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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=0JpnhEFwcgE

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[laughter] casual Thursday. [laughter] It was But it's only got to get all >> it didn't make any sense. I can't predict anything. [clears throat] comments.

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>> Please. [laughter] >> [snorts] [clears throat] >> Just come toned up. >> I'm okay. [laughter] I hereby announce and state that

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adequate notice of this meeting was provided by a virtue of a resolution scheduling time, date and place of the meetings of the burough council of borrow Morris planes for the year 2026. Which resolution was adopted by the burough council on January 7th, 2026 in promotion the Morris news be in the

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daily record and by posting of such resolution on the bulletin board the boro hall and website all the above actions being in accordance with NJSA 10 cola 4-6 would you please join me for the >> ISA and to the republic for it stands one

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nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Almighty God, we ask you to bless this governing body with an abundance of wisdom and understanding so that in fulfilling your public trust, every deliberation will result in actions that will promote the common good and general welfare for all

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people of Orange Plains. Amen. Notice to members of the governing body of Burough staff any use of electronic devices during this meeting shall be used solely for the purpose of bur. >> Mayor car >> present. >> Mr. >> President, >> Mr. Houston [clears throat] >> present.

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>> Mr. Ivy >> present. >> Miss Mr. Pontier >> pres. >> Um we have a special presentation today this evening and I'd like to welcome Abigail Higgins and her family.

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Abigail I don't know what May June when when did you have May? >> Yeah. >> So Abigail um received the Girl Scout gold gold award and she did a project

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and um she's been 12 years with the Girl Scouts now, right? And so I'd like to ask her to uh come up and just explain her project and uh what you've got out of scouting and everything else. So, >> u we had a a ceremony the Girl Scouts

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did and you know presented her with this at the pavilion. It was great. So, come on up Abigail. >> Where would be the best spot? >> Anywhere. Right here. Anywhere you like. >> Sure. Okay. Hi. So, I'm Abby as you know and my um

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Gold Award project was entitled Smartphone Super Kids. And basically what I had realized through some research was that um kids are getting cell phones younger and younger and they seem to not fully understand everything that comes with getting a cell phone and entering the online world. So, my

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solution to that was to create an interactive, fun, kid-to-kid um curriculum that was online for free and easily accessible. And I was able to present it to a group of Girl Scouts. And it included games teaching them about um what to do if they receive a

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spam message or a spam call, what to do in the face of cyber bullying um and cyber harassment, and then also the importance of screen time. And what I found most interesting about this was by the end I had them all take a final um survey about what they had thought about

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uh my curriculum. And one of the questions was do you think you're ready for a cell phone? And what I found interesting was only 80% had said yes I am ready while only 20% had said no. Which as you may think like oh why not 100%. But what I actually took away from

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that was that 20% of kids who were able to identify, "No, I'm not ready yet." Shows the self-awareness they were now able to um take upon themselves and have that conversation with their parents being like, "No, I don't think I'm ready yet, even though all of my friends have phones. I want to spend more time

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thinking about what it is to be in the online world and what it is to have a cell phone as someone my age." Um, and that was so impactful and one of the reasons why I love scouting because I get to give back to the community and the world that has given me so much and

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has equipped me with the skills to um be able to give back. I I think um I was so impressed and I and I really didn't know that this was implemented right the this project that you did and can you explain a bit a little bit about the process that you

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went through at the school and where it's implemented and >> so my um I had worked with Miss Shaman as some of you might know uh is the STEM teacher at Burough School and she helped me over the course of a year build a program that she thought would actually reach the kids and be interactive while

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also being educational and finding that balance. And it took about a year and my original plan was to get it permanently um enlisted into the burough curriculum, but I realized that would take longer than what my time had allowed with my deadline. Um so instead, I had presented

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it to the board of education showing them why they should include curriculum like this um to hopefully push that towards um future years. and I had sent it out to local churches and local youth groups um camps uh to get the word out

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there and to send out that link so that it could reach more kids. So >> So again, I mean I I was so impressed with this project and just like other you know boy scout and girl scout projects it doesn't touch your projects

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don't just touch one person or one group really. So the the tentacles really go out when you do a project like this and this lasts forever, right? So, I'm sure it will improve as technology improves, but to get something in that in the

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school to to bring awareness to this, >> you know, I really I can't congratulate you enough for this project and for receiving the gold award. But we do have something because at the uh [laughter] at your little ceremony

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there, we we had a little short notice and maybe Rachel can come on up soon, but we were unable to to give you what we normally do, right? So, but we do

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want to present you today with the dear wow >> for your work and becoming [applause] >> [applause] >> Um, so I've known Abby since she was um just a little tiny Girl Scout and um she's moved up through the ranks and has

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been very involved in um many aspects of our Girl Scout service unit. So here in Morris Plains, um we have over 100 Girl Scouts in grades kindergarten through 12th grade in high school. And um from

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the very beginning since Abby was probably in third or fourth grade has demonstrated leadership and um has really like elevated a lot of our programming that we provide to our um

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local Morris Plains Girl Scouts. And so I feel very honored to have been a part of that and witness Abby as she um grew up from a small girl to now a wonderful young lady who's about to embark on her

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um her college journey. So I I know that the skills that you've learned through your Girl Scouting experience will definitely um serve you well in your future. >> [applause] [applause]

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>> Just another tidbit, the last time that this award was was received by a Girl Scout was 10 years ago. >> So, I mean, I think this is a >> this is a milestone. I hope it really uh >> not the last one. >> No, I hope I hope this inspires uh other

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girls to to do this and and receive the gold award and all the accolades that come with it because this is going to follow you throughout your entire life. So you should be very proud of it and all the things that you accomplished and thank you for your uh >> participation, your volunteering for for

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the Girl Scouts. It's so important. So congratulations. Thank you. Welld deserved. Thank you. [applause] >> You can hang that on your college wall. [laughter] You can stay, you can go. It's entirely up to you. >> Thank you so much. >> You're more than welcome. Thank you.

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Hey, Abby. >> Abby, just before you go, I just I'm curious just about the uh the program. Um do you because it sounds like a great program. Probably should be wider than just just Burrow. Do you intend to kind of >> Yeah, I I intend to keep moving it

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forward when I go to I'm going to college in Elizabeth Town, Pennsylvania. So, I will be in another state where I hopefully will get to reach out to the local kids. Um and what works out about that is the elementary school is right down the road from the college I'm attending. So, I hope to continue to branch out. So >> that's great. Excellent. Thank you.

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>> Congratulations. [applause] [laughter] >> Thank you so much. [clears throat] >> Thank you everybody. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> You're welcome. Thank you. >> Um I just do moving on to uh the conference session. A few things. Um our

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affordable housing I'm very proud to announce has been We are finished with it. Uh June 30th of 2035, um the Mount Laurel judge of Morris, I'll just read this here. Uh the Mount

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Laurel judge of Morris County entered into the attached consent order of final compliance certification for the Burough of Morris Queens. It's been a long time coming, but the efforts of the Burough team have paid off. The sole condition set forth in paragraph 9 of this order

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is completely and totally effective. The bureau has achieved the compliance certification that we have been seeking since this committee was formed after the adoption of the amended fair share housing act of March 20th, 2024. So, I uh

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I'm very proud and uh it was a big undertaking by the affordable housing committee and the council, the planning board, our professionals. Um started out at 136 affordable units and we're down to 21 and a half. I don't

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know how that works, but uh again, we want affordable housing. It's just not the five additional units that goes uh with those affordable units that we're good for another 10 years and the world

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can move forward. So, thank you to everybody who was part of that. Just the other thing I'd like to talk about is about the store July 3rd and I just really want to Thank you to

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our DPW. The the employees are still out there. They're working an extra hour every night, working Saturdays and Sundays for last weekend and probably again this weekend, but they're out there doing

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everything they can for cleanup. I'd like to thank really people that don't really get recognized as well as the police and DPW, our fire department, but community center employees who uh who stepped up when we needed to open

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the community center for cooling and charging, the uh the clerk office and and Rosemary really for being available on the weekend when this took place and at night and Melissa Gibson

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does all of our alerts and puts all those out. So, some of those came late late in the evening or at night or after hours, I'll say. But, uh, just thank you to those folks and you really stepped up during this everybody

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informed, safe, updated, and comfortable. It was challenging, but we all got through it. We pulled together and uh, you know, hope we don't have another one. Learned a few lessons. like we do with every storm. And but I think

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all in all, I think everything went well. I think Bill really stepped up and uh with the cable and the internet service for everybody. So, thank you. Everybody up here had a had a task with that they've done that they did and I

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think everybody really worked well together. The small businesses with some of the pool stuff and other things in town. Kelly I know was working on some things but everybody really pulled together and did what we had to do to get everybody up and

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running. So, a huge thank you to everybody. >> Nothing's >> I do. Yes. >> Uh, so at the last meeting I spoke about data centers, uh, their risks to our community and a request to have the planning board to take action against a

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possibility of one coming into the burough. U Mr. Mayor, your answer to me was that you're not the experts and then informed us that you went ahead and reached out to prior uh without looking into the council leazison and use this new and unknown information to stall the discussion. The information we received from our planner didn't include a single

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new fact about data centers, nothing that I had already put in front of this council. What it did give us was something else and honestly it's more useful. It [clears throat] confirmed that uses like warehouses, which are banned in some municipalities, were still able to obtain use variances in other uh jurisdictions. This is my fear

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and my point in bringing this up entirely. If we don't strengthen our code now, we're not protecting this town. We're just hoping nobody tries. So, here's what I'm asking for tonight. Two things. First, I would like from the council to draft an ordinance that flat out prohibits two uses that don't belong in this burrow. Data centers and human

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detention facilities. Regardless of your view on the detention facilities, both are environmentally incompatible with our burrow. Second, separate from the ordinance, I want us to formally ask the planning board to revisit the master plan and put in writing that data centers don't fit where this bureau is trying to go. The master plan gives the

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planning board something to point to when they need it. Council member Houston has already talked to our planner about this directly. Her view is that an ordinance is the right move here. She's seen this exact approach work in other towns and she mentioned that if the technology changes down the road and we have some of these some of these concerns get addressed, we can

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always come back and amend it. But right now, it sends a message that we need to send. So that's my ask tonight. Concurrence on drafting of the prohibited use ordinance to update uh section uh chapter 5, I believe it is, and formally request the planning board to start the master plan revision.

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It's actually uh 135.2A 12. >> So there you go. [laughter] >> Uh any comment that I had, Mike, was certainly not meant to stall anything. It was really to inform the council members of of the planners uh take on

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things. >> Well, you specifically had us wait. >> Yeah, because nobody nobody else got any information. So that's the information I got a day or two or even that night. I forget now. where there's no reason, but it's wasn't meant to stall. It was

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meant to inform. So that's that's that's the reason for that. You can use whatever, you know, buzzwords that you like, but there's no reason to stall anything here. It's just to inform everybody. So if you do an ordinance, it's correct. That's the only reason. So

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you know, the word stall, I don't think is is the correct word. >> Um relevant to this I think is you should [clears throat] be aware of with our ordinances moving forward. I just before the meeting saw that on July 13th there was a Supreme Court case. It was a

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unanimous decision uh versus the township of Montville Monarch Community LLC and it actually is a win for municipalities in terms of approval of use variances in cases where the use is considered beneficial. So inherently

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beneficial uses continue to receive special consideration and they still will. But the case determined that applicants can no longer rely solely on a project's public value to justify a variance. So if for example data centers are deemed

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to be of value to uh the public at large, if in fact it demonstrates that it undermines local planning objectives, then it does not um it substantially impairs the intent and purpose of zonal

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zoning plan and zoning ordinances. This case demonstrated that it will not meet the requirements of obtaining a use variance. So that's actually helpful to us. But I still think that we should implement the protections that we have at our disposal uh for this for these

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two uses because I I think they would provide an undue burden on our municipal infrastructure. >> Yeah. just to kind of further the point um and kind of just remind everyone uh from the last meeting um the there's a

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um Mr. is probably gonna I don't know correct me on this but it's I guess Medici versus BPR code uh use variant standard u which effectively means that if it's if it's not if it's not stated in there

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um it it means that it's not approved right and the comment that was made last time is the presumption that it's not approved and as I said last time uh we need to do more than just presume things because to miss Vera's point right that that can be um overturned at any point.

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So if we don't take action and have specific language that specifically prohibits certain things like data centers and detention facilities, uh that we are opening ourselves up to this. Um so I I agree with with Mr. Ivy and Miss Burger's point. Um as Mr. Ivy

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said, right, I've done a bit of research on this um already. Um and I and I do agree with the uh the motion of moving forward. >> Also, precedent in Mars claims for prohibiting uses. In addition to not having them as pered uses, we have

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several uses on our code that are expressly prohibited. >> So, um, in my opinion, these would fall within that as well. >> I'm also in support of moving it forward. I think being proactive versus reactive is the right move. I think

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we've seen what being reactive has has done in the past. So, I think if we can take steps to strengthen that to ensure that that does not come to our I'm I'm in full support. >> I was just going to Isn't there a large amount of water?

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>> Yes. [clears throat] Water usage, electricity usage on the not China Sea, but China's put them in the ocean, I think. >> Yeah. Then they'll be in space.

