good evening This is a meeting of the township committee April 7th 2025 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 two of her times and by posting at the Middletown
Township Municipal Building and filing with the Township Clerk all on January 11 2025 Committeeman Clark here Committeewoman Kratz here Committeeman Smrino here Deputy Mayor Hibbell 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 for tonight's presentations I'd like to begin with inviting the assistant
township administrator Jim Vaness to please come forward So in order to sneak this on the agenda since it's hard to get things on the agenda when the assistant administrator tends to look at them we put it under a presentation by EMS but as you can see there's no EMS here tonight So Jim thank
you Um so uh as many of you know for 15 years our assistant administrator Jim Vaness has sat through uh I don't even know one account how many executive sessions how many a lot and and many
meetings has perused uh all all these different budgets uh chief um but uh at the end of this month uh our our assistant administrator is uh calling it
a career uh here in Middletown and uh for it to be uh to have a Middletown guy uh growing up here and serving this town um to having his his knowledge of of each corner of this municipality Um is
uh is we're really fortunate to have that and I know Tony is fortunate to to have that Um but it was Cindy really the whole time that was keeping it under control You got that right But um Jim after after so many years um we were
able to sneak it on the agenda Um and uh while we congratulated Jim upstairs with regard to uh his his retirement at the end of this month Jim on behalf of the residents of Middletown on behalf of uh everybody that you work with the township committee all the folks behind
you um want to say thank you and congratulations You know um there a lot of people who work for the township who um kind of fly under the radar You know they don't get their name in the paper often and we get um much
notoriety about certain things They work behind the scenes doing things that trust me save this township millions of dollars Nobody here thinks their taxes are too low right um well they didn't even hire if we didn't have people like
Jim who work at jobs that are very very complex and difficult to um administer but if they're not done properly they can cost real real money for towns whether it's lawsuits or or health claims whatever if they're not managed
well um they can be very expensive for the township so sometimes I think it's it's really nice for people who do those behind the-scenes jobs to be recognized um and uh and and applauded for for all the work they do They they've saved all of us in here money I can assure you
that And it's been a great career for Jim and uh wish him the best So but the the before I let Jim uh say a few words when I was uh before I was an elected official when I was a member of the the Middletown Library Board I I'm
sitting there and uh you know I'm listening to Jim in one of my first meetings and he says you know it's it's great to do these things but one day assessments are not going to go up as they are and they're going to stabil and they're going to go down and and we're going to have to deal with that and and
and Colleen is is nodding in the background And Jim meeting after meeting after meeting would remind us of that and and making sure that the decisions we were making were the right ones making sure that we all kept an understanding of where that budget needed to be and and where it had to end
up with And I'll never forget Jim constantly reminding and then when I sit with Colleen and the TC and and Tony and we look at the budgets I think of Jim Vaness and I think eventually they are not going to be increasing So you have to you you have to realize that So um
but Jim again congratulations and if you want to say a few words Well yeah 15 years is a long time to be to be in one one spot but this is my hometown I grew up here graduate Well I went to grammar school junior high school and I graduated high school here So it was
very glad to come back to Middletown 15 years ago to come and serve Uh it's been my honor to serve everybody out here and I hope I did a good job Congratulations thanks been uh you you'll have since I guess you're giving up your office at the end
of the month you'll have to find a new place for this But uh the attachment committee hereby presents this black teamman as in recognition of 15 years of outstanding leadership dedication and service as the assistant tachment administrator and HR director Your commitment and contributions have made a
lasting impact on your community Jim congratulations Um one two three Congratulations Jim Yeah Our next presentation we have recognizing April 2025 as alcohol awareness month in the township of
Middletown I'd like to invite Middletown Alliance coordinator Erica McKe and chairperson committee woman Kimberly Krabs to the front of the room to join Mary So um uh number one for for those of you who don't know Erica Erica does a
