Okay, good evening everybody. In compliance with the old public's meeting law, notification of this meeting has been sent to our official newspapers and other publications circulated in the Burough Hall command and notice posted on the bulletin board at Burough Hall. Please be reminded that
all of our meetings are video recorded and posted to our website. Please note the fire exits are at the rear of the council chambers and the door that you entered this evening. Uh, roll call, please. Mayor Gallagher >> here. Councilman >> here. Councilman Boyce. >> Councilwoman Costello here. Councilman
>> here. Councilman Marty >> here. Councilman, >> please rise and join me to the salute the flag. I pledge 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. >> Okay. Our first order of business tonight is a staff appointment for council president Ben. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh this time we are our committee interviewed uh two
people for the position of DPW road foreman and we'd like to put forward the name of Thomas Jung and that is a form of a motion. Do >> I have a second on that? >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion on the uh appointment?
Seeing none. Roll call, please. >> Council Baggi. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Costello. >> Yes. >> Council McU. >> Yes. >> Councilman White >> here. Yes. >> And that's it. Right. >> Okay. Uh, next we have a public hearing on ordinance 1288-26.
That is for Councilman War. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, this would be ordinance number 1288-26. This is amending the sewer service charges that we had read uh in the previous meeting. I'd like to open it up to the public. >> Second. >> Okay.
>> Would anyone from the public like to be heard on ordinance 1288-26 amending our sewer service charges? >> Motion to close. >> Second on it. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Councilman.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is ordinance number 1288-26. It's the second reading and final adoption uh to amend the sewer service charges resolution. Whereas an ordinance entitled an ordinance amending chapter 198 sanitary sewers of the code of the bar of Altapan to clarify
provisions relating to sewer service charges was introduced at a meeting at the mayor and council held on the 20th day of January 2026. Now therefore be it resolved by the mayor and council of the bar of old Tapan County of Bergen, state of New Jersey that said ordinance number 1288-26B
and the same is hereby adopted on second and final reading and be it finally resolved that the borrow clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish the notice of adoption as required by law. >> Second. >> Any discussion amongst the council?
>> Seeing none, roll call, please. >> Councilman, >> yes. Counciloman, >> yes. Councilman Flora. >> Yes. >> Councilman Marty. >> Yes. >> All right. Moving on to our consent resolution. Council President Fay. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, does this consent resolution be resolved that the
following resolutions placed on the agenda by consent require no discussion and the same having been previously reviewed by each council person be and are hereby adopted in their entirety by the mayor and council of the Burough Voltan. Bills and claims release cash
bonds and escrow. Temporary emergency resolution tax lean redemption confirm DPW road foreman appointment bid advertisement Oaks Park House. >> There a second on that. >> Second. Do we have any discussion on any
of the items on our consent resolution this evening? >> I had a question um mayor on the temporary emergency resolution because there's some background on why that's required. >> Say that one more time. >> Any background on any context on why the
emergency resolution's required? >> We we earmark um we we earmark funds for potential emergencies like snowstorms and things. Our burough administrator who just stepped out could probably comment a little bit more on that. Just um
>> it may be I don't know. I'm guessing but it may be because the bud the bud the 2026 budget is not approved and this needs to be paid prior now >> at 25% of prior year's spending right >> I assuming that might be the case >> and we did have a boatload of overtime
in DPW if you notice it only snowed on Sundays uh and that's double time and MLK >> sewers >> double time >> I >> it's for the sewers >> temporary emergency resolution >> I believe So, >> no, no, no. That's what I was reading.
>> What? >> It's a question for Jesse. >> Okay, that's fine. >> I believe you are right that it's it it handles emergencies, but it appropriates 25% of prior year's budget can be spent in the first quarter of of uh this
because the bud our budget has not passed our budget yet till late probably April. >> That's probably okay. That's fine. Thank you. Y >> any other questions on the consent resolution? All right. Seeing none, roll call, please. >> Council member >> Yes. Councilwoman Costella. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Okay. Do we have any new business this evening? >> I hear none. Do we have any old business in front of us this evening? >> Um I just usually old business I bring up the Oaks Park house. Uh
but as you see in the consent there is a bid advertisement finally for the Oaks Park house and um unfortunately Bill Boyce isn't here but he has done a lot of work on this and he deserves a credit for this. I mean, it was was our idea
that we brought to the council, but Bill has really taken the the lead, you not only spending money on his in his own business office, but also meeting on site doing the things that need to be done to get this to bid. So, >> so is this bidding the entire project or
or part of it? >> Tom, I think we're just bidding the house, right? >> We broke it up into some alternates, >> right? So, we can make >> sure we'd be able to do something with the money that's >> we could fund it, right? So, I think the way the setup right now is um just
basically to get it like sheetrocked enclosed um none of the fixture and the bathroom's functioning. The bathroom's fully functioning >> and Andy's crew can finish it from what I heard. >> Yes. Or you could all you could award both. >> Sure. Which they probably won't. I'm
just saying I I >> Yeah. It's >> Or we could go back out for other grant opportunities perhaps. >> Whatever. >> So, this is going to expedite getting the structure built. Okay. And then sheetrock, like you said, the bu the roof on it and all that stuff. And then the DPW will take some of the
responsibilities on some of the things that they can handle. >> Yeah. That's an informal. Can you handle it? Yeah, probably. >> Go back to bid on certain other additions, >> right? >> Now, to your point, that was grant money. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, it was a partial grant.
>> Partial. No, we we allotted capital. Yeah. >> I think two years ago >> by now. Um Anna, uh we allotted capital money for Oaks. That was like two years ago, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> And a better explanation than I was able to give on our consent. The temporary
emergency resolution is that the to appropriate the spending for the first quarter being that until our budget's passed in >> whatever we need to >> early April. Okay. >> Okay. >> We got to pay the bills without approving our budget. So
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Is it typically this a similar amount each year? >> No, it depends on just what what we have to Well, actually, yeah, it is because you still have your salaries. You have >> Yeah, it's pretty much the same. >> Yeah. Thanks.
>> Okay. All right. Uh I'll entertain a motion to open the meeting to the public. >> So move. >> Second. Second. >> Okay. Would anyone from the public like to be heard on any matter this evening? Please. No. real name and address for the record. >> Hi there, Kathy Fable.
>> Hi, Kathy. >> Um, 14 court. Um, I've never shared these documents, but I'm going to give you all a copy. >> Said if you like. >> No, I'm going to >> Okay. >> I sit on here. >> Okay. >> Um, so I served two terms on the board of
the Northern Valley Regional High School. During my first term um I discovered that there were many many computers missing that the inventory was improperly kept and OAC got involved the office of financial
um accountability and compliance and they instructed the district to take and to literally go through everything by serial number. Um that took years to be done. they they the administrative staff that was to do it fought it to
them. Now um there were a number of incidents where hundreds of thousands of computers were walking off of our campuses. Um subsequently George Harris uh who was the head of technology for 25 years was arrested and during that time he was given he was
told once you're convicted of a not convicted once he was charged with the felony um you basically you're not allowed on school property but he was even though the board told him he was not to have another contract but issued a year contract have no idea why but I
did in 2017 find out that he had joined he and his siblings had entered into the Qualcomm Triorder X files. Some of the stuff is what I've sent to via email. Um there is some very odd covering up of what's going on with the
technology. So while it was somewhat straightened out, uh they're kind of back to their old games, which is why I send an email that I sent recently. In 2015, while I was still on the board, I came to see Tom Shine to report that 240
science laptops were taken from the district by George Harris. The board did approve that they could be decommissioned because we were told by George Harris they had to be returned to Apple. In fact, they weren't. They were donated and they just disappeared. The
donation um Urban Renewal in um Newark who took the computers never recorded serial numbers. a uh it was about $150,000 worth of Apple computers. Subsequently, the district bought 300 new science laptops and and this cycle
of buying and never inventorying the computer continued. Um it did come to an end as far as properly inventorying items somewhere around uh 2016. The science laptops that I reported to Tom Shine,
who told me I didn't own them, so I couldn't report them missing. It was going to be up to Jeff Gordon, who was the superintendent. Jeff Cordon took two and a half years to report it to the generous police. It then went to the Burton County Prosecutor's Office and they said, "Sorry, the statute of limitations has expired. We're not doing
anything." But during that time, I got involved with the attorney general's office. Never shared these documents. This is a timeline of what went on and this is what South Quinton led to >> but they never really found the
>> what was going on. I honestly think that devices are >> sorry. >> Oh, sure. >> Well, the clerk actually needs one. So, cuz she's >> Oh, I have extras.
