Meeting call to order. This is the April 22nd uh mayor and council meeting Burough of Oakland. Would the clerk please read the statement of compliance? This meeting is being held in accordance with the open public meetings law duly announced, advertised, and posted in the municipal building. The meeting will adjourn no later than 10 p.m. unless the
majority of the council members that are present vote to extend the time. I'll rise for a pledge of allegiance. Council Pnatali, would you lead us in the pledge? Yes. Thank you. Iledge allegiance 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. Please remain standing for a quick moment of silence. BC. Thank you. Uh would clerk please call a role. Mayor Kamala present.
Council President McCann. Councilman Pignatelli here. Councilwoman Rose here. Councilman Saliani here. Councilman Slinski here. Councilman Talamini here. Do have a motion to excuse. Councilman McCann.
So moved. Have a second. Second. All in favor? I. Okay. Moving on to the mayor's report. I got several items here. Uh just some construction updates on what's going on in town. Uh the Oakland drugs building application should be coming in front of the planning board either in
May or June. So we should see movement on the Oakland Drugs Building. Uh the McDonald's coming into town. There's a pre-construction this week with our burough engineer. Uh so that project's moving along. uh the piece of the property by the Exxon on the corner of courthouse place in 202. Uh there's also
a right burough engineer is going to be meeting with the uh applicant as well uh for a pre-construction meeting probably next week from what I'm being told. Uh just so everybody knows probably know by now already I forgot to mention at the last meeting the telephone pole with the light and Bush Plaza has been
removed. Couple announcements. There's a paper shredding event May 17th 9 to 1 p.m. at the B down at the Burough Hall parking lot. I just want to thank everybody for about with the Easter egg hunt. It was a success with a record turnout. I want to thank all the volunteers and public events, fire
department, first aid squad, and all the members of the chamber of commerce that came out to really help with this with this program. So, thank you everybody. Uh big announcement, Patriots Way Bridge. I'm sure people are living up in the Patriots Way up in the reserve have noticed equipment being moved in. I'm
happy to announce that the bridge deck will be paved this Friday. the P they're going to be pouring the deck. Uh it's going to be approximately 22 truckloads of cement. They're going to be pouring 11 on one side, 11 on the other starting
at 8:00 in the morning. Uh they expect the pour to be completed sometime between 11 and 12. After that, you're going to have 22 uh employees down there doing the finish work. Uh and that's probably going to run till about 5 6 o'clock at night. So that's a really big event that's taking place down there.
Um, what I'm going to be doing is after the deck is poured, I know the official date for completion is still in January of next year. Uh, but I can assure you that we are way ahead of schedule. Uh, once the deck is poured, I'll be able to re I'll be able to meet with our engineers and contractor, reassess
exactly where we are, see if we can come up with a more permanent date of opening of the bridge. Also, road program update. Since we passed the budget at the last meeting, uh we expect the road program uh should be ready for the May council meeting so we can award that so the
bureau can start the road program. Uh yaw po Avenue update. All the plans and specifications have been submitted for the state for final review. Once that's done, that project will also go out for bid. And I just want to also let everybody know that the Bergen County History Day is this Saturday and Valen
Van Allen House is participating that's going to be it's going to be open house from 10 to 4 this Saturday. And also keep in mind that there's going to be a townwide cleanup as we have every year. And for more information, you can certainly check the burough web website for more information. That's all I have
on my report. Uh do we have a motion to open the public? So moved. All in favor? I second. Second. Second. All in favor? I. Anybody wish to speak? You answered my questions. Okay. Well,
not seeing motion to close. So moved. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor? All right. We're up to approval of minutes, April 8th, 2025. Do I have a motion to approve or does anybody have any changes? Motion to approve the minutes as is. Second.
All in favor? I. Okay. We're up to April 8th, 2025 executive minutes. If anybody has any changes, it can only be done in executive session. Motion to approve the executive minutes as is. Thank you, Mr. Salian. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Mr. Sinski. All in favor? I.
All right, moving on to special announcements. Okay, we have several here. Authorize raffle license RL1544 for the Sports Association of Oakland for a June 6th, 50/50 to support the 12UK coup personnel tournament recreation field at 24 LER Drive. We
have authorized raffle license RL1545 for the Sports Association of Oakland for June 6th raffle to support the 12U Coopertown tournament. We have authorized raffle license RL1546 for Valley Middle School PTO on May 17th, 2025 for off- premise 50/50 to
support the Valley Middle School PTO at VMS at 71 Oak Street in Oakland. Authorized raffle license RL1547 for the Oakland Elks Lodge lodge number 2167 on May 17, 2025 for an on premises raffle to support the
Elks organization at Elks Lodge at 33 Rampo Valley Road in Oakland. Authorized route for license RL1548 for the Oakland Elks Lodge 2167 on May 17, 2025 for 50/50 to support the Elks organization
at Elks Lodge at 33 Red Valley Road, Oakland. We have authorized a social affairs permit for Oakland, New Jersey lodge number 2167 Elks for a beef steak dinner fundraiser on May 17, 2025 for support of local families and organizations at the Oakland Elks Lodge,
33 Rental Valley Road. Authorize a social affairs permit for Lakeland Detachment of the Marine Corps League for a poker night on May 17th, 2025 for the support of local families and organizations at the American Legion at 65 Oak Street in Oakland. Authorized
RAF license RL1549 for the Marine Corps League Detachment 744 on May 17th, 2025 for a 50/50 to support veterans at 65 Oak Street in Oakland, New Jersey. and authorized raffle license RL1550 for Marine Corps League
Detachment 744 on May 17th for a raffle to support the veterans of 65 Oak Street, Oakland, New Jersey. We'll do these following as a consent agenda. Do I have a motion to approve? So moved. You have a second. Second. Second. Anybody wish to pull any out?
