Good evening. Welcome to the January 13, 2026 meeting of the Puanic 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 and on the township website, published as a legal notice in the suburban trends and daily record newspapers, and distributed to all persons requesting notice in accordance with township policies. 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 his governing body with an abundance of
wisdom and understanding so that every deliber del deliberation will result in actions which will promote the common good and the general welfare for all the people of the township. Amen. >> Amen. >> Will the clerk please call the role?
>> Mr. Dy, >> still here. >> Mrs. Lawrence Lynch here. >> Mr. Cole here. >> Mr. Syracus here. Mayor Russell >> here. There are no presentations scheduled for this evening. At this time, are there reports or comments from any of the
volunteers serving our community? My name is Peter Schmidt. Um, as you can hear, my voice is not that good today, so I will keep it short. Um so we have started this project I I call it for now um equal appearance improvement project
you know we discussed it in the last council meeting um um and I wanted to alert you of let's say a proposed process I sent everybody email including
uh um because I think the council should be involved in this project. Um so basically we we will start doing a walk through here with some volunteers
whoever that is certainly I talked to the chamber of commerce they are very interested I talked to the environmental committee they are interested in participating and I'm sure there will be other parties that are interested in in participating in this project. We will
do a walk through in I don't know when few weeks uh through the township and list uh all opportunities. We just make a nice list of opportunities and and then we have probably a small group of people that make a pre-selection and
identify which one could be done. Lowhanging fruits that we could pick and these ideas I would like to present to the council and the council then endorses this idea and say this is a good idea. uh Peter or whoever made us a
plan that really identify how much does it cost, how much work is it, who has to do what do we need permits, all these things and and we could develop a plan basically EDC and then this plan goes to
the council and the council has to endorse it or approve it or amend it or decline it. Yeah, whatever it is. But basically every opportunity if you think about it has um has some cost and some energy and some work involved in it and
it has a benefit on the other side. But how do you judge whether the the investment that you do is worth the benefit the best premium to judge that is the council 5% the council not representing the city. So, so I think
that would be your work involvement in this project to judge these opportunities and maybe then to approve them if money is involved or work is involved. Yeah. That that needs to be officially decided. Okay. And uh I sent
an email out. I have a lot already a list of opportunities. Uh just give you two examples. Oh, I should mention uh all my friends test me that my taste is not very good. So I will refrain from injecting myself in judging what is what
is beautiful or what is ugly. But you I don't know whether you can see it here. The post office has a very ugly wall and you can see from far away. Why don't you make a real gift with a panther on it? Easy to do. Just hang it up. Doesn't do
anything. Just an idea. Another idea of course is this uh golden panther park really yearns for two alligators that protect it and you can see from your laughs
everybody who will pass by will smile and laugh a little bit and remember it's a nice group of people and and these are just a bunch of my you know that I've saw together and bolted together and lie there and don't do
anything and don't cost anything. Uh so these are only ideas. By the way, the council is encouraged as well to send me ideas. I put it into the opportunity list, you know, and and so slowly you get started. This is a
marathon. It's not a spurt. I see that as as a yearong project, but it's fulfilling the master plan. If you look at the master plan, it explicitly says to improve the appearance of the problem. No. Okay, that's all I have. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. Thank you for your hard work. >> Do we have any idea when the $9.4 million start? I read the press release that the extent of the information and I got an email from the county, so I assume
I thought somewhere said it's a long process. I guess 6 years or something in there. >> It's the county's grant. It's not ours. >> Yeah, it's not ours. It's the county's grant to do their road. That's why when everybody would say to us, we need this. Just let our road. >> Any other volunteers?
