The notice requirement provided to the open public meetings law has been satisfied. Notice was properly given. Said notice has been given has been transmitted to the courier news on Tuesday, January 8th, 2026 as posting as well as posting on the city's website. Clerk, can I please have
a roll call? >> Council members Bridge Jones, >> present. >> Graham, >> present. McCrae, >> present. >> Councilman Wyatt, >> he's present. >> He is present. He's remote. >> The record reflect that Councilman Wyatt
is present remotely. Councilwoman Cessum >> present. >> Vice President Hakaday >> present. >> And Council President Cherry >> present. >> President Aorum. >> Thank you. Can you please rise for the pledge of allegiance and remain standing
for this invocation? >> 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. >> [clears throat]
>> Humbly we ask God, the giver of peace and the lover of charity, to give the entire family of nations true agreement with his will, and to grant the light of his spirit on all those who work for justice and peace. Amen. >> Amen. >> Right. Can I please have a motion to approve the minutes from the regular
council meeting on June 15th, 2026 and the special meeting on July 6th, 2026? >> So moved. Second. >> All right. Thank you. Any communication from the mayor? Uh, >> none to report. Okay. >> All right. Discussion items. Um, we had
flood committee on the discussion items. That's the first thing. So, last month I introduced a resolution that will be on second reading tonight. Next month there will be a flood committee um that we're going to be putting together. I'll be um identifying a council person to sit on that
committee. If there's anyone in the community that would like to also participate, please let me know. Send an email. It's my anticipation that we'll have meetings with the administration on statuses of what's happening with flood mitigation throughout the city.
The next discussion item is the 2026 budget introduction presentation. Um but before I go into that, I just have a question to the administration which is probably the lingering question throughout the entire city is how did we get here? How did we get here? there's
been many numbers have been thrown around um of the deficit um a forecast. So the question is how did we get here? >> So how did we get to having a deficit? Okay. So I'm going to give a whole
presentation when we get to that resolution. I don't know if you want me to do it now. I think do it during the resolution. >> We could you could you want to do the presentation now? >> It's I could do it when we introduce or I could do it now. We could do the presentation now.
>> Okay. >> I think can everyone's everyone see? >> Okay. So this year's budget we are introducing is about $119 million and it represents a 5.4%
tax increase. Um the budget is made up of numerous line items but I really wanted to highlight the the biggest ones so that everybody could understand what makes up the budget. The budget is 40%
salaries and wages for employees, about 20% health insurance and about 12% pension. So right there you have about 72% of your almost 3/4 of the budget is entirely employee driven.
Then the other 15% are debt services, workers comp, um our reserve for uncollected taxes, utilities like keeping the lights on in city hall and in other places, and our funding of the library. 10% of the budget are other expenses. So
that's things like um bullets in the police department, um salt for the roads, things, you know, things that each department need to purchase in order to be able to do their jobs. So 90% of the
budget is kind of written in stone. Um, and then 10% is the OE, the line items that usually we go over in the SEBACK meetings and and talk in more detail about my clicker.
So, of the salary line, um, the 40% the way that that breaks down is about 40% police, 25% fire, and almost 10% DPW. So I would say 75%
is our essential workers, police, fire, public safety, DPW. Um 25% is all other employees or all other employees. And then the way that the OE
breaks down by department um you know of the of the 10% of the entire municipal budget that's OE 14% of that is for the police department n 10 about 10% is for DPW and so and so and so. So I just wanted everyone to see how
kind of what the breakdown is. Now to your question about the deficit, how did we get to a place where there's a deficit in this budget in this budget that is, you know, 90% fixed costs, the number one driver of our deficit and
pretty much every deficit in the state of New Jersey is health insurance. Um, you may have seen today that the state put out the numbers for next year's health insurance increase, which will be 17.5% for active employees, 36 12% for
early retirees, and 22% for Medicare retirees. So, health insurance is increasing at a rate that is really unsustainable. Um, in 2018, when I first started here, we
were paying 12.8 8 million for health insurance. We're up to 21.2. That's 8.4 million that have got that we've gone up in those eight years. We went up $4.1 million this year alone and that was a 20% increase. Looking at what
the state just put out today, um we really need to anticipate that that is the future of health insurance. So even though we were stable from 2018 to about 2023, these numbers have
dramatically shifted. Health insurance um is a contractual item. It is something that the membership of every union and every employee is entitled to by contract. It's not something that the city can unilaterally change without contract
negotiations and agreements. A second driver of this budget increase was our reserve for uncollected taxes. So this year, one second, match up my slides. This year, uh, our tax rate was about a
95.75, which is lower than it usually is. Usually we're more about 96 97%. And so that decrease of 1% less taxes being paid does equal about a million dollars that we need to now budget for.
Um I'll go to this one and then so I'll just you know this is something that we always talk about what your actual property tax bill is made up of. Your property tax bill is 58% municipal taxes, 27% school, 15% county. So if you
have a $7,000 property tax bill, you can expect that about 4,000 of that will be from your municipal increase. And then really the last thing that I wanted to say is that um today we're presenting a 5.4% 4% increase and it
took a lot of work, a lot of cutting, a lot of negotiating to get to this 5.4%. Um, you know, we worked obviously in collaboration with the council to take some action last week that allowed us to
drop the 8 12% that we would have had to present down to this 5.4. So, had we not taken those actions for community benefits and other personnel changes, we would have no choice but to introduce an
8.5% chance uh increase today. And so that is really the explanation that I wanted to give you this evening to give you context of the five and a half 5.4%. So, where does the lack of ARPA funds fall into the budget?
>> So, ARPA, we didn't have ARPA funds last year. Um, we haven't had ARPA funds. ARPA by law had to be exhausted by not this December, the year before. So, we didn't have there was no ARPA in last
year's budget either. I think director Gil, I think she's looking for you to confirm that. >> Can you confirm that? >> Yes. >> Because I I I distinctly remember we had ARPA funds and that was the last year that we used the ARPA funds. >> We had to appropriate. We had to use all
of the ARPA funds December 24. >> We had to use it all by December of 24. We had to use all of the ARPA funds by December of 2024. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Any questions for my colleagues before I move on?
>> Yeah, council president question. Um and thank you for the presentation madame BA as well as our fiscal director. Just two quick questions. Um with the ARPA funds um needing to be used by 2024, was that did they need to be expended or did they need to be encumbered by 2024? They need
to be needed to be encumbered with either extended or encumbered. >> Encumbered. Yes. So if they were encumbered then that's possibly why we saw things coming in 2025. Right. >> Okay. And then my second question is do we have um a sense of comparison in
terms of other municipalities um comparable in size maybe distance in terms of what their tax increase or not is looking like? >> Yeah. I mean, we we know that Broadway, I believe, just was introduced like a 9
something%. Um, we know that we know that all municipalities are struggling with this. I know Marboro just gave it put forward a 10 and a half%. Obviously, most of us know Jersey City is between a 15 and a 20. I think they introduced a 20. They walked it back to a 15. Um, New
Jersey property tax bills are now on average over $10,500, which is the highest. um the highest it's ever been and this is a New Jersey problem, this health insurance and it's impacting school budgets, municipal budgets all across the state.
>> Yeah, I I I completely understand that. I was just wondering if we had a sense of comparison in terms of other municipalities. I I understand 100% this is a state issue. It's not limited. Planefield is not special. Um, I've seen it up and down New Jersey, but I just
was wondering if we had any specifics relative to closer municipalities in terms of what they're doing. Um, if they're doing tax increases, what are those percent looks like, so on and so forth, but we don't have anything concrete right now. >> Well, a lot of them have not been
adopted yet. They've been introduced. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Councilman, >> how um how collaborative have the unions been uh in looking at alternative insurance uh options and are there any
other options out there that we could pursue that would be uh less expensive? >> Yes, there's many options that we can pursue. In fact, I think there's something like six more plans that we that are less rich than the current plan that we have that but are not a high
deductible plan. There's about six in between. Um I have met with the unions. This is, you know, been a conversation that's been ongoing. There was not an appetite to switch to Omnia for this year. Um we did create a
special open enrollment period. We were granted by the state the allowance to have a special open enrollment period to allow for employees who voluntarily wanted to switch to a different plan to switch to a different plan because it saves them money, right? They pay a percentage of the premium. So if the
premium is lower, the employee pays less. Um, so there are a good number of employees. I think we have one more week of open enrollment that are voluntarily switching which will be helpful to our surplus next year because we can't obviously we can't budget that in now.
But um the unions you know most of them ex everyone except for PBA and S SOA have opened contracts at this moment and they are definitely well aware that health insurance is going to be the biggest topic in our negotiations for this contract. >> Any other questions? Councilman.
>> Yes. I understand some layoffs [clears throat] have already taken place uh and I believe they were non civil service uh employees. Can you explain uh how and why that happened? >> Yes. So uh we are a civil service
municipality which means we are bound by their rules and regs and civil service grants employees permanency and civil service protections. In order to lay off anybody who has a civil service protection, you must first
remove the people who do not have that protection. So employees who do not have civil service protection, in civil service, it's called provisional. they have received a notice of layoff and that has to be done in order
regardless of if those are titles and positions that we would have wanted to you know that we would have put on a layoff list or not that has to be done in order to do any permanent layoff
>> and the two options that well one option you're presenting and then I saw another option um I believe one option uh would involve involve more layoffs and the uh other option with the higher tax
increase that would involve no uh additional layoffs. >> Do I understand that clearly? >> The 8.5%. Yeah. If you took no act, if we took no additional action and we just went off of the health insurance increase, you know, the um reserve for
collected taxes, >> then we would be looking at a 8.5%. So adopting the community benefits that you did last week, putting forward, you know, a layoff plan, getting kind of right sized, um, allowed us to bring
that down to a 5.4 for this year, >> right? And again, the higher option, uh, would be we would not be laying off any additional employees. >> The 8.5, is that what you mean? Yeah. But that doesn't bring back the non-
civil service employees that were already laid off. Is that correct? >> I'm not >> just I'm just uh exploring that option just if that you know if we uh decided to go with that option
uh not laying anyone off a higher tax increase uh but does that bring back the >> Well, we are introducing a 5.4 4. >> Mhm. >> So, do you mean like if I if we introduce a 5.4 and you guys come back with an 8.5,
>> right? >> How would that impact the provisional employees? >> Is that what you're saying? >> I I don't think it I mean that wouldn't bring them back. Okay. >> It it would couns action of layoff is purely
administrative function. Though the council may increase the budget, it does not necessaril necessarily mean that any individuals would be rehired. Sure. >> Um ultimately is a decision as as the BA said to rightsize the uh the workforce is purely administrative decision. >> Okay.
>> And council president. >> Yes. Yes. >> I just want to add that [clears throat] you know the question has been asked by you and by others. How did we get here? We have a structural deficit and if we don't take the actions
that the administration has embarked on, the problem gets worse next year and the year after. And the only way to fix a structural deficit is that we have to reduce the labor force
so that those recurring costs will be removed from the budget. Another way to do that is to increase revenues, which is why we look to pilot revenues. We look to the revenues from cannabis,
which those revenues are increasing year over year. But we cannot get ourselves out of a structural deficit by postponing the inevitable because the situation worsens next year and the year
after. And that's why the corrective actions that we're taking um are absolutely necessary if we're not to be back here in a worse position next year. >> Thank you, mayor. >> So, I guess the question is when when
did the structural deficit uh occur? >> So, you could kind of see, let me just go back. Well, so a part of the answer to that was already provided by the business administrator where she points out the
fact that health insurance costs are increasing at a rate that is unsustainable and it creates pressure on the expenditure side where there are no matching revenues. on the other side of
the ledger. And when you look at the health insurance cost, the rising uh pension costs and some other costs that we have in the budget, you can see how we could get to the place where we are.
So the structural deficit is not one point in time. It's an accumulate an accumulation of different factors that have brought us to where we are. Go council. >> Yeah. Question. Um, uh, mayor, I was
just wondering, um, in terms of the governor's office and the the legislature in Trenton, has there been any convers and I and I'm I'm grateful for the $4 million that you were able to obtain for the city and that that should
not go unnoticed and unappreciated. if it wasn't for that advocacy, this hole would be even greater. So, I want to publicly thank you for that because I know it's hard down in Trenton to get, you know, $4 million. My question is
from a legislative perspective um with all the elected officials that we have and with this being a state problem, has there been any conversation with the governor and the legislature about what relief, additional relief that they
could provide in terms of working to um have deeper conversations with some of these insurance agencies who in my opinion, this is my opinion only, are literally price gouging and taking advantage of people who need their healthcare. So, have there been any conversations on that level? And then
I'm also going to throw in our federal representatives, Corey Booker, Andy Kim. Has there been any conversations on that level about addressing this issue? >> So, we haven't had any direct conversations as of yet a sit down with
the governor, but that certainly will happen. We've had conversations with different members of the legislature both on the assembly side and as well as on the senate side. Um we have and by we
I am referring to the New Jersey um >> urban >> New Jersey urban mayors association. We have calls on like a bimonthly basis with the office of Senator Booker as well as the office of
um Senator Kim and we talk about some of these issues. For example, CBBG is one of the big issues that we have been talking about with the senator's um offices because of the fact that in the
executive budget that was introduced by uh the president um he had pretty much removed all CDBG funding. And so this advocacy on the part of not just my administration, but on the part of the New Jersey Urban Mayors as well as the
New Jersey League of Municipalities who go on Capitol Hill and who lobby to get fundings such as CDBG to be restored to the budget. And so there are some conversations that have happened and we will have more of those conversations.
going to sit down with the governor's office in particular is something that we will certainly be aiming for. >> Thank you, mayor. >> So, my last question is the uncollected taxes. So, we're looking at 95.75%
correct. So, with unemployment on the rise, >> you see where I'm probably going with this. Are we projecting that uncollected taxes will increase in this coming year? So, direct um I'm gonna have the finance director speak on this, but this is all basically one
>> big customer who did not pay a very large bill, >> right? So, this rate is really skewed by one large customer, one large resident, business owner. So, I anticipate that we the rate will go back to normal probably
96 97 and this property will probably go to tax sale. So I think you still get the funds that we you were supposed to get. Did anyone hear that? >> So this was skewed really by one large
taxpayer. So and that was like probably $1.7 million. So it's not really that the residents didn't pay. It's just one big taxpayer. So we have to try to avoid that kind of thing in the future. >> Thank you for the clarification.
