You ready? >> Good evening everyone. Welcome to the January 6, 2026 meeting of the Maplewood Township Committee. Please read the opening statement. >> You're not doing that one. >> Mayor,
>> I am. I am. I am. I am. I am. There it is. It's been six years, but you've been at every meeting. >> That's right. Pursuant to section 5, chapter 231, public laws 1975, this is the state for the record, the 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 and star ledger in December 2025 and by filing said notice in the office of the township clerk. >> Miss Adams >> here, >> Miss Collins Cing >> here. Mr. Daffis
>> present. >> Miss Herman here. >> Mayor Duca >> here. >> Whereas chapter 231 public laws 1975 commonly known as the open public meetings act requires all means of public bodies building to the public and
where 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 where is desire of the governing body to comply with the provision of this act. same time conduct its business in an orderly and
expeditious manner. Now therefore be resolved by the township committee township of Mwood does hereby prohibit except as set forth in the formal agenda active participation and deliberations of the governing body by the public except as otherwise described by law
does limit the public to the observations of the actions and discussions of the governing body at all its regular and special meetings. >> So moved. Second M. Adams >> here. Miss Collins Cing. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis,
>> yes. >> Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Thank you. Uh, please join us in a salute to the flag. >> Pledge to the flag of United States of America and to the stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So again, good evening to our second meeting of 2026. Uh go through the agenda. We're going to have a presentation on Muslim Heritage Month. Do some board and committee
appointments. We'll have our first public comment meeting public comment on agenda items only. We'll have our board of health meeting and then we have reports from administration and uh elected officials. We have no discussion items. We have a consent agenda with
quite a few uh resolutions. Most of these are resolutions we do every year appointing various professionals. We do have some resolutions on uh refunding some payments, appointing uh I guess we're the maintenance worker. We're
pulling right that one or is that still going on? >> Not maintenance worker is on. We had pulled prior to this agenda the resolution appointing a deputy tax collector. >> Okay, that's right. Okay, thank you. Um and then we'll adjourn. We'll have a second public comment period on any item
and then we'll adjourn. So, I'm going to ask uh Deputy Mayor Herman to read our Muslim Heritage Month proclamation. >> Thank you, Mayor. Whereas in 2023, Governor Phil Murphy
designated January of each year as Muslim Heritage Month. And whereas Muslims are the world's second largest religious group practicing the Islamic faith with 1.9 billion followers representing approximately 25% of the
world's population. There are about 3.45 million Muslims in the United States from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. And in New Jersey, there are nearly 300,000 Muslim Americans, representing one of the largest Muslim-American communities
in the country. And whereas Muslims have made significant contributions through history, including notable achievements in philosophy, mathematics, chemistry, physics, astronomy, medicine, music, architecture, literature, and the arts. Their philanth philan philanthropy,
humanitarianism, civic responsibility and culture helped to enrich the United States socially, economically, and historically. Whereas Maplewood has long embraced values of diversity, community, and inclusion, which align with the
wisdom of the Quran, which says, "What is the reward of goodness but goodness?" These embedded and shared values inspire us to foster understanding, build connections, and offer to help in times
of need. And whereas while we celebrate the achievements of Muslim Americans, we must also acknowledge the diverse journeys many Muslim Americans have taken to the United States, including those brought forcibly through the
transatlantic slave trade and those who immigrated for education, opportunities, or safety. These histories are marked by both hardship and resilience, and we honor their stories. Now therefore, be
it proclaimed that I, Malia Herman, deputy mayor of the Township of Maplewood, on behalf of Victor Duca, Mayor of the Township of Maplewood and the Maplewood Township Committee, officially recognize and dedicate the month of January as Muslim Heritage
Month. While this proclamation highlights the significance of mus Muslim culture and contributions, we acknowledge that the richness of Muslim heritage cannot be fully captured in one month or one declaration. We encourage
you to engage with the Muslim heritage year round through learning, participation in community events, and embracing a culture that has often been unrepresented or misrepresented despite its profound impact on the world. Thank
you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. And I am going to ask you to continue to stay near that mic. And as we get into boards and committees, you have some appointees for the all access committee.
