Hope everybody has their questions ready. The light is good. Well, we have today. >> It's just >> We don't have any proclamations. >> That's a good thing.
>> Oh, yeah. We don't have proclamations tonight. I hereby proclaim Pursuant to section 5, chapter 231, from public law 1975. This is to state for the record that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided to the public
by posting on the bulletin board um by I'm sorry 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 2025 to the news record in Star Ledger in December of 2024 and by filing said
notice in the office of the township clerk. Yes, >> Mr. Daffis. >> Present. >> Mr. Duca >> here. >> Miss Angel >> here. >> Miss Herman >> here. >> Mayor Adams >> here.
>> Whereas chapter 231 public law claw 1975 commonly known as the open public meetings act requires that all meetings of public bodies be open to the public. And whereas section 7A provides that the governing body has the discretion to permit, prohibit or regulate the active participation of the public at any
meeting. And whereas it is a desire of the governing body to comply with the provisions of this act and at the same time to conduct this business in an orderly and expeditious manner. Now >> who says that? Now therefore be resolved by the township committee of the township of Maplewood that it is that it
does hereby prohibit except that set a formal agenda active participation in the deliberations of the governing body by the public and except as otherwise prescribed by law does limit the public to observation on the actions and discussions of the governing body at all
of its regular and special meetings. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Mr. Davis. >> Yes. >> Mr. Duca. >> Yes. >> Miss Angel. >> Yes. >> Miss Herman. >> Yes. May Adams. >> Yes. Thank you.
>> Please rise for a salute to the flag. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag >> of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Good evening everyone and welcome to the Monday, November 17th meeting of the Maplewood Township Committee. Um tonight we have uh no proclamations or anything. So we'll start with um public comment on
agenda items only. Then we move on to a few ordinances on for final passage. Um we have no new ordinances. Then we will move to reports from departments administrative reports uh business administrator, township attorney and
township clerk. The clerk's report was in included in the agenda and um can be found it can be is linked on the agenda if you have it electronically. um reports from elected officials. We'll start off with Committee Member Duca,
Deputy Mayor Herman, Committee Member Angel, Committee Member Daffis, and then my uh discussion items. We have a few on for tonight. We have a historic preservation element of the master plan. Mr. Duca will lead that discussion as he will for the 2025 demographic survey of
boards and committees. Uh we have uh Deputy Mayor Herman will be discussing prohibiting smoking in outdoor cafes and eeries. And then Mr. Duca will lead reducing speed uh limit on Springfield Avenue
from 35 miles an hour to 30 m an hour as discussed at Engineering Public Works. And then deputy mayor Herman will discuss allowing the community service director discretion to give Maplewood residents priority in registering for certain programs or events. Then we have
the consent agenda, second public comment on any subject matter and then we will adjourn. So with that um I will invite anyone who is in the house or on Zoom to who wants to address the township committee on agenda items only
to please come to the microphone or raise your hand on Zoom. If anyone joining on Zoom would like to speak in public portion on agenda items, please raise your hand now. I see no hands, mayor. >> Okay, thank you. I see no one in the
room wanting to comment. So, with that, we'll move to ordinances on final passage. The first one being 6A 3174-25. Mr. Oh, I almost said Mr. Amari. Ordinance number 3,174-25,
an ordinance amending chapter 155 of the township code entitled Jitneys commuter parking and chapter 257 entitled vehicles and traffic to provide certain fees for the jitney pass commuter parking and the jity/parking combination pass. This ordinance will increase the
annual jitney pass fee, the commuter parking fee and the jity/parking combination fee beginning January 1st, 2026. All right. This ordinance has been published. Copies posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building and copies made available to the public in
accordance with the law. Can I get a motion on this ordinance? Mr. Duca. Oh, I'm sorry. My bad. I'll open the hearing on this ordinance. Um, at this time, anyone in the room or on Zoom who would like to speak to this ordinance, please
raise your hand now or come up to the mic. I see no hands on Zoom, Mayor. >> And no one in the room either, Mr. Wary. So, may I get a motion, Mr. Duca? >> I move this ordinance be adopted as a whole and the clerk be directed to publish the same as a past ordinance in
the Maplewood South Orange News record according to law. >> I second it. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Davis? >> Yes. >> Mr. Duca? >> Yes. >> Miss Engle? >> Yes. >> Miss Herman? >> Yes. >> Mayor Adams? >> Yes. Thank you. Next ordinance on for
final 3178-25. >> Ordinance number 3,178-25, an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 257 of the code of the township of Mapboard entitled vehicles and traffic to establish a new article 8 entitled bicycle lanes. This ordinance
will establish a new article governing bike lanes within chapter 257 of the township code vehicles and traffic. >> This ordinance has been published. copies posted on the bulletin board of the municipal building and copies made available to the general public in
accordance with the law. I'm opening the hearing for this ordinance on second reading. Is there anyone in the room or on Zoom who would like to speak to this ordinance? >> I see no hands on Zoom. Mayor, >> and no one in the room. So, I will take a motion. Mr. Duca.
>> Uh, mayor, I move this ordinance be adopted as a whole and the clerk be directed to publish the same as a past ordinance in the Maplewood South Orange News record according to law. >> Second it. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Adafys, >> yes. >> Mr. Duca, >> yes. >> Miss Angel,
>> yes. >> Miss Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Adams, >> yes. Next ordinance on for final 3179-25. Ordinance number 3,179-25, an ordinance amending chapter 257 of the code of the township of Maplewood entitled vehicles and traffic with
respect to parking restrictions and stopping and standing. This ordinance will amend chapter 257 of the township code to identify portions of Parker Avenue and West Parker Avenue where parking will be prohibited as well as identify portions of Park Avenue where stopping and standing will be restricted
during some times on school days. >> This ordinance has been published. copies posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building and copies made available to the general public in accordance with the law. I'm opening the hearing on this ordinance. Is there anyone in the room or on Zoom who would
like to speak to the township committee about this ordinance for consideration? >> There are no raised hands on Zoom. Mayor >> and no one in the room. So, I'll take a motion. Mr. I move this ordinance be adopted as a whole and the clerk be directed to publish the same as a past ordinance in
the Maplewood South Orange News record according to law. >> I second it. >> Mr. Davis, >> yes. >> Mr. Duca, >> yes. >> Miss Angel, >> yes. >> Miss Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Adams, >> yes. Uh, last ordinance on for final 3180-25.
Ordinance number 3,180-25, an ordinance amending chapter 257 of the code of the township of Maplewood entitled vehicles and traffic with respect to various streets and establishing type P parking permits. This ordinance will establish a new type P parking permit for residents of West
Parker Avenue from Maplewood Avenue to Valley Street and Parker Avenue from Valley Street to Bdon Avenue and amend parking regulations on various roads in Maplewood with respect to use such to use of such permit. Okay. Um, I will Oh, sorry. The
ordinance has been published, copies posted on the bulletin board of the municipal building, and copies made available to the general public in accordance with the law. I'm opening the hearing on this ordinance on final passage. Is there anyone in the room or on Zoom who would like to speak to this
ordinance? Anyone on Zoom, Mr. Wary? >> There are no hands on Zoom, Mayor. >> Okay, thank you. So, I will take a motion on this, Mr. Chair of Engineering Public. >> We should say that this is the third of
three ordinances that will finally establish the Parker Avenue bike lane. Um we started the process eight months ago and >> voting and um >> striping will begin on November 24th.
