Oh yeah. Okay. Um, pursuant to section 5, chapter 231, public law 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 2025 to the news record and Star Ledger in December of 2024 and by filing said notice in the office of the township clerk.
Mr. Daffis present. Zuluca here. Zangel here. Surman here. Mayor Adams here. Whereas chapter 231 public laws 1975 calmly knows the open public communities act requires rulings public audies 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 the desire of the governing body to comply with the provisions that this act same time to conduct its business in an
orderly and expeditious manner now therefore be resolved by the township committee. Township Mapwood does hereby prohibit except as set forth in a formal agenda. Active participation in deliberations of governing body by the public and except as otherwise prescribed by law does limit the public
to observations of the actions and discussions of the governing body at all of its regular and special meetings. So moved. Mr. Davis, yes. Luca, yes. Benal, yes. Herman, yes. Mayor Adams, yes. Thank you. Uh, please stand for a
salute to the I 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. If you don't mind, remain standing
standing for uh I'd like to hold a moment of silence in recognition of the second anniversary of the October 7th attacks in Israel. We remember the many lives lost, those still missing, those wounded, those displaced, and the
individuals who were kidnapped, killed, or remain unaccounted for. Please take a moment of silence to honor the victims, their families, and to all those whose lives were forever changed by this tragedy. Thank you.
Good evening everyone and welcome to the October 7th, 2025 meeting of the Maplewood Township Committee. Um we have several proclamations this evening. Uh we have special presentation for fire
pres uh we had the firefighters here but uh there was a mixup so we just have fire prevention month proclamation read by Mr. Duca. We have the LGBTQ plus history month proclamation read by Mr. Daffis. We have anti-bullying and world
day of bullying prevention read by Miss Angel. Indigenous people's day I will read. And then finally, a proclamation for National Disability Employment Awareness Month by Deputy Mayor Herman. Then we have our first uh public comment on agenda items only. Then we will move
into our board of health meeting run by committee member Angel. Uh then we have several ordinances on tonight. We have three on for public three on for final passage, my apologies. And two on for introduction. Nope, three on for
introduction. I had that flipped. Okay. Or make that four. Um so we have several in in on for introduction. Then we will uh get reports from departments um administration attorney and clerk.
Then from elected officials we have reports from deputy mayor Herman, committee member Duca, committee member Daffis, committee member Angel. And then I go last. We have one discussion item on for tonight, the best practices
inventory, which has to do with our uh financial and state requirements. Then we have a consent agenda and then we will have second public comment on any subject matter and then we will adjourn until the next meeting.
So with that, I will turn it over to Mr. Duca for fire prevention month. Thank you, Mayor. This is a resolution, a proclamation rather, of fire prevention month. Whereas in 1922, the National Fire Protection Association designated the second week of October as
fire prevention week in memory of the great Chicago fire of 1871. Whereas for 2025, the theme is charge into fire safety lithium ion batteries in your home, emphasizing safe use,
charging and disposal of the lithium ion batteries. Um whereas residents are encouraged to maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, keep fire extinguishers on hand, develop and practice escape plans, and remove
hazards from living spaces. Now therefore, be it resolved that I on behalf of Ivik Duca, on behalf of Mayor Nancy Adams, and the entire township committee proclaim October 2025 as fire prevention month in the township of
Maplewood, encourage all residents to review their home fire safety measures. And be it further resolved that residents are urged to check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, inspect devices and charging equipment, um safely dispose of e-waste uh through
and safely dispose of e e-waste through the Maplewood's local recycling program. Thank you. Thank you. We'll move on to our next proclamation. Mr. Daffus, LGBTQ. Thank you, mayor. This is our annual proclamation in honor
of October being LGBTQIA+ history month. Educator Rodney Wilson of Missouri in October 1994 recognized the need to teach and celebrate the contributions
of the LGBTQ plus community leading to the first LGBTQ plus history month in Maplewood. We believe that diversity and inclusion is our strength, not our
weakness. We look toward the future. We look toward our ever increasing equality, but we carry with us all of those who
forged our way. We never forget the people and organizations who paved the path toward greater visibility, acceptance, and the ever, ever still not realized equality.
This year, we take a moment to highlight Garden State Equality, New Jerseyy's largest LGBTQ plus advocacy and education organization. GSC has played a critical role in
advancing landmark legislation here in the Garden State, including the legalization of marriage equality, the passage of the LGBTQ plus inclusive curriculum law in 2019, the enactment of protections
safeguarding LGBTQ youth from conversion therapy, and so many other landmark legislation. Like Garden State Equality, the Township Committee, this governing body in this great town is deeply committed to
creating a community where all of us belong. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that I, Dean Daffis, on behalf of Mayor Nancy Adams, and the rest of my colleagues on the Township Committee
in the County of Essex, State of New Jersey, hereby proclaim October 2025 as LGBTQ plus history month in the township of Maplewood. and be it further resolved. Whether a young person in our school
system, a local leader like any one of us, a national figure such as former US transportation secretary and presidential candidate Pete Pudajge, we reaffirm
your existence. I am because we are. Whether you appear in the history books or become the good in someone's personal history, you have a place in society.
