We just have to see >> Y. >> Good evening everybody. I'm sorry for the delay. In accordance with section five of the open public meetings act, be advised that a notice of this meeting was made by posting on the bulletin board or town hall and forwarding to the officially
designated newspapers that this meeting will take place at the Education Center at 700 p.m. on December 2nd, 2025. Meeting details in the draft agenda were also posted on our township website. Please stand to salute to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Deputy Mayor Collins >> here. >> Mr. Posro >> here. >> Mr. Sakamandi
>> here. Mr. Solar >> Ben, you're on mute. >> Present. >> Mayor Roman out here. >> Thank you. >> May I have a motion to approve the agenda? >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I may have a motion to approve October
21st, 2025 regular committee minutes. >> So may second. >> Second. >> All those in favor? Hi. >> May I have a motion to approve the October 21st, 2025 special township committee minutes? >> May I have a second?
>> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I um Deputy May, would you like to start? >> Sure. >> I don't have much today. I just wanted to announce that the um the friends of the Hobburn Library, the 44th annual student chess tournament is going to be
held on Saturday, December 6th at 9:30 at the library. The registration fee is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. This is the 44th annual office. This is a Milberg tradition and I encourage everyone to sit in a chest who wish. Um
the only other thing the zoning code subcommittee continues to meet. Um we've given the it's the end of the year. We will not be pushing forward any uh any new ordinances because uh you can't pass them over the course of the when the
year changes. But we continue to work on improving definitions of usage so that it's clear and not not so vague what a principal usage of a business is. There were a lot of a lot of uh categories that were mentioned but had no
definition. And we also continue to work on coming up with design standards for non-residential properties to help uh reduce uh the questions that come before the zoning officer. >> Thank you. Um second
>> Sure. Uh so the environmental commission has accepted its first student environmental group member. Melbourne High School student uh Elena Barker will be conducting a research project analyzing how microlastics released from washing machines at plankton in our
local waterways. The environmental commission will soon have a student interest form posted on their township web page. The commission encourages students in grades 8 through 12, whether you're in public school or private school, you can apply who have demonstrated an interest in environmental sustainability, uh, may
apply to join the student environmental group and receive mentoring for members of the commission for the planning board of meeting tomorrow. There's no applications scheduled on the agenda. >> That's it. >> Yeah, thank you, mayor. Um, no real
reports other than to kind of highlight with the uh arboritum. They have a a fundraising event called Beak Week. That's B E A K. Beak week. It's April 17th through the 24th. Um and go to their website, you can find out there's all kinds of stuff that can be done by
with the kids, with the adults, uh sponsorships, etc. Thank you. >> Comm um recreation committee. Uh nothing much there. Basketball and wrestling practices are starting up if you have kids, grandkids, such want to play. Uh
SID Special Improvement District. Um this is a fun one. Explore Milbour Short Hills uh is actually doing a raffle. Uh all you have to do is submit your receipts and you can win up to twice your receipt in a gift card uh up to the amount of $500. So if you get a $200
receipt, you can submit it. You can win up to $400. A couple ways to submit the receipts. You can go to marketing exploreburnshortills.org and just email it to that website. You can get that off uh off their website or there's a quote unquote Santa's mailbox
which is at the clock tower in downtown. Uh just grab one of the envelopes provided uh and uh and deposit uh your your receipt for entry into this. Um the winter villages are this Saturday, December 6 and Saturday, December 13th
from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall Plaza. Uh, obviously there's be igloos again, s'mores, fire pits, character, custom characters, and hot chocolate, Santa, and a lot more fun things to do. Uh, BOE, not much going on right now
getting into uh the holiday season. uh joint facilities. We had a good joint facilities meeting uh the between the BOE um and the rec uh committee which I sit on uh to talk about the uh the uh
additional proposed high school field upgrades and bringing more fields. Uh there is a link for feedback uh with an facts and questions uh section on the wreck website if you'd like go read those and we'd love to gather. We had
quite a number of people show up. So, it was very encouraging that everyone was there. Um, Mountain Valley Emergency Communication Center, we're going to have our our meeting uh later this this month. Um, Open Space Tax Fund, there was a meeting last night. Uh, still
working out the the rubric, the metrics. Uh, did some um uh some test sites uh to see how they came through. Uh everything seems to be moving uh well well there uh into the new year. Affordable housing I'll defer to council and that's it.
Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. >> Nothing to report from the administration this evening. >> Thank you Mr. K. >> Uh thank you mayor. Good evening. Um just a brief affordable housing update. Um as the public's aware we give an
update at every meeting to keep the public informed as to what's going on at fair share housing in the fourth round. Um we do have an objection from RPM which is the same developer um who is we're suing in the third round and have an appeal for the N main street project.
