--------- session meeting order. Roll call, please. Mayor Romick, here. Commissioner Huitt, here. Commissioner Suie here. Vice Mayor Watson here. Commissioner Kasaboon here. May we please rise to salute the flag. I pledge allegiance 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 Oakland 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. Madam clerk, there are any changes to the agenda? There are none, mayor. Presentation. Seeing none, public comment on agenda items only. If anybody from the public would like to comment on
agenda items, please come to the podium. State your name, address your concerns, and please limit your comments to approximately 5 minutes. Thank you. Patricia Kier 49 Peach Drive. Um, I just have one comment on this agenda with a
discussion on the DRBA before you go into private session. I think it might be more prudent to wait until after you've done your private session or wait until the regular meeting. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
Good evening. My name is Rick Abbott, uh 1925 Feritin Road, and I'm here basically on uh the DRBI. Also, I've rented a building at that facility for probably the past 25 years and paid them approximately
$450,000. And currently there's eight foot holes in the roof. The siding's falling off. The sophets are falling off. And I assume the city has something in their agreement they had with the DRBA that they need to repair these buildings, especially the ones that are on the
historic registry. There's 25 buildings out there on the registry. And this happens to be one of them. It's the theater. Um I don't know whether there's anything that could be done, but I just thought I ought to come in. I have a bunch of pictures. I give them to Brock or whoever to show you the condition of
the building, but it's a shame that they're letting everything, you know, get to the disrepair portion where they're tearing them down. And I don't think that's what they intended to do when they put it on the registry. So, that's all I have to say.
Who should Who should uh I give these to you? Yeah, they're they're pretty amazing. you make or something and I I've tried to, you know, get them to repair and they're just not interested. Thank you, Mr. Abbott.
Uh Tamara Davis, Milville. Um on I have a question and a couple comments on agenda item on the regular uh meeting agenda for the new business item number 191 regarding a special license to close
off an entire block for 6 hours on a Friday night. Um, I don't know if you guys had a chance. I I certainly hope most of you uh reviewed this because for something for that amount of time and that particular block for six hours, I
think would be um a problem, especially on a weekend that could be considered a three-day weekend because most people are off on the 20th and already there's a lot of traffic during that time frame on um on Friday night. Um, it's also, and I'm talking between Pine and Second
and Third, um, a thoroughare should anything happen on Main Street. You know, if there's an accident or whatever, that's usually where people detour from. They go down third, go down Pine, and then get, um, back on second. I also find it a problem just in case if they start working on this bridge, traffic. We have no idea what traffic
will be like. So, now they're closing a block. So, I'm wondering if anyone has had the opportunity to talk with the applicant to possibly offer them a different public lands perhaps uh Corsum Park or
uh Buck Park which is conducive for that. Um and they're considering 300 plus people and what really is I find shocking in this whole application is their emergency plan. Um it's basically drawn on a napkin. They don't even take into consideration any kind of other
buildings that are within uh public or private or even residences that are within this um area. Um and assuming that they have enough space to have emergency exits onto Sassifrass Street, then onto Third Street
um and then I guess on North Second. So, I mean, I find a a lot of red flags with this. I'm I'm certainly I'm I'm sure it's going to be a good event. I don't want to prevent anyone. I don't I'm not suggesting you say no, but I really think this re um requires a more review
and a better place to do it. I mean, the city when they have our concerts have it on Buck Park in itself and this is closing a block. Now, keep in mind when they when there's uh when the block is co closed for uh play streets, that's only a few hours on a Wednesday afternoon and the amount of police
presence there is is high considering and they're not even offering any police for six hours. So, they're going to have their own members of their church doing the policing, which that makes me very nervous. Um, and then parking is an issue where where is 300 plus people going to
park? There's really not that much parking in that area. So, I'm I certainly hope that you gave this some thought and maybe table it or perhaps, you know, remove it from the agenda, have a discussion with the applicant to to offer a better better place to to have this event, especially for that
many people and for that many hours. I share your concern with closing the street in a residential area on the weekend. You don't have it on a public street on the weekend. I do believe the parks, one of the parks would be a much better place to do it. Much better equipped for that. I'm also concerned
about bathrooms when you have 300 people. Now, I realize they could open the church, but even so, and how do we know 600 people aren't going to show up or Well, the application says 300 plus. One part says 300 plus, the other part says 200 plus. So there's obviously no
guarantee, no even knowledge of how many they people they could attract. And it looks like it's a non- ticketed event. So you're right, it could be it could be a thousand. I shared my concerns with the director of public safety and he explained a few things and alleviated some of those concerns, but not all of them. I mean, I I just really think
there should be better consideration. And the fact that it's up until 10:00 at night, that's a problem in itself. I understand the noise ordinances, but this is a residential area, predominantly residential. So, um, and there, and there's I don't know. I I would say I
would consider it a a big problem for that. So, if I can, Tamara. Mhm. Uh, I think my package is a little bit larger than yours because I have everything. I have every application. I have every inspection. I've talked with my departments today like I told you I was
going to do last night. We talked. Uh, I realize people are concerned with traffic. It's a oneb block shut off. Uh, I'm choosing my words here. It's not going to shut down traffic uh anymore. It's not going to
disturb traffic anymore in that area of town uh than this uh bridge repair is doing. Uh yes, it's long. I'll agree with you on that. I I will uh I think I agreed with you last night on that.
Uh I have everything that my departments have done because basically it is in the hands of my departments uh between the fire police and uh
EMS we are finally back up where we have three EMS trucks running. I'm not afraid of that. Uh my fire inspector has been there to inspect the kitchen. my fire inspector will be there again on that
day to inspect again because that's how it happens when anybody's going to be cooking for and out for a situation like this. Uh the chief of the fire department has approved it. Here's his approval. He
approved it actually on May 22nd at 3:03 p.m. When these folks first started doing what we'll call their due diligence to have this uh I had the uh application the full application to the city that was turned
into uh the third floor with the approvals of everybody that's involved. Uh I have verification of insurance Again, this is
the same verification from uh my fire chief. Another one. Keep that in order here. Uh what's this? I have a uh on city letter head a response from
Sam Cruz because I didn't know whether she had anything to do with this with it, you know, being parked and wrecked. Let's see here. I have a copy of all their insurance. They have more than enough insurance than the minimums
that we require for an event like this. I have their exit plan, which is basically the same exit plan we use every week during the summer for the kids. There's there's no other way to build an exit plan on that block. Uh I mean, you know, you live right on the corner.
Uh yeah, it was I'll agree with you. It's not the most professional. Commissioner Huitt, are are you saying that all the police concerns, fire concerns, EMS concerns, health department concerns are all taken care of? They're all taken care of. They're
all taken care of for my departments. But did anyone ever offer them a a park? Uh I mean that's it would that's not that's where the city that that's not my department's job to try and offer them somewhere else. They've gone through
everything that anybody would have to go through to use any area of this city. They've showed proof of all insurance. I have even have driver's licenses of people involved. I got a whole checklist here.
Uh my departments see no problem with it. We will have extra police officers. They will not be dedicated to that, but they'll be in the area because our UE extra police will be working. So, we will have extra police officers on during two shifts that
night. So, and we are well aware of it. So, it's not like we're going to avoid the area. That's that's the best I can offer you, T. Okay. So, screw the residents in the area. And No, I didn't say that. You did. Well, yes, I did. But it's a residential area. That's why a
park would be more conducive. I would think that, you know, the four uh the second street is a highway, state highway. All right. Third street is a county road. So, they're used a lot. And four o'clock this afternoon, traffic was backed up all almost to Malberry. And
this is just Tuesday. So, uh it's going to offer it's it's going to be a problem and there's going to be people walking. It's like that every day. Summertimes here, school everywhere. All I can tell you is if you feel strongly enough about it, I have talked with my department, department heads, ask for a sit down
with us and we'll sit down with you. I do say us because I'm not going to throw them under the bus and say go talk to the chiefs. That's best I can offer you. They have followed everything as am I really happy with it. The hardship no.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you. My name is William Teddy and I'd like to address two issues that one of is has to do with the issue or what about the sassifrass and uh uh second street issue and what used
to be uh uh Shannon and Roap's funeral home in that property. Why is it fenced in and could be used for public parking? What's the issue there? And uh there was something else that I
wanted to address but because of my age I'm having a little bit of issues recalling it but that's one concern and what oh was about the bridge and what arrangements are you planning to do with brain being a a vessel and with the
buses public buses that congregate and they stop in front of Main Street in front of the Wawa and across the street is that route and how's that route going to be with the buses. I mean, that's a
uh this uh what is it? NJ or New Jersey Transit issue. Have they forwarded the suggested routes for their buses? And uh can you publish those routes for the public, please? Thank you.
