[Music] Good evening. Welcome to the September 23rd, 2025 meeting of Pakonic Township Council this March. >> In accordance with the requirements of New Jersey's open public meetings act, notice that 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, publishes a legal notice in the suburban trends and daily record newspapers, and distributed to all persons requesting notice in accordance with township policy. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance followed by a prayer and a moment of thanks for individuals serving our nation.
I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Most gracious providence, we ask that you bless this
governing body with an abundance of wisdom and understanding so that every deliberation will result in actions which will promote the common good and the general welfare for all of the people of the Quanic Township. Amen.
[Music] >> Well, that pledge of allegiance sounded really good. So, you're welcome to come back every council meeting. Thank you. >> The clerk will please call the role. >> Mrs. Florence Lynch >> here. >> Mr. Cole >> here. >> Mrs. Russell >> here. >> Mr. Syracus
>> here. Mayor Dy >> I am here. >> Uh the next item on the agenda is presentations recognition of Beatric Stanton's 101st birthday. >> Wow. That is awesome. Um we have a proclamation we'd like to read if we
could. All right. Should we go down? Should we go down? [Music] Anyway, she love whereas Petra stand known to her many friends and loving family as me celebrated her 101st birthday on
September 18th, 2025. And whereas Vinnie who was born in Fox Chase, Pennsylvania in 1924, where even in childhood she distinguished herself as a gifted and diligent student and whereas Ve and her
husband Frank Stand in 1953 moved into Wilway Plains where they raised her two sons, Frank and Gary. front yard. There you go. >> And she opened her heart to the community as an active member of First Reform Church, had a duty for her
showings of art in photography and is now the longest surviving member of the suburban woman's club. And I do notice all the pictures that are still in the church in Grace Chapel every Wednesday morning. It's a beautiful picture there. So, I look at
it every Wednesday. So, thank you for that. And whereas Via has filled her life in the lives of her two children, five grandchildren, five so far great grandchildren, and any number of family, pets, and many friends with their boundless creativity,
curiosity, and compassion. Now therefore, the mayor and the members of the town country council hereby wish the happiest of birthdays and many more days of love and joy. Happy birthday, B. Whatever you want to do
every time That's beautiful. >> Congratulations. Happy birthday. Heat. Heat. Thank you. Welcome to Yep. More the marrier.
[Music] That's okay. Thank you all for coming. She says she's got to go home and clean her windows. Yes. Thanks for coming.
>> Hi guys. [Music] Pretty amazing. Thank you. Thanks for coming. Congratulations. My pleasure. >> Happy birthday, Z. Sorry, I'm not there.
All right, moving on with the agenda at this time. Are there any reports or comments from any of the volunteers serving our community? >> Seeing none, we will go to number seven, public comment. The next item on the agenda is public comments. This comment period will be limited to a total of 30
minutes. Additional time is reserved later in the meeting. We welcome comment suggestions and questions. However, the purpose of this time is to allow public comment and not to engage in a 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 and come to the micro vote and provide your name for the record. Yes, sir. Mr. Peter. >> Good evening. >> Good evening.
>> My name is Peter Schmidt, 16 Avenue. I want to talk about my pet project artificial intelligence. >> However, to have that discussion in a town, yeah, you need a topic that is relevant for the town. And I think one
of the most relevant topic of the town is the budget. So, I use Czech PBT. I use that. I pay $20 a month. I pay $40 for another one. Yeah. uh cloud uh for my programming. So I asked it yeah can
AI and digitization uh improve the efficiency of of a task and it said yes and many many many words behind it. So I said what does that mean in terms of money and it said 20 to 40%.
In terms of cost savings and immediately I I for you have the paper a week or two year ago. So I immediately asked, hm, that sounds sounds great. Are there any examples for that? And it says, yes,
yes, Denver, San Francisco, and and many other. I have a list here. I have this on paper here. I have a list here. And and it looks looks really impressive. So I said, "Yeah, but these are big cities with big budgets, you know. Uh are there
any smaller cities?" And it said, "Oh, well, I have to hear." I would like to hear it say say that. >> Sorry. >> Do you have that on voice command you or does it >> Oh, I type it in. I type it in. I say,
>> but it doesn't stream to you back. >> But I talk to it like my assistant. >> Gotcha. >> It's my assistant. It's not my friend. It's not my friend. And what it gives me is not a real true answer but some
average out of internet data that it can find. You see that it's you you always have to be aware of that this is not you you cannot blindly believe that. However it gave me a list Anglewood has a chatbot prospect part uh Hamilton
Township Middletown South Orange Village. So, so we could go there and ask them and say, "Does it really work? How much does it really save?" You know, so all I want to do today, I I don't want to
propose a digitization project because many of them go wrong. What I want to propose is that we start using AI and check and LMS a little bit more. Where should it start? Sorry to say that with the council.
Uh so my my proposal actually is I volunteer to show everybody of you in any way or shape you want. Yeah. Alone in private or in a group or however you want how I use chat GPT or LMN and
encourage you to use it for your everyday's everyday's needs. You will use it anyhow in two or 3 years like you use email right now and text messages. It will come anyhow. But there is so much that can be gained by having
all this information at your fingertips. Instead of googling it for half an hour and sorting through the document, it gives you right the answer. You know, how can I appreciate my wife better? Give me a list of things to do. Gave me
6 minutes. I did. So, you're halfway there. That's good. >> Well, well, I don't like everything that it poses. Let me since I have a nice audience here, let me address two two typical
concerns that I hear. Yeah. One is um how should I I apologize I'm young. I can only speak directly. I'm too old to learn all this. Then you have an American word at the end. Uh
so I asked JTP of course is it true that older people cannot learn computer skills and it said this is absolutely not true. There are many studies that that older people elderly whatever
whatever can learn everything they want. Absolutely true. If you want to learn >> the next one is I heard that I heard that this is not for me. This is for the department heads in our town and I heard
that argument a lot in businesses as well. I'm a manager. I don't have to know that. I have people who know that. So as soon as you say something like that, the people say, "Ah, I want to be a manager too. I do that with ignorance.
