I call to order this reorganization meeting of the township committee of the township of Mars on Wednesday, January 7th, 20126. The time is now 7:01. This meeting is being held in accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act.
Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as required by law. Specifically, notice of this meeting was emailed to the daily record and Morris Newsby on January 3rd, 2025 and posted on the Township of Morris website. The agenda, the agenda and resolutions for
this meeting are available on www. morriswp.com under agenda center. Certain portions of this meeting may be closed to the public for the purpose of personnel and or other matters as outlined in the sunshine law.
As the reorganization meeting is devoted to ceremonial and organizational matters, public comment will not be taken this evening. Notices to member of the governing body and township staff. Any use of electric devices during this meeting shall be held shall be used
solely for the purpose of township business. It is my pleasure to introduce Rever Reverend Father Thomas Fallon, pastor of St. Thomas Moore, Roman Catholic Church, who will lead us in the invocation this evening.
2.5s. And I gota I got to up them. I These aren't even working anymore. >> Close. >> Heavenly Father, we trust you with all our heart. You are the author of justice and mercy and law. Guide this council,
this town servants, for your will to govern people in peace and love. We thank you for this meeting and we thank you for your law. May we proceed accordingly
in peace. Bless this meeting. Keep us in your love and let your face shine upon us in all we do in servantitude to one another. And we ask this in your name.
Amen. >> Amen. Thank you, Father. >> Will everyone please rise for the pledge salute which will be led by Township Administrator Simply Quinn. >> Please join me. I aliance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> The next item, the next item of business is a swearing and ceremony for committee
member Jeff Griselle. I will now read the statement of determination from the Morris County Board of Canvasers as certified by Anne Graci, Morris County Clerk. This statement certifies the election of Jeff Griselle to a three-year term on the township
committee. A statement of determination of the board of canvasers relative to an election held on the township of Morris, county of Morris, and state of New Jersey for the election of certain municipal officers for the mis for the municipality on the 4th day of November,
2025. The board does hereby determine that at the set election, Jeff Griselle was duly elected to the office of township committee for a three-year term as set forth above. I do hereby certify that
the foregoing is a full true and correct statement of the determination of the board of canvasers therein mentioned. I now invite Mr. Gazelle to come forward to take the oath administered by township attorney Jared Caner. Mr.
Griselle's son Alex will join him to hold the Bible for the ceremony. >> Bioneer mother Eleanor. Good seeing you. >> Nice. Left hand on, right hand up. >> Do Jeff Gal solemnly swear they will
support the Constitution United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and will bear faith and allegiance to the same and to the government's established United States and in this state under the authority of the people. So help you God. >> I do. >> Repeat after me. I Jeffrey R. Grazelle.
>> I Jeffrey R. ill >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will faithfully >> that I will faithfully >> impartially and justly >> impartially and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of the position of committee member >> of the position of committee member >> of the township committee of the
township of Morris >> of the township committee of the township of Mars >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability >> so help me God >> so help me God Congratulations. Congratulations. I will now proceed with the roll call of
the township committee. Mr. Griselle >> here. >> Miss Grigglia >> here. >> Mr. Dorphy >> here. >> Mr. Janata >> here. >> And Mr. Rabbits? >> Yes. Here. >> We will now entertain nomination for the office of mayor. May I have a motion?
Madame Clerk, I'll um mo make a motion to nominate Donna Grigalia to be mayor. >> I would like to second that. >> Are there any other nominations? >> Seeing none, we will proceed to a roll call vote. >> Mr. Gazelle, >> yes. >> Mr. Dory, >> yes.