>> So with that I move this ordinance be adopted as a whole and the clerk be directed to publish the same as a past ordinance in the Maplewood South Orange News record according to law. >> I second it. >> Mr. Dus. >> Yes. >> Mr. Duca. >> Yes. >> Miss Angel. >> Yes.
>> Miss Herman. >> Yes. >> Mayor Adams. Yes. Thank you. That we have move to our reports already. Mr. Wary, you're up. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh, two items. One, they will be our contract or not our contract, New Jersey American Waters
contractor will be paving Parker Avenue tomorrow between Maplewood Avenue and Prospect Street. So, we put out notice last week regarding their milling on Friday, and it had included with that paving tomorrow, so the public's aware. We'll put out another Nixl tonight and
likely tomorrow morning, but just to make everybody aware that will happen tomorrow in anticipation of the striping that'll happen next week. And then I just want to recognize on the agenda tonight is a $1,000 donation of food gift cards from uh GPI, Greenman
Peterson, who is a contract engineer for the township. And uh we just want to make sure that they get acknowledged for that. We'll also send them a thank you note after the meeting. That's very nice of them. >> Yes. >> Yes. Our planning board and zoning board engineer,
>> I guess so, right? >> Yeah, >> I believe. Yes. >> Okay. >> And they do town. >> We'll thank them down at lead. >> Um Okay, that's all. Any questions for our administrator? >> Seeing none, we'll move on to attorney,
Mr. Diddio. >> Very brief report. Mayor, um obviously a lot of people will be attending. the municipalities conference this week. There are a number of excellent sessions including several on open public
records, open public meetings, and uh at least three that I can think of that uh Maplewood representatives and officials are uh the charge. I will be speaking at two o'clock on Wednesday on pilots. Please come heckle me. Uh >> sure.
>> Word. >> We can do that, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, >> sure. report. Mayor, >> is your law firm doing a session on how to eat shrimp? >> Gosh, >> brief one. >> That was so random. >> A brief one. Brief shrimp.
>> Brief shrimp. >> Let's be includ. >> Is that a Are you guys having a party? >> Maybe. >> My goodness. >> That's where you get the lesson. You have to go to the party. >> Got it. Any questions for our attorney
besides that? >> What other events are Maplewood uh in Maplewood people involved in? >> Yes, that is a great question. Mayor Committee Duca, >> I look forward to hearing. >> I believe Mr. Duca is on a utility.
>> No, I'm doing a session on um municipal buildings for the 21st century speaking about the library and being an all electric building. >> Cool. and I'm doing the um needs of uh residents in different towns
for who are food insecure and what we've done in Maplewood. That's a sustainable Jersey as and I'll be joined by our health director Candace. So that's on Thursday at 10 I thinkish whatever
>> Davenport's also speaking on Tuesday on statewide. >> Yep. Oh, so four. I feel like I'm forgetting one, but I'll probably hear about it if I don't show up. All right, no questions for you. Thank
you. We'll see you down there. And our clerk submitted a report that was in the agenda, a very thorough report. Did you have anything else you would like to add? >> Um, I have nothing else. Wouldn't it be nice if our township committee members
muted their phones? >> Ke my phone will probably go off, but I have nothing else to add to the report. >> Okay, >> any questions for our clerk's office? All right, thank you for pinch hitting tonight while Liz Fritzen went down to
Atlantic City early. With that, we'll move on to reports from elected officials. Committeeman Duca. >> Thank you, Mayor. I would like to announce that the Maplewood Memorial Library received a National Design Award
2025 from the Society of American Registered Architects that was down in DC on Saturday night and it was uh the library and our architects Sage and Kum. So >> um we keep getting awards for >> Oh, we're going to get so many awards.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Wonderful. Uh just want to give a couple updates from the engineering public works and planning committee. We talked about expanding our recycling collection starting in January. Uh right now we collect one, two, and
five plastics. We are going to expand that one through seven and we'll be doing um public information campaign prior to January. So, uh, after, you know, after the new year, you can put
all your plastic into your recycling. Um, pedestrian safety is always something that we talk about. I just want to give you an update. We, um, will be installing highintensity pedestrian crossing signs with the highintensity
light at Bdon Avenue and Jacobe Street. That'll be done um, this month, I believe. And then in um 2026, we will be installing the highintensity uh beacons at uh pedestrian crossings at Colgate
and Tuskcen and also Tuscin and Oakland. We've received um a number of concerns about the speed of traffic on Tuscin and the ability to cross the street to get to the library and to the park. So, we'll be um we we have exhausted our
traffic calming budget for 2025 and we will be installing those uh in 2026. Um and then I mentioned earlier that we will be starting the striping on Parker
Avenue bike lanes on November 24th. Um there's some concrete work that's being done now to uh expand the crosswalks along Parker and that's uh taking place and then we by Thanksgiving we should
have um the bike lanes in and then our ordinances will complement that and we'll be putting getting signs put up and everything hopefully by beginning of December we'll be ready to rock and roll. Uh I want to give an update from public
safety. We will be talking about the speed limit uh a little later. Um but I did want to say that we we do an analysis every month of our crime uh statistics and January through September. Um we are
down 30% in um incidents of crime uh from 2024. We in 2024 at this time uh at the end of September we had 240 incidents of crime.
In 2025 were under 200 197. And so um we really are uh reducing it and um want to thank the officers. In addition, we've been talking to the police about stepping up their
enforcement of uh traffic and pedestrian safety. And um they have uh increased the moving violations from last year to this year by 689, which is a 43% increase. I know no one wants a moving
violation, but I'll tell you, each of us can attest to the amount of calls and emails we get about the speeding traffic and the um people who just disregard crosswalks and the safety of our
pedestrians. So, we have asked um our police to step up enforcement and they have responded positively. Vehicle stops are up by 24%. That's 785 additional stops from last year. So, I want to thank the uh Chief Sally and the police
department for their efforts and we'll continue to um do what we can on the public safety front and that's all I have. Mayor, >> okay, totally agree with that. Aside from the number of emails and calls we get about pedestrian safety and speeding and disregarding traffic and driving
rules, we spend a lot of hours in subcommittees talking about exactly that and trying to solve stuff. But we can't engineer everything. So, uh, we engineer what we can and we need to step up enforcement where we can. So, um, I
don't think there's anyone who disagrees on this governing body. So, um, with that, I'll ask if anyone has any questions for Mr. Duca. Seeing none, we'll move on to Deputy Mayor Herman. You're up. >> Great.
