Tuesday, May 12th at 7:00 under the provisions of NJSA. Notice that the time and place of this meeting was given by way of an annual meeting notice to the Star Ledger Courier News and the Home News and posted at Burrow Hall. Please stand for Here
>> here Okay, we're gonna we have a couple of couple things we're going to talk about. We have another uh we have we're adding to the agenda resolution 154 which is accepting the retirement of of Joseph Green from the Department of Public
Works. That'll be added to the agenda and we're going to make a little swap here in in terms of uh prior to the presentation. We are already over there. We have a proclamation for for National Police Week. Uh Kevin Dodie
uh National Police Proclamation whereas proclaimed by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, Congress and the President of the United States have designated May 15, 2026 as police officer memorials
as National Police and whereas there are approximately 800,000 law enforcement officers serving the ities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the Middle Bal whereas the members that are law
enforcement agency play an essential role safeguarding the rights and freedoms of our citizens, merchants, and business. Whereas over its rich and developing history, our police department has grown to be a
modern and wellrespected law enforcement agency. unceasingly provides a vital public service. And whereas it is important for all citizens to know and understand the duties, responsibilities,
hazards, and sacrifices of their law enforcement agents. That members of our law enforcement agencies recognize their duty to serve the people by safeguarding life and property by protecting against violence and disorder. by protecting the
innocent against deception and against oppression and exploitation. And whereas the service and sacrifice of all officers killed in the line of duty will be honored during the national law enforcement officers memorials 38th
annual candle vig. officers memorial day in honor of fallen officers and the family. Now therefore I Jack mayor of Middle Sex and all patriotic civil civic
educational organizations serve 10 through 1626 as national police recognizing all law enforcement officers past and present by their faithful and loyal to their responsibilities have rendered a
dedicated service to the I further call upon all citizens to observe May 15, 2026 as police officers Memorial Day in honor of our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice service to their
communities who have been disabled in the performance of their duties. Let us recognize and pay respect to survivors of our fall. All right, guys. Just just so you know, we're gonna have a quick moment of
silence right here because that number is over 25,000 police officers have lost their lives. Thank you. Um, at this point I have to say I have to say this I say this every year. This is my favorite meeting of the
year. It's welld deserved. You guys always are looking out for our citizens. Can't thank you enough. At this point, I'd like to turn the meeting over to Chief. Everyone, welcome to Police Department presentation.
It's been an outstanding achievements, dedication, and professionalism of members of the sexual department. council president administrator for their support.
I'd also like to thank our residents business partners for the tremendous support they provide to this department. We're fully grateful for your encouragement, trust, partnership to serve. Each year before the ceremony,
I ask you to join a moment of silence to recognize police officers, firefighters, emergency service members, our military, protecting our safety. I'd also like to recognize at this time our retired members of Police Department
serve the community. those as we gather here tonight accepts sacrifice responsibility and service to others. This week serves as an opportunity not only to remember those who make sacrifice but also
continue to answer that call every single day. As we start the ceremony, I'd like to introduce my command staff, Captain Tom, Captain Tom, professional works
holiday unpredictable difficult dangerous service at every hour of the day. officers stand against no matter circumstances. Many of these actions are recognized.
Many of the recognizes they reflect the character. Please know that your work matters. Your sacrifices are appreciated. Your dedication I cannot be proud of your accomplishments. to start our awards presentation by
Captain Tom. Beginning in April of 2024, police department officially began state association law enforcement accreditation program having received a grant for this accreditation program.
This might be process department 119 standards and best practices only on assessment officials. I want to recognize the chief's achievement award for an
actual piece accomplishment advice method adopted by the department to increase efficiency and stream professional law enforcement. Recipients of this award distinguish Not
only dedication and professionalism through achievement that serve, protect and operate organizations. Great. I present Thomas and I know I mentioned it was it was two years, but this is
a lot of work to get us here, but once we get to that everybody plays police officers accept these policies to protect them policy gives us guide or road map on how to make sure
the next awards I like to please come up detective Scott police officer Brian Rodriguez On Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, Officer Brian Rodriguez playground that was on fire at the heat of the plot
with input from fire investigators. Officer Rodriguez. Officer Rodriguez preliminary investigation that the fire suspicious. Detectives Scott Molford and Paulo conducted comprehensive follow
investigation suspects. Detectives and were able to compile later obtain throughout the investigation. officers displayed, teamwork and tremendous
pursuit of justice. Citation is awarded effort by all participating staff members show that I present On July 9th, 2025, officers responded in commercial.
Officers detectives confirmed that forced entry hours over $7,000 cash. On the following day after began conducting comprehensive follow
several days later on July 135 at 123 officer Ryan Rodriguez A burglary suspect conducted a stop further developed as suspect. All the investigative information obtained search warrant suspects
evidence of crimes officers in their actions. by all participating staff members. The next awards I invite the following officers come up and officer. So the next few words we have to do save
lives. On Friday, January 2nd, 2006, Somerset County reporting unresponsive CPR in progress. Officer Ransio and officer arrived safety measures CPR
consciousness transport the hospital later contact the hospital that I presentation As a side note, officer paint is going to be recognized by the state of New Jersey
number two state of New Jersey. It's truly a fantastic last presentation. I would like to ask officer and officer Brandon Stout on Monday, March 9th, Officers and Stout were dispatched to
their residence report. On arrival, officer and officer stout began life safety measures, administered CPR, provided rescue breathing and used the soon after EMS arrived and began patient
care. Patient regained to the hospital for emergency lifeaving resuscitation life save your life pride that I present. As we recognize law enforcement offic
across the country during National Police Week, I'd like to close by saying that we continue to hold our officers to the standards and proud traditions that define the Middle Sex Police Department. And time and time again, our officer has always answered the calls with
professionalism, integrity, compassion, and courage. Because of your dedication and sacrifice, Middle Sex is a safer, stronger, and better community. Thank you for everything you do each day, and thank you for everything you do for the business. How you serve
Thank you for being true community caretakers. Stay safe. Watch out for one another. I want to thank the mayor and council for allowing for hosting our awards ceremony at their meeting. Uh thanks to our awards committee for reviewing providing recommendations for this ceremony. Congratulations to everybody who received awards tonight
and I appreciate all you for your time and attention. Thank you very much guys. We're going to take one minute right here because I know some of these guys and lady have somewhere else that they have to be tonight. So uh thank you very much for everything that you do.
So, we're gonna get kick this back in gear in one minute because we have a pillar. Long awaited pillar. That's right. We're looking right at you, guys. Everything All right.
Everybody tonight Mr. Cashes first. All right. Hold on to this. >> As is customary. Okay.
All right. Cash is counting. Whereas the governing body of the Burough Middle Sex recognizes that in order for a community to thrive and succeed, they must rely on the service, commitment, and passion of others. And whereas the wisdom, history, commitment, and passion that so many of our residents exhibit and extend to
their neighbors and the burrow make them pillars of our community. And whereas it is in the spirit that mayor Mcichic would like to honor and recognize individuals throughout the community who have made exceptional contributions to the burrow of Middle Sex as pillars of
our community. Whereas Cashes Kenning, a proud and long-standing resident of Middle Sex Burrow, has consistently demonstrated praiseworthy service and unprecedented commitment to the burrow and its residents. And whereas throughout the years, Cashas has
volunteered numerous hours in various capacities. I would I would say uh probably thousands of hours since his appointment to the recreation commission in 2002 where he has shown selfish uh selfless
dedication to the burrow and made a positive impact on the community. Whereas in 24 years, Ashes has attended over approximately 288 meetings with the recreation commission and committee.
Serving 10 years as president of the recreation committee, Cashes has only missed approximately 20 meetings in total, which is unheard of. Whereas most importantly, Cashes has helped multiple generations of children
through his particip participation participation in recreation programs and events. Most recently the annual bunny hop uh also by promoting youth sports and youth engrossment. he has stepped in to coach and I know this firsthand an
abundant amount we don't know the numbers but an abundant amount of uh recreation teams of which his child was not a part of uh when no other parent stepped up to volunteer so the program could continue more of his impactful work has been uh
with the rec department where he has helped revive a failing youth basketball program in the past created and solely managed a softball clinic as well as the girls basketball travel program for multiers.
His love and passion for Middle Sex can be seen from his help throughout through the difficult COVID pandemic when he tously worked to aid the rec department in reviving the programs. And whereas Cash's Kenn has displayed exemplary service, commitment, and dedication to the burough and has become
an integral part of the community. And now therefore, Jack Mcwake, mayor of the burrow of Middle Sex, along with the Middle Sex Burough Council, and on behalf of all of our residents in Middle Sex, we wish to thank you cashes for all of your dedication, sacrifice, and labor
to I can't that's nice of them So many other volunteers and Carol should be always about talking about the youth and the next generation of us. These
I'm good. I appreciate it. I I I seen Mrs. P. She is one of my favorite people on the land. I remember when she yelled at me for bringing something into her house when I was 11 years old.
So when Mr. Powsky told me to come to the director, he said, "Shirley, the president," I said, "Oh," which I knew I had to be on my best behavior. And I learned a lot from the show. I appreciate actually got us. Excellent job.
All right. Congratulations, Cash. >> That's right. You just got to get past Shirley on your way out the door, don't you? Okay, moving on. We have a we have a couple of appointments tonight as a regular member of the environmental commission for a term expiring December
31st. Gina Salado as member of the environment for a term expiring September 31st. >> Motion. Okay. Motion to second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> All right. So moved. Okay.
We did the proclamation already. All right. Uh I'd like to open up for the public hearing for the adoption of the budget. I need a motion to open. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Uh just one quick note on the on
the 2026 municipal budget. Um I did have a conversation with Caroline earlier. There has been no changes since it was introduced. So, what's been out there for the past month is exactly what's still there now. Um, so the public
hearing is open. So, anyone wants to step up? Hey, Paulich 240 Hazeswood. Uh, Mayor, uh, you and I and Chief Gist and Lenny went over the budget and Caroline went over the budget that one day. So, I don't
really have any specific questions about it. I can understand why it's going up the amount that it is. When you look at the budget, you see a line item for $900,000 that wasn't there previously for health insurance, you can understand what a what a good chunk of it is. But I
just I just wanted to alert you to some calculations I did that I would hope you'd be mindful of in the coming six months and into next year when you start working on your budget. Uh since 2022, well in 2022, if you paid $100
theoretically for in municipal taxes, that's now up to $129. Um three years of seven and a half% increases and in one year it was 4%. I did the math out. Little bit little bit of interest compounds, but it's like 29%
has gone up for four years. Um, and this year you can understand why it happened. It was a lot of several unforeseen things. But this is why I I know a couple of years ago when we raised it 7 and a half% I was standing here complaining about it and you guys sort
of were probably wondering why I was complaining about it. Um, and the reason why I was complaining about it then was that I know from 40 years of journalism and covering budgets, there are years like this one when you get socked with by the state doing something crazy with
the health insurance or something else. There are years there there are years when it's very hard to re in expenses or rain in the tax increase. And that's why when there are years when you can re in the tax increase, I think that you should. So, I'm hoping that In the next
six months, I know we had talked about health insurance. You guys are always on the lookout for ways to re in costs going forward. I would hope that in the next six months you would start already start looking forward to next year saying we've had three years of seven and a half% we've got to do something
different next year or try to unless the state wallops us again with something because I just think you know I hear from a lot of my you may you probably hear your I know you're around town a lot. Um, I hear it from a lot of my neighbors about like where are the taxes going? You know, everyone appreciates
the fact that we get good a level of services. I was talking to a friend of mine the other day who lives in Scotch Plains and they don't have garbage collection included in their taxes. I said, "How much do you pay a year?" It's $420
collection. So, you take $420 of your tax bill. if you didn't if we didn't have a DPW, you'd be paying that to somebody else to pick up the garbage. So, you know, there's tradeoffs here and there, but I just think that 20 when I when I ran those numbers, I said 29% in
four years. Said that's a lot. That's >> And I would hope that you guys already start focusing on January of 2027 when you guys start putting the budget together for next year. Maybe even start at the end of this year. budget cycle and your work cycle is. But
I think that um again from talking to a lot of my neighbors, I think people are just in point that >> Dave Dave the budget cycle for us never ends. We're always on the lookout to try and do better things. And be quite
honest, we a lot of times we get news that's not that's that's not favorable to what we want to hear. I mean, I think it was either today or yesterday I heard that our our HUD aotment for next year is going down $10,000. >> We need to get going. >> Yeah.
