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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=vWXH9L5sSzY

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[music] [music] Good evening everyone. This is the city council work meeting. Today is July the 20th. 2026 and the time is 6:30 p.m. This is this meeting has been duly

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advertised in the city newspapers in conformance with the open public meetings act otherwise known as the sunshine law please >> presson >> present >> Thomas

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>> present five in attendance for the Heard Councilman Dennis is on vacation and Councilman Barklay uh he has an emergency that they has to take. Next. May I approach?

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>> May I have a second? >> Huh? Nice. >> Okay. >> Who? >> Scott. First on the agenda is ordinance number seven, second reading amendment varies

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ordinances of the city of any questions. Council >> see none. Ordinance number eight, first reading, amending chapter 235, article two of the city code entitled sewers and sewer

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disposal. >> Any questions, council? See none. >> Ordinance number nine, first reading authorizing the amendment to the municipal code to add the title of public health planner. >> Any questions, council? [clears throat]

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Seeing none, resolution number 137 authorizing a municipal budget to be read by title only at the public hearing. Public hearing will be held in regular session. >> Question council.

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>> Resolution number 138 authorizing a settlement through the joint insurance fund. >> Any questions council? Resolution number 139 authorizing an agreement for redemption of municipal tax title leans

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for block 700 block 7.01 qualifying B01. >> Any questions council seeing none >> resolution number 140 authorizing the assignment of municipal lean certificates to opportunity 2 LLC.

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>> Any questions council? Resolution number 141, appointing a contact person to access the GIF employment practices liability helpline. >> I have a question Mr. VA for this. >> Yes,

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>> you were already appointed right? >> I'm sorry >> for resolution 141. >> So at the wall 141. So it's the appointing contract person. Yes. >> Well, you are ready to

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>> No. >> Any other questions? Council being >> resolution number 142 authorizing participation in the New Jersey Sheriff's Municipal Customer Assistance Program.

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>> Any questions, council? Seeing none. Resolution number 143 authorizing execution of an amendment modification number one to a grant agreement with the New Jersey Department of Transportation to include final design activities

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additional funding for the SRTS-2022 Pleasantville School Transportation Project. Can >> you give that explanation on this one? So this this is the project that we were on

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around the stop signs and >> resolution number 144 authorizing a notice to proceed to CME Associates for engineering services for the West Windsor Avenue and Richmond Avenue improvements project in the amount of

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73,000. Any questions, council? Seeing none, >> resolution number 145 authorizing personnel transactions in the [clears throat] city of Pleasantville for July 2026.

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Any questions? Council see >> [laughter] >> Just a minor modification on fire to be as fire officials rather than fire official rather than fire offic.

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just going to change. Good evening. >> The check register one towards the middle of the page. Alaska County Treasurer 13 count 9469 and that's for fuel.

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Um, we also want to turn over to page two. And um, if we looked at the bottom of the page, we had last utilities $9,100.

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page three. If you look um at the [clears throat] third item down from page 349,000 and that is the excuse me the main group

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that excuse me >> I'm sorry. Oh, >> how many pages? >> This is um this is where it says in the top check register by gender the top in the middle of the page.

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>> You guys are looking at the purchase order. This is >> five. >> You have 10 via email also. So now if we look [clears throat] at the purchase order listing,

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we're looking at page one. If you go towards the bottom of the page, the third item up is $8,9487 and that is repairs to um fire engine

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one. That's for the fire department. If we look at page two, towards the bottom of the page is the sixth item from the bottom and this is a Ben Franklin once Ben Franklin plumbing that's 11,42312

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and that is for the rec center and these are um insurance proceeds page And we have again the second item on page three troller electric

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that was for electrical work data heater $100,37148 and again these are insurance. Any questions? Mayor discussion council. >> I have a motion to close for session.

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>> Motion. >> We have a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? Good evening everyone. This is the city council meeting. Today is July the 20th, 2026 and the time is 6:41

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p.m. This meeting has been duly advertised in the city newspapers and proposed for the Open Public Meetings Act, otherwise known as the Sunshine Law. Please stand for

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invocation and you want to follow your prayer, please. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God

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indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Oste >> Swepson >> Gibson >> present >> Thomas >> present in attendance. >> May I have a motion to dispense previous minutes?

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>> Motion. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> May we have anything this evening? I do not. Let's public. >> First we have Missing [clears throat]

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Council. Um, I came to address the issue about the rec center travel team. Last time I talked to Mr. Laws when he told me he was just going to get back with me in two weeks was August the

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30th. These kids went undefeated. We paid Last year we paid $50. This year we paid $100 plus we had a popcorn raising fun. And these kids don't even [clears throat] have a banquet this year. We've been waiting here about a

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banquet or a slice of pizza in somebody's backyard or something. What's going to be done about it? >> So, they didn't get a participation, no trophies, nothing. A lot of kids moving

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on to different high schools. >> So, your correct exactly what happened. However, um as I explained to you, I needed you to talk to them as I was scheduling it. We still have the money. Um

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>> you talking about Toy? >> Yes. >> Okay. You told me that you was going to talk to Toys. No, no, the the direction was for you and for you to get together that you because you said you wanted to >> we wanted to do show book, but that was out the question because y'all wasn't

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going to cut the man in there a check for uh fertuitity or whatever it was. But that's not our job. >> You know what I'm saying? We made arrangements. We could even did a bowling party. Y'all just whoever is in charge just didn't acknowledge them kids

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at all. And that's where I'm at. you know, Troy need to do her job, but that she's in charge of it. That she need to do her job. I'm not going to do the footwork. You know, I've been through been there through the whole season. Okay? So, somebody needs to come from behind the desk and do something before

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these kids go back to school and that's where I'm at with Thank you. >> But just for clarification, there was a um a banquet schedule >> for her. Okay. Now, as soon as you put it out here, all right, most of these

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parents have three and four kids like on different levels and kids at home. And then they ask for the kids to dress up. A lot of these kids might don't even have dress up clothes. On top of that, you wanted an extra $50 a person beside the player to come to the banquet. So,

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some people would have had to pay $200 to come see them, you know, have and I called the place. It was a chicken patty, rice pe off, and a vegetable medley. That's who they was giving up. And I'm just keeping it real. Who's going to pay? And what are kids going to do in a country club for two hours?

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Wasn't no type of um activity or nothing. Eat and then just get the trophies and go when we could had a bowler party. Got to had a place um the little thing had a cake and gave the awards out. Let them kids play in the bowl. We want country club. And whose

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idea was that? That's a whole another that's a whole another story right here. You know what I'm saying? But um it's about these kids for real. >> It's about the kids and something need to be done. >> Okay. I don't knowbody else was here to speak up for them, but I'm here going to

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be here until y'all give these kids a banquet. They want trophies in that team that went undefeated. The eighth graders, they was winning all games from all over the place by 35 or more. Nobody touch them. You know what I'm saying? He deserve rings. They on Amazon for 3.98.

