WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=ORna6q2epR0

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: ORna6q2epR0):
- 00:00:00: Meeting Opening, Prayer, Pledge, Public Meeting Law
- 00:01:45: Roll Call, Agenda Motions, Mental Health Proclamation
- 00:04:14: Board of Health Appointments & Member Thank You
- 00:05:22: Public Hearing: 2026 Budget Presentation By Auditor
- 00:15:53: Budget Adoption Discussion; Open to Public Comments
- 00:16:28: Public Comment 1: Kendra Moore - Tax Question
- 00:16:44: Close Public Comments; Exceeding Appropriation Ordinance
- 00:17:35: Close Public Comments; Budget Resolutions Adoption
- 00:19:18: Environmental/Energy Commission's Pine Avenue Garden Site Plan
- 00:26:26: Site Plan: Plant Index, Deer, Funding, Water Source
- 00:29:27: Site Plan: Next Steps, Approvals, Flood Mitigation
- 00:35:19: Resilient New Jersey Regional Planning Grant Discussion
- 00:42:17: Approve Participation in Regional Assistance Program
- 00:42:35: Schedule Updates and Public Service Gas Upgrades
- 00:45:09: Administrator Report, Early Voting & Memorial Day
- 00:46:15: Police Vehicle Replacement Due To Accident
- 00:47:59: Resolutions Review, Public Comment, Legislator Thank You
- 00:50:52: Close Session Motion and Mother's Day Wishes


Part: 1

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Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this work session meeting of the mayor and council. At this time I ask everyone please rise for a moment of silent prayer and I'll accept as we think about the people of Patterson where there was a shooting last night where two were killed and four were

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injured. Please move to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you.

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>> Before we start, please fire exits behind you into the main parking lot to my left, to your right, into the main hallway. The New Jersey Open Public Meeting Claw 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 affecting their interest to discuss their active bond.

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In accordance with this act, the mayor and council of the Burough Milford have notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof posted in the burrow hall as well as the burough website that notices have been sent to the record and the original news. The mission of this governing body is to provide essential

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services through the establishment and implementation of public policy that will safeguard infrastructure, provide fair, honest, courteous and professional services, establish a sense of trust and accomplishment between all residents and to research and prudent plan and seek to minimize risk while improving our services. We are sensitive to the needs

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and satisfaction of our tax payers while realizing that this governing body cannot do all things to all people within the revenue constraints imposed by state mandates, economic conditions, and prevailing attitudes about taxation. At this time, I'd ask the clerk to please call the vote. >> Councilwoman San here.

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>> Councilman Balmer. Councilwoman Duffy >> here. Councilman Gratsky >> here. >> Council President Seymour >> here. >> Councilwoman Grant >> here. >> Mayor Petrino >> here. Okay, before we start, I'm going to ask for a couple of motions here.

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First one is I'm going to ask for under new business number one to be tabled and replaced with environmental and energy commission site five. So moved second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? And the second one is I'm

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going to add ask for a motion for number five to be vehicle replacement- NMPD. >> Vehicle replacement. I'm sorry. >> Vehicle replacement. >> NMPD. I'll make that motion. >> Second. All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Okay.

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So, first we have a proclamation for mental health awareness month. Office of the mayor proclamation. Whereas mental health is essential to the overall well-being and affects every aspect of our lives from how we think and feel, how we relate to others and

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handle stress. Whereas millions of individuals and families across our communities are impacted by mental health conditions which know no boundaries. And whereas stigma surrounding mental health remains a barrier that prevents many people from seeking help they need and deserve. And

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whereas we recognize the importance of raising awareness, increasing access to care, and supporting the mental wellness of all people through education, open dialogue, and community action. And whereas May is recognized throughout the nation as mental health awareness month and serves as a crucial reminder that no

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one is alone, that help is available and that together we can create a culture of compassion, understanding, and support. Whereas mental health month celebrates the resilience and strength of individual living, individuals living with mental health illnesses, recognizing their courage, determination, and achievements and

