WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=jSipk5DpcUY

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: jSipk5DpcUY):
- 00:03:32: Meeting Call to Order, Pledge, and Roll Call
- 00:05:24: Committee Reports: Library Book Sale, Arboretum Bird Watching
- 00:06:44: Committee Reports: Tree Board, Flood Mitigation, Mural
- 00:08:56: Committee Reports: Revolutionary War Mural, Bryant's Tavern
- 00:10:17: Committee Reports: Girls Night Out, Greenwood Gardens
- 00:11:54: Business Administrator Report: Infrastructure Improvements, Parking
- 00:15:22: Public Comment Begins
- 00:16:14: Public Comment: Kathy Sidman - Accessible Parking
- 00:18:59: Public Comment: Jeffy Fel - Litigation, Bonds, Engineer
- 00:21:37: Public Comment: Leah Cruz - Yes Milburn Campaign
- 00:22:52: Public Comment: Bill Gell - Charter Commission Concerns
- 00:25:33: Public Comment: Trina Frank - Republican Party Values
- 00:27:41: Public Comment: Alton - Commissioner Visit, Homeland Security
- 00:30:58: Public Comment: Take - Gat Noburn Campaign Support
- 00:33:25: Public Comment: Jerry Kung - Transparency and Grandstanding
- 00:36:35: Public Comment: Richie Cyber - Supporting Change in Milbour
- 00:39:43: Public Comment Closed; Committee Discussion on Issues Raised
- 00:39:59: Committee Discussion: Accessible Parking, Pay Stations
- 00:41:06: Committee Discussion: Political Campaigning During Public Comment
- 00:43:55: Committee Discussion: Accessibility, Park Enhancements, Unity
- 00:45:15: Committee Discussion: Accessible Parking, Affordable Housing Litigation
- 00:47:12: Committee Discussion: High Center Litigation, Party Affiliations
- 00:49:55: Committee Discussion: Charter Commission Transparency and Flexibility
- 00:53:12: Committee Discussion: Referendum Potential, Power of Residents
- 00:55:39: Resolutions 26130-26137 Approval, Resolution 26-138
- 00:56:34: Ordinance 2749-26: Parking Utility Improvements, First Reading
- 00:57:59: Ordinance 2750-26: Capital Improvements, First Reading
- 00:59:19: Ordinance 2751-26: Road Improvements, Bond Ordinance, First Reading
- 01:00:11: Ordinance 2744-26: Municipal Budget Limits, Public Hearing
- 01:01:18: Ordinance 2746-26: Temporary Open Container Area, Public Hearing
- 01:02:06: Ordinance 2747-26: Temporary Token Container Area, Public Hearing
- 01:02:54: Resolution 26-139: Approving Reading of Municipal Budget
- 01:03:11: Public Hearing Begins for 2026 Municipal Budget
- 01:03:26: Public Comment: Jer - Budget Transparency, Offering Statement
- 01:06:16: Committee Responses to Budget Comments, Infrastructure Projects
- 01:07:51: Committee Discussion: Finance Team Commendation, AAA Rating
- 01:09:32: Committee Discussion: Discipline, Lower Taxes, Tax Increases
- 01:12:49: Adoption of 2026 Budget Approved, Resolution 26-140
- 01:13:04: Old Business: Proposed Art Council Creation Discussion
- 01:15:16: Committee Discussion: New Roles, Replacing Existing
- 01:17:09: Authorizing Advertisement and Discussion of Volunteer Interests
- 01:18:13: Discussion of Process and Codifying Rules, Community Service Duty
- 01:22:12: Second Public Comment Period Begins
- 01:22:47: Public Comment: Trina Franco - Reassurance About Values
- 01:23:48: Public Comment: Alton - Praise for Township Committee
- 01:26:01: Second Public Comment Closed; Committee Final Comments
- 01:27:05: Meeting Adjourned


Part: 1

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I said it. Apologize for the delay. Uh, in accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act, state law, be advised that a notice of this meeting was made by posting on the bulletin board and town hall and forwarding to the officially designated newspapers that this meeting would take place at

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the Milbury Education Center at 7 p.m. May 5th, 2026. meeting. Details on the draft agenda are also posted on our township website. Please all stand this week of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God,

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indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Colin, >> here. >> Mr. Costco >> here. >> Mr. Rudo >> here. >> Mr. Toler. Mayor second. Mandy >> here. >> May I have a motion to approve the

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agenda? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> I have a motion to approve the April 7th, 2026 Township Committee regular meeting minutes. >> So move. >> We have a second.

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>> Second. All those in favor? >> Opposed? No. Okay. I have a motion to approve the April 7th, 2026 special township committee regular meeting minutes. So move. >> We have a second. >> Second. All those in favor?

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>> All right. We start with committee meeting. >> Okay. Uh just a couple of things. Um I just want to remind everybody that the uh preparations for the annual library books now are underway. You can still uh

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donate any books up through May 8th. There's a receptacle right by the elevator as you come in where they collect them. The actual sale will be um on May 16th and May 7th and it's a always a huge event. I encourage everybody to attend. I'm sure you'll

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find something to buy. Uh the other thing I want to report is uh [clears throat] the arboritum uh had their very successful uh peak week. that's now been completed. There's a it was a an event to encourage bird

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watching, but also to raise funds for the operative and also awareness. Um they did a great job with the merchants downtown where there people had a bingo card if you went into the stores and you know if you went into the number of stores that would be on a bingo card on

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the line, you know, you would be eligible for a prize at the arboritum. Um they raise a nice amount of money. It's a good event. I'm sure we'll be doing it again next year. U the winning team in terms of identifying different birds identified 84 different birds. So

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that's certainly to be commended and there was even a team from Costa Rica who participated remotely. So it was a very successful event. >> Excellent. Uh Deputy Mayor Cost. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh no report other

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than I have some some updates on the community service award committee but I'll wait till we have that on business. Thank you. Great. >> Good evening. >> Yes. Good evening everyone. Um couple of items. J tree advisory board held uh its

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annual uh arbor celebration. Was great uh in addition to the planting of 13 trees within Taylor uh to represent the 13 um regional colonies and eventually states. Um the uh flood mitigation advisory

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committee continues to meet um aggressive on an aggressive timeline. Um we held some uh great meetings downtown today. Lots of ongoing discussions. Um just about their uh you know their work process and you know I have to give a

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huge shout out to Jim McKenna you know who's taking lead on all of that. Um there's a lot of really uh substantial work going on behind the scenes, multiple nights each week, which is great. Um

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let's see what else is going on. Um so regarding the 250th mural, the two the 250th mural will be completed and provided to the township inst um for installation at a future date be determined. We've

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addressed the tile that refers to uh Newark in the best way possible. And keeping to the spirit of the mural uh which was meant to be focused on America's 250 and the township of Milbour, we will be reaching out to those organizations that may not have been aware of the original process to

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see if they'd like to participate in an additional tile project to celebrate America's 250th and the township a final open call may also be considered uh to ensure that any qualifying uh group has an opportunity to participate. Depending on the number of participants, we will

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create a small mural that can be more readily displayed and rotated among public facilities. Lastly, I'd like to gather interest um from the township committee uh which we can talk about later uh in doing another art piece

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painted uh frame mural similar to um on the side of Hogandas um that depicts significant contributions made by the township of Milbour during the Revolutionary War uh which was Springfield at the time. By example, a mural would be painted um to