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these these Super Bowl rings. They just want something to be acknowledged for their for what they did, the commitment even though and they all practiced in one gym, three teams on half court and they still did their thing. Now, Mr. Long, you were saying something.

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>> I was just saying >> they went undefeated. They played everybody. No, I'm just >> saying the um the championship at our township went. We beat them once. >> Okay. >> But they beat everybody else. >> Okay. But maybe their spirit was broke

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because they wasn't being acknowledged. >> Any other saying what? I'm speaking on behalf of Miss Britney. Um I'm at 117 Avenue here in Pleasville, New Jersey. Um I'm a former Maze Landing resident, but I currently

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reside here now. Um my kid currently pays for a track here in the city of Pleas where they are extremely incredible. Um again, they are not given the credit that they deserve 110%. Um, I myself as well as a lot of the

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parents and volunteer coaches have put up a lot of time, effort, and money to make sure that these kids show up, have the snacks, the transportation, everything that is needed for them out of our own pockets, selffunded trapped.

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I sat in your school board meeting for six hours and they didn't even want to speak to me. Said that I wasn't a resident, but I am. This isn't school. >> This isn't the school. >> I understand. But what I'm saying is I've come like, you know, you don't get a good body by showing up to the gym one

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time. You get a good body by coming and you show up every single time. [clears throat] So whatever I have to do for these kids, I'm going to show up every single time because they deserve more. The city of Pleasantville, again, I've never come to a city board meeting because I don't know anything about it. I'm not into politics. I'm into

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fairness. I'm into what the kids deserve. And I know that you guys all understand where I'm coming from because we all been here. Okay? I'm not from an urban community. I'm more of a suburb girl, but I was raised half my life in an urban community as a weekend kid. So,

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I know all about it. They deserve more. I think everybody up here knows that I don't have to come here and cry for the support. It's needed. We can't even get a coin drop. You know how much money is out here in the city of Public Corners? You know how many much money is at the

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corners for these for the city of Pleasantville? You know how many coin drops I ran in Summers Point, Ocean City, Maze Landon? We need more support. The ruck it starts here. They didn't come. The the ruck is a poem. I can't go yell at them and say, "Hey, why can't we

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get these this fundraising? You know how many things that I've come up with that would give us a ton of money, a ton of sponsorship? These people don't want to sponsor us because there's no paperwork." I understand that the wreck was on fire. I'm trying. I I understand that. >> But there's got to be something that

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somebody can give me so that I can get us what we need here. I am the vessel that's needed. You understand what I'm saying? We're holding a a a a august 15th, we're holding a huge event here in Pleasantville, the city of Pleasantville, giving back one of the

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biggest free events. I'm talking free health care screenings for the children here that are underinsured and have no insurance. >> Who's doing this? >> So, I have it right here for you guys. >> You see this? I'm a I'm the top board member on this. >> Can you give us um >> I actually Here you go. Well, we're

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looking for a millions of sponsor and not even sponsorship. >> Is this for the track team? >> This is not for track. I'm kind of like blending everything in here. But I have just as many sponsors for track as I have this. But I can't get it because I don't have paperwork. I can't get the money because I don't have the paperwork. See what I'm saying?

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>> Using Miss Britney questions. What paperwork are you asking? >> Any that the 501 any kind of paperwork that can say, "Hey, this is a nonprofit self-funded." The [clears throat] paperwork again, I may not know all the special terms, but I can get it to you by the next meeting. Um because I'm not educated in that way.

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>> Get it to us before the next meeting. Absolutely. >> So, we're municipality by the fault of nonprofit organization. So, we don't have any nonprofit designation [snorts] municipality seems like the jokers and

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even you're from the Knights too. So remember from out there >> even um the Knights organization and the Joker organization both kind of operate the same way. We are individually nonprofit organization. So if you're doing something for the football team

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then of course you use your nonprofit. If it's anything for the municipality, it will go to our rec center, right? And they can apply for whatever uh grants you want to apply for. You can also have if you're trying to do something at the rec center you're trying to do at the

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rec center or something like that, then you can raise money right through rec center. >> So my question is how like if you could just give me a little bit of knowledge because again I'm not too too familiar because I haven't done all of this but again I will get the information for you in the next 48 hours. Um, I want to do a

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car wash. I want to do a coin drop. I want to do other things that I have in my mind. >> But there's nothing to preclude you from doing any. >> So, what I was told by the city of by the Pleasantville Recreation Center that pretty much in a nutshell, we can't do any of this because of this paperwork.

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Again, I don't know who's in like, you know, it comes here. I'm just I'm at the bottom of the totem pole just trying to be the vessel. I don't know who to when I get shut down because they say it's the city and I show up here and then I don't know who I'm supposed to speak to. >> Just do me a favor.

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>> Okay. So, also um splash pad. I think everybody want to hear about the splash. >> Great. >> So, Bobby, I'm supposed to come see you, Coach Law. just seeing and I'll tell you exactly. >> Okay. And I'm still going to get the paperwork that I was told and I'm going

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to give it to whoever in 48 hours. >> Next we have Mr. Carrington. >> Good evening. Um >> last year sometime um the community was sent surveys

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um as to what they would like to see at Park Avenue at the Joker school in particular. >> Max. >> Okay. The max. >> Okay. All right. Um

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what is the status of u the field the turf at the field at uh for the jokers? I I understand that um it it's a rumor out there that um we're not getting the turf the church field. What's the status

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on that? >> So baby, if you can just ask all your questions and then after your time's up, then we'll answer. >> Okay. So All right. Okay. All right. Um, that's one thing. All right. Uh,

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where are we with our taxes? Our home our our our um property taxes. Um, they're going up. They're going up, right? And, um, we pay almost as much taxes, property taxes as our neighboring

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cities. Okay. And what are we getting for it? >> Okay. um what the value of our homes. I mean, where are we with uh making an attempt in lowering our property taxes?