>> Okay. >> So, the reason I'm here is um I sent you a list. There's probably two for one personal devices for every man, adult volunteer at the school district. Now, I mean, it's an inordinate amount. They
have over 4,000 math bookairs >> on paper. I guess you're saying >> on paper. And what's your enrollment now? >> 1,200. 2100. >> 2100 between both high school. >> Oh, between I was going to say, well, good. >> Um, I mean, there were a number of things. I I chaired the finance uh I'm
sorry, the technology committee. Um, at one point they were buying computers to test them and they were supposed to decommission them 10 days later. And I said, "Well, where are they? I mean, it's been way more than 10 days. That's" They said, "Well, they're being stored
in room J212." We go to room J212, racks of empty boxes, just empty boxes. So that got the ball rolling. Once I was no longer on the board in 2015, the attorney that was making them do a forensic inventory just basically
changed his tune and the cover up began. So, I don't know exactly what's going on, but they just in um May, I was looking for the exact day that they approved this. They bought um 2020 computers
at a discounted price. They took possession of them in June of 2023 and they just liquidated them. So, we spent $511,000 Wow. >> on computers and we sold them for $140,000 this week.
>> How do we know that? just >> public record. >> Oh, that they were 2020s and they were sold this week or >> Yeah. So, of course, they're supposed to record everything by serial number on the inventory. They're supposed to show their location, which they don't. Um, they listed them as 2020 for
liquidation. If you take the serial numbers, which I made them give me via, and I'm assuming they're going to be sending me or submitting some of the OPA request pretty soon. Um, but if you look the serial numbers up, it tells you when the district took possession of every
single computer. So, of course, I checked the list. They were the computers that they purchased in uh 2023. So, I'm not sure what's going on. First of all, we have an unbelievable surplus of Apple computers. Um, there's a great pride in continually buying
them, but I have no idea why we need 4,300 m Apple MacBook Air computers for 2100 students. Even what do we have 300 teachers and administrators? I don't know what this what's going on. And that's not the only list of personal
computers. I send you the entire list that appear in the inventory. And I'm not even sure that's the complete inventory. So, I've sent that email to every man in the council. And a lot of people have been following this back from 2025. >> Every mayor and council, you mean the sending schools,
>> every seven towns. Okay. >> Um, and the thing that's really bothersome is we have a board president now, Joe Arjenziano from Coaster, that has been the board president >> quite a while. >> And he is rewriting the narrative, which is an outright lie of where this technology is going. So for instance, he
got up at a public meeting with the attorney for the school district and said, "No, no, no. the science laptops that Kathy keeps mentioning um were approved to be decommissioned. And in fact, they were because at the time we were told they needed to go back to Apple. Nobody approved them to be given
away. So by >> they went back to Apple. Is there a credit to them? >> Well, according to our contract at the end of the lease, it's a lease purchase. We're supposed to pay Apple a dollar per device and we own it. They never asked for the dollar per device. They for
years George Harris had them telling the district which they wouldn't put in writing that they told him to return the devices. Apple would never confirm that in writing when push came to shove that lot of computers was reported to the police and then the burn county prosecutor's office. That was at the
same time the AG's office was doing this investigation. Um >> so you so the school district owned them for a dollar. >> Correct. So is it I'm not saying I agree with it. Is it the school district's prerogative to do what they want with them with board approval
if they went to Newark or wherever you you mentioned >> we would have had to had we would have had to have the board approval >> board approved. >> Yeah. You can't just take >> Right. Right. Same same here. You can't just take burrow equipment and >> I mean this and that's one incident. Um, at the time the attorney told us that
nothing nothing was to leave the district until every serial number was recorded and a forensic inventory was completed. And I'll tell you, I could have given birth three times in the time it took a forensic inventory to be done. First they they came back after 6 months
and they gave the board an appraisal. And I said, "Well, that's not a forensic inventory." And then we went back and had another firm do it and then another firm do it. But I mean it it was never done in it to its completion with every inven with every device accounted for.
But there's something crazy going on. And when OFAC got involved, they said, "Listen, if these computers were purchased with Title One funding, the FBI would be there tomorrow. But what you have here is a taxpayer problem. Taxpayers paid for it. It's missing. Do
the taxpayers care?" I mean, apparently, I think I'm >> taxpayers care if they familiar with this situation. Let me ask you a question. So, is the main issue the inventory and the tracking of the inventory or is it purchasing new equipment every two or three years when
they could last five or six years? >> It's both. >> So, it's when I joined the board, there was $2 million of Apple devices purchased by extending a 2008 contract. So, the board didn't even know they were purchased. $2 million of Apple devices,
including Apple TVs, iPods, like crazy items that are personal devices were never inventoried and never accounted for. They just kind of went missing. So, that was the beginning of it. But I don't believe they have a proper inventory now. I mean, looking at the inventory, they
don't identify the location of these devices. I mean, if if we saw that there were 4,000 Apple MacBook Airs, 300 of them were in the possession of teachers, and the other 2100 were students, we'd have a clue as to where the surplus
thousands are. >> You might help me with this. >> So, the attorney general kicked it to the curb. It says it's a taxpayer. Okay. >> They were very involved. Um they um
the one detective I worked with a number of detectives and it went on for so long they changed >> but there was a detective named Richard Brimmer that um worked with me and he called me to tell me that they had found they had to subpoena Apple. I mean it
took them a long time to get the records of devices. Apple wouldn't give them any records. So they had to subpoena them to find out the serial numbers of what the district purchased. Then they went to um Qualcomm who would tell them nothing. Um but they went to San Diego University
Hospital and they subpoenaed all of the records of the iPad devices that George Harris had submitted as part of his every time you won a round of this Qualcomm prize which he subsequently won. Um you had to submit your invention
65 more for them to test it at the hospital. They found serial numbers of iPads that were sold to Northern Valley that were part of his submission in San Diego University Hospital in 2016 and
17. And they promised me that they were going to get to the bottom of it. In the end, um Richard um the detective Bremer told me that that's how they got the poem to talk. They went after him once they started finding that he purchased these
and did because the school said, "Oh, no, no, George bought them. Um, you he paid for them. >> There's no financial record." >> And when I got back on the board, they weren't giving me the records. I mean, they just were not interested in sharing them. But at the end of the day,
there were a number of lots of computers that were just going to bizarre places. So, for instance, when we were told nothing leaves the district until everything is inventoried, George Harris arranged for um two truckloads from each
high school to be taken and brought down to Sycamore, which is a recycling place in Pol, Pennsylvania, which is 20 miles from where his brother was doing this invention. I mean, you can go look. They have all of their all the siblings at his house creating their invention for
the tri for the Qualcomm Triodora X prize literally in the guy's living room with 3D printers with with large format printers with iPads. And ironically, when George Harris won the Qualcomm
Triolder X prize, he was given an extra few hundred,000 because while every other entrant had to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars buying their computers, George claimed that he and his family had donated the funding for all of these technology that was used in
their event. I personally think it all came from our taxpayers. I think it was totally done by our taxpayers. Now, Harris no longer works at the district. Um, he was there for 25 years. He lost his pension and he's now gone. I have no idea where he is now. But I do believe
that everybody was complicit in what was going on. There was something called personal buys. If you were a board member or you were a principal or a teacher or a volunteer at the school, you could buy an an Apple computer for your school. And how would you pay for
it? They would do deductions from your pay from your paycheck. Well, what if you didn't have a paycheck? So, for instance, Fred Hler got a brand new computer a month before he left the school, a month or two months, um before
he retired. His computers were to be paid back through payroll deductions. He had no payroll and that was going on with board members that was going on with employees. So, I think everybody just shut their mouth on the Apple currency that was going on there. And
I'm sorry to say that I believe it's going on again. There is absolutely no reason why we would be we would be making these frequent purchases, covering it up, you know, changing the narrative to say that the devices um were in fact approved to be donated when
they weren't. Um costing the taxpayers. I mean, that was the very first thing that pissed me off beyond belief was the fact that as a board member, I was told that these devices had to be returned to Apple and in fact, they were taken and we bought $300,000 of new ones and then
they were given away. >> What is the board saying? I mean, I I >> Donna, >> I I can tap into that after. I was just listening to everything she had to say. >> I show up at the board meeting. I'm public enemy number one. Um they've cut the board meetings in Donna. I can
verify this. They've cut them down to once once a month and you're allowed to speak for three minutes. I'm generally the only person maybe one or two other people that go there. There's a gentleman a council person from Northville that's been following this closely. The mayor of North um is all over this because I mean it's it's
offensive. I mean I would give my arm and leg for any kid and any kid that needed something. Um, but it's extreme waste and it's an extreme um, misuse of what's going on and they don't want to hear it. I mean, they they do not want
to discuss it. And I'm sure I'm sure this has gotten back to Sano and I've sent this to every mayor and council. I'm sure he's like, "Oh my gosh, she's chasing the computer. She's nuts." I'm telling you, I've documented everything. You can look at the timeline. I have every single inventory list and every single piece of paper and every single
communication that I received since 2012 and it's wrong. I >> I have a question. You you've obviously done your due diligence for many many years and you presented a lot of evidence. Um set aside, you know, putting George Harris aside, has anything come of this? Has has anybody
been criminally charged or anything? >> George Harris >> setting him aside. Anything nefarious going on with the board of ed or the superintendent? And has anybody been >> Well, I will say that James Santana was an assistant principal when we started. >> Okay. >> Um, he was aware of what was going on. I
mean, he was on the personal violence. I believe >> you believe >> I have the personal violence and I'm quite sure he or his family members were on the personal violence. Um, nothing's I mean essentially
I go I've asked questions um in order to I mean it was one meeting I sent you a link to it. You can watch it yourself. I would get up and ask questions. Join and Matt Kobe the attorney would explain away that the science bathtubs were in
fact approved to be disposed of. And you know, I'm making this up. And again, other board members, county superintendent Delicio has gone to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. Um John Molinelli was involved before he retired. I mean, everyone knew what was
going on. But again, the the issue got kicked down the road for so many years. And then I think in the end, the AG's office is like, do we really want to go after educators? It's really detailed to go after all these serial numbers. And you know, it's really a taxpayer problem
and they're probably not going to do it again because they got caught and I do believe they're at it again because I mean why did I mean Donna why would we have so many devices? I mean essentially the list and that's the inventory list they gave me. >> Did I'm sure you've asked what did they say?
