WEBVTT

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

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: xZjlYeaIqyc):
- 00:00:00: Meeting Call to Order, Sunshine Notice, Roll Call
- 00:01:08: Communications: Event Applications and Off-Premise Permit
- 00:01:57: Approval of Bill List for Various Departments
- 00:03:21: Public Comment Period and Commissioner Announcements
- 00:03:38: Commissioner Tucci: Greater Nutley Cancer Foundation Event
- 00:03:53: Commissioner Scarpelli: Big Truck Day and Belleville Fire
- 00:05:34: Commissioner Petraco: Belleville Fire and First Responders
- 00:08:34: Mayor: Emergency Responders, Events, and Ann Ratunda Blood Drive
- 00:10:11: Ordinance Second Reading: Tobacco, Hemp, and Related Products
- 00:11:49: Ordinance and Budget Presentation Preparations Begin
- 00:13:26: Ordinance Public Hearing: Exceeding Appropriations Cap
- 00:14:17: Resolution: Reading Budget by Title Only
- 00:15:41: Move to Table Budget Adoption and Presentation Introduction
- 00:16:16: Budget Presentation Section 1: Township Financial Overview
- 00:21:48: Budget Presentation Section 2: Property Tax Breakdown
- 00:29:15: Budget Presentation Section 3: Cost Increases and Operating Costs
- 00:31:13: Budget Presentation Section 4: Revenue Sources and Debt
- 00:37:32: Budget Presentation Section 4: School and Grants
- 00:41:41: Budget Presentation Section 5: Water and Sewer Utility
- 00:45:35: Ray Sarinelli Comments: Plain Language Budget & Statewide Comparison
- 00:51:56: Commissioner Comments: Debt, Health Insurance, and Revenues
- 00:54:40: Commissioner Tucci: Health Benefits Administration and Grants
- 00:58:25: Commissioner Scarpelli: Healthcare and Public Works Week
- 01:00:02: Commissioner Petraco: Public Safety and State Aid Formula
- 01:09:24: Mayor: Contact State Legislators and Close Public Hearing
- 01:10:15: Resolution: Tax Overpayments, Zoning Fee Refunds
- 01:11:44: Resolution: Bond Council Appointment and Contract
- 01:14:59: Resolution: Recreation Program Refunds and Architectural Services
- 01:17:42: Resolution: Public Works Week, Curbing Contracts, and Facility Hook-Up
- 01:22:00: Resolution: Motorola Police Video System Support Extension
- 01:23:55: Resolutions: Food Allergy Awareness, Asian-American Month, and Stroke Awareness
- 01:28:10: Resolution: Developers Agreement and Move to Executive Session
- 01:29:34: Public Comment Period and Call for Executive Session
- 01:30:39: Meeting Reconvenes and Ordinate Number 3610 Rescinded
- 02:13:12: New Ordinate Number 3613 Introduced with Revised Language


Part: 1

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salute to the flag United States of America to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all >> sunshine notice madam clerk >> thank you mayor board of commissioners

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public meeting agenda for Tuesday May 5th 2026 the time is now 7:05 pursuant to the requirements of the open public meeting act chapter 231 1 Public Law 1975. Notice of this meeting was published in the November 20th, 2025 issues of the Nutley Sun, the Herald

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News, and the Star Ledger. A copy of this notice has been posted on the NLY town hall bulletin board, and a copy is on file in the municipal clerk's office. Commissioner Evans >> here. >> Commissioner Tucci >> here. >> Commissioner Scarpell, >> here. >> Commissioner Petraco, Mayor Kelly,

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>> present. Uh we're going to be doing some of this uh agenda out of order. So please bear with me as we go through the agenda tonight. Uh we have no minutes, no executive minutes, uh no proclamations, but we do have communications. Madam clerk, >> thank you. Uh we have three this

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evening. Uh we have an event application from the Department of Public Works for Big Truck Day on Franklin Avenue between Chestnut Street uh Chestnut and Church Street on Saturday, May 9th, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. We have the limited brewery off- premise permit

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application for Terracasta LLC Festival of Hope event by Greater Nelly Cancer Foundation at Father Glads Black Park, 44 Park Avenue on Thursday, May 14, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. And we have an event application from the mayor's

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office for the annual Fourth of July fireworks and festivities on Franklin Avenue between Church Street and Chestnut Street from 600 p.m. to 10 p.m. Move it. Second, >> Commissioner Evans. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Petco. >> Mayor Kelly.

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>> I And we have no reports this evening. Moving to bills. Madam Clerk, >> thank you. Bill list for May 5th, 2026. Public affairs, $120,1739. Revenue and finance, $7,955,78822. Public safety, $97,743.51. Public Works $169,922.80

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Parks and Public Property 1,965,3861. Water and sewer utility $130,89381. Payroll as of Friday, April 24th, 2026. Regular payroll total $985,58.14. Overtime payroll total $46,6989. Total payroll 1,31,578.3

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for a grand total of 11,471,48547. >> Move the bills. >> Second. >> Commissioner Evans. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Tui. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Petraco. Hi. Mayor Kelly. >> Hi. Hey, what are you doing? >> And that's it for Bill's Mayor. >> Thank you, Joe. >> At this time, we'll have uh we'll

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entertain comment on uh agenda items only. This is for commentary on agenda items only. If you wish to be heard on agenda items only, please approach the microphone and state your name for the record. Seeing none, uh board commissioner announcements. Commissioner Evans, >> nothing for me this evening. Mayor, >> Commissioner Tucci.

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>> Yes, Mayor. I have one on uh Thursday, May 14th. I know the clerk just uh mentioned this in the some of the approvals that we needed. From 6:00 to 10, the Greater Nutley Cancer Foundation will be holding its annual festival. So, I encourage everyone to come out and to

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support this great effort. >> Excellent. Thank you, Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, one, we'll be having big truck day this uh Saturday on Franklin Avenue between Church Street and Chestnut Street. two hours only from

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10 to from 12 to to 2. Um like to wish everybody a happy Mother's Day that's out there and um three I know Mishraco will probably talk about his fire department and helping out Belleville, but um we uh I was watching

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the news on Sunday night and it said Belleville was out of water. um made a phone call to uh our our guys. They contacted Belleville and we uh opened up some interconnects within an hour. Got them pressure

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um helped them fight the fire because they were losing pressure down on um their and and they had a lot of companies down there. I'm sure Commissioner Petraco can elaborate. Uh but um they didn't have any water pressure and we were able to help them out and we're still helping them out.

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still uh those interconnects are opened. Uh in addition um >> today we uh supplied them with uh a diesel tanker or a truck, but we'll call it a tanker

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uh to to fill up their engines so they don't have to leave the scene and go back and forth. So, uh we've been helping them out. Um, thank God no real tragedy down there, but uh, certainly a fire like we haven't seen around here in a long time.

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>> Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Petraco, >> thank you. Yes, the my first message is the most important one. Like Dr. Joe said, happy mother's happy mother's day to all the mothers out there. If you're lucky enough to have your mothers still,

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make sure you take care of them because there is nothing like a mom. So, happy Mother's Day to everyone out there. Um, as Joe said too, that Belleville uh the Belleville fire was something like we have never seen. But I have to tell you, I' I've never been prouder, you know, to

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see not just Nutley um partner up with Belleville, but all the outside agencies, you know, our hazmat was there. Actually, our Nutley fire department just left there this morning. you know, they worked um through the night with along with Belleville and Belleville's guys who I know many of

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them um did an excellent job. It was really, you know, an effort on all sides and it's good to see government and and you know, everybody come together when there's, you know, a tragedy like that. And what they prevented the team of fire um all the fire departments that were

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there were you know the surrounding houses if you watch the news today you could see across the street from those factories those houses were pretty crisp you know the side was melted all that stuff they were even having problems with fire trucks getting me uh melted you know you don't realize when you're

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watching it on TV how hot those areas are and how you know it's important to make sure that your fire department has is the right equipment and all all that stuff, you know, and and like I always say, you know, when you when everybody sees something like that, you know,

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along my career on this journey of politics and I'm sitting in these seats, it's do we need all these cops? Do we need all these firemen? No, you only need them when you need them, right? And obviously this weekend it was a necessity. And you know that's

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why you know we have these guys around you know when when you need them they respond and they really risk their lives as you could um tell. So um you know great job in Belleville. I salute all of the first responders. You know we had