>> I do. Thank you, mayor. We have uh three additional members uh that I would like to appoint to the all access committee which has been working very hard on um since last year since we created that committee. Um Ryan Wexler, I'm not sure
if he is joining with us today or not. Um he's a local Maplewood resident, uh a parent in our district and um you know would like to bring some of his personal and family experience to the board uh to the all access committee. Amy Engel
um may be joining us online uh I met Amy uh at when I was at a Jessie House event. She works for Jessie House and has and also is a Maplewood longtime Maplewood resident. I'm very excited to bring her expertise to the committee. And Grant Weiss, uh Grant is a high
schooler in Maplewood and he came to one of our uh one of our meetings here about the inclusive playground and he had a lot of really good ideas and um I'm really excited to bring his um personal background to the committee as well. So, uh Mr. Weary, can you check if any of
them are on uh line so that we can meet them? I don't see any of them online, but I we should ask if anybody uh just listed is joining us on Zoom, please raise your hand so we can move you over to panelist. >> No, none of them have joined.
>> Okay. Um lots of things going on this time of year. Uh but I have spoken with each of them and I am very excited to move their uh names forward to join the All Access Committee. And for those who don't know, the all accessess committee is a group working to um recommend uh
ways that Maplewood can be uh more accessible and inclusive of our disabled and neurode divergent residents. So, lots of good work happening there. >> Are these uh um termination dates the correct dates? June 30th.
>> They are because the because the committee was set up as a one-year. So when we get toward the mid year of 2026, we will have a report from the committee and I think based on all of our conversations and the work we've done, the committee will likely be
recommending that it become a permanent committee. Okay. And at that point, I would probably be recommending to extend appointments. >> Great. Thank you. >> So you're making you >> So I am making a motion to appoint Ryan Wexler, Amy Engel, and Grant Weiss to
the all access committee. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Please call the role. >> Mr. Adams, >> yes. >> M. Collins Golding, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Herman, yes. Mayor Duca, >> yes. Okay. And we have uh 2026
reappoints. And I'll start on affordable housing, we have Carrie Pugliss. Uh January 1st, 26 through 123128. That's a three-year term. And on historic preservation, we have Daniel Wright. That's January 1st of 2026
through 1231 of 2029. That's a 4-year term along with Eric Hammerberg. And that's the same four-year term 126- 123129. And you have uh you have those. You have
those. Okay. Some environmental advisory committee members. Yes, we have uh Rich Wener, Jonathan Poor, and Vicky Arlene. I was just looking up their expiration dates. Shouldn't say their expiration dates, their appointments expiration
dates is three years. >> Yeah. 12:3128. >> Okay, that's it. >> And Deputy Mayor, >> thank you. I have uh one person from the pool advisory committee, Lori Maguire Gates, and three from the senior advisory committee, Judith Kramer, Donna
Plotnik, and Joan Crystal. And all would be appointed for the next three years expiring December 31st, 2028. >> Can we get a motion on all 10? >> I motion that we reappoint all 10 of
these nominees. >> I'll second. >> Please call the role. Mr. Adams, >> yes. >> Miss Collins Cing, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davis, >> yes. >> Miss Herman, >> yes. Mayor Duca,
>> yes. Thank you. I also would like to uh um announce some mayoral appointments to the library board. North Caragle is being reappointed from uh this is a five-year term from January 1st, 2026 through December 31st uh 2030. And on
the planning board, we have three members. Uh Tom Carlson's reappointment, he's a class 4 member. That's a three-year term from uh January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2029. Selma Laam is a class 2. That's a one-year
term 126 through 123126. And alternate number one is John Sullivan. It's two-year term. That's 1226 through 123127. Three year term is 228, right? >> Yes. Tom, I'm sorry. Three year term.