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Yeah. No, no, just saying but that just made me realize that the use of water >> then I thought we had passed the uh >> we passed a resolution >> just in opposition [clears throat] >> that was back in January and then in February we're going to discuss forming

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a committee to look into what the next steps were. >> So that that kind of uh didn't happen. So here we are um and since we're already looking at the data center use it seems to make sense to move on both at the same time. There's one thing that I know we have research to do, but I

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don't think we should go down a rabbit hole on the data centers, but I do think that uh and Liz's memo did touch on different sizes of data centers, but I think we should look at the definition closely and see if there's an opportunity to allow servers um because servers can be all different sizes. We have one in this building,

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>> so we wouldn't want to prohibit a like a business from having their servers on site. So, we have to just be careful that we're not making things too restrictive. But I think you know generally we can we can find a definition that will will work. >> You know first I think that the uh the

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state is taking steps as well to try to help municipalities on this. I think New York took a big step the other day uh to kind of do this. So I think the the states are helping us a little bit on this as well.

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Again not stolen anything. I was transparent and brought information. I don't know you guys have the that you're talking about. I'd like to see that as well. Whatever information you guys have turn >> uh yes sir. Um, so Mike, thanks for

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bringing the the data center forward. Um, I'm not I have a bunch of really boring facts and ordinance things I'm not going to put in there because nobody really cares at this point. So when we get to it, we'll uh um I'll add all that stuff in there. Um just on the um so

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I've been I've been uh working on the uh the AV upgrade uh for the council chambers. Um, so we did actually go out and uh get quotes um through the cooperative RFQ. Um, the good news is is that the equipment part of the quotes

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came back within our budget u within the $70,000 budget. Um, the downside of it is that the labor came back higher. Um um labor in in most most of these things is typically double the equipment. Um so I got a little bit of research to do. I

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got to I got to verify if those labor quotes were actually contracted labor rates, which I believe they are. Um but if they're not, then I have we have a little bit of leeway there. Um but um either way, I still have to I have to work on that to make sure that that it fits within the uh the appropriation

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that that we had set. So more to come on that. Um uh one [clears throat] thing I do want to bring up um and uh it's kind of it's there's been a lot of talk about it um in this in this room uh and around

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around town as well. Um has to do with property maintenance. Um specifically um there's a resident uh property that borders a commercial property on Speedville Avenue. Um and uh this particular resident has been uh

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reporting a maintenance violation for approximately two years. Um I understand that today um that particular fence uh was removed from the site u but unfortunately this only addresses the narrowest violation uh and doesn't

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resolve the underlying condition um which now that the fence is gone the resident's property now has no barrier at all against any adjoining commercial lot. Um uh there's no uh there's no screening conditions. Uh there's there's Um, and

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then there's also lot maintenance issues as well because now my understanding is that those fence panels are now sitting on the empty lot. They're not cleaned up. So that goes to lot maintenance. Um, so I think that uh while the attempt was

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there, um, I don't think it, um, solved the problem. Um, I think just kind of putting it bluntly, the resident still unhapp it didn't solve the issue. Um, in fact, it made it worse. um because it actually opened that property up to even more

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violations. Um and I think that we um need to pursue with the zoning officer issuing violations uh for for that property. Um I think this has gone on way too long. Um you know, little things like getting the fence taken down isn't

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amounting to really anything. Um, so I I you know, I think I've asked this before, but I I would ask that uh you know, we we actually have the zoning officer issue violations to that commercial property owner. Specifically, I'm talking about um the corner property, as everybody knows, is

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McDonald's, right? The the property owner there. Um I'm requesting that uh we issue we we um request that the zoning officer issue violations uh to that property owner uh for keeping their property maintained.

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>> I mean certainly if that falls underneath that category then that certainly can be address. >> Okay. Do do can I ask for your support in going to the zoning officer in in requesting those violations? >> Uh absolutely. I don't know. I have to

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look to see whether there's any uh requirement for somebody to have a fence >> anymore. I I don't know that. There is >> there isn't in real estate if there's a commercial property next to a residential property the commercial property is required to put up a barrier.

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>> Y so that okay I'm not sure if you guys again have looked at this that's fine but I would certainly there's any kind of defiance or whatever that has to be that has to go out. >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I mean just to kind of further Tyler's point, um the way I see

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it and based on my research, um there's there's effectively four things now. >> Um there's there's a blighting factor which is still active. Um shall not constitute a blinding factor in an adjoining property. Um >> uh removing the collapse fence without

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replacing leaves an open unscreen commercial property boundary. A budding residential yard. Right. There's now the landscaping um issue which is now the fence is gone. Landscape it says in the ordinance landscaping of all premises shall be properly maintained um hedges and bushes

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kept trimmed um and from becoming overgrown and unsightly were exposed to public view and where the same constitutes a blighting factor depreciating adjoining property which this would depreciate the property. uh sanitation um it goes to and then just a

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general nuisance um any unattractive nuisance which may prove detrimental to the health or safety of children and structurally unsound fences or structures used lumber trash junk debris or vegetation. So we took care of the the fence issue but there's still a bunch of trash and everything over there

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on that side of the property. So I do think we on those four alone and there may be others I do think we have we because look I mean I I've called Mr. I don't know. Um and I've asked him to call the property owner and he's done

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that. Um but it hasn't gone anywhere. Um other than them taking the fence down today before the meeting. Um you know I I it we're just this is not in the best interest of the residents and I think that we need to be stronger about it and I think we need to put our foot down and

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start issuing violations and fines. Are they going to amount to nothing anything? I don't know. But it's a step in the right direction that that you know we could take to show the residents of Morris plans that we actually care. So that's and I appreciate you've already said that you would support me in that. So I appreciate that. Um and so

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I look forward to to doing that in the next couple days. So thank you. >> F is still there on the ground. >> The fence was uh was taken down but I believe the the parts of it are still on they're not on the the resident's property. They're on the the other property, but um you know, they're

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they're still there. [snorts] >> That's all I have. Thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. >> So, at the last meeting in June, I mentioned emergency communications using wave alerts. Um that took on relevance this month, obviously, as the burough

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work to keep residents informed of storm recovery. So, at today's senior lunch, we did a quick survey of senior citizens. We got 21 responses. Five people requested rave alerts as a push phone call rather than a text message because they may not have a cell phone.

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So I had asked Chief Kowski about that and he had uh a couple weeks ago and he mentioned that there are only about 104 people signed up to receive rave alerts that are sent as a phone call versus a text message. So um we we will continue working with the PD to repromote this as

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one of their options for getting communications. They also mentioned that they would be interested in some type of a five out of 21 people who return the survey. Uh interested in a reverse raid, which is where a resident would call a phone number to hear a recorded message

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uh with emergency updates. Some seniors have difficulty getting to the phone quickly. So if it it rings, they get stressed out and they can't get to it, goes to voicemail or whatever. So this way they would have the option to call the number and get updates that the bureau could put out as needed or they

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could on a weekly basis, on a regular weekly basis for not only emergency things, but what's going on in town. If they're not receiving an email or a text message or um any other type of our bureau communications, Facebook, etc. This would be a way for them to just get

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a a brief update of what's going on. So, I would like to with council's permission just follow up with our IT team and see what capabilities they already have in house to just have a recorded line that people could call. >> So, I think the recorded line would be

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somebody else with that. >> Okay. >> We just had somebody here, but that's a that's a we may have a line already here. >> Okay. >> But anyway, um but I think uh also and I just saw that sheet today and I was thinking about it

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in a situation like this when the phone lines were down, right? >> There almost has to, you know, number one would be a or you know, they have to pick if they're capable of doing that, right? >> Normally, yeah, that would work, but you

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know, it's an emergency like this or some other kind of storm that takes care of the or takes out the phone and whatever. >> Yes. >> Just that was just >> Yeah. And to that point, like there was tremendous work that was done [clears throat] mostly by the mayor and

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the police chief, our our emergency management team, DPW, fire department, police department doing spot checks on residents that we knew were vulnerable. Um utility crews and everyone else under these difficult circumstances and this was definitely unprecedented for our

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community and we know that people are still working almost around the clock on restoration and cleanup but the best way to move forward and you mentioned it mayor we learned a lot is that we conduct some type of an afteraction review so we can really look at what we

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learned from this emergency and use it to ensure that we're even better prepared next time to that point like we talked about how Melissa was involved as our web master. She's a part-time employee pushing out all the emails and Facebook posts and stuff which were essential and we currently don't have a

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backup to do what she does. There is nobody else who can push those out and if she was on vacation, which likely on a holiday weekend, um she t tends to set up her emails in advance so they go out in an automated way, it would have been trouble. So, we we we had some

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discussions and the clerk's office agreed that somebody in their office would be trained to be a backup in case of emergency for these kinds of things. And another thing I know we have is those those vulnerable residents who are on like a life-saving device that's plugged into electricity. You have a

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list of that, but you know, and also how we're reaching these vulnerable seniors. I know neighbors are the best way in a in a crisis like that. And you know, I checked on a couple people and I know you all were checking on your neighbors, but when when services go down, the best thing to do is to know your neighbors.

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So, you know, we could we could sort of engage our own residents in some type of volunteer initiative similar to what we've already done with the police, but even on a more neighborhood basis where we we have people that we know will check in on people and sort of spread

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the spread the uh the love so that we can make sure that these people are checked on and reported in if there's if there's an issue. So, I just would ask that maybe we could go through it. I know I was on vacation, so I was getting reports from my neighbor about what's going on with my own property and um and

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the neighbors and I think that um I kind of felt like I didn't really know what was going on. Uh I came back early to try to see what I could find out if if I could help in any way. But I know that I'm sure the other council members like me would have pitched in and done more

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had we had a role that was more hands-on. um you start to feel like what can I do to help? So, uh we want we want to be able to help. So, we want to see if there's anything that we can if if the council could learn uh what are some

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like do we even have an OEM representative from the council on that committee that talks about >> I don't think they're on there. Well, it's fall under the police department, >> but there's an actual list of members on the uh on the website, and there's no

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list of a of a council member on there. So, just something to look at. Just just something to look at so we could maybe um help our operational staff in any way we can or assist with resident communications. Um just asking that we

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maybe do a debrief of of the um the process. >> Yeah. I so I've already talked to the chief about that and arguing to do something along those lines. The other thing that we did talk about would be the the benefit of C and

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you know talked to Lieutenant Guild about that already and that's going to really ramp up here and get those people certified so that that they could be of assistance. I encourage anybody who is interested in that and serve to Ryan's here tonight, but contact somebody in

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the police, Bob Gild or Ryan or somebody in the police department to uh to join. I mean, the training is is useful at your [clears throat] own home and also in situations like this, right? We need people to cover live wires at times where, you know, police had other

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emergencies, but you can't leave wires. So, there's all kinds of roles that certain people can play. encourage people to do that search. But um just that was a big undertaking and you know everybody really the chief came down he

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was he was home the chief came down we were here till about 1:30 or so with the chief from the fire department and the fire marshal Chris Shetting and you know going around and surveying the damage and discussing the steps that we were going to take. But yeah, everybody, you

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know, being involved in school, checking on our neighbors, all that kind of stuff. So, yeah, every storm you learn something new and something different and you know, you get better for the next one, but hopefully it won't be a next one. So, >> anything else? >> No, certainly.

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>> Approval of minutes, Mr. Council member moved the minutes of regular meeting minutes from June 18th, 20 Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Mr. Houston. Roll call,

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please. >> Mr. Brim. >> Yes. >> Mr. Houston. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ivy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pontier. >> Yes. >> Mer. >> Yes. >> Consent calendar. M. >> Thank you. Uh, the reports. Uh, this first one is for May and June 2026, the

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building inspector. The rest are all for June 2026. Rider Police Department Animal Control, Federal Clerk, Animal Licensing, Tax Collector, and Treasurer. We have resolution 2026-885 entitled Resolution authorizing an

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agreement with the state contact authorized vendor US Bank for the usage of procurement cards. Resolution 2026-86 entitled Burough Morning Resolution of support to submit a grant application for the US Department of Justice for the

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cops hiring program. Resolution 22687 titled Burrow Morse plans approval to submit a grant application execute a grant contract with the New Jersey Department of Transportation for the improvement to Mountain Way project resolution 2026-88

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entitled DL 1994 chapter 72 state of New Jersey resolution 2026-89 entitled resolution consenting to the application Robert for water usage The district [clears throat] southeast Morris County

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Municipal Killings Authority at Morris Plains Seniors be granted permission to park approximately 25 cars at Community Park pool parking lot on Sunday, September 27th, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. through Wednesday, September 30th, 2026

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at 900 p.m. while on a bus trip to Cape Cod. I received quotes for the following for the annual senior picnic being held on July 16th, the American company for $2,926.35 and Ronny's Catering and Barbecue at

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$2,982.77. That purchase order be issued to the American [clears throat] Barbecq 94-1 Ford Road in Dville, New Jersey in the amount of $2,926.35. The employment of Johanna Selma teen center supervisor be reinstated

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effective September 1st, 2026. Philip Wilson be hired as a cleaning maintenance for the community center, teen center house, and outdoor bathrooms at community park fields spending successful completion of background check at an annual salary of $16,500

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effective August 3rd, 2026. Proate the Knights of Columbus Council be granted permission to serve alcoholic beverages at the annual family picnic on Tuesday, August 25th, 2026 at Community Park Pavilion. The Burl Council approved the membership of Jordan G. Santana

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11101 Harry and Judy Drive as a member of the Mars Plains Fire Department. The mayor is hereby authorized to execute a development agreement with Rivian LLC pursuant to planning board resolution 26-05

