Good evening. Welcome to the April 14th, 2026 meeting of the Bquanic Township Council. Miss Marsh, in accordance with the requirements of New Jerseys open public meetings act, notice of this meeting was included in the annual meeting notice which was filed in the office of the township clerk, posted on the bulletin board in the municipal
building, published as a legal notice in the suburban suburban transit daily newspapers, and distributed to all persons requesting notice in accordance with township policy. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance followed by a prayer and a moment of thanks for individuals serving our nation. 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. Most gracious providence, we ask that you bless this governing body with an abundance of
wisdom and understanding so that every deliberation will result in actions which will promote the common good and general welfare for all the people of the Quan country. Amen. >> Amen. Amen. >> Will the clerk please call the role? >> Mr. Dre is absent. Mrs. Florence Lynch
>> here. Mr. Cole here. >> Mr. Syracus here. Mayor Russell >> here. Next on the agenda is presentations. I would like the council to please join me down. Hello. on the Suburban women's
Heat. Heat. Okay. Very good. Okay. On three. 1 2 3. I'd like to read the proclamation. >> Whereas the suburban women's club and claims was organized in May 1945,
federated in February 1946 and incorporated on April 8th, 1948. And whereas club members abide by the following pledge. To do all that is in our power to aid the community. to support the activities of the
federation, to be loyal to the aims and ideals of our club, to meet each face to face without prejudice, to these objectives, we pledge ourselves. And whereas the club welcomes all women of Aquatronic Township and local townships
to join the association. And whereas the club's goal is to improve and serve the community by volunteering and participating in township, district, and statewide activities. And whereas the club is a member of the Ramapo district of the New Jersey Federation of Women's
Clubs, NJSFWC, and the General Federation of Women's Clubs, one of the world's largest and oldest nonpartisan, non-denominational women's volunteer service organizations, having 70,000 members in every state and
more than a dozen countries. Now therefore, on behalf of the township of Muanic and its residents, myself and members of the township council hereby recognize the 80th anniversary anniversary of the suburban women's CLUB
OF PTON. I always count my first give you this coffee and I know you have another one. Just make sure you have that for me. Yes. Now they're all leaving. You don't want to stay.
You need every weekend. >> At this time, are there any reports or comments from any of the volunteers serving our community? Randy, I'm sorry. Uh, good evening, Randy Shamber,
president of Pquanic, and I'm here tonight on behalf of Propel as the social equity director. Um, Paul's mission is to promote a more welcoming environment for all races, genders, religions, and sexual orientations. We
do so with several initiatives, including the annual Puquanic Pride Fest and a strong relationship with the high school gay straight alliance, and partnering with local organizations, including the public library, which uh we will be attending the library fest
this weekend. Uh the Pquanic First Aid and Rescue Squad, they do attend our Pride Festival and help us with their services. Uh the Puquanic Police Department, we participate in their national night out. The First Reformed Church, uh various programs that they
have there, the enslaved people of Puquanic, the wreaths across America and mental health first aid course, DISC 55 informational presentations at the senior house in the First Reformed Church. We also participate in the parks
parks and recck hoam. We are members of the chamber of commerce. Uh we also attend the uh chamber of commerce street fair and also new bridge services uh the mental health first aid course. So on
Saturday, June 6th, we will celebrate, believe it or not, our fth annual bridefest, an outdoor celebration of kindness at Green View Park. And to do so, we partner with several township departments, including the police, DPW,
parks and wreck, and health, all of whom are courteous and always helpful. This year, we have six food trucks, dozens offormational craft vendors, kids entertainment with two shows by Rizzo's Wildlife at the Pavilion, and music all
day long by Shamrock School Music. This is our primary fundraiser for the year for our various initiatives. Our primary initiative is our QR code to mental health program which continues to flourish providing hundreds of unique
visitors to our dedicated landing page where they search 18 categories of need with more than 80 mental health providers. We also provide um scholarships to two graduating seniors
at Aquanic Township High School. We do a kindness scholarship. We had over 60 uh essays submitted this year. Uh we have already selected one and that'll be announced on scholarship night at the high school. Uh 60 stories of high
school seniors talking about the kindness that they have spread in our community and how they plan to do so in the future. They're very very inspiring. And we also continue to give our DEI scholarship. We also give that to a graduating senior and we present that at
the Quanic Pride Fest. Other initiatives we do this uh we've done this year is we have a did you know campaign which you've hopefully all seen um on our social media which spreads the good news from our township from businesses and
organizations including scans re ice township education association parks and wreck and the pths hockey team. Also featured on our social media were influential people for both Black
History Month and Women's History Month. This year, we're delighted to uh announce two relatively recent PTHs graduates to join our director's team. Bella Basil is our director of social media and Sierra Clawson's has come on
as director of our QR code to mental health program. and I'm proud to say they're also former students at Shamrock. So, I'm here before you as I have been in the years of the past. Uh we ask for participation from our town council and
approval on a number of initiatives to make sure that the Pride Fest comes off smoothly and the celebration of Pride Month um is honored within our township. So, I ask again that we play place the Pride flags in front of the town hall.
