here. Councilman K present. Councilman Despensza is present. Councilman Dino here. Councilman Dodie here. Councilman Greg here. Administrator Place. And attorney Corini here. Okay. Um Michael Place is not going to
be here tonight. He has uh something that he has to attend to. I have his report. Yeah, I know that. Okay, we're good. In case you didn't Oh, no. We're there. All right. So, let's skip down. We are up to ordinance for public hearing and final adoption.
Ordinance 215525, an ordinance amending the Lincoln Boulevard redevelopment plan to provide minimum apartment sizes. Okay. I'd like to make a motion to open for public uh second. All right. Okay, guys. Anyone wishing to
step forward and talk about the this um ordinance is welcome to do so at this time. Okay. I like a motion to close. Motion. Second. All right. All in favor? I Okay. And uh let's have a motion to approve.
Motion. Second. Okay. Any discussion? Roll call. Council President Conahan. Yes. Councilman K. Yes. Councilman Desenza. Yes. Councilman Dino. Yes. Councilman Dodie. Yes. Councilman Griggs. Yes.
Okay. No adoption of minutes tonight. We're up to the mayor's report. Okay. All right. Uh got a a few things here. Let's start with uh the important stuff. First of all, uh I like to say thank
goodness uh Mark Milkyore did not get injured. He was involved in a little motor vehicle accident at uh at Cedar Avenue. Uh it was pretty serious. Uh we're down I believe one police car unfortunately because of this. Um they
they took him out. He had to go to the hospital. He's home now. He's he wants to come back to work. As soon as he gets his release, he'll be back. You as I was talking to him yesterday, anything that you could walk away from is is there a lot it could have been a lot a lot a lot
worse if you saw the the condition of the cars. Okay. Uh 911 ceremonies this Thursday. If you guys are out and about, please stop by. I know that Lenny's been working very hard on uh and the gang to make sure that it's uh all cleaned up and ready to go. Um around town, if you
noticed, uh there's a lot of stuff going on at the parks all over the place. Some of it's going a little bit slower than uh than than they would like. Uh and I think that's uh a matter of getting the contractor going and some of the utility people uh moving things the way they're
supposed to. Um, I don't know how else to explain it. It's a union job. All right. Okay. Um, out in the newspaper, not in the newspaper, on social media, you hear a few things going on and kicking around
about the class 3es. This is still an ongoing process. The the it's at the next stage, which is it's being held it. It's hopefully going to be brought home by a committee of three which is uh headed by the chief.
It's going to be uh co-chared with u attorney Christini and Michael the place to bring this to bring this hopefully to fruition. I'm I'm not going to say I have my doubts. I would like to think at this point in time that we've gone around 9 million times that this thing will
finally uh it's either going to be ferreted out that they want to do it or they don't want to do it. Um you know on the and I don't want to steal anyone else's thunder cuz you know part of the things that we're talking about here is uh is uh having going back
to having two captains. Uh, one of the things that is on the captain's list is that part of the responsibilities and the way it's being split up is that the not the administrative division captain,
but the patrol division captain, one of its uh, one of his responsibilities as class 3 special police officers. So, if people want to are questioning whether we're serious about doing this, we're serious. We've been waiting a long time. We want it
done. Um, and the last thing I have on this today as I got this in the mail today is we have a certificate of recognition presented to Burrow of Middle Sex for the attainment of the silver level
recognition for the New Jersey safe routes to school program honoring the commitment and support of the program by enabling and encouraging children to walk and bicycle to school for 2025 through 2027. Um, I think our police do
a wonderful job making sure that the safe the routes to school are safe and they make sure that there's people at the right corners to make sure that people are paying attention to the traffic laws so we don't have any of our kids getting uh injured.
