Vice Mayor Cot >> here. >> Commissioner Reinella >> present. >> Commissioner Casadon >> here. >> Mayor Dixon >> here. Please join me pastor as pastor Brian Robinson approaches and gives us the invocation.
Good morning, evening everybody. See, church, I'm used to good morning. >> One of the great honors uh that I and a number of the clergy here in the great city of Milville get to have is also serving as police and fire chaplain uh in the city. It is a great honor to be
able to serve those who serve our city so well. And um so would you please bow with me this evening? Gracious God, we gather this evening both as neighbors and as stewards of this city that we love so much and you've entrusted to us.
We're asking for your presence tonight that wisdom would guide the deliberations. Patience would shape listening, concern for every student would for every resident would be genuine and would ground every decision made here. Grant that to these commissioners clarity of mind and
courage of conviction. Where there's disagreement, let there be respect. Where there are hard choices, let there be integrity. And where are those in our city who are vulnerable, overlooked, or struggling, may their voices find welcome at this table. Remind us that
public service is sacred work. That in caring for this city, we are caring for one another. And in caring for one another, we are honoring you. Go before us now and in all that we do. In the name of your love, we pray. Amen. >> Amen. Please join us in a salute to the
flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic 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. Uh, madame
clerk, are there any changes to the agenda? >> Yes, mayor, there is one resolution to add, a resolution of the board of commissioners of the city of Milville authorizing the city to advertise for bids for the project Pleasant Drive water improvements. >> Thank you, madam clerk. And we now move to the public comment on agenda items
only. We now have reached the public comment portion on 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 5 minutes. Seeing no one approach the podium, I
will close the public comments on agenda items only. Madame Clerk, are there any presentations? >> There are none, mayor. Let's move to the bills. >> Yes, we just [snorts] need a motion to approve the bill list.
>> Uh, make a motion. >> Second the motion. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. >> Madame Clerk, any petitions or letters? >> There are none, mayor.
>> All right, let's move to the reports of commissioners. Uh, Commissioner Taylor. >> Yes. [clears throat] So, I'll start off with the police department report. There were 2,826 calls for this month. Uh, we have seven
new officers that have graduated on the 12th. Uh, congratulations to them. Uh, they have started uh this week in in-house training. Um, we now have uh on the books we have 71. We have 57
full-time on duty. That's without the new seven [snorts] or with the new seven, we'll have 64. Um, with the new academy that we're going through, we're hoping to have 14 going into the new academy. We already
have five uh candidates that are ready to go that have uh passed all their preliminaries and we're waiting for the uh additional nine to go uh through that process. And we also have an additional five
spots in the following academy after that. Um the new officers that graduated should be uh on the road and on their own by June. Um EMS calls We had a total of 627 EMS calls.
Patients treated were 415. Services or transport or services not needed were 212. I'd like to uh offer condolences to the uh Frank family on the loss of Carl Frank. Carl Frank was a longtime Milvo
Water Department employee. Um he passed away on March 7th and uh I offer my condolences. I was friends with the family for years. I grew up with Chris and uh my condolences go out to him and his family. [snorts] As far as myself meetings, uh
we had a meeting and discussion with uh at the high school. Uh, Commissioner Cot and I went to uh, Mark Dagel's law enforcement class and we talked to the students there about um, hopefully getting some of them as officers or
dispatchers in the future. Uh, had a really nice conversation with the group, a lot of input from them. Um, we've been having meetings with uh, camera companies in reference to the camera project for High Street and the UEZ zone. [snorts] Uh, that's been going
well. Uh we have another meeting uh to discuss infrastructure and options for the cameras and upgrades. Um I've also had a couple conference calls with other companies um to see what they have to
offer. Um still working with uh Commissioner Reynold and her department to improve uh lighting and other safety improvements uh throughout the UEZ and uh parks department uh Buck Park area. Um, we've been working on that. We took
a walk, uh, a couple months ago and, uh, we're still working on that. So, that's, you know, we're progressing there. Um, and a lot of the, uh, a lot of the safety concerns and upgrades may be, um, [snorts]
solved by the new PA project, too, with the lighting that they're going to be putting in with that. Um, I meet daily with Mr. Berman on multiple topics uh for his insight and assistance on things. Um I cannot say enough about
Mr. Berman um and the knowledge and the help that he gives me um and the rest of the commission. Um he is always willing to talk. He's always willing to uh have an open door. Um, and he's
he's got good information and he a lot of times it's information that I didn't think of and uh I'm I'm glad he's part of the team. Uh we did have an afteraction meeting for the last uh snowstorm to discuss deficiencies and where we can improve. Kudos to all the
departments for doing a great excellent job during that um during that snowstorm and also to all of the department heads that came to the meeting. Um we had a great discussion. Um it was it was a lengthy meeting so we um we did well. Um
I meet regularly with my department heads even if it's just a cash casual brief introduction hello um or a scheduled meeting to discuss their departments uh what they like what they don't like um what their wants or needs
are. My departments know that my office is always open. Whether it's the chief [snorts] or lower, all the way to the bottom, all the way to the top, does not matter who it is. I make myself available to them and accessible
whenever they need to. My office door is always open. [snorts] Sorry, my allergies are driving me crazy tonight for some reason. Um, that also goes for the public. Uh, I am usually in the office every day except Wednesdays. I'm not in the office Wednesdays,
usually there by 9, stay till about 4. Um, anybody from the public can stop into the third floor anytime they wish. Um, ask one of the clerks or the secretaries that are there. If I'm in the office, that way if I'm I have a meeting, I don't want to cut
things short or or or avoid you or anything like that. Um, we can have a casual conversation, constructive. I'm all ears. Um, I do not conduct city business on social
media platforms. I don't I won't I haven't um I have an office. I have an email. I have a city phone. We have an extension in our office now. Uh I welcome the public input. I have said it
since day one that it is important that the public feel that they can engage with me and the other commissioners. whatever way they feel comfortable. Public interaction with this commission is just one of the key components of our
success. We have been office for 75 days. This will be our 75th day. Each one of us have been working diligently when within our departments to come up with solutions and what we face
not only for this year but for the next four years. Government works at a snail's pace at best and we are doing what we can as quickly as we can. We cannot fix everything overnight. It's
not going to happen. It just we need time. We continue to work as a team, commissioner helping commissioner, department helping department to come up with the best solutions to the problem facing our city. I'm glad I have the
team we have. I'm glad I have the department heads and the employees that we have in this city. Um, we could not do it without them. We cannot do it without the public. And with that, Mr. Mayor, happy St. Patrick's Day. >> Yes. To you as well. And I'll vouch for
Commissioner Taylor. Uh, he's probably the only guy that is in city hall more than I am. Um, I do about 25 hours a week in my office and he's usually there when I get there and I may stay a little later than him, but it's not much later. So, he's putting the time in and take
advantage of Mr. Taylor's presence in city hall. He welcomes it. Um, let's go to Commissioner Cosman. >> Okay. I don't spend a lot of time here, but they all know where I am at. Usually, usually streets and roads or water department
>> out on the streets is what I am. All right. Just a couple little reports from streets and roads. As of this morning, they're finishing up South Mill and heading towards the third war for the brush collection. That's from the storm. If you didn't get that brush out in time, that's okay. Residents can
continue to put that brush out to the curb until the end of April and when Streets and Roads will do that spring clean up beginning in May. Also, residents can also place those loose leaves out at any time after March the 31st. Just a reminder, you can place
leaves out there all year long, but they must be in bags. We can't pick them up if they're not. Also, uh after beginning April the 1st, they will be start collecting this b leaves and brush. Please do not mix the brush
and the leaves together. They do not get picked up [snorts] mixed as per DP. They were not allowed to do that. If you have any questions, call our streets and roads at 8257000. Talk to Teresa. She's a sweetheart of a girl and she knows everything she's talking about and she
knows that streets and roads potholes are being fixed as report it. You just a reminder you can report anything on the web. It's called request tracker. You can report anything
from streets and roads pots, abandoned homes, abandoned cars, trash on the street. It's everything. You are our eyes. We need you. We need you as citizens to do that for us. And just a quick water meter update. Since January