>> They weren't they I mean you know my routine I usually say what I have to say and I walk out now because I mean you you walk in the you used to have a meeting open to the public twice. They open to the public ones and then they get the last word. So I generally make my statement and I walk out.
>> I mean I can I can fill in some gaps maybe. I I was on the board from 21 to 20 much later than these dates. These are these are 15 years ago, right? So I don't I don't have any information on this. Um and I think Mrs. Fable has
contacted all of the law enforcement authorities in the county and we did have an audit at some point. Um you mentioned the audit and an inventory and the board was comfortable with the
results of that. Um we we do sign leases with Apple. The kids um get a a computer when they walk in on day one and they return it four years later on the way out. We do the same thing at the lower
schools and then those four-year-old computers are sold for whatever value we get. >> Sold. >> Sold. Yes. >> Um but a four-year-old computer is worth, you know, it's like driving a car out of a dealership. >> Correct.
>> But they they do >> approves a sale and they go somewhere. Correct. >> Absolutely. So So we buy four we f we buy new computers every year for the incoming freshman class. >> Okay. And then four years later those are sold and that's the >> the highest responsible bidder,
>> right? >> Are you questioning where they're sold to or that they were sold? >> No, I think you're questioning the number of computers. >> Correct. The volume of computers and the volume of constant purchasing. So for instance, I cannot figure out in my wildest dreams why they bought 640
computers. 2020 computers took possession in June of 2023 and sold them last week. >> I don't know that. like to know >> whatever they're leasing now, whatever number you just you mentioned before. I
think it's an a simple question of who who has these, right? They do have I mean, even I had a a laptop from there. Every laptop has a serial barcode on the back of it. Um they audit that. I would get an email once a year asking to
confirm that this is in my possession. There has to be an inventory of those computers and where they are. I would imagine >> just so if if a student loses his or her computer, they would know which one because the serial number was assigned to that right.
>> So there's some tracking >> of course >> to an individual. >> Incoming freshmen in the fall get assigned a laptop that is their laptop for the four years. >> Four years. >> At the at the end of the four years, those laptops which are all serialized and accounted for, they get collected
and then they put them out for bid. And the reason that they use that fouryear Mark >> is because if and I can put show you some numbers later waiting any that's like the sweet spot going anything longer than four years you're really not going to recoup a lot of money for them
and you're talking about I mean listen when they when they buy them new I was told that the one batch from 2020 there was this last batch that they sold they sold from 2020 and 2021 the 20 uh 21 devices they were able to
get $216 $1 for a 4-year-old device. The 2020 >> they were able to get uh have my numbers here. It was like $100 less. So that fouryear mark and if you take a you know you're a numbers guy, you do a $749
computer. >> So So there's something called Moore's law, right? So Moore's law and it used to be Moore's law is that computing power doubles every two years. it's now been extended to like every 3 years. So you can say basically when you get your
computer in year three or four, it's half the computing power that a new one has. And so you're right, there is that sweet spot where it kind of drops off um because now you have new technology, videos, AI, whatever that your older computer cannot handle. So you're right, there's a sweet spot of
>> and court, you have to realize that these these are kids that are, you know, carrying these back and forth every single day. I mean, I know my kids with their computers, they're not handled exactly with delicate hands at all times >> as if they had owned it.
>> I I don't know the answer to, you know. >> Can I ask you just one more question? So, theoretically, >> every year the district should be buying How many incoming freshmen do we have between the two schools? >> Um, it would be 2400 divided by 400. >> Yes.
>> 2100 700 600 >> 700. Well, 67 doesn't matter the number. Theoretically, we should be buying the school district should be buying 600 computers every year. Correct? >> They sell and buy >> and then when no if they bought them in
2025 and 2029, these are going back or collecting 200 and change whatever they are. >> Higher is better. >> Um, yeah. But so that's >> it sounds like a simple cycle. You're saying somewhere along the line we got off this cycle. We stopped selling them and maybe gave a bunch away or we didn't
do anything and now we got 4,000. bought too many. >> Yeah. So, it sounds like a pretty simple process to me. And >> again though, we have an unbelievable surplus. The 640 that we just sold were a year and a half old. >> Yeah. Well, one Yeah. Why that? Well, I
was given different information, but I hear what you're saying that I was told that they were 2020 and 2021 devices and going with the entire story. >> They were given to freshmen. Four years later, they were sold. So, I'm that's where the disconnect is for me and I'm trying to figure out.
>> Donna, you were on the board for this purchase. >> Yeah, >> they purchased they said they were buying 20 2020 devices because they were getting a deep discount. Normally the $999, I believe they paid $799 a device. >> So, and going back to tech and what
Court was kind of saying, even if you buy a 2020 device in 2022, it's still a 2020 device. So, the longevity of of that device is only good for so long, right? because of the tech, you know, it's like an it's like an iPhone. >> Yeah. >> These things are good for what, two
years, three years now, and then you got to get rid of them because they're kind of useless and you have to get that's how they keep you on the >> thing. We had to sell some early and we got off schedule. >> I'm not sure. >> No, it sounds like those were delayed sales. >> I don't know why. They were 2022, but we
2020s we didn't take it possession till 2022, but they were already two years old and then we had to sell them two years in where we hoped that whatever we bought would last four years. >> There's still no explanation of why we have 4,000
>> on paper. I have a question. Do we have Brian any influence or authority over the board of ed or the superintendent of the schools? >> No. No. >> Okay. So, putting that aside, I did go to the last meeting and I did ask the questions because I wanted to when you
sent it, I was like, "Oh, >> what's going on here?" So, I did go to the meeting and I I can read my remarks, but we basically touched on everything. >> Um, but yeah, it's again, we don't really have any authority or oversight and >> I don't know what to say. >> We used to have a fabulous woman in
town, >> Rosanne Kleti. >> Rosanne Kleti. Okay. That investigated. Have you gone to the media at all and said something's rotten in Denmark here? You know, how do we, you know, the AG said one thing, we don't own them.
>> Nina Nina Pedal lives in closer. I don't I don't normally >> Okay. Interesting. >> Yeah. Um, >> so, you know, essentially I've watched what's going on. I've gone to the news. Um, when George Harris was arrested, they didn't even cover it.
>> First I heard of it was when you mentioned it. Yeah. >> Whenever you mentioned it. Yeah. >> And he was arrested for what? >> He was arrested for tax evasion. >> Okay. >> Uh >> oh. Nothing to do with this. >> Well, I'm asking.
>> He bought so all of the district devices that wound up in San Diego. He claimed since he would have been in big trouble if he didn't purchase them, he claimed he purchased them using the school's Apple ID, which meant that he got a government discount and didn't pay salt.
