Good evening everyone. In accordance with section five of the open public meetings act advised that a notice of this meeting is made by posting on the bulletin board and town hall and forwarding to the officially designated newspapers that this meeting would take place at Milurn Education Center at 7
p.m. on October 21st, 2025. Meeting details and draft agenda were also posted on our website. Please stand to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible and justice for
all please >> Mr. Costco >> here >> Mr. Sakamandi >> here >> Mr. Stler >> present. >> Mayor Romano >> here. >> May I have a motion to approve the agenda?
>> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Okay. I have a proclamation for Thank you. >> So, um, Milbourne Township is incredibly lucky to have our domestic violence response team who works in conjunction
with our incredible police department in assisting victim victims of domestic violence. They are there for us 247. Um, victims always have access to safe houses, uh, helplines and the police department. So, I just have a proclamation to read.
Whereas home should be a place of warmth, unconditional love, peace, and tranquility. And whereas the crime of domestic violence violates an individual's privacy and dignity, security, and humanity due this due to the systematic use of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological, and
economic control. And whereas the problems of domestic violence may affect all economic, racial, and societal groups, including children and the elderly. And whereas the impact of domestic violence is wide ranging, directly affecting individuals and
society as a whole here in Milbour Township in the state of New Jersey and throughout the United States and the world. And whereas domestic violence may be supported by societal indifference and lack of knowledge there. Therefore, in recognition of the important work
done by domestic violence programs and victim advocates, in particular, the work of the Milbourne Township domestic violence response team and the Milbourne Township Police Department. We, the township committee of the township of Milbour in the county of Essex, state of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim the month
of October as domestic violence awareness month and urge all citizens to actively participate in the scheduled activities and programs to work toward improving victim safety and holding per per
domestic abuse accountable for their action against individual victims and our society as a Okay. Reports. Committee men still would like to start. >> Sure. Uh so good evening uh everyone. Before we begin, I'd like to take a
moment to wish all our residents celebrating Dwali a very happy and prosperous festival of lights that started today, October 21st. Uh it's a time of joy, unity, and renewal symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. to our Indian community and all who in who join in this vibrant
celebration. May your home do public with the goal of D sweetness of shared traditions and celebrations and um it was nice to hear all the fireworks last late last night. Uh to begin recreation committee fall programs are wrapping up over the next couple weeks. If you don't
have your uh applications in uh you need to get them in. Travel basketball triyouts will be next week. Uh thank you to all the residents who are volunteering as uh evaluators as well as uh about 25 people helping out. Winter registration is still open and we have
some spots available for ski club. Special improvement district. Uh big uh big shout out for downtown Halloween shop and stroll. That's going to be on October 31st. I think it's the last meeting before that from 2:30 to 6:30. Ton of activity for kids including face
painting, a pumpkin patch, costume characters, and more. Uh please visit explorer's website for any more information that's desired. Uh board of education uh not much as I always say please drive carefully as everyone uh is
in school again. Uh no updates on the joint fields. Uh Mountain Valley Emergency Communication Center. No updates. I think our our meeting was pushed back, Alex. Uh flood mitigation. We're having a meeting I believe tomorrow 8:30. Open space tax fund. Um
no updates. Uh, our next meeting is October 27th at 8:00m. Open to the public. Affordable housing always deferred to council council. Um, that's it. Thank you. >> Uh, Deputy Mayor Cullen. >> Couple of things. Um, the library um
last night we were we had a meeting. We met with the architect for the second floor renovation which is pretty close to being finished. We went over whatever was open. We expect to have the uh the certificate of occupancy by the end of the month and the uh the space will then
be made available. We were also addressed by uh former mayor Laperberg um as a representative of the CEDA committee to go over the plans for the mural the mosaic tiles in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence. Um it will be a a project that uh about 35 at this point not nonforprofit groups will be responsible for uh coming designing somewhere in the neighborhood of about five to six tiles. They'll all be placed throughout the
throughout the mural and the first home for this will be the library outside um outside the entrance. It's uh you know will be protected from the elements um and it'll be at the library for um when it is complete.
Um on the uh arboritum front, we when we met, we we discussed um we heard from Princeton Hydro with their um with a high level of their proposals for um remediating the flooding of the Van Winkle into Glenwood touching you know
the Arboritum property. um more much more detail is required in terms of the cost of their various proposals and um also the capacity of flood waters that each of those proposals will be able to address. Um the other thing is you'll
start to see you'll start to see notifications for the arboritum's major event this year which will be taking place in April. Um it's called Geek Week and um it's a it's a burning event. It'll be going on for as I said a week.
Um it'll be uh involving lots of local merchants and trivia night and all sorts of events. It'll be their major fundraiser for the year. >> Committ Thank you, mayor. Uh two reports. A report on shade tree commission uh
update. They're um they're looking at um making some minor tweaks to the uh the ordinance that created them. Um, so that's going back and forth between the uh town forester independent committee. Uh, and then I
was going to add two things in on the hard shore and caring. Um, they're looking at um getting some security cameras for the premises around the outside. Um, and looking at trying to improve some internet issues that they have there.
