Everyone, welcome to the January 20th, 2026 meeting of the Maplewood Township Committee. I'll read the statement. Pursuant to section 5, chapter 231, public laws 1975, this is the 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, Collins Cing here, Mr. Daffis >> present. >> Surman here. Mayor Duca >> here. Whereas chapter 231 public laws 1975 commonly known as the open public
communities act requires all use public bodies to 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 at any meeting and whereas desire the governing body to comply with the vision of this
act same time and conduct this business in an orderly and expeditious manner. Now therefore be it resolved by the township committee township Mapwood does hereby prohibit except as set forth in the formal agenda act of participation and deliberation of the governing body
by the public except as otherwise prescribed by law does limit the public to the observations of the actions and discussions of the governing body at all of its regular and special meetings. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Miss Adams. >> Yes. >> Miss Collins Cing. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis.
>> Yes. >> M. Herman. Yes. >> Mayor Duca. >> Yes. Thank you. Would you please join us in a salute to the flag? >> 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. So, I'm going to go over the agenda real quick, and if you need copies of the agenda, we're have them up here at the clerk's desk. Uh, we're going to start
off with a special presentation on human trafficking uh prevention month and uh committee member Collins Colding will be doing that and we'll be doing that down there and we'll have someone in the audience who will be joining you there.
Uh after that we'll have our we have no board and committee appointments tonight. We'll go into our first public comment uh period and that's on agenda items only. We have no ordinances on final passage but we do have introduction of a new ordinance um and
we that has to do with salary levels and we'll go to administrative reports reports from elected officials. We have three discussion items. We'll be talking about the demographics survey of our boards and committee members, changes in redevelopment area 2 uh to permit 100%
affordable housing, and then we'll be talking about police offduty rates. Our consent agenda is broken into two. The first has to do um with the 20 25 minutes for December. Uh we broke it
into two because committee member Collins Colding um is not able to vote on those. So you can abstain on that one. And then we have the consent agenda number two which is all the resolutions um awarding contracts and everything else that we've been doing here. We will
then go into our second public comment period on any subject matter and after that if we're lucky we'll adjourn. So, I'm going to ask uh committee member Collins Colding to um go up to the podium
and Michelle Babro, if you would join her. Thank you, Mayor. I'm going to be reading a proclamation for the human trafficking prevention month. Whereas human trafficking is a grave and growing crime that exploits vulnerable
individuals, violates fundamental human rights and derives victims of the freedom through force, fraud or cohesion for purposes of labor or sexual exploitation. Whereas an estimated 27.6 6 million
people worldwide are subjected to human trafficking with documented cases occurring every in every US state and territory affecting individuals of all ages, genders and backgrounds. And
whereas survivors of human trafficking are often manipulated, threatened or coerced into exploitation and the survivor informed education and public awareness are essential to effective prevention and response. And whereas
large international events, including the FIFA World Cup, are known to increase the risk of both sex and labor trafficking, making proactive public education especially critical before,
during, and after such events. And whereas New Jerseyy's MetLife Stadium will host eight matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between June 11 and July 19,
2026, including the final along with related events throughout the region. And whereas New Jersey laws recognizes January as the human trafficking prevention month and January
11 as the human trafficking awareness day, underscoring the state's commitment to prevention, protection, and survivor support. And whereas the township of Maplewood, it's committed to protecting human
rights, individual freedom by raising awareness of the warning signs of human trafficking, promoting survivor informed prevention, messaging, and ensuring access of trauma informed and respon responsive services. And whereas the
township of Maplewood commenced the New Jersey coalition against human trafficking for its survivors inclusive work and to end human trafficking through education, advocacy, coordination, and support for survivors
across New Jersey and beyond. And now and therefore I Jane Collins Coding and the Township Committee of Maplewood on behalf of the Maplewood Township Committee do hereby proclaim January as the human trafficking prevention month
in the township of Maplewood and call upon all residents, businesses, organizations and public agencies to join in raising awareness opposing human trafficking in all its form. supporting survivors and working collectively to
the end to end this crime and restore freedom and dignity for all. Thank you so much for recognizing human trafficking. We like to say that this is a nice middle class community and it doesn't
happen here. But unfortunately, the things that we say don't happen wherever we are very often do. We started uh working against human trafficking, publicizing and and getting information
around 2010 before the Super Bowl was at the Meadowlands. Don't ask me. I don't do football. Um I do other things. Um and it started with just League of Women Voters, Junior
Leagues, um and a couple of organizations. It has now grown into the coalition of New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking. We have over a hundred organizations that are part of this coalition working to combat the
issue and to hopefully educate uh as many people as we can to be aware of what's going on and to help save our our victims. There is sex trafficking which we know about and it doesn't need
any explanation. But there's also labor trafficking where laborers can be forced to work. Their papers can be taken away. They can be held captive with threats, with fear, with fraud. Um we're trying
to protect all and to make all aware. There are community committees that the coalition includes including education um survivor services, middle and high school programs
police and there's a training for police which will be held on March 4th and 5th in Eatentown, New Jersey. I will be happy to send the information to share with our police force because you don't know what you're looking for unless you know what you're looking for. So, thank
you so much. Oh, before I go, in case you happen to see something that raises your hackles or makes you concerned or question, do not immediately intervene.
