cross. >> Okay. >> Meeting called to order. This is the October 14th, 2025 mayor council meeting in the bur of Oakland. >> We'll talk about it. >> Clerk, please read the uh statement of compliance. This meeting is being held in accordance with the open public
meetings law duly announced, advertised, and posted in the municipal building. The meeting will adjourn at 10 p.m. 1000 p.m. unless a majority of the council members that are present vote to extend the time. >> All rise for pledge of allegiance. [Music]
Ice to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Remain standing for a quick moment of silence.
>> All right. Would the clerk please call a role? Council President Sinski >> here. >> Councilman McCann >> present. >> Councilman Pigmatelli. >> Councilwoman Rose >> here.
>> Councilman Saliani. >> Councilman Talamini >> here with all my friends. >> Thank you. >> Here have a motion to excuse. Councilman Saliani. >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> All right. We have a special celebration
here today. Uh we have a pre presentation of certificates for roller hockey. Uh first one we have are the the mighty midgets the American division roller hockey NJRA champions undefeated season 24-25. At
this time I'd like to call the following coaches forward. Coach John Roar, [Applause] Coach Anthony Betagia,
>> and Coach Pat Leonard. >> He's here. Let's go. >> Bring in the hardware. >> That's the most important part. That's how you make an entrance. [Applause] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
>> On behalf of the mayor council, we want to certainly thank the coaches for a wonderful job that you did this year coaching these fine young men. At this point, I'd like to turn it over to the coach and maybe you can tell us about the season and bring them up and we'll give our significance. >> Hey, everybody that's here, you know,
parents wise, I'd like to thank you as all for, you know, you know what it's like being out there in the cold and everything else and the dedication, but this group of kids this year being around this sport for much 90% of my life, the heart and dedication that this team played with was unbelievable. They
scored 106 goals total for the season in 17 games and only had 21 goals scored against. And it goes 17 and0 is an accomplishment that's unheard of. So >> I can say I I'm very proud from being able to coach this team to Dan and and
Mike and also the mayor and council. Like to thank them. But you guys accomplished something. Like I said, just stay with the game. It's my opinion it's the greatest game greatest sport. So I keep playing right. >> Thank you.
[Applause] >> I'll call the names if you could come up one at a time. Colin Allen [Applause] Ethan Anderson for [Applause]
the capital >> Miguel Kamacho Mason [Applause] This is Karen B. [Applause]
Winner. Jameson Merus [Applause] Andrew. >> Andrew Andrew. Sorry. >> Tyler Roaro. [Applause]
Cameron, Ror Stoer. [Applause] Ali [Applause] and I don't have one for uh
>> Warner. >> One for Warner and one for Eli. >> Yi [Applause] >> and Warner. There you go, Evan. Good job, buddy.
Is that everything? Um, you know, I would just like to say too, I most of all I'd like to thank my co- coaches because without them it wouldn't be possible. So, thank you very much. >> This I think this is the only sport that I I didn't have any uh involvement in my
but u uh I'm always jealous of them. They they they they're such tough kids and they uh they they all seem to enjoy it more than anything else. the the the you know uh it's amazing and and 17 and0 >> 17
>> 17 and0 that that's awesome way to go guys take a picture you come down this way this way >> I'm the shortest one in front >> I agree with the coach it's the best
buddy I'll hold that. >> Thank you. >> Good job everybody. >> Thank you very much. >> Mr. Mayor, thank you very much. Thanks for having the program. We appreciate it. >> Thank you.
Do we have to print your name? >> Uh, no. No, no. >> No. Yeah, I had I had I gave No, I didn't have one. >> Evan Warner. >> Who was it? >> Evan Warner. >> W E R N E R. Yes.