>> Mr. Janata, >> yes. >> Mr. Rabbitz, >> yes. >> Miss Grigglia, >> yes. >> Congratulations, Mayor. Thank you. This evening, the honorable mayor Meredith Peter Manusa will have the
honor of holding the Bible as Township Attorney Jared Caner administers the oath of office. Do Don Griggula solemnly swear he will support the Constitution of United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and will bear faith and
allegiance to the same and to the government established in the United States and in this state under the authority of the people so love you God. >> Yes. >> Repeat after me. I Donna J. Gerriulia. >> I, Donna J. Gerriia, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear
>> that I will faithfully >> that I will faithfully >> impartially and justly >> impartially and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of the position of mayor >> of the position of mayor >> of the township committee of the township of Morris >> of the township of committee of the township of Morris >> according to the best of my ability
>> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Congratulations. >> Thank you. Congratulations. Okay, give me a minute to just get
settled here. Thank you all very much. Next, we will open the floor for nominations for the office of deputy mayor of the township committee. May I have a motion? >> Uh, mayor, I'll I'll nominate Stephen Janata to be deputy mayor.
>> Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Thank you. >> Are there any other nominations for deputy mayor? Seeing none, Madame Clerk, roll call, please. >> Mr. Dorphy, >> yes. >> Mr. Gazelle, >> yes. >> Mr. Janata,
>> yes. >> Mr. Mr. Rabbitz. >> Yes. >> And Mayor Griglia. >> Yes. >> Congratulations, Mr. JANATADA. >> Township Attorney Jared Caner will administer the oath of office and Deputy Mayor Janata's wife Ratna will have the
honor of holding the Daughters of the American Revolution citizenship manual for the occasion. right here. Do you see solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State
of New Jersey and faith and allegiance to the same and the government's established United States and in this state under the authority of the people so help you God? >> Yes. >> Repeat after me. I SA Estanada is swear I will faithfully impartially and justly
perform all the duties of the position of deputy mayor of the township committee for the township of Morris according to the best of my ability. So mayor CONGRATUL I but I think it's Cal Ripken now. >> Congratulations.
>> Congratulations, SA. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. At this time, I would like to recognize many of our honored guests and thank you for coming out tonight. We have here from Morristown, Mayor Dy. And we also
have and appreciate the from the Morristown Council, new council president Steve Philipchuk, Chris Rousul, and Nathan Umbriak. We also have our our Assemblywoman elect Marissa
Sweeney, Mayor Carolyn De Dempsey from Chadam Burrow, former mayor Kathy Wilson, chief of staff from Assemblywoman Dunn's office, Jeffrey Wood, and TC McCory. report from the do school
board. I do have a letter from Senator Buco and he asked that it be read. >> Oh, and I'm sorry Diana and Diana from the Mars School District School Board. I have a message from Senator Buco who
asked that it be read into the record. Although I am unable to be with you today, I wanted to share my best wishes for this municipal reorganization meeting and to acknowledge the importance of the occasion. Reorganization meetings are meaningful
moments for a municipality, making both continuity and new beginnings in local leadership. They reflect the ongoing commitment of individuals who are willing to step forward and serve their neighbors and communities. The municipalities that make up New Jerseys
25th district are strengthened by this dedication and I truly appreciate the time, effort, and care that go into the public service at the local level. While I am unable to be with you tonight, I extend my best wishes to those being
sworn in and my appreciation to everyone continuing their service as you begin the year ahead. I remain dedicated to the district's needs and the priorities of Mars Township and I value the work you do on behalf of your residents.
Please know that my office is always here as a resource and I am happy to assist or stay engaged in any way that may be helpful. Thank you for understanding and I wish you a successful reorganization meeting. Thank you, Anthony Buco.
Okay, at this time I'm going to give my mayor's address. The first thing that I would like to do is congratulate Jeff Grael on his reelection for another three-year term. Oh, I'm sorry. And I did forget. How could I do this? My brother Bobby is
here. I'm one of six kids, and this being my third time, one of my siblings in here, but is here. And I also have some family on Zoom. So, excuse me for ignoring you. >> I didn't announce Kathy. Oh, I'm sorry.
And former mayor Kathy Wilson. >> Yeah, you should. >> I did. Look, Tim's >> Tim's giving me a hard time over here. >> The first thing I would like to do is congratulate Jeff Grael on his reelection for another three-year term.