the 20th, they have completed 747 installs. So, we're on a roll there, too. And with that, that's it. >> Thank you, Commissioner Cosman. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Ranelloo. >> Yes. Uh before I give my report here, I
noticed that uh Commissioner Taylor, we had a motion to receive and file. Uh did we >> do you want to >> every time? >> Do you want to How do we want to do that here? >> Um I'd like to make a motion to receive and file the January February 2026 fire reports and February 26 EMS and
police reports. >> I will gladly second that. >> Thank you. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon, >> yes. Commissioner Vanelloo. >> Yes. >> Mayor Dixon. >> Yes. I get so excited about the commissioner's reports that I skipped [laughter] right over. Apologize,
Commissioner Ranelloo, for that. My oversight, if you'd like to continue. >> Sure. I want to wish everybody a happy St. Patrick's Day for those who celebrate. I'd like to kick off my report by congratulating the winners of our St. Patrick's Day uh coloring
contest. So, we had uh Joel Ramos, Reyes, Stephanie Ramos, Danielle Shephard, Liv Ramos, and Yolennius Rivera. You all did an incredible job, and I have to say, I have never seen a puppy look so delighted to sport a green
leprechaun top hat. So, good job. Uh, with spring right around the corner, we're excited to host our annual Eggtastic Easter egg celebration. So, we're encouraging everyone to join us on Saturday, March 28th from 10:00 a.m. to
12:00 p.m. behind Lakeside Middle School at the Tim Shannon Sports Complex, and that's at Two Sharp Street. We encourage all children in the community to come out and take part in this Easter egg hunt. It's going to be a fun-filled morning for everyone. Also
want to express a really heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated plastic, eggs, and candy. your generosity is helping make this event truly special for all of our kids here. And just a reminder, even though it doesn't have to
do with parks uh or recreation, this Friday is Third Friday on High Street. So between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., take some time to explore art at three different galleries. Grab a drink or a meal at one of our local spots. Stop by. We have a new boutique at Village on the
High that's opening this Friday as they celebrate their opening day. and it's important that we come out and we support local. Our downtown only thrives when we show up for it. We're also going to have Easter sunrise service, which we mentioned in the work
session on Sunday, April 5th at 6:30 a.m. at Coren Park. All are welcome to join as the community comes together to celebrate Easter morning and enjoy the sunrise. So, this past Saturday, I spent the
afternoon at the Wood Mansion for a really great presentation and exhibit hosted by the Millville Historical Society, uh, which featured Dr. Patricia Shapin. It focused on the role of New Jersey women during World War II. And it was honestly really fascinating to hear
some of those stories, uh, especially the impact of local women right here in our community. I also saw uh Vice Mayor Cot there behind me and I know we were both really drawn into this presentation because we kept looking at each other. Uh the room was fully engaged. It was an
amazing turnout. Uh I was informed that about 85 to 100 people showed up for this which is always nice to see for our events. Uh if you haven't already, I really encourage everyone to follow the Millville Historical Society and check out their future exhibits. They're doing
some really great work and bringing our local history to life. We also have some exciting updates to share about improvements already underway. The concession stand at the Tim Shannon Sports Complex just got a fresh upgrade. Brand new floors with a
bold orange and blue flake finish. If you saw the old floors, you'd agree that this was long overdue. So, this has been wonderful. Uh, as the home of our football league, it's great to see improvements for our young athletes and their families.
Also, as many of you know, the old swing set at Coren Park was removed at the end of January to make room for a brand new one this spring. The footings are already in place, and we're just waiting for the installer to set up the new swing set. As of right now, it looks like that should be done by the end of
this week. So, I want to talk a bit about Buck Park. Uh, this park really means a lot to me personally. I walk it often and when I first moved here, it was right within walking distance of my home. It's been tough to see it in its current
condition over the last couple of years. And I've been very vocal about the need to make it safer, better lit, and more welcoming for our families. And I'm glad to share that improvements are finally on the way. Work is going to begin at the end of March, even if some may not notice it
right away due to the ongoing bridge construction. There's a lot that's going to be addressed, including repairs to the pavers and sidewalks, new benches, trash cans, updated LED lighting throughout the park to brighten it up, and replacement of
damaged or missing riverfront railings. And I'll be frank, we've had people rip wires right out of poles, leaving the lights inoperable. All of this is being addressed in the coming months. I do want to emphasize that this isn't due to lack of effort from our employees
to keep up with it. They all work very hard. It's largely been a funding issue and prioritizing how that funding is spent. Too often we wait until things are in serious disrepair before acting, which ends up costing a lot more and
preventative maintenance really matters. So if you see something in our parks that need attention, please report it. Taking care of small issues early helps us avoid bigger, more expensive problems later. If you have any concerns about any of our upcoming recreational events
or any concerns about our parks or public property, please call Samantha Cruz at 8568257000 extension 7394. And I also want to give a brief uh report from our sewer department for the month of February.
The sewer utility operated smoothly throughout February with no major issues at the plant and all systems functioning as expected. Staff continued routine operations while completing key maintenance and repairs, including equipment servicing, sensor
calibration, filtration, and UV [clears throat] system cleaning, and updates to electrical and mechanical components. Field crews responded to 17 sewer calls, completed over 4,200 feet of sewer cleaning,
addressed pump station and infrastructure issues, and assisted with snow removal operations throughout the month. So overall, the department maintained reliable performance while proactively handling maintenance and supporting all of our city's needs. So we want to thank uh everybody in uh the
parks department as well as the sewer department. Uh they're doing amazing work regularly. Uh and they don't get enough recognition in my opinion. So I'd like to thank them. That's it. Mayor, >> thank you, Commissioner Ranelloo. Vice Mayor C. >> We'll do that first or last. [laughter]
>> Yeah, let's do that one first. We need >> Let's get that out of the way. >> We need a motion to receive and file the tax collector's annual report for 2025 and the tax collector's report for February 2026. [clears throat] >> Like to make a motion. Second. All right. A little discussion on that. Um, so you have two things you guys can look
at while you're um have a little bit of time on your hands. So it's all 20 uh 25 everything we collected throughout the year. It's 26 pages, right, John? Um John just finished reading all of them. Uh the last there is an error on the
last page. Why I was sitting here um I looked real quickly. So, the solid waste does have an improper total, but if that was a correct total, everything else would be good. John, I did a quick math on that. So, for some reason, the total for the
um the difference between the solid waste on the last page um for whatever reason is is off, but that will be corrected. That's a um Excel clerical error. Uh but we'll fix that. Uh we also have February that um just brings in shows you all the pilot taxes, leans,
contributions and miscellaneous and water and sewer and um all of our collections that we made uh in the month of February as well. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasabun, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon,
>> yes. >> Now to go to other things uh in our department. First of all, good evening and uh happy St. Patrick's Day. Um I like to see there's a few more people in attendance today. That's always nice. A few things we're doing. I I also want
to touch on uh Commissioner Reella, the historical society. That went very well. I just a great great turnout there. Um I was there when it was Waw Wa. I went in there a few times. I unfortunately have not been there m much since it's turned into the historical society and I do
apologize for that. very impressive uh the amount of information you can get in there. And the speaker was unbelievable. She has a book already out for sale, another one coming out in July or it's coming out now, but she said in July the the paperback will be out. It might be a
little cheaper. This is from her, so I don't feel bad about sharing that. Uh but it it really delves into the the women in World War II in in South Jersey. So, uh very proud I got the book. Um started reading it and and loving it. Um
things we're doing with us, uh we we're working on safety in the city. Um we're changing things around with our safety coordinator. Um we're really expanding our HR department. We're trying to make the s uh the processes in the city. Uh streamlining everything, just building
building a lot of things up uh that's been uh ignored over the years. Um we're enabling a lot of department heads. Uh the administrators been meeting with them constantly. Um, and you you're starting to see improvements now. You're starting to see department heads talking
to the department heads and really come up with some great ideas uh for the city. Um, very encouraging. We have a lot of talent at this city. A lot of talent. And now they're you can see that they're they're giddy sometimes that