Please take out your phones and put in not ICE but the hotline for human traffine 888 3737 8888. It's a national hotline but they have uh
contacts in all states including ours. So thank you very much and let us be aware. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Just on the uh police information, if you would send that to Mr. Weary as the appropriate authority, then he can get it to the police.
>> There you go. Nice quick delivery. >> Perfect. >> Uh two bites at the apple here. >> And there's also a survivor uh training uh survivor informed training focusing on the World Cup. It is a week from
today, Tuesday the 27th. And I will give Mr. Wary this information as well. Thank you again. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Very important. >> And we're now going to move into our first public comment. >> Uh this is on agenda items only. Is
there anyone here in the room who would like to speak on an agenda item? Seeing no one, Mr. Weary, would you check with those on Zoom? If anyone joining on Zoom would like to speak on agenda items only, please raise your hand.
I see no hands. Mayor, >> how about Miss Cidio? She was looking over your shoulder. Do you see any hands? >> Okay. Um, we have an introduction of an ordinance. Miss Fritzen. >> Uh, yes, Mayor. Ordinance number 3176-26
is an ordinance to amend classification of employment positions within the township of Mapwood and to establish salary ranges for employees. This ordinance will revise classification of employment positions and salaries within township of Mapwood
consistent with a revision of the table of organization established within the township of Mapwood. >> Thank you, Mr. Weary. Before I ask uh committee member Collins Colding to move this, would you just explain why we do
this on an annual basis? >> Sure. The um we set the salaries for all of our uh non-UN township employees by resolution and they they have to be within uh ranges that are established by
ordinance. when the majority of our uh municipal workforce are um union employees and so in those union agreements it would set specific salaries and salary ranges. So this is action that we take for our non union
employees. Um and this is for the most part just the year-over-year cost of living adjustments that we make for our employees. >> Okay. Thank you. Can we get a motion? I move the passage of this audience on the first reading,
its publication according to the law in Maplewood, South Orange News record, and a hearing to be held on February 3rd, 2026. >> Second, >> please call the role. >> Miss Adams, >> yes. >> Miss Collins Cing, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes.
>> Miss Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Thank you. We're now going to go into administrative reports. Mr. Weary. Thank you, mayor. Just one item tonight on the consent agenda. I'd ask if the governing body would uh pull resolution
66-26. That was appointing a deputy tax collector as that resolution is not ready to be considered. That is my only report. Any questions for Mr. Weary? Okay. Next up, our township attorney,
Mr. Gdidio. >> No report. Mayor >> and township clerk. >> Quick report. Mayor, >> um, I just want to update uh the township committee and the public on a few uh uh uh voter registration and
early voting and uh dates for the upcoming election. Uh last Thursday we were remained open till 900 pm for uh voter registration. We don't have to, but it's policy that we always do in
Maplewood. Uh we also uh would indicate that early voting begins on January 29th and ends on Tuesday, February 3rd. And uh the primary election itself is
Thursday, February 5th with all of our Maplewood polling locations uh have normal hours from uh 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. And uh the sample ballot is posted on the township website and the Essex
County uh clerk website. Uh I'd also like to indicate that last week uh we had a walkth through at the uh Maplewood Main Library um with the county and uh Mayor Duca attended uh with myself and the deputy
uh township clerk to uh talk about a potential um early voting location uh that we're proposing and uh hoping we can sell within uh our township so that people don't have to travel uh to other
locations and uh haven't received uh any answer yet, but I think it was well received. >> That's my report. >> Thank you. Any questions for our clerk? Right. Seeing none, we'll go to reports
from elected officials. Committee member Daffis. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, just very quickly, uh, proud to have witnessed along with you and a few others here on the township committee the swearing in of our new governor today, our 57th
governor, Mikey Cheryl. Um, Mikey Cheryl is someone who uh has been close to our community. She was an effective Congresswoman. um looked out for us and we campaigned really hard for her election as governor and we were really proud to see her
being sworn in today. Um and uh we wish her the very very best. I'm sad to report that outgoing Governor Murphy did not sign the Immigration Trust Act and accompanying immigrant protection bills.