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depict Hobart Gap and the short hills, the last thrust of the British Army, Washington Rock, Bryant's Tavern, and the Battle of Springfield at Foxhole Bridge. This would uh be an homage to the impact of our township uh that our township had during the revolution and provide a beautiful historic rendering

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of the township to complement the current cultural fabric of our community 250 years later as captured by New York. So, we're coming together. It's all about unity and celebration of 250. Uh huge shout out to the team uh who put

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together uh Bryant's Tavern at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Um amazing celebrations that are continuing leading up to July 4th. Go to billurn2250.org for more information. Um

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and let's see what else is going on. Um that's it. No more and we'll be talking about more about art at the end of the meeting as well. Creation of a arts group. Thank you. >> Um so I have no reports but on behalf of

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Britney Vince Stler um I asked him if there was anything he wanted me to read. Uh and he provided me with this. 2026 girls night out this Thursday June 4th from 5 to 8:00 p.m. Join us in downtown Milbour for a night of shopping specials, giveaways, and '9s music theme

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fun. New this year, free child care provided by Explorer and their partners, Genius Gems and Pop Blossom Studio. Special thanks to our signature sponsor, the Bingos Group and Shiaoing Dao. If you have not signed up to participate as

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a business, Hinden explore Melbourneshure Hills.org. And for those participating, make sure to follow explore on Instagram for up to the minute information. Public comment. Mayor, one more thing. Actually, I just wanted to um say that

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us four um uh Mr. Cohen mayor, Mr. Cosgrove and myself also participated in the grand opening of the Cascade at Greenwood Gardens uh which is an awesome uh restoration um and uh it was a it was a beautiful day.

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>> Yes, shout out. Greenwood Gardens is definitely a hidden treasure um that I encourage everyone in town, if you haven't been there, uh you should definitely try and get out there because it really is truly magical. Um you know, every time I'm there and and I look out

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over the beautiful landscape. It sort of makes you think that you're in a different country. It's it's that beautiful and it's that special. So, uh if you haven't had a [snorts] chance, you should definitely check it out. Um business administrator [clears throat] McDonald, do you have any >> Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Um just um two

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quick things. One, just a reminder to residents that uh PSEG is starting some of their infrastructure improvements throughout the township in particular. Um they are starting up on Jefferson, Adams, Birch, that area. um with some uh

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infrastructure improvements. And then in the summer of 2026 this year, they will be doing uh Chattam Road and the uh Arboritum area, Forest Drive South, uh Lupine, Dogwood, all those in that area. Um and so there's sort of a a big

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project area, but we're phasing it out over three years um uh with PSNG. Certainly, road restoration will be part of that. we are working with them to try to get as many fully paved roads as possible through that process. Um, but also some of this is in coordination

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with what we've already had planned um uh in particular as it relates to uh Jefferson um needing to be repaid. Um so just just uh again putting that out there so residents are aware and also PSCG should absolutely be notifying you

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when they're doing work on your on your street. I just asked a question about Chattam Road. What how far along Chadam Road would at least be the Woodland Road project construction? You would think that would be problematic for them to see doing that while that construction

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is going. >> It is the length of Chattam Road and I'm going to surmise that uh part of their project is going to be to provide service to that to that. >> Right. But if they tear up the as it is, people are already walking in the road

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with the in the protected area. Correct. So if they start tearing up the road, you know, I just think >> that would be difficult. >> Well, that is one why we're doing it while they're going to be doing it during the summer. too. Uh when we had the discussion of moving the barriers back to the side of the road that the

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sidewalk is on, there was uh an instance and we uh stated that there may be a time that we need to move the barriers back across the street to the parking spaces while that while that work takes place. Um so again, should be a limited amount of time. It's a short run in

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front of that particular building. Um so but that will all sort of be coordinated as well. Um and lastly, just a reminder that we um you know uh the angle parking on Milbert Avenue uh continues. We are continuing to take feedback from residents at let us know at milcwp.org.

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Um so you know uh understanding that this is a trial period and uh we're evaluating it, looking at it, getting the feedback. Um but uh but certainly giving it enough time so that uh people can get used to it or not but at least that we can uh have that experience and

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that information available to us as we continue down that process. >> We're going to be trying reverse angle parking some. Correct. >> That's that's correct. We are going to at once once we've given this enough time uh in in its trial period, we would like to uh also try out a reverse angle

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parking in this area which will uh is essentially one move of parallel parking. Um and we'll allow cars to pull out into traffic as opposed to backing out into traffic. Um, so, uh, I think it'll be a good, uh, another good test.

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Same process to provide fe feedback from the residents and those that are using it, um, and those businesses that are in that area. But yes, that is the next step. >> Attorney Ker. Thank you, Mayor. I have no report today.

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That case, public comment. Invited to speak to offer your comments. Please come to the lectern. Clearly state your name and whether you are a Melbourne resident, indoor property, or business owner. Please do not provide your full address seeing as our meetings are recorded and are readily available to the public. To help facilitate an

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orderly meeting and to prevent all to be heard, speakers shall limit their comments to one three minute session. We'll be prompted when there is 30 seconds remaining. Reminder, this is not a time for dialogue or to debate a matter and this is a time during our business meeting in the public to offer

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comments. Now open the public comment period. Yeah. >> Good evening everybody. >> I'm Kathy Sidman. I'm at 24 South Mountain Road in Milbour. And I'm here because many of us don't really think

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about situations that other people are in. And I recently had a full knee replacement. So I was disabled for quite a while. And when I look at the the parking accessible now, not handicap, but the accessible parking in the

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garage, you have two um accessible uh parking spots all the way at the top near the exit onto Blackana, I think. Right. Black or the dynam. >> Yeah.

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>> Okay. But when you enter right there, there are four or five different spots and there's and the door onto on a sixth street is right there. And so I thought maybe we should have one or two because when I pull in and I

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want to go down, you know, to Main Street or something, I have to go all the way from the top. So I was just suggesting that. Um, also another part of the problem um, with all of our lots

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is that anybody who wants to come to Milbourne Avenue who it has a disability has to walk a block and that doesn't make sense either. If you're in a wheelchair, you're on crutches, whatever the case is. So, um I just

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the parking lot in the back um behind Hagenas does not have a handicap spot and according to the law, it's supposed to have a handicap spot, one for every 50 spots according to the um Americans with

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Disability Acts. So, I am um just suggesting that we consider other spots to put some accessible parking. Um, and also I I know Milbourne Avenue is just a

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disaster with parking and so we've moved some of the parking to the garage, but in many countries they will have one or two handicap spots on the street so that people don't have to walk that block to get toward a

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>> any questions. >> We don't do a dialogue. Oh, excuse him. [laughter] [clears throat] >> Um, good evening. My name is Jeffy Fel. I live in the public section. Um, as my cusman, I delivered various heads up

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comments and questions in various exhibits to the the council. number were responded through in the reports. Um I think that the community is entitled to a litigation update as to the round

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three and round four um affordable housing litigation. Um, I'm not sure whether what the status of the round three appeal is or when whether or not Judge Russo has entered a order setting a date where the final compliance repost

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hearing. I think the community needs to know that. Plus, if you look at the bill list, there's always entries now for something about the high center of litigation and I'm just trying to figure out what is going on and why are we paying professionals to do that behind closed doors. Um, I appreciate that

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before this meeting that the supplemental debt statement was posted and that the calendar year 2026 Moody's updated readings letter was posted, but I think the offering statement should be posted also. Um, so the public can know

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whether we have a covenant not to issue any bond or bonds this year or debt. Um, on your bill list, you're approving an interim township engineer. It doesn't disclose if she what her compensation

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is. Is there going to be a boost and whether we're going to backfill that job later in the year that'll tie into our budget hearing questions later on. Um at the last meeting there was and after that there were some discussions about

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my professional integrity, character and competence. Um the courts will have analyzed that when they set a date but I asked urge and I found a brief that the township had filed in the round three that was prepared by McMan Scotland. I asked and

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I suggest that all township council members read this brief you find out that if some representation legal arguments that are made in this brief contradictory statements are being made in the bare property here later to talk about the budget. Thank you.