uh that we also issue in this since this will be for the sixth year a pride proclamation for our township and we are also asking as you did last year to uh provide a uh police car and officer for protection at this year's Pride
Festival. Um so as you consider that, please let me know if you can support us in the ways you have in the past and happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hi. Um, I'm Jessica Reeds and this is
Gina and we're from the Pocuana Chamber of Commerce. Um, we're here to ask for um, confirmation if we can have the Puquanic Street Festival again. We had it last year in 2025. It was an estimated attendance around 10,000
attendees. Um we had a total of vendors around 80 with 30 of them being local from the town of Pquanic. We got a lot of positive feedback. Um everything went smoothly with the police. I I met with uh Sergeant Jetti a couple months ago
and I spoke to him over the phone last week. He said that our process went smoothly. Um, so we are here for approval for the event. Again, I also sent over documents. I don't know if those were received as well.
>> Adam, I had sent them. >> Yeah, they were going to look at her. >> Yeah. Okay. Adam, do you have anything to add? >> Sure. Yeah, I I did receive them. Um, they didn't arrive in time for the packet, but I did send them out in an email to the council on Friday. Um, one
of the questions that I had is when I reviewed them, the numbers that were included for the township's assistance in what you sent over on Thursday are different than what was provided to the governing body and me by the staff when
the application was considered in March. >> The numbers for >> for the police department and the DPW support. >> What did I send over? I thought it was 8,000 for the police. Yeah, it said 8,000 for the PD and then uh on the document you sent over it said 3,000 for
DPW. When the staff prepared the estimates, DPW was 9,200 and the PD is 7,722. When I met with detective or sergeant, sorry, Jaceti, he had said that it was going to be 8,000 and then the chief also came in and he agreed that it would
be around 8 and that he said DPW would probably be the same because from my understanding last year the total was and you could correct me if I'm wrong, but this is just what I was told was 11,000. Was it more than that? >> I don't know. I'd have to check. I I'm just going based upon um when the
municipal clerk receives the application, she sends it out to the departments and says provide any feedback and estimates and comment. So, I'd have to go back and and double check that with staff to see cuz the the number was larger by for DPW in 2026 than it was in 2025. Why that is, I
don't know. I'd have to check with director side. >> Okay. It could be because we're doing the same thing with the trucks, locking the barcades so no one can get through. Um, just we decided to do that last year. So, it could be because maybe the trucks are more expensive, which I was told that could be possible, but I
wasn't told of anything from DPW. I just only spoke with Sergeant Jaceti and the chief. So, I mean, I don't know what the council's thoughts are, obviously, subject to your decisions and direction, but maybe I can verify some of this, reach out and and double check with everybody, make sure everything's tight,
and then schedule it for future consideration of the governing body at the next meeting in April. >> Yeah, works for us. >> Good. Yeah. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Thank you. on this time. Have you any other reports? I'm sorry. No, no, that's okay.
