is trickling in from the back. There was a ceremony, a celebration of sorts directly behind us at Queen City Coffee/Cindell's bookstore commemorating
Booker verse Planefield Board of Education and they are just coming now and settling in. So I don't think that they are well our clerk's standing up.
The notice requirement provided for the open public meeting law has been satisfied. notice was properly given. Said notice having been transmitted to the Courier News on Tuesday, January 6, 2025, as well as posted on the city's website. Clerk, may we have a roll call?
Council members Briggs Jones, present. Cherry, present. Graham, present. McCrae, present. Wyatt, present. Vice President Cessums, present. Council President, Hakaday, present. All members present. And a quorum. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance
and remain standing for the invocation. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.
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. We have a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 14th,
2025. Second. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposition or abstensions? Okay. Motion carries. Uh we will first move to communications from the mayor. Uh your honor
is going to come up. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening again to council, uh, cabinet, everyone, and of course uh, business administrator Abby Levenson. Uh, we thank uh, the members of the public for this accommodation. This is
the 60th anniversary of Booker versus Planeful Board of Education in which there were 20 28 families in the city of Planefield that bought cause to help integrate the plane public schools. It is the 60th anniversary. So,
we just acknowledged and did a uh celebration of that across the street and we came over here um so that the council the mayor's proclamation and the council resolution can be read. After we do that, then we're going to take a
picture, which will take a few moments because some of our elders would range from age the original plaintiffs, the parents at the time range from age 90 to 102. So, I'm asking now, and I appreciate your accommodation as we memorialize
this history [snorts] uh that helped change the city of Planefield and the outcomes for children of color in this town. And again, I'll just rehhat well I'll revisit because some of you weren't across the street. Uh I came in with the administration in
2014. Uh Mayor Adrian Map is the education mayor. He had an education commission and one of our charges was in 2015 to honor the 50th anniversary of Booker and that was in 2025. And you know, thanks be to the creator, we still
have four of the original elders with us and their family members. So out of the 28 families, we have representatives with us this evening. 12 representatives of those families and we're they'll be designated by when they come in, you'll see they'll have flower bineers, not
bineers, I'm sorry, cassages with them and their family members and they'll have um [clears throat] name tags and you know you can't move forward and know where you're going unless you know where you've been. and Planefield, you know,
from 1963 to 2023 is a very different place because of the work that we've done to celebrate all of us being here and how it can work when we all work together. So on behalf of that [snorts]
[laughter] whenever we've recognized this momentous occasion in the past we focus on Booker at L but we wanted to memorialize in this 60th year all the names of all the families because we've done the research and we were able to secure it. Mr.
Booker always said there were other families but we just didn't have the documents. So, we able to research and secure the documentation and have the original court case. And there are 28 families here. Mayor, how do you want to proceed? Do you want to read the whole thing or I'm just here to support you. [laughter]
And why would we say that? He always lets me do this. So, I'm I'm going to I'm going to read the first line and then because then I'm just going to go through the names of the families. Yeah. ash. So we can so we can speak their names
into this into this universe and so they'll forever memorialized in this time and in this place. Recognizing the families of Booker versus Planeful Board of Education. Whereas the city of Planeful proudly recognizes the families who courageously
stood for justice and equality in the landmark case Booker versus Planeful Board of Education on his 60th anniversary. Whereas in 1965, a group of determined Planeful families led by plaintiff Charles Charles F. Booker and
supported by other local parents challenged the Planeful Board of Education, asserting that racial segregation and in inequality in the city's public schools violated the constitutional rights of African-American students. And whereas the family's bold actions reflected the
growing civil rights movement across the nation and affirmed that every child deserves equal access to quality education regardless of race or neighborhood. Their pursuit of justice before the courts not only brought attention to the inequities within the Planefield school system, but also
contributed to the broader fight for educational fairness and racial integration in New Jersey. Whereas the New Jersey Supreme Court's ruling went beyond the federal desegregation standards, settling a powerful president that influenced
communities across the state, the courage, resilience, and conviction of these families continue to inspire generations of Planefield residents, serving as a powerful reminder of the role ordinary citizens can play in shaping a more equitable and inclusive society. And whereas the families that
participated in this landmark and historic action were Charles B. Booker, minor by Charles F. Booker, his father. John H. Carter III, and Jane D. Carter, minors, by John H. Carter, their father.
Renee E. Cherry, minor, by Mrs. Mary E. Cherry, her mother. William Cole, Jr., a minor, by Mr. and Mrs. William Cole, his parents. Denise Cook and Jacqueline Cook minors by Mrs. Norma E Cook their
mother. Isaac Danner Jr. a minor by Isaac Daniel senior his father. Cynthia N. Davis and Rulus Davis III minors by Mrs. Nanny Bell Davis their mother. Jeffrey Davis a minor by Mrs.
Bernice Davis his mother. Craig Stanley Evans, Durk Keith Evans, Lynn Roxanne Evans, minors by Stanley Evans, their father. Hannah C. Ford, a minor by Mrs. Carl S.
Ford, her mother. Rodney J. Franklin and Gregory Franklin, minors by Junius Franklin, their father. Ward Grimes and Maurice Grimes, minors by Mrs. Lenora Chambers, their guardian.
Samuel C. Howal Jr., Marcela De Howal, Raphael Se Howal, and Cheryl Ahal. Minors by Samuel Seal, Senior, their father. Clarence E. Nelson, minor by Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Nelson, his parents.
Norman Nichols and Robert Nichols, minors, by Ralph Wise, their guardian. Bridget Page, Kim Page, Patrick Page, minors by Mrs. Inz Page, their mother. Angela Phillips, a minor by Mr. and Mrs.
Lincoln Phillips, her parents. Carlton Dric, Carer Dric, minors by Calvin D. Price, their father. Candy Quarls and Robin Quarls, minors by Miss Mariloo Quarlles, their mother.
Linda Enray, Calvin Ray, Shelvin F. Ray, and Gary Enray, minors by Clarence E. Ray, their father. Julius A. Shell Jr. and Linda Renee Shell, minors by Mrs. Ruth G. Shell, their mother.
Christina Snell, a minor by Mr. and Mrs. John Snell, her parents. John Emory Tucker, a minor by Anthony, his father. Mary Van Blake, Nancy Van Blake, and
Claire Van Blake. Minors by Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Seymour Van Plake. Parents Stefan G. Wedstone, a minor by Freeman Weightstone, his parent Gail Renfred Winterfred Wigs, Dwight
Lamont Wigs, and A. Ross Brentwigs. Minors by Mr. and Mrs. Winterfred Wigs. their parents Thomasina Uli, Antonio Uli, and Eugenia Uli. Minors by Mr. by Mrs. Laura L. Uli,
their mother. Wanda M. Young and Florida E. Young, minors by Mrs. Esther L. Young, their mother. where it is incumbent upon the city of Planeful to honor remember the families and individuals who stand for equality and help to pave the way for
progress in public education. Now therefore be proclaimed, I Adrienne Map, mayor of the city of Planefield, do hereby recognize the families of Booker versus Board of Education of Planefield, New Jersey, and commend them for their enduring their enduring legacy of
courage, justice, and advocacy for equal opportunity and education. that this proclamation stand as a permanent acknowledgement of their historic contribution to civil rights and educational advancement of the of our
community and our nation. Signed by Adrien Om. MAYOR. [applause] This is a very fitting occasion for us to recognize these families. We all know of Booker v. Board of Education,
never really having the full scope of what that case really meant and not knowing the many families that were a part of that landmark decision here in the city of
Planefield and in the state. And so to all of the families that are assembled here to Mr. Booker to the Booker family and to the Cole Carter Van Blake and the many other families that are here. We
appreciate all that you have done in transforming the landscape of education here in the city of Planefield for the benefit of all of Planefield because we know that when there is
diversity, when everyone is included, when blacks and whites and Asians and Latinos, when we all get to sit with each other, when we all share the same classrooms, the experiences is that we have inform each other and help us to
become better human beings. And so the work that you did in this book of the board of education will stand forever reminding us of those very dark days in our city in and in our nation.
And so we owe you a great debt of gratitude and we thank you on the behalf of all of the people of our great Queen City. Thank you and God bless. [applause] Thank you, mayor. Now I ask your I've asked you before you'll take us a few
minutes to stage this picture. So I appreciate everyone's um just give us a few moments. I need four chairs. So Claire and Rayan, I'm going to need those chairs right there. Let's put these here cuz you're going to be in the picture. Mr. Cole, Mr. Cole, your have
your mom come up here. Uh, Miss Davis, let's get our our original signers here together combined, folks. I don't know. They run from age 102 to like 90 something. So,
let's put her in the center. that teacher. Uhhuh. And I'm waiting for Miss Davis and Miss Bernice Davis. She should be coming in the other way. And then Bill. Okay. Yep.
Oh, we need chair. I need like four chairs. Real quick. Miss Davis, I didn't realize they were connected. My apologies. My apologies. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Wiggy.
Yes, that would be best. Mr. Booker, we're going to put you right here. Uhhuh. All right. So, they're going to need to be a little snug because folks are going to have to get behind them. Okay. I think that's good. And Yes ma'am.
two three and and Nanny Bell. Yep. So [snorts] so we have one more. So, the rest of the plaintist Earl, I need you to help stage this real quick. Would all the legacy families come fall in? And Miss Davis,
I'm going to put her right here. Really? Oh, okay. So, yes ma'am. I got Okay. Okay. Legacy families fill in. Everybody else fill in. Please
say what and go behind. Uh this is a picture for the elected officials as well. So that's council members. Please. Okay. All legacy family members coming in. Let me get that chair first.
No, we can get a chair. Chair right there. Another right here. There's one right there. Yep. So, everybody who's filling in, come in on this side cuz we'll put Miss Hendricks right there. So, there's a space. Y'all just fill in. Yes. Come on in. Y'all ready to see family? Come on.
You grandchildren. Yes. I need y'all to step back. Step back. Uhhuh. [clears throat] I'm sorry. All right. You're welcome. Yeah, I know. Oh, Mr. We must have
messed your left over cuz I wanted to designate the four adults. Yeah, right. Oh here. Best plan. Best laid plans
to props and recreation production. I appreciate everybody's accommodation. Just a celebration. I so appreciate it. Just a little wet at the bottom. All right. All right, girl. Navas look fabulous.
Now, this is his story. Power to the people. All the elected officials, everybody's visible. Earl, we need to stand on the chair. [laughter] We have it. We got the shot. [applause] [applause]
I appreciate everyone's patience. Family members, thank you for indulging me and thank you all so much for coming out. We just don't know. I've worked on this for a couple of years. I'm just so Thank you. Mr. Mayor, as always, thank you for all my little projects. Thank you so much.
Here we go. We're going to take a twominut recess just to allow our dignitaries to decide if they want to stay for the proceedings this evening. Okay, we will Oh, just in time.
All right, we will uh move to discussion items. Do we have someone that's going to speak on best practices? for inventory or do we? Yes. Okay, go right ahead. Floor is yours. [snorts]
Best practices is really a survey that's completed by the municipalities on what practices they've implemented and the score achieved is um determines [clears throat] whether aid would be given or withheld. The state looks for a
score of 32 and above to give 100% of aid and the city's score this year was 41. So the city would not be losing any aid or no aid would be withheld from the city.
Good. [applause] Okay. Thank you for that. Uh we have ordinances MC 202539 through MC 202545 which are scheduled for the public hearing and final passage for the regular meeting as advertised. We now
move on to resolutions. Uh legislative body items 39025 to 3925. Do you have a consensus to add these to the voting meeting? So move. Second. All those in favor say I. I. Any [clears throat] opposition or
abstensions? Those shall be added to the voting meeting. Uh next, the business administrator items. Would you The floor is yours. Thank you, Council President. We have three items for your consideration this evening. The first is a resolution
recognizing tomorrow as Veterans Day. And I encourage everybody to come out to our program at the high school at 9:30 where we're going to be hanging our hometown heroes banners. Um the second resolution we have is a shared service agreement between the city and the
county of union for EMS services. They have been serving as one of our EMS providers for about 2 years now. And um in 2025 alone, just the first 10 months of 2025, they responded to 2447
calls with an average response time of 6 minutes and 50 seconds. Um, so this is a resolution seeking to enter into this agreement. And the third one is a resolution authorizing the acceptance of a DCA grant for our operating budget.
This is $956,000 that was left over from a previous grant that we received and the mayor um went down to the state to advocate for this to be allowed to be put into our operating budget to offset any tax increase and to
lessen the burden for residents. And so um they they granted that request and this is that resolution. Okay. Okay. Any questions from council members regarding these BA items? I have a question. Go right ahead. Councilman Cherry
for resolution um R394-25. So for 250,000, do we have full access to their unit, the Union County unit? Is that like how many staff members do we have access to? They're they have their truck. They have their truck here.
Okay. So, it's it's not like um you know, we we've always had mutual aid from them, but this is separate and apart. They're stationed at the fire department and they have their rig is actually situated in Planefield. How many rigs is only one or they have one rig here because we also
have JFK. And how many personnel? I believe they have four people, but they rotate obviously. So, is it four? It's two per rig. per shift.
per shift. Yes. But they do have people here who are on site um to do like data and sit in the fire department and you know um help with dispatch. And you said the response time is 6 minutes. 6 minutes and 56 seconds is the average
response time of the 2500 or so calls. And were there any any other options that the administration looked into? We did do a um a bid for these services about two years ago when that came out and the county and JFK are the only well
actually JFK was the only one who bid on us. The county we went into a shared service via a DCA grant with and they were just generous enough to grant us their services for this amount of time. Thank you. Ba.
Any other questions from council members? Madame VA, you mentioned that the response time is 6 minutes and 50 seconds. What's the national average? How does that compare? Well, our contract holds them to a 10-minute um a 10-minute standard. So, they have to make they have to meet 10
minutes um in order to fulfill their contract with us. Other questions? Okay. Okay. Do we have consensus to add this to the voting meeting? Yes. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposition or abstensions?
Okay. Those shall be added. Uh let's next move to uh corporation council. Thank you, council president. Uh I have three items for consideration by the governing body this evening. Um they are all for additional appropriations to law firms uh currently uh providing services
to the city. Uh first is to the firm of Renown Coughlin Manello to provide litigation services. It's an additional appropriation of $25,000. Uh the second is to the Ser Law Group uh for an additional $25,000. And the third is to the McManaman
Scotland uh Bowman Law Firm for an additional $15,000. Um and the Solder Law Group and McManaman Scotland are both providing redevelopment council services. So it's litigation and redevelopment. Um, as council knows, it's always a bit of a a guessing game as to what our needs are
going to be based on whether the projects or how fast the projects move and how litigation progresses. So, uh, it's customary that we come back incrementally to council for these appropriations. Um, these numbers are all within the budget that was approved
by the governing body. U, this is not an addition to any money that's that's been previously budgeted. Thank you. Any I'm happy to answer any questions you have. Okay, questions from council members. I have just one good for Ser. Are they working on the um the Joanne Hollis and the the redevelopment
for um Richmond Towers? I'll pass that one to economic development director. Okay. Did you should I repeat what I said? Are they are they specifically working on that project? No. Currently working on the Joan
Hollis. We have Wins. They're not working on that one. Thank you. Any other questions? Okay. Do we have consensus to add these items to the voting meeting? Yes. Yes. Okay. All those in favor say I. I.
Any opposition or abstensions? Okay. Those shall be added. Thank you, Counc. You're welcome. Uh the finance director, uh you're next. Please present your items. Good evening, council members. I have seven resolutions for your approval.
