Hi, Eric. How are you? Oh, okay. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to September 30th regular township council meeting. This is a regular meeting of the council
of the township of Montlair. It's being broadcast live on channel 34 and it's streaming live on the Montlair TV34 YouTube channel. It's available on demand and can and will be rebroadcast.
This meeting is called pursuant to the provisions of the open public meeting act. The meeting was included in the revised annual notice of the meeting schedule as set forth in resolution R-25-038 [Music] adopted by the township council at its
regular meeting of February 25th, 2025. advertised to the official newspapers on March 6, 2025, posted on the bulletin boards outside of municipal building and has remained continuously posted there.
In addition, a copy of the revised annual notice is and has been available to the public and is on file in the office of our township clerk. At this time, please rise for the pledge of allegiance. 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. Welcome, Madame Deputy Clerk Dominguez. Uh, please, when you're ready, would you
do the roll call? Deputy Mayor Anderson here. Councelor Birmingham here. Councelor Damato here. Councelor Toller present. Good evening. Councelor Williams absent. Mayor Baskerville present.
Okay. At this uh time we're going to go uh into the executive session. Um the executive session is for the purpose of um attorney, will you help me please? Um is
there a list of things that we need to identify for the executive session? There should be executive session resolution does involve some personnel matters. I'm just trying to find it in front of me as well.
Uh land use questions for purchase by the municipality, real estate negotiations. Thank you. Thank you. Discussion of the interim attorney or full-time attorney as well as the seat vacancy left by uh former counselor.
Thank you very much. She's still here. Lockman still here. I was looking at you guys. And I believe also, no worries, contract negotiation personnel, one one other item as well related.
Thank you. And and I so move. Second. All um madame deputy clerk. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller.
Yes. Councelor Williams absent. And Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Thank you. Good evening to those of uh you who just joined us. We're happy that you're here. Welcome to the September 30th, 2025
regular meeting of the township council. We were in the executive session. I'd like to make a motion at this time to exit the executive session. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Any abstained?
Thank you. Okay. Um at this point in time we have a proclamation um that we are very excited about. Uh so if there's any uh family members of Cibil Johnson who are here
today to receive a proclamation, we'll ask that you would join us down at the podium, please. And any of the council members that would like to stand with Cibil Johnson and recognize her for her 100 years, please do so at this time.
No, you going to keep your size. Come on. You earn less. Any family members can come on up and join us wherever is comfortable for you. Yes. Thank you, Council Birmingham. Yeah. Come on in class. Would you like a
chair? You want a chair? You want to sit or you want to stand? Okay. Well, once you sit, let's turn it to the audience if we can. Wait, baby. Wait, turn this closer. Yeah, we can do that. We'll move it
closer this way. Don't move her. Don't move her. It's fine. Okay, we're close enough. Everybody in? All right. So, thank you for being here and happy birthday. All right. Right. So we have a
proclamation from Miss Cibil Johnson who was born in August 20th 1925 in St. An's Parish, Jamaica, West Indies. As the eldest of five siblings in the n in the early 1970s, she m im immigrated to Montlair, New Jersey, where she began her career as an X-ray technician at
Orange Memorial Hospital. Balancing full-time work with her education, Cibil pursued her college degree at night, ultimately earning a bachelor's of arts from Monontlair State University. And whereas Montlair became Cibil's permanent residence, she initially lived on Granada Place, fourth ward, then
moved to Lincoln Street, fourth ward, followed by Rosedale Avenue, before estab fourth ward, before establishing her own home on how avenue, third ward. Her life in Monontlair was deeply
anchored in family, faith, and community. And since the 1970s, Civils has been a dedicated member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church, where her faith and fellowship have profoundly influenced her journey. At St. Marks, she proudly participated in the Damir's
Club, a group committed to supporting the church community through fundraising, assisting members with necessities like utilities, rent, and food, granting scholarships to graduating seniors. She also actively engaged in the women's community circle contributing to various serviceoriented
initiatives. Miss Johnson has exemplified the values of resilience, hard work, faith, and love, balancing the roles of working professional, student, mother, and active community member with grace and strength. She is the proud mother of a loving family, two daughters, Charlene and
Nancy, who are with us. Is Nancy with us? Charlene. Okay. North Carolina. Oh, well, Nancy. Hey, Nancy. She has nine, four grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and one great
great grandchild. Each a testament to her enduring legacy and influence. Her home and her kitchen have always been a haven of warmth and hospitality. Her cooking known and loved by generations of families, neighbors, and church members alike. Reaching the age of 100
is an extraordinary achievement and a testament to a life well-lived, full of purpose, wisdom, service, and deep personal faith. Now, therefore, we, the mayor, the council, and the township of Monontlair do hereby celebrate Cybil Johnson on her 100th birthday and
recognize her century of remarkable contributions, love, and leadership. We extend our help heart heartfelt congratulations, deepest admiration and we wish her continued health, happiness and blessing in the years to come. Did you want to say anything?
Do you want to say something? Well, I want to say thank you all for a pleasant surprise. Never expected this. Never expected 100 year and I'm expecting 100 more years.
Thank you all for joining us for that. Thank you so very much. Perfect. That is so cool. Thank you guys. and it doesn't have to be like something to bring the little kids out in the middle of the street. I just think it should be something open, you know?
Huh? Oh, no. It's not going to be happening for a long time. No. Oh, I know what you're saying. Okay. That is a legitimate point. That's huge. Oh, what a wonderful celebration of
life. God bless you. Okay, let's um go to public comment at this time. Hopefully, everyone that wishes to be heard signed up at the front table here.
If not, please would you do so? And um let's begin. I'd like to welcome guest number one to the podium. Please give us your name and address. And um we'd like for you to keep your comments
to How many people have signed up over there? Yeah, guess currently 12 people signed up. Okay. So, we'd like for you to please keep your comments to three minutes. Thank you so very much. Welcome. Thank you. Yes.
There you go. Hi, my name is Maria Vadoro. I'm a resident of Monontlair. I urge you to consider a resolution in support of the immigrant trust act. Please put it in the agenda for next meeting. For those
who don't know, uh the immigrant trust act is a bill that is in the New Jersey legislature and if approved, uh it will allow New Jersey to seek protection and support from state and local agencies without fear of deportation.
Many towns have passed already uh resolutions in support of the immigrant trust act uh to let our legislators know that the people of New Jersey want this to become law. This is your opportunity to stand with
the people, the most vulnerable, with our neighbors, those who prepare our food, those who take care of our old people, the ones who repair our roofs and fix our loans. This is a moral duty. It is in your
hands, within your reach. Stand with the immigrant community. They need us as much as we need them. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next guest, please. Hello. Um, I am Gigi, a Monontlair resident. I am speaking now for bikes in
the community. Now I see lots of people who depend on cars. I think there is a way to for that to be changed. I speak for the town, the
community, the future. I ask you please make some bike lanes to change our town. Thank you very much. Thank you, Gigi. Next guest, please.
Good evening. I promise I did not coordinate with Gigi and I cannot possibly tell what Gigi has said. But that being said, I um I am my name is David Corfish. I live at 58 Tuxedo Road. I'm also here to speak to bike lanes uh and bike infrastructure generally. I'm actually going to be reaching out to
members of the council. A group of us have a project for bike lanes along Grove Street and we'll be reaching out to you about that. Um but I'm also here to mention something I think I've emailed you about in the past and that is something much simpler and that is simply bike parking. If you go just for example downtown, if you look along
Bloomfield Avenue between Park Street and Midland, there are a lot of bikes chained to lampost because there's no good place to park. Uh if you go to Wang Square, the the one bike rack there is often full. I'm not even sure there is an official bike rack in Upper
Monontlair. Um, and the easy solution, I think, would be to take one one parking space, you turn into a bike crowd, you put in some lovely bike racks, like we have out, I just noticed, outside behind the the town hall here, and you lose one parking space, but you can you can
probably park 10 bikes in that space. And so, the trade-off is probably worth it. Again, given the bike infra, the I ride around all the time. I bike to work. I bike on errands. Even given the lack of the almost complete lack of bike infrastructure in the town, there's a surprising number of people who bike
around. As you can tell, if you look at the bike racks, they are full. Um, they're often full. I biked past the train station and one of the bike racks side was almost completely full. So, it' be nice to have something simple like that um that would enable people to bike around town and have a place to park
when they arrive in the places. Obviously, bike lanes would be great, and I'll talk to you about that, too. But start with something simple. Well, let's put in some bike parking for bikes around town. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Next guest. Hi, my name is Karen Spansky. I live at
40 Nishwane Road. I'm also the uh co-f facilitator of the New Jersey Poor People's Campaign and I'm here to speak to you to support the Immigrant Trust Act. The Immigrant Trust Act would provide vital protection for um
immigrants in our uh community. I think you probably know that one in four New Jersey residents is an immigrant. Um we have seen horrific ICE raids uh that have taken people from work, from school, in parking lots, on roofs. Uh
and we need to protect our neighbors. We need to abide by the rule of law and this rule uh act would uh give increased uh protection to our immigrant community and we need to put it in place and we
need to get it done now. So, we're asking the township of Monontlair, which has a reputation for welcoming all sorts of people into the town, to take the step to let our legislators at the state level know that we are in favor of this resolution and that we need it passed in
the lame duck and we need it signed and we need it delivered now. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Next guest, please. It's number five. I wish I could be as succinct as but I can't. So I am here to talk about fiscal
sustainability. When you pass the budget that budgeted budget had exactly all the positions that the prior budget had, which is a lot more than would be expected for a town our size. and you knew you're facing doubledigit health
insurance coverage increases. Uh back then I think we're expecting 23%, now you're expecting 36 and a half%. I'm appalled. So I would like to ask you when you're discussing today, if you have time, please tell us what's the
plan. Is there any chance you might freeze hiring and really rethink the staffing options that you have? Because Monontlair has more employees than a town our side should have. It really is up to Marx and you to decide which ones
are essential, which ones aren't, but we don't need as many as you have. And I just saw also, did you see on the 24th that the state reached a deal with their employees and that will be a monumental savings in health benefits? So, I'd like to ask you instead of passing all of
that cost to us to just this, you already passed it to us last year. don't pass it to us this year. It's a good opportunity to come um back to the table with your labor unions and negotiate health insurance plans that are a little bit closer to what normal people have
because the people paying this taxes don't have health insurance that's as expensive as you give the employees here. That's just not fair. You can't pass that increase to us. I know you might have expected I've been talking about these schools, but no, I just, you know, if if you keep things normal,
it'll be like Westfield. These schools will take care of themselves, but you're taking too much, and that's not okay. Thank you. Thank you. Next guest, please. Hi. Hi. Uh, my name is Parker Chihawk and I live in the Second Word. Um, I'm working
with the statewide immigrant rights uh, statewide immigrants rights groups to urge town councils to pass resolutions in support of the immigrant trust act which has been introduced into the state legislature. I'm here today to urge the council to add this resolution to the agenda for next week. Um,
resolutions in support of the ITA have been already been adopted by two counties, Essex and Hudson, and 18 municipalities including Bloomfield, Maplewood, and Princeton. Uh, the ITA is also co-sponsored by fellow Montlarian Alexen Colazos Gil and it seeks to
codify the directive set forth by Governor Murphy and would ensure that all New Jerseyians are able to seek protections and support from the state from state and local agencies without fear of deportation. It ensures that local resources are used to support local priorities rather than funding federal immigration enforcement. It
limits circumstances under which the public under which public agencies can collect information regarding uh uh immigration status. It requires public schools, healthc care facilities, libraries, and shelters to adopt model policies to ensure that eligible people feel safer when seeking public services.
