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Good evening. Welcome to the March 10th, 2025 meeting of the Pquanic Township Council. Miss Marsh, in accordance with the requirements of New Jersey's Open Public Meetings Act, notice of this meeting was included in the annual meeting notice which was filed in the office of the township clerk, posted on the bulletin board in the municipal

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building, published as a legal notice in the suburban trends and daily record newspapers, and distributed to all persons requesting notice in accordance with township policy. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance followed by a prayer and a moment of thanks for individuals serving our nation.

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I pledge algiance 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

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abundance of wisdom and understanding so that every deliberation will result in action which will promote the common good for the general welfare for all the people of Quanic Township. Amen. >> Amen. >> Will the clerk please call the role?

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>> Mr. Drey here. >> Mrs. Florence Lynch here. >> Mr. Cole is absent. Mr. Sirusa >> here. >> Mayor Russell >> here. >> Next on our agenda is a swearing in of fire department officers. If I can have

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all the officers up front and I'd like the council to join me down below in front of the deas. I'll use that really wanted to be here. actually. Shut down. Everybody

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Heat. Heat. Everybody here. >> Okay. If you can raise your right hand and repeat after me. >> I state your name. My mother >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> I will support the Constitution of the

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United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith >> I bear true faith >> and allegiance to the same and >> allegiance to the same

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>> and to the government established in the United States >> and to the government established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially

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>> and justly perform >> and justly perform >> all the duties of state your physician >> all the duties of chief >> according to the best of my ability so help me God >> according to the best of my ability so >> thank you very MUCH

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[applause] Thank you. Thank you. Heat. Heat. America. I DIDN'T [laughter] like that. I'm like, are you [laughter] like

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Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. I'm just saying that conversation. Yeah. HEAT. HEAT. Thank you for coming.

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>> You got everybody else. Take your time. Take your time. Fire numbers. because that's what I guess. >> Everybody good? >> Okay. At this time, are there any reports or comments from any of the

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volunteers serving our community? >> [music] >> The next item on the agenda is public comments. This comment period will be limited to a total of 30 minutes. Additional time is reserved later in the meeting. We welcome comments, suggestions, and questions. However, the purpose of this time is to allow public

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comment, 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. If anyone wishes to address the council, please wait to be recognized to come to the microphone and provide your name for

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the record. Paul Miller Quanic Township. I understood from the last town council meeting that you were encouraged to uh do an ordinance to prohibit ICE from operating a detention center in Quanic

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Township. I don't see it on the agenda. Uh so I guess I can assume that you're supporting the the notion should they come into our community. But I'm here tonight to uh uh offer a a short quiz.

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The subject of the quiz is am I an or are you an American fascist? Fascism being characterized by extreme right-wing authoritarian and ultraist ideology that forcibly suppresses

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opposition. It sounds familiar. It should. It defines the Trump administration. So here's the test. If you think the tomahawk missile that killed Iranian school girls wasn't fired by the American military, here's a hint for

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you. The only force currently in the region armed with tomahawks and capable of firing tomahawks is the United States. If you know that American military leaders have described their new war as quote God's divine plan and

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think that sounds right. If you know that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegth is a Christian nationalist who speaks of a holy war, but still think our sons and daughters should die for that cause. If you think it's appropriate that ICE forcibly and often

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violently detains American citizens for having the audacity to film their activities. If you think it's appropriate for ICE to wear masks but not your local police department. If you know that the ICE detention centers have wrongfully detained at

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least 170 American citizens since Trump took office, but think that's okay. If you think that the infamous January 6th attack on the United States capital was anything but violent sedition.

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If you think Trump's pardon of Proud Boys convicted of felony sedition was somehow morally appropriate. If you think that those same Proud Boys, convicted felons, should be members of

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ICE goon squads as they currently are. If you're complicit with any of these and recited the pledge of allegiance tonight, hang your head in shame. You're not a patriot. You're just a pathetic Trumper.

