And again, just to note that the animal uh licensing that we do for dogs and cats, part of that goes to paying for the services of taking care of stray animals and the medical care and their adoption. Moving on to social services and mental health. On the next slide, I have the uh
quarterly report from October to December from our senior social worker at Jewish Family Services. I highlighted the three um services that seem to be most utilized and requested. That is transportation resources,
affordable housing and ship program resources. That's um state health insurance program and the senior tax freeze program. These um programs and and having this data helps us to navigate the programs that we should do for seniors moving on in the future
because this is what they're looking for. Next slide. our crisis intervention social worker report for February. They saw 24 cases um 10 follow-ups and um two 12 others which are calls or walk-ins.
And the next slide is our notification to the community that they can go to the Hilton uh branch library on Saturdays to talk to CSPJ which offers free social services assistance um to sign up for anything online. Whether that be a job
um application or SNAP benefits, they're there for you from 11:00 a.m. to 1 pm. Next slide is just a reminder that 988 and 911 are phone numbers to call. As the last slide, as always, we end our presentation with uh the phone numbers
that are available 247 for emergencies um to call at different times if needed. And that's it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, health officer Davenport. Are there any questions from my colleagues for our health officer?
>> I have one. Uh, Mr. Davenport, I'm getting complaints about pet waste disposal. >> Pet waste. >> Pet waste. Yeah. And the question is, um, what do we do in the way of reminding the people that have dog
licenses that this is the law? >> We can send out a message through Gov Pilot, a mass email to all of them. And we can do that. >> We do that. Remind that. And I what I'm hearing is >> sometimes the children are walking >> into it >> the dogs and maybe not picking up and
maybe we need to remind the parents that it's >> a family responsibility. >> Yes. >> I can't believe that children wouldn't do that. >> Right. >> Right. >> So if we could just do that. Um and then we used to have some signs up. Do we
have signs around? I was just going to suggest that we do still have sun signs. So if people would like they can um call us and we can send give it to them and put it up on their burm. >> Thank you. >> I wanted to add on to that real quickly. I walked around Dehart Park recently,
maybe a week or so ago, and both of the receptacles that had bags were empty. >> Okay. >> So I had um forgotten my bags. So I asked another pet owner and she very nicely gave me her bags. Um, and then
yeah, so then I took care of it, but that was um, yeah, so we'll want to make sure that the bags are in the receptacles. >> I'll talk to uh, DPW and and we can work together to get those receptacles filled. >> Any other questions from my colleagues? Any discussion from
my colleagues? >> So, there you have it. Walking the dog and picking up after yourself, it's a family affair, right? >> That's right. >> It's a family affair, right? All right, let's go. someone. There you go. There you go. Uh, okay. So, we're going to open it up to the
public for any questions uh or comments for our health officer. Are there members of the public here in person? Please come on up, state your name, and ask your question. >> You going to sing? >> No. No. >> Okay.
>> Thank you, Garnet Hall. Um, I thank you. Uh, I get a lot of calls about Fox. foxes in the area. They makes my my lights my lights go on and off all night. But they're asking me the question, what do I do? So, if we can
get some assistance on, you know, um they start to get on chat groups and argue with each other because there's a group of people that say they're not going to bother you. Another group says, "I have children. They can't play in the yard." And I don't know what to tell them other than to call the health department.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Health Officer Davenport, do you want to remind the public, >> there's a couple numbers? >> Yes. Um, so regarding the Soma fox, which makes its appearance every once in a while. Um, yes, they are wildlife. If you leave them alone and and keep your
distance from them, um, they will not bother you. Um, however, if they look diseased, sick, mangy, then you can uh contact us and we can reach out to animal control solutions or the uh New Jersey Fish and Wildlife and they can
come out and assess the animal. But if it is just moving around, especially because sometimes they're nocturnal and the lights go off because they're sensors. It just we would recommend as we all with with all wildlife to leave them leave them be. They'll keep moving on their way.
And what happens on off hours when your office is not open weekends, nights? >> They can call the police department and they can reach out to the various animal control solutions or um D or if they need to for fish and wildlife. >> So maybe we could put that back out
there with our next township update. >> Yep. >> Wonderful. Are there other members of the public here in person who wish to comment or ask a question of our health officer? >> Please, sir, come on. Come on up. Thank you. >> Please introduce yourself and ask your
question. >> Hi, I'm Tom Bell. I I live at 57 Woodland Road. Uh I just wanted to uh second a thing about the dog waste. Um I'm glad you brought that up. As someone who walks our dog uh in Maplewood in Memorial Park there, um it is especially
bad lately. Um and I think I think it's directly I think more signage would be good like you guys said and also more bags because there are almost never bags in those things. almost never. Um, uh, but I also think that it's it's related to there's more and more, um, dogs
running around off leash and signage would help with that as well. And I I also think that's directly related to dogs going where people are not with their dogs to pick it up. Wonderful. Thank you, sir. Anyone else? All right, we'll turn to members of the
public online. Mr. Wary, anyone online? Any members of the public joining us via Zoom would like to uh address the board of health, please raise your hand. >> I see no hands. >> Thank you, Assistant Administrator Perez, and I apologize for only
acknowledging Mr. Wary when you are facilitating this for us. Thank you again. Okay, with that, I move that we adjourn and meet again on Tuesday, April 7th. Do I have a second? >> Second. Miss Adams, >> yes.
>> Miss Collins Calding, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Mr. >> Herman, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. Thank you. Health Officer Davenport, good evening. >> Thank you. So, we're back to item number eight on the agenda. This is public comment. This is our first public comment. Assemblyman, I didn't know if
you wanted to come up and say anything. >> Good evening. My name is Chigosier Onyma and I'm the member of the state assembly in the 28th legislative district. I was actually coming by to say hello and um to join the women's history month event. Um unfortunately I was coming back from
Patterson and I just missed it. So, I really just wanted to bring greetings to the entire Maplewood community to let you all know that I stand with you and I also stand ready to hear any issues that we may we may be able to address at the state level and also to honor all of the
women in Maple and South Orange you've served and all of the women in the community. So, that's all. Thank you, >> Senman. Uh I was going to announce later on your initiative to do a know your rights session on March 17th and since you're here why don't you talk about it.
>> Wonderful. Wonderful. So many of you all know that um there's quite a bit going on between the Trump administration, between ICE, and so one of the things that we wanted to do, especially in light of the uh Trump administration's uh attempt to end temporary protective
status for Haitians, and given a strong Haitian population throughout the 28th legislative district, including in the Maplewood community, we wanted to make sure that we hosted something so that everybody in our community knows their rights and can best protect themselves in the event that they faced any um
threats from the uh federal agents. So, we're hosting a know your rights training. We initially considered doing it in person, but to be safe and to make sure that we protected everybody's privacy, we thought it best to do it online. So, on March 17th at 6 p.m., we'll be doing a know your rights training virtually. We'll be hearing
from the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. We're grateful to both the Maplewood and South Orange Democratic committees for co-hosting and um we're hoping that we can be be able to provide tons of good information for everybody and be able to answer any questions that folks have and be honest about what's left unanswered and what we don't understand from the federal
administration. >> Will that be recorded so that we can share it? >> We didn't intend to, but that's a great idea. So, uh we will absolutely record it >> St. Patrick's Day. I'm just saying some people >> Silly me. Silly me. Um, so yes, we'll make sure that we record it and make
sure that everyone has access to it. >> Yeah, that'd be great. >> Wonderful. Thank you. >> Thank you for doing that. Thank you. Good to see you. >> Good to see you as well. Y'all be well. All right. Thank you. >> Thanks for coming for Women's History Month, too. Sorry. >> Would anyone else like to address the
township committee on any agenda item? >> Hello, Andrew Ner. Um, according to the master plan, uh, Maplewood has designated eight redevelopment areas. So, three along Springfield Avenue between Tuskcen Road
and Chancellor Avenue, uh, one along Bernett Avenue, uh, north of the Hart Park, uh, three adjacent to the train station, and one along the north side of Parker Avenue between Dundell Road and Valley Street.
Um, so how many affordable units have been created at these uh designated areas? >> I don't think we have that number right off the top. All of them. >> Okay. >> Almost all of them had to have
percentage set aside of affordable units. >> So probably zero then. >> No, I didn't say that. I said all of them had to have a percentage set aside of affordable units. was about 15% but it ranged some of the early ones were
closer to 8 12% and some of the later ones were 15%. >> Have they been built? Have they've already been built >> at these areas? >> So the um in redevelopment I'll just go right through redevelopment area one which is on Springfield Avenue. Uh
there's the um I don't know what you call the loft and there are affordable units there that's been built. There's a proposal going up in redevelopment area building going up in redevelopment area three therset and
that will have affordable units. The the redevelopment area on Parker West Parker has affordable units. redevelopment area downtown on Baker has affordable units. The redevelopment area where the post office
was does not have affordable units. And the redevelopment area where Avalon is has affordable units. >> Why would the area at the post office not have affordable? We're not going to get into that. They all have to have >> If you want to have a conversation, you can come in and meet with me and I can
go over that whole thing, but we're you you're limited to three minutes here. So I would suggest we use that productively. >> Okay. Does does Maplewood have a quotota for a specific number of affordable housing units that are required to be created? >> Yes. Uh in the next 10 years, 216 units
>> over 10 years. >> Yes. >> Okay. So So there there's not an immediate urgency. There's a 10-year period. And you've already identified eight areas. >> No, that's from past. This is the fourth round. Those are all previous rounds
though. They don't count towards that 216. >> How many affordable housing units have been created on the west side of the train tracks? >> Zero. >> No, I would there's No, we have them on on
both sides. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Approximately how many at west side are the train tracks? There's one at Baker. That's it. >> One unit. >> Mhm. >> Only one unit. And we have supposed to have 216 units and there's only one unit
west of the train station. Does that seem that this is being being distributed in an equitable manner? Why is why are all the affordable units being moved to the wrong side of the tracks? Why aren't they being put on the other side of the tracks as well? Okay.
So, we're not going to go back and forth. If you have other things you'd like to say, this would be your opportunity to speak. >> Okay. Well, that's that's that is a legitimate comment. If this is going to be distributed equally ac across the community, it should be distributed
equally. Okay. And the people that are on the right side of the tracks should get their fair share of the affordable units as well. is 2144 Milbourne Avenue. Is that the Fred Propheta building?