It prohibits state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities and eliminates carveouts in the current non-inforceable directive. I've provided each of you with uh a draft of the resolution and and I've already spoken with a few of you. Uh this resolution is not controversial and offers our
township an opportunity to live up to our reputation as a diverse and inclusive comm community where people of all statuses are welcome. Uh so I urge you to please add this to the agenda for the next meeting and let's make Monontlair the 19th municipality to resolve or uh to resolve to be on the right side of history. I thank you for
your time and I look forward to working with you all. Thank you. Next guest, please. Good evening. Good evening. I'm Reverend Dennis Washington. Uh I'm a resident of Monontlair.
This is my first meeting. I've been away on sbatical. Uh, I know Mayor Pasco. I know that she is a keen woman of business.
The rest of you, uh, young ladies and gentlemen, I'm here to meet and greet you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next guest, please. Hi, my name is Tony Faber. I've come up
from Union County uh to talk to you in support of the Immigrant Trust Act and urge you to uh put a a resolution forward uh in the next session. Um, I'm here because I've seen uh my community
in Scotch Plains and nearby communities in Planefield and Woodbridge been hit by ICE raids hard uh over the last few months uh not to pick up criminals but to round up day laborers to pick up ordinary people or ask ordinary people
in the streets for their papers in violation of the fourth amendment. This is not okay. And moreover, Jack Ciderelli has said if he wins the governorhip, he will have your local police working with ICE to deport
people. This would be a disaster for your communities in many respects, particularly in terms of public safety. Uh in a community like Mont Clair, it's important that people feel safe coming to the police to talk to them about crimes or anything else that's going on.
And if the police are coming to round people up to deport them, no one will be talking to the police, not immigrants, not their friends or relatives. So I urge you, as others have done here tonight, to uh put forth a resolution to help move that forward in the Assembly
and Senate. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Next guest, please. Good evening, everyone. My name is Johanna Coxer and I live at 165 Lincoln Street. First, I want to say I'm totally in support of bike lanes, bike parking,
and the Immigrant Trust Act. That's not why I came here to speak, though. So, um, around the corner from me, there's an extension going up at 30 Irving Street. The lot is 30t wide. My understanding is that setbacks need to
be a total of 30 feet on the sides, which would leave nothing. So, they need to get a variance in order to build on this lot. But don't they have to notify all the neighbors within 200 feet about a variance? Because we didn't get notified. They're already building back
there. So, who is responsible for things like this? I mean, I'm not asking that. We're I want to know who do I go to or is there somebody here who can take this up and get back to me?
Manager So, typically a uh a homeowner or property owner when they're submitting um uh construction plans for approval for building permits before the construction department uh issues a building permit, they look for
concurrence from the zoning officer. Um, so the zoning officer would typically issue a a zoning certificate that it's in compliance or if it's not in compliance that um flags the the application to the construction department to deny the construction permits and send the application to the
zoning board uh for a variance. So I'm not um familiar with what you're speaking about, but I would be more than happy to look it up um after today's meeting so I could give you a mic. I I emailed you on this particular Thank you very much. Oh, great. So, um, there's been no
zoning board. They haven't been in front of the zoning board. So, there's a bigger issue here and hopefully we can get it resolved. Okay. Should I reach out to you or you'll reach out to me? Yes, that's me. Thank you. Sure.
And thank you everyone. Thank you. Next guest, please. Good evening. My name is Chrissy Thomas and I'm a lifelong resident of Montlair. Raised at 257 North Mountain Avenue. I'm a proud graduate of Montlair public schools having attended Edgemont, Mount
Hebrin, and Glennfield. I graduated from Montlair High School in 1987. My educational journey took me to institutions including Wesleyan University. the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, and the University of Virginia, where I earned a BA, a jurist doctor, an MBA, and a
masters in public policy. Professionally, I've served at Corporation Council's office for the city of New York and at Carter in English before founding my own law firm in 2000, located at 96 Park Street right here in Montlair. Beyond my professional
life, I'm a second generation immigrant daughter who had the privilege of caring for my mother as she aged in Montlair, honoring her wish to remain in the town that she loved. She raised three doctors and a lawyer, and she chose me to do her dialysis for her. I'm a proud mother of
a young daughter who's now walking the same educational path I once did. She's currently a freshman at Montlair High and plays varsity field hockey, a freshman goalie on the turf field. She fills me with immense pride and a little bit of fear. As I sit in this chamber tonight, I'm deeply concerned, like so
many others, about the nearly $20 million deficit facing our school board. I recognize the budgetary limitations this council must work within. But I also believe that fiscal responsibility and transparent governance are fundamental to public trust, and I'm committed to ensuring that every dollar
of public funding is used wisely and effectively. I want to sincerely thank those who have spoken out on my behalf in the local and to others and to those who have personally reached out to me to express their support and ask about my willingness to serve in Carmel Lomen's vacant spot. I remain ready and willing
to contribute. I truly believe I can make a meaningful impact if appointed. I also want to recall my public support for Dr. now mayor Baskerville when council member Yakabella stepped down. I like many of you who were not yet
elected but spoke then continue to believe that someone who ran for office in this past election should be given serious consideration by this council. It's not that anybody else can't do the job. It's just that the people who ran demonstrated their
commitment. My love for Montlair has never wavered. My aim remains the same. to bring transparency to our local processes to ensure that needs of residents are met with responsiveness and to support responsible accountable governance. Having a seat at the table
and a vote matters. Far too many people in Montlair feel unheard right now. I hear them and I want to be part of ensuring their voices are not only acknowledged but acted upon. Thank you. Thank you. Next guest, please.
Here it comes. Here it comes. Hi, I'm Lauren Berman. Um, I support Christie. I sent you all an email to that effect. I wanted to talk to you about the schools. I will not be asking
you for any money for them. I am sick like everybody is. I think I have had two children since moving here with the intention of sending them to the schools and I don't know that I could vote for a tax
increase on December 9th because we have no information and no accountability and no oversight. So what difference does it make if we give them more money? if we
have no idea how they are going to spend it or whose pockets they're going to line at central office since apparently there hasn't even been a single layoff there. So, you are, I think, a lot more uniquely
positioned than any of us individually are as residents because the district has asked you for money and you have the ability to put prerequisites and conditions on giving them money should a
mechanism arise in the future in which you can do so. Everybody who lives here has an incredible amount of anxiety all day, every day. Now, not just parents with kids in the schools, but seniors who may have to move if their taxes are raised.
100% of the people who live here are under an incredible amount of stress right now. And I recognize that this is not on your agenda tonight. But I think in the interest of transparency, rather than reading something in the newspaper, we could all use just a moment from each
of you tonight to tell us what requirements you would have of the district before you would give money so that many of us may receive the information that we need in order to make a responsible vote when that time comes for us. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Next guest, please. Uh, hi Sarah Avery, Monontlair resident. The manager is quoted in the local saying that we are not the federal government. We don't print money. So why is he seeking approval for an emergency revaluation that's going to cost the
taxpayers $2 million? How could a revaluation possibly be an emergency? The manager claims he would be judicious spending our money. So why is he stocking the ranks with his handpicked flunkies and cronies? Montlair needs a
CFO with actual CFO experience, not Mark's choice, who has never been more than an assistant. The manager wants us to believe that he would reign in spending, that he would spend our money as if it were his own.
Attorney Tanteski wants another 50,000 to pay the land use attorneys for costs already incurred. Attorneys are prohibited by law from incurring costs without approval. Incur means to become
liable or subject to. As used in a sentence, the attorney committed a crime in the fourth degree by incurring legal costs without authorization by the council. The town has been notified that there is
an illegal addition being built at 30 Irving. But despite councelor Toller's advocacy, the town has taken no action. There's no code enforcement, rent control enforcement, or traffic enforcement.
Montlair has become a dangerous place filled with people who exploit their neighbors to enrich or empower themselves. And isn't it awesome, Councelor Anderson, that the residents of Monontlair have team corruption
working on their behalf? I didn't think it was possible for this council to get any worse than it was under Leola, but here we are. Ne next guest, please. Hello. Good evening. Good evening.
Ahava Flead here um thankfully to speak on behalf of why I should be at this podium regularly for our community. Now I have to address what was just said. um as the president and first founder of
the tenants organization of Montlair, the group that brought the historic rent control ordinance to our town, the whole community. Um, from what I know, rent control is working.
And I'm unsure, um, why the person before mentioned rent control is something that's not being managed. Well, I'm not hearing that at all from
tenants or any of our leadership. So, anyone out there, um, rent control is working and we have plenty of tenants who are very, um, happy with the fact that we have a 4% cap and 2.5% for our
more mature adults, also known as seniors. I really wanted to come up today to make sure that everyone knows that we are still moving forward. So we have updated the Facebook page. The meet and greets
are on Sundays. So we've picked um one day a month continuously. That has not stopped. But now we will focus on Sundays. Seems to be a good day. And we will be offering or opportunities for
anyone to come and volunteer to record content for the radio show which you've heard me speak about before. And just again, we're continuing with that. We are stockpiling content. So, if you have someone you'd like to recommend to be interviewed for the show, please reach
out to us at tenantsorgganization monontlair atgmail.com. And we continue to stockpile until we upload content that will be on radiorefree monontlair. And we have been checked in on to make sure that things
are still moving forward. And they are. And we have been continuously inviting leaders um not only in the township of Montlair but in the state of New Jersey who are getting approvals to come on and run content for the show. We have
tenants who are helping as well and hope to see more renters coming to the podium to say thank you and say how things are working with our historic rent control ordinance law
uh that you can all find on ecode 360 or type in Montclair rent control and go right to the township's website. God bless. Thank you all. Have a good night. Thank you. Next guest, please. Hello, my name is Lynn Stockhammer. I
live on Forest Street. Um, Mayor Baskerville, I apologize that you sent me um a message regarding the flags being lowered for Charlie Kirk on September 17th. I'm just finding it now. When I was scrolling through trying to find other towns that stood up against
lionizing, racist, misogynist, homophobic, uh could go on and on with the adjectives person who was not a person in government. He was I don't know what to call him, a media figure or something
like that. And nationally, it was decided by President Dump that he would be elevated to this status and that flags would be lowered. That's a very rare occurrence in it in the national um arena. So, I don't really have anything
prepared and I'm sorry, but I wanted to thank you very much for your your responses to me. There was a volley of emails. I still just find it just stunning that during a national moment um with his assassination
um that this town was not on the alert in terms of what was being ordered um nationally um and that we complied with that because as far as I'm concerned we
gave Charlie Clerk Kirk whatever his name is and everyone and who he represented or who he appealed to or who he incites um a recognition which should never happen Monontlair,
New Jersey. So I I just say shame. I'm also noticing now in that email that I missed mayor that um you would have needed an emergency meeting and I know that that was the weekend of the resignation of the counselor at large, one of the counselors at large and there were other things going on. But I really
think that we need to be on the red alert in terms of national events, um, statements, what whatever is happening because it's down, it's here. Everything is is being brought right back home. Thank you very much. Thank
you. Next guest, please. Bill Harrison, 8 Harvard Street. For those of you who are not looking at your phones, the Yankees are losing two to one in the seventh inning to form. Uh I'm here on your resolution extending the time period uh for BDP holdings to
enter into a redevelopment agreement and submit an application. The first two first resolution you adopted set a date certain for the submission of the application to the planning board execution of the redevelopment agreement. The second resolution
extended both those dates but set a date certain. The third resolution in July when I couldn't be here because of my wife's health condition at that point. Uh you did you set extended the date for entering the redevelopment agreement but did not set simply said for the
submission of the site plan application that it had to be after the execution of the redevelopment agreement with no time frame. The current resolution repeats that. I think and I've done this both for developers and municipalities would be better if you set a date certain it
may have to be extended like these dates have been extended and I would not be surprised you have to extend the date for the redevelopment agreement but I think it sends a message to the developer I think it sends more importantly a message to the township
residents who want to see the site redeveloped that the township is holding the developers feet to the ire and putting a date. I would suggest 6 months after the execution of the redevelopment agreement would be more than reasonable to submit a site plan application, but
so you have something to hold over the developer's head. The redevelopment agreement could specify that, but I think a continuing message of you want the site plan application submitted promptly with a time period with which that should be done that should you
should amend the resolution to do that. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next guest, please. Good evening. Matthew Brown's 11 Wayside Place and apologize for my appearance. I literally just came from my run. Um, I'm actually
here just to follow up on uh my my presence here at the last council meeting regarding uh the rental of uh metered parking on Church Street to follow up on that issue. Um I've written
to everyone here. Uh Mayor Baskerville, thank you for your communication regarding that matter. But the issue remains that one single restaurant on Church Up did I mention my address? 11 Wayside Place. My business is at 20 Church Street. Um I've written to
everyone here, but the issue remains that 50% of the parking on Church Street, five of the 10 spaces are occupied every Friday and Saturday night by a single restaurant. Um Fresco Def Franco. Um Councelor Williams, I've
written to you directly. I've not gotten a response from anyone here actually except for Mayor Baskerville. And I'm here to find out what do I need to do to advance my cause. I don't get a response. I pay a ton of taxes in this town. I've lived here 18 years and I
think I at least deserve an email response. Uh especially from my council representative. I don't know what's going on. Um I've never come here with any other issue. I'm not pestering the council, but this is important. One business has half of the parking spots.
