Good evening everyone. Welcome to the February 17th meeting of the Maplewood Township Committee. I will read the statement pursuant to section 5 chapter 231 public laws 1975.
This is to state for the record that 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 Star Ledger in
December 2025 and by filing said notice in the office of the township clerk. >> Mr. Adams >> here. Miss Collins Cing >> here. Mr. Daffis >> present. Miss Herman >> here. >> Mayor Duca >> here.
Ras chapter 231 public laws 1975 commonly known as the open public meetings act requires all meetings of public audience be open to the public and whereas section 7A provides that the governing body has a discretion to permit prohibit or regulate the act of participation of the public in any
meeting and where desire the governing body to comply with the provisionist act same time and conduct its business in an orderly and expeditious manner now therefore be resolved by the township committee township Mapwood does hereby I prohibit except as set forth in a formal
agenda. Active participation in deliberations of the governing body by the public except as otherwise described by law does limit the public to the observations of the actions and discussions of the governing body at all its regular and special meetings. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Mr. Adams. >> Yes. >> Miss Collins Cing. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis. >> Yes. >> Miss Herman. >> Yes. >> Mayor Duca. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Um Before we do the salute to the flag, we want to um remember four individuals
who have recently passed away. And I'm going we have um we're just going to make a statement for each. I'm going to ask Deputy Mayor Herman if she would uh speak about Mr. Angelo. >> Thank you. Zev Gerald Angelou. Mr.
Angelo passed away on February 6, 2026. a Maplewood resident, husband, father of three school age children at CHS and MMS and a softball program coach for many years in our town.
>> And committee member Adams, if you would talk about Mr. Melvin. >> Yes. Curtis B. Melvin Senior uh passed away on February 13th of this year. He is the father of our assistant CFO for
the township, April Miller. Um, and we send our condolences to Miss Miller >> and committee member Daffis on Mr. Thompson. >> Thank you, Mayor. We want to remember Robert Thompson who passed away this
week. Robert Thompson along with his family has been a was a resident in Maplewood for over 50 years and he was a retired Township of Maplewood employee. He served as a property maintenance inspector and he served for decades as
chair of Maplewood's rent leveling board and was the go-to person for all things related to rent leveling in the township. Even after his retirement, Mr. Thompson stayed engaged providing guidance and volunteering
and um I I really worked very closely with him and learned a lot from him and I'm going to say he's going to be missed. He was a true gentleman and a very kind man and extremely knowledgeable about the history of our town. And uh we want to honor his memory
and may his memory be a blessing to the to the community and to his family that he leaves behind. >> Thank you. And if um I could ask the uh Skoon family to come on up to the microphone there. I'll meet you there.
grandpa here. So, um the fourth person we want to honor um passed away all too soon and that is Joan A. Skoon, ae affectionately known as Jay.
And um he was an act an active duty member of the Air Force who grew up in Maplewood, graduated from Columbia High School. And he passed away while on active duty uh in Florida on January 25th. And his mom and grandfather are
here. And we wanted her to come up and just share some reflection of his son. >> Thank you. Very sweet. Thank you. Sorry. >> It's okay. >> Um, hello everyone. My name is Tama
Skoon. I am the mother of Jawan Skoon. Um, who graduated from Columbia High School back in 2015. Um, Jay was an engineer, an airborne engineer for the United States Air Force. Um, he was super bright, super
smart, super humble. uh when he was uh at Colombia I his engineering desires started to peak. He was part of the robotics club in Colombia. He played football for Colombia. He did lacrosse
for L for Colombia as well as he was a makos when he was younger. Um but uh he was only 28 years old but he was wise beyond his years. Um, like I said, he was extremely humble, extremely bright,
but he always was a selfless person. He will always give to anyone that needed any assistance. Um, so I want to thank everyone here today for remembering my
son and honoring him. I thought I could do this. fine. You're doing fine. >> I I I do appreciate everyone taking the time out this evening before your meeting um to remember him. I do appreciate it. Thank you.
>> So um now we're going to do a salute to the flag. And if you would join me in honor of your son as a service member, if everyone would just rise. 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. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you again. Sorry. >> Okay. Okay, we're going to move on. Um, again, please keep those four people in your
thoughts this evening. Um, we have a presentation that we're going to start with. I'm going to at that point turn the meeting over to um committee member Adams and as the chair of the engineering and public works
committee and she will uh have the presentation. There'll be a public hearing and then we'll do a vote on a resolution. After that we will do a board and committee appointments. We have three members for the senior advisory committee. We're going to keep you prisoner here until after the presentation.
Um, and then, uh, we're going to have a public comment session. That'll be our first one of the evening. If anyone would like to speak to us on an agenda item, uh, only, so you'd be able to come up and just introduce yourself and tell us your address. Uh, then we have, uh,
an ordinance on final passage um, to create the position of assistant tax collector. We have three ordinances uh, that we're introducing regarding our affordable housing plan. One is just adoption of the affordable housing
rules. Two is to allow for 100% affordable housing uh I'm sorry. Two is an affordable housing overlay zones in different places around town which will facilitate the construction of affordable housing. Three is a 100%
affordable housing at redevelopment area 2 which is on Bdon Avenue. And then we have a fourth ordinance on a fifth ordinance. Fourth and fifth ordinance on introduction. One is um repairarian credits for the uh project we're doing
up on Maple Terrace. Second is to prohibit parking on a portion of Carlton Court. We'll go into administrative reports, reports from elected officials. We have one discussion item. We'll be talking about the streeteries in Maplewood Village. We have our consent
agenda which consists of um minutes and payment of bills, uh various resolutions, closing projects, and then we'll have our second public comment period on any subject matter. Um so with that, I'm going to turn the meeting over
to committee member Adams and um to run our uh hearing and presentation on our Green Acres application for Deart Park. Thank you, mayor. We um are required for what what we are doing here
is uh applying for funding through the Green Acres program to help fund uh the improvements for phase two of Dehart Park. Phase one is uh rebuilding the field, the athletic field. Uh phase two
is amenities and improvements to the remainder of the park, including the playground and other things that this presentation will go into for the public. We're required to have uh a public hearing. We had our first public
hearing uh February 4th. Was it February 4th? Out of bad memory for, you know, uh February 4th, we had the first one over at the Heart Community Center. Um and tonight is our second hearing. Um after which, as the mayor said, we will vote
on it. We will take comment. We will have questions. Um uh anyone who wants to participate in the hearing can do so. And then we will um pass a resolution so that we can apply for this funding and hopefully get this funding so that we
can um do these improvements for um this park that's vital to the neighborhood of the Hilton neighborhood. So, uh, with that, I'd like to bring up and introduce our director of engineering and public works, Paul Kitner, to, uh, introduce
the consultant and your colleagues and conduct the hearing. Go ahead, >> M. Adams. Thank you. Uh, mayor, committee, good evening. Paul Kitner, township engineering, director of public works.
