All right. Meeting call to order. This is the February 10th, 2026 Oakland Mayor Council meeting. Uh would the clerk please read the statement of compliance? >> This meeting is being held in accordance with the Oakland public meeting board duly announced, advertised, and posted
in the municipal building. The meeting will adjourn at 10 no later than 10 p.m. unless a majority of the council members that are present vote to extend the time. All rise for a pledge of allegiance. Councilman Pigatelli. Igiance to the flag of the United States
of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Remain standing for a moment of silence, please. Clerk, call a roll, please. >> Mayor Kamala >> here. >> Council President Talamini
>> here. >> Councilman Eert >> here. >> Councilman Pignatelli >> here. >> Councilwoman Rose >> here. >> Councilman Saliani >> here. >> All right, we're up to the mayor's report. I got a couple items here. Uh, first of all, we have a special election
here in Oakland on March 10th. Uh polls are going to be open from 6:00 am to 6 pm at your regular polling location. Uh another date is February 17th will be the last night for late voter registration. Uh the clerk will be in
Burough Hall until 9:00 p.m. And March 3rd is the last day to request a vote by mail and you have to go down to Bergen County and see the county clerk if you're if you go down to the March 3rd date. All right, affordable housing update. Uh couple dates to keep in mind.
Obviously, uh I was I see a lot of people here with interest in affordable housing. We've got the three properties. We got the Roper, McBride, and the Leone property. Uh one of the next dates that's upcoming is going to be February February 24th. Okay. Where an ordinance
is going to be introduced in an ordinance to implement the fourth round plan. Okay. After that, which is a really important meeting, is going to be the March 12th meeting. Okay.
>> Oh, yeah. Okay. So, the because of election day falling on the 10th, we're moving the council meeting to the 12th. Okay. Because of special election, on the March 12th meeting, we are going to be having a 6 pm planning board meeting here in council chambers. Okay? So that
this will be televised and made public to everybody with everything that's going on with the affordable housing. Once the planning board meeting concludes at 7:00, then the burough council is going to come in for this regular 7:00 meeting to vote on the fourth to approve that the approve or
disprove the the uh I'm sorry. >> The mayor and council meeting will start after the planning board meeting ends. So it may not be 7 o'clock on the >> right. Okay. It could be later. Okay. And then that ordinance will be for final adoption on the on the 12th. So two really important days, especially
the March 12th day. Uh this will all be televised and we will have our professionals here with a presentation. All right. Uh winter is back. Obviously want to thank the DPW for the good job job that they did with the roads and everything. So thank you for the DPW. It took it was the first time we've had some real snow in the last five, six
years and they they really knocked it out of the park. Uh a resident came up last week was talked about garbage. I want to just correct the record. He said that uh right now we're in a six-month extension of the existing garbage contract and it is at no additional cost to the burrow. So I just want to correct that record and yes, we are still
looking at all options are on the table for garbage pickup because this contract has indeed concluded. February 18th is the last day to renew dog and cat licenses. And also I have another statement here. I'm very pleased to report that the contract dispute between our police department has been successfully
resolved. Binding arbitration proved to be a valuable and effective tool to bring this matter to a fair conclusion. The mayor and council have always held our police officers in the highest regard and strongly support their critical work that they do each day to keep our community safe. At the same time, the
mayor and council have an important responsibility to serve as careful responsible stewards of taxpayer resources. Throughout this process, the bureau work diligently to balance these priorities by putting forward fair and reasonable proposals regarding retirement benefits for our police officers. While the negotiations
presented challenges, I'm pleased that through this process, an agreement was reached that reflects the bureau's goodfaith efforts to achieve a resolution that ensured fairness to our police officers while protecting the long-term fiscal resp. Now, the with the with the solution that
was put on the table, this contract saves the taxpayer $435,000 over the life of the contract. Over the course of 10 years, it's well over a million dollars. And at the same time, it meets the union's goal to limit retiring officers healthcare contributions. So I'm happy to report that we have put
this behind us. And with that, do I have a motion to open the public? >> Move. Have a second. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I 34 Hopper Street. >> I'm here to speak in opposition. >> I don't want anybody to say their address, okay? Because I don't put it in
the minutes. So just your name is >> Everybody knows where I live by now. >> I know, but I'm just saying you don't have to say. I'm just letting the rest of the public know. Okay. Okay. >> Mike Wardino. I'm here to speak in opposition of Mr. McCann being appointed as the municipal uh judge. Um as a
taxpayer resident in town here, um I am diametrically opposed to political patrons jobs or political grifting, especially on my dime. Um I don't know if Mr. McCann is academically qualified or not. I don't really know that vetting process. I wouldn't what I can tell you
is that he does has shown not to have the disposition to be a judge. We can go back and we can watch from that seat right there time and time again he would berate residents for only having a difference of opinion. Um and let's go back to the December meeting when Bob W
was here to give him an award. Um he spent that entire meeting just going through a litany of issues and problems he has with individual residents and and things that go on in town. What what people believe. He really seems to me from my opinion to be someone who enjoys divisiveness.
