[Music] Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to officially call this public meeting and the mayor council to order. At this time, I would ask everyone to please rise for a moment of silent prayer and a reflection as this month is um breast cancer awareness month. I'll be reading the proclamation in a couple
of a few moments, but I think we should devote our thoughts and prayers to people with cancer. Everyone here knows someone or family member, relative has been affected. [Music]
Please hold 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. Thank you.
Please not the fire exits to your rear into the main parking lot. to my left, your right, and home. The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law is 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 act. In
accordance with this act, the mayor and council of the Burough Milton have closed notice of this meeting published by having the date, time, and place thereof posted in the burough hall and notices have been sent to the record and original news. The mission of this governing body is to provide essential services through the establishment and implementation of public policies that
will safeguard infrastructure, provide fair, honest, courteous 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 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. At this time, I would ask the clerk to please call the role. Councilwoman Samus here. Councilman Zer
here. Council President Duffy here. Councilman Grzky here. Councilwoman Seymour here. Councilwoman Grant here. Mayor Petrino here. Okay, the first order of business tonight is appointments. May I get a
motion to appoint Matthew Pierce, Thelma LRA K, and Liz Barbosa to the green team? Motion. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? May I get a motion to appoint Thelma Care to the arts committee? Some move. Second.
All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Thank you very much uh residents for chipping in and helping out. Next is the breast cancer awareness month proclamation. [Music] Whereas October is breast cancer
awareness month when we reflect on the trends in breast cancer research, prevention, and treatment. And whereas according to the National Cancer Institute, more than 315,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 42,000 will
die of the disease in 2025. Whereas breast cancer is the most common type of non-skin cancer in women in the United States, accounting for 30% of all new female cancers and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in American women. Whereas being female
and older in age are the main risk factors for breast cancers. And whereas regular screening and early detection followed by timely treatment upon diagnosis can significantly improve a patient's chance of survival. Whereas breast cancer awareness month is an opportunity to honor the courage and
strength of all who are battling this terrible disease and remember loved ones whose lives have been affected by breast cancer and to commend the skilled medical professionals and dedicated researchers who provide quality treatment and care to women and men across the country. Whereas breast cancer awareness month is an opportunity
to unite all citizens in our community to prevent breast cancer deaths through increased education and regular screenings. Now therefore, I, Mayor Michael Patrino, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2025 as breast cancer awareness month in the mil.
Those are some staggering numbers, huh? [Music] Okay. Under unfinished business, may I get a motion for the approval of the minutes of the September 8th, 2025 public session? So move. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed?
Okay. Okay, we have a couple of ordinance adoptions tonight. First one being 2025 col26. And when the clerk has the opportunity, I'd ask her to please read the ordinance. An ordinance amending chapter 12 of the revised general ordinances of the bure
of New Milford entitled property maintenance to add section 12-6 entitled bamboo to regulate the planting and removal of running bamboo within the burrow of New Milford. Purpose of this ordinance is to establish regulations to preserve and protect private and public
property from the damaging spread of running bamboo grasses and to protect indigenous plants and the wildlife they support from this invasive spread of such bamboo from any neighboring property line. May I get a motion to open to the public for a public hearing on this ordinance? Second.
All in favor? Any opposed? Ladies and gentlemen, the public, if anyone has any questions or comments regarding this ordinance, we invite you to come up at this time. See, I know a member of the public wishes to comment on this ordinance. Making a motion. Oh,
this is only about bamboo. Yeah, at the end it'll be whatever, but this is for bamboo. So, no bamboo. We're good. Okay. Make a motion to close to the public. All in favor? May I get a motion to adopt this
ordinance on it final reading? Second. Make a roll call, please. Councilwoman Sanu, yes. Councilman Zer, yes. Council President Duffy, yes. Councilman Grosky, yes. Councilman Seymour, yes. Councilwoman Grant,
yes. Okay. The next one up for adoption tonight is 2025 col27. And when the clerk has the opportunity, I'd ask you please read the ordinance. Capital Ordinance of the Burough to Milford in the county of Bergen, New Jersey, authorizing the acquisition of various
equipment for the use of the fire department in, by, and for the burrow, appropriating therefore the sum of $10,200, and providing that such sum so appropriated shall be raised from the capital improvement fund of the burrow. Purpose of this ordinance is to
appropriate $10,200 from the burrow of New Milford's capital improvement fund for the acquisition of various equipment for the new Milford Fire Department. May get a motion to open to the public for a public hearing on this ordinance. So much. All in favor? Any opposed? Ladies and gentlemen, the public, if anyone has any questions or
comments regarding this ordinance, we invite you to come up at this time. Seeing that no member of the public wishes to comment at this time, I would ask for a motion to close to the public. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Make a motion to adopt this ordinance on
its final reading. Second. Make a roll call, please. Councilwoman Sanus, yes. Councilman Zylner, yes. Council President Duffy, yes. Councilman Gratzky, yes. Councilman Seymour, yes. Councilwoman Grant, yes.
[Music] Okay. The last one up for adoption tonight is 2025 cola 28. And when the clerk has the opportunity, I would ask you to please read the ordinance. an ordinance amending chapter 18 of the revised general ordinances of the department of Milford entitled streets
and sidewalks thereby amending sections 18-1 entitled excavations and streets 18-2 entitled opening grading and improvements 18-4 entitled construction of concrete curves sidewalks and
driveways and 18-7 entitled portable storage containers and similar storage devices in residential zones The purpose of this ordinance is to update the position titles referenced in the ordinance to reflect current procedure to modify the contractor registration requirements to clarify curb driveway
and apron requirements and provide for the renewal of portable storage container permits. Make it a motion to open to the public for a public hearing on this ordinance. Motion second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Ladies and gentlemen, the public, if anyone has any questions or comments regarding this ordinance, we
invite you to come up at this time. Seeing that, no member of the public wishes to comment at this time. Ask for a motion to close to the public. Motion second. All in favor? Any opposed? May get a motion to adopt this ordinance on its final reading. Motion second.
May get a roll for close. Councilwoman Sanen, yes. Councilman Zyler, yes. Council President Duffy, yes. Councilman Grodsky, yes. Councilman Seymour, yes. Councilwoman Grant, yes. [Music] Under new business, we have an
introduction tonight 2025 colon 29. And when the clerk has the opportunity, I would ask her to please read the ordinance. an ordinance amending chapter 7 of the revised general ordinances of the bureau of New Milford entitled traffic thereby amending section 7-3.7
entitled stopping or standing prohibited during certain hours on certain streets. Purpose of this ordinance is to prohibit stopping or standing on both sides of Robertchester, Columbia Street and patrolman Raywood's Lane at Kennedy Hill complex due to the safety concerns as recommended by the traffic officer of
the Nilford Police Department. Make it a motion to introduce this ordinance on its first reading. Motion second. Make a roll, please. Councilman San, yes. Councilman Zyler, yes. Council President Duffy, yes. Councilman Gratzky, yes.
Councilman Seymour, yes. Councilwoman Grant, yes. The public hearing for this ordinance will be at our October 15th meeting next door. Yes. in the congressman. Okay.