So we will continue our advocacy. We know that this is a critical point. Us here in Maplewood have seen ice. We uh know personally the devastation that ICE is um
causing in our neighborhoods, in our communities across the country, and right here at home. So, we will keep working on that. There were many other bills that were signed by outgoing Governor Murphy by the deadline. Uh several of those affect our uh township
business and I will be using my report time at the next meeting to report on those including uh new historic legislation regarding code red and how we deal with heat. uh new historic leg
legislation on how we can use our affordable housing trust dollars for a lot of other things other than just building and rehabilitation um and some other really uh important bills. So more on that soon. And lastly,
as our clerk reminded us, there is a special election on February 5th. This is a critical opportunity. It is the first critical election as we head into the 2026 midterms in November. It is the
special primary election to fill Mikey Cheryl's congressional seat. And um we encourage people to get engaged with just uh what is it 17 days to go until February 5th. So, uh, hopefully
people will, um, some people have started voting by mail, uh, and we encourage everyone else to, uh, return their mail ballots and to, uh, engage early in person or on the day of February 5th. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Committee Daffis. Uh, just one point about the immigrant trust. I I think we all share that disappointment, but I I think one thing we want to mention is that Governor Cheryl has said that she intends to continue with the attorney general's directive. So, we have to make sure that she follows
through on >> Yes. What people say and what they do are two different things as we know. So, yes, we have good faith, but we will also make sure that it happens. >> Okay. Committee member Adams. >> Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Um just a few
engineering public works committee updates for everyone. The um signalized intersection at Valley and Valley Street and Milburn Avenue. The timing uh was again updated for the
Valley Street traffic to um originally it was far too short. It only allowed like five or six cars to get through that intersection. um backing traffic up on Valley all the way to Tuscan Road. Then we they added
20 seconds to that cycle and it was still not really good enough. So they just today updated it again and added more time to the Valley Street side. Deputy mayor, you'll be happy to hear that. So u hopefully it'll it'll be
functioning better now. So I just wanted to update everybody on that. Also um we are waiting for public service PSENG to um make the direct install program um
put it active put it uh so because we our engineering department has ready numbers the application all the information we need if um we are able to upgrade all the lighting in all of the municipal buildings we'll be able to
save um what it costs us to install that will will be more than made up for in savings. So, we're looking forward to that being done. Uh Prospect Street redesigns, we'll be holding some community meetings for the public for
design um options for uh the redesign of Prospect Street that um the community will be able to give input on. And then we also have a green acres application in process for um phase two of Dehart
Park improvements. Phase one is the athletic field. Um rebuilding that athletic field with better drainage um and more playability. The um once that is done, phase two will be uh
improvements to the playground. Um also the walking path will be rebuilt um there'll be uh redoing those pathways, installing a rain garden, benches, tables for passive use of the park also. Um so that we have to part of the Green
Acres application is we need to have public hearings. So the first public hearing will be February 4th at Deart um Dehart Community Center. So that's at 7:30 I believe. Okay. 7:30 on February
4th to get uh give your input and also to hear what the plans are for phase two of Dehart Park. And then on February 17th, our TC meeting um we'll we'll add act as the second public hearing for
those designs and then we can put the application in for funding from Green Acres. Um and that's all I have. >> Great. Thank you. Any questions? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Committee member Collins Cing.
>> Great. Let's talk about our WCK program that's coming up. Um, so we have our summer camps going on sale tomorrow, which is January 21st at about 10 10 o'clock in the morning. That would include our kids camp, the Maple Craft, um, tennis, mermaid, and a bunch of
other camps that are going to be open tomorrow. We have our adult gym, uh, open gym, basketball registration open as well, February 20. The sessions begin February 22nd. And we have a spring youth programming registrations are also open. For our community services, we
have um family movie day which will be in February and um cooking demo with chef Jesse. And for our senior programming, we have the senior social and Valentine's pizza special in February. And we have our AARP driver
safety classes, which we've expanded to have more classes, more more um slots available. We were sold out the last time, but we have more spots available. And we have the Black History Month senior trip coming up in February and a
senior trip to Play Mill Playhouse and also our culture our Maple Arts and Culture Center. Let's see what's happening there. We have some exhibits and culture events. We have some ex exhibitions and visual arts
programs. We have film and theater media there. author talks and literacy events conversations with Imani Perry just to name a few. Sadika Johnson, music, fashion and cultural celebration concerts with Leela McKela, African
fashion show, celebration of the af African diaspora. We have community and educational events with YMCA, the black history showcase, cooking demonstration by chef chef Jesse. We have the senior trip to the music the New York museum
coming up. So, we have tons of activities coming up. Let me add to that. We also have a request for the RFP. Uh this is a open call for all Maplewood based artist, artist
collections, teachers, uh teaching artists, and small community organizations. They are seeking proposals for exhibits, workshops, events, gathering, reoccurring programs at 1978 Maplewood Art Centers. and the emphasis is on community um
