Good evening everybody. This is a meeting of the township committee October 6, 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, the tour of her times and by posting at the Middletown Township Municipal Building and filing with the township
clerk all in January 11, 2025. Minimman Clark, Miniwoman Kratz here. Minimman Senbrino, Deputy Mayor Hyel here, Mayor Perry here. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. Dan, you want to come up here and lead us in the pledge here?
[Music] 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 Gary Roman bike tour for Veterans Middletown
Veterans Housing Committee VFW Post 2179 and American Legion Post 515 for donations to the Veterans Village. Yeah, sure. [Music] My next birthday. Um, let me squeeze in.
So, um, you know, as many of you know, um, our veterans housing site is coming to completion. And if you've seen it, uh, in action, uh, the parking lot was paved the other day. The street was widened. Um, and on November 2nd, we
will open up uh, that beautiful building. And um but it is uh not just a township effort. It's an entire community's effort. A community
that has come together to ask what they can do for the veterans that are going to be living there. And for many years, John um and and the entire family um has been
saying, "When you're ready, we want to do the Gary Room uh bike tour for the veteran site." And it was uh just a few weeks ago that we all um got together
after the tour was was winding down um that we came together and uh this amazing family, this amazing Middletown family uh came together to honor um to
honor not just Gary but the entire room family um for everything that they have done for Middletown, for our country, um, and for a better world and community. And at that beautiful, uh, ceremony at the end,
we all gathered outside because it was perfect, absolutely perfect weather for a bike tour. Every year, God's blessing on that on that every year, right? Um, they presented the township with a a
check. Um, and I think it was the second most amount of money ever raised, right? And it went up a couple hundred. We had plate donations. So, did we did we take first place yet? Not yet. All right. Second place. Well, uh, the the township is honored
because the the men and women that have honorably served our nation are going to have a home. And thanks in part to the um thanks in part to the efforts of this amazing family that has, you know,
bonded together, been together, was there, you know, and and watched Gary grow up. Yes. Um and watched him be a member of the United States Navy, um is honoring that very service. And
while Gary will not be able to live in this facility, um his memory will remain alive forever within this facility. Um and it is because of the entire room uh family,
all his his loved ones, his mom, his sister, um his entire family, that his memory will continue to be alive and well for every single veteran that walks into that building will be honored uh to
to know that a fellow veteran was there to support them when they needed it most. So, let's give it up for the G for Gary John, I just want to thank you. A long time coming years of trying to get this
went up to $7,820. Wow. Unbelievable. Thank you very much. So, so this money um and all the donations that come in for for this uh amazing facility um will be earmarked
specifically to support the men and women um that live in that building um and that will will forever be thanking for their service, their sacrifice, their honor for the United States of America. and we couldn't be more grateful and proud to uh have you all
here today. And we look forward to seeing hopefully all of you on November 2nd when we cut the ribbon um for for that building uh the same day as our Veterans Day parade since our parade goes directly in front of this building.
Um, so on behalf of the township committee, on behalf of the township committee in grateful appreciation of your generous donation to the Middletown Veterans and the Veterans Village presented to get the Gary Roman bike tour for Veterans on this the sixth day of October in the
year 2025. It's in Gary Gary's memory. It's in his honor and we'll forever be grateful. So, thank you all so very much for having Thank you. You sure you don't want to say anything? Now's your opportunity.
I don't know. You want to say something? I don't know. I'm speechless right now. Thank you all very much. We're really, really proud to help raise money every year for our veterans. It's just a
little bit, but every little bit helps. So, we've raised over $40,000 in the last seven years. Well, let's put this money to good use and let's keep Gary's memory alive by doing by doing it and doing just a small
thank you to our veterans. All right. All right, guys. Ready? Go. One, two, three. [Music] All right. Beautiful. Let's give it up for these guys. Thank you.
Thank you. Uncle Buddy's niece from Thorn School. Yes. reading from this. Okay. Yes. I'm sorry.
Our next presentation is recognizing Middletown Veterans Affairs Committee via Post 2179 and American Legion Post. 515 for donations to Veterans Village. At this time, I'd like to invite everyone forward from those organizations.
Thank you. So through that we we felt it was uh certainly appropriate that through while while honoring um the Gary Rubman bike uh bike for vets um the bike for vets um to bring in some other folks that are
obviously have been critical um to the equation um and that our veterans affairs committee, our VFW post 2179 and American Legion uh 515. Um, Dennis is uh Dennis is uh is on call
right now to say to say the least. Uh, including when I called him up to do the uh pledge of alle lead us in the pledge of allegiance today. Um, you you handled that beautifully. You said it once. Um but uh it's it's without the support
of of the Gary Room and Bike Tour for Vets um that that have helped us raise money but it's also about those that have been a part of this process uh since the beginning and and you know Dennis and Bob Seamer have been a part
of the process from the very beginning. Um, you know, the the entire uh American Legion Post 515, um, the VAC and the VFW have all played a critical role to this. Um, from helping us pick the pictures that are going to be in the hallways to
What's that? Not um to to what the what the layout of the community rooms are going to look like. Um, what should be in them? uh what what's an amenity that our veterans would need that maybe you know our our
engineers uh won't come up with that just makes their lives just a little bit better because this project is based solely on one thing and that's providing housing for the men and women that have honorably served this nation. So on behalf of the township committee, we wanted to recognize uh these three
organizations um that are doing so much um for for this project and just give a small amount of gratitude for such a big big effort um to to all of you and thank you
for your service not only to our country um but to the Middletown community. We're incredibly grateful. So we have plaques for each of you. Um, and it says, "In grateful appreciation of your generous donation of time and money to the Middletown Veterans Village,
presented to the Veterans Affairs Committee, to VFW Post 2179 and American Legion Post 515, given on this day, the 6th day of October in the year 2025. Guys, thank you so much for everything that you've done to make this possible.
