Recording in progress. The notice requirement provided for the open public meeting law has been satisfied. Notice [clears throat] 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. Let the record reflect that Councilman
Graham is present virtually. Councilman McCrae present. Councilman Wyatt, Vice President Cessums, present, and Council President Hakaday, present. All members, President Aorn,
thank you. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance and remain standing for the invocation. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. 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, to grant the light of his spirit on all those who work for justice and peace. Amen. Amen. [snorts] May I have a motion to approve the
minutes of the regular meeting of November 10th, 2025? Second. Okay. All those in favor say I. I. Opposition or abstensions? Hearing none. The meeting minutes have been approved.
All right. We'll first move to discussion items. Uh we have a presentation uh regarding the public works watershed improvement plan for Greenbrook and Cedarbrook Park. The floor is open for whoever would like
to present regarding that. Good evening. Good evening. Uh my name is Chris Peron. Uh I'm an engineer at Penoni Associates. Uh if you don't remember, I was here back in October for one of these public information sessions. Uh we're required
by the permit to have two a year. Uh unfortunately, this year both per both public information sessions were pushed to the end of the year. Uh next year they'll be more spread out. We want to plan accordingly for that so that more progress can be shown between between
sessions. But since these two sessions were very close together, uh we're going to pretty much rehash what happened the first time and then discuss progress since we're at the end of our year uh for the first phase of the watershed improvement plan. Next slide. So we're
going to rehash the agenda, the who the why, what, and how of what we're doing here and and why. Uh next slide. So back in 1972, the Clean Water Act was put into effect and since then many
amendments and MS4 related permits have been amended since 1972. Uh this public information session talks about the permit that was enacted in 2023. Uh it's 2025 almost 2026.
And this 5year, it's essentially a 5-year amendment cycle that goes for these MS4s. So, uh, 2023 will be finished pretty much in 2025 or 2027, sorry. Next slide.
Uh, so why are we doing this? uh 90% of New Jersey's waterways are uh considered impaired which is 60% of it is from storm water pollution which is basically runoff from rain vents. Um and all of
this needs to be addressed per the clean water act. Uh also in addition more frequent severe storms are occurring and that's also bundled into the MS4 permit. Next slide. So back in 2018, uh, municipalities were
grouped in tier A and tier B municipalities. Um, tier B's were more rural areas that had less requirements and more urban areas were tier A that had more requirements due to more uh impervious surfaces. And in 2023, they
made all municipalities throughout the state of New Jersey tier A, meaning that everybody is required to do the same thing. So nobody's gets away with doing less. Uh, next slide. So what's a watershed? Very very
quickly, a watershed is a area of land that collects water and discharges it to a certain point like a stream or a lake or a river. Next slide. So the MS4 tier A permit execution
begins with data collection and inspection. Uh at our last meeting we were still doing data collections and inspections and as of a few weeks ago we have finished that process and we've completely moved on to map creation
which essentially is the the compilation of all the information we found out out in the field in Planefield is now being digitized and put into a map that will be uh delivered to the town and the NJ uh environmental protection agency um at
the end of the And then the last step is data analysis which begins in the new year which is essentially the goal is to take all the information that was uh collected and utilize it to uh execute the MS4 permit.
Next slide. So when we were in Planefield, we were looking at manholes, outfalls, stream sections, as well as interconnected areas between uh bordering townships of Planefield and putting that all together
uh in in uh GPS format and then digitizing it into a map. Next slide. So here's a snippet of what the map looks like with one element added to it. Those are storm water inlets which are
essentially uh where the rain water in the street goes into a pipe. There are over 3,000 of them. We had to collect all 3,000 of those. Over 2,000 manholes. Uh over 40 outfalls. And all of that
goes into the map. All of them, you know, if they're all turned on at the same time, it'll look like a bunch of different colored dots and it would be very hard to see. But this is just one element of what goes in the map. And of course we have to connect all of them together which is part of uh the uh
inventory report as well which is due at the end of the year. So all of them are connected and we'll know exactly how water flows throughout the town or the city of Planefield. Uh next slide. So there's a lot that goes into the map. I only showed you one piece of it, but
outfalls, discharge points that go not into a stream, but into a ditch. Uh interconnections are the connections between municipalities, inlets, you saw manholes, conveyance, pump stations, all of these things go into the map and
these will all be uh in a ArcGIS Pro map that will be given to uh the city of Planefield. Next slide. Not only did we collect all of that information, but every element, every
inlet, every manhole, every outfall, they all have attributes that make them different from one another than their location. There are different types of inlets. Outfalls discharge to different streams. Uh different streams have different classifications of pollution.
All of these elements can be thought of as Excel tables that link to points and every attribute has been assigned to every storm water
feature uh as of this point. So that was a a pretty time consuming process. But now we can go to any particular part of the town and know exactly what's going on and what and and why.
Next slide. So now that the mapping is done, the next part of the watershed improvement plan is to actually achieve the goal which is to improve water quality. Uh and to do that we would have to address TMDLs which are uh total maximum daily
loads and water impairments. and then in addition flooding. Next slide. TMDLs are one subset of pollution that we see in Planefield and in many municipalities across New Jersey. Uh you
see a map there with pink and purple polygons. The purple polygons have a total suspended solids pollution variant, which is a pretty typical kind of pollution, which is essentially like debris from roads, parking lots, things
that make its way into the stream that cause um either wildlife to uh be impaired, which eventually reaches, you know, human health. And then we have fecal caulifform in pink which essentially like animal waste, pet
waste. Um that also makes its way into basically drinking water and we would like to address all of that. Next slide. There are six different huck 14 watersheds. So there's six different
areas that uh there's six different points associated with six different areas where water gets uh compiled in plane field and all of these areas have different types of impairments. Others
include different pH values, PCBs and fish tissue and total phosphorus which is other kinds of pollution that affect human health. Next slide. So what's the mapping used for? So the map will be used to show the entire
conveyance system. We can easily mark where water comes from and where it goes and where pollution can go from one inlet to a stream. It's easy enough to because these conveyances have direction arrows
arrows of flow. uh you basically have a whole network of uh you know storm water elements to understand what's going on uh throughout the town and this includes the pollution elements as well. Uh next
slide. So phase one is the inventory report which is essentially all of the map creation and data collection. Phase two begins in the new year with the watershed uh assessment report which is essentially problem solving how we're
going to move forward with the information that was gathered this year and that information will be due at the end of next year. Um we intend in the next year to have two more public information sessions spread out so that we can engage with the public on their
concerns um and their their knowledge base of what happens in certain areas of town that's more you know kept under wraps that you know the public that we at Penoni wouldn't wouldn't know offhand. Next slide.
So the watershed inventory report summarizes storm water systems in the city of Planefield and its connections to water bodies and municipalities. That was done and will be completed at the end of the year. Next slide.
The wershed assessment report assesses potential projects with estimates of the reduction in pollutant loading and funding needed to execute a full watershed improvement plan. Next slide. And then finally the third phase is to
summarize the proposed projects with improvements inspected uh comments received cost coordination and other regulatory programs and imple implementation schedule. So that's the the final plan. Next slide.
So this is our second public information session of 2025. We had one in October and we have one now in December. pretty close together. Um, we're thinking about in the new year doing something at the end of maybe the spring and something at
the end of the fall to kind of have an ongoing uh communication progress with the with the township so that everyone's aware of what's happening and progress can be seen in greater detail due to more spread out meetings.
Next slide. Does anyone have any questions for for this? I know it's, you know, two months ago, but Yep. A question from council member. [clears throat] President. Yeah. Go right ahead, man.
On one of your slides [clears throat] which is titled which storm water features and it shows the number of storm drain inlets and manholes. Yes. So,
would you be able to go to manhole number 3200? Know exactly where that is located? Yes, there's only 2,000, I think, but yes, they're all numbered and they're all
It says there's a storm drain inlets, which is 2,25. Oh, inlets. Yes, there's And the manholes 3,236. Okay, so I flipped them. Yeah, but yes, they're all numbered. They all have an ID associated with each of them. So you can say, you know, manhole 100, manhole
200, and it'll it'll link you to that specific spot. Is that like a a GIS mapping or something? It's a GIS map. Yeah. Okay. All right. That's it. Awesome. Thank you. Right. Are your public meetings only for like
residents that live in flood areas or is it just It's for everybody. It's the whole It's all the public of Planefield. Do you have an idea when those meetings will be held? They're they're they're open to suggestion. They could be anytime. They can be held during these council
meetings. They could be held um outside of these council meetings. They they don't have to be semiannually. They can be in greater numbers. We could have more of these if we want to have them during council meetings. Maybe less of a presentation and more of a you know have
town township members come up and say, "Hey, I live on X Street. this street has terrible flooding in September and you know we want this addressed. I know that also NGIT also has a hand in recording the flooding as of a couple
months ago. Um and you know partnership with them might be you know encouraged as well to really understand what goes on. Um, if township people have, you know, videos or pictures of flooding in their area, you know, those can be
looked at as well. We can definitely have a dialogue on how the communication can go into the new year. I'm absolutely open to suggestions for how I want to do that. It's pretty open. So, thank you. I have one. Sure.