participation, collaboration, local stories, lived experiences, inclusivity, accessibility, and belonging. So, uh the applications are open. Uh you can the program will run for one year. It will be April 2026 to April 2027. And if you
go to the Maplewood arts andculture.org, the application is on there. You can apply. We also have our survey. We want to know what our our community is thinking about. We want
to we want them to we want to understand their needs uh how to use our publica spaces for arts and cultural activities. Uh we want them to give them give us feedback to use the community input to guide more inclusive and accessible
programming. Uh we want to hear the community voices as central of shaping Maplewood arts culture and ecosystem. Feedback directly from the community is really important. Most of the time we hear that you know we don't have a
voice. The township is not listening to us. We're asking you now to please go online and fill out the survey and tell us what you want in this community. What services can we offer you? How can we make make it accessible to you for your
kids, my kids, and all of us that that lived in this neighborhood neighborhood. So, that's pretty much all my updates for now. >> And just to remind everyone that a number of those programs that you mentioned for Black History Month are
also on the arts and culture website under >> Black History Month under Black History Month. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Herman. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, and thank you, uh, committeewoman Colleen Colding for that description and especially for sharing
about the RFP, uh, through arts and culture because it's that's so important, you know, using our spaces for um, for exactly that, for arts and culture. And so I love to hear that. Um, so I have a few things to share from various committees. uh for Holocaust
remembrance. I'm pretty sure everyone up here has this date on your calendar, but I want everyone else to write down March 15th. It's a Sunday at 2 PM. That's when we're doing our annual Holocaust Remembrance um ceremony. We'll we're
going to be doing a march starting at the uh it's at the Indiana Street parking lot. That's where the food shed is. And so in conjunction with that, everyone's going to be asked to bring uh an item of food, a canned uh good, something to stick in the fridge when we
um uh when we meet and have that um service and then the march to St. Joe's for the um remembrance. Um so we're going to see that uh out in all of our channels pretty soon. Um getting that word out. Um, I also want to share
something really exciting from our police department that we talked about in our public safety meeting is the blue envelope program. So, you may have seen this in some of our social media posts. The blue envelope program is really exciting and this is something that
Essex County has adopted, other uh uh towns in um New Jersey have and our town is now joining with this. And what it is is exactly what it sounds. It's a blue envelope. the color blue. It's an envelope that you can that is for
specifically for drivers with autism to use as a visual cue to officers. So, you can put your registration and your um insurance and you could put a copy of your driver's license and keep your
driver's license in your wallet or stick your driver's license in there and keep it in your glove compartment. And then when you pull it out, the officers will see that and it's a visual cue for them to know um to have have some some patience and um to be able to
communicate effectively. And all of our officers have had training on this. So I'm really proud um of this step and our police department and um Chief Sally for making this happen. So um if you want to pick one up, this is completely
optional. You don't have to give your name. It's not stored anywhere. You just go to the police department and you can pick it up. We're also going to have these out at our library and some of the other sites pretty soon. So, um it'll be easier to get. But, um if you have any
questions, go to our police um we have information on our website and also on the Maplewood Police Department website. At our communications meeting, um one thing we talked about was our proclamation. So, we just heard um
proclamation read earlier today on human trafficking and last month I read a proclamation on Muslim Heritage Month and we do these proclamations every month and they're important. They're on issues that are important. We want people to be aware of them. And you
know, I had somebody in the community mention that they didn't know if we had done anything to honor Muslim Heritage Month. And since we did and we issued a proclamation, we want to make sure the public sees these proclamations. So, we're working on getting these on our
website and sharing them and so that you'll be able to see what proclamations we do if you don't happen to come to our meeting or watch. So, that is coming soon at our pool meeting, our pool committee meeting, just starting the year off. You'll be happy to know that the pool committee is pretty much
unanimous that they're going to be recommending early bird again. So stay tuned for that. That's exciting. I I have to mention that because it's so cold outside. >> Warmer days are coming. They are. They really are. They'll be here before we
know it. Um in the all access committee, um as again as Miss Collins Colding mentioned, getting your opinion is so important to us and the committee is working on a survey because we want to get uh feedback on accessibility in the town. So, we're currently working on
questions um and on that survey and we're going to have a community meeting as well. So, stay tuned for that. And finally, my senior committee um we um we're having a lot of fun uh talking about issues that are important to our
um elderly or um as we like to say our experienced residents. And we need more members. So, um, the thing is you don't have to be a senior to be on the senior committee. Um, because we're looking for members of all ages. We need at least
one member who is under 25, at least one member who is 62 or older, and then I think another four members can be any age. So, you know, if you have a passion for working on issues that are important to get around town, to be civically
involved to um you know, transportation is a big one um that we talk about a lot in the senior committee. So, if these issues are important to you, please apply. You can go to our website and fill out a volunteer application. Um and that is all I've got.
