The music this evening was brought to us by Jazz House Kids. Um, our trumpet player is Nick Macy and he is a sophomore at William Patterson
and on guitar we have Jace Lopez and he's in the 11th grade at Depal Catholic High School. Thank you. They are joining us this evening um in in honor of a resolution that we're going to pass for Jazz House in just a
few minutes. But I'm so grateful that on very very short notice they came together and um played some incredible jazz for us. Thank you so much, gentlemen. Let's give them one more. Thank you. Okay, this is a regular meeting of the
council of the township of Mount Clair. It's being broadcast live on channel 34, streaming live on TV34 YouTube channel, and 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 is included in the revised annual notice of the meeting schedule as set forth in resolution R25-038 adopted by the township council at its regular meeting of February 25th,
2025 advertised to the official um newspaper on March 6, 2025, posted on the bulletin boards outside of the municipal building and has remained continuously posted. 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. Please stand 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. Madame clerk, will you do the roll call, please? Deputy Mayor Anderson, yes.
Councelor Birmingham, here. Councelor Damato here. Councelor Lachchman here. Councelor Toller, good evening. Present. Good evening. Councelor Williams here. Mayor Baskerville present. They have been presented to the council the minutes of the regular
meeting and executive session held on May 6, 2025. Are there any corrections? May I have a motion to adopt? Motion to adopt. Second. All in favor? I. Any
opposed? Any abstain? Okay. Um at this time, I'm going to take the liberty of shifting um very slightly the order of the agenda. I'm going to start with the resolution
in support of the Jazz House Kids. Then we're going to do our proclamations. And after that, we're going to go into the uh presentation by environmentalist Jerry Borbach. Resolution um R25
um resolution in support of Jazz House Kids Cultural Arts Project application to New Jersey Economic Development Authority under the cultural arts facilities expansion called cafe program. Whereas the township of
Montlair is a community deeply committed to the advancement of cultural arts, economic opportunity, and equitable community development. And whereas Jazz House Kids, now in its
23rd year, is a nationally recognized 501c3 nonprofit organization with statewide impact dedicated to transforming lives through equitable access to music education, cultural
performance, and career development. And whereas Jazz House proposes to develop the Jazz House Arts Plus education center and state-of-the-art cultural education facility in Montlair's third ward that will serve as
a cultural and economic anchor for the township. And whereas the scope of the project is to create an arts campus for expanding in place and renovating the current and adjacent building, enhancing
its accessibility and providing best-in-class rehearsal rooms, music production and recording studios, a music library and performance space and arts training and live performances for
young people and adults. studying in the jazz h in the jazz house and local arts community and the public at large. And Jazz House will be doing a lot of amazing upgrades and renovations which
we're all extremely enthusiastic about. Now therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and the council of the township of Montclair formally supports Jazz House Kids and its application to the
NJA cafe program and encourages the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to give full and favorable consideration to this important project. Any discussion?
Okay. I so move this resolution. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? No. Um Melissa Walker, um you're here. Did you wish to say anything?
do. Well, thank you so much. They can't hear you. I'm sorry. Thank you so very much. Um my board chair Terry Woodard is here uh with me today and we really appreciate and um love being in this town and all that we
have done together um being in New Jersey as an instrument for change providing access, learning, career development and community building. And hopefully there's no one in this room that hasn't seen the work of this organization. and we are the
beneficiaries of so many supporters in this uh community and surrounding areas. So this cafe program support um and initiative of funding is transformative and I think that if you have seen what
we're doing we will only be elevated to be able to have an education a full education center a career development of training and as well as a performance venue to bring back live performance in a smaller u footing. So, we're very
grateful uh for this resolution and this opportunity that is provided uh through the state. So, we're very excited, but we um you know, just see great things and get ready. The Montlair Jazz Festival launches on June 4th at the Wellmont Plaza and we will be uh
bringing more music to you through our young people and professionals. We really do value our relationship. Thank you. Thank you. Great. Thank you so very much. Okay. And next up, I see that we have quite a few people who wish to come
forward. Um, it's going to be a proclamation for our older Americans. Um, sure. So, if there are people who wish to come down, please, now is your chance if you'd come down front. We have a wonderful proclamation for older
American months. Everyone that wishes to stand with older Americans, please feel free to come down at this time. Oh well. You've got which one is that that's up next? Okay.
I'm standing welcome. We're on. Oh, great. Thank you all for coming out. Appreciate it. Um, I'm only two years away. Well, actually like one one a little over one
year away from being an official member of your group. Is your microphone on? I think so. Can you hear me? I was I was saying I I'm only um I'm only a couple years, maybe a little less than two years away from being part of this amazing group. Um and I'm very proud to
um support this proclamation. Oop, come on down. I'll wait. Um I'm very proud to present this older Americans Month proclamation. Whereas every May, the township of Montlair celebrates the observance of older Americans month, a
time to recognize older Americans contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm our commitment to serving older adults. And whereas the 2025 theme, and feel free to hold up your signs, flip the script on aging,
focuses on transforming how society perceives, discusses, and approaches aging. And whereas the township of Monontlair encourages individuals and our community to challenge stereotypes and dispel misconceptions around aging.
And whereas in 2025, we urge all residents to recognize our older adults contributions to the township of Monontlair, exploring the many opportunities for citizens to be active and engaged as we age, and highlight the
opportunities for purpose, exploration, and connection that come with aging. Now therefore, the mayor and council of the township of Mont Monontlair do hereby proclaim May as older Americans month and we urge every citizen to recognize
the contributions our older citizens have made to enhance our township and make it a place where we all wish to age in place. And I thank you all for being such engaged citizens. And I'm really I'm so pleased that you are all able to
be here. Ann, are you gonna speak? I would hope so. Is that okay? No, sure. I just wanted to know who was a designate either way. Okay. So, it was in actually John F. Kennedy's administration that it was first recognized that older
Americans should be recognized and a month should be set aside in in honor of them. We all remember John F. Kennedy very well. That's right. We do. And so it puts us in a slightly different place than many of you. In fact, we were
mostly born before the digital revolution. And that has a certain impact on the way we think and communicate which many of you don't actually have the burden of. Okay. We want to thank the council for this
proclamation and I am speaking to you as the president of the Monontlair Collective for Modern Aging. Notice we call ourselves modern aers. All right. Well, we are amal an amalgamation of both public and private. Both the
township and nonprofits have gotten together to help make Monontlair more age friendly. The township has made great strides in the last year. Under the last administration, we welcomed a new
director of senior services, a new social worker, and a more robust mill program. That's the Monontlair Institute for Lifelong Learning that is serving more modern aers than ever before. Why are we serving more modern
aers? The answer is easy. There are more of us. As baby boomers continue to retire, the number of modern aers in our community continues to grow, which means we've got to be prepared. Today, the
mantle for the direction of our community senior support has passed to your council. The stakes could not be higher. Our population now represents 26% of this population in Monontlair and
it is rising. Without senior services and a centralized senior community center, communication to this growing population will be spotty because there is a
fundamental fact. Many seniors who were born before the digital revolution are skeptical about digital communication. So if we have a senior center allocated with a digital
inclusion lab which our architectural plans already um have outlined llined. we will have an opportunity to reach more seniors so that they can get email, they can understand what QR codes are and they can understand what portals
are. Um the the uh issue was very clear before the pandemic where digital naive had many seniors not able to get vaccinations as you remember and modern aers got together came up with a plan
and got many seniors vaccinations appointments before the public service pop um leadership actually figured out that there was some sort of mistake in their calculation. Unfortunately, the mistakes in the
calculation continue and we've got e portals, we've got teleaalth, we've got e government that all assume that people who were born before the digital revolution can negotiate all of these
famous QR codes and can get on the portal to do a survey. But that's not the case. We need to be sensitive to this need. We can with the proper funding make sure that a community
center is available on demand during business hours and seven days a week. And we certainly hope that we can flip the script on aging in Monontlair and that this council will not flip the
switch in dollar signs for us. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you so very much. Okay, next up is our ambulance unit. Thank you all for coming. We appreciate that. Thank you again for our
modern agents. Flip the script. Thank you. Thank you. You too. Thank you for being here. Hey, thank you. Okay. What's the name of it? It's Montlair Ambulance Unit. Okay.
Oh, absolutely. We have our incredible Montlair Ambulance Unit. Anyone else here to stand with our Montlair ambulance unit for any reason? We don't need to know. if you want to come down and receive this proclamation for our Montlair
ambulance unit. Council members, Montlair ambulance unit. Okay. So, we have Michael Craig here from the Monontlair Ambulance Unit. And before I do the proclamation, I just like to say this has the ambulance unit has personal meaning to to me because
about seven years ago or so, I was walking along um uh Walnut Street and Midland Avenue and all of a sudden there was an accident right on that corner where a big SUV jumped the curb and hit
me. I was a pedestrian. It hit me and uh of course shocking, painful, all of this, but almost immediately at my side was the Montlair ambulance unit and they were but what they were they were very comforting. You know, they said all the
right words. They calmed me down cuz it was really shocking. They took me to um the emergency room and I think going in an ambulance you get treated first. So that was a plus too. So anyway, I'm very grateful for the personal care I got and I just wanted to read this
proclamation. So So this is a proclamation for the emergency medical service during emergency medical service week and recognizing the Monontlair ambulance unit. Whereas National Emergency Medical Service, EMS Week, celebrated from May
18 through May 24th, 2025, is a time to recognize and honor the essential work of EMS professionals who provide lifesaving care and support to the Montlair community during times of emergency. Whereas the Monontlair Ambulance Unit has served the Monontlair
community as an independent nonprofit agency since 1953. Whereas the dedicated EMS professionals of Monontlair Ambulance Unit work tirelessly to save lives, provide critical care, and offer compassionate support in our community's
most challenging moments. And whereas the Monontlair Ambulance Unit's commitment to continuous training, collaboration with local health organizations, and dedication to the highest standards of care is a testament to their unwavering service and their
role as a vital resource to the community. And whereas the Montlair Town Council and Montlair stand with the Montlair Ambulance Unit to express our gratitude and appreciation for their hard work and devotion to serving our community, often under very difficult
and dangerous conditions. Now therefore, the mayor and the council of the township of Montlair do hereby proclaim May 18th through May 24th, 2025 as emergency medical services week and extend heartfelt appreciation and recognition to the Monla Ambulance Unit
for 72 year 72 years of outstanding service and dedication to the health and safety of our community. On behalf of uh Chief Maza, who unfortunately couldn't be here tonight, as well as all the EMS staff at the Montlair Ambulance Unit, we couldn't do
this support without you, the council, as well as the uh citizens of Montlair. We are grateful for your support and we're just trying to keep up the mission. Thank you. Okay, we have a lot going on in May. Um,
this next one up is something that is also extremely extremely important. Um we've had uh people people in the past that um their lives were taken um because of
water safety incidents. And so this evening we have a proclamation. Um councelor Rahim Williams is going to come forward and the proclamation is National Water Safety Month. If there are people
that wish to stand with us as we read this proclamation, please join us. Um, and there are people that um want folks to just be quiet so we can just lift and
love any people that we know who may have been affected by water safety incidents. Then we're going to ask that you allow your neighbors to have a little bit of time and um really grateful that you would step up and read that for us.
Thank you. You've got your mic. Thank you, mayor. I don't know if this Thank you. Uh, so the mayor described the proclamation. So whereas citizens of Montlair along the
New Jersey Swim Alliance and New Jersey Recreation and Park and Park Association recognize the vital role that swimming and aquatic related activities relate to good physical and mental health and enhance the quality of life for all people. And whereas the citizens of
Monontlair along with NJSSA and NJRPA understand the essential role that education regarding the topic of water safety plays in preventing drownings and recreational water related injuries. And whereas the citizens of Monontlair along
with NJSSA and NJRPA are aware of the contributions made by the recreational water industry and represented by organizations involved in National Water Safety Month coal uh coalition in developing safe swimming facilities, aquatic programs,
home pools and spas and related activities providing healthy place places to recreate, learn and grow. built self-esteem, competence, and self uh sense of self-worth which contributes to the quality of life in our community. And whereas the citizens of Monontlair
along with NJSSA and NJRPA recognize the ongoing efforts and commitments to educate the uh public on pool and spa safety issues and initiatives by the pool, spa, water park, recreation, and parks industries.
And whereas the citizens of Monontlair along with NJSSA and NJRPA understand the vital importance of communicating water safety rules and programs to families and individuals of all ages, whether owners of private pools, users of public public swimming
facilities or visitors to water parks. Now therefore, the mayor and council of the township of Monontlair do hereby declare the month of May as National Water Safety Month and do urge all those in Monontlair to support and promote this observance. Thank you. Thank you so
much. Hi, good evening. I just wanted to thank our mayor and council for this proclamation. Um, so Governor Murphy uh put the made this proclamation a few weeks ago for the state of New Jersey and I'm proud to say they asked
municipalities to follow suit and our beautiful Monontlair did. So we're one of the top municipalities right now who have followed suit with making it water safety month. Just to let our public know, our swimming pool opens for the season on Saturday um for Memorial Day
weekend. And we do be as soon as the kids are out of school, we offer swimming lessons, okay, at our pools from ages two through adults, okay? Those of you who have home pools, please call us. We can guide you in a direction
where someone can come to your home to teach you water safety. It's It's really really important and we're glad that Monontlair jumps on board with this. Thank you so much. Okay, good. Thank you everyone. Um and now we're going to move on with our
agenda this evening. We have environmentalist Jerry Borbach with us. Thank you so much for being here. Um and why don't you come forward and let people know what we're doing. I know um he had a baseball he had a baseball game
scheduled tonight and he was so kind as to give up the baseball game to be here with us. So, thank you Jerry for being here with us. I appreciate you. Hello. Can you hear me? No, I'm going to walk around. Yeah.
Actually, um I thought this this uh meeting was scheduled for 600 cuz the last meeting was at 6:00 and my softball game originally was 8:30. So, I figured ah this no problem. I could squeeze this presentation in and then they moved the softball game up an hour and then this
meeting back an hour. So, but that's okay. I'll survive. I got a game tomorrow night. So, this presentation you did. Thank you. Um I've given at uh domestic and international climate change conferences. Uh the last time was in Havana, Cuba actually at the
management of energy, climate and sustainability. Um which was pretty cool. It was at the National Hotel Nasin the Cuba and the house band was the Buenav Vista Social Club. So um but
anyway um the this presentation generally takes a half an hour. I'm not going to do the whole thing. I, you know, I'll try and maybe get nine slides in, but I'm gonna apply to the Adult School of Monlair to do the whole presentation, which again is about half an hour, and then I'll I'll put in for
two hours. So, you know, anybody has questions, there's going to be plenty of time for people to ask questions and for me to answer it. So, anyway, where's the uh here it is. So let me move on to
the first slide. So I'm just going to go over um the basics of global climate change um relationship of carbon dioxide concentrations and temperature and an economic impacts of global climate change. So just um topics one to
five. Okay. So to understand global climate change actually you have to understand the greenhouse effect because that causes climate change. Climate change is the consequence, but the greenhouse effect is what causes it. So, let me just read the definition. The the
warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of a planet that's caused by conversion of solar radiation into heat in a process involving selective transmission of shortwave solar radiation by the atmosphere, its absorption by the planet's surface and radiation as infrared uh radiation which
is absorbed and partly reriated back to the surface by atmospheric gases. Okay. So everyone everyone knows what a greenhouse is and that's where so the the easiest way to understand how this
works is by looking at a piece of glass. Okay. So solar radiation comes and it hits this glass from every possible angle. There's 180 degrees of degrees of uh solar rays that hit the glass. So I'm
just going to look at three um light rays. one that's perpendicular and two at about 45 degree angles. So the first the easiest thing is the looking at the the solar array that hits at a a 90° angle. So it basically hits the glass it
keeps going straight. When light passes through a solid object, it slows down. When it slows down, it gives off heat. So that's what these arrows are. And then it continues straight and hits the surface. If it's a a greenhouse, you know, it could be and you know, wood
surface, pavement, whatever. And um some of the light, some of the uh uh radiation gets absorbed and some gets reraiated and it usually gets radiated back straight up and through the glass and then out. Um when when glass hits
when when the light rays hit at an angle, um what happens is it bends towards the normal. The normal is the perpendicular line to the surface of the glass. So when it bends, it also gives off heat and then when it passes through the glass, it bends away from the
normal. So the angle gets greater and some gets absorbed by the ground and some reflects out uh and hits the glass at a at a uh a a more acute angle. Okay. Same happens on this side. Now when for glass
and air interfaces there's a critical angle and it's 41.8° which which means if this angle is at 41.8° or less you will get total internal reflection of the rradiated
infrared light rays. That's what causes the inside of a greenhouse to heat up. Not the So that's almost if you have 41.8° 8° on this side and same on the other side. That's like 46% of the light energy that passes
through the glass gets reflected back to the surface. So, so and that that's what causes it to heat up and that's so so now to to see the uh picture of the atmosphere because it works the same way the same
principle. Uh let's see. So the chemistry of global climate change um the basic combustion reaction is you have an organic which is uh designated as R um in organic chemistry reacts with
oxygen and creates carbon dioxide and water. The basic structure of carbon dioxide carbon has four electrons in its outer veence shell. So it can it it uh creates four chemical bonds. Oxygen has
two. So that's why it it uh CO2 um there's two bonds to one oxygen to the other and and and this is a simp simplification of what is actually going on because electrons are moving about
the speed of light almost the speed of light. So you you don't know where an individual electron is at any moment in time. So electrons are represented by clouds which is the probability of finding electron between the two atoms.
So the si a single bond is represented by they call it a sigma bond. So that's this cloud here and this cloud here. Now the double bond which is there's two bonds between the electrons and the carbon and oxygen um is actually
three-dimensional in that it it can be uh it the electron can be in a solenoid in three-dimensional space around this sigma bond because electrons have the same charge so they repel each other. So that's why with a double bond you have a
solenoid of cloud of electrons around the single bond between carbon oxygen. So basically what this mimics is a piece of glass with three panes. Okay. So when light passes through carbon dioxide it
bends it it heats up the the molecule. It passes through another cloud. it bends again giving off more heat. Same thing with the the bond the the electron cloud on the other side before it passes through and hits the ground. And then
when it's some the the uh light energy that is not absorbed by the ground when it reflects back it's passing through CO2 molecules in the air again. And that's why uh when you have the concentrations of CO2 increase, it's
going to cause more heat to stay in the atmosphere and it will cause a rise in temperature. So this is uh the physics of global climate change. You have the sun uh coming in, the rays of the sun coming
in, greenhouse gases uh that one layer of the sun. Uh some of it gets radiated out into space. Some passes through gets absorbed in the ground, gets rer radiated uh back through the atmosphere, but some that are at those critical
angles get re reraiated back to the surface of the earth. And um when the concentration of CO2 uh increases, it causes the earth to get warmer. So this is a relationship between
CO2 and temperature changes going back to 400,000 BC. Okay, this is from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Uh, and I think they get those measurements from the ice pack in Greenland, which is like a mile thick,
and they can drill down, and every so many inches or centimeters that they drill down represents another year of freeze thaw, and and they can take measurements of what the atmosphere looked like going back to 400,000 BC.