And I'll just So 40 years, passionate supporters have come together to advance the American Cancer Society's vision, ending cancer as we know it for everyone. Relay for Life celebrates survivors, honors
caregivers, remembers loved ones lost, and raises funds to ensure that everyone has the chance to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Just to give you a couple of numbers for 2026,
70% of people are surviving cancer at least 5 years after being diagnosed. 4.8 8 million lives saved as a result of a 34% decline in cancer death rates since
1991. That sounds great. However, rates are still increasing with common type of cancers which include breast, prostate, liver, melanoma for females, oral
cavity, pancreas and uterine. Puquanic Township is part of the Relay for Life of Greater Montville Township. Last year, your mayor started a team online and many of the council members
joined him in donations and a few came to the relay. This year, our relay is once again the same day as the Pride um walk. However, it's at night and we're starting later. We're starting at 6:00
p.m. to 9:30. Um the I'm asking you, Mayor Russell, to consider starting a team again online, asking the council members to join and
donate andor fund raise and all attend the relay. You can even include family and friends. I would love to see Pquanic Township grow. So, I'm asking all of you to spread the word about this relay. The
superintendent of schools has shared with me today that he's going to be discussing um the relay tomorrow in his administrative um meeting. The more teams we can start, the better. We need
to continue this fight and we can do it if we take action to build a future free of thumb cancer. But I need your help. Thank you. Thank you. >> I'm sorry. Could you say your name for the record?
>> Ellen Broady Decker. Thank you. Are there any other reports from volunteers? Does anybody have any comments? The next item on the agenda is public comments. This comment period will be limited to a total of 30 minutes. Additional time is reserved later in the
meeting. We welcome comments, suggestions, and questions. However, the purpose of this time is to allow public comment, not to engage in a dialogue. If you have a specific question, please feel free to pose it, then follow up with staff via telephone or email.
Comments are limited to 3 minutes. If anyone wishes to address the council, please wait to be recognized to come to the microphone and provide your name for the record. >> Okay, good. I talked you into it with my subtle eye movement.
My name is Peter Schmidt, 16 Mana Avenue. Uh, as you know, I I um have this project improvement project. Yeah. And uh um we downgraded the alligator to a measly plant flowers now.
But besides that, we did uh a walk through already and and independent of of our projects, I have to say the street, the turnpike looks dilapitated. It looks actually dirty and uh the tree
the trees have cornerstones that are all broken. Uh the lamp posts are all shady. I I talked to one of the crossing guards and he said this is the county street and not the town street. So is it is it
the town's task to to keep that clean and improved or is it the county's task to keep that clean and improved? I don't know. And then some of the sidewalk is not is not really clean by the owners I have to to say. So, so
maybe there is a lot of room. Unfortunately, what I proposed there cannot be done by volunteer. It is a budget item to to redo all these stones around the um the trees and the lamposts are basically I have lots of pictures. I
can I can I can put them together. Um uh that is something that I think the town has to put in. It cost money to to do that and the council should decide whether it's worth it to have a clean town or not. Sorry.
Um uh so that's my contribution. >> Okay. Thank you. Are there any other public comments? >> Okay. There being no additional public comments, Adam, did you want to >> I will do my best. Um with respect to Mr. Smith's comments,
it depends. Um, the the street is is is a Mars County street, so it is a county street, but a number of years ago, way before my time, there was a streetscape improvement project with the decorative lights. Those are the town's lights. Um,
additionally, I think it was 3 or 4 years ago, a contractor came and reset a number of the bricks um that that the township commissioned to have those reset and balanced out. So, I I if you don't mind, I'll follow up with you. I'll give you a call tomorrow and then I I'll see if I can identify what's whose.
You know, the sweeping is technically the county's responsibility. We tend to augment what they do with our own staff just because it's a priority. Um so if that's something needs to get scheduled, you know, we can look into those different things. But it the the simple answer is it depends. The more complicated answer is on each item I'll I'll work with you to see if there's
progress that can be made. >> And the newer the the turnpike's getting all redone with that grant money that >> the southern Oh, yeah. There's >> it's from the mountain all the way. >> Yeah, there was there was an $ 8.3 million TAP grant to improve the um
pedestrian access, straighten out a number of areas that have curves that are dangerous. and uh the county was is the recipient of the grant, but we have yet to have the meeting to determine exactly, you know, when we walked in with the consultants. It involved uh better signalized crosswalks, like I
said, uh bumpouts, straightening areas that have curbs, and and 8.3 million or 8.4 million goes a long way. >> Right. And aren't they doing another one that had that was just announced that was it 27 million? >> That one I don't know.