Still under new business. Item number one is NJ regional resiliency grant. Councilwoman Sanders. Thank you, Mayor. So, everyone, I've um included a a little uh followalong sheet that describes the uh benefits of
participating in the NJT regional resiliency planning grant. So this is a grant. I'm bringing this to mayor and council because Hackinac and Tina are interested in part in applying for this grant. How this grant is uh applied for
is in self- selected regional zones and they need a minimum of three continu contiguous municipalities. So New Milford would fit right in along with Tene and Hackinack. So the um uh I would
like to uh encourage the main council to to uh agree to participating to uh apply for this grant. Um what this does is with the regional teams the teams are going to be there's going to be six
total awards given out at this uh this se this time this award cycle and it'll be $200 to $300 per region uh that is going to be shared across the municipalities and with the the CBO
which is a community uh based organization. So, uh, Northern New Jersey Community Foundation is going to be the lead applicant. They're going to be the prime, uh, applicant for this grant. So, that means that New Milford
does not have to do any of the grant management. We, uh, get to go along and be at the T table while uh, for the planning part. So part of what this grant helps us do is we have regional collaboration to address the shared
risks across watershed, shorelines and infrastructure systems. So that's basically it's addressing flooding uh storm water management uh wildfires. I know we're in a very cities. People are kind of curious about wildfires, but
it's actually getting more common for wildfires in cities and communities are affected more by smoke from out uh from more regional areas. So, that's something to consider. So what we will
be what we are able to receive with that is that we will be working with a planning uh let's see what is it called? So we'll be working with planning professionals uh team that is
pre-selected and pre-qualified by the NJD. So this is a cost savings in itself because this regional resiliency planning is something that every municipality is going to have to include
into their master plan uh eventually anyway. So this is a good time to join this partnership because Hackinac and Tene are interested and eager and we have a community-based organization. One of the things that I really appreciate
about this grant is that there's going to be opportunity to do a lot of community outreach and that's one of the reasons why they're having community partners. Uh so the there's going to be a lot of community engagement. The other thing that is also uh beneficial is that
we have al New Milford's been proactive in flood management with the CRS program and doing those kind of things. So I think what we will be able to do is to have the opportunity to document what we've already done and build on
uh opportunities. So we have uh a lot of um Blue Acres properties down uh along Colombia and throughout the municipality uh that you know this planning grant working uh there might be some innovative opportunities.
Hoboken uh did this uh planning grant. They did this planning this regional plan and they've created their waterfront park and they've got a lot of infrastructure that that they've uh built in and will be continuing to build
on. So uh participating in this gives us shared services and cost savings and um also we have an opportunity to um I mentioned uh public engagement. will
be engaging with the public and this also allows us be having these plans and grants puts us in step four opportunities down the future for uh implementation.
So this grant does not pay for any uh any shovel ready you know there's no building there's no shovel uh uh projects no implementation like that
but there is implementation for um for um let's see where I had it in my notes so there's implementation like um updating ordinances or applying for future grants
or other things. So it's they're that those costs are included. Uh also included is that any municipal employee who participates they expect it to be around 2 to 5 hours a month. Uh their
time can be reimbursed as well. So, all I'm I'm asking uh for questions and uh the thing that we need to do to participate is a letter of commitment. So, we'll need a resolution for a letter
of commitment. So, I see uh Councilwoman Gratzky uh you saying that Hackin Sack and Pack are on board and we would be the third. They're aware of the fact that we're looking into this. So, that would be the third. Yes. Yes. They're not going to say, "Okay, let's do instead of the milk."
They understand that we're looking at them. No, these are the three that they have to be conjoined. They have to be contiguous. Now, it could include other other municipalities.
It can be up to seven municipalities participating. So, but it has to be a minimum of three. Thank you for allowing me to clarify that. Mhm. Mayor and then um Councilman Grant, what is the cost for us to do this? Is
there any upfront cost or is it just if we're going to get the grant back to reimburse if an employee is a part of our do we have a point person a little point committee to this? Like how does that part work? Yes, we would have to appoint a a committee. uh they recommend that there
are um so uh municipal employees and appointed officials elected officials can participate as well. So the um the only caveat is that they won't the grant does not cover the cost of our paid
professionals. So like our planning professional could not participate and be reimbursed. But could one of our volunteers be on this point? Yes. So they're recommending for flood mitigation would be perfect for this flood mitigation, environmental
commission planning, right? You know, so I think it's worthwhile to have as many people as participate as possible. There will be regional meetings. They will be asking for uh documentation on
things that we've already done. So we'll there'll be some requests for for that as well. There's no cost to join this. No cost upfront and there's no it's not a matching grant. No matching credit. And I did see one of your bullet points is local authorities preserved plans are community led and reflect municipal
priorities. Does that mean if one or two of the towns in your group want to do something? It's not forced on us, right? It may not work for us. Exactly. So, and the the idea to put a regional group together is that we have working with with flooding and water
management. We share problems like T-neck and and we have new bridge. So, why couldn't float to so it's it's just an opportunity to do shared services, share ideas, and then
see what we can do for the future. So, it's it's future planning. I know it takes some time. It's going to be a two-year project. So, the grant will be announced award announcements will come out in November and they will kick off
uh in the spring of 2026 and they're expecting this to be a two 18month project. And when do we have to let them know by? So, the grants uh submissions are uh the deadline's been extended to October
29th. Uh, so if we could have a resolution and a letter of commitment at our next meeting, that would be really helpful. What do we what do we have what do we have to present to them like to get the grant? Any type of documentation other
than the fact that we want to be, you know, part of this grant? So, the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation is going to be the lead on this grant application and they're going to be the lead grant administrator. So, once
Mhm. So, there so it will be a regional group. So, once everyone is decided, that's kind of a question we have to find out is how much we I'm sure we'll have something to add to the submission. Uh, but we're going to have a meeting. So right now this regional group is
they're because they're self- selected. We've all been, you know, talking on the phone. I spoke with a council woman from Tene today. I've been on, you know, in contact with Northern New Jersey Community Foundation. So once we get everybody committed, we will have a a
meeting to then go see where we go for our next steps. And if we approve this at our next meeting, I will need to see a list of people that are going to be on this because they need to be appointed. So, they need to be spoken to to see if they want to be a part of this because this isn't the kind of thing you just appoint
someone to, right? Well, it's a two-year commitment. Yeah. It's also um after we got the grant, I think it would be after we get the grant would probably be better because there's staffing changes. We don't need to appoint any designate. Okay, we need to uh designate it at least
municipal, you know, uh representation. So, a couple of people. We don't need a full team as of yet. Let me know who you So, we would need to create a new committee or some sort of entity um to work with this.
That's a question for the council. It's that that could be one way to do it. So, oh, and also the um they're saying 200 to $300,000 per region. The region is larger than just these three municipalities, right? So, the amount
that would come to a team and us will be significant in the list of other um burrows or towns that participating. So, the the regions are will be designated according to this grant. How this is
written is that a region is that that self- selected group that applies for the opportunity that applies for the funding. So a a region could be three municipalities, it could be nine municipalities. So there are people all
over the state putting regions together uh to address the to unlimited amounts of funding and every three towns that get together are going to get 200 million dollars. No, there's only six awards. She said there's six awards. Okay. Who's that?
Six awards and they do not know if it's going to be available next year. So, this is kind of like a really good time to get some uh planning some correct. I think it's Yeah, I was going to say it worse. You're going to get planning information and you're going to get expert
information from these panels. So, I have a question about the um community foundation. Now, do they oversee donations to
other communities other than the East Green? Yes. So, they do when we when since they will be the um applicant of the grant, right? They will be the
ones applying. So will they be administrating the grant to other communities or just the three? It they would it would be focused on the three that are so right now Hackinack,
Tene, and New Milford are the three that are like the most interested. So Hackinack is in Tene is having their meeting tonight. They're almost there and so they're in the same position that that we are. So
uh if there is so with the three of us if we do our commitment then then we can apply and then yes your question is it would be just for these three municipalities this grant [Music]
I think it's I I think it's you know planning you know NJ planning professionals this is something that new Milford could not do on its own and we don't have to be the lead on the uh on the grant administration. So I
think it's really [Music] and I know it doesn't I know it feels like we're looking ahead at you know doing a lot of work for 10 years in the future but this is the foundational paperwork that opens up the the imp the
grants uh in the future the implementation grants in the future. I know it's a little wonky and boring, but So, we need to put a resolution on the next agenda. Yes. To approve this and once that's approved, a letter of intent would go to
a letter. Yes. It's a letter of commitment. Mhm. Yeah. Yes. It's in the uh it's in the the resolution in the letter. Um they don't have a resolution. You just they just have a letter in the uh in the application. You guys talk to
your friends in Teneck and Hackinack. I can get a sample of the resolution. Is there anything else on item number one? No, I'm completed unless there are any other further questions I can answer. No, I think uh you know, thank you very much. A good opportunity. Thank you very much.
