I sold him waffles and he had forgotten. He had forgotten. algiance to the flag of America to the reps. One nation under God,
indivisibley for all act Mr. Benjamin here, Mr. Fitzgerald preser Mr. Mr. Woods here. Thank you very much. Thank you. Uh first agenda this evening is the public portion of the meeting. Anyone who wishes to come forward and
speak about any topic other than the budget or the salary, please come forward. State your name, address. Hello, my name is Alison Court. Um I live on Court as
stated and it's directly behind Time Kitchen Titos HS Center Street. Um if you're not familiar or if you are, there is a partition wall that separ separates residential from commercial property. Um this wall is um predating my home which
is over 106 years old. and in addition to the properties that are on the commercial side. Um, over the last however many years, there have been a lot of signs of cracking, whether it's staircase cracking or just foundation issues. And I have wrote to the
Merchantville um, email addresses found website asking if someone could come out to look at the wall. Um, it just poses a great risk. Um, it looks like it's leaning actually. Um, I'm not sure if the support be instructions need to be looked at. Um, my home is actually
directly connected to the wall. So much so that my porch um wall, the structure of the roof itself is kind of separated from my home in the wall. And I think it's posing a very big structural integrity issue. And um I would like to reach out to the
Merchant Bureau to see if there's anything that could be done. We're not sure who would be responsible for it because it does separate residential from commercial and it's on property line. um and just very um worried about the risk of safety for the residents of
Marport, but also sign um as well and anyone on that side of the property. We'd like to um make sure that the wall lives up to it integrity structurally um by keeping the um importance of the structure and how old it is um as well
doing that as a top priority as well. So, thank you. Um, we did receive email that we've done some investigations trying to figure out um, exactly who's responsible for the wall. What could be done is that uh, this issue actually
it's not the first time that this wall issue has been brought up. The last time was brought up was in the mid to late 90s brought before B council at that time. Determination was made that it's not B's. Uh however at that time we had
access to neighborhood preservation funding uh which is a census designated funding uh opportunity and at that time the area question fell within that designated area. It does not anymore. Um
and that's based on all types of demographics that we don't control. we just get told, hey, this is in this area. In fact, our neighborhood preservation limited to a very small portion at this point. Um, so we utilized some funding at that time, a
structural analysis for residents and uh in that area, but uh and I believe that some small repairs may have been done. Uh there was a collective effort as we understand homeowners or you know people who were living in there at that time uh
and the bureau provided some funding from resation uh to make those repairs. At this point we're not a financial position. don't have that funding access, but we are willing to work with you guys to try and help you
facilitate and and find a way to make sure that at least the review is done. Um, so we haven't quite figured out how we're going to pay for that or what do um but I think it's probably best that we set up a meeting with any of the
members of the community live there who are interested in this. Absolutely. Um, so I'm happy to do that. I think originally got your email. Um, there's an older uh, mayor Brennan who actually was in the office at the time.
Yes. I called, he couldn't remember anything. I attribute that to his age. Mr. Haven here, who was the solicitor at the time though did have some recollection. There were that's approved. So, uh let's schedule a meeting to sit down and talk about how
we might be able to facilitate whether there's grant funding opportunities. We we can use the resources of our staff and whatnot, but we just don't we don't have the funding right now to do it and we would be reluctant to do so for very
simple reason. So, um Mrs. Sprouse can give her contact information. guys. Thank you. I appreciate. Thank you very much. Absolutely. Any other members of the public wish to come up any
statements any other question Michael? Yes. Helium D O N F I G L I O. Thank you. I'm at 14 which is the other the other
connecting to the wall. But so I was just confused that who actually owns the wall. It's not us. It's not the township. We don't know. We don't have records the wall but the bur wouldn't put the whole
wall up. This is put the walls up. Uh we suspect that whoever built the homes there put the walls there, but I don't we don't know. We don't have from I believe it's 1925 or in the early 20s. Um so we're
not certain uh but we don't we haven't run a title properties. So we haven't done a survey of the properties. We haven't done any of that. Um but there's no records indicating there's nothing what we've seen. Okay. Um, also I was just curious how
you guys the communication as far as communication is concerned like she sent us this email like over a month or so. Again, it took some time for us to get back. Yeah, I understand. And I was just like
um I also had recorded like potholes from the street department at one point to the street and uh it was eventually resolved but still like we're like left in the dark. There's no response like hey I got your message you know just
we're looking into it or something or like we'll we'll schedule that. So it's just like no communication. I just sound like well we apologize. I think we'll do what we can to be better generally when things
uh the traditional means which is now see system they can be tracked the progress of those things. Um unfortunately we have a very small staff particularly for public works uh that to be able to respond to everybody an email
uh is difficult. Most of them are just well thank you. All right. Anyone else from the public? None. Close the public portion of the meeting and we'll move to resolution 2457 by title
only the first Mr. Second roll, please. Yes. Mr. Hi, Mr. Yes. Next time hearing on the budget resolution. Anyone wishing to come forward and speak on the budget, come
forward. State your name and address for hearing. None. Close the public hearing on the resolution budget. Adoption 24 second. Second, Mr. Benjamin. Yes. Mr.