>> Worth your hat though, right? >> The other one they had. >> All right. At this time, I'd like to bring coach Dan Lanka [Applause]
Anthony. [Applause] Once again, coaches, thank you so much for the hard work. Parents for bringing your children down to practice all the time and most importantly the winners of
the Braves over here. Coach, you want to tell us about the season? >> Absolutely. Sure. Mayor, thank you. Council, thank you very much. Um, my team is the seventh and eighth ninth grade level. Um, little bit different situation than John's team. Um, we were two and 13 two years in a row and we
were the youngest team in the league and it was rough going, but nobody quit. We had zero people leave the program in those two years. We had only one or two that move up to the next level. So, we were very young. Um, this past season, 13-2, not quite John level. We didn't
make we didn't make, >> but we did have a seven and0 run at the end of the season to win the championship, which is the first junior division championship for Oakland. in five or six years when my son actually was part of that team. Um the championship is the first in 10
years just so we just so we know going back. It doesn't get a lot of billing but it's a really tough league to win. There's a lot of towns from here down to Lynhurst that have teams. Um so like I said my team was a study in resilience. Um, and just like John said, the greatest kids
to work with and we had a blast even and I coach Pete will say because he told me all the time for like three years, this team, it doesn't matter if we're winning or losing, they always have the best same attitude and and it really showed. They were respectful in losing and in winning and and it was so much fun. Um,
we're a little lighter on numbers. My daughter literally just strolled in from a soccer high school county game. Um, Indian Hills 3 nothing over Park Ridge. >> I'm moving on. We're moving on in the next round. So, um, but a lot of the other guys and girls up here still play a lot of sports in this town, not just
roller hockey, which is a testament to to the overall attitude that these kids have. You know, they they go they come back in the winter because I guess they like freezing in the winter time outside, but they play high school soccer, football, I see lacrosse, uh, baseball. It's it's it's amazing to see.
But we have a blast. Um, I'm gonna I'm gonna, you know, wrap it up before I get the hook. Basically, like I said, um, wreck deals right there. If you ever want to come out and watch a game, come on down. It's a blast. We have a blast no matter what time it is or or how cold it is. And,
uh, that's it. Let's Let's bring him up. You guys, thank you. All right, let's do it. Like I said, we'll go through Zack R. Diddy. I know he's here. Come on up, Zack. guys. >> Yeah. Thomas Lav Basich Vasich may not
be here. Uh Samantha Betaglia, she's here. No. Yes. Oh, no. You're here, but she's not. >> Homework. I guarantee that was always the uh the homework. Brooke Bleer, she's here. Come on, Brooke. >> Brook's also a high school ice goalie
for India Hills. So, uh, she's ice roller. Chris Canova. I don't know if Chris made it. Chris Kenova, Liam Dudus. I know that Dudas is couldn't make it. Uh, Levi Dyson. We're going to go through Lucas. Luca. Luca's here. Luca.
[Applause] >> What's up, buddy? >> You're blushing. >> Thank you. Luca is most proud of the fact that he won a championship before his older brother in roller hockey, right? What's up, buddy? Aiden Penzel,
number one. Good job, Aiden. You're the man. Jake Grunedger. Jake. Jake. Jake. No. Okay. Sydney Lent. [Applause]
Still got the soccer underneath. Sean Leg, I don't think made it. Colin Mwini. Yep. Colin [Applause] on the line. Ron Salzano Jr. was our other was our main goalie.
[Applause] >> Thank you. Ronnie's playing goalie in high school, too, right? Yes. >> Yes. >> We won't mention where Brad's here. Tilly, [Applause]
>> Hudson Verscelli did not make it. We're down to the bottom here. Who did I get? Peter 10K. [Applause] >> That's it, buddy. You just hold it down there. It's fine.
>> And we had one uh we had one more for Tyler Roar. Did Tyler make it? >> Yeah, Tyler going back up. >> Tyler was on the team, but he also helped us on the junior. >> That's it. That's it. Why don't you bring everybody up here? We'll get a group picture. >> Come on down here.
>> That trophy in the middle here. >> Come on down. Come on down. Come on down. Come on down. You want to get the trophy? >> Let's go. >> Good job, Dan. >> Great job, guys. [Music]
>> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you for open. Thank you everybody. >> Defense in oneach. >> We'll take a five minute recess. So those who want to stay can stay. Those who want to leave can leave. [Applause]
[Music] All right, we're back in session here. All right, we are up to the mayor's report. I have several items. Uh, today is the last day to register to vote. Burrow Hall will be open until 900 p.m. today.
So, last day to register to vote. Burrow Hall will be open till 900 pm today. Uh, also the uh, as you know, every resident gets a burrow calendar. There is the calendar photo contest. If you're interested in submitting a picture for the burrow calendar, you can certainly
reach out to the burrow clerk, Miss Wendy over here to the right of me, and she can certainly help you out with that, or you can just send an email, send the pictures to assistant admin-enj.org. Want to remind everybody that the free rabies clinic is November 1st from 1 to 3 p.m. Anybody that needs to get their
animals inoculated, please register with the board of health for the appointment and they'll provide a location. >> Patriots Way Bridge. I'm happy to announce most everybody knows by now with the announcements we've made that the Patriots Way Bridge is indeed open. It opened on Saturday, October 4th at 1
p.m. It officially opened. Uh, and also I want to also remind everybody that people coming down Yo, we're going to death down Yo, just close the door. >> Hang on. We're just going to close the door.