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overcoming obstacles, seeking help, and embracing hope and healing. And whereas mental health month serves as a call to action for individuals, communities, and policy makers to prioritize mental health and well-being, invest in prevention, early intervention, and support services and work together to

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create a more inclusive, compassionate, and supportive society. Now therefore be a result I mayor Michael Patrino do hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as mental health awareness month in the bur of New York to increase public understanding of the importance of

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mental health and to promote identification and treatment of mental health needs. Okay. Next on the agenda is appointments. May I get a motion to appoint Lorie Barton to the board of health, Mary Nichols to the board of health, and Maryanne

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Maharaj to the board of health? >> I'll make that motion. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> May I make a comment? Um, I would just like to thank these members for um

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serving and I'm so happy that they've agreed to continue on in the board of health. Um it's they don't get much accolades for what they do, but they show up. They do the work. So, thank

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you. I love kids and I would like to echo that. >> I'd like to thank them for their service. It's uh behind the scenes a lot of it and it's it's hard work. Okay. At this time, we're have a public hearing on the 2026 municipal budget.

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Let the record reflect that the burough auditor Steven Wilcox is here and I'm going to ask him to come forward and uh talk to us about it. >> Thank you, mayor. Good evening. Nice. Um so we introduced the budget a number of weeks ago.

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It uh went to the state. They did the review. Uh we answered their questions and comments and we were cleared uh to be able to have a hearing tonight and hopefully adopt 2026 by and I will

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tell you no small feat. I have a hearing in another town Wednesday night. They haven't assigned the examiner yet to look at their budget. They're swans. Uh they're having the kind of year that everybody else is having when it comes

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to budget. Um, quickly, you know, we talked about a lot of this when the budget was introduced. It It's probably the most difficult year I've ever seen, and I've been doing this

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a long, long time. Between healthcare, inflation, general economic conditions, um, most governments school districts. I mean, you read the articles in the newspaper and you read

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the stories online on social media every single day, sometimes three times a day. Who's who's laying people off? Who's cutting programs? Who's, you know, doing without?

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This budget doesn't do any of that. There's no layoffs. There's no cutting services. There's no there's no curtailment programs. Everything's being funded 100% like it's always been funded.

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Now, having said that, there is a bit of pain that goes along with doing that because we are raising taxes and we're raising taxes from a municipal perspective more than we probably have in

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I can remember. And I've been here I've been here a long time too. Um but there is a glimmer of sunshine. the when I when I got the information to

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prepare the analysis to do the estimated tax bills because we do this every year to get the third quarter bill out because by the time the county adopts their budget and the board of the board of taxation strikes the

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rates and the final bills can be printed, it's somewhere end of July, beginning of August and the third quarter payments due August 1st. So when I collected all the information, I noticed something a little interesting

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that the school taxes for the calendar year 27 are a million dollars less than they were for 26. So I went back and looked at the A4Fs which are the certifications by the school district as to the amount of

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taxes are in their budget and how much gets raised in the calendar the year the tax rate and there was an error in 26 and too much money was raised based on what the calculation was supposed to be for the

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county leaders taxes. So now we're getting the benefit of that. So together, the municipal taxes and the school taxes are going up $233

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net, which was a lot better than our original projections and again goes to the benefit of the average taxpayer or so.

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There was they made a mistake last year. The taxes were raised last year. We get the benefit this year of having to raise less in total dollars than we raised last year in the calendar year for school taxes. The taxpayer gets a benefit.

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And with that, if any questions from the governing body want to thank you for your hard work and your diligence as you do for us every year. Thank you. >> Appreciate that. This has been this has been bad news

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bad news. And listen, I mean, you see what school districts laying off 175 people and 50 people or 90 people. Um, so there's a number of them that are >> they declare bankruptcy.

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>> I mean, you can't government can't go out of business. So, it it's it's it's a it's a statewide problem. You know, I've had discussions w with people at the Division of Government Services. Part of this has to do with the CAT laws

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are pretty antiquated. The appropriation law was 1977 and the tax levy law was 2010. That's the tax levy cap was 2% which again the the reason for doing it was

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very noble. Makes sense. But what's going up 2% or less in today's environment? You know, they keep the 2% cap, but they let binding arbitration law sunshine 8 years ago.