I don't have to learn. I have my staff that has to learn it." And then the staff down there at the bottom says, "I don't want to. I show them. They don't know what they are talking about. I show them that it will not work." Yes. So I
think the learning of AI has to start with the council and that's why I have this proposal. So I meet in any way or shape with you. Yeah. And show you what I can do and and hopefully we go somewhere. Okay. Thank you very much, Peter.
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Any just Carol's going to call Melissa cuz she got disconnected. She didn't want to call what Peter was speaking. >> Okay. >> Cuz it's loud. >> That may be more challenging than >> I use AI.
>> Yeah. I use a lot more and more. I I'm really good. >> So help you advertisement. >> You have to work on EI
emotional intelligence. Oh, there you go. >> Hey, we're going to do it on my phone because she's having problems with the finger. So, my phone is ran down now by the microphone. >> I did I did the whole thing.
>> All right. Uh, we're going to move on. Anybody else for public comment? Yes. Come on. Senator Bill. >> Good evening, Lorine Robertson. Um, basically just wanted to say thank you so much for listening to um, our questions and comments last meeting and
I just wanted a little bit of followup. Um, has the council decided if they were going to attend any of the future um, online hearings? Um, and basically where we stand with the lawsuit case. That's all I have.
>> Okay. Thank you. I'll ask Mr. Rosh like when we're when we're done if he has any updates. >> Anybody else public comment? Yes. Come on up. [Music] >> Good evening. Paul Mailor Quanic Township. Good evening. In the past, I've come before this body
expecting some kind of action based on official public misconduct. On one occasion, I brought you irrefutable proof, including written statements from fellow residents, that the then sitting mayor had lied to another resident about me. You did
nothing. On another occasion, I brought you irrefutable proof, including a written statement from the then interim librarian that a sitting council woman had lied about a fellow library trustee. Not only did you do nothing, you reassigned Councilwoman Russell as
council's liaison to the library. My expectation was that you would have censured those officials or at least suggested they offer an apology. Tonight, I come to you without expectation. I simply want you to listen.
There have been many times you've heard residents come to this microphone and express anxiety at speaking in public. At the June 10, 2025 town council meeting of Aquanic Township High School student mustered up the courage to stand in front of you and read into the record
they v the the values they hope we will all someday honor. So that student read the 2025 Pornic Township Pride Proclamation and about their right to have us all, quoting from the pro proclamation, stand with them to protect
their civil rights and their ability to live openly, equally, and without fear. One would imagine that they would like to share that experience with their friends and family. After all, they have a right to be proud of that recitation
in so formal a setting. So imagine if you will just before they started to speak at the 557 mark of the June 10 recorded minutes they heard Councilwoman Russell whisper to her
colleague is this necessary to that I say to you Councilwoman Russell that you and the entire Puanic Township Town Council that yes it was necessary. We all respect your right to your personal beliefs, but your job sitting
on that dasis is not just to listen, but to always at the very least be respectful of anyone having the courage to speak. On June 10th, you failed miserably in that responsibility. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, anybody else
for public comment? Yes, come on up. Oh, >> sorry. Anybody else? Yes, come on up. >> Amazing everybody, council mayor. Um, I just wanted to Oh, Dana Calibri, sorry. I wanted to follow up see if there was
any further conversation regarding the bicycle pump track that we proposed at last meeting. Um, so that's item number one. Number two, I wanted to offer some little tidbits of possibilities for funding. um because I understand that
another project like that may not be the uh priority for everybody here. However, as it is a fun safe place to stay active for the whole family, I think it's in the community's best interest to actually pursue this and you know really
give a true honest consideration for a place for the kids to spend some really healthy outside active time. um did a little bit of research construction funding ideas. Aside from the municipal budget, there
are public health and wellness grants that we can absolutely explore, local business sponsorships, national brand sponsorships like Trek, Santa Cruz, bicycle manufacturers, um, community foundations, material and
labor contributions from the community, um, volunteer build days, things like landscaping or, you know, there's a lot of handy guys in town, lots of families that would love to pitch in for this. Um and then for maintenance funding ideas
because there will be some maintenance um obligation. Um we could do like a paid membership similar to what PV and the pickle ball courts get. So um just wanted to offer some suggestions and also ask for followup and we can do that offline another time or at a following
meeting. So just wanted to touch base on that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Got a lot of kids counting on me. >> Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else for public comment? Right. Seeing none, we're going to close this section of the agenda um of of the meeting. And um I'm just going to ask
Mr. Oste just comment on 60 sunset um where we stand future um future hearings or where we stand. >> Sure. Thank you, mayor. So, following our last meeting, I did reach out to the township's uh insurance uh defense council who had been appointed for us.
had a very nice conversation with him, learned a little bit more about what that proceeding had been, which was a procedural proceeding really just to go over discovery. It was not with a judge who was going to be actually hearing this case. It was with a um with a judge
whose task it was to assist in the in discovery and other issues. Um, nevertheless, he he heard me when I said, you know, we we need to know when those things are so that I can alert the council that they're going on. I'm not suggesting that the council need to
attend every discovery, you know, motion or every aspect that goes on. But I I would like to know I would like myself to be able to attend so that at least at least by telephone, you know, listening, I probably would not go in person, but I
just so we know what's going on and can follow up with what's going on. So my intention in the future is to alert the council that this is coming and he completely understood that and went forward. So where we're at in this process, the next step, we do have a mediation session starting as we talked about a little bit at the last meeting.