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Thank you for your time. Is there anyone else for public comment? There being no additional public comments, we will continue with the agenda. The next item on our agenda is the manager report. Mr. Brewer. >> Thank you, ma'am. Uh, nice to see the fire department and folks associated

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with the fire department come out. It's always great to support the volunteers. So, that was item number one. as previously discussed at the last council meeting. With respect to the balance of the items on uh my report, they all cover agenda uh scheduled for anticipatory action. Uh the first is the

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Bach automotive sewer connection. There was discussion last October. Uh the second meeting regarding an approval for PAC Automotive to receive relief from the obligation of extending the sewer main down the street and allowing a connection directly to a manhole through

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what is essentially a long lateral which is colloally referred to as a spaghetti line. Uh council approved the conceptual idea but directed that staff and professionals work together to prepare the necessary agreements to memorialize uh the procedure moving forward to protect both the township and the developer. So that is scheduled for the

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council's consideration. Uh we went out as we do annually for the PV park concession stand. Uh this year we received a proposal from a local vendor uh Defying Gravity who provided the highest quote. Um unlike golf, it's better to have the higher number when you're getting contributions. So

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So we have that scheduled for for approval. Um and uh somewhat with some sadness associated with it, we are pleased to sell 101 Chatfield Drive, which was an affordable unit that the township was in a position to uh take possession of. Um and that's where the

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sadness comes from, but ultimately the public works department and all the staff was involved in rehabilitating the affordable unit, keeping it as an affordable unit, and we've navigated the process over a couple of years to sell that. So, there's a resolution offered for sale of 101 Chapfield uh Drive. And

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then lastly, uh within the resolutions for approval, there is a designated special event for the street fair. Last year, there was some discussion regarding costs. I just want to call the council's attention the fact that the costs that are estimated by the respective department heads of the

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public works department and police department are on the resolution. So, uh, respectfully, I would request that the council either decide to continue with the waiver of those fees, approve those fees, or take any other action the council so desires. So, I just want to call that to the governor body's

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attention. Unless there's any questions, that is my report. >> Um, did did we get any new information about how much they made last year, how much the chamber got? >> I don't have any facts report. >> Can we postpone approving this till we get those facts? That is up to council.

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>> What do you think? This is the same conversation we had today. I would definitely want the figures because before what kind of number are we talking about? I mean, it was a pretty high number. >> Shock 17,000. >> I think we need to see what chamber made

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up of anything and what the event company made. >> Right. Cuz we're doing it for a private company. Yeah. >> And I know we we said last year like, "Okay, we'll try it this year. We'll see how it does." And they they had told us they would open their books. >> Yeah. This year. Correct. Yeah, just to see how it went last year. Like we it was packed.

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>> Yeah. [clears throat] >> Okay. So that's what I would want to do. >> If that's a council desire, my recommendation that works, right? [clears throat] >> The manager's recommendation is >> I was just say respectfully when it comes time to take action on the resolutions for approval. We'll pull that one. Okay.

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>> When when is [clears throat] made and I will follow up to get additional information and come to the council with that [clears throat] in a report. >> Don't you think that's a reasonable request to want to know? It's the council's deciding what to support and not support. So if you want to have an understanding, >> and you said most of that money goes to

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police, overtime and DPW. >> So based upon the estimates that were provided by the respective department heads, the public works department estimates $9,200 and the police department uh estimates $7,722. >> I mean, we want to support the street fair. It's just a matter of

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>> we want to support it, but if it's >> it's a private company, correct? paying this money and they're making $100,000. >> Well, let's just see what it is. >> Yeah, exactly. Yeah, we'll pull that. Okay. >> That was the agreement, too. So, >> yeah, that was that was part of the discussion last last time. Okay. So,

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then um the next agenda item is resolutions, Miss Marsh. Beginning with resolution R 202686, approving the designated special event permit application, which has now been pulled. 202687 awarding a contract for

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the concession operator for the Quanic Valley Park Lake Concession stand to define gravity for the total contribution amount of $3,500 in accordance with the request for proposals. 202688 authorizing temporary emergency appropriations for operating

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purposes. 202689 authorizing the execution of an employment agreement between the township of aquanic and township manager Adam Brewer. 202690 authorizing an extension of the township sanitary sewer line with waiverss and the execution of

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a sanitary sewer extension agreement with William C. Bach 202691 confirming the sale of public property no longer needed for public use located at 101 Chatfield Drive, block 1101, lot 9, qualifier C0101

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in the township of Pquanic. 202692 authorizing utility office refunds, open pay overpayments or cancellations. 202693 authorizing tax office refunds, overpayments or cancellations. and R 202694 approving payment of the itemized claims

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as set forth on the March 5th, 2026 bill list and FEMA elevation escort list. Are there any comments on the resolutions from council? Just that I'm glad to see a local business uh be the you know

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concession stand at the park and uh I wish them well. Glad that we finally got 101. Yeah. Glad that you finally got 101 Chatfield under contract that I know was a long ball. >> Yep. >> And hopefully everything will go good with the agreement with sewer line. So

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I'm good with everything. Okay. Is there a motion to adopt these resolutions? >> I'll make the motion. >> Say them because we're >> I'll make a motion to move R2026-87 through R2026-94.

