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Remain to order. Roll call, please. >> Miss Dolan, >> here. Mrs. Joffrey >> here. >> Mayor Morgan >> here. >> Mr. Kamisky >> here. >> Mrs. Mcnite >> here. >> Mr. Gardner >> here. Salute the flag.

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>> I pledge 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. It's a public meeting. Burough council bur county union state

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New Jersey ad notice has been given in accordance with PL1 1975 chapter 231 that annual notice or revision was made in performance with section 13 of the act. Before we do anything um uh last

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week uh Frank Mcini passed away. >> Uh a lot of you probably don't know who he is but He was a long time a member of the zoning board and he was a chairman for a great many years. So

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very much. >> Thank you. Okay. We need a um we have a um ordinance 05. Please read the title. bond ordinance providing for various capital improvements in and by the burough of New Providence in the county

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of Union, New Jersey, appropriating 2,910,215 therefore and authorizing the issuance of 2,416,000 bonds or notes of the bureau to finance part of the cost thereof.

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>> Okay. What this is is a uh bond or remnance for capital improvements. Uh can I have a motion please? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Uh anybody in the audience would like to address council on this ordinance and this ordinance only. Seeing no one, I

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declare a public hearing closed. Roll call, please. >> Miss Dolan, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jeffoffrey, >> yes. >> Mr. Kamsky, >> I. >> Mrs. Mcnite? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gardner? >> Yes. I have approval. Need approval of minutes for May 26, please. Motion,

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please. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor. >> I. >> No. So be it. June 4th. >> Motion, please. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Yes.

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>> No. So be it. Okay. We have a correspondence with uh from Alex Kogan uh about the skeleton on the corner. Um clearly there's really nothing we can do with that. Is that

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correct? >> Yes. Holiday ornament. Call it what you want. It's a an attractive nuisance. Um it would be it would be a battle and it would be just a start because it's it's not even the only skeleton in town.

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Yeah, >> it's hopefully they'll they'll get over their little fancy there. >> Okay, we have board of adjustment for 305 um Union County uh utility authority. Uh

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the tonnage for type 13 uh went up to 13475 per ton. Um and that'll be beginning in June 20th. uh state planning commission office of

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uh uh planning advocacy an annual report. Any comments? >> Seeing none, we'll go to council business administration nine. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, resolution 2026-205 is a resolution authorizing an agreement

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between the Bureau of New Providence and IC Community Development for laser fitch software for records management. So, this resolution is approving a 12month contract which includes software licenses, hosted storage, technical

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support, and software updates. The licensing option provides a software as a service solution hosted on Amazon web services. The software transforms paper records into searchable digital files in the clerk's office. So very good

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improvement. And the second one is authorization to solicit proposals for management enhancement review. So we are seeking permission to solicit proposals for the management enhancement review to expedite the process in the event we receive grant money to complete the

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project. So proactively looking for um a review service. >> Okay. Sustainability. Uh Matt. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Resolution 206 is a resolution of the Burrow of New Providence County Union adopting the

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community energy plan. Uh last week or last meeting, we had Lindsay from Higher Grill come uh and she gave us our presentation on the community energy plan. Uh we are now adopting it here. The community plans tailored long-term roadmap created by the burrow to reduce

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energy consumption, lower gas greenhouse gas emissions and transition to clean renewable energy. Uh it aligns local sustainability actions with statewide energy goals. And the plan also, as we discussed in her presentation, allows us

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to apply for grants as they come available. >> Okay. Community activities. Keep going. >> Thank you. Resolution 207 is a salary resolution. We are just adding a camp counselor to our summer camp. Resolution 208 is a resolution approving

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requisition R2601270 for Ben Schaefer Recreation, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $74,520 for patio and driveway replacement related to the Oakwood Park playground project. So the

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um asphalt and the concrete um patio that uh is existing at Oldwood Park is being ripped out, replaced and uh this will be uh an enhancement along with the enhancement that we're doing by upgrading the playground starting next

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month. Resolution 209 is a resolution authorizing the mayor and the municipal clerk of the Burough of New Providence to execute an agreement with the county of union to modify the cooperative agreement dated June 14th as amended July 17th. Uh this is a resolution that

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authorizes the bureau to amend and continue its participation in the co-op with Union County for administration of federally funded community development and housing programs. We get a lot of the community development block grants and things of that nature. This allows us to participate in those programs uh

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along with others uh related to federal housing, community development, affordable housing and homelessness assistance for the fiscal year 2026 2027. >> Okay. Five minutes, Lisa. >> Thank you, Mayor. Resolution 2026-210.