phenomenal job heading up our municipal alliance and uh the first time I got to meet Kim Kratz I don't even know how many years ago at this point now um was on her work with the with the drug and alcohol alliance and alliance which if
you are here on a Tuesday through Thursday basically at any time there are kids running in and out of of these hallways Um and the the work and time and effort um that our Municipal Alliance Project
Plus does um is phenomenal It is outstanding The the work of the volunteers everybody to try and give kids a a real path and understanding of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse um and and all the other things that we've
worked on mental health training all of these different uh social media warnings for for parents Um you know I I I can always tell when it's the parents training and the kids training being done done separately because I'm always
uh not surprised anymore but it you can always tell when the parents have gotten that training because they walk out of that training like "Oh my god I didn't realize half of these things." But they do a phenomenal job and and Kim even after she got elected to the governing
body continued to take up the helm um as the municipal um chair Um and you know this uh April 2025 is alcohol awareness month So I I thought it was appropriate to bring Erica and committee Kratz down
to recognize this but talk about the great work that they're doing So Kim thank you So for those who don't know the alliance is made up of stakeholders in our community purely volunteer organization blessed to have really strong leadership We have our police department We have Chief Weber is a
member of our alliance Members of our board of education parents like me That's how I That's how I started to volunteer was I have two boys and I knew full well that I wanted to make sure I had all the education to be able to give to them so that I knew that they were
getting the most clear information not from their friends or their peers but really just making sure that it was accurate Um on a personal level it's very important to me and this month is very important for all of us to be well aware Unfortunately um my dad is one of six The youngest two siblings are twins
Um unfortunately when my uncle was 25 years old made the choice to get into a vehicle He was impaired himself He was drinking Got into a vehicle with two of his other friends who were also drinking Um they were at a party and made the decision to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and all three perished So really
unfortunate changed our family forever I was 11 years old at the time and just to see my own family deal with all of that tragedy and navigate all of that really made made me feel that you know as as a child I was made aware of it but even as an adult too I wanted to always make
sure that our community was the safest it could be and that we were providing our residents and not just our young people but our adults too with the most education because it's a real issue Thankfully in this day and age we have Uber and there's other alternatives you don't have to make that choice to ever
get behind the wheel of a vehicle ever Buzz drinking is still impaired driving So it's it's really important just to keep that in mind So thank you for your time and we're so thankful for Erica It's been a wonderful year plus with Erica She's done beautiful work Our if
you if you haven't already please look at our website middletownj.orgmiddtownalliance There's a wealth of information there for all of you to navigate And Eric I'm sure we'll talk to you more about different programs that we have currently going on in town too Absolutely Um so on social
media we do have an Instagram and a Facebook account at Middletown Alliance Just like our website there is a plethora of information for parents and educators on drug and alcohol topics mental health topics social media safety everything under the sun that helps your youth be the best leaders that they can
be Um so every month we also do parent presentations This month's is on social media and it's actually happening here in town hall next Monday at 7 PM upstairs in our training room So we have a wonderful prevention specialist that goes over current trendy social media apps and websites how to navigate those
conversations around social media with your youth and your teens Um and just how to really encourage them to make smart choices with it Um and and like I said have those important conversations Um also this April we are doing a spring clean out your uh lungs initiative So we
have three PSAs The first one went out today um on health risks associated with vaping nicotine products And the two upcoming PSAs we have will be on tips and resources for quitting vaping as well as I'm hoping uh my friend Ted over here will do the third PSA with me on
how to recycle vapes um and the vape batteries at the Middletown Recycling Center Um also April being alcohol awareness month on our Instagram and Facebook accounts Um there's five Tuesdays in April So every Tuesday I'm hosting a tip Tuesday on how to consume alcohol in a safe low-risk way Um so
