WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=jJKHttCxxOM

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: jJKHttCxxOM):
- 00:00:10: Meeting Called to Order and Opening Formalities
- 00:02:17: Swearing-In Ceremony for Volunteer Firefighter Christian
- 00:07:29: Proclamation and Award for Ideal Service Center
- 00:15:07: Moving Public Comment Section to Earlier in Meeting
- 00:17:46: Public Comment: Omar Hassan on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:19:30: Public Comment: Sophia Khan on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:20:56: Public Comment: Tesnim Omar on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:22:19: Public Comment: Zana Mahan on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:23:42: Public Comment: Nabila Itani on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:27:35: Public Comment: Dr. Say on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:30:53: Public Comment: Mino Akar on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:33:29: Public Comment: Khaled Bashawish on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:36:03: Public Comment: Sonia Khan on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:37:48: Public Comment: Ruana Isla on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:39:34: Public Comment: Dr. Nick Mahan on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:41:33: Public Comment: Alfaluga on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:45:03: Public Comment: On Crescent Lighting Display (Speaker Unknown)
- 00:46:25: Public Comment: Aiza Marinovich on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:48:37: Public Comment: Janaz on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:50:14: Public Comment: Rasha Alara on Crescent Lighting Display
- 00:51:58: Public Comment: Melissa Desan and Regina Lauraella on ICE Activity
- 01:00:20: Public Comment: Jella Mian on ICE Activity
- 01:03:52: Public Comment: Allison Lechen on ICE Activity
- 01:06:48: Public Comment: Alimus Dorville on ICE Activity
- 01:09:18: Discussion: Religious Displays and Crescent Recognition
- 01:35:17: Chief Walker Addresses ICE Activity and Department Protocols
- 01:43:36: Chief Addresses ICE Concerns; Public Safety Priority
- 01:45:10: Police Communication Regarding ICE Presence; Safety Protocols
- 01:46:30: Council's Immigrant Background; River Edge a Safe Town
- 01:47:15: Contacting Police; Recording Incidents with Caution Advised
- 01:50:58: Clarification on ICE Contact; Environmental Presentation Begins
- 01:52:19: Environmental Commission Presents Annual Report: Green Initiatives
- 02:00:14: Environmental Commission Requests Support for Future Initiatives
- 02:00:32: Council Questions; Municipal Composting; Waste Reduction Benefits
- 02:04:20: Traffic Ordinance Survey Presentation; Mayor Recuses Himself
- 02:07:11: 9-11 Parking Ordinance Survey Results and Discussion
- 02:14:55: Proposed Parking Changes; Summer Meeting to Finalize Ordinance
- 02:19:59: Non-Paved Surfaces & Traffic Violations
- 02:22:10: Discuss Trailer Ordinance, Obscured Vehicles, Train Station Issues
- 02:24:12: Optimize Parking Lots and Metering
- 02:30:49: Prohibit Parking On River Edge Road
- 02:34:17: Personnel Changes & Financial Resolutions Approved
- 02:35:38: Approving Increased Salary of Edward Hazuka and Eric Phillips
- 02:39:10: Discussion: Extending Alcohol Serving Hours For World Cup
- 02:41:35: Restaurants Request Serving Alcohol Until 4AM
- 02:44:21: Council Approves Motion; Ordinance for World Cup Extended Hours
- 02:45:56: Discussion: Religious Displays on Public Property
- 02:51:25: Council Discusses Religious Display Fairness and Policy
- 03:00:31: Council Extends Meeting; Protects Town from Litigation
- 03:03:15: Council Rejects Motion Allowing Crescent Display; Adjournment


Part: 1

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in the uh the main. >> All right. Why don't we just try this out? There's no error on the computer yet. >> Okay, I can see it. >> Okay. >> I call to order meeting of the mayor and council, the Bor River Edge, May 28th,

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2026. Um regular meeting, Burl Hall, 705 road and uh Zoom. I ask for a moment of silent reflection for our country, for uh our nation as it continues with its

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economic and challenges. >> Council Malari, you lead us in the pledge. 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

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liberty and justice for all. >> Uh statement of compliance with the Open Public Media Act. This meeting complies with the Open Public Media Act by notification on January 9th, 2026 through January 16, 2026. of location, date, time and access information to the

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town news and the record and by posting of the same on the municipal bulletin board or website following notice of the same court roll please. >> Sure. Council President Canella >> here. >> Councilwoman Montasano Cohen >> here. Councilwoman Malo Larry

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>> here. >> Councilman Glass >> here. >> Councilwoman Darw absent with prior notice. Councilman Feffer >> here. >> Mayor Pabalo >> here. Okay. Okay. Uh we do have proclamations and wards, but we also have a swearing in of a volunteer firefighter. Firefighter is here. Right.

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Good. Okay. So, uh without objection, I'd like uh to move to the uh front of the agenda item resolution 26-158 to approve the appointment of a volunteer firefighter. Is there objection? >> None. None. >> Hearing none. Could I have a motion and second to move resolution 26-158?

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>> Second. >> All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All right. Uh Christian and the chief and the firefighters if you could all come forward. This would be you up Star of the show. Okay.

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>> Testing one, two, three. Very good. Okay. Well, uh, first of all, uh, Chief, if you could speak a little bit about, uh, the, uh, volunteer firefighter program and how much time and energy is required and commitment from the candidate as well as from the family.

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Okay. So, Christian here came to us last year. It took been a process to get him going. Uh, the whole process becoming a firefighter showing up the application is going through

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uh physical physical work. He showing interest and after he uh we vetted him made sure he would of course he's here and uh he's now going to be

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probationary firefighter. He's going to have to unfortunately put in over 200 hours Not to mention inhouse training which we do three two to three times a month. Plus

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we have uh every Sunday we're down at the firehouse doing rig checks getting familiar with the equipment making sure all the equipment is working and in good shape. And on top of that, how many calls?

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>> And as of that, we will have over 100 followers. We're doing well. >> It's it's amazing. It really, really is. >> And we have some firefighters who have made this commitment behind standing in honor. And Christian, this is a great moment for River Edge. And we thank you

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for your time and energy. Chief, if you can hold the mic so that it can be heard and if we can move you over and you can stand over here. raise your right hand. There we go. Uh, please repeat after me. I state your name.

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>> I, Christian, >> 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

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>> and that I will bear true faith I will bear true faith >> and allegiance >> 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 >> uh under the authority of the people

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>> under the authority >> I speak your name >> by Christian >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will faithfully >> that I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> as a member of

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>> as a member of >> the River Edge Volunteer Fire Department. >> River Edge Volunteer Fire Department >> to the best of my ability. >> Best of my >> congratulations. Excellent. Chris, do you want to say a few words? You can. If you don't want to, you don't have to. put you on the

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spot. >> Oh, no. I appreciate it. Um, it's been a long it's been a long journey for me. I did come over from Clinton, New Jersey. Oh, wow. Um, so it's been a long coming journey

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for me because something that should happen a little bit sooner, but I was a little sick for quite some time. >> So, I had to had to take some time off. I'm very happy to be part of this family. Excellent

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pictures if you wish. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Stand the picture. Thank you so much. Thank you everybody. And now we have uh a presentation uh proclamation award for Ideal Service Center. And if all those who are here

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from Ideal could come forward that would be great. So, um, I'm going to be reading a proclation in a few minutes, but if you might just talk to the public about the commitment to River Edge and your family's business.

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I'm gonna ask one of your guys to hold the mic for you and speaking at the same time. >> All right, guys. Well, >> first I just want to let everybody know I'm truly honored to be here tonight.

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81 years of being in business is a long time to survive and grow. a little nervous. >> Uh this success happened the mayor and council, police, fire, DPW, ambulance

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and residents of River have all come together so hard to make this town so great. For me personally, this month marks 40 years that I've owned ideal service.

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It's my absolute pleasure to serve this community. I get really emotional. River has become a huge part of my life, but this celebration of proclamation belongs to many people.

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It started in 1945. My family friend to open the shop to the fire station. You got your car service. You can grab a few tomatoes from the chestnut chestnut tree.

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In the 60s my dad started working for him. He continued the traditional ethical the deeply committed to this town. and work very hard.

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>> Well, it's coming off very well. We recognize the many employees over the years who work so hard. Today, our amazing staff work every single day to get stuff done. That includes brother Tom and manager Jason

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and our talented technicians John and Dylan. Together we all hope to continue the legacy of ideal service for many more years. Most importantly, thank you to all the loyal residents and families that have been trusting us to

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service their vehicles for so many decades. We like to when we can honor the longevity that businesses have made to River Edge and we're very very grateful. And so proclamation whereas ideal service center has been a

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cornerstone of the River Edge community by providing exceptional automotive service and creating local jobs. And whereas Vincent Guerrera ideal service owner is celebrating 40 years of dedicated

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service and commitment to the local economy and whereas John how do we say John >> that's it family first opened the doors of ideal service originally known as infestation 81 years ago in 1945 and whereas

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Vincent's father Aldo began working for John in 1962 and in 1972 Aldo officially incororated ated and took ownership of the company which was originally named Ideal Shell. And whereas in May 1986,

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Vincent took ownership of Ideal Service. And over the decades, he has always employed four to six hardworking working mechanics. And whereas generations of families have brought all different makes and models of vehicles to ideal service center. And Vincent has

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dedicated employees have always ensured that their customers vehicles for popular service. And whereas Vince Vincent always admired his father's passion and love of the community and worked hard to emulate these same qualities by supporting the River Edge Police Department, the River Edge Fire

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Department, the River Edge Ambulance Service, as well as by sponsoring several sports teams each year and community events such as the River Edge Run and the River Edge car show. And whereas the success and longevity of the local business such as ideal service

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center are vital to the prosperity, character and vibrancy of the burrow. Now therefore be a resolve that I, Thomas Capileo, mayor of the burough river edge on behalf of the burough council wish to congratulate you Vincent and Ideal Service Center for their many

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years of distinguished service in the community. You like to take some pictures? >> Yes. between >> Vinnie's worked on every car I owned for the last 25 years. Thank you. It's been

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a great experience and we're so lucky to have you guys in our town. >> It's amazing what you do. >> You're always fair. You always get it done. You always point me in the right direction. >> Really appreciate it. >> We do. >> Some public speaking lessons.

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point out that Minnie's wife made cupcakes. >> Oh, nice. Okay. Um we now have presentations. Our first will be a survey on proposed traffic study ordinance. Now chief um that would be you and and um

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>> Sergeant Diamond and I will have to recuse myself for a portion of it. Do you want me to recuse myself to the beginning or the latter? Before we even start, did you want to change the order role to help you with the scheduling? Uh, mayor,

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>> uh, you want, would you be okay if we went to the environmental commission's presentation? Would that be okay? >> Yeah, I just we don't we're a little long, so we didn't want to hold up everyone in the audience what they're here for or >> uh, I think what they're here for is public comments. Uh, you're going to be a little bit long, so you're suggesting we do public comments first?

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>> I just don't We're trying to >> Sure. Absolutely. That sounds very accommodating. We really appreciate Oh. Um, Pam, is that okay with you? Pam, can you unmute and tell us if you don't mind? It might be as much as 20 minutes of uh public comments.

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>> Pam, are you there? >> Oh, Patty, >> sorry, I didn't hear that. Yeah. What was the question, >> Patty? Um would it be okay if we put com public comments first which would run about maybe 20 30 minutes on the far side. Would that be all right with you?

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>> Sure. Sure. So I would go on in about 20 30 minutes. >> Yeah, that's okay. And if then we just do the commission presentation which shouldn't take long and then we'll get to you. All right. Could I without objection we're going to uh move presentations and uh discussion of the

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World Club retail uh after public comments. Could I have a without objection we'll move public comments to um to this point in the meeting. Is there any objections? >> None. >> All right then. Uh could I have a motion second to open to the public for any comments?

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>> Second. >> All in favor please say I. >> Okay everyone, you get three minutes. our attorney, uh, Mr. Shenanian will, uh, keep track of the time. Um, and, uh, please come forward, state your name and address, unless, of course, uh, you are

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of a, a police or justice family, and then, of course, the the law does not require you to do so. You just need to touch the button and you're good. >> Good evening, everybody. Uh my name is Omar Hassan and I live in 727 7th Avenue

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River Edge. Uh I'm just here um on a follow-up discussion and just wanted to uh bring up the uh uh concern that we discussed earlier about uh crescent display um in in uh remembrance of uh

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Ramadan holidays and um I just wanted to bring that up as uh members of River Edge community uh we want our um voices to be heard and we want to be a a participating uh community member. So um

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like any other celebrations we we like to be a part of uh river edge boro celebration celebrating our heritage and our uh cultural practices. So with that I have um couple of our um uh community members who would like to uh speak up

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because I spoke in the last uh meeting so I don't want to take others time. So I wanted to have uh some of our community members to speak. Um we have a few Riveridge residents here who wanted to um express their um views about it.

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>> Okay. Uh who else would like to come forward? Uh you get three minutes. You need to state your name and your address and then um >> Okay. >> Hi. Um I live at 304 Lexington Drive.

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You're you're a child, so we're not going to require that. >> I'm going to make executive decision and wave that because you're a minor. Um, but the thing of it is that you might want to pull the mic a little bit closer. >> There you go.