Um they're trying to block us from getting fourth round compliance based on the litigation in the third round involving the project. Um prior we we we are currently scheduled for our session um on December 11th which is kind of
it's like a trial. a hearing where the court will look at all the issues and determine it. Um we have had a mediation we've had two mediation sessions with RPM. Um and um there's nothing to report now on
that. Um but conversations are continued between the township and RPM. Um and it we're hopeful for a resolution um to our to our issues in the fourth round. Uh no further report matter unless there's any questions from the
committee. >> Thank you. Uh with all the uh Milbourne 250 activities taking place, I just wanted to take a minute to recognize all the contributions made by our students um for the 250th activities. Their involvement began with our wonderful
Milbourne 250th logo designed by Milbourne High School junior Jonah Dodani and unveiled at the July 4th festivities. Since September, two life scouts from scouting troop 19 in Short Hills have completed important leadership service projects honoring
Milbour's history. Cecilia Leang restored and repainted the chain fence surrounding the parcel house cemetery on White Oakidge Road at Parson Road and Sarah Abraham Winker revitalized the grounds of the American Legion Veterans Memorial in Milbour. Milbourne High
School students and members of Troop 19 also led a Constitution Day program at the Bower Center on September 17th. And most recently, a group of Milbourne High School students conducted a walking tour of the Revolutionary War sites in Milbourne on November 15th. Their
contributions are inspiring. Their dedication reflects the very best of Milbour and willing to invest time and effort in serving our community. We will see more examples of this in the coming weeks, including a Bill of Rights Day on December 15th. And I thought it would be
just uh nice to take a moment to thank these students and appreciate well. >> Uh Mr. Thank you for doing that. >> That was a great segue into what I'm going to talk about. >> I didn't know I was going to do it before. >> It was perfect. Perfect. So, with regard
to the 250, um my name is Bob Gul. I'm a 30 plus year resident of Short Hills, uh trustee of the Forgotten Victory Trail Association. We we were the ones that were responsible for initiating the uh kiosk that's in Taylor Park that
commemorates the revolutionary history. So we have a new project and this project uh my organization which is a 501c3 has signed a letter agreement with an organization called the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and they provide
funding for uh historical markers much smaller than the one we had. They're roadside markers as opposed to large national park like structures. Uh so we've got a letter of agreement from them to do 20 plus signs in Essex, Mars,
and Union counties. So, being a Short Hills resident, I identified five potential signs that we could do and I think Alex may have shared with you the locations of those signs. So, this is part of their grant
program that was called Hometown Heritage and it commemorates people, places, things or events that are historically significant to the larger community. Uh, and they're commemorated with historical roadside markers. The Pomeroy Foundation provides grants that
specifically pay for the entire cost of the marker, the pole, and the shipping. The grantee, which in this case would be Forgotten Victor Trail Association, is responsible for the installation, and that generally includes uh participation
from the local public works, so you your folks installing the sign or a highway department or a civic organization. So, we're recommending five signs to be located in the township of Milbourne. Uh, do you want me to go through those
five locations or you just for everyone's awareness? Sure. >> So, and all of these I'll try and briefly explain the relevance of each location to the Revolutionary War. So, Papermill Playhouse was the location
where the British in 1780 during the battle of Springfield tried to flank the American forces which were in downtown Milbour. So, in the course of that fighting, which was hand-to-hand uh John Graves Simco, who was in charge
of the Queens Rangers, which is part of the British forces, took on Lighor Harry Lee, father of Confederate General Robert E. at that location. So, we're going to try and briefly state these signs are rather
small. We're going to briefly state the action that took place at that location. So, that's paper mill. The second spot is Milmer Middle School, which was originally, we call it the Bryson farm, but it was owned by several different families. So, that's right up on the
null. And that was the place where many residents of Springfield, of which Milurn was then a part, that's where they escaped during the Battle of Springfield. So when the British were coming in uh and invading, they took refuge up on that hill. So that's a
second location. The third location is the Hessen House. Now, we all know about the legend of the Hessen House. These signs require primary source documentation, which means that you have to have periodspecific
correspondence or sources to verify that that action took place. The case of the Hessen House, we can't verify the legend, but we do know for a fact that that house stood there when the British were attacking down uh Milurn Avenue
coming from the Boxhall Bridge fighting. So, we intend to have the sign indicate something like this house built in 1730 saw the action of the British invasion down Milbour Avenue during the Battle of
Springfield. So, that's the third. The fourth is uh downtown Milbour, right in front of the Milbourne Standard U. And all of this will be on public land as opposed to private property. all these signs. But 40 Main Street was the
site of the quarterm's location. The quartermaster of the third regiment was Reverend James Caldwell and that building the original building housed his quartermaster site. So we intend to mark that uh
accordingly. And the last location is Washington Rock, which everyone's familiar with. that has a plaque up top on the hill. If you take the the hike up there, there's a plaque dedicated to the fact that George Washington and uh
Lafayette and others stood at that point to look over. We intend to put a sign down probably around where you enter to take the hiking path on the what's that road? >> Um
>> Glenn. So, we intend to put one down there. So those are the five locations. So what we're seeking there's there's three things. One is for the township of Melbourne to approve the signage proposal for five signs.
Again, the cost is already covered by Pomeoy. The only thing we would need is approval to use that land, which requires a permission letter. So each of those sites, we just need Milbour. And I've I've provided Alex with a template
on your letterhead that would say you can use that these signs will be placed there should forgotten victory trail get this grant approved. And last but not least would be to have the public works department install those costfree signs when we do receive
them. So those are three actions. >> Thank you. >> Comments or questions? The township would own the signs after they're installed. >> Yes. >> And there were there any time duration the township would be required to keep them in place?
>> No. >> So are we doing a resolution or anything? Do we need a resolution or we just >> um >> you probably could follow the same action with a downtown which is I guess just approval from
>> you sent out a letter to put on our letterhead. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. These these land use permission letters are on your letterhead and they state for each of the five. >> I would have to look at it but we can take a straw poll here and if we don't need a formal resolution or ordinance we could can go with that. If we do, I'll
come back and we'll have to just take a formal legislative action. >> When do you need a letter by? >> Well, this application cycle to PROY is December 4th. >> Oh, did you have send me that letter? I'll get it tonight.