Um we're here to talk about DEHART, the Green Acres application for what we call the phase 2 improvements of DeHeart. Um you know, this meeting culminated from a series of meetings. Yes, it was
it was uh the most recent February 4th meeting, but it really started April 3rd of 2025 when we conducted the meeting in our community center at Deart and solicited their comments
and and their questions and we took in information and it was very valuable. So what what I really got from that meeting was that just doing the athletic field really wouldn't satisfy the the public. They
they were looking for more than just the athletic field reconstruction and all those comments and and points that they brought up. We I think we looked at those. We actually did a survey monkey
brought their comments in and that culminated into the uh proposal which you're going to see the plan. Green Acres requires me to talk about the environmental impact statement and that's what I'm going to get into
briefly to talk to you about the findings and then I'm going to turn this over to Mr. Danielson, Kirk Danielson from VHB. He's going to go into the actual concept plan and go through those improvements. I just want to stress to
the public here tonight that we're focused on what we call the phase 2 improvements. That's what encompasses the green acres application. We're not looking at phase one. If you want to review that there, it's actually available on YouTube. you could look at
the uh the April 3rd, 2025 meeting or the February uh 4th, 2026 meeting on YouTube. So, the environmental impact statement is also available, by the way, on our
website, uh www.maplewoodnj.gov, and it's under the dehart park rehabilitation project section. So you could download that if you're interested in re reviewing it yourself. I'm not
about to talk about every finding in the report. I'm not here to do that. I'm not here to read it word for word to you. I'm going to just summarize >> definitely not >> some of the outstanding issues that that maybe were discovered.
So, just as as an aside, if if we were removing trees as part of this application, then we would have to complete a park development tree removal evaluation form. But we're in fact not removing
trees. We're actually adding 40 plus trees with this application. So, so that was not necessary. I'm just disclosing that. So the conclusions that were drawn in the environmental impact statement were
mainly derived from the NJD geo web website. It's a tremendous tremendously powerful application that features GIS data layers. So we get to search a lot of this information on that. And the
subject property, just for the record, I want to mention that is block 48.47, lot 8. It contains approximately 7.26 acres. It's bound by Bernett A to the north, Newark Way to the south,
residential uses to the west, including Toronto Court, and Maplewood Senior Center and DPW property to the east. The current park consists of the community center building, parking lots, walkways,
including the walking path, grass, and open space areas including the soccer field and softball field lights including the stadium lighting, designated workout areas, playground areas, tennis and basketball courts, and various recreational uses and
improvements. There are no mapped wetlands shown on Geo Webb website. There are also no obvious wetland species of vegetation observed by my team. Given the lack of wetlands, there does
not appear to be suitable habitat for threatened or endangered species. Although uh T& species I want to note is not available on the geo web. Based on our review, it didn't seem like that there would be suitable habitat.
The land is gently sloped 3 to 5% and the native soil is bin silt lom which does not drain particularly well which actually is pretty closely matched to what exists out there in the field now. Historic aerials indicate that the
property was used as a baseball field all the way back from 1954. And although blurry the picture seems from 1931 to indicate farmland. It tells me uh uh excuse me, archaeological
was not a feature you could check on Geo Web, but based on the use of the property since 1956 as a ball field, I would not expect to find outstanding
um results from an archaeological survey. Historic features were also checked under geo web and the property was not identified as historic property. It's also not designated under the state or
national registered properties. The existing uses are recreational and that does not change with the proposed uses in phase two. Noise is an adverse impact for the project that will temporarily
increase But it is not anticipated that this will continue post construction. It will decrease. In fact, um we are required to talk about an
alternatives analysis and obviously the biggest alternative would be not constructing anything. That would be one option, right? We we don't have to construct this. But I think in doing so, we would be depriving our community of
improved recreational facilities by not doing this. So in my mind, I think it's it's got some strong positive criteria to move forward with this. In conclusion, there are some adverse
environmental impacts that cannot be avoided. This includes mostly temporary impacts such as noise, dust, traffic increases from the construction, but this will these are all temporary impacts and they will subside post
construction. We'll also try to minimize these impacts with uh silt fence to m control the migration of soil. It'll comply with soil erosion standards. We'll adjust traffic patterns as necessary to safely convey traffic
vehicles and materials during construction and we'll ensure that work also occurs during regular hours and will comply with all noise standards of the township. Based on these findings in this report of the environmental impact analysis,
this property I believe is well suited for the proposed improvements. And that's what I conclude from this. Without further ado, I'd like to introduce Mr. Kirk Danielson from VHB. He's going to go over the concepts uh with the public. >> Okay. So, your mind up.