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It's a resolution providing for the insertion of any special item of revenue in the 2026 budget pursuant of NJSA4A 4-87 chapter 159 PL1948

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Comcast Public Educational and Government Access Capital Grant. Um the public educational and government access capital grant is part of our local cable franchise agreement with Comcast. Um the

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funds are restricted to purchasing, repairing or upgrading media equipment and facilities. These one-time allocations ensure that community access channels maintain functional production infrastructure.

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Uh resolution 2026 211 is a resolution providing for the insertion of any special item of revenue in the 2026 budget pursuant of NJSA 484-87 chapter 159 PL1948

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CDBG year 51 additional funding. Uh, this is accepting $6,590 in additional CDBG money for the completion of the ADA ramp and bathrooms at the municipal annex, which is across

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the street. Um, resolution 2026-212 is a resolution providing for the insertion of any special item of revenue in the 2026 budget pursuant of NJSA4A4-87 chapter 159 PL1948 Alcohol Education Rehabilitation and

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Enforcement Grant. uh the sole use of this fund is to finance work that facilitates the ad ed adjudication of the of DWI cases. So, um, for instance, things like compensation to judges,

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municipal court personnel, municipal prosecutors, interpreters, cases involving indigent defendants, um, to public defenders and expert witnesses for special DWI court sessions conducted after the conclusion of regular court

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hours. Could be used for the purchase of DWI material such as forms, supplies, tickets, etc. related to DWI cases. purchase of DWI publications or any other items needed to manage the process of these DWI cases.

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Resolution uh 2026-213 is a transfer to trust funds reserve resolution approving the transfer of 2026 budget appropriations to either trust funds or reserves for state unemployment insurance snow removal

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storm recovery reserve for terminal leave and reserve for tax appeals. Resolution 2014 is a resolution authorizing the cancellation of taxes receivable. This is approving the uh refund of second quarter taxes of

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$3,91.95 uh for a 100% disabled veteran. 2020 20 resolution 2026 215. We're res uh we're uh authorizing the payment of the attached payables list amount is 1,48,34155.

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We have the city of Summit for 994,000 uh 2026 sewer charges, 119,000 to the New Providence Library for their June appropriations, 45,000 for the for a police vehicle to

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Neielson Ford of Morristown, 41,000 to the county of Union second quarter dispatch, and 38,000 for to the uh Garden State uh GIF for supplemental assistance. Assistant

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>> assessment. Sorry, supplementalist assessment. >> Thank you, >> Brian. You're up. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, resolution 2026 216, resolution relative to issuance of plenary retail consumption license to

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Alleycat, Inc. for 2026 2027 license year. uh -27 resolution relative to issuance of plenary retail distribution license to JFWNEB Inc. for the 2026 2027 license year and

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dash resolution-218 resolution relative to issuance of plenary retail distribution license to John Sha John LLC for the 2026 2027 license year and this is license

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renewals for Harley's Jersey fine wines and Eminem liquors respectively >> okay uh we have a application for New Province Lions Club 1262

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and the application was properly prepared and reviewed. Uh next are um resolutions um for step uh advancement for the employees.

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um enroll uh in accordance with the collecting collective bargaining unit. Uh Kevin Gutierrez going to step four. Uh Marcos Martinez

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going to step six. Carly Bowman going to step six. Uh Ron Deetti, step seven. Uh the next one uh is resolution 223. As

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you know, uh Bryce Garrison uh retired and um it's always been a tradition. Anybody retiring good standing, we let them have a we authorize the sale of their service weapon.

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Okay. And we'd like to thank Bryce for all uh all the years he spent in New Providence. Great guy. He'll be missed and I'm sure we'll see him around quite a bit. Um next resolution 224 is

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advancing Edgardo Aguilar to basically step in the police department. Um this will increase his uh rate right right now and uh they'll be going to the police academy in Union County.

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Okay. Uh let's go to council committee reports. Um I have a couple things. We had storm water meeting uh the other night. Uh Allan, I think your your comments were right when you turned around and said it

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got uh dominated by two people and you know it shouldn't have been, but there was information there. I know a lot of information was put out there. People didn't like the answers, but we're constricted by uh by law and it's

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very frustrating. Everything's a balance again. And right now we're we're looking to clean out the flume again that filled up again. That's going to cost a good amount of money to be doing that. We're trying to get

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transit to clean out that pipe over over on by the railroad trestle. The uh the couple places that uh were brought up. I know Ralph went out there the other day and took a look at it and

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um we'll leave it at that. So, um there's a lot going on. A lot of things happen that people don't realize are going on, especially when it comes to infrastructure,

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but a lot of it's underground, so you really don't know. But they keep on uh you know cameraing uh all the all the pipes. Uh we're going out for uh GIS studies to uh comply with