Um the first of those mediation sessions will be actually tomorrow. Um those are not open to the public because that's the point of having having mediation, but we will be reporting publicly um what happens with that um and where we go next. So I nothing will happen
tomorrow in terms of a resolution. It's sort of the beginning of a process. So that's where we're at. And until we get through that mediation process, it's my understanding there probably will be no more official work um hearings or dates scheduled. Um but once they are, we'll alert everybody and we'll go from there.
Or I will alert the council. I should be I will alert the council. You obviously have your own. You're following it since you knew we didn't, right? >> But thank you. >> Thank you. Um >> John, can I address something? >> Sure. >> So I would just like to address Mr.
Muller's comment. Um, I'm glad you went back through all the way to the June meeting to try to take something that I said and make it like it was derogatory towards a child, which is something I would never do. Whether they're straight, gay, queer, I I don't care. It
may not be my choice, but I respect them for their choices and I respect the children. What I don't respect is you trying to make it sound like I was being rude to a child, which is something I never would do. >> Thank you. Thank you for that. And then uh Peter, I'm just going to address the
AI stuff. We met and talked about AI. You haven't convinced me yet, but if anybody else wants to get into it, knock yourself out. I I have a I have a hard problem with regular intelligence, let alone artificial. So, um so there and Dana, we
haven't had any other f further discussions on that, but I think um I'll talk to you, we can talk to Mr. through or offline about see if there's a location but if there's a you know a funding thing or a committee thing you maybe try to put together to kind of do some of this um maybe so we'll we'll
talk about that further Mr. Bro, if you want to >> I just wanted if I could amplify your comments and and much to the frustration of all who engage in municipal government, even those who work for it, we don't move that fast. It just doesn't happen. It's like a cruise ship. He keeps talking. >> It's nice and slow. Um, but that's good cuz we spend public money. So, we we
don't want to be arbitrary and and and frivolous either. So, the the first real questions are are location. We have to explore whether that's a possibility or not. Then there's a concept of funding. Then there's a process that takes place throughout usually the fall and then the early spring when all those decisions are made. what's happening. So, it's it's a process, but you're welcome to
follow up as often with me or the council as you wish. Um, just forgive us if there's not going to be much in two weeks. If I'm being overly candid, I apologize, but it is what it is. >> Yeah. I rather air on the side of being candid. Yeah. >> My my biggest thing is manage
expectations, right? If you don't if you don't put out the expectation, then you can't get angry at people for, you know, jump jumping in saying, "Why'd you do anything?" So, but thank you. >> She could start a committee too, like start a committee, start doing >> Right. That's a committee, do
fundraising, see what the public, you know, stuff like that and then Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. All right. Next item is the manager report. Mr. Bro, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, this evening, a few items by comparison to our last council meeting.
I agree. Uh, yeah. The the first is there is a resol or excuse me an ordinance for the council's consideration for introduction this evening with respect to the requirements for membership fire department as the council may recall a number of months ago the requirements for residency were
loosened for junior fire department members and uh there was discussion at the time that took place whether we want to apply that to the rest of the fire department and there wasn't consensus then however through conversations that have happened uh over the last few months there's been a recommendation to
also expand and the requirements for membership for fire department in an effort to attract and and retain more members. So currently the code uh stipulates that in order to be a member of the quant or become a member of the quant fire department you have to reside within the township. You are permitted
once you are a member to leave and live elsewhere but in order to become a member you have to be a resident. uh what is proposed and has been approved and reviewed by the fire chiefs is to retain that resides within the township of Aquanic or reside within a municipality that's contiguous with any
border of the township or resides within 5 miles of any border of the township. I asked about that one specific apparently there are a number of gentlemen in the public works department that lived in Pmpton Lakes that is not contiguous but really would like to join our fire department. And then that begot the last
item which is if an individual's employer is located within the township and that individual has the ability to respond during the day often times that's when the response is the weakest of the fire department. So if someone is employed and locally working in Puana Township and wants to come out and help our volunteer effort. Um all of this is
met with my approval as well as the fire chiefs. So unless the council has any questions that's uh scheduled for potential introduction uh in an ordinance later tonight. Next up, we heard a request and report from the open space committee chair a few meetings ago regarding a formal recognition of the
properties that have been acquired along with the easements along the river known colloally as as the Riverwalk project. Uh the council has a resolution scheduled this evening for its consideration to formally name that the I don't want to mess this up, the Pmpton
River Walk. And within the resolution, it incorporates all of the uh properties that have either been acquired or easements that have been acquired to allow for that recreational opportunity. So, it's it's been a number of years going. So, compliments to the open space
advisory committee for their efforts. Uh and that is something that the council has questions about. Obviously, they can be addressed or if uh the council sees fit to approve the resolution as prepared, it is scheduled for that potential action. And lastly within my report we have the discussion item which
is uh last week we opened bids for solid waste and recycling collection disposal. The increase in cost is frightening and the corresponding impact on rates have been analyzed in effort to guide the council to make a decision as the current contracts conclude on October
31st 2025. Unless there's any questions on my report. That is all I have this until we discuss. Any comments from council? >> No. >> Just think it's great about the fire department membership. >> Absolutely.