I know you'll all be there for the grand opening of this great building. Um, and we're so excited to see in the future what what entails for all that will call that building home and for for all the services um kindness, generosity that
this community has shown um towards every single resident that they will probably never meet but that they have impacted the lives of each and every day. So guys, thank you all very much. I I told I had him do one job.
All right. Ready? All right. Come on in here. Come on. All right. One, two, three. All right. Beautiful. Let's give a round up of these guys. Thank you. Thank you.
We have two proclamations tonight for the record. We have proclamation recognizing October 2025 as breast cancer awareness month month in the township of Middletown and a proclamation recognizing October 19th, 2025 as Middletown Day in the Township of Middletown.
At this time, we have a public hearing of proposed ordinances. Our first ordinance for tonight is 2025-3480, an ordinance authorizing entry into purchase and sale agreement with the county of Mammoth and Port Mammoth
Residential Developer LLC for rede redevelopment of portions of block 306, lot 66 in the township of Middletown. Any member of the public wishing to speak on public ordinance number 2025-3480. Good evening everyone. Good to see you. Um Susan Dina Senzo, 398 Maple Drive,
Belelfford. This started back in 2023. I remember being the only person here to stand up for my community to not have a solar farm constructed on the bay shore. 2024
there was a meeting here the question was raised whether the electricity the delivery of it from the solar farm was alternating or direct and your response Mr. Perry, Mayor Perry, with all due respect, was that it was
direct after speaking with the lawyer for the proposed solar farm at that time. Now, I see a group of gentlemen here, and I'm not sure if it's the same group that was started back in 2023 when this land for sale for solar farm
came up. I'm not sure if it's still the same group. It's not for sale. land is not not being it's not being it's being maintained by the county. What will it be used for? What's the proposed usage for the block 306 lot 66?
It it's it's an entire redevelopment plan that incl you're commenting on which includes a solar farm. How many watts? 20 20 20 watts or 20 megawws? 20 megawws.
Okay. in within a residential area. This has been a passion of mine since it began. I was the only person here in 2023. Was told it began in 2020. Community did not have fair advantage of getting information out to the
community. We presented to the commissioners had people residents call from Port Mammoth to Atlantic Highlands to help protect our bayshore. Now, a few weeks ago, there was a woman requesting that
fluoride be removed. So, fluoride's a concern, but metals from a solar farm that's going to be constructed. Well, let me just within the confluence, let me just say this. Three bodies of water. Let me just say this. Excuse me. You're you're commenting on what another member
of the public felt necessary to bring up another member of the public what they said. what any member of the public can walk up to that microphone and within their public comments say whatever it is they want. So I'm not gonna allow any disparaging or anything like that on another resident for what
they felt was important. Okay? If you would like to make your comments about about this, you can. But I'm not going to allow any type of disparaging on what an individual may or may not have thought. Well, I request the same from you. I request no disparagy from you as my for
my concern of my community. Well, we spoke for about 25 minutes after the last meeting. It was about 40. Okay. Okay. I gave myself the benefit of the doubt. But but what I'm saying here is I'm here again on behalf of the residents of Belelfford.
They don't want a solar farm. I was at this Wind and Sea Festival. I spoke to several people solar farm near the bayshore. What is that about? Confluence of water. We have an ocean, two rivers, and a bay. Salt water. It's not conducive to the
bayshore area. It's just not that land. I believe in my honest opinion is worth a whole lot more to this township than swallowing it up by a 20 megawatt solar farm. It's a very saying that it's being swallowed up is
not not not accurate. It's a it's an incredibly small amount of acreage in the grand scheme of the the megawatt facility. Um, and it's a garbage dump that's been capped. It's it's it's a it's a dump. It hasn't been touched in 75 years.
Yeah. And you're going to touch it now and have everything leak into the sewage authority. You're you're running a sewage authority over there and you want to keep the water clean and healthy for the residents, but you want to put a solar farm. The water that comes into the sewage authority is not clean and healthy. I'm
talking about residual residual runoff from a solar farm that contains precious metals and and aluminums and all other kinds of stuff within it. There's no precious metals in in a in a
garbage dump. I'm not I'm talking about the solar farm. You just said that. Think about the panels themselves. So, it's okay to want clean water, but you're going to construct well proposed construction of a solar farm
near our water processing plant. It's it's it's a sewer authority. It's it's sewer water. This is not the the reservoir that that your drinking water comes out of. It's all connected. It's all connected. Actually, it's it's it's not. I really
hope it's not. In fact, and I just want to be clear that Middletown sewer does not connect to New Jersey American water. The water that comes out of your faucet is not connected to New to the Thompson at all. I just want to be abundantly clear about that. Sewer water
is treated and then discharged. It is not does not go through your It's still discharged into where? It's discharged out into the ocean. Okay, there you go. And then you're going to add more. You're going to add more. you're going to have more problems. What about the young people in
the future? Are you guaranteed that in 20 years this company, this LLC is going to be around to clean it up? Or if there is another hurricane, are you going is there prevention that somebody's going to come in and clean it up? You're
adding more garbage to a garbage dump that hasn't been touched in 75 years. Bottom line, that's what you're doing. It's not conducive to the Beayshore area. So, getting back to the is paying more for their electric bill right now because there's not enough electric
being generated. And in any way is this going to be subsidizing data centers in the area? Subsidizing data data centers for we don't have any data. There's a couple trouble in Mammoth County. Well, not in Middletown. I didn't Middletown. And the the the
other part of this is energy is energy and every time you walk into your house, your lights are expected to turn on. And right now you're paying 20% more because there's not enough being generated. Yes or no? My electric bill is fine.
