Good evening. This is a meeting of the township committee March 16, 2026. The notice requirements provided for in the open public meetings act have been satisfied. Notice of this meeting was properly given by transmission to the Asbury Park Press and the tour times by posting at the Middletown Township
Municipal Building and filing with the Township Clerk all in January 9th, 2026. Committeeman Clark >> here. >> Committeewoman Kratz >> here. Committeeman Smrino >> here. >> Deputy Mayor Hibell here. >> Mayor Perry >> here. >> Please rise for the pledge of allegiance.
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. At this time, I'd like to ask for a
moment of silence to honor the troops serving worldwide, defending our constitutions, freedoms, and way of life. Thank you. Our first item on tonight's agenda, we have a presentation recognizing Thor Middle School cheerleaders for winning the 2026 Short Conference of Middle Schools cheer
competition. At this time, I'd like to invite Coach Lori Ward and the team to join Mayor Penny at the front of the room. line up right here. Formation group. >> Let's give it up for the 2026. So, first of all, good evening everybody
and thank you all for being here tonight. Uh, we are Look at these t-shirts. I shouldn't have said 2026. I should have said the five times in a row champion. >> T-shirts don't come in my size. So, uh,
I had up there. But um ladies, congratulations. On behalf of the entire township committee, um I first want like I do for all the champions that come through here. I I want you to number one, let's give a big thank you around
for coach. Now I want you to look at your parents, guardians, loved ones. Wave wave to your siblings and say thank you for all that they do to help you get to this moment right here. >> Ladies, I said say thank you.
>> Loud. >> Okay. I told I told them I said you're all going to have to do a cheer when you come up there. And now I'm going to make that cheer a thank him cheer in a second. Can we say thank you to your parents? Thank you. >> So,
>> so ladies, I just want to say how how much your effort, every single one of you, your teamwork, your dedication, and the dayto-day that you put in to be fivetime champions. That is what it means to be a collaborative effort
because none of you are able to do this on your own. It is a group effort between all of you, your coach, your parents. It this doesn't happen just because it happens because of your determination, your drive, your effort,
but it is a group effort and a collective effort. And I I I just want to say this and no pressure, but six times in a row is going to look really nice on it. So, I just want to say on behalf of the township committee how proud we are of
all of you. Proud that you represent Middletown Thorn day in and day out and in all that you do. And keep up this great work. Um, keep being proud. Keep going for that next step, that next
drive, that next mile because you will be six time in a row division champions. So, Coach Sure. >> Um, hi, my name is Lori Ward. Uh, I've been coaching Thorn Cheer for about eight years now. And about five years ago, they realized that they do an
all-star game for every sport and that cheerleading didn't really have anything to celebrate them at the end of the season. So, they started this competition. That being said, every single year, five straight years, Thorne stepped up and they won first place at the competition. So, you know, cheerleading doesn't always get
acknowledged as a sport. I'm a firm advocate that it is a sport. Uh, but Middletown in its community in in its entirety has so much talent in our in our dance programs, in our cheer programs. So, we just really appreciate that you have us here and um we're honored to be here. And
>> well, within Let's give it up. Well, within my constitutional authority, I hereby designate cheerleading sport. um uh as with a with a daughter that is an aspiring cheerleader and who shows me all of her dance moves in the middle of
my living room floor. Uh it's definitely a sport because between her and my son who just wants to play baseball and football all day, I definitely would take my 5-year-old daughter uh over him at this time in terms of the effort that he's that she's putting out in my living
room floor. So, um, but ladies, on behalf of the township committee, we want to congratulate the Thorn Middle School cheerleaders for winning first place at the 2026 Shore Conference of Middle Schools cheer competition because your dedication, teamwork, and countless
hours of practice throughout the season has made this a very impressive victory possible. Your outstanding performance truly gives Middletown something to cheer about. >> Very good. Very good. and we are so proud of the way that
you're representing your school, your community with enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and spirit. Congratulations to all of the building. Now, I would love nothing more in this world than to see deputy mayor get
tossed into the air. It's called a flyer. Okay. Um, but every championship team, uh, I I asked to do a huddle up, something, but if all of you have a cheer that you'd
like to do in front of all your friends and family in the greater Middletown community, please, coach. >> Sure. Um, girls, why don't you just stand in like your lines like that you would on the stage just like fours or fives and in windows that way? You can stand up.
>> You're not going to stand next to them. >> I'm going to watch from back. >> Hey all you Lion ready, STAND UP AND CLAP YOUR HAND. NOW THAT YOU GOT THE BEAT, IT'S TIME. LET'S USE OUR FEET. NOW THAT SHE GOT HIS STYLE WAS really
>> Congratulations again. Let's give a big round. TC, you want to come down here? >> Um, they're going to do a group picture. So, maybe get the shorter girls front so you're not hidden. >> Hey, you're all right.
>> Okay. All right. >> All right. Here we go. Raven. >> One, two, three. >> Congratulations. >> Gonna say thank you to your parents, but now they're entitled to this picture, too. All right.
Bye. Stand tight. >> Wonder. >> All right. One more round of applause. We're just going to do a >> We're just going to do a fivem minute recess to let the girls exit. just to continue on for with proclamation. >> By the way, that was the that was such a
prompt five minute recess. Excellent. Excellent. Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead, Heidi. >> Okay. Uh we have two proclamations for the record. A proclamation recognizing April 2026 as volunteer month in the township of Middletown and a proclamation recognizing April 26th as
autism awareness month in the township of Middletown. At this time, we have approval of minutes for March 2nd, 2026, a workshop meeting. >> Motion to approve the minutes. >> Second. >> Committee Clark. >> Yes.