Your mark is indelible. You have a place in Maplewood. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, Mr. Dus. Uh we'll move to anti-bullying and world day of bullying prevention. Committee member angel. Thank you. Whereas October is recognized
as anti-bullying month with October 6th observed as World Day of Bullying Prevention. And whereas nearly one in five students and one in three adults report experience bullying often through lies, rumors, or other harassment that
harms mental health, education, and workplace well-being. And whereas bullying contributes to anxiety, depression, sleep loss, and disengagement from school or work, while bystanders remaining silent allows it to
persist. And whereas everyone has the right to live free of harassment, and those in crisis should remember they can call 988 for the suicide and crisis lifeline or 911 in an emergency. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Deb
Angel, on behalf of Nancy Adams, mayor of the Township of Maplewood and the entire Maplewood Township Committee, proclaim October as anti-bullying month and October 7th as World Day of Bullying Prevention. And be it further resolved, I implore everyone who sees something
wrong to speak out to show kindness with intention and support those being bullied. for bullying and harassment are not rights of passage, nor should they be accepted as the norm. Only through action and rejecting silent
through action and rejecting silence can we break the cycle from generation to generation. Sorry for my laughter between the lights and the air. My ADHD a lot, but thank you. A very important proclamation. It was very important. Thank you.
Um, so for Indigenous People's Day, whereas the township of Maplewood celebrates diversity and rejects systemic racism and oppression targeting minority and indigenous peoples. And whereas the township recognizes and
honors the Lapi people whose traditional homeland, Lapi Lapihoking, sorry that's a mouthful, includes the area now known as Maplewood and acknowledges their history, resilience,
and cultural contributions. And whereas Indigenous People's Day was first proposed in 1977 to recognize indigenous peoples, their histories, and to promote education and historical injustices,
including forced removal and near extermination by European colonists. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Nancy Adams, mayor of the township of Maplewood, on behalf of the township committee, proclaim the second Monday in October 2025 as Indigenous People's Day
in the township of Maplewood, and be have further resolved that residents, businesses, and organizations are encouraged to engage in activities that honor the Lapi, promote awareness of their history and culture, and honor their ongoing cultural influence.
There you go. And the last proclamation, Deputy Mayor Herman. Thank you. This is to honor the National Disability Employment Awareness Month and we have uh a couple of businesses in town who employ disabled residents. So, I think
this is really great. Whereas on October 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which began in 1945 to honor the contributions of people with disabilities in the American workforce.
And whereas in 1988, Congress expanded this observance to a month recognizing the importance of inclusive workplaces for people with all types of disabilities, both visible and non-apparent. And whereas the US Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy leads this
annual commemoration highlighting the skills, talents, and value that workers with disabilities bring to our communities and economy. And whereas this year's theme, celebrating value, and talent, reflects the achievements of people with disabilities, past and
present, and underscores our collective responsibility to promote access, equity, and opportunity. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Malia Herman, Deputy Mayor of the Township of Maplewood, on behalf of Mayor Nancy Adams and the rest of my township committee colleagues, do hereby
proclaim October 2025 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month in the Township of Maplewood and encourage all residents, businesses, and community organizations to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and to foster inclusive practices year round. Thank you.
Thank you. Um so this takes us to our first public comment uh session for agenda items only. Um appreciate if you come to the microphone and state your name and address and you have three minutes to speak.
Good evening. Good evening Adam committee. My name is president of Maplewood. Um, I just wanted to once again to commend the Maplewood Township Committee on being upstanders and speaking out um in support of welcoming inclusive safe schools for all students
and families. October declaring October as bullying awareness month. The first year that we did this as a township was in 2015. So this marks 10 years that the township of Maplewood has been highlighting anti-bullying and creating welcoming schools in partnership. And I
really want to thank the township committee for that on this issue and also supporting New Jersey Safe Schools Coalition. And on top of that, also acknowledge that this week is actually the week of respect celebrated in the state of New Jersey, October 6 through October 11th, which is observed in all
New Jersey public schools. So this is the week where we need to talk about being upstanders more than ever. And also wanted to thank the Maplewood Township Committee for acknowledging LGBT history month once again and being upstandards and vocal because that shows that visibility matters, representation
matters, and that they are not alone. Thank you again. Thank you. Is there anyone else in the room who would like to speak at public comment on agenda items only? Seeing none, Mr. Weary or Miss Perez?
Yes. you doing this? Any members of the public joining us via Zoom like to speak on the items only? You need to mute the computer, I think. Two mics. Please raise your hand. Cool.
Well, you are you are like ahead of the arts, so that was like you see no hands, mayor. Okay. Thank you. So, with that, I'm going to turn it over to committee reverb. Reverb. Okay. Control. Do I need this? You do.
I'll turn it over to committee member angle for the board of health. Thank you, mayor. Um, pursuant to section 5, chapter 231, public law 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 2025 to the news record and star ledger in December 2024 and by filing said notice in the office of the township clerk.
Mayor Adams here. Mr. Davis here. Mr. Duca here. Miss here. Zangle here. Whereas chapter 231 public laws 1975 commonly known as the open public meetings act requires all meanings of
public bodies be open to the public and whereas section 7 provides that the board of health has a discretion to permit prohibit or regulate the active participation of the public at any meeting and whereas are the Maplewood Board of Health to comply with the provisionous act same time to conduct
its business in an orderly expeditious manner. Now therefore be resolved by the town by the Maplewood Board of Health Township Mapwood does hereby prohibit except as set forth in a formal agenda act of participation in deliberations of the board of health by the public and
except as otherwise ascribed by law does limit the public to the observations of the actions and discussions of the board of health at all its regular and special meetings. So move second. Mayor Adams, yes. Daffis, yes. Duca, yes. Thurman.
Yes. Miss Angel. Yes. I move to approve the board of health meeting minutes from September 2nd, 2025. Second. Mayor Adams. Yes. Daffis, yes. Luca, yes. Surman, yes.
