Good evening all day. Welcome to the August 12th, 2025 meeting of Vakon Township Council, Miss Marsh. In accordance with the requirements of New Jersey's 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 of the municipal building, published as a legal notice in the suburban trends and daily record newspapers, and distributed to all persons requesting notice in accordance with township policy. >> Thank you. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance followed by prayer and moment of thanks for individuals serving
our nation. I aliance 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 the general welfare for all of the people of the Quanic Township. Amen.
>> Amen. >> The clerk will please call the role. >> Mrs. Florence Lynch >> here. Mr. Cole >> here. >> Mrs. Russell here. >> Mr. Syracus >> here. >> Tracy, >> I am here. Moving on with the agenda. Number five, there are no presentations scheduled for
this evening. Number six, reports from volunteers. At this time, are there any reports or comments from any of the volunteers serving our community? Yes, sir. Come on, Officer Ro. Hi, Robin Jones, chair of the Open Space Advisory Committee. Um, I was last here
in front of you in May and I had made uh a suggestion that the open space properties along the Pontton River be bundled into a uh an official park. Uh, you asked me to come back when I had a
list of those properties and uh here it is. I'll give these to you, Mr. Mayor. Oh, wow. Yeah. Well, it's it's a long history that goes long before there was an open space advisory committee. So,
we're not taking credit to have involvement in every one of these properties, but at least half of them. Um, so I just I'm just fulfilling my commitment to you and I look forward to your response as to whether you want to go forward with this.
>> I'll just discuss. So, you're looking at making all of these apart. >> Yeah. Yeah. anything. They're all along between uh River View and Bquantonic, North Bonanic and Harrison. >> Um yeah,
got it. All right. Thanks for Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Any other volunteers? Seeing none, um we'll move on to public comment. Next, uh this public comment, this comment here will be limited to a total of 30 minutes. Additional time is
reserved later in the meeting. We will comment, suggestions, and questions during the comment period. However, the purpose of this is to allow for public comment, not to engage in dialogue. If you have a specific question, please feel free to pose it and then follow up with staff via telephone or email. Comments are limited to 3 minutes,
please. If anyone wishes to address the council, please wait to be recognized to come to the microphone microphone and provide your name for the record. Yes, this review. Good evening. My name is Peter Schmidt,
16 Mana Avenue. Today my comment will be about Medicaid, the upcoming Medicaid cuts and what the city is doing about it, can do or should do about it. Let me start slow. Yeah. Um I have two
grandchildren. Yeah. 3 years and one year old. The cutest things in the world. Nothing can compare with that. So I was reading the news German child mortality in the United States is
80% higher than in Europe. 80% nearly twice as high and I as an American patriot I find that inacceptable. Now in addition to this now the upcoming the
current federal budget foresees to save a trillion dollars in Medicaid and that will imply about 10 million to 17 million uh uh people that will use Medicaid support.
I ask I do a lot of talking to my my assistant GBT now. I can that later. Uh um that would um translate nobody knows exactly about 490 to 700 people here in
Puano that are losing Medicaid. 41% I just checked it 41% of all children in the United States are on Medicaid which I think is not acceptable either. So, so should the township do something about
it or can can the township do something about it? Um um let me put you all know I'm a registered Democrat and actually my my nice American friends all advised me not
to talk about politics in here but my German heritage I can I can do this. Um, just imagine at the hold down there is a nice nice big poster that says loses 500 people to uh to medicate and
chooses not to do anything about it. Just imagine how how that looks like. You see that's my my political take that off. As a citizen, I would much more that the city does something. Of course, it's very easy to to request something
and say let's do something about it. So I asked my assistant and I can talk about it later as well what can be done and he wrote me a proposal for the township what could be done and I said ah these are nice things please give me
a table how much effort it is and how likely it is to do something good and I have that table here I mean I don't want to to to enter a negotiation right now but I I'll
be happy to to give you the table and there are I think there are some good suggestions and in addition of course what we I still have a minute left or so what we don't talk about here is is um what is a
good municipality and not so good the people in Puano don't know how do you know whether riverdale is managed better or of orano we are not really telling the people where we are good at here in this community I think uh some if we do
something good we should we should announce that somehow to the public because they don't know I work now with the zoning department a little bit. Yeah I see they they do a lot of hard work could be done a little better but uh do a lot of hard work. I think there are
many areas where the township could be proud of and if if they do something for Medicaid certainly that is something that could be made public and improve sort of the image of the administration
and the town in this community. You okay my my comment. Thank you very much. >> Feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel free to drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop drop off a comment. I know if you did the research and so I would I would be interested to read it. So thank you. Anybody else for public
comment? Yes. Come on, Mr. Paul. Good evening. Paul Mailer for Quanic Township. Like Peter, I was encouraged by friends and family not to uh come tonight, but now is not the time to be silent.
and to the republic for which it stands. As we did at the July town council meeting, we all stood with our hands over our hearts and pledged allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America. But for Republicans nationwide, they were just words then and now without
integrity and absent patriotic loyalty as the white nationalist Nazilike regime in our nation's capital runs roughshot not just over the city but to the very rule of law. Let's consider a few examples from
recent headlines. Testifying before Congress, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon was asked if she would support a Holocaust deniers bid to teach at Harvard. Her reply, quote, I believe that there should be diversity of viewpoints relative to teachings and
opinions on campuses. End quote. In other words, yes, in her Trump world, a Holocaust denier is a worthy professor. By contrast, in April 1983 or in a speech to Holocaust survivors, President Ronald Reagan said, quote, "The freedom
we enjoy carries with it a tremendous responsibility. You, the survivors of the Holocaust, remind us of that. Good and decent people must not close their eyes to evil in times of moral crisis." End quote. And yet an appointed member of the
current Republican King's cabinet thinks Harvard should be required to hire a Holocaust denier. In July 2025, the wouldbe Republican king visited newly constructed alligator Alcatraz and said, quote, "Very soon, this facility will
house some of the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet." End quote. He, one of the first detainees, was a 15-year-old boy with no criminal background. He was merely picked up on the street because he is brown and
without due process sent to the now infamous Florida concentration camp. Why? Because the ICE directive isn't to hunt down dangerous criminals. It's to drive fear into every Brown family in America.