We'll uh we'll start with the bridge repair. The bridge bridge repair is going to be done exactly how the overpass was done going from Wheaten Avenue into Lincoln Avenue and Vinland. There will be no closure except for some sort of an emergency situation during
that repair. There will be two lanes open east and west on the bridge at all times. The bridge repairs are being done from 6:30 at night till 4:30 in the morning, weather permitting. Yep. The
bridge pair started last night. Uh they have all the silt fence up and everything for anything going into the river. Uh the bus route has not changed at all. It's still going to be right there at the Wawa. Uh like I say, barring any situation, traffic will not
be routed around uh that bridge. Uh what was the second one? It was the Florida Sass Sassifrass. on second street what used to be that's private property now that's private property bought by an investor that is
going to be an asphalted parking lot for his restaurant when it's done he has that secured right now because he owns it and that is in his best interest for insurance that's just curious but it will be at times yes can be used by patriots it's a
proceeding redevelopment okay all right thank you so much sir y I hope everybody can hear me over the system just I'll pull a little bit closer. I know. Seeing no one further, I will close public comment on agenda items only. Discussion of commissioners.
Commissioner Huitt. Go ahead. Before that, um, Mayor Ramck, may I excuse me. I would like any comments. Before that, I'd like to make a motion to table any open discussions regarding the DRBA. Why I commend the
commissioners who have put in un relentless hours doing deliberating this contract. We're still in negotiations and any remarks, thoughts, or comments should be addressed during our closed session. Point of order. I have the right to say what I want to say as a
commission. Well, there's a motion to table which takes precedence. Not over a point of order. It does. And a point of order takes precedence over all motions. Correct. and I have the right to say what I want to say and I'm going to say it regardless if you pass a motion anyway. It's not going to interfere with the negotiations. I can assure you of
that. Okay. Thank you. All clear. Commissioner Huitt, go ahead. No, I think I covered everything. Uh we did have a small fire today. Another reason for me to thank the city of Bridgton. It's the first time we had to use their ladder 7
uh at the fire. And also I got to thank our guys first and foremost our PD for keeping things traffic wise under control. And once again by they sent a truck here to cover city at our firehouse. They sent a ladder here to help us with the fire. The fire was at
Oak View Apartments. That's it. Mayor, thank you commissioner for the update. Yes, I saw that get toned out and uh I saw was keeping quick response of it. So, good work from noted. Thank you for the update on that. Please, where are we? Commissioner S. Commissioner Suie,
go ahead. Yes. So, um Mr. Davis, first of all, I share your concerns on that. However, you are the only resident here speaking against it, which I don't know why anybody else is not here, but they're not. Um, as for the DRBA, negotiations are
ongoing. Uh, we had a productive meeting. There's another meeting scheduled. Uh, the other stuff I won't talk about in close session except that I will talk about in close session. But Mr. Abbott, I do share your concern about the deterioration of several buildings out there. So, some of that
will be discussed in close session. And that's all I have on the DRBA. Hopefully, I've alleviated your concerns. You have. Thank you, Commissioner Silly. I appreciate it. Commissioner, can I interrupt you for just a minute? Which one? What? Commissioner Zoe. Okay, good. Well, I'm done, so I guess so. No, no, no. Well,
you're talking about the RBA. Can we keep these till tomorrow so we can get some photo copies made? Yep. Thank you. If you want more, I can have more. No, I just got Commissioner C. No, just um thank you for the photos.
So, I I look forward to seeing those. Uh Mrs. Davis, I understand your concern. Um, but I I think they've dotted their eyes and crossed their tees, so we can just hope that things go well, which I think they will. Vice Mayor Watson, last work session we
brought up about uh potential to increase the salary ordinance for CFO. Correct. Uh, just wanted to kind of just did a little bit of homework. Um, highend in the area is probably like 170,000. Uh, the lower end is about 115,000. and our salary ordinance is in
the ballpark of that. The average for the ones that I found, it was like six or seven cities that I was looking at, the average was about 140,000. Uh we did have an interview for a CFO today or recently. Um I could not attend, but I didn't want to hold up the um the
appointment. Um our business administrator sat in, our human resources sat in. Uh the interview did go well. Um but that was our only interview so far. Um Yeah, I was I was briefed on that interview. I was uh encouraged by that, what the business
administrator did have to say. Um and I am encouraged to listen to what you agree on the salary proposes because I do think we need to raise the bar to encourage, you know, those high uh desired applicants um for these tough positions in Milville to apply for and
you know, like you just mentioned, there was only one so far. Yep. Yeah. And I want to thank our business administrator. He was acting fast. We had a discussion earlier this week and uh it's nice that he already talked to, you know, everybody about it. So that's good. Good. Uh so thank you to Joe. Um so I'm assuming obviously it's
probably not going to be on this agenda. Maybe next agenda uh after a little bit more thought and probably go from there. If I may, I asked Mr. Couchy today if the if you guys had started anything with the salary ordinance. He told me no. So what you need to realize it's going to take two readings and it's 20
days after that that it's effective. Right. our CFO is leaving in September. You will already be into July, August, end of July or August. So, need to like speed that up. Well, I just wanted to make this a group discussion, you know. No, I agree. Nothing wrong with that, but I think we
need to speed it up and and get it on the agenda as fast as we can. Yep. Uh we're most likely going to be looking at if it's okay with the commission, probably put it on the next next agenda. Yeah. Yep. As long as discussions with that individual, keep on being positive and uh we'll go from there. But thank
you. Yep. And um I'll save the rest for regular meeting. That's all I have. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Welcome to June, June 3rd, 2025. I mean, I'm glad, you know, we're into the summer. I'm glad for the warm
temperatures. Sun is shining. No more rain. Hopefully, we get to enjoy the great outdoors and all that the wonderful city of Milville has to offer for all of us. I will save all what I had to do and all the fun events I had to plan and do
and attend in the evening in the later part of the month for the regular session so all the public can get to hear me. New business, seeing none, public comment portion. 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 your
concerns. Please limit your comments to approximately five minutes. Thank you. Seeing nobody, I'll close public comment portion. I'll make a motion. Comments of commissioners. Go once, twice. Good. Resolutions.
A resolution authorizing close session for the following matters. Discussion of DRBA negotiation and attorney client privilege and discussion of cannabis retail sales deliberative process and attorney client privilege. I make a motion. Second motion. That was
motion to second on resolutions for close session. Roll call, please. Commissioner Hwitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Kasabun, yes. Commissioner Suie, yes. Mayor Roman, yes. See you all soon. We'll make some copies. We'll make some
copies. Whatever. I'm involved. I'm involved. I'll study my agenda. Part: 2
Regular session meeting to order. Roll call, please. Mayor Ramen, here. Commissioner Hwitt, here. Commissioner Suie, here. Vice Mayor Watson, here. Commissioner Kasaboon, here. Is Reverend Robinson, there you are. Can I Can I please have Reverend Brian Robinson to
deliver the invocation followed by the salut flag? Can we please stand? Let's pray. Gracious and loving God, we give gather tonight with gratitude for the city. For all those who serve in it and for the opportunities you give us to work
together for the common good. As these commissioners deliberate and decide on matters that affect the lives of many, grant them wisdom beyond their own, patience in their listening, and courage in their convictions. Remind us all, God, that that true leadership is service and that justice, mercy, and
humility are not only ideals, but the path to peace and flourishing. Bless this meeting, the decisions made, and the people who are represented here. May everything done in this space be rooted in love for neighbor and a commitment to the dignity of all. In your holy name we
pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance 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 Oakland Public Meetings Act of 1975. Was advertised, posted, and made available to the public as required by statute. The admissible 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. Public
comment on agenda items only. If anybody from the public would like to comment on agenda items, please come to the podium, state your name, address your concerns, and please limit those concerns to approximately 5 minutes. Thank you. Evening, Tims, we're on you. Uh,
question about the the church rally. Am I right in saying there's not going to be any police presence there? Go ahead and finish questions. I'll ask you what I can. And and in relation to that, is it my understanding that the city is not going to be participating
with National Night Out? I'll answer that one too. Okay. The reason being is that if the reason why you're not going to be participating in a city won't be with national out because we don't have the coverage for that many people 300 people and basically a small
area. I don't see how that could be a safe environment when you have 300 people together and it may be a lot more from what I understand be free food served. So it may be more than just three. I think that was the estimate. 300 people. I'm not sure. I could be
wrong on that. But what I'm saying is is that is as in this time when we have this road work going on, that's going to be an avenue people are going to go down a route to to avoid the traffic. And with no police presence, it
could it could erupt into chaos. And I, you know, I just don't want to see that happen. And if we're not going to do one because of either lack of manpower or lack of interest or whatever and then they allow this to h,
you know, allow this to happen in that area. Isn't there another venue that they could use that would be more like like where they do fourth Fridays in that in the park or behind Lakehouse? Is is there any way that I just think that you're putting you're you're setting a powder peg. You're putting a powder peg
that could could potentially go off. That's that's my only question. So, thanks. Wait till uh Rick Milville. Uh just to also uh touch on that real quick. Uh I think it's a great event coming up and I I hope it goes very well. Um just we do
have traffic going through another property. Um the two of the exits are the schoolboard property. Um I hope there they were known notified of uh hopefully you have some hopefully they're on the insurance waiver as well. Y um and two that's not an action plan.