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>> Okay. Is there a second? All second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Tracy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Florence Lynch, >> yes. >> Mr. Syracus, >> yes. >> Mayor Russell, >> YES. There are no items listed for discussion

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and there are no reports or notices. The next item on our [clears throat] agenda is council reports and announcements. Councilman Drees. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, first thing, I love the warmer weather. Thank you. It's nice to see the sun. Um, I'd like to just congrat uh congratulate the fire

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officers again, but also a big thank you to everybody that serves on our volunteer fire department. I know we talk about the officers a lot, but there's a lot of people um that put on the coats and run into the buildings, too. So, thank thank you for all you do um for for our town. Um again, with

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Melissa and and I think there's nice to see a local operator for P PV Park. Um and also there seems to be a lot of assumptions going on running around lately. I don't know why it seems a little odd to me, but there's a lot of assumptions. So, I'll leave it at that. [clears throat] And I just like to uh

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just offer a prayer for all the um military members that have lost their life in the last couple weeks here. So, thank thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you, John. Councilwoman Florence Lynch. >> Hi. Yes. I really just have a couple of announcements. I even left some flyers

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on the table. Uh just some events coming up. Um, since Steve isn't here, I'll just mention the company 2 fish and chips dinner. Um, that's for company 2. That's this Friday from 4:30 to 7:30. I don't know if there's tickets still

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available, but see, when are you buyer company 2, guys, if you want fish and chips? Um, I think it's dine in and or takeout. Uh, let's see, what else do I have? I have a ribbon cutting coming up this Saturday. Um, it is for Pennington

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Mortgage. They're located in the Century 21 building on Route 23. I don't know the exact address, but you know where that is on the other side of the highway. That's at 11:00. Um, the Knights of Columbus is holding their annual um St. Patrick's Day event.

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It's a dinner dance and that's this Saturday. I don't know if there's tickets still available, but I heard that they were like pretty much close to being sold out. You'd have to contact an officer at the Knights of Columbus for that. If anybody needs a contact, I can

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give you one. But I saw it on Facebook. So, um, that food packing event that is this weekend. I don't know how many people are >> Sunday. Yeah. >> Are going to to do that, but that's that annual food packing event, which is that run by the church or by the community

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partners of hope. >> Community partners. >> So, the community partners of hope runs that every year, which is great. members of all the local churches and a lot of volunteer organizations. As a matter of fact, I'm supposed to be in three different time slots with three different organizations

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uh doing the event, but it's a it's a good community event. You're really helping out um in that arena. Uh what else? Um the Quanic Valley Rotary, they are holding a comedy show in April. It's

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April 18th on a Saturday. You can see any Rotary member for tickets to that event that is over at the Lincoln Park American Legion. So, spring is in full swing and everybody is going having a

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lot of events. So, let's support our community. I also want to mention a couple of things with the senior group. Um, if you're uh know DISC 55, that's uh the senior group at the senior house. They're running a sat St. Patty's Day

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lunchon, corn beef and cabbage and everything else. Um, catered by Thatcher McGee. That's Thursday, March 19th from 12 to 2 and that's at the Senior House and it's only 28 bucks. Yeah. Corn beef and cabbage, potatoes, Irish Irish stone

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beverages, dessert. It's pretty good. So, if anybody um wants more information about that, there's a flyer up there or go to the senior house. I think there's a signup sheet there. Um, also two other

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quick things I wanted to mention. Um, the we have a senior citizen advisory committee um at the town here. They are hosting a senior health fair and that's going to be held across the street um at

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on April 28th from 11 to 2. Um, and it's at the First Reformed Church at Friendship Hall. Um, you can come in and meet, you know, all the senior resource group members. It's there's a group called the Senior Resource Group of New Jersey. They