>> Um, >> it's a Paul Profett. >> It's not the Fred Profett. It was called the Propheta building at one time. Yes. >> Is he the owner of the building? >> I don't know. >> Was Fred Proffetta a member of this
township committee? >> Yeah, I think your time is up. This is not a very productive. Were you were you a colleague when Fred Perfetto was a member of the township committee? >> Is your time committee at the same time? >> Your time is up. >> Were you on the same political party as
Fred Petta when he was on the township committee at the same time? >> Your time is up. >> Exactly, Mr. Mayor. >> I'll bring that up in the next. >> Thank you. Anyone else want to address the township committee? Come on up. I resent the wrong side of the tracks. Three of us up here live on the wrong
side. Four of us. >> Yes. I just wanted to uh >> Could you please uh state your name and >> My name is Man Louie >> and your address? >> Address is nine Rinda Road. >> 35 years in Maplewood. I just want to make a statement over
here. >> Mhm. Basically, what's what it is is reading from this letter that I just received two days ago. Uh it puts approximately 37 units minimum
for the what this uh letter dictates in terms of the amount of uh housing that's being projected to be built to a maximum of 166. Now, if I look at the partial
that's over at Milbour Avenue, the minimum is 15 units. The maximum is 75 units. That puts me my block at 42%
of the total number that's uh scheduled to be built. The total number at the minimum is 37. The maximum is at 166. At the maximum,
my block is taking in 45% of the total number of 166. My question is why is my block hosting 42% at the minimum and 45%
of the maximum of the total number of new housing for the entire town of Maplewood. It's not
We all have to do our fair share. I'm not begrudging that. What I'm asking is what is the rest of Maplewood giving up to my block
for the absorption for the accommodation and the hosting of 42 to 45% of the total number of
housing that you're projected to build. That is all I'm asking. You make the consideration. You guys did the planning. What is this town going to do? The rest of the town going
to do for me? Let's make it a win-win situation. Maybe. Can we do something creative? Maybe for the next 45 years, the next 25 years. You give us credit, tax credit at
42% or 45%. To offset my blocks hosting responsibility. Let's do something creative. >> Okay. Thank you. Your time is up, sir. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Don Riley. I also live on Render Road and have a lot of major concerns about the um proposal to change the zoning so that a residential building can be built where I call it the medical building right now
because it seems to be what's in there. Um, I'd like to know what studies have been done as far as traffic, shadow, lighting, and all those, you know what all those are. What studies have been conducted thus far? Um, and what were
the results? >> So, um, this is your opportunity to make comments. We I'll answer some of those questions, but why don't you continue your comments? >> That's where I'm going, though. My concern is, you know, same as what um
Mr. Louisie had just voiced. Um, additionally, traffic that is a a terrible traffic place right now. And if you go at any time after 2:00 in the afternoon to 7:00 at night from Render Road, if you can make a left-hand turn or even a righthand turn, you're lucky.
It gets backed up. And Rinda Road is the one who's going to absorb all that additional traffic. Right now, the building that is there is a business building. It's never it's never filled. that parking lot is very rarely filled. There's no like traffic time. There's no
time of like deep congestion coming in and out of there. So my concern starts to become how do you absorb the traffic in that intersection? How do 75 units people living in 75 units who have cars who are coming in and out? How are they even going to get out onto the road? That all backs up on Tera Road. And then
not only does it back up on Terrena Road, people come around Milburn Avenue and then they come down Melman Terrace and they're all in front of my house. So to Mr. Louis comment like what are you going to do for us? I mean we're the ones who are absorbing absorbing this. Come down the street take a look. Come
down Render Road at 3 or 4:00 in the afternoon. Children can't even play in the street because there's so many cars coming around. You've got a funeral parlor on the corner. Just one funeral and we're all backed up. So I can't imagine 75 units people causing traffic there.
Additionally, the lighting my property backs right into that. This is that parking lot right now. there's already light there. It's going to be far worse. So, that light is coming in and imposing on our our yards into our homes. So, I think there's a lot to be considered when reszoning something for a
residential property for 75 units. We're not talking, you know, individual homes, talking 75 units. Where do we We're the ones who absorb that. Nobody else. It's coming right into us. We're the first street as you come into as you come into Maplewood. And it just doesn't seem
fair. And we bought I've been there for 26 years. We bought that property understanding that was a a business. It was four businesses. Never expected some 75 unit building to be up there. So hopefully I know it's common section
time, but I hope later on we get to a point where we talk about what studies have been done to really understand the impact that it's going to have on the residents because I feel that the first obligation should be to the residents who already there existing residents. this body should be looking out for our
best interest and I hope that that's something that you keep in mind when making a final decision. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else want to address the township committee at this point? >> Good evening everyone. My name is Jennifer Phillips Smith. I'm an attorney
with FBT Gibbons. I'm here tonight on behalf of the Marcus L. Ward home, which you all probably commonly recognize as Winchester Gardens. Winchester Gardens is the owner of the property located at block 31.34, lot 4, and it operates a continuing care
retirement community under the statute that's known as the Continuing Care Retirement Community Regulation and Financial Disclosure Act. We received the notice that Winchester Gardens is proposed to be included in the housing element and fair share plan which is under consideration as a resolution this
evening and also that it will may be subject to the AH1 zone which is an ordinance that you'll be considering later this evening. We've placed our concerns in a letter that we sent to you earlier today with legal precedent. I'll use my time today to
summarize those highlights and I think it's appropriate to start here. I know I'd like to reiterate later when when it comes time for the ordinance as well. As I mentioned, Winchester Gardens is a CCRC and it's governed specifically by a state statute for CCRC's. The statute
recognizes that a CCRC is a unique animal. It provides a continuum of care from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing. its community members enter into a contract through which the community provides not just a place to live but meals and health care
and other amenities. The appelllet division has also acknowledged that a continuing care retirement community is not a residential use. It's a non-residential use. The municipal land use law likewise specifically defines non-residential use
to include a CCRC. And even the zoning code here in Maplewood today recognizes the CCRC as a separate and distinct use from residential uses. So we are concerned that by the inclusion in the housing element and fair share plan and by the
adoption of the AHO overlay that the township committee is seeking to somehow impose a residential standard or burden on what is statutoily a nonresidential use. We trust that provided this information, the committee will recognize that
Winchester Garden is in fact a non-residential use and that it cannot be subject to an affordable housing set aside that would apply to residential uses. Uh, and we ask that you pause and take this under consideration before adopting the ordinance and before
adopting the resolution on the housing element and fair share plan. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening, mayor and uh committee, and thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. Uh my name is Marta Figuero. I'm a 32-year uh resident of
Maplewood. I live at 11 Cherry Place between Parker and Hillrest Road. And I am here also since it seems you guys are receiving comments. Um I am here to communicate my concern regarding the town's insufficient notice of the
ordinance to amend chapter 271 of the township code and the establishment of the affordable housing overlay one zone. I I need to begin my comments to the committee by assuring you that I am not against affordable housing in my neighborhood. I understand the urgency
of affordable housing. not as an abstract issue but from lived experience. As a child, my family faced the constant threat of losing our home. That instability shaped my understanding of of how foundational, safe, stable
housing is to dignity, opportunity, and health. So, I am not here to speak against affordable housing in my neighborhood. Instead, I am here to raise concerns about how the township is addressing their obligations for affordable housing. My specific concerns
include the fact that the township and developer served insufficient notice to the residents affected by the resoning ordinance ordinance and did not satisi satisfy their requirements under the municipal land use law. This potentially
renders said ordinance defective and deprivives the residents of the opportunity to retain appropriate counsel and solicit expert testimony. For the record, please note that the initial notice and certified mail letter, much as our my community members
here, from the attorney representing the township was attempted to be served for the first time at my house on the same day of the February 26th meeting. It was insufficient notice even for this meeting as it was not a 10 days notice.
The proposed development on Parker Avenue is particularly exceptional as it renders the most significant zoning change. It's the most extreme in the ordinance. It goes from single two family to 25 unit housing. So the
insufficient notice provided by the by the township I feel is particularly egregious and disappointing. We appreciate that or I appreciate uh that the town is fulfilling its legal obligations for affordable housing, but that does not release the township from
its other legal, representative, and ethical obligations to its residents. The expost facto notice is also deficient and inadequate. For example, it makes no explicit statement regarding the maximum number of permitted floors,
even though this is referenced elsewhere in the document when it talks about the parking stories. Without this type of critical information pertaining to structural parameters, residents cannot possibly make informed decisions regarding their own property, and this
represents an undue burden. The front of my house directly faces the proposed housing structure at 275 Parker and the structure has the potential to change the way my house receives sunlight, changes the character of my
neighborhood, and it will and will impact my property value. The ordinance states that the township has not prepared utility, roadway or traffic studies on the existing conditions as as has also been said in the previous comments on the existing conditions,
capacity or reports on upgrades required to support the proposed development. It requires the developer to provide the information. How and when will this information be made available to the residents? What mechanisms will be made
to address iss in insufficiencies in that in the provided? >> I'm gonna have to stop because your time is up and you're almost a minute over. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Comments. Good evening, mayor and committee. My name is Jiara Pressie. I um am a
resident of Maplewood, of course. I'm at 88 Hill Crest Road. Um I am here today to oppose the proposed amendment um for the overlay ordinance. Um I do live I am March's neighbor and 275
Parker Avenue. Um it just it would just be a bad idea for lack of a better word back lack of better words. Um, this was, as she said, was currently zoned for single and two family homes. Changing it
to permit up to 25 units at that location fundamentally alters the character and density of our neighborhood. Um, not only that, there's safety uh issues. The traffic is already a daily issue. I
don't know if you guys know, there was just a pedestrian, well, a biker struck on Parker was in ice. it is still in ICU. Um, I know another resident referred to it as the wrong side of the tracks. I don't like to think we live on
the wrong side of the tracks. I would like to say we do live at the edge of town where we have Irvington, we have. So, we already have an abundance of traffic there. So, just at that intersection alone, I mean, we have children taking a school bus. It's just
really, really dense. and how are we going to account for traffic, ride share, um more deliveries, what is that parking going to look like? Um and again, the inadequate notice. I mean, I really like to think that more people
from our community would have shown up today. Um we are very vocal. We have been vocal in the past about things going on in our community, but we just got this letter maybe two weeks ago. So, I'd like to really encourage the
committee to really start to reach out to the communities more specifically the communities that are going to be impacted. You know, we have many small children living in our neighborhoods. Families walk the streets every day. We
have children riding bikes, waiting for school buses. Um, so this is not a minor change. This is a major transformation to our neighborhood um and the character of our neighborhood. And I just really believe that zoning um particularly
because I served on the zoning board for 5 years exists to provide stability and protect our neighborhoods from incompatible development and I don't think this ordinance is compatible with our neighborhood. So thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else want to address
the township committee on the agenda item? Uh, again, you'll be able to speak on on um the ordinances as they come up. So, if you want to >> speak again, you can do that. Uh, is there anyone online who would like to
speak on an agenda item? >> Any members of the public joining us via Zoom would like to speak on any agenda items, please raise your hand. I am promoting Dave Helmamp to panelists. Okay. Um, good evening. Uh, Dave
Helmcamp, 571 Prospect. Um, I was just going to follow up on my comments from two weeks ago. I I just had some personal observations and I'm actually going to make them really short. Um, because I sense the same sort of uh conclusions in the room already tonight.