So hopefully you actually have an action plan. That's just showing you where the exits are. That's not an action plan. So So all right. Very good. Like I said I just want to make sure because those two exits, you know, we're directing traffic through somewhere else. So thank you.
Thanks. Seeing no one else, I will close public comment on agenda items only. Do you want to address those right now? Go ahead, Commissioner J. Uh Tim, were you here at the commission meeting at the work session? You had to go home. Okay. Nothing wrong with that.
Uh as I explained, I have a whole package here. I have background checks. I have visits by our chiefs, by our officers, by everybody that does there's nothing being done different with this activity. that isn't done with all of
them, even with our city sponsored ones. I said earlier to Tamara, I you know, I'm not the happiest in the world where it is, but uh the commission is going to make the decision on letting this go or
not. The only thing that I can tell you is this is also involved with the uh all day long uh activities that we have every year out in what used to be mobile gardens where the churches and everybody
are out there. Some of these folks are are the security that works out there. Do we have police roaming in the area for that? Yes, we do. Will we have them roaming here in the area? Yes, we will. We're not going to ignore it. And we also will have UEES officers, e extra
officers working that night. They're already scheduled. Uh so we're doing the best we can. Okay. Uh and to just put it in my own words without signaling somebody out. I I hope that answers your question, Rick. Thank you. Uh yes, as you see
here, we have a full plan with everybody that's involved in my department between PD, EMS, and fire. Hope that answers questions. Presentation. Seeing none. Motion to pay
the bills. Make a motion to pay the bills. Second motion. Roll call, please. Commissioner Huitt. Yes. Vice Mayor Watson. Yes. Commissioner Kabun. Yes. Commissioner Suie. Yes. Mayor Romnick. Yes. Petitions and letters. Motion to receive and file a letter from Mayor
Romnick appointing UEZ administrator. Make motion. Second a motion. We have a motion to second petition letters item number one. Any comments? Yes. Samantha Cruz has uh resigned her position as the assistant to the mayor. I have asked assistant
engineer Michelle Northf to be my mayor to the assistant mayor to the office of mayor. Um she took some time and accepted that position. So I look forward to working with Miss Not um for the remainder of this year. Roll call, please. Commissioner Huitt. Yes. Vice
Mayor Watson. Yes. Commissioner Kasaboon. Yes. Commissioner Suie. Yes. Mayor Romick. Yes. Petitions and letters. Item number two. Motion to receive and file a letter from Atlantic City Electric regarding pruning and removal of trees around electrical distribution facilities. I make a
motion. Second a motion. We have a motion in second on on petitions in the letters item number two. Any comments? Roll call, please. Commissioner Huitt. Yes. Vice Mayor Watson? Yes. Commissioner Kasaboon? Yes. Commissioner Suie? Yes. Mayor Romnick? Yes.
Ports of commissioners. Commissioner Huitt would go ahead. Thank you, Mayor. Uh been a busy week throughout busy two weeks. Uh once again, I have to uh signal out everybody, my whole public safety department for what they're doing. We all know how they're working.
We all know the manpower they're working with, or I should say without. uh sometimes coming. We do have the uee uh funded extra officers
uh will be out and working, which is a positive for the city. Uh we're not going to ignore activities that are going on. We're going to be there. We're going to be around. Uh Rick, uh no, Tim, I missed it. I
didn't answer you. I'll answer you now. Without getting too deep into the situation, myself and the chief and others in command at the PD made the decision at the beginning of the year to not have
National Night Out this year. The fireworks that we already paid for because it got rained out last year and cancelled that we have a credit for and are owed to us. uh parks and wreck, Sam Cruz and the commissioner will be able to use them so we don't lose that credit
for other activities with that within the city. Uh that's all. Mayor, thank you, Commissioner Huitt. Commissioner Suie. Yeah. So, uh on Wednesday, May 21st, we had our senior barbecue at the Elks. Barbecue was well attended. We want to thank all our
sponsors. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year. On Friday, May 23rd, we had our first fourth Friday of the season, and we would like to thank everyone for coming out. Buck Park was filled with lots of laughter and fun. We hope to see everyone at our next fourth
Friday. Our annual Phillies Home Run Derby was postponed till this Thursday, June 5th, at 5:00 p.m., which will take place at the Rob Shannon Sports Complex. And this event is for children ages 7 to 12. On Saturday, June 7th will be the
fishing tournament at Corson Park. Registration starts at 9:00 and fishing takes place from 10:00 to 12:00 p.m. There will be 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. There will be awards for the most fish and the biggest fish. Have any questions? Please don't hesitate to call the recreation department at
8568257000 extension 7394. Um, I did some research from the statement that was made at the last meeting. Uh, Mr. Watson, you mentioned you met with streets and roads and decided not to pave Laurel Lake Roads at this time. You stated engineering was
too busy and you wanted to save money and engineering is busy. But here are some facts. A bond was passed unanimously to pave roads in Laurel Lake. The commission voted 50-0 to hire engineering firms to assist the engineering department when necessary. Engineer is extremely busy.
As Mr. Romik said, "The assistant municipal engineer is now the mayor's secretary, which definitely takes time. The lack of time to complete task is precisely the reason we hired engineering firms. It was the commission's decision to pave the roads. It is our job to make sure that we all follow through with the
commission's decisions. I believe when the commission votes on something, we all have a duty to carry it out, whether we support it or not. Um the idea that streets and roads does not have time to perform the task necessary to facilitate the construction of those roads I believe is
preposterous. You were sent all the commissioners were sent an email which pretty self-explanatory is why I believe it's preposterous. If you guys wish to stop the project, then we should vote on it. And if we vote on it, then fine, great.
I don't believe it's the lack of manpower that's causing this project to get done. It's a lack of utilizing the resources that we have available to us. Progress. Thank you, Commissioner Suie. Commissioner Kasaboon, go ahead. Okay. Recycling bags. Just a reminder that
bags of yard waste only can contain leaves and grass. No brush or trash allowed in these yard waste bags and not to be over 30 pounds. Um, we all know that we can take our TVs and other electronic devices,
dry cell batteries, cardboard that's clean to 15th Street for disposal, streets and roads. 258 street sweeping tickets were written this month. 6,625 bags of loose leaves and grass
clippings have been collected. 290 tons of brush was collected. There were two trees that fell across the road on Isabel A and Glass Time Road. These have been cut and hauled away. As of this morning, a brush crew is in Laurel Lake. Brush collection will be done once Laurel Lake is finished. And just a
reminder, you will be able to put your brush to the curb in the last two weeks of August for September collection. And due to all the rain that we've been experiencing, there has been potholes popping up all over the place. So, if you have any, please give us a call 8257000 extension 7388 and we'll get
them filled as quickly as possible. Thank you. And you, just to make it clear, you said brush will be allowed to be collected at the end of September. Brush will be collected. Yes. The last two weeks of August for September collection. Last
two weeks of August. Yes. Uh Chris Finch has been uh doing his job very well as I've been getting complaints. Yes, he has. He's been a busy boy. Thank you for the updates. Thank you. Vice Mayor Watson, go ahead. Bear with me. I'm kind of looking through my notes here.
uh to comment on Commissioner Suie's uh remarks to um Laurel Lake Paving Project. Uh there was a deadline of June 30th um that the engineering department is trying to put together an application
for a grant uh that's going to cover multiple streets um in the 8th, 9th, and 10th Street area. And I'm trying to see what that grant was. I just don't have it in front of me. And there was also an opportunity
where we may be able to um have availability for funding to supply the Laurel Lake area with water free of charge of the city. That also has a deadline coming up in July. Uh I I believe that July is the start of the fiscal year and uh it's first come first
serve. Uh so yeah, the decision was made to uh make sure that we apply for these grants um and to instead of using the money for you know outside engineering consultants uh to use that money to do the most paving we can in Laurel Lake.