And and it goes up to Oh, whoops. Let me go back. This goes up to 1880. And what you see is that you direct uh relationship between the blue is the temperature change and the red is the carbon dioxide change. And so we've had
many cycles where the there's there's been uh cooling of the earth, heating of the earth, cooling of the earth, but they're all around the same uh CO2 concentrations from between about 190 parts per million and 280 parts per
million. So there's been an equilibrium even though there's been changes and there's been an equilibrium which which is a exact direct relationship between these two parameters up until 1880. That's the key
year. So when in 1880 when you know you had industrial revolution and uh the petroleum industry really picked up steam not just in this country but all around the world. um the the equilibrium concentration of CO2 which was at 280
parts per million was broken was broken and so this shows you between 1880 and 2000 uh that's 2010 uh the concentration of
of uh CO2 went from two a little a little more than 280 to 380 right now as of last year it's at 424. So it's gone up even further than this in 15 years. Um and the temperature
has gone uh from this range um up about 1.8° Fahrenheit which is 1° centigrade um over that same period of time. And here's another another graph
similar graph which shows uh the same relationship of uh CO2 concentration and global temperature change. And the reason these are bars is because it's showing the range of temperature through the year for each of these years the the
range of the global temperature. So economic impacts um there's a range in in unit costs from increases in severe weather events caused by the greenhouse effect uh floods, droughts, fires, agricultural
uh changes, especially when it comes to rain and either floods or drought um and other indirect impacts. That's a huge range. It says 21 to $120 per ton of CO2 emissions. Um the median is actually the
most accepted uh number is $51 per ton of CO2 equivalent. Um and that's based on many many many atmospheric models including those by Noah. Um the actually the 51 per ton is
actually the latest estimate not not 4729 was in 20 2017. So right now um the US actually has done a better job than any country in the world as far as reducing our uh global climate emissions thanks to President Obama and uh
President Biden with all the policies and legislation that was passed in their administrations. So we used to say in 2005 we used to emit 6.343 uh billion tons of CO2 equivalent and we
we were responsible about 25% of all the CO2 emissions all global climate emissions back then. Now as of 2024 we're down to 5 billion. So it's a 20% drop. So we we've done better than
anybody in the world in reducing our emissions. Now we're down to maybe 12 and a half% of uh all the global climate emissions and China is uh I believe China is about 25 to 30%. And India
India is increasing rapidly. China is starting to stabilize but India their emissions are are increasing tremendously. Now what does that cost per capita? It's a little less than this. Um, this is 917, but that's based on the 6.343 billion tons. So, it's
probably somewhere in the $800 per capita. And we pay for that generally for homeowners insurance. So, you know, after after Hurricane Sandy, I'm sure everybody's homeowners insurance went up because insurance companies spread the risk out amongst everybody. Um, I know
mine went up 33%. and I didn't have a lot of damage in my house. So, the risk just gets spread spread around and everybody pays for it. Jerry, yes. Excuse me. Um, I appreciate what you're doing here. Is there um a a summary or
something? A lot of you may may not know, but this information is so very um important. Later on this evening on the agenda, we're going to be discussing as a council a resolution for the passage of climate super fund act. And Jerry was
kind enough to come in and just try to help us understand some of this stuff. Not everybody is scientist. I don't know if everyone is following or not, but are there some uh final points that you think that would be really important for us to hold on to as we begin that
conversation later this evening? That's this slide. Okay. Thank you. This is my last slide. Thank you. I appreciate it. Number nine. So, so I went through the per capita. We pay uh because of because we we pay for through our homeowners
insurance um for New Jersey. Let me just see. Oh, so what I did here is I multiplied the per capita cost by the population New Jersey. So it comes out to about $ 8.3 billion just in New Jersey.
Um and how it affects our our industries. The industry most affected our tourism, you know, in case uh in a hurricane uh part of the our our beaches got severely damaged. We make 44 billion dollars a year and and supports 500,000
jobs on 120 miles of beaches in in this state. Also, commercial fishing generates $8 billion a year in revenue. What's happening is because the oceans are warming, the fish are moving further north because that that the temperature they used to is going further north and
into New England. So, our fishermen have to go f farther and farther away from New Jersey to make the same catches. And then of course agriculture I don't have any exact uh damage estimates but you know through droughts floods that that
uh climate change effects uh impact our agriculture as well. So that's that's my summary for the shortened version of of this presentation. I appreciate it. But if anybody that's on the adult school of Montlair list, I'll be I'll be applying
for the to give the whole presentation and uh hopefully I'll come through in the next the next flyer they send out. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Mayor. But do you have do you have just a minute? I know you have to rush off, but councelor Toller has a question.
Councelor Toller. Yes. Thank you so much for being here. I know at the beginning of your presentation you mentioned that this would be offered at the adult school. Yes. Um can you just you know repeat that again for the people here and people at home if they're interested in seeing these slides or learning more?
Sure. Yeah. I'm planning to apply tomorrow to the adult school to give the whole presentation which which is at least a half an hour long. Um and then I'll I'll all lot two hours for people to ask questions and and me to provide answers to uh whatever questions people
have. So that should be enough time to answer answer everybody's questions. I hope so. It's awesome. Thank you so much. Okay. So, um at this point in time, we're going to move forward to public
comment. For those of you who have not had an opportunity, please sign the book um down here uh with your name and then hopefully you have a number. Uh we're going to start with our first guest. You uh can come down to the podium. When you get to the front, please give us your
name and um yeah, we'd love to hear from you. Thank you all for being here. Mayor, can can I interrupt for one minute? Sure. Yes. Um Madame Clerk, can I ask you just a quick question? Today is the last day to register to vote
before the June 3rd uh primary primary. I'm sorry, June 10. It was and the office the clerk's office is open till 9. Okay. I just wanted to get that out there in case anybody's sitting at home and wants to register to vote. It is open till 9:00 the office. Very
important. Thank you. Yes. Good evening. Uh good evening. My name is Tom Jacobson. I have some brief comments regarding Clary Anderson Arena. Uh my son began playing competitive ice hockey at the age of six. This coming season uh
starting September will be his 10th year of competitive ice hockey. Ice hockey is far and away his favorite extracurricular activity. He has a smile on his face every time he gets to the rink. Has a smile on his face every time he comes off the ice. But my son's love
of ice hockey is not what is most important to me as a parent. What's most important to me as a parent are the lessons and the skills that he's developing through his participation in ice hockey. He and his teammates have
learned teamwork, perseverance, discipline, respect, conflict resolution. They've developed healthy eating and sleeping habits, even um effective study habits. It's all of
these things, these lessons, these learnings that have uh fostered my son's evolution or development from an intolerable rugrat when he started to the mature and responsible young adult that he is
today. Um, are there other activities that could serve a similar purpose in my son's development? Of course there are. But it's ice hockey that's my son's passion and what motivates him and his teammates. Um the club that he plays for, the Jersey Wolves, they had 150
boys and girls playing competitive ice hockey across six age groups age group last year. Other groups also use Clary Anderson, Nutley Clifton Hockey Club, Montlair High School, Montl MKA High
School as well. If the ice at Clary were not to be available, I don't know what my son would do. I don't know where he might do it. There are other ranks in the region, but they simply don't have the capacity to absorb all of the
players that are currently depending on clary, nor do they have the ice available that those programs need. So, in light of the supporting role that the rink plays, um, I ask that you give
Clary Anderson the investment and the support that it needs. I ask that you give Clary Anderson and all of the skaters that depend on it the investment and the support that they deserve. Thank
you very much. Thank you. Next guest, please. Good evening. Good evening, mayor, council members. I'm Tracy Stevens. I'm a member of First Congregational Church, where every week we pledge to take
action for the planet. and I'm the New Jersey organizer for Green Faith, mobilizing the faith community in support of climate justice. I'm speaking today in support of the climate super fund resolution, which is your agenda
item number 15. I'm hoping for a tight three minutes. As you know, the Climate Super Fund Act would require the fossil fuel industry to take responsibility for the climate damage they've created, to repair the harm they've caused, and to
mitigate against future harms. Make polluters pay, not taxpayers and municipalities. So much of the rationale for the super fund build is in the language of the resolution that you are considering today. New Jersey has already experienced deaths and billions
of dollars in damage. And these unnatural disasters and extreme weather events are only going to get worse. Oil and gas companies have made enormous profits at our expense, and they can certainly pay for their share of the damage. To put this in context, here's a
hypothetical from a New York Times essay from last summer. Assume that Vermont had $3 billion of climate costs and that Chevron's share of the greenhouse gas pollution is 3% of the global total.
That means that Chevron would be assessed 90 million, a tiny fraction of the more than 21 billion of their 2023 profits. So that's just an example of how it might work. And since last summer, attribution
science has developed even more precise ways to document and assign financial accountability. Already 35 New Jersey towns, plus Essex County Board of Commissioners just last week have approved resolutions, including our
neighbors in Bloomfield, Livingston, Maplewood, and South Orange. This resolution is not just symbolic. Your support is a meaningful statement that brings more momentum for the passage of the bill and would give encouragement to legislators in conservative districts.
They really need our help. Last month, the Trump administration issued an executive order to eliminate state climate legislation and big oil is suing states for their legislation. But we are New Jersey and we say hands off our planet and hands
off our climate legislation. This is not a time to back down or to be bullied into submission. Rather, it's a time to stand up for our state and our for communities. Time is of the essence. The bill is stuck in the assembly right now
and we need hearings and we need the bill to be on Governor Murphy's desk by July 1st before the summer recess. So, let's move this along. I urge you to vote to approve this resolution tonight. Thank you.
Thank you. Next guest, please. Hi, Scott Gibson, 122 Midland Avenue, representing the Clary Anderson Arena Association. And Darren Sen, 75 Markclair Avenue, also representing Caa. Um, first of all, um, thank you to the,
uh, the town council and to the mayor. We've had some meetings with you all recently and we hope to continue that. I appreciate that. Um, secondly, it's it's great to see all the seniors that were here that would like to live in in an aging place like I would as well. So,
it's great to hear that uh we have a and to know that we have a plan for a senior center. It's fantastic. Um, and with that said, you know, it would really be great if we can keep our arena because it's as important as a senior center, you know, for for younger people for recreation. Um, so I'm going to keep it
short. Basically, we're here to say please keep the open. We're really running out of time and the reason is because you know we we need we're talking about a new manager. Um if we if we need to keep this or we want to keep this rink running next next year we need
we need to issue contracts for right time. People need to have schedules. There's high schools etc. So we're really running out of time. So um I think at this point in time to say that we're going to close it for um safety reasons. I can see that's an issue. Um
we're here to help address the cost of that. Um uh but if if we can get past the safety issues, we need to give the rink at least another year so that organizations can have time to plan to find other places for to find ice time etc. I think just just to close it
randomly if we can't get past the uh if we can get past the uh the safety issues we really need to look at this very carefully. Um CAA does have a plan. You know, we've been working on on on on uh on putting a uh talking to individuals that can help support the arena for the last uh two years almost. Uh we have uh
soft commitments and hard commitments of $9 million that we'd like to actually have access to. Um but we're also willing to to help in the short term. I know there's going to be there's a plan that's in place to to fix the immediate uh issues. Um we're actually uh we put a
donation uh link on our website uh c uh clar Anderson.org. org. Um, so we can collect money right now if the town would allow us to help and participate in whatever comes up from the uh the architectural study that's that's that's in place. So, you know, we're ready to
help right now in the short term. Um, we also think that, you know, and this has been brought up in some of the meetings that, you know, the town cannot continue to operate the way it's been operating, you know, with, you know, just writing checks when things are broken. I think that a really smart idea would to have some kind of a an authority that would
oversee the arena that would have, you know, a board that makes sure that it's run properly, that it's accountable, that that, you know, that maybe we can have a profitable arena that can put money back into recreation in this town. I know that other arenas make money. Why
can't we? I think if we're going to have a ground lease and and give that away to some other, you know, out of town interest, that's not the solution. I think the town can actually make some money and run it ourselves. So, please keep the rank open. Thank you. Remember, it's a town asset, not just an
ice rink. Okay. Hi, my name is Karen Spansky. I live in the South Ward. Um, I'm here tonight to um ask you to support the climate change uh super fund act. Um, this should be a
no-brainer uh for anybody on this council. This is a make polluters pay, not the taxpayers pay for the damage that the the um uh fossil fuel industry has caused to our town and to our nation
and to our world. Um I I you know in the south ward we're we're subject to a lot of flooding. Um the town really doesn't have the capacity or the money to be able to really fix the problem the way that it needs to be fixed. You know
you're talking about um you know honoring seniors this month. So listen to your elders. I'm an elder. You know uh just pass this resolution because it makes so much sense. It makes sense for our planet. It makes sense for the taxpayers. It makes sense for the
seniors who want to continue to live in this town. But I can tell you right now, there is no place you can live on a burn burning planet. And you can forget about the ice rink because there isn't going to be any ice. Okay? Seriously, folks.
Um, time has passed. You know, the legislature is dragging their feet. You can help tremendously by just passing this and saying and putting yourselves on record that we know that these companies need to pay for the damage that they've caused. They they hike
prices. They they lied to us about the effects of fossil fuels. They've known this for like at least 50 years that this was going to change our climate and hurt our planet. We could have been way along into solar and wind energy if they had only told us the truth and made
moves to to move to a green economy. We can see how much good the IRA under Biden has done. It's created jobs. It's created opportunities. It's created a better planet. We need to move this along and we don't have a lot of time.
So, I'm asking this council, please, please, please pass the resolution and put yourselves on record as being for the environment, for the people of this town, for the elders, for the kids, for the planet. Thank you.
Next guest, please. Uh, first let me just say as um a son of a politician and my father was the mayor of a big city in Pennsylvania, I appreciate all the work that everyone in this council uh does. And may I please have your name? Uh, my name is Todd Smith. I'm the director of
athletics at Montlair Kimberly Academy. Thank you. Um but it was a number of nights he would come home at even 2 3:00 in the morning after some major major um um meetings were occurring. So I know the amount of work and energy and effort that you put into this city, this town
um is commendable. So thank you very much. U I'm here with Tim Cook. Tim Cook is our head ice hockey coach. Um, I've been the director of athletics at MK for 23 years and I've had a very unique u perspective of both the ice hockey programs at MK Monontlair High. Um, I've
had a front seat really at Clary Anderson which you know as we've heard through a couple of different meetings up to this point is the home for you know a number of our young student athletes out there. Um, we've heard all the benefits that Clare Anderson has done for the town of Montlair. um both
MK Montlair High ice hockey programs, the youth programs primarily with the Jersey Wolves who um you know call it their home as well. Uh the numerous figure skating clubs that are also there and generations of young people have come through Clary Anderson. Um but what's also the story behind the story
of Clary Anderson is the people that sort of make that operation and make that rink what it is, including Coach Cook to my right, um Coach Smith from Montlair High, the the numerous coaches for the Jersey Wolves. um what they're able to do on the front lines with our kids um and student athletes is
remarkable. Um and without CLA Clare Anderson, we don't have a coach Cook, we don't have a coach Smith, we don't have the Jersey Wolves coaches who you heard earlier in our first speech tonight. Uh the impact that they have on these student athletes, on these kids, on this next generation um of people who will be
hopefully longtime residents of Monontlair. um what Coach Cook does for our kids when no one's watching, when you know there's not a game, but just the practices. Um his impact on these kids, helping them become younger, um great, you know, um leaders, um is
remarkable. Um he's had an outstanding career himself. Um he's a great teacher up at our school right now. But what he does, um for these kids at Clary Anderson, um is is is terrific. Um, and the reality is knowing what is out there and we've done some research to see what
we might be able to find, whether it's a um, Floyd Hall at Cody Arena, whether we even had to travel down to our friends over at Princeton Day School to use their ice. The reality is we might be able to get one slot of ice a week could be prim, you know, either at 6:00 a.m. as late as 10:00, 11 p.m. Um, for our
student athletes both at MK for Montlair High, it's not doable. We know that if Clare Anderson shuts down, the reality is MK's ice hockey program most likely will shut down as well. I can't speak, you know, um for Montlair High, but I know the costs that are going to go along with trying to get their team to
different various arenas um is going to be astronomical. Um, and right now I think the the reality is our student athletes are able to get to the ice right after school, play the sport they love, and then do their homework and be the students, not only the athletes, which is also one of the huge benefits
um of Clare Anderson for all of us. So, I know I'm out of time, but I appreciate everything you've done um for this arena and for this town, and hopefully we'll keep this thing going. So, appreciate Thank you. Thank you. Next guest, please. This should be the last time my my if I
start talking about Sussex Burough. I just got off I'm redevelopment council for Sussex Burough and I just got off the phone with a closed session in their council discussing a redevelopment agreement. So if I say Sussex, excuse me. Um I was disappointed in the letter
your Bill Harrison. Bill Harrison. Yes. Thank you, sir. Um letter your attorney sent to the judge because it didn't respond to the question as to was there any basis for the township council
to abregate the duties of the board of adjustment and any basis for precluding the board of adjustment from hearing the appeal by the neighbors there isn't uh does two pages on the council manager form I was on the charter study
commission that recommended the form of government. I guarantee you there's nothing in the council manager form specifically or the Faulner act that says governing bodies get to supersede the municipal land use law. Um then it curiously
attached two council resolutions approving settlement agreements, neither of which were uh the settlement agreement with the board of education. and I look through the listing of resolutions the township passed in February, March, April and
there is no resolution approving the settlement agreement. Um again goes on to talk about whispering woods which is not relevant in my view even though the neighbors raised it but I don't think they were saying the council had to have a whispering woods hearing and attached
a court case where both the township and its board of adjustment were sued where the board of adjustment had a whispering woods hearing. Um, I would like to request that you s have your
township attorney respond to the judge's question and submit something saying that the settlement did not preclude the board of adjustment from hearing the neighbors appeal. And two, that the stand, the grand
stand and press box were not subject to the settlement. and that they are required to appear before the board of adjustment. It would be very nice if your attorney did that. And thank you all for everything. And hopefully the next time you see me, I'll be talking about something else. May or may not be
pleasant. Thank you so much. Next guest, please. Good evening. My name is Ria Tommpkins. This is Rosie Harrison. We live at Union Gardens. You've seen us here numerous times. Good evening. Okay, very quickly update for my building. Let
me start with the pros before the cons. Pros is thanks to landlord tenant advisory as well as code enforcement. I did get a few things of my apartment repaired and after over 20 years, I finally got my apartment painted. So, that's a good thing. So, thank
you. Cons. Okay. First and foremost, I emailed the manager of the property manager, Miss Vargas, last week for two reasons. One, I'm going to just give you my phone very quickly. This is coming into our parking lot. There was a big
hole when you drive in. It's always like this. They patch it up and then it happens again. So, very quickly, I just want y'all to see what it looks like. All right. This is from last week into what it's like now. It's supposed to be three more days of rain. By the time
this finishes, the hole is going to be back again. I've already advised that someone's car is going to be damaged. She never even replied back to me. All right. Um, one time I was here, I did ask, I don't know if you did, I asked if you can please drive down
Greenwood Avenue and see the landscaping. The landscaping is horrible. Well, it's so horrible now that um one of the residents in the building has taken his own lawn mower to mow the grass. Okay, that's how bad it
is. And he said he's not getting anything for it. It's because he said he's tired of living here and it looks like this. Now, if we see it, I'm sure if you drive down Greenwood Avenue, you have to see it as well. Okay. And third and
last, we have a terrible roading issue. Now, if you've been to the building, you already know this, okay? It starts from the basement to the fourth floor. My sister here has one of the cleanest apartments in our building. She has Mickey, Minnie, and Steuart Little running around her unit. Okay? They are
do they are not on the lease. Okay? Me, myself, I have not seen them, but I have seen droppings. Where there's droppings, there's mice. We've been asking this woman for over six months. for six months now for an exterminator. We keep getting the, "Oh, we need a LLC and we
need this and we need that." All right. Finally. Okay. Code enforcement Carmine came out yesterday to her house. I'm the spokesperson to came to her house. He sees the problem. Now, supposedly two weeks they have to do
something. All right. How hard is it to find a decent exterminator to come in? All right. When they do have the exterminate come in, they say 15 units. It's a 87 unit building. So if you only exterminating 15 units, where are the
mice going to go? They're not going to leave and go out the building. They're going to go to the next unit. That's right. All right. It's also a health issue. Health issue. Pulmonary. She got lung issues. It's causing issues. Please
do something. Thank you. Thank you. Next guest, please. Wow. Hi, Carol Schlene. Um, first off, it's my comments seem appropriate for older um Americans month. Um, I want to talk
about Wong Avenue. Um, and particularly the side to the west of the train tracks because with the changes going on in the plaza, first off, that's been a dangerous area for the entire time I've
lived here, which is since 1990 at least, where pedestrians trying to cross from Midland over on Wong to like the pie store, the music store are running into problems where if
if cars are stopped in both directions, a car can still go around on the heading west. And so my suggestion would be as part of the plaza improvements to push the sidewalk out so
that there isn't enough room for a second car to go when pass when pedestrians are walking. And at the other end of Wang by Upper Mountain, I'd love to see two lanes on the right hand
side as you're getting towards Upper Mountain so that people who are turning right don't have to get stuck constantly behind people who are turning left there. Probably at some point should have a stop sign, but at least two lane.