they're allowed to do things now. They're they're allowed to have say in their department and it's rearching. Some of the other things we went to, as uh Commissioner uh Taylor said, um there was two things we went to the high school. >> We went to the career fair, too. >> Oh, we did. Yes,
>> we did. Fire, police, and rescue were there. Um the dog was there, so he took everybody else's attention away. You know, those fire dogs, everybody wants to pet the dog. Uh but that was well attended as well, too. Um >> a lot of kids, >> a lot of kids. uh the entire high school
walked through there. So you you got to uh talk to uh a lot of potential employees later, if you will. Um the Camaris Market out on West Main Street, for those who don't know, they've been there for 5 years. Uh they just celebrated a 5year. Me and uh um
Commissioner Taylor went out there. Uh just if you have anything, plants or anything like that, go on out there. Um she's there. Uh she's looking to do more in the city, too. She's really trying to invest in the city of Milville. So, you might be hearing that name uh coming up
in the near future as well. Um we're [snorts] just trying to get a lot of the staffing level back up. We've been working uh diligently on that. Uh we're meeting with [clears throat] different people to try to find out what grant money is out there um to help, you know, taxpayers and just get more things that
we might not be able to get done. We have people working on that. Uh, some of the bad news is you have no clue how much time we spend just with pending litigation and lawsuits. I don't want to walk around that, but they're out there. Uh, and they [clears throat] do take up
a lot of our time and a lot of money. So, just remember that. Uh, we've been working on the Mill Affordable Housing Act. Um, we've been talking to try to get compliance with that. We've been out of compliance for a little bit. Um, but we're working on getting that uh taken
care of, too. an employee driven thing. The Milva Magic is up and running today. Um they uh were able to put things on their doors and people went out and judged that. I don't know who the winners are yet. Um I'm sure mine will
be making it to Facebook because I'm I'm a leprechaun on one of them. So, uh I'm waiting to see that on social media. >> You have hair in that one. >> I do have hair in that. So, obviously that is not a real depiction of me. Um, but yeah, it was uh Commissioner Cot's
Lucky Charms is what the door said. So, I thought that was cute. So, I would love to see that on Facebook. Um, we're working on a lot of budgeting items. Uh, a lot of things that's been overlooked for a long time. We're working on our fleet. Our fleet is extremely old and we're working on how to make that a
longstanding budget items instead of, you know, trying to put band-aids on everything like we've been doing. So, uh, we've been busy, but that's all I have for now. >> All right. Thank you, uh, Vice Mayor. Um, where do I start? Fifth floor
permits and inspections. One of the things that we, uh, that that, uh, we looked at doing when we came aboard was making sure that people were getting work permitted. uh year uh good news is year-toear uh we are up about 15% in our
licensing and uh inspections uh dollar value which is good. I I've heard through the grapevine that developers or uh contractors are now um taking more seriously. I've heard that uh through the grapevine oh no's not playing around
anymore. So, now that they know we're going to catch them, um, are permanent inspections. People who are coming to do work, uh, that they're supposed to get permitted. It's a safety issue. If you're not getting, uh, things inspected, uh, electrical work, uh, water heaters, uh, that gentleman right
there will come to see you in in a bad way, uh, when it catches on fire. So, it's very, you'll he'll see you with a truck when uh, so inspections and permitting is very important. uh if it's not done correctly, Mr. Wetstein will be drink
bringing a truck out there to to stop your house from being on fire. So, not only does it bring revenue to the city, but it's also very important for safety. Um we so far we've had 30 instances of unpermitted work, and when you we're going to see less and less of that as
contractors realize that we are more serious about um what we do. Um couple things uh from engineering. We're working toward uh the infrastructure for water on Pleasant Drive and we should be
getting to Pleasant Drive paving uh sometime around the fall. I'm sure the folks on Pleasant Drive have been waiting very patiently to get that done. But we're going to uh upgrade the uh the infrastructure, the water first before we uh pave it. Would make wouldn't make sense to do it the other way around. You
wouldn't tear up paving. uh you don't want to tear it up after the paving's done. Um we're also uh taking steps toward finishing the paving of the Millside of Laura Lake. I know those folks have been waiting patiently to get the rest of those. So, we're taking steps toward that and I'm sure they're
going to be happy with that. Uh one thing I need to mention is UEZ grants, facade grants. If you own a business on in a UEZ zone in the city and you want to get a $20,000 grant to upgrade the facade of your business, um, call us
down here at city hall. You can call my office. You can call uh Joe Couch's office. We want to talk to all the businesses and make sure uh that you are taking advantage of the grants that you don't have to pay back um to get your facade upgraded. Now, you do have to be a UEZ certified business, which isn't
that difficult. Um, so just call us, we'll talk to you about that process and we'll make sure that you're getting free money to make your business look better. So that's an amazing thing. Um, we're working with CDBG funds to um, get those demolitions going. We're still
working uh, very um, strongly in that direction. As Mr. Sherman said, uh, Commissioner Sherman said things do work slowly, but we should have, uh, five or six buildings that, uh, are in in dire need of being, uh, demolished in the city. Very happy when that's going to
happen because, uh, we don't want to see blight in the city. Uh, that'll be great. We have two businesses coming to High Street very soon that uh, they just uh, we have a a tattoo shop that's coming. Uh, very I've seen some mock-ups of what they're going to do. They're going to invest a lot of money in making
something very nice. And then there's another business coming. Don't want to get ahead of my skis here, but a couple nice businesses coming down the High Street. I think you uh in you alluded to one a little earlier. Um great news. Um we are almost out of land to sell in
Milville as far as development. So uh that's a good thing. We are working hard to make sure every bit of land that's been sold in Milville gets developed as quickly and as efficiently as possible because once stuff is developed, we start getting uh revenue from that. So
the the more value that's put into these lands uh that are developed, the more revenue the city gets and uh the better off. So our economic development manager, Joe Couch, works very hard. He gets in before I do. He stays way later than me and he works way harder than me. So, I'm real happy uh with what he's
doing. Uh negotiations continue with the DRBA. Our DRBA partners are wonderful people, and we are working diligently with them to make sure that Millville gets the most out of an asset that we all think uh uh will benefit the city.
So, we work uh with our DR uh DRBA partners uh on negotiations. We're excited to keep working with them and collaborate with them. They're great people and we look forward to working with them. Um, the one thing that Commissioner Realo did not mention, I'm
very sad about that, is the patriotic parade and the um because I am going to be Uncle Sam in it. So, I think about it every day I wake up and I think about me being Uncle Sam at the end of that parade. So, I do I want to mention that
again. So, uh, businesses, uh, this is a I the Mila Christmas Parade I have put my business in every year for the past, I don't know, 15, 20 years. It is a free way to promote your business. We hand out little cards. You have a sign for
your business. It is a a virtually free way to get the name of your business out there. So, if you want to promote your business, call us up and we'll get you in the parade and you can set up a table over at the uh they're going to like vendor there's going to be vendor area separate. >> Yeah, it's separate. That's going to be
over at Lakeside. Um >> so, talk to us how you can promote your business and be a part of that big event. And that would be uh we're looking forward to that. That's going to be there's gonna be fireworks. There's going to be pro wrestling. Um I'm going to see if we can get Commissioner Reinella up there. They can hit her with
a chair uh in the in the pro wrestling event. Would you be up for that? >> Would you hit me with a chair? >> Let's continue. [laughter] >> Um All right. And that's all I have for my report.
Let's move on. Um let's move on to regular business. Madame Clerk, >> yes, we do have some ordinances for first reading. Ordinance for first reading item number one, an ordinance amending the municipal code of the city of Milville, chapter 39, motor vehicle and traffic regulations. Remove handicap
parking at 502 Dock Street. >> Make a motion. >> I'll second it. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasabun, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. Ordinance for first reading item number two, an ordinance amending the
municipal code of the city of Milville, chapter 39, motor vehicle and traffic regulations add handicap parking at 919 North Street. >> Make a motion. Like to second roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo,
>> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. Ordinance for first reading item number three. An ordinance amending the municipal code of the city of Milville, chapter 39, motor vehicle and traffic regulations. Add handicap add handicap parking at 219 West McNeel Street. >> Make a motion.