Thank you. >> Mandy. Uh so I just want to start by echoing and agreeing with Mr. Stler's comments about Dwali. Um you said it really well. So u just agreeing with those. Um next
up uh the EC is working on a resolution to encourage the town to look into the feasibility of uh and potential desiraability of uh purchasing the old Exxon station uh on Lowren A to turn
into a pocket park. Um we'll see what that resolution looks like uh when they finalize it. Uh planning board uh we approved an application uh for a new gym that's opening on Upper Melbourne Avenue. Um it's a uh the young owner. Uh
it's always nice to see new businesses come into our uh town. Um, and I believe we will be having um the Woodmont uh properties uh coming in front of the planning board next meeting with the meeting after that. But definitely if you're interested in following along
with that, check out the planning board website to see the schedule. Thanks, >> Mr. >> Just a reminder about the PSCG work on Essex Street. Um that will be taking place over the next month. Um it will close down one one side of the road uh
not the entire length uh between uh its intersection with Milurn Avenue and its intersection with Main Street. And as I had mentioned in the last meeting, they'll continue to march down uh from Milbourne Avenue towards Main Street uh in a gas main replacement. Uh a reminder
to residents about leaf collection again um and making sure that you're putting your leaves out on designated days. DPW will be around to pick them up on designated days. Uh important to note that do not put your grass clippings in
the leaves. Um as we take these to a uh a composting facility, uh grass is not permitted to be in the leaves. DPW is out red tagging um which are basically just warnings to residents that uh if you're putting grass out in your leaves
um that you should not be doing that. Uh, and just going to start sort of making this part of my report each each meeting. Um, and I know that the environmental commission has plans to put out a mail or two our residents to remind them, but uh, starting January 1,
we'll have a leaf blower seasonal restriction and also a landscaper registration in place. So, please, if you do have a landscaper, uh, let them know about the registration. Uh, they can contact the Department of Public Works. um they're already working on uh
registering those individuals that they know work in town and they interact with, but certainly if you have a landscaper just to remind them that that registration is taking place um effective January 1st as well. Uh and again I think the there is a planned mailer to the uh for the residents of
the township. >> No, no report. >> Thank you. I also want to uh hope everyone had a wonderful Diwali the fireworks Sunday night where I think it was their biggest crowd yet. So it was
uh it was very nice. Um public comment >> Alex, do you want to discuss kind of the ebike what we did after that large conversation? I think it'd be good for the >> Oh, sure. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um yeah, so uh the the township's uh the police department uh
put out a video um to to the public uh that was sent via rave. Uh it's also posted on the Milwauke police department web page uh sort of explaining some of the differences uh in uh the various types of e-mobility ebikes. Um and uh we
put up some you know things that everybody can do to help. I think uh it's important that everybody uh sort of take action in this and and be a part of the solution. Uh so uh that is up on the the website. It's uh on the police department's web page and it was sent
out uh to the um through RAVE to basically anybody that's everybody that signed up for RAID. In addition, the police department has already started sort of positive reinforcement of those kids that are doing the right things by wearing helmets, riding safely, uh handing out some gift cards to local
businesses, and uh and again, just a reminder to everybody that enforcement will be part of this process. Uh I think it's important. Um, so, you know, certainly have a conversation uh with your with your kids um about wearing a helmet if they're under the age of 17
and riding their bike safely and riding their bike um if they're in if they're on the road uh as as if they were a car. So, um all those things were put out as as a reminder and kind of response to what's been sort of been happening with the ebike situation. Um so, that's what
we >> and flood mitigation annual meetings at 28. Yes. Okay. >> At 7 p.m. at the hour our our community center fireplace room. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Before we open the floor to public
comment, I'd like to remind everyone that this is an official meeting of the township council count committee conducted for the purpose of township business and government operations. The public comment portion is a valuable valuable opportunity for residents to raise issues, ask questions, and share
concerns related to township matters. This is not a forum for campaigning, electioneering, or promoting or opposing any candidate for office, including myself or members of this body, as doing so can raise legal and ethical concerns, especially so close to an election. We
absolutely respect and uphold everyone's first amendment rights, and we welcome your input on matters of public concern. That said, I kindly ask that all comments remain focused on township issues and not campaign related topics. Thank you for helping us maintain a
respectful and productive environment. When invited to speak to offer your comments, please come to the lecture and clearly state your name and whether you are a Milbourne resident and/or property or business owner. Please do not provide your full address seeing our meetings are recorded and readily available to the public. To help facilitate an
orderly meeting and to permit all to be heard, speakers shall limit their comments to one three minute session. You will be prompted when there's 30 seconds remaining. A reminder that this is not a time for dialogue or to debate a matter and this is a time during a business meeting for the public to offer comments. I will now open public
comments. >> I'm Bart Mill. Um I have a question. I'm a little confused about something. At the August 12th meeting, there was an ordinance that was brought up, the one talking about rules and regulations for houses
of worship. Had a lot of details in it about parking lot sizes, time schedules. Well, Mr. Sack said this is the first time that he had actually seen this ordinance and it didn't seem like anyone else on the
board was very familiar with it. So, I it got me curious to where did these ordinances come from? And I asked I asked people in the town. I asked the the zoning board. I asked everyone on this board sent emails out. I wanted to
know specifically about the the origin of 2708-25, 2715-25, and 2716-25. I was told probably wrongly that the town planning came up with this and that
no one seemed familiar with it. And when I asked uh I think it was the the zoning board specifically Miss Doc Toby that everything comes from the township committee and they might review it later
and people will review it later but ordinances have to come from the township committee. So, I'd really like to know, can we find out, you know, with everyone talking about we should have transparency,
who originated these ordinances and and if are they all coming from the township committee or is the information I got wrong about that if they have to originate with the township committee? I'd like to know one is the information correct that this is the place where
it's it comes from and it starts and who is who or more than one or everybody get involved with the ordinance but it had to start somewhere. It can't be that I I go to a meeting and nobody was familiar
with it. I mean the thing that was it was so confusing that the that was tabled that night. I don't know if it's going to be brought up again, but something doesn't seem right. Thank >> you. Good evening. My name is Jeffrey Phil in
the poet section. Um, as my custom prior to the meeting, I sent two email heads up email with questions and comments. And I think the public should know because of my one of my questions regarding one of the ordinances where I
had questions and comments about abandoned properties that the ordinance has been amended based on my comments. But it go ties into Mr. Goran's prior comments who reads and approves things before they're put in the agenda packet. Um, we had a report from our mutable
attorney. I think we the public's been entitled to have an update as to one the round three litigation. Has a notice of appeal been docketed? If not, has township received a deficiency and why
have the judge Russo amended the order that allow us to take the appeal? Um, as said properties cases, I've never seen a case like this where a judge has not entered any orders um, since February,
since March, since July, in August. My hands are tied. But the reason I say this because I sent you case law and the public should know that it's not on the bill list or July and August time summaries
for a misal attorney. I provided you case law that's come out of the appellet division the last two weeks saying that some of the motions we filed did not have any basis in law. I think the public should know that. Um, as to some of the bills,
we as a community should keep an eye on what's happening in Bloomfield. Not Bloomfield, I'm saying Montlair. If you notice, the board of education has found a deficiency started as 11 million, now it's up to $18 million because they weren't watching what was happening.