>> Committee Kratz. >> Yes. Committeeman Senino. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hib. Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to approve minutes. >> At this time, we have public hearing on proposed ordinances. Our first ordinance 2026-350,
an ordinance authorizing acceptance of deed of road dedication upon block 491, lots 56.01, and 56.02, 835, and 837 Main Street. Any member of the public wishes to speak on public ordinance number 2026-3500.
>> Okay. Seeing no member of the public stepping forward, move to close the public portion and approve. >> Second. >> Committ Clark. >> Yes. >> Committ Katz. >> Yes. >> Committeeman SMO. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibbell. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes.
>> Motion carries to pass this ordinance on second and final reading. Our next ordinance for public Go ahead. >> Okay. Our next ordinance for public hearing 2026-3501, a bond ordinance providing an
appropriation of 3,10,000 for various parks improvements by and for the township of Middletown in the county of Mammoth, New Jersey, and authorizing the issuance of $2,859,500 in bonds or notes of the township for financing part of the appropriation. Any
member of the public wishing to speak on public ordinance number 2026-3501 >> 2026-3501. Seeing no member of the public stepping forward, move to close the public portion and approve. >> Second. >> Committ Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Kratz.
>> Yes. Committeeman Senino. Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibbell. Yes. Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass this ordinance on second and final reading. Our next item on tonight's agenda, we have ordinances for introduction. Our first
ordinance, 2026-3502, an ordinance amending chapter 540-825 of the code of the township of Middletown governing billboards. >> Motion to introduce. >> Second. >> Committ Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Kratz. >> Yes.
>> Committeeman Senino. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibbell. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry, >> yes. Motion carries to pass this ordinance on first reading with a public hearing to be scheduled for April 8th, 2026. Our next ordinance for introduction, we have 2026-3503,
a bond ordinance providing an appropriation of 4,226,000 for various capital improvements by and for the township of Middletown in the county of Mammoth, New Jersey, and authorizing the issuance of $2,886,315 in bonds or notes of the township for
financing part of the appropriation. >> Motion to introduce. >> Second. >> Minimum Clark. Yes. >> Committ Committeewoman Kratz. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Senino. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibbell. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to pass this ordinance on
first reading with a public hearing to be held April 8th, 2026. At this time, I'd like to ask the township committee to adopt a consent agenda, which would include resolutions 26-98 through 26-113,
removing 26-112. Motion to approve a consent agenda. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Kratz. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Senbrino. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibbell. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perry. >> Yes. >> Motion carries to adopt consent agenda.
At this time, we have Township Committee Comments. >> All right. Committ Clark. Uh first as a uh cheer dad myself, I'd like to congratulate uh the Thorn team on a great season of success. Uh it's not easy. And uh it's interesting that the
coach was talking about how sometimes cheer is not looked at as a sport. Uh those girls bust their butts uh to and and boys, I should say, bust their butts to uh make that happen. So uh it's awesome for them. That's all I got for today. >> All right, Committee Senator Bino. Thank
you, Mayor. I'll echo Committeeman uh Clark's comments and uh and will say that as a as a father of a of a 14-year-old daughter who doesn't listen to me at all, to get all of these girls to listen and and to uh and to represent Middletown in the way they they did is
is a great uh as a great asset for the town. So, congratulations again to them. Thank you. >> Thank you, Committee Kratz. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh also, congratulations to the girls. I will share that they are probably the loudest group that we've had up up here. Um so
>> yeah they're super loud. It was great. Um so congratulations to the girls and also um thank you to all of our our volunteers out there to our residents and all who volunteer in our community. I I think that's what sets us apart as a town and we're we're very blessed and
fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers who who help and serve in our community all around. Um, also uh had the privilege to um attend some middle uh elementary schools for ReadAcross America, which was fabulous. It's always my favorite part of the week of of being
able to get into the schools and and read with the kids. So, it was it was great. I I got to go to Linkraftoft and um and Bay View in some of the fourth grade classes, which was great a little to hit the older grades. Um and uh it was really a sweet experience. So,
thanks for that. Thanks, Mayor. >> All right. Thank you, DM. >> Uh, briefly, uh, the girls, amazing job, but that was by far the best, uh, presentation we had up here by anyone, I think, for all the years I've been sitting up here. Um, I am a cheer dad as
well. There's nothing uh, crazier than sitting there for six hours and the whole hair experience before. So, uh, thank you parents. Much appreciated uh, for what you guys do. >> The whole hair experience, >> it's a big deal. I I I look forward to the mayor having to deal with this.
>> Whatever it is, it's difficult and I can't do it. >> Um volunteer uh committee. >> Boy, I would pay I would pay to see him have to do hair. >> Um I just everyone in this room since we got a nice crowd tonight, um I would definitely uh encourage you to please if
you see a volunteer, thank a volunteer because we do uh have truly the best uh volunteers around. uh our fire department, first aid, uh OEM, uh we we just have an amazing group of people that are out there every day. Our fire department answers over 1500 calls of
service uh annually. So, it's a it's a big deal. Please uh take a second if you see one somebody or know somebody uh just say thank you. Um that's that's all I have, Mayor. >> All right. Thank you. Uh couldn't agree uh with you more um all in terms of our
volunteers. I know at the last meeting I want to say our fire department had already responded to 200 calls. We're well over that. Um and uh to all them, to our OEM, uh to our our um EMS service, um and to all the volunteers
that serve on in in any capacity. um to to to all the the individuals that I know day in and day out. Committeewoman Kratz is is been um very uh involved in our alliance and and that's a great group of volunteers that that that do
that. So, um thank you to all of them. Uh with that, I'll open it up for public comment. Any member of the public wishing to make a public comment may do so. We ask that you you state your name for the record and that you keep your comments to five minutes. at four minutes. Heidi will let you know that
you have one minute remaining. Kristen, come on down. >> Hi there, Kristen Rooney from Middletown. Um, I also wanted to congratulate those cheerleaders because I was at that competition and they're incredible. Um, >> you were doing the hair.