His experience is a valued asset on the township committee. I'd also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my fellow committee members. As a team, we strive to make our community a better place, and I am grateful for your commitment
and your collaboration. The same applies to our town of professionals and employees under the direction of Tim Quinn, our town clerk, Suzanne Walsh. Her attention to detail and her organizational skills have made a significant difference in our day-to-day
operations. And thank you to our attorney, Jared Caner. All of your unwavering dedication and genuine concern for our citizens are truly commendable. As we embark on the 250th anniversary of
the United States of America, it is more important than ever to remember what makes up America. It's the states, the counties, the cities, and towns just like ours that are the very fabric of our country. America truly is the sum of
its parts. It is why all of our actions, every single person in this room and in our town matter. It matters as we head into the next 250 years. We, as Americans, strive to create more unity and cooperation despite our differences.
We all have different opinions, views, political stances, and it's those differences that have brought strength to America over the last 250 years. But that strength only works when we can hear those differences and despite if we
agree or disagree with them, can still come together to do what's best for our town, our country, and for all of us as Americans. It's why I was honored to have former mayor Manuso hold the Bible during my
swearing in in a symbol that underscores the importance of bipartisanship and collaboration in government. Leaders can come together for the common good. The same way all of us can and have the responsibility to build trust among our
constituents who may be divided along party lines. It shows a willingness to respect and acknowledge the contributions of all political perspectives. Effective governance is built on mutual respect and the understanding regardless
of our political affiliation. This is what built America over the past 250 years. We as Mars Township are an important brick in the foundation that built our country. And to help continue
to build our community community must keep making improvements in all aspects espec es especially acknowledging that all citizens are a critical part of making up who we are and who we represent. We are all stewards of this
country tasked with maintaining our core values of freedom, democracy, community, civil service and so many more. Our actions must make sure that every person is allowed the freedoms our country was
founded on to maintain and support the very tenants of our democracy. We urge all of you to share your comments, what you like and what you don't agree with. Talk to us about issues, concerns, and what you see the future holds for Mars
Township. Come to coffee with the mayor. The next one is on February 28th. Join one of our committees. Share your specific knowledge, your environmental expertise, experience our parks and wreck programs. Spend time with our
seniors, or get more mobile by getting involved in our new walk, bike, and roll plan. Applications are all on the Mars Township website. The promise of opportunity and the American dream strengthened America for a long time to those who had access. We
are dedicated to doing our part in advancing that dream by helping solve the nation's affordability crisis, certainly seen here in New Jersey. The hard work done by our professionals on navigating the fourth round affordable
housing requirements to do our part while maintaining Morris Township's character was simply outstanding. It is allowing more people to come into our community and helping them achieve their goals and dreams. While we all make up
this country, our public servants are the bricks and mortar of the township and the community we have built. We have the best municipal employees there are, and they too now have to face tough budget challenges ahead, rising insurance costs, and dwindling workforce
pools for jobs that are still vitally necessary. They are the heart and soul of our community. Our police under Chief Shear, our fire department under Chief Nun, and all of our first respond responders, EMS, and actually the Mars
Minutemen are also here. And our health department employees have a level of steadfast allegiance second to none. We continue to see ongoing dedication from our residents like former mayor Kathy Wilson who not only created the
taping of public meetings which led to the state-of-the-art system you see in this room but has now presented the township with a check reflecting the closure of the organization she started the friends of televised access in Mars
Township. These funds will continue supporting the video program of our public meetings. On our environmental commission, the members have worked hard to sustain to maintain our sa sustainable Jersey bronze level and are
working towards silver. Our economic development committee is putting together a small business directory for shared resources and more small business community outreach. As we enter this historic year, I also want to acknowledge our growth as a town
and community. This year, we will experience the reopening of the new Collinsville playground and the state-of-the-art Red Bulls training facility, bringing the FIFA World Cup to our town. There is also more positive growth coming with our new community
center plans beginning to take shape and our senior bus will be here soon, ready to roll out in spring. It is a very exciting year ahead. While it's 250 years old, America is still a young country and we still have
more to come. Remember, as we celebrate this anniversary, we also need to celebrate the great responsibility we are given as Americans to uphold the very principles the country was built on. Today, here I pledge as your mayor
to uphold them. We pledge as your township committee to uphold them. But more importantly, we need you all of you to pledge to uphold them. You have a responsibility as an American to commit to uphold basic core values.