There's no need for valet parking on Church Street. There are 470 parking spots in the Crescent, which is 2 minutes away. I came here, made my case. Um, whenever the last meeting was, I've written to the uh the township manager.
He doesn't respond to me. I'd at least like a response. I mean, a little respect, please. And if someone could tell me what to do. I didn't catch your name. Matthew Brown. 11 Wayside Place and 20 Church Street. Yes, Councelor Williams.
Yeah, I apologize, Mr. Brown. I did get your email and I was in the process of emailing you back, but I haven't no excuse. We have a meeting to talk about parking, your issue, as well as other parking related issues, and it's going to happen
in October. what you're asking for will involve changing some ordinances and how things are done. And that's going to take a little bit of time because there's some complications um involved with it where you know what
you're asking for sounds very reasonable but it's going to impact something else down the line. So we're just trying to make sure that there's no inadvertent consequences here. So that's kind of the matter here. So, I understand that doesn't deal with your issue right now
and it's not going to be you're probably going to see the same situation happen this weekend again until we get this resolved. So, just ask you to just bear with us. We are working on it and as soon as we have a resolution for it, reach out to you. Once again, I
apologize for not getting back to appreciate it because I can also buy a parking for the whole street, but it's not fair. It's not fair that anyone is able to do that, right? Thank you. Thank you very much. Next guest, please. Is that it? There's no more speaker.
Okay. Is there anyone that forgot to sign up who would like to come down at this time? If not, I'm going to close the public comment portion of our meeting. Okay. We're going to move into the pending
ordinance portion of our meeting. I'm going to open up the public hearing without objection. Is there anyone present here who wishes to be heard on uh let's see which one we have first. Pending ordinance 025-39
ordinance to amend section 327 vehicle and traffic of the code of township of Montclair, New Jersey. A speaks about Harrison Avenue and Porter Place. Anyone who wishes to be heard on this?
No. Council, I think I just support it. Thank you. No, I'll just say that. Oh, I'm sorry. Um, it's a multi-way stop intersection for Harrison Avenue is a major street. The minor street would be Port Porter Place for those at home that may not have the
agenda in front of them. Okay, madam. Who's the second? The second. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes.
Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Councelor Damato. Pending ordinance 02540. An ordinance of the township of Montlair and the county of Essex amending the township code
chapter 136 and establishing a credit card transaction fee for all township of Monontlair credit card transactions. Uh so moved. Second. Members of the public who wish to be heard on this pending ordinance 025-40,
please come to the podium at this time. Members of the council, Madame Clerk, do you want to say something? I'm sorry. The only thing that I wanted to say was um just to repeat what I said asked last time is um when this um goes into before
this goes into effect, I would just request that the township do a communication um several communications to let people know. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Deputy Mayor Anderson, yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes.
Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor Baskerville, yes. That ends the uh portion of our public comment where we have pending ordinances and the opportunity for uh members of
the public to be heard. We're going to move on to new business ordinances. Um Councelor Birmingham, please. Um yes, this is um I have it as agenda item
C. Sorry, let me um Yeah, this is an ordinance authorizing a special emergency appropriation for the preparation and execution of a complete program of revaluation of real property for the use of the local assessor of the township of
Monontlair in the county of Essex, New Jersey, including preparation of an improved tax map. and I so move second. Um yes, councelor Birmingham.
So um just so everyone is clear and and manager Marks, you can um help with this, but we've been ordered by the county of Essex to do a revaluation. And basically what that means is we have to get the assessed value of property more
in line with the what's called the true value or the market value of property. Typically this will happen every 10 years and we are lucky that we have been ordered that it needs to be completed by tax year 2028 which will be 10 years
from our last revaluation because um other there are many other towns that have al also been um ordered to do this and because there are only a few companies that do for example the
tax map that's Really the first step of this is to get um tax maps all accurate, precise, and then approved by the county. Because there's only a few companies that do some of this work, we want to get a jump start on it so that
we can go through this process in a very thoughtful, deliberative way. We will be doing a lot of communication on this in the coming months um and years in fact ahead. um the term
I know people see the word emergency and kind of get um you know think there's something uh up or or why is this an emergency really and again you can correct me but you know when we set our
budget and we go through that process we're on a calendar year but you know we don't finish until June which is you know we don't finish our calendar year budget until June this year and and it's adopted that and we have the public hearing and then the adoption that
really is that sets our appropriations for the year. There are a few reasons why you can and it's called an emergency because essentially you're doing it outside of the normal budget process.
There are a few reasons allowed for that and this tax map and it's called the special emergency appropriation but it allows us to pay for this over five years by getting a series of of notes.
We did this in 2016 for the prior revaluation. We did it in October 2016. We are doing it again now. So, I just want to be clear that this term special emergency appropriation, there's actually a statute, a state statute that you can look at that describes the
process. This is one of the allowed reasons for us to do it. And so, I don't know, manager Marks, again, we will be doing a lot of communication about this revaluation project process, but this is really the first step in the process for us. Um, I don't know if you have
anything you want to add at this time. I think you covered it all, but um there are approximately 11,000 line items, 11,000 properties in Montlair. So the the the valuations are are constantly fluctuating. So um through this ordinance, um the town will be hiring a
a company um eventually down the road, not immediately, uh to do an assessment or a reassessment of those 11,000 properties. It is not. There's a foam board in the in the back of the room whereby which shows how every property tax dollar is divided between the
schools, the the town and the county. It is not a way this is not a means of generating more revenue. Some people suspect that um the the town's portion uh of the tax dollar is less than 25 cents. We raise a it's either 62 or $64
million. This is not a means of raising more than that. It's just it's a way of properly aortioning the taxes between and among the properties that are within the town. Yes. And and just so our assessed value
right now is about 7.2 billion I think and our current equalized value is around I believe it's like 11.7. It's it's $4.5 billion dollar difference, which is rather astounding for a town in
New Jersey. And tomorrow, it's October 1st when the state will release the new equalized evaluation um values. So, it'll likely be even higher our our equalized valuation. And that impacts
school funding. It impacts our county tax and it in impacts what the library gets. So, that stay tuned for tomorrow. that's coming. But again, this as you said, this is a revenue neutral exercise. It is really just to get
balance between assessed value and market value. Thank you. Thank you very much. Uh deputy mayor, thank you. Um so, uh yes, and again, it's by it's allowable by statute. I think my my one
question that I had um uh is just for the purposes of and I know there's going to be um a big you know a lot of education around this um and that's being planned um by the finance committee um which is going to be very helpful um but is there any sense of
when adjustments to property owners tax bills would show up um after this valuation is done? 2018 20 no 2028 I'm sorry 28 2020 say we're going back going back in time 2028 it is set for so
it's a it's a involved process because every house has to be looked at and then it gets you receive your sort of preliminary assessment and etc and then but it will go into effect for 2028 tax year just in time for us to get out of here
question I'm just curious this 2 million is Is that enough? Where did the estimate come from? Is it something that we use from 2016 and just added a little money or is that the normal? Um, it actually came from the tax assessor. I think there's a st not not a
formula but a standard. So, um, it came from the tax assessor. I could I could find out uh with more clarity where exactly that that number came because I think he's estimating like $125 per house to evaluate each house. And I think he said 1.8 8 million, but
we're putting on 2 million just for the Okay. And in the section two, it just says if not of not less than 1/5if of the total amount. Do we need do we need to put a number there or should it just stay at less than 15 of the total amount?
Do we know what that number is? So, so basically what we have to do is pay, forgive my math, we're we'd be over what's 2 million divided by five 400 is $400,000. Thank you.
Um so go ahead. for a special emergency. It's basically you're you're um either taking out a loan or a note or you're even borrowing against yourself if you have the cash reserves um and repaying that uh over a 5-year period.
Thank you. Okay, Madame Clerk. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor Baskerville,
yes. Um, Deputy Mayor, please. What is this ordinance? Oh, sorry. This is agenda item D, an ordinance amending chapter 327, vehicles and traffic of the code of the township
of Montlair. This is um to prohibit overnight parking. Um right. Oh, I'm sorry. What is it? What? Oh, it's to allow. Okay. It's to allow. Um and um so move second.
Um discussion. Um council see that there's a there's a corrected version. So for folks that I didn't see that that don't have it. There's a corrected version on the version that might have been online. It says Bloomfield Avenue as the streets, but the street should be
Orange Road. So, it's Orange Road between Bloomfield Avenue and Hillside. Yes. Thanks. Yeah, Madame Clerk. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes.
Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Thank you. Um Council Williams. Next, please. An ordinance amending chapter 327,
Vehicles and Traffic of the Code of the Township of Monontlair. That's letter E. Parking prohibited at all time. Yeah. At Erie Street. Mhm. This is to prohibit parking at all times
on Erie Street. Uh the Crescent Deck Service Road, which is the road that's between South Folin and South Park Street and Upper Mount Clear Lot Service Road. So moved.
Second. Discussion. Madame Clerk, Deputy Mayor Anderson, yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor Baskerville,
yes. Um, councelor Toller, number G, please. Sure. Uh, ordinance O-25XX. Uh, ordinance the following. I'm so sorry, I missed F. I apologize. F, the loading zone. I'm sorry.
