Okay, everybody, please stand. At this time, I would like to take a moment and remind our residents that as we all navigate these uncertain times, the officials and employees of
our burrow are here to help wherever possible, help maintain our quality of life. And may we salute the flag 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. And may we call the role, please. Councilwoman Sanen, yes. Councilman Zner, yes. Council President Duffy here.
Here. Councilman Grosky here. Councilman Seymour here. Councilwoman Grant here. And Mayor Pacino is not here tonight. Can you imagine that? Okay. The first I think. Oh my god. He's got to be jonesing. Absolute fired up.
Everybody's tuned in. Wave. Hello everyone. Yes. Good evening. Bear with me. Um uh just you know haven't done this in a while. So, you know, the man never misses a meeting. So, anyway, um going
forward, we have two appointments tonight. What? The statement of compliance. Oh, first. So, sorry. Thank you. Okay. Uh, if I might then the New Jersey open public meetings
law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and attend any meetings public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with this act, the mayor and
council of the burrow of New Milford have caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the daytime place thereof posted in the burrow hall and notices have been sent to the record and the Ridgewood News.
The mission of this governing body is to provide essential services through the establishment and implementation of public policy that will safeguard the infrastructure. Provide fair, honest, courteous and
professional services. Establish a sense of trust and accomplishment between all residents through research and prudent planning. seek to minimize risks while improving our services. We are sensitive
to the needs and satisfaction of our taxpayers while realizing that this governing body cannot be all things to all people within the revenue constraints imposed by state mandates, economic conditions, and prevailing
attitudes about taxation. The fire exits are there. And the fire exits, if I might point them out, they are here to my left and straight ahead into the parking lot.
Anything else? You're on rock and roll. Okay, great. Uh then we will move on with these two appointments. Um, Matthew Rajner for Fire Company 1, Vivian Davis for the Rev 250 committee. May I get a
motion? So move second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Thank you. Okay. Uh, good evening. Our auditor Steve Wilcox is here. May I ask you to
step to the podium and uh give us an overview before we open to the public hearing? Oh, thank you. Oh, thank you very much. All right. Well, here we are. Good
evening. Good evening. Good evening, uh, four uh, a little less than four weeks ago, we you introduced your budget for 2025. It's been reviewed by the state. It's been approved for adoption tonight.
Um, first you have to have your public hearing, which um, looks like it'll be pretty short and sweet. Uh I'll give my brief overview again just for the record. Um I'll start with
you know 2025 has been probably the most difficult year I've seen for municipal governments and budgets and taxes in the 46 years that I'm doing this. um health benefits, pension costs,
interest rates, inflationary factors. Um and in spite all that and you had a revaluation to just put the icing on the cake for 2025. Um spending's up 3.28%.
handful of drivers. Uh 195,000 for pension cost, 171520 for health health insurance, 133,000 for workers comp and liability insurance, 81,500 for garbage. The
statutory contribution to the library, $98,54. Sewer disposal costs, $58,166. and debt service $224,000 mainly by virtue of the short-term interest rates which used to be five used to be a half a percent and
1% as short as 18 months ago are now 4 and a.5%. So you package that all together. The good news, if there's any good news, what you can control, all the
departments, all the services, all the things that you provide to the community are about $190,000 less than they were last year. So what you can control, you are controlling. what's out of your control that you're handed a
bill for pension, for health insurance, for liability, for workers comp. You have to pay the bill. You have no control over how much it is. So that is a positive that comes out of this all the tax impact. Now again,
we had a reval. So the the average residential assessment last year was about $330,000. it is now $643,000. So that average revalued assessment of $643 would see an increase in municipal
taxes of $199, which is a little over $15 a month. Um, a little bit more than what our we would couch our normal incremental increase has been over the last four or five
years. But considering what's going on in surrounding communities, I would say this is this is mid to low of what the increases I've seen. I've seen them as high as well,
I've seen them start as high as $800. Um, a neighboring community adopted their budget last week. It was 290 and change. Another one it was 186. Another one was
377. So it's it's again you guys are tough. You do a you do a you do a good job scraping the budget. The administration, the finance committee. Can I ask you a question, Steve? Sure. You said a few minutes
ago you mentioned something like $190,000 less. That number was relevant to what everything else in the budget besides what I Okay. So in in percentage wise, what is it basically right
now that as a budget committee we can control? I couldn't tell you off top 15%. It's not a lot because once you can pass salaries, benefits, contractual obligations, uh the bills you get for pension, garbage, recycling,
uh BCU, statutory requirement for library, it's it's as my grandmother used to say, buff. What we got working with us? Less than 15%. If that probably I think it's usually around
12%. It Listen, it's It it's it's like that. I mean that's school board, board of you know municipality, county and and and unfortunately the the
outlook is not good. Mhm. Because you know the trickle down impact of what the federal government is doing to the to state governments will directly impact local governments. The prime example
is DOT money. Well, it starts at the federal level, comes to the state. Now, here in New Jersey, they use the gas tax for the DOT trust fund. So, there'll always be money, but it's not going to be like
it's been. So, you know, there's there's a lot of uncertainties right now. A lot of the federal programs run on a fiscal year of October 1 to September 30th. So
grants that were awarded last calendar year during that new fiscal year are still in force so far. But what's going to happen October 1 of this year for the new federal fiscal
year? I mean, I don't think anybody has an answer. So it it it the future doesn't look tremendously promising at this present moment, but I mean the people in this
town should be, you know, comforted by the fact that this council, this administration, this finance committee beats up the budget. you know, there's there's I'm getting I'm getting these spreadsheets from the
administrator, you know, a mile a minute. Well, we change this, we change that, and she it's little numbers. It's hard for an old guy. Very little numbers. So, but I mean, this is this is a good budget as every budget here has been a good budget over the last, you
know, 1015 years. I have a question. in the increasing expenses. You listed the library uh at $98,000, but that's technically not an interesting expense to the burrow because it's still the one/3 of a mill.