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We have anyone online? >> No. >> Hello, my name is Leah Cruz. I'm co-chair of the Yes Milurn campaign. You may have seen these signs around town and may have some idea what it's about. Um, I'm a registered Democrat and I've

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lived in town over 25 years. I've always put Milbourne above party politics just as our five elected charter commissioners did when they voted unanimously that our town should move to a faulner form of nonpartisan government.

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These five elected commissioners, three Dems, one Republican, one independent, Chris Ducker, Joanna Parker Lens, Corey Biller, Shaun Tana, and Jerry Kung, spent five months studying this issue and unanimously came to the conclusion

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to vote yes. The commissioner's full report is available on the township website. I encourage everyone to read it before they make a decision on how to vote. And you can go to my website yesburn.com for more info. Thank you.

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[clears throat] >> Hello. [clears throat] Excuse me. My name is Bill Gell. I live in South Mountain. For a proposed change as significant as the charter commissions, the level of public awareness is shockingly and perhaps deliberately low. Before the town was ready to restrict

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gas leaf blowers for five months per year, very small change, we held countless well-advertised public information sessions, put flyers in cafes all over town, called lists of people, and so on. It must have come up at 15 separate township committee

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meetings before the discussion was even official. I try to stay informed, yet I heard about only two charter commission meetings before they happened. Both times I learned the day before they took place and I had previous obligations couldn't make them. I never saw a single

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flyer for those meetings on a cafe nor for any new ones since the commission made its many recommendations. [clears throat] I've spoken with many people in this town and just over a month away from a suggested revolution. All we see is propaganda signs that say

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vote for positivity, which for the few people who come to these township meetings is right up there with vote for a unicorn. And this low amount of information is par for the course because the charter commission's proposal would give voters even less information. Party affiliation

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may not mean everything, but it means something. My mom, for example, would not want to find out later that she had accidentally voted for a Democrat. Removing one of the simplest cues voters use to make decisions moves our town in the wrong direction. [clears throat]

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And speaking of voters, why are we even considering throwing thousands of votes our citizens cast last November into the dust bin of history? Normally, overturning election results is known as voter fraud. Yet,

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the Charter Commission proposes to disenfranchise every single person who voted to give three-year terms to my friends Jamie Cerudo and Michael Cohen. And yes, I'm friendly with both of them. David Cosgrove had another full year left on his term. That would be gone,

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too. Even if Jamie, Michael, and David all stood up today and told us they wouldn't mind having that happen, that still wouldn't make this okay. Because, no offense, guys, it's not the candidates feelings we should be worried about here. It's our voters. They took

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the time to express what they wanted. And now a commission of five people says we should take all their votes away. That suggestion may be a number of things, but it sure doesn't sound like democracy. Thank you.

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>> Hi, I'm Trina Frank Hills resident. Um after Eisenhower liberated I'll mispronounce it Ardu a sub camp of Benwald he then made the mayor and residents of the town of Ardu view the camp and bury the dead. After the tour

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the mayor and his wife committed suicide. Perhaps the mayor and the town's people had felt safe from the gesta. They were not Jews. They were not homosexuals. Their Protestant church did not endorse

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Dietrich Bonhaofer, a famous theologian who criticized the Nazis. And if they were Catholic, they felt protected by Pope Pas the 12th. They did not have a target on the backs. One wonders why the mayor took his life.

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The war was over. His life would go on. Do you look at his leadership of his small town where he was concerned only with local issues over development, potholes, the structure of the town council and realized that he had fallen

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into a moral abyss. He had failed his people and his god. Hannah Arren described the 40s as dark times. We too are living in dark times. We too have the Gestapo on our streets

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and a concentration camp Delaney Hall near our town. We must know who is leading us today. Being a member of the Republican party means you agree with what this government is doing. Tell me,

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what side are you on? Then I know who you are. Anyone [clears throat] else from the audience? [clears throat] >> Alton Milburn res for about 32 years. Uh I moved from Maryland to Bon to

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Melbourne and uh I requested well someone requested if Commissioner Jacine Suarez if she would come to town. Uh she is the commissioner of department of community affairs and it's she has a

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thousand employees a budget of 2.152 billion which is a lot of money and everyone thinks she's wonderful which is great and under her leadership DCA has allocated over $100 million through the affordable housing trust fund to develop

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affordable housing statewide which includes Milbour and we're involved a little bit and I'd like to find out exactly how that is being done. All these wonderful situations that we do have and she has so many different

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things on her plate and I can't even understand all these things. These guiding principles have power everything. I don't know if this is done with AI or who wrote this stuff but is is totally amazing. So I would appreciate if someone we make another

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effort to have her come and speak to the folks in Liber about exactly what her department does. They do housing inspections. Has she done any Has she gone out with [clears throat] any of her people? Anyone takes a look at the statutes that these people have to do,

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it's totally amazing. They'd have to spend all of their time reading the statutes to understand. I [clears throat] don't know how they can go from South Jersey to North Jersey to even look at the properties we this is the way we uh things is how about our

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new representative oh by the way de Mayo uh Makia [clears throat] uh has she been around town uh she's been in Montlair in 07042 this is 07041 I believe she can be invited to our

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district speak to us uh Jeff announces that she is now uh where is she now homeland security we are all concerned about homeland security so she could come and explain exactly what her ideas are for homeland security we all want

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that uh as we all know there's been a lot of anti-semitism if we see newspapers or whatever uh in Queens there's a lot of swastikus and so forth and queens just the other day so I think it's important for her to explain

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exactly how we can stay safe. This is her field, so to speak. That's where Lita Jeff announces. I'm just just an idea. If she would like to come, she can [clears throat] come and come to the Milurn Playhouse. I will even give her a ticket. My ticket to Westside Story June

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28th. Nice all for her. I would buy that to take her to dinner. Thank you very much. Take first, 15 year resident of town. I'm the other co-chair of the Gat Noburn campaign along with Leah. Um, I have a feeling

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the negatives would be against anything that the commission recommended. If we had recommended a direct elected mayor, they'd be like, "Oh, no, that's terrible." If we had elected going to nine commissioners, that that would be terrible. So,

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please read the report. The commissioners debated all of this in detail. Everything that our campaign was saying is backed up by research or what the commission said. They gave a lot of thought to this June 16th date. Everything has tradeoffs.

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Yes, we have to go about and educate the public. We're trying our best to make sure everyone understands this issue. That is the purpose of the lawn sign so everyone is aware of this issue and can start learning about it over the next month. But we think that's better than pushing

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it till November because many of the things will be forgotten that the commission has done and there'll be other elections going on then. So this very important issue would get buried. So now we can focus on it over the next month and decide what's best for our town.