Next item on the agenda is public comment. 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 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. If anyone wishes to address the council, please wait to be recognized to come to the microphone and provide your name for the record. Sandy Good evening, new mower, member of
members of the council and attorney. Um, my name is Sandy Lort and I'm here as a concerned resident of Pquanic Township. Specifically, I'm here tonight to raise a procedural transparency concern regarding the proposed zoning
settlement involving 60 Sunset Road Pascet Valley Learning Center project. I want to be clear that my commit my comments tonight are not about the merits of the project and not about litigation strategy strategy. They're about process, transparency, easy public
access for all residents. I'm a special ed teacher. website important that people at Cedar Crest and people with disabilities and all kinds of people who aren't computer savvy have access to information and also for community
participation. Residents have recently learned that a special zoning board meeting has been scheduled for January 19th, the federal holiday for the purpose of approving a settlement agreement related to this property. We're concerned because there have been several sets of revised site plans prepared after the zoning board's prior
unanimous denial of this application. Plans whose existence was just discovered with notice of the January 19th special meeting of our zoning board of adjustments who have I mean we they're just doing an amazing job and I I can't even imagine the amount of time
they put into all this. Um, the existence of the 128 25 and 12925 sets has not been communicated, nor were they made publicly available in the office or online. In fact, I went to the zoning office today to see those
plans and was advised the only plans available are the ones to be presented on Monday, January 19th, which were promptly and courteously provided. Just so you know, she was helpful. Uh, no summary of changes between the denied plans. the interim plans and the current
plans has been provided or appears to be available. If they are, please let me know. Having previously been told that the zoning office that bubbling and listing changes from one set of architectural and site plans to the next is a requirement for architectural plans
and that the applicant was advised they must provide this. I asked where the bubbling and list of changes was and was told there was none. is it was explained that the latest 1726 set of site plans and architectural plans which was
available was made specifically for the terms of the settlement which does not replace having access to prior plan sets. The settlement agreement itself has not been disclosed in advance with residents being told it will instead be reviewed line by line for the first time
at the hearing or meeting on on January 19th. As a result, the public has no meaningful opportunity to review, understand, or prepare comments regarding what has material materially changed since the denial. Legal
governance framing under New Jersey land use law, including Whisper Woods. When a zoning settlement is presented for approval, the public is entitled to the same procedural protections as a standard land use application that includes advanced disclosure of plans,
adequate time for review, and a meaningful opportunity to be heard before any vote is taken. This a process where substantive substantive changes are revealed for the first time at a hearing raises serious due process
concerns for residents. request to council tonight. I'm simply asking that the town council be aware of these concerns and that transparency and proper notice be emphasized in this matter as it proceeds. Residents are not asking for special treatment only for
clear disclosure, adequate time to review materials, and a process that ensures public trust and protects the township. Thank you for your time and for allowing this concern to be placed on the record. I respectfully request
that this body encourages all boards and professionals involved to heir on the side of openness and procedural fairness so that any decision ultim ultimately made is legally sound and publicly
defensible which helps us all. Thank you so much. Is there any other public comment, Rich? Hi, Rich Walter 50 Sunset Road, Compton Plains. Uh, happy new year to all you guys and congratulations. Um,
move this over here. So, I'll be quick. I think um some of the things that I wanted to talk about were what uh Sandy just spoke to concerning the settlement terms. Um I I thought we were allowed to see them. I've seen the new plans, but
not the settlement terms, what's been agreed to and what hasn't. And maybe that's another litigation thing, but um it would be a shame if we didn't see them before Monday. Uh, and I know that probably it is what it is at this point.
Um, I'm just hoping for the best outcome for the town and the residents. Uh, along with the transparency that Sandy spoke about, I emailed Adam the other day. I'm the guy, I don't know if you know that, about putting this meeting on the town
reader board, the marquee there. And uh you had explained that uh due to the past in the past we haven't put meetings on the board and in the interest of being consistent you're not putting this meeting up on the board. We don't normally post meetings. So we're not
doing that. We want to be consistent but in my opinion this meeting on Martin Luther King the 19th it has not normal and it's not consistent. It it concerns zoning law changes, master plan, uh variations,
uh ordinances that have been in place for 20 years and don't just affect the people within the 200 ft range. These changes are going to affect the future of zoning for the whole town. So, it's not normal. It's not consistent. Why we wouldn't put it up on the board, I have
no idea. I mean, unless there's something to hide, I don't know. And I'm not making an accusation, but why we can't let the residents of Aquanic know that this is going on is totally beyond me. And I mean, if I was an attorney or
somebody from News 12 or seven on your side asking this question, Adam, would you give them the same answer? We don't normally do it, so we're not going to do it. This is important stuff. It's just a message on the reading board. I don't know why you don't want to put it up there. Nothing personal. I understand
you got a job to do. You're the town manager. You know, uh I think you can put it up there if you wanted to. Uh lastly, and um I know I've spoke to some of these things before, uh the way,
and Sandy touched on it too, the way that a lot of this has been handled from day one, in my opinion, is unacceptable. Um, I know that the town council couldn't attend those zoning board meetings. I understand that and the
conflict that comes with it, but when the unanimous denial came in and the matter went to you guys, the details actually became less clear. Uh, we asked some questions and some of the answers to these questions that we asked were,
