. It is the
right of everyone to live as their authentic selves visibly, safely, and with dignity. And in order to pursue education, opportunity, affordable and equitable
access to gender affirming health care, and with respect to economic opportunity, free from prejudice and discrimination, especially amid a nationwide attack on
the LGBTQ plus community, as I mentioned. So now therefore, be it proclaimed that on behalf of Maplewood Township Mayor Victor Juluka and the rest of my colleagues on the Maplewood Township Committee that I, Maplewood
Township Committeeman Dean Daffles, do hereby proclaim March 31st as transgender day of visibility in the township of Maplewood and ask that all of our residents recognize not only the public achievements of transgender individuals, but also the ongoing ing
work for equality, safety, and inclusion. And be it further resolved that residents seeking support, education, or connection are encouraged to visit our T township's LGBTQ plus
community resources page. Yes, we have a page now with resources which lists local and statewide programs providing advocacy, counseling, and affir affirming spaces for all. when we uh invite our advocates and others to take
a look at the page and let us know where resources need to be updated and or changed or added or subtracted. So, let me end by this and then I'm going to invite our special guests to say a few words as they wish. Race is not a choice.
Ethnicity is not a choice. Your place of birth is not a choice. Sexual orientation is not a choice. Take it from me. They tried to erase me through conversion
therapy. They electrocuted me. Didn't change anything. I'm gay as ever. Gender identity is not a choice. But what is a choice is hate.
The average person has 37,275 days on this planet. Let's use those that limited time with love and inclusion and open minds and
hearts, not with hate and division. With that, I welcome our guests. Anyone want to say a few words? >> Robert. >> Hello everyone. Thank you. >> Certainly. Uh thank you very much for the proclamation. It's much appreciated.
Uh I just wanted to announce that we are going to be hosting a transgender day of visibility event details to be forthcoming. So keep your eye on your social media and your emails because it hasn't been buttoned up quite yet. Thank
you all for being here and thank you all for respecting what Dean had to say. >> Anyone else? Shannon, please. >> Uh, thank you committeeman uh Dean Duca. Thank you or committeeman Dean Daffis.
Thank you mayor Vic Duca and the township committee uh for again being the upstandards and being the model for other township committees and mayors and recognizing TDOV transgender day of visibility and as always showing what
allyship and showing up looks like. And for all of those that might be listening or all of those that might be here in the room tonight, I just want to say that you belong here. You are loved. You are not alone. And you matter.
Right now, more than ever, we need our allies, neighbors, and friends to speak up and speak out online and offline and be able to show up and show out to support the trans and non-binary community and the LGBTQIA community as a
whole. And to all the young people out there that might be listening, please know that you are not alone. You are loved. You belong here. You
matter. We need you here. We need you here in the fight moving forward. We need you here so you can be our next leaders. So you can be sitting where the township committee is, where the mayor is, so you can take the lead for the
future. >> Thank you. Who wants to hold it? Please take it. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> It's okay. >> Uh we now have Deputy Mayor Herman is going to do the developmental
disabilities awareness month. Hi, I have a proclamation to read and I want to invite our resident Leon Morton who is on our all access committee and his son Jared, his whole family who's here. And if if anybody else here is is
here for the um this resolution for developmental disabilities awareness month, first of all, I want to say thank you for your patience. Uh, what a big and loud meeting we just had. You come up here. Come come come up
here. All of you guys, you had so much patience to to wait and all that noise. Jared, do you want to come up here? >> It's okay. >> So, we're going to read this.
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is March of every year. Whereas millions of Americans with developmental disabilities are valued members of our communities. And although too many were
once excluded from full participation in community life, they have always been president present and contributing to the fabric of our society. I know I see you guys everywhere. Jared, you are all over town. I love it. Whereas throughout our nation's history,
many individuals with developmental disabilities were hidden, segreg segregated, or denied opportunities to fully participate in their communities. Whereas, Leon, do you want to read some? Whereas decades of advocacy, civil
rights protections, and community- based supports have expanded opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to live, work, learn, and participate more fully in society. And >> would you like to read some? >> Oh, certainly.
>> Right here. Whereas community living is about more than services or programs. It is about belonging, independence, choice, and the opportunity to live a
full and meaningful life. And whereas individuals with developmental disabilities strengthen our workplace, enrich our neighborhoods, contribute to our local economy, and help shape the future of communities like Maplewood.
And whereas developmental disabilities awareness month provides an opportunity to reflect on our progress, recognize ongoing challenges, and reaffirm our commitment to inclusion, accessibility for all residents. And
whereas this theme, and I I really like the theme, it's we're here then, now, always. and it recognizes the enduring presence, resilience, and contributions of people with developmental
disabilities across generations. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that on behalf of the the township committee, Mayor Duca, that we proclaim March 2026 as developmental disabilities awareness
month in the township of Maplewood. And we encourage all residents to recognize the contributions of people with developmental disabilities and promote a community where everyone belongs then, now, and always.
>> Thank you for coming. Thank you for being here. >> They want to do a photo. >> Can I give this to you? >> Take a photo together, folks. Take a photo. You want to be in a You want to take a photo? >> You want to hold it for us? >> You want to hold it? >> Her eyes lit up when you said photo. >> Oh, yes.
