like to call this meeting to order for July 21st, 21st, 2026. Can I get a roll call, please? >> Commissioner Taylor >> here. >> Vice Mayor Cot >> here. >> Commissioner that our salute to the flag. >> Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day, Lord God, that you have made. We
thank you for each and everyone present in this room. I thank you for each and every citizen of the city of Millville. Father, I ask for your protection during the storms that are coming. Father, Father, I ask that you would um invoke
wisdom and order um in our commissioners tonight as they conduct the business of the city. May it be for the benefit of all the citizens of Milville. And we give you praise and honor and glory in the name of Jesus. Amen. >> Amen. >> Join me to the flag. I pledge algiance
to the flag of the United States of America and to theublic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> This meeting is being conducted in accordance with the Open Public Meetings
Act of 1975. Was advertised, posted, and made available to the public as required by statute. The municipal clerk is directed to include a statement in the minutes of this meeting. Madame Clerk, are there any changes to the agenda? >> There are none, mayor. >> All right. At this point, we're going to go to a presentation by Fire Chief
Wetstein and the Director of Public Safety, Sherman Taylor. >> Good evening, everybody. >> Can we hear me? Is that better? Okay. Okay. So, as the mayor said, I'm Chief of Department John Wetstein, and I'm here to make a special
presentation. Like many other municipal departments, the Millville Fire Department is one department. We all wear the same patch on our uniform. Whether we're on a firetruck or an ambulance tonight and always, when I say fire department,
please keep in mind we are just one big family at the firehouse. Joining a fire department is a commitment to protecting life and property. We train and prepare for the worst and hope for the best. We run scenarios in our heads thinking
about what we can do when we arrive at emergency scenes. I along with many other members of my department have been on locations of fires, motor vehicle crashes, and e medical emergencies that
ended with a fatality. But tonight, we are here to celebrate the greatest accomplishment that you can hope for when responding to an emergency, saving a life. At around 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, July
11th, we were dispatched for a reported dwelling fire with people trapped inside. We arrived on location with a toddler, Jack, on the back porch roof, and another occupant, Katie, inside. Sorry.
We convinced Jack to jump and was safely caught by EMT Cle who then handed him to EMT Zeroga, [snorts] took him to the ambulance for treatment. Firefighters Wetstein,
Hawquist, and Menddees grabbed a ladder from the fire engine, raised it to the back of the house to access the bedroom where Katie was. At the same time, firefighters Suie and Platt entered the house through the front door without
protection of a hose line to begin the search. In zero visibility, Katie was found and removed through a bedroom window by the firefighters inside and on the ladder. She was brought to the ambulance for
treatment and both were transported to Inspir Hospital for evaluation. I am pleased to report that they are both doing well and have made a full recovery. We have Katie and Jack with us tonight.
Justin, Katie's husband and Jack's father, is also here who was working at the time. Justin is a former member of the Millville Fire Department and I would also like to thank him for his time and services to the citizens of Milville while he was with us.
I also have to give credit to Katie who remained calm on the phone with the Kland County Communication Center aka 911 where she works. She gave guidance over the phone which was relayed via radio to the arriving crew with a
location where we could find them. Also, closing the bedroom door was a very smart idea, giving them the precious extra minutes of survival time. I'd like to have Katie and Jack come up and help me as I present awards to the
people on location. Over the years, we have given out medals of gallantry and medals of valor. And as chief of department, I felt it was necessary to go with the life-saving award.
You going to help me out, Jack? >> Yeah. [laughter] You want to help out? You got this. >> All right. So, in no particular order, I'm going to call out the seven people that were on location that night. Please come up and receive your award.
Firefighter Suie. [applause] [applause] >> Thank you, Firefighter Mendes. >> [applause] [crying] >> Firefighter Hawquist. [applause] >> Firefighter Black. [applause] EMTT Sedroa
[applause] >> [applause] >> And yes, my brother firefighter West. [applause] It's okay. It's okay. I'm sorry I broke up during that speech, but to understand the importance of actually saving a life is beyond words
for those of us in the emergency services. I would like to thank everybody that came for this special occasion. I know Commissioner Taylor has something else as well, and I know there's other commission business that needs to be held, so I tried to keep it
as brief as possible. But thank you all. Thank you to everybody else in my department and on my team. I appreciate everything you do. [applause] [applause] Job well done, guys. Um, this one hits a little home.
Um, Katie's my goddaughter, I don't know what I'd do without her. So, I'm giving a proclamation to everybody up here today. Um, each proclamation is uh specific to each
member. Um, I'm going to read a uh a summary of that. everything that each one of you did is written specifically in the, you know, who you were partners with and that kind of stuff. Um, whereas on July 11th, 2026 at 4:04 a.m.,
firefighters and EMTs demonstrated, you're not the only one, John. uh extraordinary courage, quick thinking, and decisive action in the face of danger, saving a life during a working dwelling fire at 39 Dorset Avenue with
reported entrapment by responding and arriving to find and confirm entrapment and a toddler on the rear roof. Whereas such an act of such an act required not only professional skill and training but also a deep sense of duty,
compassion and selflessness that defines the very heart of the fire and EMS service. And whereas this moment of heroism serves as a powerful reminder that one person's bravery can alter the course of
another's life forever, inspiring all who hear this. to hear this story to act on or act with courage and with care in their own lives. And whereas the citizens of the city of Milville, County of Carmelan are
profoundly grateful for these firefighters and EMT's dedication which stand as a living example of the values of service, sacrifice, and community. Now therefore, I, Sherman R. Taylor Jr., Director of public safety of the city of Milville, County of Kerland, do hereby
formally recognize and commend firefighters Kyle Suie, Shawn Platt, Michael Hawquist, Patrick Wetstein, and Xavier Menddees, and EMTs Ray Cleles, and Sarah Zedrogga for this remarkable act of life-saving heroism and encourage
all residents to honor and be inspired by this extraordinary example of service and courage. Thank you guys. >> [applause] [applause] >> Xavier. >> Thank you,
Michael. Carlson, you sean. >> Thank you, Ray. seems like every time I meet Ray, he's either helping me out on an ambulance or
for my own personal needs or doing something for somebody else. All these guys up here and Sarah. >> Thank you everybody. [applause] All right. If uh anybody would like to take P I I always take advantage of
these situations where I don't I don't like to rush it. So, if anybody would like to take pictures with the firefighters, um family members, uh we take a few minutes. If you don't want to stay for the meeting, this will be your cho uh chance to exit, but we'll give you guys a few minutes. We're not trying to rush anybody when we have situations
like this. come up, get your pictures with your family and the firefighters. And uh if you don't want to stay, you can leave. Yeah. Good. >> We're getting my only uh right here somewhere.
>> All right, good. Thank you. I was hoping somebody I don't know. Day number. [snorts] That would do it. Correct. >> Yeah, because that's the whole planning. You want to talk about the glass contract?
contract. At this point, we have come to the comment portion for agenda items only. Anyone who would like to address the commission, please go to the podium. State your name and address and your concerns. Please limit your comments to approximately five minutes.
Good evening, Tim Cardi Mobile. I just want to congratulate our uh first responders on a job well done like they do every day in our city. Um my name is Tim Cardi. I'm resident. I'm speaking solely in my personal capacity. My remarks do not represent any views of my family members employer business or any
boards or organizations I serve on or or any other organizations or affiliate. Tonight I'm commenting on ordinance three on a second reading the ordinance amending the city salary guide. At the last meeting, Commissioner Cot stated a couple times that this ordinance was
simply a quote unquote cleanup of the salary ordinance adopted by the previous commission. As a taxpayer, I took him at his word. But I also took time to compare the two ordinances line by line.
What I found was not simply a quote unquote cleanup. I found an entirely new position. confidential aid to the mayor with a salary range of $137,000 to $150,000 along with quite a few other titles and
salaries that are listed in this ordinance that were not listed in October 2025 approved ordinance. That raises a simple question. Was this really a quote unquote cleanup as Commissioner Cox quote it or a way to
add more positions without doing separate ordinances and being transparent to the residents on the new job titles and the new salary ranges? The really big question is why does the mayor need a confidential aid and why such a high salary? Under the Walsh act,
the mayor is a commissioner of five. The mayor presides over meetings and does not have any greater power, authority or voting power than any of you four sitting up front. The commission governs collectively. So why does he need someone to be his aid?