>> I wasn't. My daughter actually just was a manager so we just got to go and watch and that was my first cheer experience and it was eye opening. So, I don't know if I could do the hair. Um, and also, yeah, thank you to the volunteers because we really do
appreciate um our firemen and our EMS. Um, I have written comments just so I don't lose track of myself and the time. Um, good evening, Mayor Perry, Deputy Mayor Hibell, and members of the township committee. Um, as you're all
aware, there's an ongoing action by the Middletown Board of Education that threatens the existence of several district schools. I'm here tonight not as a parent, but as a resident and a property owner, because decisions about schools are not just education
decisions. They directly affect the economic stability and fairness of our entire community. Research consistently shows a strong connection between local schools and property values.
National surveys of home buyers show that more than half of buyers with children choose their neighborhoods specifically because of the quality of the local schools. And the vast majority consider school district boundaries when deciding where to live. Research from the National
Bureau of Economic Research confirms this connection. When school quality improves, home values rise because families are willing to pay a premium to live near strong schools. When neighborhood schools are thriving, communities grow, young families move
in, housing demand increases, and local businesses benefit from a stable customer base. But when communities lose their neighborhood schools, the opposite can happen. Families looking to put down roots often choose other neighborhoods
or even other towns. And that can mean declining housing demand. Ultimately, less support for local businesses and our local economy. This is why neighborhood schools are not just an education issue, they're a community stability issue.
Middletown has long benefited from strong neighborhood schools and a reputation of stability. something that took generations to build and that attracts home buyers. Right now, those living in the beayshore neighborhoods,
including Navas, and Leonardo, face the possibility of losing their local elementary and middle schools. Residents in these neighborhoods contribute a significant share of the township's property tax base. Those tax dollars support the entire town and school
district and rightly so because community services and public education are shared investments. But if one part of town loses access to nearby schools while other areas retain them, it raises a serious question of fairness.
Even if students still attend schools elsewhere in the district, the community experience is not the same. When families no longer have schools embedded in their neighborhoods, over time, that can cause that can turn areas of town
into education deserts, places where young families are less likely to move, invest, and build their future. That will depress home prices and result in the closure of local businesses, harming our tax base, and putting pressure on the other parts of town to make up for
the shortfall. This is a real risk our town is now facing and it should not be one that we are willing to accept. This township committee needs to take action to prevent this outcome. Mayor Perry, if I may address you
directly. You've served the community for ve very many years and I know that you care deeply about Middletown. >> Okay. Thanks. >> I look that old. >> It's been a few years. >> Okay. All right. As you approach the end
of your time as mayor, moments like this help define the legacy of leadership, ensuring that every part of Middletown is protected and represented equally. While the board of education will make the final decision on school closures, the decisions being made today will
shape our town and our neighborhoods for decades. You and the township committee can and should use your voice and influence to encourage solutions that preserve neighborhood schools and protect the long-term health of our town and our communities. Because strong
schools don't just educate children, they anchor neighborhoods, protect property values, and sustain local businesses. And every part of Middletown deserves that stability. Thank you so much for your time.
Thank Thank you. Go ahead. >> Thank you. Uh good evening. I'm Amanda Farrier, a parent in Middletown. Um I've lived in many places in New Jersey and since we're talking about cheerleading, I cheered for eight years in Oldbridge. Um throughout my life, but I've never
experienced the affection that this town feels for its community. I see it in the firehouse where my husband is first lieutenant and through the daily interactions I have with my neighbors and fellow parents because of the way our school district which quietly and powerfully nourishes the sense of
community. My neighbor once said to me when I was anticipating my oldest entering elementary school that Navync is very special. I didn't know what she meant until I experienced it myself. That little school has a lot of heart and is likely a large reason why it was
ranked number 13 in the state's top elementary schools and number one in our district. Navasync Elementary was also the only school selected in Middletown to be part of Rucker State's policies Ruter State Policy Lab's promising practices project which studied what
high-erforming schools are doing right. Schools like Navis should be protected, studied and learned from not closed. Closing high-erforming schools should be at the very last resort. I'm far from the only family who chose our home knowing that we were buying into an
excellent school district. People move here, stay here, and invest here because of our schools. Yes, we're emotional. These schools are more than buildings. They're homes. When you have a school where the principal is literally outside at the drop off line helping students
out of their cars and addressing each one by their name and where our students come home happy, safe, and learning that matters. But we're not only emotional, we're also practical and logical. We're asking for transparency, for consistent
information, for facts and clear plans. And we're offering to help. We're not just simply saying no to a proposal. We're bringing forward alternatives. The parents and residents here have demonstrated how organized, thoughtful, and solutionsoriented the community can
be. We want to work with the township to find an answer that works for everybody, and we care deeply about the financial health of Middletown. Since the board of election vote, the projected deficit has already been reduced following the state funding announcement last week. The gap is now
just over 2 million. And for a township of our size, a 2 million shortfall is roughly 1% of the total budget. And it can be addressed in ways that are far less drastic than amputating thriving schools and suffering irreversible consequences,
which include the overcrowding of Thorn and feeding all of Title One schools and special education classes into Middletown North. Children cannot advocate for themselves. That responsibility falls to us and to you and it is our shared obligation to