And the pledge you also solemnly recite ends with quote liberty and justice for all. Not just for Republicans, not just for citizens, not just for wellto-do and privileged whites. Not just for old and
proud liberals like me, but for old proud liberals like me and the brown kids being separated from their families and their parents thrown into a concentration camp in the Florida swamps. all without regard to due process or the rule of law. So the
question for all government officials, whether federal, state or municipal, is what do you stand for? If it is to the republic for which that flag stands, you have both a moral and an official
responsibility to your constituents to stand against the injustice and brutality in the concentration camp known as Alligator Alcatra. To stand against the lawlessness of masked goons acting for ICE as they terrorize
law-abiding families in their homes. to stand against a defense secretary who claims women should just stay at home and shouldn't have the right to vote. It's time for you to decide. Stand against the tyranny or sit there silent
and complicit. There's nothing funny about this. Councilwoman, stand against the tyranny or sit there in silence and be complicit. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else public comment? Yes, come on
up. [Music] Hi everybody. Rich Walter, Pton Plains. I just had a question about uh 60 sunset and I understand that it's in litigation and you discuss it in close session which is fine. I think hopefully we're
in capable hands there. then you'll do the right thing for the town. At either the last uh council meeting or the one before, one of the residents had requested at the behest of many of us that maybe you could look into getting
outside counsel besides the insurance company that was representing us. And my question is um can you answer yes or no? Has that been done or considered or is that in the works or >> I'll ask about Donald for through this?
He'll have to on that one. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else for public comment? [Music] I see none. We'll we'll close the um we'll we'll close this and continue with
the agenda. Um Bob, can you just address the questions? I don't say anything or >> Well, the the town can be represented in court by one attorney and that is the attorney provided by the um by our insurance company at this point in time.
And of course, we wouldn't want to do anything that would detract from the mission that attorney has, which is frankly to represent the township, not the insurance company or appointed by the insurance company. But his obligation is to the township and um he
is he does exercise some independence and independent thought and expresses that to us. But ultimately, he will follow the township's advice. He does coordinate this with the the people in my position, right, who represent the township exclusively, not in this litigation, but in general, and the
attorney for the board of adjustment, who does the same on behalf of the board of adjustment. And it is it is us who will speak to that attorney regarding the positions of both the township and the board of adjustment. So, yes, you can always bring another attorney in. There's always ways to spend money and
there's many people that will line up to take a thing. But we've had the insurance company provide us with a separate attorney to review our code and our ordinance and give us information about that. We have an appointed attorney who's frankly well respected in in the field and well known to to those
who do this kind of work. So, um I feel like the township is well represented at this point. At some point in time, the township could certainly get advice from outside council um should they choose to do that and budget money accordingly for that but not at this time? We have not done
that at this time. Okay. All right. Thank you, Bob. Moving on the agenda. Mr. B, you have any comments on anything that was mentioned? I don't know who any did but I'd be interested to read what
Peter had put together but I don't I don't know this chap GPT guy so uh manager report Mr. Thank you, sir. I apologize at the outset as it goes to help. I know the
keyboard. >> First off, we have uh Sherman Avenue sidewalks followup. Previously, the council discussed the approach to Sherman Avenue. Direction was given to solicit feedback from residents. There's a summary of that from Mr. Russo
supporting my memo. Essentially, the desire of the the residents is to have all the sidewalks that currently exist uh be replaced. The only real outstanding question uh is, for example, the Manor Avenue sidewalk project we had the pre-construction meeting for this morning. That involves the replacement
of the sidewalk that is deteriorated. If there's sidewalk that is in good shape, it's not going to be replaced as we've done on other projects. Uh we've also had other projects where we replace all of the sidewalk. So, the one question that we will need direction from at some point, cuz this will be the subject of a 2026 budget item, is whether we're
replacing just those slabs of sidewalk or all of the entire sidewalk. Uh the other item for uh discussion or or consideration is there's a piece of basketball sidewalk along the north eastern side uh that's that goes to
nowhere and really serves no purpose and from a planning and and circulating perspective would be best served to be removed. So, we need to know we're replacing all the sidewalk and and preferably to be able to remove that sidewalk. Um, with respect to West Franklin Avenue
traffic concerns, uh, again, there's a memo from Mr. Russo in support of, uh, the the summary I'm about to provide you with, the same issue was raised last year. Uh, police department staff, traffic division, as well as the engineer went out and inspected the area. Uh, reports were reviewed, they
discussed it. Uh last year, as the council may recall, there was a significant amount of vegetation that was removed, increasing sight distance, which we have felt had an improvement on safety. Uh that said, there's a there's a Sunday morning. It's congested. There's a lot of people parking there for a couple of few hours and then it
dissipates shortly thereafter. As enumerated in Mr. Russo's memo, the legislative authority of the council would allow for the prohibition of parking on one side, both sides, any sections for any variety of ways that that would like to be approached. Uh the one concern I would like to provide the
council with is you don't really solve parking problems. You typically just relocate. So if there was a desire to implement a parking uh restriction, I would just ask that there be some time to review that uh to see what the potential outcomes would be from an engineering and
planning perspective. uh Mars County Park Commission trails grant application. Earlier this year, the council authorized the Cherry Street Park, which is a paper street that doesn't exist. Uh and it essentially connects New Reed Street to the county
trail provides a shelter and some seating area. We made the application of the Mars County Park Commission. During the application process, the park commission's consultant identified a perceived presence of wetlands. Uh, so I'm just letting the council know that that was what was identified.
Discussion with leadership at the park commission involved. We'll get a presence or absence determination. Pause the application for 2025. If there are none, we'll proceed with it in 2026. If there uh if it is determined there is a presence of wetlands, then we may need to review what else could be
included as permits from the DP could be required. Uh, Green View Sports Courts grand opening. There was discussion previously about having a ceremony to cut a ribbon. So I wanted to see if the council was amenable to or desired to still do that and if so amenable to doing it on
September 9th about an hour before our regular council meeting at say 6 p.m. [Music] >> You want to go through everything? You want to >> I'll run through everything and then we go back. Um go one by one. >> Yeah. Route 23 northbound uh southbound
sewer extension project. Uh the required public hearing for those individuals to be included in the special assessment was held on August 5th with the special assessor and me. A dozen people attended. It was in spite of the subject a positive meeting and a good time to speak with some of the residents. There
was one issue identified which the special assessor is going to address. The next step in the process to confirm the assessment is the actual confirmation. Unless there's objection or concern or question from council, I would like to schedule that for September 9th. It does require specific notice to be published
twice and letters to be sent. So, if that's right with the council, we'll do that. Uh, next up, item F, ordinance 20250 is scheduled for public hearing and potential adoption tonight. Was the subject of some significant discussion at the meeting to introduce it.
