I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisibley and justice for all. Almighty God we ask you bless this governing body with an abundance of
wisdom and understanding so that in fulfilling their public trust every deliberation will result in actions that will promote the common good and general welfare for all the people of Lor's place. Amen. member doesn't govern any body of burough staff any use of electronic
devices during this spec approval of minutes before motion to regular Um 8:30 p.m. May I'm sorry guys. Our May 15th Okay. Conference executive and regular
meeting May 1st, 2025. Is there a second? Second. Second by art. All in favor? Oppos to approval. calendar, Mr. Cortez. Okay. Resolution 2025-69 entitled Burough
Marcation for supplemental funding calendar year 2025. Resolution 2025-770 entitled resolution authorizing a contract website services agile websites reports are burough clerk April 2025 animal licensing April 2025 police
department April 2025 grant writer April 2025 April 2025 prevention April 2025 department April 2025 Resolution 2025-71 resolution authorizing a contact garden state fireworks for fireworks
display services. Resolution 2025-72 resolution of support of LGBTQ plus pride month. Resolution 2025-73 entitled Wong Post number 341
ABC license state license number 143-31-6-2 resolution 2025-74 resolution authorizing an agreement between the Burough Marsh planes and the Morris County Utilities authorizing for the curbside collection transport and marketing recycling
materials. Brody Patrick toy be hired for seasonal help in the an hourly rate of $158 effective May 19th, 2025 having received quotes for 2025 family day events and the rides for the
following party rentals LLC 15,042.50 Dam event and rentals no code. Lucky Star Amusements no quote a purchase order be issued to Perfect Rentals LLC 312 Wank Yo Book Road Army New Jersey in
the amount of 15,042 and50. I received quotes for 25 blocks from the following excuse for a party inc 3,600 party time rentals 42
62 and 40 that a purchase order be issued to any excuse for a party in 16 Gloria Lane Fairfield, New Jersey in the amount of 3,600 received public for track 2025.02 for road improvements to Cleveland Avenue, Brook Drive North,
Cavenport Avenue, Winwood Road, Beach Drive, Forest Avenue, Forest and that a contract be awarded to Selian Suns General Construction Inc. for a little bit of $722,99625 subject to the burough attorney's review of documents. The
recreation summer camp pool employees and camp director salaries attached for the 2025 seasonal season be received quote park 80 m LLC 15,52121 random pool plastering
$18,150 and purchase orderation to Brad Masonry LLC 365 right road sweet 223 Woodland Park in the amount of $15,52121 received close to purchase up
to 20 skip shrubs for the court roadway $139 each farm $37 each servos 9750 $9750 each
$115 each purchase order road, New Jersey 07054 per shrub not to exceed. The recreation summer camp attached to be hired at 10 stated for
2025 summer camp. The program instructor is attached to be hired for the recreation summer enhancement program at the rate for the 2025 summer. That's it. Is there a second?
Second by like roll call, please. Mr. Cortez, yes. Mr. Broom, yes. Mr. Houston, yes. Mr. Ivy, yes. Mr. Pontier, yes. M. Yes.
Um, this time I'd like to invite any members of the public wishing to speak. State your name and address and your concern and welcome everybody. Hi guys. Hello. Rachel Reinhardt, 40 Styles Avenue.
Uh, thank you for allowing me a few moments of your time tonight. I will promise to keep this shorter than the last time I spoke before a town board. Um, the council has been very gracious over previous years in adopting a pride resolution for the month of June and for
allowing the DEI committee and the Burough School students to place flags outside of the building here. But I did want to take a minute just to remind everyone why these things are so meaningful and why it's important that we continue to do this. Um, while I am not myself a member of the LGBTQ plus
community and consider myself an ally, I have been on the outside of things before, considered part of a marginalized group of people as I think we all have felt that way in one way or another. And we can agree that it is a terrible, terrible feeling. Uh, as I'm raising my children, I want to make sure
that they know it is always okay to be yourself and always to stand up for those who are considered different. While people in this community are not consider or not different, they have been treated as such since they don't have time and even
still today. While people say they are accepting actions say otherwise by putting the pride flags up outside of our government offices with the help of our officials sometimes. Um it shows that not only are we a welcoming community but we are also
accepting, loving and a supportive community. It shows the LG LGBTQ plus community and the general public that Mars claims and the people who lead us have their backs. It shows our children that as well, it shows our children as well that we are truly the community of
caring and we practice what we preach. So while and passing the resolution while not public display on the lawns is a critical step to show the LGBTQ plus community that they matter here and we are a safe space for them. Since you all have been gracious about passing this in
previous years and allowing the flags to go up, I'm just going to assume you're going to hopefully do the same this year. Um, and on behalf of the Beyond Differences Club at Burough School, I'd like to invite you guys on May 30th when we're hopefully allowed to put the flag up outside uh to come join us. You can
say hi to the students, speak to them, anything that really speaks to you to share with our students. Um, I especially want to thank the chief for always helping us with the flags, uh, and for always speaking to the students and for holding on to flags
when I forget to pick them up for months and months and months. Um, I cannot express how invaluable it is to show our students that the chief of the police force is their ally. Thank you for your time. I appreciate your support of passing a resolution, acknowledging Pride Month, and allowing us to put the
flags outside of the building. Maybe one day we'll get a flag up on the big flag pole. Uh, thank you so much for May 30th. I will email you a specific Yeah, send it right to the clerk to get it out there. No problem. That's good. And we're always more than
happy. I personally I love the idea of flags at each park. A lot of exposure, a lot of different communities, not only ours visit all the parks. I love that the kids are involved with it. I think it's early for every
Thank you. And I don't think anybody here has a problem. Happy to see it. Thank you. Be great. Thank you. Just pull microphone over there. Oh, yeah. I'm gonna give you
if she goes off the cuff. It's There you go. Well, it's interesting for everybody. Hi, I'm Hannah and I live on East Avenue. I think it's very important that we put the pride flags up in Mars. Lots of
people don't know the importance of pride but because people who are considered different are not always welcome everywhere and some places they are even shamed. So it's really important that we put a flag around because everybody is
different and it just isn't worth everybody's energy to make them feel bad. And I really like helping her take down the flags. And I'm going to put them up even though she does also wait like
until we'll send her a reminder. Stand up for your poopies. Nice job. Like your burrow hoodie. Anybody else? Hello. I Lee Connor to Tower Hill Road
in Mars Plains. Thanks for the opportunity to speak. I want to talk about planning. The people of Mars Plains cared so deeply about development and planning decisions in our bureau. That has been abundantly
clear in recent years during the planning board hearings on the McDonald's application and the proposed storage warehouse on the old acting property and before that the proposed fragrance factory on Route 53. While those hearings are behind us,
proactive resident involvement is not. Many engaged residents continue to attend meetings. We video proceedings. We're researching planning issues and we're talking with one another about the future of development in Mars
Plains. We believe our community can do better together to avoid controversial projects like a double lane drive-thru restaurant or a storage warehouse in our downtown or a chemical factory next to a
neighborhood. With informed, concerned residents and committed burough officials working in partnership, Mars Plains can plan for a more thoughtful, sustainable future. That's why we've organized these
efforts into a group. We're calling it Plan Better Mars Planes. you see our shirts tonight. Very shortly, a website will um be made public. It's called plan
betterp.com. It'll go into more detail about what I've I've just alluded to and specific um wishes that we have. Plan Better Mars Planes is we want our website to serve as a resource for
residents but also a voice for the more than 00 residents who signed last year's petition opposing a double drive-thru in the heart of town. Plan Better Mars Plains is nonpartisan residentled group with a
clear mission to collaborate with town leadership in reimagining the future of Mars Plains. We want to promote best practices in safe, sustainable and living livable planning by engaging a wide range of
experts. Our town has many informed, invested, educated residents who are ready and eager to help. In the near term, we're also requesting clear and timely updates on the progress of the double lane
drive-thru that was approved for Spiegel Avenue. Residents want to know that promises made by the applicant are being monitored and that the burough is vigorously enforcing all relevant codes and regulations. We recognize that town
planning is complex to say the least, especially in a densely populated area in northern New Jersey. We respect the time and the dedication and the expertise of our elected and appointed
officials. But development and planning are not your problems to solve alone. These are our shared challenges and responsibilities. We're all in this together. And so we hope you'll see this new
organization as an opportunity for partnership, for communication, for shaping a future that reflects the values of all Mars Plains residents. Thank you for your time and we look forward to working with you.