Thank you very much. Um, so we had our Health and Community Services and Arts and Culture Committee meeting um earlier this week and uh a couple of things from that committee are on for discussion. uh something that is coming up. We are also
looking at venue rental fees at our facilities. So, uh you'll see that soon. Um I wanted to since it's November and it's the month of Thanksgiving, look around town for the gratitude project. Many of our businesses are taking part in this wonderful program that was
started by our very own Candace Davenport and has spread across the country and we have um 30 registered businesses nationwide. Um, a lot of them, most of them are in Maplewood, South Orange. But we're so excited. These businesses will have pens. You can
write what you're grateful for. So, take some time and and see if you can find some of these businesses and um do that. It's really um meaningful project. Um, also, our senior art exhibit at 1978 opened this weekend. I think my Miss
Engle and myself got a chance to see the art and I was impressed and I had a great time hearing about how some of these pieces came to be like what trips or what houses inspired them. Uh so there will be um it's 2 to 5:00 p.m. this weekend, Saturday and Sunday and
then the following weekend, November 29th on uh will be Small Business Saturday. So check that out. Um the prices are very reasonable except for the ones that don't want to sell. They they put high prices. >> Take what you pay.
>> Um and then I did also want to um mention our Hanukkah celebration. Um I had previously announced uh Sunday, December 14th. So I want to uh correct the record. It will be happening on
Tuesday, December 16. Um and this is very exciting. And it will be at Reckleton Square. And so please make a note of that. and >> 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 16 at 6:00 p.m. So, you can remember it that way.
And um that will be a a a wonderful community event. And um finally we held our all access committee uh meeting uh this month and we've been meeting every month and the committee um asked me to
at my report outs share with you um about our meeting so that you you know what we've been talking about and and I just wanted to let you know that we've been meeting with department heads. We had um uh uh DPW come and meet with meet with us, community services, arts and
culture, health. We also have had some um stakeholders from the disability community come and meet with us. And the committee is looking at programming events, things like a walkability study, um things like a website to sort of explain what accessibility features we
have in every building so that people who come to our facilities know. For example, if you came to town hall, um how would people know that our access is, you know, is right over here? Um it'd be nice to be able to have, you know, um the these kind of directions.
And this is something that came up when we had our public meeting about the all accessess playground, which we're very excited. It's moving along. Um because, you know, for residents to be able to see like photos and like videos and you know um you know people that are coming just sort of like to see what to expect,
you know, um that really helps a lot of people to see what to expect when they get there. So, that's something that we talked a lot about and um so a lot of really good ideas coming out of the committee. They can't wait to share them with you as we continue on toward our report. And that's that's my report.
>> Great. Thank you. Uh any questions for deputy mayor? Seeing none, we'll move on to committee woman. >> Um thank you. Um I will just add um to Deputy Mayor Herman that senior art show was like beyond incredible. I was really
impressed by some of the people and I ran into artist Maria who's running the windows for women um this year and so she wanted me to just shout out that they're looking for artists to sign up to have their art displayed in the windows for women and there's I believe
going to be a show at the library following it. Um so it's a really good opportunity. The deadline is December 8th. There's a form um it's sites.google.com/view/windowsforwomen 2026. a mouthful, but if you also just search for it, you'll be able to find it. And so December 8th is the deadline
for artists to apply. And once the artists sign on, they will go out to businesses, and she's hoping that we have all the businesses in Maplewood um filled with our local art. So, it's exciting. And other than that, I went to lots of meetings with Mr. Duca, so he covered it all.
>> There you go. >> That's my report. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. And that's for Women's History Month in March. >> Correct. Yeah. Correct. >> Um Yeah. Can we get that out to the community of artists, please? Um, the website where people can sign up would
be helpful because it was I don't think anybody >> I know it's a very long It's a form. It's a Google form and I guess you do have to sign into your Gmail account. So, I'm going to follow up with her to see if we can make it. So, if you don't have a Geek Google account, you can still fill out the form. >> Yeah. some link and we can share that
through the seniors uh who are doing the art programs too that they can do it. So yeah, great. Any questions for Zango? No. Okay, Mr. Daff, you're up. >> Thanks, Mayor. Two quick items. um our
from the Maplewood Arts Advisory Council, uh we as I talked about reported previously, we put together a survey to engage the community about how we use our facilities for arts programming and cultural uh engagement
that is now available for folks to use. Um, and I asked the administrator, uh, administrator Wary to help us get that out there, put it on the website and maybe use our communication channels to to get it out there. So, this is an opportunity for folks to honestly engage
and do so anonymously to let us know what you think about how we use our facilities. Are our events accessible? Are they meaningful? Are they economically accessible? Um, should we
be doing more cultural engagement, less cultural engagement? Um, are we using one facility more than other facilities? Uh, where could there be improvements? Um, again, you can engage with us anonymously and we ask that we that you
participate because it's a great opportunity for us to get some data about usage and utilization of our facilities and and do better to serve the community in the ways that we need to serve. The second report is about our uh
municipal equality index rating. Da da da. So, as I reported before, the Human Rights Campaign, which is a national organization that tracks and rates every city and town in the nation as it relates to their inclusivity and
diversity and welcoming status for the LGBTQ community. Uh they've been doing this for for years now. Uh and uh we certainly pursued uh a rating because we know that we are an inclusive and
diverse community. Uh, and we received initial notice. We haven't received our final rating, but received our initial notice that we are very close to a perfect score of 100. I'm not going to tell you how many points away we are, but so so close. Like we could see that
100 mark uh finish line. I've been working very closely. I need to give a strong shout out and salute to uh Deputy Clerk Allah for his uh outstanding and comprehensive work in putting the application process together. It was a lot of stuff to put together over a long
period of time. Uh so we have an opportunity to cure what the uh HRC sees as opportunities for us to gain a point here and there and we're doing that right now uh before we get our final number and we're hoping fingers crossed
and toes crossed that we get the full 100 points before the end of the year. So um that's my report. >> Anything we should know about what we need to do to get those last few points? Well, we argue that uh we are already doing the things and we should get full
credit and there's some discrepancy. It has to do with our health care policy. Does it explicitly cover uh transgender affirming healthcare and support uh and some things like that. Uh there are bigger things that we can do that would
be heavier lifts that would put us way over the perfect score of a 100 like putting together a human rights commission which we can't do in the next several weeks before the year is over. Um and uh but I I do think we're going
to keep fighting and I I thank you again uh deputy clerk a lot for your patience with me because I know I have been pushing well let's go back to them. Let's go back to them. Let's go back to them and negotiate uh and hopefully we'll get those remaining points. But we we really are very close to the perfect
score. >> Great. Any questions for Mr. De? Seeing none, I just have one item on um and asking for uh my colleague support to pass a resolution tonight that uh Miss Credio will draw up based on um a
template for us to officially be recognized by uh Revolution New Jersey, which is uh the Revolution New Jersey community in this I think there are 100 municipalities signed up so far and um other organizations and it's basically
uh to to join on sign on to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our great nation. So um there's just ways to promote heritage. Uh we're talking it's a lot of it's about historical things. So we're going to ask Duran Heden to um
kind of lead the charge on things with regard to historical um aspect of the 250th anniversary. Um, so does anyone have any problems with signing up for that? Deputy Mayor, are you good?