No, your electric bill went up 20%. No, my electric bill is because I didn't get a smart meter. The board of public refused the smart meter, so my electric bill is actually perfect. If if that's the case, then you're paying I think $15 extra per $15 extra versus a triple or quadruple amount for
my electricity bill. I I my my my point is that you're talking about sewer water, drinking water that have nothing to do with one another, but where does the residual where does the runoff where is the runoff going to go from this in a storm water management?
Mhm. Which does not you guarantee no one's going to get sick. None of the residents around there once that land starts getting jiled up that no one's going to get sick. You don't you don't pierce the cap of a of a uh landfill. You actually build on
you put new fill compact it down and then build it on top of that. Um if your priority is the safety of my community. Same. It's my number one priority. Is middle town prepared? God forbid there's an explosion over there. You have enough you have enough enough what?
Enough firefighters. Do you have enough and god forbid there's an emergency to run over there and protect the rest of the community? Well, I I'm not I I can say that brick is I'm pretty confident. Belelfford is is is one of the lucky
parts of town. It has two firehouses right in the Belfford. And how many times do you do how many times have you had to go over there and put a fire out in the croweds in I don't in your life? I don't know. Years ago a lot lately there's not even uh there's one brush truck in service
before. That's because there's no solar farm yet. No. No, it's because kids throw matches and things that are on fire into the crow weeds and light them on fire. Will there be 247 surveillance down at the solar farm? I I'm not You'll have to ask the county that question.
The county. Okay. Well, at Wind and Sea Festival last weekend, I took the opportunity to speak, as I was saying, to a lot of residents. Great opportunity. Only to be chased away by a CJ who worked for the county
who was yelling out that I worked for oil companies. And I'm spreading propaganda. I don't spread propaganda. I'm here to pro help protect my my darling little town of Belelfford. That's what I'm here. That's the intention. I was here in 2023
by myself and I'm here again. And I request to the town. Please don't rush into this. Don't rush into it until you have every bit of information covered and that information is supplied to your to the community of
Belelfford. the plans for a fire, the plans for an explosion, the plans for run, like where are the plans? Do you know what the plans are for if your house catches on fire right now? Tony, that's not the issue. Do you have a plan, Mr. I'm sorry, Mayor Perry, that's not the issue. Susan, do you have a plan right now that
you've been supplied by the Middletown Township Fire Department, the world's largest all volunteer fire department, if your house were to catch on fire, do you have a plan? My home does not have 20 megawws. It's a yes or a no answer. And the answer I can tell you is no.
I respect fully respect your opinion, but you you're making comments as if every resident in Middletown has a plan if their house catches on fire. I hope they have an escape plan. I hope they know which windows they should be going out of. I hope they I hope they know all that because I've sat at fires where
tragically people have not been able to get out in time. But what you're asking for is something that no resident knows what the members of the of the volunteer members of the Middletown Township Fire Department. That's why they're as good as they are is because they train
constantly. Last weekend they were training. They had a large diameter hose training just this past weekend because they train for the inevitable. That's why they're the best. So they were training on solar solar fires. No. But do you know how many how many uh LDH drills I've gone to at the
at the u at the uh ferry terminal? No. Dozens. Have they practiced on solar fires? They've they don't need to practice. They have had fires where houses that have solar panels on them are have caught off. It's a different kind of fire. It's a
different kind of fire. Okay. The answer is yes. The answer is yes, they are trained because they have done fires with solar panels on them. So the answer to your question is yes. So you're saying you mentioned the
county. This has to be taken to the county. The county it it's the county's property. So it was the county's property. It is the county's property. It and then it was reszoned to Middletown and now it's being reszoned back to the
county. No pass through entity because um I think it's Assemblyman Sharpener reszoned that land in 2017. I don't know. Mhm. That had nothing to do with nothing. That's the block and lot that's listed on the resoning down in Trenton.
The solar was being discussed. Well, in 2012 it was. So what would stop it from being discussed in 2017? Zoning is kind of irrelevant on county land anyway because they're exempt from our zoning. We can zone it anything we want. They can still do anything they want. So that doesn't matter. But keep
in mind that the the solar project went before the planning board. They had public hearings. There was public participation in all those hearings. The planning board ultimately approved it. Well, yeah, that was weeks ago before when I caught the guy at the from the planning board at the red light. You told me Belfford's getting it. It it was
it was almost a year ago and and there were multiple hearings and people came out and spoke and ultimately the planning board approved it. So there was a lot of opportunity. So how do I get those records through Oprah? There was a lot of opportunity for public comment. Okay. All right. Because I I've been
keeping a a hard you know. Weren't you there? I you were the planning board one. You were because in fact in one of the la when the times that you came up here you said that you did go to the planning board meetings. So you were
I just am requesting from I understand respect your opinion. I do whether the land is sold. You got to you know group of guys back there. It looks like the land's already sold right to the county and then it's already is it done? In other words, is it done?
The land is done. The the land is the counties. The county owns the land. So, who is Mammoth County owns the land. Who's the LLC listed on here? Not being sold. They're a a company is building a solar facility on county
land. They have an agreement with that company to do it. And yes, it's approved. Is it the same company that was being spoken to that I spoke to the lawyer of the solar company way back in 20? Now that is 2024 after this all began. Is it as far as I know that hasn't
changed. As far as anybody here knows that hasn't changed. Well, I would s I would hope that you would know if it changes. We probably wouldn't know that. Yeah. Very upsetting to the Beayshore area. Big disappointment if it goes through. Well, just just to be clear,
it's not going to serve. Let's face it. I live in Belfford, too. That's what I want to say. There's two there's two people in this that are from Belffort. I don't speak for everyone in Bson. where like it's Belelfford. Why aren't you showing more love for your community than having
this junk construction? Great way to use a landfill because there's nothing else you can really do with a landfill. It's useless land. It's worth nothing. So, this is a great way to get an investment and an in addition to the solar uh to the energy grid uh
utilizing a landfill which otherwise could be used for nothing else really. So, I think it's a great way to use a landfill. Mammoth County has one in Tenton Falls. I'm not worried about Tint Falls. Yeah, I know you're not worried, but but but that does count though. My girlfriend bought a condo there. She had to pretend she was looking at the at
the body of water after they can do with landfills. So, solar solar There's other things you could do. You could leave it alone. It's the Bayshore. You can leave it alone. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Any other member of the public wishing to speak on public ordinance number
2025-3480? Yes, sir. just state your name for me. My name is Travis Harrison. Um on behalf I'm not a Middletown resident, but I'm a mom county resident for my entire life. Um I just want to say I fully support this project solar farming. I'm a
electrician IBW local 400. Um I think it'll bring a lot of quality work for us the area right down to just even like the delies when guys get lunch and just you know it'll support the town a lot and I just fully support it. So, thank you. Thank you very much for your comments.