Um, you know, this this is just a really complicated process. Everything that I've seen online, and I think you all know I've been watching this stuff online for nearly 15 years, everything is is different, qualitatively different
this time. And and and in some good ways. Um, there's there's a lot more constructive conversation. I see people, you know, understanding the puts and takes. Um, but this isn't going to end soon
and I I truly worry about the the zeitgeist really. Um, particularly in some of the development projects as they come online and and capture our attention for a while and then construction goes on and and um
>> I think you're all aware of it. So that's why I'm not going to belabor the point, but but I I'll add that the the two press releases that were done in this past month were really really helpful. um a lot I shared them, you know, and and monitored the number of uh
times they were read and they read quite a bit and and they re they really did help people see the process a little bit better um and helped uh you know the the nimi argument maybe not be as intense as it it would otherwise be. Um, so I would
just encourage you to keep doing that. Um, maybe on a 30 or 60 day basis to really lay out what's coming down the pike. Um, either directly related to affordable housing or or projects that that are starting and ordinances as you
did this p past month. Um, I think it'd be really helpful. That's all. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to uh speak to us online? >> I see no hands. Mayor.
>> Okay. We're going to close this public comment period. Again, we will have a second public comment period, but we will be dealing with these ordinances on an individual basis. I will be asking if uh for a public hearing if anyone wants to come up, you'll be able to come up again. Um Miss Credidio, we have four
resolutions related to affordable housing. Could you describe each of those and then we'll go back and move them, second them, and have a vote on each Mayor. Resolution 100-26 is a resolution of the township committee endorsing the amount the
amended housing element and fair share plan that was adopted by the planning board on February 26th. Last year, the uh planning board adopted a housing element and fair share plan in June of 2025, which this body endorsed.
Subsequent to that process, after the township engaged in the affordable housing dispute resolution program and negotiated with the fair share housing center, certain revisions to that housing element and fair share plan were required. Those were adopted, as I said,
by the planning board last week. And this resolution this evening would be the endorsement of the township committee of that amended housing element and fair share plan. >> And keep going, please. Resolution number 101-26
is a resolution of the township committee authorizing and approving our fourth round affordable housing spending plan. Uh basically this uh relates to our housing element, describes the projected sources of funds that we
expect to have in our affordable housing trust fund and lays out a plan for spending those funds over this fourth round. Resolution number 102-26 is a resolution adopting an affirmative marketing plan. This is the marketing
plan that will be used by the municipality's administrative agent in making sure that affordable housing that currently exists and that is to be constructed in the future is appropriately marketed in connection with the updated uniform housing affordability controls which were
adopted um by the state recently. Resolution number 103-26 is resolution of the township committee authorizing an administrative agent operating manual and an affordability assistance program manual. Those are two
documents that are used by the township's administrative agent which is CGPNH in order to make sure that um housing is um advertised, filled and maintained at appropriate income levels
over this fourth round. Okay. Thank you. Any members have of the township committee have a question about any of these resolutions? If not, can I get a motion on resolution 100-26? >> Mr. Chair, I move the adoption of this
resolution. >> I'll second. >> Please call the role. >> Mr. Adams. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Miss Collins Cing. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis. >> Yes. Sherman. >> Yes. >> Mayor Duca.
>> Yes. Thank you. >> We get a motion on resolution 10126. >> Chair, I move for the adoption of this resolution. >> I'll second. >> Let's call the role. >> Mr. Adams. >> Yes. Mr. Collins Colding. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffus.
>> Yes. >> Herman. >> Yes. >> Mayor Duca. >> Yes. Uh, we have resolution 102-26. And I got a motion on that. >> Yes, mayor. I move the adoption of resolution number 10226 adopting our affir affirmative marketing plan.
>> Second. >> Let's call the role. >> Mr. Adams, >> yes. >> Mr. Collins, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Man, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Uh, resolution 103-26. >> Yes, Miss Adams.
>> I move the adoption of this resolution 103-26. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Please call the role. >> M. Adams? >> Yes. >> M. Collins? >> Yes. >> Mr. Davis? >> Yes. >> M. Herman? >> Yes. >> Mayor Zuca? >> Yes. Okay. We have an ordinance on final
passage. Ordinance number 10A. >> Uh, yes, Mayor. On final ordinance number 3181-26 is an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 150 housing affordable
of the code of the township of Mapwood to address the requirements of the Fair Housing Act FHA as amended and the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls UHAC as amended regarding compliance with the
township's affordable housing obligations and repealing any portion of the township code inconsistent therewith. This ordinance will enact new affordable housing regulations within the township
to reflect amendments to the Fair Housing Act and the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls and to repeal any current township ordinance to the extent that is inconsistent with those amendments.
Thank you. Uh, 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. Uh, is there anyone who would like to speak on this ordinance, which um really
outlines the regulations for fair housing here in Maplewood. This ordinance was given to us by the state as a model ordinance for us to adopt. Um, but this is an opportunity for anyone who would like to speak on this
particular ordinance. Seeing no one here, is there anyone on Zoom? >> Any members of the public joining us via Zoom would like to speak on this ordinance, please raise your hand. >> I see no hands. Mayor, >> you come on up.
Just wait till you get there and then we need your name and your address. Brian Ratus 34 Salter Place. I I was just trying to find the ordinance and it's not on the bulletin board outside and
I couldn't really find it online. I mean the I assume the full ordinance is shows all everything that's being changed. >> Yeah, there's a there's a link here on the agenda. Um, >> but it so it shows everything that's been changed and repealed and everything else in that.
>> It's not a red line copy. No. >> So, Mr. Mayor, the uh this all of the ordinances um are also on the public notice section which is on the uh township's homepage that the mayor described earlier. Um, this particular
ordinance, there's not a red line because it was sort of a wholesale replacement of the earlier sections. As Mayor Duca indicated, um, the Department of Community Affairs developed um, what they considered a template ordinance and
with some minor modification, pretty much every municipality in the state is adopting that that same piece. So the sections that we are um repealing and replacing had similar provisions but with respect to the third round
regulations. Um so for example the uniform housing affordability controls as the regulations existed at that time. That section of the code is now being replaced to reflect the uniform housing affordability controls as recently
enacted by DCA. um and similar throughout the throughout the ordinance. >> How would I know what was appealed? So, I would have to have the initial one and the and the new one be able to compare them and see which one was changed. Correct.
>> It isn't required to be provided to the public. I have to go do the search and it's there is I mean you make the statement that it's on the bulletin board and it's not there. So,
Even in the new one that you can't tell whether what was appealed should have been out there. >> Appealed? How do you mean appealed? >> No. What was changed? >> What was changed, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, the question is, do we post the ordinances on the bulletin board?
>> No, not these. >> Well, you state that in this thing you do. Um sir at section 4 repealer it identifies the sections that were that were superseded which are chapter 107
and also um article 7 in chapter 271 section one which is affordable housing mandatory set aside. Those can both be viewed on the municipal website. Um if you look under township code it's uh
it's pretty easily searchable. I'll take it worse for it. I've been trying to do it for an hour and I couldn't do it on my phone. So, >> okay. >> But I would just assume that. And so that's why I went out there to find it on the bulletin board and I couldn't find a you know what it was and what it ended up being. So it's
>> so it's on our website. >> Okay. But not on the bulletin board which is required. >> Obviously not on the bulletin board >> which is required by the town hall. Is that what you state? >> No. It has to be published. You should update the Okay. Anyways, that's what I was trying to find it.
>> You're right. >> But if I go to the toile, if I go to that ordinance area and I find it, is this going to show me the new one? >> It's just going to show you the new one. >> And so I have to go find the old one and the old one's there somewhere, too. >> Well, the old one would be in our code.
>> It's on the website in our code >> in the code of ordinances. Then I'll have to do do a comparison and find out what was changed between >> and what was added and what was deleted. >> And the town or whoever writes this isn't responsible to doing that. >> I mean, in my business, you're supposed
to. >> If you write a new document, you tell us what you changed. You don't expect someone to go try to figure that out. >> But so that's the way it >> for public notice. We have to we have to advertise what we're voting on. So that's it. >> Yeah. the these ordinances were reviewed
by the planning board for consistency with the master plan. >> Yeah. >> And um >> Oh, I just wanted to repeat it. >> Yeah. Well, >> that's why that was my comment that they're not out there on the bulletin board like you. >> That will be stricken from my next statement.
>> It's on all of them. >> Yeah, I know. >> Okay. Um, >> we haven't voted on this yet, right? >> No, but we we're still in public hearing, right? >> Yes. Any other members? You said no more members on Zoom, right? Okay. Anybody
else? Yes. About this ordinance? Just about this ordinance. Okay. >> Sorry. >> Um, okay. No one else. We're going to close the public hearing. Uh, >> I'll move it. >> Motion.
>> Motion. >> I'm going to ask if um we can take a brief recess at this time to move into executive session. >> Okay. Uh, you want to So, we haven't moved this yet, right? >> Nope. >> No. >> Okay. Um, we have a a request from our
attorney to uh take a brief recess and go into closed. We need a motion to >> So, moved. >> Is there a second? Please call the role. >> Mr. Adams, >> yes. >> Miss Collins Cing, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Surman, >> yes.
>> Mayor Duca, >> yes. We'll be back here in 10 minutes. it again. >> Use your hammer. >> So, we are uh an ordinance Mr. Mayor, want to make a motion to resume the open session?