>> I'll second the motion. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. Ordinance for first reading item number four, an ordinance approving and authorizing an application to the Cumberland County Roadway Department for
First United Methodist Church of Milville to hold a coin drop on May 23rd, 2026 at the intersections of Buck Shoot Road and Cedarville Road. >> Make a motion. >> I'll second the motion. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cott, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon,
>> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. Ordinance for first reading. Item number five, an ordinance approving and authorizing an application to the Cumberland County Roadway Department for the Dividing Creek Fire and Rescue to hold a coin drop on August 29th, 2026 at the intersections of Buck Shoot Road and
Cedarville Road. >> Make a motion. >> Like to second it. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasabun, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reell, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. >> Resolutions. Resolution item number one,
resolution authorizing tax and utility adjustments. >> Like to make a motion. >> Second the motion. >> Yeah. If this is all any adjustments that were made the previous month for uh water, sewer, any building um sometimes they're refund checks and overages and others.
>> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Casaboon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. Resolution item number two, resolution amending sledge hauling contract through December 31st, 2026 in an amount not to exceed $400,000.
>> I make a motion. >> Wait, hang on. [laughter] >> Um, yeah. This resolution to extend the contract uh through the rest of the year to haul sludge away from the sewer. >> I make a motion. >> Second. Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes.
>> Vice Mayor Cop, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kaspoon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. Yes. Mayor Dixon. >> Yes. >> Resolution item number three, resolution authorizing amendment number one to action uniforms contract. >> Make a motion. I'll second it.
>> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kaspoon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. >> Resolution item number four, resolution authorizing the city of Milville to award a non-fair and open contract to AKRF, Inc. for licensed site remediation
professional consulting services. >> I'd like to make a motion. Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasabun, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. >> Resolution item number five, a resolution of the board of commissioners
of the city of Milville authorizing the city to advertise for bids for the project pleasant drive water improvements. >> Like to make a motion. >> Second motion. >> Roll call, please. So, uh, just real quickly, this is, um, what you were talking about. This is a motion to put out the bids for the infrastructure that
we need before the paving can start. And being that the paving is not far away, we really need to get this done as quickly as possible because we [snorts] do not want to tear up that brand new paving. So, we want that construction done first. So, >> this is part of the lead remediation.
Uh, partially what we're doing. >> Yeah. Lead and galvanized piping required by the state. Yes. >> Yep. The state's requiring us to uh and make those improvements and >> correct >> and we have funding through a bond for that. >> Yes. Very good. Um roll call please. >> Commissioner Taylor. >> Yes.
>> Vice Mayor Cot? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Kasabun? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo? >> Yes. >> Mayor Dixon? >> Yes. >> Any new business? Madam Clerk? >> Yes. Mayor, new business item number one. Motion to approve special event application on public lands Olympic day
parade on May 22nd, 2026, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. >> Make a motion. >> I'll second the motion. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes.
>> New business item number two. Motion to approve special event application on public lands First United Methodist Church Sunrise Service on April 5th, 2026, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. >> Make a motion. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes.
>> Commissioner Kasabun, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes. >> Mayor Dixon, >> yes. >> All right, we've now reached the public comment portion of the meeting. 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 everyone. Um my name is Deina Forest but Millville Police Department known as Deina Copman. Um my
concern and has been my concern is the crime that's going on in the city of Milville. Um I live on South Third Street and um between Okay, the blue bar, the railroad bar is
there and then South Fourth Street is behind me. Um, a lot of crime has been going on in the city of Milva as we know and um I had installed I it got so so bad cuz I take care of my mother, my elderly mother. I've been taking care of
my mom for um four years now. She turned 99 um June 18th of this year. Uh I had installed cameras. I registered with Milwauke police and my cameras are excellent. Um I come I came today this
evening you know because um I I feel more cameras should be installed on the street lights on the polls because between the drugs and the guns with the young people today they don't
have no respect for the prominent citizen citizens in Milville New Jersey. I have been a um I grew up in violin but I've been living in the city of Mil over 30 years um and [clears throat] it has been declined. Um last week we know
about the standoff and so forth and also I had rolled by on Green Street right off of High Street and right by the bodega over there I seen a group of young men. I'll call them boys because
they they was they were playing crap craps and they had weapons on the side of them. And I pulled over and my girlfriend said, "Dina, don't pull." I said, "No." I said, "What are you doing
is young African-American young men acting simple had guns and playing crap like this is the ghetto." So, my concerns I bring to the city of Milville, I bring to the commissioner that um we should try to get more
cameras. I mean, on the poll, you know, more cameras because the crime is really, really, really bad. Um it's a shame that I sleep at night now where I live at, you know, anything that happens on South Third Street, South Fourth Street, you know, I got cameras going,
you know, both ways. And my I got some good cameras. I got cameras on my rooftop and Mill police would come to me. Miss Cotman, you got the footage. I I have six cameras in the front, one on the side and one on the rooftop in the front in my
backyard. I have it on the rooftop and also on the door. So, I have like over 10 cameras and it sees everything. But um I just come to you all and I I plea and I beg because you know we have a lot
of citizens that been here all their life and it's a shame that the city of Milville I know we're building up high street and so forth you know it's looking good. The park is not even safe as the uh commissioner said earlier. The park is not even safe anymore. It's drug
abuse there. People can't even walk and exercise. You can't even take your children to the park because somebody you afraid somebody's thinking they in a gang gang banging and and and you know it's out of control and it's a shame the way the city of Milville has went down.
It is a shame. A lot of the people that build businesses here, they can't even progress in their business because they're afraid if I had my business open at a certain time is somebody going to come in here and rob me. So my concerns
is really the crime rate cameras. We need more cameras. Um I believe the police should be more aggressive. Okay. More aggressive, you know, not lean back, more aggressive because if we
don't get a if we don't come together as a city and come together, I'm telling you, it's gonna fall apart. anything any rebuilding and trying to make it comfortable for out out oftowners because I know on High Street
they have a lot of celebration going it's be you know the parades and so forth but if you know we're on the news all the time I had my mom's nurse call me she said what's going on Deina she said I heard you know I said she's fine my mother's fine you know it's just it's
a bad vibe we could fix up we could fix up we could fix up renew but still that sense sense of fear from the outsiders. They were like, I don't want to come there cuz I'm afraid, you know. So, my concern is like more um
more cameras, more, you know, surveillance on the on the town. Thank you for letting me, >> Miss Forest, thank you so much. I think you channeled my spear animal. Every time I come into the the uh city hall every morning, I think I I channel those exact
words to everybody. They're tired of hearing me and but they're on board. I mean, they're on board. I don't think there's a day Sherman doesn't come in and think the same thing you're thinking. As Commissioner Taylor says, the wheels of government grind ever so slowly. We are working toward every one
of those things that you said. We we absolutely are moving very as fast as we can toward every one of those things. And there's things we have to put in place in order [clears throat] to get there. Um, but just want to make sure your concerns are noted and we are on the way with each one of those. And
everyone here has want to jump in with that. >> I I I do. So, Miss Cotman, [clears throat] I was the dispatcher for the police department for 25 years. So, I know >> how much you've been involved with the community over those years. I've talked to you many of times.
>> You are very good at your information. It's usually spot on your cameras as well. Um you're you're the eye in the sky and I like I said, I I hear you. Um we're doing what we can. as fast as we can. Um the chief knows we we have a
goal of 85 officers by the end of this year, more by the end of next year. Um we are trying to get officers as quickly as we can. The problem that we are having uh is that uh we're all pulling from the same pot all the municipalities
and we are trying to better the salaries, the steps and all that stuff so that our officers stay here and we get more coming in. And like I said, I've known you for a great many years, so I've talked to you several times. So, and I appreciate you coming here tonight, too. Thank you. Appreciate it.
