Good evening. >> Good evening. Okay. And welcome to the mayor and council uh regular mayor and council meeting regular session on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026. This meeting is also being conducted telephonically. The dial in number is
4254366365. Access code 213563. And of course, the meeting may also be viewed on the Ramsey YouTube channel, which can be accessed via the burough website. I please have a roll call. >> Mayor Dylan, >> here.
>> Councilwoman Cusk is not here. Councilman Brason >> here. Councilman Gutwer >> here. >> Councilman Kilman >> here. >> Councilman Pablo >> here. >> Councilwoman Poppy >> here. >> Thank you. We'll have a flag salute. Can
I please ask Meer to lead us to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisibley and justice for all.
The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to ensure the right of all citizens to have advanced notice of and to attend all meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting the public is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, notice of this meeting of the mayor
and council was published in the Bergen Record and the Suburban News on Wednesday, January 15, 2026. Can I please have approval of minutes? I make a motion to approve the minutes from the Sai Sai die and reorder um on 1626.
>> I second. >> Thank you. Are there any comments or changes to the minutes for either the Cena die or the reorder? Okay. Not hearing any. Roll call, please. >> Councilman Grae, >> yes. >> Councilman Gutwer, >> yes. >> Councilman Kilman, >> yes.
>> Councilman Papo, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Poppy, >> yes. >> Thank you. Communications, please. >> Yes, Madame Mayor. I make a motion to receive and file the communications as listed on our agenda tonight for January 28th, 2026. >> I'll second that.
>> Thank you. Any comments on the on the communications? >> Not hearing any. Roll call, please. >> Councilman Derson, >> yes. >> Councilman Gutter, >> yes. >> Councilman Kilman, >> yes. >> Councilman Popp, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Poppy, >> yes.
>> Thank you. Madam Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to go out of order. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. Um, >> presentation. >> Do a motion to go out of order so we can do the presentation to the Ramsey High School girls soccer team. Uh, all in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. All right. Glenn, you care to
join me? >> Yep. This thank you for having us tonight. This is uh one of the last times we'll be together. So, uh bittersweet moment for the coaching staff. Uh but we cherish every minute with you guys. So, good seeing everybody. It's been a
while. >> And we just like to thank the the mayor and the council and everyone. I know I saw Councilman Gwutler at a bunch of games. I know I talked to to Mr. Bose and and Mr. Papo and uh just the support we've gotten from the town and the entire Btown. It's just been fantastic
and we really really really appreciate that. >> Thank you. And congratulations. You have no idea how proud we are of you and how excited we were when we won the championship. the entire town was just completely a buzz with excitement. So
congratulations and welcome to the council meeting and thank you for coming out on such a cold night in January. >> All right, so first Elizabeth and congratulations CONGRATULATIONS will be with us tonight. So we'll go to
Julia Power. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> And one of our captains, Amy Vender. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. I move. >> Congratulations.
>> Captain Cardelli. >> Congratulations. >> And one of our captains, Anderson Garland. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. Thank you, >> CYNTHIA. >> CONGRATULATIONS,
>> BROOK. >> CONGRATULATIONS. SO, I congratulations CATHERINE could not be with us tonight, but Grace, no, Grace is not here either. El McGee. Congratulations.
>> Congratulations. >> Is not here, but one of our captains, Lizzy Ruth. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. And our final CAPTAIN final person who's here. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Thanks once again. Thank you so much. Thank you everyone. >> Thank you everybody. >> So our meeting is going to continue in a moment. You know you're welcome to stay here but we won't be offended if you're school night.
So thank you all for coming. Super. >> No, it's all right. It's all right. I wrote down I did. >> Okay. Do we have a motion to go back into order? Please >> make a motion to go back into
>> I'll second. >> Thank you. All in favor? I >> thank you. I will now go into public comment. Anyone wishing to address the governing body, please give your name spelling the last name and address. Please speak in an audible tone and address your comments to the chair. There will be a 5minute time limit per
speaker unless reduced because of the volume of business on the agenda. Please note public comment is your time out of respect and fairness to all. There will be no interruptions or questions answered during your time. No time shall be seated to anyone else and no time shall be saved for later use. Any
responses may be given during the governing body's comments later in the meeting or is directed by the chair. The bur clerk is the official timekeeper. Okay. Nobody in council chambers is stepping up. Is there anyone on the line? First call for public comments on
the line. Second call for public comments for anyone on the line. Third and final call for public comments. Not hearing anyone. I will close public comments. We don't have any advertised public hearings tonight. Um, appointments. I hereby make the
following appointments. Derek Bellen to the Ramsey Fire Department, Junior Fire Brigade, and Adrien Brewer, permanent police officer, Ramsey Police Department. Consent resolutions. Uh, thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh, be it resolved that resolutions 035 2026
through and including 047 2026 anything considered by the governing body of the bur of Ramsey B and are hereby passed and approved. There are no special permits or block party requests this evening. >> I'll second that. >> Thank you. Do we have any comments on any of the resolutions?
