Meeting call to order. This is the July 14th, 2026 council meeting. Uh would the clerk please read the statement of compliance? This meeting is being held in accordance with the open public meetings act NJSA 10 col4-6 set having been duly advertised and
posted in the municipal building in compliance with NJSA 10 col4-8. The meeting will adjourn no later than 10 p.m. unless the majority of the council members present vote to extend the time. >> I'll rise for the pledge of allegiance in a moment of time. Uh Ed McDerm Jr.,
would you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance? Put them on the spot. >> Ice 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. >> Be seated. Uh, the reason I asked Ed McJur Jr. to lead us to the pledge was Ed just finished four years in the Army and he's currently part of the National Guard and I think it was only
appropriate for him to lead us in the service. [applause] >> Call the RO, please. >> Mayor Kamala >> here. >> Council President Talini >> here. >> Councilman Dumbert >> here. >> Councilman [clears throat] Eert >> here. >> Councilman Pignatelli. >> Councilwoman Rose
>> here. Councilman Saliani >> here. >> Motion to excuse Councilman Pontelli. So move. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> All right. At this time we have uh we're going to be swearing in Ed McDermad as a firefighter. If I'd like Ed and Ed Jr.
to come forward the fifth. [laughter] >> Thank you for your service. >> Oh, sorry. Yeah. Is that all his papers? >> Switch it around. But before we get started, I just want to give a little
bio on uh Ed and the Sun. So many people here already know Ed McDermott. Ed recently retired from the police department after serving 26 years. Um Ed started in Edgewater in 1990 as a member of the EMS. He's EMS certified. He's
current, you know, he's current till today. So, he served on the first aid squad here in Oakland as well. Uh Ed also joined the Edgewater Fire Department in 1991 and he served from 91 to 98. In 1998, Ed moved to Oakland. He served another 10 years here in Oakland
as an Oakland firefighter. So, Ed's coming back to the Oakland Fire Department family. Uh his son, Ed Eddie Jr. just finished four years in the in the Army. He's currently in the National Guard. He's going to be holding the Bible for Ed as we go through the the
swearing in ceremony. And I also want to recognize the fact that uh Ed's daughter Erin is also a member of the Oakland First Aid Squad. So you've got a family of first responders and people wearing uniforms uh from the McDermott family and it should certainly worth mentioning
and you know honoring these people as we get ready to do this. All right, so let's just give them a hand. [applause] Lucky Dad. >> You certainly are. I'm going to put you on this side over here. >> Sure. >> Switch. >> Stand next to dad. Over there. Okay. >> Now, I know Ed, you've done this several times a little bit.
>> You could probably do this by heart. Okay. So, Ed, you're going to repeat after me. Okay. I, Edward McDermott, >> I, Edward McDermott, >> do solemn do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I'll support the Constitution of the United States
>> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> that I will bear true faith >> that I will bear on true faith >> and allegiance >> and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and the governments established >> and the governments established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state
>> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> and that I will faithfully that I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of the office of a firefighter >> the office of a firefighter >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability.
>> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Welcome back Ed. [applause] [applause] >> Yep. Sure do. >> All right. >> There you go. Did you guys want to get a picture? >> I didn't. Oh, you got it, please. >> Congratulations.
>> I know. [laughter] >> Thank you, man. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations, sir. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Let me go put the podium in. >> All right, we're going to just take a quick twominute recess so we can set up
the room and get the podium out and then the firefighters wish to leave. Uh, you guys can either stay or leave. Two minutes get started. All right. So, we're gonna I changed the uh the uh uh order of the business today. Uh we're going to jump right into
solid waste disposal and engineering proposals for under workshop. So, I just want to say a couple opening remarks before I turn it over to the bureau administrator. Uh, first of all, I just want to remind everybody, you know, this is only day nine of the garbage pickup. And I just urge everybody, please be
kind to the garbagemen. They're just employees. Don't be mad at them. You want to be mad at anybody, you be mad at us and the people sitting up here in this st that you can be mad, but please respect the employees. So, garbage p kicked off on July 3rd uh with recycling. And as you know, uh, we ran
into some problems immediately right off the bat where, uh, the recycling was picked up for some people and the our larger cans were tagged. What kind of fell through the cracks was the fact that they were supposed to pick up even the largeriz cans that day with
the sticker on it. Uh, once we were made aware of that, we contacted Pompton Lakes. They went back later that evening and redid the town to pick up the rest of the cans. Okay. After that, we had a meeting uh on Jul on on Monday, July 6, members of the
council, governing body and Pompton Lakes to talk about some of the issues and the biggest issue that was brought to our attention was clearly the size of the cans. That's that's really the underlying issue here. Um everything's going well with picking up bulky waste, the couches, furniture, and everything
else. We haven't received any complaints that on the board here. We've certainly been inundated with several emails up here as far as a governing body, but I can tell you the service is certainly it's getting better. We're into day nine. Um, we've also got a complaint about uh
some of the cans as well up in the reserve there. Apparently there's bears going through the cans at this point and leaving a major mess up there. Uh, so we're [snorts] dealing with that. We'll talk to NJ, see if we can do something about that, but there's clearly concerns about that can as well. Uh, I can tell you that, uh, we take
this very seriously. Councilman Eert and I, believe it or not, we know more about garbage cans. We were out there driving around uh, looking at cans, following some of the garbage trucks around, trying to really identify the cause of some of these problems and the resident complaints. Uh, we are aware of the fact
that in the beginning, garbage cans were being strewn all over the place. We have made contact with Pmpton. Uh, they are trying to do a better job putting the cans back on the curb and not putting in the streets. So, we are acutely aware of that problem. Um, at this point, I'd like to turn this over to our burough
administrator, Mr. Coons. And Mr. Coons, why don't you kind of uh give us an update as well, and let's talk about the can size. >> Uh, sure. And, uh, I know you wanted me to talk about uh, sort of taking it from the the get-go, why >> take it from the very beginning of how we got here, >> why we were doing it. >> Yes. Thank you.
>> Um, and I understand that, you know, Suburban we had, you know, was our vendor for a very long time. They delivered terrific service for for residents. So, this is not a service issue at all. Um, it really became a cost issue. Uh, over the last 10 years
or so, our garbage collection costs have risen 290%. Um, and in large part because you just don't have much competition in that industry. Towns were not alone, but we weren't getting multiple bids at all. It
was just the incumbent bidding over and over, and that unfortunately is very common right now. Uh so the cost rose and rose and uh you were paying more and more and more for for that service. So we started searching for ways to mitigate that cost and to try to save
residents money. So a couple years ago uh we secured a grant with Franklin Lakes and Woff and studied doing something with them um that really didn't you know really prove feasible. Uh and last year we started talking with Ponan Lakes and that you know when we
started it was under the guidelines of hey can you reproduce the service that that we have um because we didn't want to lose any of that. Um and so going into it that was sort of the the overall um you know assumption and direction and
yes they can they can they can do that. That'll sort of bear on the can discussion in in a bit. Um, so we were able to, you know, to strike a deal on a contract for 4 and a half years that, um, you know, saves a considerable amount of money. I know
we've put out this figure of $1.4 million. Uh, that of course is against what Suburban was charging us, uh, you know, in 2025, first half of 2026. So that assumes that there would be no change in that contract uh or or in
their price over that time for comparison purposes. Uh and the cost reduction there works out again about 1.4 million. That works out to be about $250 per home uh over the life of the contract. If you start looking at what the cost likely would be over the next
four and a half years, even a three and a half or a 3% increase, a basic inflationary adjustment every year, uh you know, that cost avoidance, uh that cost reduction jumps up to a little over 2.2 million. Uh that's a little over
$400 per average assessed home. Uh the state of the market has some variability in it right now. Um, but uh based on what I'm seeing from towns that I was able to get data from, you're looking at something on a neighborhood of six or or higher percent on average. Although towns structure that a little
differently. Uh, and if you were to use that as sort of your, you know, your metric for comparison, uh, the the savings over that period of time, it's $3.1 million. All right? And that's about $565 on the average home. Um, so
again, this wasn't a service issue. It was a cost issue. It's one of the biggest uh budget items for us. Uh, and it was putting a lot of pressure uh on the budget and trying to make the budget work. And we thought we could do better to provide a service at a lower cost to
the residents. So that was sort of the impetus behind it. So when we went into it and I think this I'm going to talk a little bit about the can size now and uh how that came about. Uh it was with the assumption that it would be based on the can regulations that we have. What are
those? Well, we were going into this thinking it's 32 gallon cans uh maximum of 50 pounds. Okay, that's what's in our newsletter. That's, you know, what what our program standard was. Uh it was not apparent when we were having these discussions that there were, you know,
the magnitude of homes that were using the larger cans. that only became apparent much later uh as Pompton Lake started you know prepping everything and they said well why don't you just use our standard which is 45 uh gallon
can 60 60 lb so we're like okay that's you know we'll we'll we'll put that out there um and again we knew there were some people there that had the larger cans we weren't aware of the total magnitude of that uh you know at the time um but that's really it And when we
we've had discussions with Pmpton Lakes as far as what the rationale is for their can size and it really comes down to worker safety, mitigating uh workers comp injuries, back strains and things like that because garbage, you know,
collection employees have one of the highest injury rates uh around. Uh so it was all sort of really driven on their end by by that uh and trying to you know keep their their employees from being injured. >> So >> Mr. Co, can you just answer a couple questions? A couple residents have asked
me how come they can't reach into the large 60-gallon can. What's what's >> we we had asked that as well. Uh and also it it over time it becomes a safety concern. If you're if you're doing that you're moving quickly. Uh you know you could get stuck with something, you can
get cut with something. uh and the they just want the practice to be that they're just emptying the cans or not having their employees reach into it. And I think I've shared with some of you uh in a in a town in a galaxy far far away a long time ago earlier in my career uh we had in-house garbage
collection. I had an employee you know slice open their arm from wrist to elbow on play class that somebody had put in their in their garbage can and the guy just reached in and grabbed it and uh so those sort of things happen. uh and so you know their policy is to avoid doing that.