And outside of that, oh, one last thing that I had on here. Sorry when I I can't read my own handwriting sometimes. I apologize for that. Um I'm happy to say that it looks like we are just about there on having
all three of our labor contracts done. I mean there's there's a couple of things go kicking back and forth with the with the lawyers, but basically there's nothing major. I would fully expect that these things are going to be on my desk to be signed. And you know, it's been a
lot of time and a lot of effort. And frankly, it's been a lot of good faith uh negotiations on all sides that that have brought this home. And I just like to, you know, for those out there in TV land, thank everyone that participated because it did help make this, although
at certain times it was an arduous thing, it was always upfront and it was always with the best intentions of the parties that were involved. And that's all I have on that. Uh, moving down the road. President Conahan. Thanks, Mayor. Um, so I want to thank
everybody involved with the newsletter for the fall. Um, there's copies out there. There's the black and white. Uh, very very well done. I think it's the best one I've seen so far. Some special shoutouts uh for their I I think some of these articles have are
really really spot-on. OEM environmental did a great job. Bob, Board of Health, Bob Sher, uh, DPW, the police, and the clerk's office. Uh, excellent articles. I think it's 10 pages this year. Really, really good. Um,
also a very special uh, congratulations to our new clerk, Kelsey Meer, sitting to my left. Um, for the for the library, the July 14th storm. For those that don't know, I know Emily's here from the library board, but um
that storm left much of the library well some of the library is damaged. So much of the community room is damaged from the flood as well as the children's room which is in the back. Um fortunately everything should be back to normal in
about a month. So by midocctober uh summer reading and the summer programming is all it's obviously now over and it was a huge success. some numbers. July's total circulation was three times higher than July of last year, 2024.
August total circulation was more than two times higher than August of last year. Um, so the next program hosted by the Friends of the Library is next Sunday, September 21st. It's at 3 p.m. in the library and features a vocalist
and a guitarist, Nancy Sharp, with a Pope Pirie of shows. Uh, congratulations to Barbara Benson in our office of emergency management. She was promoted to uh, deputy of operations.
Um, please please attend our annual 911 commemorative ceremony. It's going to be this Thursday at 7 p.m. front of the Victor Crow Park. Um, a very special thank you goes to Shirley Penrose for once again coordinating this event.
She's done it every year. I think since 2002 roughly. Um, welcome and congratulations to our first full-time director of zoning and code enforcer, Matthew Dillingham. He started actually yesterday was his first full day in the
burrow. Uh, let's see. A special thank you to Karen Witz. She's in our construction office and uh Michelle's been out and Karen has done literally everything in construction. So, big kudos to Karen. Um, and lastly, I hope everybody in this
room, plus most of our residents, make plans to attend our fire truck, fire fire department food truck festival. It's going to be on Saturday, the September 20th. I'm sure Councilman Doy has some some details, but in Mountain View Park, I want I think more
people that hear this, the better. 11:00 a.m. to 700 pm, it's their first fundraiser. They're really trying to obviously replace the carnival. This isn't going to do it. Um, but this is this is a very good start. They may do one or two of these a year. Um, you'll
see these around town. We're going to put some outside as well. It's five bucks to to enter per person. Um, live music, activities for adults, activities for kids, 15 plus food trucks, alcohol for sale, uh, dogs are
welcome. Plus, again, this is for our for our four firehouses that are all volunteer. So, uh, I I I really hope folks show up. Uh, if the weather's good like it has been, this could be a great day for the town. Um, last but not least, uh, our
next pillar will be uh will be awarded to longtime volunteer uh, Leandal at our next meeting, which is two weeks from tonight, September 23rd, 7 p.m. It should be done by 7:30. 7:20 7:30. That's all I have there.
Okay. Very good. Thank you, Councilman K. Yes, mayor. For the film commission, um we're going to change everything next meeting last advice, mayor, but we're going we're going to uh be looking to change the ordinance for that, uh coming up very soon. Um for the arts and
culture, they are postponing their meeting because it falls on the same as the um September 11th ceremony. So, they're going to try their best to get over there and support that. um for the school. I would like to like just comment that the mayor has been very
very excellent in his communication with the schools. He's gone above and beyond in many ways that has impressed me as a councilman. So I am very happy that he's advocating for the burrow in the correct manner. I think um there has been a level of disrespect sent to our
direction. I think is not fair and I think that is impeding which is why the chief and everyone else is taking over. So, thank you, mayor, for your continued um effort to protect our kids. As a mother of four, I greatly appreciate that. Um and hopefully this gets taken a
lot more seriously very soon. Um to move to just threw my brain off that, yeah, that's very important to me. But, um hard senior and disabled. Um my brain just went sideways and my
internet's not working, but there's a senior message out there. Um, take your check, take a look there, see apartments running smooth. Bunch of trips going on. Don't be lonely. Winter months are coming up. Stay warm, stay connected, be social. Um, get some Zumba on. Do something to get, you know, stay loosey
goosey. You know, be happy as we come up in these pumpkin months and winter months. and we had a meeting um council matic meeting about one of the issues and we were looking to move one of the resolutions to the quickly to executive
have a quick discussion and then vote on after. Sure. I don't not sure if we can get a consensus for that because I know the council president I just want to make sure we're all on the same page. Good. That's good. So, we're going to that's what we had um councilman Dino and Councilman Graves you know they agreed
with that moving it. He shaking his head no. Yeah. I'm like staring at my brain. Did I do something wrong? I did. And but that was great. And done. Thank you. All right. Councilman Desenza.