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the MS4 requirements. So um I thought the uh meeting uh was good with with some of the information, but you know what? We just got to keep on top of it. This is going to take a long time. I know other towns are struggling

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with the same thing. So, um, we'll go from there. Um, we had the 5K race. Five, there was about 5,000 people there. I welcome people. They were very happy to be there. You know, I say this

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all the time. You know, being from Jersey, you have a stigma, right? People think we're we're hurt, that we're not we're not uh compassionate, things like that. But I can tell you

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my experience when somebody is in need, the first ones to jump up and say, "We'll help are people from Jersey. I remember when we had Hurricane Sandy." I mean, all those Floyd, all those all

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those hurricanes back in the day that Florida, Texas, all these people got got hit and we always send resources down there. Then when it came our turn, some people uh turned their back on us. Well,

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we don't do that here. We take care of business. Um that's the one thing I do want to bring up is flag day is June 14th. Very nice. >> There you go. >> And um it it was uh they had the

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ceremony over at the American Legion which is always what's it on uh Friday this >> 14th is what? >> I think it's Saturday. >> So they'll be over there Sunday night. And it's always I I love the ceremony.

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>> They tell you each folded flag, what it means. It's extraordinary. Um, are you going to tell me about the library exhibition that they had tonight? >> The library exhibition? >> Yeah, I guess not.

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>> The art exhibition. I went over there >> students. >> No, no, it was from residents. very uh uh the artwork is incredible. Some pieces are just beautiful, but they're celebrating uh America 250 and

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uh it was it was fantastic. >> And I guess somebody's going to talk about the unity day, right? >> Yeah. It was fabulous. The kids are >> outstanding. So, um that's all I have. Got to leave.

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>> Thank you, Mayor. Um yes. So the diversity in terms of the diversity committee, the unity day event was held on Saturday um June 6th at the high school gym. It was a huge success. Um and it's just it's a genuine celebration

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about how we are all part of one community as we still celebrate each of our unique backgrounds. Um so new to the event this year was a water blessing which was a really cool

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idea. Um one of the co-chairs of the diversity committee had she's an ordained minister and she uh encouraged people to come up and pour a little bit of water that could have some meaning to them or it could just been from their own water bottle and make an intention.

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Um, as they poured it into the bowl, it got all mixed together and that became the unity water. And then they used the water to um to water a plant uh that's actually kind of a tree uh that is in

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the courtyard of the high school. And so we're thinking maybe that could be, you know, a new tradition because it's very nice and symbolic. Um plus they had new musical acts there. Uh, and it was just a lively, engaging

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uh, event all around. And I'm sure the student organizing committee will come back to the council meeting and talk about how they thought it went and what they might plan for next year. Um, terms of the municipal alliance, the every 15 minutes production happened as planned

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and uh, the videos are out. Uh, you can see them on YouTube. You just have to search for every 15 minutes program 2026 new Providence High School. There's the actual 15 minutes production and then there's a behind thescenes one which is kind of fun to

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watch too. Um the pool is open for business on the weekends. Um it will be fully open once schools are out. So please take advantage of that. We certainly have the weather to support it. And I just wanted to add one thing about the stormwater uh town hall. I

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think that um we probably had at least 50 people. Would you say 40 50 people? >> There were 30 people. >> 30 people. >> It was us. >> Felt like more if you count us. Okay. If you count us and callers and

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so anyway, it was a good crowd. Um, and uh, I I think what I feel like we need to do a little bit of followup to get um, some kind of fact sheets put together um, that cover some of what uh,

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the engineers talked about, but I think it would be great to have it in writing and have it on our website and shared with the public maybe in an upcoming newsletter. um some information about you know why is New Providence so prone to flooding you know what is already in

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place what are the projects that have been done and um what are we doing about identifying additional solutions so I think that would go a long way to um creating an better understanding on the part of the public about what we're

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actually dealing with here um I think it is still important for people if they have an issue in their home uh to use the action line if they're concerned about it. But that addresses that one person's question and I think we have an obligation to do the broader educational

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program too. So, uh that is hopefully something that will be getting put together by colleers shortly. That's it for me. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh just to to go back to community day, I was there as well.

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>> Sorry. And uh again the the students never failed to impress. Um the we opened it up to more countries this year. It feels the the Albanian food was amazing. >> Thank you, Bonito. >> Bonito. Bonito. Um

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>> notably there was um a student teaching about Lebanon and his approach to just like how he engaged me to tell me about it. And I'm like, "Wow, this kid, he has to definitely be like a senior or a freshman in college." He was a sophomore in high school.