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on site plan approval. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I opposed abstain. The eyes have it. Moving on to reports of committees. Miss >> Thank you, mayor. I touched on

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communications and the work Melissa did to help with the storm. So, I'm going to move on to the final thing on communications is the deadline for submissions for planes talk is tomorrow. So, please email planes talk at marsplainsboro.org with your photos and your events

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articles. under storm recovery. Uh the mayor mentioned I helped with small businesses and basically what what's going on with that is we're reaching out to our small business community to let them know that if they re if they experienced any hardship whether it was loss of revenue because they had to be closed normal

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business hours or if they lost inventory or uh lost power and and other other um reasons for storm related damage perhaps. There are loans available through the Small Business Administration, but in order to qualify, we need a minimum of five businesses to

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come forward and say they have experienced some rather substantial losses. And then if we get them together as a group, we can put them on a process of going through the OEM to get them uh applying for these SBA loans. So, I did

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reach out to a lot uh in person and also on an email and so far there have been two that are interested in following through this process. So, if you could get the word out, if you talk to any business owners and they're explaining about the hardship, if they missed any opportunity with me, just just put them

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in touch with me and we'll see if we can get some help for some of our business owners. Um technology, we're the finance committee is working with our IT team to uh come up with a policy for use of AI. It's important for burough staff and also our

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officials to understand the threats to confidentiality information that you're sharing with an AI tool and also inherent errors that require additional human labor to fact check when working with AI tools. So, we need to get something in place. Uh it's not it's

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something that's a need in a lot of municipalities and so far I haven't found many in Mars County that have passed a policy like this, but um this is coming from our liability insurance company that wants us to do it. So, that's that stresses the importance. the clerk's office. In addition to their

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ongoing work, um I want to commend our personnel director, our burough clerk here, who is stepping into her leadership role. She held a staff meeting for the administrative and executive staff and the finance staff, was also in attendance to share updates about what's going on with the building

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renovation plans to hear what's on their minds and to share tips for safety and stress management. She also discussed um actor act active shooter training videos which are available for staff to to view. Um so thank you Rosemary for stepping up.

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She's also been working to onboard our new uh finance office employee Maria with all of her personnel paperwork and will hold a safety meeting next Thursday for all department heads also required by our meal insurance company um to discuss workplace safety initiatives.

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All the department heads must attend. She also worked to hire a new cleaning person for the community center, which you saw on the agenda tonight. Um, and the one that we hired here for Burough Hall, seems to be doing a fine job. So, that's that's a plus. Under finance, you

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saw resolution 88 extending the 10-day grace period for the August 1 tax deadline. And that's because we received our county tax rate just this week. So that uh gave us the final tax numbers which are now in your bills that are going to go out this week and you should

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be they're due now with the grace period by August 21st without any penalty. Uh you also saw use of procurement cards by municipalities that follows strict county rules regulated by state statute. So that item on the agenda just means that they change the bank that we're

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that they're using for those procurement cards. And uh I mentioned the county tax rate this year. Uh as a percentage of your total pro property taxes paid, 51.6% of your property taxes will go toward the school district budget. Uh 35.6%

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of your property taxes will go toward municipal services like police, garbage collection, leaf pickup, street cleaning, etc. And 12.8% will go to the county and open space. State Health Benefits Plan Commission,

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sorry, State Health Benefits Commission met on Wednesday, July 8th, regarding renewal rates for plan year 2027, which included significant rate increases again for the third year in a row. Participating local governments will see the following health increases and

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premiums for plan year 2027, if adopted. 17.3% for local active employees, 36.5% increase in rates over this year for early retirees, and 19.3% for Medicare retirees. This is driven by anti-selection and

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high cost prescriptions. Anti- selection occurs when local governments are migrating out of the state health benefits plan to cheaper private market options or health insurance funds. Uh last year I urged that we consider hiring a professional insurance consultant to help [cough] the bureau >> [clears throat]

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>> identify the best strategy moving forward rather than remaining trapped in this downward spiral. But we simply do not have the expertise within the bureau staff to navigate the complex marketplace and find other opportunities to save our employees and taxpayers money on these plans. The other avenue

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suggested did not result in any costsaving a action. So, I will be pursuing that request for, you know, the near future. On the consent calendar that I won't [clears throat] go into text, the report, um, our new assistant treasurer, Maria, is up and running, and it's great to have her help in the

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finance office. And on the green team side, we're still waiting on the LGA, the local government energy audit, which should be completed by the end of the month. I checked in with them this week. They're asking for additional info on propane that's used at the pool. So, now I have to get those bills.

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But it's okay. And the rain garden has been installed. The Highlands Council reached out to me through our green team to see if we would be interested. I talked about that in a prior meeting. Uh the purpose of the garden is to reduce storm water runoff, downstream flooding, and improve water quality in the

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Speedball Lake wershed. It is requiring commitment of volunteers to maintain, which we're lucky to have our beautifification committee offering to help. And I'd like to thank the Highlands Council for connecting us with this D grant and the DPW for help during and after construction and our

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beautifification volunteers. The estimated cost of the project would have been 35,000. Also spoke to the library. Um they have story time Saturdays at 10:30, usually outside, but in this weather it's been inside. They have a good attendance that goes like between 15 and 20 kids. They

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also have a summer reading program for kids up to age 10 where they can win raffle prizes for completing certain number of books. And one of their new library association members was elected to be their new VP, Rachel Reiner, and

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she uh was able to acquire a grant for the library last December for a new boiler. And subsequently, the boiler at the library died in January. So, the money was just in time for that boiler to be replaced in full. It was 20 years

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old, so it didn't owe us anything. And she's also working on a state grant to update their children's non-fiction collection, which is like a two to $4,000 grant. So, great work over at the library. That's all they that really looks nice.

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>> Yeah, it looks good, too. But it's more functional. >> Water. >> I know. I know. >> Water. >> Uh, public safety pilot. >> Thank you, mayor. Good evening, everyone. Great to see everyone tonight. I just want to piggy back and reiterate on what everyone was saying about how

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impressed I was with the response of the police department, the DPW, all public safety workers, residences. I was on countless texts and people checking in on each other. It was really neat to see the community come together. And I think as Nancy was saying, we did our best to

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try to keep people up to date. I was in communication with the chief almost every day and trying to share things. I think the bureau did a fantastic job of being able to give as many updates as they had. But also just want to thank people for their patience. Again, it wasn't [clears throat] perfect. I think

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there is some great things to, you know, as I say, you never fail, you learn. And I don't think we did it did fail, but I think, you know, we did a good job, but can do even better next time. And I'm excited to be able to take those steps and really, you know, again, be even more prepared in the future. But again,

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I just wanted to say how great it was to see everyone come together, neighbors, checking on neighbors, helping people out. Um, I was away the on Friday night and Mike drove up to my house and couldn't even get there because there was trees down everywhere. So, you know, but uh again, just what what a great

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place to live and I think it really reiterated that. Um, also to kind of tag along on what Nancy said, with that being said, if you are not currently signed up for the rave alerts, you can go to the Morris Plains um, police department website or the burrow website. You can find a link on both of

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those to sign up for the rave alerts. Um, again, we had some requests for for calls. Basically, all we need is your information. So, if we have your name, your phone number, and your information, you can do that. So, if you know someone that's having trouble signing up, um I'm even personally willing to go to some of

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the the senior living centers around here, sign people up myself. You know, whatever it takes, but we definitely want to make sure that people are in the loop and getting the updates that they feel they need when they want them, especially when it involves their safety. Seagal, the executive assistant to Chief Krasi in the police department, has

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officially retired. She was sent off with with a small party. I had to miss it. I had an obligation, but I wanted to thank her very much for all the years of service to the burrow and for training Gia to step into her shoes, who whom I hear is doing an extraordinary job. So that's amazing. We are currently

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advertising for the position of a substitute crossing guard. If you were anyone you know is interested, please reach out to uh Chief Karaski, Lieutenant K, or Lieutenant McKay. On July 1st, Chief Karaski met with Mark Cohen of PSNS to start, as they were saying, kind of some of the walkthroughs

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of the burrow here, the the burrow building, the police department to get a better idea of the scope of work and what is needed and speaking with employees on what they feel will also make a difference in some of the renovations and uh being able to really clarify and take the next steps just in the in the sense of the plans and and

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what and how it will happen. August is a busy month for the police department. on August 4th, they will host their annual uh national night out along with other public safety people. It's always a fun time. Lots going on. I know the uh fire department did a live burn last year

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which was really neat as well. On August 18th at 11:00 a.m. the police department's having Kona with a cop. Please stop by the Kona truck, hang out with the police department, ask some questions, and get a free Kona. I might have had a couple last year. On August 19th, there will be a mobile DMV

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inspection van in the burrow. Um, pursuant to the ebike conversations that I'm sure will be happening shortly, this is a great time to be able to ask the actual DMV questions, concerns, because they will have the again the mobile registration truck in the burrow on um

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on August 19th. The newest Ford interceptor for the police department has been fully upfitted and is now in the official patrol as of June. We were having trouble with some repairs in some of the other PD cars. So, the hope is this new car will eliminate the frequency of repairs, and it's looking

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and doing great so far. Jim Hunt, co-chair of this uh complete and green streets committee and myself met with Mike and Nancy on their input on the CGS um policy. We made some really good progress, had some questions, answers, some language differences, but we made those edits and

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as of tonight, I have circulated that to the council for everyone to look over. I look forward to continuing the discussion and potentially having something on the uh agenda for August. Jim and I and the committee, I just wanted to reiterate uh the public involvement that we had in the process for completing [clears throat] green

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streets. This was entirely community volunteers that was, you know, their input that ultimately put the plan together for Morris Plains based on the state policy. So, I thought it was a very impressive, transparent, and great process in order to get everyone

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involved. And again, I would like to thank uh Mr. Hunt here for his expertise and patience and dealing with me and with everybody else. Um, but I really look up to him. He's a very knowledgeable guy, and I really look forward to continuing to work with him on getting this into fruition.

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Fire Marshall Sheay received his new fire preventing vehicle. It's currently being upfitted and um I'm not exactly sure of the timeline, but we should have that back somewhat soon. He's averaging about 12 in apartment inspections each month and about a total of a 100

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inspections. The apartment inspections, the ordinance requires them to be inspected every 5 years. So with him doing about 12 a month, that puts him to, you know, again around 100 a year. So we should be on track to be able to inspect all the apartments within the

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5-year time frame that we plan for. Chief Rango, uh the fire chief and team were in Long Island to see the new mini pumper, which I am happy to say will be delivered within the next two weeks. I saw some photos. She looks uh pretty and shiny and ready to go. And I'm really excited for the department to have the

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new apparatus, which is going to help keep the burrow and surrounding towns safer. And they are averaging just about over a call a day. The business support committee met uh Jason Kelly and myself. we did get to kind of work and solidify the goals and the mission statement and what we can do to continually support

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downtown Morris Plains, which has been a just a fantastic uh addition to the town. Um, and as you'll see tonight, there is an ordinance on second with the police department and as explained last week, what that does is we have the need for a new supervisor. So, that allows us

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to promote a sixth sergeant. Uh, and I believe that's it for myself. Uh we have Lieutenant McKay here if >> jump on anything. >> Sure. Uh good evening everyone. Um so first thing um is [clears throat] officer Paris just a reminder to the mayor and council. Uh she has a try Mars

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junior police academy graduation tomorrow at the police academy at 12. U she does a phenomenal job running that program between herself uh members from Mor Township and Mortown Police Department, but she really just spearheads this whole thing and uh does

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a really really really good job. Um and just only other thing I just want to touch on was going with the cop uh August 18th. We start at Walkon Park, Simons Park, and finish at community that >> Thank you. There's two other people I

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would love to recognize. part of this storm and one is Jeff Paul, the Morris County OEM coordinator who uh you know, you pick up the phone any time of the day or night and that guy answers your call. So, we had a couple incidents here

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at the some of the facilities where uh Jeff's uh input and the county's assistance really uh really was needed, right? And uh uh you know, again, it's a phone call. What do you need? And before you know it, the coming down down from

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the hill. And the other person is is Bob Flynn is our uh JCPNL representative again who I don't even think he slept that week, but uh every call that uh every email that I received with a

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question uh was fielded by Bob and again uh never a hesitation. Uh always gave us the best answer that he could. Wasn't always the one that we wanted to hear. or resident wanted to hear, but at least you could plan whatever it was, whether

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it was going to be two hours or two days. So, uh, hats off to Bob and his uh uh really uh I'll say dedication to Morris Plains. I know he works for many municipalities, but you wouldn't know it by his response. So, really thanks to

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both of them too. Again, public works, Mr. >> Not the believer, but I want to thank everybody also that he really did a great job. our police department called their fire department which I wrote around Friday night with them just to see what's going on if I [clears throat] could help our DPW mayor council

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everybody chipped in the county and obviously is awesome so everybody did a great job and I want to continue what they I just want to recognize them u our DPW just to touch on that storm July 3rd they a lot of them called in who were available uh they've been cleaning up

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ever since they have been working as the mayor mentioned seven days a week they're doing five days of 1 hour overtime Monday through Friday and then Saturday and Sunday. Uh they have now three chippers. We own one. Uh the mayor was able to connect with North County

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Parks Department. We're get one of theirs, borrow theirs. We rented one from Sussex County. So we're actively using three throughout the town which is uh helping speed along clearing the roadways, sidewalks, and our parks. Uh in addition to that, they've worked on our police vehicles. Uh pick up the