Okay. For recreation, fall basketball starts on September 17th. Soccer starts soon with almost 200 registered children. We'll be using Havst Field as the school fields are not up to par.
Toddler playg group is organizing now and the registration is filling up quickly. Uh we have a new program starting in the falls uh full girls softball. They wanted to take it as a traveling
team but the uh level of expertise is not there yet. So, they're just going to try and play in local towns. And we have a grant application in for Havate Park. It's been submitted for up
to $100,000 and improvements. Hopefully, we get something. Swim pool. They had a good year after the opening problems. They wound up with almost the same membership as last year. I think they were two shy of last year's
membership. and they will be here the second meeting in October to lay out their plans going forward. Roof is still not fixed. Lenny's trying to get another bid and we can work on that. Do you get
it? Okay. Uh SWAT meeting was cancelled for this month. wheel next month. And uh just for parks, the uh Suburban Consulting is having a meeting
on October 7th uh to bring us up to date on where we're going. Is that the same Niger as the parks meeting? Yeah. We're not sure where they're going to have it yet though. uh whether the
library room will be ready or we're here here or the annex or where but that to be determined that's all I have. All right. Thank you govern the CO. Yeah. Uh for the environmental we had a
meeting last week and we had a presentation from the company community solar solar simplified. um they're going to come here on um September 23rd and give the presentation. It was really good. I mean, they tell you it's zero cost to you. You don't put panels on your house,
use the solar farm, and they're saying 45% off your utility bill is util electric usage, not the fees and not gas. So, we kept saying to him, meaning what? It's too good to be true. Where is the punch line? Where's the punch line? He
said this no cost. No cost. When's the meeting? Next. Uh, next meeting here, please. Presentation. Presentation. Yeah. Also, uh, Claire's working with Alexa on a grant for a charging station in Mountain Park. That's $100,000 grant. So, hopefully it works out well. It has
to be burl owned land. So, if not in the back up front where the front parking lot is, we could possibly do something there. So, that'll be working. Uh, what else? Couple events. Uh they have planned international cleanup day September 20th
9 to 2 at Simmons Park and there's also a treekeepers a short course on September 27th at 10:00 a.m. The next meeting for JLo is September 16th for DPW. Uh like the mayor said their ties are working for 911 ceremony that
looks good there. Also finally all the bamboo has been removed. So and it looks so much better down there. It looked a lot bigger. That's how much it was down. So, um, as far as the county recycling cans, we're 99% complete. They're still
fielding some call, but very few. So, finally that has been taken care of. Um, what else? Continuing to clean all catch basins in town. Mountain View Park, I was there today. They had kind of like a meeting
with all the contractors. There's a lot of moving parts there. First, the swing the new playground equipment is not here yet. That's an issue. The fitness equipment is here. So, they're going to probably start up putting the fitness equipment into that one area next sec
second separate area. So, there's plenty of time for that. And they're still waiting for public service to put a breaker in so they can lift the station over the power lines. They're going to be working on drainage next week. They need the drainage from
what's that free soil. Who's that? Free old soil. Free old soil. They had to have drainage there. So they they're running drainage. There is a pipe that runs back into the brook back there. So they're tying it to that, but they they want to drink it. So that's all they're going to start that next week. So hopefully we're on our way
down there. We t they're moving too slow for me, but I guess that's just the way I am. Give them help, Bobby. That it. That's all. Yes. All right. Um, first thing, it's not
there. No, there's no sign sheet. All right. And, uh, Councilman Dodie, I'm okay. I got the, uh, fireman report, uh, for August. 44 total calls. Um, they had actually two trash fires.