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What I value most is Milbour. That speaks to my values. I am tired of people who don't even know me question my values because I chose to run with an R next to my name. You don't know me.

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You have no idea what I stand for. Yet you trash me. It's amazing. I can't think of one issue since I've been coming to the meetings for the past several years that Mr. Cohen, Mr. Cogro,

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Mr. Osg, sorry, Mr. Saconeyi, Mr. Stler, that their partisan lens really came into view for a town issue. [laughter] It does not matter. What matters is what we think about Milbourne and doing the best for our town. This referendum will

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be the best thing out of town. Please read up. Please vote yes. >> Good evening. [clears throat] Jerry Kung, Shore Hills resident, um, [clears throat] prior charter study commissioner who was elected at the

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November 2025 election to serve on the charter study commission and exercised with the four other commissioners who were also elected at the November 2025 election to exercise our statutory powers in calling for an election on

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June 16th. All of those discussions were at public meetings that were publicly noticed on the township website and spread in multiple online forums in our town. Now, Mr. Brazelle, who made a comment earlier and who failed to

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identify himself as this year's uh presumptive Democratic nominee for township committee, um failed to mention that, you know, all of our meetings were publicly noticed. I believe he was at the meeting where we or if he wasn't physically present he was on the zoom

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meeting uh where we were discussing the date yet he chose not to appine then. I find it interesting that he chooses to you know trash the commission's study after the fact rather than before when he actually had a voice in helping us

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make a recommendation. Um perhaps that has [clears throat] something to do with the political grandstanding that the charter study commission identified was an issue with our current form of government where we have annual elections. I find it very curious that Mr. Brazil and the two meetings that he has chosen to attend in the last month

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or so um has had a Democratic district leader sitting in the front row recording him making his statements which sort of makes the point that the charter study commission identified about the political grandstanding that is getting in the way of governance in this town. Now [clears throat]

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my apologies if I'm getting off topic. I did not intend to make a statement [clears throat] tonight. Um I think it's very interesting that Mr. Brazelle is faining ignorance now. Um, I believe I spoke at this podium in front of the township committee giving an update on the charter study commission's work earlier this year. And so, as a

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candidate for township committee, I'm very surprised that Mr. Brazelle was not aware of what was going on at these Township Committee meetings. Um, as for transparency, I find it very interesting that the no campaign, no one has come up to publicly be the face of the no

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campaign. So, it's funny how a no campaign that's talking about transparency is literally the least transparent campaign this town has ever seen. Um, do I have a 30 seconds left? Okay, great. Um, yeah. So, I just find it really curious that um, presumptive

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candidates are now figning ignorance about a very widely noticed process. Um, it's also curious that Mr. Brazil, before all of this happened, I actually spoke with him on his lawn and he was supportive of helping me get elected to the charter study commission. So, I

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don't know, maybe he's not allowed to talk about that now because he signs loyalty oath to a local political party. Thank you. Uh Richie Cyber uh 25 year president. Every day I walk around my block a

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couple times. I have a sign on my lawn talking about voting yes. And people now are asking me what does it mean? I say to them one thing. It gives more people the opportunity

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to run for the township committee in this town without having to kiss any rings. Now, most of the people that live on my block, they're not interested in kissing anybody's ring

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because they've earned their own ring. So, what I'm really trying to say is nobody likes change. That's the problem. I I especially don't like change, but I think this is a good change. At least we

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should try and see if we can get change because it's very important to try. Like my grandson today made a basket today for the first time on a real basket. He was five years old

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and he he didn't want to try but then he tried and he made a basket. So I'm I'm a believer in trying. I don't think this is like I don't think it's negative in any respect. And the more

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people that we have, whether it go from five to seven, there'll be more people that can help Milbour. They're not going [clears throat] to become elected to not help Mill. One of my neighbors said

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the problem with it for him could be that somebody would run that wouldn't be looking for the best interests of the town if they weren't kissing any rain. They

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could just be some nut job running and maybe they could take 10% of the votes away from somebody that really does want to do a good job. So that is like his idea of what the problem is.

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Not that he's saying he's not going to vote for it, but [clears throat] that that could happen that somebody could actually run that wouldn't [clears throat] be looking out for the best interests of Milbour. So, as long as everybody that is interested in doing this is looking out

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for the best interest of Milbour, I don't see a problem with it. So, and if you're 10, if you're here and you're elected and you have some time left, like I have 12 seconds, um, and you're not going to be reelected because somebody else will take your position.

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I'm sure you'll be happy if it's good for Melbourne. Good for Melbourne. >> Anyone online? >> No. >> Right. I now close public comment. [clears throat] even time. >> Yeah.

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The first thing I wanted to address is the accessible parking. I think as we look at that in the deck, the other thing to be aware of is where the tape stations are because to put the accessible spots in one place and then you have to walk the length of the of

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the deck to get to pay to go and then maybe you wanted to go out where you parked in the first place. That doesn't seem to make any sense. So, I don't know if we need to add another parking st another parking um station there or something, but if we're going to put

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more accessible spaces, we just need to think about that together. And I'd love to see that uh you know, accessible spaces on Avenue. I don't know um I don't know what the issues are around that, but if we could do that, it's something I'd like to see happen. I'm

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sure it needs to be thought through. So, whatever that that's certainly a lot harder than in the deck. Uh I'm not going to get into the into the charter commission. We used to have some kind of norm that and it's usually because it was it was um it was people running for

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office, you know, no campaigning during public comment. Um I know in this day and age norms are aren't worth the paper that they're written on, but you know, whatever. I that's when I think uh we would be uh we would be better off maintaining. But any

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I just address uh um Councilman Cohen. So I allowed the public uh debate because if someone came up and was suggesting a candidate, I would have said we can't have that kind of talk at our meeting. But because it's a a public issue, uh I think the public debate was

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[clears throat] okay for this meeting. I mean uh I think you know advocating you know what you believe but I also just want to remind the public that this governing body is out of their hands. So to come up and debate this issue in front of this governing body is uh of no moment. Everybody in this governing body

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has the same one vote that every resident has. Um the governing body put an ordinance out. Uh the referendum was passed by the community which as Jerry [clears throat] said um allowed the charter commission to be impanled allowed them to make these decisions.