do what is best for them. We believe that the current plan is severe and unnecessary. We're asking for what should be simple. Transparency, honesty, and collaboration. Strong schools and strong community are the reasons family families come to
Middletown and the reason why they stay for generations. We're asking you to hear us when we say we have feasible alternatives and we're ready to partner and there is a path to move forward. Our schools are thriving and they're the cornerstone of what makes Middletown great. They have done
the hard work to become exceptional and we're asking the township to do the hard work to keep them that way. Please slow this process down and please work with us. Please do not close schools. close the schools that are doing exactly what we ask schools to do, which is to serve
our children and strengthen our community. Thank you. >> Thank Thank you. And I and I just and just wanted to just say one one thing. So the um so uh thank thank you very much for your comments. Um, I did have a
lengthy uh conversation um last week. I'm not sure when that was. Yeah, what's that? Thursday. Okay. Um and uh on on some of those very measures. So, um things that I wasn't
aware of. Um Tony and uh Colleen, who's not here tonight, um did have a a a good conversation as well with the district. So, um, you know, that the conversation that I had certainly on certain things,
um, educated me, um, on on things that I wasn't aware of and and I'm sure Tony got out of his conversations, uh, um, things that he he might not have been aware of, but Tony's been here a long time, so he might have been aware of them. Um, so, but thank you very much for your comments. Yes, ma'am. How are
you today? >> Good, thank you. Hi. Uh, my name is Carrie Christensen. Um, I also am a parent to two children at Navasync Elementary. Um, I actually I haven't I didn't grow up here like many people did. I moved here in 2017. Um, my husband and I were looking at a number
of towns that offered a easy commute into New York City for us. Um, and ultimately what led us to choose Middletown for our family were the schools. Um, you know, and as you all know last year those schools, um, unfortunately came under, you know, potential closure. um parents rallied
together. And honestly, as disheartening as it was for it to happen, it really solidified the decision that I made to move here because I was so proud of the town. I was so proud of all of my neighbors who, you know, stood up to fight together for not just their own
children, but for all of the children, um, you know, in the whole district. I was especially proud to have a mayor like you, Mayor Perry, who joined us in that fight last year to really try and find a solution. Um and it seems also having some conversations this year as well. So, you know, we really thank you
for that. Um you know, and and sadly here we are again. And what's extra frustrating this time is it's, you know, seems to be we have this dysfunctional board of education um who's refusing to meet, refusing to discuss any other plan
than the plan we all fought so hard over the past year to not to have it happen. Um you know, in fact, they voted to close the schools prior to ever even seeing a budget. um they voted to close
these schools uh with no actual plan for the transition for the students. Um zero consideration of the academic impacts, the student outcomes. And what was most concerning to me as a parent and taxpayer was, you know, the five who
voted yes to close these schools did so after sitting through a 4hour meeting hearing directly from students, faculty, and parents, all unified in their, you know, plea to not move forward with this, to consider alternate options.
There was not one person in that meeting who could actually stand up, including those five board members who voted yes to explain why this was a good plan, why it was being considered, and why no alternate budget was ever even being
presented, not to adopt, but for consideration. And that really is what was tremendously um concerning to me. Um, you know, we have a superintendent who has one foot out the door and is just passing all the blame to the board
of education, refusing to answer parents questions that we all have. You know, I don't even have a fifth grader. And, you know, to know that if this plan does go through, it doesn't go through, what school will they go to? I mean, these are plans that parents are making and
the superintendent is refusing to even answer these. Um we have a business administrator who seems to just be doing status quo and not looking at you know any revenue generating ideas costsaving options which we all know are there. Um
you know but what we do have is you've heard as a parent community who are really committed to this cause and you know we didn't just show up last year and you know cry that our schools shouldn't be closed and when the schools weren't closed all went away. We've all
kept engaged this entire year. You know, I myself have been to every single strategic planning meeting offering creative revenue generating ideas. We'd be naive not to realize the fact that school funding is a problem. Look at
every single district in New Jersey. You know, we've been meeting as parents when the board has shut us out with elected officials on both sides of the aisle to try and address the S2 funding formula. We don't think it there's not a problem. We understand there is. But when there's
a budget deficit of 1%, you don't shut down your third one minute. >> Okay. Uh your 13th top rated school out of 200 I mean sorry 2006 elementary schools and overcrowd all of your middle schools. It's just I understand schools
are in a business, but any business would not be decimating their entire population for a 1% increase or I'm sorry, deficit in the in the budgets. Um, so I'm here today to ask for your help. I know that you all care about our
kids. I know you care about this town. And you know, while I know that this is ultimately a board of education decision, it's unfortunately going to be a township problem to deal with because at the end of the day, you all have every single resident in Middletown that
you're looking out for in the safety. So, you know, I just ask that you force these conversations with the board of education. Um, you know, I understand there have been some alternate ideas and plans that have been circulated even amongst you all. Um, so you know it can
be done, right? And you know to move forward with this plan, it's just we ask for for your help again, Mayor Perry. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your comment. >> How are you today? >> I'm okay. How are you? >> Good, thanks. >> So, I know uh Mayor Perry as Mayor Tony
because my kids talk about him a lot. Uh, we've known him since >> I I know we know each other, but Chris, you got to you got to state your name. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> I may I may know you Percy, but yeah, >> I'm Christy Montgomery. I'm a Middletown resident. I was um raised in Navasync.