Well, one was outside, one was they weren't sure, but it was contained. Um, they did a medical assist with EMS in. They did two accidents with injuries, five without. They had gas leaks. They
had five calls for that. Um, which we're getting to that season as people turn on heat. So, make sure you check. Chief wanted me to let everybody know because they get a bunch of these first thing in the fall when everybody turns their heat on for the first time. Carbon monoxide
incident. They had two and that's all they had. He had a couple of things he wanted me to highlight was uh they were there was two trash camp fires. One was uh August 7th
on Marboro Avenue. The garbage campfire up against the house. Chief Barttok got there. He managed to see it immediately and there was a garden hose right there and he was able to extinguish it before the house went up. So people in the house really happy about that obviously.
um August 18th, they uh members of the Lincoln Firehouse, they were going to the meeting, their monthly meeting, and they noticed a garbage campfire in one of the neighbors cans and went over
there and was able to put it out. So, they were just happen to be pulling out, so they took care of that. Timing is everything. Yeah. Yeah. Uh they were there national night out. Hopefully everybody got to go over and I know they took they were running the tower while we were there
and didn't realize the thing's still in great shape and it's 10 years old now so it's getting there you know. Um and the 28th they uh at 19 100 hours they
attended an extrication drill at Beachwood Firehouse to demo new batterypowered extrication tools. So they got some new toys and took care, you know, they probably used to work today. Yeah. Well, that's
um they did respond to the accident with the police Sergeant Malcure and the vehicle that hit the patrol car wound up on its side and they wound up having to cut the roof off.
I found out just prior to getting here, the chief guys gave me an update that the u person driving that vehicle was released from the hospital. They were kept overnight and they're okay. So, they were released today and they're okay. But the car is
apparently pretty well destroyed. Um belong to firemen, please come out and support them on the 20th. This is their event. They're trying to make this a go. And I think if they have real success, they may even do one earlier like springtime. Yeah. Because Yeah. They're
trying to make this sort of to replace the fair. It's going to be fenced in. There's a a small fee to get into the gate. They're going to have stuff to do for kids, adults. You can go have a beer. There's food there, music, the whole nine yards. So please go out and
support them because their overall what they've collected in donations is down huge. So they are struggling. You know they definitely are independent firehouses and they they really need a shot in the arm from us. The last thing
is is I was at the OEM meeting and I saw Barbara get a promotion to the exact I got the exact wording is elevated to deputy coordinator for the OEM. So, she's number three. She deserves it because she practically
lives for that. It's just incredible. She does an incredible job and she deserves she she was in total shock. Jack came back was managed to hobble himself in there and gave it to her. He also made two other promotions, right? I'm like two corporals.
Um Fred and I can't one. No, one was already an officer. I can't remember the other. Two. It was three. He actually was elevated. So he did three corals. On the tip of my tongue, I can't
remember who it was. Yeah, there was there was three people elevated to that because they're putting a bunch of effort in and he want Jack wanted to recognize them also. Um, so they are that group is just getting
bigger and bigger and bigger. We need a library now to to meet. So it's just they're doing a phenomenal job. They did get the command center back also and now that air conditioning season's over, they have air conditioning.
took them years to finally get somebody to fix that and knew what they were doing. So now it works and they're on the the right path with that. Um that's all I have, mayor, except for the what we're going to talk about later on. Perfect.
That's great. Not a lot since the last meeting, but uh I I'm glad to see we have the new zoning officer and uh you know, people had a lot of good feedback from him and you know, everything I've heard about him has been good. So, I think he's going to make a you know, good good improvement
for the town with with the extra hours in their office. Um Shade Tree Commission meets the second Thursday of every every month at 7 p.m. in this room. Uh board of health, we we do have a rabies clinic coming up on November
1st from 10 to 12. It's back again this year. Uh it's great for the residents. Um the board of health meetings uh third Thursday of the month at 6:30 in the community room. Um as far as the uh food truck festival,
definitely looking forward to that. My kids are excited for that one, too. Um you know, I think it's a great addition to the town. So, you know, like I think I think it's a good idea for the fire department. And uh last thing is just the recycling cans. I think have been going good. I've actually at my at my
business in town, I've heard people saying that they're happy, that they're big, they're large enough size, you know, good. Uh so, um that's all I have. Thank you. All right. Very good. Okay. Under the guide. Yeah, I have the administrator's report.