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our ambulances there. Belleville we did a lot of covering with our ambulance as well. We covered um for Belleville. Belleville's 911 went down. Um they brought a bevel police officer over to Nutley, you know, and it's it's about working together, you know, and protecting all the residents. And then

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as many of us are sitting on this board, you know, we we all all us nutly, Bellevilleites, you know, our families intertwined. So I know I have a lot of family in Belleville. I know a lot of the commissioners have family. I know

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it was about protecting everybody. So again, happy Mother's Day to all my friends in the crowd and everybody in TV land. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner, and thank you to our uh emergency responders, uh for

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all their their dedicated efforts day in day out. Uh again, happy Mother's Day. Uh did we ever figure out how many alarms were triggered? >> 12 alarm fire. It's one of the highest I've ever heard. Uh we do have a couple of events out of the Department of

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Public Affairs and Health. Uh on April or sorry, May 15th, we have our blood drive in honor of uh Ann Ratunda. It's going to be at the Department of Public Affairs and Health uh from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m. Uh we have they'll have the mobile blood drive truck there. Uh

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this uh this this month is uh military appreciation month and we uh at we have our annual Memorial Day parade celebration and prior to that we have our our annual tradition of visiting the monuments to pay the pay respects to all

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the the Nutley residents who paid the ultimate sacrifice and we also have the after that right before the parade at 11:00 p.m. We have the uh the fire the firefighters uh memorial as well for all those firefighters from Nutley who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Uh continuing

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with the the theme of the 250th anniversary of our nation on May 28th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Luna. We'll be doing the America uh pub trivia again. Uh the theme would be America 250 trivia night. So for all those who are

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interested uh please sign up in advance. Uh this we're going to do something a little bit different with a uh uh buffet style. Uh it's I believe it's $30 per person. Uh so if you're interested, look out for more communications or go online

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and uh and register for that event. Uh looking to see a big turnout for that that night. Uh move from there, we're going to move on to ordinances on uh we have no ordinance introductions. Uh so we'll have ordinances on the second reading. We're going to do this a little

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out of order. We we'll be dealing with ordinance number 3610 later in the evening tonight. So, we'll we'll start with ordinance number 3612. And uh that's an ordinance on behalf of the entire board of commissioners. And

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this is uh an ordinance uh regulating the sale of tobacco, hemp, and related products. This is, as I mentioned when we did this first reading, this is to bring our our ordinance in line with uh new state law. Uh I'm not going to read the entire ordinance. It's been

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published uh it's been published in the on the town's website, notj.org. Uh when was it published? On April 8th and we'll be having the I'll the hearing tonight. So without further ado, I'll open the hearing uh to anyone who wishes

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to be heard on ordinance number 3612 uh regulating the sale of tobacco, hemp, and related products. Seeing none, move to close the hearing. >> Second. >> Commissioner Evans. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> I. >> Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Petro. >> Hi. >> Mayor Kelly.

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>> I. And I'll move the ordinance. >> Second. >> Commissioner Evans. Hi. >> Commissioner Tucci. Hi. >> Commissioner Scarpelli. Hi. >> Commissioner Petraco. Hi. Mayor Kelly. I and I'll turn it over to Commissioner Evans who has a uh

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an ordinance resolution and presentation for us. >> A whole bunch. >> A whole bunch. Uh thank you, mayor. Um tonight we have we have a lot to do. Uh we have to uh hold a public hearing and

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adoption on an ordinance that uh would uh authorize us to exceed the 2 and 12% cap on appropriations by 1% uh going to to three and a half%. Uh we do this traditionally every year as to uh create

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a cap bank u u which we have been very successful in maintaining. uh and then we will move after that we'll move into uh a budget presentation. Before that we'll do a resolution related to uh the

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presentation tonight and the budget itself. Uh I I will also need a motion of the board uh after uh to only do a public hearing and table the vote on the adoption until the first meeting in June uh pending amendments to the budget that

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are currently being evaluated. Uh and then uh and so and after we uh do the presentation, Ray Serinelli is here, our outside auditor from the Sevachian company to provide some comments. And I also want to welcome De Bartlett uh to

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the meeting uh our CFO. So that's sort of what we have to do and we'll get through it as as quickly as possible, but I worked really hard on this presentation and I'm going to cover every word of it. So, so be prepared.

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>> Thanks for the warning. >> So, the first thing, so ordinance number 3611, as I said, this establishes a cap bank. Uh, we did not exceed the appropriation cap for the year. So, we will have a little bit of carryover uh bank into uh 2027.

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So, uh anyone we can open the public hearing. Anybody wishing to comment? >> We'll open the public hearing for audience number 3611. Anyone wishing to be heard on ordinance number 3611, please approach the microphone and say your name for the record. Seeing none, move to close. >> Second.

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>> Commissioner Evans. >> I. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Scarpell. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Petraco. >> I. >> Mayor Kelly. >> I >> move the ordinance. >> Second. >> Commissioner Evans. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Scarpelli. >> I. >> Commissioner Petraco. Mayor Kelly.

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>> I. Next step is a a resolution that I need that I need to read. U resolution of the township of Nelly County of Essex state of New Jersey authorizing the budget to be read by title only whereas NJSA 484-8

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as amended by L 2015 C9514 2015 provided that the budget be read by title only at the time of the b public hearing if a resolution is passed by no less than a majority of the full governing body providing that at least one week before the date of the public

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hearing a complete copy of the budget has been made available uh for public inspection and has been made available to each person upon request. The budget has been available uh since it was introduced uh in on April 7th. Uh it was

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posted on the website u on the morning of April 8th. Um so it's more than a week whereas these two conditions have been met. Now therefore be resolved that after closing of the public hearing, the governing body may adopt the budget by title without amendments or may approve

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amendments as provided by NJSA48 colon 4-9 before adoption. So moved. >> Second. >> Commissioner Evans. >> I. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Scarpell. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Petraco. >> Hi. >> Mayor Kelly. >> Hi. I also motion that uh uh for this

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evening we will table the adoption of the budget. We will hold uh the public hearing pending amendments uh with the look to the budget being adopted at the first meeting in June. So move >> second. >> Commissioner Evans.

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>> Hi >> Commissioner Tucci. Hi >> Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Hi >> Commissioner Petraco. >> Hi >> Mayor Kelly. >> Hi. Are we happy now? Okay. Uh so now let's let's move on uh to uh the uh presentation. Um S, can you

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put the presentation up on the monitor, please? I think you can see it from everywhere in the room. You don't have to crowd around. >> U so so tonight we have a couple things to do. >> Jokes. >> Well, we're not adopting the budget tonight. Uh it is important that we

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understand what is driving our budget uh and uh and understanding how important it is uh to share uh information that allows uh the public to to better understand if we're asking them for

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money, where is their money going, why is it being spent, what's it being spent on, uh and uh recognize uh that in order for us to uh meet our obligation and I think exceeded Um uh having more transparency and plain language

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readability in our budget is is critical. Uh Ray Sarinelli from the Zachian company is here tonight to provide additional comments from his perspective uh on the work in Nutley as well as uh his firm's perspective on what's happening in the state of New

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Jersey. uh as you look at the budget uh document itself or and actually this presentation and look at it with an eye that understands that this is a budget that is formulated by five uh municipal departments uh which are all together

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brought all together as one budget. So five departments uh one budget uh each contri commissioner has contributed uh to preparing their budget and understanding what the specific needs are for their department as commissioner

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just recently just earlier re articulated how important it is that uh emergency services are when you need them. May not need them every day but when you need them you need them. Uh so uh I I'm hopeful that the document that

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we're presenting this year uh that people will recognize that we're going well beyond what the state requires. Uh the state requires us to take the state budget document which is some 50 pages long and it's got a lot of technical jargon in it uh which uh most people

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struggle with to because it's in it's in almost like a unique language to look at it. This this presentation takes that entire document and presents it in a a fair and uh and plain way. So u uh we'll

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we'll walk through it. The headline before we get into it is is straightforward. Uh the municipal municipal budget is going up by $322 including $18 for the library. So it's $340.