Next, we have the public hearing on 247 salary orders. Anyone wish on that state hearing? None. Close that portion of public hearing 247 for uh and A motion to
adopt second. Mr. Woods any discussion hear Mr. Benjamin? Yes. Mr. Mr. Yes. All right. Thank you very much. Uh
all right. Next on the agenda is our presentation. We have our engineers from CME. Uh we're here this evening. Michael and Charl design
associated with this project and are here they want to walk you through it talk about any changes made questions thanks associates I have with me Patterson a product engineer he's got a
presentation he's go through with quickly big questions we have to answer. Thank you all for having us associates you guys screen projects. I'm sure most are familiar at least a little bit of the
project over time. So we just want to come before we submit to the DOT for their final review uh how the project's looking. So for those who aren't familiar, it's the NGO transportation alternative program grant which is federal aid grant
to fund nontraditional projects. The goals mainly to strengthen cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of service transportation which are alternate forms of transportation, walking, biking, things of that nature. Non-motorized forms mostly is what this
t uh grant funds. Uh the funding does fund design services and construction of the project. project goals for the pedestrian straighter to provide pedestrian facilities downtown to promote foot traffic to improve pedestrian facilities and roadway crossings. I believe the
roadway crossings are now part of the East Park Avenue County job and we're going to be tying in with that part of the project as well and to create a comfortable downtown area with ceiling lighting. Some of the features that we're proposing as part of the project is
lighting improvements which will include string lighting so we'll do the walkway which I'll explain a little bit more later as well as along the pedestrian street seating landscaping all along the pedestrian pathways. Uh we're proposing fire pit with seating bike racks cafe
style seating planters uh cafe style seating that we're proposing you see in the top right. We're currently proposing two scenes, but that's the style and the planters as well that are going to be along street. So, these are some of the examples of the fire pit. Uh it's going
to be a gas powered fire built-in seating. There's going to be areas around it for additional seating like lawn chairs as members of the public want and will allow for public gatherings and newly improved downtown. So, this is the location of
the project between Center uh Center Street uh East Park Avenue and East Chestnut Avenue. And now we'll look at the plans and we'll do an overview of our current plan. You can see the physical
plans are out too as well. Um so, the proposed pedestrian streets, there's two. One starting at uh South Center Street So you come down to pedestrian street. Uh there's going to be cafe style
seating on this the north side. So on the north side of pedestrian street is where the cafe seat is going to go. So, there'll be a small patio area with four cafe style tables and chairs. As you go down the path, there's
benches and planters walking through along with landscaping on either side. Uh, which continues across. This is a the bank driveway that's part of another development. Uh, and you'll continue down along further landscaping and
lighting improvements. The string lighting is going to go buong pedestrian street bait. Then you meet in the middle with pedestrians today which starts on Spark Avenue. This is the tie in with the Spark Avenue improvements. The walkway
comes up meets in the middle with a metal sculpture that's currently proposed that we done as a separate part of this project. Also in this area is the fire pit with bench seating around the outside on another patio type area.
Then you head north on pedestrian street A with benches on either side along with uh lumers to improve lighting along the street. Eventually that ties into the existing bikeway where we have a bike rack. There's also a bike rack on the
south side of pedestrian street A. And uh there'll also be garbage or trash receptacles along pedestrian streets. As far as the landscaping and land go, this will be turned into a grass area. There'll be trees and landscaping beds and different parts and areas of the
project. And then as part of the project, we were also asked to incorporate areas for amphitheater or band shell as well as a pavilion area, comfort area that uh constructed in the future uh to improve this
site. So that's mainly the rundown of the project. We do have some details on some of the improvements that we'll show. Uh so this is the breakdown of the pavers and uh concrete that will be the main walkways.