He sent it over to me today. Um, progress is being made on construction of the various improvements to Mountain View Park, including the new restroom facility and new playground equipment. During construction, vehicular access to the rear area of the park is restricted. So, you may hear at times that people
can't get all the way back. Depends what they're doing, what they have to block off. On Monday, Matthew Dillingham started working full-time as the burough's zoning and code enforcement director. We also have a new part-time qualified purchasing agent on board,
Jennifer Mercedes. Middle Sex Burough's annual observance of 911 will be this Thursday, beginning at 700 p.m. at Victor Croll Park. DPW has been working hard to prepare the site for the occasion. I walked down there, Bobby, they're doing a great job
just cleaning the whole area up. Uh some projects staff will be working on this fall will include identifying vacant and surplus municipal land for possible sale, preliminary design work on a prototype for new burrow entrance signage and the enhancement of Lincoln
Park. We will also continue to be proactive in working with landowner owners and developers regarding investment in Middle Sex. Resolutions this evening include approvals for third quarter tax refund s billing waved
appeals for two properties. The promotion of deputy clerk Kelsey Mitner to municipal clerk effective September I guess it's second officially first and an amendment to the burough's
personnel police regarding vacation time. Uh the topic of the agenda workshop this evening is a proposal for mercantile licensing and in executive session we'll be discussing contract negotiations for class 3 officers
personnel matters involving the construction official and inspectors as well as police promotions. That's what he sent me. All right. Very good. Okay. Let me just get over here. All right. Yep, we did the
administrator. Right now, I'd like a motion to open things up for the privilege of the floor. Second. All in favor? Okay. 240 Hazwood. Uh, mayor, I want to circle back to one thing that I I asked about the last meeting. Um, recently we had
the inspectors from I guess from the federal government posting around some of these neighborhoods for radiation or excessive radiation. I looked at the documents that are posted on the town website. It has maps and neighborhoods and lots and lots.
Um, and I noticed, you know, there's a map of the town and it has these black outlined areas that are considered evaluation areas. I think it's 2001. And I noticed that in within some of those evaluation areas, we have locations like Mountain Park, we have looks like high
school, we have the pool, casewood school. What assurances do the public have? Does the public have they've not been placed in any danger prior to this? The only assurance that I could think of that we have, Dave, is that that they
allowed us to build. Well, again, I know this is not you guys issue because you didn't create this problem, but we've had a situation going back 25 years ago where the federal government told everybody it's okay to work at ground zero and it wasn't. So, I
mean, I'm not trying to sound alarm or anything, but how do we know how when does when does no immediate concern become immediate concern? And I asked this question because I spent four years at Middle Sex High School myself years ago. My I have one daughter spent nine
years at OB school. Um, should people be concerned? I know again this is not primarily your problem. It's the federal government, but is it time for the bureau to put pressure on the federal government to release more information on this and be more upfront about a lot
of this stuff? Dave, we could ask. I don't know if we'll get anywhere, but we could always ask. I mean, it's a project that's, you know, it's been going around here for 50 years. So, you That's the point of my question.
Well, exactly. And I mean, you know, unfortunately, you know how that goes. I mean, there are certain things that you're going to get answers on, certain things you're going to get non-answers, certain things you're going to get circular answers. I mean what all I can say at this point is that we can ask and if they tell us there's nothing to worry
about. I mean we have to either take it at face value or or you know you you have to start digging for your own information. You know pull an Aaron Brockovich and say hey listen I noticed that there's 20 people over here and 30
people over here you know like they did down down in uh down in uh what was it? Lakewood for it sibi and all that. I mean outside of that well you made a good point about the bur looking for zone information
have have you had have you had the environmental engineer follow this call's environmental engineer I I honestly Dave I don't know all right thank you very much anybody else. I'm just going to ask one quick question
off the thing. Bob, do you have any information you could throw in on that? I mean, you you were involved with that for a little while. Nothing to add. Not not really. I I think for the most part, um, you know, they they did they
did do the inspections of those properties in the past. You know, a lot of times the uh the base rate for any uh radium that was found has they keep lowering over the years. Um and that's
made a difference. You know, to say that it was cleared, it must have been I agree must have been cleared at some point before you made. Um yeah, I'm not trying to put you on the spot. I just appreciate your feedback. Okay. Anybody else?