>> Can you also ask explain a little bit about uh exactly uh what a total in the front and what what was made for and what they weigh? >> Uh yeah, so the the toers in particular are really designed for the we call the one-armed bandits, the automated
collection. Uh so they tend to be a heavier can from the get-go. Um, and depending on the size that you have there, uh, they can range anywhere from, um, you know, 25 lbs to 50 lbs depending
on the size. And that's empty. Um, you know, they weren't really designed for lifting, uh, and dumping uh, by people essentially. >> Does anybody from the council have any questions for Mr. Coz? >> Um, yeah. One of the feedback we've been
getting is about um, >> Can you speak? Oh, sorry. One of the feedback I'm getting about Andy, can you >> pull your mic forward, please? >> Oh, where is it? It's behind my go. >> All right. Uh, one of the questions I'm getting from residents is about is it going to look at the the um yard waste, how we hand the yard waste.
>> Yeah. So, that's something that I doing yard work. I completely understand. Um the the rationale for that at least right off the bat had to do with the fact that in their experience most of the bulky waste gets put out over the
weekend too so it's collected earlier in the week. They thought they'd be better able to accommodate everything by shifting the yard waste to the end of the week to even out the schedule. Um, but they've also told me they're completely open to revisiting that. Uh, once they have a little bit of time actually, you know, getting their feet
wet, getting everything, you know, going and seeing what's what. Um, they're open to that discussion. >> Thank you. >> And then there's no change to bulky waste. So, I've got a lot of questions about, hey, correct. Couches and those type of things. Correct. There's there's no Steve, >> you need to speak louder can't hear you.
>> Sorry. About your couches and the big bulk you put out on garbage days. >> Correct. Anybody else from the council have any questions or comments? >> Just um so are we planning to meet with uh Pompton anytime soon? Are we going to just uh maybe maybe have some an ongoing
scheduled meeting maybe? >> Yeah, I I can tell you we are and we'll remain in pretty much daily contact with them >> to assess the program and make sure that they're, you know, working towards meeting our expectations. Okay. >> Mr. Don't for anything.
>> Nothing. Okay. >> Uh maybe just briefly about the uh I've heard from residents in an an interest in either a reimbursement or a lower cost um for uh purchasing compliant cans. And
we've discussed this quite a bit. I know for me, you know, this is an ongoing discussion. And I know for me personally, uh, I would be in favor of the burrow using its bargaining power, using its bulk buying power to secure lower prices on garbage cans, uh, for residents, uh, if we can order them by
the hundreds or by the thousands. Uh, one of the other ideas that's that's been floated is is some form of a reimbursement, uh, plan. And, uh, just for the for the public, that is not something that I would personally support. um as taxpayer money I don't think should be paid uh used to buy
private uh uh trash cans um in this fiscal environment. I don't think that that's a wise spend of taxpayer money. But if the bureau can use its collective bargaining and its bulk buying power through DPW and other mechanisms, I think that would be a great use uh of the bureau's power to help residents.
>> And speaking of that, just Mr. Coons, could you just reiterate to the residents uh uh that their cans will be continue to be picked up till uh August 3rd? >> Uh right, that's what we had worked out to give everybody uh you know time to replace cans if they need to. Uh that'll
continue throughout the month of July. >> Mr. Mayor, if I can echo something that you said going back to the to the actual workers on the trucks, um I don't think it's any secret that, you know, I'm a frustrated resident, too. um whether it be the can sizes or the change in the
the yard waste pickup. Um look, I'm lots of people are frustrated. Um I I can say that the the pumped and DPW workers on the street had absolutely nothing to do with negotiating this contract. It was negotiated well before they were hired. Um and I think as Oaklanders, we hold
each other uh to very high standards. I know um we should all be held to a tremendously high standard. And I hope that we can show what Oakland uh is known for, which is being empathetic, which is being kind, which is being courteous uh to our brothers and sisters and and that includes those uh from
neighboring towns and those who visit. So, as the Pompton DPW uh workers come around, please do be kind with them. I think the relationships that will be built over time will will be helpful and will alleviate some of the stress and some of the burden. Um but please do be be kind with them. They are they are
good, hardworking uh men and women. And I also want to call a shout out to our own DPW workers as some of the the pickups were missed on on opening day uh and there were obviously gaps in service. Uh what many don't know uh yes, Pompton DPW came back out to service our
residents. Our own DPW workers were driving around in their personal cars taking recycling cans and dumping them into the back of their own pickup trucks. >> Town town cars. >> Town cars. >> Sorry. [laughter] the the DPW cars, they were doing it personally themselves. Um,
getting covered in garbage and recycling juice and everything else. And look, that's what the job that that's the job, right? There's good days, there's bad days, and there's those in between. But I think, you know, our own DPW uh workers continue to outperform no matter the season of the year. So, again, when we see those, a kind word and a head nod
goes a long way. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Yeah, and I just want to just build upon what Mr. Dumper said also. uh during the first two three days when they had to come back. Our own TPW guys were willing to step step up, ride the truck and get this done. So, I mean there's a lot to
be said for the dedication of our of our DPW and Pompa Lakes is certainly committed to doing this right and providing a good service and they've made that abundantly clear to all of us. So, anybody else? >> One more quick add to that. the uh the
administrative staff at DPW who was fielding calls that first day, they did a great job. They dealt with semi-ate clients. So, I think they should also be included in Thank you for their hard efforts. >> That's I I was going to say that all all of the I mean, I know Wendy had to feel a lot of a lot of I rate phone calls and
it wasn't it wasn't fair to Wendy. Uh it wasn't fair to uh a lot of the secretarial staff. Um you know, they're just answering the phone. Um, and I just want to this whole thing. Um,
the it taugh it taught me a lot about uh myself with with patience. Um, I I was I was kind of short with with some of my my council members uh uh the the the staff, the some of my friends in some
texts. we get we get the little we get a little overboard with our text chain and uh we think we're funny and and then we're not. Um and I just want to apologize to anyone who I was impatient with. Um this was uh this is a big deal and uh it meant a lot to to everybody to
make sure that that that this goes goes well. Um we we wish it would have uh kicked off better. um there there was a hiccup that um you know it it really you know we had an understanding and uh it didn't go the way that that it was
supposed to, but once we made the phone call they they corrected it. Um and we're moving forward like like the mayor said, it's it's day nine. Um it uh it's it's going to evolve and things will change and we'll we'll make we'll make
we'll find out that that this works better for us or that works better for them. Um but um but in the end we're saving money. We gained a a recycling center. Um and um our our garbage is is getting removed. So uh but but uh Wendy,
really thank you for all the all the calls you had to field. Thank you. >> Anybody else have anything to say? Yeah, I I was just wondering if while we're figuring out how we're going to reimburse or how we're going to handle it in trash cans, if if there's any way we can go back to Pompton and maybe extend get an extra month out of them
until we figure out how we're going to handle it. You know what I mean? >> Mr. Cruz, you want to bring it back to Pton Lakes? >> I certainly can. >> Okay. Sure. You I'll make that phone call tomorrow. >> If if nobody else has anything, I'd like to open this up to public now for for some comment concerning garbage and
garbage. >> Yeah. Yeah. Do I have a motion? >> Apologize for leaving in the middle. I got to pick up my wife at the end. >> That's okay. Can I get a motion to the public? >> Sir, did you intend on addressing the the council while you were here? >> No, I was talking to Elizabeth about it and I'm going to come to another meeting
and if I I'm going to call mayor I'm sorry. I just got to call this coming in early. >> Motion open to the public. >> I'll second. All >> in favor? Hi I everybody like to speak
name address and >> Mike Guanino 34 Harpo Street just want to say that a lot of this could have been avoided if there was some transparency in November someone came here before the before the council before you and asked about this and your response was thank you anybody else I
mean all what we've been told for the past few months is no changes except for we pick up will be a different day and I know at the last month we got inundated with a bunch long readouts and your I I have your um reverse 911 call and not once did you
say anything about the cans. So if you a little more transparency, I mean I've spoken to you several times about transparency and this is just this fell you guys have told us and warned us over months look we have to do it for XYZ. And speaking of transparency this savings is wonderful. I hope we get it.
But Michael Carelli put in his in his Bob Lakes flyer that there are um fee escalators. What will these fee escalators be and what will they how will they affect our savings? Also in that contract for people who read that contract, there are other changes based on population. And if we get out after
120 days, we owe $73,000 a year for five years. There's a lot more in this contract. There's a lot more going on that if you just would have explained to this starting with this lady was here on November 5th last year and started from there and just been transparent. It would have been so much better. This whole thing would have been people would have been already rolling this together.
But no, we were left out of it and it happened and people were shocked because we thought no changes. No changes and and and your tech your um voicemail to us was basically like you know we basically should expect a quick change over didn't even notice anything happened.
Let's hope you be a little more transparent. Speaking of transparency, I see in resolutions there's an $86,000 um uh new process involving the police department. $86,000 in real people terms. That's fireworks for two years,
maybe a little more. I hope there's more of a discussion than just burning these things in resolutions. So, please be a little more transparent. I spoke to you about this in the past. This happened. I don't want I live in Oakland. I love Oakland. I don't want to see this happen anymore. >> Thank you, M. Anybody else? >> I think uh this young lady's back there.
>> Yeah. >> Thanks. >> Um thank you very much. I apprec >> and address. I thought we weren't doing address anymore. >> Can I My name is Liz Caretta. I live in Oakland. No address. Right. Okay. >> Caretta. >> Carleta. Yes. Thank you. Um so thank you
for the the presentation up front. I appreciate it. Um and you addressed my main question, but I just kind of want to bring it up again and it was regarding and and Mr. Eert and Mr. Dumper both spoke about it. Um if there would be some sort of bulk p bulk purchase so that we could get new
garbage cans at a cheaper rate possibly. Um, and then my follow-up question to that you addressed like, could it be extended, right? So, I need new garbage cans. Mine are 63 gallons. I have one garbage and one recycling, and they've been awesome. But I get it. Um, so I think I'm going to need two of each,
right, to kind of replace the trash that my family and recycling my family generates. So, would they be either available free? I know some people were saying they came and got a free can, one of the little guys, but maybe I could do with buying one big one and getting a little free one. I don't know if I was supposed to get one when I moved in here
to town or not, but I >> You talking about the recycling container. >> Recycling. Yeah. So, so my questions are about that. Um, and if it could maybe be bumped out another month for you to figure that out, so I don't have to buy it on August 2nd, right? If that's what it comes down to. So, I'm hoping I
realize you don't have the answer based on what I heard tonight, but hope hoping you can provide that answer at some point. And a few other things that just came up while you were talking. Um, I just want to confirm that there's no limit to the number of cans. >> There's no limit. No limit. Um,
>> how do we get rid of our old ones? >> Put a sticker on it. Say trash. >> Garbage. >> Yeah, just take it away. Empty. Okay. Um, and is it 45 gallons or 42? >> 45. >> It is 45. Thank you. >> Um, and then one other comment you, Mr.