As I commented then at some length, this is an ordinance that's being imposed upon the township by FEMA. The origins I don't think are ill except for the fact that the state of New Jersey is already very highly regulated. This is a one-sizefits-all ordinance that's supposed to work in Wyoming as well as
in places like New Jersey. There are some things that conflict with state statute uh that there were some things in the model ordinance township took exception to and was able to get some of removed. some of the definitions we couldn't uh but ultimately there's a pretty good summary of some of the things that are going to be impacted
there. The ordinance reads as if it makes the new firms effective. Our ordinance that exists now would have the firms become effective on the 19th of August regardless of whether this is put in place. So essentially in order to continue in the national flood insurance program which hugely benefits the potential of the quantic and our
residents, this is something that we are forced to move forward. uh Green View Park pickleball courts membership. As discussed previously, an ordinance was prepared for potential introduction or amendment. It establishes the requirement for
membership sets the fee for resident member of $20, non-resident at 150 and replacement for lost badge of $20. It also articulates the ability for one guest per day per member. We surveyed some surrounding communities. Some people prohibited it. It happens anyway
and it's ignored. Other people allow this. It's it's it's a work in progress. Uh there's some some self policing that has to take place. Uh the justification for the resident membership is the card itself is about $9. Then you factor in the ribbon and all the other technology that goes into making them. We don't
want to lose money on the preparation of the card is is my point. But all of that is obviously subject to the council's uh direction. Wells one and two POS treatment project in 201 1819
uh there was a decision to move forward with the removal of POS uh from the township's well which it immediately took offline prior to being mandated to test for POS and appropriation of $4,750,000 was created by ordinance to fund that.
At that time there was no thought about using New Jersey I bank which has the benefit of lower interest and no interest as well as the possibility of principal forgiveness. As we've evolved through the project the decision was made to go with the I bank which significantly expanded the professional services that were required from the
engineer. That was the subject of a couple of resolutions which will come up again later in the report. Uh in addition to that, the bids were submitted in such a way that the township had to skip the lowest bidder because it was deemed uh problematic when it couldn't be awarded, which was a
difference in cost of $291,000. Bottom line is at this point we're roughly $213,000 over budget for the project. The recommendation from bond council was don't fund that amount. Do an authorization for half million provided there might be change orders.
You don't want to have two meetings if you have to deal with something that's timesensitive. Um the additional authorization would still be subject to council action. It's not as if I'm getting the ability to buy a couple hundred thousand municipal Maserati for myself and it would have to be project specific dedicated simply and solely to
the removal of POX. So that is scheduled for potential introduction if the council sees fit to move forward with it. Uh, additionally scheduled for potential introduction is an ordinance to fund the 2022 home elevation project. Uh, that's one of the benefits of being in the National Flood Insurance Program.
You can be eligible for the grants to elevate homes. So, this is an additional seven homes that were included in that round. Uh, so that is part for the course and how we've approached these projects in prior years going all the way back to 2016. Um, bid threshold. The state of New
Jersey authorized as it does on every 5 years the potential to increase the bid threshold based upon change in prices included in the council's packet is the local finance notice explaining the justification behind that. Uh the potential exists to increase from 44 to $53,000 with the qualified purchasing
agent which the township has. So that resolution is scheduled for the council's consideration. Back to POS. Oh, excuse me. We're not there yet. Uh DOT utility engineering and construction easement. lots of paperwork in the packet for this. Essentially, because of
the state's project on Route 23, the possibility may exist whereby relocation of water infrastructure or other utility infrastructure might need to be done because it could be in conflict with the state's project. Uh back in 2017 or 18, the word utility operator was under the impression that that he could sign those
agreements and did. Uh so you have two agreements that were previously executed but not formalized and and those are in the form of amendments and two new agreements based upon the current project. So our goal is to address those with one resolution. A lot of paperwork
state of New Jersey. I I try not to say too much more with respect to the professional service authorizations. Uh when the initial POS project was conceptualized a contract was awarded to crew engineering. Crew Engineering then became H2M engineering.
The township adopted a resolution assigning the contract to uh H2M from crew. Subsequently, there was a request to expand the authorization based upon the I bank. There was a resolution acted upon to increase the authorization. There was another increase based upon uh
requirements such as a treatment works application, expanded bidding uh requirements, and full-time inspection is kind of the big hit. uh whenever you have to pay someone to be a full-time inspector on a project, there's a significant cost there. So, there was a fourth resolution acted upon. When we reviewed the budget, it was determined
that the there had been an error made and the total authorizations was identified as $846,000. The resolution to confirm and correct the authorizations to H2M reduces that number to $770,18367. [Music] And lastly for discussion every two
years the township is required to review and revise its personnel policies and procedures manual and employee handbook that is uh scheduled for discussion and presentation. If the council has questions uh we can address those at the time of discussion and ultimately if there are uh once we finalize whatever
document will be uh approved I will schedule that for action on September 9th. So would you like more? Sure. So quickly back to the items with with request for direction uh with respect to Sherman
Avenue sidewalks. Obviously we can discuss this so we can discuss this moving forward or the council give me direction tonight. It's there's no time of the essence but the council has a decision on what it wants to do. I'm happy to make the note of it and move forward. Anybody got those? >> Yeah, I just have a couple questions. Okay. So just for clarification again.
So for you're saying for both Sherman and Manor we're talking about or just >> No, Sherman. This is just Sherman. The matter was used as an example where not every slab was placed only those that require. >> So in the in the past we've done it both ways. >> Correct.
>> Okay. Um and the recommendation from the residents is just to do the the ones that are deteriorating. >> The recommendation from the residents there were questions about do we want to extend all the way down do both sides with one side. So the recommendation from the response from the residents is
replace what exists. >> Okay. have it go from no. >> Yeah. >> Well, the request is don't expand what exists. Don't make it longer. Don't go anywhere else. >> Right. But do it all. >> The residents who commented further on
what their brothers are regarding whether to replace only those that are deteriorating >> and need it versus replace them all. The commentary from the couple residents that have commented that is please just do them all. >> Well, the only reason I would say that is because it might it's not going to
match. So it'll look, you know, >> in time it matches >> eventually it will. >> So >> you get more you get more bang for your buck if you don't replace stuff that doesn't need to be replaced. So the budgetary perspective of getting more sidewalk done has been approached when it's been appropriate. Rock ledge was like that. Man is like that. Um but it's
up to the council. >> Yeah. I mean >> it's a short strip. I say just you know what just do do it all. >> It almost seems like it would be easier to do it all. >> Do it all. Do we have to wait to remove the sidewalks from the northbound side or is that something DBW can do? DBW
>> Yeah. I mean, when it's a short strip like that, that's what I'm thinking, too. >> I mean, how how many are we talking here that we possibly not going to do? >> I don't know. I don't have let's do it all. >> I'm fine with doing all >> it.
And and and no objection to the removal of the asphalt. No, we're not. >> No, they're both introduced to us. Thank you. Uh, West Franklin, is there any action desired at this time or do you want the Department of Engineering to continue to monitor?
>> Well, on Sunday mornings when church is going on. I mean, I can see why maybe we want to do that, right? On one side, no parking. >> No, I I say it's it's it's been an issue that's been there for years. I say we just let it go. The only question that I
have is uh the church bought a a a foreclosure on a house that allegedly was going to be a parking lot. Uh there's been some talk or rumor that the reason they didn't make it a parking lot is because of town restrictions. I don't know what restrictions we could have put
on them for making it a parking lot. So, if we can just investigate why they bought the property and didn't make it a parking lot. >> I agree. as long as emergency vehicles, which Vinnie had brought up, as long as emergency vehicles can get through. Um, it's been it's been forever and it's only one day. It's the same thing.