So, but it is an extra expense because it's an increase from last year's 1/3 of a mill, but it's because the oneird of a millcreased, it's because we had a revaluation and the value of the town increase opposed to the borrow giving additional funds over the minimum required for the state.
Correct. But you're giving you're still g you're still required. Again, it's one of those things you can't control. The third of a mill is a third of a mill, right? So that goes up $98,000. Whether the library needs the money or not, you have to appropriate that $98,000 in addition to what you
gave them last year. It's it's one of those things you don't have any control over. I'm just saying it's almost like in a zero sum game in a way because it's still the oneird of the mill. So it's not like you're taking money out of the pocket. It's not. You're taking out of the taxpayers's pocket. Of course. So,
it's still $98,000. I guess I'm not asking my question very well. So, I apologize. No, no, no. It's it's Listen, it's $98,000 just like garbage is up $80,000. It's it's more money that has to be provided in this year's budget for
that activity. And it's all part of the tax levy. So, you know, I don't question whether the the library needs it, doesn't need it. The issue is you have no choice. I understand that you give one to another.
And it's part of all of these categories that you're gonna you have to process sewage. But depending on the tax rate next year, the number could go down dramatically because it it went up this year because the the number I haven't seen any library number going to go down
in the last 10 years because of the because of because the VA the value of real estate continues to rise. Exactly. There's no nexus between between the library appropriation and and I would call reality because it's a
mandated calculation. Whether they need it, don't need it, what whatever the issue is, that number is that number. That that's my only point is you don't have a choice. It's not like it's not like recreation. You just say,
"Okay, I'm not going to run this program. I'm going to cut it out. and you cut it out. But it's also not like increasing the budget for the recreation program. Yes, it is. It's the same old tax law. It's all the same. Yes, it's all the
same. I'm even with that. So, it's exactly the same as raising the budget for the you don't have to raise the budget for that. And actually since it's always one/ird of the mill depending on what one third of the mill is it's it's commensurate or
proportional to to the valuation but it doesn't change the amount of money that we collect. We still have to collect enough to cover the expense out of the tax pockets. Yes. I'm not I'm not disputing that. Any other questions
first? Any other closing comments? No. Okay. I'm gonna go home and watch the Yankees. Well, thank you so much from all of us. Um, we appreciate the job you do and uh
especially with our budget committees. They did a great job. So, thank you. They're tough. They're tough. I know. That's what we expect them to do. Thank you, Stephen. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thanks. Have a good night. Good night.
What are you going to say for the rest of the meeting? Really? [Music] Yes. Okay. Then now at this uh at this time
we will uh I will like to entertain a motion to open to the public for a public hearing of the 2025 municipal budget. Motion second. No. All in favor? I. Any
opposed? Okay. Um any comments from the public? Seeing that there are none, uh, may I get a motion to close to the public?
Motion. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Then we have to have a motion to open to the public on the ordinance to on the adoption. Adoption. Okay. Uh, so we have an ordinance for adoption
tonight. Um, may I have a motion to uh open it to the public? Do you want me to just Yes. Authorize it? Okay. Uh, calendar year 2025 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriations limit and establish a CAT bank. The
purpose of the ordinance is to authorize an increase in the annual budget that exceeds the appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank. So, we need it's a safety net for future years. Do you just need a motion to open to the
public? Okay. Yeah, I get a motion. So move second. All in favor? I Okay. Any opposed? All right. We're open to the public for comments regarding this ordinance
2025. Call 12. Uh seeing that there are no comments, may I get a motion to close? Motion to close. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Now adopt. Motion to
adopt. Okay. May I get a motion to adopt? Thank you. Second. Now you want a roll call. Roll call, please. Yes. Councilwoman Sanus. Yes. Councilman Sandler. Yes. Council President Duffy. Yes. Councilman Grosky.
Yes. Councilman Seymour. Yes. Councilwoman Grant. Yes. And then these two, do you want separate or with the other? You can you can ask for a motion to do both or you can do with them separately. Either way. Okay.
Um may I get a motion um for 2025 119 and 120 together? Motion for a resolution. Um second. All in
favor? No. Roll call. Sorry, no call. Councilwoman Sanusen, yes. Councilman Zylner, yes. Council President Duffy, yes. Councilman Gratzky, yes. Councilman Seymour, yes. Councilwoman Grant, yes. And I just want to read those. I did not
read that. The 119 is wave the reading in full of the 2024 municipal budget and 120 is adopt the 2024 municipal budget. Okay, everybody take a deep breath.