well, I don't know anything. It's in the zoning board's hands. We don't know the name of the outside counsel that we hired. We weren't aware there was a conference call concerning the litigation. We didn't know that our attorney was going to say that the paper
will offer and that he would offer to settle very quickly including adjusting ordinances to comply with the applicant. Honestly, and I don't mean to be demeaning or insulting. It's not a good excuse. didn't know it
went to you guys and we don't know what our attorneys are doing. So anyway, after the public and George Seuss who I see just came in asked for this some time ago before anything started, we firmly recommend that you get outside counsel because as you know insurance
company attorneys are pretty much settlement minded and uh looking to save as much money as as they can. You guys assured us that no no that's not the case. He is not here to sell. He is here to fight this. Um
but on that very first conference call, he undermined all of that, damaging any future credibility for the town to maintain the identity that we have. The very first call, that damage can't be undone. Hey, we're going to settle the
people of the Quanico. Don't worry, we'll get there. Okay. And then there was a second call to the you guys. There was a second call to the public open to the public which I got on. Um and the judge said acknowledged that I could be
on the call because it was a public it was public information but he told the attorneys for each side and both of them including ours requested no residence on the call. Okay. I told the judge I'm not here to antagonize. I'm just here to
listen. I live in the town. I live across the street. I want to know what's going on cuz I'm not getting any information. So, no. Uh, you know, maybe the applicant's attorney didn't want me on there, but I don't know why our attorney wouldn't want me on there. Um,
and I know I'm not an attorney, and who knows, you know, maybe I would deter them from doing something, but again, what are we hiding? Why can't I be on there if the information is out there? Dial into the call. Here's the number. Here's the access code. Doesn't make
sense to me. And no one is explaining to me if you told me, "Hey, Rich, this is why." Oh, okay. I understand. You know, just like we understood why you guys couldn't come to the zoning board meetings. Nobody's offering any information. Questions are being asked,
nothing's getting answered, you know. Um it just seems odd to me. And um again, this is just my opinion. This isn't the, you know, the opinion of everybody, but it's frustrating when you spend almost two years on this and then you get to
the point after the denial. Um, where it's like, okay, what's our plan? Our plan, we're caving. Okay, if you had told me that 2 years ago, you could have saved us a lot of time. Anyway, again, just my opinion and listen, sincerely, I
give all due respect to those town leaders who have worked on this in earnest, doing their homework, reviewing transcripts, and who sought input to protect the safety and character of our town. Okay? This isn't a judgment on
anybody individually as a group. It's just my opinion on what I've seen after the residents worked so hard on this. My god, the the the amount of leg work and time spent. It was incredible just to see it kind of fall apart once it once
the dial came in. Anyway, so appreciate your time and effort. I appreciate you listening to me. I know it's probably not pleasant when I get up here. Um, but uh, you know, the final outcome, that's your legacy. You guys are going to own it. you know, the future of our zoning
and and things like that. It's in your hands right now. And maybe again, it's what it is. You know, it is what it is. But, uh, I can't sleep at night unless I come up here and speak my peace. 35 years ago, we bought that house. It was
a piece of Two-bedroom, one bathroom ranch that had been rented for 12 years. It was a disaster. We didn't have any money. We gutted it. We did We did the landscaping. We didn't put a pool in. We went for our lungs. We were
in retail, okay? We weren't, you know, uh, high fluting people. So to see all of that, what I have to look at across the street, the increased traffic and everything. That's why I'm doing what I'm doing. Okay. Again, I appreciate the
time. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. >> Somebody beat you. Do I have to be back? No. I'm sorry. >> Go ahead, George. You made it. >> Good evening, George S. 37 Green View Drive. Um,
little separate issue to start. Um, I noticed there's a developers agreement on the agenda for later this evening. I noticed the lack of any bond information in there as to whether or not the uh should that be part of a developers agreement. Mr. We're going to answer
when we're done. George and I the mayor will direct the question to me. That's our process. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Um, back to the other issue. Uh, I just want to let you all know I've been in this town for close to 40 years. Uh, I've never been more disappointed with a governing body
than I am right now at this moment. I am disappointed in each and every one of you at varying gradients. But make no mistake, with the exception of Miss Marsh, um, acting on the advice of council is absolutely understood and respected.
Doing the bare minimum and less than the law would allow you to do is shameful. This is not a common message to go on the message board, Mr. Brewer. We don't have these applications coming before this board or any town that frequently
to withhold deliberately if there was an oh I forgot or oh somebody should have said something perfectly understandable. We're all busy. Um and I'm sorry Senator, you have to even hear this cuz this is not truly reflective of the kind of town this is.
Nor are we religious bigots. We refuse of some disgusting things. That law is being misused and misapplied. That law is specifically designed to prevent towns from legislating against churches and mosques
and religious groups and people of various ethnicities. That law is never meant to allow an applicant to get 15 variances in a residential zone. Shame on all of you for not fighting with every ounce of
your energy, both the part-time and the full-time. So, I am here to tell you on the record, I am extremely disappointed. There was not more fight. I do have another question which maybe will have to be directed uh you know to someone else and God knows when it'll get
answered. But I'd like to know that under the GIF insurance what our deductible is and what our limit of coverage is. Does anybody up on the days have that information or do we have to research it? I'd like to hope it's been discussed in recent days and weeks. So what is Mr. the limit of coverage that
the town has in the event of a verdict or decision with financial impacts? So again the mayor when we're all done will directly all done meeting on the entire meeting or this segment. This segment. Thank you very much. Anyone
else for public comment? >> I might be going to sit down real quick. Is this the portion for requesting resolutions or is this like the the 6:00 meeting still going on? >> This regular meeting. >> This is a regular This is New York. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you.