It's not easy bringing a region together. Item number two is overnight parking. Councilwoman, thank you. Whenever you have uh cars and a municipality, you have parking issues.
And I know that uh there have been parking regulations since certainly the early 50s. And there has been an ordinance prohibiting overnight parking on certain days of the year, certain months of the year. And every now and
then that ordinance is tweaked um and updated and revised and uh it was thought to do that again. But it occurs to me in thinking about this that 55% of the year or close to that 200 days of
365 approximately the ordinance is suspended uh for summer for the summer for certain holidays during the year and things seem to work out just fine when that ordinance is suspended. the um DPW
is still able to clean the streets uh and there are no major incidents uh any unusual time and so my thought at this point instead of tweaking the ordinance because no matter what we do you can't make absolutely everybody happy but when
things work smoothly my feeling is why you mess things up and if 55% of the time when the ordinance is not in effect things work fine and then they don't for the other 45% when the ordinance is in effect because I'm seeing a lot of um
comments and questions on Facebook all the time, people wondering whether the ordinance is suspended on any given day. So my thought after talking with the chief of police and with the mayor uh is to us do away with the ordinance and permit
overnight parking all the time. 100% congest instead of just 55% of the time. It's not a safe ha safety hazard. Uh the current ordinance just doesn't work and isn't really needed. It would also save police time because the police are constantly going around looking for cars
that are parked incorrectly and then with the computer system keeping up to date on that. So there's a lot of police time involved that could be better used in other ways. So my suggestion is that we suspend the ordinance, not just a few days a week, but just suspend the
ordinance entirely and allow on street parking overnight. clearly would not affect other parking regulations such as during snowstorms um or on certain streets where there were other issues but for the main part do away with the winds and allow the
parking. We did have that discussion. Um there are some cons to this. Um there is a segment of our population that lives close to the apartment dwellings and one of their arguments about the um no restrictions is tenants are always
parking in front of their house at all hours of the night. They're littering issues like that. So that was some of the things we heard when this was suspended during CO. So that's something we've kept our eye on. It's something that we've tried to you know do little things here and there to work with certain residents on certain streets.
Some have restricted parking, some don't. You know, it's like you said, you can't you can't make everyone happy and it's very confusing what it is right now. And one of the things one of the things that we don't like is we don't like, you know, the idea of penalizing the whole town for one area. Another update we did
from from CO when it was suspended is we did actually strengthen our ordinance and we're using the state guidelines. Any car that is parked and not moved for 48 hours is considered abandoned by the state, that car can now be ticketed and towed. So, that's something that will help. Overnight parking has helped with cars not being abandoned on the street
which we saw during co adding that to our ordinance actually helps that. So this would make it you know makes this more palatable. Yes. And clearly this would take time to uh go into effect because the ordinance would have to be updated. So it's a process that needs to be uh gone through
but I would suspect that by January 1st it would be in effect. Actually it'll be suspended over the holiday of December. So the ordinance is suspended by the end of December. No, we just continue. So if an ordinance came on the next agenda, it came in October adopted by November.
November. So it'll be fine. Yeah. Yeah. And like I said, December, we hit the holidays anyway. But this people don't have to keep checking and wondering if the rule is suspended tonight, right? But just keep in mind there will be people upset with this because of Oh, yeah. Maybe we should do an
anti-littering uh education. We need to because I know I do see litter everywhere. What will happen is when, you know, if situations are happening and we're getting complaints, we're going to have to figure out ways to to deal with that and help our residents. So, we'll see.
Meanwhile, I encourage the public to not live. Questions, comments. I mean, we want to keep our town beautiful, and that was one of the things that some people said they the reason they wanted to keep the suspension in effect was so that our
town would still look beautiful. Um, and I do want our town to look beautiful. It doesn't necessarily have to be beautiful between 3 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., but it should be beautiful. And the way you keep it beautiful is by not littering and being respectful of other people and people's property and burrow property
because it's your burrow. Well, I I happen to agree with council woman about littering. Councilwoman? Yes. Did I say that? No. Oh, you're good. No, about the overnight parking. I mean literally you can't do anything about
it. Just not going to have it. Although Randy said we get the Indian method in design. I know. But I know through uh all through co now I'm not one that stays out late that much anymore but I do get up early and
driving through town early in the morning. I never really saw much of a problem of overparking in streets and I think it just works better for for the residents that they're not inconvenient and we all know how many
cars some of these residents do have now. So, and like Councilwoman Grant says, it's 55% of the time that you're allowed to park in the street. Well, I'm in favor of uh disbanding that ordinance
and keeping the uh overnight parking out of the picture. Specific areas of town might have to be treated a little bit differently um as we know, but this would be by and large for town.
I I I also mayor think it's a it's a good idea because it it will help for families who candidly don't have the room uh for for parking in their driveway too many vehicles, too many people at home. It it simplifies it, makes it easier. I think it helps to
solve a lot of problems. I know that we've tried very hard to accommodate people. would change how many times you can do it a month and still doesn't work. It's becoming a very complicated system.
My neighbor's twins just turned 17. They're going to be having the parking issue if they start getting cars. So, they got their license today. Yeah, they did. So, I mean, you know, this is how it this is how it develops, you know.
All right. So, could I get a motion to I guess we're going to put we're going to put this on the next agenda, the ordinance for for a vote. I move that we suspend the ordinance that um prohibits um street parking.
Second, [Music] please. One second. Uh just to say to suspend all overnight is not the real thing. There are certain streets that have to be included in that no parking still. You're just going to
say there's no parking at all. We still we still have street over parking on certain streets at certain times that restrictions stay. Okay. It's just the 3:00 a.m. to 5 a.m. prohibition that will be um
that are on streets with no other. Correct. Kind of like it's the summer. Yeah. you. All right. So, we have a motion. I need a second. For Randy, may I get a roll call, please? Yes. Councilman Sus.
Yes. Council President Duffy. Yes. Councilman Zelner. Yes. Sorry. My notes. Councilman Grosky. Councilman Seymour. Counciloman Grant.
Yes. She's correct. Okay. Item number three is recycling calendar. Thank you, mayor. I spoke with our recycling coordinator and uh he brought to my attention that
um he would like to make some changes regarding recycling calendar and that's why I brought it up to you and you informed me that we needed to bring this up in front of the governing body because he cannot just institute those changes on his own.
Correct. So, uh, what he was suggesting to me is that, uh, experience in history has, uh, taught us that, uh, a lot of these recycling calendars that are that are mailed to the residents every every year. Um, they're either lost, they're
tossed, or they're just discarded. And what happens is they wind up with an abundance of phone calls uh looking for the schedule or they're looking for another schedule or they don't even bother and and that's why you see um
sometimes garbage that's just out a day before it's even supposed to be because nobody knows. Um all of that comes from the recycling which he says runs close to $7,000 just in those
calendars. uh he feels that he has a different way of of of getting that that out to the public and could save some of that most of that money and that could be used for any other projects or incentives that uh
he he he necessary or wants to bring to the council. Um, presently, like I said, they're they're mailed out to all the residents and um he he's recommending uh a change which would be the calendars would be
available at the Burough Hall of Buildings, posted on the Burough website, and linked on the office of the mayor's Facebook page. Mhm. Uh he will the calendars will be 8 1/2 by 11. they'll be a little smaller so as that if you pick them up online, you can
print them out a lot easier uh through your computer. Uh they'll be the calendars can be delivered upon request in the normal course of business. Uh and
um that change like I said would reduce the cost and free up some of that grant money. So, I don't know what anybody's else's idea is on it, but you know, I you know, I in these conversations, I I do agree with that. I think um it's a
crazy cost to print and mail these out when a lot of people are using, we have it on our borrow website. A lot of people have downloaded the recycle coach app, which just tells you when you need to do it, has all the schedules on it. Um we would put printed calendars in all the burrow buildings, the library, the
senior center, the burl hall, DBW. And I think the key to this is if someone really has to have it, we will physically deliver it to their house and we save a stamp on that. I don't anticipate we're going to have a lot of people wanting it delivered to their house. I think people are either pick it up or they're just going to print it
themselves or use the app. Anyone that can't print it, we will get it to you. And the way that, you know, he suggested is during, you know, the regular recycling days, it could be delivered to anyone and it is a great deal of savings. The the grant changes each year.