Okay. No, we will now be reading the budget. Post it on the Burough website. Check it out on the Burough website. Yes. Okay. Next, we have a public hearing uh
for applications to the Burden County Trust Fund. applications um to Oh, I can I can give you a summary. There's two applications. The first is for Williams Field um and
it's a um park development application and we're requesting grant funds to install new lighting at Williams Fields. The installation of outdoor lighting will increase the safety of the area and allow for expanded recreational
scheduling. And the second is for the French burying ground and it's a historic preservation trust fund grant and we're requesting grant funds to restore grave markers at the French burying ground in addition to completing stabilization activities such as tree
trimming and fencing upgrades. Great. Uh we're going to open to the public then. May I get a motion? So moved. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. We are now open for
discussion regarding these two uh projects that we are applying for. Question. Yeah, council president. Yes, sir. Uh the the one regarding the Williams Field, we had a grant out and we were
denied. Correct. We actually applied for three separate grants for this project. One was the Green Acres, which is part of my report tonight. I'll be reporting on that. The other is the local recreation improvement fund through the DCA which we were denied. And this is
the Bird County Open Space. The project is estimated is estimated for $589,000. So we applied and the Green Acres is a matching grant. So they would only we could only ask for half. Bernie County Open Space is a matching grant
and the lo the local recreation is a smaller grant. So, so we've applied for three different grants to try and fund the project. I got it. That's all I wanted to know. Thank you. Okay. Any other? Yeah. Any other questions?
Okay. We're open to the public right now. Do you have Do you have any interest in Nope. This is I have absolute interest. No, no. On this particular topic. Oh, no. No, no. This is This is something that I have to say because me and my husband were dragged out here. Not now. Okay, you'll get your
opportunity. Okay. So, all right. There's no member of the public that wishes to comment. May we get a motion to close? Second. Do we need No. All in favor? Any opposed?
Okay. Uh then we'll move to um unfinished. Excuse me. Yeah. You'll have a chance. All right. So, if you would let us get through here. Um, under unfinished business, I
have uh the approval of the minutes from April 7th close session and work. May I get a motion? Motion. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Great. Okay. We have an ordinance for
adoption. Yes. Do you want me to read this? I'll read the title and if you want to read the summary right here. Okay. Great. Okay. Okay. Bond Ordinance to amend sections
4C and 10 of the bond ordinance number 202207 entitled bond ordinance to authorize the making of various public improvements and the acquisition of new communication and signal systems equipment and new automotive vehicles including original apparatus and equipment in for the bur of New Milford
in the county of Bergen state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $950,000 to pay the cost thereof to make a down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to pro provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation
of the issuance of such bonds which was adopted on March 14th, 2022 as previously amended by ordinance 2022 24 adopted on December 19th, 2022. Thank you Christine. So the purpose of
this ordinance is to amend uh bond ordinance 2022 col 7 to include installation of security cameras at the DPW B yard as an authorized purpose to
make use of funding that has already been allocated but remains unspent. So, may I have a motion? Motion to adopt. Oh, excuse me. Oh, sorry. Motion to open to the public. Thank you. I'm
sorry. My apology. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. We're open to the public to discuss this only. Do you have any comments? No, I don't. But I think I should have a right to say what I want to say because you
guys are the one that made a decision against me and the zoning. So I can't go before the I'm sorry ma'am. You will have you will have five minutes. I thought you were telling me No, this is a different interest in this. This is
one thing I have to say short and sweet. Okay. Uh at this time, may I get a um a motion to Thank you. Second. All in favor? I move to adopt. Second. May I
get a roll call? Yes. Councilwoman Sanen? Yes. Councilman Sylner? Yes. Council President Duffy? Yes. Councilman Grzky? Yes. Councilman Seymour? Yes. Councilwoman Grant? Yes.
Okay. Then, uh, under new business, um, we have introduction of three ordinances tonight. Uh the first Yes, I will read the title. Christine will read the title for us. An ordinance to repeal
and replace chapter 25 of the re revised general ordinances on the bar of New Milford entitled flood prevention and protection. Okay. This okay. So the purpose of this ordinance is to adopt the model code coordinated
ordinance for flood damage prevention as provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. This ordinance was developed by the NJD at the direction of federal emergency management agency FEMA to
incorporate h incorporate higher the state stat standards found in flood hazard area control act and the uniform construction code. The ordinance in full is available on the burrow website at
newmillford neww jersey.gov gov and copies can be obtained free of charge by contacting the burough clerk at 2011-9675044. So motion to introduce the first reading. Okay.
Second roll. Roll call. Yes. Yes. Councilman San. Yes. Councilman Ser. Yes. Council President Duffy. Yes. Councilman Grosky. Yes. Councilman Seymour. Yes. Council, yes. The public hearing for this ordinance is
going to be held on May 12th. May 12th. Okay. Mark your calendars. Okay. Uh, next we have ordinance 202515. Yes. Bond ordinance to authorize the making
of various public improvements and the acquisition of new additional or replacement equipment and machinery, new communication and signal systems equipment and new and a new automotive vehicle including original apparatus and equipment in by and for the Burough of New Milford in the county of Bergen,
state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $797,000 to pay the cost thereof to make a down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of
the issuance of such bonds. Okay. It's great. Uh the purpose of this ordinance, excuse me, uh or authorizes the issuance of a bond for various
capital acquisitions and improvements, including a dump truck, road resurfacing, communication equipment, and a fire department rescue boat, and various equipment. Okay. Motion to introduce.