First is resolution 399, resolution authorizing the adjustment in the public bid threshold from 44,000 to 53,000. This is for goods and services. You may have seen one of these come before you earlier this year in July. That was for contracts.
Um resolution 400-25 resolution authorizing the transfers between current year 2025 appropriations of the general fund and parking utility of the city of Planefield totaling 346,200.
Um usually in the November and December, municipalities make transfers in to cover um accounts that might be running a little bit low. And that's what this one is for in November and you might see one in December. Also, resolution 401-25.
Um this is a resolution authorizing the tax refunds on properties per the tax schedule and this is mainly for a duplicate payment and an overp payment. Resolution 42-25 resolution authorizing
the approval to cancel taxes totaling $26,39768 on block 248 lot 4. This is a five-year phase in agreement, but the tax assessor was not made aware until May. So, this property was overbuild on the
improvement value. So, we have to refund this resolution number 403-25 resolution authorizing approval to cancel taxes in the amount of $852.71 due to 100% disabled veteran exemption.
So this is 100% disabled veterans, but this is a two family house and he this person occupies half of the house. So the 50% gets refunded. And then resolution 404-25 resolution authorizing the approval to cancel 2025
and 2026 taxes totaling 14,7056. And this is because this is the parking lot of the church. And finally, resolution 405, resolution authorizing an extended grace period of fourth quarter property tax payments for
eligible federal employees who are residents of Planefield of the city of Planefield affected by the federal government shutdown on October 1st, 2021. So this grace period would extend to February 1st, 2026. And anyone
seeking to utilize this grace period would have to provide proof of a qualification. There are certain things that they would have to that make them qualify for this. Any questions? Any questions from council members? Council President, I have a question
regarding uh R400-25 on the transfer of funds. If I'm reading this correctly, um it was Are we saying that 40,000 was under spent in summer employment and what is that?
That is true because we hire the summer youth employment program and a lot of them don't do the whole summer and so we budget for the whole summer but if they leave after a week or after two weeks then we have that left over. Thank you. And um community development 21,000.
Well, we are saying that there is additional we budgeted for the whole year, but community development might be running a little bit high. So, we are moving some funds from community development to another area that might be a little bit lower. Not necessarily from community
development to community development, but to another area. So we're saying that this 21,200 when we project to the end of the year this might be a little bit question followup counc
yes go right ahead council yes how are we getting the word out to those who are impacted uh who are federal employees about this extension Um I'm not sure if it's posted on the website. I can check with
but this is one meeting everyone about it. Um you can see if it but thank you. [snorts] Other questions? Okay. Do we have consensus to add these
items to the voting meeting? Yes. Yes. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposition or abstensions? Okay. They shall be added. All right. Uh the police department. Good evening, council president.
Council members, I have one item for your consideration. Resolution 40625. It's for the police department to enter into an agreement to purchase three new Chevy Tahoe vehicles from Neielson Chevrolet. Uh, one will be a replacement vehicle and two will be for new
purposes. I have vehicles that are that have high mileage and I'm just transferring and aging some of them out. Questions from council members? All right. Do we have consensus to add this question? Oh, question. Go ahead.
um the transfer out the vehicles. Um who are the new police tiles for? Who they for? Just someone that's already driving them or for staff who they It depends. Um usually we move vehicles throughout the city. I have I have several vehicles
that I have in the police department. I have several vehicles that are on loan to the mayor's office. I have vehicles in DPW. The police department has vehicles all over the city of Planefield. Okay. Um generally what we do is depending on the vehicle and if it's meeting its need whatever that need is
we'll either transfer vehicle down in service because once a vehicle become comes to the police department it usually we usually are very very hard on vehicles. They get in car accidents. They run all day. There's types there's all types of situations that appear with
either patrol vehicles or other vehicles that we have for service vehicles. So, you'll see cases where vehicles may come from other parts of the city, then they're transferred in back into my department, and then from that they go down into other services, or like I said, they may go to DPW, to the parking
authority. They could wind up all over the place. Okay. If that makes sense. Okay. And will these vehicles have a light package on them? Some of them will. Yes. Okay. Actually, no. All of them will. I'm sorry. Okay. Yeah.
Any other questions? That's it. Thank you. Okay. Other questions? Okay. Do we have consensus? Yes. Yes. All those in favor? I I Any opposition or abstensions? Okay. Shall be added to the voting meeting. Uh next, the Department of Public Works.
Okay. Director Dabney is not able to attend. So, I will speak on the items for public works. The first resolution is a resolution authorizing the award of a professional service contract to Remington [clears throat] and Vernick. This is for the field grading at Mil
Campbell, which is a project that has needed to be done for some time. And this is $59,375 of capital funds. The next one is another award of a professional service contract also to Remington and Verden. And this is for
the third place roadway improvements for 62,500. This is going to be for third place from Crescent A to Carnegie A. and it's being paid for with CDBG grant with the CDBG grant. The third one um was just approved in
capital last well the second ordinance reading was last month. Um you may have noticed in front of Black Lives Matter Plaza there is a kind of a hole in the sidewalk there in front of city hall and this is uh an award to a contractor for
49,950 to fix that. It is a safety hazard as it stands. The fourth one is a contra awarding a contract to Shore Top Construction and this is for the Sidlerfield basketball court improvement project. This was also a capital
expense. Um on the next page you have a resolution authorizing the approval of a another award to a contractor for $400,000 for various properties damaged by the July 14th storm. So when we
bonded for that 5 million that was this this 400,000 will be coming out of that 5 million and next month we'll put forward a cancellation of what we didn't spend of the 5 million. But there were about 23 properties that were torn up or impacted by city trees that were
uprooted on those properties. And so um this money is to fix that fix those properties. And then finally, you may recall that we got a $5 million grant from DOT um a year and change ago.
[snorts] And this is an contract to the builder who came in at the lowest bid for the Route 28 um Route 28 project. And there's multiple locations. I could read them if you want, but there's multiple locations of Route 28 that are
going to be paved and just made a lot better with this money. Happy to answer any questions. Questions from council members. Uh, yes, council president. Um, madame
BA4125. Um, can that listing of the 23 locations be posted somewhere? Yes. I I mean, I do believe the 23 people who the 23 homeowners are obviously aware because they've been going out to the sites and um you know,
surveying them, assessing the damage, which is how we got this $400,000 quote um bid. But yes, we'll be happy to publicize what those 23 locations are. Okay. And then um 408-25, the third place roadway improvement,
which I'm I'm happy about because I get a lot of concerns from Third Place. But Third Place and West 9th, that intersection, would that include also the painting of crosswalks because the residents are saying there's a concern about there being a lack of crosswalks
and no yield to pedestrian signs? It wouldn't include the signs, but it would include the painting. Okay. So the signs is is a separate if if it's a new sign that's a separate um discussion but it does include the painting.
So on the at the intersection of third place and west will be a part of it. Yes. Great. Thank you. Other questions from council members? Council president. Right. Councilwoman Cherry. For resolution um R412-25.
What's the timeline from start to completion for Route 28? Uh, for Route 28, this is going to well, they're going to start in the spring and we're going to work with PSEG and American Water to make sure that all of their work gets done before this this
starts. So, this might not start until summer/fall depending on meetings with PSEG and American Water because we first want to be absolutely certain that they aren't coming to service any of those locations before we spend this kind of money repaving them.
And I'm I'm going to assume that the residents will be notified via Yes. Yes, of course. Okay. Thank you. What's the completion? You said summer, fall. Summer, fall. and you uh should be done that season when it's started. It will
be done that season. Okay, good. Thank you. Further questions? No. Thank you, Mr. President. Resolution 410-25 uh the Sidfield basketball court improvement project. Do we have an estimated time where that would be completed as well?
Well, it's so it's going the award is going to be granted now, but they probably won't start the work until the spring now that the weather has suddenly today gotten freezing. So, I believe that it will be done in the spring and it will be ready for like end of school. End of school.
Thank you. Any other questions? Okay. Do we have consensus to add these items to the voting meeting? Yes. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposition or abstensions? Okay. Thou shall add. Uh the Department
of Economic Development, please present your items. Good evening, council. I have resolutions 413 to 4:30 tonight. The first resolution is pertaining to free parking during the holiday season. So,
it would commence on Thanksgiving Day and would end on January 3rd. This is free parking for on street parking. The next five resolutions are related to programs for their urban enterprise
zone. The first resolution is related to the community shuttle. This would be a citywide community shuttle that would have a a service that would operate for about 12 hours a day each day.
The next resolution is related to a program for our small business engagement and this is to do outreach as well as marketing and offer technical support to our small businesses.
The next resolution which is 416. This is the administrative budget for the UEA urban enterprise zone. This is related to percents of staffing salary
as well as our office operations and some of our professional development related to the uee. 417 is related to our communications, marketing and special events. These are
to host special events throughout the city, perform marketing, also do some of our our social media events as well. These events are such as our Queen City Street Fair, marketing throughout with
our business, looking at the Hispanic Heritage Month, um Junth, as well as ongoing outreach throughout the city. on looking at resolution 419.
This is related to authorizing a lease agreement between one of the subcontractors for American Water. They are still replacing some of our lead pipes. What this would be is a state to lease out a staging area for the Montana
construction. Resolution 420 is related to an easement for the city village property that's over on Third Street. This would be an easement to preserve open space. This would only be for landscaping and making
sure that we meet our open space requirements for a neighboring property. The next easement is also related to that same project which is a city village property. This is a easement just during construction. This is during
construction pertains to the storm drainage. Resolution 422 is I'm going to look at resolutions 422, 423, 424, and 425 together. These are
all pertaining to the Planefield Housing Authority effort. One is related to Richmond Towers. Another is related Richmond Towers is 225 units. Another is related to Joanne Hollis Gardens which
is uh 128 units. These are combined looking at a community benefit agreement combined their community benefit agreement will be 700,000.
This will serve as our community shuttle funding. It will serve the senior areas as well as our playingfield housing areas. Making sure that we have stops that frequent area the area throughout
for the community benefit as council will allow comments. We do have present when during the comment period as a part of the requirement for the Aspire funding. We have our developer present as well as the council for the developer
to answer questions during that comment period. [snorts] We also are presenting as a part of this our pilot agreement. The pilot agreement would be for a 30-year pilot. This 30-year pilot would apply to both
properties. It will be 6% for the first 15 years. Then for years 16 to 30 it will be 8%. Right now we are not really collecting any tax revenue because this falls under
Planefield Housing Authority as this is going to be developed. We are expecting to see for Richmond Towers over the 30 years 13 million for for the Joan Hollis Gardens about 11
million. Looking at resolution 426. 426 as well as 427 is related to 115 to 157 East 82nd Street. This is a
resolution of need. Initially this was going to be a 90% market rate 10% affordable. the developer is choosing to go 100% affordable and looking for support for both Aspire program as well
as HMFA resolution 428. This is related to 611 West Front Street. [snorts] This property is presented where we presented it to support part of the community benefit for the health center. This is
to extend that memorandum of understanding while we are refining the redevelopment agreement as well as the financial agreement to be proposed as a later date. Connected with that looking
at resolution 429-25 there is a request to pull until the agreement is refined. And the last resolution is resolution 430-25. This is related to the designation of
Queen City Academy Charter School [gasps] located at 817th Street. This is to do an expansion of the building. It will go from a 24 classroom
to a 61 classroom building with a gymnasium laboratories as well as a high school courtyard and playground. It will also ensure that there is
parking for their expanded staff where you have to have one parking space per staff and that will be 72 parking spaces available. Any questions? When is the comment period for the developer of the uh housing authority?
Is that now? Yes, they can take comments. Okay. Um [clears throat] I had a question about that. Um, so you know, one thing that I think is is is notable that, you know, with the housing authority, we aren't collecting taxes
from that, but now we're entering a pilot, which certainly is a a benefit to the tax roles. So just curious in terms of uh how that works out for any prospective developer to pay taxes on
something that formerly the housing authority wasn't paying taxes as well as you know providing that benefit to the city improving the uh the the premises the housing for those res residents. it there seems to be only pluses, but I'm
just wondering how it makes sense financially for private developers to get in those types of agreements. Can you speak on that? Sure. We have wind development here as well as their council KL Gates, but I'll start in looking at what's provided in
their financial analysis or looking at their performer with their construction. there are going to benefit with the revenue for the construction and it gives the city an opportunity where a pilot is payment in lie of taxes to get
a percentage of that revenue. Okay. Thank you. Yes. Good evening. Uh my name is Keith Canard. I'm a senior vice president for wind development and uh yeah, if there's ways that we could benefit, additional ways, we'd be happy to uh figure that out. But no, we are we're definitely
going to benefit. We're in this business uh when to improve the environment of affordable housing living for everybody that we impact, everyone that we touch. So, we're really happy both Richmond Towers and Joanne Hollis Gardens to be
able to do comprehensive redevelopment for both of those properties and hopefully uh extend the life of those properties and improve the quality of life of all the residents that are there. uh in terms of how the developer actually financially benefits, it's
primarily a a percentage a capped percentage fee, a developer fee for every project that we do that's built into the tax credit system in the state. Um so developers primarily make their money through uh that developer fee. um
sometimes will make it through uh in addition to uh construction percentage, but primarily it's uh developer fee. So, a 30-year pilot is paid over that period of time. Um who who pays the
taxes there? Is it the housing authority or is it the developer? Uh it's paid from the cash flow, from the revenue stream from the property. So, the developer is actually the one that will cash the uh will cut the check. Uh but it it deres from the uh
cash flow from the property. Okay. Any other questions of these individuals from council before they sit down? Uh council president, a quick question. Do you see um your development creating employment opportunities for our
residents? Certainly. uh we actually when we were selected and in our bid we uh put in the package that there will be economic benefit jobs for residents. There is a requirement for both section 3 and MWBE
uh contracting and employment opportunities. Uh we actually have an outside consultant that that this is all that they do for every project that we work on. they come in, they'll set up job fairs, they'll communicate through websites, they'll communicate through
mail. Uh so that whatever contractors we bring in, both general and sub ultimately look to hire. And what we also encourage is that if in fact the the jobs can be transferred elsewhere. So it's not just the two years or three
years of construction in playing field. There are a number of people that carry on with the contractors for other construction sites that win has uh throughout the state and sometimes in in in other states. Thank you for that. And as uh a member
of city council, I would be interested in making sure that we receive that information about the job fairs so that we can also be a part of getting the word out to the residents about this opportunity. So thank you. Thank you
to the chair. Uh yes. So I have a question. So one, what is the estimated time for completion for this project? Uh while the renovations are taking place, where where will the current residents be housed? And when it is completed, will those residents that are there now
be able to return back to uh these two areas? Yes. Uh very good question. So time frame for the project uh pretty much most of next year will be spent in terms of finalizing the financing, completing due diligence, and preparing for the for
the actual construction. Construction will start the latter part of 2026, so probably around this time. Uh in terms of relocation, most of this because this is acquisition rehab, uh most of this
work will be done while people are in place. So uh there will be apartments that will be vacated and ultimately set up as suites to occupy for the residents during the day. Uh while most activity is going on, folks will be able to return in the evening to their
apartment. when it starts to get into the heavy stuff in their apartment, they may be out for a week or or or two. Some folks will be relocated to hotels, uh if there's significant work such as 504 handicap disability work. Uh but uh for
the most part, that's it. I'm sorry, the third question. Uh uh yes. So will any of the residents be displaced? Uh so no one will be permanently displaced. It's uh under under law, everybody has the right to return and no one will be permanently displaced.