>> I'm good. And I support that. >> Good. >> Good. Okay. All right. Then I forwarded you a sample resolution. So, do we need to take a roll call on that? Yes. So, I'll mo move it. And Mr. Daffus. Yeah. >> Second.
>> Oh, it's let out. >> Oh, okay. Did I move it? I moved it. He Okay, we have a second. >> Don't you move? >> I moved it, but I was expecting you to second it, but then he >> Oh, it's all good. >> He was louder, so he gets >> It's all good. >> Mr. Davis, >> yes. >> Mr. Duca, >> yes. >> Miss Angel, >> yes.
>> Miss Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Adams, >> yes. Thank you. That's my report. So, if no questions for me, we'll move on to discussion items. We'll start with the historic preservation element of the master plan, Mr. Duca.
>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Um the uh historic preservation commission has been working with a consultant um Barton Ross and partners in preparing the historic preservation element of the
master plan. This is the 2025 edition. Last time we did this was 17 years ago in 2008. So it's uh we're 17 years older and um it it's reflected in the in the plan. Uh it basically really lays out a
lot about the history of our community. It's just fascinating the reading. Uh it talks about architects and um various styles of architecture. It lists uh a number of homes and I I know Mr. Weary pointed this out when he sent it out to
everyone. Um we've really expanded the number of homes that are listed to I believe it's over a thousand, >> 1200. >> Um yeah. So, um, these are homes that are have some, um, distinguishing characteristics. They're around town.
Um, there's also very good descriptions of historic districts or potentially historic districts. Ridgewood Valley, uh, Golf Island, College Hill, these are, um, unique areas in town that, uh,
really lend themselves to thinking about some type of preservation. So, um, this plan was presented to the planning board, uh, in draft. There's a few tweaks that are going to be made and then it's going to go back to the
planning board for December action. Um, what we're we don't have a role in adopting it. We're just really presenting it to the township committee to understand what we're doing. Um, this really will help us as we think about
planning for the future. you know, we're spending a lot of effort at the Woodland right now and that's reflected in here. Talks about how important to save municipal buildings. We are um doing a meeting on December 4th talking about
potentially uh designating a historic district on Ridgewood uh road. So these again are um all found in this element and uh it really describes how the historic preservation commission will
operate over the next 10 years or so. What are some of the goals that they're going to achieve um and and so forth. So really we wanted to bring it here to see if folks had um any questions. Uh, we do have the chair of the historic
preservation commission here and if anybody had any questions that you'd like to ask the chair, I'm sure the mayor would allow the chair to come up and answer the questions if uh you had some. >> I don't know. >> I don't know if the if the chair wants to do that
regrudgingly. >> Well, we can offer the chair to uh Daniel if you have anything you'd like to add to what Mr. Duca said you go up to the microphone and add anything. So that would be a no. Okay.
Um does anyone have any questions or comments on it? I think it's great. I'll just note that we uh got a grant to hire somebody to do this element um because it's quite indepth and a lot of work. So
luckily we didn't have to have volunteers do all of that work but also I'm sure you had a lot of input during along the way. Um >> I thought >> really interesting. I was just say it's really interesting like it's very long so I didn't read the whole thing yet but
I'm excited to because when I was skimming through it just reading about the various ar the different architects that have worked on it and the styles of home as Mr. Luka said like it's really cool to read about the history of Maplewood and the look and feel of it and I don't know I think it's a cool
document. So good job everybody. >> Also the HBC is starting some tours that um we I just went on the first one was a week and a half ago or so at um in College Hill. Um I had to pinch hit a
little bit keep the crowd but we had like 45 50 people there while while Mr. right, was a little bit tardy, so I danced as fast as I could >> and we had uh we had about 60 people on
Saturday at Rididgewood. >> Great. Wow. >> Um >> so there's a lot of interest. >> So yeah, there's a lot of interest and I think this report really um captures, you know, as you said, so much of the history. >> Uh and it's also has some great pictures. I know Mr. Weir mentioned how
he loves looking at the pictures here. >> Yeah. Yeah. because because the previous one didn't have any pictures in it. This one is really nice. Yeah. >> Um okay. Anything else on that is we're good and it goes to the planning. >> I don't think we have to take any action. This is just the information and uh
>> had any feedback, but it does go I I know there were some comments by the um uh the planning board and I believe they're being addressed, right, Mr. Weary? Um >> couple of minor couple of couple of you know just tweaking here and there. That's right. Yeah, I was going to ask
if you could share some of the I mean anything >> no mine >> worth mentioning that came that comments on the on the report because it because it does actually it does make um like a it's
more many more um properties that would be listed in here like if you could explain a little bit about that. >> Oh sure specifically about the property. Just like in the the 2008 master plan, with the 2008 master plan, our municipal
code requires that any property listed in the historic element of the master plan, which this is, when they make an application before the planning board, it is referred to the HPC for comment,
the the advisory comment to the board. And um that list was about how many 45 properties maybe more than that. >> No, it was like a 100 I thought but then this one was >> and then um this uh historic element has
expanded that list to over uh 1,250. So many more properties um if they make an application will be um referred to historic preservation for comment. um you know that's a good thing for PE for you know generally for the township um
it doesn't lengthen um the the time of consideration that the planning board has um and the comment from HPC is advisory so it's really helpful to the board to understand the context of homes that they're considering application for so you know it's just it's one of the
tools um that we can use and so to ensure that the planning board is uh the most informed they can And these aren't properties that are designated. They're just in the report. So then that would trigger this additional look. >> They're not designated by the element.
So they could be otherwise designated either in a district or individually, but it's it's not they are this process does not designate them as historic. So they don't fall under, you know, any of the other uh requirements of the uh that
section of our code for for those that are locally designated in a uh or those that are locally designated. Yeah. >> So one thing is since the since the 2008 report, there's been surveys done of certain areas. There's been designation
of Maplewood Village. So for example, all the uh addresses in Maplewood Village are in here. Um, and then the survey that was done on College Hill, survey on Gulf Island, survey on Ridgewood Road. So, all of those were were added here. And then we're about to
do some we're just got a grant to do Roosevelt Park, you know, and so there are more and um there are more so so some of those survey that information was generated since 2000. So that's one reason why the list is longer
>> and it's 17 years older, >> right? And I just want to add to my comment that it's applications before the planning and the zoning board that that's how it exists currently in our code. >> So the zoning board will get this information as well or they should.