>> Okay. Look. Look at the camera. >> You got it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Uh, everybody's used to seeing Leon with uh, Jared, and he is certainly the backbone of our family and our
our blessing to be able to raise Jared. Um, when we found out that Jared was special needs, we felt super illquipped to to work it through. And we were really upset. not because we didn't love him, but we just didn't know how the
world would see him and if he would be accepted. So, I just want to say thank you on behalf of the Morton family. Jared is born in the month of March, so this is uh extra special. Thank you so much um to Malia and uh all of you
again. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you again for coming. Um, this is important. We have an all access committee that Leon has been volunteering on and talking exactly
about accessibility and inclusion and we're so happy you guys came tonight. Thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for being in all of our spaces. >> We appreciate the Mortons. Thank you. Now we'll have a presentation
on the community board on police, their annual report. Mr. Daffis. >> Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to introduce a member of our community board on police, Mr. Teddy Higer Paris, uh, who's going to give us an update on the
community board on police's work since its establishment in April of 2018. And Mr. Mayor, you remember those days back then because you and I were on the original working group and uh quite big champions of the community board on police. The board has been working very
hard and successfully so in improving community uh police relations in focusing on community policing in being an invaluable resource to our department in terms of uh improved and expanded training. um in being a valuable
resource on the ground, eyes and ears to our community in terms of their their policing concerns and in terms of really diving deep into some data. Um and so with that, I'd love uh Mr. Paris to walk
us through uh their most recent report. Thank you. Thank you, Committee Member Daffis and members of the township committee for letting me share a few words on the board, its history, its structure, what we've been up to the past several months. So, the board, as Mr. Davis
alluded to, was created in 2017 and formally got up and running in 2018. Its purpose is twofold. It's to monitor police activity within Maplewood and to give recommendations to the township committee on best practices where the department could improve or do better
with training or technology. It's also to bridge uh a gap or be a liazison between the community and the department. So, if the community has questions about things the police department is up to, for them to be able to come to the board and we can sort of be a line of communication between the
board and the police department. Next slide, please. So, the board has nine voting members. Three seats are reserved for community groups around town. We have a seat reserved for Soma Action, Soma Justice, and the Community Coalition on Race. We have six members at large. We have a
youth member currently vacant. We're looking for somebody, but that person is between 16 and 21 and is a resident of Maplewood. We also have some unofficial members. We have the deputy chief of the police department. We have two members from the township committee. We have our township administrator and assistant
administrator and then our b board attorney, Mr. Grodman. Next slide. Yep. So, this is up to date. These are our current members. We are filled. We have three new members as of 2026, which we're excited about. And we have two
co-chairs, Sarah Rothman and Ronnie Schwarz. So the board does a few things. One of the key things the board does is provide oversight. So we look at use of force incidents in town by going to the police department, reviewing body camera
footage, reviewing police reports, reviewing the officer's use of force reports. We also uh look at internal affairs investigations once they're concluded. We are also in the process of getting a steady stream of significant data from the police department to
gather it uh make sense of it and to be able to uh advise the township committee and advise the police department on where we think the department is doing really good things and also to if there's room for improvement share that as well. The board does not make laws,
does not make rule rules. Uh its role is to simply advise. We have no formal uh role in internal affairs investigations. We do look at internal affairs but only after the investigation is concluded.
So this is a little chronology that we made of uh significant events since the creation of the board. Some of you, I'm sure most of you know that the board was created as a result of a negative incident involving young people and the police department almost 10 years ago
this summer actually. And uh a lot has changed since then. A lot's gotten better. Obviously, still more work to do. A couple things I'll highlight. In January, the board amended its charter to start looking at internal affairs investigations. So, once the internal affairs investigations have concluded, we review them uh at the police
department. And then um the board was really instrumental in playing a role um to advocate for the hiring of our crisis intervention social worker. And that social worker came on board 2022. We now have two. They're under the department of health, but they're utilized by the
police department both in responding uh to incidents as part of a co-response with the police department, but also doing uh follow-up after incidents and providing services to members of the public that that need services. Whoops.
You can go to the next slide. So, in 2024, the board was involved in, I think, two main things. The first is we really got going with a good schedule of of quarterly reviews of use of force reports and civilian complaint reviews. We reviewed 12 use of force incidents
and nine internal affairs investigations. Um so out of thousands of interactions the department has had with members of the public there were only 12 use of force incidents. Obviously that's 12 too many but that's very small percentage. Uh at this time we've not made any
formal recommendations to the department around use of force or civilian complaints. In April of 2024 we had a great community event at the woodland. We had approximately 30 members of the department come and and meet the board, learn about what we do. We got to know
them. Um, it was a great meeting. We also had a presence at some community events. We had a a presence at Mayfest. We supported uh the police department at their annual award ceremony in May. And we also started sending a representative to the township's public safety
committee hearings. So once a month to sort of be a liazison between the board and public safety, which I think is is helpful. And then I mentioned before, one thing I really want to highlight is the board was really really pivotal in in the advocacy for the hiring of our social worker. Um, you know, hearing from members of the department, I think that
this has been a huge benefit to the township. There are now two social workers that have going on more and more um both co-response calls or if they're if our officers are going to calls where social worker is unavailable, if it's overnight or what have you. Um, our social workers are doing a lot of
follow-up investigations and and trying to get people the services that they need. And I suspect that the number of incidents that our social workers are involved in has increased since 2024 as well. So for 2026, we're looking to continue
our presence in the community. Uh, we want to be at Mayfest and Maple Woodstock. We are going to continue our quarterly uh use of force and civilian complaint reviews at the police department. Thanks to Chief Malloy for accommodating us for several hours as we
look over the the uh files. And we're also in the early stages of planning a significant community event with leaders from around the state. So both elected officials and leaders from the police department to come and hear about the board, hear about its history
and and how we got it set up and to incentivize similar boards um from starting. So incentivize municipalities from starting similar boards which I think is going to be very beneficial as we were one of the first if not the first uh municipality to set up a an
oversight board like this. Um so we want to make it less scary for them to do the same. And again, you know, this was not our idea. This was Chief Moy's idea, so credit to her for for doing this. But, uh, we're looking to do a big event late fall at the Woodland. So, we're excited about that.