If he can justify for one, then why can't the rest of us as well? So what unique responsibility justifies creating a six-f figureure position dedicated to the only member of this governor body? My second question is for every commissioner sitting on the dice. Did
each of you carefully review the ordinance before it reached second reading or did you take commissioners caught quote unquote word for it? If this was presented as a cleanup ordinance, how did entirely several new positions appear in the ordinance? The
public deserves to know when new positions are being created, not discover them buried inside what was described as a quote unquote housekeeping ordinance. It's also about priorities. Our EMS employees are still working without a contract. Our fire department continues to struggle with
staffing. Taxpayers were were recently asked to accept a significant tax increase because we were told it was necessary just to fund this year's operations. Now, we're being asked to approve a salary range from 130 up to 150 for a position that has not been
publicly justified. Before you vote tonight, I ask each and each of you to answer these questions. Why does the mayor need this position? What specific duties justify for this salary? And if this position is truly necessary, why isn't it presented openly as a creation
of a new position instead of being included? Well, we are told a cleanup ordinance. The residents deserve clear answers before this ordinance is adopted. Then again, we never get answers, let alone clear ones, from some of you sitting on the dis along with our city solicitor when he's here. I
sincerely hope you listen to the concerns and comments that I share tonight. Open communication and thoughtful consideration of residents perspectives and our tax money are important to maintaining trust and transparency not only in our community but in you as well. Then again, some of you sitting up there have already lost
some of our public trust due to your actions while sitting. Remember, trust is earned through transparency, consensity, and accountability. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Cardi. Good evening, Kirk Huitt Milo. Uh
question, thoughts on ordinance on first reading 17-1, the uh bonding for the street sweeper and the vac truck. Tonight was a perfect example
of basically your entire fire department and their relatives. There weren't many firefighters here because we don't have many firefighters here. As all of you know, I spent four years sitting in that
seat as director of public safety. There were things that we bought. There were things that we bonded to increase the capabilities of the department, including EMS. I'm not going to leave them out.
including safety of the firefighters, working with outdated turnout gear, working with outdated survival gear. Now, we're going to bond for a street sweeper, which was brought
forward when I was sitting in that seat. We didn't do it in the last commission. Let's face it, center city, center city. It's the only thing that gets a street sweeper. for many years, even being involved up here as a resident, all I heard was, "You got to talk about the streets. They the
street sweepers are always in center city, folks. Let's face it, you can run that street sweeper five days a week, 24 hours a day, and on Saturday and Sunday, they will be trashed. It's just the way
it is. I'm not signaling anybody out. I'm signaling out that area because that's the area that the street sweeper works in. We have needed a firet truck for a while. I didn't have the cooperation when I sat there to bond for a firet
truck. We talked about it. We thought we did. Then we then somebody decided, ah, let's just throw a number at us. Let's repair this truck. So, they came up with a $30,000 figure that would get that truck worthy. Not
worthy on the firefighter department side thoughts or my thoughts, but worthy of a commissioner that was sitting up there. So, we sent it out $30,000. They poked away at it. They picked things to fix. It wasn't back in the house for a
week and a half and it was down again. And they continue to spend money on this. You guys are probably going to continue to spend money on it. You need a truck. You need a fire truck. Those people that were just here tonight, you all know what they do. I
really know what they do. I spent many hours. I spent 18 hours at one fire scene with them. I was not absent. I was there. You say you're together in everything that you do. You say you're looking for the best for the city. Right now, the
best for the city is bond that firetruck. It's going to take you a year and a half to two years to get it. on that fire truck. Get these EMTs. Now, I was informed tonight that they that you have sat down with one one meeting so far. Good. Thank
you for their contract. Get the EMTs a contract. I was proud in my first month because the prior commission did not get the EMTs a contract. They started without a contract. I was proud to sign a contract for them. I was proud to
stand at this microphone for months and fight for a paid EMS squad in this city to get away from Inspir and we got it. Fortunately, even Mayor Santiago, three of us were up here
one night and we were going at it. He asked us to take it out into the hallway and close the door and come back in when we figured out what we were going to ask for. And I asked for a rescue squad and other residents did. There's a resident here tonight that did. another resident that did. Another resident that did.
Folks, this city does not operate without public safety. Now, as I stand here, I see three of you that I depend on to vote no for this ordinance tonight.
Stop it. Table it. Bring back an ordinance. Get with the chief. Get with the fire company. Get an updated price. Get us a fire truck. Get us firefighters. You don't know what it's like to be standing there when you know
there's bodies in the house and you see your firefighters, what it's done to them. 18 hours. And I look around and I see volunteer fire companies from all over South Jersey, from Cumberland County there with more personnel.
volunteer fire companies, more personnel and better equipment. Look at Bridgton. When the tower was down and back out at the factory, what did Bridton do for us? They loaned us a truck so we could keep this city safe. It is everybody's
responsibility there. Everybody's responsible for public safety over anything else. >> Thank you, M. >> Please say no on this ordinance and get that firetruck. Thank you. Seeing no one else at the podium, I will
close uh public comments on agenda items only. Madame clerk, let's move on to bills. >> Yes, we need a motion to approve the bill list. >> Like to make a motion. Second the motion. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasabun, >> yes.
>> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. Let's move on to reports of commissioners. Let's start off with Commissioner Taylor. >> Okay. Uh first I'll start with the uh numbers for June
the MS division. 628 total calls. 307 of those were transported by EMS. 147 uh patient refusals. 65 treated with ALS and a mix of of the
other smaller calls. The fire department had 128 total calls. Their top five were 37 motor vehicle accidents, 20 malfunctioning alarms, nine accidental alarms, seven fire
alarms, six gas leak or odors of gas. Uh actual fires were five trash or rubbish rubbish fires, two grass or vegetation fires, two structural involvement fires, and two other outside fires.
The police department 3,448 total calls. Their top calls were 784 assist own agency, 188 motor vehicle stops, 147 UEZ patrols, 136 suspicious circumstances,
134 animal complaints, 129 unwanted persons, 114 motor vehicle citizen complaints, 107 property checks, 104 alarms, and 92 motor vehicle accidents. I'd like to talk about the storm that we
had this a this weekend. On Saturday, July 18th, the city of Milville experienced a severe weather event, including heavy downpours, thunder, lightning, and very high winds. The National Weather Service has determined that the wind event that struck our city mostly in the third ward
neighborhoods was likely a micro burst. A micro burst is defined as a highly localized powerful downdraft of sinking air within a thunderstorm. As dense air plummets and crashes to the ground, it spreads outward in all directions, producing violent, damaging straight
line winds that can reach 60 miles per hour and exceed 100 miles hour. The National Weather Service saw no evidence of tornatic activity or rotation in our area. The storm began around 6 pm and lasted until shortly before 7 p.m.
During the height of the storm, the Millville Fire Department responded to over 30 calls for service. The Milville Police Department responded to 56 calls for service. 46 of those were storm related. I want to commend both departments for
their dedication and hard work during the storm and afterwards. from helping with tree removal and blocking of roads due to down trees and wires. I also want to commend OEM coordinator Statnik for responding at the beginning of the storm and keeping
me advised of the situation and for coordinating our city streets and roads and parks department to get the cleanup started as soon as it was safe to do so. I would like to commend all of the city workers who came in during the cleanup
and storm to assist our residents. It's not easy to leave your families to come in and help others. I would also like to thank our emergency partners who responded. Atlantic City Electric who responded in a timely manner to assess the situation and prioritize the area
hit hardest by the storm. I also would like to thank them for keeping us updated throughout the entire storm process of reconnection and they did they they were texting us and calling us hourly if
not more. Um, some other key partners that generally are in the background of the emergency are the Kling County Department of Public Works, the men and women of the Karland County 911 Center for answering and getting help where it was needed to be, Comcast
Xfinity, the multiple tree service companies that were called in by the various utilities. And at last, but certainly not least, I want to thank the many citizens of Millville that after the storm came out and helped each other,
neighbors helping neighbors. And that's what the spirit of Milville is all about. Pride, resil, resiliency, and caring for one another. As I was riding around with coordinator Stadnik to assess what was going on, I saw people
helping each other. I saw contractors helping the neighbors move logs and everybody was okay. We we suffered no injuries in any of our departments that I'm aware of. Um unless that has changed since uh this morning. Um and I just
commend everybody that came together and worked during this storm. We're supposed to have some more activity tonight and I hope it blows over and passes us. we have the bay effect and it just splits and goes around. Um, but like I said, I
I want to thank everybody and all the city departments that came together and all of the people in Millville that came together. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Taylor. Commissioner Reanella. >> Sure. [clears throat] Uh, bear with me. My notes are a little all over the place tonight.
Um before I begin my report, um I want to acknowledge that what I'm about to talk about isn't uh normally what you would see in one of my commissioners reports. However, it directly involves u my responsibilities
as an elected official and um that's to review matters before this governing body, ask questions, and ensure the public record is accurate and transparent. After taking a closer look and comparing the November 2025 salary ordinance
adopted by the previous board of commissioners with the salary ordinance that's before us tonight. Um I think the public and our fellow commissioners here deserve a clearer picture.
It looks like numerous titles have been added since November 2025. Many of them are administrative in nature, including as Mr. Mr. Cardi pointed out, a mayor's confidential aid
of up to $150,000. The ordinance states that it's amending the salary ordinance to quote reflect new classifications, grades, and salaries. Uh my concern is that we need to clearly
understand what's being established tonight when we get to that ordinance because some of these titles don't even have maximums listed. Um my concern isn't whether the positions will eventually be needed. Uh but it's how the public that the public has a
complete understanding of what's being adopted. Um and the record really should match the reality. So shame on me. Uh I should have asked these questions sooner uh when this went through first reading. Uh my responsibility now is to ask that the
public has the complete picture before moving forward. Um but on to my report. Uh the parks department is really grateful for the assistance from streets and roads with the cleanup at Bird's Nest Park on Dock Street uh across from
the Wood School. That area was hit really, really hard with this storm. Across our park system, Union Lake Park took the greatest impact uh with nearly a dozen trees down and many more damaged with broken limbs hanging off. Uh it's going to be a
significant cleanup effort and will likely require outside contracting support. It's pretty bad. At the Malbury Street parking lot, two trees are down. They're being addressed now. Uh, three trees were also removed from Corson Park today.