Are these all marked that if a resident saw that an inlet was blocked that that resident gave the number the DPW say inlet number 2200 is blocked?
Yeah. So the so the map uh has every every manhole inlet every feature has a has a number associated with it and they can be turned on and off to show it numbers there. They can be turned on and off to to be shown on the map. So that
No. Um if I am walking down the street Oh, no. No. And I see a block inlet. Yeah. The number there. I've seen the number cities. No, there's no there's no number that
correlates between, you know, being out there and seeing an inlet and going there. You'd have to you can zoom into the map and find, you know, exactly where it is. Am I missing the point? Yeah. If I am casually taking a walk
Yeah. down front street. Uhhuh. And there is an inlet. Mhm. Is the number of that inlet marked there? So that I if I know that that's a problem inlet, I
can call DPW [snorts] inlet one two three. It's not. No. No. There's there's no number out in the real world. What would it take for us to get them numbered? Because I've seen numbered in other places. Do
you know? [clears throat and cough] Yeah. Well, we're going we're going to have the U. Come up to the mic if you'd like to speak. We're going to have the inlets all on the map. So, if there's any kind of marketing system that you guys can incorporate or that you're familiar with and would like to see, we can possibly
add it add it to the um to the locations that that's something we're going to coordinate with the engineers mayor to make work and have everything numbered too. We we'll do something a little differently here in Planefield. We'll make that happen. Okay. Thank you. followup questions from anyone.
Okay, thank you very much for your presentation. Awesome. Thank you so Okay, [clears throat] we will move to uh it's an announcement that uh public hearing for second reading and final passage will be at the voting meeting.
Uh we now have ordinances MC 202546 through MC 202555 which are scheduled um for final passage as advertised. Resolutions legislative body items.
Do we have consensus to add R 431 25 to R 40225 to the voting meeting? Yes. Okay. All those in favor say I. I any opposition or abstensions? Okay, those shall be added to the consent agenda.
[clears throat] Okay, Department of Finance, would you please present your items? Good evening all. I have five resolutions for your approval. First one is resolution authorizing
approval to amend the current year 2025 municipal budget by inserting two items of revenue and appropriation. Two items being um 2025 drive sober or get pulled over. That's for $7,000
and mayor's wellness program for $15,000. Resolution number 434-25 resolution authorizing transfers between current year 2025 appropriations of general fund of the city of Playfield to
$356,100. This is the transfer we typically do November and December. This is December portion. Um resolution number 434-25 um resolution cancelling 3,900,000
of special emergency appropriation. This relates to the special emergency appropriation we had for 5 million when we had the summer storms. This is the unspent balance that we are cancelling.
Resolution number 436-25, resolution authorizing approval to cancel taxes in the amount of $2,55.20 due to 100% disabled veteran. And resolution number 437-25,
resolution authorizing the cancellation of erroneous tax sales certificate. What happened is that this property the payment was made but the property has two accounts and there was a misposting and all of the monies went to one account. So we have to cancel that
um tax sale certificate for the second account because the payment was made. Um that's the end. Are there any questions? Any questions from council members? I have a question. Go right ahead. for resolution 435-25.
So the 1.1 million, what was that? Was that used for the cleanup? 100% of that was used for the cleanup. It's not all clean up. Part of it was for DPW. Um I did have the notes and I forgot to bring them and I couldn't email them to you. I left them at my desk. But
I could tell I could. You want me to go through it? You can. So um a bunch of it is DPW cleanup. A lot of that is labor labor costs and other labor costs related to um the grant that we that we did that required
labor to work or other any other labor costs that were associated with effects from either of the storms. So that that goes across departments. And then there was $400,000 last month for specific areas around the city that need had
infrastructure damage. Um, and there were there was damage that was fixed closer to July, like end of July that was immediately fixed. The 400,000 is the work is still to be done. So, we have a 400. That's the balance.
No, 400 is of the 1.1 take out 400 from last month. That's infrastructure damage that hasn't been fixed yet. Then there's the infrastructure damage that has been fixed plus the um labor costs that were associated with both all of July and
August cleanup and then any labor costs that have come from as a result of the storm since then. So we've expensed 1.1 million 1.1 has been has been encumbered. Okay. Encumbered. Thank you.
No further questions. Okay. Any other questions? 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. That'd be added to the voting meeting. Uh, next we move to the police department. I I'll speak for him. Y thank you. Okay. The police department has three resolutions on for your consideration
this evening. The first one is in regard to the boiler replacement project that they did in this building over on the police side and the project is wrapping up. So they are looking to release the retainage for $31,21329. The next resolution is um an annual one
they do around this time of the year for $7,000 to apply for and accept the drive sober or get pulled over year-end holiday grant. And the third resolution is requesting approval to purchase two vehicles. These
are for the police fleet. Um these are like a heavyduty Explorer that is specifically outfitted and engineered for law enforcement. Happy to answer any questions. Any questions from council members? Yes. The R440-25
for the two vehicles. Are we trading any vehicles in this place or are we just buying them outright new or These are being bought outright new. These are um being outfitted specifically for the PD. Some of the vehicles that the PD has in their
current fleet are going to be used for I mean first of all their fleet is kind of short so they do need two vehicles even if they weren't moving two vehicles but some of their vehicles have to be used for offduty work because the the vehicles that we have for offduty work
some of them don't have heat so we have to get get them better vehicles for offduty. Okay. It makes more sense to buy the new ones for the cops. Oh yeah. Keep on duty. Yes. Thank you. What what do our auxiliary officers drive? I don't believe they do drive. I don't
believe they do drive. I think I think they ride with an officer. Yeah, I've never seen them driving a police vehicle. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Okay, we have consensus to add this to the voting meeting.
So move. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposition or abstensions? Okay. It should be added to the voting meeting. Department of Public Works. The floor is yours, director. Yes. Department of Public Works has three resolutions for you guys approval.
Resolution R44125. This is authorizing us to move the funding from Filmore Summer Avenue over to Berkeley Avenue and Dixie Lane. This is for the This is a county infrastructure grant that we have. And the purpose of this because we had some
upgrades being done with our gas mans. So, so we didn't lose the $135,000 grant. We want to move it to the other streets that were done so we can cover the cost for that. So, this is covering Berkeley Avenue and Dixie Lane as opposed to Fillmore Avenue and Summer Avenue. This is 2025 in construction.
Mr. Aman County $135,000. So we move that those dollars over to that those proceeds resolution 44225 authoriz co-op this is uh for Murray paving the
concrete to store speed humps in various areas of the city totaling 232 $314,314 and resolution 44325 authorizing a change order in the amount of8 donated $2,500 to Marington and Burn
Associates. This is for work that was done. Uh that's exceeded the amount of time a lot of time for [snorts] them to get the project done with the Rushmore products. So the total is 82500. Questions from council members. Council President. Yes.
Um director, first of all, thank you for all the work that um the public works department is doing around the city. when I see the repairs and the trucks, I don't consider it an inconvenience because I know it's a short-term inconvenience for long-term improvement for the city. So, thank you. Just real
quick simple question. So, regarding the Berkeley A and Dixie Lane, are you saying that those projects are done or we are going to do them in lie of the summer a and filmore? We that was all over Filmore and summer to be done. So, we just transfer them.
They were done. We got them done in time just recently. H Lane and Berkeley Avenue. So we're going to move the funding over when the county was giving us approval to do that based on you guys approved tonight for those two sweets to be utilized $135,000 grant as opposed to losing it because this grants expires
the end of the year December 31st. So we wanted to make sure we had everything approved by having those two streets added and then when inspected them they meet the qualification to be done. Okay. And when you say done, what does that include? Is that paving and side like could you just suck a little
build and pave the handcap hand put in? Okay. All right. Thank you for that. Um also um let's see it is uh 44225. You mentioned various locations. Um would [clears throat] we be able to
share with the public where those locations are should this resolution pass? Yes, because once once it's pass they'll see the work starting again. So it notice the seed once you guys decide to support it. So we can start adding those are across town. It's citywide very
Okay. So we would be able to share what we would be able to see the list of the streets and share it with the constituents so that they know that this is coming. Yes. Y and notice out there too let them know they're coming too. So okay. That'll help us be able to be proactive should they say they weren't aware. And
then my last question is regarding the Rushmore recreational complex and the payments. Um, are we done? Well, just about we getting to the end of everything because we're still waiting for the fans to come in the building the closed from across the
country. So, we haven't got those yet. We should be done hopefully with the next few months. We should be finished with everything. This is just some additions that had to be added. Okay. Thank you, sir. follow. Sure. What about
that's project is part of it but a different project. She mentioned rush. Yeah. Okay. Rushmore. Well, as far as I'm sorry, the playground itself may mention that that will be done in the springtime. Okay. That's another project part of another major project that we have, but that's
also the same site location. So that will we'll be finished with that portion in in this time and that's the playground itself. It's a 7,000 foot playground type etc. Handicap with the playground
the funding to improve the playground is that separate pot of money from the the building of the aquatic so done in terms of the swimming side will be we still have a little bit more to go. Yes, the splash park should be pinched within the next [snorts] few months.