Uh, may I get a motion? Second. All in favor? Roll call. Roll call. Councilwoman Sanus, yes. Councilman Zyler, yes. Council President Duffy, yes. Councilman Grzk, Councilman
Seymour, yes. Councilwoman Grant, yes. The public hearing for this is also going to be held on May 12th. Okay. in the next uh 2025 calling 16. Yes. Okay. Capital
ordinance of the Barb and Milford in the county of Bergen, New Jersey, authorizing the making of various public acquisitions and an improvement in by and for the burrow appropriating therefore the sum of $24,900 and providing that such sum so
appropriated shall be raised from the capital improvement fund of the burrow. Okay. And the purpose of this ordinance is to appropriate funds from the Burough of New Milford Capital Improvement Fund for various acquisitions and
improvements for the fire department and the board of health. Motion. Second. What's your motion? Thank you. Second. May I get a roll call? Councilwoman Sanusen? Yes.
Councilman Zyler? Yes. Council President Duffy? Yes. Councilman Gratzky. Councilman Seymour. Yes. Councilwoman Grant. Yes. Okay. And the public hearing for this ordinance will also take place on May 12th.
Okay. We got through with that. That's over. You did a nice job. Oh, stop. You did great. All right, guys. Uh let's I'm going to move right over to the schedule of updates. Okay, let's see. Start. This is May. So,
starting Saturday, May 3rd, the Milford paper shredding event, DPW and Clean Communities and the BCU UA sponsored 9 to1 at the swim club parking lot. Um,
Sunday, May 4th, a walk and talk with Mayor Petrino and council members. Um that would be Sunday May 4th and the 18th sponsored by uh New Mil the Burrow of New Milford,
the wellness campaign as well as uh the Burton County Y here in New Milford. on Saturday the 10th, uh, ELC 30 years and grand reopening celebration, early learning center,
10:00 a.m. at the YMCA. Tuesday, May 13th, suicide prevention symposium, uh, sponsored by NM public school district. Public school district. Okay.
uh and NJ45 6 to 8:30 New Milford High School Auditorium. Monday the 26th, our annual Memorial Day parade. Uh let's meet at Nightsfield parking lot
at 9:00 a.m. And then Saturday the 31st, the music and arts committee is sponsoring uh an event from 2 to 4 at Nightsfield
Pavilion. And then lastly, uh coming from where is this? Parents and pals walking group again hosted by the burrow, the mayor's wellness uh campaign and the YMCA
uh parents and pals walking group every Thursday the month of May at 11:00 a.m. meet at the burrow parking lot right up above Kennedy Field. So that's the event. Just one question
on the walk. What time does that start? I'm sorry. 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Okay. Okay. And what is that? Where's our meeting? Same place. Same place. Same place.
Okay. All right. All right. Guess what? It's your turn it administrator. Thank you. Yes. I have engineering update. We are still waiting on the D permit for the French Brook restoration project. The application has
been under review uh by the D since January 23rd. Uh the engineer received comments on the construction documents for the two NJ DOT road improvement projects on April 22nd and the comments are being addressed and the documents will be
resubmitted for DOT approval. We're still waiting on the transfer of CAD files from the former engineer on the Main Street improvement project. Once received, the current engineer is going to provide an updated estimate for engineering and construction management services for the project. Data collection for the MS4
storm water infrastructure mapping is underway. Design for the curb ramp for the Milford Avenue County resurfacing project was submitted and approved by the county. A preconstruction meeting for the county resurfacing of River Road from Milford
Avenue to Graphic Boulevard was held on April 16th. The project is scheduled to get underway in July and the burough engineer is preparing a proposal for construction management of this project. In addition to the resurfacing, the county notified the burrow of plans to upgrade the storm drains on River Road,
and this work will be completed prior to the resurfacing scheduled for July. Uh, regarding the Williamsfield lighting project, the borrow received notice from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection that the Greenacres application for the lighting project has been selected for funding in
the amount of $148,000. It's a matching grant and we are still awaiting notice from Burn County Open Space to see if we will receive additional funding for this project. The work for the electric, I'm sure everybody has seen the work for the electric vehicle charging stations at
Burough Hall, the library, and Lightsfield is underway and at various stages. The cutting card inspection by public service at the library is scheduled for for tomorrow. Once completed, we would expect that it would be powered within 30 days. PSEG asked
for additional work at Borrow Hall, which has been completed and is expected to be inspected this week. Once completed, the trench will be closed and the cutting cart inspection can be scheduled for the week of May 5th. The installation and at nice field requires uh the installation of an additional
pole by public service and they're going to be calling for the markouts this week and the pole will be installed shortly thereafter and work will continue on from there. And then the only other thing I have to add is that our next meeting for the mayor council is a work session which is
scheduled for Monday, May 12th at 7 p.m. That's it for me. Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay. Uh next, just if everyone would take a look at the resolutions,
uh just double check, are there any comments, questions? Uh before we move forward, Council President Duffy, I have a request to add a resolution uh resolution 133. Uh this would be
to check my notes to make sure I say the right words. So, the resolution to add the sustainable Jersey PSNG energy efficiency uh partners partnership program outreach uh grant to be able to appropriate the sum of
$5,000. That's a grant we've received is this resolution allows us to include it into our funding budget. Excellent. The grant you we're getting $5,000 under the grant for Is that Yes. and we need to
have a way to add it to the budget. So, we have a motion and we need a second. Second. All in favor? I. That's to add it to the be able to add it to the budget. Yes. We'll vote that on that later.
