device. >> Okay. Good evening. I'd like to officially call this work session meeting of the mayor of council to order. At this time, I'd ask everyone to please rise for a moment of silent prayer and reflection as we remember that this past Saturday was the 82nd
anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Please stand al to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Please note the fire exits are behind
you to the main hallway and also kind of behind you to my right, your left into council chambers. 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 of public bodies at which any business affected steps are
active on. In accordance with this act, the mayor and council of the burough of the Milford have caused notice of this meeting to be published for having the date, time and place thereof posted in the burough hall and on the burough website. The mission of this governing body is to provide essential services through the establishment and implementation of public policy and
safeguarding infrastructure. Provide fair, honest, courtesies and professional services, establish a sense of trust and accomplishment between all residents and through research and prudent planning seek to minimize risk while improving our services. We are sensitive to the needs and satisfaction of our taxpayers while realizing 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. At this time, I would ask the clerk to please call the role. >> Councilman San, Councilman Zyler,
Councilman Duffy here, Councilman Gravski >> here. >> Council President Seymour >> here. >> Councilwoman Grant >> here. >> Mayor Patino >> here. >> Before we start, I'm going to ask for a motion to uh add something to the agenda and it'll be called public events logo.
Public events committee logo. >> Motion to add. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. That will be number five under new business. >> Okay. Item number one tonight is appointments. May I get a motion to appoint Frank Ailles to the Shade Tree
Commission alternate? Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? And the second appointment tonight is Connor Tzan, Junior Firefighter Auxiliary. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed?
Well, thank you and congratulations and uh we look forward to your service to our burough. Under unfinished business, may I have a motion for the approval of the minutes of the May 27th, 2026 public and close session meetings? >> Motion. >> Second. All in favor?
>> I. >> Any opposed? We have one ordinance up for adoption tonight and that would be 2026 col 17. And when the clerk has the opportunity, I would ask you to please read the ordinance. An ordinance amending chapter 7 traffic of the revised general
ordinances of the bure of New Milford respecting bicycles, scooters, skateboards, electric motorized bicycles, low-speed electric bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, low-speed vehicles, motorized bicycles, motorized scooters, motorized skateboards, and
other motorized personal transportation devices. Purpose of this ordinance is to establish regulations and guidelines for the operation of electric motorized bicycles and scooters and similar electrically powered vehicles as well as non-motorized bicycles, scooters and skateboards with the burough of the military. It is not primarily intended
to penalize individuals who operate these vehicles and devices in violation of the provisions, but rather to educate both children and adults regarding proper and safe riding practices to ensure their safety and welfare and the safety and welfare of motorists and pedestrians. I know there's no way we can take skateboards out of this. At
this time, I would ask for a motion to open to the public for a public hearing on this ordinance. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Ladies and gentlemen of the public, if anyone has any questions or comments regarding this ordinance, now is your opportunity to come forward and speak.
Seeing that no member of the public wishes to come forward at this time, I would ask for a motion to close to the public. >> Motion to close to the public. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? May I get a motion to adopt this ordinance on its final read motion? >> Second. >> May I get a roll call, please?
>> Uh, did you second? >> I thought it was Randy. Did you >> Does this address helmets? >> Uh, it's only about where they can ride it. >> Oh, okay. So, it's not about >> that. that in July. So when they ask me,
>> I think there'll be some sort of education program in town. >> Yes. And this keeps um scooters off of the field, which we just had 10 minutes ago. >> I'm more concerned about them on the roads. >> Really? >> I've seen them get pulled over. >> I like to see an enforcement program. As
no disrespect, I'm all about education, but in this case, it's an obvious parents because the parents are the ones that letting their kids go out and ride. Like I mean listen if you see like an adult and you see adults riding them sometimes okay I'm like that person's an adult but they don't have a home but
when you see the 14year-old 15y old and now it's 15y old have to be registered >> they're going to have to be state law requires all that >> so maybe the PD would consider like John
said some sort of education through schools I mean how do you reach out believe the schools are aware of it and they're putting out stuff. >> We they signed on to this ordinance with >> Yes. >> Okay. Um I vote yes.