>> Yes. Yes, they can >> to consider it as well for additions and >> that's right. They can get this you we have someone on staff who makes that referral when they see the property on the list. Uh but we can you know so that the the zoning board knows that this is coming as well. We can give them a copy.
>> Yeah, I think it would be good. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And there were two Go ahead. >> Oh, this is not public yet, the report, or not adopted yet? >> It's not adopted. >> It's adopted. >> It's public. >> Yeah. And it's been public since June, I believe. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. I just I I was asking the
questions just to make sure that the public understood, you know, when they look through here, people sometimes get a little worried about um your seeing your address, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah, and there was some of that at the planning board and I think there'll be probably some more public comments that we'll have to navigate in
the formal planning board uh action which is December 9th I think is the next planning board. Um the two other concerns that came up uh in that initial first pass at the planning board was uh there was some discussion about you know what about the what are the criteria
that go into designation? Um and it was made very clear that what is in the new element adopts the existing state preservation criteria. Right? So those are the criteria and yeah sometimes you know some of those elements become
subjective but that's that's what this is right but there are objective criteria and historical context that that's taking into consideration to >> and also the federal department of interior guidelines. That's what the HPC follows. >> Right. And then there was one other
concern which has been uh a lingering concern uh at least from one designated homeowner uh that may or may not represent other designate currently designated homeowners that you know we we should be
thoughtful um in uh making sure that we're balancing preservation with homeownership rights. Right. And uh again I think that was addressed at the hearing and you can correct me uh Mr. chair
by talking about how there is a lot more information in this new draft than there was in the previous element about that and um even state and federal preservation requirements have become more flexible uh to accommodate the
realities of certain materials no longer being available and um resources being expensive and so on and so forth. So they so there is some more flexibility than there used to be. Yeah, that that's great to hear because that's something that I've definitely heard from
residents um about. So um and even when we were doing the master plan um people were talking about that. So >> Mr. Did I get that correct? >> Okay, >> just to remind us all um no property gets designated unless this body
designates the property right >> through a series of public. >> We get the lucky job of making that final call. we have the final decision made. You know, we make the final decision, the HBC makes a recommendation to us, >> right? >> So, there's a it's a pretty rigorous process of of study about either a
district or a house or or a structure um and then uh whatever that it comes to us and there has to be a hearing um and you know a public vote. So there's a lot of safeguards I think and having done some of these in the past you know I know you
go back and forth and there there is a it's a balancing act between the pres preservation and and making sure that you protect the the rights of the homeowner. >> Yeah. >> And preserve history as well. >> Y >> so okay. So with that we'll move on to
the next demographic survey of boards and committees. Mr. Duca. So, we're um uh into our let's see, we've done this for eight years. I guess this is our ninth year. And just wanted to let everybody know that we'll do it again in
December. Um I believe deputy mayor, you asked uh for a question this year on the disabled comm um communities to ask if there's I'll talk to you. That's what my notes say. >> Oh, sure. Yeah. you remember, but
>> I believe that it was asking if there was like a family member or individual representing um the the disability or or um neurodyiverse community just for the purpose of, you know, bringing that insight of um accessibility.
>> Okay. Well, you're going to have to help me come up with a question. We don't have that question yet. So it would be um >> I'll be happy to >> you know something that we'd have to and then I'll I'll share this uh with before you know just the questions before we ask uh last year we we got 75 responses
out of 90 board and committee members that we surveyed which is an 83% rate. So um and it's very helpful and and uh it allows us to to look at where we can um make some adjustments. for example, you know, we were we've been looking for
a while to get more tenants on boards and committees and we've been doing some of that. So, I think this year we'll it'll reflect that. So, >> and we also have a new committee. So, that'll >> be the access committee, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> That's great.
>> Okay. Anyone else any comments on that? It's our annual thing. >> Thank you for doing that. Deputy Mayor, you're prohibiting smoking in outdoor cafes and >> Thank you very much. Okay, so as you may
recall, um this first came up at a TC meeting where Mr. Duca reported that Sustainable New Jersey was uh talking about offering points to towns who ban that ban smoking and outdoor cafes. Since this is something we all expressed approval, you know, interest in, uh it
was referred to the Health and Community Services Committee. The committee discussed our town's smoking ordinance and agreed to move forward with it by creating a small working group of myself, Candace Davenport, our health official, and Patrick Weary. Mr. Daffis also joined. And we we research we
started off um Miss Davenport did some research on what the existing state law covers with regard to um smoking versus what our code covers. And we discussed different directions that we might take. Overall, um, this is a policy that Miss
Davenport, our health official, has strongly supported, citing numerous health factors that are affected by secondhand smoke. I will mention also that our senior advisory committee made it be known that they overwhelmingly supported as well, citing health challenges facing old older adults um,
such as uh, asthma. However, our working group had some difficulty in determining you know what was covered by the state law because we do have a very good state law that does cover a lot of smoking in public spaces and um so you know basically under state law you can't
smoke um you can't smoke indoors right and you in restaurants >> and you can't smoke outside in a way where the smoke might filter in. >> So um that precludes some outdoor spaces but
not necessarily all of them. So, uh we then held a second meeting this time with Miss Cordido and Mr. Weary and myself and we explored the possibil like what's possible legally as well as that you know that we could do on a state level to complement the federal law. What we came up with is instead of
addressing our smoking ordinance, we would instead address our outdoor cafe and streeteries parts of the code. And we would update those two parts of the code by inserting in a graph that said
that would say smoking of any substance including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, cigarellas, vapes, and ecigarettes is expressly prohibited within the outdoor cafe permitted area or it would say within the streetery permitted area. And then um additionally
um the uh the restaurant who owns that cafe or streetery would need to put up a no smoking sign so that residents are aware. And so it's uh pretty simple to do it this way and would um get at what we're trying to do. Um you know I would
make note that many restaurants in town already ban smoking in their outdoor areas and so we thank those restaurants for doing that. This ordinance uh would update and codify this practice townwide. >> Okay, >> any questions? >> Sounds good.
>> Sounds good to me. did just remind me of that that we had this leaf blower panel a few weeks ago at the woodland and um somebody we were talking about how uh people there's always things like well comparing a
battery blower with a gas blower to see how effective they are and everything and one person said well when we banned smoking in restaurants and bars we didn't call up camel and ask what they thought it was really a good analogy. It just reminded me when you were talking about
it because we have we ban things that are unhealthy, right? For especially for people who aren't partaking, >> people who are sitting around them. So, I'm totally in favor of it. I think it'll be easy pass to um amend those ordinances. Miss Credio, are you going
to work on those amendments? >> Are we doing this in December? >> We uh time. >> Yeah. >> We um I brought it up for discussion today so that we have two meetings. >> Yeah. to uh >> Great. >> get this done. >> Excellent. >> Great. All right. Back to you, Mr. Duca.
