Council Council meeting. Please rise for a pledge of allegiance. Please remain standing for a moment of silence and for a prayer. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to
the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. As customary in this chamber, we stand for a moment to remember those who are protecting our freedoms both here and abroad for our first responders, for
those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. And this evening, Dr. Anita Greenberg would like to be recognized. >> Yes. I would ask for a moment of silence for those with a horrific anti-semitic attack in Australia. 15 people murdered
ages between 8 and 87 years old and 40 other people injured just for being Jewish and celebrating the Hanukkah season holiday and also for the devastating slaughter of two students and nine injured at Brown University.
It's unbelievable the evil that exists in the world. Please keep their families and the victims in your heart and in your prayers. Moment of silence. >> Dear Lord, bless your servants in the ministry of public affairs who serve you
in this chamber. Give us quiet minds and hearts that we may hear your voice. Help us to know when to speak, when to be silent. Give us strength to oppose the wrong and uphold the right. and grant that we have a good conscience and soul at peace with thee and with one another.
Amen. >> Roll call. Councilman Esatuli, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Daro, >> here. >> Councilman De Palama >> here. >> Councilman Desai >> here. >> Councilman Garcia >> here. >> Councilman Murphy here. >> Councilman Pasci here. >> Council Vice President Dr. the Greenberg
Belli and Council President Sohar >> here. >> This meeting is being held in conformance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Notice has been given to the official newspapers of the township on January 14, 2025 and has been posted in public places. Next open public meeting of the township council will be
uh the reorganization meeting on Tuesday, I'm sorry, Thursday, January 1st at 12:00 p.m. [snorts] >> Thank you very much. Welcome everyone to the meeting. Uh we'll begin tonight with auxiliary officer retirement. Mayor
Walker. Good evening. I'd like to call Lieutenant Doctors to come forward to uh we have a retirement of one of our auxiliary police officers. Good evening everyone. I am Lieutenant Doctors. I am here tonight on behalf of Chief Chief Thomas Montagna to present
this plaque in appreciation and to commemorate 37 years of service to Robert Graassi who is retiring from the auxiliary force. Robert has served the department and the community for 37 years as special law enforcement officer and auxiliary officer. the chief, the
department, and the township would like to congratulate him for his 37 years and thank him for his service. Uh the chief uh couldn't be here tonight, but he would like to wish everybody a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and happy new year. And I would be remiss if I didn't
thank uh Deputy Chief Peterson and Sergeant Madakonis for all their hard work that they do with the auxiliary unit here. So, Robert, if you want to come up. [applause] Okay, I want to thank everyone who's here. I'm truly humbled and grateful to
Mayor Walker, Chief of Police Montagna, Town Council, and the citizens of Old Bridge for recognizing my 37 years of service as an auxiliary officer. As auxiliary officers, our role is to be the eyes and ears of the department.
I'm sorry. just um [snorts] shouldn't have folded this. [laughter] I didn't memorize it. You could tell that. So, as I said, as auxiliary officer, our role is to be eyes and the ears of the department. While we are not assigned to
the most dangerous situations, the job still carries risks. whether assisting a motorist on Route 9 or providing help at a community event, crossing uh crossing families, make sure they head across the street uh safely. Uh most people don't
distinguish between auxiliary officers and sworn officers. So when we show up on a scene, they see your uniform and uh they're happy to see see us see a a presence and they know help is nearby. Um, special thank you to Old Bridge
Police Captain Blood and Sergeant Maricon and to the ranking members of the auxiliary unit for the dedication for the day-to-day work keep on keep the unit running namely Deputy Chief Ron Peterson, Captain Matt McClowski,
Lieutenant Vic Singh, Sergeant Pete Cartwright, and Sergeant Jim Duran. Naturally, all my fellow officers that I've patrolled with over the years. In closing, I want to say I've always been proud to wear the Oldbridge Police uniform and thank you very much for the
honor. [applause] [applause] [applause] I want to thank Robert for his 37 years of service to our community. We are so lucky to have a great police auxiliary in our town. You've probably seen them all around helping people cross at the
fields and all around town or little league. And we want to thank them all and thank you so much for your 37 years. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Congratulations and thank you from the council. Okay. Okay, next public hearing H1
performance guarantee release Oak Tree Plaza EOM538 Route 34 LLC block 11252.14 lot 21.11 [clears throat] application number
39-18Z carried from the December 2nd 2025 meeting no additional note Noticing required. Okay. >> Well, I I'll Madam President, I'll handle that. Cole Shapiro was supposed
to be here. I don't know if something had that happened to her. Hopefully not, uh, because I had spoken to her this afternoon. Um, so basically, um, just from the beginning that the hearing is going to be continued and I'll give the reason why. Um the uh [snorts] at the
November at the December was it the third meeting? December 2nd meeting. Yes. >> It was discussed that um the uh former property owner would uh do a certain amount of and that was these my terms uh cleanup work. I'll call it fall winter
uh cleanup. And he agreed to do it prior to proceeding with the hearing on the release of the performance bond. Uh subsequent to that date uh there was a meeting uh conducted and organized by uh Nicole Shapiro, our township engineer
with the u former property owner uh with the new property a representative of the new property owner uh including um including an on-site on-site uh individual um a property manager and uh
and the the actually landscape person who's going to do landscape work for them. I know Councilman Assatuli also attended that meeting uh along with uh the individuals uh referenced. Um and during the course of that meeting uh
they went over the burm issue uh where they discussed various uh items that needed to be addressed and um where uh subsequent to that meeting Nicole Shapiro had memorialized and summarized
each of the party's responsibilities uh and who would be doing what and and within which time frame. Um, now that Nicole's here, she can take over. And I'll interject. How was that? >> Thank you, council. I apologize for
being late. Um, I I heard the most part of um what Mr. Rosselli had said. Um there was a meeting that had happened um Friday, December 5th in which you know, Councilman Asatuli, myself, Fred Kish,
our assistant township engineer, um myself, uh the property manager, uh Israel, uh Harold Harell, who is the property owner's rep. Um and then also Noah Freriedman who was the prior
property owner who's responsible for the planting of the burm and the subsequent replanting of the burm that happened in June 2025. Um I think it was a successful meeting. Um I I think we had taken a look at the burm and uh given suggestions on what can occur in the
springtime to make it more green. Um last meeting I know that um Mr. Rosselli had gone on the record that the property owners um the the former property owner uh was
going to maintain or have that upper burm maintained and cleaned up and do a full winter cleanup. Um he had taken on that responsibility. Um I had sent a recap of that meeting um that occurred on Friday, December 5th. on
December 10th, Wednesday, December 10th. From then, I didn't hear anything from the current property owner or the former until today when the attorney was asking if they were going to be heard tonight. when I had resent this email and said,
you know, as the last sentence had said, as per our meeting that was held in front of council, you were going to clean up the top of the burm and you were going to maintain it and do some sort of a winter fall cleanup of the top of the burm. Um, the response was, it
was done last week and Mr. Rosselli and I had had a conversation. Obviously, it's snow covered this week, so I'm not able to go out and and verify that. Um, being that they had told me that had occurred today, um, I had asked Mr. Mr. Rosselli if we could postpone the