>> Four year term. >> Uh >> class four. >> No, it's a three-year term. Threeear term. Right. >> Okay. So 28. >> 28. Yes. Thank you. And uh Okay. With that, we're going to now move into our first public comment. Is there anyone in here who would like to uh speak to us on
an agenda item? Seeing no one, we'll go to the Zoom. If anyone joining on Zoom would like to speak on agenda items only, please raise your hand. >> I see no hands. Mayor, >> thank you. We're going to move to the
board of health meeting. And Miss Fritzen, um, you're going to be running this for the beginning, right? >> Good evening, members of the board of health. Pursuant to section 5, chapter 231, public laws 1975, this is to state for
the record that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided to the public by posting and maintaining the annual notice of regular meetings on the bulletin board of the municipal building by mailing the annual notice of regular meetings for 2026
to the news record and star ledger in December 2025 and by filing said notice in the office of township clerk. Miss Adams >> here. >> Miss Collins Colding. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis >> present. >> Mr. Duca
>> here. >> Miss Herman >> here. Whereas uh chapter 231 public laws 1975 commonly knows the open public meetings act requires meetings of public bodies be open to the public. And whereas section 7A provides that the
board of health has a discretion to permit, prohibit or regulate the act of participation of the public at any meeting. And whereas desire the Maplewood Board of Health to comply with the provision of this act same time to conduct its business in an orderly and expeditious manner. Now therefore be
resolved by the Maplewood Board of Health and Township of Mapwood that it does hereby prohibit except to set forth in formal agenda active participation in the del deliberations of the board of health by the public except as otherwise prescribed by law does limit the public
to the observations of the actions and discussions of the board of health at all of its regular and special meetings. >> So move second. >> Mr. Adams, >> yes. >> Miss Collins Cing, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Luca, >> yes. >> Miss Herman,
>> yes. >> Okay. Um, members of the board of health, now would be the time for you to select the board of health president for 2026. So, I would entertain any nominations that
you might have for president of the Maplewood Board of Health for the year 2026. >> I nominate Dean Daffis. I second. >> Hearing the nomination of Mr. Daffis, are there any nominations uh further?
>> Would somebody like to close the nomination? >> Close it. >> I'll be taking a roll call now on the nomination of Mr. Daffis for president of the Maplewood Board of Health for the year 2026. >> Miss Adams. >> Yes.
>> Miss Collins Cing. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Duca, >> yes. >> Miss Herman, >> yes. I declare uh Mr. Daffis the 2026 president of the Maplewood Board of Health.
>> Thank you. >> I only nominated you if you did not give a speech. >> I have no speech. >> Oh, thank goodness. >> And I will not force you to call me the president. [laughter] >> Thank you. Okay, Mr. Daffis.
>> Oh, right. So, um, >> here's part of what you do now. >> Right. This is what I do. So, >> we have the minutes. >> Oh, yes. Um, the minutes. >> Item number six. >> Item number six. Right. Got to get back into the saddle of doing this. Yeah. Uh,
I move the minutes from our last board of health meeting. >> Second. >> Mr. Adams. >> Yes. M. >> Collins. Colding. >> Yes. Mr. Duca, >> I think she has to abain. >> She wasn't on the
>> abain. Yes, >> I'm voting. Yes. >> Okay. Uh, Miss Herman, >> yes. >> Mr. Davis. >> Yes. >> Good. Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. At this point, I will turn it over to our health officer, Mr. Davenport. Good evening.
>> Good evening, everyone. Happy New Year and welcome back to being board of health presidents, Mr. Davis. Um, our first slide will be to highlight our blood drive that we had on December 30th. Thank you to all the residents who volunteered and donated. We collected uh
through the American Red Cross 36 units of blood in total. Um, each unit saves three lives. So, we just want to say thank you to everyone for coming [clears throat] out. Next slide. More, could you move the mic closer? It's hard to hear you. Can you can you hear me now? >> Yes.