>> Thank you, Paul. Uh good evening, Mayor Council. Um I appreciate the opportunity to be able to present the concept plan for the playground. Um can you >> There it is. >> Okay. Okay. So, what I'm going to talk about is I'm going to give you an overall view of the playground area, um
the surrounding areas. I'm going to focus in on primarily the playground, the areas that are kind of adjacent pretty close to the playground area itself. And then I'm going to go into uh some of the um site amenities. Um then I will kind of talk about the playground
equipment themselves in terms of the age groups and what other ancillary equipment we might have surrounding the the two different age groups. And then I'll show you some renderings of what the uh equipment is going to ultimately look like potentially. I mean there's always room for adjustment. So this is
just again just a concept. You can go next slide. So as you can tell right now the playground area in here is where the existing playground is. And what we're proposing to do is to
separate the overall area into two age groups, a 5 to 12 and a 2 to 5. Um, get my It's not going to work. So, this area in here is going to be
I'm left-handed, so don't mind me. So this area in here is dedicated to be the 2 to 5 area. The area up in here is dedicated to be the 5 to 12 structure. We have at the base of the 5 to 12 a
shade structure and again at the base of the 2 to 5 we have an additional shade structure. Part of this concept also is to include a rain garden, which you could see right here at the entrance of the park. I'm
sorry, to the left of the entrance of the park. >> Left. Yeah. >> Um, what we're also going to include too is off of the parking lot, there's really no entry into the park. Kind of lacks like an arrival standpoint. And what
we're going to do is include a focal point that if you park in the parking lot, you're going to arrive at the park and it's going to basically kind of, you know, announce that you've arrived at the playground, which is shown in here in this area. It's also
shown down in this area in the section view of what's going to be called um a signage wall. It'll have the park in big letters, some flag poles behind it to give you some vertical elements to again, you know, show you that arrival
into the park and playground itself. On this part of the playground, we're going to have some areas where we're going to have some seating for overview of the fields, which are further down here, kind of off this plan, which you really can't see. On each side of the
field, we're going to have two separate um observation areas for seating and whatnot. And then in the middle of that, we were going to have a picnic area because right now you do have a picking air picnic area with a lot of tables for the camp c camps. So, we're going to maintain that and kind of accentuate
that with some new tables, better surfacing, that kind of thing. And then to the right of the p uh picnic area is where the existing um exercise equipment is. That's going to remain as is. We might shift some of the equipment around just to kind of make better use of the
space. Um we're going to also as part of this phase kind of modify the existing walkway a little bit. Right now there's a lot of paths and it's kind of I like to call it being path happy. So we're going to try to eliminate some of that and make it more direct and more succinct into getting from point A to
point B. So there you can see that this is going to be part of that new walkway system. And then we're going to have access points which the existing access point kind of is going to remain and we're going to add a couple other ones over here and over here. Um what we're
also going to include is something for the seniors up in this area off of the shade structure that's going to be dedicated to the 5 to 12 year olds. We're going to have a small area for seniors as a sitting a sitting space kind of, you know, reflective. You want to read a book, maybe watch your
grandkids. So, that's what this area is going to be dedicated to. We're going to have some benches. We're also going to have some um additional landscape material, shade trees, because I know some of the comments, shade is a big um is a big factor. And you know, my kids
are 16 and 25, but I was a parent of, you know, 2 to fives and 5 to 12. When I was out there, it got hot. So, I can totally understand the need for shade. Next slide. So, this next slide is going to show
what the proposed playground structures are going to look like uh potentially. This structure up here is kind of an overall view of the uh entire space that shows a 5 to 12 unit. It shows a two to five in the back there with the two shade structures. The second image is
more of a um in-depth view of the five to 12 year old structure. And then this lower image down here is a a more detailed view of the 2 to five. The images over here are just general images that show you what potentially
could be in terms of the shade structure. More of a steel um steel gazebo. We have benches that are shown here. Um there are some center armrests that are shown in the center and those me more geared towards people just being
able to get up off the bench cuz sometimes when you have a you know 6 8 foot bench and there's no armrest there, it kind of it's hard to get up. So that's what the intent of that center armrest is for. We have bike racks, trash cans, and a picnic table. Again,
these are all suggest suggested um pieces of, you know, site furnishings. The picnic table here is geared towards um being ADA compliant. So, if anybody's in a wheelchair, they can kind of, you know, roll up to the end. That way, it's
it's geared towards anybody who's actually in a chair. Um the safety surfacing here is u shown in these different colors which you know right now we're just showing it as a as a um a
port and play surface but we're kind of looking and exploring different options as this whole process continues. You know right now this is just a concept stage. So, as you know, the Green Acres funding comes in and we're getting more into the design of the um park itself
and the playground, we can kind of take a look get a deeper dive into the actual equipment and um surfacing material and some of the other details. Next slide, please. So, these next couple images are
basically just renderings of what the entry could look like as well as what the equipment will going to look like. Right here you could tell that this is going to be the monument sidewall. It says the heart park. You can tell in the background we have some flag poles that again give you that vertical element to
you know show the arrival to the playground with heavy landscaping surrounding the uh monument wall or the sign wall itself. And then in the background you can see the 5 to 12 structure. And then further back you got the shade structures and
picnic areas. Next slide please. This view is a view of the 5 to 12 year old 5 to 12 year old unit. Kind of like a you know kind of laying down on the ground looking up. That's what you would look what you would see. Uh we have
slides some shade canopies again to you know give you that shade that's that's necessary. Next slide. This view is more of the 5 to 12 year old unit. Um
this structure down here is more um geared towards inclusive play. So you can see down in here there's some tactile um im images but some tactile equipment on the bottom here some seating area for kids to kind of play
and and do their thing. Next slide. And again this is just another view from the two to five unit. Again more of the inclusive play where we have panels that you know kids can touch and feel and and um interact with. again slides um over
here some climbing apparatus which again is more of an inclusive element as well and I think that might do we have another slide that has again okay so this slide just basically shows you what uh is can be included in
terms of ground level play more climbing seating there's um several of these elements throughout the the overall playground We have some musical equipment, xylophones, you know, kind of chimes. Again, those are also intended to be more inclusive. So, there are
quite a bit of inclusive pieces throughout this entire playground. Next slide. And that will be that will do it. >> That's it. Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Um, with that, I'll call open a hearing
for this. If there's anyone in the room who would like to ask a question either of the township committee or the presenters, uh, please come up to the microphone and identify yourself and all that. Is anyone here who wants that
speak at all on this? Anyone on Zoom? Any members of the public joining us via Zoom? If you'd like to ask any questions regarding this presentation, please raise your hand. I see no hands. >> Okay, it must be perfect then.