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garbage in the parks. continue to cut grass throughout the properties. There's some curb repair that they're working on. Repaired a sewer leak at 95 Maple Avenue. And then fireworks, which I love. They go there and they clean up uh before and after uh that make the the

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town look like it never happened. And those fireworks were amazing. Uh beautifification, as Nancy mentioned about the storm water park over there. They also are continued weeding. I think the weeds grow better than anything in the summer months. So, They're weeding

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and watering. So, they're continuing with their their efforts and we appreciate that. That's all I have. >> Again, one one more thing just before I get to to Bill, but uh there has been questions about Jersey Central and uh cleanup of their debris. Uh we're again

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being told by the end of next week all their debris, wires, phone poles, cracked poles, whatever they left behind should should all be picked up by by next the end of next week. So, uh, Mr. Rod,

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>> excuse me. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, update as always on road projects. Styles Avenue project is underway as you all probably know. Uh, that's proceeding well. Uh, they're working on the setup phase of the job. That's where they do the sidewalks, the curves, the handicap

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ramps, the storm water inlets, and those kind of things. They're about 75% done with that. That should wrap up in a in a week or a week and a half, and then they'll move into the milling ph. So, pleased with the work. Contractor is doing a nice job and uh that's that's

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what's happening there on our 2026 capital project for the six roads. That's contractor DNL paving is going to be starting actually tomorrow and be starting with this setup work again. Uh my understanding is it's on Kazakowski

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Drive. Uh we also have a project uh on on the books for North View Drive. This was a 2025 maid grant and it was put off for a year because we had backup on some of our projects. So, it's coming due and any

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all of the municipal a 2025 grants have to have a contract awarded by November 1st of this year. So, we're going to be looking to go out to bid in September uh to get that underway and make that deadline. But prior to that September

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bid, we need to get an ordinance in place for the funding and Rosemary I believe is working on that for introduction at the next the next >> so that's the status of that and the last >> that work will not be done until 2027

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>> that's correct but we have to award the contract >> to to preserve our fun >> we just don't want people expecting the machine >> and then lastly the uh community park trail which is been a long process here.

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Mr. Welsh submitted the the grant application for the construction work that's gone through the technical review. We received a few comments back and I'll be having a virtual conference with Mr. Klingan Klinganer of Mars

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County Park Commission to go over those things and hopefully that'll be the end of it. We'll be deal with Dr. and that's all I have. Just do you have an update on the other water department roads? >> No, I don't. I don't. But I will make a

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note to do that. >> So, Bill, I'm sorry. Is the county grant for the trail approved? And you're just negotiating now or are we still waiting for approval? >> Well, once we I think once we finish with this technical meeting and those technical questions they have, then I

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think that the application will be approved. >> Okay. that but right now no >> it's not approved yet. Okay, thank you. >> I don't see any I don't see any reason >> are there dollar amounts on the next phase yet or are you still working? >> Yeah, I'm still okay. >> That's all I have.

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>> Thank you. Uh we have anybody have anything for public buildings and ground? Not moving forward. >> I do have a little bit for building the ground. I just couldn't jump past. >> Oh, okay. Um, so for I do have an update for downtown Morris Plains. Uh, but Porsche is here, so she'll probably

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mention a little bit later. Um, on Wednesday, July 15th, downtown Morris planes hosted a uh business networking night with around 60 attendees representing both local Morris Plane business owners and operators as well as other stakeholders and businesses who serve our area and business community.

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Thank you to council members, mayor who were able to attend. Our next business app round table event is tenative to be scheduled [clears throat] for November 11th and we'll share more details as the event approaches. DMP has partnered again this year with the Mors farmers market committee to bring back the

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popular local business showcase which gives local businesses the opportunity to participate in the market. You can find more information about this program and how to apply on the burough website. The transitional arts program is underway. DMP partnered with New Jersey Transit and the New Jersey Council on the Arts to bring this program and a

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$30,000 grant to Morris Plains to help celebrate the Burough Centennial. This month, a jury of diverse stakeholders met to evaluate submissions and select three local artists to begin work on murals and photographs to be installed on and around the New Jersey Transit Morris Plains Train Station property.

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DMP will share updates about the installations and unveiling this fall. This August, DMP is launching a special promotion to celebrate Morris restaurants. The Mor Centennial Circuit will reward patrons for dining at 10 plus local restaurants in the month of

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August with a limited edition Centennial Prize. Follow DMP on social media for details and information will be available on the website starting June 20th. Uh DMP is actively planning for the 2026 Centennial Pumpkin Illumination. This fall fun fall festival features exclusively local

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planaines vendors and a welcoming and fun seasonal atmosphere to help increase visibility and awareness for our fantastic community of Warl businesses. DMP is already working with a team of volunteers to enhance the experience and are excited to have commitments from new local sponsors to support

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[clears throat] this centennial event. I have props save the date October 30th for the celebration. Looking ahead, DMP plans to partner with a local vendor to create a visitors map of Morris Planes and print and digital formats that clearly identifies parking information for local

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businesses. We'll share more updates at a future council meeting when more information is available. >> I think that's the longest report I've ever done. It wasn't even talk now or no. >> Do you want to transition better? >> I don't have the additions. I actually

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came so I could read that for you, but thank you. Um >> just just name and address please 17th day road. >> Hi everyone. Um this is the interactive portion of the evening where you get um a little bit of information about our

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upcoming restaurant promotion. Um thank you for sharing all those updates and Tyler um we're really looking forward to um hearing more about the goals and scope of the business support committee when you guys have those ready for us.

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I'm sorry I couldn't be there last night as the leazison. >> That's okay. Um, listen, it was a fantastic event. Thank you, mayor and council members and for attending. We had over 50 attendees. It was great. >> Under buildings and grounds before we jump in there, there also was the senior

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picnic today which mayor and I were attending and it was very well attended by the seniors. They had a a great I thought great turnout and they had the Susicle kids from the summer theater program do a little preview of their show that's coming up and it's great as with one of our former actually Morris

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Queens resident who is the uh is the director of of the program again this year. So it's really it's a great program to watch the show >> who was in the program originally. >> Yes, she was. Sarah was in that actual show. >> She she was the

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>> come full circle. >> Great. >> On to my committee. Uh so teen center uh they met this evening and they just wrapped up. They went they discussed and finalized the event calendar for 2026 and coordinated that with the school

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calendar uh 26 27 year. Um and then board of health they worked on uh continuing to plan for wellness day which will be in October. Um and then I also have an update from them for cichla. Uh so I wanted to provide a brief update on on that and it's an

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intestinal disease that is seeing increased activity nationwide during the summer [clears throat] months. Uh cycles is a microscopic parasite that is most commonly spread through contaminated food particularly fresh produce. It is not spread from person to person. Symptoms can include loss of appetite,

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nausea, fatigue, abdominal pain and most notably what you probably heard prolonged watery diarrhea which can lead to dehydration. uh children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk for complications. Uh the good news is that it can be diagnosed with a stool test, and when appropriate, it can be

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treated with antibiotics to help shorten the duration of symptoms. According to the New Jersey Department of Health, approximately 80 cases have been reported statewide this far. We're not getting county bycounty cases yet, uh so we don't know exactly where those are located. Um they do see a rise in usually between May and August. And

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residents can reduce their risk by thoroughly washing choosing fruits and vegetables with peels or rind that are removed before eating and cooking produce when appropriate. Current investigations suggest that some illnesses may be linked to contaminated bag lettuce, so residents may use extra

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caution with those products. Anyone experiencing uh the symptoms should contact their doctor and will continue to share information from the New Jersey Department of Health as it becomes available. Um, also air quality. Everybody obviously sees that because of the

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Canadian uh wildfires, we have really poor air quality today. Uh it looks to be getting better tomorrow, still in an unhealthy range, but getting better over the weekend. Um we never know how the jetream is going to change. So if um any residents who are sensitive to poor air quality should consider limiting their

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prolonged outdoor activity and keeping windows closed and uh using air conditioning if you have it. Uh the New Jersey D or Department of Environmental Protection, which is also the Dum would be the place to get updates for that. Uh there was no meeting this month for

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municipal alliance and that's um you want to report on >> speak up please. >> Um I don't have a good update on that because um ordinances and public utilities Mr. Yes. Thank you, uh, Mr. Mayor. >> All right. Uh, so for June 2026, the

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construction office processed 49 new permits, um, generating $16,176 in total fees. Uh, the those 49 permits break down as two additions and 47 alterations. Um, The heaviest permanent

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volume were in plumbing with 27, electrical with 25 and building with 14. Uh they also processed 33 certificates. Uh one was a a co certificate of occupancy and 32 were certificates of

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approval. Uh their office also fielded 18 OPER requests in June uh totaling 12 staff hours. Um uh they also uh see plus a subpoena response in May

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that uh took eight hours. Um the on to utilities. Uh so as was mentioned multiple times tonight, um utility recovery from the July 3rd and fourth storm uh is substantially complete. I'm I'm speaking about

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specifically with Verizon and Optimum. Um those were the um uh utilities that I was overseeing during the storm. Um uh we did we were able to get both community center which is Optimum and the Community Pool which is Verizon uh

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back online um over the weekend. Um specifically with Verizon um I stayed uh late on the phone uh with the Verizon rep. Uh she she had me on I think three or four she was like juggling three or four different cell phones to make sure that I got to somebody so that we could

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schedule a tech to get to the pool first thing on Saturday morning hopefully before the swim meet. Unfortunately that didn't happen. Uh but the tech was able to get there uh Saturday night and then restore uh Wi-Fi and phone service. So that you know kudos to uh to Verizon um

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working with me to to get that done. Um in total um I received uh personally uh 19 reports from Verizon. Uh we were able to resolve 15 of those. Um from Optimum I received 21 total reports and we're

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able to to resolve 11 of those. 10 10 are still open. So we're still still an ongoing dialogue with both Optimum and Verizon to to try to resolve some of these issues that the residents are having. Um there was an areawide outage from Optimum uh that they they resolved in July 8th and now they're kind of

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going resident to resident to to uh resolve the individual cases. Um let's see uh moving on to the application process update. So, uh, this this land use application package, um, which includes the site plan,

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subdivision, variance, uh, and the flowchart, uh, are still in review. Uh, at the June 15th planning board meeting, uh, the board discussed several refinements, including clarifying attendance expectations for applicants, um, and adding a revision date and timeline to the flowchart. So, um, I did

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get I did ask for and receive, uh, final feedback by, uh, July 8th. did get um some from the zoning board adjustment. Uh so I'm going to finalize all that and then hopefully we'll we'll get this done and move it forward uh to an ordinance

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so we can get this going. Um planning board met on June 15th as I mentioned uh they continued the its review of the the land use application process. Uh no applications were before the board that evening. Uh the board's next regular meeting is July 20th. um

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where the uh agenda that we just got includes continued review of this application process. Um and there's also a building demolition application at 185 T road which is going to be before the planning board on Monday. Um as

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[clears throat] far as ordinance review, so you see there's three ordinances on second reading tonight. Um ordinance 7-2026, the bond ordinance uh sewer jet and catch basin cleaner. Uh again, as a reminder, this authorizes the DBW to

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acquire one sewer jet and cash base and cleaner vehicle, total appropriation of $471,000, uh $166,000 down payment already available from prior capital budget provisions, plus $35,000 in bonds or bond anticipation notes under the local bond law. Useful life is uh about 10

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years. Um on that uh ordinance number 8-20226 which amends chapter 18-2 police department sergeants which Mr. Pontier already talked about um it will increase the authorized number of police

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sergeants from 5 to 6. Um and that is that one. And then finally ordinance number 9-2026 which amends chapter 22A otherwise known as ebikes and scooters. This establishes a local regulatory framework for ebikes and e scooters

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morris planes building on New Jerseyy's uh new statewide ebike law uh effective three days from now July 19, 2026. Um it addresses areas that the state law left to municipalities uh where and how ebikes and e- scooters may be operated,

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age and equipment expectations and enforcement mechanisms. Uh this was developed with input from the police department, fire marshall, traffic committee. Um and uh the first reading was on June 18th. Um and then tonight's vote for all three of these is final

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adoption. Just one note >> [clears throat] >> um just to the uh members of the public who I know some of you are here to uh perhaps ask questions about it. Uh you during the uh second reading um the mayor is going to announce that the

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meeting is open for public hearing. You're welcome to come up during uh the open session that we'll have immediately following this and ask you questions or you can come up during uh that portion of it. Either one is fine. Um just to let you know if you don't come up during

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the public session, you can come up during the uh uh during the second reading uh session when the mayor opens it for public hearing. Just a procedural note there. Um just if you have a question on the ordinance, let that be done during the section of the public

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hearing, not not prior. There we go. Okay. Uh and that is that is all I have. Thank you, Mr. Mayor Day. Thank you. Moving on to public invitation for public comment. Anybody? >> Good evening everybody. Lee Connor to

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Tower Hill Road. [clears throat] Um I am reading a statement on behalf of Plan Better Mars Planes and all resident all volunteer advocacy group for um smart and sustainable planning. And I

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wanted to talk about the uh the status of the proposed two-lane drive-thru McDonald's at 415 435 Speedway AB. And the purpose of this statement is to request transparency and finally public communication regarding the status of

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this project which is of great public interest and concern. Based on publicly available information, the project remains with New Jersey Department of Transportation for review.