>> They're telling us for 2027 that that it's going so we're 10,000 in the hole for that. They already told us that the health coverage is going up another 50% or 40%. You know, if we don't do anything. That's why we're always on the move on these things. And to be quite honest, Dave, that's one of
the reasons why, you know, we took the opportunity. And I'm glad you took us up on it to come in and go through the budget so you could see we don't have a lot of fat. I mean, you're almost at the point where don't you want, you know, and we've worked very hard and one of
our main things has always been we don't want to take sewer out. We don't want to take, you know, uh uh the the garbage out. I mean, it may get forced into that as we have to look for other ways to to to do that, but we're not trying to do it now. Well, I and I know I've heard
you say that over the last few years and even before you, Mayor Madden, will say we don't want to cut services, but I think it's getting to the point. >> Oh, may may well. >> You may just have to say we don't want to do it, but we're going to have to
because I just I don't think people can sustain seven and a half% and then a lot of some of this is without outside your control. The fuel costs and everything that's going on Washington that just piles on. What happens? Absolutely. You know, but you know, on
the on the flip side, you know, and I'm not going to sit there and say, well, it's the schools, it's this, it's that, the other thing, but I mean, right now for most people, and if and Caroline will correct me if I get the numbers wrong, but you probably pay less for all
the municipal services that you get in this town than you do probably for your electric and gas bill for most for most residents. It's It's what was it? 260 a month. That doesn't make it good, Dave.
It It doesn't make it good, but it's just trying to put into When you think about what you're getting. >> When like I said, when I talked to my friend and said, "How much do you pay for garbage collection?" He said 400. I think he said $35 a month. I don't Now, I don't know how often he gets a pick up once a month. once a week, twice a week,
but he said, you know, 35 a year. I was thinking, well, okay. Well, >> not that off your taxes because, you know, I I did have one quick question about ratables. It's sort of touching. I'll just ask you real quick. Last year,
um part of the reason we got hit with the tax increase that we did last year was that um the industrial properties went down. I think it was pretty much 8% most I look at in the tax records. What's what's the story with with the
industrial properties this year? Are they going down again? Have they stabilized in general? I mean, I'm not talking about individual property, but pretty much last year, if I looked at 15 industrial properties, 12 of them had gone down 8%. Do you know what the situation
>> at this point? I don't have those. I think >> Dorne would probably have a better idea on that, but usually she's doing them pretty much she could probably only give you what the average has been, you know, year to date or or something like that >> because, you know, if they go down
substantially like they did last year, that's another hit us. >> They the game the game here is ratables. We we need to improve on ratables and it gets tough. I mean, you know, you have a house disappear on Ron Avenue, there's
money out the window. You'll never see that again. You know, when you're over 90 90 houses and they have more on the list. I mean, we're we're how do you make that up? You know, basically, we're we're looking at redevelopment
other properties to to, you know, we're trying to get creative. I mean without changing the fabric of the town >> the redevelopment that's being investigated on the border by is that going to be residential or
commercial or >> the initial thing that they're talking about or the initial um I guess project thing is it looks to be residential but that's Dave I got to tell you that thing is so far off at this point I mean
there's like a million hurdles No, but you've got you've got a you've got a >> but I mean their their their their concept plan is is residential. >> Okay. One one last question. Has there been any movement last year or so with the McDonald's the old McDonald's property? This is another
question I get asked sometimes is I know at one time maybe might even before CO there was a conceptual plan floating or something like that but has anybody shown any interest in >> we we've had several people show interest uh the fact that it's in a
flood zone does not help uh which may may change eventually when this when the wall gets down or or when they finally finish it you know but at this point I mean the the few people that have been
through basically it just hasn't worked out numerically for I think that's a a fair statement >> all right thank you >> Bruce Sanders 10 minutes Avenue first off I'd like to thank all each and every one of you because I can imagine a
budget process for a town like this is not easy so thank you for what you did to make or keep things at bay I of three questions. Um, first one is regarding our surplus. Did we I know we put money
into the surplus, but is were we at 1.9 last year and we're at 1.1? Am I off on that? I >> No, Caroline. because I saw 1.1 and I got confused. I'm like is this second question I have and I don't
understand this >> um tax 800,000 is that >> statemandated. So they tell you, >> correct? >> Okay. So do do they shuffle money back
from that in that we know of? I mean, >> not that I know of. >> So what are they producing? Are they producing Obama's uh >> they're pretty much autonomous. And do we do we know I know the the
school tax is up 7% and that's like 60 close to 60% of our budget. >> Um do we know anything from Middle Sex County? Are we getting any more or less from Middle Sex County? Because that all comes into what is >> honestly I I haven't heard a a peep
about the the thing about what they're going to charge us. The only thing I do know is that like I said before, I was a little uh disenchanted when I left the meeting there. >> Yeah. >> The last time. >> Yeah. >> I think that's it. All right. Thank you.
You're welcome. Monica Townsen, 120, Barbara Place. Um, I'd like to also echo the sentiment of thanking you all for trying to keep it down as low as you possibly can. Whether you know taxes going up, it's a hardship
for for everybody. So, I know we all feel that and I appreciate the work that you all did to kind of keep it as low as we possibly can get it. So my question is about like going forward how shared services would look with us in a
neighboring town, you know, if there's consideration for shared services to kind of ease some of that um on the budget and what that would look like. >> Are there Well, we already do some shared services right now in terms of
rescue squad and bound Brook. Um we go back and forth with some of the things regarding uh we do provide some level of service on the fire end for Greenbrook. It's really hard to say at this point
there. A lot of the stuff is conceptual. It gets very difficult because you're in two separate counties. >> Um we do, you know, we do subcontract to uh Somerset County for our health department. we do subcontract um
dispatch to Somerset County. Um so we are looking we're we're we're actually always looking for ways to do that. I mean I do think somewhere down the line that one of the next shared services that is going to come up in terms of uh
the fire department and and a daytime shift. I think that's one of the the next way things seem to be moving towards. And as far as as other things, I think eventually, you know, there there may be a merging of towns, but you know, quite honestly,
you know, from the state government, they're not happy with fire districts, so they won't let you look at that. And, you know, there's u there's roadblocks honestly to to getting some of those things. But are weable to them? You bet.
>> Thank you. And then I'm also thinking about like um the housing impact when we have to do like the affordable housing and whether or not like you new units coming up will afford us some kind of taxes to kind of
help offset you know some of the burden on the residents. >> Well, it at this point I mean >> I know we're not there yet but I'm just >> No, no, no. Yeah, I know. But you know, most of the things that come across if it's going to be residential or whatever and there's a developer involved,
usually the developers are driven by the banks. The banks usually push for pilots. Um, so you usually get you usually are pushed into that corner of having to do it. But as far as uh the addressing of affordable housing, the
state has asked 9 million times and we do have a plan in place that has been approved by I believe it's the state I forget the agency that's there or some acronym that belongs to it, but that we we have we have a plan that's acceptable for the
state for us to hit our 81 units in 10 years and our 14 now. So, but at at the same time when it comes to all these affordable, we don't do it ourselves, but we're not presenting roadblocks to anybody who wants to do
the development. So, we wait. >> Okay. >> You know, that that's how that's how that's going to come along. >> Because did we do a pilot for those units that are on Lincoln Boulevard? Is that a a pilot? >> Which one? Like the View and the Lost?
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. They're pilots, both of them. >> So, are we receiving any tax revenue from that? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Absolutely. We get we do they they go pretty well. I I don't know the exact number. I would say probably about
400,000 between the two of them, if not more. >> Okay. And that was the last one we did in the in the burrow. Right. And also the uh the the senior center, right? Not the senior the the senior building to watch on terrace.
>> Right. >> And and there's actually one more which I believe we had six because I think the sixth one is actually the Pathmark building, right? Yeah. All right. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Tom Hary from 107 Ranch Road. Actually,
I have a question related to the pilot program and that is there's some tax revenue that needs to be raised. How much of that revenue is with pilot program? In other words, I think it's 16
or 17 million that has to be raised taxes. Does that include whatever income comes from pilot? >> Yeah, the the the income from the the offsets. >> So the reason
>> so out of your cost I think somehow that Okay, thank you. The second question I have is in the budget that I could read, there was a section called deferred municipal
judgments that went from last year 12,000 to this year 84,000. I was wondering is that thinking that we're going to have a lot of judgments against us? So
yes, getting them out of the way. So third question is what is the definition of caps? >> Cap. >> Yes, there's costs within caps and costs that are over.
Be more >> like health. >> So just a warning. I'm sure the others have said this in addition to our increased health and costs to the town county is going to have and the schools
are so large. >> Yes, you are. >> Thank you, Mayor Council. Uh Vinnie Lala, 150 Old Drive. Um it's no secret I'm running for uh burough council and
um I came here last last meeting and heard mayor's uh presentation of uh the the budget and I gota be honest with you I started talking to people saying that I will never uh vote to raise um municipal taxes and then I heard the mayor's uh presentation and it hit me
like a sledgehammer. It's impossible statement. You can't, you know, that was a very well thought out and uh really uh informative presentation you gave, mayor, and uh there's just too many things that are beyond our control to uh make make a statement like that. I
think you guys did a really good job with the budget and uh it was very well thought out and uh I think there was a lot of work that went involved in that. I just want to thank you guys for that. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. Actually, I'd like to uh like to sit there and take
all the the credit for it, but I would never do that. I think a large amount of the credit has to do with the team that worked on it. And that's everybody that's that's sitting up here, the administrators. Carolyn, you you did a yman's job. All the department heads had
to come in. I mean, the the red pen was out. You hate to sound you hate to say it that way. I mean, but it's pretty lean and mean. We knew it was going to be that way, you know, and if the state keeps going the way they're going, it's going to be another lean and mean year next year. It's just it's just, you
know, to Dave's point, yeah, Dave, where where does it come to you you hit the wall, you know, and unfortunately some of the things that have been happening for us is that it's the state just oh by the way, oh by the way, I mean the
health coverage thing, we know we thought we had it. Oh, thank God we're in a good spot and all of a sudden, oh by the way, 53%. No one talked about that during election season. Not one single person. It was a shame. Um, but we are we are where we are. They did
a great job. I think it's a it's a budget that's going to provide for all of our residents. It keeps us safe. It'll keep the lights on, which is a large part of what we try and do. And uh, for those of you that came up for kind words, thank you. Appreciate it, Vinnie.
Um, is anyone else coming up? Tell you what, let's uh a motion to close. >> Motion second. >> Second. All in favor? >> Okay. >> Resolution 1356 >> motion.
>> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion, guys? Roll call. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Okay, budget passes. Congratulations,
Carolyn. You worked very hard for it. Thanks, Carolyn. >> All right, ordinances for introduction. >> Ordinance 217. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> Okay. Roll call, please.
>> President. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Passes ordinance 171.
>> An ordinance code section 33242. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any quick discussion on this? All the roll, please. >> Council President, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Ordinance 2172.
>> Motion. Second. >> Second. >> All right. >> Go ahead. >> Yes. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Very good. 2173.
>> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. All right. Discussion. >> No. Call the RO. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. The public hearing for all of
these will be on June 16th. 2026. Okay. Ordinances for public hearing and final adoption. I'd like a motion to Oh, we got to read it first. Go ahead. Sorry. >> Ordinance 216726 ordinance.