>> Yes, that's better. Yes. Right on. Next slide. Vaccines for children. This is the January uh calendar for the county's vaccine for children program. I just want to let you know because we've been promoting this program throughout
the year. Last year, the county vaccinated uh provided 48 vaccinations to children. So, these were uh vaccinations that the children's may not have uh received either because they did not have insurance or did not have a healthcare provider. So, um, we want to keep promoting, uh, vaccines for
children, which is a free program through the county. Next slide. Open enrollment for New Jersey Health Insurance is open until January 31st of this year. So, we want to encourage everyone to uh [snorts] use the New
Jersey uh get covered program um as well as the other programs that we have available um through the state health department um to assist people with navigating through uh the health care system. Um in New Jersey, approximately 7.7% or about 660,000 residents were
uninsured as of 2024. Low-income individuals, those living at or below 100% of the federal poverty level, and young adults ages 19 to 34 [clears throat] are at the highest risk of being uninsured. In Essex County, an
estimated 17.4% of adults under age 65 lack health insurance. Additionally, recent cuts to the federal government's contribution to Medicaid may result in more individuals needing to rely on state-based health insurance coverage. So, we want everyone to know
about get covered NJ um and they can go there because that is the official um health insurance marketplace. There's also the state health insurance assistance program uh to assist uh low-income seniors and individuals disabilities helping them save money on
Medicare premiums and other related costs. Um as well as New Jersey Citizen Action, an organization that provides free assistance with healthcare enrollment. So, just want to let everyone know on the next slide you will see a a fact sheet, an FAQ that um our
local health outreach coordinator and the rest of our department uh created to inform people about um the resources that were just mentioned. This is also on our township website on the health department page and a press release was sent out today to help people and
encourage them to get covered by January 31st. Next slide. Our nursing update. As you can see uh by the graph here, influenza which is the green line has spiked up. So we are
seeing um a lot more cases um rise in um New Jersey New Jersey and New York um in elevated admissions and ER um or emergency department visits. So we just want to encourage everyone and let people know um about this situation.
um CO 19 and RSV seem to still be pretty low, but we're monitoring that. Uh but in influenza, we want to make sure that everyone is aware that they should get vaccinated. Um respiratory activity increased in the K to2 schools um and long-term care
facilities in December. Again, want to encourage everyone to get vaccinated for the flu. Next slide. Our reportable diseases that were investigated by our nurse, Susette Gail, um is here. And the health screenings that were provided were at our senior
apartments. Next slide. Again, unfortunately, we did not have a lot of participation or registration for our winter flu clinic which was scheduled for today. But again, we'd really encourage everyone based on the information that was uh provided earlier
to contact their local pharmacy or healthcare provider for flu vaccinations. And for those who are 65 and older, um it is highly recommended to get the highdosese quadrovalent uh vaccine. >> Kudos for using a band-aid on that uh cancel.
>> Very nice. Very nice. >> Clever, right? Very clever. >> Our our ge our graphic design skills are are enhancing. >> Next slide for environmental health update. We're going to go into our pet licensing for 2026. This application is
open uh for dogs and cats to be licensed in Maplewood. Please apply before January 31st. Otherwise uh you will get a late fee. Um please uh vacuum have your dogs uh vaccinated for rabies. Um and submit that along with your
application. Um pet licensing helps us to understand how many dogs and cats we have. It also uh through the licensing application goes to our animal trust fund and I'll talk more about that um as we move forward. So this is for the month of November.
Animal control solutions uh reported that they had 15 calls. And when I talk about the animal trust fund that the licensing uh provides, it helps to offset the cost of animal control solutions providing the um
assistance when someone reports of a dog bite or when they pick up a stray or the impounding and medical uh care for stray animals and wildlife. So just so people know the importance of their uh licensing, some of that money goes to providing for these services.
Next slide. One thing I want to highlight here on this slide is the health department licenses which you see on every uh presentation that I make um monthly, but we just want to let everyone know that these licenses are uh being renewed as of now uh for the month of January for
retail food establishments, uh vape shops, body art, tattoo parlors, massage and spa facilities, our um recreational bathing pools, childc care centers, kennels, and as I mentioned, dog and cat and chicken licensing. So we are very
busy um with licensing um at this earlier point in the year. Next slide. Social services and mental health. Our crisis intervention social worker report for December. Um they've seen 30 cases,
five co-response, 17 follow-ups, and um eight others such as um calls or walk-ins to the health department. Um, I just want to make note that as of last year, I I think I'd said that on average they had 17 cases and I think that
number has increased to about like 23 cases a month. Like so 30 is what we're seeing a lot more of. Um, it includes the follow-ups because we do have to provide a lot of followup and um handoffs to the appropriate referrals. But just want to let you know that the
crisis intervention social workers Martha and Dina Purcell are very very busy um helping out and doing co-response. We always want to emphasize our partnership with the um CSPJ or collaborative support programs of New
Jersey. Not only do they do our homeless outreach and engagement program, but they also provide um social service um application assistance on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Hilton Branch Library. So, we want to encourage people to take advantage of this free
service. Next slide. As you know, one of my last slides that I end up with is make the right call. But we do want to emphasize um the difference between 988, which is the uh National Suicide and Crisis Prevention
Hotline, and 911. And that 911 is for emergency services um if someone's at risk for a life-threatening emergency. And 988 has counselors available to assist with a mental health emergency. Um both of them are available 24 hours a
day. We just want to make sure that people use the appropriate um phone call, phone number, and that 988 is available for those who are experiencing or know someone who's experiencing a mental health crisis. Next slide.