>> Great. Thank you very much. Um, I'm over 62, but I don't think I have time to be on the committee. >> You have an excuse. >> Thank you. >> Uh, so I just want to second Mr. Daffis's um experience today
at the inauguration. It was terrific. It was a really great day for New Jersey. and to see uh Mikey Cheryl take the oath of office, the second woman, first Democrat, 57th mayor, a 57th governor. Um it was really something. And I guess
this her talk was about a half hour was less than my talk here. Um but uh she paused for a moment and signed two executive orders dealing with utility rates. She said she was going to do that
and she did it on her first day. She did it on her first hour. >> Yes. >> Of being governor. >> So it was really great. >> And um the second was was the first was to deal to tell the BPU to pause any kind of race. But the second was to put
out a bid for more solar >> and more um >> storage >> storage >> battery storage and what have you. So that is how you create um you know the generation of electricity and create an interest. I mean you know at the federal level they're just walking away. I mean
the emphasis is on coal and here in New Jersey we're doing the right thing by by using renewables. So it was really a great day and it was a lot of fun. Um one of the tasks that she will also have to deal with right away is New Jersey Transit. So, uh, for those of you who
commute into New York, you I'm sure you know by now, we we found out the story last week, and we I immediately posted some stuff. We sent out stuff from town. Um, so the
there's good news here and bad news. The good news is we are finally going to resolve the problem that we have with the portal bridge. That's the bridge that takes the trains over the hackin sack which for years has not closed. Sometimes it doesn't operate. It opens
up in the middle of a rush hour to let a ship go through. So um we now have a new portal bridge, but in order to get our trains onto that new portal bridge, there needs to be what's called a cut over. You need to cut the power and move it over to the new bridge and move the
rails uh so that that works. And those of you who have gone to New York, who could see out the window, not all the trains you can see out the window, but if you've gone to New York, you've seen that new portal bridge and it's just inviting us to to start using it. So that's the good news. The bad news is that this is going to take some pain
because there is going to have to be work done and trains have to run while work is done and it's hard to do. So, um, for us here in the Mars and Essex line, all of our trains during the week are going to be, uh, sent to Hoboken.
And some people say, well, why does that happen? And, um, for those of you who are new to riding the trains, and I say new going back, boy, almost 15 years now. Um, all the trains >> went to Hoboken, from Maplewood. You
couldn't go to New York City from Hoboken. from Maplewood, you had to go to Hoboken or or transfer uh from Newark Penn Station or Newark Broad Street to Newark Penn State. It was just a mess. So now so those those legacy tracks going to Hoboken is is still there and
that's what we're going to be using. So transit will use that. The emin lines during the week will be reduced. The trains will be reduced from 149 trains to 141. Additionally, there are going there's going to be changes in the times
that the train gets here. So, I urge anyone who's a commuter to get on to the transit website. It's uh njtransit.com and portal cututo por
cutover. And you can see the new schedule. You have to look real close because I've been going over this and you know some of it is just a few minutes here and there, but um that you're going to have to go to Hoboken and you're going to have to transfer
either to the ferry to to uh 33rd Street, take the path to 33rd Street or any of the uh uh stops between Hoboken and 33rd. Uh you can take the bus, I think it's the I don't remember the name one something there bus. You can take
that bus from Hoboken. So, there's a lot of different ways you can get over there, but it will be jammed. Let's make no bones about it. It's going to be jammed. Additionally, the length of trains that are going to go to Hoboken will be shorter because
the tracks in Hoboken are not as long as the tracks in Penn Station. So, the trains will be crowded and they will be uh running at a different time. So, uh we'll get as much information out. I've
sent transit a slew of questions that I've received after posting things online. One of the one of the questions is they tell you to buy a Hoboken pass and not buy a New York pass. A Hoboken pass is cheaper. It's about 20% cheaper
and that that Hoboken pass will be able to you'll be able to use that to get onto the path for free, the ferry for free, the bus for free. So we have a lot of people in Maplewood who are who work on Broadway shows. So
those shows run from Tuesday to Sunday. >> Yep. >> So on the weekends you're supposed to buy a New York pass. So if you buy a monthly pass that they tell you to buy a monthly pass to go to Hoboken and all of a sudden you're going to use it on the weekend because you got to get in there for your show, you may have to pay a
step up. So we're trying to work with transit to see if we can work something out with that. So, there's a little little kind of things that uh we're going to have to try to work on as we go forward. But most importantly is figure out what we're going to do. What what you're going to do as a commuter on us.
