Call to order the meeting of the mayor and council, the Burough of River Edge, uh May 8th, 2025, River Edge Library, 685 Elm Avenue and on Zoom, 700 p.m. Uh roll call, please. Oh, I'm sorry. No. Uh
statement on compliance. Um statement of compliance with the Open Public Media Act. This meeting complies with the open public media act by notification on January 6, 2025 of this location, date and time and to the town news in the record and by posting of the same on the municipal bulletin board in the burough
website. The following notice of the same with the municipal clerk. Madame clerk, roll call, please. Council president Montano Cohen present. Council, sorry, Councilwoman Canella here. Councilwoman Malari here.
Councilman Benson here. Councilman Glass here. Councilwoman Jarwall here. Mayor Pablo here. We have a a really great honor today. We have another volunteer firefighters. They give so much. Uh we have so many firefighters here. six
months of training and then really uh getting up for our residents uh any time of the day or night and u getting out there to save their homes when necessary uh but to make sure that they are safe and secure always. So could I have a
motion and a second to move resolution 25-145 approve the uh appointment of a volunteer firefighter? So moved. Second. All in favor please say I. Okay. Ed, come on up. Firefighters present. Ed, if you stand
on the other side of that table so that you'll be visible on Zoom. And if can the entire firefighter come uh fire department come in and stand behind Ed? Ed, do you have anybody with you? Uh my wife and two kids are over there. Come
on in. If you cannot see yourself behind me, you are not on camera. So, three rows, maybe four rows and move over. Yeah. Behind you, council. How are you? And we can you guys are single file. Think about two rows.
All right. I'm going to step out of the frame in a minute. Come on. All right. Here we go. Uh, so you're going to come and if you're just going to slightly move over this way a little bit, stop right there. And if the family can stand on this
side and um are you okay putting your hand on the Would you hold that for dad? All the mic. No, no, you can put your hand underneath if you want. Yeah. Great. That's wonderful, Mikey. That's great. Are you
gonna raise your right hand? Oh, that's okay. That's okay. That's okay. Let me grab that. There we go. Mikey, stay right there. Good job. Good job. Let me get out of the frame. Okay. Uh we are very proud. Uh we're going to do the oath. Raise your right hand and repeat
after me. I state your name. I ever do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution that I will support the Constitution of the United States of the United States and the Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey of the State of
New Jersey and that I and that I will bear true faith and allegiance that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same to the same and to the government and to the government established in the United States established in the United States and in this day and in this day under Under the
authority of the people, under the authority of the people, I state your name. I, Edward Zuka, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will faithfully that I will pay impartially impartially and justly and justly perform all the duties perform all the duties as a
firefighter as a firefighter of the River Edge Volunteer Fire Department of the River Edge Volunteer Fire Department. To the best of my ability. to the best of my ability. So help me God. So help me God. Congratulations. We'll just uh we'll take a quick picture maybe. Everybody,
there you go. All right. Here we go. Good. Good. Look this way. Everybody look this way. All right. Awesome. Awesome. All right. Here we go. One, two, three. Smile one more time. And this looks good. All right. You're
welcome. Thank you all. Thank you. Congratulations. Congratulations. I was going to say my name. Thank you everyone. Thank you. Okay. We have to uh go into close session for about 30 minutes. So, we're going to do a recess.
Could I have a motion and second to move resolution 25-141 resolution to enter into close session attorney client privilege NJSA 10 col 4-12B5 discussion with labor attorney second it's been moved and second all in
favor please say I okay we are now in recess for 30 minutes like all Hi. I call back into session the meeting of the mayor and council May 8th, 2025 regular meeting. Uh madame clerk, roll
call. Uh wait, uh we had put off uh the silent reflection and the flag salute until this time. So please stand. I ask uh a moment of reflection uh for uh our Catholic residents and Catholics
throughout the world as a new pontiff takes uh the role of Peter um for a moment of reflection and silence. Ready salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and
to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. I've already read the statement of compliance. Uh we're going to just do real quick. Could I have an approval of the minutes of the mayor and council
special meeting March 8th and regular meeting April 24th? So move second. All in favor, please say I. Are there any abstensions? I need to abstain from the April 24th meeting. I wasn't here. Okay. Any others? Yeah, I do as well. Thank you. The April 24th?