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Uh when the project was approved by our Mars Plains Planning Board um the resolution in January 20th, 2025 had a number of conditions. One of them was applicant to obtain all necessary state,

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county, and local approvals, including a major access permit from the NJ DO in conformance with the plans submitted and approved as part of this application. meaning that any change to the project

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that may be required by the DOT triggers the need for the planning board to review it. If it's a major or material amendment, it must be reviewed at public hearings. Um, what is a material alteration? And

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that could be changes to access, traffic circulation, ingress, egress, other site design affecting traffic or safety operations and therefore should be subject to public review. So accordingly, plan

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better Mars planes is requesting that the bureau one notify the public if revised plans are submitted or received. two, clarify whether any proposed changes are considered administrative or

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material, and three, return any material amendments to the planning board for public review and hearing. Because the project remains of significant public interest, we appreciate the burrow's commitment to transparency and we look forward to updates on the status of the

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application and any proposed changes. Thank you. >> Thank you. Please, sorry, real quick. The the second your second bullet point there. Can you just read that again? >> So, the first was notify. The second was clarify. Were there any proposed changes are considered administrative or

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material? >> Okay. Thank you. >> I'm going to email a copy of this to each of you separately. >> Separately. >> Send it right to the right >> and certainly give >> No, send it right to the clerk and then she can with that one she can distribute everything to everybody tomorrow.

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>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks. Goodies. Good evening. Um, you also see our 11. I just want to reiterate and thank everybody, police department, fire department, DPW,

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and all the town officials that worked tire tirelessly to get the Mars planes back up and running after the storm. And the consistent communication with the residents was reassuring and made people feel that they had not been forgotten.

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Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the ongoing fence issue that I've been speaking about at these meetings for the past two years. In fact, the storm brought down yet another fence panel, bringing the total to four completely collapsed panels.

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And given the condition of what was remaining, it was only a matter of time before the rest were going to follow. But lo and behold, today earlier this morning, two men showed up at the property and began removing additional fence panels. I went outside to

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introduce myself and asked what their plans were. During the conversation, one of the workers told me that they had been instructed to take the fence down, and there was no mention of replacing it. I asked who gave those instructions. Was

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it the town or the property owner? and he told me, "Mr. Serno," and then he added, "Jason, the mayor, he's the one that said, "Take it down." Then he asked a question which was extremely eyeopening to me.

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He said kind of confusingly, "There's a meeting tonight." And I replied, "Yes, there was." And I told him that I would speak with the mayor directly to make sure that the fence would actually be replaced. and I thanked him and I went back inside.

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That brief conversation spoke volumes to me. This led me to the conclusion that these men showing up on the same day as a council meeting was not a coincidence. It was simply to make it appear that something was being done to dress the

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fence. Possibly so I would remain quiet tonight at this meeting, but I can assure you that was never going to be the happening. Uh, one might ask, why were these men contacted by the town

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rather than the property owner? One would think that the proper chain of command would be that the town reaches out to the property owner and the property owner reaches out to whoever he wants to hire to address the situation.

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So, I'm a little bit confused about that. seems quite similar to the situation about a year, year and a half ago when several people including myself repeatedly complained about all the dog poop bags and other garbage that was on this property

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and then it got cleaned up and we found out that it was the DPW that cleaned it up. So, I'm not sure who the fence removal people were, but and I just want to point out that they did take down a total of four panels today which remain

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lying on the property with the other fallen panels and then they left three remaining panels at the far corner of our property and those are standing and I'm not sure what that's all about but I'm not going to waste my time pondering and trying to figure out a rationale for

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that. So basically my entire backyard is exposed for anyone to walk into. I'm an extremely patient person. I think I Excuse me if I'm repeating a lot of things that I've said month after month,

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but I'm an extremely patient person and sometimes to a fault. And in this situation, I think it absolutely has been to a fault. But my patient has now run out. After two years, it is unmistakably clear to anyone who has listened to my

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comments that our property maintenance ordinances are being treated more like suggestions than actual requirements by the people hired to enforce them. While this fence may seem like a small issue in the grand scheme of things, it raises

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a much larger concern for me and probably others. If our ordinances are not enforced on something as visible and straightforward as this. It makes me wonder what level of enforcement or lack of enforcement is

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occurring on much larger projects in town. Tonight, I brought with you a sample of what I've been dealing with for the past two years. This is only a small portion of the garbage that I have personally picked up from my yard, mostly my

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backyard, over the past few months while doing yard work or simply trying to enjoy my property. To say that my right to the peaceful use and enjoyment of my property has been repeatedly ignored would be an understatement.

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Over the last two years, I've been told time and time again that this fence would be repaired. Never happened. Crickets To my knowledge, no citations have been issued and no meaningful enforcement has taken place.

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That leaves me wondering what the [clears throat] portion of my property taxes that funds code enforcement is actually paying for. Maybe Mr. can find I heard you talking about portions of property taxes because maybe I should start treating my property taxes as

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optional or perhaps just deduct the portion that pays for enforcement services that I'm not receiving. That seems about as reasonable as expecting the town to enforce its own ordinances. I also want to make it clear that these comments are not directed to the members

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of this council. I understand that your authority solve this matter is limited and I s sincerely appreciate any and all efforts that have been made to try and help rectify this ongoing saga.

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Moving forward, I do not intend to continue making this just another monthly complaint at council meetings. Many people have approached me and encouraged me to pursue other avenues, including contacting the news media. At this point, I am seriously

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considering that option. If I do, I intend to bring attention not only to the condition of this property, but also to the broader pattern of non- enforcement or selective enforcement going on and the undeniable level of

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accommodations that this property owner has received from certain town officials over the past couple years. and felt very insulted that you sat there and said that you didn't even know if they need a fence because the whole

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issue is offense. For two years, we've been discussing the fence and I would think you would have at least researched it because I sure did and I knew that there needs to be a fence. >> Yeah. I Well, >> and why did you tell them to remove the fence?

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>> So, I never spoke to those people. Okay. >> The fence reparently they were working the property owner who Mr. Serno was talking with and emailing back and forth with with

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his property uh uh maintenance person. I guess I don't even know if those were the folks that >> I've never seen these two men before in my life. >> Yeah. So that's they were very dealing with trying to get the fence repaired, replaced, whatever the case

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may be. I guess the property owner took it upon himself to take the fence down. I don't know. >> Well, it's interesting that he mentioned you by name and said that he questioned me about a meeting >> with the whole thing the whole time, Jill. [clears throat] So maybe he did mention my name. I don't know. Look, Mr.

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Seno has been working with these I think the guy's name is Hector. >> I don't know. >> Trying to get the property owners maint. And no, I did not look at the ordinance and see whether they need a fence to be replaced because I did not know that

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they were going to take down the fence. >> Regardless of taking it down or not taking it down, there's been, unless, correct me if I'm wrong, but there's been no citations given. I brought this up last month >> there. I mean, I brought it up month

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after month after month, but what does it take to get somebody to give that property owner some sort of violation. >> I believe that's in the discretion of the zoning official. Right. So that's

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who would have the boss of the zoning officer. >> Ultimately everything falls on my shoulders. >> Right. Right. >> Two years ago that >> I could have built the fence by myself if if I started then. >> I agree with you. I I'm not arguing with

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you, >> Mr. Houston asked that you >> and I did >> assure that we're going to he drop in the bucket, but it's something on record besides my grants every month. But it it's it's it's

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very fishy to me that the other large complaint about the the maintenance and the debris and the garbage a year and a half, two years ago when this all began got fixed by our DPW rather than the property owner. I

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>> I think the DPW replaced the garbage bags over the uh over the garbage cans that day when the fences were up there. [clears throat] This was long before the fence. This was just on the garbage. >> Yeah. Yeah. And then the garbage cans had the bags over them and they were

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overflowing. >> And the DPW shouldn't be doing that. My tax dollars shouldn't have the DPW cleaning up a multi-million dollar property owner's property. None of our taxes should be having our DP. They have much more important things

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to be doing than cleaning up some deadbeat. property owner that doesn't give a crap about this town. And you know, you can I'll leave this for you because that's what I picked up. >> Anybody else?

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>> Uh Craig Moran, 7 Hillview Avenue. Uh just wanted to bring up a concern regarding the safety on Speedwell Avenue in the stretch between Hillview and Rosedale. Uh, as a newish [clears throat] dog owner, I find myself walking the the sidewalks a lot more

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than I used to. And, uh, one of our favorite routes takes us across Speed Well, uh, about a month ago, within the stretch of about seven days, four times that we're trying to cross the street, cars have stopped. I've made my way into

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the intersection and cars have come around the stop car twice coming within about 5t of hitting me and my dog. Uh I've been here almost 18 years and it's not the only time that this has

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happened. However, the frequency seems to have increased more and more lately. Is there anything that can be done like that stretch is just one lane each way? Correct. >> Technically. So if a car stops,

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no one should be swerving around, especially around the left of a car. Correct. >> Is there anything that can be done to I'm sure that you can make a complaint if you have a get a license plate. I mean, the police have patrolled that area. They along with numerous other

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crosswalks in the area. There's a DOT crossing light that's uh scheduled to be put in there. two of them along that stretch. Um we've we've done crosswalk work, but it's a matter of of enforcement, you know, and being there at the right time when they see

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something. So they do implement the chief does do these uh roving crosswalk safety uh details, I'll say, right? >> Yeah, we have at least two schedule. We just sent two are officers and officer

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Shaw to that class. people to that. But yeah, I'm right down now. I'll talk to our traffic sergeant tomorrow and we're gone. >> I mean to ask for someone to take down a license plate number. >> Yeah. No, I'm just saying that's an option because then you can then you can

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make a complaint, [clears throat] right? You come here and make a complaint. That's just an option. I'm not saying that you can't or anybody will or whatever, but that's just one of the options, right? Besides enforcement, that's just another option. Just wanted to Mr. Mr. Mayor, you mentioned um the DOT

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is scheduled to do uh crosswalk light improvements. Do you have any other >> I don't have an update. The chief's been working with the DOT on those updates. I don't know when that last update was that he received from them. >> Okay. >> Uh but I don't have one as of the time

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the chief left the last I'll reach out to the chief and just see if I can get information on that because it's a it's public safety issue. I think we need to >> look at this because it's been going on for a while, right? Residents have been complaining about that. I know that the

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um the flags there don't really do any good. Um I get that it's a state road, but you know, it's it's obviously it's a public issue. So, I think, you know, I'll work on that with you, but I think we need to move this along. I know they're slow, but we got >> I would just prefer you could talk to

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the chief and let the chief of >> course point of contact, >> of course. I'll bring on it. I mean, it's been at least a couple weeks since we've had an email from Siobhan. I' I've been a part of them. I mean, >> it's a very slowm moving machine, unfortunately, as you know, but we are pushing. I mean, both the chief and I

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have no problem >> continuing to pressure them. >> We're hoping ASAP. We have multiple things we really need to do with them from the signs to the lights to, you know, we're basically waiting on them, which is very frustrating. And I know this is not on you or anybody here

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because it's a state road, but we'll see how quickly they move when somebody gets seriously injured out there. >> Yeah. And I I mean that was I worked at uh you know that corner of Rosedale for seven years and I would walk across the street to get you know pizza at Annabelle as I've probably been almost

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hit nine times. >> So Craig I I'm with you. It's horrible. I mean I I >> we got to do something. >> Yeah. It's very bad. I think the other issue is what you brought up Craig about the fact that is it a onelane road or isn't it because it appears to be wide enough for someone to pass without going

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over the center line and that is a problem. >> So how can we and this may be something for the traffic committee also to discuss with DOT and I know people aren't going to want to see the traffic back up anymore but how can we prevent people from thinking that that's two lanes there and they can just pass

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another car. Well, they see it coming up to the light where it turns into two lanes, so they wrongly assume [clears throat] that it already is, right? Well, that's what I mean. Road and maybe we need to do that and look into that because we need to put people's safety before someone's expedient access through our town

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shoulder. I mean, it's like >> shoulder bike lane. >> Yeah, it's like um you know under the bridge tech that's there, right? People try to scoop by on the right side, you know, coming underneath the bridge. >> They succeeded further down Speed well by Speedwell Lake. They that was two

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lanes. They narrowed it into one >> and it's safer. I mean, I know it's still biking down there is still treacherous, but I I can say that just not allowing those two cars side by side and two cars the other way. You know, it's just we have to we have to just put our foot down at some point and say it's

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a state highway, but this is our town. We can't have in the middle of our downtown people, you know, in a crosswalk. >> I mean, Tyler, maybe maybe it's worth asking the chief to or maybe knows, but what what did Morristown do, right?

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Morris Township do, right, to petition the state to do that. That's still a state road, right? So, whatever they did, right, it was effective. So, we should be able to do the same. >> True. I never thought about like that in that sense because they did do it. It's just like [clears throat] something worked and they did it, right?

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>> Green Street. >> Yeah. Well, that's start we backed up to route 10. They didn't kind of allow the double lane. I don't know where that double lane should start, shouldn't start, and I agree. I've crossed that many a time when I've lived on that way, but I thought like,

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you know, traffic, people complain about traffic, but that helps a little bit. >> And people shouldn't drive through our town, should go somewhere else. Well, like Mike said, I think actually part of that was green streets that got that through. So, >> Right. Right. That's a good point.