[Music] >> There we go. That's better. All right. Yo Avenue construction is currently happening. They are doing the concrete work on the bottom of the of Yawo right now. Uh they're going to be working their way up. That'll be followed by sidewalk pouring concrete and then milling and paving and also storm water
work. It's going to take several weeks for the outpour project. Uh reminder that October 25th from 3 to 8:00 p.m. is the the night arts market down here by Valley School by uh by the uh between
the library. Uh the flood buyout houses. I'm sure people that live down there have noticed that the fire department and police have been drilling on the houses right now. They've made a lot of large holes into the roof, removed all the windows and doors. Uh they're going to be drilling on those houses for another couple weeks, and we expect
those houses will be down uh probably the first second week of November. Uh planning board met last Thursday. Uh the application that we were discussing was the Oakland Drugs property. Uh we made a lot of progress during that meeting. Uh we had a chance to see the architectural
renderings and what the outside of the building is going to look like. Uh we are we suspended the meeting. Uh they're going to work out a few details with landscaping and other issues and they will be continuing the hearings uh next month at the next planning board meeting. Also just be aware that the
West Oakland watermade project is going to be starting sometime next week. So expect the latest on West Oakland A. Uh with that that is my report and at this point I'd like to open to open to public. So move >> second. >> All in favor? All right, anybody from
the public trust council? >> Hi, Dave Richardson, 320 Rample Valley Road. Um, I've discussed this a couple times before and it's all about these electric bikes that they're allowing on the sidewalks. These kids are doing 30 mph with them. I almost got hit the
other night. I went out the end of my driveway. I was I had two of these little blue lights at the end of the driveway to see. I'm out there picking dirt off them and these two kids came whizzing by me, no lights on. They damn near hit me and
I yelled at him and they kept right on going and then last night I was going out my driveway and one kid come down the sidewalk 25 30 m hour, no lights. He almost ran to the side of my car. I'm just wondering what it's going to take for for them to pass a law to keep
these these bikes off the sidewalks. It's the word is walks, sidewalk. Not to be riding uh motorized vehicles. It's just like a It's like a moped. They do 30 40 m an hour with these things. New York just passed a law no more than
15 miles an hour. >> They got to do something before somebody gets hurt. >> So, Mr. Richardson, I attended a meeting this morning with Bergen County mayors. Uh and that was the topic of discussion. This a systemic problem throughout New Jersey. uh what you're echoing is what
we're hearing from the other towns as well and it really gets down to the state having to pass some type of leg legislation to address this issue. So we we're not alone in dealing with this problem and they had several police chiefs there as well and they were also trying talking through the issue and how we can deal with it.
>> My concern is people coming out of the stores uptown here and these kids are on this sidewalk whizzing by somebody comes out the store doesn't see them coming. >> Boom. >> Yep. >> Somebody's going to get hurt >> or worse. >> We agree. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Anybody else?
>> Steve Penosian, 69 Glen Grave Road. This is a week for peace and I just have to thank the mayor and council for bringing peace to Glen Gray. Peace and quiet. The most exciting thing that happened this week is when the gates were closed. I
think it was the yard waste truck came up 6:00 in the morning and they realized that it was closed. And there was about a couple minutes of figuring out what the hell they got to do and you know they backed up but again thank you for all you guys hard work and the progress we're making. >> Thank you. Anybody else for the public?
Nope. Not seeing do a motion to close. >> So move. >> Do a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> All right. We have approval of minutes September 30th 2025. Have a motion to approve. >> So move. >> Do a second. >> Second. >> Does anybody have any changes? >> Not seeing any.
>> Roll call. Council President Sinski, >> yes. >> Councilman McCann, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Rose, >> yes. >> Councilman Talamini, >> yes. >> All right, I got September 30th, 2025 executive minutes. Do I have a motion to approve? So moved. Do I have a second?
>> Second. >> Does anybody have any changes, deletions, or changes? Not seeing any. Roll call. >> Council President Swissinski. >> Yes. >> Councilman McKan, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Rose, >> yes. Councilman Talamini. >> Yes.