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>> Okay. >> Um I guess you'll answer that >> when I uh when I'm done. Okay. Those are the only two things. >> So, we actually have a budget hearing tonight. So this will go over those numbers and

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then um Bobby would you like to answer the first question about the >> sure yeah the the rumors is correct the turf field was denied by DP um the DP has denied all to pay for all turf fields in New Jersey since the

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administration um for administration obviously didn't have a problem with it but this one you know obviously does uh they did this letter saying that we were denied um [clears throat and cough] for the Turk field. However, we do have

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the opportunity to go back that same grant money to redo the field completely with grants. So that's the plan. So why would we deny? Because they won't do any more turf. They don't want to pay for any more turf fields in the state of New Jersey because they feel as though they

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should be paying more grass, not for more grass. Okay. And when was this decided? Because first of all, I see this guys got new turf. Dolphins are getting this year into field this year. So, so the

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Dolphins uh um grant and even the stuff that they did for Pleasants and then you finally see the product two years later. So, both of those fields that Pleasible is doing and one for the Joe and one for the Greyhounds were all

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in work. prior to this administration. So there's no looking there are no grants out there that will So I am looking I am definitely looking for some more grants to see if there's another way. In fact, I've actually contacted the sentum different type of turf would

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be better served um and allow moisture to go through and stuff like that. Not have to do with the with the ground. Um and their position on it is okay, we'll approve it, but we're not going to pay for it. And so that's the boat we're in now. So at least we can interp

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uh there's a USA uh football grant as you probably know where they take a percent they'll take a percentage of it but you got to get approved for that which we were applying for at the same time as long it's not going to pay for the whole thing. So we have to find a grant that

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will match that. In the meantime I definitely get to do [clears throat] >> so what we're going something. >> Yeah, the state turned it down. So, but you just said something that you said that uh

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about the turf build that you have another type of turf. >> There's a different type of >> Oh, there's a different type of turf. Um uh the the new turf that they've come out with is the turf that would allow uh the soil and stuff like that underneath

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not to be damaged and the vegetation not to be damaged. >> I understand that. So, but is this under the would this be funded under the state? Again, we would have to go back to the state. >> The state is saying they're going to do nothing. >> So, no, this new type of ter where will we get funding for that? >> That's what I'm [clears throat] saying.

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We're looking for new grants to try and um to do something like that. However, D said they'll allow us to install it, but they're not going to pay for it, >> right? So, we can get it. >> We can get it if we can, >> but they're not going to give us money. >> They're not going to give us money for us. >> So, what are we doing about restoring

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the field? What are we doing about restoring the field? So that's that's you said we have to go for more um grant money. Well, we have enough money to the field to play this year. >> Okay. We already have a grant for that and the bleachers. The bleachers the

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field and there >> all thanks. Well, my question about the property tax. >> So, you just mentioned the bleachers and stuff will be done, right? What is the date for that? But I heard these bleach these bleachers have not been done since we mentioned in committee a while ago.

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What? >> I'm not his question. >> Yeah. So I was >> it's so I don't have an exact date of completion. We don't have that yet but we're just waiting on Kyrie and um uh

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the uh contractor to set the date >> is the fund approved for the approved. >> All right. So we should have that by the next meeting. We have a date when these plates are going to be finished. All right. Thank you. for our next um

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committee meeting. We had to buy our next committee meeting because that is something that we've been hearing about for a while. The bleach thing. >> Yeah, we had to secure. >> Well, we have it now. >> We have. >> Next, we have Dave Curtis.

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>> Am I saying that right? Next we have Dora Edmond. Good afternoon. >> Good evening. >> Okay, first of all, I want to know what happened to the U

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part that everything died. >> Anybody seen it? >> I answer. >> Yeah. Uh, what happened was, if you notice, we had construction down there with the sewer line. So what happened was the uh sprinkler system was disconnected.

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>> Okay. >> So therefore that's where everything died. But we are working to get now we're getting the sprinkler system back up. So they put the fertilizer and all that stuff down. But that's the reason why it died because they had to disconnect our sprinklers to put in if you see the road that's down there and all that. All construction was gone. So

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we couldn't have our sprinklers. That's why it died. And but we will get that back up once our construction project is done. >> That's why it died there. I knew that >> I live at um on Wright Street right at Edgley Avenue. Okay. Everything in there

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looks the same. >> I don't know what kind of chemical that they put down there. Okay. >> Take a ride and see. >> Right. And where? I'm not >> You don't know where? >> No, I'm saying like what you talking about grass? >> Yes. Not only my

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whole lot of houses looking just like they look they put some type of a chemical whether it was on your black top underneath your black top or what. Okay. The houses my house down there down

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there houses all the grass has turned not just in the uh memorial. I I wouldn't be familiar why the houses are doing that. >> Do what? >> I wouldn't be familiar why the houses are doing that. >> I'm telling you. >> Okay. >> What type of uh chemical that they use

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in Summers Point? They did their roads up there. They did uh well, Shore Road, Main Street, completely paid, but nobody's grass is all died out like it is over where we are. >> Sure. For the last week, week and a

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half, when I wake up in the [clears throat] morning, I got a headache. And right now, still, I have a sore. [cough] Okay. Chemicals. They put something down there. I don't know whether it was on top of your black top or underneath.

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Okay. I talked to somebody and they said there is a chemical that goes down. The people that live at the corner of White Street, right in front of that They had hedges all around. Not no more.

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>> No hedges there now. I stopped to talk to them, but nobody was home. So, I guess that they died and they had to take them up. Just like the veterans part did. Somebody needs to look into this. >> It's not just my house, it's all the

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houses up to uh Anby Boulevard, Prospect Avenue, Right. street from Prospect down. Every every one of our houses, the grass is all brown. I've been there almost 40 years. Never

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seen this. We need to be compensated. Not saying by the city, but whoever your contractor is. Cuz this is ridiculous. Don't make no sense. You try to keep your stuff up and you get somebody in there that comes along and ruin it. And

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I guess Nick, this is this is too much. You know, you want to uh guess beautify, but you bring they bringing us down. They bringing us down. They don't care.

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They just want to do what they want to do so they can get started with that construction. So, I would really like for the city to look into that. [clears throat] >> Take a ride and see everybody's grace.

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>> Yeah. Just make sure you give Miss Edwards if you can give your number to Miss Denise. >> To Mr. who? >> Miss Denise. >> [laughter] >> Thank you. >> Next we have Tim Jones.

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Good evening everyone. Busy busy city. I just have a few questions regarding a few items on the agenda. Um item number three um ordinance number nine. What is the reason for adding that public health plan into the municipal code?