Okay. Thank you, sir. Any other questions? Okay. We appreciate your your presence and uh your questions and uh your responses. Thank you. All right. Uh we still have the remainder of the economic development
agenda. Uh if there are any questions regarding that, go right ahead. Council members, for resolution 414-25, the shuttle, um what does that 12 hours look like? Is it like a 7 to 7, a 6 to 6, or will it be split
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.? Okay, that was my only question. Any others? Yes. Um R430-25. Uh this is the expansion of the school. Uh did we send out I know we had to send
out a variance uh 200 foot list. Did any of the neighbors contact uh the city regarding a traffic study and the flow of traffic? Because I know I get complaints now about the traffic in that area now. Sure. So this is the designation. So the
200 foot list is always sent out. It's sent out by the city when we began the study. is sent out when we do the redevelopment plan. It will also be sent out when they present to the planning board where they have to present their
traffic analysis and circulation plan. Thank you, Council President. Uh 41425, you mentioned 12-hour days. Is that um 7 days a week? Yes, it is. the $750,000 that will support one year, two years,
three years. So this initial program is for a year. We are compiling additional funding such as what was presented for the community benefit for the pub the Planefield housing authority support that additional years. Right now we are
planning to make sure that we're able to sustain service for six years. So the estimate is 750 per year to operate. Yes. For Yes. Three shuttles. Thank you for that. Uh 418 the purchasing of bulletproof vest for our
officers. Um if I read this correctly, this is the auxiliary officers. Um it's 100k. How many vest will that purchase? And why is the purchase over five years? Wouldn't they need those vests now? Yes.
This is we're allowed to apply 10% of our funding with the UEE for public safety. So it's anticipated that this would be for every year five five vests. So annually it's about 20,000. So then
this covers five years of the vest. So annually it's 20k. Um and how much are the vest each? 4,000. It generally be it generally varies. I'm actually getting new vests for the auxiliaries I have. I have about 10. So
I have to buy all of those. They're about $1,500 a piece because we want to buy the best ones that we can. These are volunteers. So they come out to about $1,500 a piece. So, you know, [snorts] um 10 a year, I guess. $15,000 somewhere
along that lines with prices going up. It'll be a little bit less than $100,000, but we wanted to do more just to make sure we had the had the funds if we needed it. Absolutely. We want them to be safe. And then my last question is, uh, 42725. You mentioned 100% affordable. Could you
paint a picture for what that looks like in terms of the types of residents that will be available and the particular cost for rent? Sure. [snorts] It will range anywhere from 30% uh to 100% AMI. Right now, the
median area income for a plane fill is a little under under 82,000. So, what that means at 30% it'll be a little about 26,000 is your income that you have, meaning that your apartment is roughly going to
cost about 600. Once you're at 100% AMI, you can pay for a threebedroom apartment, which because this is affordable, will now go up to threebedroom. It's roughly going to be about 2200.
And how long would it take for um a development like this to go up? Because and I'll tell you what my concern is. Would we begin to start the process for people getting on a waiting list so that by the time it's actually built, there wouldn't be new residents who are now in
the city who can kind of overplace those who have already been here looking to move into those places. Okay. So, for construction, the schedule typically comes out to 24 to 30 months. Um, in
terms of developing waiting list, we are looking for a lottery system, but we haven't started a waiting list yet. Thank you. Any other questions? Council President, for fourth um
resolution um 430-25, the area is currently congested and they're adding 72. Is there room for more more parking in that area? The all of the 72 spaces are off
streetet parking. So they're creating a parking lot for those 72 spaces. So in that parking spot, is there room to create more parking? It would have to be because that's 72 employees, 72 parking spots. And if there's a visitor or if
there's a student that wants to drive to school back to school night, what happens then? because the area is already congested. So, [laughter] hold on. As of now, they're only No, they're only accounted
for the um staff parking that's there right now. And in terms of looking at where we're doing for additional parking, that would have to be a request made by planning board. Thank you,
Council President. Go right ahead. on 43025 right now as was just mentioned is very congested and one of the issues is the drop off and pick up. They have not addressed that in
the number of years they've been there. How do we plan to address that with increasing the number of students? So with the increase of the number of students, the charter school would be responsible for addressing that during
planning board. What's being presented right now is the designation. Any other questions? Yes. Go right ahead. Um R 412-25. Um could you revisit that again about
the shuttle buses? Um hopefully when when this plan is put in place that we'll do this on a trial basis um you know do a a short run so that way we can make sure that this works. Um my concern
also is you have on these shuttle buses you have people that live on constituents that live on both ends of town. the far the far end of West End and the far end of the East End. And so my concern is single parents,
the working community and and uh and doing this this particular project on a trial basis for the shuttle run. The shuttle run I have a very good concern about and I know um I've seen the back of it, but can you just explain that a little bit? Expound
a little more. Sure. So this wouldn't be just one vehicle. This accounts for the operation of three vehicles that would go concurrently. So we're looking at a frequency of each stop. It would be a designated route that each stop would
have about a 15 to 20 minute frequency. That's why we would have three vehicles. Okay. And I'm I'm sure um there will be some information to go out where they're going to meet up um because that that PRNR is going to be very important that
it's in English and in Spanish so that the residents will know where they need to be in what time. Sure. So the entire route as well as the stop and the frequency will be publicized. And I think I I believe that using the
marquee in front of the police department might be a place also you might want to advertise it as well. Just a suggestion. Yep. Okay. Any other questions? Okay. Uh, do we have consensus to add these to the voting? I request that 4:30-25
be removed from the consent agenda. Okay. Any others? Okay. Just for please remove 430-25 from the consent agenda. Do we have consensus for all others to be added to the voting meeting?
Yes. Yes. Okay. Okay. All those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposition or abstensions? Okay. Thou shall be added. Uh just a quick note. If Mr. Thomas is in the gallery, uh his vehicles parked on the police
line. Um please uh [clears throat] move it so that no traffic infractions are assessed. You're welcome. All right. Okay. Will the business administrator
please move to ordinances on first reading? Yes. Thank you, council president. Before I do, um, the administration has a request to take R 399-25 off the agenda. It's already state law that because we have a QPA uh we could
it's at our threshold is at 53,000 so it's repetitive so we're requesting to remove it. Okay. Okay. Okay. Moving on to ordinances. The first ordinance that we have this
evening is an ordinance to amend the salary for the position of mayor. This is an ordinance. This is a change that we can make only every four years. Um, and we are looking to align the pay with the responsibilities of the position. As
you know, the mayor serves as the CEO of the city. It is a 247 [clears throat] 365 uh exceeds full-time position. and that position is not eligible for many of the benefits that employees enjoy such as
enrollment in the PRS system, paid time off, holidays, etc. Um, and so we are looking to uh change that compensation. The second ordinance is a request to change the salary of the council
members. This is another um another uh salary change and at the request of the council president and the council this number has been changed from 50,000 to 40,000. So I want to make sure everybody is aware of that. A new agenda was sent out earlier today.
The third ordinance that we have is an ordinance amending amending our code so that the role the bureau of vital statistics will fall under the clerk's office rather than the
division of health. Many places have it this way and it just becomes much more efficient for us to have these documents u at the clerk's office. The next ordinance that we have is uh a police department response to a quality
of life issue that's been coming up and this is for passenger vehicles that do not have commercial plates but are big trucks with construction debris and we're getting a lot of complaints about people not being able to see past them, etc. And so this would limit the use of
parking those vehicles on streets. The next ordinance that we have speaks to what we were just talking about with the um issue at the 700 block of Grant A and the traffic congestion there. This is an ordinance to have no parking
during certain hours. Those hours align with drop off and pickup um so that we can help traffic maintain traffic control in that area. Uh the next one is an ordinance for adopting the amended home ownership small lot redevelopment plan. We spoke
about this last month and there was a resolution voted on to include this lot and so now we need to amend the redevelopment plan for that. Uh the next one is an ordinance amending the scattered city-owned parking lots and adjacent lots redevelopment plan.
And this one is um we have to add three bedroomedroom apartments into this because in order to be 100% affordable the building has to have three bedrooms. So we're looking to add that.
Um, the next one, 2025-53, if you lost your place like me, um, is a amendment to the JFK Muenberg Hospital redevelopment plan and they're look we're looking to add allow for commercial storage in that in that
redevelopment plan. The next one is um adopting the redevelopment plan dated October 16th for block 146, lot 7. And this is to include uh educational uses and child
care uses into that. And finally, we have an ordinance for the transfer station. The [clears throat] rates for our disposal sites have gone up about 9 to 9 12%. This is a ordinance to change the rates
at the gate. This does not impact curbside collection whatsoever. It does not impact bulk pickup whatsoever. It's just at the transfer station. Um, and those are all of the ordinances on for this evening.
Questions from council members? Yes. Um, Councilman Grant, with regard to MC 2025-50, um, the parking situation for Grant, when I look at all the other educational
facilities, the facility on South A and Leland, uh, they have a very similar, uh, issue that community members complain about. Hubard, same sort of chaotic situation.
When schools let out, parents have to be parents. They have to pick up their children. I don't want us to I don't I don't want it to look like we're picking on just this one school when most of our schools have the same exact issue. Um
but with regard to this, I'd like to know, will there be enforcement if this um ordinance is passed? And a short answer, yes. Um we have this same issue at numerous schools throughout the city, right?
Uh working along with the uh parking bureau, we have written quite a few tickets in most of these no parking zones. And what happens is people begin to comply. if we write enough tickets or give enough warnings, people begin to comply. So, we've we've had to do that
on um we've had to do that at Leland in 7th uh with that school. They they've the parents have kind of gotten a message. I I guess the school has some kind of agreement with uh Burger King. A lot of them park in the Burger King lot to go pick up their kids because they cannot park on the streets of playing field and
tie up emergency vehicles and not allow them to respond to calls if somebody has an emergency in their home or their home is on fire or there's some issues such as that. So, we're taking these steps and we're doing it every we're doing one school at a time. We're doing an evaluation. We're seeing what the
problems are there. We're looking at what we have on the books. If what we have on the books works, we're going to enforce it. If what we have on the books doesn't work, which is the case with with the school at the corner of Grant and 7th, right, we are changing the ordinances so that we can then enforce those rules to make sure the parents
will comply because we really want the children to get into the school safely, but unfortunately we have a situation where in some cases parents just want to drop their kids off right at the front door of the school. They'll stop their car in the middle of the street. We can't have that. So, what we're doing is
we're doing each school at a time, but yes, there will be enforcement and bringing it back to Hubard. Hubard doesn't have a no parking ordinance on that street. You can park on either side um with Hubard and and what's so I guess
special about Grant is isn't it just as wide as other streets or is it, you know, narrow where this does create a burden for our emergency vehicles? Grant Avenue, especially the 700 block. Well, most of Grant Avenue, uh, between 4th and 8th Street is is a now roadway.
We have parking on both sides of the street. The biggest issue is with 7th Street being right there at 7th and Grant, we have parents who will literally park their car right on the corner. Okay? They do not they will not comply. So, what we are doing is we're changing the ordinance because if you don't park on
that one side of the street, we'll be able to get emergency vehicles through and we'll be able to address the no parking concerns there without tying parents up as unfortunately we may have to write tickets. So, that's the thing. A street is a wider street than Grand Avenue at that point. So long as there's enforcement, um yeah,
this this can be successful. I just, you know, didn't want it to want to feel like we were picking on this particular school when all of our schools have the similar issues, but and so long as we get enforcement, um our kids will be safer and we have better traffic.
Yeah, we're we're looking at um we're looking at Rockin Front soon. Uh Clinton School really is not problematic. We've gone through quite a few of our schools, but there's there are several schools that we have to address and Hubard, uh, Emerson, Evergreen, [clears throat]
we're we're looking at all of them. Stillman, we just want to make sure that the parents are safe and their children are safe and they're complying with the law. Thank you, director. Thank you, sir. Other questions?
Yes. um MC 2025-49. Um I know you were talking about the vehicles, but one of the concerns is the and I know they're going to certain vehicles are not going to be allowed in certain places, but the concern is the
distance from people's driveways is a problem. I mean, they even do it by my driveway. Um it is definitely a problem and that really really needs to be addressed. Um sometimes I come out in the morning and there's a big truck
there and I can't see and I'm a short person anyway but um I just have a concern of coming out but you know and many residents have called me and asked me they said okay we're doing what we're supposed to do um alternate street parking when you're not supposed to park on one side. They said, "But what are we
supposed to do when people are practically um parking in your driveway and they're extremely extremely close?" So, this is definitely a hazard and um creating these blind spots is a problem. I agree with you, Councilwoman. Uh this is one
of the reasons why we put this ordinance into effect. It'll remove those uh for lack of a better word, I call them Sanford and Sun vehicles. They have a lot of debris hanging out of the back of a raggedy pickup truck that they have parked on the street. It doesn't have commercial plates on it, but it's being used for commercial use. We're going to
get those off the street. We're going to get those those box vans off the street because what you see is a lot of these individuals park these vehicles on the street for convenience. They'll have a driveway. It won't be a car in the driveway. So, the goal is compliance, not necessarily enforcement. We get
these vehicles off the street. frees up the vehicles for us to have regular parking on the street because we're going to start with those. We're going to the uh construction vans. After that, we're going to these um these 18 passenger vans that are on the streets of Planefield all the time that are
picking up children from school. They're next. These vehicles are being used for commercial use. They will not be on the streets of Planefield. So, we're changing ordinances as we go to address the needs of our citizens. Okay. All right. Good. Yes ma'am. Thank you. You're welcome.
Council President 20 25 uh48. Um just questioning whether or not do we need additional staff in the clerk's office with them now taking on these new duties or are we prepared as currently staffed?
So the staff members that are currently Can you hear me? the staff members that are currently working in the vital bureau are going to come over and then um in the clerk's office they they do have their certification for that as well. So they'll be able to have oversight
and what's going into the place of the vital statistics for the for the people that's going to come over? What's going to go in that place? What do you mean? Like physically? Yeah. Because so when they come over, so they might actually stay in that physical spot. It doesn't mean that
we're going to physically move them. Okay. Um we don't we don't really know yet where you know where there would be space in the clerk's office. Obviously kind of small office, but so they might physically stay where they are, but it's just under our charter and our code where they will
report to. Okay. Gotcha. Further questions? Yeah. Um, uh, MC 2025-49. Um, police director, I just want to say thank you for this ordinance. How are we going to because this is probably one of the biggest I I get calls about this
weekly about vehicles being on the street. You know, how do we plan on really really ensuring that? I mean, I know that your police officers are really busy, right? Yes, we we are limited but um
generally these problems occur during the evening. Most most of the complaints we get about this are evening and early morning. So what we plan on doing is I mean uh [clears throat] there's certain times of the evening where our calls for service die down and that's when we'll tend to hit these we'll tend to address
these things. We also been working with the parking authority. We've been working handinhand with them. They come on they come in at night sometimes and they help us with what we're doing and trying to address parking throughout the city because these are city ordinances so the parking authority can write them as well. So it's like we have a
two-pronged effort going. Yeah. Is there any way that your department can get the word about how like parking on the street because a lot of our residents don't know that after 3 days if you you know your car is deemed abandoned um if there you know if your
car is on the street like how do you get that word out? What do you wish your plan? There's a couple of things we can do. We can obviously use message boards. We can use social media, but we we've started a program where we've actually done some videos where the department has done videos. We've done videos regarding four-way stop signs so people understand
what to do with four-way stop signs. We've done videos with jaywalking. We can do those as well. We'll work with the uh we'll work with uh uh uh communications and address those issues and try to get the word out as much as we can because that's the easiest way to do it. Yeah. I think now is the time,
especially now because winter's coming, need to get these vehicles off the street. Yes ma'am. Thank you. You're welcome. Further questions? Okay. Uh, do we have con? Well, I I would like to we're going to ask for
consensus to add these to the voting meeting, but MC 2025-54 I would ask to be separated as I am going to abstain. [clears throat] Council President, they all have to be voted on individually. Sure.