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Uh and we'll talk about that. We'll also talk about that financially that we are as a township, we're in great shape financially. We don't have a significant amount of outstanding debt. We're able to pay our bills. We don't need to go into uh temporary financing to pay our

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bills between tax payments. Uh we manage that all uh very uh very well. Uh and we maximize the use of grant dollars to minimize uh the the amount of debt that we need to incur, but do some great things with it. Uh so with that let's uh

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let's open up the presentation and uh and start. So uh if we can s if you can flip for me that would be great. The next slide uh you know our obligation to you is laid out here. There's the health

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welfare and safety of the community. Uh and it's an orientation for everything we do. I won't read slides verbatim, but this is in the event that if someone was to pick up the document, they would understand why we do what we do. Uh and and and have it be presented in an

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informed an informed way. As I mentioned, we're only required to give you the the the major budget document, but this one operates uh well beyond that by providing providing a plain language um document that everyone can

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understand and hopefully uh if they have questions, I'll be able to ask those questions and and understand uh the the budget. And as I previously said, the budget is a compos compilation of the five departments of the township uh

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presented in one one budget. Uh cell the tonight we're going to walk through uh some the five sections of the budget. Uh the first four relate to the municipal um u government itself. The last one

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addresses uh uh the combined water and sewer utility. Do you sell? So in section one uh I've explained already that um we're careful about what we spend money

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on. Um we also owe it to everybody to to understand whatever we're spending money on. what does it mean to the everyday homeowner and their tax bill? And we we attempted to do our best to lay that out with this uh presentation. So, it's

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written for the residents of the town, people who don't have a financial or an accounting background. We've tried to to eliminate as much jar jargon as possible. And also we provided that the presentation is available online as well

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as a link to if people have questions they can write their questions online and they will find their way to the CFO's office for purposes of followup and response. Uh S u here's a story.

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We're up $322 uh to run the five municipal departments of the of the township. Uh the person's property tax bill uh includes that that municipal portion which is $4,674

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uh which is increasing $322 or 7%. uh another $200 of their uh property tax bill covers the cost of the operations of the library. Uh that's statutory. There's a formula for that and we fund

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it uh at the statutory level. Uh the school district uh is is is on the property tax bill. We do not as a board have responsibility for this. It's adopted by the school board. Uh and that increases uh the property tax bill by an

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additional on average 7007,234 or it's an increase of $410 uh this year. Uh the U school board just recently adopted uh their budget. Um they uh were at 392, but their calculation didn't take into

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consideration the increase in the u average assessed value of the townships, but it's reality is 410. I'm not sure what the county is going to be, but in light of the the fact that the county budget did go up, we're estimating an additional $50 for that or within that

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average tax bill, $2,000, $29 to cover the cost of the county. But this year, uh, the average tax bill for a house assessed at $497 and uh uh $4797,000,

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that average tax bill is going to be $14,120 uh on the average. So, if your house is assessed for more than that, your bill will be greater than the uh estimated total of an $800 increase. Uh and uh uh

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and that's significant. uh as far as the township what we control right and I'm throwing the library in because that's we're responsible the statutory element of that uh that's $340 or uh roughly $28.33 a month uh is what we're looking

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at on average uh for for that average household. Um the uh it's important that the to note that the levy for the library increased by $181,000 uh which is about 9% but that's that's

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based upon the assessed value of the municipality against the state formula. Uh we our uh municipal tax increase of $322 is actually higher by $30 uh because the school board uh did not

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continue to support the school crossing guards uh funding of $300,000 like they have in prior years. Uh so we had to absorb that cost in order to make sure that we provided for the safety of our school children. U S

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When you break it down as a township, um, for 2026, we need 67 million661,822 uh dollars in order to operate the municipality. We don't need to raise all of that from taxpayers. We receive

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revenues other than taxes of the eight of an amount of $18,646 $64,264. the municipal levy. >> 18 million. >> I did. Did I Did I say thousand? 18,640,000.

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64,264. I I should get a second set of reading glasses to go with my reading glasses. Uh so the municipal levy what we we be asking the taxpayers to to pay us uh for municipal services for the five

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departments is $47,24,397 which is up 3,147,989 over the prior year or 7.2%. Uh when you add in the library, the total increase is 3 3,329,337 for a total of 7.3%.

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uh cell you know you know moving on again it's important that when you look at that slide which shows a a a townwide increase of $800 the board of commissioners directly controls the municipal portion uh for

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the five uh departments uh of the township. uh we are responsible by law though to collect 100% of the tax increase in and then distribute it to each party. So we are the collection function of the township. We also bear

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the risk that if people don't pay the tax the risk of n of non-collection rests with the municipality both the county and the and the school district receive 100% of their budget by statute. So the risk exposure is on the

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municipality. Uh it's very easy and I laid it out here. I won't go through it, but to show that if you take your assessed value, divide it by 100 times the the municipal tax rate, you'll you'll get to your um mun municipal tax bill of $4,674.

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If you are at that average uh what follows is you know then okay four $4,674 you know what do you receive uh as as a tenum uh so I'll move on. So this breaks

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down, you know, very plainly, right? It says, "Okay, for $4,674, the average taxpayer is paying uh for emergency services, so safety, two $2,520 uh for parks uh buildings and

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recreation, $49 for administrative services, which covers it, the entire revenue and finance department, uh much uh some some aspects of the um uh mayor's office because it includes the township

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attorney and so on are included in that administrative services. Uh roads and street lighting is another $278. Garbage and recycling $213. Uh our debt service is $184

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at $3.9. Uh that is below uh any metric uh standard to show good good fiscal policy in terms of managing long-term debt. um insurance other than our medical is $181, health and veteran services $149, and

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planning and zoning is is 59 with this small piece for capital improvement. So, uh I wanted to lay this out so that a taxpayer when they're looking at their bill can understand what they're paying for and uh and that it was then easy if

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they have any questions, it would be easy to be able to uh direct their questions accordingly. uh sell please. >> So what happened this year? Uh this year we faced uh cost increases that u rose

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the operating cost by 2,862,30 uh plus the 181,000 for the library. uh as you lay that out uh direct uh the most significant overriding cost which is not only affecting the township of Nelly is impacting the entire state of

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New Jersey whether you're instate health benefits or in private plans health benefit costs have gone up extraordinarily. So for the township our uh medical our health medical insurance bill uh increased by $3 million$15,000.

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uh our salaries which are subject to uh union contracts and and factors uh that influence that is up $977,000 uh of which uh $877,000 is in uh public safety uh and about

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$100,000 is in the other combined uh departments. Uh we manage our other expenses, so we're very careful about what we spend. So that's up, you know, $244,000. And as you would expect, gas and electric charges are up $70,000. U our

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debt is down because last year we filtered through a one-time payment uh for the initial payment on the purchase of the 777 property for the uh for the school which offset uh the overall increase. Absent that offset, our

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expenses would have been up much much uh higher uh and our actual increase would have been uh higher than the 7%. Uh so in one slide you got the picture of the entire budget. the in the slide before these two combined you understand fully

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what's happening to uh the municipal environment u that we have uh moving to section three right we don't tax you know as I mentioned earlier we don't get u

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have to raise all of our taxes uh from uh uh our co cover all of our costs from property taxes we do get uh revenues and it comes in the form of state aid, uh, pilot payments, uh, interest fees, and

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every year we have a, um, a fund balance. Some call it a surplus, uh, but every year that we take that surplus that we generate every year and reapply it to the following year's increase. So, we don't retain a surplus, we keep

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rolling the surplus every year as it regenerates. Um and I'll I'll lay this out on the u uh the next slide. U so if you look uh our revenue sources are laid out. So we applied our reserve

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balance of 5,250,000. We received 5 million uh $310,000 worth of state aid. Uh we are applying pilot revenues uh from the uh current uh the existing pilots that we have in in town

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which covers uh one of the senior buildings the medical school and two properties on um the on three hop ro property u uh and that covers all of that which increased by $400,000. Uh interest has been very good to us

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with the higher interest rates. were able to collect more interest. So, uh that our interest applied is up $315,000. U delinquent taxes actually went down a little bit because we collected more than anticipated, but delinquent taxes

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is stable every year uh around a million dollars uh that we seem to collect. While we have outstanding balances, it's it stays around that amount. Um the EMS uh billings for we get that through Medicare and Medicaid. uh we uh

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collected uh actually commissioner if I'm correct about 300 735,000 uh we recognized 715,000 because it's volatile if I and so if I have a shortfall it creates a problem so we just kind of cut it a little bit just to

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be on the conservative side u construction fees uh they're pretty stable u you know our parking meter revenue uh this is actually better than these past couple years because of the new metering systems that are in town. Uh, you know, a few years ago, these numbers would have been less than

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$200,000. Uh, cable franchise fees went down a little bit. Uh, and I think that's because there's been a lot of cable promotion programs that are out there that are are causing a slight change. And as you can see, as I mentioned, uh, we, uh, last year we did the initial

