[Music] The following is the agenda for the reorganization meeting of the Burough Compton Linux and Council Municipal Corporation in the county facade. The meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 5th, 2026 in the municipal building, 25 Linux Avenue,
Cons. [Music] >> Okay. Uh, adequate notice of this reorganization meeting has been provided in accordance with the open public meeting law, public law 1975, chapter 231, setting forth the time, date,
place, and purpose of this meeting through the notice posted in the suburban trends newspaper on December 14th, 2025, and notice mailed to the following named newspapers, the Herald News, Star Ledger, and the record, and passed on the posted on the Bolton board in the burough hall on December 14th,
2025. Please stand for a flex. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Please bless this merit council as they
deliberate on the best of lakes. [Music] >> I'm going to report on the November 4th general election results. that have been certified by the state county clerk as follows on the receipt of the certification of the November 4th, 2025
general election results by the state county clerk Danielle Ireland Inha which states that Steven DG received a total number of 2001 votes and is elected to council for a three-year term and Scott P. Santers received a total of 1,943
votes and is elected to council for a three-year term. Okay, we're going to start with uh Stephen. We have our special guest here, Senator Joe Pacio. If you'd like to come forward and swear them in [Music]
this for us. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> The Bible [Music] I state your name. >> I do solemnly swear to swear
>> raise his hand. >> Okay. >> Doesn't count. >> Oh, I don't know. I'd like to see of the United States. >> 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 to the same.
>> and I will bear true strength and allegiance to the same. >> And to the governments established >> and to the governments established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people. And I will faithfully >> And I will faithfully >> and partially >> impartially >> and justly perform >> and justly perform
>> all the duties of >> all the duties of >> the office of municipal counsel >> the office of municipal counsel >> according to the best of my abilities >> ACCORDING [Music] up there. [Music]
>> I'm going to ask Scott Sanders. Come on out. Perfect. >> I say today >> I Scott Paul Sanders >> do solemnly swear >> solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States
>> and of the State of New Jersey >> and of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same >> and I bear truth. >> I'm my heart now. and to the governments established in the United States >> and to the governments established in
the United States. and in this state >> And in this state >> under the authority of the people. >> Under on the authority of the people. >> And I will faithfully >> And that I will faithfully >> impartially >> and impartially >> and justly perform >> and justly justly perform
>> all the duties of the office >> all the duties of the office >> municipal council >> municipal council according to the best of my abilities >> according to the best of my abilities >> to help me God. >> So help me God. CONGRATULATIONS. [Music] I' I'd like to thank the senator for
coming down out of his busy day to come down. How long you been involved with popular with us for a while? Uh two years. >> Two years now, but back in the past you were back >> because they they moved us around. We had him for about 10 years and then he went somewhere else for a couple years and now he's back about
back. It's good to go back. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, I welcome our two new council people. Thank you for putting the time and energy into what we're about to take you on. It's one meeting a month. It's not a big deal. It should be fine. Um,
it's not a lot of time out of your day, trust me. Uh, with that, I'm going to ask Steve if you have any statements you'd like to say. Um, yeah, I'll be pretty brief, but good evening. I'd first like to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout the campaign season. Your encouragement, patience, and belief in
me made this possible. I also want to extend a sincere thank you to our dedicated campaign team, especially Maria Kent and Mike Shakitano for their countless hours and boots on the ground that help bring us here tonight. I am deeply honored and humbled to stand before you as your newly sworn in councilman. Serving the community of
Pmpton Lakes is a responsibility I take very seriously. I am ready to get to work on behalf of our residents. Throughout the campaign, we spoke about a clear platform. Stabilizing taxes, supporting our public safety professionals, and increasing and preserving our open space, parks, and
recreational areas. These priorities matter to our community, and during my term on council, I look forward to working collaboratively to turn these goals into meaningful purpose and progress. Um, lastly, I want to thank the residents of Pmpton Lakes for placing their trust in me. Your support
is truly appreciated. I am a commit I am committed to listening, learning, and working hard to serve this community with integrity and dedication. Thank you again for this opportunity. I look forward to working together to continue moving Pompton Lakes forward. Thank you,
>> Mr. Sanders. >> I'm really going to be brief. Uh, I want to thank the public for giving their trust in me and electing me to this position. I want to thank my family for supporting me and uh and my friends. Thank you. I'm looking forward to
working for our community. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Now, we're going to get on with the meeting. If anybody would like to leave, this is your chance to get out. The meeting is not going to be a long meeting tonight, but if you'd like to leave, now's the chance. Okay. And I got to stay. So, it's the way it is. Okay.