>> Um to me that's not someone who should be uh who should be as for municipal judge. Also he has accepted political donations from residents as well as um burough professionals such as the burough attorney, such as the burrow
engineer. That itself should disqualify him. So again, I'm going to respectfully request that Mr. McCann's name be pulled from appointment as municipal judge. And if it's not pulled, I'm going to ask the council to kindly vote no on this that um having him on the council will affect
uh and undermine the trust and belief in a fair and unpartial impartial uh municipal judge. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? Bener Oakland. I'm really happy to hear about the police resolution. My
grandfather served here for decades. There is another duty that I really think is important and it's the duty of the people by the people for the people. You guys have done such a great job. We want to continue that. And it seems like what I hear in parallel with Mike's opinion, John McCann is not accepted as
a candidate for judge here. He has had a poor form of being. He has behaved very poorly with the community. You guys are for the people and by the people and it's a very implicit quiet duty that we're hoping that you guys will obey what we all want as a community. We can't speak for everybody, but for
everybody I've heard from personally, and I believe Mike would actually agree with me, of course, we don't support McCann for this. He lost out of all four people, he lost the worst. His behavior is reprehensible as a council member.
It speaks for itself. And I'm speaking for people who are not here today. Speaking for myself. I'm saying as a young man, we need some more young people in here. I'd like to see some more people my age. Even if you disagree, totally cool. You know, I'm just going to say my two cents. That's what it is. McCann is behaved very
poorly. And he may have had a great track record beforehand. That is great. But as a judge, I don't believe he fits. And that is all. Thank you, council. Thank you, mayor. Have a good night. >> Thank you. Anybody else from the public? >> Frank Ferbacher.
>> Um, I want to be >> your last name again. >> F U R B A C H E R. So, I want to be transparent that this comment is more about governance norms than any individual. Uh when a candidate for elected office is not returned by
voters and is then placed into a long-term appointed role that is insulated from elections, it can create confusion for residents about how voter accountability fits into our system. Even if lawful, this sequence can feel
misaligned with public expectations, particularly when the appointment is to a judicial position where public confidence is essential. And I share this respectfully, not as an accusation, but as feedback on how this decision may be perceived by residents
who care about trust in our local institutions. Thank you. Thank you. >> Hi there. My name is Amber Wazak. Um, I'm an Oakland res. I can't hear you. Can you speak up? >> Yeah, sure. My name is Amber Waznjak and I am an Oakland resident as well. Um, thank you for the opportunity to speak
tonight. Um, just a few months ago, um, you know, speaking similarly like everyone else, Mr. McCann did unfortunately run for public office and lose. Appointing him now to a judicial position feels, in my opinion, um, as to many of us, like a way around that
outcome. Um while legal obviously this raises concerns about whether voter intent is being respected and brings forward questions about democratic intent and legitimacy. Um judges are in a very unique position. They have to be independent and unbiased
and present this way to the public as well. Moving straight from a political campaign into a judgeship through a mayoral appointment makes that harder and it risks undermining public confidence in the court. I also think it's important to consider the precedent that this sets. Um, if losing an
election doesn't remove someone from public power, but shifts them into an appointed role, what does that say to voters about whether or not their voices matter? I respectfully ask the council to slow down, take a little bit more time, and consider candidates without
recent political involvement. Um, taking a pause would go a long way toward fostering and maintaining trust in our local government. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hi. Uh, my name is Sandra Gray. Um, I wanted to, um, make a couple comments
about the, uh, Robbar project. Um, specifically on traffic safety and as a resident of Oak Street and how peak conditions actually function on Oak Street because this is not a typical commuter commuter c corridor. Um, Oak
Street serves a middle school, um, an outlet from a shopping center, as you know, and access to a recreation field. Um, as a result, the times of heaviest traffic volume and highest safety risk are not standard weekday commuter rush hour hours. Um, instead they peak
conditions occur during school arrival and dismissal, during camp drop off and pickup, and during sports practices and games, including evenings and weekends. These peak periods are predictable and they're recurring. They involve school buses, parent vehicles, pedestrians, student crossings, recreational traffic,
and shopping traffic all converging within short time windows. And I have seen so many things that I wish, you know, I I wouldn't see, but um especially with that paper street. Uh this often results in vehicle backups
that spill into intersections um or block driveway. You know, trying to get out in the morning is is crazy uh right now. um during those those peak hours, but these re raise uh safety concerns for pedestrians, students, and and even emergency vehicles. Um
and uh I you know, obviously there was a terrible incident last year very close to Oak Street. And for these reasons, I I respectfully ask the board to require for any future um planning multiple, not
one, but multiple traffic uh impact analyses that reflect how Oak Street actually operates. Um they should prioritize school arrival and dismissal times, camp operations, and sports events. And they should evaluate peak seasons when these uses overlap. So not
at the end of the summer when we don't have any any activity on the streets. Um, it's also important that any any analysis evaluate cumulative impacts, not just the proposed development in isolation, but how it interacts with existing school traffic, shopping center traffic, recreational traffic already
using this corridor. Um, pedestrian safety, emergency access, cycle, all of these things have to go into it. Um, I think it's very important that we avoid just having a single, you know, single study that doesn't uh accurately
reflect real work, real real world conditions on Oak Street. Um, it would not give the board adequate information to really assess safety and safety is a big concern for me as a resident of Oak Street. Um, the request is not about posing development. is about ensuring
that decisions are based on accurate sight specific data and public safety especially for students and pedestrians and I hope that that these concerns will be fully considered. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> King I said I wasn't going to speak but
I couldn't help it. Um there's just a few things that uh I want to bring up. election manipulation. The people of Oakland have spoken loud and clear and they've made their decision that Mr. McCann does not belong
on the council and is not a good representation of this town. And something I know very well is elections have consequences. When you speak in a foul manner to the people of Oakland, they will come out
and they will make their voice heard. I hope they do that in the special election and based on your vote, I hope they do that in November. Thank you very much. >> Anybody else? >> Hello, Mike Best from Oakland. been