And then lastly, we want to be responsive to the public. So, uh, we want to hear about their thoughts. If they have questions about the police department or if they think that the board should be involved in in a certain, uh, type of work, we want to hear from them. We meet every Wednesday,
first Wednesday of every month, uh, usually on Zoom. sometimes in person. Those are public meetings, so anyone is welcome to attend. And we're also seeking new members. We don't have any uh vacancies right now, but we will at the end of the year. So, if anyone's interested, um talk to me or anyone on
the board about it. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. Do we have any questions from the township committee? >> I do. Um just wanted to know um is there any discussion amongst the board to uh have a presence a table at um National
Night Out? I felt like it was um kind of a a noticeable absence the last couple years. >> We we would like to Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's like a natural more more so than Maplewood, >> I believe. I don't know which year, but there was one year it rained and it was
rescheduled. So I was going to go to the original date and then I couldn't go to the rescheduled one. But we would like to be there. It's a good idea. >> Great. >> Any other questions or comments? >> I would just like to invite you um at when you do your reviews. I'm chair of the public safety committee and we
really like having you guys come and if you could share, you know, updates on what you're working on and I think you were saying in your report that you uh quarterly you look at the use of force and the civilian complaint complaints. Um we would love for the person that
comes to public safety after that to be able to share with us um you know just some overview um you know um observations on that. >> Yeah. Not everyone on the board does that. So I'm involved in it and then we have one or two other people. So we'll make sure that we get a representative
to public safety that's involved in that. >> Great. Yeah. >> Wonderful. With that we'll close the presentation and thank you very much. >> You well done. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Okay, we'll move on now to the first public comment period. Is there anyone
who would like to speak on an agenda item? >> Seeing no question. >> No, you have to come up here and introduce yourself. And >> it's very formal here. Name and address, please. >> Oh boy. Brian Kelly, taxpayer here at 70
Bernett Street in Maplewood, New Jersey. I have a small question. Is his domain over just Maplewood or Maplewood and South Orange? >> Just Maplewood. >> Thank you. I've got other questions, but Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Reach out anytime, Brian.
>> Okay. Uh any any comment anyone online who'd like to make a public comment on an agenda item? If any members of the public joining on Zoom would like to speak on any agenda item, please raise your hand now.
>> I see no hands, ma'am. >> Thank you. Sorry for waking you. Um, okay. We're going to have Next item is public hearing on the adoption of pre-qualification regulations for uh sighting restoration, including the structural upgrades at the woodland. I'd
now like to make a motion to open the hearing. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Please call the role. >> Miss Adams? >> Yes. >> Miss Collins Cing? >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis? >> Yes. >> Sherman? >> Yes. >> Mayor Duca? >> Yes. Mr. Weary, could you explain what
we're going to be doing in this hearing? >> Yes, Mayor. The township received grant money from the New Jersey State Historic Trust to make capital upgrades at the Woodland. And because the upgrades are historic in nature, the township has an
opportunity and an interest to pre-qualify biders who can bid on that type of work. The we advertised this pref pre-qualification process. We invited anybody who wanted to make a public comment to come here tonight. As
part of the that pre-qualification packet that has been available to the public to review. Uh the packet lays out six criteria that the township will use for evaluating the qualifications of potential biders. So potential biders will submit. Those submissions will be
reviewed by the township and by our historical architect and then we'll make uh recommendations on who should of those uh potential biders should be deemed eligible to bid. And that review process is um in conformance with
guidelines set out by the state. So, we we follow their pretty rigid process. So, this is the the first uh step in that pre-qualification process. >> Great. And so, the pre-qualification process will uh this is what we're doing
tonight is setting it up and there'll be bids through the natural bid process and then we'll award contracts after that. Yes. From pre pre-qualified biders. >> Yes. So, th this uh approves the the pre-qualification criteria that we will use. Okay,
>> that'll go out to the public. We'll take submissions. Then from those who we deem qualified, we invite them to submit actual bids for the work and then you'll it'll come back to the township committee for award of a contract. >> Is there anyone in the room who'd like to speak on this in the during the
public hearing? >> I'm seeing no one. Is there anyone online? >> If anyone joining on Zoom would like to speak on this hearing, please raise your hand. >> I see no hands. Mayor, >> thank you. I move we close the hearing.
>> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Please call the RO. >> M. Adams? >> Yes. >> Mr. Collins calling? >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis? >> Yes. >> Herman? >> Yes. >> Mayor Duca? >> Yes. We have a resolution. >> Uh, yes. Uh, mayor. It's item 9A.
Resolution number 121-26 is a resolution adopting pre-qualification regulations in connection with bids for siding restoration including structural upgrades at the woodland.
>> May I move this resolution? >> I second this resolution. >> Please call the role. >> Mr. Adams, >> yes. M Collins Golding. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Thank you. We have an ordinance on final passage.
>> Yes, Mayor. Uh item 10A, ordinance number 3186-26 is an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 257 of the code of the township Mapwood entitled vehicles and traffic to establish a new speed
limit along Springfield Avenue. This ordinance will amend and supplement chapter 257 of the township code to establish a 30 m per hour speed limit along Springfield Avenue based upon an
engineering study. >> Thank you. This uh ordinance has been published, copies posted on the bulletin board. I'm sorry, it's been published on the township website, copies posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building, and copies made available to the general public in accordance with
the law. Is there anyone here who would like to speak on this particular ordinance, which reduces the speed limit from 35 miles an hour to 30 m an hour on Springfield Avenue? Anyone online? If anyone on Zoom would like to speak on
this ordinance, please raise your hand. See no hands. Mayor. Okay. We will close the hearing. Can I get a motion? >> I move this ordinance be adopted as a whole and the clerk be directed to post the same as a past ordinance on the township's website and town hall bulletin board according to law.
>> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Nope. >> Please call the role. >> Miss Adams? >> Yes. >> Miss Collins Colding? >> Yes. Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Zurman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Thank you. We have another ordinance on final.
>> Yes, Mayor. Item 10B, ordinance number 3187-26 is an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 187 of the code of the township of Mapwood entitled outdoor dining to revise the permitted operating
season for streeteries. This ordinance will amend and supplement article 3 of chapter 187 of the township code to revise the permitted seasonal operating period for streeteries from
April 15th through November 15th to May 1st through October 15th. >> This ordinance has been published on the township website. copies posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building and copies made available to the general
public in accordance with the law. Is there anyone here who would like to speak on this ordinance dealing with streeteries in Maplewood Village? >> Seeing no one, is there anyone online? >> If anyone on Zoom would like to speak on this ordinance, please raise your hand.