Freedom, dignity, opportunity, equal access, empathy, understanding, and kindness for all. Every person's commitment matters and everyone's individual actions will take us in to another very successful 250 years. Thank
you. There's my Where's my script? Thank you. Um, next we will have our township committee commentary and we'll start with Committeeman Jory. >> Thank you, Mayor, and happy new year,
everyone. Thank you all so much for coming out. Um, first, I'd like to congratulate uh Committeeman Jeff Grazelle on uh your reelection. Uh congratulations um not only for this election but just continuing to keep Mars Township uh as
your number one priority as you've done for years and years. I think this is your fourth term or fifth fifth term. >> Uh and anyone in here who has run an election or has run for anything knows how difficult it is and how much time it takes from you takes you away from
family, from work, from other commitments. Um, five elections is uh no easy feat. So, congratulations, Jeff. Congratulations to you and your family. >> Thank you. >> Um, I'd also like to congratulate Mayor Gurriglia and Deputy Mayor Janata on your elections uh leading the township
committee uh in 2026. As we all know, it is a difficult year. Uh, and we are very fortunate to have both of you at the helm this year uh working with our employees uh day in and day out to make sure we do everything we can for our residents of Mars Township. Um, as Mayor
Griggley alluded to, it is a difficult year. Um, and I believe this is my this is my third or fourth year chairing the budget committee. Um, which I'll be on with uh, Mayor Grigglia and I was on with Mayor Meredus Mayuso several years ago. Um, but um, Mars Handra continues
to face headwinds as we have uh, as every municipality in the state has for many years. Uh and because of the decisions of this committee um present and past of being fiscally responsible and not spending uh all of our money from the federal government uh on
frivolous things, we have been able to keep our tax rate very steady over the past few years. Um, but my heart goes out to our employees uh from our town and other towns in the school district who uh whose health insurance premiums
keep skyrocketing 15 16 17 18% each year. Uh many towns like ours are employees will get a raise but they'll actually take less pay home because of their premium increases. Uh this is a serious problem. Um, and I know uh, Governor Elect Cheryl is going to have
to make some difficult decisions uh, to try to fix the failing um, state of health benefit program, but um, Mars has a big challenge and it's going to it's going to hurt our budget, but we're going to do everything we can to stand by our employees to make sure they get the health coverage that they deserve
uh, and that our that our budget stays in line as always. But not to be too doom and gloom, as Mayor Grigley said, we have a lot of exciting things happening in Mars Hatcher this year. uh from the Collinsville playground uh finally opening up soon um as the mayor has mentioned as well as the senior bus
and work on the community center. We have a lot of things that have taken years and years of work to get to that our residents have long long uh waited for especially in Collinsville. Our calls Collinsville residents we've been working on this project for eight years
maybe Kathy eight long time and it is state-of-the-art. It is being funded with federal and state grants as long as as well as with local money. Uh and this is something that's really going to be a gem for Mars Township. So I'm so excited for that. Um, but aside from that, thank
you for our employees who work day in and day out to keep the township running. Thank you to our first responders, our police department, our career and volunteer firefighters, and our volunteer EMS for everything that you do. And thank you to our volunteer board members as well who serve on all
the committees that help this governing body make decisions from the transportation committee to the environmental commission. Also to our planning board members and zoning board members. Thank you for everything you do, taking time away from from your families and from your interests to help Mars Township run and to become the
communities that you all care about so much. So, thank you. With that, mayor, I'll yield back. >> Thank you. And next, we will go to Committeeman Rabbits. >> Oh, great. I got to follow that. Uh I you know typically during our
township committee meetings Donna is the mayor is the last to speak and she says well I don't have to say anything really much because everybody said everything already. So between what the mayor said in her address and and what committeeman Gorfy just said I really can't approve