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>> So we're finding that uh well the city doesn't have a health and human services. Um because of that we're trying to get in the county uh for services. Unfortunately we it's been very difficult for services. So we decided to take matters into our

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own hands this way. Um in his position that would allow us to get certain grants um for things like veterans, seniors and a for the youth. But this is

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our avenue. this is our entree into getting services. So, we do have a grant writer that actually handles grants for like sewers and streets and and stuff, but we're going to, you know, making our way into trying to do the same thing for

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health and human services. >> So, so we're actually going to kind of take on the health and human services, but as part of our city, >> we have a m we have a major issue here. If you look at the bus center that, you know, it's major and uh we have to

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combat it the best way we know how >> and providing services to get people off the street is definitely a major goal. But at the same time, we can also do things like help out our um veterans. A lot of veterans, you know, end up homeless and and a lot of veterans are

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are struggling. So, this allows us to garner money for those guys, too. And like I said, the having that position makes us It's requires it's required for us to get any funds in that in that matter. If you look at the NJ health plan um just

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go to njalthpl.com uh I'm sorry.org um it will explain everything to you and all the things all the steps we have to go to to get that money but that salary is covered in through that grant. Thank you very much. Um another question is regarding item

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number six resolution 138. Um what is that a settlement of? What can be told about that? >> What can be told about it? What can be told about it? >> Okay. So this this arises out of the lawsuit from one of the police officers

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and um there's an allegation of disparit treatment based on protective class. There were no admissions of guilt. the trials settlement um which was negotiated without any fault of either

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party um and it's being funded through the GIF um with the deductible that the city has to pay for its insurance premium that was scheduled by our outside council. >> So that would be like that $5,000 deductible. >> It's 20,000.

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>> That's what the insurance deductible is every time. >> I'm going to take a make a statement. Let me let me just say this to you, Mr. Mr. um Jones. I just so that you just kind of understand this, right? Um the city is part of this joint insurance fund instead of being self-insured. If

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it were self-insured, it would have to come out of the budget through a selfinsured retention fund, right? And that means that every time someone sued you, regardless of whether you were liable, prevailed in the litigation or not, the city would have to fund that litigation.

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With the joint insurance fund, it's a policy that's like a pooling of various different municipalities. So, there's a premium that has to be paid. So, that deductible is the $20,000, but it pays for the defense and it also pays for any

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settlements, any jury verdicts. So, it typically there's an analysis that takes place every year to determine whether or not it's more cost effective to be part of the joint insurance fund or to be selfinsured. based on the number of lawsuits you have. So the city can't

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determine or can't predict how many people are going to sue. Certainly, right, you want to mitigate that by your actions, but you certainly can't determine it. So what happens is when they sue, you have to defend it. And then we have outside counsel, then we have the insurance company. And even sometimes when we want to press forward

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with the litigation, the insurance company once they make an offer or excuse me, once they accept an offer, if we don't accept that offer in certain circumstances, they will say if it goes to trial, if there is a jury verdict that exceeds the amount of that

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settlement that the insurance company has already indicated it wants to pay, then we're on our own. >> So some it also becomes a business decision. risk involved decisions. >> So that's kind of it in a nutshell. You know, >> thank you for that clarification on

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those matters, you know, um but as just citizens of our community, I think it's important for us to, you know, we don't have insight, of course, to what's going on behind the scenes in terms of who's suing the city. some of the suits and things happen to are justified, but I'm telling you

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the one other question I have. Will this um cause an increase in our premium in years forward because of the payouts that we're or settlements that we're making? >> I don't like your car insurance. >> Not not not unless it becomes over a certain threshold and that's one of the things that we have a broker that they

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go through the analysis, but not for this. >> Thank you. You know, we just want to make sure that people just don't come over with reasons to try to seek millions of dollars out of the city of Pleasantville and get away without being challenged by it because we as a community will challenge it.

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>> I'm sorry. >> Thank you, Mr. Next. We have Miss Alysia. Good evening everyone. Good evening. >> So, I do know that we're having the budget hearing later, but I did have a question. I don't know if I need to save

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it for later. It has to do with um what measures the city is taking on trying to hold the line on expenses including salaries which are always the biggest part of most budgets.

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uh making I want to know if there have been any um approved increases that have not been budgeted previously from last year's budget.

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>> And as far as our salary for we our contracts are up now. So we're in contract negotiations. So we can't tell you ask if it were anything other and above that has been approved that was not already considered

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>> because when we're in a situation with our taxes going up, everybody's got to tighten their belt like >> Thank you. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Next we have Miss

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>> I have a few things I wanted to say. First of all, I got some calls and I was told that the senior barbecue was a success and they enjoy the food and everything like that. The second thing I wanted to talk about was the bus

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station and the little tech city across from the credit union. >> Uh that's been cleaned up a couple days I think. Um, but I would like to know if

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they can have a greater police presence for that because the other day when I was taking my granddaughter to work, I turned my head to look because I wanted to see what was going on at the bus station and people are still sleeping over there and stuff, but I seen a man

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urinating in the public right by the bus station. Right. Right there. I think that's Yes, >> we got that, >> Mr. Brown. We uh we addressed that with our public safety committee and um we asked for the police chief to have

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patrol step up. So, they supposed to do a check out where they go there and they get out the car and they call it in. So, we not be trying to check the bus ter. But, we have high concerns on what was going over there and we're definitely trying to clean that up. So, we address that too with the police department. >> Okay. I think it looks Oh, I didn't know

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that. >> No, no, that's from advisor. I'm sorry. >> Um, I just think that it looks terrible for us when people are coming in and out of the city and getting off the bus there. I don't think that it's safe for the children that go to work like my granddaughter and get off at the bus

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stop or or to stop before. I don't think that's safe at all. And I hear um people are sleeping on [snorts] um the bike path. I'm not opposed to helping homeless people. Believe me, I'm not. But

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um we got to make it safe for us and our children. We've had rapes and broad daylight kids walking to school getting hit in the head with c hammers and stuff. So we don't want repeat performances of that. So we really need

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to take it seriously. The other thing I wanted to mention was um oh my wallet was stolen on July 10th at 61 street.

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Uh I came to city hall reported of course and I sat there and I did my call all my cards and cut them off. The gentlemen were very nice. They helped me um gave me the paperwork to

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fill out. But when I first came in, there was a lady sitting at the front. You said city hall, but you right here >> right here. I'm sorry. And um um and she told me to pick up the phone.

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So I picked up the phone and I guess I'm going to township dispatch. They called somebody who was right back there >> to come out and help me. like she couldn't do that. He gave me the paperwork to fill out. After he gave me the paperwork to fill out, he said,

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"Return this to the window when you're done." I took it to the window when I was done. She said, "Pick up the phone." So, why all the calls to dispatch? These are not 911 calls. I'm right here in the building with people that are helping me

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already that are everybody knows is in the building. Why do I have to call dispatch to tell them to come from from the back to the front? Is this is this how they're counting um uh calls, how many calls the city gets and how many officers they need? I

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thought it was a little ridiculous. >> Well, you said she said you talking about somebody at the window. >> Yes, there lady that sits there all the time. It's only one person. >> She was there and she told you the call. >> Absolutely. That's like somebody running in saying,

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"Help, help." They they trying to kill me and she said, "Pick up the phone." Instead of going to the back and telling who's ever back there, come out and help. >> Well, I'm quite sure the mayor is right now.