I have one question, Lisa. Um, you did you say that the EV station will be ready this week and it will take 30 days to start up because it doesn't look like at the library anyway that the area is prepared yet.
The bur is managing that. Chris can address that question. Yeah, that was what was reported to me by the electric vehicle contractor cuz they still have fencing that temporary fencing and you're with your pavement in front of the library. So, it doesn't seem quite ready. Well, I can double check, but
that was what that was the report for Friday. Saturday. Okay. Yeah. It looks like that over by night's field goes well as well. Yeah. So, they must do amazing. Maybe they
Yes. I don't know. Okay. Uh next we have uh council committee reports. Um let's start. Um, Petty, if you want to, Councilwoman Grant. Thank you.
Um, perhaps you recall that uh, Council President Duffy, Councilwoman Susan and I sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hagen a few weeks ago um, arguing that women should not be eliminated from the Department of
Defense website or from the armed forces. And today we see we received a letter from his office. It's signed by Dr. Timothy Quite Hy T. And it says he's the acting executive director of force
resiliency under the Department of Defense. I've not had not heard of that, but be that as it may, I will post this letter on my uh Facebook page. It certainly doesn't as most letters from elected officials seem to uh always not
really um address the issues that you've raised. They go all around it and talk about how pleased they are that we're supporting the armed forces, but that wasn't exactly the point of the letter and of course they talked about working on
meritocracy, which doesn't really seem in my opinion to be happening. So, um I think you've all gotten a copy of this and I will post it because it's worth reading this. I won't characterize this, but
leave it at that. Um the uh the Northford Arts Committee is moving right along with this event on May 31st. We're on schedule for everything. Among other things, we now have Convent ice cream truck which is coming. And if you come for nothing else, come for the ice
cream. It is fabulous. And the acts um the high school several high school students will be singing uh several songs from Beauty and the Beast with Beth Fowler, a new Milford resident who is a Broadway star and she originated the role of Mrs. Pots on Broadway 50
years ago. So she will be performing and it's a real coup in Milford and I'm very excited about that. You should welcome all of you and everybody out in CD Land. The library board of trustees is continuing to um review some of its policies and
procedures to update them. Some are relatively new and some need to be reviewed as all things needed every once in a while. We have received some funds um in memory of Nancy Lee. Nancy Lee was a board member uh for a number of years
and was president of the board of trustees for several years as well. and she died recently and so she requested that donations be made in her name to the library. So money has been coming in and I'm sure we'll find something special to do in that memory. She was a
very um important member and served for I know how many members years a right yeah 15 20 years maybe something like that. Yeah. Um, we are, as you know, we have museum passes that people can take
which will get them either free or reduced admission to a variety of museums in New Jersey and in New York. And we are looking into software so that you can actually uh access them online. You necessarily have to come into the library for them. That would be make
life even easier. We are starting a strategic planning force and local author John Foley will visit the library on May 20th and you can find out more information on the library's website and it's not there are two John Foley's this is not the one who lives at the north
end of town. I don't know I don't I know that and I don't know this one. So um let's see the rent leveling board met. We swore in a new member, we are going to use event governing ordinance at our next meeting and realize that we actually don't have bylaws and so we may
have to decide to draft bylaws. Um, we will have to take that into consideration and I didn't raise it by the way. Yeah. So, um, thank you guys. [Music]
Okay, that's it for now. Councilman Seymour. Thank you, Council President. Uh, very briefly, uh, I just want to again give thanks to the New Milford Police Department and the New Milford Municipal Alliance System Recruit Committee and everyone else who came together once again to put together a
very moving black poster project at the YMCA last week. Um, I was honored to be able to attend such a moving event. I was I found it very powerful and very moving and I I I hope it helps people remember those that we've lost to
addiction as well as support those who are uh in the middle of their battle to become to become clean uh currently. Um, and in addition, our uh flood advisory committee met uh recently and was honored and privileged to welcome uh
staff from Congressman Josh Gothimer's office as well as Assembly members Lisa Swain and Chris Tully for the purpose of addressing uh potential cuts to FEMA and how that may impact our residents who live in our flood zone as well as to
again express our unwavering support for our residents and our families. So, we're very privileged and honored to welcome them to the Milford and grateful for their ongoing support. And that's my report. Thank you, Councilman Broski. Thank you, Council President
Steve. Uh, last Friday was Arubber Day. Uh, we happened to celebrate it on Saturday down at the tree farm. Uh, we rededicated the farm to Diane Cardelli. Uh, we put up high fencing uh so deer can't get in. We have about 80 plants
down there now. Uh kudos to DPW team. They've they've done a fantastic job on that. And we also had saplings that uh were handed out at events this week. That's my report. Thank you, Councilman.