hearing for today until I can get, uh, verification that they had done that work. Um, certainly by the end of the year uh, the week, I'm confident that um, with higher temperatures on Thursday that hopefully the majority of the snow will melt. Um, and I would be able to do
that. Uh unfortunately that would mean that we would be in the January time frame for them to come back for um a hearing for the bond release. Um I know it's important to the residents that we start off and and get on a better foot with this. So um I I asked and you know
it in reviewing it with with u Mr. Roselli today and and just my comments. It was a lengthy email that I had to recap and I wanted to make sure I divided what was the responsibility of the prior owner versus what's the responsibility of the current owner. And
as I described to Mr. Rosselli on the phone today. What I saw was and there was there was an email chain that had come to my office at the end of August and I you and from the property owners on Sheila Court and I used that with the
new owners and I was conversing back and forth with them on what is going on with the property maintenance of the burm because the grass had had grown pretty high and you know at that point they didn't have since they had taken over
the property sometime in July till late September. They had no landscaping crew out there. And so I thought it was the beginning of September. And when I reviewed the emails again, it was towards the end of September that they had no landscaping crew. So that was almost three months of neglect on the
burm. when I had taken a look out on site and and Councilman Asetuli w would remember this um I had told them they have a lot of fragmmites and those are that it's like a tall grass with like a cattail at the end of it and what I had
noticed is even though they tried to sporadically plant that at the top of the burm because there was no maintenance over this 2 and 1/2 month period that the new owners had taken over and there was no landscaper on site,
the fragmitees migrated down the slope. And so when when you look at the photos and you see the yellow, the yellow isn't grass, it's just cut down fragmmites. And so what I had suggested to the new owners is that in the springtime they
should scarify the soil and they should replant their side or the apartment side. Now Noah Friedman would be in charge of the backside and I noticed that the fra fragmmites were on the top portion but down the slope you would see
that there was grass sporadic there. So he's going to till that soil. He's going to replant top. He's going to put top soil down and he's going to seed again to try and achieve that. They also have to then remulch the top where the trees are. So from the
resident side of things, they're going to see that mulch bed around the top of the trees, but they really have to clearly define that that top area. So from the resident side, once they complete that work, they're really going to see the majority of it is going to be
this mulch bed instead of the greenery unless they get up on a ladder and look over the fence because the fence is already 6 feet high. I also asked them to to smooth out a little bit the slope on that side so that it was a little bit more mowable because as you come towards
the east it gets a bit more steeper and I think bless you I think that's why they're not they're not able to consistently mow it you know it looks like they're more weed whacking it. Um so that's what we had discovered when we
were out there. Um, and we had walked there was a conversation about where's the delineation line between the commercial and and and the residential. Um, I did define that. Um, I did not send them the plan. I have before, but I will resend it after this. And I think
we just need a a little bit more time obviously. Um, I guess I didn't know it was going to snow. Although Casey did warn us last Friday it was going to snow. I I guess I didn't believe him. Um it hasn't snowed in a while. So um
anyway, I I do have this um email on the responsibilities. I know that Councilman Asatulli was on there along with Mr. Rosselli um and the applicant's attorneys and the management company and the new owner, but I'm happy to uh circulate this to um to council. But
other than that maintenance on the top or or that full cleanup that the prior owner had promised us at the last meeting, he did complete. I thoroughly reviewed it with our inspector that was on site and with um um our inspector on
site and with the landscape architect from from our consulting firm who I had out there to ensure that they they were doing the right thing. And so that burm was seated. It it did have top soil on it. They did replant. Um it it certainly
is better than what it was the first time, the first goaround. Um but I did tell the new owners, do do what I'm suggesting, not only to the BM, but to the rest of the green
areas on the property to try and achieve a little bit more. But I think a lot of the problems that we're having now was that summer neglect. And so, um, the new owners seem to be on board. Um, I'm going to give them one more chance
and and see how it goes. >> So, if I could pick up. So, um, what Nicole didn't, she actually advised and ease mail, you'll see this party, what party's respective responsibilities, right? So, it sets out exactly what they're going to do. And one of the
thing that I had advised the uh you know the former owner uh who again appeared and agreed to do the fall I call the fall winter cleanup. He had agreed to do it. I think when they were on site given I think what Nicole had discovered as to some of the c the cause of what had
transpired subsequently the new property owner manager agreed to undertake that responsibility. However, as I told the pro the former property owner, he may have done that and and Nicole, you know, agreed to do it. I
said, but on the record, you agreed to do it. So, I'm not going to have the hearing unless and until Nicole has an opportunity to review the work that was supposed to be done. Um and so um while there was some push back, not a lot, I mean there was some push back, um we
advised them, no, you know, Nicole's going to have to be able to inspect it. Uh and then from that perspective, uh we'll make a determination relative to uh again the work that Nicole spelled out, you don't have in front of you, but she specifies exactly what has to be
done. Uh and then that will work into uh the future bond release. And then and then for us trying to to ensure from the town's perspective uh that we have sufficient I'll call sufficient collateral in the event that he were not
to do the work that we'd have access to it. Again remember the the the bond was for him for the former property owner to do certain work. Uh we have a the memorandum or the uh memo from the consulting engineer which said the work
was completed. Um, so our footing is not so solid, but I'm working through it. Right. So, the goal is to make it sure that the former property owner does what Nicole specified that he's going to do. Make sure we have uh the ability to extend he
doesn't that he doesn't do that. we have something to go against that's not a paper bond because ultimately he would have to post a maintenance bond and and I want to make sure the work's done uh or we have the building if he doesn't do it because this a lot of this works obviously going have to be done in the spring uh and then relative to the new
property owner because of course you know they don't have a bond and they bought bought the project and as I had discussed with councilmani that becomes an enforcement issue right to the like any property owner right to the extent that a property owner doesn't maintain their property doesn't take care of it. Um so certainly if there are reports of
that and then we have a property maintenance code that we can utilize to enforce that that perspective. So so uh for tonight for purposes of the hearing um I advised uh Mr. Clauser and his client that we're going to continue hearing to the next regularly not the
reorg meeting the next regularly scheduled uh council meeting which I know it's not is it scheduled yet? All right. We can't think. We need to know because I'm not going to require them to notice. So, so the next regularly scheduled meeting is going to be January
27th, right? >> We don't vote on January. >> I I get that. But we have you have a schedule. >> We have a preliminary schedule. January 13th. >> Oh, so 13th is on it. Okay. I didn't know. I thought January 27th 13th wasn't on it.