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>> Go ahead. >> Hi, my name is Sophia Khan and I'm a fifth grader at Cherry Hill Elementary School. My family moved to River Edge when I was 3 years old. I love going to school here, visiting the library, and playing rec sports with my friends. For

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the past 3 years, River Edge Library has celebrated the beginning of Ramadan, and it's something I look forward to. I got to go with my friends and also meet new friends. Just like Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations, a crescent lighting would give kids like me a chance to celebrate the start of a very

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special month that focuses on kindness and helping others. Celebrating holidays and traditions in our town can make kids like me feel included. Like when Ramadan or Eid is mentioned at school, it makes me feel seen. I and I know how many other I know

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many kids in River Edge feel the same way. That's why I think having a crossing lighting in River Edge would mean so much to my to our community. Thank you for your time. You're welcome. any other member of the uh community.

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>> Oh, so we'll >> we'll do that. Okay. >> Hi everyone. My name is Tesnim Omar and I am a resident of River Edge. I live in 727 River Edge 7th. Um, of course I I

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don't know how I'm going to follow that. That was so cute. But um I'm also I've lived in River Edge for about 10 years and I went to school at Riverdale everything. And I think that of course the Crescent Lightings and similar events that we hold for any religious

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group is really important because it helps us feel included, but at the same time I think it makes everyone regardless of their background stronger global citizens and generally more accepting of each other. And I think even going to events like we had a cultural night, stuff like that makes us

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all stronger. Not just because we feel included, but we get to see like just how many different kinds of people are in River Edge and how we can be close to each other and support each other. So, I think it's really important to have that and make that accessible. So, yeah. >> Okay. Wonderful. Anyone else?

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>> Sure. >> Are you a minor? >> No, I'm turning 19. >> Just Sorry. I just If you're a minor, you don't need to say your name and address. We're going to make that just uh so that we always >> My name is Zana Mahan. I live at 152 Haste Avenue in Parramis. Um although

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I'm not from River Edge, I actually have been trying to communicate with River Edge volunteer ambulance course to possibly join. Um I just also wanted to add my opinion on the Crescent Moon Lighting. So in Pramis, we've been doing it for I think about seven eight years

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now. And I was really young when it started, maybe seven or eight years old. And every year when Ramadan happens and the crescent light and we're all gathering together to celebrate the crescent lighting in our boro hall, it just is a very big tradition that my

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family and our community has honored and we've seen people come in from other towns to come see this and other towns started participating in it and I tried to help work along with other towns to try and get it across Bergen County and New Jersey and it's even um have been happening in New York City. um coming to

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River Edge if possibly joining the ambulance cor here then or just any community in general. Seeing the crescent lighting would be such an honor. Coming to America, most our families are immigrants. Having this diverse um community will really like

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show a better u perspective from everyone. When I grew up, I was celebrating Christmas with my friends, Hanukkah with my friends, Easter with my friends. And I feel like having this diverse community where everyone shows their perspectives and shows their cultures is very important. Thank you

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for your time. >> You're welcome. Anyone else? >> Yes, please. If you'll come forward. Hi, my name is Nabila Itani. I live at 321 Harris Place in New Milford. My

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family and I lived in Emerson for 25 years. Then we moved two years ago to New Milford. And I want to share my experience with you about the crescent moonlighting that happened in Emerson and New Milford. It's a beautiful experience. I've seen it. I I've lived it. All I can

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say is just it's amazing seeing the community getting together and sharing the joy of welcoming the month of Ramadan. And it's not only about the Muslims. It is about a strong community that recognizes all residents and a

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community that welcomes and values every single member. Please allow me to share some of the benefits of this meaningful recognition and positive impact it had in many other towns that approved similar celebrations.

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First, just of course recognizing Muslim members of the community who observe the month of Ramadan and most importantly spreading knowledge and awareness to understand and acknowledge the tradition and spiritual values of the month of

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Ramadan. It creates a sense of unity among the whole community and an opportunity for neighbors to learn about one another leading to a stronger community. Personally, when I drive by the crescent

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moon, it tells me as a Muslim resident that my town recognized me just like any other resident celebrating Christmas, tree lighting, and manora lighting. Kids walking to school or driving to school, they're going to know it's Ramadan. From

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my kids are finished college, but as a mom of younger kids, I would go to school to bring it up to the teacher. Oh, it's Ramadan. They'll be fasting. bring it up to the coaches. It's Ramadan. Keep into consideration that they cannot drink during practice or

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games. So this fixture it's simple. It's a big symbol for everybody. I get text messages from my neighbors that like happy Ramadan, Ramadan Mubarak. Seeing just this fix fixture on the street

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and the benefits are endless. It's about spreading knowledge and acknowledge and sharing the show. That's all what about it. Uh please consider what inspired many other towns to approve and support the moonlighting. You are the decision makers and your

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community has been requesting MTA at Berlin County Special Services and at some point I attended the board of education meeting and requested a day off for the holiday at the end of Ramadan. They welcome the idea and we've been having it off since two years and

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for years to come. All what I'm saying is all it takes is someone to make a request. I we really appreciate if you you know listen to the community and this is a great chance for you to make a positive difference for a strong welcoming community based on

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inclusivity, respect and three minutes. We appreciate it. Is there another speaker? Uh on online is there someone Oh, hold on. Come forward. >> We're on a different topic. Is that okay? >> Would you mind waiting? We'll finish with one topic, move to another.

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Good evening to everyone. I'm the Dr. Say. Uh, I've been living in this town from 2006. >> You just need for you to say your address. >> O say is my name. I'm living here since 2006. It's almost like 20 years in the

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town River Edge. Okay. Anything else you want to know? >> Address. Address. >> 657 Bogurt Road, River Edge. >> Very good. You have your three minutes. And I have say many new faces but at the same time I had a chance to come when you were very young at that time I know

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and also from the time from the Margaret Watkins. Okay. No. So I know all those people but anyhow I have seen so many changes happen in the town and um the canvas of the we are the part of a canvas of New Jersey Bergen County where

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I came to this country back in 1919 to do things have changed. Okay. And we want to see the reflection and we are seeing so many reflections and um I was here even last time you know when we he we presented you requested it and I came

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to know that some of your policies reach policies are the issues here because you know manura should be there that this is religious that's not religious but as far as I understand you know even from the first amendment point of view okay this is you know we should

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be as a part of the community all the religious groups has to be represented even the New Jersey NGLA is allowing or permitting for any policies which are there if it's in conflict you know that has to be looked inward again so that's

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my request is you know so please look it from that point of view too that you know all of the towns are accepting and our town has somehow has not let us represent us just by symbol whereas look like a discriminating

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that other religious groups can represent them themselves in certain ways or fashion whether it's a symbol but we are not allowed so uh it's a little disappointing here um and we want to be represented as a equal community

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we might be monot here but I look at all those kids you know they have shown their sentiments their feelings and all those how much they love it this is our generation going forward so we are looking and seeing that kind of a decision besides the we don't want to go

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into too much of a legal argument at this point but we are also want to to show you that there are some rights which we have it okay but at the same time requesting honorable council members to consider be passionate and sympathetic empathetic

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and then welcome a community as it's happening in the Bergen County you know now know that the people are there in the mosque and your your mayors are coming from the different towns representing even your governor is there. Okay. So that's my two cents.

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Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Anyone else? Um why don't we keep it to one topic then we'll move to another. So uh anyone else? >> Anybody else? >> Hello. >> My name is Mino Akar and I live in 86

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Munzy Road Emerson, New Jersey. I've lived there for 46 years. I'm a grandmother now with eight kids and grandkids I mean and four kids. But my grandson, my youngest grandson is two. And this evening we facetimed him. He is

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in Princeton and he said when everybody works together, everybody's happy, a 2-year-old. So with that theme, I'd just like to share with you that I worked with the mayor of Emerson two years ago to start Crescent Lighting and we were

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welcomed and they were so gracious in helping us organize it. And so we've had it for 2 years already and it made such a different uh impact on on on our community, but also my neighbors. They said, "Oh, we're going to come to your, you know, Crescent Lighting." and they

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asked questions and they learned more about our culture and our customs and and so we share more and more about each other's practices and appreciate each other which I think builds peace and harmony which is all we want in in in

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our world today. It's such a globally fragmented world and there are myths and misrepresentations which we at the local level can at least not uh you know fall into. Um, so we ask that you consider that all these 40 50

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Bergen County towns, Oradel, Emerson, and New Milford, they've all been doing it. So we would I just wanted to add my two cents about our great experience in Emerson. And just for the record, I wanted to share the myths that I'm talking about. Professor Ashma Odin from

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Michigan State University is a religious liberty lawyer and she's written a book when Islam is not a religion about how Islam has been kind of created as a political tool rather than a religion and there's a podcast number 35 is Islam

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an American religion which is an interview of professor Asma Udin with Daisy Khan which explains why some of these laws are applied equally. So there's a lot of uh reflection, there's a lot of concern at the macro level, but

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I think at the local level, we can work together and be happy together. Thank you. >> Sure. >> Name is Khaled Bashawish. My address is 35, New Jersey. Um good evening, Mayor Peplo and council members. Um, I'm an attorney

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and I volunteer with the Eid committee and I represent the Eid committee and residents like Dr. Hassan uh when needed. Uh, this is one of those times and I know that the majority of the council members here have a background in law. Um, and uh, so I just want to

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say that from my point of view, uh, you may not necessarily be uh, a litigator or a first amendment constitutional attorney, but the information that I have is available to all of us as well as your counsel. Uh I so for my so of course from my point of view as an

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attorney this is not about acceptance this is about rights uh and as you know regardless of one's faith every person in river edge has the right to equal treatment when you you are the state and when the state opens public property for

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religious or cultural celebrations it cannot turn away people based on personal views of that religion. Uh this is not about being nice although the tone of today's uh meeting has been very festive and very opened. Um but of course from my point of view it's uh uh

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slight it's it's it's a little different but still uh this is about constitutional principles that protect us all. Uh in my view that's what makes us American and that's what binds someone from a completely different background to to you.

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Uh that's the value that I believe is worth having and that is the value that I think that you're able to keep alive today. These constitutional principles exist to make sure that no government tells one group of residents that their traditions belong in public while telling another group to keep theirs behind closed

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doors. Uh what we are asking is to approve a crescent lighting ceremony for River Edge. uh to provide in a in a similar fashion that you've done uh previously. Uh the residents can deal with the details and make it a wonderful event and River Edge

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will continue to be a town where people of all faiths feel belonged. Uh we know it's very clear based on today's meeting that you deeply care about this community and I know that the residents, the Muslim community of River Edge do too. Thank you. >> Welcome.

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>> Yes. go to the online and we'll uh switch topics if unless there's others who would like to talk on this topic. >> Hello man council. >> Just one second. We're going to go online and then we'll come to you. >> Hi there. Um we just wanted to also

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speak uh on behalf of of the Crescent Lighting. >> Just name and address for first please. >> Sure. My name is Sonia Khan and I'm at 6206 Loer Terrace. >> Okay, you have three minutes. >> Great. Uh, thank you so much. Good

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evening, council members. My name is Sonia Khan and I'm a proud resident of Verber Edge. Tonight, I wanted to ask you for your support for something very simple, beautiful, and meaningful. A crescent moon display in our town to celebrate Ramadan. Every December, our

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streets are glowing with lights that bring joy to our community. Every spring we celebrate Easter together. River Edge has always been a place that honors all of its residents. But for our Muslim neighbors, there's a silence where there could be some light. Ramadan is one of

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the most significant observances in the world, marked by nearly two billion people globally. And right here in River Edge, it's actually a part of the lives of our friends, colleagues, and fellow community members. And I really believe that a town is only as strong as its

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commitment to all of its residents, not most of them, not some of them, but really all of them. So when a community fails to represent everyone who lives within it, it sends an unintended but painful message that some people matter more than others. And I think River Edge

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is better than that. And tonight we have the chance to prove it. Um, so I urge you all to vote yes. Thank you so much. >> Welcome. Oh, there's one more. Okay. >> Hi. Can you hear me? >> Yes.

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>> Hi, this is Councilwoman Ruana Isla. Thank you so much for allowing us to speak today. I'm actually in Bridgewater, New Jersey. It's in Somerset County, Central Jersey. I'm also uh a board member of the Eid committee uh that uh we we just heard

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from right now uh the legal council. Um I actually just got elected uh last November. I I took oath in January as the first Muslim ever elected in Bridgewater, New Jersey. And soon after that, we actually finally have our first

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Crescent Light in our township. And even if people didn't know what it was, they definitely asked and everyone was very happy. It did take three years for the residents to to get that. Um we also had a really nice Ramadan Eid celebration on

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the township property as well. So, you know, change is happening. We're we're very um nonpartisan, bipartisan. Uh I was the first Democrat elected after 40 years in this town. So, we are working very closely with Republicans to get all

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of these done. Um, we work together. It's about the residents, what makes everyone happy, what truly lights up their daily lives. And I just wanted to share that experience that I've had um in Bridgewater, that, you know, change is possible. And I hope, you know, I

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know you have a very difficult job. Uh I'm learning since I'm new, but I hope you all, you know, have those thoughts uh as as you decide on your vote tonight. And thank you again for this opportunity to speak. And sorry I couldn't drive up there today.