And when the people were protesting this week, past week, they're talking about appropriations that how does the president shift monies that already been appropriated? That goes back to what I've been asking about the various capital projects. We had paper mills and then at the town hall the original
ordinances that were adopted they said that bond anticipation notes would be issued to fund us. You look at the bill list there's various funding going for contractors and suppliers. Where's the money coming to pay them if we didn't issue a bond? I know my time will be up.
I'll be back up later. Um but again as to some of the ordinance I asked you questions about the 40 foot cell tower that's going to be on Chattam Road. Where is that? You know if it's 40 ft does it go to the planning board? Does it violate some kind of height
restriction? And as to the various zoning changes we have more of a presentation of what's before and after after this new ordinance is adopted. What are the changes? Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening, Charles Vanara's
resident. Um, I uh had a chance to look at the police video on ebikes and scooters. Thank you for doing that. Um, I was a little surprised to see that helmets aren't required over the age of 17. I guess
that's perhaps state law, but I think uh anybody with half a brain uh would want to wear a helmet. I don't know if it's feasible for the town to extend that to all age groups, but it would make sense to me so that people with half a brain
don't lose that half uh variety without helmets. Uh secondly, uh I wanted to acknowledge I I notified Alex on Friday morning that there was a tree in front of my house with a lot of
dead wood and I concerned about its safety. and Monday morning the tree service came and took care of the trees. So thank you Alex that was uh more than the right response that was extraordinary. Uh thirdly u the average
house is approximately twotory house is about 25 ft tall to the peak of the roof. Uh 40 foot cell is pretty darn tall. So, uh, I was surprised to see the height of that,
but you might consider if it's going to be placed there, make it a little shorter. I know Christine Best is not here tonight, but I know she had a field day this one. So, I I hope you revisit that and at least
consider a little little short. >> Thank you. Hi, Jay Morelli, Township resident. A quick shout out to our town forester Stacy Phelps for helping resolve a recent issue. Um, now if you follow some
of the social media sites around, you might get the impression that our town has been destroyed or is on the way to ruin or it's not a place anyone would want to live. I'd like to say from my perspective that is not the case. We have an amazing community, one that
embraces our cultural and religious diversity with events celebrating Chinese New Year, Diwali, Rajaana, Junth and Chris uh Christmas to name a few, as well as American history with the Memorial Day parade, the Fourth of July celebration, the upcoming Milbourne 250
event. We have an educational system second to none in New Jersey, a state recognized across the country for education. We have two train stations that provide commuters routes into Midtown and downtown Manhattan. We are
15 minutes from an international airport and we are close to several major interstates. We have fabulous parks. Churro Park, for example, home to our community pool, has four baseball fields with covered dugouts and batting cages,
dedicated tennis and pickle ball courts, a roller hockey court, a basketball court, a fieldhouse, and a par three golf course. What other town in New Jersey can claim that? The Paper Mill Playhouse produces Broadway caliber
shows that draw thousands annually. And we have public events like the summer park concert series, the town hall plaza events, the upper Mburn block party, and the many local neighborhood block parties, as well as fundraisers like Rocktoberfest.
And this is due to the tremendous support and involvement of the residents of our wonderful town. We have over a 100 volunteers with various boards, committees, and commissions that help oversee the running of Milburn. Are we
perfect? No. And should we always be looking to improve? Absolutely. Just like it makes sense for the school system to undertake a strategic planning review or the township to perform a police staffing audit, it makes sense for the community as a whole to
periodically undertake a review of its government to see if there is room for improvement. Is this because things are fundamentally broken? No. but instead because we always want this is the purpose of the charter study commission from this proud Milburn Township
resident. Thank you and have a good evening. >> Thank you Mer Township resident. Uh we have a lot of litigation going on in the town right now. Uh I just have a general question I
guess perhaps Alex could answer it with the GIF and Mel we experience uh raided by them if uh we have our uh insurance carriers making significant payouts. Will this affect our insurance
rates? Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening, Diane Egllo. Um, since I have left office where you all sit, many of the Republicans have slammed me for not having been transparent for fair share housing details. Like it or not,
we were under a judge's order not to talk publicly. It was right or wrong, history. Now, at last week's me meeting, Frank, you said there are alternative sites that you, Frank, cannot be on. >> Oh, somebody else called him. Okay.
>> Anyway, so where are these alternative sites? When will the public hear about them? And will we have a say in when these sites are going to be revealed if we like don't like them there? I also think giving Barton Ross $30,000 to
declare the rail bridges historic is outrageous. And how is that $30,000 calculated? Last meeting, um, resident Scott Redler, it's not political, somehow neglected to to acknowledge how the library turf
field was accomplished. It was when I was mayor. We worked collaboratory in a town hall. Alice McDonald, then redhead Bob Hogan. This was so successful because it was a collaboration and I pulled together an 8 a.m. meeting and that was also very inclusive by Stan
Levy who'd been a former border member. This does not happen when you diss town hall staff and threaten to clean house to just hire people who are going to agree with you. And lastly, besides continuing lawsuits, what other initiatives have happened this year? We
are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on lawsuits. Stop developments. And we all know this is New Jersey law and we have to have these developments put up because 40 years ago when the Republican party and Robert Tilson
former mayor proudly said he pushed the can okay former mayor pushed the can down the road which is why we are in the place we're in now. So just to continue having these lawsuits and I would be very curious with these alternative sites are they going to be kept a
secret? >> Thank you. my pitch. >> That was political. >> Good evening, Jerry. I'm president. As normal, I didn't plan to make ends of statement tonight, but I has been so
many falsehoods, I couldn't help myself. Um, if Miss had bothered to go to the court hearing that he has requested the transfer from, he would have found out that there was no such court order keeping the settlement agreement confidential prior to taking official
action. The judge's words himself were there was no such order. >> Yeah, >> that was in the transcript. I believe it was January of 2022. I could be wrong, but I have the transcript if anyone is interested. Um, as for the alternative sites, they were in a prior court
filing. So, if Miss were following along, she would know where they >> Anyone else? Anyone online? >> No hands raised. >> Okay. I will now close public comment.