>> We We decided to add >> Okay. 13th. So, sorry. So, I I guess All right. So, 13th is one of the meetings. So, so then, so then what we're going to do is we'll we'll adjourn the hearing date to January 13th without there being any further notice. Uh, presuming I want
the schedule to be adopted, which it probably will. So, that's where we are. Anybody have any questions for myself or for Nicole? >> Well, I'm glad we're we're, you know, getting moving forward with this. I just
the homeowners are here and I just, you know, want to make sure they they know where we're at, what's going on, and what the future holds. So, this way they can be here for the rest of this process. I'm sorry you guys had to come out tonight, but this way you you're
aware of what's going on and when the next meeting is going to be, and if you have any other concerns to make sure you get them to me. Okay. >> Yeah. And again, just it didn't literally all this transpired within >> Yeah. No, no, last year, you know, it's the holiday week, I can imagine.
>> But I I'd rather be safe and hold off rather than them going forward when we >> Absolutely. Absolutely. Anybody have any questions? No. Okay. All right. Okay. Thank you. Okay.
Approval of minutes. Resolution approving regular combined council minutes of October 28th, 2025. Do I have a motion? >> Move it. >> Moved by council vice president Dr. Greenberg Belli. Second by Councilman
Asetuli. Roll call. Councilman Asatuli. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Dara. >> Yes. >> Councilman De Palama. >> Yes. >> Councilman Desai. >> Yes. >> Councilman Garcia. >> Yes. >> Councilman Murphy. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pasitti. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Dr. Greenberg Bell. >> Yes.
>> Council President Sohar. >> Yes. >> Bill list. Mr. Garcia. >> Yes. Thank you. Uh bill list as of December 16, 2025. Accounts payable December 16, 2025.
16,70,14.38 payroll December 5, 20251,365,152.99 payroll overtime December 5, 2025 46,750.91. That completes my report. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Anna, do you have a breakdown please of the overtime? >> Yes.
[clears throat] Uh, for the December 5th payroll, we had a slight uptick in recreation due to our Thanksgiving food basket distribution. And for the sworn police overtime, the total overtime cost was $34,657.60. Deduct grants $6,950.
Deduct ETO $10,9316 for a total of $16,775.85. And that was 255 hours of overtime. And that concludes my report. >> Okay. Thank you. Do I have a motion to accept? >> Move it. >> Second.
>> Moved by Councilman Murphy. Second by Councilman Deama. Roll call. Councilman Asatuli. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Daro. >> Yes. >> Councilman Dealama. >> Yes. >> Councilman Desai. >> Yes. >> Councilman Garcia. >> Yes. >> Councilman Murphy. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Pasci. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Dr. Greenberg. Yes. >> Council President Sohar. >> Yes. Nine yeses. >> Public hearing andor adoption amendment for those ordinances for second reading. H1 ordinance amending the code of the
township of Oldbridge specifically article 8 daycare program section 160-30 fees for before and after school care program. have a a motion to open to the public.
>> Move it. >> Moved by Councilman De Palama. >> Second. >> Second by uh Council Vice President Dr. Greenberg Belli. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. We're now open to the public. Is there anyone in the public who wishes to
be heard on this ordinance H1? What should I ask say? Kate, my name, my address, >> just your name. >> Nina Oldbridge resident. Can you explain what this ordinance changes are about? >> Matt. >> Matt. Matt, do you want to I'm sorry.
Um, this was an adjust an adjustment to the before care uh cost effective the February registration. So that only affected the before. >> It lowered it lowered the price. Is that what it was about? And what is the price going to be? >> Uh 310 versus the 330 it was originally.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> No problem. >> Anyone else in the public wish to be heard? >> Seeing no hands, I'll close public portion. I'll ask for a motion. Move it. >> Moved by Councilman Deama, second by uh
Councilman Asatuli. All in f favor to close public. >> I >> I >> Any any days? >> Hearing none. >> Okay. Does anyone have any comment from council on my left? Anyone on my right? Okay. Then I'll ask
for a motion. >> Move it. >> Moved by Councilman Dealama. Second. >> Second by Councilman Acatuli. Roll call. Councilman Acatuli. Yes. >> Councilwoman Daro. >> Yes. Councilman Dealama. >> Yes. >> Councilman Desai. >> Yes. >> Councilman Garcia.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Murphy. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pas Giddy. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Dr. Greenberg Bella. >> Yes. >> And Council President Sohar. >> Yes. Nine yeses. >> Next will be consent agenda. I'd like a motion and a second. And then we'll ask for separations.
>> Do I have a motion? >> Move it. Second. >> Moved by Council Vice President Dr. Greenberg Bellis. Second by Councilman Murphy. [snorts] >> Um, Councilman Esatuli, any items for separation? >> No, thank you. >> Councilwoman Daro, >> no.
>> Councilman De Palama? >> No, thank you. >> Councilman Desai, >> no. Thank you. >> Councilman Garcia, >> I have none. Thank you. >> Councilman Murphy, >> no. Thank you. >> Councilman Pascitti, >> no separations. Thank you. >> Council Vice President, Dr. Greenberg, Bellai, no. Thank you. President Sohar,
>> no. Thank you. Okay. So, roll call on the entire consent agenda. Councilman Asatuli, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Daro, >> yes. >> Councilman De Palama, >> yes. >> Councilman Desai, >> yes. >> Councilman Garcia, >> yes. >> Councilman Murphy, >> yes. >> Councilman Pasitti,
>> yes. >> Council Vice President, Dr. Greenberg, Bellai, >> yes. >> And Council President Sohar, >> yes. >> Nine yeses. >> Report of the township clerk. >> I have no report. >> Report of the township attorney. >> Nothing to report, Madam President. [clears throat] Administrative report.
Anna, >> thank you. >> Recycling center extended holiday hours. Due to the high volume of cardboard and electronics this time of year, the recycling yard will stay open until 3 p.m. on the last two Saturdays in December, the 20th and the 27th and on
January 3rd, 2026. Please visit obridge.com/recycling for extended hours, or join our Facebook group by searching OB Recycles on Facebook. 2026 Christmas tree collection. The Department of Public Works will begin collecting Christmas
trees the week of January 5th. Visit obridgeidge.comrecycling for the full schedule. As a reminder, this pickup is for real trees only. Artificial trees can be thrown right in the garbage. Please make sure to remove all decorations, lights, and tree stands before placing the tree at your curb.