Can I have a roll call, please? >> Mayor Sarah >> here. >> Councilman Z >> here. >> Councilman Cruz will be late. >> Yes. >> Councilman Hidden >> here. >> Councilwoman Kent >> here.
Councilman Sans >> here. >> Councilman Dennis >> here. >> Okay. >> Councilman Cruz just walked in. >> And Councilman Cruz just walked in. Perfect. >> Okay. >> You want me to start with
>> Yes, we'll start with the appointments. >> Council for the 2026 appointment to the federal officials. >> Okay. These are one-year appointments. Uh, can I have a motion? >> Make a motion. >> Councilman Bennett, you have a second. >> Second. >> Second. >> Councilman Santers. All in favor?
>> I. Roll call, please. Um, >> excuse me, Mr. Mayor. Is there a chance that we can pull one of these appointments or >> if you'd like to? Yes, sure. >> I would like Well, >> it's pulled just for, you know, now temporarily. Yes. >> Excuse me. >> We can pull it now. Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yeah. Okay. Which one? >> Cuz you didn't read that part. >> Well, yeah. I'm sorry. >> It could be pulled for nominations except for that. >> Yep. Go ahead. Which one? >> I'd like to pull the burrow of attorney. >> Okay. Everything but the burough of attorney we're voting on right now. >> Everything is good.
>> Okay. Can I have a roll call on the uh nominations? >> Councilman B. >> Yes. >> Council Cruz. >> Yes. >> Councilman H. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman K. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sans. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Bennett? >> Yes. >> Do you want me to do the roll call now? >> You want to do separate action? >> Separate. We'll do separate action now. Uh B attorney, you had a question concern. >> Uh yes, I do have a concern. Um I um we
have what is called um RFQS, request for qualifications that was um laid out for us by our administrator for all of us to go review except that Councilman Beg and
Councilman Sanders were not councilman at the time. So they could not look at that. Um, I went in and I made copies of um, pages for our past attorney and our attorney that you've recommended. And,
uh, I noticed that the past attorney's hourly rate was such and the new attorney's rate was higher. So, I was just a curious question. the carpenter that I was when I retired. I common
sense. I asked our administrator approximately how many hours a month does our burough attorney work for the town? And he said 58 hours approximately. Of course, every month changes.
Multiplied by 12 is 696 multiplied by $25 an hour, which the new >> So, we can't talk about salary. That would have to be talked about in close session. So, we can't talk about anybody's salary or numbers right now. >> I'm only talking about an increase from one attorney.
>> We can't talk about what they make. It has to be done in close session. >> It turned out that the new attorney that you're recommending is more expensive. Can I say that? >> Yes, you can. And by just by those estimates of
per month per year numbers that the administrator gave me, it's close to $20,000 more. All right. >> We can't talk about that, right? That's close session conversation. It's >> pretty difficult to bring it up for the
public, but this is the pages from the two RFQS. Okay. I make copies just for our council. Oh, I gave one to Councilman Cruz and if you would like to look at it, okay, >> I highlighted the increases
and uh I want to say at a point in time years ago, very good council men and council women who came before me on this council, Councilwoman Pauli, Councilman
Eric Deline, and Councilman Keielberg, and presently Councilman Cruz all voted order to replace your >> No. So there was no replacement. He wasn't reappointed. There's a difference >> by wording. Correct. >> Right. So there no one was fired. No one was replaced.