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actually organize the whole event and bring in all the vendors. There'll be some local uh people here as well. Um, so they'll there'll be a lot of different health care professionals there and education and you know, so

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sign up for that. And last but not least, um, the Quanic Valley Rotary is hosting a senior lunchon. That's going to be Wednesday, May 6th across the street from 12 to 2 at the First Reformed

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Church, Friendship Hall. So I had a couple of people. You can either sign up at the uh senior house, there's a signup sheet there. If you're part of Coral Village, there's a sign signup sheet there. Or [snorts] if you're just a senior in town and you don't know who to call, my cell phone number is on here

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and I have gotten some calls already. But that's a nice event as well. So other than that, the only other thing I wanted to mention, we had planning board meeting last night. Uh very short meeting. All we did was a resolution for approval for the Bonic Township Board of

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Ed um who is purchasing that property across from the library for their offices. >> Other than that, I don't have anything. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, Councilman Sarah Cusa. >> Sure. Sir, um [clears throat] Rick met, nothing significant to report came out

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of that except they're still hiring uh lifeguards, which is great. Open space meeting uh open space met the current projects. Um and there was um some very good discussion on the aquatic park access. So um I think that's trending in

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the right direction. So I think we have a favorable outcome on that >> once everything's fine with that. They want to you know absolutely report on that. So >> great. [snorts] Thank you. >> Thank you. Um environmental meets tomorrow at 7:30

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right at the senior house. Don't forget the river cleanup cleanup is April 11th from 9:00 to 1. It's actually a very fun event. Um, you go in, they give you gloves or you can bring gloves and then you go to different spots in the town and we do clean up as a group and it's

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it's it's actually fun. Afterwards, you go back to senior house serves lunch. Um, library reopening March 16th. So, come on in, take a look. Looks amazing. Um the library fest will be April 18th

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and the first aid this this month February 91 calls 91 calls in 28 days. Wow. They do so much. 44 of those were to Cedar Crest. So almost half were to Cedar Crust. And uh just want to thank

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all of our volunteers, firemen, first aid, everything. Um our group volunteers, everybody. They they all add to our town 100%. Thank you. Next on the agenda is public comment. As a reminder, we welcome comments, suggestions, and questions

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rather than dialogue. Comments are limited to 3 minutes. If anyone wishes to address the council, please wait to be recognized and come to the microphone and provide your name for the record. Good evening. Good evening. Um, Mary K. Sherman. Um, the first thing I'd like to

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talk about is I want to state my opinion that I'm against the war that is going on against Iran. Um, it's illegal. Um, I know that there are at least seven military people that

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have arrived back in Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware. And I think Vinnie has been there several times as I recall some of his comments. Correct me if I'm wrong. >> So, um, it's a pretty solemn occasion

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that happens. And when you have a war that we haven't figured out why we're there. Um, and then to hear of oil raining down on 10 million people in

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Tran is unbelievable. And that's because the United States decided to start this war. So, um, that's where I'm coming from at this point. And then um I wanted to follow up on some of Paul's comments and my

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question to you as a council, you know, a number of us in Pquanic are concerned about ICE and whether or not as a town council, you know, would approve or think it's okay to have an ice facility here in town.

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And um one of the questions that was asked at the last council meeting was whether or not there's zoning already in place in Buuanic to not allow these kind of facilities. So I'm following up on the two proposals that

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Megan was talking about last week and whether or not you're thinking of doing a resolution getting together and whether or not anybody has checked on the zoning zoning laws. So that's my comment. Thank you.

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Anyone else for public comment? Can't see them on the bush. Okay. Next on the agenda is minutes for approval. I have the January 13th reorganization meeting and the January 13th regular meeting. Are there any comments on these minutes?

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>> No. >> Is there a motion to approve these minutes? I'll make a motion to approve uh the minutes uh the reorganization meeting of January 13th and the minutes from the council meeting January 13th as well.

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>> All in favor? >> Opposed? Next on the agenda is a close session discussion. Is there a motion to approve a resolution authorizing the township council to meet in executive session to discuss matters of attorney client privilege? >> I'll make that motion.

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>> Second. >> Second. All in favor? Opposed? At this time, the public portion of the meeting is recessed for close session.