Mayor, you mentioned about in the reserve there are be there's a bear issue, but >> um bears are everywhere in Oakland, right? Like not just up there. Um it may be >> Oh, they're they're by me. >> They're they're everywhere. We know we know that and they're wonderful. I love them. And then you mentioned the D.
>> So I'm concerned that the bears are going to that there's going to be some issue with the bears now. Um which was not a concern before I heard that tonight. So I just want to make sure the bears are not penalized for for us not having food. >> I don't think it has anything to do with the garbage cans. I think they I Okay. Well, it it may it may that may come
later, but um I just want to make sure whatever conversations you're having with the D are bear friendly conversations and they're not the victims of this. >> Y >> Okay. Thank you very much for your time. Appreciate it. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Hi everybody. Dean Trivani, 207 Valley
Road. Um I've lived in Oakland for 62 years. It's a long time and uh sometimes changes come hard. Um, some of the things that I'm going to bring up are already talked about. Uh, one of them is the expectation that was set, the expectation that, uh, nothing
was going to change. The concern really is for me anyway, um, is does this mean that everything that the council chooses to do, we need to read the fine print and we need to look over everything to make sure we understand it. We cannot trust the word of the council. that
concerns me because we trust you to have our best interests uh at heart. Okay. And um I mean uh that's I think one of the biggest things that has upset the town and uh upset me.
Um young lady just asked the the question about what do we do with the existing cans. I'm glad there was a there's a resolve to that. Um, the cost of new cans. I don't care whether it's a $30 or $50 cans. I don't know how many I I'll estimate what maybe
a third of the town uh houses have to replace their cans. All right. I have four cans. I've got two. One for re one for coingled, one for cardboard, and then I've got two other cans. Now, I might need to buy a fifth can because
they're going to be half the size cuz the two cans I have are 55 roller uh 65gallon roller cans. So, now I got to buy five. Let's say 50 bucks a piece. That's $250 I got to spend. All right, that's $250 I got to spend. Now, you
multiply that times what? Um 1,500 households. All right. Um whatever that is, was that $300,000? Okay, the savings is gone in the first year and that's only with a third of the people in this town. So the s the
savings and again I am not sure if those numbers are correct. It's an estimate. Um but I'm I'm just saying that um that was a waste at least for the first years. You know what? I'd gladly pay an extra $5 a month. >> Me too.
>> $60 a year >> to have them come in uh take my garbage. Um, I want to know was there any discussion about where the savings was going to be put into this town? What is the benefit
to this town? >> My taxes went up. >> Does anybody know what the benefit to this town is? >> I don't know. >> Taxes went up. >> So, my taxes went up. >> So, our taxes haven't gone down. >> I don't think You know what? M maybe they'll go down $5 a month. You know
what? I'll give you the $5 back and you can go back to the old company. And again, one of the other questions was going to be and and I mean no disrespect. I'm a little upset and um uh I have a lot of friends. I again I grew up in this town and I know a lot of people and
uh I get calls from a lot of the people in this town as well. So I need to share their voices as well. Um, when I used to wake up on uh Monday morning uh at 6:00 a.m., I'd go out and I'm going to the gym at 6:00 a.m. And I live
on Ramipo Valley Road. My garbage cans were empty. So that when I came home from the gym, I bring them back in and the streets were clean. I was driving down Ramapo Valley Road the other day at 3:30 in the afternoon
and my garbage cans were still out there. The street, our main street looked like garbage. Okay. And to me that bothers me. I'm a little OCD. Ask my wife. And uh the thing is is that
um it really is a bad look on this town to have the garbage out in our main drag until late afternoon. All right. Um, and I know you guys don't want to answer any of the questions. Not that you don't want to. I'm sorry, but
you can't uh during this uh time. Um, is there an out in the contract? I guess from what the gentleman just asked before, there is an out. >> 120 days, $73,000 fine. >> Hang on, guys. Hey, one meeting up here.
Okay. All right. So there is there is there is an out but it would be a costly out. Um it would be the from what I also believe I heard uh the out uh increases the later uh the more years in the contract. So um there's a concern there.
Um you know if we did want to get out if things did not really get any better or or uh whatever um The Ace Hardware has cans that are uh 48 gallons. If I bought a 48 gallon, would they still refuse it? >> Yes,
>> they would still refuse it. Okay. Um I don't know what to say. Um, besides that, um, I'm disappointed in the council. I really am. You know, uh, I know that, [clears throat] uh, you guys do work hard. And I also want to say that, um,
I've had a lot of tough jobs. I've done roofing and gutter work. I've done all kinds of other jobs. The one job I never would ever do or wouldn't ever want to do is is pick up garbage. So, you're right. That's a tough job. And um those young gentlemen that
do all this stuff or whether whatever regardless how old they are, they deserve respect and they deserve to be treated fairly. There's no question about that. Um it's a tough job. I would want to do that job. So they they definitely need some respect. Um I guess
I've said what I I need to say with regard to the disappointment with the town's people. You you know, you look on the Oakland site and you see what everybody's saying. I wish there were more people here to talk about it, but um you know, not everybody uh is willing
to step up and and uh be accountable. So, um I'm building a new home in Oakland in front of my house actually. Uh I have a subdivided build a lot there. And I do want to say some things that um I really really appreciate of
this town. your building department, the ladies that are downstairs in that building department down there. I've done other projects here in town and through my history here and I've in the past I've had some some uh rocky roads, but I will tell you those three or four
young ladies that are down there working in our building department, um they are fabulous. They are thoughtful. They are considerate. They are willing to be helpful. They respond to emails. they pick up the phone when you call them and everything else. And
uh I just want to say hats off to those young ladies. They're great and I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you. C can we give some clarity on the exit clauses? Hang on. I'm going to just give you a minute [snorts] here. >> Mr. Coons, could you just talk a little bit about cost avoidance? >> Yeah, we're Mayor
and I'm taking notes. I'll try to address everything at the end. >> You can come up here if that's okay. >> You can come up. We're going to answer questions at the end. Go ahead. >> Good evening. Will Lensetti, 23 Chickansaw. Um, many of you recall I was here earlier this year when you were voting on this resolution and voiced my
concerns. Um, many of them like Mr. Mike had said, Mr. Gradino had said, transparency and you were told, you told me flat out, what's wrong? What's the big deal? You're going to save money and it's the same thing. There's no change
of service. Well, that wasn't exactly true, was it? I mean, to say that now I can't put my garbage cans out because they're too big, that's a change of service. So, I mean, the transparency thing is a sort of a big thing because really at the end of the day, you know,
it's not about the size of the can, it's what you put in it, right? So, why is it that Suburban can do it? That for the 30 years I've lived in Oakland, they've always been able to do it and now Pompton Lakes can't do it.
their garbage men or the little bitty cans they need to use to put them in the garbage. It's too heavy for them. I mean, what is up with that? I mean, are we the burrow of Wland now? I Come on. Really? If a can's too heavy, I mean, I always knew that it's a big can. I'm not
going to overload it. These people have a tough job. Suburban never had a problem. The carriers before, we've never had a problem with it. But now these cans, you can't use them. So, yeah, there is a change. I don't believe this this council was honest. I don't [clears throat] believe you were transparent. So, what else aren't you
transparent about? And what leads me to believe is the cost and what our savings will be because at the end of the day, these are projected savings. They're not realized savings. There are costs. There are variable costs in any contract. I
haven't seen the contract. I don't know if anyone in the town has seen the contract. >> Yes, it's on the website. >> It's on our website. >> Very good. So, I haven't seen it. I haven't looked at it, but I can tell you this. It's like, well, why would you get into something like this? Because when
you have these costs go through, at the end of the day, that 250 a year is going to come down. And I bet you our savings per household is going to be somewhere between diddly and squat. At end of the day, that's what it's going to be. So, really, like I said,
savings are great, but do what you promised. Do what you told me. You all told me to your faces. You go back to the Oakland video and and and look at that and said there's no change of service. There is a change of service. So fix it. Why should people have to buy new cans? Nobody should have to buy a
new can. You should be able to use the same cans that you do. The can, you put the garbage in, they take it, they lift the can, they throw it in the dumpster. Simple as that. I mean, that's all I have to say about that. And the only thing is is that, you know, what else is going on in this town? What else are we
going to consolidate next? Are we going to consolidate the DPW and share services between other towns fully? You know, what's going to happen in the fall when we have inclement weather, you know, in the winter with the garbage service. I mean, essentially, you know, we we contracted an amateur to do a professional job,
what it what it is, what it boils down to. So, I would say like, you know, it's on you guys. I would say fix it. Otherwise, you know, come November, it's going to be the residents of Oakland taking out the garbage. Thank you. >> Thanks.
>> Hi, I'm Moren Mackerlane, 188 Hayawa. I was the one in November who came up and asked for answers and transparency around our waste removal um and the rumors that were swirling at that time. And the rumors turned out to be true, but we didn't find out about that until
very late in the game. Uh, the contract I think was already signed at that point. And I'm not going to bring up any anything that everybody else said, but all I can do is agree with their grievances and everything about the trash cans and things apparently were going to be the same for us, the service
levels and things like that. But, um, I do know a little bit about cost savings and cost avoidance. And there were some big numbers thrown out by the administrator. And I might challenge that the number one reason you brought up for switching providers was lack of competition.
And as soon as you found a competitor, my question is, did you go back to Suburban and ask them for another quote once the competition was introduced? My guess is probably no. And I know you won't tell me uh right now because you
can't answer me, but I think at that point, as soon as you start to project cost savings and cost avoidance over the five years and even further than that, you'll get less numbers than the four or five million that you threw out at the beginning of this uh session. So, I just
ask for those numbers be realized by the public that those aren't real numbers. Those are numbers without competition and projected at a very uh wishy-washy level. Let's just put it that way. Um so I think taking that I don't think the cost savings are
as much as the council and administrator want you to believe. Um, and then as soon as you take into account the the burden on the uh the taxpayers to purchase additional uh um trash bins and things like that, things get a little
bit more complicated for the for the town's people. Um, and then it was already brought up what where does this stop, right? What's what's the next service that we outsource and impact all of us? I think there needs to be more transparency. We've talked about this at
the only other meeting I was at, we need more transparency. There's no trust. You know, these these these are really real things that now the town's people have to deal with. And I would just ask that you heed that and listen to that moving
forward so we're not in this position again. Right? Six months ago, eight months ago when I brought this up, [clears throat] and we brought this up, we don't need to be here right now. We could have cared for this. We could have communicated better. Um, the contract could have been better. The contract, quite honestly, is the out clause.