He got arrested on that assuming that he was going to talk and then the wheels fell off that schools are tax exempt. Is that why? >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Correct. So, but I mean there's so much more that's just barely scratching the
surface. But regardless, um we have an unbelievable surplus. Again, we have an inventory that does not show who has these devices, such as which devices are reported. I mean, were they refreshing your your computer every
>> four years? >> Refreshing the actual physical >> giving you a new one. >> No, no, no. Oh, I wasn't there for four years. I only had one. >> But there is something, you know, our taxes are incredibly high. They've been overt taxing us, creating huge cap
surpluses. the $4 million capital surpluses. I mean, the insanity, it's no one's watching. And I think when no one is watching what's going on, I mean, no one shows up to meetings. I mean, you you go to a meeting, it's me and >> Well, they show up when there's uh the
gate is closed on the football field. >> Oh, yeah. If there's an issue, well, it's the same thing here, >> right? >> It's the same thing here. If we have an issue, people come with half their information. Yeah. And a lot of the information already got solved a meeting ago, but they didn't know that because social media told them otherwise. And we have a full house.
>> So, if you want my opinion on their budget, and you know, I've said this publicly at the board meetings, they have a significant budget, but they also have this contract with their teachers union >> that they lock in for I think it's 5
years at a time that is substantial. And the negotiating committee that deals with the union has us in a corner. And with those salaries, you peel it back. Like 70% of their budget is salaries.
And then another 10% is healthcare, you know, and then there's the bus transportation. And then the the cost of all the um the kids that get sent to special special schools, right? Very significant. You're left with this very
small pot of discretionary that gets smaller and smaller each year because we've contracted a salary increase every year to the teachers union and that's the problem with the state is the teachers union and a tenure
>> that's part of the problem but the cap reserve being built up to millions of dollars in my last year we had a $4 million surplus >> what's the max on that that you could have in cap reserve because I know there's a Do you know what we have here? >> Any idea? Yeah, there is.
>> Yeah, there is a mark. >> I I think when I left it was about six. >> I don't know, but we were we were up as high as it could go. >> And that that six was earmarked for the um the football locker room expansion >> and the two turf fields,
>> which they're almost completed with that, too. >> I mean, I go back and I look at the roof projects since I was on the board >> every year. Millions and millions of dollars. is always patching the roof. >> So, I I will say this uh after the military, I I had the uh fortunate uh or
unfortunate I did uh commercial roofing for a year when I first got out and we did a lot of schools and what how schools um how they do it, they do sections because you're dealing with hot tar and there's only so much time. So, that's why it's >> every year it's on a schedule every year
a piece a port is replaced. So, >> but anyway, I just thought it was important to bring to your attention because it's a taxpayer problem. It's been a taxpayer problem for years and um I think the more people that ask questions and the more people that have an eye on it, they start to behave with
that. >> Sure. >> And that's it. >> Thank you. >> Oh, thanks for coming in, Kathy. >> Would anybody else from the public like to be heard on any matter this evening? >> Motion to close. >> Second on that. >> Second. >> All in favor? I
>> Okay. Um motion to adjurnn. >> So move. >> Second. >> All right. Uh let's go right into our executive meeting. Um roll call, please. >> Mayor Gallagher, >> here. >> Councilman Vagi, >> here. >> Councilman Boyce. >> Councilwoman Costello here. >> Councilman Gu. >> Councilman Martin
>> here. >> Councilman. >> Okay. Uh Tom, you're up. Engineers report. >> Thank you. Good evening everybody. >> Good evening. Um, not much going on this time of year, especially with the snow on the ground.
Um, the only thing I was going to mention is Central Avenue, the handicap ramps. I still need to as build them, which I didn't realize I was going to have to do. Um, I thought the county was just going to take the certification forms that we've done in the past, but
they're asking for a physical like surveyed asbuilt, so I got to get them that. Um, they wouldn't be able to do the the striping or the signage at this point anyway. Yeah. >> So, I'll just stay on top of it. Um, I didn't drive by tonight, but as of the end of last week, they were still covered in in snow, so I can't even do
the asil at the moment, but I I will stay on top of that. Um, other than that, not a lot going on. There's some some interesting subdivisions before the planning board, but I'm sure you'll you'll hear about that from somebody else. >> It looks like So, knock on knock on
wood, we have some sturdy uh water manes, right? Um I'm hearing all about the valleys. >> Yeah, Montfell had four >> and then there were there was like a text thing going on between the mayors that someone had five and they were trying to >> so >> Casali had two in the same spot.
>> So we're two hours later. >> I haven't heard I haven't heard thank god and not going to that you know >> I think they travel in bunches. I don't know why but they do. >> All right now I watch I just jinxed it but uh anyway Tom uh real quick. So central a you keep saying the uh
handicap ramps that those are the that's just because they're handicap access about the crosswalk rubberized ramps. >> Okay. >> So what the process now is and again when we do work for the county when they're going to resurface a road. Same
process essentially. Um, but at the end we go out, we look at the ramps that were done by their contractor >> and we just bas sign off on there's a specific form that they want. >> So I assume that the process was the same. Um, because I guess at this case
they were actually built by the burrow on a project that was outside anything that the county was doing. They want the surveyed as drawing also. So that's what I need to do. Give them those certification forms. Then they'll come out and put the signage up and the stripes.
>> Okay. >> The crosswalks. >> All right. So, we're just on a whole pattern till the ice melts. >> Yes. >> Okay. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Anybody else? Tom, anything for Tom? >> Thank you, sir. Thank you. >> Thanks.
>> Um All right. Well, I I had asked for uh the snow removal regulations to be added to uh to the agenda based on the uh flurry of emails that we've gotten. Um pro and and con, I guess. So, really
more of a discussion. Um I'll kind of set the stage which I know everyone and Donnie, you weren't on the council when we passed it, but March of last year, we enacted our snow removal ordinance. We were probably the last town in not only New Jersey but Burton
County for sure. >> Think we were >> to uh uh to enact such an ordinance. Um >> went into effect in March. The snow season was over. Um I think we've had two measurable storms now. And um we've
had some complaints from residents that say this is not fair. I have a sidewalk. You know, we we've heard some of the complaints. We've heard um many neighbors kind of, you know, kind of tattletailing on their other neighbors for not doing things. It just it's just
created this this buzz, you know, throughout throughout the town. >> Um >> there were I have in one of these pieces of paper in front of me, these are not all, but most are >> um warnings that have gone out since the the two storms, especially the
especially the second storm. Um, and we are um kind of unofficially taking a uh a year of education, if you will. There are there are many residents that claim they didn't know anything about it. Uh, >> I can see that
>> it's on Facebook. It's on our website. It's on the electronic signs. It's on a police department Facebook. It's all over the place. But I can see that certain residents, you know, were were not made aware. certain residents probably weren't prepared to deal with,
especially the latest storm. Um whether you're disabled, elderly, whatever the case may be, they just don't have the equipment. They weren't they weren't able to handle such uh uh um the requirements of the ordinance there. I might I might also add that I think I
think this one this particular timing is unique or I'll say unusual because typically in the past I mean I've know I've let my driveway go and in a day or two it's melted naturally melted. We went right back up to 35° nature took
care of itself. this nature is not taken care of. >> And and um so I had the unpleasant experience today of going to TBD dismissal, >> which I don't do cuz my kids have a bus thankfully.
And um but I had to be there today and I had to park on Charles down I don't know which direction it is but opposite towards Gallagher Fields and I walked down >> because we're because there's so much
snow the cars and there's cars parked for pickup. the the two lanes were gridlocked. Gridlocked and the families were walking in the street because even for the homes that snowplowed,
it didn't clean. It's now all ice, right? You snowplow, you don't get down to the sidewalk. >> There's a thin layer of ice down the entire street. >> It didn't melt and go away, right? >> It didn't It's not melting. And it's not probably not going to melt anytime soon. >> Not in the next two weeks.
>> So, right. So this time I feel like it's it's it's unusual. >> Yes, I agree. So what do we do as we keep our fingers crossed on February 2nd? What's today? >> Today >> it's chaos right now on Charles Street. >> So what what
based on the letter of the law, what our ordinance that we that we passed, um what should our what should our response be for the remainder of the season, if you will? I have a question to Brian based on that. We have an ordinance that
we did March last year. >> Yeah. >> Are we liable if let's say a kid gets hit on Alapan Road because somebody didn't do and they're walking on the middle of the road? >> Listen, are you going to be sued in all likelihood? Yes. You're going to get a tort claim notice and you're going to be
>> put in the suit. But the chances of there being liability against the borrower versus >> to the borrow. Now, same question to the owner of that house. >> Are the residents liable? >> Absolutely. They may be. Yeah. Because it's their property. I don't understand. >> It's just the right thing to do and it's their responsibility, right?