Any other member of the public? Yes, ma'am. How are you today? Hello. How are you? My name is Samantha Delesio. I live in Belelfford as well on Hopping Road. My son is a huge fan. Um I mean at the end of the I of the entire
crew you got to give me or little neighbors at the end of the day the town needs to make more money right so redeveloping certain areas of the town is going to be important but when you're redeveloping where you're bringing in apartments you're bringing
in more people you're bringing in solar farms there's contingencies that people just want to know what you guys are going to do to your point the fire department is volunt unteer. So there's not necessarily guarantees that lot is a flood zone. Correct. A flood zone for
salt water. Salt water and electricity. Not always the best combination. Not to say that there's not a solution, but the public wants to know what is the solution. What is the plan? The same with noise pollution. It's a small hum.
It may seem like nothing. We have the unit behind what is it? Kinder Care or whatnot. It's annoying. At 12:00 at night, you can hear it. It buzz. It's It's exhausting. What other sound pollution is going to happen? Again, not necessarily something that can't be
solved, but things to take into consideration when you're doing building in a residential area, when you're bringing in apartments, where are these people going to school? What are you doing? This all connects. And I think with more communication and sharing this information, I would imagine other
people have thought of this already. It's not easily accessible to find this information online. LLC's are married with others where names are hidden and you have to look up who really are the developers behind it. I mean, even the naming of it seems very like lazair. It
seems like it's the town, right? I think just more information on this needs to be shared. Clearly, there's concerns and I'm sure there's other people available that have the same concerns, but unfortunately the small group here.
Yeah. Um the the just to your point about the noise pollution, that was something that that Tony and I brought up um to them and uh did request that there be sound barriers, both landscaping and and the such to ensure
that that any type of uh noise coming off of that would be prevented. Is there public information regarding what their plans are for that available for from the from the planning board meetings? Yeah, they are. That would be in the board minutes.
Yeah. Okay. Awesome. Well, that was my piece. Thank you so much. Any other member of the public wishes? Yes, sir. How are you? Fine. How are you? Good, thanks. My name is Isaac Thorp. I have lived in Middletown my entire life. I'm also an
IBW uh union electrician. And I think that is a this is an very important use of non-usable land. New Jersey needs way more power quickly because of skyrocketing um energy prices. That's my piece.
I appreciate it. Thank you so much for your comments. Thank you. Any other member of the P? Yes, sir. How are you? Good. How are you? Good. Thanks. Good. My name is T Smith. I lived on Turner Drive for my whole life. Uh I'm supportive of this um solar farm and I
will wait for it to happen. Absolutely. Thank you so much. Appreciate your comments. Just going to go down the line at this point. All right. How are you? Very good. Good. Thanks. My name is Matthew Nicoloi. I'm a union
electrician. I've been Middletown resident all my life and I think it would be very advantageous for this project to go forward. I think New Jerseyy's desperate for power. I'm also one of the electricians who worked on the Middletown Veterans Housing Project. So, I know how important new construction can be for this town and I
think we should continue. Thank you. Yes, sir. You don't even have to raise your hand. I'll just go in order. Thank you for your service on the Veterans Housing Project. Appreciate it. Good afternoon or evening. Uh my name is
Joe Mancini. I'm a Mammoth County resident. Uh former resident of Atlantic Highlands for two years. Uh I think this project will be really helpful for unused space an area we're clamoring for electricity right now. As an IBW member local 400, this is a great project be
great things to happen for us and also for your community. All right. Thank you very much for your comment, sir. How are you, sir? Good. How are you? Good, thanks. My name is Connor Demild. I'm a Bamoth County resident and a veteran.
I'm in support of getting everybody's electricity bills lowered and doing something positive for the land and it'll give a lot of good jobs to some good working guys. Thank you. Thank you for your service, sir.
How you doing today? Youngest guy of the group. Yes, sir. All right. Uh my name is Justin Bedford. I'm a Leonardo resident and uh I'm in full support of you how we're going to use this unused land and I think it's going to create lots of great jobs for the
union. That's all I got. I appreciate it. Thank you. Any other me? Yes, sir. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. How are you, mayor? Um my name is Michael Rick. I'm uh the assistant business manager of
local 400. I'm also the president of the Mammoth Ocean County Building Trades and uh more importantly, I'm a proud Middletown resident. I'm up here in favor of this project. Um you heard some of the guys talk about good paying jobs.