it it's wide enough to make to a lane line there that would really make a big difference. And the one I I wasn't going to comment about Carli Anderson, but um I would like to just say that as somebody who's lived here as long as I
have, the two things that sort of annoy me, I get or I shouldn't say the two things that annoy me, but the my frustration is watching the town not take care of the properties that we have. Clary Anderson has just continued
to get run down instead of maintained over all these years. And so now we're in the position we are. I hear the same things about the municipal building and other town properties. And I would really urge you to sort of look at the
properties and you know commit with like the seniors and make sure that we're going to maintain what we have. Um, I'd also like to suggest thinking about h that space in the summertime because it always sort of surprised me that nobody
ever thought to say there's a grill inside the hockey rink and that could be open for people who are going to the pool in the summer and you could potentially get revenue from the building in the off season. So I just
suggest that as you know to be a little more creative with some of those kinds of solutions. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next guest please. Good evening and thank you for your service. My name is Ivy Shyar. I'm a resident in the first ward and a
contributor to our town's climate action plan. I'm here in support of the the Climate Super Fund Act. The act is practical and pragmatic in in two ways. It helps us source the needed funds for
the expensive climate impacts we're going to be facing. And it incentivizes the oil and gas companies to move to renewable energy as they should have been doing. You heard some of the science tonight and maybe you've heard what Karen alluded to, the airtight
evidence that the oil and gas companies knew they were destroying our environment and did it anyway. So, the one thing I thought I could add that maybe you hadn't heard, which may help illustrate, uh, this idea of a a personal carbon footprint that has us
all worried about the plastic straws we use and has us feel guilty at deciding whether to fly or drive or how how much we run our AC. That idea was popularized by BP, British Petroleum. Their PR team
developed and promoted a carbon footprint calculator that individuals could use, thereby shifting the focus and the responsibility from large industrial emissions to our piddling little emissions. It's time for us to
see through that and shift the responsibility back where it belongs to the fossil fuel companies. So, please vote tonight to support the New Jersey Climate Super Fund Act. Thank you. Thank
you. Next guest, please. Good evening. My name is Bill Baron. Um, live on Gordon Hurst Avenue. Uh, been in town. Next year will be my 40th year living in town. Um, couple of things. Uh, just really
quickly, I hope I'm not the only one who saw the typo in the resolution on uh the parking meter bill that we're buying a meter in Morristown, New Jersey. Uh, if you can check that out, maybe make the correction.
Um I came here to speak on two of the resolutions uh before you. The uh climate change bill uh climate change uh resolution and the uh resolution to set up a uh transit advisory committee of which I'm
currently a member of. Uh both of them are very important uh things that you can do to help improve as our presentation was the um you know the fight against climate change.
Um but I just want to say that you know the actions of the uh council should not stop with the resolution. Uh it's important that we go beyond. Uh last month we had a wonderful Earthfest that was co-sponsored by the sustainability
uh office. Uh Lisa and Marrakesh did a fantastic job organizing that uh much improved over next year and we hope that uh over last year and we hope that next year you know we can continue to grow and get more people down. Um so you know
the first thing that I would urge you to do is make sure that the office of sustainability is fully funded. Uh the office is a money maker for the town. Uh the grants that um uh Gray Russell used to get and the
grants that Lisa has been getting more than pay the salaries of uh the office and the expenses. uh whether they're for trees, for charging stations, um for studies, for recycling, all of
that is important work that has to be done by the council and we urge you to take that seriously and to uh make sure that you know it's staffed and the resources, particularly the recycling grant, which I noticed the recycling grant in this year's budget is less than
what you had last year. Are we recycling less? um you know, you need to um improve that. Um so I hope you do uh pass the resolution for uh the transportation
committee and for the um to to support the climate change bill in uh in Trenton. But let's not stop there. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next guest, please. Good evening. Good evening. Moren
Prince. I'm uh co-chair of the green team at First Congregational Church in Montlair. And um first I wanted to thank you for considering resolution 25147 on the on the uh resolution
supporting the passing of the climate super fund act. Um I also wanted to thank you for having the presentation tonight on the science a little bit about the science of of climate change and global warning warning. Um, First
Congregational Church has been designated a creation justice church, which is a program within the United Church of Christ that recognizes congregations that actively work to care for creation and environmental justice.
As such, we would be grateful if the township of Mount Clair, the home of our congregation, would adopt resolution 25-147. We saw tonight some of the science. We've heard some of the speakers talk about some of the causes
and effects of climate change. Um maybe I could add that if the Climate Super Fund Act were passed, Matt Smith of Food and Water Watch recently wrote it would help to fund climate resilient infrastructure and protect vulnerable
communities across the state. Monontlair passing this resolution tonight would send a needed signal to others in our state that New Jersey is focused on the future that New Jersey is ready to protect the long-term
well-being of the earth that sustains us and that New Jersey is committed to ensuring that the young people growing up in our communities inherit inherit from us a livable planet. Thank you. Thank you. Next guest, please.
My name is Martin Bosland and I live near the watching school. Um, I'm a retired environmental health and public health researcher and I want to speak in strong support again of the super fund
uh resolution that uh very appropriately appeared on the agenda. Um, there's little I can add to what has been said already, but I want to emphasize that the reason that municipalities like Montlair would
support this or should support this a resolution like this is to put pressure on the legislature. And I was I went to the uh the committee meeting of the uh assembly and I saw the enormous positive
energy uh that emanated from the people that spoke but also the enormous support of the substantial majority of the committee. And so that bill is going to move forward to the legislature, to the
assembly, but there are powers that push back and it's it's resolutions like we could pass today and that have been passed in other municipalities that already have been listed before that that really make this important. And I
want to add one other thing. So the a lot of the stuff that we've talked about is is uh say flooding and other effects but there's a lot of effects that directly in affect public health and uh
an example of that was of course the the wildfires and the smoke we have suffered uh last summer. Um the cost of those effects go directly to the individuals affected, not the townships, not the
counties, not the states. It goes, it burdens the insurance industry. It in burdens people that are have substandard uh uh insurance, but it particularly affects people's long-term well-being and health. And and
it's something that is it's interesting that parenthetically the same activities that caused all this uh global warming also produces a lot of other pollutants that directly affect people's health.
And so I think please pass this resolution tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Next guest, please. I wanted to get his last name. Can you remember his last name? Good evening. My name is David Corfage. I live at 58 Tuxedo Road. I am also
president of Monontlair Climate Action, a local civic organization. Um I've met with some of you about our work. Um, I'm uh before I speak to the super fun bill, I would just like also endorse what Bill Baron said about the office sustainability and the good work that Lisa and Marash have been doing and I
would sort of second that. But I want to speak here primarily to the super fund bill. Um, I was actually in a Montlair Environmental Commission meeting. I think it was March, maybe April, and it happened to be on the agenda. It was, I believe it
was a climate risk assessment report. Um, and hearing them talk about the report, it was clear that Monontlair itself is potentially liable for millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades to deal with the effects of climate change, flooding,
heat waves, those the most likely things to hit us. Um, there's already flooding in town, but as the downpours get worse and the heat waves increase, we can expect the costs to rise. The principle behind the super fund bill
is that the companies that have led to the dam have caused the damage should be the ones to be responsible to pay for it. I think the responsible thing is to do what we can to support an effort to not make Montlair or taxpayers on the hook for this. But the fossil fuel companies that have produced the
pollution or behind the pollution that have have led to these damages. There may be some of you who think that this is an exercise in futility. It will never pass. they'll be sued and blocked. Um, I don't think that's the case. I think there's good legal reason to think it could work. Um,
I also think this is not going to solve the problem of climate change, but it's actually not intended to solve the climate problem of climate change. It's just to address the fact that there are millions of dollars of damage that Montlair and other towns will be on the hook for that we uh would like help paying for. That being said, I also
agree with what Bill said earlier. This is should be the starting point and not the ending point. The climate action plan adopted by the council, I believe it was last year or perhaps the year before, had laid out very clear recommendations for the township about what it should do. Switch to renew. The
high priority steps were switch to renewable electricity, electrify the city fleet, move to electrify, and get rid of appliances based on uh methane, gas, and oil. Um, you guys are almost a year into your your council period. Um
and I believe something has been some things have been done but so far a lot more work needs to be done on electrification for the city fleet on sort of moving forward with renewable electricity and all those high priority projects. So certainly I encourage you to pass the the resolution in support of
it. It will help put pressure on the legislature to get it through. But beyond that I would hope you take that as an opportunity to remind yourselves the responsibility you all face and we all face to do what we can to address what's coming down the pipeline. all the effects of climate change and doing what we can in our town to help address them.
Thank you very much. Thank you. Next guest, please. Hi, my name is Molly Brennan and I am the president of the Montlair High School Booster Club. So, I want to talk a little bit about the importance of Clary Anderson. Um, I'm a parent of two
hockey players. one is actually graduating this year and the booster is a very important thing for me. Um, and I can't imagine Montlair High School or MKA actually playing anywhere but Clary. Um, it's a two-minute walk
from my house. I make my kids carry their bags there a lot of times. Um, and it's a really big community home base. Um, most of you know ice hockey is a very expensive sport. if you don't come
see my bills. I have a goalie also. So, um, one of the things that we do as a booster is raise money to support the team. Part of what we do with that money is make sure that all kids who want to play hockey can play hockey. we raise to
give kids skating lessons, provide equipment, and by having Clary Anderson where it is, kids who may not be able to get to a rink to skate to become part of a team have the ability to do that by being able to just walk across. If they
have to start to bus, if they have to start to find ways, rides, whatever it is to get to another rink, it's going to be harder. And having somebody who's never had that opportunity be able to come get the equipment and get out there and watch them play for me as a parent
is an amazing joy to see them barely skate to scoring their first goal. So having this rink where it is I think is really important and if we can keep it it would be amazing. Thank you so much. Thank you. Next guest please.
Hi, I'm Ariel Ext at 316 Park Street and I haven't been here since we have a new town attorney and a new town manager. So, welcome to the nutty and wonderful world of Montlair. Um, so I'm here tonight on
behalf of uh neighbors to talk about the incredibly exciting topic of sidewalks. Um uh many many people in town have suddenly gotten notices about their sidewalks and uh many of us have met
together many residents to ask that you rethink the ordinance um that was passed a couple months ago or I'm not sure exactly when it was. Um we homeowners do not own these sidewalks but we are responsible for maintaining them. So, I
want to tell you that my my neighbor on one side of me has a change in grade of a third of an inch, but they were um at third of an inch change in grade where a town tree is planted. So, they were
issued a warning and they got a bid of $1,600 for this one change in grade that they had that it had nothing to do with anything that they did. Another neighbor
is on a corner where PSEG has done incredible damage to the sidewalk. Their bid was $15,000. So, I think what we need to do is put a pause on these violation warnings and give people who have already received a
notice a pause on their deadline. So, you c you guys can figure out where the burden should be for if the town is responsible for the damage to the sidewalk. This is in in these very
difficult and uh unsettling economic times to have to deal with a bill that for some people is over half of their tax bill that it's just too much and it it just doesn't make sense. Um my my
husband is joking that we're going to have to put a toll in by our sidewalk so that when people pass they pay a toll since we have to maintain it. Um yeah. So, um, so I I really do hope that you guys can
can talk about this and come up with a good solution so that certain taxpayers are not bearing the brunt for the whole town. Um, I also want to thank you in advance for passing the super fund act
resolution. Um, and lastly, please listen to Bill Harrison. Thank you. Thank you. Next guest, please. Um, hi. My name is Olive St. I'm a senior at Monontlair High School, a rower on the crew team and will be
rowing at Smith College in the fall. Um, um, I live on Park Street and I've lived in Montlair for my 17 years of life. Um, I'm a member of the Civics and Government Institute at the high school and I'm currently interning at Planned Parenthood. Um, I wanted to speak today
because I have noticed over my years in the Mocker Public School District, um, our health classes and sex education are seriously lacking. Um, for me this year, I was supposed to have health in my third quarter of the year, but I didn't have a health teacher for the entire
quarter. I didn't have a health class. Um, even when I did have one my junior and, uh, freshman year, um, we would spend 15 minutes being lectured to of a 52-minute period, and the other 35 minutes would be spent on our phones, and our teacher would be on their computer. Um, New Jersey has some of the
best policies for curriculum um, for health classes. It was ranked in the top 10 by sexed for social change, but I've seen none of this in practice. Um, I've personally felt unprepared for relationships, um, how to nourish myself as a student athlete and other life
situations I should have been prepared for since kindergarten. Um, while I'm going to talk to the board of ed about this, I also feel that the town council needs to know about this because I believe that I and professionals on the subject can work with the health education division of the health and human services department by offering
sex education in Montlair outside of um, school hours. This could be through parent child workshops um uh andor age appropriate activities and classes. Um it is clear that the board of ed uh is not doing enough to ensure that we are well prepared for all life scenarios. So
I believe this sort of outside intervention is ne necessary. Just a few statistics that are kind of related. Um approximately 12 million Americans are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner annually. Um, one in three women and one in three men, are victim to some sort of
physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. And one in three teens, regardless of gender identity, experience dating violence each year. And just to cap that off, violent behavior typically begins between the ages of 12 and 18. So, if we're funding our public education and we're having
our health classes be up to the standard they should be at, these statistics could, you know, disappear and be better. And I think that it's something that all of Monontlair should be um concerned with, not just the board event. Thank you. Bravo.
Good evening. Good evening. I'm Somade Pasala. Uh I live on 314 Park Street in First Ward. Um I received the citation for uh the sidewalk and I uh walk all around the town every single day, right? every street and the stringent
requirement of a quarter in right is going to cause at least half of the household um uh house owners actually to replace the sidewalk. Just imagine the the financial burden. I mean, I I'm getting quotes and based on half the
owners uh changing their sidewalk, that's probably a 20 to$50 million burden on the homeowners in the town, right? And then we we were just talking about the climate change and think about ripping up all the asphalt and actually replacing that. That has a big impact.
So, uh, like my neighbor, um, um, urged, I I urge you guys actually to rethink that and pause for it and look at, uh, the grading system that Eric, I I believe you suggested to, uh, ease the burden on homeowners as well as I mean,
lessen the impact on uh, uh, climate. I mean, we need to be doing our part uh, to make sure we are not adding to the climate problem. Thank you. Thank you. Next guest, please. Good evening. Good evening. Uh my name is Alice Finne and I worked as an
environmental scientist for over four decades and more recently became a science teacher and tutor. And um when I was teaching um a couple of years ago when we had the Canadian wildfires uh come in and the sky turned
orange from the fires, uh my class in Ridgefield Park panicked. Um one of my seventh graders was weeping and crossing himself because his parents have asthma and he was afraid that they were going to die. students not only have climate
anxiety, but as concluded in a Harvard University study of 10 million PSAT takers, heat exposure can reduce the rate of learning and skill formation, thus potentially reducing the rate of economic
growth. There are many other uh costly effects caused by climate change. Um, it can extreme heat can increase the risk of respiratory and heart disease. U Martin talked about asthma. Um, it can
increase vectorbor diseases such as Lyme disease, West Nile and Zika. It can increase the frequency of damage to property and infrastructure due to flooding, storms, and sea level rise. Threaten New Jerseys water and food supply. Disrupt food. This is right from
a New Jersey Department of Health report. uh threaten New Jersey's water and food supply, disrupt food supply chains, increase foodborne illness due to warmer temperatures, and cause extreme weather related emergencies. Uh the National OC Oceanic
and Atmospheric Association, Noah, um keeps a record of all the extreme weather events that cost over a billion dollars up until very recently. they just shut down that part of the government. But um up until uh 2024,
they have statistics and um in New Jersey specifically um in the last five years, we've had an average of such um events uh as five events per year of these billion dollar um events. The
billion is the regional cost, not just New Jersey, but it's it it's affected New Jersey, but and that's compared to um an average over the last 144 years of 1.7 events. So, the number of events has
gone extremely high and lots of things are record-breaking for the last 5 years. Tornadoes, um you name it. Uh well, I'll tell you what the future's going to be like. According to a Rucker University report,
we can expect six feet higher sea levels um over the this century by the year 2000. Um we can expect up to as much as 6 or 11 degrees Fahrenheit increase in
temperatures by the end of the century. Um rainfall will continue to increase increasing the number of floods that we uh experience. Dry conditions are also expected to increase. Is that the buzzer? Okay.