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>> He was just how he engaged me in the conversation. Our students never fail to impress. >> Um, and performances, the middle school um jazz band, >> jazz band, that was great. >> Playing Azie Osborne and Metallica, >> you know, they were just they were

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amazing. So, um, it was amaz every year. Can't can't wait to see what they do next. Um, are you reporting on the seniors that were going on Lantern Hill on Friday and America 250? >> America 250. Okay. Well, that's it for me then. So, other than that, Operation

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>> Alan, you have anything? >> Fortunately, not. >> Okay, Matt. >> Okay. So, I wanted to just mention so tonight we passed um the resolution for for the asphalt and cement at Oakwood. So, I did I got this nice little letter

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in the mail. Um, and I'm assuming it went out to probably all the residents within a couple hundred feet of Oakwood Park. But, uh, as you know, we've been talking about this for a while. We're going to be replacing Oakwood Park's playground with a brand new playground

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that features interactive elements, inclusive play parts, new fencing, and new surfacing. Uh, and of course, as we pass tonight, the walkway will be repaved. So, that's exciting stuff. It's going to take about five to six weeks

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according to the memo. Um, but the playground will be closed at that time. Um, it's going to be great. So, we're really looking forward to to that getting in motion in the next few weeks. >> I bet you can add two weeks to that. >> Yeah, for sure. So, uh, you know, uh,

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funny you should ask, um, about a one pager because I kind of took some notes and I went and put some things together and I'm going to just want to mention a few things tonight and I think to to your point, this is something that we can kind of organize and probably put up on our website, but this is more of a

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follow-up to the storm water town hall that we had. Um, so again, these are just some comments and notes about some of the projects I wanted to just go through. Uh we've had some drainage improvements all throughout the

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town including both west and east side. Um on the west side, Central A, Pearl Street, Fairview A, Evergreen A, uh also Union Klein, Bramley Court, Southgate Railroad Tracks, Fairview Avenue, Fairmont Road,

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Floral A, and Spring Streets. These are all like projects that have happened along the way over the last 20 years. um as as construction and renovations happen throughout the town. Uh

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other projects include Brookside Drive drainage improvements, Pine Way drainage improvements, Ashlin Road, Brook Hollow Drive, Maple Street, Grove Terrace, and the Clearwater Dam. All of these

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projects have cost a little over $2 million. Uh since the July 2025 storm, the burrow spent over $500,000 on maintenance and repair of the deer fruit beer field flume and various locations

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including second, third, and fourth street. And as the mayor just mentioned, we are already looking at doing additional cleanup at the flume. Uh we have an annual maintenance program. Our DPW does travel around town and does

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maintenance on all of our um storm water maintenance. Uh we authorized collars recently to perform a detailed mapping of the storm and sanitary sewer system. Right. The prior maps are outdated. So, we're going to be locating all inlets,

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manholes, pipes, pipe sizes, and all that will be completed by the end of the year. Um, all of our storm water outfalls to the Saltbrook Payic River and their tributaries are inspected each year and cleaned as and repaired as necessary.

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And the burrow also files an annual storm water report with NJP every year since 2004. Matt, can I ask you a quick question? When they say uh drainage improvements, how do they make drainage improvements? >> So, uh an example would be when we

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inspected one on Ashland over by Pine Way. Um we had a storm and it caves in and that's where all the the the the storm water has to get to the river, but it can't because there's it caved in. There's um

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>> debris >> debris. There's trees. all the the actual erosion of the soil that filled it all in. So, improvements, they go in there and uh dig it all out. Uh put all new they'll put some stone in um other, you

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know, netting like metal fencing, things of that nature to make sure that the debris doesn't get back into that. >> This is something that like is a reoccurring thing. This is not like a hey, we made drainage improvements and now it's fixed. This is something that >> we go back every year and check every single one of them. In fact, the one on

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Pine Way at the end of Pine Way was a huge project, right? And they it took them a while to get that finished, but you have to check them all the time because you don't know what comes through the pipes

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>> after every storm, right? There's clean up to be done. So, uh, all new development projects that happen in town are reviewed by our burough engineer to ensure they comply with the NJ D standards to reduce preconstruction

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storm water runoff. It must be less than what it is postdevelopment. uh I don't know if I remember it's was it 10% 510 15 or something that effect based on 210 and 100year storms. So um

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one of the questions that came up during the during the town hall was related to Bard and and whether or not Bard was producing more runoff now than it did prior to the construction. And I can I can say unequivocally that the answer is

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it does not reduce it does not produce more runoff today than it did prior. Uh and that is that is >> that is a requirement by the state. It's not um you know a requirement um through through ordinance. And I asked I asked

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our engineers how do they how do because that was another question that came up. How do you manage to how do you know I think Brian actually you asked the question. How do you calculate that? >> What's the baseline before you begin? >> And the there's those calculations are uh apparently like a phone book size of

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you know calculations between you know um all the different factors that go into into the project in ter in terms of uh um how much water currently how many how much asphalt is currently existing, right? How much roof coverage is

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currently existing? Things of that nature. and all those go into a calculation. And the calculation um when the new projects come in, they have to put in these catch basins and things like that that will hold the water and make sure that the water doesn't run off. And it has to run off, like I said, less than it did prior to the project.