A couple of points there just property, whatever you want to call it. So, I did meet with the property owner and their attorney and we spelled
that out very clearly what's going to happen, how it's going to happen and pretty sternest that nothing will happen there for another two to four weeks. They're telling us as far as demolition, they
will inform the construction official of everything that's going to happen either by email or cell phone. So nobody surprised by that. Again, as Bill had said earlier, you know, this is out of administration now. It's really construction. So, but
we will be proactive in finding out what they're doing when all that's going to happen. They are waiting for some approvals and shut offs from Jersey Central and that won't
nothing. We're not going to let that happen. developers agreements are being prepared that they have to follow and all the standards that talked about in that planning board meeting will be followed to the team. So they understand
that now moving forward and everything else. my opinion. That's great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks. Hi, my name is Charlie.
Charlie. I just wanted to say that I think it's important to put the pride flags up so people can uh know that we are supportive of the LGBTQ community and that people that they know that they're allowed to express themselves
and be who they are and even though people say they're different, they uh just keep going and they do what they want to be and they identify as who they want to be. Well, thank you for that. Well said. right off the cut
too as our slogan is you know says it's the community of caring and I think everybody in the community here really cares cares for everybody right looking out for everybody that's the way for everybody to Hannah that you both are extremely brave for getting up here in
front of all these people on the council. I know we can be intimidating, right? But be to be able to get up here and say what you have to say, you have my respect. So, thank you very much for doing Thanks, Charlie. Hi, Schroeder. I'm at 97 Maple Avenue.
I have some comments and some questions about the recent change of membership on the planning board. Um I think a lot of us in the community have some questions about what's been going on. Um a lot of residents have appreciated all of the
hard work that Ron Kelly put into the planning board role. We really appreciated his genuine interest to do what's in the best interest of the town while still being able to uphold the ML. So, we would really like to better understand what seems to be a forced
resignation, how it came about, and why that conflict couldn't be resolved without having him leave the planning board. So, a few questions I think are on everybody's mind, just not my not just mine. Why was it realized when Mr. Kelly
started his job a couple years ago that there was a conflict? So, I don't have an answer to that. And he was appointed on first January 1st, 2019. His reappointment came up in 2023.
January 1st, he was reappointed then May, I believe it was. Uh he was he started his position with the just one of those things that went by the wayside. I didn't pick up on it. Didn't pick up on it. The attorney didn't pick
up on it. Just happened. When was it realized that there was a probably around January or February I realized it. I spoke with my attorney and the attorney spoke
with chairman Mike at the time and also Ron Kelly was given what it was understood and this is how he was given options that he could
have done other things and this is how he decided. So, was he given an opportunity to resign and keep his role on the plating board? But the way that the law reads, once he's on there and he has a job, he can't come back. So, he
was actually ineligible, I say, from the moment that he took the job. Okay. But I understand there was another member that also had a conflict, right? What was it? I heard that there was a
issue with the class the classification of Miss Decker being on both shade tree and planning board. There is she's class two member. Okay. Which is you're able to be on two boards. Was
her class changed though at some point? It was a type of type. And the first and so there's I mean my understanding of Miss Mr. Kelly's role is that he's a proctor at the community center. He's an
employee of the burrow. Okay. And the the nature of the conflict is cannot be an employee of the burrow while holding position. Okay. And there wasn't way to more elegantly and
pragmatically resolve. I thought it was elegantly and pragmatically done. We gave the option to Ron. Okay. Public. I didn't want to embarrass Ron or anybody and this is how Ron decided. He didn't
he did not give us a letter. So he wasn't forced out. He was given options. And that the legal who who performed the legal analysis that led to the conclusion that he so our planning board
attorney did that but that comes out of the ML class. Okay. Did he confirm that conclusion with anybody? I don't know who he would have to like maybe colleagues at his law firm. Well,
it's written it's written in in the in the municipal land use law, right? No. Yeah, I understand 23. So, it's written out, right? I don't know who you have to work with. Okay. I'll be honest, I'm not I
don't have a lot of confidence in some of his conclusions given that he didn't understand the nature of an attorney client relationship during the McDonald's hearing. So I don't have a lot of confidence in some of the conclusions that he made. All right. Well, whether it's confidence in him or not,
the process I don't it's not his opinion. It's the opinion of do you and is there a process in place now to prevent this from happening in the future? I think there will be. This is certainly eye opening and I think
we'll have to re-evaluate every time somebody is appointed to make sure that they're not an employee of the world and then if they do become an employee of the world they should be able to let us know we
should take the job. I think on behalf of everybody here, we would really hope that his situation could be reconsidered if he is given a choice on on how to resolve this this confl conflict. We
also hope that in selecting a new planning board member that had we hope you select somebody that has the ability not only to uphold the MLUL but also who has a vision and ideals that support what the majority of your constituents are seeking in terms of development
direction and Morris Plains as we move in to our next centennial. We hope that that selection is done in conference with the entire council in order to consider all views before your decision is made. And with that, on behalf of the many residents here, I think we should
all acknowledge Mr. Kelly's contributions so far in his role on the planning board. I I did speak with Mr. Kelly and I did tell him that he's done a terrific job since he's been on the planning board and I'm sorry that this happened. I
think Mr. Kelly and I'm sorry to see him. I'm sorry that there is no recourse is a decision once you're an employee you can't go back so there is no going back
even if he said I'll quit and go back there's some implications that Mr. Kelly was spelled out with his options. I do want to say I'd like to fact check one thing about Miss Steer's um class on
the planning board because I I I don't know for sure but I think in 2024 she was also class 4 and also was on the sh correct instead of class two because there was other people that had stepped down in the in the switching of
members following remember there was a mistake made reference of her class because of that that lasted through the entire year of 2024 at least probably just want to make sure we understand it wasn't just a
type of in January this year it was no this year it was correct but at this time that was just because of the shuffle was it a typo or
She was it was not an oversight. It was when the shuffling of the planning board could be moving around. Mr. Dreler held that position prior. Okay. Commission or official to sit on
the planning board as well. That's the class member. When that moved around, she went to that position. another board of commission. Nobody else was I I think if I understand your question
correctly though last year um Mary Maryanne was on the shry as well as Frank was classified as a class two and Maryanne was a class four and per the you can only have one class two member means you can only have one
member serving on two boards. So I think the concern is is that it seems that there were two members serving on two boards at the same time. I I'd have to look into that bill. I don't know. Uh I know that he was on the
shade tree in the planning board at the same time but didn't carry that class. He changed switched to a class. Yeah. That does I don't mean I don't think it necessarily means that because he was on
there as well that he has to be a class. Okay. He was the class two member was the class and Marian was class. Right. But I think the concern is is that last year they were both holding the the position on two boards and you
only have one class two member which holds a position on two boards. I don't know. I have I don't Well, the further concern just to be clear with what people are are talking about and and whether it's it's right or wrong, you know, this is what the
community is thinking, which is why we just need transparency around the whole thing. Right. On the one hand, it looks like Mr. Kelly is being told that he was ineligible for the planning board and effectively resigned as soon as he
accepted the employment with the bureau. But we're not applying that same logic to Miss Steard. So I think everybody's just trying to understand exactly what's driving all these decisions. Neither Mr. Dreport or Meres that's what this is about being an
employee of the burrow class. That's what this is. That's what this is Mr. Kelly's situation. But a can a class four member be a member of two different no class two member is right. But she was she was a class four member or at
least held out as such. Right. But for a period of time yeah she took Mr. Dres. Okay. But her classification was not until this year. Right. Listen, I mean, I don't have it in front of me, so
I can't I can't answer your question 100%. I think everybody would enjoy some additional information on precisely how all of this played out because there is a concern that things are being applied
differently as between these two people. And if people are wrong, the situation the situation are are two different things. I mean, I could read it to you for the class four member, right?
