Good evening. This is a meeting of the township committee December 1st, 2025. The nose requirements provided for in the open public meetings act have been satisfied. Notice of this meeting was properly given by transmission to the Osprey Park Press and the Touver Times and by posting at the Middletown
Township Municipal Building and filing with the Township Clerk all on January 11th, 2025. Committeeman Clark >> here. Committeewoman Kratz >> here. >> Many Sedino >> 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 Muorn Tavern for donation to Veterans Village.
I'd like to invite Malbourne Tavern owner Dan Faresi to join Mayor Perry at the front of the room. So, our last few meetings, we've had the privilege of of working with so many different groups and organizations. And uh right before we opened our veterans
village uh I got an Instagram message uh from a member of the team over at Muleborn who offered uh and said we we at the Muleborn uh and if you haven't gone go out to Sandy Hook and and I'll do a blog for you.
Um it's it's a hell of a time. It's great food, great atmosphere. You're you're sitting looking right in front of you is all the all old officer row homes and when you get out there you have nothing but the feeling of such significant historical value and it's
it's a great location to be and it's particularly great because my kids outside during the summertime can run around like lunatics on the astroturf that they have out there and uh and everyone's doing it so it's so it's never a bother to to to others that are
trying to eat out there. But I got this Instagram uh post and uh the individual said, "Hey, we we want to do something for the for the Veterans Village. How can we help?" And I replied back and I
said, "No worries. A member of my team's going to contact you. Laura's going to call you." And they come to the grand opening. And they said that on a specific day, and of course it was a day I couldn't be there, but a specific day,
we're going to give back 100% of the proceeds of every meal that comes in, we are going to donate back to the Veterans Village. And $11,000 was raised on that night. That deserves a big revenue. And and I I said it that day that we
opened up the Veterans Village and I'll say it again today. When you look at what built that building, it was 100% the community that surrounds it from Sandy Hook to Linkraftoft and everywhere in between. It was the community that
came together. And when you have great businesses, great people, great organizations willing to put food on the table for all those that will live there, go in and decorate, donate their artwork, their time, their energy, and
when you have restaurants that don't need to make a name for themselves because they've already done a great job doing that. But when you have organizations that are willing to say, "I'm willing to forego my profit, to help a fellow resident, to help somebody
in need, to help people that have served our nation, all Middletown can do is say thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your love of your community. Congratulations to you because you deserve and I've seen I've shared all I think every Instagram post that you that
you have done." And when you watch those videos and you see the cannons that are out there, when you see how much time and energy those videos, I can tell you for certain those videos, you don't do them in one take. It takes a couple times unless you're that good.
>> A lot of editing. >> Okay. But when you see that effort, when you see that care, that's what makes a community the difference between something being built and something being filled with love. And the Muorn
did that by donating $11,000 to this great organization. Thank you so much. First of all, like to thank our veterans. I mean, they deserve all of our support. I'd like to thank Middletown. We, you know, we did this
fundraiser because we wanted to do a local charity. Um, you know, I took a tour of the building today. It's a fantastic building. You guys did an incredible job. I'm sure it was a lot of work getting it done start to finish. Um, and most of all like to thank the community. you know, they came out to support us on that day and we were able
to uh raise a lot of money for a great uh great fundraiser. So, thank you very much. I appreciate it. >> Customers that day were able to write letters for the veterans and we, you know, we laminated them and put them in a book. I know after taking the tour
today, there's some community spaces in the building. So, if you know, you want to put that down there so these men and women can read uh through some of these letters, I'm sure they'll really appreciate it. That's amazing. Thank you. And and and I want to say this, not only did you donate $11,000, I think
Lor's got a car full of stools. You brought them tonight. I brought them right before my tour. So >> So all all the common space can have a little bit of the meal barn sitting right there. >> But that's amazing. Well, once again, let's give me barn and everybody.