upon that. But I will wish you all a very happy new year. Uh thank you all for coming. And I especially want to make note of my friend Peter Manuso who I had not seen in a while, but thank you for coming. It's always good to see your face. Thank you to the folks from Marstown who who came and all the other,
you know, wonderful dignitaries who came out here today. Special um shout out to man on my left here, Jeff Greel, for an impressive election win. It's good to have him back up here uh on the deas with me. I also want to congratulate uh
the mayor on her hard term. She has proven over and over again that she is an exemplary mayor and will continue to be a great mayor uh with her deaf touch um and the way that she handles politics, I think that she is the is the
right person to lead the township and I think >> with our help um and the profession and the help of our professionals and our our township staff and our boards, we've got a lot on our plate. Um, it's all, you know, a lot of good things that are
that are going to be in the works and hopefully over the time this year we're going to roll it out. Also, special congratulations to Deputy Mayor Janatada, uh, on the becoming deputy mayor. I think that you'll find that post both rewarding and challenging. So,
uh, we've got a good group of people up here. We got a good group of people in town hall everywhere we look, our first responders. Um, we are in a challenging year this year. There's 10 months till the midterm elections. Um, it's going to be a rough
ride. Uh, but we up here are committed to continuous improvement. We are going to do what we can with what we have from where we are for as long as we can to make sure that this township is the crown continues to be the crown jewel of Mars County. And with that, I yield
back. Thank you very much for your kind words, Committeeman Rabbitz. And as you know, we're a team, all five of us. We really do share everything. Uh, next we will go to Committeeman Grael. >> Uh, thank you. Congratulations, Mayor to >> taking the home for another year.
Congratulations, uh, Deputy Mayor Janata for moving up. >> And thank you everybody for your congratulations. I really appreciate it. Um, I sit here very honored and grateful tonight. Um, grateful, honored to sit up here on this governing body, um, and
serve the community again. Um, but grateful for all the support I received in the community in this past election to win a fifth term. Uh, grateful for everybody who's here tonight to celebrate with us. I'm grateful for uh, Peter Manuso, Mayor Meredus, for
being in honoring us tonight. Peter, I'm going to call you the Lou Garriig of Morris Township, even though I've been up here five terms now. I think I got five more to go before I ever pass you. So, I got I got a I got a long way and I'm not sure I can make it. So, I think
your I think your record is pretty pretty short. Um honored to have uh my son Alexander here with me. Um who's been at my side in campaigning for a long time. So Mark talked about how many years I've been working at running and Alex has been at my side from the very
beginning carrying my literature, knocking on doors, ringing bells, uh talking to people before I even get to the door um so that they have a smile on their face when they arrive. So uh thank you. Thank you for all that hard work, Alex. And uh very honored to have my mom here tonight. Uh my mom just turned 90
years old, so everybody knows, BUT EVERYBODY'S BUT WHEN I tell people that they they respond by saying 90 going on 70, right? Uh because she has such energy and uh she's she's been such an influence in my
life and uh I hope everybody gets to to meet her tonight and and hopefully some of her her positivity will rub off on on all of you too. Um, so as as all of you know, I am stepping up to run for Congress this
year, and I've had to reflect on why I actually want to do that. It's the hardest thing I think I've ever done in my life. Um, but I stepped up uh 22 years ago when I was a disenfranchised resident of Morris Township and I felt
like I wasn't treated properly, wasn't responded to properly and I decided I would do something uh to support my community and and give back and now I am a disenfranchised resident of my country horrified at some of the things going
on, especially what happened today in Minneapolis. Um, and I always talk about gun violence, but I won't go into gun violence uh tonight, but we had another gun death today in our country. And uh now stepping up to represent all of us uh hopefully in Washington DC because I want to give back to the community and
give back to others. And I've had a lot of time to reflect on what drives me to do that. And I think back to my upbringing like a lot of us, a lot of us are formed by our upbringing many, many, many years ago. And a lot of that came