keep your eyes out for that as well as our event flyers and programs um including as Mayor Perry said our Project Plus now called Alliance Leaders Program for our fifth and eighth graders We move here every Tuesday and Wednesday over drug and alcohol prevention um
decision making skills We work with our police officers on um we do a fun police tour and and they get to meet a canine dog but also go over drug and alcohol prevention uh tactics with them as well And it's a really great way for your your youth and your your kids to become leaders in their community um and their
schools So we have a lot of programs and a lot of things upcoming um and in place and we're just excited to continue it Awesome Thank you But I'm glad to know that Ted knows how to recycle We do We do now Yes we do Now you're not personally using it are you T okay I'm
trying to All right Well um the one thing I did not realize and I I read in this proclamation a typical American sees 100,000 beer commercials before they turn 18 Jim how many beer commercials
you see all right Well I Mayor Tony Perry the Middletown Committee join the Middletown Alliance in proclaiming April 2025 as alcohol awareness month from the time of Middletown Call on all citizens parents government agencies public and private institutions businesses hospitals
schools and colleges in Middletown to support the efforts that will provide early education about alcohol and substance use or misuse to increase support for individuals and families coping with alcohol use disorders Through these efforts together we can provide hope healing and help for those
in our community who are facing the challenges of alcohol use and misuse So let's give it up for our team right here Erica Raven is frantically waving Sorry Frantically waving
Okay One two three Thanks so much All right Thank you Thanks I know Our next presentation is recognizing April 6 through the 12th 2025 as National Library Week at the
Town of Middletown I'd like to invite uh Middletown Township Public Library director Kate Hammond to the front of the room Well if uh for those of you who don't know uh Committee Woman Kratz is sticking down here because she is our liazison to the library board So April
is Committee Katr's month here Um but really um the the individuals that the individual that deserves a lot of credit and a lot of thanks is is Kate Hammond Uh you uh for those of you haven't seen the the renovations of our library that
just reopened it is fantastic Um it is it is amazing The history room is amazing The breakout rooms are incredible Um and it it's perfect Had I known that library week was the following week I would have told you
wait until Monday and do it But I don't think the public was ready to wait another week Nor nor the staff Yeah we're ready to go But the the Middletown Library staff deserves a lot of credit because for uh I said this the during our sneak preview um two weeks ago um
and during the ribbon cutting um the staff kept it going regardless of the construction happening Um and this renovation to the library I said then and I'll say it again tonight is how you
redefine what the definition of a library is And that is our new township facility So if you haven't seen um how beautiful how modern and uh up to-date it has become with 3D printers with the
all the the makers room the history room the breakout rooms that are there the open concept of that whole new wing Um it is beautiful and Kate thank you so much on behalf of the township committee You did a fantastic job in getting it
done um and and really working to help make that definition the Middletown Township Public Library So um Kate congratulations on a job very well done Thank you very much Mayor Perry and Committee Um National Library Week is a
is always a very important week um in the year it was created to really celebrate and highlight the role that libraries and library staff have on the community Um and I personally feel very lucky I've been a librarian for 15 years I've been in Middletown for 10 and we
just have a wonderful community We have a wonderful staff Everybody loves the library Everybody just wants to be there to help Um and the last year as we've been undergoing renovations um it's been a little chaotic a little hectic but um it was our goal to really remain open um
like you said and we were able to manage that and everybody's been so patient So um it really is great There's a lot of um private study rooms the maker space a new history room I really invite everybody to come down um check it out say hello to a staff member ask us questions We're we're there to help So
that's great and please get over there as quickly as possible Sure Just real quick I just wanted to thank Kate in addition and the staff at Middletown Library It's no easy lift to do this kind of renovation and still remain open to serve the patrons in town And it it
they're absolutely amazing Also wanted to just give a shout out to Lindsay Lome too who's also instrumental too in managing the project and really pushing it forward for our young people in the room There's a a wonderful teen room now that is just for you guys I'm gonna tell