One, two, three. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you guys. Get the lemon wings when you're out there. All right. >> Thanks so much. >> Our next presentation is recognizing Stanley A. Midos for 50 years of service
to Middletown Township Fire Company number one. I'd like to to at this time invite Stanley A. Midos and the and Middletown Fire Department chiefs to join Mayor Perry at the front of the room. Well, Chief Chief Moss, first of all, I
want to say congratulations. >> Did you think you were going to make it 50 years? >> No. Um, just quickly, you know, we've we've had the the great fortune of of handing out uh quite a number of these keys uh recently, and it it always fills me with
such pride, and I know I can speak for the rest of the township committee in just being in awe of somebody dedicating 50 years of service uh not just to their community, um but to the Middletown Township Fire Department. And you know,
often times Rick and I will be talking and he'll tell me about a call that occurred and and things that went perfectly sometimes. But it's amazing that he can recall and and everybody can sound at you, Ricky. Uh
>> last night uh recall everything that happened at a specific fire call. the the amount of desire to be even more perfect than the next day. We're blessed to be in a town that not only has an all volunteer fire
department, the world's largest all volunteer fire department, but consistency within that department. Consistency when you know that the people riding on that truck are going to know what to do, how to do it, and how to get out there safely. Um, and Chief
Midos has demonstrated that over 50 years of service. Um, Chief Midos was was chief in what, 1994? Yes. >> When you're getting a key, it's got to be a long time. But Chief Bidos uh served as the
company's captain five times, lieutenant at least it says at least a dozen times. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And served several years as the engineer and trustee to mention just a few. From 1990 until 1994, Chief Maido served as chief officer with the Middletown
Township Fire Department, achieving the rank of chief of the department. After serving as fire chief, Chief Maido served the township as director of emergency management for five years and was an instructor at the Middletown Township Fire Academy for more than 20 years and sat on the fire academyy's
board of directors. And when the New Jersey of Fire Safety, New Jersey Division of Fire Safety was developing its statewide firefighter 1 certification program, Chief Midos represented the Middletown Township Fire Department on the committee to develop the state's first firefighter 1 training
manual. as a founding member and captain of Middletown Township Fire Department special service unit. Uh he has of course I folded it in the wrong spot and has been twice decorated for life saving. Chief Midos passes on his commitment to public service to his son
Josh who's employed as a Middletown Township police off police sergeant I should say now that I've been able to swear him in. Chief Midos, on behalf of the township committee, it's my honor to present you with the key to Middletown Township for your 50 years of dedicated service to our not only our community,
but to this great organization of firefighters. Thank you for inspiring everyone and thank you for your service. One, two, three. Congratulations, >> Chief. Congratulations. I'm going to
start using at least a few times to the future. >> Congratulations. >> Need some more hashtags there. It looks like >> Yeah, I do. >> Congratulations. >> Yeah. Really? All right.
Don't move. Chiefs. Yes, sir. >> Uh we're going to recognize Michael D. uh D. Michael Beran for 50 years of service to Middletown Township Fire Company. Number one. Thanks. I promise
>> you don't have to do this again. This is the second. >> Well, it's it's funny. It's funny. I was about to say, Mike, what do you need? A keychain? I think that's the second one you've got, right? Let you want to do this again next year. You want to Okay, you're done.
>> Okay. >> So, so well now I don't have to go through your your your entire resume because you know we've done this once before. We can watch a YouTube video on it, I guess. >> But the when when you think about that,
this is the second key that Mike Rean's about to receive. And when you think about that, first for his EMS uh volunteerism and now for fire. When you realize the dedication of individuals wanting to help their fellow residents,
look no further. Um, Mike has served in a variety of capacities for the Middletown Fire Department. But I do want you to tell the story of how you were unable to wrap the hose on that on that cold uh cold Marlin arms. >> This is what I'm talking about. That
they remember exactly what you know what year was that? 1974. >> 1977. >> 77. Okay. Go ahead, Mike. It was the coldest. Hey, by the way, I just want to let you know Clark just said that was the year he was born. >> I'm not the one calling you old.
>> I am. So, but that had to be the coldest I've ever been in my entire life. I mean, it was a working fire. Um, we actually have a picture of one of the other members back then. You could have a full beard and he did. and his picture made the Asbury Park Press because his
beard was frozen and it's a frost need a snowman in favor. But when we went to pack up, the hose was so frozen we could not roll it up. We had to use Bobby Carheart's rack body truck to throw the hose in the back of the truck and take
it back to fire to th it was brutal. That's my story. >> And you're sticking with it? >> Yes. Well, Mike, I hope you can find a key chain big enough for not just one key, but two. All right. U do another 50
years. We'll get you a keychain. It's all It's all good. >> This this second township key is presented to Michael Rearen in grateful appreciation of 50 years of service to the Middletown Township Fire Department with Middletown Township Fire Company number one. Mike, it's an honor. You
You're inspiring people every single day by your dedication and years of service, and I want to thank you for that. Congratulations, Mike. Get a new wall, new house or something. >> I'll take the house. >> One, two, three.