Sometimes it's $9,000, sometimes 11, but eating $77,000 of it for a recycling counter. You know, that out might only cost $1,000 just to print out those. No, I like I like what you said, lost your to. Yeah. Well, a number of like I can tell can't tell you how many people come into
the burl hall and say, "I need a recycling calendar." I asked neighbors, they never What are you talking about? I never had one. So, that gets mailed out every Well, actually, we did have that. We had a problem last year. a few blocks that just never got it. Yeah. And the post office is like, "Well, they
actually I told them they actually said that it's not guaranteed that they'll actually deliver it. They will deliver it." I'm like, "What? You're in the post office?" Because no, well, I I spoke to I spoke to Christine about this and she was kind enough to
send me something uh on uh to my uh on a text and it showed Hackinac. those hackers, right, Chris? Yeah. Having a problem getting these mailed out. Yeah. And it's just a headache.
But now it's becoming more and more, you know, difficult. Yeah. And unreliable. But I think this is a way for us to save money. Everyone's going to have the information and everyone's still going to be able to get it if they want it. So I think this is a great, you know, test case right here.
So like I said, you informed me that we needed the governing to do this. So again, so I'm going to ask for a motion cuz we need a motion to change the policy. So I'm going to ask for a motion to starting in 2026, we are no longer mailing the calendars
to each address. We are going to have them available online. We're going to print them, put them to our buildings, and we will deliver them to whoever wants them. Does that make sense? Does that cover? Yes. Can I Can I ask a question before you motion? You guys Oh, go ahead. Go ahead.
No, go ahead. I was just going to I just want to ask a question. I just want to ask real quick is about No, since it's going to be printable and it's going to be on 8 and 1 half by 11, can it uh is there talk about making it readable? So,
yes, that was my first question and I was assured that there would be no problem making it readable. Okay, terrific. Yeah. And this is an environ more environmentally friendly way of doing it. No, I will not stop everything.
Can I get a motion? So move. Second. Make a roll call, please. Yes. Councilman Sandus, yes. Councilman Zer, yes. Council President Duffy, yes. Councilman Crosky, yes. Providing delivers in the house.
Okay, I'm with that. Councilman Seyor, yes. Councilwoman Grant, yes. Okay, I'm going to put it on your porch so you can bend down and get it back. Moving on. Item number four is safer
grant award. Council President Duffy. Okay. Thank you, Mayor. Uh safer grant stands for staffing for adequate fire and emergency response.
So, um, congratulations to the fire department. Um, they've been awarded $549,000 in a f from the federal government. Wow. So, these funds will be allocated based
on a five-year plan. Um and they will be used specifically for recruitment, education and retentions as well as fire safety gear. This grant
is s is really a significant opportunity for our fire department. Um, I congratulate Chief Leonardi and specifically Lieutenant Sharon Bernbomb who really uh put so much time and
effort into this, believed it all the way. So, congratulations to them and um I think uh we should all look forward to seeing how they will be implementing
this. I printed one page, but the grant and the specifics of administering it is uh 38 pages. So, I have it and if anybody wants it, I can email it. I opted not to print it. Yes. I hope you don't.
And one of the the keys tonight is that they have like 30 days to either accept or decline. So we wanted to make sure that make a motion maybe to just Yeah. When I was just going to say when when they came before us and we talked about this grant, we all thought this
would be a really good like shot in the arm for them to help with, you know, recruitment and retention. And one of the biggest things is it actually pays her a certain amount of turnout, which is hugely expensive now. So, I I'm really happy that they got this and I I hope that, you know, it helps.
I think honestly it goes to show that um even this comes from a Department of Homeland Security that they recognize that times are changing. People are working two jobs or they're coaching on
the ball fields. they just simply don't have time to commit to so many hours. And so we want to make sure our fire department has the personnel and the equipment uh to do their excellent work
that they are here doing. Um the amount of training is longer and longer. It is. It really is. But uh this is this is good for morale and it's great for the people of our town and stuff. So, um, may I
I was ask for a motion to accept this grant. I'd like to make a motion to accept this grant on behalf of I guess the military fire. Second. All in favor?
Any opposed? Good job. Good job. Okay. Schedule of events. It is a busy season. Okay. So, Friday through Sunday, October
3rd through October 5th is the St. Joseph Carnival sponsored by St. Joseph's School. Um, it's Fridays from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. On Saturday, it's 2:00 to 10:00 p.m. and Sundays 1 to 7:00 p.m. at uh St. Joe's Church, which is on the border border down the Milford. So, if you just go down Grant Street or
Harrison Street or Center Street, you will run into it and find it. They haven't had it since before CO. So, I think everyone is looking forward to this and it's a little bit bigger and better. So, I hope they still have a good candy apple stand. That's what I always like there.
On Saturday, October 4th is annual Clean Communities Day sponsored by the New Milford Clean Communities and New Milford um Environmental and Energy Commission. It'll take place from 9:00 to 12:00 p.m. at the DBW. Um later on that day from 1:00 to 3:00
p.m. at the New Milford public library will be the book signing from the author author Jay Leven of the images of the Milford book that had just come out. So if everyone knows those images I America has all the black and white photos of the history of the Milford. It's really cool. You can buy you can purchase a
book there. It's being sold by the library board of trustees. No friends the friends of the library and uh you can get an autograph by the author. So pretty cool and we thank him for uh taking on New Milford as a project. It it came out really really well.
On Sunday, October 12th is our annual fire awareness day sponsored by the New Milford Fire Department. It'll take place from 1 to 4:00 p.m. at the Nightsfield parking lot. On Sunday, October 19th is the fall festival sponsored by the Berkeley School PTO. It'll take place from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00
p.m. also at the Nightsfield parking lot. This event will have vendors, crafts, food trucks, and their rain day will be October 22nd. On Wednesday, I'm sorry, the rain day will be October 26th. On Wednesday, October 22nd is the
Milford 7th annual domestic violence symposium sponsored by the Burough of New Milford and the Milford Police Department and the New Milford Public School District. It'll start at 6:30 p.m. at the New Milford High School Auditorium. On Saturday, October 25th is Pink Pick a
Pumpkin Patch. Say that 10 times. Sponsored by the New Milk Recreation Commission. It'll take place from 10:00 to 12:00 p.m. at the Burrow Hall Fazebo. Come on down, get a free pumpkin. Uh the children can play and they decorate the pumpkins and they contest. It's It's
pretty cool. On Saturday and Sunday, November 2nd and 3rd, New Milford will be having a paper shredding event sponsored by the New Milford DBW and the Bergen County Utilities Authority. On both days, it'll be from 9 to 1:00 p.m. in the swim club parking lot.
It's to 1 p.m. or if the truck is full and it is for New Milford residents only. That event on Tuesday, November 11th is New Milford's annual Veterans Day ceremony sponsored by the New Milford Public Events Committee. It'll take place at 11:00 a.m. on the front burrow hall lawn
with any events or that I missed or need to be added at this time. I was just I was going to look up the list sponsoring a decade. Oh, that's the Halloween contest. Yes, I forgot about that. I have the uh flag. Definitely have to mention that. That's
going to be cool. While you're looking that up, mayor, the Clean Communities Day rain is Sunday, October 5th. Just say that louder in there, please. Clean Communities Day rain is Sunday, October 5th.