I read it. Class four members shall hold no other municipal office for employment. Right. That's that's specific to class. That's that's what I'm talking about here. Maybe at the planning board meeting there could be some additional
explanation for the public. Just if you think that there's a clear and justifiable explanation, I think everybody would like I don't think there's anything that says that people can't be on the board. Okay. Lisa, before you depart, if I can just
make a suggestion to piggy back on that. I'm in a little bit of a tough spot right now with some of your questions because I do kind of want to help out, but unfortunately at this point two separate minds and uh Mr. Brewer has rendered an
opinion based upon his reading of the municipal law. And uh so having said that, a lot of your questions and I understand your concerns and your questions really should be heard at the planning board
meeting and allow him to explain it to you. I I don't want to I don't want to say I want to step on his toes. I just don't want to I'm in a tough spot on that. I I don't want you to think I'm just sitting here ignoring your legal question. No, I know he's the land use guy. I'd like to I'd like to jump in, but I just, you
know, just like I wouldn't want him to be saying things at the planning about this board. So So I want to say that, but I think you should go to the planning board and ask those questions. And we will. Yeah. But there's two separate, as I see it, two separate lines of inquiry. One is how were the decisions made and I, as I understand,
the mayor appoints planning board members. And so that's why we're here. It's trying to understand sort of the the process and the thinking. And then of course there's the legal basis and the legal analis. And I know that that's for the planning board. So, um I think both bodies have, you know, a role to
play in helping us understand. Is there any other questions? No or no, I'll have that. I'll have that all clarified. Well, I'm sure if anybody else wants to ask questions. No, I know. But no, you have you brought up a class two. So, yeah, I think just understanding the progression and the
changes of classification, when those occurred and why um that that would be really helpful. I'll have a whole time. Thank you. Anybody else? I've been in town for 30 years and periodically came to the meetings and they were play cards with people.
There's just so few people here but lately some decisions have been made in the burrow that the town brought out everybody council. We were just out in the hall for an hour which is really hard. Would be nice if you guys unlock the restrooms.
I mean the restrooms are all out there. There's public restrooms downstairs. Yeah, there's public restroom with one stall. So, just a suggestion to if you got 50 people here, one bathroom's not going to get it. Hi,
I am Jessica or Jess and I am at 15 Hillview Avenue in Mar. Hey people. Um, so we're back again. Um, I wanted to talk about a few things. First, my daughter is very curious as to when the Centennial logo decision is going to be
announced because she did it about three marking periods ago in school. And if I have to hear one more word about it, I'm not going to make it. So, I need you all to make a decision. The Centennial Committee made a decision and I believe that announcement is going to be going short. Okay? Because we were
told like a month and a half ago, two months it was going to be announced and she didn't get and she doesn't care either way, but she just wants to know who who won who's her comment. did go on Instagram today about an hour, two hours ago. It's on Instagram. All right. Thank you. See you asking both. Way to make it
happen. Okay. And my next question statements is we're all, you know, tiptoeing around the fact that there's some definite challenges with what happened with Ron Kelly and Miss Becker and whatever's happening. I'm excited to see what you have to say next week at the planning
board meeting. I'm ready to hear it. Um I know at the planning board we asked about how does a person apply for the planning board? How does the person do this? We were clearly told by the chair at the time that we were supposed to come to these meetings to find out about that and we were shut down. So when you tell us that the planning board is where
we have to ask these questions, I have confusion. And why do you guys not have the same answers? It's kind of my question like wouldn't you have the same answers as him? Isn't it law? Like I just don't understand. I'm a nonprofit person. It's two different questions because it sounds to me like when you went to the planning board you were asking how does how does somebody get
points to the planning board, right? And the answer to that question is that's a mayoral appointment to the planning board. The question that's posed here tonight is what was the basis for the conflict and Mr. Kelly, can that conflict be cured and a host of other
things that have apparently historically happened in the PL? That's a question more for the PL. So those are two separate questions. I agree with the chairman that you should come here and say, hey, you know, how does somebody get on the plane board if they want to get on? That's not a question appropriate playing for, but the
question as to Mr. Kelly specifically and the determination by legal counsel as to the basis of that conflict and what is said under section 23 in municipal lands law was a decision that was rendered by Mr. Brewer
and that's a question that should be posed there. Okay. Not here. I I don't No, and I appreciate that and that's totally fine. I just wanted to tell you that when we asked the question there, I just feel like I'm getting pingponged and we just want to make sure that we're not losing track of what we need to know
so that we can help make help come with suggestions or ideas and thoughts. Like that's what we want to do. We want to be together and work on these things together. And I feel like if we're not being pulled things, we can't help or we can't do things. Um, another big piece for me is I just want to make sure that
I'm on record saying that Ron Kelly was an amazing part of the planning board. He listened to us. He talked to us. He shared thoughts with us. He gave his opinion. Right or wrong, I felt like he understood what we were doing. And I
just wanted that honest record because I feel like what happened to him or what happened to his situation is not right. Um I feel like he was not given any opportunities and I have not spoken to him one-on-one so I can't tell you. But
I know, you know, that I hope that the truth is being told and I hope that everyone is speaking their right because that's what you're here for to tell us the truth. And I hope that Mr. Kelly is happy and that he and his wife have a wonderful rest of their retirement and enjoy working at the count town because
I wouldn't want to sit in that community center all night. But I hope that he enjoys that. And um I just want to thank him um for all of his hard work to the town. I know you guys give big old rocking chairs when someone on the council retires. So, I'm hoping that you
all doing something nice for this man who's been here and given so much of his time when he absolutely did not have to. These are volunteer positions and we're just so thankful to each of you. So, thank you so much for your time and I hope that we get some answers and resolutions um from what these questions
were. I'd be looking forward to it. Thank you. Hello. Hi. Carolyn Bennett 19. I wasn't going to talk tonight, but I've been inspired and that would just be so
unlike me. So, I think what I have here is just a statement, but I'm sure I'll be um sprinkling in a few questions. So, I appreciate you guys listening tonight. Um I do want to start. It sounds like there's this spirit of thanking people
who dedicate a lot of their time to coming out making sure people's voices are be heard. And I want to give a thank to a lot of you guys who are moms and we just had Mother's Day because um it was really hard for me to come to all the planning board meetings.