>> Council President. Yes, Councilman. >> Yes. Um All right. Yes. So, um through the chair, um so we speaking about, you know, the deficit that we face now and it is structural. However, I know in 2024 we had a $10.5 million surplus. Um
and I don't hear any accountability from the administration. We knew that the healthcare was going to rise and it's going to continue to rise, but we didn't put any practices in place where we said, you know what, we're going to have a hiring freeze. Um, so I don't see any accountability taken on the administration side. And now going
forward, are we looking at an increase next year as well? >> Um, council president. >> Yes. Um surplus is like
to the corporate industry profit. And the proper name for it is fund balance. And one of the ways that we were able to keep taxes stable, low to no, is by
putting as much of the fund balance into the budget so as to relieve or to stabilize property taxes over the last couple of years. in addition to using the ARPA funds that you heard were
exhausted a couple years ago and there was a lot of pressure for us to put as much to utilize as much of the fund balance in the budget as possible so as to stabilize our
tax rate. Now, in this budget this year, and the CFO can speak to this, we utilize that much of the fund balance, the profit generated, and I hate using the word profit. The fund balance was
utilized in this year's budget as well. And so there is accountability. We have to account for every dime in terms of what we >> mayor, could you expand on that? So what part of what percentage of the budget should stay in surplus? What is it
between 8 to 10%. >> Repeat that >> of the of your total budget >> in order to keep our Moody's rating up. What what is it that we have to keep in surplus? Well, I would let the CFO answer that, but we just had a very good
ratings call with Amoodies and surplus/fund balance is an area that they always look at and I think if I recall it's usually estimated to be around 8 or so% of the
total operating budget. Um, Madam CFO, can you add? Yeah, it's around that percentage. But um and and and that's what they look at. They they focus on surplus and they focus on collection of taxes. But we were able to explain that with for the collection taxes, it was
really one one resident. And for the surplus, we were able to explain that we are going to seek ways to regenerate our surplus for next year. But um yeah, >> and it's important that we regenerate that surplus because without it there's
more pressure on the budget next year. So based on you know some of the things that we intend to do and I think we've talked about the introduction of some ordinances that would address some fees that have been you know way out of whack
for too many years and that's one of the ways that we could address the imbalance as far as expend can everyone speak into their mics because I'm getting some text messages saying that they cannot hear you. Okay.
>> I I just want to let you know that our rating has remained um MIG one and A1. >> So our rating has >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Um I can answer the question about next year that the councilman posed. So in
terms of next year, I mean I I councilman, I don't know if you heard I read the rates that the state has proposed for the state health b well that they are implementing for the state health benefits um which average about a 25ish% for next year if you average all
the different types of um employees and retirees. So we have done our forecasting um with a 10% increase and it's likely that that might actually be higher. However, we know that uh union contracts are open and this is the time
to try to negotiate into a different baseline plan. So, we one of the reasons why we got 4 million one of the reasons when when we got the $4 million from the state, you'll only see 2 million in this budget because 2 million is for next
year anticipated deficit. The layoff is also very much a next year solve. Uh that's another $2 million that will offset next year's deficit. And I think we have on second reading today some fees that are increasing. I
think it's UCCC fees are on second reading today. So we are planning ahead for next year's deficit. We do anticipate that there will be one. We don't have our, you know, we don't have blinders on to think that this $21
million is going to stay flat. Um and we're doing everything we can to get ahead of it. >> All right. >> So question the insurance [clears throat] um plan that you have and um I'm sure you like she said before council woman I
believe was cessums um you explored the option of all the insurance companies and rates and to try to get the best rate. >> Yeah. It's less about trying to get it's more about moving the plan that we have. The plan that we have the direct 15 plan
is a very rich plan. >> Um all of you, you know, since you don't work here, you pro I I would be shocked if you all have a plan as rich as this. We have a $15 co-play. We have no deductibles. We have 70% coverage for
out of network. Um we have the second richest plan that is available. So, what we've been actively trying to do is take that down a couple of steps to either an Omnia plan, a $20 co-ay plan with a $35
specialist, um any any one of the plans that you know would be less rich than this current one because they obviously cost significantly less. Um, and that is something we tried to negotiate midway through this year. It didn't it pan out,
but we have these open contracts. So, those negotiations will be ongoing. >> So, you have the open contracts for the insurance now. Um, I would imagine that you gave the employees the option to take it or not or because I did get a
couple messages from some employees and they were saying they were they were going to be forced to take the insurance plan. Now, I don't worry about my husband cuz he's on my plan. So, he's good and he's going to be good. No, I can't. They can't be forced because health insurance and equal to or better
than language is negotiable. >> So, there's no option to force it. >> Okay. >> We tried to negotiate it. It failed. It didn't work. Not one union agreed to it. >> And so, since their contracts are open, >> we're going to be revisiting those conversations.
>> Okay. All right. Um, and I heard you say something, well, I believe Councilman um Graham, [clears throat] he was saying something about the civil service. Could you just explain that to me um in depth about the civil service, how it works? Is there testing involved? If you fail a test, if you pass a test, if you're
provisional, you're not provisional, do you keep the employee, you don't keep the employees, the years? Um because, you know, it's again, I can't, of course, I can't compare it to my full-time job, but you know, we always go by last one in, first one out. So,
could you just explain on all that to me, please? Yeah, it doesn't actually translate that way with civil service. So, I'll try to give you like a very >> brief tutorial on a very complicated agency. >> Mhm. >> Um, civil once you are a civil service
employee and you are permanent within civil service, you have rights afforded to you that are not afforded to other employees. For example, if there's a layoff, you are given a 45day notice and civil service first has to approve that layoff. If you aren't permanent, you're
not afforded that. And there's other there's other things as well. You can transfer intergovernmentally and take your sick time with you. There's a whole bunch of benefits that are afforded to employees who are civil service permanent. Once you come on board as an employee of the city, we tell civil
service, we've hired this person. They then call a test. It's called a test, but it's nine times out of 10 not actually a test. It's a review of your resume to make sure that you qualify for
the position and then hope you get on a what they call a certification. >> Okay. >> And then we appoint you off of that certification and now you're permanent. >> Mhm. >> Should you fail that test, should they deem you not eligible, should you not
take it, you know, not log on to it, >> you then are not permanent. you're we don't have a way to appoint you and you stay in a provisional status. >> Okay? >> And you could be here for four years, five years in a provisional status. Your test could be called multiple times as
long as three other people didn't take that test and get on what what's called the certification. You can stay provisional for a while. Um, so that's why I say it's not, you know, last one
in, first one out because you could be here as a provisional employee for six years and you still have to be the first one out. >> Okay. All right. And there is no for the record. Can you tell me are there any bumping rights? >> But it's only for each category, right? Or no, it
>> you get bumping rights when you're a permanent employee if you're laid off based on how long you've been here and how high your title is. But if you're a provisional employee, you are not afforded those types of rights because those come with civil service permanency. >> Okay. And the last question is, how many
opport how many opportune times can you take this test? Can you just take it twice? Is there a certain amount of times you take it or >> Well, you hopefully only take it once and you pass and you get appointed and then you never have to do it again. And if you don't pass >> and if you don't as long as there's not
three other people who took [clears throat] it who passed >> then they will keep calling it. Okay. >> So I mean it could be four times you know >> they will continue to call it. >> Okay. And then how often is it would it be every two months or every 3 months?
>> It's more like annually. We don't you know civil service decides they have a ton of municipalities and they you know it's it's when they call for it. Mhm. >> Okay. >> And they there there are appeal rights. Employees can appeal if they failed and but they're appealing directly to civil
service. It has nothing to do with the city of Planefield. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, >> Council President. >> Yes. Council Wyatt. >> Yeah. Yes. So, back to the accountability. So, when we speak last year, we passed a budget that had a 0%
tax increase and then we actually put forward a decrease. uh we had the state of the city where it was told to us that the state of the city is strong but we did if we knew that the healthc care was going to continue to rise that's why we talked about joining a HIF uh last year
and the year before that and we talk about projections so how did we have do we celebrate the $2 billion of investments we do a 0% tax increase and now this year we're talking about 5.4 before with layoffs. I'm happy that the police and fire was completely taken off
the table, but the people that are being laid off will impact the services that we have in our city. So, we did the projections and as far as accountability, was it smart for us to pass a budget last year with 0% and a decrease?
>> So, I'll just I'll just um remind you, Councilman, we present the budget that we think is best. We're the administration. We put forward the budget that we think is best. And once we presented that to you last year, um
you know, if you had felt if you if you guys wanted to raise it, that is something we would have had to accept. >> Okay. Council Y, do you have any other questions? >> Um the other question, yes. As far as the hiring freeze, if we knew where we
were in this predicament, you told the governing body that we learned about this in April. Um, which I know that other municipalities knew that the healthc care was increasing. Um, they knew that the uncertain times were here already, but we said we didn't realize this until April. So, why didn't we put
in place hiring freezes and start cutting back on the spending as soon as we knew? >> I don't think we've done hiring this year. Yeah, I I mean we put in I sent an email to the cabinet I don't a long time
ago. Oh, okay. Um I I don't think we've done besides seasonal employees which we do every year and we need for you know obviously uh things that come up seasonally. I I don't think there's been any hiring. >> I've personally seen new people working in city hall. So I know that we have
been doing some hiring. I don't >> I don't know. I can't speak to that. I don't know if that need this year seasonals. >> All right. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. All right. We're going to move on to um public hearing second reading. We in
final passage. We have MC2026-16 through MC 2026-18. We're pulling directors Phil. Correct. Um, yes. For second reading, I would like to take it back to first reading. >> We're going to be pulling the short-term
rentals MC2026-9 tonight. We also have MC206-20 and MC 2026-22. We m now move on to resolutions. Uh, the legislative body has three items for consideration. Do I have consensus
to add this to the voting meeting? >> Yes. Second. >> All right. Mayor or the business administrator, could you please present your item? >> Yes. We only have one item for your
review this evening and it is a ceremonial street naming um a portion of Liberty Street between West 2nd and West 4th um for Minister Karim Muhammad and Lynard Cathkart Senior Way and we'll be in touch as to when the
ceremony for that will be. All right. Any questions? >> Do I have consensus to add this to the voting meeting? >> Yes. >> Yes. Seconded. >> Great. Will the director of finance please present her resolutions for consideration? >> Sure. Good evening all. I have four
resolutions for your consideration today. Um resolution number 256-26 is resolution authorizing the introduction of the current year 2026 playingfield municipal budget in the amount of $119,678,399
for the current fund operating budget. 1,291,145 for the parking utility fund, 9,484,83 for the sewer utility fund, and 14,220,884 solid waste utility fund. Resolution number 257-26
is resolution authorizing the adoption of the current fund emergency budget. And this is um we've made some amendments. We've added some grants and we will continue to use the current fund budget until the um proposed budget
today is adopted. Resolution number 258-26 is a resolution of the city of Planefield County of Union, state of New Jersey, authorizing the issuance of a duplicate tax certificate. Um, this tax certificate
was lost and there is an affidavit on file. So, we are providing this person with a duplicate tax certificate. And the final one, resolution number 259-26, resolution authorizing tax refunds on properties per the attack schedule. And
this is primarily for duplicate payments. And sometimes what happens, you may have seen this more than once. Um sometimes the at a closing or refinance, the title company might pay and the um coral logic might
also pay. So we're refunding. We had duplicate payments. will be funding. Are there any questions? >> Any questions for my council colleagues? >> All right. Seeing none, um, do I have consensus to add this to the voting meeting? >> Yes. >> All right.
>> With exception of the first one, I'm sorry. >> Excuse me. with the exception of the first >> With the exception of the first one. >> Our resolution R256-26. >> Yes. >> Yeah. It has to be done by roll call vote. >> Did you hear that, Councilman? Has to be
done by a roll call vote anyway. >> Yes. Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Will the director police director please present his items for consideration tonight? >> Good evening, madam council president. Council, I have one item for your consideration. R 260-26.
This a resolution authorizing the approval to apply and accept a highway traffic and safety grant 2026 drive sober or get pulled over statewide Labor Day crackdown grant in the amount not to uh an amount up to $7,000.
Uh as we've done on several occasions in the past, partial funding from this will go towards an education campaign. That's all I have. >> Thank you, director. Are there any questions? Do I have a consensus to add this to the voting meeting? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Will the director of public
works please present his items? >> Good evening, council president, members of the council, department of public works has seven resolutions for your consideration and approval. Resolution 261 is resolution of the city of plan for adopting the Union County multi-
jurisdiction hazard mitigation plan 2026. Uh this is a a plan another plan of mitigation that the county wants to adopt for the 21 municipalities within Union County. So this is something so we can get FEMA funds through additional FEMA fund 262 resolution authorized
approval to submit a grant application execute the grant to New Jersey Department of Transportation. This is for PvE road and Richmond Street and the total amount of grant is $1,31,95120. What we're applying for resolution 263 authorizing the state of
New Jersey department of bomb protection green acres program the enabling resolution. This is for silent field inclusive playground. This was approved last year by the council but now only one agreement through green acres that has to be reertified by the mayor. This grant money that we're going that we
received already and two 263 is the same. This is just for inclusive playground. Uh I'm sorry two 264 I should say is for our Han Atkins playground too and that's something we do need to get certified by the mayor. This is green acres requirement. All
this was approved already funding for both projects. Resolution 265 authorizing change order number one in the amount of I just want to amend that reflect $19,234.50
50 cents uh increasing the contract to >> Yes. >> Director D, can you press the button? See if you if you press the button, you'll be able to >> It's red. >> It is red. >> Can you You can't hear me. Can you >> I'm trying to sing.
This is uh resolution 256 and this is all CDBG grant fund the community development block grant funds of 28 282,000. The overall cost of this project for for us was uh $268,157.35 and that's what this change order does. The total change order back is
$103,96511 and this is for the last final payment and also the change order itself. That's what this number is. But just amendments to the to numbers. Just want to change that number. Says increasing the contract. The number should be 26816735.
That's 26816735. And the number we're looking for is $103,000. The payout's 103,6511. That's the change order itself for this project. And that was a this was a a major project that we're talking about here.