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payment on, uh, the 777 building, and this year the 250,000 represents a principal uh, payown. Uh and as I noted earlier, uh we did not anticipate we could not anticipate $300,000 uh from the board of ed for the school crossing

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guards. So that's the composition of our roughly 18 million 18 thou $18 million in um um and revenues. But if you look at it, uh the bulk of our revenues come from our applied reserves, state aid, and what we're getting in pilot

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revenues. The interest rate interest income is going to remain strong I think for the rest of this year. As we get through the climate that we're in right now that everybody's experiencing, inflation starts to get under control, that interest rate will settle back down to more historical

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levels, which has been more in the $600 to $800,000 range. So uh absent the uh the uh payown the the loss of the pay down of last the onetime payment of the medical school you you could see that our revenues actually improved by you

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know a little over a million dollars uh year-over-year. So our revenues are stable they we're we sound they're reliable uh revenues. uh the challenge that we have is is what I mentioned earlier. Uh you know the the most significant driver of the cost increase

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for the municipality is uh the cost of health care which is is affecting the entire state of New Jersey. uh so when you look at you know another aspect of what we look at so that's that's the operating side uh of the budget but we

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also we also bond we also incur debt uh uh and we're very careful about that right now today with S&P we enjoy a double A1 uh bond rating we're just one step below a triple AAA if you think about that in plain language it's the

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equivalent of having a personal credit credit score of over 800 U and which is which is very sound. It enables us to borrow money at low interest rates uh for the benefit of the taxpayers. Uh when you look at our debt

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uh it's gone down and year-over-year by roughly $3 million. Uh we're carrying right now fully $21 million worth of debt. But that's only 11% of what we could borrow because our borrowing capability is $174

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million uh based upon the assessed value of the town. And the reason why that's important is just because the value of property is worth uh a lot of money and we could based upon the value of that property incur a lot of debt. We also

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have to consider what is the burden on the taxpayer and the median income uh in NI is is between 115 and $120,000. If we were to go beyond that 11% I think that would actually be an unfair burden uh to our taxpayers. So we try to to

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control that uh as best we can. Uh it's just worth mentioning that we did uh pick up the building on 777 Bloomfield Avenue which is the new school. Um, and what's important about that is this board of commissioners stepped in and

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used that as a catalyst to make sure that our school system was able to advance in light of the challenges that they're facing. Uh, and that we're going to carry that temporarily because their the bulk of their debt matures in 2032.

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And when that debt comes off their books, this debt can safely transfer it to their their books without increasing uh the burden on the taxpayers on the school side. So, we're timing it. We're watching it. And along the way, we will look to uh reduce the balance before it

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transfers. Uh that move coupled with uh uh this the nature of how we're financing it has enabled the school to uh prepare uh the middle school for the sixth graders who will enter the middle

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school uh in September of uh 2026 uh which has been something that the school district has been trying to do uh for many many years. So, our school system is moving forward. The infrastructure is sound and we will manage this. But when you look at that,

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it eliminated the need for an $80 million uh uh school referendum because uh when you look at this cost as well as the cost incurred for the middle school, we're doing it all for about $12 million. And that's uh the committee that Commissioner uh Tucci and I have

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been sitting on and we've been uh guiding them through. I know Al you have had many conversations with in fact all the the entire board has had about but making sure that we continue to move the school board forward. Uh so as the saying goes the way the school

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goes the way the town goes. So this is just a snapshot uh just gives you a quick snapshot and if you the graph is simple it just basically tells you that our debt model since over the years has been stable and it it will continue to

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be that way. Uh, next slide. When you look at this is the composition of our debt. What's very important about this is that we will pay down our debt by $2,566,697. But what's the most valuable piece of

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this is that if you look where we have our general obligation bonds, the uh the school note as well as the green acres notes, uh on average, our outstanding debt, which you're looking at is $21 million. On average, that's all covered

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by an interest rate of 2.1%. So given our bond rating, given the way we're are manage managing it, we're seen as a as a very good credit. Uh and therefore we're able to demand uh lower interest rates. Uh and when you think

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about that in the climate today where car loan interest is over 5%, uh house mortgage interest at 6% as a municipality uh we are financially strong and and and we will maintain that posture. Next, just a word on grants. It's very

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important that we we cons we never lose sight of the fact of how important grant opportunities are. Uh we do have a dedicated uh uh grant company that helps a source which benefits everybody every year on an annual basis. We apply for

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many grants. We've been successful in getting over a million dollars a year. And in fact last year we got 2.3 million. Uh a big part of that was the father glass funding uh from Green Acres too. >> Yep. So, uh, very significant and generally what you find what it's going

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for improving our parks and improving our roadways. So, Chestnut Street, Bloomfield Avenue, there's been a lot of improvements in the roadways. It it's going uh along to do that. Every dollar that we get there reduces the amount of money that we have to borrow, but it

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enables us to move things uh forward. So, that's the municipality in in a nutshell. Uh when you uh move on um uh we have to talk about the utility the sewer utility. Their sewer utility is

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not included in the property tax uh or in the in the tax levy. It is a separate entity. It's a separate legal entity uh which has its own uh billing structure uh and it has its own cost structure. Uh

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so uh the utility itself covers the uh costs u and services that provided to provide water and sewer services uh to uh the township. Uh we fully completed the transfer to the utility in 2025. So

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uh 2026 and 2025 are the two years of full operation. Uh I have not presented anything in here tonight about the revenue side because that is still subject to uh negotiation uh on the part of the board of commissioners and that

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will continue over the next few weeks. So what I am presenting tonight here is what are the costs and what's the composition of those costs. itself. So if you look at it um the uh reddish

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color, reddish brown color, those are external costs that we uh get bills for. So we get P Valley sewer for this year. We get a bill for $5,65,000. North Jersey water, Pake Valley water, Newark water, where we get our water

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sources is at 2,480,000. So 7 million uh 545 uh 545,000 is a is fixed costs that are in the utility. Uh there are managed costs and

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those cover salaries of just about 2.5 million, benefits, pension and insurance costs of 1.1 million, operating expenses of 430 23,000 and debt service of 186,000. So the total utility budget is

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11,780,000. What we're working on is a rate structure uh and uh that rate structure uh will determine how we collect from uh the users uh uh the money necessary to

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pay our bills uh in the utility. But of important note, the Sake Valley sewer bill went up 7.2%. Our water provider costs went up 4.3%. Uh salaries went up 4%. Benefits went up 3.4%. 4% uh debt service and and

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operating cost are you know down to neutral the smaller elements of them. So it gives you a pretty full picture of what the cost of operations are sell uh and this here's another way of looking at it. So the red and the the brownish

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color that represents the fixed costs and the managed costs are on the other side. If you look at at that, you'll see that the split is about 64% of the budget is fixed. 36% is managed, including salaries, benefits, everything

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combined uh that could be managed. When you look at all those areas combined, uh on the managed side, those costs are going up uh about less than a percent. the bulk of the cost increase in the utility uh relates to the cost of sewer

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uh treatment and and the providing of water to the municipality. So I laid that out for each for everyone uh benefit. So so that tonight we understand that our budget covers the

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five municipal departments, a separate legal entity for the utility and then the statutory uh required payments for the the library. Um and uh overall uh that's how our utility our system lays

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out uh this year. U I've asked Ray to join us so he could provide some comments as well. >> I know what excites you >> speaking to the mic right after you avoid comments like that.

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I I think it's great. Um if you know without the explanation, this presentation in my opinion um is something that you can take the time to read and actually understand and it was

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prepared by Commissioner Evans on his own. There were 27 versions before tonight's version, which is also what accountants do, making sure all the details were correct. And I I have to say it's it's it's one of the best plain

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language um budget presentations I've seen by an elected official. Usually it's us two over here trying to put all this information. And uh uh you know I I think it's amazing that an elected

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official gets that deep into what's going on in the budget and the finances uh to be able to prepare an analysis that's that detailed. Uh, one of the things that I usually add is so what what's going on in the rest of the state

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while Nutley is struggling with probably the worst uh budget that it's had to deal with and you know passing on an increase that's larger than uh you've seen in many many years and I know you

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you wrestle with that. Um, you know, so I I happened to see this week there was a survey done of CFOs if they wanted to put their budget information uh into a summary. It's I haven't verified it, but

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there were 65 people that put their budget information in and uh almost 25% had a higher rate than Nutley's increase. Right? Nutley's increase is 7.2 two or 7.3 or 7.4.