living in town about 20 years and have to say I can't thank you guys enough for uh all the savings with the police negotiations and uh it's nice to hear saving over a million bucks. Uh so I just want to say thank you for your everybody's efforts and making that happen. Um and I think that you know you
guys took a little bit heat from from a minority group over that at times but you did the right thing by the town and I appreciate it. Uh, I think that same concept applies to John McCann where I do think that he is qualified. I have personal experience getting to know him
more and more over the last 20 years. He's qualified to do the job. I think he will be impartial. I think he'll do a good job for Oakland. I think obviously there's some disscent here. I totally disagree with I'm not putting together an election with an appointment for a
man that I know is going to do a fine job and is going to be an asset to this town. I just urge you to support John McCain uh for the appointment. Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> Uh Steve Penzian. Uh
basically, u I'd like to thank the council for mayor and council for all the hard work and and uh uh coming up with a great solution for for the u uh finalizing the contract with the with the local police. I think u the u it was
a long road and I think somebody just talked about manipulation. Uh I'm still very very uncomfortable with what occurred prior to election and the divisive divisive uh campaign statements that this mayor and council uh was not
in support of the police. It's a ridiculous thing. I've said it over and over and I will say it again. I don't know anybody in our town that's anti police, but I know everybody in our town has to look at their bills every day and
also look at their taxes going up. And I applaud and thank the council for holding um onto a commitment to to address uh us as taxpayers and holding the line uh to minimize our tax
increases. Healthcare is unsustainable. Anybody that thinks that a free uh health care program for life is is something that's equitable, it isn't. It'll bankrupt everything in its path. It's not just a
local issue. It's not a county issue. It's not exclusively a state issue. It's a national issue. I've said that before. Um and everybody's going to have to pitch in and pay a little bit. So, that's one point on on that issue. And I'm still disappointed in how all that
happened and came to be. With regard to John McCann, um, uh, the few years, three or four years that I've gotten to know him very much like I've gotten to know most of you on on the council here, including Bill, um, more recently. And,
uh, you know, I applaud your work. Uh, you have my commitment as a, uh, as a taxpaying resident, um, to support you in any way I can. I may not agree with everything, and I'll let you know. um if not an email uh here at the podium
um but one-on-one and that's the greatest thing about this town is I can approach any one of you and have a conversation after the meeting before the meeting and sometime in public and there's not many towns that are that way and I don't know
anybody that has been speaking negative about John. It's unfortunate they never got to know him better than what they perceive in a in a video of of a meeting that February 8th meeting 2023. He was in my opinion he was not rude to that
resident. All he was trying to communicate to that resident is two arguments that she had against his position on cannabis and that was the issue. She misspoke or she misstated what he
had said and that's all he was doing. He didn't treat her uh with any disrespect. If you want to see disrespectful treatment of residents, go watch a Woff town committee meeting, go watch a uh MA council meeting and all the fbombs and
the cursing that goes back and forth there in Woff. They throw they throw all the people out of the meeting because they they think it's it's funny to mistreat them. That's never happened here. I don't want to say John's a boy scout compared to them. But coming back
to his qualifications for for being judge, he's smart. I think he'll be fair and uh impartial. And I don't think anybody should worry about that. I was told that I'm an idiot for thinking that I should worry about
the police department. >> I It's an echo. I'm sorry, but I was called an idiot after I spoke at that November meeting because I thought that there might be fallout from
criticizing the police for for publicly making statements about uh the the town council here and uh not being in support of the police department. Same thing here. Shouldn't we be worried
about anything? >> John McCam will be fair, impartial, and he's more than qualified. He's intelligent. If you spend some time getting to know him, maybe would change your opinion. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> Kazowski. I've been a resident since uh
911. B 911. Um in response to the last speaker. I wasn't actually going to speak today, but in response to the last speaker regarding Mr. McCann, I don't know him that well personally. Um, unlike most of the members of the council, I do believe
he genuinely believes he's a good person and probably cares about Oakland in his own way. The specific meeting in February that was referenced by the last speaker, um, take away the confrontation with a member of the public. If you looked at
Mr. McCann vehemently defending his personal belief on cannabis and so on. That is proof evident that he does not belong as a judge for our town. Uh first of all, the one thing that I saw as a woman, he kept referencing his utter
concern for women's health. Women's health. There's a very small population of women's health who are birthers. And every single piece of evidence that he brought up was specifically towards prenatal care and effects of cannabis on a fetus. None of it involving the mom.
Um he never brought up issues of cancer. He never brought issues of neurological problems. He never brought any other sort of item up in regard to women's health. He also neglected and I was really surprised nobody from the council with all the lawyers and public speakers we have never brought up the fact that
every single health risk that he brought up for cannabis is the same health risks that are brought up with tobacco which is completely legal, alcohol which is completely legal and vaping which is completely legal. Same exact health concerns for items that were completely legal. And the most disconcerting thing
when you consider him being judge for our town to me is that he publicly stated in this town council meeting at that specific meeting. I will never allow that poison into my town. While the spirit of protecting the public is
admirable and well admired, that is not impartiality for a judge. If you have an issue where someone involved in the actual issue that he is delegating as a judge has been exposed to cannabis or has smoked in the issue, whether they
are the victim or the transgressor that's accused, will he be impartial as a judge in that case? His own words say no. Okay. I am sorry to have to say this, but I often watched our meetings
from my home and I often felt there was an extreme and deliberate sexism, whether it was intentional or not, towards women ever coming here and presenting. The tone was always negative to women and especially when we had a
woman as mayor. There was quite often a feeling from him that I got as a member of the public that he was speaking down to her and patting her on the head and little girl don't worry the men are doing the work. Okay. I do not feel that from most of them gentlemen that are still on the council now that are on the
council then. Okay. I feel all of you. I can have a conversation with all of you. I am very grateful that our town and community voted him out. And you all who know me well on the council know I do not often come up here and get hot about the way I'm speaking. And obviously my tone right now is one that is heated.