>> All right. So, um with that, I'll close the hearing and uh I'll call for the resolution. Oops. I have the resolution multitasking. Uh I move we have a resolution of
approval for uh the green acres application for Dehar Park ancillary recreational improvements. I move the adoption of this resolution. >> I second. >> Roll call. >> Adams. >> Yes. >> Miss Collins Golding.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis. >> Yes. >> Surman. >> Yes. >> Mayor Duca. >> Yes. >> Thank you very much. That was easier than you thought it would be. We had a lot more input at at the community center, but a lot of it was incorporated. So, thank you so much for
your time and and for coming tonight. >> Yes. I'll turn it back over to you, mayor. >> Thank you. Uh, next up, we have our board and committee appointments, and Deputy Mayor Herman's going to handle that. >> Thank you, Mayor.
Yes, we have three applicants for the senior advisory committee. I'm very excited about this. Um, I'm going to call um each of them, and if you're here, uh, please come up to the microphone and introduce yourself and tell us why you want to be on the
committee. Our first uh new member is Jacqueline Hersips. Yes, please. Never seen a mic like this before. Um thank you for this opportunity to be of service. I learned that
uh you were looking for people to serve on the senior citizens advisory committee to Maplewood and I thought okay I'll volunteer see what happens and one reason was that I've lived here for
so long and I know that Maplewood in my experience seemed to be very supportive of seniors and I was looking at it from the outside looking in, but now I'm on the inside and it's very different. And I have to tell you, I've
had two experiences very recently with people from Maplewood, starting with Dean Daffis who jumped in to help a friend of mine, an elderly woman who was about to lose her home because her landlord had died. And
although you didn't find her another home, you gave her so much confidence knowing that you were there. And I don't know if you know this, but she's settled now in a new home. Thank you for that. And then uh I had to fill out the
application, but I no longer have an office. I've moved to a senior community and I have a computer, not a printer, no way to upload and download and all of that. And Malia came over knowing it's a little difficult for me to get around
and she walked me through the whole thing. So that is an indication to me that I'm right about Maplewood and I'd like to help. The other thing is I see that my I may be able to help building a bridge between the community I live in
and the wider community of Maplewood Township and that is something that would be renewed. I think it was very involved at one point, but then after CO that fell away and then it became involved with a large
corporation and things changed. I think they just kind of sort of forgot. So, we'll try and put that back together if I can help with that. >> Thank you. And Jackie lives at Winchester Gardens, so we're really excited to have a member of the senior
committee from there so that we can tie that together. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, And our next me uh new member is Larry Tambbury. >> Good evening everyone and thank you for
this opportunity. Um, I've been, my wife and I have lived in Maplewood since 1991, except for a short period of eight years when we lived in Pittsburgh, but we wanted to move back to Maplewood when I changed careers. And so, we're we're back here. Um, previously I was on Arts
Maplewood. I was a member of Arts Maplewood and I was a member of the board of the adult school. And um now that I'm retired from full-time employment, I have and I'm a senior citizen, I thought maybe um I could learn something and also be of some help
to the community. So that's why I'm I'm interested in this um opportunity. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. And then the third member, you'll have to help me with your your name pronunciation. Nyra Shaw.
I don't know if she's here today or online. Is there somebody online? Okay. I wasn't sure if she was going to be able to make it. Let me see if I can pull up. Computer's frozen. Um
she's another member who has reached out to us when she heard that we were looking for applicants and um uh and she wants to um she says I would like to get involved in my community as
an an older person. I would like to have a voice on ways to make things easier for older adults. I believe I am a good fit for this role as a result of being involved in an organization that at times caters to older adults. She works for the state of New Jersey as a
judiciary coordinator. So, um I move these three candidates. >> I'll second Jacqueline Hersips, Larry Tambbury, and Nyra Shaw for um membership on the senior advisory committee. >> I'll second it again.
>> Miss Adams. >> Yes. >> Miss Collins Cing. Yes, Mr. Daffis. >> Yes, >> Zerman. Yes. Welcome, Mayor Duca. >> Yes. Congratulations, everyone. Thank you. >> Congratulations. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And you can stick around or you can go
home. >> And I will reach out to all of you with the information on our next meetings. Thank you so much. >> And we have our first public comment period. Uh this is on agenda items only. If you'd like to speak, ask you to come
up to the mic. There'll be another one later on any subject. But if this is an agenda item, let's see if there's anybody on Zoom. >> Any members of the public joining us via Zoom would like to speak on any agenda items, please raise your hand.
>> I see no hands, Mayor. >> Okay, we're going to close this one. Again, there'll be another public comment period. Um, we have an ordinance on final passage. >> Yes, mayor. Uh, item number eight, ordinance on final passage. Ordinance
number 3177-26 is an ordinance to amend table of organization within the township of Mapwood to establish the position of assistant tax collector. This ordinance will amend the township's table of organization to establish the
position of assistant tax collector and establish a salary range for the position. >> 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. Is there anyone here who would like to speak on this ordinance which establishes an assistant tax collector position? It's a hot burning issue in town. Yes. Go ahead. >> You can go up here
>> and just identify yourself for the record. >> Good evening. Uh Paul Dejardan, resident for 47 years in Maplewood. I was just asking what the salary range is for this position and whether it's existed before.
Mr. Weary. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I'm pulling up the salary. It has not existed before. So, this is a a new position in the municipality, which is why we are establishing the range and I don't have the
range in front of me, but I will in a moment if you if I can report back. So one thing um we also have a position of deputy tax collector which we are not filling and we are creating this position to fill. So we will not be appointing a deputy tax collector.