Miss Angle, yes. Um, take it away, Miss Davenport, our health officer. Thank you so much. Good evening, everyone. Just going to forward. You could just forward next slide, please. Oh, great. Thank you so much.
Just to a reminder that we have um our colleagues CSP andJ who provide um assistance at the Hilton Branch Library from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. uh to sign up for um programs or um documentation that
they need, health insurance um and dis disability benefits and employment assistance and other documentation. Um it's free services so we ask everyone to uh take advantage of that if needed. Next slide. This is something we want to bring a
great highlight to which is um this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at our great Maplewood Library um in collaboration uh with NJCRI and the Pride Center, we're going to have our North Jersey LGBTQ plus health fair. So
we invite everyone to come. Please take advantage of the free testing and wellness checks um and get connected with support and resources that are available to all. Thank you. Next slide. So tomorrow uh the county is providing
vaccines for children from 3:30 to 6:30 in Orange as well as on Wednesday, October 15th in Irvington. If anyone needs free flu vac um free vaccines for children um they can call the Essex County um number at 973-8778456.
Thank you. Next slide please. One of the other things that we want to present is another partnership that we have with NJCRI and project T um and the Pride Center. Um it's a free health screening on Wednesday, October 22nd. This is also the same day that we have
um the reach for recovery van at the community fridge. So both services will be there at the same time from 11:00 a.m. to 2 pm. These are free services for blood pressure, glucose assessments, and free vaccinations as well as HIV STI training um testing. So this is um
something new and different that we're adding there. Um so we hope everyone will come and take advantage of the free health screening as well. And that's again October 22nd. Next slide, please. Is the COVID vaccine available for that too? I believe so. Yes, they they will have
it with the with them. We just want to bring a highlight to October 2nd when we had our Maplewood Township employee wellness day. Uh we vaccinated over 25 or we um vaccinated over 23 um employees with the flu and we
did health screenings for 25 employees um or over 25 employees. And we just want to thank our partners who conducted the health screenings and provided the flu vaccine. Uh that's Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health for the health screenings. Dr. Pam Grover, um Greenway
Market for generously supporting the lunchon. Uh Caldwell University School of Nursing, the South Essex Fire Department, and the Maplewood Police Department for bringing the drug drop off box to make it more convenient for our employees to get rid of um any expired unused medication for
themselves. Um, and I just want to give a big shout out to uh Gabe Suarez and Susette Gail, our public health nursing supervisor. They helped to coordinate it and they did a really great job. So, thank you very much. Next slide. Speaking of nursing updates, so we just
want to let you know that we are investigating six uh reportable diseases and we did some great outreach this um September. Um on the 9th we went out with coffee with a cop with our Maplewood PD to the senior center and
they distributed 15 deterra bags and 14 Narcan kits and did education to our seniors about the importance of knowing how to use Narcan if you're a healthcare pro if you're a care caregiver to um someone in the community who uses um opioids for pain management. The Terra bags, if you're not familiar with what
they are, um are bags where you can put your medication in and it dissolves, therefore taking it out of um um access in your within your home. And then on on the 19th, we went to the senior apartments on Irvington Avenue where they provided um health screenings
for 12 people as well as distributed um our COVID 19 and flu test kits and more detera bags and Narcan kits. Next slide, please. Thank you. Just as a reminder, we have free flu and COVID 19 uh rapid home tests available
um here at town hall. You can come anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. There's a two bucks limit per household. Um but we'll have them until supplies last and we want to thank the county for providing those to us.
Just as a note, 16 residents were served through our Robert Johnson Barnabas partnership with their um mobile health van on September 8th. Um we had uh stroke risk assessment, blood pressure and uh diabetes um testing and education
and prevention. Um our last one was yesterday uh from 2 to 5. So that is the end of our um mobile screening van with Robert Johnson uh for the year. Uh we hope that they'll come back next year. Um, and I look forward to presenting the numbers that we have for October at the
next meeting. Next slide. That's for our environmental health update. Our um, RHS has been busy with complaints um, and restaurant inspections. Um, next slide. And this is our animal control report.
August. Uh, in August we had 24 calls. Most of them were for um wildlife. Next slide. As for our crisis social workers for the month of September, they saw 18 total cases. Uh three co-response, 14
follow-ups, and others were calls or walk-ins. Next slide. And then just note again, uh we had uh the reach for recovery van here. Uh this is a service through um the Essex County Department of um addiction services and
seven people were serviced then and they will also be by the community fridge on October 22nd. And this is uh we like to always end our presentation with the make the right call banner so that everyone knows the right numbers to call. I do believe that the word is getting out um about these
phone numbers. So thank you very much for acknowledging the 988 number. Um, but we also want to mention um the 211 service for social services and poison control is always a good one for people to have on their phones, especially for your babysitters, um, caregivers, or
anyone um, in need of easy access and quick access to poison control. Thank you. Thank you so much, Miss Davenport. Any questions from my colleagues? I got a shot today. Congratulations to me.
Yes, we're thankful you did. There. No questions up here. Did you get a senior one? Too young for a senior one. Thank you very much. I got mine Monday. Senior and I was at the health van yesterday. Oh, they didn't. So, I double this week. I was very
healthy. No matter what they told me at the screening van, I was very healthy. I don't get the What do you mean? There's a senior flu, right? There's a senior flu shot. High dose flu vacc. Oh, high dose. I'm short. So, are we doing COVID shots?
We are not doing COVID shots at at the moment. Yeah, waiting um to see if the state or county would be able to provide that to us, but right now they are not. Um people can access them at their physicians or um healthcare provers office or at the local pharmacy.