Okay, thank you. Any other questions? Uh, yes, Council President. Go right ahead. Council Director Dy R441-25. Um, as stated earlier, we've been paving streets across the city for many of years now with the administration. Is
there a way to put on the website maybe like a tiered system? These rules were just paved. maybe have another color code this road needs to be done soon just so residents can start paying attention and seeing when the roads that have been paved but have a timetable expectation of when their road will be
paved. Yeah. Cuz we're not trying to as you know the goal is to pave every road across the city. So we can do to make it better for the residents. We're looking into it. Okay. All right. Thank you. Any other questions? All right. Do we have a consensus to add this to the voting meeting?
So move. Second. Okay. All in favor say I. I. Any opposition or abstensions? Okay. There should be Alli. Okay. We'll move to the Department of Economic Development. Director Fields. Good evening, council. I have
resolutions 444-25 through 450-25. The first resolution is requesting authorization for application to the local finance board. This is for 611
West Front Street. This is in order for them to apply for a redevelopment area bond. The reason why this is needed by statute, when you go below the standard 10% on a pilot, there needs to be it can
only happen by a redevelopment area bond or by a master lease agreement against the property itself. [gasps] We've agreed to go below the 10% if you recall because this was the project that
granted us the 3.75 million in a community benefit that assisted with the health center. [snorts] The next resolution is related to the Nishwain Group contract. This is our redevelopment and professional
planning services. Their original contract was for 125,000. This is to increase it to 135,000. This doesn't change the overall budget. This will come from another consultant line item.
On resolution 446, this is also looking at a professional service contract. This is for think wilder architecture. This is for architecture services related to the center of excellence.
Their original contract was for a little over 713,000. This is to increase it to a little over 797,000. The reason for the increase, there was a
need to do some revisions to the design, including moving the pool at the request of the state historical preservation organization. The next two resolutions starting at
447, these are related to designating areas in need of redevelopment. The first one is located on Johnston Avenue. The next one is located on South Second Street.
The South Second Street property is owned by the city. This is moving forward with the intention of building an affordable home for sale in a small home ownership lot redevelopment plan.
On resolution 449, this is related to designating a developer. The developer would be designated for 1405 to 1479 South Avenue. This is the location of the old fine fair.
This would be to redevelop the site with 150 units, 15 being workforce development units. It would also include a commercial area that with the intention of developing a grocery store.
Again, the size of the grocery store can range between 11,000 and 20,000 square ft. It will also include a minimum of 265 parking spaces as well as a community
benefit of 350,000. The last resolution 450 is related to leans placed on properties. This is associated with property maintenance inspection. This was for the cleanup of 37 properties that range anywhere from
looking at debris cleanup to vegetation and also boarding up. Any questions? Mr. President, council vice president. Thank you. Um, madame director, just a few questions. On 448, you mentioned that the property on South Second is
owned by the city. Are you talking about lot 7 or lot 8? Both are owned by the city. Okay. Um my next question is regarding 449. You mentioned that the developer is considering 150 units plus a grocery
store etc. Is the grocery store contingent upon us um supporting the 150 units? So it's the entire proposal together. They're proposing a mixeduse development with 150 units as well as 11,000 to
20,000 square ft of commercial. And my last question is for on 450 um I looked at the list and some of those uh properties say that they're boarded up. Will they be um going to auction? No, they're boarded up for safety. So a
lot of times if we have a situation where a property is vacant and it's maybe getting vandalized for safety to make sure there's not unhoused or any other police incidents that happens. But at at what point do we um I guess
contact the owners to see what their intentions are with having that property not be a boarded up sore in our city. So the pro the property owners are contacted with the first violation before a summon is written. Then we go
through the process of placing tax leans. Then we can continue through the process where it goes either to tax sale or condemnation. Thank you. Any other questions from council members? Yes. Right. R 448-25
to 656 and 658 South Second Street. Um, you said that's going to be a one family home, correct? It's going to going to go into our small home ownership lots. The lot is about 10,000 square ft right
now. So, with 10,000 square ft, we can fit two of two two family homes. Okay. Um, [clears throat] the reason why I'm asking is because I do believe I seen in the in the backup that this says
this property has been vacant for 10 years. Yes. Right. Okay. And then the soil it was contaminated. We'll have to do it. It'll be a part of the investigation. Okay. All right. So, will there be something noted out there, some sign or something that so we'll know that this
was definitely done um to the residents? I mean that's important especially if it's the soil is um contaminated that that's important. It it's a part of the disclosure that'll happen during the planning board presentation. Okay. Um R449-25
when you were talking about the 150 units and 265 spaces. I know you said something about a a supermarket. I just want to know is that guaranteed or is that was that a possibility? Well, we can't guarantee it. I can tell you that we have been
speaking with the property owner and we have been speaking with grocerers. Okay. All right. Yeah, because when you have possibility it could be anything. A Whole Foods can come there or maybe another I don't know something else will come there. So, I want to know if it was guaranteed because we're going to have
this property. I mean, I want to see the ratables come in so that we can stabilize these taxes. Right. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Council White. Yes, Council President. Uh R449-25.
Uh we said 265 parking spaces. So, do we plan on putting parking underneath? Because I was looking at the lot in both sides. Now, there is not 265 parking spaces. There's going to be a parking deck built as well as surface parking. Okay. All right. And the other questions
was asked because I know that the language did say maybe a grocery store but I know it was the past meetings probably three or four months ago you said you were in talks with grocery store. So has anybody showed interest in coming to Planefield? Yes, there's been at least three groceries.
Okay. All right. Thank you. [snorts] Okay. Any any other followup questions? Yeah, council president. Yes. Uh, director, you mentioned a parking deck. Um, on South Avenue from
I would say Woodland to Terrell. There is no parking deck. No other property has a parking deck. I don't think that would be aesthetically pleasing. Do they intend to, I guess, place the parking deck in the back of the property?
Yes. So, you won't be the parking deck won't be visible from the road. The parking deck will be um adjacent to the train rail line. Oh, okay. All right. Okay. Yeah, that's all I needed to know. Thank you. [clears throat]
Thank you. And thank you, Robert, for being remote. You may be able to tell he sounds a little different. He had a surgery. Um so, he's not able to be here in person, but it it has some effect on his voice. Thank you for being here remotely. Uh Councilman,
thank you, Council President. Okay. [snorts] Uh, any other follow-up questions? Okay. Do we have consensus to add these items to the voting meeting? So move second with the exception of 449-2. Okay.
Pull 449 from the consent agenda will be voted on separately with the exception. Do we have a consensus? So move. Second. Okay. All those in favor say I. I.
Any opposition or abstensions? Okay. Those shall be added with the exception of 449. Uh the department of health and social services. The floor is yours. Good evening, council. I have two items, 45125 and 45225.
45125 is a is a recognition of the challenges that the residents of Planefield have encountered uh in 2025 in the sense of social services whether it was wick
whether it was SNAP and it recognizes those that came together to help make sure that those residents who were impacted received the services that they they should receive in what some are calling a manufactured uh crisis. So what what this resolution also does
is help us to understand what 2026 may look like. Uh if some of the proposed um federal uh I I want to say something else, but federal uh challenges to grants and and to various programs are enacted, it will
certainly have an impact not only our residents and the state, but the nation as it pertains to social services. So, I just wanted to make sure and as as the division directors want to make sure that we put that out there as we begin to look at what 2026 will look like when
it comes to things like HUD, when it comes to things like SNAP, when it comes to wake and all those other programs that are called safety net programs and which are being um kind of eliminated. These are the things that we as a department uh function also should say health as well. These are these are what
makes up our department and these are what um this is [snorts] the work that we do and so we just want to make sure that everyone in in total understands that 2026 is going to be a challenge um as we move forward. Resolution 45225
is a resolution to authorize extension of a contract between comprehensive medical nutrition solutions to provide health wellness and nutrition education consultants. Uh and this is a service that we have been working with for years. They do uh phenomenal work in
working with uh not only seniors uh working with the district and various schools to provide nutrition workshops and all types of workshops whatever kind of workshops we need or or requested of them. And this is also mandated by the New Jersey Department of of Health.
That's it for me. Questions from council members. Okay. Do we have a consensus to add these items to the voting meeting? Second. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposition or abstensions.
Okay. Thou shall be added. Uh we'll move next to the department of solid waste and sewer. Uh good evening council. I have two resolutions for your uh consideration tonight. The first one is 453-25.
a resolution to purchase one new John Deere 524 wheel loader in an amount 210,84205. The next one is R454-25 and this is a resolution authorizing the purchase of two new 2025 MAC 48T walking
trailers [snorts] in an amount not to exceed 2011592. Both of these uh resolutions and equipment attached is um from a capital uh plan that was approved early in the year and this is just the process of
purchasing that and I'll be glad to answer any questions. Okay, anybody have questions for the director hearing and seeing none. Do we have consensus to add this item to second?