It might be the world record for this one. Okay. Oh jeez. Too long, Jack. We almost made No, quick Bruce. Yes, it's going to be real quick. Bruce Sanders, 10 minutes Avenue. Um, two
things. I have not seen our rescue squads moving. I know we have a problem with volunteerism. Are they rolling at all? At this point there, the chief and I had a discussion on that. He is working on looking at
are they rolling at all? I honestly I don't know the number off the the top of my head. The chief thinks that they're way down. He's getting us some numbers that we can go after that. As a matter of fact, I think at this point we're we're almost exclusively dealing with
either Bound Brook, Robert Wood Johnson, or I even think Greenbrook. and yeah, it's it's it's a three. So, they're Yeah, we have a problem with that. The only thing I would mention if maybe Lenny or somebody I don't know who
controls those, but at least start those vehicles and make sure that they're they're they're private vehicles for their for their corporation. No, no, no. That's all that's a private corporation. They do maintain their stuff. I figured
they did, but I just figured who start if they're not moving, who's starting them and doing? Well, I think they're they're having them out, but I mean I I I couldn't tell you, but I haven't seen them and it just, you know, I don't think they were even at uh uh National Night Out. National Night Out.
Okay. Really? Second question, along headlines. We're talking about firemen and all this kind of stuff. Um I heard mention through the last I think it was two meetings ago about a new fire engine.
And I'm just worried about age of what we have and do we have money for that because that's probably a little if if at this point the only discussion is hey listen if we're going to start getting involved
with this we have to start saving for it now. And at this point there's there's no purchase order no quote nothing that we've been looking at. I mean, to the best of my knowledge, I think Kevin, you can say Yeah. It takes them 10, 12 months to write the
spec for it. Yeah. And I think the oldest one right now is um the craft truck they really wanted to get done with that thing some crazy amount of money. And Lincoln would be the next vehicle that is the oldest.
Oh my god. I know they can go many, many years. I think 20. It's got to be 15 20 02 03 like early 2000. Yeah, it's it's it's 20 years, you know. I just heard two meetings ago something mentioned quickly.
Well, if you heard it online, it must be true. So, don't worry about it. Meeting here, so that's why. No, no, let's put this way. Not not that we've even discussed or even talked about at this point. Other than if we want one and we got to get the ball rolling, we got to start squirreling
away some money for by the time you get it. Yeah. It takes them about 10 to 12 months to design it. They work they pick a manufacturer then for it to be built. It's Yeah. year and a half or more or something.
Yeah. It's like a three-year deal from the time you say we're going to do it. Great. And we're not even at that point yet. Okay. Uh motion to close the public portion. Second. All in favor? All right. Very good. Okay, Kelsey,
you're up. [Applause] Resolution 243 2022, acceptance of standing reports. Resolution 244 2022, refund of third quarter taxes on block 110, lot 4. Resolution 245 2025 acknowledging the change in status for
certain properties under the senior citizen disabled person veteran tax deductions for block six lot 2.02 resolution 246 2025 2025 sewer billing waved appeals for block 86.06 lot 8 and
block 293 lot 3.01 01 resolution 247205 acknowledging the change in status for certain properties under the senior citizens disabled person veteran tax deductions for block 196 lot 4. Resolution 248 2022 promoting deputy clerk Kelsey Mner to municipal clerk
effective September 1, 2025 add an annual salary of 80,000. Resolution 249 2025 amending the burough's personnel policy to permit additional vacation time in certain circumstances. Okay. Um, at this point we're going to pull resolution number seven and we're
going to discuss it in executive session. We're going to add it to executive session to be discussed and we will have action on that after the executive session. Is that right? Yes, 100%. Okay, that's where we are with that. So, does
anyone need to pull move slash anything else? No. Okay. So, uh, if we could have a roll call on all the rest of them, please. Council President Conahan, yes. Councilman K, yes. Councilman Denza, yes. Councilman Dino, yes. Councilman Dodie, yes. Councilman Greg,
yes. Okay. Uh, let's move on to the non-consent agenda resolution. All right. Resolution 250 2025, pay all claims. All right. Could I have a motion? Motion. Second. Second. All right. Any discussion?