The sewer department also lost power. Uh, but thanks to S's preparation and planning, a team was ready to respond and ensure operations continued efficiently on the backup generator and everything is powered and running normal. Now, um,
I just really want to thank all of our departments for coming together. um public safety, water, streets and roads, sewer, uh parks. It's all hands- on deck response, and I'm I'm just really grateful that everybody stepped
up to keep the city running. For our upcoming events, we have play streets tomorrow. Um I hope all the kids come. Pine Street between second and third. This week's theme is going to be arts and entertainment, so that'll be fun. Uh we encourage everybody to come out, participate, and enjoy the
activities. We also have Holly Holly Cityfest coming up on August 29th. We're still accepting vendors. Um we're currently looking for additional vendors to help make the event a success, but uh our food vendor spots have already been filled. So, we're no longer accepting
additional food vendors at this time, but we welcome all other types of vendors to participate. And our car show is coming up. We're really excited about that. That's on September 12th. Uh remember that the first 100 people to register will receive a free t-shirt. Registration is
first come, first served. You want those t-shirts. So uh please call the department to reserve your spot for either of those events at 8568257000 extension 7394. And you could also register for the car
show um on our city's website. Uh, one more quick thing. Uh, the Millville sewer utility gave a report for, uh, June 1st to June 30th. Uh, the sewer plant has been running good and as normal, uh, with no major issues. Um,
not including the normal duties of the sewer utility. Um, there's so many different jobs that they've completed here. Um, if anybody wants to look at this, they're more than welcome to. It's up here on my desk. They've responded to 18 emergency calls, uh, six emergency
call stations, two street maintenance. Altogether, there were 24 total calls, 7,339 ft of lines cleaned. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner. >> Before we get too long, because I I [clears throat] forget to do this every
month. Why? I have no idea. But I'd like to make a motion to uh accept the uh reports for June 2026. Second the motion. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon,
>> yes. >> Let's continue. Commissioner Kabun. >> All right. I really just have one thing. Um, I'll save the other one for the end. I really can't say enough about how Milville's police department, fire, EMS, streets and roads, recreation, motor,
and sewer departments all jumped into action for our city this Saturday night. Mother Nature has not been kind to us this year and Saturday's night storm left several areas in yet another mess to clean up with the third ward being
hit the hardest and it was it's a disaster over there. I rode through there after church Saturday night. When the storm hit, I knew it was serious. Neighbors, as I saw, neighbors were helping one another, cleaning the streets as best as they could. City
crews worked late into the night to get the what they could the roads open that didn't have the wires. Wires were down and then another round of storms came through hampering their progress. So many of our residents have been without
power up until probably I think last night they finally that area and continuing today we finally got McNeel Street back open there was two huge trees out there my
many residents were some for over a day to complicate matters our streets and roads back hillo broke down again remaining out of service for a day until it could be repaired it's back up and it got McNeel Street cleaned up and opened. Despite the challenges, the resilience of
Milville shone through as we muddled through and continue cleaning up our city. I just want to say thank you to every one of them. >> All I have. >> Thank you, Commissioner Cman. Vice Mayor C. >> Oh, yeah. From my commissioner's report, uh we've been working on a lot of
grants, lawsuits, OPRAS, personnel matters, uh collecting assessments, and uh contracts. uh that was brought up today. Uh EMTs uh I'm sure Kirk might have forgot a little bit, but contracts do take a while uh to get through. In fact, your commission was a year and a
half on some of them. So, you do understand that some of them are hard to get through. So, I was surprised you were overly worried about that, but we are meeting with everybody. We met with uh Chief Wetstein prior. Um sometimes lawyers and things. It's just hard to get people in the room. Um so, I will
help you remember that. Uh, so we are working on the EMTs. We have not forgotten about them and we're actively working on them, but sometimes trying to get everybody in the same room. Um, there's been nothing moving, but it was a first contract ever
was what they had and a lot of cleaning up to do on that contract. It was a hurd contract, so we're trying to make this a lot better contract. Um, and that's all we have for right now. the other comments. I'll wait for the appropriate time instead of going off.
>> Thank you. >> Um I have some quick things to say. Just want to uh >> Oh, >> sorry. I'd like to make a motion to receive and file the tax collector's report for the month of June. Second motion. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes.
>> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kaspoon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinell, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. All right. I would just like to uh you know talk about the firefighters. I've known Justin Hatfield for quite a while. I've never met his wife or son,
but uh he's become a good friend over the years. So I'm very thankful um not just because I know Justin, but because you know, every life is valuable and uh the responsibility that firefighters have. You know, I've never been in a situation where I've had to
take myself and run into a burning building or run into a store that's being robbed or a a first responder situation. So, uh, these folks are different. They're built different. And, uh, until you're faced with that type
of, you know, we all sit back and we watch TV and we see stuff and we try to say, "I could do that. I could run into that burning building myself and do that." And until you're faced with that uh situation, we don't know what we're really made of. But the nice thing is and the amazing thing is these people
know what they're made of. They've tested it out. They have proven what they've done. So we're doing everything we can to support public safety. You may not see outwardly what's going on, right, Vice Mayor? But these things are in process. These things are thought
about. you know, we I spend 30 hours a week here with the business administrator and and my fellow commissioners come in and they see you on the outside don't see what we talk about. We talk about these things a couple times a week at least and progress is being made on a lot of these. Um, I think people on the outside
and and folks that have been commissioners know that things happen on the inside that you don't come to the podium and or come to the day here and talk about every time because things are being negotiated things and I feel like people sometimes want to know everything that's going on when I think
commissioners that have been through this understand that there's things that have to go through certain processes and negotiations and things that we don't come to the deis and tell everybody everything that's going on every moment of negotiation. So things are progressing. So I do want to uh
appreciate the firefighters in EMS who put their lives on the line um selflessly and for you know they're not making a million dollars a year. U so they do it, you know, because they're brave people and we appreciate it. Um as far as the storm goes, I do want to also
thank the city workers, public safety, streets and and roads, parks and public property. when things like this happen, we knew from the the snowstorms um how those people are called in and they always pull through for the city. So, very thankful for uh what those workers
do for the city where you know uh a lot of us all get to sit home during these things and and just watch what goes on. But, you know, they're the city workers, the ones that 8:00 I know that 8:00, you know, half an hour after some of these things happened, Commissioner Kasaboon, some of the roads were cleared off
already. It was amazing how quickly our our folks got to it. Um, I want to thank the ACE workers. I'm friends with some people who work for Atlantic City Electric and those folks are they work around the clock. I have a good friend Brian Delvecio who works and when stuff like this happens, they are working. He
says, "I haven't been home since the storm." This was like three days later or two days later. >> And Mrs. Delio is probably very happy to hear that. >> Yeah. So, uh, thank you for the the emergency workers who go out there and and work all that overtime to, uh, to do get our
electricity back up. My electricity was out for 24 hours, and it's, you know, I >> I I cry about it, but those folks were out there in the middle of the night working all all night through. So, we appreciate that. And during the storm, uh there was a CBS news reporter um who
was in town and I got a chance to speak to uh him. And the interesting thing that I want to say about that dialogue I had with him was he said he's been he went all through the city and he's been doing it for two years. Had a nice little chat with him. He's been doing
this type of thing for two years and he goes to all cities all over the place. And he said, and one of the things he stressed was Milville is different than a lot of places that he's been. He said that he's walked up on people whose trees are in the yard, trees are on the house, and those are
the some of the worst times of people's lives where they have to deal with a situation like this. And he says normally people are nasty, they're rude, they don't want to talk to them. And he said that he saw things in Noble that he doesn't see anywhere. How the resilience of our people work together. People were
happy. people were helping, people were. And he he said he's never really seen anything quite like that before. So, I do want to congratulate and, you know, talk to the people of Milville and tell you how much I appreciate you
for being the type of people who really pitch in for each other. And it's pretty amazing that we somebody from outside the city came in and noticed that we are kind of different here. And I really do. And the more we do this, I think
Milville is a special place. And I think uh the more I do this, the more people I meet and the the more things I learn about the city. Milville is a place that is very different than a lot of other places. You know, I know some people say things are the same all over, Vice
Mayor, but um Milville really is different. The things we have here, the potential that we have, the directions that we're moving, I really see some great things happening in the city and uh we have great Um what we saw tonight is evidence of the great people that uh
work for and live in this city. Um moving on to um just something from the fifth floor. Uh great news. We became a part of a new program for the state called New Jersey Homes AB ABC. And that is a uh a program through the state that
allows us to better manage our affordable housing program. Um the affordable housing program um not only builds affordable housing, a lot of people don't like that. But another thing affordable housing programs do for us, it helps us improve the affordable
housing we already have. So imagine there's a a a home that's owned uh on the way into town and it needs repair, it needs work. um we can actually help those homeowners if they meet a certain uh criteria
um fix those homes up. So, there's a lot of things we can do with affordable housing um grants and affordable housing money that can help the people who are already here. And I think that's a great thing. Um helping the people that are here in the city who need help. Um this
is some this is a program that's going to really help us dig in and uh and make those people's lives a little easier. So, that's great. Um, code enforcement. The code enforcement officers are very, very busy up there. They get hundreds of calls and uh, people that call up and
they have complaints. I just have a list of the things that overflowing sewer cleanouts, illegal dumping and alleys, illegal daycare concerns, landlord tenant complaints. You know, somebody calls up with a landlord tenant complaint and that can take a half an hour of somebody's time. So, you know, our business manager Sean Fel's up there
and he gets these calls all day long and uh, it takes up a lot of time and is responsible for a lot managing that entire floor. So when somebody calls with, you know, an overgrown yard, they want to tell the entire story of their lives with a neighbor and we've all gone through issues with our neighbors and
you know how it can get, you know, blown up into uh a big thing and they have to tell the entire story. So these calls can take 20 minutes to a half an hour and it just eats up your day. Uh homeowner complaints about neighboring rental units, business sanitation conditions, fallen trees, junken yard,
illegal auto businesses. So, those are things where we take those calls and we go out and we try to make sure that uh a lot of neighbor complaints take up a lot of time up there where one neighbor has a problem with what another neighbor's doing. So, code enforcement gets called in on that a lot to try to um I think
there's someone in the town having trouble with a dog going into the neighbor's yard. I don't know if you see those as well, but I think I've gotten 400 emails on a dog in somebody's honestly, it's got to be 400 emails I have on somebody's every day. Every time a dog comes into this person's yard, we
get an email about it. And that's the type of thing that the fifth fifth floor deals with. Um, and it can get pretty uh complex and uh time consuming. So, I want to thank the fifth floor and obviously want to thank engineering for everything they do and also want to thank Joe Couchy for all the great
things he's doing up there as well. Um, and I have a few more comments that I will save uh to the end. Um, madame clerk, let's move on to regular business. >> Ordinance for second reading. Ordinance for second reading item number one, an
ordinance authorizing an application for a coin drop, Lawrence Township EMS, August 1st and 2nd, 2026. And there is a public hearing as well. >> If anybody like to make a comment on this ordinance, please approach the podium, state your name and address and your comments.