We're going to take a look at our jity schedule. Uh again, we might modify it by a few minutes because uh some train trains may be cancelled, some trains may be coming two or three minutes earlier. We want to make sure you get there. So, uh we will get out there. We'll get as
much information out there. This all begins um on February 15th and it'll be for four weeks. Uh this should be done on Monday, March 16th. But they did say the the president of transit did say that this is subject
to safety and testing. They have to make sure that once this is done before they open the tracks again that they met all the requirements that are that they have to do. Now, the other thing is that there's a second track that has to be
cut over in the fall. So, I would expect we're going to go through this again in the fall. And then after that, uh certainly in 2027, we should be able to ride right in under our new bridge and not have any problems. But this these two periods,
this this period now and back in in in the fall, we're going to have um some difficulties. So, we will work with you. We will get as much information out. We're advocating for it with you. Uh it was a little contentious call that we that I was on with them making sure that
they let you know the commuters know of their options and we try to get as many options as possible for you. And the only other thing I want to announce is that this Friday at 1 p.m. there's going to be a sustainability fair at the
library. And this is hosted by a number of groups in town. and stop over. I think it's from 1 to 4. It's going to be information and I think there's going to be a lot of excitement because there's a new uh D coordinator uh commissioner um
someone that comes from the environmental movement in New Jersey. So, I think there's going to be opportunity and I think we're going to hear that on Saturday. So, come on out to the library uh and Baker Street uh 1:00 to 4:00 for the sustainability fair. And that's all I have. And that
was on Friday, not Saturday, right? The sustainability fair. >> Saturday. No sat. >> Oh, it is Saturday. I >> said Friday. >> Did I say Friday? I'm sorry. Saturday. It's because I can't read my writing here. Saturday 1:00. >> Must be really bad because Friday and Saturday don't look anything. >> Yeah, I know. I know. I know.
Okay. Uh let's move to the discussion items. And Mr. Weary, could you put up the survey? So, every year we do a survey of our boards and committee members just so we're clear about who we're appointing and we take a
look at this. You know, information is knowledge and it gives us the opportunity to look at who sits on our boards and committees and um you know as we go forward in making more appointments, we can take a look at you
know who we might want to be looking to to bring on to some of these committees. So um this is the first one. This just tells us the uh we ask them to identify themselves. So 66% of the 2025
uh board members identified as white, 24% black African-American, and you can see the other breakout there. Um and and then the next slide just shows a trend line. So over the years, you know,
2018 is when we started this. So our committees were a lot wider at that time. And you know, we've we've tried to increase the uh um non-white uh membership and we've been successful in doing that. I think we still have
more to do, but we're we're on good good path doing that. Go to the next one. Um this is again 54% of our 2025 uh members were female, 45%
male, 1% non-binary. And then if you go to the trend lines, which is the next, you could see we flipped it from 2018 when we had 53% male and 45% female. We're now just flipped that around. We're, you know,
10% more women than men. We ask the next is the age. And this has been pretty consistent. Um the the sweet spot has always been this 40 to 60 year old. Uh which makes sense.
you know, the kids are a little older, maybe they're settled in their jobs, they have a little more free time to give. So, um, this this has been consistent over the years. There's a just one little, uh, change here. The
under 40 group, um, went from 11% last year to 13%. And that's something I think some of that is our youth advisory committee getting some of the young people involved. And that's, I think, a trend that we want to continue to do. uh
our uh 40 to 70 although still the main part reduced um a little bit from 72 to 70 and then we dropped on 70 and older from 17% to 15%. So we you know I think we wanted to trend a little more younger
and this at least last year we were able to do that. uh living quarters, we ask if you own if you live in a house that's owned or rented. And you know, we've tried to uh get more tenants involved and and we were successful last year. We bumped up
a percentage. So went from 8% um and that's something so we're at 9% last year and and that is good for us. Next one is we ask if they identify as LGBTQI plus and um again we bumped up a little
bit 5%. Our best year was 2021. We were at 8% but um this is something to keep working on making sure that we have broad representation. uh living here in Maplewood. Um again, it was uh
pretty much uh the same as as years before. And then the next is we asked them how many times they've served on their on their boards and committees. What's interesting here is that 51% are one in
two years. So they're they're relatively new to the boards and committees which I think is another goal that we have of just recycling people on and off. So that helps. So you know at under five years is uh 69%.
That's pretty good. And then we asked you know appointing how many times they've been appointed. And then you can see again first time is 54%. And then we have uh a couple of just stock questions. You know, this is a new one actually. Uh, do you draw from your
personal experience of living with a disability or someone living with a disability and do you bring those perspectives? Uh, a full 40% said yes. So, that's good because I think that's as trying to be an all-inclusive community. I think this is good to keep
working at our uh on our committee level to make sure that when we're having committee deliberations, someone's thinking about making sure that it's accessible to all. So we should just keep promoting it and we as liaison should be bringing that back to uh to
our committees. Um we asked if they're familiar with the township code of e ethics. They get this when they uh apply or when we appoint. So this is a little bump up. Last year we asked uh are they familiar and 93% said yes and this year
only 84%. So I would suggest u that we send out we email out all the board members all those volunteers a code of ethics just to reinforce that because we we really should get that up to closer to 100. Um the meetings uh again
um you know last 30 days so our our our committees are pretty active. 3% this year said they didn't meet this year. Uh last year was only 1%. So that went up a little bit. I don't know if uh why that happened, but that's what that's what we
got from the survey. We asked if they had an active participation from a township committee member. That actually got better. Last year was 11%. Now we're at 8%. So we're doing our job a little bit better. Um and some of that is just perception on their part. And then we
asked, do you think your committee is making progress? And um this also got better. Last year 11% said no. This year only 7%. So, um, we've got to work on, uh, helping those 7% feel a little better about the progress that we're
making. But overall, I think this is good. This is good information. We had 95 responses out of about 110 board committee. Uh, and, you know, I I tell you the truth, I don't know anybody else who does this. Any other towns do it is, you know, we we share this um, we get
points on sustainable Jersey for this. we share it with the community coalition on race because that's helpful for them to see uh you know that we're actually trying to think about this and do things with this but um so it's good >> it is good it's been a while since I
looked at our volunteer application form do any of the questions on that mirror the survey >> yes >> I know we ask about race gender orientation what else do we ask about does anybody remember >> uh terms of demographic information.