Mountain A and Mountain Nav was even widened, but even that it's one car through on a Saturday when when they're doing garage sales. So, >> yeah, I think that as long as it's monitored um and like a fire truck and ambulance can make it through there without, you know, without delay or
without being obstructed, then um I'm okay with it. So, we don't think we should do anything just >> Yeah, I would I wouldn't think so. It's not like it's for an extended period of time, but it would be interesting to find out why. >> Yeah, I'll follow up and get >> or look into it. See if I can I I would
just ask, you know, the church just to make announcements, you know, that to the person that, you know, just to be cognizant of where they're parking, you know what I mean? And make sure that there's enough room to get through. They can kind of police themselves. >> Yeah. The report back I got from the PD
was they had some conversations down on Sunday mornings with them that they were very receptive to it. The parishioners were receptive to it and they explained the concern and >> I mean the only problem was is parking on one side of the street. >> Our cars are going to go down somebody else's street. It's going to we're going
to have neighbors that are going to be not happy that we >> I understand somewhere else. >> No, you don't fix it. You just relocate. Leave it alone. I think if they can use this laboring property for a parking lot. >> Yeah, that would be good to know. >> And I I I always think back to Holy
Spirit and electronic sign. If there's a perceived impediment that may not really exist and we can break through that barrier, perhaps that can be a positive. So I'll follow up on that. >> Okay. >> Right. So letter C, that's okay. We'll pause that for this year. That's the grant. I don't think there's anything else that needs direction. The rest is
really subject. I'm good with Tuesday. >> Now Tuesday. Only thing I was going to ask on that other one, what made us think that there could be wetlands there? >> We didn't think there were wetlands. We still don't think there were wetlands. The county the countyy's consulting. >> Uh, okay. >> Yeah. And if they think so, they're not
going to give us the ground anyway. Yeah. >> So, there's your poll. >> I'm good with It's It's still good. They're very receptive to us carrying to next year if you just answer. >> Okay. All right. >> Cuz it's a great project and they would like to see >> September 9th. >> I'm good with the nth. That's the next meeting.
>> I'm good with that. It's like before the next meeting with that come in the night everybody >> at 6. So just do six >> and then the the special assessment process. So yeah confirmation going
collecting the money the rest is is subject to uh special. [Music] >> Yeah. The only thing I want to ask you, you had said uh one issue came up when you had that meeting. What you mean on
the one property? What type of issue if you don't mind me asking? >> So the purpose of the meeting is to allow those who are affected by it to come here. How the assessment was calculated and what the methodology was. Um there was one property that is identified in the mod 4 database as a mixed use which really
isn't. So instead of being assessed at the flat rate that's assessed of for the residential properties, it was assessed as commercial properties. Got it. So the person came out, identified that that was a concern, the special assessor went out and conducted field inspection and confirmed the fact that it is a uh
function as a residential and to make it into a commercial property would require enormous effort. So it's not as if it's a turnkey thing. That could just be if it were a turnkey thing that made commercial, it would have been assessed as commercial. >> Okay. Thank you. >> We good. Yeah, good. >> All right, moving on. Thank you, Mr.
Bro. Put that on the calendar. Moving on to the agenda, the public hearing, Miss Marsh on ordinance, 2025-09. Ordinance number 20209 is an ordinance by the township council amending the township of code of ordinances to repeal
chapter 171 to adopt a new chapter 171 to adopt flood m flood hazard maps to designate a flood plane administrator and providing for severability and an effective date. >> Thank you. Are there any comments from council? >> Nope. >> No hearing none. Is there a motion to
open the public hearing? I'll make that motion to open the public hearing on 2025-09. >> I'll second favor. I >> If anybody in the audience has any questions or comments on this ordinance, please come to the microphone and identify yourself for the record.
>> Seeing none, is there a motion to close the public hearing? >> I'll make that motion to close the hearing. >> Second. >> I I didn't know it was a race. >> Is right here. All right. Is there a motion to adopt? >> Mr. Rock, paper, scissors. I'll make a motion. >> Second.
>> I'll second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Florence Lynch. >> Yes. Mr. Cole, >> yes. >> Mrs. Russell, yes. >> Mr. Syracus, >> yes. Mayor Tracy, >> yes. So, next item on the on the agenda is introduction of ordinances. Miss Marsh.
Um this is ordinance number 202510 bond ordinance providing for the elevation of floodprone homes in by the township of aquanic in the county of Mars New Jersey appropriating 1,76 $767,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance
of $1,767,000 bonds or notes of the town of the township to finance the cost thereof. >> Thank you Mr. Brewer. Any more comments? Nothing beyond my report unless your questions. Okay. Any comments from council? >> No. >> Hearing none. Is there a motion to introduce introduce this ordinance on
first reading? >> I'll make a motion to introduce ordinance number 2025-10. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> Roll call. >> Mrs. Florence Lynch. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cole. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Russell. >> Yes. >> Mr. Syracus. >> Yes. >> Mayor Tracy.
>> Yes. Yes. Next on the agenda is introduction of ordinance number 2025-11. Miss Marsh. Ordinance 202511 is an ordinance amending chapters 152 and 237 of the code of the township of Aquanic and establishing membership fees and
rules for pickle ball and tennis court use. >> Mr. Brewer, any comments? Uh, nothing further beyond my report just to confirm with council that the fees are okay unless they want to change. >> Any comments from council? >> No, it's fine. I just had one stupid question. Um, we were talking about how
you could reserve. Um, we in the rules we said you could reserve if you were in a group. Kyle had brought that up, but you still need to be a member to do that, right? That's it. >> All right. No more comments. Is there a motion to introduce this ordinance on first reading? >> I'll make that motion for second.
>> Mrs. Lawrence Lynch, >> yes. Mr. Cole, >> yes. >> Mrs. Russell, >> yes. >> Mr. Syracus, >> yes. >> Mayor Tracy, >> yes. Next on the agenda is introduction of ordinance number 2025-12. Ordinance 202512 is a bond ordinance providing a supplemental appropriation
of $500,000 for the treatment of wells one and two bills number one and number two and related improvements in and by the township of aquanic in the county of Mars New Jersey and authorizing the issuance of $500,000 bonds or notes of
the township of bonds or notes of the township to finance the costs thereof. >> Yes, Mr. Brewer. Nothing further unless there's questions approved. >> Any comments from councel? >> No. >> No. >> Is there a motion to get this project done? >> This ordinance on first reading?