Yes, David. Yes. Okay, great. Thank you. Um Okay. Well, um we have a great moment for a great employee, uh Debbie, come on up. And could I have everyone who's come to celebrate with Debbie come and stand behind you? Debbie, if you can stand
right over there. 3 to seven. What is that? Oh, you guys got to move over. Look. Keep moving. Keep moving. Oh, no. We We can't see LT. LT, you can go back. Everybody move forward. Yeah, I
mean right here and everybody look forward. I feel like uh teachers inviting everyone to come forward in the classroom. All right. All right. So, um so um yes.
Oh, okay. Great. So, um Debbie, you have been uh you have been an employee of the burrow for 35 years. So, uh, the BA and I were talking, uh, about a year ago, a year and a half ago about how River Edge is a place where
multiple generations come and stay. And then we started and then I started saying, well, what about employees? Do we celebrate our employees? And and uh, Lette and I talked about it and we wanted to start celebrating those who have come and stayed and served the
people of River Edge. And you've been amazing. Amazing. How many chiefs have you worked for? Four. Four. Four. That's amazing. So, um, I have a small plaque. We sent you flowers early today. Yes. Thank you
so much. I didn't know how to thank everybody. Your cell phone. I took a picture. This plaque does not do you justice. Uh, but we wanted to take a moment and pause and say congratulations and thank you. Oh, thank you so much.
Thank you. piece of time has to talk about either any of the four chiefs you've worked for or the PDA or the town. Anything you want to say. Um because it's I I want
people I want people at home and present here today to appreciate all the great work you've done. Oh, well, 35 years doesn't feel like 35 years when you love your job. Yeah. Okay. I've had great chiefs, Chief Quinn, Chief Stith, Chief
K, and Chief Walker. So, and we're going to invite him in a few minutes to say a few words. Okay. And um you know, it's I always tell people it's a great town. I wish I lived here. I don't live here, but I wish I did. Well, the way you have 35 years. That's true. That's true.
That's true. Yeah. You know, it's a long time, you know. get me, you know. So, I don't know. What was one of the the most special moments for you over your 35 years? What moment kind of jumps out? And if there's not just one, if you want
to mention two or three, that's okay. Special moments. Well, when I went from I used to be in the records bureau and then I got promoted up to the chief secretary with Ryan Stray. Yeah. And now you put me on the spot. I can't
think. I can't. Who's your favorite PDA officer? I love them all and I've seen some come come and go. I've worked with many many officers and you do have the final police department. I agree. Well, there's one that's comparable the one
that my son is on. So, and we we we concede that point. And where where is your son? Uh close. He's Catholic. Oh, nice. He met Adam Sandler. Did he at the recent movie making?
No, no, it's okay. He can talk. In fact, why don't you if if you're comfortable having their names because it'll go on YouTube. You can introduce them. If you're not, you don't have to. My grandson Luke, my grandson, my grandson Mikey, my son Brad, his beautiful wife Jessica, and
Scott is my other son. And I have another son, but he's he's busy. The police officer. Yes. and we're grateful for his service. Well, Chief, can you say Oh, I'm sorry. You want to say something? For 20 years. Oh, wow. Congratulations. Thank you for your service.
So, um, Chief Walker, you have been on the River Edge Police Department for how long? 37 August. So, you've known Debbie your her entire career. A little bit, right? Yeah. Forever.
