[music] [music] She said everybody status. >> All right. Good evening all. We will begin the city of Pleasant Reorganization meeting. Today's date is January the 5th, 2026. The time is
currently 6:02 p.m. I need a motion. Uh the sunshine statement says this meeting has been duly advertised in the city's uh newspaper in performance of the uh New Jersey Open Public Meeting Act. We will
stand for invitation and the flag salute. I will have uh house. We tast of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation
with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call. February >> here. >> Thomas >> present. >> Pamona >> present. >> Clay >> present. >> Oldby >> present. >> Battis >> present. >> Grant
>> here. The motion to adjourn is sine. >> I have a motion. I mean motion. >> Motion second. >> All in favor. >> Right. First in the agenda the swanning of council person Victor Kimona and
James Barlay. We will start with Councilman Simone. Yeah, >> repeat after May I state your name? I, Victor Kamona, >> do solemnly affirm >> do solely affirm >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States
>> I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> the constitution of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith of allegiance >> that I will bear true allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and the government >> and the government >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and in this state
>> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> the authority of the people >> and that I will faithfully >> and I will faithfully >> and partially >> and partially and justice >> and justice >> perform justly I'm sorry >> justice >> perform all the duties >> and perform all the duties >> of the office >> of the office >> of councilman
>> of councilman >> of war two >> of war two >> congratulations >> thank YOU [applause] all right next we will have a [snorts] on the palace of mid. All right. I say your name, >> James D. Barkley. do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear
>> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> and I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> as the government
>> and the government >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> and that I will faithfully >> and I will faithfully and partially >> and partially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties
>> perform all the duties >> of the office >> of the office >> councilman of war one >> of as councilman of war one >> congratulations [applause] [applause] all right next we will have uh the election of council president Now we
open up the floor for nominations. >> I nominate second. >> Are there any other nominations? Seeing nothing. >> Move the close of nomination. >> Okay. >> So that's the second go around. Third
time. Are there any other nominations on the floor? >> Okay. >> We got you here. >> Seeing none, I need a motion to place on resolution number one- 20226, a resolution appointing caller Thomas as
president, council president for the city of Pleasure. So, >> second motion. >> Roll call. Joanne. >> Yes. Thomas, >> yes. >> Pomona, >> yes. >> Barlay, >> yes.
>> Overby, >> yes. >> Vettis, >> yes. >> Swepson, >> yes. >> It has been moved. Congratulations. [applause] Come down while we do the office board. Yeah. >> Oh god. All right. State after me. I your name.
I, Parliament Islands, >> do solemnly swear >> do so solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance
>> I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> to the governments >> and the governments >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people that I will faithfully >> that I will faithfully
>> and partially >> and partially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of the office >> of the office >> of city >> of city >> the pleasantville >> pleasantville >> council president >> council president >> congratulations
[applause] [snorts] Next, we would have the mayor's message for Mayor Judy M. Ford. >> Thank you. >> Good evening, Abby. >> Good evening. >> Hear me? Right.
I'd like to start by you all can hear me, right? >> Okay. I'd like to start by wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and safe new year to you and your family. Congratulations to the newly sworn in council people and council presidents that we have. To all of our employees,
thank you. Thank you for the work that you all do. You are appreciated and your work doesn't go unnoticed. Thank you also to those that volunteer for different boards which has been very important to the city of Pleasville. You have tough decisions to make. You're
volunteering your time and we appreciate you for doing that and it can be very very timeconuming. I offer condolences to the families of all the employees and retirees that we have lost in the past year. Paul Jerkens, our construction office, Larry
Scott in public works, and Clifford Blackwell in public works. To all the retirees, I wish you a happy and healthy retirement, and thank you for the many years of service that you dedicated to our cities. Makiato Belton, our UE
coordinator, Sergeant Steven Sample, captain of the police department, and Thomas Sicowski, Sergeant Francisco Carrera, and three disability retirements, Victor Nelson, Marcus Wear, and Jonathan Figerella. May
you all have a long, healthy, happy retirement. and our finance department. The city assessed valueuation was 792 billion16,700. Our tax collection rate is 99.15%.
And that that's excellent. That is really excellent that we're able to collect that way. Excuse [clears throat] me. The county portion of the tax was 66. The school tax was $1.30. and the city was $345.