>> I'll make that motion to introduce 2025-12. I'll >> second. >> Roll call. >> Mrs. Florence Lynch. >> Yes. Mr. Cole, >> yes. >> Mrs. Russell, >> yes. >> Mr. Syracus, >> yes. >> Mayor Dre, >> yes. Next agenda item is resolutions.
Miss Mark, >> beginning with resolution R2025161, approving the designated special event permit application, which is for the Post242 car show. 2025162, confirming the designated memberships in
the Quanic Township Fire Department. 163 authorizing the execution of a quick claim deed releasing ownership unit from affordability controls which is block 2202 lot 2 qualifier C217 2025164
authorizing 5 $53,000 bid threshold effective August 12th 2025 165 authorizing the execution of agreements between the township of Quanic and the New Jersey Department of Transportation necessitated ated by the route 23 improvement project being
undertaken by the state of New Jersey 166 correcting and confirming the amounts of professional services agreements and contracts with the H2M architects and engineers incorporated for the wells 1 and2 PAS treatment program treatment project
2025167 authorizing the acceptance of a hold harmless from Theodora and Adam Satos lot for block 3501 one lot 7 which is 13 William Street 168 authorizing tax
office refunds overp payments or cancellations 169 authorizing release of designated escrow deposits 170 authorizing release of deposits for construction in the township rightaway and R2025171 approving the payment of the itemized
claims as set forth in the August 7th 2025 bill list and FEMA elevation escro list. >> Thank you. Thank you. There any comments from council on a resolutions? >> The only thing that I was going to mention is if possible, which I don't know if it's be possible, is to have the
new parking area PV park done before the car show. If it's not being able to be done, just not to do it the same week or weekend that that they're having the car show. So, try to work with them the best we can. >> Schedulewise, we'll work to get it done. It'll be in the second trunch of paving.
And if if there is activity happening, it won't be in conflict. Perfect. Thank you. Other than that, >> and that Yeah. And that one request to build on the rightway, that was the one that it was just a maintenance for your fence, right? >> There's an existing chain link fence that they're upgrading. There was not a previous whole harmless agreement in
place. There's another zoning issue. So, it's just to replace that. >> Okay. Very good. >> And it's a utility. >> Any other comments? Good. >> Okay. Is there a motion to adopt? >> Sorry. Resolution. >> Yeah. I'd like to make a resol motion to
approve resolutions 2025 161 >> through 2025 171. >> I'll second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Florence Flinch, >> yes. >> Mr. Cole, >> yes. >> Mrs. Russell, >> yes. >> Mr. Syracus, >> yes. >> Mayor Drees, >> yes.
>> Next item on the agenda for discussion, personal manuals, craft revisions. Although I'm arguably one of the authors of it, the absurdity of 160s something page manual is clear. Um
I I yeah some of the some of the policies are shorter than others. So the township's existing personnel personnel policies and procedures manual employee handbook is posted on the town's websites. We're very very transparent. We like to provide that for the public. Uh the the Mars County Municipal Joint
Insurance Fund and the New Jersey Municipal Access Liability Joint Insurance Fund require review every two years. In addition to the review of the manual, police department administration has to go to training. Supervisors have to be trained. Mr. Lake has to sign off that we've done all of these things in order to be eligible for our employment
practices liability and public officials liability lines of coverage. covering the memo is or covering the manual, excuse me, is uh a memo and within the manual any changes are highlighted, bold strikeouts. If it's things to be removed, um I will quickly
run through those and if the council has questions, thoughts or comments, please feel free to let me know. Um with respect to the anti-discrimination equal employment policy, additional text was added based upon the recognition of labor council. uh ADA, there's additional language now because of the
federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act from the Joint Insurance Fund. Uh alcohol and drug free workplace, there was language added to address the concept of lawfully purchased cannabis uh which is still prohibited to be used while we're working.
Uh policy against harassment uh based upon recommendation from the GIF and consistent with guidance from the Equal Employment Commission 2024. Uh there was language added about possible workplace environments. Uh comp time and overtime policy. There's language added based
upon the recommendation of the of labor council providing for the township to have the ability to cash out an employees comp time um at any point in a given year based upon the rate that employee currently makes rather than allowing it to crew in perpetuity and
then paying it out on separation. Uh salaries and payment. Uh there was a new law uh called the uh regarding pay transparency that was adopted by the state of New Jersey that requires us to put salary ranges and other information job ads. So that language has been added
to the salaries and payment section. Uh health benefits. Uh the township has a policy whereby an employee has the opportunity to sell back personal time off provided they have a minimum amount in their time bank. Uh the el the
election to do that is being clarified to have to be made during open enrollment. So budgeting and planning can be accomplished accordingly. Uh that's one from staff. Uh employment assistance policy uh should say policy not police. That's a typo. Sorry about that. The state chiefs of police
association created a new requirement for police departments to have an employee assistance policy based upon some of the challenges being faced by police. uh for those agencies that are accredited. We are an accredited agency. We take that as a high priority rather than limit it to police. This is a
policy that's going to be provided to all employees who are eligible. Uh so the there's a new employee assistance policy. The retainer for the policy through Atlantic Health is $1,500 a year. So, it's much less expensive than some apps that are out there that are being sold for this this purpose and uh
may be able to be used by management if an employees identified they could need assistance for something uh moving forward. So, that's a nice thing that we've added as a as a program for the staff. Uh chapter 5.01 employment procedure based upon the advice of labor council.
um the proof of eligibility for employment. There's clarification uh with respect to I9's and the other documents that are required upon appointment. And then the initial employment period uh language was changed uh articulating the at will
component of employment with potential quantity for those individuals not covered by a collective negotiating agreement or other statutory protections. compared to four years ago, not a lot of texts have changed, but a lot of different policies were touched. Um, are there any questions, thoughts, comments,
concerns? >> No, but I was just going to say I know it's a big document and you said everything was highlighted. So, on the website, is it actually highlighted in that document? >> This document that is on the website that I have an example changes >> uh all all the highlighted changes are
posted on the website. Now, ultimately the final document is posted. >> Okay. I just they can see the highlight. >> I didn't know if it was like that on the website. >> It is like that on the website. >> Okay. >> And it includes my cover memo. >> Very good. Thank you. >> Well, it's good. It's good to see that
we're staying on top of the stuff that we're supposed to stay on top of. So, it it gets us out of trouble. I've had I've had a couple examples in my career of litigation that were solved by having effective personnel. So, it's like that the team I guess I guess the employees were notified that there's changes going
through it. this this is sent out to them and um the only item that I would identify that employee might have a question about would be the payout of the comp time because if someone had a practice of trying to bank a massive amount of comp time and wanted
to save that as a boat check that would be the only thing that would substantively be impacting that is not based in law is that going to affect any contracts? No, no rules. No collective negotiating agreements supersede the man.