Okay. Uh, roll call, please. Council President Conan, yes. Councilman K, yes. Councilman Denza, yes. Councilman Dino, yes. Councilman Dodie, yes. Councilman Greg, yes. Okay, let's go up to the next item. We have an
agenda workshop item here tonight on merchantile licensing. The reason that we're we want to talk about this is because number one, I think there's a need for us to actually have mercantile
fee for people that are not just food establishments in this town. we know what people are doing and how these things are popping up because we've had a couple of surprises or at least one that I know of for sure where a business was selling something that we were
unaware of and we didn't want them to sell and I mean it was able to be taken care of but you know this this is the type of thing to get a a basically a list understand who's here what are they
doing in our town for all the businesses, you know, and it's it it's a license. So, we're not looking to hammer anybody hard, but at the same time, you know, we, you know, like an administrative fee of maybe 20, 30, 40,
probably keep it low because you don't want to beat these guys to death, but we just want to move forward to understand what people are doing in this town and have a complete register of of the businesses. That's that's where we're
trying to get to. Um Bob, I know you were involved with that, correct? Back in the day, you know, and I think what what was the hold up? I don't know. I just never progressed. And I know that we recently had in the past year, we had a discussion at the
point um and we brought up the fact that currently we license, but we don't license other businesses now. And it seemed like that we should have be able to track these businesses, know uh you know who the owner is um and
have more information about them so that we're not surprised by a business that may be operating in town, right? Um, and I think based upon that, um, I know we're helpful recommendation in for the mayor council right now to
reconsider it. And I I also have provided a u a copy of uh Ocean City's uh ordinance and and their information of how they I would recommend just as you said, you're not really looking to
get a large fee out of it. You just want to get a fee to cover it and use that as a way of tracking what businesses are in town. Right now, the only ones that are paying for a license that way are uh anybody licensed through the whale for food operations for food, right?
Something else. It can be uh any type of business that that we're not. Now, these these businesses, the the pure merkantile license, I'm sorry to put you on on the spot, but I know you have a lot of would these go through the board of health or they get licensed
through the clerk's office? No, they should actually be licensed through the clerk's office. Clerk's office that way. The the uh board of health will still do the licensing uh related to Is it separate or is it part of the same license? It should really be separate, a separate
license that just because of the fees. Because the food is the food is like 300. You have others that are paying working time license for games of chance, you know, pinball machines, pool tables, they all pay,
right? So it's not only the league. Yeah, the elks and le I I I understand that. But but still, sorry, Bob, you were going to say something. No, what Joe just said is true. I mean, I'm talking about just general
businesses out there who don't have license, right? So, it's like the businesses that sometimes we need to track. I don't think I I don't know why we don't license or or at least get a fee for like bake shops, places like that. Well, really, it's almost any business
because there's a lot of business that come up even with that. We've had we had a couple come up that we've uh they were reported as tattoo parlor and tattoo parlor. It's really cosmetic procedures that are that are being done there when you really don't massage
balls, you know. So sometimes so you can license all these individual businesses. I think you already licensed massage parlors. We there are some there are some but we we don't have anything that needs everybody. So in advance of this discussion, I took
a look at a few towns. Um I looked at Asbury. You looked at Ocean, Bob, you said? Yeah. Yeah. I looked at Aspbury Park, which has a whole schedule. You know, it's not related to it being a short community. They just have a schedule for every all types of businesses. And then West Orange has a $100 fee. So you can go a one one
direction with a a solid fee for everything. You can make that cumulative or exclusive based on the other things you license. Um in addition to or an an exception of or you can, you know, go the other way. Go, you know, all right. Make a long list. It's up to you guys.
Well, the the thing is that if if you talk about it and you don't really assign it to anybody, it's never going to get done. The real question is is that do we drive this forward through the administrative area or do we drive it forward through through the health area,
the the board of health? Do we start there? Yeah, I agree with Bob. I think that Bob's shaking his head and I think we're thinking the same thing, but it's not the board of health. No, I don't think so either. All right. No, because ultimately Yeah, it's going to come through the administration.