Okay? I did not intend on speaking tonight. I merely was going to give support to those of you who also were saying that Macan should not be a judge for our council. I feel it is a very bad look on the town council's part. It totally hits of cronyism. It totally
hits of taking care of your own and neglecting the public to put him as a judge. Thank you for listening to me today. >> Anybody else? >> I speak again. >> Oh, just just do one. >> Just do I think just do one.
>> Just onebody else. >> Hi, I'm Rea Mason. A lot of you know me been in town a long time. Um, so I don't know Mr. McCann except for what I've seen from the council meetings and
the one highly publicized which probably was um not one of his best moments and I would not want to be judged on that one moment in time if I were him. Um, so I I am trying to be fair in my, you know,
I'm trying to be fair and objective in my view of, you know, and make forming my own opinion about whether or not I believe he should be appointed as a judge. And to do that, I referred to the um the judicial code of ethics for for
judges in the state of New Jersey. Um, I printed them out. I went through them. I've highlighted everything. And there were a few things that stood out to me. Um, prim I mean I can summarize I can read specific ones but primarily I'm
concerned with the amount of times that Mr. McCann would have to recuse himself since he has so much prior knowledge of the things that happen in this town and he's been um involved in so many projects and and had interactions with so many people. Um, I'm concerned that,
you know, ethically he's going to need to recuse himself quite often. And, um, I it's in it's in the code of ethics that he should recuse himself whenever there's prior knowledge of an in of of an issue, whenever there's a prior
relationship, whenever um whenever there's the appearance of impropriety, which you know, everybody here speaking out against him tonight, there's already and propriety. So like these are my concerns. It's not like I can't speak to
him personally. I don't know him at all like I said, but there is certainly um some ethical concerns and if we're paying a judge to serve in the town and they have to recuse themselves, does that mean that we need to bring in somebody else? We need to pay another
judge on top of on top of Mr. can to hear the cases that he would ethically recuse himself from. Um because and then is that good stewardship of the taxpayer dollars to be appointing somebody who
would not be able to be not that he's not able to be impartial but the appearance is that he may not be impartial and that alone is against the ethics. Um, so those are my concerns and then you know Mr. McCann should be
familiar with this code of ethics so that so my only concern is that he's willing to take this seat knowing that these are the restrictions on him for this town. I think he wants the position because he's put so much time and effort
into this town and he he feels so strongly about the good for Oakland, but he lives here too. So I didn't even mention that he lives here, too. So, that's another conflict of interest and a dual relationship. Um,
those are my concerns, but it's primarily the ethics and the appearance and the um and the concerns that the citizens here are going to have about um his ability to be impartial with and
having to recuse himself so often. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else? >> Dana Pereira. Um, my family and I are in Oakland for 21 years now. I too wanted to speak as Sandra Gray about the
low-income housing coming to possibly, but as we as the block know, it's already underway. um coming behind Ace Hard H hardware for Roper property. Um as Sandra pointed out, there are extreme
concerns um as far as residents of the block. We've already had one tragedy at the corner. Those children cross that street every day in the morning. Um, as we brought to council's attention prior, the crossing
guard on a daily basis has to dodge traffic to prevent herself from being hit by cars. People make wrong turns day in and day out outside of Paper Street. Um, there are cars that fly, including actually town vehicles, up and down our
block on a daily basis. We are not blind to and grateful for the radar that we now have there. Unfortunately, you guys chose the winter. No one is out. You're only getting traffic to and from
school. There are no sports events. There are less children out walking around. I can tell you on a daily basis, our own daughter, my husband Jeff, sitting in the front there is walking on around town in and out of the the
shopping center over there with a minimum of 10 other people. That is one group of children. You're going to turn around and you're going to add more traffic there. I could care less honestly about pulling in and
out of my driveway. It's the children. It's the traffic trying to get your children to school on time in the mornings. It's mainly valid. That being said, that's one of the many concerns. The second concern is we already have the
ridings in place. How are we going to be able to accommodate a population of based on what is intended to go in there another 100 plus children into our schools that
are already at max capacity. We already saw what happened at the ridings where it was intended that at one point there was supposed to be modifications to the schools to accommodate the 8230 students that are coming in for that
influx. That's not even near complete yet. Not even near complete. Those students are not even enrolled in the schools yet. And now we're taking on another
huge chunk. It's just not possible. Thirdly, this road is supposed to to connect from Turon to Oak Street. Again, a busy turn, an already trafficked area.
But this road has to be built. Who's building this road? On what property? Where are we putting sewers? If we can't as a community as a whole move on to
public sewers as opposed to septic, who's footing that bill? Because I know there was talk for a while that we as a community were going to get public sewers and it was going to be our onus to put 20 to $22,000 into that.
There's a lot of unanswered questions with a lot of work going on behind the community's backs with back hoes behind homes to do test pilots. The truth needs to be spoken and the
community needs to know. >> Hello, Mayor and Council. My name is Tim Nadson. I just have a a concern. There's a lot of hearsay what's going on. A lot of things on the internet, a lot of stuff on Facebook about 13 Ramapo Valley Road. I don't know if there's been any
done with that. I'm just looking for information when a next meeting would be held on this. So, my community and my neighbors, we have a little bit more information on this because we feel we're in the dark on this situation and we just want to make sure the appropriate and the right thing goes on
that property. So, when would we be able to find out information? Why don't you set up a meeting with the clerk? >> I'll set up a meeting. >> We'll meet with all community. >> Okay. Thank you. I appreciate your time. Thank you. >> Anybody else? Matt Dumper, mayor, council.