And do there's something I saw that you need to have consultation with your physician before you get a shot or can you just go and get a shot? as of uh when Governor Murphy um made a statement that everyone can go to get a
vaccine um at a local pharmacy without a prescription from your doctor. Um it's anyone above age three. Whether they have the vaccine for pediatrics um at the pharmacy is a different question, but adults 18 and over do not need um
any kind of um um coorbidity. uh to get or or prescription from a doctor to get a vaccine for CO. Thank you. Yeah. Governor Murphy announced uh not too long ago, I think it was this week, two weeks ago or so.
Was it two weeks ago? That we are joining the collaborative. Yes. Uh that includes Connecticut, New York, um Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. So essentially that means that we are going to be sort of the defense to some of these nonsensical
antivaccine things that the federal government is pursuing. So at least for now uh you will be able to get your vaccines here in New Jersey including COVID without the new restrictions that the federal government is passing along
everywhere else. Correct. Yeah. Any other questions for Miss Davenport? Um uh now we the time we open it up to the public. We facilitate public comment online. Oh, in the room, anybody here in the room have come up to the podium and
say your name and and and your address. We have a celebrity in the house, folks. Please identify yourself. My name is Brian McGovern. I'm the executive director of NJCRI Newark. And uh thank you for all the great um flyers
here today. Um, so I want to just say thank you, Mayor Adams, and to the group for uh the support to our Pride Center this past week for the uh food fridge. Um, and I want us to be able to do more
collaborives. Um, I would say go to the website, but our website just got knocked off today, so just a few days and go to our website. We do a lot of different community and healthcare. We're in every county. We're neighbors. We're in Newark. Um, but we
do travel to every county in the state. Uh, we do things from health care to community, LGBT, homeless, substance use, mental health, uh, senior care, pediatrics. Think of it, we probably do it. So, any way we can be of support to you, I love
the support you've been giving to us. So, thank you very much. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Brian. Good to see you. Thanks for being here. Anyone else in the room want to address our board of health or ask our health officer any questions? Now, you help facilitate online. Any
members of the public joining us via Zoom have any questions for the board of health? Please raise your hand. I see no hands. Thank you. Um, so I move we adjourn until our next scheduled meeting on Wednesday, November 5th. Second.
Mayor Adams. Yes, Mr. Davis. Yes, Mr. Luca. Yes, M. Herman. Yes, Zangel. Yes. Back to you, Mayor. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Engle. All right, we have our ordinances on final passage.
So, we'll go to first ordinance 3168-25. Mr. Princ. Okay, mayor. Uh, yes. Ordinances on final passage. Ordinance number 3168-25 is an ordinance to amend chapter 209 of
the code of the township of Mapwood entitled rental properties with respect to article one entitled rent control. This ordinance will amend article one rent control of chapter 209 of the
township code to remove vacancy deontrol and to clarify the parameters for annual rent adjustments. Okay, 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. We'll open a hearing on this ordinance. Is there anyone who would like to speak to the township committee about this ordinance on rent control? Seeing none inside, anybody online? Any members of the public joining us via Zoom like to speak on this ordinance,
please raise your hand. I see no hands. Mayor. All right, then. I'll take a motion, Mr. Defus. Thank you, mayor. I move this ordinance be adopted as a whole and the clerk be directed to publish the same as a past ordinance in the Maplewood South Orange News record according to law.
Second. Mr. Davis, yes. Mr. Duca, yes. Sangel, yes. Mr. Herman, yes. Mayor Adams, yes. Next ordinance, 3169-25. Also on final, mayor, ordinance 3169-25
is an ordinance amending chapter 257 of the code of the township of Mapwood entitled vehicles and traffic to prohibit parking within 5 ft of a public or private driveway on a portion of Salter Place.
This ordinance will add a portion of Salter Place from Maple Maple Avenue to a point, 140 ft southwest thereof to the intersection of Salter Place with South Mountain Avenue to the list of streets
where parking within 5 ft of a public or private driveway is prohibited. This ordinance has been published. Copies posted on the bulletin board of the municipal building and copies made available to the general public in accordance with the law. I'll open a hearing for this ordinance on final
passage for prohibiting parking within five feet of a drive. Anyone here want to speak to this? Anyone online? Any members of the public join us via Zoom? Would like to speak on this ordinance? Please raise your hand.
I see no hands. Mayor. Okay, then. Can I get a motion, Mr. Duca? I move this ordinance be adopted as a whole and the clerk be directed to publish the same as a past ordinance in the Maplewood South Orange News record according to law. Second. Mr. Davis, yes.
Yes. Sangel, yes. Sherman, yes. Mayor Adams, yes. Now we have ordinances on for introduction 3170-25. Yes, Mayor. Uh on introduction 3170-25
is an ordinance to amend chapter 271 of the code of the township of Mapwood entitled zoning and development regulations with respect to parking requirements in the pedestrian retail business zone. This ordinance will amend article 5
zoning provisions of chapter 271 of the township code to reduce the number of parking spaces required in the pedestrian retail business PRB zone. Uh, okay. Thank you. Can I get a motion, Mr. Davis?
Yes, Mayor. I move the passage of this ordinance on first reading its publication according to law in the Maplewood South Orange news record. hearing to be held on October 21st. I'll second. Mr. Davis, yes. Mr. Duca, yes. Zangel, yes.