>> Thank [snorts] you. And thank you, Commissioner Sherman. >> Next. >> Good evening. My name is Angelica Hanstein. I'm from Milville. I had come to another meeting previously to talk about the mobile chicken ordinances um as they stand. I was faced with a
dilemma of having to rehome my chickens uh because I was found to be in a violation of not being able to have chickens um in our town. It was no nuisance issue. It was no um smell issue. There was no actual issue with my chickens. It was more so a property
line. Apparently, the way that the zoning is written currently, it is seen that you can't have a single chicken on less than a full acre in Millville. The average property size is 0.27 27 acres throughout the city of Noville. So, this is very restrictive and does not allow
for many residents to have it whatsoever. So, it's less of a restriction, more of an outright just ban more so. And I had the liberty of speaking with Congressman Jeff Bandro about this issue as well, who also saw it as you know, Mobile has a lot of issues that you guys are working out,
but to sit here and be like, "Oh, no chickens because agriculture issues." So, where does, you know, when does it stop as far as we're policing yards because people are enjoying their yard as far as gardening or having a couple chickens, obviously not going crazy and having a whole huge flock, but just, you know, a handful, have six, eight
chickens, whatever have you. Um, but that's been our issue like we're policing that instead of actually fighting the crime. And it's actually been noted that towns that allow chickens actually have less crime because homeowners are out of their house more in their yard. neighbors know
neighbors, which is very seldom now. [cough] Plus, [clears throat] you're watching your, you know, your vehicle's less likely to get broken into. You're in your yard more. Children that are brought up raising them learn the value of hard work and dedication and are less likely to offend later because they're not going to go and just steal your stuff. They get the hard work that goes
into it. Then there's the aven flu is thrown around a lot, but chicken owners themselves are usually taking really good care of them. You know, they're typically eating those eggs. They're obviously making sure that the chickens are cleaned and well cared for. And I find no actual reason to where we can't
set different limits. You know, you can keep the 25 foot between the the coups and the neighbors. You can keep the the sizing that is in the ordinance. Everything else is fine. It's really just saying one acre and or nothing. That is the issue. If we could come down
and say, hey, if you allow it's 32 per acre currently. So even if you just dwindle that down, hey 16 on a half acre, maybe eight on a quarter acre. If you don't want to go any lower, fine. The average, like I said, the average parcel in Milville is about a quarter acre. So even if we just went down to that and made it four, six, eight,
whatever have you to just make it more inclusive, encourage it. You know, you brought up World War II during wartimes, it was actually encouraged that households had two chickens per resident because know it or not, chickens don't lay eggs every day. You know, if you have two, you're lucky if you get one a day.
And we're in, you know, a war time right now. And hopefully it's not this long drawn out thing, but why not encourage it? Why are we not encouraging self-sufficiency? And we're not just not encouraging it, but we're making it a ban. Like, we're not allowing it. And I
just I find that a really big issue. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um, thank you. And what is your last name, Angelica? >> Hans H. uh uh Miss Miss or Mrs. >> Yes. >> Um I would say I would take uh issue
with just a couple things. We're going to make comments toward the end of this, but I'm going to say you did say something. Uh we are policing chickens and not crime. I'm sure our police department and our public safety director would have something to say about that. Our police department works
very hard with the numbers they have to police crime every day. Um, so I'm sure that I don't know if Commissioner Taylor, you would like to comment on that, but uh, I would say that that's not true. I know our police officers, I know many of them that work in this
dangerous city every day. They are policing crime and we are not policing chickens. Um, the reason we are here, >> two different departments, >> two different departments. >> Two different departments. >> Right. Um,
I would say the reason we are here, we were told that originally, well, I'm going to hold some of these comments till the end, but uh, thank you, Miss Hanstein. Hanstein, >> Hanstein, thank you, uh, for your comments. We're going to have comments at the end, >> sir.
>> Hello. Uh, my name is Alec Bryant. Uh, I'm the pastor of the God of Hope Mission and I live at 804 North 7th Street in Millville. And uh one my concerns today is uh sustainable living. Uh >> what was your last name again? I'm sorry
to interrupt you. >> You're you're fine. It's Bryant. >> Bryant. Thank you. I'm sorry. >> Like Kobe except no rich basketball player ever paid my student loans. So unfortunate, but uh yeah. So something that's that's really close to my heart is sustainable living. Um and I'm really
thankful for what the city has done. Uh, I remember when I first moved here and God first brought my family to Millville, uh, did the community garden, uh, kind of on Fourth and Vine. And I think that things like that are a good way to get neighbors out and together.
Um, and and it's also a concern of mine because as our congregation grows, we're beginning to look for a property, to look for grant money. Um, and one of the things that we want to do in Millville is start a business incubator that also educates people on doing things like basic plumbing, basically electrical,
uh, urban homesteading in terms of, uh, doing sustainable food. Um, and you know, I I was talking to Angelica over the internet and I guess one of my concerns is the city's regulation on
foul. Uh because one of the easiest ways to have a protein source is to have egg laying foul. Uh another way that I'm really familiar with with our nonprofit partners in Huntington, West Virginia is doing something like um uh vertical
farming where you have uh fish and the waste filters through a system where it fertilizes the vegetables. So there's different ways to do this. Um, but I'm I guess one of my concerns is as we move into that different space and one day in
the next year when we're in a building, I I'd really like to have that as an option to be able to educate people on, you know, how do you keep a clean chicken coupe? How do you raise egg laying foul? My my sister, she has a duck farm out in Pittsburgh. I think
sharing some of that knowledge will be helpful, especially since a lot of our residents and neighbors here in Millville do struggle with hunger issues. Um, I remember Officer K or Commissioner C, sorry. Um, whenever Impact Harvest first got involved, I remember you were out there. I know it's
something you care deeply about. Uh, and we all went Millville to do well. Um, I want God's blessings to be on Millville. And, and something I really want us to honor, uh, is God's word. It says here in Genesis 1:28 that God blessed humans,
saying to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subjugate it, putting it under your power and rule over it." And and and this word in Hebrew, literally, it's the same phrase to bake a cake. You take this ingredients from this wonderful world, you pop it in the oven, and out
comes something beautiful. Uh I want that to happen in Milville. I want to make beautiful things together, whether it's chicken eggs or art or whatever. uh because we all want this city to do well. Um and that's just my concern. So, I love you all and thank you for serving
on commission because it's not a job that I would want to do. Um so, uh and it and if you did have cage matches where Mrs. Reneo hit somebody with a chair, I think that it would be a lot better attended. So, I'm in favor of >> I'm telling you. I'm telling you. >> But, yeah. So, so but serious point,
I'll leave it at this. I I really want to to see if the city at some point could maybe address some of those regulations so we could encourage sustainable living. Um so again, love you all and and thank you for giving me the opportunity. >> Thank you, Pastor Brian. [clears throat] >> Thank you.
>> Appreciate you. >> It's funny but sad that he was so right with that with that joke. Um hi, my name is Dave Moore. I'm a longtime Noble resident. um registered nurse for 35 years, just
retired. Um and um it's been an enlightening meeting. I'm so glad I could put my uh brush out uh to the road and uh please work on Buck Street. It the Buck Street Park is an image of
Milville. It was the crown jewel of Milville at one point. And um you know I used to ride my buck bike down to Buck Street and uh my grandchildren. I have a I have three grandchildren and 10 great
grandchildren. So I'm blessed. Um but they encouraged me not to go down there and I did see people smoking crack down there and um on the on the path just south of the Buck Street. Um, and then there was a murder like three hours
after I had been down there and they sort of put their foot down and I don't go down there anymore. But I'm not here for all those important things. And and it's the image of the crime that's is it's debilitating.
But I'm here to talk about the the chicken issue. Um, I moved back to Milville when my parents passed away. My my dad built his house on East Main Street um when he came back from the war and I was
overjoyed to purchase it out my brothers, my four brothers and uh move back to Milville and you know when I was a kid we had chickens and we had rabbits and and it allowed us to belong to 4.
I got ribbons and a steam for raising those chickens and those rabbits. And there was no greater a thing than bringing eggs in to your mother in the morning. So, I'm I'm a little concerned because Angelica
is my granddaughter and I guess I'm here on St. Patrick's Day while the brisk is busy at home. Um because my great-grandchildren were upset about it. They still go down to the farm where the
chickens moved. So, so I was motivated to get out of my retirement chair and come down here and talk about it because I don't understand agriculture is the science of producing
food and livestock for consumption. But but agriculture is also more than that. It's it's when you when you sell it and when you purchase it, you you you start having a lot of regulations, but not for, you know, is it getting to the
point where the city's going to tell me how many tomatoes I can have on my on my property? And you know, you might scuff at that that it's not a a happy medium, but I have my neighbors over here who just lost her chickens,
but last year I had a neighbor over here who always has a wonderful vegetable garden and was putting out free tomatoes. He doesn't do that anymore because of involvement with the city. They thought his garden was too large.