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Uh 25% had increases up to 12%. So, it's not just a Nutley issue. It's a statewide issue. I don't think it's going away this year. Um I I think it's something that's going to come back around next year and you're going to

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struggle again with it. Uh, you know, from my perspective, uh, just, you know, D and I went back and looked at the last 10 years of what the tax increase was. Um, and the

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percentages are below uh, inflation rates. The CPI for the previous 10 years to now was 2.86%. Your tax increases were 1.91%.

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So, over a 10-year period, you've kept your inflation or your average uh or your tax increase to the average homeowner at less than 2% while uh inflation was at 2.86. So, I

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know you take looking at the budget what how it impacts taxpayers. Now, if you add in this year's increase, um the 10-year average for your budget increase is 2.46

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and the inflation for 10 years is 3.07. So, even though that you have this unheard of for nutly increase is 7.4%. When you look at it over a 10-year period, it's still pretty respectable

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that on average for all those years, you're still below what inflation is. Um, oh, we talked about what other towns are doing. Uh, let's see. Oh, cap. So, you know, the question gets raised. So, you

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have these c these cap rules 2% 2 and a.5%. How can we be at 7.4%? 4%. Um, so and you know that's what the state legislature does. They tell you how much you can spend and they spend

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what they desire. There's no cap on the state budget. At any rate, uh there those caps have been in place since 1977. They've been adjusted and modified many many times. And in fact, you have

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two caps. one on the appropriation, how much you can spend, and one on the U tax levy and how much that can go up. So, how does it get to 7.4%? Well, it gets there because you get an exception for something that's mandated

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to you. So, what was mandated to you was um a $3,15,000 increase in your health insurance, right? your your tax levy is going up 300 3,47,000.

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So almost all of your tax levy increase has to do with health insurance and most of that is a cap exception. This the state legislature recognizes that they can't tell you your health insurance is

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going 20 up 27% but you're we're going to keep you to a 2% levy. it would devastate your municipal budget. Um, so I know that question has been raised, wanted to answer it up front tonight.

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The rest of the process is continue to hold your hearing on the budget. You're going to table the budget. There's further discussions that are going to be held relative to the rate structure for the water uh sewer utility. Once that

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gets done, hopefully uh a res uh a rate ordinance will be presented and you'll be able to adopt your budget at next month. >> Thank you, R. And commissioners, any comments? Mayor, any comments?

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>> Uh we want to go down the line or all right, I I'll I'll go first. Um the uh I I think it's important to point out the uh debt service rating of uh double A1. Uh and you can correct me if

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I'm wrong, Commissioner. The reason why we don't get the marquee rating of AAA is because we're just simply not eligible for we don't have enough value in the township to be even be considered for that. Is is that's correct. >> Community income. >> Community income there, but >> it's not the income.

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>> So So we're we're not even eligible for it. We are the highest bond rating we can possibly get in the township. Yeah. Uh and uh Mr. Selli touched on it and I think it's important to repeat and I I do want to congratulate this board for

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uh the herculean effort it took to get this budget to where it is. I I know that sounds like uh you know we're we're celebrating a a huge increase that we've never seen before. Uh but uh Mr. Mr. Sarnelli commented on the the health

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insurance increase of nearly 30%. Uh and I think it's important if you look at the slide that over covers our operating costs from 25 to 26. If you look at our operating costs in in 2025 it was uh or

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64,800,000. Our operating costs in in in 2026 are 67,661,000. So if you back out to 3,15,000, our operating costs would have been 64,6 and 46,000.

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Uh so we're operating leaner than we have been in years past and that that's a testament to everyone on this board. Had we not been throwing a couple curve balls, we'd be operating basically flat. Uh basically possibly even leaner. Uh, a couple other things, our revenues are

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down by a half a million. We got the curveball from the the school board for the the $300,000 increase in our our cost for our our crossing guards. Uh, so these are things outside of our control our control that we have no control over. But what we do have control over,

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we're operating leaner. And I think that's very important to point out that the pieces of this budget that we have control over, we're cognizant of the the impact on you as the taxpayers and we're doing everything in our power to to keep our costs down year-over-year. Uh and those were the two big things I wanted

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to touch on. You did a very good job, Commissioner. I really appreciate this and this is this is definitely one of the best budgetary presentations I've ever seen and it's very easily digestible for the the average person. So, congratulations to you and your your staff for putting together. Uh, did

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anyone else want >> Sure. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, first, I'd like to thank Commissioner Evans once again. Outstanding presentation. We're We're not anyone not No one here is happy with the outcome of what we're being faced with, but reality

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is reality and we need to deal with it. Uh it's it doesn't it doesn't hurt any less that we're not the only municipality in the state of New Jersey that's that's feeling the same pain. Uh but I do want to speak for a moment to the health benefits that $3 million plus

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increase. All right. In as much as health benefits are administered through the parks and public property department. This we're we're part of the New Jersey state health benefits uh group. Uh this was a a pool that was put together many years ago and was managed

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by the state um similar to an insurance pool to offset high increases all right with better performing municipalities and to kind of level the field. Well the last administration in Trenton pretty much dropped the ball all right on managing this all right and just kind of

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let it drift. So, for whatever the reason was, maybe they wanted to get out of this business, we've had zero notification, all right, or warning about what it is we were going to be facing. So, a $3 million increase in health benefits is unconscionable, all

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right, and but in the lives of of our employees, all right, and everyone else in this town and in this state, health benefits are a priority. You know, you you always hope that you never need to use them. All right? But they need to be there in the event that you do. All

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right? We're we're managing this the best way we can. We offset uh every dollar that needs to be increased. All right. With with innovation, all right, and and different um different mindsets about how we approach this. Um I would just hope that this new administration

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in Trenton would provide some help. All right? and not the lopsidedness that we've seen in the past where we've gone up 26 or 27% on a municipal level. And there were some groups in the state, some union and some other groups who only went up 3%. So who foots the rest

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of that bill? It's us. All right. Unfortunately, this is carrying forward. I would I would urge our new governor to take a good hard look at this and to give us some relief in this area. Uh, Commissioner Evans also mentioned uh, grants, something that we in the parks

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department are are very proud of. Uh, our new field, our new uh, girls softball field here at Father Clotsback was a $1.2 million grant. We have a uh a sensory sensitive uh playground that's being installed, replacing the older

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playground so that everyone in our community can benefit not only from our beautiful parks, our 110 acres, but also from all of the amenities that that we can put forward. All right. I'm very proud to say that our facilities here in

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Nutley not only rival some of the best colleges in the state and in the country, but in many cases are much better. All right, we're going to continue to do that. We're going to continue to take care of our seniors. We're going to continue to take care of our taxpayers. All right, and like

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Commissioner Scarpelli is faced with uh extraordinary increases in Pake Valley sewage. All right. And in water uh purchases, uh we all work together to see what it is we can do to mitate some of these increases. So once again, thank you Commissioner Evans for this

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presentation. It's outstanding. Um and thank you everyone else u for working toward towards this budget and I look forward to a loan next year. >> Well, we're not done this year. We got work to do. >> Thank you. A little bit unless you

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>> Who wants to go first? All right, Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, again, thank thank you, Commissioner Evans, for a great budget presentation. Um, you're right. You didn't read every

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word. It was every third I counted. So, but uh listen, we're we're faced with these extraordinary healthc care increases and not only us but our employees and unless

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the state's going to come in and tackle this issue, we're going to have further issues with school districts, municipalities, and our employees. cannot continue

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at 17, 20, 25, 27% increases. It's impossible for us to handle that on a local level. That needs to be addressed at the state level. Um the governor did mention that in her last address that she's looking at state health benefits.