>> Okay. Motion. >> Second. All right. The public hearing is now open. Anyone wishing to speak on this, come on up. Seeing nobody, I'd like a motion to close. >> Motion. Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I.
>> All right. Okay. I'd like a motion to approve. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? Call the roll, please. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Okay. Very good. I'd like a motion for >> Okay, I'd like to open up the public hearing. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Anyone wishing to speak on this? Come on up. All right. Seeing nobody like a motion to close public hearing.
>> Second. >> All in favor? >> Okay. I'd like a motion to approve. Motion >> second. >> Okay. Any discussion? Call the roll, please. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Okay. Ordinance 2169. >> Okay. Like a motion to open the public hearing. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> All right. Anyone wishing to speak on this, step forward.
Okay. Seeing nobody, I'd like a motion to close the public hearing. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> All right. I'd like a motion to approve. >> Motion. Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? Hold the roll, please.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Moving on. Adoption of minutes. >> Approval of the April 14.26. >> Motion to approve. >> Second.
>> Okay. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? I think so. All right. Okay. Mayor's report. All right. I'd like to uh thank everyone for their their work on the budget. I did happen to mention the fact that HUD already uh
slipped us a wobbler for uh next year. It's unfortunate. Um I've had the honor of being at the ceremony yesterday for police week. Uh I couldn't be prouder of of you guys. I finally was able to now that I'm retired. I actually made it to
one. So, thank you very much for having us. Uh ebikes, that's a big one that's out there. Everyone should be paying attention to this. Um, I'm going to push this as a as a commercial out there starting is it June or July?
July. All these requirements are going to be enforced. All right. They they've been in effect since the beginning of the year, but starting in July, there's going to be active
enforcement for this that if you have certain types of ebikes, you're required to obey the laws. this. Just like a car, there's a stop sign. You better stop and get a ticket. You're supposed to be registered. You're supposed to have insurance. And if you don't, there's
going to be a a pretty hefty fine to to pay. And I know that with some of the knuckleheads that have been uh doing some crazy things out there on the streets, uh I think it's going to come to come to roost because unfortunately I think I I I think it's going to be
brought to a head. And the reason I think it's going to be brought to a head because the reckless behavior is going to be manifested by someone who has road rage or there's going to be someone that's not paying attention and not expecting a bike to be where it's not
supposed to be and it's going to be there and there's going to be an accident and there's going to be a fatality or a serious injury and then all of a sudden it's going to come out. Well, nobody told me. I didn't know. Well, we're letting you know it's going
to happen. And you know, you know, from from my standpoint, I don't make the laws. I And I certainly am not responsible for enforcing them, but I am going to strongly encourage our police department to to have kind of a heavy hand on this because it's gotten out of
hand and we don't want anyone to get hurt. That's that's all I'm going to say on that. Um, Mike's going to touch on something on the communication end for our tax assessor awareness. I think uh one of
these things that Dons did is just amazing. Um, there's also going to be a a ribbon cutting at Inspire Physical Therapy. That's going to be uh Saturday there on Lincoln Boulevard. That's going to be around noon. And you know, I would
be remiss if if I didn't mention uh two things. Number one, there's a grant. Lenny's going to tell us about it a little bit later, that came through for us, which was quite substantial, which is great. And last, and certainly not least, uh Vic Kapalongi, for those of
you that knew him or didn't know him, Middle Sex lost a good guy right there. I mean, he uh he passed away. Uh his his funeral was last week. Um I I went there, there was such an outpouring of love. It was amazing. I mean, and in
spite of the fact, not in spite of, but he did fire for many, many, many years. He was also a three-term councilman up there. He put in a ton of hours and dedicated to Middle Sex. Um,
it's it's a shame. It's a loss of one of the good guys. It really is. Uh, and that is and the last thing I have is August 11th, National Night Out to make sure we don't forget about that. And that's my report for tonight. Council President,
>> thank you, Mayor. Uh, I want to congratulate the police department, their recipients. I know unfortunately they're all gone. Thank you, Chief, for facilitating as always. Uh, big congrats to Cash's Kenn. I know he also left. I was hoping he'd stay, but I' I've worked
closely with Cashes for for many years as a coach and then on the the rec committee. Um, he's been invaluable to our rec department, obviously, 24 years. I think it's thousands of hours. Um I've been on the opposite side or
fielder before when he's he's coached teams because nobody else stepped up and he had his other he had his kids on other teams. So tons and tons of time but very welld deserved to the mayor's point um about Vic. My
deepest condolences to Marie and her entire family on To me, he's Middle Sex royalty to a lot of us. He's a lifelong resident of Middle Sex. Uh he was deeply committed
to his community, spending much of his time giving back to Middle Sex. He was a Middle Sex County Committeeman for the Middle Sex Burough Republican Organization for over 35 years. Vic also served, the mayor said, three
consecutive terms as a councilman, first elected, and I know Shirley overlap with him. Um, I forget the years, but I did look a lot of this up and I did talk to Marie quite a bit. Uh, Vic was a so he was first elected in 1981 and he served
from 1982 to 1990. Uh, Vic was a dedicated member of the Middle Sex Elves. He was a dedicated member of the American Legion Post. uh also the Middle Sex JC's which unfortunately dormant and uh what he was most proud of was
being a volunteer fire fighter and a life member of the Beachwood Heights fire department for over four years. Um he was a shining example to many including me giving back to the community. He lit up any room when he entered and
his smile was taped. Very unique smile. He will be greatly missed. Um congratulations. We have two three new firefighters coming on. Uh you know in prior years we would have one. So we're getting three at one meeting. I
know one's coming back. Uh Brian Oliver but Dave Garrett and Dave's at Beachwood. The other two Nicholas Green at Lincoln. So, a total of three just at this meeting. I know Lenny's going to go into a little bit, but uh the mayor mentioned it on our on our big grant,
and this is all because of Lenny. US Department, it came from the US, so it's a federal grant. US Department of Housing and Urban Development. It's a HUD grant. Um specifically under the HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development. There's all kinds of different departments under HUD. So they
awarded Middle Sex Burough $850,000 for our streetscape phase 2 project. So as everyone knows it uh mostly in front of the high school, but this phase two will continue starting fiscal year 26. So after July uh down Route 28 from
where phase one left off basically at Washington A to Lena. So again going west. So another big stretch of Route 28. Um, but again, thank you to the entire team. I know it wasn't just Lenny, but Lenny
really spearheaded this. Um, not only phase two, this funding, but he also did it for phase one. Um, Lenny's very passionate. He's very focused on these these large projects, especially anything streetscape related.
So, again, 100% kudos to to Lenny. Um and then hopefully we'll get phase three over the next four or five years. We'll continue that. I don't know past Heights Fire I mean whatever. So and then connect down to Bound Brook. And then we
do have one last phase that will connect uh from the Enenzos to >> Well, that's a long >> that's got to be done before you retire. >> Before you retire. >> Another 20 years. Lenny, you're good.
Um the the Middle Sex Elks had their first annual spring fling charity. I don't know if Christine's still here. I think she's No, she's not. But u she did leave. So they had a the spring fling charity ball was to benefit special needs children, camps, things like that. Uh it was back in April 25th, but it was
a it was great job. They're going to keep this going. Christine coordinated it. Very very good. I wanted to also let everybody know that the lounge has reopened downstairs. It's kind of was open and it was closed and an issue was reopened. Anyway, it's it's it's it's
officially reopened. It's beautiful. They open every day at 3 and um they have dinners every Friday starting at 6 p.m. and they're 12 bucks. It's a lot of food, all you can eat. But again, if you walk in, I know there's a lot of other
elks here, Elsie and Joe, Vinnie, you wouldn't even recognize downstairs. It's absolutely gorgeous. Um, so the reassessment inspections, the mayor brought this up, uh, now happen annually. Everybody, I think, knows that
20% of the burrow get inspected every year, which is what most towns do. This year's inspection will begin the summer. And the 20% of residents affected will receive a letter from our assessor, Dawn. This year, our assessor created this uh, we missed you card. We've never
had this. We're trying to increase the communication. I know it's tough to see, but it's a postcard on the back. sorry we missed you. It gives you gives everyone a little blurb on why they're getting this. The inspector missed you. Um here's what's expected. You can call
andor email schedule an appointment and then if so uh they also get a business, you know, an reminder card. So things that we haven't done in the past that our inspectors will now have. They'll leave this. Um,
it provides, like I said, the details, phone number, email, and um, this will help with the scheduling that's been an issue over the last two years. This is the third year. And then my last piece is just on public works, which uh, the crew led by Lenny
has done quite a bit over the last month. This is just the last four weeks. Mountain View Park. 10 10 of our not I guess street lights, parking lot lights have been replaced and changed over to LED from public service. There's still more to go. A couple near the football
field. Uh ban houses have been installed on Rock Lane and Rar Nav uh by Claire and the commission. Thank you, Claire. All unsafe trees, I just I just saw this too this weekend were all removed. It was all finalized by the football field, track field, JB soccer field in the
back, all behind the high school. All because of storm damage. We've had fence after fence after fence get crushed by um you know, mostly limbs and and rotted trees. So, some of these trees were literally on the fence, never trimmed.
Um the tree company Predator left the wood chips. So DPW will use those wood chips to replenish the cross country track. If everyone knows where that is, that's track. Um the fence was also repaired at uh
Cookfield, the softball field, which uh was done by a by a truck delivering chlorine. Cook field. Somebody ran through it um at the end of Madison. All covered by insurance. Six tons of asphalt was used at various
locations. Continuing pothole program 165 tons of household garbage was collected just in the last um basin repairs are being completed on board starlet Washington because the contractors are going to start milling
this summer I think two week two weeks uh for those are the next roads on the on the paving schedule and this is all new which thank you Lenny so we have two mechanics they performed just for the police department 21 fluid checks three
minor repairs, brakes, oil. Four major repairs, sensors, injectors, alternators, coolant. Mechanics also perform 60 fluid checks on our DPW vehicles, 34 small engine repairs. That includes chainsaws, mowers, weed
whackers, three minor truck repairs, five major truck repairs, ABS, tie rods, rotors, fuel injectors, shifters, and then in addition, the mechanics form four minor and one major repair to our fire and senior vehicles. Two new
vehicles were titled and registered. Plates were also done for the seniors. We have a van small bus and we have a Kia car now for medical appointments. A lot of our seniors weren't able to get in and out of anything that wasn't loaded.
The prior car was an O2 uh Caprice from the police department that had no air and had heat that barely worked. So that was what was so we, you know, obviously saved up for this Kia when he got it for I think 37 38 39 grand. Um so we pulled
the trigger on that. So and the last one were the decals and some of the other things we don't talk about a lot of years ago, a lot of the maintenance was sent out. Now it's all in house with two mechanics. That's OEM, that's fire, that's everybody but really
>> res when you're trying to, you know, to Monica's point, what are we doing to try and save money? That's one of the things we're trying to >> Yeah, I love it, L. Keep it coming. Um, the last last point I have is on Mountain View Park, the playground, something near and dear to a lot of our
hearts, especially me. The playground bathroom renovations. Uh, the Grove area pavilion, the top playground almost all ready to be reopened, we think in the next 10 days. The playground, both playgrounds will be open. in the grove area. Um, everything but the bathrooms
because we're waiting on 88 required railings. So, once we get those railings in, we can open the bathrooms. They're all custom made railings. So, um, the last thing is the pavilion. Keep note of the manusc the the horseshoe pits are now removed.
We're going to grade that out. So, there's major major I mean it looks and the milling in front of the all the black top is beat up. Um so give us another week to 10 days and it'll be reopen and the park hasn't looked so
that's >> okay. Very good. All right, Councilwoman Clark. >> Um I also want to take a moment to thank the officers of this town. Um Chief, you and your department do a fabulous job of keeping everybody safe. I know it can sometimes be a thankless job um
especially for the families as well. Um your dedication and service are truly appreciated. Um so on to the updates to see disabled and senior services. Um on May 14th, this Thursday at 1 p.m.
they're going to be having a health session um about osteoporosis prevention, healthy aging, and ways to reduce um fracture risk. And then on The AP safe driving course is scheduled
for May 26 and 28th from 9 to 12. On June 4th at 1:30, they're going to be having a senior Medicare patrol. They'll be presenting in the Age of AI, protect yourself against financial and healthc care fraud, cultural and arts committee.