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>> Well, I just wanted to say it out loud because um that's that makes me nervous. It makes me nervous that maybe my granddaughter might be running up here for help like she did the last time and nobody was in

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there. She had to sit outside on the steps and hope that whoever that was that was following her. So y'all got to make changes. Like we pay a lot of taxes each and every year. Our taxes go up each and every year without fail. They go up. But the

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abandoned homes are not being addressed. Is grass growing up? fences. A man across from me just moved out June 23rd who moved to Texas and people from Third Street are dumping their trash all along his face. How do I know? Cuz I went over

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there and picked it up and looked at it. >> Not ready. >> And that's where the address is from. >> Mr. Renee, did you call um code force? >> No, I did not call for it from Duncan. Did you call police? I

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if if I had seen it, it wouldn't have happened. That's how I [clears throat] go. >> If I'm looking at it, you not gonna do it. But I did not see it. I saw it after the fact. >> That's why I said I walked across the street and picked it up and read it to see whose trash it was cuz it was um

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like all kind of trashes, bottles over there, cans over there. I don't know. I tried to call the real estate company and tell them go over there and cut the grass. It looks horrible. And I take good care of my yard. I don't like when I come outside. I I'm on a station. So,

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it got to be beautiful. That ain't beautiful to me. >> Okay. >> Miss Brown, I just want to thank you for the positive feedback from the um the >> Well, I try to get positive feedback when I can

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when I can. >> So, thank you. I just wanted you to know cuz I got phone calls on it and I wanted y'all to know that I received phone calls on it and what people say. >> Thank you. >> And the sewage for the seniors,

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y'all. It was 450. That's what it said in the chapter when I seen it and I posted it. It said 450 and now y'all want to raise it to 550 for that's the senior's discount like $10 or something? >> No. So the senior discount is always

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supposed to be $50 less than the standard discount. That's what we can deal with. So the state says that uh based on the same criteria that you have for um discounts on the taxes, it's the same criteria um for this discount on

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the u on the sewer. So >> if that's the case, it's always supposed to be $10. It was $60. >> No. So it doesn't >> because we were paying 510 >> and the thing said 450, >> right? It's not the amount, right? It's

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not the amount. Um what we did was we raised everything by the same 20% that we were faced with um from ACA. >> So as the sewer rate went up, we just passed that rate on to the rateayers because there's no way for us to fund

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that. Like we just don't have the additional money in our um coffers to to take care of that. So we had to the end user which is you know the sew on the sew on customers. So yeah that's why you seen the 20% angry. So what happened was

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the 20% went up on the seniors and on the regular residents so it just kept 50 bucks. >> Oh good >> that's why they changed it from 450. So that that was supposed to be in the

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original. Um that's why we're changing it because it was supposed to be in the original. It was a typo and we corrected it for this, you know, for this >> for a second. >> It's a second meeting. We had to correct it. But that's what what it was supposed to say. >> Oh, amended.

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>> So it was amended. So >> Okay. Just so people know because I feel badly when I tell people something and I go down here and I find out it's something different. Um, >> well, thank you for looking at it because I missed it and you caught it.

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And if I would have known unless you told us that I would still >> I didn't know I was catching anything. >> No, I know. I know. But it's a good thing. That's how that's how it's supposed to work, you know. >> Yeah, because my my >> Yeah. My thing was um >> that that's not all that it is. You

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don't just automatically get that discount. >> No, >> you have to be on social security. Well, it's a >> and you can't make more than $10,000 >> outside of your social security. >> It's my decision. That's the state. >> I know, but I'm just want to tell you

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cuz I don't want to misinform nobody and have them think that I'm just saying anything. >> I definitely appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. And I got a lot of feedback on the president of New Jersey page about the residents. I asked them about I spoke with them about cleaning up

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their properties. because nobody's cutting grass or in fact they pouring cement over the grass. Yes, sir. Okay. >> So, is that legal? >> Is that legal? >> Well, you could talk to uh Mayor Bobby. >> Is that legal?

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>> Well, one of us after the >> They can pour cement over their s over their grass. >> Come talk to Okay. I just want to know people are not supposed to park on the lawn, but it says in that you can't park on grass.

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So, they can park on their long. >> All right. That's Denise. This is the second reading. Ordinance number seven, amen various ordinances of the city of Pleasant. Anyone from the public would like to

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speak on ordinance number seven for the public hearing. Seeing no one from the public, may I have a motion to close the public hearing? >> May I have a second? Second. >> All in favor?

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I have a motion for ordinance number seven. Schwabson, >> yes. >> Gibson, >> yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Ordinance number seven approved. Ordinance number eight is first reading

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amending chapter 235 article 2 of the city code entitled sewers and storage disposal. May >> I have a motion? >> Motion. >> We have a second. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Kona. >> Yes. >> Swapson.

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>> Yes. >> Gibson. >> Yes. >> Thomas. >> Yes. Ordinance eight, approve to second reading. Ordinance number nine, authorizing an amendment to the municipal code to add the title of public health plan. >> Have a motion.

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>> Motion. >> Have a second. >> Second. >> Pomona. >> Yes. >> Oglesby, >> yes. >> Swapson, yes. Gibson, >> yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Ordinance is moving for second reading.

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Resolution number 137 authorizing a municipal budget to be read by title only at the public hearing. Ma'am motion >> motion >> made a second >> second >> yes

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>> yes >> swepson >> yes >> Gibson >> yes >> Thomas >> yes >> yes we >> you have to have them here >> the You're moving it to the end of the agenda, correct?

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>> Oh, okay. We can do that. Absolutely. >> Council, all in favor? >> So, the public hearing will be open at the end of the agenda reading. Next is resolution number 138 authorizing a settlement through the joint insurance fund. Do >> you have a motion?

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>> Motion. >> May have a second. >> Second. Rolla. Yes. >> Over. >> Yes. >> Swepson. >> Yes. >> Gibson. >> Yes. >> Thomas. >> Yes.

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>> Resolution number 139 authorizing an agreement for redemption of municipal te taxes for block 700 7.01 qualifier B1. May have a motion. >> May have a second.

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>> Pona. >> Yes. >> Oglesby. Yes, >> Gibson. >> Thompson. >> Yes. >> Resolution number 140 authorizing the assignment of municipal lean certificates to opportunity to LLC.

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>> May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. Kimona. >> Yes. >> Olesby. >> Yes. >> Swap. >> Yes. >> Gibson. >> Yes. >> Thomas. >> Yes. Resolution number 141, appointing a

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contact person to access the GIF employment practices liability helpline. I >> have a motion. Do >> I have a second? >> Second. >> Ma, >> yes. >> Yes. >> We >> Gibson,

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>> yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. Resolution number 142 authorizing participation in the New Jersey Shares Municipal Customer Assistance Program. >> May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> May I have a second?