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>> We'll go back and forth. Go ahead. >> Yeah. My name is Dr. Nick Mahan. I live in Paramis. I was invited by uh Riveridge resident to come here and speak before you. Uh address >> 152 H Avenue, Pamis. Go >> ahead. >> Uh so about 15 years ago, I started this

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initiative in Pamis. Uh I'm a former member of the Paramis planning board. I'm also a former retired volunteer firefighter. Why do I bring this up? Because on Christmas and Manura on the detail when we go and throw the lollipop on the engine, okay, I always take my

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kids and they enjoy that. and my daughter who spoke a little earlier like why can't we have our own right why don't we have our own ceremony we go to the monora we go to the Christmas tree lighting we go to the wonderland so I'm on a planning board it went to the mer

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council and setting like this and it was approved on the spot like why not we should do it the numbers I want to share with you this started 15 years ago with parameters in Bergen County right now we have 49 towns so let's make river edge

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the 50th th down to honor this celebration and add it to its tapestry of tradition. There are 400,000 Muslim live in New in New Jersey. The 40,000 Muslim live in Bergen County. There are 20,000 Muslim who are registered voters.

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There are nine houses of worship in Bergen County Islamic and there are five Islamic schools in Bergen County. So I'm asking this administration to respectfully approve this tradition. It's a ceremony that everybody enjoys

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and again add it to the rich tapestry of reage. Thank you so much. Sure. >> Uh someone online. >> Say your name and address, please, and you'll have three minutes. >> Hello. Can you all hear me? >> Yes.

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>> Hi, my name is Alfaluga. Um I am an Oakland resident at 65 Cardinal Drive in Oakland, New Jersey. I have also been invited by um some River Edge uh residents and I'm very happy to be able to be heard. Um I wanted to share that I was involved in um I was I led the

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effort to bring the Ramadan Crescent moonlighting to Oakland. We had our first moonlighting ever this year. Um it was an amazing turnout. We had just as many non-Muslim residents as we had Muslim residents attend. Um it was an amazing experience when the Oakland when

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Oakland approved the crescent moon display. Um it wasn't just about putting up a decoration. It was about recognizing a significant part of the community and sending a message that we Muslim residents were also seen. We're also valued. We're also included um in the life of this town, right? We

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participate just like everyone else does. Um, I understand, I get it that you guys have um things to consider, factors when making decisions, but I would encourage you to listen carefully to the residents who are asking for this recognition. For many families, especially children, seeing their

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traditions acknowledged alongside those of other community members, creates a sense of belonging and connection. And I know that for my own kids, I have twin boys who are uh who attend the Oakland public school system. Um, and I know what that meant to them. and I know what it meant when their non-Muslim friends

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were standing out there watching them and listening to their speech at our moonlighting and how they felt so included. Um, and and and seeing that on their face was priceless. So, I know when your residents are out there asking to feel the same recognition as we did

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and they're getting push back, I know what that feels like, right? And I and I'm so grateful that Oakland opened its its mind. um they didn't give us any push back, but I know I know what that must feel like to not be recognized

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because before Oakland allowed it, that was us as well. Um but since then, you know, we've we've it's been a whole different mindset here. It was a beautiful turnout. We had an amazing time. Um and there's just really no reason no reason to say no. Just let

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everyone be let it's a happy thing. It's a beautiful thing. Let people enjoy it. Let's be united. Thank you. Did someone speak? >> Okay, I have sound. >> You can continue. I'm sorry. And your

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time will be corrected. >> Go ahead. So when we first um were looking for a town to move, we did a walk around and we saw how diverse the community is and we thought this was the perfect place to start planning a family. Um also um so I was part of the

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Junior Women's Club, which is not a religious affiliation, and I volunteered for their Easter egg hunt so that other moms who celebrate Easter can enjoy their time with their kids. I'm asking for the same respect here. I am a nurse and I work Christmas and Easter so that

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my fellow colleagues can c get that day off. A lot of people don't know about Islam. I didn't even know how important the crescent moon is. It is not a religious symbol. It is a holiday. It is just to bring joy just like the Christmas lights that we see on the

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trees. So, thank you for your time. Okay. Uh, please state your name and address. >> Is there mic open? >> Um, this is me. >> Yes, we can hear you. Please state your name and address. >> Oh, I I struggle how I raise my hand. Uh

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I am Aiza Marinovich. Um good evening. Uh and speaking uh my address is 22 22 um Myrtle Avenue Fort Lee. I'm speaking today as a resident of Fort Lee. Uh where our community has had

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a positive experience with local authorities recognizing Ramadan by lighting the crescent moon. Uh we did it uh two years started two two years ago. Community in New Jersey are changing and becoming more diverse and we must accept

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this as the new reality. It is very important that all communities and all religions are treated equality. 40 district in New Jersey have organized crescent lighting for many years. Your district is the only district that

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does not allow it. It is very I don't know what to say. This is not only disappointing but also seems strange especially when other religion symbols are allowed. The first amendment protect freedom of religion and say that the government should not favor one religion

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over other. You allow nativity sense and the manora but not the crescent. The crescent equal treatment means using the same rules for everyone. This is not only a religious

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issue. It is a question of fairness, equality and respect for all families. When one religion is visible in public space and another is not, people can feel excluded and unwelcome.

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Unequal treatment can lead to open discrimin discrimination and violation of constitution right. Just like citizen, local authorities must also obey the law. I hope the the district will rec reconsider the this decision

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and choose uh fairness and equal treatment for all member of the community. Thank you very much. >> Anyone else in the chambers on this topic? Anyone else remotely on this topic?

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>> There's one more. >> Yes. >> Please state your name and address. Janaz I am from >> Hello can you hear me? Yes, we can. Please continue. >> Great. >> Okay. This is Janaz. I'm part of the Eid

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committee param in paramis, New Jersey. I spoke in the March meeting. Just wanted to uh acknowledge the many residents from river river edge and neighboring towns have already spoken in support of crescent lighting and inclusive recognition of Muslim families

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in our community. The council tonight has an opportunity to listen to those voices and reflect on the values of fairness, inclusion, and equal treatment. The public holiday displays do send a message about who belongs. If River edge count uh recognizes Christmas

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and Manura displays, then Muslim residents should be welcomed with the same respect and visibility. So, this is not about politics or special treatment. It's about ensuring that all residents feel seen, respected, and included in the civic life of our burrow. So, we

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respectfully ask the council once again to honor the wishes of residents and approve the crescent lighting as Bergen County has already 50 towns and all your neighboring towns already um doing the

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crescent lighting. So we would like River to be part of this incredible, beautiful celebration. So thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Is there anyone else who would like to speak on this topic?

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Actually, two little sister. Okay. Yeah, I can >> I can speak for her. >> That's fine. That's fine. >> Okay. Um >> name and address. >> Sure. Uh my name is Rasha Alara. Um I

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live in Hermuse River. I've been living in town for over 10 years and it really breaks my heart when I see my friends in other towns like getting recognized, getting their Christmas lighting celebration going on. Um

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I also work at as a pharmacist in at Walgreens and we also get recognized over there like we were like we received text messaging celebration like Ramadan Mubarak enjoy your holiday and it I

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really feel like I wish I can receive the same um like appreciation like kind of recognition from our town. That's all. >> Okay. Anyone else on this topic? Are we good?

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Anyone who has not already spoken? >> Okay. Anyone on another topic? Anything that they would like to please come forward. >> Sorry, I'm nervous. I We were going to get cut off if we didn't get >> No, that does not happen. >> But you only get three minutes each. >> Yes.

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>> They said we could combine our um the six total. Yes, >> I do allow that. >> Making her. >> Okay. Uh, but you will both need to introduce yourselves, your addresses at the beginning and then you will get six minutes in total. >> Great. Um, my name is Melissa Desan and

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I live at 188 Woodland Avenue. My name is Regina Lauraella and I live at 205 Wells Avenue. I do want to acknowledge um and thank our Muslim and non-Muslim neighbors and friends for speaking up for Crescent Lighting. I have a lot to learn, but I do hope to participate with my family um in this celebration here in

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North. We're speaking on behalf of community members concerned about recent immigration and customs important activity in our town. Tonight, we are requesting the mayor and council to consider three different proposals under one public safety umbrella.

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We've provided the burough clerk, the mayor, the chief of police with draft resolutions, ordinances, and supporting reference materials. The three proposals include a standardized public safety not notice protocol prohibiting the use of burough property personnel resources for

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immigration and customs enforcement activity and a commitment to community engagement. The first resolution focuses on the standardized public safety notice. The recent ICE arrest on May 1st at 8:40 a.m. in the Roosevelt School dropoff

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zone in a on Oak Avenue left parents and students feeling anxious, fueled rumors, and created widespread confusion. Without communication from the burrow, the police department, or the school district, it left the community community unsure of where to turn for accurate information. To address this

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gap, this resolution asked the mayor, council, and chief of police to create a consistent public safety notice protocol using our existing alert systems. The bureau can issue clear, timely updates whenever the bureau becomes aware of ICE activity as in compliance with the New

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Jersey immigrant trust directive. It also encourages coordination with the school superintendent to ensure our schools are safe. The second proposal combines two complimentary actions regarding the use of burough property, personnel, and resources. While we understand that

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federal agencies act independently, the bureau has full authority on how its property, personnel, and resources are used. This pro this proposal simply states that ICE operations activities cannot be conducted on burrow owned property with town personnel or use town

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resources unless required by law. We asked the mayor to cons consider issuing an administrative directive now so that immediate and inter measure to quickly protect municipal operations and clarify the personnel responsibilities. In

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parallel, we ask the council members to advance an ordinance that creates a binding municipal policy. This is not only in line uh with the recent statewide executive order number 12 barring ICE agents from any operating in any stateowned or state leased or state

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controlled property without judicial warrants but towns across New Jersey. North Bergen, Bloomfield, T-neck have all adopted similar restrictions. Furthermore, Essex County as a whole has banned ice from all county owned property while Newark expanded this pro

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expanded this policy to include personnel and resources. River Edge would be aligning with a growing statewide standard and together these measures strengthen the community. >> That's just three. You get three more. >> Uh I'm now going to turn it over to Regina to present on community engagement. >> Okay.

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>> Um the next priority and resolution centers on a commitment to community engagement. The recent ICE activity near Roosevelt School highlighted the need for both formal communication and grassroots coordination. River Edge is one of the most diverse communities in Bergen County. According to the US

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Census, 27% of residents are foreign born, 45% of residents are not white, and 37% speak languages other than English within their homes. This proposed resolution calls for a commitment to community engagement aligned with the immigrant trust

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directive. We ask local leaders to foster open dialogue, share and distribute essential public safety information, and support neighborhoodled care networks. We request that the bureau schedule a dedicated community engagement town hall within 30 days and designate the River Edge Public Library

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as an ongoing safe meeting and resource space. River Edge would again be aligning with a growing statewide standard. The Paya County Office of County Council, Morristown and Morris Township, and Jersey City provide road mapaps for our town to coordinate and collaborate with organizations such as

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the New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and Make the Road New Jersey. In closing, we respectfully request that the mayor and council review and advance the proposed administrative directive as well as ordinance prohibiting the use of burough property, personnel, and resources for

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immigration and customs enforcement with a public response or directive within 30 days. Two, review the proposed standardized public safety notice protocol with a public response or directive within 30 days. And three, set a date and location for the community engagement town hall within 30 days and

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confirm the public library as a safe meeting and resource space. Um we thank you for your time and we look forward to working um on all this with you as partners. >> All right. Anyone else wish to speak on any topic? Anyone in the remote

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who hasn't spoken yet? >> Okay. Uh please state your name and address for the record. It's Chris Christina Vgara 725 Oak AF.

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>> Okay. A River. >> Yes. Yes. A River resident for five years now. Um what occurred I unfortunately I couldn't be there this evening because I was watching my two children. My husband actually had a golf outing. But I wanted to be there because

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what happened on this day happened right in front of my home. I had just dropped off my um eldest sweater who's in kindergarten at Roosevelt. Um and I'm a little emotional talking about it because it was quite frankly one of the most intense and horrifying things I've

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seen. Not horrifying necessarily, but um truly and deeply concerning how and where it happens. Um, I all I can say is that these people drove

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down my street very fast. Sirens were blaring and this we had just dropped off our eldest child. Um, the kids just had gone inside. They pulled this man four undercover

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vehicles um and four undercover I guess you call ICE agents but they said police on there came running out of a vehicle wearing Yankee hats and throwing this man onto the car. I can't even express to you how

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in worse it would have been had there been children outside or had they had just been going inside when this occurred. So, I am asking the mayor and council to proce proceed with the resolution

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that was just um uh represent presented to you by Melissa and Regina. I'm glad that we as a community can come together to work on this. But even if there weren't many people there on this subject matter tonight, there were a lot of people who spoke about it to me. When

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I picked up my eldest that day from school, a lot of people came up to me to to ask a if I was okay and in support of having some type of comm community notification and protocols as it

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pertains to ICE agents on our street. As you know, our town is right off of Route 4. lot of a lot of people pass through our town and we need to protect and respect not only the people of this town but our children who go to the schools

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in this town. So with that I'll leave it there and I apologize I couldn't be there and that I wasn't as prepared as I wanted to be but this is an important subject that we do need to take into consideration and I appreciate your time. Thank you. >> You're welcome.