Um I believe waiting a month or two to try to get these grant applications in is well worth it as uh you know we're going to be getting funding to pave more roads and to you know provide Lur Lake with water. So I think it's uh very beneficial and I think that's a good decision. Uh, and I'm going to stand by
that. I'm sorry to, you know, delay any projects. Sergeant Statenik, uh, always great with communication. He wants to let everybody know um that the NJ dot and the contractors will be working on the paving project between the bridge and Mount Pleasant Cemetery starting at 6:30 tonight. Uh take that
accountability as you guys are headed home. Um and also thank you Statenik for always reaching out and letting us know what's going on. He does send out daily updates. Yeah, he's fantastic. Um I want to give a shout out to our sewer department.
Um, in recent weeks, uh, during one of the rounds, an airline was found that was burst inside of a sludge holding tank. And I remember being in this tank a long time ago. And this is a very dirty job. It's very time consuming. And, uh, you know, to give those guys some credit for, you know, trying to save the um, you know, the city money,
the city some money. Um, you know, these guys are going in there and they're cleaning them themselves. You know, using their their hands and removing rags from these lines. You know, it's saving the city a lot of money. So just a big thank you to them guys for doing a labor intensive and you know it's a very dirty job. So thank you to those
guys. Um with comments from the residents uh a couple steps that we took to try to communicate with the residents about the meters uh the meter um installation through meter tech. Uh you have some residents received notifications but now there's an alert
on the um city web page and also we're looking into like door knockers or sending out some kind of other notifications. But as as we said about before, you know, it costs money. So, we're just trying to evaluate that. Um, I do have some updates through for from
engineering and just reading through them real quick. I got to follow up on them. Um, you know, I don't want to talk too much on the uh the potential project um to supply water to Laurel Lake without asking my questions first.
Um, but one thing I did want to bring up as we talked about it before was the dewatering project. We have a couple dates from ACOM and they're working on the uh estimate um to expect like cost to move forward with the bidding phase. Um, so that's good news and as soon as I
get some more information on that, you know, it's something else I'll bring to the commission and we uh we are moving forward with council 18 union negotiations. Um hopefully we should have something on the next meeting for them. Uh thank you
for everybody involved uh including uh payroll and finance. uh you know every time we have a meeting you know questions get asked and we try to you know put numbers together and you know it's a lot of work and it's some of it's unexpected with some things that come up so thank you to all of them
um and I think just to save a little bit of time [Music] here I think I'm going to end with that thank you Vice Mayor Watson there will be no zoning board this Thursday planning board will take place on June 9th at
6:30 here in Commission Chambers residents are encouraged to participate in a community need survey available on the city website. The survey can be found on the homepage under latest news. 372 rental inspections in the
month of May with 152 code violation notices issued for a total of 290 code violations. Some of the events in the towards the end of the month of May that I said I was going to attend, May 21st, Senior Citizens Barbecue. They switched from
chicken to pork. Chicken to pulled pork. I didn't receive any complaints. Um it looked very tasty. Thank you to TNT Barbecue uh for doing all the cooking. Uh later that night, I did attend the Teen Arts Festival at the Levoy. Congratulations to all of Cumberland
County and Kate May County uh students that did participate um for the Teen Arts Festival. 22nd of May was the Pride in Millville. Congratulations to Mr. Craig Atinson for being named the Pride and Milville reward
recipient. May 23rd was the 48th Olympic Day parade. I thank uh Commissioner Costoon for walking that and attending it as well as New Brandon for taking his multiple pictures and being beating us to uh the end um taking your shortcuts through the city. Um but we all get our
steps in and uh weather held off and it was h very nice um probably the nic nicest weather in the most uh recent years. 28th was the Memorial Day parade. I thank all the groups that uh made it
out there participate all the residents that line the streets um from the Legion onto High and then high to the bridge. We were able to contact DOT speaking about the upcoming uh street paving project. Thank you uh vice mayor for saying that. Um so residents do please take your take your time going home
today heading westbound from city hall but also we did contact DOT to make sure that they weren't starting the bridge uh replacement project uh on Memorial Day. You never know what the state will do. Um but uh Memorial Day parade like I said was well attended all the way through
and to Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Uh we did have a small um audio issue but it would get worked out in the future. So, but I thank everyone, all the residents that were attended. I can uh estimate probably close to 300 or so. I know there was a awful lot of
people. Um, and it was a great turnout uh to remember all those that gave the ultimate sacrifice. 29th, I did attend the dog tags and green flags. It was a little cloudy, but uh uh little more information than that. They use the fundraising capabilities to chain uh
train disabled veterans on the use of drone technology and drones in many applications um that are needed throughout. And I met the very first guy. who is a retired uh Air Force veteran and he was the participant number 001 of the successful training
drone program that this dog tags and green flags initiative uh provided for veterans. On the 30th of May, I attended the third annual spring soray in Kate May helping the town of Lutzik, Ukraine.
Um in the three years they had raised over $750,000. All the proceeds going to Lutzuk, Ukraine. I was there uh that was my first year. Um well attended at Elaine's in Kate May. I have zero sense of directions down in Kate May, but I
was able to find it and had a great conversation with the Kate May city mayor, Zack Müll. So, Zack, thank you for being there and great learning a little bit about uh that organization and more of Kate May. Ordinances in the first reading.
Um, we do have one ordinance for second reading. Ordinance is in second reading. Ordinance of the city of Milville, County of Cumberland, New Jersey, appropriating certain unexpended proceeds of the sale of previously issued bonds and notes to finance the cost of additional capital improvements
and taking related actions. And there is a public hearing. Mayor, make a motion. Second motion. We have a motion second on ordinance with second reading item number one. I will now open it up to public hearing. If anybody from the public like to comment on ordinance in the second reading item number one,
please come to the podium. Seeing no one, I will close public comment. Comments of commissioners. Roll call, please. Commissioner Hwitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Kasabun, yes. Commissioner
Suie, yes. Mayor Romnik, yes. Now, ordinance is the first reading. Ordinance for first reading. Item number one, an ordinance approving and authorizing an application to the Cumberland County Roadway Department for Milville Girls Softball League to hold a coin drop on July 19th and 20th, 2025 at
the intersections of Buckshoot Road and Cedarville Road. Make a motion. Second. Roll call, please. Commissioner Hwitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Kasaboon, yes. Commissioner Suie, yes. Mayor Romnik, yes.
Ordinance for first reading item number two, an ordinance approving and authorizing an application to the Cumberland County Roadway Department for Holly City Youth Football League to hold a coin drop on July 26 and 27th 25, 2025 at the intersections of Buck Shoot Road and Cedarville Road. Make a motion.
Second motion to second on the ordinance of first reading it number two. Any comments? Roll call, please. Commissioner Huitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Kasaboon, yes. Commissioner Suie, yes. Mayor Romick. Yes. Ordinance for first reading item number three. An ordinance accepting the
dedication of certain streets located in Laurel Lake. Make motion. Second motion. Motion and second for ordinance in the first reading. Item number three. Any comments. Roll call, please. Commissioner Hwitt. Yes. Vice Mayor Watson. Yes. Commissioner Kasabun. Yes.