>> Um, Karina second start. >> Sure. Uh so turn on. >> Thank you. >> Um so for the question from Mr. Goran, um ordinances have a few different ways
of getting in front of the township committee. So there are some zoning related things. They'll go through the zoning code examination subcommittee. Uh sometimes they'll be recommendations from the planning board or the zoning board themselves. Uh and then ordinances. I mean, none of the township
committee members sit there and write ordinances. Uh, so those are generally drafted by the professionals. Then they're given to the township committee. Uh, they show up on the agenda and, you know, we have an opportunity to vote on them and that's how that process works.
Um so as to the exact origin of the particular ordinances you were referring to um you know I think that the ideas uh for some of them came as a result of requests from the planning board. Um you
know there have been uh others that may have come from the zoning etc. It really depends you know on the ordinance. Um, and then sometimes the township committee will go to the planners and say, "Hey, here is an overall scheme of something we'd like to get accomplished.
Uh, can you go and and figure out how to how to make that happen in a way that's going to conform with, you know, meet um NJ u land use law uh and then the ordinances come before us." So that's that's how those happen. Um, let's see.
Mr. felled the height of the cell phone tower. Um, you know, just looking at the pictures that were in the press packet, uh, it doesn't look like the antenna is actually any higher than the adjacent utility pole. Uh, and I certainly don't
think it's any higher than the catary um, rails that you have uh, for the train. This is going to be right by the train station. That area uh, has notoriously unreliable reception. that can be a problem especially for commuters in the morning when they're
trying to activate their tickets. Um so you know we've been trying to improve selfservice throughout the town um where it makes sense to do so and this is an opportunity to improve service which also helps uh our police and first responders. They have all sorts of
complicated technological equipment that needs reliable uh internet access. Uh so improving cell coverage throughout town you know helps with that as well. So, um that answers question. Um
see, uh Mr. Van, I do think that's interesting. Um that we don't have a helmet law statewide. I don't know that a town can enact their own helmet law. I'll defer to council on that. I think that there's certain things that are, you know, under the purview of the state
and then certain things that we can do on a municipal level. Um but if every town had different requirements for helmets, you know, see how that could be challenging. Um so we'll defer to council on that. Um Miss Alo, you know,
I think Dr. Kung answered it correctly. The alternative sites that we proposed to the court were indeed in the public court filings. Um and I know that there were some people that, you know, were even talking about those on social media after they saw the court filings. So the
information was out there. Um and uh if you you know were bothering to look into it, you would have been able to get that information. >> Just tell us. >> Uh as far as what we've accomplished this year, we've accomplished quite a lot this year, but one of the major things we did is the town hall renovation project that's going to be
kicking off. Um we had to make some modifications to the design of that. The original design looked like well some people described it as a prison, others described it as a warehouse. And uh you know we had a planning board subcommittee that worked directly with uh the architects and what we came up
with is a building that our town will be able to be proud of for decades and decades to come. Uh it'll also have a nice community space uh adjacent to Town Hall Plaza uh which I think will be um great with the summer programming that we have in Town Hall Plaza. uh once you
know once it's finished uh I believe we also moved forward with the Taylor Park Gateway project. Um you know there's been a number of other projects. So considering that you're someone that often comes to these meetings, I'm a little surprised that you would would get up and basically you know accuse
this township committee of not really accomplishing anything uh when we've done quite a bit this year. We've also done a lot in the way of tightening up our zoning codes um you know to prevent loopholes and uh you know make things more clear. That's all I have to say about that.
Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Um thank you mayor. I had some answers on the on the uh cell phone tower but I I think uh Mr. second answered those on the um on the comments about the um the
railroad bridges in town. Um what's being done there is a study is being undertaken at the cost of $30,000. Those prices, my understanding, are pursuing to a contract with Barton Ross, who's the the town's designated historian. Um
so, you know, the prices are within a contract price. It's for 10 bridges and frankly it's been talked about at other meetings but what happens is Mr. Ross is going to prepare a study um as to whether those 10 bridges um should or
shouldn't be designated or aren't you know appropriate for designation that'll ultimately come back to the township committee um you know to to vote on whether or not they should be. Um so I I I didn't find the the $30,000 offensive.
um at all. Um that's it. Thank you. >> Um Deputy May. >> Yeah. First, I would like to thank Mr. Morali for his positive comments. That's always nice to hear that at uh at public
comment. Um and I just echo what Mr. Second said about the ordinances. We even talked about it at the last meeting. They typically arise from the various places. is they come here as new business. If there's a consensus, they go to the zoning code uh subcommittee
where the planner works on it with the committee. Then they come back here for for first review. We've added a step at earlier on, make some kind of judgment as to how controversial it is. And we won't always get that right, but if we think it's controversial, we'll look at
doing public hearings for for those that are intended, you know, that are expected to be controversial. Uh it then comes it comes here for two readings a public hearing and as well and then it goes back to the planning board um to
make sure that it's consistent with the master plan. So there's a lot of steps that uh that go on and that's the process. So that's where we are. >> That's all I have to say. >> Thank you. >> Sure. Um, I'd like to, you know, echo
everything, uh, Mr. Morali said as well. I always try to stay positive and talk about all the great things we have going on in our town. In fact, I just spent two days at a private credit conference in in Manhattan and we had folks from Ry, from Chavakqua, Livingston, from
Chadam, all the all of the, you know, similar cities to townships to to ours. And it sounds like they're all under attack. uh and just you know articulating the great things about Milurn Short Hills and everybody here and the diversity and the school system
is just such a great great positive for us. Uh that being said, there's always going to be improvements. You know, some of the things when Frank was speaking that came to mind were we also brought some civility and professionalism to the township committee in order to be able to all be able to agree to disagree,
which is, you know, always a good thing. we don't have the the bickering and such so much. Um, you know, Miss Egllo, thank you for any participation and all participation you had in the library turf build. I know how much time we all spend on these on these and getting them