I'm sure you guys knew I was there all the time, all the hours. Like, I gave up nursing my twin some of those nights. Like, I was really in a bad place postpartum. So, I am saying this because I know I was not an NF1 because I found other moms who I've never met before,
but part of getting to those meetings and they were hours and hours long. Um, I know there were a lot of other moms there. So, I just want it shared. Yes, people behind the table were volunteering their time, but I think the residents as well. So, in the spirit of Mother's Day, shout out to all the moms and their villages that came out to
those meetings and continue to show up when it is way past doing bedtime with them. Um, that was my first part. Not what I was planning to say, but the Ron Kelly talk inspired me. Um, I also want to speak from a personal place as a resident who's honestly just trying to
understand what's going on in the neighborhood, specifically my town, which we all know I live on Dayton. The friendly lot is on the corner. So when I come and I ask my questions, I mean, I am not an expert in construction. I am not an expert in land use law. I am not
an expert on all of the different types of inspections that have to happen. I relied on people when I closed on my house to help guide me through that process because transparently all of that is a foreign territory to me and I have never claimed to be an expert at any of these things. This talk about
classifications and that I need to go and dig into that now. That is all new for me. So, I appreciate that I can come and ask these questions because I do care about learning and figuring out these things that affect me, my children, my house that I paid a lot of
money for and I'm going to be in debt forever. But I want to be informed and at the end of the day, like my kids safety is probably most important, but there's just like a lot of variables behind why I'm asking these questions. And unfortunately, last time I was at this
desk, I do feel that some of the questions I asked were met with a little bit of dismissiveness or lack of respect from people on all sides of this room. I know that there were people speaking when I was speaking, which not great. Kind of find that disrespectful. And
there's just a tone difference that I hear between when certain people talk to people on this side of the room verse people on that side of the room. and also like different residents. So, I just want to acknowledge that because I don't love it and I don't think any of
us do. We kicked off this part of the meeting at 8:30. You know, we heard some great people come up here and talk about accepting people that are different. Like, it shouldn't matter who you are. You should be treated with respect and tone goes a long way. So, I deal with this with work co-workers and I I needed
to say that as well. So, um, yeah, let's be respectful and watch our tone, especially if people are trying to learn and it takes a lot to get up here. I don't know why I'm shaking, but I am even nervous and I and I might not come across that, but I know there's a lot of people back there that are scared to
come up here because of how they see people maybe more confident than them get treated. And it's really it's really not great. Um, that kind of treatment does make it harder for residents to come and engage. It discourages people from participating in the process at a
time when we are all encouraging more transparency and involvement, not less. So, I really hope I'm hitting this nail on the head because I've probably said it for a long time now. Um, and then related to the friendly slot. So, echoing what you said, Mayor Carr, in
the beginning of the public or I think it was with Lee's remarks how there was an update and you guys had the conversation with the owner of that property. sounds like there's been progress made in terms of setting expectations which it's it's reassuring to hear and I know that I've been in
touch with Bill O' Conor Don like I've reached out to the people that you guys have advised me to and I have had great conversations with them and I appreciate that they have given me the information and explained to me things that again I don't know but I think it is important
for this group of people to know some of the things that did transpire because I don't know how much of that gets shared to you. So, I have a recording on my phone that I can share off the whenever if you want to hear it word by word, but I'm driving to daycare. I see asbestous
removal going on at the lot. And I'm like, hm, that's weird because I just called the construction office and I was told there's been no demolition permits off uh submitted. So, that's a little weird to me. I end up going down just to have a conversation with the people that are there. I see a one person in a
hazmat suit. I see a big sign outside a tent that says dangerous best. I see people going in the windows. There's all pictures and videos. I am not going to go through them right now, but I was not expecting that. So, I ended up speaking
to the person. I asked him one if I could engage in conversation because I'm like trying to cover my butt in all parts of this. And he said yes. He couldn't tell me the company he worked for. He couldn't show me a copy of his license as part of being a licensed assessment
abatement company for the state of New Jersey. Conveniently, they were in an unmarked white van, which me as a which as me, I'm used to like, nope, white unmarked van, stay away. Take that as you will. Um, so conveniently, it was a brand new van, so they didn't have a
company name painted on it, which he told me. Um, I can't remember what else that gentleman said, but super unhelpful and super shady to be to be honest with you. So then I pushed a little more and I was like, "Can I speak to the general contractor that has hired you to come
here since you clearly are just here to go in, hope there's not a lot of asbestous, and come out?" And he said, "Sure." And then I said, "Uh, I'm starting to ramble. I'm sorry, but I think it's important." He did allude to the fact that they went in, they took
asbestous out of the caul that was used around the windows and there was one other part. It didn't seem I don't know, but they went in, saw asbestous if you see it. I don't even know if that's the right verb and took it out and they were going to be on their merry way. So I was like, "Oh, this is very convenient. You
went, you did the job and you're going to get out of here." But then I'm here and now I'm like making a scene out of it. So, they're packing up and then I go and talk to this general contractor from K&M Contracting who's sitting in his pickup truck. He finally gets out of the car to come over, which I wish he did a little earlier. And between speaking to
him, he gives me a different company name for the asbesus crew and I'm like, how can we not even know who this company is? Like, lots of red flags going off in my head. So, I will push fast forward on this because then I'm like in talk with uh Mr. Houston, Mr.
Oconor talking to Dons Lerno. I appreciate everyone at the construction building. We were lots of people calling just trying to figure out like what is going on. That was a shady experience and I'm nervous because that was like in my head one of the most basic parts of this huge high-profile site. So I worry
because that was just like one red flag and they got hit with a fine. Okay. Again, all of the construction vehicles and like going in I I hear they got hit with a second fine. My my concern is like when is it going to become that they do something that's a danger to
someone on the street? Like you guys did not see the construction vehicles in the parking lot, but they could not get out. They were trying to come down Dayton, turn onto Canfield, and the guy was trying to maneuver between all of the parked cars on the streets for a very
long time. And I just worry because if there's kids trying to like come home from school or whatnot, like there just needs to be a lot more I don't know where I'm going with this, but like there just needs to be transparency updates or or anything because honestly like I cannot afford a
new car right now. Like I would have just put my car in the driveway and at that point like not even trying to hold up the construction. So if if we can just like really push with the transparency, I am happy. I have like a whole album of updates from friendlies. every time I go to make I have a lot of time at the stop sign because there's
always traffic despite what people say, but I can take pictures every day, but there's just such a burden felt on the residents that are right there. And I understand these are people's part-time jobs and stuff, but anything that we can do to like make it a point that somebody goes to that law every single day, I think would be
very important given that they've already gotten their hands slapped. I'm hoping this conversation you've alluded to will help, but like it just doesn't sound like these people care about the rules that the town has put forward. So, um I appreciate you listening to all of
that. I I just rambled, but I think it's important just to see like that's like a lot of headaches that I never wanted to deal with and this is only the beginning. So, I will be quiet unless there's any followup. I think just after that meeting, we've not seen or heard anything over there and I think that's a
testament to how well and how they understand how the bureau is going to want them to operate forward. And like I said, Bill O'Connor knows what's going to go on there every day. There are other times when the engineer will know. There's
other times when other people in the bureau will know what's going on, but there will be one point for any kind of work that's going to go on. There hasn't been going on over there since the um the asest was supposed to just be a
no work. It was supposed to be action. Yeah, just an inspection of the building to see whether there is all they found was this. So they decided to go ahead just remove the clock around the window which was wrong, right? They gave them the red sticker. They got a fine. Couple
days later they went back in there taking out the seats and all that stuff. Had nothing as they got shut down again because the red sticker is no more. That's when we called the meeting and I had the owners here and their attorney here and spelled it out very clearly how
things are going to go moving forward. So I think they have perspective on how we want things. Okay. I hope so. And I just I hope that people don't get targets put on their back for lack of better words to keep airing these concerns because I'm going to keep if I
see anything hopefully I don't have to but I hope that it's wellreceived and not like come on like why are they Yeah. I mean I can tell you it's going to be a construction zone, right? There's going to be hours where there's going to be construction people there. We talked about where there should park the hours.
We went over a whole list of things that we expect to be done and followed rules to be followed for that project. As just one last so that collective we does not include me because I'm not a professional I'm assuming. Is there
somewhere where somebody in my seat can read what you guys are lying to in case we see something not? There were no minutes that were taken. Is that what you're asking about? Well, yeah. You're saying that there was like time frames agreed to. If I hear drilling at 4 a.m. I like I don't know
if that's they know the rules that are that are in our ordinances when they pour and that's when they will be followed. Okay. I mean I I will review the ordinance ordinances then um 8 a.m. Okay. Thank you.