Um their last meeting was April 9th. Um, no real updates yet because our next meeting is not scheduled until um 14th. However, on um 17th, they're going to be having their color and flower festival at Mountain View Park. Um, all ages are
welcome and so are dogs, May 17th from 12 to 3. Um, the film commission, their last meeting was on May 16th. Um at that meeting, Lenny was able to come to it and provide some insights to us.
Um we really discussed the importance of social media, especially for that particular group, um and ways to continue growing our outreach um efforts. We're currently waiting for improved weather conditions to begin photographing burrow properties throughout our town. Um
on April 30th, four of us were able to take a trip to the film expo in New Jersey. That was very um insightful. It's a great way to network with different organizations and find out what our next steps need to be as a town, be able to talk to other towns that are compar comparative to our size
in order to see like what they've done in order to kind of um get recognized. Um and so it was just a great learning experience to see what we need to do here to become more film ready. Um because it will ultimately produce revenue for our town. Um, so their next
meeting is scheduled May 21st and they meet via ahead. >> Right. Thank you, Councilman Desenza. >> Before I start, I'm trying to save some money. I'm going to ask assistant administrator to please
raise the temperature. My wife is there. >> I would like to say I sent him the freezing emoji and he did not care. U library meeting. Uh glad to report that the outlet covers, thank you, Lenny, have been completed. The
sprinklers are ready to activate next week. Uh just a note that uh the library has hired their own contract for TK1 an annual cost of $14,000. Just want to make sure that they're not
included because I know we have a bid out right now that we're considering that it's not included. Also, you know, environmental uh May 2nd they had the clean up at Mountain View Park uh for the Greenbrook was sponsored by America
Corps, the watershed ambassadors. All went well, I guess. Uh meeting with the chairperson and the burough administrator was very informative and I'll let administrators say more about that.
uh 2026 municipal budget final adopted finally adopted tonight. Thank you all that helped with this year's budget. On a side note, it's been a little over six months since we made the change to our current pool of administrators,
and I would like to express my sincere gratitude. To these two gentlemen, their dedication to the government, their leadership, professionalism has exceeded my
expectations and I applaud you for your parks. Still looking for some volunteers. Anybody out there that has a few extra hours parks committee can really use some help. Please contact our administrators.
Uh committee is working on priorities for the victim crow park development. When completed, they will seek help in procuring grants. Mountain View Park Playground, as uh my good buddy already
announced, is almost ready for opening. Uh and dedication will happen hopefully in the next couple weeks. Just want to also report that the uh abandoned PSA building part of this
planefield sewer authority brick building that sits way in the back you can see just a little bit of it has been secured was bottom floor all the windows were broken out the doors were broken and a lot of graffiti
inside so we know kids were getting in there and what they do But it's thank you to uh efforts of Lenny and Matthew going our code enforcers for getting playing field
to step up and secure that building. So hopefully we remove some area. And just another note that Mike O'Donnell commented at the recent
meeting that the soccer field the main soccer field is in very poor condition. Have the school turn. >> That's it. >> That's it. All right. Councilman Dodie. >> Yeah, mayor. I have all three of them
tonight. Um fire department will do first. 34 total incidents for April. two structure involvements. Uh, four motor vehicles, collisions, gas leak eights and smoke alarms eight. They had another
really quiet kind of shock. Uh, chief sent over a couple of things. I gave everybody a copy of these, by the way. Little late. Um on May 1st, truck 82 was requested into Warren Township for working fire on
King George Road. They were there for over two hours and returned back to the burrow. On May 2nd, the fire requested a one and one, one engine and one truck to the scene on New Market Avenue for a welloff involved structure fire. Both
engine 823 and truck 82 responded at Danella to assist in disting extinguishment of the fire. Chris worked for several hours assisting with the overhaul at the end. Several hours later they returned. The last one he sent over was on May
21st. Middle sex fire department responded to 9A lane for reported fire. Uh when they arrived they found it was some insulation on wires going to the back of the building and they monitor it. It burned out and PSMG showed up,
secured the power and they monitored it. So it was burned itself out and shortly after arrival of PF PSMG they were released from the scene that is all shown on this. We'll do the police. I have marches,
1616 calls for service, 22 arrests, 249 summones. The NIBRS crimes, there were 29 were cleared, which is 45% which was a good month for my chief. Um,
you guys keep making detectives like gets worse every month. Either that or my eyes are gone. um detective bureau. Two aggravated assaults in March, two simple assaults they're investigating, terroristic
threats, one harassment, one um see what else do they burglary, trespassing, two theft, two criminal mischief, three forgery, bad check, six. So they're they're very very busy. There
was court three uh contempt orders that they worked on. They had firearms permitting. They have fingerprinting. They have their usual school rounds that they do, which I know you stepped them up now towards the summer. I got that email from you. There's going to be more
of that. Um, I'd also like to congratulate you on your accreditation. You downplayed it a lot. You've been over there over 10 years. From the day you walked in there, you wanted to do this. So this isn't just the last couple
of years. This is a decade of trying to get that because I was your leaison back then and walked into that evidence room and it was like a bag in the corner basically. a lot of towns,000 really a lot
of work >> and and I know it was a huge team effort from top to bottom. Everybody had a how to buy into it because any new evidence that came in was actually locked properly and tagged and everything properly. Plus they were going through
stuff that they had no clue figured it out somehow. So I know it was >> it was enormous task that's taken a decade. So I'd like to congratulate and the officers just all the awards they got. We have and two of them are one two
of our newer officers too. So they they do great work. I have the court uh April 26 tickets and complaints. 175 tickets, 19 parking, 156 moving, three DWIs,
nine criminal complaints, warrant or summones, no local ordinance, two help tickets issued, 22 zoning issued. uh new business for the court. They had five court sessions. So they had three in person, two virtual, 301 defendants,
321 cases deposed of this month, 19 DWI. Uh we collected $25,24.70. $18,8626 is deferral. And I it says on here they're going to have another special session May 18th
for IKEA. So I guess that's a trial. So there more involved. So >> sure, >> I'm sure the the uh judge set aside time for that. That's all I have. >> All right. Thank you. All right.
Councilman Griggs. >> Yes. Good evening. Uh first I also want to extend uh thanks to two for all the hard work and all the works for the department. Uh it definitely doesn't go unnoticed. It's appreciated.
Uh as far as the recreation report u the the recreation department meets the uh the meeting is the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the rec hall attending. Uh upcoming programs they have the wrestling that starts on the
14th of uh May and it's grades 6 to 12. Uh we also have the summer playground starts on June 29th. It's six weeks. There's currently uh 58 registered and is open. There's the happy camper
program which starts also on the 29th of June. We offer it's uh six weeks uh 10 day. They meet three days a week. There's three sessions a week at the rec center Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. That's for toddlers.
Registration is open. Memorial Day parade, that's coming up on the 25th. Uh it's the 250th celebration. Uh definitely going to be a big event. Looking forward to everybody that's participating and hope we have a lot of people attending, you know, watching the
parade as well. Uh on June 6th and 7th, we have a a townwide yard sale. Uh It's so far there's 44 homes registered and if you'd like to register yourself to take part it's uh $5 and you can sign up online.
Uh the other things coming up in the future, there's uh movies in the park uh on July 16th, we'll be doing national treasure and on August 13th uh the movie cars. Now, uh pool commission uh the meetings are on the third Wednesday of the month
in the library community room at 7 p.m. So that's next week. the uh some some notes from the pool. Uh signups are are taking place now for both residents and non-residents to sign up. Now's the time. The pool can
also be rented out for parties. You can inquire for details there. They are currently hiring for the pool. It's taking place. one specific position they're looking for is the assistant manager of the pool that that's open at this time and
details regarding the pool and its hours etc can be found on the burrow website. That's all I have. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Councilwoman Quinn. >> Good evening everyone. Um I do not have too much to report tonight. Uh the board
of health and the shade tree did not meet. meetings are on this Thursday um here at Burough Hall. For the board of education, they had uh their meeting on April 29th.
Um during that meeting, they did have their budget review and vote and the budget passed with a five4 vote um with the amount of $57 million.
The next BOE meeting is 519 is the committee of the whole and 520 is the regular BOE meeting. Um, as for our shared service committee, um, we are currently going through
documents and it's going to be a little while before we have our next meeting. We were hoping in June, but I'm still um staying in contact with BOE and as of right now, we do not have the date for the next meeting. Once I do, I will
report back and um that's all I have. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Okay. Administrator's report, please. >> Yes, sir. Uh I first just want to give a Mountain Park playground update. Want to
touch on that? >> Yeah. Rest assured, Lenny's been all over track about these railings. He's been um really trying to get this thing open now. He won't get it open. Probably this week he wants to try to get it done, but he's done everything he can do to get these um there's a fabrication issue and
uh even if we went out on our own at this point three or four weeks down the road by the time they fabricated and installed. So um we're still deciding if we cut our losses on that, but he's been really really on top of this to get this thing done. And we did have a little bit
of a push back for we got pushed this project got pushed back because the equipment was destroyed. So there's been a lot of lot of obstacles along the way. As far as the um the funding or the grant award the bureau was notified will receive this
was touched on by our council president was notified will receive the FY26 economic development and community project funding award for $850,000 on April 28, 2026. uh Lenny and Alexa Reed from Bruno and Associates applied for this grant way back in 25 um grant like
as you said it's going to fund for phase two of the route 28 streets escape project providing upgrades to route 28 from Washington to rain it's going to include decorative lighting curbs sidewalk pavers benches and shade trees need to enhance the appearance of the corridor while
continuing our efforts to invest in the community in a responsible way George Avenue we received complaints from residents on George Avenue uh regarding several water mane breaks on the street over the last several months. Uh New Jersey American Water has been making repairs to the water man. They
had several repairs and it seems like it keeps failing. Um last week we had another experienced another water man break on that street. There was some complaints that came from residents. Lenny jumped on it right away. He communicated the concerns with New Jersey American water leadership um and
insisted that they replace the whole water man. Um I didn't know how far uh they would take that but he he was pretty u pretty clear on that what needed to be done with this um and that they make the ne necessary repairs to the roadway which includes milling paving curb to curve due to the ongoing
issues road conditions. I think today we just heard that So, it's a it's a good news. I think it was good because he puts put some pressure on, but there was some some complaints from the area and um you know, it's a it's a big project to do the whole street and I think after two
or three or four uh breaks, um you know, it was a mess down there. So, it's going to be a bigger mess, but it'll get cleaned up. Uh but appreciate your efforts on that. It was uh very helpful to our to our people. George Memorial Day parade. Again, just to touch on it quickly, it's our 250th
celebration. It's on May 25th. I know Melissa said recreation and her team are working hard on this. It starts um May 25th again at 10 a.m. rain or shine. Come be a part of our special day. It's a great way to honor and celebrate bring our community together. Anyone who has any questions can contact our recreation
department at recreation middle sexboro-j.gov or you can just call the phone on 732-3567400. Their extension is 277. I know I know Mr. Kenn said that Penrose yelled at him once. I don't know if he's looking for sympathy on this, but she I'm the chief of police. He yelled at me
once. >> It's open season. >> He does not He does not get my sympathy. Mr. mechanic does not he might might deserve an award but he doesn't get my sympathy. >> I I I think actually the weren't they also looking for if anyone's out there out there in TV land they're looking for a couple of classic cars or
convertibles. >> Oh yeah. I was going to bring out the van but I figured the guys wouldn't want that. No couple quick >> convertibles. Convertibles. Okay. >> How many you need?