The other the others was costs such as ACUA, sewer, the CO money refund, and healthc care. Healthc care has been such a burden on our budget as it is in every municipality. Hopefully, with the talks
about the new legislation, we will get some kind of relief. But that's really, really been tough on us. in the fire department, Chief uh Kevin Benegas. And I just need to let you all know that the way that um that I when I do my reports, I reach out to all departments and ask
them for things that significant in their department so that I'll be able to share it with you. And these are some of the things that they uh let me know from the fire department. It was um in June in June 2025, the department hosted a
junior cadet camp which was very successful and it was really hard to determine who was more excited, the parents or the cadetses. They um had the um they had the um excuse me, they
if you don't know what I'm talking about, the cadet program is when they have the younger ones come in and just have like a camp Is he here? Is Chief is here. She is. >> Okay. But they just have a junior camp board with them. And what we're doing
the re the purpose of doing this is that we have a hard time recruiting. And by us doing this and getting them interested in it by the time they're out of school, high school, they'll be ready to, you know, see whether or not they're interested in this field. And it was
just overwhelmingly successful. And I hope we continue to do it every year. And we also had the fire department deliver a baby. So you see there's much more to our fire department than fighting fires. Operation Warm, they give out coats every year to the youth
and they also give out toys in uh December. In the police department, Stacy Schlacker is the chief. And in the she takes a group of children every year for Christmas shopping. They take a group of children for Christmas shopping. They bought pizzas for our
winter wonderland and had a Thanksgiving turkey give us. The police department was able to purchase an additional automated license plate reader to assist in detecting certain traffic violations and wanted persons as and wanted persons
as tool to stop problems. The department was also fitted for new computers for both the office and patrol vehicles to be in compliance with state and federal regulations. We currently have recruits in the police academy scheduled for March 2026
graduation. We also have promotions in October to Captain Brandon Stocks, Lieutenant Anton Sergeant Helen Leech, Juan Morillo, Pablo Solazano, and Cayman Pots. Also, officer
Michael Gamad and Tuco, our K9 team that graduated May 2025. Congratulations to them all. Many of you asked how many summons have been given. As of November, there was 300, excuse me, 3,235,
which is an average of 294 tickets per month. As far as calls for service, there was 48,32 averaging 400, excuse me, 4,391 per month. Parking enforcement summing
481 an average of 60 per month based on eight months this year due to medical and the construction code office. We realize um that we've been having a little you know we've been having issues there and we're just asking everyone to
be patient with as we work through this getting the positions filled with the retirements and all uh Pleasible Recreation Trina Dun supervisor one of the most exciting events of the summer in the Pleasant
this year was the grand opening of Lakes Bay Unity Park the ribbon cutting with Melbourne and along with the splash pad food truck DJ. That was all the beginning of an action-packed summer. Our engineer CME
was given an award at the New Jersey League of Municipality in November for the best project for the park. We have installed a safety fence around the park for uh security and camera fixing to follow.
The summer sports and camp had great participation. Softball was really catching on with about 60 participants this past summer. Approximately 100 youth participated in soccer and the botney program has increased its enrollment along with track and field
participants. George Resto [clears throat] made movies under the stars possible in the park. Our annual trunk or treat winter wonderland Easter egg hunt were all successful. However, due to the
floor and the roof and need of repair at the gym, we were unable to have the basketball program as we did in the past, but it will resume once the work is complete. Senior citizens advisory board held the spring fling in May and the Christmas
party in December. They were both very well attended and are always free of charge to any Pleasantville resident over 60 years old. This year, the VA hosted a holiday appreciation party for the employees as
a morale booster. This was the first employee party in at least 12 years that we've had. All that attended had a great time and it was none, zero, no expense to the taxpayers at all. And public
works through Ee funding, we were able to purchase three sweepers, three street sweep for our main street area. Soon there will be a mural on the wall behind the cathedral of the bus terminal to hide that eyesore that everyone talks
about. And on Green Street was scheduled to have that theme. The street lights and poles between Milan and Washington Avenue that I get a lot of calls for on the east east side will be repaired. >> [clears throat] >> They will be repaired soon. And coming
in 2026, the former Greyhound bus terminal on Route 9 will become New Jersey American Water Company. The property across from the Pleasantville Recreation Center at Brighton Avenue and Route 9 will be town homes. And look forward to four-way stops on
Franklin Boulevard along with the painted crosswalks. The new road and Rididgewood Avenue property will become T hardware. That lot has been sitting there unfinished for so long and I can't wait to see a thriving business there as you leave uh
Pleasantville or New York coming into Pleasantville or leaving Pleasantville. We are still in discussions with Spy Glass to develop the Lakes Bay area. And last year this time, we will have a business administrator and a chief
financial officer. And luckily, those two positions are now filled with qualified employees doing a great job. And we're concentrating on filling all of our positions and being whole. As mayor, it is my [clears throat] honor to serve this great city. It takes a
dedicated council, committed department heads, hardworking employees, and engaged residents who care deeply for our community. I thank you all and I ask you to continue to be engaged. May God bless us all and God bless Pleasantville
and United States of America. [applause] >> [applause] >> Thank you, mayor. Um, next we have um resol resolution number two appoint um president pro any motions.