This was and I think the councilman can attest to the council sess this is third place. It's a long undertaking to get everything done there with everything with the uh roads and new charcoal. They wanted charcoal concrete. It wanted blue stone but we had to substitute that with
charcoal concrete. So that was the uh the cost for this project. That's where it came from. 226 is authorized in the water of a contract to protective paving in the amount of $146,539. That's for the Mat Park basketball
courts. And the last one is 267. Authorizes amendment to resolution 41025 to transfer funding from the county of union to the kids recreation trust fund. And that's a grant for $55,000. That number should change to $630. It says
620. It's $55,630. And that's for the Matson basketball courts. >> All right. I'll entertain any questions for my council colleagues. House President. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. Um, thank you, director, for the presentation. Just some quick
questions. Um, 264-26, you mentioned that this is a D uh grant and that we are reertifying this. Did I hear you correctly? >> No. Uh, 265. That was the CBG grant. 265.
>> 265 is the is the CBG grant. Um, that is the one for third place. >> Correct. >> Okay. So that's completely grantf funded. Um my question is when the contractors request these change of orders which then result in additional
monies having to be spent and yes I do understand that the grant is covering it. Um was this was there a change in the scope of work which which required them to request an additional 19,000? >> It was just additional asbuilt materials
that were needed for the for the overall project. >> Okay. with the concrete work and things that were done in the asphalt >> and is that standard contracting practice that they could submit a scope of uh a change of of cost after having negotiated the price with us? >> Yes, for unforeseen sometime conditions.
Councilwoman, yes, it does happen. >> Okay. That is language that's in the contract. Um on the the uh one for green acres funding where it talked about um there needing to be a $152,000
match. Is that something we have to match annually or is that for the entire completion of the program? And how how do we how do we manage that? >> That's for the complete course of the program. That one match prior to us doing that, we submit the application. Before we sent the application, it goes
to our CFO to make sure the funding is available for the project for the one-on-one match and then we proceed with that. >> Is that that all cash or is any of that inind match? >> That's cash. >> That's all cash. Okay. And then um I think my last question is just a better
understanding of our municipal bidding process. So if we go with three biders and let's say one does one bids 150,000, one bids 160,000 and one bids 170,000 and we go with the lowest bidder who's
150. We lock that in. This is what we agree to. Can they then come back and ask for additional funds? if if unforeseen comes up, it cannot exceed 20% of the cost of the project. >> Okay. Okay. And the reason why I'm asking is it it it's real easy then to
continue to ask for money which would then make you no longer the lowest bidder um if you continue to come back. So that's why I was trying to get a better understanding of that process. So thank you. >> And on the local public contract law, it can't exceed 20% of what the bid was. >> Okay. I think that's all I have for now.
Thank you, Madam President. All right. Any other questions? >> Yeah, just one. >> Council, sorry, Councilman Graham. >> Yes. Um, with regard to the improvements that will be made to these facilities, uh, let's just say, uh, something gets broken like a sliding board gets broken
and it needs to be replaced. Um, I'm pretty I'm pretty sure money isn't allotted for that should that happen. So, that would come from taxpayers. >> No, that's a good question. What happens is everyone has to take a performance bond and a maintenance bond. It's a two-year maintenance bond that have to
take out on the project. So, we would call them back to go back to repair whatever was broken within that 2-year period. >> So, essentially, everything here comes with no more than a 2-year, I would say, warranty. >> That's maint. Yes. >> Okay. Now, what about uh aging and wear
and tear? Let's just say we get to six years. May not need replacement. Uh but like I said, repairs, who uh inherits that cost? >> Well, that would be us. But everything we do, we go through PIP to make sure when it comes to playgrounds, etc. Okay.
>> PJ gets involved with that annual inspections too to make sure everything meets the requirements. >> Sure. All right. Thank you, >> Councilman. >> I'm sorry, Madam President. I have one more question. Um, so in looking at the third place, um, I'm going to call an
invoice from Remington Verdict Engineers. Um, item number 82, the police traffic control for almost $10,000. Can you explain that process? So, do we pay the police or does who pays the police? Cuz if we're giving
them $10,000, who's then paying the police? >> Well, they have to they would normally hire the police officers for the work that they they do, the contractor. It's normally part of the bid package with them, the numbers that come in. And at at the end of the day, whatever their price is that comes out of that, that
would quote pay for the police indirectly. Just we're all paying for the police test to work to work. >> So any officer that's working those construction sites, that's not their normal work day. >> No.
>> Okay. Thank you. All right. Seeing no questions. No more questions. Um, do I have consensus to add this to the voting meeting? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Will the director of economic development please present her items? >> Good evening, council. [clears throat] I
have resolutions 268 through 286. The first resolution 268 is adopting updated guidelines for the Historic Preservation Commission. These were last
updated in 2007. The Historic Preservation Commission in consultation with a consultant Barton Ross, who happens to be the historic architect for the city, updated the
guidelines to include updates that refer to things like sustainability. Um, also looking for things where the guidelines were silent on where meaning things that are similar to a
contributing versus non-contributing structure. Providing detailed guidance on exterior features that included sighting, roofing, windows, doors, porches, foundation, fences, walls, and landscaping.
It also provided additional guidance where there was new construction particularly in addition to a home that was in the historic district as well as storefront rehabilitation.
These were updated for about a year looking by committee. Then they were available for extensive input from the historic preservation commission. It we also held through two public meetings to
inform the public where it was publicized and it was available on our website for 30 days for comment. The next resolution 269 is authorizing the designation of a new
urban enterprise zone coordinator. We have a urban enterprise zone coordinator that is has retired. As of Friday, we are asking permission for the mayor to authorize a new urban
enterprise zone coordinator. This person holds the same title as the previous one. The next resolution is related to the qualification of the community shuttle
service. We received nine, excuse me, we received six vendors that responded to the request for proposals. We are asking to award to VIA. This
would be a 100% grant-f funded shuttle. It would be to total $733,389. The next resolution is also a UEE grantf funed effort. This is to support programming for the PAC. This would be
for cultural program initiatives, community initiatives, marketing as well as outreach efforts. Resolution 273 is related to authorizing the execution
of a loading zone license. This would be for a development along East 4th Street. This would allow for a 4-hour loading zone daily for moving in and out of the apartment building as well as for
deliveries. It would be from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Resolution 274 is related to the designation of 930 Putnham Avenue as a non-condemnation
area in need. Should it be authorized, we would move on to planning board. This is a property that is owned by the city. It was previously used as a veteran group home. It is anticipated that we
would move forward working with the developer for veteran apartments that would fit in the historic context. Resolution 275 is making a request to direct the
planning board to do a redevelopment study of 1247 to 1271 South Avenue. This is currently a parking lot looking to do a
redevelopment study for it. Resolution 276. This is for the Cedarbrook apartments. This is for um housing mortgage finance agency
pilot or payment in lie of taxes. This would keep the facility remaining as an affordable senior apartment facility. This would be entering into an agreement with a new contract
purchaser, meaning that they are looking to sell to a new buyer, and this would be a new 30-year pilot. Resolution 277. This is related to the third amendment
of a redevelopment agreement that has already been approved by you previously. This is for the city village complex. This is one of the redevelopment agreements that offers a opportunity to
negotiate a new community benefit agreement. This would be for a $4 million community benefit in toler 1 million made immediately available upon execution of
the redevelopment agreement. It also includes looking at a purchase and sale agreement for the properties that are owned by the city. It would be a total of $2 million with 500,000
available immediately for the property. Also includes naming right of a si of a street in particular it would be cottage place. Cottage Place is currently blocked off and has no
residents or single family homes on it right now. This is requesting a payment of authorization of $250,000 from the developer for naming rights. Resolution 278 is also related to
looking at an amendment of a project that was already completed. This is 115 to 157 East 2nd Street. This is looking at an amendment of the structure of the redevelopment agreement particularly the
community benefit where this project one it's going to 100% affordable for the units and also receiving funding from the New Jersey redevelopment authority the financial structure would allow the
change and make sure that we're ready to execute for the payment of the pedestrian plaza We receive payment for the purchase of the municipal lot as well as a community benefit for the
construction of the pedestrian plaza. We are ready to move forward with the authorization of construction. So this is made sure that we can draw down on the finances. Resolution 279.
This is looking for a development of in partnership of several properties that are owned by the city as also working with the developer from some mixeduse development. This is looking at the block and lot that we're on right
now with this municipal complex. This would look to redevelop the municipal complex and create a new structure that would include what we currently have in this building, including the police headquarters,
the municipal courtroom, as well as the addition of council chambers and a council offices and also administrative offices for the court. It would also
include the creation or the sustain of 100 parking spaces on this location. It would be 116 units. Then we also have the developer that wants to enter into a public private
partnership for the creation of a 10,000 square foot live performance theater. that would be located adjacent to the current Planefield Performing Arts location. It would be a 300 seat live
performance theater. Next to that would be a boutique hotel. Across the street on another lot that the city owns, the developer would build a 200 space park parking space, parking deck. This also
includes a million dollar community benefit with $500,000 available immediately. It also includes the sale of the properties that the city own.
That would total about 3.37 million. That would go towards the construction of the theater. Resolution 280 involves the Centurion development. This would be a development that would
involve 300 units, 396 parking spaces where with the 300 units where you had two bedroom units, you would have two parking spaces. For every other unit, it would be one parking
space. So, it's closer to more than one. It's closer to 1.5 parking spaces per unit. Then, it would also have a community benefit of 1.5,750,000
available immediately. Resolution 281 would be a resolution that's looking for the sale of a property as well as designation of a lot for a parking lot
for a retail space. This is 110 West Front Street. This is the old ter building property. The city currently owns the basement. We would be selling the basement in the purchase sale agreement. So the basement would sell
for a total of 190,000. 100,000 available upon close and then 30,000 for payment for the remaining 3 years. Then the next resolution is for 140 East
7th Street. This is a property that came to you before that was fully approved and was able to go to planning board, but the developer wishes to switch from 10% affordable to 100% affordable based
on the unified housing affordability standards, which means that the apartments for studios would start at 600 and go up for three bedrooms. That would be 1,800.
This would switch the project description from 86 units to 78 units. It would have 900 square ft of commercial and it would also include a 300,000 community benefit.
Resolutions 283 and 284 are to re-examine redevelopment plans. The first being the downtown east front street, the second being to West. These redevelopment plans involve properties
that we are looking to condemn or we have gone through condemnation and this is to include those properties as well as to re-examine the parking and the bulk standards. Resolution 285
is to waving the estopo period and authorizing the immediate implementation of MC 2026-17. This refers to enacting the imminent domain power for what we're looking at
as the rescue squad building. This would allow the city to move forward in establishing an emergency operation center and to start the foreclosure proceedings. At this point, the city would put the fair market value into
escrow and then move forward with the foreclosure, which with the imminent domain power, the city would have it within 6 months. The final resolution is a resolution designating the friends of Kris Haven
Academy for school for redevelopment. This property is located at 1,500 West 3rd Street. This is for a relocation of their fifth to 8th graders
about 300 students. It would be the development of a 45,000 square ft building. They would have 33 staff there and they would have 38 parking spaces. This is being brought to you again
because the school held a community meeting in which council members were present and they addressed the parking and drop off issues. Any questions? >> Thank you, director. Any questions for my council colleagues? Yes. Yes. >> Yeah.
>> All right. Let's start with Councilwoman Cessums. I'll defer to the vice president. >> Oh, okay. Um >> I think it was 279 or 280 regarding the proposed municipal complex.
>> Um certainly this building is is antiquated. uh you know, bathrooms are in and much in need of uh of being much more functional. Um and I know the the the police are here a
lot more than we are and certainly need uh better facilities. Uh it would improve uh the department and overall morale and you know, city services and so forth. There's a lot that that that we can benefit from a project like that. But we just came off
the the heels of talking about our our um the budget. Uh but I know they're separate, but I'd like you to explain that uh to the community how we can have such an ambitious infrastructure project
uh yet uh we're we're facing uh budget sur um shortcomings. Mhm. So a part of this is working with in partnership with our developers on a public private partnership meaning that the developer
for the price of our land or being able to develop on our land there's a value in that. So there's a value in the purchase of our property for the purchase of our property over by the theater in particular and also looking
for our parking lot which is parking lot 7. The value of it comes out to about 3.37 million which offers us an opportunity to use that for the construction of the theater and also look at it for the
purpose of the parking deck. When we look at the municipal complex itself, you're looking at where it's not coming out of the capital funds, but we get to maintain the structure because we would
enter into a lease back agreement and how we would be moving forward with the lease. It wouldn't come out of capital funds as well. It would be also an opportunity to move forward with grant funding to pay for the lease.
So, if the um if the finance director could just chime in on your uh view of the project and how it impacts the budget, if at all uh a project like that, >> well, it doesn't impact the budget. It
does not impact the budget for any capital improvements or anything like that. They submit a plan every year and if that's on the if and that's not on her plan. So, this would definitely be coming from the developmental funds. >> Thank you.
>> Or or grants. >> I appreciate your response. >> Councilman Brooks Jones, did you have a question? >> Councilman Graham. >> Okay, Councilman Graham, you could go. >> Okay. Um, for 273-26,
uh, what happens after, uh, 12:00 p.m., uh, because I'm thinking about like the UPS and Amazon deliveries, uh, are they not allowed to use that loading zone at that point or it's just that that that's the case? >> Yes. So, the the loading zone, which is
be about 30 ft, is going to be identified with signage where cars won't be able to park there during that time. But when you're outside of the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., cars will be allowed to park. >> So,
we can't uh leave that a loading zone for Amazon deliveries, UPS deliveries, and uh essential deliveries. >> Um in terms of safety and turnover, it's better to have a designated time just like we have a designated time for
commercial deliveries. >> Okay. All right. Um, with regard to 274-26, the veteran uh homes, uh, what existed there before before I guess it closed or became vacant?
>> It was the Dudley House, which is a group veteran home, >> right? Was that was a single family home that was shared by veterans? >> Yes. >> And >> I wouldn't call it a single family home, but it was a group home. >> A group home, I'm sorry. Uh and now we
are proposing uh se more apartments at that location. >> Yes. >> And how many? >> So right now we should we move forward with the redevelopment plan that will determine what we will accommodate there. The idea is that it would fit
within the context and meaning that the height of the building most of those homes are not more than 35 or 40 ft. um there's a certain amount of area density. So roughly looking at it and this still has to move forward with
redevelopment plan. It would be no more than 15 units. >> So that would require an addition to the existing uh footprint of the structure, >> right? It would most like Yes. >> All right. And yeah, those were my only
questions. Thank you. So, I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Director Fields, um, is the urban enterprise zone coordinator, is that an appointed position >> or is that an employee? >> It's an employee that's appointed by the mayor.