The month of January is suicide you substance use disorder treatment month. So, our crisis social workers uh requested that we let people know about the website findtreatment.go. gov um for information and other
resources for anyone seeking treatment or support for substance use disorder. Next slide. And our last slide is the make the right call banner that um we promote every month uh so that people know that these services are available
247. Thank you. >> Are there any questions from my colleagues? With the move to Bdon Avenue, what is going to happen with people who are paying the uh dog license, cat license,
and any other fees that your department collects? >> Most of the um fees and licensing applications are done online now through GovPilot. We only get a few people who walk in um based on, you know, past experience. That's what they do.
um when we move over, we'll let people know that um they can come over to our new location and we'll sign them up there and assist them with um online assistance or we can fill them out in paper, too. >> Yeah, I think we should just have a transition period that you know, we
don't want people come here and then have to go over there. So, >> we can work out something for some period of time after the move. >> Committee member Adams. >> Yes. I just had a um want to [clears throat] request that when uh you do the restaurant rellicensing that they
get reminders about the things that they always forget. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Like the >> skip plastic like plastic straws and utensils not being given out. Yes. In fact, that went out in our um message to them as a reminder to get their license. We put that information in as well as
the uh tabletotable information if they want to donate uh their excess food supplies. Um and lastly, we notified them about the grease traps. So, we included that all in there. >> Okay. And then they since a lot of people don't bother to read when they do
they get inspected as well physically. >> Tell them. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Just because I've had to report a few of them. >> Yes. Yeah. And we followed up with those. Well, you know, we I'm ordering dinner and I get plastic utensils. >> Yes, exactly. It's why we put the law in place.
>> Thanks. >> They're out of order. >> You're out of order. >> They're out of order. >> Committee member Collins Colding. >> Um, do we have Thank you. Do we have any plans to um set up that flu clinic again, the one we canled? Do we have uh
dates coming up in the next couple of months? um because we are in the um in in January, we're and people weren't didn't seem to be very interested at this time. We're already planning for the fall. So, we're looking at um
partnerships uh to provide the highdosese vaccination for for seniors because I know that there's an interest in that. Um and also to provide it for the public and our employees. Um, so we're already looking into the fall to arrange for that and maybe get it um in September, October when more people are
interested. >> Thank you, >> Deputy Mayor Herman. >> Thank you. I um was was going to ask what Miss Collings was asking about the flu clinic clinics. I wanted to um thank you for scheduling the one today.
>> Thank you. >> And um you heard what you know we were talking about making sure that we make you know health care accessible to our community. So um thank you for listening and for doing that. And unfortunately I think you're right. This is just we're we're at the tail end um right after the
holidays. Unfortunately um or fortunately everybody got their shots already. That's what I'm I'm going to take away from this. So um that's good news. And it's really good news to hear that you're planning for the fall because I think we heard loud and clear this this last year that it's it's wanted. Yes.