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>> Anyone else at any time? >> Sure. going up. >> You're getting around a little >> and I was so like I was >> My name is Jella Mian. I live 209 Wales Avenue. My neighbors Regina and in

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conjunction with Regina and Melissa, I just want to say that when that happened that day, I saw that the message from my neighbor from Regina. I was at work. Um, I work at a doctor's office and I started to cry. I couldn't contain myself. I had to take

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a moment. I had to break because like they said, this is heartbreaking what is happening in this country, in the society and in our town. And I have to be honest, for whatever reason that I thought we were shielded, we're not. And

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my hope is that you guys see this as well and how difficult it is to see anybody torn away from their family, to see parents, fathers, mothers, children being torn apart. And I'm going to say, I'm going to ask politely, please, I

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would like to put out there that our police department does not engage with ICE, that they do not help ICE in any way, shape, or form, and to protect this community instead. Because what matters is is humanity, empathy, and compassion.

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And that is what we are asking for here today. Okay? Because Regina and Melissa are incredible human beings to go out and and put themselves out there and to let you know how heartbreaking it is for our community to see this. And it's not

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just us. There's many people. This is atrocious that it happened in front of Roosevelt where my children went to school where many children go to school and you know all of us in this society what is happening today in this country is not okay and not any one of us here

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I'm sure can sit here and say as a human to anyone it doesn't ma matter what race we are and the racism that's going on and the people that are being targeted by ICE and the violence the brutality I can't sleep at night knowing this is happening and I don't want this

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happening in our city. So please, I beg of you to to please push forward with what they're asking. And please, our police department to not engage with them, please. And to not allow it on town property, the burrow, the police

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department, uh the schools, especially the children. This is the future. And I I can't sit here and watch this happening. It's hard enough to see what's happening at Delaney Hall and in New York. This is not okay. And our

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conscience knows that. None of us, this is not normal and this should not be accepted and it should not be normalized by any means. And River Edge is above that. We're better than that. I know our morals and values are better than that.

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So please, I'm asking you to please push forward with that what they're asking. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? All right. Name and address. >> Allison Lechen, 284 Wales Avenue, River

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Edge. >> Go ahead. >> It's really hard to follow that. As an immigrant, I think there's a theme tonight, you know, I think learning a lot about the cresant moon as well. Um,

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we just want to feel safe in this community that we have intentionally on purpose chosen to live a good life to be part of a a community.

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I left my community not by choice a long time ago. And so with the family that I'm building with my two boys at Roosevelt, my husband, we has said, "Okay, what is our goal in life?" And it's our goal in

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life is to really ground ourselves again in a community. And this community is supposed to make us feel safe. And after seeing the horrendous video that was described of this man

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being arrested in this town that I thought was, using her words, shielded. I felt like I I've been living in this delusion. You know, what I see in social media is just so far away. But it's just been

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right here, right here outside my door. That day, maybe you can think of it as an overreaction, but I walked my dog with my passport, with my US passport, which is quite ridiculous, I know, and I

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shouldn't have felt the need to do that, and I don't want to. So, you can tell that Melissa and Regina have done a tremendous amount of work in coming here today, not just to talk about a very real problem, but to really

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bring real solutions, very educated solutions across the board to you, very holistic. And I thank them so much for doing so much work on that. So, I guess I'm bringing this more emotional aspect to this storytelling.

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So, thank you for your consideration to their resolutions. So, thank you for your time. >> All right. Anyone else? Sure. >> Um, my name is Alimus Dorville. My address is uh 880 Elm Avenue, River Edge. Um and I'm here in support of

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Melissa, also in Regina. Um and to give my perspective as another anxious parent um and what I experienced um on that day, hearing the news of what had happened along with with other parents.

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I'm also a an an immigrant family um that came to this country. Um, and to follow the same American dream, uh, to work hard and contribute. Um, and I teach my children, my children the same

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ethics and morals and of acceptance and community and and this is what I thought we found in this country as sort of a beacon, right? Right. um in the world and um it's very obviously very anxious

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times for all of us for immigrant families especially and that this happened in our back door right and that this happened um in in the doorstep of my children's school uh was one uh also

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of great concern. My thought was worrying when they came home what they were they were going to ask had they seen this and what questions they had uh what fears what anxiety right uh and and so we ask that um to the extent it's in

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the hands of of of you um and our administrators here in in in River Edge that you help protect us um this community and and really the sense uh the sense of community that we have here. Um, and allay some of our

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anxieties. Um, and especially when it comes to communication, as Regina and Melissa said, I thought that was lacking. Um, when it came to that event, we had to sort of reach out to the superintendent um to just to understand what are the boundaries here, right? Um,

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so we can also feel safe and protected. So, um, we appreciate Melissa and Regina's work and we hope that you also sort of look into their proposals um and in whatever um you in whatever way you can help because there's a lot of

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anxious uh families in the community after that incident. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Anyone else? >> Could I have a motion and second to close to the public? All in favor, please say I.

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>> Okay. So, um just a couple of things uh we can talk about is um I just I I just we're going to be having a discussion about religious religious displays as old business and of course council can offer comments at this time, but it is

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going to be a display. But one of the things that kind of you know is kind of lost is we're talking about a distinction here. talking about a distinction of the the burrow putting out things and the burrow recognizing

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things. We we don't put religious symbols on our property at this time. Um but we do recognize everything. And towards that end, just to make sure that you know that I'm not just saying this, uh I'm going to share my display. I'm

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going to share a Chrome tab Facebook. Okay. Sure. Do I have sharing authority? I think I do. >> Says I do. >> Just waiting it for it to load.

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Okay. This is um this is my the Facebook page of the mayor of River Edge. This is a proclamation that um which you can't see very well, but it's for Ramadan and it's signed by me and it's not the first year we've done it. We've done it many,

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many years. Um, so it was um this is let me maximize this. This is myself right there. You can see me right there. Cursor. Okay. Uh you can see uh Commissioner Zor there. You can have I

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think under deputy uh Kim I think it is uh is present. You can see some of the people who are in this room right now celebrating uh the crescent moon and the star and Ramadan and done it many years.

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Uh this is uh there is the crescent moon and the star in our library. Um we had different speakers. Uh, one of the Imans that was present who did not speak um is actually the wife uh

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the husband. Uh his wife is uh somebody I taught with for years in Tina public schools. Uh this is the uh under sheriff Kim speaking. Uh this all happened on February 12th. Uh this is the commissioners. Four of the commissioners

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were able to make it. Um as you can see uh other river edge residents and people present and um so we are not not recognizing Ramadan. We are this what we're going to discuss later on today is

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whether we wish to change our policy about religious symbols on our front lawn. No, this is not a question answer. Okay. Um so we do not celebrate Easter. Easter eggs are not a religious symbol. Okay. I have a masters of divinity full

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four years at maximum consecutary seminary and I have an all but dissertation masters of theology. So I can speak with some authority here that that is not the most holy day for the Christians is Easter and Easter eggs

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have nothing to do with it. The holiday tree is also not a Christian symbol. The two most important days in the Christian calendar are Easter and Pentecost. Christmas is the third most important. Um the Supreme Court uh our attorney has

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uh and we we have a um we have a what is it a memo on it um stating so this is the question. Are we going to allow all religious symbols or no religious symbols? Right now we allow no religious symbols. There's not a crash on uh in in

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front of Burough Hall. There are in other towns. Other towns have chosen to put any and all religious symbols out u for uh unspecified amount of towns. Right now, River Edg's policy is to put no religious symbols. I can't speak to

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the manor. I don't have a master's degree in that. But the Supreme Court says it's not a religious symbol. I I'm neither here nor there. that issue you have to take up with the US Supreme Court. So, um, so I just wanted to clear up that because, uh, I think some of their speakers, by the way, you were all

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excellent, well spoken, and I appreciate you exercising your first amendment right. I just wanted to make it clear that we do honor and recognize Ramadan and the crescent and star. We just don't do it on public property as a display.

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We do it in the library. They can also uh can also be done uh in the park. A permit is taken out and that would be perfectly okay. Um and we don't celebrate other religious holidays. We don't celebrate um Yang Kapoor. We don't

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celebrate Easter. We don't celebrate Pentecost. We don't put symbols out for them. So, but we're going to have a discussion about that later today and the council could change its current policy if it chooses to do so. Um, second, Chief, do you wish to Mayor

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>> Oh, well, hold on. Yes, we should. >> Before you change subjects. >> Yeah. No, you're right. I was going to go to the council, then I forgot. Uh, is any member of council wish to say anything? Uh, and remember, this is not a back and forth. This is, uh, everyone's had your time and we've been respectful, and now the council members

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can say what they wish to. >> May I? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mayor. Uh I we do have on the agenda a lengthier discussion and I hope people will stick around for that discussion. Um but since

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the mayor has already made a comment, I can't resist and I have to I have to say something. But the only thing I'm going to say right now is that we are all individuals. All individuals on the council. The mayor obviously is an individual. We're

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all entitled to our own opinions, our own positions. Um, my position happens to differ from what the mayor just articulated. And um, I don't think that some of what you said is accurate. You're entitled to your opinions, but as they say, not

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entitled to facts, your own facts. Um, so we can discuss that. We're going to debate that. It's going to be a healthy, hopefully constructive, civil discussion. Um, but I don't want it to just be left on the table uh what the mayor just said because at least one of

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us disagrees with that presentation. So hopefully I know there are small children here. You might have to get home. There's homework, there's times, but if you can stick around, please stick around at least for the discussion. The only other thing I'll say is um on the other subject and I do

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think it's kind of ironic that and the same >> hold on. What we're going to do is end we're going to let the council comment on that and then we're going to move on to the second subject. >> Yeah, I'm I'm talking about the public comments tonight. I'm responding to the >> We broke the public comments into two pieces. We did first uh the question of

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religious symbols and then we did a question of the I was going to allow the chief if he wanted to to speak offer comments before I had the council >> unless you don't want to speak after the chief. >> I will yield to the chief anytime. >> No, I think we're going to finish the comments on this first. >> That's what I thought. >> Yeah.

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>> Yeah. So then the there was another discussion about the ICE issue. I wanted to say something about that. >> Yeah, you'll have to >> of course you'll absolutely have time. >> Yeah, that's all I'm saying. >> On this issue, mayor. Um very data driven >> and I just want to thank you for

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bringing the data to us that you brought tonight. To me, it's very meaningful to understand what's going on in other municipalities in New Jersey. >> So thank you for that. Okay. Anyone else on this topic?

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>> Can I ask you a question that council >> No, that we're going to we'll hold is is it on the >> Well, you made an assertion that you stated something that was not factual and I'd like to know what that nonfact turn your mic on. >> I'd like to know what the non-factual comment the mayor

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>> Yeah, I was going to save that for the >> I just went for my knowledge so I can >> I I think that the Well, there were a few things but I don't want to dwell on every everything. Um, the main point I think that was incorrect is that this

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idea of not allowing a crescent display on public property then the idea that this is somehow supported by the Supreme Court of the United States as an absolute rule is not correct. Is absolutely not correct. There are times

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when I was just going to ask Mr. Shadamian um to weigh in on this, but I know he'll do so at the appropriate time. >> No, why don't you let him do it? Was >> weigh in on what? Well, so just yeah to

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finish my answer um Council Member Canela, >> if the question is uh if if the if the argument is that the Supreme Court of the United States does not allow us to have a crescent display

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that is a gross >> misrepresentation. I never said did I say that? >> No, >> you have said that in the past. Not I have never said that in my entire life. >> Councilman, please withdraw your accusation. >> I'm not making an accusation.