>> Okay. So it's not a net increase. >> It's not a net increase. No. >> Okay. That answers >> and the salaries are about the same. >> Okay. That answers the baseline question. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Anyone on Zoom? Any members of the public joining us via
Zoom would like to speak on this ordinance, please raise your hand. >> I see no hands. Mayor, >> okay. Um, can we get a motion? Committee member Adams. >> 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. >> Any discussion? Please call the role. Miss >> Adams. Yes, >> Scotting. >> Yes, >> Mr. Daffis. >> Yes, >> yes,
>> Mayor Duca. >> Yes. Thank you. Um, we have five ordinances on introduction. I'm going to ask our township attorney, Miss Credidio, if she would just explain the in general terms briefly, the three that
relate to affordable housing. >> Yep. Thank you, Mayor. >> No, you're >> you're on, but just pull it a little closer. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, ordinance 318126, which is on for introduction this
evening, is what I would refer to as an affordable housing regulations ordinance. Uh this follows the template ordinance that was created by the department of community affairs and the fair share housing center. Essentially it replaces existing portions of the
township code with respect to mandatory set aside of affordable units in developments of five units or more. It provides for uh development fees and it also provides for um compliance with the updated uniform housing affordability
control controls that were recently adopted by DCA. Um so essentially what this ordinance does all 48 pages of it is uh update portions of the township code um to reflect the recently updated
uh fair housing and regul for ordinance number 318226 also on introduction. This ordinance provides for an overlay zone at seven sites throughout the township. So an overlay zone essentially
have the existing zoning for those sites and then in addition to the property owner may elect to use the overlay zoning that's set forth in this ordinance and that provides specifically for the development of multifamily housing at each of these sites if
desired provided that a minimum number of affordable units is met based on a 20% set maximum density and the minimum affordable sites. It also has things like, you know, landscaping, buffering, parking,
and other regulations that typically. And this does, I'm sorry, this does not require a property owner to build. This in case they want to build, this enables them to build uh with some density standards and affordability requirements.
>> That's absolutely correct, mayor. It just gives property owners another option. Um they can the underlying zoning existing zoning. >> Can you speak up? We're getting uh requests from the press that they can't hear you and they're dying to hear you.
>> It should be We still have closed captioning. So, >> you got to pull it closer. There you go. That's better. >> Yeah. >> I've never been accused of being >> I know. It's >> Today is the first time. >> Okay. Um so both ordinance 38 uh 3181
and 3182 the regulations ordinance and the overlay ordinance are being referred to the planning board for review as to their consistency with the master plan. That's a traditional item that occurs when you have a change to a zoning ordinance. The scheduled date for that
meeting is February 26th. The planning board is having a special meeting to deal with this and and a few other items. And then these uh ordinances are scheduled for second hearing on March 3rd. The third ordinance that we have that relates to affordable housing is
ordinance 318326 which would enact amendments to the redevelopment plan for redevelopment area 2 to allow as an additional permitted use in a certain subsect of that area. Um 100% affordable housing
either apartments or you know stacked flats. Um again, this is providing an additional um option to property owners in that area. Um still have all of the uses that they had before. This
particular amendment was previously reviewed by the planning board at their meeting on February 10th and they um uh supported its adoption. They made two recommendations. One simply as to a cross reference, another as to updating a parking standard. and the ordinance
you see before you incorporates the uh recommendations that were made by the planning board at their meeting. >> Thank you. Okay, so we're going to go back to uh the introduction of ordinances which is section nine. We have ordinance uh number 9A.
>> Uh yes, mayor. These are all on introduction. Ordinance number 3181-26 is an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 150 housing affordable of the code of the township of Mapwood to address the requirements
of the Fair Housing Act FHA as amended and uniform housing affordability controls UHAC as amended regarding compliance with the township's affordable housing obligations. ations and repealing any
portion of the township code inconsistent therewith. This ordinance will enact new affordable housing regulations within the township to reflect amendments to the Fair Housing Act and the Uniform Housing
Affordability Controls and to repeal any current township ordinance to the extent that is inconsistent with those amendments. Thank you. Can we get a motion, Committee Member Davis? >> Certainly, Mayor. I move the passage of
this ordinance on first reading, its publication according to law in the Maplewood South Orange News Record, and a hearing to be held on March 3rd, 2026. >> I second. >> Please call the RO. >> Miss Adams,
>> yes. >> Miss Collins Cing, >> yes. >> Mr. Datis, >> yes. M. >> Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Next also an introduction uh 9B ordinance number 3182-26
is an ordinance to amend chapter 271 zoning and development regulations of the code of the township of Mapwood to address compliance with the township's affordable housing obligations by establishing the affordable housing overlay
one zone AHO-1. This ordinance will amend section 271-70 zone requirements of article five zoning provisions in chapter 271 zoning and development regulations of the code of the township of Mapwood to
establish the affordable housing overlay one zone AHO-1 which shall include the following properties 88 Bernett Avenue identified as block 48.47 47 lot 5
173444 Springfield Avenue identified as block 30.04 04 lot 127 2128-2144 Milbour Avenue identified as block 212
lot 61 79 Denell Road identified as block 17.16 lot 161 275 Parker Avenue identified as block 42.08 08 lot 146
2017 Springfield Avenue identified as block 29.04 lot 536 and 333 Elmwood Avenue identified as block 31-34 lot 4 on the Maplewood tax map.
>> Thank you. Uh committee member Adams would get a motion. I move the passage of this ordinance on first reading its publication according to law in the Maplewood South Orange News Record and a hearing to be held on March 3rd. >> I second. Please call the role. >> Mr. Adams, >> yes.
>> Miss Collins Golding, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Herman. Mayor, >> yes. >> Okay. And next we have item 9 C, also an introduction, ordinance number 3183-26.
An ordinance enacting an amendment to the amended and supplemented redevelopment plan for redevelopment area 2. This ordinance will amend the amended and supplemented redevelopment plan for
redevelopment area 2, including but not limited to section seven thereof to add apartment buildings and/or stacked flats consisting entirely of affordable dwelling units as a permitted use in
certain areas and to make certain other related revisions in connection therewith. Thank you. Uh, committee member Collins calling. >> I move the passage of this audience on the first reading its publication according to the law in the township of
Maplewood um, news record in the hearing to be held on March 3rd, 2026. >> I second. >> Please call the role. >> M. Adams. >> Yes. Miss Collins Colding, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes.