>> All right. We're up to special announcements. Uh number one, we have authorization for weekend interior finishing work for LAR to work on Saturdays. They're going they're requesting to do work inside the building, so it's not going to cause any noise. Uh we have appointment to the
access forall/public events committee. I'd like to put Cynthia Barzola forward. This is a mayoral appointment. Authorize raffle license RL1567 for the Sports Association of Oakland on November 2028, 2025 for a raffle in
support of the 12U baseball and Coopertown trip at 71 page drive. Authorized raffle license RL1568 pack Indian Hills on November 15th for a raffle in support of Indian Hills High School softball team going to Florida
for spring training. Authorized raffle license RL1569 pack Indian Hills High School December 7th for a 50/50 in support of Indian Hills softball team going to Florida for spring training. Do have a motion to approve consent agenda.
>> So move second. >> Second. All in favor? >> I Okay. >> We are up to resolutions. It's a very light agenda today everybody just for the public. We have 25284 resolute authorizing recreation refund. We have
25286 authorized refund for utility overpayment. 25287 approved time payout for El Roland. 25288 resolution authorizing discharge of tax lean. 25289 resolution authorizing update of the LOAP list and 25290 establish America
250 steering committee and America 250 community partners committee. Does anybody wish to call any out? Not seeing any. Do I have the motion to approve as a consent? >> So moved. >> Do have a second. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council President Slissinski.
>> Yes. >> Councilman McCann. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Rose. >> Yes. >> Councilman Tammy. >> Yes. >> Okay. We're up to ordinance. This is the final adoption of public hearing of ordinance 25 code 975 amending chapter 8- with burough code fees cannabis
licensing. Do have a motion to open the public. >> So moved. Second, Mr. Rose. Okay. >> Yes. Second. >> All in favor? >> Okay. Does anyone from the public wish to address ordinance 25 code 975?
Not seeing any. Do a motion to close. >> Mr. Talamini, Mr. McCann. Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. >> Do I have a motion to introduce 25 code 975 for final adoption? >> To adopt. >> So move. >> Mr. McCann, do we have a second?
>> Second, Mr. Slinsky. Roll call. Council President Sinski, >> yes. >> Councilman McCann, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Rose, >> yes. >> Councilman Talamini, >> yes. >> Okay, very good. Motion passes. All right, we're up to work session. Best practices and inventory. Council, I
mean, uh, Mr. Coats. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, it's that time of year again. Uh just as a refresher, every year the state puts out what they term a best practices inventory, which is a uh survey of both scored and unscored uh topics that municipalities
have to respond to. And they we all need to reach a certain minimum score in order to avoid a loss of any state aid. Uh so this year they were divided uh 70 questions total divided into an unscored survey of 20 questions uh core competencies of 37 questions and best
practices composing 13 questions uh and a minimum score of 32 points was needed. Our score this year is 38.5 out of 43.5 points. So happy to report that uh there will be no loss of state aid. I think we did quite well. Uh, but if you
have any particular questions on the survey that was included in the packet, just let me know. >> Thank you. All right, we're up to uh uh street naming. We received a request from the American Legion from Commander
uh McNelte. Uh I did have uh some pictures put into your packet here. Uh what they'd like to do is they'd like apparently what happened was let me read the email. It says, "I would like to propose that we use this format of signage to add to the top of the Thomas McInness Memorial Way street sign in front of the American Legion Post. It
has to do with the fact that James John E. Twiliger who was killed in action. Uh they have renamed the street to to the Thomas McInness Memorial Highway and they want to just uh put a topper on top of it that honors uh Johnny Twiliger. And this is what it would look
like on top of the the sign right next to the American Legion. I don't know if anybody has any comments or concerns. >> Not seeing anybody. Is there >> No, I think it's a wonderful thing to take them to do that. >> Yep. Any other further discussion? >> No, I don't think so. >> If uh everybody's in favor of this, I
think we'll green light that and I'm sure we'll have a nice ceremony out there after they rename it after Mr. Tiliger, who was killed in action. Okay. Thank you everybody. Uh new business, old business. Uh committee reports. Uh we'll start
with Mr. Tommy since you're all by yourself. >> Oh, with all my friends. Uh uh well, I have um recreation. We have a meeting at the end of the month on Monday at the Danny De Building and
um coach your kids. Other than that, I'm good. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Kim. Um, no report in the mayor on as it relates to my committees, but just um uh I don't know, you didn't talk about the uh the
bridge opening uh soft opening. >> Oh, yeah. You can bring it up again. We did. We were just a little distracted by the public. >> Oh, okay. So, uh I I want to congratulate you. I know personally uh how hard you worked. Uh I was told by the crews that you were there literally
every day for the last year and a half that you could probably get an engineering degree in bridge building. Now um this has been something that's been going on in this burrow for many many years and uh I want to um thank my