through. Uh, so you know, I always, you know, sitting in the seat now, I understand those time requirements and whatever can be due to passing through. In addition to that, um, uh, Mr. uh Maser on general litigation. Uh it's
funny he's talking about that lunch the lunch and I had lunch and breakfast and cocktail hours with all these guys and it seems that everyone's suing everyone for everything in all these towns. Uh and that uh you know it certainly is important to keep an eye on the uh on
the on the bills the legal bills and such and chip but it's happening really everywhere. What else do we have here? cover. >> Um yeah, I just want to
echo a couple things. Uh in particular, um uh I had responded to uh Mr. Borne's email as well in the exact same fashion as Mr. Sacramento and Mr. Cosgrove or Mr. Deputy Mayor Cohen. So um in in just
the various ways that ordinances do come about uh and sort of go through a kind of rigorous process um to get to a certain to get to before the township committee for their for their consideration. Um uh Jeff is correct. I appreciate your
uh you know your email and uh you know the whereas clauses were from a previous ordinance. Um you know obviously they're not codified but uh it was good to catch that and be able to change that. So appreciate that. Um the um these the short hills pre-station uh small cell
site is um will go through those those processes uh similar to the uh cell tower that is going up at J JFK uh because it is a land lease because you know it's being passed by ordinance here uh or considered the the it will go
through the bing board um or the zoning board whichever whichever one will have jurisdiction over that. Uh it is uh intended to be 38 1/2 ft uh tall. Um it is it is 40 in this just because there there does need to be some flex there uh
you know based on signal strength and the ability to get the coverage that they want. Um but but their intention is to build up 38 and a half and again go through those approval process processes. But uh to Mr. Sakin's point it is a very bad area for cell service. Uh I was talking to the traffic sergeant
who was on Chattam Road today and uh call dropped twice. Um so I think this is uh more than uh more than overdue uh for for the you know just from from a public safety standpoint alone. Um and the township will receive uh a small
amount of revenue uh per year for that uh small land lease uh by the train station. Um I I would I would go so far as to say that that the township cannot supersede but obviously I would defer camp council
but can't supersede state statute. Uh oddly you do have to wear a helmet to ride a motorcycle in the state of New Jersey like the state of Pennsylvania but um for these uh class 3 ebikes even if you're above 17 you do not have to wear a helmet. Um but agreed doesn't
make a whole lot of sense. Um and to Mr. Mer's uh question. Yes. U much like health insurance um depending on your experience um you will um be um your your rates will increase accordingly.
However, the advantage of being in a joint insurance fund or a health insurance fund or is that you are part of the larger pool and some of those um if you were sort of privately insured, you would feel those those issues much greater than if you're in a pool of
communities um that uh that can help offset some of those uh premium increases. >> Thank you. Do you have anything you like to add? >> No, but thank you very much for asking. I just want to uh thank Mr. Moral for reminding everybody what a wonderful
community we do live in. Thank you. The township committee will now consider consent agenda resolutions. Are there any comments from the committee in regard to any items listed on the consent agenda? May a motion to approve resolution 25-233
through resolution 25-237 which are listed on the consent agenda. So move a second. Second roll call vote, please. Deputy Mayor Cohen, >> yes. >> Mr. Cosgrove, >> yes. >> Mr. Sakamandi, >> yes. >> Mr. Stler,
>> yes. >> Mayor Romano, >> yes. Thank you. >> Before the committee considers the next matter, I'm going to exit the meeting to abstain from his discussion in any action thereafter, and I will turn over the meeting to Deputy Mayor Cohen to lead the meeting in my absence.
Are there any comments from the committee in regard to resolution 25-230 238 238? May I have a motion to approve resolution 25238? >> So move. >> Have a second. >> Second.
>> Roll call vote, please. >> Deputy Mayor Cohen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Costgrove. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sakamandi. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stler >> Maron has abstained. >> Thank you. >> Mayor
Minimman Cosg Grove, you are scheduled to introduce 2719 or sponsor 2719-2. >> Thank you, mayor. I would like to present an ordinance entitled ordinance number 2719-25. The ordinance amending and supplementing
the township of Milbour development regulations and zoning ordinance. um by way of a brief explanatory statement. Um this is um an example of of the or
one of the some of the ordinances that we're trying to tighten up and clean up a little bit. Um I reviewed it a couple times. I don't see anything that looks particularly contentious uh as far as the uh but the you know one of the main purposes is try to make sure that um you
know new new housing projects that are built in the town fit in a little better uh with the neighbors uh right next to them. Um and um so next I I'll I'll move uh that this ordinance be taken up and
passed on first reading and that the township clerk be authorized to have the ordinance published in accordance with law in the item and for hearing and final passage on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Please be advised that the public
hearing of this ordinance will be held at the Milbourne Educational Center located 434 Milbourne A Milbour, New Jersey. May >> I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call to approve. >> Deputy Mayor Cohen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Costrove. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sakamandy.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Stler. >> Permanent. >> Mayor Romano. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Command and second. You are scheduled to sponsor sponsor ordinance 2720. -25. >> I would like to present an ordinance
entitled ordinance number 2720-25 an ordinance of the township committee the township of Milbour awarding the lease ground space and approving the township of Melbourne entering into a lease with the winning figure for ground space to be used in connection with
construction and operation of a small wireless facility on a portion of the property located at block6002 lot 2 known as 15 Shadam Road. the township of Builder.
This this is to allow a cell phone company to come in and install an antenna to improve service around the SH Hills train station. Um, that's what it's doing. I move that this ordinance be taken up and passed in first reading
and that the township clerk be authorized to have the ordinance public in accordance with law in the item and for hearing and final passage on Wednesday, November 12th, 2025. Please be advised the public hearing of this ordinance will be held at the Milbour
Education Center located at 434 Milurn Avenue. Do >> I have a second? >> Roll call vote, please. >> Deputy Mayor Coleman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cosgrove. >> Yes. Mr. Sakamandi. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stler. >> Mayor Romano. >> Yes.