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So, uh, that's a good sign because no one's talked about that before besides trying to figure out how they can help some state workers and stick it to the rest of the, uh, people to to pick up the the burden as Commissioner Tucci mentioned. So, um, uh, we have a little

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work to do. I can say, no one's happy about the increase. We all have to pay that. We all live here. Uh so um but uh I think uh based on the circumstances we face uh we're doing the best that we

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can. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Petraco. >> Well, I hope I end this on a positive note going last, but I do have a few comments. The first comment is Tom, I've always said this, you're an asset to the

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town. um what Ray said about you too is to simplify this and make us all understand it. Not that I enjoy the numbers that are on these um pamphlets, but you you're you're you're fantastic. Um I also want to thank D too. You know,

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we torture her from public safety all the time. I usually call her with a tone in my voice cuz I'm not happy about something, but your your your um your professionalism is really appreciated, Dane. you know, I know you do a lot of that work and we appreciate

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it. Ray, I hear you and I have a lot more in common than we thought. Um, it's always nice to um see you here. I'll just say a couple things. Um, first of all, I want to thank all my fellow commissioners as well. I know public safety is the biggest part of the

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municipal budget and you guys the last 20 years have recognized that and you know, you should always do the right thing by um funding us as we seen over the weekend. not to be redundant. You know what could happen and you know obviously we need these guys and again

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you know public safety when everybody else is home when we're sleeping they're out there it's 24 hours a day 7 days a week Christmas holidays they never go home and obviously those numbers ref reflect that. Um I will say that I

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really am rooting for a new governor. Um, you know, I' I've said this to pretty much everybody on the board. You know, our jobs, you know, and to me, it is the hours are getting longer. It's not a part-time job. Um, we struggle. We

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answer a million questions from the residents. I know our phones don't stop ringing. I know mine doesn't. Um, but I feel like we are being pushed in a position where, you know, it's it's hard to figure out the puzzle, you know. Um,

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so I'm hoping that Mikey Cheryl does recognize that, you know, even, you know, townships like Nutley, the state aid formula, which Commissioner Evans has been arguing um, for years that, you know, we get pennies compared to the other towns, um, the insurance and

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Commissioner um, Tucci's office, you know, how something can go up $3 million and we're supposed to figure out that in these, you know, little municipalities. It's it's you know things that are are

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just impossible you know so I you know hear you know you know politicians are changing in our area and um the country a different viewpoint but you know we really need to keep our eye

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on the ball here in townships like us to get our fair share because you know as much as I don't want to vote for this number. If we don't vote for this number that's on the table, we're going to start having a town that nobody's going

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to want to live in because we're not going to have the services that we're used to having here in Nutley, you know, and um again, you know, it's a a terri a terrible number. I know that we've all do our best, but if simply if

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we keep cutting these budgets, you know, when you have a $3 million increase, you know, for health benefits and our increase is $3 million, it's kind of a wash. Like the mayor said, it would have been flat, you know, so this is, you know, outside of our control,

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unfortunately. And I'm hoping that, you know, the county, you know, the state, well, not the county, but the state really, um, steps it up and doesn't forget about Nutley. So, like I said, I'm rooting for the new governor. I really hope um, she steps up here in our

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hometown. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner. And I I I just want to add that if you're as frustrated as we are, uh contact your state legislators, contact uh your congressional delegation, contact the governor's office, and let them know how

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this budget affects you because as we said, this is the the biggest drivers of the costs that are being passed on to you are things entirely outside of our control and inside the control of those individuals. Uh so if you if you you're just as frustrated as we are, please by

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all means contact those individuals. Thank you. And I'll turn it back over to Commissioner Evans. >> Thank you, Mayor. U I want to echo those comments. I think it's important that we all reinforce as much as we can that the state has to step up and figure out what they're going to do with health benefit

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benefits cost. It's affecting every municipality and not just, you know, the government side, school boards, too, because not every school board is outside of state health benefits. there's a lot a lot there and it's also concerning for retirees as well because they're part of that that structure uh

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in in terms of state benefits. Uh I do agree the governor is doing a lot. Uh she just recently mentioned that this is on her table for of agenda items to do. I I don't think she'll have the ability to even get to it until later in the

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year, but she has formed a committee to look at it and start to formulate recommend recommendations. So, it's sort of it's now at the early stages of being looked at. And I do agree that the previous administration, Governor Murphy, uh I don't think they put much

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weight on uh looking at this. Uh and I think in part because there was a lot of COVID money going around. Uh which made the state bud state budget work. Uh so this this became something that was able to uh fall under the radar. Uh I think

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it's also important to note um mayor and since you raised it when we first started the budget process if you guys remember uh the first uh increase that we talked about in an executive was $598

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on average, right? And through uh pushing the revenues as much as we can through cost coding and things that we've been able to evaluate and the work that we all did together and and I thank you all for that. we've been able to get it down to uh $322.

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So, there is some $260 of of tax increase that we've been able to absorb. The challenge with that is whatever we've done this year, we've tightened up. So, if we get hit again, we have less of an ability to uh

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to absorb it. So going forward, much of the increases that we incur, whether they're labor contract increases, health care increases, other liability insurance increases, and and things that that we face, as well as what's going on

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with sewer and and water. Those increases are going to become very real because we have less of an ability to absorb. We pulled out the stops to keep this under control uh this year. So, I'm I'm hopeful that something will break uh

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that will help us manage uh what we're going going to face uh next year. Uh and remember, you know, we we all know that salary increases are not outside the cap. So, uh that's that's an important

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factor. And even though the um uh you can get to exclude from the cap calculation health benefits over 4% we still have to absorb 4%. So and and our appropriations are limited to three and

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a half%. So even if they come up more than you know that amount we're going to have to find a way to to live within uh our our means. And I see that is becoming more challenging uh in order to

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maintain u nutly as a place to as to place to where you want to live and raise a family and make sure that it's safe that we provide for the people that need us uh and that we have a great town. So I want to thank you for all the work that you you've done. I'll continue

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to uh be in my office every day as I have been. uh feels like, you know, sometimes I'm trying to figure out how I do how do I retire from my retirement because I'm putting in 30 hours a week. Uh so, uh it's it's one of those things

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that you do and not because of and as you said, we don't do this for money. We do this because we care about the town. If you're going to live here, you got to participate. And that's the way we I think universally we all feel about that. Uh although I keep on reminding us that the commissioner's compensation

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hasn't been raised since 1947. Uh so uh see I told you I figured out a way to get that in there. >> This is probably not a good year to address. >> So anyway, thank you all. Again, we're tableabling a vote until uh most likely

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June 3. Okay. Thank you. Do we need to open the hearing for this tonight or are we >> Yes. >> Yes, we do. >> Okay. Um, >> so at this time we will uh have the

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public hearing on the budget as introduced. Anyone wishing to be heard and address the board of commissioners on on the budget introduced, please approach the microphone and state your name for the record. All right. See >> close. Second.

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Hi, >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Petraco. Hi, >> Mayor Kelly. >> I >> Thank you, Mayor. >> And then, all right, we'll move into resolutions. Uh, Commissioner Evans.

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>> Thank you. Being resolved by the board of commissioners of the township of Mel County of State, New Jersey, the treasur is hereby authorized to refund overpayments of tax charges in the amount of $4,647.18 for the uh properties listed in the resolution. So move

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>> second. >> Commissioner Scarpelli, >> I. Commissioner Evans. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Petraco. >> Commissioner Duchi. >> Hi. >> Commissioner, sorry. Mayor Kelly. >> Hi. >> Whereas code enforcement department

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received a zoning application fee in the amount of $75 uh from Julie uh the lab uh uh for the property located at 434 Center Street. Whereas permit fee in the amount of $75 was collected and

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deposited into account 60122 902903. Whereas upon review the code enforcement department determined that it was a duplicate payment. Now therefore be resolved the board of commissioners of the township of Mel County of state New Jersey. The township treasur is hereby authorized to refund the zoning

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application fee in the amount of $75. So moved. >> Second. >> Commissioner Evans. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Petraco. Hi, >> Mayor Kelly. >> I >> uh my last resolution is my next

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resolution I think is for um uh our bond council um for services that have been rendered. Uh whereas detachable penelli has a need to retain legal services for qualified vendors in connection with the authorization and issuance of bonds or

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notes including the review of such procedures in the rendering of approval of approving legal opinions acceptable to the financial community whereas a chief financial officer has received one proposal from Hawings Deliff field and wood LLP for the provision of said

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services uh on April 29, 2026. Whereas the contract is awarded without competitive bidding as a professional service uh in accordance with NJSA uh 1944A 20.4 or 20 five whereas the board of commissioners has determined that

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Hawings Dallas field and wood located at one gateway center 24th floor Newark uh New Jersey is qualified and best suited to provide the services to the township whereas Hawings Dallas and Wood LP have been have completed and submitted the

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business entity disclosure certification which certifies that sets corporation has not made any reportable contributions to a political or candidate committee in the potential in the previous one year and that the contract will be will prohibit Hawking fellow wood from making any reportable

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contributions through the term of the contract. Whereas funds are available for this purpose in count 60208 205 subject to the adoption of the 2026 municipal budget and the applicable 2026 capital ordinances and chief financial officer has certified has certified the

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availability as funds as required by law. Uh whereas Hawkins Battlefield Wood LLP has submitted a proposal for the services in accordance with the proposal will perform the services at a cost not to exceed $17,500. Now therefore be it resolved by the

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board of commissioners state of New Jersey as follows. The mayor and township clerk are hereby authorized to execute a professional service contract with Hawings Delfield and Delfield and Wood for a one-year term commencing January 1, 2026 through December 31st,

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2026 at a cost not to exceed $17,500 subject to the appropriation of sufficient funds in the 2026 uh temporary and adopted budgets. Otherwise, the contract cannot exceed the amount available for the uh 26 uh

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2026 temporary and budget. uh uh budgets themselves. Copy of this resolution as well as the contract shall be placed on file with the clerk of the township in a notice in accordance with the local public contract law of the state of New Jersey shall be published in the sun. So

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>> second is that should should that read as the website or is it just the sun? >> It's going to be on the website that's yes >> it doesn't have to be in the nutly son. >> It does not. >> All right. So it would be >> that was probably an oversight >> nutlyj.org. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Evans.