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So now your labor contracts are more than 2%. generally speaking and with all the other increases and I I I've told this story about six times since Saturday. I went to the supermarket Saturday for

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the first time and I never I I don't do any of this stuff and I was charged with buying a loaf of bread and I walked down the breath. Are you kidding me?

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$5 and whatever cent for us. Last time I went was like $1.95. It it's it's and that's what that's that's what this is inflation. Everything costs more

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and not not cost more than last year. A lot of things cost more today than yesterday. And it's it's it's it's going to become as we move forward, it's going to become increasingly more difficult

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for governments and school districts to get under those statemandated caps. So, but we survived another year. >> But you're you're right. You know, we we

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made the choice to, you know, keep high level public safety, keep our fields and our programs excellent and not cut our services that go to seniors and library and everything else we do that our, you know, our taxpayers deserve and are used to. You know, we have a we have a nice

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town here and we're doing the best we can, cut where we can, and maintain services. >> Yeah. One of the I have this it's funny there's there's this list of tax increases that's been floating around was sent to me by one of

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my clients last week Bergen Field $44 to the average taxpayer fair $385 Hackinack we already read about that the paper $558 $8 TEC $486

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Washington Township $343 that's just municipal tax there's still school and county that goes on top of that so >> so combined we're 237 whatever the county is >> and whatever the county is budget went

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up tax went 4.1% it's different town by town when everybody's equalized up to true value, what have you. So, you know, their calculation was $80 on the average county assessed home of five

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something. So, it'll be something. It's not going to be hundreds of dollars, I don't believe. So, you know, all in for this year, you may get away with the average going

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up in total less than $400, give or take. which when you start talking to people in other towns, I know the town I live in, I'm probably going to get a $1,000 tax increase just because the school went up

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9%, the town's up almost 9%. It's funny, I got a newsletter from from from the mayor. First time it had no numbers. It did talk about the tax increase. It didn't talk about the cost to the average homeowner.

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when it was $45, it was in the file. The the absence of the numbers makes me think that the number is going to be pretty harsh. So again, you got a balanced budget. It's still

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structurally balanced all together. Your tax increase is in total is going to be probably one of the lowest in the area. So >> any questions? >> Yeah, thank you and thank the budget

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committee. I mean it's not an easy job. I mean, we're we're they put us here to make the tough decisions and and we did and you know, we know if it's going to maintain it to be a great place now.

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I'll stay around for the vote so I can upload the budget to pass tomorrow and we'll be all done with 2026. Thanks, Keith. Thank you. >> Okay. So, we need to adopt ordinance 20 open. Oh, may open to the public for a public hearing on the municipal budget. >> Motion.

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>> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Ladies and gentlemen of the audience. If anyone has any questions or comments regarding the municipal budget, come on up. Now is your chance. >> Just a question. I think I was trying to give your name. >> Hi, Kendra Moore. My question was, did

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you say municipal and school tax together would be 237? >> Correct. >> Okay. >> 233. Thank you, sir. >> 233. If I had 233, I think somebody said 237. >> 238 might have been you. >> Okay. >> Thank you.

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>> Thank you. >> Seeing that no other member of the public wishes to come up at this time, I would ask a motion to close it. >> So second. >> All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Okay. >> Ordinance 2026 column 16. When the clerk has the opportunity to please read the

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ordinance. calendar year 2026 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap cap bank. >> Purpose of this ordinance is to authorize increase in a budget that exceeds the appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank. Make a motion to

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adopt this ordinance on >> open to public. Make a motion to open to the public. So moved. Second. All in >> favor. Any opposed? Ladies and gentlemen of the public, if anyone has questions on ordinance 2026 col 16, now is your

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opportunity to come forward. >> Seeing that no member of the public wishes to come forward at this time and ask for a motion to close the public. >> Motion to close. >> Second. >> All in favor? Any opposed? Now, can I have a motion to adopt this ordinance on its final motion?