Um my parents put five children through Navasync Elementary, Beayshore Middle School, and Middletown High School South. Um we were five kids, separated by 10 years, even in the off years. my house, which was on the walk from the school to the duck pond, was the kindergarten class trip every year. So,
they would stop by on the way back from the duck pond and have a picnic in my backyard, my parents' backyard. My sister now bought my childhood home. It's still in the family. I went to school in um Ithaca, New York. I then went directly to Manhattan and Brooklyn,
lived and worked there for over 10 years, and decided against anything I would have thought that I returned to my hometown. I I channeled that Dixie Chick song that I never thought that I would move back to my hometown and I did for the sole purpose of giving my three
children an excellent quality public school education like I received here in Middletown. When I moved back here, I purchased a home in the hillside neighborhood of Atlantic Highlands, which when I was growing up was uh an area that we were not allowed to go to.
It was not a very good area. The houses were very run down. Uh there were drugs and other things going going on there. I purchased my home, got renovated my home and sold it for three times what I purchased it for. That neighborhood,
we have to think about this. Why did people start to come here and invest? The ferry came in, like Carrie just said, it became more accessible for people from the city, from other areas to move here. It's like Monontlair in other areas. It's now considered a
commuting town. people that I work with in the city who I would never know anyone new Atlantic Highlands or or Middletown know our area because of our schools. It's now on the map of realators and people that want to move out of the city and give their kids a
good good education. That is what is increasing property values. That is that is the things that make people want to move here, make this a desirable area. A lot of parents are already jumping ship moving their children to private schools. Oakill Academy, uh, uh, public
schools, paying tuition for Henry Hudson. God, we're Middletown. Can you imagine? I mean, when I was growing up, I couldn't imagine going to Henry Hudson, let alone paying tuition. We are Middletown. We our residents should want to send their children to Middletown
schools. This is it's it's it's crazy making. As someone said, it was it's very emotional. Um, so I know you, Mayor Tony, as a solutionsoriented like mover and shaker. When my daughter, my youngest, was actually my oldest
daughter was learning to ride her bike, there was a giant pothole in our street. Residents have been complaining about it for a long time. I sent Mayor Mayor Tony a video of my three-year-old daughter learning to ride her bike falling in this pothole. I think it was within a
month the entire road was was repaved. Okay, you can do things. I believe in you. I need you and your colleagues to please put pressure on these people. Superintendent Alone is hiding behind this uh lawsuit which is very narrow in
scope. And listen, I don't want to be here. This is the first time this I hope this is the last time you see me at one of your meetings. This is not how I want to spend my time. I don't want to be a thorn in your size, but I will be. I'm dressed like this because I was out in
the rain for since pickup at Behore Middle School. Since 2:40, I've been out in the rain talking to people, getting people to sign postcards to implore you to please, please, please help find solutions for these easy problems. We're
all smart people. Announcing within months that three schools are closing. My children are young. They were young at critical ages in their development when during the COVID pandemic. Okay. My daughter is in second grade. She's still behind in reading because she went to
preschool with masks. She couldn't even see the lips of the people learn like teaching her phonics. Okay. My three kids struggle in different educational ways in different social uh uh so social um emotional ways. My son is in sixth
grade. All of his friends, his entire core group of friends that he's had since he was in preschool, he's not very great at meeting new friends. They're all going to other schools. He will now be a seventh grader at Thorne and have a
very hard time fitting in. My daughter is in fourth grade. She will have to go to three schools in three years. Three schools. My second grader, I'm still waiting on >> Okay, thank you. You >> You can wrap up, Chrissy. >> What was that? >> You can wrap up real quick.
>> Oh, thank you. My mouth is so dry. Um, my second grader is still struggles reading. She's 7 years old. 7 and a half years old. She should be an excellent reader. And she's struggling. And I fear if she walks into Beayshore, which I
went to be, it was cold then. It's still pretty cold. It's a middle school. It's not meant for little kids. It's just I it I I don't I I cannot afford public school and private schools. I need you guys to fix this. If the schools have to
close in 5 10 years, let that happen. Let that happen and we will support it if we're part of it and it makes sense and we had like enough time to react to it. Giving us 3 months notice that schools are closing is completely it's unacceptable.