>> So, normally when an appointed position is presented, usually you present the name. >> Yes, we do have the name. It's it's in the resolution. Would you like me to share it? >> Yeah. So, the current um UEZ coordinator
was Janette Apparicio. The new one to designate is Drew Dolman. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Brics Jones. >> Yes. Um resolution [clears throat] 274-26. >> Um the veterans apartments that you said
is going to be 15 units and it of course obviously it's going to be affordable for the veterans. Correct. Yes. >> All right. So, I would like to see them have resources also as well. Um, will will it be ADA compliant? >> Yes. Well, it's going to be considered
special need housing, so we'll have to follow the state guidelines. >> Okay. All right. Um, >> resolution 271-26, the shuttle. Okay. Um,
>> council, speaking to your mic. >> Yes. Resolution 271-26. Um, when will the shuttle start and what hours are we looking at? Mhm. Should you approve it tonight, we have a contractor
that's ready to go, we would make arrangements to finalize operations details, but when we release the proposal RFQ, we ask for 12 hours of operation of day 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
>> Okay. So, I guess probably within working hours. Um, now what if someone needed transportation, they work overnight? So, we'll look at that. One of the things that we we are also looking for support from um New Jersey Transit, for
example, for future funding, and they like to see off peak. This of course is going to be our pilot or demonstration year, but within this contract, we do have the flexibility to look at some off- peak or on demand.
>> Okay. Um I had it written down. Okay. The I know there was a development and you were talking about for the naming rights. >> Doesn't does the developer necessarily have to have the naming rights or can the city itself?
>> The developer is because to have the naming rights. >> Okay. So, he's paying in addition. >> Yes. >> In addition to whatever. Okay. All right. >> Any other questions, Councilwoman? That's it. There's another one, but I'll come back. >> Council White, do you have any
questions? >> Uh, yes I do. Uh, 271-26, the shuttle service. How does the city plan to market that so that the residents can know that we actually offer a shuttle service? >> We are going to one put the um the
schedule available on our website. We are going to explain how the passes work and we're going to have outreach events before we start operation. >> Okay. And have we um looked at putting
guidelines for it as far as the local cap companies Uber and Lift who operate in the city as well. Guidelines for Uber and Lyft I'm sorry and >> local cab companies as well because this will impact all of them as well.
So, do we have any guidelines put forth or any conversations with them at all? >> This is so Uber and Lyft are shared ride services. This would be a shared ride, but this is a funding service that's funded through the city. So, the
operations are a little bit different. There's different sets of guidelines for a shuttle versus a ondemand shared ride service. >> Okay. Thank you. uh 278-26. I was looking at that and I see that it's going to be 104 units. If you could
just explain because I see it says 200 parking spaces, but 125 will be dedicated to the city. 13 for the EV charging stations. So that leaves 62 parking spots. Am I correct? >> So could you tell me which one you said
again, please? >> 278-26. Okay. So, this one 278-76, this one was already approved. This one has been amended down from uh 100 um
four units down to 100 units. This is where the city maintained a total of the existing 125 parking spaces that were there. Um the new total of the parking with the
parking deck is 225. >> So 225. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Rel [clears throat] 286- um 26. I'm still I know that I met with
um personnel with the Crest Haven Academy, but I'm still not satisfied with the traffic over there. Um I still have a great concern those streets are pretty tight over there. Um I don't know
if they're going to and I know I did speak with Mr. cry that they're going to be speaking with the city >> about uh that street in in particular, but I'm not set on that um as this moment about the
location of putting another school down there with that traffic down there. I'm I'm not set on it yet. >> Okay. So apart should this go forward with the designation when they go to planning board they're required to
present a traffic analysis study >> and that will be addressed in detail. We also have leadership from the Crest Haven Academy today if you would like to hear from them. >> If if the leadership is here I'd allow you to come speak.
Good evening. If you could >> Good evening. >> State your name and where you from. >> My name is Damen Fry. I live in Montlair and I am the chief school administrator for Crest Haven Academy. I can say that we are uh very excited about the potential to move to this particular
location. And this is a relocation uh for our our middle school scholars and a great opportunity for us to become a part of the fourth ward which we are very very excited about. Uh the goal with this particular resolution would be for us to be able to engage the uh city
and with the city to be able to do a traffic study to really look at how we can best support traffic in that particular region. We have um spoken I've I've walked around the community and spoken with members of the community in that in that particular region. They're all very excited about having a
school in that space and there was already a school there. Uh it was a preschool for a very long time. So there this is something that the community has already experienced and something that we would really look to see to ensure that uh whatever traffic pattern would be recommended would be something that we would absolutely follow during that
time. >> Thank you. Any other questions to my council colleagues? Councilwoman Cessums. Yeah, if you like. >> No, not for crash table, but for the resolution. >> Have a seat. Thank you so much, Mr. Fry.
>> If you have questions in general. >> Yes. For resolutions. Thank you, Madame President. Um, Madame Director, would you just explain a little bit more clearly on 269-26 because I don't want the perception to
be we just had a conversation about um layoffs and we had a conversation about oh there appears to be um additional hiring that's happening. So this particular position, the urban enterprise coordinator, are you filling
this position with somebody who currently works in the administration and then opting not to backfill on their position. >> Thank you for asking for the clarity. as overhead. The person that's retiring was
already existing on my staff and the person that's backfilling this position was already on my staff as well. I will be losing a position. So basically, you have an employee who's going to be doing two jobs. >> Okay? Cuz that's important because I
don't want the perception to be that you're adding someone on when we just talked about the potential of people um not having employment. So, thank you for that clarification. >> I am losing headcount. [clears throat] Yes. >> Okay. Um the other question that I had
um you mentioned on 274 the old uh Dudley House uh program um that were going from a group home which we all know group homes provide certain services to individualized apartments. Um, you mentioned if they
fit the historic context and I think you clarified that for me by saying the historic context that you're referencing has to do with height of the building in some aesthetics that >> it has to do with height. The exterior, for example, it will not be a modern
facade. The materiality will match the character of the neighborhood. >> Will match the character of the neighborhood. You mentioned 15 units. Um, what's the concern for parking? I've been past Dudley. They only have about five parking spots on that property in
the gated area. So, what are we anticipating? Because I do anticipate some of our veterans will drive, >> right? So, the parking requirement will most likely be one to one. >> Okay. Um going to 279-26.
And that um is a multiple uh site resolution, but particularly focusing on the this here the police department and the um municipal complex so to speak, the court chambers. Um I've heard it
mentioned before and I don't know um if I got full understanding. There was some conversations before about whether or not the police headquarters is a historic building or not. Can you just clarify about the historic piece on
that? So the police headquarters, it's not a historic building. What it want we want to preserve is the memorial. So the memorial be will be relocated and at the new complex. It will be removed and relocated at the new complex. And when
you talk about the memorial, you're talking about the stone out there honoring the fallen officers. That's what you're referring to as the memorial. Thank you for that clarification. Um 285 um which is the uh former Planefield
Rescue Squad. Um one is a question and then two is a second is a statement. So, if we talk about the fact that in order to up if we get this property um we have to put fair market value in escrow. >> Where's that money going to come from?
Where are we getting the escrow? Um right now we have grant funding but it'll come from other um capital that we're looking at. Am I correct? >> Say that again. not capital, but it is going to be a grant-f funed
>> um purchase. >> Full grant funded purchase for the the value of the property. >> For the market value, yes, >> for the market value, >> it would be a full grant. >> Okay. Thank you for answering that question. And then just a comment on that. So, I'm going back maybe six 8
months now. I think it was cold then. And I met with some of the original members of the rescue squad. They asked for a meeting with me. We met at Starbucks. I remember it cuz it was cold. Um because I wanted to hear what their concerns are. We know that you
have members of this this community are very passionate about the Planefield Rescue Squad and its history in this city, their ability to have served um our residents when uh other towns would not want folks that look like them
serving them in the capacity of medical assistance and so on and so forth. And and there were a couple things that I walked away from that community meeting having heard from them. Um there was a full understanding that they understand that um they are not in the capacity to
come back as a full rescue squad. They don't have the capital. They understand that. But what they're looking for is that their memory and their contributions to this city not be erased. how can we make sure that the memory of what they've done for this
this city um be incorporated and included in the process. So, I'll just throw out some examples. So, there's the big sign out there that says Planefield Rescue Squad. How do we incorporate them in the design of the building? Um because I remember when we were talking about Grace Church, there was this whole
thing about how do you keep the history of the church and still do the next property. Um, so their concern was how is their memory going to be preserved? How do we make them or allow them to be a part of the process? is that when we build having a room in there that's
design that is dedicated to, you know, memorabilia, history items of things and their fair contributions to our city in a time when they were the only game in town. and just allowing them to be at the table to talk about what would be
some of the things that would be offered at this command center, whether or not they could assist with uh teaching CPR classes or first aid classes to the young folks. That's the piece that they're looking for in order to still have their vision and their stamp on the
city. So, I would hope that if we move forward with this that we consider their concern, which is that we don't erase the history in terms of what they've given to our city. Um, Madame President, that completes my comments. >> Thank you. Well said.
>> Director, do you have a response or >> I I think she just wanted the comment on record or you want me to >> If you want to respond, you are more than welcome to, but that's at the determination of Madame President. Um, so the first step is for us to move forward and to get the building itself.
I I think with anything where we're looking at the programming or activation of a space, we include public comment and we include input from other interest groups. >> Thank you, >> Council President.
Uh, I want to go back to 274-26, the Dudley House, uh, cuz I remember being present at the ribbon cutting when it was renovated. What happened? >> We, and excuse me, um, the director of health and social services can help me
answer this, but my understanding is that we no longer have that funding that we were receiving going in. >> Okay. And for >> operation, correct? Okay. And for the proposed 15 apartments, um, is that a different
source of funding? >> It's developer. So, we would the city would be selling the property for revenue to a developer to develop veteran housing. >> Okay. And I'm assuming that uh the
number 15 15 apartments, that's sort of them maximizing that space. So I I want to be clear what I'm presenting to you now is the area need study. We haven't presented the redevelopment plan that will identify the bulk standards, the
exact amount of density that's allowed and then we'll present to you the concept that identify the specific number of apartments. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> Yes, [clears throat] council. >> I just want to go back to the rescue
squad quickly. Um, I certainly um am supportive of uh a a continued uh memory presence of the rescue squad because of the the work that they've done and the the role that they've
played uh in the previous years. Uh so I encourage that uh especially uh if uh moving forward it's it's a uh an amicable process uh as the city um
assumes the responsibility of this building and and restoring it to a center of of uh of of of refuge, a center of of helpfulness for for the town. So uh you know I would encourage
uh that that interplay uh that relationship th those bonds to be repaired or or forged. Um, can you also speak about uh I know, you know, because of the the the the financial uh peril that the existing
rescue squad is in that there are tax leans that uh that that exist on the property, which would give some other party, not the city or the rescue squad, the ability to foreclose on the property. and then it would certainly
not be for public use if someone were to foreclose on that. So, can you just talk about uh the urgency of us taking action now uh so that we can ensure that the rescue squad is uh a place for playing
field people to to >> Thank you, Councilman. Um the the reason for the resolution to wave the estoppel period is that as we have been moving forward to look at acquiring the property, the the taxes have not been paid and have not been paid for some
time um the property taxes. So um the as the property taxes have not been paid uh those uh delinquent taxes have been sold at tax sale. So there are currently lean holders holding uh leans with the possibility of foreclosing on that
property. We want to move expeditiously to acquire that property so that other lean holders don't have that opportunity to do so. So that's the urgency here. We want to acquire the property. We do not want it to go to some other entity who has different designs on the property. >> Thank you.
>> Um question, another question. Um, going back to the hiring of the the urban enterprise zone coordinator, um, and you already made your decision now and they're going to be carrying on dual roles. Is there going to be um more the
wage is the wage going to change and or maybe is are they offering a stipen for that or what I mean I I just want to know because of the deficit that we in I want to know how how's that going to work especially he's going to be
carrying two roles now so I I want to be clear in terms of the salary there's no changes there are two people that hold, for example, economic development. Can I not? >> Um, yes, Councilwoman, we can we can
certainly provide information in close session, but we're now discussing the terms and conditions of employment of an employee, which is not something that we do in open session. >> Um, so I would actually ask if we could refrain from talking about any specific employee as we move forward. Thank you. >> Okay. I just brought it up because I
figured it was okay because she mentioned the name, so I figured I'd say something, too. >> Yes. But we did not discuss the terms and conditions of employment such as salary. >> Yeah. >> Okay. We're in a deficit. I just want to make sure we we understand that. >> All right. Council. Um moving forward. Do I have consensus to add these to the
voting meeting? >> No. >> Council President, I said two quick ones. >> Council Wyatt. >> Yes. Um just two quick questions. Back to the 271 the shuttle service. Uh once the grant is exhausted, how will we sustain that?
So, if you recall, we actually have other community benefits that are dedicated to the shuttle. We also have the opportunity to continue to apply for this same grant funding again or we also
have applied to grant funding from New Jersey Transit. So we have several options and we have several resources that are available to us including community benefit other grants funding as well as reapplying for this grant funding.
>> Okay. Thank you. And the second question was regarding uh let me just pull it back up here. Okay. Yeah. So the other question was just regarding the um rescue squad. So, I know that we passed a resolution saying that you guys would enter into
negotiations and or use imminent domain. Did we engage in negotiations at all? >> The offer was made to the last known owner of the Rescue Squad building, which was a nonprofit. >> Okay. We couldn't come to an agreement.
>> No, no off no response. >> All right. Thank you. All right. So, I um which resolutions um Councilwoman Cessums, would you like to remove? >> 280. >> Councilman Wyatt, you said no. You do.
We do not have consensus. >> Um yes. So, for me it's 277, 279, 280, 285, and 286. >> Okay. Do it one more time, Councilman. Slowly. 277. >> Yes.
>> 279. >> Yes. >> 280. >> Yes. >> 285. >> Yes. >> 286. >> Got it. >> Thank you. >> For me, it's >> Yes.
>> 274. Anything else? N. All right. Well, BA, I'm going to assume that you're going to present for the director of sewer and solid waste. >> Yes, I will be speaking on his behalf. Thank you.