>> He was he wasn't appointed. >> He wasn't appoint reappointed. Correct. >> Okay. >> And there were numerous reasons at the time that I wasn't privy to. Councilman Cruz can elaborate. He was there. Um, so I went over the uh the
RFQS, request for qualifications, and um that they have to submit to the bureau. Went over them twice. Uh, and I just want to say that my loyalty as a councilman is to the taxpayers. It's I respect you and I respect the
council and I have loyalty to you and the council, but really it's the taxpayers of my loyalty. So, I want to go with qualified appointments, qualified attorneys at a cheaper price. Why? And on top of that,
if we get a new attorney, there's going to be onboarding costs that he has to review any litigation with the town so that he's up to snuff on what's going on. So, those are going to be additional costs which could run into the
thousands. could um you said I can't quote numbers so I can't quote numbers let's see also there'll be onboarding cost um let's see uh is there something is there
something special with this attorney that is why we're switching attorneys was there something wrong with the previous >> So as you know this is a council vote this is not my decision the council will make a decision >> but it's your appointment >> it's my appointment by council's vote Okay. >> Okay. It has nothing to do with me. I
don't make the appointment. I don't make the the the decision. It's a council decision. So, what's going to happen is you can speak your mind in your vote every way you want. Sure. >> And then the rest of the council will also speak their mind in their vote. And whenever that comes out is what it comes out to be. >> Of course. Yeah. >> So, that's what this is about. >> And we accept that, right?
>> And I accept. >> Correct. >> You know, but what I'm looking at is the added cost of this attorney. >> Okay. And right now we're running up against big health care costs coming into the barrel. There's a lot of expenses that we're going to have to take care of. So when the previous
attorney was doing his job, why do we need to go to an attorney that cost even more? >> Some people, and I can't speak for counsel, but some people think our previous attorney might have done things a little different than the way they should have been done. >> Okay. There was a reason previously that
the other four council people >> I can't speak. You're talking about old news. This is now you're talking about council, >> right? But there was a reason why it wasn't reappointed. >> I don't care about what happened four years ago. This is now >> qual it's his qualification. >> Okay. So you spoke you have anything else you'd like to add because we got to
>> I'm not done yet. No. >> Well, there's time. We're trying to keep it to five minutes, right? >> Um >> no council. No, even even it counts as 5 minutes. >> No, it's not. But anyway, so um Councilman uh B now and Councilman
Sanders not reviewing either attorney or knowing about either attorney. Um should they abstain or >> they do not abstain their councilman? They get to vote. H >> even if they're not familiar, they >> Yes, you have to understand the rules. That's not how it works and it never
works that way. You're a councilman, you vote. That's how it is. Or council woman. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Um let's see. Uh I'm sure Councilman Sanders, you know, in the political uh when they ran they talked about
stabilizing taxes. How could we be stabilizing taxes? If we're getting an attorney, it's costing more. You know, that's another point I just wanted to make. Um, we never had a meeting or a discussion of the council about the
appointment of a new attorney as to what you know. >> It's up to you to do the research, which you did. Very good for you. It's up to each individual to do the research. >> But I want to make a motion to table this appointment. >> Okay. You got to have enough votes to make that happen. >> Well, I'll make a motion to table this
appointment. >> Okay. Got a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I'm sorry. Who second? Council members. >> All right. So, we don't have enough to table that. So, we're going to move forward. >> Okay. You have anything else you need to add? >> Well, do we have a vote on that?
>> We're going to vote now. Yes. >> It's just an I vote. >> Yes. Just an I vote. >> Okay. Can I have >> Yes, I made my point. Thank you, Mr. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Can I have a roll call on the attorney, please? >> Mayor, you need a motion and a second. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Can I have a a motion to
uh appoint our attorney for >> council president that council? Oh, not yet. Okay. Council president Kent >> second. >> Councilman Bennon. All in favor? >> I. >> Now on to a roll. >> Roll call, please. Yes. >> Councilman J. >> Yes. >> Councilman Cruz.