>> See no hands. Mayor, >> thank you. Um, we'll close the hearing and Committeeman Daffis, can we get a motion? >> Certainly, Mayor. I move this ordinance be adopted as a whole and the clerk be directed to post the same as a past ordinance on the township's website and town hall bulletin board according to
law. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Please call the role. >> Miss Adams, >> yes. >> Miss Collins Cing, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Surman, >> yes. Mayor Duca. >> Yes. Thank you. We have an introduction
of an ordinance. >> Yes, Mayor. Uh, introduction of a new ordinance. Ordinance number 3188-26 is an ordinance to amend chapter 123 of the code of the township Maplewood entitled fees with respect to the
municipal pool. This ordinance will amend membership fees for the Maplewood community pool. >> Can we get a motion? I move the passage of this ordinance on first reading and its publication according to law on the township's website and town hall
bulletin board in a hearing to be held on April 7th. >> I second. >> Any discussion? Please call the role. >> Mr. Adams, >> yes. >> Miss Collins Golding, >> yes. >> Mr. Davis, >> yes. >> Herman,
>> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Thank you. We have another ordinance on introduction. >> Yes, mayor. Also an introduction bond ordinance 3189-26 bond ordinance providing for the Dehort Park rehabilitation project in and by
the township of Mapwood in the county of Essex, New Jersey appropriating $3 million $150,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of $3 million in bonds or notes of the township to finance part of the cost
thereof. This ordinance appropriates $3,150,000 for the Dehort Park Rehabilitation Project authorizing the issuance of $3 million in bonds or notes to finance
part of the cost thereof. >> I move the passage of this ordinance on first reading, its publication according to law on the township's website and town hall bulletin board, and a hearing to be held on April 7th. Second, uh before we vote,
Mr. Weary, could um there was some discussion about uh receiving from our consultants um both a maintenance plan and a management plan. Could you uh explain to the township committee your steps uh that you and Mr.
Kitner, our engineer, are taking to to achieve that? >> Yes, mayor. This was the maintenance and the management plan were part of what we had contracted with our engineer architect firm who is designing the heart field. They have promised that to
us as a deliverable. We understand uh the the interest of the township committee is to receive that prior to awarding a contract for the uh for the field itself. And so we've engaged with the architect to ensure that we get that
in the near term. There's two pieces to this that we'll provide to the township committee. The first piece is contractually what exactly you can expect to receive so you have some understanding of that now and if there's any gaps that we need to fill in before the final product we can do that and then the second piece will be that the
actual deliverable which we expect to have in a uh you know within the next month. The ordinance before you tonight is just approving borrowing. It does not award any contracts or does not move the actual project forward. This just says that at the point that you want to do
so, the township is authorized to borrow money to fund that improvement. >> Okay. Any comments or questions? >> Please call the role. >> Mr. Adams, >> yes. >> Miss Collins Golding, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Zurman, >> yes.
>> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Thank you. We have our last ordinance on introduction. >> Uh, yes, Mayor. Also uh on introduction 11C ordinance number 3190-26. It's an ordinance to amend table of organization within the township of
Maplewood to establish the position of accounting and revenue specialist. This ordinance will amend the township's table of organization to establish the position of accounting and revenue specialist and to establish a salary
range for the position. I move the passage of this ordinance on first reading and its publication according to law in the township's website and town hall bulletin board and a hearing to be held on April 7th. >> A second. >> Any discussion? Please call the role. >> Miss Adams?
>> Yes. >> Miss Collins Golding? >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis? >> Yes. >> Mr. Herman? >> Yes. >> Mayor Duca? >> Yes. Thank you. I will move to administrative reports. Mr. Weary. >> Thank you, Mayor. Just one item on the agenda tonight is the final piece uh the
final contract award for the Mapler Crest inclusive playground. So that is for the poured in place surface material for the playground. So we've already awarded a contract for all of the play structure equipment for the installation and site work of the playground as well
as upgrades to the um adjacent bathrooms and for the construction administration and inspection of the project. So, this is the last piece to that and we're excited to move that project forward. >> Okay. Any questions for Mr. Weary? >> No.
>> All right. Township attorney, not Jennifer Credidio. >> Oh, >> thank you. >> Is it on? >> Thank you, mayor. Nothing to report. >> Okay. Uh, township clerk Elizabeth Fritzen.
>> Uh, yes, May. I just want to talk about the election upcoming. uh special election for the 11th con congressional district. Uh voter registration deadline is March 26th. Township clerk's office will be open uh
through till 9:00 p.m. Uh as we always do, mail and ballots have been sent in waves since uh March 2nd and uh last day to apply for a vote by mail is uh April 9th.
And um early voting begins uh April 6th. All of these dates um and special uh thresholds are all up on the township website for uh any voter. And uh after that, we have this uh June primary and
nomination petition deadline is Monday, March 23rd at 400 PM. So uh that's my report. I also wanted to mention that this week uh on Thursday morning uh I will be meeting along with
uh Mayor Duca and Mr. Weary with the uh superintendent of schools concerning uh how we can make things uh better at uh Clinton School for our polling location and what ideas we might have and we're
open to hearing what ideas they have. So that'll be Thursday morning. Okay. Any questions for our clerk? >> We have we heard anything about moving the polls over to the library.
>> Unofficially, I haven't received anything yet. I don't know if I could even say this. >> Then don't no >> Let's put it this way. It's looking >> No, let's not put anyway. Let's not put anyway out there. Thank you. >> Okay. Don't hang me out there.