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>> Second. >> Making a roll, please. >> Yes. Councilman San, >> yes. Councilman Zylner, >> yes. >> Councilman Duffy, >> yes. >> Councilman Gratzky, >> yes. >> Council President Seymour, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Grant,

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>> yes. >> Now we're going to move on to the two budget related resolutions. May I get a motion to adopt 2026 col 126 which is wave the reading of full of the 2026 municipal budget and 2026 127 adopt 2026

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municipal budget >> motion second roll please. >> Yes. Councilwoman San >> yes. >> Councilman Zyler. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Duffy. >> Yes. >> Councilman Gratzky. >> Yes. >> Council President Seymour. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Grant. >> Yes.

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>> Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> I thought you guys were going to make Ira read the budget until >> Yeah, that's what I was hoping. >> That would be fun. >> Okay. Under unfinished business, making a motion for the approval of the minutes of the April 27th, 2026 public and close

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session meetings. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Okay, moving on to new business. Item number one is going to be the environmental site plan. >> Yes. Thank you, mayor. Uh I have uh

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printouts, but not enough for everyone. So, I'm going to pass these down if you can share. They were they were distributed in your email. So, if you can pass that down to the other end, Randy, they're packets of two. We'll we'll say we'll share this one. So, if

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you can send that one down, Randy can share that one. I have I pretty much have my black and white copy and I have it memorized. >> So, you'll see uh you'll have two maps. One you'll see looks like a little Google map and that highlights and shows

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the location of the uh the project that the environmental and energy commission has been working on. the uh PI we've been referring to it as the Pine Avenue Native Plant and Urban Rain Garden and they've been working. So that shows the

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location. It's located between Pine Avenue and uh Washington uh and it borders uh a portion of the Hershel Brook. the uh the larger the second uh

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page uh shows if you hold it with the um logo to the right that will be to orient you will give you the Washington Avenue uh street location side and the Pine Avenue side. So we're kind of looking at

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this from a a north orientation. So what you'll see so the environmental commission has been working on developing a site plan for this uh location uh so that they can get approvals from NJD to do uh plantings.

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Uh so there is no uh implementation plan at this time. We're completely insight plan uh planning. So they this is their second version. you'll see uh there were two concepts originally presented and

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what they did is they've combined the concepts and now what I'm going to do is kind of explain how the concepts are uh what the thinking is behind the concept plan that you're looking at right now. The goal and the aim of the

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environmental commission is to turn this area in is to the native plant garden is an educational space uh also a community space and also uh we're hoping to be

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like a little bit of I know it's a little tiny bit of flood mitigation um and uh also forestry restoration. So, the idea here is that on the the

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Washington side is the sunnier side of the uh of the sunnier side of the street, right? Sorry. >> It's it's a fun one. And uh so the idea here is that you'll see um a pathway

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that goes from one side to the other. The pathway starts at where there is an original curb cut. The pathways would be ADA compliant and they would be uh non-pervious. I mean they would be pvious materials. Uh the idea in this

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area you'll see there's a a common area a large green space. This is they envision as an as the educational space. it'd be a multi-use community space where smaller events can be held. Um,

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we're close to the Northern New Jersey Art Center. Uh, so there's opportunities for art uh fairs and community arts. There's opportunities for other committees and commissions to do smaller

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events in that community space as well. the uh this area would feature um native uh wild flowers, uh native plants, mostly uh pollinator pollinator plants. And then as you go through and walk

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through the um walk towards pine, it would transition to a more uh treed and shaded area uh with also some lower plants uh included underneath. So, what you'll see are um some pathways. You'll

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see some flower beds organized. You'll see some uh possibilities for uh spaces outlined for public art, some sculpture spaces. So, the idea is to really make it a community little pocket park,

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passive park, uh that's multi-use. Uh they envisioned that the uh the construction of it would be in phases and begin on the Washington street on the Washington Avenue side. So to really

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pilot so that the community uh common space could be featured in the beginning. Um oh the urban so back in the corner there's a couple couple more points I want to add. Uh back in the top corner

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is a very low-lying wet area and that would feature uh native uh uh wetland plants. So everything that is recommended has been researched to be native to our area for wetland habitats.