Thank you, Council President. This is such an honor to be presenting my committee reports in front of you. I've only had the privilege to to do this in front of two other people, May the Barry and May Patrino and and
you of all people. What can I say? I It's just I'm overwhelmed. All right. So, forgive my stutter along the way. I know you like to make things short and sweet. Thank you. Me, too. Uh public events. Um, we have selected
Bob Ness as our grand marshal for the Memorial Day parade. Uh, Bob was in E6 staff sergeant sergeant with uh, special forces. Uh, he's also a longtime resident of New Milford and served as a
councilman and former board of education member. uh public events has received now uh a month ago we only had $26 for honoring our veterans up in River Road for Memorial Day. We're now up to 40 on River which is which is
great. That's phenomenal. So, uh we also uh they uh grabbed some of the some of the uh volunteers from the high school uh to work on Memorial Day, handing out water
at at Shopright and at Memorial Day and doing whatever they can. Uh they're also the high schools also making the banner for Grand Marshall and Miss VFW and the street sign for Todd Ness off has been ordered. Uh and public events is also
starting their own Facebook page. So there's something different and DPW well the construction is under has been underway for Williams Field. They they they dug down maybe about 12 inches
and removed all clay and earth and whatever they they needed to do. And they backfilled it now up to about 4 in where the the completion will be top soil seed and hopefully they're ready for the fall
soccer season. Um, and all the work so far has been done inhouse by the DPW and the landscaping crew. Uh, on the
recreation, it's all the games are going underway. Uh, it was a they had a phenomenal turnout for K through first grade with over 70 applicants for clinical supervision and hopefully they can get
that same response next year. The Kennedy Field Soccer Board uh schedule for repair is in the first week of May. Planning board, there are no applications presently. Uh however, we're still
meeting with our planner uh to discuss our uh housing element fair share plan obligation. Uh and I believe in the next month we should be bringing that to a close to bring to to the governing body with a
resolution. And those are my reports. Great. Thank you, Councilwoman San Houston. Thank you, Council President. So, I would like to add uh to the events uh list of dates. April 30th, there will be an information session at the library
at 6 PM. This information session is uh the uh hosted by the green team and it uh features information about the home energy assessment outreach program and we will have an expert present uh trade
ally uh Scott from Scott Fischer from steel power who will be uh giving a presentation and available for questions. So, this is an important opportunity for what? 6 pm. 6 p.m. Thank
you. Uh, we'll be seeing PSENG rate increases coming in June. So, this is a really key time to take advantage of home energy efficiency programs and become informed about those. So, the uh
home energy efficiency assessment is a free no obligation assessment. Uh let's see. You've heard about the mayor's wellness campaign. So May is miles in May. So we're encouraging everyone to get out and walk. Uh the
seniors are having a uh senior uh outdoor wellness at Nights Field and they will be having a senior field day as well. So and uh cardio dance. So, Friday, May 10th at 10:00 a.m. is cardio
dance at the senior center. Tuesday, May 20th at 10:00 a.m. is outdoor senior wellness at Nights Field. And uh let's see, there'll be refreshments at that
event. And Tuesday, June 3rd, there will be an awards ceremony. So, and I also wanted to report that uh I had the opportunity to attend the Mill GIF annual safety breakfast
uh with some of our burrow employees, including Christine. I'm not going to name everyone's name, but it was an honor to uh attend the breakfast and watch the burrow receive their platinum award for safety. So congratulations to
the burrow for uh and there's quite a a competition in between the uh departments. I learned that was that was interesting to learn. We've worked very hard to bring we started at bronze many years ago but we have platinum three years in a row now. So congratulations
to the burrow. So that's the burrow administrators, the police department and the DPW. Awesome. And that safety award is really important because that's less that's that's safety no uh injuries, you know,
loss of days at work. So we have a very healthy staff and very conscious conscientious uh crew. So thank you very much. Wonderful. Just wanted to make sure everyone knew that how hard they work. Excellent. Thank you. I will make a
short report. Um, aside from fire department, board of health and historic commission, which I participated in all those meetings this month, I did attend on Saturday the
Arbor Day uh rededication of the tree farm dedicated to Diane Cardell. Really wonderful job done by the DPW and the arborist. Uh, I also attended the H healthy kids day at the Y
and just a shout out to the fire department for attending and showing kids the the equipment and taking them out to the trucks, you know, uh, thank you for them to come for coming and then
also a meeting of New Milford gardeners. A small group, but I think they'll uh they'll be okay. So that's uh that's my report. Yes, I forgot to mention we it was it was a lot of fun to watch Nimford
in Emotion. Yeah. See also Brandon did a beautiful job as well as our other performers. Tremendous performers. That's really great time. It was amazing. seniors. For those of you who don't know, a group of
of people who part people participated in um Lynn Sullivan's um Broadway basic Broadway I forget exactly what the title of it was. It was a Thursday morning class and we learned some basic Broadway steps because Linda Lyn that's her forte
is what she did you know when she was young and all that and then we gave a performance at the women's club two weeks ago I think or last week can't even remember anymore and it was great fun had a wonderful time all women one man and I must say he was a fabulous
sport so and then is fabulous it is a joy to do and it was Great. I ad I also my debut. It was terrific. And we will be learning tap. I'm understanding. Wow.