>> Okay. >> Uh reports from elected officials. Committeeman Daffis. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, as you heard earlier this evening at the start of our meeting when we were presenting the transgender day of visibility proclamation,
uh, we will be holding a rally uh, a transgender day of visibility rally and flag raising next week. Um, those details to be provided before the end of this week. Uh, we will share with the committee. I will share with the committee. um and uh disseminate that
widely through our social uh network as well on social media so we can get people everyone is welcome please come and join us. It's really important right now uh to show up right and we need to stand together and really really um walk
our talk about being inclusive and standing in solidarity. Now's the time. Our community is looking for that. um from the Maplewood Village Alliance just reporting that we recently welcomed new board members. Uh we increased successfully our representation of new
merchants and property owners. Those things were particularly uh weaknesses for our board membership. As you may recall, mayor and township committee colleagues, um when we went out for a state grant a year or so ago, um our
board membership was uh sort of a weakness. we had a lot of residents and not enough merchants and property owner uh representation and we've increased that uh including with new merchants um that make for a board that is now very
diverse across stakeholder uh groups. Um earlier today, first thing this morning, in fact, at 8:30 a.m. we had our code committee, which I chair, um we will be presenting for discussion new fees for zoning, land use, construction permits,
and new fees for our streeteries. Again, the streeteries are the outdoor dining parklets. They're also known as streeteries in the business. Um and uh we are trying to better balance the need to continue serving our residents who
enjoy dining outside to continue providing that opportunity to our restaurants who get to expand their footprint outside which means more revenue for them but also to recognize that doing so creates a burden uh on the
public. For one, we take a lot of parking away. Parking that is already um you know a challenge in our beautiful downtown little Maplewood village. Uh so you know increasing the fees to um in an
equitable reasonable manner of course to um sort of highlight and and uh recognize that uh the township is providing a lot of opportunity and all the residents are in some ways subsidizing a good portion of the
parkletits. So we want to make it a little bit fair by raising the fees and now is the time to do it. We certainly have been fair, more than fair, uh, doing this during COVID, coming out of COVID, but now's the time to increase the fees, uh, to represent our current
reality. So, we'll be presenting those fees across the board from the code committee as they move forward this morning at our next meeting on the 7th of April. Um, and then finally, from the committee board on police, you you uh all witnessed the report. We're we're
happy about the report. It was only the second report uh going out to the public of the board's work. We need to do a better job of doing that. Uh the charter does say that the board is required to present an annual report to the community of its work. Uh you know,
transparency, accountability are important to us and we want to um stay true to that and do a better job of keeping up with annual reports. Uh, I do want to report that I've been working uh very closely with a couple of members uh
of the board and other community advocates and stakeholders in putting together some important information for our community as it relates to the continued presence of ICE throughout our communities. Um, we recently posted
though I've asked administration to make it a little bit more robust and attractive know your rights information uh for um know your rights for immigration, know your rights uh you know to uh for residents and we're going
to make that even better um and provide um greater information that uh our uh immigrant residents can access and all residents can access. And to that end, we're also working on presenting to
public safety committee soon and for the township committee's um review, consideration, and approval a guide that would walk the community through MPD's role in any ICE engagement
in town. Uh now nine times out of 10 MPD doesn't know that ICE is here because ICE shows up unidentified without notice. Um and uh even when uh MPD is notified by residents that ICE is in town by the time they get there ICE is
gone. Uh but what if MPD was able to be there and what would they do? What can they do? What can they not do? What will they do? What will they not do? What does the state attorney general's directive bind them from doing and not
doing? What can community members do who want to show up in solidarity uh with our um undocumented or undocumented residents who may be threatened by ICE? How do we keep the public safe in those interactions? These are really important questions that uh
the community is asking us to answer. Um, and we gladly will be soon providing a guide. And, um, at the strong and very good recommendation of our public safety chair, Deputy Mayor Malia Herman, uh, we
will also be putting together a town hall to present all of this uh, in a way that we like to do, engaging onetoone in conversation with our community. Thank you. That's my report, sir. >> Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Daffis? Mr. defus, could you repeat how many
days we are on this planet? >> On average, 37,725. >> Wow. >> That's it. >> Okay. >> It's not a lot of days. >> No, it's not a lot of days. >> So, let's make the best of it. >> That's okay. Thank you. Sorry I asked.
Um, Deputy Mayor Herman, >> thank you. All right. Right. So, I have some announcements for the young and for the um young at heart. So, I'll start with the young. Um spring field hockey
for grades 3 to 8. Join us in Memorial Park on Tuesdays from 400 p.m. to 5:15. This is a fun program for all skill types, including new players. It's an a supportive environment where you can grow, practice, and learn new drills and
scrimmage. No experience needed. Registration is open now and the program will start on April uh 14th and it will run for seven sessions. Did you hear right? The future of football is female.
Calling all girls ages three to eight as girls flag football is a fast growing sport. It really is. It's taking off at the high school. So, um our recck department is getting in on the action. Uh Wednesdays in Memorial Park at four o'clock, players will learn passing,
catching, teamwork, and game skills. This is perfect for beginners, experienced players. Um they're going to run routes, pull flags, score touchdowns. Um the high school coach will be um teaching this. It's a brand new offering of our rec department. So
um this is really great to bring another female sport uh to our community. We're really excited about that. Uh looking we're looking for um okay basketball looking for a fun high energy way to level up your basketball game. Register for Mapso Madness. We have clinics for
grades three through eight and they will take part at the take place at the Deart Park basketball courts. This is a 7week course of co-ed clinics. Train, compete, improve, have fun. Register today.
Did you actually type this out like that? That's wonderful. >> No, our our community services director is amazing. She wrote this whole script. So, okay, if tennis is your game, spring tennis clinics are also open. We have
both adults, pay attention, and youth clinics. They start the week of April 11th at the Memorial Park tennis courts. There is something for all ages and all levels. Come on down and try a new sport and hone your skills. Okay, don't think
I forgot about the pool. We have 67 days until the pool opens. So, we are counting them down every single meeting. This is very exciting. Um um and in case you are wondering what
day the pool opens, it is the Sat It is May in May, the Saturday before Memorial Day. It's very exciting. All right. For the young at heart on April 14th at 10:30 a.m. is our senior senior social. The topic is strategies to improve
cognition with with Michelle Hart. She's an OT who specializes in outpatient cognitive reh rehabilitation. So this educational session will teach you how to improve attention, memory, executive functioning skills, um, and
just ways to help improve your everyday lives. This is a free program, but registration is required. Um, sign up now for our May 6th Mother's Day lunchon. This will be at the Maplewood Community Center. Registration is open. We have a few spots left for
our first trip of the season to Ocean Grove Beach. We're hitting the beach. This is on Wednesday, April 29th. Not me. I I can't go yet. But, um, it's going to be really fun. They're going to walk the boards, have lunch, do a little shopping. It's one of our favorite
seaside towns. Uh cost is only $5. I mean, it's seriously a bargain and we love our seniors. Seating is limited. Sign up today. Join us also for our garden therapy series starts on Thursday, April 9th at 2 p.m. at the Maplewood Senior Center. That is also
only $5 and registration is open. And then join us on Thursdays at noon for Dance Happy. get a workout in while you're having a blast um listening to music from the 60s and 70s. Um the
instructor uh he's called uh on Instagram he's the bearded boomer. He has danced most of his life and his happiness is contagious. So come get moving and leave smiling. So um all right, that's all for our seniors.