>> No. >> Councilman H. >> No. >> Councilwoman Kent. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sanders. >> Yes. Councilman. >> Yes. Okay. With that, I'm going to invite our attorney. I think he's in the
audience somewhere. Come on up. Where is it? Mark, come on up. >> Okay. Liz number eight. >> Go ahead. You want me to read it or you going to read it? >> I'm sorry. >> Thank you. >> Motion to adopt the 2026 by
>> Can I have a motion? Motion. Councilman Bennett. >> Second. >> Councilwoman Kent. Uh, roll call, please. >> Councilman Bennett. >> Yes. >> Councilman Cruz. >> Yes. >> Councilman, >> I just had a question. Was there any
changes on the bylaws at all? >> We just updated the >> We just Yeah. >> Oh, okay. So, there was no change. >> They would come from the ordinance committee and then the ordinance committee would would talk about >> Okay. Um, yes.
I'm sorry. >> Councilman Hint was he? Yes. So, >> okay. So, >> Kent, I think >> Councilman Kent. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sanders. >> Yes. >> Councilman Bent. >> Yes. Okay. Number nine. >> Number nine. Nomination of council
president. >> Council to nominate Maria Kent to serve as council president for 2026. Can I have a motion to approve? >> Motion. >> Councilman Benning. Was there a second? >> Second. >> Second. >> Councilman Lind Sanders. >> Uh, is it roll call? Roll call, please.
>> Roll call. Councilman. >> Yes. >> Councilman Cruz. >> Yes. Together. >> Without a doubt. Yes. [Music] >> I can vote for you. >> Of course.
>> Yes. Councilman Sanders. >> Yes. >> Councilman. >> Yes. >> You can put You didn't notice them as such. >> All right. Number 10, please. >> Yeah. Number 10. Anyone? >> You didn't such. >> Anything need number 10 asked removed
for separate action. Seeing no one, can I have a motion to approve council assignments? >> I'll make a motion. >> Who's that? Councilman Beg. Got to get used to these new names. Councilman Beg and second. >> Second. >> Councilman Santers. All in favor? I >> against 11.
>> 11 is nomination of council members. Does anyone want any vote? >> Anything poked? >> Nope. Okay. Can I have a motion? >> Motion. Councilman Bennett. >> Second. >> Councilman Hinton. Uh where are we? Pass the leazison.
Right. >> 12. >> 12. >> Council. >> Okay. Anybody need any of the council leazison on board? >> No. >> Nope. Okay. Do I have a motion? >> Motion. Councilman, Councilman Hinton.
>> Uh, council appointments 13. Yes. >> Mayor, you need all in favor for that. >> Oh, I'm sorry. All in favor? >> I I >> Council appointments 13. Number 13. Does any council require any of the following appointments to be pulled for separate action? Seeing none, can I have a
motion? >> Councilman Hinton. Who was the second? Councilman Cruz. All in favor? I >> I against >> 14. Uh, does any council require any of the following appointments for class 2 specials to be pulled? >> No.
>> No. Okay. Can I have a motion? >> Councilman Hinton. Councilman Bennett. >> Yes. >> Uh, all in favor? >> I. >> Okay. 15 are my appointments. >> This is your appointment. >> Yep. I'm These are appointments appointed by me. You can read them below. I I will thank everybody at the
end, but these are board appointments for the library planning board, historic and shade tree commission. >> I don't see any motions for that. Okay. Uh [Music] >> boards commissions.
>> Boards and commissions. Yes. Anybody need any of the boards or commissions pulled? >> I don't need it pulled, but I just had a question. >> Sure. >> On the zoning board of adjustment. >> Okay. >> Liz Hazelman. >> Yep. >> She's an alternate number one. Yep. >> Why is she an alternate if down below
there's an open position? Why can't she take the open? >> Because it's not an automatic move. They would have to recommend the zoning board would recommend to move her. They can pick from any alternate they want. Just because you won doesn't make you number one. >> All right. So, right now, >> right, they have they have four alternates >> and during the year they want to put her
in the open position, they can. >> They can put any of the alternates in. So, just because you're one doesn't mean you're number one. All right. It just means you're one on the list. >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. Can I have a motion? >> Motion. Councilman Hinton. >> Second. >> Councilman Bennett. All in favor?