Any questions? All in favor? I All right. Very good. All right. I have the following appointments. I have for citizenship leadership form for
Tessa Fleon. She's wants to apply for the public events committee. I have Jim Folkertz for public events committee. And I also have Marisol Kovaleki for the arts committee. Uh these are mayoral appointments with council consent. Uh I
I will um public events chair I I I would second the public events recommendations. Okay. So you who've motioned. Who is the first? Who made the motion? I'll make the motion. Oh, you're going to be the motion. I'll second it. Second is seconding. All in favor? I have one more
to make. The other the other one is for Marisol Kovalaskki for the arts committee. I'll make that motion. Thank you, Mr. Have a second. Second. Second. All in favor? I I All right. Very good. Congratulations all three of you. You're on the committees. I have two
proclamations. I have a very important one. This one is for Eda Eldus Bardo. She's celebrating her 100th birthday. God bless. Where is it a privilege and an honor for the mayor and council of the burough of
Oakland to recognize and celebrate milestone occasions in the lives of its residents? And whereas Eldest Bardau will celebrate her 100th birthday on April 15, 2025, a remarkable occasion that res represents a full century of life, wisdom, and experience. And
whereas during the course of her life, Eldest Bardau has witnessed and contributed to a century of extraordinary changes, growth, and advancement in our nation and the world. And whereas she has served as a source of strength, inspiration, and love to her family, friends, and the greater
community, leaving a legacy that exemplifies values of pre perseverance, kindness, and dedication. And whereas the burough of Oakland is proud to honor honor Eldest Bardau for reaching her significant milestone and for the many ways she has touched the
lives of those around her. Now therefore be proclaim that I, Mayor Eric Mala, on behalf of the Burough of Oakland, do hereby extend a heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to El Elder Sparta on a joyous occasion of her 100th birthday and urge all citizens to join in celebrating this momentous
event. I witness here here onto you sent my hand and cause the seal of the burough of Oakland to be affixed on this day, April 15, 2025. Happy birthday, Elder. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Congratulations. I also have an Arbor Day proclamation. I
will give this to who's on shait. I am sure. There's also a note on the bottom. Uh whereas in 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. And
whereas this holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska. And whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world. And whereas trees can reduce the erosion or our precious top soil by wind
and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife. And whereas trees are a renewable resource, giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood
products. And whereas trees in our city increase property values, enhance the e economic vitality of business areas and the beauty of our community. And whereas trees wherever they are planted are source of joy and spiritual renewal. Now
therefore, I Eric Kamala, mayor of the burough of Oakland, do hereby proclaim Friday, April 25th, 255 as Arbor Day. in our community of Oakland. I urge the citizens, all citizens to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands to support our city's urban
forestry program. And further, I urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden hearts and promote the well-being of present and future generations. Um, sapling giveaways are on May 27th at the library from 10 to 2. Are you sure it's
May or is it April? April. April 27th. Yeah, April. I'm sorry, April. Yeah, good catch. Thank you. No problem. All right. All right. Now, we're up to uh we're going to do a resolution that will open up the public. So, this is for the Bergen County Open Space Park
improvements grant. This is 25-142 to authorize grant application for Bergen County fiscal year 2025 open space trust fund municipal program for great oak park. Uh we're looking the burough is looking to construct three basketball courts down at Gradle Park.
Uh at this time do have a motion open to public. Anybody wish to comment on this? So moved to open. All in favor? I. Anybody from the public wish to comment on the B? Not seeing anybody have a motion to close. How about from up here? We're going to get to that. Okay.
Have a motion to close. So moved. Second. All in favor? I I All right. At this point, I'll make a motion to introduce and then what we'll do is open for comment. Have a motion intro introduce move. Do have a second. Second. All in favor? I. Any discussion?
Yes. Okay. Um seems uh like quite a bit of money. Um for our share, our share would be $150,000. Um, couple I mean what
what initiated this proposal to put in three courts at Great Oak Park? Because I mean, honestly, I mean, we have basketball courts down at the recfield, don't we? We don't. The basketball courts down the
rec are actually part of Middle School. They're not. The recreation does not have basketball courts on the rec field. And and what spurred this? This came from the chairman Guanino from the rec committee. I just can't see people don't I mean look Grado Park is beautiful. I
understand that. But I don't see I don't see people going down there to play basketball. I mean I can see it using the basketball courts for Valley Middle School, which they are open. I mean, you're not closed just during
school. I mean, you're not closed after school. I just think the $150,000 is is a lot of a lot of money. Where are we getting this from? Is it coming out of capital improvement? So, mayor, if I can y uh so in our discussions over uh what would be an appropriate project for this
year's grant request um kind of turned on two things. One, where where did recreation think there was a need for additional facilities? Uh and that's where the idea of additional basketball courts came from. Apparently, they've gotten some feedback that uh people
would like to see some additional facilities uh along that those lines. Uh and then it became a matter of all right, well, where would where would we site them? Um and really we started looking at Great Oak Park and ways to better utilize that facility and perhaps
add some amenities and and build it out a little bit to be able to offer more to the public. Uh there's a suitable spot there uh past the dog park. Uh so we would rehab part of the asphalt to extend down the freshly paved asphalt. Uh and then there's a area I think it
may have had a building on it. It's a concrete pad that's been overgrown. Uh and that would kind of serve as the base for the court area. Um so that's sort of where it came from. uh the projected cost and that includes clearing of the site.