supposed to go from mountain, redo everything, redo all the lights, redo everything. That was the one they just announced. It's not going to happen for like four or five years. >> Yeah. All I know about is the transportation plan grant that uh it's 9 9.4 9.4
9.4. >> Okay. >> It's the county's grant. It's not ours. >> Um but we're obviously involved with >> Okay. The next item on our agenda is the manager's report. Mr. Brewer. as I'm writing my note to follow up with Mr. Schmidt. Um, thank you, mayor. Uh,
within my written report, I basically am covering a number of items that are scheduled for potential action later in the meeting. Um, as we discussed on a number of occasions, Mr. Rooste prepared the ordinance for the council's consideration to amend the open space trust uses. Um, there's a resolution on
the council's agenda for the appointment of a special prosecutor. Uh, the prosecutor uh last year did not submit for reappoint. So, we have a new process new prosecutor in 2026. We have a DUI trial from 2021 that uh needs the prosecutor who was
involved at the time has been involved since that case was brought. Uh so he he his authority to prosecute the case was questioned. So based on Mr. Oik's advice, the way to resolve that is to appoint him as a special prosecutor. Uh with respect to the Foothills Park
trail, as the council may recall, we did get a grant for phase one of a trail in Foothills Park and there's been a number of improvements uh there over the years uh as a component of a desire to put in phase two of the trail and easement was necessary. There is a map that shows a
tiny sliver going onto an adjacent property owner's property and that is what the subject of this easement is. And lastly, we have for discussion uh an ordinance that's been prepared by the health department and the health officer. Mr. Kazan was here and I will happily pass the baton to him at that
stage for me unless there's any questions. That is my report. >> Thank you very much. >> Is there any chance of cleaning up Foothills Park? I mean the trees that are on the ground. I mean, we've been talking about it for a long time. >> Yeah, we have. >> A lot of it was cleaned up.
>> I don't see any of it. >> There's a lot of it is cleaned up. Yeah, they're they're progressively going in. They removed I don't know the exact number but a lot of >> I'm not talking about removing any of the trees that are up the stuff that's down. Yeah. >> Yeah. They had the Argo out. They didn't kill it much. Okay. It's been it's been a work in progress. Okay.
>> Good. There are no public hearings scheduled for this evening. Next on the agenda is the introduction of ordinances. Miss Marsh. >> Ordinance number 202602 is an ordinance authorizing a referendum ballot question regarding the use of open space trust
funds. Mr. Brewer, any comments? >> Uh, as discussed by council, the expansion of the uses of the trust would be those that are allowable by state action. >> Are there any comments from the council? >> No. Good. Is there a motion to introduce
this ordinance on first reading? >> I'll make that motion. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Lawrence Lynch, >> yes. >> Mr. Cole, >> yes. >> Mr. Syracus, >> yes. >> Mayor Russell, >> yes.
So, Carol, the next item is resolutions, but resolution 2026 1111. Should we discuss that first if you want to vote on it? >> Yeah. Do we? Yeah. >> Yes. So, uh, with regard to, uh, the
zoning board of adjustment, um, everybody has their list of the candidates except me. Can I see your list? >> You emailed sir. >> I know you emailed them. I know I did. Sorry. I can grab it.
>> I don't have them. Thank you. >> Okay. Sorry about that. There we go. I'd like to um recommend number candidate number two. >> I'm good with that. I uh
>> I was going to re recommend candy three. >> So that's good. >> So Melissa, you're okay with it? >> She wanted a number three, she said. >> Yeah, I was looking at number three. >> Okay. Um all those in favor of number two? >> Me? >> Me? >> Me?
>> Okay. The appointment is for number two. >> Okay. So now I'm going to announce it. Now we can do the resolution. Well, we don't have to, but we don't have to. >> Can we make number two the second
alternate and move number two alternate to number one? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yes, that's fine. >> Okay. >> So, that gives him a shorter, >> but he's the first alternate then, >> which is what you usually do. So, that's fine. >> I'm sure you have to.
>> So, do we take out or I'll >> do we take out that resolution then? No, we still have it. We know you have it and now I know the names. >> Okay. When I distributed, I distributed with the name blank cuz I didn't know who you were going to nominate. >> Okay. But >> so it's going to be public. So if you want to say the name now.
>> Well, yeah. Now Well, now are we going to vote on it now or you just made the recommendation? We just we just voted. >> Well, no. You council the group selected the name to be included on the resolution which is scheduled for future action. >> Right. Fine. Thank you.
>> We're good. >> I didn't want this. So it's Dina, how do you pronounce the name? >> Fidel. >> Fidela. Okay, that's fine. >> I think. >> And Mike Tisio for this first alternate. >> Yes.