>> Kudos to those who thought outside the box. >> All right. Thank you, Melissa. I have a question. >> Sure, Mr. So, if um if we have somebody as an example, public employee goes from where they are, right? If we allow them
to join the fire department, they live in another town. They get injured fighting the fire. Mhm. What does that mean for the say DPW? Like so like how does that work? Cuz I
just don't know that that answer. >> Yeah. Whether the individual's employed whether the individual is employed by the township of or another employer, if they're injured as a volunteer fighting a fire on behalf of the township's fire department, it would be a claim against the township's workers. >> Is the liability still the same? >> It's identical.
>> It's identical. Correct. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Right. Um on the open space thing, it said Pumpkin River Walk Park. Is there is there like a walk through there or is it basically you walk on grass and just not really a a dedicated walkway is it? >> There wasn't. >> It's just open space. It's just open the
open space. >> My understanding is there are elements of it that you can walk on and are walked on. The goal of the committee was essentially to take the area along the river and loop back to the trail that is paved and create an opportunity for for
that. It is not complete. I know it remains a goal and an initiative of the group. Um but if the goal is to create a walk in in all if not most areas. Okay. >> Very good. Any other comments on the report? Hearing none. Move on to item number nine. There are no public
hearings scheduled for this evening. Item number 10 is introduction of ordinances. Miss Marsh. Ordinance number 202513 is an ordinance amending chapter 5 of the code of the township of Aquanic and revising the eligibility requirements for membership in the township fire department.
>> Thank you, Mr. Brewer. Any more comments? None. Unless there's any questions. Are there any comments from councel? >> No. >> Yep. I think it's a great idea. All right. Is there a motion to introduce this ordinance on first read? >> I'll make a motion to introduce 2025-13. >> I'll second. >> Roll call, please.
>> Mrs. Florence Lynch. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cole. Yes, >> Mrs. Russell. >> Yes, >> Mr. Syracus. >> Yes, >> Mayor Dy. >> Yes. >> The next agenda item is resolutions, Miss Marsh. >> Beginning with resolution R2025185,
formally recognizing Compton Riverwalk Park and identifying those lots specifically included in the park. 2025186 authorizing the execution of an interlocal service agreement with the Bureau of Lincoln Park for the provision of animal control services.
187 authorizing the issuance of an annual cannabis cultivor license to Hillview Med Incorporated. 188 confirming the designated memberships in the Quantic Township Fire Department. 189 release of deposits for construction
in a township rightaway and R2025190 approving payment of the itemized claims is set forth on the September 18th, 2025 bill list and 2018 theme elevation escort list. >> Thank you. Are there any comments from council? Hearing none. Is there a motion to adopt
these resolutions? She'll make that the motion. Second. >> I'll second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Lawrence Lynch. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cole. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Russell. >> Yes. >> Mr. Syracus? >> Yes. >> Mayor Tracy? >> Yes. Yes.
Next item on the agenda is items for discussion. The solid I don't want to do this, but it's not me right now. So, on waste recycling collection contracts, this this this is certainly not a fun one. Uh, as the council and everyone uh witnessing may recall, a number of years
ago, there were a lot of news stories associated with the exorbitant increase in cost associated with the collection disposal of solid waste. The township of Puquanic was somewhat insulated at the time because it all broke kind of in year two of our 5-year collection contract. Well, now unfortunately, time
and cost has caught up with aquatic capture. Um just running through things quickly. Uh there was discussion over the levels of service that we would solicit interest in. Uh in March of this year we solicited bids for solid waste collection, recycling collection and
disposal and vegetation uh vegetative waste collection and disposal. It's unusual to go out so early except for the fact that state statute requires a 60-day time period between the date of notification for the notice to biders for solid waste and when that bid can be
opened. So that that is required by law which is why you go out early uh because what can happen is what happened in township. Um we received uh two bids for solid waste collection and disposal. The first bid was flawed and unfortunately
had to be rejected due to a flaw legally. The second bid was rejected because it was beyond the anticipated budget. With respect to recycling, same situation, same biders. First bid with low bid was flawed. second bid exceed exceeded the budget. Uh the last service vegetative waste collection was received
and opened and the council made a decision that that contract would be awarded. Uh so that 5-year contract was awarded in May. We went back out for solid waste collection and recycling disposal and we received and opened
those bids on September 16th last year. The challenge when making decisions with respect to these increases which range in the hundreds of percent is we do not incorporate the collection disposal of solid waste and recycling
within our tax bills. We have solid waste utility. So between last Tuesday and Friday an analysis was undertaken to determine what the impact of the different levels of service would be on those utility rates. And in an effort to conceptualize this and present it in a
way that can be easily digested and decisions can be made from an informed perspective, the documentation that was prepared and included in my memo. Um, big thanks to the township CFO who happens to be out right now on maternity leave, but she did some work on this before departure and the interim CFO was
heavily involved as well. So, so thanks to her for the effort in such a short period of time. From a simplicity perspective, we really have A couple different things to consider with respect to the different services.
Solid waste twice a week collection, once a week collection. Recycling collection. Currently, we have each service, each material, bottles and cans, paper and cardboard collected once
each week or four collections each month. The alternative that was included in the bid is two collections for bottles and cans a month and two collections for paper and cardboard a month. So the way that would look would be alternating which is
consistent with a lot of towns in the region where and I'm just picking a day at random um even though I was including the bid. Uh the first Tuesday of the month is paper and cardboard, the second Tuesday of the month is bottles and cans, the third Tuesday of the month is paper cardboard and it rolls from there on out.