>> I don't understand how if you own a home in the school zone, how you're not petrified of having a clean sidewalk right now. I >> agree. Again, some knowing that neighborhood because I live in that neighborhood. Some just don't have the
the ability or the means or uh I don't I'll say it, you know, maybe the financial constraints of hiring someone to do it. >> Yes. But this isn't this isn't th this majority of it is snow cloud with a
sheet of ice underneath that and it's it's salt. So, I I went home. I complained to my husband and my husband said there's no salt available right now. >> Actually, the >> there is Home Depot. I know cuz I got it yesterday. >> But but
>> and it's not salt. You want to use calcium chloride right now because so that when the temperature goes below 25 regular salt that they put on the road doesn't work and but use calcium chloride. I know calcium chloride is salt, but it's a different chemical
formulation of salt. So if you use calcium chloride, read the bag, it works in this temperature. Absolutely works. I used it. >> So if the ordinance is that they they they remove the snow from their sidewalk, right, which I I I could see the the snow plow marks along the
>> snow blower. Snowblower. >> Snowblower. Snowblower. Right. >> Okay. >> But they're not clean. The the ice is terrible. >> Sure. >> It does say the ordinance. It says snow and ice. >> Okay. So, okay. Devil's advocate here. So, they they snow snow blowed the the
sidewalk. Yeah. >> Got down to an eighth of an inch or so and there is some ice left because of the temperature and this and that. >> Did we Did they Did they satisfy the letter of the law? Who's Who's interpreting >> whether they did a good enough job or
not? >> I don't want Probably be a judge down the road. >> That's a great judge. That's a great question. But the problem that we're having is that they didn't do a job. >> Some of them are not done at all. Yeah. >> But these kids are still walking in the street on Charles because of the ice. So
it didn't it didn't solve the issue. >> But can I just say it's so new and they were so especially in our neighborhood, >> they were so used to the DPW doing the sidewalks. That was the job >> that
>> in the school zones. >> In the school zones. >> We did. We had them do that. It was part of our negotiation. >> Something they have to get used to. There's a lot of them just >> and I know we've put it out tons of and we could say, you know, it's out there, but sometimes they just don't
>> I'm just so worried about it. >> I'm so worried in that school zone. >> Well, I think the warnings are definitely going to >> address that. And that's all we're doing is just a warning to them. And believe me, tons have gone out uh and he keeps putting them out. >> Uhhuh.
>> So when when is the cut off on the warning? What what's the plan on that? >> That was kind of a conversation. >> So, we should discuss now tonight. >> Yeah. >> You know, that's why I asked it to be uh >> any thoughts. >> So, let me before before someone answers that question.
>> So, let's say this storm happened. I don't know what it happened. January 25th. Let's say it was January 25th, 2025. We're not having this conversation. >> What would have happened? We didn't have an ordinance. They didn't have an
ordinance. >> No, but what how would the streets been? >> Well, in the school zone at the uh school would have handled it, but all along road in Orangeberg Road that we got a note today on someone on Orangeberg Road. >> It's a wild west. >> Nothing. >> Um the other note that we had around uh
OT and Orangeberg Road all the way to the top pan border. >> Nothing. I'm not saying that's right. I think this council said earlier last year that it's the right thing to do for safety reasons and we did it. We acted on it. But like you're you know one of my favorite saying is no good deed goes
unpunished and that's exactly kind of where we are today is that we we acted in in regards to safety and now we find ourselves >> the ris the risk associated with the those neighborhoods versus the surrounding blocks of the school is very
very different. >> Right. So, our ordinance, correct me if I'm wrong, everyone probably read it, but um our ordinance says that um if it's not done, our DPW will go do it and we will build >> the the resident, the homeowner.
>> Yep. >> So, it's and if that's something that this council said, hey, we're they got their warnings. They could have hired someone if they don't have the ability to do it. They could have called social services. We do have a a short list of scouts and other teenagers that have said
>> we have come up with a list. We have and some people have worked in if you need our help. Uh me and my kids will come out. So like we have a list for those who need >> help. Yeah. Somewhat. >> And I think the fine is for every you get fine for each not done.
>> I I I think you know the excuse of oh we didn't know about it. I mean that's what the warning is for right. So they got a warning. So there's no warned. So now everyone knows, right? So let's push that aside. I'm surprised that neighbor maybe I'm misquing, but neighbors are
ratting each other out like our town and I >> I don't think Tom meant direct neighbors. He just meant people that are >> residents >> residents and other residents >> because I was going to say like you know when when my next door neighbor when he got older and I noticed a couple times he
>> didn't do his driveway I was like oh you know what I'll just go do I didn't even ask him. I just did his driveway for him because I know he was getting older and I I felt like that's a kind of neighborly thing. So in this storm you see their driveway and sidewalk not done and you're like, "Oh, you know what? I have a snowblower. Let me just It takes
20 15 minutes to finish it off >> as opposed to ratting out your neighbor, right? I feel like we're a town where we would help each other out and even if you don't know their circumstances and and it prevents your kids from actually walking to school, you just do it. I mean, and maybe it's the one day
or two days human being. >> I'm trying not to be funny, but like I feel like you know riding riding other neighbors even it's other end of town like I just feel like we should be better. >> There are a lot of people who feel I mean our town is great. It's always been
great. You have a lot of that but you have the ones who do not even want to do their own. They don't want to do their own and they go for they go a little bit. Well, they don't have to do their own, but they have to do the sidewalks. So,
and that's where we're at, >> right? >> Because it I'm going to say this. So, I have two boys that are still in the well, they're in the middle school now, both of them. And after the storm, when I was dropping them off, I and that's exactly what came into my mind before
the emails and complaints came in. I looked, I was shocked. I go, "My goodness, nobody did." So now I'm like, "All right, now I have to take another 25 minutes and figure out how I'm going to get to the school and get them there on time because on Ultan Road there were sections that weren't done." That is I'm
not going to have my boys walking alan road. It's just it's too dangerous. And I was a little annoyed by it because, you know, we're talking about last March, guys. It's almost a year later. >> Um, and >> it was out of sight, out of mind. >> Nobody paid attention to it. >> The list of warnings goes back to
December. That's before this big storm came. like let's just do the right thing. >> Parents are really angry now. >> Excuse me again. >> Parents are very angry now >> guarding. >> In what way? >> That the sidewalks aren't clean. >> Kids like they're you know >> maybe the parents should knock on their doors and say, "Excuse me, there's an
ordinance." >> Uhhuh. >> Right. So, >> um so that's why I asked it to be kind of added tonight is that you're right, there's been warnings. Uh there is social service assistance. Um,
uh, I think the scouts went over and did that gentleman who came in, uh, couple of weeks ago and helped him out. >> Um, so what what what do we want to do? We have a law on the books. It's our prerogative to have it enforced. Um, so
we say everyone, especially after this big storm, there's nobody out there that uh, and I know our our our property maintenance division thinks they are very overwhelmed with the enforcement. They'd like to, >> I imagine, >> have the police department kind of
contribute as well. You know, they're out there all the time. They're, you know, they're on every street. Um, so those are the things we have to kind of just fine-tune. And what we're saying is that this is the across the entire town. Even if there's a remote block with a
sidewalk who nobody walks on, they're going to get the same assessment as >> Yes. >> Correct. >> So we're almost at a year, right, from when >> we're we're at we're at a month after the first flakes fell. >> No, no, I'm saying from when we enacted the order.
>> So why don't you mentioned a year before. Let's give them a full year. And why I mean that's just a thought. Yeah, I would be okay if it was March 23. >> Pray for spring. >> Pray for spring and then that gives you plenty of time to figure it out. >> But should we ask DPW to go to go clean
up the school zone? I mean I I feel like we're waiting for something to happen. >> Would you like to then this is Would Would you like the D the DPW to do that? And then if we do >> What does that mean? >> Do we want >> We got to build the residence. >> Do we build a residence for >> according to our ordinance? according to
our >> Well, are you talking about the uh just putting in some some salt on the ice? >> I think the majority of it >> is clean except for the ice >> and define I guess school zone. >> Yeah. I mean, when we started with the
school zone, it just kept getting bigger and bigger. >> It's really for It's really Heric, Charles, >> and Leonard. Well, the length of Charles both sides. >> Yeah. Yeah. Both sides. >> So, before and and I'm not
>> critiquing, but you know, when we're talking about the school, uh, the streets that are quote unquote not as dangerous. We had two kids hit on K and Charles >> before they were closed. Now, >> Right. Right. But I'm saying, >> oh, it was a bright sunny day. >> Right. >> Right.