>> Oh, yes. Sorry. We need a motion to open the >> moved. Second. >> Miss Adams, >> yes. >> Miss Collins Golding, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Thurman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Madame Clerk, let the minutes reflect that at 9:22, the township
committee returned from executive session when they received uh advice as to matters within the attorney client privilege and no official action was taken. >> I'm not sure what you said. Say it again. >> You said no official action was taken.
that the minutes should reflect that we've returned from a brief executive session in which the township committee received advice as to matters within the attorney client privilege and that no official action was taken. >> Okay. Thank you. So, um we're on uh
ordinance 3181-26. It does appear that um the copies of this ordinance should have been posted on the bulletin board and that is a um a problem. It's more than just my crossing
out my statement. So, we are going to um schedule a special meeting to carry these ordinances to and we're going to hold the hearing tonight because you're here and we'll also hold the hearing at our special meeting which is going to be
March 11th. Um so I'm going to ask uh let's see who's moving. Mr. Daffis would move this to carry it to March 11th at 7:30 p.m. >> Yes, Mayor. I move ordinance number 3181-26
to our special meeting on March 11th. Motion to carry. >> A second, I think. >> Okay. So, there's a motion to carry. >> Ordinance 318 1-26 to a special meeting of the township
committee on March 11th at 7:30 p.m. It's been moved and seconded. Um, we we good? Yes. Roll call. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Adams. >> Yes. >> Miss Collins Colding. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis. >> Yes. >> Miss Herman. >> Yes.
>> Mayor Duca. >> Yes. Okay. We're now going to move to item 10B, which is the ordinance which most of you have spoken about. This is ordinance 3182-26. Please read the ordinance. >> Yes, mayor. 3182-26
is an ordinance to amend chapter 271 zoning and development regulations of the code of the township of Mapwood to address compliance with the township's affordable housing obligations by establishing the affordable housing
overlay one zone AHO-1. This ordinance will amend section 271-70 zoning requirements of article five zoning provisions in chapter 271 zoning and development regulations of the code
of the township of Mapwood to establish the affordable housing overlay one zone AHO-1 which shall include the following properties 88 Bernett Avenue identified as Block
4847, lot 5 1734-44, Springfield Avenue, identified as block 30.04, 04 lot 127 2128-2144
Milbour Avenue identified as block 21.12 lot 61 79 Denn Road identified as block 17.16 lot 161 275 Parker Avenue identified as
block 42.08 08 lot 146 201 identified as block 29.04 lot 536 and 333 Elmwood Avenue identified as
block 3134 lot 4 on the township tax map. >> Thank you. Uh before we I open the public hearing uh two two things I want to do. One is to um we have a rule here
that if we go past 9:30, we have to actually vote on that. So, I need a motion to go past 9:30. >> I'll move it. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> And the second thing is I just want to um give a little background before we open the hearing. And um so Maplewood
was uh given 216 units of affordable housing that has to get built between the period of 2025 and 2035. That is a uh a calculation that gets made by the department of community affairs. This is the fourth round.
Maplewood has gone through three prior rounds. Uh our numbers have fluctuated in each of those rounds. Last the prior round was somewhere in the 300s. Um, one of the ways that we have met our requirement is that we have established
overlay zones. And an overlay zone uh does not disturb the underlying zone. It overlays the zone on top. So often times uh you'll find um a commercial property or residential property that uh has a
certain zone and then we put an overlay zone on top. So in the past rounds in two and three of the affordable housing program, we did an overlay of the Maplewood Country Club. So if the Maplewood Country Club is ever sold and
developed, that overlay zone would dictate. Um the Maplewood Country Club and this this is Maplewood Country Club has probably had that zone now for 20 years. And the Maplewood Country Club is still functioning. people are still playing
golf every day or when it's nice. Um, so it doesn't require building. It just says that if the current owner or future owner does want to build there that the new zoning, the overlay zone dictates.
So, um, we were faced with this requirement of 216 units and we had to look at where, uh, there was a reasonable possibility of units being developed. and we put together a plan and the plan we received a lawsuit from the fair
housing center and we received another lawsuit from a developer downtown. And one of the one of the challenges that we had was that we did not clearly identify potential sites that could be developed.
So when you look at potential sites, you don't look at houses where people live. Those those are developed already. what you look at is parking lots, um vacant lots and areas where you could
have development. And so um that's what we did in this round. We looked at where there are large parking lots, where there have been um one unit on Bernett where there was a fire and so there's a
potential development there. So, we came up with what we thought was the best way to move forward, including um land that the township is interested in acquiring uh to build 48 units 100% affordable
housing program. So, um we we worked with a planner and we looked at these u sites and we established the overlay zone. Now, a lot of you ask questions about um parking and traffic and lighting and um density
and things like that, and those are all very valid questions. Those would be um dealt with if in fact the property was developed. So, let's look at the uh um the property on on Milbour. Um no one is proposing to develop that property.
Um I'm not sure who owns the property. I don't know if the propertyy's for sale or not, but if either that developer or that owner rather or a new owner wanted to change um what's there and develop that as
residential, then this overlay zone would come into play. Currently, someone could buy that and keep that as an office building for as long as they wanted to do that. So it's only it only kicks in if in fact there is someone who's
interested in buying it. Now the one on Parker is a little different as you know that was owned by the church and the church auctioned it off and so the town had nothing to do with that. The church auctioned it off and there is a
developer there who is interested in developing housing. And what we in our conversation with them, we told them um what our maximum number of house of apartments we would like and um matched it up with what he liked. And you might
imagine he had a higher number than us. Um, so it is under these new rules, it would be very difficult for us to say to a property owner who has property to
build, and that vacant lot, that's a vacant lot, it's a parking lot. a property owner that has property to build and is willing to build and willing to include 20% affordable housing, it is very difficult for the
town to say no because we have an obligation to not use our zoning laws to block housing but to facilitate affordable housing. So all of these with the exception of um redevelopment area
two which is a separate ordinance all these seven parcels um those are market rate units that's the total number and then 20% of those is the affordable units. So that is
that's how we do it. Um there's a lot more that has to take place if in fact let's just use 275. If 275 Parker does move forward, there would be site plan hearings in front of the planning board. There would be additional meetings here
at in this room with township committee. Um we would encourage the developer to meet with residents and talk about what uh the plans are there, but and that would all come later. Right now, all we're doing is establishing an overlay
zone. Um, I know it's a it's a it's a big deal. It's a big deal, but we're we're an inclusive and a welcoming community. And every municipality in the state is
faced with the responsibility of providing affordable housing. And that's what we're trying to do. And we're not trying to cram it on the east side or the west side. We're looking at where there are parcels
that would allow us to work with private developers to build housing and then we get 20% of that housing to be affordable. That is how it works here in New Jersey. And we are trying to be responsible as a
government to meet our obligation and also someone mentioned look out for existing residents. We are looking out for existing residents and there will be opportunities as we go forward with site plan review with consideration of other
um uh measures related to parking and traffic and all that kind of stuff. Those will all be discussed in more detail as we go forward. Right now, this is just zoning and that's what we're being asked to to look at. Um, we had we
had planned to put these in place today because we have a March 15th deadline. If we do not meet that deadline, then we lose what's called immunity.
Immunity means that we are in control of our zoning destiny. If we lose that immunity, then there's a builder's remedy. So, what happens is a builder comes in and says to a judge, not even to us, says to
a judge, "Judge, I got a lot on 275 Parker." And the town says that they don't want me to build and they don't have immunity, but I'm going to build affordable units. So, I want to build 50 units there and create 10 affordable
units. And some judge is going to say, "Well, Maplewood, you missed your chance. You could have zoned it properly. You didn't do that. This developer owns the lot, wants to build, and that's what I'm
going to allow him to do or allow her to do." So, we are trying to do this in a way that protects the entire town and every resident. And again, these are overlay zones. They do not require building. But if there is
an owner, a willing owner, either current or future, that wants to build, then the negotiations begin with the town based on this overlay zone. >> Anybody have anything else? Yeah, I just want to say that and that's true
anywhere, not just the one that's bought. They could literally you could get some multif family affordable units on the west side. Somebody buys a single family residential and which is not recommended to take someone's home, but
somebody bought it. They don't have to pay attention to any of the zoning. They could put as many units there as they want >> and they could build it as high as they want. We're trying to and we've been work we've been dealing with this since I was mayor last year since like eight
months ago on how to how to do what's best for the community, but also how to provide the affordable housing that we're legally obligated to provide and how to do so thoughtfully and with care. And um that's what we're trying
on. So it's and it's been very frustrating to be honest. It's been enormously frustrating. Um, as our attorney has heard us complaining and yelling and why this we shouldn't even be talking about this. This should go before the planning board. It should go. But a lot of it is being literally
forced on us by the courts. >> So with that, we're going to open the public hearing for ordinance 3182-26. This is the ordinance that outlines the overlay zone for these properties. Uh
again, we are not going to act tonight. We are going to listen to your testimony or your comments. Um and then we will move to carry this to the 11th of March, Wednesday night, 11th of March, and we will uh meet here at 7:30. At that time,
we'll have another public hearing and we will take a final vote. And I'm sorry, one other thing. There's no requirement as long as we make the public announcement that we're continuing, there's no requirement for further notice of the residents. Is that correct? >> That's correct, Mr. Mayor.
>> Okay. We just have to notice it on our website. Is that right? >> We're going to post notice on the website. We're going to post it on the bulletin board and um there will be no additional mail notice. >> Okay. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. So, Marta Figueroa
again, 11 Cherry Place. I just wanted to um finish off my comments from earlier. Um I appreciate that the town is um at risk of losing immunity and um that there are other requirements that you have to meet. However, uh again, there
was insufficient notice of this change and I really think that you would have gotten a much better reception if we had been properly notified. really we just want to be participants of this process
in this process and I want to remind and you I know you mentioned that it's hard to work with the developers but we have some precedent another development abudding that reszoned area along Parker Avenue has set a precedent for negotiating communicating directly with
the residents um with with um Miss Presley's help um and Frank McGee's uh participation we worked with that developer and they actually developed something that I don't mind looking at. I look at it every single day and I
don't mind. But now what I got was a notice that didn't allow me to that again didn't give me any assurance that there was going to be any participation on the part of the of the um residents. So I would like to point that process or
that experience out as a model that can be followed in the future that we would love to be a part of. Um and you know keep keeping keeping that in mind. Um hoping that the township considers considers all of that and our concerns
in general. Again I'm not against affordable housing. All good. But I want to be part of the process. I do not want this ram down my throat. >> And we agree and we will, you know, I I know the devel I know you and I know the developer
um uh of the other one of, you know, Wayne Cra when he developed it. So, I mean, I've have I've spoken to Wayne and Wayne explained to me what was going on there. And when we met with the developer, we did talk about that there's going to be a lot of interest on
the part of the residents of Cherry Place to to have some say in this and he understands that. >> And but we haven't I mean I have absolutely no idea what he's even proposing there >> because all this is is the zoning document. >> Yeah. So when we get beyond the zoning
document into negotiations with the developer, as we've done with other developers, we sit down with the stakeholders and there's back and forth. Everything from materials to colors to driveways, things like that. Those are all important to you. I understand that. >> Yes.