Uh so that's what it's going to look like with the colors. We'll have the this is the cafe style seating that we're proposing in that patio area. And we also have the bike racks and benches that are going to be going alongside both sides of the
uh pedestrian street A and B. And you can see here the proposed string lighting and luminires that are and that's a overall view of projects and the things we have proposed and happy to take any questions. I'll just
um Sean and Mike sent this around. I did ask for a couple small modifications drawings. Yeah, the presentation was done before. Um, we removed the uh the seating uh that was
in the center of walkway B, measuring street B for uh it was like planters and things that could be an attractive for skateboarders and things of that nature and move them so they're on the side of the walkway as opposed to the center of
the walkway. There were also concerns were there um in terms of you know how much space was on either side of those planters and seating benches. Uh that was pretty much major change that was done from what was
presented. Um yeah, that's mostly it. usually I know. tables. Yeah, there's four tables. Two seats for
me. They're kind of staggered. like I'm just I'm just I'm afraid they're just my place like utilize that as like Sorry. I just didn't know it was something to me. Doesn't seem
Um uh the bike where how many So you have one at pedestrian street and they're just like oh Okay. So, they're single, but row. Yeah. Yeah. So, it'll be uh I think I can pull it up.
Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So, that's not That's not We have but it's just there as part I don't know if the property owners put any barrier up here that's
part of the project space we weren'ting any barrier something structure I know the dumpster but I don't like that There might have been a curb line or something, but not a barrier necessarily.
open space. I believe we can talk about that's not under this project. Well, they wanted to be open because they wanted the exterior outdoor fire. And I'm not suggesting
that I just imagine that other types of traffic controls better. Yeah. nicer options. Eric questions
that we talked about that. So we're currently working with the town's environmental team and LSRP to work through the last phase of project. We sent some previous findings that had come out in 2019 I
believe. We're setting that was part of the development initially we believe and we're meeting with them on Thursday to discuss any remedies that may be necessary as part of this project.
But other than that, the intent is submit to prove the design and get this thing out. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. And there's some
And I do believe we we mentioned that to we did and all right. Um yeah, that's it, right? Anything else? I don't believe
so. There's Thank you guys. I appreciate you being here. 2016 All right. Uh, thank you very much. Next item on the agenda is approval. We have April 14,
2024. Everybody here this evening. Uh next we have sorry second Mr. Leold engine. How are you? A couple of items we
don't annual report. um you know clients obviously on our website for semester questions. Uh response
Well, that's not true. Yes, I did receive there's two change my job on Thursday at 3:00 making that meeting. Uh, so I spoke with Teddy and I
had last speak with them. Uh, they just do such a wonderful job that they really serve. President Reserve has something is an asset to this community and is an asset that we make sure we
protect uh and diligently watch. Uh I can tell you that the following work that we have uh far surpasses many other around here. Uh some communities that now I won't necessarily train for when I go to the restaurants in those
communities. Um, but I will tell you that uh that I don't have that I drink our chocolateation and so uh it's really an organization that is topn I just want to express my sincere appreciation ser
uh and I at some point in the future if my schedule changes I look forward so I want to make sure I just think it's so important uh because it's such an important asset and how much they actually back to our
town. Our budget would be substantially different if it wasn't for the work providing the free word and our residents would be paying substantially more if it wasn't for so I know you
work. So um just out there sent a questionire there. Okay. All right. That's it. Thank you very much. Um council
reports over. Thank you your honor. I just would like to report from Shri and from that uh this past week the 26th uh the two groups got together and had a
community event. We had I would say probably 30 folks from the town come out and uh several treats in our parks. I think in total we had over a hundred. Uh so that project is uh really moving along and we're we're in talks with uh
Joel Mald from the Boy Scouts potentially getting some sort of barrier constructed around it to protect the tiny forest. Um also from Shade Tree, we are welcoming a new commissioner and it's on the agenda tonight if approved. uh Brad
Nouse um will be joining and uh will be a great asset and addition to the team and the only thing I think I'll send a report is from the green team that they're meeting on the meeting is tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Eclipse
right at questions. Thank you very much Mr. President. All right. Thank you. Uh just a couple things tonight. Uh start with reports for the month of May. Uh
5,834 sets over 232 cases added 23 uh for April. Two virtual sessions and one session committee uh they met April 22nd. Um several things they discussed
have not finalized yet uh line raising along with additional Friday events according association uh same holiday the meantime they are trying to start a fund raise for free t-shirt
sales to help promote the organization uh next board third meeting will last be June 137. Okay, thank you very much. I know that they also working on a statement they
wanted to put out regard to diversity in our community some of the stuff that's happening at federal level. Yes. So questions for Mr. Mr. For sure. Nothing to report to you.