>> I. >> Against. >> Okay. Now to the consent agenda. >> Consent agenda. Does anybody need any of the consent agenda? [Music] >> Seeing none, can I have a motion? Oh,
>> that's No, not resolution. I'm sorry. >> No. All right. Motion for the consent agenda. >> Motion. No, you did 13. >> Resolutions are consent agenda. >> Yes. >> Um, yeah. I would like to pull a couple. >> Which ones? >> Um,
question on uh resolution 2604. >> Hold on. Hold on. Resolution 26. You know the number >> number four. >> Four. >> Four. Um 13.
Okay. And question on 17. 17. Anybody else? Okay. Motion to approve everything but 4,1 13 and 17. Motion. >> Councilman Bennett. >> Second. >> Council President Kent. All in favor? >> I
>> against. Okay. Let's go to four first. >> You want to read that, Liz? >> Sure. >> Approve use of consent agenda. All future council. >> You got a question? Um it says uh be it resolved that the clerk of the burrow
pump and lakes shall be directed directed by who >> for for what? The consent agenda >> for that uh resolution. Yeah. >> When you say I don't know what you're asking. What are you what are you asking? >> It said shall she shall be directed >> direct
>> directed by the mayor. >> The resolution directs her councilman. So it's actually you by voting for this. >> Oh okay. All this was a little unclear. >> All right. Let's go to 13. We'll do all three at the end. 13.
>> 2026 council meetings for our town. >> Question. >> Yes. Um I was talking to our administrator. Um the town calendar has all our town meetings at 7:30. >> Correct. >> And you're looking to change them to 7:00. >> Correct. Is it possible that we could
maybe postpone that till the new calendar comes out so that there's no confusion with the public or seniors that uh they're looking at the meetings at 7:30? >> I mean, I think we can we'll try to get it out as best we can. We'll probably do it.
>> If you were able to postpone it to the middle of the year and put it on the new calendar, then you wouldn't have to contact the entire public that the meeting times would change. I'll leave it up to you guys >> because the aspect of that is is also is
that when the meeting first starts, the first public session is usually within that half hour time frame. >> So that if people thought that the meeting started at 7:30 and wanted to say something from the podium and they came here and the meeting started at
7:00, they wouldn't have that opportunity. They would have to wait to the second public session. So, I mean, this way we wouldn't have to notify the public of the time change and it would go out in the new calendar. >> Yeah. I I think the reason we it was present >> you know what I'm sorry trying to say.
>> No, I I do understand what you're saying. I think the reason it was presented to me, it wasn't my suggestion was some of the employees felt and maybe it was a different council at the time, but our meetings were running way too late and we weren't getting >> understand that also. Um we you know we were making decisions maybe when we
weren't thinking the best at 11:00 in >> um >> I don't understand what the second calendar issue is. This is designating the calendar. >> So he's talking about we have a burough counter calendar that goes out to every resident. >> Oh the printed calendar 7:30 Liz. We send the new calendars out
in June. Correct. So this would have to change not until June which would be a whole almost a year. >> I can change it on the website though. >> We can change it. So I'll leave it up to you guys. Whatever you guys want to do. The aspect of it is is what I'm trying to say is a lot of the seniors don't use the website. >> No, no, I hear you. >> So, we know uh Ry's uh point. Bobby, you
have any say on this? I >> mean, I think it's not a bad idea if we have to do that. I mean, >> postpone it. That's all I'm asking. >> I mean, I mean, what are the pros and cons if we post postponed? Are we adding additional work here as far as being able to redo with all the calendar dates, reenter, you know, get everything
out there to everybody? >> Um, >> well, you you could split it. adjustment, sorry, would be our annual notice that we provide to the newspaper. We'd have to renotice. >> That's costing us money though, right? >> Cheaper than noticing the entire community. But again, it's up to the council that they wish to give.