Seeing no one approach the podium, I will close the public hearing portion for this ordinance. Um, madame clerk, >> I'd like to make a motion. >> I'll second. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasabun, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo,
>> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. Ordinance for second reading item number two, an ordinance amending chapter 39 of the municipal code motor vehicle and traffic regulations to add handicap parking at 323 South 3rd Street. >> There's a public hearing on this as
well. If you'd like to make a comment on this second reading of the ordinance, please approach the podium, state your name and address and your comments. Seeing no one approach the podium. I will close public hearing portion of this and a motion to accept the second reading on this ordinance.
>> I'd like to make a motion. I'll second it. Uh, roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Caspoon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. >> Ordinance for second reading item number three. An ordinance to amend the salary ordinance.
>> There's a public hearing on this as well. If you'd like to make a uh a comment, please approach podium, state your name and address and your comments. >> Good evening. My name is Tim Cardi. Once again, I'm a resident of the city. I'm speaking solely on my personal capacity.
My remarks do not represent the views of my family members, employer, business, or any boards or commissions that I serve on or any other organizations or affiliates. I sincerely hope you listen to my concerns I raised during the public comment on agenda items on this. Once again, even though it was just
stated, contract talks are in effect with the EMS, but they are still working without a contract. A fire department is still operating with staffing shortages and a department like streets and roads short staff and having equipment issues
that was just stated. If you vote in favor of this ordinance, it sends a message not only to me but the other taxpayers that expanding administrative positions is a higher priority than investing in our frontline employees who keep our city running and our residents safe. Everything you put on there was
administrative. And again, it wasn't a cleanup from an October salary ordinance. There was other salaries listed and high paying salaries. It's easy to praise these dedicated employees when they go above
and beyond. Whether it's responding to emergencies, saving lives, clearing roads after storms, or working long hours during snow events, they deserve that recognition. But recognition alone doesn't solve staffing shortages or equipment issues. The funding being used to create new
positions and new salaries could instead be invested in strengthening our public safety departments along with our streets and roads with staffing and equipment that is desperately needed. Maybe it really is time to change the city's nickname from the Holly city to
the city that does more with less, just as the firefighter union t-shirts state. Because that's exactly what our frontline employees and public workers have been forced to do for so long. And it's time for a major change. And the change doesn't happen today. It doesn't
happen tomorrow. And it doesn't happen next week or next year. It starts today. So instead of giving out highpaying non-title administrative salaries like a mayor's confidential for 130,000, think
about how many firefighters that could hire or public work employees. I believe 130,000 could probably bring on at the salary of a firefighter base pay maybe two to three extra.
No, we put stupid positions in as cleanup salary ordinance to hide it from the public instead of putting them on ordinances like prior commissions have done to be transparent to the residents of the city.
I hope you make the the right decision and think about the residents and the taxpayers and not keep hiring administrative staff to sit in their comfy air conditioned offices and push pencils when we have workers that are dealing with the elements and saving
lives that are short staffed because one day and I'm not jinxing anybody because I was a firefighter for 20 years. You don't want to have a line of duty death in this city. and it come to find out that we were short staff because this city will go broke in lawsuits. Thank
you. >> Thank you, Mr. Carter. >> Hi, Laura Burns. I wasn't going to speak, but I have a question. Especially with the blank salaries, that makes me nervous. And I did call the Division of
Local Government Services today. I don't know how accurate it is, but I talked to the bureau chief and he and I asked him specifically, can municipalities have maximum salaries blank? The the regulations say it has to state a salary
range. You have to state what the salary is. And the bureau chief confirmed that that they must have the salary range that includes minimum and maximum. And the fact that you would even be willing to put I've never seen that put blank spaces for a salary ordinance. I mean,
people falsify public records every day almost. Well, not every day, but recently. And so, I'm afraid somebody's going to slip something in there. So, it's it's just it's not it doesn't make any sense to do that, to leave them blank. Where's the transparency? Adding
new titles. The new titles I added up comes to, and that's not including police because I noticed police I went back a salary ordinance was never passed for the police department, for supervisors and PBA. their MOA was, but it wasn't confirmed with the salary
ordinance. Unless I missed it, maybe I did, but it's it's just to not do new titles. It's like you're doing underhanded and you're losing the public trust. I also would like to know who all knew up here. I know she didn't,
but who all knew about the new titles? And why doesn't it say new titles in the salary ordinance? It doesn't even mention anything about new titles. This is underhanded. And you don't have my public trust at all. >> All right. Seeing no one else at the
podium, I will close the public hearing portion for this ordinance. Can I get a motion, please? >> Well, no, not yet. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> Not yet. Because we can discuss it as well. >> All right. >> Um, so a few things. Uh, this isn't new, right? I know some people have never uh
seen the blank salaries. So, Vice Mayor, we're going to discuss it, but I'm going to close the public >> Yes. >> comment portion of this. >> So, I know some some people never seen the open salaries. Maybe they didn't look at last year's, right? Um, so there were open salaries last year, just as this one. So, um, so maybe they didn't
know, maybe they didn't see, maybe they didn't pay attention to November. That's possible. Um, that was based also on our personnel director and our CFO and they made phone calls too. Um, no, not once were they ever told they couldn't do
that. Um, everybody here commission wise has seen those salary orders, right? It's been on what, a month now? >> So, every commissioner has time to review it. Um, the new positions
I I know a lot of it appears to be falling on me, right? The new positions are based on the personnel director looking at each department. Not my department, could be your department, could be public safety department. Uh we look for the future. The um public
safety uh director had input on some of the potential new ones. Um fire department potential police potential um you actually talked to the chiefs um and things like that. Same thing with various departments. You might have had new salaries that in the future you
might want. So she put it on for the civil service aspect and other things. There still would need to be a resolution whenever we hire them. >> Correct. >> So it's nothing crazy. Um nothing I know >> I have some comments as well. >> I know a lot of people lack trust and
that's fine. Uh that's their prerogative. Uh but yes, so we did copy a lot of it from 2025. Um the open salary once again was the same that was passed by the previous commission. Not saying it's right or wrong. I'm just
saying it's not new. So, um everything in there, uh anything new I didn't put on. Uh they were based on recommendations from the directors of those um
departments. So, besides that, I don't think there's much else on there. Uh all five of us had a month to look at them. I know some commissioners have asked numerous employees multiple times about the salary. Um, nobody's approached me.
So that's nobody approached me with concern about a particular salary. Uh, unfortunately I don't want to threat this on you, but that one position is yours and I'm sure you won't talk about it. >> Oh, I'm going to talk about >> Yep. So that's all I have for that. >> Thank you. Would anybody else like to comment?
All right. So when we came in, one of the things that we had talked about when we came in was uh moving uh Joe Couchy to economic development. And there were a lot of people who ran for office. Uh some I don't see here, but besides the ones here, they said we need an economic
development director. And having been here, and that was something I ran on as well. And having been here uh for six months now, I know the commissioner sitting next to me, and I'm not going to take a straw poll, see how much work that Joe Couch does. And Vice Mayor, I
know that you see how much work he does. I know Commissioner Taylor, Commissioner C, you know how much work that he does and how much things are in the pipeline and how valuable having those positions split. And I'm sure the municipal administrator would agree that there's
no way he could handle properly handle um economic development and his duties for municipal administrator. It's just not possible. Um, it's easy to sit in those seats out there and go, "Why do we have two positions?" That's always been
handled by the same person. You don't see the amount of work that goes into that position and Joe Couch's position. How much he works on in a day. He works in, he doesn't take a lunch. He he is working constantly all day long to make
this city a better place. So when he was moved from the mun administrator to the uh economic development, he was put into he was in the DCRP retirement um program
through no fault of his own, through the fault of the way it was done, not pointing any fingers, he was moved to the director of economic and industrial envelopment inadvertently. Certainly that put him
into a different retirement um plan. He went from DCP to PERS. Now in the PERS system, it's a completely different plan where he will not get a single benefit vice mayor unless he's here for 10 years.