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>> You just said I said the Supreme Court said you can't have a crescent moon. I never said that. I said the Supreme Court has allowed for two exceptions. I don't understand one, but and that's all I said. >> Two exceptions to what? >> Mr. Shidan. >> No, I'm asking your your com you made

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the comment >> Mr. Shidanian and the Supreme Court. don't talk about. >> But it's not a quote of the Supreme Court. That's my answer. >> And that's privilege, so we can't talk about that. But the what the mayor's referencing is the Supreme Court

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decision that said that the Christmas tree and the manora were not true religious symbols or religious symbols at all. They were holiday symbols and they're representative of the holiday season. Again, I think the mayor said,

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"We don't always understand why the Supreme Court rules on things the way they rule on things, but that's what they said in that particular case." Um, and I and I think the issue is not that and I, as far as I've heard it in the three years I've been here, the mayor

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has never said that religious symbols, any religious symbol is allowed. Anything related to religion is is forbidden from public property in River Edge. That's what I that's how I understand the policy. Okay. >> So not not that one particular item is

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allowed. And again because the court has said that the tree is not religious then that doesn't it doesn't fall within the parameters of the policy. >> That's how I understand it. >> I appreciate that. And and I I don't want I'm answering your

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question. I I don't want this to be a back and forth. Um I heard what I heard. If you're saying that I heard you wrong, then that's I will I will accept that as a possibility that I heard you wrong. Okay? But what I'm saying, regardless of

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what you said, let's separate it out. What I'm saying is that any argument that says that a crescent display cannot be displayed alongside of a manora and a tree on public grounds is simply not

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what the Supreme Court has said. The Supreme Court and I don't you know I don't want to put people to sleep here. We do have a constitutional lawyer here but but even just even just this is not my analysis. I'm going by cases that

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were cited in the memo which I'm not going to, you know, quote from because it's a confidential memo, but I'm not introducing any new legal analysis except what is in the memo. Okay. >> So, Council F, I mean, I think I've said

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made it clear before in my conversations with the council, which are not privileged and the non-privileged ones that the burrow is free to permit all religions. Yeah. on and change a policy to allow everything and and and then

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that opens up the door to anybody who who is a recognized religion putting whatever they want on burough property. Most municipalities do not permit that. I mean, I've represented enough to know that that's not permitted. >> But counselor, you know that the Supreme

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Court and other federal courts have said that it it mainly depends on the circumstances of the case. There are times when you can have a religious display that is overtly promoting a religion. There are other times when you

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could have what looks like a religious display that is really more secular in nature. It's more of a season's greetings, happy holidays type of display. And the courts have over and over and over again in different situations had to figure out when is it

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a religious display that promotes a religion and when is it more of a cultural display or a secular display that promotes things like diversity or holiday spirit or unity or harmony things like that. You can use a tree, a

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manora and a crescent to promote those religions. You can also use those same three symbols to promote seasons greetings, holiday spirit, diverse community, uh you know, the joy of having all

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faiths in our community coming together. You can do all those things. That's not prohibited. So the idea that well then you're opening the door to all religions. Maybe you are, but right now

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we're dealing with one. We're dealing with the crescent. And to say that you can't do you can't have a crescent display because of something that the Supreme Court said, Mr. Feffer, and since you called me out by name, I feel I have a right to

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respond. Let me say this. >> Well, I was asked, by the way, to respond to >> that if the council wished to change that that policy, they absolutely could. >> Yes. And we're going to discuss that. And so don't put words in my mouth, sir. >> No, I did not. I'm I'm answering. >> Sir,

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>> you think I did? I don't think I did. >> You said I want to say the mayor said things that were non-factual, which means you called me a liar. >> No, I'm saying you were not correct in your statement. That's not >> that's not disparaging your character. That's saying that you did not say something that was correct.

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>> Okay. >> I did not mean any personal offense. >> I do not think you are a liar. >> Okay. I think you're wrong on this particular issue and you know that >> I was just quoting what our attorneys have said to us and have said to us consistently for 16 16

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>> 15 years that I've been on the council. >> So now maybe >> I don't know if I've answered the question. >> The difference is that you're saying that um you were saying that he said something that was not factual. That's what I wanted to know. What fact he said

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that was incorrect. So, for my knowledge and from what you're saying is that you can disagree with the mayor, with me, with anybody on the council, but to say that we're saying something not factual is misrepresenting what we are saying. >> My understanding is that the statement

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that was not factual was that based on Supreme Court rulings, we cannot have a display of a Christmas tree, a monora, and a crescent. >> No, if that's not what you're saying, then that's that's great. That's >> that's not what he said and he has said

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it many times quoting the memo from our council and all that. It that's not what he said. It says that the Supreme Court that specific case the Christmas tree the tree and the manora are not religious symbols and those are that's why we have the borrow Easter eggs too.

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>> No they call they call it a holiday tree. >> Can we pivot off of this? >> Not yet because soon >> no >> because we have to do it at the end anyway. If you want to say that you disagree, that's one thing. But to say I didn't say it's something factual is not acceptable. Not acceptable to me.

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Because sir, because sir, I am not offering this as an expert. I was simply quoting the experts that we have hired to represent us. >> Okay? I'm I'm not I'm not disparaging. You should not take it personally when I

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disagree with what you're saying. Even though you might you feel that you're quoting from what the lawyers >> you should have said is I disagree with what our attorneys have told us. >> I think it's factually incorrect if if if what the attorney has told

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>> I'm quoting our attorneys. It is factually correct if I'm quoting our attorneys. >> Well, I don't want to bog this down. >> Okay. Okay. So, the fact we can go on for a while. >> You disagree with the facts at the >> Yeah. >> This is kind of getting in between you two guys. So, let's move on. I mean, we

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have big bigger things to tackle. I have a question. >> I don't know if you're going to be able to answer this right now. Um, John, and I don't you don't have to, but the Supreme Court made a determination that the manora and I'm going to call it a Christmas tree because that's what it

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is. Are not religious symbols. What did they did they make a determination that a crescent is a religious symbol? What the what the case talks about is the fact in in the particular case of issue involved like a a full religious display we'll call it like and religious a full

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Christmas display meaning like it was a um manger >> there was a crash but in the crash there was like a plastic Santa Claus there was there was a tree there was you know reindeer there were things that were clearly not religiously oriented so the the what the court said in that

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situation the councilman Feffer I think is correct when he says that these are all case by case analysis as are most things in the that are legal. You know, we we I don't like when when when when people whether they're judges or lawyers

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say that it's things are black or white. They're not. Everything is gray and and and there's a and there's a every one of these things has to be looked at in its individual setting. So, uh, in that particular case, which I believe the burough's policy and the mayor said, which long predates me, just for the

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record, um, said says that says that the, uh, uh, that was a a lawyer equivocation right there. >> I don't mind. uh um that the that when you have a display such as in that particular case, which I think is the Alagany case, if I'm remembering the name of the case

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correctly, it says that in that that you can have um uh the you know all these different items that are clearly not religious, that takes it out of the religious context. But if something is purely religious like a cross right for

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example like which is like the quintessential for Christianity that's the quintessential religious simple >> that if you have a cross that would be an establishment clause violation because you're favoring one religion. >> So did they establish a standard for what >> no they said they said throw it to back

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back to you you Marvin you figure it out. It's like what many of the cases you go down to the lower courts and everybody brings it up to the Supreme Court. They make the decision. That's it. And then somebody can challenge on another issue. Somebody can bring a case to the on the lower court say, "Hey, the

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president should not be should be able to be displayed >> and that goes up to Supreme Court and they make the decision whether or not it absolutely could happen. this council could later today decide that it wants to allow for all religious symbols and that would be fine.

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>> That sounds like what's happening at other municipalities. >> Different municipalities have different things. We have a survey to look at with that. >> Yeah, I know. But there wasn't a lot of data there. That's why I thank the crowd for the data that we the additional data we received today because I think it's a

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little bit eye opening and helpful. I was I was going to say this, but I I spoke to the mayor of New Milford because New Milford wasn't listed and he said he understood and they had decided that they were going to allow any religious symbols and that's what they do. They just okay >> they put out a crush, they'll put out a

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cross, they'll put out, you know, anything because, and I'm just quoting what my what lawyers have been saying for the last 15 years, you either do all or you do none. So you can't say well for this particular item we're going to

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say yes but we're going to we're going to reserve judgment on others. Now our attorney may some say something different but uh >> no >> and I don't like the attorney. >> So that's the context I was placing it in. I was just simply saying the context where we currently in is we are not

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saying we don't s celebrate and recognize religious holidays. We do. Oh yeah and there was just pictures of me doing that. >> That's the whole point. >> A proclamation. What we don't do is put these symbols on our front lawn yet or

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at all. That's what the council will decide. Will it Will it decide uh that it wants to have another conversation later? Will it decide that it it wants to stay with the current policy or will it decide that it wants to change the policy? And that's okay. >> Yeah, I get it.

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>> And I don't think I said anything not factual, but I understand that we're agreeing to disagree. >> We'll agree to disagree. I one thing that we might all agree on, I'm just going to put this to Mr. Shadinian. Are there cases and I think I know the answer to this,

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but maybe I'm wrong. Okay. Are there cases where a court whether it's not necessarily the Supreme Court but courts federal courts have considered situations where there's a

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tree a manora and a crescent nothing else that specific fact pattern and said it's okay. >> Not that I've I mean not not that specific fact pattern that >> it's in your memo. Okay. We'll talk about it later. >> All right. If that, you know, that's

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your answer, so that's fine. But I I would I would assert that there are there is at least one federal case where that exactly was upheld by a federal court. >> I have to read it again. It's been a minute. It's been a minute. Sure. Sure. Yeah. No, I understand.

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>> There's a lot of cases. >> But I, you know, I think at the end of the day, it's a policy decision of the council. I think that's what it comes down to. And that's the bottom line. as long as we can do it because because the mayor the mayor invoked New Milford. I'm the burough attorney in New Milford.

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>> As the council knows, New Milford allows everything. That's their policy, right? That's not it's not a legal it's not a legal issue per se. The legal issue comes into whether or not you're inhibiting to council's comment earlier someone's civil rights, right? And whether or not you're exposing the

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municipality to some type of potential litigation because of that. That's >> So what you're saying is it can be done. It's not illegal to do it. And I never said it was illegal either. >> I thought you had. So if you never did >> council year after year after year that I've been mayor, when this has come up

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or any said council can change its policy as it wants. Council's current policy is based on this Supreme Court decision. Council wants to change that. They can. They don't. They don't have to. >> Is a crescent a religious symbol. John, >> you're asking. I'm not I'm not an expert

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on it. I mean, again, I I've listen. >> No, no, no. I'm going to say this. Gave you time. There are people in the audience who know that sorry >> there just you want to talk about the procedure you can mention if you want to just so the public knows that the procedure it's not a back and forth you can

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>> yes go ahead >> I there are people in the audience who know I have a partner who is the founder of the New Jersey and New York Muslim Bar Association all right so and he's very well recognized and he and I have had this discussion on more than one occasion I would defer to Assad as an

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expert on whether or not it's but I'm not And and so I mean that's that's not something that is a lawyer that that no lawyer I don't think that's that's not a lawyer's question. I think that's a question for an mom or a question for someone. >> Sounds like a bunch of lawyers decided a

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Christmas tree in a monora or not. >> Th those nine wear black >> I don't have a I don't have a robe on councilman. I'm just telling you what I'm hearing >> for us. It's a question of civil rights and liability. That's what it's a question for and that's what we're going

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to discuss later and that's the point I was making. We're not saying we don't recognize Ramadan or we don't recognize religious holidays or or Diwali. Diwali is there's no symbol of Diwali on the burough property. It was asked for and and denied for the same policy and but

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you can find on the mayor of River Edge page Diwali ceremony at the Dwali ceremony that I'm present at and any other religious group in town that wants to invite me or the council for us to recognize it. We'd be honored to. This

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is not the question. The question is do we wish to change our policy or not? Our current policy is based on a specific Supreme Court decision. Council can change it if they want. they don't have to change it, but it's either one way or another. Either everybody or nobody.

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And that went really long and we're going to have another discussion. So, um Okay. So, uh Chief, would you like to speak to some of the things that were raised in the other uh items or not? Um

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if you would please come forward. >> Oh, okay. John, >> Chief Walker, River Bridge Police Department. So, just to just to touch on I think I think we had a conversation if I recall correctly, right? Yeah,

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>> sure. Um after the incident. Um, and what I just want to point out is I think that there's uh certainly understand the concern, you know, that people have and the opinions that people have um could go either way, right? Um, when I look at I look at

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these concerns that came forward and I see uh, you know, look at what we have in place already for the River Edge Police Department. We follow certainly we follow things that trickle down from the state, right? So the attorney general's guidelines from 2018, I

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believe the last time 2019 it was revised. Um directive strengthening trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities. This is the immigrant trust directive from the AG's guidelines. Um we follow that. We follow

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it since it was put out. Um in that many of the things that were spoken about by our two residents um are in there. they're covered and we do follow it. In addition to that, being an accredited police department, we also have a

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12-page um standard operating procedure titled interacting with the immigrant community and that is very detailed and that's what the officers, you know, uh follow and have to abide by. Um, and I think that's this is important to know because

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I think sometimes when you see something and you're not sure, you can say, "Gee, what's going on? There's no um you wonder what they're up to." That's understanding. And I do communicate with the superintendents of schools. Every time there is an incident around the schools, um, I make them aware. I made

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them aware of this incident. Um, people do get arrested around the schools. Not that often, but it happens. He's this isn't the first individual to be arrested um in front of the school. Um our officers responded because they received a call from actually our SLEO3

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which is a special law enforcement officer class 3 at Roosevelt School. Um and I was very satisfied about how that took place. He saw some unmarked cars. He knew they weren't ours. He called it in. My officers responded. Um identified

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who who the uh agents were. agents said, you know, stated their reason for um detaining this individual. They detained him without incident and they left the scene. All right. Um there was comments made about he wanted to call somebody in his family. That did take place

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afterwards at at another location. Um our policy just just so it's understood, if we're arresting you, we don't you can't call somebody on site on scene. All right. It's about protection exactly. of the public and the officers and the individual can have a really long dialogue when you're arresting

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somebody. Um the individual was not a River resident. It's the second ICE incident in town. The first one was last year where they came into town. Um the first individual worked at a business. They were not River Edge resident. Um

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they were, you know, they were coming for the individual. So they're not driving around River Edge. They're not roving around River Edge. And without getting into detail because the AG's guidelines are 13 pages long and our SOP is 12 pages long. Um

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also the officers are trained you know each year we go through training on bias training on ethics. Um, every single year I feel very confident that the officers in River Edge make the right decisions and um, when other agencies come into town,

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ICE made us aware of the first incident, they change their procedures, they make their procedures, the second incident, they didn't make us aware of it. They have the reasons why. Much of that has to just do with their operations um, and things that can happen. Um, and

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we focus on the safety of the Riveridge community. Um, by far we want to make sure Riveridge is safe. That's my job and I take it very seriously. My children go to um, schools in town and um, I take it very personal. My wife

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works at school in town. I take it very personal. >> Um, >> with that being said, um, >> this information is available. you can you can certainly go online and find the

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a trust um guidelines. If you do that, I think you'll find that much of what you're referring to is is in there, right? So, just know that we we we have to follow those guidelines. And in addition to that, I'm very um

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proud to say that being an accredited agency, we also have an SOP that you may not find in every police department, but ones that are accredited. And that's that's a lengthy SOP as SOPs go. It's 12 pages long. And I would offer SOP stands for >> standard operating procedure. Sorry, thank you. You always get me with the

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>> and um I would offer that if somebody wants to come in and and um spend some time with me, I can certainly I gladly go over what our standard operating procedure is. Um, we can discuss the attorney general's guidelines and there's there's other material that comes in the Bergen County Prosecutor's

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Office directives, things that are coming out, you know, often, especially given the atmosphere, right, of of what's going on in the country, um, as updates, as um, different cases and different things take place. We we stay on top of that and we make sure we do.