All right. So, do we have consensus to add these items to the voting meeting? Yes. All right. All those in favor say I. I. I. Any oppositions or abstensions? Okay. That shall be added. All right. We're going to have a fivem minute
recess and come right back and get to our voting meeting. Thank you. We now move to ordinances on second reading and final passage. Madame deputy, please read MC 202539 by title and certify its legal
compliance. MC 202539 is an ordinance amending chapter 6 section two of the municipal code property maintenance code approving the adoption of a revised property maintenance code. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this
ordinance was published in the courier news on October 15, 2025. Door is now open to any member of the public who would like to speak regarding this ordinance specifically. Hearing and seeing none. No one online. May I have a motion to close this
hearing? So vote. Second. All vote. Okay. Now, may I have a motion to adopt this ordinance on second final passage? Second. Clerk, may we have a roll call? Roll call. MC 202539. Council members Briggs Jones. Yes. Cherry,
yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessum, yes. Council President Hakaday, yes. That's unanimous. This ordinance has been adopted on second reading and final passage. Okay. Madam Deputy, please read MC read MC 2025-40
by title certifies compliance. MC 202540 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield and the county of Union adopting regulations governing short-term rentals by the addition of article 9 to chapter 17 land use ordinance to be codified as section
179-49E through 179-49E.8. [clears throat] It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on October 15 2025. Okay. The floor is now open to any
member of the public who would like to speak regarding this ordinance specifically. Anyone online with their hand raised? Hello. And this is my first time here. I don't know what the protocol is. Your name?
My name is Pamela Thomas and I live at 1325 Wong Avenue. Okay. And you're speaking regarding MC 2025. I am a short-term rental. I'd like to hear your comments.
Okay. My I've read the ordinance and it seems rather punitive. rather than um uh assisting us short-term rental hosts as we call ourselves to continue to to
do the business we do now. For me, that is my sole um source of income. I am retired and that's how I earn a living to pay for the home that I live in and
etc etc. I I feel that um the ordinance states that you can only rent for a minimum of 14 days. I I find that that is uh not feasible because most of the
um renters that we get or guests, they come in for graduations for their children. They come in for funerals. They come in for uh hospital visits. Two 14 days is not a
realistic time for them. They come for 4 days, 3 days at the minimum. most of them and so that and is just not a workable solution. The other thing is that the ordinance says that you cannot
rent for more than uh 90 days which is only 3 months out of the year. That again is not feasible because it is a business. No one runs a business for three uh months out of the year and shut it for the other nine. So those things
and I find that I get a lot of visitors from abroad and they walk around the neighborhood and they come back with, you know, glowing reviews of how beautiful Planefield is. I think that we
provide this kind of exposure that would otherwise not be there. We also bring in income because Planefield does not have any hospitality. We don't have a hotel system. We don't have a guest house of
any kind. So people who are coming for say an example is a graduation at Rutkers. They would have to go say in South Planefield or Edison or Westfield or somewhere North Planefield that has a a
a hotel. Whereas in Planefield, the only alternative is a uh an Airbnb, a short-term rental. E in the same breath, we have people that come for holidays. They visit their families for Thanksgiving, Christmas, there's a
spillover. Are we saying that we don't want that income and that we would rather those people go and stay in one of our neighboring towns because that's they're not going to stop coming to visit their families? Yes. Thank you. So those are just a few of the things that I
the time is elapsed but you can come back during uh general comment and if you want to have more comments you we'll have another opportunity. All righty then. Thank you. Thank you. [snorts] Hi my name is Rich Sudol 313 Franklin
Place speaking about MC 2025-40. Um I've done Airbnb before. I don't currently have a property um as a short-term rental, but in 2010, I invested in my town and I bought another three family house. Um it had a stack of
violations from inspections, yay thick. And as I went through being a firsttime landlord, a three family apartment, it was a nightmare. Um bad tenants, lots of repairs, I didn't make any money. I just paid my mortgage and my utilities. It wasn't until I switched over and I
started to do Airbnb that I was actually starting to make money on the house and I was able to invest that money in the house. And the property I did is a Queen and Victorian 215 East 9th Street. Converted it back to a single family house, sold it. Um, and now it's it's a
corner property. It's a shining example in the Crescent Historic District. But through my experience with Airbnb to this this ordinance is very limiting. Um, when I had the property, I had residents come in from everywhere. Um, we have a plethora of large historic
homes, uh, seven bedrooms. A lot of these houses have a lot of bedrooms. Um, and people come in for the historic charm of these houses. They're here, they stay, they love the neighborhood, and they eat downtown. There's lots of restaurants. They love the diversity of the the restaurants that we have downtown. So, there's a lot of benefits
for these short-term stays. We get people coming in for family reunions, for holidays, visiting guests. We don't have any hotels in in Planefield. Um we don't have like a big uh attraction. We're not Hoboken. We're not Jersey City. We're not New Brunswick. We're um
it's it's very densely populated. You have hotels. You have Airbnbs. And you have some of these issues that you see with short-term rentals. We're not like the Jersey Shore where there's different attractions. There's no real attractions in Planefield. These people are coming in to stay in because they're visiting people. They're traveling through. They
prefer to stay somewhere that's not a hotel, get a different experience. experience our architecture, our diversity of our downtown. So, there's a lot of benefits that come into the city. Um, and as a homeowner, it allowed me to restore this house and, you know, u make
my neighborhood a better place. So, I think the ordinance is very limiting and the fact that it was brought to a planning board and um it went to the planning board without even being on the agenda. It was just presented. There was no public notice that this was on the planning board agenda. So, none of these
residents had a chance to give any input. Um, if, you know, I think there's some good aspects of having some laws on short-term rentals, but there needs to be a communication with the, you know, the community and the people that do have, um, run it. And, you know, there's
benefits for both ways. There's benefits for the city, but there's also benefits for the residents. Um, you know, some people that, you know, are using it as extra income, but then there's others that were investing in their neighborhood and using it as a way to fix up their houses. Um, so I just think that, you know, there needs to be more
um insight into this and more communication because there are benefits that the short-term rental uh community is bringing to Planefield. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, thank you. I'm Laura Kaiser, 1116 Lorraine. I'm also going to talk about
that ordinance. Um, as an Airbnb host, I feel this will hamstring my ability to continue and I'm also a single inome homeowner. It's a modest home, but um, without this income, I will not be able to keep up um, good repair of the home
and I probably will be forced out of playing field altogether. Um, so it's it would be devastating actually for me. But aside from the personal stuff, I think that it's already been discussed that the the community benefits. I get a
lot of people who come in um visiting family. We talked about that. Sometimes it's family who is in an assisted living or a nursing home and there's nowhere for them to stay there. So, they have to stay in somewhere that's comfortable,
safe, clean, and hopefully affordable. Um, Airbnbs are they tend to be affordable and it makes it so that people can see their families. Also, we're always asked for recommendations, you know, a good restaurant, a good
place to go pick up aspirin, [clears throat] whatever. And we're always going to recommend the places in Planefield. So, it's it benefits Planefield economically. I can also say that a lot of times I get people who are in town because they're scouting out the area to
relocate. Maybe their job has relocated and they're thinking about Scotch Plains, Westfield. They come in to my Airbnb and they look around and they say, "Why am I thinking of that? I can just live in this really cool town." And they want to live in Planefield. So, they start looking for properties in Planefield and they want to come and be
part of our community. And I think that that's a real benefit that the that the town is going to lose. Um, this will hamstring us. It really will. and it will make it so that it's not um practical anymore to keep running these
short-term rentals. So, I would really ask you to just vote no on this. Thanks, S. Corano, 1284 East Front Street. I'm trying to get a handle on what is the purpose? What have you come up with that
you've put this forth? Why? What's the problem with is it a um airbed is that the problem or short-term how did you come up with those numbers? I personally would like an explanation as to understand it. Um, one other thing that
wasn't discussed is I personally know a number of workers that have come here during the builds and they had a three-month contract, but then it was extended another 3 months.
Where do you think they stay? Where do you think they live? If they're working in the area that they're coming here, where where are they going? And the people here that you've heard benefit from
a source of getting people to come stay at their properties. So I I really don't understand the angle. And aside from rubber stamping things, I'd like an explanation. Thank you. I
[laughter] could go there. Evening everybody. My name is Steve Romanowski. Uh also going to talk about the uh short-term rental uh proposed ordinance. I own the Coro Mansion on the corner of Central and Stell. I've owned it for about three years. I've been
involved with it for about six or seven years as an investor in it. We spent literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in renovating the building um with enhancements, new infrastructure on the inside,
electrical, plumbing, um landscaping, you name it, we've done it. We're trying to make a good appearance in the area. Uh we provide a service to the town, uh to the businesses in the town. I don't want to repeat what everybody's already
said, um but that's what we do. Um, a lot of people in town rely on us as a place for their families to come in and visit with them during holidays, events. There's nothing else in town. Everybody who stays there comments on how nice the
place was, how nice the neighborhood is, how nice the downtown is with all the restaurants and shops. They spent a lot of money here which also helps all the businesses pay their bills, pay their taxes and everything moving forward. I think we should reconsider uh some of
the guidelines and the the minimums or maximums with the number of days or the number of rentals. Um, I encourage short-term rental properties to be permitted, to be licensed, um, to make sure we're all all in compliance,
have the proper insurance, have safe, uh, modern facilities. Um, I encourage that. I would welcome anybody to come over at any time, uh, to make sure everything that I'm doing there is all 100% and above board.
Thank you for your consideration. [snorts] Good evening, gentlemen and ladies. Um, I also own a Airbnb and um, you know, with the rising cost of taxes, inflation with, you know, with
food and PSENG and all. I mean, this has been an extra income for me because, you know, the workforce, they don't increase your pay just just because we're struggling with all these other bills. So, you
know, it's it's something that that's been helping me with with all the inflation and and you know, taking care of my family, putting food on the table, and also just like everybody said, you know, most of most of my short-term rentals, they come, they visit family,
they want to visit the the town. Um, even even people that just come to see New York City, you know, they they'll they'll stay all the way in Planefield and I have a booklet in in my PL in my house where it recommends a lot of local
restaurants to to go to and, you know, so I I just think it's a benefit for the city and it, you know, it kind of spotlights the city um a little more and more and I hope you guys vote no on this
ordinance and uh thank you for your thank you for hearing me out. Nancy Pear, Myrtle Avenue. Um I want to concur with what Rich said. I was at the planning board meeting and for whatever reason it wasn't on the agenda. It could have just been an oversight. But I did
hear a conversation toward the end and it got confusing to me. I do not own a Airbnb single family home. But there was a conversation at the end that had a little bit of a concern because I wasn't clear if the ordinance also includes family members who rent from other
family members cuz I heard a conversation that family members don't rent from family members and that's not necessarily the case. There are family members that come back and live in their parents' home, their grandparents' home and help them out and it would they have
to also be included in this ordinance or not. Thank you. All right. Anonymous. That's how that works. You don't have to share your information with government. Fourth Amendment right to not show papers, first amendment right to not
allow them to force your speech. So you can uh remain anonymous. I don't know how you guys cannot be moved by what you just heard from all the residents cuz I sure am. And I hope you guys can
be an enhancement of their voice and properly represent them in the same manner because you're talking about their livelihood. You're talking about their pocket. You're talking about their income. While we all have different discussions about what we're doing with income,
what we're doing with salaries, and I don't even know how much time I have left because I don't have a clock. and I'll send all of you the links to a clock on uh Amazon. 10 bucks through the charity, Mr. Mayor. $10
for a clock. Yeah. It just burns me up. You hear these people, all of these good people come up here and tell you how this and hopefully we don't even have to hear an answer as to why because it you should all vote no. then we don't have to worry
about what the reason even was because this really affects people's livelihood. It's really really hurts them hurts them right in the pocket. And the big issue is is like we got to like stop leaving things off agendas.
It's a big problem here in Planefield. You know, it's why I came when I came here on the 29th said on the website, general public comments and then I got this at the door. Focused on the the I'm relating the points about it not
being on the agenda for at the planning board. I'm trying to give you supporting evidence. All right, keep going. As to why it's an issue because it's not being done properly. We're having non-compliance issues, Mr. Council President. And I don't and again I'm going to
repeat it. I don't know how you guys can't be moved by the speakers, but I didn't plan to speak on this. This doesn't affect me, but it affects them. Every everybody who just spo spoke, it affects them. So, I encourage everybody
to vote no because it doesn't even make sense. And if you do vote yeah, you you're going to have to give them an explanation as to why because it makes no sense. every single point that all these residents made, I don't see how
you cannot agree with them. So, I encourage everybody to make the right decision and consider the fact that it wasn't on the agenda for the planning board because we have to be in compliance.
We have to be efficient. Is anyone online? not with their hand raised. Okay. I'll entertain a motion to close public hearing on this ordinance. So move. Okay. All those in favor say I. I. Council President,
can Director Fields respond? To what? To those questions. Okay. Sure. Okay. So, just the overview of the purpose of the ordinance. The purpose of the ordinance is that we weren't
regulating short-terms rentals. So, this was to provide structure for the short-term rentals. It was also to look at a permit process, look at an inspection process for the short-term
rental. I want to clarify there is no minimum in terms of the rentals. I think there was a misunderstanding where it says a limit of 15 separate rentals per year or 90 day 90 nights per year. So
anyone can rent for one night at a time and it could be 15 se separate rentals or they can rent for multiple nights at a time two or three and they add up to 90 days. I also want to add that bed and
breakfastes are excluded from this ordinance. So if you're looking to operate a bed and breakfast and go through the proper process of the zoning board and if you are in a historic district of the historic preservation
committee, it could be uh allowed because it is not included in this ordinance. This ordinance also does not include long-term rentals. So, if we're talking about long-term rentals where you have a family member that may be
renting long terms, this does not pertain to them. Um, council, any other specific questions that we need to answer. Are you able to speak to the process question that was raised?
The process for going to the planning board. Correct. So the process for the planning board at for the administration any ordinance that we put in it was actually noted within the ordinance that we have to when we're presenting it at the
planning board. So that was actually a part of the resolution. So it was presented to the planning board. Yes, it was presented to the planning board and it identified at the date that we were going to present it.
When was it presented? Present. Oh, sorry. Presented at the planning board October 16th. I just have a clarifying question. It was presented at the planning board, meaning that the discussion about it took place, but was it properly noticed?