So if he's here for another four years until he retires, all he does is get his money back with nothing added to it. on the DCP retirement um plan that he was on. He was getting a matching contribution and that's the plan where it makes sense for him to be on because
he's not going to be with the city for 10 years. He is losing money. So we said, how do we fix this? We can't fix the retirement program while he is in the title director of economic development. So the
only uh solution we have is at the same pay, same everything, move him to a title called confidential aid to the mayor. It is the same job, same pay, same everything. It only allows us to put him back into the DCP
retirement position. And that's what we're going to do. We're going to move Joe Couchy from his title director of economic development to what's called it's a confidential aid because that allows him to go back into the pension program that he was in before. Um that's
what's happening with that title. So um as when we do that that's going to come forward on a separate ordinance doing that. You're going to see Joe Couchy moving from the title of director of economic development to confidential aid. I'm sure everybody's going to get a
great kick out of going on social media and saying, "Oh my god, the mayor has a confidential aid for 130,000. Oh my goodness, we should be paying other people this." He's not. This is the same job, same title, same everything.
All right, he's just going to be moving to a different title to be able to put him back into the DCP pension program. All right, so that's what's going on there. All right, please. >> Finished.
Finished. All right. If you're going to be a disruption, you can leave, Mr. Cardi. But are you finished? >> I'm finished. Are you finished? >> Thank you. I'm not finished. But if you're not finished, tell me now. >> I'm hard to hear. >> All right. Maybe move the seat next to him. But if I can hear what you're
saying, you're talking too loudly. So, that's what's going on. Um, that's the one that's the only thing that I know about that was on there and that is for the benefit of Joe Couch and I I believe he has um everyone's confidence in here because we're all very well aware of the amount of work he does and
what he's been doing for the city. Um, any other comments? >> I do I have a comment for the public safety end. So, there are several new titles on the salary ordinance that involve the fire department.
Chief Wetstein and myself had had numerous conversations in length about the restructuring and where he wants to go with the fire department. This is the first step in recognizing those titles for the city that we have
to do so that we can continue to to grow his restructuring plans. It's the first step. It's not the last step, but it's progress in the plan that
he has for the fire department that I have utmost confidence in him that the plan that he is working on is going to advance the fire department. He has great ideas.
He has great plans and like I said, this is the the first step in advancing that plan. As far as
the other titles, there titles to be recognized that we may use in the future. And I think that our human resources, Mr. Rivera has done a great job in
looking to the future to get these titles in there so that we can recognize them because sometimes it takes a little while for the state to get behind us and
recognize the titles that we have. It could take months and once the like once the fire department is able to move forward with this plan, I don't want to wait months. I don't want to
wait six months, eight months, nine months to get titles recognized. If we can recognize the titles ahead of time, then that's what I want to do. So, >> but there'll still be a resolution when that >> correct. Yes. Correct. So, you are
talking to the chief of fire and getting his >> I talk to all my chiefs. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Commissioner Taylor. Any further comments? >> All right. Can we get a motion? >> Yeah, I'd like to make a motion. >> I'll second the motion.
>> Let's get a roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> no. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. Ordinances for first reading. Ordinance for first reading. Item number one, bond
ordinance appropriating $1,150,000 and authorizing the issuance of up to $1,150,000. Aggregate principal amount general obligation bonds or notes of the city of Milville, County of Cumberland, New Jersey for the purchase of a jet factor truck and street sweeper for the city of
Milville, County of Cumberland, New Jersey. >> I'll make a motion. >> Uh, can we discuss real quick? >> Yes. because I have a lot to talk about this. Um I never knew something so positive was going to need so much explanation but here we go. >> Uh we have been using Triad which is
doing an amazing job. So what we did with Triad is we gave them a list of some of our top things, wish list if you will, things that Milville desperately needs
and we we challenged them to find funding sources for these including hold your seat fire trucks on there. >> So that isn't this isn't in lie of a fire truck. This is in another lane
going the same way. So Triad has this list from us of important things that are important to us that we would like funding and why they were looking they found this infrastructure the I bank to
they said hey your vector truck will fit perfectly of this. They didn't say hey we're forgetting your fire truck or any other capital things. They're looking at all the funding sources and I bank the vector truck fit perfectly at this. And they also said, you're not going to
believe this, but while we're at it, the street sweeper actually be able to be in here as well. >> So that was a bonus based on Triad's um hard work that they put in. And not only did were they able to do that, they were able to secure a lot of the soft cost in
that, the engineering, their cost, um, any other things that you sort of forget about from time to time. And if anybody's unfamiliar with ibank, and I'm not going to lie, I was as well. It's a weird structure in which it's an infrastructure um loan uh bank loan type
thing where they have different levels you can do it but it's for public utilities, sewer, water, storm water, storm management, things like that. Well, what is outstanding and amazing about this is one they have different levels to where
the interest rate is extremely low. Um we won't know that yet. This is just the process of us to see if we qualify for what we want. And what we want is a principal forgiveness load, which means this one point um I don't want to
misquote because I know a lot of people out there really dig into that. Uh 1,150,000 will be forgiven. >> That's correct. >> So $1.15 million forgiven.
um we would make an interest payment of and once again I'm not even going to quote it. Um >> it's one% >> I don't know what it is. I do not know what it is. Um but it's extremely low. It's a it's a interest rate you'll you'll never see anywhere else. >> Um
so once again it's not has anything to do with not wanting other things. Uh believe it or not >> we couldn't have you're saying we couldn't have used this for the fire truck. It just could not. The Vector fit in this. Street Sweeper
was not on this. They found out that it could be. So, we're getting a two for one deal. >> Um, and and once again, we meet, I don't say we, public safety uh, director has met with the chiefs, both
chiefs, so many times to try to figure out what their needs and wants are. And like I said, the firetruck is his number one thing um that he wants to get and that we've been pushing administrators been pushing Triad to look look find and
we are going to do it. Um and not only is Triad doing that, they're also helping the fire department and other departments look for other funding sources for things that they may need. So >> we were on the phone with Triad today. >> We were on the phone with Triad today >> twice. I was on the phone with Triad and
they are not to interrupt vice mayor but um but one of the things we talked about not long ago was uh how much grant money that Vinland gets compared to Milville and if municipal administrator if I can was it 20 million that Vinland close to
19.8 8 million in grants that Vini gets and I forget what the exact number was for Milville. Uh less than two million in grants. >> 1.7 I believe 1.7. >> So that's what Triad's doing. And and I appreciate you clarifying that. Sorry to interrupt you.
>> No. And then and once again I understand that a lot of the public um like the ones who spoke today don't really know what the high bank is. So it's good that we can you know explain that to because you know to be honest I wasn't sure you know a month ago what it was. Um, but you can't just always get these I bank
loans. You you you hope you apply for them, you ask for certain things, and then they let you know if you get them or not, right? >> Um, but yes, we're going to get a $1.15 million thing forgive if we get it. >> Right. >> So, if this resolution is for us to move forward in that process, which
>> and just to stress like what you said, this is not, you know, taking a bond of 1.1 million and saying, "Hey, we're going to do this instead of a fire truck." >> Has nothing to do with it. Uh we're still full steam ahead looking for a firet truck whether we end up buying it later or looking for grants but we are
actively looking for all that among other things not just a firet truck but I know um people throw that out there because it's you know it's easy to say we're not looking for that and and it causes chaos and things like that. >> That's a great social media post. >> Correct, Vice Mayor. >> But we are still actively working for
all that stuff. So, um, I just want to let you guys know what I bank is and and how important that is and what we're getting for them. >> Very important because it provides updated equipment for the city. It benefits the residents, puts us in compliance for things.
>> Thank you, commissioners. Any other comments from commissioners on this? >> All right. Can I get a motion? >> Make a motion. >> Oh, yeah. You're sorry. I'll second that. >> Thank you. >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot. >> Yes. Yes. >> Commissioner Kaspoon. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo. >> Yes.
>> Mayor Dixon. >> Yes. >> Um on the next one, uh did you want to announce it first and then I'll >> Yeah, just read the title. An ordinance amending Milville Code Chapter 30, Land Use and Development Regulations, Article 22, signs to permit digital message board signs under limited circumstances.
>> So, we received feedback on this. I worked uh just real quick, I worked with this on with our plan. It's the role of the planning attorney and the planning board uh our planner to do things like this and we received feedback from the chair uh on the zoning board and made
some good points. Uh she was at the work session made some really good points. Um and we are actually going to table this. We're going to make a motion to table or I'm going to ask for a motion to table this um because I received it this weekend. I'm processing it. I still need
to speak to the planning attorney and what basically the changes we're going to make is going to uh her main uh problems with it where you can read it and it's not clear in certain places. Um and she makes a few good points and what I want to do is I really want to
dig in and make sure that it's as clear and the changes I made I want to run it back past our planner and our planning uh board attorney to make sure that it's everything everybody likes. So, uh, thank you, uh, Chairman Davis for, uh, getting that to me this weekend, but I
just don't have enough time, uh, for it to be on this and within two weeks. Uh, I'll have time to get it back on. >> She said she was going to get back to you over the weekend. >> She did. She did. She did. She had She has some very valid points. >> Absolutely. So, very valid points. >> I made those changes to the ordinance.
I'm going to uh collaborate with our planner and planning board attorney over the next few days and you'll see this show up on the next motion. Uh probably a little more clearer, less ambiguity and uh a way to define terms more. Um so
it it'll be a better ordinance for the collaboration from all sides. So uh can I get a motion to table this? >> Uh yes, I'll make a motion. I'll second it. Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor C. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Kaspoon? Yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo. >> Yes. >> Mayor Dixon.