Everything, everything in that contract is for Compton Lakes. There's little to nothing for Oakland. There's no service levels in there. The out clause is ridiculous. Like, there there were a lot of opportunities
for Oakland to do this better. >> I like your shirt. >> Oh, thank you. I bought this just for you. $8 on Amazon. [laughter] Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Vic Taffro, 12 Mountain Lakes Road. Um, want to thank all of
you. Thankless job you have up there, but at the same time, the residents, I don't think I'm speaking alone. Expect that you all are fighting for all of us. And from a business owner for 40 years,
it's been partially brought up, but we didn't go back to someone that's done a phenomenal job. If there's a lot of things you can criticize anywhere, but I don't think anybody came to the meeting and complained about the garbage service we've had for years, has been exceptional. These guys kill themselves
for us time and time again. Okay, you want save money, that's great. Like it was brought up. I don't know anybody else here, but my taxes went up after this lovely savings, not down. Uh, and it it's it's pretty getting pretty ridiculous the tax rate, but things go
up. So, you would expect garbage expenses to go up. Um, it seems the most frustrating to me sitting here is there seems to be an extreme reluctance to challenge Compton garbage people. Are they some kind of,
you know, special superheroes? Why wouldn't you go back and say, "This is not $10 type contracts. This is millions of dollar contracts." And we're afraid to go back and have a meeting with them. We're afraid to go back and say, "Look, you told us no change. Maybe we should
have read the contract a little better, but there's no change. And I understand workers comp. I understand risk of drivers and everything else. The weight issue is a lot more important than the size of the can. It says in the
new contract on what we receive that it has to be bagged. So if it has to be bagged, what's the difference if it's in a a 5- foot wide TR that they take the bag out or a 48 gallon or a 65gallon or
a 32 gallon. Weight is an issue. So put a weight restriction. Go back and let them compromise. Look, we understand you're concerned about your employees, but we will make sure our residents know that the cam will not be taken if it's over 60 lb. What does it difference
whether it's 45 or 48 gallon tank? Doesn't make any difference at all. And for many seniors, having the 48 gallon with the rollers on it is safer for them, safer for the garbage men and easier for the garbage men to roll out the 48 gallon cans compared to the
45gallon cans. They're over $100 each. >> Oh, Google it. The calendar and something dollars each depot, Amazon, whatever. the 48 gallon cans, the good ones that the bears really don't bother, which is another concern
that people don't want garbage all over the place. And and I I really wish someone would answer to the reluctance to go back to Pompton and renegotiate and say, "Look, we're trying to be reasonable. We understand the concerns, but it shouldn't matter whether this is
whatever 48 in high or or 50 in high. We're concerned that it can't be more than 60 pounds." And and the other thing is, you know, the bears, the compromise, and I don't know what the the answer is.
I'm not at a lot of meetings. I've had to deal with things in the past like getting passed off on. We had employees that didn't take care of the source system and we have to pay all the penalties for it and everything else. But that's a total side issue. Are you guys ever accountable to say,
"Hey, are you zone enough to say we messed up? We we told you. We thought we were giving you, you know, there's nothing wrong. We're all human. We make mistakes." But somebody be accountable to say, "Hey, we're going to try to make this right by making it right. Get a compromise. Go back to them. This is a
big contract. You're not talking about pennies here. say, "Look, we understand safety is a vital for everybody, but let's put a, you know, pay for putting a weight thing on it." If they're concerned, they put the can on it, and if it's over 60 lbs, they leave it with
a sticker. Over 60 lb. But if they're 30 lb, what's the difference? Whether it was 48 gallons or 45 gallons, should be no difference whatsoever. And then we're going to have seniors in the winter and ice and all without those wheels slip. And then you
have, you know, medical costs because we negotiated a bad contract for the town. So you, you know, and the same thing everyone's saying if they said up front there's going to be multiple changes so we can get that. That's one thing. That wasn't the thing. The case was no
changes to your great service. So, I I you know, I don't know what everybody else thinks, but I really wish someone would have the um intestinal fortitude to say, "Let's seriously revisit this and go
back to Pompton and and get back and let them know that you're fighting for all of us." And and again, I respect what you do. I respect and talked to the nice guys that are from Pmpton the other day asking them, "Hey, I have a 48 gallon tank can. are they going to let this
slide? And he said, "I'm sorry." They told us absolutely not. And they looked at me and said, "It's no difference to us between, you know, 32 40. They just don't want to lift. You know, in fairness, you know, everybody can go
to a quarry and put out 59 lbs of weight every every garbage day and they'll be thankful that you made them stick to a 32gallon can or a 45gallon can." And and you know, then they'll be thankful that they have to do as many cans. You can line up a 100 cans with 59 lbs in it. Do
you think they're going to like that? Some of us might think of doing that just to thank them for not being negotiating. Make it reasonable. Be reasonable and they can be reasonable. The the 60 lbs makes a lot of sense for anybody lifting.
But whether it's 48, 50, 45, it's a real horrible thing to dwell on. Thank you for your time. I hope that we heard from some kind of resolution or at least decision after this. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir.
>> Elizabeth Banduchi, Valley View Avenue, uh lifelong resident. I wasn't going to say anything, but my take on this whole thing is quite a bit different than everybody else's. Um I know that we vote in our mayor and council to do the best for Oakland
because you guys live here. You're our neighbors. You're our friends. You've gone through the system. Everything that affects us affects you just as well. So, you're not doing it to gain anything. I think you negotiated the contract to the best of your abilities. I really,
it's more I think the contract would probably negotiated more by the attorney and the administrator than you guys specifically because it's not something that you do on a daily basis. And from what I'm hearing, it's not that you guys are not willing to go back to
Pompton. From what Rich said, you guys are on a daily call with Pompton and you've had at least, I think, two meetings to with Pompton to go over this. So, it's not that they're not willing as far as the can size and as
far as no changes. There were changes. We went from 32 gallons to 45 gallons. 32 gallons has been in the contract with Rosel or Suburban, whoever it was, for forever. Is it Pompton's fault or the town
council's fault that onethird of Oakland decided to ignore that and go for bigger sizes? I'll be honest with you, mine was oversized. I have a 45gallon with wheels that cost me $35 at Walmart. Okay.
>> But I'm just saying I I wouldn't spend hundreds of dollars on [applause] hand, >> but >> I don't think it's unreasonable for us to follow the rules. You guys made the change. You went, you increased it. You thought you were doing Oakland a good
thing. And for the few people that are objecting to it, you know, you got away with it for all these years. Now you guys suck it up. Why should we make these young DPW guys pick up a 65gallon tank uh you know garbage can
when you can get a 45gallon with wheels and put it out. I have two for garbage. I have one for co-mingled and one for paper. And that's what I I roll out. And I just, you know, I I went out to
the guys in, you know, and said, "We're not like this. Oakland is not like this." because they're they are getting abuse and shame on any of the Oaklanders that are doing it because it's not their fault.
Okay. Um, as I said, I grew up here in Oakland. The garbage issue has changed over the years many times. There was times when Oakland had to pay for garbage and uh there were times, you know, that we were at once a week for
pickup garbage. when things have not been happy, it got changed. Um, this is a temporary blip in the road. Things will have changed. Now, what I do agree with is what my guad said is
transparency. And I think some of the transparency is not more on the mayor and council's side, but more on the town hall and burough administrator's side. This could have been communicated a lot better.
Yes, Oaklanders need to be spoonfed. We need graphics. We need the little piece of paper with colors saying this is acceptable for recycle. This is not acceptable for recycle. This is the proper cans that you need. This is not
the proper cans that you need. We need that. Yes, every year we get our newsletter and every year we get our calendar with the information, but nobody reads it. I I myself included because as I said my g my tank my uh can was out of compliance too
but if you could just kind of handhold a little bit better that would go a long way. So thank you. >> Thank you Mr. >> Anybody else? >> Can we make one more comment? >> Hang on. We got let's go first. [clears throat]
>> Uh John Gfredo 44 Sue. Um, I was sitting at home watching this on YouTube and felt compelled to come down based on all the complaining. Thank you for what you said because it's exactly what I'm going to say. I've lived here
for 20 years. I get my um garbage recycling newsletter every year. I know it's posted on the website because I have to check it on a regular basis. And I know that it states in there that we have a 30 something gallon cam limit. And everybody's here
complaining about 50 and 60 gallon cans. And as somebody who works in in making industrial products and deals with 55gallon drums, they are not things that everyday people move around easily, even
if they are on wheels. Um, so I just wanted to thank the mayor and the council for your efforts to try and save the town payer, the the town people money in taxes and um, yeah, follow the
rules and then we won't have problems. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. Just like to add one more comment and not get an argument over whether we should or shouldn't worry about the fine print of what you send out every year and what's been going on versus what's
been accepted in in practice versus what's in your contract. Maybe if they read the contract and advertised and know these backout clauses and expenses, they might have renegotiated that as well. But the one thing that's amazing to me is they found out from them that
30 something% of the town is going to be affected by this lovely change. No one thought of let's send out our people and and do our own survey and a little research before you make such a financial and massive commitment. You
know, most business decisions, most people do inspections before they buy homes. They do inspections before they buy centers. They do things ahead of time and not after the fact say, "Oh, the contract said that." So, all I'm saying is they just dropped the ball to
find out from them that 30% were affected. So, you basically upset 29% because there's some one or two% that don't care that they have to go out and buy again. But everyone, I think, is getting financially burdened
in this economy. And you know, I would hope that they would do a little more research before they start changing things significantly that affect our pockets. This is supposed to save us money and it's actually going to cost the town money. Again, thank you for your time and thank you for what you do.