Skipping all that and the 1300% increase in wildfires that we had last fall. Um who's going to pay for this? Uh it's going to be the taxpayers. It's going to be the schools, businesses, and towns like Montlair
unless we do something about it. And the Super Fund Act, while it's really a very small amount compared to what we need for this century, um it's it's a first step and it's holding the polluters liable for what they've done. Somebody's
got to pay for it and it shouldn't be us and it shouldn't be the town of Montlair. And that's why you should support the um you should vote for the resolution. that supports the uh super fund act for New Jersey and make us one of the leaders in the country. Okay.
Thank you. Next guest, please. Good evening, Mayor Baskerville and the council. Appreciate your time tonight. My name is Nicholas Gileia. I live in the second ward and I am the founder of a grassroots organization known as root restore our transit in Essex which was
founded after the closure of decamp bus in April 2023 created a substantial transit desert for many portions of Essex County specifically Montlair and especially in service on the weekends. I am here to speak in support of the resolution to create a mobility working
group that is focused on improved transit both inside the township as well as outside the township as well as to exhort the body here to remind that working group and I know I' I know many of them. I know Bill is here and there are many others that I've spoken to as
well as uh Deputy Mayor Anderson and we appreciate the work that's being done but wanting to just reiterate that this is a very important issue. Time is of the essence. Uh I have had meetings specifically with New Jersey Transit as well as people in the planning group
there and the way I understand it is that there is no real request until it comes from a township such as Montlair. In addition, due to past experiences, perception, whatever it happens to be,
there is a belief both within NJ Transit as well as in other townships that Montlair is not in favor of public transit. Therefore, making this request would allow other groups to take the f to join the fight with you because in addition
because right now our group route has two main requests. We would like hourly weekend train service uh that is running at least as far west as Monontlair State University if not further. And we are also looking for 7-day bus service that roughly mirrors the previous decamp 33,
44, 66, and 88 lines. Excuse me. There are issues here obviously of equity. Uh right now, a monthly train ticket from Wong Avenue costs the same amount as a train ticket from South Orange for 72% of the
service. There are people here, many of whom I know. I have a son who is at Northeast and I have a daughter who will join him there next year. And I talked to many families within Montlair who joined this town, chose to move here, raise their families here partially not
only because Montlair is a wonderful place to raise their family and I married a native so I got pulled in here myself, but there's also that accessibility to New York City. And there are many people who have purchased their homes here and were then shocked to find out that the train station they live walking distance from is suddenly
not something they can then use on the weekend to take their child to a museum or a game or an event or anything similar. Therefore, I just want to reiterate uh full support of the resolution. We are ready to support in any way we can. Uh we thank you for
taking that step. but also reiterating uh time is important and Montlair right now is a lynch pin if we would like to bring an oasis to this transit desert. So, thank you very much and have a good night. Thank you. Next guest, please.
Hi. Hello. Good evening. Hello there. My name is Noam Maxwell. I'm a former resident of Montlair. I live in Belleville now. I work in the city. I have family who lives in Montlair and I'm here to support um your all the council's support of uh
the resolution for the uh New Jersey uh climate super fund bill and I want to thank you for putting that uh on the on the agenda tonight in considering the resolution. I really hope you join uh nearly 40 other cities and the county of Essex in supporting that resolution. And
I think your support can make a real difference and this is very important. I I want to share that my my childhood family was devastated by severe flooding in New Milford. Um our home flooded numerous times, at least twice. The water went up above my head in the basement. We lost irreplaceable family
heirlooms. Uh we were on the hook for a lot of costs, insurance didn't pay and thousands of round homes around us at that time flooded. It was it was very very stressful for our family. That was in the 70s and 80s and it happened because there was extensive commercial development around without adequate laws
uh that required you know proper drainage mitigation and and since then our laws for drainage mitigation have evolved and uh that is not as bad as it was when I was a child but we haven't even begun to update our laws for the impacts of of climate change. Um these
impacts are not just flooding of course uh when you look at the statistics of how many deaths uh there are going to be from just from heat exposure and uh and the pollution um the wildfires and and other things that other many other people have so eloquently spoken about tonight. uh we can just start to imagine
what our future is going to be like and how municipalities will be challenged to upgrade their infrastructure uh not their physical infrastructure which tonight there is so much about the physical infrastructure here in Montlair that dubtales with what you know what climate will also challenge this city
with um but it we know that these impacts are only going to intensify um so I I think that I I feel very strongly about this said I came out to a town that I don't live in. I'm going to be speak to the Belleville Council where I live uh soon. Um I think this is uh
simple fairness that residents and uh city governments should not have to shoulder all these costs and I love the idea of having a fund that cities apply for grants to uh shore up their infrastructure. I would like to think that people will not suffer as much you
at a lot of suffering and cost and and destruction of um beautiful properties and and people's lives won't happen because the city will be able to with these funds be proactive and and work on shoring up their infrastructure. Um and
and I want to make one little comment at the end if I have another moment about trees. Um uh it is pretty heartbreaking to think of the city planting a tree, the sidewalk heaving up and then somebody not being able to afford to pay that sidewalk. Well, trees are an incredibly important part of the
infrastructure for uh climate resiliency in communities. They absorbed tremendous amounts of water, flood water and uh and air cooling absorb uh pollution and heat and um perhaps that and other
infrastructure issues in Montlair could be there could be creative things done to help with the sidewalks and the trees at the same time. So please don't stop planting the trees. They're awesome in Montlair. Thank you so much. Thank you. Next guest, please.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I'm sorry a little bit late to the party. I was actually uh with the other business owners in the downtown district that was meeting at the mon bit and I didn't even realize that we had a council meeting tonight. So they urged me to see if I can come over here just to uh uh address a couple of concern that we were trying
to resolve. So I everybody um I think is familiar with the influx. Would you please give us your name? Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you. My name is Kim Jong. I'm the owner of Marine Wines and I own two properties on Boomfet Avenue. Um, so at this moment, I'm pretty sure everybody's
in town has seen the influx unfortunately of um unhouse individuals as well as individual who has uh uh mental issues as well as individual who are unfortunately just drunks. So the and uh the unfortunate problem that has
created for both the residents, the business as well as the clients of the businesses and two of the uh the situation that the officer um I'm sorry, Lieutenant Williams was bringing out is that unfortunately a lot of the stuff because of owners is beyond his control.
nine since the bell reform uh like before previous to bail reform if somebody is being aggre is aggressively handling hand pan handling or otherwise uh creating a dis disturbance anywhere in Montlair they could be charged with a
disorderly person conduct summons and uh if they cannot post a bail they would uh they will be transported to uh with detent to detention center until they have their hearing and they usually um give them a time to cool down, reassess
what they did. However, because of uh sensor bell reform and nine out of 10 times the officer say that literally they had to release them before they even complete the paperwork and a lot of the business owners are seen that once they come out they will take their
aggression out against the business or the business clients. So because of that they either suffer in silence or especially some of the business if there's a very small business we only let's say one uh you we're not going to ask a 100
pound cashier girl to stand up to a 200 pound aggressive you know belligerent individual it's just just not going to happen so one of the thing that I understand uh the bail reform it is a very very
important progressive uh move uh forward movement in our society as a whole. However, um I think that maybe if uh would you go um we could petition to try to maybe have like a three strike uh three strike rule or something that against individuals who criminals who
are purposely taking advantage of that of the law that was meant to help people who are wrongfully excused or who are you know who are not who otherwise be unjustly detained. So that's but that I understand is beyond the township's control. However, one thing that may not
be outside the township's control is to have the town the council to try to draft two resolutions. One against loitering and one against panhandling. So then this way at least it give the officers a way to either detain these individuals have charges against them uh
out of you know they will make it so that they cannot be released immediately within 30 minutes. I think right now that's what the the current statute is. That's why the officers say that their hands are tied because they literally even unless anything short of a
malicious assault that results in serious injury to the uh to the victim, they had to release them and a lot of time release them before they can even finish the police report. And that's just the reality what we have right now, especially unfort with the downtown being such a booming. We have probably
one of the the most diverse um business climax in probably the whole entire Essex County. And then on top of that, we have some of the best restaurants in the whole entire county. And so because that we attract a lot of visitors and a lot of commerce from not
just the county, but even Bergen County, even Morris County coming here. So that's why we're trying to Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Next guest, please. Matt, that's all. No more. Okay. No, there I think there's another one. Were you coming to speak?
Hm. No, you can sign up and then just come on. We'd love to hear from you and then you'll be our last guest for the evening. But thank you everyone for coming. Good evening. My name is Lynn Stockhammer. I I just when I heard the word about an ordinance um against
loitering, I really cringed um it's smacking to me of post reconstruction, Jim Crow, and what the loitering ordinance was meant to to do to people's lives and to human beings. Um and that's really why it came up. Talking about the
sidewalks, um we have a situation as well with the sidewalk. I live um in a large building off of Glen Ridge Avenue and the driveway and the adjoining building is chronically being used for people backing up. Well, both driveways backing out and turning around so it's
all day. Um so that I understand what individual homeowners go through in terms of their particular access that it might be. And I forget the third thing that I had one. Oh, um I noticed that uh Grabowski bought um the property where
the autotop shop used to be right off of Glenidge Avenue um on Forest Street and Glen Ridge Avenue. And there had finally been fencing around the property, but against an ordinance, he was storing large equipment without it being in use.
Just keep parking it there. Now that's gone. The fence is down. Um throughout um the time I've lived on forest street um facing the auto top shop, I have seen people misusing the covert and tossing
garbage and materials and the buildings that I live in have no place to dispose of certain things. So contractors are coming in and out. They're taking their drop cloths, for instance, shaking them out over the culvert into the water with
all of that waste. One of them I I asked I told him that's really not allowed. So he took it and he went onto someone else's property and shook it out. Um one of my neighbors who lives in my building um had come to to the town I think to
the clerk's office to report about the parking situation and also the the culvert and the waste being dumped into it. and he said he had videos and photographs and he was told
that that's no good, that they're no longer accepting that. I don't know if he went to a specific department or not. He was not told to fill out a complaint. He was told you need to have a you have to call the police and they have to see it happening in order for it to be investigated. And I think that was
improper knowledge. And I'm sorry, I don't know who he spoke to or what department when he walked over to town hall. Thank you very much. Good night. Thank you. Okay. Thank you everyone. We are going to move on to our uh consent agendas. Are there items that
are listed under consent agenda that council members wish to remove from the consent agenda? Councelor Lachman. Uh okay. I I would just like to I would like to discuss this basically.
um resolutions numbers 1 to five to do with the appointment of um people on our commission's boards. Um I I I think that we have just I see Matt Amarell
just put out a call for new volunteers to come. Um, I saw that in some release and I'm I'm wondering if we might consider waiting till we get all the responses from everybody and looking at
them all together so that we can see the composition of these boards with the people who would like to be on them and then kind of make a decision about, you know, who should I mean, I'm sure we we probably have space for everybody, but I think we need kind of more of a process
where looking at everybody who has volunteered as a group and what commissions they want to be on their maybe some people volunteer for more than one. So I would like to try to place them in their first choice of commission or board of you know you get
what I'm saying. Um and I believe that it might be useful to have just a couple of us go through all of the volunteer forms all of the first and second choices of these people. look at them as an aggregate on each of the boards and
figure out what's the best course of action to take and in as part of that as well I think it might be useful at that time to finally appoint or people volunteer to be the council leaison to these boards so that we'd have the whole
process done in one fell swoop after we get all the people who will respond to Matt's um call for more volunteers. So, that's just my suggestion and why I would like to remove these for now and wait until see what happens if there's more volunteers and um take it from
there. Anyone else? Mayor, go ahead. Council Toller. Sure. Thank you. Um Council Laughman, I understand your concern. Uh these nominations or recommendations that are here, some of these names have been here
since July 2024. Um, we've all had opportunities to look at every resume or I'm sorry, volunteer form that's come in. Um, I don't know how much longer we need to keep people who applied back in July of last year, August of last year,
October of last year waiting. If we have residents that are ready to serve on committees, we should go ahead and appoint them. I know that we've appointed some in the past. I'm not sure what this situation is about here, this period in time. Um, again, we've all gotten every single
application. We've had opportunities to review them. Yes, I understand our communications director just put out an email blast, if you will, or something on Instagram. Um, it doesn't mean we're going to get more applications in. We may get a few more. That's true. Um, but I'm specifically referring to people
that have applications in for almost a year now. Um, they should be given some consideration before they lose interest and want to even help. um to hold this up in my opinion just to me doesn't make very good sense uh nor is it fair to the people that took the time to put in the applications. So I just wanted to share
that. Council Damato. No, I want everybody to have a chance and then we can work circle back. Um Council Damato. Um I'm not categorical on on each of these resolutions and I just have looked
at some of them. Um I was just handed a packet for the first time with 19 people for the new the new arts advisory committee and I'm mostly interested here in making sure that there's some representation of the different form of cultural arts. So I did look at the
people who were suggested for this um and I did not uh see a representation for essentially the literary arts in any way and that's my interest or the the fine arts. Um and so I would like to be able to go
through these and talk to people for that one um in particular. And then um but I agree I agree with councelor Lochman that like it would be good to have at least to look at people's ranked
preferences and we haven't done that. Just correct you. These aren't all for cultural arts. They're for various committees and commissions. The ones that we were handed today. Absolutely. Uh no it says volunteer interest forms arts advisory committee. Various
committees and commissions. Um, council Damato, give councelor Damato a chance, please, to finish and then next council person. So, I if there are people who I'd like to find out the rank ordering of all these and then I would like to at least
with the arts advisory group um sit down and and go through and make sure that there's some diversity in terms of the arts there um and and and do that. Uh, as for the um the housing commission, I
don't have any particular strong feeling either way. So, anyone else? Um, yes, Council Birmingham. Um so my question slash concern in terms of
process is just that I think at the last meeting we removed some of these from the consent agenda as items that we discussed. To me that means that like they wouldn't be on the consent agenda
at this meeting. like they were purposely taken off at the last meeting and we did not discuss them. So for them to now be on the consent agenda doesn't seem to fit a process that makes sense to me. Um, so I would
also be in favor for those that are not urgent um to do a review and of all you know of of the boards and commissions and see sort of uh what's needed and how people have
rank ordered especially if we are putting out a call um that for for at least some of these there are some maybe like I think the early childhood corporation we did discuss at the last meeting. Um so for that I'm you know not those that we did
discuss I think it's okay but for these some of the others I think we purposely didn't discuss them so I was surprised to see them on the consent agenda. So, I'm going to re reply to that because as as I recall at the last meeting, we had
uh some of the people that were going to be appointed who actually came here and it had been announced that they were going to be appointed. Nobody reached out from the council to say anything. They came in, took the time out of their day, perhaps had family members and
others with them because they were going to be appointed at that time. And I apologized to them and I said that between that time and now the council members that would like to have a chance to get to know more will get reach out
to them have an opportunity to speak with them and that then we would move forward with the appointment. I I'm disappointed for a lot of reasons. first of all because we've been talking about the need to appoint people to our committees and commissions since July
when we got sworn in and we've been moving forward and I in particular keep talking about the importance that I've called up the people on the list spoken to them and encouraged other people to do the same thing and my biggest disappointment is that between the time
now it's been like what maybe six six weeks or or more two four six yeah or more weeks that these individuals are expecting to be appointed. So, if we're saying that we're going to have between now and the last time for people to
reach out, talk to the people, get to know or make other recommendations, then I was I was thinking that this was happening. So if it's not happening that something has to happen so that I know it's not cuz I told the people that that this was that
was the expectations and we keep people keep saying the committees and commissions say we need people we need people we've got to have people. So we've appointed other people and we never nobody ever went through you know whatever's going
on here to delay this process when we appointed other people to other committees and commissions. So, I'm concerned about what's really going on here. If it's just a matter that people don't feel comfortable with the people or whatever, because we nobody nobody
when we appointed other residents to committees and commissions went through whatever is going on here. People are needed. I think it's incredible that these people would do that. And and after this many weeks, there's no telling even if they want to. They've been totally disrespected.
And now we have some new people. So I would like for them to get their name on the list and be considered in the future. But there are people here that are ready to go. There are positions that need to be filled. Some more importantly than others with the um civil rights, with the parks and recreation, with housing. People are
needed on these committees and commissions to make decisions. So, I would like for us to make some decisions and I would like for the people that are just coming in now to to understand we welcome them too. But why should they come in now after these people have been
waiting in quue for a long time thinking that they're going to be appointed with nothing happening and now new people come in and so what? We're just going to tell them, "Sorry, new people. You get in and and the other people that have been on the list for a very long time. Don't. It's they're all
volunteers." You know, I just don't understand what's happening. Can I just comment because I I brought up the subject and and you know, you seem to be implying that there's some nefarious undertone going on here. I don't know if it is or not. I said I'm disappointed. I
didn't say anything about nefarious. I said I'm disappointed. You kind of I would have to say you kind of imply that there's some subcurrent of things going on. I said I'm disappointed, councelor Lochman, and I don't I don't really appreciate you trying to decide for me what that means. I am disappointed at
whatever's going on. I'm telling you how I received it. Okay. So maybe then you in your mind have something nefarious because I said I'm disappointed. That's my point that I brought this up because I saw that there was an announcement for having, you know, soliciting more people
to volunteer for these positions. So that to me was like, whoa. So why are we, you know, why are we looking for more people? I don't know. I don't know who gave Matt the instructions to go and look for people. So it see I'm interested in processes and it strikes
me that it is a good process to if we've already asked for people to come and fill volunteer spots new new people and I understand that these people have been waiting to hear. It took me I think three years to get appointed to the volunt the planning board and all that time you're like well what's going on I
don't know and you just expect that government works slowly and I'm interested in process and I think the best process as I described it was to we have now a call out for more people to come to see who responds to look at everybody look at the balance of who is
on these boards and and take it from there quite honestly it's not a big issue with me I'm not going to die on the hill but I just feel like it's it's good processes and I had no other intention except to bring up the fact that we've called for new people and I
believe that we should adhere to a process. So, well, who who put out the call then? That's what I would like to know. Who gave Matt who works for the township the directive to put out a call and what was their expectations when we had people that have been on this list
for longer than July? Some of them been in there up to a year. These people have been waiting for a long time and you're saying, you know, it took you a long time. That doesn't make it right. And once we've given people the understanding that they are moving in a direction, their names were on the
agenda, then there was a process and now someone gives someone else a process who was not the council member who did. Unless someone on the council did that, it wasn't for me. And so I'm just trying to figure out, you know, why. May I? Yes. Yeah. Okay. Um I'm sorry, councelor
Williams and then councelor Damato and then and then councelor Toller. So it's not so much about the these forms here is it's about this process right here. So this right here, all right, pulling something from the agenda.