Um the bid also includes an option for to continue the service where it's provided to the board of education. Uh the benefit there is it ultimately saves tax dollars if you have one hauler coming into the town. Um so I don't know if there's a lot of discussion that needs
to be given to that in that it is simply the costs that exist. Those costs are passed on to the board of education through an interlocal agreement. Board of Ed education is aware of this. They're very happy that we handled the procurement because it can be a little challenging at times. Currently, the quarterly bill is
$139.35. In scenario A, we have the same level of service. That is the the the way we've decided to describe it internally. That $139.35 quarterly cost would increase to $2962
the first year in year one. And each year thereafter, there would be additional increases. So the quarterly difference or delta on that is $7026 or $281 and change a year
more or more than what's currently being paid. Option two, which we come to call the reduced recycling option, that's the alternating bottles and cans.
and paper cardboard each week thereafter. That again currently quarterly bill is $139.35. That would increase to $1931 in year one. So the delta each quarter
um >> 188. >> Yeah, we're seeing different numbers now. >> I got 193. >> I jumped at 19301. That's the quarterly cost. 19301 would be the quarterly cost for the first year.
>> So that would be garbage collection twice a week, recycling, alternating, vegetative waste, so bottles and cans twice a month, cardboard twice a month. Correct? at that point. Um, so so the increase
there would be $214 a year annualized versus $281. So there's a decent spread there and again each year it increases there. Option C, which is the reduction of the recycling like an option B and garbage
once a week goes from $139.35 to $18843. which annually has a difference of $196.32 as an increase.
So trying to get this to the lowest or most conceptually tangible way of realizing it, if we go with the current level of service, year one is a $281 increase. If we reduce recycling, it's $214.
So that's a $65ish savings. If we go to once a week, $196, which is only $18 over that s. >> I mean, it seems to me you're going to have to go to option two or three or B or C. It's just a matter of can we live
with garbage once a week or do we need garbage twice a week? >> I think absolutely not. >> No, we need garbage twice a week. >> Yeah. >> So, we should go with option two. We need garbage twice a week. >> Yeah. From my perspective, $18 a year,
it's worth it to have it. Okay. So, the way it is now, it's going to be $70 increase come January 1st. A quarter a quarter if we stay with the same level of service. But, so you pick up garbage from like once a week around here and you're going to have mice and rats and everything else. So, we're not we all
agree that we need it twice a week, not doing garbage. So, option three is even recycling up. Option three is >> Yeah. If you think you need garbage twice a week, then you got >> drive around this town. >> Can we live Can we live with the recycling? I can, but I don't know how
everybody else feels. Can you live with the recycling bucks a quarter? I don't even know if it makes sense. >> That's the way I look at it. >> Y so no matter what is a huge increase. So the question is where's the value?
So we're going 19301 or 20962. We keep it the same >> first year. >> Correct. >> For year one and then again it expands thereafter. And all this is on the website in the memo. And >> and listen, I'm not I'm not critiquing you. >> Yeah. >> But you said bids.
It was a bid to the So for the benefit of the record, there were two bids the first time we opened solicited open bids. The second time there was only one one bid. Um there was effort to ensure that the bidder who also submitted a competitive bid uh had
the bid and that that company did pull the specification and for reasons unknown did not submit any deposition. >> The the difference between the two like you said is only $17 a quarter. >> A quarter. >> A quarter.
>> To me it makes sense just to keep it as is. >> It makes sense to keep it as is. It's 17 a quarter. So $80 a year to keep everything as is instead of going down to one. >> So by year five interest anyway, but >> yeah. What is it?
>> By year five, it's going to be an extra $100 a quarter, >> right? Correct. >> It goes from 13935 to 239. >> 239, but the other one was 219. >> Correct. >> So it's still at $20 more. I mean, in the end, Delta is not that
smart. It's just shockingly expensive. Basically, >> it's going to be expensive, but the difference between keeping it the way we want it or having less pickup is $80 a year. >> I mean, that doesn't make sense. >> And just so the public knows, I mean, we
we've only gotten one bid for the last This is our third contract that we're going to award that we've only gotten one bid. >> Yep. came all said and done. We only ended up with one when it was all good. Not really. But >> I'm okay with keeping it the way it is.
Second off. >> I'm okay with keeping it the way it is. >> Yeah, I'm I'm good with one or two unless a lot of people are are against it if I'm good at keeping it or going with two. >> Keep it. So the So the consensus is retain the same level of service. That's the direction I'm hearing.
>> I think so. It's going to be a hit. I think we it would probably make sure that we get out to everybody that it's happening so they don't get bills and get all sad like >> 100%. Well, >> we we've got to do a little >> we'll put a statement on the website. Um the challenge is if we do a mailing
that's going to increase the cost even more um >> I'm sure it will find itself on social media. >> Do we do we have one more quarter going out or is it >> So here's what would need to happen. So, as as noted earlier, the current
contract concludes on October 31st. The solid waste utility budget will limp through 2025 without a change in 2025. Is there any way though of adding it to the next quarter bill that a note is a note? I I can definitely ask that.
>> Okay. Well, I I think that that's a mailer that's already we're paying for, >> right? We're already paying for it. Just explaining we're under a new contract. We weighed the options. Well, what what we do is we just put it this there's limited with the text, but we can put information that point to the website where we're unlimited as far as we can.
>> So, the only comment I have is >> and I'm sure we'll hear from people, but I just want to make sure all the residents want, you know, if they want the same level of service, this is what it is. If they don't, if they want something else, unfortunately,
we're here to make that challenge. >> Yeah. Right. >> Right. We're making the same We're making a decision to keep the same level of service, which we always try to do for our residents. Just get the word out. >> Yeah. So legislatively
um resolutions of award of the contracts will be prepared for the October 14th meeting and then prior to the end of the year there will be an ordinance prepared that will have to be adopted to adjust the rates in order to pay the necessary costs associated with contracts.