>> Um, Sewer and Solid Waste have one resolution for your consideration this evening, and it is a three-year contract to American Wear. This is for the uniforms that they wear down in Sewer and Solid Waste. And this is the same vendor they've been using for the past eight years. Contract obviously
contractually we provide the um uniforms. [clears throat] >> Any questions for my council colleagues? Seeing none, do I have consensus to add this to the voting meeting? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you. We now move on to ordinances on
first reading. Um will the BA and corporation council please present these items? Okay. Yes. I will present the first four which are bond ordinances for capital projects. I just want to explain that
these the capital bond um ordinances and the capital budget are completely separate and apart from the operating budget. We budget 5% of what it is that we bond for in our operating budget and the rest is all bonded. And there are
very specific things that you can include in a capital budget. They have to be infrastructure related and um vehicles etc. But it can't be personnel costs. So I I just want to clarify that in case that question comes up. Um so we have all four of our bond ordinances
this evening for capital projects. We have the one for our general budget and this includes things like um road repairing, road repairs, uh vehicles for DPW, parks projects, etc. We have um the one
for solid waste utility that's 100 that's 1.25 million and that's largely for their vehicles and carts. We have one for sewer for sewer improvements. And then we have one for the parking authority and that's for parking lot
maintenance. And that's it for the administration's ordinances. >> Thank you. BA Corporation Council. >> Council President, the uh council this evening has three items uh for consideration. Uh the first one is an ordinance um presented by council
president uh to require uh the clerk to prov to publish uh all uh materials associated not just with regular meetings but with special meetings 48 hours prior to any meeting.
The second item uh is uh introduced by Councilwoman Cessums. It is an ordinance to ban data centers within the city of Planefield. It is a complete and total ban. And the third item is an ordinance
to require that all campaign materials uh be removed 14 days after an election. >> Questions? I'm happy to uh answer them. Thank you. >> All right. Do I have any questions from any ma madam? >> Councilwoman Cessums.
>> Thank you, Madam President. Um, I do just have one um request for amendment on M uh MC uh 20226-23. On the second page of this amendment, and I'm asking for more uh
genderinclusive language, we refer to the council president as he and we use chairman, councilman, and council council man. I would like there to be more gender inclusive because the council president may or may not be a
male or may be um non-binary and so I just would like to see that language amended. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Any other questions? Seeing none, do I have consensus at this to the voting meeting? >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> All right. Good. Can I have a motion for a fivem minute recess? So move. Thank you. >> Second. All right, we now move on to ordinances on second reading and final passage. Madame Deputy, could you please read MC2026-15
by title and further certified that the ordinance has complied with all statutory publication requirements? MC 202616 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield, County of Union, New Jersey, adopting an amended block 146, lot 7
redevelopment plan dated June 4th, 2026. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on June 25th, 2026. >> All right. The floor is now open to any member of the public who would like to speak on this ordinance only. On this
ordinance only? Anybody online? Nobody online. All right. Seeing none, can I have a motion to close public comments on this ordinance? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> Cler, can I please have a roll call? >> Roll call. MC 202616. And council members Brooks Jones,
>> no. >> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> no. >> Cessums, >> yes. >> Vice President Hakaday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. >> Five in favor to oppose this
resolutions, ordinance, but adopted on second reading and final passage. >> Thank you. Uh, Madame Deputy, could you please read MC2026-17 by title and further certify that the ordinance has complied with all statutory publications and requirements?
MC 202617 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield in the county of Union, New Jersey to acquire by negotiated agreement or exercise of the power of eminent domain of real property for public use as an emergency operations center known and designated as tax block
556, lot 29 on the official tax map of the city of Planefield, Union County, New Jersey, located at 700-10 West 7th Street. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on June 25th, 2026.
>> All right. The floor is now open to any member of the public who would like to speak on this ordinance. Anybody online? >> No. >> Seeing none, can I please have a motion to close public? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> Have a motion to adopt this ordinance on second reading. >> Moved.
>> Second. >> And final pass. Uh clerk, can I please have a roll call? >> Roll call. MC 202617. Council members Briggs Jones, >> yes. >> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> yes. >> Cessums, >> yes.
>> Vice President Hakaday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. >> That's unanimous. This ordinance has been adopted on second reading and final passage. >> All right. Madam Deputy, could you please read MC 2026-18 by title and please certify that is that this ordinance has complied with all
statutory publication requirements. MC 202618 is an ordinance to amend chapter 2 economic development of the city of Planefield by amending article 10 section 2 col 10-6C fee schedule update. It is hereby
certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the courier news on June 25th 2026. The floor is now open. The floor is now open to any member of the public who would like to speak on this ordinance. >> All right. May I have a motion to close
public hearing on this ordinance? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. I have a motion to adopt this ordinance on second reading and final passage. And if adopted, this ordinance shall be published as required by law. >> Moved. >> Second. >> Roll call.
>> Roll call. MC 202618. Council members Briggs Jones, >> yes. >> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> yes. >> Cessums, >> yes. >> Vice President Hakaday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. >> It's unanimous. MC202618 has been adopted on second reading and final
passage. >> All right. Um, we're pulling MC 2026-9. But, um, Director Fields, at this time, I'm going to allow you to have that conversation. Just want to note this has been adopted on first reading. It's been advertised. Uh the council needs to take action in
terms of either table or withdrawing. Uh >> all right. >> Motion to table. >> It's already tabled. Councilman, >> you need to make >> council president. We require a motion second and a vote to table. >> All right. Second, >> but we've been open. Okay. Can I have a
motion? Do a second. Can I have a roll call, please? Roll call on the motion table MC202619. Council members Grid Jones, >> yes. >> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> yes. >> Cessums, >> yes. >> Vice President Hot Day, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. >> This ordinance been tabled.
>> Okay. Director Fields. >> Okay. Um the desire is to bring this back to first reading because there is a need for amendment to accommodate dwelling units that are in the historic
district. One would be to accommodate dwelling units that remain owner occupied but they would have the option to rent out. This is no need for my administration.
>> Mayor, did your director ask for this opportunity to speak? >> And I think you should postpone speak. >> All right, director. Thank you so much. Um, so we're going to move on to Madame
Deputy, could you please read MC 2026-20 by title and further certify that this ordinance has complied with all statutory publication requirements? MC 202620 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield and the county of Union amending chapter 17 vehicles and traffic
section 16 col4-5 schedule 4 parking time limits on certain streets and areas by adding section 16 A-4 schedule 4- C time limit parking 1 half hour 30 minutes. It is hereby certified that notice of a public
hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on June 25th, 2026. All right. The floor is now open to any member of the public who would like to speak on this ordinance. >> Seeing none. Can I have a motion to close um public hearing on this ordinance?
>> So move second. >> All right. Uh can I have a roll call, please? >> You need a motion to adopt. >> Sorry. Motion to adopt this ordinance on second reading of final passage and if adopted, this ordinance will be published. Second. Can I have a second, please? >> Second. >> Thank you. Uh, roll call, please.
>> Roll call MC 202620. Council members Briggs Jones, >> yes. >> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> yes. >> Cessums, >> yes. >> Vice President Hawkiday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. >> That is unanimous. This ordinance been adopted on second reading on final passage.
>> All right. All right, Madam Deputy, could you please read MC 2026-22 by title and further certify that the ordinance has complied with all statutory publication requirements? MC 202622 is an ordinance amending the code of the city of Planefield to establish article
7, flood mitigation, transparency, and accountability consisting of 17A-70 through 17A-72. is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on June 25th, 2026.
>> The floor is now open to any member of the public who would like to speak on this ordinance. >> All right. May I have a motion to close public hearing on this ordinance? >> So move. >> Second. >> Hi. May I have a motion to adopt this ordinance on second reading and final passage? And if adopted, this ordinance shall be published.
>> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Roll call on C202622. Council members Briggs Jones. >> Yes. >> Graham. Yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> yes. >> Cessums, >> yes. >> Vice President Hakaday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. >> That's unanimous. This ordinance has
been adopted on second reading and final passage. That concludes ordinance on second reading this evening. >> All right. We now move on to public comment limited to resolutions and motions. A total of 30 minutes has been allocated for all public comments. Each speaker will be given three minutes. If
any member of the public would like to call in to public comment, please dial 6465588656. Enter the meeting ID 934 91 014887. Press pound dial star 9 to raise your
hand. The floor is now open. This is limited to resolutions tonight. >> So then I'm not able to speak to anything else that's going on. >> Well, at the end. >> Okay. This is only limited to resolutions on the agenda tonight.
Nancy Pvar, Myrtle Avenue, uh R274-26. I heard some explanations about it. It's going to be um for veterans and if a private developer gets it, is there going to be a deed restriction to ensure that it will only be housing for
veterans? because um unless it's in writing, you know, we've heard stories before, but we have had a lot of promises and just making sure that the veterans are
going to be taken care of. Um also um it said that um the economic development officer said that going to be 15 apartments. Is there going to be any demolition on that property at all or is it just going to be additions made to it? And on 27726
about the naming rights, um I know that we're going to get money for naming rights for a street, but does the city have any veto power uh in case we do not like the name that um a private entity decides? Um that's my question. We're
going to have the veto power because anything could go. >> Thank you, Nancy. >> Name and resolution you're talking about. >> Good evening, Damen Fry. And the resolution is resolution 286. And I
wanted to just reiterate a few things that we had uh not had a chance to speak about earlier. One is the value added to the community by permitting this to be able to move forward. First, our current facility, which is located here on WHung Avenue for our fifth through eighth
grade students, doesn't have a workable gym. And we really need a space for our middle schoolers to be able to run around and uh fulfill the mission, which is to ensure that students have the capacity to use their entire being when learning. The second thing that I really
want to bring to uh to the forefront in this is that not only is the size of the facility uh an issue, the students don't have space, we don't have lockers or or any way in which they're able to keep their belongings. So, it's really important when thinking about and the plans that we have that we really are
missiondriven and our mission is really to to teach to the whole child. The plans that we have speak to and would create spaces for students to have a full-size gym, a dedicated art room, a dedicated uh music room, a space for a dance studio, a kitchen in which the
students would be able to uh be able to learn how to cook, and uh a library, which I know is something that we really want to make sure students are reading, and science laboratories, so students and on each floor that we would have there so that students would really be activated and learn more. and uh in the
STEM fields and really really really be inspired. Uh secondly, I wanted to just make sure we were clear in regards to the transition is this. We are this is not an expansion. We are moving the students from one facility to another vacating the space in which we currently
occupy on Wong Avenue in order to move the students into updated facility. So this is we were approved for 675 students. We would not be exceeding that. we were uh the goal would be to take the 300 students we have and move them to the other facility. Last, I just
wanted to reiterate the fact that we did have an opportunity as I iterated earlier that we did have an opportunity. I firstly had walked around the community, spoken with residents, we did have a meeting. I also wanted to illuminate the partnerships that we currently have. Uh we have evang
evangelical uh tabernacle who uses the parking spaces at our um at our site currently and we would continue that partnership as well as a partnership with the mayor's office to allow the lifeguards who are serving at Rushmore to uh use the parking spaces during the
day. Again, a partnership that we would continue moving forward. So, I just wanted to say we really are excited about becoming uh a member of the fourth board community in in a much more uh prevalent way and we look forward to that opportunity. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. Name and resolution or motion. >> My name is Ola Yinka Lo. I'm a resident of playing field for the past 25 years and I'm also a parent at Crest Haven Academy. Um, talking to the resolution
286, I would really appreciate if we can think about our children. Currently, where the upper elementary school is is a building that is being shared by multiple businesses and for the sake of
our children's safety. There are three schools just within that premises. And it's as a parent, it's really concerning that we need more space for our children. So we really appreciate if we can be allowed to ex to not to expand
but to relocate from Wang to our new space. I was hoping we will get our students there this September but of course it doesn't look like it but I love to see it come true in playing field. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Name the resolution. Uh resolution would
be 28626 uh Crest View. Uh as a member of the tabernacle, uh that parking lot is usually locked. Now, is this going to be a redevelopment
or a re redoing of the building, existing building? because I just heard the lady in front of me say they would like to move in shortly, but this is going to be a complete development where that building
that is there will be completely torn down. Now, that environment there is only slotted for two and single family homes. How did it get to a commercial level to
where it's going to be completely removed and built to a commercial level? Number two, in that area, most of the planning board has already violated most of the laws of
the city as per setback laws and from the corners. Now, most of the houses are only 10 foot away from the sidewalk, and there's no parking now for the buildings that are there. All along
Williver Street, all along View Avenue. Most of the vehicles are commercial vans used for picking up and delivery, and they're all lined on the street. The kids can't even walk down. It's so crowded. Now, I'd like to know if the planning
board, you know, the existing building that's there now went through a circumference of diameter because the blueprints that I see them presenting to tear down that building and redo, it's impossible for it to pass
the circumference of diameter rule because it's going to occupy the complete lot. So, we're going to have to violate a lot of these laws. Now they have 300. Now within a 100 yards in either direction,
we already have elementary schools. Now if they take 300 kids which are now I don't know what you would call this charter school, that's removing $18,000
per student from our public school system into this. And they're not only moving from 300, they want to make it 600, which is commercial. And we're looking at a hundred and some odd million dollars taken from our public school system. Can't sit by and watch
this happen. Our kids don't even have crucibles and buns and burners. And you're going to take it all away from them when we have in a 100 yards in each direction schools. and you're sitting looking at
parking. >> Thank you so much. >> We'll speak more about this later on. >> Thank you so much, sir. >> Good evening. This is about the uh ordinance >> name and ordinance.
>> Yeah. Name is Salvator Lar Roa and the ordinance is the one about the shortterm rentals. So it's a 2026. >> It's not on the agenda. So we we we did we did a motion to table that.
>> Yeah. >> So if you'd like, you could talk about that during the open comment at the end. >> Okay. I thought this was the open comment. >> No, at the end. >> Thank you very much. Sorry. >> You wrote this. Okay. >> Name and ordinance, please. >> Good evening. Um Juan Chamblas. Uh so
I'm going to start with the ordinances. Uh MC20623. Uh thank you for that. I'm going to put a pin in that and come back. MC20624. Thank you for that. Um MC 20625. And
yes, thank you for that. I think we still have signs up uh especially for uh the mayor who ran for Congress around city. Those signs need to come down cuz after a while they become trash. Okay. So, um, MC 2026 is important because I
would like to see R28626 tabled, and I'd like to see it table because of the time that it made it to this agenda as compared to the time when other resolutions made it to the agenda. People had time to send you guys emails.