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Um, additionally there, uh, around the edges would feature some some bushes that would grow tall, uh, to provide some screening for private homes

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that are nearby of uh to create privacy and sound barrier. Um, and they're also planning to have like a three-foot uh maintenance, you know, so everything would be from the outer edges planted

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within uh 3-FFT like inside the 3-FFT so that maintenance of the Army Corps of Engineers like all the fencing and maintenance can be handled and easily um trying to think if there's anything I

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have forgotten to share. You'll see small pictures with some suggestions for native plants included on there. I'm sorry, it's very small. We should probably have a big giant poster, but we're not ready. I wanted to get your input on this.

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uh to match. >> Uh there might uh just wondered if there was an index to match up um your suggestion. >> Uh yes, there is. And is it

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>> in the email? Uh, I did not include it in the email, but what I can do is I can forward that index. >> I didn't want to overwhelm you with I have a lot to share this week, so I didn't want to overwhelm people with too much paperwork.

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>> I have uh two questions. >> Certainly. >> Uh the first one is how are they going to propose to protect all these plants from uh the deer down here? That will be a discussion come up as we

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uh as it as we plant them. Uh what we can do are like ca uh small temporary cages. >> Okay. And the next one is this is going to be funded from a grant I >> the the intention of

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uh coming up with a site plan is so that we can then apply for for for grants. >> Thank you. Yep. >> Is there a water soft source? And if not, you don't need one. These are just

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going to be subject to the >> um there is a water source. Um I think on the Pine Avenue side, but I don't believe it's active right now. So that would be need to be discussed in the future. Um it really depends on the

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timing of when we plant um and how large the phases are. So one so those are it's a little ahead of time to think about those things. But one of the things that we can do is uh the DPW has a water

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truck. Um and if we're planting things early enough in the spring in the rainy season, we don't really have to worry about it. It's just a matter of ensuring that the plants that go in get attention if in case there is a uh drought or

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something. So just to protect the investment of of the water. So that is something that will need to be discussed whether or not we want to have a a water a permanent water feature and that would uh most likely entail uh a

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discussion also a larger discussion because that I don't believe that air that pipe is working so it would need the Olio water to turn it on. So that would be I'm not even sure where to start that conversation yet. So

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>> the ground there is very cold water. So >> it's not going to be the desert condition. So >> no there's it's it's zero you know zero foot elevation at that corner that uh that is all that where that the the

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wetland plants are pl the marshland plants are planned for. So I I don't think there is so too much to worry about. Well, so what is what is the next step? What do we need to do? >> So, the next step is for you all to uh

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say yay or nay or add some uh add some thoughts, add some comments. Um this hasn't been I don't know if there are any other committees that this needs to be shared with. I don't know if um

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planning board needs to see it. I that I don't I'm not really sure. I just want to make sure I follow all the rules and that EEC is able to move forward. >> We're planting native plants on >> as long as the D says it's okay, we're

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good. >> Yep. >> The controlling legal authority. >> Exactly. Um I I would if all of these plants are on the approved plant NJP plant list are ours could be involved in it.

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>> Yeah, I think they do more than just >> but um you know just to say it. >> Yeah, mentioning the arburous reminds me I forgot to share this point too that there are there are some established trees on the property already. So the

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desire is to share to pres to work with and around the the established vegetation that is worth keeping cuz some of those are are keystone species and um

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>> there's an ice tree. >> Yeah, it's it's a keystone species. It's a habit is a key habitat for uh for an an ecological system. Uh so yeah, so they want to work with uh

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the the trees that are already there for as long as they can. >> I mean, not to bring up the fword flooding, but Pine Street does flood. I mean, are

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how do you how do you prepare how does this how is this plan prepared to withstand uh not even a bad flood, but a mediumsiz flood. And is that taken into consider?