All those in favor say I. I. Any opposition or abstensions? Okay, it should be added to the voting meeting. All right, uh that concludes the first portion of our meeting. We will uh take a fivem minute recess and come back to
our voting meeting. Okay, recording in progress. Welcome back. We now move on to ordinances on second reading and final passage. Madame Deputy, please read MC 2025-46.
MC 202546 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, mayor salary. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this
ordinance was published in the Courier News on November 17th, 2025. Floor is now open to any member of the public who'd like to speak regarding this ordinance specifically. It's a sher increase ordinance. Mayors
for the mayor. For the mayor. For the mayor. Um, good evening, council. Good evening, mayor. Good evening, Dave. Um, I'm not I don't feel I'm I just think it's like uh a little too much a little
too much money and everything like that. Um, I know we look at other municipalities and what other people are making and this and that, but the timing of it is just like I don't like the timing of it either. Um, last
meeting somebody else doxed me as not being an actual resident, you know, to try to uh convince you to, you know, take my input as less, which is fine if I'm not a resident, you know, hear residents out
more and everything like that. Um, keep the focus on the resolution. I am council president and that's another thing I don't want to happen tonight. No more cutting me off. I can gather my thoughts. I can think about what I'm thinking and what I want to say. But
say again, it was a long gather you going and you know, but go ahead. I can gather longer than that. Okay. And then I'll have to interrupt in that instance. Well, you're actually interrupting me now. So, correct. So, if if I may. Um, yeah. So, back to the salary increase. I just think it's
it's a little bit too much. I want to say thank you to um Councilwoman Jones who had voted no. Thank you to Councilman Wyatt who voted no. I think that's a representation, a
little bit of a display of some kind of integrity or intelligence. If you realized everybody else was going to vote yes, you know, why not be a no vote? No one is going to get pushed through anyway, you know? Excuse me, mayor.
See, this is I won't interrupt the meeting and I ask you all to not interrupt the meeting. So, through the chair to the mayor, please do not speak while I'm speaking. you know, but yeah, I'm against the salary
increase uh for many reasons. Uh we still don't have a clock and that's directly related to the salary increase for the mayor from going to $85,000 to $115,000. And we don't even have a clock.
Nobody thought about getting the clock cuz I'm going to start Well, I've been coming here. But what I'm going to do is I'm going to start holding a clock up. Council President, the speaker's out of order.
No, Dave. No, you're out of order. I'm allowed to relate my comments to the salary increase. I'm talking about the fact that we don't even have a clock facing the way out of town. The council president does not need you to step in. The clock has gone off. Okay. So, we're not going to do that
again tonight. When I come back, you're not going to do it again tonight. Thank you. Anyone else want to speak regarding this ordinance specifically? All right. Public hearing is now closed on this ordinance. May I have a motion
to adopt this ordinance on second reading and final passage? And if adopted, the ordinance shall be published as required by law. Second. Roll call, please. Roll call. MC 202546. Council members Briggs Jones, no. Cherry,
yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, no. Cessums, yes. Council President Hakaday, yes. Five in favor. to oppose. Ordinance has been adopted on second reading.
Madame Deputy, please read MC2025-47 by title and certify its legal compliance. MC 202547 is an ordinance amending the schedule of salary and wages adopted pursuant to article 14, chapter 11 of the municipal code of the city of
Planefield, New Jersey, 1971, council member salary. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on November 17th, 2025. Okay. The floor is now open for any member of the public that would like to
speak regarding this ordinance specifically. Uh anonymous. Um yeah, I'm not feeling the salary increase either for for the council members. And um my main issue why and I'm sure we'll just say there's a
special charter that overrides state law and the OPMA I'm sure that's coming but when you guys decided to put on the agenda 100% increase which is an absorbent amount of money. I mean just the optics of it 100% increase.
I mean obviously somebody got in the ears of you and said maybe roll this back a little bit. Instead of doing 50 we'll do 40. But at 2 o'clock, 2 pm at the day of the meeting, it was adjusted, but there was
no 48 hours notice to the public, which OPMA mandates to have the new amount on the agenda when we're talking about finances and stuff like that. Um, there should be adequate notice to the public.
So, in my opinion, once again, you violated the OPMA by adjusting the amount of the increase on the day, the same day that you introduced it. So,
stuff like that is why I don't support a salary increase. You know, I want to I see these non-compliance issues and stuff and through the chair to Councilman Wyatt, I like that you voted no last time for the
council increases. I think that should be noted. and uh Councilwoman Jones, you as well. I think that needs to be noted, but we have violations with the OPMA. You
can't just decide the day of a meeting that you're going to change the finances of uh something that's on the agenda. And uh we still don't have a clock. Thank you. [clears throat] [snorts] Thank you, council president.
Okay. Hearing and seeing no one else, I'll I'm closing public online. One person online with their hand raised. Please allow them in name and city. The floor is yours. Caller ending in 149. You need to unmute
yourself. The caller's still muted. So we'll hear from the person in the gallery. Name and city. The floor is yours. Alter Brown, Planefield, New Jersey. Well, if you guys voted for
Mayor M's salary increase, then well, you might as well vote on the council cuz the council does everything. They're on call. They show up.
They're on the media. They care. When we had a tragedy with the two women losing their life in the county park in our city, they showed up. These meetings will be packed very soon.
We need to vote on more meetings in 2026. Let's have more calendar set meetings in in the year of 2026. Let's let's do that. You are heard.
Are you on the clock now? The clock is running. Okay. Are are you on the payroll clock right now? Yes. Okay. So, we got time. We got time,
sir. Yes. Y'all want money? We got time. Wow. How dare you, Mr. Hakaday? Mhm. How dare you? Dare I what? I'm sorry. It's not a back and forth.
I'm violating my own rules. I am. Thank you. I'll get up every ordinate. [applause] caller ending in 149. I see you unmuted yourself. You can speak.
Okay. Brenda Gilbert. Thank you. Can you hear me? Yes. The floor is yours. Okay. Once again, I want to express
um the fact that I don't support Brenda Gilbert. Can you hear me? Brenda Gilbert. Okay, there you go. Once again, I want to express I think you have YouTube on and you're
streaming it. You need to turn off YouTube because you're doing I Okay, there you go. That's That's it. I'mma get this before it's all over with. But once again, I want to express um the fact that I'm not in support of of these
raises. I I and and one of the reasons why I'm not in support of it because once again, there is not an evaluative tool in place to evaluate the kind of jobs that you do in order to receive an increase in your
pay. Number one. Number two, this ordinance like the other ordinance prior to this when it increased faith, I feel that it is is being presented in a very small group of residents
in order to pass it. I think something like this should be presented to a broader uh a broader crowd of of citizens because you would get a broader sense of what the community felt in terms of a
race. Um this this is a very minunisable municipal uh a very small group here and so you don't you don't really get the total feeling of a community and [snorts] if you want to do something if you got enough money to give a raise
then I want to say this to you I am one of those that have been um serviced by the sick and shuttering committee and I'm appreciative of all that you do but I want to say this to you. You need to be embarrassed by what
you sent out to the senior citizens this Thanksgiving. You sent a little Cornish in that it would fit in the Easy Bake oven and I could have put two in the Easy Bake oven and had enough room and a box of rice and a bag of beans. If you had extra money to give yourself a
raise, you should have did better by your senior citizens if that's all you was going to send out to them and then tax through and put a little picture card in. I don't know what that was for unless it was supposed to be put in a frame and put up on put up on something
until I had a come to Jesus meeting and I needed to meet with somebody to talk about anything that the little car needed to stay out of the bag. So when you talking about a raise for yourself also talk about these services that you
give to the city especially your senior citizens. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else online? Yes, there's actually two more people. Okay, go to them, please. Name and address. The floor is yours.
Name and uh city, not address. Uh Bridget Rivers, Planefield, New Jersey. Um I'm calling in off also in reference to um the raids. I think that the raise is necessary.