I don't want to put you on the spot, but if you want to say a few words, this is No, it's been a you know, going back that far when we think about it. You know, um it's always been a pleasure to work with Debbie and she's been um you know, I always say like we're we're old school. You and I have been around a
long time. I think eight mayors. Wow. Countless countless uh council people. Yeah. But um when I think of you and I think of uh you know the way we work and with that old school mentality that you have Debbiey's the person that it's hard copies of things everything's
computerized right but I could be having a meeting with the command staff and we'll be thinking of something a receipt or a bill or purchase order something could be 25 years ago and you're like Deb she's in the right right off I'm like Debb you think you can maybe find this you think we have it and she's like
I think I might have it and then You hear her like and in like five minutes she's like I got it. It's the most amazing thing. It's the most amazing thing cuz there's no there's nobody left like that, right? Like think about everything is just keyboard. I do use
definitely use the computer list to keep track of all our uh all of our time um you know overtime takes care of all the uh billing um all the traffic stuff is like there's a lot that that you take care of and everybody comes up to her
for stuff all day long you know dad where can I get this how can I order this how can I do this you know she takes the heat when we might have said you don't like can you take care of use the pe shees over the little mistakes. She
does. She does. Right. Love how please stand. Can you get through? Applause. Debbie. Yes. Thank you. Welcome. Oh, thank you so much. I'm really honored. Yes, I really am. Thank you so
much. I We are the benefit beneficiaries of all your goodness. I always tell them this is a great time. It really, really is. You know, just stay here. Don't move away.
No, we all love it. Bye bye. Weather the gazebo thing. Hello from Joe's gonna join us. Not the right colors. I missed the memo. You're
shirt. All right. So, um, so we we at River Edge continue to experience um, so many dedicated people who make this town special. And we have the stigmafree committee. Uh, will you
introduce yourselves? Uh, Ellen Bastid, former councilwoman, Miam Maloney, Joe Z. Those on from the police department. Yes. And we're missing Arlene Fini. Um, and Andrea. Great. and Stigma Fee does uh a lot of good good
work to make um make our society our town uh well Ellen how would you describe it? So the concept behind the stigmafree initiative is to bring to the forefront the importance of mental well-being and mental health and that
it's okay to not be okay and it's okay to ask for help. So that's the real message that we try to convey working with the people in our town and working with the people in the county of Bergen to let people know it's okay to not be okay but it's okay to ask for help help.
And there are many many resources available in the county in the state and in the town to assist you um from 988 which is to help you if you're um concerned about a loved one or yourself and where you need to go for care. 911 if you're in a serious emergency or you
feel somebody is going to hurt themselves, you're going to hurt yourself. There's specific um helplines for children and youth. Um so I have some cards I'm going to give to all of you if you want to use these as a resource for yourself or put them um in the burrow. But our we really just want
to shine a light on mental well-being. And we want to thank the municipal partners that we have from the police department to the fire department to the river edge volunteer ambulance service who have been so kind to us to work with us to help to amplifi amplify our voices and the importance of the stigmafree
initiative. So we encourage people in town who are watching tonight if you're at all interested in getting involved in our committee and our effort. We are welcoming new members all the time. You can reach out through the burrow. They can find us. Um, but we want to thank the mayor and council for taking time
out of your busy evening to acknowledge the stigmafree movement and those of us that are involved with it. Excellent. Proclamation. Whereas mental health is essential to everyone's overall health and well-being and all people experience
times of difficulties and stress in their lives and should feel comfortable in seeking help and support to manage these times. And whereas like physical illness, mental illness is a medical condition that can be treated effectively through prevention, early
identification and early intervention. And with effective treatment, all individuals with mental illness can make progress towards recovery and lead full potential lives. And whereas CO 19 pandemic has created a multitude of
mental health challenges for our community members of all ages and connecting people to care is more important than ever. And whereas there is a strong body of research that supports user-friendly tools that all Americans can access to better handle
challenges and protect their health and well-being. And whereas it is the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the stigmafree initiative in Bergen County and the month of May is recognized annually throughout the nation as mental health awareness month. And whereas the
burough river edge has declared itself a stigmafree zone in 2015 and will continue to support the sig stigmafree initiative. And whereas stigmaf-free zones aim to inspire public interest in open dialogue about stigma, raise
awareness of the disease of mental illness, and create a culture wherein residents who have the disease of mental illness can feel free to ask treatment without fear of stigma. Therefore, I, Thomas Papaleo, mayor of the Burge, and on behalf of the council, do hereby
proclaim May 2025 as mental health awareness. Thank you. You're gonna take Yeah. Okay. All right. There you go. Very good. Thank you. You're welcome. Absolutely.