It had to be noticed in both the planning board as well as noticed in council. So when this ordinance was noticed, it was noticed. Follow-up question. Um, is there any carve out in the ordinance? And I
apologize I don't remember it verbatim um as I you know would not but is there any carve out around the owners and operators or host new word I learned tonight the host if the host is also a
resident of Planefield and has their primary residence here in Planefield. So, in terms of definitions, and I'm actually going to go up to the definitions, we have a definition for a
principal resident, and I believe that's what you're you're speaking to, whether they're it's owner occupied, and also if it's a part of their principal residence. So, there's a difference in the portion of the house that's occupied
as the principal residence. Am I answering that somewhat? And and I'll tell you why I'm asking this question. Because some of the some of the feedback that I receive from residents who are anti-airbn,
they're concern or was that um because the owner is not local. There's all this traffic in and out the house. People aren't taking care of the property. Um they're concerned
about the neighborhood. So, um I just was wondering if there was a carveout in there because when you if your primary residence is local, you also have the ability to see what's going on in your rental property because you're right here in town. So, that's the only reason
why I asked the question. Thank go right ahead. Mayor. Um, I believe that all of our all of the speakers had some good points to make this evening. I also know that our
director of economic development has provided factual information as it relates to the intent of the ordinance. I personally and my administration as
well, we support Airbnbs. We think it's an opportunity for property owners to take advantage of an
opportunity that exists when it comes to people needing a place to stay as they come to visit friends and family. or to partake in one of the many festivals that we have from time to
time. But when it came to our attention that there was no regulation in the city as it pertains to Airbnb, we felt it was absolutely necessary to create
legislation around Airbnbs. It does not mean for one second that this administration is opposed in any form or fashion to Airbnb. We support the industry. We just know that there's a need for regulation
and I believe that the director of economic development has provided an explanation in terms of some of the concerns that the speakers had. And when and if this
ordinance passes, the residents will continue to have their properties used as air B&Bs with regulations. And I would just say one comment to Mr.
Romanowski. I recommend that you speak to our director of economic development. Your issue is totally different from anything we're talking about here this evening. And so please speak to the director of economic development and let it be known that my administration
supports Airbnb and we believe that this ordinance is very timely. Thank you. Any other questions or uh not from the council president? But I want to make a
motion to table this table MC 2025-40. Is Is there a second? Second. Okay. Uh can we have a roll call on tableabling this? Uh roll call, please. Council [clears throat] President, before you take before the official roll
call is taken, I I just want to be clear as to why I No, the table is not debatable. No, I'm not debating it. It's You have to vote up or down. I plan on I plan on I plan on advice. Well, it's fine. If the motion is not
appropriate, it's fine. But she has a question. She doesn't ask question. Yeah. The the the the reason for tableabling is my concern is that it I support what the city is trying to do, but I think it needs amendments after
what we heard tonight. And I don't think there's anything wrong with going back and taking another crack at it. That doesn't mean we're anti- not supporting the ordinance. What we're trying to say is let's get it right the first time. That's all.
[applause] I believe what you should do is um probably just change the language um because that's important as as far as the Airbnb concerned because those who do have those Airbnb y'all hold on to them cuz that fight for
soccer club thing is coming and that's some money. Hold on to them. Council President, just for for procedural purposes, uh we got a little off track. Um when a motion to table is made, that is a non-debatable motion. So once the second is made, it goes to a roll call
vote. Um prior to that, there can be discussion, but that motion takes precedence and needs to be voted on directly. Thank you. We have a motion and a second on on on the table as far as tableabling the motion. Um before we take the roll call, are you saying that regardless of the
outcome of that is it uh an improper procedure that we the proper procedure but there's no debate on it. So basically the once that once the second comes it is it is not you're no longer debating the ordinance anymore. You're merely going the the proper move is to go straight to a vote.
Understood. Understood. So that's that's where we are. Roll call, please. Roll call at table MC 202540. Council members Briggs Jones. Are we tableling it or are we not? It's motion to table. Motion to table. Okay. Yes. To table it.
Cherry. Yes. Graham. Yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Hakaday, yes. MC 202040 has been tabled.
Okay. We are now at at Madame Clerk, please read MC 2025-41 by title. Council President, quick question. Um, just a point of clarification while we was on that topic. A few meetings ago, I had questions regarding um an ordinance that was for second reading and final
passage and was told that I couldn't ask questions and were shut down. So, was this the proper way to do it? We are allowed to ask questions and go back and forth because that was a few meetings ago and you told me no. I'll try I'll do my best. Um when the when a ordinance is properly motioned
and seconded, then the council president will generally ask for any comments or questions. That's that's the perfect opportunity. Only when a motion to table is made, that is a non-debatable motion and then you go straight to the vote. No, no, I understand that. But I was saying a few meetings ago, I had a question. It was a second reading and I
was told I was not allowed to ask questions. I had to do that the first time and couldn't do it the second time. It was shut down. Well, I the only thing I can I can say I believe in that instance you were asking for recognition by the chair and you were not given recognition by the chair. I believe that's what took place. At any time every speaker has to request uh an
opportunity to be heard by the chair, the chair has the right to either move to the vote or to not recognize any speaker. Okay, Madame Deputy, proceed. MC 202541 is an ordinance of the city of
Planefield County of Union, New Jersey, adopting the 437-457 West Front Street redevelopment plan dated October 2nd, 2025. is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published
in the Courier News on October 15, 2025. Okay. The floor is now open to any member of the public who'd like to speak on this ordinance specifically. Hearing and seeing none, I'll entertain a motion to close public hearing on this ordinance. So move. Second.
Okay. May I have a motion to adopt this ordinance on second reading and final passage? So move. Second. Roll call, please. Roll call MC 202541. Council members Bricks Jones, yes. Cherry, yes.
Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, no. Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Hawiday, yes. Five in favor, I'm sorry, six in favor, one opposed. Ordinance pass. Madam, second reading, final passage. Please read MC 2025-42 and certify its
compliance. MC 202542 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield, County of Union, New Jersey, granting a tax exemption with respect to certain property identified as block 606, lot 3, 314-322
East Street, and authorizing the execution of a financial agreement with 314 East Street Development Urban Renewal LLC in connection therewith. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on October
15 2025. Okay. The floor is now open to any member of the public who'd like to speak regarding this ordinance. Someone online? Yes. Okay. Whoever is online, uh, your name and
city for the record. And are you speaking regarding ordinance 2025-42? Yes, indeed I am. And my name is Laura Miranda Brown. Um, I just wanted to highlight to everyone that this lot was
discussed in April of 2023 at the zoning board hearing. And it was originally proposed as a three-story building with 26 apartments. The ground floor would have had approximately 1,700 ft of retail and another 2300 square ft of lobby amenities. There were only 34
parking spots and the board's professional planner questioned the logic of such a mixeduse structure within the neighborhood given the surrounding area's architecture and residential nature. Uh it was also noted that the building would dwarf the building the the home directly beside
it. Um and other concerns were were raised. The project before you today is no longer three stories tall. It's now six stories tall with 68 total units up from 26. and now it has a ground floor retail space of only 750 ft. The grant
application appears to only have 49 on-site parking spots with 20 off-site spots. My question to council is why this property needed to be deemed an area in need of redevelopment when the city was presented with a smaller project that was apparently equally financable and which and and why this
much larger project therefore needs a pilot agreement with the city when again an earlier version complete with architectural renderings. um visual aids, storm water management per and and and all sorts of other things um were
presented and even that smaller building with a smaller number of um parking spaces did not appear to need similar financing. Um, if the city's own planners were concerned with the scale and use of the of the structure as
presented when it when originally shown, why are we not similarly concerned with this much larger structure? I really would ask um the city to reconsider their position on allowing this pilot to go forward without really looking back at the history of the lot and why that
smaller, more reasonable building, which was already deemed too large for the spot, uh, shouldn't be considered. Thank you. Anyone else online? Okay. Like to close public hearing on this on this ordinance?
Okay. Uh madam, uh would you like to address uh any of the points that were raised uh particularly the difference between the earlier project that was mentioned and what's uh being proposed now? Um yeah, I'm not able to um verify
the facts of what she said, but to the extent that you know um and can shed some light on what was raised. Sure. Just just want to clarify there's a total of 72 spaces and there's 50
spaces on site and this was the one where we made sure that we included the 20 spaces that were going to be located on the municipal lot number five. In terms of the other project, it's not
option anymore because they're a new property owner. what's being presented to you is what the current property owner deems as a fi a financially feasible. So that other project was not able to be built.
Any follow-up questions from anyone? Okay. All right. May I have a motion to adopt this ordinance on second read and final passage? So move second. Roll call, please. Roll call MC 202542. Council members Briggs Jones,
yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, no. Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Hawiday, yes. Six in favor, one opposed. Ordinance has been adopted on second reading and final passage.
Okay. Madame Deputy, please read MC 2025-43 by title and certify its legal legal compliance. MC 202543 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield County of Union, New Jersey, authorizing a first amendment to the financial agreement
with North A Warehouse OZ Urban Renewal LLC with respect to certain property identified as block 341, lot 2, 336-346 Johnston Avenue and block 344, lot 3, 768-900
North Avenue. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on October 15, 2025. Okay. The floor is now open to any member of the public who'd like to speak regarding this ordinance specifically.
Is there anyone online? Entertain a motion and a second to close public hearing. So second. Okay. Now I entertain a motion and a second to adopt this on second reading and final passage. Second. Roll call, please. Roll call. LMC 202543. Council members
Briggs Jones, yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Hagadash, yes. That is unanimous. This ordinance has been adopted on second reading and final passage. Madam Deputy, please read MC 2025-44 by
title and certify its legal compliance. MC 202544 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield County of Union, New Jersey, authorizing a first amendment to the financial agreement with SRV Planefield 3 urban renewal LLC with respect to
certain property identified as block 307 lots 20.01, 29.01 31.01 35, and 36. and designated in the city's tax records as 412-16 East 2nd Street, 218-26
Richmond Street, 347-423 East 3rd Street, 343-45 East 3rd Street, and 339-41 East 3rd Street. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier
News on October 15, 2025. Floor is now open to any member of the public who'd like to speak regarding this ordinance. Anyone online? Entertain a motion and a second to close public hearing. So move second. I entertain a motion and a second to
adopt this on second reading and final passage. So move. Second. Roll call, please. Roll call. MC 202544. Council members Briggs Jones. Yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt,
yes. Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Hakad, yes. That's unanimous. This ordinance has been adopted on second reading of final passage. Madame clerk, please read the uh MC 2025-45 by title and certify as compliance.
MC 202545 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield, County of Union, New Jersey, adopting the Myrtle Avenue redevelopment plan amendment dated October 14th, 2025. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on October
15 2025. Okay. Floor is now open to any member of the public who'd like to speak regarding this ordinance specifically. Name and city. Floor is yours. Yeah. Uh Nancy Pvar uh Playfield. I'm
not necessarily against this redevelopment plan, but I just for clarification and for transparency and maybe I didn't read the redevelopment plan correctly. Um I I do believe that the intent is maybe to assist the health
center with a piece of property down there. However, um in doing a little research, um um there there might be an impact that the city may not be aware of that the federal government has a continuing interest in that property
since the health center did apply for um for funding from the federal government and there is a deed restriction on a portion of of what's in this redevelopment plan and and I did not see that in the redevelopment plan and whether or not that deed restriction is
going have an impact on trying to redevelop that property. And um as Miss Brown said in the other conversation about the other, you also have to look at the history of that property. Um I'm very much aware that used to be where
the poor poor farm was located near there. There was a sewer pit and I didn't see any environmental there. But my concern is it will the federal deed restriction and them looking at that is that going to cause more problems for the city and I just want the city to be
aware of that and to do their due diligence. And if anybody needs to have a copy I'd be happy to give it to uh economic development. So or the city clerk. Thank you. You're welcome. I'll entertain a motion and a second to
close public hearing. So move second. Okay. I'll entertain a motion and a second to accept this to accept this on uh second reading and final of passage. Second. Clerk, roll call, please. Roll call. MC 202545. Council members
Briggs Jones. Yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Heday, yes. That is unanimous. This ordinance has been adopted on second reading and final passage. Okay. Thanks. We now move on to public
comments limited to resolutions and motions being considered this evening. Total of 30 minutes has been allocated for the same. Each speaker will be given three minutes. Name and city affiliation. The floor is now open.
Kindly uh also mention the resolution uh or motion that you're speaking about. Yep. Uh Rich Sudall 313 Franklin Place uh speaking about resolution R408-25. [clears throat] Just wanted to find out more about um
the workings of the contract for the paving on third place. Um I know this summer they did first place and second place in the Crescent Historic District. I met with director Dabney um and one of the engineers um in regarding to that because there
was a lot of um residents who were upset that blue stone was being removed on the sidewalks and concrete was being put in. Uh I met Director Dabney on site. We had some discussions. He was supposed to, you know, the agreement was that he was going to save the blue stone because residents in the neighborhood wanted to
replace their broken blue stones. Um, at the end of the thing, we emailed back and forth, arrangements were made to have the the blue stone sidewalks dropped off at the neighbors houses. Um, and then they just disappeared and we were told they were tossed away. Um, and
I know a lot of the neighbors on third place, which is mostly single family um, homes and residents that live there, uh, want to keep their blue stones uh, for the sidewalk. So, I just wanted to make sure that when this goes through in the spring, there's communication with the
neighbors on third place that, you know, we're salvaging the blue stones in the historic neighborhood and that, you know, if anything's going to be replaced, we're not getting concrete like they did on the other ones. Um, so that was my comment. Thank you.
Thank you. Name, city, and resolution you're speaking regarding. Oh, no. I said already 1284 East Front Street, South Corano, 422
uh uh and I believe 423. I don't know these gentlemen, so I don't want them to think I'm picking on them, but I just have a very straight question. If any of these residents were paying $800 a month
currently, then they're displaced may not be the correct word, but they're uprooted a little bit for a couple of weeks or moved around. When it's redeveloped,
what will their rent be? Will it still be 800? I don't like double talk. It's a very straight question. Thank you. Good evening, Quane Chamblas, resident. Um, I want to look at MC
I don't have my glasses on on 202547 and MC 202548. They're both about increasing um salaries of the mayor and um our council. And let me say I don't have a
problem with people making their money. I don't run anybody's pockets. That's not what I do. But I do think in this economy with what's going on with our residents, not only here in Planefield, but other places, you need to give a
good justification for not only a 50, I think it's down to 40% now. 40% increase um based on the amount of time um that I see doing actual work that an
elected official should do. We have a whole health and human services department that does the charity thing. We have a whole department of public works that does the call PACG and fix the light bulb thing.
But how many of you are actually sitting down? And by the way, you did great tonight. You did absolutely great tonight. I was shocked. Even Mr. Charles said something. You guys did great. But how much time do you actually spend
trying to write an ordinance, trying to reach out to your constituations, constituents who an ordinance might affect directly and say, "Hey, this is on the table. Hey, this is how it would affect you, and I want to
hear from you directly." How often does that happen? I do remember there was a young lady named Ashley who was on this board and after every meeting she would call a meeting with her constituents which I think was great. This is what
happened. This is how it affect you to break it down for them for things that don't know you guys don't do that. Um I have never been invited to a what am I in the first w I've never been invited to a first w meeting to discuss anything. Nothing. And I just don't
understand why that happens. And I'm glad that you tabled that ordinance cuz it would look real suspicious if you voted tonight to increase your salaries while taking money out of the pockets of these people. I don't own a house. Don't
have anything to do with me. But as the other gentleman said, listening to them give their testimony tonight, it kind of moved me because Mr. Mayor, you always talk about the people who didn't ever want to come to Planefield before you
got here. Now you got people who want to come to Planefield. You got people who want to invest in Planefield. You got people who want to bring other people to Planefield through their business. And now you're creating an issue or a challenge for them. That doesn't make
sense. Thank you so much. Which one? Appreciate your comments. Uh Nancy Pvar, uh Planefield. First of all, I'd like to thank the administration for uh resolution 405-25.