>> I can for if you want, I can forward those. The template I sent them five. >> They're all identical except for the address. Five >> letters. Then you're okay. also >> thumb up >> and I think the other thing I didn't add is this is a great complement to what
we're doing for the two >> even if we need to take legislative action we could probably given that you have unanimous opinion we could probably let it go and follow up the legislative given your timeline if everybody's okay with that fine >> thank you thank you
>> thank you so much >> thank Okay. Public comment. When invited to speak to offer your comments, please come to the Alexa clearly. Speak with your name and whether you are an resident and property or business owner. Please do not provide your full address. See your meetings are recorded. You're
readily available to post. To help facilitate an orderly meeting and to permit all be heard their comments to three minutes. You will be prompted when there are 30 seconds remaining. A reminder that this is not a time for dialogue or to debate a matter. This is the time during our business meeting for
the public to offer comments. I will now open public Um, good evening. My name is Jeff here. President Moore. Um, I support um the time and hopefully
that done because I took the walking tour with my wife and we should be recognizing the history of this town. Um, my comments are really limited to right now limiting time agenda items. Um we have various one is like fiscal
responsibility. We have three resolutions regarding tax refunds, tax credits. I think I've been asking why we don't list anymore the street address of who the recipients are and cumulatively how much we have expended
or given credits for in the calendar year. Um as to the town hall plaza temporary holiday closure. Um when you look at the resolution, you don't state what is the state enabling statute that allows you to do what
you're doing. We understand is people will be approved, but I think the public should understand that we used to have long time people remember what we used to do around Christmas time, the first two weeks of December with the snowflake parade,
which was an annual right of uh passage for anyone with children. and we don't have that anymore at the winter village. The question I think those were more community building rather than being losing pits. Um as the approval right
away permitting that goes back to cell towers and I've been asking is there a list of all the locations that we've had cell towers on? Um I think that could help us. Also, I I'm excited that you're
sending the services by Civic Plus for transparency and accountability, but what are additional services will civic providing under this edition? It's not set for universities today. I support the opposition to Senate Bill 4736. And I think we should
be a little bit proactive. And when we go back to the zoning amendments, look at what um Edison is doing where they're going to be asking for like environmental uh impact statements and that we become a little bit more proactive in this and I'll speak later
about other things based on your business presentations. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else 32 plus year resour and I was just a little bit may with county and with some of the
democratic leadership insist just happened to read yesterday that quote dozens of Democratic district leaders signed letter requesting uh delay of party convention NJ district elected unfortunately three of the Democratic
leaders sitting in front of me uh did not sign that others in the township here have signed that and I think it's very very important that there should be some sort delayed and people in the township have an opportunity to un to
state the reasons why they should be delayed. We know this is the township but this is a very important matter of what's happening in the United States of America and that affects everyone here. So political person overall, but I
remember hurricane Ida. I do remember our representative of the at the time who was here who set up a a a table outside and helped us and others who have been around. I do feel that it is incumbent upon
the township representatives to listen to some of the residents in town who really would prefer that they would not support the resolution did not endorse until they did this. You are free to do
what you want. Of course, but I saw in the newspapers yesterday the number of many people representing representing Hillary I think I am very very upset that I am most people are
many people are upset with the way the representation is handled in Essex County. Sorry about that. Anyone else? >> This is public comment, right? And I apologize.
>> Um, I had some other questions earlier. I just wanted to um ask quick question about holiday decor. for a while. We don't really have any holiday decor up for the holidays and particularly like
other towns like summer and past they they threw it all away. I brought that up last year and they would blink around it. Is there like is that like a statement about not having that ever again? I was just curious because our town looks sort of dead. Everybody else
has probably a surprising looks on everybody's face. So I think Wolver's phone Oh, okay. I know it's just everybody has a look of like I said something horrible. I was just curious, you know, because I mean I didn't see like we had monorok last year and different lights and we had you know
Christmas storeflake decorations and I don't know if they were thrown in the trash but it just it's not really compelling. I wouldn't want to come and shop in. It kind of looks dingy. Um and this just you know goes back a lot to my feelings about explore but um so just keeping it simple so maybe somebody
could respond. And then I wanted to ask um there was an event at um in uh sorry in Taylor Park celebrating the high holidays with the
high center and I would want to ask why other denominations of Judaism were not invited to that event you know i.e. modern orthodox orthodox conservative and liberal and um reformed Jews. Um, I was wondering why they weren't and why
it kind of felt a little weird like Charu Goyle sort of organized that event and there was only people from the Democratic party. Um, and you know, I think some type of act of litigation. So, I just want to bring that up and maybe you can answer
that. Thank you. Charles Bar Hills. Um, next Monday night, uh, there is a public information session for the, uh, flood
mitigation advisory committee. Um and uh uh I have a question whether uh non-resident uh persons that continue to be on the flood
mitigation may or participate in that presentation. the question. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> I resent what is the doing for the contribution
in terms of parking for downtown. Thank you. >> Can I repeat the beginning? I'm sorry I didn't hear you. >> I have the winter deprecation for the climate weather. What is the townation and what are the restrict
as well as like the slow down? >> Is there anyone on Hi, good evening. Um, Jamie Serudo, uh, lifelong Milbour Short Hills resident and proud Township Committee member elect. Um, I want to just thank uh the
public uh for their support and say that I am very excited to work with uh all of the uh township committee members up on the deis currently and town township staff. Um proud uh of uh of all the work
that went into this uh movement and I'm looking forward to serving. I want to thank everybody and I I want to thank Annette for her uh service to the township. Uh, and I want to congratulate uh, Michael on his uh, reelection. And I'd like to thank my running mate Chris
uh, for his unbelievable um, work and support. Um, so, you know, I think uh, I put out a statement online and um, going to be putting it other ways uh, places as well, but I'm really looking forward to, you know, bringing the community together uh, lowering the
temperature uh, and treating uh, each other as neighbors. Uh, let bygones be bygones. Uh this certainly was not a a pain-free uh period. Um but I'm really looking forward to working um for one
Melbourne short hills and have a great holiday season, Christmas, Hanukkah, Quanza, etc. Um and we'll we'll see you around town. God bless. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. That's it. Okay. A closed public comment. Um committ. >> Sure. Um just best with regards to the holiday decor. Um I'm going to have to defer to
uh the township on that. Um, you know, I think in the past there's been some where I would imagine there should be some coordination with uh explore. Um, but um, you know, perhaps you could fill us in on that. Um,
>> Mr. Bambber. Um, so you know, we've had discussions about uh what we want to do in terms of maybe implementing some new policies with regards to when someone moves out of town, whether they stay on a committee. Um, I think that's something that we're
going to address in the new year. Um, but at the moment, as it stands, um, the individual that's on the flood mitigation committee that moved out of town is still technically on the committee until the end of the year. uh so it'll be up to that person whether
they decide to participate in committee proceedings info sessions uh etc. But uh you know I think it is something that we as a township committee will will discuss and you know there's certain boards and commissions that we can put a regulation on and then there's others
that we can't. Um so we'll need to work with uh Jared to figure that out but I think having a well- definfined policy would be a good thing and we'll address that next year. Um uh Mr. I don't know that we have a list of uh
locations um for cell towers. There's actually a lot of information online. Um there's a number if you Google uh cell phone tower maps, there's a number of different nonprofits that put up uh cell phone tower maps and you can actually
drill down by carrier and by frequency uh and whatnot. Um so I mean I'll defer to Tim as to whether we had a list, but that that information is relatively easy to find. in in a public place if your interest is in that. Um Mr. Bala uh
regards to how we prepare for the winter. Um you know I think again I'll to on this but um you know I would say we do a very good job in this town of preparing uh overpreparing for inclement weather. We've been fortunate the past
few years not to have a lot of um snow. Um it's one of the >> um but uh rest assured uh our DPW um they they prepare uh in every way necessary and they always deliver outstanding service. So I think this
winter will be no good. Um Mr. Cerudo um thank you for your remarks. Um, I think one thing that you touched on that I'll expand on is we've had an election. It was um, it was difficult at times, but now that the election is over, it's time
for the community to come together, work together. Um, I think we're all very excited about the prospects for next year, have very good uh, set of individuals up on this day. I want to looking forward
to what we'll accomplish next year. Um, and uh, you know, I I'm also excited for the work the charter commission is going to do to look at alternative forms of government. We'll see what comes of that. Um, but I really do hope that uh, as a town we can all bring down the
temperature on some of the politics and focus on what we can do uh, to move forward as a town uh, and work together. The others will share. >> That's all I have. Thank you. >> Committee Nasha. Uh nothing to add.