Congratulations. >> All right, let's give it up for for always Danny or No, >> no, Danny's always older than me. >> Oh, thank you. >> Is it true that C? I mean, Jake says he only got two more years.
>> It's probably something close to that. >> So, you know, Kevin's close to that, too. But that too. >> All right. >> All right, Heidi. Okay, we do have some proclamations for the record. A proclamation recognizing November 2025
as lung cancer awareness month in the township of Middletown. A proclamation recognizing November 2025 as Native American Heritage Month in the Township of Middletown. A proclamation recognizing November 29th, 2025 as Small Business Saturday in the Township of
Middletown. and a proclamation recognizing December 7th, 2025 as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day in the Township of Middletown. At this time, we have uh introduction of proposed ordinances. Our first ordinance 2025-3488,
an ordinance authorizing accept acceptance of deed of conservation easement over a portion of block 1063, lot 6.01, also known as 1497 West Front Street. >> Motion to introduce
Second. >> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Kratz. >> Yes. >> Committ 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 December 15, 2025.
At this time, we have ordinance 2025-3489, an ordinance authorizing acceptance of deed of right of way dedication over a portion of block 865, lot 136, also known as 456, highway 35.
>> Motion to introduce. >> Second. >> Committ Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Kratz, >> yes. >> Committ Senino, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibbo, >> yes. >> Mayor Perry, >> yes. Motion carries to pass this ordinance on first reading with a uh
public hearing to be held uh December 15, 2025. We have ordinance 2025-3490, an ordinance amending chapter 240 of the code of the township of Middletown governing certain health related fees uh health related fee schedules. >> Motion to introduce.
>> Second. >> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committee woman Katz. 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 December 15, 2025. At this time, I'd like to ask the township committee to adopt a consent agenda, which would include resolutions 25-348 through 25-357, including firefighter appointments. >> Motion to approve the consent agenda.
>> Second. Committeeman Clark, >> yes. >> Committeewoman Kratz, >> yes. >> Committeeman Senino, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibbo, >> yes. >> Mayor Perry, >> yes. >> At this time, we have uh Township Committee comments.
>> Committeeman Clark. >> Like to congratulate our uh two members on their 50 years of service. It's um it's it's an awesome thing and being a former chief and having 20 over 25 years of service myself to imagine 50 is uh is
pretty impressive. Um that's all I got to >> How many are you away clerk? >> I am uh 20 >> say >> 20 years away. >> 20 years away be 30 the end of actually this month. >> Ricky will give you >> deputy mayor high will be here. >> Yeah, >> he's closer.
>> Oh, I got it. >> All right. Uh, Committeeman Senator Brino, >> I will uh echo Committeeman Clark's comments and hold the rest of my comments this evening. Mayor, thank you. >> All right. Uh, Committee Kratz. >> Thank you. Um, also the same congratulations to both of our members of the fire department. Um, and also,
uh, just like to give a shout out to our parks and wreck. Uh, our tree lighting last night was was very successful despite the weather. Um, so it was a really nice evening for for a lot of families. So, it was nice to see everyone enjoying themselves for sure. and uh Committeeman Clark and I were
both at uh Mule Tavern for for the event that raised the 11,000 uh for our veterans housing and it was it was really quite impressive and and extremely generous, wonderful people. So, if you have the opportunity and haven't done so anyway at if you haven't done so yet, please go and and visit
them and support them. Thank you, >> DM. I'm closer to Ryan than the 50 mark, right buddy? A little older. Little older. we know. >> Congrats to the 50 years. It's just a it's an amazing accomplishment, especially uh um the guys that just
continue to do the service every single year. Um the last few uh uh few 50ear uh awards were just it just people that I know for my whole entire life and it's a pretty big deal. So, um thank you for
the service. We appreciate it. Uh the event last night, uh I can't believe how many people were there in the rain. It was uh I just didn't expect that at all. So glad everyone came out and uh I I do have to give a shout out. I've been giving a lot of them lately to Ted and I'm very brief here. Ted, thank you for
Apple and Leville Road crosswalk uh is is is a very good thing for the people there. So, thank you a lot for getting that done for me. Thank you. That's all I have, Mayor. >> All right. Um, I I I wanted to keep it brief because I
wasn't at the last township committee meeting and I I heard that Committeeman Senator Brino ran the meeting and it was four minutes long. >> That's a conservative number. >> Oh, a conservative number. Okay. Yeah. All right. Uh, so I just wanted to take
a minute to uh first of all congratulate uh Committeeman Seno and the deputy mayor on your re-elections. Congratulations to both of you. proud to serve alongside you. Uh and since I missed the last meeting, um I just wanted to offer that congratulations.