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Uh and that's been happening for for many years here in the Providence. Um some of the things that we can't do, we talked about we can't increase our storm water runoff to downstream residents and other communities. Uh we can't dredge uh some of our streams

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without a New Jersey D permit, which is extremely difficult to get. Uh we can't build large detention basins without D approval. Uh and some of the things that we talked about that we can do moving forward are keeping our streams and

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ditches free of trees and debris that restrict the flow. talked about adopt a drain, things like that where we can as residents try and help uh and keep uh debris from getting into into

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the system. Uh enforce our burrow easements through our building department to keep residents from encroaching on them. So, as we were reviewing some of uh some of our our problem spots, we've we've seen um people are using easements to dump their

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their garden waste. um they may be putting fences and buildings like sheds on them and that causes problems as well. Uh we can keep our outfalls inspected yearly, cleaned and repaired as necessary. Uh those are some of the things that we're continuing to do. Um

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and continue to spend capital money and grants to upgrade our storm water systems as the NJ allow. And those are some of the things that we've been talking about and that I know the committee has been addressing. Uh, so like I said, we we'll try and put this together into like a one pager to put up

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on the website. That'll be a good little recap from our town hall. Um, and additional information to come, right, in terms of communication and how we communicate uh once the systems mapped, you know, what has been cleaned and

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where, right, and where we're where we're at in that process and when. And so that uh, you know, if the public sees an issue, they can report it. um and and they're aware of, you know, when things were cleaned out last. So, those are some of the little lowhanging fruit that

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uh you guys are working on. >> One one thing I was impressed was when Nanny was talking about the mapping of the pipes is that there may be three, four pipes going into one major pipe and

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you got to figure out which one's blocked, which one's a it's a complicated thing. And the only way they can really check it is sending the camera through. So, you know, like I said, this is going to

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take a long time. Just like the paving projects, >> uh, one thing we do when we pave a road, we tell the utilities what, two years ahead of time, Keith, >> and they are supposed to check the utilities underneath, make

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sure they're all right, because once we pave it, and they're responsible uh for five years if they tear it up. So, um you know, things happen, but you know, we we're always trying to keep ahead of

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everything going on. So, >> and one of the things one of the interesting things I learned, I don't know if you guys caught this, but uh our streets, they act as a means of moving water as well, right? So when the when the salt brook backs up, it's going to

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back up into the street. And the street's paving and design is encouraging the water to move down the street, right? To go move run downhill as water likes to do. Um if and this was an interesting point that was brought up

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in in the in the town hall. If you have a an issue where water is happen to jumping the curb and coming into your yard or your lawn or you're coming it's coming up to your house that that could potentially be an issue with the street. So we need to know that right. So so report that and we can come and take a

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look at it. Uh and I just want to end with you know you know I'd like to thank Andy and Marita for for coming uh and doing that town hall. Um you know I've dealt with Andy 20 years ago. You guys heard me. You know, I wasn't very

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happy with him when I had to deal with him when I wanted to do work on my own house because, you know, he made me do a lot of things that I didn't think were necessary. I didn't know much better, right? I was a young homeowner. Um, and I just thought it was, you know, my right to do what I wanted to do. Um,

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and, you know, 20 years later, I realized how important that role. >> Yeah. How important that role is and and and all the things that we've done to help mitigate, you know, my neighbors from getting my runoff on my work. um you know helped. So you know I do see it

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I see that you know importance now. So uh you know I appreciate I I appreciate his his knowledge and and his experience. >> Thank you for doing that. It was a great synopsis. That's great. It was just you know you hit all the facts and thank

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you. >> You're up please. >> My turn. Um okay so um so Kathleen talked about the every 15 minutes um which is a wonderful program at the municipal alliance meeting uh last week

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they said that it is going to be the last every 15 minutes because the grant will not fund it anymore. Um, so I mean I feel like we kind of go through we went through this with community service association. The grant becomes

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so restrictive and it kind of really ties your hands on what you can do and what you can't do. There's a lot of things, you know, every 15 minutes, the dances, things like that that they don't want to fund anymore. So a lot of the talk at the meeting was what can we do to save it? You know, what kind of