>> Is there anybody else so we can get the burough minister to answer some questions? Oh, one more time. >> Yeah, one more time. Dean Travis, 207 Valley Road. Like I said, I've been I've lived in Oakland for 62 years and um change comes hard a lot of times to some
of us. Uh for 62 years, we've been putting out the same garbage cans that we've been putting out uh today. So there hasn't been, you know, it I've lived in this town and I've taken out the garbage because I am a excuse
me, I'm talking I have taken the garbage out at my house in on Manito a that's where I grew up and we never had a problem with the garbage and it wasn't the small garbage cans. Again, one of the problems with the very flimsy uh 32 ounce, some of
those cans, they have very small wheels. I have a driveway that's 250 ft long. Uh those wheels would last about a week with 50 lbs of weight in them. Um I have I have um animals uh that go into my garbage that the heavier lid on the
bigger cans uh the raccoons can't get in that anymore. I had the I did have some smaller cans. They weren't 45 gallon, but they were 50 gallon cans and the the uh raccoons got into those as well. And then there's garbage all over my yard. I do have bears on occasion come into my
yard. I'm right even on them right here on Ramco Valley Road. Okay. There's a, you know, sandy beach and stuff is right behind my house basically. So a lot of animals can and Hope Park, they love to go in there. One night I was in there and there's like 44 deer in Oak Park. We
counted them. So it's all wonderful things. I love the animals um you know and everything else, but it it's a pain in the backside to clean it up. All right. So, um, again, I mean, no disrespect to anybody. I don't mean any disrespect to the council or anything, but I think this
could have been better thought out. And that's really the bottom line. Uh, whether we can go back and maybe re renegotiate certain things for maybe a I don't know, three three pounds more in a can. Maybe that works. I don't know. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. Whatever it is, whatever the council decides to do, we're going to have to
comply at some point. There's no question about it. It's just that change comes hard. And that's all I want to share. >> Thank you, Mr. Have a good night. >> Thank you. Anybody else? >> Do I have a motion to close? >> So move.
>> Who was that? I'm sorry. >> Bill or Steve? >> Bill. Steve. >> Who was the first? >> Bill. >> Sorry. >> Steve was second. All in favor? >> I. >> All right. Mr. Coons, you want to take a answer some of these questions at the resident? >> Uh, sure. And if I miss anything, just
let me know. Uh so sort of taking it from the top uh there's a comment about fee escalators in the contract. Um I believe if you look in the contract there is differential amounts every year of the agreement. Okay the agreement
yeartoyear does increase based on the projections uh that went into the overall calculation. Okay. So it's not flat every year of the agreement. There are differential rates for that. um
termination clauses. There's actually three if you read the entire section. Uh one gives us an out uh if it's determined uh that Pompton Lakes does not have the ability to provide the service. Right? So, and I don't mean two
weeks in and there's issues there to work out. I mean, if consistently they're they're not able to provide collection, they just don't have the staffing, whatever it is, we have an out with no uh cost to us to get out of the agreement.
Uh if we determine that we just don't want to be in it anymore, just terminate for convenience, yes, there is a protection in there for Pompton Lakes because upfront they're incurring costs with capital to buy equipment for this agreement. Uh and then after a year,
Pompton Lakes if they were losing their shirt on this uh would have the ability to say this isn't uh in our best interest and we're going to invoke termination as well. Right? So we tried to think of the different scenarios that may you know lead us to terminate the
contract early uh and address each of those in turn in the agreement. All right. Um because essentially here we we really for the most part have a flat rate contract here. The amount number that you see in there is what we're paying for that
service. There are a couple of things in there. Uh if we need additional services, uh let's say there's a flood event and we require additional pickups, uh you know, dumpsters, things of that nature. Uh that would be a separate fee, but that would be the same when uh if
Suburban was here as well. Um back in 2012, I think for 2011 for Irene, uh there was an extra cost for that, too. Um if the use of the Pmpton Lakes Recycling Center uh causes a material increase in their cost for that, they
have to buy more dumpsters, they have to add staff. there's a reopener in that because we were not able to really precisely estimate what the level of that activity is going to be. We thought that that was fair. But for the most part here, Pompton Lakes is taking on the risk here. If they have their
workers working overtime to provide the service, uh if their eventually their um vehicle maintenance costs are higher uh than projected or their health care costs are higher than projected, that that's on them, right? We're not paying
any more for that. Uh again, it's it's a fixed fee based on the schedule that's in the agreement. >> Mr. Coach, did uh did the fact that they had to on the on the the the first day when they were there late at night picking up all the garbage, did that
cause us uh any any extra money? >> No. >> No. No. All right. Thank you. >> Okay. uh as to you know competition and and the like I [snorts] just want to point out um
this year's budget if you take into account the fact that we were with suburban the first half of the year the same price as in 2025 uh and the reduced cost for the second half that we just entered into uh
there's a cost reduction of almost uh $250,000 for this budget year um on a whole year basis that's close to half a million dollars in the first year compared to what they're paying last year. Uh it's almost 30%. There's no way Suburban was
going to come close to that. It's just not the market that we're in. >> Mr. I I hate to cut you up, but I just wanted to mention something regarding whether we negotiated with Suburban. Yep. So the way the garbage you can't >> the way the garbage contracts work in New Jersey is you have to go out to bid
>> and anyone is allowed to bid on them. When we go out for road improvement, we get a couple of bids. We go out for garbage for reasons I won't speculate on, but anyone could Google this and read articles in the Bergen record, you usually only get one bid. If Mr. Coons had gone back to Suburban and said, "Here's what Pompton Lakes offered us. We offer this." He would be committing
an indictable offense. it would be bid rigging and we would be seeing him let off in handcuffs instead of at the meeting tonight. So we had no ability to negotiate. >> We have no ability to negotiate with suburban.
There is there is no the way that a garbage contract works is it has to go out the bid and there is the only way. >> Hey hey hey come on >> that is the only way in which a a we can solicit a provider for garbage. that we can enter into service negotiation like
this. We can provide our own service to the town, but as far as asking Suburban whether or not they would provide a better price, it is literally illegal under New Jersey public contract law. >> Did it go to bid? >> It did go to bid. Only one company bid and and you can read there's plenty of
articles about this. There's an article in the Bergen record last year. >> Is is that true though? Did I I don't think this went up today. I don't think that's true. >> Did not go to bid for this contract. Not this period. >> We didn't go this year. No, but we have gone in the past. >> That's my point. There was no competition. >> But in the past when we have gone to
bid, there has been no competition. And that is a problem that is prevalent around New Jersey >> New Year. >> Okay. Mr. Cruz, you want to keep going with your answers? >> Uh, yes. So, I think I addressed uh the termination provisions and the cost. Um
and and again I want to point out the numbers that we've put out there prior to what I spoke about tonight um was based on there being no increase. Right? The comparison was if suburban's cost would have remained unchanged. It was
deliberately meant to be conservative so that we would not be you know basically accused of trying to overstate the savings. Uh I just I just want to make that clear. Typically, typically what was the the increase from for for suburban uh from contract to contract?
>> You know, it it varied. There were certain years that were very heavy. Um but again, it was like 290% over the last 10 years. Uh if when the last time we bid was suburban, um we decided to take three years. They they bid for five years individual
pricing. uh we decided to take three years because the cost in years four and five were going to be eight 8% plus increases. So 8% this year, 8% next year. Uh and we didn't think that that was something that we wanted to do at that time. So
um want to talk a little bit about the the communication uh and and the stuff with the cans again. Um obviously there was a disconnect there to the extent that you know there was not the level of communication uh that should have been. Um I want to you know
take responsibility for that and I apologize if that you know we could have done more here. Um but honestly when we were negotiating the contract itself this was not an issue that was on the table for discussion. It wasn't a known issue. um if we had known it, we
probably would have addressed it differently. Um so, you know, that was a miss on our part. I you know, I I apologize, but um that's where we are right now. >> Okay. Did I miss anything? I'm sorry. I know there was a lot of comments there.
>> Can we uh address the the pickup on Ramo Valley Road? >> Will we? >> Right. I mean, that that has to do with how they design their routes. Um, but we can certainly go back and ask them to take a a look at that to address that. Sure. >> I think I think that's reasonable
request to say do Rampo Valley Road first before traffic builds up and everything else like that. That's that's not unreasonable. >> And I and these are all reasonable questions. These are all things that that you know have to be addressed and
um and and we'll address them. It's uh it's day nine. It's, you know, we're we're going [clears throat] to do whatever we can to make to make this work and and and and be, you know, as similar as possible. And and we all we
all got surprised with the with the with the the garbage can size. The It's It's unfortunate. It's We're We And And right away we were all all the same, you know. Oh, what do you mean? Oh, you
know, Suburban did it, you know. Well, they weren't supposed to be doing it and and they were putting their workers at risk. That that's on Suburban. Um, you know, Pompton doesn't want to put their workers at at risk and and you can't blame them. That's that's and that's that's that's their that's their
decision. Um, you know, and and the the the competition, you know, if you go for shared service, it's a shared service. It's not it's it's not going out to bid with with a private vendor. It's we're we're we're entering into a shared
service with a town. So, it's a different it's it's it's apples and oranges. You can't it's not fair to the to to the private companies to be bidding against the the the the towns and it's not fair to the towns to be bidding against the private companies.
So, so it doesn't it doesn't work. You can't you can't mix the two. And like like like I said, you know, it's it's it's illegal to to to have the one guy bid and then say, "Oh, well, this guy could do it." And and then try try and try and make him meet
that. That's, you know, it's it's all it's all governmental minutia, you know, and and uh but but but you understand why they're separate because one's a shared service and and one is a private entity. Um, and that's
it. I got >> Mr. Coons, you you you apologized to the residents, but in in fairness to you and the residents, I don't think it was a lack of transparency or communication once the contract was signed. Um, you know, I I thought that communication was
was fine. uh as as a resident at the time and and before making my way up here, the I think the frustration was around a contract, a service that was beloved to to many in the town and and impacts people's lives four, five, six, sometimes seven days a week was was
going to materially change and and the public didn't know about it until after a contract was signed. These discussions could have been had before the contract was signed and these lessons could have been learned at that time. So, Mr. Coons, in fairness to you, I I don't I I appreciate your your words, but uh
in in fairness to you and the residents, I I don't think that it was a transparency issue after the fact. In fact, I think your communication with the residents once the contract was signed was was perfectly appropriate. >> Thank you. Does anybody else from the council have any comments on garbage? Not seeing it
at this time. I think we had a very healthy discussion concerning the garbage. Uh we are going to take back some of the recommendations uh and we'll talk to Pompton Lakes about it. Uh but I want to thank everybody for your input. I can tell you I've received multiple
emails. I'm sure everybody in this day has been you know received multiple emails about this this project. But just please uh this is day nine. We're going to day 10 is tomorrow. Getting it a little better every day. And uh thank you everybody for your comments and and
we all take it to heart and we will be work through it. So thank you everybody. Mr. Coons uh engineer proposal drainage improvements Lake Shore Drive. Thank you mayor. Uh this is just uh sorry
for a second. Uh so there is a collapsed storm sewer pipe uh over on Lakeshore Drive. It's about 140 ft long drains into Crystal Lake. It's a 24 inch uh pipe uh is developing some sink holes uh
and we need to replace it. Uh due to the termination of the pipe uh and the outfall, it unfortunately requires D permits. Uh so Basel provided a uh proposal to do the required engineering and permit applications.