>> Yes. >> Resolutions. Resolution item number one. Resolution authorizing tax and utility adjustments. >> I'd like to make a motion. >> I'll second. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo? >> Yes.
>> Mayor Dixon? >> Yes. >> Resolution item number two. resolution authorizing special assessment of municipal leans for certain properties incurred by Milville relating to emergency repairs. >> And very quickly, this was the property on the high street that the facade was falling off. We talked about this in the
uh work session and uh we have tried and tried and tried to get a hold of the property owners and they will not respond. So rather than letting a facade fall off, uh we took the decision to repair it. So, the repair costs, I think it was a little over $7,000, will go on to uh a lean that's collected just like
property taxes. And uh that's definitely going to get their attention. >> Uh can we get a motion? >> I'd like to make a motion. I'll second it. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Caspoon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes.
>> Resolution item number three, resolution authorizing amendment number three to Millville glass and door contract. >> Yeah. Their contract had one more option to extend. Um so uh we're looking just to extend their last option. >> Okay. >> And the this is for board and security. >> Correct.
>> Make a motion. >> I'll second it. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo? >> Yes. >> Mayor Dixon? >> Yes. >> Resolution item number four. Resolution requesting approval for the insertion of a special item of revenue funded through
the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety Division of Administration for the 2026 Safe and Secure Grant. I'd >> like to make a motion. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon,
>> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. >> Resolution item number five, resolution authorizing approval of water and sanitary sewer main extension. make a motion. I will say that this is needed. Um there is company that is
looking to purchase that land and build on it and we need to have this sewer out there. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> I'll second it. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo? >> Yes. >> Mayor Dixon? >> Yes. Resolution item number six,
resolution authorizing approval to submit a grant application and execute a grant contract with the New Jersey Department of Transportation for the project entitled LIF2027 Broad Street Reconstruction and Traffic Signal Improvements. >> We talked about this at length at the
work session. This is a project that's been uh um in the works since I think 2016. Um, so this is going to allow us to actually uh apply for the grant for this and it's going to be from Columbia Avenue to Broad Street and it's going to
make it uh seventh abroad and make Broad Street um easier. It's going to do uh lights. It's going to do uh light organization and it's going to uh synchronization and it's going to do curbs and repaving and
it's going to make Broad Street an easier corridor to get through town. We all know how congested it is to get from, you know, on Main Street from one side to the other. Some days it takes 20 minutes during certain times of day. So, if we can make Broad Street an easier cross city um way to get from one side to the other, that's going to uh
alleviate congestion. So, this will be taken care of by uh grant money, which is another win for the city. Can we get a motion? >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second that. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Caspoon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo,
>> yes. Yes. Mayor Dixon. >> Yes. >> Resolution item number seven, resolution requesting permission per NJSA4A 4-39 for the dedication by Ryder for fees associated with tree removal and replacement within the city of Milville
as required by NJD municipal storm water requirements and the municipal shade tree commission. >> So this is a uh a state requirement. when somebody comes in and does a project or even people remove trees in in uh you know for projects in their own yard, they're required for, you know,
certainized trees to replace trees. Um if they're caught doing it, they can get fined. Um we're going to be looking closer at the uh the resolution we have to kind of uh uh fine-tune that a little bit, but we were required to have a
dedicated fund for when those monies go into. We didn't currently have a fund for those monies to go into. So, this creates the fund when somebody wants to pay for uh the tree fund. Uh the number of trees they've taken out, they can they're going to be able to pay a number
uh of dollars per tree that they need to replace. Uh some the money has to go somewhere and this is where the money is going to be put. >> Can I get a motion? >> Like to make a motion. >> I'll second. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasabun, >> yes. Yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo.
>> Yes. >> Mayor Dixon. >> Yes. >> Resolution item number eight, resolution requesting approval of items of revenue and appropriation NJSA4A-87 NJUZ police program. >> Yes. If this was a resolution in 2025,
uh we did have a concerned citizen go through 2025 and found this resolution and found an error. Um so they just wanted to make sure everything was okay. They did contact the state just to make sure nothing was willful or or fraudulent. And we did our own investigation. nothing was done with any
fraud intent willful. Um everything was good to go. The state came back uh recently and said, "Yep, they found absolutely zero that was done willful or and there was absolutely nothing fraudulent." So they said, "Just please post this again and uh since somebody
made a um concern about it, so >> we're putting fixing an error that happened uh correct last time." >> Yep. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. Can we get a uh motion? >> Um like to make a motion. I'll second. And roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon. >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Reinelloo. >> Yeah. Yes. >> Mayor Dixon. >> Yes. Uh, Madame Clerk, is there any new business? >> There is none, Mayor. >> All right. We have now reached the public comment portion of our meeting. Anyone who would like to address the commission, please go to the podium, state your name and address and your concerns,
and please limit your comments to approximately five minutes. >> Yeah. Hello there, uh, Darius, Milville, New Jersey. Um I guess two um small concerns I had. Um this is more for public safety and uh public works. Um is there anything uh still being done yet
to address like the vagrancy and the the lwdness that is uh pervasive throughout uh downtown Milville? Um I've been seeing it personally. I don't like with the drug users and stuff like that. Um with the dancing in the street and the the getting naked and and um you know
all that other stuff as as I'm driving through. And then I guess for um public works, I said this idea before um you know and Mr. Huitt had uh uh harked on this idea a little bit as far as like the trashiness of downtown like you know you can't you know if you street sweep
if you pick up the trash half an hour later you know it's like someone came and you know poured a um entire you know bucket of um trash in the street and I think like a lowbudget common sense idea would be just to have like trash cans you know every trash cans and recycle bins like every 50 to 100 feet on like
all the main corridors especially like in the UE like the UE um designated areas like Buck Street. Yeah. Buck Street, High Street, um Second Street, Broad Street. And I think that would um I think that would like curb the trash a little bit like from you know being thrown out on the street. So um that's
all I had to say. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Hi, I'm Tom McGinty. I'm from Milville. Um, you brought up a word, ambiguity. Uh, I don't know. You said you had this
thing figured out with the, uh, different title. your well, not your assistant, the assistant title. If if you guys knew about it for a certain amount of time, maybe you could instead of heading
something off here at the meeting, explain or you know, in the course of putting up your minutes for the or the planning for the meeting, explain the thing how that works because
he he said he wasn't aware of it until you know and then you kind of like straighten it out and figured it out and you might have eliminated some contention uh over the possibility of putting that
title in. I mean I I'm not a finance guy so I wouldn't have known I'm like new title this that and the other but it makes perfect sense the way it's explained and the same way with the truck. I was like, "Do we really need a
vac truck?" You know, we have one. Um the county loans us one on the whatever that they help us out with it. >> So, you know, but the ability to get one
with very little cost is a thing of beauty. There's plenty of storm drains and so forth around town that need to be cleaned out. Um, and people don't get that when the water runs over
the top of the storm drain cuz it's not going through and it runs all the way down Cedarville Road and winds up going into places like Rhonda Drive where, you know, I personally have been out there and helped people where their basement's
flooded, where a basement wall caved in and almost killed somebody. Um, you know, these things are important to have. Um, you know, you can't take a vac truck that's used for the sewer and just
go out and clean stuff up out of the storm drains either. It has to be cleaned and it's a pain in the neck and, you know, nobody wants to clean out a sewer truck, trust me. Um, so you know, maybe kind of like
even if it's an addendum to the um, you know, minutes that were going to be presented. Um, I'm probably not saying minutes, but you know what I'm saying. The agenda, uh, you know, a heads up with an explanation
of what you're doing might help. Um there's also some contention about a new city well, you know, and there was a resolution or whatever for $500,000
to get an engineer to psych this new well, blah blah blah. Um and there's speculation. And I stayed completely far away from this because there's so many crazy rumors out there, you know, we're going to sell water to the data center
and whatever. I don't even know if you can do that. So, um, the question is like if we know like why we need it and where it's going to go and why we need to
spend $500,000 for an engineer when we have a $200,000 engineer, why can't he figure out where the well goes? I mean, he's been with the city for a long time. That's a lot of dough. So, um, and
I know there's other things involved, but hitting water around here is not an issue. You know, anywhere you poke a hole in the ground, you're going to get what you want. And the well companies are the ones that figure all that out for you. So, it's not a matter of
production or having an engineer come in and say, "Well, you need to put the well here because this area is going to be a better production well than say another area or there's contamination here that we would have to deal with. So, we'd have to do
something else and double triple case a well or whatever." you know, an explanation as to why we're going to spend a half a million dollars that might fund, you know, something for the fire company or salaries or otherwise.
Uh, you know, just an explanation would make sense to kind of not come out with that. >> We did do that, but I'll I'll answer that toward the end. >> Okay. >> You just probably missed it. >> Yep. That's, you know, it and I'm not saying there's anything surreptitious
going on. Just, you know, it's a it's kind of a uh, you know, let's shed some light on it question. >> I believe we Thank you. >> We did address that. Thank you, Mr. Gy. We did address that what, three or three weeks ago. Four weeks, two meetings ago.