>> Miss Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Thank you. >> Next, we have 9D, which is ordinance number 3184-26 is an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of riparian credits in connection with the construction of
storm water facilities on Maple Terrace and Berkeley Road in the township of Maplewood. This ordinance will authorize the township to acquire repairarian credits in connection with the construction of storm water facilities
on Maple Terrace and Berkeley Road. >> I move the passage of this ordinance on first reading its publication according to law in the Maplewood South Orange News record and a hearing to be held on March 3rd, 2026. >> Second. Miss Adams,
>> yes. Miss >> Collins Golding, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> abstain. >> Miss Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. >> And 9E, the final one, is ordinance number
3185-26. Also one introduction an ordinance amending chapter 257 of the code of the township of Mapwood entitled vehicles and traffic to prohibit parking on a portion of Carlton Court.
This ordinance will prohibit parking on the west side of the portion of Carlton Court that is adjacent to the railroad. Parking will remain permitted on the east side of the street. I move the passage of this ordinance on first
reading its publication according to law in the news Maplewood South Orange News record and a hearing to be held on March 3rd, 2026. >> I second. >> Mams, >> yes. >> M. Collins Cing, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Miss Herman,
>> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Thank you. Uh, we're now going to move into administrative reports. Mr. Weary. >> Thank you, Mayor. To answer the earlier question, the assistant tax collector position established today is a grade
five, which corresponds to a salary range of $64,1 up to $78,000. And that is one grade lower than the deputy tax collector position that um may have otherwise been appointed for this vacancy.
>> Thank you. >> And I have no report tonight. >> Any questions for Mr. Weary? No, >> you're off the hook. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, Miss Credio, I know I had you speak a lot tonight already, so
>> no report, mayor. >> Talked you out. Any questions for Miss Credio? Okay. Thank you. Uh, Miss Fritzing. >> Uh, yes, Mayor. I wanted to give a report on the uh past uh primary
election that was held on uh since our last meeting on Thursday, February 5th. And uh you know, just to indicate that voter turnout was relatively low. We had uh overall 5,488
ballots cast in Maplewood and that includes uh vote by mail. And I still don't have the breakdown on what percentage actually uh came in person to the polls, but um
uh yeah, the turnout was um relatively low. It was pro uh problem free for the most part. And uh I would just remind everyone that uh the special general election
uh for um a followup to the primary is Thursday, April 16th, also on a Thursday. A little bit confusing for the public. And uh we had people show up at different polling locations on the Tuesday thinking that, you know, they
were voting that day. just not used to uh voting on a Thursday in New Jersey and um yeah, that's my report. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, we're Any questions for Miss Fritz? Doesn't look like it. All
right, we're going to go to committee member Collins Cing for report from elected officials. >> Thank you, Mayor. We don't have too much, but I just want to remind everybody we have our home sharing information sh session on February 18 at the Maplewood Community Center. Uh St.
Patrick's Day is coming up March 18th at the community center. So, uh we'll be having lunch for the sen um and we also have um at the Woodland on the 19th centers the film screening followed by conversation with Khalil Muhammad. And
on the 22nd of February, we have the chili cook off. So that is pretty much it for now. Any questions for our committee member? Uh committee member Adams.
>> Yes, thank you. Um just a couple brief updates. We have um as you as you heard tonight, we have the meetings done for um Dehart Park phase 2 improvements and green acres funding application. Um we
are going over some um plans. We will be having more community meetings um for uh the upcoming design possibilities for Prospect Street. Uh those will be later in the year. Um also
uh Women's History Month kicks off March 1st. Yay. So, uh March 3, we have at our township committee meeting. Um we have a proclamation for Women's History Month that we do. I'm gathering former and current elected women in the community
to join us from Maplewood South Orange. Um and we also at that meeting we have our wear white for women photo. So, anyone who comes for that meeting, come and be prepared to smile and wear something white.
That's for women's suffrage for those who don't know. Um, so, uh, yeah, we're excited and we have, uh, lots of events coming up for, um, saw that look for, um, the whole month. So, we will, uh,
somaomen.org is where you go for that, but don't go until I update it for this year. That's all I have. Thanks. >> Thank you, Committee Member Daffis. >> I have a discussion item, Mayor, so I'm going to yield my time for that. No
other report otherwise. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> Wow. >> Deputy Mayor Herman. Um, I want to mention a couple other events coming up on not this weekend, but the following weekend on Saturday,
February 28th at 300 p.m. is the CPAC resource fair. CPAC is the special education um is a special education parent advisory committee. And this resource fair, I believe it will be the third. It is um being held at the
Columbia High School uh cafeteria and this year um the health department, the Maplewood Health Department, Maplewood and South Orange Health Department will be there with a table and also our very own all access committee will be there with a table to talk to residents. So,
um make sure you mark that in your calendar. And then the very next day is LunarFest at the Woodlands. So um we do lunar lunar day is is I think it's today or yeah and um it's the year of the
horse. So happy year of the horse. Um but the actual festival will be on March 1st and that is Sunday at the woodland. Um and then I did want to point out you know every every time we meet you hear me you hear Miss Cullings Colding you
hear many of us Mr. Duca Mr. office every and miss um Adams all talk about events that are coming up, right? How do you find out about these events? I want to give you three things, three ways that you can find out about these events that are really important. Number one,
go to our website. It is maplewoodj.gov. Go to our website and if you look at the front page of our website, we've got the some slides with some really great information there. Number two, sign up for our newsletter.