Um asphalt, fencing, acrylic surface, uh the whole nine yards uh is projected to be uh with engineering. Okay. So that $300,000 includes soft cost as well. Uh about $300,000. We would ask for
$150,000 from Burton County. The other half would come from the open space trust fund. I just don't see that. I I personally I don't see the need for it. I've never had anybody ask me about basketball in Oakland playing basketball. I I just I
don't see the need. May maybe this will help Councilman Pitelli. I was originally on Gro Park Committee and when I was part of the record commission and we had always talked about putting the baseball course down there when we originally started Gro Park. It was one of the things that was there. So this was discussed previously. I just, you know, because I was on the committee, I remember it, but I actually think uh it
be helped use the park a little bit more. So, I think it's actually a good idea. I mean, Councilman, we're really look, this is really, you know, now we got the B band shell in there. They're cleaning up the park. Uh, our wreck complex is basically built out and full. I mean, now we're looking at Great Oak
Park and starting to expand our facilities. Any further discussion? Not seeing any. Roll call. Councilman Pignatelli. No. Councilwoman Rose, yes. Councilman Saliani, yes.
Councilman Slassinski, yes. Councilman Talamini, yes. Okay, motion passes. Motion pass. All right, we're up to resolutions. Um, do this as a consent agenda. We have 25143 authorized recreation refunds. 25144,
chapter 159, 2025, drunk driving enforcement. 25145 chapter 159 National Opioid Settlement Walgreens 25146 chapter 159 National Opioid Settlement Jansen
Pharmaceuticals 25147 Amend 2024 Losist 25148 authorize hire of seasonal summer help 25149 designate Kathleen Gernzie as the deputy clerk 25150 Memorandum of understanding for summer
hours 25150 51 authorized sidebar agreements vacation schedule. 2515 152 authorized auction of bicycles. 25153 award contract for 2025 Ford Mavericks. 25154 award contract Basel
Engineering for PAS treatment systems at Sumsfield. 25155 award bid Harvard drainage and water improvements. And 25156 Patriots way bridge change order number two. Anybody wish to pony out? Yes, mayor. Yes. What we type? 25-154.
154. Mr. Pigoni. Okay. Can you pull out uh 251 151? 150 151. Anybody else? Uh I'm just want to pull out 25 156 for mayor real quick. Uh Mr. Saliani 251 150 and 51. I would need to abstain.
So abstain. Okay. Mr. Mr. Pig and telly 251 154. I know I'm going to sound like a broken record, but I I really would like to see another engineering another engineering firm bid on this. I mean, it's $21,000. I mean, even if we save
$10,000, uh, uh, it can't be that there's only one engineer in the state of New Jersey that can design PAS because there's 560ome municipalities and I'm sure we're not the only one that has to design a
PAS treatment system. Um, $21,000, a lot of money. I don't see why on earth we can't try and even try. If nobody bids us or sends us, it's fine. But we should try to start saving money
someplace. And I I I would like to see it. I I would like us to start here. And I like comment from the rest of the council because I I'm getting tired of bringing this up, but we're not getting any additional bidding. We're going one engineer and one engineer only only. And it can't be. are the only one in the
state of New Jersey that designs these systems. Since you're soliciting feedback, I'll I'll provide it. Please. Thank you. Um so, a couple things. Yes, we should be putting out the right thing. I would agree. But for this project, um in my opinion, Boswell has
created the other the other PAS in town. They were part of the original design and they and their project did a very and their project did very well to water last three years and this is a continuation of what was already built. So I think they would be I think they are the right person for this role. I think you should view all these as
independent of each other and what's the best for each other. So in this case I I that's why I think Basil is the right choice. I just know we we have time. It's not like this has to be done next week or next month. I understand there's a there's a period of time that lead
time to order equipment etc. But you know we are in compliance. I know if if and when the federal government and the state change the requirement uh we might have to make a different decision but I think we have time. We qualified another
engineering firm. I don't see why. Let's ask. We don't get penalized for asking but we might benefit from asking. Anybody else wants to comment? No. I I do want to comment,
Councilman Pignatelli. U there is a bit of a time crunch on this. We are current we currently did apply for two federal grants on this. Uh one through Senator Kim's office last uh I want to say two weeks ago. We had a follow-up meeting this past week and also with Senator Booker. We're also looking at a window
through uh our congresswoman as well to apply for a grant through her as well. Um so um and as what Mr. Saliani said, I mean they already did they've already basically done the majority of the work on this. is just going to be a duplication of what was essentially done already down at the other three wells. Well, it's going to be duplication. Why
is it 201,000? I mean, if they're taking plans that have already been done and modifying to fit in this No, hang on. Hang on. Mayor, it's not that simple. Go ahead, Rich. Right. So, so one of the reasons that you're not and it's not bidding. I just
I know it's not bidding. It's it's the QPA in me. It's not bidding. You're asking for proposals. Uh but bear in mind you did in a way right there was a competitive process that was used as we do every year to retain a water and sewer engineer right
uh and Boswell was awarded that contract. Boswell is the entity, the engineering entity that knows our system, uh that has experience, proven experience working with the I bank on our behalf, filing for the applications,
doing a design and bidding on a project that worked out very well for us uh on a very tight time frame. Uh and if you look at their proposal, it goes into great detail in terms of what makes up that that cost. And yes, it's it's not an insignificant cost at all, which is,
you know, and that's just the tip of the iceberg because the, you know, construction cost is likely to be 20 times that. Uh that's why we're pursuing CDS applications with the federal government, why we're going to be be on a parallel track pursuing funding through the I bank as well. Um there's a
lot to the application. There's a lot to dealing with the I bank and getting through that process. Uh securing the permits that you need. We know the type of filtration system that we are using, okay? But it's going to probably be twice the size and
capacity, if not more than than twice the capacity of the other three individual units that were installed, okay? So, it it's not an offtheshelf design that they can just say, "Here's your spec," and and uh throw some boiler plate on it and go out to bid. There's tremendous amount of work involved here.