Thank you, mayors. >> Uh Command Sto, >> thank you. Thanks for everybody for uh for uh who gave a public comment. We appreciate every one of you guys. Uh no responses at this time. Thank you, >> Deputy Mayor Co. Yeah, I would just like
to uh you know to thank uh committeeman elect for his remarks and and certainly as far as my own re-election, I also would like to thank everyone for for their support. And I do agree, you know, the election is over. We put it behind us and just as we did on committee
business, we all need to work together when the election was going on. And I see no reason why that would not be the case next year. >> Um Mr. I have nothing to analyze any questions. >> Um,
>> yes. So, uh, just to respond to a couple of questions. Um, first and foremost regarding Mr. Phelps's question with Civic Plus. Um, just, uh, we have used Civic Plus for a lot of services including our website. Um, we also use that for our open request portal. Um,
and as the Civic Plus has grown and acquired more companies, it's just very important to put that on the agenda as far as how large that is getting. Um, we're also going to be doing some process improvements to the website, including um upgrading for accessibility
purposes. We have an AI chatbot that we're investigating, incorporating into the website, and also looking at a Cclick fix portal that the Pacific Plus offers. So, all of these are things that we're hoping to uh upgrade um just to
increase the overall accessibility and productivity for the overall uh for for the public. Um to Miss Best question that Mr. Sman, you asked about the um Holly decor, there's actually going to be some decor going up
starting tomorrow. Um we're going to be building on some of the work that was done last year in in conjunction with the SID. Um we're going to be having decorations over at block one. Um and also in the courtyard. Um we there so there's some decoration starting. You're
going to see that going up. Um we're also going DPW is going to be wrapping street pulse. Um that's going to be happening uh I believe this weekend or around around that timeline as well. Um all that is going to be happening before the winter villages
get started. >> Um Mr. I'm not sure. I I just don't I'm not aware if we have a list of all the polls. Uh but that if that's something we can look into, that doesn't mean that doesn't necessarily exist. I'm just not aware of that. Um and finally, regarding
the winter storm preparation, that's something that as Mr. Saki said, the Department of Public Works is actively involved and always watching as any storm approaches. So with the events that could have happened with this storm that could have been today, uh DPW is actively watching that. Um there's
always communication with between police department to inform public works if there is going to be any storm if there's any accumulation that's starting to happen on the roads. Um and DPW is prepared assault Brian or anything else uh to make sure that we're able to quickly respond. Um, and as soon as
possible, >> I don't snow plows are not supposed to plow your driveway out of the street, right? >> Just keep that in my own public. >> And, you know, this would be an opportunity to encourage people to sign up for parade because when there when
there is a storm coming, there is always those messages that come out advising people of what the latest forecast is and what they should do. We saw that in some of the heavy rains over the summer and of course we'll see that again. You know, there's a snowstorm. >> Yes, that's a great point. We
communicate as much as possible. We get um thoughts, we recommend emergency management alerts and we push those down as quick as we can. >> Um the only uh item I wanted to add was the event at Taylor Park. I don't know
that was not a town sponsored event, so I'm not sure who was around organizing it. I was invited to it. >> Um, and that was all I wanted to call. >> Yeah, I was invited to it, too, but I didn't know. I had no idea.
>> That's right. >> Okay. Consent agenda resolutions. The township will now consider consent agenda resolution. Are there any comments from the committee in regard to any of the items listed on the consent agenda?
I have a motion to approve resolution 25-253 through resolution 25-261 which are listed on the consent agend >> yes >> yes >> yes >> Mr. Stler. >> Yes.
>> May I Romano? >> Yes. >> Are there any comments from the committee in regards to resolution 25-262? >> I have a motion to approve. Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yeah. No, I I just wanted a little closer to adopted. It's really critical.
Maybe you explain what this is about. Um there's a there's a bill that may end up getting passed by the Wayne Duck session in Trenton that would allow religious institutions to uh go around any kind of zoning laws and build high density
property on their land and we're you know just I just don't think that's the right thing to do and I hope it doesn't pass but you know other towns will be ahead of us have already passed similar opposition resolutions and I I expect we
will be doing the same in a couple >> and uh I believe the New Jersey League of Municipalities is also opposing this bill or some aspects of it. Um it really erodess you know in New Jersey we have this concept of home rule and to have the
state come in and say that they can just override our local zoning I think is an affront to the concept of home rule. Uh so I'm I'm glad that we as a town committee are standing firm against this. I would encourage every uh
resident contact uh there our two assembly women and our state senator tell them that you have major concerns about this bill that this is something that you don't want assuming you don't want it. Um the more they hear from
residents the ammunition they have to make changes or oppose it. Um, and you know, this is one of those things where we all have to do our part uh to try and and lobby uh those that get to vote and make these decisions on the state level
uh to to make the right choice. >> And and just want to add this issue is real because what we're seeing amongst various uh various religious institutions, we know that times are times are tough and so they're they're looking at doing mergers with other similar institutions. So if two
institutions merge, well, they still own the land that they're not using. If they use one one institution's building, the other one is certainly something that could be demolished and build high density housing. >> Yeah. >> Well beyond uh anyone's zoning. So it's
important that this not go through. >> Yeah. Up to 40 units an acre is what they're saying. >> And an entire extra story beyond whatever is already zoned in that area. guaranteed pilot >> missing on the cake.