All right. Uh good evening, council. My name is Carlo Nardone. I've been a township resident for approximately 8 years. Um, I'll cut to the chase. Since 2023, after the US Supreme Court ruling, there have been 120 concealed carry weapons permits issued by the township.
The process to get a permit involves a $200 fee that includes $50 for the state u state police and $150 for the municipality. The permits last for approximately 2 years. The places that the permits are effective are very uh
restricted according to the state. As a comparison, Pennsylvania non-resident permits last a total of 5 years. Um the costs uh the costs involved with obtaining such a permit along with the short duration of the uh of the usability of the permit has resulted in
folks see seemingly not willing to seek renewal for something that is a protected constitutional right. The evidence I have for that is the state, not the state, but the township police department has told me out of the 120 applications that were submitted, only 12 of them were renewals. We're beyond
the 2-year period when the majority of those permits would have expired and folks would have sought renewal. While the township itself has no control over the duration of the permits, nor the locations which permits are applicable, the township does have the ability to potentially offset some of the costs
associated with the permitting fee. Specifically, 13 other municipalities within the state have sought to pass resolutions which reimburse applicants the $150 municipality fee associated with processing the the initial application and then the renewals. Butler Township up north is one of the
closer municipalities that has passed such resolution. What I'm asking this council to do is to take up and consider a resolution that would be similar to the Butler resolution which would reimburse applicants upon approval and clearing the required uh background checks, fingerprinting and uh passing
the marksmanship test to be reimbursed $150. uh should the council feel that that is um going to be difficult because of the cost associated with processing the permits, I would add we are talking only a total of 120 such applicants in the past 3 years have actually been
processed and there's only been 12 uh 12 renewals. So I believe we're talking about a relatively small financial impact to the township. I will however couch that by saying that um the cost and the barriers associated with the permitting process are uh somewhat punitive and discouraging people from
exercising a protected constitutional right. So I'm looking for the council to maybe take that up as a resolution. I do have a copy of the Butler uh resolution here. Can this get put in a record or something? >> I mean
record that you gave us >> I'll put in the record provided. Anyone else for public comment? >> Good evening and happy new year to all. I have a couple of things that I'd like to discuss, but one thing that I do
recall is I owe you a copy of uh RUPLA, right? uh the applicable reference sheets for focus that are focused on municipal wins where dismissal summary and judgments with affirmances cuz there are several uh another thing that I've
included in this package that I'll put together for everyone to have a copy of is um patterns noted by one school global when referring to I was LOOKING FOR THAT ON HOW THEY REALLY coerced towns to get
involved in um these allegations. So I think if you have this and you see what the patterns are um I've cross referenced it to our e-code, I've cross referenced it to uh the MLU laws and
also to uh Department of Justice cases. So, I will put that together and make sure everyone has a copy. And the other thing I'm here to talk about is settlement uh regarding uh the Pasc Valley Learning Center in the
township of Poponic. The settlement here is really being driven by fear of litigation, not by weakness of the law. and paying to approve what the ordinance prohibits creates even a greater risk than defending a neutral zoning
decision. Lawyers often choose to settle cases even when the laws favor the municipality, not because the case is weak, but because the risk profile feels uncomfortable. So what you are seeing is the insurance company seeking risk
management, not a judgment on the township merits. And clearly the denial by our zoning board of adjustment followed those laws. And this is why we even have a master plan and we follow the laws. But federal
courts routinely reject attempts to of reframing zoning defeats as civil rights violations. The third circuit has held that Rupa claims fail absence evidence of less favorable treatment compared to
similar situations of nonreligious use. Courts make clear that the denial of a preferred site or scale does not constitute substantial burden on religious exercise. neutral zoning laws applied evenly are lawful even when they
restrict development options and that self-imposed site selection hardships do not create constitutional violations. Settlement here by town council or the zoning board of adjustment does not eliminate risks. It creates risk
including state law and erosion of our zoning integrity. this matter should be defended in court where neutral zoning decisions are withheld. Um what I also have to say is and I want
to clarify the rules and processes in in New Jersey law town council advises on legal standards and protects the records but the decision belongs to this council. the recommendations from insurers, staff or advisory only. The
zoning board adjudicates zoning matters and the council reviews the settlements independently in public with findings on the record as required by whispering woods. So my focus tonight is ensuring that our process is independent,
transparent, and legally sound. So with this I've included um public record statements. I've included um how decisions have to be guided by law. I've included the whispering winds uh
check sheet that also goes on to state what everyone's portion is. Right. What am I looking for? Okay. So the bottom line is the town council advises, structures the process and protects the record. The council decides, insurers
recommend and the zoning board of adjustment adjudicates zoning. This matters because the New Jersey law requires independent council judgment, which is the town council, not the insurance company. Um public review so