fellow council uh people uh for uh for supporting uh your efforts on that and finally uh getting this done. It was not easy. I want to thank uh assembly our assembly uh John John Nazeriti and and
Bob O and a special shout out to our state senator Holly Shabzy who secured a a great deal of funds I think in paid in full but with Holly's help. >> So I want to thank her for that. Now I know there's some other things left to
do. Um u we've had some minor holdups with the subcontractor um uh with the contractor. Uh there's been some weirdness going on with that subcontractor. We'll figure that out later, but we're well ahead of schedule. I think it was scheduled to be finished at the end of the year and we are still
under budget. Um I hopefully if you could speak to the uh the guardrail situation, what's going to be done and when we expect that to be done. Oh, one final thank you too is uh Boswell Engineering, particularly Kevin uh Boswell who um really kicks uh uh the
issue with regard to the subcontractor who stepped up uh and and u I forget the gentleman's name. Bob um from his firm um big guy uh from Boswell Engineering. >> Oh, the project manager. >> Project manager. He did a great job as well. >> And uh so if maybe you want I'll defer
some of my my committee report to you as it relates to >> Yeah. So, so, um, essentially the bridge itself is done. Uh, what's missing is the guide rail that goes from the crosswalk up to the water's edge. Uh, we are working with the contractor through our engineering firm. We expect it to be
done in the next several weeks and that should pretty much close out that job. So, we are, you know, the bridge is indeed open and then all those barrels will go away. >> I think um I'm sure I'd have the support of the council that we should have some sort of ceremonial opening. Uh we do have we do have a we do have the very
first car coming across the bridge. We were able to capture that on video. I don't know if you've all seen that or not. Uh it happened to be Eric. >> It's because I had to move the barrels. >> Yeah. And he did. >> Uh so we got that. But um maybe we could
u um in the near future um perhaps maybe before the end of the month. I guess we'll depend upon the guardrail. Yep. Where we can do a ceremonial opening. >> We'll try and do that. Would you guys up be up for that? >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Okay. All right. Thank you, council. >> Thank you, >> Council Minsky. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh from the library,
uh programming for adult children and young adults continue in October as they have painting with Vilma on Thursday, October 16th, as well as the new evening book club, both at 6:30. Yoga with Sonia returns through the 4th of November.
Please register individually for each class on their website. On Thursday, October 23rd, they will have a conversation with Lori Pollson, an award-winning artist whose work is currently being displayed on the library on the stage at 6:30. For children,
parents and caregivers can check the online calendar or come in and grab one of the paper ones for all of their regular week weekly story times like preschool story time on Tuesday mornings and a music program every Friday. Please
note, parents must register for the Friday music programs in advance, but the story times are just drop in. For young adults, they have teen crafts this Thursday at 3:30 and the Nintendo Switch Club on Monday at 3:30. Register in
advance for the crafts program, but the switch club is just drop in. It's all Thank you, Councilwoman. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh shade tree committee met on uh October 6th. Um the forester had issued 25 permits. We had
60 trees removed and 19 replaced. And just a quick reminder to residents that if they are looking to take down a tree that you are required to have a permit to do so. Um the next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 3rd at 7:30. And just another reminder is that
the shade tree committee is always looking for new volunteers. Um it's a very rewarding uh committee to be on. Access for All um will be hosting their trunk or treat on October 25th. This event starts at 9:00 a.m. for those with special needs and the main event with
the public events is starting at 10:00. Um it's a fun it's a very fun event and lots of treats are given out. Um, ours committee, their next meeting is scheduled for October 20th at 7:00 p.m. And on October 25th, they will be having
our first night outdoor market starting at 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. And that's it. >> Thank you. All right, we're up to bills to be paid. Councilman, >> bills to be paid. $454,38810. So moved. >> We have a second. Second, Mr. Coun.
Council President Slissinski, >> yes. >> Councilman McCann, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Rose, >> yes. >> Councilman Talamini, >> yes. >> Okay, very good. That passes. Uh, before we adjourn, I just I I forgot under my report about the a little distracted when the children working walking out in
regards to the Oakland drugs. Just so everybody knows and the public knows, the building is going to be used by Hackinack Medical. It's going to be doctor's offices utilizing that building. Uh so hopefully it's going to be a nice uh how should we say a nice
business to our town, a nice raidable and certainly bring traffic and and you know they'll be able to use our downtown. Uh with that do I have a motion to adjurnn? So move second. >> All in favor? >> I All right. The next council meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 28th,
2025 at 7 p.m. here council chambers. And with that meeting, thank you everybody.