If folks want to pull something from the agenda and some folks want to keep it on the agenda, just vote on it because what's what tends to happen here and um no disrespect to anybody, we go around and everybody volleys back and forth
three and four times and to to be to be completely honest, it it's not really getting anywhere, right? So everybody has valid points and stuff, but just say what you have to say. Let's vote on it and let's move on. This is this isn't
really accomplishing all that much. That that's all I have to say. Okay. So as long as I'm presiding over the meeting, I will decide when I believe that the conversation should end. And just because it may not be accomplishing that much for you, it doesn't mean it may not for others. I think it's really
important when people do things and and have had at least six weeks if somebody wanted to change something. I'm just saying why wait until we get to these meetings to do this. And I think it's important that the residents that are watching see what's going on and
understand and try to figure out what's going on, too. Um, so yeah, I appreciate what you're saying, Councelor Williams, but I believe that if people wish to have comments on these things that are not making sense to me, then you know, they'll be allowed to do that. Councelor
Toller, uh, Council Damato was before me. Councelor Demato, I just don't really understand this whole idea that people are being told to come that they're going to be appointed when you have no idea that they're going to be appointed. I mean like why are you telling people that they're going to be
appointed? I told them that they were going to be discussed. I apologize that their name was on and they saw their names and their friends and other people. So I I know people by the way also who have put their names in forms in and nobody has picked them. They
haven't gone. So they're also in this pile. But I would also like to ask just in terms of the process and this is just an open an open question like whether people think it would be a good idea to just have people come in when they're want to and then we can ask them
questions because I think that I don't think anybody's disrespecting people by not picking up the phone and calling them. It's just a little awkward to know what to ask and whatnot. And if we just had people come and they introduced themselves and said, "Hey," they could be on the planning board and then we'd
put the name to the face and then we could just say, "What's your, you know, what got you interested in this? What else? You know, what's your back?" I mean, we can look at their CV, but I would be comfortable with that. If other people are not, then I understand that, too. But, but I do know that there was
no lack of disrespect in not dialing people up and being like, you know, what's your deal? But I would love to see people come in. So I'm going to respond to that. So when we first started, I suggested that and I said that that was the process um for the 12 years that I was on the council before.
Uh we had the individuals come forward. We reviewed the um applicants uh volunteer entrance for um information forms and we had an opportunity and this council said they didn't wish to do that
and therefore we didn't move forward in that direction. I thought that was a wonderful idea. This council squashed it and that was the end of of that. But I I certainly thought that there was no reason for that. In fact, this group wanted to do things um you know like in
a more like executive type of a thing than you know they just didn't want to do it for whatever reason. Uh I don't know but I did suggest that and you know that that's an idea. I'm with you. Well, I'm glad we have evolved in so many um areas and I'm happy that we're
continuing to evolve. So now if if you're receiving something that might be of interest, I'm just saying I just don't like the fact that we have to wait until we get here to these meetings if all of this is going on and people, you know, don't want to do something. May I? Councelor Toller. Yes. Thank you. I just
wanted to clarify something councelor Damato stated. Um he said he wanted to ensure that the cult cultural arts committee uh has a well balanced group of folks at the table and I agree and the names that were submitted are well balanced group from various walks of life. various ethnicities and that was
the plan and the purpose overall when I created the ordinance that we all reviewed. Um, additionally, I've emailed everyone here immediately after our last meeting with the list of names, addresses, not addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers if any of you wanted to speak to any of them. And from my understanding, no one called to
speak to anybody to see what their interest was or what their interest wasn't. So, again, I'm not sure why we're here today having this discussion. and whomever it is that you stated, councelor Damato, that um you had someone put something in, you have the power and the authority to recommend
that person to a committee, too. There's no one person that can do that. So, depending on who the person was and what their interest is, you could have easily said you would like to get a second to put someone on a township committee. So, it's not just one person picking, it's all of us picking people. And this
application packet that the clerk gave us, there are two people that applied for disabilities committee, two for zoning, two for planning, two for parks, three for arts, two for housing, and one for civil rights commission in this packet. And most of these are dated 52 2025. There are enough seats. I think
whoever put the call out or asked Matt to put the call out uh about our count township committees and commissions, they should have also included the number of seats that are available because now we're going to be inundated because some of these have no available seats. But here we are.
I have Deputy Mayor. Excuse me. I have a question. I have a question for the clerk. Can I ask a question? No, we're going to take a five minute break at this point in time and then we're going to continue the discussion.
Yep. Uh I guess I have to take a motion. Second. Thank you. Um all in favor? Thank you. Opposed oppos. Thank you. Okay.
This is where we're going to pull. We're pulling one, two, three, four, and five. You're unmuted. Okay. Um, thank you all for uh your time. My apologies. I had an emergency.
Okay. So, we're back to uh cons consent agenda. And um it's been suggested that items 1, 2, 3, 4, and five. The appointments that we were going to make to our uh committees this evening um be
held until a later date. I'm just going to say until a later time. Um the the will of the majority of the council is that we get a um process in place and we
just re reassess um how how we're going to um choose individuals to sit on our committees and commissions moving forward. So thank you for your patience and understanding. The difficulty here that you're seeing is that three more
than three of us can can't meet at at a time. So, a lot of the discussions and conversations that you're hearing um may lend itself better to not doing it here. But I think it's it's good that you hear what we're saying and um then we'll make
a decision that we're going to put some other things in place perhaps that all of you can see in writing and understand and then we will come back to this at a later date. That takes us up to um any other consent agenda items that people
wish to remove please. I I just have a question. I'm on 10. Um, I don't know if that means removing it or just It's not to pull it. It's just a question.
It's the um the local safety action plan. Manager Marks, do you have a response for that or does Oh, oh, planner tally. Thank you. This is just quickly and it's a a followup from our discussion on Saturday
around grants and um possible grant cancellations that this is a large con you know this will be months of work. My my sense is correct. Do you say months? I say multi-year. Okay. Okay. So mult we
set it up as a multi-year um uh contract. Okay. because that way we're not limited to 12 months because it's a large amount. Okay. So the my only question is you had discussed on Saturday that you would be writing
contracts now that if grants are canceled all work will be you know going forward we would not necessarily we won't be on the hook for unpaid bills that are part of that contract. Okay. And this so that this contract would include a clause like that. Okay. Thank
you. Okay. So, Eileen, are we okay with leaving number 10 on? Council, are we okay with leaving number 10? Anyone else have anything else on the consent agenda that they would either like to discuss or have pulled?
Okay, hearing none, um, Manager Marks, would you u help us go through the consent agenda, please? So, we're just going to call for for a vote. Okay. and they already know what it is. Okay.
Do you want to just say it? With regard, there was a um um a resident had identified a resolution. I don't have the resolution number that he thought there was a typo. Um it was actually it was a park I think it was Park Mobile doing business as No, it
wasn't Park Mobile. It was Flowbird. Okay. uh doing uh business as Parkon. They had a uh business address of Moorstown, New Jersey, which is in South Jersey. Yeah. The resident thought it was a typo, but it's it's true and correct. There was no typo involved.
Okay. Good. Thank you. Okay. So, um on the consent agenda, we're going to withdraw consent agenda one, two, three, four, and five. Everything else consent agenda from number six
through number 14. Yes. I just have one question. Councelor Toller. Thank you. I know Amy's is she here? Amy's not here tonight. Okay. Only because the last time we spoke when this was up on our last meeting, I thought she said the total
amount was going to be about 15,000 spent, but now it's 25,980. I'm sorry, counselor. Total, which one are you talking about? I'm sorry. Resolute number six. Okay. Um 25-138. Um she stood at the podium and she said something about the total amount would
be like 15,000, but this says 25. So I'm just she's not here. I guess we can't get clarification on it. I spoke with her um the health officer about that. It came in at about 20. The original contract was for
25,980 with the revisions down. I I um it came in at about $20,000. So there's a balance left here. Should be roughly $5,000 balance thereabouts. 3671. Okay. 3,671.
Correct. I don't need the paper. Thank you. I just I wrote it down. Thank So, councelor Toller, what was the um question? This was this was from work that was already done before and what was the question? Well, the question was at the last meeting I asked Amy and she said that the total amount was going to
be about 15,000 or something to that effect and it's the same resolution number. So, my question was, you know, why is she why is this written that says the total amount of this agreement shall not exceed 25? But if the manager said that he spoke to the health director and he understands that the quote came in um
at that amount for 20,000 you said um it was leaving $3,600 on the table. So um roughly would have come in at say $22,000. Okay. So it was a change order reduction. Okay. I'm just curious if it should be
that exact amount or should it be stay at 25980? That's all if it should be the 22 down to the penny or if I would I would defer. I'm going to hold it up. I'm just making sure that we're not, you know, overpaying out of that account line because we're all
about process here. Absolutely. And it's a change order reduction. So, we won't pay any more than we absolutely have to. I'd like to make a motion, please, that we um accept resolution 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 and 14. Second. Madame Cler, Deputy Mayor Anderson, yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Lman, yes. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor Baskerville, yes.
Now we're going on to new business resolutions. I'm going to ask our deputy mayor, please, if you would do uh resolution. Yeah. Okay. Resolution R25147
res resolution supporting the passage of the New Jersey Climate Super Fund Act. Um and I so move second discussion. No. Yeah. Go ahead. Okay. Council Lman.
Okay. Um so I just want to preface this by saying that I recognize the problems with climate change. I recognize the need for some changes in how these are funded and managed, but I think that this act as put forward or this um yeah
the the climate super fund act is not a good act. My I'll tell you why I believe this. For years I worked in the um for a mining company that mined non-ferris metals and owned a uh asbestous mine.
And of course, we were on the list of federal and uh New Jersey super fund sites. And for 16 years, I worked on this, you know, trying to figure out how how um the company that I worked for
would be uh paying for what was deemed to be their responsible parties allocation. And I can tell you it the super fund act in my view was a big failure. Most of the monies went to lawyers and administration and and about
maybe 65% of it went to the actual cleanup that was needed and many times the cleanup was not done effectively. It took years for anything to be done and it's just it's a big mess. It was a big mess and I feel like this is a a um act
that is modeled on that super fund act which in my view was very ineffective and I saw it from the inside as a person who worked for a mining company that was named a personal responsible party in hundreds of lawsuits and it's just it's
such a morass of fingerpointing on who owed what what companies then went belly up um trying to get money then out of insurance companies. So, it just I think there should be a better way to fund this and I would not support this law because of my personal experience having
gone through this on super fund sites and circular sites in New Jersey and finding that it just it was a big waste. A lot of money was wasted and not very much cleanup got done. So, I would not be for this. Council Damato.
Um I also have grave reservations about this but for totally different reason. Um I would say as councelor Lachman said I have no there are few things in the life that I think are as certain as the fact that climate change is real and
it's a catastrophe and it's an unfolding catastrophe and it is responsible for all the things that the people who got up here and talked uh were saying it's responsible for and and it will impact us locally. and it will cost us millions and millions of dollars. So, I think
that that's all certain or as close as you can be to be certain. Just almost as certain is the fact that the support resolution for this bill that we are deliberating contains
things that aren't true. And we are saying that we believe that it will collect billions of dollars from companies for states and municipalities. I do not believe that that's true.
I I mean I don't want to be a dick, but show hands if you've read the bill and if you've read the challenges to the bill. I have. I've talked to people about it. I don't think it's going to work. It just simply the federal government has preemptive powers over
the regulation of greenhouse gases. There's a democrat democratically appointed judge in New Jersey for Mercer County. I just read an opinion who's like very straightforward that that federal law preempts state law and
there are other layers of problems with the law with this law legally that makes me believe that it will not act as we say it will. And now I don't have a problem with doing something symbolic. The problem I have here is that I
believe it leads to false hope. Right? It's I you know metaphors are difficult here especially with something very serious but it's sort of like a town's going to be inundated by a flood and people are like we need to build like a sandberry or something like that and
you're st and I'm standing here going that's not going to help and if you're not helping in a disaster situation you're kind of hurting. So, that's where I'm at with it. And I sent to you folks
um some suggested changes. You can pass that. I mean, we can I'm you know, if people are for it, I that's fine, too. But, but I just don't believe we should say that there will be billions of dollars collected because I don't think it's true. And I think people who know
the most about this legally know that it's not true. Um, I added some other things that I would like to see changed. If we struck that part, I would maybe abstain. But if we're good, I don't want to tell people something that I don't believe is true.
That's the bottom line. And I don't believe that this act will lead to the collection of a single dollar from one of these companies. I just don't believe it's true. I'm sorry, Councelor Toller. Councelor Williams.
Yeah. Thank you. Um I respect what you're saying, Councelor Damato and Councelor Laughman. Um um I'm going to support this because, you know, I it's not about the um whether or not we get the money back. It's about ensuring residents the
environment is correct for them. Um you know, the taxpayers, who's going to fund this? The taxpayers. if we don't vote for this, you know, it goes into their pockets as we heard in the presentation. Um, the only question that I really do have is
if we want to take this and make sure that it's not going to uh have an economic effect on households, you know, we need to ensure that our businesses and residents aren't going to be financially impacted
by not doing this. I mean, that would be a good thing to look at. Not so much the companies and whether or not we're going to get the money, but we're talking about residents are talking about their homeowners insurance going up. So, cars being damaged with flooding and you can't get that money back. Can't, you
know, get a car back. We've had some major floods here in Montlair and I think it's time that we as a township take a little step further and um kind of address and look at these environmental challenges that we have a little more seriously and the effects
it's having on the residents. That's all I just wanted to share that council Birmingham. Um, I would say, um, what you just said, Councelor Damato, reminds me a little bit when I
was in medical school in the '9s, um, of how people talked about the idea of suing tobacco, um, when the states found themselves having to take care of all the people who were harmed by tobacco.
Um, and wanted to, uh, get some compensation for that. and everyone thought that was really a pie in the sky idea that you would be able to sue a tobacco company. Um, and we did, you
know, not we, but there was in fact a major settlement with tobacco that did uh fund a lot of public health through um for decades. Um, so for me I I I don't actually ironically I
feel like it's less similar to the super fund acts that you were referencing because those were individual you know those are individual u sites where obviously each individual site is going to be mired in lawsuits and insurance
and you know which is not to say people who you know pollute should be responsible and and that there was a lot of intention good intention and in fact a lot of sites were cleaned up even if it of course is was mired in
um in um legal issues. So for me I will I I believe we have to start somewhere. I believe um it is clear that there are companies profiting uh in major ways um
in the oil in oil and gas industry and so I am happy to support because again obviously I mean each state is many states are doing this and they're doing it differently. I do think it's not a slam dunk that that you would
raise billions of dollars, but I do think um we do need to start moving forward with uh with this. So, I'm in support. Okay. Council Williams, I agree with everything that council person Birmingham just said. I I do
think that I I don't I I don't like when these resolutions and stuff say, "Hey, this is going to happen and this is going to happen because you absolutely do not know." But I think the spirit of it here is that you're supporting, you know, the this effort at the state
level. And that's how I got comfortable with it. Thanks, Deputy Mayor. So, um, I've I've talked to both councelor Damato and, um, Kloffman, and I respect your opinion, and so I'm not going to try to change your mind. I'm
just simply going to say that, um, I do support this. This is strictly a resolution to support the state legislaturator's effort to um uh and through this law it would be to create a fund um basically holding only certain
um fossil fuel companies, the largest ones, liable for damage they've caused. Um and for me, there's no there's no real downside to to supporting this resolution, honestly. Um I think the only upside is if we do if it does pass
um and we are able to as a municipality apply for funds to help pay for you know flood uh you know infrastructure um you know damage that that that has been caused by flooding. I mean especially right now you know we don't know how
much funding we're going to be able to get um from other you know government sources. So, and quite frankly, I'm not that concerned about the largest fossil fuel company's ability to um I don't think they're
going to go bankrupt. Let's just put it that way. I'm not as worried about that as our township's ability to deal with the effects of um of of damage caused by these companies. So, I would be in support of this. I I support the the
passage of this um resolution and um um yeah, that's that's all I have to say. I I I the the analogy that I would also um that I thought of also was the tobacco company um situation. So, thank you.
So, I um wholeheartedly agree with everything um that you said, Councelor Birmingham, and I appreciate the way you said it. Um, and I certainly I'm not um there's no way to tell how much we're going to recover in terms of the
resources, but I don't think I'm that concerned about whether we're going to get billions of dollars or not. Um, I just just want to make sure that we are sending a message that those people who are responsible for so much of this will
be held accountable and it won't just everything fall on the shoulders of of us as a taxpayers. So, I would be um in favor of this and I'd like to call the vote at this time. Um I'd like to
um yeah, make a motion that we pass this. Somebody made a motion to No. Did someone second it already? I did. Deputy Mayor Anderson. No, I seconded. She first. Okay. So, can we call for the
vote, please? Yes. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Oh, I'm sorry. There's more more discussion. No, I just um uh Councilman Damato had recommended some changes. Are you not going to ask for those? Are you asking to amend it or
no? I'm being genial. I don't think I don't want to see a vote. People are going to vote against it. Okay. Madame Clerk, Deputy Mayor Anderson, yes. Council Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, no. Councelor Laughman, no.
Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Councelor Demato, please. Um. Huh.
Oh. Councelor Damato, please. The new business resolution um 16 R25-148, please. um R25148 resolution establishing an ad hoc working group under the mobility committee and I so move second
discussion council toler yes so um is this a working group or a committee um and will the same process and procedures be adhered to for selecting people to serve on this um if that's the case then that needs to be identified in this
resolution um the second thing is I'm not really sure why we need to have a resolution to create an ad hoc working group um specifically on um transit. Um I feel like this is a lot of giving to a certain group of residents. Not that
there aren't some issues or concerns with people being able to get back and forth to the city. Um but if this is going to I feel like this would fall under the township uh responsibility to come up with a plan for people to commute and that's not really we're not a taxi. We're not in the business for
that. Um, I'm just trying to understand where the process and procedure will go. Will there be volunteer interest forms that people need to fill out and we're going to have to sit back and review them and rank them? Things of that nature. I'm just asking some general questions.