These jobs are good paying which allow the workers who work on them to remain in these communities that we care so much about. These jobs help provide good health care and retirement options for these men and women of the building
trades to raise their families in these communities. On top of that, we've heard a couple people talk about the continuing cost of electricity. Well, I can tell you that solar is one of the quickest and cleanest ways to help
alleviate some of that pressure on the grid. Um, and this practice of putting solar on landfills, cap landfills, isn't just done here. This is throughout the country. And it's one of the smartest things that we can do because it is
unusable land. It's land that you're not putting a park there. You're not putting a school there. So, it's taking unusable land and creating value in it. And as far as um some of the comments about solar and water, we've built floating
solar fields at MUAS and different facilities to maximize every piece of unusable property on quaries or uh waterways and things like that that help create this clean energy. So, uh, again,
as a resident of Middletown, I am in favor of this project, and I commend both Middletown and the county for exploring every options there are to help its residents um, without clear cutting trees and clearing property and
taking uh, away land that we're so proud of in Middletown. We're proud of our parks and our trees and our forests and our woods. you're actually looking into land that cannot be used and finding a benefit. So, I applaud you and the county. Thank you. Thank you, sir.
Any other member of the public wishing to speak on public ordinance number 2025-3480. One question or no, it's up to you. Come on up. One question. From research, these solar farms need to
be cleaned at least twice a year. Who's in charge of that? It cost anywhere between a h 100,000 and $350,000 a year to clean them. Who's in charge of Isaxpayer going to pay that? The the the the owner, the the the operator.
We also get that a verification from the planning board meetings that the taxpayer is paying. Any type of vegetation that's going to interfere with the generation of the solar energy is probably not conducive for the operator of this facility. So, I
would assume that it is in their best interest to keep the uh solar panels clear from any obstructions to prevent light from being absorbed so that it runs the most efficient it can because if you park your car down by the water for an hour or two,
those sorts of details would be in the county's contract with the company building it. We I I don't have it, but it's public information. I'm sure you can get it from county because they need to be cleaned in order to run efficiently, be maintained. You're right. Yeah. twice a year. Nope. No business. That's what research says.
No business is going to get into this so that they can get dirty and not be able to be operational. One more point. Virginia Tech did a study surrounding within three mile radius. People are going to lose 5% of the value of their home. Keep that in mind when tax time comes for the
residents within a three mile radius. Thank you everybody. Have a good night. Any other member of the public wishing to speak on public ordinance 2025-3480? Seeing no other member of the public stepping forward, move to close the public portion and approve. Second.
Committeewoman Kratz. Yes. Committed Reno, not here. Deputy Mayor Hibbell. Yes. Mayor Perry. Yes. Motion carries to adopt this ordinance on second and final reading. Our next ordinance for public hearing, we have ordinance 2025-3481,
an ordinance amending and restating ordinance number 2023-3399 solely as to the established fair market value for property identified as block 835, part of lot 18 within the township of Middletown. Any member of the public wishing to
speak on public ordinance number 2025-3481? Seeing no member of the public stepping forward, move to close the public portion and approve. Second. Committeewoman Kratz. Yes. Deputy Mayor Hibbell. Yes. Mayor Perry. Yes. Motion carries to adopt this ordinance
on second and final reading. At this time, we have ordinance 2025-3482, an ordinance authorizing lease agreement with Fostering Farmers Incorporated, a notfor-profit organization for use of
approximately 1 acre of land for farming purposes located upon block 1012, lot 31.01 within Stevenson Park, as shown on the tax map of the Township of Middletown. not currently required for public purposes pursuant to NJSA4A12-14C.
Any member of the public wishes wishing to speak on public ordinance number 2025-3482? Yes, ma'am. Getting good at this. How are you? I'm good. How are you, mayor? Good, thank you. Okay. Um, my name is Andrea Abbott and I live at
41. I don't think anybody's been given their addresses here, but 41. You have to. Oh, you don't. Okay, then. Never mind. Okay. Um I actually came here hoping to, you know, ease drop and maybe hear some more information about um You don't have to ease drop. It's all
public. I'm just saying ease drop in case other people were talking about it. So um but no, nobody I'm here. So I I was hoping just I just wanted to ask um one question today actually a couple maybe
two. Um, one is, um, I expressed my my, uh, concern and caring about Stevenson Park, which I've been going to for many years since a long time, and um, and the condition, which I felt like had
deteriorated, and it's it's um, very disappointing to me. Um, so I ended up by saying that I wish mid little town I would hoping I was hoping Middletown would show it a little love and I had also said that I was willing to help
with that. Um, since then I found out somebody had spoken to a member on the um, panel here and whomever it was had said um, that this this park is not Middletown isn't
really that associated with it or couldn't do whatever it could do. I I wanted to know how can I find out what is the relationship of Middletown to this park? Did that change over the years? I don't mean since Mama Conservancy gave it to
you, but has it changed since 2017 for some reason? Um, what are uh the restrictions on the park? Do they still remain what I keep popping into when I look online that it's a passive park, etc. And um so what
are the restrictions? Um did things change since 2017? What's the relationship of Middletown to it? What is May Middletown's investment in the park as far as what the plans are? Now, I'm not asking for an answer. Now, I would like I'm interested in this
information and I don't want to do anything by myself. I just want to have a resource to go to to find out. Um, the reason I came here specifically to, like I said, ease up or try to overhear what people were talking about, maybe there
if I saw, you know, something up there on the screen is I wanted to know where exactly um I I know the park almost like the back of my hand. Okay. So, when you say it's going to be in Stevenson Park, I I personally am very curious as to
exactly where because to me it matters. So I'm wondering where is fostering farmers going exactly where is that farming farm where is that acre that they're going to have in the go if you will. So if you've been there for a long time you know that there was a large area that was farmed
for many years right on as you go in on the left side you know we have the community garden. This would be part of the area that was formerly farmed before but now it's been just been left alone uh just before you get to the community garden area. It's about an acre in front of that. Okay. See a
but in the in the on the same ground that the former farm was. Okay. Farm. I I know where it is. Yeah. When that sickles and then impact Oasis had foras. It was sickles and now there's a little beekeeper between them and the community before the beekeeper but not as far.