>> Renting. Renting is on there. >> Do we ask about renting owning? >> I think we do. Yes. >> Okay. Great. Great. >> Okay. All right. Next is uh changes in redevelopment area two to permit the 100% affordable housing. So,
redevelopment area 2 is the area that um is on uh next to the DPW site. It's actually a very large redevelopment area. includes uh actually all everything from Maplewood Crossing down
to uh Woolly Fuel along Bernardet Avenue and then it goes down below which used to be called the Maplewood Building Specialties Area and over the years we've and this what we're proposing is some changes to the section that deals with the Maplewood Building Specialties
Area which is now owned by a bank and um this is an area that we've targeted targeted in our affordable housing plan for um affordable housing and this is where we're working with the Ingramman group to come and build 48 units a minimum of
48 units there. So uh the the committee on entrepreneurship and economic development took a look at this uh because this has been something we've been this we've been looking at this redevelopment area for a very long time and we wanted to make sure that uh as we
move forward our fair share plan that it's very clear that this is going to be dedicated to affordable housing. So I'm going to ask Miss Credidio if you have anything you want to add to this. Uh, I think what we want to do is to get this to a point to authorize you to write up
a draft ordinance, resolution or ordinance on this and then we'll send it to the planning board. So, why don't you take over? >> Sure. So, um, there are it's just a handful of changes really to add 100% affordable housing as a permitted use at
that location. currently assisted living and a couple of other uses are already permitted because that had been sort of a prior concept for the property several years ago. Um it also adds uh for example parking standards and other
related standards uh for that area that you would need in order to have the um affordable uses at that site. The next steps in the process would be we would refer the plan to the planning board uh
by resolution at our first meeting in February. If we did that, uh the planning board could consider it for consistency with the master plan at their February 10th meeting and then we could adopt it by ordinance at our second meeting in February and our first
meeting in March. And the one thing that the committee did recommend is that we be very clear uh in the affordable housing plan that we've been talking with Ingramman, we also talked about them having some community space inside the building so they could run programs and it could also be a
space for birthday parties and things like that. So we just changed um one word to include uh indoor and outdoor um space in the in the permitted accessory uses. >> Yes. So, if everyone's good, we would have a resolution on for the next meeting to
move this forward. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And the next up is uh police offduty rates. Deputy Mayor Herman. >> Thank you. This is something we talked about in our last public safety meeting. Um Mr. Weary, can you walk us through
what the changes are? This is it's it's everybody should have a chart that was handed out. It's not big changes from last year or from pre when we previously updated this. >> That's right. Uh thank you deputy mayor. So u before you you have the across the
top there our current per hour rate and our proposed per hour rate. Um and then on the going down the columns you have where that rate applies whether it's to you know to the general which is any like utility work or like contractors closing down roadways things like that
where they would uh typically hire offduty police officers to um to staff those. And then we have public events uh South Orange Maywood school district events. We also do a good amount of work uh in Milbourne and and we work with Milbour to follow their rates. So
they've set rates for their school as well as at the Short Hills Mall and the Paper Mill Playhouse. So we are updating the rates for general public events supported by the township school district and Milbour. All the rest stay
the same. Um the rates generally track against our the overtime rate for our highest paid patrol officer. And so every year um contractually generally those officers receive increases and so we look to reset those rates
accordingly. And the right columns, the three right columns, you have the administrative fee per hour. That's a fee that we had established last year that comes to the township. And then next to that is the service fee. That is the service fee that goes to the uh
entity that we use to schedule offduty employment. Right now we use jobs for blue and and that's a rate that we contract with them uh for providing that service. That's 8% of the uh all-in fee for um service.