Commissioner Suie. Yes. Mayor Ramen. Yes. Resolutions, please. Resolution item number one, a resolution requesting approval of items of revenue and appropriation NJD 2022 recycling tonnage grant. Make a motion. Second motion. We
have a motion second. Resolution item number one. Any comments? Roll call, please. Commissioner Huitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Kasaboon, yes. Commissioner Suie, yes. Mayor Romick, yes. Resolution item number two, resolution requesting
approval of items of revenue and appropriation, NJAP, Clean Communities Program. Make a motion. Second. We have a motion second on resolution item number two. Any comments? Yes. This was the check that was awarded. It's in my office. I'll post a
picture um outside study hall on one of these nice upcoming days of that nice little check in the sum of $83,45.39. Um, glad to see we're getting on the ball and using it right away. Roll call, please. Commissioner Hwitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner
Kasaboon, yes. Commissioner Suie, yes. Mayor Romnik, yes. Resolution item number three, resolution authorizing water and sewer termination due to non-payment for utility bills due February 1st. Make a motion. Second motion. We have a motion to second on resolution item number three. Any
comments? Roll call, please. Commissioner Huitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson? Yes. Commissioner Kasabun, yes. Commissioner Suie, yes. Mayor Romnick, yes. Resolution item number four, resolution authorizing water and sewer termination due to non-payment for utility bills due March 1st. Make
motion. Second motion. We have a motion to second. Roll call, please. Commissioner Hwitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Kasaboon, yes. Commissioner Suie, yes. Mayor Romnik, yes. Resolution item number five, resolution to award a non-fair and open contract
for support and maintenance of computer hardware and software to Edmonds Gvac. Make motion on resolution item number five. With that, I do have certification of availability of funds in the contracted amount of $54,179.60 signed by our CFO Susan
Quinon. Second motion. We have a motion to second on resolution item number five. Any comments? Roll call, please. Commissioner Hwitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Kasaboon, yes. Commissioner Suie, yes. Mayor Romnik, yes. Resolution item number six,
resolution of the commissioners of the city of Milville authorizing a public fireworks display. Make motion. And with that, I have certification of funds in the amount of $20,000 signed by our chief financial officer, Susan Canerunes. Second motion.
We have a motion second. Resolution item number six. Any comments? Looking forward to the use of them. Roll call, please. Commissioner Hwitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Kaspoon, yes. Commissioner Suie, yes. Mayor Romnick, yes.
Resolution item number seven, resolution authorizing the ward of a state contract to Rico USA, Inc. for lease of eight copers. Make motion on resolution item number seven. With that, I do have certification of availability of funds in the contracted amount of
$12,616.28 signed by our CFO, Susan Quinunes. Second a motion. We have a motion to second on resolution day number seven. Any comments? Roll call, please. Commissioner Huitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Kasabun, yes. Commissioner Suie, yes. Mayor
Romick, yes. Resolution item number eight, resolution to award a non-fair and open contract for fire hydrants Corin Main LP. Make motion and with that I have certification of funds in the amount of
$39,288 signed by our chief financial officer Susan Kenones. Second motion. We have a motion second on resolution item number eight. Any comments? Roll call, please. Commissioner Huitt. Yes. Vice Mayor Watson? Yes. Commissioner Casaboon. Yes. Commissioner Suie, yes.
Mayor Romick, yes. Resolution item number nine, resolution to award a contract to MGS Inc. for purchase of cargo trailers. Make a motion. And with that, I have certification of funds for $47,480 signed by Chief Financial
Officer Susan Cornones. Second the motion. We have a motion second resolution item number nine. Any comment? Comments? Roll call, please. Commissioner Huitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Kasabun, yes. Commissioner
Suie, yes. Mayor Romnick, yes. Resolution item number 10. Resolution authorizing amendment number one to multi-temp mechanical contract. Make motion on resolution item number 10. With that, I do have certification of availability of funds in amount of
$50,000 with the new not to exceed of $140,000 signed by your CFO, Susan Quinones. Second motion. We have a motion to second resolution item number 10. Any comments? Roll call, please. Commissioner Hwitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Kasaboon, yes.
Commissioner Suie, yes. Mayor Romik, yes. Resolution item number 11, resolution authorizing amendment number two to Millville glass and door contract. Make motion on resolution item number 11. With that, I have certification of availability of funds in the contracted amount of
$25,000. Signed by our CFO, Susan Quinones. Second a motion. We have a motion and a second on resolution item number 11. Any comments? Roll call, please. Um, Commissioner Hwitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Kasaboon, yes.
Commissioner Suie, yes. Mayor Romnik, yes. Resolution item number 11, resolution authorizing Oh, sorry. 12. 12. Resolution item number 12, resolution to award cooperative contract to train
technologies for purchase of city hall chiller. Make motion. I don't have it. make motion. And with that, I have a certification of funds in the amount of $79,765, signed by our chief financial
officer, Susan Kenyonz. Second motion. We have a motion second on resolution item number 12. Any comments? Yeah, fixing this air conditioning system. It's working pretty good right now. Well, here it is. Not the whole building. Sixth floor was a little
toasty this afternoon as we run odd and even. Yeah. So, duly needed. Roll call, please. Commissioner Hwitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson? Yes. Commissioner Kasabun? Yes. Commissioner
Suie? Yes. Mayor Romnick? Yes. Resolution item 13, resolution authorizing tax and utility adjustments. Make a motion. Second motion. We have a motion to second on resolution item number 13. Roll call. Commissioner Hwitt. Yes. Vice Mayor Watson? Yes. Commissioner Kasabun? Yes. Commissioner
Suie? Yes. Mayor Romnick? Yes. Resolution item number 14. Resolution appointing municipal assessment search officer. Make motion. Second a motion. We have a motion to second on resolution item number 14. Any comments? Roll call, please. Commissioner Huitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson? Yes.
Commissioner Kasabun? Yes. Commissioner Suie? Yes. Mayor Romnick? Yes. Resolution item number 15, resolution approving an emergency relocation agreement with Suburban Studios Milville. Make a motion. Second. We have a motion and second on
resolution item number 15. Any comments? Uh yes. Just in case anybody has questions uh out there. Uh this is for like when we have a fire and we need to relocate residents uh because of their temporary loss of a home. It's a limited time, but we have to keep this up to
date every year. Understood. Roll call, please. Commissioner Hwitt, yes. Vice Mayor Watson, yes. Commissioner Kasaboon, yes. Commissioner Suie, yes. Mayor Ramen, yes. New business. New business item number one. Motion to authorize the
following special event on public lands application pending approvals. Pray for my hood Christian outreach sponsored by Minister Angel Sodto at Dwelling Place Church on June 20th, 2025 from 400 p.m. to 10 p.m. Make a motion. Second motion.
We have a motion to second on new business item number one. Any comments? Yes. So, I've heard the concerns of two residents, one against it, one whose questions seem to be answered. Um,
concern of one resident for it. So, if there were several residents in the neighborhood that were going to be against it, then I would probably not support it. But since there's only one, nobody else said
anything. And you've answered all the questions and you got the approvals of the police department. Did the best I could. Yeah. Health department and all the other stuff you needed to do. Move forward. Thank you. Roll call, please. Commissioner Huitt. Yes. Vice Mayor Watson. Yes. Commissioner Kasabun.
Yes. Commissioner Suie. Yes. Mayor Romick. Yes. Public comment portion. 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 your concerns. Please limit your comments to approximately 5 minutes.