>> The award there needs to be a certification availability funds by law to award the contracts which will be predicated upon the implementation. Does does the resolution have to be approved for you to put that verbiage on the next bill? I mean, if the next bill goes out October 1st and our meeting isn't until
2 weeks later, you know, we're going to approve it. Can't you put it on there anyhow? >> No, I can put I can put the word on the bill. Certainly. Yeah. Okay. Good. >> I just I'm just trying to lay out the legislative actions needed prior to the end of the year so that we have the appropriate rates in place so that we can pay the contracts. Otherwise, we end
up in a problem. >> Yeah. Yes. So, we're going to be a little bit different in the deficit on January 1, second, and third because we don't have the money in from the resident yet to pay the increased bills. Correct. >> Because their first bill is going to be $70 higher. >> Correct. >> And they get that that bill. >> Yep. >> Okay.
>> And they don't realize the choice was 70 or 50. >> Yeah. So, and the question is, do you you know what's the value of the service? >> What's the value of the service? >> That was a discussion that vegetated waste. It was decided that that value was there to retain it. >> Okay. Thank you all very much. Thank
you. Thank you. >> Next item is reports and notices. There aren't any. Next item number 14 is council reports and announcements. Councilwoman Florence Fle. >> Okay. Um I'd like to congratulate
Zachary Paulino who was sworn into our police department I believe last week. Um, also congratulations to Liam Peller for being a junior firefighter. Um, couple of things about my
committees. economic development will meet tomorrow night um in this uh same room at 7 p.m. Um the Pathways of History tours for Morris County is coming up Sunday,
October 5th. We will have open the Pomp and Plains Railroad Station will be reopening and will be open for the pathways tour on Sunday, October 5th from 12:00 to 5:00 as well as the Martin Berry House, rain or shine.
Uh, the historic district commission is meeting Wednesday, October 1st at 700 p.m. and the senior citizen advisory committee is meeting tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Um, and also, uh, we just got done with
the senior Olympics. I wasn't there, unfortunately, cuz I'm away, but hopefully that went well. I did not get a report yet. Maybe somebody else has a report on that. Um and then uh the street fair I heard was a great success.
So thank you to everyone who participated in that. Uh that was sponsored by the chamber. Um and PV Rotary held a successful golf outing. So thanks to all who came out and made that a success.
I think I'm done with my report. Mayor, thank you. >> Thanks, Melissa. Councilman Cole. All right. So, I just wanted to congratulate both fire departments on the new uh resolution that we approved tonight. Uh hopefully it does draw some some new
members. Congratulations to Liam Peller for becoming a junior fighter fighter for company one, I believe. Correct. >> So, congratulations, Liam. Uh as Melissa said, the street fair was, you know, was very very well attended. It was a beautiful day. Um, so, you know,
congratulations to everybody that, uh, you know, put that on the chamber. Um, we'll we'll see what happens for next year. That's all I got, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. >> Thank you to Councilwoman Russell. >> Um, first of all, congrats, Liam. Good job, and thank you for volunteering. Our
volunteers are really the heart of our town. We say that time and time again, and it takes a lot, especially the younger people coming up. I love to see that. So, thank you. Um, hazardous waste egg was run very well. Just in, pull in. They had different stations. You stop,
they take it out of your car. So, that went really great. And I think it's great that they did it right here in town. Um, street fair was great. Great job done by Heidi and Jess. Um, it looked like packed. Everybody had a good time. Um, this Saturday is the October
Fest right behind with the first aid squad. They have 50/50s. $100. Winner gets a guaranteed of 5,000. They're going to have some kids rides, some three bands, there's beer. It's going to be a lot of fun. Um the library, the
library is going to award the contract to finally do that construction. Yay. It's about time. Spend that money. Um the hoown is October 18th with a rain date of the 19th. And I just want to thank the Girl Scouts for planting milkweed at Foothills Park. Um that's
for those that don't know, they attract butterflies. And there's been a group of Girl Scouts who's actually planted a lot of milkeed around the town to help the um butterflies. And that's all I have there. >> And right now, Saturday looks cloudy, but no rain. >> No rain >> for the first day of squad October.
>> No rain. I saw Bobby Joe the other day at the street fair and it and then it was like supposed to rain. I'm like Bobby Joe. So no, that's good. It's all good. If anybody's not doing anything on Friday, we're got a lot of work to do. >> All right. Thank you, Kyle. Councilman Sarah Cruz. >> Okay. Nothing sign significant to report
from uh from my uh committees just uh they haven't met between last meeting and this one. Uh thank you very much to all you all the volunteers in town especially for the new ones with trailblazing for your peers right way to set the standard. All right. It's very important because um talents they don't
operate, you know, communities don't operate without volunteers, you know, so it's very important. So being so young, uh thank you for standing up and and and trailblazing that um congratulations to the new police officer in town. Hope he has a healthy career um and another
town, right? >> So um yeah, good luck to him. Hope he's um you know, safe and enjoys it here and uh that's all you got. Thanks. When's the officials coming in for us? >> October 14th. >> October 14th. >> So, you get to visit him next meeting.
Cool. >> All right. For me, a couple things. Sh committee met last night. Not much going on. Um, but it was good to see them again. Um, congrats again to me on 101 and walking up the stairs and getting up here. Thank God, right? That's awesome.