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>> Second. >> Please. Kona, >> yes. >> Overby, >> yes. >> Sweepson, >> yes. >> Gibson, >> yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. Resolution number 143 authorizing execution of an amendment modification

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number one to a grant agreement with the New Jersey Department of Transportation to include final designs, activities, additional funding for the SRTS-2022 Pleasantville School Transportation Project.

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>> May I have a motion? >> I have a second. >> Second. >> Roll, please. >> Corona. >> Yes. Yes. >> Sweepson, >> yes. >> Gibson, >> yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Resolution number 144

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authorizing a notice to proceed to CME Associates for Engineering Service Services for the West Windsor Avenue and Richmond Avenue improvements project in the amount of 73,000. >> I have a motion. >> Motion. May I >> have a second?

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>> Second. Brook, please. Correona, >> yes. >> Oglesby, >> yes. >> Sweepson, >> yes. >> Gibson, >> yes. >> Thomas, yes. >> Resolution number 145 authorizing personnel transactions in the city of Pleasantville for July 2026.

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>> I have the motion. >> Motion. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. Kona, >> yes. >> Ogles, >> yes. >> Swepson, >> yes. >> Gibson, >> yes. Thomas. >> Yes. [clears throat]

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>> Motion for the bill list. >> Motion to approve the bill. >> Have a second. >> Second. >> Pomona. >> Yes. >> Over. >> Yes. >> Swap. >> Yes. >> Gibson. >> Yes. >> Thomas. >> Yes. >> That's is the public hearing.

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Um, any members of the public? Madam Chair, >> yes. Mr. Carrington, want to ask your question? >> Yes. What's being done about our um property taxes? >> Stand up. >> Can you >> Can you stand up, Mr. Car, please?

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>> What's being done to to help lower our property taxes? Um, they're [clears throat] constantly going up. Now, we got to pay extra for a sewage bill. You know what? What are we doing? Well, as far as the sewage bill is concerned, um we pay the ACUA and they

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have their increases. So, we also um have to look into um increasing our sewage because they've had their increases uh for their structural um

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utilities. As far as the city's budget's concerned, what we're doing for the budget, we one of the things is that our revenues overall have pretty much remained flat as well as the uh ratables.

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So over the years we've had uh contract negotiations with all the unions and there are increases but this year with the increase that we've had overall and this is um state news all over the state as well has been

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with the healthc care and that has driven our uh taxes up. Um along with the mayor council and Mr. laws. We are looking for ways to save the money uh save the city tax monies and as well as

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finding new ratables for the city. Our ratables have pretty much remain flat but in cost continues to go up. For tonight's meeting, the purpose of tonight's meeting, we have to have the budget hearing because we introduced it.

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But uh today we received notification from the state to table it because later on we also have budget amendments and review notes from the state and hopefully that that's going to uh help a lot to where we are now. That's the best

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way I can explain it. >> You okay, Mr. >> Okay. Well, do you need something like do you want something specific in the budget? Because what's really hurt us in the budget this year has been the health benefit increase that went up what was

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it 36%. >> 36%. [clears throat] And that's everybody. >> Everyone's in the same boat and every municipality has asked the state for relief in that matter. Um we've actually gone to a difference car um program that

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saved us 1.6 million last year, but that rate after this year has gone up 71% I just found out last week. So it's a barrage of the state, you know, cut back and cut back on what they do for the municipalities. Uh it's the

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administration and and government here in New Jersey. I mean, if you guys watched her uh state of the state address, you know, she she talked about these things. She talked about the cuts that were about to be made. So, it trickles down. We're feeling it for

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sure, but uh the increases as the CFO mentioned in the sewer bill and in the uh insurance has been insurmountable. You know, taking 30 36% is very heavy. Well, when it helper, we

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cut back on the abatements. >> Well, the abatements actually >> 30 years, 20 years, 15 years. >> Actually help us because we get to keep we get to keep the whole >> But we're paying But we're paying the taxes. [clears throat] >> Excuse me. >> We're help supplementing the taxes.

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>> Oh, so piling is paying the taxes. So, they make us a payment to us and we get to keep the whole thing. We don't have to share it with the state, with the county. Well, you got to give the county 5% but other than that >> or you don't get anything.

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>> Come on. Um, >> if we don't do any redevelopment, if we don't offer some of these things to be competitive, Atlantic City's doing it out of Alarm Green and they're turning the corner. Um, I think we kind of have to do something because we don't have a whole lot of space to develop like

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Atlantic City does. There's a lot of, you know, property there. Um, there's a lot of room for us to make those increases. So we have we're naked when we can. But if we don't get the ratables, we're in the same boat next year and then the year after that and the year after that. Those those

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insurance rates aren't down. >> So we have to find ways to get more revenue into the city. >> I have a question. >> Can I excuse me? No, not yet. Not yet. Um David, are you okay?

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>> No, I'm not okay. But I I will revisit this. >> Okay. All right. >> Okay. the next floor. >> Before we um go any further, Scott, can you just um explain the process? >> Sure. >> Sure. [clears throat] >> Scott Baron from PKF Conor Davies. We're

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the city's outside auditing firm. Just want the process on how the budget is introduced. Everything, sir. So, the council puts together the budget. They introduced that back in June. The normal process is then you wait to receive uh examination questions from the state. The state reviews the budget every year.

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For some municipalities, they review it every third year. For the city, there's some urban aid that was received many years ago. The city's budgets were reviewed every year by the state, which in some ways then makes an easier process since they look at it every year around every third year. Normally, you we would receive those questions about a

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week in advance of the public hearing. Uh the states had a lot of turnover up at their up at their level and we didn't receive those questions until about 3:00 this afternoon. >> Okay. As a result of that, we wouldn't have been able to adopt the budget if the council had wanted to tonight

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because those budgets have to be worked through and then approved by the state. Uh the good news, those questions really uh do not appear to be anything that would necessitate any major changes to the budget. Um so we should be able to get to those pretty easily. Um subsequent to

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that, um if you had run through the questions, they would have been able to adopt uh tonight, but they have an amendment that's planned. So since there's an amendment, we then have to work through that amendment, put that amendment together. Eventually, you'll see a resolution that the governing body will approve that will lay out what the changes to the budget are. Before they

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can vote on that amendment, the state has to approve that amendment. So in all likelihood, by your next meeting in August, hopefully we will have approved the questions that the state had and you'll have your resolution with any changes to the

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budget that you want at that time. As long as the resolution's been approved by the by the state, the governing body can approve the resolution which will amend the budget and at that time you could move to adopt the amended budget. That's where we stand at this point.