Yeah, that's what I have here. Oh, okay. Well, mine says, yeah. Um, be it ordained the mayor and the council of the township of Montlair and the county of Essex that the Montlair code section 327-22 loading zone hereby be amended to read
as follows. Uh, the following described locations are hereby designated as loading zones. Lyn Ridge Avenue, Southside, three designated parking spaces at the rear of the Midtown parking garage. I so move second discussion.
Yeah, I I don't know where is that position. Good evening everyone. Good evening. Um, it's the three spaces that we have directly behind the stores between the between the Midtown deck and the actual stores. What's happening is
we designated them as loading zones when we put the Midtown garage when we open up the Midtown garage. Never went into ordinance. So, we really can't enforce it and people are just using it as normal parking spots. I've noticed that. Thank you. Okay. Good work. When you Excuse me. You said people are just using it as parking spots.
Well, because we can't enforce it, people are parking there all day. they figured out that they can park there all day. Even though we tell them that we can't, you know, you can't park here. We can't ticket them. So once if once if this ordinance passes, then we'll be able to actually ticket them and enforce the loading
zone. And a sign wouldn't work. We have signs there. We have 30-minute signs. We have 30-minute parking, ticketing, you know, we have everything there. Ma'am, thank you, Madam Clerk. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham.
Yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, no. Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor Baskerville, yes. Uh, Council Damato, would you please do uh item number G? Uh, item number G, an ordinance amending
chapter 327 vehicles and traffic of the code of the township of Monontlair. So moved. Second. discussion. Can we just Do you want to just say what it is? Yeah. It's a bus stop on Park Street
northbound at M the far side of M beginning at a point 200 ft. Sorry. Uh this is for bus stop. The following locations are hereby designated as bus stops. No vehicle other than an omnibus pickup or
discharging passengers picking up or discharging passengers shall occupy it. And this is on Park Street northbound at Mun Street on the far side. Uh and then Park Street on southbound at Portland
Place Faride. Place Far Side. Uh okay. Discussion. So moved. Yeah. Just to be clear Birmingham. Thank you, Mayor. Um for the public, is this changing substantially or what what is
Yeah. Yeah. I don't understand this while we're doing this. Uh in the process of cleaning up, trying to clean up some of the code with the traffic. I have found that the at one point New Jersey Transit had the bus stop located at a different location. So in our current code, these are not these
are not the correct measurements. This will correct it so that it is we're not moving the bus stops. We're just correcting it in the code so that it's where they where they physically exist. Yeah. Where where you said Park Street and Mun cuz the bus stops right now in front of the Y. Correct. Correct.
And it's going to continue to stop. The bus stop is not moving, counselor. Okay. We're just correcting it on the code because right now Right now the code states that the bus stop is actually in front of Immaculate. So we're just trying to fix the numbers. Now what what does that do for transit
if they need to idle? I know sometimes when they drop the kids off, I see buses are just sitting right there in front of the Y. Are they still going to be allowed to sit there or was that used for idling? Because I know buses sometimes pull down the street a little bit block the front of the Y. Yeah. No, the spaces in front of the
immaculate are actually parking spaces. So the parking lot was this front of the parking lot where the buses used to wait right there in front of that parking lot. That's not We're not changing any of that. Okay. We're not changing any of that. Madam Clerk,
Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Thank you. Uh councelor Birmingham, please.
Um yes. This is a new business ordinance H. Um this is an ordinance amending chapter 327-24 handicap parking. And this will uh um add off- streetet handicap parking
spaces at the lot at Plymouth Parking Plaza. It'll be six spaces, two of which shall be van accessible. And I so move discussion. Madame clerk, Deputy Mayor Anderson,
yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor Baskerville, yes. Thank you. Um, deputy mayor, please. Agenda item number I, an ordinance
amending chapter 327 um of the code of the township of Montlair. is an ordinance um amending chapter 327-31 and 327-32 which um incorporates
uh some addendums and additions adding pay stations aka multi-pace meters adding credit cards as a form of payment and removing pay by space from the code since we are only using pay by plate throughout the township and I so move
second discussion Madame Clerk, please. Deputy Mayor Anderson, yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor Baskerville,
yes. Council Williams, please. That's an ordinance amending chapter 327, vehicles and traffic of the Kota Township of Montlair. The purpose of this ordinance is to amend 327-36
of the Montlair Township Code. This proposed amendment ordinance updates the off- streetet parking meter zone and the name of the parking facilities as follows. Midtown parking deck ground level added and a designated parking meter zone effective 24 hours every day.
So move. Second. Discussion. Madam clerk. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams,
yes. Mayor Baskerville, yes. Um, councelor Toller, please. Sorry about that. I turn number K. Uh, new business ordinance. An ordinance amending chapter 327, vehicles and traffic of the code of the township
of Montlair. This is to amend. Oh, safety sticks. Yay. I so move. Second discussion or anyone wanted to explain.
Um, council Williams. Well, if we could introduce the vendor uh for the safety sticks, we can answer any questions. Oh, do we have questions? I do. Oh, I'd like to know where they're going to be placed. Okay, councelor Toliff,
if you can tell me where these safety sticks are going to be placed throughout the township. Well, we're going to start our plan was to start off uh very simple with 10 10 safety sticks and see and go from there. We're not going to install them all over town at this point. uh because we want
to see what kind of um what kind of effect it's going to have on traffic, what kind of effect it's going to have on uh the manner which people react to them. Where will those 10 go? And the no parking anytimes, no stopping and standing any times. However, these
safety sticks can be used for in the future for uh the 5minut uh 10-minute drop off zones, the loading zones, uh the hatched uh cross-hatched areas uh on Bloomfield Avenue or anywhere in town, you know, south south end, upper
Montlair, anywhere we decide to put them, uh they can be installed. Uh so it's it's they're meant for behavior changing and they're meant for uh for the people to like we can't have a PEO at every single intersection at every
single minute of the day where these will basically monitor the areas. So do you have something to say Ken? This is Ken Wallins by the way. Yeah. I'm just curious how how it will be monitored is these have little cameras on them or you can explain more. As Mr. Jano rightly said, first of all,
I'm Ken Wallins with MPS and we're the company that provides the safety sticks. We've had a lot of success in New Jersey and I can talk about some kind of case study type of information that we have. And as Mr. Germano rightly pointed out, this is about modifying behavior. You know, there's nothing controversial
about when someone parks in a crosswalk. It presents a very real safety hazard. I noticed that Montlair is a Vision Zero city. We're Vision Zero partner. We're excuse me, we're very part proud of our partnership with Vision Zero. We have cities like Somerville right outside of
Boston, Massachusetts that have come to us. Jersey City has signed a resolution and intends to move forward. There are major vision zero city. So just pointing out that this is really about public safety. And to touch on what Mr. Germano just said, this is um you know when
enforcement officers when you're relying on patrol or directed enforcement, it's probably effective only about 5 to 7% of the time. When you put in persistent enforcement, people see that they cannot park in these spaces and the enforcement kind of has some muscle behind it. We
have a unique model in which we're only paid based on violations that the municipal officer, whoever the authorized officer is, whether it's the police department or the parking authority, um they only pay us a license fee based on those. That has the effect
of making sure that all municipal partners that we work with are cash flow positive from day one. So, it's a unique model. We cover all the upfront costs, including the installation. I'm very proud of the fact that we have about 15 um municipal partners right now in New
Jersey. All of them are still in force. All of them are happy with how it's working and about half of them have added more uh devices in phase in phases. Um nearby Belleville has uh recently launched. Their plan is to start with an initial phase of about 10
and they're already in the process of um looking at adding more up to about 30 more. So with that, I'm happy to answer any questions. I'll go ahead. Deputy Mayor, Councelor Williams, and Councelor Toller. In that order, please. Deputy Mayor.
Um so just to I just wanted to my microphone. So just to make clear and we did um review it. So this is to me this is this technology is going to help us um enforce illegal parking um at places
like where fire hydrants are, crosswalks, bus stops, loading zones, that sort of thing. So it does feel like it it is consistent it seems like with our um desire to you know make our streets safer and make make sure um it's you know pedestrians aren't harmed. So,
um I I think um and I did want to just mention that we, you know, several of us did want this to be uh used for um like for additional 15 mark for short-term parking areas. Um so, can you just kind of explain how that would work?
Sure. And in both we really treat the same with illegal parking. We um apply a standard 90-second grace period. We have some municipalities that are looking to go lower. We really um recommend against it. it's really not worth the trouble. What we're finding is that the average
violation duration is 14 minutes. And so, again, thinking that this is about modifying behavior, you're really not going to accomplish that much by being, you know, less generous, if you want to call it that. Rutherford, uh, is going to be going live soon. They insisted on a one minute grace period, and so we'll
see how that works for them. Um, we have gone as high as two or 3 minutes for some municipalities. Uh again, it's about modifying behavior and that's really what it is in theory. You know, from a practical standpoint, the moment someone parks in a crosswalk or too close to an intersection or at a bus
stop, it's illegal parking. They should get a ticket. And um that's kind of the thinking behind the the the enforcement officers. This is about making their life easier and modifying behavior. So the way it works is the device is about this high. It connects to the internet. So we capture violations in progress.
This is a hosted platform. We use AWS. so it doesn't touch your um it at all. Um each officer will get a unique login that corresponds with their badge number or some other identifier. They're going to serve as the witnesses to the violation. So they're going to have the discretion, the latitude to decide
whether it's a violation. You know, they're part of the community. They might say, "Look, you know, it's pouring rain. This business owner is just trying to make a living. He parked an extra minute. So what? I'm going to give him a break." They have the the discretion of being able to reject a violation. So standard violation for um you know for
illegal parking grace period of 90 seconds. We can be a little bit more generous with the uh grace period for the time limited spots because it's really not a safety issue. So we can apply a 5minute grace period and that works really well.
Council Williams. No, I just wanted to echo the point that this isn't a new this is just a new way to enforce existing rules. It it's not new rules. So, I just wanted to uh echo that. And
if people remember the folks from Seymour Street when they were coming up here and looking for continued enforcement, this would actually be perfect for that because their main complaint was that an enforcement
officer wasn't there to make sure that people weren't parking where they shouldn't. So, just wanted to point that out. I'm sorry, Councelor Toller. Yep. Thank you. um who's going to make a decision on what
areas in town these sticks will be placed? Number one. Two, what's the cost if any? Um and you've kind of touched on the technology and ticketing. So, I'm kind of clear on that. So, again, who's going to make the decision where these are
going to be? So, it's we really rely on the communities to tell us where they're having problems. And it's kind of connected to, you know, with with our license fee model. But what we're looking for is to generate a certain amount of revenue um per device. And so, for example, in Belleville, it says in
the agreement, we're looking to capture 10 violations per month. Um so that's one every 3 days. Chances are, if you're finding lower than that, it probably isn't a problem. It's probably not worth it worth having the device there. So that's the way it works. Um we um cover
the cost of the installation. We might advise on the placement. So, for example, if it's going to be placed at a crosswalk, we have technicians that know really kind of the best place to line it up. It does have a camera and a modem. So, we make sure that everything's lined up so we'll capture the violations
optimally. So, we're going to cover all the upfront costs. Um, that includes the installation, maintenance, and repair. The next question I always get when I talk about that is, does that include vandalism? Fortunately, that has not been an issue, but that does fall within reason. Um, it's been few and far
between that we've had to do that. And because this is a partnership, we, you know, if it were something where we found that there was a problem with vandalism, we might say, "Look, we've repaired this device twice. Let's hold off for a few months and see what happens." That sort of thing. And I forget, what was your third question?