that we too can review what you're settling. Right. That's that's part of the procedure according to Whispering Woods. Uh the recommendations from council staff or insurers are only advisory. They can't tell you what to do and the zoning board can't rewrite the
laws. They have to stay within the with within the ML UL. We're we're hoping that they are going to do a denial. It'll make it much more easier because that does fall within the public interest. We don't feel that the
township should settle um paying off uh someone unless the settlement includes that they're giving us the land. That would be a win-win for us. But I've provided all the cases, all the summary, and all the documentation. I'll put the packets together because
my job, I feel, is to let the town know what we've discovered, right? Because we love this town. I've lived here since I'm 8. I'm almost 65. So, I've been here a long time and I hope that, you know, people that do live in this town want to
stay here and also if the zoning board of adjustment moves forward to approve this and should for some unfortunate re reason the judges approve it, which I highly doubt they will. This affects not only the town and the residents, it
proves that our stability as a zoning board is weak. And that means if the church can build a 5-ft fence, so can our neighbors because you can't discriminate against us too, right? There is zero religious, you know, um,
discrimination against them. They also encouraged us to research them, which we did. They used that against us in the civil case. They didn't like that. So these are just little things and and I really hope that if there are any
questions that you reach out to core people who have been actively involved in this for 2 years because we care about you. We care about our town and all these decisions have a detrimental effect across our nation statewide and
federally. So thank you. I think we have time for one more. >> He's walking up. >> Good evening everyone. Alex Barascus, Abram Avenue. Um, thank you all. Um, again, I would like to uh remind
everybody that um what the letter we received from the PL attorney basically there is no change to the to the applicants. uh they are still not in compliance with 14 and require 14 variances some of which are minor but
some of which are major. Uh the drainage issue has never been resolved. They want to use uh retainage basins but the water will end up in what is called the zone ah which is your 100-year flood plan
100-year flood zone which is behind the hospital and all in that area. the potential is that it will increase that area and thereby the potential of those people with uh being added to and and
the need for flood insurance because as Mr. Nelson said a couple uh meetings ago, FEMA has the right to come in and decide where additional flood insurance is required. Now, the potential is there. I am not a lawyer, but I am an
engineer and I do know how to read a set of plans and I do know how to read a set of grading plans. And the grading plan does not match what they want to do. Um, again, I'd like to thank Sandy, Rich, and everybody else who has come here and
so spoke so eloquently about transparency and the need for it. You have issues like zoning issues where we have a 3.9 acre piece of property. they want 5 acres. You have an issue where they're manipulating parking
using uh tandem parking. These are all issu these are main issues. The roadway on a school is supposed to be placed on an improved roadway 60 ft rightway, 50 ft road surface. Not that does not that
does not is not currently out there unless the um they are planning to purchase right away from everybody but I don't think they are they have a buffer zone issue which they have structures in the buffer zone
not permitted there's a lot here that that again I do not see there was not one change if anything I believe this building is now bigger than what it was originally. Okay. Because they're using they're
manipulating the parking lot with some type of either uh impervious pavement or pvious pavers. I do not believe pavers are are considered pvious in the town, but maybe that has changed too. So there's a lot
of manipulation going on here and I don't think that everybody's fully understanding of that. And while everybody has to make a business decision, I understand business decisions, okay? But this decision has
lasting impacts on this town. And way back when uh Home Depot when they tried to come into our town that it was fought, they didn't come in here. They went to Riverdale. Riverdale got the benefit of Home Depot. But what what are we what is our benefit
here? Our benefit is you're changing various zoning ordinances in this town. You're changing fence heights. You're changing parking. You're you're using tandem parking. Do you know any place that uses tandem parking in town? No.
But you're going to create it and you have the potential of creating that later on down the line. So you as a governing body ultimately have I would assume some say with regards to the settlement and I would assume that you have some say with regards to what
goes on currently. You have the opportunity to fight this. I think Lorraine put out put out some excellent points here with regards to Arupa. I you know this is not unless somebody can show that the zoning ordinances were
changed just prior to the purchase of this property. The applicant was fully aware of what the zoning ordinances are. They are not amateurs at this business. Okay? And they are not amateurs. They know what's here and they just they don't want to
comply. and they and the and the the letter that was sent to the 200t uh residents basically says we're not changing anything. We're not changing anything and you you'll have to live with it. So, I thank you for your time.
I certainly hope that uh you take what you know what all these residents have worked so hard for and and worked and provided such great information. I mean there's a lot of information here and you know unfortunately you weren't able to attend those meetings where you would
have seen that and you would have seen a town that came together. This wasn't just uh these, you know, you know, just a couple people. There were hundreds of people attending meetings, okay? Various times of the year, various weather conditions. They were there, okay?