So anything that would be change that would affect those in collective negotiating agreements would have to be negotiated contract. So this would have the final version with a resolution for council's uh approval on September 9th. Sounds good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for that. And that's mandated
by the state. from the gift budget insurance provider. All right, moving on. Uh, there were no reports and notices. The next item on Johnson to agenda is council reports and announcements. Councilwoman Florence Lynch.
>> All right. Thank you, Mayor. Um, first I'd like to say congratulations to our two new members. uh junior uh for the fire department uh junior firefighter Camila Benet if I'm saying that correct and Madison Deise is uh going to be on
Engine Company 1. So congratulations to them. Great to see the volunteers keep coming. Um I had my historic district commission um meeting. A new member was appointed Elanie Kingcross. and she was at the meeting. Um, as you probably see
from the train station, um, the renovations are done. Uh, the commission's working on putting everything back together. The fence is down. Um, they're working on reorganizing and donating and purging and and trying to make it look uh uh
presentable. They'll be there uh if you want to stop in. the the volunteers are going to be there on uh tomorrow night and Thursday night for about 2 hours and then they're going to be there Saturday starting at 10:00. So, they're hoping hoping after this weekend that they get
it all put back together. Um as uh from the time of our meeting, the county was still waiting on the train order signal. Um >> no, we we are still waiting. We're still waiting on the sem. That's part of our project. >> Okay. That's part of our project. >> Yeah, the the sem or something. the 74
is ready to be installed, but the base had to be forged. >> Okay. >> So, we're waiting for the forge to make the base. >> All right. So, that's really I think we'll >> which they're anticipating hopefully by the end of August. >> Okay. And then just to highlight, I mean, you probably know more than me, but the main main re renovations are a
rebuilt chimney, new granite slate roof, new windows, the decking was replaced, painted. Um, and I think there was lights outside, protective lights installed, and those are like the main things. Um,
one of the questions that came up was in the bathroom inside, I guess the light is out and it's so high they don't have a ladder. Is that something they can call DPW to? >> It's it's already been communicated and DPW has it on their list. So, >> great. >> Appreciate the followup, but it's already been addressed.
>> Okay. Um, we already talked about the garbage can, so I'm not going to go into that. >> Um, and what else? And then there was just a lot of conversation about the maintenance of the trail again um where it's supposed to be the county right there county property
>> right so everybody's just a little worried about how that's going to go and there was some discussion about aquatic park access is that something we're looking at access to the trail through a park >> that's been the subject of discussion and is currently on pause because as the
township council may be aware the contract was given to an outside engineering firm as stormwater infrastructure is required to be designed, permitted, and ultimately built. So until that project kind of figures itself out, where the initial anticipated access was for pedestrians
is going to be a detention basis. >> So we got to wait for that to play itself out before it termination debate on how we're going to get access. >> Okay. Thank you for the explanation. Um, Sunday, October 4th and 5th is the Pathways uh to history tour. And I know
that um the Railroad Museum plans on being open uh doing their reopening um on Sunday. They'll be open Sunday, October 5th. And the commission will also be at the street fair on Sunday, September 21st,
and at the Hoown on October 18th. Um, one other quick question that came up is the historic district commission has a small budget and they're looking to they found some books or something that they want to use for pictures and they just
want to know um to order those which I think they found online probably through Amazon. They have to get a PO. >> They should work with staff to get >> and they should work with staff >> the appropriate encumbrance so that the procedures can be followed. >> Who do I send them to for that? just finance.
>> It's it's typically either Miss Marsh or >> Okay. And what else? And the museum is going to be open to the public on the second and fourth Sunday of each month uh from 12 to 3 as long as they have staff to
cover it. Uh what other things were discussed? We already talked about PB Park. That guard rail still planning on coming down the guard rail. >> We canled the project. >> We did. >> No. Well, we should listen. >> We know when it's going to go down. >> Well, it's it's going to be a component
as as was previously reported. There's two tranches of municipal payment. The first was already authorized through the Mars County Cooperative Pro Council. The second will be likely in the fall, right? >> Um it will be a component of that. >> Yeah, you did mention that. Sorry. All right. What else we got? Uh planning
board met. There was two items on the agenda. One was an approval for uh six vehicle carport on a property on West Parkway in the industrial zone and the other one was um Hillview Medical.
There was nothing different on that. Just that they had come uh to to um get an approval to build out in five different stages rather than all out all at once which is actually a good thing
because this way what it was it was stressed from the planning board that each phase needs to be done completed and approved before they can go on to the next stage. So that was the conversation there. And then real quick, thank you to the police department for
hosting National Night Out. It was a great success. And thank you to everyone who uh participated, different organizations, different departments in the town. So that was good. And thank you to DPW. I see them working all over the place on
the on the on the turnpike and all the roads. So they're doing good. >> That's the county's contract, >> right? I'm just saying. >> Yeah. So, you're working with them. >> Okay. Working with them. >> Um, and that's it. >> Thank you, Melissa. >> You're welcome, >> Councilman Cole. All right. Uh, I was at
National Night Out. That was a big hit. Uh, thank you to all the organiz uh, everyone that organized that great event. Special thanks to Dr. Poris, Rich Hazler, Chief Commune, and Sergeant Chicetti for being in the dunk tank. Um Dan the first Dan gets in the dunk tank
and the the first kid that comes up he says, "You're not going to hit it. You're wearing a Jets jersey. First throwing in the arena." So it was good. A lot of people there looked like everybody was having a good time. So uh congratulations to everybody that
organized that. Uh congratulations to Camila and our junior firefighter Chamilia Camila and our regular firefighter Madison. Um, and just so the council knows, we had uh junior firefighters complete 6 weeks of
training at the fire academy Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 in the morning. Uh, more to come uh on that after they get their uh their test results and uh I'll I'll give names at the next meeting, but I didn't want to
give any names uh at this meeting just in case uh someone didn't pass. So, but you know what? A dedication and uh commitment for those young high school age people to take 6 weeks out of their summer from Monday through Friday was
tremendous. So, uh my hat is off to them for doing that. So, that's all I have, Mr. Mayor. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Dave. Councilwoman Russell, >> thank you. Um not a lot. Congrats to the new firefighters. I agree with Dave. It is for the all of our volunteers. you know, they do so much and it's it's so
nice to see. Um, first aid squad, they had a hundred calls in the month of July. 40 of them were to Cedar Crest. So, still going a lot to Cedar Crest. Cedar Crest, I guess, is a little short staff. So, there's been problems with them getting there and not be able to
get in and they're not coming and helping. So, we're all going to be addressing that this year. Total 720 total calls, 268 of them Cedar Crust. October Fest. Um, their fundraiser is on 9:27, September 27th. Plan it. It's
going to be fun. They have a lot of bands. All the bands are lined up. All the banners. It's just going to be a lot of fun. A lot of food trucks um with the library. U bids were open last week. We'll be discussing the construction and the bid opening at our next meeting. Um,
I just have a question about the walking trail. How are we doing? Have you had a lot of complaints about garbage and and anything like that or no? Is that kind of cleaned up after itself >> based on No, I have not received any complaints to answer your question. Uh based on my own walking on the trail,
what was more baggies and things when it was not yet opened a lot less of what I was I don't know why. I don't know if it's people are policing it better or it's become normal, right? >> Um but I see it going in a positive direction. Monday through Friday, we have two county employees here, don't we?