So, if you go to the website and you hover over residents, look for the button that says sign up for Maplewood News. If you click on that, you put in your email and you will get our newsletter. It comes out twice a
month the week after our meeting. So, our next one will be coming out next Wednesday and it has a lot of these events that we talk about, other things that you need to know. It's really you need to subscribe. It's the best way to find out what is going on in town. And
the third way is to follow us on social media. Our Instagram handle is Maplewood TWWP for Township. And a lot of the information that you're going to see in the email newsletter that you're going
to see on our website, you're going to see it first on the Instagram. So those are three ways. Go to our website, sign up for our newsletter, follow us on Instagram. And if you have ideas for other ways to get news, you can email me on the
website. If you hit about us, there's a contact directory and it has our emails. And mine mine is right there. So, you can email me about thoughts that you have about how to better get communications from us. And while you're there, there's also, this is really
cool, under the about us, there's a a link for Maplewood Town Hall lights, so you can find out why we light the town hall up different colors. So, there's a lot of things you can discover on our website. Please check it out. Thank you. >> And the fourth way is to tune in to our
meetings right here because you have nothing else to do, right? Yeah. No, thank you. >> There's a desk. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Um, I just have a couple of things. Uh, one is that I want to give thanks to Chris Kori who
is the president and chief executive officer of New Jersey Transit. Uh, Chris came out to Maplewood this morning um to greet voters. We were out there, Mr. Davis and I were out there joining him to greet voters, help voters. What' I
say? Voters. Voters. Commuters. >> Commuters. >> They may be voters, but they were commuters. You know, normally normally when we go, >> we go to the train station in the morning like that. We're talking to voters. >> Yes. >> This was we were talking to commuters. Uh we were we were assisting commuters and answering their questions and
helping them as the really the first day of the diversion of trains from here to Hoboken. But it went very well. At least on the way. I you know, we've heard some a little few glitches on the way back, but pretty much it's been a good day. I think every day it's going to get bigger
and bigger as far as the the population using the uh the trains. Today was a little bit late, but we'll see. Um but I I think it was great that uh Mr. Corey came here. Of all the train stations in New Jersey he could have come come to, he came to Maplewood. So um that was
great. And uh he's he's a man of action. I've watched him a very long time and I'm very impressed by him. Um, so that's and his other job in addition to this, the the governor has appointed him as the chair of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. >> He runs the Parkway and the Turnpike. So he's got a lot on his uh on his plate,
but he he was here in Maplewood. >> Uh, and I just want to go through a number of um talking about events. Black History Month, this is our last meeting until the end of the month, and Black History Month ends at the end of February. So, you know, we have a things happening this weekend and next weekend.
A raisin in the sun is happening at the Burgdorf centers the movie over at the the um the woodland uh Brazil conver Con conversation and celebration of the African Dispora. Uh that's happening at AA's gallery on Saturday. We have an
artist talk at 1978. Also on Saturday, cooking demonstration with Chef Jesse uh remembering his mom. Uh and uh he's going to be cooking some shrimp gumbo and cheese biscuits and southern fried chicken. So, bring your appetite. Although it might be full already, but
you can check that out. Uh, next uh Sunday morning at 11, we have Trayvon Martin's birthday party and that's at 11:00 a.m. uh at the senior center. Uh, kids speak out. That's always a popular thing at the library. So, this year we've have been doing it at the Hilton
branch, but we're now going to be doing it uh in the community room at the main library. Um, we have a uh Seth Bdon presents Black History Month, Gallery of Heroes. That's going to be on the 26th over at the school. Ammani Perry uh
talking about she's an author, very famous author, is going to be talking about the importance of history in a time of eraser. And that's Friday, February 27th. And to round out the month, we have two events from the Y on the 28th. Um they are having a Black
History Month uh showcase. Um and then on March 1st, which is a little bit over, they're doing Black History Month at their center and it's going to be exhibits and uh book readings and what have you. So again, we had a a a great Black History Month celebration in
Maplewood and we're ready to move into women's history months. With that, we will end our elected official reports and move to discussion items. Mr. Daffis, you have streetery season. >> Streery season. Thank you, mayor. What is a streetery? A streetery is a fancy
word for outdoor dining. And as everyone in Maplewood knows by now, we have made our outdoor dining uh facilities uh permanent. And the current season starts on April 15th and
ends uh November 15th. And while outdoor dining remains very popular with residents and with the participating restaurants and cafes, in recent times we've heard some uh some
complaints. There's some fatigue about the season being so long. Certainly when the outdoor cafes are put out there, their uh burden and impact on available parking in Maplewood Village is significant. There's no doubt about
that. So, we've been discussing this. We've been exploring it. We've always committed to making things better and adjusting as we need to and evolving as we always should in all matters. Uh and so we've looked at this uh in the code committee which I chair and the
recommendation is to reduce the season from the current April 15th to November 15th um and make it possibly May 1st to October 1st or May 15th to October 15th.
So I'll open the floor for my colleagues to uh to have a nice discussion about it. What do we think? I like reducing it, but I'd like it to be May 1st because April gets nice and warm and I think people are wanting to sit outside and as we said at code since
the sidewalks in Maplewood Village are so narrow, it's difficult to have outdoor dining. So, and it's a really important part of revitalizing and keeping a downtown alive is to have life on the street and that's what outdoor
dining provides. also makes people sit and linger longer and therefore spend more at other businesses. So that's kind of why we're look we looked at the streeteries in the first place. So I'd be in favor of reducing it. Um but starting May 1st, I guess through the
end of September or October 1, that would be my >> Okay. Anyone else? >> No, I would agree. I think May 1st and I think it's I'm fine with October 1st. We it it actually um does get used on the
Halloween celebration, but I don't think that's a reason to keep the whole month >> going. So, I would I would keep it May 1st to October 1st. >> Deputy mayor. >> So, I was going to say um I liked the
May 15 to October 15 and here's why. The pool opens May 23rd. So to me, May 15 sort of aligned more with when we moved to summer um and is a little closer to when you know kids are out of school. Um
and then October 15 because um we've got the downtown um the Maplewood Village Alliance does the uh Saturday September Saturdays and I know this year at least there was one of those dates that I think it was rained
out and they pushed it to the next date in October. So um that just seemed you know to give it a little bit of time in October. I do think that um not having the streeteries there during the Halloween parade would be helpful
because we get so many families that come down to the Maplewood Village. The crowd the the the street is absolutely packed with kids and families and trick-or-treaters and honestly we could use all the space we can get on the street for that event. So um you know I
think there's still sidewalk dining that will be outside for people to watch. Um, but I do like ending it. So I think, um, if we wanted to May 15 to October 15 or May 1st to October 1st, that's pretty
similar to me. Um, you know, so I don't feel strongly about those two because that shaves what that does is that that shaves um about a month about a so it wouldn't be a month off each end. It would be but it would be two months it would be shaving
off. Yep. So either of those dates work for me. >> Thank you. >> I think to meet meet in the middle May 1st to October 15th. >> Okay. I go with that. >> Right. That way you could you could dine outside with mom for Mother's Day which
is usually the second weekend in May. Right. Let's not forget mom. >> Okay. So we'll go with that. >> We'll go with that and we'll um make note of that and we'll introduce it at the next meeting. Yes. >> We have to do this by what? Resolution or ordinance? ordinance. Okay. >> Yeah, because we have to amend the
ordinance and we'll be discussing updated fees for our streeteries. Uh that is coming up next for discussion, but thank you for this. >> Great. Thank you. All right. Uh we're on our consent agenda. Committee member Collins Cing.