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>> I'm sorry. Go ahead. I just I'm sorry. What's your name? >> Scott Banner. >> What's your last name? >> B. >> Bman. Okay. So, Mr. Baron, just a quick question. The hearing will continue then, correct? >> Sure. So since the uh budget was introduced back in June, if you look at that document, it lists in that document

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the date, time, and place of the public hearing on the introduced budget, which was tonight. So regardless of whether you were going to adopt tonight, um you still have to have that public hearing. >> Thank you. >> Um I believe this Olympia, you had another question about the budget.

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>> I did. Um I wanted to know what what is the rate that the budget is going up? Well, right. >> It affects our tax on $100,000 house. That's what the that's what the question is that everybody wants to know, right?

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>> Hey, Joanne, just wait your turn. >> Well, that that is what it's going to be because uh our Yeah. How much is it going up? What what is so many pennies on a 100, but what percentage is it going to go up? Because depending on how

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many taxes you pay, that's quite a bit of money cuz it sounds like it's going to be a lot. >> Well, we don't we really don't know doing it until this amendment process would go through. Once we get with this public hearing, table the resolution,

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answer the questions to the state, submit the amendments to the state, the state reviews it, and then we'll know exact uh amount that it's going to go up. So, we still have to have a second hearing. >> Okay. So then what was the amount that the city proposed?

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>> Just the city's uh 35 cents I believe it was for >> 35%. [clears throat] >> Yes. 35. Yes. 35. >> Yes. >> 35% >> or 35ent cents. >> Cents not.

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>> I'm sorry. Thank you. >> No. No. >> On top of the 5.8 that we're paying now. Is that what you're saying? So, it's going to go up to six%. So, what >> So, I don't know what the school uh the school board or the county taxes because

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we did do an estimate on that. But on the city side, you're looking at on top of I think last year's rate was overall school city and county was $540 42.

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>> It was 5.85 >> 5. >> Yeah. Eight eight plus. Is that the number or >> Yeah, I have I'm sorry. I have the actual if you're taking all entities, not just what you have controls. >> Yeah, I have the city's rate last year

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was $345. >> And with the school because some folks want to know how >> with the school and the county all up, I had $542. That's the >> last year. this year. >> Last year's.

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>> So, I think what everybody wants to know is >> are you going >> I mean, you guys have to have a ballpark figure. Are you looking at over six $6,000 on an assessed $100,000 home in the city of Pleasantville?

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>> It's pretty much I don't but I don't have >> We can't even >> No, right now I don't have those those figures with the Look, I I mean, you're adding 35 cents on to 45 cents. We're we're really close

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there, you know, and there might be if they have questions, if they have questions, you might have to add on something more. So, you're still looking at almost 6%. Which is going to put you at we finally achieved number one status because we will be number one in the

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county for the highest taxes. >> M just just you know to to your point that could possibly be the case if we went to 35 but since then we've been doing everything we can council mayor CFO myself to get that

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number down and those are the things that has to go back before the state so once all those things get approved the adjustments that we've made the the the hope is it'll be a heck of a lot >> that's you should say that because I'm on the county tax board and I've never

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seen taxes property taxes go down. Okay. >> No, I'm not. >> So, whatever you're trying to work out might be diligent and noble for one second. I'm not talking about bring the separate. >> So, Miss Camela, what's your question?

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Are you trying to tell us something or do you have >> Well, I'm trying to to get an answer from somebody. I think everybody in this room deserves an answer. Where's the taxpayers? We're the ones that are going to be paying the freight. and you still have not given us any

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answers to what you think that would satisfy these people here. And that's what your job is. It might turn, it might change, it might But you got to be honest with us. If you say our tax rate is 5.4 something% now and it's going to

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go up 35 cents, you're looking at 5.8%, right? I mean, that's that's what it is. So, somebody with a $100,000 home is going to be paying $5,800. That That's how that works, right? It's I'm rounding it up to make it easy. So,

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that's it. On top of their sewer bill, which is going up, correct? >> But the other thing that was brought up was the pilot programs, >> Miss What is your question? My my question is >> how much did the pilot programs

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contribute to the city of Pleasantville last year? >> Well, so >> I don't have those budget numbers with me. >> It is in the budget. It was $300,000. I saw it. It's in the budget. It's a line item in the book. >> It's a line. Absolutely. Because we got to collect our revenue, >> right? And where did they come from?

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What What pilot programs were they? Those were old ones that were here because I don't think there's any >> I don't think there um from what I've seen there's no new pilot programs. Those are old program new. I said where did the $300,000 come from? Which pilot

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programs that are ongoing paid into the city $300,000? Do you know which pilot programs? Was it the apartment pillows? Was it someplace else? >> How many do we have on Delta? We only have six on the books and that's in the

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introduced um if you look at last year's 2025 budget, there is a friendly what they call a um friendly budget um introduction and it shows you the pilot programs there. So that is available on the website.

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>> So there's six that are contributing to Miss Missero. So hold your questions for the for the next meeting. >> I'm here. I might get somebody not. >> So my question is very easy. There's

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$300,000 going into the pot >> for pilots into the city with no other no the county taxes are taken out. The school districts is not. So now you're saying that there are six pilots paying into that

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>> into that 300,000. That is correct. >> Divide that. Everybody got that number? remember the next time they want to give you a pilot. Thank you. >> Yes, these was that about the power or the budget, right? >> Anyone else have any questions

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pertaining to the budget? >> Go ahead, M. Um, since y'all talking about programs, >> the budget the budget >> specific to the budget. Is it specific to the budget, Miss Renee? I want to

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know how much this city is collecting every year from the pilot programs that we already have. >> 300,000 >> 300,000 that's 300,000 and how much time are left on these pilots. >> We don't that I don't know. I don't

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know. Let >> No, it's okay. I don't let Kenya answer. >> Well, we don't have that. >> We directed the question to her. Let her answer. >> But we don't If you don't have it, you don't have it. It's not a big deal. >> I I don't know. >> I don't know how old these pilot

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programs are. >> Well, last time I looked, some of them still got about 17 years on. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> In terms of the uh >> this projects are on the books, the redevelopment of Lex, where where is

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that? Are they still going to redevelop the area? Yes, we do plan to redevelop it, but there's other it's not ready to >> be is not developed. >> There's no real answer I can give you on

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that because we're kind of up in the air with it. He may be the the developer, but then there's someone else that may be a part of that also. But yes, we the plan is still to develop it. As far as I know, I mean, as far as we all know

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here, we're still in talks. I'll leave it at this. >> Anyone else have a question about the hearing? >> I mean the budget >> seems like to me is to do a coin drop itself. >> I'd like to find out what the balance of