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and allowed them to call for a special election and make the suggestion they did. So I understand you know there's a lot of frustration uh amongst the residents and it's directed towards this governing body but this governing body all they you know from their perspective they they empanelled the charter

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commission and the charter commission did his work. I've reviewed the report as work and I believe it to be comprehensive and complete and in all aspects uh legally viable along with the election along with the referendum question. Um so again you I mean I'm

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allowing you know not that you know the mayor also has but I allow the public debate to go on tonight because you're not pushing one candidate or another discussing you know township issues and what's best for the township. Um but again, you know, this governing body doesn't have any greater authority than any other resident in the upcoming

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election other than their one vote. >> Thank you, >> Deputy Mayor Cos. [clears throat] >> Uh thank you, Mayor. Um I I I frankly too I'll dubtail a little with what Mr. Cohen said. I had hoped

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that these meetings were not going to be um both sides of of of the uh the debate getting up and making making comments. Um I I don't know that I agree uh with our attorney that the report

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that was produced is comprehensive. Um I think it leaves out a lot of issues. I think it's a document that is drafted to try to come to a conclusion. um as to what they the charter commission thought um which is what you

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might expect. It's it's going to support their their recommendations. I'd urge people to do your own research. Thank you. >> Have you been up? >> Yes. Um thank you very much for bringing up the accessible spots. Um and we

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apologize. The procedure is that we don't respond until after everybody's so it's no uh It's just procedure. Uh Mr. McDonald, if we could look into this just to make sure we we have a comprehensive look. Um

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I didn't mention in my report earlier, but we also are going to be um uh we're going out to bid for Taylor Park entrance enhancements, which is excellent. Just an FYI to the community on that. I forgot to report on that. Um

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and I'll just say this, red, white, or blue, we love you. Let's celebrate Milbour's 250, right? I [clears throat] think uh uh you know, all stripes uh make an amazing community. And I'm not going to comment on the report or

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anything. I have one vote. Um and that vote will be in the voting booth. So that's the end of my public comments. Thank you for everybody's engagement. That's what I think. If if I say one thing there is that we focus on the

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substant substantive issues and not on the personal attacks and the disgusting things that go on on Facebook are are just disgusting. They're just disgusting. So red, white or blue, we love you.

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Happy 250. >> [clears throat] >> with regards to the accessibility. Um, you know, that's something that's definitely come up before. I think we can take a look at it. Um, one thing we have to be mindful of is, you know, if you try to do accessible spaces on the

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street you have to worry about curbing and also, you know, what side uh people would be exiting necessarily want to be exiting into the middle of the road in traffic. So there's various things that need to be looked at and considered um

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with regards to the parking lot behind Hugenos. We'll we take a look, you know, we'll [clears throat] make sure that all of our lots have the appropriate number of legally required spaces. Um and you know, while we're taking a look, if we

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find that there's uh other spaces that might make sense, then we can look into that as well. Um, regarding the pay stations, there's pay stations at both ends of the parking garage. So, um, >> when I was there, I only saw the one that leads out toward the dining.

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>> I've used I've used both of them myself. So, there there are two um >> on the on street side. >> Yes. >> Two. >> Um, and as a reminder, one hour free parking in the parking deck.

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>> You done? >> Yes. [clears throat] We try to push the deck. >> Always a good thing. Um Mr. Feld, uh with regards to, you know, round three, round four affordable housing updates, uh we've been fairly open and

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transparent with that process. Um we've gone through [snorts] our fourth round process and we'll let attorney Caner um give an update on where that's at. I we're waiting on the courts to um >> finalize things, right? Most are Yeah, I

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mean so I'll have no report other than our third round remains the same update I've been giving. We have a briefing scheduled in division. Our brief is due currently June 17th barring any adjourments of that date. And as far as our fourth round, the courts are just now sending out notices whether or not

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um a compliance hearing is necessary or the round four can be done by a consent order. It's allowing the parties to decide that. So, it's likely Milburn will get its fourth round compliance through consent order. >> Thank you. >> Uh, and with regards to the high center

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litigation, um, that's ongoing litigation and as with most litigation, you know, not at liberty to discuss the litigation in any sort of detail. Um, but the litigation is ongoing. So, that's why you see charges for it on the

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bill list. Um, all right. So, Miss Frankle, um you made some statements tonight that I find personally offensive. Um you made a blanket statement that basically

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implied that anyone that runs as a Republican or is a registered Republican must agree with what's going on nationally. Uh I personally think that couldn't be further from the truth. Um, I changed parties in order to run uh because obviously the local Democratic

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party would not want me to run because my views uh opposed their candidates at the time and although at that point in the election cycle, I didn't really have an option to run as a Democrat. Um, you know, I think that especially on a local

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level, the issues that we deal with on a local level have nothing to do with national politics. Um, we have no control over ICE, we have no control over an abortion, we have no control over, uh, you know, gun laws, etc. Um,

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so to say that someone that runs in a local election, you know, as a Republican or a Democrat has to, you know, automatically subscribe and therefore must subscribe to all of the beliefs embodied by that party is just completely ridiculous. And I think this underscores

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the reason why we really do need to move to nonpartisan local elections because I think there are people like you that make assumptions about people's beliefs just based on the party they're registered with. And that's very troubling uh because

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the party that I'm registered with, I don't share the values on on a number of issues. I don't share the values on a number of issues with Democrat party either. I'm I'm in the middle and I think a lot of people in this town are firmly in the middle. So to say that you

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automatically must believe, you know, in one thing or another because you're registered a certain way is just completely ridiculous and uh that was inappropriate to say. Um Mr. Brazelle, so the charter commission process, uh I

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as an observer, as someone that went to all the meetings or watched all the meetings, but I couldn't attend in person, I have to say that was one of the most honest and open transparent processes that I've seen in this town the entire time I've been here. They held weekly meetings. They were well

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publicized. I know that there were emails uh that went out. Uh there were even uh had Melbourne message who sometimes mentioned they had upcoming meetings. Um it was posted on Facebook and social media. uh it was a very well

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publicized uh group and I think the charter commission did a tremendous job with outreach. I agree not many people attended the meetings. Uh but you know I think part of that is due to the fact that the

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commissioners that were elected you know first off the referendum passed with a two-thirds majority. So, I think that showed that the town wanted change and the town knew that the charter commission might recommend a new form of government and that could lead to a referendum. So, to say that that's voter

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fraud in any way is just completely absurd. Um, you know, if you're going to make a change in government at some point, you're going to have to draw the line and, you know, currently elected representatives might have to run again. But, you know, the beauty of elections is run again. And if you like your

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currently elected leaders and they run again, you can vote for them. You might get to keep them. So, you always have that option. Um, you know, I also find it interesting how you changed your position um since

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becoming a candidate. Um, you know, it was two years ago. I remember you did an endorsement for me and Ben Stoler when we ran in 2023. And one of the things you highlighted in that endorsement, which I I may put back up on uh on a

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website somewhere, um in that endorsement, you highlighted that you supported me and Ben because we supported a referendum on moving to nonpartisan local elections. And we did that. We delivered that. We we delivered

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a referendum on the charter commission. The public voted in favor of the charter commission. They voted for five charter commissioners who won by a pretty reasonable majority and I think the public, you know, they put their faith

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and trust in these five talented individuals and they did a very thorough job. So I encourage everyone to read the report to watch all of the meetings and to uh make decisions for themselves uh with regards to how they want to vote. But I I just must say it was a very

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honest and open process. And you know, I also take issue with you saying um or implying that you know, a person's party uh you know, you know, defines what their values are because that's that's not true. Um see,

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Cyber, um I you know, you said we should give it a try and see if it's a good change. I I agree with you. You know, I think one of the things that a lot of people don't realize is if Milbourne does adopt the new form of government, the various aspects of that can be

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changed via referendum in the future. I think something like every four years, you can potentially have a referendum. So, let's say, you know, uh, it passes and four years from now the majority of the town decides, well, we don't want nonpartisan elections. We want to go

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back to partisan. Guess what? You have a referendum. You vote for that. or let's say you know they say ah seven members isn't enough we want to go to nine we want to go down to five you can change that um you know that's one of the beauties of the proposed form of

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government that gives you that flexibility whereas our current form of government is the oldest form of government in oldest form of local government in the state of New Jersey uh it's antiquated it lacks modern features like initiative and referendum if we had had some of

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those features uh some of the things that are going on in town today might not be going up. Some of the overdevelopment may may not look the way that it does because referendum and initiative could have been used to change zoning ordinances, etc. Um, you

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know, we won't know what could have been, but we do know that under the new proposed form of government, we have more power as individual residents than we do under our current form of government. And I think that's something that people should consider. Um,

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with that I will turn it over to you, business administrator. >> Um, just one uh comment. I will certainly look into the parking lots and report back to the town committee today. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I just want to clarify. So council

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pos when I said it was comprehensive I'm not advocating either way for the conclusion of the report just the fact that I believe it's legally sustainable based upon uh the report itself. I wasn't I wasn't implying an opinion

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either way on on the ultimate issues. [clears throat] >> All right. Consent agenda resolutions. Township committee will now consider consent agenda resolutions. There any comments from the committee in regards to any items listed on the consent agenda?