People had time to make phone calls. People had time to complain about it. and voila, it was pulled. But in terms of transparency and people having the ability to talk about what happened um our 28626,
I think people should have enough time to be able to read and go over and ask questions about all ordinances at the same time. Not some people get from the Thursday that they are sent out Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday or maybe th and then
other people might get one day because it was added to the agenda later. I happened to go to that meeting that was held um with the one council person and I believe um one other uh community member that I saw and that was a gentleman that was was here before me
spoke. And um one of the questions and concerns that I have is I think the traffic study should be done first. If you've been over there, that's a really really really tight area where they want to do the drop off and pick off. You can really only get if cars are
parked on both sides, you can only get one car down that road coming in either direction. It's not a place where two cars could pass at the same time. So if we got all these parents dropping off, people cannot come down that street,
right? Um I looked around at the amount of cars that are even parked on third. And even when Rushmore Pool is closed, right? Because we can say, "Oh, that's the traffic for Rushmore Pool." But even when Rushmore Pool is closed, those
parking spaces do not release. Those cars are there all the time. So, I'm not sure how that's going to work, but I do think there needs to be a traffic study before this goes forward, which is another reason why it should be
pulled. And the people who were there in support, as he was saying, these are partnerships of people who just want to park. That's it. And why do you think they're so desperate to have a partnership or they want to park? Because those cars don't move off that street. There's nowhere for them to park on the street normal. So, they have to
beg them to get this parking. So, I would like to see that pulled for these two reasons. But ladies, thank you for those ordinances that you put forward. Thank you. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> Good evening everyone. Cynthia Smith um here on behalf of the PMEA
[clears throat] um resolution 25626. >> Thank you. >> Um so with the submission of the budget tonight, I hope that the council will take a deep dive into the budget and look at the spending, hiring, and promotion practices. 30 employees will
be impacted by these cuts. The rising cost of health insurance is one thing um that they said was partly to blame. But how much of that increase over the years was attributed to the amount of employees that we took on from the PMUA?
So is that included in that number of 21? >> Sorry, >> this is not a back and forth. >> So anyway, um that's to be looked at as well. The other thing is that at home you prepare for increases, right? You
stop overspending. You cut out unnecessary expenses. You um let me see uh you know you you you know these things are are going up every year. So it seems as if the employees have not
been fair and trying to negotiate about the health insurance. But keep in mind that the employees pay a portion of that health insurance too. So it's not the cart blunch plans that you see in Washington as as they're trying to say like they're rich. They're
not as rich as they used to be cuz I was here when we didn't pay anything for insurance and it was the state plan and that was the cart blanch plan. So of those 30 employees that's been impacted, they all coming from mainly my union
with two coming from DPW. I'm saying this problem is across the city and it's going to continue for years to come. So why aren't we looking at managers? Why aren't we looking at department heads? Why only the workers? I sat in a meeting the other day when one office was
decimated by the amount of cuts. They went from having a number of eight employees to three. I don't even know how they can get the work done. So when you're looking at this budget, I'm just asking you to be fair. look at it. Look
at what existed last year and what's there now this year. So you can see the differences in increases in pay that some employees to have. Also speaking of increases, the increases that the council received in January, that's this
budget year. And for everybody to sit here and say they weren't aware and they didn't know, because the finance committee was aware, they were made aware. So, whoever it was on finance committee, look at yourselves because when you took and approved those
increases for yourself, $15,000, we have employees now that just had to get $15,000 decrease in their salary. Think about that. >> Have a good day. >> Thank you. >> Name and ordinance of record. Matthew
Weiss Price Me Showman and Darmeno on behalf of Save the Queen City. This is about 274-26. Um, Save the Queen City would urge the council to not designate this property as an area need of
redevelopment. Um, the city has taken the path of lease resistance here. There's going to be no public u no public building process. It's a historic property, but there's going to be no HBC consideration going through the area in
need of redevelopment process. The building really only requires some minor repairs and a new operator to get back up and running as it as it exists now. Um the report that was offered by Nishwing Group
cited one uh one sorry cited one um criteria for the area in need of redevelopment in making a determination. Um but in doing so offered a net opinion. Uh they they said the flood hazard area is an issue and they said the lock cover is an issue but they did
not do an analysis of either problem. the flood hazard area. Um they did not look at the regulations at all. The lot coverage, they did not look at areas and zones nearby to see that many properties in the area are over unlock coverage.
It's a problem with the area. It's a problem with the zone. It's not a problem with this particular property that causes issues with funding and costs. We have a complete a competing planning report that we offered which did do all this analysis and in fact the repairs that are necessary for the
Dudley house to get back up and running are things that would be exempt from FHA regulations. This was not taken under consideration by Nishuine. It was not taken under consideration by the planning board. Um in their resolution they did not mention the fact that our
planning report discussed this despite this was a huge issue at the at the hearing. Um basically they they allided the issues that the opposition report highlighted because they had preddecided the the area in need of redevelopment
situation. Um the but because of that the council does not actually have a full record in front of them. So ultimately what we're looking at here are procedural issues and substantive issues. Again the substantive issue being that the Nishwain planning report offered a net opinion on the flood
hazard area and on the lock coverage issue and the procedural issues being that the the planning board did not provide a wholesome resolution for the council to consider. Therefore uh again we would ask the the council to um deny this and not designate it as an area
need of redevelopment. Thank you. Thank you. >> Council members, I'm going to ask at this time that they not respond to council's uh uh recitation of the facts. Obviously, we have a very different uh opinion, but uh I could based on the count the comments of council, I could
see that uh litigation is potential here and I ask you not to respond. Thank you. My name is Calvin Solder of Ser Law Group, redevelopment council for the city of Planefield. And I would just like to note that Nisha Wayne Group provided a full report. Uh council just
got up and spoke. Um I don't believe you were at the hearing. >> It it was a colleague. >> You were not there. Um so he's speaking to things that he just does not know. So I would urge you to move forward as you normally would. The city and the
planning board have gone through the proper process of providing the notices and also considering the record. They had a full opportunity to provide their analysis of the record and the planning board denied their recitation of the
facts. >> Thank you, Mrs. Sadder. Anyone else? name and resolution for the record, please. >> Joshua Muhammad and resolution 25526. >> I want to thank you, Mr. Mayor,
honorable mayor, for your consideration, Madame President, and the council in general for honoring brother Minister Abdul Karim Muhammad. He meant so much to so many people in
this city. I've known him for over almost 40 years. He helped me become the man that I am today. I credit him for stepping in when I didn't have a father figure. But not only for me, I represent a group of individuals who he's impacted their
lives as well with mentoringship. you know, just being a brother, teaching us how to be responsible in our community and to our community. We've done stop the killing rallies, gun buyback programs. Um, we fed people who needed to be fed throughout the years.
We secured we provided security in the projects over the years. And this was all inspired by his spirit to give back into the community in which he grew up himself. But he he didn't leave his community. he felt obligated to be an
example and stay and help the youth. And I think by honoring him with the street naming in that area we he where he had in the 70s youth for action movement um he had uh organizations called SOC and
FOI from the Nation of Islam. He's done so much in that area and I think it's befitting to honor him in that area as it can serve as inspiration to young people to do the same work that he has inspired throughout his years. So I just
wanted to say thank you for the consideration. It means a lot to so many people and you will see that it will inspire people to give back to the community as he did. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. >> Thank you. S Corano, 1284 East Front Street. Um,
>> resolution. >> I'm sorry. >> The resolution, >> the resolution is in reference to what the attorney came here from the law firm and what the other gentleman spoke on. Um, I was at that planning board meeting and or at the meeting and I saw the
blatant disrespect when the attorney brought the documentation. The chairman literally took it and threw it on the table with zero consideration
of it. Now, we're being asked to suck it up tonight and forward when many of you in this room were part of the system of taxation, of
redevelopment, of monies coming in, of basically now we're being asked about a credit card payment in advance to pay for our problems now that we've created ourselves.
I think it's unfair. I think it's unfair that you want to define it as the opposition, that's fine. But I think it's unfair not to be heard in that meeting or any other meeting. I think it's also blatantly unfair to announce a
30 minute longevity of and there could be more than 10 15 people. Now I'm assuming you have the power to extend that. I would hope you would if there are that many people ready to speak at the end of the meeting and you give the full three
minutes to I would hope that's only hope. I can't even ask for decency. I would hope that all those that want to speak can be heard. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody online? >> There's no one online. >> All right. Can I have a motion to close
public comments? >> Seconded. >> All right. Director Fields. >> All right. So, um, incorporation council, there were some questions about, um, resolution 274 that weren't
related to the council. I can answer, right? >> Yes. Thank you. Okay. >> Excuse me. Can you hear me now? >> All right. All right. So um the first comment about the redevelopment agreement and wanting
to know about the deed restriction. So a redevelopment agreement by nature I identifies what the property can be used for in the project description. It also identifies whether it's going to be
affordable special need housing or market rate housing. In this case, the redevelopment agreement has not been presented, but should it go on, it would have that language in there. Um, and
again, I I want to clarify that we are designating the area of need. The redevelopment agreement has not been presented to you yet as the developer. We have also not presented the bulk
standards. There was a question about the addition or um to the building itself or demolition. That concept has not been presented yet. So we're not
able to explain it until or if that it gets to that state. Um in general comment about the process with redevelopment in general and when we have comments that are from our
commissions, our board as well as our departments. every project that goes through redevelopment or goes through something to the planning board for site plan review. In the case of redevelopment,
the historic preservation committee is a part of that technical review and can offer extensive comment. The next one is looking at R77-26. The question about the naming rights,
it's actually included in the proposal the the name that's included and what they're paying for is looking for the identification of the name the developer himself and that was what the cost was for
for resolution R286. six. Um, this is looking at a designation. It has not been presented to planning board yet. And when it's presented to
planning board, it would look at the circulation plan. This technical analysis as well as a full technical review typically happens in planning board. Planning board has that authorization level to examine on the
traffic studies. And to answer the question about um the zoning and that the character of this building doesn't qualify in terms of the zoning once we move forward with a redevelopment plan.
In the redevelopment plan identifies a new set of bulk standards including the use types as well as the regulations of the heights, the sizes and so on as well as the density and the setbacks. This supersedes the traditional zoning that
we have in chapter 17. Then um in terms of the process, I have it down here. The building and whether it's going to be turn tore down or added
to right now that concept plan goes to planning board looking at R26. Did I miss anyone? >> Um I think there was a statement about a traffic study should be done first. the traffic study um that goes back to the
process that that's a power of the technical examination and that authority lies with planning board. >> Got it. And then the last thing is I think there was a statement about the um the budget that the city council will take a deeper dive. I I rest assure you that the city council will be taking a
deeper dive. The city CBAC will be meeting. Um there will be no different process as it was from last year and we'll be looking at everything. So please rest assure that we will do our jobs. All right, Mr. Clerk, would you
please uh announce the consent agenda? >> Consent agenda items are identified as resolutions 2526 through 25526, 257 through 273, 275, 276, 278, 281- 284, and 287. And on the non-consent agenda,
we have 256, 274, 277, 279, 280, 285, and 286. >> All right. May I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So move. >> Second. >> Cler, can I please have a roll call? >> Roll call on the consent agenda items. Council members Brick Jones,
>> yes. >> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> Councilman Wyatt, >> yes. Cessums. >> Yes. >> Vice President Hakaday. >> Yes. >> Council President Cherry.
>> Yes. >> Consent agenda items have been approved. We move on to resolution 25626, which is the introduction of the budget. Need a motion and a second. >> Seconded. >> Cler, can I please have a roll call?
>> Roll call resolution 25626. Council members Briggs Jones. >> Yes. >> Graham, >> yes. McCrae, >> yes. Wyatt, >> no. >> Cessums, >> yes. >> Vice President Hakaday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes.
>> Six in favor, one opposed. The budget has been introduced. Move on to resolution 27426. >> Can I have a roll call, please? >> You need a motion and second. >> Can I have a motion, please? >> So move. >> Seconded. >> Clerk, can I please have a roll call?
>> Roll call. Resolution 27426. Council members Brick Jones >> 74. >> No. >> Graham, >> no. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> no. >> Cessums,
>> yes. >> Vice President Hakaday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. >> Four in favor, three opposed. Resolution passes. We move on to resolution 27726. Have a motion, please. So move. >> Seconded.
>> Can I have a roll call, please? >> Roll call. Resolution 27726. Council members Briggs Jones, >> no. >> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> no. >> Cessums, >> yes.
>> Vice President Hakaday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. >> Five in favor, to oppose. Resolution's been adopted. Move on to resolution 27926. >> Motion, please. >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call.
>> Roll call. Resolution 27926. Council members Briggs Jones. >> No. >> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> no. >> Cessums, >> yes. >> Vice President Hakaday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry,
>> yes. >> Five in favor, to oppose. Resolution's been adopted. We move on to resolution 28026. >> Motion, please. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Uh, roll call, please. >> Roll call resolution 28026. Council
members Briggs Jones. >> No. >> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> no. >> Cessums, >> no. >> Vice President Hawiday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes.
>> Four in favor, three opposed. Resolution's been adopted. We move on to resolution 28526. >> Motion, please. >> Seconded. >> Roll call, please. >> Roll call resolution 28526. Council members Briggs Jones, >> no.
>> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> no. >> Cessins, >> yes. >> Vice President Heday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. Five in favor, two opposed. 28526 has been adopted. And the final resolution
is resolution 28626. >> Motion move. >> Seconded. >> Roll call, please. >> Council members Briggs Jones, >> no. >> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt,
>> no. >> Cessums, >> yes. >> Hakaday, >> yes. and council president Char. >> Yes. >> Five in favor. Two opposed resolutions been adopted. That concludes resolution
this evening. >> All right. We now move on to ordinances on first reading. Madam Deputy, could you please read bond 1290 by title? >> Bond 1290. bond ordinance providing for various 2026 capital acquisitions and
improvements by and for the city of Planefield in the county of Union, State of New Jersey, appropriating therefore and authorizing the issuance of bonds or notes of the city to finance part of the cost thereof. >> I'll I'll
now entertain a motion to adopt this ordinance on first reading. >> So move second. >> Clerk, can I please have a roll call? Resol uh roll call on resolution on a bond ordinance 1290. Council members Briggs Jones, >> yes. >> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae,
>> yes. >> Wyatt, >> yes. >> Cessum, >> yes. >> Vice President Hawkney, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. >> That is unanimous. This bond ordinance has been adopted on first reading. >> Madam Deputy, could you please read bond 1291 by title?