7 a.m. Yeah. Okay. Can I fix the thing? Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate that. Carolyn, thanks for coming out. I appreciate you being vocal about everything. Um and I encourage you to keep doing that. Um,
it's how we get better as a as a town. Um, you know, as you know, I'm I'm doing what I can. I drive by that site frequently. Um, you know, I I did live over there at one point, so I feel the connection. Um, so I I what what hurts
me most is that you are a mom of two kids, three kids, four kids, three kids, right? You work um as do a lot of people over there and your home should be your safe space. you shouldn't have to deal with all this conration and everything else that's going on over there. And
that to me, I I take that very personally. Um, and I'm going to try to do everything I can to assist with all that um in in whatever way I can. So, that's my, you know, personal Yeah, I appreciate that. Um, okay. Thanks for
giving us something like Yeah, of course. I can always give a playbyplay. I love to talk. Anybody see no we go on to reports of committees and department heads finance. Thank
you. Finance committee met yesterday. myself and S and Mike Ivy so we could discuss one of the proposals we received from a broker on our employee health insurance plan and we have another broker meeting next week uh to see what they have to offer us. As you know,
we're in the state health benefits plan. So, we're looking for any options to save some money uh from the taxpayers and also from our employees who are paying increasing premiums for that coverage. We are also working on updating our employee personnel manual
which is a requirement of our liability insurance company every couple of years. So, I didn't get a chance to do that conference, but uh there are some requirements that are coming down from the state that we need to revise. Uh that's across the board in the state of New Jersey, but council members, if you
could ask your department heads if there are any areas of the personnel manual that they have flagged over the last two years that they feel need to be clarified, updated, added. That would be very helpful. Finance office, our CFO helped
prepare the bond and capital or that are on our agenda tonight. She's also working on the annual senior veterans report, senior citizen and veterans report that is due to the state June uh due to the county, I'm sorry, June 5th. This allows our uh seniors and
veteranowned property owners to qualify for a $250 deduction. The green team and clean communities combined to do a community cleanup at around the area of the stop and shop at the end of April and it's very successful event. I think
I saw one of the members here earlier. They are also they worked on preparing an application which the mayor uh signed to receive a local government energy audit through the BPU. The goal of that program is to provide a report of
burough facilities on how we're using our energy and identify energy conservation measures, present some costsaving opportunities, and guide us toward rebate and incentive programs to help reduce our energy costs. increase efficiency. Speaking of energy costs, uh
just an FYI if you haven't heard that JCPNL electric rates are due to increase by approximately 20% at the beginning of June. Uh so this is going to be a hard hit for the burough and I'm sure for the homeowners as well. Um so hopefully
we'll be working to get out some opportunities for saving efficiency saving, you know, suggestions and things like that. and um be looking for those as well from the um the local utilities. This weekend, members of the green team will be helping at the
community garden from 10 a.m. to noon. They're having a volunteer event for weeding and mulching common spaces. Oh, that was out of order of my stuff. Sorry. Uh the clerk's office is working on still preparing for the primary election on June 10th. There is a deadline to change your address if you
recently moved to the burrow May 20th in order to vote in the primary. And check the registration status online. At the end of April, the clerk's office had licensed 581 dogs and 113 cats in the burrow. Yeah, that's pretty pretty good
number, but when when you travel around, everybody has a dog. Um, the clerk is also working on the farmers clerk's office is working on the farmers market applications, food handlers, licenses, and over requests. You will see a renewed contract with agile websites for
upgrades to the barrow website and online tools. Melissa, our web master, has also been supporting our new rec director, Jamie Cooper, to learn the online registration system and troubleshooting as registration for pool and camp and summer programs opened up.
There's the meeting with it next week to talk about some cyber security improvements that we might want to look into. And um planes talk, Michelle's accepting content for the July issue. Please sending photos and stories of community events coming up in the next couple of months. Also, I I
saw a teacher here from Burough School, Pam Dice Moran. You're involved in the I think it's the Beyond Differences and what's the other tomorrow? Tomorrow night, we have the Around the World Food Festival, right? Dinner and the Pia families are all bringing food from all different
countries around the world. We also have Kiori and Delicius Latinas contributing food like they've been doing because it's our third year having the event and looks like we're going to have like 150 people attending. It'll be a good thing. And what time is that? Starts at 6 p.m. in the burough cafeteria. Any of you are
welcome to stop by. Thank you so much. And Maria Diaz um as the coordinator for beyond differences and I'm the fast coordinator. We're running fast is family families and schools together. It's a grant program from NJA and so I'm the coordinator for that for our union. Great. Thank you.
safety. Thank you, Mayor. Always got some activity going on in public safety. Uh I am very proud to say that our own Chief Karaski has just returned from the Police Unity Tour, which is to raise awareness of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. This is a
300mile bike ride that is in and around Washington DC. And I I know I could not do that. So, Chief, you're a tough man. Sergeant as well. Yeah, I was just going to say Sergeant Hines and Lieutenant Gields were there as well. And uh I was as I was saying, I know I can at least say I think that's an
amazing thing that you guys did and I'm I'm really proud of you and thank you again. I don't know how you did it, but you did. Um on two wheels. Yeah. Yeah. How many how many miles is that a day? Uh first day is 50, second day is 100. Third day is 100 and uh is about. God
bless you, sir. Good man. Uh, quick followup from the traffic committee. Um, we were able to confirm with Bill Ryden that the confir we the confirmed lines were already approved, the solid white lines on the shoulder of Glenbrook for the paving project this summer. We're hoping that's
going to slow ours down a little bit. We realize that's a main road and just make it a little bit safer for everyone. So, we were excited to hear that. Um, I was planning earlier in conference to introduce the uh complete and green streets policy for the council to discuss. Uh, I'm going to hope to get to
that later. If not, it's something we'll be able to discuss at the next meeting. Um, if anyone has questions about that, feel free to call me, email me. All my information is online. Again, that's the complete and green streets policy. Um, Chief Ksky met with Michelle Diamond from recreation to discuss the safety of
family day, summer recreation, etc. Obviously, a lot of fun burrow activities coming up. So, making sure everyone's aligned, on the same page, and that will keep uh all the employees, residents, children, everyone safe. On June 10th at 9:00 a.m., Sergeant Hines will be overseeing the lead graduation
at Burrow School. Um, are all welcome to attend that, Chief? Absolutely. So, all people are welcome to attend that. I know I'm going to do my best to be there. Great. The Memorial Day parade is approaching quickly, uh, which is essentially one of the biggest events that we have in the year here. So we have some plans in place to provide
again a safe environment for everyone that's at the parade, in the parade, etc. Within the next week, we're hoping to have an announcement out about CERT, that was the community emergency response team that we had recently approved. Hoping to get, you know, three to five people that we can train and
then they'll be able to really help the local police department. Again, parades, family day events, things like that. Just get a couple extra people on the ground running. The fire department is up to 174 calls this year. That is a lot. Uh Chief Franco said that that is a
I don't want to say a record, but it is a little bit higher than they're normally used to. The pumps on the apparatuses are being tested next Thursday. That's going to be at the uh Fairchild location. Everyone in the fire department is also getting ready for the Memorial Day parade. They get to be in it. Get to again just be there and