>> Okay. So now I'm going to read the resolutions. Is that right? Okay. Yes. Okay. Agenda item is resolutions, Miss Marsh. Beginning with resolution R2026110, approving the designated special event permit for the Holy Spirit Carnival. 111
appointing members to the zoning board of adjustment. 112 confirming the designated memberships in the Bquinic Township Fire Department. 113 appointing Nicholas Galante Esquire as special municipal municipal prosecutor. R2026114
authorizing the execution of a trail easement agreement with JMMS Properties LLC 115 to continue membership in the North Jersey Municipal Employees Benefit Fund and authorize the execution of the required indemnity and trust agreement. R2026116
authorizing tax office refunds, overp payments or cancellations, and R202617 approving payment of the itemized claims is set forth on the April 9th, 2026 bill list and FEMA elevation escro list. >> Thank you. Are there any comments on the
resolutions from council? >> No. >> No. Is there a motion to adopt these resolutions? Let's make the motion to adopt the resolutions 2026 1110 through 2026 1117. >> May I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Roll call, please. Mrs. Lawrence Lynch.
>> Yes. Mr. Cole. >> Oh. Um, sorry. I'm going to abstain from 2026 1113, but everything else is yes. >> Okay. Um, Mr. Syracusea. >> Yes. >> Mayor Russell. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> No, I'm not the guy that's on trial.
>> YEAH. I HAD TO PUT THAT IN. I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING. What did you do? Next item on the agenda is items for discussion. Ordinance regulating electronic smoke devices, vape shops, edibles, and
psychoactive substances and drugs. Mr. Brewer, >> I'm going to, Madam Mayor, as I said, pass torch to Mr. Kazano. If the council has no objections, I'll ask him to come to the >> podium and and frame this one up for you, though we've had some discussions on it over the past about 18 months.
>> Good evening. Thank you for your time, mayor and council. I uh wanted to just uh give you a little insight into why the health department recommended uh the adoption of an ordinance to regulate these substances and electronic smoking
devices. Um, it seems to coincide with uh the legalization of uh recreational cannabis that a lot of other types of substances have become available through retailers, common retailers, whether it's 7-Eleven,
smoke shops, um, they're all seem to be engaging in sales of psychoactive substances, which come in all different forms. It's not just gummies or THC or cannabis, but there's a lot of other
substances like uh TNT. There's uh other chemical substances that come onto the marketplace that claim to do stress reduction and uh stress relief and uh increase your focus and and uh
relaxation, sleep enhancements, things like that. But they all fall under a category of psychoactive substances. A lot of these chemicals uh can interact with drugs with people's medications. People are completely unaware of that. Uh there's also um
u it's it seems that uh selling these items to children or people who are under the age of 21 isn't really tightly monitored or respected. And so uh without any laws, without any oversight, without any
regulation, uh a lot of these substances are getting into the hands of people who don't understand what they can do to the body, how they interact with medications or uh that children might actually get access to these things. Um and uh
without regulation, without licensing, uh it's very hard for the health department to to monitor these activities. And um and it's it's really proliferated uh to the point where um uh I I don't think parents even understand
for their children what what's available out in the marketplace. Uh you can buy a candy bar and this stuff might be on a shelf right behind the counter and uh a lot of these clerks are not necessarily going to respect age limits on this. So, uh, we really, uh, strongly recommend
that the council act and adopt an ordinance that empowers the health department to inspect and license these establishments, uh, to make sure there's signage for the public so they understand what they're purchasing, that the items are separated uh, from other
common food items. There's a lot of edibles now that are being infused with chemical substances. Um and uh you know we often hear stories uh where uh a grandmother might see something looks
like cookies or candy that their kids have and while she's watching her grandkids thinks that it's a snack for the kids and we've had emergency room visits as a result of that. Um, so we're just trying to get a a good um understanding of of what's available,
making sure the public's aware of that and that we can monitor these sales in a way that's legal and responsible. Uh it took us about a year and a half to develop these regulations because of uh uh a lot of uh legal questions that came
up uh rulings by the superior court in relation to uh what the health department's authority is for the different types of uh regulation and uh and also the state trying to get their arms around this u and there's been delay after delay. Years and years have
gone by and we're just not seeing any action that's enabling local the local health department to act in any way to to to curtail this irresponsible behavior that we're seeing. Um uh Mr. Stike and I have worked very
closely over the last year and a half to develop a final draft um uh that it is now before the council for adoption and um uh if you have any questions about >> I'm sorry it's up for discussion >> it's up for discussion certainly >> not adoption hopefully it'll
>> got a couple steps yes hopefully we'll be leading toward adoption but that's our hope we put a lot of time and effort in because of the importance of this subject so uh uh I'm here to answer any questions whatever would make the council comfortable to proceed. I'd be
happy to provide that for you. >> How many how many places in our town currently sell? >> Uh we're aware of of about five or six that sell uh some of them are uh vape
vape or or uh smoke type operations and some are just retailers. Um and that's just a cursory look while we're doing our retail food inspections. But uh this will enable us to do a little bit better >> deeper dive >> deeper dive to s to find out precisely
how many people are engaging in these sales. >> I think it's needed. I think >> 110% behind >> 100. Yeah, me too. I think it's 100% needed. You need to be able to go in and see exactly what they're selling and who who they're telling and what they're telling people it is.