So, are you saying we can't make application for these funds unless we have it designed? What they want to see is that we are ready to proceed. Shovel ready. Okay. So, so let's so let's play. So, you're saying we have to have it designed in order to make the application. Not in order to make the application. Okay. For the grant. But
but let's but let's play this out. So, we have um and I pointed this out in my report. We're compliant with the New Jersey MCL's maximum contaminant levels, right? Forun's well field that has no treatment on it. for certain wells and certain compounds
at certain wells, we would not be in compliance with the new EPA MCLs that take effect in 2027, which is four parts per trillion. It is an exceedingly low level. All right. So, one, you have a a desire to remove all PAS from our water
supply, period. Okay. But there's also going to be a compliance issue that seems like it's far away, but when you're looking at the lead time it takes to uh design and bid and get through the IBANK process uh and to comply with the federal grant
requirements if we are successful in getting the CDS application, we really don't have that much time. We need to work diligently on this. Uh it's likely that we're not going to hear anything on the federal funding until possibly next
spring. And what will happen then is that award, that federal award authorized by Congress will be shuttled off to a relevant federal department and we start the process over another application. We started from
ground one meeting all the v various federal requirements, NEPA environmental review, you name it. So, we actually don't have a whole lot of flexibility here in terms of trying to move this forward uh and meeting the the deadlines
that are on the horizon. And I I keep hearing they've applied to the I bank before. They know the process. The IB it can't be that Boswell is the only engineering firm that applies to the I bank or applies for grants or fills out
applications. can't be one firm only in the state of New Jersey. Can't not be. If that's true, they got a monopoly. I just I I still I'm still saying I think we should at least ask
for a proposal from our other qualified engineering firm. This way we know we're getting we're getting a good price. $200,000 is a lot of money. We could save 10, 15, 25,000. I I don't see why we shouldn't at least look at that. What I'm saying
is let's look at it. But if you don't want to wait, I'm only one vote. Any further discussion? Not seeing any. Uh let's just move one. Somebody make a motion to approve uh 25154 work contract Bible
engineering. Did we do we have to do all we have to are we going to do the consent first? No. I just want to take this one off the table. The 154. Yeah. Have a motion to approve 25 154. So moved. Do I have a second? Second. Second. Roll call.
Councilman Pignatelli. No. Councilwoman Rose, yes. Councilman Selani, yes. Councilman Sinski, yes. Councilman Telini, yes. Okay. Um let's do the consent minus 25
150 and 15. Actually, let's just 25 156. Uh this change order uh I wanted this one pulled out. This is the uh second change order for the Patriots Way Bridge. U there is uh what we want to do is uh we want to have the road paved all the way from Route 202 all the way down
to the bridge. Uh Mr. Coons, there is money left in the grant to cover this. And I think it's a good use of that money close out this job once and for all cuz either way there's money left in the grant. There is money left in the grant. Okay. Okay. And we're sure these are the only uh change orders, right? No surprise change orders that are going to
come down the line. But that that happened already that this is number two. The number one was the water for your call for $30,000 of water pipe. We're on top of the change order. We're on top of I actually I actually had requested through our meetings to do this work because we do have the money and the funds available. Right. Yes. So
it's but there's nothing nothing that that changed that we didn't realize. Councilman tells the open work that can turn after the fact. No, I don't think so, Mr. Criminal. I don't think so. Now, no, I think that uh
on top of things. Thank you. Okay. All right. So, let's uh do a consent agenda if minus 25, 150, and 151. Do I have a motion to approve and 154? Right. We did that already. We did that. I'm just saying. Okay. So moved. Do I have a
second? Second. Roll call. Hold on. So, we're doing a consent on We're not pulling 156 out. You just wanted to have discussion. Just have discussion. Okay. Sorry about that. Um, okay. Back to the right page.
Sorry. Okay. Okay. Consent agenda. Councilman Pignatelli. Yes. Councilwoman Rose, yes. Councilman Saliani, yes. Councilman Sinski, yes. and Councilman Talamini.
Yes. Did we get a motion in a second? Yeah. Yeah, we did. I didn't catch that. I don't think we need to know who it was, though. Steven made it. It was Steve and Kevin. Steven. Steven. Kevin. Okay. Sorry about that. Okay. All right. Now, we're down
to 25, 150, and 151. We have a motion to approve. So, move. Have a second. Second. Talamini. Pigotelli. Roll call. [Music] Councilman Piggatelli, yes. Councilwoman
Rose, yes. Councilman Saliani, abstain. Councilman Slinski, yes. Councilman Talamini, yes. Okay, you guys should have. Moving on to ordinance. This is the final adoption of 25 code 963 to amend chapter 59 land use code
concerning commencement of completeness period. Uh there was a dimminimous change that was uh put into your packet. It basically just rewarded a a sentence. So the old version stated time limitations. The time of the board's review shall not begin to run until the
submission of a complete application with the required fee. If the application for development is found to be incomplete, the applicant shall be notified thereof within 45 days of submission of such applications or shall be deemed to be properly submitted as of the date of submission with payments in
full of both the required filing fee and escro fees. All they're doing is moving the sentence around. The new way new way it reads is time limitations. the time of the board's review shall not begin to run until the submission of a complete application with payment in full of both
required filing fee and escro funds. If the application for development is found to be in incomplete, the applicant shall be notified thereof within 45 days of of submission of such application or shall be deemed to be properly submitted as as of the date of submission. That was the only change. They just simply move the
sentence around. At this time, do I have a motion to open to public? So moved. Second. Anybody wish to talk about 25 code 963? Not seeing any. Motion to close. So moved. Second. Second. All in favor?