>> And those can be discussed as we go along. This is a zoning document that allows us to meet our affordable housing obligation. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Hello there. Uh, Meredith Higgins, 93 Hillrest. I'm neighbors with Marta and
Jiara who already spoke. Um, I really just want to actually talk about the overlay. I had no idea what an overlay was when I got that document. I had no idea what any of that meant. And even in my googling, it was very hard to understand. So, I I don't necessarily I
understand now your explanation. and I understand like how this works, but I think that's where some of the outcry happens is that there's just a lot of information you guys are either privy to that we don't know or just filling in that gap of education. At the same time,
like it's okay for you guys to say what you're struggling with and what you're facing when your back is against the wall. This is an incredible community. I've only been here 6 years and I'm really really proud of where I live. And I think if you guys shared that a little bit more with the town, you would
probably have a lot more buy in a lot sooner just sharing what you're struggling with and where, like I said, our backs are against the wall. >> Thank you. >> But you're doing a great job. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Jahara Pressy. I'm back again. just wanted to say um thank you guys. You've
always been responsive whenever I've reached out or most of my neighbors. So, I just really want to um reiterate that and to echo what Marta said. the last um you know development that was built on
Parker. We had so much input in that and that was even during COVID and we literally met in that parking lot in a circle 6 feet apart with Frank McGee so that we so that our needs were heard and
we came to a really really good cohesive decision there. And we just want to feel like we're a part of the process. We don't want to feel like we aren't. And um yeah, I think just keeping that in mind all the time and knowing that we're
here um and that we are in that beginning part of town that that is not the wrong side of the tracks. We love where we live and our children love it and we love our community. So thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else want to uh
comment on this particular ordinance? Hi, Don Riley again. Just a quick question. So, thank you for the explanation of overlay and um addressing my question earlier then about the traffic and the the surveys and studies that would be done. But when you read when you get this notice and we got our
notice yesterday to be honest with you, you see 75 units. I understand that the building isn't for sale now and no one has a development plan, but how do you come up with the 75 units on that property? um because it seems like a a large number to start with because that seems like a lot of units for that
section. >> So So what the the measure that we've been using is 60 units an acre. >> So it's about 1.4 acres or something like that. >> Okay. And it's just standard like is that New Jersey? >> That's what we've been No, that's what we've been using here in town.
>> Okay. Okay. So in our negotiations developers, it's 60 units an acre. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> And and just one thing on on the on that Milbour, there's nothing saying that the housing couldn't that that office building could
not be converted into housing and be left up and an additional housing be built in the back. So I think there's a lot of opportunities that that building um that property rather that >> Yeah, it's just at 75. It seems like an awful lot for that intersection. And I
mean that's Milburn Avenue, Vauh Hall Valley coming down. That's that's just a lot. And I couldn't imagine 75 units, however many people per unit trying to get in and out of that location. So um that's a pause for concern at 75.
>> Fair one. A fair one. >> Hi Andrew Ner again. Um so when I look at the master plan um it says in addition to the designated redevelopment areas, township should consider the following additional areas
for potential designation as either redevelopment or rehabilitation areas which includes the entire Maplewood Village area. This is a large area and I don't see one property on here from the
Maplewood Village area. So why is that? Why are they getting excluded? Again, the area west of the train tracks. They've got one unit of affordable housing. Supposedly, the whole Maplewood Village area should be available for re
redevelopment. Why isn't anything listed on here for that area? So, um, because it's listed under another category, there is a, um, a requirement for 50 units to be built where the Bank of America building is
on Maplewood Avenue and that would produce 10 affordable units. >> So, then there's going to be another list of >> No, there's a list. It's in the housing element. This is an ordinance that just deals with overlay zones. that's not being dealt with through an overlay
zone. That's a redevelopment area. And just for the record, >> how many affordable units will come from? >> And that, as I said, there'll be 50 units total. 10 will be affordable. And just for the record, the Maplewood Village Alliance includes both sides of um of the tracks there. So, uh there's a
building that's across the street. I don't know what the I think it's called the park now. It used to be the police station. And that has I think six affordable units there. There's a there's a a property on there on Dunell Road that's next to the fire department and that will have one unit I believe.
So, we are trying to spread them around um around town where there are sites that are buildable. That's where we are able to uh negotiate with developers to to build. >> And can you explain that we just put a
new redevelopment zone in the village for that? Yeah, we haven't done it yet, but that's the plan is to put a redevelopment area in >> in the movie theater district there that will produce um 50 units on the Bank of America property and over the next 10
years we're hoping to build another 50 units uh on the movie theater, the vacant lot behind the movie theater and um there's a small strip of stores there at some point if that was to be sold that that would produce another 10 units
of affordable housing. So how many units are we short then at this at this point? >> So after all that >> after well after we after if we were if we were to build everything that we projected including all the units that
are listed in the overlay zone we still would be short 99 units. Has there been a impact study and analysis on having 75 units which could be
hundreds of people on the Tuscan elementary school and overcrowding there? >> No. And um the rules of the state are that you cannot consider the impact of schools relative to
meeting your affordable housing obligations. >> Okay. What about a visual and shadow impact study analysis? >> Those would all be done when there's actually a develop a plan to develop because that would depend on how high the building is, where it's situated on
the property. um the orientation of the building. So that would all be done when there's a site plan hearing. >> So if it impacts the the neighboring houses, then what? Then it would be restricted. It would have to be it would
have to be kept at a lower level. >> It could be there could be a discussion about changing the the design of the building. Um could be some of the movement, you know, move the building a little bit this way. I don't know because we don't know what the building would look like. I just said, you know, it would be different. There's going to
be a different um a different result if they keep the building up and retrofit it to residential or if they take that building down. >> Okay. And just to pick up from my questions earlier. Okay. So, 2144 Milurn
Avenue that historically has been called the Fred Perfetta Building, right? >> That has not been called the Fred Perfetta Building. It's called the the Propheta building. >> The Propheta building. Okay. And Fred Propheta has been a member of this township committee, right?
>> It was his brother who owned that building. >> You >> I'm sorry. >> You're You're asking the question that you already know the answer to. >> Correct. >> No, I'd like to get an affirmative response from the township committee. >> I don't think that has anything to do with this ordinance. So, >> no, it doesn't.
>> Okay. In closing, I think that there's a violation in the spirit of the affordable housing efforts. If you put all of the affordable housing units east of the train tracks or the
vast majority, we only have one now that's west of the train tracks. And the purpose of this is that the affordable housing units should be equally distributed across the communities. Maplewood for some reason hasn't been
identified as like a good neighborhood in quotes. Okay. Then they should be equally distributed across the entire committee. And right now across the entire township and right now from what I see is that there's a heavy
concentration on the wrong side of the tracks. Some people don't like to say that but the less affluent side of the tracks. the side of the tracks where the tax base is lower. Okay. And I think it would be
even be more fair. It would be even be more fair than instead of having 75 units, the burden of 75 units being placed on a twob block area. I think it would be better as what
Ms. Adams has suggested is to let the developers go to the west side of the tracks. Let them take those big lots over there, those acre lots, and turn them into four and five and six unit
multifamily families and distribute the affordable housing across the community. What What does the township committee think about that idea? This is your opportunity to to make comments on the ordinance. I am I'm
I'm gathering from your comments that you're not in favor of us passing this ordinance. Correct. >> I am not in favor of having 75 units in a massive apartment building and placing the burden on a twob block
radius. It should be equally distributed across the township. >> Okay. So, look, there's a vast concentration from what has been presented here. And you've said there's only been one affordable unit west of the train tracks right now. So,
something is not adding up. Something is not equitable. >> Okay. So, look, this is a hearing on an ordinance. I think you've made your point. So, it's not a back and forth. So, this is a hearing on on the ordinance. You've made your point. And so, I thank you for that.
>> Okay. I would like to I would like for What is it? 2128 to 2144. I would like for it to be excluded from the ordinance. Thank you very much. >> That would be my proposal. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else in the room who'd
like to make a comment? Yes, sir. And this is about the ordinance on uh >> 3182. >> Yes, man. Louie, nine Rinda Road. Um the letter was pretty confusing. Um, but
neither here nor there. Bottom line, it's not an issue with the ordinance itself. What I'm concerned with is you're telling us that 75 units
is acceptable for a community where I live. 75 units is a lot. you're going to change the whole fabric of that that block.
Even at 60, which is your optimal ratio for a 1 acre lot, at 25, which is the original minimum number, that's doable. That's acceptable.
We can accommodate that. But anything beyond that, you're asking to literally change the fabric of that com that area that I live in for the past 35 years.
Um, I understand that this is an overlay now. Um, like I said, that's not an issue. The ordinance, you do what you have to do to satisfy the requirements mandated by the state.
But I'm asking you to consider um the impact that it would have when you say okay developer you can build this minimum of s I mean
preferably at 60 because at 60 unit you get maybe 15 units out of it of affordable housing which is fine. I have no issues with that. But consider it that you put a
number, a finite number that's conducive to that area, that block. Uh not at 60, not at 75. Those are it's a death death notice to that to
that block. That's what it amounts to. Because now you're warehousing people. You're no longer It's no longer providing living quarters for people. You're warehousing.