Hopefully, we'll have good weather on Saturday. [Music] Okay, here we go. The New Milford Halloween Home Decoration Contest sponsored by the New Milford Police Department. Uh registration window is September 29th
through October 15th. Uh if you go to their website, they have like a QR code. You can register there. There's two categories: fun, familyfriendly, and then scary and ghoulish. Voting begins on October 20th. And to my knowledge, it's the first time we're
doing a Halloween decorating contest. First place is $300, second place is $200, third place $100. So, I think this is going to be pretty cool. If you have any questions, contact police.
Okay, moving on from schedule events, we're going to move on to the administrator's report. Turn it over to our administrator. Thank you, mayor. Um, engineering update. We had a pre-construction meeting for both the Rosalyn Avenue Monroe Marian improvement project and
the Steuen and Barious Road improvement project which was held September 16th and the notice of to proceed was issued on September 22nd. Construction is scheduled to begin the first week in October. Um we have a pre-construction meeting coming up for the French Brook
channel stabilization project uh hopefully scheduled for later this week or early next week. and we received bids for the uh NJ DOT Main Street Improvements Project uh September 24th and there's a resolution on tonight's agenda to to award the project. So, a
couple of um long-standing projects we have on the boards that we're making some progress on. Fine. Work on the electric vehicle charging station which is located at Nightsfield is continuing. Completion is contingent on multiple inspections by public service and given
the constraints, it's probably not going to be operation operational until at least November. We have two rounds of public service things that we have to get through before we can get a cutting card for the power. The county has tenatively scheduled the
milling of River Road from Graphic Boulevard to Milford Avenue from Tuesday, October 7th through Thursday, October 9th with paving to follow on Friday, October 10th and Monday, October 13th. Um, Bur Hall is closed on Monday, October 13th in observance of Columbus
Day. And our next meeting will be a work session which is scheduled for Wednesday, October 15th at 7:00 p.m. That's it for me. Thank you. Any questions for the administrator? Okay. Uh resolutions.
I'm going to ask to have 2025 col 225 pulled for a separate vote. Are there any others that need to be pulled for separate discussion and or vote? Okay, let's move on to council committee reports. Let's start with Councilwoman
Grant. Thank you, May. Well, it may have been an easy summer, but September certainly made up for it. I've been incredibly busy. Uh, starting off in the National Arts Committee, which you met at the beginning of the month, we talked about possibilities for our next event, which
will probably be the end of May. The first two we did were wonderful, and I think the third one's going to be even better as we get used to um doing this sort of thing. and we have a lot of excellent people on the committee who are dedicated to bringing performing arts to an office. So I'm looking
forward to that. Um the leveling board met and an interesting issue was brought up for the first time and that had to do with whether a landlord could request or how a landlord would would request a hardship application to increase rents
for a period of time. And it turns out it's a very complicated issue that we will be studying as we go forward. Uh to our knowledge um that has never requested such a hardship application and they're only good for 12 months in
any case. So I'm not sure if it's worth it the long run, but we will be working on that and um making sure that we um there's a procedure in place for it to happen. The library board of trustees met and we continue to work on strategic planning. We're
talking about trying to complete the local history room by next year. We have applied for a digital life literacy grant for $21,000 which if we get will be used to teach seniors about artificial intelligence and to fund the
technology training room which I think will be a great benefit to all the residents of M3 technology that's constantly changing. Children's programs are always well attended and the summer was no different national that was wonderful. the um
you mentioned that Jay Lennon will be there on October 4th to talk about his book of Latin Milford. He will autograph books. The press the library is charging a little bit um to as a mini fundraiser but the unautographed books will be $25
which is pretty much what they're available for in stores. Two more dollars if you want an autographed copy. So hopefully you'll come down and get a copy. It's really a fabulous book. um the sculpture garden needs some repairs
and we've been in touch with the DPW and they will look into it and most people's favorite sculpture, the one with the staircase and the woman going up the staircase is made out of wood and so it's really not doing well. And I met with the sculptor last week at the
library and we looked at it. Um she's going to take it home with her and see if she can repair it. And if you catch, she will replace something similar. So yeah, all the damage is recognized as weather related, not vandalism. No, no, that this is weather related.
No, no. And and the bases needed some work on them and the DW took care of that. They put a little mulch around the bases and they painted some of them that they needed. But no, this particular sculpture in the others are all made out of marble. Most of them were cement so they're in in good shape. It's just this
one particular one who's seems to be most people's favorite. Um because there will be another one in its place back there. The senior advisory board met. They had there was a wonderful attendance of the senior seniors at the
Bergen County um senior picnic and there will be a flu clinic at the senior center on October 6th um held by the Milford Health Department. Senior field day will be at Kennedy Field on October 7th. Did I mention that
familiar? We do need to sign up for that in advance. However, um the director noted that there has been influx of new people to the center. So that's always nice to have a lot of new folks coming in. The uh senior's trip to the Broadway
show was everybody went had a fabulous time and shows trips are being planned. Uh something else that I did, I represented uh in Milford at the Burton County Open Space Advisory Board where I
spoke about our application for a grant for lights and women's field. I'm not quite sure when we will hear from them, but they have to make their recommendation to the Gen County Open Space um group. And so, um, I'm not sure when it may be,
but we should be hearing I would imagine relatively soon. Hopefully, we will get back. It's usually October, right? End of October. Yeah. End of October here. Um, and the Friends of the Library um, book sale, garage sale, and plant sale.
Fabulous response. And I believe that we made a record amount of money. Although we haven't kept track of it, it seems like it enormous enough compared to previous in previous years. And thank you to Molly Beck Davis and the garden group for bringing some plants to the
library to help support friends and the library. And there are some plants that are left over. They are in the opposite the circulation desk in the library. Come and pick a plant um leave a chew in the tip jar and uh enjoy them. There are
many the plants are all small at this point in many succulents, but they are quite lovely and they are as close to free as you can get. And if you can't afford it, just take them. The um and that's I think that's it. Oh, I do
want to give a shout out to Linda Kamucci, who's the vice president of the Friends of the Library. She is the backbone of the book sale and without her it wouldn't be more more difficult uh more time consuming than it is. She
is absolutely phenomenal at organizing and uh scheduling people to be there. Uh she's there at all hours whipping her back to she um she's really terrific. So, Linda Fishi, thank you very much. And thank you to all the friends of the library because it's a very enthusiastic
and active group and they do a wonderful job. So, thank you. Thank you. And my report will be attended to the minutes if anybody wants to see a more complete I can't council. Uh, thank you, Mayor. Uh just to echo
what Councilman Grant said, it was it was tremendous to go to the senior picnic at Danstone Park and see so many of our wonderful seniors there. It was a great time, beautiful weather. Uh and I have to give it a shout out and a thank you to uh to, you know, to uh Lin
Sullivan for the great job that she does and all the hard work that she does. She's truly an inspiration uh in everything that she does uh for our community. We're very lucky to have her. Uh it is a great time to be a New De Moford
resident because there's no shortage of great sports entertainment. I encourage everybody to watch uh both our high school sports teams and our recreation sports teams in action. It's been a lot of fun to go down to the high school, see some great football games and see some great great soccer games as well.