Sherman, yes. Mayor Adams, yes. Next ordinance on for introduction 3171-25. Uh, yes. Mayor 9B. Also on introduction is an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 62 of the code of
the township of Mapwood entitled sustainability committee and repealing chapter 40 entitled green team. This ordinance will amend and supplement chapter 62 of the township code to establish sustainable Maplewood as
township's green team and to modify committee membership and will also repeal chapter 40 of the township code entitled green team. Thank you. Can I get a motion, Mr. Duca? Uh, may I move the passage of this
ordinance on first reading as publication according to law in the Maplewood South Orange News record and a hearing to be held on October 21st, 2025. Second, Mr. Daffis, yes. Duca, yes. Sangel, yes. Thurman, yes.
Mayor Adams, yes. Thank you. 3172, please. Also on introduction, mayor 3172-25 is an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 257 of the code of the township of Mapwood entitled
vehicles and traffic with respect to overnight parking. This ordinance will amend and supplement article 3 of chapter 257 of the township code to establish a new type C overnight parking permit in certain circumstances.
Okay. Hey, can I get a motion, Mr. Dul? I move the passage of this ordinance on first reading, its publication according to law in the Maplewood South Orange News record, and hearing to be held on October 21st, 2025. Second. Mr. Daffus, yes. Mr. Duca, yes.
Sel, yes. Thurman, yes. Mayor Adams, yes. And last ordinance on for intro is it? Uh, yes. Also an intro ordinance 3173-25 ordinance of the township of Mapwood and
the county of Eesus authorizing the execution of an amended and restated financial agreement with 92 Bernett Avenue urban renewal LLC. This ordinance authorizes the execution
of an amended and restated financial agreement with 92 Bernett Avenue Urban Renewal LLC in furtherance of a settlement agreement entered into between the township and the entity. Okay. Now, uh introduction.
I move the introduc 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 October 21st. I second the motion. Mayor, that's going to be November 5th
on the uh hearing date of final passage. Okay. So, it's wrong on the Okay. Mr. Davis, yes. Mr. Duca, yes. Zangel, yes. Herman, yes. Mayor Adams, yes. Now we move to reports, uh,
administrative reports. Mr. Wary, thank you, mayor. Just one item tonight. We had a late addition to the agenda, resolution 313-25. This is a resolution added in light of the federal government shutdown. The
resolution provides an extended property tax grace period for employees of the federal government who are furled because of the shutdown or a contractor whose of the federal government whose pay is delayed or diminished because of the shutdown. It would extend the grace
period until the of the fourth quarter uh tax payment until the first quarter 2026 due date which is February 1st. So that is the resolution has been added as the last item on the consent agenda.
Any questions for Mr. Wary on this resolution? Apparently not. Yep. You have nothing else? That is my report. Mayor, any questions for Mr. Wearer on anything else? Wow. Getting off easy tonight.
That's cuz we have all our committee meetings this week. Yeah. Yes. That's right. Um, okay. So, we'll move your turn. Oh, I thought you were gonna do so. Any questions for Mr. Diddia? Nope.
Okay, Mr. Pritzen here. I always have a report. So, uh, I just want to go over a couple of, uh, upcoming events, uh, for the public as well. um township committee of course and that is uh our
volunteer appreciation function will be coming up uh on October 27th and if you are a Maplewood volunteer, one of the many many volunteers that we have that make Maplewood so great, you uh will have already received an invitation and
we look forward to a terrific night um election day uh starting uh Well, let me just say that uh in a week's time, we will um have um late night voter registration.
Actually, on Tuesday, October 14th, the clerk's office will remain open straight through till 9:00 p.m. for uh the last date and time uh to register to vote. We've had um all of of the information for voting up on the township website.
We've had it available at the various township buildings for uh residents and um we are having a meeting I wanted to uh mention next week at Clinton school. Um it wasn't good enough you know just to
communicate uh by talking about some of the issues that we had last time at Clinton. So, we will be having a another walkth through um before and also uh I heard loud and clear that we needed more signage and more lighting there. So,
we'll be having in addition to the solar sign at Clinton, we're going to have some additional um lighting outside. Uh and then finally, the other event we're planning, working on three events here at one time, is uh our veterans
program on November 11th right here in this room. And uh more information will follow on that. And uh we've already uh been getting uh probably close to 200 letters out to our veterans inviting them uh in addition to what we'll put
out on the website. So that's it. Okie do. Any questions for clerk? Seeing none, we'll move on to reports from elected officials. Deputy Mayor Herman. Thank you. So, I have a few arts and culture announcements. The art walk will
be on Saturday, I'm sorry, Sunday, October 19, and the follies, our third annual follies will be on October 23rd at the Woodland. Tickets are $10 each and they are going fast. So, if you want
to go, get your tickets, get them fast. Um, and Dewali Fest will be on Saturday, October 25th at Memorial Park from 2 to 6:00 p.m. So, come on down for that's always a a really nice um afternoon evening. Um, we have some recreation
program that I wanted to point out. Um, we've got our winter travel basketball tryyouts coming up this weekend and next for girls and boys. Uh, so you need to sign up for that and that's on Recesk. And then on October 16 at 7 PM we are having a hope meditation on the third
floor of the woodland. Um the cost is $17 and this is a really nice event to kind of um you know get ready for the crazy holiday season. It's grounding in change rooting into stability. So it's designed to help us pause, recalibrate,
and evolve as a community. So I hope you'll take a look at that. For seniors, we've got on October 29th at noon a costume party. This will be at the Maplewood Community Center. And um this is exciting, pickle ball
open play for seniors. And this will be Fridays at 9 to 10:30. This is for ages 55 and over. Um so come on over to our pickle ball courts into hearts and try out this really fun game that all the kids are playing. It's really all the
rage. Um, and then I want to tell you all to mark your calendars for December. We're going to have a weekend of lighting everything up. the tree and the Hanukkah the for Hanukkah the um the manora we're gonna have on Saturday the
December 13 is going to be the Christmas tree lighting and then on Sunday and the yes the Christmas tree lighting will be at the gazebo and then the manura lighting is the very next day and they're both from 4 to 6 and we'll enjoy a lot of other activities with that so
that'll be a really fun weekend and then finally I did want to say something about ski club. So, if you've heard all my announcements, you knew that registration opened at 10:00 this morning and by 10:02 it was full.