>> Council Rossky. >> Yes. >> Council President Seymour. >> Yes. >> Councilman Grant. >> Yes. >> Under new business. Item number one is the planning board recommendation. Council, >> thank you, mayor. Uh, each year the, uh,
zoning board uh, at the end of the year or the beginning of next year recommends some changes uh, to some of the ordinances for the planning board to consider and uh, the planning board has considered uh, to amend zoning ordinance
section 30-28.83. Say that fast. Uh what it does basically, and I'll read uh the recommendation to the mayor and council, is to allow for an exception for pre-existing non-conforming structures be expanded without the need for variance where the proposed addition
results in no change to the non-conforming condition. And uh to go a little bit further uh the proof of burden is on the applica to demonstrate that the legitimacy of the pre-existing non-conforming or previously approved condition in order to prevent section uh
from from uh being used to exacerbate a non-conforming condition that does not legally exist. So in layman's terms, I'll give you an example. If you have a a property where the side set back is
supposed to be 10 ft, but it's pre-existing as 5t. If somebody wanted to build up, they would still have to come to the zoning board. Okay. What this does is as long as they could prove that there was a pre-existing condition, they do not have to come to the zoning
board now to get approval because the zoning board has been hearing a lot of these cases. Now, if they wanted to go out another foot, that would have on the sideyard that would require them to go to the zoning board for approval. >> That's a change in the non-conformance. >> Yes.
>> So, preexisting dates to when the person purchased the property. I was going to say, how do you prove that? >> Yeah. >> Through through um uh what do you call surveys and all that
kind of thing? I mean, a lot of the lots we have are originally, >> right? >> So, you you that would be easy to prove because you could see it on an old survey. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, the next step would be if the mayor council agrees, we would have to do an ordinance.
>> We would have to change the ordinance. >> Any other questions? >> Ordinance put on the agenda for your introduction. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yes, everybody's in agreement. >> Okay. Item number two is open space
trust fund. Mayor Petrino, that's me. As everyone is aware, uh the burrow has an open space trust fund. um it was actually done by placing municipal public question on the ballot in the year 2000. It was um adopted and renewed
in 2012. And what this does is it dedicates 1 half a cent per $100 of total equalized property valuation. It's dedicated to our open space trust fund which includes things like fixing parks and playgrounds and using it for
matching grants for parks, playgrounds, open space. Um I believe farming land was originally in it at one point. >> Acquisition. >> Acquisition. Propition. Yes. >> It's not in there anymore. >> Yeah.
Um, so projects it's been used for in the past are, you know, the improvements we did to Hark Castle Pond, um, Kennedy Field, our volleyball courts, and in the future, we'd use it for things like the field lighting on
Williams, any kind of reparations to any of our current fields and the the Temp's courts that are happening now. So basically to increase the amount and my suggestion would be 1/ half cent increase it by half cent we would have
to put a referendum on the November ballot. In order to do that the governing body has to vote to add a referendum. It has to be written out by our legal and administrator and has to get approved by the county clerk. And I think that
deadline is August. It has to happen in August. early August 7th. >> Right. >> So, we have to have it voted on by our July meeting. >> So, are you asking? >> So, I'm asking for you guys to vote to have us draft have them draft a
resolution adding 1 half cent to our open space trust fund. And what that does in essence is it would be roughly it would be $10 per $100,000 of your assessed house. So if your house is assessed, the average of $600,000,
it would be $60 of your taxes would go directly to the open space trust fund. >> And I understand this has not been increased since the year 2000 >> has never been. >> So after 26 years, >> yes, >> it sounds reasonable. >> Yes. The cost for maintenance and upkeep
of our parks and playgrounds, which is awesome at costs. Yes. And I've been reminded that our turf field is aging. >> Yes. >> And there will be some things required there. >> Yes. Everything ages. >> Yeah.