>> So, um really happy to hear that. Thank you so much. >> You're welcome. Thank you. It's it's uh it takes time to plan these things, so it's actually good to plan in January for September. >> Yep. And we know that people are going back to work um and getting exposed to different respiratory diseases. So again, if you could if you missed
today's, we really strongly encourage you to get uh vaccines, flu vaccine at the far local pharmacy or your healthcare provider. >> Oh, I just wanted to add also, thank you for the reminder for the the dog and cat licenses. I have two dogs that I will be
renewing. And um it never occurred to me, even though I'm at town hall so often, to do it here. I always do it online. It's really, really easy. So, I would encourage anyone who, you know, who hasn't tried it online, give it a try. It's you get it in the mail like u
like a week later. It's really It's great. >> Thank you. >> Today is three kings day and you've just had an epiphany. All right. >> Um, >> I know it's a bad one, but I but I couldn't resist. It was pretty good. Pretty good. So, um, I have a couple
things. >> I have a couple things. I want to thank you as always for your comprehensive report. I'm excited to be back in the saddle as your chair and to work along alongside you in promoting further promoting our public health in our community. Um
we really cannot underscore enough the need for people to get their flu shot. If you haven't gotten it, please do. Um there's a lot of reports out there from health experts saying that we haven't even seen the peak of of what's
happening in this season. And because it's always important, I think to make the point by sharing a personal story when a personal story is available, I will share uh with you all that my husband George and I know two people um both of them otherwise healthy
individuals and uh one of them lost their life to flu. 38 years old. 38 years old not vaccinated. and the other one ended up in the emergency room
with uh severe complications and is now in the hospital recovering and hopefully will get out of there soon. So, this is a really serious flu season, folks. Please take it seriously. And I know there's some reports out there that, you know, this vaccine will
not protect you necessarily, ensure that you won't get this flu, this particular strain. um that may be the case, but the vaccine will ensure that you don't get sick like that very very sick uh or end up in the hospital, god forbid. So,
please take it seriously. >> Thank you for that. >> And also, thank you for highlighting the difference between 988 uh the suicide prevention hotline, mental health crisis hotline, and 911. Often people call 911 and because of that, they don't have the
option of speaking to a counselor. >> Yes. So, if you call 911 988 and it turns out that you need police immediately, 988 will connect you to 911. They're connected. So, thank you for that. You're >> welcome. >> All right. Do we have any questions?
I'll entertain any questions from anyone in the room for our board of health. Seeing none, we'll go online. Mr. Wary, if >> anyone on Zoom would like to address the board of health, please raise your hand. I see no hands.
>> Seeing none, then I move that we adjourn for the health. >> Second. >> Mr. Adams. >> Yes. >> Mr. Collins Colding. >> Yes. >> Mayor Duca. >> Yes. >> M. Herman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davis. >> Yes. Thank you again, Health Officer Davenport.
>> Thank you. Good day. >> Thank you, President Daffus. Um, >> okay. We have no ordinances on final or on introduction. So, we're going to go to administrative reports. Mr. Weary, >> I have no report tonight, Mayor.
>> Okay. Any questions for Mr. Weary? >> No. >> Miss Credidio. >> Brief report tonight, Mayor. Um, as you may recall, the legislature enacted certain changes to the Open Public Meetings Act last year, the majority of
which take effect in March. For the moment, we are still publishing our notices in the newspapers. Uh, but we will begin to publish them online as well. And beginning in March, we'll be moving into a virtual environment. So,
um, just, you know, for the moment, it's status quo, but you'll be seeing changes soon. >> Great. Thank you. Any comments or questions for Midio? Um, our township clerk Fritzen. >> Uh, yes, Mayor. Thank you. A couple things.