I'm not sure how well that'll go over. Wonderful. All right. So, um do we open to the public? Yes, we need a motion. Uh, may I get a motion to motion open to the public open to the public for comments regarding the burrow of the
milford. We'll give you 5 minutes. That's all I need. Thank you. All right. So, let me begin. My name is Connie Vasalo. My husband is Steve Vasalo. We live at 414 Milford A on the corner of Hersfeld. So, we for a year were waiting
for the ordinance to change thinking that we were going to be allowed to have a 6ft fence around our yard. The mayor, phenomenal guy, came out to my house. I was amazed and came into my yard and agreed with everything we said. We live
on a very dangerous road. I had a drunk go through my fence at 50 to 60 m an hour and destroy my fence, which gave you guys an open door to not allow us to get a 6ft fence again, which is very disappointing.
So, we were going to go before the zoning board. We were told after all this was said and done and that ordinance was not changed in our favor. Okay? There was only the back of the house. We were so deflated, I can't even describe it to you in words that now we
feel like we are not safe. We have no privacy. We live on a busy county road with an excavating business behind us that we also have to be exposed to. But nobody here came to my house and looked and said, "What are we doing here?"
That's number one. Number two, the fence I had, which was 6t around my yard under the same ordinance, but the man had the sense in his head to come to my house and say, "Wow, they have four small children and animals. This is a dangerous road." And he allowed us in
the front. It's all 4 foot or three or whatever it is around the front cover of my house. The police can get in my house safely. No problem. 21 years. Nothing went on in my yard that nobody should see. It was just for our privacy. And if you look in front of my house, beer
botters, liquor bottles, garbage, the element that I get past my house, you know, my area, HSN, bad, bad. So, what I feel like they did is we're not going to talk about fence rules because that's not what this is about. This is about a
43-year-old resident and a 55year resident not being allowed to do something that makes us feel safe and privacy. And the guy across the street changed his address. The builder did it. Spent
$15,000 to change the address. Has the same exact fence. That doesn't hinder the police and that doesn't make the town look bad and it doesn't hinder traffic. Mine for 21 years didn't hinder traffic, but now you all have agreed
that you're not going to grandfather me in. And I'm going to tell you what we feel like. This is what we felt like when they explained to us what we had to do to go before the zoning board. We felt extorted, intimidated, and discouraged, which we feel like is the
goal of the zoning board because I'm not a builder. I'm not trying to build a house. I'm not trying to do anything dangerous. I'm not changing anything. I'm trying to replace something that's already been up for 21 years, but they're going to put me through the mill. I have to tell everybody in the
existing Bergen County what I'm doing, which I don't want to do. So, we were so deflated and I have the money. I have happen to have a son that's a multi multi multi multi-millionaire in Beverly Hills, but he would help me. But you know what? I am not going to allow them
to do this to me. I'll take my $2 or $3,000 and I'll get large bushes. But you have to know that we need new counsel. If you can't understand that you have to te treat each person individually, you have to look where I
live. You're taking a lot from my family by saying I have to go from 6 feet. Now you wouldn't even you would not even approve 4 feet in front of my house, which is Oh, there goes my dollar store glasses. Anyway, whatever. They wouldn't even approve four feet in front of my
house, which I think I have a dog. My dog could jump over that three-foot. And if a vicious dog passes my house and decides he doesn't like the looks of my little dog, he can jump over that three-foot fence and hurt my dog. But do you consider any of that? None of you
do. Not the zoning board. I am actually thinking of running for council and zoning because I feel like either you guys are out of touch and you don't get it. I drew a hole over Dumont. Now, I know you have nothing to do with Duma, but they have everything we're asking
for. If your yard, if your house is here in the front, but your yard is here, they entitled you to a 6ft fence for privacy. And their front fences are 4 ft. And I will tell you, we all know Dumont's a beautiful town. And my husband drove around town. There are
many people with 4ft fences in front of their house. We asked him, "We at least have four people." No. Vince said he doesn't want to lose his license. I get it. But you are the people who have to make that feasible for lifelong residents. You can't make us feel unsafe
in our own home. And you have to think if something's up 21 years, why isn't a person grandfathered in? Even the fence guy was boggled. He's like, I'm only replacing what's there. But they're saying, "Oh, no, no, no. Once it comes down, I said, so a drunk went through my
fence so that you're going to penalize me, right? Does that make do am I making sense here to you as as humans? I respect every one of you. I appreciate everything you do. But are you getting what I'm saying? How why I'm frustrated
that you want me what you made me go from 6 ft in my yard. Now you're like the mayor was explaining like let's say I'm almost done. Believe me, I know he's going to want to go home. Say my my thing is here. They want me to take away
half of my yard because they're saying that whole large Listen, I invite any of you to come into my yard to see what I'm talking about. Out of respect for me and my husband, I would love one of you to come into my yard and see what you're
doing to us. That's what I would like you to see because it isn't fair. They want me to put my fence way back. So, I'm losing from here to here my yard and then I have less left in the back. So, why would I want a fence in the middle
of my yard? How are you saying this much of my yard is my front yard? It's mindboggling to me. That's it. I guess I have nothing else to say. And I know right now I will get no results. So, I never get results. But you have to hear this stuff. You
have to know what your decisions are doing. And you have to say if I want just a little fence, I shouldn't have to be extorted, discouraged, money telling people a fence is a fence. If you're talking about construction, like he goes, "Oh, everything's bottled into one
thing." I said, "Well, that is not right. If I want a fence or a pool, I should be in a different category. It should be simple for me to go before the zoning board because the zoning board might have gave me that 6ft fence. You can go before the board. I don't want to
be extorted, discouraged, or whatever. And then there's a chance they'll say no. It's not easy. So don't say that word to me again. It is not easy. We we were told and said it's not your but that's my point. If it's not easy, how do you suggest that to someone? We have
given you an abundance of I agree. But please, we don't ever want to see a resident feeling this way, but there are rules that we all follow. Everyone here does. I understand that. I understand.
