and just uh announce that this is the uh the open space meeting set for August or August April April 6th uh at 8:00 PM via Zoom. um an agenda had been posted uh on the township's website prior to the
meeting. And um so with that, I think it's kind of turning it over to Steve as the uh the the the vice chair. Um but I'm happy to just sort of guide through it um if need be. Um so whatever you
want. Uh Steve, >> sure. Um I'm happy to have you guide. Uh I know we've got, you know, a pretty brief agenda just going through the different project submissions and um >> do you want to take us through them or just discuss
>> and and and and the one person that is um on is actually uh Teddor Whitman from the arboritum. So if there's any desire from uh the committee to have him get on and and speak a little bit to uh the two projects that were submitted by uh the
the arboritum. Uh that might be a good idea. Um but for now um the first is and and everybody on the committee has received this and we could talk a little bit more about uh during open discussion how we want to proceed when these applications do come in. Um I know it's
been asked of of of me whether we can get them on the website how however we want may want to do it but we can discuss that a little bit later but the first is the native plant restoration efforts at the core heart arboritum. Um, Bria, I don't know if you have any um
additional com or, you know, um, initial comments or discussion on that particular item or if the group feels like it would be beneficial to bring in Tedor um, if he's willing to do so. Uh, I know he's probably just listening, but um, to speak about it.
>> If Tater is on the call, I think it would be best if he'd answered uh, any questions that members had directly. >> Great. I will promote. >> Oh. >> Oh, just can I ask Alex? So, I know we have >> do we have a rubric like were we
supposed to have filled that out beforehand based on the information here or was that was that not yet? >> No, I don't I don't think at this necessary at this point. I think you know an introduction of the projects and understanding of them maybe ask some
questions. Um but but um and then I think it would would have been my sort of suggestion to the group that we have those filled out uh for the next meeting um to discuss these further and um decide at that point which ones to uh
push up for recommendation if you know if any or all uh to the township committee. >> Got it. Great. So today's meeting, we're going to learn about these projects in a little more depth and then we'll be ready to um to apply the rubric for next time, >> right? And and it'll give us a little
bit of extra time to we'll we'll pull together sort of the necessary information for the group uh within you know by the end of the week so that you have that information. >> Got it. Got it. Yeah. The the objective information that we're no longer filling out. >> Correct.
>> All right. Great. Yeah. So um I don't know. Did anybody have any comments on the panel before we open it up to Tor? Is it >> Tor? >> No. Okay. So, let's go ahead. That would be great if you can present to uh
>> on both of these. >> I'll bring him in. Hey, Tador. >> Hello, Alex. How are you? >> Good. I I don't know if you knew we were going to put you on the spot, but um glad to have you here and be able to talk through uh the two projects that
the arboritum uh put forward. So, uh the first one we have in front of us is the native plant restoration. >> Sure, I can talk. I want to if you have any questions, sure, whatever. Yeah, >> just yeah talk talk just give us a brief background on the on the project and
then we can ask any uh additional questions. >> Um well about 20 years ago the township working with the arboritum um decided the best thing to do for forest restoration efforts was to put a fence
around a deer fence around the majority of the arburedum forest. And that worked a huge charm and um what was a decimated forest started growing back and things were going
really well um until about 2020. And one of the great gifts of the pandemic was um a tropical storm that came along in the middle of the um of the summer of 2020 and it dropped a large tree branch
on the corner of the arburidum and knocked down about 100 feet worth of fence. And by the time we got that repaired, uh we had seven deer inside the um inside the forest, inside the fencing, and it took us about a year to get them
out. And during that time, they completely decimated our um understory and herbaceous layers. And we are trying to get that all back. So we need funds for literally buying native plants, planting them, and then supporting them.
uh we can easily supply a list of what plants we want to buy from the local and not so local um nurseries. uh we were being guided by the Native Plant Society and we've decided that this is a great opportunity to actually partner with the Native Plant Society to start a new
volunteer program to get people helping us to actually volunteer their time and cultivate these plants while they're inside the forest and help them to propagate and try to sort of get back what we lost during that one year time we had all those deer inside the fence.
We lost about seven, eight years worth of growth. So one year put us back almost a decade. >> That sounds great. So I understand the money would be used for purchasing the plants but also I guess implementing this volunteer program. Is
that the idea? >> Implementing the plant the volunteers because buying the plants is only part of the issue. Then we have to get them in and during the first year after they've been put in the ground, it takes a lot of effort to make sure they it's a
stressful thing for them. So they they need to be babyed along for about a year. Once they're set and through a winter time, they're usually pretty good about uh self-propagation, self-support, and all that kind of stuff. But that first year is kind of tough and don't want to spend a lot of money on a bunch
of plants just to have them turn into mulch because we weren't caring for them. And we're looking at this as an opportunity to um start a new volunteer program. >> And what's the cost associated? Is there a number yet? >> About 25 a year.
>> Okay. And so I've asked for um 25 year for six years just because like um being optimistic that this is going to be a long-term program very successful
and I just want to keep the avenues of moving the plants in at a rate that we can care for them and at the end of the seven six years we should have a significant chunk of the forest operating the way it should be. new forest uh volunteer program fully
functional. Um, but I can't spend it all in one year because there's just no way I can transport that many plants and care for that many in one year. So, I want to spread it out over a reasonable serious time. >> So, buy buying plants every year for six
years, getting them in maintenance, and that would be 25,000 a year for six years, >> correct? Yes. Okay. And the fence issue or any future deer issues already been resolved. Is that >> fence has been repaired? Um all the deer
are gone. Um we're pretty good now at getting them out once if they do get in. But we are going to also take some protective efforts. Um while the plants are in, we'll have temporary fencing in just in case something gets in that's not supposed to be there.
So the the planting areas will be doubly protected so so to speak. >> I'm sorry, what was that? >> The the planting areas will be doubly protected. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Um does does any of this include trees, Teddor, or is this just understory?
>> At this point, we're looking mostly at understory and herbaceous layer. So, sedges, wild flowers, stuff like that. There are going to be some um viburnums, spice bushes, bushes
basically to um again, we're trying to build the base layer up. That's what the deer got to. Um there probably will be a future ask not for this but for um trees if beachle leaf disease continues to be
a real problem that makes up around 15% of our forest and we'll need to replace those trees but hopefully that's two three years down the line. >> Can I ask so the it sounds like the planting would be done I guess by your
staff plus volunteers. I mean, this is not very much money if you actually have to hire like a a landscaper or somebody who does this stuff, right? >> Correct. >> And we know where we're going to get the plants. We're going to go get them. Might have to actually rent a truck if we actually get the grant. So, yes,
there's a lot of plants we want to bring in. Um, get them in the ground as fast as we can and then start up a regimen of of care for them. >> Okay. And uh you know I I don't know much about the arboritum and how it's funded
normally. Is it generally funded through donations usually and and this or >> um two major revenue streams fee for service programs field trips from school groups summer camps um weekend programming stuff like that and then we do a lot of fundraising on the other
side. >> Okay. So if if the open space money was not available, would this project just not get done because it doesn't have the you know enough funding in the arboritum
budget? >> We would still try to do as best we can. It just be at a smaller scale and the projection of when we can get the forest back up and running is just going to take longer. Okay. Helpful.