ensure everyone's safe and you know excited about that. Tonight was the first fire department softball team game. Uh I guess weather permitting. I'm assuming it didn't get too bad. So uh let's hope we beat the other fire departments with that being said. We got
some tough guys on there. Um Chris Sheay went to the water authority for a meeting on hydrants in town. essentially how we can continue to work with them on testing, maintenance, what happens if someone crashes into one and it gets knocked over and just really
the process and protocols that are in place. He did give me his April report. He did one inspections in April and he also completed a course through the AAI which is the International Association of Arson Investigators called Fire
Dynamics in the Wildland. This course educates the investorf fire marshall with a much more scientific approach to wildland and brush fires. As you know, we've seen an increase in those not only you know in in down the parkway but you know it is possible in someone's backyard even to have a brush fire
start. So having that knowledge I think is great. And I will be calling a public safety committee meeting in the next couple weeks. We do have a few things coming up that I want to get the department heads and my committee together for. So looking forward to that and uh I will turn it over to Chief
Kroski if he has anything. Certainly. Good evening. Uh Monday, May 19th, this coming Monday is our accreditation on-site assessment. Um I invite all of our residents to look at our Facebook page, our website. Believe it's going out on the burrow email blast. It's been news, but Monday, May 19th between 10
a.m. and 11:00 a.m. You can call our main department number 973-5382284 extension 114. You can onsite accreditation team was assessing our agency in 112 standards. Uh just how amazing your police department is. I love our staff doing an amazing job. Um
and at the end of that Monday around 11:30 or 12, mayor council, if you'd like to join us for the exit interview, they'll explain uh how we uh apply our policies and procedures to those standards. And I believe fifth consecutive or so reacredititation,
which brings us to about the last time they told us we're in 3% of signatures that achieve that standard. So, um we're probably climbing into some higher ranks of just having some amazing police officers and the policy procedures that we follow. As Tyler
said, June 10th at 9:00 a.m. is lead graduation. As school winds down, I'm sure the kids are happy to hear that. Um I'd like to quickly thank our uh lead team. Uh Annie Ferris teaches uh second grade lead at Mount Way School, Sergeant Hines, uh fifth grade at Burough School,
and Brett Serado teaches eighth grade right before we send them off to uh high school. So greatly appreciate their effort and keep them running people safe teaching about peer pressure and the danger of alcohol and drugs. Um and finally with school winding down um first time we're doing something like
this but I've seen a lot of compliments about our our crossing guard staff. Walsh won the award through home school association. I believe that was um you know again compliments all over town either seeing me in person or online about our crossing guards. So I'm
hosting a appreciation breakfast for our crossing guards on the last day of school uh June 17th. So mayor and council if you'd like to join us once I get off morning post about 8:30 8:45 is just going to have some uh breakfast for them and recognize all their contributions to keeping our young pedestrians safe. That's all I have in
this questions, comments, or concerns. So, uh, just congratulations again to the three of you who went down there. I know that has to be an emotional experience for all three of you and certainly some that I know is on your bucket list. on the other two as
well. Pretty cool accomplishment. And just to piggy back on that, this is National Police Week. Started last Sunday, ends this Saturday. And again, I think the uh the officers downstairs are
exceptionally uh doing an exceptionally good job. Congratulations to them and you and It's just a good week to just keep you guys all in general in our thoughts uh just throughout this week. So if you see one
of them around or they pull you over something silly, thank you. Moving forward, public works, Mr. Groom. Okay. So our DPW is working hard to get our town ready for the memorial parade. They continue to work on our
vehicles, town vehicles, get rid of the garbage in the parks. some potholes that they found driving around, flushed some of our basins. They planted some trees over Robert's garden getting ready for a parade. Uh they installed a new basketball hoop over community park pool. Uh they're continuing their CPR
training, keeping everybody safe over there. Uh they got the community park ready for opening day baseball and the fishing contest that happened. Robert's Garden, they're going to start mulching that and they started mulching along Speedball Avenue and repairing some of
the pavers that got damaged. salt during the winter months. So, it's going to look beautiful for the parade day parade route. Um there's five of our new employees got CDL uh which is the commercial driver's license certificates
through the shared services with Danville DPW. So, we're excited that they were getting their licensing. Uh grass has grown because it's been raining like you know what. Uh so they're keeping up with the grass cutting the best they can and they uh filled some of the pots and planters
with some new soil for the beautifification committee. So they're going to get new plants in there and some went to some chainsaw safety. So that's important. And they ran generators and clean the sewers four times. That's important
also. That's all I have to have. Mayor turn. Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to up update you on three uh major construction projects that we're going to have going on this summer. First one is the Route 53 sidewalk. The contract documents have
been approved by Mr. Ban, I believe, and we'll be setting up a pre-construction meeting with that contractor. The work is supposed to be done in June hopefully. It's getting close, but we we think we can get it in. Uh the other is the Glen Road project. That that
contract has been executed and they're ready to go. we have to set up a pre-construction meeting. The work can't start there until June 22nd because of school. And so we don't like to schedule pre-construction meeting too far in advance because then some of the
emphasis gets lost as you get to the construction. And lastly, the major multi-road project, the capital project, which was just awarded tonight on the consent calendar. The award package will be going out from my office tomorrow and hopefully we can push that along and get
a start. Again, that has a start time in July because of same conflicts. That's all I have. Thank you very much. There'll be an exceptional amount of road work this this year just with the water authority and our own project. So,
everybody's going to have to try to get as much done in a quick amount of time as possible after shuts. Have you heard from the uh about the flood maps? No. Okay. Meeting coming up, right? But notice
some changes in FEMA. So, we're waiting. Okay. Uh public buildings and grounds. Thank you. Start off with recreation. Very very busy this time of year. Jamie and Michelle doing a great job with all the registrations with the
camp. pool lifeguards getting everything ready. It's been very very very busy time of the year and she basically was thrown in there about a month before the hot the hot season started all those calls and applications interviews that
she had to do and I have to really say they they did a great job considering you know not that much prep time um with the downtown Marsh planes they're reaching out to local plan business to see how they want to participate in the
farmers market. Right. Uh right now be furniture is confirmed and they are going to set up a lounge area at the market. So if you see a carpet and some sofas there it's them. They will be people ask they will
go they will do the pumpkin illumination again. It was a great success. We have Alison Porsche did a great job and it was remember how many people turned down. We had a the police had a close street down. So guys might like compliments
work. Um lastly I'm working with Donald and and zoning and Allison to try to get the bicycle racks. We're working really hard. But they are absolutely beautiful and we got to get them in. You got to get them in. And I don't know if someone's going
to put them in at midnight. I'm not saying anything, but we have I'm being recorded so I'm not saying nothing. As far as the farmers market, uh they we met uh last night also and they gave me their budget. They're under the budget. Um, I
will not right now it's late, but I'm going to request next meeting I'm going to talk about a little bit more about how much money we give them because it's $500 and what they brought up was their port John is almost $1,000.