Um I was a former quasi federal worker and um I'm sure that any federal workers in this town appreciates the concern. It's just too bad people didn't hope about it before today. Um, I know that the shutdown did have an impact on me even though I was a quasi federal worker
as a retiree. Uh, it's been difficult to um tap into our um our retirement funds to move them around and I had to spend an extra $250 just to pay my city taxes this month. And so I do appreciate you
doing what you did and and helping out the people. Um, my other question is on 394-25, the EMS issue. I just need some clarification. Um, so the Union County uh EMS is going
to re be replacing the JFK Hackinac EMS because they received a $750,000 uh grant through the through from the city through the Muleberg Foundation back in 2003. So, what exactly is um JFK
and Hackin Sack Weridian providing the uh residents? Are they just out of the picture now or are we going to have two squads or we just going to have one squad? Um and the city residents do pay county taxes. So, we being taxed twice
now for the same service and if so, does that mean that we're not going to get charged if we have to go to the hospital? Thank you. So, I wanted to quickly go back to MC Pamela Thomas, sorry, [clears throat] to
MC 202540, the short-term rental issue. I I'm very pleased that you guys have decided to table the the issue and I'm I'm figuring that you're going to go back and look at the ordinance as it is written and I'm one I'm sorry no more.
Well, you can bring this up in general, but right now this is for resolutions and motions. Oh, and that and that's an ordinance. I know it's technical. It is. It's my first time. Forgive me. I do want to hear what you have to say. So, so during general public comment, please come up. Come back. I thought
that's where we were. No, no. We're we're on resolutions and motions. I know. I know. But there's multiple options, multiple times where residents can come up and we separated, but we will I I encourage you to come back.
Okay. All right. Thank you. Sorry about that. [clears throat] Um resolution you're speaking regarding, please. It's going to be the one with the salary increases um as well. Um I
mean what I said about the clock before we consider a salary in increase. We just need to get a clock. It's very difficult for me to make my comments without seeing how much time the speaker is out of order. He can run the meeting through the chair today. This is not your time to speak. I'm speaking for 4 seconds and I'm
trying to apply my thoughts to the resolution and I got you interrupting me. This is not going to happen every time I come here. And I want to say thank you council president for running the mission the meeting efficiently. That is one thing I've seen here. You run a good meeting and that is disrespectful to do to the council
president who knows how to run a meeting. So back to what I was saying before I was rudely interrupted. Before we consider giving an increase of salary of that kind of money, a lot of things just need to uh be addressed. My statements are related to the salary
increase. I can generally say whatever I want and then say that's why I'm against the salaries. This is very common common basic stuff. I can say whatever I want and then just say that's why I'm against a salary increase.
I don't like the carpet. I'm against salary increase. I mean literally just give the three minutes of public speaking time please. It's an insane amount of money to be making. It really is. Without at least a
proper representation of the work that's being done, it's a lot of money. So, I want to echo what the one speaker said is it would be it would be interesting to vote. I'm glad that ordinance was
tabled. Do the chair. I'm I can't read. Councilwoman uh I have such bad eyes. Uh no. Yes. Um, I appreciate the motion and I appreciate it being second. That was the right
thing to do. And I'll uh I'll wait for general public comments. And uh thank you again, Council President, for running a good meeting. I do give credit where credit is due. Is there anyone online? Okay. Uh, I'm Ray Costello. I live at 215 East
9th Street. And I just wanted to refer to the salary increases. I'm not against salary increases. I think everybody should be paid as much as possible. Uh, they should be paid what they're worth, right? I just want to know what went into deciding the percentages. So, I
know that we had city council going to 100% but we backed that off to 60% increase uh the mayor for 35%. uh if you could just give background on to why those salary increase amounts were
listed and also I'm not clear on whether the jobs are full-time or part-time uh and make that clearer. It sounds like the mayor's job is full-time. Uh but reading the like planefield tap
uh newsletter, it's saying that these jobs are also part-time. So, I think I need more clarification as to what the salary increases are related to and and why they should be in those amounts uh
and further information. Thanks. You're welcome. Okay. Uh we'll close com public comment in person and go to the online uh individuals. Uh, whoever's online name and city and
the resolution or motion you're speaking regarding, please unmute yourself. Floor is now yours. They are unmuted, but I'm not seeing it registering that they're saying anything. Okay. Would you like for me to go to the next person and we'll see if we can get the
first person back? Please. Hello. Good evening, Laura Miranda Brown, Planefield. Thank you very much for answering my question earlier. That now makes sense as to why you're considering a different um application. But I'm I'm rising now to speak on
ordinance MC 20255 regarding the transfer station. understanding that everything costs more. Um, and not begrudging the transfer station needing to increase uh the costs at the gate. Um, but I happen to live on a street
that does get some illegal dumping. Um, especially when it comes to construction debris. A neighbor in fact had to put down wood chips and a lot of other stuff to cover over some wet cement that was poured onto our street because it's just wooded. Um, what is the plan and how do
we what is how do we anticipate managing what will probably be an increase of illegal dumping of debris and construction in our parks and on our less heavily trafficked streets? Um, and have we taken that into consideration as part of this transportation pricing
change? Thank you very much. Thank you. Anyone else online? Um try the first person again. Okay. Caller ending in 149. Can you try to speak?
Hello. Yes. name uh and the motion or resolution you're speaking regarding. Yes, you can hear me. We can hear you. If you're using Say that again.
I'm not sure if you're also watching us on YouTube. If you are, please turn off the YouTube and just speak to us um on the phone. Yes, I did turn it off. Go right ahead, please. You can hear me now.
Okay. Brenda Gilbert, Planefield. I want to speak to the um issue that was put forth about salaries. I have a problem with that because and I
I realize how the process goes, but I feel like when these salary increases are put forth that we as the citizens of the city of Planefield should have an opportunity to vote on such. We just
came out of election and that should have been on the ballot to vote number one for the increase. Number two, there should be an opportunity for us to evaluate the job that you all do. Just as anybody else has to go through a
process before they receive a increase, we should have been allowed that that type of issue as well. So, I just wanted to put that out there. I know it's not going to be followed, but as a citizen, I want to express how I felt about it that there should be an evaluation
process in place to evaluate the job that you do. And because we have elections, there should be ordinances put on the ballot to vote for y'all to get increase. Y'all shouldn't be voting on your own increase. Nobody else in the room can vote for increase on their job
and y'all shouldn't be allowed to do so either because when you vote when you ran for these uh positions, nobody asked you. You ran because you wanted to. So now because you ain't making enough money now you want to increase. Nah.
Nah, not without an evaluation. Thanks for hearing me. Have a good evening. [applause] Anyone else? Okay. Close public comment on motions and resolutions being considered this evening.
Okay. All right. We now move to the consent agenda. Clerk, would you please announce the consent agenda? Certainly. The the consent agenda is identified as resolutions 39025 through
3420 I'm sorry through 428-25. Non-consent is resolution 43025 and withdrawn from the agenda are resolutions 39925 and resolution 42925.
Again, the consent agendas 39025 through 42825. We have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. So move. Second. When we have a roll call, please. So roll call on the consent agenda
items. Council members Briggs Jones. Yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Cessums, yes. Council President Hageday, yes. Unanimous, the consent agenda items have been approved. Okay. Please read the non-consent agenda
items. Resolution 43025. Okay. Motion in a second, please. So move. Second. Roll call. Roll call on resolution 43025. Council members Briggs Jones. Yes. Cherry,
no. Graham, yes. McCrae, no. Wyatt, no. Vice President Cessums, no. Council President Hawiday. Yes. Change my vote to no for Terry Briggs
Jones. 43025. No. Change your vote to no. That's six. I'm sorry. That's one in favor, six opposed. Resolution fails. Next. Two.
Oh, correct. Two in favor. Uh, five opposed. Resolution fails. Next. Ordinance is on. Second. Was that? Okay. MC 202546, an ordinance amending the schedule of
salaries and wages adopted pursuant to article 14, chapter 11 of the municipal code of the city of Planefield, New Jersey, 1971, mayor salary. Uh, can we have a motion to adopt this on first reading?
So move. Second. Okay. Roll call, please. Roll call MC 202546. Council members Briggs Jones. No cherry. Yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, no.
Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Hawk, yes. Five in favor, to oppose. Ordinance has been adopted on first reading. Okay. Please read MC 2025-47. MC 202547 is an ordinance amending the
schedule of salaries and wages adopted pursuant to article 14, chapter 11 of the municipal code of the city of Planefield, New Jersey, 1971, council member salary. Motion in a second, please. Second.
Roll call. Roll call. MC 202547. Council members Briggs Jones. No. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, no. Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Hawkiday,
yes. Five in favor, to oppose. Ordinance has been adopted on first reading. MC 202548 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield amending chapter 2 article 8-2D titled division of health and chapter 2
article 15-1 titled office of city clerk to transfer the role of vital statistics to the office of the city clerk. I'll entertain a motion in a second. So move second. Okay. Clerk, may we have a roll call? Roll call MC 202548.
Council members Briggs Jones, yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Cess, Vice President Cess, yes. Council President Hawk, yes. Unanimous ordinance has been adopted on first reading. MC 2025-49, please.
MC 202549 is an ordinance to amend and supplement chapter 16, vehicles and traffic, article 5, limiting the use of streets to certain class of vehicles. 16 col 5-2 parking forbidden on all streets.
Motion and a second, please. So moved. Second. Roll call. Roll call. MC 202549. Council members Briggs Jones. Yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessums, yes.
Council President Hakaday, yes. This ordinance has been adopted on first reading. MC 202550, an ordinance to amend and supplement chapter 16A, schedule 2, no parking, certain hours. Motion in a second, please.
So move. Second. Roll call. Roll call. MC 202550. Council members Briggs Jones. Yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Hakaday,
yes. MC 202550 has been adopted on first reading. Madam Deputy MC 2022-51 MC 202551 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield County of Union, New Jersey adopting an amended homeownership small lots redevelopment plan dated November
6 2025. I entertain a motion and a second. So moved. Second. Roll call. Roll call on MC 202551. Council members Briggs Jones. Yes. Cherry, yes. Graham yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt. Yes. Vice President Cessums. Yes. Council President Hakaday.
Yes. MC 202551 has been adopted on first reading. 2552 please. MC 202552 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield County of Union, New Jersey, adopting an amended scattered city-owned parking lots and adjacent lots
redevelopment plan dated November 10th, 2025. Motion a second, please. So second. Roll call. Roll call. MC 202552. Council members Briggs Jones, yes. Cherry, yes. Graham yes. McCrae, yes.
Wyatt yes. Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Hakad, yes. MC 20252 has been adopted on first reading. 2553 please. MC 202553 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield and the county of Union
adopting the JFK Muenberg Hospital redevelopment plan amendment dated November 10th, 2025. I'll entertain a motion and a second. Some moved. Second. Roll call, please. Roll call MC 202553. Council members
Bridge, yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessums, no. Council President Hakaday, yes. Six in favor, one opposed. Ordinance been adopted on first reading. 2554, please. MC 202554 is an ordinance
of the city of Planefield and the county of Union adopting the block 146 lot 7 redevelopment plan dated October 16th, 2025. Motion in a second, please. So move. Second. Roll call.
Roll call MC 202554. Council members Briggs Jones. Yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Heday, abstain.
Six in favor, one abstension. Ordinance been adopted on first reading. 2555, please. MC 202555 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield solid waste utility in the county of Union, state of New Jersey,
request the approval of adjustments to the utilities transfer station bulky waste type 13 construction and demolition type 13- C disposal rates for non-residents, commercial business, neighboring outside municipalities.
[clears throat] Motion in a second, please. So move. Second. Roll call, please. Roll call MC 202555. Council members Briggs Jones. Yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessums, yes.
Council President Hockad, yes. MC 20255 has been adopted on first reading. And that concludes ordinances on first reading. Okay. A total of 30 minutes has been allocated for all public comments. Each
speaker will be given three minutes name and city to speak on any topic at all. So I invite all those to come up. Come one come all. None of our questions were answered.
We'll after this we'll answer all the questions. Okay. So I got a couple people I want to address. Dr. Cess, I want to thank you again for um your questions. I thank you for posting that bill track. That's
something that's important that everyone can do. Post the bill track so we know we should be um doing in terms of the state as well. So, thank you for that. And in keeping with that, I wanted to know if the council could draft resolutions
supporting I believe it's Senate Bill 4713 requiring that charter school since you guys know that all of the charter schools are in Planefield, New Jersey.
Nobody else in Union County wants them. For some reason, we think they're the greatest idea since sliced bread. So, since we all have them here, we need to make sure that they are being upfront. Um, we did find out that some of them
were having some legal issues uh before we passed whatever we passed last year, but that and the other one is um S3, Senate Bill S3 915, and that is making sure pilot revenue goes towards our
public schools. Right now, it's not going towards our public schools. I know the mayor says the public school gets whatever they ask for, but that pilot money does not go towards them. So, we need to we need to adopt the resolution as the as playing field to support those
two Senate bills. Um, Zenobia about the the transportation the 8:00 cutoff. Is that the last drop off at 8:00 or the last pickup at 8:00? And have you developed a route
for that yet? Um, we already took care of the clerk and office and salaries. Um, what is commercial storage? What does that look like? Is it anything hazardous? Are you talking about for people who have
commercial business? What exactly is commercial storage at the Muenberg property? And um how close are we on that bus? You guys made some really nice announcements at the senior uh function, but how close are we on getting that bus that is
accessible? people can have their wheelchair ramped, you know, and things like that for health and human services. Um, and I believe that is the last question that I wrote.
Um, oh, director of solid waste. That's what I want to know. I saw some comments on Facebook about the new recycle truck and how the new recycle truck has the arms and makes it. So, how many men worked that truck before the new truck?
How many men are working that truck now? What happens to those men if the number is not the same? I'm always concerned about employment. Thank you. Hello. Hi. Name and city
Laura Planefield. Um, I wanted to talk again real quick about the um, short-term rental. The issue I wanted to say specifically as you go back to look at it is for me the limits to how many days or nights we can rent and also the
fee, the $500. It's quite a lot when you're renting things for very cheap. And um, I understand that inspection and everything else that will cost some money. I wanted to also kind of point out that Airbnb, Verbbo, all of these
are sort of self-regulating systems. They're crowdsourced. So, there's reviews and if you have poor reviews, you'll be kicked out of the out of the platforms or certainly nobody's going to come to your place if you've got poor reviews. And it also goes the other way
that guests who have poor reviews won't be coming to my place. So, um it sort of is self-regulating and it's self inspecting. So, I'm not sure that we need to have that part of the ordinance either, but of course, you know, if it
needs to be licensed, it needs to be regulated somehow. I understand. And of course, that would cost some money, but I just don't think it needs to be inspected to the extent, certainly not yearly. Thank you. So, I too want to speak on the short-term rental and I want to say
thank you first of all for tableabling it, giving us a moment to breathe and to, you know, absorb that there's a big change coming our way. And I want to say we're not averse to regulation. We actually think regulation is a good thing. But I'm wondering if there is any
way that you can have input from us, the people who are actually doing it, so that you can come up with something that not only works for us, but is also going to work for the city because ultimately we all live here. I live in Planefield. I've lived here 30 years. This is my
city and I want it to do well. But I also have to live. So I want us to do it together so that it works for both of us. Thank you. Good evening. Um, Sebastian Torres, Planefield.