>> Bond 1291. bond ordinance providing for various 2026 capital acquisitions and improvements for the solid waste utility of the city of Planefield in the county of Union state of New Jersey appropriating 1,250,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance
of 1,190,000 bonds or notes of the city to finance part of the cost thereof. >> All right. I'll now entertain a motion to adopt this ordinance on first reading. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. Cler, can I please have a roll call?
>> Roll call. Bond ordinance 1291. Council members Brick Jones, >> yes. >> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> yes. >> Cessums, >> yes. >> Vice President Hockaday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. >> Unanimous, this bond ordinance has been adopted on first reading. >> All right, Madam Deputy, could you
please read bond 1292 by title? >> Bond 1292. bond ordinance providing for sewer line improvements for the sewer utility of the city of Planefield in the county of Union, state of New Jersey, appropriating 500,000 therefore and
authorizing the issuance of 476,000 bonds or notes of the city to finance part of the cost thereof. >> I'll now entertain a motion to adopt this um ordinance on first reading. >> So move. >> Second.
>> All right. Clerk, can I please have a roll call? Roll call. Bond ordinance 1292. Council members Briggs Jones. >> Yes. >> Graham, >> yes. >> Craig, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> yes. >> Cessum, yes. >> Vice President Hakaday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. >> Bond ordinance been adopted on the first read.
>> Madam Deputy, could you please read bond 1293 by title? >> Bond 1293. a bond ordinance providing for various 2026 capital acquisitions and improvements for the parking utility of the city of Planefield in the county of union state of New Jersey
appropriating 300,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of 285,600 bonds or notes of the city to finance part of the cost thereof. >> I'll now entertain a motion to adopt this ordinance on first reading. >> So move seconded.
>> Cler, can I please have a roll call? >> Roll call. Um, see bond ordinance 1293. Council members Briggs Jones, >> yes. >> Graham, >> yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> yes. >> Cessums, >> yes. >> Vice President Hakaday,
>> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. >> As unanimous as bond ordinance has been adopted on first reading. >> Madam Deputy, could you please read MC 2026-23 by title? MC 202623 is an ordinance amending section 2
col2-11 of the code of the city of Planefield to require the advanced dissemination of agendas, resolutions, and supporting materials for regular and special meetings of the city council. >> I'll now entertain a motion to adopt this ordinance on first reading.
>> So move. >> Second. >> Cler, can I please have a roll call? >> Roll call. MC202623. Council members Briggs Jones. >> Yes. >> Graham. Yes. >> McCrae. >> Yes. >> Wyatt. >> Yes. >> Cessums. >> Yes. >> Vice President Hakaday. >> Yes. >> Council President Cherry.
>> Yes. >> Unanimous. Ordinance has been adopted on first reading. >> All right. Madam Deputy, could you please read MC 2026-24 by title? MC 202624 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield amending chapter 17 article
two and creating 17-68 of the land use and development ordinances of the city of Planefield to define data centers and confirm that data centers are prohibited uses structures in all zoning districts. >> All right. I'll now enter a motion to
adopt this ordinance on first reading. So >> move second. All right, clerk, can I please have a roll call? >> Roll call MC 202624. Council members Bricks Jones, >> yes. >> Graham, yes. >> McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> yes. >> Cessums,
>> yes. >> Vice President Hakaday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry, >> yes. >> Unanimous ordinance been adopted on first reading. >> All right, madam deputy, could you please read MC 2026 25 by title? MC 202625 is an ordinance amending
chapter 14 of the code of the city of Planefield to establish article 8 campaign and special event advertising consist consisting of 14-80 through 14-85. >> All right. I'll now entertain a motion to adopt this ordinance on first
reading. >> So move second. >> All right. Clerk, can I please have a roll call? >> Roll call MC 202625. Council members Brick Jones Graham. Yes. McCrae, >> yes. >> Wyatt, >> yes. >> Vice President, uh, Councilwoman Tessums, >> yes. >> Vice President Hakaday, >> yes. >> Council President Cherry,
>> yes. >> That's unanimous. Ordinance has been adopted on first reading. >> All right. Great job. All right. General comments. Uh, a total of 30 minutes has been allocated for all public comments. Each speaker will be given three minutes. If any member of the public would like to call in for public
comment, please dial 6465588656. Enter the meeting ID 93491014887. Press pound. Dial star9 to raise your hand. Please state your name and municipality. The floor is now open. >> Good evening. Um, city council president
and vice president, honorable mayor, and directors and all the others. Um, I'm here to advocate uh for my street and actually the community about a hazard a hazard uh post the July 4th storm that
blew through a large uh limb from a uh tree that's been a hazard for many years that myself and many others on my street have spoken about. uh fell probably 50
ft at least uh near miss to a neighbor across the street who I guess he'll speak as well. Um it's been a hazard for quite a while. Large limbs have been falling. I had a similar situation about 10 years ago in front of my own home
which is next door to that tree uh that that just recently fell. Um eventually it was taken down after a hazard had taken place, a car uh destroyed. And so with this incident, there's been
many warnings near misses. We're about a threeinut walk from the Booker School. So daily you have parents walking down the street with their children. Um, and if it wasn't a parent, anyone for a
limb to hit them would be devastating. I've seen a parent with a child in a stroller and one walking along and within 15 minutes a large branch maybe 5 feet in length fall. Just the thought of
that uh in my yard. I can remember maybe six months ago a limb falling within minutes in my driveway of my wife pulling in the driveway. This is a hazardous situation. I know there's been a lot of trees that's fallen in the
district. I get that. I can't speak to everything. I can't do that. But I can speak to just about anything that I'm aware of. And that I am aware of. These near misses are warnings. I'd like to encourage the council and
others to have this tree removed before a disaster happens. For the record, I just want to put this out there. Again, I know trees are falling and it's storms, but the warnings have been there. So, I just wanted to just again
for the record mention that this is a situation that can prevent a a serious disaster. >> Thank you, Mr. Clark. Anthony Beverly advocating for Garden Street. I'm the vice I mean uh the
president of the block association president and um the same incident that he's talking about. The tree fell in my yard. My wife would have parked in front of that area that she usually park. She would be dead today. That tree had
lifted within the past three weeks since the storm been coming. I watched it as it lifted up. I worked with Gateway National Park. the forest industry. The tree is about to fall and I'm concerned about, you know, the residents. I'm concerned about my kids. I'm uh
concerned about my neighbors. That tree had lifted to a point. Right now it's an inch and a half up from the ground. Meaning that it's a foot and a half on top. You know, the people came out before they all they did was snit and walked away. This tree is a hazard to all of
us. My property got damaged very badly this time. over $60,000 worth of um damage. So, I'm hoping and praying that, you know, you guys take in consideration to remove this tree as quickly as possible. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Anthony. >> Good evening everyone. [clears throat]
I'm Salvador Elar Roa, a resident at 1405 Wong Avenue and like to make a comment and some consideration about the shortterm rental ordinance that has been presented
and specifically with regard of the two room limit for single houses. um together with my wife, you know, we have been playing field since 2007 and when we bought a beautiful Victorian
house that was built, I believe 1898 in the Netherwood historic district because of the it's a large house. So because of its size, its characteristic and character,
uh a property represent a quite unique unique offering in our area that can be made available to groups of people traveling together for a celebration of special occasions such as wedding, graduation, reunions, memorials, we had
funerals. Uh the ability to offer several bedrooms within one reservation is precisely what makes our property attractive to these groups. The two room cap would eliminate such
uniqueness and prevent us from continuing to operate our shortterm rental as intended. We have received overwhelming positive reviews from our guest, many of whom have commented not only on the home
itself, but also on their enjoyment and opportunity to discover the city's local business and attractions. I sent you all an email last week, which I hope you had the time to read, which included a selection of our guest,
numerous reviews. We had about uh 880 which prove our guest appreciation. I also have printed copy with me if you didn't have the time to to download from your computer or read. So I'd be happy to hand the hard copy to you if you
wish. So in conclusion, I'm respectfully asking the council to wave the two room cap limit in consideration of the unique nature of historic properties and the positive contribution that has made hopefully may continue to make to the
city visibility, tourism and local economy. Thank you all for your attention and especially for your service to the community. >> Thank you Salvatore. Sherry Belock 1060 Central Avenue, Planefield.
AJ knows. So, first of all, I'd like to still make a comment about downtown Planefield about the windows. Some people are made to clean their windows and follow the rules of not having more than a third of their windows um visible and others are using them
like a storage box full of crap. And um you've recently made stores take down their um guards, their shields, their roll roll down guard gates, but you haven't made the other stores improve their windows. Also downtown by the old
Lily Green leaves in the Y in that little court area where we had beautiful bricks and we used to have little monument stones with people's names on it who donated the trees. The bricks are coming up. It's very hazardous down there. I've got pictures. Half the bricks are missing. I mean, there must be 500 bricks missing down there.
There's like potholes and stuff. It's very dangerous. And I don't know why the city has let it get to that point. If it was in front of my house and the sidewalk looked like that, they'd be right running right there to give me a fine. Um, but the city hasn't seem to maintain itself. If you expect stores to
attract these new um tenants from these new apartments you're putting in, you have to clean up downtown and make it attractive for them to come downtown to shop. And you don't have that. you don't have enough parking and it looks like crap. I used to be part of beautifification. We used to have planters all over the place that looked
nice and it's not being done. Also, I've been complaining for a long long time about people letting um burying their garbage and burying garbage in a swimming pool that the situation still hasn't been addressed and I'm quite upset about that. Um and I've spoken to
inspections about that and nothing seems to be done. They seem to attack me for reporting it, but the situation hasn't been handled, and I'm still disturbed by that. >> Also, there's a problem with some of these apartment buildings that you're going up. You're taking away um the
sunlight from other houses and units, and there's also a lack of enough parking. For some reason, people think there's only going to be two people living in a onebedroom, and people don't need two cars, and everybody's going to take the train to New York. And that's not the case. And they've given away too
much tax benefit, not benefiting the school district because all the apartments that contractors and developers say we're going to be singles live in there all have kids in them. Some of them have three and four kids for a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom. There's a lot of overcrowding in some of those because that's all they could afford.
Also, um I wanted to know did they call a state of emergency to get funding to help put the trees up. That's what makes Flamefield beautiful is driving down treeline streets. It purifies our air. It, you know, adds shade, you know, on hot days, but they do have to be
maintained. And sometimes you have storms and tornadoes that we haven't really had a lot, you know, and it's taken the trees down. And it's very, very expensive for most people to take away. And I know they got it before. So, I'm hoping they can get a state of emergency again so we can get the
funding from the state to help clean up the trees. >> Real quick, thank you. Where was where did you say the bricks the bricks that were lifting? Where are they located? >> By the old YW.CA. And Lily Greenley is on front. And what's the name of this? >> Hug. >> Church Street.
>> Hug. >> Church Street. >> Thank you. >> Uhhuh. >> Nancy Pearl Avenue. I wasn't intending to get up and speak on this again, but I'm really concerned about the renaming of a street for someone paying to have
it renamed because I always thought that um it requires an ordinance and a public hearing um according to our uh our um site plan and subdivision standards. Um,
what I really wanted to talk about tonight, which I will talk about, is a man that deserves to have a a name, a street named after him without paying $250,000. Uh, last week I attended a conference of uh, New Jersey museums. And there I
learned that on July 16th, 2026, a former city resident, professor James West, will be inducted into the Black Inventors Hall of Fame. He lived in Planefield for about 40 years and he and his colleague at Bad Labs transformed modern sound with their invention of
electric microphone, a breakthrough powering 90% of today's audio devices which are used in everyday items such as telephones, the microphone I'm speaking with, camcorders, hearing aids, baby monitors,
and audio recording devices among others. He holds over 250 patents and is a pioneer in acoustic research and has along has had a lifelong advocacy a uh advocacy for diversity and STEM. I believe the city honored him in in a
July 4th par parade many years ago and I would hope that the city would send him a congratulatory res a congratulatory resolution for his achievement and being inducted into the black inventors hall of fame that's going to take place in Chicago. I would also like to make the
city aware that there are two museums that are in the incubator stages in the state of New Jersey. The Black Inventors Hall of Fame and a Children's Museum. Unfortunately, the Children's Museum may be developed in Newark and the Black Inventors Hall of Fame in West Orange.
It is a shame that the city did not have the opportunity to try for either one of these museums. From a planning standpoint, it is estimated that the Children's Museum would bring over 400,000 visitors to the city of Newark. It may not be too late for the um Black
Inventor's Hall of Fame and um because there's an issue with the building up in West Orange. Um the Grace Church would be great. Um a lot of buildings in this city would have been great. Um, and I hope that maybe somebody in economic and
development can look into it and maybe we can get the Black Inventors Hall of Fame because we've had a lot of black inventors in this city. And uh, once again, I'm I'm really concerned about the president that was set here tonight with resolution 277
because um, anybody can now come into this town with money. I know we're in a a problems with money, but it's not right. >> Thank you, Nancy. I have to make a brief statement and this is uh >> sir could you say your name?
>> My name is Rayard Balden. [laughter] >> I'd like to make a brief statement about a very serious problem at 1425 uh South Second Street. We have an environmental hazard. The city planning board allowed
commercial vehicles and everything to work there with no drainage, no hard top, nothing. Each and every time it rains, we lose at least an inch of soil out of
that place along with oil and all types of other chemicals that leak right into the drainage that goes right into Cedar or Greenbrook Stream, right into the water. trucks in and out, no hard top, dirt and dust
continually in the air with oil and who knows what other type of contaminants and nobody does anything. We have parking of commercial vehicles up and down South Second Street. They just tore
the signs down and threw them in the garbage and you won't even put them back. When are we going to follow the laws and regulations? When are we going to follow the laws and regulations and stop saying that it's
just the West End and turn your backs? Every time it rains, our drainage is jammed with dirt. It's no way that it can drain anymore. The church and the electrical building at the lower part of
my property flood every year causing them damage because the drainage there does not work and there's no drainage in their building, no hard top and chemicals and everything are rushing right down. And if you want to see the
effect, go over to Greenbrook Park where the drainage goes and just sit there and look at the stream. There's no more minnows. There's no more sucker fish. There's no more frogs. There's no more anything. And everybody turns their backs
because it's the West End. [applause] >> Good evening. Uh Sebastian Torres, Planefield. Um, so I was very um interested in the presentation that I saw in the beginning um regarding the deficit. I um I wanted to learn more about the deficit because
I've been hearing about it, but um it seemed to be kind of a hush hush thing going on. So it was nice to see a presentation. I appreciate that. Um one of the things that bothered me and I kind of want to tackle this from a English scholar perspective. I know we have an English scholar on the council.