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maybe, you know, fundraising can we do? what kind of private fundraising can we get like maybe a subcommittee under one of our committees just a lot of talk you know and a lot of ideas being thrown around which is good you know it's it's a really great group uh the the committee and I think that they're going

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to come up with some wonderful ideas for how to uh how to fund it going forward I mean one of the I think Diane Diane mentioned using uh money from the the donate the clothing bids I mean that generates about $4,000 a year, you know,

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like so so there there's ways we can we can kind of hopefully circumvent uh some of those restrictive uh grant restrictions. So we'll see what happens there. >> Just chiming in about that. There's a big difference between we do get the grant money, but we also have the trust money. >> Yeah. So we can't use the trust money

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either, though. >> Yeah. >> So we may we may want to consider whether we want to be a part of that group anymore or if we want to do it privately. We might we might like have two you know um you know the municipal alliance still does great things. It still has some wonderful programs. Um we

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are part of a coalition with all the other towns around here where they'll have you know one program and we send our people there. Sometimes we host it and they come here. So there is a lot of good that comes out of the municipal alliance. But um you know >> could you possibly supplement with uh

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the new province education society? where we thought about that. >> Education foundation, >> sorry, education foundation. >> Yep. They've got some good deep pocket, not deep pockets, but they've got some good fun. They're like they're like professional fundraisers. >> We've thought about we that was one of the ideas tossed around. So, they'll

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>> they'll come up with it. >> They'll come up with it. >> It's really a shame because >> that one program probably affects >> so many >> more kids out there and make them really think about what's going on. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I was I was impressed. or even a

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joint venture with the board of ed because this is really geared towards kids and kids in school. >> Yeah. >> So have worked together. >> Yeah. >> For funding purposes. >> So but um >> the municipal alliance is kind of

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breaking off into different areas too like looking at seniors and so you know both both of them are going to be important. We'll just we'll work through it. Um, America 250. Just a reminder that on

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June 27th is the old time baseball game. Everybody must be there. >> You must be there. >> I heard was playing. Yeah, I'm playing. >> 4 o'clock at Miller Field. So, >> Mother's Day is the 21st. This is the Friday after the 27th.

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>> Yeah. The 27th. >> Yeah. Yeah. Start warming up. >> You coach You and Coach Miller. So, that's that's going to be uh that's gonna be a lot of fun. Um we have let's see what else. Oh, the the older adult uh committee um

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this Friday at Lantern Hill. So, we've arranged to have uh mayor and some council members speak up speak at Lantern Hill, talk about what's happening in town, keep everybody informed. Um they love to be able to they love to be engaged, right? They

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love to be uh informed and to be able to ask questions. So, this is a good opportunity for us to go there and and converse with them. We will bring snacks. That's at 2:00. >> And then two weeks after that on the 26th at 10:00, we'll be at the Dorso

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Center. We kind of we were doing 10:30, we moved it to 10 because last time we went, we got some some good questions. So, just to give ourselves a little bit more time to converse and engage with uh the members at the senior center.

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Did everyone? >> All right. Um, so let's see. A couple things tacking on to Unity Day. You know, certainly a fantastic event. And I'll just add like I love the passport thing that they did with the kids because it actually got my kid eating foods from cultures that he never experienced before and he never would

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have eaten otherwise. So just just, you know, so many different aspects in one little fairly warm room. Um, but yeah, just it was a really it was a really great day. It was a lot of time after a while. >> Yeah, it was it was pretty sweltering, but no, still still it was a good day

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and and and we got our fingers crossed on the raffle. Um uh tacking on to to Storm Water. I I mean I do have to say I was disappointed in the town hall. Um and I and and and I say that for for for two reasons. One is I mean any of us who are plugged in could have listened to it

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and done the summary that Matt did. And I love the summary because if we had if if they had started with that I think just a very coherent list of here's the things that we've done here's the things that we're working on here's the the constraints that we are under and and and here's what's coming up in the

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future. I think the meeting would have gone a very different way but you know and that would have been an opportunity in front of a crowd of 30 people instead of four people. No offense to any of the four here but uh I I I I just think you know I and I I timed it. was it was 50 minutes in of all the things that we

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can't do and all the reasons why we can't do this and we can't do that and there are re there are realities of that there are things that that we can't do but I can understand the frustration that that I think you started to hear come out when that was the that that was almost the first half of it is all the things that we can't do before we even

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got to one question about what we could do and you were the one who asked the question about what we could do you know they they did not present that so I just I have to say I was really really disappointed. It was a missed opportunity to really share some good information with a very active audience.