>> They also guaranteed a pilot. >> Yeah, I think that density is very important that that's that's a very high density, too. >> I can tell you I support this. I've already sent my own email, you know, out to elected officials. >> Thank you. uh pushing them on this, you
know, making sure they recognize that uh a lot of the religious institutions too are not necessarily on a major street. Some of them are in neighborhoods, you know, that makes a big difference as well. >> May I have a motion to approve
resolution 25-262? >> May I have a second? >> Deputy Mayor Cohen. >> Yes. Mr. Costco. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sakamandandy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stler. >> Mayor Romano. >> Yes.
>> There is nothing for old business, new business. You were going to talk about the environmental commission's recommendations for support. >> Sure. Um, so I I think I gave a preview
of this last meeting. Um the environmental commission has taken it upon themselves to make a recommendation uh that the township committee look into the feasibility of acquiring the old uh Exxon station sort of at the edge of
town um Bill Boxall border. Um it is a site that does have no contamination with state databases. Um so you know this is something that could be very expensive. uh if we were to acquire it,
we're still paying cleanup costs on um you know, another former gas station. It's been over 20 years. But uh I think that what the environmental commission is really asking for is town do due diligence, figure out whether this is something that makes sense for us to
acquire, find out what the price is, find out if there's any public sources of funding that could uh make sense to, you know, help help with this. So that's that's what this is about. And I believe that as a town equity, we've already binge. Um we've already decided to to,
you know, take the next step and look into what the options are, what the price is. Um because, you know, you're going to make a decision on something, you need to know all the particulars. >> I would just I would just like to go on record to say that I'm I know that's what we've agreed, but I'm opposed to
even going this far. Um, I I suspect that when that that gas station was was acquired at Lock One by uh, you know, on Essex Street, no one thought that 20 years later. I'm sure the analysis didn't come up saying and you'll be paying for it for 20 years. And if it
did, then shame on them for buying it, but whatever. That was 20 years ago. To me, I think we've just tripled the abandoned property fees, and I think that it should be somewhat of an incentive for the current owner to clean it up or sell it to somebody who will
and not and the town is not the purchaser of last resort. So, um I I know I don't have the votes. I know three people agreed to to go ahead at least maybe four agreed to go ahead with this, but I I am opposed to going to the next step.
>> Commas. Yeah, if I could just add this location was the subject of uh discussion at the open space meeting last night as well. >> Um to some extent. Um but I would add in that um you know in order for for me to
support this um we have to have the investigation uh which I think everyone agrees we need to investigate whether or not um there's contamination how bad it is and what it would cost to clean it up. My understanding is that there is a
grant or money available from the state to do both of those without committing the the town to buying the property. Um, so I do think we have the ability to do that. Uh, I can tell you too, I sent an Oprah request out to the New Jersey D to
get their records. U, I've sent that off to to Alex if he's looked at it again. It was a lot of stuff, but it's out there. If anyone of you wants wants what I got from the state, let me know and I'll email to you and I'm still
reviewing it as well. >> Committ Sorry. No, as as discussed, you know, I think it's it it behooves us to have full transparency, understand the obligations, understand what what it
takes to get to success. Uh so I think we're in that process now and you know, let's be methodical, let's be intelligent professionals, get the uh data and go from there. >> Okay. Okay. So we'll do that.
The second piece of uh the environmental commission's recommendations uh was their recommendation uh doing away with the landscaper licensing fees. We talked about this a little bit uh last time. Um and I think
Jared, you were going to look into what our options were with regards to taking action. >> So or temporary action now if it's that's feasible. >> Yes. So, I can have a resolution on the next meeting uh directing um the committee directing the administration
not to enforce the fees until the ordinance can be passed. Um and then we get an ordinance uh adopted u within the first couple meetings of next year eliminating that registration fee. >> So, let me just add we pay a fee for
everything in this town. We pay for a dog license. We pay to remove a tree. So, why aren't we charging a landscaper a fee to register? Maybe not $200, but $100. >> Yeah, I I think I personally agree that
if we have a fee for everything else, we should have a fee for this. I don't know if $200 makes sense. And I also think that this being a new ordinance, maybe we have, you know, the first year, um, we don't charge the fee because it
really, it behooves the town to get all of these landscapers registered so that we know how to contact them, um, when, you know, issues come up or, you know, if there's going to be changes to rules or ordinances, uh, or, you know, there's a a storm,
let's say, and we decide to temporarily suspend the, you know, the scene restriction on the gas powered leaf blowers so that the you know landscapers can use the necessary equipment to clean up after the storm. We want to have a way of reaching them. So um you know I
think the environmental commission was getting a lot of push back from landscapers themselves. Um I think they'll somewhat blindsided by this fee. Um I I I do agree with Mayor Romano. You know we have a fee for everything else.