Mayor, yes, deputy mayor. Um, it's a working group. A working group is um that was established under the mobility committee for a specific p purpose. It's not intended to be at this point. um a continuing a a standing committee. I'm
also a little confused because councelor Toller, you're actually on the I agreed it's working well as volunteers as an ad hoc group. So I'm I'm uncertain why resolution is here if it's working well as volunteers. Let me explain the purpose of the resolution. So um you
know before we came into office um there was there were there was interest expressed to me by various residents about um you know the lack of the the absence of um the camp service um and uh
expression of of uh you know the desire to have um more frequent weekend rail service. And so um so when the mobility committee was formed um I thought it was a good idea to perhaps get a working
group together. Um the working group members um are mostly people who have worked on prior township uh transportation committees um former council people and um at advocates transport public transportation um
advocates and um especially since we have passed the complete streets ordinance. Um, I thought, you know, um, it would be a good opportunity for this group to, um, get our heads together and think about how, um, you know, we can look at, um, how to approach New Jersey
Transit, um, and and and also think about, you know, how we can engage from the township residents um, whether there's a desire for more intra township transportation options like a shuttle bus um, for example, which has existed
in the past. The reason for the resolution um to formally establish this working group and just sort of say um what issues this um ad hoc working group will um address is largely on the um recommendation of um
um we we we've actually been offered the assistance from several elected officials on the county and state level and um and they had advised that uh I think a gentleman um Mr. Mr. uh Nick Gileia, the one uh the one who
established route um had uh had said that New Jersey Transit has the impression that um the township doesn't want more public transportation. So, well, right from past efforts. So, um it was suggested that a resolution be put
forward um to the township council and if passed, this would be this could be presented. The plan is to present this to New Jersey Transit leadership. um as a show of um like as proof that the township is in support of of of more public transportation options. Um and so
that's why um I had put this resolution forward. Um and by the way, we did um we were supposed to meet with uh with the commissioner of New Jersey Transit. um that obviously was postponed because of um the the strike, but now that that's
over um you know, we we're going to try to reschedule that. And um and the work of the um working group is continuing. Um there's a New Jersey Transit subcommittee as well as a shuttle bus um sub subcommittee. And um everyone is
doing great work and um I'm happy to have um councelor Toller and councelor Birmingham um also represented on on that working group. So, I'd just like to say um that working group and and creating, you
know, these types of resolutions and creating working groups and ad hoc groups, all of those things for the people up here that really want to have process and procedure. This this must be really uh difficult for for all of you because there's no process and procedure really.
When people want to decide they want to ad hoc group, they call it ad hoc group. When people want to have a working group, they they have a working group. Interesting thing is that I believe that out of everyone sitting up here, I'm the only one that actually served on the
transportation committee uh in this township for 12 years and worked with the Damp and the the shuttle bus and all of those types of things. And so I believe if we were doing it based on, you know, people that have served in the past on these types of things that I
might have been included somewhere in there. That's just a thought. But again, if we're going to, we have to be consistent. So if we're going to, you know, work group because somebody comes and says something, is that going to be our procedure moving forward? If
somebody comes to me or another council person and says, "Hey, you know, I want you to do something." then you can just get a working group, throw a resolution on here and move forward. It it seems like sometimes people want to have a really clear process and procedure. Then
other times it it just swings in in a different direction. And if people are doing good work, as I'm sure you are because I'm familiar with what you guys are doing and I I certainly agree, but it's just not there's no process or procedure and it's just, you know,
something that just jumped up here like the beginning of ad hoc committees. And then when I said, well, now I'm going to have a ad hoc committee, you know, people don't seem like they're that interested or it just gets a different type of feeling. So, I would like for us to be consistent and transparent on how
we're going to come up with working groups and when and you know people that want to have an opportunity to get in these working groups. Should we all put in our names and what our uh past history has been regarding these types of things to be considered for these
different groups or what opportunities what equal opportunities will we all have as council people to serve on some of these things moving forward? Yes, councelor Toller. Yep. Thank you. Um I just wanted to say two things. Um the gentleman that did speak that says
New Jersey Transit stated that Monontlair doesn't want more transit. I have to disagree with that. Um I think part of the issue is that residents don't understand that if they some residents I should say. Um you know, New Jersey Transit puts out surveys. They base their decisions off of surveys.
This is something I've shared with the shuttle group uh during one of your meetings. Um the other thing is um if we are going to if this is voted in favor of I would recommend that we put a sunset sunset date on this when it should end. Um I don't see the need for
this to be a longstanding um type of working group under the township. There should be an end date um to ensure that actual you know this work is going to get done in a timely manner and you know that's it. It's just I don't really I just I feel like the working group is
working. I see all the emails um the volunteers that decided to be part of this group. It's working. I just have a little concern with this being now under the township as a an ad hoc, if you will, committee. Um because then we're going to have more of them for other
things. That's just exactly what's going to happen. And we're going to have a lot of ad hoc committees. I can see that down the road. But um just my thoughts and if we put a sunset date on it um will people be putting in volunteer interest forms
for this and how will these people behel just curiosity how will you know you know when you've resolved that in in order to come up with a sunset date you would have to know when you have done the best that the group can do so was just a recommendation I can't say what a
sunset date would be or how you would how would you determine that based on what this is asking. You know, it's there's a survey that's going to be going out as my understanding. Um perhaps some conversations with transit and the commission, uh the county
people. Once you gather that information and come up with a plan, then there wouldn't be a need for this type of working group because this is trying to serve an immediate need right now. Um I can't see this being longstanding. Um and again, I just have to disagree with the gentleman that says Montlair doesn't
want more transit. How many train stations do we have? Um, you know, I just don't get that part. No, I get what you're saying and and I agree with you. I think it shouldn't be long-standing. I'm just trying to find out if we were to vote to amend this to include that. How would we pick a date? We wouldn't
know the answer. I don't believe un unless you I mean I'm saying if it if today is May 20th, it could be May 20th, 2026. Um, you know, that gives it a solid year to get some work done. Um, people will burn out. Hopefully, they won't burn out before then, but you know, if they're passionate, they should
be able to come up with some results or a plan within that time. Just my thoughts. I'm sorry, Council Birmingham. Thank you, Mayor. So, you know, it's interesting because for me the way that public transportation has been evolving
in Montlair over the past few years with, you know, to camp going out, um, you know, with the trains being unpredictable. Um I almost feel like we need to
establish even beyond this. We should have an advisory committee or something because this I mean going forward transportation and public transportation is just a huge issue here
in um in town and it will always be evolving. So I don't see it necessarily as something that can be solved. I think there are some short-term goals, but I'm not sure if I see it as something that okay, we're going to solve this and and that'll be the end. That that's how I
see it. Um, so again, I I think this particular resolution is designed again because there was some feedback that, you know, I I think councelor Toller what my when I heard the gentleman was not that he
said that Monontlair doesn't care about public transportation. He he said the perception is that Monontlair doesn't Yeah. And I Yeah. And I still disagree with his statement. Right. So I think this is just an effort to really publicly say we, you know, we
care, we recognize and you know there are people who are expert and you know opening it up to other people may may be you know something we could do. Again, I I just see this as a way to firmly say, you
know, this is we care about this issue. We do have some short-term goals and then there may be longer term, but um and we feel strongly about it. Um councelor Lachman, just um just a couple of questions. So, this was put forth by
the mobility committee. It's it's under the But did the did the people on the mobility committee agree with this putting this forward? Correct. Yeah. So Well, no. I'm just saying it was directed by the mobility committee. So I
am a believer in respecting what the committees want. if this is what the mobility committee thinks is the way to go and I feel like it's a good idea to have experts in the field to get theirselves together and share ideas about things which would be the ad hoc nature but the mobility committee should
control how this ad hoc committee works and I'm happy with that. My I just have one question. Um are we looking at any other bus companies or just New Jersey Transit? New Jersey Transit. That's it. Okay. Yeah. Well, I'm in full support of this.
So, um I agree with what you said. Um, councelor Birmingham, I just want to know a little bit more about um looking into shuttle bus types of um services because as we do more development in our township and um parking becomes more of
a difficult situation, I think that shuttle buses and other forms of of transportation in the township should become um more of a discussion. Mayor. Yes. Yes. So that is actually something that the this working group that the
subcommittee is exploring. Um and part of that is um you know we met with um a representative from um the county transportation office um and um somebody from Easy Ride and it
was suggested that we do a townwide survey um specifically on the subject of whether or not there is interest um um in establishing a shuttle bus service. Um and so part of the work of this group
is to do some research um gather information um and make a recommendation on whether or not we can like first of all if if we should establish a shuttle bus service that is from the township and also of course figuring out what the
costs would be and how to how to sort of finance that. So, um, and that would, you know, entail probably, um, consulting with other committees of the council. Um, but yes, that is part of this resolution, the the the charge of the working group. Great. Sounds good.
Yes. Um, sir, councelor Damato, I I like the idea of the working group and what it would be doing. I don't understand. I think I'm with you, mayor, like why we need legislation to have a working group. Like the definition of an ad hoc group is that you're just putting it
together on the fly. So like in other words, if we had a facilities and an infrastructure working group on one particular issue, I don't think we feel like we need to come to the council to have a vote about it. But I think Susan explained that. Oh, I'm sorry.
Council Williams. Yeah. Coun uh Deputy Mayor Shenanderson. She did explain that the New Jersey Transit wants to see right they want to see that we want to make some changes.
However, I know we're not I I I hope we're close to uh making a vote on here. My my only issue here, I'm half in support of some of the issues at the bottom and I'm half
against some of them and I I think I I laid laid them out to you. the the extension of the weekend train service beyond Bay Street would cause I think traffic to back up when the town swells
during the weekend and the gates have to come down especially if you're having hourly ser train service throughout the town right uh especially uh on Gro Street right um and
also I I think part of the problem with with government in general is we never look to cut anything and we never we I'm just saying in general we never look to cut anything and we never look to see if we have resources already available and
we tend to duplicate things and this is in in reference to inter township transportation options. Now, New Jersey Transit runs buses through Montlair. If part of our vision zero
initiative is to reduce the reliance on cars and stuff like that, you're now adding additional vehicles onto the road, right? So, when there are already buses available. So, those are my my my tidbits. I'm I'm ready to vote on this
and just want to have my say I'm sorry. Can you explain we the last part you said when you said we're now adding more cars is that related to something here we'll be adding right the last thing the last thing uh at the bottom there where it says inter township transportation
that's talking about a shuttle bus right so that to to me if you're taking a shuttle bus that'll be less cars on the road. No because we already have new you already have New Jersey Transit so you're adding an additional bus on top of that. It's not like New Jersey Transit buses are going away. you're
adding an additional uh commuter type transportation here when there's already something that already exists. So, I'm I'm I'm fine with it as long as we don't have to pay for it. But but what I'm saying is like if I was driving my car, I'm leaving my car home now
because I can jump on the shuttle bus along with 10 other people. So, that's 10 cars off of the road, right? I don't I don't I don't think if you have a car, you're taking the shuttle bus. I and I'm big into public transportation. Everybody knows this. When I go into the city, even on the
weekends, I take take the bus, I walk, I shuttle. I mean, I scooter. I'm big I'm big public transportation. But, you know, those are my bugaboos. And I mean that but we we had shuttle bus here in in in Montclair for a while and people
were standing on corners by Llewellyn and Elm and other places to get on the shuttle bus to get you know to the train or wherever. And so that's why in my mind I'm thinking that'll be one less car because people were going to take the shuttle bus. Just m anyway I'm
sorry. Okay. Yes. I'm sorry councelor Lman. Just one more point. I think all that this is saying is that this ad hoc group will investigate this. Sure. So that's it. So I think that's fine. Yeah. But I I get that. I just don't understand why we need legislation for a group of volunteers. That's a different
thing. I'm just addressing No, it's okay. I just feel like we need a sunset date on it completely. This just can't go on forever. This is just my thoughts. Um so are you um adding an amendment because I'm getting ready to call for the vote. So I would like to add a date. I mean, I just can't see why we wouldn't
do that. I mean, this isn't this ad hoc group is not going to be around forever. Is that's is going to get the work done. Make a recommendation. Um, and as councelor Laughman said, if the mobility committee agreed that this is what's needed, then other committees can agree
that they need ad hoc groups, too. And I still have a question about the volunteer interest forms. Will people be allowed to submit an application to be part of this ad hoc working group? That's my question and it hasn't been answered yet,
Deputy Mayor. And then I'm going to call for the vote. Sure. Yeah. The intent is not to have this working group be a formal standing committee as I said. Therefore, there are not going to be any volunteer interest forms collected for this. Um the intent is for this to be
this this group is going to do the investigation. Um collect information. I I I think you know just everything that I said before. Um, and again, the sole reason why the ad hoc working group is mentioned in the same resolution is
because we want to be able to present to New Jersey Transit leadership um, evidence that the township is committed to um, expanding uh, you know, public transportation options. Just councelor Lachman and I would imagine maybe when
you do talk to the New Jersey Transit the list of the people who are on the ad hoc committee may be people with experience in transportation which may add some kind of ump to our request here to our resolution. Yes. And then and
then again I mean I'm happy to hear this conversation because a lot of what's been um brought up are part of discussions that this working group is having and so you know um you know some several of them are experts in transportation
um and people have had past experience with you know developing a shuttle bus that existed before. Um to councelor Birmingham's point um there it's not to say that maybe sometime in the future we might want to formally establish like a transportation and parking committee um
as there has been before but this is you know this is sort of time is of the essence. We want to get to New Jersey Transit um with with requests and um and and sort sort of this is this is why this resolution is being put forward. Just may I So is is there any downside
of putting a sunset? Um, councelor Toller is suggesting May 20th, 26. What's the downside of putting a sunset? Mayor, I just don't think it's necessary. And you know, turn on your thing. Oh, I'm sorry. I I really just don't think it's necessary. Um, you
know, I think the intent for this working group is to meet I mean, it's been meeting regularly every month. Um, and to put a sunset date on it is to sort of, you know, there like like like somebody said, you know, there is no way to know when this work will be done. So,
why would it why would we have to do that? I'm sorry. Were you done? Councelor Toller. Thank you. I just want to make sure that this is going to be equitable because again, I you know, for all in the community. Um, I do follow the emails and often I have to chime in because while there are some experts on
transportation, there are some people that have been involved with past shuttles, the routes are going to matter for getting around town. Um, and if we're going to focus on transportation, we have to make sure we're touching from Highland to Hollywood. Okay. Um, that's
really another concern that I've had. I've shared that in the meeting. I've shared that in emails. um because I see some of the discussions and some of the work that people are trying to do and certain areas of town are just kind of not being touched or looked at or even
thought about because we're focusing on just one area. So my concern is just making sure that this language and this group is going to be an equitable decision making for those that live in the south end of town all the way up to Highland Avenue, not just the Bay Street
area. So, Councelor Toller, I'm really happy that you said that. I'm also really happy that two out of the three people that are on this committee are uh very much in favor because when Deputy mayor came to me um to run this idea by me,
the first thing she wanted to know was, you know, make sure that we get that if we're going to do shuttle that it gets past that Llewellen where it stopped before. So, it seems like at least two of you are thinking um you know along the same lines of equitable transportation here. Probably the third
person. I just haven't talked to them. That being said, uh Madame Clerk, will you call a vote, please? Deputy Mayor Anderson, yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Lochman, yes. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams,
abstain. Mayor Baskerville, yes. Okay. Councelor Birmingham, please. Um, resolution R-25-149. Resolution authorizing the award of fair and open contract to PJ
Building Cleaning LLC for Township Facilities Cleaning Services bid 2510. And I so move. Second. Nick. Discussion. And councelor Williams. I feel like this is like the third or fourth time we're seeing this
resolution. What happened? We went out to bid. Uh the incumbent or the low bidder backed out, so we had to rebid. So why did they back? They probably never mind. Who are the people that are doing it now? Who are these
people? I believe they are. Okay. Any discussion? I just Yes. Councelor Lachman. Yeah, I just think that uh in uh number one, and this is jumping out at me here, we should say that the sole discretion of the manager, not the township,
right? That's fine. Yeah. I don't I don't know if that township instead of manager is there in other parts of this, but if you Yeah, we should check that out. Okay, Madame Clerk. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes.
Councelor Lochman with that amendment. Yes. Hold on a second. Okay. Yeah. What you wanted to say? Yeah. I think the 0.1 counselor means that you
can't renew the contract unless it comes to the governing body again or if necessary. If it falls within the purview of the manager, then he can renew it. In other words, the renewal is at the discretion of the township, not the bidder. I don't think so. I don't think that's how it reads. But which
sentence here? The council of the township of Monontlair hereby approves and authorizes the township manager to execute an agreement/purchase order with PJ Building Cleaning LLC for an initial period of one year commencing July 1,
2025 with two separate one-year options to renew the contract at the sole discretion of the township. So, we'd have to go before the council again to get that renewal. It depends on what the threshold was. I don't have, you know, all the paperwork in front of me, but
this one you have to approve the renewal. I understand. Okay. I mean, whatever. So, that's a yes vote. That's Oh, sorry. Thank you very much. Councelor Toller, yes. Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor
Baskerville, yes. Thank you. Councelor Lachman, R251, please. I move resolution R-25-150, a resolution authorizing persontoerson transfer of inactive
alcoholic beverage plenerary retential retail consumption license number 0713-33- 018-007 from Montlair Montlair mezzanine
LLC to MHG Morioto Montlair uh LLC. So move second discussion. Yes. I just have one question. Um because it's not listed here. I'm just wondering where this liquor license will be going. Do we know the
address? It's not on here. Just asking. This is on Glen Ridge Avenue. Right across from the from the parking. It's on the corner of Glenidge Avenue. Oh, they're opening something there. Okay. But it's currently inactive. It's not operating right now. Okay. No, I
understand. I just There was no address. So, great. Thank you. You're welcome, Madam Clerk. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Uh, yes. Councelor Birmingham, yes. Councelor Damato, yes. Councelor Lachman, yes. Councelor Toller, yes.
Councelor Williams, yes. Mayor Baskerville, yes. Deputy Mayor, please. Resolution R25151, resolution authorizing the award of a fair and open professional services contract to Hendricks Appraisal Company
LLC appraisals and consulting assignments. I move second discussion. Madam clerk, Deputy Mayor Anderson. Uh, yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes. Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor
Lachman. Yes. Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Council Williams, please. Ordinance 25. Well, ordinance to amend section
chapter 327, vehicles and traffic of the code of the township of Monontlair. Second. So moved. So moved. Sorry. Discussion. This was Are we moving this forward? I don't. Yeah. What is I didn't
I thought we were pulling this. No. I would pull it. I would. I don't quite understand it. This This is the over This is the overweight vehicles on the streets or the commercial vehicles on the street. Oh yeah. We we decided we
were going to pull that until the third and then No, it's not just overweight. It's just parking commercial vehicles. I think I mean in my view, we had a a complaint from uh someone living on Pine Street that there's commercial vehicles that are parked overnight, but I believe
this should go to a committee, right, for their review and recommendation. I'm just not and I Let's ask which committee that would be. I'm sorry. May I may I I just wanted to get clarification on where this who who there was discussion.