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Seeing none, may I have a motion to approve resolution 26130 through resolution 26137 which are listed under consent for vote. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Cohen, >> yes. >> Mr. Costco,

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>> yes. >> Mr. Sterudo, >> yes. >> Mayor, secondy, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> All right. Resolution 26-138. Are there any comments from the committee in regards to resolution 26-138? I have a motion to approve resolution

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26-138. >> And a second. >> Second. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Cohen, >> yes. >> Mr. Costro, >> no. >> Mr. Cerudo, >> yes. >> Mayor, second, >> yes. >> Ordinances. Ordinance 2749-26.

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Deputy Mayor Costco is scheduled to sponsor. >> Thank you, Mayor. I would like to present an ordinance entitled ordinance number 2749-26 capital ordinance providing for various parking utility improvements in and for the township of Milbour County of Essex

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State of New Jersey and appropriating $200,000 therefore from the parking capital improvement fund to pay for the cost of thereof. Um this money uh as an explanation folks would um would go to

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updating the pay stations that you see um and uh to replace some of the uh standalone meters that you still see around town. I move that this ordinance be taken up and passed on first reading and that the

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township clerk be authorized to have the ordinance posted in accordance with law on the Milbourne Township public notices page and for hearing and final passage on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 at the Milgation Center. I'll second that

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motion. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Colling, >> yes. >> Mr. Costro, >> yes. >> Mr. Yes. >> Mayor Sacramento. >> Yes. >> Okay. Ordinance 2750-26 where even Cohen is scheduled to sponsor.

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>> Yes. Uh, I would like to present an ordinance entitled ordinance number 2750-26 capital ordinance providing for various capital improvements in and for the county of Milbour County of Essex State of New Jersey and appropriating 1,765,000

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therefore from the capital improvement fund to pay for the cost thereof. And it's this is has a whole bunch of things in it, but um I'll just list a few of them. It will improve lighting and HVAC at Gerald Park. There's a purchase of a

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sanitation truck for the DW. There's improvements to the for the fire department, police body cameras, various building improvements, and some set aside the drainage improvements. Um, I move that the ordinance be taken up and passed on first reading and that the

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township clerk be authorized to have the ordinance posted in accordance with law in the Murn Township public notices page after hearing and final passage for Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 at the Education Center. >> Second. >> Roll call vote, please.

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>> Mr. Cohen, >> yes. >> Mr. Costco, >> yes. >> Mr. Dudo, >> yes. >> Mayor Fami, >> yes. >> All right. Ordinance 2751-26. Mr. Stler's absence, I will be sponsoring. would like to present an ordinance entitled ordinance number

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2751-26 is a bond ordinance providing for various road improvements by and in the township of Mgrim in the county of Essex state of New Jersey appropriating 1 million therefore and authorizing the issuance of $952,380

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bonds or notes of the township to finance part of the cost thereof. Move that this ordinance be taken up and passed on first reading. Township clerk be authorized to have the ordinance posted in accordance with law through the Milbour Township public notices page for hearing and final passage Tuesday,

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May 19th, 2026. Melbourne Education Center, please. >> Second. >> Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Collins, >> yes. >> Mr. Cosro, >> yes. >> Mr. Cerudo, >> yes. >> Mayor, second, >> yes. >> All right.

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Ordinance 2744-26 Cohen is scheduled to sponsor. >> I present for consideration an ordinance entitled ordinance number 2744-26 calendar year 2026 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits to establish cath bank under

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NJSA48 col45.14. Tonight is the time set for the public hearing and final passage as advertised in accordance with law. >> Declare the hearing open. >> Anyone online?

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>> No. >> Okay. >> I move that the public that this public hearing be closed and the ordinance be adopted on final reading and that the township clerk be directed to post the ordinance by title on the township public notices page as passed on final reading in accordance with law.

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>> Second. >> Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Mr. Cohen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Costco. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cerudo. >> Yes. >> Mayor Sakamandandy. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 2746-26. [clears throat] I present for consideration an ordinance

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entitled Ordinance Number 2746-26. Ordinance creating a temporary open container area. Tonight is the time set for the hearing for the public hearing and final passage advertised in accordance with law. Declare the hearing open.

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You're on the line. >> No ma'am. >> I move this public hearing be closed and the ordinance be adopted on final reading and that the township clerk be directed to post the ordinance by title on the Mildren Township public notices page as passed on final reading in accordance with law. May I have a second, please?

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>> Second. >> Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Coin, >> yes. >> Mr. Costro, >> yes. >> Mr. Cerudo, >> yes. >> Mayor Secondandy, >> yes. >> All right. Ordinance 2747-26. I present for consideration ordinance

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entitled ordinance number 2747-26. Ordinance creating a temporary token container area. Tonight is the time set for the public hearing and final passage advertised in accordance with law. Declare the hearing token.

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Online >> right. I move that this public hearing be closed and the ordinance be adopted. Final reading. that the township clerk be directed to post the ordinance by title on the Milurn Township public notices page as passed on the final reading in accordance with law. I have a

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second please. >> Second roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Cullen, >> yes. >> Mr. Costro, >> yes. >> Mr. Deruda, >> yes. >> Mayor Simandandy, >> yes. >> All right. Um, so tonight we're going to have the

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public hearing on budget. The 2026 budget was introduced by the township committee at our April 7th, 2026 meeting. May I have a motion to approve resolution 26-139, which authorizes the township to read the 2026 municipal budget by title?

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>> So moved. >> I have a second. >> Second. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Cohen, >> yes. >> Mr. Costco, >> yes. >> Mr. Ster? >> Yes. >> Mayor Sakanti? >> Yes. I will refer to the full committee for any final comments on the proposed

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budget. I hereby open the public hearing for any comments from the 2026 municipal budget. Again, my name is Jer. I live in the public section. I want to amend how this process how we've increased the

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participatory budget process but to continue it I think to help aid us that you might consider some of what the board of education does by providing the public monthly operating and revenue reports so we can monitor how much we

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are expending based on the appropriations because when we look at the budget that has been introduced you know that two line items already in a deficit. Um that being snow removal was when you introduced your budget never contemplated two major

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blizzards this year and when the elections I don't think when you did the budget you contemplated the two special congressional elections. So at some point money is going to have to be appropriated or reallocated at the end of the year and by looking at the revenue reports and the operate actual

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operating report you'll be able to monitor it. I also ask you to um please post the offering statement that was issued in connection with the um um bond the bond anticipation notes that

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were issued. The public should understand today I learned about Matt Larry and myself go back to Orange that he was the auditor of Orange in 2015 2016 when they found about 35 or 36 um

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findings that had to be corrected. So we have this past history and we're not there. But the idea is what we learned in orange was to make sure that we have these operating revenue reports to make sure that things are happening that bills aren't being not being submitted

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in time or being put in a a drawer and never found. But I have have the greatest confidence in Matt going no who who trained him brand mernie I have the highest compliments but the idea is transparency um that next year hopefully we will have a capital budget uh that

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you didn't really update the one that was posted on the finance department that we know because tonight you basically gave us the capital budget by when you approved the ordinance uh on what we're doing again again the concept is to have participatory budgeting. Thank you.