>> I mean, I leave it up to the rest of the day here to if they have any concerns as well to that. I mean, I I do understand that it's important we're making a change such as that that it should be >> No, I know we're looking at 7:30 and we're changing it to 7. So, um I don't
necessarily have a problem as long as it's not going to cost the borrow any more money to reissue the calendars that we're already out there. Um and I think it's a good suggestion obviously for our senior citizens to make sure they're aware. So, but I'll leave it up to the rest of the day as to obviously to voice their concern. Mr. President and >> um I I brought the same topic up and and
I I questioned the time change and then uh a number of residents came up to me and felt that the meetings are really too late for them um because they were staying here after 10:00 10:30 and they've they kind of thought that was too late for them to come and can we can we move it up to 7. So I know that I I
discussed that with Liz and I was concerned also about you know changing the time and making sure people know we she assured me so did Michael that the time change would be properly noticed on channel 77
>> channel 77 paper notice >> and just word of mouth. So that's that's what so that's my my opinion that it it will work and we've done it we've done it we've done things like this before. So I I think it'll work and it'll make it easier for everybody to stay longer
once they're here. I don't want them here till 11 o'clock. It is too late. >> Yeah. For my opinion I you know I understand what the council's saying. It does make you know I understand that some people might not get the message. That does make sense. Um for me it doesn't matter to me. I'm here those times anyway. So it does make a difference. So I'll leave it up to you
guys. I can do a mailing to local organizations, the um senior groups, I can do a mailing and advise everyone as well. >> But that's costly. Whereas if we just postpone it, >> that's is it a major cost to the
>> cost maybe 20 stamps. >> Councilman Bennett. >> So while it may miss the first public session, there is a second public session and then after a couple meetings it'll catch up. people will realize that it's only for six months anyway. So, I'm good with keeping it a seven. >> Councilman Beg.
>> Wow. Councilman Beg. >> Um, no. My only that was my only question was the how costly is it going to be to the borrow if we do that? Not to >> What's that? >> No. Yeah. No, just making the change in informing the public. >> I'll send it to the PTAs, the local
organizations, the senior groups. >> Yeah. As long as it's not too costly to the money. Councilman Sanders. >> Yes. Change it. Change it to seven. >> Seven. Okay. Seems like unfortunately it looks like a seven. So, doesn't matter to me. I I couldn't care what
>> Mr. Hton is going down fast in 2026. It seems >> and it's only the first meeting. You got a lot of meetings ahead of you. Um uh Keg uh resolution uh 2617 >> establishing a cash management plan and naming official cash. >> Question. >> Yeah. Just what is the cash management
plan? Is this something we've never had before or is this something new or like >> right we've always had this on our rework agendas. Uh you know it's essentially in accordance with state statute. It provides guidelines for our CFO on investing funds and you know
having a cash manager plan for all of our cash receipts that come in including tax payments, departmental deposits, etc. It just is a a you know framework for him to go by. Um and there's no change from last year. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. Okay, Liz, you can group those three together.
>> Okay, so we need a motion. >> Can I have a motion for four 13 or no? >> Like 17. >> Motion. >> Councilman Cruz, >> we do 13 separate. >> No, they voted. We got to >> Oh, I'm still voting no. >> You can still vote no. There's no vote
involved. It's just a stroke. >> You lumped them together. >> Uh 17. >> So it might separate. >> Oh, you want to separate? Okay, let's separate out. Four and four and 17 put together. Motion >> Councilman Cruz. >> Councilman Cruz and second by Councilman Bennett. All in favor?