So, a bunch. All right. >> I'll carry you surely. >> Yep. >> Health insurance plan application process. As you're aware, on in March of 2026, the bureau made application to the state during their special during a special open enrollment for a more
affordable health insurance plan. Because of the skyrocketing costs, expenses, and health care and an effort to save taxpayer money related to health care costs, our mayor council explored options on a different plan. We provided the state with all the required documentation at this point in a new health insurance plan. It's the Middle
Sex Burough HD H which is the health reimbursement range will go into effect on June 1st 2026 will continue to review options and implement cost safety measures when possible. Last week, Middle Sex Police Department at the EA National Takeback Day. I
really wasn't going to mention this, but I just thought it was interesting. Um, that's when we accept uh drugs and prescription medicines that are no longer needed uh that the public needs to dispose of anything expired, unused, unwanted. Um, we recovered or we
collected 172 pounds residents um in four hours. So, that's a lot. That's the most we've ever had for one um by by a decent amount. So, just it's a good service that we provide twice a year. you have something. I know there's other locations around one of the scataway and
I think Somerset, Summer Somerville where they do it. It's year round, but uh but our program seems to work really good. Lastly, I have uh I'm asking the mayor and council for a consensus to request the burough attorney, Chris Corsini, create an ordinance allowing the
municipal clerk to officiate marriage ceremonies. Um I just have a little blurb here on it. Just bear with me. I'll read through. Um, New Jersey Public Law 2025, Chapter 222, formally formerly Assembly Bill 8583
approved on January 12th, 2026, allows municipal clerks to solommonize marriage and civil unions in the state of New Jersey. This legislation is an amendment to RS371-13, which expands the list of officials authorized to perform these ceremonies.
If the municipal clerk who serves in a register capacity officiates a marriage ceremony, that individual shall not perform any other function related to the registration or issuance of the record, including issu issuing or receiving a license, accepting a license application or issuing certified copies
of the record. These tasks would fall to the deputy to perform. Any current municipal clerk offering officient services must adhere to New Jersey state statutes, regulations, and both state municipal policies. If such services are offered by the current municipal clerk, they must be offered fairly and with
consistency. Such rules include NJSA371-1.3 which affirms that the state, any government entity or any other institution shall not infringe upon the fundamental right of a person to marry or enter into a civil union as well as NJSA 105-4
which provides that all persons shall receive the opportunity to access public accommodations without discrimination based on protected characteristics. The council agrees resident non-resident fees would need to be established. My recommendation would be $100 for residents and $150 for non-residents.
And if you just let me know your consensus on that forward or not. Okay. Consensus. Yes. One, two. All right. So, two,
three, four, five. Okay. Yeah, you have senses. >> Thank you very much. Lastly, just on behalf of Lenny and myself, we wanted to offer congratulations to Mr. Cash's Kanek on being recognized of pillar of Middle Sex who his dedication to work Middle Sex makes it a better place and
it's really appreciated by uh by everyone here and I just I'm so happy that you um created this program mayor. It's a It's a really nice way to get uh people have done some fantastic things for Middle Sex up in front and show how fantastic how great residents we have
here, things they're willing to do for our citizens. >> Very good. Just to circle back one more time on on Vic Kapalongi, those of us on the on the red side of the aisle going way back when when you when you were running, you had to go
through the Vic Kapalongi school of campaigning and it wasn't optional and there was no uh there was no rebuttal. There was you just take it. But it was uh he's he was quite the guy. He will be
missed. I And I have some really very fond memories of that. Okay. Uh let's move on to the privilege of the floor. Uh need a motion and a second. >> Motion. >> Second. >> He he was part of it.
>> Yep. That's it. >> Okay. Hang on. All right. So motion second. All in favor? >> I Okay. >> Hey Paulovich 240 Hazelwood. Uh, I just had a couple things I want to ask about.
Mayor, I was looking at the website, municipal website, and I noticed that the council is meeting only once a month from now on. Is that correct? And why is that why has that change been made? >> Basically, what we're trying to do is to
is to cut down on the the amount of meetings a little bit because what we've been doing is that we've been doubling up. we make sure that we get all the information instead of having a 19m minutee meeting. Let's have a meeting where we get all the information together and go through there. I'd like
to say it was once a once a month, but I got to tell you, we've had a like a handful. If we need them, we have them. I mean, we've had those special meetings where we needed to take a a vote, but this has been actually this has been actually
beneficial for the way we operate to be quite honest because it's been we've been able to get the people together for the budgets. You know, we're getting work done and having and coming here to make sure that we have all the information together when we're there. So,
to to your end, you know, when you're asking questions, we can answer them. >> Okay. Well, I I did notice for the rest of the year there is uh seven meeting nights for the council and six of them bur the bur the board of ed meets the
same night. So I don't although I could I could understand you guys are out a lot. I mean I understand from covering municipal governing bodies for 40 years there's a lot of things people don't see the lot of nights you guys are out at committee meetings or events and this and that. People don't see that. I
understand that. So, I'm not so opposed to one meeting a month. Others might be, but my concern is having them meet the one meeting the same night as the board. >> It's it's a valid point. We could actually look at that. But, you know, to
be quite honest, Dave, our meetings have been on Tuesdays forever and a day. >> I know. I'm I mean, I'm not denying that. I'm just saying, you know, you have said many times here and in private conversations with me that you're all about transparency. Well, you know, and there's not that many people come to these meetings. Not that many people go
to board of ed meetings. But I just don't think it's a good look for the town to only have three meetings of its two major governing bodies, board of ed, and the council, and two of the three meetings are on the same night. I just
it just doesn't sit well with me. But I don't make the decisions. >> Well, I'll tell you what. I'll meet you halfway. We'll put it on next meeting for a workshop if you guys want. >> Let's talk our way through it. >> Sure. I mean, >> this way we're not, you know,
>> well, you know, again, that's just my everyone else may say Dave doesn't know what he's talking about, but I mean, that's just my opinion. >> No, it's it's it's it's a fair statement, Dave. >> Okay. Um, another question is I saw on the executive session one item is public safety illegal occupancies. Can you tell
me or can you say anything about I know it's executive, you can't say much, but >> can't say much. Chris, you wanna >> Sorry, Dave. >> Thank you, Chris. >> Um, uh, last question. Uh, mayor, earlier you were talking about the ebike
ordinance and you said your thoughts are to, you know, the police department should go hard on this. And I just want to say I agree with that. I think these things, a lot of them are torpedoes that they are riding, people riding on torpedoes. And I'll tell you one
personal story. I have a friend, same friend I was talking about with the garbage uh costs, lives in Scotch Planes. We go to Rutgers games, football games a couple times in the fall. He has an RV. So, you know, we have to swing around on certain streets. And last fall we're going down to one street. I'm in
the passenger seat and I'm looking out and there's on the sidewalk there's flowers and a cross and I'm like hadn't seen it before. I was like, "What's that?" He goes, "Somebody got drilled by an E vehicle." I haven't g the person got killed, be a pedestrian or a person
on the vehicle or whatever. So, I would say go hard on these people because if you go easy on somebody and they do a second offense and somebody gets hurt, everyone's going to come back and say, "Why didn't you guys would have stopped it when you had a chance to?" So, if you get somebody, especially, you know, I
hear the stories, you see them on social media. Again, social media sometimes you have to take with a grain of salt, but some people I've seen some mothers saying, you know, I saw a kid at a park, he was driving crazy. I tried to talk to him. He's like, I don't have to listen to you. You know, my parents say I can do whatever I want. You're fighting that
kind of attitude. I know the chief could probably talk that you're not only being law enforcement, you're being parents at the same time. But I think, you know, this is not a kid stealing licorice from the corner store. This is public safety where somebody could get hurt. And like I said, I've been through Scotch Planes and have seen flowers and a cross on on
the roadside. I hope we never see that in Middle Sex because of that. Well, you know, and it and there's always a certain amount of things because you'll see it depends on the time of day, too. I mean, you you look at some hours of the day, you know, it's a guy, he's
going to work, you know, that's what he's doing. That's he's he's using his ebike. He's going to work. He's obeying the the traffic laws. He's doing the right things. But, you know, it's it's Saturday afternoon. They're four wide across the street. They're they're
blocking cars. They're not letting them go by on purpose. I mean, come on. There comes a point where, you know, I have a lot of patience, although my wife might disagree with that, but you know, you know, you could just see it. You can
see some someone's gonna get you're gonna catch the wrong guy on the wrong day and next thing you know there's going to be bikes and body parts all over the road and it's it's going to be unfortunate and and we want to nip it in the bud. I mean, you know, our our
bottom line here and I know you know our our police department, we uphold the law. That's what we want. You know, that's what Middle Sex residents want. Uphold the law. We're not saying go hard like to don't be reasonable. You know, you know, you know the routine. If you're if you
if you have a good reason or you're acting with it, but if you're totally reckless and and disrespectful, you're going to get what you get. It's always been that way. >> I would say if you really want to put to stop this, go hard from the start
because like I said, you know, word will get around. I I the guy who does my lawn was telling me that he was going somewhere with his son the one day I guess they're one 28 and son's in the pastor seat and um all these kids were riding scooters alongside the road and
they're all crazy and his son waves to like you know those guys he goes yeah I play sports against them they weren't even from middle sex they're from another town from another town he played against rec sports so you may have some of that going on too or some of the kids that are coming here um you know you can
go pretty far in those vehicles. You don't have to stay in one town. You can go to next town or two towns over very easily. Um but I think if you if you start if Middle Sex gets the reputation of saying we're not going to tolerate this from the start once that those laws start being enforced, I think word will
get around and you will probably have less of a problem. >> I I think our police response will be visible and appropriate. I will tell you that responds taking over
traffic. But I will tell you already started social media. identified several dangerous. It's, you know, it's and when you talk about public safety, it's not even the kids on it's not just the kids on the
bike. If they're blocking 28 or one of the major roads and there's an ambulance trying to get through, there's a fire truck trying to get through. Sometimes seconds, you know that, chief in public safety, sometimes seconds and minutes make a difference. I know someone who went to the hospital and their heart stopped and the only reason they
survived is because their heart stopped when they were at the hospital. The ambulance got them there to the hospital and that's where their heart stopped. Now, if you had an incident where you had a bunch of people talking roadway for some reason the person doesn't get there that person doesn't survive. So, and and I I understand their kids. They
probably don't they don't think of all this stuff, but I think they've got to be reminded of it. So, >> not all kids Thank you. >> Monica Towns and 120 Barbara Place. I was going to ask about the education campaign for the ebike. So, I'm glad
this that you answered that question. Uh, and it's on social media like it's on the website, the burrow's website, >> police website. >> Okay. Will there be >> will it be up on the burrow website?
>> You can certainly find it. I just have >> I'm glad that you all are doing it because we did have that conversation. And that's part of the reason why we're also thinking about that's a good idea. Thank you. Um just
again thank you all for your reports. Thank you Lenny for the $850,000 for the streetscape. It looks really good so far. So I'm excited to see what's going to happen moving forward. So, um, kudos to you and the team that
put that together. Um, I had a question. Uh, mayor, you said the reassessment or I think this was the mayor's report or me or president uh, council president reassessment annually 20% of the burrow will be inspected. I think it was
council president. Um, so when the reassessment happens, their taxes are going to go up. >> No, >> not necessarily. >> This is just the inspections. >> Okay. >> So, The reassessment happens every >> right >> and then the inspections instead of
having the entire town 100% of the town per year which is really costly 20% of the town is each year. full town is expected, >> right? >> So that means that if somebody were to put on a addition,
you know, or something like that, they didn't get permits, the town, the burrow would never know. So they would go from two bedroom to a fourbedroom and the town would never know. So that's how these inspections, that's a catchall.
>> Yeah. and make sure that how your house is qualified in on your statement. You know, be like two story. >> Make sure all that information is correct. >> Yeah. I went through mines last year when we started. >> Yeah. I mean, they're quick. They come right in. They mean >> Yeah.