So it's a great time uh to support our our our student athletes who do a great job every single season. also have to give a compliment to our municipal lines uh for again execute planning and executing a wonderful fishing derby this
this past weekend was very well attended. Uh the weather again was was definitely on our side and it was great to see so many people out with their kids having a fun time. To that end, the municipal alliance has also been very busy not only planning the fishing derby. They're also planning this year's
Adam event, which for those of you who don't know is our memorial in recognition and memory of Adam Roth, who was tragically killed by a drunk driver and also in memory of all those we've lost tragically to drunk driving. That's a very important event. I hope to see as
many people there as possible. Date, I believe they're still finalizing the date, so I don't want to say it just yet. I should have it by the next meeting. Uh our flood mitigation advisory committee has been doing a tremendous job uh being active and visible and seen
throughout our community just as they had a table at night out. They had a table at family funday. They're getting information out to our residents about how to not only join the committee but also to stay safer in times of flooding, not only river flooding, but even flash
flooding. So, they've been very hard at work and they're doing a great job. It was also great to that end to see everyone out at Family Funday. It was a lot of fun and it I I definitely have to thank not only in Sarah, but our police department, our DPW and our fire
department for all coming together and everyone else who made such a great day and great event happen. It was a lot of fun. And just a reminder that as you said, Mayor, Wednesday, October 22nd at 6:30 p.m. will be this year's domestic violence awareness symposium. Just a
point of clarification, the symposium is open both for live in person attendance. Yes, you can come. No pre-registration is required. It's in the high school auditorium. In addition, the symposium will be simultaneously live streamed to the school district's YouTube channel.
that is the uh where people should go if they're looking for the live stream uh on the night of the event. This year's theme at the suggestion of Bergen County Alternatives to domestic violence is digital safety. Uh ADV has made it a priority to try to make the content and
the theme of our symposia as relatable as possible to our youth to tie in our school district who is our partner along with our police department presenting the program. So, we're very excited. is the first year we're going to be talking about digital safety,
social media safety, and staying safer from cyber harassment and cyber stalking. Uh, and I also again thank uh all of our partners, especially our police department who will have representation on this year's panel. We're very excited about that. uh our school district who is always very
supportive all of our stakeholders and also our DPW who doesn't get the recognition and thanks they deserve it every year works very hard to help us put our banners up and raise awareness of the event and then also the dangers of in part violence so looking forward
mayor and I thank this mayor and council for your ongoing support thank you thank you council thank you mayor uh the shade tree uh commission met this month unfortunately I was unable to attend uh and uh our finance committee will be
meeting October 1st uh to review the third quarter finances uh for the year. So that's it for my [Music] tomorrow. Wednesday and it's good to see you out and about. I'm glad you're getting that.
Thank you, Council President. Okay. Um, not to be repetitive, but yes, New Milford uh, board of health met and yes, they are having a flu clinic at the
senior center um, Monday, October 6th, 10:00 a.m. to 2. I urge everyone that you that can should come and get a flu shot. I happened to have been at a wedding uh at
the end of August and the day after the wedding, five people came down with the flu. So flu shots, had we all had them, I'm I'm certain that we would have been feeling better. And they're free. And they are free.
Yes. And they're open to all. Um, and just also a PS about um that family fun day from a board board of health uh standpoint.
One of our inspectors was there that day making sure all the food trucks were, you know, uh, had their accreditation, so to speak, and were following all the rules set out by the
board. Um, I did attend the first responders tailgate uh uh event. Most of us were there. It was really nice to spend a little time with our first responders, police, fire,
and OEM. Uh we hosted them, had just a brief supper, and then they went on to be honored during halftime at the high school football game. So that was pretty nice. Um as far as historic mission
goes, we um are closer to receiving a grant to rehab the headstones at the cemetery. Um, and we had to choose the professional that would do it. So, we
were able to that would be the next hurdle of this grant. So, we're taking care of business, so to speak. Um, and just to mention from a historic point of view, the book that will be signing at
the library. Um, very exciting. So, thank you. That's my Thank you. Councilman Zelman. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, first had public events. Unfortunately, it was signed on the 17th
and last month I was unable to make the meeting. I apologize. Uh, planning board, we didn't have a meeting on the 23rd. However, our next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow evening. Uh, there will be on the agenda a draft resolution for a subdivision in the
Milford that the board approved last month. recreation. Uh soccer is up and running and there's roughly about 28 high school students officiating this year. So, uh there should be enough representation at at each of the games. And um I had I
understand there was over 360 registered to play this year, which is kind of normal for them. They might have been up to 370. Uh Williams Field is finished and is being used right now. It came out beautiful. uh that whole revamping of that field. Uh they're also looking to
create a partnership with historic. Uh the question came up about a lot of our uh parks and facilities that the name the names on the parks and on the facilities are unknown to a lot of people. So they're looking to get together restore it to uh develop some
bios uh for some of those parks and facilities. Um what do I got here now? Let me flip the page. BPW uh the town pave uh paving project will start uh
this week on Lynwood Roosevelt uh maple in front of the middle school that's done with the uh DT grant money. Uh and as uh our administrator said the uh paving on River Madison, which is a county project, that will begin in
October. Uh the crews have been out there doing their bianual cleaning of all the catch basins and the drainage and repair at at Newire was completed and uh I got to see some pictures of it. Uh it came out beautiful. Unbelievable.
They they redid the fence. Uh they put wood chips down throughout before that and into they cleaned out the brook, Hersfield brook. Um, and I think they're going to be planting some trees there. And that's my report.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Thank you, Mayor. So, the uh my report is going to be nice and short today. So, you used up all your time. I used up all my time at the beginning of the meeting. So, the uh the green team I can share
that we have uh ordered a TX bench. So we have achieved our,000 pounds of uh recycling a month early. We have until the uh so we are still collecting tracks. So I just want to make sure people understand.
We uh we're still collecting the TX uh recycling films and then um but our next start date is uh November 1st and the uh environmental commission is
moving right along on their they're working on a community energy planning grant. So they're still plugging along. So more to report in the future. Okay. Um, historic Newbridge Landing yesterday
held their annual October Fest. Um, was very well attended. It's such a great event for them. Um, this was the first time we actually hung a banner for them, so we're going to be doing that more often. They created it pretty late, so we got it up just in time, but we'll have it for next year. It was super fun.
Yeah. And I have to I have to mention the fishing derby. It was probably the one of the largest turnout fishing derbies I've seen in a long time. The weather was great, the music was great, everyone had a great time, and lots of fish were caught. It was pretty cool. What was the big Do you remember what
the biggest What the winner was? 2.8 lb something. But someone caught a giant goldfish. No joke. A huge goldfish. And I didn't realize if you goldfish grow kind of towards like their environment, so the fish tank or
whatever. But because it was in the pond, it was huge. I thought it was fake when it came out. It was real. It was pretty crazy. But congratulations to all of our uh fishing derby winners, right? No, we barbecued them.
It's catch way release. So, you catch it, you weigh it, you release it. Uh the new Elatch provided um sodas, salads, and hot dogs, and we grilled them up and everyone had a great time.
Yeah. No one need any fish at 9:00. Okay. Resolutions. Uh 225 is pulled out. So first I'm going to ask for a motion to approve 2025 col 17 through 2025 col 24.
Motion. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Yeah. You know what? We're going to go to the public first and then we'll do the rest just in case. Oh yes. Yes. Make a motion to open the public. Motion. All in favor? Any opposed? Ladies and gentlemen of the
public, if anyone has any questions or comments regarding the good welfare of Burbilford, we invite you to come up at this time. You just have to give us your name. Um, Charlotte Egan. And I don't know exactly what he decided or said or but my problem was the
parking. I'm at the Brookchester and the parking at the Brookchester has become absolutely ridiculous. You're a a tenant at Brookchester. Okay. And um
the I the police chief or whatever explained to me that people from the Brookchester couldn't park on the street. It wasn't allowed depending on what street. Well, I have been when I have to
um it's I guess west east woodland or something. Yeah, you just you can't that has a separate restriction. Well, what street doesn't doesn't have restrictions? Yes. Fowler Drive, Reichel Road, Boulevard. Oh, just the ones of the apartments. So,
in other words, he's correct. It cuz I'm right at the end right at um just just before it's the first driveway before that. And South Princeton and South Plinton did not have restrictions either. I don't know what that is.