At some point, we probably ought to have some sort of fee here. I I just don't know if we need to do that. >> Did anybody hear from any landscapers? >> Did anyone hear from any landscape? >> Well, I saw I saw landscapers uh up in arms about it. Yeah, I've spoke to a lot
of landscapers. No one >> out to you that they were upset over the >> uh in speaking. Yes. I don't know. You know, I speak to a few of them quite a bit. So, uh, yes, >> I have I didn't hear from >> I've also seen some some posts on social
media after Milurn, but I mean >> people complain all the time. I I think the EC um some of the EC members specifically have received direct communication from landscapers. Um, >> which they should because the township committee is the one that put forth that
ordinance, not the EC. So they should have directed it over the township just like everybody else. Contact township contact. >> Well, I think that's that's what they're what the EC is doing here. They put together a formal resolution making a recommendation. We're not under um any
obligation to adhere to that. Listen to Pat. But >> I agree 200 might be a little >> I think it's maybe we do want to suspend it for an initial period because it is important to get everyone registered and the other thing in addition to
everything that you said it also allows us to confirm that they have adequate insurance which we are not able to to do today. So at you know once we do that and there is some cost associated with doing all of that research. So, you know, there's not much that's free and
maybe we do have a grace period because it's new and then set it set what the appropriate price is uh after the gra. >> Just reminder, it's an annual, >> right? >> Yeah. Though once you get it collected, you're still going to be charged next year, >> right? >> So, what do we So, what do we what do we
want to do? What's the conclusion here? So my recommendation is that we would suspend the fee for the first year. Uh and I think that in the new year when we're able to make changes, we should figure out whether $200 is the appropriate amount or it should be some
other amount of fees for other types of the resolution because I I I did I do have a draft on my desk. It's sunset. So basically gives the committee a year to either eliminate the fee or now you go about reducing the fee and then the the direction administration natural force
does subset in the or in the resolution itself. So that you can do whatever you want >> and I would ask uh Tim to if you could come up with some kind of ballpark estimate doesn't have to the penny as to what it cost what it
will cost the town to maintain this registry and u do the research into the insurance and all that kind of stuff so that we and and and I guess we have some sense as to how many landscapers there are so that we know what the that
because the fee should cover those cost but you know we're not looking to make money but they're saying we're looking >> yeah we can look into that and just know I know it's been a discussion that there's hope to get the ordinance in
front of the committee at some point this is something that you could set and then establish that hey public comment There was one. I thought there was three. I'm missing a page. I'm sorry. Oh, no. I do have it. I do. Go ahead. I'm sorry. Um, Deputy Mayor, do you want
this one or maybe >> we we uh we said we would talk about the um the changes to the We uh Frank and I met. We uh and we met with uh people from the from the SID. We talked about
various changes that um that we might consider making the spiritual improvement district. Um there were several that uh Mr. Saki and I agreed to um that didn't didn't survive the rest of the township
committee. So I can't go into what those were. But what I can say is that the the uh the two main ones that are changing is we're going to have a we're proposing to have a tiered structure for the assessments where it uh the the
businesses in in the uh downtown will be uh paying 60% of the budget and all the other districts will then pay the other 40%. um that's based on the fact that the SID does a lot of things um that help the businesses behind the scenes that the public doesn't necessarily see
directly. So therefore, the other districts do benefit from it. However, given the geography of the town, most of the events with the possible exception of the uh that summer street fair we had on Upper Milburn Avenue, almost all the other events, if not all the other
events were in downtown. And we do feel that uh the downtown businesses benefit more from those. But as I said, there's much more to the city than just the events. There's all sorts of business assistance and you know, web development and marketing assistance and and you
know and promotion and all that kind of thing. So that's the that's the major change. Um and then the other change was in terms of the composition of the board where today there needs to be uh two tenants and two property owners and I
think we are suggesting that that be um grouped together into four people um one of whom has to be but it has been difficult to to uh to fill it when it's two and two so it just gives more flexibility to uh to fill the uh fill
the position. I think those are the two changes that I leave the king out. >> Yeah, those are those are the two changes that the committee decided to um you know bring bring forth to the table today and you know we had considered some other things. Um, you know, I think
one of the things that I was surprised about was, uh, we were able to look on a granular level as to, you know, those behindthe-scenes services that the SID provides to businesses and all of the districts. And, um, I at least I was
surprised to see how many businesses actually did take advantage of those services. Um, you know, I think they do provide a benefit uh, for the businesses in town. You know, some of this might be, you know, advice, help with with permitting or um, you know, other
backend and procedural stuff that that needs to happen when you're opening or running a business in town. >> Recording in progress. >> So, this is definitely um, you know, a town. >> Recording in progress. >> So, this
definitely gonna keep doing that. >> All right. I think Ben's hitting. >> Yeah. So, my training thought, but yeah, basically, you know, I think the SID does provide a lot of good benefits to the businesses in town, but we felt that
the tiered structure uh was going to be more appropriate, you know, given that a lot of the events are downtown focused, then it makes sense for a lot of these events to be in the downtown. That is an area that is conducive to having these type of events. Um, so you know,
hopefully this is a good enhancement to the SID uh SID ordinance that we've had in place for a few years. And I think it was great that we took the time to look into the ordinance and really dig into the details and see what benefits it
provides and what we cost, would you like to add in? >> Um, just, you know, a thank you to to Michael and Frank for doing all that work. Um I do support it as you know as is of I have some comments on the actual language um which I guess we'll sort out
you know over time as it gets introduced etc. So thank you >> a committee or do you want to add anything to you're muted? Yeah, as a as a as as sitting as lison
on the explorer, I think these guys did some great work and and I agree with everything uh Michael and Frank said and I look forward to seeing uh how how it goes. >> Thank you. >> Action now.
>> Our final public comment. This public comment is to allow for final comments from the community. invited to speak to offer your comments. Please come public and clearly state your name and whether you are a mother of resident property or business owner. Please not provide your full address saying our meetings are recorded and readily available to the
public. A reminder that in order to help facilitate an orderly meeting and be heard people shall limit their comments to one session open. >> Hi everyone cyber president. Uh
Christine Best, you're right. I was in Warren last week. I drove through the center of town. Look beautiful. Christmas lights, Hanukkah. It's an easy thing to do. So, I'm glad that it's
going to be done. I'm looking forward to see what it looks like when it's done. Um I'm glad you're talking about the licensing of landscapers. I think it's important that all the
landscapers, whether they want to pay a license fee or not, they should have their trucks marked with their license numbers being a registered landscaper, which shows that they have insurance,
they have a name, and they have a phone number. So that if you want to reach them, maybe you want to hire them, but they should have their truck should be marked with their business name. >> Landscape. That's what I think.