>> general condition and what do you have? You know, four bedrooms, two baths, a garage. Okay. Next. Then they move on. >> Right. Thank you. Um let's see. Are we still on target for road repairs?
>> Okay, good. Thank you. >> Okay, awesome. Thank you. Uh, Councilman Den Denza Denz tongue twister here, but Denza, thank
you. Thank you for your report. A clarifying question you had mentioned about the parks committee needs help. Is that just to volunteer for activities or >> to be like on the committ? >> To be on the committee. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, they have to fill out the application that's online.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. I just want to make sure that it was for to be on the committee, not to volunteer for a specific activity. >> Thank you. Um, Councilman Dodie, um, the zoning issues, what can you give
us a little bit more about like what that is or chief They're they're violations that have gotten to to the court level. That's what it is. The zoning the zoning inspector goes out. >> Is it residential? Is it businesses? Okay. >> Yeah. >> Could be it could be anything.
>> Could be anything. Your grass is too high. You got a car parked in the yard that shouldn't be there that's unregistered. Uh >> Matthew Dillingham or >> Yeah. Okay. >> That's She just reports the the numbers to me from the court. Yeah. >> That they that they've
heard. >> Yeah. When they say zoning, that's the they're ones that he he initiated. >> He goes up. Okay. Thank you. Scroll down. Oh, no. So, New Jersey American Water doing um the water main breaks. Is that
only on George AB that that occurred? Are they doing something milling and paving in other areas? Only just those. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Water beater fixed. There's they're doing that all over the place.
>> Yeah, I've seen them quite a lot >> around town. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Anybody else? I'm sorry, young lady. You got to step up to the mic if you're going to ask a question.
>> Name and address first. >> Uh Ann Marie Klyber, 116 Chestnut. Uh this is in response to a comment made the last meeting uh regarding the no kings event. Um for me you can sugarcoat it all you want. This was a negative
community dividing event. A lot of residents spoke out not wanting this in our town. From the inside it probably appeared peaceful but from the outside it looked anything but. The language on the signs lining the sidewalks were
offensive and disgusting. Having such language in the presence of children is reckless. What kind of message does that send to them? Not only to the children at the event, but children passing by in cars, either walking or on bicycles. They see that
offensive language. What are they supposed to think? Do we really want to be teaching that? I've lived in this town for 30 years. and all the events have been positive and community building until now. Think of all the lifelong residents that have
been here. They don't want to see that. We should be focusing on events that bring Middle Sex forward, not backward. Thank you. >> 12 Barbara Place. I'm going to respond to that, but I do have a question about
solar, the solar program. Are we tracking how many houses have signed up for that? >> We we have an idea of how many houses have signed up for that, but we're still honestly we're still reviewing that because I I'm one of the people I haven't seen a
a saving time yet. So, I want to see I want to see it come through. >> First, I got my email. >> Did you? Okay. That I didn't see yet. Well, they originally said June, so look in June. >> That's what I think.
>> Yeah. End of the summer. >> I I did apply for so I was just curious. I did have another question. The pillar of Middle Sex the last time I was here. Congratulations to all those who are pillar of Middle Sex, but I also asked of like is there a process, an application process? I think you said
people just kind of refer to you for that. Are we going to do something where there isn't a process to go through? Because you're going to do this what? Every month, every two months? >> Just a It's been like four or five times a year.
>> Okay. So, maybe >> I mean, at this point, I think it's up to Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's It's pretty much up, but if you have some recommendations, you got my email. thinking of like a transparent
process that people can apply, submit, you know, you have like qualifiers and criteria for it because you're going to do it as often as you're going to do it. I think you need to have a process in place. It's just a a suggestion. >> Yeah, point well taken.
>> Yeah. So, um, if I may just respond. So, the No Kings Rally was an opportunity for people to come together to stand in solidarity around issues that are impacting communities that are affecting
them in a negative way. It was an opportunity for people to say they are going to stand up with one another and come together and talk about the atrocities that our people are facing that are coming down from the federal government to our local communities. It
was not to divide anyone. It was to bring people together around a common issue and a common concern that we all are facing. And if you look at where we are today, what's happening at the federal level, it trickles down to our communities and our communities are
being impacted. So we hear language each and every day coming from the federal government that is divisive, that is nasty, that is negative, that is putting people in places and um really destroying people's lives each and every
day. So to stand there and say that we are that we came together to divide people, we did not. We came together to bring people together to talk about the issues that are important to people that are going to be affected by them every
single day. And to stand there and say that um people are having divisive language when this federal administration is divisive every time you turn on the freaking news. They are divisive. Okay? and they are trying to destroy communities. So, I'm going to
stand up each and every time I get to talk about what they're doing and how it is going to affect this community while I'm in it. You want to talk about the issues that are impacting, come out and join us and say you you too don't agree with those issues, but don't sit up there and talk about that. We're sitting
up there making this community divided. We're bringing issues. We're bringing community programs to the community to bring people together. So, let's do that and stand with us against the crap that we're seeing each and every day. Not talking about the fact that it's being
divided because we're trying to bring people together. I don't know what you're doing, but that's what we're doing. >> Good evening. Brow 60 Washington Avenue. I'll start off by saying uh Mr. Lenny, great job. Thank you so much. Uh and
also, uh Chief Chief great job as well. Um, I want to uh also reply to that as well as I got up last week, last month rather, and made a statement about the No Kings Raleigh. Again, I concurred with Miss Monica that No King's Raleigh was not anything to divide Middle Sex
Burrow. Middle Sex Burrow have a plethora of people who live in this community and we should respect and honor everybody's opinion. There was no nasty signs that I saw there. And any incident that arose, like I said before,
Chief G made sure that his people were there to shut it down quickly. And that did not come from those who were a part of the No King's Rally, right? There were those who infiltrated to try to do something and it really did not stop what was going on. It was a peaceful
day. And again, I concur again with was what Monica stated, excuse me, that you have things coming down from the federal government that you see every single day. But it has remained peaceful in Middle Sex Burrow. None of the report that Councilman Dodie gave had anything
to do with the rally that day. None of it had to do with the rally and nothing thereafter. I can guarantee that. So, we want to remain a family unit in Middle Sex Burrow. But again, a a part of being a family union unit is
that we honor everybody and respect everybody's opinion about what's going on. Again, I would concur with Monica and I have my own opinion about it as well. For those that's listening online, people were there. They saw it. And we have folks from other towns that said
thumbs up to Middle Sex Burrow for finally stepping out and doing something to show that there are some people here that honestly care about others in this world besides ourselves. Thank
you. >> Coming up, Bruce First off, uh, thank you, Chief Gson. I think Lenny worked on this. Bruce Sanders, 10 Venice Avenue. Um, regarding the ebikes. Okay. Uh, tell you a little story. Coming back Sunday after Mother's
Day, five o'clock. This is the third time I've s seen this in action. Coming back on Maril Avenue, uh, Ebike was riding towards the church. I'm coming back down from the church. And of course, I see him in the middle of the
road and I'm like, he's going to do something. I roll down my window. Of course, he does a wheelie on Marbor Avenue from about midway till about 3/4 up. So, I beeped at him and I did yell
at him. Now, he immediately put the wheels down and looked back at me like, "How can someone do this?" And you're right. If I didn't have someone else in the car, I was driving. I would have turned around, got behind him, not
in a in a nice way, and called 911 to get behind me to get him pulled off the road. This is happening more and more. They hang out at Wendy's. Uh they've also been on the um the shopping center
right on 28. So, I think you should put down the hammer. I do have a suggestion on that. Um, I'll just say what it was. Okay. First off, um, you said 250,000 or $250 for the first fine. The second
suggestion would be if you have a second offense and it's a traffic violation like doing a wheelie or something that could harm someone, can we impound that bike? Is there anything I get? Because if you
I know kids, I worked with them for 10 years in schools. If you want to make a statement, you impound that bike. You have the recycling center. You don't not like you have to feed somebody. You put it in the recycling center. You put um chains around it. It can't go anywhere.
And it's impounded until they go to court. You do that and it stops. Dead stop. I guarantee you. So, you have a $1,000 fine at that point. you impound it, they can get it back. You don't have, like I said, you don't have to put it underneath the shed. You don't have to protect it. It was their
responsibility. It's just a suggestion. So, the third thing I wanted to say is there are state laws in regarding this whole ebike thing. I'm going to be one of those ebike people, but I'm not going to be doing wheelies.
>> I can tell you if I want to fall on my back information. >> Yeah, I know. But I'm just trying to tell you that um the point is there are new state laws coming down. Should those be somewhat listed in our ordinance?
Correct. But I'm saying a judge looks at the ordinance. So he's not going to know. >> Okay. All right. But he's not necessarily going to know if you had it in the ordinance. It would spell it all out. You know, it's just a thought on that. But I I think like I said, we
should consider I know there might be laws against that, but they impound cars for traffic violations or parking in the wrong spot. And like I said, this is the third time I've seen a wheelie uh standing on the bike and uh another wheelie coming up
Mountain Avenue coming in the in last last month. So >> I know I know >> which town is this? >> Oh yeah. >> Somebody's gonna get killed. >> Don't have their helmet on.
>> Yeah. Well, like I said, you're going to have somebody react and not in a good way. And I I I know you guys have been aggressive on this, but I'm just saying that I know kids $250, but if they got that impounded and they
had to go to court to get it back, I guarantee you would stop it. Thank you. Anybody else? Okay. At this point, I'd like a motion to close the public portion. >> Second.
>> All right. All in favor? >> I. >> All right. Very good. All right. Okay. New business consent agenda. >> Resolution 13626 resolutions 37 resolution 1389.
Resolution 46. Authorizes. Resolution 4346 authorizes authorization. Resolution 46.67 approval of Resolution 156.
>> Okay. Um 12 >> 812. All right. So 143 and you just want these pulled out for a separate vote. Okay. Very good. Um and
but we could do 8 and 12 together. >> Yes. >> Okay. Fine. All right. So I'd like a motion to approve everything except uh resolution 143 and 147. >> Yes. A motion. >> Motion. Second. Any discussion on these?
Okay. The roll, please. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. I'd like a motion to to approve resolution 143
2026 and resolution 147206. >> Second. >> Second. >> Okay. At this point, uh, you just want to be separated out so you could have a separate vote. >> Okay. Very good. Uh, any discussion, guys? Call the role, please.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Very good. All right. Let's move on to the non-consent agenda. >> Resolution 1526.
>> All right. I need a motion. Motion second. >> Second. Any discussion on these? >> Call the roll, please. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Okay. Agenda workshop. Municipal pool fees. Um, who's going to lead the charge on this? I know Mark's here. All right. Um, you know what? Yeah, actually Mark,
do me a favor. Go up to the podium or and because you the problem is we need the mic because a lot of times they they told me with our issue that loud enough where it doesn't >> just have some handouts for you.
handouts for you guys. >> Because there's actually I mean this 60 year old ordinance with amendments along the way and there's a bunch of things that either need to be changed, deleted, amended. Um so I just did a mockup of it. Um I only have eight copies.
>> Mark, real quick, we have everyone up here has the original. >> Yeah. What I did is I mocked it up and made and read >> all the changes and printed it out. So, >> yeah. Yeah. >> So, the change is marked in red.
>> Yes. And I tried to put in there delete that change. What I can do, Mike, is I can email >> I can email you that >> little yellowed out.
>> No, >> sorry. >> We have the original. I have it on my computer and everything's red. >> Yeah. >> Change delete ad. That's all good. >> Okay. So, I'll just email it to you.
I was printing it before I came to the meeting, so I'm running out of house. I didn't look at it before I left. It seems like it was just >> Yeah, probably out of >> So at this point, if I'm reading this right, as of May 11th, you're about halfway to where you need to be.