>> Some things work quickly than others. >> Also consider the amount of use our fields and playgrounds. A lot. >> It is amazing. >> I don't remember how long ago. 10 years. >> 18. >> Well, no. They've been upgraded, right?
>> So, when were they first installed? Is it 10 years already or >> 10 years? 10 years. >> Yeah. >> It's crazy, right? >> Yeah. >> Seems like yesterday.
>> Exactly. Exactly. >> McDonald's. >> There's a lot of activity. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> So, can I get a motion to it? Draft. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> To draft a referendum question to
increase our open space trust fund fund by a half a cent. Motion. >> Second. All >> here. Actually, I'm going to ask for a roll call on this. >> Okay. >> Just let me say roll call, please. >> Counciloman Duffy. >> Yes. >> Council Gropsky. >> Yes. >> Council President Seymour.
>> Yes. >> Councilwoman Grant. >> Yes. >> Excellent. >> Thank you. Can I can I send what we had the last time to build and we'll fine tune it. Okay. >> We've done a million of these. >> It's money well spent.
>> Yes. Just look how great all of our programs are, right? Junior football recreation. Awesome. >> And anything that you sign out of your it doesn't become part of your developable stock. Yeah. See, that's
icing on the cake. Okay. Item number three is schedule updates. I've attending a new one. Yes. Yes. Okay. So, just a reminder that the America 250 decorating contest is ongoing. It is sponsored by the New
Milford Red 250 and the New Milford Police Department. Registration to be a part of this closes on June 12th. They will be judging people who decorated their yards, porches, front doors, houses, whatever. You need any ideas? Go
look at Ry's house. Uh there'll be three prizes. There'll be a first prize of $250, second prize of $150, and a third prize of 100. They're announcing on is it the fourth? >> Uh I think after the 4th,
>> sometime after something like that. >> Maybe that's judging day or something. But yeah, then they'll announce it and we'll have winners. On Tuesday, June 16th is Names Not Numbers, which is a special event that's going to be hosted by the Milford Public
School District. It'll start at 7:00 p.m. in the Milford High School Auditorium. This event is high school students were granted access to a professional film crew and they interviewed Holocaust survivors and this
is their story. So, this will be this is a new event and it'll be happening at 7:00 p.m. on the 16th. On Monday, June 29th, uh, is the New Milford Athletic Department 30th annual golf outing sponsored by the New Milford Athletic Department.
It'll be from It'll be 8:15 a.m. and it's at the golf club at Mansion Ridge. On Saturday, July 4th is the Red, White, and Blue Barbecue sponsored by the New Milford VFW. It'll be from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the New Milford VFW.
On Tuesday, August 4th is our annual National Night Out sponsored by the Manila Police Department. It'll be from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. on Kennedy Memorial Field. There will be once again fireworks at the end of the evening. Any organization that wants to be a part of it. Please go to the police department's
website and register for your table and location. Is there any upcoming events that I failed to mention or forgot? Well, >> uh, want to mention the exhibit that's coming to the library
>> that I believe is what is this? >> It's this is July 29th through August 12th, right? Revolutionary lives, right? travel exhibit about the impact of revolutionary war and the people of New Jersey on view at the Milford Public Library during regular library hours
which >> Eddie shoot they they're different day to day so you have to look at >> and we are lucky to get this exhibit a lot of towns are jealous that this is one of the only stops in Burton County
that this >> uh particular exhibit is showing. That's because we had our act together and when we saw this group at the league, remember, >> we told them all the stuff the Gopher was doing and they're like, >> "Wow, you guys know what you're doing." They said, "That's right."