Uh you have the cost breakdown in your packet. Uh $30,000. almost half of that is for the permitting end of it. Uh but we'd like to move ahead with this uh with a contract in August so we can get started on getting that repair work done.
>> And Mr. Cru, just to reiterate the fact that $15,000 that is $15,000 of payments to New Jersey D for permitting. >> Oh, no. That that's in addition. >> Yeah. I mean, that's >> okay. Uh the the uh work required is about $14,000 of effort. Um the permit
fees themselves are estimated at about 12,000 >> just for permits. >> And then are there you know um are they looking at other drainage you know are we expecting this to happen any place else? Are they you know when they
go in are they inspecting anything making sure that uh so so we inspect uh in accordance with the stormwater management requirements. Um there is a list of locations. Uh if if you recall uh we're in the midst of replacing the
entire storm sewer system in the Pleasure Land neighborhood right now using uh community development block grants as much as possible. Uh we'll then be moving on I don't know what the priority is uh right after that off the top of my head. Separately there's um a
priority list that we're putting together uh to repair outfalls themselves. Um those will also require D permit applications. Um and that's likely to probably be a 5 to 10 year effort to repair all of those. Uh
because we'll do them sort of in in in phases based on >> Can you just explain what an outfall is for the residents? >> Uh it's the actual structure where the pipe terminates into a river or or a body of water. uh you know you can have collapsed head walls or scour things
like that that need to get fixed basically uh that tends to be a little pricey as as well due to the nature of the work. Um and again those require permits too. So we uh you'll be seeing you'll probably be seeing a proposal for
the first phase of that in August um to get started on the permit application for u for the outfall locations that are going to be in phase one. Can you also talk a little bit about the uh the CDBG grants that we get down for down by uh River Road in that area and the fact that uh you know we're one of the towns
that are very nimble and quickly able to move for grants that other people don't take. Mr. C. >> Uh yeah, so this has been a program that's benefited us a great deal. We replaced Well, over the years we've done some work at the senior center. Uh we've repaved the roads within the eligible
area. It's a section of town that meets the uh census track criteria uh for the grants. Uh we've replaced the water system in the Pleasure Land neighborhood. Now we're replacing the storm sewer system in that neighborhood as well. Um there's a downside at all is
you you have to sort of do it in small chunks based on the amount of available funding every year to maximize that. Uh and also to there's a size limit with the number of linear feet of pipe that you can do to avoid also additional permitting which slows projects down. Um
so we've been pretty successful in every year getting these projects done on time. Uh we got additional money last year from what are called unprogrammed funds outside of the normal cycle uh because the county has requirements that
they have to spend down so much of their money within a period of time. So they look to towns that can successfully execute these projects uh to use up the money. Uh so we've gotten extra money. A matter of fact, I have a call with the director next week about another opportunity for additional money.
>> Thank you. I just wanted the residents to understand that when these grants come across, you know, Oakland because we're able to move very quickly, we take advantage of these and these are on program funds that other towns can't take advantage of. So thank you, Mr. C. >> You're welcome. >> So we're going to move this forward. the original conversation. We're going to
move that forward for the next meeting and resolution. >> Yes. >> Anything else on drainage? Not seeing any. Do I have a motion to open to public >> again? >> No, this is this is for the regular public. >> Right. >> So moved. >> Second. Second.
>> Anybody wish to address the council on any other concerns? >> You're welcome. >> Not seeing any. Do have a motion to close. >> So moved. >> Have a second. >> Second. >> All right. All right, we're up to the mayor's report. Let me get my paperwork in order here.
All right. Uh paving updates. Um for the people that live on the south north side of town through all the public service work, uh all the paving had indeed has been completed on that side of town. Um we are just waiting for the striping to be completed and the
public service project is closed out at this point, which is good news. U there's clearly a lot of ruts. There was a lot of work that was done on that side of town. Uh McCoy Road, that is the Lenar property. Um, as you know, they put in a water man. They also put a
force main in for the properties behind Indian Hills. Uh, the contractor is hoping to start and repave that road all the way to the municipal line of Franklin Lakes. So, that'll be curb to curb for the entire stretch of McCoy Road. Paid for by the contractor, not
paid for by the burrow because it was part of the work for the LAR property. Um on the on the agenda today, uh we very we are going to be approving the council should be approving the burrow paving program. Uh happy to announce
that the we are very much ahead of schedule this year. Um if the council approves it, hopefully we should have all the pave hopefully if everything works out right after the pre-con meeting, all the paving will be done hopefully before Labor Day if everything lines up properly. So everything got done really early this year. I want to
thank our professionals for putting that together. Uh last Saturday, uh there was a new program. I'm sure Mr. Salian is going to expand upon it. It was soccer Palooa down at Great Oak Park. Uh it was a wonderful uh get together for for our soccer players in town. They had food
trucks. They had tents. Uh all the, you know, Chamber of Commerce came out and uh it ran from about uh 12:30 till about 3:30, 4:00. It was a little rainy in the beginning. happy to announce that the weather changed and uh that you know our children really had a wonderful time for
a first day first time event. I would certainly call it a success for all the members of the recreation commission uh that put this together and all the volunteers. Job well done. Thank you. Also, last Sunday at the Van Allen House, there was an open house u and it
was a reading of the Declaration of Independence. It's actually pretty moving. Uh we had a good turnout and a good crowd down there. they had an open house. Uh it's really something to you know we had uh people dressed up in period gear and reading the constitution or the
declaration. It's it's if anybody gets a chance you should certainly read it and you know we really learn the history behind it and it was really a wonderful event. I see Miss Buchi's here from the historical committee and uh thank you everybody for putting that together. Just remind everybody the new electric bike law goes into effect July 19th. Uh
please check the burrow website, check the police department Facebook page. Um as uh you know uh don't gonna have to register your bikes. All the information is online. As far as affordable housing, uh we're supposed to be meeting with the judge next week. It got postponed. It was
pushed out a month. So there's no other updates at this time concerning affordable housing. July 25th, uh 8 to 12:00 p.m. there'll be shred paper shredding down at Barl Hall. So, if anybody needs paper shredding, uh July 25th, uh there's also another concert in the park July 26th
from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. It's going to be uh Simple with the Steve Leonard Band. It's going to be Fish Songs, PH Ish. So, we did have a concert out there last Sunday as well. Uh it was classic rock. I'm going to ask for the August meeting.
I'm going to ask our planner and our affordable housing attorney to attend to give us an update on affordable housing. And I'm also going to have a ask our planner to uh give us a pre an overview of what we can do for the Burger King property to make an area of redevelopment and take a look at what we
can really move this thing along. The con the gentleman that owns that property, all his extensions have expired, so there's no more movement on that property. So, we really have to take a look at redeveloping that property at this point. Also, I just want to read a statement uh concerning um we have a resolution
that's going to be on the agenda today. It's 26433 for a study with the police department regarding consideration of an independent assessment of the Oakland Police Department. The governing body is considering commissioning an independent third-party assessment of the Oakland Police Department. I want to be transparent with our community about why
this step is under consideration and what we hope to accomplish. To be clear about our obligations under the New Jersey Public Meetings Act and other applicable laws, there are boundaries on which can be discussed in open public session. We cannot discuss specific personal items, individual performance
or confidential employment information. We also cannot comment on any under ongoing investigation or disclose attorney client communications, attorney work product or litigation strategy. When those topics arise, they will be handled in the appropriate confidential form consistent with the laws. The
assessment we are considering will focus on policies, procedures, staffing models, training, supervision, and accountability processes. One area of review will be the school crossing guard coverage and designated posts. There was
recently a publicly reported incident in which a child was injured near a crossing location. Ensuring safe routes to school remains a top priority. Accordingly, it's imprudent to have these objective reviews by a qualified professionals as to this issue. We
further aim to confirm the department operations align with applicable requirements and strengthen policies and oversight where appropriate. We will review supervision, training, and accountability processes to support consistency and effectiveness across the department. We will also evaluate hiring
and screening processes to confirm that they are thorough and consistent and aligned with established standards. Our aim is to compare our written policies to day-to-day practices recognized against recognized best practices and to recommend improvements where appropriate. Let me be clear. This is
not a judgment against the many dedicated officers and employees who serve our community with professionalism every day. Rather, an independent assessment is a tool of good governance. It allows qualified neutral professionals to evaluate police policies, evaluate policies, procedures,
staffing, training, and supervision, and to recommend improvements free of internal and political influence. My goal is straightforward. A police department whose operations meet the highest standards of the safety, compliance, and accountability, and a community that has full confidence in it.
The timing of this assessment is deliberate. A change in leadership is is a natural moment to take stock. A new chief benefits from this objective to look at the department while setting priorities for the future and gives our new chief the best possible starting point. Further policing standards, training practices, and community
exceptions evolve. Reviewing our policies now rather than years down the road means that the department stays current and any needed updates happen on our timeline, not a reaction to a crisis. So, this is something that's going to be in the agenda today. Uh this it's 26 233. And with that, that
concludes my report. And we are now to approval of minutes. >> So move. Oh, >> I haven't done anything yet. >> Oh, I thought [laughter] I thought we were doing the uh open minutes. >> Okay. All right. We have approval minutes June 23rd, 2026. Do I have a motion to approve?
>> So move. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Does anybody have changes or deletions or corrections? >> Not seeing anything. Roll call. >> Council President Talamini. >> Yes. >> Councilman Dumpert. >> Yes. >> Councilman Eert. >> Yes. Councilman Councilwoman Rose. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Saliani. >> Yes. >> I've got June 20 23 20 June 23rd 2026 executive minutes. Do I have a motion to approve? >> So, who's got it? >> Miss Caroline. >> Caroline and M. >> Talamini. >> Uh, if anybody has any changes, it can
only be done in executive session. Does anybody have any changes? >> Nope. >> Not seeing anything. Roll call. >> Council President Talamini. >> Yes. >> Councilman Dbert. >> Yes. >> Councilman Eert. >> Yes. Councilwoman Rose, >> yes. >> Councilman Elleni, >> yes. >> All up to special announcements.