>> Now, add everything else. Right. So that that's that's all I'm saying is uh we just have to it has to be fair. If you're going to do it on Old Pan Road, it's got to be >> right. And and Donna, way back and as I said to that gentleman who was here, >> that was the argument that I I argued against the ordinance
>> because I thought like say like someone like I was thinking of court, do you have a sidewalk by your house >> culdeac? >> No, but in front of your house you have. But if court had a sidewalk, he was in a culde-sac. I I thought to myself at the time, why are we making him >> Yeah, there's nobody show. There's
nobody there except for his family. It's It's dumb. But then after years and years and years of thinking about it and every other town is doing it, we needed to do something. >> Yeah. >> And I I stand behind this ordinance. >> I think it's the right thing to do. >> All right. I agree with you.
>> And the police have discretion. >> You know, >> it's not the police, right? That's >> giving zoning. >> No, I'm asking. >> No, police have the authority. Police have the authority and and property. >> I'm saying the warnings. It's the zoning officer that's sending those >> sending those out >> because because this was so new, we
figured with if they got a warning, it it really just makes you >> that makes you aware, right? Okay. >> I mean, I think that was very fair. >> Do you think waiting one waiting a year and having it like March 25th likely no snow after that then this is not really
going to be enforceable until next winter? >> No, no, no. This he talk he's talking about May of this year. We're We're March, right? >> March. March. >> Right. All right. So, assuming that there's no assessments this year, then because I don't think there will be snow
after that, >> you're really not going to start assessing until next winter, >> which then you just have to remind everybody all over again. Right. >> Right. My other question is I I looked at the list. I I didn't look at it in depth. Is do some of those properties
have they been given multiple warnings? I don't know the answer to that. >> They have. See, that's >> that's bothersome to me. You've been given multiple. >> Oh, that's troubling. I thought they were all one warning. >> So, how many residents go to like Florida for the season and then don't care about their driveway, don't need
to, but then associated with that is the sidewalk in front of their house. >> And the answer is enough. And the and the further answer to that is going forward they're going to have to make arrangements >> right >> professionally probably to have this
>> but notifying them now if they're away you put something in their mailbox or their door they're not here right so so that warning and then finding them like yes they were never notified yes the ordinance was from last March but giving them the benefit of the doubt of actually not being around and getting a communication >> well I think a a good sign would be is
their driveway is done and their sidewalk's not Yeah. Yeah, it's fair. That's fair. >> So, >> someone's cell phone near your microphone. >> So, the the question is we we the facts are we have an ordinance on the books.
We know what it says. know that uh uh to air on safety that we can have our DPW uh not just in the school zone but throughout town clear um those sidewalks of snow and ice and we have I think the
ordinance says that we have the ability to bill those residents for that service. >> Mhm. >> Now they don't pay that that fine. It's just a lad. So that's a lean could become a lean on the property. >> Okay. >> Eventually we
>> But I do agree, mayor, I will say one thing. I would not want the mayor and council to decide to only do specific properties in a certain area like a school zone because then that selective enforcement and that might not be enforcable in a court that's a defense. Are we able to as a mayor and council,
are we able to relax enforcement uni uniformally, am I saying that right? Yes. um across town for the remainder of the snow season of of uh you know this year 20 or first quarter of 2026 or so >> first quarter right
>> you know >> I don't know >> based on a hardship that it may have created you know however you spin it >> uh I I think the answer is yes you could do that but I don't know that you just again you want to do a blanket um again if there are people that have been worn
multiple times and you know that they've you know, that seems to me to be a larger problem. And then if there's another snowstorm, um, they continue to not do anything. >> I think the next if there is not going to work, hopefully there isn't. I think
that's going to be a good indication um whether or not the message was gotten out. you know, I mean, if they if they don't do it, the same people are just not doing it, >> then they have no intention of doing it.
>> Yeah. We So, one of those emails, you know, the the the person making the complaint said, "Just built, you know, the person that they spoke to along the route said, I'll just take the I'll take the ticket. I'll take the fine." >> Oh, >> do they know they're going to get a fine every day? It's not done. And then
finally, DPW is going to do it. You're going to have to scape it up to do it. >> There's only one way to find out. I didn't. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Probably. You're probably right. >> As silly as that may sound, >> I mean, >> is there a driveway done? >> I don't know. I I just read the email. I
didn't >> cuz then it's a matter of principle then after that if the driveway's on the sidewalk is not >> I just don't want to create more work for enforcement. But I in my it's my opinion just mine. If you've been given multiple warnings where you just got what 20 inches of snow, 18 inches of
snow, it's first of all, it's the right thing to do. Like I don't understand how you don't do it. >> If I got multiple warnings, >> I would at least at very least inquire, >> call the town, hey, what's going on here? Do I have to right >> what am I? You know, no one's even
inquiring. >> So, is it the three strikes are out rule? Anna, does do the warnings have that on the notice that you know if you have a problem or you can't get anybody whatever this call this number and we can supply
>> come in >> and they have there's quite a few >> what's our means testing for that like how do we know that you know what I'm saying like is it how are we >> a couple of people came in like uh one came in because he got the second notice he goes I did it but then it snowed
again and and his his He's older gentleman and his um >> his machine broke and he's he's he promises he's going to get another one. Honestly, I think he has really good intentions. I don't think he's he's just saying it
>> cuz Barry Ber really sweet. Um but uh there are some who, you know, now get to it and then by the time they get to it, it's frozen. >> Well, that's the problem now I think is it's frozen, right? It's hard to rectify at this point
>> without salt. >> We have What did we tell people? They come in and they're like, "Well, it's like >> everybody's doing it. Everybody has to do their side." >> One thing we know we can't do is have selective enforcement. >> Yeah. >> Cross that off the list.
So, >> it just seems like such a heavy lift to go to like I think that list was only a few blocks that they had covered in that >> two-page list. I mean, this is a heavy lift to enforce.
>> Come on. >> Again, I'm not saying it's right either, but if this storm happened a year earlier, >> but there wasn't an ordinance. That's the difference. >> Right. Right. Right now there is. >> Now there is. >> It's supposed to Friday. Yeah. >> Now it's Super Bowl Sunday. They won't
be >> Listen, we can say m I've heard tonight that multiple warnings and we can define that as three. You know, if you receive three warnings and you haven't then then is it then it's a it's a fine for every
day thereafter. That's the way the ordinance is written. >> It's written as 3 31. >> I think that's how it sounds. No, no. It's written as each day there's a there's a violation. >> We'll give them the warning which is outside the ordinance. >> It's not written as Right. >> It helps.
>> It's a daily uh >> he's referring to the daily thing afterwards. You're not referring to how many warnings they >> No, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not. >> It's it's there. There's no warnings required. Correct. You don't do it. That's correct. 24 hours. Here's your fine. >> I'm just going to throw this out there
as an option. I mean, I know maybe we can change ordinance, but it seems more logical to me that if you get three warnings and DPW does it, then we you pay the cost of DPW and and forget the daily fine. >> Just a one time
>> just just it's clean now. The DPW had to do it. Reimburse the town for that cost. >> Yeah. I don't think that once it's done, you get build. I don't think there's a fine for that. Correct. Every day because it's already done. >> We're just letting if they do it. If they do it, if they >> No, I'm saying if the DPW does it,
>> well, here's the problem. Now, you're going to take the DPW after everything they're doing, sending them to go do this, you're really kind of taking them off the hook. >> Yeah. And and and the >> I know the DPW is going to go and do it. >> The the wealthier the wealthier
residents might rely on the DPW, the ones that can't, right? >> I don't have to look for someone. >> Yeah. Okay. Well, maybe we can make it so it's not cheaper. >> We're going down a rabbit hole here to be discussed. I
>> I really think we'll know more when we get another storm. When and if we get another storm. We'll see what >> But for in the meantime, we continue to do warnings. >> Right now, we're Yes. The warnings go
out. The summones go. Not Not summons. It's a warning so people know. >> Yeah. But I think >> let's just let's just keep doing that. Let's just do the warnings for >> if we can make an assumption that after this big storm that everyone that didn't
do it >> Mhm. >> got a warning and now we have a storm this weekend. Then all bets are off. >> They they get fined. >> That's fine. >> Because they are in the know. >> We have to make sure though that everybody got warnings. I don't know. Did they >> the ones that are away?
>> Did they cover the town? Oh, they'll claim certified mail and uh >> No, no, I'm not talking about the receiving side of it. I'm talking about did we get did we cover the whole town, you know? >> Well, by by listen, we're simply saying we're enforcing a law on the books. That's all we're doing. And after the
next if the next storm rolls in, we're simply enforcing the law that's on the books. >> By the way, the police department asks residents to inform them if they're leaving for >> a longterm period of time, >> but not everybody does. That's what everyone does.