>> Not hearing any. Roll call, please. >> Councilman Gerson, >> yes. >> Councilman Gutter, >> yes. >> Councilman Kelvin, >> yes. Councilman Pablo, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Poppy, >> yes. >> Thank you. We'll move on to committee and liaison reports. Finance and
administration. Councilman Gutter. >> Uh, thank you once again, Madame Mayor. Uh, first off, I just want to um congratulate the Ramsey High School girls soccer team on an unbelievably terrific season culminating state championship.
uh they're undefeated and one of the top teams in the country and the burough as the mayor uh has said uh we're so proud of your accomplishments. Uh just want to also thank the tremendous efforts this past weekend of the Ramsey
DTW at emergency services during the winter storm. Um, I had the opportunity to drive through the town a couple times and uh, it was a herculean effort to get this snow out of the way and I'm sure others on the deis
here will have other comments regarding the storm. Uh for my comments for tonight, uh the library board uh the next fundraiser is um on Friday, this Friday, January 30th, with a theme of a night out at the library from 7:00 p.m.
to 10 p.m. for adults with variety of activities including board games, lounge areas, and scheduled activities. And your friends at the Ramsey Library are sponsoring this event. This event will be a Bob and will be a fun child-free night at the library after hours. Uh the
library will be running their annual Lunar New Year celebration on Saturday, February 28th from 1 to 4:00 p.m. This is one of the library signature annual events and will feature nearly a dozen performances of traditional dance, music, and costumes to celebrate the holiday. They also will have a SC
scavenger hunt, crafts, riddles, and light refreshments. The library director is working on a 2026 budget proposal and 25 annual report, state aid report. Uh the library director has presented statistics for 2025 in terms of visits, library events, content views on social
media and summer reading program participants and all were favorable to prior years. Uh the team room furniture is set to be delivered installed in February and the library is looking to finalize the renovation that space and residents can check the library website for winter programming. Uh the rec
commission, the winter basketball um and wrestling seasons are underway uh January through later into February or perhaps into early March. And the rec commission began a K through 2nd grade basketball clinic starting this month in January earlier this month uh with three
45 minute sessions by grade on Saturday mornings. Uh the Ramsey Farmers Market a little rough in weather last couple Sundays, but the winter hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. weather permitting. Uh the May the hours will change from 9 9 to 2. Um check out the
great vendors that are attendance each and each week at the market and uh full of crafts and children's and music and nonprofit organization using attendance. And lastly, the farmers market was sad to find out about passing of produce Pete Npalitano, a longtime attendee of
the farmers market. That's my report for this evening. >> Thank you so much. Public safety Councilman Kilman. Thank Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, first I'd like to say thanks and congratulate Derek Bellen on uh joining the Ramsey Fire Department,
the Junior Fire Brigade, and also to Aiden Brewer becoming a permanent police officer for the Ramsey Police Department. Congratulations to the Ramsey High School girls soccer team on winning the state championship. And also
to I want my thanks to the Ramsey DPW and all the other Ramsey departments for their great work on snow removal and keeping our burrows safe. In regards to the new emergency services complex, we've been informed that the design team will be finalizing the
revised concept for the new emergency services complex sometime next month. Once completed, it will be presented at a regular mayor and council meeting which will include the public. And at this time, if all goes well, we expect to see the bidding process beginning in
the first quarter of 2026. And that is my report. Madame Mayor, >> thank you. Building planning and zoning. Councilman, >> uh, first off, I would just like to congratulate the high school girls soccer team for tremendous season. Um
this month we had for the zoning board we had two variances passed. Um and in the design review board we had two approvals and one is coming back with an alternate um sign and that is all I
have. >> I said that's all. >> Oh okay. Thank you. >> All right. All right. And then utilities buildings and grounds. Councilwoman Kusik is absent. So I understand Councilman >> Yes, I have. >> Council member will cover it. >> I have some notes from her. Um first,