That's all I got to say. >> Thank you. Anyone else want to address the township committee? For the purposes of having a clean record, my name is Jennifer Phillips Smith. Again, I'm still here on behalf of the Marcus Elboard Home, also known as Winchester Gardens. Again, for the
purpose of the record, I'm not going to completely repeat my comments from earlier, but I do wish to reiterate the comments from my letter of March 3rd that was submitted today, as well as the comments I made earlier this evening during the first public comment section uh with respect to the resolution and
now to the ordinance. Uh, Mr. Mr. Mayor, I did hear your statement earlier that sometimes with these overlay ordinances, the intent is not to target the expansion of a use that's there today. You mentioned the country club, but instead to adopt an overlay ordinance if
the existing use goes away. Um, Winchester Gardens objects to the overlay ordinance to the extent it is trying to seek to impose an affordable housing set aside on a non-residential use. If however that's not the intent
and the intent is only for some future purely residential use and not to impact any expansion of a CCRC, we would appreciate that confirmation before the public hearing continues on March 11th. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else want to address
the township committee on this ordinance, this particular ordinance? just give us your name and address, please. >> Hi, my name is Jocelyn Dwallow. I reside at 74 Bernett Avenue. Um, specifically, my concern just comes um I guess from
the president of the exact ordinance um in regards to the overlay. Um I understand that you said earlier that um 60 units uh per 1 acre is usually the I guess the standard um for Maplewood. My only concern is that with 88 Bernett Avenue, which is included um
specifically in this ordinance, it is a very small piece of property. So, my concerns just come from privacy, the traffic impact, especially with Lexington having to have been closed off due to the existing Maplewood Crossing apartment buildings being built there. Um, so I just wanted I guess I don't
know if this is the right forum in a sense to ask, but my concern is just the amount of units similarly to some of the others that spoke beforehand in regards to 88 Bernett Avenue. Um, so that's those are my concerns. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else want to address the township
committee here in the room? Okay. Can we check the Zoom? Is anyone >> any members of the public joining us via Zoom would like to speak on this ordinance, please raise your hand. I see no hands. Mayor, >> okay, we have one person in the room. Just give us your name and address
again. >> Uh, Brian Ratchers, 34, Selter Place. Oh, I just wanted to thank you for the explanation you gave, mayor. Um, that was very appreciative and uh, like I didn't know what an overlay was either. So, and I understand your concerns. So, hopefully I didn't cause any concerns. But I think most of the people here are
just I think it's really not the fact that they're cared about the not concerned about the fair housing or the lower income. They're just cured about the density that's being proposed. I mean, if if the 75 units was actually 10 units or 20 units, they won't care. I understand that gives you heartache
trying to find the percentage, but maybe there's other ways you can do that. Um, but I think it's just a density that's being proposed. So, >> right. >> Yeah, that's >> Thank you. >> Certain. Thanks. >> Uh, anyone else?
>> Okay, we'll close the public hearing and Miss Adams, can we get a motion to carry to March 11th? >> Yes, mayor. I move that we carry ordinance 3182-26 to the March 11th meeting for uh another hearing and vote.
>> I second. Please call the role. >> Miss Adams, >> yes. >> Miss Collins Colding, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. Miss >> Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duke, >> yes. Thank you. We have another ordinance on final.
>> Yes, Mayor. Uh 3183-26 is an ordinance enacting an amendment to the amended and supplemented redevelopment plan for redevelopment area 2. This ordinance will amend the amended
and supplemented redevelopment plan or redevelopment area too, including but not limited to section 7 thereof to add apartment buildings and/or stacked flats consisting entirely of affordable
dwelling units as a permitted use in certain areas and to make certain other related revisions in connection therewith. Okay. Um, we're going to carry this ordinance. In fact, we're going to carry all the second reading ordinances
tonight. Let me just explain this one. This is a redevelopment area too. This is this is a um land that's between Bdon Avenue and Bernett Avenue. This was a former uh commercial site. It was a building uh company. They built things
there, woodworking. And for a long time it was bankrupt. in uh not a long time it was bankrupt there long it was a long time it's been foreclosed and um we've had some developers there and in any event we are trying to acquire that site
we're working with an organiz a company called Ingramman and our plan is to do a joint partnership where there would be 48 units of affordable housing built there um it would be a total 100% um affordable housing project so uh the
benefits here is that we clean up a contamin minated site and we provide affordable housing um there. So um is there anyone who wants to speak on this ordinance which is changing redevelopment to redevelopment area 2 to allow for 100% affordable housing?
>> I see no one. Is there anyone on Zoom? >> Any members of the public joining us via Zoom would like to speak on this ordinance? Please raise your hand. >> I see no hands, ma'am. >> Okay. Can we get a motion to carry this to March 3rd?
>> March 11. >> March 11th. Sorry. >> To 11:00. >> It's getting late. It's getting late. >> This audience to be carried to March 11, 3183-26. >> Is that me? Second, >> Mr. Daffis. >> Uh, I second. >> All right.
>> Please call the role on the carry. >> M. Adams. >> Yes. >> M. Collins. Colding. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis. >> Yes. Chairman. >> Yes. Mayor Duca. >> Yes. Um, are we sure? Have any of these other ordinances been posted? >> No.
>> Okay. Uh, ordinance uh item 10D. >> Item 10D. Ordinance 3184-26 is an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of repairarian credits in connection with the construction of
storm water facilities on Maple Terrace and Berkeley Road in the township of Mapwood. This ordinance will authorize the township to acquire repairarian credits in connection with the construction of storm water facilities on Maple Terrace
and Berkeley Road. Okay. Is there anyone who'd like to speak on this ordinance? This is dealing with a storm uh drainage area up on Maple Terrace. I see no one here. Is there anyone on Zoom? >> Any members of the public joining us via
Zoom would like to speak on this ordinance. Please raise your hand. >> I see no hands, Mayor. >> Okay. Can we get any motion uh to carry this to March 11th? that we carry this ordinance for final to March 11th
special meeting. >> Second, >> please call the role. >> Mr. Adams, >> yes. >> Mr. Collins Golding, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca, >> yes. Thank you. Uh, we have an ordinance here on item 10E.
>> Uh, yes, Mayor. 3185-26 is an ordinance amending chapter 257 of the code of the township of Mapwood entitled vehicles and traffic to prohibit parking on a portion of Carlton Court.
This ordinance will prohibit parking on the west side of the portion of Carlton Court that is adjacent to the railroad. Parking will remain permitted on the east side of the street. Okay, this is a parking ordinance. Uh, is there anyone who here would like to
speak on this ordinance? This also will be carried till March 11th. Is there anyone on Zoom who'd like to speak on this ordinance? >> Any members of the public joining us via Zoom would like to speak on this ordinance? Please raise your hand. >> I see no hands. >> Thank you.
>> I'll move that we just carry this ordinance for hearing and final vote on March 11th. >> Second. Please call the RO. >> Mr. Adams. >> Yes. >> Miss Collins Colding. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Miss Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duga,
>> yes. Can we have introduction of ordinances? >> Uh, yes, Mayor. Item 11 A, ordinance number 3186-26 is an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 257 in the code of
the township Mapwood entitled vehicles and traffic to establish a new speed limit along Springfield Avenue. This ordinance will amend and supplement chapter 257 of the township code to
establish 30 mph speed limit along Springfield Avenue based upon an engineering study. I move the passage of this ordinance on first reading its publication according to law in Maplewood South Orange News record and a hearing to be held on
March 8 17. >> Thanks. Second. Any discussion? Please call the role. >> Miss Adams? >> Yes. >> Miss Collins Colding? Yes. >> Mr. Daffis? >> Yes. >> Miss Herman? >> Yes. >> Mayor Duca.
>> Yes. >> Mayor Mayor Duca. Just a quick correction. Um I know our usual script says publication in the >> Yes. Should we I was gonna say that when I was reading it, I was thinking that >> it will be published on the municipalities website.
>> Okay. the new uh amendments. >> Okay. >> So, we have to update the language. >> Okay. >> It's been moved and second. It'll be published on the township's website. >> I think we voted already. >> We vote. Yeah, we did vote. Okay. You have a second ordinance on introduction.
>> Uh yes, mayor. Ordinance number 3187-26 is an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 187 of the code of the township of Mapwood entitled outdoor dining to revise the permitted operating
season for streeteries. This ordinance will amend and supplement article three of chapter 187 of the township code to revise the permitted seasonal operating period for streeties from April 15 through November 15th to
May 1st through October 15th. >> Mr. Davis, >> I move the passage of this ordinance on first reading, its publication according to law on the Maplewood website, and a hearing to be held on March 17th. Second.
>> I don't think it >> wasn't me, but >> it's been moved and seconded. >> I think Adams. >> Yes. >> Miss Collins Colding. >> Yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. >> Herman, >> yes. >> Mayor Duca. Fair enough. >> Yes. That's why we put the initials
there. Okay. Mr. Weary. >> Trying to move it along. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, just two items tonight. So on the agenda are two resolutions regarding the inclusive playground that
we are building at Maplerest Park. I just want to highlight that this has been a really uh it's been a long process, an involved process and it has included a lot of departments and committees. We worked with community services, engineering and
administration. We worked with uh committees of the township committee, the engineering subcommittee and the health and community services subcommittee. We also worked with all access and the wreck advisory committee. So we've had a lot of public meetings. We've had a lot of opportunity for
input. Uh this includes a uh part of the funding on this is a grant from the D. So this has been a a long and thoughtful process and we are excited about being at a point where we are awarding a contract. The contract uh there are two
contracts tonight. one for the actual installation of the equipment and the other one for the construction administration and inspection. So over the next few weeks, we will get those contracts signed. We will start to get dates from the contractor on when they
will mobilize, when they will construct, and we'll share that information with the township committee. The second item, there was a placeholder on the agenda, resolution number 99-26, that was to appoint a full-time program supervisor in the Department of Community Services.
We were waiting until um this person formally accepted the position, which we received this afternoon. So, I'd like to read uh to the township committee that full resolution so you are aware before you vote on this on consent. This is resolution number 99-26 appointing Emily
Blake as full-time program supervisor in the department of community services. Whereas there exists a need to fill the position of program supervisor for the township of Maplewood in the Department of Community Services. And whereas résumés have been solicited to fill the position of program supervisor for the
Department of Community Services. And whereas through the course of the hiring process, Emily Blake has demonstrated all the qualifications to serve as program supervisor in the Department of Community Services to the Township of Maplewood. And whereas it is the recommendation of administration to employ Emily Blake as a full-time
program supervisor at an annual salary of $49,000 prrated for the lesser service effective April 6th, 2026. Now therefore, be it resolved by the Township Committee of the Township of Maplewood, County of Essex, State of New Jersey, that effective March 3rd, 2026,
Emily Blake is hereby appointed as full-time program supervisor in the Department of Community Services for the Township of Maplewood with a hire date effective April 6, 2026. >> So, that's on the consent agenda, correct? Mayor. >> Okay.