Provided some wonderful responses. And I I really think you really really need to take that into account as well. But it's mainly the zoning. You're going to you are going to change the outlook of this town. So, it's your choice how you do
it. It's a business decision. I understand it. It's a poor business decision if you make it, but nonetheless, it's a business decision. >> Thank you. At this time, we've reached 30 minutes of public comment. As previously noted, an additional time is reserved for later
on in the meeting. Um, do you want to comment on anything? >> We have Yeah, we had a few open questions. One was on the Mr. Zeus asked about the developers agreement and what that meant in terms of bonding for the property and bonding is going to be required for this project. It's less
than it was years ago. The state has limited us on bonding, but there will have to be some bonding. Uh that'll be a separate resolution on the bonding. We'll be reviewing it separately and approving it before they can begin any kind of work. >> Is it still somehow based on the project?
>> Much less than it used to be. We're really limited, but yes, it's all formulaic. It's landscaping. There are certain aspects of it that are subject to bonding. Yes. And I think there was also a question about the insurance which I think you direct more to the township manager. >> Yes. Mr. Sus's question about the the
level of coverage. It falls under the land use line of coverage that uh there's an excess carrier the Mel retains which is $150,000 and then the MEL retains an additional $850,000 on top of that for a maximum of 1 million. What's what's >> municipal access liability joint
insurance fund? uh they retain 850 which gives a total of uh 1 million and the township from a copay perspective is responsible for 20% of that. Okay. >> So the max and there's no excess coverage beyond that. >> Is that common for a town sites?
>> Yes. And it's the MEL system includes 650 public entities. So it's not limited to margin. should go back in terms of the judgment against underserved.
>> Okay. Any comments from council? >> The next item on our agenda is the manager's report. Mr. Brewer. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh my report in writing is brief, limited to three things. Uh the first, this is our annual
conversation regarding the budget process. Uh, as the council has requested in the past, there's a proposed schedule subject to council input and ultimate direction and approval. Um, conditionally enclosed are the revised
deadlines. Uh, interestingly, the state put into law essentially the deadlines that the local finance board had annually adjusted to. So, it's now codified. Uh, so it's not an adjustment by the local finance board. So we basically take the timelines that are identified, our usual process and then
back into a schedule from there. So if there's any changes the council wants to make, if the council wants to digest it and come back 27th to finalize, um the first proposed meeting would be Saturday, Saturday, February 7th. >> I'm good on the 7th.
>> Everybody good on the seventh? >> I'm definitely good on the seventh. I should review all the other dates, but I'm definitely good. So, >> at least we know we're good for the seventh. >> Okay. So, yeah. >> Yeah. If council's good with it, we we'll keep it as is pending confirmation, but we'll definitely go
with the 7th. And um I will again present this in my memo on the 27th >> on the 7th. I'm not available. I can maybe call in if you want. Any other days on a Saturday you're available at all? >> Challenge is the next day is the 14th of
February. >> Yeah, >> I'm not available. >> Oh, okay. So, let's keep it a seven and maybe call in. >> Yeah, I can call in. >> And councilman, if you'd like, I can sit with you in advance so you're prepared. Thank you. And not operating in the dark. Thank you. Uh next, uh there's a
resolution for the council's consideration this evening regarding uh renewal of an animal control shared services agreement with the burough boomingale. As the council may recall, when we adjusted the responses, this agreement was created to basically have another layer in the rungs of uh call
out. So, if two of our patrol officers are not available, we can engage the burrow of Bloomingdale. Uh there is a $2,500 um amount that is posted and staff is directed to make sure we use that every year. So, we take advantage of uh going
through that. And lastly, as uh Mr. Lake previously has provided some comment on. There is a developers agreement uh between Hiew Realy LLC and the township which is one of the next steps in the process that was identified by the planning board as a condition. Unless
there's any questions that is my report. Okay. There are no public hearings scheduled for this evening and there are no ordinances scheduled for introduction. The next agenda item is resolutions. Miss Marsh, beginning with resolution R202655 authorizing the execution of a shared
services agreement between the township of Aquanic and the Bureau of Bloomingdale for animal control services. 202656 authorizing the execution of a developer agreement between the township of Aquanic and Hillby Realy LLC. 57 approving revisions to the engine
company 2 bylaws. 58 confirming the designated memberships in Aquanic Township Fire Department. 59 authorizing tax office refunds, overpayments, or cancellations and R202660 approving payment of the itemized claims
is set forth on the December 22nd, 2025, January 9th, 20 January 9th, 2026 bill list, and the January 8th, 2026 FEMA elevation extro list. Are there any comments on the resolution from council?
>> Comment on what is what is this now? >> So, Hillview realy went back to the planning board again for an amendment to their approvals to timing and this is going to be a developers agreement that
uh reflects that. >> Anybody else? Is there a motion to adopt these resolutions? >> I'll make that. >> Is there a second? I'll second. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Drey. >> Uh, no. 56. Yes.