>> But they have to maintain an awful lot of ground. >> So, but at least we have >> that part of it, too. That actually county is doing their share, which is nice. Good. >> Okay, that's all I have. >> Just quick, I want to give a shout out to a resident cuz I was walking down it
a couple Sundays ago and he was some guy was driving down with his bike and he would stop when he saw garbage, pick it up, put it in the bag, and then keep keep going. So, thank you to whoever that was. I wasn't sure cuz when he cuz by the time I saw him he had passed me already. >> You know it's funny cuz down the shore you get like you go into one of the
restaurants or bars and you get a bucket and if you fill it with trash from the ocean and then you give it back you get a free beer. You hand them the bucket of trash. >> Yeah. But I think all the residents really again Yeah. It's not good to see but if you see it it's our town, >> right? I think a lot of them do. >> Thank you.
>> And then they post about it on Facebook how great they are. >> Well, that's it. As long as as long as they pick it up, we're good. Councilman Syracuse Nansson. So parks and rec will meet next week uh this week. Um what's the open space man? I was not there. I wasn't feeling well. However,
want to welcome Mr. Prey to as a new member of the um of the open space. Um got um Compton Valley Rail Trail. A little news with the trail. Just uh we're going to be installing some tree uh tree tubes in the month in the next month and so on on the trees along the
trail. So, anyone interested in helping should reach out to Tom Newman and u the proposed project report was updated um was being updated various items on there and Mr. Pinto is going to do that and then circulate that to the members. That
was it. Total about 50 something minutes of of the meeting and then the next next meeting is on September 8th. Nothing else to report. >> Thank you, M. All right. Couple things. Um summer's coming to an end. I hope you're enjoying it with your families, whoever. Um, and before we meet next,
school will be in session. So, I just ask you to just respect the crossing guards. Watch out for them. They they do a great service to this community. Um, so just watch them. Also, kids on electric. Um, parents, we really need you to crack down and take care of your kids with
this because it's they're going fast. Most of them don't have helmets on. So, um I I believe there the you know the um the school resource officer is trying to deal with it with the schools cuz he has a captive audience, but um we need you know parents to please talk to their kids about this cuz they're going way
way too quick and somebody's um hope nobody gets hurt. So, >> great. >> Um night night out was awesome. Um it's great to see the first aid squad there was was there the both fire companies. The DPW was there with with equipment with kids climbing on. That was awesome.
It was also really cool to see uh the firefighters cut the cars apart. I don't know if anybody saw saw that they had two junk cars. They had to um take all the doors off and cut and cut the roof off and it kind of had a competition. So, it it was neat to see those tools in action for people that don't really know
how to use them or see them. So, thank thank you for that. And they finished within like 5 seconds of each other. It was it was it was really cool. Um, congratulations to the uh the junior firefighter again and the regular firefighter again. We're getting juniors and that's awesome to get um you know
you know you know the younger adult younger adults involved. Uh turnpike work I think is going good. They seem to be moving pretty quick. >> Um it's nice to see that and uh but we know it's not the town, it's the county road, but it's all count county money taking care of that for our town. So we
like that. Melissa brought up the train station. You're right. That looks absolutely great. Yeah. And um uh I just uh like to talk about just being thankful a little bit, right? We all have something we we can be thank thankful for. Um just that's been my mindset over the last couple years. Just
being thankful, thanking people. Um when you buy a cup of coffee, they wear a name tag. Just say hi. Thank you to whoever the name tag is, right? I mean, they're wearing a name tag. You use their name. So, I just like us all to be thankful a little bit more. Right? >> Hi, Mayor. >> All right. Cool. That's all I got.
>> Mayor, can I jump in there? Sure. >> And I I guess this is a question more for the town manager. I know we all got a letter from a resident about the ebikes. It is there a need for us to look at a policy on that or have the police? >> So that this is a challenge that's
presenting itself to to to all communities. Um it was brought up through parks and wreck that the coaches were going to try to get some communication out as the mayor mentioned. Um PD's working with the schools. It really needs to be addressed at the state level. So, it's more just about educating people in our town and
then if anything's going to be addressed, it's probably going to come down from the state. >> From a legislative perspective, yeah, it really should come down from the state of New Jersey. We can talk to I mean, when you run into your state legislators bring up the issue that you're hearing about and there's concerns about obviously and maybe I can make some some progress, but it Yeah, really misal
ordinance. I don't know if that's the best way to handle it. Uh there's also the sensitive nature of of minors. You know, I really don't want to see a police cruiser chasing a kid, right? I'm not going to do it. No good no good outcome there either way. So So it's a it's it's a it's a topic that really the
state needs to address in terms of who's eligible for what and how and what speeds are. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Moving on. Next on the agenda is public comment. As a reminder, we welcome comments, suggestions, and questions rather than dialogue. Comments are limited to three minutes. Please, if anyone wishes to address the council,
please wait to be recognized to come to the microphone and provide your name for the record. >> You got one. >> Anybody? Yes. Yeah, over here behind the pole. Come on up. >> Good evening. Uh Karen Randolph from it. Um
>> thank you. I know our town is very concerned with being ready for emergencies. We put a lot of uh praise and um uh on our police and our ambulance and whatnot. Anyway, what I'm connecting to
is what happened in Texas with the flood and how unprepared the whole situation seemed to have been with the breakdown of uh the lack of FEMA coming forward and in a timely manner. I was reading an article that is saying,
well, this is all tumbling down to the town level that we're going to need to up our preparedness. I was wondering if there was a way to put on a presentation as to um how you're going to address situations
such as a flood or earthquake or god forbid hurricane again. Um, I think that would be very useful and it would help me be a little more calm about the whole thing since I'm seeing it kind of crumble apart at the federal level and I
know the state is definitely involved too but I wanted to kind of know how how it all melds together and if that's a possibility I'd be very interested. >> Okay. All right. Once we get done we'll chat with Mr. B to see what we have
>> because I know we haven't had a flood in a long time which is great. Thank we're thankful for that. But we want to be >> Yeah. >> aware of that >> at least thinking about it. And >> speaking of Texas, I was there personally and I've seen it firsthand and you I was there and you still can't
believe it. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And everything seems to be a little more exaggerated these days with the amount of rain and the amount of wind and whatever it is. >> Also, I wanted to um point out that we did our planting at Green View Park with
the Environmental Commission. Um, we spent two Saturdays and uh Tom Newman just about broke his back and he was tough on his wife and we all pitched in. We had maybe 10 volunteers in total, but
um he's been over there. Tom Newman's also been over there watering and along with some neighbors I heard. So it um hopefully will look really great. >> Thank you. >> Well, thank thank you for the committee and do doing that. Thank you. Anybody else for public
comment? Yes, come on up. >> Hello, Sandy Lort. Um, John, Kyle, Melissa, Dave, and Vincent, I would like to be thankful that you ultimately decide to vigorously defend our
community against the allegations of the 60C Sunset owners. It's about what, where, why, and how. And they want to make it about who. That's not who we are as a community.