No, I said you did touch on technology and the technology. Okay. Um, and maybe just for the people at home and the people in the audience, you said that our offices would tap into the AWS system. If you can just explain what that is. So AWS is um considered among
the best uh hosting solutions. It's uh Amazon Web Services and so uh we use that system. It's got you know 99 something uptime uh percentage so it's uh very reliable. Um we're constantly monitoring it to make sure that it's
operating uh properly. In fact speaking of monitoring we will up u monitor the devices too. So you know these are solar powered batteries. If if we detect that a device isn't capturing violations for whatever reason, we'll go on site and inspect it and we can replace it and repair it as needed. And the great thing
about having so much momentum in New Jersey is that we have a very strong presence. You know, we try to have a representative out within 48 hours if there's an issue and uh usually it's within 24 hours. Thank you. So, thank you. Uh thank thanks for coming uh so much uh
and everybody for the work that they've done in this. Uh I would just say I do think everybody at home should you know open your ears and open your eyes. I mean uh it is this is a technology that I on balance I on balance I approve of.
Um but it it it comes with some questions. I mean, we it is true that you're going to be putting it for the time being in places where parking even for one second is a violation and and if a police officer were to see that, but it is a piece of surveillance
technology. You know, drinking on the street, alcohol is against the law and there may be places where there are cameras everywhere and you could say, "Wow, we're just catching people who are on the street drinking." And uh and I'm, you know, a little bit speaking of the book, my wife is in the surveillance
technology watching business. She's on the other side. She's watching. And I do think we just need to be mindful about what we're voting for here. Again, on balance, I am for this, but it does mean that there will be robots on the street watching us
everywhere we're going. And I think people, you know, need to think about that. And the second thing is I'll just say I'm a little um I'm a little crestfallen. Early in this process I had encouraged my colleagues on the council and on the staff to look at ways that we
could make this uh both carrot and stick rather than just literally stick. Uh and to include in this pilot program several 15 new 15minute spaces. The most conspicuous of which uh the most
important of which was proposed to me by my opponent in the election that I won who who uh uh got it, you know, who figured out the perfect space that needs it in front of our the Starbucks. And I just was really excited about having
this as a pilot there to be able to say now you can actually park there, go in and get your coffee and leave. And we just somehow weren't able to get it together. And I just wish we could do that now. I mean, maybe you get your first 10 sticks to just cover the most
critical places that people shouldn't be going, but after that, I would like to give something positive to people rather than just a ticket for doing the wrong thing. Is that okay? Absolutely. Okay. So, let's work on it. Yeah, bud.
Councelor Toller. Yep. Anyone else have any more discussion? Madame Clerk, please. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller.
Yes. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Who's next? Was that you? Who did the last one? Who did the sticks? Council Damato, please.
Um, agenda item L L, an ordinance amending chapter 230 parking lots of the code of township of Montlair. Uh, so moved second discussion.
I'd like to be able to tell you what this is about, but I actually have a little I've had a little trouble. One more time. Sorry, council. I was just trying to clean up the code and that's why we have John and I help me help me work cleaning cleaning some of this stuff up. Um, it's basically just cleaning up uh we got rid
of the hang tags. We got rid of uh we we put in the license plate uh phrases so that you know that everything is pretty much trying to keep everything up to code. Uh a lot of the stuff was wrong. A lot of the stuff was you know outdated. So that's why we just cleaned up 230. That's all it is. Nothing. We
didn't put anything special in here. So Well, thank you for doing that. No problem. I appreciate that because a lot of our ordinances are Yes, I know. I know. Okay. Now, um, that completes the discussion of the new business ordinances and we are going to move on
to I'm sorry, Mayor, I need to call the the role. Oh, I'm sorry. Deputy Mayor Anderson, yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams,
yes. Mayor Baskerville, yes. Thank you. Um, that ends the new business ordinances and we're going to move on to items for consent agenda. Um, council, please listen. These are the items that I have
um that people have already brought to my attention that they'd like to have pulled. If you have additional ones when I'm finished going through this list, please let me know. I have number two. I have number five. I have number
12. Number 14. Number 15. number 19, number 22, and number 23, and I believe number 14 is um I said 14. Um are there others? Yes. I just like
number six and seven. One thing I was going to ask, could we start putting the list instead of having all the way up there? Okay, let's try that starting tonight. That That's a good idea. Um, are there
other items that people would like to move from the consent agenda? Um, I want I don't I just want a discussion for it, so I'm going to remove it and I'm sure it'll go back. But it's number one. Number one. Somebody say four. We need number four was just added to
our list to be removed. We have no and um councelor Birmingham, will you please do the bill list? You wanted me to do the bill list now, right? Council Birmingham. Search for it.
Okay. Councelor Williams, how about Councelor Williams? I I don't read the whole thing. I just build this. Um whereas invoices against the township of Montlair in favor of the following persons for the amounts set opposite their respective names have been
received duly audited and found correct. Now therefore be it resolved by the council of the township of Montlair and the county of Essex that said invoices be and they are hereby ordered paid etc. And I so move to the this is in the
amount of $1,410,000. Nope. $41098 98653. Second, mayor. Yes, sir. Council Damato. 11. Please take 11 out as well. Okay.
have questions. I want discussion. Does anybody want to go before me? Councelor Toller, all you. Um, and Mr. Manager, I hope you can answer. Uh, we have a payment here for Able Glass and
$9,200. There was some new glass put in somewhere. $9,200. Yes. in the clerk's office. Okay. Um if we can have a breakdown or if I may have a breakdown, of course, you can't give it to me tonight, but Angel's Landscaping uh for vacant
property maintenance is $8,300. And I think I emailed you today or yesterday where residents have been emailing in that many of our vacant properties and or parks are not being maintained well. So, I'd like to pull that one just until
I can see what it is. Angels has is there to be done a vendor number 25501 I'm sorry 25501 25501 um I'm sorry to be telling you guys the page number I'm sorry um that was on
page one I have a question polyag court what what is that for page three no page 2. That's vendor number 99821.
So it says uh special liners for NJ Transit containers. We we pay for that for New Jersey Transit containers. Special liners for NJ Transit containers. I don't know why we're paying for
transit containers. I'm just curious. Is it like the garbage pales? I don't know. I believe those are for the garbage cans that are like in the municipal in the commuter lots. I don't know why we described it as New Jersey Transit containers, but it is for the garbage cans that are in the commuter lots. Well, I believe there there is an
agreement going back to 1983 or probably before between the town and New Jersey Transit uh whereby um the town is to maintain the property uh the parking lots and the parking lots and the in the garbage cans that are actually on the platforms.
They just came and took down all those trees, all the all the No, we're talking about the actual garbage containers in the on the platforms. We're responsible. DCS has actually empties those out, but we are responsible. Look at that agreement. I mean, we're actually we're in the process of updating it now. Oh, okay. And I have another question on
page It's not for you, Manny. Thank you. Page three. I'm just curious. There's a course that someone took and you don't have to answer me now, Mr. Manager. Um, Institute for Professional. No name.
That's vendor number 5175. So it says understanding procurement uh procedures web and budget and fast update webinar. You can email me later that item. Okay. That's all I have for now. We're going to take a five minute break
at this moment. Um and then we're going to come right back. Thank you. Why are we paying dryer vent clean for what? Thank you very much. And we're back and ready to go. Um, I'd like to What would I like to do?
I would like to make a motion to amend the bill list as set forth. Second. Just to confirm, this is to remove the PO for Angel's Landscaping. Just that one
at the moment. Yes. Okay. Madame Clerk, roll call, please. Deputy Mayor Anderson, this is to for the amendment. Yes. Yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller.
Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Okay. Um manager, please. Um we have Do you have the ones? We have number three,
8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18. 11. 11 is in or out? I have it taken out already. 11's taken out. I'm just calling. These are the ones that I have for the consent agenda. So, if somebody wants me to take one of
these out, please tell me. The ones that I have remaining for consent are number three, 8, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 18,
20, and 21. All of the other items have been removed. And the bill's list, we just did the bills list. We amended it. We amended it. Okay. So, let's vote um on that, Madame Clerk.
Deputy Mayor Anderson, this is Before we do that, is there an opportunity me for asking another question about the bill list before Norma returns? Sure, you can always ask a question. Well, I just I'm curious because there's another Mustang payment. Who is that
for? For Neil Nielson, but I thought we approved that a while ago and paid for that for Amy's. I don't know who it's for. It's 49,000. And I thought we paid for that already. Okay. If we thought we paid for it. If we did pay
for Neielson Ford of Marstown, Inc. Um, so it's purchase of 2025 Ford Mustang Mach E. I guess that's electric for 49,267. Would you like to pull that and then
I'll I'll get the response. Okay. Council Williams is saying we did we did this already and I'm taking it as we did it and we paid it already. So I'm just trying to understand why it's still if this is another new vehicle, right? No, we did a resolution
uh one of the previous Yeah, I remember that. I remember the I remember that too. Yeah. Okay. So um then this is an amendment to the amended
has to be amend another amendment. Yes. Yes. The who's the move it? I am. I'll second it. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes.
Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Coun Mayor Baskerville, yes. Thank you. And um Madame Clerk,
will you please uh call a vote for the bill list? Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor Baskerville,
yes. Um, Manager Marks, did you wish to say anything on the remaining um items on the consent agenda? Would you like me to read each of the consent agenda items by um by name or how would you like me to proceed?
That would be a good idea. Okay. Yes. Thank you. So resolution uh number three is a resolution authorized authorizing refund of escrow account balance. Resolution number eight is a resolution requesting approval of items of revenue
and appropriation pursuant to NJSA4A 4-87. Resolution number nine is a resolution requesting approval of items of revenue and appropriation pursuant to NJSA 48 colon uh 4-87.
Resolution number 10 is a resolution appointing members to the Civil Rights Commission. Resolution number 13 is a resolution appointing members to the Arts Advisory Committee. Manager Marks, excuse me. I'm sorry. Uh Deputy Mayor, I apologize. Um I I I meant to ask for
number 10 to be Oh, 10. Okay. So, strike 10. Was I up the 16? Resolution 16 authorizing the installation of a happy to chat bench at Nishwain Park. Um, resolution 17 is a resolution
authorizing the acceptance of an inind donation from Clary Anderson Arena Association, Inc. Resolution 18 is a resolution in support for Kush Connection LLC Cannabis Business License location change.
Resolution 20 is a resolution in support of Pake Valley Sewage Commission Regional Long-Term Control Funding Assistance. And resolution 21 is a resolution appointing deionira Bartlett to the position of chief financial
officer and director of the department of finance. On um councelor Toller, did you want 21 pulled? Yes. For discussion, please. Okay. Okay. So, now we are at um
we're going to No, we're going to um the uh items that we that remain in the consent agenda. Um Madame Clerk, this vote will be for all of the items that remain in the consent agenda. And I
so move just to confirm it's item three, 8, 9, 13, 16, 17, 18, and 20. Correct. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes.
Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Okay. We're going to start at resolution number one.
Uh whoever asked to have that. Yes, I did. Um this resolution is I'm just wondering why this amount is not covered by a previous resolution that was uh for $220,000. Resolution R25-201.