That's awesome. Um, good. It was also uh also nice, very nice about the fire the fire departments being able to go out and uh get get more members from the surrounding towns and people that don't, you know, work here but don't live here. So, um, go get them. Go get them. Liam, thank you for volunteering. That's
awesome. Um, talk to your friends. Get a couple more. That'll be cool. Right. Um, I know there's quite a few on there, so you got a pretty good group, I think. Um, train station's going to open again, so that's um that's very nice. haven't been there in a little while. Um, street fair was great. Uh, be beautiful deck.
It was really nice day. A lot of people when I was there. Um, Unico had their September 11th memorial service. Um, I learned I had a new name, Jim. But anyway, inside joke if you were there. They just had my name in the in
the uh program. Whole program is Jim. So I said if you got any complaints, send them to town hall attention gym. Um, but no, it's very nice that they they still they they still do it. Um, it'd be nice to have a little bit of more of a showing out there, but it was
it was very nice. And I would just like to say thank you as a couple of council members of all the volunteers that serve on our committees um and uh the fire department and you all all of that. As um Kyle said, it's really the heartbeat of our town. So,
thank you. Thank you to all of them. And that's and and think being that we're talking about volunteers, we we I forgot and I should have said something. Congratulations to the Eagle Scout that upgrade. I said I wanted to the 911 monument out. Tremendous work that he
did. And if you think about it, he wasn't even born then. >> He was born seven or eight years after that. >> So he really did a nice job. If you haven't seen it, it's lit. Walk by there. It's lit now. So you can see it at night. So yes, you're right. That was uh that that was awesome that
he was able to do that. And also, we have a lot if you don't know, we have a lot of Eagle Scouts in town. In fact, there's another project that's coming up. Um I don't know the the whole Boy Scout troop just seems to really push the Eagle Scout thing. So, it's it's really nice to have all them in town
with with all the projects that they do. All right. So, next thing is public comment. Um 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 and come to the microphone and provide your name for
the record. Anybody? Yes. Come on up. Robin Jones, Pompton Plains. First, I'd like to thank you all for uh passing the resolution for the Pompton Riverwalk Park. Uh appreciate that and on behalf
behalf of of Open Space, we thank you very much for that. Uh couple of quick things. Kyle, I I read the the um the referendum uh on a on the ballot. Did that come out the way you wanted it come out?
>> It wasn't up to me how it came out. >> No, I know. But you I I knew that, but >> but I mean, are you pleased with the wording of that? >> I think they could have gone a little further, but they I guess they kind of left it vague with >> Yeah, it was >> like I said, I think the outreach is
what's going to be important. >> Yeah. Um, uh, another minor thing, but something I appreciate a lot. I walk my dogs every morning past the, uh, high school, make a left on the sunset, which eventually becomes
West End. They put a sidewalk in at that corner. And I really appreciate that cuz it's dangerous walking dogs when everybody is coming coming to high school and there's bushes in the way and I can't walk on lawns. I'm walking on the street holding my breath and I I'm
going in in don't hold your breath in in between cars at certain moments. So I I that's a really one I'll miss the island. I kind of like that. Had a nice little finding um >> Yeah. You see like this now, right? >> Yeah. So that that's a little weird. And so I had questions about the solid waste
conversation. you were we were talking about possibly alternating the solid waste, the the cans and the paper, but apparently we're not going to do that. I know it would be very confusing, but if it's a money savings issue, was that was that that was an A.
Was that B or C? I guess that was B. >> That was B. Yes. >> So So B is no good. Why? >> Just because it's alternating, right? So you only have paper the first and the third week bottles. >> No, yeah, I understand that. I'm only speaking from from my point of view.
Like I only have to put stuff out once every couple of weeks anyway. I don't put it out if there's five cans in the garbage can. Just wears my garbage cans out. The garbage men don't need to deal with sanitation workers, whatever their title is. Um how how does how did they
come upon the price of of solid waste hauling for 5year period? It's not based apparently it's not based on how much tonnage we did in the previous year. So if Riverdale has the same contract, Riverdale is going to get
charged the same thing we're getting charged that when we're done I can ask Mr. Brewer about how they figured it out. a sore point with me uh is is we cut out a lot of grass clippings. >> And a lot of times those grass clippings
get wet and that it just incredibly adds to the tonnage that ultimately adds to increases. It's not a it's not direct. If we would say 50 million tons in 2026 isn't going to make a damn bit of difference apparently. >> Yeah, we can ask about the vegetative
waste. I don't know if that's just the bulk or is it per ton? I don't know, but I can find out. Okay, that's all I have. Thank you. Great, Robin. Thank you. Anyone else for public comment? Yes. Come on up. >> Good evening again, Paulic Township.
For the record, the student that I referenced earlier was the 2025 recipient of the Propel Bonic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship. And we invited them to come here to read
the Pride Proclamation, which they did. And uh I went back to the June 10 video uh as part of my role as president of Propel Aquatic. Uh and that's why I was
there and then heard the aside. And in my view, councilwoman, regardless your intent, your pension for aides when people speak, not just on that occasion, but on many
other occasions, your pension for those aides is by definition disrespectful not only to the speaker, but to the body that you represent and to the township that you represent. So, I would suggest a couple things. One
is that Councilwoman Russell, you still have an opportunity to apologize to Barbara Musio, the former uh library trustee. Uh you've yet to do that. And to this council, you still have an opportunity
to recognize Barbara Mosio's more than 30 years of volunteer dedication to that library, which you've yet to do. So, I would hope that you would consider uh to do that. Thank you. Thank you.
>> Um, anybody else for public comment? >> We thought you were just standing up to let Paul. >> Hi, Dana Witsac 6 Bryant Corponic. I just have some thoughts. Um, you talk about those postcards with our bills, the water and sewer and the garbage. Is
that still necessary in 2025? But maybe going into 2026, we can maybe some kind of email that we can get those bills signed up for emails instead of, you know, having those postcards that I don't even get half the time anyway.