>> Thank you. >> Ordinance 2721-25. I would like to present an ordinance entitled Ordinance 27-21- 2721-25 ordinance amending chapter 7 traffic of the revised federal ordinances of the
township of Milbour. Uh the purpose the proposed amendment of the chapter 5 traffic code of Milbour's general code is to establish several recommendations of the Milbourne police traffic bureau and parking ad hoc committee. These changes include the adjustment of parking on old Sholes Road across from
the Milbert Middle School adding stop signs to West Road, Essex Street at Milbert Avenue and at the intersection of South Terrace and Hobart Road. In addition, 15minute parking will be added to Winningham Terrace. And there's other items also. I move that this ordinance
be taken up and passed on first reading and the township clerk be authorized to have the ordinance published in accordance with law in the item and for hearing and final passage on Wednesday, November 12th, 2025. Please be advised that the public hearing of this ordinance will be held at the Milurn Education Center located
at 434 Milbour Avenue, Milbour. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call vote, please. >> Excuse me. Before the vote takes place, I just want to make note there will be um two minor changes to Taylor Road, which should be Taylor Road South. I would not obviously I'll confer with
council, but I would not consider them substantive, but we will make those changes before the uh publication and the adoption. >> Thank you. >> Roll call, please. >> Deputy Mayor Cohen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cosro, >> yes. Mr. Sakamandandy,
>> yes. >> Mr. Stler, >> correct. >> Mayor Romano, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> Deputy Mayor Conser 2722-25. >> I would like to present an ordinance entitled ordinance number 2723-25, an ordinance to amend and supplement the
revised general ordinances of the township of Milbourne. Chapter 3, police regulations, article 3-8, construction activity mitigation. The purpose of this ordinance is to amend article 3-8 construction activity mitigation to
clarify when construction activity can take place and by whom with the with the intent of this ordinance revision to ensure that homeowners have the ability to perform work at their homes or permanent residences on Sunday legal holidays but that no redevelopment no redeveloper paid professional or hired
contractor shall engage in construction activity in the township on Sundays or legal holidays. In addition, further clarification requirements for the placement of a temporary construction fence to ensure compliance with large when large additions or demolitions take
place on a property. I move that this ordinance be taken up and passed on first reading and that the township clerk be authorized to have the ordinance published in accordance with law on the item and for hearing and final passage on Wednesday, November 12th, 2025. Please be advised that a public hearing from this ordinance will
be held at the Milbourne Education Center located at 434 Milurn Avenue. Milton. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call vote, please. >> Deputy Mayor Cohen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cosgrove. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sakandy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stler.
>> Absolutely. >> Mayor Romano. >> Yes. >> Thank you. We have no matter of all business or manage business public comment period to allow for final comments from the community. When invited to speak to offer your comments, please come to the lecture and clearly state your name and whether you're a
Noburn resident and your property or business owner. Please do not provide your full address seeing our meetings are recorded and readily available to the public. A reminder that in order to help facilitate an an orderly meeting and to permit all be heard, speakers shall limit their comments with our
threeminut session. Same rules apply. I will now open public comments. >> I'm B Thor, town resident and Mr. Sagamande. I still didn't get any um clarity here and I still want to know
who initiated. Someone had to initiate, but I was specifically asking about Greentown ordinances. And my response from Mr. McDonald was the ordinances you were questioning were initiated by members of the township committee. That
was the one that you read that you were reading for the first time. That was one of them. So I know what these ordinances started. I did a lot of research on this and your answer to me was wrong. It just kind of brushed over the subject and it doesn't answer the question of who
initiated these. Are we is there transparency? Do we have the right to know? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Charles Bandar mayor, thank you for your initial state political comments at this podium. I think that's long overdue. I think that
any personal attack on any of any of you is is completely out of order. I don't see that you have a gamble there. >> Oh, you do. >> Please, I encourage you. My encouragement is that when somebody takes up here and mentions a political
party name, they should be gabble. When somebody come comes up here and and uh uh accuses any of you or makes any dietary comments about any of you, they should be gambled. And and I wish there was a way for you to remotely turn off
the microphone because that would be appropriate as well. uh I am deeply appreciated appreciative of each of you individually and collectively. Uh I wouldn't be able to put in onetenth of the amount of time
that each of you put in individually. So I respect you and applaud you for that and uh I wish the public would take that into account before they comments about any of you on this committee. Thank you. >> Thank you.
Good evening, Cyber. Alex, you didn't talk about recycling cans and garbage on the street. Not in a can tonight if you were saving it. Um, it's still happening. drive around town,
people put out their recycling in boxes. They line up 12 feet on the front of their house, garbage bags. Me, I was the king. Um, >> no.
No kings. Monday the stock markets, so the no kings didn't work so well. Anyway, I wouldn't pick up this stuff. We don't have >> I wouldn't pick up this stuff if I was I would put a little note saying we are
not authorized to pick up garbage that's not in a garbage can. If so for next week maybe you'll get a garbage can. Maybe that's too tough. I don't know. All right. Good job everyone. Thank you.
Jeffrey Hill within the public section. Just a few followup questions. Uh by Friday, township has to follow with the state uh best practices inventory responses. Um, and I guess at the next meeting you have
to have a public discussion. That won't be till after the election. And if once they're filed, hopefully they can be posted on the public website and we have an opportunity to see what our responses are, what this year's best practices inventory are. As to litigation,
I wish I could have an update as to the round reappeal. has a notion of docking entered as it were where the PEL division had they said there's a deficiency I just like to I think the public needs to know where we stand on round three as to the round
four coalition dismissal that was on September 30th I think the community to know whether we are going to join the notice of appeal of that round four um where it's basically saying like blackistan ICE court take that appeal up
that part of the issue is whether why certain urban municipalities are excluded from the affordable housing ratio. Um, as to the plane board hearing that occurred last Wednesday, there's an issue about whether a city
employee or a consultant who sits on the design review committee. Can he also testify on behalf of the app that occurred? Because there's an issue about parking pirates. We've been discussing this for the last few
meetings. Um it seemed that the city executive director was taking an inconsistent position where he was advocating that the applicant should not be required to buy permits. I found that to be striking and also there was a question about code enforcement.