I think Josh has his hand up. >> Yeah, I I again I I'm I'm with Steve. I don't really, you know, know much about how the arboritum operates and I was just curious, do is there full-time staff that is paid or is everything volunteer with >> We have four full-time staff members on
one. >> And would any of this money go towards that or is that still going to be completely separate? The vast majority of the money is going to go to the purchase of the plants, any equipment we need to support the plants.
Um, we might have to hire a landscaper at one point or another to assist us, but we don't anticipate that. Um, the vast majority of the money is going to go for plant support and acquisition. >> So, plan support, acquisition, potentially contract labor, but no
full-time staff would be getting any of this money in overtime or in salaries or wages or anything like that. That would still be kept separate. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Go ahead, Alex. I don't know what the protocol is with the hand thing. Should I tell people to
>> go ahead or do you want to do that? >> No, go ahead. That's fine. >> Okay. >> Um, I just wanted to make mention um the staff or the organization of the arboritum. So, when Tater said four full-time staff, that's including him.
So he is the executive director. Then there's three full-time environmental educators. So um it's fairly bare bones com visav the amount of programming that they deliver to the township um in terms of summer camp in terms of adult
programming throughout the year as well as mini camps and field trips etc. Um, I think the other thing worth noting is this program, um, it already taps into a pool of
volunteers from the township. Um, teen volunteers from the high school and the middle school as well as um, younger kids. And I think Tater has been successful in identifying residents in town who are interested in helping with
the planting. Um, I think they're already doing invasive species control in the forest. So, you know, it's it seems like it's a good way to kind of increase community partnership um and just get residents to get, you
know, out in the woods and do more stuff out in nature. So, it's part restoration, but it's also um community engagement. At least that's the way I read it.
>> Thank you, Prius. >> Sounds great. >> Okay. Well, I think there's no decision to be made here. This is um very helpful information. Uh if there's no other questions, do you want to move on to the next project? Okay. So, uh Tater, can you speak to the
um the classroom retaining wall repair? The back of the classroom retaining row was um supported back in 1931 by a bunch of railroad ties and it's reached a point where they have decay to the point
they're collapsing. They're falling down. So started looking for ways to shore that up and protect one of the original trails that was actually laid down by our founder Corart. Um had a couple landscapers come out and take a look at it. They gave me the um
estimate that I submitted and uh we're gonna that'll include ripping the railroad ties out, reshoring everything up with dirt and boulders and then secured with native plantings to prevent any future erosion.
>> Right. And who would do the work? Um, Birch Hill was going to do it, but then he just retired, so I'm going to have to find a new company to take a look at it. >> But you you think that estimate is going to be similar or the same?
>> Yeah, I do. >> Okay. Are there any questions from the panel? Oh, sorry, David. I didn't see the hand. >> No, that's that's all right. just put it up. So, uh, but so thank you. Yeah. A question for Alex on that part of the
project. Does does that have to be done, you know, through bidding through the town or or not? I I I just don't know. >> Just a question. >> Yeah. No, I think it's a it's a fair question. Um, generally that has not
been the the the case. Um, because it's the the arboritum control, you know, is responsible >> doing it. Okay. >> Maintenance of the site. >> All right. Thanks. That was it. Thanks, Steve. >> Thank you, Mike.
>> Yeah. Thank you. Um, Tador, I uh I'm curious how much use does that um that uh outdoor classroom get like throughout a typical year? Uh we use it every day during the
summertime because that's where um we park the small the squirrel scouts, the smaller the younger um camp kids. >> It's used just about every weekend when we have volunteer groups. That's where we like to stash them and you know sort
of get everything organized actually out in the forest and and we usually it's a along one of the major walkways so almost every field trip that we use we actually go by it or into it. >> Great. Thank you.
So if I had to put a number, I would say it's directly used about 30% of the of the average year. >> Okay. >> Oh, sorry, Josh. Go ahead. >> Yeah. What was the uh table? What was the ask on this on how much? What was
the financing that was asked? >> I asked for 47,000 >> one time. >> One time. Okay. >> Thanks. Are there any sort of state grants or fees that uh I mean programs that might
support something like this? And have they been pursued? >> I don't know of state grants that speak to this. Um I haven't seen any. There have been a couple. There are a few um
American Waters for example every year puts out a grant and I tried for that. I applied for it um two years ago and they said due to the high number of applications we can only support. So there was
something about it that I guess wasn't attractive to them. So, I haven't looked at state. I've only looked at um private foundations and this is I guess the first township time I've looked for funding. >> Okay.
>> Any other questions? Uh uh has this um has this be I mean in your in your mind the reason you're asking for this is has this become somewhat of a liability as well? I'm concerned. I don't know if it's a
liability yet. I I don't like the way um some of the hillside is behaving and I think it might become a concern. It's not going to get better all by itself. I don't know. I don't want to put a timeline when I'm going to become
truly concerned, but I'd like to fix it earlier rather than later. >> Yeah. So, if you don't get this money, will you have funding to fix it? >> Not this year. >> Okay. >> I'll have to find some some from
someplace else. >> And would that ever mean that that area would have to get shut down until it does get repaired? Would there come a point if you can't get the funding where you might have to coordinate off so that >> Yes, we would have to reroute the main
trail around it. Okay. Go ahead. >> Um, is there any um are there any benefits in terms of flooding mitigation um that are associated with making this repair?
>> I can't I don't believe there would be um that it's not in one of the areas that typically um the part that's collapsing doesn't really
it's not the part that um is part of the flooding issues as far as I understand it. >> Do we lose anything from a historical perspective through this project? I mean, you mentioned that I think it was put down. I forgot if you said if it was by the by Kora herself or by, you know,
her people. You know, it just sounds interesting that there's these railroad ties that they use to assemble this wall. And, you know, we're talking about ripping it out and putting in something more more modern. I I don't know enough about this to say. I'm just curious.
it the upper trail itself that the part that we would have to reroute is the trail that she that Corahartzard definitely put or designed into the landscape. Um it would we'd have to change it if we
had to reroute it. Um I think they used the railroad ties just because it was useful material that happened to be available because of the proximity to the railroad station that was being built about the same time. uh that the arboritum, you
know, they were being used. Um so I think the the ties are they need to go. They they're no longer serving their purpose and I think the natural rocks would be something that Corart probably would have approved of
to as part of the overall landscape. Well, thanks very much uh Teddar for um humoring those of us who don't understand what you do as well as um we probably should. But I know that you know all of our kids, those of us who have kids in the township have had them
uh have their eyes open quite a bit through the programs that the arboritum does and and we're very appreciative for that. >> No, thank you. We're trying our best and we're trying to make everything as as good for the kids as we can make it. >> Yeah. I I had three kids through Glennwood and they all loved the
arboritum days. >> I love the fact they could just walk to to us for programs. It's precious. It's something that can't be replicated. >> Does Alex have his hand up? >> Yeah, I just had one one quick followup.