from my mom, which is why I'm so honored that and grateful that you're here tonight because I want to tell you personally what has brought me here. So, I grew up in a very proud Jewish household in Anglewood, New Jersey, and I wasn't taught the importance of caring
for the community and giving back to the community. And a lot of that came from my mom. My mom is a special ed teacher. And growing up, I can recall numerous times where she took us by the hand and brought us over to an autistic child or it's somebody who in need and just
treated them like a human being, talked to them, respected them, tried to bring a smile to their face. And I think back to when I was a kid and those experiences all the time. And fast forward to today, uh, I'm on the board
of SNAP, the special special needs athletic program here in Morristown and Morris Township. And I am honored all the time, as I say up here in the deis, when we build uh affordable housing, disability housing to to serve the the
people who need it. Um, we're building this year six six units with with ARC and five additional units through I know you told me before, Tim Community hope. >> Community hope. Uh so we're building 11 units of uh housing this year for the
disability community and super proud of that. Uh the other thing my mom taught me when I was young was love for the environment. She we have in in Englewood, New Jersey the Flat Rockbrook Nature Center and she is one of the founders of Flat Rockbrook. But before it was a nature center, we just had a
park and I recall my mom taking me to the park carrying a bag and we used to pick up the garbage, right? So she would walk on the side of the stream picking up garbage and I would be in the stream hopping from rock to rock picking up any garbage I saw in the stream. She taught
me to pick up after others. She taught me to care for the for the environment. Uh she taught me how important it is to care for your broader community. uh the importance of clean water, which is something I talk about up here all the time. I give I give Smucka, the local water company, a hard time all the time
because I care so much about the water. And these are the values that I was instilled with uh as a young child that I carry with me to today. So, I just want to thank you, Mom, uh for instilling those values in me, making me the person I am today.
I love you so much. I hope I've made you proud. >> Yes. And uh it's really what's brought me here today to to a fifth term because I care so much about the community. I still want to give back. There's still more to do, right? There's still a lot for us to do up here. Um and again,
hopefully, you know, take that to a higher level, but but so happy with everything that we've accomplished here in in Morris Township. So, uh with that, there's a lot to get done this year and I'll I'll pass it back to you, Mayor. Thank you so much. >> Thank you very much. And now we'll wrap up with Deputy Mayor Janada.
>> Thank you, Mayor Griglia. First, I want to thank my family, my wife, my mom, my my uh son and daughter, as well as my brother and cousins and nephews and nieces and family abroad.
I want to thank my family for because they wonder why a part-time job is taking so much of my time. my my apologies in advance. I see uh as I mentioned I have family abroad and uh locally in and in India.
So very early good morning to those abroad there and I want to congratulate committeeman and former mayor Jeff Grizzel who has been elected five times. I don't think I can even do that just to let you know that. and I'm
honored to be serving with him and other the other committee members here and as well as Mary Donna Coriglia for another term and I look forward to serving another year with her and the other committee members as well as the township employees led by Tim Quinn our
able township administrator. I take this position of deputy mayor with deep humility, but I do look forward to working to help the people of Morris Township. among these I want to help work in the coming year. I'll just mention some of
the fun stuff. I want I want to make Maram Morris Township become film ready. If you know if anybody read the news, a recent Steven Spielberg movie was filmed on Foster Fields located in the township. It was a it's a county park,
but it's right here. So film ready is a state program that has filmmakers work with the towns by using their local businesses while filming in in these their locations. Some nearby towns have already adopted such ordinances and Morris Township will work on passing
such an ordinance. That should be fun. And if you have ever come to our one of these meetings, you know that I always speak of a little history lesson at the end. So this coming celebration of the semiquincentennial. Did I say that right Chris? >> You got it.