Um when we talk about the tenant everyone supports it but there was alterations to the interior of the building. And the question is did he have to get permits that the applicant um they said their architects said no they didn't go and our experts that
being our new engineer and plane board new engineer and the planning board um planner said that's really a in-house code enforcement issue but I think that's something that you should be looking at because it's not the first time that alterations have been done to properties and people say like how did
you ever get in? Um, and also I want to give a shout out to Amanda Dean who at the last SID meeting it was announced that she had resigned and taken a position Montlair. She did a great job and I think there should be an acknowledgement of Amanda Dean what the work she did. She basically was the
workhorse of the city. >> Thank you >> Diana. Hello. I don't know why we all got so sensitive and triggered if our names are mentioned. When I was up there, my name was mentioned a lot. I think I have pretty thick skin because of it. So, go back a little bit. It was
Ed Boozak who was the planning board attorney who told us to keep quiet. Okay. So, you can go back in the records and might have been in a close session, but that's what we were told amongst other things in close session. And um the town hall renovation project,
I'm very proud of it because I'm the one who brought that to the town hall idea. I'm also very proud that I started the tail Taylor Park gateway discussions and it was too much. People didn't want to lose the rose gardens. I get it. It's a beloved rose garden. So that's staying. But it was about time that the gateway
we've gone through several projects. Um yeah. So I don't know why there was times that people used to come up here and talk about national politics, talk about whatever they wanted. I said, "Mr. Con, you've said several meetings ago, it's free speech up here." I don't know
why we're so triggered and we have to be limited because when I talk, you all are very comfortable repeating my name and it's Eglow, not long eagle. So it's Eglow. So you can call me out, that's fine. I am really proud of the
accomplishments and I have about 24 of them that happen. Government projects take a really long time. In fact, AL you can um attest to this that I'm going to start talking about safety the shin station that's happening. Maybe not have
reconfigured it but you know it takes a long time for things to happen. So don't be so sensitive. You got elected. You are fair game to be talked about. End of discussion. Thank you. Evening, Jerry Kong, Charles Hills res.
Um, I'm glad Miss talked about all her accomplishments. I think her major accomplishment was being on the committee when the housing element was filed three days late. So, I don't know if you got bad advice from the attorneys that time, just like you got bad advice from Mr. Bruzzac, but I I think you know, you've done enough for this
community. So, thank you. Um, I wanted to pivot to something a little more joyous. Um, so I know there's probably close to a thousand corrugated plastic lawn signs out there. Um, and seeing as how this is the last uh TC meeting before election day, I just wanted to
make an announcement about how hopefully our township can help give those lawn signs a better use. Um, I know last time in 2023, I reached out to a professor at the University of New Hampshire, um, an occupational therapist that repurposes corrugated plastic lung signs for
assisted devices. Um, so I'm just going to read an excerpt from a news article. University of New Hampshire professor Theres Wilcom has been seeking donations of discarded campaign signs for use in her occupational therapy classes where students cut off the corrugated plastic to create assist of items ranging from
tabletop iPad stands to a clip that can hold the sandwich for someone who can't use his arm. We noticed that there are tons of election signs all over and they were made of this corrugated plastic material and we thought, "Holy cow, we can make tons of assisted technology solutions for people with disabilities. We can get a bunker crop of these signs
coming in." Wilcom said Wilcom said she's always looking for new ways to use everyday items to help people with physical challenges and she urges her students to think outside the box or in some cases cut it up and reuse it. So that's uh yeah, I think it's a very good use for these corrugated plastic lawn
signs that can't really be recycled. So I'm hoping the township could make an announcement after election day, maybe have the GPW be a pickup site um just so that we can give these lawn signs a new life. Thank you. >> Thank you. J Morelli. Uh I will say uh Dr. Kung's
idea is a good one, but I think the campaigns that produce the facts should be the ones funding the collection of them, not the township itself, but it is a good idea. Thank you, Dr. Con. Quick question. Um on the historical
uh declaration for the bridges, um is it clear to everyone? Well, it's not clear to me what the pros and cons are going to be of going through this process of looking at the bridges and determining whether or not they can be made historic
or not. I'm not arguing for or against it. I'm completely neutral to it. Actually, if it does prevent um us getting some bad looking bridges, that would be great. But it's not clear to me that we have jurisdiction over the
bridges. It's not clear to me what the ultimate cost it may be to make them historic. It's not clear to me um whether or not we're going to have any input as to how the bridges look if they are made historic. Maybe everybody on
the deis understands that. Um I don't um and it may be helpful to the rest of the community just to lay out for everybody here are the pros and cons of going down this process. Thank you and have a good evening. >> Thank you. Ed Mer resident uh I have not followed a
lot of the uh litigation on fair share housing. There was a reference made earlier I think by Mr. Gun that the court filings uh showed the alternative sites. Uh I think it
might be good for the public if uh somebody were to uh mention uh at this meeting where those sites are so that those of us who are not uh intimately involved would at least know uh what other sites might be considered. Thank
you. >> Thank you. >> One online. >> Okay. Hi, good evening. Perry Erso. Um, just real quickly, I know there was a conversation somebody had mentioned um about not being able to tell the
terms. It was specifically at a January 28th, 2022 fairness hearing. I personally asked Judge Gardner if he instructed the TC not to disclose a settlement agreement to the public prior
to taking official action. He said he absolutely did not instruct. So, I don't know where the instructions or um where things were confused, but from Judge Gardner's specific
um comments and recommendations, so something was misconstrued from that hearing to I understand another attorney was um mentioned about that. So, I I'm not sure where and who exactly said, but the
terms were not disclosed to the public prior to uh taking official action. So, I do believe that the township does have claims for that reason. Also, there was some chitchat about some lawsuits. I've been asking that same
question for about five years. I don't understand why this municipality, unlike other municipalities that I deal with, when I have an issue at any given time, I can contact any department head,
any business administrator, any clerk, any mayor and set up a meeting and have a conversation. I was not afforded a conversation and I repeatedly asked why do you choose to litigate and not
mediate? You refused for five years not to have a conversation. It's very odd to me. It's very disappointing to have to have these turn of events when you're dealing with public officials and a municipality.
It's very disheartening and I hope things change. I hope people can be a little bit more communitive because then there maybe perhaps shouldn't be and wouldn't be and there would not have been any lawsuit. So I think that people
should be a little bit more willing like I put out two emails last year, one in February of 2024 and one in December in 2024. No one's addressed those issues. I've publicly stated that I will no longer come to these meetings in person.