>> I. >> Roll call, please. On 13. >> Okay. So, the motion is made by >> Councilman Hinton, a seconded by >> Oh, Councilman Bennett. >> Well, if if Councilman Hinton's making the motion, it's a motion to deny because he doesn't want to go forward,
right? >> So, then a vote for no is not seconding it. But then you need another motion to >> Yeah, you need a motion to say no to changing it. Second motion. Does anybody want to vote no to that? >> Does anyone want to second Councilman Hinton's motion no to resolution?
>> 2613. >> Going down quick. >> Okay. So, just uh >> now a motion to move >> motion to move on resolution 2613. Can I have a motion? >> Councilman Bennett. >> Second. >> Council President Kent. All in favor? >> I intention policing here. These are all
the same. Just >> no do them separately. >> All right. Uh >> voice introduction of ordinances. We're going to do one each one separately according to my new attorney, which I don't like to hear. >> I'm already out. >> Go ahead. >> Authorizing the mayor's request to
execute a lease amenity compliment. >> Motion to approve ordinance 2601 for introduction. >> Motion. >> Councilman Cruz. Councilman Hinton. Roll call, please. Councilman Bay. >> Yes. >> Councilman Cruz. >> Yes. >> Councilman H.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Council William Penn. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sant. >> Yes. >> Councilman Ben. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 2602 and ordinance authorizing the mayor request to execute a lease amendment with the content river soccer association.
>> Motion. >> Motion to approve ordinance 2602 for introduction. A motion was made by Councilman Cruz. >> Second by Councilman Hinton. Roll call, please. >> Councilman B. >> Yes. >> Councilman Cruz. >> Yes. >> Councilman H. >> Yes.
>> Council woman. >> Yes. >> Councilman. >> Yes. >> Councilman B. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 2603, an ordinance to authorize the mayor and bur clerk to execute a lease amendment with the Lakes Youth Organization. >> Motion to approve Ordinance 2603 for
introduction. Motion. >> Councilman Hinton. >> Second. >> Council President Kent. Roll call, please. Council. >> Yes. >> Council, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Council, >> yes. >> Councilman Sant, >> yes. >> Council,
>> yes. >> Ordinance 2604 authorizing the mayor and our request to execute a lease amendment with the Council's Board of Education. >> Motion to approve ordinance 2604 in church. >> Motion. Councilman. >> Second. >> Councilman D. All in favor?
Sorry. Yesing. >> Yes. >> Councilman. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Professional reports. Uh, do you have any report? >> No report. >> Uh, attorney report.
>> You have a new attorney? >> Report that. >> Okay. You have a new attorney. Would you like to report that? Uh, >> that's it. >> Acting chief, would you like to say anything? >> No report. >> No report. >> Okay. Under my report, I have a half hour speech I'd like to speak. So, >> five minutes. Five minutes. Um,
>> what I'd like to just say, you know, this town is run, yes, it looks like we run the town up here by everybody, but it's really run by our volunteers. Okay, our volunteers put a lot of time and energy, and a lot of them are sitting in the audience right now. They volunteer in small ways, they volunteer in big ways. You know, I have some people on
six boards and one pe some people on one board. That's what makes Pompton Lakes what Pompton Lakes is right now. The involvement of our community. I talk to other mayors all the time in other towns. They can't fill their boards. They can't fill their fire departments. They can't build their ambulance squads because they just don't have people who want to volunteer and help. I've been
involved now 15 18 years and it's the volunteers that really step up. I have waiting lists on some groups to to join these groups. That's an unheard of kind of thing, you know. So, I I have to thank all the people that put the time and energy in. You know, I know well, you know, most people don't realize even
our volunteer fire department, you know, they're all working jobs full-time in our ambulance squad and our C, they're not paid. They're getting up at 3 in the morning. They're fighting a fire till 8 and then going to work all day. Okay? And unfortunately, we've had a bunch of fires in the last couple days where the houses have burned to the ground. You know, the these are all people that make
our community what it is. Uh I can tell you that this is a hardworking council up here. I expect big things from them. They're all involved. They all want to have a say of what goes on and that's a good thing. We're not all going to agree on what we want to do up here, but the end of the day, the idea is, and I think Councilman Hinton said it, the idea of
the day is to make this town a better place to be and to live in. Okay? Doesn't mean we are a yes group or a no group. Everybody's going to have a decision the way they want it to go. Um, sometimes we we'll have changes. Sometimes we won't. I've said it from day one when I ran as my first council
person, and and Councilman Hinton did mention this. The most important thing to us, to me, is taxes. We live in an area unfortunately where our taxes are high. Our town is no different than any other town, North Jersey or anywhere in Jersey is very high in taxes. We have to
push our state legislators and our federal legislators to work with that. We used to get funding as a town in the hundreds of thousands of dollars from the state. Now we get zero. Okay? Same thing with the schools. They used to get a million dollars in funding from the state. Now they get very little. Who
makes up that difference? Everybody's sitting in this room. Okay. So, that's where we have to work at. You know, our health care cost alone this year went up $700,000. For a small little town, that's before we do anything. We have to make up $700,000.