Okay. Do I have a motion to for final adoption of 25 code 963 amend? So moved. Second. Roll call. Councilman Pigantelli. Yes. Councilwoman Rose. Yes. Councilman Saliani.
Yes. Councilman Sinski. Yes. Councilman Talamini. Yes. All right. We're up to work session flood damage prevention ordinance. Mr. Coons. Thank you, Mayor. Uh so, as as you may know, uh we have a chapter in our code that regulates activities in the flood way flood plane.
Uh and what FEMA and the NJ have done, they've come up with a new model or changes to their model, flood damage control code or ordinance. Uh apparently over the years they found some disconnects between various codes that affect development in the flood plane.
So this is meant to sort of synchronize uh uniform construction code, national flood insurance uh regulations and the New Jersey flood hazard area control act uh to reduce some confusion in administering it and uh provide some clarity for uh people looking to do
activities in the flood way as well. Uh so there's a variety of technical changes. I included a full FEMA PowerPoint document for anybody that really wanted to get into the weeds with it. Uh one of the critical things is it would increase the amount of freeboard
required um above base flood elevation uh for any uh substantial improvements to to structures uh and makes a another variety of technical changes. So uh the original draft that uh we had
come up with based on the model was sent to the D. What you have uh is the version that has their comments back. There are a few things there that uh we need to address uh which I'll be doing later this week with our uh CRS coordinator. Uh and then we would be
looking to introduce the ordinance amendment uh at the May 20th meeting so we could adopt in June uh because there is a June deadline. Does anybody have any questions? Not seeing any. Uh all right. This is an exciting one. Mr. Coons,
solid waste collection shared services. I I'm sorry. Are we moving forward with that on the next meeting or moving into Okay, just making sure. Yes. Uh and and and if in your spare time you're reading through all of those details on
everything, uh right and you got a question, uh just let me know. Okay. Yes, the next one is exciting uh to the extent that solid waste collection is exciting. Um so let me just sort of preface this and give everybody some background. Uh,
as I know you up here you're all aware, the burrow has faced, and not just the burrow, really municipalities throughout the state that contract out for garbage collection have seen just huge price increases for the cost of solid waste collection. Uh, you know, bid after bid
after bid. There's been a real lack of competition statewide for better part of a decade now. And that's been reflective in the prices that we've received uh you know when when we go out to bid. Uh if you compare what we're paying this year
of 1.7 plus million dollars for collection to what we were paying 10 years ago, it's about 190% increase during that period and there have been four years in particular where costs really skyrocketed. So, uh, and that's despite trying to attract additional biders, despite
looking to make some changes to our bid specs to make it easier for people to to bid, uh, but the competition just hasn't been there. So, we've been searching for ways to find an alternative. Uh a couple years ago, we partnered with our other
float communities and did a uh a grant-f funded shared service study to see if uh whether it was in-house or on a contract basis, there was some uh savings to be had by working with our other communities to uh offer a joint service.
There were a lot of challenges that came out of that study. It was it was a good exercise, but really nothing that bore fruit. uh the savings for for at least one of the towns wasn't really there. Um but we sort of kept searching uh and we entered into negotiations with uh
Pompton Lakes back in January. Uh they have in-house garbage collection now uh and it turns out they were looking to they're searching for a partner to expand their service. So um all this has come together rather
quickly. Um, but it appears that a shared service agreement with Pompton Lakes is not only viable, um, but it would be in our best interest to to do instead of contracting starting next year. So, what Pompton
Lakes is able to do for us is for to provide the same level of essentially the same level of service that we have now in terms of frequency. twice a week pickup for garbage. Uh alternating coingled in paper once a week for recycling. Uh bulky waste pickup with
every garbage collection and yard waste during the same sort of time period that we have now. Uh the nice thing that they that they're able to do is offer residents use of their recycling facility as well. So, if people have materials that they
don't want to hold around for their uh pickup day, they'll they would be able to go to Pompton Lakes and use their facility free of charge. All right. Um so, for that, the cost again, we're paying about one almost $1.8 million this year. The cost next year would just
be slightly over a million dollars. It's about a 43% cost reduction. uh and you're looking at saving about $3 million compared to what you're paying currently over a five-year agreement. Uh so we're recommending that
we pursue this, we enter into an agreement with Pompton Lakes to start doing our solid waste collection uh as of January 2026. And what that implementation time frame looks like uh is we would be seeking uh authorization of an agreement
that we're currently working on. Uh hopefully at the May 20th meeting that should give Pmpton Lake enough time to order the additional trucks that they need to. Uh and then coming into the fall, they would take delivery of the equipment, including new dumpsters. They
would hire the staff that they need in order to provide the service. Uh and in December we would do orientation and familiarization training with their staff on the routes. Uh and we would be prepared to go January 1st, 2026.