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>> Yeah. So, >> and I I hear what you're saying. >> Yeah. No, I'm not greater. I'm just You mentioned it could be up to >> Yeah. No, I file. >> I just I just think that uh you know, I'm okay with residents honk or not residents, but I'm okay with people honking their horns. It means residents

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are going to be safe. People are going to be safe across the >> I'm not saying you're not. I'm just I'm just saying that I get traffic is >> so [clears throat] that >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Joanne, do you hear 31 Canfield? Um just

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again with the crosswalk situation, um it seems like you were saying they're supposed to install that all those lights at the crosswalks. Seems to me none of that is going to be done until this makes a determination about the McDonald's. >> I think that affects one crosswalk but

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not both of them. So we have two that are coming for one for each. >> So one will be safe and one won't be >> No, I I think one could go in is what I'm saying now, right? And and if they adjust a sidewalk or crosswalk later or not or whatever, that one can go in. But

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at least give us the one for now. >> Yeah. I mean, it's better than nothing, but it's not a good situation because People are going to not walk down to the other one. Kids aren't going to do that. You know, kids coming from burrow or whatever, they're not going to walk down

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to the one that has a light on it. It's just, you know, just my opinion. >> No, agreed. Yeah, I think we're I mean, they're separate enough that the honest truth is yes, we'll get that one before we get the one at the McDonald's because that's tied up with

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>> whatever's going on there behind I mean, with the DOT and that property owner, but they are separate. So, we are being told that it will be done versus not getting an update on the other one. So, I'm with you. It's not both, but it's a start. And at least if we have that,

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then [snorts] we can fight to get the second one. But my kids walk across that to go to Dunkin Donuts after school and it scares the crap out of them. They can be hurt. So, I >> Yeah, I mean, we will certainly try to push this. We started probably three years ago.

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>> It's just what it is. But thank you. I mean, again, the more we bring it up to them, the more pressure we can put on them. So, >> everybody a troop. Um, I just wanted to, you know, give

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Jill a bit of backup because it's [clears throat] just super disheartening that we've been sitting here meeting after meeting, tax dollars after tax dollars, about the same seemingly visible and totally simple thing of

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taking down a you know fence that's falling apart and putting up a mill or whatever the the code is. Um, a couple months ago I made a statement about the McMound um, and it dealt with basically the same kind of issues with systemic compliance

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and enforcement issues and I'm just wondering it's still seems to be going on. Um, and I totally agree agree with uh Jill and I think I said something similar that you know with these visible issues whether it's the mound or the uh

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the fence these are very visible simple issues. So if these don't have enforcement, I'm willing to bet a part of my salary that there's other much more serious issues around enforcement that are, you

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know, not obvious to the the layman. Um I'm just wondering, you know, based on the statement I gave a couple months ago, has there been any consideration by you, Mr. Mayor, in terms of what we can do as as Morris explains about enforcement? Um, I suggested I gave a

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few suggestions including forming some kind of small working group to discuss options. Um, but it seems and you just admitted that you're ultimately responsible for the zoning officer, right? I mean, and I'll just be straight up. I mean, I've been working in environment uh space for, you know, many

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years and I've never seen such simple compliance issues go on and on. I mean, I'd be fired if this if this were me. just just being straight up, right? So, what can we do about the zoning officer? What should we do? Has have you had any

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discussion or have a sit down conversation with it? >> Okay. But what about fines? Why aren't fines issued for, you know, all these non-compliances if if the developer and I completely support what Jill said. It

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seems like that the um the developers and and the commercial folks in town with the money are being are taking precedent. The interests of them are being taken precedent over the residents which is obviously not what we want to see. >> Me either and I don't want to see that

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either. >> That isn't my commitment again. >> Yeah. Tom, I think to to your point, I'm I'm equally frustrated. Um, and that's why I made the statement I did earlier because

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um, you know, we've, uh, something more needs to be done, right? And, and we have we have the ability to do so um to, um, ensure that, you know, these uh, uh, ordinances are being

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followed and that these fines are justified. for being issued that they do get issued. Um, you know, it's one of the one of the challenges of being volunteer is that it's, you know, kind of falls on us to do it in amongst

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our full-time jobs as well. Um, but, you know, it's a commitment we all made when we ran for uh for council. And I'd like to think that that's part of the reason you all elected us is because we're we're here. We're supposed to represent you and we're supposed to be doing the

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hard work. Um, so you know, I myself and I know a number of other council members and even the mayor now has has committed to it that, you know, we're going to do that um to the best of our ability. So, it's a start. It's not, you know, issuing fines to a large company. Who knows where that'll go, but at least

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it's something, right? It's it's code enforcement. Um so, I agree with you and as I said before, you know, I'm doing what I can uh to to make sure that that happens. Um, and you know, we'll we'll we'll continue to see how this goes, but I'm I'm I'll just put it bluntly. I'm

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kind of done with waiting around. >> Um, so it's about time we do something. >> Yeah. And I I appreciate all, you know, everybody's time here. You know, I I do different things with the green team and some other um aspects in town as well. And it takes a lot as as volunteers. Um,

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so definitely appreciate that. But the zoning officer is paid, right? >> Correct. So, you know, maybe something needs to be seriously looked at there because uh he should be out there doing I mean, you shouldn't have to be breathing down his neck. So, I don't know what's going on, but clearly

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there's, you know, some serious gaps. Um Okay. Well, thanks for taking a look at that further. And just one other um issue that the tennis courts look great from a distance, but um I just want to want you to know because you probably

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want to get in touch with the contractor that resurfaced them because I think you got ripped off that there's there's uh some dead zones like bubbles in the in the surfacing and it's already um cracking in different places. So um you know, I'm sure there's some kind of warranty.

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>> When was that? It was I was over there a few weeks ago. I I've been out at commission with Lyme disease the past few weeks, but >> any picture. >> Well, that's the first we're hearing of it or >> Yeah. No, I I didn't. But uh you know, I can was uh

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>> I'll send them tomorrow. >> Yeah. Either that or just let let Mike know where they were. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I don't like I don't know. Are you tennis players if you >> No, I'm just asking because you may not notice it. You know what I mean? Like I

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was over there with a couple friends and my son and you know it was pretty obvious when the ball would land in a certain spot it was you know you got these like dead like it bubbling up. It's not totally obvious but when the ball hits it it's it's very obvious. >> That was Sal's baby. I'll let him know.

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He might >> I know there was some kind of problem with the contractor. I don't know what >> you know there is a there is water issues over there as well and so I don't know whether that has >> yeah okay thanks just wanted to make you

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aware >> okay pressure Sorry, I didn't dress like I was coming up here. >> It's the summer. >> So, yeah, you know. Okay, thanks. But, um, all right. So, Pam Dice and seven of you. And, um, I didn't plan on speaking

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tonight. And unlike my husband who gets up here, I'm like, "Oh, he's going to talk." And he comes all toys. I am a teacher. I love speaking in front of kids, but I get all jittery speaking in front of adults. Um, so I usually write things down. So, I apologize that it's all over the place. [clears throat] Um, but first of all, I want to say like

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this is this is an emotional I'm angry and I've dedicated my life to this town. My whole life is in it is one block burrow school and my house that borders on the edge of Bretzel's classroom and knows, you know. So I in terms of my career, my dedication to the kids of

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this town, um becoming an ESL teacher and being very passionate about the multilingual families here. I volunteered for years to put together the the fast events and friends giving and I get tiny I get a little stick pen now and I'm grateful to my union for doing that for me. I'm also the grievance chair for the union because

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it's taught me because I'm a talker, but it's taught me sometimes less is more. So, there's a lot of things I'd like to say right now that I probably wouldn't want to see on the record or recorded later. So, I'm going to try to to hold back, but but I'm really mad um because it's been like two, three years, all these things are happening. And like

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when I go to a union meeting with someone who's worked really hard, but then they there's something that happened. We have a corrective action plan and we work together. we follow procedure and and I represent that person so that they can keep their job and we fix things and that that everything happens and we have

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documented steps. So when I hear about these ordinances that are not getting in enforced and it's like it's it's and I'm going to say this because I think a lot of people a lot of people besides me are thinking I hear things all over the place. I talk to parents I talk to students even the students in grades

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three through eight are like why are they put McDonald's there? there's so much traffic and I'm like these are kids that are walking on the street. So anyway, I'm obviously biased. I live at 7 Hill View. Everybody knows my name is on that case. If you didn't know, then you know now. So I'm I'm definitely not for the McDonald's. But um the fact that

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there's not documented steps and that everybody's just pushing it off and it seems like there's backdoor deals going on. I feel I'm like who's getting bribed? I I mean like I say that out loud because it's the impression that I get and that I don't want to think like that. I am a I'm a buy the book person. Like I used to teach high school and I'd

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be like, "What did they do in the bathroom?" Oh my goodness. Because I got straight Aids. Like, you know what? I mean, I could not fathom misbehavior. Like I was a straight A student. I always do things by the book. And it's just sad to me that in the past few years, like I've had my eyes opened to things that seem like corruption for

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people that I've trusted for years, and I feel betrayed. So, just I just want to say that like just based on my experience, I I want to see those documented steps. I want to see things actually being happen because if we don't do anything to that land owner and it's just your say and everybody else here like Jill has a new like might as

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well have a law degree for the amount of work that she's done in the past few years. um like it should be documented and it should be that well okay this is now this many citations and following the law and everything and I and this is why I could never be on council because I just want to say what say um I'm not

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I'm not um yeah so I'm not being restrained here um but I just yeah and it's better when I take notes um but that's about it okay thank you Seeing nobody else, we move on to introductions of ordinances, which we

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have none, but we do have ordinances on adoption. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I council member Houston read by title the ordinance entitled ordinance number 7-2026 bond ordinance providing for the

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acquisition of a sewer jet and catch basin cleaner by the burough Morris Plains in the county of Morris New Jersey appropriating 471,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of 305,000 bonds or notes uh of the bureau for financing such appropriation

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which ordinance was introduced and passed on first reading at a meeting held June 18th, 2026. I announce that the meeting is open for a public hearing on the ordinance. Seeing no one, I close the public hearing. I, Council Member Houston,

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state that the above ordinance as read by title on second reading at this meeting be adopted and finally passed. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Miss Burger. Roll call for please. >> Mr. Burn. >> Yes. >> Mr. Houston. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ivy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pontier. Yes,

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>> Miss Berg. >> Yes. I declare the ordinance adopted and by the time >> I council member Houston read by title the ordinance entitled ordinance number 8-2026 an ordinance providing for the partial amendment of section 18-2 quote

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department established unquote in chapter 18 police department of the revised ordinances of the burrow of Morris Plains New Jersey 1972 by increasing the number of sergeants within the police department from five to six sergeants. Which ordinance was introduced and

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passed on first reading at a meeting held on June 18th, 2026? >> I then announce that the meeting is open for a public hearing on the ordinance. Seeing nobody, I close the public hearing. >> I council member Houston state that the above ordinance as read by title on

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second reading at this meeting we adopted and finally passed. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Mr. Pontierre. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. B. >> Yes. >> Mr. Houston. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ivy, >> yes. >> Mr. Pier, >> yes. >> Mr. Burger, >> yes.

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>> I declare the ordinance adopted and finally passed. >> I, Council Member Houston, read by title the ordinance entitled Ordinance number 9-2026. An ordinance providing for the partial amendment of chapter 22A of the of the revised ordinances of the B of Morris

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Plains, New Jersey 1972 entitled Minibikes, motorized bicycles and motorcycles by adding electric scooter and electric bicycle operation, parking and battery safety regulations. Which ordinance was introduced and passed on first reading at a meeting held on June

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18th, 2026? I announce the meeting's open for a public hearing on the ordinance. Steve first 34 Washington Steve >> Washington >> 34 good evening. I've been in

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correspondence with a few members on the council on this ordinance tonight and I first and for support it passing. Um the July 19th deadline is real. Um, and council has mentioned a September amendment process. I am here to be useful to that process. I'm an avid

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cyclist. I've raced competitively up and down the eastern seabboard. I commuted year round through Manhattan, Brooklyn, Hoboken, and all parts of New Jersey. And when my schedule permits, I still might commute to Rawway. I ride with my kids everywhere. And I know what it

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means to be the most vulnerable person on the road. I read [clears throat] this ordinance looking for language that enables safe riding. It isn't there. What's there is a restriction. Prohibition without enablement doesn't produce safety. It

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produces fewer riders and the same dangerous streets. For example, we [clears throat] discussed this when I was here last. I have a class 3 assist e cargo bike. I often put my two young girls on the back

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of it when we ride around town. My example is riding eastward on Franklin Road towards 202. I am on the road and often there's cars parked on both sides and then if there is two-way traffic, I will subvert off the road to

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maintain safety and move on to the sidewalk. As I read the ordinance, that would be in violation of it. Okay, example one. Example two. As I continue on Franklin, I'm sitting at the intersection going to make a left onto 202 North. I have one young daughter

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that attends special spot um off of Richdale Avenue. I roll on my bike there to pick her up. So, I make the left onto 202 to go under the train overpass. Same ordinance, same violation. I cannot

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move onto the sidewalk to maintain my safety as I travel underneath that overpass. I think we all understand how tight that overpass or underpass can get with traffic. um using that sidewalk in both of those instances is a violation of the

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ordinance. It's not a safety ordinance. It's a restriction ordinance. So, with that said, a few simple suggestions. One, I think this one's obvious, a narrow emergency sidewalk exception. Um I have an imminent hazard. There's

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reduced speed. I need to yield to pedestrians, but the language is simple. Um unless unsafe to do so. Second, uh, a speed enforcement plan. Speed limits, as we know, are difficult

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to enforce and without a concrete plan, they're often the appearance of safety, not safety itself. The September amendment should focus on what tools, radar, speed display signs, etc. are available and budgeted before

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the amendment takes place. Last one, nighttime curfew. I cannot find any data reporting the effect of this as a townwide curfew. My suggestion is to enforce existing lighting requirements

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and let families get home after dark. Don't restrict the behavior. Require the equipment. Hoboken hasn't had a traffic death since 2017. It's not because they wrote stricter ordinances, but because they redesigned

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streets, so safe behavior became the easy behavior. They view the need for regular enforcement as a signal that their infrastructure isn't working. Don't just tell riders where they can't go. Give them somewhere safe to be.