I want to two parts. First, I want to encourage everybody to vote on March 10th. Well, thank you to Wendy and to everybody else who has gone through this process with us. It's not what anybody envisioned, but it's a part of the electoral process. And I, for one, have learned a tremendous amount, not only
about this community, but about the process. So, please, everybody, Republican, Democrat, everybody in between, please show up to vote. Make your voice heard. Every vote matters. No truer is is that than it is here in
Oakland, New Jersey, that every vote matters. The only thing more important to me at this moment in time is the notion of public trust. And I want to say this categorically across the board to the council, to the mayor, and to everybody
here. Public trust is incredibly valuable. I've been in places where it has been eroded badly and the people don't trust their government. That is not here. That cannot be here. That's not Oakland, New Jersey.
This is a place where we can be better. We will be better. And the fractures that we're seeing in various parts of this community need to come together. This is not the Oakland that we are building for our children. And this is
not how we maintain our property values for their future benefit. Please everybody vote. You can vote early by mail, make your voice heard on March 10th, and protect Oakland for the Oakland that you want to leave to your kids. Mr. Mayor, Council,
thank you. Anybody else? Not seeing anybody. Do a motion to close. >> Motion to close. >> Second. Have a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you, everybody. Uh just a quick side note uh for the people that live on
Oak Street there is a planning board meeting this Thursday. Okay. And well our planner is going to be talking to the planning board and giving an update on all the affordable housing. So you may want to attend that meeting. Okay. Mayor, >> uh, also at your request, I reached out
to the, um, applicant's attorney for that property and they have said that the idea of accessing Oak Street was actually proposed at one time by the town and they have no problem with exploring changing the access to not being from Oak Street. So, that is obviously something that will be addressed later at the site plan stage,
but at this point, they have no problem with addressing the concern of not accessing the property through Oak Street. >> Okay. All right, we are up to approval of minutes. We have January 6, 2026 council meeting.
Uh there's one one correction for that. Uh Roy Babberger is being appointed to a three-year term running from 2025. >> I'm sorry, what was what was that one again? It was 2020. >> He's a three year term from 2028, 2026,
27, 28 to 28. And then it said in the resolution that it was year 2025. Okay. >> 26. Okay. >> Have a motion to approve. Anybody have have any corrections? >> Do you have a second? >> Second.
>> All f uh roll call. >> Council President Talini. >> Yes. >> Councilman Eert. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pigatelli. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Rose. >> Yes. >> Councilman Saliani. >> Yes. >> All right. Next we have the January 20th, 2026 Mayor Council uh minutes. Do
I have a motion to approve? >> So moved. Do have a second. >> Second. >> Second. Anybody have any changes, corrections? >> Not seeing any. Roll call. >> Council President Talamini. >> Yes. >> Councilman Eert. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pignatelli. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Rose. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Saliani. >> Yes. >> I have January 20th, 2020 26 executive minutes. Obviously, if anybody has any changes, it can only be done in executive session. Uh, do I have a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Mr. Salian, you have a second. >> Second.
>> Mr. Eert. Is there any changes? Not seeing any. Roll call. >> Councilman Talamini? >> Yes. >> Councilman Eert? >> Yes. >> Councilman Sigmatelli? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Rose? >> Yes. >> Councilman Saliani? >> Yes. >> Okay. We are up to uh special
announcements. We have authorized raffle license RL 1583 for the Mother's Club of Oakland on May 1st, 2026 for a tricky trade in support of donations for cancer researcher porttoellas. And it's got the addendum to it for RL1584
for a 5050 in support of the same organization. I have authorized raffle license RL585 for the sports association of Oakland on June 19th, 2026 for a 50/50 in support of the 12U Coopertown trip to the Danny D building and also raffle license
RL1586 for the sports association for raffle in the support of the 12U Coopertown trip at the Danny D building. I have raffle license RL1587 for the White Coff Reformed Church on 3826 for raffle and support of the Boy Scouts of
America Troop 89 at Portellos at 175 Raffle Valley Road. And also for the Boy Scouts, we have raffle license RL1588, 450, same location. Authorize raff for license RL589 for the Bright Stars New Life Animal Rescue on 382026 from 6:00
to 9:00 p.m. for raffle and support of supplies for vet care at Holiday Bowl at 29 Spruce Streets. In addition to that same event, it's RL59590 for a 50/50 same location. We'll have a motion to repeal. >> Yes. Councilman Eert.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Pignatelli, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Rose, >> yes. >> Councilman Saliani, >> yes. >> Okay. >> All right. We have Burough attorney making a motion. Well, actually, it's on the consent agenda for Matt Gillson and
his firm and appointment. >> No, no, no. The burough attorney is a mayor and council approval. >> Right. But we have the resolution down below. would have to do that appointment. >> All right. Make a motion to move Mielson for Burough attorney. >> So moved. >> Have a second. >> Second. >> Roll call.
>> Council President Talamini. >> Yes. >> Councilman Eert. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pigmanelli. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Rose. >> Yes. >> Councilman Saliani. >> Yes. >> Have appointment for alternate burough prosecutor Chris Kaine. Do >> have a motion to approve.
>> So moved. Do >> have a second. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council President Talamini. Yes. >> Councilman Eyeert. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pignatelli. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Rose. >> Yes. >> Councilman Saliani. >> Okay. Yes.