Parks and Recreation 2026 winter program brochure. The 2026 winter parks and recreation program brochure is now up and viewable at the township website. Online registration begin on December 15th, 2025 at 6 p.m. for residents. Non-residents may register for the
township recreation programs beginning December 22nd, 2025. Some of our offerings include Lego, robotics, engineering, and coding classes and karate classes for children. And for adults, we have adult cardio, kickboxing classes, and adult ceramics. We offer
over 20 different ice skating classes for children starting at the age of four that include starter lessons, group lessons, and private lessons. Please visit our website at orage.com/recreation or call 732-721-56000 extension4999
for more information. And I do have just a couple uh additional items. Um on December 5th, the uh PBA 127 and PBA 127A held their annual Cops for Kids holiday party for our um food bank
clients and their families. It was another great event. I would like to thank Sergeant Sergeant Jim Ford for his continued effort of running this great evening. I also want to recognize all of our township employees. Last week, the township held its uh annual employee
appreciation week as well as our appreciation lunchon. Uh it was a great week to give back to our employees. We had a great lunch on Friday as well. Um we started something different this year and did administration recognition awards for some of our um employees. As
I mentioned during the lunchon, I wish I could give every single one of our employees an award because everybody's gone above and beyond um this year. But uh I do want to m to mention the the um individuals that were picked for this recognition award and that includes
Jodie Canilo from our f finance department, Detective Keith Weiss from our police department, Kevin Wall from our part public works department, Alfredo Neves, our one of our ACOs, Sergeant James Ford and Melissa Johnson our new HR manager. So we want to take a
a moment to just recognize some of the uh employees that went above and beyond. But really, I would like to thank every single one of our employees for working as hard as they did this year. And on that note, I will wish you all a happy Hanukkah, merry Christmas, happy Quanza, and a happy and healthy new year.
>> Very nice. Does anyone have any questions for Anna? No. I just want to say, Anna, I attended the lunch and and it was really, really fantastic. What a great job you do and the staff does. It was it was fun. A lot of fun. And I think you really, you know, try to get
everybody together and do kind of different initiatives and and make it really a nice time of year for everyone. Thank you so much. It really was great. It was very, very nice. Anybody else? No. Good. Okay. So, I'll take a motion to accept her report. >> Move it.
>> Okay. >> Moved by Council Vice President Dr. Greenberg Belli. Second by Councilman Deama. All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? >> Report approved. Next will be public comment on any subject matter for a maximum period of
three minutes. The public comment portion of our meeting is to allow the public to bring to the council's attention their concerns or comments. This section is open for any topic or items in the consent agenda. In accordance with NJSA 104-12A
in the Oldbridge rules of council, the council asked the public to limit their comments to three minutes or less. Only one member of the public shall approach to speak to council at a time. The council will respect the public's time by refraining from any comment until the speaker is finished with their allotted time. Should be further noted that the
public comment portion of our meeting is not structured as a question and answer session. If a member of the public has questions they seek answers to, an appointment can be made with the corresponding department's office during regular business hours. The township clerk will regulate the time during the comment portion of our meeting. As you
approach the microphone, please state your name. No addresses. >> I need a motion to open to the public. >> Move it. >> Second. in the public wish to be heard. >> Good evening. >> Hello, I'm Da Caro. Um, good evening
everyone. So, uh, comments. Chili Carol, this is your last council meeting. [snorts] So, with that, I want to say thank you for your service, everything you have
done. I would have to say it's been my favorite channel, monthly channel uh on YouTube. Too bad it was just once a month, but given uh you know that I got to see my
movie star uh the prettiest council woman in Oldbridge. [snorts] But uh uh one thing on as a wart 4 resident what I'd like to say is um
we really appreciate you acknowledging all the speakers whether the speakers uh you know had a problem had a concern or even had a compliment about how things are done. And and with that, even
though it's not questions and answers, uh a lot of times, you know, over these last four years, I've seen people come up here and just speak about their concerns and crickets.
Um I see new agendas, you know, that get rolled out and um you know for council comments or you know not many people really said anything and you know kind of get the
feeling that things were rubber stamped. That's just the way it appeared. I'm sure it was not the case. [snorts] Um, but thank you also for probing into information that you did know or information that you wanted to call to the public's attention, you know, uh,
asking for more information. Can you tell us more about that when someone's making a proposal, right? You know, so you're really the the only one that did that. Um, so as being the resident of Ward 4,
the champagne is chilling at home, baby. So with that, thank you for your service and everything you've done. >> Hi, my name is Lorraine Kelly and I wanted to speak to you tonight to thank Jill Dara for her selfless service to Obridge. Jill cares about all the
residents of Obridge and she listens thoughtfully when residents are speaking and she respectfully answers their questions and tries to help them in any way she can. Jill has continually asked questions and made recommendations to improve our town during the meetings.
She is honest and trustworthy and empathetic and has served the residents faithfully. Unfortunately, Jill lost her re-election bid by only 34 votes and will no longer serve on the town council. It is a great loss to Old Bridge to lose a leader who has such a
strong sense of what is right and wrong and always fights for what is right. Jill has devoted her life to serving Old Bridge. First, she was on the PTA, then she moved on to board of ed, and now she's on the town council.