It's irresponsible and it's it's immoral. Thank you. >> Thanks, Phil. >> Hello. >> How are you today? >> I'm well. How are you? >> Good. >> Good evening, everybody. >> Good evening. >> My name is Katie Little Page. I live here in Middletown. I have a son in
kindergarten and I have a three-year-old son as well. I, like thousands of Middletown residents, was in shock two weeks ago when I watched our board of education vote 5 to four in favor of closing three neighborhood schools. I have been very attentive at board of
education meetings for the last year, and it was my understanding that the tax increase was meant to buy our board of education time to formulate a long-term strategic plan for our district. And when I heard our board president Chris Aveda propose
this triple school closure plan as an answer to a 1% budget deficit, I thought about how that proposal could be analogous in my line of work, which also involves making decisions for children. I am a NICU nurse. It is my job to speak
up and protect children from harm. Sometimes a baby in my care has to undergo an extreme pro procedure like intubation. This is a painful process of a tube being inserted into the baby's trachea to allow him to breathe. As the
nurse, I am typically the first person to notice that my baby has decompensated so critically that he requires an extreme procedure. At the same time, it would be reckless and unethical of me to urge a doctor to intubate my baby if my
baby's condition did not warrant such an extreme intervention. Maybe my baby only needed nasal canula or a CPAP mask to help his breathing problem. I would always choose the least invasive and the least painful intervention for a child
in my care. Another example that I see with premature babies in the NICU is a condition called necroizing endocrolitis or neck for short. I have taken care of a baby who had such severe neck that she needed to be rushed to the O to have a
large section of her bowel surgically removed in order to save her life. However, I have also cared for a baby who has been lucky enough been lucky enough to have a more mild case of neck. Fortunately, that baby did not require
surgery as she was able to be healed with medication alone. Both babies had the same disease, but the doctor was discerning enough to know which baby required non-invasive medications and which one sadly required irreversible
surgery. Mr. Mayor, I fear our board of ed is sending our town in for irreversible surgery when all we need is a little medication. and some thoughtful planning. I know that you are a proud father to
three children. I know that you would not tolerate them having to endure unnecessary extreme interventions. I know that if you were in my position, you would be standing here where I am advocating for your children. I also
know how proud you are of Middletown. I'm proud of it, too. I love it here. I love serving our community as a nurse. That's why I'm here speaking to you tonight because I don't want our Middletown children to endure unnecessary, extreme, irreversible
interventions. When I was growing up, a teacher told me, "Don't listen to what I say. Watch what I do." Thousands of children in Middletown are hurting right now, traumatized by this surprise school closure proposal.
Families and teachers are losing sleep and we are rot with anxiety. We are all watching to see what our leaders will do in this moment. We know you love Middletown and we hope you will use your leadership to propose a plan to our
board of education that closes their 1% budget gap, not our three neighborhood schools. Thank you. Sorry. Um some parents, Christie and myself and some others, we were at different schools today um at pickup and
we just asked um parents and students if they had any messages um asking you for help if they wanted to write you a message on a postcard. 100% enthusiastically said yes, I would love that. So we gave them the postcards. Is it all right if I give them to you?
>> Sure. Okay, >> Amy, can you grab those postcards? >> Thank you so much. >> Yeah, thank you. And thank you for your service as a nurse, especially in a NICU. Thanks, Amy. Thank you very much. Any other member of the public wish to
make a public comment? Yes, sir. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. It's going to be hard to follow all them. Uh, my name is Nick Caro. I live in Middletown. Uh, I'm going to be short and sweet. I don't want to take up too much of your time. Uh, I'm here as a
resident, taxpayer, and a parent. I personally did not choose to move to Middletown. My wife told me we're going to move to Middletown to raise my kids. >> Smart guy. >> And I'm glad she did. Um, the community schools in this town are by far the best
in the state. I know you've heard from a lot of us tonight and I'm not going to repeat or any of the facts and the stories. I'm just really going to ask two things from the board. Uh the first thing I'm ask is that you call Chris Avita and you tell him that this plan is unacceptable and that not only will it
hurt our children, but it will hurt every single resident and taxpayer in this town. The second thing I'm going to ask you is get involved. Discuss the share services with the board of ed or SRO's like so many other towns have done. Uh, I'm going to leave you with those
two requests. Um, I'm going let you listen to all these other parents and people that are talking and I thank you for your time. >> Thank you very much, sir. >> How are you? >> Good, sir. Um, my name is Anthony Otridge. I live down the road off of Swzil. Um you've heard from a number of
Navas parents or parents from that side of the road that town. Um my daughter is at Bayia so we're not currently immediately impacted but I'd like to um I have some concerns about the middle school situation and has the township
considered the traffic impact? Have you considered that there's going to be up to a thousand kids in each school and how that will impact the overall um health of the students as well as the neighborhoods and everyone that's trying to get to those school and the traffic.
So I've driven along Cherry Tree. It's not easy to get from our side of town to where um how I don't even know what the school's called to be honest. I'm part of I was planning to go to Beayshore so I don't know what that middle school is called. Thorne, they were just here. >> Thorn.
>> Thorne. Yes. >> Just Thompson's the other side. Um >> they just did a big cheer for Thorn right in the middle here. >> But the point is that you've heard from Navasync, you've heard from the people immediately impacted. >> We are united. We are here as a unit for
all the schools, not just those that are immediately impacted. And please, I haven't seen any impact on how traffic will be impacted either. And lastly, the first thing that happened when I moved to the US, I turned up in Newark and they said, "What are you doing here?" And I said, "Well, I've immigrating,
where you going?" I said, "Middle Town, really good schools. Great decision." So, I am not a local and even your even your new um border patrol know that Middletown is a good school district.
So, let's not um screw that up. Oh, mess that up. Excuse me. It's not the worst word ever said out here. >> Anyway, thank you, sir. Thank you, everyone here. >> Thank you very much. >> Any other member of the public wish to make a public comment? Bernie,
>> good evening everyone. Uh Bernie Doss, Middletown resident. I didn't prepare any um specific comments tonight, but after hearing some of the other folks speak, I just wanted to touch on one thing that um didn't come up um or maybe needs to be underlined, highlighted, and an explanation point put after it, which is um the the $3.2 million um budget
deficit um you know, is is now down to three uh 2.3 with the $900,000 that came in from the state. So, we got the maximum state aid. It's capped at 6%. We've gotten a bump of 6% the max two years in a row. And um I believe um the
business administrator can go up to 2.78 this year for health um insurance reasons. So that would be another 1.4. So what are we talking about? We're talking about less than a million dollars. So the um the emergency that we're experiencing where we've got three
schools on the chopping block is like 1/ half of 1%. So, let's just get our act together and come up with that one half of 1% and, you know, let's regroup and, you know, um, do some good strategic planning this summer. Thank you.