>> I I know, but we h we do have that information for people that do. I don't know if there's any benefit of checking that list. >> It would also be potentially a defense if they get fined and they would have to go to court, then they could tell the judge, I never really received personal
notice. I wasn't here. Maybe it was mailed to my house, but I never received it. So, there is like a a fail safe in that they're going to appear in front of a judge. So, he would be able to take that into account. the fact that they informed the town already. >> Yeah. That they were away and they
didn't get noticed. I mean, the fact that they're away, I don't think is a defense, but if they were away and they didn't get noticed, I think that would be. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, where are we at? >> Move on. >> Well, we we can't move on. We have to come to some sort of consensus on on
what, you know, we're going to do. We we either kind of stay relaxed uh if you will um and taking this as a season of education, we'll call it um or we we know we can't select. Well, we
have to um we have to start writing summones. That's what I that's kind of choice A or B. The way I see it, >> I think we have to give them here. We have to give them this year and next and they have to
>> not not this year. >> All right. >> Meaning >> the first end of the city, >> right? But this Yeah, this one. Okay. Come November, December, we get a snowstorm. >> All bets are off, right? I just want to make sure it's We got to be careful. >> We tell them now. I mean, everybody
who's coming here, we tell them now, you got a warning right now cuz we want you to make you aware, but next year it will be a summon. I mean, I feel very comfortable that we've been more than convenient. >> We always are. >> And I'm hoping that anybody who watches
this or I'm sure you'll you'll put it in your letter. I think you might have already. >> It was it was on the letter that you know you have elderly neighbors or so maybe help them out. >> Let me ask you what is the number one
thing that's important here? Is it educ Yes. >> Right. Is it education, convenience that is >> or safety? If it's safety >> and we are going to wait until March and something happens in one of the rows, >> that's on us. So if number one is
safety, then we should enforce it right away. And we already gave warnings. We should begin to enforce it. >> I mean, what I was what I what I was thinking is what what what you said before was everybody gets one warning, next dose storm, we start assessing. I
was I I'm okay with that. I still don't think we're solving the safety issue that exists today, >> right? >> And it's not like it's going to be 50° in the next three days. >> No, it's unfortunate. No. No. >> All right. So, do you want a motion? >> Yeah.
>> All right. Uh I'll make a motion uh if everybody's okay with that. um to start enforcing the ordinance for uh sidewalk snow removal after we'll call it the first half of 2026. Is that okay? So, we'll get we're getting this this
>> first quarter. >> Oh, it could snow in Easter. >> It could right we have Right. So, we'll we'll call it through um effective July 1st. >> Yeah. >> of 2026. That's when it will >> June we got issues,
>> right? I'm just trying to be fair if if everyone's okay with that. So that's my motion. >> We have Do we have a second on that? >> Can you say Can you say that again? We're We're letting it go until July. Is that what you're saying? >> Right. All right. >> Second.
>> Okay. Uh any discussion, further discussion on the motion that's in front of us? >> I I don't like it. >> Well, you'll get a chance to say no in a minute. Um, >> well, we could >> Okay, so >> we could still give out warnings. >> Um, yeah. I mean,
>> oh, absolutely. >> Okay. Court, anything to add as a discussion point before we vote? Again, if safety is the number one issue and we're here discussing this and something happens between now and July, now granted, maybe now in March, >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> I would not feel good. All right, we have a motion and a second. Let's uh let's go to a roll call, please. >> Councilman Bagi, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Costello, >> no. >> Councilman Blan, >> no. >> Councilman Martin,
>> he got me on safety. I'll say no to my own motion. >> Let's Let's talk safety. Cor, what what's your uh >> Yeah. I mean, look, >> Chin was here. >> All right. The motion failed. >> On the record, the motion failed. I apologize, but when you bring safety into it, >> it's all good. >> It's okay. >> I mean, the fact that we're discussing
this >> and we opt, >> you know, not necessarily not to enforce it just leaves this gap. >> Yeah, but it's like it's like buying insurance, right? If I don't buy insurance until July, something happens now.
>> If we didn't discuss this and we just sent the warnings out, that's fine. But the fact that we're discussing this in a public forum >> Sure. and we say no, let it be convenient and you know, we'll just educate and it's the season of education and something happens, I would not feel great about that.
>> Or you had me at safety, sir. It's it's okay. I >> I don't disagree with the safety, but like like the mayor said, if if we didn't do anything, like if we didn't pass the ordinance, we haven't had a problem all these years and now we passed an ordinance, now we have a problem. I mean, we haven't had a
safety problem all these years, >> but we do have an ordinance >> now. But now we have an ordinance. But if if we didn't have an ordinance where we Hey, we wouldn't be having this conversation. And and if if we have an action, it'll be the first one I know of. >> Do you know the number one rule on
effectiveness of hedging policies is that you cannot speculate? >> Yeah. Right. Okay. So, so, okay, let me get a motion from >> someone else. Here's a parallel. my intersection, Orangeburg and Old Tapan Road, right? Tons of accidents. I hear
them all the time. >> Five per year, >> right? >> Not tons. >> Let's say they put up a red light there. Everyone complains about it and everyone said, "Oh, you know what? It it's there, but you don't have to abide by it for 3 months." Yeah. Right. That's what this feels like. The fact that it's out there
and we have warned it's been everyone's been warned already, >> right? I feel like it's our responsibility to at least put it in law, right? like and fines. We can deal with fines. We can feel we can deal with complaints, but that number one issue I
feel is us not acting on something that could happen. >> Make a motion. >> Do I um like to make a motion to uh enforce enforce the snow removal ordinance
uh >> as written? >> As written. Yeah. and right away. >> Do I have a second on that? >> Second. >> Okay. Uh any further discussion on enforcing the >> yes
>> ordinance that we have on the books? Um and all the parameters that go with that in regards to DPW and billing the residents and just just >> Yes. What are we doing with our was there is there an opportunity in your motion to add after two warnings?
Yeah. I mean the the the okay >> there's a pro we can adjust the process but that ordinance has to be in the ordinance is the ordinance. >> I don't want to pause >> but your motion is going to become a resolution. So >> I would if if it if it's okay with you I
would amend your motion to say after two warnings then we start even warnings that already have been issued as >> correct. Yeah. >> Yeah. after a number of warnings and you can define them how >> we're we're satisfying both both sides. >> Yeah, >> that's fine.
>> So, what I'm hearing is that there's a motion in this in a second uh on the floor to fully enforce our ordinance in regarding snow removal on on sidewalks. Um providing the resident or business
has been has been given two written warnings. >> Can I ask a question? >> Yeah. the time lag between getting, you know, these blocks given warnings here versus here and now they have two and they have
none or they have two and they have one. People are being would be assessed at different times. >> I think they have to do the best that they can. >> Yeah. How do we handle the manpower needed to issue the warnings? expect you one warning on the
>> well our police department is >> I I don't think you need to give them a warning state the fact that this is your warning next will be a summon >> I'm trying to make it all work two warnings I think satisfied everyone here on the day >> when they get that warning and it says
next one is going to be summon they are going to call >> they have been calling they want to find out what's going on what they have to do they have to learn I mean it this is a new process that all these people are getting uh used to.
>> That's why I'm saying two warnings, >> but give up by two warnings. It might be too if it's that this cold, it's going to be too late. >> That's why I'm worried about it. >> Why when you say two it'll be frozen again. >> That's not be frozen anyway. >> It's that's exactly people's problem.
>> That's their problem is to >> not warnings per storm. Like two warnings. >> Two warnings. >> That's it. Right. >> Right. which could be a day apart. >> I mean, it could be. >> Well, the first 24 hours. >> It's 24 hours. If you don't do it on a
Tuesday and a zoning officer or property maintenance order looks at it on Wednesday and it's still there, >> you'll get another warning. >> You get another No. And by by the ordinance, you get another fine. >> Okay. >> Every 24 hours, you get written up again. >> Right. I I thought you were saying about
the two warnings, which >> one or two doesn't matter to me. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Well, the motion is what court said plus two adding in two warnings. >> Okay. >> And that was that was added. So, do you still second that with the two warnings? >> Sure.
>> Yes. >> Okay. >> Feel like we're at a firehouse meeting. >> Uh Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. Um roll call, please. >> Council, >> yes. Council, >> yes. >> Council, >> yes. >> Councilman Marty,
>> yes. >> Okay. Thank you, General. >> I'll make sure that it's >> the way government should make sure and you >> and also part of the enforcement process is our police. >> Yeah. >> So, you should advise police that they
get their books out. >> Okay. I appreciate the spirited conversation. I really do. >> I can do it along my route. >> There you go. We'll deputize you. >> We'll give you a stipen >> on the sidewalk or in the streets. It's
been half and half. >> Okay, >> we'll split the money. >> Be safe. >> You get out there, right? >> All right. >> Thank you. No, again, I I say this all kidding aside, thank you for uh you know, putting our heads together and and coming up with something.