I initiated it. There was discussion um with Manny and there was discussion with our attorney. And then after we were trying because there are commercial vehicles that are parking on the street, not just there. There's commercial vehicle every single night when you
leave here. Everybody drive past Orange Road where the MKA elementary school is. there's a um every night there's one there and there's a lot of other ones and RVs and others and I was getting a lot of um complaints and so I wanted it on for a discussion item but it's really
not even ready for the discussion item that I wanted to have because after we talked about it and thank you so much for helping you know to craft something then I started looking at other uh resolutions and and other um ordinances that different municipalities had and
they actually had weight classes in there and so I tried to draft something with weight class and then that's when Manny said he thought that that would be really hard for people to tell the weight class and then so at this point in time I think that it would be best to
pull it for now but that was the thinking behind this and a lot of people um and I don't know if you all have been getting complaints because people are concerned um I've had families talk about they don't feel you know safe at at night when their kids have to walk
home and walk past these RVs because, you know, they're they're just afraid of what might be under there or what it's blocking. And so, I thought it at least warranted a discussion. Mayor, yes. Would you would you object to the mobility
committee um you know re vetting this maybe crafting some language and providing it to you for your review and input? No, not at all. No objection. Thank you for volunteering to do that. Uh that being
said, I'd like to make a motion to withdraw this for this evening. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Good. Thank you. Okay, moving right along. Is that you, Councelor Toller?
Sure. Um, resolution uh R25-152 bill list resolution whereas invoices 23, which one? The um revision to this was 20. Okay. All right. I see where where we are. I'm sorry. That's
okay. 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. Um I so move second discussion.
These are the bill list. Bill list. All right. Councelor Lachman. Oh no. She just read it. Oh I thought you had some that you wanted to look at. Anybody have anything? I know councelor Williams has some. Councelor Williams,
I just I just had um there were I was just wondering what we're using Comcast for. Um I see like four Comcast bills for
$950 each. I just Is that TV34? No, that's not TV30. That's for the water department for the different facility like Gro Street. uh pump stations and then all these uh pump station uh they do have Comcast for the internet connections. Wow. For the skater
systems. Is this in the 950 that represents what? Uh I believe is the monthly charge. I I'm pretty sure it's a comcast is for the water utility department, but the 950 I don't see the
bill, but I know that is for the water utility department. Could we just look at that cuz that that's just awfully high. And there's four bills for 950. It's a dedicated circuit. So is a dedicated IP address.
It just seems awfully high. But I guess if it's a dedicated one, that would make a difference. Well, I guess because they got to monitor the whole water system. I don't I don't know. It's worth Yes, it's worth looking into. I'll look into it and
report back to you. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Thank you, manager Marks. Anyone else have any further discussion items? Council Toler. Sure. Um I know you guys want the page number and it's so tiny and small. Well, anyway, it's under capital
and I'm just wondering um the first floor AC unit for 19,000. Is that for this building or is that for We had to get the TLP TLP climate control systems. There is no page number on this
one. So, I'm sorry. None of these have page numbers this time. Under capital. Yeah. So it's probably three or four pages in first first floor AC unit. Yes. Is that for here?
I think they were here recently. I'm sorry, Council Troller. I I think these um these contractors, they were here recently. And I just can't confirm that it was for the this building cuz they maintenance a couple of the municipal buildings I think. Okay.
Again, I could I will look into it and I could report back. Okay. Thank you. And I just had one more question about Big Belly Solar. Um I know Mr. Austin Ashley was going to look into
um seeing if we can get those extended to other parts of Montlair. Uh particularly the fourth ward since we're paying $6,500 every month and they're not in the fourth ward yet. Perhaps he can email me and let me
know when and if we're going to be getting some down there. I'd specifically asked him about that, so I will follow. Okay. Thank you. Adam Clair. Deputy Mayor Anderson. Yes. Councelor Birmingham. Yes.
Councelor Damato. Yes. Councelor Lochman. Yes. Councelor Toller. Yes. Councelor Williams. Yes. Mayor Baskerville. Yes. Okay. No. We have um two discussion items. The first discussion item is on
the sidewalk ordinance. Councelor Damato, do you want to read us that and then we can Anybody that wants to jump in? Um, oh yeah, there's nothing to read. Okay,
so on here there are two discussion items. Sidewalk ordinance. Anyone wish to have any discussion regarding the sidewalk ordinance? I Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, folks are coming up and
they're sending emails and they're saying, "Hey, um, we don't like the ordinance she just passed." But keep in mind, the ordinance was already in place. It was just a correction that was made um so that code enforcement can
actually enforce the law. So, the sidewalk ordinance was already in place, and I know this from personal experience because they hit my block several years ago, and you know, I had to, you
know, I had to pay thousands of dollars to get the slate uh removed. And then I heard a gentle I heard someone say something about they had a corner property PSNG did work and it's going to cost $15,000 to replace. first if that
happened to me as well because I have a corner property. PSEG came and uh did work and they broke all the blue stone that I paid thousands of dollars for the previous years. Um and they they said it was going to cost
$9,000 to to replace. And after months and months of following up with them, you know, I agreed to let them put in cement. Oh, I know. Uh But but in in any event, so that person
if they're still listening out there, you know, please go after PSEG and put in a claim. Um because the contractor is responsible if they look up your sidewalk. Um but this the other matter
the the real reason why I want to mention something about this audience here because there's this talk about trees you know not being planted properly and part of the reason why my sidewalks were slightly a skew and off
and tripping hazard whatever the case may be was because of trees and you know Monontlair is a town of trees right so I I don't think I know this notion was put out there that you know hey you know contractor came and they they
planted trees incorrectly and the town should pay for it. I do not agree with that at all. I I think that you would be facing millions of dollars if you subscribe to that sort of thought process here. And I and it's it's going
to be borne by everyone anyway. I I don't really think that that's the proper approach to take there. I I think in the finance committee we were talking about potentially uh doing something where
um if the town had had to do the work then the person can pay it over a period of time a short period of time maybe you know two years three years or something like that. That's the closest that we came to that. But, you know, just the
the sidewalks, while you don't own them, you do have to maintain them. It's it's not unique to Monontlair. I I had to do that in Brooklyn and as well. So, that's that's all I have to say. I I hate talking a lot.
I I know I was um even when we first voted on this, I had some hesitance and and I still have that hesitance and it's for the same reasons that many of the residents are um talking about as well as a lot of the um environmentalists and
landscapers and other people that understand the roots of trees. And I really want um for the experts to take a look at this and if Montlair is planting trees and if within a 10-year period and
this is what I'm being told is a chance for those roots to get in there, if the sidewalks are just being lifted because we're not planting them deep enough, then I don't think that the homeowners should should be charged for that. And and yes, I'm a victim per se of having
to pay for um you know, sidewalk stuff. And mine was after Montlair, you know, did not plant properly the trees and and we went on and paid it because that's that's what we know to do. Montlair gives you a bill, you pay it. But I I'm
happy to see that a lot of the residents realize that, you know, they have a voice. they should be able to speak up and they should have, you know, some say so into if we are doing something that appears as though it was not done properly, then we should be held accountable. Um, and so I think that
will help us to make sure that whoever's doing the planting is someone that's going to do it properly. So that you're talking about, you know, thousands upon thousands upon dollars. It is, but why should the homeowner incur that when they are the ones that, you know, are in the middle of something that was done
improperly? So my concern is about those residents. My concern is also that we get um something here where and in fact I was told today that we can easily go out and get an RFP for a group so that if we're going to have people replacing
sidewalks that our homeowners can get the best um prices and so um and that shouldn't take a lot to do. We can put out an RFP. I understand that there's already a couple of groups that, you know, have have expressed interest in um
possibly doing that so that our um residents are not having to pay top dollar for something. And we got this information, I don't know if it was from you, the sidewalk repair funding guide that we were um taking a look on and I
think that we should all take a look and read that sidewalk repair funding guide. There's a lot of different communities who are really um taking a look at what it is and what the expenses are on top of the taxes that their residents are
being asked to incur and just seeing if there if we can do better. And I think we can do better. Ma'am, yes, councelor Toller. Sure. Thank you. Um so I did not vote in favor of the sidewalk ordinance as I stated when it was time for a vote.
um that I believe that the ordinance should be something that was equitable for all or most rather um because I knew that people would have troubles paying these types of bills and well here we are. Um I know some residents have asked us to take a pause if you will um and
perhaps we should do that until we can figure out exactly what is a one size that fits most because it'll never be a one size that fits all and it definitely shouldn't be a one sizefits one. Um, I understand that there is some New Jersey state law language around sidewalk
ordinances and I don't know, Mr. Attorney, if you have any language handy at the moment or something that you can share with the full council via email at a later time. Um, but I don't understand how a municipality can change a state law for sidewalks when the laws for
sidewalks change so frequently on the state level. So, we have a lot to consider, a lot to review. Um, these are just my thoughts. Um, we need to figure this out and make sure it's a one-sizefits most because I've shared
every email that I've gotten regarding uh these sidewalk ordinances from various residents in the fourth ward and the majority of them are having major problems coming up with the money to pay for this. Okay? And this it didn't have to
be this way. we could have had a really good discussion about a one-sizefits most to make sure that we had some additional language in there, even if it was a a 60-day buffer or something to that effect. Perhaps that would have helped, but just wanted to put that out there on
the record. And it's, you know, I'm sorry that you had to pay so much money and get submit. Um, you know, councelor Williams and then deputy mayor. Councelor Williams and Deputy Mayor to and I'm I'm doing something that I don't
like, you know, uh commenting multiple times on the same topic, but I I think it's warranted this time. So, the amendment Well, in my opinion, the amendment uh I I I wouldn't mind seeing an amendment that extended the the
period of time from 30 days to like 45 days. It is 45. is 45 days or maybe 60, you know, to give give people um um an additional 2 weeks or so. I I
wouldn't mind if that amendment went through. So, and I just wanted to add one other thing. The the people that were speaking about trees, they weren't saying that the trees weren't planted properly. They were saying that the township actually planted the trees. So, I just wanted to clear that up. Um I did
email Mr. Austin Ashley to ask if the arborist could supply us with a report on where township trees have been planted, let's say, over the past 10 years. Unfortunately, our arborist uh didn't get back to me and Mr. Austin Ashley stated that there is no official
report. It might only contain 1% of the trees that have been planted in the township. Um, so I just wanted to clarify, residents aren't saying the trees weren't planted properly. They were saying the township planted No, the residents weren't. I am I'm saying that this has nothing to do with that. I'm
saying that I know for a fact that there was a time when Mont Clair planted trees and they were not planted properly. They weren't deep enough. And and other people here have had other examples and times when they were not planted deep
enough. And so I'm saying when the township makes a mistake like that. Oh, gotcha. And from what I've been hearing when I asked the experts, they said 10 years. Cuz I said, "Well, how long?" Cuz if the tree has been there, the old oak tree or whatever, it's been there for
years and years, then you know when you buy the house, maybe it's there, whatever. And they said that 10 years would be a reasonable amount of time. And if say year 1 2 3 whatever up to 10 years it flips your sidewalk up then
that is an indication that it was not planted properly in the first place. And if it was the township that planted it I'm saying we should step up on those instances and and take care of the sidewalk. Right. And if I can and replant a tree properly. Sure. I I I
received that. U Mr. Mark, if I can ask you to please ensure that the arborist can get that report to me, that would be appreciated. Um, we did give him a pay increase about two meetings ago. I'm not really sure what he's doing with his time. Uh, but I would like a report on
where the trees have been planted in this township and in an effort to try and create some kind of database so that code enforcement, you know, if we get an amendment to this sidewalk ordinance at some point that code enforcement would actually have a database to work from where township tree has been planted or
is it because of something else that the sidewalk is all bubbled up? So, if you can help me get that report or maybe have him start doing a report, that would be appreciated. Okay. Mayor. Yes. Um, Council Damato. So, uh, as the
representative for the ward that has the mo probably the most sidewalk per person, uh, I've been getting a lot of I've been dealing with a lot of this and talking to people. Uh, today probably three or four people that I talked to, somebody who said that they are now repairing a
sidewalk that they replaced in 2019 again with a with a street tree. So I had what I thought was a really brilliant idea which is always a bad sign. Uh uh and a person who came up here
mentioned it you know they said that they liked my idea of grading things. I said, "Why can't we do this that we would have, you know, instead of it just being one-sizefits-all pass fail with a lot of things failing?" And I'll get to that in a second that we could do like
F, it's a total hazard. You got to fix it now. D, it's failed, but like you can wait a little bit and C doesn't look so good. Try to get it fixed, but we're not going to ding you right now. And the manager uh correctly as it turns out
point pointed out that that's just not the way it works because what we are subject to is not a state law but a federal guideline but from the Department of Transportation under a system that has an acronym that he
didn't even know it was so complex. Um but it basically the quarter inch thing is a Americans with Disability Act guideline. It's a quarter of an inch which is totally un unforgiving and then so in other words like we can't you know that is a past
fail and unfortunately a quarter of an inch is even if there are no trees it will be a fail just the freezing and thawing underneath underneath sidewalks will give you this problem. So, and then adding on to that,
we have the issue that code enforcement is not a normal department or or or thing. They have an obligation that goes above the town because of good meaning uh intention laws to protect them from political
persuasion, i.e. somebody being like, "Don't worry about that sidewalk. They're my friend." So, we're really between a rock and a hard place because we're a town that should be trying to help and honor people who are disabled and just to make our sidewalks a place
for pedestrians. We've just obviously passed a big piece of legislation about that. So, we can't ignore if sidewalks are in a bad situation. I mean, we are it's a legitimate problem. Um, I think the question would be to the attorney and to
to the manager of what we can do because once a code of official sees something that's it, it's in the book. So, correct, they would have to work out something along those lines. Now, I do support and again I'm
talking the interests of my resident of my voters that you know I would love to see the town pay for sidewalks that were harmed by street trees. If we had a general program to fix sidewalks, it
would be a giant financial transfer program from the rest of the town to my ward. So, I love it, but ideologically I'm against it because it's unfair. it's unfair to other people in the town. But I do think that that if it if the that I
would like to see a program that was very simple, it was not an administrative burden and and it was not a big financial burden that if there was a a an example when the arborist said, "This is a clear example of of of a
problem." And I don't think it's, by the way, I don't think it's that a tree is not in too deep. It's oftentimes the wrong place or the wrong type of tree. And 20 years ago, they did apparently plant a bunch of trees that are shallow rooted and it was a big nightmare. But
it I'm interested in a common sense solution that most people will agree with. And I do think that that this resident who just wrote to me and saying we fixed it in 2019. They're just playing by the rules, but the rules seem crazy. And we have this unfortunate
problem that um and Miss X do and others talked about it that it defies common sense that in a town like this that a quarter of an inch is the standard, but that's what it is. So, I don't I don't I wish I had the solution, but it's a it's
a real pickle. Maybe if we wait long enough, Trump will get rid of the uh department stall. Deputy Mayor. I I mean, I wrote down the grading, looking into the grading, but I guess that's that's a no that's a
no. I'm just going to tell a little story. On my way to Edgemont Park on Saturday on um Holland. Mhm. Um I walked past um I was walking to the park and there was this really awful like raised
piece of sidewalk and there was a tree there, like a very large tree. So, I'm never going to be able to look at a sidewalk without wondering if it was because of a tree anymore. But, um, so I guess yeah, for me um it is trying to
balance um fairness versus, you know, a legitimate need to make sidewalks safe. We don't want people tripping. We don't want people falling. We want disabled people to be able to get get past. Um, so my my question I think I wanted to
raise after talking to a first W resident um over the weekend about an inexperience that she um she had was um just more along the lines of looking at actual implementation the enforcement and um because what this resident was
expressing frustration about was that um I guess she thought that um there were a lot of blocks in the same geographical area um that were being cited um and and they were all contacting the same
contractors. And so I'm just wondering if there's something that we might want to think about is like staggering, you know, uh the enforce the sighting of violations a bit so that people don't have such a hard time because then they're all given a deadline of 45 days.
um and they're all going to the same contractors who are all busy and so you know they can't get the problem fixed in time. I think that works better for the residents because if you have a block of them and then that goes back to my suggestion that I think is a wonderful
suggestion that we put out a RFP for a contractor to give us the best prices and then if somebody like everybody on Holland or whatever is getting at the same time that contractors going there and they might even say well since I
have six houses on Holland you know that price might even come down it gives them something to work with other than just being out there by themselves. So, I want to be really clear. There's nothing in my mind that that wants me in any shape or form, not to fix every sidewalk
that needs to be fixed. And as you you know, people with different mobilities and stuff, some people that really can't even lift their feet up, they slide their feet. So, I get it. We have to have safe sidewalks. But I'm saying while we have safe sidewalks, let's not, you know, make the homeowners if they
don't if it's not their responsibility. And yes, when you place a tree in the wrong location such that the roots are not planted deeply enough, it throws the sidewalks up. I mean, I've talked to experts. I'm not just making this up. And so if we know like in '06 I believe
was the biggest year that I know in the fourth ward where they planted trees and and tons of people had to go back and then pay for them. I don't know what other years but there have been years when the trees were not planted properly. Why would we not want to take care of that? I mean that's just like
anything else you do. You go get your brakes fixed and if your brakes aren't fixed properly, you go back and the people fix your brakes for free. They don't go back and then charge you. So I don't understand why that's such a hard concept to understand. If we make and I'm just saying if we clearly make a
mistake with planting of the trees then why would we not want to fix it? May I? Yes. Councelor Toller. Sure. Thank you. I just wanted to try to piggy back off of what um councelor Shen Anderson, Deputy Mayor Shen Anderson stated. She you mentioned something about is there a
way that we can and I'm using the word lax. That's not what you said. But um the thing is when an ordinance is passed, code enforcement has a responsibility to go out on the 21st day to enforce said ordinance. So we don't
have the power to tell them don't do it. We do have the power to make an amendment to the ordinance if we want to change some language. And I think you were asking is there any way we can kind of change it that we can tell them to just kind of not go here but go there? we on the
21st day they have to go out. Um so this that's just their law if I'm not mistaken. But um if we're thinking about looking and revising it, we can request that code enforcement put some laxing on issuing violations for the moment until
we get this revision if we're going to revise it or an amendment to the ordinance done. Similar to what we did to overnight parking, we put a lax on it temporarily until we were able to come up with an ordinance and so be it. So, whose committee is
this? Is this mobility as well or No, no, sorry. Oh, is it? I mean, human services be happy to do it. Who's human services on myself? Yeah. Sue and Eileen. Okay.