Hi, N. Brandon, Dorset Avenue, Milville. Um, I just want to thank everybody supporting a couple commissioners came out and our uh parks representative to Milville Soccer's family fun day which
was supposed to be our last day of the season but due to some rainouts and stuff it uh was not the last day so it was a little interrupted but everybody I think had a good time anyway. And then also switching gears. So the season just ended Saturday or Sunday depending if you're a
travel team and had some rain outs to make up. Um and then Sunday um our fall season registration opened. So if anybody is interested in playing for the fall season, it's open to uh boys and
girls with uh birth years 2011 to 2021. Uh that's our recreation program. So under five to under 15, we have four age groups that they can play in. Uh the season will start in September, but we have to do
the registration. Registration will be open until July 31st. If you register in June, you get an early discount. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Brandon. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Steve Soloff and I run the website
informthevotenj.com, a nonpartisan project focused on helping voters make sense of who's on the ballot and what they stand for, particularly here in Cumberland County. I'm here tonight to inform the commission, the public, and
all candidates in the upcoming Millville election that I will be covering the race. And let me be clear, this is not just an announcement. It's a reality check and a call to action. This fall, the race here in Millville will have, to
my understanding, over 20 candidates running for city commission, not to mention other county and state races. That's a massive field, and the average citizen doesn't have the time or frankly the access to properly research them
all. But I do. That's the work I've been doing voluntarily for the past two years. And if the community wants that kind of work to continue, it's time to speak up. Be vocal. Be supportive. Because I can't do it all alone and I shouldn't have
to. Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room. It's become undeniably clear that my early suspicions were correct. Maybe not people in this room, but many local candidates in the county and officials have actively
avoided engaging with this work. And sure, I understand some of the reasons why trust takes time, but we've had time. So, let's be honest, when candidates say things like, "Well, how big is your following?" or when they
ignore phone calls, emails, mailers, and personal outreach because it feels spammy. That's not about trust. That's evasion. And let's be even more honest, evasion is no longer just something I quietly notice. It's something I can now
openly document, and I will. Because when someone evades a press inquiry meant to help voters, it's not just about me. It's about the public's right to know. Everyone agrees that Cumberland County needs more press coverage. Everyone
agrees voters should be informed. But that doesn't happen by accident. It happens because people step up to provide that service and because others respect and support that effort. Press access isn't a favor. It's not a
popularity contest. It's a public service and it's protected by the Constitution. So, the real question for everyone in the room is, do we actually want honest, neutral, local coverage or not? Because if we do, then it's time to
start treating it like something that matters. Thanks. Thank you, Steve. Good evening. My name is Rich De Alita. I reside at 317 Sharp Street in Millville. Uh, I'm here because I have
several concerns. Uh, my first being that it it appears that laws in Millville are merely suggestions. I live on the corner at Sharpen Church. I'm a disabled vet. I'm home all day. I live on a one-way street. Yet, I see traffic going both
ways. I've lived in that home going on 34 years next month. I have spoken with Chief Harvey. I have spoke. It's been through the entire line. They've sent public safety officers to the Waw Wa. They had a marked car sit there and then
the marked car. They call me and tell me no one went out the wrong way. I said, "Of course you had a marked car. I heard potholes being discussed. I I I hit a pothole last year and lost a tire. I was told that if I went to city hall or if I went to streets and roads
and reported it that I could be reimbursed if I had gotten a a a police report and all this other crap. My issue is a street sweeper goes down my road twice a week with a cat in a car to write the tickets for the
people parked on the road. You didn't see the effing pothole twice a week, 52 weeks a year and then I hit it and I have to report it. Nonsensical. The illegal parking. People parking in handicap zones. People
parking in the yellow curb right to the corner where you can't see. Um ebikes, scooters. When I was 16 riding a moped, if I didn't have a helmet, well, regardless if I had a helmet, the moped was being impounded. I've got a-holes
zipping back and forth. There's no concern. If I hit them, I'm going to lose my license. I'm going to be sued. What happens to them? Nothing. Um, beggars and panderers outside behind canals.
homeless, need money. Well, go to Five Guys and fill out an application and cook a freaking hamburger and then you'll get some money. I go to the to the Walgreens. There's people pandering outside. A brand new starter jacket
wearing Air Jordans, but he needs money. And amazingly, I wasn't the one that even brought it up amongst the 15 other customers in the Walgreens that these women were frightened. They didn't want to go outside because there's a a Mexican male about 23 TW me I'm being
racist. He he was some kind of Brazilian Latino. Um let's see. My my final issue is I don't know what happened with I used to get I I missed I had a summer
where we had rain and my fence needed to be painted but I couldn't paint it because it continued to rain. and I got a nasty gram from the city. Well, I'm currently I don't have that issue. I just resided my home. Yet, my neighbors have asbests siding and where the
asbestous siding fell off, they put corrugated plastic. I feel like I live in freaking Honduras. The roads are bumpy. The houses look like huts. Yeah. What happened to Millville? I've lived I've
ch I wasn't born here. I was born in North, New Jersey. I chose to make Millville my home. I married a woman from Milville. I love the city. I go to Third Friday. There's a vagrant laying on a park bench where there used to be a fountain. There used to be a fountain
and bands playing. Here there's somebody curled up in a sleeping bag with a shopping cart full of cans. There's There's no repercussions for anybody's actions in this city. You do what you want and you get away with
it and nobody gives a rat's ass. So, I just needed to get things off my chest. I've spoken with the mayor. I love this mayor. He's a good mayor. He's a good man and he gives a damn. And I've spoken with him several times about this, but I needed to come here and get it off my
chest. So, thank you for listening to me. [Applause] Good evening again. Tim Spirana, Vice Mayor, the the uh projects that are going on in in the engine department,
engineering department are fantastic because that means Noble's infrastructure, which we badly need, is getting improved. Um, I wanted to ask you about the paving in Laurel Lake because there's a follow-up story to that. But anyway, are
is the bond that you guys passed that voted on 50, are they tied together with the grant you're you're seeking? Are they are they? So, they can be they can be used independently, right? So, you could Okay. The reason why I say this is because recently, you know, everybody's no big secret. I support the Republican
party. I was recently walking in Laurel Lake and one of the common complaints was that Laurel Lake is Mobile's redheaded stepchild and and for as far as I'm concerned I look down
the future at the future Laurel Lake is it can be a viable asset to Millville a ratable producing you know great place to go. I mean and I think for a large part Laur I mean if you had been at the September 9th planning board meeting you
would know we were there until quarter to 11. They are not you know they they just feel like they've been abused and abused. And if you have the money to start this project and and you don't have to have the grant tied to that we
should be starting that. I mean that's I mean they they they are looking for you know viability down there. Um my other question is mayor how much how many hours a week does your assistant uh apply herself to being your
assistant? In other words and I and and the reason I'm asking how how long is she away from the engineering department because she is the assistant municipal engineer right? So when you take her away from those duties, then stuff gets backed up even
more if if it's and I and I only reason I'm asking you the hours is because it may be nothing. Maybe not maybe no time at all, but that's something to think about. So thanks. Have a good night. Thank you, Tim. Thanks, J.
Hi. uh Greg Kes uh for Nine Peach Drive. Um I just wanted to say that um saying this as a resident, I'm not saying this professionally. Uh so this past Friday, I took a ride because it was a beautiful evening. I think everyone knows uh
downtown on my bike as most of you know about by the airport. So, I took a ride down, rode through City Park, rode down High Street, rode around Second, Third, I don't know, a couple hours on the road, and I got to say it was absolutely beautiful. And the thing that, like I
said, I'm saying this as a resident, it just it's a shame that that Riverwalk isn't open anymore because it's just such an underutilized asset. And could have been able to get into where the eagles have nest, you could have watched from my bike like, and I'm
a burer and that's a big thing. And you know, Cumberland County wants to talk about warehouses all the time, but you guys forget that we have these beautiful natural resources all around us that can be monetized if you do it the right way. But um also personal aside, shout out
Stephen. Uh your sister told me about this two years ago and you were going to start and it's been amazing watching you set it up, man. So congrats. Thank you, Greg. Mary Messi here of Milville. Bouncing off of what a
gentleman had said about some of the things that he had to get off of his chest. I myself have seen it. I've seen people walk down the street, got a wrapper in their hand, just drop it down. Today I happened to
be out with a friend of mine over on Canal Street by the boat ramps. You can see somebody whether they had a picnic or they just emptied their car all over the place. No trash cans
around that makes that area look scummy or trashy. The city's not a dump. This is a city whether anybody wants it to call it a city or not because of the
landwise yes we became a city other than that technically we are a burrow I have seen where we've done with very little and we've done a lot with a little bit and personally to do away with
national night out I think is an atrocity The city at one point in time spent 11 years not participating. And there are organizations and groups and things out there that people may need or know that
don't even exist, much let alone how to go about obtaining them. And that was part of what National Night Out was. It brought people together to give them the information that they didn't know existed. Just like we've got a training school
here in Millville. Grant you it's out by the airport. Nobody seems to know about it. Nobody seems to care. On the news they've talked about it used to be push the kid to
college. Not everybody wants a college career. There's electricians that are needed. There's plumbers that are needed. There's construction people that are needed. Teach these kids a trade. Not everybody wants a college education, nor
anybody can afford it. Give them something that can utilize themselves. And I agree, there are way too many pan handlers. And I know there's nothing on the books because I've looked. Nothing on the books that regulate pan handlers.