They come in my mail delivery list from the post office, but I never see those cards. Very rarely. Um, the other thought that I had was um the bill pay. I guess I should thank you for not charging us when we pay from our checking account. There's no fee
anymore. Um, is there any way that maybe that system can get set up where we can future pay? Like for example, my bill is due on the 20th. When I pay my bills, I do them twice a month on the 1st and the 15th. I would like to be able to go into that site and say, "Okay, I want this
schedule to pay on the 20th instead of having to wait until the 19th to pay it for the 20th or actually 2 days before." Um, and then there was another one. I can't remember what it was, but must not be that important, but I I think it would be great to those postcards that
we don't get. Maybe Oh, I know what it was. The other one was um I thought I signed up a while ago, maybe even a couple years ago for notifications from the township. Um you put in your email and then they would like I don't know if it was like a newsletter or something that I signed up for, but you're talking
about this message to put on this postcard that half the people in town probably don't get. Why don't they why don't we have like some kind of, you know, an alert like that to go out to the residents? You can sign up for the email. It's not like you're spamming
anybody or or you know like I remember the board of ed got a list of our email addresses and somebody sent out a bunch of emails to us if you sign up for it send it you know like um notifications or something you know I'm not I'm not talking about it like emergency of the
reverse system but something like that and keep us informed too if people don't watch the council meetings or but anyway I I I think I'm done with that postcard that I don't get you know I know my bill is due do um and I would prefer to um
get something online like you know if I do with my credit card statements. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um anybody else public comment? >> Right. Seeing none, we're going to close that section of the meeting. Um Mr. Brewer, um can you address the uh just a
couple of questions that Robin had about solid waste and vegetated waste? I'm not sure how they figured that out. >> Yes, sir. I will do my best. So the collection and disposal of solid waste garbage. The township contracts with a hauler who comes around once or now
twice a week, right, to collect the garbage. In Mars County, there's something called flow control which requires that hauler to bring the garbage to the Mars County transfer station. The hauler can't bring it anywhere else. Other counties may or may not have the same requirement. The
tipping fee, which is so-called because the truck tips it on the ground and it gets weighed going in, it gets weighed going out and figure out what the the tonnage is, is paid directly by the township. So, the township pays for the disposal of the garbage to the county's
transfer station as required. We don't abdicate that responsibility to somebody else because we don't trust them. Um, so the the the hauler for garbage is just to collect it, bring it to the transfer station. With respect to recycling, um the hauler collects the recyclable
materials and takes possession of them and then is responsible for either paying to get rid of them or collecting any revenue that's derived from selling them. 25 years ago, there was extraordinary value in uh recyclable
materials and there was a lot of money being paid for even single stream recycling all bundled together. Um, if you want to engage AI, you can look up uh green sword uh was the language that we used at the time to describe the fact
that we were exporting most of that material to China who needed it for the composition of of construction and everything else that was going on in China at the time. And then that market has ceased. So today, for the benefit of the audience, there's really only two materials that are deriving revenue in
the concept of recycling. uh aluminum and clean dry paper and clean dry cardboard. Um ironically, glass is most typically collected ground up and used as cover as a landfill. Um but the requirement to have it collected as a recyclable material and
processed as a recyclable material rests with the county solid waste management plan and we have an obligation to do it. Um I can talk to you offline about it more but we can't do a Q&A during >> we so um so that that's how recycling
collection goes. So we don't market try to sell try to drive revenue um that's incorporated in the collection contract. Similarly with the vegetative waste collection and disposal we don't pay based upon the disposal of the material. We just pay the hauler who comes and collects it and then it is up to the
hauler to dispose of it. juxtaposed to our leaf collection which we handle with the DBW vehicles that come with sweepers that goes over to the compost facility ultimately gets processed some of it gets used some of it gets disposed of through another um uh deal there thereafter and so there's a lot of
elements to this and unfortunately it's all extraordinarily expensive uh with respect to Miss Witzac's comments we have to send the postcard I I I get it I Yeah, the private the
private world advances at a rate that government just simply doesn't. Um, as as noted by the fact that there's still a legal requirement to publish in newspapers of record that don't exist. [Music] So, it just it just doesn't evolve at the same rate. It is what it is. Uh,
with respect to prepaying, I know you can prepay if you interact directly with the office staff. I don't know if the software allows it. The software is relatively new. I'll take a look at that and I'll get back to you. Good. Um, I have no objection to taking people's money early. >> We're good with that. >> No, I don't mean every day. I mean like the schedule.
>> Yeah. This the schedule. Yeah. That that that can't do. That can't do because that abdicates the responsibility for the transaction to be managed by a computer rather than you. So based upon how we operate, the obligation is on the rateayer or the taxpayer to initiate the transaction, not the town. Because if
something fails, we don't take on this. >> Yeah. that won't happen. Um, and I can explain later offline. And then lastly, uh, yeah, if if I'm going to put a notice up on the front page of the website explaining why this happened is happening, and I'm going to do it under
administration. So, anybody that signed up to receive alerts under administration through the send me alerts will get a notification that there's been something posted. So, there are a number of different categories and types of alerts people can sign up for, but that will happen provided they're signed up for the room. Okay. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Brewer. Um, right. No other comments on that. So, approval of minutes. There are no minutes for approval. There are no items for close session. There being no further business, is there a motion to adjourn? >> Make that motion.
>> I'll second. All >> in favor? I I Any >> opposed? I >> no meeting adjourned at 8:03. [Music]