We need people of strong moral character like Jill on the town council and I believe this is not the last time that we will be hearing from Jill. Jill, thank you so much for your service to our town and I hope that in the not too distant future you will return to the
town council and help thrive. Thank you. [applause] >> Good evening everybody. My name is Fresha Taib. Happy holidays and thank you to all the council men and women that give their time and dedication to Oldbridge. Happy holidays and wishing
you all a happy new year. I also wish what the pastor had mentioned earlier tonight during the treelighting. He had a message of unity. So, thank you to those departing our council for your services, and we pray for continued unity. Tonight, with honor and with deep
gratitude, we thank Councilwoman Jill Darro for her service to our council. We thank you for the way you led with presence rather than distance and with listening rather than assumption. In moments when voices feel fragile or
unheard, you've always created space for them to rise with dignity. You remind us that leadership is not only policy and process, but patience, compassion, and the courage to stay engaged. Your
commitment to Oldbridge is felt in the everyday details, in conversations held with care, in decisions shaped by empathy, and in the quiet consistency of showing up. Thank you for honoring the many cultures, the
stories, and the hopes that make this community whole. Your service strengthens trust, and your humanity brings warmth to public life. >> [snorts] >> We are grateful for your stewardship, for the respect that you extend, and for
the future you help nurture one thoughtful step at a time. We will miss your leadership and your class. [applause] Hi, Katherine Whitley, resident of Ward One. Thank you, Councilman Garcia, for your service. And to you all, I
appreciate every all the work you've done, all the hard work. And um I have a quick message for Jill Daro. Uh Jill, when I think about the work you've done and the light you've brought to our community, I'm reminded of the manura
and in particular the shamash, the center candle. The shamash is known as the helper or the servant candle. It is the one that stands slightly taller not to outshine the others but to share its flame to bring light to every other
candle on the manora. In that same way, Jill, you have been the steady light at the heart of this community and w 4 especially. You've used your energy, your compassion, your leadership to ignite and light the best in others in
Ward 4. your neighbors, the families who call Obridge home. You've done your work, not for recognition, but to make sure everyone else could shine. Thank you for that. Your dedication reminds us that true leadership is about
standing apart. It's about lifting others up through challenges and triumphs. You have kept our community grounded in kindness, driven by purpose, and fueled by light. Thank you for your wisdom, your warmth, and your unwavering
comm commitment, excuse me, to Oldbridge. May the light you've shared continue to inspire us all season after season, year after year. Thank you, Councilwoman Daro. Thank you all. Merry Christmas, happy
new year. Happy Hanukkah. Nina Jocknowitz. Okay, first I wanted to say that there's nothing more I can lead on because there were so many really nice things said about Jill and this gift is under $10
which is accepted by the community by the council and past things. So Jill, this is for you. I'm going to put on the chair because there's a wall here. Now, I also want to say that while Jill is also leaving this council this cycle,
she's not the only one. John is also leaving. So for John also under $10, a little dog walking gift out not to not to forget also Kieran Desai who has done a lot in on this
council and for many many years as everybody on the council knows Kieran has sat on other boards free of charge listening and learning and making sure that we he keeps the residents safe and this is for Kieran decide also under
$10. Finally, because the rest of the council also deserves a gift, it is a gift which is a which is a little bit different in in ten in tenor. It is a gift to remind you that next year I expect you to do
better. I expect you to choose and pick and vote on positively vote on the the people who are um recommended by Democrats, not just by the Republicans on the council. It would be nice if you actually listened to the community, the
entire community, not just the Republican end. That said, I will be bringing food over to the office. Don't worry, ladies. Um, but for the rest of the council, Eric, I expect you to do better. I'm
looking forward to you doing better. It's a lump of coal. It's it wrapped. So, don't worry. It's >> a joke. It's a joke, >> Mary, because I also expect you to do better. You have done better, but I'm I'm
looking forward to next year. Okay. You're welcome. You're not supposed to speak back in the council meetings. >> Anita Greenberelli, I also keep >> it. Thank you. Thank you. You can keep it. I appreciate your kindness. >> You're welcome. Darren, also for you
because I know that you always need a little bit of love in your sugar and your Kevin. You know what's really funny? You're not s you guys don't want to respond to anybody, but you love responding to me. And this is exactly why the community
comes up and you guys are mean to them. Merry Christmas everybody. Tony also lump a cole Kevin enjoy your retirement from the council. How you guys doing? My name is Dan Erggo. First of all, I don't want to leave you out, Kevin. Thank you for your
service. I appreciate although we met uh only recently. Um I appreciate all you did. Um Councilman Murphy, thank you. Um I think you guys are doing a great job. Maybe Nina would have won if you guys were doing a bad job. So, you know,
we'll see from there. Merry Christmas. Have a good night. >> Maryanne, I live in Old Bridge for over 20 years. Um, I can't top that. But I'd like to please say to Kevin, I've appreciated all your work you've done. I
know I live in Cheesequake Village. You had to take a lot of your time when you were president there and you gave a lot of time here and I'm sure your wife is going to really appreciate it that you be home more. Thank you, Kevin, and good luck. >> Is there anyone else in the public who
wishes to be heard this evening? Good evening. >> Good evening. I'm Sri Hasha from Oldbridge Township. Uh sorry, Old Brbridge Point. It's it's a new development in this area and I moved here in March and right now I'm the
board member in the uh township. We have a HOA. So uh the developer still hasn't completed the property yet. So he's still trying to uh finish his project plan and we have all the residents pushing back on the voting uh to
transition from developer based uh HOA board to homeowners based and we are not in a position to look at overlook everything that's done right and we have reached to township for seeking help in
understanding the uh engineering plan and make sure that everything has been done As per the code, uh we have issues like sidewalks and uh the detention point has not been done right. They have
uh dug out twice and they did uh we heard like it's been done right at this point of time, but we're still not sure because they always had developments running in the property and we see a lot of debris flowing into the catchments.
So uh we have raised this concern but we haven't heard any plan from them and uh we also have uh issues with the p uh street paving they haven't done it and uh we at the point like they've been
pushing us to take over the board and we're not sure like if uh all these developments that's still pending is going to come up to HOA. So uh last Friday they were pushing for oing and we had a zoom meeting to pick up the uh
board members and all of the homeowners had concerns to push back with the same agenda and they just dropped off the call saying like we're not moving forward. So we are in a point like we're not sure like what's the next steps. uh
they they kind of threatened us like they could sign uh resign from their uh positions and leave the board uh without board members. Um right now it's like three board members and I I'm one of them and two of them are from the
developers. So if they leave like from from the position we we're not sure like what's our next steps in terms of uh transitioning the board and getting things done from them. Uh they had a verbal confirmation that they are still
liable to do the project plan and they have a bond holding up from the township. However, that doesn't give us any confidence in them. Have they reached out to you? >> Uh, it's the old bridge point next to
the Chvy dealer. It's on the poor foam road. >> Yeah. >> Is it Cedar? What's the name of the development? >> Uh, it's called Old Bridge Pointy. >> Okay. Oh, yes. Yes. Okay. And how many
how many um seats do you have as >> it's three seats and one of it is from the homeowners, >> right? And the other two are from the the developer. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> They haven't tapped any funds from the HOA right now. Uh they they're paying
the management company and insurance from the uh HOA funds. uh and like as a board member I have nothing to excise from the duties and uh we were informed like when we have 75% of the homeowners
occupying the neighborhood it would be uh like one on one other homeowner onboarding into the uh member like the uh council but they didn't follow the bylaws like they they came down all the
way to the year and now they're saying like you up and you have to handle >> send send us an email with your you know this information and then we can you know speak to engineering and so on. >> We're going to give you a card. >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> This way we can outline and see you know
a little more clearly what's going on. Okay. So send it out in an email. This way maybe we can you know get it together, make an appointment and see. Yeah. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. Okay.
Is there anyone else in the audience that wishes to be heard this evening? Okay, seeing no hands, I'll ask for a motion. Close public. >> Council moved by council vice president Dr. Greenberg Belli. Second by
councilman Tulie. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Now close to public comment portion. Council member comments. Councilman. >> Yes. Thank you. Um, first I want to say congratulations to Robert for 37 years of service. Thank you so much for
serving the town. Also I want to say something about Casey Lenning during the snowstorm. Casey um I reached out to you right and there was a situation where they some older um people couldn't get out right because the snow was there. And I said listen
Casey I got a situation. Can you please help me out? In two seconds he texts me back. Hey bud, I'll I'll head over there right now. That's what real service is, brother. I just want to say thank you. You took the time out of your day just to get a text and probably you were with
your family maybe at the time or out and about and you went there yourself. Am I correct? I knew you didn't. I wouldn't even call to question it. That's exactly what we do. And I want to thank you for that. And I know the residents appreciate you more than you know. So, thank you, Casey, for everything that
you do, my man. Thank you. [applause] I mean it, bro. Also, I want to say congratulations to Thomas Monte Tagna, the police department, and the residents. Route 9 this year in 2025.