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Thank you. >> Thank you, Steve. [applause] >> All right. Good evening, Dexter. Cooks Sunrise. Um, um, I see everyone I see many of you around town riding my own uh, e- cargo bike with my kids attached, right? I've

416
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been riding bikes since uh, 1985. Um, work the bike industry on all since 94. Um, and I came here tonight to talk about a couple concerns I have with the draft orbits, right? particularly uh age restrictions and um you know not writing

417
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was was the um big one that I have a little more on. Um a lot of these I think um if anyone has read there's a recent book in the last two years it's been very popular um the anxation right lays out some of the problems with over

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parenting um uh you know minimizing children's abilities to take risks safe risks controlled risks and some of the challenges that as they grow up and develop um become adults have not had that experience to understand and manage and take risks,

419
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right? Um so simply, you know, simple prohibition against uh riding um at night eliminates some of the opportunity and it discourages the practice to learn some safe cycling habits. Um and this is during a time of like epidemic

420
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or endemic childhood obesity, right? So this is outdoor activity. Um, great physical activity, great for physical fitness. Um, I will say also, right, that um, I'm familiar I think there's been some discussion about, you know, um, analogy to a graduated driver's license, right,

421
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for riding at night. Um, and I'll say that, uh, car is quite a bit more complex and dangerous than a bicycle. Um, a child or if a young adult can handle a car at age 18 at night, they can certainly bicycle

422
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legally ride that maybe 15 in the unfortunately um less common for youth to develop and enjoy healthy and safe cycling after they become 18, right? So closing that door on them during that critical window um really kind of serves to put a

423
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damper on that whole thing. Um, night riding, riding at night, um, relatively safe, uh, all things considered, right? Very satisfying, a lot of fun. Mor Place is a great place for it. I'm out quite a bit at night. Um, if there is a safe place to ride a night, I think it's

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here. Um, and I think the real way to do this is to let the children learn how to manage risks while relatively safe environment. It's how they develop. Kind of a where I'll leave it as a summary is cleaned up a little bit, a little PG, right? Um, I understand there are

425
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concerns about, you know, inappropriate behavior, especially from youth at night. Um, there's a very common saying, right, that you're not going to make everyone wear diapers because one person poops a pants. So, thanks. Thank you.

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>> Thank you. >> Jim Hunt 44 JC. >> Hey Jim. >> Good evening. Um, I'd like to talk to the ebike ordinance as well, but a couple of things. First, I I want to make sure I add my thanks to everybody who worked so

427
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hard during the storm. We were so lucky we got power back at 3:00 a.m. in the morning. I felt like I was given a gift at some point because the power came back. So, thanks to everybody. Also found it very interesting many of these discussions about whether it's the light for the crosswalk or somebody getting

428
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past almost hit with a dog. By the way, I'm the dog more than I used to be too. So, I see that all all come down to in many ways an interrelated set of problems. land use, [clears throat] travel restrictions, all of those go

429
02:03:40.719 --> 02:03:56.400
together. Part of that, we hope with completing green streets policy will give us a direction to begin to bring these things together so it's safety by design and not safety by accident or crash or death. We need to move forward so that we can get ahead of capital

430
02:03:56.400 --> 02:04:13.040
plans six years out. We need to be looking at things in a different way with those capital projects and planning so that we can bring together all the things that will to making things safer along the way. Couple questions. One, I was doing some research on the website,

431
02:04:13.040 --> 02:04:30.480
which is I'm so happy we have it. The resolutions don't have hot links, so I can just call up the resolution. Just if we could do that, it would be wonderful along with the ordinances and the other kinds of um I applaud this movement toward the data centers and the

432
02:04:30.480 --> 02:04:45.760
potential facilities. Certainly environmentally it's proven I I think it proved to be important in addition it's a safety issue from my perspective because that road on on Taber road is a perfect road for cycling it's a perfect road for commuting it's a perfect road

433
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for walking and if we have a detention center or a data center or all those I think interfere with it warehouse itself just a couple things but now the ease I think it was probably 15 years or so ago that my bike club when I was

434
02:05:02.000 --> 02:05:17.360
president began to anticipate the the involvement of ebicycles. Do we let them ride with us? Do we want an ebike us? Most of us thought it was cheating. We dare ride [clears throat] an ebike. I mean, you [snorts] know, we're cyclists.

435
02:05:17.360 --> 02:05:32.400
But we began to understand that people are going to do it, especially as they get older, which I understand better now that I did that. So, we began to explore, well, what are these things? Where did they go? How do they do it? And we began to realize that there was a regulation really across the board when

436
02:05:32.400 --> 02:05:48.560
it came to ebikes. There just weren't enough people thinking about it. Here's the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition. We held a seminar about ebikes about 10 years ago. We have been pushing the state for years to come up with something that's reasonable. Finally, the Senate President, because of some

437
02:05:48.560 --> 02:06:05.679
very unfortunate crashes involving ebikes, most of which were created by motor vehicles and not by the ebikes themselves, pushed through at the last minute a state bill that's horrendous. We've been trying as advocates to stop or amend that bill. We first failed to

438
02:06:05.679 --> 02:06:21.440
stop it. We've been trying to amend it. They won't do it. It gives us a real problem here when we're trying to create an ordinance. And I want to commend you for coming up with one of the most comprehensive of these ordinances I've read and I've read many of them in the

439
02:06:21.440 --> 02:06:38.000
town around this. The state law governing the B bicycles obviously didn't help. It's excellent given the state deadline, but the ordinance has to be improved through amendments which has been referenced already and I would hope that they could be made at a time whenever. We all agree something's got to be done, but that something must

440
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include a recognition by motorists that our roads, trails, and sidewalks are and will increasingly be shared by these e-personal conveyances. Years ago, I led the team that created the New Jersey safe passing law as passed and amended. It covers all

441
02:06:54.239 --> 02:07:11.280
vulnerable road users from walkers and runners to pedal cyclists, wheelchair users, first responders, and others. Slow down. Give them four feet. Pass with care. By the way, if this passes, I would one of the amendments I would recommend is that we require those who

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02:07:11.280 --> 02:07:28.320
use scooters and ebicycles to also because they are covered. We must leave four feet for pedestrians because they are more vulnerable than we are. But in any case, anybody on any personal device is more vulnerable than a car than a

443
02:07:28.320 --> 02:07:43.760
look at the Jeep wagon ears and and Cadillac Escalades and huge cars. I've probably ridden over 150,000 miles during the time I've cycled. I've ridden through New York. I've written in Europe. I've ridden through Marstown

444
02:07:43.760 --> 02:08:01.599
constantly regularly, I should say. I had the scariest moment of my cycling life two weeks ago on WMA teaching my 8-year-old granddaughter to ride. We're coming up. Stay to the right, Francesca. Stay to the right.

445
02:08:01.599 --> 02:08:16.960
Look around you. I'm coming up and suddenly I see a car coming down Juniper about to run the stop line gunning in one of the about 6,000 lbs I guess 7,000 lbs. She may weigh 100 pounds if that with the bike.

446
02:08:16.960 --> 02:08:33.599
Guy I yel my head off. He stops just short of coming into the intersection potentially killing her. I go to what were you thinking? I didn't see you. Excuse me. What do you mean you didn't see me? Is that an excuse? I didn't see

447
02:08:33.599 --> 02:08:49.679
you. And then he rolled up the window and went on. What I found interesting is he said, "I didn't see you." He didn't say, "I didn't see your granddaughter." He didn't see her. These large cars have new pillars that are restrict restricting. They're more blind spots in

448
02:08:49.679 --> 02:09:05.520
those cars. Extraordinarily dangerous. So, when we do an ordinance about ebikes and scooters, let's remember who the vulnerable people are. Not just pedal cyclists, not just my granddaughter, but anybody coming through town who has to work, wants to get to the train station from Mars Township. Many of them work in

449
02:09:05.520 --> 02:09:20.560
a restaurant downtown Marstown that use the train here. We're going to have people from all over going on. The ordinance is questionable in terms of whether we have right to control people coming in from other towns, at least as it's written. Having said that, I think there's some good things in the ordinance and I would support it passage

450
02:09:20.560 --> 02:09:35.679
and as I [clears throat] mentioned the individual edits that I have I'll share later and there are many but I hope they can be helpful in making it more consistent with state law and our goals. There are two I believe that

451
02:09:35.679 --> 02:09:52.400
require immediate attention even before passing this tonight if that's even possible. In the manner of riding section, the ordinance would allow the use of an earphone, only one, and hands-free electronic communication. Whether one ear or an iPhone on the handlebars, these distractions endanger

452
02:09:52.400 --> 02:10:08.480
the riders and those with whom they will share the roads. There should be no music playing when you're trying to ride. Let's hope the drivers would stop the distractions, all of which are dangerous. But in the ordinance right now, it is permitted for them to use

453
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those devices. It really should be eliminated, I believe. Other questions. Did the bureau and going beyond the state law with regard to scooters explore setting an age requirement for scooter riders? The state law is absent in this information. In fact, allows and I see 10-year-olds

454
02:10:26.000 --> 02:10:42.880
on scooters through my neighborhood. Today, I'm coming driving down 202 and coming at me as a kid on a scooter followed by an ebike coming against me in the shoulder. I realized, what the heck are they thinking? They're people

455
02:10:42.880 --> 02:10:58.719
on the sidewalk. They're trying not to hit people on the sidewalk. They're not on the other side. They don't know where to go. We should at least think about allowing kids to learn. And yes, I want them to have those experiences just like you do so that they become cyclists in the future and they're not afraid to do

456
02:10:58.719 --> 02:11:13.679
things. But they don't really understand the rules of the road. Mountain way coming past walking my dog sidewalk kid zooms out of the church parking lot because I live on J through the church to mountain way zooms out of the parking lot into the middle of mountain way and

457
02:11:13.679 --> 02:11:30.560
proceeds they really don't understand the education component of this is which I fully support is extraordinarily important but it's got to include motorists not just kids it's got to include parents not just bike shops it's got to include everybody because we all

458
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share the and share the responsibility. Other than commercial use, how does the burough manage riders from other towns and states? The New Jersey law says now that people from out of state can bring their ebikes and they don't they're not subject to the law. Kind of a strange

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law. And does the bureau have parking regulations for the delivery vehicles and the landscaper trucks and the trailers that block shoulders and force anybody trying to stay to the right out into the middle of the lane? Because all of us have seen what happens when Fed is delivering or UPS is delivering or when

460
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the enormous truck and the enormous trailer that the landscapers use pull over and block almost regularly on right granice and almost block the entire lane of granite if you're trying to go around they're forcing you out of the street. So I think there a lot of questions I think the amendment process is

461
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important. It's the one suggestion I make to try and eliminate that tonight before you pass even this ordinance as it's as it's now put before you. and I look forward to working with you both on the C by ordinance and on our continued work. Thank you. We're excited. You've

462
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done as much work as anybody on this. So I I look forward to that policy and a future where we can make it safe to >> we'll definitely be leaning on you know, you know, Dexter, Steve, Jim, Paul, you guys because you're the ones really out

463
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there with that experience and that's vital. So that's absolutely something that we look forward to working together with you on that because again we absolutely plan on making those amendments to make it so it's safer. That ultimately is the goal of why we did this is to keep the road safer

464
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[snorts] and I think it will be a working sort of document. But again, those you all made great suggestions. I wrote them down and you have my word that we will be discussing those and continuing that conversation to try and get that language added so we can get it in there for you.