No one has addressed those situations. So, thank you and have a nice evening. I'm hoping and grateful things that change. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? M uh it's very difficult to drive looking at the rear view mirror when you're
trying to move forward. What we need as residents is how the township committee can come together and have a forward-looking approaches. We do understand that certain decisions have been made and that might have like a consequence in the future but what are
the steps that we are taking forward to address those. Uh typical example would be the library renovation project. We currently have a sports stadium or a sports field. Uh there is a parking lot and the library patrons parking are
sharing one narrow entrance and in top of this we also have the paper mill play house that feeds into client avenue. So this causes a traffic congestion and it becomes a public safety issue where there are a lot of students, parents who are dropping and picking up kids and
also patrons who use that and uh is there a way in which we could have like a notification from the library as to the completion of this project and when it would be ready for patrons to use the south entrance as the north entrance. This is just like a case in point where
better communication would be very helpful. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? I will close public comment committee. Miss, uh, Stella, would you like to have any responses? >> All right. For the sake of remedy. Uh,
I'm going to jump along here. Uh, you know, one of the things that I don't think this this day is a lot of accolades for is the round before we had no rebuttals or challenges from builders. that cannot be stated enough
and it's a huge win for our town. Uh and then second, and I was going to mention this earlier, the misinformation out there on the charter study. The ch last charter stud I said this last last uh meeting, but the last one I was done in this town was 1972. This is not a referendum on whether to
change our government this year. It's a simply a referendum on the action of opening a study of the local forms of government with with people to bring back to the
town what they believe uh and and or what they believe the decision should be. It could be that we don't want to change our form of government or it could believe we go to a stronger form or we have an paid mayor. Uh there's a lot of different things that they're going to look at. uh 1972, I said it
last time, was the year I was born. That's 53 years ago. So, it's time to have that um that uh information available to residents who have all a few people here that have lived here for 50 plus years. I can probably see a
couple of them in here. uh you know so I think we're doing ourselves a disservice if we don't vote to actually look at what the proper or form of government is in our town >> what
>> no I'm not somebody requested information about the charter commission I want to make sure the information there's people like your husband who are stating that it's a different thing than what it is I want to make sure that the entire community understands what the charter commission is
>> all right that you did You can't tell people like >> Okay. And then and then just to to wrap it here, uh I agree with uh uh Mr. uh uh Feld and that we do need to have the best practices put out quicker and lighter. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> I'll be quick too. Um I actually wanted to say that I agree with Mr. Cyber um that uh that is something we should consider doing. They uh they put out a whole street of boxes, don't pick it up,
and then come back the next day because the people that do stuff like that will just leave it for the next day and probably for the next week recycling. So, it's an enforcement issue. Um, you know, don't pick it up and then the next day if it's still out, give them a ticket because it's it's just gone.
>> Thank you, ladies man. Uh, >> yes. Thank you, mayor. Um, I guess Mr. Maser, your your question about the alternative sites. Um, my understanding is is on the township website. Um, it's back in 24, but that these the proposed
alternative sites were right next to town hall. Uh, the Rimback site or what used to be Rimach. Uh, a portion of the parking lot that's adjacent to the library. And I'm forgetting the third one, so I'll ask somebody else, maybe Frank, to chime in. Uh, and um,
>> I'm sorry. I don't think there was two. All right. Thank you. Um, that's it. Thank you very much. >> Um, so Mr. Fel, your question about the round four heel. Um, I I certainly hope we are joining that. I have no knowledge
that we wouldn't be. We, you know, I think we've got pretty broad agreement on this deis. uh for the commitment to uh you know join that lawsuit with the 30 some other towns. So um you know I I assume uh we are going to be involved in
that appeal. Uh I certainly am for that and if anyone else is is not uh they can speak up. Um but I do think that's something that is moving ahead. Uh we'll see how that plays out. Um let's see.
Um, so thank you for reminding everyone that it was Mr. Boozak uh who said that the terms of the settlement had to be kept confidential. However, what he failed to mention is Mr. Boozak was also the attorney in I think it was Denville
and he actually did a presentation the Denville residents prior to their uh township committee or whatever their form of government is taking official action. Um, so you know, I would think if I was on the township committee at
that time, uh, I would have looked into what our professionals were doing and I certainly would have questioned whether, uh, the information you were getting from them was correct because I think that just doesn't pass the basic spell test. And you know, it's unfortunate that the township committee back then
didn't didn't raise uh questions because another thing that uh we have accomplished on this day is is we had to try and clean up the dumpster fire that was left for us by prior township committees. Uh you you may even have been part of those. So um you know, next
time I would say do your homework. Um see um Mr. Moriali. Uh, as far as the historical process for the bridges, so the bridges I believe are owned by NJ Transit. Um, and the bridges eventually
are going to need to get repaired or replaced. Um, I don't know, you know, you've heard the saying, they don't build stuff like they used to, right? That's certainly true. And um all too often when the state goes to build something um whether it be NJ Transit or
whatever else, they may do things in a cheaper way that's not going to last as long. Uh so by designating these bridges as historic, again, we're going through the process. we have to see the report and go through that process. But um that
would allow the town to have some uh influence um and control and review over what would happen there because I believe they would have to come before the HPC uh if NJ Transit was going to make uh you know rebuild it or make
major modifications. One of the advantages of designating it and they would need to uh you know replace the historic elements in time. So if it was built with, you know, steel or iron, whatever it may be, you know, they'd have to build something you similar that
that matched. Um, and so that's one of the benefits of them being restored, uh, that you won't have, you know, as likelihood of there being shoddy construction or repairs in the future. Um, I think that's all I have. Thanks,
>> Mr. >> Uh, just two things. one is uh the best practices will be discussed at the November 12th meeting. Um we're just working on a few of the final answers, but I think the contract will be in uh great shape as it relates to that. I
think that you have to score at least 32 um to be 100 receive 100% state a will be well within that um uh if not just a few points shy of a perfect score. But um the other thing regarding the appeal
round four um I I I uh emailed the tent committee about what the process was going to be when it came to the Montville litigation. I I don't think there's any change in position if you're part of the original uh lawsuit, why you wouldn't be a part of appeal of that. So, uh, that is, I think, the impression
of Michael Collins and the Mail Litigation team that all those that were part of the original suit will move on. >> And I just want to add that my neighbor's garbage was not picked up because it was in a bag, >> but I guess they, you know, get to all
the streets or whatever. But my neighbors, she was very upset that claimed she didn't know. But, you know, we have a motion to adjourn. >> So, move. >> Have a second.