Yeah. So, if you're a a parent of a middle school or a high schooler who likes to ski, then it was very frustrating for a lot of people this morning. Ski club sold out in 2 minutes. That's 300 spots in 2 minutes. We had to turn off our weight list at about 93. Uh, a little bit of background, we have
six buses going. That's up from three when the club started. So, it's a lot of kids. We understand that demand is high, but I want the residents to know that we can't safely bring any more kids. And actually, uh, the ski resort, Mountain Creek, won't allow us to take any big bigger of a group. We might even be the
biggest in the state. It's it's a pretty big group. So, um, parents, we know your frustrations. We know that some parents signed up like one sibling and then by the time they went to sign up the next, it was full. uh and and others missed out entirely and are now looking at car
pooling. So, our recreation committee is going to be talking about this. Um and I just want to want the public to know that this these are not, you know, this is not easy to figure out. We, you know, this goes from sixth grade to 12 and we could make it just middle school or just high school, but then that leaves out a
lot of kids who want to do it. and we talked about doing Maplewood only, but you know, with our school district incorporating both towns and a lot of kids having friendships across town, you know, we didn't want to do that. So, you know, there's a lot of demand. Um, and
we will, um, be talking about some different ideas. Um, the hopeful news is that for those on the wait list, it does move. You know, there are some people that will end up counseling. So, um, fingers crossed for you. And if you have any ideas, reach out to me.
Um, and that's that's all I got. Great. Wasn't as much as it sounded like. Any questions for Deputy Mayor Herman? Okay, we'll move on to Committee Member Duca. No report. Mayor, I just What? The holiday. Oh my goodness.
Must be my birthday. Oh my goodness. Question items and no report. Well, that's because I see about all this harassment. Yeah, we don't want to incentivize him to always have a report. Well, he's gonna have a report next time because he has all his committees this week and next week.
True. Now, if we could get the next member, you're up. Okay. Um, very quickly, I have a couple of uh updates. Uh, we already have announced and presented here tonight during the board of health agenda. Uh,
NJCRI project TE's and township of Maplewood's partnership at the community fridge once a month. uh when the recovery van is there now there are additional resources for the community and we're really really excited about that and we are thankful to NJCRI for
their partnership as they are in turn thankful uh to us for um our partnership with them. It's National Coming Out Day on Friday. Please join us starting at 400 pm uh right here outside uh Jerry Ryan Plaza.
We have a fun day planned and uh this has grown over the years to be a very fun event. Um and uh we won't really start the program until 4:30, close to 5. We'll have some food. We'll have music. It'll be a very festive um very
festive uh day to celebrate coming out and being open and visible. Uh especially right now, how important that is. Later that evening, starting at 7 PM over at the Woodland in partnership with the Maplewood Film Society, we will be
screening Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Those of you who know uh the film, it's quite an iconic film. Um and uh we're really excited to partner with the film society uh in making that happen. And there's some special guests
coming uh and there's a talk back um after the screening of the film and there's some light bites. So come on over. Fun fun fun fun. On Saturday, the following day, the LGBTQ health fair at the library. Uh we showed that earlier.
We'll be promoting more of all of this throughout the week for this weekend. An update from the community board on police. Uh we're looking to do our annual report presentation to the township committee probably in December
uh end of year report. Uh and to administration I note that we are going to have at the end of the year three vacancies two public vacancies and one uh original working group uh legacy
designate a designate vacancy. Uh, so we should start um putting those notices out at least for the two public spots. Uh, and I can talk to you offline about whose terms are ending, who's stepping off, and and and all that good stuff. We want to take a moment tonight, if you've
noticed, uh, those of you who are watching us and have actually looked at the agenda, you'll note that we received a very generous donation from a resident in West Orange for our community fridge. We want to thank that gentleman for his
uh donation and we encourage others to do the same. The community fridge um despite some of the challenges that we've had with it um is fighting food insecurity for our neighbors here in Maplewood and our neighbors in the
region. food insecurity does not does not have borders and we continue improving the situation uh over at the fridge, but it does take volunteers to help us do that as well. Uh I have a very exciting update. I'm
really excited about this. Uh so I recently ran into uh Susan uh Favat from BFG, the the group that helped us put our master plan together. And Susan let us know that the APA, the America, the
New Jersey American Planning Association will be honoring municipalities for excellence in planning and implementation. And since we have done so much good work in terms of actually implementing a lot
of the elements of our master plan, um Susan recommended that we go for uh the honor that we apply to be honored. It doesn't come with the money, it comes with recogni recognition, but that money could happen. Grants are possible down
the road. So, uh, Susan has, um, offered the professional courtesy of putting in that application for us, and we're really grateful for her courtesy and her firm's courtesy, and I have been working with her on that, along with the members
of our master plan implementation working group and we've provided her a comprehensive list of things that we've done in all the different chapters and elements of the master plan. and she will be submitting that by the deadline which is on October 10th. Nothing like
last minute, right? Uh so fingers crossed that we get recognized there and we all get to go to a nice event and take some cool photos. Um and the master plan implementation working group will be coming to the township committee before the end of the
year to do a presentation as they will be doing the same to the planning board. And last but not least, at the MVA, uh meeting the other night, uh we talked about uh the parking presentation, the
paid parking in Maplewood Village pilot presentation that was made to the township committee last month. And the idea is for the group to come back to the township committee uh with a follow-up presentation answering the questions that were posed to them and
getting uh a little bit further into what we hope will be an ongoing discussion with us and with the community uh accordingly. And that's my update. Right. Any questions for Mr. Taffus? Seeing none. Committee member angle.