Um, I wanted to start off by thanking the mayor and tap into for a great piece of journalism that I got to read over the weekend. Okay. I saw the mayor opened his door to the town. He explained um a lot of things about his life, his upbringing um and his current
um position as mayor. And I thought it was a great story, a story about immigration, a story about um hardship. Uh one that I could relate to a lot. Um my father, for example, was a very promiscuous man as well. Um perhaps not as prolific as yours, but he did not
have access to a boat. Um so most of my siblings were kind of like nearby not in South Africa. [laughter] Um that is all to say that I felt very uh close and near to the mayor through that story that im immigrant story because I myself
I'm an immigrant too. Um but I had to uh take a step back for a second because um just a week and a half ago I learned that uh Carmen Ceda Pile uh was still employed by the city of Planefield. Um, and through just my political education,
I'm very well aware that politicians do tend to use um, identity politics to pull at the heartstrings of the electorate. Okay. So, I did feel near the mayor at that moment and I felt like he was one with me as an immigrant. But
at the same time, I do have to question when people like Carmen Ceda Pile are allowed to um keep working within the city. How um true is the rhetoric about supporting immigrants? Um is it just to pull at the heartstrings of the
electorate, to relate to the electorate, or is it something genuine? Um because if we have people with xenophobic views in town who have positions where they hold some kind of power, that is very problematic. Tonight we had a great um commencement, right? We started off with
this ceremony talking about uh pursuing and continuing the legacy of the Bookers, right? Um and you yourself said we have to continue this fight. Um and but but fights are not just these grandiose like abstract things like fights happen within our own house. And if you're not willing to fight the
racism, the xenophobia in your own backyard, then then what's happening? I don't understand it. You know, all that rhetoric just goes out the window in my opinion, right? Um, so when we look at salary hikes, right, increasing salaries, that would be a reason why I say you shouldn't get one because how are you allowing these people to run
rampant through your halls? It doesn't make sense. Um, people disrespecting the community, people threatening the community. That's completely unacceptable to me. Um, so I I wouldn't recommend a price salary hike in that in that situation. Correct. Um, and I'm
here speaking on behalf of people that can't speak for themselves. Correct. Because a lot of these people fear for for their livelihoods. they don't want to go out. They don't want to go to the supermarket precisely because of people like Carmen Cedile who again is still employed by the city. Um so I just wanted to bring that up tonight because I think it's very problematic. Thank
you. Thank you. [applause] S Corano 1284 East Front Street. Thank you for tableabling that. Um now I have two opinions. As an advocate,
I support Brenda Gilbert's comments, but personally, I support, again, not double talk, but an actual full-time position as mayor. Our charter
doesn't allow that. I would suggest do the work. And I know it's a lot of work to change our our constitution, so to speak, but do it. I believe, and it I'm going to get some heat for it tonight, but I
believe that the positions should be full-time. When you call yourself a city, I believe it should be. Now, this isn't about the person, it's about the position. And however,
the advocate in me says it really stinks voting yourself a race. putting it on the ballot looks a whole lot better. But I do admit as an advocate, you'll never get a raise if that were to happen. I mean, it's sad,
but it's true. Um, thank you very much. That's my real. Good evening to all the dignitaries in the house. My name is Angela King. I am a resident of the fourth ward. Um I've
only recently decided to get myself involved in Planefield politics and um when I bought my house in 1988, I thought I was moving to a residential
area. I moved from New York City. Um the issue of the cannabis factory on uh Front Street has been addressed at uh two of the meetings I believe. Um and even though my friend here doesn't mind
the cannabis factory um he also says he doesn't live in Planefield so he doesn't [laughter] he doesn't have to deal with the um odor from the factory. Um, like I said, when I moved to Planefield, I moved I thought
I moved to a residential area. Now we have the cannabis factory. [music] We have the trucks backing in there. We have the car dealerships, the repair shops, the the Lord knows what. I take the bus. I commute to New York. I take
the bus on Front Street and Rock Avenue. I can't even stand at the bus stop anymore. There's a car dealership there. They they literally park the cars on the sidewalk, the front street. It's it's ridiculous. And and somebody said earlier they feel they're being forced
out of playing field. I think I'm being asked to leave. There is just so much commercial activity. If I decide to drive to Denalan to take the train, it takes me 5 minutes to get out of my block because of all the tractor
trailers and the the cars and the it is just ridiculous. I don't know if any of you guys have the time to come up there. Maybe 8:30 in the morning. 8 8:30 in the morning. It's ridiculous up there now.
Uh-huh. 6:30. That's too early for me. [laughter] But it it is just really it it it has become commercialized. [snorts] The other um issue I've asked about before are all the garbage cans on the
streets in the fourth ward. Now we have um alternate parking. And so um I had a visitor to my home the other day and said, "Why are there so much garbage cans on the street?" I remember back in the day, you used to get a violation.
Your grass isn't cut, you got a violation. Your window isn't scrubbed, you got a violation. Now, I am sure if these people are getting violations and and they're being charged, they would fix it. And also, you have alternate
parking. So, the garbage cans are taking up the parking spaces when you have to park on the other side of the street. It's it's just crazy up there. And I I really hope um you know, some folks can look into that. Thank you so much for your time. You're welcome.
Nancy Pubar Playfield. I want to follow up with what this nice lady said. Um I I drove down drive down Front Street every day and there were a a lot of those projects either went before the board of
adjustment or the planning board. And I recently saw the parking lot on Front Street and I was shocked because it doesn't look like what was presented at the planning board or the board of adjustment. Same like with the two car
dealerships down there. It's not what I remember seeing at the planning board or the board of adjustments when they came before the board. So, it really is an issue of following up. Who needs to follow up? who needs to take the plans that were presented to the board members
that spent all their time away from their families and agreed to something and then we're left with a mess. So, I would ask that you look into those three properties down there. Also, um
us in the West End, we heard on Facebook that people got notices about these new um recycle trucks. So, we didn't have any idea what they were talking about. And people came up here tonight about people parking too close to their driveways. Well, I could put my garbage
can out where I think the city wants it to be, but the garbage truck is never going to be able to pick up my recycle can because the car is parked in front of my house. There just isn't enough space. The other day I came out and somebody moved my can, but
they park right up against your driveway. So, if there's a way the city could tell us how much the space is from our driveway aprons to where cars supposed to park, that would help. And I think it would also help with the garbage pickup. Thank you.
Thank you. Is there anyone online? Okay. Oh, come on. Floor is yours. Pamela Dunn, I'm here about the safety for the schools as you all already know and thank you for looking at that thing with
the Queen City. Do you think you could look at that before they decide to expand it? Because I'm a bus driver. I can't go down that street. It's ridiculous in the morning and ridiculous in the afternoon. If you could get the parents maybe to park across eighth on
the other side and leave some space for you to get through to get to seventh, that would be really really nice. And Abby, I'll talk to you after council meeting because I need to know the progress and the status of what I gave you last month
for the, you know, safety. And please go look at the two on the corner playing field and eighth. You're going to end up at the hospital with one of them. I'm telling you right now because either like I said before, I don't know what
training they had or they didn't have. You got two standing on the corner. One need to be over here. One need to be over here. Both of them don't need to be right here. Meanwhile, while they're right here, you got kids crossing. They're not Come on.
I'm a big advocate for this. I'm telling you now. I'm And the ice cream trucks. Thank God summer's about to be over. Thank God for that. And then parking again. People parking too close to my driveway. I had to have an issue with
the neighbor across the street. The police didn't get involved, but it was close. Consideration for your neighbor. That's what I'm asking. And last but not least, I know this is not a topic, but do you need a permit for chickens?
I had chased chickens out of the front of my yard Friday. Okay. Now, if I wanted to live on a farm, I'd have stayed in South Jersey where my grandfather is. But now I got chickens coming across the street into my yard. Come on.
And I do believe they're coming from Fifth Street. So maybe somebody can go over here and tell them to put them in a cage or something. Thank you. Okay. Um, anonymous. First thing I would like to to do is respond to the the speaker who uh who
was like making I talk a little like this. Call me the cannabis lover. Talk about how I don't live in town. That one um making a distinction about where I live. I don't think that's appropriate because it's like it's well the thing the reason why I'm
doing that is because when we start allowing that then you're open up a can of worms for everybody to start talking about speakers who are in the audience. To make a distinction about where I live or where I don't is exactly what's wrong with this world. We are all the same. We are all neighbors. We are all next to
each other. Nobody is above you. Nobody is beneath you. I do want to say um through the chair to councilwoman Cherry, thank you so much for smiling to me when I was here. You're the only person on the council who smiled at me
and said hello. That's welcoming. That's how you're supposed to welcome people into a city. You don't you don't you don't make a distinction and separate yourself and then say that they are like less than. Their opinion doesn't matter because of
where they resided. That's the point I'm trying to make. And if I have to do it in a performative way for it to make sense, I would rather have you hate me and make a point cuz if I was to do it, I'd be stopped. I'd be stopped right away, right? And that's exactly the response I was
looking for was everybody to do exactly that. How dare him start talking about somebody else and make a distinction. And um I do want to say again, I like you, Mr. Council President. I like you. This is exact. I've been all over the state and I've been to many meetings and
this is the energy that somebody who runs a meeting is supposed to have. Very cool, calm demeanor. It's very appropriate for running a meeting. And you even smile and you're doing it again. I like that. It's good energy. Um I don't know all the players, right? And
I will say do the chair to Councilman Wyatt. I like the way you voted. I like the way you voted. You might be the guy on the council. I might have had you wrong. I think I might have had you wrong. But a big problem is that I don't know how
much time I have left. And we're talking about salary incre increases and it takes $10 on Amazon to get a clock. So I can see the time so I can make my formulate my thoughts and my opinions and respond with my remarks and have an idea. This is transparency.
Transparency starts with the little things right? We're all equal. We all are allowed to come give our remarks, and it doesn't matter who we are, what we look like, what color we are, whether we're a man or a woman, or dressed like one if we're
not. Thank you for welcoming me, Councilwoman Cherry. Thank you. Council President, if I may, our our particularly our rules regarding general public comment states that no speaker shall engage in any personally
offensive, derogatory, abusive remarks. I think mocking somebody's accent falls within that category. And I ask council president in the future that he be admonished to not uh insult someone's accent uh in his comments. Thank you. I agree.
I agree. [clears throat] Let that serve as a warning. Okay. It we have three people with their hand raised. All right. Please uh allow access. Public comment in person is now closed. Caller ending in 942. Can you unmute
yourself? The caller needs to increase his volume. 94. Good evening. My name is Regina Harley. I'm a resident of Planefield, New Jersey.
Um my question is um there are a number of dispensaries in town now. Har. I'm a resident of New Jersey and my question is um we have a number of entries in now.
Caller, are you still on YouTube? If you are, I think we're having feedback from you. Um if you're trying to speak to us, please there. Okay. Can you hear me now? Okay. Perfect. All right. Wonderful. Um, so I have a
question and it's about the number of dispensaries our town is allowed to have. Um, I noticed that there's another one opening up on Park Avenue which is not far from Stillman School. Um, also there. So now we have not just liquor
stores, we have dispensaries, we have um those smoke uh vape uh smoke shops and you know so and dispensary well we have three things now. So, um, there should be a limit on that, you
see because even though you may not hear of tenants that just moved into the new apartments or on South Avenue, people are starting to complain and they're not going to renew their lease. So, at the same time,
um, while you're you're allowing these businesses to come in and and maybe it's for tax reasons and everything, it does have a adverse effect. And in the long run, you're going to see, you know, some things that are I I've seen since I've
started working in Planefield and well, transferred my job into Planefield that um I saw some changes um around the county building as I go for walks downtown at lunchtime. It's
just a lot of things going on. um the consumers of of the products of these dispensaries, the liquor stores, the the smoke shops. You have to think about that and the type of of residents that
you want to keep in Planefield. Um you're going a lot of residents, they're going to want to move out. they're not going to renew their lease if if they come home and they expect a quiet place to live and and a smokefree and then you
know they're walking into their apartments, their brand new apartments and it's just full of smoke and and all you smell is marijuana. Walk up and down the street all you smell people um smoking marijuana. Thank you. Next caller.
Caller ending in 149. Please unmute yourself. Am I unmuted? Yes. You can hear me now? Yes. Okay. Brenda Gilbert, City of Planefield. Okay. I heard a discussion
about the cannabis. Well, the cannabis shops and the uh charter schools, they're going to wind up outnumbering one another. But that's playing field. What can I tell you? The second thing I want to speak to you about is the traffic study in this city. There needs
to be more diligence put into the traffic study of this city because what you see on the street is one thing, but what you're not seeing is what's beginning to go on in the backyards of the different houses when they're resold to other people. I had called the
director to inform him about a situation that is happening because people do not have enough room to park on the street. So, what some people are doing is they're buying these houses and they're taking the backyards and they're digging them up and they're making parking lots in the back of their houses. That part
you can't see. So, you have to listen to the neighbors. And I did call the director to show him an incident that's happening right in my own backyard that I got to fight for my backyard because the people next door who bought the house don't have enough place to park on
the street. So they just dug up the backyard, took down the fence barrier, and we got an issue going on. So I wanted to know how to legally solve it. And the second thing is is that there needs to be an open and honest conversation about EMS and just a separate conversation about that whole
thing. There also needs to be a conversation about an evaluative tool being put in place to evaluate council and mayors before increases are introduced.
Thank you. Have a good evening. Anyone else online? Last caller ending in 744. Please unmute yourself. Good evening, Laura Miranda Brown, Planefield. Um, I wasn't going to make another comment, but I I want to thank
the bus driver for noting how dangerous um some of the driving conditions around the schools are. My children attend cook school and on Halloween just before dismissal there was a a very bad accident right in front of the school. Three cars, one one of the cars was
completely totaled. Um the driver was taken away in an ambulance. Um really very very scary and it was I don't know maybe 10 minutes before the Halloween parade was scheduled to take place. Um, so I really would request that we already have a really lovely crossing
guard and she's out there every morning and every afternoon and she's diligent and careful, but I have seen plenty of drivers, not not necessarily parents, just drivers trying to get to work on time go around the crossing guard while children are in the crosswalk. Um, if we
could please ask for a little bit of police presence over on Leland to sort of stop that. We've got illegal U-turns happening. We've got again people ignoring the crossing guards. A little enforcement might go a long way to preventing a tragedy. Thank you very much.
Okay, that concludes public comment. I'll entertain a motion and second to close public. Second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Okay, public comment is now closed. We now have an opportunity to address uh the various questions that were asked by
residents uh throughout uh so uh whoever wants to go first is fine with me. Council president. Yes. Um I would like to address a few of the questions, but before I do that, the
corporation council will respond to one of the comments. All right. Go right ahead. Yes. Uh thank you, Council President. Thank you, mayor. Um, there's been a statement that's been made over and over and over again that I just have to address. I've seen it in social media. I was said again tonight. It's keeps
referring to the position of mayor as a part-time position. I've even heard it referred to as being in our charter. That is not true. There is nothing in the charter. There is nothing in the code that says the position of mayor is part-time at all. Um, and frankly, the
position of mayor as is of council is not a part-time position. It's not a full-time position. It's a 24/7 position. I can I don't I know I've I've never called the mayor and the mayor said to me, "I'm sorry, it's after hours." I'm sure and I'm sure he's never done that with anyone here or any constituent. And that applies to every
member of this council. I've never once had an interaction with council. And I'm sure you've never had an interaction with any constituent where you said, "I'm sorry. I've I've I've met my 25 hours for the week and I can't talk to you." It's a 247 job. It always has been. And there's nothing in our code,
nothing in our charter that says otherwise. So I just wanted to address that. Thank you. Thank you. And that's absolutely correct. We don't work 9 to5. So there are a number of comments that were made and
anonymous said we are all equal and I hope he believes that. Um, the late Shirley Chisum spoke with her Beijian accent, having been raised in Barbados of
Beijian parents until the age of 11. And if you listen to many of her speeches, you would hear that strong Beijing accent. Marcus Mossiah Garvey, folks from Europe, folks from Boston, New York
City, we all have accents. So to mock another person's accent is racist and it has no place. You sir, you had your time. Now it's
ours. We have law enforcement in the room to control the temperature of the room. And so I wanted to make that point that we are all equal. We're all human
beings, but we all have differences. And so never poke fun at a person's accent. And to Sabowi, it's good to be able to put a face to the name. I've read many of your comments.