But Irene says, "No, no, thank you." No. Um, I have a question for the attorney. I'm I'm sorry, Councelor Damato. Mr. attorney. So, is it possible to structure a something like this legally
so that code enforcement or the code enforcement would have the ability to take all of their potential site tape. I mean, they're not sending them out the very day, but to to
prioritize them so that the ones that were the most egregious were at the top of the pile. Selective enforcement is a huge problem with code enforcement, which kind of reiterates all the issues that were discussed here. It's Jersey. I had a try. Understood. And I can certainly appreciate it, but I I would
not recommend it. I think we only get into trouble that way. Um, yeah. No, I mean I I'm happy to um work on this. I I would say that what we passed, just to reiterate what councelor
Williams started with, we did not in any way substantially change anything that previously existed. That's right. But but the concept because I was looking I was trying to find in Monontlair history what what was
done and I found an article from 1951 that where Montlair after World War II had taken on this big initiative to fix sidewalks. They had given out a thousand citations. People had 30 days to fix
them. If they did not fix them in 30 days, the township did it and then the house owners paid over time and it was added to their tax bill. And if they had trees, because trees were specifically mentioned, they they could bring an
inspector out to help them figure out how to manage the trees. They were not allowed to remove the trees. Um, but in other words, it's very similar to what we still have today. And I think that's it's it's how it's been. Which is not to say we can always look to change things,
especially if it could be changed for the better. But I would say that this again, it would not come without some significant cost potentially. Could we figure out, you know, as you said, contractors, could we get five
contractors who guaranteed that they would do it for x amount of dollars per square foot, you know, so we know that people weren't being gouged, like that kind of thing. Could people potentially pay over time? I I think these are things that might be costneutral somewhat for the lips. Like if it's like
literally like this, can somebody just add a Yeah. Can it be shaped? Can they add a like a a concrete strip so that we can figure out maybe they don't have to set, you know, their whole sidewalk. So, I mean, I do think we could work on this to see, you know, what might be
costneutral, what we're willing maybe to spend money on. I think the trees obviously we want to make sure they're planted appropriately. We choose the right trees, not too tall under the power lines, not you know, into the um in the room. Then while you guys are
working on it, what will happen in the interim? Are is this group interested in putting some sort of lax on violations being issued until we get this resolved or are we going to keep the ordinance as it is? Because that's the question. Nothing's if we don't make a decision
tonight, code enforcement goes out tomorrow and they start issuing violations all over again. So, um, we have to kind of make a decision tonight if we're going to lax it, if you will. How does that work? I I don't think you can do that though unfortunately. I think that goes back to the selective
enforcement issue that you have. The code enforcement's hands are going to be tied after that 21st day as you residents will still get these notices violations and then they'll just have to work faster and harder to get a new ordinance in place.
Okay. I'm so sorry. Yes. No. No. I was just saying this discussion moving on to the next. So yeah, so I think we have a plan. Um the human
services group will um look further into this and we're going to move on to the next discussion item. Uh discussion item 23, revision of township meeting agenda to allow for a split session public comment format and remote comment. Uh,
Council Damato. Um, yeah, this this did uh go through the but not get voted on in the in the communications committee some months ago uh and then was put on pause until the arrival
of a new manager who could opine on it. And the idea is pretty simple that um there are people whose voices were not he heard tonight because they cannot come here um either because of a
disability uh young children in the house or or otherwise. Um I think most or all of us if we had been asked during the campaign would have said that we're for remote comment um I would not have
okay our board of education has had the practice for eons without any great problems. Um, and I think when I last checked, the majority of our neighboring
communities, neighboring municipalities did it. I don't know how many across the state, but I think quite quite a few. Um, this this format change also would include splitting the public comment
period into two periods. um as was done earlier by the previous council and I would not be surprised if you could find a tape of me poo pooing it at the time but you know it's good to
know that people you know you know I'm wrong they were right I think on this because having a a common section at the beginning of the night which is limited to the business at hand is very very
useful because it focused is people on what we're here to actually do, what our powers are. So, and it gets very specific. So, when people come up, they say what I'm what they're going to talk about. They get the same three minutes
and they focus on that. And then that will be about all the things that are on our agenda because you have to give people the chance to talk about resolutions before they happen. And I think it would be very productive. It would focus people on what we're here to do, right, which is legislate. And then
we would have an ability after that to talk about those specific things that they bring up. And there would be some remote comment. And then after our business is finished, which would be maybe a half an hour earlier or an hour earlier, we would have open comment on
any topic. And then and it just there's a natural rhythm to that where then people can say well we go okay well we finished our business let's talk about new business or let's talk about general topics right so so in the case tonight the people who
were here to talk about the climate super fund act they would have been talking first and people who wanted to talk about other things clary Anderson and so forth if it wasn't on the agenda would then talk afterwards and I think you know we could try it and then revert
back. I think it's a good it's a good idea. I think adding public comment adding remote comment to the comment that we already have might extend our public comment period at the beginning of the night. I I think it's a good idea to not have a
very long public comment period at the beginning of the evening before we do our work because we end up at 11:00 doing our work and we end up at 11:00 sometimes doing heavy things in executive session which is not a great idea. It's better to get those done I
think earlier in the night and to have people focused. But I wrote it all out and people could read. I read that and I I think that it's discriminatory for us to pick and choose who can come up and who can't. I think that the way we're doing it now is a fair and equitable
way. People come first come first serve. You come up and you speak because just because we have something on the agenda doesn't make it any more important to our constituents. This is what we decided to talk about tonight and people will have a chance to do that. But why should the people that have other issues
that are important to them? We're we're here to serve everybody. And so if somebody has an issue that's not on the agenda, they should have just as much opportunity to come up and share that. And they shouldn't have to sit until 11 or 12 or whatever time just because it
didn't happen to be on our agenda. So I'm not in favor of making people sit just because what they want and what they think is very very important to them is not on on on our agenda. Um, and also I'm just, you know, I just don't
understand at at all why why we would want to have remote people unless we can identify that they are Montlair residents because there's no checks and balances. People can be anywhere and just call up and the world is getting really mean and nasty. Just call up to
curse us out, tell us off or what, whatever. So, I'm just trying to figure out how that works. Is there a way that we can tell that they're a Montlair resident? As far as I know, the answer would be no. And so, we're just opening up floodgates for people to do anything, just like they do on Facebook. People
make up stuff that's based on nothing. And then we sit here for what, another two hours to listen to people from all over anywhere, right? There's no way to limit where those calls are coming from, is there? Well, yeah. I mean, you can ask people to pre-register. you can
check their registration and then they're given a number as it comes in. Again, the BOE does it like other towns do it. So, I don't know why. And again, we can then let's not pretend that we're being inclusive because there are a lot
of people I get emails from people. There are people who don't come. I know people who didn't come tonight. They have little kids like we're discriminatory against them. I mean other other communities and other bodies in town are doing it. We've
given them opportunities counselor. In fact, at the beginning of the year, we mentioned that if they wanted to send us emails, we would, you know, announce them publicly so people would know that and we can address that. So, there will be people that can't come. There'll be
people that don't have telephones and can't call us from wherever they are. So, but I'm just saying I think that we are giving people opportunities to be heard. I get it. You know, it' be a lot, you know, better if we could have um a couple of meetings a day so that the
people that um don't work during the day can come during the day and stuff like that. But I think we give them opportunities. They can email us. We can broadcast that we have an email from so- and so and they want us to address that and we can have the discussion without having to have phone calls from all over
the world and not being able to verify. But I didn't know like what you're saying that might be a thought where you're saying we have them pre-register. I didn't know anything about the pre-registration thing where we can check. So that that um certainly opens up a new thought thing for me. Yeah. No,
I just don't understand how that would happen. That's why maybe if Mr. Fan could tell us how does that pre-registration thing work, Mr. Fan? I got to think about it. Depend what technology will we use? probably maybe if you use zoom there's a lot the zoom
or webex the team they allow you pre-register and once they pre-register then I have to work with the clerk office verify they and make sure they are monontlair resident because I don't have access to some of the uh the clerk office uh stuff with the resident
information so have to call reference that so I will have to come up with some idea suggestion for you for the mayor and council to consider but councelor lockman They don't have to be Monontlair residents because you could be a business owner in town who has a who doesn't live in Monontlair who has a
legitimate question they want to talk about. So how do you control for that? I don't know. You don't you that but yeah I get what you're saying too. I'm just trying to figure it just seems like there's no controls. I get what you're saying. Yes. Um I think Councelor
Birmingham and then councelor Williams. Okay. Councelor Williams and then councelor Birmingham. So, and then I'm sorry, Deputy Mayor says she's in here somewhere. Go ahead, Councelor Williams. I'm sorry. Let's all talk at the same time. Uh, so I didn't campaign on remote
comment. I I think I think the public comment the way we're currently doing needs to be reformed a bit uh just because we're here for this period of time, just the way it is formatted.
And you know, I don't know whether it's a limitation on time or reducing the time or or actually reducing the time that we each have discussing an item because, you know, and this my pet
peeve, we, you know, go around in circles maybe we kind of do like Congress where, you know, Councilman Demato, you have three minutes and you you do your three minutes and then that's it. then the next person goes but fun fundamentally we need to change the
way we do this because it's just not an efficient use of time here I mean just for I mean how many lawyers have we had here says oh you know five six hour meetings I mean it's it's it's the way the
meeting is formatted um the other thing here is I don't I think that everyone that wants to say something to the council has an opportunity to say something to the council. I got a call on Mother's Day at 1:30 from someone complaining about a noise complaint on
my on my cell phone. So, everyone has an opportunity to say something. I get emails all all the time. So, no one's being deprived of an opportunity to reach out to to the council. It's just a matter of do you want everyone else to
to do you want to stand up in front of every everyone else and say what you have to say? But I if that's if that's the goal, then yes, those people are not getting it. But if the goal is because you have something that you want to have done, you want the council to do
something, there's plenty of ways to do that. We we do it every day. Last night, we we had that that meeting with the with the business owners. I mean, what do we have like 50 60 people in there, so people's voices are are getting
getting heard. So anyway, um, Council Birmingham, um, so I do believe in remote comment. Um, and I do think that there are towns that have models that we could look at
and like they do have people pre-register, they're sent a link, you have to provide your name, your address, you know, like full information because we don't want, you know, Zoom bombing, which has happened in some town. Um, having said that, I
also I also agree with you, mayor. I'm not sure about this idea of having people comment only on agenda items and then not um because I I think it's too hard to police it, you know. I I think and then we would wind up
interrupting people in the middle of their comment. I I just think it would be too potentially chaotic. Um, having said that, I do think we have opportunities to, if we were to introduce remote comment, we would need
to put some guard rails around public comment in general because we can't be sitting here until 1 in the morning um to, you know, on an average night. And and some things that I've
seen towns do, for example, is they'll say, you know, comments are three minutes, but if more than 20 people sign up for comment, the council reserves the right to have the comments be two minutes. And I sit and I look at this clock and I will tell you and I,
you know, I've been, I've done comment. I know when you're sitting, when you're standing there, it feels very short. I can tell you it's you can make a point in two minutes. you you can make a point in two minutes. In in some towns when there's a lot of people, they make it 30
seconds the comments. And believe it or not, you can make a very clear point in 30 seconds. I'm not saying we would do that all the time, but if we have, you know, 20 people waiting remotely to talk and 20 people here in person to talk 30,
like we have to do we just have to do something because these are the meetings where we have to get our work done and and that is the purpose of these meetings. And so I I believe we should explore public comment. I believe we will have some time because we have a June meeting and then after that we have
six weeks, you know, before our next meeting. I do think we have time to be exploring this. Um, but again, I think we will need to put some kind of guard rails on it because we can't be, you know, we can't have 50 people signed up
from home and then and having three minutes of, you know, that's what I would say. Council Toller. Yeah. I just wanted to piggy back off of your statement and council Birmingham. Um, you know, I agree with you both.
Um I'm just curious, you know, if this comes to some sort of fruition. Do we don't have the technology now to handle this. Is that correct, Mr. Fan? Yes, we do. We do. We just have to set up the process and procedure like and that would we don't know who that person
would be to handle the vetting and the setting up. That's another duty that someone here at 205 would be responsible for. Correct. again we have to thought it too and then assign the employee to do it or myself
right okay um and Mr. attorney. Um I think maybe it was the other attorney we asked this question to or I don't remember which attorney. Are we allowed or to have a signup sheet and remove it after a certain time?
What do you mean? Well, I know some municipalities they put the signup sheet there for people to speak in public and after 20 minutes they take it away. So, whoever's on the signup sheet is just whoever speaks. Is that an option for us? And I'm just asking because I know some municipalities do it. you usually
cut down usually people that want to give public comment should be afforded the time but we have to also comply with our own policies and treat that equally. So I think we just have to maintain consistency but I do recommend that guard rails if if if the remote sessions
are going to be utilized that we do require guardrails because it can be unruly and uh obviously want to be sure the appropriate people are actually making the comments. So thank you. Can I ask? I'm sorry. Um, deputy mayor has been sitting here so peacefully. I'm
sorry. I'm sorry. No, that's okay. Um, I actually Well, two things. I would like to explore the remote comment. Um I did say that I wanted to um I I I think um if we can um there
definitely have to be guard rails in place, but um if we are able to provide that opportunity for people who for whatever reason can't be here and feel like they they they need to say something, um I I I think that we should try to to get
that in place. Number two, um I actually am in favor of um having the agenda item comments first. And the main reason is because, you know, I've been doing some digging into how long other council meetings in other
towns are. I mean, to me, it should be the exception rather than the rule for our meetings to go beyond two hours, right? I mean, the the the primary purpose of having these meetings, as councelor Birmingham said, is to get our
business done. And so, um, and of course we have to, we're legally required to provide, um, an opportunity for the public to comment, but it seems like we have a lot of options and it's entirely up to us as to how we want to do this. And I I I'm just really hoping that we
are not going to have this be a regular like it's not going to be our rule that our meetings are going to be 5 hours every time we meet. You know, um, there are opportunities for us to have conversations between meetings. there are opportunities for us to I mean I I
take phone calls and emails we all do and another thing that this council is doing that I don't think was done um perhaps in some of the prior councils is we do have community meetings we have regular meetings we have done well I mean well done I I guess but like maybe
maybe not from last maybe when you were on the council not everybody but you know I'm just saying that there are other as councelor Williams said there are other ways that we can prov provide forums to um to allow people to speak up. So, it's just to me it's just not
sustainable and it's not desirable for us to go into the wei hours every single time we meet. So, um anyway, I just wanted to put that out there. Um councelor Lachman, so I did want to ask um Mr. Marks, what have you seen in
other places? Carney and two meetings in and out. No, no, no. with no with respect to the way the agenda worked which is what we're discussing really now specifically well where the comments should come in
should should people only be allowed to comment on the the items on the agenda and then at the um end of the meeting to have an open session public comment not in my experience usually it's at the beginning of the meeting the open open session is at the beginning of the meeting and there's no that's my experience restriction well that's what I'm asking you what what's your
experience yeah Okay, that's all I want to know from you. And then um I just a couple of things. I think that we should start our meetings at 6 p.m. Yes. Yep. Number one, I think people I'm with you. People can make their point in two
minutes. And if they knew they only had two minutes, then they got to cut it down. And you got to cut them off after two minutes. I think it's, you know, if you have a legitimate point to make, I don't need the history of everything. I don't need to know how you feel about everything. just make your point in two
minutes. End of story. I think that um also I agree we should investigate remote comment. I mean let's I would be I'd like to see it happen. I've seen it happen in other organizations that I've worked with and it seems to work fine. You do have to as you said have some
guard rails around it. But I also think Rahm you make a good point. You know, we do get emails, endless emails from people and they and they phone well, I don't answer my phone, but endless emails and you know, we do know how the public is thinking, what they're
thinking about, what their concerns are. And I think we try to address that in emails as best we can. But I would give it a go with six o'clock meetings, two minutes for speakers, and investigating the remote. And I'm kind of siding on
the idea of remote. Thank you. I just like to say I think that a lot of the reason that we're here as late as we are is because we are not all all seven of us are not communicating with one another in a way that I think is um
optimal. And I'll give you an example. For example, this this this evening, the items that we spent time going back and forth over 1, two, three, four, and five, right? If whoever didn't want that on there said, "Well, you know who put it back on, whatever, and then came and
said to me, this is what's going on." We would have a conversation offline. And I keep telling people, I really love conversations, like chitchat, come in the office, pick up the phone, whatever. And we could have squashed that. Every
every single time we go through an agenda, I look at the items and I look at things where it says consent agenda and my thought is why is it if this has been on the consent agenda and people have known that for a minimum usually of
four or five days sometimes two weeks or four weeks why are we having so much discussion here? So, I think if we changed the way we communicated with with each other, I'm not saying everybody, just as a as as a group of seven, as a
body of seven people, if we tried to communicate a little bit more with each other and even with the manager and the attorney before we get in here, then I think we can get out of here in no time. I don't think it's all about the public that the reason that we're here all night. I think that we need to correct
some things in terms of how we communicate with one another and when we come in we should pretty much know if it's consent agenda we're going to say hey all in favor I and go on to the next and and I think that can be done it's just a thought I would like for us to to
try and particularly asking where I'm concerned my preference please is if there's stuff that you see on a Friday or Thursday or whatever whenever we get it that it's not sitting right with you if it's something that I put on, I would rather you come and talk to me. We can hash it out and then it's either going
to be on there because I then go speak to a couple of other people and they think it should stay or it's not going to be on it. That's just a thought. Well, just in defense of like you're bringing up the uh uh the items
on the agenda one through five that just came up because I just saw the release from Mr. Amarel looking for more volunteers. So then that changed my view on on these. Okay. That's Yeah. So that's and so I'm and I'm not picking on
any one thing. It just came to my mind. I use that example because we spent quite a bit of time going through that. So let's just forget the items one through five. And all I'm saying is I think that if we all tried to communicate in a way that we hear each other saying is best for us. If you just
want all emails and Renee I just want emails. you you all know I'm doing so much better with this email because you all like that. I'm saying if there's something here that you need to know from me, I would prefer that we, you know, have a conversation and and get it straight before we come in here. I just
think our time usage with one another could be spent better so that we don't have to sit up here and have hours worth of dis debate and discussion on on things that are called consent agenda. Well, I treasure our time together.
until 11, right? So, that's that. Now, we're going to Your mic's not on. Yes. I'm sorry. Thank you. I'd like to um make a motion that um we pass a resolution to go into executive session without public being
permitted to attend here. And uh the purpose is for personnel discussions. And I'd like to ask that everyone other than the council, the attorney, um, manager, and any personnel who will
directly be involved at this time leave. And I don't expect that we're going to have any further um, business this evening. So, thank you all for coming. And I so move. Second. All in favor?
Opposed? Okay. You're unmuted. Thank you. Okay, we're going to return to the um I'd like to make a motion to return to the open session. Second. All in favor? I like to
oppose. I'd like to make a motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. Good morning, everyone. Have a glorious day.