you it's like the best friend forever It's fabulous So I hope you guys get to go check it out too But thanks again so much Kate It's a pleasure It was a pleasure We're in Ver So uh I Mayor Tony Perry the Middletown Township Committee do hereby proclaim April 6th to the 12th 2025 is National Library Week in the
township of Middletown During this time we encourage our community members to visit the Middletown Township Public Library visit its social media its its website to check out all the diverse programming special events and new features And go in take advantage of this great new space and enjoy the
Middletown Township Library Congratulations Poor Raisin Okay One two three Yeah Our final presentation for tonight We have a presentation recognizing Middletown High School North Varsity
Girls Swim Team for winning the 2025 C North Division Championship At this time I'd like to invite coach Megan Gabari and the team to the front of the room to join Mayor Perry You guys can come over here too
Let's give it up for our division champion So uh it's it's always uh it feels like we cannot have a township committee meeting anymore without a champion coming through and sitting in this well because Middletown North and Middletown
South have had a boatload of them recently But you are our newest champions that are here and uh I know that uh it's not going to be the last time all you ladies are sitting here right no I think we're hoping for next
year confidently look at me and say yes Um but you know it's funny because for for most of you as individuals as as as collectively as a team you look at swimming and and kind of think of it as
an individual-based sport But we know that it's not because it's the determination and drive and the push that each of you have on each other uh as competitors as students that make this uh sport um really one of the most
exciting I think um in in high school college and and obviously at an Olympic level and all of you deserve a lot of credit because it was the that drive that has brought you to this point and securing the championship um that you
haven't had in quite a while right first time since 2008 2008 Yeah 2008 So so you all deserve a lot of credit and let's bring that championship back uh next year Coach you
want to say a few words yeah Um so we had a this was the same team basically that we had the year before So I think that kind of helps a little bit with that Um but yeah I am definitely uh very proud of all of you Uh thank you for honoring us and the committee and
uh remember um yeah so I hope to do it again next year So we will uh see But yeah this is my first my first division and then yeah first one since 2008 So excellent Well let's give him a round of applause
discussion committee We want to congratulate Middletown High School uh varsity swimmers for winning the 2025 C North Division Championship Congratulations on achieving this division championship with impressive total of seven wins Your dedication to your sport is admirable and we're so
proud of you for working with your teammates to earn each and every victory We wish you lots of success and are confident that you'll be right back here again next year Uh let's give it up one more time for our They wanted me to They wanted me to say
that you're going to make a splash again next year They snuck that They snuck that pun right in there for me All right I wasn't prepared when I read that as a ready
One two three Congratulations And if you want to just hold for your parents and guardians so professional All right let's give it up one more time Are they on some are Don't worry
I know I know That's why I don't want to go back Let's just take We're take a one minute recess So if you'd like to not participate in the rest of your homework That's fine Have a good night We have introduction of proposed
ordinances We have ordinance two 2025-3458 an ordinance authorizing entry of agreement for the purchase and sale of real estate and grant of uh parking and access easements with St Mary mother of God church for the acquisition of
block 524 lot 84 and a portion of lot 101.01 01 modern day TVA block 524 lot 84.01 1 for recreation and open space preservation purposes
Absolutely 100% Motion to [Music] introduce Second Clark Yes Commino yes Deputy Mayor Hibell yes Mayor Perry yes Motion carries to pass this ordinance on first reading with a public
hearing to be held April 28th uh 2025 Our next ordinance from uh introduction we have 2025-3459 an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 105 of the code of Miltown governing the property tax relief payment program for eligible
volunteers under its volunteer incentive program Motion to introduce Second Committeeman Clark yes Committeewoman Kratz yes Committeeman Seno yes Deputy Mayor Hibbell yes Mayor Perry yes Motion P uh carries to pass this ordinance on
first reading with a public hearing to be held April 28th 2025 Our next ordinance for introduction 2025 D-3460 a bond ordinance providing an appropriation of 1,850,000 for the Kings Highway safety