>> Well, Nancy, >> yes, but she represents us, so we know what we're doing. >> We can go ahead. >> Um, and just um I'll talk to you later. maybe opposition
to the trans a project for the law of >> I I when you're talking about events I do want to say that the event that the new open arts committee put on at at the YMCA on May 30th was absolutely stupendous. There was a
>> a large crowd there. >> The amount of people there was huge and every single act looked phenomenally good. And I particularly want to thank um you know Barbara Day uh Barbara Allen uh for playing her harp. Uh she is a principal she's the principal harpist
with the American Ballet Theater and she's a Newford resident. So that's special, very, very special and we're very fortunate to have her. And Vivian Davis, for those who don't know her, you know, uh, lives for the revolutionary and colonial periods in this country and makes all of many of her upcoming
clothes and she came and she demonstrated colonial dancing which was terrific. And um, the other acts were also wonderful. So uh, we will start planning our next event in September. The event should be at the end of May or early June next year. So watch for updates on that as we progress as we
make more. >> Yellow >> which that event actually followed the mental health awareness which was also >> that was great. >> I did share yoga for the first time. >> Oh congratulations. >> Sorry I missed.
>> He's getting old. >> Which is why I had extra ice cream on the ice cream and I was at the following event. So >> lady ice cream um >> gas truck. That's all I know. Okay. Sorry. >> Item number four is administrator's report.
>> Uh the D approves the burrow's application for a grant for $421,292 for the refurbishment and lighting upgrade for the Kennedy Field Tennis Courts. It's a matching grant and we're waiting here back from Bur County Open Space on an application for the same
project. And it's an expensive project. So, our open space trust will come into come in very handy to help us uh offset the balance of the match. Uh borrows closed Friday, June 19th in observance of Junth. And the next meeting, the mayor and council is public session and
it's scheduled for 3 weeks from tonight on Monday, June 29th at 7 p.m. And that's it for me, Mayor. >> Any questions for the minister? >> Oh, it's June 29. Can I go yet the next meeting? 22. I thought it was the middle.
Let's start by ear. How's that? >> Item number five. Um, as you saw in everyone's handouts, um, the public events committee, they've never had a logo before. So, they came up with a logo design, um, for their Facebook page
and it would be printed on their official letter head. So, I had reminded them that all logos for all of our burough committees need to be approved by the council. So, I just need someone to make a motion to approve this and they can be on their
way. Looks good to me. I'll make that motion. Okay. Can I get a second? Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. Congratulations, President. Now, resolutions. Has everyone had a chance
to look at them? Is there anything to be pulled for further discussion and or vote? Okay, before I ask for a motion to open to the public, I'm just I'm going to throw out a fun fact and see who knows the answer. What does Milford and the discovery of
the first dinosaur bone have in common? >> Oh, the first dinosaur. >> The first ever dinosaur >> discovered. Yes. Answer is both 349 years old. Today is New
Milford's 349th birthday. >> June 8th, 1677 when Demoris got the French patent, which means next year is New Milford's 350th birthday. >> Correct. >> So when Nancy is done with the Rev 250, she's going to be on New 350 committee,
which we will start in January. I have to tell you a lot of times during the historic meetings she will reference it. She's all it's >> it's already starting. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. She's she'll be like no we're
going to do that next year. >> So we will have we will have some sort of uh celebration and uh >> thinking maybe cake, but we'll once again we we'll see what happens. But I'm thinking we deserve some cake that they're going to do.
making a motion to open the appointment. Motion second. >> All in favor? I. Any opposed? Ladies and gentlemen, the public, if anyone has any questions or comments regarding the good and welfare of the board of Milford, we ask you to please come forward and uh let us know. Seeing that no member of the public
wishes to come forward at this time, I would ask for a motion to close the motion. >> Second. All in favor? >> I opposed. May I get a motion to adopt resolution 2026 column 152 2026 column 162. Motion >> second. >> All in favor?
>> I opposed. >> Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to go into close session. When we come out of closed, this governing body will take no action. Make it a motion to go into closed. >> Second. So move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I.
>> Any opposed? >> Thank you for joining us, ladies and gentlemen. Uh we hope you uh end the school's coming and uh summer's approaching so a lot of exciting stuff happening. Thank you. Have a good night and you're a mix fan. Good luck.