>> Thanks. >> Any other member of the public wish to make a public comment? Yes, ma'am. You don't have to run. It's okay. >> Question, I guess. Oh, hi. I uh spoke last time. Hi. I >> Yes.
>> Um I just wanted to address your name. Oh, Kristen Kristen Coun Middletown. Um I wanted to represent all those families that moved here from New York during the pandemic. Um we I as I said last time, we fell in love with this town and moved
here specifically for the schools and the history you've been able to preserve. Um, so it's a charming town and I hope you keep fostering that history and legacy that we preserve. Um, and I I just want to touch base I don't have anything prepared. I just want to
touch base on the middle school kids. Um, the kids in middle school right now are the kids that tried to learn to read during the pandemic that tried to make friends during the pandemic. All these kids were in kindergarten, first and second grade. And for middle school in
this town, especially Beayshore, it's a really special place. Um, the programs that are offered at Beayshore are incredible and I would hate to see them diluted into a larger school. Um,
and I guess I'm feeling a little emotional because of I was always a little bit reluctant to move back to my home state and I moved here sort of thinking I don't know where I grew up in New Jersey wasn't a place like this. It
was very bland. It had no character. All the history was bulldozed. Like every single farm that I grew up next to now just has condos on it. It's sad, but I came from a really great school district, so I really appreciate the education that New
Jersey has to offer. And I just want you guys to remember those middle school kids that like didn't learn to read till second, third grade, and what we're doing with them now. Um, the difference in size of classes, if you go from a a class size, what we have
right now, 21, about 21 kids are average class size in Beayshore. If we crown them into Thor and Thompson, those class sizes are going to go up to like 27 28. And when you're taking a test or you're trying to do notes and you're in middle school, like that like three other
distractions, like say someone starts talking in this crowd, like that throws everything off. And it's at that age when >> happens all the time when Rick Hel >> he's he's a class clown, I guess. Yeah. Yeah. >> No, but it's at this juncture in a kid's
life when you can really see them shine or go off the the tracks. And I just want these kids to shine. I don't want to see them, you know, with the alliance leaders. It's been like a really great support system to learn how to deal with this this age group. So, thank you. Um
and just the volunteer opportunities. Um, so just think of our middle school kids and how awful how it could be a really awful experience for them. Um, but thank you. Keep up the good work. >> Thank you. The one thing I just wanted
to say for for any parent that's that's going through that um you know where where their child is in need of of additional resources. Uh I don't know what year it was that we created the program. Probably three years ago, four years ago now.
Yeah. Yeah. But we do off the the township uh in an effort to try and help with that does offer no cost tutoring um for income eligible families. It's it was a program that we created called the Next Generation Support Program, but it
was specifically for kids that were impacted uh by learning loss. Um that I announced uh probably three years ago at this point, four years ago. Um, but we hired a private tutor and to utilize the ARP funding is what it was called from
the federal government. That was our ability to try and >> eliminate as much learning loss as we could. We >> kept Yeah. just to see that like in my own son to see where he started and where he is now. It's it's I I can only
credit this the schools for that and to know there's even more available is fantastic. Like that's what makes this place great. >> Thank I want to know why my daughter still spells my name with an I at the end of it rather than a Y on it.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any other member of the public wishes to make a public comment? >> All right. Seeing no other member of the public yet. Yes, sir. Sorry about that.
>> How are you today? >> I'm good. Thank you. My name is Logan Best. Um, my family actually just moved down here from Hoboken six months ago. We moved here because >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. Thank you. We moved here for the schools. Uh, so just to put a face with, uh, you know, the people that are
moving down here because of the schools. That's what we came here for. And then we found out there's actually so many other reasons to love Middletown. Um, and we've really enjoyed it. It's been phenomenal for our family. Um, you know, I just want to say real quick that we we moved here because the schools are in
the upper quartile for the state, right? That's a phenomenal achievement. Um, and one of the things that we should be proud of in Middletown is we're actually in the 39th percentile for cost. So, we're doing a really good job of performing at a very high level
academically with our kids while at the same time doing it cheaper than twothirds of the rest of the state. That's a phenomenal achievement for our school district. Um, and so when we have this relatively small budget shortfall
of half a percent, it seems insane to potentially remove three schools, one of which is one of the highest performing in the state. Like this school is a phenomenal school. Um, and so, you know, I really would encourage the the the
leadership team here to question what's going on at the board of ed because this doesn't make economic sense. It when you look at the data, it doesn't make actual sense in regards to the data that, you know, the New Jersey state puts out there. Um, so, you know, I think this is
something that we as a community should be able to solve. Um, and I hope under your leadership we can. So, thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Any other member of the public? >> John, >> how you doing, John? >> Good. How are you? >> Good.