And I would like to be able to say thank you for you live here. You know who we are. You know what we're about. And wouldn't it be great if this case turns into one that other towns can use to to
show that they be using Ruipa, the the religious land use when it's really about something else? Wouldn't that be great if we were on the record as we fought it? We defended ourselves. We vindicated ourselves and we are now a
case that other towns can can use or other people can cite that case. That's it. Thank you. Thank you. >> I thank you for being here. Anyhow, >> Peter from Hello, Peter Schmidt, 16 Mana Avenue.
Another topic. Um, since four or 5 years, the new version uh days the new version of CH GPD5 is out and uh I use it every day. It is scaringly smart. It
is really scary. Uh I always thought I am experienced in software development in many areas. It is better than I am. No. Uh it's just it will change our life. I want to give just three little
examples. Um sorry Mr. Mayor. Yeah. Um is it true that old people cannot learn computer skills anymore? I just asked it. Yeah. And of course it said here, older adults can absolutely learn computer skills. Goes on. In short, older people can learn computer skills.
What they need is respect, time, and support. Yeah. Um the other example, the menu that you just discussed, this AI, if I am an employee of of the administration here, if I have lots of
time, I would read it word by word because it takes hours. If I'm impressed because I work hard, I would ask HGBT, tell me what has changed. Tell me what is dangerous. Tell me what's the difference between an employee and more staff. You know, am I better off? Am I
am I good off? This this thing will change the way we are working. Yeah. Um this example here with can I find what the town is doing about water flooding preparedness. This chat GBT reads the
website and tells me I found this and I found that and I found that and I can say oh that's very nice tell me a summary are we better off than Riverdale or does do other country other municipalities do better things so so
this thing will change our our world and we should get prepared for it okay so now I make I had a meeting this morning with Jim Sato I met him over coffee he was the founder former um president of the chamber of commerce. He's now in a
committee with the department of education of the state of New Jersey how to introduce AI in schools in the school systems and they are establishing right now um sort of required training always 15 minutes training for the whole
administrative staff to learn about AI how to use it and how to introduce it. Maybe there is an opportunity for the township. Oh, he told me by the way that I'm with PAS here in the in this school system. They're pretty fit in this area.
They are very very progressive. So maybe this administration including the council could participate a little bit in this training too. We don't we shouldn't leave it to the people themselves to educate them quietly in the evening. Maybe there is some
opportunity to organize that. Okay, that's that's very much. Thank you. Thank you, Peter. Anybody else have a comment? >> Yes. Come on. Again, Paul Mailor, Point Township. Just
a a thought about raising the homes uh in the in the flood plane. Great thing to do. I just wonder if it's the is it the 100red-year flood level that we're still raising the the homes up to because the likelihood is that uh
500year floods are becoming more likely. Uh back when I was chairman of the planning board uh in a neighboring town, the 100red-year flood was the only thing we concerned ourselves with. Now you hear 500year flood. What I'm cur be curious about, I asked an engineer in my own property where there's a brook that
runs through my own property. Where is the 100red-year flood level and where's the 500year flood level? And there was only like three or four feet difference coming towards my house, if you will. So the what I wonder is if you raise a a house to the 100 flood and it's to here,
is the 500year flood level only there? And would that be the smarter thing to do? >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. We'll ask the question. I'll find out. I don't know that answer. So anybody else for public comment? All right. Seeing none, we'll close that
portion of the meeting. Um, Mr. Bur, can you just can we just talk about I guess our, you know, the emergency plan that was brought up and then I guess the flood level kind of ties into that. Sure. I know our flood committee has has a plan, but where do we have to revisit
it? Are we good? Hey, if I could take a quick liberty. We keep on comparing ourselves to Riverdale and I just want to point out that our municipal attorney is way better than the one in in um >> it's the same. It's Mr. in both locations. So, just
yeah, we like him much better. Um with respect to the the flood, not not to be a contrarian, but we have had floods. Um there's no major >> a year and a half ago we lost well it would have been we would have lost the village um in the in the most recent flood that closed down Route 23 and it
was to the point where um we had a lot of staff staying up all night and the volunteers were actually going out to announce to the village residents to relocate their vehicles. So we were right on the precipice of of losing it. So it was an an awesome drill to see if we were ready and had everything in
check. Um, the township has has flood sensors, constant monitoring of a number of different sources in a huge region. Um, I don't want to steal Mr. Nelson's uh thunder. He's the flood resilience officer. Previously, the the prior flood resilience officer would come in and do a presentation. I think we should ask
Mr. Nelson to do that. I'll leave a lot to him, but in my experience, you can never be prepared for everything. But we were very well prepared for that event. And the communication was excellent. people putting flyers on people's doors, nixels going out, stuff on the website,
predictions announced hours before things were going to happen. So, there was an enormous amount of communication and we do regularly do drills with FEMA through a coached exercise to make sure we have everything addressed. When you have a change in personnel, you have different people doing different things,
they need to be up to speed. So, we're we're constantly practicing and preparing for that because it's it's a when, it's not an if. Um but but I appreciate the question and I think a presentation from from Mr. Nelson would be well thought of and received and have as we did in the past. So I'll reach out to him and work to schedule that at a
future meeting. Um with respect to the elevation of the homes, it's base flood elevation plus 3 ft. So I don't know the exact relationship of that to the 100 in the 500year. Um I'm going to go out on a little bit of a limb. I believe it exceeds it but I'm not positive. But Mr. M could address that. Um that criteria
is required by the elevation program by FEMA to say it's got to be this plus that. Um as you see driving around the neighborhoods, there's a lot of houses that are really high up in the air. Uh so I I I hope considering Irene was the 500 year in many places. I think a lot
of houses would have stayed dry in those areas. Um but Mr. Nelson can also address that. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. U moving on the agenda. There are no minutes for approval this evening. Item number 17 is uh is a close session
discussion. Is there a motion to approve resolution 2025-172 authorizing the township to meet in executive session to discuss reduced contract negotiations with the burden lakes regarding garbage and recycling collection the burrow of
Lincoln Park for animal control services and litigation of the pasak valley learning center versus township of aquatic and pas I'll make that motion second all in favor opposed All right. At this time, the public portion
of the meeting is recessed for close session. [Music]