Sorry, Taylor. Um the um given given the wall, given the sort of the reconstruction of the area, is that something you would at least um just um discuss maybe just have a discussion with the HPC on or have you you might have had that
already. I don't know. >> Discuss with who? I didn't quite get that part. >> The historic preservation commission. My understanding is that when we became part of the historic village, they were concerned only about the buildings and not the trails. But I could I certainly
won't have any issues talking to anybody who has a concern and answer whatever questions I need to answer. >> That's a good point though, Tor. Yeah, understood. Yeah, that that is that is generally the concern. Yeah. And I'm definitely going to talk to um parks and
wreck and the forestry folks before we, you know, make sure that whatever the landscapers want to do is is okay with them as well. >> Okay, great. >> All right. Well, thanks very much for your time, D. I appreciate it. I'll take
>> anytime. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Um, does the group want to discuss anything else about the uh arboritum projects or should we move on to the next one? >> No questions on the arboritum for me.
>> Okay. So, if there's no objection, let's go on to um what's next on the agenda? The Battle of Springfield. >> Yeah. Uh 132 Milurn Avenue. Y >> Okay, >> that's the Exxon station, right?
>> That's correct. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. So Priya, you submitted this and I forgot if we decided on a protocol as to whether or not Priya is allowed to weigh in on this or she's just informing. What's the Alex?
>> Yeah, I mean this is this is Yeah, this is a little bit of a a township one as well because this this has been discussed uh at the township committee level uh previously. It is also uh the subject of uh we the committee just
approved a resolution to do a uh HDRSF. Uh don't ask me what the acronym is exactly, but um it's it's basically a grant for um potential hazardous discharge. As you know, it's a former gas station that burnt down about almost
15 years ago at this point. Um and it is um so the state has a 100% funded uh program grant program that allows you to do preliminary assessment site investigation of the of the site. Um so
that was recently approved uh by resolution and um is is a step moving forward on on this particular um area. Um but but I think Pria can speak a little bit more towards and I and I certainly can too because you know her
and I have discussed this in the past as well um in terms of potential ideas at this at this site um being at a gateway uh into not only the township but also Essex County it you know as well. Um it is a small area uh certainly but it is
uh kind kind of checks off a bunch of boxes. It's in a flood plane. It's uh it's a abandoned property site. Um this this property has been paying the abandoned property fee for the last probably 12 years at this point. Um and
it is of historical value and also uh provides an opportunity to you know reclaim some of the flood plane even though it is it is a small amount but it is it is part of the flood. >> I don't know Pri if you had anything to add to it. >> Yeah I do and I also have a question
about the um the HGSF grant. So just Steve to address your concern. So I have no financial stake in this project and I'm not involved in any way. I just presented this idea to the township and Alex, you know, maybe like five years ago or I don't know how long it's been,
Alex. It's been a long time. >> Probably been about that. Y >> yeah. And um where I do have it where I would recuse myself from voting is certainly the arboritum because I am on the board of trustees um along with Dave Cosgrove. So, that that is something
that I I won't weigh in on, but as far as um the former Exxon station goes, Alex, I just am curious to know what the grant money will be used for because as far as I know, the the owner has done everything
as per NJ ress, right? Like the site the site's been monitored. They've removed all the tanks. the site has effectively been remediated and they're they've they've received the the groundwater permit. I think they just have to like resubmit or
reertify it every every two years. So I think that's coming up this year. >> Mhm. Um and then I think as per that permit um so an LSRP has been working on this project for I don't know how long and
per his assessment the site should be clean through natural attenuation by like 2031. So that's I think the model that's what they're projecting. So the money I'm just Yeah. What would the money be used for? because it's all everything they're
doing everything right. >> Yeah. So, so it has been and everyone we've talked to about this program and this particular site, it has been suggested that the township do their own like don't rely on New Jersey Clean
Energy or whoever owns the site and their and their information and what they've submitted. And so, so it's been suggested that we get we we do this through our own process. In addition, I think the reason for that is is it's kind of step one of of two potentially,
which is the the township does, you know, the preliminary assessment, the site investigation, and then there is another grant should there need to be any sort of cleanup um that uh that you can use that grant to fund 75% of
whatever is needs to be remediated. So, I think it's it's kind of a a means to an end. um depending on what what ends up happening from that that uh site investigation. Plus, uh I don't know how long how long ago that was. You know, you don't know if conditions change.