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>> Yeah, that's that's a fair question. And and all of the plants that are planted are wet land specific. So, they really like that ecosystem. They like being in that kind of area. And what happens is

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that we hope to actually over time see improvement of you'll hear my my new favorite phrase soil permeability. So, so we hope to see so we we hope to see over time like as

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the plants as the as the garden develops and the health of the soil improves cuz as uh cuz what we're dealing with right now is a little bit of impacted soil and having plant having a diverse

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ecology ecosystem of plants growing there actually improves the the soil permeability, the health of the soil. Um, and what that means, soil permeability is that when uh rain does

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come down, it goes into the ground and into the water table. So, it goes down in instead of sliding across into the street and into the sewer system. So, our goal is to get as much water into

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ground. They call it wild water as opposed to the sewers. So, uh, we and then we hope to see improvements over time. I can't >> say for sure. I don't have a crystal ball

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>> to say what it can do. >> It's a very small area, so it will do a little bit, but a little bit can go a long way. And and I'm hoping that if this is a success, then we might have an opportunity to move

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these bio- remediation concepts into future projects. >> Sounds like a good idea. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Not not that they have to approve it, but I think it'll be a good idea to do the same level presentation to the subcommittee just so they're aware and

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I'm sure they'd love to be a part of it. >> Exactly. So the uh the once the site plan is approved and there are implementation plans, the EEC will definitely engage the shade tree

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commission and the flood committee um at that time. So >> thank you. We love to be part of it. >> Yeah. Who does all who's doing all the plantings? Do you see? >> We don't know yet. To be determined. So, so they're hoping that with the

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plantings to make this a community part engagement event. So, we don't know and it really depends on what kind of uh funding and grant opportunities we get are out there. >> Yeah.

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>> So, yeah. So, there will this will be what's really nice about this is that this is a legacy project. It's an ongoing project where people can uh garden, you know, come and do cleanups and plantings and there's a lot of uh community service. Yeah, there's

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>> there's a lot of win-wins here. There's a lot of benefits. >> Can I get a motion to move forward with the uh project? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Two is

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resilient New Jersey regional planning grant council. >> Thank you very much. So still talking. So along the same veins here, where's my notes?

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Okay, so this uh regional resiliency planning grant uh I brought up last fall. We were not a we uh the council had agreed to participate with uh Hackinack and TAK. Uh unfortunately uh

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the the that grant did not go through because one of the partners was not able to meet the um proposal deadline. So now we have a second opportunity because the grant was a a new round of

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the grant was announced April 21st. Applications are due July 7th and the project kick kickoff is expected for fall winter 2000 2026 2027. So uh let's see the burough commitment

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is to provide committee members. I have my notes here because it's a very it's a very big grant. So there's a lot to talk about and um I want to keep myself uh concise. So we have to uh so if we agree

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to participate there's an application to uh to prepare uh we've already prepared it. So if if there are any additions since October uh there's a letter of commitment to be uh part of the application.

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Um, so the funding is uh made possible from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Noah, you might know them as, and it is part of the building a climate ready New Jersey initiative

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and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. So, four regional teams will receive grants up to $350,000 each to provide climate resiliency. This is a uh since this is a team grant, it

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includes municipalities. There have to be a minimum of three contiguous municipalities to participate. And there are uh non-governmental organizations. Those would be our nonprofit partners that would also participate in this uh

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in this planning. So, the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation is committed to being the prime for the grant. So they would run be the primary contact. They would manage and operate the grant. Um I already said there's three continue

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contiguous municipalities and nonprofit organizations. So far Hackinack is committed. Uh River Edge and Oridel have expressed interest but have not yet confirmed. And um I'm asking for our uh commitment

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and of participation today. So participating organizations will be paired with excuse me multidisciplinary consulting teams in a comprehensive planning process to develop regional resilience action plans. So planners,

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engineers, ecologists, designers and other experts will be will be able to work with them, have input and talk about what we want to do with our that will then we will have an opportunity to have input for New

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Milford as it relates to the the region. Uh and this is includes storm water. This is climate resiliency. This is >> flooding. Yep. Flood mitigation. So