And then there's a community and where the community was. I know Oasis was there. Okay. Um, but I do want to find out what the relationship of Middletown is because to it um only because I I I hate
seeing it. I hate to see the condition it's in. So So So I just want to bring it back because to technically this is a a public hearing on this specific ordinance, but to answer your questions, the the the township was was And you don't have to answer
the No, no, no. It's it's fine. The Stephvenson family gave the the park to the town with life rights to the the Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson that were to Mr. Stevenson who was living there. Once he passed away, the the park then officially became owned owned by the
township, right? The in its entirety that the the restriction there of of him having the life rights to that to the home was then gone. Um was settled. uh the the township adopted that in certain
areas um that you need to allow for uh active growth of of the facility, right? I mean, not the the part of the part of our adoption and the points that we we
receive for sustainable Jersey is by not mowing everything so that bees can pollinate and animals can utilize for cover and and things of that na nature. It's all part of us not mowing every
single blade of grass to promote growth, animal activity, so on and so forth. So part of the the the rationale is there's only a small part of that park that is used and that is our community garden and now fostering farmers uh pending the
vote here uh will will be allowed to you utilize that. Um but the park is is just that it's a passive park. There's no fields. There's no recreational use. It is supposed to be a passive park and a pres piece of preserved open space.
Okay. Now, thank you for explaining that. I um I do know that a couple years back a soccer people wanted to build soccer fields there, etc. Um and I know that was brought up and I and I watched what happened with that. So, I knew that there was a possibility you might want
to do something like that. Um and I also knew that with this farm thing that I found out about it by accident because I read the agenda when I decided I'd come here last m last week. And um and so I know that things events or things come
up and I and I'll find out about them later. So, I'm curious as a whole the u overview of what there is no plan other than for fostering farmers in the community garden to current to currently operate at Stevenson Park. Okay, I understand that. Now, the other
thing I understand is that I know that Mr. Stevenson uh had life rights to that property with the nice residence on and life rights to his house and to the house, not the whole property. No, I'm saying that's exactly what I
just said. Life rights to his property, that house there where the house was and that area. And I'm aware that I understood that Middletown um the rest of the property was not
within that life rights for Mr. Stevens. So that's exactly what I was I thought all these years I've been going there. That was my understanding. I've actually talked to Mr. Mr. Steven. I've had conversations with him during Sandy. I had conversations with him. So I'm familiar with all that. But I did want
to know um so I I do know it's it's mentioned as that passive park. I I'm going to tell you now that as a person who has been um my heart has been invested in this place
and I've also been I was raised in Middletown. So I'm returning back to Middletown and I know what the landscape was like here. Um because the place matters to me. Um I I I I took some time
and I wrote a 15 page PDF. I I prepared one um and that is going to discuss how I feel and what I can't say here. It would take too long to tell you um what I'm looking for for that part
and and and why I'm disappointed in the condition it's in. Okay? And so it will be very clear. I'll probably email it to each of you. I think I found your email somehow. Send it our way. Very tricky. Pardon me. You can send it our way.
I I I definitely am. And I basically I just want you to know exactly where I'm coming from, okay, with that park. Not that it matters, but who knows? It might matter somewhere down the road. And the second thing is I I still continue to be curious about what can be done at the
park to improve the conditions that I have. I am once once you send it, I'll take it. I'll I'll review it. I would like everybody to look at it. Sure. Okay. And uh I don't know who else right now to give it to, but it's just food for thought pretty much.
Right. Thank you so much. Any other member of the public wishing to speak on public ordinance number 2025-3482. Seeing no other member of the public stepping forward, move the closed public portion and approve. Second. Committ Katz. Yes. Deputy Mayor Hibbell.
Yes. Mayor Perry. Yes. Motion carries to adopt this ordinance on second and final reading. At this time, we have ordinance 2025-3483, an ordinance of the township committee of the township of Middletown, County of Mammoth, State of New Jersey,
authorizing the sale of block 1098.02, lot 19.01, pursuant to NJSA4812-1 at SEC. Any any member of the public who wish to speak on public ordinance number 2025-3483 John
John Spinelli 91 Burlington Avenue. Uh I just I just had a question. I didn't look at the agenda today. Where's where's that part parcel by? Can you just kind of describe? I'm sorry, John. Uh where's the parcel? But like like where's the general area where
it's in uh River Plaza? And if you go over there, it's Albert Street. There's a weird little triangle of property that doesn't even have any fringe on a road that had some missing homeowner uh missing property owner. So the township
foreclosed on it because the house that's next to it had actually built onto the property decades and decades ago. So it was a title issue. So we foreclosed on this little triangle and now we're selling it to the adjacent property owner so they they can actually own it.
I'll show it to you on the map one day. It's it's one of the craziest things you've ever seen. It's a really strange It's the most bizarre roadway and how the road turns too along this. It makes no sense. So, it's it's just cleaning up some of these, you know,
areas that are township property versus not and build and people building on on them with sheds and things of that nature. So, it's got it's really a cleanup. Okay. So, is it zoned as a vacant land or you know the zone? Vacant. It's in a residential zone. It's basically the backyard to a house that's
already there. Got pretty much what it is. Just want to ask. They just didn't own it. Thanks, John. Any other member of the public wish to speak on public ordinance number 2025-3483? Seeing no other member of the
Yeah. Right. Seeing no other member of the public, stepping forward, move to close the public portion and approve. Second. Committee Kratz. Yes. Deputy Mayor Hibbell. Yes. Mayor Perry. Yes. Motion carries to adopt this ordinance
on second and final reading. At this time, we have introduction of proposed ordinances. 2025-3473, an ordinance amending township salary ordinance setting salaries for non-contractual employees for 2025 through 2026.