>> Semiquentennial by the way means half of 500 which is the 250th anniversary which is what I'm going to refer from that one. It was the of the founding of the United States. Now, Mars Township along with area towns Marstown have many important historic revolutionary era
sites that will benefit from heritage tourism just as it did when we celebrated the bsentennial at 200th back in 1976. Now, how many of us remember the bsentennial? I think we're giving up our age right
there. Now, personally, I look forward to being an active participant in the upcoming celebrations, and I have already spoken at one event last year along with Mr. Russo, and I'm wearing a 250th pin right here, but given by the Sons of the
American Revolution, and I will find other such opportunities throughout the year. Now, we speak of and deal with many local matters here. However, we do not live in a vacuum. I won't mention here what is happening out there but we
cannot ignore it either since it will affect us at the local level as well. One of the essential questions though being brought out is what is an American? What does it mean to be an American? Some are pushing the notion that
Americans are Americans should be based on blood and soil based on how far back their American ancestry goes. Now this is a foreign concept of exclusion that has no place in this country. Instead,
America is based on the ideas and ideals of inclusion. We take a note to the US Constitution, not to any one person. That same constitution begins with we the people. This means all of us are we the people.
In 1790, President George Washington wrote a letter to the Hebrew congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, in which he stated that bigotry shall be given no sanction and to persecution no assistance. This meant that the Jewish people in the US were to find a safe
haven here. That letter is on display at the Turo Synagogue in Newport. My mo my mother is here. Here's her Indian passport that brought her and me to the US and here in 2000 she became a
naturalized American citizen. In between these two documents is her American journey. Yet both my parents just like many immigrants before and since were American in spirit before they even reached these shores because it takes
courage to leaves one's ancestral home to begin life a new in a strange land. My brother, who is also here, was the first US citizen in our family by virtue of birthright citizenship as codified in the 14th amendment. A child born to an
immigrant family in this country allows that family to feel that they belong that this country is now a part of their family story. To have that feeling taken from them as well as the right of US citizenship taken from that newborn
child as some are pushing is beyond tragic. Now I just took a note on this booklet right here given to me when I took my own oath of citizenship oath and this was given by the daughters of the American Revolution the DI
and includes the founding documents the declaration of independence and the US constitution. It also includes a letter from President Ronald Reagan who encouraged people from other countries in becoming US citizens in which he stated, "America is a land of great
people who have been attracted from all over the world to enjoy and to share their love for life and liberty." Now, he said from all over the world, not just from any one part of that world. As I mentioned two years ago,
Asian immigrants like me were not allowed to become US citizens. However, 20 years later in 1947, when India gained independence from Britain, a Republican le Congress gave Indian immigrants the right to become naturalized. Just as a few years before
in 1943, a Democratic le Congress rescended the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and gave Chinese immigrants the same naturalization rights. Members of both parties understood that people the world over want to come here
and share their love for life and liberty as President Reagan stated this is our heritage and legacy of inclusion. So what is an American? It is as a preamble to the constitution says it's we the people. It's all of us. Thank
you. I yield. Thank you, Committeeman Donado. For for those of you who don't know, if you come to our um once a month meetings and now Deputy Mayor Janata always has a history lesson. It's actually really interesting and the people who are here
really appreciate it. So, we'd love to hear the story and we're honored to have you sit on the days with us. At this time, we will now proceed with the remaining items on tonight's agenda. We have 14 resolutions. Due to committee member Jorphy's role with the fire
department, resolutions 0426 will be considered separately. Madame clerk, please read resolutions 0126 through 0326 and 0526 through 14-26
by title only. Resolution 0126 establishing 13 standing committees and appointing members to the same for the period of January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2026. 02-26
Establishing the following appointments to positions created by statute and/or ordinance of the the township of Morris. 03-26 appointing special police officer class 3 police matron and school crossing
guard for the police department of the township of Morris for the period of January 1st 2026 through December 31st 2026 resolution '05-26 appointing officer office of emergency
management deputy coordinators of the township of Morris for the period of January 1st 2026 through December 3th 1st, 2026 06-26, appointing professionals for the township of Morris for the period of January 1st, 2026 through December 31st,
2026. Resolution 07-26 establishing the 2026 Township Committee meeting schedule and the 2026 reorganization meeting at the Township of Morris Municipal Building, 50
Woodland Avenue, Morris Township, New Jersey, with regular meetings at 7:00 and close session times at 5:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. as indicated. 08-26 authorizing certain public officials of
the township to carry on banking matters on behalf of the township. 0926 authorizing cash management plan as submitted by the municipal finance officer. 10-26 Temporary operating budget 11-26
Establishing interest rate and penalty of delinquent taxes and sewer fees. Tax sales cost and cancellation of small balances. 12-26 authorizing claimment signature requirement policy.