I I'll hit that in my final comments. >> If you don't care, I'm going to sit in this chair. If I sit in one of these, it's tough for me. >> Way too close, Mr. How you doing? How you doing? You look closer now. Just
want to say hi. >> Angelene Broom Hall, Melville. Um, I have a few questions, a few comments. Um, one is, um, if you guys could try to speak into the microphones a little more, like make that a stronger effort because it's really, really hard for
people at home to hear, and sometimes it's even hard for people in here to hear. Um, if you could also make the effort to speak to the public, not each other, like you're really genuinely turning your head away from the public and speaking
to each other like across the day. I said not us. It feels a little disrespectful for some people. Um, there's a comment about not telling the public everything and that, you know, we don't know what it's like back there. And I want to remind four of you have
been to this day as many times. You stood here on my side and you were just like me, no different. Some of you even thought that what I was saying up here was good. You encouraged me. You liked what I had
to say. But up there, I'm weird. And it's not nice. It's not nice. You guys have um changed
as people. You know, we are a community. And um I'm really sorry that Mr. Dixon never knew that we would help each other because I can tell you and I've said it to other people. Some of my worst enemies in this
town know I would help them in an emergency. somebody needed me, they know and I know that they would come and drag my fat butt off the ground even if they hated me. That's the way
Milville is. Don't take the don't change that because you sit up there because you're going to be coming back to us one day and you're going to be one of us. Um, I want to ask about uh tomorrow's CCIA meeting.
On the uh agenda, there's something for an acquis acquisition, excuse me, an acquisition of land by eminent domain for Millville. Um, and I'd like to know what that's about. And I understand the CCI meet uh
meeting, but it's our land, and I hope that our commission can answer what land they're taking from us without paying us for. Um, there's also a an item on their agenda about uh
awarding a proposal for TNM Associates for the Wood School Building Project. Um, there was mentioned tonight about affordable housing. And I'm concerned now, even more so than I was before, not because I don't believe in housing being affordable.
What I'm concerned about is people profiting and becoming wealthier off the backs of people who need affordable housing. Um [clears throat] the last meeting there was a resolution
appointing municipal attorney and there was a question about it and the answer I saw you guys stretch going through the papers. It was not updated. It's still not updated that resolution. and you guys never read it. You were
given misinformation. Whether intentional or not, that's not for me to say. That resolution is still incorrect as of today. It was asked by a member of the public. It's still incorrect. The numbers are still wrong and you guys
passed it. And that causes us not to trust you because we know you're not reading 50% or more of what you're passing. We know it. It's easy to tell for those of us who pay attention.
Uh Mr. Mr. Cot, you said something about, you know, we were working on this ordinance, the salary ordinance for a month and why are all these sudden these questions coming up now? Well, you were asked about it and it was told it was just housekeeping and it took us
annoying people to actually work through and do a ton of work that's supposed to be for you guys to do. I would expect you guys to be looking through this and finding and answering the questions. So, when the question was asked at the prior,
you didn't have the answers. It was told it was housekeeping. But now, because of the public doing their civic duty and doing their due diligence, now we know that's not exactly the truth, is it?
That's not the truth. Um, a lot of times when we're up here, it feels like you're not listening to understand what we're saying. Some of you are not listening to hear what we're saying. you're listening to respond, to
defend your position instead of trying to understand. I haven't seen one person at this podium tonight that I would look at and say they're a stupid person. Not one. Um the $15 million B uh uh application
for um NAB. It was yes, no, yes, yes, no, and Bowman did the study was the answer, which again, that's not very transparent. Yes, yes, no kind of answers that. So, I had
to go back and listen to what the question was and go back to the answer. So, what you're saying is you applied for a grant without a resolution. You applied for a $15 million federal grant without doing a resolution. And you knew
you were supposed to do a resolution because even our business administrator told you that we have to have an emergency meeting to do this resolution in time to file for
this bond, this this um grant from the federal government. That alone can if we get the grant, they could yank it. and you knew you were doing it wrong. That's the part that gets me the most.
You knew and you did it anyway. And that's all I have to say. I I went back because sometimes I feel like if we don't fix these things that you did last month and the month before, how can we continue to go forward and trust you guys? You're losing our trust.
You you've heard it several times. You're losing it. And I just ask you to reconsider that. Like please. and the fire department. Thank you so much. Real quick, this is my last thing. Um, close to 50 years ago, I lost an uncle who was a a
council person in Vinland and a seven-year-old cousin in a fire on Landis Avenue in Vinland. And when I tell you every time I even see a fire, I cry to it affects the the reverberation of that
generations later. is something that it like just never goes away. Not for the I'm sure for any of the firemen, the families of people who lose anyone. So, I can't thank you enough. All of those even if it's a
neighbor, but the firemen and the police and the EMTs that go and and to these fires where you're not even fighting the bad guy, right? You're fighting a beast. And I'm so so grateful to all of those first responders for for doing what they
do and to saving every soul. Thank you guys so so much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Seeing no one at the podium, I will close the public comment portion of the meeting and let's go on to uh final comments by commissioners. Commissioner
Taylor. So, Mr. uh Smith, we are doing um we are doing some extra patrols. We actually put on the new um the new special teams unit for the uh police department. They started July 1st. Um,
what would help a lot more for the police department is if instead of people putting it on social media first, they would call the police department and let them know where things are because the police department is not monitoring social media. They're not
doing it. Um, I see posts that are on social media and everybody's asking where the police are and all this, but not once did anybody say that they called them or, you know, and I see it several times. I mean, it takes 30 seconds to call. You
don't have to give your name. You just have to give the location and what the problem is. Um, completely anonymous for things. And it's just a simple process. I mean, I was a dispatcher for 32 years, 33 years, and you know, it's
it's not it's not a hard process. And the people that are on the other end of the phone are there to help the public. And I mean, you have some dispatchers that are crotchety here and there. It's it just comes with the job, but
you still have to make that call first. like we're not we're not there every single spot, every single place. Um and it would just help if you know people would just call us first and then video it. Video it all you want. Do whatever you know it's your right. Absolutely.
But call us and let us know that it's going on so we know so we can go there. so we can get there because a lot of people, you know, probably need different help other than the police department like um I'm not on social media a lot anymore. I just don't I'm
just backing away from that. But uh there was a video of a lady fighting with a refrigerator, you know, and I I it was it was sad. It was it was sad. um obviously some form of problem going on
there and um I don't know that I don't know that anybody called but they videotaped it for 12 minutes to you know see the lady you know but you know and but I don't fault them for doing that but I do just take five seconds to call
first and then you know record and do whatever. Um, in reference to the the fire truck, for for anybody to say that I do not uh care about the emergency
services in this city, that could not be further from the truth. That could not be completely wrong and it's insulting. I've been in emergency services for close to 38 years. That gentleman
sitting right over there started me. Um, it's near and dear to me. That's why I sit where I sit. It's insulting to say that I'm not working to get what the department needs. What
angers me is the fact that for 20 plus years it wasn't looked at harder. It wasn't prioritized enough. Um, I will give props where props is due and
Commissioner Hewitt did get the EMS here and it's great. It's it's really great. We need to expand it. It's part of the It's part of the chief's uh plan and ideas.
Everything takes money. We are trying to find it where we can. Um, Miss McGee in the finance department. I was talking to her today going over the capital. We haven't even started the capital yet. And one of the first things that's in
the capital is the fire truck for the fire department along with, correct me if I'm wrong, uh, three ambulance upfits, uh, rebuilds and a new ambulance within, you know, and couple other URVS
next year in the capital is a is a a ladder truck to replace the aging one that we have. I came in, I told the fire chief and the police department that I'd like to, you know, just replace the whole fleet, everything that's aging, replace the whole fleet. Fire chief said, "You don't
want to do that. You want to space it out. You want to space it out so that everything doesn't go bad at one time." He's right. It's absolutely correct. I wasn't thinking correctly, you know. I just wanted to get get it all going. I was excited. I'm still excited. I have a
board downstairs that has all kinds of stuff on it. I update the board daily when I can. And public safety is my number one priority in this city. I don't I don't care I don't want to say I don't care about the other departments.
I do. But my department is public safety and that is my priority and that is my main focus and that is what I am going to do. >> Thank you. >> Thank you Commissioner Taylor. Commissioner Renell. >> Yes.
>> Um, [clears throat] Commissioner Tal, you mentioned a lady in a refrigerator. Um, I I I agree with you. Um, it's kind of sad that uh that's where our society's at rather than calling. Uh, obviously that
woman was struggling. um they'd rather film her uh and no, leave a refrigerator on the streets probably for another 10 hours. Um that refrigerator is no longer there. That was taken early yesterday morning. So
that is not on High Street. That video uh I believe was from Sunday if I had to take a guess. Um I want to thank our fire department. Um, it's a mom, a little boy. I'm really
happy that they made it out and I'm really happy that you guys were there to help them. So, um, I want to thank these gentlemen, young lady, because that was, uh, pretty amazing and I'm very, very grateful for our fire department. And
that's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Uh, Commissioner C. Well, just to elaborate, the fire department, thank you. No, I've known your daughter for a long time. I'm very happy to see everyone came out safe. She did a good
job training him, teaching him well. And that's what we need to do. We need to teach these children. And that's why the fire department goes to the schools and does fire safety for them, etc. Um, EMTs, I can't say enough. I had, they actually took my son. He was hit by
lightning at that storm two weeks ago. So, they're always there. They're always there and we can always say thank you to them. They they're dear to our heart. Um just a final thing, we met with department heads um and so
in response to this storm, the city's going to issue a special brush cleanup to assist with the recovery efforts. So what you can do is put your curb side you can put you begin placing your storm related brush on the curb immediately and to ensure that you have ample time
for debris for your property the city will begin in its scheduled pickup in September the 1st but you can put it out there sooner. Just follow the standard rules. You know make sure that it's the right size. It can only be so many inches across. If
you need information about that, give us a call and we can tell you about what how what size you have to have. I think it's six six inches for the tree branch or >> 12 12 for the branches. The width is 66.