Who's this for? For uh the farmers market for 19. So all the all the money that they get doesn't even pay for it from the vendors. You don't want to increase the price of the vendors. Um they have about 15 uh uh includes
they able to do 15 music acts which is great. So every week where's your husband there entertainer and a very good one by the way. So u everything is moving well with that and um I think that's all I
have here unless shade tree a couple things. I know everyone asked how many trees our canopy overall has gone down. The shade tree commission is working hard to to see especially post sandy detriment that
every town had and the resources we have to get these copies back. Um they're working hard to to to see how what's missing and where we could put them and not just you know throw them in. Um so far eight trees have been planted in the community park to begin replacing those that were previously removed and two
trees at Janeway Park. These trees are much larger than normal ones trees because due to the nursery giving back to us regarding the delays that they had the previous year they they pumped up the size of their tree which is very nice. The five trees of nursery that were delayed from last fall have all been planted this spring. 15 trees have
been planted in the burrow. More trees coming in the fall. That's all I have and the ash too. San Thank you, mayor. So, yes. Uh last night was the uh board of health
for the month of May where we were joined by our county health officials. Uh they worked with the board to uh brainstorm opportunities to improve well stay. Uh the main point of discussion was to expand the offering of the flu vaccine from those uh older than 65 all the way down to uh anybody older than
18. Uh so that will happen. Uh there's now consideration to add kids aged 6 months and older. Um but that's still being confirmed with the county before making that final decision. So maybe that'll be a nice family outing to get a flu vaccine in October. Uh we also discussed targeting vendors that would
be more suited for the the younger group of participants and included uh asking the men and men to bring an ambulance for a touch a truck experience. Uh so maybe little kids won't dread getting their vaccines anymore. We might solve that. Uh wellness day is set for the morning of uh October 11th with the
exact hours being confirmed, but it's going most likely going to be 9 to 12 and hopefully having a little booth set up at the farmers market so they can say hi, go up the street, get your vaccine. uh for the teen center. Uh the last two events uh were focused or the previous uh two events were focused on the
seventh and eighth graders and the next event will be for all grades and this will be the final event for the school year for the teen center. Uh May 29th will be the parent night and this is an overview for what the teen center is and what it provides for the kids and the kids will also have an opportunity uh to check out the teen center to check uh to
see what it's like before they actually commit. Uh the fifth grade stepup night which is like which is all the rising fifth graders will be in June and the board has already began to set the next year's schedule uh with the intent to lock in that schedule by the end of July. Uh that way the coordination uh
can happen with other school or organizations and notify uh parents early. Uh lastly, municipal alliance. Uh we already talked about lead and fast. So that's two my main things right off the bat. Uh we're wrapping up all the year activities like project graduation and the speak sobriety uh session for
seniors that'll be happening next week. Um and then not is that the alliance is looking for new members. So, please reach out to me and Rosario if you are interested in joining that wonderful organization. That's okay. Moving on to ordinances and public
utilities. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, all right. So, uh, just under or So you're going to see tonight there's actually ordinance 9 2025 which is amending chap 11 fire prevention
um that uh so the council is going to see that that the fire prevention ordinance is there um I've also handed out some copies of the questions and answers to the mayor and fire prevention official and while that ordinance is mostly complete we do actually need to include any fines with multiple units uh
so we're going to pull that ordinance off tonight but I would ask the council to review the ordinance and the questions and answers. Um, and I I would like to adopt the ordinance at the June meeting once we've included the amount of fines for multiple units. This would take effect January 1st, 2026. Uh, so
there's plenty of time between July when we finally pass this in January for a fire prevention official to discuss with the landlord. So, um, please take a look at that. Um some of the other ordinances that uh the ordinance committee is reviewing ordinance
14-2023 which is land development updates uh ordinance 1 2016 which is repeal room and border uh ordinance 12 2019 which is frontage ordinance 9 2023 which is off street parking um uh fire
marshal sheay sent me uh concern about uh ebikes because as we may may or may not know we did have an incident Um Tyler, I'm sure you know, but there was an incident of an evite fire in town. So, um I think it's important that we uh look to adopt an ordinance for
that. Um uh and that the uh the ordinance, I believe it's 620, uh which does uh put signage on um Hill View and Rosedale. Uh we did actually send that over to NJ DOT for them to
take a look at per their requirements. Uh so pending information and and what they they get back to us um you know we should uh should be able to go ahead with that. So that's in DOT's hands at this point. Um construction office update. Uh so uh
April 2025 office updates. So the annex office collected $39,524 in permit fees. There are 12 certificates issued and 43 permits pulled. Nine were for CA or construction administration. One was for CO or for certificate of occupancy and two were
for TCO or temporary certificate of occupancy. Uh the seven part-time inspectors completed 91 inspections in April 2025, 27 building, 26 electrical, 32 plumbing, and six fire. Uh to date,
uh they have completed 484 inspections, 133 building, 141 electrical, 168 plumbing, 32 fire, and they've collected $83,510 in permit fees. Um we spoke earlier about uh the property known as
McDonald's friendlies, 415 and 435 Speed Well. Um, as of uh Wednesday, uh, May 14th, the only permit that's over there is actually a plumbing permit to do work on the sewer line, which is already completed. Um, as we all, as mayor, uh, said earlier, stop work notices have
been have been issued over there. Um, and uh, no work is going to continue until uh, they go through the construction office. So, um, so that is what's going on there. Um residents have seen there's been some activity over at
329 Speed Wall, which is Acme. Um from what I understand there, uh apparently there is an electric car service center going over there. They do have electrical building, plumbing, and demo permits all pulled. Um the the officials were over there on Tuesday reviewing the
site. Uh they are doing internal demo. They're demoing the equipment off the roof. So you see the cranes and all the equipment coming off um so that they can actually put a new roof back on. So that's work going on over there. Um because it is a B2 zone um automobile
sales, repair and part sales are all permitted uses. Um my understanding is because they're not moving or building or modifying in any major way does not trigger a review by the planning or the zoning board. Um if something was non-conforming, in other words, there's a lawful use that doesn't comply with
our with our zoning ordinances. Um would go to the zoning board of adjustment. Um, if they wanted to build something new, it go before the planning board. So, none of those things are happening. So, that's that's an approved use over there. So, that's how they're able to do that. So, just an update. I have this on my notes
for there is pen to paper and it's going to be okay. That was confirmed to me the other day and um it probably is coming to the planning. Okay. For minor site minor. Okay. Excellent. Thanks. market
or is it a dealership? Um, so it's going to be a dealership in repair service. Okay. Yeah, that's what I heard. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, so just continuing on some other major
properties. So, WER, there's really been no movement over there. Uh, the warehouses, there's still no tenant over there either. Um uh planning board updates. The planning board did have their meeting on May 12th at 7:30. Um there were no applications to review. Um but we did
hear the announcement about Mr. Ron Kelly which was discussed earlier. U the next meeting is Monday, June 16th at 7:30 which will be here. Um a key item that's going to be on that agenda um
uh they uh the planning board's going to they're going to be making a an amendment to the master plan. Um so more details are going to come out about that. Um but that's going to be a key key meeting that date. Um Sony Board of Adjustment has their next meeting
Monday, May 19th, 7:30. So that's this coming Monday here in this room. Uh let's see. And that is all I have. Thank you. I do have one more update that again I was going to bring up earlier or later
whatever but New Jersey Transit um I have two updates with them. First of all, they I got today their strike information. I don't know where they currently stand right now, but that was uh it'll be put out on the email alert be on their website tomorrow, but I'm sure people that use New Jersey Transit
know, but there is some, you know, special stuff on their website in case anybody is using that. So, that will be there. And then also, we met with them. Bill Ryden was with me the other day. They do have or have ordered two new larger pumps for that uh for the
underpass. I believe what's there now is 25 horsepower. They're upgrading those to 50 horsepower pumps to keep up with some of the water. We just had an issue the other day in the morning where the pumps weren't working again. Uh and they're also going to be installing a
new electrical box over by the freight station where there is an existing one now. Just making larger. They're going from 240 to 480 over there in case and and a generator hook up and some other things. So, I think
that we may be on the right track, no pun intended, to get some sort of if the pumps, right? Well, they're going to be two brand new pumps. Those were brand new, too. We hope we hope that they get this get
it right this time. So I won't try to bring my homie. Last time I said 2:00 in the morning with boots over here. So hopefully that we're on the right track. So that that upgrade should take place sometime here in New York. One
pump is in. They're waiting on another introduction of ordinances. Mr. Houston. Uh, yes. Thank you. Okay. Um, okay. Um, I, Council Member Houston, introduce the following ordinance and read C by title and move that be passed
on first reading. Ordinance number 7-2025 bond ordinance providing for the acquisition of firefighting equipment by the bureau of Morris Plains in the county of Morris, New Jersey, appropriating $1,400,000. Therefore, and authorizing
the issuance of 880,000 in bonds or notes of the bureau for financing such appropriation. Is there a second? Second. Second by Nancy. Roll call. Mr. Cortez. Yes. Mr. Broom. Yes. Mr.
Houston. Yes. Mr. Ivy. Yes. Mr. Yes. Miss. Yes. I, Council Member Houston, offer the following resolution. Whereas the above ordinance was introduced and read by title at this meeting on May 15, 2025, and passed on the first reading. Now,
therefore, be it resolved at a meeting to be held on June 19th, 2025 at 8:30 p.m. prevailing time at the municipal building in the said burrow. This council will further consider for second reading and final passage the set ordinance. And be it further resolved that the clerk of this bur is hereby
directed to publish and mail the proper notices including the ordinance, post the ordinance on the bulletin board of the municipal building and to make copies available to members of the general public. Is there a second? Second. Second by Tyler. All in favor?