I have no update. No report. Must be this side of the room. Must be you guys. You guys must have something to do tonight later. Okay. So, I just have a couple things. One is that uh Mr. Duca and I attended along with
our library director and library staff and uh former mayor Davenport the uh New Jersey planning officials award that awarded the Maplewood Library for um how great it is and and advance in planning.
Um, so that was exciting. And then Deputy Mayor Herman and I accepted this award, certificate of recognition for the silver silver level, which is harder to say than it sounds. Recognition for New Jersey safe roots to school. So we
received that from Easy Ride. That was a fun quick like lunch. Was it lunch? I can't remember. It was fast. I felt like But so we're getting recognized as Mr. Daff said, and you're going to get that other award. We'll be good. Um, I do
have I I did uh ask my colleagues to consider a resolution opposing a development called the Highlands in uh West Orange. Um the land is uh quite a bit of land actually. Uh their plan is
to put um 400 and trying to look for the numbers. Sorry. Uh it was it's a 120 acre forested area of the second Wong Mountain R bridge. Um the project known as West Essex
Highlands involves clearing over 30 acres of forested land um for a 496 unit residential development which includes 100 affordable units. Uh the land is privately owned by a billionaire
developer who is co-owner of the Minnesota Vikings. Um and the developers company, the development company is called Garden Homes. Um there was a plan in 2006 to build 136 single family homes in the
same area that the West Orange Planning Board rejected. Um, and of course there's an acute need, as we know, we work constantly, especially lately, on affordable housing here in Maplewood. So, um, I personally am not objecting to
the affordable housing. I'm objecting more, as is our environmental advisory committee. And, um, maybe Miss Engle can speak to that. Our environmental advisory committee asked us to p consider passing a resolution opposing
this as did um the plant the environmental advisory committee in West Orange. the same in Verona Caldwell and the Essex County Environmental Commission as well as ANJ, which is the state organization of environmental commissions.
um offering a resolution uh to the immensely increased risk of landslides and flooding if this project takes place. Disturbance of canoebrook tributaries that replenish critical uh
aquifiers that contribute to New Jersey American water providing clean drinking water to 2.9 million New Jersey residents and more than 190 communities. destruction of significant uh carbon sink that a source of oxygen production,
destruction of a source of relief from the heat island effect, uh destruction of essential ecological habitat for native species. Um the primary concern is that the developers failure to comply with New Jerseys updated storm water
management rules um in an area that's already susceptible to flooding. Um and taking down all those trees will definitely make landslides and um more likely. Uh so there I sent some information to everyone. I don't know if
you had a chance to read it. I uh we can wait I suppose till the next meeting if uh you want more time to think about it. Um but I open it up uh to my colleagues to see if there's support for passing a resolution in opposition to this massive
uh development or not. I I support a a resolution in opposition. Uh and as you stated, this is not because the potential development will uh include affordable housing. Of course,
it isn't. Yeah. Um this is because we're clearing a forest and um the density of this project is now only because the township, with all due respect to uh the township, our
neighbor, um did not do the right thing all along with respect to uh its obligations for affordable housing. And um you know I travel the state in my housing work and recently this has come up a lot
and some of you also know that in the gubanatorial election right now this is a hot topic. It's being used um to stigmatize affordable housing. It's being used to weaponize
um litigation against affordable housing. And the bottom line is is this. For any municipality that really really wants to know the bottom line, this is really not that complicated. If you want to prevent a developer from
coming into your community and doing whatever they want, then you should be forwardinking and proactive in putting together a housing element that makes sense for you and
your community and its needs. and its character in terms of scale and density and everything else. The problem is that too many communities in New Jersey have historically not done that. They they instead wanted to go to the courts and
fight their affordable housing obligations. So what's happening now in West Orange is West Orange kind of feels like they have to settle this disagreement and allow this project to go forward because of their malfeasants
prior. Um, so knowing all of that, for me, it's a pretty easy decision to oppose the development. Anyone else want to comment and let me know if you you're not I support the resolution opposing the
development. I know the environmental advisory committee was drafting a letter to share with us on this matter as well. So, I can I know they emailed you, too. We can follow up and see if when that letter is coming. Okay. Deputy Mayor, I I also support the resolution opposing
it. And Mr. Duca has no report, but he's in favor. Okay. So, uh, I can work with our attorney on a resolution. Um, we'll circulate it to the township committee.
Um, do we need can we wait or do we want to just do it? Yeah, I know. That's what I was saying. We can we can do it. We'll just circulate it after. Um, so I make a motion that we pass a resolution and objection to Wong Mountain for Ridge Forest Development.