So, um welldeserved honors. Um I do want to give a shout out to public works, uh parks and wreck, everybody that was involved yesterday in the tree lighting. Um and I do want to thank the Middletown Arts Center obviously um for uh hosting that event and getting it through. There
was a debate for a little while as to whether or not we were going to push it. Um, and I just wanted to be clear, Tony Merkante was the one pushing us to keep it. And then I'm looking for Tony Merkante when I'm standing out in the rain and I didn't see Tony Merkante. Uh,
but so uh, no, but everybody did a phen phenomenal job. Uh, thank Fire Department for getting Santa Claus there safely and dry. Um just want to say uh December 3rd um if
you if you can uh Middletown Helps its own is uh receiving 40% of the proceeds from Rosy's Pizza um for donations. So they sent that to me earlier today um from Ford to close on uh this coming
Wednesday. So 40% of all the proceeds will go to uh Middletown Hel helps its own and and I do want to thank Middletown Helps Its Own. Reagan and I um went out uh to their annual and I know Committee Kratz was there the the
day before packing up the boxes, but um we went out and uh delivered a few boxes uh to residents right before Thanksgiving. Um and and I just love all those all those folks. They do such a great job. Um, and I want to thank them
all for for going and delivering. >> That's a week. >> December 3rd. >> Oh, you said the third. >> Yeah, third. Third. Um, so I just want to thank Middletown Hubs Zone, everyone that's that's involved in that great organization. Thank them. And finally, I
just want to end with this. I was in Lingra the other day and it just so happened. I'm driving down and I had to go into the Acme Shopping Plaza. And I get there, there's this beautiful sign
that says AES Way on it because the two-way Acme roadway is open and I did not have to drive on Newman Springs Road to get into the Luigi's uh parking lot and honest Littenberg is here and Abee's way is up. And when I took a got out and
took a picture, I sent it to him and he didn't even know about it yet. And I'm like, he's the only guy in town that's got a road named after him. doesn't even know that there's a sign up for it. So, uh just want to congratulate you, my friend, and uh and thank you. Your road is uh is beautiful. It's beautifully
paved. So, uh so thank you for everything when it comes to to uh helping Link Croft and and your advocacy for that. So, so thank you, my friend. Appreciate that. With that, I'll open up for public comment. Any member of the public wish to make a public comment may do so. ask that you state your name for
the record at uh we ask that you keep your comments to five minutes. At four minutes, I'll let you know that you have one minute remaining. I guess I can bend those rules for Abe Littenberg if if he wants to go beyond those five minutes. Um but uh
Abe, since I didn't even have to call on you, >> come on down. >> I didn't see I didn't see any competition. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Um >> by the way, it's Abe Littenberg for the record. just wanted >> a Blitenberg for the record. Um I I came
to thank you all. Um it it is quite an honor and uh I've been recognized before. I really really appreciate it. I mean this this group uh has a pension for recognizing and and uh celebrating and I think it's one of the hallmarks of
of this uh committee. It's just it's a wonderful thing. And um I have been visiting the uh the AES way. I stood in the middle of it so that my wife could take a photo
and um it's a great Christmas card, you know, get it out there. Oh my god. >> You better have enough to share there, buddy. >> I only brought >> it for us. >> What's that? >> Could you autograph it for us?
>> I I certainly could. >> Okay, great. And you can't you can't show these for another couple weeks because these are not you know public yet you're g you're getting a preview and uh standing there um a woman slowed down
and first she said you know are you okay? I mean, because we moved to the side and said, "No, we're fine." And she she rolled the window down. She's talking to us and she said, "You know, it's about time." And I said, "Yeah, I agree with you. How long have you lived here?" She said, "Six years."
I said, "You don't know the half of it, but uh in any case, uh it's it's humbling and it's really greatly appreciated. Um, this is uh in in the bakery language, this takes the cake. And I I just want to thank you all very
much. >> Thank you, Abe. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you, my friend. >> Yeah. Pass those are collector's items. Pass those down. >> Yeah. >> All right. Any other member of the >> good cop, bad cop?