Motion to introduce. Second. Um, we have committee Kratz. Yes. Deputy Mayor Hibbell. Yes. Mayor Perry. Yes. Motion carries to uh pass this ordinance on first reading with a public hearing
to be held 1020 2025. At this time we have res uh ordinance 2025-3484 an ordinance of the township committee of the township of Middletown County of Mammoth state of New Jersey authorizing the sale of block 84 lot 6 pursuant to
NJSA4A12-1 at SEC. Motion to introduce. Second. Committeewoman Kratz, yes. Deputy Mayor Hibbell, yes. Mayor Perry, yes. Motion carries to pass this ordinance on first reading with a public hearing to
be held October 20th, 2025. Our final ordinance for introduction, we have 2025-3485, an ordinance establishing regulations governing the planting, growing, maintenance, and cultivating of bamboo. Motion to introduce. Second. Committeewoman Kratz.
Yes. Deputy Mayor Hibbell. Yes. Mayor Perry. Yes. Motion carries to pass this ordinance on first reading with a public hearing to be held October 20th, 2025. At this time, we have known action items. Um, I'd like to ask the township committee to adopt a consent agenda,
which would include resolutions 25-291 through 25-304, including firefighter application for Shane Okconor station 2. Motion to approve consent agenda. Second. Committeewoman Kratz. Yes. Deputy Mayor Hibbell.
Yes. Mayor Perry. Yes. Motion carries to adopt consent agenda. This time we have Township Committee comments. All right. Committee woman Kratz. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I'll be brief. I just wanted to congratulate Dennis Fowl Fowler uh who celebrated 50 years of
service on our fire department. Um, I know Dennis personally uh for a long time and he's he's a good guy and a a wonderful volunteer to Middletown and has served the public well. So, we're thankful for his service. Um also want to um also congratulate uh the folks all
everyone responsible for Walloo Park. We were able to cut the ribbon um gosh it was a a week ago I think already, right? So uh it was wonderful. So really awesome to see our uh you know community enjoy uh the new park with families. It
was the first park that was um voted on by our residents with three choices and so it was really wild to see. Everyone was super excited to see their choice come to fruition. So, we're we're real happy and excited about that. It was a great day. Thank you. All right. Thank you, DM.
Uh brief again, I just the the Gary Rumman family. Uh Tony, myself, and Ryan were at an event a few weeks back and uh there must have been 75 people that participated in this event. It was pretty amazing to be there and just the fact that they were just they stood up
there and basically, you know, cried in excitement to give us this check for Veterans Home. So much appreciated. Great family. Uh good stuff they're doing. Um just in case everyone knows, I did challenge the mayor to uh do the run for Luca this year. He uh he didn't
come. So I was able to uh just beat Committeeman Clark over the finish line and u by a little bit. But I definitely would have beat the mayor if he was there. So, uh, great event for the town. I think there was 200 runners in there. Um, it just it's really uh an amazing uh
community that that comes out for uh this every year. So, that's all I have. Mayor, the beauty of me speaking last is that I get to speak last after the deputy mayor there. Okay. Uh, yeah. Challenge accepted there, buddy. Um,
uh, but the the Love for Luca event, unfortunately, I wasn't able to be there. It was my mom's 60th birthday, so I did have a little bit of an excuse as to why I couldn't be there. Well, Clark said you were scared. Yeah. Now, my mom's going to be annoyed at me because I just gave her age out on
the YouTube channel. Heidi, take that out of the minutes. All right. Um but uh the the the Love for Luca event um is certainly one of the best and um Frank, Michelle, everybody that's involved,
Luca's grandparents, uh just amazing individuals and um you know, it's hard to believe the number of years that have gone by now since he passed. Um but uh just a wonderful, wonderful event. Um,
speaking of 5Ks, I was at the EMS uh with Committeeman Senino, the EMS 5K uh on Sunday and um great job by the cadetses um all the EMS cadets doing doing an unbelievable uh job putting
together so many folks to to come out and support the uh our first responder. So, congratulations to them. um to John Stacen um the entire uh Gary Rumman uh family. Uh what many people don't
realize is that the Gary Rumman family is a thorn. Um, so when you look at the life and legacy of this family for uh Middletown, for America in being Middletown's only Medal of Honor recipient, um, and then
to see the continued dedication to service, to courage to our armed forces, and most importantly to our country. Um, and then for them to come here tonight and uh and and generously donate um to
to our veterans village, it's it's just uh you know, inspiring to say the least that year after year they're giving back. Speaking of the Thorn family, I just want to um uh you know, it was too early a few meetings ago to talk about
the Thorn family. Um they weren't they weren't ready yet. Um but uh Middletown did lose uh Anita Thornne Kaiser and um this weekend will be her 101st birthday.
um she passed away uh at the age of 100 and even at 100 she was still coming to Thorne to celebrate her brother um celebrate uh his life, his legacy um and
uh this weekend the the hermbrance ceremony will take place. Um and she meant a lot to me uh both professionally and personally. um as the mayor and and as a as a human being. Uh
because uh Anita I got to meet my first year as mayor and um she came to my swearing in in 2020 um and uh hugged me harder than anyone
else in that room that day. Uh but her life and legacy will will never be forgotten. what she meant to this town um and what she did year after year after year after year for decades. Um nearly seven decades after her brother's
uh passing and um his his death at at um during World War II at the at the Battle of the Bulge, it was uh um certainly worthy of the of the um Congressional Medal of Honor. um but
uh her life and legacy was defined by that same service and sacrifice um for so many decades after his passing. So, um, my heartfelt thank you to her, uh, to her family. Um, and at 100 at 100
years old, um, you you don't have a funeral and and everyone is sad and you you have a celebration of life when you have a dedication to your community and your country like she did. So, God bless her and her family and um I'll remember
for her for all the greatness that she brought to our town, all the greatness that she brought to our community, and for the memory that she forever preserved of her brother, Buddy Thorne. So, um with that, um I'll open it up for public comment.
Any member of the public wishing to make a public comment may do so. Ask that you state your name for the record and that you keep your comments to five minutes. at 4 minutes. I'll let you know that you have one minute remaining. Any member of the public wish to make a public comment.