We were at the Burton County Sigmafree um symposium last Friday and there was a panel discussion of experts that man these crisis lines um and they handed out these cards and I thought that they were very informative. So um I know
everyone comes across people who may need some help and a good place to start. Thank you. Thanks a lot and thanks again for taking time out of your meeting. Oh sorry no more. Thank you. So, Andrea, who was one of our founding members, everyone knows Andrea, right?
So, she's recently had to relocate relocate out of River. Yeah. Um, so we wanted to just take a take a second to acknowledge the amazing work that Andrea and her Bidita did to build our committee and to get it where it is today and to constantly work towards um
mental health and well-being. So, we just want to acknowledge Andrea because she couldn't be here tonight and she was so hardworking. We really so phenomenal. We may phenomenal. We may deliver the proclamation to her. Yes. Excellent. That'd be great. That would be great.
Thank you. Thank you. Okay, here we go. Um, could I have a motion and second to open to comments from the public on any item on the agenda only? So, second. All
in favor, please say I. I. Um, There's nobody there. Uh, do you guys want to say anything about the agenda before you go? Keep up the good work. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Councilwoman. Uh, could I
have a motion second to close to the public on the agenda? Second. All in favor, please say I. I. Um, great. Um, monthly reports. There's a tax collector report, April, which can be gotten through the clerk's office for those who are interested. We had a second reading
hearing on ordinances. Um there are two of them. I'm going to open both of them to the public at the same time and then uh we'll have separate votes for their adoptions. Um I need to read them into the record first. So uh to ordinance
25-11 bond ordinance to authorize the making of various public improvements in the acquisition of new additional or replacement um equipment and machinery, new information technology, new communication and signal system
equipment, new automotive vehicles, and a new fire truck partially funded including original apparat apparatus and equipment in and by and for the burough river edge in the county of Bergen state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of
$3,579,128 to pay for the cost thereof to appropriate a county grant to make a down payment to authorize issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to provide for the issuance of a bond anticipation notes in anticipation of issuance of sold bonds and ordinance
25-13 excuse me an ordinance appropriating 300,000 from the general capital fund balance for the undertaking of renovation to and furnishings for the municipal building. Could I have a motion and second to open to the public? So moved.
Second. All in favor, please say I. Do we uh um madame um business administrator, would you please uh explain to the public what we hope to achieve with uh 2512 and 2513? 2511 and 253. 2511. It is the multi-purpose bond
uh ordinance that is to appropriate funding for um that service for all the projects and equipment that were authorized during the during the budget process. And 25-13 appropriates uh
300,000 from fund balance. The purpose of that is to um put additional money aside since we did have to go we are going out to bid again for the exterior of the burough hall facilities and that
bid opening is next Tuesday. Very good. Uh there is no one on the virtual audience and no one in the physical audience audience. So could I have a motion second to close the public? [Music] Second. All in favor, please say I. I.
Okay. Could I have a uh motion and second to approve ordinance 25-11? Moved. Second. It has been moved and second. Is open for debate, comment, or inquiry. Is there debate? Hearing none. I call the
question. Madame clerk. Council president Montesano Cohen. Yes. Councilwoman Canella. Yes. Councilwoman Malari. Yes. Councilman Benson, yes. Councilman Glass, yes. Councilwoman
Darwal, yes. Okay. Could I have a motion and second to move ordinance 25-13? So move. Second. Um, it is open for debate, inquiry, or uh comment. Is there
a debate? Hearing none, I call the question. Madame Clerk, Council President Montasano Cohen, yes. Councilwoman Canella, yes. Councilwoman Malari, yes.