improvement project phase one and buy and for the township of Middletown in the county of Mammoth New Jersey and authorizing the issuance of $810,350 in bonds or notes of the township for financing the part uh part of the appropriation Motion to introduce
second Committ Clark yes Committ Kratz yes Committ Smino 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 28th 2025
At this time we have ordinance 2025-3461 a bond ordinance providing an appropriation of $3 million for acquisition of property by and for the township of Middletown in the county of Mammoth New Jersey and authorizing the issuance of
$2,850,000 in bonds or notes of the township of for financing part of the appropriation Motion to introduce Second Committ Clark Yes Committeewoman Kratz yes Committeeman Senino yes Deputy Mayor Hibbo yes Mayor Perry yes Motion carries
a passage ordinance on first reading with a public hearing to be held April 28th 2025 At this time I'd like to ask the township committee to adopt a uh consent agenda which would include resolutions
25-142 through 25-152 Motion to approve a consent agenda Second Committ Clark Yes Committeewoman Kratz Yes Committ Senino Yes Deputy Mayor Hibell Yes Mayor Perry Yes Motion
carries to adopt consent agenda This time we have tentative committee comments All right Committee woman Kratz I'm going to hold mine Thank you Mayor All right Committ I may hold mine as well All right Well Clark was like getting ready to hit his
button so I decided to call your name because I he was like real quick to that trigger You made him in I was just really excited to tell you I'm gonna hold till now Okay DM I'm gonna just say a few things Just
congratulations to our teams up here are just amazing every time they come in here every meeting So that's all I have Mayor All right I didn't smell chlorine either I didn't smell any chlorine on the girls So Oh yeah No Um
uh All right Um I I do I do just want to say a couple words Um number one I want to say thank you to um St Mary's Parish uh the dascese Um today is a a really big day
for the township in terms of the acquisition of modern day Um and I want to give a a huge thank you to the deputy mayor here um who was absolutely instrumental in in making this get
across the finish line and to the point that we are today Um Rick and I have been working on this off and on for two maybe three years at this point And um it is it is a a moment that we
can be really proud of as a community and in terms of the preservation of open space Um it it doesn't get much better than getting 25 acres under control Um 28 m Nelson says 25 You say 28 with the
easement It's 28 All right So um but but I do I do want to thank everybody that was involved I want to thank the bishop I want to thank Father Jeff I want to thank every member of the township committee uh our professionals in in
making that happen Brian a big part of of this Um so thank you to everybody because this this really was a long time in the making and it it is great to to see that this property is going to be um under the control of the township in our
newest park at 25/28 acres um whatever you guys want to decide Uh so um and then finally uh today we also introduced um the second phase of the Middletown
Volunteer and Center program and I want to thank the chiefs I want to thank John Ducker Um uh I want to thank Colleen uh Tony and uh I got to speak to um the EMS uh at the EMS department meeting the
other day um to talk about this phase where we're able to provide a a great service and not only one not a great just a great service for our volunteers but already the fact that the commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs and I do want to thank
Jacqueline Suarez the commissioner and uh Mike Rogers um from local government services because it was um their not just their support it was their excitement about this program and how we
really are redefining um what it means to uh reward and thank our volunteers So um today's a big first step forward Uh April is volunteer appreciation month and um I know at the next meeting we'll certainly be able to
show our appreci appreciation even more by uh by uh having our public hearing and uh hopefully approving this um ordinance Um with that being said 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 state
your name and that you keep your comments to five minutes At four minutes I'll let you know that you have one minute remaining Any member of the public wish to make a public comment my meeting got cancelled just so you know That's all right
No no it got rescheduled though Okay Um my name is Susan Mckitis I live at 63 PA Drive in the Navy section of Middletown This is my third appearance here so you're probably sick of seeing me up here Uh on my two previous visits I
requested that the council consider a resolution supporting the super fund act Once again I see that is not on the agenda As you may recall the super fund act if passed would hold major polluters accountable to pay for damage they have
caused to our environment rather than taxpayers paying the bill This is particularly important at a time when taxes are expected to go up not down in Middletown As a Middletown taxpayer I am respectfully asking why Middletown is reluctant to support a bill that would b