Obviously, they're going to go with what they're what they're were originally provided, which is just monitor it. And and while I do agree with you, it does seem to be a bit of a maybe a waste a uh you know, a waste of time or money, but
but we've been told by both the uh the D and um and uh those who have been consulting for us on it that you should go through your own process. >> Even though they've done everything according to D regs, D is still saying
don't trust us. hire an outside consultant. >> And I think and again, I think part part of that is is is just that you you need you need your you need your information to then apply for the for the second part of that if if it's needed. Um
>> Okay. >> So, yeah, I I get it. I I I get exactly what you're saying, but um it it was pretty clear to me that they wanted us to continue down this process. >> I I can pipe in a little too, at least from the T TC perspective. I don't want
to speak for everyone obviously, but there's a concern there that, you know, that we don't want to get involved in a piece of property where we have to spend a lot of money cleaning it up. So, it it it potentially also allows us
to go back to because part of the process could be, hey, look, you know, it's going to cost us, you know, x number of dollars to deal with this property. then you can go back to the owner and you can you can say this is this is this is the price we're willing
to pay for the property. >> So we're talking about a an assessment of the property that would be fully funded by the state though, right? This would not be any open space money that would Right. >> Correct. >> And so the open space money would be to
what? purchase the property and develop it into this or >> correct. >> Okay. And I know we have a TBD now. Sorry, Mike. Go ahead. >> So ju just curious in in that intermediate step. Um let's say we get
the preliminary investigation and there is some remediation that has to be done. Threearters of it would be paid by that state grant. Would the remaining quarter would that be paid by the township general fund? Would that be asked for open space? >> It it my my understanding it would be
the township. It would not be open space, >> which is why the township committee is sort of starting this process because ultimately ultimately it's it's it's going to be up to them, you know, whether they want to move forward with something that could or could not
require remediation. >> Go ahead, Bri. I guess I just don't really understand what the purpose of this additional analysis will be, Alex and Dave, because let's say this we get we have this funding to do this
additional analysis and they say that X amount of remediation needs to be done and we say that we we deliver that information that report to the owner. The owner is going to say I've done everything as per state regs which they
have. This is all public information, right? They they've they've remediate remedi remediated the site. They've um they're they've installed monitoring wells that are monitoring the groundwater. There is in fact a plume um
from the pollution like a southwestern plume which again you know the site itself will be clean in a couple year or a few years. So I don't know if that's actually something is how does it give give us anything by because they're
going to just say well sorry we've done everything that we need to do as you know what the state requires. >> Yeah. I mean, I I don't want to send I don't I wouldn't want to send the town down a road where the town uh ends up in a fight with, you know, with the former
owner about who's responsible uh for cleaning it up or with the DP. Um makes no sense to take on that risk to me and that's why certainly I wanted the uh the assessment done to see what we're
really getting into. Um I can't predict it, Pria, you know, for sure, honestly. Um, but I could see a situation where, you know, as as we do the, you know, as we develop it, whatever we decide to do with it, >> um, you know, Exxon turns around and
says, "Well, you know, you guys exacerbated it." >> Um, you know, no, no one knows, let's say, you know, I mean, you you've seen this stuff around town where people buy houses, they don't know an oil tank's there. There could be a lot of interesting stuff that happens. Um
little separate topic, Alex, just a question on that. I was talking to a a lady today about another issue in town and she had said that in the that you know like 10 years or 15 years ago um there was an issue with the county where
the county open space fund um they were indicating that they would you know potentially give us money um but but they wouldn't because we didn't have an open space fund. So, long story short, I mean, any idea whether
now that we have an open space fund that something like this um project that the county would kick money in or not, or I'm not going to hold you to it, obviously. >> Yeah. I mean, just from preliminary conversations we've had with the county and we've we've asked a few times on this particular piece of property, I
think I think the big thing for them is is ownership. And so once the township owns the property, they'd be happy to kick in and help out with with uh with certain things. >> Okay. >> Um I think that that has been made clear
by them, but nothing nothing it won't it won't be anything toward purchasing the propert. >> All right. We'd still be on our own. >> We have to own the property. >> Yeah. Sorry, I just have a question for Pria, but Deborah, go ahead.
>> Thanks. So, I I just want to be clear. So, Alex, it sounded like you were saying there's a two-part um process here. In order to get funding
for the cleanup, we had to apply for the investigation into the property. Is that correct? in order to potentially get funding for any cleanup that might need to be done, we wouldn't be able to get that without
having done this investigation by the township. Is that >> is that >> that is the way that I understand it. Yes. And that's the way you know I was I was on a call with uh with D. I asked the specific question like all of this
has been done to kind of to Pria's point and they reiterated again that the township should go through it and do their own process. It is also my understanding that that if we if if we don't if we don't do that right, we're
we're we're taking on their their their process and it doesn't necessarily make us eligible just because they went through the process um for that additional funding of remediation.
Um and and and and look, I mean, I think there is a degree of of of the township committee being a little bit um gunshy here because of what's going on on lot one. Uh we've been dealing with lot one
for, you know, the last, you know, 20 25 years. And so I do understand that. And I think where we get support from the township committee is by going through this process whether you know to Pria's point it is it is uh maybe redundant uh
quite redundant maybe in in in a way um but I think this is where the the discussion has gone with the township committee and you know providing a level of comfort that it is our our process and also if there is a need that there's funding uh available for that. So
>> Bri, I just want to ask you a question before you um >> Sorry, Steve. I just had a followup. So if for some reason there is something that needs remediation and the owner of the property says, "We're not I'm not going to do it because I already did my part," then we could potentially get
funding independently because we took this first step of doing our own investigation. So I guess to Pria's concern about the O, you know, haggling with the owner, it is potentially possible that we would have
outside resources to do the remediation without having to lean on the current property owner for that. Is that correct? >> Yeah. And we'll have information, too. and we'll have information of what we
think it's going to cost to um to remediate that. Plus, you know, while I don't know I don't know all the ins and outs of it, right? But but that, you know, does the game change a little bit when it becomes a public entity owning
the property? And so, um, so I think that's also part of part of the the, uh, the the concern is is making sure that we don't get, um, caught unawares if if if now we want to buy the property and
now all of a sudden it's like, yeah, sorry, the standard's different because you're going to you're going to put this into a park and you're going to have people on top of it or, you know, it's not just an abandoned site or whatever. So I think we just need we need to go through that exercise be able to answer all those questions too and and a lot of
these good questions that are coming from all of you as well. So >> yeah I just I wanted to make sure I understood the concern though. Is it that this will cause unnecessary delays or is it something else
meaning you know doing this additional assessment? Well, yeah. I think that I think that's a legitimate concern is that that >> But is that the concern that you're expressing, Priya, or was it something else that um >> I was um so there is no delay, right?
Because we don't have to do this project. Um, I guess I was just trying to understand what the purpose was behind um, applying for this grant and using the funding in this manner when again the the owner has already gone through
all of the steps for remediating this brownfield and um, they've, you know, they've gotten a permit. The permit is up for reertification later this fall. Like they're doing all the things that they need to do. they're jumping through all the hoops. So, um
that's all I was wondering. But, but like >> perspective like what's the downside? >> Yeah. Like like Alex said, like you know, if there's if it's an additional layer of diligence that we're adding and to to give elected officials and
residents obviously an assurance of, you know, how clean this property is and do we even want to get into this, then sure. I mean it, you know, it makes sense to get more buy in and just, you know, to get more as more information as
possible, >> right? >> So, it sounds like it's premature for this to be before the committee, right? >> That's what I was thinking, too. >> We don't know how much money, you know, we don't we don't know the results of that. We don't know how much money the propertyy's going to cost. We don't know, you know, how much it's going to cost to develop or anything like that.
So, >> so it sounds like >> if there's an appetite to do this potentially, I don't know if based on what the findings are from this analysis that's done via this grant money. >> Yeah, I I think it's good for awareness
also. I mean, you know, and it's good to, you know, potentially provide additional information, you know, back to the group as it comes about. But yeah, I would agree that it's a a bit pre premature um but it is something
that um you know could eventually come come this group's way and so it's good for awareness for sure. >> So I I think the awareness point is a good one. I I wonder well I mean one of the main reasons to have awareness of it is that if we're allocating money to different projects and we want to sort
of earmark some to make sure it's available for this, you know, it could be worth knowing. I mean, it sounds expensive. There's a purchase of property. There's all kinds of, you know, development that needs to happen for that, I guess. Um, is it
worth trying to get a sense of what the ballpark of that? I'm assuming it's another bond potentially, um, because of the scale of the cost and everything. So, I mean, is it worth trying to get some numbers around this for the next meeting or in the future at some point?