And the reason why for far too long, we have been, let me see a good way to put it. It's been very hard for us, for some people to even run for office because only the wealthy could afford to serve in the
positions of power. Public office was rooted in privilege, not not accessibility. As a former council woman, I know firsthand how demanding the role is. The work does not stop at city hall. We re you receive calls all day, all night,
and especially um Councilwoman Cherry, who's my council person, because I'm aggravating and I call her all times of night, sometimes 7:00 in the morning. I think it's extremely important that people understand what you do. No one is getting rich off of being a
mayor or a council person. But if you look at the raise amount compared to the budget of the city, it's less than 0.01%. So why not give yourself a raise? All the work that's being done, you deserve a raise. And I'm fully I'm in full
support. And I I heard one of the callers state maybe take it to the public. take it to the public because as you as a council person, if you know you're doing the job that you're supposed to do for your constituents, then pat yourself on the back and get that raise. But if you feel that you're not servicing your your constituents,
then vote no and don't take it. But there also be some kind of mechanism in place that if you vote no, there should be some type of something that you can sign so that you keep the same salary that you have this year and you don't take the raise. I know the work that's I know the work
that goes into being a council person. So again in the mayor so pat yourself on the back and take your raise with pride and dignity. Thank you. Somebody else on Okay. Admit them. Well, we're we're going to the people online now cuz I'll
let you go after they go. All right. Thank you. Sure. Hi. Can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you. Name and city. Floor is yours. Hi, my name is Meg. I live in Planefield. Um
I I guess I'm a little ambivalent about the proposed raise. I do understand that um in order to kind of have someone do a full-time job, a full-time salary is required. However, it's a little hard for me to feel confident in I guess the
council members uh when a person um with a history of unprofessional behavior and more recently um racist and xenophobic remarks is rehired. I know it was discussed at the previous meeting uh
the rehiring of uh Kerman Capile. However, um I'm not sure if the people really had any say in that decision. Um, I guess it's it's hard for it's hard for me to reconcile how she can serve her community when she's openly hostile
publicly and on social media and these are the decisions being made uh by the council. Does that conclude your thoughts? Uh, yes. Okay. Thank you for your input. Anyone
else online? Okay, we'll hear from the last individual from the gallery. [clears throat] Thank you. Um, Quan Chamblas, Planefield, New Jersey. I'd like to speak on both of the raises. Considering
the wealth gap in New Jersey and considering people that look like you and I are on the bottom end of that wealth gap, I am never going to against be against anybody that looks like me getting their coins, right? Uh it's part of the reparations package as far as I'm concerned. But if you're going to get
your coins, make sure that you are men and women who are worthy of your hire. That is the only thing that I ask. And like I said, showing up to different things, doing things that anybody with a good heart can do. You don't have to be
voted in to do these things. Is not to me considered doing um doing the work. Like I said last time, uh Councilwoman Cherry reminded me that she did invite me to two events. Yes, you did. Um and I see Darcel online working making sure we
know what bill tracks need to be done and who's doing what. Great, Richard. I see you out there doing what you need to do. And these are the type of things that um I would like to see people do. I do also have an issue with um I I found
out that you guys do not have like an employment liaison or HR liaison on the council. sold. You probably did not know about the rehiring of Carmeita Pile, but now that you do, I would hope that somebody would step up and uh say something because we should not reward
bad behavior. It makes us look no different than the clown that's in the White House right now. We're doing the same things that he's doing. And this is why the people don't believe there's any difference between Democrats and Republicans because people in power just act like people who have power. It
doesn't make a difference what title that they are wearing. Final thoughts for the people who voted no because they're looking out for the community. Under no circumstances should you sign anything and under no circumstances should you not accept a raise just
because you are acting with integrity. And I find it very strange that when someone else was in this position when they were a council person, they also voted no to a raise. So, I'm not sure if they didn't know how much or how hard the work was when they were doing it
back when they were council people, but to get on the phone and suggest that there's something wrong with the two of you voting no when she herself voted no the last time this came up is hypocritical. So, I want to thank you for the things that you do. Like I said, I don't want to see you guys go without coining, but
just make sure that you are workmen who are worthy of your hire. All right? Address the people, even the people who you don't like, who you don't get along with. That's part of your job and that should be part of your raise as well. Thank you very much.
Thank you. [clears throat] Okay. Uh public comment is now closed. Council President. Yes. Can I just address uh an issue that was brought up regarding the Open Public Meetings Act? Um please. NJSA 104-6
through 21. Uh if you note in the beginning of the year uh we adopt an annual schedule of meetings. Uh we have 48 hours per our charter to get the agenda out to the public to the extent
of the items known. Adequate notice means typically special meetings um in which case you have to advertise exactly what is going to be on the
agenda and at those special meetings you can only adopt and act on the items that were published and advertised. The agenda can be modified the day of. It could be modified during
the meeting. There are times we make amendments during the meeting. There are times where we add agenda uh agenda items to the agenda during the meeting. Uh so I just wanted to make that clear
that no no law was broken by um amending that salary prior to the meeting and that was completely proper and if the corporation council wants to confer or say that I was wrong. [laughter] No, absolutely. You're 100% right.
Absolutely. [cough and snorts] Um there an an ordinance on f an ordinance before introduction can be amended uh can be done right up in the meeting can be done at the meeting. So I'm just concurring with everything that was offered by the clerk. I'd like to offer just another council president. If I may, I'll show another
item. Um this evening there's been a a couple of strange practices that we haven't seen before and I that's why I feel compelled to say something. Uh first off, it's uh it's the the law is very clear that public comment is a comment period. It's
not a time to stand in front of the microphone and just run out the clock. Um it's comment. It has to be spoken. So um if a member of the public obviously is is um is mid-statement is gathering their thoughts, that's one thing. But if
the council president as the presiding officer, if you believe that someone's just filibustering or just spending to waste the time, that's really unfair to all those who are waiting to actually make comment. So you please, you are within your rights, council president, if you see fit to tell the speaker that their time is complete and that their
comment period is over. Um that's that's come straight from the open public meetings act. Um and uh finally um we have another statute which dictates ordinances on second reading and what the comment and the comment must be must
pertain to the ordinance. Um folks have gone well beyond the subject matter of the ordinance this evening um and some of their comments. So once again, that's an that the as you as the presiding officer, you have the right as you have done numerous times and as you did this
evening to bring individuals uh either to say that they are outside of the scope of what the ordinance entails and ask them to refrain from such comment or to tell them that their common time is over. So just wanted to reiterate that for the for the council. Thank you.
Thank you for your counsel. Okay. So, we've closed public hearing. Uh, now we need a motion to adopt this ordinance on second reading and final passage. So, move. Can we have a roll call, please?
Roll call. MC 202547. Council members Briggs Jones, no. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, no. Cessums. Yes.
Council President Hakaday. Yes. Five in favor. To oppose. Ordinance has been adopted on second reading and final passage. Madame Deputy, please read MC 2025-48 by title and certify its legal compliance. And excuse [clears throat] me. 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. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the courier news on November 17th, 2025. Okay. The floor is now open to anyone who'd like to speak regarding MC 2025-48. Hearing and seeing none. Public hearing
is now closed. May I have a motion to adopt this ordinance on second reading and final passage. So move second. Roll call, please. Roll call MC 202548. Council members Bridge, yes. Cherry, yes. Graham,
yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessum, yes. And Council President Hakaday, yes. That is unanimous. This ordinance has been adopted on the second reading and the final passage. Madame Clerk, please read MC 2025-49
by title and certify its compliance. MC 202549 is an ordinance to amend and supplement chapter 16 vehicles in traffic article 5 limiting the use of streets to certain class of vehicles 16 col 5-2 parking forbidden on all
streets. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on November 17, 2025. Floor is now open to anyone member of the public who'd like to speak regarding this ordinance specifically. Alter Brown on the record, Planefield,
New Jersey. Um, I have a question. Well, make a comment. No questions. Um, regarding MC 2025-49. All right. All righty. I know the ordinance. Um, we will we will answer the question, though.
Okay. All right. Um, so I have a question. Uh what certain type of class vehicles won't be allowed on the streets? If you have a series of questions, uh
ask them all and if that's your only question and we'll get an answer for you. Is that is that it? That's my first question. Um what streets are these?
Um, and uh, Rabbasa, since you said I got to talk, um, Mr. David Corporation Council, I'm going to find out who you are. Um,
that that's that that's only two questions I have at this moment for this ordinance. Okay, no problem. Okay. Uh at the conclusion of of uh public comment will answer the question.
Oh wow. Okay. Well, we we can do it like that. I'm just as fine with that. I echo what the last speaker said since we don't have those questions answered. What? Don't cut me off. I see you're about to do it.
[snorts] What vehicles? We could have answered the questions, but we'll do it this way. What vehicles? Which ones? Just like the last speaker said, I want to know what vehicles you're talking
about and what streets. and tell me I'm not speaking quick enough. So, we can talk about the vehicles, all types, not just certain ones. Weight, size,
if the color matters, white vans, red vans, streets. I want to know all that. Refer back to this for a second. Yeah, I'm just looking for clarification on that because it doesn't clarify the
what streets because that's important. It's saying limiting the use of streets to please while I'm speaking. Very rude. Very rude. Um, it doesn't clarify the use of what
street. So, that's very important. And the class of vehicle and they're just doing it again. Okay. Well, you want to raise, but you can, you know, talk the whole time. Got it. Uh so yeah like the streets which ones are very important and the types of vehicles you know
school buses you know medical vans um cop cars personal cars uh ice cream trucks.
I know the ice cream truck has been a thing for a minute. though. Does this pertain to ice cream ice cream trucks or not? Um, I would like to know. And if it does, if this does pertain to ice cream trucks, I would like to know what streets we're referring to.
Um, cuz the ordinance, the way it's written, it doesn't clarify that information. So, just wanted to echo what the last speaker said. Thank you. Okay. Uh, public hearing is now closed.