There was no fatal accidents due to the presence of the police department. And you got to give the residents too, right? They everybody. So, thank you to the Ober Police Department, to all the police. We appreciate you.
And um Kevin. Yes, sir. Amen. I'm going to miss you, bro. >> This gentleman here, when I uh I've been running for a couple things in town, and you always supported me, my friend. And there's one thing that he always said,
even in when he debates, when he speaks, he was a cop for 20 years. >> 25. God bless you. And he has one word that he used, I think, 50 times. All he wants to do is help.
going to miss you, bro. >> And thank you so much for everything, man. >> I love you, brother. And I know the residents going to miss you, too. >> So, all the best. And to everybody here, hope everybody has a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy holidays, and an
incredible new year. God bless everybody. >> Councilwoman Dara, thank you. Um, thank you. >> Keep that on. Um, first I would just uh also like to extend my condolences to
the families of the senseless killings in Australia and at Brown University. Um, it's just it's just senseless and we we really do need to be do better as a as a society. I also want to uh extend
my condolences to the family of Rob Reiner and his wife. Um which really does highlight um mental health and drug addiction that is that just you know is really uh really hits hard and um really
can cause some devastating effects as as we all just saw yesterday. Um I want to um thank you all for coming out and speaking um you know saying such wonderful things. I did not expect my husband to speak. He was supposed to
just come and sit nicely but um [laughter] um but thank you guys. Uh I really appreciate you and uh I appreciate everything you did. Um, I probably would have been best if we kept it nice and
stopped there, but um, and I apologize for that. Um, but, uh, anyway, um, so, uh, and, um, I did not catch your name. I'm so sorry, but I'm glad that you came out. I'm glad that you spoke, and I'm
glad that you, um, you know, that you got the email address. and you know definitely when you put something in writing um it's definitely easier to you know address and respond to. So thank you for coming out and that's the one thing that I do want to say you know um
this is as you all just heard this will be my last meeting. Um it has been an honor and privilege to serve these past three years, eight months on the uh council. um prior to that on the board of education and um the one thing that I
want to really uh drive home is just as residents um pay attention, keep coming to meetings. This is your town and um you know it is incumbent upon all of all of us to be aware of what's going on. um
things are discussed in meetings and um you know it is it is incumbent upon everyone to just make sure that they are knowledgeable of what's what's happening and what's going on. Um the uh uh so I want to also wish everyone uh
moving forward a happy Hanukkah, a merry Christmas, a happy Kwanza and a happy new year. And um I would really like everyone to start 2026 off with a uh
knowledge of a a an embracing of kindness and respect. And that goes both ways on all sides. And uh I think that we can get a lot more accomplished with kindness um than we can any other way. Um, I also
want to um say thank you to Kevin for your last four years. Um, it's been nice working with you and um to John. It's been nice sitting next to you for the past 3.8 months and um I will uh I'll miss miss you guys on my flank. So um
but thank you and uh have a have a wonderful holiday everyone. >> Councilman Dalma. >> Thank you. As we kind of get into the holidays, right, the last couple weeks of the year especially, just a reminder for folks
that they are still collecting toys for the Toys for Tots. The townwide pickup is this Saturday. So, the main pickup points in town are uh Quality Chevy as well as All-American Ford. So, if you do
have any additional toys that you would like to drop off, please make sure you you drop in there. And I'm sure they would love if you bought a car, but um please if you do have toys, uh drop it off. I believe the pickups start somewhere early Saturday morning. So if you can drop it off prior prior to then.
Um also, um would like to thank Kevin, Jill, and John for for your four years of service on this council. Oh, sorry, John. Eight. John John's got eight. Um and and Kevin and Jill for
your four. I think people see us up here the few times a month, you know, plus whatever other board meetings, I don't think they understand the amount of time that it takes that each of us put in. Um, so thank you, thank all three of you for your your
time up here. It is a sometimes a tax and a toll on not only uh ourselves but also our family. So, thank you to the three of you for your time. And then finally, just everybody just
have a a wonderful holiday, happy Hanukkah, uh, happy Quanza, merry Christmas, and have a happy new year. Thank you, >> Councilman Desai. >> First, I want to recognize
the fellow council people who will be not here in next meeting. My colleague Jill Dakaro, [clears throat] John Murphy, Kevin Garcia, they all give
their best time. They sacrifice their family time and serve the township of Oldbridge and the people of Oldbridge with the dignity and honesty. So I wish all three best of luck in
future. Whatever you do, if I can be any help, please reach out to me. I'm always available. What else I can say? This is the last meeting of the year. I wish everybody happy holiday,
merry Christmas, happy, healthy and prosperous new year and may God bring a peace all over the world because today
somebody mentioned shooting in Australia and recently in Rhode island at the Brown University. So this world is getting I don't know where it is going but I think
God will give us a strength to fight this kind of bigotry and violence. Again it is we are coming close to the year
Jewish holiday started and Christian holiday will follow right away. So enjoy the holiday and celebrate the new year with the responsible way in a responsible way.