Yeah, I mean I I I I I think we can do that. I mean I wouldn't uh you know I think we'll we'll we'll certainly take that as a lower priority item, but we can we can come up with you know some some sense. But but in the end the the
issue is is they don't really know given the fact that if there is something that needs to that we we would go back to the owner and look to reduce the price based on the information that's provided. Um, it certainly could come down. And I think I think there's also I, you know, and I'm not going to obviously speak for
the township committee, but I also think there's a sort of a ballpark where people are like a level of risk and a level of cost that that the township committee is willing to accept on this project. >> Okay. Yeah. My point was just that there
there's nothing to really even keep in mind on this at this point, right? I mean like we we can't I don't think we can sort of withhold funds from other projects anticipating this because we don't even know what that >> we will definitely have more information
this year. So you know so we we'll be able to we'll be able to provide some some update on this project. >> Okay, sounds good. Um anything else on this or should we go to the next one? >> Go to the next.
Okay. Um, so I guess there's two proposed pocket parks here. Uh, I'm assuming Stacy Phelps is not on the call. >> She is not. No, but I can I can speak a little bit for Stacy. And, uh, as as
you've noticed, it's a it's a very ex a very thorough uh, application. Um Stacy is the township's forester and she works with the shade tree advisory commission. Um and so there's an area at the
intersection of Glenn and Lacawana that most are probably familiar with that, you know, is home to a very uh beautiful sycamore tree and nothing else really going on in that particular
space. Um we've we I think we have a sign for the parking lot uh the commuter lot 7 and then there is a memorial rock there uh from 911. Um but uh but other than that
it's just a you know is is grass. Um, and there had been discussions in the past about, you know, creating sort of a a a natural uh native plant sort of uh space there with, you know, seating,
maybe even letting the grass grow really tall in the in the center of it. But Stacy's come up with an entire plan. Uh I can't say that I've read it word for word, but I know it's a uh it's a significant improvement to this uh particular piece of of property that is
the townships that is um sort of a focal point at this intersection by the library by the commuter station uh train station. So um that's uh that's sort of where it's at right now. >> Okay. Oh, sorry, Pria. Go ahead.
>> Oh, thanks, Steve. Um, so I just wanted to add that this was a uh a land acquisition project that was mentioned in the um open space wreck plan. Um, and so it's it's list it's on page 40 just
for reference and it's number 10, Milbour Train Station. And I think Stacy in my conversations with her to to better understand what she was thinking um she thought that it would also be a well suited space and this is mentioned
in the plan as well. Um a well suited space for farmers market since we lost that um you know it used to be previously at the parking lot across um across from um whatchamacallit
common lot and that whole corner. Um, but anyway, I I was also thinking back to our 2020 downtown vision plan when there was a talk or or there was actual mention in the plan of creating kind of like a greenway that would link Locust
Grove, which is the South Mountain parking lot on the corner of Glenn and Lacawana, and linking um anyone that comes to visit or park because a lot of people come from out of town or from the city, take the train in go and do their
hike or their trail run in South Mountain and then um walk down Lacawana and kind of hit Taylor Park. And there was talk about how Lacawana was a little bit of a dead zone. Um you know, there
just wasn't any like nice landscaping or even hardcaping. There was just blank walls. And so the thinking was that perhaps this corner could become almost like a little bit more active. um you know with some seating, some nice
features, native plants, space for the farmers market, space for people to you know go for a hike and then they can eat their sandwich there. They they already kind of do that deacto. I mean they they I've seen people sit on the grass and um on nice days after they, you know, go
for a hike in in the reservation, but this could be a little bit more um what's the word? like just more attractive essentially I think was the idea and then they would kind of that could sort of be again like a gateway
for folks into the downtown area. Um, so I think that's something perhaps also to consider if you know if if this if this site were ever to be developed in the way that Stacy is proposing.
>> And Alex, we already we own that land, right? The town does, >> right? Yep. >> So, the money will be used entirely for upgrade, development, planting, and so on. I saw some irrigation
stuff. I'm assuming there's a water supply there, right? >> I don't believe there is currently a water supply. Um Oh, but but they >> didn't it say the first aid squad? >> That's right next door. Yeah, right. >> Right next door. Yeah. Oh, but Oh, I
thought you meant is there already irrigation there? No. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. >> But it's not like, you know, they would have to run. >> No, they they would be able to get water. >> Okay. Any other comments on that spot? I I think uh also if it I mean if it if
it's uh I can I can see I don't know if that she would be but I could also see if uh Stacy is available uh for the next open space meeting to maybe come and speak about the project. Um she's very passionate about these things so she'd probably have a lot to uh a lot to say
uh on it but um but can certainly bring her in if she's available. And is the township sort of behind this? It's just a matter of getting the money or are there other, you know, competing? >> I don't know that this I don't know that
this project has been brought up to the township committee in any way. Um, but it has been um obviously it's in the recreation element and open space. It's also been discussed at the shade tree and environmental commissions as well.
So um with that I would say yes but um I I wouldn't be able to say that the town committee has knowledge of the of the idea um directly but um also I think the other part of this just to keep in mind is that this would this would also pay
for um people to do this. It would not be done by our department of public works. Um, this would be a landscaper uh or landscape architect. >> Hey, go ahead. >> Um, yeah, just going right off that,
Alex. Um, so for a funding request like this, 300,000 that would just be to do the initial setup and landscaping and then would ongoing maintenance and taking care of the park then afterwards be folded into the public works?
>> Correct. Correct. Yeah. which is which is obviously also something to keep in mind as we go through these different projects is that you know um yes you know we would we would then be responsible for maintaining them as we do Taylor Park or Jerome Park or
>> Okay. >> Okay. Should we move on to the next one? the paper mill park. >> So, Steve, I had submitted that last one. Um, and again, just in a similar vein, I I had lifted that straight from
the open space uh wreck plan. It's um for people's reference also on page 40 number nine. It's the JCPL property block 120717. And um I it's a really small lot. Um I think it's less than a quarter of an
acre, but you it's you if you you'll blink and you miss it if you're walking from the middle school to um you know to to town and it seems like it has the potential to be be developed. Um I don't
know if there's any safety considerations given that it's right next to the the Transformers I think or something like that are that are kind of behind it. >> Yeah. But so I don't know if that would prevent us from putting any seating
there or you know but you know it could be something that is very visible. It's right in the center of town and could be a nice place for kids when they're walking to town from the middle school on Fridays to sit um do their homework.