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So, I want the residents to know that um, you know, River Edge is a safe community. you know, ICE coming into town twice in the last year um for their business. It's it's their business. They can come into town. They can make an

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arrest. We're going to show up, okay? Because I need to make sure that what's going on doesn't affect the community, right? So, if I don't have my officers show up and it goes bad direction, then now we're behind the eight-ball because

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I can't get there right away and um take care of something. For example, if there was um just you can imagine if a situation goes bad, we can we can come up with a million different scenarios. So, my officers will respond and they will take, you know, a perimeter type of approach and make sure that everything

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goes safe. Um, and again, we do not share our building with them. We do not share um any of our equipment with them. Personnel isn't shared to the extent that I'm telling you, we will respond when we know they're there because I have to make sure that things are safe.

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We know the school is there, right? We have access to the school. Obviously, we have a SEO3 there. We're making sure everything around them is operating the safest they can be. Um but we will not get hands-on with them unless I have to get hands- on because again the safety

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perimeter something goes wrong with that. So um I think this is important to know and important to hear from me because I don't want the River Edge residents to think that you know ICE is coming in. We see a lot of crazy things on social media. We see a lot of crazy things on the news and I don't want you

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to think that ICE is in town and they're just like hey we're going to be in town for the next month and we're just going to look for anybody we can and lock them up. That's absolutely not the case. They do not go into schools. Um I I've you know chiefs meetings that we have at a

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state level where there's I think there's 580 chiefs in New Jersey. A good 500 of them show up. We've had people from ICE come the attorney general's office from the federal level um to reassure us of what they do and don't do

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um and uh and we bring that back and we make sure that uh we can do the best that we can with it. Thank you, Chief. >> Sure. >> No, no, >> I have a question. >> Your council does. Council can >> Thank you, Chief Walker. Sure. It's very

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helpful. >> Um, if I understand this correctly, please correct me if I'm wrong. I wrote it down, so I want to read it. This burrow, including this body, and every department um within the burrow, did not in any way

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support the actions taken by ICE. that we by the state attorney general's guidelines we are we are directed not to you know cooperate >> when my officers respond there going to identify each other so there's a

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conversation >> like I don't it's it needs to be clear that there's not like a a wall of like hey that's ICE don't even look at them or like don't even you know we have to identify them you know there have also been incidents

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where people you So I you know I don't know what other word to use but like sick people will like dress up as ice right so so we can't just go look that's ICE let's go the other way we want to we want to see who they are and we want to identify make sure it's everything that

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is going on is legitimate >> and then go from there but cooperation to the extent of >> getting hands on like hey we know where you know there might be potential um illegal immigrant living or things absolutely not we cannot do that and if we do that It's a very big problem for

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local law enforcement. >> So, we're not supporting their actions. Actively supporting their actions. >> Correct. >> Thank you. >> I do have another question. >> Chief, thank you for educating us and the public about all this.

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>> I think some of the residents ask about communications. To what extent is the police department aware that eyes is going to be in town? because I think that was the questions that that >> so the first incident was January of last year and they made us aware that

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they were coming into town. Uh the second incident they didn't make us aware. We asked them about that and they changed their policy on that. Um and it's, you know, I can see that that's probably for safety reasons. >> Right. >> All right. So there was there was mention about, hey, can you put out a public broadcast and um let the

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residents know that ICE is coming to town? And I can't. I don't have the information. And quite honestly, that can cause for some issues. Okay, there's there's there's right there's proper and peaceful ways to protest. And unfortunately, sometimes these protests

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with ICE have gone the wrong way. >> Um, and that's where bad things, very bad things can happen. >> You know, not, you know, again, I'm not picking any side with this. I'm just being very real. I want to make sure the res residents of River Edge are safe,

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you know, and I understand the feeling that certainly many residents may have, but the but the truth of the matter is we're obligated to follow AG's guidelines. My officers are obligated to follow our own SOP. We do training every year and um and I think we do a very

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very good job with it. >> One last comment. I think uh I speak for myself, but half of the council is actually immigrants. if you were not aware. Um, so we actually take this serious and the fact that we do not

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support or cooperate the way that the chief has described, I think we we need to take it for what it is and we are Riveridge is a safe town. Things will happen, but it's not that they're utilizing the building here,

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your patrol cars, any facilities to conduct their business. So I think I want that to be very clear and I appreciate you explaining that up to us. >> Sure. And everything you said was correct, right? >> Sorry. >> Everyone in this country is an immigrant.

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>> No, but the half of the council actually are unborn uh US. >> That's true. That's true. >> So that is a distinction that >> Yeah. currently. >> Mr. Mayor, question. Yes. >> Sure. Yeah. Question for the chief. >> Sure. >> Thank you um for that presentation, for

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all that you do for the community. I'm just uh wondering again for the benefit of the public if you can say if people see an incident in town that either involves ICE or maybe involves something that they think is ICE whether it really

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is or not. Is there a vehicle where they can go to the police department? I don't want you to suddenly get you know 500 phone calls but what is the mechanism where people can contact the police department and say

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you know we we saw something happen on Kinder Kamak road the other day we think that ICE is in the area and they have questions about that is is there a vehicle for that kind of information exchange >> so in in a general sense for discussion um you know I'm always available you can

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always come into the police department please desk but but we st I stress If you see something and you believe it's suspicious or it's concerning, you should call the police department. You know, we're our regular number 2012621233

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or 911. You can call 911 if it's not an emergency. Look, we don't want to inundate 911 with non-emergency calls, but if it's so concerning to you, then call 911. I much prefer to get have my officers respond to something and find

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out that it's it's you know not what was perceived to be or respond to something and diffuse it. Okay? Or respond something just gain information rather than this happened last week and and it didn't look good and we were wondering about it puts us behind the eightball.

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All right. We we will respond to everything and we respond to very serious things and we respond to very silly things but we respond every single time we will respond. This is a perfect example and this again this came from my Leo3. If it wasn't from him I'm sure a

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resident would have called as you know some residents >> um were witnessing it. Um, and I would say that too, you know, um, this age of of um, social media >> and cell phones, um, many people's first

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instance is just to take their phone out. I understand that, but you have to be very careful. You're putting yourself in, you're potentially putting yourself in the middle of what could be, you know, I don't know, I can't tell you exactly what's going to happen. I can tell you what did happen. it was an uneventful arrest, meaning they arrested

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the individual without incident. They didn't have to, you know, there were no um real wrestle or anything with it. So, that's okay. But if there was and you're standing close by with a cell phone and it goes the wrong way, we've seen that in the news and that's and it's

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horrific. And that's the last thing I want to happen um with any agency that comes into town. I I get it though. people wanna they want to do their thing and um and record it. But I have to stress how how careful and dangerous that can be. You know, I'd

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much rather you call us. You are on a tape line. You can say everything and record everything you're seeing on a tape line, which is a great thing for us to have. I see these cars, they look like this. I see a license plate. I see somebody that looks like this. All that's getting recorded and we can go

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back and use it for investigative purposes if we need to follow up on something that did go the wrong way and say, "Okay, this is what my the individual was saying." All right. Um, so and and we we will take it seriously. I assure you that we will take it seriously.

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>> Thank you. >> Any other comments from the council in regards to the second topic? >> No, I just wanted to say thank you, Chief, for explaining to us and as well as the public. Absolutely. what was going on. And just >> to follow up, just to pay back on uh

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Lisa's question about when ICE contacts you, do they tell you what they're doing like in terms of are they going to a resident? Are they looking for person? >> They don't contact us. >> They don't. No, the first time in January, >> the first time they said they were coming and to uh pick up an individual

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that worked at a specific business. >> That was it. >> So, we just set up a perimeter. They went in and walked out with the individual and they left >> and that was it. >> That was it. Yeah. >> All right. Thank you, Chief. >> Chief, stay there. >> No, actually, don't because we got to get uh we got to get the environmental

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and we're going to have you afterwards. >> Want Patty? >> Uh could we have um could I have a motion in second? Uh no, never mind. We're already out of we're into presentations. Chief, would you mind if environmental went first? I don't think they're going to be long. >> If you could bring Patty in. >> Yeah.

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>> We're back to the agenda >> as printed. Sorry. That's okay. >> You um maximize uh or or unpin the council. >> Okay. Even better.

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>> She's on it. >> Beautiful. Okay. Um >> I'm trying >> yourself and and just give a for the public's benefit a short explanation of what you're hoping to achieve. >> Sure. So, my name is Patty Hberg. I am

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the co-chair of the River Edge Environmental Protection Commission. Uh we wanted to speak tonight um about our 2025 annual report and our accomplishments. Can you see that? I shared my screen. Can you see it?

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>> Yes, it is visible to the general public. And uh please continue. You may want to go into presentation because right now it's difficult to see. >> Yeah. Well, >> yes. Oh, I got you. Got it. Got it. Got it. Yeah, there you go. Slideshow. Okay.

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Perfect. All right. I'm gonna go quick because you had a >> Can you see it? >> Yes. Very well. >> Perfect. Okay. So, we at the both the Environmental Protection Commission and green team work closely together. Um here are some of the things we've done this year. We do a Hackinack River

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cleanup May and October. Um, we are working on skip the stuff which was just signed into law in January. So, we've been working on a letter and now even more diligently this year for the August 1 roll out of that.

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Um, we attend the Bergen Hub meetings quarterly. Uh, we find them very uh helpful for us. We share a lot of great information. Uh, one of the most recent things is there's some towns that are doing pickleball and tennis ball recycling. So, we're going to look into that with the recck department. Um, we

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do EPS, expanded polystyrene, which people know as styrofoam collections. We did three of those last year. Um, we also started for the first time a sports equipment swap with the recreation department. We held one in March and

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then we held one in October where we also added Halloween costumes. They were both successful and we've already done one this year. I'm going really quick because I know you guys have been super busy. So, I appreciate your time. Um, we do a second chance toy drive that we've

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done for many years. We collected about 500 toys. >> Hear me. Listen, you're going fine and we are not going to rush you. You are free to take the time and on anything you want. Do not feel we we have to thank you for being so patient. You have

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been so gracious. I feel there was so much before us and I appreciate everybody's information. Um I just yeah there was a lot this meeting for you guys. So I just want to be cognizant of everybody's time. Um and we did submit the a more detailed report.

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Um if you need I can email all the council PE people uh directly with it or if Lette and Ann you want to do that that's fine as well. It's easier, Patty, if you just send it to Lette or Ann and they will for council.