>> And if they don't want to get a license, if you have a dog and you don't get a license, what's the fine? Is there a fine? >> There's a fine. I think there's a fine. There should be a fine. You don't want
to get a license, okay? We'll just fine you. So, it'll cost you more in your fine than it would get the license. Make the fine bigger than the license fee and you'll get everybody licensed. >> Al Carlin, president. There's a question
that I came about five years ago. I came here for the first time and the issue was enforcement and there's always been a problem concerning the enforcement of certain statutes whether it's township statutes or state statutes and yes uh as
you are very well aware is required by law by the state of New Jersey if you're licensed in certain areas like electrical and so forth you are required to have it on your vehicle in in a certain size your telephone number, your
license registration and you must have where you are coming from. It is required by statute. It is required and township of course can issue a violation to go to municipal court. I believe I'm
not an attorney but I believe this is correct. I came here five years ago. There were 25 violations in my particular building. There were no permits obtained for changing the fuse
boxes. But guess what? It took over a year and a half. And it was a it was a miracle. Sometimes there are miracles. this particular um management company wound up with zero
fines, not $50,000 that could possibly have gone to the township of Milberg because a $2,500 fine for a violation. They got zero, not $1, not $2, zero. That's not what
that's what happened. But if you know the right people, it seems according to the folks in Essis County, uh, that's could possibly be the case. Um, okay, I'm radical, but this is not right. And it's all about enforcement. Now, let's
talk about landscapers. Who is going to do the enforcement? How is it going to be done? What's the uh what's the viability here? Who's going to go chase the trucks? Measure everything. These are just next less argument. We're
concerned about small businesses. How can we help the small businesses downtown and is there any way to say buy more from the small businesses versus Home Depot over there? Because if there's any way your Home Depot
purchases their GRA and other operations, if there's any way to purchase locally more than uh say Home Depot, Homes or whatever. I mean, just a thought. I would like to see us support our small businesses because that's
important because they're going against Amazon and things like that and Walmart as you know. Thank you, Raj, and have a great >> Thank you. Good evening. My name is Jeffrey Phil. Um I'm still getting shocked about the landscaper fees.
Um, of course I was involved in a case in Orange versus Orange 7 where we invalidated an annual registration statement by landlords
and the case law is you is not a profit center to make when you issue a permit a registration fee. And the question is how did it ever get to the board without that analysis where the case is clear
that it should go in covering your cost that it should not be a revenue generator. I I just don't understand how we got to this point as to the st the judge has still has not entered various orders. I don't know if it's
incumbent upon the township to advise the court about certain statements that were made about 10 minutes ago about certain changes that are going to the city ordinance. Well, probably the way it's going because there's issues. You're talking about businesses, property owners. The
obligation to pay the additional special improvement is on the property owners. All the benefits that you're talking about, you know, how to set up a a system goes to the business people, the businesses. I'm getting a free lunch. The question you didn't never address
when you compare the original ordinance that you that was superseded and rejected. You took away the right of the property owners to vote who the board members are. You took away their right to dissolve the entity. the question of how you talk about special I mean right
now 6040 to me that's just an arbitrary division when you look about what the benefits of property owners in the four districts outside downtown get and there's also an issue about we hear about the word transparency and accountability been all through the
newspapers the last two days especially about the idea about uh the taking powers away from the state controller you know or talking about our governor talked about where you need accountability, you need transparency. When you filed your Main Street, New
Jersey original application, the boundaries for that application was the entire five district sid. The state came back to you and told you you had to redraw the boundaries, but you really have never told them public. And when you're looking about the Main Street,
New Jersey benefit, people that are getting the benefit is located downtown, and they should be the ones that paying 100% of the sit. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Bill Kers, Milburn res. Um I just wanted to acknowledge the passing of Jerry Saxel this past Saturday
morning. Um even though he never lived in this town. Um but he longtime uh coach and teacher. He affected so many people in this town. Um and I think if you look online, I think everything said about him, all the positive things
really, you know, have been said. Um um believe it or not, I actually met him in 1964 when I was part of the rag tag recreation wrestling team went up against the Dayton regional team and we had something to do with uh giving him
the idea to come to Milbury. Um anyway, like I said, I think everything's been said that can be said about this really wonderful man online. Um, I would only say that maybe we can best honor him by living up to the type of character that
he was and the type of principles that he always uh generated. Perfect. Thank >> you. Burn Township. Um, Michael, I I all of you actually,
but Michael, you're really talking about intensity. Thank you for what you guys are doing on um, you know, with the state of New Jersey on the housing issue with the logistics. Thank you so much. I'm extremely grateful. Thank you.
>> Um, I wanted to talk about a couple things quickly. I think that in in the township we're all like required to mow our lawn and actually keep some type of ground cover not have like dirt all over our property like there has to be something. Um and just it seems there's a lot of recklessness just across the
town and there's not there's a lot of code violations and it seems to be getting worse and so I'm still recommending hiring more code officers and I also I'm going to give you an example. There's many examples, but I want to give you an example. At 165 W road, they have a dumpster that's
something on property and they're not doing construction. So, I want to understand like can somebody just park a dumpster for like you have a house and they're not doing construction and also use as parking lot, you know, kind of gut up the property, not have grass
growing and just have brush like quazi ripped out and left forever. So, just a suggestion. There's a lot of builders that have um no times of guessing the clause and seeing to think about some type of legislation. It's one thing when a homeowner is building something and it's like okay well maybe they ran out
of money and like having a tough year. It's another thing when a builder's making a profit off our town and they're just like leaving a property for five years because they don't want to pay tax and then to house down left in a wreck. Imagine if you have a nice smack lit property where you get to sit next to you know a fence. So, just something to
think about and I use that as an example, but I hope that somebody looks into that. And also, um I wanted to um talk about um the the SID because I I think it should be more like an 8020 split. And I want to just think have
everybody think about what the SID is. So, think about if you we all take property taxes and only the people in Old Short Hills because they live in the nicest area get to go to the school system, okay? and nobody else does. And that's what I think of when I think of
the SID because basically all the money gets focused to downtown Milurn. It looks the nicest because the best decorations are done there, the most renovations are done there, and everybody else gets sort of left in the dark. And if you look at towns like Summit, all the best stores are there,
okay? Ser Lily's there, Coler's there, Calico Corner, they moved out. Now we have a discount mattress store. Okay, this is the type of customer we're drawing in. We're drawing in 22 customers in Georgia town. That is not a successful SID that represents what Milurn Short Hills stands for because
Milford Short Hills is comparable to a town like Summit in terms of merchants. Okay. So, I think a lot of work needs to be done on that. But you can't tax people and provide those services because just think about that comparison. And I just, you know, wanted you to think about that. Thank you. I'm
done. Okay. And you're happy. >> All right. If I don't see you, I hope you all have a happy. Um, I have to say I agree with committee deputy mayor Cohen u regarding the pocket park at Brooks Hall and and I
think everything. What concerns me more than anything is how busy that intersection is. Uh in addition to the contamination, but I just don't see it's a safe place for for children or families to be crossing that
intersection to go to that pocket park. I just don't see the accessibility being there. uh regarding the non-resident on the flood mitigation committee uh that individual has devened to be uh
in public forums. Um and uh I will not participate in committee functions if that individual is present. Uh they they call me a know-it-all. Uh yet it's ironic that other technically
schooled uh and degreed individuals on the flood communication committee have written me personally and thanked me for the accuracy and thoroughess and uh attention to detail of the work that I've done. But that individual pen
has to call me know it all. So uh I think it's best I just don't associate with them. So if they're there, I'm not. And uh happy holidays to all of you. >> Thank you. >> And thank you. >> Anyone else?