I I most exciting thing I've I've heard as far as saving money in in in 18 years that I'm on the council. Uh a savings of 43% is tremendous. I want to commend uh Richard Coons for the work he did with
this. Uh I sat in on the the meeting of the water and sewer committee when we discussed this. I he really figured in everything. There's a lot lot to do to come up with a with a final figure for us. And Rich, thank you. You did a great job with this. Thank you. Yeah, Rich. I
want to expand on Council Pelly's comments and maybe this be more for next week. So the cost savings is is phenomenal. Um obviously you said there are other they've they've approached other municipalities with the same issue. So are we the only municipality who's going
to take this as a shared service? No, they had approached one other uh that was adjacent to them as well. Uh the economics didn't work out with that town the way they worked out for us. Okay. And I'm assuming in the contract once it comes forth there'll be a level of services agreement of where we are right
understanding shared service saving money but we're they're actually a supplier of ours. there'll be uh there'll be terms and conditions they have to meet. Uh yeah, essentially the the meat of the agreement is going to be the scope of services that are in our that's in our current bidsp spec. Okay.
Uh you know, so everything that's there in terms of dumpster locations, uh hours. The only thing that's likely to change a bit is um because this is a another public agency providing it, there's more holidays that the staff gets. So, there'll be more days where
there's either a uh skip collection day or a makeup day. Uh I think we have six in the contract. Now, it's likely to be 14. That'll bring up an issue we'll have to deal with next year if we want to start uh swapping sides of towns and schedules to sort of even that out over
time, but that's something that we have some time to to consider. But other than that, all the service levels are the same. I'm assuming weather events will also impact this because they're using their own employees and their own trucks. It depends the weather event will impact the pickup. It depends on uh
you know assume you're meaning let's say a snowstorm, right? Uh it depends on how heavy of a snowstorm it is and how many resources that they need. Uh maybe and it also depends on the timing, right? If the timing is right, they can do that then pick up garbage or pick up garbage
and then turn their attention to snow plowing. Uh that's sort of case by case. Okay. And we're basically a customer, right? That's that's how it how this is going to end out. And so so then if we did have an issue, we could complain like a customer and and uh and have it
resolved. But we I'm sure we'll be very very uh very good customers. And um uh no, it's it's it's really this this is uh like like Mr. Councilman Pinatelli said, it's a it's a amazing thing. It's
a big uh a big chunk of change that we're we're saving over over the course of the the contract. How much how much you think would be uh based based on how we uh how we drew it up and and one of the things we'll have to do next year too is look at the actual budget impact
because there is some variability in the pricing depending on when you're building in certain costs into the agreement. Uh we'll probably seek budgetarily to smooth that out over the life of it. Um but if you're just comparing it to the cost that we're spending this year and you were just to
sort of flat take that flat going forward, uh savings would be uh on the order of uh close to $3 million. Uh and if you were actually to project out some sort of a cost increase uh with
a bid renewal, let's say 3% a year, something like that, uh you know, you're looking at more probably about $3.8 8 million in savings. And and the interesting interesting thing too is if you look back because I looked I looked back uh
to when I started here in 2008 and I sort of every time we do a bid I sort of update this chart and track what our costs are and you can very clearly see in 2016 how it's how it's spiked up since then. But if you were to run like a 2% trend line from 2008, this cost
next year is slightly under an average 2% increase over the last over what would that at that point be you know 18 years. Will there be something you councilman Talamini brought up a word conf if there's a conflict is there a conflict resolution part to the contract
or no? I mean if there's a problem right do we have to state it in a contract or no? the shared service agreement will have to comply with the shared service law. Uh and there'll be, you know, remedy provisions, termination provisions, all of that. All of that
will be addressed. Are there are there issues because we're different counties across different counties? No, I asked. No. And we um we have different recycling marketers. Um but we have the same uh disposal company. We both use Kada. We're both under contract with
them. So ultimately the garbage is going to the same place that it is now. Anybody else? I think this is amazing. And Mr. Coons, if I remember correctly, Pompton Lakes Council meeting is going to be discussing this tomorrow at 7 o'clock. That's correct. So uh I will be
in attendance for that. See how that goes. Okay. Okay. Good. So we'll move this forward. Again, I hope to have a uh you know a contract that we can uh enter into at the next council meeting. Uh and if that changes, I'll let you know. Thank you. All right. Resolution
supporting federal tax exemption of Do we want to just Oh, yeah. You want to go to kids first? Yes, please. Ready? Is everyone here? Is everybody here? Oh, we can wait a minute then. Okay, we can we can wait. Is it going to be open to the public? No, that happened already.
But beginning of the meeting. Do we want to keep going or are we missing? Yeah, I mean we'll keep going until somebody keep going until until you're ready. Okay. All right. Uh Mr. Coon's resolution supporting federal tax exemption of municipal municipal bounds. Sure. Um so apparently there's been some
discussion in Washington over uh I guess as part of their overall budget discussions uh and finance discussions uh over withdrawing the tax exempt status of municipal bonds. U I I suppose the rationale for that would be the
revenue that that may generate for the federal government. Um however on the downside fed fed municipal bonds have been in tax exempt for over hundred years sort of a corner cornerstone of the bond market. It's how local governments do their financing when they do need to borrow money. Uh and that
offers certain advantages in borrowing costs. So to lose that tax exemption is likely to increase borrowing costs for municipalities uh and states. Uh so the league had brought this uh issue to our attention uh and prepared a draft resolution that they're asking towns to
consider passing uh that we'd be able to share with our federal representatives just stating our support uh and desire that they that uh municipal bonds remain tax exempt. Okay. And you'll have a resolution prepared for next meeting? Yep. Okay. Is everybody here?