>> Yeah. Yeah. And non-resident um memberships just open on May 1st. >> Okay. >> So, all those non-residents we've gotten in 11 days. >> Okay. This is a just one quick question just so because I'm trying to understand
this also. Is this typical the way the the registrations come in? >> Um, it has been. Um, we always have a two week low because the the resident
membership discount ends on April 15th and then non-resident starts on May 1st. So, we have two weeks of really a low. So, next year we've amended where we're going to start non-resident on April 16th, the day after
resident discount stops so we won't get that two week low of nobody very few people joining the pool >> true but at at this point it looks like every year prior and I'm sorry to to monopolize this I just want to make sure
I understand it correctly you've averaged somewhere around 675 I guess total resident memberships right Now you're at 445, but is it is it typical that you would expect that
you're still going to be at the 675 or 600? >> Last year we actually had a pretty robust resident um registration for memberships this year. um it's typically not that strong and I have a feeling that a lot
of it has to do with gas prices and people maybe not going to the beach and you know figure that and we've actually put out a document this year comparing joining the pool for the whole summer which is a roughly 85 day season as
opposed to going to the beach for a day and it's cheaper to join the pool than it is to go to the beach for a day >> right so if I'm looking at this where it says year to date May 11th. That's May 11th for 21 22 23. So basically at this point in time.
>> All right. So you're doing okay. I mean outside of 2023. I mean you're you're higher than every other year. >> Yeah. Well, there's just one outlier year. I think it was 22 which was I think we had a real rush in 2022 because that was after COVID and
almost all the pools in the area were closed. We were the only pool that stayed open even though our membership suffered because of COVID. Um I think 2022 we had a pretty robust year just because of CO. >> Okay. >> And then it kind of went back to normal after that.
>> Okay. So basically you're figuring this is going to be a typical typical >> attendance year. >> We're I didn't put on there but our revenue this year over last year we're about 11% over last year uh year to year. Okay.
>> Which is about 15 around $15,000 above last year, >> which is a good start where you've been. >> Yeah. Yeah. No. And the the um typ in the past we never discounted non
residents and two or three years ago we start we figured it only fair to give non-residents a discount period. So they were getting a discount from May 1st to May 15. Residents get a month and a half. non-residents get 15 days. Next
year it'll be almost a month. So, uh May 16th it'll go back to the typical standard non-disounted rates for everybody. And a lot of the pools are closing in the area. Um we're one of the only
municipal pools really left anywhere around this area. And we compare our rates to all the other even the private pools. We by far have the best rates and we probably have the nicest property of almost any pool in the area. I went down
and looked at Bound Brooks Pool. It is a absolutely gorgeous pool, but there's no place to sit. >> The only place to sit is a little bit air some areas on the concrete base. >> It's all cement. Yeah, there's no place
to sit. And they modeled their me. They were always a day pass pool and now they have memberships and they modeled their memberships exactly after ours. So what did they say? Flattery is the
highest form of uh so um so yeah. So um we really have the best facility. We had a pretty good spring. Um, one of the two pumps in the main pool, which as best we can tell is
original, which is 50 plus years old, uh, cracked out and PSI came in and replace it. It was like between 15 and 16,000, but all three pools are up and running. The chlorine was delivered. So, now we have we're going to get the
chemicals in the pool. We'll be able to have Somerset County come in and do their health inspection. That's really the only thing that we're waiting on right now. The pools have to be running for a week or two and then we have to do water tests and Somerset County has to
see the results in water tests before they'll pass us. >> So, so I mean are you looking to raise them? Well, we raised them this year and one of the things we found is that the difference between the discounted rate
and the standard rate is so small that people don't see the benefit of joining with it was only like $20 difference. So, what we did this year is we raised we made the difference bigger. >> Yeah. >> And we're going to do that every year
where we raise the the the standard less than we raise the discounted one. So the difference will get bigger over the next several years between that which will hopefully will in in uh will help people uh incent them to join early.
>> What's the >> uh actually let's see here um resident family uh it's 310 and 350. 310 is the discounted rate and then 350 is a
standard and then um non-resident family is 420 and 470 discounted to standard >> that's for 85 I think it's 85 or 87 days >> yeah yeah >> I just spent 27
>> well we've seen in the past two years two to three years we've seen chlorine has tripled in price and we use hund thousands of gallons of liquid chlorine a summer. So, um it's a it's a big nut
for us along with uh labor costs have increased significantly over the last five years with minimum wage and stuff. And knock on wood, 60 years the pool has never taken a tax dollar. We've always been self-sufficient.
So, and the pool has been we've done five capital improvement projects at the pool since it opened. Everyone has been bonded and paid back by the pool, right? Because when we looked at this, we started it looked like basically last
year the pool it was in the red a little bit and basically the red was almost the exact amount of the of the snack bar. you know, like pool basically broke even. >> Well, the snack bar has never made money. One year it made money. I started
doing I started internally we were doing profit loss statements for the last four or five years and we were doing one for the snack bar and the pool as a whole. um because I wanted to know where where are we leaking money and stuff and the
snack bar outside of one year where there was one month the snack bar did $19,000 which was leap years beyond any other month in the snack bar. Um we've only had one year where the snack bar has made money. The snack bar is really convenience for people. It's not really
a money maker. We've we've started cutting down the hours of the staff. We always have two people as a snack bar and when they're busy they need two people but when they're not busy it's a waste of money. So we've started pulling one person out of the snack bar um when
it's not busy and I've kind of instituted like a floater around the pool. So if they need somebody at the front desk if they're busy at the front desk that floater can jump in. if they need somebody to snack bar, they can jump in rather than have somebody there
fulltime that we're paying and they're not busy. So, we're trying to do cost cutting measures everywhere we can. >> Right. But are you uh are you going to do any like pricing adjustments for the menu or menu adjustments or anything like that?
>> We have, but I mean the menu is soft pretzels, candy bars, ice cream. It's really all small stuff. I mean, we have done price increases over time, but that's not really going to make up the difference. It's the labor cost is huge
in the snack bar. I mean, we're paying our kids $16 an hour, >> eight hours a day, 85 days a year, but >> you lost. >> Yeah. Yep. Because candy bars and ice cream and soft pretzels and pizza aren't
going to pay for that. quite frankly aren't going to pay the labor costs. And we've talked about having another company come in, but we can't have a flat grill. We can't have deep fryers. We can't have any of this stuff in the snack bar without going much more
extensive as far as approvals and everything like that through the county and stuff. It would be far too expensive to do that. And people bring in their own food, too. They bring in pizzas and subs and stuff and eat at the snack bar. We're fine.
You know, that's fine. >> Sure. >> Well, I mean, listen, you know, we're not here to we're here to try and provide guidance and stuff like that. >> No, absolutely. >> And, you know, we ask these questions because, you know, at the end of the day, we want you to be a viable FDR, you
know, long sustaining, you know, entity for the town, you know. Well, that's my goal. >> Yeah, exactly. When you see you don't want to see the red ink. So, we just want to make sure that, >> you know, because even though you >> you have some cash to work with, you
don't want to, you know, there's only so long you can bleed cash before >> No, our our goal is not our goal is not to touch our accounts. It's just to live off of the income we bring in. That's the goal. Um, you know, I'm happy to say
this year we've had uh Somerset uh uh Somerset YMCA system has rented our pool for their swim team for over 20 years. This year I've recruited two more long course teams. So now we have three teams coming in that are going to pay us to rent the pool. We're starting to open up
the pool to other things. Um we had a small church from Pascataway contact us. they want to have a small gathering at the pool for like 30 people. And in the past, we've had commission members that cooed all that stuff. Um, you know, the
membership wouldn't like it. And I'm a firm believer that if we had to close the pool two hours early or for whatever, if we let the membership know far enough in advance, you might have a couple people because they're always there, you guys know, there always people that are never going to be
satisfied. >> Wow. Really? >> Really? So, I think that if we just let people know ahead of time, we can close the pool an hour or two early for some other event or something like that. That will
one, we're bringing in people at these events that aren't members of the pool. They'll get to expose we'll get to expose the property to them and maybe get some more memberships from them. And um and that's a big positive for us. It's like last year, Big Hugs, who has
three uh daycare installations, had their end of the year party at the pool instead of in the park. They had 300 people there, and most of them aren't members of the pool. Now, this year, they want to have it the week before Labor Day, which we can't guarantee
there's going to be guards because all the schools are going to be back in session. So, and they're not flexible. They want it on a certain date and they won't change it even a week earlier. So, they're not going to do it this year, but they wanna they want to bring their kids in next year, one day a week to
swim at the pool um off hours, take lessons. That will probably net us 12 to$15,000 >> for them coming in. And we've had other uh Denellan High School called us. They wanted to do a senior thing at the pool.
Unfortunately, I don't think we're going to be able to do it because the pool's not open when they want to have it. Um, so we're starting to get more and more interest from just general membership, and that's what we need to do. It's a great property. There's a lot of open
hours when the pool's not open. Um, and uh, we can fill those hours with other stuff that's not membership swimming in the pool or sitting on the grass. Well, looking at the the way the numbers have come so far, it just seems to me that,
you know, you should be in a good enough position that even with a the snack bar loss, it's a loss lever, I guess, to a certain extent, you should be you should wind up at the end of the year in the green, which is a success. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I think what you guys
did as far as looking at our finances, again, Caroline did she hear now, but what she did, you know, because for years we've been trying to have people explain to us the loan the the bond and how it was working and how money's
encumbered and nobody could ever explain it to us. And then when everybody came to the meeting and explained it, it was just like somebody turned on the lights. was all of a sudden everybody on the commission understood what was going on and that's going to help us tremendously. Um you know the agreement
we did for paying bond the rest of the the the loan back for the pool. >> So um >> I mean that was a win for both. >> Absolutely. >> That's the way it was set up from the very beginning. >> Absolutely. >> Mark. So B1 can anybody see? Is it all
yelled out? >> Sorry. Okay. I was going to say if you want to um it doesn't look like it's going to be deleted or added, right? Is that just is that just a change in B1? >> Um what section is that?
>> Uh B1 on page two. >> Uh 37 3672 under membership. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. That's um what that is is just defining resident and non-resident memberships and when
the dates they're going to be available because that was never >> put into the resolution. I mean into the ordinance really was never really definitively put in the ordinance. So I just got rid of what was there and just
clarified how we open up memberships on March 1st to April 15th. be a little little hard to get a consensus because you can't change. >> Well, like I said, I'll send you the one that I'm I'm looking at one that's all red. >> Yeah. And this will all be effective for next year.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> This will all be effective for next next year. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, there's no reason to put in the actual dollar amount of the memberships. Um, and it actually says in the ordinance that we don't need to come to the council, that
we can just change the membership numbers based on a majority vote of the commission. We never really had to come here other than it was in the ordinance and we wanted to keep updating the numbers. If we just eliminate the cost
out of the ordinance, then that's one step that one less thing you guys have to do and one less thing that we have to worry about as far as having the costs in there, the actual dollar amount >> being responsible to the residents. We
do like to have our figure in the pot for sure. No, no, I'm not saying one of the things I put in here is that I left in here is that we can't raise any of the individual rates more than 15% per year. So there is a restriction and I
mean we've never raised the rates. >> Yeah. Percentages. I mean we've never raised the rates even I think 10% on any of them other than maybe the uh uh non-resident family members. guys lucky to get out%
like $35$5. >> Yeah. I mean, you know, we're enter and we want to stay we want to be the cheapest pool around. We don't want to be competitive. We want to be the best. So, we don't want to raise our rates because we know there's that point where all of a sudden people aren't going to
join because the rates are too high. And I mean the private pools, you got to pay a bond of like a thousand or $2,000 and then you have to pay membership every year on top of that. We don't have a bond. We have the best memberships, the cheapest memberships.