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>> Hi, >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Scarpell. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Petraco. >> Hi, >> Mayor Kelly. >> Hi. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Uh, moving on to Commissioner Tucci. >> Thank you, Mayor. Whereas Department of Parks and Public Property determined due

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to unforeseen circumstances, families had to cancel participation in programs offered. Whereas the department of parks and public property have determined the need for refund families. Now therefore be it resolved by the board of commissioners of township of nutley county of state of New Jersey that the treasurer be and she is hereby

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authorized to refund payments for recreation programs in the amounts listed below. for our neighbors at 25 Columbia Avenue for the Rise and Shine program in the amount of $160 for this year and our neighbors at 128 Park Avenue second floor or our summer

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intensive program in the amount of $350 again for this year. I move the resolution. >> Second. >> Commissioner Evans. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Scarpel. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Petraco. >> Hi. >> Mayor Kelly. >> Hi. >> My next resolution 107-26.

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I am deferring for this evening and we'll bring it back at a later date. Whereas Township Nutley has a need to acquire specialized professional services as a non-fair and open contract pursuant to the provision of NJSA 1944A-20.5

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and whereas Township of Not through Department of Parks and Public Property has a need to acquire specializing professional services uh for architectural services for the feasibility andor expansion uh and renovation to the Nutley Health Department. Whereas the anticipated term

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of this contract is for 12 months from the date of contract award. Whereas Dasaha Hannes Architectural Group LLC 74 East Pacific Avenue in Nley, New Jersey has submitted a proposal indicating that they will provide such services for the sum not to exceed $6,750.

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And whereas Dasah Hannes Architectural Group has completed and submitted a business entity disclosure certification which certifies that said corporation has not made any reportable contributions to a political or candidate committee in the township of Nutley in the previous one year and that the contract will prohibit Dasahannes

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from making any reportable contributions to the term of this contract. Whereas funds are available from account G-04-55186410 in the amount of $6,750 and have been certified by the chief financial officer said certification being attached to this resolution. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board

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of commissioners of township of Nelley County of Essex State of New Jersey enter into a contract with Dasa Hannes Architectural Group as described herein. And be it further resolved that the business disclosure entity certification and the determination of value be placed on file with this resolution. Be it

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further resolved that a notice of this action shall be printed once in the Nutly Sun in accordance with local public contracts loan. I move the resolution. >> Second. >> Commissioner Evans. Hi. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Scarpel. Hi, >> Commissioner Petraco. >> Hi, >> Mayor Kelly.

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>> Hi. That's all I have. Mayor, >> thank you, Commissioner. Uh, Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Thank you, Mayor. Whereas public works professionals focus on infrastructure, facilities, and services. They're of vital importance to sustainability to st sustainable and resilient communities,

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and public health, high quality of life, and well-being of the people of the township of Neltley. Whereas these infrastructure facilities and services cannot be provided without the dedicated efforts of public works professionals who are engineers, managers, employees at all levels of government and the

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private sector who are responsible for rebuilding, improving and protecting our nation's transportation, water supply, water treatment and solid waste systems, public buildings and other structures and facilities essential for our citizens. Whereas in the public public interest for the citizens, civic leaders and children of the town of Penelli to

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gain knowledge of the and maintain an ongoing interest in understanding the importance of public works and public works programs in their respective communities. And whereas the year 2026 marks the 66th annual National Public Works Week sponsored by the American

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Public Works Association. And whereas this year's theme rooted in service powered by community acknowledges that the roots of service run deep in public works. Some work like building roads and bridges is highly visible and other public works contributing like maintaining water and sewer systems are found sometimes hidden from view.

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Together these efforts form of the foundation of thriving communities reminding us that every project seen or unseen powers the connection between service and the people it supports. Now therefore it be resolved that the board of commissioner township Nelley County of Essex state in New Jersey do hereby

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designate the week of May 17 to the 23rd 2026 as national public works week in the township of Nelly and call upon our citizens to acquaint themselves with the issues in providing public works and to recognize the sustain substantial contributions our professionals,

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engineers, managers, employees make to protecting our national health, safety and advancing the quality of life for all. I move resolution. Commissioner Evans. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> As a former public works director myself, I proudly vote I. >> Commissioner Scarpelli. >> I.

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>> Commissioner Petraco. >> I. >> Mayor Kelly. >> I. >> Whereas Nutley is a member of the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council. And whereas the Morris County Co-op awarded a bid for curbing contract number six, district number six and Sun General Contracting, 81 Franklin Avenue, Nutley,

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New Jersey. Whereas Nutley utilized the Mars County co-op to install, remove, replace concrete curving with restoration on Brookdale Avenue in Nutley. Whereas funds from account number CO4551741 in the amount of $30,70.96

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and account number CO45518149 in the amount of $37,172.54 a total of $67,243.50 have been certified by the chief financial officer. And whereas engineering service has recommended a change order number one in the amount of $8,874.75

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for additional quant quantities for a total contract amount of $76,100 $18.25 and whereas funds are available from account number C45518149 in the amount of $8,874.75 have been certified by the chief

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financial officer said certification attached to this reol resolution. Now there be it resolved by the board commission attached from Nley County state New Jersey that change order number one as attached as a change from the contracts originally award and sun general contracting is hereby authorized

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and approved and move the resolution >> second. >> Commissioner Evans I >> Commissioner Tucci >> I >> Commissioner Scarpelli >> Hi. >> Commissioner Petraco Mayor Kelly >> I. >> This is resolution number 11626. I'm going to read by title resolution

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authorizing potential for Nutley to sign an NJD treatment works approval application for the connections of a three-story R&D facility of approximately 56,082 square ft located at 340 and 430 Kingsley Street, Nutley, New Jersey,

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07110 into the township of Nutley Sanitary Source System. I move the resolution. >> Second. >> Commissioner Evans. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Commissioner Petraco. >> Hi. Mayor Kelly. >> Hi. >> That's all I have. Mayor, >> thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner

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Petraco. >> Yes. Whereas on May 5th, 2026, the board of commissioners of the township and awarded a non-fair and open contract to Motorola Solutions Inc. for the provisions of support, maintenance, and related services for the township police

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department inquire video system. Whereas the township requires to continue support, maintenance, and necessary upgrades. I bless you to ensure the system remains fully operational and up to date. Whereas Motorola Solutions Inc. has performed

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all contract obligations in a satisfactory manner and services provided to continue to meet the needs and of the township. Whereas the township desires to renew extended its agreement with Motor Order Solution Inc. for a period of 5 years commencing

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January 1st, 2026 and expire in December 31st, 2030 for an outgoing services hardware and maintenance. And whereas the chief financial officer has certified an availability of funds in account 601308213 for 2026 budget year subject for the

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appropriations of sufficient funds into 2022 2026 temporary and or adopted municipal budget and future years of contingent upon annual appropriations. Wow. Now therefore it be resolved by the

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board of commissioners township of not county vest state of New Jersey as follows and there's five other items that are listed and I'm going to move it as >> second. >> Commissioner Evans. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Petraco.