Thank you. Have a nice evening. Councilman Garcia. >> Yes. Thank you. >> I wanted to start by thanking quite a few people tonight and it was just too easy to say thank you to everybody. So, what I did, I vote I wrote down names. I
typed names. I typed it up. There's so many people on this on this list. If you don't mind, I'm going to read them all out because I think they should be acknowledged. Uh, I tried doing it on my phone, but I can't see that phone. So, I figured these young ladies, they do it on the phone. They do it like it's nothing. I
got I got to read on a piece of paper. So, so really, I just wanted to start if you don't mind. So, I may put my head down to read because I don't want to forget anybody. Uh, so this is how it's going to start. Good evening, everyone. As most of you know, this is my last council meeting as your ward one
councilman. I'm not going away. I just won't be on his days for the next couple of years. I want to thank my wife, Patricia, who personally walked with me during my initial campaign for months. We probably walked miles. She totally supported me during his time
and has since. I want to thank Senator Owen Henry who was mayor back in 21 when I started my campaign. I also want to thank current mayor Walker, Mary Soho, Anita Greenberg Belli, Eric De Palmer, and Anthony Piskitti who who were the
incumbent Republican council members who supported me with open arms. I also want to thank Councilman Davin Astuli for all of his support since joining our Republican team. I couldn't be any more thankful for all of their support. It was an honor showing up at all the
council meetings with you and serving as your ward one councilman for the past four years. I believe we have become lifelong friends. I want to thank the residents who supported me to become their councilman four years ago and who continued to support me with this past election. I couldn't have done it
without you. It was definitely a privilege privilege to serve as your councilman. It was certainly a learning experience. All of us on this days work very hard to make or the best it can possibly be. I'm halfway there. [snorts] I also want to thank our business
administrator, Anna Phelps. Police Chief Tom Matagnner, Public Works Supervisor Casey Lenning and his team, Parks and Recreation Supervisor Matt Mccurio and his team, Township Clerk Kate Hutchinson and her team, Sonia Alex, Linda,
Township Attorney Mark Rosselli, he knows everything, I tell you. [snorts] Uh, engineering department Nicole Shapiro and Fred Kish, planning department, Venus Sant, finance department, Doroda. I also want to thank Captain McCauley, Lieutenant Herb,
doctors, and all of the police personnel who come to the council meetings to keep us safe. I'm sure I probably missed a few names, and I apologize. All of you had made my life as a councilman much easier. You always took the time to answer my calls, my texts, and my emails
in a timely fashion. OBG has the best leaders in this state, and we will continue to grow and get better. To all the naysayers, I ask that we all do better and stop with all the negativity. With all the negativity going on in this state and country, let us be the town
that stays positive and works through its issues. We all live in We all live in Orbridge for a reason. Safety, great schools, and great neighborhoods. I believe we can work through these issues. We have more in common than not. I also want to congratulate the new
councilmen coming on board and for serving with Jill and John past four years. Again, I thank you for all your support and leadership. I'd like to offer my condolences to all the victims and their families from the horrific shootings that took place last week. May you all have a merry Christmas, a happy
and healthy and safe New Year, a happy Hanukkah, and happy Quanza. And I did forget and I saw them today. Jake, Jacob and Michael for all their help as well. So, if I missed anybody, I truly apologize. I thank you for your time.
Thank you. Thank you. [applause] Thank you guys. Thank you, >> Councilman Murphy. >> Okay. I want to thank you, Councilman Garcia, because I thought mine was going to be long and it probably be longer than yours. And I just want to talk about myself and Albridge. It's going to
be a little different tonight. Okay. I'm probably the oldest living member in Albridge town, resident in Albridge Township. I moved here in 1959. The population I was five. The population and I haven't left. The
population was 12,000. It's now between 75 and 80,000. In 1962, I was in a cub scouts. I was eight years old. Uh we went on a trip to Jake Brown Road place called the Nike site. It used
to be a barracks, an army barracks. We went there and they showed us where the dogs fought with the the people with the rubber stuff and everything. Then they say, "We're gonna have a special gift for you." So they said, "Everybody stand back." We stood back, the ground slid
back, and up came rockets. I was like, "Wow, rockets. We didn't we didn't know anything." Now when as I got older my father told me they were nuclear rockets which it protected the east coast from Florida to Maine. It was the we were had
we were the biggest ones there. So I just have to understand you have to understand was a very important thing. Ferry road when I when I first moved here it was a dirt road. There was no route 18. the two Moralboro roads
connected that was like the main road. Uh we used to dump our garbage right by Kindic here because there was no garbage thing. We just we dumped the garbage and every it was a dirt road and they had to every day they had to drop oil down here like nice environmental thing but that's
what they had to do to keep the dust down. Then um there were two beaches. Madison, we were Madison Township. There were two beaches. They were we had tags for him. One was Lake the Hernal and the other
one was Lawrence Harbor. Now Lawrence Harbor is where my parents used to come. It had rides. It had everything. In fact, when I was working, my two bosses used to run the roll. One ran the roller coaster and the other one ran the um ferris wheel. So, I'm just letting you
know Elbert has come a long way. Um, I had two friends on uh off Cindy Street and Nine round a corner from me. They had a horse farm. It was one one way, one lane each way on Route Nine. They would ride their horses
up and down the shoulder. It was My cousin came. He goes, "What what's going on here?" I said, "They live here. They" and that's the way it was. [snorts] Then um like the Hernal, we had a beach passport for it. So and also I worked for the MUA for 50
years. Yeah. 50 with the time I spent on the MU on the count on the commissioners. Uh I'm going to blow my own horn. I was nominated from the uh the the head of the water department from D nominated me
licensed water operator of the year my last two years two 2014 and 2015. I served the MUA for 50 years like I said counting that and I um I also worked for I was licor
and I worked with New Brunswick and Middle Sex Water. So that's what I did for my life. And I just said I I had a rough years four years recently and that's why I missed a lot of meetings. I had a liver transplant as most of you know. And that's what I want to say. I
just want to let you know that Oldbridge has meaning stuff and it's that Indian cemetery right there in Route 34. I had nothing to do with that. I just wrote past it. But I want to thank everybody on the council. I I enjoyed serving with
everybody and I I just want to wish everybody a happy happy Hanukkah, merry Christmas and happy uh Quanza. And that's about all I have to say and I thank you for listening. >> Councilman Pasitti.
Well, um, Kevin Garcia, I am gonna miss you, man. You know, you sat next to me for all these years and we had a blast and we gave Mary a hard time, didn't we? >> It wasn't me, man. It wasn't [laughter] me.
>> U, it was really uh, really enjoyable working with you. >> Gonna miss you. >> So, just uh, merry Christmas everybody. Happy Hanukkah. Thank you. Council Vice President Dr. Greenberg Belli.