>> Yeah. Exactly. Move forward. >> Yeah. Absolutely. >> Yeah. We do this does also our proposed uh ordinance does give the police a secondary enforcement. So we'd be the primary as a health department but it
enables the police department uh as a uh to enforce an ordinance. So it's really doesn't interfere with the criminal code which they have a lot of restrictions when it comes to THC and cannabis. There's a lot of things they cannot do. But for ordinance, a simple ordinance uh
uh enforcement, it's something they can do if they choose to. If they happen to see a child getting a substance or something in the commission of their job, they can act if they choose or they could do a report or refer it to us, but we can work in partnership. >> Sort of like shoveling the sidewalks.
They're enforcing an ordinance. >> Yes, that's right. >> Consistent with the council's direction that I heard, we'll prepare for introduction on the 20 That would be great. Thank you for all your work on this, Tom. >> I appreciate your time. Thanks so much. Thanks for your consideration.
>> Adam, are we going to discuss fees in that ordinance or is that going to be >> Yeah, there are fees in there. There are license fees. Yep. Yes. Which would be consistent with the other fees that the health department issues and collects for licenses. >> Yeah, they do. Yeah, they're consistent, but there's a vary in cost with uh
depending on on the types of of product that's being sold. So certain retail food licenses are more expensive than others. This would carry a little bit of of a larger fee because of the amount of time we'd have to invest. Okay. >> Any other questions from council? Okay.
>> No, I think it's great. Thank you very much. There are no reports or announcements. The next item on our agenda is council reports and announcements. Councilwoman Florence Lynch. Okay. Um, as far as our committee meetings, we're going to have an
economic development committee meeting here in this room tomorrow night at 7. Um, nothing new to report there. I'll like I think they want to come to a future council meeting, but as of right now, um, there's nothing to report.
Uh, the senior citizen advisory committee, they also meet tomorrow, 10:00 a.m. upstairs here in the conference room. They have a couple of events going on. Um I think our health department is involved in it. There's a
going to be a health fair across the street at friendship hall sponsored by um the senior citizen advisory committee, but it's in conjunction with the senior resource group of New Jersey. So this health fair is open to all.
Doesn't matter if you're a senior or not. It's open to everyone. It's 11 to 2 on April 28th. They're going to have some a lot of vendors there. I think a lot of our town organizations will be there as well. Um
it's a place to go and um meet various vendors, especially those in the healthc care professions, but they're going to make it fun. They're going to have giveaways and music and and education and other things. So, um, no need to
sign up. You can just show up. So, that's on that. Um, what else do we have? We had a great time and at the well not much of a great time but we did the you might the mayor might want to talk about
this more but we did our mayor's river clean up this past week and I I'm sure the mayor will report more on that but that was um actually a great community event to go out and really help make a difference in our community and clean up
all the litter. Um what else do I have? the historic district commission. Um they had the railroad station now that the weather's getting nice. They had the the railroad museum open to the public on April 12th
and they had a nice turnout. It's getting busier now that the the weather is is open. So, uh they try to open I think the next time they're going to be opening is April 18th.