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Um, and I just I I I hope we can find a way to get all of those things out, the accomplishments of the past, the things that we're working on right now and what we're looking to do in future. Exactly as Kathleen and and and Matt and others have said. So, I'm hopeful that uh I I I don't know, you know, we we've got to do

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a better job of getting the message out. um communications committee. We are looking at four uh items for possible consideration by council. So hopefully we'll we'll be able to share those out of committee soon. Um and then uh last but not least for New Providence TV, um

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the the one of the resolutions that Councilwoman Mcnite mentioned was a $25,000 uh payment from Comcast. And I just want to give a shout out to Bernardet um and and and Bill for keeping on top of that. That is money that's going to fund the repair of the NPTV equipment and

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hopefully over time get us back online. So, I'm very much looking forward to that getting rolling. And that concludes my report. >> Great. We should be getting another uh another check from Fios Horizon, too.

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So, okay. At this time, >> unless you want to do the administrator's report, >> really follow the script. you can do it. >> Well, uh, while we're giving credit to Bernardet, I wanted to mention, um,

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there's a bus shelter at the corner of South and Springfield. Um, it was recently replaced and it was replaced because Bernardet finally got in touch with the right people at New Jersey Transit. No cost to the burrow, but I don't know, she took that she took it

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personal and it's it's it's actually a simple thing, but it's quite an improvement. So, >> good for that one. Um, while we're giving uh giving credit, our community activities director, Allison Smith, has just secured

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$56,000 in a CBD, CDBG, year 52 we're talking now. And that money is specific to uh ADA upgrades and it's earmarked for the work in the police wing. So, >> we're committed to that spending already and now we have somebody help pay for

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it. So, an extra 56,000 Um, talking of spending money, uh, last winter we got through the winter using temporary heat in the building. The boilers are defunct. So in conjunction

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with uh Kier's engineering is working with Train New Jersey and there's a there's a project that's funded by uh the utility companies where they provide the money for the this work upgrades to our specifically to our building um with

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an interestfree five-year loan. So that proposal will be forthcoming because our expectation is this new equipment would be installed in time for the next heating season to avoid all the temporary heaters that we had uh plugged in throughout the building. And with

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that upgrade, we'll now be providing air conditioning to the municipal gym, which is we're using that as as a shelter. So now it'll air conditioning got a lot more classes, a lot more use for it. of

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you youth classes for community activities. Uh then lastly, tomorrow morning um we're replacing our racing strip at the front entrance to the municipal building. That hump in the concrete. Uh so that the sidewalks are being torn out and replaced tomorrow by

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SLI contracting. Um the municipal entrance will be closed on Elkwood tomorrow. Everyone has to enter and exit through the Academy Street entrance. >> That's all from the deputy administrator. That's great. I'm very happy about the uh heating with the

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five-year no interest loan >> because we have a big uh big drop in 27 with our uh capital funds. >> We'll be able to uh be >> anything we can defer helps good

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>> which is that's very important. So okay. Uh, anybody wishing to address council, get their name and address? Yes, Alan. >> Hi, Alan Swanson, 47 Over Hill Road. Uh, I I want to talk to you about um an

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initiative that's taking place in some towns um just just a bit north to us. Um it has to do with the the the gas oil leaf blowers that uh and and um it's you

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know of course it's a controversial issue because of the noise and everything that that people put out. And um one of the things that I that I do these days is I I do a commentary on a news show. And um the last um video that

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was done I I did we do it in Madison. Uh was on this initiative. So I wanted to mention it because I think it's a very interesting approach. Uh Madison had been

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talking about in their council about u seasonal cutbacks or a ban of the gas leaf blowers now for the the last few months. And um and of course it's

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there's definitely two sides on on uh this issue. Um so I wanted to tell you about this initiative. Um what it is is the Madison Environmental Commission and their shade tree management uh board uh launched what they call the quiet summer

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2026. And um the the program is a voluntary initiative encouraging residents to reduce the use of gas powered leaf blowers during the summer months. And um it's encouraging residents to send a

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letter to their landscapers who use the uh the gas leaf blowers that says the following. Uh it's in it's in English and Spanish. The Madison Environmental Commission has created a letter in English in Well, they created the letter. Okay, this is what it says.