>> And that is my report. >> You have a a request that we change the bylaws. I was going to bring that back at the next committee if that's okay. >> Okay, fine. Okay. Uh, Miss Cidia, >> thank you, Mayor. Brief report. Um, as we've discussed a couple of times this
evening, but just for clarity, the amendments to the local public, I'm sorry, the open public meetings act took effect on March 1, which mean that going forward, our notices will be posted on the township's website. On the homepage,
there's a large red button that says public notices. When you click on that page, you'll see there's a link for uh each year. Um, and then you know the entirety of the of the notice appears in that place. There may be um you'll
notice I think there were a couple of things that were previously submitted to the newspapers before the uh the items took effect on March 1, but going forward it will be uh website publication will be the only thing that is required and we'll update our our
little script cards. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, Miss Fritzen. >> Uh, yes, Mayor. Just, uh, thank you, Miss uh, Credio, for taking care of that. The only other thing I would add to that is for RFPs, RFQS for a higher
circulation. Uh, we did last week send uh, in addition to uh, uh, newspaper in addition to the township website. Um, coming up uh, another election. We uh have an election again on April
16th. The uh mail and ballots have be begun to be sent out by the county for the special election and uh the last day to register for that election is March 26th and uh we will remain open uh until 900
p.m. on that date as well like we uh always do for late registration. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Uh, reports from elected officials. Committeewoman Adams. >> Yes, thank you. Um, I'm going to go
really fast and just basically first again thanks to all the um, former and current elected women who came tonight. Um, I hope that tradition continues forever. Um, also we have uh Unsung
Shirou's uh award sort of award uh cocktail party. It will be at Orange Long Tennis Club on Wednesday, March 18th at 6:30 p.m. Uh you can go to somaomen.org and click on the link and you can um
register or RSVP I should say. Um there's also other events there. There's a lot uh from the library that are being populated on the site. Um and also some recreation ones that our department of community services wanted to share. Um
wants to invite the public to come out and celebrate for Women's History Month our fifth grade girls playoff game on Thursday, March 5th at 6:15, which would be much more fun than um this meeting tonight. um wear black cheer loudly support them
uh against Chadam in their final playoff game. Um then also through their hands celebrating the work of senior women whose creativity reflects a lifetime of experience and resilience celebrate um the the art instructure instructors and
their students. An opening reception is March 22nd. It's a Sunday from 1 to 4 pm at the Mapwood Senior Center. And then lastly for um Department of Community Services, sacred rest and resistance and remembrance, ease your soul, women with
uh women's meditation for women who work so hard and carry so much. That's Wednesday, March 25th from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the third floor at the at the Woodland. So, um again, sowomen.org will have all that on there. And that's my
report. >> Thank you. Um, Committee Member Daffis. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, my focus areas tend to be in zoning and the master plan and talk about talking about housing. We did a lot of that this evening and
there's more of that to come. Uh, so this evening I'm going to use my report to make an announcement and we don't really have much of an audience left. So hopefully people will, you know, hear about this in the coming days. So this
evening I am announcing that I will not be seeking reelection this election cycle. This is where you go what for a fourth term on this esteemed governing body, the Maplewood Township Committee. I will serve out the remainder of my
current term through December 31st of this year, of course, and I look forward to continuing my public service in meaningful and and impactful ways in new spaces and places. The truth is that this was not an easy
decision. Uh you all know how much I love doing this. I really have poured my heart and soul into it and uh I've been vacasillating back and forth the past few weeks. In fact, originally I announced I was going to run. Uh but the
truth is that after 9 years of doing this officially at the local level in this intimate and direct manner, 11 years if you add the two preceding campaign years, uh the time has come to move on to new opportunities. I'm really
proud of the good that I've had the privilege and honor to do and I encourage others to step up and pick up from where I left off and do even more good. So, if you're out there and you're interested in running in this election
cycle, your petitions are due on March 23rd. So, grab a few signatures from your friends and family and give it a shot. I'm always available for a coffee or adult libation to offer advice and
guidance and I will remain very engaged politically here locally and statewide. In the meantime, there is a lot of work to do. I've made some promises and I will keep them. There are 10 months left. So, Mayor, I turn it back over to you to carry on with our agenda.
>> Thank you. Um, >> can't believe I just did that. I think my heart is about to fall out of my chest. >> Okay. Well, I'll take a breath. Uh, Deputy Mayor Herman. >> Well, how on earth do I follow that?
Committeeman Dafis, my friend, you have been an inspiration to me on how to be a passionate, personal, and incredibly hardworking public servant. You do not shy away from well anything to be honest, but I was going to say you do not shy away from speaking your truth
and for raising the voices and concerns of community members, especially those community members who are under attack or in need. I'm speaking, of course, for your strong advocacy for the LGBTQ plus and trans populations, the food insecure, the homeless, and many others.
I have learned a great deal by watching you operate. You always show up prepared with details in hand and a smile on your face. Sometimes I wonder if you have more hours in the day than the rest of us who are stuck with 24. Kind of wonder the same about the mayor also. But
anyway, I know great things are ahead for you. Of that, I have no doubts. I look forward to working with you to accomplish the remaining items on your agenda as well as to carry out the important programs and services that you have started. >> Thank you.
I have a couple of announcements to make on upcoming events. But first, I want to take a moment to say to the Maplewood resident, cyclists, parent, and bike bus leader who was severely injured. We are
all pulling for you. Our hearts are with you and your loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. We are holding you all close in hopes of strength and healing. The upcoming events that I want to share
with you are three-fold. So first, there will be a film screening and panel discussion about the HBO original show thoughts and prayers, how to survive an active shooter in America.
I will be joining South Orange Mayor Sheena Colum, CHS principal Frank Sanchez, and SOMSD director and school of school and community safety Paul Morgan for the panel discussion. As a mom, a mom of a high schooler and middle schooler and a former mom's demand
action volunteer and mom's endorsed elected official. This is an issue that I am very passionate about. Please come out and watch the screening or watch it ahead of time. Uh that will be next Thursday, March 12th, at 7:30 p.m. at
the Maplewood Library. Next, the uh the 49th annual Soma Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Service will take place on Sunday, March 15th.
We will meet at the Indiana Street parking lot. That's where the community fridge is located at 2:00 p.m. to march to St. Joe's where the service will take place and the service will be at 3 p.m. Please join us. And please also bring a
non-p perishable food item for the fridge. The third event I want to tell you about is part of Women's History Month and it's uh it's also part of the Maplewood Libraryies Ideas Festival. I'm very excited that we will be welcoming my
friend and former colleague from the Associated Press, Mary Claire Gelanic. She wrote the book Storm at the Capitol in oral history of January 6th. I will lead a discussion with her and books will be available to purchase from words
and you can have them signed. That event will also be at the Maplewood Library and it's on Tuesday, March 24th from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. So, grab your book ahead of time so you can read. There are some really interesting passages in
there about our New Jersey uh our former congresswoman, now our governor, Mikey Cheryl, uh on that day and some others. So, um dig in. There's a lot of really good information. That'll be a really good discussion. And that concludes my remarks. Thank
you, Committee Member Collins Colding. >> Thank you for that. Um, I'm going to just recap on our activities um that we had in the last couple of weeks. First, I want to say thank you to the staff members and the arts and
cultures and community um services for all the hard work they did for the Black History Month. We had a lot of activities. I think we had over 20 and it was amazing. We were back to back with tons of activities from Friday,
Saturday, all day Sunday. I just want to say thank you. We did an extraordinary job and we never think about the people who work behind the scenes so hard. Just want to thank the staff for all the hard work and everything they did to put this together. So, thank you again. Uh S's
film screening at the Woodland, we had about 300 attendees. I just want to just let you guys know was well attended. uh artist uh on stro he had about 60 people so that was great. Uh we have finished our survey and that's done already and
we will they will be submitting uh the survey for the space utilization and also um request for proposal for the Maplewood Arts and Culture and we'll get that report and we'll be reporting to the public and we have just like a girl art exhibition at the Maplewood Arts and
Culture on March 7th from 4 to 8 and that's going to be at 1978. We also have uh the strollers present Pride and Prejudice, a stage reading on Monday, March 16 at 7 PM. Um we also have some fun activities. The
MAPSO spring basketball triyouts which will be uh the at the Maplewood Middle School for boys March 16th and we have it for the girls March 17th. and we have our Maplewood Spring Egg Hunt and that will be March 21st at the Memorial Park
um North 580 Valley Street right here in Maplewood at 12:00 p.m. So those are the few announcements that I have, but I you know I also want to say um Dan, you really shocked us. I'm truly saddened by this. Uh I joined the
Maplewood um township committee in January. So, I've just been here for I would like to say a couple of weeks, but it seems like years. I've aged gracefully. But I have to say to you, Dane, you bring a lot of energy to this team. Your willingness to work
on every issue that touched the heart touches the heart is really, you know, it it touches my heart because you work on your strong voice for equality, affordable housing, immigration,
immigration rights, LGBTQ community. I mean, it's just a lot of things that you bring to the table and I'm going to truly miss that. Sometimes the work we do here, people don't see what we do behind closed doors. And I think the people in Maplewood need to recognize we
are only five people serving this community. And there's a lot of hard work that goes into the decisions we make every day. The things that we do behind the scenes, our families that we don't even see half the time. And these five people that I've these four people
that I've worked with in the last couple of I would like to say two months. It's it's a lot of work. And you put your heart and your soul into what you do. You think about the residents before you make decisions. You don't put yourself
forward. You think about every single person that is in this community before we make any decisions. So, I just want to say to the Maple Woodians, have some grace when it comes to your
your community members because we do work very hard and we're fighting for you every step of the way, fighting for every single resident here in Maplewood. And I would say thank you, Dane. Thank you for your heart. Thank you for serving. Thank you for being a friend
and a mentor and encouraging me every step of the way. Thank you for all that you've done for Maplewood. I have seen your work. >> Thank you, Jane. I appreciate that. >> Great. Thank you. Um I have a few items.
Mr. Weary, I'm getting some messages that our pothole reporting procedure is not working on the website. >> Yikes. >> Plus, we're getting a lot of reports on potholes. if you can get the DPW out there, maybe a couple of crews to get on
that. Um, the other uh concern I've heard from people is about the US mail service. Yeah. >> Or lack of >> and I think uh >> we know >> we know >> uh there are days when you get no mail. >> Yep.
>> And there was an instance when uh somebody recently called the Maplewood office. No answer. Called the union office. No answer. It's never clear what's going on. Um what I'd like to do, if everyone's okay with this, I'm going
to reach out to Senator Booker's office and see if we can get somebody at the regional manager level and just get a meeting up and just find out what's going on. >> He's running for reelection. >> Yeah, he'll maybe he'll pay attention. His mail's got to go out. >> There you go.
>> For the campaign. So, um, so I'll I'll do that and I'll report back and we'll see what we can do because this is not acceptable. This is not about, you know, years ago they consolidated the delivery out of Union. It's not about that. It's
just about bad service. And then I know I know you've interveneed on the door handle for the It's just ridiculous that they cannot replace a door handle on the post office door. Yeah, it's ridiculous.
>> It is ridiculous that they have to put a block there. >> Wow. >> And I know it's the they're a tenant there, >> but I mean anyway, so these are these are matters that we'll be discussing with the regional manager. I did want to report that Mr. Weary and I met with the
union mayor, deputy mayor, and township administ township administrator there. Um, two things I want to share. one they are receptive to um are using some of their fields when we close Dehart. >> Oh great.