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and that is where I am going. So that's where that is. So the participation is we just need to have uh people uh be able to participate at this the meetings and they have experts that they're

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giving that that we're going to be able to work with to create uh these plans and um there are land use uh regulations that we have to there are some plans that are coming up that we I'm not sure if we have them already. Christine, do

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you know? Do you remember from when we went through this last time? >> Well, we worked with Millennium and they drafted everything. We were we were ready. >> Yeah, we were ready. So, we're ready again. So, we can we can submit um so there is uh

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there are some limitations uh like if we our burough engineer our our engineers that we hire cannot be reimbursed for their time. So um if we want engineers our engineers to participate so we just

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have to decide who we want to on our participation uh group. So it's basically steering committees coming together and and meeting. >> Yeah. I mean we when you presented this you know last fall we thought it was a good idea. you know, it's a very

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economical way for us to get expert advice and, you know, partner with. Looks like we have the opportunity to pick up two extra towns that are continuous, which is Orio River, which I think is great because we all share the Hackinac River. Um, I think once, you

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know, we're in it and they're in it. I think when we're talking to all the towns, we'll figure out, you know, who we need and how it's going to flow. It's hard to say when it's just us talking, but when you're, you know, needing collaborative, I think we'll figure out, you know,

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whether we have to use an engineer or this or that. So, >> right, my my expectation, my from my experience working with so far with the grants and planning projects so far is that there might be a need to have some uh documentation

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uh provided. So, I don't think there'll be too much there. This is really planning and visioning. This isn't any implementation. So there might be an implementation like the imple the action step may be to apply for a grant. So

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it's it's a very uh it is a 2-year long process. Uh it's a long one, but it's uh it's going to be a lot of resources available to us that we would not be able to otherwise access.

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>> All right. So, I'm going to ask for a motion to um re >> to participate program >> the participate in the resilient New Jersey regional assistance program to make a motion. Motion.

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>> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any motion? >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay. Item number three is schedule updates. >> Friday, May 15th is the Michael Pebbney

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Lauren Sabino scholarship barbecue sponsored by the Milford High School Scholarship Fund. It is from 3:30 to 7:00 in the Milford High School cafeteria. On Wednesday, May 20th is the New Milford Antibbias Symposium sponsored by the Mc Milford, the Milford Police

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Department, and the New Milford School District. It's from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the New Milford High School Auditorium. On Friday, May 22nd is the flag ceremony at the French Burying Ground sponsored by the New Milford Historic Preservation

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Commission. It'll be at 6:00 p.m. at the French Cemetery. always fun. >> On Monday, May 25th is the Milford's annual Memorial Day parade sponsored by the Milford Public Events Committee. Parade lineup is at 8:30 at Nightsfield

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parking lot which is next to the shop right in Fargo. And the parade will proceed from that corner all the way to the B hole. This year's grand marshall is Angelero, United States Marine Corp. On Saturday, May 30th is Mental Health

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Awareness Day sponsored by the New Milford Municipal Alliance. It is from 9:30 to 12:00 p.m. at the New Milford YMCA. And stick around because the 250 years of America sponsored by the Milford Arts Committee is from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Also

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at the New Milford YMCA. On Monday, June 1st is the land use visioning Milford Blue Acres program properties community engagement meeting sponsored by the NJ DP. It is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. right here in the

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courtroom. And on Monday, June 29th is the New Milford Athletic Department's 30th annual golf hour sponsored by the Milford Athletic Department and it'll start at 8:15 a.m. at the Golf Club of

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Mansion Ridge. Any other um >> Oh, yes. Yes. The late edition. Also on Memorial Day, it will be the new Milford Swim Club opening day ribbon hunting at 12:00 p.m. at the front gates of the

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swim club. I just learned about that on Friday. >> What time did you >> Any other events that I failed to mention? Okay, moving on to item number four is the administrator report. >> Thank you, Mayor. Public service is