Um again it's not a huge amount of space but if it were developed into something really attractive we could put public art displays there. Um, we could, you know, have an extension of advertising for Paper Mill Playhouse set be also be
on that site. Um, so that people really can they kind of understand like the connection of the Playhouse to the downtown. Um, so I put that down as something for us to consider.
you know, if it if people think that that's an idea worth pursuing, you know, >> the the only the only the one thing I will say, Pria, is that um there probably is a there probably is a
concern if you're getting close to the Transformers just just from people, just from perception most likely. Um but uh this is this is an area that is very noticeable. uh particularly to people who are walking to and from middle
school, paper mill, downtown, whatever it is, it's right there. Um it has one scraggly little bench or in in in the middle of it. And it does um doesn't really have any sort of, you know, rhyme or reason to the the growth that's going
on there. Um and um it it does not surprise me that it is a part of the uh the open space plan. and it's been discussed a few times. Um, we've actually reached out to JCP now just for some maintenance of it. It is
relatively difficult to get them to think about, you know, landscaping when they're thinking about power. Um, so those are the only thing, you know, we've asked them, hey, can you know, are you good with us replacing the bench? I think that's in process, but that's, you
know, that's really not a whole lot as it relates to that piece of property. But um just um just for some context there, we we have we have spoken to JCPO and they're always their their response is quite frankly, we're not going to do anything to it, but we're happy if you
want to put a bench there. We're you know, you know, we'll clean it up. We'll make it, you know, look presentable. If there's trash on it, we'll come get, you know, that type of stuff. But nothing nothing uh in terms of a capital improvement >> there is. Yeah. I mean, I'm guessing they wouldn't
have much incentive to really do anything um that would be attractive. And that's why I thought it might be a nice opportunity for us to do something that's very visible um you know, for residents to really understand, you know, what this trust fund is, which is it's about building
parks. It's about building, you know, about beautifying the town and making it look more lush and inviting and and walker and, you know, biker friendly, etc. So, I thought that that could be something worth consideration. >> Deborah, go ahead.
>> Um, I'm just wondering how impacted will that space be by the potential development at 9 Main Street? Um, because that's going to be a pretty big
building. And related to that, I'm wondering if there's any way once that development starts happening, um, if we can get the developer to pitch in some money to help develop that
piece of property um, given how close it is um, to 9 Main Street. So, two I guess two questions. >> Well, I Go ahead, Pria. You got an
answer for that? >> I do because so when I looked on the SDL portal, it looks like there's nine Main Street and then there's an L-shaped lot, which I think is 11, and then this lot itself is um is next to that as you go
closer to the intersection of Essex and Maine. So unless the nine main street development, we're also going to take that L straight Lshaped lot and I'm guessing Alex that's owned by the township or I don't think it's JCPL. Um so I guess to answer Deborah's
question, this doesn't really abut the Nine Main Street lot, but it's certainly in the vicinity. And yes, if that nine Main Street project does go through, potentially, you know, the developer could, you know, could be could be asked
to help develop this site and throw in a little bit of cash to make it look a little bit nicer for for residents and and passers by. >> Sorry, I I was just going to chime in there real quick, but Josh, go ahead. You got it. No, I was just kind of um I
went on a map just to kind of understand the piece of property and you know, having lived here 20 years and never noticing it, it's kind of wild. Um, but I did look and see the L-shaped property next to it. And then I was thinking of what Pria was talking about with the last piece of property and and
maybe there if if the township does own the L piece L-shaped piece of property and we were able to develop this maybe that's an opportunity for something with the farmers market because now you're talking about a much bigger space and it's close to the downtown area and it's I mean that would be a perfect place to
to kind of you know resurrect the farmers market because it is that's actually across the street from where it used to be and it would you know but that was that's all I was thinking. I just didn't understand the that I think we need to understand that that L-shaped property and who owns it and if it's part of nine main if it's part of nine
main street or not. Um doesn't look like it is that maybe there's an opportunity to kind of join the two uh you know join the two properties. That's all. >> Okay. Now everybody's got me really curious that I don't know the answer to that question. So I'm going to look that
up. But in the meantime too, I think I think one of one of one of the things is is that you know just being realistic about um the developer um and that particular property in that it is a you
know it would be a 100% affordable development. And you know, most of the time when when you speak about developers doing offtrack improvements, uh it it usually involves a pilot or a redevelopment plan. Um so there is a
possibility. Um but I just I just kind of want to keep it like real that that it might it's it's it's kind of unlikely um in that in that particular scenario. Um but
uh it it is always and should be a question that is asked uh should the that development u move forward. Um so that's that's all I wanted to say there. I think also the difficulty will be a
little bit of um you know whether whether JCPNL would want or be able to depart of that property. Um so so okay so I got the answer for you. Um because 11 Main
Street is actually the substation and the access to the substation. Um the 21 Main Street is just a I guess a piece of property that they own. So maybe they would. My concern is is that um they have some they have they have
some pretty decentsized underground easements uh in the downtown when it comes to uh trans like um lines that flow. If you ever notice the poles that are next to Fama, there's like three poles right right in a row which doesn't make a whole lot of sense. and they have
these huge sort of uh conduits going up the side of them uh because they're actually like transmission lines um you know going up the side of the of of the pole. So um it I don't know the answer to the question. They may they may be
willing to depart with it um but there might be a reason that they wouldn't and that might be the reason um just just for awareness. But, you know, as I as as I said prior to all this, you know, we'll we'll do our our due diligence on these submissions. Um, with the
exception of 132, we're not going to we're not going to do a whole lot on or any on that, but with these, we'll do our due diligence and provide the information to people, but 11 Main Street is definitely the substation and their access to But just just for my two cents, I think
I think being able to do something with this property would be would be uh would be great. It's very visible. It's it you know, there there are definitely things that um that would be a spruce that up. I mean, all all the kids that walk down from middle school, I mean, it would be
it would be a great resource for them. So, Um ju just a question on this. So we said that like they they don't really care too much about you know upkeep and things like that and I saw the 300,000 figure in the thing. So I'm curious
acquisition would be one thing. Would would it be possible to work out some kind of like use agreement or lease where it's like, hey, we're going to landscape this with with some agreement that like we are allowed to do that for x number of years so that it doesn't, you know, get landscaped one year and
then they do something else the next year. Cuz you could see like I'm looking at on Google Maps, you could see putting some like spruce trees or something for privacy and people wouldn't even see the substation behind. um in such a great spot between the middle school and the downtown.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I think that's I think that's very possible. Um I think um you know it's it's definitely worth the discussion. I'll start I can I can start I can start with our JCPNL rep who our government affairs rep and speak to them
about it and what what the appetite might be like um with that and uh you know obviously and then they would be able to tell us hey you know here are the rules as you do this because of what's going on there what's on the property or how close you're allowed to
be to the substation you know and and obviously they don't want anything hanging over that substation and so yeah There there would be uh that would probably be a good good conversation to kick this off with >> the 300,000 proposed that that
anticipates both acquisition and development >> yeah I just I mean it was really kind of like a rona dart at you I wasn't sure. I just I took in the assessed value and then
round it up. I just I put it in here. I really I guess to really do what we're doing now, which is to kind of spark a little bit of conversation and see if there's even like an interest in this. So, >> good. I mean, it sounds like a good deal if we
can get it. Um, >> so, okay. Those are the those are the projects that we had listed to consider on the agenda. Um, anything else anybody wanted to say about those projects? >> No, I did I I did want to say that Stacy
is on the line if anybody wanted to ask her questions about the Glenn. I I didn't realize that she just texted me on >> I think we're on we're scheduled till 9:30. So, I'm I'm totally open to it if she has time to give us a few minutes overview of the Lacawana project.