And I don't know all the exact about that case. I didn't really get that involved with him, but I know it stopped. Agriculture from a zoning perspective should be more about the business of agriculture and not people growing things to sustain
their own families. And we all know that whether it's tomatoes or chickens, some days you have too many eggs, maybe some days you have way too many tomatoes or pears or anything else you grow and you give them away.
But that's causing problems for the residents of New Jersey or for the residents of Millville, I should say. Most townships have a limit of four, six, eight chickens. You could pick a number, but zero chickens,
it goes too far and it's sort of cruel. Um, I've worked I did a lot of grant work and so I appreciate the work [clears throat] of the police. had the pleasure of working with a grant with the police. Um big mental health nurse,
ran the department, enjoyed myself uh working with the super strong churches in this community uh to provide the home housing for as many individuals as possible over the course of my career. Um,
so I love Milville and I respect it and I appreciate the work he did and Milville has been very good to me and my family and continues to be. Um, but on this particular incident, I just felt like I had to come in and
question whether these this ruling is too restrictive. >> Okay. So, I appreciate everything you do and um God bless you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Thank you. Thank you.
Hello everybody. My name is Adele Fast from Milville. Uh it's not what I'm up here for, but I'm on team chicken. Uh Mr. Mr. Mayor, at your swearing in in January, you expressed a desire for the public to hold you accountable during your time in office. So, I'm here to
correct an incorrect statement that you made on record at the last meeting in response to changes in legal language being on the public comment guidelines for the agenda. The reason you gave was that at the previous meeting, defamatory
statements were made against a new city employee based on rumors spread on social media. That statement was incorrect in two ways. The first is that no defamatory statements were made. Cornell Law School describes the legal
standard for defamation against a public official is that the statement has to be false and said with actual malice and intent to cause damage to the person and with reckless disregard for the truth of the statement. Tickets are a matter of public record. Also, in regard to public
officials, the New York Times versus Sullivan noted that the standard for actual malice differs to satisfy first amendment protections as it relates to questioning government officials. So, there seems to have been some confusion between the words defamatory and derogatory.
The second incorrect part of your statement was that this citizen statement was based on rumors on social media. The person who made the statement never noted the source of their information, simply that the conversations had been had with other people. So this statement on your part
is at best a misrememance and at worst a fabrication. So I'm bringing it to your attention so that in the future you can be more careful with your words and facts. I'd like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to keep you accountable as you asked and I'm happy to see that the guidelines have been
corrected from the last meeting to this meeting's agenda and that the legally threatening language has been removed. I would now like to address my concern that your citizens brought to you concerns about the qualifications of a city employee that we do not have the
privilege of choosing for ourselves. And your response was to not only inform us that you went out of your way to recruit this person that we found concerning, but it was then to change the guidelines on the public comment section to add legally threatening
language, which then had to be removed because it threatened our First Amendment rights. This response feels antagonistic and it feels like an overreaction and it can lead to the assumption that you do not like your decisions as mayor being questioned.
even though you publicly asked for accountability. This can lead to serious concerns about your judgment as a mayor and has led me to forming the opinion so far that you as a mayor have been highly disappointing and deeply unimpressive to
me and I very much hope that you can change my mind on that in the future. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Foust. Um, I would say this. I have to go back. I'll have to go back and watch the meeting, but I'm pretty sure I'll go
back and look that the person said that what people were saying was online and I'll have to to check I will go back and check that and at our next meeting I will uh give the exact wording for that. But uh if somebody comes up uh as I
don't know if Mr. D. Michelle wants to to jump in, but we >> I'll let you talk about the the threshold for it. >> I'll I'll commend you that your recitation of the law was correct.
[snorts] No question, 100%. The the issue is is that the person in question who the comments were being made about were was not a public was not a public official. >> According to that ruling, they are
versus the New York Times that was a city employee. It was a police officer. >> I I won't I don't want to debate this, but there in my judgment there is a difference between a private citizen and a public official and
all of the commissioners in front of you, no doubt private public officials. And so that higher threshold that you cited is correct. Um where we may disagree as to the
status of the of the then yet appointed engineer as a public citizen and an employee potential employee of the city. We may dis we may disagree. >> Thank you Mr. D. Michelle Mr.
[clears throat] Death. Hi, good evening everyone. Uh my name is DeAndre Heath. I live on uh South Second Street here in Millville. Um I'm here this evening to as well to talk about the influx of crime here in
Millville, particularly the gun violence and the violent uh matters that we have been seeing here in the city. Um, tonight was a very informative meeting uh to learn that the city will be getting cameras, which is a definitely a
wonderful idea idea. Uh, Commissioner Taylor, I would like to also add that um with the addition of cameras, uh perhaps we could utilize other technology as well in terms of AI technology. uh that
certainly can uh will and this technology is known as shot spotter. Uh this uh technology is placed throughout the city within a threemile radius. It has the ability to identify the type of weapon that was fired, where the weapon
was fired at, and it also gives the police officers who who are on duty the opportunity to respond to the area and so forth. Um hopefully the cameras that will be installed uh will be installed in hotspot areas around the city such as
our city parks. Uh Mrs. uh Forest mentioned the area around Fourth Street uh which happens to be a well-known uh open air drug operation. Um, so hopefully these matters can be addressed and we could use the technology and I'm
happy to hear that there were several more officers who are being added on to the force. Um, with that, um, I highly suggest that we could employ some type of community policing. Uh it's important for police officers to be in the
community on foot patrol uh and that they can know the citizens and you know especially in areas where there are um higher uh crime rates and uh areas where there's where there's illegal activity going on. Um so I thank the commission
tonight uh for hearing my concerns and the fellow citizens who have also addressed their concerns this evening. Thank you all. >> Thank you very much. I'd like to address a couple things. Uh Mr. Heath, especially uh thank you for coming this evening. Um the we've been
having a couple meetings with a couple of the camera uh people that camera companies. Um AI technology is one of the options that we are absolutely looking for looking at and one of the
cameras that we like particularly has that built into it. not specifically shot spotter, same thing. Um, more or less the same thing. Um, that's one of the things that we've been looking at. Um, the AI technology is very impressive
when it comes to cameras. Um, might not be cost effective, but um, when it comes to the safety, I think we can spend a little bit more money um, for what we need. Um the community policing um I've been talking to the chief
regularly. As soon as we are back up in manpower, he is going to reinstitute the community policing units and the special units within the city. Um we have to get there. Hopefully by the end of this year we will have have enough to do that. If we
get to 80 officers he will he will be instituting them [clears throat] back in. Um which we're we're trying to get there as quickly as we possibly can. Umies take time. Um finding officers takes time. Vetting the officers takes
time. U the cadetses uh takes time. So um we are actively working on that and um uh thank you for your input because that's that's that kind of input is exactly what we're looking for. Um
people in the in the community um like you and Miss Cotman and and others that are, you know, getting involved. It's It's important. It's It's better for the community when people get involved and and I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Can I say
>> no ma'am? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. At this point, >> but you can come up after and speak to us if you like. >> All right. Um it's now time to move on to the comments by commissioners. Like to start with Commissioner Taylor. >> Is there anybody else? I don't seeing
nobody else at the podium, we will close the public comment portion of the meeting and we will move on to comments by commissioners. Commissioner Taylor. So like I I was saying with with uh Mr.
to heat. Um, community involvement is very important. Um, especially on my end with public safety. Um, with the way the world is today, people have to get involved.
You have to step up. If you see something, say something. Call the police department. Give us as much information as you possibly can about what's going on.