465
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I think we have to address what can be changed before second reading or an adoption. >> So I just I would suggest my suggestion is they'll hold off on the second reading of this and have the ordinance committee look at

466
02:13:40.639 --> 02:13:57.360
some of these things before we put it into place. Um but that's that's my suggestion. My point was I think I think we talked about this last time that material changes

467
02:13:57.360 --> 02:14:13.840
too much. >> It can be administrative but not >> it can be administrative but it can't be substantial changes >> substantive changes. >> So for example changes that >> for lack of I guess a better example. Mr. Hunt does raise a very good point about this earphones and the language is

468
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the statute. Now however changing that tonight before second reading is a substantive change that simply violates the law. So, so I caution council here tonight to make significant or numerous changes to the ordinance at least

469
02:14:31.520 --> 02:14:47.040
facially because it's really not permitted. Um it it raises notice requirements. It's it to a certain extent you you are married to the ordinance as it was

470
02:14:47.040 --> 02:15:04.480
passed on first. You can make some minor grammatical changes, some stylistic changes, but you can't really touch upon hours, ages, curfews, things like that. That all changes the substance of of of the ordinance. So

471
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again, you're somewhat married to what was passed, beat a dead horse, but you're stuck with what's on first reading, at least in terms of tonight. Now, can you pass what you passed on first reading tonight and then make

472
02:15:20.960 --> 02:15:37.599
amendments as I' I've heard through the grape line? You can do that. Um, can't resend this ordinance and start. >> You could also resend the ordinance. If council chooses to resend the ordinance and then go back to the drawing board,

473
02:15:37.599 --> 02:15:52.639
that's another option that you have. But, but I would caution about sitting here tonight trying to change this and making notes of that. It's I I think you're all in tonight or you're all out. And if you're all in, you can amend it

474
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and amend it in the near future, of course. But, uh, I'm I'm just not comfortable tonight doing, you know, let's take sentence two out of paragraph 3, let's change it from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Those are all just

475
02:16:10.320 --> 02:16:26.239
>> I I I I recommend against that. So, I think um first of all, I appreciate everybody's comments. I'm not sure if if there were any other comments. I know we kind of Did anybody else have any other comments? We heard from three people. Okay. So, I I do appreciate everybody's comments and I

476
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think that they are um substantial and they're important. Um and I I do however think that um you know, the state law goes into effect three days from now. Um the entire reason that started this

477
02:16:43.359 --> 02:17:00.080
process months ago, right? And we met with uh Chris Shay, we went with Chief Kowski. Um we've gone through the traffic committee, right? We put a lot of work into this. Um it's not perfect, but tell me what law is perfect, right? There's not a single law here that's

478
02:17:00.080 --> 02:17:16.800
perfect. Um and if we wait till we get it perfect, there would never be any laws, right? Because it's never perfect. the whole process of government is that we can amend these things to improve them as we go. Um I think that by um if

479
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we I I think that we need to pass it tonight because it sets a baseline uh for uh safety in the burrow. Um and it fills the gaps that the the state law just blatantly didn't pick up on. Um, so

480
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I my commitment to the residents and to the council uh would be that if you know if we do pass it tonight that I would get to work immediately on making these amendments. Part of that would be um

481
02:17:49.840 --> 02:18:05.840
doing public engagement, right? having um you know going down to the farmers market or holding public sessions or working with the police department to you know do do public education but getting resident feedback on this so that we can uh update it and and make it

482
02:18:05.840 --> 02:18:23.040
better. Um but I think that to pull it tonight for a couple of very important comments but that would just negate all the work that we've done and we have to start this process all over again and go through another two readings. I think sets us back and quite frankly I don't

483
02:18:23.040 --> 02:18:38.160
think it does a service to to the residents of Morris Plains. I think with the the law passing in three days the the having this in place sets a a uh baseline of rules that um people can

484
02:18:38.160 --> 02:18:55.359
follow. Uh and then we just like with any law that we do and any new ordinance that we pass we amend them all the time. Um this is an interest of public safety. There's a number of issues that were mentioned about nighttime riding um and other things and I think those are all important things we need to incorporate.

485
02:18:55.359 --> 02:19:12.000
Um but I really do think that you know we need to to pass this tonight and then I will commit to working on this to my goal would be to have the amendments done prior to the beginning of the school year and that's September. Um it's not a long time. We only have two meetings between now and then. Um but

486
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that would be my commitment. So I I would ask the council support to pass this on second reading as is with no changes as Mr. Iran suggested um and then we can amend it after public input um in the future. So just you know you

487
02:19:28.000 --> 02:19:44.719
you want to get this by September and that was my point. You still have the time if you get you have 30 days to get this correct for an introduction at our next meeting and then adoption for the uh September 3rd or whatever that meeting is which would probably be for

488
02:19:44.719 --> 02:20:00.720
the school um instead of coming out with I'll say two versions but that's just my suggestion. I mean we sat here at that last meeting and we had quite a dialogue and pushed stuff and took stuff out how the process works. It was it was excellent. A lot of people love that.

489
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>> Yeah. But regardless, but I'm just saying I I think that u you know once you start dialoguing with it, you're going to find other things. So >> Well, and that's kind of my point, right? >> That's what I mean. So it's going to change things that are already maybe that have been now adopted, right?

490
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>> Yeah. But then you may have to take stuff out. >> Happens all the time. >> Okay. >> I my my my suggestion or my response to that would be okay. show if we do pull it and we wait till the next time then we have more comment and then we keep

491
02:20:33.760 --> 02:20:48.479
pulling it and nothing gets passed. I think if the ordinance committee and your commitment like you said is is to work on this and get it done by the uh November or September by the time schools open and that gets distributed between now and the next meeting the

492
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changes I think those comments will be able to come to you. >> That's just my suggestions like what what are the provisions here that are urgent to have passed at the same time that state ordinance goes into effect?

493
02:21:05.040 --> 02:21:22.640
So the state ordinance does um does nothing for um e scooters. >> Um >> but that takes effect, right? But there's also a grace period, isn't there? When that law takes effect until >> I have to defer to the police department

494
02:21:22.640 --> 02:21:40.240
on whether there's grace period, but my understanding is peri. >> So yeah, July 19th is that's when the law takes effect and that's when it's important. The first day of school is September 2nd. >> Thank you. >> It's early. It's before Labor Day. >> February meeting on the

495
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>> um but as I think as I said earlier um the state law um will the state law be able to bridge between now and September 3rd?

496
02:21:58.720 --> 02:22:15.760
>> No. That's the whole point of doing this is that there's things that are not in the state law. Um so like vehicle classifications, helmet requirements, speed of where you can ride, commercial delivery accountability, battery fire safety is not even addressed in the state law. Um enforcement,

497
02:22:15.760 --> 02:22:32.640
um all of these things do not exist in the state law. Um and they, for example, a low speed electric bike, which is pedal assist only in tops at 20 miles an hour, not mentioned in the state law. motorized bicycle which has a throttle and can go up to 28 miles an hour. Not mentioned this law, right? All these

498
02:22:32.640 --> 02:22:47.120
different classifications that are important. Um helmet requires uh requirements. Um low speed ebikes, riders under 17 must wear an certified helmet. Uh motorized bikes, everyone, all ages must wear one. And for e- motors, every every rider must wear a

499
02:22:47.120 --> 02:23:03.760
full DT certified motorcycle helmet because of the speed that they can go. The state cap is at 20 miles an hour, but the ordinance gives us the ability to designate reduced speed zones as low as 15 miles an hour. Um, we restrict ebikes and e- scooters on burough

500
02:23:03.760 --> 02:23:20.319
property um to only pave services. The state law does nothing with that. Um, commercial driving accountability um says nothing about commercial driving accountability, which we talked in depth about last time. Battery fire safety, right? We we all we all know because there were two public incidents that

501
02:23:20.319 --> 02:23:36.240
happened. What happens when you store uh you know an ebike in your house, right? Um that you know that's not addressed at all. Um this this addresses that. >> Is there a grace period with with the ordinance that that our ordinance

502
02:23:36.240 --> 02:23:53.120
>> is there going to be a grace period? >> Well um there's an education period. So as as we talked to the chief about right the ordinance takes effect the We do it right. But as we talked to the chief about right, he said there's an education period, right? So um and I

503
02:23:53.120 --> 02:24:08.080
believe >> so then you'll have two education periods. >> What do you mean two education? >> One now and then one when you do an amendment. I think that's >> No, it's I mean it's it's it's I mean it's education [clears throat]

504
02:24:08.080 --> 02:24:23.760
on ebike safety in general, right? So right now there's I mean you can still you go out tonight and you can see people riding their escooters with no helmets, no lights, nothing through the town out up to Morristown. I saw it the other night, right? Extremely dangerous.

505
02:24:23.760 --> 02:24:40.479
Um on July 19th that all that all changes um but it it doesn't give us any of the protections that um or any of the um uh you know enforcement inside of Mars. So that that this is where that that fills those gaps. Like I said, I I know

506
02:24:40.479 --> 02:24:55.920
that it's not perfect. I understand and I hear the residents feedback. Um but I don't think that two and a half months of work should be pulled um right at the cusp of when we're when the state's about to pass it. Um when you have my

507
02:24:55.920 --> 02:25:17.520
commitment to amend these things so that we can incorporate the >> we understand that part. >> I just want to add that 2023 an ordinance was passed in a similar situation where there were concerns about the ordinance being passed that were expressed at the second

508
02:25:17.520 --> 02:25:34.880
reading first reading and it's the the commentary on the deis was that we can amend this thing the day after it's passed and two year three years went by before one of the provisions of that ordinance

509
02:25:34.880 --> 02:25:50.800
that was in question was rescended from that ordinance. And there are other changes that we're looking to make now. But my point is if you don't pass it, there's a sense of urgency around getting it done. If you have something that's there, it's like,

510
02:25:50.800 --> 02:26:06.720
okay, we got something. Let's live with it. And you know, we still can make these changes and we have time. And I think not passing it gives us that sense of urgency to get it done. >> You have my commitment, Miss Vera, that I will not sit on this thing. Like,

511
02:26:06.720 --> 02:26:20.960
but you're putting the seed in there that that it could possibly be that somebody would sit on it and not do anything about it. That will not happen. I will not sit on it. The I will take the resident's feedback. We will look to amend amend

512
02:26:20.960 --> 02:26:38.319
this as quick as possible. I mean, if I don't know I mean I'll hold public whatever whatever people want to do to make sure that I I'll stay accountable for this, but you have my commitment that this will be done. I I I hear you that in the past it was, you know, specifically had to do with McDonald's

513
02:26:38.319 --> 02:26:53.680
property drive-throughs, right? That that was a thing that came in and then it took a while for it to to not come uh to to be brought out. Um and that the impact was detrimental in my opinion uh to the community. But again, this isn't

514
02:26:53.680 --> 02:27:09.200
this isn't perfect. Um but given the um urgency with the residents tonight, um I will personally take it upon myself to meet with them to get their feedback and then amend amend the propose an

515
02:27:09.200 --> 02:27:25.680
amendment to the ordinance so that we can incorporate that. But it's it's not it's not a oneanddone process, right? No law should be, right? Every law should constantly be updated and and fixed. Um and I I think this is no different. This is a brand new law. We've never had it

516
02:27:25.680 --> 02:27:42.800
before. So, I appreciate and I understand the comments on it. Um, but I I am not going to sit on it and and wait for two and a half years and and nothing be done about it. So >> I would just suggest then that we have

517
02:27:42.800 --> 02:27:58.880
an education program that we are going over the basic education pieces of the introduced ordinance the things that we think will be most likely to be enforced rather than going to some of these details that are still under discussion so that we don't have to retach uh

518
02:27:58.880 --> 02:28:15.840
things that we taught two months ago and you know start from scratch. But the basic things like the safety equipment you know the helmets and lights, those those are not going to change. So, you know, I just don't want to invest resources in creating a whole education program and then having to like start

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from scratch and then try to reach people who are were instructed incorrectly. >> So, just to be clear, the only reason why I say September is because unless I'm mistaken, we only have one meeting in August and then we have one meeting in September. I I would do it I would do it quicker than that. >> But we don't have quicker meetings

520
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unless you want to create a meeting in August, which I'm in favor of. But it gives you 30 days to to correct this or add or delete things, right? And then introduce a clean ordinance and then have it second, you know, in September 3rd, the day after school.

521
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>> And I think that this is clean as it is. I think it needs amendments. Um, but I don't think that >> okay, >> these amendments should should, you know, withhold us from passing this. >> We'll go around and we'll uh we'll see. You want to continue reading and we'll see where where the council wants to.

522
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Okay. Do you have to close the public? >> Uh, I see no one else. >> Can I just make a quick comment? Just a really fast comment. >> Rob M, two people left. I just wanted to note that uh in support of Bill's position, I think all three residents

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that testified or came up and spoke all said they supported passing the passing this as it is. So, I just wanted didn't want people to forget that that although they had feedback, they did say it should pass. >> Yeah, that's Yeah, that certainly is not the issue. We understand that part. Anyway, go around and I close the public portion.

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>> Great. I council member Houston state that the above ordinance as read by title on second reading at this meeting be adopted and finally passed. >> Is there a second? >> Second by Miss Berg, please. >> Mr. B.

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>> Just a quick comment. I completely see both sides, but I remember that ordinance and it took a long time. So, I appreciate your efforts and I'll say yes, >> Mr. Houston. >> Yes, >> Mr. Ivy.

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>> I believe that wholesale this is a correct ordinance and I believe that there is a lot of input that thanks to the folks that joined there is a genuine desire to make this amendment for September. I don't know in the example that you provided if they were genuinely

527
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intending to make any changes except maybe these people at that particular meeting. Uh so yes, >> Mr. Pontier >> similar I vote yes. Um and I you know I trust Bill and I do know that he will

528
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make these amendments and as a member of the ordinance committee I you also have my commitment that I will listen to people and I will make them and we will move quickly. I think we can even have some amendments as soon as the next meeting or September or both ultimately.

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Yes. >> Yes sir. >> Yes. >> Okay. I declare the ordinance adopted and finally passed. >> Thank you everybody. Moving on. We have no unfinished business, no new business, no resolutions. We do have vouchers. Miss Berg.

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>> Yes sir. >> I move that the checklist dated July 16th 2026 in the amount of 2,575,9253 be approved. Is >> there a second? Second. Second by Mr. Brun. All in favor?

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>> I opposed abstain. The eyes have it. We have [clears throat] no need for an executive session. Do I have a motion to adjourn? >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? The eyes have it. Thank you everybody for coming out. Enjoy the rest of your

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summer moving forward.