Hear me out, please. So, this this council is not here to make you feel threatened or you feel bad about your property. We're here to encourage you to
go through the system, appeal to the zoning board in person, make your application because it sounds like you're very passionate about it. Oh, I am. I can see that parking on on all the streets of
but stick to the fence. Okay. So, that's what I'm recommending to you. Um, we're not doing it and that's your choice. Right. We're going to we're going to sell you three foot fence, but you just have to hear what the situation is. Like, in other words, if you're talking about something on the side street, I
get ma'am when you're talking about But the mayor and council don't make those decisions. It goes to the zoning board of adjustment. Do you want to laugh? You know what the zoning board told me? It's up to you and the mayor and council. So, you're blaming each other. So, this is another game that I don't like to play.
No. The changing of the ordinance is a recommendation that comes from the zoning board. It can't happen without the mayor and council's approval. But the recommendation for changes to the ordinance come from the zoning board. The zoning board forwarded their recommendations. The planning board
reviewed it. They agreed that it was consistent with the master plan and they asked the mayor and council to look at it and decide upon it. And the mayor and council approved what was requested by the zoning board. Exactly. Right. But I'm saying you have to as the mayor and council, you're important people. You
have to say what is the difference between three or four feet. If people have animals, you have to have at least four feet to keep your animals in the yard. This type this type of discussion is not really appropriate for this meeting. Well, I don't know where to go.
I can't go before the zoning. I have to go to the villa. At least I just walked in the door and you guys spoke to me. All respect for that. But they can't change it. If you want something to be changed, you have to go through the process. Yeah. And the process is to go before the board. We're
not doing that. When we found out what we had to do, that's people we are not going to send letters to. They what they have to do, like I said, is change how you go before the zoning board for small issues like a fence or a pool. You can't
That's that way in every That's way by state law. That's not That's not something that like the town does on its own. I I accept that. Every in every town in New Jersey, if you want to change something, I I literally just went through to my town
and it was the most painful process. I grew up there. I know everybody on the board. Doesn't matter. I went I spent thousands of dollars. So, I'm not I'm sympathetic to what you were saying. The process is not an easy process. It's And it's it they need to There needs to be change that. We can't because we're
we're we're governed we're governed by state statutes that tell us how the zoning process has to work and how the and there's there's Supreme Court cases and lower court cases that say this is the methodology of how they of how you have to do it. So, the the the real
problem is that um from what it sounds like, and again, I don't know your specific location, but it sounds like when this car hit the fence and the fence was destroyed, I remember you coming in before talking about that, that you may be in a sight triangle area. That's what it sounds like to me. That's why they're telling you you have to move it back because that law did
change and now No, we're not. We're further from the street. Just to correct you, we're further. Are you on a corner? We're on a corner from the from the road. He said that's more than enough. The house that has the 6T. Then why then why are you saying that it has to go back further?
It's already 6 feet back. They're telling us if we want six feet. That's But that's a that's a thing, John. You're welcome to come to my house. I may do that, but I may look at it. I mean, tell us that he was going to go by. He just told he just But my point is
I'll stop by tomorrow. My point is the reason you're welcome to do that. Absolutely. The hype issue is a sight triangle issue. Like in the old days like 50 years ago, 40 years ago, 30 years ago, even you could have higher fences because they they there weren't as many whatever. It was a No, but it
was a vehicle safety issue. It's with driving now. They want drivers to be able to see when they're sight. Come and look at my property. I said something that's been up 21 years that has not distracted traffic. But even if you go there,
there's no there's no recourse. Is anything obstructed? I've never had my mistake. Huh? I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I You're 5 minutes. All right. I know I went over 5 minutes. So, we have a lot more to go.
We're not going over. Thank you guys for listening to me. I said anybody wants to come into my yard. Sincerely, thank you for Thank you very much. All right, have a great day everybody. Good night. I just feel a little better now even though I still have a three foot pants. Thanks. Thank you.
Okay. What one says is not what one sees. So I'm not saying I'm going to change anything. I just want to observe what she's saying to me. I can't visualize what she's saying. Okay. I I understand. But the only recourse is to go to the
zoning board. probably like she has, right? That's definitely the only recourse. There's no other option. I'm not going to change it. Um, seeing as there are no more comments from the
public, may I get a motion? Can I get a second? All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Next, let's vote on the resolutions. Motion to approve the resolution. The consent agenda from 121
through 133. Second. Right. We have a motion and a second. So move. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. At this be going into close.
Okay. Thank you. We will be going into close session and after our meeting we will adjourn and there will be no further action. So may I get a motion to go into close? All in favor?
Any opposed? Okay. I think we should. Thank you everybody and good night.