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going to be contin continuing their gas pipe upgrades that they began a few years ago. Work is set to begin the third or fourth week of May in two areas. One uh is Concord, Elizabeth, and Lacata and then separately on Ridge, Grieve and Pleasant. That and that will

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then move on to East Woodland and Luna and continue on from there. Um, notices are going to go out to uh residents directly. Early voting for the June primary election begins on Tuesday, May 26th, and runs through Sunday, May

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31st. There are nine locations throughout Bergen County where all Burden County residents can vote early. Times and locations are posted on the burough website, and the primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2nd. Burough Hall will be closed on Monday,

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May 25th in observance of Memorial Day. And the next meeting the mayor and council is a public session scheduled for 3 weeks from no sorry scheduled for Wednesday, May 27th at 7 p.m. Any questions?

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Added item number five was equal replacement and do you want to just give a summary? I mean, everyone everyone knows what happened, but >> uh sure. There was a a memo from the chief that was circulated regarding a

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motor vehicle collision on April 17th. Unfortunately, it was a newer primary patrol vehicle and they're looking to make uh an immediate replacement for the vehicle. Um if you want to go through all of it, uh

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the other party was deemed as short. the insurance is going to cover uh the remainder of the current lease and provide for the down payment on the new lease. Um I was speaking to Ira earlier before the mean started. It's other than the fact that it's going to have the

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lease payment go on a little bit longer. There's not a specific financial change to anything, but it's just they just want permission to move forward to replace the vehicle. >> Good news is officers matters. That's the most >> Yes. The most important thing.

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>> This is one of the new cars. So, this is one we want to kind of replace cuz new cars are reliable. >> Oh, very until we get >> All right. So, may we get a motion? Make

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it a motion to say release or >> replace to replace the damaged police vehicle. >> I'll make that motion. Second. >> All in favor? I >> I post >> resolutions.

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Does everyone had a chance to look at your resolutions? Are there any that need to be pulled for separate vote or discussion? >> Uh yes, mayor. I respectfully request that resolution 2026 col 137. Thanks. Okay. So remember this is this is a work

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session. What >> what was your request then? >> Pull out 137. This is a work session meeting. So we're going to pass on council committee reports. It's confusing because we are in courtroom. We did that because we were adopting the budget. Uh so at this

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time I would ask for a motion to open to the public for public comments. >> So move second. >> All in favor? >> Ladies and gentlemen, the public, if anyone has any questions or comments regarding the good and welfare of the Burford, we ask you to come forward and give us your name and we will give you

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five minutes. Okay. Seeing that no member of the public wishes to come forward at this time, I'll ask for a motion to close the second. All >> in favor? I >> opposed. >> Okay. >> May I get a motion to adopt resolutions 2026

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column 128 and 2026 col 136. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. >> 137 has been pulled out by Councilman Seymour. So, Councilman Seymour, do you have questions or comments on that

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resolution? I I just have a comment that I'd like to just uh thank our legislature for uh continuing their efforts to uh prevent overdevelopment or in this particular case to prohibit the use of the builder's remedy um in

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exclusionary zoning litigation that we we appreciate the efforts of all of our legislators in helping us to hopefully resolve these issues. And given that this problem is clearly not a

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partisan problem, the solution is also not partisan. >> This resolution aims to make it a lot more difficult for the builder suits and to be favored in litigation against missing. So it's

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definitely something we are on board with. May I get a motion to adopt 2026 col 137? >> Motion second. Make >> a roll call, please. >> Councilman San, >> yes. >> Councilman Zylner,

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>> yes. >> Councilman Duffy, >> yes. >> Councilman Gratzky, >> yes. >> Council President Seymour, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Grant, >> yes. >> Correct. >> Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to be going into close session. When we come out of close, this governing body will

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take no action and we will immediately adjourn. Before we go to close, I just wanted to say I hope everyone had a wonderful, wonderful and happy Mother's Day yesterday. All the moms of the Milford who are here with us physically or spiritually. We just hope it was an

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enjoyable day for everyone. At this time, I'll ask for a motion to go into close session. Some move second. All >> in favor? Any opposed? >> Thank you.