Okay. All right. resolution opposing A2757 authorized conversion of certain office parks and retail centers to mixuse developers. Mr. Coons, thank you. Uh so this is another issue that came to our attention via the league. Uh if you read their updates, they've been tracking this particular piece of
legislation for some period of time. Uh it it concerns land use. It's called the Stranded Asset Bill. uh and it would basically take away local decision-m uh and for certain uh properties that meet certain criteria in terms of square
footage and type of use. Uh it would basically uh mandate approval if some if a developer comes in wanting to do a mixeduse development. Okay. So it sort of circumvent local land use uh controls and zoning. Uh this is the sort of thing
that you typically use your zoning powers for and the redevelopment statutes for. If you have an underutilized piece of property uh that is in need of uh redevelopment, there's already tools at each town's disposal to
do that. This would preempt that. Uh basically take that control out of out of your hands for certain developments uh and just mandate that it could be approved. So it be conflict with our zoning laws potentially. Potentially it
could usurp our local zoning rules. Yeah. Yeah. Right. And Matt, I don't know if this is uh you know been on in in your land use world if this has been on the radar. It has been. I mean I think most people think it's going nowhere, but I think we should also go on the record as opposing it. Okay. Any
other comments, questions? No. No. Mr. Cruz, would you prepare a resolution for next meeting? Is everybody here? Everybody's here. Okay. Motion to suspend the floor of the meeting. Do I have a second? Suspend. Second. All in favor? I. All right. This time we have a special celebration for
the Oakland fourth grade girls travel basketball team. Um I'd like to bring up Councilman Talamini being the rec leaison and the coaches and you can tell us and then all the children. So everybody come on up over here. Who's the Who's the coach? Come on.
Yeah. Put the girls right here. Okay. People in the middle. Thank you for letting us exact. Julie, would you like to tell us about the accomplishment of these young ladies? I would love to. Turn around this way so I can. Girls, everybody face
that way. Um, I want to recognize um our assistant coaches, Rosalie Spanella, who can't be here tonight, and Monica Monica Dimple. We had um this is the second year these girls have been playing uh travel
basketball together and uh they had a uh near undefeated season, just one loss, plenty of wins and they work their way through the playoffs um and uh won the open won the um Northwest and Payak uh travel basketball
league for the fourth grade team and they're moving up to the AU [Applause] No. Um, all I want to say is I love my niece Sienna and what a wonderful team they
are. They uh, you know, it's it's great seeing these girls uh, play play basketball at the the level that they they play. It's um, it's it's they know how to play basketball. there they're there they're there's something else to see to see them do it and um it's fun to
watch them and and everyone should get involved with with Oakland recreation and if you could coach get certified and help coach it's the greatest thing I ever did uh congratulations girls congrats also I just want to say you know I really want to take a moment make sure you thank your coaches they're the
ones that got you here and your parents I mean bringing you to cl bring you down to the games every day but really girls it's as a former coach as councilman I mean, he said, "It's really important." And listen, winning beats losing, right? But anyway, congratulations,
girls. And coach Julie, I'm going to let you Well, first I want to give you a certificate real quick. Julie, thank you so much on behalf of the mayor council. And I'm going to give you these and you can read off the girls name. Great. And I'll have them shake your hand. Come down. Come down. Russ down
here. Uh, it's Monica Dimple. Uh, Coach Rosalie Spell, you want this? Uh, Eva Bermudez, come down and shake your hand. Uh, Gia Bjorn, good job.
Ardan Cruz. [Applause] Colin, [Applause] Giana
[Applause] Lamore, Charlie Pellegrino, [Applause] Alli Palo, [Applause] Jenna
[Applause] Sarah say [Applause] Spanella everybody for a group job. Yes. All right. Girls, go shoulder to
shoulder just like when we line up. Shoulder shoulder. Come on in the middle. Now slide over to make room for everybody. The best part of our meeting, girls, hold your um papers up, but don't block your face. Okay, near your belly.
Hold your tummy. All right, everybody look over here. You know what I look at? Right. Look here in the middle. Ready? One, two, say cheese. Cheese. But I need somebody with a Oh, there you go. A nonapple bunk. Oh.
Come here. Apple. My phone is always terrible. Anybody? We'll just take the apple. Say cheese. Okay. [Music] Awesome. Congratulations.
Do I have permission to post on the website on the Facebook? Congratulations. is back in session. All right, we're up to new business. Motion two. So moved. Second. Second. All in favor? I. All right. Uh, new
business. Anybody have any new business? Old business. Can uh liaison reports I'll start Mr. Talamini? Uh liaison reports. Um hold on.
My my report is very short other than to please like I said um if you have the time and if you don't have the time make the time coach your kids it's the greatest thing in the world. Uh uh become a a coach for Oakland Recreation.