>> Uh yes. Thank you, Mayor. Uh the Springfield Avenue Partnership made a request to reduce the uh speed limit on Springfield Avenue from 35 miles an hour um to either 30 or 25. Um just a little
background, you know, Springfield Avenue is part of the state >> system >> 124 highway system. So, it's it still is a state highway. Uh we have a agreement with the Department of Transportation that goes back to 2001
um in that Maplewood has jurisdiction over it. So, the the 35 miles an hour is the legacy of it being a state highway and other um county highways in Maplewood, Wyoming, Chancellor,
Irvington Avenue, those are all 35 miles an hour. um valley we uh worked with the county to reduce it to 25 m an hour but for a while it was 35 and sections were 30 and then we made it 25 uh because of the residential nature of valley. So um
the uh the partnership uh had an expert come in from Main Street, New Jersey and one of the recommendations that person did gave us was to take a look at reducing the speed limit. uh he recommended 30. Um we
talked about this at the engineering public works meeting and um we were informed by our traffic engineers that when they uh adjusted the lighting, the traffic lights, they adjusted it for 30 miles an hour as it is so that cars can
um uh travel down the down the road. uh and the lights are timed so that at 30 m an hour they would move the traffic and and stop at an appropriate intervals. Um we then talked and and so the the
engineering public works committee recommended 30 m an hour and that's why you see it here like this. We then talked it about it at public safety and um we asked the chief for his opinion. He did agree that it should be lowered.
He felt 30 was um the right number because it moves traffic sufficiently. There were some members of the township committee on the public safety committee who thought we ought to think about 25 miles an hour. We did talk a little bit about that in engineering and we kind of
settled on 30. So again, I want to raise it. Um there is a recommendation to go to 30, but there's some feelings that we might want to think about 25 miles. Um, I would say if we can't come to an agreement on what we want to do, then I
think what we ought to do is ask our traffic engineers to give us a recommendation between 20 and 25 and 30. Um, I still think 30 is the is the way to go, but I know there's some people that have um an interest in making it even lower, 25.
>> I think I think just I'm sorry. I think we all have an agreement of lowering the traffic. It's just a matter of whether it's 30 or 25. >> Yeah. I think um I think 30 makes sense for that street, especially since it is um still a way to get from one end of
the township to, you know, down to Newark and back again. Um and I think 25 might be a little too restrictive and counters the traffic engineers timing of the lights on Springfield Avenue that were timed for 30 miles an hour. Um what
about others think >> agree with the 30? >> I have a couple of questions. Um have we spoken with NJ Transit to understand what effect lowering the speed limit would have on the bus schedule which many people use to get to work?
>> No, I don't and I don't think it will matter at all. >> You don't think? >> No, I think transit does what transit wants to do. Well, this was this was brought up um to me as something, you know, to be make sure that we we don't delay our
buses because it's important for people to get to work. And I I am, you know, do want to respect that. Um I I do know looking around at Maplewood, um and thank you for some of that background on Valley, for example, I think Wyoming is 30.
>> Wyoming is 35. >> Yeah. >> Oh, we might want to look at that. Uh um do we have other main streets that are 30 or 35? I because I'm >> Milburn Avenue is 35. Um
>> Irvington Avenue is 35. >> Yeah, >> chancellor. The little stretch of chancellor. >> I think that that helps to sort of see like where Springfield um fits in relation to those. Um I want to say overall um I'm really glad that this has been brought up. So I want to commend
the Springfield Avenue Partnership and Mr. Duca for for bringing this up in the committees. Um yeah, I'm the one who wanted the speed limit to be um lower and I want to explain why. Um and why I think maybe we should look at Wyoming next. Um vehicle
speed drastically increases the risk of severe injury or death to a person. At 20 mph, a pedestrian has about 90% chance of survival. So not bad. Okay. But this drops to around 50% at 35 miles
per hour and below 20% at 40 miles per hour. So clearly reducing the speed limit from 35 to 30 would be very worthwhile and in the right direction and I would absolutely support that. Um but I'll be honest I the reason that I
would go further is because when pe when the speed limit is one number people go higher. And um you know, I just read read read the stats about what that means when someone gets hit. And I feel like we have an epidemic here in our town of cars driving fast and of people
being hit. Uh there have been multiple people hit just in this past year. Um and so, you know, um we've talked about this earlier about traffic calming and some of the things that we're doing. And I absolutely support all of that. I'm glad we're doing that. I want to do
more. Um because anytime I hear that somebody in our town gets hit, whether it's a child, whether it's somebody walking their dog. Um you know, I it's it's unnecessary. So, you know, it was up to me. I would reduce speed limits in
other places as well. I would put bumps. I would put stop signs. I would do whatever it takes to get the drivers in our town to pay attention and slow down. Um so, I want people who are driving to take a little more responsibility. I want them to look at their speedometer. Don't think about where you're trying to
go. Look at your speedometer and see what the speed limit is. And and and don't reduce your speed because you see a sign or you see a police officer. Reduce it because someone's kid lives nearby. Someone might be walking their dog. Somebody might be coming home for
dinner with their family. And this is important. All of this all of this is important. So, I'm glad we're talking about it. And I'm glad that we're going in the right direction by reducing the speed limit and I'll support anything that reduces it. I'm again very happy this got brought up. Thank you.