>> All right, great. I'll pull her on real quick. Allow me to promote. There we go. Stacy, you're on. She probably stepped away. Can you hear me? >> Yep.
>> My apologies. I I was on the call the entire time, but I selected audio on accident. So, um yeah, essentially I think that this is a beautiful little plot of land that's already owned by the township. Um but
currently all it is is um grass and we have to mow it constantly. And this gives an opportunity to sort of be, as Prius said, a connector corridor between um Locust Grove and Taylor Park. And it it could be a really beautiful spot for
people to wait while they are commuting. Um just, you know, a lovely place to sit in the shade. And obviously the 300-year-old Sycamore tree would be our focal point. Um it would be ADA accessible. Um, we would use perky pave,
which is like a a porous surface that water can still penetrate, so it helps with storm water. Um, the native plantings and flowers would essentially take care of themselves over time. We would really just be looking at routine seasonal maintenance in terms of like
deadheading flowers and mulch. Um, I would want irrigation there. Um, I was thinking I don't know if there's a water source at Locust Grove, but it might be nice to even have like a water filling station, like a water bottle station in the park
just, you know, for ease of access. Um, but yeah, does anybody have any questions about it? >> Would there be water at the first aid squad, which is right there? Wouldn't there be an ability to to get water?
I I'm not sure if there's like an outdoor water source, but essentially I think that would be a good tie-in point for the irrigation that would maintain the park. >> Yeah, she's talking more of like a water fountain and bottle filling station that
we just we just installed at uh DRO. Um >> something like that. Like as you're going on your hike, hey, stop here and get your water before you go. But St. Stacy, I know that's a um an intersection that there there's often a
lot of congestion on Glenn Avenue um especially around like you know school out times and community. It just it seems like there's usually a backup of cars going back past the library um right to that intersection. How would
that affect I guess this park? And you know what do in terms of like people coming there? Would you imagine they would drive and park in the parking lot next to it or >> I don't think that people would visit this park just to visit this park. I think this park would be a a beautiful area that people could, you know, wait
for their train to come in uh if the train was running late or a a meeting place if people were coming into town to visit. Um, I mean, I think this intersection is already pretty congested in terms of um, commuters and and
students, but that's only going to get worse with all of the housing that's going up. And so, again, you either have congested railway lines of people waiting to catch their train or give them an extra space that they can relax
while they wait. Okay. >> I just want to add also I'm thinking about this um South Mountain Conservancy had they they get a lot of foot traffic through their fairy trail. um during COVID, I don't know what they did, what
they put out on Instagram and Facebook, but the fairy book or the fairy trail, sorry, not fairy book, fairy trail is super popular with city dwellers. Um, so, you know, I think and I live, Steve, I actually live in Wyoming, so I I am I
I I'm subjected to that intersection like 20 times a day, and it gets backed up regardless. Um, but I think the ferry trail, you know, between all the people coming to Melbourne from the city for that or just again to hike in the in the forest,
you know, I think that it's it's if it's it it provides, you know, it I think it would be good for the downtown businesses to kind of have this as an extension almost of, you know, the downtown. It's like just
one more kind of feature of our of our of our town. It which you know and and it doesn't have to involve parking or food and beverage. It's just um like it's almost like a spreading out of the
downtown. Um in a way I think it would also just protect that piece of land in the future, right? say a developer um I mean because that would be a beautiful location for a developer to want to put up additional housing in the
future and if we had a beautiful park protecting around this you know 300-year-old Sycamore I just think that what a beautiful way to spend open space money yeah I was thinking the same thing that it's a way of protecting that corner in
ter because they there is talk about the Milbourne train station lot in terms of development. So, it it is using some foresight for that. >> Yeah, >> I I like the idea, too. Do Do we know, Alex, is or anybody? Do we know if
there's a bottle filling station across the street in that parking lot for the fairy trail? >> I don't think there is. I >> Okay. I don't remember it. I just But yeah, >> there's one in the library, but >> Oh, there is. Okay. It would be an
excellent location. >> It's a neat idea. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um I think the other thing too is is and and just again another thing to keep in mind as we go through this process. So like you know right now that piece of land by Glenn and Lacawana is
just you know kind of a piece of land that you know happens to be a part of lot 7 uh or whatever that block and lot is that includes lot seven. Um and there's no real distinction to it. Uh but by providing a park space, you know,
some some seating, all that, you know, quite honestly, it could be named a park in some way and then provided on the township's Rossi, which will then absolutely protect it from future, >> which is I think, you know, again, one
of the missions of of of what we're doing here, too. >> It's a good spot, too. I think it's a good idea. All right, that sounds great. If there's no other questions for Stacy, uh, anything else for Stacy?