>> Mrs. Lynch. >> Yes. Mr. Cole. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drey. >> I'm sorry. >> I I definitely don't want to start this meeting over. Mr. Mr. Syracus. >> Yes. >> Mayor Russell. >> Yes. There are no items listed for discussion
and there are no reports and notices. The next item on our agenda is council reports and announcements. Councilman Drewi go first. Um I just like to say uh happy new year to all on the council on the residents um to the people that are
here. Um looking forward to another good year. Um uh want to say thank you to Peter and EDC for putting this uh clearance package together with all the other agencies in town. Looking forward to see seeing that a little bit more. Um
congratulations to Kyle, my mayor, Melissa's deputy mayor. Um, and uh just looking forward to a good year and thanks for my quarterback. >> Councilwoman Florence Lynch. Uh, yeah, just a couple of things. Um, the
historic district commission meets tomorrow night at 7. Um, economic development. Peter, you're doing a great job. Is he still here? >> Oh, there he is. Um, uh, with the with the group. Um, I I believe you guys were
even out the week of like Christmas looking at all the uh spots. So, thanks to you and the rest of the commission committee for doing all that work. Um, I believe that next meeting is the 4th Wednesday, which is
January 28th. That's their next meeting. Um, the planning reorganization meeting for the planning board, that is on Thursday at 7. Mhm. >> Um I believe so.
>> Yes, it's this Thursday at 700 p.m. Um I believe is the planning board rework, right? Okay. And then what else do I want? Um I'm looking forward to the first aid uh and the first aid and fire installation dinner on Saturday. And
then I just wanted to make a quick comment about this upcoming Whispering Woods hearing. I had talked to um the lawyer beforehand on it. Um so, you know, and I'm speaking as a council member and and a concerned resident, I want to encourage all you guys. You guys have done a lot, you know, for the town.
So, I encourage you to go to the hearing and uh I trust the board will consider all your testimony as they did um before um you know, and upholding the municipal code. So uh you know the initial denial
was reflected as you said on planning principles and I encouraged the public to support the board of adjustment in maintaining consistent application of our laws and you know I support the rationale behind the initial denial and encourage the board to hear all the
arguments and I support the integrity of the process and the importance of public input but we're here so let's let's let's say but thank It's Councilman Cole. >> Uh, Carol, is everyone notice notified
about the planning board reorg? Is this a new day that we're having Thursdays? >> I I don't That's a It might have just been >> I don't notice those meetings. >> Um, >> so who does? That would be um
>> does Tam >> I actually >> does Tamron know who is being appointed or >> unless we may be waiting for this evening's meeting. I'll follow up tomorrow. >> Yeah. >> I mean is Thursday the new planning board day? >> I don't know. >> I think they were just looking for a new uh we may have to double check that.
Make sure they didn't change it. So I thought I saw >> Okay. Thursday. I mean, it would be nice if I we didn't we didn't know that when we had our reorg meeting in December if they were changing the date. >> I said the position of ignorance.
>> We'll have to d we'll have to double check that. Don't hold me to that date. >> I'll see if I can find it. >> All right. Uh first responders installation dinner is this Thursday at Castle. Starts at 6:00 p.m. Um and that's all I have. Happy New Year
everyone. Congratulations to Madame Mayor Russell. >> Thank you. >> And uh looking forward to a great year. That's it. >> Councilman Sarah Cusa. >> Uh everyone.
Hope you have a healthy and safe uh 2026. Congratulations to Kyle and Melissa. Um, one thing you know, um, whenever the public comes and they speak at the podium, uh, your comments do not fall on
deaf ears. All right? You should know that, right? We take notes. We have discussion, right? We can say certain things now. We just can't sometimes. That's just it, right? And um and I'm glad that you care enough as as we do to raise our right hand and go out there and knock on doors
and try to put your faith and confidence in us to be up here and make the hard decisions cuz sometimes it's not easy to be up here, right? And it's certainly not easy uh for you guys to be out there, you know, time, you know, twice a month as many of you were. So, thank you for that. Uh but I just want to let you
know that uh your comments do not fall on decks. That's all. Thank you. >> Very well said. I agree. We do listen. Sometimes we won't say anything, but we do listen. Um, First Aid is having their 75th
anniversary party May 30th. Um, so that that'll be excited details to follow. Um, keep in mind the library is still closed. It will be closed till approximately February 5th for some major renovations. It's going to look amazing. If you normally vote at the
library for the special election on the 5th, you will be moving to the senior house. So, you should get what are they getting? A postcard, Carol? Postcard to that effect. So, if you know anybody that normally votes at the library, know that they've been moved. Um, it's also
on the sample ballot. And we're going to put this the the moving sign in front of the bill. >> Okay. Um, library reorg is at 7 to tomorrow with the meeting to follow. The environmental committee commission meets tomorrow at 7:30. I'd like to wish
everybody a happy new year and thank you for all you do. Everybody, thank you. Next on the agenda is public comment. As a reminder, we welcome comments, suggestions, and questions rather than dialogue. 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. Paul, you still want to come up? Come on. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Paul Mailor. Uh, congratulations. >> Thanks, Paul. >> Um,