You need to. That's the way we can get officers out there to respond to deal with things. You may not think what you saw was important, but your little bit of information might be the
information that turns the case the way it needs to go so that we can solve it and get it done. You do not have to give your name. It helps, but you do not have to give your name when you call the police department to report an incident. You
can be completely and totally anonymous. I did police dispatching for 25 years. I did emergency services dispatching for years before that. I know how difficult it is to call in things, to be scared to call things in because you're afraid of
what your neighbors would say or what the people down the block or the boys at the bodega or whatever would say. It doesn't matter. Call it in. That's how we'll know. That's how we'll get there. Um, it's important, especially with the way
things are going on in the world today. If you see something, say something. give a call, let it come in. Um, as far as chickens, I grew up in Millville. I've been here
for 55 years. My father had an enormous garden when I was growing up. I too have an enormous garden now. Five gallon buckets. Great thing. It's better than tearing up the ground and stuff grows like crazy.
It's a hobby for me now. It's enjoyable. The chicken discussion at this time. I I am very torn between it. I would have to do a lot
more research. I would have to do a lot more discussing. Um, I would have to look into it very hard before I would change the ordinance. I'm not saying that I am totally against changing the
ordinance, but I at this time I'm not for it with the knowledge that I have. Um, my father raised pigeons when he was younger. My father raised rabbits. My father had a farm on Cedar Street. Um, my entire family farmed on Cedar Street.
So, it. Farming is in my blood as well. I think anybody that grew up in the city of Milville at some point in time grew something or farmed something. Um, so, you know, at this point in time, I'm I'm not
for changing the ordinance, but I'm not totally against it either. So, uh, you know, I'll I'll I'll leave it at that. But, you know, I I listen to you. I've listened to everybody. Um, Mr. Moore, I think I've dealt with you at
some point in time. I know I have. Um, but you know, it's important that the citizens of Milville know that we're listening. And, um, I don't want to say that that it was the police department that came out. Somebody had to have called either the
inspections department or the animal or something. Um, we don't look, the police department does not go out and look for people having chickens or anything like that. We would have to get a call at some point in time and then it would be pretty much an inspections issue I
believe at that point in time. Um, unless the animals were being abused, which yours obviously were not. Um, so somebody had to alert somebody at some point in time. Um,
did I address everybody? Yeah, that's so that's all I have for right now. But thank you everybody for, uh, coming out tonight, too. By the way, >> thank you, Commissioner Taylor. Uh, Commissioner Reanella. >> Um, sure. I got a lot of notes here, so
uh, bear with me. Uh, Pastor Bryant, uh, you had said something, uh, that I think that everybody in this room could collectively agree on. Where are you? There you go. And that is um that we all want beautiful things in Milville. >> Yes, we do. >> Um I I think that really uh that's it
right there. Uh Mr. Moore, uh you had mentioned Buck Park. Um I have a small child. Um since he's two years old and I moved to Millville, that was the first place I took him. And I love that park and I
want to see it improve and I want to see that improvement collectively through all of us just keep spreading. I'm very hopeful. Um Mr. Heath, you mentioned spot shutter. I haven't heard that for a while. Um I've
heard it for many, many years, probably since the day I moved here as well. Um so perhaps that's something that we could explore as well. Um, one of the things I really want to address, uh, that really I don't know,
it just doesn't seem clear, uh, for anybody who's following, uh, chickens aren't banned in Millville. There's no widespread ban on chickens in Millville. Uh, the the ordinance really breaks it down on how much land you need to have
chickens. uh the policing of people's yards. Um our code enforcement is really really busy and they I I can assure you they're not actively going out and looking for
chickens. Uh there's there's a lot of you could drive down the street and see everything that's going on here. uh >> busy >> uh Mayor Dixon had addressed some of those things uh with construction and uh illegal illegal dumping is another issue. Uh there's a there's a lot crime
and not that that's code enforcement but uh people who go into abandoned houses uh there's a lot of stuff going on. Um I think that collectively uh we will look at the ordinance but uh the way that the ordinance is written it's not a new ordinance. It's not like it just showed
up recently. Uh, and to be quite frank, this is the first I had heard anybody ever have any issue with it, uh, in the 10 years I've lived here. So, um, I will look at it. I have looked at other ordinances and other cities in through New Jersey and they're kind of similar
to ours. So, um, I'll look again and I will consider it. And, uh, I just want to thank everybody. Uh, and Mrs. Forest, uh, thank you. uh you know, you you mentioned uh everybody doing things collectively together. Uh and I again I think that's what we're we're all trying
to do uh as a community and as a commission. So I want to thank you as well. Um thank you. >> Thank you. You stole a lot of my thunder. >> I apologize. I'm not a psychic. [laughter] >> Uh thank you Commissioner Reinell. Commissioner Kasibon.
>> Okay. First, Mr. Ustein. Is that how Okay. Unfortunately, that that ordinance is there for a reason. We didn't make it. I will look at it. But a rule is a rule is a rule, unfortunately. And I feel bad. I know your children
probably gained a lot of insight and a lot of empathy and responsibility taken care of. But it's something we can look at, but not right now. Unfortunately, we have so many other things in this city right now that needs to be addressed. And again, I I I
can't picture anybody driving by and saying there's a chicken and I just can't see that. So, unfortunately, somebody has done turned it in and and we had to look at it and that's that's our job. Um,
I don't know. I I guess maybe I am psychic because as I sat at home today getting ready for the meeting, I had a couple things that I wanted to say. And um Mr. Death and and Miss Cotman, I didn't know that you were going to be here, but
thank you all because we need to hear from you. And my comment today was everybody needs to do their part for a better Milville. And I'm going to tell you right now that these five commissioners up here, we
give 150% at times. We only we're here because we want a better Milville. We truly truly do. And it's funny that you're here telling us exactly what we know and what we we need you guys. We need you to be our eyes. We can't be everywhere. I don't know that there's a
pothole down the road unless you let us know. I don't see a crime over there unless you say something. We need you. We truly truly do. And my last quote that I am going to say is it's from Albert Einstein. You never fail until
you stop trying. So keep trying for Milville. There's no I know we've got it. This is a great town. I've been here for a lot a lot of years and I love this town. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Kasman. >> You're welcome. >> Vice Mayor C.
>> Well, good evening and once again, thank everybody for coming. Um whether you know we agree, disagree, we love the more people that come up, even if we don't agree all the time. Um this is why we're here. Uh there's 27,000 residents,
so we have no problem hoping one day that Chief Wedstein can say, "Hey, you guys have too many people at this room." Mhm. >> So, please continue to to come. Um, once again, I'm at Wow. Right. You're
like one of few people that would ever stop kids with guns. I'm telling you right now, if you're asking for my advice, never do that again. >> But I'm glad you told us after and you're safe.
But wow. Yeah. The The concern you have for this Milville and the love you have for Milville shows, right? >> I have a lot of police officers. >> I hope you had five of them on while you were walking out of your car that day, >> but God bless you. Right. And um and I
know exactly where you're at. Believe it or not, one of my first homes was 317 South Third. So, I don't know where you're at there, but >> 319. >> So, we we we were connected at one point. So, obviously you moved in after I left, but um I know exactly where you're at and I actually I've been in
your house now, so uh I know where it's at. That sounds wrong, but you weren't there when I was there, right? So, um that doesn't sound any better. [laughter] Um but yes, uh that is a community thing, right? Kids
are out there. >> I have a sign in front of my house. I am crime watch. Any illegal activity will be reported to law enforcement. >> All right, that sounds like a good place for a substation. >> Yes. >> You want to talk to the the chief?
>> I have more signs than that, but um I have a threatening sign. Um I have two guns. Talk about a crazy woman live here. My daughter got [laughter] you know >> I love it. >> I got signs saying you are being watched.
>> You know, my daughter hooks up the um the camera system. That's why I trying to say I have my tablet and I have infinity is excellent. >> I I don't mean to cut you off but >> me and you could probably talk for another 45 minutes which I would love to
do. >> At the next meeting you'll get another five minutes. [laughter] >> Yes. >> One of my cameras like even a a net or a flying in air. >> I like it. I like it. Bless you. I'm glad y'all know which cameras you get.
>> Um, >> Miss Hansstein, don't stop caring, right? Just keep doing it. Um, you may not like everything we say up here, but we do fully appreciate everything you say up here. Um, I know we don't say things that you want to hear all the
time. Uh, I do have a daughter that has chickens now. She's in Greenville, South Carolina. And I just want to give a shout out. Mrs. Puff died last week and she was my daughter's chicken. So, uh, I I know she's probably watching, so I
want to give a shout out to Miss Puff. We love that chicken. Um, uh, only a couple things, and I do love how well you're prepared you are, and I will never tell you how to, you know, present anything.