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our tax bill. >> Thank you. >> Cuz I don't know what the balance in July. >> We should soon have a motion to close the July. They have a second

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>> off the streets and out of trouble. So, we wouldn't do anything to hurt them and the turf. I can't speak much on that. I mean, as far as the grant with that, I can't speak much on that because I personally I wasn't with the turf, but the entries and everything that I heard

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about it, but I do know that they need a good schooly to play at. And if the uh general consensus is for turf and we can get it, you know, I'm okay with all of it, you know. But I do know that we are trying to do all that we can. It's not

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only Max Manning and somewhere for the jokers to play all the other parts, too. And I just want everybody to hold up. We have a dispatcher here, Candace Bartell, that passed away. And I just want

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everybody to hold her family in prayer. Thanks for coming out. Anyone else? >> Yes. make the motion right. >> Yes. >> Motion to chamber 137. So, anyone with any comments? [clears throat]

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>> Um, I just want to um clarify something because I was stopped um before I came in here by um she was reading um some back and forth that was going on Facebook and she was under the impression that she had to

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pay to go inside Lakes Bay to run on the track and for her daughter to get to go on um the playground. So, she thought that since she lives here that she had to pay $3 for her daughter and $3 for herself.

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And she did explain to me that her neighbors were under that same assumption. So, I did explain to her that, you know, um those amenities are free, but I also explained to her the

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reasoning of the um fees for the splash pad. So, for those who don't know, the splash pay is $3 for residents and $5 for non-residents. Um, when Mr. Laws made the call to D

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>> G >> D um they were told that if we were to charge the nonresident, no, it was against the law >> to charge just the non-resident. So, everybody um had to be charged. Um for

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those who don't know our water bill um for over there was a little over $21,000. So myself, colleagues um mayor um Mr. Ba, we felt like that that cost should

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not be on the taxpayers of Pleasantville. It should be spread out. If if you're coming here from New York, Oceanville, Point, >> Summers Point, Ocean City, then you need to pay for our water as well. We're not sure how much our water bill is going to

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be for these three months that um you know that we have the water on. So, we took it upon ourself and a lot of conversations, heavy conversations and that was the outcome of um the fees that

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are over there dispatched today. Go ahead. >> Question. Yes. Uh, my name is neighbors. I live in Pleasantville, of course, >> and I go to the park every day and walk. And at one point they started um locking

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the gate because we're there about 5:15 a.m. and we walk and then we had to complain because they locked the gate because they had some other people at night doing whatever. >> Yes. which then I would think you would

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have the police to patrol and not um make it hard for us who pay taxes and want to exercise and use the park which I thought that was one of the reason the park was there. So now at least they have they open up one area one gate

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where we can go in and park and as far as the water bill and everything else. Did they not estimate when they built this how much water they were going to use approximately how much it was going to cost the city? Because if we're going to do that, it's no advantage for it to

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be there and then not have it. Just make it a regular park. Get rid of it. And if you're going to make us pay, which we pay enough already for everything else that is, we don't need the park. We have an ocean. They can go to the ocean. They can go to the bay.

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>> Turn the water off. >> Turn the water off. When that happened, everybody went crazy. You catch 22 situation. >> So, somebody didn't do the homework when this was built because everything is a

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it cost to maintain it cost for everything else. They have restrooms there. Of course, when I'm there, they're not never open, but that's the case. >> They So, everything cost money, and I can't imagine why nobody could figure out the water. >> Super [snorts] well. >> Yep. >> Okay.

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Go ahead >> about the water department. When we first had talks about the water park, I was we were at the meeting and it was supposed to be recycled water. There's no way that I would have even said yes to it if I knew that >> recycle

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>> as the rain comes down and then they put something back. No recycle order that when the water gets recycling the water gets recycled and they came to me with the water bill. I was very surprised because I said, "Well, I thought it was supposed to be recycled water." And they said, "No, we

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have the water bill and of course here proved it." But I don't think me or anyone up here would have said yes to a water park that we knew we had to pay the water bill that it would, you know, that it would be astronomical prices and because it would have been just a normal, you know, a regular park, a

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woman park. >> So, no, that wasn't that wasn't done that way. And hopefully, you know, it may be later on at some point we will be able to have something where we have well or recycled water. You know, if we could change the whole system to change the whole system,

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too. And how are they going to how are they going to regulate whether they're citizens, I mean, sorry, residents or non-resident residents coming into the park to use it. Do you have to have driver's license? So, if I may, >> do you get if I may, they will fill out

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a form. It's a whole harmless waiver included in that form. They'll put their information on and they would pay their uh $3 if they're out of town five. They would get a bracelet that will allow them to be in work for two hours. Um, you know, whoever they want to work for two hours.

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>> So, do you have to pay somebody that's going to >> over there? >> We already have that. >> Is that that's a city employee? >> Yes. That was one. >> This is for one city. >> The city is a This is for one stop. It's

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a summer program. >> Summer youth program. >> Do you know what the break the water off? >> Do you know what the break even point is on a daily basis? What you have to bring in? >> No. No. >> It's about $400 a day.

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>> You're running it six days a week. So, we have a new >> So, you've got to generate $400 a day. >> We're not trying to mark down. >> We have a new schedule that's going to cut that down. >> No, I looked at the Is that the schedule that's closed Sunday? >> Yes. >> It's open till 4 on Saturday.

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>> Yes. >> And it's open uh 10 to 6 the other day with an hour closed three times a day. It's about $400 a day that you have to break in. >> We're not trying to break. So, >> why not? >> So, we have >> But it's only for the summer. So if you

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have 100 people, you're talking about ballpark $300. But if you count still >> if you count the people from Mountain Well, no, because if you're counting people who are out of town, it's $5. So our average amount is going to be around $4. So to your point, we should be able

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to do at least 100 people there a day at four bucks on average. We should meet that number. Yeah. 100%. >> How long has it been going on so far? And do they >> We just We just started this. Do they have Excel chart where they

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they're calculating and figuring it out? So >> we're just starting with this finished up and >> but when they started it they should have had a monitor a chart of some sort AI that says okay 10 people came in at

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the $100 on Monday Tuesday [clears throat] Wednesday and tallied up at the end of fact I don't think we started I think it starts >> it's great I'm opposed to y'all turning back to

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finally got something. What are y'all doing? >> All in favor? >> Miss Brown, what did you say? >> I'm sorry. >> I was saying I'm opposed to them. I heard people saying turn just turn it off. I'm opposed to that because the

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kids finally got something in Pleasantville. Don't take it away from them. Yep. >> I heard I'm not [music] [music] >> [music]