>> Uh, John Spanelli, 91 Burlington. Um, I just well uh just two unrelated projects. Uh there two about open space I had a couple comments on. >> Um so I had an idea I wanted to ask the township committee about um I had an
idea of for modern day park. Uh I know there's a lot of modern day alumni that still live in town, former teachers. Um the the chair I know the chairman I think he's believe he's still Randy McDonald is still in Middletown. But I wanted to ask the township committee if
there's a possibility when the the park is, you know, years in advance when but um I just had a I just had a um idea of maybe putting up a couple signs or maybe like a brick walk if people want to buy stones to put their name down
like entering the park, right? >> Yeah, we we actually have our we we got the sign um for for the park. Um, so that's in um we I I don't know the mechanism. I would have to ask Colleen um with regard to stones and and if if
that even impacts Green Acres in any way, shape, or form. So, but um it's a good idea. It's good. >> Is there a restriction with with a like public property putting people's names down like >> No, I just I don't know if you know with Green Acres, one day something's okay,
the next day it's not. So, you just got to cut catch the right person at the right time. um since we did use open space funding for that. >> Okay. And the uh the other open space project, I think I mentioned a couple
times. Um so I I did some reading with the the highway the the New Jersey DOT. Um it's a township's authority if they've if the township wanted to add plants or plants or trees to the jug handles. >> Mhm. >> And um I I just wanted to bring up
>> they love to say that. >> What's that? They love to say that >> that it's the township's decision whether or not they want to do it. And then they give you >> then they give you the list of plants that you can put on there and it's >> like three total plants that you're allowed to put on there because you have
to worry about line of sight and a lot of them are legitimate things. Um >> yeah know safety and >> yeah safety and so but uh um yeah understand that you know they like to say that it is but you got to you got to really fall within their parameters.
>> Gotcha. >> Yeah. I want to mention the uh the Taylor lane in Route 35. Uh Joe handle. I just noticed that when it expanded it was just all grass so I thought it would look a little bit nicer to put a couple plants in trees. uh Taylor Lane and uh
the jug handle of Taylor Lane and 35 right by the target. Like if you're if if you're driving >> I know where it is. Yeah. Um uh I'll take a look at it. I haven't I haven't really peered into the jug handle all that unless I'm trying to catch the light. Um but I I'll take a
look at it. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thanks, John. >> Any other member of the public wish to make a public com Yes, sir. I can promise you planting on whatever jug handle you want. >> Oh, let's let's do it. Committee. Uh I'm
Mike Armstrong. I'm uh from Navinc. So, little background for me. Uh most of you guys don't know who I am, but a bunch do. So, I uh born and raised in Highlands. Highlands is home. Fifth generation lobster fisherman. That's what I would have been, right? But I'm
uh one of two to ever make it through college. My brother being the first, I was the second. We're both mechanical engineers. >> You let him do that. >> We we let it happen, right? He's six years older than me, so it had to happen that way. >> So, you know what? Growing up in Highlands, didn't didn't think I'd grow
up and be anywhere else. But then I looked to my neighbors in Middletown and I'm like, man, there's there's a lot to be had there. I love everything about Middletown, right? And having gone to Hudson and graduate from there, it was
very difficult. It was very difficult. But what made it very fun was that the class sizes were right. I graduated 10th out of 42. 42. What's up? 10th. >> So, I got to sit right there on like the
side with that special row of, you know, I was number 10 of 42. So, watch out people. But you know, look, we we this committee has done a lot of great things and these are the days that I feel for you, okay? Because I do a lot of
volunteering myself, right? I'm an ex- chief out of Highlands. I'm a a current member at Breon Park. I hold many positions within my fire company currently that help out this fine township. And I also hold volunteer positions within my within my community.
I'm the cubmaster uh of Davisync, right? So, I'm here to like help. I'm not here to argue. I'm here to like plan things, right? And unfortunately, you you folks are kind of getting the brunt from us of how can we make this happen? How can we make things better? And you know, you
all don't really dictate these things that we're talking about tonight. And I feel for you, right? This is this is not the long meeting that you were anticipating on that rainy day. Somehow, we still have power. We got a big old generator out in the back. We'll be okay. But >> you just got to brace for about three seconds and then you're fine.
>> You'll be all right. >> Turn back on. >> But we're we're dealing with something that we want to make sure that you guys are very aware of and that we think you guys could probably have some hand in in fixing and helping. And hopefully plans like that had come out last year where
different things could mechanisms could help make this work again would hopefully make it work and continue to make it work. Um, you know, I I I I know there's a lot of people at home that are looking and looking at these meetings and in the end I I would say everybody
knows at home that your costs of living went up, right? Milk and eggs. Everybody just goes milk and eggs. We could look at the stock price, we'd see it. The prices went up, yet the board of education did not charge us more. We know that's not right. Right. So, so
what's the line? What's the line? Were Were we just trying to stay flat to make sure we keep our position or was it we had a bigger agenda to go on afterwards? I don't know. But what I don't want to see is I don't want to see my three kids
go to a school that could become overcrowded and lose that community feel that I was so used to even for being that asterisk and somehow becoming an engineer. I don't know how I did, believe me, right? But it was that community feel. I was able to connect with my teachers and
directly be influenced by what they could teach me. And I'm afraid that when we get into for now this stage one of consolidating that it's going to be just a continued consolidation. And I can tell you this seventh and eighth grade
haven't been in Hudson 7 8th grade in 9th through 12th absolutely does not work. Does not work. I've been there. I've done that. I lived it. I I will put a lot of caution to the parents that that is not what you want to do. and I'm afraid that this may be a solution to
overcrowding in the future. So, just something to consider. >> I appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Any other member of the public? >> Seeing no other member of the public stepping forward, move to close the public portion and adjourn. >> Second.
>> Committeeman Clark, >> yes. >> Committeewoman Kratz, >> yes. >> Committeeman Senino, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibell, >> yes. Mayor Perry. Yes. >> Motion carries to >> Thank you all very much. Have a great night. All right. Thank you.