They're close. They're off on Eastwood. Oh, well, what is it like up the street turning in? My problem is is that it's very difficult to walk. I have to work. I have to work till like 11:30 or 12:30 at night. Walking from my car to the
first building hurts. And Brookchester is giving you a difficult time about putting in more handicapped. But the other thing that was said is that Brookchester's claim is that they have the appropriate legally the appropriate
amount of parking for their no. So at one time they thought they did and we've been in conversations with Brookchester. Um they showed us a study. They are deficient in parking. We are working with them to actually add
parking on their property. The last plan I saw was somewhere around 77 parking spots that they're going to try to build on their property. Um, but tenants and I I tell I tell all of them if you have a parking problem, you need to contact Protester. They need to know
that there are problems with parking because we do the best we can. We have certain streets where we've had no restriction and people can park for tenants because we know they're out of room as well. You heard us go through this whole thing about, you know, people's driveways. We know that Brookchester and and the Milford
Village, Milford states, you know, there's problems there as well. And this is part of our overall parking problems in town. But we encourage tenants to talk to their landlords and say, "Hey, we have a parking problem." They tell you when you go in, we know we
have a parking problem, but there's nothing done about it. I mean I if there's nobody could they they're saying that Brookchester owns the CVS parking lot the guy who owns and I have a woman was by me who said she was taking Ubers
in from CVS to her apartment which is by mine mine's the furthest over and I mean because she had to work to 12 and she's just you know get in 12 12:30 I've had people in the back of the parking lot say to me like I'm saying it's becoming
a prison that you have to be home by 10:00 and um you know it's like and then constantly people riding around all over but I mean expecting you to park three and four I can't park three and four and
five blocks away I couldn't possibly walk in and I tend to think you're getting yes to death but that they don't want to have the handicapped um because they don't they prefer prefer
to have no complaints from the regular thing like they said well people are complaining that there's too many handicap and it's like how could there be too many if you know like I can tell you there are six definite people who park here every night it's just become a
ridiculous problem and I literally um have to go I said to them the one night I have to go to my brothers and sleep on a chair then you know I I can drive around and it's like isn't there
someone who can do something about the only thing we can do is allow parking on our streets. We don't control their property. We cannot force them to add working with them and they are you know they're working to do that. Um they are required to have x amount of
handicap for the spots that they put in. That's a that's a state requirement. That's not Yeah. Well, they were saying I guess too I guess as people are aging uh Brookchester was saying they only have to for every 20 cars one or something
and it's like I don't know but it could be I don't I don't know if it's one for 20 or is it in the code or the statue could be in the state you still it's it's private property so it's not
but it predates it but it's been for so long. So, well, that's what Burchester said. But, do you have a handicap placard? Oh, yeah. Definitely. You can request we had a handicap spot in front of your apartment.
Well, I'll put that in. But, you know, I was said even when I asked about it, oh, but that can't guarantee you and people will use it. No, anyone anyone who so and the problem is is that we're just getting more and more handicapped,
you know, people, you know, go. It used to be like I they had one, I fought for four, there was five. They've torn down one side now, but they say they're going to put it back up. But um you know they they just
don't seem to I don't know why they can't have some kind of way that they can say to tenants notify us if you need handicap so we have an idea of how many people in a given area. And I also tend to think they've got to get to a point where they say if you're a legitimate um
tenant that you should have some kind of tag to park in Brookchester that justifies any other thing because they also have um people put uh storing like or parking heavy equipment from other companies. Like if they're saying to
you, "Oh, we have enough parking for our apartments." But then almost looks like they're renting out like store your stuff here. And then people who have like three or four cars if you're saying okay we have enough parking for this
apartment but those people are allowed to have three or four cars. So they're not even limited. you know, if there's some way for them to I don't understand why people each tenant paying shouldn't be allowed to have a sticker on the car that you know that they're a legitimate
tenant and then but even that would have to be enforced by Brookchester and they they're not going to want to pay somebody to go around and and look at that every night. Well, even if you could just report the person to Brookchester, but it's suggested that they consider
assign parking. Yeah, it's need to get rid of the garages and add more parking spaces. And two, were the garages considered parking spaces? Yes. Yes, they are. Because they they've rented them out for storage and I had a guy they said that they're working on
eliminating. Well, but unfortunately again like the mayor said, we can't force them to do anything. Well, that's why the problem was is not being able to if you really can't park anywhere. I mean, I've driven around for
three and four blocks and I really can't walk in from there. It isn't safe. God forbid the winter. And so, it's sort of coming down to, well, do I have to give up my job so that I'm home so that I
don't come in or or somehow eventually give up Brookchester, which isn't feasible for me either, you know. So what if there if you're saying that with the woodland is there is the street that I would be allowed to park on like a
block within a block or so? Yeah, you were looking to park on East Woodland. Yeah, I usually I park there and walk down and walk into right connected to East Woodland is South Trenton Street. It's a side street that Well, do you drive up East Woodland to
find it? Yeah, cuz there I haven't. and that you're as of right now East Woodland has certain restrictions on it where you cannot park overnight. Yeah. In the future that may change and Eastwood may be well will that be included in what you were talking about?
That's a separate issue because it is a separate restriction. Oh, the people on East Woodland came to us and wanted a restriction to stop tenants from parking on the street. But that may change. Yeah, cuz like I said, it's just I've,
you know, I sat in my car the other day. It's like, so what? I have to go drive to my brothers and sit in the chair till the next and even East Woodland, it's like you could park till 5, but you have to move
it between 5 and 7. Well, nobody's going to be moved by 5 in the morning. There isn't going to be a spot to move to at 5 and 7. So, well, what is it that will change if you change what you were talking about? Right now, all streets have a
restriction overnight between 2 and 5. We're not going We're going to eliminate the 2 to 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. on the streets that don't have other restrictions. So, even the street you're telling me about would have No, still have the restriction. No, no, don't
not anymore. But it has it now. Yes. Has the overnight restriction. It has to overnight from 2:00 to 5:00. Yeah. And that'll probably be told in December or something. Probably. Yeah. Yeah. So, it's, you know, it's just not it's
insane. And whatever it is from Chester, too. I mean, the numbers have gone up of people are it's ridiculous. They They have not had good parking management as they've expanded. Yeah. Just hasn't happened. And they're saying they're going to add 77. They we were we've been talking to
them for a while about parking issues because they do they do have flat land. I mean I've looked and it's like you have flat land. They put in a dog run nobody uses you brought that to their attention. But yes, in our latest talks they have
identified an area where they could potentially build 77 spots. So we'll see. So bottom line still there is no street parking till maybe the 1st of November. Mhm. Well after the 1st but
nothing will change until the ordinance change. Yeah the ordinance has to change right. So I still have to go to work although you know but well it's just really difficult to have to come home and have no place to contact the landlord every single day.
Yeah. Well, well, thanks anyway. You're welcome. Okay. We're sorry for the inconvenience. We do our best to help them out, but there's only so much we can do as well. Yeah. Yeah. I I just figured it was Brook gestures delay.
It is. Oh, man. Did you want to say something? I just wanted to add um that I have seen uh garages being emptied in the Birkchester parking lots. Um, and I've been told by residents that they've been
told to clear out the garages that are being used for storage. So, I do believe that that is happening. I I know it happens in the summer. I think it's still continuing to happen. Now, what happens with an empty garage in Brookchester whether that directly
leads to unless it's somebody on top, but you ask that one woman said to me she's waited a few years. The weight on the garages is and I think they're like 17. Well, they're supposed to become parking spaces. They're Yeah. storage is supposed to come out and
there's supposed to be cars in there and that's what Chester told us they were doing. They were inspecting all the garages. Anyone who's using the storage had to come out or the garage is being evicted. Yeah. So that's not regulating the people because one man I drove way up into the back one
night and some man was there tinkering with the truck that sits there, you know, and something he was fixing and he said, "Oh, oh, I know you have trouble walking. My car is parked down closer to the building. Um, follow me down and then
I'll put my car back up here because I don't want to put my car in the garage. doing stuff in there. That's a problem. And so there's three spaces he's taking. Granted, very nice to switch spaces with you, but he should be using his garage.