There being no one else, I'll now entertain a motion on uh, in a second. So move. Second. Clerk, can we have a 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 Hageday. Yes. That is unanimous. This ordinance has been adopted on second reading and final passage. Um I would like to have that question
answered though. So if if um somebody has an answer uh to the questions that were posed and [snorts] please just do that quickly. I'll answer it. President. So, this is an ordinance we discussed last month to address people who are using vehicles
that are not designated as commercial vehicles, but are you are being used for commercial purposes and are blocking people from being able to see when they get out of their driveway, things like that. So, this is any overloaded
um construction truck and pickup trucks, large vehicles that aren't labeled as commercial vehicles, but again are um causing sight problems for drivers. And this is citywide. All so all streets. Yeah, all streets. All throughout the city.
Thank you. Okay. Uh, madame deputy, please move uh read the next ordinance on second reading and final passage. MC 202550 is an ordinance to amend and supplement chapter 16A schedule 2 no
parking certain hours. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on November 17th, 2025. Okay. The floor is now open to any member of the public that'd like to speak regarding MC2025-50.
hearing and seeing none. Oh, how Tariq Brown here on the docket on the record again. Planefield, New Jersey. Um, it's not going to hurt me or any of my relatives anyway. We live in the fourth
[clears throat] ward. We have parking. Um, we have parking lots in our complexes. So, it's going to really affect you and your votes for next year because all these
all of them um uh I don't want to say it in a rude way, but Hispanics and different races, they're they're the ones that have all the businesses here and they're the ones that we can't see when we're going
we can't see when we're on the road because of them. So, it's really not, you know, it's not going to affect the African-Amean community. Okay.
[snorts] Speak regarding the resolution. Yeah. It doesn't say what hours. It just says no parking certain hours. So maybe we should start explaining this stuff a little bit better before we just
vote things through and stuff. It's very inconspicuous. Says no park in certain hours. [snorts] So I'd like to know what hours we're talking about. I think that would be important to let the public know before we just push it
on through. And let's show the republic the public some respect. When you guys swore to uphold an oath, it's under the authority of the people, not the state or a lawyer. [snorts and clears throat]
Okay. Uh public comment is now closed. um entertainment. Can I make a Oh, sure. Um the agenda is sent out on Friday. Uh there's an email blast that you can sign
up for. It's also available on the website. Uh backup information for every single resolution and ordinance is included in that information. So any member of the public who would like further details on any ordinance, for
example, the hours are uh clearly listed uh in this ordinance. So if anyone would like to sign up, they can send the clerk's office an email and you will have that agenda and you will have all the backup information. Okay.
So the hours just weren't posted in the title. Correct. They weren't posted in the posted in the title, but they were posted in the back of it in the information. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Can we have a motion, a second to adopt this on second reading and final passage?
Second. Roll call, please. Roll call. MC 202550. Council members Bridge, yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessence, yes. Council President Hakaday, yes.
Unanimous. This ordinance has been adopted on second reading and final passage. Thank you, Madam Deputy. Please read MC2025-51 by title and certify its legal compliance. 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. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on November 17, 2025.
Okay, the floor is open to any member of the public that would like to speak regarding MC 2025-51. Okay, seeing you hearing none, public comment is now closed. We have a motion to adopt this on second reading and final passage. So move second. Roll call, please.
Roll call MC 202551. Council members Briggs Jones, yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Hakaday, yes. That is unanimous. This ordinance has been adopted on second reading and final
passage. Thank you, Madam Deputy. Please read MC 2025-52 and certify legal compliance. 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. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on November 17th, 2025. Okay. The floor is now open to any
member of the public that would like to speak regarding this ordinance specifically. name and city and the floor is yours to speak regarding Nancy Pubar Myrtle Avenue playing field. I just want a clarification. I believe
this was at the planning board uh last week. I was only member of the public there and I do believe that the planning board made a recommendation to increase um the three bedrooms to um 1,300 square
ft. I just want to make sure that that cl if you know that clarification got into the um the agreement. That's all. Thank you. Okay. We'll have that question answered once we conclude public comment hearing.
And seeing none, uh I'll close public comment and that question may be answered. Who wants to take that from the administration? Yes. Um the recommendation made by the planning board was considered. We follow
the state guidelines in terms of the size. So the size for a threebedroom is looking at 1150. Okay. All right. Can we have a motion and a second to approve this on second reading and final passage? So move
second. Okay. Roll call, please. Roll call. MC 202552. Council members Briggs Jones, yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessums, yes.
Council President Hawiday, yes. That is unanimous. This ordinance has been adopted on second reading of final passage. Okay, madame madame clerk, please read MC 2025-2053
and certify its legal compliance. MC 202553 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield in the county of Union adopting the JFK Muenberg Hospital redevelopment plan amendment dated November 10th, 2025. It is hereby
certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on November 17, 2025. Okay. The floor is now open to any member of the public that'd like to speak regarding this ordinance specifically. Hearing seeing none, public comment is
now closed. I'll entertain a motion and a second to pass. Second. Roll call, please. Roll call. MC 202553. Council members Briggs Jones, yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae, yes.
Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessins, no. Council President Hakaday, yes. Six in favor, one opposed. Ordinance has been adopted on second reading of final passage. Madame Deputy, please read MC 2025-54 by title and certify its legal compliance.
MC 202554 is an ordinance of the city of Planefield in the county of Union adopting block 146, lot 7, redevelopment plan dated October 16th, 2025. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published
in the Courier News on November 17, 2025. Floor is now open to any member of the public that'd like to speak regarding this ordinance specifically. Hearing and seeing none. Closing public comment. Can I have a motion in a
second? So move. Second. A roll call, please. Roll call MC 2025 54. Council members Berg Jones. Yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes.
McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Hakaday, abstain. That is six in favor, one abstension. Ordinance has been adopted on second reading on final passage.
Okay, let's see. Madame clerk, please, Madame Deputy Clerk, please read MC2025-55 by title and certify its legal compliance. 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. It is hereby certified that notice of a public hearing on this ordinance was published in the Courier News on November 17, 2025. Floor is now open to any member of the public that'd like to speak regarding this ordinance.
Hearing and seeing none. Closing public comment. Can I have a motion in a second to adopt this on second reading and final passage? So move and second. Roll call, please. Roll call. MC 20255. Council members Briggs Jones. Yes. Cherry, yes. Graham,
yes, yes. McCrae, yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cessums, yes. Council President Hakadette, yes. That is unanimous. This ordinance has been adopted on second reading and final passage. Okay. We now move to public comments limited to resolutions and
motions being considered this evening. Total of 30 minutes is allocated for the same. The floor is now open. Hearing and seeing none, closing public comment. All right. Uh, Mr. Clerk, would you
please announce the consent agenda? Consent agenda items have been identified as resolutions 43125 through 45425 with the exception of resolution 44925, which is on non-consent.
May I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? So move. Second. Uh, roll call, please. Roll call on the consent agenda items. Council members Briggs Jones, yes. Cherry, yes. Graham, yes. McCrae,
yes. Wyatt, yes. Vice President Cess, yes. Council President Hakaday, yes. That's unanimous. The consent agenda items have been approved. We now move to resolution 44925. Okay. Uh, can you read the remaining
items? So move. No, I think it the remaining items 44925. Yeah, motion and second. Okay, second. Can we have a second? [clears throat] 449. 449
and then a roll call. Second. Roll call, please. Roll call. Resolution 44925. Council members Briggs Jones. Yes. Is that a yes? Yes. Yes. Cherry?
Yes. Graham? Yes. McCrae? Yes. Wyatt? No. Vice President Cessums? No. Council President Hawk? Yes. Five in favor to oppose resolutions when adopted. And
that concludes resolutions. Okay. And there there are no ordinances on first reading and this is the last meeting of the year. We now move to general comments. Total of 30 minutes has been allocated for all public comments. Each speaker will be given
three minutes to speak on any matter at all. Uh the floor is now open. Good evening. Nancy Fubar, Myrtle Avenue. First of all, I want to thank all the council people who responded to my email over the weekend and um I
appreciate your consideration of what um the historical society asked. Um and I'm speaking on behalf as president and I do have a couple board members here present. Um, prior to the Thanksgiving Day holiday, I sent a request for a resolution concerning the
removal of two African-American panels at the Netherlands American Cemetery in the Netherlands. I made this request because a planeful resident, pardon me, cuz every time I say his name, I get emotional, is buried, uh, Corporal Morgan is buried in the
overseas cemetery. Subsequently, I've ha been in discussions with Congresswoman uh Bonnie Watson Coleman's office, her chief of staff, and one of her senior adviserss to make them aware of this eraser of black history. Her office put me in touch with Representative Emanuel
Clever's office. He's from Missouri, and I've exchanged emails and information with his office. Representative Clever and 33 other United States representatives sent a letter requesting information from the American Battle Monument Commission. I I gave council
and and and the mayor's office a copy of the letter. I have it here. On behalf of the board of trustees, I'm requesting that the Planefield City Council consider passing a resolution in support of this congressional letter. Corporal Morgan is not forgotten by the Dutch
people and is not forgotten when I am asked to speak at Veterans events. Corporal Morgan fought for freedom that he never experienced. His story and the black liberators cannot be erased from history. Corporal Morgan was part of the 787 700 84th Tank Battalion and he grew
up diagonally from the Drake House and most probably played on the Drake House property when he was growing up. Um I have written some letters to his um relatives um seeking more information. I've heard back from one of them. I do believe one of his relatives works for
the city of Planefield. Um what people don't understand about this cemetery in Mongraten ever since um the Netherlands was liberated um by American soldiers. There's over 8,200 um soldiers buried
there. 17 thou uh 1,700 on the missing um panels there. [snorts] Um the Dutch people um have adopted. It's the only cemetery in the world where a community has adopted these graves.