Um so the word structural right when we say structural I heard this over and over and I felt that it was being used incorrectly. Okay. When we talk about structural things, structures are built by individual decisions of people, right? I'm a history teacher, so I talk
about like structural racism. There's people who are racist who are in power and create the structures. So, we can't talk about structural as some kind of abstract topic, right? Like, oh, there's this structural deficit and it's like this thing that well, who built the structure, right? Um, we're here to
understand what that structure is and correct it, not just talk about it in abstract and use it as some kind of copout to say, well, there's a deficit and it's structural and that's that. Um, there was a structure built to create that deficit. Whether that's at a city level, at a state level, at a federal
level, those structures were built. Okay? So, we have to understand that. I know Jersey City was brought up. I think uh Dr. Cessums brought up Jersey City like as a talking about a little bit um other cities with these issues and they recently got a new mayor and the new mayor determined that there had to be an
audit on the pilots that the city has and he created this audit because he said that there's money that's not being accounted for that the developers are just simply not paying. Um so he acknowledged that there was a structure and he said well that structure was
created by a previous administration so let's correct it. Um, I did not hear anything about correcting structures tonight. I just heard more of the same. Pilots, community benefits, you know, so where is the correction of the structure? If there's a structure that's incorrect, let's correct it, right? That that would make the most sense. Um,
going along with that, I also heard the word uh we're talking about diction, right? Structures, diction. Um, I heard the word rich. We cannot create these narratives that the guilty party here are workingclass people who are just swimming in the money with these great health care plans and they're going and
I don't know getting BBLs with their healthcare plans or something like that because they're they have these rich health care plans that it's just simply disingenuous and it's passing on the responsibility to working-class people who do not deserve that narrative to be created and it's demonizing the workers
of the city and that's wrong. Okay. Um, additionally, now this was brought up previously and I wanted to kind of just I I'll throw this question out there. No one has to answer, but at what point did the city because this is structural, so everyone knew about this apparently cuz you know, hindsight's 2020, but at what
point did everyone here think that it was smart to give themselves a raise knowing that these structural things existed? I mean, that's kind of like All right. Anyway, thanks. >> Thank you, Marine. [applause] There are three people online. You could
go to the first one. Okay. So, the caller ending in 0690, if you would unmute yourself and turn down your TV if you're watching and then the floor is yours. Star six to unmute.
>> I don't know. >> Hi, Ayanna Gilmore. Today, I'll be commenting on the budget deficit. But I appreciate what councilwoman Sessions had um stated about the importance of Planefield being compared to similar municipalities when it comes
to the deficit. I would think that we can't accurately compare our deficit causes to large cities like Jersey City and like Newark which have different budgets and different financial burdens. So while it may be true that the health
care cost is contributing to the deficit in Planefield, it would be helpful to know the relative percent increase for example so that we can understand if healthcare costs are actually driving the budget deficit. So there may be a multitude of factors that are driving
this deficit. I personally would like to see how um revenue loss from pilots might have contributed to the deficit. So I would encourage the BA and the city council members to be very transparent about um multiple drivers of this deficit.
Also, Mayor Matt had mentioned leveraging on revenues like pilot revenue and cannabis revenue, but we should really have hard data that's informing um that these are legitimate revenue streams for Planefield before we make baseless statements co-signing
these business ventures. constituents in um Planefield deserve to have accurate and precise information informed by accurate data analysis and interpretation so that we can ensure that we're making the best decisions for this community.
Finally, the information for this comet via phone is not easily accessible at all. I'm a young person. I'm extremely competent when it comes to finding information online. It's not easy to find this information to dial in to make public comment at these city council
meetings. So, as a council, I would like you all to encourage civ civic engagement and make this information easily accessible on all city council meeting announcements that are posted online. Thank you.
>> Right, Mr. Corano. Go ahead. >> Good evening, S. Corano again. Um, I applaud Sebastian. It was one of the comments I was going to make. Um, and I did in the back when
I thought that you all should be you all all every single council administration should be in the history books for at least 50 years on how you manipulate and use words like
structural. Well, you all were part of the structure. And while I don't want to be all negative here, I appreciate some of the monies, some of the waiting of the budget, um, seeking more money from others. You
know, it's very difficult to continue to take take and then try to BS the public on expenditures versus money coming in. Nobody talked about
where it started. Nobody's, at least publicly. I'll give you that. You got to look in the mirror. You all voted on many different budgets over the years. You all presented budgets. We just heard from the administrator tonight. You
council could have voted not to accept the budget with no tax increase. You could have changed it. You could have had the decision. You hold the purse strings. So you all are responsible.
Period. Now we switch to the solution. I don't believe the solution is stealing from the future to pay for your decisions. Now that's a fact. Now, would I rather have
gotten hit for 2% a year for the last 5 years? I would have instead of getting a $1,000 bill all at once. Now, that might not be popular for the nonvoting public who should be voting more, who should be
recognizing that people died for your right to vote. And you don't. You don't. And you all know the statistics and the numbers of how long it takes to deceit
an elected official. I also would like to know who is the builder, contractor, developer, or the big tax delinquent company that owes 1.6 1.7 million
so they don't take it from my pocket. In addition, um, have they been moved to repossess, reclaim, take their put leans on their property? What has this administration
done for them? For us. >> Thank you. >> Hold on, Miss Miss Palmer. Give me one second. We're going to do somebody online. We have a couple more minutes before public comment closes. I want to make sure that we're fair. caller um with your number ending in 1617,
please uh press star six to unmute yourself, lower your TV, and the floor is yours. Go ahead and speak. I see you're unmuted. Please uh state your name and you know your comment. 1617
maybe go to the next one. They're unmuted, but I don't know. Okay, go ahead. Want to come? >> Good. Um, Chamblas, Planefield, New Jersey. Um, again, I would just like to go back to uh 28626.
Um, I will say once again for the public that I do not think that um, council president or vice president should be voting on anything dealing with Crest Haven Academy. Since both of them have a personal interest in this
charter school, one being on the board of the charter school, the other actually having a child attendant. It is in their best interest that they vote yes and that their votes will never be um non-biased because they have an interest
in this um in this charter school and therefore they should not be voting on it. They say that they should and they can but I think ethically they should not because they have a personal interest um in these schools. The other thing I want to say is that I listened
to the presentation in terms of the the condition of the building. But guess what? This was the condition of the building 10 years ago when they decided to make this their charter school. Now all of a sudden it becomes our responsibility or people in the fourth ward's responsibility to correct what
they did in terms of finding a building that would not that would not make it if it was a city of Planefield. I mean public school. We would never put kids in a building like that. Never. Absolutely never. But because the state says that we can warehouse children, the
adults here or whoever gave that certificate of occupancy thought it was okay for certain kids to be able to go to school. And I want to mention that with all due respect, when I asked about the kids who go there, the majority of them might be first generation
Americans, which means that their parents probably went to schools that would not have fit the standard of what the United States would consider would be appropriate for a child to go to school. But we allow children who we claim that
we care about immigrants and all this other stuff like that. But we would allow them to go to school in the building that is substandard. And then 10 years later when it's falling apart, oh this, oh that, oh this, oh the other. Well, this is what it was when you decided that it was okay
for your child to be warehoused. So don't make it the responsibility of the fourth ward now to correct the mistake that nobody in this room, if you were part of that process, thought was okay. and you as a parent thought it was okay to send your child to a warehouse to be
educated. You didn't have a gym when you moved in. You didn't have a playground area when you moved in. You didn't have classrooms that had windows that they should have had when you moved in. None of this was a problem. Why is it a problem now? And why does it become fourth ward's responsibility to correct
it? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. We're gonna Miss Smith, you'll be the Yeah. You're going to be the last person in the gallery for comment >> and then we're going to go to You want to go now? >> Yep. Okay. >> Please. Thank you.
>> With the number ending in 5988. Press star six to unmute yourself. Lower your TV and the floor is yours. Please speak. >> Hello, Gloria Benowski Place in the Playingfield. And you know, I don't think there's any reason that you have
to give a time where public comments are ended. You need to stay for however long it takes for the public to respond. Now, I am calling about uh I'm calling
about the people had commented about trees that they thought were dangerous. Well, I called the city in May to report a couple of dead limbs on a tree on my on public public tree on my
neighbor's property and my property. No action was taken. The limb on my neighbors on the neighbor's tree uh came down. Luckily, no one was injured, but no one came to address
that. So, I think you need to pay attention to that. You can't just make comments now. Oh, we're busy with a with a storm or whatever. I made the call to the city in May and there was no action that was
taken. And so, I ask you to look into that and make sure that there is more responsibility, more responsiveness on the part of the city. I do also want to say too that this rule that you have that of ending public
comment after 30 minutes that is not correct. You end public comment when the public comment has stopped. Good evening. >> Thank thank you. >> Okay. Again, my name is Cynthia Smith.
This time I'm speaking as a resident of Planefield. Um the city of Planefield and the school district are two of the largest employers in this town. Yet the decisions being made by this body regarding pilots and charter schools will affect all of those plane residents
when they are no longer employed by the city. So, the residents are going to have to take things more seriously, keep a watchful eye, and listen carefully about what is happening locally, and demand proper
representation by the council. We must fight for this city and fight for the municipal services that we need to function. Let's be more intentional with the budget hearings as these tax increases will fall directly on us as
well. And that us is a lot of the employees that live throughout all the wards in the city that work at those two entities. Y'all have a good night. >> Thank you so much. >> Madam, can I please have a motion to >> There's the person is back. I don't know if you want to. >> Go ahead.
>> Okay. >> Caller ending 1617. Press star six to unmute yourself. Lower your TV and speak. Press star six. You're muted. You muted yourself. Unmute
yourself. Okay, go ahead and speak. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um my first my name is Regina Harley. So my first comment is the regarding the health plan where other sectors of the government were notified about increases that this
increase was coming down almost two years ago. So, it's a little disheartening to hear about the city workers and what has happened to some of the city workers and whatever is going on in the school board
regarding the health insurance. I just I think the resident I do believe that we do need more transparency because the council did approve a raise for the council
yet this was coming down and I'm pretty sure that somebody had to be notified regarding this health insurance increase like everyone else in the other sectors. Uh my second
comment is regarding PSENG's response time when crisis happens in Planefield. So my question is as far as Union County, where is Planefield on the list
of priorities? because there was a huge tree limb that fell right there on Wang, Richmond, Carlton area on that Friday afternoon and then it was not removed completely. It was
not cleared until Tuesday afternoon. So, I'm just wondering where is Planefield on that list for PSCG? Um, also I hear talk of the veterans building on Putinham Avenue. Putinham
Avenue, it is a flood zone right here because Putinham and Richmond where it connects, it totally floods. And will the contractor and builder will it help the area when they come in and build?
Uh, yes, they're outside. I understand about the outside aesthetics, but really what will happen in ter, you know, underneath the brown, what's going to go on? Will it improve the area? Because I'm all for the veterans to be safe and
in a safe zone as well, but also the residents in the area that are already living there. Um, one more thing and that is traffic stops. Okay. So, when the tree li fell,
um the drivers were moving out away the barriers even though the police department was called and you know they worked on it. But I do believe a blinking caution light should be there at the four corners even for the
students that are passing in September from September through June. There's no crossing guard right there. What is it? Richmond Carlton Watung. right there and it's hightraic area. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Can I please have a
motion to close public comment? >> All right. Director Fields, do you want to start with answering some of the questions? Um in terms of looking at the flood area, this is a requirement um should the going to planning board to
look at the storm water requirements. So most likely it is required to improve it in the area. Um I think there was another question about the 1425 South 2nd Street. We are aware there is
um a brownfield issue there. We are working with the property owner to see what could be done there. >> Council President, I have one if if that's okay with you whenever you're ready. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh there was a uh I guess an allegation from
member of the public that there was a conflict on the vote on Crest Haven. I just want to uh advise both the council and the public that uh the council vice president did seek an opinion prior to the vote. Uh and I advise them that there was no conflict um as the council vice president no longer uh is a member
of the board at Crest Haven. Um also there was no reason for the council president to ask for a uh whether there's a conflict because there clearly wasn't one. So just wanted to make that clear for the public. Thank you. >> Thank you. Do you
have a response regarding the uh updating the city website call-in? There's a question regarding the call-in number on the city website director council president as you know we've had
conversations about this several times in the past and the position of the administration has not changed. So, um, because the administration does not want public comment, the city website will not be updated to reflect
the call-in number. >> That's not what I said, council president. >> Well, what is the answer? I'm sorry, mayor. >> I said the position of the administration hasn't changed. You just said that the administration doesn't want public comments. I never said that.
So the city the the resident asked clearly for an updated number on the website. I have reached out to the administration requesting the number to be added to the website. It has not been added for 6 months. So and this is not
me going back and forth with you mayor. This is not the time. >> I have >> the website is just not updated. I've clearly stated, council president, that the administration will not support your desire to go outside of the law.
>> I understand. >> I've said that clearly. >> I understand. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor. So, um the the city website is not going to be updated >> to reflect the number. Um if you'd like
the number, you closely could listen in. I could put post it on my city um on my city council website for the next city council meeting. >> Thank you. um the renaming of the street, the precedents.
>> Um it it does not require that it goes to uh ordinance. It can be presented through resolution and it will be a part of it is a part of the agreement now in terms of determining what the name will
be and it has been done before. All right, I think I answered we answered all the questions. The 1.7 >> the agency the organization
>> I don't have >> you can't disclose. >> I do not have the name. I have the address but I don't know if I should be revealing that. But I want to say that um delinquent taxes do go to tax sale.
So this should go to tax sale if u in November and I am hopeful that we will recover this money in November. >> I think someone asked about the process. That's the process. If you don't pay and your taxes are delinquent from the prior
year, it would go to tax year. Council President, if I could just add that regardless of whether we recoup the money, it's still uncollected taxes and statutoily we have to keep additional monies in reserve. So we may we may recover that money through tax sale and I'm certain we will, but that doesn't affect the requirement to keep
additional monies in reserve. >> All right, I think that's all the questions. All right, can I please have a motion to adjurnn? >> So move second. >> Thank you. Oh yes.
>> Yes.