Second. Mr. Davis, yes. Mr. Duca, yes. Miss Angel, yes. Surman, yes. Mayor Adams, yes. Thank you. Thank you all. Um, that's my report. Uh, we have one discussion item. Um, best practices
inventory. Um, Mr. Wary. Thank you, Mayor. Each year the state puts out a municipal best practices inventory. All municipalities are required to complete and submit the inventory to the state. Generally, it assesses each municipality's compliance
with various laws and it evaluates the implementation of fiscal and operational best practices laid out by the state. This year there were 70 questions on the inventory. It grows each year. There were 50 scored questions and they're
scored because if the municipality doesn't score enough questions right, the state will withhold a portion of our state aid. So this year you needed a minimum score. The maximum score was 43 and a half points. You needed a minimum
score of 32 points. The township scored 36 and a half points. So we will get 100% of our municipal aid this year. there are some areas um that the uh you know it's a useful tool in in looking at certain areas where we can make improvements and so we'll we'll start
working on those but generally um we are more than in compliance um and so uh this report is required to be a discussed by the township committee which is why I presented to you tonight and you have all been sent the copy of our completed inventory uh last week for
your review so if you have any questions I'm happy to to answer them. Does anyone have any questions about it? Nope. You know, I just asked that in your January um presentation to us at budget time about your goals for the year, you
talk about how you're going to address whatever you want to address there. Okay. Very good. Thank you, mayor. Thank you. Now, we have the consent agenda. Can I get a motion? I move the consent agenda.
Second. Mr. Daffis, yes. Luga, yes. Bingle, yes. Yes. Mr. Herman, yes. Mayor Adams, yes. Now, we have public comment this on any subject matter. Is there anyone who would like to speak to the township
committee? It wasn't too long awaited, you know, as far as meetings go. Um, please state your name, address, and you have three minutes to speak on any subject. Item 13, Terrace. I've had the pleasure
of coming meeting in the repaving of Gweight Terrace and I'm here tonight on behalf of all of the residents Gweight Terrace just to say thank you. Um it's absolutely beautiful.
If you haven't come to Gweight Terrace, I would invite you all to come and see it. Um, driving up and down the street, I've been there for over 25 years. Driving up and down the street now is surreal. The children love it, the adults love
it. It's It's really been a huge change and a huge benefit. So, thank you. Thank you for that. And did you get the short straw and that you had to come represent the whole early Thank you so much.
Is there anyone online who would like to speak to the township committee? Yes, mayor. I have one. Thank you. Promoting Sosima Diala to panelists. Hi. Can you guys hear me? Uh, no. We can't see you, but we can hear you.
Oh, you can hear me? Yeah. Okay. Um Okay. Good evening, everyone. Um I came a little bit late to the meeting, so I'm not sure if you guys discussed um the permit parking and if it's been available yet.
Oh, are you talking about the overnight on street permit? Yes. Yeah, that was uh an ordinance. It was introduction tonight, right? Yep. So it'll be on the next meeting for final passage and then there's a little time period of 10 days or so for
publication and then so probably in about a month a little more than a month they'll be available and you contact the clerk's office for that. Okay. Okay. Thank you so much. You're very welcome. I have one more mayor moving promoting
James Collins to panelists. You could turn your uh mic on, Miss Collins. I'm sorry. Thank you. I was asking my question with it off. Okay. Uh just a quick question about the ski club car pooling. If we were to do that, would our our kids be able to join their
friends or we have to uh register them under a new program? Oh, thank you for that question. I don't know the answer to it, but I will um check with our recreation director, our community services director unless our business administrator knows.
The question is what if they want a carpool on their own? Is there any registration? It'd have to do with us. There wouldn't be any registration they'd have to do with us because it would be completely separate. The question would be whether or not if they carpulled on their own if they could I guess get a pass. What I've heard is some parents asking if they could get
the deal on the pass that we get. The town like uh township. Yes. What the township get? Find that out. Yeah. So that's the part that I don't know. We we'll find that out and we can put information out to the public on that. Yeah. So we'll find that out and we'll put that information out to the public.
Thank you so much. Thank you. So, I meant to ask a question about that and I and I didn't. So, are we saying that our provided transportation
is at capacity and we can't take anymore? But if you carpool, you could still go or is everything at capacity? I'm no we we take a group to Mountain Creek and we
provide the busing and we get the passes. Mountain Creek has indicated that they we we can't take any more than what we have. We have um six buses going 300 kids. So um if parents want to do
their own thing that's completely up to parents. It's not something I'm re, you know, so the telling parents to do, but parents are talking about this in posts on Facebook and they're getting together and so they want to take their kids take their kids. I think they're trying to figure out if we can help them get a group group rate
if we can somehow get a discount with them if there's a group of people who carpool so that they can go to ski club with their friends because there's also kids who have done it in previous years who got locked out. So I think siblings who didn't get in. So, I think they're trying to figure out a way to get more people. And I don't know if we'd be able
to help them get a group rate, but they can also call and say to the this the slopes directly and say, "We have 20 people that want to come. Do you have a group rate available?" That would be my recommendation personally. It makes sense that they would we wouldn't be able to provide passes.
Yeah. I mean, if if Mountain Creek has put a cap on our group, then I don't know if we can go over that. But I mean it would be I know they've asked the question and if that's the question I would lean toward no but we'll find out and clarify it. Yeah.
Okay. Anyone else online? Any members of the public joining us via Zoom? Anyone else would like to speak on any subject matter? Please raise your hand. I see none. Mayor. Okay. Then I'll take a motion to adjurnn. So move to
second. Mr. Davis, yes. Mr. Luca, yes. Bangal, yes. M. Herman, yes. Mayor Adams, yes. Thank you. See you October 21st. Good night. Sorry. That's how you So
is it doing? That's what they're that's what they're saying is that's how you get your kids. You get your kids in that future years. I don't agree with in future years you only get one kid in. So if you have two kids that want to just
feed your child that's what they send an email out which I don't think I don't think I No it incentivizes you chaperon if you've got multiple kids. Oh my god.
And then she's like in the weight list got my but