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>> Super. Great. Uh, >> it's also on the packet. So, they already have it. >> We already have. >> Great. Okay. That's that's the detail of it. So, um, the second chance toy drive we've done for a number of years. We do it at Cherry Hill in April. Uh in 2025

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we collected over 500 toys and it usually uh last year it went to a Patterson public school. Um we also last year started to collect banana and orange peels at the River Edge Run and we work with neighborhood composts to um get those composted properly. We hosted a

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composting 101 class at the library in May. Um we do a prom box collection that we've done for a couple years now with Riverdale florist and with Delford florists. So what it is is we ask um those boxes that the croisses the

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bineers and croages come in are not recyclable. There's no running triangle on those. Um so what we do is have people bring them back. This way the florist can use it a second, maybe a third time. Um it's it's a good reuse of

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things. Um, and they're very happy to work with us and we give out a $25 Dunkin Donut gift card to one lucky winner that returns their prom box. >> Nice. >> Um, we host Yeah. Yeah. We host a flower and vegetable garden contest every year. It's on Facebook. Um, we have some

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really great people that garden and we encourage more to look into it. Um, we attend River Edge Day so that people can learn a little bit more about us and ask questions. Uh, let's see. our dreams and goals. Um we have talked many times about a

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community garden. Um we've always looked at that Cherry Hill uh park next to Cherry Hill School. Uh we feel it's open space. It would be a great space. Um we're trying to possibly do like a a mini community garden as a start. Um so

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that's one of the things we're also looking to do that shared service agreement with Ridgewood so we can continue doing the styrofoam collections. Uh a lot of our we have a lot of um interest from our town people asking when we're doing it again. So we have not done anything this year because

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we're waiting to see if we can do that shared service agreement. Um and we'd also like to do a municipal composting. There are currently 10 towns in Bergen County that compost with neighborhood compost. So it's a municipal couple

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towns do it for free. Most it's about a $16 to $18 monthly charge. Um it reduce reduces a lot of waste. Um as you know um they just passed a bill about solid waste reduction

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and it's a 50% solid waste reduction for municipalities. Um I think starting 2035 and it's based on your 2022 collections. Um, so we figured better to start early than late. And if you've ever composted, you know how incredibly

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um, small your garbage ends up being. So, I think for the town um, it would be a great win-win. You'd cut your garbage costs and you'd also meet those 2035 goals that will be here before any of us know it. >> Um, >> hey Patty, can I jump in? Can I jump in

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on the styrofoam too and second all that stuff? >> The styrofoam um as we've talked with the community when we've done the collections has been a very popular event. >> Um just a little more color on that. There's a lot of folks that have to get medicines delivered to their house that

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have to be refrigerated. So there's um some thick styrofoam. Um, if anybody has used food services like Omaha Stakes or things like that, you get these big cubes of styrofoam that can be recycled. Um, and I think uh, Ridgewood has a a

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very um, uh, userfriendly agreement if we can come up with anou with them where we can um, work ourselves to bring the styrofoam collected over where some of the things we had in the past with um, the Bergen County Center, there had to

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be some DPW folks available and and things like that. So, um, if we could really push to get thatou agreement done, I we would really appreciate. The community would really appreciate it. There's a lot of styrofoam that I'm sure is just going in the trash right now,

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which is um just unfortunately a shame. Um, so we'd really like to kick those back up starting as soon as possible. >> Super. Um, so basically, the earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth.

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And I'm going to read. I think this is great for tonight. I did it earlier. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Um, so I ask you, I ask the mayor and council in the town to please join us, to please help us, and

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to please continue to support us. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Patty. >> That's it. Any member of council wish to ask uh the presenters any question or make any comments before the presentation is over? >> I have a question. Sure. Mayor, um thank

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you Patty and David for your presentation. Um it's much appreciated all the work you do to help the environment in River Edge. Um I know you had something on your slide for uh municipal composting. Can you just tell us a little bit about this because I

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know we spoke about it on River Edge Day last year and most recently uh at another event. So if you can just uh speak about that a little bit. >> Sure. So I have um so the Riverdale Middle School um Claire Okconor is

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really they compost up there. Um it's really a benefit to the town. I think if you would ask any of these, I mean, I could I'm not going to read any of this, but the amount of towns that um these 10 towns that have used neighborhood compost through the last few years is

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quite high. Uh it would just be two large like 96 gallon garbage cans with a code on it. Um it just all all that needs to happen from the town is we need a spot and just the approval. Um we need the health department and the DPW to

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sign off on it. Uh, as far as the involvement from anybody at the town level, I the neighborhood compost bills the residents directly. So, it's I see it as a win-win. Um, it's just getting

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at least 25 families to sign up. Um, at the end, uh, they will compost it and then you, if you participate in the program, you also get the soil the following season. So, if you're a gardener or if you want to liven up your beds around your house, it's great soil.

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Um, so I I can't think of any downside. I know a lot of times the biggest complaint people say about compost is animals, creatures, etc. I have a compost in my backyard and the squirrels and the deer and the chipmunks eat

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everything but what's around the compost. So, um, it's really a healthy, positive way for the environment. I I just if you haven't composted, it's incredible how much you reduce your garbage and I think it's I think it's an easy um

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sell for the for town people and I also think it's an easy company to work with. Um I'll just list the towns. Tennifly, Ridgefield Park, Ramsey, Leonia, Deerris, Pamis, uh, North Haldden, Tene, Hohokus, and Rutherford are the ones

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currently using their services. >> And to to add to that, I think, um, to Patty's point about the cost reduction, I believe our waste services are uh, build by pound. If we could get some of

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that waste out of our um regular garbage pickup, I think there's a return on investment for a small investment from the the town um or even the residents where it's going to save us some money down the road which can be reinvested in

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other things. Um, I know every town is hurting for money and this is a good potential budget savings that um, can be pushed through and and as Patty said in uh, 2035, I think it is, it's it's going to be required anyway. So, you know, let's let's try to get on this early

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figure out if we can hit those numbers and if we can't just with composting, maybe we have to work on other things and we'd have time to do it. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Uh any other member of council wish to ask a question?

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>> Okay. Uh thank you uh both of you. Thank you Dave. Thank you Patty. Uh really appreciate you being here. Uh and um >> if you need to coordinate anything uh please do so through the burough administrator. Okay. >> Sounds good. Appreciate the time.

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>> Super. >> Thank you for your time. >> All right then. Byebye. >> Okay. Next uh thing on our agenda is uh survey and proposed traffic study ordinance. Um now I I do have to say that by code the council meeting ends at

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10 p.m. but but that's not the end of the story. The council can by majority vote extend past 10 p.m. When we're getting close to that time, it's now 9:04. Uh I will ask to see if the council wishes to do that. If the

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council chooses not to do that, then we would pass uh whatever needs to be passed by uh resolution or ordinance and then we would reschedu anything undone for the very next meeting and it will absolutely be rescheduled. So, it's

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council's decision when we get a little bit closer. Chief, uh Sergeant Diamond, if you could take the center seats. This is a presentation on um uh survey on proposed traffic ordinance study and for a portion of it I will have to recuse

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myself uh because there is a portion of it that the uh police department has um suggested or or that they're proposing that would directly affect a very small part of town and I live within that

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small portion of town. So, um, so when that portion comes up, I will step out to the close session room and you guys just need to call me back and and the council president during that time will take the center seat. >> Mayor, I have a procedural question

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regarding like the 10 p.m. uh curfew. Um, if we had an urgent matter that we couldn't get to by 10 p.m. and we have to punt, does it have to go to the next meeting or if it's an emergency thing, could we? council could call for a special meeting, but normally the

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procedure is the the to be in an emergency would have to be a resolution or ordinance. Uh that would be considered unless I'm wrong. So that would be the only cons. So when we get to about 102, um at that point, I'm going to call for the resolutions to be

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passed and then if the council wishes at that time to extend for other matters, they may do so. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Okay. Um, Chief, uh, do I go or do I stay? >> Start.

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>> I think the easiest way to do this, mayor, if we just start with the 9 to 11, it'll be 10 minutes and bring you in right afterwards. >> All right. If you don't mind. >> So, I will now recuse and relieve the center seat to the council president. Council president. Can I call you acting mayor?

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>> Actually, she is at this. >> Oh, I'm calling you acting. >> You good? >> Take it away. >> Thank you. Um, good evening, mayor and council. Um, as the and chief, um, as

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the chief and I were directed to by the council was to look at the 9 to11 ordinance. It was approximately 11 months ago today since we sat in front of you. Um, Councilman Bruce, I know you weren't on the council on time, so I did put the PowerPoint in everyone's presentation

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that was there a year ago. Um, I won't go through it slide by slide to save time, but there it is there. We'll >> after 9 to 11, we'll briefly go through it. Um, so we were tasked to survey the residents between 9 to 11 to uh amend the ordinance if the mayor and council

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so choose. So that's what we did. Um last since last summer we've sent out three letters to the affected residents into the 9 to11 zones. Um out of those there was 250 uh letters given and we got 102 responses back as a police

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department resulting into a 40% response rate out of the residents that are affected in that zone. Um if you open up this packet um this is the survey results. Um, just for confidentiality, I blacked out the

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house numbers as they were promised that their results would never be public and it would stay within the chief's office and the traffic unit. So, that's why you'll see the blackout on the side. So, I did it by street by street. As you can see, center app, we had 10 yeses, two

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nos, and the rest were no responses. Um, some wrote me three, four pages on the survey instead of three, but I kind of just summarized it into a sentence if I could. So, you can see some of those comments. Um, moving along, Bloomfield A was three

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yeses, two nos. Um, Elizabeth was 10 yeses, two nos. Um, Windsor Road was eight yeses, four nos. Vorhees a was five yeses, two nos. Manning a was five yeses, one no.

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Jefferson was six yeses, zero nos. Spring Valley was seven yeses, two nos. And Washington, uh, Washington was one no. And fin was zero yeses, one no, and

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Williams was two yeses. And finally, Christy Aav, which is on the back, was three yeses and one no. We also held a town hall meeting um last year over Zoom. Um we had a great turnout I would say on that chief and many um residents

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expressed concerns about if we were going if the mayor and council chose to amend the ordinance, why would they be affected with the snow ordinance? So with that, we also had the department head of public works and other departments. We had a meeting and

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we came up with a solution um for making this snow ordinance if you so choose. We're not taking a position on that. Yes or no as a police department is making the whole town odd and even for snow removal. It bring equity to the town.

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Basically, if it was an even day, you can park on the even side of the street. If it's an odd day, you park on the odd. only when the roads are snow covered. Except there's a caveat like down by the beaches some of the numbers go crazy and odds and evens jump. So we would have to

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carve out a section of the ordinance down by the beaches. I think there's one other Monroe or somewhere down by Valley. There's another area and then we would adjust the ordinance by the apartments apartments the mayor and council who choose to go that route. Um >> may I interrupt just one question?

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Sorry. Could you please for the for the record and everyone what was the question on on this letter to the to the residents please? >> So if there was a sample letter in the original packet however I reprinted it out. If you go I should be all the way

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in the back. I'll find it in >> the one David. >> Yes. >> It's on the back of uh the second sheet back there. Thank you so much up there. Yes. So, this was the letter given to

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any resident within the current parking district and this was provided handd delivered by myself. I got a lot of steps in so I know everyone got it. I also followed up with the mail USPS. Um, we then

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delivered it by mail and then we did a third attempt me hand delivering it to mailboxes of the people that didn't respond. So, there was three attempts for this letter for the households that didn't respond. Um, there was two

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households that gave two letters, but we only counted it once for the record. >> So, it's I am in favor of the post residential park permit parking orders >> for 9 to 11:00 a.m. whether or not >> I'm sorry I couldn't hear. >> This is the ask, right?

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>> Yes. Down here. This is the response how I tallied it. Okay. name, address, phone optional, email optional, favor, favor, and then comments. Um, and then we also held the Zoom meeting and I took comments from >> So, were the majority in favor or against? >> Uh, it was a mixed bag, but yes,

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majority of the responses were in favor, but I wouldn't say it was overwhelmingly or not. >> Thank you. So, we don't need an answer on it tonight. If it just is a lot of manpower if we do want to

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move forward with it and not to jump. I know the mayor is not here. The police department is requesting to come to a summer meeting. Um, so if that is the wish to go, we can then have a crafted ordinances ready for everyone to review

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at that time. I just wanted to give everyone the survey results before and getting the blessing to move forward since it's not going to be like a two-hour ordeal for the police department. It'll probably take me a few weeks and it will be a whole month project to get this up and running with the details and not. But if the mayor

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and council don't wish to move forward, I'll open my file cabinet and put it in for the future. So >> should the mayor come back now or should >> um >> if we have if no one has questions on 9 to11 then >> he had to go move his car.

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>> I do I do have a question. >> Go ahead. Go ahead. >> So the proposal is to remove the 9 to5 restriction and change it to residential parking zone. >> We were tasked from the police department from the mayor and council last year to allow residents to park into the 911 zone. So um I'll just cut

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it short. The idea was to allow residential parking as the state of law now uh allows now. Um you would get on the other side if you lived in the district and the street you would get a resident sticker that coincides to that street in your district. So that would

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allow if you lived on Adams a to park in front of your house between the hours of 9 to 11. However, if you lived up on Midland A, you would not be able to park. So it allow and allow flexibility for those specific residents in those district zones to be able to park on a

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public street on the public street in front of their house. >> Yeah. So all these colors would change. However, what district 8, if you live on, let's say, Jefferson, if you really wanted to, you could still be allowed to go park on Adams. We're not going to be

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specific. You did districts and colors, but it would limit it to like a couple of streets. >> It would be easy. parked for example on the east side of Kendra Mac in the 9 to11 you still could be in zone one but you'd have a color on your zone one

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sticker so that people in zone one up on fifth can come down and park because that's what would happen >> right so it is >> it does cause for restrictions >> so only people between Kendrick and Bogurt stickers >> it resident stickers are open to all

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residents in town now however our idea is put a permit number on here and there'll be an expiration and that number would change if you lived into a 9 to11 current parking restriction as it stands now. So you're looking at the section of town between Riveridge Road, Midland and Kirkcom really by the

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transit stations that you see. >> No additional we're just trying to make it less restrictive. >> So is this like for you guys to enforce this? Would this be >> right now? That would be the current burden is that if an officer is not

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assigned to a call for service, usually we're very busy during the day shift. >> But if their officer is free, they have to do 911 enforcement. It would be the same thing. What burdens the police department will be getting this off the ground. So a one-time burden. Um and

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that's why I have the chief that's burdens the chief out. He's going to administer it. But >> and it'll come back on my lap. But I am open for that. Um I have a plan in my head if you guys do want to move forward. >> And as you should remember there is there's a cost to it.