I'm not a fan when you equate police with construction. So, I just want to let you know, to me, they're two different things. And I know what you were trying to say. Um, but you know, police officers might take offense. They weren't out looking for your chickens. Uh, so to compare the crime with it, no,
that's okay. I and I get what you're saying. And same thing with uh that was a beautiful thing with the women in World War II. And I would never like to, you know, almost compare them to, but I I get the hyperbole what you were trying to say, but um please, you know, keep
caring. Um that's never a bad thing. And listen, it's been a long time since me and you walked. I miss you, man. >> I miss you, too. And I glad you still love me, so I appreciate that. I wasn't sure if you still do or not. Always. >> Um, but that community garden was a good thing, right? >> It still. >> And it still is. Yes. And those are the
kind of things we need in the community, right? And you were there at the beginning when we were walking and doing that. So, I do appreciate that. Um, and I even think I'm not sure if your grandfather was on a few of Zoom meetings that I was talking with mental illness while he was a nurse a few years
ago, but he looks very familiar on on some of the Zoom meetings I've been on when we were dealing with mental health and nurses. Um, but I understand why you're here, right? Um, I have five grandkids, too. And it breaks your heart when you see certain things like that. And a lot of my kids are lucky enough to learn some of those things that your
granddaughter's instilling in in your grandkids. film. Um, Mr. Heath, uh, once again, man, really, Shot Spotter? Really? No, I'm just kidding. Uh, for those who've been around a while, know that that that's been around for a
while. Um, but I get your point, right? There is technology out there. We are looking at the newer and more improved technology. And community policing, you don't have to preach to me. Um, I was a community policing officer. I to me there was no greater joy in my police
career as being on community policing and I understand that whole impact that has on everybody. Um so I appreciate everything you brought to the table and once again it's St. Patrick's Day. Um some of you guys could be doing other things on St. Patrick's Day and you chose to spend your wonderful evening
with us because of the love you have for us and I appreciate it. Um and that's all I have there. >> Thank you Vice Mayor C. Um let's start with chickens. Um, it's always fun to start with chickens. So, we, you know, with our 250th anniversary, I'm gonna
somehow connect 250th anniversary with chickens. >> I didn't know where you were going. >> So, I'm going to try to do that. See if I can make that bridge. We have the 250 anniversary of our our amazing country coming. And a lot of people think that we live in a
democracy. We live in a representative republic. And the beauty of our system of government is that it's not majority rules. The majority doesn't necessarily get to tell the minority what they can
and can't do. This country, much of our system of government is set up to protect the minority of people from the majority. That's that's the beauty of this government is that you know uh you know democracy I think if I can get this right is you know there's two wolves and
a chicken sitting around and they take a vote on what's for dinner. Chickens are for dinner and that's you know when you have a democracy where everybody gets to choose what goes on then that's what happens. Chicken is for dinner. So our government
is put in place to protect that minority. Now, at some point 26 years ago, the commission saw fit or the zoning board saw fit to limit chickens to one acre and above. And I'm sure those reasons back in the day were good.
All right. Is it um you know, smell? Is it rodents? Is it nuisance of a bird jumping over a fence? Whatever those reasons are, that's what they put in place 26 years ago. And I'm sure they
took a lot of time thinking about it. I'm sure they didn't say, "Hey, willy-nilly, let's let's outlaw chickens on anything less than an acre." I'm sure they thought very much about why you may not want chickens on a 46 acre piece of property. Now, I live
in a medium residential area, and I know my neighbor doesn't necessarily take care of his yard well, and if he were to raise chickens, I would imagine it would smell I'm not saying that you took care of your chickens wrong,
but the way our government works is to protect those people who don't want to necessarily deal with rodent issues, who don't want to deal with smell issues, who don't want to deal with chickens hopping over the fence, because even though some people do things the right
way, many do not. What you're asking is to what you're saying is that we are going around policing chickens which we are not. We are here today talking about chickens for one reason and one reason alone. Someone called and complained.
We were told in one of the first meetings that I got permission from all my neighbors and they told me that it was okay if we had chickens. Well, you know what? One of your neighbors called and said they don't like the chickens. Now, I don't know what they said
exactly. they didn't like the smell or the birds or I don't know what the exact complaint was. I can find out exactly what it was, I think. However, someone called and complained and that's why our government is so great because I should have the ability
to sit in my backyard and not smell chicken poop. That's how our government works. 26 years ago, they put that ordinance in place to protect the rights of the people who want to be able to sit in their backyards and not possibly smell
what it smells like with chickens production going on in the neighboring yard. Now, whether that was the right decision or not, that's the decision they made at the time. If that's something we're going to readress and look closer at, um perhaps it is. you know, when we uh take
the temperature here, you know, I if if a when a commission takes time to put an ordinance in, they did it for a reason. We don't just trust me, ordinances are not easy to get going. So that if they do that, they there was pretty good
reasons that they did it. Um, so as I mentioned, this has been in effect since 2001. It's not something that just happened yesterday. Um, our enforcement doesn't go around
looking for chickens. The police don't go around looking for chickens. I'm pretty sure you said that. So somebody complained. What you're asking actually is a sis for us to put a system of bureaucracy in place to enforce chickens.
You want us to say on the fifth floor, let's have our inspectors go around and make sure chickens are, you know, housed properly, that they're 25 foot from the property line, that they're in the right type of uh enclosures, that they have a
certain amount of run area for. So now you we have to put something in place to make sure people in these med medium residential areas are doing chickens correctly because if you don't do chickens correctly, you're going to have those problems. You're going to have smell issues. You're going to have
rodent issues. And the first time you were here, you mentioned smell and road and stuff. We do all these mitigating factors. And I am 100% certain that you did those things. However, I'm 100% certain that most people won't.
100% certain because it's a lot of work you probably went through to make sure your chickens were done correctly. Now, the problem with that is now we have to have a a chicken bureaucracy and a chicken inspector, a guy with a bad shape in it like a chicken to go around and enforce the proper chicken rules.
It's a lot of work. We already have tons of work when it comes to uh enforcement. code enforcement as it is. Those folks upstairs from the moment they get here, the moment they leave, they are trying to clean the city up. That's where I stand on chickens. Um, we can talk about
it more, but I I fall right now to the I live in a medium residential area, uh, just like the one you're talking about, and I would not be as a citizen would not be for my neighbor having chickens. Um, Mr. Mr. Heath. Am I saying your name
wrong this entire time? >> You have. >> I am so sorry. I've been saying DeAndre Death, which kind of it rolls off the tongue a little bit. >> Oh, I said it earlier, too. >> Did you say it, too? >> DeAndre Heath. >> Oh, apologize. Sorry. >> I'm sorry about that.
>> So, thank you for coming. Um, and Miss Cotman, I am your spear animal when it comes to the things that you're talking about. Thank you so much. I mean, it feels like you're saying that I go, every time I walk in this building, these are the things I say. Sometimes nobody's listening anymore. I'm just
sitting in my office saying it to myself, but uh these are things that I say all the time. Public safety is I think we all walk in this building every day looking for uh ways to make the public safer. So, thanks for your concern. Um
I had something else that I was going to go into and that was going to take a while. I'm going to save that for next time. was really good. >> That was good. I was timing you. >> How far what are I now? >> You were over your limit, but >> there is no way. >> I wasn't going to kick you.
>> You know what? I'm Maybe I will do this just to spite you. Anyway, so um I do want to thank everybody that comes, you know. Um although we may not agree on um chickens. I know you guys care
about this city and we may never agree on chickens, but I appreciate your your input. I appreciate you coming out. I appreciate you having a voice. Um, and we may never change the chicken ordinances for less than an acre.
However, we do appreciate you coming, Pastor Brian. Appreciate you coming. Um, but uh to be continued. All right. And with that, can I get a motion to adjourn this meeting?
>> I'd like to make a motion. >> Second. Can I get a roll call, please? >> Commissioner Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Cot, >> yes. >> Commissioner Kasaboon, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinelloo, >> yes.