Judy says, "Congratulations to the Ramsey girls soccer team to uh their outstanding um achievement." Uh it's it's a really athletic and um uh a very sportsminded state, New Jersey, and uh
to win that is quite an accomplishment. She also wants to congratulate Derek Bellen on RA on on becoming a member of the Ramsey Fire Department, Junior Fire Brigade, and also to Aiden Brewer on becoming a permanent police officer um
for the Ramsey Police Department. See what else we have here. Oh, and I'll see she wants to thank special thanks to the Ramsey DPW and all those who did such a wonderful job on snow removal. Um, regarding the board of public works,
per and polyfllorinated substances, POAS are a large group of human-made chemicals and their persistence in the environment is a concern. The EPA has set forth PAS water quality limits impacting our wellwater supply. H2M, our
architectural and engineering firm, is collaborating with Ramsey Water Department on treatment solutions for all our well facilities. And regarding lead service line replacement, the Board of Public Works continues planning and implementation measures to comply with
the New Jersey DP's lead service line replacement mandate, requiring all service lines in the water system to be replaced by 2031. The bureau will cover the cost of replacing the portion of water service line it owns, while property owners are responsible for the
portion they own. To encourage proactive replacements, the ordinance offers a 7 $150 reimbursement to property owners who replace their galvanized or lead water service lines within a specified time frame. The latter of 270
days from the adoption of the ordinance or 180 days from the date the property owner was first notified of the need for replacement. And those are her comments. >> Thank you.
public and governmental relations, Councilwoman Poppy. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. First, I would like to congratulate the Ramsay High School uh girls soccer team on their accomplishments this season, including their championship. I would also like to
congratulate Derek Bellon for his appointment to the Junior Fire Brigade and Aiden Brewer um as our new um permanent member of the Ramsey Police Department. Um I would also like to take a moment to thank our DPW OEM emergency
services and everyone else working during the storm to ensure our roads were clear and our residents were safe. This was an intense snowfall which brought us all many challenges and our bureau did a great job managing it.
Um this Sunday, uh we hope that our residents will join the mayor, council, and Ramsey Police Department at the community center from 10 to 12 for coffee, bagels, and networking. All right, res residents are welcome. Um, the next pool commission meeting will be
held on February 18th at 7:30 p.m. in the front conference room of Burough Hall. And the Ramsey Chamber will host their annual so social, which is also February 18th. It begins at 5:30 p.m. at
the Ramsay Golf and Country Club. Tickets are $45 for members and guests and members from Bergen County, Allenale, Waldwick, Hocus, and Suffurn will also be in attendance. Um, it's almost time for another edition of the
Ramsey Journal. So, everybody look out for the the requests for submission in the coming weeks. Um, finally, we've begun planning the uh, America's 250th
celebration, and we will have more information to follow as that involves. It should be a really great time with some special uh, events and activities for our residents to enjoy. Thank you. >> Thank you. Health, Education, Social
Services, Councilman Papo. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, I too want to congratulate Derek and Aiden on their appointment and thank them for their service. Uh, of course, congratulations to the Ramsey High School girls soccer. I will add a we're
also the Bergen County Tournament Champions as well, which is another extremely uh difficult feat to do. So, just congratulations on just an unbelievable season. and as well as thank you to the um DPW and emergency
services for the past weekend and and ongoing right with all of this stuff that they had to do for the past 72 hours. Uh I'll start off with Reich. Uh we had a winter social at St. Paul's on the 16th of January. Uh very well attended um with additional social event
at Camp Acorn. So we still had a lot a lot of folks with having two events in one night. Thank you to the mayor and council and and all the volunteers who who helped out. Without all of you, you know, these events don't don't happen. So, I appreciate your time. Uh,
challenger basketball continues every Saturday at 3 p.m. at Dator School and that'll go on through through March. And again, that is also well attended. Environmental committee, uh, Upper Saddle River had their styrofoam on 12426.