>> Anyone online? >> Hi, good evening. Um, I want to congratulate uh Jamie and Michael on their election to the township committee. Also, the commission referendum passage, the uh study commissioners that were elected, uh the
board of education members. Thank you to Mrs. Romano and the retiring board of education members for their service to this community. Um, I also want to thank all the volunteers, people who worked on the campaigns as well as on election day, donors to the campaigns. We had
obviously a very in um busy involved campaign season and I think that is a positive for our community. >> I will say as someone who's been involved for a long time, this was a decidedly vitriolic campaign season. uh
one that focused way too much on the politics of personal destruction and it doesn't help our community in any way to go in that direction. So I hope that that's the end and we won't be seeing that type of campaigning in the future.
Um I also want to uh particularly thank the volunteers on the Seruto Hinrich campaign and Mr. Hinrich particularly for running a very um highly ethical and intelligent campaign. Uh I trust that
the newly elected body is going to focus on our town and bringing our various factions together to solve the problems that are deep and hard and that we all really do need to work together to solve. Um, I want to on a different
subject agree with Michael Cohen on his uh analysis about the pocket park, but I also um understand that this is an eyesore and people on the environmental commission have seen it as an opportunity to do something to help with
that. And so I hope that there can be a solution by the committee uh as well as the environmental commission and the community to figure out how we can improve that particular spot. Um, I'm also just asking could someone provide
whatever information you have either on our website or tonight at this meeting for members of the public to write to our representatives about the bill that you referred to that would undermine transparency and the investigative powers for of our politicians in New
Jersey. I think it would be really helpful to have that information. Thank you very much. Happy holidays. >> Thank you. Deputy Mayor, would you like to have anything to add? >> Second. >> Sure. Um, so, Miss Pasternac, I do
believe we have contact info for uh our two assembly members uh and our state senator on the website. is the township website. It's not the easiest thing to navigate. Um, but it is on there. Um, you know, uh, maybe we can, uh, include
that contact information in this Friday's email. Just at the bottom, general FYI, if you want to contact your legislators here, but just later, here's the link uh, link for the township website page. Um, maybe that would be a
good idea. Maybe that's something. >> Uh oh. So, in terms of the landscape >> landscaper licensing, I took a look at the ordinance itself. Uh and it turns out it does have fines. Uh the first offense is a warning, an education on
the licensing program. The second offense is a $250 fine, and then it escalates from there. Uh and the code enforcement is the responsibility of the township's code enforcement officers, superintendent of public works, forester
forester and their designates. Uh so you know um it's an enforcement mechanism. It also stipulates that the uh permit that we there's a decal that we'll give out when they're registered that does have to be displayed on the vehicle. Um,
I do not know if a township can, you know, stipulate whether uh a landscaper's license number or contact information has to be on their vehicle. That's something I would defer to our council on. Seems like a good idea, but I don't know if that's something that we
can legislate uh as as a township. Uh, Miss Best, um, you know, you you you seem to indicate that you thought all of the SID benefits or money goes to the downtown. Um, you know, I I used to think that and then when I actually went
through the process and took a look at what the SID does for all of the businesses, I would disagree with that statement. Um, the SID actually does do a lot for the businesses in all of the districts. Um, and it's really incumbent upon the businesses to take advantage of
the services that are offered by the city. Some veteran businesses choose to take advantage of those services, others don't. There are good programs available uh if if you're willing to take advantage of them, and many businesses do take advantage of them. Um, so I
would not say it's I don't think it's fair to say that all of the money are going to go to the downtown because that's that's not the case. That's all I have. >> Uh, nothing further. Thank you, Mayor Stella.
>> Yeah. Hi. Um, so a couple things here. Uh, Mr. Kur, I couldn't agree with you more. My condolences to Satchel family. Listen, my son wrestled in this town from the age of what, six all the ways up. Six, six years old all the ways
through. This gentleman was a staple. he would talk to you professionally and and kindly and he agreed that it's okay to agree to disagree which is kind of the bedrock of democracy and he was just fantastic. So you know as many
condolences as we can for for him. Uh Frankie, Frank, thank you for answering that to to Miss Best and folks uh without all the information and actually digging up your rolling up your sleeves and looking at it, the benefits uh may not be known by the general public or at
large and who've not gone to all of the KPIs and such. Uh it's incumbent upon us to get all the information and look at that. Uh and and for last one is Charlie Bambber. Uh listen, you're you're a mench uh you do so much work for this
town and we appreciate you. I'd like to have a discussion with you next week. Uh hopefully oneonone. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. K. >> Unless there's anybody just on the license. >> So,
so the landscaping business, uh I would have to look a little closer, but just to mow lawns and take care of lawns, it's not state regulated. You don't need a state license. Um, if you do enhance things like put pesticides down, which I'm sure most landscapers in Milburn do, you have to have a license to put pesticides down.
>> Um, I don't know if um there's a requirement that they have those numbers on their trucks. There may be if they're putting pesticides down, so what's wrong with the number of contact, but I could I could look into it and provide an answer. But that would be regulated by the state. I don't think the township
could regulate that though. So they'd be got by state statute. I just also wanted to congratulate uh committeeman elect. I don't know if he's still on the call or not. I don't think so. Um and also tonight is our last meeting with Tim.
>> He's leaving us. >> No, no, no. Say, >> where you going, Jim? Can you tell us? >> Yeah, Tim. >> So, I just wanted to wish you luck and thank you for everything and we're missing That's awesome.
>> Big responsibility. Easier commute. We'll miss you. You're so good. You have a happy holiday. >> Thank you.