Um, I did want to report on uh the reorganization meeting on January 1st and uh the participation that we had uh really was terrific with uh the clergy
uh the music, the singers were terrific. um trumpet player. Um again, it was a great day and I want to, you know, compliment also my staff for helping me uh put together uh that great
program. Uh we're in the process now of public notices for uh your subcommittee meetings, uh board and committee meetings. So, you have been sending along your dates and
information. uh continue to do that if you uh haven't yet. Uh this Thursday, I'll be attending a meeting [snorts] along with uh the deputy township clerk um with the county regarding the um
upcoming special election and uh that will be in Cedar Grove this week. Uh and we'll be getting, you know, certainly more information. uh early voting site. We're going to have an inspection uh next week. If you
remember, we are encouraging an early voting site for Maplewood for our residents. And uh we'll be having a walk through uh to try to sell our new location, the uh new library, the uh
Victor Duca room. And uh also we're selling moving uh the three voting districts out of the lobby here at town hall and moving them also uh to the library. So um that's what I have. Thank
you. >> Thank you. Any questions for our clerk? I I have it's not really a question, but in uh to your point about the early voting sites and having one in Maplewood, the early voting sites were
announced earlier today. There is one in West Orange. West Orange is not in Congressional District 11, which the special election is about. Um, so I just want to let you know that we are uh there are several residents uh myself included who have reached out to board
of elections leadership encouraging them to consider Maplewood. >> We're trying. >> I know you are and you have support behind the scenes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Okay. Thank you. We have reports from elected officials. Committee member
Adams. Um just briefly just for as um I'll be chairing engineering, public works, and planning. We're literally switching seats. Um for those meetings will be on the second Wednesday of the month at 8:00 a.m. on Zoom just as they
have been for the last several years. Um, also I just want um to note today's uh significance as a five-year anniversary of the terrible insurrection at the Capitol and um my thoughts are
with those who were injured and uh died after that event and hopefully we can have a democracy that's solid again in the coming years. So that's all I have. >> Thank you. Committee member Daffis.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Once again, a uh happy new year, healthy and prosperous to the community, to all of us. Here we go. 2026 already our second township committee meeting uh of the new year. A warm welcome again to our new member,
committee member Collins Colding. We're so excited to have you, Jane, and to work with you. We're going to have a great time. Um, and I want to just say uh to the community and um to our
residents that I 2026 is my last year of my current term on the township committee meeting committee uh township committee and I intend to focus this year in particular in three areas of
important significance um in particular in Maplewood. housing equity and affordability, land use and zoning, and public health. Public health. We will continue centering public health in
everything that we do because public health intersects all of the issues that we talk about. Uh, and I look forward to working with our health officer and her incredible team and expanding our public health footprint in our community, in
the region. Um and our social services support which will become more and more important as more and more of our working families in the community are squeezed in health care in housing affordability and other stresses that everyone is experiencing right now.
And I will continue chairing the code committee. Uh they will the code committee will continue meeting on the second Tuesday of every month. We're switching to 8:30 from 8 am. 8:30 a.m. is a little bit uh more palatable, I
think. And we will continue meeting v via zoom and those meetings um have been published and on our website and you can join us and please do. Often people uh ask a lot of questions about land use
and zoning and why it things are the way that they are and why we make decisions that we make. Come be part of the conversation. That's my report, Mayor. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, Deputy Mayor Herman. >> Thank you. Um, we are switching up a b a
bunch of the committees this year. I am really excited to be chairing public safety. We will be continuing to meet on the second Wednesday of the month. Uh, and this will be with our fire department, our uh, police chie I'm sorry, our police chief, our police department, our police chief. Uh, Sally
will be there. Um, and then I'll also be chairing communications and we'll be meeting monthly on Thursdays. Um, I want to um echo what uh what committee Adams, it's going to take me a little bit to get used to that um said about the or
the rally on January 6th. Um, and share really exciting news. A friend of mine who I worked with at the Associated Press just published a book called Storm at the Capitol and it's based on uh it's an oral history of her day in the capital as a reporter. Her husband was
there as a reporter. Many uh people that I worked with uh in Washington were there and so I'm really excited. Um books has a words has a copy set aside for me. I'm going to go pick it up tomorrow and start reading. >> Um >> so it's been published already. >> It just came out today.