You sure? Back to back 70 hour. All good. We'll expect to be super long. One, we put out our property payments 14. 14.
So we don't have all 14 properties here again at this point but we're going to second these are every six months. So the second uh meeting will go out in
July to do that. I want to make sure that the household I believe still remains for sale. So that's good news. So that is that is for sale. Then the other thing is for
tonight's budget that's um regard to the fees and fines associated with the properties being vacant property list are those leanable
uh fees and costs. So because there's an actual number listed in our code as to what the value of the fee is I believe what we need to do is we will then need to file a case against some court system back and then
if they fail appear okay judge then becomes issued as a judge judgment against them which we then as a borrow lean and then we go through foreclosure don't Thank you.
Okay. Other questions, Mr. Thank you, your honor. Uh, just letting you know that the art walk art walk took place on Friday. Very nice night, beautiful. And I heard that it was successful. Um, we will be having a
Memorial Day ceremony at Lwood Park at 10:00 a.m. on May 26. And I asked uh you know if you're going to be carrying the wreath up, let me know, please. So I put it on the agenda. And then the birthday
celebration has scheduled for June 7th at Park. And if you'd like to attend, we will help out. Let me know that as well. And that's from 12 on June 7. And
okay, let's let's solve this issue. Okay. Uh, council is around. I know you Okay. I will anybody be there to speak during the event to just say
okay no I do not Um, yeah, in everybody's shar. Yeah, just take a question. Yeah, because it's uh CFO report nothing other than
you know thank you very much for everybody getting through that um old business we don't have anything to business. We have a number of resolutions by consent agenda. Does anybody have any reading any of these resolutions? Other than
that agenda first resolution 2559 authorized shared service grant tax collector that is contingent upon resolution 2560 approval hiring a tax assessor that would be effective
July resolution 2561 Brad announces the change commission resolution 2562 authorization for solid waste recycling resolution 2563 authorization for cell tow64 to
hire as police officer 2566 approved special item revenue 2567 transfer of tax trust other funds current fund
and resolution 256 authoriz yes hi thank you very much uh and then consider second resolution 2565 Ray Woods commercial Mr. Benjamin. Yes. Mr. Fitzgerald. Yes. Yes.
Uh financial report second Mr. Benjamin Mr. Yes. Um, anything else other than Memorial Day? We already
did. You want to add Let's do it. We have that. So, I have two applications for use of public space. The first by the American Post for Memorial Day as well as the park.
uh all the necessary approvals. I know. I'll make a motion. All right. Okay. So the second uh application for public
space from John Coffman he is proposing a block party on Rogers Avenue between center. My understanding is that it hasn't been reviewed by the
chief police based on the reasoning that the president still was uh supportive of this event that it was on
um on the 25th from 11:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. Um once uh the residents have a chance to speak with his neighbors uh the chief police the one thing
that that got my attention was that they said that they don't need any uh support from the police department or traffic control which I would imagine that to block off your room. Um, so also ask that I'll make a motion to approve it on
the condition that the app support from his neighbors receipt. Street first couple properties north the first few like across the street from Mr. Hopkins
house there first. Yeah. Okay. So, and there's like three very last house on the side of the block. It's actually
that's so that intersection of code and center all four corners of that city. Okay. Well, I can contact them as well. This just came actually and I had I did get six signatures from
res but I don't know. I haven't been able to look at just a lot percent. Yeah. 50% plus one of the people saying in order to get the street closure as long as you got plus one the
police would come out and drop into Yeah, he would. She said he would put barricades up. He was fine with that. Now the only issue here is because all the way to center street we want to make I don't know they have process for
closing off the street there is a process if we're going to approve a contingent upon um meeting whatever the requirements are approved by the chief fine also uh
intention providing opportunity that's all should they want to okay I don't know what their requirements are they may have no idea all I know is that probably
right you know that's I love Okay, sir. accept all. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor? Um otherwise we will not meet again
until now for the beginning. All right. Second motion second. Go diesel boys. Oh, you got All
right. Thank you. Thanks guys. Yeah. True. I'll see. It was It was boring for a minute. We try to stick it out. I
love the people that go buy Why are you buying money? Yeah. his private property. So they're actually around And I saw today that
Yeah, I wonder. But if um if it's something that they want to do outside American I don't even know how that was in fact whether on that porch like I guess
I had lunch Yeah. Right. Yeah.