>> Miss Angle, do you have any comments on this? >> What she said? >> Okay. >> No, I'm also for reducing it. I mean, I understand why 25 could be good. I understand why 30 could be good. I'm fine with either quite honestly. I'm good with 30 for now because the the
traffic lights are already set to that. it is what our traffic engineers had suggested or talked about in the engineering meeting. >> Yeah. And I would just I would just add that um it's not always the speed so much as following the rules of the road and
being aware of looking at your phone. So, I don't I don't know that reducing speed. I mean, I'm in favor of reducing down to 30, but I think it's more of yielding to pedestrians in a crosswalk and paying attention and not, you know, I think
that's where a lot of the issues come up. >> We're a distracted uh country right now in driving. So, uh sounds like you have support, Mr. Duca, to move forward with this
>> driver. Yeah, he said. >> Yes. You said yes. >> So, can we do introduce this to 30 at the next meeting? >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> Works for me. >> You good with that? >> I think it's on. Oh, now it's on. >> Uh, yes. I'll just coordinate with the
engineer because >> yes, >> state statute when we achieve limit, we are required to get a written traffic analysis. I'll coordinate with the engineer, make sure that we have that in hand. reporting are >> okay >> clearly been discussed in the subcommittee with the
>> if not it can go till January. >> Yeah. Um the other thing is that we uh we will notify NJ transit um in addition to the New Jersey Department of Transportation that we are reducing it. So Mr. Kitner um just make sure that he
does that. Mr. Weary he'll just let transit know too. Uh, and I also spoke to Springfield Avenue Partnership and we may have some money to do an education campaign about um reducing it. You know, we'll put signs up. Right now, we only have one sign up. I think that says 35
miles an hour, but we have some money that we can probably buy some signs and do some uh um a public campaign about it. >> Okay. So, our last discussion item is uh community service allowing community
service director discretion to give Maplewood residents priority and registering for certain programs and events. And I know we discussed this at health and humans. So, we did. Yes. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. So, yeah, this is something that we discussed in
the health and community services and arts and culture committee. We also it's also come up in the senior advisory committee, the recreation advisory committee, and even the pool advisory committee. So, it's it's definitely been talked about. Um, specifically, there are certain programs, camps, and events
that our town offers through the community services department that fill up quickly and have weight lists. This is a good problem to have. Um, it means our community services department is offering programming that our community wants. However, we have also heard from Maplewood residents complaining that
they were not able to get spots in these desired programs, camps, or events. And as these programs are often subsidized by public funds andor the manpower or women power of our township employees, it is uh with the desire to be good
stewards of our residents tax dollars that this item is being brought up for discussion tonight. To be clear, this is not uh so this doesn't require an ordinance or a resolution, but since it's a policy directive, um that's why it's being brought to the TC for
discussion. Um, and also to be clear, we would not be limiting any program, camp, or event to Maplewood only. Some towns, many towns actually do this, and we are absolutely not doing that. What is being suggested is that um we would give our
community uh um services director the discretion uh to give Maplewood residents priority in registering for certain programs, camps, and events um based on their history. So, um questions. I thought we did this already. I thought
uh maybe two years ago we were giving Maplewood residents like a week or two advanced registration and we talked about this about camp because there was a certain camp where a lot of Maplewood residents were getting locked out. So I thought we had already made a policy to allow Maplewood residents to have a shot
to register for our Yeah. I don't >> programs first. I don't remember exactly what that was, but I I know we discussed it. But I think this came out of um some discussion about certain programs where
um South Orange residents in particular are taking spots that >> Right. we talked about it with um it was involving um a art camp that we used to run through Maplewood. >> Right. Right. >> And at that point we made we brought it here. We discussed it. We made a policy decision that all of our programs
Maplewood residents should have a a chance to register first. So, I'm for that cuz I believe that we our tax dollars do subsidize the fee the programs and Maplewood residents should have a chance to sign up first just like Maplewood has to pay a higher fee I believe in South Orange and South Orange
doesn't let Maplewood residents sign up for everything. Um, and I was concerned about like the giving the director discretion like that part of it I wasn't sure about. So I just think it should be like a all or nothing personally. >> Well, I think discretion is more of um
like in the conversation we talked about like as it's filling up really quickly and it's passed it. So um choosing a Maplewood resident over a South Orange residence. I believe it was
for for events that had filled like some things fill up so quickly like you can't make a decision in the middle of the registration. It would be the decision would be made prior to registration. The reason I'm bringing it up now is because we're doing camp registration in um January and we wanted to make sure this
was set. So, um, you know, thank you, Miss Engle, for bringing up that this had been discussed prior because, uh, I mean, we talked about this with the community services director and she indicated that this was not, um, something that was in place and she was
looking for this, the authority to be able to do this. >> Yeah, I think the permission, the authority, it's basically, you know, re-upping what you talked about. Now, the other thing that I'll just like flag as we're talking about our popular programs like I'm assuming ski club would be one of them. And on the flip
side, flag football, which is a very popular activity run through South Orange and so it could be that Maplewood residents then get shut out of some of I don't know if that'll happen. I'm just thinking about repercussions. >> I think there are there >> No, they could sign up at the same time and so for that program.
>> Oh, but I mean but there are programs that >> Sure. like the like maybe when residents can't do um the the camp at the park the bear camp the bear camp for examp that's that's a particular thing that came up at the recreation committee the camps situation because as it stands only
south orange residents can do the beard and so Maplewood residents um don't have that option they can only do the Maplewood kids camp and when it gets when it's sold out we we can't um we're at a capacity issue there because it's at the
and we can't open up anymore and so we end up with Maplewood families who can't you know can't get in. So that was like that came up in the beginning of the year and then I think mermaid camp was another one and then throughout the year and this also came up in the senior advisory committee because they find it
with some of their events. Um you know and it just kept it kept coming up as a reoccurring thing which is why we talked about it in committee and you know wanted to you know make sure that this is something you know especially with these programs that do use public funds
and our staff running them. >> Yeah. I think it's basically giving giving her the discretion to >> to make that decision without having to worry about backlash >> in to the to the >> I mean I guess my second question is there's like because I also thought that
Maplewood and South Orange work together with some sports programming. So some things Maplewood run some things South Orange runs so that we don't have competing. I know it doesn't always happen so perfectly and there is some competing now but um so I just worry like just thinking about that specific
example ski club and flag football are two very popular things that get filled out within the first like 5 seconds and so that kind of recreation program is a little different than like the camp programming >> or the senior programming and I just think when you're giving someone like
disc I don't know I get worried about that word like discretion because I don't know I feel like sometimes it has to be a little bit black and white I don't know So that's just my >> no I I don't have any problem with that word because we give discretion to our administrator all the time and department heads. So I have no I'm I'm
in favor of this just so >> I mean there's some camp some >> comfortable programs that it's not really applicable to to so I think that's what it was for because we want to make things open you know we know like we have friends in other towns our
kids have friends in other towns and we want them to be open but you know it just for certain programs you know it really comes down to our residents you know we I I think we owe our residents, it's their taxpayer dollars, you know,
that are, you know, subsidizing some of these things and we would love for um, you know, other towns to, you know, >> be as wonderful as us. >> Yes, >> Mr. Davis, Mr. Duca. >> Yeah, I have a problem with the word
discretion. I I don't have any absolutely any problem. I look at this sentence as two parts of it. The first part of it is with the discretion. I have a problem with the second part. I don't have any problem at all. It just seems to me that I'm not even sure why we even have to get involved. It just
seems to me that the the the you know when you have a space limited program, it should absolutely go to Maplewood residents first because you know so I I don't think discretion discretion is is a word that I think can be perceived to be abused. I just think
as a matter of policy when you have a limited um uh number of participants, it should go to Maplewood residents first. Just that's it. Bingo. No discretion. That's what happens. >> Mhm. >> Mr. Davis.
>> Yeah, I agree with that. Maybe this should say exactly what committee member Duga just said. For those programs where uh we have this capacity issue, Maplewood residents should get priority. period. So we don't have to deal with
discretion and could that be abused? What does that mean? So we've done two things with this discussion which went on longer than I thought for this particular item. Um number one, we've made it very clear to community services director that they have the authority to
uh put Maplewood residents first. We've identified certain programs in particular based on capacity and based on registration interest and we're removing the word discretion and just creating the policy that Maplewood
residents will get first priority in those programs and services. Is that helpful? >> Yeah, >> that's implementable. >> Would you like me to to >> Yes. >> Yeah. I think that was the intention. The discretion was really just to identify those programs that do max out
and then implementing where they would have uh registration for Maplewood residents and then at a subsequent date registration for uh South Orange residents. Those um programs that don't sell out, we would open it to both at the same time.