>> Thank you. >> All right. Appointments to the arts committee. Got Veronica O'Brien. These are all mayor count with council consent. Appointment for the arts committee of Veronica O'Brien. Her term will run to through 123126. Appointment to the environmental commission. Patrick Neues. His pro
appointment will run for to 123128. an appointment to the flood commission, William Eert, and his appointment will run till William Wolfford 12:31. >> We need members. Bill, join, please. >> Sorry, Bill. >> That's okay. I was excited for a second. >> Uh, do I have a motion to approve?
>> So, move. Second. >> Second. Roll call. >> Council President Talamini. >> Yes. >> Councilman Eert. >> Yes. >> Council Pnatelli. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Rose, >> yes. >> Councilman Saliani, >> yes. >> All right. The rest will be done as a consent agenda. If anybody wants any
pulled out, we can pull it out. We have 2663, authorized contract for affordable housing attorney. 2664, authorized contract for labor attorney. 2665, authorized contract tax appeal attorney. 2666, authorized contract for bond
council. 2667, authorized contract for burough engineer. 2668, authorized contract for water and sewer engineer. 2669 authorized contract for burough auditor. 2670 authorized contract for burough planner. 2671 authorized
contract for risk manager and property liability. 2672 authorized risk manager health benefits. 267 authorized contract for the burough prosecutor. 2674 authorized contract for public defender. 2675 authorized contract for burough
attorney. 2676. Authorized contract for alternate bureau prosecutor. 2677 authorized contract for TM Associates community energy plant. 2678 amend contract for Chasing Lamp Lamp Lampereella Milan Capuz PC for tax appeal services for 2025.
2679 emergency budget appropriation for Grand View Acorn Road Improvements. 2680 award bid Mariani Brothers construction for Grand View Avenue and Acorn stormwater improvements phase two.
2681 appoint green team secretary. 2682 appoint municipal court judge. 2683 authorized construction department refund. 2684 authorized recreation refund. 2685
authorized tax refund 35 river. 2686 acred t acred payout O'Neal. 2687 authorized grant submitt for 2026 Burn County Autobond Con conservation grant. 2688 resolution authorizing series 2026 water utility bonds through
New Jersey water bank program. 2689 resolution authorizing the execution of SFY26 water bank financing agreements. And resolution 2690 authorizing terminating what do we have this here? Authorizing termination of employee
0000845862 and 2691 amend contract for Boswell engineering traffic study. Does anybody wish to pull any up? >> Yes. 2682 please. >> 2682. Anybody else? Not seeing anything. Motion to approve.
>> So the Yep. >> Caroline second. I'll second. >> Mr. Saletti, roll call. >> Council President Salamini. >> Yes. >> Councilman Eert. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pigotelli. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Rose.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Salian. >> Yes. >> Car up to 2682. Appoint municipal court judge John Shano. A motion to approve. >> So move. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Any discussion?
>> Any discussion? Yeah. Discussion. Yeah, we were supposed to pull that out, right? >> We pulled it out. So, >> well, yeah. I mean, >> besides the obvious I feel horrible optics of this this nomination. >> Um, >> can you speak up a little bit where
they're having trouble with the other thing? >> Um, I just I just have I have concerns. I have questions. But one of my biggest questions is is I'd like to know when the vested council members were aware of this nomination.
because I just found out about this this past Saturday when the may, you know, the mayor actually let me know Saturday night at the uh backstage at the Favalis, which on a side note, I recommend anybody getting involved because it's a blast.
But I had no idea about it. I had no time to to research this. Like, I feel like I was blindsided by by this. And I'm just curious how long people have known about this that I didn't It's a mayoral appointment and I'll let you know.
>> Okay. >> So, >> so like I said, I mean, how long have people known about this? >> I mean, you know, I I I was sworn in January 1st. It's now is now the 10th. So, I mean, when when in this time was
this discussed? It's supposed to be, you know, this this is supposed to be through consent with the with the the council. If I don't know what's going on, how could I possibly have an informed vote?
I mean, I I just have so many questions that I feel like if we if I had time to discuss this in either executive or before this, I would have been able to have them answered and I would have been able to have an informed vote. Mhm. >> You know, I I I'm curious why why Mr.
McCann ran for counsel if his aspirations were to be our judge. You know, because to me, you know, it seems like, well, you lost you lost the election. Here you go. We got something for you instead. >> It just feels it feels really wrong.
And and and for me, I feel like, you know, we we sit up here and we preach about transparency, and >> you have a sitting council member that didn't even know what's going on. >> Mr. Alec, this is your opportunity to discuss this. >> When did the others find out? Yeah.
>> No back and forth with the audience, please. >> I mean, for for me, I I'd actually like to I'd like to make a motion to table this nomination until I have more time to to look into. >> There's a motion on the floor >> to approve.
>> I'll second. But I'm sorry, what? >> There's a motion. >> You're second. He's he's he's making a motion. >> Table is a non-debatable motion. So it doesn't need a second, but it needs a two-3. >> Oh, gotcha. Never mind. >> Does anybody rush the table?
>> Not seeing anybody. >> The clerk has the >> A motion to table is a non-debatable motion. So once someone makes a motion to table, that motion has to be voted upon to table the motion requires a two-thirds majority. So in this case, four members would have to vote in the
affirmative to table the resolution. >> Hang on. But but there's an exact but currently we have >> a motion to table superseded supersedes. Okay. >> Okay. Okay. >> All right. So we have >> that's what we have in your turn. >> All right. So right now we have a motion
to table. >> We need a second on that. Right. >> No, you don't need a motion to second on a motion to table. It's a nonable. >> We need a roll call. >> All right. Do we have roll call to table? >> So this is a roll call for a motion to table resolution 2682.