Uh, we have the following. We'll do it as a consent agenda. Authorize raffle license RL1609 for the Bergen County Horse Rescue for a 50/50 on August 8th in the support of care of rescued horses at Holiday Bowl. Authorized raffle license RL1 1610 for BPOE
2167. That's the Elks for a 50/50 on October 10th in support of the Elks Charities. Authorized social affairs permit for the Elks 2167 for a beef steak dinner fundraiser supporting the life raft group on October 10th. Authorized social affairs permit for the
Elks Oakland Elks 2167 for a turkey tray fundraiser support in support of the Oakland Elks 2167 on November 21st, 2026. Authorize raffle license RL 1611 for the Oakland Elks 2167 for a 50/50 on
December 31st, 2026 in support of Elks Charities at 33 Rampo Valley Road. Authorize raffle license RL1612 for the BPOE Oakland Elks 2167 for a Tricky tray on November 21st, 2026 in support of the Elks charities and
authorize signed placement Oakland Franklin Lakes Rotary Club show uh uh Rotary Club. This is the car show that takes place in September. Uh it's going to be put up from 8:27 through 9:27 26. Do I have a motion to approve?
>> So moved. Do I have a second? Second. >> Who's got it? Bill. >> Bill. >> Bill. >> Roll call. >> Council President Talamini. >> Yes. >> Councilman Dumpert. >> Yes. >> Councilman Eert. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Rose. >> Yes. >> Councilman Saliani. >> Yes.
>> All right. We're up to resolutions. We'll do this consent agenda unless anybody wants any pulled out at the end. >> Mr. Mayor, I'd like to pull 26 TAC 223, please. >> 26 223. That is the assessment of the police department. Correct. >> That's 23. >> It is. Yes, sir. 233 or 23 23
>> 233. No, >> no, he wants 223. You want the PBA? >> We We also want 26 233 pulled as well. >> 223. We're going to pull out >> 223 and then 233. >> 233. That's okay. With the exception of
those, we have 26 212 authorized recreation refunds. 26 213 authorized tax refund for overpayment for 25page drive. 26214 authorize the granting of tax exemption and refund for exempt veterans. Apttoola
26215 authorized a refund to Lapka Associates for a 200 foot list. Uh that is a person that wanted had to make notification for 200 feet around their property for public notification. They like their $10 back. Authorized refund for redaction fees for
public service. Authorized purchase of two new police vehicles. That's uh 20 26 217 26 218 authorized purchase of two DPW trucks. 26219 hire summer camp counselors. 26220
resend dispatcher hire that we approve council approved on June 23rd, 2026. That's going to be filed by 26221 to hire a new police dispatcher. 26222 hire seasonal laborer Fedini.
26224 authorized the auction of sales. We had an auction on the town vehicles and excess equipment. Uh the proceeds are approximately 33,000. Mr. Cumins, is that correct? >> That's correct. >> Okay. 26225 authorized contract for TMN TNM for redevelopment study. That
redevelopment study is for the LAR property for the affordable housing which is behind the high school required by state statute. 26226 authorized CG community energy plan. 26227 cancel sewer capital balances. 26228 extend developers
agreement for LAR. Mr. uh Mr. Kun, you want to just explain why we had to extend that developers agreement because it ran out. >> Uh right. And that's pretty much so the original developers agreement uh had a end date in it. Uh they've asked for an extension because they're not done with
the project yet. Uh there's a clause in the developers agreement that allows you to extend it uh at your discretion. uh and this extends it uh till the end of 2028 um because they're saying that they'll be building until u sometime in that
year. >> Okay. >> And Mr. Mayor, the developers agreement protects the town because it keeps certain bonds in place if the work were not to be finished. We won't just have holes where the road should be. So, it's in the burrow's interest to extend I know it sounds like we're doing the developer a favor, but it's really the
developers agreement is there to protect the burrow should the work not be completed. So, it's really in the BR's interest to extend this agreement. >> Thank you for explaining that to the resident. Uh 26229 authorized fall girls volleyball program fees. 26230 authorized chapter 159 recycling tonnage
grant. 26231 authorized sale of beverage cooler to the pond's food banker food pantry and 26232 award bid for the 2026 road program. And that's what I was part of my mayor's message. Do we have a motion to approve? So moved.
>> Do we have a second? >> Second. Second. Mr. Dumpert. Roll call. >> Council President Talamini. >> Yes. >> Councilman Dumpbert. >> Yes. >> Councilman Eert. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Rose. >> Yes. >> Councilman Saliani. >> Yes. >> All right. We're up to 26223 which was
pulled out. Authorize ratification of the PBA agreement. Um, who pulled that out? >> Mr. Dumper. Go ahead. >> No public comment. >> What? >> No comment. >> Oh, no comment. Oh. Well, somebody has to introduce it. >> Yeah. Who wants me to introduce it?
>> Yeah, it's Do we have a motion to adopt? >> We have a motion to approve. Yeah. >> This is 223. >> Motion to adopt. 223. >> Do I have a second? >> Yes. >> Manny, roll call to authorize it. >> First, any discussion? >> Any discussion?
>> This is just a finalization, Rich. This is just a finalization of >> Yeah, I I was going to say uh you authorized the MOA uh back in the winter uh and that's been implemented. This is uh the ratification of the formal labor agreement itself that implements the
MOA. Uh it just took the uh attorneys a little bit of time to work out exact language and get everything set. >> Is this the last step in execution? >> Uh this is it. Yes. Yeah. >> Any other further comments, questions? Not seeing any roll call.
Council President Talamini, >> yes. >> Councilman Dumpbert, >> no. >> Councilman Eert, >> yes. >> Councilman Councilwoman Rose, >> yes. >> Councilman Saliani, >> yes. >> All right, we're up to 26233
authorized contract for the Anelleti Group. Uh, that was what I was talking about in my mayor's thing for a a independent study of uh best practices on the police department. Do I have a motion to uh motion who wishes to introduce that? >> Not seeing anybody. If nobody introduced
it, Mr. Gillson, you want to tell us what happens? >> It's just like it never existed. >> Okay. I just going to make a comment. I'm very disappointed in this governing body that you are not going to take on this this opportunity. We have a new uh captain, a change in the police department, and it's really an
opportunity for best government governance uh good governance and uh okay, I guess it dies. >> If I may, Mr. Mayor, I I I do these professionally. I I I know about these studies. Um >> M unfortunately, discussion is over. >> There's there's there's two ways that
these studies there's there's there's two ways that these can be success that these can roll out. one is cooperatively and one is um not combatively but with opposition. I I think that I think the relationship between the governing body
and and the police department I I think right now we should fix the staffing gaps that have plagued this uh uh bureau and this police department for years. and once staffing is at at an appropriate level, trust the senior
leadership within the department to do the right thing. These types of studies and I and I've done them professionally for major metropolitan uh police departments. I know exactly what they entail. Um giving the police the opportunity to
identify their priorities to close the gaps that they see and recognize themselves with proper staffing. Um, and I know it's not the governing body nor your uh individual fault that the staffing levels are where they are. Uh, I think unnatural uh gaps and
deficiencies would be found in a department if a study like this is taken after years of underst staffing and overburdening of officers. Uh, I think we can we can review in the future a study like this because there is a lot of benefit to doing these types of
studies to identify best practice to identify where gaps might exist. Uh however, I don't think right now is the right time to do that with this uh police department. And those are my comments. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Mr. Dumpert, what is the appropriate staffing level? >> That's one of the things that we should
discuss with the police department. I think if you talk with every rank and file officer, uh they'll they'll they'll share that they've been understaffed for months and I I don't know the exact staffing. That's a study that will have to take place >> and that's what this study would be providing. >> No, no, no. This study is far more in
depth than that. It is. So why don't you talk about policies and procedures since you've done these type of studies. What would that uncover? >> What would So that it's a certified department. So they've gone through this process in in recent history. Spending $83 plus thousands to do it while there
is a certification process uh in place now uh I don't think is is a good use of of taxpayer funds. And I think the fact that the governing body didn't introduce it showcases exactly where the governing body feels uh exactly what the governing body feels. A review of policies and
procedures is to make sure that the the doue matches the deacto to make sure that the written rule the written policies procedures and protocols are in line with best practice and that in the field in practice they are taking place and I don't think any member of the
public or anybody on this governing body would would argue uh that that's that that that's not a good thing. What I'm saying is a study like this uh would would more likely at this point identify things that the department can fix itself if given proper staffing and not
uh relying on uh short staffed uh uh shifts and calling people in on overtime to achieve business as usual functions. Anybody else? Any discussion? >> Okay. Uh we'll say again I am disappointed. All right. Uh we are up to
ordinances. Uh, we have no ordinances to bring forward. Anybody have any new business? >> At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'll introduce again the second public comment. I think should fall should be brought back uh to council meetings. So, I'd like to introduce a motion to bring back the second public
comment on evenings like like tonight where the public chooses not to engage the council for a second time. I appreciate that. Uh, however, it was this governing body that took that right away from its citizens. They took that ability for citizens and our citizenry
to talk to and to challenge and to question and to share their thoughts, feelings uh and priorities with the governing body. That was removed. I think that was a bad uh look. I think it was a bad step. I would further like to propose that it be the last thing on the agenda prior uh after bills to be paid
prior to the final gavvel. So, a motion to reintroduce the second public session and have it rest at the at the conclusion of the meeting right before the gavl drops. >> No second. >> I'm sorry. Who was that? >> Mr.
Do we have a roll call? >> Council President Talamini. >> Uh, no. >> Councilman Dumpert. >> Yes. Councilman Eert. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Rose, >> no.
>> Councilman Saliani, >> no. With a comment. I thought tonight uh the governing body did a good job of setting up a a a uh issue with the with the public regarding the garbage. We reword the agenda, gave everyone their chance to speak, and then did open up
the meeting twice. In the past also we have opened up the meeting twice when there have been people in the audience and they wanted to speak. So I think this governing body does do a good job with it. It doesn't have to be changed. >> Okay. >> I I think the difference is is when
things might be controversial, the public has the right to address their their governing body and their public officials and and not allowing them to do so I think is a stain on Oakland's record. >> Motion to open to the public. >> I'm sorry. to this asking questions. Can I ask a question?
>> Motion to open to the public. >> Second motion. >> Second. Okay, everybody. All in favor? >> I need to come up over here. >> Okay. >> Thank you. I'm sorry. >> Don't be the Who's my example right there? Thank you. >> Um Cheryl Mater 53.