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>> Not to mention I read about Motorola for the last five weeks here. Uh thank you. I >> mayor Kelly. >> Hi. >> Thank you commissioner. Very well. >> I have four resolutions on for this evening. First one's resolution number

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11126 uh recognizing food allergy awareness week. Whereas food allergy awareness week was established as a national week of encouraging food allergy awareness and supporting those who are affected by food allergies and anaphilaxis. And whereas food allergies affect as many as 32 million Americans including 26

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million adults and 5.6 million children. And whereas nine foods account for 90% of all food allergy reactions, peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and sesame. However, almost any food can cause a reaction. And whereas a food allergy is an immune

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system response to a food the body mistakenly believes is harmful. When a when a person with food allergy eats the food, his or her immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals including histamine that trigger a cascade of symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract, the

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skin, and the cardiovascular system where anaphilaxis is a serious allergic reaction that comes on quickly. It has a potential to become life-threatening and there is no cure for food allergies. So strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction. Whereas food allergy and an anaphilaxis connection team fact is a national

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nonprofit organization committed to their mission to educate, advocate and raise awareness for all individuals and families affected by food allergies and life-threatening anaphilaxics. Now therefore it be resolved that the board of commission counties county of state of New Jersey recognize the week of May 10th to 16th 2026 as food allergy

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awareness week. Encourage all residents to increase their understanding and awareness of this potentially life-threatening medical condition improving the quality of life of 32 million Americans affected by food allergies and anapilaxis. I move the resolution. >> Commissioner Evans. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Scarpelli.

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>> Hi. >> Commissioner Petraco. >> Hi. >> Mayor Kelly. >> Hi. The next one I have on Oh, the next one I have on for this res this evening is resolution 1126. Whereas Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Heritage Month is

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observed each May to celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures, and significant contributions of Asian-American and Pacific Islanders to the United States. Whereas the 2026 national theme for Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is power in unity, strengthening communities together highlights the importance of

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collective strengths, shared stories, and building bridges across communities. Whereas AI AIP communities have played a vital role in shaping our the nation's economic growth, cultural richness, civic life, and continue to serve leaders in as leaders, innovators, and advocates in all sectors of society.

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Whereas the township of Nutley is proud to recognize and celebrate its vibrant Asian and Pacific Islander community whose members contribute to education, business, healthcare, public service, arts, and community engagement. Whereas this month provides an opportunity to honor the resilience, achievements, and cultural traditions of Asian and Pacific Islander individuals while fostering

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understanding, inclusion, and unity within our community. And therefore it be resolved that the mayor and board of commissioners town of Nelli hereby do proclaim the month of May as May 2026 as Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the township of Nelly and be further resolved that all residents are

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encouraged to embrace this year's theme by strengthening connection celebrating diversity and working together to build a more inclusive and unified community. So moved. >> Second. >> Commissioner Evans. >> Thanks. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Scarpell. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Petraco. >> Hi. >> Mayor Kelly.

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>> I. The next one I have on for this evening is resolution number 11326. It's National Stroke Awareness Month. Whereas stroke awareness month is a national health observance every May to increase understanding of stroke, a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or reduced. Whereas someone in the United States has

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a stroke every 40 seconds and someone dies from a stroke every 3 and a half minutes. Whereas a stroke can happen at any age, about 10% of all strokes can occur in people under 50. And whereas over 80% of strokes are preventable through lifestyle changes and managing risk factors such as high blood

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pressure. Whereas recognizing symptoms and learning the the be fast balance loss I eye vision uh changes face drooping arm weakness speech difficulty time to call 911 warning signs uh can help stroke patients get treatment they need to survive and reduce damage to the

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brain. Whereas the prevalence of transient ishkeemic attacks TIA many strokes increase with age up to 40% of all people who suffer TIA will go on to have a stroke. Whereas smoking, being overweight, drinking too much alcohol are all lifestyle factors. You can control these factors by quitting

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smoking, exercising regularly and watching what and how much eat and limiting alcohol consumption. may therefore be resolved by the board of commissioners in township of Nutley County of AIC state of New Jersey that the month of May may be declared as national stroke awareness month and encourage all citizens of the township of Nutley to learn the signs of stroke as as the sooner a patient receives

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medical treatment the lower the risk of death or disability becomes. I move the resolution >> second. >> Commissioner Evans >> I. >> Commissioner Tucci >> I. >> Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Petraco. Mayor Kelly >> I. Uh the next one I have on for this

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evening is resolution number 1186. This is on behalf of the entire board of commissioners. This is a resolution authorizing the execution of the developers agreement between the township of Nutley and Nutley Town Center redevelopers urban renewal entity. I move this resolution as

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written and note that uh the negotiation is still going on with the town attorney. Any any changes would be subject to the approval of the town attorney. I move the resolution. >> Second. >> Commissioner Evans. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> I. >> Commissioner Scarpell. >> Hi. Commissioner Petraov. >> Hi, >> Mayor Kelly.

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>> I. >> At this time, we'll open the meeting to the public. Anyone wishing to be heard uh may approach the microphone and state your name for the record. >> Uh we're going to do an exe executive session. >> Executive.

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>> Seeing none, uh uh Mr. Bruno, we have a need for an executive session, right? We have, >> mayor, we do have the need to go into close session to discuss uh contract negotiations. >> Thank you. I'll entertain a motion.

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>> Second. >> Thank you. Whereas section 8 of the Open Public Meeting Act, chapter 231, public law 1975, permits the public body to exclude the public from meeting under certain circumstances. And whereas the board of commissioners of the township

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of Nutle County of Essex, state of New Jersey, has determined that such circumstances exist. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board of commissioners shall enter into close executive session to discuss contract negotiations. Be it further resolved that these discussions shall be

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disclosed only when such disclosures will not adversely affect pending or anticipated legal, personnel, or contractual matters, or any matters exempt by law. This resolution shall take effect immediately. Commissioner Evans. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi.

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>> Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Petco. >> Hi. >> Mayor Kelly. >> Hi. >> Time is 8:35. We're back on the record. It's 9:17 p.m. and uh I said we would get to resolution or ordinance number 3610. We're going to

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resend ordinate ordinance number 3610 and introduce order 6 number 3613. It's going to be the same language except we're we'll be appropriating slightly different language uh which

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will be published in on the town's website and we'll be appropriating $270,000 rather than $1,ion30,000. Uh >> sure. >> Do we have to vote on the rescend? >> Yes. >> Oh, we have Okay. >> Yes.

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>> So, we'll vote on the rescend. Move it. Second. >> Commissioner Evans. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Tucci. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Scarpelli. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Petraco. >> Hi. >> Mayor Kelly. >> I. And now we will introduce ordinance number 3613. Uh similar language to ordinance number

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3610 uh appropriating $270,000 instead of $1,30,000. And Commissioner Evans will also describe some language changes. Just the the ordinance will now read ordinance

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providing for the uh 2026 payment of our obligation under the uh carding system uh by in and by the township of not in the county of Essex, New Jersey appropriating $270,000. Uh therefore, mayor, do you want to read

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the thing or you want me? >> Yeah, I'll read the the language. And again, this is >> got to read the the language on it. The introduction inside your phone. >> Yeah. So, uh, this is ordinance number 3613, an ordinance providing for the acquisition of garbage and recycling

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carts in and by the township of Nutley in the county of Essex, New Jersey, appropriating $1,70,000 or sorry, $270,000. Uh, and this is for our payment for existing garbage carts. This is not for

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any additional garbage carts. This is going to be introduced on today's date >> and I move that this ordinance be gotta read this. >> Yeah. I move that this ordinance be passed to a second reading and posted on the township's website nut nutlyj.org

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together with the notice provide required by law and further consideration of set ordinance for final passage by the board of commissioners to be held on a second reading on >> May 19th. >> May 19th. Do we have enough time? Okay. May 19th, 2026. >> Still moved.

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I'm sorry, who second? Thank you. Commissioner Evans, >> I noting the revised wording of the uh 2026 payment of our obligation under the carding system. >> Commissioner Tucci, >> hi. >> Commissioner Scarpelli, >> I

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>> Commissioner Petro, >> hi. >> Mayor Kelly, >> I and uh we will be going back into executive session and uh not be conducting any further business this evening. Our next meeting is uh same place, same time, May 19th, 2026. I'll

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entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Commissioner Evans, >> hi. >> Commissioner Tucci, >> hi. >> Commissioner Scarpelli, >> hi. >> Commissioner Petco, >> I. >> Mayor Kelly, >> I. >> The time is 9:20. >> Mayor, we And Madam Clerk, we do have a need to go into close session uh to discuss contract negotiations.

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>> We're going to continue where we were. Correct. Okay. So, I don't need to read another resolution. Correct. Okay.