Families pass down these graves. Even though they're not related to them through three generations, there's a a waiting list for adoption of these graves. The people of the the Dutch people go out at least three or four times a year to make sure these soldiers
are remembered. Um they research them. I have ex uh received emails from them and I just want to make you aware and um I do believe that Corporal Morgan needs to be honored. Thank you.
Thank you for bringing that to light. Very important issue. Good evening. Ayanna Gilmore, Planefield, New Jersey. About a month and a half ago, 10 of my neighbors and I, all residents of the fourth ward, wrote a letter to the
attention of Mayor Matt, Director Dabney, and Director Abney. This letter addressed concerns of cleanliness and safety in the fourth ward, as well as a desire to improve communication between the mayor and residents in the fourth ward. I have had initial contact with
the office of director Dabney, which I really appreciate, and we do look forward to collaborating with you and your office. Thank you. We have yet to receive any response from Mayor Matt and Director Abney or any representatives from their office. This lack of engagement from the local
government is very disappointing, especially in lie of approved payraises and Mayor Map's announcement to run for Congress. So, I ask a question. This is mostly to Mayor Matt, but also to the entire administration who likely wants to see
Mayor Matt do well in the congressional elections and also for those of you who are probably seeking to secure a position in the future on his coattail. So sincerely, Mayor Matt, I ask, how can residents of the 12th Congressional
District trust in your ability to lead in Congress when your constituents, whom you are in office to serve right now in Planefield, are observing a lack of engagement and a lack of commitment from you and your directors. We have also observed a lack of policy
development and enforcement that improves the quality of life for residents. Thank you for listening to my concerns and I hope I do not have to wait another month to hear from Mayor Mack or from Director Abney about our concerns. Thank you. Good evening. Um Sebastian Torres,
Planefield, New Jersey. Um, I'm here tonight as a sort of a continuation to my grievances regarding the disrespect that I feel um the immigrant population in Planefield receives constantly. Um, at our last uh council meeting, I think
it was evidently or evident and clear um that prejudice and discrimination are not taken seriously here by the administration. um and that in fact they are rewarded um which is an approach that I completely disagree with um uh because that reverberates through a
community and it sets a negative president um I don't know if any of you have been awake recently but there have been um a number of raids throughout the city by ICE. Um there are families being
separated, there are people being abducted. I see it on the news. I see it on my block. Um I see it on social media where there's hate being spewed against the immigrant community. And it's shocking. But what is more shocking is um the silence from an administration
that is spearheaded by a supposedly proud immigrant mayor who has not mentioned what is happening in town whatsoever. And just to put it in context, um I've seen this administration put energy
behind um workshops to explain pilots to the city. Um on behalf of developers essentially. Um I've seen um the mayor write letters to the Trump administration to Betsy Devos supporting charter schools. Um, so that's the kind
of energy I see from the mayor for certain things. But I have not seen any workshops aimed at, I don't know, perhaps helping immigrants understand their rights, helping immigrants understand what to do if they're abducted, if they're kidnapped. I have not seen any energy directed at any of
that, Mayor Map. And it is quite pathetic to be honest with you. Um, I recently saw the article about the congressional run, the announcement, and Mayor Map said he is not afraid, not afraid of a fight. He likes a tough fight. Um, tough fights are fought on
behalf of those who are vulnerable. Tough fights are not fought on behalf of developers who pay you, right? I mean, that's my understanding, but I could be wrong. It's it's really really sad to see the the way that the immigrants are treated in the city. And Mayor Map also
said he's ready to roll up his sleeves. For who? That's that's really the question. And you know that smirk says it all because it's embarrassing. It [clears throat] really is. Um so I would like to see the city do more for the immigrants represent the people in the city. Not just developers, not just
charter schools, not all these money interests who pour money into campaigns, but the people who live here, who are afraid to go outside, who are afraid to spend the holidays with their family, to go out grocery shopping. It's embarrassing that the city does absolutely nothing to call attention to
that issue. It really is. Hi. Um Chamblas, can you hear me? Because this is kind of low. Can Thank you. All right. Thank you. Hi, Chamblas. Planefield, New Jersey. Um this is for um Mr. ship
on behalf of the seniors. As soon as I became of age, the first thing I did was run down to the senior center. And even though nobody believed that I was of age and they kept carding me, I am a senior and I do participate um
at least twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Now they call me the junior senior because yeah I am a junior senior which means that I came up in a technological world right um I had the little Commodore 64
so I've been doing computers for a while my issue is the ability to register and pay for senior events from my laptop at home
um sometimes times I'm tired, right? The medication makes me sleepy and I just don't always have the energy to come down. But whenever I want to do something with the senior center, I have to make arrangements to get to the bank. I've got to withdraw cash money when
nobody is using cash really um anymore in order to be able to do that. Then I got to get another form of then I got to get transportation again to go back to the senior center and pay for the trip and then I have to get transportation to
go back home. That's a lot of money to spend just to be able to go on a trip with the seniors. If I can sit in my bed and register my granddaughter for ballet and pay the $25 from my bed. If I can pay for any trip that the recreation
center does from my bed and both of you are on that community pass website, there's no reason why I can't pay for senior trips. It has nothing to do with the people who were senior seniors who may not be technological savvy. If they still want to go in and I can't even do
a check by mail, you don't even take a check. I could sit in my bed and send a check from my bank account. I can't even do that. It has to be cash. That's ridiculous for 2025. I don't know what has to be done to get that to happen. But whatever the recreation center is
doing, the senior center should be able to do as well for those of us who prefer to use technology to pay our bills and do things. So, if we can get that going for 2026, that would be great because continuously telling me the excuse,
well, Juan, you know, all the seniors aren't a lot. That has nothing to do with those of us who are. And we're smart enough to be able to have them have the ability to pay cash if they want to. And for those of us who want to pay online, we should be able to pay online if we want to. So, can we please
get that moving for 2026? It can be done cuz the wreck does it. Also, I noticed that the sidewalk by the post office has been worked on. I appreciate you for that. I'm just sad that Terry didn't live long enough to see it cuz she was my partner in that that sidewalk was was
very dangerous both of us. So, I see that being done. Thank you. And I I hope you win the Congress, too. I would. I'm I'm actually going to work on your campaign. Thank you for going public comments already, huh? Yes. All right. Thank you, Council President.
Um, you can stop my clock. You can start the clock. I'm sure you already did. What's he doing? What's he doing? Why are you playing with your phone? Huh? What are you doing? I'm trying to get something going. I wasn't ready. I wanted to make sure we're on public comments.
[snorts] You playing music? That's not That's not public comment. We're doing a song. This is This is called expression. You know what First Amendment expression is? No. We're doing a song. [music] No, we're not going to allow that.
Adrien Map with a stash in his lap. Council's in the back making stacks on stacks. Raise the root ball. Raise the pay. Playfield money on display. Adrian's pockets balloon like a from 85k to 115. Council sitting around talking
about y 25. We deserve better. So now it's 40 grand for sitting in a chair. Playing field budget. Y'all better beware. Rubber stam dreams. They call it a plan. Counting their green with a gabble in hand. Maps getting paid. Watch the money parade. Council's getting
raises. Call it lemonade. Sip sip sip. While the cash flows deep, playfield dance to the salary beat. Maps getting paid. Watch the money parade. Council's getting raises. Call it lemonade. Sip sip sip. While the cash flows deep, playing field dance to the salary be.
Yeah. This is what the first amendment looks like and sounds like. Adrien strolls with a mayoral grin. Got the whole city saying, "Yo, that's a sin." Council votes. Hey, it's a payday spree. 40 JUST FOR THIS DEMOCRACY. Playground vibes. Hopscotch with the
cash. Jump two squares then dive in cash. Jump like they twist and they spin. Taxpayer pockets. Where does it begin? Ring around the salary and pocket full of dreams. The council voted yes and now they're busting at the seams. Duck duck goo gets a slice. Play field
poly roll that dice. Maps getting some money parade. Council's getting raises called emanade. Sip sip sip. Water kept flows deep. PLAYFIELD DANCE TO THE SALARY BE ringing around a salary and pocket full of dreams. The council voted yes. Now they're busting at the seams.
Duck duck goose. Everybody gets a slice. Playfield pie better roll that dice. Match's getting paid. Watch the money parade. Council's getting raises. Call it lemonade. Sip sip sip. Water cash flows deep. BLFIELD DANCE TO THE SH.