>> Are there any questions >> for the public satification? Would you kindly define off duty? >> Yes. So these are not, you know, regularly scheduled hours. It's not, uh, officers that you would see assigned to our patrol shift. So, um, not officers
that are making traffic stops or reporting, responding to calls for service or, you know, crossing children, uh, when we need. These are officers you would see that are called in on their time off, on their days off to do, uh,
you know, you'll see them a lot in the street when they're doing utility work. So they're New Jersey American Waters digging up the roadway. That roadway is temporarily closed. You'll see police officers there. Those officers are showing up on their days off and working an offduty job assigned to, in this
instance, New Jersey American Water. So a lot of the officers that you see out there, especially on the roadways, may be working an assignment on their day off. >> Thank you. >> And we don't have any say in this really, right? Well, the
it's been customary for the township to follow the rate of the highest paid officer, but the township committee sets this rate by resolution. So, if you're in agreement with this, at the next meeting, we'll come before you with a resolution to establish these. >> Yep. >> Everybody okay with that?
>> Yep. >> Okay. >> Yep. And then we publish this somewhere, right? So that because one of the because this applies for instance to um to a lot of groups who organize events that we partner with um and or
co-sponsor. So they're partly responsible for the fee of the offduty police support. So we should publish this, you know, once it's finalized. >> Okay. >> Good. Uh okay. We're going to go into
item number 14, which is the consent agendas. Again, we've split this up into two to allow um Miss Collins Colding to um abstain on the first and vote on the second. So, can we get a motion? >> I'll move the minutes consent agenda.
>> I don't think you're supposed to. >> Oh, sorry. >> You You could go ahead and move them. >> I'll second it. >> No, go ahead and move them. >> I'll second it. >> It's been moved and seconded. Please call the role. >> Yes. >> Adams. >> Yes. Collins calling >> Mr. Davis. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Zerman. >> Yes. >> Mayor Duca. >> Yes. And on our second consent agenda, Deputy Mayor, >> I move for the adoption of the consent agenda number two. >> With the exception of that last item that we took out.
>> Yes. We're going to remove uh 15P. >> Resolution 6626. >> Second. >> Okay. It's been moved and seconded. >> M. Adams. >> Yep. >> M. Collins. Colding. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffus. >> Yes. >> Herman. >> Yes. >> Mayor Duca. >> Yes. Thank you. We're now at our second
public comment on any subject matter. Yes. You can come on up and >> have at us. >> Hi, my name is Jenny Award and some of you know that I represent a Soma environmental nonprofit project called
Meet Me in the Middle Me A T. And our mission is to give people the inspiration and opportunity to make planet friendly food choices. And for us that starts with eating less meat. Um animal agriculture contributes
disproportionately to climate change compared to food grown um for plantbased foods. Um so I always like to clarify for people at this point that I am not a vegetarian. Um, I I have started eating
less meat and thinking of it as more of a treat. And the idea is that we don't have to eliminate meat from our diet to have an impact. Sorry, I'm doing something. >> I think just stay close to it. >> Closer. Okay. Um, we don't have to
eliminate meat, but if all of us cut back even a little bit, that would make a difference. Um, so I just wanted to make you aware that we've organized a series of events for this February. We're calling it Veggie February and we have a menu of
activities. Um, the first one is a free screening of a documentary at the Beard on February 1st from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Um, that is about the documentary is about the reasons for cutting back on meat. Sorry, I'm not sure what it's it's
not you. Okay. >> Um and then the second one as um as Mayor Duca knows is the mayor's meatless challenge which includes both Mayor Duca and Mayor Colum from South Orange. Um, this is a sort of a choose your own
adventure kind of challenge where we're encouraging people to either um go one or more days without meat or try a new meatless recipe or try a meatless menu item at a Soma restaurant or all of the
above. Um, and so it's kind of up for everybody to to do what they want on that. >> What are you going to be making, Mayor Duca? I'm gonna be making I dusted off one of my vegetarian chili recipes. >> Oh, nice, nice, nice. And of course, the chili cookoff also takes place in
February, so everybody should be thinking along those lines. Um, we have an event um for kids at the South Orange Public Library. And then Meet Me in the Middle will be publishing a meatless recipe of the week each week in February. So, I just wanted to make
everyone aware of that. we hope will get the active participation of both the the council members and also um the public. So, thanks very much. >> And you're you're working with the special improvement district folks, >> correct? Yes. >> Business community is being reached out
to. >> Yeah. Maplewood Village Alliance, Springfield Avenue Partnership, and the South Orange counterpart. And also, I should add, we have the support of Candace and Gabe at the health department because obviously there are health implications of eating meat as well. Terrific.
>> And are we uh advertising some of this for you? Is this going out from the township as well to promote? >> Um I think Candace was working to make that happen, but if there are other ways I can do that, you know, let >> go through the health department would be my recommendation.
>> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else in the room? Okay. Let's check online. If anyone attending on Zoom would like to speak in public portion, please raise
your hand. >> I see no hands, mayor. >> Okay, with that, um, our next meeting is February 3rd at 7:30 p.m. right here. And can we get a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. Second. >> Second. M. >> Adams? >> Yes.
>> M. Collins Golding? >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis? >> Yes. Miss Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Thank you very much. >> Good night >> and have a pleasant tomorrow.