And so I wanted to share um that last week I was able to speak on a panel. Uh we watched the HBO show thoughts and prayers and it's about um the epidemic of mass shootings in America and we had
a really uh great robust discussion. This included also Mayor Sheena Colum from South Orange and uh Principal Frank Sanchez from Columbia High School and the director of uh safety in the school district. So, and it also there was a mom's man action volunteer who was there
and so I wanted to share with everyone. Um, these are a couple of materials from moms action on be smart and this is a program that um teaches families and all residents really about how to safely secure your firearms. Model responsible
behavior. ask about the presence of uh firearms in houses like when you go to a playd date or to uh if you're have a teenager who's babysitting, recognize um you know the role that guns play in suicide and tell your friends about this program. So we're doing our part. We've
got these in town hall um and we're going to so anyone who comes by if you come by to sign up for the pool for example, you know, as you can save on your registration the the credit card processing fee, a lot of people like to come and sign up in person. And so pick these up. Um it's really important. And
then finally, and this is more of a serious note, I wanted So the day that we did that panel, thoughts and prayers, was actually also the day that there was a shooting at a preschool at a temple in Michigan. And as as you you know, um
this is one of, you know, a a number of anti-semitic attacks that have occurred across our country. and it's really left our Jewish community um uh feeling very vulnerable and not feeling very um protected. Um we put out a statement
which I'm really um proud about to you know um condemn this kind of violence. So what I want to do today is also share this um this book. It's called Anti-semitism: What Everyone Needs to Know. And I picked this up from Words
Bookstore. the author was speaking uh recently. I didn't get a chance to go to his speech, but I'm making my my way through this and I just wanted to appeal to the community that as we, you know, try and make our community more safe for our Jewish uh neighbors that it really
helps to understand, you know, what they're going through. And I I'm I'm really enjoying learning more about this um and the background of it. So, I wanted to share that with everyone. And that sums up my report. Thank you. >> Okay.
Well, that was very enthusiastic. Thank you. >> Yes. >> Um, Committeewoman Collins Colding. >> I don't think I can follow that with my one little item.
Okay. So, um, the Maplewood Spring Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 21st at the Memorial Park, um, here at 12:00 p.m. So, get ready for the egg hunt. And the next item I have is,
let me just stroll down the list of items here. >> You know, the egg hunt starts at 12 and ends at 12:05. >> Pretty much >> that fast. >> That fast. If you're thinking if you're thinking of coming, >> don't be late cuz seriously, we start at
noon and it is done in >> done. It's gone. But you get you get plans because last year, I don't know if they're going to have it this year, but last year the kids collected all the plants and we took it home. >> Just a few each. Uh so, uh we have a garden therapy
in a two-part series with the Maplewood Garden Club that's coming up. Uh that's going to be on March 31st at 2 p.m. And it's going to be at the Maplewood Garden Club. And this is designed to that you
this uses plans related to activities to improve physical and social and and emotional well-being. And the second series is going to be April 9th and it's only $5. And I think that's just about it. Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you, Committeewoman Adams. >> Yes, thank you, Mayor. Um, just all Soma women, Soma is still celebrating women. It's March. It's women's history month or her history month. And, um, we want to just remind you of some events going
on. First of all, remember it's sowomen.org is the website where you can find out all the events that are going on throughout. Um, this has grown enormously since we first started really putting events together for Women's History Month um, several years ago. Uh,
the Just Like a Girl um, uh, art art showing is still ongoing through the end of the month at 1978 Gallery. Tomorrow night at SOPAC, we have the UN or not at SOPAC, sorry, Orange Lawn uh tennis club at 305 North
Ridge Rididgewood Road in South Orange is tomorrow night 6:30 to 8:30 and we'll be honoring um this we came up with a couple years ago. I think this is the third one we're doing. And we're honoring women in our communities uh in
several different categories who are as we call them unsung. They're not um out in front. They're not elected officials. They're not necessarily department heads in the two communities or anything like that. We want to spotlight some of the
women who do great work in our community throughout the year. Uh so that's 6:30 um tomorrow night. Uh then we have Trailblazers, a musical celebration of women's history at 7:30 at Deart
Community Center that's hosted by the Hilton Neighborhood Association. So uh it's featuring Olana Gudau who's an acclaimed opera singer and a Hilton Neighborhood resident. Then we have um
women in charge is March 19th and March 26 where uh my colleagues or female colleagues on the township committee and I will be uh reading to um children one it's the 19th and the 26th. They're both
Thursdays at 400 p.m. at the Hilton branch and at the Maplewood Library, the main library. Um then we have through their hands art opening reception is Sunday March 22nd from 1 to 4 pm at the senior Maplewood Senior Center. This
spotlights the um artwork of senior women and their creativity. So come out to that. Then our dear friend Carol Buchanan, her uh the award in her name is being given on Monday, March 23rd at
Maplewood Library. Um and it's being honoring um longtime resident and uh League of Women Voters of Maplewood and South Orange, former president and who keeps us honest about democracy and Robert's rules of orders, Michelle uh
Michelle Bobo. Um and then our colleague, Deputy Mayor Herman, will be interviewing in a conversation with author Mary Claire Jalanick, and she wrote this book. She's a a reporter in Washington
DC and she wrote this book Storm at the Capitol, which is exactly what it was. So, um, Miss Herman will be hosting a conversation on Tuesday, March 24th. That's next week, at 7 p.m. at our beautiful library at Baker on Baker
Street. We have sacred rest and resistance and remembrance to ease your soul, which we need a lot of these days. Wednesday, March 25th from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. It's a women's meditation. Um that's at the Woodland at 60
Woodland. Um, and Satan Hall University is hosting a women in leadership panel on Friday, March 27th from noon to 1:30 p.m. And last but not least, we have Ideas Festival celebrating female
composers um at the Maplewood Library main library to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 28th. And that I do have one more culminating exhibit for women windows for women. As you've if you've been looking around town, you see local
Maplewood South Orange uh artists, women, female artists who are on display in many of our businesses in uh on Springfield Avenue and Maplewood Village. Um and the cul culminating exhibit for windows and women women will
be April 1st through April 30th at both our libraries with exhibits by all those women artists um where you can see them at our libraries. So we really grew that huh uh that's all I have. Thank you.