It goes for 220,000. I'm just curious. So, we have director Ashley here. Okay. I'm I'm filling in for for Michael. Sure. Um, so this is for the management of the the bid out contract. So, the previous contract was for the
actual work that's going to be performed, but this engineering firm will be re uh supervising that work and making sure it's in accordance with those plans. So, it wouldn't fall under that pass resolution. No, that resolution was simply for the actual work itself. Okay. Thank you.
Y I'd like to make a motion that we vote on resolution number one at this time if there's no further discussion. Is there a second? Second. Madam clerk. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes.
Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Um consent agenda item uh number two,
please. Whoever wished to have that pulled. Yes. Go ahead. I'll let you go first. Yes. Council Williams. Resolution authorizing the township of Monontlair to participate in New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Green a acres program for the acquisition of block 1403 lot 13 memorandum and this is basically to acquire the Delta station on Valley
and Bloomfield that's across the street from the police station and make it a pocket park. discussion, concerns. Uh, councelor Toller I would like for council Williams please and
then councelor Toller. Yeah, I I'm not in favor of this just because of the location. The third ward doesn't have as many green spaces as other wards. Yes, that's true. But I I just
don't think this is the best location to put a park, especially with all the incidences that we have with, you know, folks of the community, you know, hanging around and it it just doesn't seem like a good area for this. So, I
I'm going to vote against it. Councelor Toller, please. Yep. Thank you. I just have one question, Janice, I know you're here. I agree with this. You know, we talked about it in EDC. I'm just very concerned about some of the the language here. It says open space andor recreational
lands. It's just going to be and then the next page it says creation of parks and greenways not you know it doesn't mention recreation. So I'm just wondering do we need to strike the word recreation altogether so that we ensure it's a solid park. That that language was recommended
language from D. I don't really see it being used for recreational purposes. So feel free to to strike it, okay? Because it's on here twice and it says, you know what I mean? It just says creation of parks and greenways, open space, conservation. So
all right, we'll take out the words recreation just to make sure we're all clear. Thank you. Um, yes. Um, councelor Birmingham and then deputy. I have to say I sort of share
councelor Williams concern. I I and maybe I have not been a party to all the discussions. I Yeah, I guess I'm not quite getting the vision for this. The Well, the vision is um this is part
of the urban state land acquisition program. The state's looking to um assist municipalities. And in fact, they approached me and said, "Janice, there's this property that's been sitting on the market for well over a year in Montlair. We know it's got contamination. It would
be perfect for this this program that we're starting where we will pay 95% of the acquisition cost to purchase the property um and and own it in concert with the municipality with the intent that it would be remediated using state
funds to provide much as they said much needed open space in your downtown location. And I said well that sounds like a really good idea. So, um, we looked into it, um, and one of the first steps to authorize them to to to negotiate
with the owner on the acquisition because the state takes the lead in this, um, is this resolution. And so, the idea is to provide um, low density open space in our downtown area. It doesn't have to have any
um, fixed improvements. It could be a landscaped area uh to kind of soften the the density in that in that neighborhood. But essentially, it was an opportunity with the state offering to pay 95% of the acquisition costs. Um and
obviously the remediation funds as well, not to pass it by. Um planner tally, I I have a question and you probably know what my question is. So, when you and I um took the brown field at 399 Orange Road years ago, uh
what was that in 2010 or something like that, it has taken us, it's still not completed. And that area has been a blight ever since then. And we were really excited about doing a brownfield uh renovation there and the state we
were going to get money and so what is going to be different because that place has been sitting in such a bad condition for all that time since we started working with that and now we're still working with that which is a blessing I guess but I want to know what is going
to be different why uh can we be assured that that Bloomfield Avenue now isn't just going to sit there a blight um in that area for the next 20 years. I I can't say that there's any guarantee in that on that because as you know with remediation
and grant monies well it's with remediation you take two steps forward and one step backwards because you have to do the site investigations right um and you'll test for do one test then you submit the results to DP they require you to do another test so that alone
takes a lot of time to go through the site investigation process Um and uh once you complete that, we have the remediation process and yes, because it's fully grant funded, it's very slow to get the money coming
in. So I there's no guarantee on that. And then they have to dig under the neighbors yards perhaps. And so I think that this is a discussion that we should have with the neighbors too because remember how they started digging down Pleasant Way going in the neighbors property. And let me just show what what
the the intent of the program is to avoid situations similar to what I see every day when I drive through Bloomfield uh on Wong Avenue uh corner of Wong Avenue and Broad Street, I believe it is. You all see it that
vacant gas station that has been there probably for 15 years. That's an eyesore. Um we haven't beat we were 20 years down at 399. So 15 20. So I Right. But I think in this case we will this gives you a a way to move
forward. It provides that property is still under privately owned and nothing has happened. This will be publicly owned. Um, and I hope with the state being a partner in the ownership of this property that we can fasttrack the uh in
investigation phase as well as the remediation phase and avoid a situation um where you have a uh contaminated site. Again, this is contaminated and we we hear that at the at at the police station where the contamination flows
downstream. It's an opportunity to clean it up and clean up the neighborhood as well. Thank you. And and I I'm going to vote for it and and you know on first read, but I just want the public and everyone to know that it's not um you know just a
wonderful feel-good moment without another side. And I wanted to share the other side because we've been down this track before. Right. Council Data. Thank you, Mayor. Um I agree. You have to look at these things and they're they're other sides and I think there's more than one other side in this one.
Yeah. Um one of them is a process problem which is pretty bad. So so we're saying this would take you know years and and 399 you know decades and yet I'm getting this on a Friday night and I'm expected
to make a decision on Tuesday about it. I have never heard about this. This is Valley Road and Bloomfield Avenue is a cornerstone of a of in the town, right? In the township. And this would be locking in a particular
use of that in perpetuity legally, right? Mhm. Yes. It would be open space. Yes. In perpetuity. That's possibly a good idea. But the idea that I'm going to decide in a day
to change the fabric of a key intersection in town and the knock-on effect secondly of it of deciding that it's open space first of all aesthetically that's not always a great idea like because is it a place as the
mayor said or somebody else or councelor Toller said that that's where a park should be. It was councelor Williams. I don't know that. I'm also like I mean there's a little bit of personal peak here. I'm like the head of the facilities committee which is supposed to be looking at things like parks and the creation of a park and the idea that
it's just somehow happens and the governing body doesn't know about it. It's just frankly it's not that great. But also council just the reason you didn't know is because our EDC EDC chair resigned from this council. Okay. Well okay. But I'm just saying that like I
this for me is just weird. And the second thing is we need a discussion now especially given the financial things that are happening in town as to whether or not we want to remove things from the tax roles. So this is a plot that's
right downtown and we had had this whole this discussion about whether we were going to consign that corner earlier on to being a sub an electrical substation. and we decided no because this is a
vital part of the downtown of the landscape the cityscape of the town of the township and I just think it may be a good idea maybe it's not a good idea but I mean one you get 15 minutes to decide something that's going to be there
forever so I'm a no do we have to do this tonight you don't thank you object if we pull this um for another and we can bring it back another day. Just again for the record, the reason everyone received it.
Excuse me. Um, we can we can table it, but what I just want to correct make sure that council damato understands that because our EDC chair resigned from the council, this is why no meeting minutes were shared with the full council regarding this. This was discussion in EDC.
I understand that. Okay. Yeah. Thanks. So, we're going to table number what was that? Two. Two. Number two. All right. Are we at number I'm sorry, deputy? Did you deputy
deputy mayor wish to um No, I mean uh I'm fine with tableabling it. I I but I did want to just express the reasons why I personally um thought it would be a good um you know um effort. Um and I and I have spoken with
um you know I I think it would be good for us to speak with some of the the residents who live you know around the corner on Portland um place and across the street. You know there isn't anything green in that area and there is quite a bit of density there and um and
so you know if there is an opportunity for us to be able to get into a partnership with the state and be able to purchase this property um and make it a public space I think that would be good. And I I am aware of some of the concerns that um uh both councelor
Williams and Birmingham raised. Um you know um I think you you know you're talking about like uh people you're you're concerned about people sort of hanging out in this space. Um I I think it's important to note that I mean un you know as the mayor said it's it could
be it could actually be years before we see something there and who knows what you know that that area of town is going to look like and um what's going to be there. So, um, you know, that's kind of why I was in favor of it. Um, I think residents in that area deserve to have a place like that. Copy and paste everything. Deputy mayor
understand. Okay. So, we took this off the agenda for um, do we want to say next? Uh, what is the date of the next meeting next week? October 7th. October 7th. Is that enough time for
Oh, do we need more time? No, I'm just asking. I I think I will be good by October 7th. Could Could we just for the next meeting if I'm sorry, can I Sure. For the next meeting, could we find out how much tax revenue this piece of property is currently generating because
that's going to go away if it's owned by the state and the township. Spoken like our finance guy. Okay. Um, moving on to number four, please. Whoever wish to
have that removed number four resolution extending the time frame for the execution of the development agreement. Oh, okay. This one now someone did request number I requested it. Um, my concern was and I
think that someone from the audience came up and and mentioned some of Okay, so I wanted to just amend this on agenda item number four. When you get to
the back where it says, "Now therefore be it resolved," it says, "Complete application for preliminary and final site plan approval be admitted to the planning board after the execution of the redevelopment
agreement and I sent out a email earlier and I asked uh should we not put a time a certain amount of time in there and so I'd like to add six months up to six months months after you do the
this that way it's not just like an open free-for-all amount of time. May I? Yes. And there's another resolution that's not listed in this language. It's uh it was voted on April 22nd, 2025. It's missing from the language in here,
and it's resolution R25-119. I see where R2503 is listed, which was January 28th, 2025. April 22nd, 2025 with resolution R25-119. That should be listed here somewhere in
this. I'm not following. Can someone help me? Um, all the resolution numbers that are related to this project, okay, are listed. For example, at the top paragraph, the second paragraph says R24-216 and then if you go down to the second
where or the third whereas it says R25-023. There needs to be another whereas that reflects the April 22nd 2025. The resolution number is R25-119 and it would go before the whereas July
22nd 2025 R25214. So it's just missing a paragraph is what I'm saying. It needs to be added in. Do you understand madam clerk? Because if not I'll bring it over. You get what I'm saying? I do. I'm just looking at the resolution
to see what part of it should go in there. Well, it was voted on. Oh, I think Madame Yes, deputy mayor. Thank you. I think it should come after the paragraph the whereas clause um
regarding January 28th, 2025 and before July 22nd. I just I'm just looking at the that resolution now. Thank you. I don't know how this resolution was sorry. I don't know how the resolution was written. So I don't just want to put
a date in there. I have to see exactly what parts of the original resolution should be placed in here. Did you you you put it in yellow or something so she can see? Okay. Thank you. Yes, we do. We do have to pass it to her. Okay.
amendment. We're going to amend it along with the other amendment. I mean, it's just just a whereas it's just a statement of fact, right, that there's one there was one that was here. Okay. I believe it should just say um whereas
there should be a new paragraph that says whereas on April 22nd, 2025, the township the township council adopted resolution R-25-119 wherein the parties mutually agreed that additional time was needed to complete
negotiations subject to the following conditions. And then um just insert uh on page one of that resolution, a complete application for preliminary and final site plan approval be submitted to the planning board on on or before March
1st, 2026, etc. So there's there's two paragraphs. Yes, I I found it. Okay. Thank you. the movement for the amendment. I I moved uh the amendment
A the complete application for pre preliminary and final site plan approval be submitted to the planning board up to six months time after the execution of
the redevelopment agreement. We can do both amendments in one and then you you have the other one. I'm sorry I don't have a copy of that one and I'm in agreement of clumping that as one amendment if that's okay with you. Madam clerk. Yep.