>> Yes. As we mentioned before, there was a employee appreciation day and I'm was so glad to attend that um event since the beginning when since it's been going on
and really it just highlights every department how much is accomplished every year that people don't realize what goes on to make this town move in the positive direction that it goes. that everyone together synchronized
works very hard. Um also just just recently with the road department um with the snowstorm not a call from anyone it was a you know very big storm compared to the year past but everything was really good but I do want to just
pick um when going to the appreciation um lunchon it's really special to hear every department and head the department speak about their department and highlight everything they do so Um, I just want to just highlight recreation
because I don't think people realize when Matt was speaking how much the recreation department covers, you know, and I'm not leaving out anyone. I just picked someone because I got his speech from him and I'm not going to say everything, but I will highlight some of
the things so people don't realize that that encompasses Camp Robin, the Silver Lining Center, the food bank, Before and After Care, Summer Camp, the and the Municipal Alliance,
Culture, Arts, Parks, and and everything that each one of those segments of the recreation part um department does. It's phenomenal what they cover and how much they provide for this town. You can always find something to complain about,
but if you look into what they accomplish and what they do, it is really outstanding. But some of the projects that happened where we say when you don't realize how much your town does provide for you and how much it it it does on every level and we try to
improve every year new programs. um they're very open to hearing different things with what goes on. But from the parks and recreations department, it takes from the youngest segment of our population to the oldest and shows that
they care about everybody. So in parks re recreation also just some of the projects that we did and I just want to highlight this that people don't realize what they do and when you think of all the acres that have evolved and taken
care of them throughout but they updated new turf at both lower GE multi-use fields. There is a new pavilion at Ge and Catrell Farm Park, new boilers at the arena. They've installed automatic locking bathroom doors at Catrella
Manino Park and will expand to other parks in the future. New irrigation system on Higgins soccer complex. Updates roof at all of our buildings that are located in parks and ice arena. New floors throughout this entire building. And people, this is this is
just one. And so since Matt highlighted these eloquently, I said that I'm picking this out because this goes on in every department. It takes a lot to run a town. It's an expensive thing. Now when you we just tonight where people
just say listen we want to provide everything that's affordable for everything but when you have wages going up for example for before and after care for the summer camp everything health insurance going up for for employees it
is hard to maintain anything and when you think how much and is it for every family now with taxes I was just reading what they're doing now with the taxes oh Let's see. Um the t gas tax is going up again, the t tolls on the road. It's a
burden for everybody. But what we're accomplishing in this town with the amount of money that we get for every department, I just want to say kudos to everybody. And really to our business minister, this was appreciation for all
departments, department heads, and their employees. But the business administrator, she's holding it all together and making sure that everything goes in the right direction. And I want to thank you, Anna, because it is not an easy job. And I know personally, you get
here at 6:00 in the morning. Yeah. I could reach you any time and at night, you're you're the one collecting information from every department and disseminating and making this wheel go round and round so it works. So please, whenever anyone comes up, we are here to
help everybody. We want everyone to be comfortable in this town to prosper that their needs are met. But it is not an easy task and there are problems often and we will work through them and we will get it done and do the best thing
for everybody, but we have to be fair and we have to be sensible when the they do these things. But I would just I was just like very impressed every time that I go there and also for each person how much they give of themselves and they
come up with new ideas all the time and really they share ideas. So really we should be fortunate that we do live in Obridge and we have such when you say diversity we're 42 square miles that is phenomenal to take care of that on every
level from the police department from from road department recreation department everything involved and when we're right now have mandates from the ha the state that we have to work through that so it's a balancing act all the time it's real easy to be critical
but I think you have to be fair and sensible, learn about these things, inform yourself, and really I think um all of us coming together. It's going to be a wonderful thing when you take a pause and instead of just focusing on
things that can't get done, let's think how we're going to get it done and make it better all the time for every resident in Old Bridge, young and old. And with that, I wish everyone a blessed holiday, a merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, and a healthy and happy new
year. Enjoy your family, friends, and remember those and then reach out to those that need help. Thank you, Council. Council [clears throat] President Sohar. >> Okay. Well, I'd like to first of all naturally wish everybody a great holiday
season. No matter how you celebrate, it's uh family and friends and hopefully everyone will have a very nice holiday season. Um, as far as I'd like to thank naturally Jill and John and Kevin for their service on the council. They have
brought their wisdom and we [applause] appreciate what they've given to the community and it is a lot to be said. Thank you very much, Kevin. As far as friendship with you, sometimes friendship comes a little later in life, you know, and um I'm very happy to have that friendship, you and your wife. I
think um that's very special to me and you. Yeah, you you really are. Um I also think that what Anita said was right with there's a lot of good going on and a lot of positive. Yes. Can we do? Of course, everybody can try to do more or
think of things to make it better, but we also have to appreciate what we do have. And having this staff that we have here in town is to be appreciated. Um I just the Route 9 statistics show our new
chief of police, well, he's not new anymore, but our chief of police is really making inroads and and positive inroads for us to be safe in this community. I think he's doing [applause] a phenomenal job. He really, really is. And that's just one component. And
Casey, again, the snow, whether it was on the streets or up in the air tonight, that was quite a show when it started to snow. So, your heart is really in the right place. You're always trying to find something that will make this town better. And thank you. Really, that was
the kids went crazy for the snow. That was a whoseever idea that was, kudos. It was really a good thought, you know. But anyway, thank you all for coming and and being participating and again, it's good to hear different opinions. Last but not least, Lacridge did a food drive this
week and that was very much appreciated for the food bank. Um, they collected how much food Matt to truck. Okay, so this is what happens when a community comes together and tries to help. they, you know, they heard that we could use
some extra food this time of year and they really did pitch in. So to Lorage, thank you very much for all the food that was donated and everybody just have a great holiday season. Thank you. >> Um, council president, >> council president. >> Yes.
>> Before we close, I would >> That's what I Oh, you go right ahead. >> I would just uh like to thank Jill, John, and Kevin for their service to the town. um serving on the council. People don't realize it's more than just sitting up there for the meetings. It's a lot of work. Uh you put in a lot of
hours talking to residents, helping them, and it's really a lot of work. I just want to thank them so much. I do happen to have a personal relationship with Kevin, so I'm really going to miss him. I during the snowstorm, I fell and hurt my back, and him and his wife came over and they cleaned my car off and
shoveled my walkway for me. So, he's a really he's a a really good kind person. He really is. >> And I also want to thank all our employees as well. We are so blessed in this town to have like the best employees. I don't want to name anyone
in particular, but I do. Anna is the glue that holds everyone together. She literally does not go home. She has a bed in the office and she's here all the time and she does a phenomenal job and I just want to thank her and I want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season
whenever you celebrate and a happy and most of all a healthy new year. Thank you. Did you >> and uh oh, excuse sorry if I just wanted to also thank um Jill, John, and Kevin for making uh welcoming me the last two
years to be your business administrator, whether it was uh via text message, phone call, emails. I enjoyed working with all three of you. Um you know, I know that I answered probably your emails and calls faster than anyone before. Um, but I I think that we did
some great work the last two years. We took care of some great initiatives and uh all three of you will be surely missed. And uh if you need anything from my office, you know where to find me. I do not have a bed in there. It's too cold in that office. So, we need a motion to uh enter
actually adjourn but enter executive session for uh public contract negotiations and affordable housing litigation update for TCON village. Can I get a motion? Move it. >> Wait a minute. Moved by Councilman Deama. Who seconded?
>> Councilman Asetuli. Roll call. Councilman Acatuli. Yes. >> Councilwoman Daro. >> Yes. Councilman Dealama. Yes. >> Councilman Desai. >> Yes. >> Councilman Garcia. >> Yes. >> Councilman Murphy. Coun. Councilman Pasitti. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Dr. Greenberg
Belli. >> Yes. >> And Council President Sohar. >> Yes. >> What does that say? 8:52. >> 8:52 p.m. >> Oh.