>> It's a good deal for those of us that have uh pools. It's a really good deal when you sit there and you look at and say, "Geez, I know what I just spent that Leslie just >> Yeah. And I mean, we have we have a great property. This is a great property. And I mean many of our uh
liaison have called this the gem of Middle Sex because it's I'm surprised at how many people in Middle Sex don't know we have poll. It's crazy. >> Letter F mark. It says we looking is that the one membership shall not exceed
a thousand members. Yeah, that's the one. The way the way the membership was counted at one time was a family membership counted as one, a single membership counted as a half, and a
senior membership counted as zero. And then what they did is they restricted the number of memberships that you could sign up for the pool. And there was a time where many years ago where there was a waiting list. There hasn't been a waiting list for probably 20 years at
the pool and it's not the number of membership should be restricted. What's what we restrict is the number of people that can be at the pool at any one time on the property. It's like you have a room. You don't want to put 500 people in this room.
>> Well, we have a number we have membership where people scan in and it keeps the number of people that are at the pool at any one time. If we ever hit that number, which we've decided that it's around 900 people, we've never had
900 people at the pool at one time. We've had 900 people in a day, but never at one time at the pool. They scan out, it takes them off the number of people that are at the pool. So, that's what we're more concerned about is how many
people are at the property one time. We want as many memberships as we can get because that's more revenue for the pool. I could care less how many memberships I what I'm concerned about is safety at the pool and that's how we restrict that's where we would restrict
the numbers is how many people are at the pool at any one time. >> What are we doing about the roof? >> Um Lenny's taking care of the roof. >> Okay. You think you're going to get the painting done? >> The painting is not going to get done.
The young woman who was doing it is having major health issues. She had to drop out of college and she is in a facility right now. So, I'm in the I'm not looking for an artist that can that can do the murals. I refuse to let that
go. >> I can get >> Oh, awesome. That would be great because I have the printouts of the pictures of what they're supposed to be. >> Just um some Sorry, Joe. >> It'll come back to you. >> Perfect.
>> Sorry, Joe. You're out. interrupt me if you have to just some food for thought on uh um you said that people don't always know that it exists here. Um I just want to before I was years ago before I was a
Middle Sex resident I came to the pool for the first time through a friend of mine and came as a guest and literally I was there for 15 minutes before I was like oh I want to join here. Um, I went back to the front desk and I said, "Can I just get a membership instead of like the day houses or whatever?" So, the
reason I'm sharing that with you is because I think there are so many people in town that don't know the pool and don't know that it exists. And I know there are some controversy surrounding this, but I would strongly suggest you guys to consider maybe at the beginning
of the season just like you do for other um races and stuff like letting it be like where people can get a day pass one time at the start of the season so they can see it. >> We have an open house. We don't want to do day passes that there's inherently
>> people come in that don't care about the pool and >> have had vi not violence but vandalism and people we will not we will >> well I'm not suggesting all the time I'm just saying at the start of the season just like we do for daycarees and things like that so that people can experience it because I really feel like it would
be >> yeah when we do we're doing an open house this weekend and people are welcome to come in and see the property and and see what we have and everything like that. We're very comfortable doing that as opposed to giving because we don't know who's on a day pass and who's on a membership when they come in and
that's a problem other than >> I mean you don't have to take my suggestion right no but the truth is I wouldn't go for an open house right I would go to swim for the day and then I would be like oh I like you here like let me join >> we do have quite a few people that come through the open house yeah so we do and
like I said when we have events with other organizations we have tons of people that are coming And and like I said with uh big hugs, they had over 300 people there. They swam, they spent four hours there. They enjoyed the day. They
had a great time and all that kind of stuff. So that is better for us. Something like that is better for us. And the pool has always been discovered by word of mouth. We've tried publicity, paid for publicity and everything. And it always comes down to we get most of
our members from word of mouth. and we have social media. We're on all the social medias and everything. So, we're pretty comfortable because we've gone through a lot of the ideas and stuff and we're pretty comfortable with how we're
doing things now. Um, so we'll see. >> Mark adding what's up at the top of page three. >> Looked like it was going to be a letter A 12 hours of operation.
Yeah, that is just saying that any of the fees for the pool membership, Yeah. team fees, guest passes, or any other miscellaneous fees can be determined by the pool commission by majority. >> Yeah. What I'd like to see you do is come up
with some sort of a long project addressing disasters. Not something that you can do in one year, but we have given you a little bit of a break.
Maybe some of that money over the course of the next few years you can dedicate to upgrading the bed. >> Well, ultimately, and again, we have we have people on the commission who go to other pools in the area
because their kids swim. And they said there, if people saw the bathrooms in the other pools, they would think our bathrooms are immaculate. But we know they they they need addresses and >> we do and we're we're looking we want to
get a grant for that. There's no way that >> because the money we're saving in the grand scheme of things on the payback for what's left on the for the new pool. The money we're saving is not going to
do anything for the bathrooms. It's really not going to fix. And this is that's something that's going to have to be we're really going to have to get an engineer because the bathrooms suffer through cold winters. There's no heat in there and we need somebody to come in
that knows how to fix that and to prevent bathrooms from getting destroyed from really cold winters, especially like we had this past winter. >> What the bathroom we just put in the port? >> Maybe that's what you have to do. Maybe you can do something like that. How much
did those if you can get a grand and that was on a grand. >> I mean, my ultimate goal, Joe, is to have an engineer come in and redesign both bathrooms totally and have them totally reconstructed
um from what they are now. Um but again, it takes money. A lot of >> Yeah, >> but a grant would be ideal. And there's actually a lot of money out there for pools. You just got to find it. Yeah.
Yeah. Um, yeah. Oh, by the way, our meetings now are at the pool. From May till September, the meetings are at the pool, not at the library. Just so you know. I don't want you to go to the library and we're not there. >> Yeah. So, um I just
want to make sure I got everything to you. That's 20th. Um really bad, right? >> Yeah. Um >> what are you adding at then the bottom special
letter O? >> We've started it's letter P. It's letter P. We've started having an issue with people bringing their portable Wi-Fi speakers and blasting music, which is disturbing everybody around them. So, we're just going to pro you just can't
bring a Wi-Fi speaker and blast it at the pool. So, that we just added that to the rules. It's just not fair to everybody at the pool when you have one of those little speakers and you're blasting hiphop or not that it's bad, but people don't want to listen to all that when they're sitting at the pool to
relax or read with their kids and stuff. So, we just added that to the rules that you just can't bring a Wi-Fi. You're welcome to listen to it on earbuds, but not on a speaker where everybody hears it. So, that's what that is.
Um, long course. Yeah, pretty much got everything. Um, the only other project that we're doing is um, you know, they talked about the fence that got hit by the chlorine truck. This is not the first time the
chlorine truck has done that. So, what I talked to Lenny about is our 800galon chlorine tank is actually damaged. you can only fill it halfway. So, we have to have twice as many chlorine deliveries, which we pay $35 every delivery, which
is almost every week. So, what I talked to Lenny about is moving the tank from the north side of the building, which is by the football field, to the south side, which is by the softball field, easier to get to, and put in a thousandgallon tank instead of an
800gallon tank. and then just have somebody come in and we probably have somebody that can come in and make all the connections and then that frees up that whole other end of the building to for storage for uh the covers. The covers are huge when they're folded up.
So for the covers and everything and it'll make it much easier for the chlorine guy to get to the tank. >> Those double tank >> Yeah. >> like where the grass where where >> these are actually commercial. I actually looked one up. It's called
National Tank Service or something. And you can get tanks from 10 gallons to 5,000 gallons. 35 gallon double wall. >> Yeah. And they're all commercial tanks used for
commercial usage and stuff. And they're not expensive. And they actually tell you how far it is from your zip code, >> okay, and stuff. So that's that's again, Lenny's helping with that as well. So, >> yeah. Well, we don't get the same driver
every time, but now we've had two drivers hit the fence >> and and it's narrow in that for that size truck that should not. >> Yeah. So, anyhow, that's that's one of the things. And I also one other thing is we had that pump go on the main pool
and nobody's looked at the pumps for ever. So, I talked to PSI and asked them to come in as a maintenance program like every two or three years. They're going to come in in the spring and they're going to run everything to make sure everything's running properly and they
can tell us, okay, you need to replace this in a year or two or you need to fix this now. So, now we're going to be on a maintenance program like every two or three years with all the pump houses and stuff. So, this way we won't be surprised. I would rather be proactive
than reaction. That that company's PSI. >> Yeah. Middle Sex. The pump. >> Lincoln Boulevard. They've done all the pump work. Anytime we needed pump work, they >> wasn't sure because I know there was a company called Precision Motor.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, PSI has that and they gave us a good price to come in and >> uh they gave me a laundry list of like 20 things they'll check >> on all the pumps and everything. So this way again if something's going we'll know it ahead of time. >> Sure.
>> And the other thing I did is um last year we had the debacle with the uh grates had to be replaced and the 15 it was $15,000 to replace the grates. And this year I told Caroline I took the 15,000 out because that's the expenses
part of the expenses. Well, we're not spending it this year. So, what I did is I put $10,000 back in for winter damage at the pool because ultimately the winter takes its toll on something at the pool and we've never allotted for any of that. So now every
year there'll be $10,000 in the budget that'll either defay something that's big that damaged over or cover something that was damaged over the winter. We don't have to worry about finding cash. >> Sure. >> To uh to fix something that is damaged
ultimately because the cold weather and stuff. So, we're getting there. We're getting there. >> So, so at this point, you're just looking for a consensus from us on the changes. Yes. Is that what you're looking for? >> Yes.
>> Right. Be a little tough to get it tonight. >> Yeah. I mean, like Yeah. Like I said, I'm sorry. Sorry, I didn't just I grabbed them off the printer and came. >> No, no, no. That that that's fine. >> And I'll send the the marked up one to Mike that has all the red in it
>> and then you can pass it out to every second. >> Okay, we're going to get a good copy emailed to us. is for next year, correct? >> Yeah, it's not critical right now. >> Yeah, this is this will be take effect next year. Right now, we're already
locked in. So, >> well, let's do it next meeting. We can get a consent set next fine. >> That's fine. Yeah. >> You know, we'll just get a copy. Everyone go through it, but if there are questions or changes, >> get it funnel it to the administrator.
He'll funnel it back to Mark and then we can just and this way we can get it done. >> Yeah, absolutely. I agree. >> Mark, good job. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Mark. >> Oh, >> okay. Um, >> all right. We're going to move on to
privilege of the floor on the agenda workshop item. >> Motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> All right. Anyone wishing to step forward? Oh, you got to come up, my friend. Sorry. As a matter of fact, do me a favor. Grab
the one off the podium. That thing is rattling. >> We're saying there's 10 minutes. Mark, one other idea. >> Yeah. Have you talked to the film? You have a beautiful ground there. There's an
opportunity there to make lots of money real quick on a shortterm gain, you know, time frame. They might be able to, if you get some pictures to them and get it out there, they might be able to come up with a client and solve a lot of pool problems.
>> And the bathroom. Yeah, there's your bathroom right there. if you can. >> Great. >> But I'm sure a movie isn't going to go into the bathroom. So, it's just the the beautiful grounds and might be able they can do things on that front. So,
you have the ground. >> Sure. >> You never know. drunk. Anybody else? >> I heard Bruce volunteer for the pool committee. Is that what happened? >> You know, I had the good fortune. Hang >> on one second, guys. One at a time.
>> I had the good fortune to actually meet and have lunch with Roy K. H. He was the gentleman who started that pool 60 years ago. He worked for United Airlines and he was in the airport
and we sat down. He did it all by himself all the money. >> There you go. Okay. Anyone else stepping up on the workshop items? Looks like that's a a solid no. I'd like a motion to close. >> Motion. >> Second.
>> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. We have an executive session tonight. No action will be taken at this point. Our next regular meeting will be uh June 16th. Uh Nelson. >> Resolution 15326. >> Okay. Motion.
>> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> All right. Call the roll, please. >> Council President Con. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Clark. >> Yes. Councilman. >> Councilman Dodie. Yes, >> great. >> Yes, >> that's what we put. >> Yes. >> Okay, motion passes.