John, come on down. John Spanelli, 91 Burlington Avenue. Um, kind of random, but uh, you know, in honor of the Charlie Kirk memorial that just happened a couple weeks ago, I wanted to uh, respectfully disagree with
the township committee on one thing and that's the uh, how the form of government is. Um, I think I think that um, it should be cons the township committee should consider a new type of model like how how township does it. um having the
mayor be a separate position directly uh voted directly by the voters and then having the council be like almost like a kind of basing it off like like the council being like a legislature and the the mayor being more of an executive uh
only position. Uh, I I think the reason why I kind of support the idea, I know it's been talked about in the past with Middletown, is um kind of basing it off separation of powers and um how the constitution is with the executive
branch, the legislative branch. Um I think uh I just wanted to ask if the council could maybe consider that in the mayor and house still gets a vote. No, no, I'm saying like but it's they still get to they still have a legislative vote. No, I understand. But
the the mayor would be directly vote directly voted by the people, which I'm not I'm not saying I'm not say I'm not saying like that against you, Mayor Perry. I'm just saying I understand you're just asking the question. I I I I get it and I respect it. The the the difference though is
you're saying that there's a separation of powers. There's there's not a separation of powers. Correct. Correct. Well, well, you know, if you want to get into the details, the the guy the may the current mayor of how is a uh like a
Bill Spadia type Republican compared to the the council that is more um like mainline Republican. So, the reason why I asked this is just so there there could be a possibility of um if someone could directly run for mayor in
Middletown, there could be a possibility of a like a different like a different type of like ideology or you could say on the council. Yeah. I mean, everyone still gets voted on up here though. No. Yeah. So, I don't I don't know. I mean, the
ideology of me versus Rick versus Kim versus Kevin versus Ryan is going to change depending on who's sitting in the seat, but they still have those opinions. I can tell you too, the trend nationally is completely going away from that form of government and going to the form of government that we have here
because if you look at almost anywhere in the country where there's um city politics where people get in trouble, it's always with a separately elected mayor 99% of the time. It's a it's it's a poor form of government that's being done away with
through throughout the country for the most part. That's why Homedale just rejected it. two years. What's the what's the reason for that? Like why why it's why it's happening? Well, because it it it the the trend
again across the country is that if if one elected person is able to make all the decisions, you know, that it's it's a it's a recipe for trouble. You know, the power becomes abusive sometimes and and that's that's why the country is
really moving away from that form. But wouldn't the wouldn't the majority make the decision though? Like for for Howell, for example, wouldn't if the council disagrees with the mayor, wouldn't the wouldn't if the council voted as a majority, wouldn't they override the mayor?
Well, but it it depends. You know, we have we're not that conversation here, but you know, in some cases where mayors are in charge of hiring and uh budget all directly establishing budgets that that tends to
be problematic. Um and that's what history has shown. That's why everyone's moving away from that. Have you heard of Tom's River? Yeah, Tom's River. Typically the mayor's paid as well, John, in those forms of government. Uh right now the mayor
is uh me very small. Yep. No, I'm very aware of Tom's uh river. It's uh I don't know. I don't know how he's not primared yet, honestly. It's like the only thing the Asbury Park Price covers anymore. What's going to say? Um, also the other
reason the other thing I wanted to bring up was I was looking on um the I noticed there's a land for sale on I gota look it up on 123 and 125 Magnolia Lane uh near Anna's Ital uh where the formerly Anna's
Italian restaurant used to be uh there's a 2.5 5 acre parcel for sale of open space kind of when you're driving. So when you're on that road driving to the neighborhood there, I noticed there was a a a parcel of open space for sale. So
I wanted to bring wanted to mention that to the committee that you know something to consider putting it on the the Rossi and um you know we don't own we don't own that parcel obviously so we could we couldn't put it on the Rossi. The the other part of that
is that it's it's a wetlands jungle back there. Um is that why it's not selling? Yeah, correct. That's why it'll sit on the market. Yeah, we've we've looked at that property many times over the years. It's so wet there's very little you can do with it. Has very little value. So if someone buys it, it's going to remain
open space anyway. Is it um is like is it so theoretically if a developer wants to buy it, they could they couldn't even build one house on it or get one house on it, but even then they're going to have spend a lot of time with the D trying to get a one
house bill. Gotcha. Right. That's it. All right. Thanks. Any other member of the public wish to make a public comment? Uh I want to go on a record since I wasn't very clear before. Can you state your name again for the record?
Oh, okay. Sure. Andrea Abbott, but I won't give my address. You don't have to give your address. I got your email, by the way. I know. I haven't had time. I've been in a meeting to review. Okay. No excuses. Um I I did want to say I wanted to go on record because I I was
talking about the park and I did want to say you've all gotten the email and you can all check it out. Um but I did want to go on record to say that you'll notice in that PDF I wrote that I'm all for this fostering farmers LLC idea. I
specifically to me it was important that it go on the former farm formerly farmed agricultural area which I found out it did. Anyway, I just want to say I think it's a wonderful idea. It's a great use of that
agricultural section and a great great um opportunity for uh the people who are going to be using it. So I think that's wonderful and um and I also happen to know one of the people who's sort of involved in it but who's who's promoting
it. Um and I want her to know but uh the other thing is um you mentioned the Rossi. Um is Stephvenson Park on the Rossi? I believe it is. Yeah. I thought it was. Okay. Yeah. Somebody told me it wasn't. Okay. Thank you very
much. Thank you. Any other member of the public wishing to make a public comment? Seeing no other member of the public stepping forward, move to close the public portion and adjourn. Second. Committeewoman Kratz. Yes. Deputy Mayor Hibbo. Yes. Mayor Perry.
Yes. Motion carries to adjourn. Have a good night everybody. Thank you all.