>> Great. Thank you very much. I have three items. The first is that we are reviving talk to the township committee. Our first will be Saturday, April 11th from 10:00 a.m. to noon. And that will be on the corner of Baker Street and Maplewood Avenue. We're going to have I'll get you
the information because we're going to have to notice it, >> right? >> There'll be two township committee members assigned, but in case others show up. >> Okay. Um, two weeks ago I went to the uh plant, New Jersey American Water Plant
in uh Short Hills to uh hear some of the work they've been doing, but also that they've made a uh an in a request for an increase to the board of public utilities of 12%. This would be approximately $10 per month in the fee
if it if it entire amount is granted. In the past, the Board of Public Utility has granted roughly half of that. Um, this would go into effect in September of this year. Uh, the the reason they're raising the money is they've invested or
will be investing $1.4 billion in infrastructure upgrades. We've had some here in the lead line, lead service line replacement. They're upgrading pipes. the average residential increase if it does go up 12% would go from about $84
to $94. Um the other thing that uh we talked about is that uh there are a couple of programs that the uh New Jersey American Water has one they have a grants program of up to $500 if anyone has an outstanding bill. And
um Mr. Weary. I'm going to if you could just you don't have to tell me now, but let me know who I should be talking to about getting all this stuff so we can get it out to folks. So, that's one thing. If someone has a a bill in a rears with New Jersey American Water, there is a grant of up to $500 and it's
300% of the federal poverty uh level as qualifications. The other thing is they have a um a discount program for uh their customers and that is based on 200% of the federal pover poverty level
and that it's either up to uh 15% or 60% discount if you're actually uh at poverty level. So just to give you an example of a 200% of the poverty level is a a family of three making $55,000.
as a family of four making $66,000. So, um we may actually pick up some folks here who are in that category. So, I'll give this all to you and or you tell me who and then we can get that going. And my last item is tonight we had um a know
your rights uh webinar that was sponsored by our assemblyman um Chugose uh Onima. and um I got to do a welcome along with the council woman from Irvington. But in any event, in preparing for this, I did some look
looking at our uh census information and we are in Maplewood, we are number six in Essex County as far as population of Haitians. Um the pop the the number of people of Haitian descent in Maplewood is about 2,300 people, which is about 9%
of our population. And as a percentage of population uh in in Essex County, only Orange and Irvington are above us. They're about 13%. So we have a fairly significant and
robust uh population. There are um according to this estimate, and it may have changed, there's about 60 about 70,000 uh Haitians in New Jersey. um about 28,000 are in Essex County,
which is 40%. So, this is really a large uh area for Haitians. And with the protected status um temporary protected status under attack there, the Supreme Court just decided to hear the case on Monday. So, um it could
be we could have a real situation where many of the family members who um were able to escape both the the hurricane the hur the um what they have not a hurricane >> earthquake. Thank you. The earthquake in
um in Haiti plus the political situation there. They would be forced to go back. Actually, they would force them. They would take them back. So, um let's hope that uh the Supreme Court uh rules correctly on this and allows folks. The basic is that you get this temporary
protected status and then there has to be a report given. >> Yep. >> That the underlying causes as to why you got the temporary protected status are done, but they're not. >> Yeah. >> Situation there is still as bad as it was then. So, um, that is what the judge
was able to throw out that they hadn't done that report. So, let's hope that u we can prevail on that. So, >> was that session recorded? Do we know? >> I not sure. >> Yeah, because it'd be good to share it on our website. And again, hearkening back to what I was saying earlier,
we that's why we need to make sure that our know your rights information on our website is also in Haitian Creole in addition to Spanish and English obviously. Uh but also that it pertains to um TPS um and all those things which is
information I had already provided to administration for inclusion. They actually had a very interesting system there we ought to look into. Um they had a Haitian Creole translator and they put him on another channel and if
you wanted to be wanted to be participate you actually hit a button and went to that channel. So it was um a situation where you had English on one channel and Haitian Creole on another all on Zoom >> going at the same time. >> At the same time.
>> Amazing. >> Yeah. So that was great because oftenimes when you have back and forth it's it's hard to pick up a little bit for both parties. So by having the simultaneous um presentations in the different languages on separate channels, it
really worked pretty well. I don't know how it worked with questions but because I had to leave to come on to here but just I think taking a look at maybe some of that technology would be useful. >> Yeah. What what I was uh trying to point out is um May is actually Haitian heritage. >> Yes. And we and that's a very good
point. We do an annual Haitian Heritage Month um uh proclamation here. And then on May 18th we normally raise the Haitian flag. So we'll continue to do that. >> Yeah, that'd be great. >> Okay. Um, next up is our discussion item
and Committeeman Daffish, you have that municipal homeless trust fund. >> I do. I do, mayor. Thank you. So, this is a new law. It's called the Municipal Homelessness uh Trust Fund Act. It passed um during the previous legislature just under the gun right
before uh Governor Murphy left office and he signed it. Um, and what it does, it authorizes um the establishment of municipal homelessness trust funds and the adoption of homeless housing plans by municipalities. So,
let's get into it a little bit. Why would we want to do that? It establishes a dedicated funding source through a trust fund enabling any municipality to implement sustainable and comprehensive strategies to combat homelessness.