Stores. Half of them don't even want to participate with sending them to court because they're not going to pay their employee because corporate says so. We need to find a way of doing something. And out there by the boat
ramps, I do believe it should have trash cans. And speaking of potholes, coming from Main Street, turning on to Sharp Street, heading down towards Lake the Dam, there is a very goodiz pothole. You
don't see it till you feel it. And you can just about lose an axle, a tie rod, or whatnot. And I thank you for your time. Thank you, Miss Mezik. Hello, Rick Omnovville. Um, just a
couple things. Uh, it's outstanding that you're getting those grants. Um, and they're not easy. They're a long process. Um, sometimes they're above the pay grade that we're asking people to apply them for. Um, just ever thought, do we have grant writers? Why don't we
use grant writers? There's companies that actually do this for us, and I'm just curious why we don't use them. I just feel like if we have utilized those companies that a lot of times pay for themselves that will free up a lot of our engineers to do the work that
they're actually here for because listen I try to write grants before and it it's not easy sometimes depending on what you're doing and it's time consuming especially the administrative part of it. Um, so just a thought. Um, national night out, I get it. We have nobody working anymore, right? We're down to
five. Um, but it is a little heartbroken, right? I was I helped get the the the first one we had going a couple years ago when we started back up. So, it's a little disappointing not to see it, but I do understand that part. Um, contracts, I mean, we're still, I think,
a year and a half out on a couple of them now. Um, seems like every meeting we have an update. I think the S SOA still hasn't settled and I think counts 18, you might want to talk to some people today because that might not be going on soon either. Um, just a little
discouraging. It's a year and a half. Uh, we we talk about being short-handed yet we're struggling with taking care of our own uh employees with contracting. Thank you. Thank you, Rick. Robert McUade Milville. Um, Miss Cosman
pothole she's talking about that's going to be on Sharp Street. It's a county road, so you can either fix it and then you can build um the county or call county and have them fix it. That's going to be a problem with county. I mean, Wayne might say it's county, but
it needs to be fixed because my car hit it too and it it sunk down pretty good and it's right by sidelines. Um would Rich Rich over here when he's speaking, he does speak the truth. There was actually a pothole he did have when I was commissioner and it blew his tire out pretty bad and caused some damage. I
actually came out of my pocket at the time because I was a new commissioner and purchased the new tire for him. So, um the issues that he complains about in that area, they are a problem and they are very close to Woodland Shores in the area I live at as well and some of the riff wrap comes over there as well and
houses have been robbed. So, um I mean I seen tonight some foot patrol officers out. So, thumbs up to you. Uh they're walking high street and that's what we need. If you have more patrol and more uniforms out there on the streets, there's less for crime level. When I was a class one here for Milville, Harvey
used to have us out walking uh from the station through Sixth Street through the third ward. And that's a that was pretty much keeping the crime level down, which it did. Now, a lot of class ones, they don't carry guns, but we walked out of areas and they were shooting out shooting in different areas, but it all
kind of calmed down because bike patrol was out there as well. So, I hope we can get them back out this year. I'm sure the officers will like it, but I know you got the foot patrol out now. So, the bikes going to go out or not? I'm curious. And bikes are used when you're used. Okay. All right. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McUade. Seeing no one else, I will close public comment portion. Closing comments of commissioners. Commissioner Hwitt. Uh, a lot of wrap to uh wrap up with here. Uh Tim, I think I answered your stuff
earlier. Uh no, good showing out there at the soccer fields. Uh we were glad to have some support out there for you, you know, just with the ambulance being there and stuff like that. It was actually needed when I was out there at that time. Uh they refused help, but it
was needed. Uh, Steve, what you're doing, I saw what you did during the during our campaign and stuff like that. You know, congratulations. Somebody needs to open people's eyes. Uh, Rich, I hear you.
Uh, and I'm going to repeat myself just like I do all the time, just like the next public safety director that will sit in this chair. I wish I could give you the answer because it is not for the lack of my police personnel and Cumberland County Sheriff who is now
sending sheriffs here to help us. It is not for lack of wanting to do it on our part. This goes much deeper than Milville PD and Cumberland County Sheriff. Sir, Excuse me, Rich. This is the time for the commission. All we can
do is answer now. Thank you. Uh Go ahead, Commissioner H. Uh, just catch up. Uh, Tim, I think I took care of all yours earlier. Mary, yeah, I hear you. Same thing. You know what we're doing. You've been here for
decades. Nothing's changed, has it? Nope. So, how do we change it? Work on it. Tonight, we got a good amount of people up here. And we try to answer as many questions as we can answer. I think you're seeing that change up here. Uh, first way you change it is we start
paying people. How do we pay people? Nobody in this room is going to say the answer because they don't want to hear raise taxes. That's how we pay people. We have a limited amount of money. We're doing the best we can do. You know that, Mary. You're out there. I I see you out there.
Thank you for staying involved. Rick, I know you wrote grants. Other people over there write grants. People at the firehouse write grants. That's how we do it. You know that. I think most of the residents in
town know that. No, we don't have a grant writer. There's grant writers out there work on a percentage that have been brought forward to other commissions and this commission. We don't have a grant writer. Maybe that's something the next commission can look at because it's sadly
needed. Uh national laid out there was just nothing. you know the inside of the PD. Uh like I say, this wasn't just we didn't just decide to do this. This was a long discussion on making this decision. Uh and I don't like this going either. And contracts, I can't go there.
I'm sorry. Wish I could right. Uh with that folks, thanks for showing up. Uh bring some friends next time. We got a whole area over open over here. With that, progress. Mayor. Thank you, Commissioner Hwitt. Commissioner Suie,
go ahead. Uh, first of all, it's definitely wasn't the commission's idea not to have national laid out. So, it's unfortunate that that's not occurring. Steve, you serve a very Your interviews I find fair. I find them frank. I find them honest. And I hope that all the
candidates participate. I know when I did you were very fair. You were very honest as well as I saw some of the others you did, you know, online. So, I hope because we have no newspaper as you said, that's a problem. I'll touch on the crime for a minute. I
can certainly understand what you're saying and I can tell you this. A lot of it our hands get tied by the attorney general, by our prosecutor. The gentleman invited himself into my house and I believe 17 prior offenses. I want to know why the hell he wasn't in jail
already. Yep. Right. So, they let him out. They run around. And this is a result of your votes. They're not necessarily yours. some of your votes on who you elect at the county and state level. Yep. You got to be careful with that. You elect people that say, "Hey, we're going to let people run
around. We're going to do bail reform. We're going to let people out of jail." This is what you're going to get. So, you know, it's unfortunate that the officers arrest somebody, take them in, and the bail reform law says, "Okay, you can go. How much time you want to waste?" So
that that's extremely unfortunate and I urge you to be careful at the ballot box and have an election coming up. Decide who's going to serve your interest the best. Let's see if I can understand my own handwriting here. So to Laura Lake, as you said, uh Mr. Spragman, we have
plenty of roads to pave. There's a whole list in engineering. If you walk in there, if you if you can get in the door, you get to the counter, you'll see a list on the back wall. There's got to be 11 roads up there. And sure, can we use grant money from any of them? Yes. Um, we allocated the bond because I
said that when we did it when we did the red when we when I started the water project. The problem with Laura Lake is you can't put cess pools next to your well. So, the idea is run the water and I'm glad that's proceeding, but run the
water so that now you don't have to worry about what you're drinking. and that allows you to use lot utilize lots effectively. As for the roads, you're right, they're redheaded stepchildren down there. Um, that was the idea from the beginning. I know Mr. Watson wasn't
here in the very beginning of the commission is to start getting them those roads paved. That is a beautiful area. They pay plenty of taxes. They deserve to have those roads paid. And what concerns me is when you're waiting for grant money, you're not going to get it all. So, I believe we should be using
that grant money for the other roads since we've already allocated the money for Laura Lake. And I'm sure we've already issued notes because we have already started paying down there. So, I don't know how much of that money we're paying interest on, but we're definitely paying interest on some of
it. Now, that brings me to the last meeting. So, you know, it uh hold on. Got to get the right piece of paper here. possible. Where did he go? Give me one second, folks. Sorry to
waste the time like this. You need a secretary there, M. I do need a secretary. I should hire one. Uh so when you get to speak after someone at the end of these meetings that gives you a great advantage and it's a disadvantage to
sometimes speak before someone and this is particularly true when I believe erroneous or false information is given out by a subsequent speaker. At the last meeting, it was mentioned by the director of revenue and finance and the city solicitor that tax court could simply erase the erroneous
entry in the budget and the budget problem would be quote fixed. I'll explain to you why this isn't true. First, let's look at how the bas the budget basically works. You have revenue or income and expenses which are listed as appropriations. Revenue includes fees
such as dog licenses, construction fees, state aid, grants, and of course taxes. Appropriations are all expenses. They must be balanced out. So for the city, you figure out how much your expenses are. You subtract all
the revenue except taxes. And this leaves you an amount which must be raised by taxes. So taxes taxes are calculated on the value of your total ratables. So if you have a billion dollars of ratables, you're going to calculate the tax rate
at one rate. If you have a billion and 19 million, that rate is going to be different and that's going to determine what you pay. So when you say that you have more ratables than you actually have, everyone pays less because your share is
smaller. In other words, your house is a smaller share of the total than if you had those $19 million. So when you don't have those ratables and you have less ratables, you actually have to pay more. And the only place you can get that is from the
taxpayer. And that's going to go for the county and school taxes as well. That money is going to come out of your pocket because they give you the money. They give you the budget and you pay it. So you're not going to fix the problem. You're going to move it the next year.