>> So let's see what happens. Um Mr. Weir is going to follow up with them but it really became we they did sort of express in the global that they would try to work with us. Second thing is that uh when we do prospect
uh the the repaving of Prospect bike lanes and all that they would like to coordinate the section between uh River and Concord which is their section on Prospect. So that's something that we want to make sure our engineer is
talking with their engineer so that that becomes a continuous so that the bike lane doesn't you know we have nothing for a half a block or so block uh and so that and then the third thing I have is um the library received the 2026 green
good design award uh was one of the awardees by the European center for architectural design and the Chicago Museum of Architecture. So um congratulations for the work of the library and our architect Sage and Kung. And the second thing with the library is
we started a strategic planning process. We're kicking that off. I know some of you have gotten uh information about that. There's been some social media posts. Just want to caution you. The last time we did a social we last time we did a uh strategic plan process, we spent $24 million. So maybe we should
put a little couple hands around this one. Right. So, and that's all I have. We can move to the discussion items. I have the first uh two and these are uh quite simple. Historic preservation
commission would like uh us to give them the go-ahad to uh apply for state funding up to $50,000 for the digitalization of our his uh historic building department records that we have here in the building. Um these are are used when we do uh
evaluations of demolition and also designations. Um as a certified local government uh we're entitled to get money every year and this is what they would like to do with this. Secondly, we found that um the uh uh
what's EDA, the Economic Development Authority has money set aside to do historic property surveys up to $125,000 and they'd like to apply for that um to do a Hiltonian um the Hilton neighborhood that was developed in the
early 20th century. So, if we're okay with that, we can authorize uh Miss Kadidio to prepare resolutions for our next meeting. >> Is there a match requirement on either of these? >> I don't believe so. >> Okay. >> I don't um I think on the on the
Hiltonian, I'm not actually sure, but I think it's I don't think so. I don't think so. Okay. >> Okay. Is everybody good with that? >> Yep. >> Okay. And the second thing is Duran Heden would like um to they want to go for a grant request. We own the
building, so they're coming to us. >> Uh they want to prepare an application to put the building on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. There is a match for this, which they would come up with. Uh again, this is just authorizing Miss Credidio to go ahead and put together a resolution for
our next consent agenda that would um allow them to apply for this. >> Good. >> Good. >> Okay. Uh Mr. Daffis, the Rainbow Crosswalks. >> The Rainbow Crosswalk. I know you've heard about it. Um, we've we get emails about it. What happened to it? When are
we going to bring it back? So, resolution number 9626 would direct our uh township professionals, our engineer uh and his crew to work with the county to reinstall the rainbow crosswalk and do so before Pride this year, which is just
around the corner. So, um, you know, I ask for everyone's support. I know we are all I I at least I hope we're all supportive of doing this. >> And then right you have a resolution right here. So >> yeah. So >> proof is in the vote,
>> right? So I move resolution number 9626 uh moving forward the reinstallation of the rainbow crosswalk on Valley Street and Oak View Avenue. >> Second. >> Please call the RO. >> Miss Adams. >> Yes. >> Miss Collins Golding. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Daffis. >> Yes. >> Surman. Yes. Bring back the rainbow. >> Mayor Duca. >> Yes. Thank you. Okay. We have a pool fees. Deputy Mayor Herman. >> Thank you. Believe it or not, swim season. Pool season is around the
corner. It can't get here fast enough. Okay. So, the Maplewood Health and Community Services Committee met on Monday, March 2nd, and pool fees were among the topics discussed. The committee is recommending that the full township committee adopt the following rates for the summer of 2026.
Um we are hoping to get this um uh passed in time to open early bird early in April. So I'm going to run through the calculations real quickly. You should have gotten some background on this earlier. So basically what we're
doing is so last year was the first year that we brought back the early bird pool fees. We are uh the pool committee is recommending that we continue with the early bird. Um and what we are recommending is that last year's early bird rates become this year's general
rates. And then we'll take last year's general rates and we will decrease them by 10% to create this year's early bird rates. Uh and then we're rounding them to the nearest like $5 so that they're even
numbers because we've heard from our community services director that uh the front desk staff at the pool has difficulty when like one year we had like 50 cents in some of the prices. That was really difficult for them. So we're trying to make it easier on the staff to handle cash payments at the
pool. The bottom line, this is the headline, guys. everyone would see a decrease in pool rates in the $10 to $20 range. So, that is continuing our effort to reduce the pool fees. Um, really excited about that. Um, and also, this
is an interesting historical fact. Our 2026 early bird rates are almost identical to the early bird rates in 2012. So that's um you know who I don't know
how many t towns are taking their pool rates back to 2012 but that is pretty amazing. I'm really proud of our town. So I want to just uh point out um one of the items under for the proposed rates
the individual the 10% decrease would take it from um for the individual uh pool users 250 down to 220. Um and the pool committee is recommending a further decrease to bring that down to 200. Um,
and that rate brings it a little more in line with the other rates proportionally and that um, and we had several people speak at the township committee last year. Um, and they spoke about the individual rates being being higher than some of the others. And so this is in to
address some of those concerns. Um, and um, and and hopefully, you know, make that a little more fair for them. Um, okay. Keep going. Okay, keep going. So, um,
our Auguston and pool pal rates would remain the same. Our non-resident rates would also be remaining the same, but I want to note that we would be adding in a senior non-resident rates and we would
also be adding in Auguston non-resident rates. Um, I believe some of the a few of these were sold last year, but they weren't in in our ordinance. So, we want to make sure we have them in our ordinance. Um, guest passes would stay the same. Now, I do want to point out,
so right now, guest passes are $25 per adult and $15 per child. Um, I do want to point out the pool committee had recommended lowering child guest passes to $10 and offering Maplewood residents adult guest passes at 20 while charging
non-resident adult guests 25. Um, considering that the overall guest pass revenue fell last year and that checking IDs would put additional stress on the front desk staff, the health and community services committee is recommending that we keep the guest pass rates unchanged. For special pool
activities, the following rate increases were recommended by the pool committee and agreed upon by the health and community services committee. The swim team would increase from 150 last year to 175. This is exactly what South Orange charges. So, we're just uh trying
to keep in line with that. The youth swim lessons would increase slightly from $80 to $90. And that's for a two week session. About eight days in that two week session. It's a bargain. It really is. So, this mirrors our um you know, we we this is an important thing
to have swim lessons available to our community members. School pool parties would increase from $750 per child to $10 per child. And again, this is what South Orange charges considering we both share a school district. We want to make sure that all schools are being treated equitably. That is
so I know I threw a lot of numbers at you, but I want to see if anyone has any specific questions. >> Anybody have questions? >> I think everybody's good. >> All right. So, uh, >> we will get we I have some ordinances
that we have from community services and we will get that drawn up for next meeting. >> Uh, March 17th introduction or 47 together with the other budget items. >> What was March 17 introduction?
>> Yeah, we have to get it moving, right? We want to have them done in time to announce for the early >> appointment. >> But are we are we selling anything now? >> No, this is just a discussion. >> No, no, I understand that. But we don't run into a problem that it's going to be adopted. Okay.
>> No, we will be on this schedule with introduction at the next meeting. Adoption at the following meeting will be a week earlier >> announcement than we were last year. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Great. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh next up, World Cup. Uh, I sent
out the the notes from our last planning group meeting. I just want to highlight a couple things. Um, it starts off on January 11th. There's some uh Mexico is playing South Africa in the afternoon. We're going to make it a Mexico day in Maplewood. Um, just
encourage people to eat Mexican that day. Support our local restaurants, things like that. Uh the first USA game is on Friday, June 12th, and it'll be, you know, cheer on the USA. We'll and that's a nine o'clock game, so that's an adult game. And we'll be encouraging
people to go to some of our um viewing that'll be held at some of the bars around town. All this is really generated to build local economy. >> Yep. >> This is not about creating stuff in the park. It's about creating things in our business districts and funneling people
to our businesses. Um, so the just the on the the Friday the the 19th is another USA game. That's also the same day as June uh, so we're going to have to, you know, that'll be a little bit of competition. Everyone work that out. The big day is June 25th. That's the
Maplewood celebrates World Cup day. Uh, we're talking about library program. Uh, a family movie in the park, Airbud World Cup. Uh, and then we're going to roll the screen from literally on a trailer roll the screen from the park to Maplewood Avenue where we'll have a
major watch party. >> Very cool. >> Festival. >> Uh, and we're going to be working. One thing we want I just want to run by two things I want to run by. This is the first one. Um, we now have an or in our code that it's unlawful for any person
uh to drink um on a public sidewalk or street. So, we want to I'm going to with our approval here work with our attorney to figure out a way that we can suspend that for that evening. Uh the idea would be either people could bring it, you
know, they could purchase a six-pack or a bottle of wine or something in one of the liquor, one of the retail stores and then come out and sit and watch the movie or they can go in and out of a bar and take a takeout and sit there. It would create a block between Baker Street and Inwood. Yeah. and um make
that the the >> the zone >> zone >> the controlled zone. Yeah. >> So, that's one thing. So, we'll be we'll be bringing that back to you. The second thing is that the governor has uh cancelled the uh very expensive uh
FanFest that was to occur at Jersey City and instead has given the money to the economic development authority I think $5 million >> um to fund uh local activities. So, I also want to get agreement here that we could pursue uh agreement. >> Absolutely.
>> Those are the two things. >> Yes. >> And if we're good, then I'm good and we'll move on. >> Exciting. >> Okay. >> Great. >> Um next up is the consent agenda. >> Mayor, I'll move the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Please call the role.
>> Mr. Adams, >> yes. >> Miss Collins Cing, >> yes. >> Mr. Daffis, >> yes. Zurman. >> Yes. Mayor Duca. >> Yes. Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor Duca. With your permission, um, Miss Collins Colding, I believe that
you had intended to abstain on one of the items on consent with respect to the 2024. >> Uh, 9226. >> Yes. >> Which one? >> 92 92 um 26. I'm going to abstain from
that. So, Miss Collins Colding, is it your intention that the clerk record your vote on consent as yes to all other items and an abstain on to as to that item? >> Yes. Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, next we have our our last public comment of the evening. Is there
anyone who would like to address the township committee on any subject matter? Uh, is there anyone on Zoom? >> Any members of the public joining us via Zoom would like to speak on any subject matter? Please raise your hand. I see no hands, mayor.
>> Okay. Uh, we will close that public hearing. Can we get a motion to adjurnn? Some move. >> Second. All >> in favor? >> Let's call the role. Sorry. Go call the roll. >> Adams, you in a hurry? Yes. >> Collins? >> Yes. >> Mr. Davis? >> Yes. >> Thurman? >> Yes. Bear