I'd like to comment about the 60 sunset uh application. It was for me both a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing because I made any number of of new friends uh as a result of all the hours that we spent on this thing. And and I
know all of you know maybe not all of them know that I am an unabashed liberal. Uh and I have made friends with folks who are not as a result of this. Uh but I I I also want to tell you that that
that the application in my view and I'm a former chairman of a planning board uh spent any number of years trying to understand the the the complexities of of the municipal land use law. Uh this is an application that in my view should have been rejected on its face uh due to
the bulk variance. The very idea that a uh secondary school could be jammed into less than 5 acres when the engineers who came and and uh testified know that
their trade association recommends 20 acres for a secondary school. So they know that this was the wrong thing to do. both the the engineers for the applicant and the engineers for the for the township knew and should have
reported accordingly. I think most of the failure that I saw uh uh during those meetings was the zoning officer and her failure to recognize all of the difficulties with this application. She should have done a far better job
informing the board and you folks for that matter. Uh, and at the end of the day, it it it's not a business decision. It it's a quality of life and a safety decision for the community. So, I would encourage you to to, you know, keep that
in mind. Um, and I'm also here tonight uh uh in my capacity as the president of Propel Puquanic, Puquanic Residents of Pride, Equity, and Leadership to make the following statement. With regard to
citizenship or immigration status, the parents and children of many American cities, including Morristown, New Jersey, are being terrorized in their homes, their schools, and their
neighborhoods. Propelic stands with them as we hope does the township of Pacoic. Thank you. >> Thank you, Paul. >> Thank you. Anyone else for public comment? >> Uh everybody, many people got got a lot
of praise today. Yeah. And I think that's a good start in a new year. And uh sorry, we shouldn't forget Mrs. Mar. She always works. She always does the work. Everything is working. I I admire her her ability to read these
ordinances. Yeah, that's amazing. >> Thank you. >> You want to say something? >> Hello. Happy New Year everybody. Uh, I am radically opposed to this outfit developing the 60. Can you just state
your name for the record? Sure. Thank you. >> Karen Cananan, 143 Boulevard, the White House on the corner there. And I am just I also enjoyed meeting an awful lot of new people. Made great friends going to every one of the meetings. I really hope
that you can help stay with the rest of the people in town. There was no one who was at all interested in having that monstrosity shoehorned onto that little bit of property. And I think it's a safety issue. It's a water an environmental issue and it's just going
to be nothing but expense and problems for the town. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Anyone else? My name is Mary K. Schwarman. Um, I want to thank all the people that have been working on 60 sunset and all
the incredible information that I've received by listening to you all. I really, really appreciate your civic engagement and I support um all that you've been doing. Um, I also support Paul's statement. It's really really
important in uh today's world. Um, the other thing is I'm really excited that Amarie Finnen is the um has accepted to be the uh the library board trustee and um so I'm I'm glad you know she's
heading into retirement at the end of January and here she is providing again information and com committing herself to the community. Um, I do also want to thank and and um
there was a vigil held at the gazebo on Saturday and the Puquanic Township Democrats organized that. Unfortunately, it was cold, rainy, but we came with our candles and the reason we were there for
this vigil was to honor Renee Nicole Good. She was murdered by an ICE um person, federal employee. This hel was held in Minneapolis,
Minnesota. And in my humble opinion, she was murdered. Um so I do want to appreciate that we held a virgin vigil on Saturday. Sunday. You may know, you may not know, the thousands of people
who showed up at protests across the country, locally in Montlair, other places, Denville. Um, and I want to thank all the protesters who showed up for our democracy. We have to make sure
that our American citizens are not murdered by other American citizens who should not have done that. Um, so that's basically what I wanted to say, but I
also wanted to ask a question. I understand that there have been ICE agents seen in Bloomfield, uh, Riverdale. I don't know if there's been any ICE agents here in Bquanic. Um, what is the role of our police
department if somebody gets in trouble? Um, I guess I just need a reminder exact exactly as to what the um, New Jersey laws are in terms of the police and the ICE situation.
So, um, thank you very much. Thank you. Anyone else for public comment? >> Okay, we are closing public comment. Did you want to >> There's just one question. I think all we can say, Mr. Trimmer, is that I'm
sure our police chief will uh appropriately work with federal, state, whatever other authorities come in and will do the appropriate thing for us. And I how that comes out I'm not sure. >> Okay. There are no minutes presented for approval. Next on the agenda is a close
session discussion. Is there a motion to approve a resolution authorizing the counter council to meet an executive session to discuss contract negotiations related to a 231 West Parkway easement and the cable vision franchise agreement? >> Is there a second? No second.
>> All in favor? >> Opposed? >> At this time, the public portion of the meeting is recessed for close session. Thank you everyone for coming and thank you for your input.