Council President Salamini, >> no. >> Councilman Eert, >> yes. >> Councilman Pigatelli, >> no. >> Councilwoman Rose, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Council,
>> either way, it's going to fail because it doesn't have >> I will. Excuse me, Miss King. I was the only vote. I'm just doing some math. >> Um uh I was in the table. I'm not excuse me. I was knocking the table. I was I was not the table.
>> So what was your >> what was your no >> the motion did not pass. >> Okay. So we still have the motion to on the table to approve Mr. McCann. >> Uh roll call, please. >> Council President Talamini.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Eert. >> No. >> Councilman Pignatelli. Yes. >> Councilwoman Rose, >> I'm sorry. What am I even voting for? >> Now you're voting on whether or not to approve your resolution. >> No.
>> Councilman Saliani, >> I'm excuse me. >> Yeah, me too. >> Right now, it's a motion whether or not to approve the resolution to appoint John McCann as the judge. >> Yes. >> It's currently at 2 to two. Your vote
will decide the resolution. >> Hold on. Yes. Wait for John Point. John's John. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> All right. We're up to ordinances. Ordinance 26 coach 982. Amend the salary
ordinance. Mr. Coons. >> Hey. >> Order. >> Order. >> Thank you, Mr. Coons. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh this salary ordinance amendment implements or adjust readjusts the minimums and maximums for the police titles. Now that the uh PDA
contract is settled, uh it'll cover the minimum maximums for the term of the contract. Pretty straightforward. Any discussion? >> Any questions? >> Okay. Do I have a motion to introduce
So move. >> Mr. Talam, have a second. >> Second. >> Second. M. Rose. >> Roll call. >> Council President Talamini. >> Yes. >> Councilman Eert. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pigelli. >> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Rose. >> Yes. >> Councilman Saliani. >> Yes. What's final adoption? 26. >> Final adoption would be on the 24th. >> 24th. Okay, we have nothing on work session.
Anybody have any new business? >> Yes. Um, new business, we uh we received um I received several complaints over the past >> Can we have everybody keep it quiet back there, please? Thank you. >> Over the past couple of months, um there's new facilities are moving in by
far court and uh they've been trying to put recreation facilities in the basketball court. They've been trying to put in basketball business, softball businesses, and they have to go in front of the planning board and zoning board and they're incurring extra cost. If we would just reszone that area to include those types of businesses, it would save
money and get them into business quicker. Can we look into that and changing that ordinance? We keep approving it. I think there's four sports related businesses that have gone in there and um I we're costing a lot of business owners a lot of money too. >> I think we could bring it back to our planner and have her take a look at it
and if we have to change the bureau code on that we can or the zoning on that. We'll have Caroline look into that. >> That has caused delays of business opening three four months. >> Okay. We could bring it forward tomorrow. Anybody else? Any other new business? >> None of it's new business or old business. But >> hang on. We're still on new business. Okay. What do you got?
>> Well, no. just the the sidewalk in front of Walgreens that's not there. >> Correct. >> Are we are we working on that? Because I mean it's right now it's dangerous and people >> So Mr. Eer, so the the backstory on that was when McDonald's went into the Walgreens complex back there.
>> Part of the developers agreement requires them to fix that missing piece of sidewalk which was never put in. Uh so it is part of the agreement, the developers agreement to indeed complete that piece of sidewalk. >> Awesome. So, at this point, it's just the weather hasn't been productive, but
they will get >> And if for some reason they don't, there's a bond in place. >> Yeah. Okay. That's public just with the snow and everything else. It's just so dangerous over there. >> Yep. >> So, thank you. >> Anybody else have any new business? >> Old business. >> Uh committee liaison reports. Uh Mr.
Eer, we'll start with you. >> Um actually, the the uh the environmental committee did did not meet again because we cannot we don't have enough people for quorum. So I I can pour people to join our environmental committee and and make a difference in town
and that's all I have unfortunately. >> Okay, council woman. >> Uh yes, thanks mayor. Um shade tree committee met yesterday on Monday, February 9th. Um the arborade program and tree giveaway. The event is scheduled for Sunday, April 26th at the library. Saplings will be distributed to
elementary schools and the public. In addition to the adopt a tree program, the committee also has an adopt a tree junior program which allows residents to take home and plant small trees and watch them grow. Uh forester issued 15 permits for tree removals which resulted
in 23 trees being removed and only 11 being replaced. Uh the committee still has two open spots for anyone who wishes to volunteer and it is a good committee to be on. So I encourage people to volunteer for it. Next meeting is March 2nd at 7 PM at the municipal building.
And that's all I have. >> Okay. Thank you, Councilman Saletti. >> Uh I uh covered for Miss Rose last night at the public events committee. >> Thank you. >> Um we wanted to stress that the next big public event is going to be the Easter egg hunt. It's going to be on 3:28. Um and we're looking forward to that event.
Also, we started discussing about the carnival and steps moving forward. Um, Rich, the committee will be reaching out to discuss with you and DPW the use of the bathrooms over by the hockey rink for the carnival and and how we'll handle that. >> So, that's um that's what's going on
with the public events committee for the um uh the OC. The OC is currently seeking volunteers to join committees such as the television committee, the newsletter committee, the welcome website, social media committee, and the Bolton board committee. Please contact
occ.org if interested in joining. The newsletter committee is also seeking leads of the new upcoming article series. If you family member or an Oakland resident you know participates in unusual hobby or charitable activity, please contact
Oakland NJ newswsletter@gmail.com. And then the friends of Oakland Communications has launched their first fundraising effort just in time for Valentine's Day. By participating with raiseight, simply create an account and use the special code and when you buy a
gift card through their website for no additional fees or costs, the friends the friends of OC will receive a percentage of of what the gift card purchase was. To learn more by going to ww.friendofc.orgfundraers. org/f fundraisers.