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Anyone online? >> No. Right. >> No. >> We'll now close the public hearing. Anyone on the day like to respond to any of the comments made? >> Yeah.

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>> Or just comments in general on the budget as well. >> Yes. >> Sure. Yeah. I'll just say, you know, um just [snorts] amazing job uh to our CFO and our business administrator. I didn't know the history. back to Orange. But I'm happy to hear uh that you're able to

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take care of business there and you've done a great job taking care of business here. Um for the public's knowledge, we have, you know, just an unbelievable set of projects and activities going on in this township, taking care of our roadways, engaging on this uh, you know,

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dream fields project, renovating town hall, taking care of public safety. uh you know a lot of really tactile and physical infrastructure improvements um that uh have uh you know that that

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are a dream. I mean, think of it. Uh think think about uh you know uh uh how old our town our our town hall was in those facilities and think about all those hours that have been lost on the

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fields and think about all those potholes and issues uh on our roadways. Um and think about how great of a job our our police, fire, and DPW and first aid squad are doing. So, just want the public to be aware that there are all

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these amazing things going on. Feel free to check them out on the township's website and there's a projects page as well on the township website um that details things that are going on from last year's budget and ongoing with this year's. Thank you.

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>> I just like to say we said [clears throat] it at the uh you know at the first reading as a member of the finance committee I have the utmost confidence in Mr. Harris and Mr. McDonald. I know that I can see from the meetings and we've got together how much work goes into the budget and how um how

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much thought has goes into it to make sure that we um we do all the right steps to maintain our AAA rating and um it's you know it's a herculan effort and um everybody uh has done an excellent job and I'm proud to be a member of the

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finance committee to get involved with it earlier but you know the final product is is a is is an excellent doc. >> Uh I too would like to commend our CFO Matt Larry and our business administrator Alex Donald as well as our

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finance committee uh doing a terrific job with the municipal budget yet again. year after year, Melbourne does a terrific job. This budget, our AAA credit rating uh is fair in this state and uh you know, I think it just shows

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how good we are at being disciplined fiscally. Um while also still being able to do the type of projects that the community desires. Um we're starting to um you know upgrade our infrastructure, be having a town hall, etc. Um but we're

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able to do this in a way that is causing minimal increase in taxes. In fact, I believe our tax increases um are under the weight of inflation which and have been for the past several years, which is pretty amazing. Um

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especially considering that neighboring towns, some of them have seen 20, you know, plus percent year-over-year increases. So um my compliments to the administration uh for really doing a fantastic job uh remaining disciplines

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visible. >> So [clears throat] I I I appreciate everyone's kind words and I would just like to you know piggyback on that and the fact that um this really is a is a Wii effort. um the township committee uh is a part of that process and part of that support structure that allows um

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for this fiscal management. And so again, you know, without that it becomes uh a different story. And so I think um certainly the township committee themselves should be uh very proud of where we are uh financially because every everyone that that works on this

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and that is a part of it and has you know and supports projects and supports you know the the the financial philosophy uh is a part of it. So just want to say thank you as well >> and just want to also just thank thank you for the kind words everybody. It's a real group effort. uh starts at the

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township committee without your support and your support of our fiscal policies and some restraint because it's easy just when everybody wants things to give in all the time. But the reality of operating uh in a municipality in New Jersey, especially right now, is we

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can't say yes to everything, but we do want to uh set ourselves up to be able to say yes to as much as we can um that that you know that is fiscally uh responsible. So that that's where we're at right now. There's there's tax increases are going up much more

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drastically than they've been in history and the last 20 years in New Jersey. If you look at our neighbors, there's 6% is maybe the average where 10 years ago it was two. Maybe, you know, five years ago it was three or four. So, the environment we're operating under is definitely more challenging, but we have

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we have a great team. I want to thank our department heads, all of our staff and department heads. They put a lot of work into their individual budgets. It's not just the lump sum that they throw in there. we just show you that the you know the higher level but there are line item details that you know 1020 deep in their budgets and they do a great job of

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monitoring that um and it's hard for them because in New Jersey we're adopting our budget and it's May and uh so they're operating under temporary funds which also is not very easy so just I want to congratulate them on on their patience and their diligence in

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this and uh and that's really it has other questions throughout the year this isn't a one-stop thing the budget is monitored And it's something we're working on throughout the entire year. So public, thank you for your engagement, especially at our budget session. I think that was the most well attended we've been, right? We had three

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people one year. I think think there Mr. Fel is at home. But uh >> and you know, the finance committee usually supports us there, but but it this was well attended. We appreciate that. Um so, you know, like I said, any questions throughout the year from the public, we're always happy to to go

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through go through the questions. If anybody wants more detail, that's as well. And thank you. >> Thank you. We have a motion to approve resolution 26-140, which authorizes adoption of 2026

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budget. And a second roll call votes, please. >> Mr. Colin, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Mayor, >> yes. >> All right, moving on to old business.

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proposed art council. Uh Sudo, you want to give an update on this? >> Sure. Uh so um we've had some discussions uh in in subcommittee of the township committee. Mayor, you and I

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have um as well with a few different um interested parties and M. McDonald and I. Um so, you know, I I know we we did we had a little bit of a back and forth at the last meeting. Um but let's um let's pick up where we left off. Um, you know, I I think sort of summits scrutiny

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uh, you know, or a process of um, which is I kind of c before the horse. Maybe I should start with Westfield. So, Westfield's model ordinance seems to um, do the trick. What do you guys think? So, I I spoke with the um head of the

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current arts advisory council um and when I explained what we were trying to do here to have a single committee that would have oversight over art throughout the town. Um you know, once that was explained, it seemed like it was

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received very positively. Excellent. Um, I think we need to take a look at the, uh, Westfield ordinance, uh, and make sure that's, you know, exactly what we want. Uh, we have to figure out whether we want to customize it, change the number of seats, etc.

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>> Um, but overall, I think, you know, this would make a lot of sense. Um, we also had a meeting with the SID director, um, and the chair. >> Yeah. Uh and we discussed, you know, the arts master plan they were proposing to

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do. We discussed that it would probably be more appropriate for this new committee to take ownership of something like that. Uh but also to allow the special equipment district to have a seat at the table. So, I think we're going to want to make sure that we have

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a seat on the arts council for um SID members and we may want to consider whether it makes sense for other committees to have representatives as well. >> Sure. I think I think definitely this this sort of group should have a component that is as is current um with

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the art advisory committee a wide net. Um and uh I don't know how we feel about that. I think or an an advisory committee aspect that would have unlimited members. >> Yeah. You mean >> or not? I don't know. What do you think?