13-26 Resolution authorizing the qualified purchasing agent of the township of Morris to award window contracts over 17,500 and under the bid threshold of 53,000.
governing uh 14-26 governing body certification of compliance with United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforce enforcement guidance on the consideration of arrest and conviction records in employment decisions under the title 7 of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964. >> Thank you, Madame Clerk. May I have a motion to approve resolution numbers 01-26 through 03-26 and 05-26 through 14-26 as a block. >> So move second.
>> May I have a roll call vote? >> Mr. Rabbitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Janata, >> yes. >> Mr. Gazelle, >> yes. >> Mr. Jory, >> yes. >> Mayor Griglio, >> yes. Madame clerk, please read resolution 04-26 by title only. 04-26
appointing volunteer officers of the fire department of the township of Morris for the period of January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2026. >> I have a motion to approve resolution 04-26. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Madame clerk, roll call, please.
>> Mr. Ravitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Janata, >> yes. >> Mr. Gazelle, >> yes. >> Mayor Grigglia, >> yes. Before we conclude, I would like to invite everyone to join us for refreshments immediately following the meeting. And I'd like to thank Anelise Rush and Virginia Murphy for doing such
a good job setting up the room that's right behind us. The benediction will now be offered by Rabbi Mendde Hershon of the Rebinical College of America. to take off on Deputy Mayor Jonatada's words. I I was born in in this state,
but as you can probably tell from looking at me, I descend from immigrants. And that's exactly why I have a very deep gratitude for my state and my country. And specifically given the Jewish history and journey of
thousands of years, one can probably imagine how unique and uh and blessed um George Washington's letter referenced by the deputy mayor was and the blessing that the United States and the American
spirit has brought to the world. I'm also humbled to be able to be here to launch this 2026 the public servants people who have are giving of themselves to the community. We all need to give to each other. But here are people who are
doing it in a in a prominent way and fulfilling Isaiah's words that God has created the world not for chaos for that to be a stable community. And to be able to be part of launching this this year
for you is uh and for us is a humbling experience. So in that light, I want to ask God almighty to give our mayor, our deputy mayor, our clerk, our township administrator, the township committee,
all the township officials, the sagacity, the wisdom, the heart to be able and the the strength to be able to keep Mars Township, the the gem, the
crown jewel as was mentioned it is and bring it to even greater heights and to be able to be for you all to be able to be God's tools in in keeping our community safe and sound and I want to
offer also that God bless and protect all our first responders please fire emergency services and we all have a a 2026 that has hopefully a lot of boring ing news cycles and and there's stability
starting from Mars Township but around the world and say amen. >> Amen. Thank you, Rabbi. >> The time is now 7:51. May I have a motion to adjourn? >> Second. >> All in favor? The next township
committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 21st, 2026 at 7 p.m. The closed session will begin at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in person in the municipal building here at 50 Woodland Avenue, and a courtesy Zoom
link will be provided for remote viewing. For agendas, resolutions, and additional information, please visit our website at marriswp.com. Thank you all so much for being here. Wishing you all a very happy and healthy
2026. God bless you all. Thank you.