I just need a second. Yes, counselor. Um I'm not opposing. I'm just asking um in terms of the sixmonth
date is that something that within these dates I understand we we earlier had a specific date but is the six months um something is it consistent I with what
we had before I'm not sure I I don't have a copy of that do you have that and can someone tell me the people who are working on the redevelopment agreement is is it in there? I guess all I'm saying I'm just asking I
get what you're saying if that if we're imposing something that I mean 6 months seems reasonable but I'm not a developer of a $320 million project. Yeah. That if that's not reasonable, we haven't like it hasn't been in the
public. You know what I'm saying? Like the developer would not have had a chance to read it. Well, when we discussed it in EDC, we took the advice of uh Miss Tally. Okay. So, that's considered and I like not a developer. I just want to
Oh, okay. Yes. Actually, we said to the end of the year, but somehow it got written as six months because if we go to the end of this year, that's not six months. But if you want to So, we're giving overtime. Well, we said to the end of this year, December.
So, that that's only a couple of months. You just recommend Senator Tally, I'm sorry. Thank you. Yeah, I don't I don't think the six months is unreasonable. No, no, Council Birmingham had the question. I No, she was she asked a very good question about like my saying six months. She wanted to make sure that it
was consistent with and then we can put in the date March 30th, 2026, which would be I believe 6 months from today. But we it's 6 months after the completion of the redevelopment agreement. Right. Correct. Yes. Okay. So, so it's really we don't want
to put a date. Then we can't put a date. Yeah. Well, we can just say within six months or Okay. I just wanted to be clear that that's reasonable. Okay. Okay. Because they have a date. I'm the part
that you're asking December 30th 25. That's for the redevelopment. Okay. Um, and so I move there was a second. Madame Clerk, please for the amendment. For the amendment. Yes. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes.
Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Thank you. Moving on to the next one. Um, number five, please. We just have to adopt it as amended.
Oh, we sure do. I'm sorry. I need to move it in a second. Move. Second. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Anderson, yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor Baskerville,
yes. Now we can move on to number five, please. Business for demolition of the bank. Someone asked to have that removed. Yes, ma'am. Council Toller, please. Thank you. Um, I'm just wondering, I see the other
prices that came in uh at bid, but this particular contract that actually was awarded the 44, there might be a issue with the vendor. They have over 13 lawsuits against them.
And I'm just curious, you know, maybe that's why they came in as the lowest bidder. I don't know. Is it possible that we can find a different vendor or put this out to bid again? How soon does this work need to happen? So,
anybody can Google the name of the vendor and you'll find the 13 lawsuits against them. So, so this building is currently vacant and um you have to look at the um insurance requirements, but we can't have a vacant building sit for too much longer. Okay.
Um it's had access issues. Um but um that being said, you know, it's not unreason I' you'd have to ask the purchasing department if that is a Would you mind asking um like we can table this and talk about it
October 7th? Is that still enough time to get the work done that you need to get done? It's a week from now. From now we're on a really tight timeline with this building if because we're looking to also we're we're trying to get that uh lot paved as well. So, if we need to get that building down and that lot
paved with before the decision, I think the purchase and I didn't mean to cut you off because when you said the purchasing agent, I thought people were supposed to be in good standing to be in the system. So, if I may, if they have cases against them, I don't understand how this person even put their paperwork in to go for a bid.
Manager Marks, please. So, according to New Jersey local public contracts law, this was bid um the bid the bid award has to go to the lowest responsible bidder. So unless this jurisdiction, and I would defer to to the town attorney on this, unless the
township of Montlair has had a negative experience with this particular vendor in the past, which is well documented, I don't know if we could, you know, strike uh or disbar or remove um this vendor as the lowest responsible bidder. But
I would agree with the manager. You're kind of bound by what the No, I understand lowest bidder. My question was about the number of complaints or lawsuits against the vendor even being in our system to be a vendor for us to even maintain. It's not our it's not our system. We
develop bid specifications. We go out to bid. We advertise. It's an open market. Anybody could submit a So these are these are duly licensed um vendors and duly licensed operators, contractors doing business, especially in the demolition industry.
I understand all of that. My question is, okay, they have 13 lawsuits against them. Okay. Is it the purchasing agent's responsibility to say we should not do business with this vendor? I don't think so. That's my question.
We work do it every day. If you look at a Jay Fletcher Kramer or San Zary, they probably have hundreds of lawsuits against them and they're they're two of the biggest vendors in the state. Okay. Thank you very much, manager. Um, I move the um, what is this? Number
four, five. Number five. And I second. Madame clerk. Deputy Mayor. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes.
Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller. No. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville? Yes. Um, number six, please. Resolution authorizing execution of fair and open contract. Can we?
Yes. Can we do six and seven together because Yes, councelor Williams. We'll do six and seven together. Uh first one number six is resolution authorizing the execution of fair and open contract with
Neielson of Marstown to purchase two Dodge Durango Fire Department vehicles in the sum of 74,490,000 and uh resolution 7 resolution awarding a fair and open contract to Neielson
Ford to purchase one fire department incident command vehicle through Mars County Cooperative operative purchasing for $49,25230. Okay. Yep. Those purchases are simply just the um you know we asked for it in the budget. It was approved by the
council. So we have a vehicle purchase line item and those were the purchases of those vehicles coming out of that line on budget for the vehicles that we requested. Right. So, what are what are these vehicles used for? And everything you're saying is perfectly reasonable, and you
have an expectation that because it was approved in the budget that you shouldn't be standing up here being asked these questions right now. However, what what are these vehicles going to be used for? So, they're going to be used to replace two older vehicles. We have a vehicle
that's 20 years old that's actually out of service. It's no longer, you know, operating. And another one that's 15 years old. That is what the two Durango are replacing. The command vehicle, the current command vehicle we have is having mechanical issues and that is the one that the tour commander rides around
in and that one needs to be replaced as well. So, the command vehicle, we will at least be able to if we get it out of service now, um we can have it fixed, but as long as it's not serving in that same role, um we might be able to get some still some useful life out of it,
but it's really not in a place to be serving as a frontline emergency vehicle at this point. What are the two Durango for? So, we just need Well, they're to replace the the two vehicles that are 15 and 20 years old, right? What were those vehicles for? Sorry, say it again. What were those two vehicles So, those vehicles will be used. They
will be part of the fleet, right? We need vehicles. A lot of times we have inspectors. You might come in, a vehicle's out of service, and that inspector might have to go home because there's no vehicle for them to go do inspections in. Um, we had a, you know, a fire where the one of the inspectors was riding around in our fire
investigation unit doing inspections around town. So now we had to call that person, the fire investigator goes to headquarters to get the fire investigation unit, but the inspector has it. So now he's got to leave his inspection, come to the fire, drop it off there. So, we just don't have enough vehicles and we're just replacing some
of the older ones. Thank you. Thank you. Any further questions for our chief or chief or deputy chief? I just have you said this council to this money has been and I'm saying in air quotes allotted through the finance committee correct
through a capital expense and you said we voted on this already. What was approved in the budget? Part of the budget. Okay. Okay. And these are the lowest prices, right? Correct. Okay. I'd like to make a motion um to accept
six and seven. Second. Madam clerk, please. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams.
Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Number 10, please. So, um, number 10 is a resolution appointing members to the Civil Rights Commission. And the only reason I asked to have this pulled is because the third
person who's listed on this, um, I had I had um, notified everyone uh, that that person withdrew um, her application. I'd like to make a motion to amend the resolution appointing members to the Civil Rights Commission with um taking
the name of Alana Kaufman off. Um thank you very much for reminding me, Deputy Mayor. You're welcome. I second that motion. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Please call Deputy Mayor Anderson.
Yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Thank you. Next. Um I need a a movement in a second for the
for the move. Second. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Abstain.
Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Um, yes. Okay. Number um 11, please. Uh, Councelor Damato,
I'm sorry. C, can I reconsider that vote? Can I change that to a yes? Yes. I made a mistake. I'm sorry. Please um count is number 11. Is that from the same discussion we had
before and I should just pull it or is there a new um concern? Uh no it's the same discussion which is people are great. I don't it's fine but I just especially for something involving housing I think that people should be a resident. That is not to
detract from anybody's Okay. I'm I'm going to ask um please manager if you can um identify whoever the staff person is who will go and verify uh residents of one of the
individuals who is wanting very much to serve on the housing commission. I asked many times and I was told a house in Mont Clair and apparently some of the council members have a difference of opinion and so um we need to to figure
this out. I don't know what to do. Um, so tonight I'd like to uh withdraw that name and I'd like to make an amendment and I'd like to vote for the one individual who's remaining um for tonight's vote on the housing
commission, Antonio Gary. Um and I I've visited the Gary family household many times and so I know that they live on Pleasant Way. So, um, please with permission, I'd like to amend and just have Antonio Garry,
second. Okay. Madame Clerk, Deputy Mayor Anderson, yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor Baskerville, yes. Now, please, would you call the
role for appointment? Uh, I just need uh the movement. You second. Second. Deputy Mayor Anderson, yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, yes.
Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor Baskerville, yes. Thank you. And um thank you, Councelor Damato. I appreciate, you know, the fact that you trying to do what we all say we want to do, which is to make sure that the people are serving
on our committees and commissions are residents of the township of Montlair. So, thank you. Okay, moving on. We are at the um appointing a member to the planning board number 12.
Um I did request for this one to be tabled um because I did email the clerk, but I know that she's on vacation. This is the same thing. We need someone to go out and verify the residency. If we're going to do it for that, we have to do that for all. We need to verify this
recommended person's residency. Okay, I'll second that discussion. I'm just curious because I think for the other one there was a discrepancy between the what was written on the BIF.
Yeah. So I'm just I didn't I I saw a Monlair address for this person. So I'm just curious. Right. The address that the person for the planning board recommendation is actually a siblings address, not this person's address. We got um Okay, so let's vote on that.
The other bit of information is we got a another person. Were you interested in that other person or just not not really? I don't think we should take action on this. Okay. All right. So, is that withdrawn or tableabling? Okay. until
um whomever is going to go out and do the residency check for the housing person can also do the residency check. Don't we have to put a date? We can do that in the clerk's office. Okay. Yeah. So, do you think we can have that done by the next council meeting? Yes. Okay. So, we're going to table it until
that meeting. Okay. Moving along to number 13, please. Just want to make sure everybody has the amended number 13, not the one that we received in our packet. Okay. Number 15. We didn't do 13.
13 was part of consent, I think. Number 13. Okay. Yes. Okay. Number 14. Oh, number that we were going to withdraw from table. We're tableling this table this until the next meeting.