Um the police issue with having a director or somebody. Is this something you've already decided is going to happen or is this something that you're thinking about have bringing a civilian in to go over whatever you you want him
or her to go over about whatever issues you're seeing with the police department. I'm a little confused because this is something >> I did not have any idea was going to happen. >> So, >> wait. To clarify, are you asking if the the council's considering getting rid of
the chief and replacing him with a civilian director or are you asking if there's if this is a study by a civilian >> I think your second part uh >> I just want to clarify because under New Jersey law you can have a system where you don't have a chief and instead the police department functions of the
civilian director which I don't think anyone >> on this proposed but you're looking to bring somebody in a civilian to figure out what's going on introduced by the council, but I believe the mayor's suggestion was to have an outside company or Rob Anelotti, who's a former
chief of the the county detectives, believe he's law enforcement official, runs a private company, to do an assessment of the police department. It wasn't introduced by the council, but I just want to clarify, I don't think anyone's introduced the idea of a civilian director, >> okay,
>> that the police reports come in to just take a look at what's going on. >> It's like an audit, >> okay? come in, take a look what's our best practices, what needs to be improved, how can we make it, you know, it's really an opportunity for the department to grow and be, you know, just it's an audit. How things going?
>> All right. So, this is something you have already decided you will do. >> No, they the council said no. I wanted to bring it forward. The council said it wouldn't even introduce it, which means it's dead. >> So, then [snorts] this is
>> Okay. Thank you very much. Again, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take time from you, but I just did not quite understand. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any more old business? >> Motion to close. >> Mitch, will you do I second? >> Second. Yes, sir. >> All in favor?
>> I. >> Any any more old business? >> We are up to business. Did you get any more updates on the burn property? >> I I covered that. Oh, >> did he? >> Yeah, I missed it. meeting. [laughter]
>> No, I just address in the mayor's meeting. I want to bring our planner back here at the August meeting so that she can walk the the council through what's required for redevelopment studies so we you guys can appropriate funds and see what we can do to move that property along. >> Sorry about that. >> Yeah, that's fine. Uh some leazison reports. We'll start with Mer.
>> No, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um the outdoor market had their uh had a nice opening on the on Saturday. Good showing, good turnout. Um, and then they had the concert in the park on that Sunday, [snorts] which is another great great turnout. It's a great event. I think people should definitely try to check it
out. Um, their next open market is going to be on July 25th from 10:00 to 3 and the next concert is going to be on the Sunday the 26th from uh 3:00 to 7:00 and it's the music of Simple, which is basically the uh they play fish music.
So, so it's actually a really cool band and I definitely recommend everybody checking it out. >> And that's all I have, mayor. >> Okay, councilwoman. >> All right. Thank you. Um, so this year we are going to have a um 911 memorial
for 25 years of the of the memorial. It's going to be um a service that will be held at the Veterans Park at 6 p.m. Um all are welcome to attend. There will be like refreshments afterwards and you know we'll have more details as you know we start finalizing the the plans for it
and everything but it'll be a great event for the town. Uh shade tree not much to report there. Um forester did issue about 50 permits for tree removals. 131 trees were removed, 37 to be
replanted, and so far to date, year to date, there have been 362 trees removed. Um, as to the deer management committee will reach out to the DP wildlife to conduct a presentation for the town count for the
council so that we know what our options are going to be in the future. Um, and Access for All, you know, we had mentioned how Jod was stepping down and the new person who is taking over for her and is very talented is Natalie
Gregory and we welcome her to the um to the committee as well. And that's all I have. >> Thank you, Council Miss Ali. >> Yes. Um, start real quick. Um, the chief from the fire department asked me to please um, we had a we had someone inducted to the fire department tonight.
We saw Mr. McDermott. They're still looking for more volunteers. If anyone is interested in joining the fire department, please reach out or at 7:30 on Mondays of Yapo, they do drills. Please go out, introduce yourself, find out what it takes to be a volunteer. Um, the more volunteers they get, the better
it is for all of us. So, please consider being a volunteer. Um, I want to piggyback off two things the mayor said. Um, the last two weekends been reading in Declaration of Independence historical committee. I I want to say it was it was a great job. More importantly, mayor, I think this Sunday there was about what 50 people there, 40
people there. It was very very nice. >> What' you say? >> 80 80 people there. So, uh I want to thank the historical committee for doing that and all the efforts they did to get that done. >> Uh regarding recreation, um we're kind of in the downtime, but uh to to the mayor's comment, there's about 400
people who start we started an event this year. So, I want to uh soccer Palooa. So, the recreation commission and they continue to do these things. They they do these events and they're building on it. Um, we had MC, we had DJ. I would say we had about 400 people through it. We had vendors donating
their time and energy. I I think for the first year it was an absolute success. And um, they're already plans about doing it next year and how make it bigger and better. So, I really want to thank the rec commission commission for continuing their continuing their views, ideas of how to do stuff in the community and engage kids. Our goal next year is to engage more kids from the
programs and get more kids there. Couple comments that I've gotten out. People didn't understand about Great Oak Park. What was there? I had several people walk up to me that, you know, great park, we have concerts here, so we have to do our best as a council to promote the park so people start uh understanding what we have. Um, also
recreation, there was a there was a um on on the agenda that Chris has approved, appreciate recreation, helping the community. They're working with Ponds Church. They're donating a recreation cooler. Um, this way it'll help Pawns Church store food and allowing them accept and store more food. So, I want to thank Recreation for
doing that and they have guilted me into paying for it. to the $1 that we have to pay for transition. Wendy, I don't know if I've given you a dollar bill or a check, but I will pay the $1 so we can pause enough to pay the $1. >> Okay, Councilman, thank you. >> No problem. That's all my reports tonight. That's it. Council Dumpford.
Councilman Saliani, I want to just echo the the event in uh Great Oak Park, the soccer palooa. I shared with you privately. I thought that was a phenomenal event. So, to the rec commission and everybody that was involved, that was fantastic. I think that put Oakland's best foot forward. I think that that park and the opportunity
that we have as a burrow uh to bring our community together and host more uh events there uh I think that's going to continue to grow in popularity and I wanted to to say thank you and to the rec commission for for putting that together. My family enjoyed it. I enjoyed it and I think everybody who attended uh enjoyed it. So a really good
uh event to put Oakland's best foot forward. Thank you. Um from the DPW uh I'll avoid uh the the garbage discussion because we talked about that earlier. Uh there will be change outs to water manes uh uh coming in the next couple of weeks and months. There are not expected to be
any service uh interruptions and that's being carefully choreographed with uh with some of the other public works so that if there does need to be street opening that that's uh that's scheduled and choreographed uh well uh Mr. Mayor you you mentioned the street paving contract which uh being ahead of
schedule which I think is is fantastic news and music to a lot of Oaklanders ears. Um, there is going to be uh software updates to the meters. The meter reading software is going to be updated. And uh, interestingly, and uh, to a homeowner, I'm I'm happy to see
that there's going to be a cellular functionality. So, it'll save DPW time, energy, effort, and money and resources. They don't have to drive around and check meters anymore. It'll have cellular connectivity, so the meter readings can be done remotely. It will also have, which is the interesting
part, anomaly detection. So, if it notices an extreme use of water at a time that doesn't line up with historical data, uh that can notify not not only DPW, but uh likely the homeowner as well. So, you might be able to catch leaks. You might be able to catch uh overuse earlier than uh than
otherwise. And and lastly, in in an interest in keeping up with with technology, I want to give kudos to the DPW. They're going to be using uh iPads that have artificial intelligence overlay uh to drive around the burrow. And as they're driving, performing their
normal duties, uh the cameras on the iPads will be able to intake the uh the conditions of the road, the sidewalks, the signage, all the things that DPW is responsible for. Right now, there's a dedicated effort. There's times in the schedule when DPW goes out and they drive really slow around the
neighborhoods and they try to identify where the potholes are, where there's crumbling around the um uh the the storm drains, where there might be curbs that are broken. And this again takes time, money, energy, resources, very forwardleaning, very forward thinking to identify some technology with artificial
intelligence overlay that as they're driving around performing their normal business as usual duties, uh the software will be taking in the condition of all of those things and sending sometimes automatic alerts when something is critical that it needs to be fixed. So a really really smart
application of technology. Uh and that concludes my report. Mr. Mayor, >> thank you. Uh, Councilman Talami, >> uh, other than to say, uh, thank you to, uh, everyone for being patient, uh, with
the with the garbage issue. It's, uh, uh, uh, you know, we never promised you a rose garden. Um, it's, uh, it's it's a difficult it's a difficult process. Uh, we we had hoped the launch would have
been smoother. It it was not. that's uh on us and Pompton. But um uh thank you to everyone who who's uh patient and understanding and again I apologize to anyone that I was short with and uh
thank you to everyone up here. That's what it made. >> Apologies thanks. [laughter] >> Uh before we go to uh bills to be paid, uh Mr. Coons, you want to just explain to everybody the changeover that's taking place with our emails and the.gov
so uh people understand that there's no hiccups as we go through this transition. It's very important especially when communicating with government. >> Uh so so except for uh the police department which is on its own system. Uh everybody else uh we have aorg.gov.
Uh so you can update that. Um, I'll make sure that the website is updated too to reflect all of that. Um, but we're using same emails as before, just.gov instead of.org at the end. If you do happen to send something still to our.org addresses, it will uh forward to the.gov
addresses for the next month or so um before that functionality turns off. Okay. We did have some stuff going out on Facebook. Uh we'll make sure it's in the newsletter and email blast and the like, too. Um and uh yeah, so that was a a big change that we have all had to
deal with uh implement over the last week. So thank you. All right, the bills to be paid. Council >> bills to be paid is $851,276.19. So moved. Do >> I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Eert. Roll call. >> Council President Talamini.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Dumpert. >> Yes. >> Councilman Eert. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Rose. >> Yes. Councilman Tiani. >> Yes. >> Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Talamini. Miss Rose. >> Yes. >> Uh before we adjurnn, I just
>> All in favor? >> I sorry. >> Before I just before we I hit the gavl here, I just want to thank the residents uh for coming out today and the discussion that the governing body had concerning the garbage and making sure residents concerns have been heard. I
thought it was a very productive meeting and and as we move forward, uh please be patient. But uh we'll get through this. With that being said, meeting adjourned. Uh next council meeting will be held Tuesday, August 11th at 7 p.m. here at council chambers. Meeting adjourned. Thank you everybody. Thank