>> Excellent. on January 6th. >> Excellent. >> Um I also wanted to uh um uh Committeeman Daffus was one of the um and a bunch of our residents were at the a rally at the state capital this week
to prot protect trans rights uh with medical. There's a bill pending that they were um trying to bring attention and try and get that passed. Um, so I want to thank you for being there and for our community residents for being there as well. That's really important. Um, I also wanted to point out a few
things that are coming up. You know, I I'm always good for all the dates on the calendar. Um, so there is a photography exhibit. These are selected photographs from our Columbia High School students that will be at 1978 Gallery. The
opening reception is on Friday, January 16th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. So, I'm looking forward to that. I love when we have events that involve our youth. Uh, it's really wonderful. They get very excited to see their work up on the walls and it's it's amazing to see the
talent. Um, I also want to draw attention to a few things that we have coming out of our um our departments. We have a babysitting class, cheer and dance, um puppy yoga, and senior social
coming up on January 13th at 10:30. So, um please go to our website and check out all of those and many more offerings. And while you're there, don't forget to sign up for our newsletter where you can get all of this information straight to your email and
you don't even have to watch us sit up here [laughter] at our meetings. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. report. >> Thank you. Thank you for eroding our viewership. [laughter] Uh [clears throat] committee member Collins Cing.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh I'm going to be chairing the health and the community services and arts and culture. And I'm very excited about that. And I just wanted to start by telling you about the most important event we have coming up
through our rec center, which is the puppy yoga. and that's going to be held on the 15th at the Woodland Parlor. And we have two sessions, one at 10 and one at 11 o'clock. And we also have our camp coming up. Um that will be January 21st
at 10:00 a.m. And we have a few senior programs that I uh we have listed for January 13. We have a senior program at the senior center for senior social featuring the benefits of emotional freedom technique. So that's going to be
um held there. And we have one other thing I wanted to announce is the AARP uh driver safety for our seniors which will be held on February 17th to the 19th from n from 9:30 February 17th and
the 19th is from 9:30 and we have another one at 12:30 p.m. But we only have four spots available for this particular class. So this course will really help seniors refresh the knowledge of the basics of safe driving and improve the com the confidence on
the roads. So that's really important and we going to have the health department there that day giving health screening as well. Yes. Um I just want to add for our arts and culture exhibit. I know um township deputy mayor had
announced that uh the exit the decisive moments selected photographs for the Columbia high school students is going to be from the 16 to the 25th. That's how long that's going to run. So I just want to add that there. And there was another one at 1978 Maplewood Art Center
uh January 12. Uh it's called Just Like a Girl exhibition. and that art launches on the 12 at 1978. So, thank you so much. That's it. >> Thank you. And I just have three items.
One, today we did a lease signing ribbon cutting at the Maplewood movie theater. We joined the township committee joined with Tony and Vinnie Lefredo. They are the owners of the building and they've entered into a lease with James Kula of
Box Office Cinema. and James and his colleagues were there and we did a ribbon cutting and the James will be the uh lease and it will take about 6 to 12 months of construction to um totally gut
and revamp the theater but they're very enthused about coming to Maplewood and offering theaters again a wide variety of of shows. Um the township committee will continue to move ahead in crafting the redevelopment plan for that area and
um you'll be hearing more about that as we go forward. On Thursday the 15th of January uh at 7:30 p.m. at the community center the neighborhood the Hilton Neighborhood Association is sponsoring a meet the mayor session. So guess who's going to
be there. So, if anybody would like to come and uh ask me any questions or tell me stuff you'd like me to do, I'll be there. And lastly, um the Committee Coalition on Race is going to have their Martin Luther King event, their annual event. It will be on Monday the 19th at
2 PM at the Columbia High School auditorium. So, please attend. It's a very important and moving uh event. With that, we have our consent agenda. Miss Adams. >> Yeah. Move the consent agenda for approval.
>> Second. >> Please call the role. >> Miss Adams. >> Yes. [clears throat] >> Miss Collins calling. >> Yes. >> She said yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh did you want to abstain on the minutes? Pull that out.
>> Oh. >> Oh. >> Mayor, uh uh the minutes open and close of the last meeting. >> Okay, then I'll amend my How's that? Now she can just abstain on the which few numbers you know which ones it is
>> cuz we're halfway there. >> Halfway on there. >> Well, >> there's no minutes on there. >> We can vote because the minutes are not on there. >> Okay. Okay. [laughter]
>> Okay. So, uh I >> Mr. Daffis. >> Yes. >> Herman. >> Yes. Mayor Duca. >> Yes. Thank you. We have our second public comment on any items, any subject matter. Is anyone No one's here. Anyone on Zoom?
>> Mr. Weary. If anyone joining on Zoom would like to address the committee, please raise your hand. >> I see no hands. Mayor, >> Mr. Weary, you blew on your computer. Was that like some kind of >> There's a bug crawling across. >> Oh, a bug. Okay. Thank you. [laughter]
Oh, >> all right. So, no one wants to speak to us tonight. So, we'll take a uh we're going to meet again on the 20th of January at 7:30 p.m. here in the municipal building. Can we get a motion to adjurnn? >> So, move. >> Second. >> Miss Adams.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Collins Golding. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Miss Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duka, >> yes. Thank you. Good night, everyone. Good night.