>> So, now we'll move on to brief council committee reports. >> Let's quickly starting with council. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'll go really quick. Uh in finance, uh the budget season, we're about 3/4 of the way through. Um so we've heard from many of the departments. I think we have one
more meeting this Thursday. Um hear from a couple of departments. OEM uh they presented their annual budget um to the council. Uh they've outlined a schedule for this year 2026 with various stakeholders uh schools, religious
congregations, daycare facilities, senior living facilities, uh private business owners uh all to discuss their emergency preparedness. Uh the last storm that we had was a level two yellow threat. Uh OEM had
monitored uh all departments uh during the storm and making sure that uh a timely and effective emergency management uh and they worked closely with DPW to ensure uh that they had enough resources. Uh the next OEM
meeting is February 11. terms of fire uh January report since the last council meeting there have been 16 calls for service equating to 114 manh hours. We can say man hours there are no females on the fire department. Is that right? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> We have a captain who's female. >> Oh, we do? >> Yep. >> Oh, person hours. Uh 2026 year to date, uh 29 calls, 220 manh hours. Uh there was a crew on standby for the storm emergency. Only one call was received
during that storm. And a special thanks to DPW who cleared the driveway and parking lot uh of the firehouse. Terms of training, the SCBA refresher has been rescheduled. Uh hazmat refresher I think is coming up soon
uh tonight. Uh minimal damage to the muffler of 43 squad. Uh but they fixed that damage. uh youth council. I reached out to the council for their next meeting. I wanted to wait till budget season was over to reach out. Uh so
hopefully we'll meet with them soon. And uh safety, the first meeting of the year is in March. And that is the end of my report. Mr. Mayor, >> thank you. We'll move on to councelor Norte. >> All right. Thank you, Mayor. Uh I'll start with schools. We'll start with the uh lower schools.
So just a reminder that uh next week the board of ed I did mention this before will be providing um planning board uh a courtesy review for their expansion project at T Baldwin Demerest. Um I will be actually away on business next week. So um I will be unable to attend that
meeting and I did advise the chairman of the planning board. Um but like I said that's a courtesy review. Uh touching quickly on the um high school, um just to recap, I did attend the uh Northern Valley Regional High School Board of Ed
meeting on Tuesday, January 27th. I asked about um the computers uh their program and what they do with them. I was advised that the uh board of ed utilizes a onetoone laptop program. Uh that basically every fall, the incoming
freshman students are issued a school loan laptop for academic use. throughout their four-year journey. Uh in their senior year, prior to graduation, the laptops are collected from the outgoing students and then resold to the highest responsible bidder. Uh the four-year one
to one:1 laptop program ensures that basically school technology assets are properly maintained and inventoried. Incoming freshmen obtain the latest and greatest technology available. and the board of ed receives a fair market value for the decommissioned devices before they are excuse me before they reach
under life and would be worth nothing. Um that evening the board of ed did approve the sale of $740 units to the highest responsible bidder in which they will receive $140,886. uh they will receive $216 for 56 of
those units which are the I believe the 2021 units and $135 for the remaining 234 units. Um the units in which they will receive 216 uh were purchased in 2021. Um the difference uh in price really reflects uh that waiting too long
more than four years to decommission these devices is it just doesn't make any doesn't make good fiscal sense. So, uh, first aid core, uh, I didn't receive their I'm supposed to get an automated report on their numbers for January. I don't know if
there was a glitch in the system. I didn't receive that, so I'll report that our next meeting. Um, today we did receive the preliminary drawings for their new ambulance project uh, from the vendor. Uh, the first aid core, I was told that they will be meeting to review the drawings and to
make any uh, final changes. So, there will be more to come on that. Uh they did the first aid court presented their uh very modest and responsible annual budget uh to the council and I'm actually looking very forward to getting that approved um with the rest of you. U and lastly on the first day I just want
to thank uh all of the uh members EMTs EMRs and the drivers for continuing to answer the call of service volunteer volunteerism is probably at the lowest levels that I can remember in my lifetime. And it's actually wonderful to see these folks still getting up in the middle of the night doing what they do.
Uh board of health, not much to report. There is uh influenza activity. It does continue to decrease. However, it did hit us hard this year. Number of cases uh in the emergency department visits and test positivity reported last week were all lower than previous weeks this
season. So that's great news. And hospitalizations, while they have decreased, they are predominantly for u individuals that are usually 65 years and older. And on a side note, it's influenza this year that has hit us hard. That's my report. >> Thank you.
>> Okay, Councilwoman Costello. >> Thank you. Um, the Recreation Commission will be meeting tomorrow to finalize and adopt their bylaws, which have been drafted and reviewed by council. And subsequent to that approval of their bylaws is the first time they'll have a
formal set of bylaws. They'll they're going to commence what they call a unification project and make sure that within each of the wreck um committees that handle the sports, there'll be a standardized policies and guidelines
um regarding like coaching and player conduct and all of that. So, they're starting down that path as we speak. Um I did speak to uh Gloria today about um celebrating the 250th anniversary of our country. she has been doing some
research. I guess there's a Bergen County committee that's set up to handle this and they have a lot of resources. Um so we're working on ideas to reflect um the celebration at town day, but also they're selling post banners uh to put
all over town at any po point throughout the year. You can we can go online and look at them. They're about $70 per banner and it just it's just a 250th anniversary celebration. So they I think towns are
looking to put them up in their center part of town along >> who's selling them. The county. >> The county. It's the Yeah, there's a 250th celebration committee. Okay. >> That has tons of resources >> um dedicated to Bergen County celebration of it.
>> Um so something that we can look into. I don't know what department that would sort of the decor of the town would fall under if we want if we were interested in that >> historical >> historical
>> I think they have much of a budget but uh there are a couple banners I'm sure we can find but yeah I mean sometimes they give them an amount if they don't >> I did notice when I was reading the minutes that there's other departments the library uh the environmental
commission all have plans their own plans of sort of being part of this celebration. So, I think maybe we just need a cohesive approach to it. Yeah. >> Well, in the in the environmental minutes, they they talked about planting
apple trees in celebration of the 250th. >> I haven't I haven't heard >> at the parks, which I don't even know if that's >> I mean, Bill Bill overseas >> and I think the library is planning something as well. So, all good all good
stuff. Uh so speaking of the library um you know they came presented the budget um they're working on really at the beginning stages of that um the garden outside. They have some really neat adult programs. I think they're sort of
ramping up some of the adult programs. They have a presentation on the Underground Railroad in New Jersey. That's on February 8th uh to Sunday. They have another one on um presentation about our universe um educational but
for adults on the 20 on the 22nd. And then they're having like a weekly crochet workshop for adults every Friday. And then the kids programs continue to this month is a big sort of Valentine's Day celebration at the library. >> Awesome. >> That's all. >> They sound busy.
>> Yeah. >> You know, that's good. Good to hear. All right. Thank you. Uh Council President Bernay. >> Yes. Uh I have a full police report on the 3rd Monday. Uh but for tonight, just so you know, we are moving forward with uh interviewing for new patrol people.
And once we get about once we get down to about four or five candidates, we'll be our committee will be interviewing them uh personally. Until that time, we're moving forward with our officer in charge. still not
still not set with her contract yet, but that's in the in the works. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thanks. Um just two brief items for me. Uh again, I I've heard it a bunch of times tonight, but you know, big thank you to our DPW staff uh and
all of our first responders on the way they uh handled everything in Old Japan, kept Old Japan clear. Um, and our first responders. I know they they did have a standby crew during the storm. And I know just let her my wife Pedro go off a number of times. Our our ambulance was
was out several times uh um before, during, and after the storm. So, kudos to uh kudos to them. Um, we did get uh just as early as tonight, I don't know if everybody got to see it, but our our planner, John Zabbo, had put together all of the uh stuff that we have to do,
if you will, to for our housing element and our fair share plan. I did email that to everyone so you can review that. Um, there was a whole timeline on how it goes to how it goes to the planning board and it comes back to us and we have to have our
>> ordinance. Uh, it'll be our March 16th. You're going to introduce it first, then it goes to the planning board for consistency review. Then it comes back to you. >> Yep. And that then uh so all of the documents were were attached. So please take time to review um things that were
uh potentially agreeing to. Um so I just wanted to just briefly touch on that. So uh everyone has that that that information in their inboxes if they haven't seen it already. And that's all I have uh tonight. So a motion to adjurnn. I'll move. >> Second.
>> All approved.