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Please do not use a gas powered leaf blower on my property during the months of May, June, July, August, and August and September. You can leave grass clippings on my lawn to make it healthier. And the letter also um requests that the the blowing on

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sidewalks and uh drives uh during the summer go ahead and use an electric blower is what they're they're saying. Um and they describe in in their press release related to this a number of the benefits of uh doing this. And of

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course, the benefits are all are to to people, to insects, to wildlife, to the environment, they're endless. Um, so I'm not going to go over them, and I think that people have uh uh talked about

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them. They also uh indicated the the leaving of the grass uh uh clippings there on the yards they're encouraging in order to uh to make the yards healthier because that's really the best way to do it. And and as I mentioned,

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it's on on the commentary that um not only does it help your lawn, but it helps the environment. Um and you're not using damaging fertilizers. Um

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I think that this would be really a good idea um to join into. Right now it's it's Mars Township, Chattam Township, Chattam Burough, and Madison. Madison is the uh the town that initiated it, but the others joined in. And uh and it's a

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voluntary program. And the thing that's very attractive about it is that um it's an excellent way to educate people uh about the the problems with these machines. And um I I can conclude by

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telling you that in the in my commentary I I also made a presentation to the Rotary uh in Madison recently, but the same subject there was they wanted me to talk about what were the controversies that are surround the idea of banning them or

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restricting the use of the gas leaf blowers. and and my response is the the the twofold actually. The first thing is that uh I would like someone anyone to

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come forward and explain a single environmental or human benefit of the use of these oil gas leaf blowers. And the second thing in terms of my

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conclusion is why hasn't a ban happened in this state yet given what I just said about there's zero positive impact environmentally on people. So those are the two things. Um

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and I just finally the the reason I say gas oil leaf blowers is that the these machines are extremely the the noise is terrible. It really is. Um, but the noise is not the worst

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aspect of these devices. The worst aspect is that you're taking gas and you're mixing it with oil, the two-stroke engines, and about 25 or 30% of that, it's not burned and is spewed

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out in the exhaust throughout your yard and to the to the landscapers who are using it and anybody else that's in the neighborhood. And that to me is the primary reason that we need to be talking about this and hopefully

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something's going to happen. There are there is talk at the state level and we'll see what happens there. But uh I think it's really important that you all and the towns and and all the towns do what they did for the bags and for all of those and encourage this

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kind of a an initiative uh in this town as well. So, I would hope that you might try to move forward and and take such an initiative. >> I have a I have a question. Um, in Madison, um, is this a voluntary program or is this a mandate?

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>> Voluntary. >> Now, if a homeowner, you know, presents one of these letters to their landscapers and they don't comply or do you have any stories about a situation that has occurred? I want to

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follow up. Are there eco-friendly landscapers that have moved in to sort of try to fill this void? >> I have one. Um I I got rid of a uh an unnamed landscaping company and then

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now do what's called um ah Blue Sky Clean Earth, I believe. >> Oh, don't get names. >> Oh, sorry. >> Okay. Well, whatever. >> I just wanted to Yes. >> I I don't think I got it right anyway. So, >> um >> Thank you. Um but yes, they are and and

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I actually have one and uh and it it's they use a mulching mower. Um they don't they use electric blowers for the bit of blowing that's done because I don't remove the leaves from the um uh the beds and all. The leaves are just not you're not you're not going to see piles

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of leaves being taken away from the property um because they they mulch them and I use them and you know can put them in a compost. Thank you. >> And it's it's voluntary. So I don't know if if you know if if you have a landscaper and you ask them and they

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don't do it, I don't know that you know that's between you and the landscaper. Um but it it works. You don't the electrics. Uh >> sounds very interesting. Thank you. It really works. And I I want to say I agree I agree with your assessment of

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the uh the town hall. I'm I'm very pleased that there was a town hall, a meeting like that took place and I think it was really great. Um, but it would have been it would have been if it was structured a little bit differently. Um,

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so that there wasn't quite as much time spent on, you know, individuals and their particular property issues. >> Well, that's what happened. And if it's two individuals, you know, and >> they >> you know what, I'm not going to fault the individuals on it, you know, it's

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just it's it's what people are going to do. They're concerned about their property. >> Um, >> it's just, you know, if it had been structured, >> it was supposed to beformational, not a complaint session. So, but at any rate,

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it is what it is and >> Oh, no. It's an excellent first step and I think that the discussions here tonight are are really a a good step. I mean I my property is all the way up in about the highest in New Providence so it's not an issue for us.

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>> I'm up I'm up on the hill too and I get water. So >> Well, you're very close to what is it? Deerfield that had it so terrible. >> But I don't get that water. I get it coming down >> the street and down into my driveway. >> Yeah. So, at any rate, thank you for your comments.

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>> Thank you. I'm going to look up that program. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Seeing no one, I declare the public hearing closed. I need a motion for items 1 through 22. >> So moved. >> Second.

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>> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Learner, >> I. >> Miss Dolan? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jeffrey? >> Yes. >> Mr. Kaminsky? >> I. >> Mrs. Mcnite? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gardner? Yes. >> Can I have a motion for adjournment, please? >> Motion. >> Second.

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>> All in favor? >> Yes. >> No. So be it. Thank you all for attending and be careful.