And that's where this redevelopment comes in. You see every town doing it. It has to be controlled. It's not going to take over our town, but the money and the revenue we make off that redevelopment is going to offset a lot of these costs that we're looking at. And I'll use, you know, I I the project
in the middle of town, the the amount of money we collected on that project, regular taxes for the town was $26,000. That's what we collected a year on that property. The first year of the pilot is $350,000, escalating up to a million after 30
years. For a small town, those are huge numbers. And if we don't have something like that, we don't have an industrial park. We have a very great walkable downtown, but it's not bringing in a ton of revenue. Where's that money coming from? From the taxpayers. So, that's why
it's so important to me that we we do it responsibly. We add it small. We bring new people into town. We keep our downtown developed. We keep our great downtown moving forward. A lot of downtowns are dying in towns because they're not investing in their downtown. Putting apartments in the middle of
downtown are going to make people shop downtown. You're going to make people walk downtown. We're going to get better clientele stores and restaurants and things to show from that. I've already seen it because people are knocking on my door saying, "Do you have 1500 square feet? Do you have 2500 ft I want to rent?" Okay, it does have to be done
responsibly. Okay, but there is a benefit to it at the end of the day and and the benefit is is to our taxpayers. So, I thank everybody up here for doing everything they do. I thank all our residents for believing in us and and putting us in this position and I thank all our volunteers and everybody have a great new year. Okay. I have a motion to
open the meeting for public comments. >> Motion. >> Councilman Bennon, Councilman Cruz. All in favor? >> Against? Anyone off from the public like to address? Please step up. Rob the First off, I'd like to congratulate Scott and Steve on their appointment. >> Thank you.
>> All right. So, I heard you identify Captain Rodriguez as acting chief. Was there a resolution appointment and such? >> Oh, it's okay. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? You step up.
[Music] Disick 107 Federal Hill Road. The First of all, happy new year to everyone here and and also congratulations to Scott and Stephen
for winning. >> Happy New Year, dude. >> And and also if I can and give Scott and Stephen what I have in here. >> Just give it to Liz and then she'll give it to him. All right. Or I'll I'll uh hang on to
it. >> Okay. Could do that. >> So still after. >> Okay. So congratulations Scott and Steve. And then
and yes, the board of ed meetings will be very different without Scott and AJ. Thank >> and Carl Padola, too. Yes. >> All right. >> Thank you.
>> I'll I'll take care of you guys later. >> Anyone else from the public address? >> Seeing no one, can I have a motion to close the public session? >> Who's that? >> Council President Kent. And who was it down here? >> Councilman Sanders. All in favor? >> I.
>> Uh Rob, he's acting chief by notice by civil service. Civil service stands that Mike, am I correct with at that statement or >> uh yes, civil service issued a certification uh effective January 1st at which point the appointment will become effective upon the
memorialization of a resolution at a future council meeting. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh motion to adjurnn. >> Motion. Councilman Bay. >> Second. Councilman Hinton. >> Second. >> Councilman H. All in favor? I >> thank you Aaron for attending. Thank
you. Thank you. All right.