October 7th. Number 15. 15 should not be here, right? Oh, no. We were going to table that too until the next meeting. Right. So for 15, this is the resolution establishing protocols for the drafting, review timeline, and posting of council meeting date agendas. And I had asked
for this to be tabled because first of all, the wrong version, the wrong draft was attached to the um the agenda by mistake. And um and secondly, it's uh we're we're we're ref we're finding it. Um but I'm hoping that we'll be able to pass this soon. And I certainly would like to thank all
the people that took quite a bit of time going back and forth and hearing from all of the council members to um come up with with these um different uh recommendations on how we're going to run the council meetings. And it's something that's very necessary. Moving
right along. Um number 16 resolution. Um, no, that wasn't that. We didn't have to pull that. Why is that circled? Number 16. Yeah. 19. 19. 19. Okay. Number 19. Yes. I had a question and I was trying to get the
question asked by the attorney earlier, but we before we started. Um it's just I don't know if this is the ethics thing or um you know it says whereas this firm to serve as land use and redevelopment attorney but the second paragraph says
for labor and employment matters. So I'm not sure what we're approving for this firm. And then they're asking for additional money. So, I don't know if there was a typo here or if you read the first paragraph where it says they're serving as land
use. The second paragraph says that they're qualified and experienced special counsel for labor and employment matters. So, who are we paying and for what? Cuz this is jumbled up. Okay. I apologize for that. This is for land use and redevelopment. That those
are typos. They have been designated previously. We have a contract with them uh as our land use and redevelopment council. Uh the law law department essentially was trying to anticipate the budgetary needs of the department going forward for land use and redevelopment given all the work that's going on in
the town. So uh we requested somewhat of an estimate from them about what we expect going forward through the end of 2025. Uh at this point in time we're requesting that it be extended for an additional not to exceed 20,000. Obviously, they still submit their invoices and have to bill the time. It's
not they just get a check cut to them for that amount. Obviously, this just extending the contract to permit them uh to move forward through the end of the year. But shouldn't we um we can incur invoices for services without a resolution of approval?
That's what this is. I'm saying we we've already incurred those over. There's prior contract with this firm to do their land use and redevelopment work for Monontlair. that was in the amount of about I believe it was 50,000 uh somewhat light given the amount of
redevelopment work here. I mean believe you attend meetings as well and see how lengthy they are and the building requirements that might come out of that or any costs that might be generated from it. Okay, so it's just an anticipation of what we need going forward for accounting. So we're going to get that
paragraph fixed, right? Because it's definitely reading weird. Okay, that's why I didn't understand your questions earlier before. So I apologize. problem. Are we going to fix that now? Councelor, we need to fix it now. That's a typo. I can fix that without an amendment. Thank you, okay?
We can fix it without an amendment. Yes, because it's just a typo. It's clerical. Okay, Madam Clerk, please. Roll call. I need a move it a second. Move. Second. Deputy Mayor Anderson.
Yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Number 21, please.
That was me. I just have a question for the manager. There's a job description out on the board. Is that this person or is this someone to work under this person? I'm not familiar with the job uh description out on the bullet on the bulletin board on our website. We
advertised uh this was uh Maja Rouse uh former position. She moved on in uh I think it was late June. So we advertised uh we probably received dozens of applications. We interviewed we had two rounds of interviews. We interviewed
either six or eight different qualified candidates and uh Miss Bartlett was the best qualified uh candidate for this position as the recommendation. Okay. Um this is also a uh for anybody with a CMFO, a certified municipal finance
officer licensed by the state of New Jersey. It has to be um the statute requires that an appointment of somebody with their CMFO license. The appointment has to be for a 4-year term and it has to be um the term begins on January 1st of the year that they are appointed.
She's not if if appointed this evening, she's not being paid back to January 1st. It's just the four-year appointment appointment begins January 1, even though it overlaps with Miss Ralph. Um, I'm just wondering, are we going to get a chance to interview her or are you
wishing that we just agree with what you present in front of us? Because is is she our hire or your hire? It is a um it is a position that requires a resolution of the governing body. So, this was discussed in executive of session as a personnel
matter. Yes. Okay. So, we won't get to interview her. That was uh that was not requested. So, Okie dokie. Any other questions? Council Williams. Oh, I'm just moving it.
I don't think second. I I was just asking if any any other council members had any questions since we pulled it. Madam clerk. Deputy Mayor. Was there a movement and a second? Yes. Okay. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes.
Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller. No. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Resolution um appointing council member as class
three member to the planning board. So I had requested that to be pulled. Um okay. May or may I? Um, I would like to uh go ahead and appoint someone um if we can tonight. Uh we have a as as the mayor
said there's a planning board meeting that is happening on um October 6th and um I think that you know the from all accounts the the planning board has a lot of really um critical work to be
done um in the next year and so I am going to nominate um Eric Damato. Thanks so much. I'm I'm going to um ask um counselor told her if she had any interest in that position and I'm asking that for a reason because I mentioned to
councelor Damato in a conversation that I had talked to councelor Toller and she mentioned to me that she was interested. Then I found out after that that council Damato was interested and so I want to know are there other people on the
council that wish to be considered for this position? Counselor Toller, do you still wish to be considered for this position? It's a big ask. Um I know you did ask me and I said yes. Um so yes, I would sure I would like to be considered for it.
Absolutely. Okay. So, um I think then then we should hear from each one of our council members about what they think they would add and why we should vote for them for the position. So, councelor Damato,
um I just have an interest in growing interest in land use law and and the work of the board. I spent a lot of time um talking about it with uh former councelor Lochman uh and I've known other people on the on the planning
board. My work uh as the chair of the facilities and infrastructure committee with which I have the pleasure of serving with councelor Toller um I think makes for a good overlap. I believe um I believe that basically my views on
development are of a sort that I think it would be a good contribution to it and I think I would work well with people on that board to have a you know an intellectual look at the at the the problems as they
come and try to you know not not create issues where there are not issues. isues and to create issues and slow it down when it really needs to be. I mean, you saw tonight I was interested in the question of, you know, why would we rush
to um to create, you know, to to to lock in place a a particular form of land use um for for for a parcel of land. So, you know, these are things that I'm animated about and I just I really like it. I
also think that, you know, just frankly, um, you know, the balance of ward power on that on that board might benefit from having a first ward member. Um, and I, you know, I could go on, but uh, but
that's that's probably it. Do you know what the balance of ward members are presently on that board? How many from first ward, second ward, third ward, and fourth? I meant in terms of the council representation. In terms of who? There's only one other council member on that.
Yeah. And you live in the fourth board, right? Okay. No, I thought that you were looking at the entirety of the board and saying that since we only have four or five of the seven from the first ward that we needed to put one more or whatever that balance versus individual.
Okay. From us. Yeah. From us. Okay. Thank you, Councelor Toller, please. Sure. Thank you. Uh, I'm going to copy and paste most of what Eric stated with the exception of a conversation with councelor Laughman or ex- counselor Laughman. Um, I've been attending
planning board meetings prior to becoming a counselor. So, I'm very wellversed on what goes on. Um, I know many of the planning board members. Most of the development that's happened in this town is in the fourth board. Um, I think that I can bring some fresh
information, ideas, um, to the planning board and I'm excited about the opportunity to work on there if given the opportunity. Um, the planning board has an opportunity to help make sure that
our community understands what to expect. Um, I know that we're going to be going over our master plan in the very near future. I have ideas of involving more public comment because right now we only do it once a year. I'm trying to get it done four times a year through our planner and the planning
board chair now. Um so again, this isn't anything new to me. I've been watching and attending planning board meetings prior to my tenure here. Uh so I'm well verssed on what to expect as far as the workload um and how everything operates within the planning board governing
body. Okay. So, um I don't know if this group wants to do what we've done in the past when we were picking an attorney, write a name down and pass it over to the manager or or how you guys want to proceed with this. Um I So, it's your
your call. I mean, in the past when we were voting on the attorney, we all took names and put them in a hat. And how do you want to proceed with this? I'm just asking because things, you know, um there's no set pattern on how we do voting here and I'm trying to
figure out. So, is everyone okay with us doing the vote that way? Yes. No, we'll do a roll call vote. Yeah. Yeah, that's okay with everyone. Do we have to make a motion? So, Susan
made a motion. Are we voting on the motion? Okay, that Susan did like do I need a second? Like where what what's the motion for? Because if you I amended the motion. But if if you vote so you're going to
vote to see who's going on the resolution. No, councelor I'm sorry. Deputy Mayor Anderson Yeah. made a motion to appoint councelor Damato. Okay. Where does that stand? I'm just we didn't vote on voted but then if you
vote on for him then and he wins essentially then there's no opportunity for Okay. Okay. Just making sure. So this is with Madame Clerk. Would you please do a roll call for No. Did we have a second?
Second. Okay. There's a first by Deputy Mayor and a second by um Councelor Damato. Okay. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Oh, yes.
Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams. I mean, yes. Mayor Baskerville. I'm I'm confused. Listen, at this point
it's already set. You don't understand what I'm saying. You've got three yeses. You weren't There's going to be a deadlock. So, we're going to let Councelor Damato sit at the planning board. And I hope he's ready. That's all I have. It's only a year. It's until June 30, 2020. Okay. There's a lot of stuff to happen
back there. So, I'm going to vote for him to be on the planning board. No. Yes. That's the start date is today. Yep. Let them have at it. Get to work. No, I I I just want to say
I appreciate, you know, this this moment, right? You know, that's all I want to say. I want to thank you for for that. That was No, that was that was kind. You were up for the same position and you you voted in. So, I was going to be outvoted.
So, just to move this meeting along. All right. Move the evening along. We'll let him have it. Okay. So, let's move on to the resolution appointing the Oh, no. We did that. We did the bill list. So,
Oh, okay. Where is that one? That's a good job. No, we're going to um table that the one on the attorney. No, we can't table it.
We have the Oh, we have two. So, one of them is out and this one is the one for this is for the person from your office. So, so currently 23 is for the full-time township attorney resolution is prepared. It looks like the council is not prepared to correct decision on that
at this time. So I believe we're going to attempt to walk on another uh resolution for appointment of an interim attorney. Right. And so that will be number 25. And who has the resolution in front of
them please? Service agreements for clear. Here it is. Uh this resolution is authorizing the extension and amendment of the professional service agreement with Clary Jacobe Alier and Jacobs LLC to
continue providing services as interim township attorney. Um the individual who is named in here is where is the name? The name is Ruby Kumar Thompson.
Attorney Ruby Kumar Thompson serving as the interim township attorney. She'll serve in such positions for a period of 120 days or until such time as a township attorney is appointed. And I so move.
Deputy mayor. Oh, sorry. Anyone? Roll call, please. Deputy, did you No, I'm just I just wanted to make sure people knew that um this individual is uh with the same firm that has been providing these services um and uh is is
Yeah, that's all and providing some just like to thank our current attorney, councelor Damato. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you very much for your time. It's been my privilege and my pleasure to serve. Uh I thank you all for this opportunity. I know that every member of
the council has Monontlair's best interest at its heart despite whatever uh disagreements there may or may not be. Uh everyone at Monontlair, thank you for your help throughout starting at the top with Steven Markx, Mr. SC Scandalberry, uh the clerk's office, and
most specifically Miss Roman in the law department who without her help I could not have done anything. But uh I I wish you all luck going forward and to my colleague as well. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Anderson,
yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Toller, no. Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor Baskerville, yes. Um, so now let's go um two minutes
each to tell us about your um committees, I guess. Do we have anything else? It's 10:17. So, if we want to try this committee uh thing at two minutes each or either we can make a motion to
go home. It's up to you guys. It's not on our agenda, but I thought, you know, we could start now. It's early yet. Only 10:17. I'd like to make a motion to adjurnn. Second. Third. All in favor?
Any opposed? No. And um thank you very much to um Deputy Clerk Dominguez. We appreciate you. We appreciate attorney Tantuski. Yeah, I do too. I hope she does.