So the discretion was in identifying which bucket they fall. >> You should use the word identify, not discretion. >> Fair enough. Fair enough. >> Okay. Why can't we open all of our programs to Maplewood residents first? Why do we have to have a discret uh uh what did you say? What word did you use? >> Well, I think that there are some
there's some difference with like you know like you brought up sports for example like you know like MSO softball for example like it would make no sense to have Maplewood first cuz everybody can be accommodated. >> But other sports they can like I just said flag football sells out within the
first minute. Like I know that's a South Orange event, but I'm just saying ski club is a sport. It sells out. Some some things like MLSO softball or things that are volunteerled or are different. They do allow all kids to participate, but some don't. There's a limited number of
people that can register. So, I'm just saying if we're saying that Maplewood residents should have priority, wouldn't it just be easier to say they 24 hours earlier or a week early or whatever it is versus just like we know this one might sell out so we should open it up first?
>> I think that's why the word discretion came so we didn't have to put a a week or 24 hours or whatever timeline on it that it's a policy that it'll be set. So I would suggest that we uh ask our administrator to work with the department of community services
director and make >> feel yeah >> we have to do >> no there isn't >> there is nothing we have to do and I was happy making this >> decision in committee but >> there is a certain comfort level that
department heads >> can uh would like let's say because esp Especially in these programs within the recck department that there are parents wanting their kid to get in and then a lot of push back goes on to the staff
where if they know that they have the authority to do it and they're clear on that then they can do it and not worry about any backlash because it happens. Parents can be very demanding for their children. Just saying.
>> All right for your input. >> Thank you. And move to the consent agenda. Mayor, I'll move the consent agenda. >> Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Mr. Duka, >> yes.
>> Miss Angel, >> yes. >> Miss Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Adams. >> Yes. Thank you. Um, now it brings us to our final public comment on any subject matter open to the public. If there's anyone in the room who would like to come on up to the microphone, please
give your name and address and um you have make sure you speak right into the mic and you have three minutes to speak. >> Hello everyone. My name is Wendia Judon. I am a resident of uh 44th Street. Um I've lived in this town for about 30
years. Um love this town. Some familiar faces. Hi uh Mr. Duca. Um, and hello to everyone else meeting for the first time. Um, and I guess I'll just jump right in. And um, Miss Herman, I want to say thank you for the data that you
provided regarding the um, the speeding the at the rate that a car is going from 25 versus if someone gets hit, the the likelihood that the person will survive or not. So, this brings me right to a topic with um on 44th Street. Uh the
town did an amazing job installing speed bumps. However, and and I did bring some visuals if it's okay if I can bring them up to you. Um so, 44th Street is a oneway in the back of Wawa and you can just hand them to Mr. uh Daffis and he
can pass them down >> at night time. That's fine. >> But um the speed limit is 25 on 44th Street and it is a residential street >> versus Bdon Avenue, other streets that
are businessoriented and they're 25. Um if you look at the pictures, you'll see that on Ruckers um the speed limit is 15. Other residential streets they're 15, but for some reason 44th Street is 25. Um I've tried to reach out to see
who in the town can just revisit that. Um there's right I I believe Maplewood Avenue there's a speedometer radar to monitor the speed and also it's lowered to 15. Um, so while we're on the topic of Springfield
Avenue and lowering uh the speed potentially from 30 to 25, I would like to bring up 44th Street. Um, again, we have it's right next to uh Sev Boarding School. We have elderlys. Um, one of our
elders um her husband served in uh Maplewood. He was the town first black cop. um he was honored here when he passed away and sometimes his wife is not able to cross the street sometime myself I'm not able to cross the street
where cars are flying by the speed bumps while they were great but there are times people know to go around the the lower part to bypass the speed bump so that is something that I would love for the town to visit um to see if there's a
way for us to lower the the speed on 44th Street because again it's a residential street and I did try to write on there where we'll see Bordon Avenue actually there's a part on Bordon Avenue that's 15 >> miles per hour um despite it being a
busy street and so that's one um topic that I wanted to bring up >> well before you go on to another I just want to let you know that um I heard Mr. Duca click his pen. So that'll be on the next engineering public works and planning committee meeting >> that indicates the pen.
>> Yes, that's progress. Yes. >> Yeah. So you came to the right place. He'll we'll talk about that at the next engineering meeting which is the second Wednesday of the month on Zoom at 8 a.m. You're welcome to come. >> December 10th. >> December uh yes >> the second Wednesday. December
>> December 10th. >> December. And the second point and last point that I would like to bring also for 44th Street is um the wooded area on 44th Street um it's growing into our property and
unfortunately we do not have the equipment to stop it. So again these pictures that's our property right here and where all the woods is growing there and you know our is not big enough to um
>> do you know what prop whose property it is? >> It's the town >> township. >> It's not. >> No. Is it the school? >> It belongs to Vanguard the company across the lightning brook. >> When I spoke to um the uh public works or sorry engineering,
they sent me a map and they said the part towards Chancellor Avenue and I'm not arguing this. This is the information I was shared. I was told the part towards Chancellor Avenue belongs to Vanguard and the part towards
Jacobe closer to our house belongs to the town. So whoever owns it, it's again the wood is growing and our equipment is not strong or big enough and it's just like slowly migrating over to us. >> Sure. And just if someone can look into
that, whether it's Vanguard or the town, that would be very >> Absolutely. We can. Um, thank you for bringing that up. If you leave your name and contact information with our deputy clerk, then we'll look into whose property and your address and then we'll make sure we find the right ownership
and it will be dealt with by code enforcement to make sure they take that off of your property that's coming over on there. >> Yeah. And thank you all for your dedication and leadership to the town. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Or if it's ours, our public works will
deal with it. >> Mr. Wary, is there anyone on Zoom who would like to speak as you roll your eyes at me? >> Oh, sorry. Go ahead. Name and address, please. >> Daniel, right, address is uh 41 Oberlin
Street. Um, I just wanted to share that the historic preservation commission uh was awarded the commission award by Preservation New Jersey. >> Uh, several of us uh from the commission went to the awards ceremony in Trenton
>> uh a week or two ago and we uh have a nice big award that I would like to uh uh f find a place. >> But you don't want it in your living room. >> I noticed. Yes, you have the display. So, I'll I'll bring it to uh Mr. Worry
and we can display it. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Congratulations. That's great. >> Congrats. >> Yeah, we have a few historic buildings. >> Yeah, we can put it in one of them actually. >> Is there anyone on Zoom who would like to address the township committee? >> If anyone joining on Zoom would like to
address the township committee, please raise your hand. No one has raised their hand, mayor. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, so with that, I'll take a motion to adjourn. >> I'll move it. >> Second, >> Mr. Daffus. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Dula? >> Yes. >> Miss Engel? >> Yes. >> Miss Herman? >> Yes. >> Mayor Adams? >> Yes. Thank you. Uh, have a good evening everyone and we'll see you on December. >> What's the next meeting? >> Second. All right.