>> Yeah, I was I was honestly going to say now what is Melanie going to say, Abe? >> I'm going to say we've waited 25 years for this road and we want it to be beautiful. We want the area around to be beautiful and it's
something we've fought for um with the LVGA for so many years. The property owners make it trash. And here we are honoring Abe and you know they planted the grass and they're going to have these beautiful lamps that
hopefully JCPNL will put up soon and people will be using it. Why should they be walking over trash? the people that own the the lot that behind the Jersey Pride. The garbage is disgusting. I have pictures today. You cannot even believe
what's there. There's like this round metal saw thing, I guess, like a blade that was on one of the saws like laying in the grass. There's glass. There's there's so much garbage. And Brian O' Callahan just he he's got to put a like
iron fist down on this because it's been years and years and years. We're constantly asking please go look at this property because the seniors are now going to use that more and they're going to walk there and there's going to be garbage spilling over into this
beautiful road. And um you know the shopping carts are an issue. I we've spoken to Luffman Towers. Uh you know, we talked to the property managers there. I know PRC is the property management company. Can you get them not to take the carts away because then they
get hit by cars. They get, you know, broken and then they end up along Abee's way. Um it's >> we've issued that we've issued that same request that all of our um housing facilities. Uh Tomaso, it's it's an issue. >> Um
>> uh so hang on. I just got to get my one of collectors item here. >> Um >> um >> so as far as um code enforcement is concerned, I really think they need to be a little tougher. Um you know, it's just it's a health concern. It's a
safety concern. And now you have this beautiful road that's going to be spoiled and it's going to be trashed because of the way people are just overflowing the garbage that are are tenants at those um businesses. and the landlord doesn't do anything. The the
it's notoriously dirty and it's notoriously overflowed with garbage and rat traps and whatnot. So, I I really wish there's a way that they could be um you know, maybe meet the landlord there and and ask, you know, maybe fence in
the totes. Maybe that would help contain things. It's blowing over. Um, also the I'm in touch with the county property um project manager that um Earl left a lot of junk behind that needs to be picked up. Additionally, and maybe this is
something that would come back to your committee is um no parking signs. I know it wasn't part of the project, uh, but people are parking on it's they're like parking with the traffic coming towards them and they go up against Jersey Pride
and they park to go get something and no apologies. They don't move out of the way and cars are trying to go both ways. So, I think maybe along the way there needs to be no parking signs or some kind of curbed color uh painted curb or something. I I don't know. something's
not right there because people are in a habit of always parking there and they've done it since it's been built. Um, so I don't I don't want to I just wanted >> and see about that. >> Yeah, >> right. That's what I was told.
>> Yeah, >> right. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> unless there's already an ordinance there, that's why no parking, but that that should really come from the landlord, too. I mean, they should be >> absorbing that cost in my opinion.
>> So, >> so anything you can do to help. Um, you know, just to be a little, you may just face to face with the landlord to say, "Please keep this clean." Um, you would not even believe the the kind of garbage that's there. There's just piles of stuff and you know people are going to
be walking across the street and more car travel and it's just overflowing. So, um, thank you. >> You got it, Melanie. Thank you. Any other member of the public? Mark >> Mark Saparowski Pow Avenue. Um, first Ted, I want to thank you for um taking
care of that project, the drainage at my house. Excellent job. uh many years in the making. Uh came out great. Um I just want to read a statement um about why Middletown should move to get off of the real-time property tax assessment or the
assessment demonstration program. Mammoth is the only county in New Jersey that chose to continue to participate in this pilot program. The other 20 counties reviewed it and rejected it. A 5-year experiment has turned into a system that no other county in New
Jersey uses. Even within Mammoth County, many towns saw the problems early and opted out the moment they were allowed to. Avon, Belmar, Eatentown, Manisquan, Marorrow, Milstone, Shrewsbury Burrow, Wall, and Highlands. They all opted out. They reached the same conclusion. This
program was hurting property owners. Wall stated outright that the program stripped residents of freeze act protections and raised serious integrity concerns. Marorrow warned of steep annual inspection costs, constant market driven volatility, disruption to local
assessors, and disproportionate harm to residential and senior taxpayers. Highlands declared that opting out was in the best interest of taxpayers. Red Bank and Aberdine raised similar concerns, including references to investigations and operational issues
that led multiple towns to withdraw or challenge the program. These are not abstract complaints. They come from our neighboring towns looking at their own data and deciding that this system was not working. Here in Middletown, the consequences are clear. Annual reassessments have produced double-digit
increases with values rising around 11% in a single year. for seniors, families on fixed incomes, or young families trying to budget. That is not stability. That is uncertainty. And because I know the common response will be, it's not
the assessed value that matters. It's your change relative to the townwide average, I want to address that because I understand the formula. The problem is that under the assessment demonstration program, the townwide average itself