All right, Bob. question about um I know you're you're you know 35 to 40 years in Union County. Do most did most towns back then have a merkantile license for businesses? Most a business license outside of food. Most of the towns I dealt with this when
I was working in my career they did have licenses. So they did have a business license a way of tracking those businesses. Okay. Same with Chris. Actually my experience has been different. And I'm in less towns than Bob, but I think you guys would be the first of my four. Not to say that you
should be ordered and everything. I don't believe so. Oh, look. I don't think so. Well, I'll tell you what. Being that we don't know where it's going and Mr. Kevin's a little uh overloaded, he's going to give it to someone else. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. And if I if I
need we'll we'll pull in a committee if if I need some help from other people, too, Jack. There you go. All right. So, that's what we're going to do. All right. Is there any other uh I I'll get back to you. I got to get some more little groundwork information. Mayor, I I would be uh just my personal
I I I think the maximum fee, and I hate fees for anything, would be 20 bucks. I I like to say 10, but it's too small. But it it costs us more to administer the program. That Mike, what you just said is very important. I think I think 20 would be the absolute max because there's really
aside from us having an active list of businesses, they're not getting anything from this. I agree. I'm not arguing. I mean, to me, it's like licensing your dog or or whatever. It's just you're just letting people know that you have one. I I think it's more just knowing like, you know, we don't know. One business
could leave and another comes home. We don't know if they don't have to come and get something through you guys or they have game, pool table, you know, pinball. We We don't know. I'd like to research the enforcement aspect, too. A license this broad, right? I'm pretty fairly sure that my other three towns
don't have it. We We got a deal issue where businesses came up even on Bakelin. Like, who's on B? We didn't even know, right? We had no idea, right? So, we'll I I'll get a start on that with the with you, Chris, and we'll go through that. All right. Uh any other We're going to the public. Oh, yeah.
Yeah. Anyone else uh up here have anything to say on that at this point? No. All right. Privilege of the floor on agenda workshop items. Can I have a motion to open? Motion. Second. Second. Okay. Two in a row.
So just a question. Don't we know these synthesis through taxes? You just went through a whole thing. So there's a name there, the type of business. Don't you have that information already? I guess in a broad in a broad sense, you know that it's commercial property, but you might not know what they're doing.
It literally says commercial property, residential property, square footage. That's it. Yeah. So, what they sell, what they manufacture, like we have no idea. They could be man I mean, they could be manufacturing legal drugs, illegal drugs. We have no idea.
I I mean, really, the only thing that people are interested, you know, if you go back through the records was what, like used car lots, uh, u uh, things with pot, you know, basically. And outside of that, a bar or food restaurant. everything else is almost up for grabs. It's like the wild west.
Yeah. So, we want to we want to kind of tighten it up. Tight tighten it up a little bit because, you know, a lot of this stuff is in conjunction with with, you know, the the broken glass type thing and the credo, which is why we have a full-time
code enforcer. I don't even know if that's going to be enough to do all the things that we need to do cuz there's you know and it's no one's fault but it it's it's been pretty loosey goosey here and there's a lot of stuff I get I you know even as far as the landlord registrations once you start looking you're going to find out and be like
holy cow how long's that been there and you might find out it's been there 30 years but you know that's that's what we're trying to do we're just trying to get it handled on you know we want people to do the right thing and we want to know what you're doing and you know we want people in Bill Sex to be safe
and prosperous. That's it. Okay. Um, anyone else for the privilege of the floor? No. Okay. Motion to close. Motion. Second. All in favor? I. Okay. We're going to go into uh executive session. We're going to
discuss the three items that are there plus that last um a motion to amend your executive. Yeah. Well, I need a motion to amend our executive session. Motion. Second. Second. All right. Second. Um,
do we have to say what the amendment is or um state? Yeah, state. So, it'll be um personnel whatever it was last. It's the three items plus it's the personnel policy. It was personal policy. Oh, the person the change to the personnel policy. Thank you.
So, councelwoman the resolution. All right. Thank you very much. And action will be taken at the end of the executive session. So motion motion second. Second. Uh this is just for an all in favor for making the change.
Do I need all in favor? All in favor. All in favor. All right. Now motion to go into executive session. Motion. Second. Roll call. Council President Conance. Yes. Councilman K. Councilman Desenza. Yes. Councilman Dino. Yes. Councilman Dodie. Yes. And council Griggs. Yes.
All right guys. Two minutes before we we thank you want to thank for coming too. Yeah. Absolutely. We're going to kick this in gear. Uh like I said, there is action. Uh our next meeting is September 23rd. Don't forget to come to 9/11. Bob, thank you very much for coming. We
always appreciate your input, you