Um, they're going to be open the museum. So, if you haven't been there, stop by. What else do I have? I'm sorry. I didn't get to summarize everything. Oh, the one thing I did want to say, I can take this up maybe with the manager. I want to see
if we can uh fill one of the senior citizen advisory um positions in June. We talked about how we were only going to do appointments on other committees in January and June. So, what do I have to do to get that on a future agenda? >> Not to do it, not it, but that's a
that's a clerk question. >> Okay. You need I need >> one, two, three. >> I need three people to vice versa. >> Okay. >> Works for me. >> Is that okay to do an appointment in June on Okay. >> Are you going to let me know the name?
>> Well, yeah. I mean, you're going to send the >> So, we're going to discuss that one, too. >> Yeah. I mean there's there's it's not like it's just one opening and you have one person correct. >> Oh >> then we're going to be fine with that one. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So you want to do it the first
meeting the we only have one council meeting in June. >> Okay. >> Is that right? Okay. That's fine. >> Put your emperor on. >> All right. I'll look up. I don't have the name correct me later. >> All right. Uh and anything else? The only other thing I wanted to mention was
the uh for I think most of you know Bonic Valley Rotary is holding a spring lunchon uh for the seniors May 6th across the street and it's catered by parties but you do have to register. So you can sign up at the senior house or
you can call the number on this flyer. There's flyers up there. Um other than that that's my report for now. >> Thank you Councilman Cole. >> All right. Thank you. Uh both fire departments met this past week. Company one moved their uh meeting from Good
Friday to this last Friday. So uh both companies are very thankful to the council for the new SCBAs that they received. Um as Councilwoman Florence Lynch said, look like the mayor's riverwall cleanup was very successful. Thank you to the new group, the
environmental uh committee for taking leadership of that uh being that Rudy has moved. And thank you to all the volunteers that came out and helped. Uh last night we had a planning board meeting. Um Jersey Mike's in Lincoln Park uh will be
holding the PTHs home and school association make a sub event tomorrow night from 5 to 9. Principal Hazler and Superintendent Poris will be making subs if anybody wants to go. >> Um the Little League parade is this
Saturday. Hope to see everyone there. and welcome to Craig Saunders to company 2 and thank you for volunteering. >> That's all I have. Thank you, madam. >> Thank you, Councilman Sarah Cusa. >> So, parks and recck met over spring
break. I was away so I wasn't here for it and the open space canceled. So, nothing to report. Uh do once I get the meds from parks and wreck, I'll make sure to uh to put that out for the next meeting though. >> Okay, great. Thank you very much. Um,
yeah, the the river cleanup was a we had a lot of volunteers this year. I think it was the most volunteers we've ever seen. I want to thank everybody for coming. Um, I even got a chance to meet two high school kids who were walking by
us by the river and, you know, we stopped and talked, had to hear about it. A teacher told me this would be a good thing and they said, "Oh, we didn't realize it would be so bad." Um, but it was pretty bad. Um, closer up by stop and shop, that's where that's where we
usually go. Um, the river wasn't as bad, correct? No, Adam and Bob were there, too. The river wasn't as bad as it normally is, but because we haven't had any flooding. Usually, it comes over the banks and brings the garbage with it. But we still did. I mean, there was a lot of bags there. I don't I didn't get the totals yet, but there was definitely
a lot of bags there. Um, Library Fest is this Saturday from 11 to 3. Go on out. It's going to be a lot of fun. There'll be books for sale. There'll be vendors. There'll be Randy will be there. There'll be a lot of things going on. May 30th is the first aid squad
anniversary party. They're having more details on that when I hear them. >> May I'm sorry. May 30th, they're having an anniversary party. Yeah. Um their calls for the month of March they did 104 corals. 60 of those
calls were to Cedar Crest. Total year to date was 290 calls. Um, and if you think of that, that's a lot. January, March 31, 60, 90 days. 290 days. These are volunteers. And gosh, I thank them. And they're doing very well.
We're getting a lot of younger kids coming in, a lot of cadetses coming in that are that are really up. I think one of our one of our kids had their first um CPR and and the chief said that he just did a great job and everybody was very happy with them. So, and uh library
meeting meets tomorrow. If you haven't seen the new construction at the library, please go. It's so it looks fantastic. So, that's all I have. Thank you. Next on the agenda is public comment. As a reminder, we welcome comments,
suggestions, and questions rather than dialogue and comments. They're limited to three minutes. If anyone wishes to address the council, please wait to be recognized to come to the microphone and provide your name for the record. Come on up.