>> I have um councel over you make a motion. I'm going to make a motion for council over second. >> Second. >> Any other um [clears throat] nominations? See?
Anyone else? >> Nominations close. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Second. >> Yeah. Second roll call. >> Yes. Thomas, >> yes. >> Cabona,
>> yes. >> White, >> yes. >> Orisby, >> yes. >> Daddis, >> yes. >> Swepson, >> yes. >> Resolution has been approved appointing Charles Ogresby, senior as the pro tent for the city of Pleasantville for year
2026. Resolution three, appointing a council person to the planning board. I make a motion for uh council woman. Second. >> Any other nominations? >> Any other nominations?
>> Close. >> Ask for a second. >> Ask for a little ask for a second. >> Second. >> Second by Councilman Carmona. Roll call. >> Creo. >> Yes. >> Thomas. >> Yes. >> Pomona. >> Yes.
>> Clay. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Thomas. >> Yes. Swepson. >> Yes. >> Resolution approved number 3-2026 appointing Joanne Femala as member of the Pleasville planning board for 2026.
Next is resolution four approving the schedule of meetings for the city council for year 2026. >> I have a motion. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> Call. >> Yes. >> Thomas. >> Yes. >> Simona. >> Yes.
>> Clay. >> Yes. speak. >> Yes. >> Bettis, >> yes. >> Sweepson, >> yes. >> Resolution approved. Resolution five, designating the official location of the public notices and legal notices for the city of Pleasantville, which would be
the city's website and the press of Atlantic City. And there's the amendment. We made a few changes to state. It's in your resolution. It states the press of Atlantic City, but it should be first the website and then the press.
This is pursuant to the 2020 to the new law effective January 2026. >> Thank you. Modification. >> Thank you. >> May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> Call.
>> Yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Clang, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Bettis, >> yes. >> Swson, >> yes. >> Resolution approved. Resolution six, designating the cash management plan for the year 2026. May
>> I have a motion? >> Motion. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Wilmo, >> yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Savona, >> yes. >> Mlay, >> yes. >> Orby, >> yes. >> Bettis, >> yes. >> Sweptson, >> yes. >> Resolution approved. Resolution seven,
appoint Agnes Howard, Senator Dowy, and Linda Carrington as members of the senior citizens advisory board. I have a motion. >> Motion. May I have >> a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Pona, >> yes.
>> Clay, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Bettis, >> yes. >> Swson, >> yes. >> Resolution approved. Are any of those individuals I called here? >> Thank you for your commitment. Resolution 8 appointing Jaclyn Belton,
Dr. Thomas Milum, Marian Jones, and Victor Kimona as members of the Economic Development, Tourism, and Special Event Advisory Committee. >> I have a motion. >> Motion. >> May I have a second? >> Second.
>> Yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Simona, >> yes. >> Clay, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Bettis, >> yes. >> Swepson, >> yes. >> Motion approved. Any of those individuals? Council >> resolution nine import and Zita Negron
as member of the Pleasville Housing Authority. >> We have a motion. >> Motion. >> We have a second. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Yes. >> Thomas. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Barlay. >> Yes. >> Obsby. >> Yes. >> Bettis. >> Yes.
>> Swepson. >> Yes. Resolution approved. Is Miss Negro here? [clears throat] Okay. Next, resolution 10 of pulling in Alan Madden, Corin Brown, and Corey Hicks, Corin Brown, and
Cy Hicks as members of the zoning board of adjustment. >> I have a motion. >> Motion. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Favo, >> yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Click. >> Yes. >> Orisy,
>> yes. Bettis. >> Yes. >> Swepson. >> Yes. >> Resolution approved. Are those interventions that fall here? >> Okay. Please stand so that >> thank you for your commitment.
Resolution 11 of Port and Tire German as member of the Pleasantville Green Club. >> May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> May I have a second? >> Second. Roaro, >> yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Pona, >> yes.
>> Clay, >> yes. >> Ogusy, >> yes. >> Bettis, >> yes. >> Sweepson, >> yes. >> Resolution approved. Is Miss German here? >> No. >> Next. Resolution 12, appointing Floor Roman as tax searcher for year 2026. May >> I have a motion?
>> I have a second. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Filero. >> Yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Colona, >> yes. >> Barllay, >> yes. Agresby, >> yes. >> Bettis, >> yes. >> Swepson, >> yes.