Opposed? Abstain. The eyes have it. Uh this is just putting the funds in place for a new uh engine. replacing a 27y old piece of equipment uh which will this this piece is they're telling us will take about 3 years to to
receive. So piece of equipment will be nearly 30 years old downstairs that we'll be replacing. So we hope it's here sooner but this is okay. We're in good shape. Uh I council member Houston
introduce the five ordinance and read the same by title. that be passed on first reading. Ordinance number 8-2025, an ordinance to appropriate $130,600 from the capital improvement fund for the various improvements in and by the burough Morris Plains in the
county of Morris, state of New Jersey. Is there a second? Second. Second by Tyler or Mike, sorry. Roll call, please. Mr. Cortez, yes. Mr. Burn, yes. Mr. Houston, yes. Mr. Ivy, yes.
Yes. Mr. Yes. I council member Houston offer the following resolution. Whereas the above ordinance was introduced and read by title at this meeting on May 15, 2025 and passed in the first reading. Now therefore, be it resolved that at a meeting to be held on June 19th, 2025 at 8:30 p.m. prevailing time at the
municipal building in the burrow in the in the said burrow. This council will further consider for second reading and final passage said ordinance. May be it further resolved that the clerk of this bureau is hereby directed to publish and mail the proper notice including the ordinance post the ordinance on the bulletin board of the municipal building
and to make copies available to members of the general public. Is there a second? Second. Second by Mr. Cortez. All in favor? I opposed abstain. The eyes have it. This is goes in our capital projects that the council approved with our budget. the purchase
of 10 portable radios for the fire department, a radar message sign and external defibrill for the police department, some upgrades to municipal ownings and some facilities here at Tennis War Community Park and installation of lights on the train
station pathway. That is it. We have no ordinances on second reading. We have any unfinished business that I know of. Uh, no resolutions. Any new
business? Yes, Mr. Mayor. New business. Okay. Um, I would like the council to consider approving a tech advisory council. Uh, the purpose of the advisory council is to review the tech upgrades and improvements that I believe are necessary for us to provide a better,
more accessible experience for our public. The advisory council would review the needs and the wants and report back directly to the council with their recommendations and suggestions. It will consist of a few resident experts in town who are experiencing audio video recording. So I will I would
like to uh make a motion uh to create uh such a tech advisory council. Before anybody makes a motion or whatever, I thought we I was going to do a subcommittee. You talked about that on the phone the other day and I don't want
to change that. So the subcommittee would report to to who? Because we're not having a committee do this. This this would be an advisory board to report right back to the council. Subcommittee would be either your of the ordinance or it could be finance because finances is office and I think a lot of
the meeting stuff would go through the clerk's office. So but it's not subcommittee would be uh would be the recommendation not an advisory committee and Well, I don't I don't think it needs to go to ordinances because it does. The tech has nothing to do with ordinances. I don't think it needs to go through
finance. Um I think it needs to go directly back to the council. It needs to be report to the council. Yeah, but the subcommittee won't report to committee and then the council as well. Well, per per our bylaws, we can the council can approve uh an advisory
council direct to them. So, I'd like that's why I'm making a motion here today is for the council to approve that. So, I' I'd like to make a motion for the council to uh approve the creation of a tech advisory council. Second.
No, Mr. Cortez. Yes. Mr. Burn. Yes. Mr. Houston. Yes. Mr. Ivy. Yes. Mr. Pontier. Yes. Miss Bergen. Yes. I I have one. Do you have someone in mind? Yes, we I have a few people in
mind. But I'd like to be part of that. Absolutely. Mr. Mayor, I do. I do. One other thing. Um Oh, no. I'm sorry. You're good. I'm good. Thank
you. Okay. That was one of the things I was gonna ask what the status was. Um the business development committee I believe we allocated funding for that committee but I haven't seen any plans
or um any any updates from on this committee since last year or not even well I guess last year they purchased some items for downtown. So I was just wondering and I think we lost did we lose we lost a member from that committee. It was you and
So, have you thought on what you want to do with that committee? Who's going to be on it? Yeah. So, I think it was Tyler. I think I spoke to you. Yeah. Well, anyway, I'd like to have Tyler on that on that committee. That's okay. Sure. We just approved the budget
of 2500. So, if we get a meeting together, we can report on where we'll be going further. I would like to see we put we only have a budget maybe $2,500. We did flower pot last year some of the trees this
thevenue white. So it's kind of like an extension of buildings and ground when you're enhancing it could be anything. Sounds like buildings and ground stuff versus more engagement.
It sounds absolutely no problem. Okay. Friendly. Okay. Um and then Centennial Committee like I know that I think there's no council member on that now. Is there is there a council member on that committee? Current council
member? No. I'm trying to I I feel a little bit out of the loop about what's going on with that committee as well. I don't know if the rest of council does, but I know you said that something I think I saw on social media that some things are going to be announced, but like I don't know what's going on and I think it would be
good to have somebody on the council on currently on the council represented on that committee. Great. Jim Jim The other thing was table the streets. So I had a question about that thing that we reviewed. We'll discuss it next time. So thank you. And
then there was a question also about the flag distribution as the at the parade right last year Rotary did it. I told you that the church was doing it this year but the Rotary is doing I was not happy with that change.
Um and the reason for that is to keep the flow of the parade going. There's no gap. There's always a gap between uh the people in front of the council and then and then the council just because the
hand so that will be done was decided by the committee again to take care of that. So they're going to pay for the flags. The clubs pay for the flags. No, the burl the burl put that in their
budget for flags for the parade. So the council and the hand. Okay. Well, we'll be handing our own flags up. It just seems silly that we're buying the flags and the council. Silly. So we'll get our own
flags. Sorry, Mr. Mayor. I do have one just one other thing just uh just uh real quick on the affordable housing. Um I I think it's important that the public understands there there will be a a public info session uh sometime coming
up in the next few weeks so that they're informed on what's going on. Is that a like I said before, I've got to check with the attorney and make sure that that's adequate. That is my intention, but until I check with the attorney, see if we can get a date
together. So, that may be a little bit premature, but hopefully that's the intention. So, I just have one quick in connection with this new advisory council that's been created here. It's an advisory committee that doesn't
have any inherent powers. But I I rais this to council's attention. It just also keep me in the loop with what's going on because although they're not the council and although they're advisory in nature, I still have a duty to them as an arm of this this body to
make sure that you know they're protected as well. So just keep me what's going on there too. I don't see any problems but um two seconds. So just to clarify, the council approved budget at our budget
meeting for this project. We have allocated funding and we appropriated the funding. So now the question is just what technology do we need? How are we going to roll it out? Am I correct? Exactly. Okay. So this this advisory board is looking at tech options. What
would be a good fit? What do we need? What's too extra? What can we do this year? What can we wait till next year? Correct. correct. Okay. Y and going back to what you said about protecting you know the world with technology remember cyber security.
Oh yeah. Is that going to be because what I'm hearing what I'm hearing the last couple of weeks with people going hacking in here hacking in there. It's it's scary. I think S to your I think what you're trying to say is that part of any tech
that we do if it includes any cameras or recording or any in the system it will be compliant and up to date with all the latest cyber security protocols and all that. So that's and I did ask Bill to people this AI stuff is scary. Take the
voice and next thing you know they're going to look and I'm going to be saying things I said. It's scary. I mean, it's funny. They're already preparing. They're already preparing for that. And he's an engineer, so you could believe him. Called me before. So that was what I mean.
We all got an email from the mayor that didn't exist. But that came from another Gmail. It's scary. But they say it on on a website somewhere. They just use your name. Anyway, uh no need for another executive session. I don't think there
is another opening. I only heard from one person so far this Saturday at 10 a.m. Nails a nail salon over in the uh in the uh in the Cole's Plaza fashion. Do I
have to check? I move that the check was dated May 15th in the amount of $38,23366 be approved. Is there a second? Second. All in favor?
I abain it. I hope to see everybody at the parade on the 24th. Looking forward to it next week and of course we'll have good weather. Is there a motion to adjourn? Is there a second? Second by S. All in
favor? I the eyes have it. Thank you very much. Yeah.