My name is Linda Ziggler and I believe that everybody here knows what my issue is with my water billing. It's apparent to me that the water billing is calculating on overstated
reading of my meter and I have not been able to get anyone in this organization to help me. I've asked for technicians to come to the house to see if I have a designated line of water
coming into my house. If I'm not hooked up to the fire hydrant that's hooked up to the house, no one has come. Finally, David cycling sent over two technicians to teach me how to read the meter. And
they read the meter exactly the same way I did. And then they were surprised that the dead zero, the stagnant zero on the meter is being added to my calculation, overstating all my readings. That has
been going on since they implemented the electronic reader. I noticed my bill when I first took over the billing from my husband and it was 70,000 gallons of water was charged to me.
That's when I noticed there was something wrong. I called the department. They said I had a water leak. I don't have a water leak. I never had a water leak of that magnitude. The only water leak that we did have was
from the shower going into the drain in the downstairs bathroom. It wasn't coming from the inside pipes into the house. So, there was no spin on the meter for a leak ever. I had when they
kept insisting that I have a leak that my overstatements are because my water usage is correct. And I hired I called three plumbing agencies to come to the house. Um, Gold Middle sent the plumber over to the
house and he confirmed that I do not have a leak. I asked him could he check my lines outside. He said, "I have to call the town to get them to do that." No one has responded to that request. My bills continually add that dead zero
that's on the meter that's being calculated by the small needle calculating 10 gallons of water, which is supposed to be added to the rolling numbers on the meter. Instead, they're adding that number to the rolling meters
and then adding the dead zero to the count, making hundreds of thousands of gallons of water that I'm not using. Okay, thank you. >> Are there any other public comments? >> Peter,
sorry. >> First you were no, now you can't stay away. >> There are two issues. The first issue this ordinance uh with um with psychoactive um I don't represent all the citizens in this county but I'm sure
lots of things lots of people will endorse that wholeheartedly. I think this is a good thing to do. Yeah. So I think you have the support of the whole community for that. >> The next thing is uh economic development committee. Actually the official name is economic development
advisory committee. That's the official name. And we are wrestling very hard whether we are a committee that gives advice to the council or whether we are volunteers that help with implementation of some of these things. And of course
um um would be good to have some guidance from the council to tell us are we more than just an advisory committee or are we just helping yeah like like so many other organizations with actually helping shuffling these these advices
through and implement them. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else for public comment? Okay. This public comment period is closed. Adam, would you like to address anything? >> Uh, sure, Mayor. I appreciate Mrs.
Igler's coming out and and her frustration. I've had the opportunity to speak with on the telephone a number of times. Um, as I provide to the council a written report before, the challenge that seems to present itself is um first with respect to comments about the technician's comments um being that her
interpretation is correct. The report I got back differs from from that representation um with respect to the excessive quarter. There was an excessive quarter um where there was a significant amount of water used and then it went back to normal.
So that's consistent with what uh the the department typically sees police. Uh with respect to staff involvement, um the director has spent many many hours uh on on the issue. I've spent probably four or five hours meeting with staff, going over the issue. Uh we provided
advice to Miss Angler regarding getting her meter changed as well as provided a copy of the ordinance. We provided the historical usage. Um after having the director, the foreman, the uh laborer for the water department as well as the
CFO, myself, the tax utility collector all reviewing the issue. The conclusion that has universally been reached by the staff is that the meter reading is correct. So unfortunately there's nothing else that I can offer at this time because of the number of people that have been involved.
That's all answer. Okay. Next. Any questions for council? Next on the agenda is minutes for approval. Um Dave, you're going to abstain on the March 10th regular meetings. February 10, February 24th, March 10th, 2026
regular meetings. February 24th and March 10, 2026 budget workshop meetings. Are there any comments on these minutes? >> No. Is there a motion to approve these minutes? I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from the regular meeting
February 10th, February 24th and March 10th as well as the budget workshop workshop meetings of February 24th and March 10th. >> Is there a motion? >> Second. >> All in favor? Opposed?
>> I agree, but I'll abstain from the March 10th regular meeting. >> Thank you. Opposed. There is no closed session this evening. There being no further business, is there a motion to adjurnn? We'll >> make that motion. Do >> you have a second? Second.
>> All in favor? I >> opposed. Meeting adjourned at 7:50.