That's what it allows us to do. But again, why would we do that? I want to throw out some stats for your consideration and for the public's uh consideration. Uh last year in 2025, New Jersey saw a big uptick in homelessness
of uh close to 30%. Close to 30%. And uh in light of the incoming federal cuts to funding that deal with housing and homelessness prevention, including the policy shifts of the Trump
administration, taking people who are currently housed out of housing programs and therefore um creating another massive inflow of new uh folks uh into the homelessness uh pipeline. We're
going to see we're going to see a projected 46% uptick in homelessness. Now, why does that matter to Maplewood? Because uh we're in Essex County and
guess where we're going to see the the most uptick in the most densely populated county, right? Uh and homelessness does not know neighborhoods. It does not know borders. Homelessness uh people move around. uh our people, our residents can become
homeless and other people's uh uh residents who are experiencing housing insecurity may uh migrate, if you will, into our community. Maplewood has seen an uptick of folks experiencing housing insecurity from about five or six
people, less than a dozen uh to well over a dozen and almost around 20 uh individuals uh documented thus far. And certainly um we in Maplewood thanks to this progressive uh township committee,
this progressive governing body which does not get enough credit by some out there uh in terms of being progressive and forthcoming uh and proactive on a lot of important issues especially the issue of housing. We are no longer like
too many communities are we are no longer a feeder community. What is a feeder community? A feeder community is a community that just says, "Well, you know what? We're going to ship our problem to Essex County, right? Whoever can has a bed or a shelter. We don't
have shelters here. We don't care about that stuff. So, we're going to ship it down there or over there." Well, guess what? The system is already overburdened. We can barely handle the people who are currently sheltered temporarily. Imagine
what happens if we have nearly a 50% uptick in new inflow of unsheltered folks. So that is a crisis. It's a housing crisis. Um and uh more and more
people are going to be experiencing housing insecurity. even middle inome folks who never thought of themselves as housing insecure, but if they're spending more than 50% of their income on their housing costs, guess what? Technically, they're housing insecure.
So these are like real revelations that um is the reason why this law was passed to enable municipalities to do something about it themselves directly and in concert and in partnership with social
services organizations who are experts in doing this. Of course again yay Maplewood, we already did this on our own. We went out there and we directly contracted uh with a uh homelessness prevention provider that is um really
improving the situation uh for us here in Maplewood. A trust fund would allow us to create a dedicated funding source that would help us um continue to do what we're doing in a sustainable and even more comprehensive manner. How
would this work? Well, the law permits municipalities to impo impose an additional fee, a minor fee on existing permits, construction permits, building permits, parking tickets, an additional dollar or two here and there across
categories of permits uh or fees would create a pool of funding, otherwise known as the trust fund. The trust fund would pay for our uh social services work that we do to uh help the housing insecure population. Like I said
already, it would also help us rehabilitate existing housing units um in concert with our affordable local affordable housing trust fund dollars. Mayor, uh it would also help us in emergency situations with rental
assistance when people experience an emergency. Guess what? Breaking news right here. And I know a lot of municipalities don't know this, including us here in Progressive, all knowing Maplewood. If we for some reason had to If we for some reason had to
displace people because we found massive habitability issues uh public safety issues um in any housing unit or housing building in in in our town. The
municipality would be responsible for assisting with the relocation uh of of of those persons who are being displaced by the municipality. Guess how many municipalities do that under the
law? Zero zip. They go to the Red Cross. The Red Cross houses people for two weeks and then you're on your own. Those who have means make it. those who don't who don't become part of the homeless or housing insecure inflow uh they go into
the pipeline and currently as far as I'm aware Maplewood uh also does not have an emergency plan in place. This trust fund would create an emergency plan um and so on and so forth. I provided a lot of information about the law and the
specifics to uh my colleagues on the Maplewood Township Committee before this evening and this is something that we did discuss in the appropriate subcommittee that being the health and human services subcommittee a week or so ago and there we had a good discussion
about it and um it was uh deemed uh to move forward for the township committee's final um okay uh there is one thing I need to note since providing that information to you all is that uh the law was um amended
slightly to remove the uh requirement that we establish a local task force that oversees the trust fund and how the trust fund spends money from year to year. That is no longer a requirement.
So, I'll take questions. Did you um did the committee talk about where how we would generate this money? I know you said it could be done on permits. Did you talk about what permits you were thinking about? >> We the law gives us broad discretion. >> I understand that. But did the committee
talk about it to recommend anything? the committee um uh it was the committee's position that if the township committee is in favor of moving this forward that we would direct administration to make a recommendation. >> I think we should move forward.
>> Anyone else? >> I was on the committee that talked about it. >> Oh yeah, you were. That's right. And and so was committee member Collins Golding. Yeah, we would just it would be good if we heard that the committee recommended it because otherwise we just don't know. >> Yes. >> Oh, I didn't say that part. Yes.
>> You said you talked about it. >> Oh, no. We re the committee recommended it moving forward to us here. This is why I'm bringing it up here. >> Yeah. The one one of the things that um I just want to pull out from your very very very thorough um presentation. um the current homelessness
um program that we have at CSPJ >> um is something that we would be able to pay for out of this trust fund in addition to the the extra services. And the other thing that really stood out to me, those are the two things that and then the part about um if there were to be a crisis and we had a family that was
homeless that we would be able to use this in that situation. Yeah. So, >> those were the two things that really stood out to me as this being a real a need and something um now um and I I think that it's a wonderful um way to set this up.
>> Thank you. >> Any other discussion? No, >> I think we should um kick it to administration and figure out uh get a recommendation on how >> which fees and how much. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Great. Okay. >> Thank you.
>> Good. Okay, Mr. Daffis, can we get a motion on the consent agenda? >> I move the consent the adoption of the consent agenda. >> Second, >> please call the role. >> Mr. Adams, >> yes. >> Mr. Collins Cing, >> yes. >> Mr. Davis, >> yes.
>> Miss Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duke, >> yes. Thank you. Uh, next we have our second public comment on any subject matter if you'd like to address the township committee. Anyone here? Seeing no one. Is there anyone online?
>> Anyone joining on Zoom would like to speak in public portion, please raise your hand. >> I see no hands. Mayor. >> Okay. Thank you. We'll close that public comment. And can we get a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Let's call the RO.
>> M. Adams? >> Yes. >> Mr. Collins Golding? >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis? >> Yes. >> Herman? >> Yes. >> Mayor Duga? >> Yes. Thank you very much. We'll see you April 7th >> before 9:30. >> I didn't think
>> that was a meaty meeting.