But we are working with Brookchester. Brookchester, you know, they they told us that they want to help fix the parking problem and we're going to see where that goes. All right. Thank you. I'll go try to talk to them. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
Hello everyone. Uh, my name is Karina Arinita. I am I couldn't hear you. I'm sorry. Oh, Dr. My name is Karina Arinada. I am the monitoring coordinator for the county program of alternatives to domestic violence. It's nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you as well. I um am excited for the symposium this year. I'm going to be a panelist there. This is my first year being on the panel, so I'm excited for us to have the symposium. Um, I've been at Alternatives to domestic violence for about 10 years now. I've also been a New Milford
resident for about 10 years. So, it all happened at the same time. Um, can you hear me? Okay. Yes. Okay, perfect. Um, I am excited that we're having our symposium and that we're going to do um the attack facilitated abuse like um focus. Um, I
think it's so needed. I uh was having a conversation the other day about New Milford specifically and um we're not a huge town. We're like 17,000 residents I believe. Um but we have a lot of schools. We have a lot of schools in in town. I believe we have a high school,
middle school, and elementary school and some private schools. Yeah. Yeah. So, I think the issue of um teen dating abuse and and domestic violence in the homes and what children are seeing, I think it's a good opportunity for us to talk about it as a
town. Um I know it's not an issue that's specific to New Milford only. It's everywhere unfortunately. Um so, uh I'm glad that we're having it here and I just want to thank you all for allowing to the program here again this year. Um,
I think it's a huge um a huge step for New Milford. Like it's a a big opportunity for us to show up as a town and really support one another. Um, and to really send the message of like, you know, if you're a victim or survivor of
domestic violence, um, we're here to support you. So, thank you. No, thank you. Thank you for what you do. I mean, we are very proud that, you know, we we started this. Yeah. I mean, I have to thank Councilman Seymour like eight and a half years ago, he came to me and said, "We got to do this." Yeah.
And I'm like, "Tell me all about it." And seven years, eight years later, we're on our seventh annual And they've been fantastic. Each one has been fantastic and unique in its own way. Mhm. And um you know, it really I think it spreads important awareness
and gives information that people didn't know about about resources available. Yeah. I mean, he'll go on forever talking about it, but you know, absolutely. But thank you for doing what you're doing and being a part of it. Yeah, absolutely. And I think um as a community too, like I don't expect
everyone to have the same passion for domestic violence as I do. I obviously chose it as my career path, but um you know, we are always looking for volunteers. I um for New Milford specifically for our DVRT program. Um I'm the staff member that's going to be
coming to New New Milford Police Department um to speak to our victims if they want an advocate in person. Um and that's definitely an area where we're always looking for volunteers. Um so if as a town if there's something we could
do to promote that to like put that out there like that would be awesome. I would love that. I just want to say thank you. Um, the fact that you're not only doing the work you're doing at ADB, but that you're a resident makes it more special because I think it helps to bring it home and
connect it with our residents. I mean, this is the new Milford Symposium. We started it new Milford, the first of its kind. We're very proud of that. Uh, so it's extra special, not only that you're going to be on the panel and and you're doing such great work with ABV, but that you're you're wrestling. Yes. So, thank you.
Thank you. that happy. Did I just ask you to spell your last name for me? Uh, yeah. It's a R A N E D A N E D A. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you.
[Music] Seeing that there is no other member of the public that wishes to come forward at this time, I ask for a motion to close the second. All in favor? I Any opposed? Okay. consent. I have already
the resolution with the consent. Consent. Okay. We did a motion on everybody. Okay. So, resolution 2025 colon 225. Um, this is the authorized participation in litigation to address the constitutionality andor validity of New
Jersey's affordable housing mandates. By passing this, we will be joining um the local leaders for responsible planning. That is the coalition of 30 towns in New Jersey. Um I had mentioned uh the Bergen County towns previously.
Uh the Bergen County towns include Allenale, Closter, Anglewood, Franklin Lakes, Hillsdale, Montville, Norwood, Ultapan, Oridel, Washington Township, Westwood, and Wyoff. Basically, this is a litigation against the formula used for affordable housing
mandates. We think, you know, we think the it's flawed. There's unequal distribution. There are 62 62 urban a municipalities that have no affordable housing mandate whatsoever. As a result, what their
share would be is pushed upon other municipalities such as the milford. So, we're getting an unfair burden of extra obligation. There's also no credit for existing housing. Any residential units built before 1980 do not count. New Milford has 2,120
apartment units which account for 34% of our housing stock. Uh most of those do not count towards our obligation. We also get no credit for flood losses. We have 40 homes that are gone from the Blue Acres program. We have 10 more that are in the current round of funding. So
that could be 50 homes by the end of 2026. Continuous cost to the bureau. Despite investing thousands of dollars in complying and all of our plans, we are still not immune to litigation and challenges from private property
developers, from the New Jersey Builders Association or from Fair Share Housing. And the other part of the uh affordable housing rules, it's never ending mandates. It actually goes every 10 years to perpetuity. So we would have to
continue every 10 years to pick up 40% of the share of municipalities that have no mandates. Now these are the type of things that almost make it impossible for our infrastructure and to satisfy a need for affordable housing in a town like Newford.
So we are joining other towns who are saying we are not against affordable housing. We're not against it at all. We want the law changed so it's more fair, equitable, and just for our communities. Um, it is a $20,000 entrance fee to get
into the coalition and the lawsuit payable over two years. So, we would be paying $10,000 this year and we would pay $10,000 in 2026. So, that's the crux of it. Mayor, I think I think it is important that we join this litigation. I think
that I agree with everything that you said and I think it's an important uh step that we have to take as a bureau. you. We've heard about the lawsuit. It started, you know, over a year ago and as more towns were joining and we saw the progress they were they were making,
it makes sense for us to be a part of it and and help out and try to make some changes. Definitely. So, what I'm going to do is I'm going to ask for a roll call vote on this. So, if anyone has anything to say, you can say it before you uh before you vote. So, may I get a roll call, please?
Yes. Councilman Saden, yes. Councilman Zer. Yes. Council President Duffy. Yes. I'm very happy to see that we'll be joining in on this. We've tried every
which way to comply and it's been made impossible um by things that were out of our control. So, uh good on us. I vote yes. Councilman Grosky. Most definitely. Yes,
Councilman Seymour, I agree with everything that Mayor Patino and Council President Duffy said. We absolutely need to take this step for a burough. Yes, Councilman Gray, I agree with comments that we've already made. And you know, I do believe in
affordable housing. And when the um New Jersey Supreme Court required it, the rules that were developed made much more sense than they do today. They've gone through numerous revisions. There was a time
when you could um when housing that was built before 1985 was included, which would have made things much easier for us because we do really have affordable housing in this town. It's just not considered as such by the uh current
law. And so I totally support this. I'd like to uh you know thank everyone for that. I think this is you know this is going to be good. I mean just I'll just throw out one last crazy number. Um
typically 20% is the is the minimum for affordable housing units when there's a new development. Um if you look at our obligation that we have which is um 300 Let's see. 322.
I want to get the exact number. 368 units is our current obligation. That's 20%. So to satisfy that, we would have to build 1,840 units in the Milford right now to satisfy that. So just think about that.
Not to mention that two of the developers that are challenging us don't want us to don't want to even do 20%. They want to do 15. Correct. Which is we talked about challenges in litigation because so it's never ending.
Is there anything else before council? If not, I would ask for a motion to return. Motion second. All in favor? Any second? Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the poll. They're
[Music] the colors in the