>> Resolution 13, appoint Roman as sewage clerk for the year 2026. >> I have a motion. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Pomona, >> yes. >> Or Clay, >> yes. >> Ogusby, >> yes.
>> Bettis, >> yes. >> Swepson, >> yes. >> Miss [clears throat] Roman here. Moving along. Resolution 14. >> Oh, she floor you. >> Resolution 14 authorizing the 2026
temporary budget for the current time. >> May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Femalo. >> Yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Kimona, >> yes. >> Mlang, >> yes.
>> August, >> yes. Fettis, >> yes. >> Swepson, >> yes. >> Resolution approved. Resolution 15, authorizing 2026 temporary budget for the sewer fund. >> May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll.
>> Febero, >> yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Pabona, >> yes. >> Clay, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Bettis, >> yes. >> Swepson, >> yes. >> Resolution approved. Next, I will be announcing the mayor's
appointments for the planning board. We have Mona Tally, we have Julie W Rambo, Irma Karen, and Shannon Phillips. Lastly, I need a motion to approve RA license.
>> May I have a motion? >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Peer. >> Yes. Thomas, >> yes. >> Kabona, >> yes. >> Or Clay, >> yes. >> Augustine, >> yes. >> Bettis, >> yes. >> Swepson, >> yes.
>> Resolution. Next is public portion. >> Is there anyone that would like to speak that haven't signed in? >> That's it. I saw someone move. I didn't want to.
We have David. I just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year and congratulations to the two council members who just sworn in this evening. And I would like for 2026 to
really move I would like for the administration and city council to continue to work together to get some positive things done here. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [applause]
>> I have a motion to close public portion. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Mayor, do you have any comments? >> And I just like to wish thank you all for coming out tonight. Wish you all a happy new year. Happy, safe, and healthy new year.
>> Bless you. >> Thank you for counsel. Yeah, >> I want to thank everybody for giving me another opportunity for three more years. Appreciate it. Thank you. I'll do my best make the city a little bit
better. Thank you and God bless. Uh good to everyone. I [clears throat] want to first begin by thanking God uh for making this day to come to pass. And I want to thank the people of Pleasantville for stepping
over the bridge while you are doing America is being copied all over the country. Uh today a relative from my village area was suing as mayor for daddy in Pennsylvania. So because they saw
Blessingville accommodating immigrants, everyone is following suit. So I want to say thank you to people of Blessingville and I want to recognize my wife and say thank you. We started this journey very long time. Will you stand please? [applause] We started this journey since after the
civil war in our country and she's always giving me the time to use the family time to run community business. I also want to recognize the representative of the African community here Dr. Ajari. Thank you for coming. [applause] And I want to I think I saw Ian here and
I want to recognize him and say thank you for coming and we wholeheartedly welcome you as a council and to the citizens and everybody else here my children and my in-laws back there. If you are there let us see the man Paul please can you stand please are you there? [applause] So, thank you to everyone and happy to
be a blessing. Again, we look forward to making a better change for our community this year. Thank you all. [applause] >> Okay, >> I apologize. I forgot I have my wife. [applause]
my son here give me support and my mother from my church. I also have my pastor here, Pastor Angel Manis. He's up on my chair giving me support. [applause] >> And my granddaughter, [laughter] >> I know 2026 is a prosperous and good
year for the city of Pleasantville. It's looking like that right now. So, let's check back in another 360ome days. >> We're just going to forge ahead and we're going to do the right thing and Pleasantville is going to be a great place to live and we're going to put the
Pleasantville keep the Pleasantville back in the >> All right. [applause] Um, if we have our professionals here this evening, could you please stand [applause] new professionals and we have some
professionals that, you know, um, that are repeats, but I want to say thank you for all your work and everything that you do to help us move Pleasantville in the right track. So, thank you all once again. >> Thank you. [applause]
>> Um I want to say to the mayor, administration, and all the staff um you know, for the city of Pleasantville that um 2026 um we have a lot of work to do. We have to continue on moving the city forward.
And um I want to say, you know, thank you, you know, to my colleagues and to all the staff and administration and mayor, you know, for um the great relationships that we we build together to, you know, make sure that we stay on
the right path and the right track to move this city. So to my colleagues, thank you all again for um voting for me. Um, Councilman Barkley, Councilman Carmola, congratulations, you know, on you all's victories. And,
um, mom and dad, thanks for coming out. [applause] And, um, you know, I just want to say, um, have a happy new year to you all. And >> get wig. >> Where's the wig? Oh, in the corner.
Your wife [applause] didn't even you know where you stand back there. >> Yes. Yes. >> May I have a motion to have a second?
>> All in favor? >> Good night everyone. >> [music]