Um the parade for the softball and baseball teams will be on May 31st. Um that's a fun day. It's a it's a lot of a lot of fun. You get to see the mayor throw out the first pitch and um uh and and there's a a lot of fun events to do
there. Uh that's all I got. Mayor, thank you. Thank you, Councilman Pingatelli. Yes, Mayor. Thank you. Um I have two uh two announcements. Uh team up to cleanup is this Saturday, April 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 12. Uh if you want to
participate, meet at the Danny Dea building. Uh parents, this is a perfect time for your children to get their um points with a uh so volunteer hours, volunteer hours uh here in Oakland and
and also contribute to our community. So uh please please if you have a child that's ready and raring to go. Send him down to the Danny Dia building. Just make sure he has long sleeve shirt, pants, long pants, and a pair of work gloves. Uh the
other uh announcement is um May 14th, there's going to be a blood drive at the Oakland First Aid Building. Uh starting at 8:00 a.m. Uh we're in need of blood throughout New Jersey. Uh
so please um if you can spare a pint, come on down. Uh Oakland First Aid Squad, uh 8:00 8:00 a.m. May 14th. That's it, Mary. Thank Thank you, Council. Thank you. Uh real quick, we have an update from the
OC. Um all the OC committees are looking for members, the te the television committee, the bulletin board committee, newsletter committee, and the welcome website, social media committee. Please contact myself or email occlan new jersey oakland- new
jersey.org to learn more. Information about each committee is also available on the burough website. Oakland TV can now be watched live on the burough website and on new oakland TV app. Those wanting to those wanting to watch online, please go to www.ocland- neww
jersey.org/communications commission and click on the watch Oakland TV live button. You can also search Oakland television on your Android, iPhone, or download the Oakland TV app. The Bolton Board Committee continues to accept music compositions to add to the music
rotation for Oakland TV. If interested, please email mark albia oakland New Jersey bulletin board@gmail.com with your interest, any questions you may have. The next OC meeting is on May 5th at 7 p.m. It will
be held right here in council chambers. Um, quick update from the public events committee. Uh, public events, as as the mayor pointed out at the beginning of the meeting, the Easter egg hunt went over well. Great job by DPW, the public events, the public events committee and, uh, first aid and everyone else is there
who's supporting um, access for all. We um, the next event for big public event is going to be Sunday, May 25th, and that will be our Memorial Day parade. So, anyone is interested, please reach out to Oakland Public Events to uh either join or help set up. The parade
will start at 1 pm. They'll start by the Grove Street on 202. Fire department has a quick update. They have um they performed their they performed their their regular regularly scheduled um work on Mondays. They they drilled for
air on air management control. Uh talk talk about a fun event. They uh to help the firemen manage their their air capacity of their pack. They played a game of dodgeball in their full gear um to manage their air. It was good team building communications. So think about
they're also looking for new members. So think where else can you play dodgeball and fire equipment. So anyone who wants to be part of the uh Oakland volunteer fire department. Please Mondays at 7 p.m. they are um they they drill every at YPO at the YPO location. Also please
feel free to go to their website and ask for ask for any questions about joining. Um that's all I have for now. Mr. Chan, they can also go to the Haywat far house. Hat far as well. Yep. Thank you. Uh Council Minsky. Uh thank you, Mayor. Uh from the library, uh Taichi for
adults continues at the library. Uh this program is Thursday nights at 6 p.m. and will be held outdoors on the back patio when the weather is nice and indoors when it's rainy. Uh this program will run every Thursday until May 8th and registration is required. All skill
levels are welcome. They also have a new series of garden arts programs on Tuesday nights at 6:30. Each are featuring a different creation. Check out their website for dates and details and to register for each session. The OPL is thrilled to welcome back the
Ramipo Valley Chamber Ensemble who will perform live on the library stage this Sunday, April uh 27th at 3 p.m. This collection of worldclass musicians combined to create a truly amazing concert experience. Please call the
library to register or register on their online events calendar. For young adults, uh they have the anime club on Monday, April 28th at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required. And for children, uh they have their regularly
scheduled weekly story times as well as the toddler dance party this Friday at 11:00 a.m. Registration is required. Children's Yoga with the talented instructor Jamine on Sata Saturday, April 26th at 10:00 am followed by Art
with Maddie and Friends at 11. Registration for both is required. Uh, they also have the wonderful Miss Christine back next Friday with her Jigglywiggly music program for children at 11:00 a.m. And just a reminder to everyone who likes ebooks or
downloadable audio books and music and more, uh, check out uh, Hoopla, Libby, and Press Reader, uh, three of their digital content services that are entirely free with your library card. If you need help setting uh these up or
want to learn more, uh call or visit the library and ask to speak with Peter. Uh that's all I have. Thank you. Uh just as a quick side note, uh talking about the library, my wife and I went down to trivia night yesterday. It was New Jersey trivia. We didn't win, but uh uh there's a lot going on at the library,
including uh the women playing Marjang, and there's something going on every night. So, please check out the library. Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you. Uh mine's short. um agenda. I mean, the arts and Oakland uh committee met yesterday. Uh the outdoor market will
open on May 31st as opposed to May 3rd. Um they have an open mic night at the Real Brave on April 24th, May 29th, and June 26th. The jured art exhibit is still going on at the library until uh
May 18th. And as a reminder, you can purchase some of the the artwork there. Um, and in oc October they're hoping to um put on a murder mystery event which I think is going to be fun. Um, access for
all next meeting is on May 7th. So, and that's it. Thank you. All right, we're up to uh bills to be paid. Bills to be paid um $424,986.71. So moved. Second. Councilman Pigatelli. Thank you. Roll call. Roll call. Councilman
Pigmentatelli. Yes. Councilwoman Rose. Yes. Councilman Saliani. Yes. Councilman Linski? Yes. Councilman Talini? Yes. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? So moved. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor? All right. This concludes tonight's council meeting. The next burough
council meeting will be held Tuesday, May 20th, 2025, 7 p.m. right here at the Burough of Oakland Municipal Court and Council Chambers. Thank you everybody and have a good night. Meeting a journ