I've read many of your comments on Facebook. So, it's good to associate the name with the face. And I'm glad that you could identify with my story as documented in tap into. And I
must say that David Rutherford did an excellent job. But just look out for the book. It's coming. See, and here's where we differ though. You talk quite a bit about
Carmen Cile. So so many people in this community and in communities across this state and nation, they talk about second chance. They talk about programs
for second chance. People who went to jail, went to prison for armed robbery, for rape, in some cases murder, who have committed crimes against society.
And we talk about second chances. and those people come back into our communities and we advocate for second chances for those individuals as we should because they're very deserving
and Carmen Ceda made a stupid comment a couple years ago and is she supposed to be banished to the pits of purgatory for the rest of her life for making a stupid comment.
She, like any other person, deserves a second chance. She, like any other person, deserves a chance. One person is speaking at a time. Excuse me. One person is speaking at a time. I got Excuse me. You had your chance to talk. Thank you, sir.
Okay. No, you had your chance to talk. Next, you're getting escorted out. All right. There will be no more warrant. Thank you. I'm not a politician. Okay. I wish you could. And the next time you played with him and now he threw it back on.
Who are you talking to like that? Listen. Listen. The mayor has the floor. The mayor has the floor. Playing with him. How? He was racist tonight. That's it. When you're right. Excuse me. Ma'am, you don't have the floor. Lady, you're wrong. I don't know. But we
can talk afterwards. WE WILL. WE WILL. I'm giving everybody your badge. Ma'am. Ma'am. Ma'am. Call for me now. Ma'am, no. That's done. Mayor, continue please. So, the next time we talk about second
chances, explain what you mean. Do you mean those individuals are not supposed to be welcomed back into society and be able to make or to be gainfully employed so that they can support their families?
That's what I take second chance to mean. That you welcome them back into the community. You give them opportunities so they can support their families. And those the people who can be described as criminals because
they've committed acts against society. Carmen Ceda did not do that. She made a stupid mistake, a stupid statement. I'll be the first to say that. But that doesn't mean that she should be condemned to purgatory for the rest of her life. So I wanted to make sure that
I addressed that. To Miss King who said she thought she moved to a residential neighborhood, yes, I believe you did move to a residential neighborhood. The fourth ward has beautiful homes, beautiful neighborhoods.
I'm not sure exactly which part of the four ward you live, but I believe you move to a residential neighborhood. There are portions of the second ward, portions of just about every ward in the city that have commercial areas. And in
the fourth ward from Clinton down to Rock in particular, there's a heavy concentration of commercial businesses. But it doesn't mean that your neighborhood is not a beautiful welcoming
residential neighborhood. So I wanted to touch on that for just a quick minute. As to the garbage cans that are on the street, that is something that we have to address and I know that director John Louise is hearing he's registering
everything that is being said and so that will be addressed as well. As far as parking close to driveways, this is an issue that keeps coming up. And so it comes down to enforcement.
And I really want our directors who have the responsibility for enforcement to make sure that we enforce what is already on the books. There's a distance from people's driveways that you're not supposed to
park. there's a distance from a corner that you're not supposed to park whether there's a mark yellow line or not. And so we need to enforce that so that people are not experiencing some of the
complaints that were echoed here tonight. And so I wanted to respond to those concerns that were expressed. And if there are any other questions that came up that either the BA, the
um economic development director or any other member of the administration would like to address, please do so. Okay. Um I just want to make sure that we can address the rent question. So I'll give it to Win, but then I have more responses.
And I'll be very brief with this. [clears throat] The um public housing and section 8 laws require 30% of your income to be rent. Uh the the conversion of any RAD program, any public housing convert
comes from public housing to section 8. So the short answer is the rent does not change for any resident residing whether it's pre or post conversion under federal law 30 30% of your income is
what turns out to be rent. And also in terms of relocation whether someone's relocated for a day or for three or four weeks they all have under federal law all residents have a right to return to the property. Um, so
I hope that addresses those questions. Thank you. Um, moving on to the answer about the shuttle service. The shuttle service right now, we are anticipating it will go from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The 8:00
p.m. will be by the last stop. So, we will post the schedule for the shuttle service. In terms of the commercial storage, right now it is planned to be mostly residential commercial storage.
So things like furniture and so on. This is a question that will be detailed when it's presented to planning board after should we go through second reading and we have the designation of it. Um in terms of our chickens allowed. So
this is the responsibility of our in our division of inspections as well as the division of health. We we all have inspectors that look at this. This is not allowed and you any address can be reported. Um in terms of the
violation in terms of the driveway for the imperous surface cover that is also not allowed. It is a zoning violation. So, if you have backyards that are completely paved over, they can be reported for their address as well. Um,
for the properties that are operating on West Front Street right now that don't currently comply with uh or is are believed to not comply with the board decisions, whether it was planning board
or zoning board. We have certain properties that are at different levels of completion. Whether they are ready to completely occupy where they've got a final certificate of occupancy, that's when they have to have full compliance.
We also do have properties right now that are not operating properly under the zoning permits and we are going through the process of serving violations, summons, and also other fines for them. Um, in terms of the
cannabis, we do have a limitation of our dispensary license as well of any cannabis vendor. I believe I answered all the questions. I'm just asking council, did I miss one? Yeah. Um, one of the neighbors mentioned
something about Bluestone. And I know the director Dabney isn't here that could probably speak on that a little bit more, but uh somebody had mentioned about, you know, just communication with neighbors uh regarding uh that
construction uh and that that paving. Um there was some talk about um operation of the shared services uh agreement. Uh, and then there also was some someone spoke about um an
increase of illegal dumping. Um, I don't I don't know if that's any of that could um before I hand it over to Director Abney, I think he's going to respond, but in terms of illegal dumping or anything in disrepair, overgrown vegetation, again, that can be reported
to the Division of Inspections. We just need the address and we can go out. Right. And with that being said, it can also be reported to the reported app or to Planefield Police at PL at tips at planefield police.com. I wanted to speak about the speeding on Leland Avenue
because caller was 100% right. It was a terrible accident on Leland Avenue where where someone was uh speeding down the street. So, we actually put I actually had my traffic unit respond out there over the last several days. So, I have an email from one of my
sergeants in regards to this. I just wanted to let you know what what we're doing over there. Besides looking at speed humps on Leland and also other traffic calming measures, we went out there and wrote some tickets. So, says, "Sir, hope this email finds you well. Providing enforcement statistics of the traffic unit activity on Leland Avenue
between November 6th and 9th, 2025. During this period, we did radar enforcement for 10 hours resulting in the following. 24 motor vehicle stops, seven warnings issued for speeding, 17 summones issued for speeding. Now, this is the important part. It's important to
note that the majority of drivers stopped were residents of the surrounding area with several living directly on Leland Avenue. One driver even mentioned that she may have been among the residents who initially raised concerns about speeding. Just wanted to highlight this detail so you may share
it with the council people if they ask. Now the reason why I'm saying that is this. It takes a community to solve our problems. Just like when you bring problems here to any of the council or any of the any of my cabinet colleagues,
please work with us. If you're not working with us, it's hard for us to solve problems if we find out that the person who may be, you know, who may be bringing it to our attention is actually part of the issue that they want us to fix. So, please work with us and please
remember that because it happens a lot, especially in terms of traffic enforcement and speeding. Uh the issue of illegal dumping is something that we have been working on throughout the year. We work hand inand with the director of uh sewer and solid waste. I know there was a question
that I'm sure he will address in regards to that, but I don't think the legal dumping will pick up in regards to the increases at the uh transfer station. That generally doesn't happen. Most people who legal dump have no have no uh um they don't plan on paying for any of
those services. They're just throwing stuff out on the on the road. That's all I have. Go right ahead, director. I just wanted to elaborate a little bit about the automated service. The automated service is pick up.
It's a way to work smarter with the workforce that we have. There's other areas of operation that we would like to do a little bit more in like recycling, litter control, things like that where we can hopefully reduce the amount of workers on certain routes because we all
know that playing fields heavily populated and there's areas that we probably won't be able to automate. So, we're looking at areas where we can automate and there other areas we're going to have to continue to do rear load um operations. So, but the big
factor for me is because we talk about employees things. I'm very big on that. It's about employee safety as well. We all know we mentioned here tonight about the traffic in the streets. It's very dangerous place to drive and workers. These automated trucks allow our
operators a safe environment to work in. So, we're looking to increase uh our our operations in other areas and reduce our safety for our um and to increase the safety for our employees, let alone the
insurance benefits because it's a very excuse me, it's a very physical job. So, you know, workman's comp cases and things like that we're looking to reduce with this automated service. So, I want to make sure that it's clear that we it was never our intention to put automated
service into play to reduce the workforce. It's to work smarter um with the uh cans in the street. I know the mayor um mentioned us about that, but I just want to, you know, further elaborate. We try to get out there as early as possible. We start at
4 in the morning because a lot of people leave out 8 8:30 in the morning. So, we're hoping to collect their garbage so they have an opportunity to bring the cans in. So, we are on the look for cans that are out overnight, but there's times when the can stay out during the day for a period of time because people
are working. But if it's there the next morning or if we get a call about someone that's abusing that, we absolutely will look into that. So, I hope that I clarified some of the uh questions about the automated service and and the cans that are located in the
streets. Thank you. So, so I would like to quickly address the senior bus if I may. Yes. Uh we are also excited about the funds that we received or were approved last
month. Um we are going diligently working on finding that bus and we're going to work through purchasing. Unfortunately, the last couple of weeks, our focus has been changed. Uh, and we've been dealing with other issues uh that impact our community, but we are we are going to be 100% on fighting that
bus and making sure it's up and ready. Thank you so much. You're welcome. Anything else? Yeah, I'll speak on EMS. Okay. So, you might recall maybe almost two years ago at this point, we entered into two agreements. one with JFK and one
with Union County to act concurrently. Um we're still in that agreement with JFK and we are continuing the agreement with Union County just with a different funding source. So they will continue to work in tandem together to make sure that we have the coverage that we need.
And then in terms of the county taxes, there are times where there are more than three calls for EMS services in Planefield. And during those times, we rely on mutual aid. Our number one mutual aid provider is Union County. They still serve as a mutual aid
provider. So they are sending more ambulances here when we have more than three calls at once. And so you are still getting that taxpayer benefit of Union County serving as mutual aid as well as as your one of your primary providers.
Okay. All right. No, I I don't want to close the meeting without saying a word about salaries, which is the elephant in the room. Um, so first of all, the you know, it it
everything starts and begins with me as council president because in the role, uh, you know, I have the authority to put uh items on the agenda or not. So even the presence of our salary increase being on there uh is because I gave it
approval. Um so to to be quite forthcoming, I think council people are actually worth more uh than what was put on the agenda. Uh I appreciate the comments that was given by our our council indicating that it's a 247 job
as well as the comments uh by Sal Corano uh indicating that you know if it were up to a body outside us or some other process that probably would never be uh we probably would still be at 10,000 or whatever it was before I I entered the
council. Uh but Planefield is not uh Westfield where we have individuals who serve on the council that may be independently wealthy uh and work for a dollar. Um but when when I started this
council, the the uh when I first joined the council, the vision was to transform the council into something that was more like a professional council where you had individuals who took the job seriously uh or the role seriously, the elected office seriously, conducted
themselves uh with with integrity uh and compassion and listen to neighbors. Uh and I believe that we have a council that does that uh throughout the week. The city has myriads of events. You know, probably five to seven uh events a
week. Uh every council doesn't attend everyone, but most of the ones that I go to, I see a majority of council people there in support. Uh it's not just one meeting a month, although this is the official uh part of what we do. Uh but
it's sitting on committees uh various committees. uh either we chair a committee or we sit on other committees that there's many meetings. All of our emails uh and phone numbers are on the city website. You can text a council
member or email a council member at any time. It really is a 247 job. Um, and let's, you know, not talk about budget season where it gets really intense in terms of the amount of of work that's going in as we collaborate with the
SEBAC and making sure that we deliver uh a budget that's responsible uh and and and that works for the city along with the mayor and the administration. Um, it's an it's an intense job that that we all love. Um,
what I'll also say is so the that the average salary of a council member in New Jersey is about 37,000. You know, uh, I don't consider playing field an average city. Uh, I
think, you know, we are exceptional uh or trending towards ex exceptional. uh and and to have a professional counsel, I believe that the compensation is worth it. Uh however, I understand uh full well the optics of the increase that was
that was suggested. Uh 100% increase and it it looks it it can tend to offend someone. So I we I took that into consideration when uh I I decided that it should not be a full 100% but that
the council still deserves uh additional uh compensation. Um someone also talked about metrics. Um it when you talk when you look around the city and you see the improvements in the city and us working being a responsible council working with
the mayor uh and his administration uh the the the results are are visible. Um the our credit rating is a a credit raising rating because we've worked so good with the mayor and and and been
able to to work collaboratively uh that we've been able to get things done and do things for cheaper, pave more roads for cheaper because of the work that the council uh has put has put in. Um, finally,
you know, I I'll have to say I, you know, there may be those who don't support an increase uh even uh on this body. There there is a precedence for council members deciding that they don't want to take any salary at all. Um it's
h happened just a few years ago where a council member decided he wanted to take a dollar and and that's fine, right? So when we're we're passing a a salary increase, in a sense it's up to, right? Because any council member can say,
"Hey, I think that even the $25,000 that I get a year now is too much. I want to give money back to the city or the residents." And they can sign for, correct me if I'm wrong, you can sign forms and reduce your salary to whatever
number you want, you know. So, I I welcome council members uh who truly uh don't think that the money is is is is meaningful to them or don't want it that they can fill out the appropriate forms.
So, I'll leave it at that. Uh I am in support of it. I'll I'll continue to support of it. Again, I I thought we we could uh justify more, but I will uh you know, be more measured in in in terms of
uh the 100% because I understand everybody wish they can go in their job and say, "Hey, double my salary." And it happens, right? But the position that we're put our that we're put in is the same position that the county commissioners are in that the state
legislators are in. Legislators are the body that decide their role. It's not it's it's unique with legislators. Obviously, people who work uh regular 9 toive jobs don't have that ability. So, I understand when you look at
legislators and them having to do it that it can offend um because it's it may not be like your job, but that's just a position that we're put in and like many other times we are forced to make decisions that are difficult and
you know sometimes you just have to make those difficult decisions. So that's why I'm standing on the decision and you know I voted how I voted and just um you know it is what it is and uh hopefully people still love me. All right so thank
you. So with that, I'll adjourn a meeting.