be beneficial to our town at no cost to taxpayers Your turn Um well as I as I mentioned um I did have a meeting uh scheduled with the uh Senate and Assembly leadership which was cancelled in the end to
discuss the concerns that I think I had mentioned to you at the last meeting on this legislation Um it's it's just a few issues that I have with it because I was there when Senator Lesniak um working in the Senate when he pushed a super fund site um legislation that ended up um
being um more controversial and probably worse off in terms of of making this uh issue especially in the northern part of our state um go away um and and really hold
them hold individuals accountable for for whatever the courts have found So um I do have some questions about the legislation and would like the the sponsors of the bill to just inform me of of why certain aspects of this legislation were um included in this So
I you know I I just I I love reading uh legislation So I'm not going to I can't sign my name onto something that I'm just not in in favor of at the And that's totally fair Uh there are more than 20 legislators who have already signed on as co-sponsors of this bill
Just FYI Uh so I look forward to the next chapter in this Thank you very much Thank you Appreciate your time Yep Any other member of the public yep Don Don's ready for Don's ready for summer
It's raining outside Me too But no socks on then I'm good I was hoping hoping for some warmer weather Same So I put my vacation shirt on Anyway my name is Don Watson living at one Collinsson Drive in New Mammoth
Um I just have a couple of questions when I was reviewing the um agenda here There's a um resolution 145 about a change orders for Tindle for
Tindle Park Correct Um in the resolution it says that um the award was initially at 2,5,230 and we're with the two changes it increases it by 129374 which brings it up to a total of
2134604 2.1 million Um the resolution actually says $2,226,234 which is a difference of $91,000 And I'm wondering what's correct If you don't
know we'll find out at the next meeting Ted yeah that's probably from change order number one Tom which was the initial change order that's not part of this resolution Oh Oh Me what what Ted I think is so Ted just so I understand the original bid the original amount was
2,5000 but the delta of of the 2226 minus the 129 is is number is change order number one I believe So yeah
Yeah In October Okay I can check that out since I'm got some time on my hands Um and uh resolution 147 um is award of a contract for
landscaping services and it says that um the low bidder couldn't provide some kind of documentation and um it says it in the resolution but it never mentions the low bidder Capelli Farms
LLC The low bidder The low bidder was not named Just the who got awarded the cont Yeah but the qual the qualified that would be the qualified lowest bidder The lowest the correct me if I'm wrong Colleen the
lowest bidder could not provide documentation that allowed them to be a qualified bid So that's what I'm There's a thanks Okay Thank you And that goes for the change orders too Don We can What's that we can show you the change orders for
Tindle if you want to Just let me know Yeah sure Thanks Ted And then in um resolution 148 um there's a not to exceed changing the not to exceed um amount of a contract that's the two
or tutoring services right now the total not to exceed listed in the resolution does that include the $2900 increase
yes it does Yes Okay I wasn't sure because I didn't know what the original contract was Um yeah No I know 59 Let me think
52 Thought I had another question I guess Um the the not to exceed was 52,500 and the additional funds was $2,900 Very good Thanks Tony It's about all I got for now Thank you Thanks Don Any other member of the public wishing to
make a public comment yes ma'am How are you good How are you uh it's my first time here so I apologize if I don't follow the rules Emily Donahghue for Hiron Avenue in Atlantic Islands namear Um tonight you proposed Emily Donahghue Tonight you
proposed ordinance 20253461 Uh I have been closely following um our save our schools So I was hoping that maybe there would be a different ordinance proposed tonight Um I didn't want to be assumptive in what this ordinance was about but it didn't quite clarify what it was for the
purchase This is it It's the sister uh basically the sister ordinance for the acquisition of modern day Okay perfect So is there a reason why there wasn't an ordinance proposed for the property of the board of education it it has to go through the whole full process like
there's a so a later date Correct Okay Correct Perfect Thank you for clarifying You're welcome Thank you Joe will get it Don't worry about it Any other member of the public wish to make a public comment Seeing no other member of the public stepping forward move to close
the public portion and adjourn Second Yes Committ K Yes Committeeman Senino Yes Deputy Mayor Hibbell Yes Mayor Perry Yes Motion carries to adjourn Have a great night everybody Thank you all very much