OKAY. [music] Thank you, C president. Oh, work on your production though here on the record again. Planefield, New Jersey. Uh, the firefighters
didn't get their pay, their [clears throat] retirement. Something was was wrong in their contract, so they didn't get paid. But everybody else's pay is good. everybody. That's not right.
It's not fair. It's not right. And I hold each and every last one of you and you guys's position. I hold each and every last one of you responsible for
your position. I was raised under the wing of Miss Joanne Hollis and she taught me a lot about politics
and about different urban developments, funding and grants, ordinance, and so on and so forth. But I say all this to say that I'm no fool.
I'm not new to this. I hold each and every one of you accountable for your job position in the city of Planefield. And whatever I have to do it I point of
view across and to get what I want done at the city of Plaidville, that's what I'll do. If I get sick doing it, I'll get sick doing it. cuz God has me. He has his hand on my life.
And so when I speak, I don't speak from a place of this. I speak from a place of this. I was born and raised here. My family name
very very important but that does not matter because I am alter I am alter and so everything I expect for you from you Mr. Mayor Matt, I expect it to be
done and everything. I expect the council and all the board members, I expect at least your attention and your time, especially while we're in these meetings.
And you, Mr. clerk, you're talking you you you talk about ordinance and you talk about all these laws, but I'll be back. Thank you.
Happy holiday. Thanks so much. Anyone online? Three people. Okay, public comment in the gallery is now closed. We'll go to public comment online. caller ending 149, please unmute
yourself. And if you're also on YouTube, please um turn that volume off. Okay, move to the next caller. Good evening. This is El Rampador from Bayon. I would like to Yes, you can hear me. Yes, the floor is yours.
I would like to wish Commissioner Map good luck in Trenton at the uh Cannabis Regulatory Commission. She's going to have her work for cut out for her. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission has proven itself to be ablelist and discriminatory.
For years, we've been asking them for wheelchair access to dispensaries, and for years, we've been ignored. The only person that did didn't ignore us was Mr. Barker, Commissioner Barker, and he's not there anymore. So, I'm hoping Commissioner Map will take the reigns
that M. Commissioner Barker had and uh get them in line down there because they're not they don't care about people in wheelchairs. We have dispensaries without wheelchair access in New Jersey. I've asked them for years. Hello. For a resolution,
a resolution that allows disabled vets and cancer patients to get into dispensaries. They built this industry on the backs of the sick, the dying, and the disabled. And we've been forgotten about. We've been forgotten about with Homegrow. Patients go a cancer patient
goes to jail for 5 years for one plant. That's crazy. the uh there's dispensaries in urban enterprise zones. Now, in urban enterprise zones, you get tax breaks for being in that zone, except if you're in a wheelchair, most of these
businesses in urban enterprise zones have steps. And if you're in a wheelchair, you can't access the same tax breaks as able-bodied people. There's police stations and post offices all over New Jersey without wheelchair access. And when you see a step, a step
is a wall. Back, if you're old enough to remember, there was signs on doors. A disgusting time in America when there were signs on doors saying no Jews allowed, no gays allowed. Some of you may remember no colored people allowed. Maybe you remember these things. It was a
disgusting time in our country. Well, now we still have that today. When you see a step, that's saying the same thing as no Jews allowed, no Irish allowed. Same thing. It says, "Keep your wheelchair home. Keep your crippled ass home. We don't want you here in your
wheelchair." That's what that step says to someone in a wheelchair. It's absolutely discriminatory and it's a human rights violation. So, I hope that Commissioner M takes this seriously and takes her job serious seriously and pushes for wheelchair
access in every dispensary and every lounge. We need a resolution. Uh Troy Singleton just put a bill in to add urban enterprise zone in Burlington City. I'm going to call Troy Singleton
because they need to know that there's horrible wheelchair access in Burlington City. If you look at go on Google Maps, you'll see there's steps everywhere. [snorts] You have to subsidize these these ramps. If you're going to have an urban enterprise zone that's discriminatory toward people in
wheelchairs, you should fix it by sub. Thank you. Next caller. Caller ending in 149. I believe it's Brenda Gilbert. Please unmute yourself. Next caller, please.
Um, Bridget Rivers, Planefield, New Jersey. I just want to um say congratulations to the council and the mayor for their raise. You guys deserve it. I'll say it again. Job [snorts] well done. Keep doing the work for the city
of Planefield. For the residents of the city of Planefield. Again, I support the raise 101%. Job well done. Thank you. Any other callers?
No, it doesn't seem like Miss Gilbert's been able to mute herself yet. All right, Council President. Yes. I briefly say um just take a moment. Uh on Friday, we uh bid farewell to uh Marie L. Davis. Uh we heard some powerful uh comforting speeches and
words of encouragement from Mayor Matt, our council president, our clerk AJ, and the orator himself over there. dire director John Louise who did an awesome job speaking. Um so we could just take a moment of silence for her and also Terry Slo who is also a elected official here
in the city of Planfield. That's for a moment of silence for the two of them. Thank you. Okay. [cough and clears throat] Thank you for that, Councilman Wyatt. Public comments now closed and I'll entertain a motion to
Mr. President. Yes. I would like to make a comment. Oh, okay. Before we conclude, go right ahead, Mr. Mayor. You've heard a number of comments that were addressed
at me at my administration by any number of people. [snorts] And you've also heard from Alter who in one of his comments earlier
was somewhat disparaging to the Latino uh community based on what he said. And as I've said on so many different occasions, Latinos have shown time and time again
that they are an industrious people who are willing to open small businesses, whether landscaping, restaurants, boutiques, mortgage and real estate companies. They are not afraid
to invest to pull resources in order to lift themselves up and so they must be commended for their contributions and for being drivers of the economy. So, it bothers me whenever
I hear my African-American brothers and sisters consistently talk down and speak negatively about folks in the Latino community who only want to enjoy a piece of the
American dream and want better for their families. And so I think that it's time that we put an end to those negative disparaging comments that too often times made and directed at people in the
Latino in the Latino community for no good reasons. As far as the comments are concerned about the ICE raids and me doing nothing about it, nothing
can be further from the truth. As a matter of fact, I hosted along with members of my administration agent communities, especially the Latino community. And we
had at the round table ministers from many Latino churches. We had immigration attorneys from the Latino community. There were faith leaders all present and we
addressed the issue of ICE raids and what one should do should one become a victim of an ICE raid and it is something that we take very seriously.
My writings have also indicated my position on the draconian immigration policies of the Trump administration. But you must also realize that not every stop you see
is an ice raid of the innocent. I have had many conversations with the police director about reported raids. On a few occasions, people were being arrested with judicial
warrants. And so we have a tendency to assume that every time someone is stopped in the street that it's an ICE raid. And the evidence that we have in our plane field PD and has
communicated to me when I inquire of my police director James Abney is that that's not always the case. That often times there are bad guys that are being removed from the
streets with judicial warrants and not you know arbitrary ICE raids. So I oppose ICE raids whether the targets are Latinos, Somalians, Haitians,
or other people from the Caribbean because all of us are impacted by these raids. And this is not a time to stay silent. And I have never been silent about
ICE raids. I've never been afraid to speak up and speak out when the mayor of New York was unfairly arrested. I was there. I was there.
I was at the courthouse when he was charged and I was there representing people from the immigrant community regardless of what persuasion. So, it is very clear to me that these raids
are not only aimed at Latino members of the Latino communities. We all watch the news and we see who the Trump administration is going after. Even citizens of this country, people
that were born in this country have been victims of these ICE raids. And so I will continue to be a voice in opposition for the draconian policies of the Trump administration and I will not
hesitate to speak out against the wrongs that are being carried out against the American people regardless of immigration status. I have yet to meet a person who is illegal. I don't know what
that person looks like. I meet and I deal on a daily basis with human beings. I have never met an illegal person. And so that's who I am. And my actions will
be dictated by the positions that I hold and the things that I am passionate about. And I am passionate about pushing back against policies that target innocent people.
Regardless of whether you were born in this country, whether you were naturalized in this country, I will speak out and I will stand firm in my belief that the policies that we see being carried out by the Trump
administration are wrong and they ought to be fought against by everyone. Not just by the Adrian maps of playing field, but by all decentminded individuals. Regardless of your status,
regardless of your place of birth, we must all band together and speak out against the wrongs that are being committed every day across these United States. And that's where I stand. Thank you, Mr. President.
You're welcome. Thank you for that clarification. Uh thank you for speaking up uh on the behalf of uh undocumented uh communities, Hispanic community. Um unfortunately the
individual who spoke about it didn't get an opportunity to hear you uh talk about what you did at the PAC etc. uh in furtherance of u having Latinos understand their rights in the event of
a of a raid. Um also after the meeting is also an opportunity to further engage with uh the mayor or his administration. Um but they seem to depart early. Uh that would have been a good opportunity
to perhaps uh have direct engagement. So, we do encourage that uh engagement uh in and whenever the residents need us. Uh we're here and we certainly want to engage. So, all right. With that, uh
motion in a second to adjurnn the meeting. Second. All those in favor say I. I. Meeting adjourned.