Councilman Benson, yes. Councilman Glass, yes. Councilwoman Darwal, yes. All right, we have resolutions now. Uh 25-142 through 144, picking up again at
146 and moving to 150. Is there any question about the resolutions before I move them as a group? I just had a quick question about 25143. Mayor, that's so it's not under the burrow insurance. That's a separate
entity that does the crossing guards. Correct. Under the joint insurance fund, the u the bureau has to send out crossing guards before officially hiring them or rehiring them for uh hearing and vision testing. And um we did have a
different facility, but um that did this. The police sergeant Diamond looked into it for more convenient scheduling. And this new facility is actually a savings of about $45 per crossing cart. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Any other
questions, comments? Okay. Um could I have a motion in a second? So moved. Second. All in favor, please say I. Are there any opposed or any abstensions? Hearing none, it is unanimous. Okay. Could I have the
finance chair, Councilman Canella, move 25-151, and someone from the finance committee second? Sure. Thank you, mayor. At a regular meeting of the mayor and council of Burough of River, county of Bergen, state of New Jersey, held on May 8th, 2025, be it resolved that the
mayor and council of the borrow of Riveridge approve the following expenditures. Current fund 8,512,951.78. General capital fund $93,5929. Grant fund $34,885. Trust other $18,497.94. Developers escrow
$5,147.50 recreation trust $10,48049. So So move. Second. All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? Can I? Yes. I would like to abstain myself from 25150.
Excellent. Very good. Um I'm just putting my phone on mute. Uh excellent, Councilwoman. Uh very good. Um now, uh is there any new business? We do have some old business. We have the April 24th bill list recreation payments. Uh
is that by resol resolution number there were what four hills that were still the council of Darwaters? Yes I think that's it doesn't say any um resolution number here but then we can
create one right now and can we create 25152 as the clerk? Uh, sure. But I believe you can just make a motion in a second and approve it without a resolution, but I'll defer to the burough attorney on that. All right. Could I have a motion to
approve the bills that were not approved for the 24 bill list? So move. Second. All in favor, please say I. I. All right. Could I I need to abstain myself from um check 66274 66291.
Okay, cool. We're doing very well. All right. Um, could I have a motion and second to open to the public on any uh thing at all? So moved. Second. All in favor, please say I. I. Okay. There is no one in the virtual audience and no one in the physical audience. Could I
have a motion second to close to the public? So move. Second. All in favor, please say I. Okay. Are there any council comments? I have a comment there. Absolutely. Councilman Glass. Thank you. real quick. So, I received this in the mail today as
all residents, I think, in the burrow did. Yes. It's a request from the volunteer fire department for donations. Yes. Um I just want to make everyone aware of that. I am uh feeling like we're very lucky to have a volunteer fire department that's so effective as
ours is. Um in 2024, they responded to 338 fire calls. Yes. So, I intend to make a generous donation, you know, to their in response to their request and I hope a
lot of other people in the burrow do as well because they certainly need our support. Okay. Any other council person with um council comments? Yes, ma'am. Right. Councilwoman Mard, I just want to remind the public that there's on next
Saturday, May 17, there's the Hackinacry Bird Cleanup organized by the EPC. And also same day, Saturday, May 17, will be a styrofoam collection from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Continental Parking lot. Excellent. Excellent. And Council
Jar, we have been uh meeting you as for the 250 committee. Excellent. and um it would be really nice if everybody looked into their own new uh departments and found people to join. Okay. But I I really think that's the job of the
committee to reach out to all the uh all the departments um not the liaison because that's why we create a separate subcommittee. So uh so if you guys could uh but if all the leaison could remind those committees that we do need volunteers to to be there that would be
good. Okay. Um, excellent. Good. Anybody else? All right. Um, one last thing. We have Memorial Day. Uh, we're going to have a ceremony uh as always in in Veterans
Field at um I have it listed at, uh, 11:00, correct? But, uh, for the council's sake, there will be a, um, there's always a memorial ceremony at fire company number one. Um, so, uh, wanted to we'll make you aware of that.
Um, Councilwoman Darwal, has the committee 250 met at all yet? I think you guys have, right? We have. We have met once. Good. And, uh, this this coming week, we are again meeting with one of the new committee members. Outstanding. Good. Good. Uh but yeah,
liaison need to remind the committees that we were we're looking for one member from every uh B board commission committee um um to to uh join in the uh 20 uh 250
250th anniversary of the United States. It's Constitution, correct? Yeah. So um not Declaration of Independence. Declaration of Independence. My bad. Um, so, uh, so that would be good. All right. Um, anything
else? All right, then. Could I have a motion and second to adjourn the meeting? Well done, everybody. Second. All in favor, please say I. We are adjourned.