>> Okay, appreciate all that, um, background. Thank you, Stacy. >> Sure. Thank you for your time. >> You >> okay? Uh, Alex, I think we could move on to the next part of the I guess we have open discussion and if anybody else is on the line and wanted to say anything, >> that's it. Stacy was the only one
hanging out with us. So, >> okay. >> But I think the the the one thing for open discussion that had been brought up by I think by maybe one or two members of the of the committee was when we received these applications right right now they're just on a you know they're
going in through a Google form. Um it's not um you know that's something that I don't know whether anybody had any issues getting access to the forms but if you did but if you did you know um there's no other really like location to get it and so the question I I I guess
is you know we received the forms everybody everybody on the committee sees them do you want them to be public as we receive them or do you want them to be public after this initial discussion or not at I just kind of wanted to open it up to the group and
see what the the decision was to uh in terms of uh once those applications are received. >> I' I'd lean towards once they're submitted, make them available, but I I don't know what the rest they can. Thanks. But >> why don't we just vote? Um I know we
only have 11 minutes left. Mike, did you want to say anything? >> Oh, just um yeah, I'm in favor of having them be public um after submission. And I'd even love for there to be some public of like, you know, just a rule of thumb saying we'll discuss them at the
upcoming meeting and make a plan for when to vote or or just like um and and have the specific projects uh listed by like if if you are interested in this project, you should attend this meeting to hear the committee talk about it just so that you know people know when to
show up. Sounds good. >> Everybody's in agreement with that. Okay. So, once we receive them, I and again, I don't I can't say that I'm checking it every single day, but once once um once we uh once we notice that those forms are submitted, we'll get
them on the website. Um and and I think what would be best is kind of take a almost take like a um planning board or zoning board sort of approach to this if you know if they're received within 10 days of the meeting you know we can put them on the agenda for initial
discussion um you know that that way you know that kind of puts a timeline on us to hey check it before you know 10 days prior you know make sure they're on the agenda make sure the agenda is posted 10 days pri you know that kind of that kind of timeline. um so that uh so that
there's some order to it as Mike was saying and then you can people will know hey you know it's on the agenda so I I should go but I mean Teddor and and Stacy came to the meeting but they didn't really have a sense that uh that it was going to be discussed in so um
but I'm glad they did. >> Deborah go ahead. Um, can you also, Alex, make that clear to any potential applicants so that they don't miss the deadline? Um, and that they have it in if they want it heard
that it's in 10 days prior so that they can be on the agenda for the most, you know, recent or current upcoming meeting. >> Sure. And I guess we'll just like the only the only issue I can see happening is if the you know let's say we get
seven or eight applications are we going to be able to discuss them all in in a you know a decent amount of time. Um but we can always cross that bridge when we come to So but yes I can I can put on the on the open space website the the uh or and on the form um how that will
work. >> Go ahead. Um I would just ask for at least 14 days for any new submissions if not 30 days. Um you know just to give us enough time to really consider the
applications. I don't know. I think for a minimum of 14 days, but >> whatever you guys want. >> Well, that brings up a good point, which is so is the process now, it sounds like we're kind of organically arriving at a process, which is that
these the applications come in within some period of time before the meeting. We review them. We discussed them at the first meeting and then I guess is it by the second meeting that we're going to fill out the because we had a form that that the panel members supposed to fill
out right so it's like application comes in they get noticed we discuss then after the discussion we fill out the rubric and then at the next meeting I guess what do we do we report on the results of that rubric and then vote or
we decide if we need more information or And then there's also the information you're going to provide, Alex. >> Right. And then also I think much like tonight like we discuss, you know, one of those projects submitted, we're not necessarily moving forward with or, you
know, need to do a rubric or with with at this time. Um, but but I think I think that initial discussion allows some of that vetting initially to be prior to filling out the rubric. But I agree with with your sort of uh
sense of it. And then you know it's not necessarily that oh it has to be voted on. It's almost are we ready to vote on it? Um okay and then it could get pushed to the next meeting. Um but you know we might want to give ourselves some timeline to to vote on a particular
because obviously you know you don't want somebody to submitted something and said sorry it took us you know 120 days to to figure out whether we wanted to vote on your application. >> Yeah. So, are we okay with so for the four projects that we didn't sort of
back burner on this meeting? Um, do we want to set a goal to have each of us fill out the rubric by the next meeting? Alex will assemble the other information and then we come to the next meeting with both our rubrics done as well as
any questions or f you know additional information we think we need to be able to make the decision and then plan to provided we have all the information we need plan to vote at the following meeting. Does that sound like the right timeline or do you think we'll be ready to vote on I mean, you know, the the
arboritum ones seem fairly straightforward, but um does that sound like a reasonable ask for the next meeting? Do do you mean for all all of them or just the ones that we have like you said the arboritum? I think we have the
information. I think we have the information right for those two. >> Yeah. Yeah, the other two >> the the um the town lot next to next to first aid I think we have it paper mill maybe not or maybe I don't know >> I think for me those two I think Tater
has a very clear idea of how much he needs for these other ones I think the the requests are a little bit sort of speculative at this point right so I I don't know that we're ready to vote on $300,000 for the Lacawana park because we have no idea what you
know realistically that's going to cost or >> right and I think it's a good opportunity to you know if if there is additional information needed from the applicant you know um perhaps it can be requested you know at that initial
discussion you get some sense of it um and then we can request some additional information uh from them like you know I was going to ask Tedor for pictures of the of the area that he's talking about right or you know if there's stuff like that that um that the group needs uh to
help further this their decision um you know maybe that maybe that can also happen in between the meetings. I mean, it's a lot to happen in between the meetings and then potentially vote on it, but but I feel like um you know, assuming we're not getting inundated
with applications um and we've already established that really two of these are advancing in that process for the for for the next meeting. Um maybe there can just be a focus on those while we're asking for additional information or gathering
additional information on on the two pocket parks. Okay, that sounds good to me. Um, sorry, >> quick question. Is there a does Tador have a window in which he needs to
plant? Um, so that we don't want to postpone it too much because um planning season is a limited time. Is that something we have to consider for him? >> Yeah, that's a That's a really good
question um that maybe we can ask him quickly. But if I mean really the next opportunity is the end of April for the the vote on it which um and then you know um would have to go to the township committee at the May 5th meeting uh
potentially. So could all be sort of um wrapped up in May. But I'm going to guess given given the logistics of it, he's probably going to do some fall planting um rather than than looking to do it in the spring. So,
>> okay. Can I ask just to use the last minute or two um on an update on the fields project if you have anything? >> Sure. There. Um not a whole lot to update except that uh the so tomorrow night council committee meeting there will be
um a resolution on for um the the committee to confirm the recommendation of the open space trust fund committee and then the second reading on the bond ordinance um for that um project. uh as
I'm as I I'm aware the uh engineer that is working on the project has submitted uh the application to the DP which means everyone within 200 feet of the project area will be getting a
notice or have gotten a notice um about uh about the application to the D. have not heard, you know, have not heard um anything more um on it from from that perspective, but that is where that project currently stands.
>> So, when does the money, I guess, come out of our budget? Is it when it's fully appro like is it after that township meeting or is it some other? >> No, it well so so keep in mind like even and this is not always but
even with our with our type of uh or you know bond anticipation notes or it's usually it's it's like authorized money but it's not issued yet because you're not taking out debt on money that's not being spent. So until it's time to actually spend money on the project,
it's not going to come out. Um and it's not going to be, you know, uh issued because once it's issued, then then you start paying interest on it. So um so it'll be uh after the after the fact after the project's already started, quite honestly.
>> Okay. But we don't know a timeline as to when that will start yet. Are we Yeah, I remember in the presentations in January they were talking about potentially starting at least the lighting over the summer. Um >> that is that I mean that would be sort
of a uh a a timeline that is possible but some of this depends on the DP and and how how they how quickly they review the application. >> Okay. But our work is more or less done on that, right? Like we don't have anything else. We voted and now it's
this in the township's hand. Okay, >> I thought David had his hand raised. >> Alex, you answered it. So, sorry I I lowered my hand. Thank you though. >> Okay. Well, um if there's nothing else, then I will move to uh adjourn the
meeting. Any seconds? >> Thank you all. >> All right. Thank you all. >> Thanks everybody. Hi. >> Thank you. >> Night. Thank you. Bye.