>> I move the agenda. >> I second the agenda. >> Thank you. >> That end of the day, Adams. >> No seconding. You're not seconding enough. you know, late. Just kidding. Never mind. Yes,
>> Miss Collins Colding. >> Yes, >> Mr. Daffis. >> Yes, >> Sherman. >> Yes, >> Mayor Duca. >> Yes. Thank you. Okay, we're on our second public comment and this is on any subject matter. >> Yes. come on up and just uh
>> My name is Kent Fairfield, 32 Miranda Road. I hope this is a proper place to make comment. >> It is. I'm just want to say you have three minutes. >> Yep. Uh real quick, uh I was here last week and spoke in favor of turning down
the addition of uh the little wing of uh 11 inward court even though I did not know what our options would be and I never heard that was specified in the meeting. So I want to give credit to the Victor Luca and the board for itemizing
as many as eight other possibilities which can allow us to comply with that as to be determined in the future. So that's helpful and I give you credit for making that very overt now. So thank you for that.
>> Thank you. Anyone else want to address the township committee? Um, good evening everyone. Uh, Dave Helmcamp, 571 Prospect. I didn't listen to any of the meeting tonight, so if I say anything here that's redundant, contradictory, or anything, just let me
know. But I I came by just to share some insights with you from the last couple of weeks um regarding the redevelopment zone in the village and affordable uh housing, the fourth round obligation, all that stuff. Um
on the uh Facebook page that we publish, there were 99,000 views since January 26th. Now, those are just things going by in the screen. Um, but there are 11,000 interactions with
those posts since January 26th. Um, that's huge. That's 20 times more than any issue in the last 10 years that we've been doing it. Um, the uh the site got an additional 7% in
followers up to about 990. So that's uh typically it was like since over the 10 years it was maybe 20 a year and this was like 70 in two weeks. >> So you have new fans
>> you have new fans >> evidently. Yeah. So but but really what what I uh wanted to share was you know what I got out of that and all the stuff that went by. First of all is many many many many new names. That's probably not
a surprise to you guys. Um, I I partly recognize 5% at most. Um, there's no understanding of affordable housing. Everyone cares. Everyone thinks we should do it. No one knows how it works.
>> I think I think that's kind of a disconnect. It's unfortunate. It's something that we have in common, but no one understands how it's getting done. Um, same thing with the redevelopment process. Um, people are very confused by the present, the interaction of the
theater plan and the fourth round obligation, these stealth investors working in the village who who are no longer hidden, but admittedly they were kind of stealth for two years. Um, many of us knew who who it was. The same investors who are now adverse to the
town in court. No one quite gets understands how we got there. um sudden deadlines in the face of what seems like an outsized proposal catches people. It's just like dissonance in their heads. What's what's going on? Um why are we in court at all?
Um isn't this a local matter? That's a lot of what people see. And I think we got that reaction out of the planning board, too. Um I uh I'll leave a copy with with Liz, but um this is the rest of this is strictly personal opinion. You know
where I feel we are at. >> Home, you have 10 seconds. >> Could I go a little bit longer? No. >> No. >> No. >> Really? >> Really? >> Okay. I'll be back in two weeks and uh I'll put this on the record in the meantime. >> Thank you. Anyone else want to address
the township committee? Thank you. >> Good evening. I'm Liz Dempkin. I've been at 19 Woodland Road since 1990 and I'm here to tell you about some a developing situation. I in my neighborhood on a parcel in my neighborhood and I'm not
really wasn't really sure where I could go with this so I thought I'd bring it here. Um the parcel in question is Brook Lane. uh Brook Path and Brook Path is a is a woodland area that runs from the
brook behind um Dia Balden School with an entrance on Woodland Road and it's a a bio biodiverse area a lot of different types of trees but about 30% of the trees are um beach trees and all of them
are infected with beach leaf disease. Beach leaf disease is in our town and um and um it's spread by a by a pathogen that comes from a nematode. So there is
um treatment for it and without treatment uh a young tree will last one to three years and then it dies and an older an old tree will last six to 10 years and then it's dead um without
treatment. Uh I'm here to advocate for these trees there. I know there are there is treatment um of beach leaf disease um in Maplewood um in the memorial park
and um just wanted to put it out there that that this area is used uh heavily by the path is used heavily by students and children going to um Julie Balden uh b bikers bicyclists
um joggers, dog walkers, people walking to the village. And um as I've said, I've been there for almost 36 years, and the trees were large when I got here. So, I'm going to say that they're probably over 100 to 150 years old, and
it would be a real shame to lose them without a without fighting for them. So, I I contacted um Mike Hin in uh June, July, and August. Uh he was
going to meet with an arborist. I don't know how that went, but that's something a starting point for somebody to look into to see if there's anything that can be done for these trees. and if not um
be on alert that they will cause a danger to people in that area when they die. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I just I'll follow up on with engineering public works on that. Do you want to leave your contact or an email
and I can let you know? >> So this is a this is a path that the town maintains. So we should be checking that. Yeah, we'll see. >> Anyone else want to address the township committee?
>> Anyone on Zoom want to address the township committee? >> Any members of the public joining us via Zoom like to speak on any subject matter? Please raise your hand. >> I see no hands. Mayor, >> okay, with that we'll close that public comment period. Would anyone like to
make a motion to adjurnn? >> I move it. >> Second. Mr. Adams, >> yes. >> Mr. Collins Golding, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Miss Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Thank you. We'll see you again on March 3rd at 7:30 p.m.
>> Good night. >> All right. And good luck. >> Happy birthday to my father.