Now whether you get lucky enough and create enough ratables to offset this is a guessing game. But this creates a shortage in revenue and this will cause a a tax increase. And with the amount of money that we are short in the budget, that's
approximately 5 cents per hundred or $50 for every $100,000 your house is worth. This is in addition to any other increases, many which can't be controlled by the commission. We talk about contracts, there's going to be increases in cost there. There's going to be increases in cost in electric.
Certainly, you're looking at 17 to 20% increase in electric, right? There's going to be increases in health benefits. It's unavoidable. So, next year we'll be starting at a disadvantage, and that's unfortunate for whoever gets elected. Several candidates in here. So, as you start planning, I'm sure some of you are
already planning to win. Keep that in mind and start thinking about it. And I'm certainly willing to talk to anybody that wants to listen. resident, opposing candidates, anybody up here. But one thing is this uh did make me
think and I know you're fond of quotes there, Mr. Mayor. So if I if if we are to believe what was said at the last meeting concerning that, I'm going to quote Camala Harris, and that is we are unburdened by what has been. Now, I
don't believe that for a second, but there we go. And with that progress, Commissioner Kasmoon. Uh, yes, Greg, I agree with you on the Riverwalk. We I would love to see that open. Um hopefully in the future we can
get some people together and work on this because I do think it is an asset to Milville. Mary and Mr. McUade and Rich, I'm sorry I didn't get your last name. Da. Okay. De Mr. D. Almeida, I have your address. I am going to streets and roads tomorrow. We will get that
pothole fixed. Uh county road is sharp street, but I will let them also know that there is there's a pothole there. Uh Steve Soloff, thank you for gathering the information. Um I was new to this last year, so I didn't really get involved, but I'm seeing what you're
doing. And for that, a little progress each day adds up to big results. And please be kind to each other. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner House. Vice Mayor Watson, um, regarding the issue with the
clerical error, did you want to Brock, did you want to, you know, fill everybody in on what we discussed today? Well, all I can say is is that I did receive a letter from Mr. Heck, an opinion that I think addresses that issue and I will be happy to provide that to the commission and they can read
it. Sounds good. It speaks for itself. Perfect. You guys got to stay with us. Thank you for later. What's that? Stay with us for later on. Yeah. Anything further? Yeah. I'm just
debating the conversation I had with my wife this morning as I walked out the door. She looked at me and she goes, "Um, you I know you have a long day, but just remember at the end of the day, don't piss don't piss the guy off all the way to the right." And I'm thinking about that. And I'm
thinking about that. I know she's watching and I don't want to let her down. I really don't. And then Commissioner Kasaboon says, "Be friendly." And I just had a meeting with one of my guys and uh we were talking about leadership skills. And I said to him, I'm saying this to him. I said, you know, uh leave your emotions out of it.
You know, you're a leader. You know, you're better than that. And uh it's it's really hard to be on be right there right now. I'll tell you that much. Uh I can tell you um from Mr. Cot uh there was an attempt made to try to get
somebody that was dedicated to um grant writing. Now we do have people within the city, you know, like engineering that work on these, like police and fire that work on these. So there are people that do them, but somebody that's dedicated to it. We actually had somebody that was previously employed here that was uh willing to do that for
us and willing to take on more responsibility and that person is no longer here. Uh there was a big push to try to get that didn't work. Um for the paving project at Laurel Lake. Yeah, there was a meeting that happened right
before the last uh there was a meeting with Commissioner Kasubun uh streets and roads and engineering right before the last meeting and a lot of things were brought up and you know it was kind of just a group discussion on you know how do we advance and how do we move forward and a lot of things got brought up and
when you're on here when you're in the spotlight some of the things you forget to say like saying hey you know we would really like to see water be distributed to Laurel Lake but if we pave the roads and then put the water in we're going to be cutting up the roads we paved. So there's a lot to a lot of
variables to consider. Um just one of the things that was mentioned in the meeting was saying, hey, if we used the money that we have available to hire outside for engineering, that's going to be less asphalt we put down basically in simple terms. So there's a lot to
consider. It's not just, you know, one or two reasons. Uh even though they might not all be specified at the same time. [Music] Um, yeah. I'll uh I'm going to go home tonight and hopefully uh my wife will
tell me a good job. And that's what I'm going to end with. Numbers 11. Understood, Commissioner. But I mean, Vice Mayor Watson, thank you. As Steve said, he wants to get more involved. I'm going to get more involved. And early voting begins today
from June 3rd to the 8th. There is no primary for anybody that's running for commission in Mobile because we are nonpartisan election if you didn't know that. But for the primaries, it is up upcoming which the primary if you do want to vote in day is June 10th. Um but
if you want to get it early and get it out of the way, go to the Milville Women's Club at 300 East Street, New Jersey on Tuesday today through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. or on Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 600 p.m. No appointments are required.
N thank you for the Louisville Soccer Association's update. I do follow very closely on Facebook and uh you I remember hearing your story on how you became that I believe on a with a Mr. Quinn show and uh you basically were uh given the keys and said, "Hey, figure it
out." Um, so it's a, you know, I know you like your neighbors very well and you're going to get, uh, new neighbors hopefully sometime in the near future and uh, I know you'll be a good host to them um, surrounding your area and to always help improve the Milos Soccer
Association. Um, Steve, yes, I do appreciate what you do. I see your signs all over. Um, you are 100% right of there is no news. I don't know how many times I've heard residents and meeting residents that had no clue who I was. Um even and I can excuse them for their
early t early time of our tenure that you know we got to get out there and get known. But everybody wants the Milville Daily back including myself. But that's not going to happen. Not unless some billionaire wants to lose his millions of dollars for a newspaper that only the diearts want to read. And I still like
reading a newspaper every now and again. So you do do you do provide a great service to those that want to be informed. So thank you Rich. I understand you. Thank you for being
here. Mr. Spanga Michelle maybe works five hours a week, maybe zero. It depends on the week that I have upcoming. if I need to ask her to schedule a meeting with somebody else in the city or somebody else in another
city. Uh tomorrow her and I will be attending an event in Mars River Township. Um it's being attended by a lot of state legislators and officials. Um it was an invite. I said I'll go. This is perfect for her to experience something outside the city that she
would be willing to attend. I did ask her. I did not. She could have denied as well. The Riverwalk. The Millyard Greg. The Riverwalk is a Millard Riverfront Transportation Alternative Project
Federal Grant. Wrong one. Wrong one. Wrong one. You talk about the other side. The other side is closed. That's right. We actually had a discussion to put that in the bond ordinance. That's a We're working on that in capital. Okay. Yes.
It's a very um You're right. Thank you for the um it is a very beautiful area and you know I thanks for thanks there's your updates. So uh kudos uh to including that. Um but it is a beautiful area and
uh last Friday wasn't it exceptional weather and really nice unlike probably tomorrow and this Friday is going to be a little warm but I'm ready for it. Uh Rick, I had somebody as four years
ago as soon as I came on the commission wanted to be a city grant writer for free. Guess what? Can't do that for the city. We got to pay you something whether it's part-time or full-time. Guess what? Don't have the money. But I have an individual willing to do it, but got to
find got to find that money. I thank each and every one of you being here tonight. I thank for all those that came, all those that watched and as well my quote of the day from brainyquot.com that I Google every single time. Success is getting what you
want. Happiness is wanting what you get. Dale Carnegie. Motion for adjournment. Make a motion. Second. All in favor?