Ramsey is probably up for next month, which will which will be February. Not sure if it's going to be February or March, but we'll I'll update you next month as where that should be. Just to keep some dates for everybody, cleanup day in Ramsey is April 18th. That's a Saturday, be 92. Uh going through, we
will have the EV car show as well as the secondhand toys on the 19th of April. Uh that'll be that follow that following Sunday. Uh Ramsey just surpassed 19 I should say 16,000 pounds of recycled food waste just to let you know when we
started that back a couple years ago with the families are listed of about 100 plus families out of Ramsey that are donating to that uh board of ed they did meet last night uh Dr. Mattio did give a strategic plan quarterly update which
was helpful to go through how the uh how the education is going through and all their update on the strategic plan and municipal alliance uh did not have a meeting this month and that would be it. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Um for my comments
of course congratulations once again to the Ramsey girls high school soccer team on their state championship. That is an unbelievable accomplishment. And of course, congratulations and recognition to their coaches, managers, and their families who support their efforts. Um,
thank you and congratulations to Derek Bellon about joining the fire department. Adrien Brew becoming a permanent member of the police department. And I too, every time I was the at the Ramsey Farmers Park and Produce Pete was there, I always had a wonderful conversation with Produce Pete
and his wife Betty. So, was very sad to see that he passed the other day. Um, as Councilman Pablo mentioned, the Refe winter social was a true success. Um, people stayed until 9:00. I don't think I left until 9:30. So, it was a really
great event. Well attended, and I'm glad the weather gods cooperated with us that evening. Um, once again, as everybody mentioned, this past weekend, you know, it was a ferocious and prolonged storm, and I have to commend OEM
SER, Ramsey PD, ambulance, fire, rescue, and of course the DPW on all of their pre-planning, coordination. It was extremely welloiled machine. Um, a lot of planning and forethought went into it. And I think the effort showed how good the town looks. Um, we will be
removing snow overnight because there's just nowhere to put it right now. And I do hope that the weather cooperates this Sunday so that we don't have to reschedu coffee with the mayor, council, and PD once again. And that's all I have to say for administrator. Uh, thank you, Madame
Mayor. I have a few comments tonight, excuse me, on some of the resolutions on the agenda. Resolution 44 is authorizing the bureau to uh sale of the note from bond ordinance 25 of 2025 to the New
Jersey Infrastructure Bank. This resolution pertains to bond ordinance 25 of 2025 adopted last year. It authorized the issuance of debt for the PIFA treatment project on the Arrow Road water supply wells. This project is eligible for special lowinterest
financing and potentially for principal forgiveness through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank or the NJI Bank. The resolution allows the bureau to sell the note from that bond ordinance to the NJI bank and therefore become eligible for financing under the special program.
Resolution 45 um is authorizing the 2026 sewer rates that were recommended by the Ramsey Board of Public Works. The Ramsey Board of Public Works at its January meeting passed a resolution recommending the 2026 sewer rates to the governing body.
The recommended rates are 3.9 5% increase from 2025 in line with increases the BPW has received from the Northwest Burton County's Utility Authority, which operates the treatment plant that receives, treats, and processes the SL sewer flows from
Ramsey. Um, resolution 46 awards a contract to Schwaned Halls and Vince for burough engineering services. With the retirement of burough engineer Daggero, the burough sought proposals from engineering firms to fill this needed
service. Three proposals were received and the burough selected Schwan House and Vince as the firm to contract with for the burough engineer for a term of one year. The contract services will be on an as needed basis and build accordingly based on contract rates.
This firm has served for a number of years as the Ramsey planning board engineer and has performed well in that capacity and that background should allow for a smooth transition. And finally, resolution 47 uh confirms Aiden Brewer as a
permanent officer of the Ramsey Police Department. police officers that are hired so over a one-year period as a probationary officer after which with the police chief's recommendation they become a permanent officer of the department uh once confirmed to that
appointment uh through the mayor and the council's resolution confirming uh officer Brewer has completed this probationary period and was recommended by Chief Pereizy to continue as a permanent officer with the department which is effective on his one-year anniversary of December 11th of 2025.
five. I also would congratulate the girls soccer team on their fabulous undefeated season and to echo the other uh thank yous uh from members up here to the DPW police and emergency services
and as the mayor pointed out um I would also include the governing body, the mayor and all the coordination and logistics planning that go into that between everyone um to make it happen and then the DPW W executing that with
the emergency services. It really worked well considering what we're dealing with. So, thank you to everybody for all their work. That would conclude my report. >> Thank you, Fur attorney. >> Nothing. Thank you, >> Federal Clerk. >> I have nothing. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Great. No introduction
of ordinance. We have no unfinished or new business. Can I please have a motion to adjourn? >> I'll make a motion to adjourn. >> Thank you. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. All in favor? there. >> All right. Thanks, folks. >> Stay safe.