keeps getting driven higher every single year because the system chases the market annually. When the baseline rises every year, residents still pay more. Even if their increase matches the average, this is the exact instability that led towns like Marboral and Wall to
opt out. The Freeze Act problem makes it worse. When reassessments happen every year, a successful appeal loses its protection almost immediately, and homeowners can never really exhale. People who have
lived here for decades are now asking whether they can afford to stay. That's not what good tax policy should produce. Middletown shouldn't wait. Middletown should lead Mammoth County in rejecting this failed pilot and returning to the stable, predictable assessment model
used everywhere else in New Jersey. And before I close, I want to speak strictly as a taxpayer on this. I want to address the letter that was included with this year's tax bill, which blamed the board of education alone for the increase. That presentation was misleading and unfair. The total property tax bill in
Middletown is made up of three major components. The school portion, the municipal portion, and the county portion. This year, the burden of increase was shared among all three, including the township and county. And it's important to note something that the letter left out. For many prior
years, the municipal portion of the tax bill increased more than the board of education portion. So when all three portions rose at the same time this year, it appeared more drastic, but only because the weight usually carried by the municipal side was suddenly being
shifted, framed in a different way. Leaving out that context misled residents about what actually happened. The township's own open space increase also contributed directly to what residents are paying. Voters voted for it. To single out the board of education while leaving out the municipal and
county impacts did not give people an honest picture of why their taxes went up. It amounted to unnecessary politicking at taxpayers's expense. A tax bill should never be used as a political messaging tool. It should be a neutral document that reports numbers accurately and transparently.
Residents deserve straight facts and not spin. They deserve a tax system that is predictable and fair. And getting Middletown off this real-time assessment program is one important step. Being truthful about how tax costs are actually shared between the town, the schools, and the county is another. And
as a longtime resident and business owner in town, I'm asking that the committee take the lead in Mammoth County and stand with the towns that have already rejected this system and put Middletown first. And thank you. >> So, just a just a couple things on this. So the first of all, this was not a
statewide program. Number one, it was two counties out of 21 were part of this. One was Somerset County, the other one was Mammoth County. Number two, we're talking about senior citizens and protecting senior citizens. Uh you're
you're you're absolutely right. Rising costs are are always a concern, but to sit at the microphone and say that we should be changing our policies, this governing body is not the one that
passed a budget that increased taxes by 10.1%. So to say anything of other than that and to at least admit that as a member of the board of education you not only advocated for but voted for a 10.1%
increase is dis disingenuous in and of itself. You cannot hide from that fact and then sit there and say you want to protect senior citizens. You can't have it both ways. Third, the board of education does not pay the municipality
to do tax collection. We waste thousands of dollars every single year when the board of education raises their rates by us taking the phone calls because there is no such entity at the board of education. So you can't sit there and
say I want to protect senior citizens and have a predictable market. There is no predictable market. That's why they created the RDP program. The idea was that Jersey City sits there as still an Abbott school district and does not want to do reassessments because they have
multi-million dollar pen houses that they get tax abatements for. And then on top of that, the $16 billion that the state of New Jersey spends in a $52 billion budget still goes to Jersey City as an Abbott school district because
they do not do re-evaluations. That's not spin. That's the facts. That's what happened. But to sit there and say, "I want to protect senior citizens and not turn around and say, we voted for a 10.1% increase and not know
what's going to happen." The board of education, I'm assuming, is not going to return the $16 million in new revenue that it generated when a new budget is passed next year. That's completely disingenuous and and absolutely talking out of both
sides of of your mouth when you want to sit there and say, "I wanted to protect the taxpayer," but then vote for a $16 million increase in your budget. So, I I I don't even know what position was being taken there. So, I I I just I
don't I don't understand that in the least. I just looked up 46 53 municipalities. >> 40 46 out of 53 municipalities. Okay. >> You you the the predictability of the
RDP program. No one could have predicted COVID. No one can predict what's about to happen with any mass exodus that is that is potentially there when you have people leaving Bergen County, North Jersey, New York to come down.
the the market is the market and by the way the school district is a beneficiary of assessments going up as well. Correct. The answer is yes. Any other members of the public wish to make a public comment? Seeing no other members of the public
stepping forward move to close the public portion and adjourn. >> Second. >> Committeeman Clark. >> Yes. >> Committeewoman Kratz. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Sedbrino. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Hibell. >> Yes. Mayor Perry. >> Yes. Have a great night everybody. Thank
you all.