Real quick, uh the fire the fire chief asked me to put out um we do the recent storm. Just a reminder to everybody, please if you have a hydrant to shovel around the hydrants. Um if you need help to let people know, but we need to shovel around the hydrants to support
our firemen. And then for Oakley Oakland recreation, um just reminders of signups. flag female flag football signup um is goes through March 9th and currently softball signups and baseball signups are in progress.
And also want to point out there was a great fundraising uh joint fundraising done on Sunday between the Knights of Columbus, SAO, Oakland Recreation for uh Habitat for Humanity. Uh they raised approximately $2,000 for the cause uh
with little free throw contest. It was a great community event and it was a great cause teaching kids to uh raise money for people in need. So that's all I have. Mayor, >> thank you. Council Peller. >> Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Uh for the senior citizens on February the 19th, there's
going to be a Valentine's Day bingo. Uh the cards are going to be $1 a card. On March the 10th, uh casino trip to Wind Creek Casino. Uh the fee is $15 for Oakland residents, $20 for
non-residents. However, you do have to register by March 2nd. On March 23rd, the monthly memory caregivers support group uh will be meeting the fourth Monday each month at 5:30 at the senior
center center. If you have any questions, you can call 2014 4057731. I'm going to make one more appeal to uh residents of Oakland um for the first aid squad. Uh I recently had to fill out a form and
one of the questions was why do we volunteer for the first aid squad? Um I I was uh raised in Halen uh with a very very sickly mother. I know we've asked for the first aid squad many many
times and I always said uh whatever comes an opportunity for me to pay this back I can't do it in Halen but I wanted to do it here in Oakland because I want to help people. The first day squad is
tremendous for doing that for our Oakland residents. Um they save lives. They've brought people back using CPR. They've delivered babies. They they they've done so many things. Help children, help people of all age groups,
not only senior citizens, but of all age groups. It's so important to have this organization here in town. If you never have to use it, God bless you. I hope you never have to use it. But I know I've been on the squad for a little over 10 years. Um
uh I I I don't hold a candle to Arnold Lucky. He he responds to 250 270 calls a year. Uh I usually do 120 this year with my back surgery. I I missed a couple of months, but please please um you will be
trained. It's just like having your own first aid member right in your house. You'll be trained. Um you could be there either be an EMT or a driver. I'm I'm a driver. Um but you know they do have courses for EMTs.
Please, you will make a a tremendous difference in your town. If you ever said, "I want to make a difference." That's one of the places to do it. And I don't want to leave out the fire department because Danny over there will give me the evil eye. But, you know, also the fire department
um could use volunteers also. So, please consider volunteering. Uh it's tremendously important and tremendously rewarding. Thank you. Uh yes. First uh I just want to wish everybody happy Valentine's Day and I told my son I'd say uh let's go
Seahawks. Big Seahawks fan. Uh and then uh for the schools the on the the day day of the storm or maybe maybe the day after I I called up Joe Tinino over at the schools. He's the head head of facilities over there. And
I I said, "Is there anything you need from the from the town that anything we could do?" And and he said, "Just just just just tell Anthony, "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." He um the the way the town and the and the schools
work together um is just amazing. And uh there the schools were very appreciative with with everything they did with with helping with the snow. Um then uh the library So, the library has um yoga with Sonia
on Tuesdays. The the next the next uh dates will be oh was today and the 24th. You you could register online for that. On um and then on the 12th and 19th you
could do learn how to play Marjang. Um you you can uh also reg register on on online for that. For the children, we have uh regular story time and song song programs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Friday mornings, including a special
toddler dance party this Friday, the 11th. Registration is required only for the dance party. We'll have a new craft to go uh which can be picked up at the library anytime in February as well. For
young adults, we have game on Fridays at 3. Kids are invited to play board and card games together. We also have the switch club on Mondays at 3 as well as the teens crafts on Thursdays at 3. No registration is required. These are
dropin programs. Uh just a reminder that downloadable ebooks and a audio books, magazines and more are available at all Oakland public libraries to all open club and uh library for free 247. If you
want to learn more about how to access these resources, check the website. Um and that is it. Mayor, thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mayor. I'm sorry. I had one, >> sir. Councilman P. >> One short. >> Yes. If you're interested in joining the first aid squad, they meet the first
Monday of every month at 7:30, come down to the squad building uh and uh introduce yourself and all the officers and members are there uh first Monday of every month 7:30. Thank you, Mayor. >> You want to also mention the fact that all the training is paid for.
>> Yes, all the training is paid. Sorry. Right. Yeah. All the training is paid for. Uh it's quite expensive, but it's very extensive. uh you will be trained and uh you'll be a valuable asset to the town. Thank you.
>> Okay. Bills to be paid. >> Okay. Bills to be paid is uh 2,726,31729. So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> Second. >> Second. >> Thank you.
>> Roll call. >> Council President Talamini. >> Yes. Councilman Eert. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pignatelli, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Rose, >> yes. >> Councilman Saliani, >> yes. >> All right. This Do I have a motion to adjurnn?
>> So moved. >> Have a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> All right. >> Meeting adjourn. The next council meeting be held Tuesday, February 24th, 7 p.m. here at Council Chamber. Thank you, everybody.