Yeah. No, no bigger than that. Um, also we did hear from a lot of residents who said, "Thank you for letting us get out there earlier. They appreciate the extra time." So, I know it's going to be a little messy for a while, but it's only an extra two weeks. So, you can start
putting out that curbage and who knows what this storm might do, too. Who knows? Mother Nature has been very mean to us this year. And that's about all I have to say. >> Thank you, Commissioner. >> Great city of Milville. Thank you, >> Vice Mayor Cop. >> Uh, yeah, a [clears throat] few things.
Firefighters, uh, what amazing job, right? Um, I was first responder for 25 years. Um, please go through some insane situations as well, but I tell you what, in all that time, I have no desire to run into a burning building.
Um, you said that earlier. Uh, we can say different things, but to actually do them, um, we will never know till that time comes. So, for them to do it takes a special individual to do that. And
I've been in positions where a fellow officer has passed away in the line of duty. So for these firefighters to go into another person's house that they all know personally, have worked with
staple of the community is I hope their mental health is okay because those are the things we don't see. They're all up here getting awards, but we don't know what their nights are
like right now, >> right? >> Because that is a lifechanging thing if that went another way and they were able to do something that only they can do.
So, kudos to them. Kudos to you, Chief. Um some of the other things, you know, um not going to beat the salary orders to death. It is what it is. Some people you can say whatever you want. Um it was a lot of housekeeping in there. There was
a lot of minimum wages we had to fix, a lot of things going on. We stated from the beginning there are future positions and that's exactly what they are. You guys took the time to make um growth possible. These are civil service positions that have to do certain things first and just getting them recognized.
Any new hires are going to be a resolution. Nothing nefarious about it. Um it's once again uh maybe explaining one or two positions might have been okay. Um but once again this was to get them into the the matrix of civil
service and then there's going to be a resolution for anybody we put in them. um whether you know I can't help whether somebody trusts us on that or not but that's a case um new city well he may talk about that I
do know briefly and I don't know a whole lot about that that is the water department so I do know we can't use any of that funds for fire um there's only so much you can take from water or sewer to go to other aspects um and I do know part of it is and once again I don't
like numbers because you know if I Yes, people hold you to it. The cost of raising that well to a new one makes more sense to do new one, but I don't know about the engineering cost. So, I think um >> either mayor might talk more about that
or we'll get more answers from you. >> Talk about what I know >> because that seemed like a high price tag as well. Um so, I agree with you on that, but that's why they're doing it. >> If I'm not mistaken, to raise that well over there would be close to $20 million. >> Yes, I know it's cheaper. That is exact.
Yes. Were we talking about the where? >> Yes. >> Yes. Yes. Um but I don't want to get too much on on my because I don't know. Um I that's the little bit of information I know for that. >> Um we are all looking at all departments,
right? Um every department, every one of us up here is looking to grow. We haven't made any cuts at this point. So there's no less, you know, for anybody than there was seven months ago. In fact, we've been looking to try to increase it. In fact, this is what the salary ordinance helps as well because
we're constantly looking to improve >> the manpower, the situations, um the department. So, um and I wish our taxes could go for other things as Mr. Cardi said, you know, it' be nice if you know tax money and and we do got to remember that uh I would love to get more than a
third of our property taxes. Um so, it is tough. You know, as he mentioned, the school board takes a third of it. I I know he's well aware of that. um the county both of them raise their taxes uh significantly. So he knows probably better than any of us that the
decisions that you know like the board president and them have to make and the county has to make and we have to make right. So it's a tough when you have to share the pie with everybody. Uh but we're trying and I get that people aren't happy. Rhonda Drive, uh I'm thankful that you were there and
you might have been there during that collapse. Um, I was not only there, my mother lives on that street. Uh, I was waiting through that water against probably everybody's their advice. Um, and I was personal friends with the people that I collapsed on. So, I've
known them my entire life. So, I do thank you because I know knowing you, you probably were out there that day as well, and I do appreciate that. Um, but that was a very awful day for for me and our neighborhood. Um,
and besides that, most of the comments, uh, no sense of addressing. They're just attacked in character based on assumptions, but that's okay. We are elected officials and they have every right to do so. So, >> and that's it. Nothing new about that.
Thank you, Vice Mayor. Um, Mr. McGinty, uh, I'll tell you what I know about the well, and they did mention where Avenue Well is no longer functional or working. So um it's too low and it's flooding so it's ruining the quality of the water.
Um that has put a strain on the system. So we need to find another well and like you said can we even sell water anywhere else? Spoken at length with John Nuke about this and uh some people have acted like we could actually go and flip a switch and we can sell water to violent
for the data center. It would take and you know this from being what you're in. would take so many ordinances, engineering to to be able to even share water with Violin Violin that you guys would know about it months and months and months ahead. We we can't even do it. It's not even something you can do.
Um so we're not connected to the violin water system. So to to share or sell water to Vinland is not even uh something that we could sneak up and say, "Hey, we're selling water." It doesn't work that way. Um so the well, they're looking for the best place to put that well. still they're trying to
find because it does differ. You know, I said you can hit a you poke a hole in the ground and get water and I know what you mean. There's a lot of water out there, but finding the best place to put a well uh makes a big difference uh a difference and as more development starts happening in the city. Um having
good water sources that provide, you know, a decent amount of water for the new development is going to be very important, especially when the water is strained from the wear avenue while not working very well. Um I can't really exact costs of what that costs. Um I'd have to take a closer look at that, but
um that's what's going on. Well, there's we're not putting wells in for any other city or any other data center. Right. Vice mayor. Um I don't know. I got to jump back and forth here. Uh Miss Brooml, where's Miss Brooml there?
Uh the Wood School. Um you saw public domain. I do happen to know what that's about. There's a piece of property on the wood school. property um that was never made a part of Wood School. It was still owned by the the
original Woods from back in the 17 1800s. It was a piece of property that had a sliver that was not put as part of Woodschool. >> So, they're correcting that. There's no and just currently there's no secret
affordable housing plans and development. As a matter of fact, um, as part of the AH Homes program, that program allows us to use, uh, grant money from the state to be able to put somebody in a position to help administer our affordable housing plans.
So, and that's going to help us get compliant with affordable housing, help administer the program. Um, and to go on that, any chance we get, we use grant money to pay for positions. When, uh, Mr. Couchi moved to um economic
development that allowed us to use more of UE grant money to pay for his position. So where before he was making uh I don't remember exactly what his number is 144,000 I don't believe they were using a whole lot of UEE money
toward his uh uh salary, but that went way up because most of what he did does is work with economic development. So um we actually save taxpayer money um compared to uh the taxpayer is not
fitting the whole bill uh for uh Mr. Couch's job. It's actually maybe even just half. I'd have to look at the exact numbers um that we're doing on that. We can look at the ordinance for that. Um let me see. Um
we do sometimes not put everything out there when we're negotiating contracts, when we're negotiating development deals, when we're planning things. Um we don't Please put that out there, Vice Mayor, because that can hamper our ability to to properly negotiate with
the developer. And it's it's not necessarily being secretive. It's being, you know, smart in the sense that we we can't, you know, talk about everything at at the very initiating stages of it. When when something becomes something, that's when it goes in for an ordinance
or a resolution, and that's when the public gets a chance to see it. I think people want to know everything before is really something. Vice Mayor, uh when something becomes something actionable and something that we're planning on doing, that's when we bring it. You know, there's not much you can do in a
city without bringing it to a resolution or an ordinance. Um uh the Joe Couchy thing, you know, I I'm very confident in speaking to some of the commissioners how confident they are with how he's how much work and and what he's doing. And I
can't be any more confident in the direction this city is going with uh economic development. I know you see some of it. I know you see some of it. You sit in every meeting and those meetings are >> absolutely >> they used to be how long? >> Five minutes. >> And how long are they now?
>> Half hour. >> Half hour. Hour. I think the other day was an hour and a half. We were talking about new projects coming along. >> So there is a lot in the pipeline. You know what's in the pipeline. We can't just come here and put everything that we're thinking about doing out there because that will hamper our ability to
negotiate and hamper our ability to make these things happen. But when they start happening and and they're a real thing, we bring them to the we have to bring them to the public. So, um that's enough on that. Um TN proposal, I'm going to
have to take a look at that and see exactly what that is. I'm not 100% sure what that was. Um, I think that's all I have. And again, you know, not I think I said uh plenty Chief Wetstein on what I think about the people who do the work that
you do. Um, I don't know what I'm made of, you know, as far as a burning building. I don't know that if there was a burning building there that I would run into it without equipment, without even about it. I
don't know that about myself, but I do know the people that you have did that and I appreciate it and I know the city appreciates because they know if my house were on fire, knowing that we have people who will not even think twice to
go in and save my daughter, my son, my wife without even putting their own safety into consideration. I know people me I'd be like, "Well, give me my breather and give me my hat." They didn't think about that. they just did it. So, you have some good people and uh
the city appreciates you and what you do. It's um it's quite a thing that uh that you guys do and I'm not sure I'm made like that until you're really put in that position. But, uh it's lucky for us we know that those are the type of people you have. So, thanks Chief. Um
and with that, I'll leave on a good note. Um can I get a motion to uh adjourn this meeting? >> I'd like to make a motion. Second the motion. And can I get a roll call, please? >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon,
>> yes.