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Or just fine? I don't know. >> I still I'm still I I I this sounds fine. The rescue ordinance is fine. I still I'm still troubled by I don't understand why we need this committee and the arts. >> So we would we would disband this.

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Sorry. >> This would Sorry. replace >> this would replace so this would subsume the all the responsibilities of the art advisory committee correct and expand them >> uh as well >> and it would have a proposed liaison

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from town hall >> that would sit on this >> yes as I said I think we need to um >> not necessarily >> together we should I should figure out I think we also need to have a leazison role from the CDC

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public diversity [clears throat] committee. So yes, I think we should probably thought into that and then um you know we can circulate a draft ordinance and see uh if there are further comments. >> Yeah. Can I comment?

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I would also propose to have somebody not necessarily from the board of trustees but somebody representing the library because there's a lot of art >> certainly on the second floor but you know again that's public space and you know they should be they should be a

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leazison one of the employees from the library have a seat but >> employee or library >> either either >> sure That's fine. Thanks. >> Okay. All right. Great. So, why don't So, I'll work sidebar.

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Would you like to work with me, Mayor? >> Sure. Great. So, we'll we'll work together and um get an ordinance together for the 19th committee. >> Yeah, we'll see where we're at whenever whenever we see where we're at.

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>> All right, moving on to new business community service duty. Deputy Mayor Cos. Well, actually, maybe we should also say, should we authorize maybe the advertisement of people like we did prior to if they're interested in the

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volunteer interest >> for the heart? >> Well, I think that when we do the first reading, then we can >> then we can circulate that out uh and update the the form at that time. I think >> that's how we handle it. At least then people know what it consists of,

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>> right? Okay. All right. Sounds good. I feel like people should at least see the ordinance to know what they're signing up for. >> Sure. >> Um but I also think that it would probably make sense any of the current advisory committee members that want to be part of the new board, you know, they should be

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automatically. >> Yeah. And any member of the public who has any opinions on art, feel free to email me. >> So um business community serve as a work committee. >> Thank you, mayor. um entrepreneed

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out to try to get a meeting scheduled. And the good news is we have a meeting scheduled uh this Thursday. Um and um so I'll I'll push the committee at that point to select a chair. For those of you not familiar with the committee, what it does is it um it considers who

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you know who in the town uh what citizens should or you know should get an award for their involvement in the town and the good they've done in the town. Um you can go to the town website, you can see the current members. You go to the town site and it goes pretty far back about who's gotten the awards. Uh

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the awards have, you know, been from I think two or three a year to sometimes just one a year. Um so anyway, so what I'd like to do is um you know is report back to this committee once the meeting occurs. Um there um there there is not

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from what I and Miss Scotty can correct me. I don't think there's really a resolution out there a formal resolution committed that that designates the committee and sets forth the number of members etc. But there was a vote by the township

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committee along a to constitute it. >> Correct. Yeah. There was a motion made, I believe, in the 90s. Um, and it's kind of been running that way since then, but it might be a good idea to consider um codifying once [clears throat] you have your discussion making it. >> So, did we at the reorder did we

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reauthorize it? >> We appoint people to the group. >> We appointed >> Yeah. to the group and they just function the same way and they meet a few times a year and it's kind of very informal. So, we've been working to try and move all of these committees ordinance so that we don't have to

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readopt the resolution every year. Um, if this is something that we think we want to have remain as a permanent fixture, I would suggest that we uh codify it via ordinance. Uh, just makes [clears throat] things cleaner, especially if we end up having a new

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form of government potentially. I think it's going to be a lot easier. we have all the ordinances and then they look at that and reexamine that and do what they need to do with that. >> Perhaps Mr. Costco can speak to the group at their next meeting and come up with some suggestions that he can report back and we can work on a draft ordinance.

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>> That sounds good. Um, while we're talking about it, any um suggestions from from the committee about um reps from other committees that should be I can't think of anyone off the top, but I'm not trying to foreclose it. Yeah, I

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I think that the advisory committee, community service advisory committee, much like the cultural diversity committee, um I think anyone in the community that wants to be part of it should be able to be part of it. So in that case, um I don't know if we need to do

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specific carveout positions, but if you think that it would be helpful, we certainly could. Um we just have to figure out what boards >> I'm not pushing forward. I think a historical society would be just I don't

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somebody from that because they have the historical records on >> so maybe this is something you know to take to the current committee and you're building the ordinance >> um you figure out if it makes sense to have dedicated on positions and and if

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so committees those would come from or and yeah >> thank you That's all I needed. Great. Great. Second public comment. This public comment period is to allow for final

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comments from the community. When invited to speak, offer your comments. Please come to the lecture. Clearly state your name. Whether you are a Mildred resident of the property or business owner. Please do not provide your full address seeing as our meetings are recorded and readily available to the public. Reminder that in order to

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help facilitate an orderly meeting and permit all to be heard, speakers shall limit their comments one minute session open the public comment period. >> Trina Franco again from short house. Um, I just want to thank our mayor and um,

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local council people for reassuring me about their values because when I vote for someone, I need to know their values and what they stand for and um, the only way I can learn that is by what they tell me um, and what you what you say in

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these meetings. So that you believe in the constitution, that you believe in due process, that you believe that people shouldn't be picked up off the streets and killed for just protesting.

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That's reassuring to hear. Thank you. Anyone else from the audience? Sure. All right. I just like to reiterate I think the township committee has done a fabulous job from financial standpoint. I've gone

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to other townships reading their records. Uh wonderful town of Montlair. They somehow they misplaced $17 million and they're very bright folks up there. And tomorrow they're going to try to figure out how they're going to what

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they're going to do with their schools. What's going is going to be closed as you know and uh form of government where they uh elect their mayor directly. Uh doesn't matter how they direct uh what was his name? Uh member

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what was his name? Phillip. Uh and he wanted to be governor. He wanted to be congressman. He was the mayor. Uh and somehow there was $17 million that was uh whatever our this

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town works uh whether it works as a representative whatever type of government people work here and the mayor works the township committee works and

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that's very very important and Alex you do a very very good job and the people are looking very well. >> I don't like to see people going after each other on a personal basis. That means I've been uh involved in politics since I was 12 years old. I met my first

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congressman Dunian. He was a Republican. Family was Democratic although my father could not vote because he came from the Ukraine by Canada in Pittsburgh and in Brooklyn. But that's the way it was and

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that's the way and I got involved when I was 12. I met and I met all the Congress people later on then Washington and so forth. I think it's very very important you folks just do the best that you can. You guys are do guys

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are doing a very very good job. Have a great day. >> Anyone online? >> Right. And I now close public comments. Cohen have no response. Deputy Mayor Cosro,

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no response. Thank you, Mayor. >> Just want to say it's great to hear this praise for our business administrator and all the staff at town hall. They do an amazing job and uh keep it up.

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>> One final comment response to Sprinkle. Um, you know, I would suggest the way you can learn about a candidate's values is by having a conversation with them, by asking them, uh, by doing their research. Don't be a party label to have

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a conversation. And, uh, I think you'll find that when you have conversations with most people in town, they don't fit into particular box. didn't agree 100% with you know their party regardless of which party it

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is. So encourage everyone to have conversations with each other if you want to learn about them. >> Is this administrator McDonald responses? Caner >> motion to adjourn

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second.