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>> I was just going to ask that question. Yeah. >> And there is also our you know our counterpart with the DPW has to go do all the signs. >> Mhm. >> So there is >> we if you it's in the PowerPoint it's still estimated at 20,000 but I would venture to say I would add another few

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thousand to that since inflation. I can update that cost for the summer meeting if we want to move forward. Just call it the summer meeting itself. >> Is there is there a fee for the resident as well for the >> that's up to the mayor and council. Um and I would defer actually I would like

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some access with the chief um to the burough attorney on that because some say you have to charge at least a dollar because it's a permit. Some say it's not. So I will defer to legal counsel on that. >> But at that time we want to move forward. >> Okay.

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Why would anyone not want to be able to park on their street between 9 and 1? >> I mean, some residents don't want any cars on streets. We get, as the chief mentioned before in his statement, we get some very silly phone calls. Why is this car parked on my street? It's red. I've never seen it before. Could be a

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neighbor's relative. We don't know, but that's a public street. We can't tell someone not to park there. >> Yeah. So, I should I do have a question. I mean, um, Center A >> has a lot of uh adjacent businesses, right? Uh am I am I wrong? Like offer road,

478
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>> right? So when we send these letters to the residents, were they sent to the property owners or the businesses themselves? Because I know some people have already approached me for questions about their concerns from a business perspective, how detrimental this may be for their

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clientele. >> So you can't park on center a from 9 to 11 2/ird of the way down. So that's not changing. All we're doing is allowing those residents from River Edge Road to I would say >> that paper street if everyone's familiar

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with that's where that restriction ends. >> All we're going to do is allow those homeowners in that area to park 9 to11. So it's no different as a business owner. Um what moving on and I moving forward in the presentation right now in

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the upper lot we allow for two-hour parking in the upper train lot for the customers of those businesses and we also the employees use Grove Street and they get the permit from there. We can expand that 2-hour parking if the mayor and council wish. There is room for

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that, but um I would venture to say we would want to study before we make a recommendation to do anything. >> And that that lot is the one above uh the train station. >> Correct. The upper lot. >> I didn't know. I didn't know that actually you could if you didn't have a

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permit for the train, you could park there. >> Yeah, it's two-hour parking. What we found is though some of the business owners use that all day and they don't that's their customers parking. You came in >> um and a few of them got a few tickets. That's the only reason why I know and I happen to be working and they're like we don't

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>> I'm like well you're supposed to be using road street >> part of the lot 2 hour >> park it's only that back row >> I see the lot. >> Okay. >> Are you chalking the tires? >> We do chalk around the tires and do two hours when we get complaints. >> So

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>> So um so that's like the 9 to 11 in a brief overview. >> Okay. >> Do we bring in >> if you would like to bring in I thought I wish you could stay acting mayor for a little bit longer. >> That was fast.

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>> Oh, we should. No, you um if you do want to move forward, if it's okay with that like create like if it's I don't know guys know if you guys do committees or like working groups. Um I think it would be beneficial if the borrow administrator and maybe like a couple

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council people have a working group with it to move forward. this way when it comes to the summer meeting. Eyes are dots increase. So, sorry to >> I'll return. >> So, >> you texted him.

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>> Okay. >> But that's still >> I was tried. I tried. >> I got a 15% raise by the >> Awesome. >> All right. Thank you, >> Chief. Sergeant, continue.

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>> Sorry. Uh, real quick. Um, I'm not going to go. This is the same exact PowerPoint that we did last summer, but just so the coun u council in favor knows everything we're talking about. Um, >> you don't have to do it just for me. >> What? >> You don't have to do it just for >> I'm really quick cuz I want to refresh

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some memories if you don't mind. >> I'm in enough hot water tonight. So, >> the non-paved surfaces that we spoke about, we said we wanted to bundle all these ordinances together. So, we are going to present it at the I'll just keep calling it the summer meeting that

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put all these together and have all the ordinances. I know you um the previous mayor and council greenlighted it. I just want to make sure that if we spend the time that it's still a go-ahad that on non-paved services. So, we're talking about between Wales and Woodland there's

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a paper street. We put up um new Channel Post to prevent people driving there because it became such a safety concern. Um the mil you know by the we call it the Milbrook road school path. You got the Oakaf paper street that Amazon keeps driving on that discount you know the

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drainage is under the Elm Place paper street um two three winters ago during a blizzard car wanted to do donuts down there we had to yank it out with a tow truck down the hill. Um so those are the non-PED services that the police department is talking about that we want

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to pass an ordinance on. Is there objection? >> Hearing none. >> Thank you. Um, again, we spoke about a year ago about the numerous trailers that are just parked on the street, not attached. Again, the previous mayor council greenlighted that, but we wanted

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to keep it bundled together for when we moved everything. That was greenlighted. I just want to confirm that's still >> Is there objection? Hearing none. Right. Um, numerous vehicles or we get complaints about is eyes on public

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streets being covered in random tarps and car covers and their eyes. There's nothing right now police department can do when it's on a public roadway less than 48 hours. You greenlighted it with the caveat of during a snowstorm, they

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get 24 hours to keep your car. I just want to make sure that's still good. >> Any objection? Hearing none. um no stopping or standing in the train station. Um which is the lower lot has

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been a concern that the um residents and users of that lot can't get out on time because they're stopping by the stop sign and backing up and cars can't get out um when they're paying for the permit parking. These are just people that are just picking up mom and dad and

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just don't have a permit to be in the lot. We want to make no stopping or standing in our public lot, which we can do um near I call it the building department house down there. So, it'd be just that area. We're not saying you can't go into our lot. We just move you down by like the gate by the compost

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every day. >> Yeah. >> So, you mean be >> toward the back end would be not obstructing the exit, which is what happens every day. >> So, we're looking to fix that. >> My wish is we can make no left turns. So then you'll be pushing up the traffic to

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park and Lincoln and center. >> Yeah. >> So >> any objection hearing? None. >> Thank you. Um and then we spoke about optimizing the parking lots. The we did

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brief counts if um this year the numbers haven't changed. The permit numbers are relatively the same. So, if you not to bore everyone, um the counts, we have enough permits sold. There's just not a

503
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lot of res residents or users of the lot go to New York City every day or go to work. So, we have numerous spots opened up. So, as stated at the last meeting, we want to if you want to gener generate more revenue, you can use Park Mobile app and the parking spots down by the

504
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gate down by compost the compost field that no one uses every day. You can meter them through Park Mobile and get $10 a day, $5 a day. Um, as the proposal was last time, we had a contract sent. They sent it to um borrow attorney, but

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we did put it on hold from my understand again to kind of bundle this all if we wanted to move forward. >> You say you then have >> So my initial idea is to do 20, but you can override it if you're a permit >> and you're going to look at the amount of residents that have

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>> correct. But how would that it says the lot has to be otherwise full? So the if you have a permit, the way I would structure the ordinance is the lot's never full. Let's we have a we sell enough permits we actually sell over the amount. We have 10% overage on

507
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permits, but the lot is always 25 to 30 spots open every day. Every single day, Friday and Monday, there's more. If you go through, there's a memo in there if you want to have the breakdowns. It's still the same. We did a count the other day. The idea is like the last 15 to 20 spots by that gate, put up a metered

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spot. So if you just need to go to the city for the day and you want to spend $ five dollar, you go on their park mobile app like if anyone that goes down to the shore or the cities, pay your $5, you're good. We get alerted generates revenue for the town. However, if the Suns there's a Knicks game or the World Cup

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that everyone sees on the news, everything's happening and everyone wants to use their permit that day. If you get to that metered spot, you don't have to pay the $5 you just occupied. >> It overrides over permit on the car. >> Yeah. So, if you remember three or four

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years ago, correct me uh if I'm wrong, mayor, we did not allow non-residents to use a municipal lot. >> No, we did. >> And then >> three or four years ago, we opened it because all these parking spots are open. >> We actually had someone from New Milford who specifically asked for that. They

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had a relative in River Edge and they said, "Could it be considered?" And it made sense. >> Yeah. Um, again, that take leg work if we're still willing to do that. I have the contract. I did speak to the representative last week. The terms and conditions are the same

512
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that's also in this packet. >> So, I I I mean I I I like the revenue generating. It's good news. I'm just, you know, particularly >> procedurally how how would that um if it

513
02:27:12.640 --> 02:27:28.880
times out like people I know go to Broadway whatever and if it is 5 hours like my park mobile I have the app and I can actually increase it on my own. >> So my recommendation would be we don't have the manpower to do it like 5 hours 4 hours. It would be you're good for the

514
02:27:28.880 --> 02:27:45.920
12-h hour day. Okay. Um, and I I'm not going to tell you what to do, but I would, if you're in the if I was in your shoes, I would actually on Saturdays and Sundays overnight even do the park mobile, but have the resident sticker override it to generate more money. So

515
02:27:45.920 --> 02:28:02.160
on Saturdays and Sunday when there's no one in the lot or there's the 10 people or 15 people that come from Oridel, New Milford, I'm just naming towns from the north to come use it, you're going to generate, you know, a couple hundred dollars every weekend moving forward. But if someone pays taxes and has a residence sticker, you don't

516
02:28:02.160 --> 02:28:17.760
>> your taxes pay for that. You don't you don't require a permit for those or the park. >> I was I was asking about the timing if 12 hours makes sense because you have, you know, no mile power. >> So would that be something you'd put into the ordinance? Yes. >> Do you need to know consensus from the council whether you're comfortable with that? >> If Yes. And then

517
02:28:17.760 --> 02:28:39.680
>> is the council comfortable with that? >> There you go. >> Thank you. Um And then the rest is 95. >> And I believe >> Oh, and then yes, um, River Edge Road

518
02:28:39.680 --> 02:28:56.880
has come to our attention that our ordinance allows parking on River Edge Road right now. No one does it, but it is permitted use and there is a sign in front of one. So, we're just trying to if you amend the chapter

519
02:28:56.880 --> 02:29:14.240
427 that's just I'm just going to hold it up. That's in this memo. um to just codify and not allow parking on Riverridge Road if and then look at the upper lot to see if we can maybe make some more spaces for two-hour parking

520
02:29:14.240 --> 02:29:31.680
and then resign that um for the businesses up on one of the problems that we're we're getting on getting the calls on um are the the cars are parked on the sidewalk on river striking I believe >> right that just happened when here

521
02:29:31.680 --> 02:29:47.120
>> and um >> we did it. We looked backwards on it. It's been for many years. Sergeant went looked at the county because they're involved down there and there was never there wasn't really an approval or anything we found. It just occurred. But we have had I've had several residents

522
02:29:47.120 --> 02:30:03.040
pull. They're trying to walk through with a a baby stroller something and the cars just come up on the sidewalk because they're getting off the street. So for us, we thought, well, let's just we could tell them to get off the sidewalk. I could do that tomorrow, right? But if I tell them to get off the sidewalk and they go onto the street,

523
02:30:03.040 --> 02:30:19.280
you know it's tight, >> especially on the Y because now we're going to have accidents, right? So the our goal is to prohibit the parking so then we can tell them get off the sidewalks, but they can't park in the street. Um because the upper lot has

524
02:30:19.280 --> 02:30:34.800
more parking as we've said several times the parking has decreased over the years basically since co there will be the ability to work with that lot with the business owners um to either where they have to get a permit or depends on what

525
02:30:34.800 --> 02:30:49.680
we want to how we want to work with them to allow them to park. As Sergeant said they do have the ability to go down to Grove Street. Um, so there there are some options there, but it would make it a lot safer down there to walk on the sidewalks. >> So, is this an ordinance that you're

526
02:30:49.680 --> 02:31:05.680
looking to move during the summer or is this an ordinance you're looking for us to say work on? >> I think it can be we can put it together as long as as long as there's a consensus that it sounds reasonable to you and that you want to do it, then there's no reason why you couldn't put

527
02:31:05.680 --> 02:31:21.840
it together for the same meeting. >> These are all great ideas. Thank you. the I I think these are great ideas and I want to comp uh compliment uh Sergeant Diamond and the chief uh traffic and safety committee does a lot of that work. Sergeant Diamond >> Sergeant Diamond is the >> leads that work. Um behind it all

528
02:31:21.840 --> 02:31:38.800
>> and uh so they are really a working group that brings uh >> um good changes, good progressive changes to the town. So without objection, we're going to uh we're going to create that ordinance also. But that one you probably want to run by so the council can um send that to the council

529
02:31:38.800 --> 02:31:55.040
early so that uh if the council has comments for that one >> uh they might be able to and of course the council I I think I'm speaking for the council is we know you will but just make sure that uh >> the businesses have some option because without parking they're not businesses

530
02:31:55.040 --> 02:32:10.319
>> but I know you will but I'm just saying it because the business will be watching and they'll be like oh my god I'm going to be out of business because there's where would they park? It's not necess It's the business owners really that park there. >> Interesting enough. Yeah. The majority of when business owners just park right in. >> Oh.

531
02:32:10.319 --> 02:32:26.640
>> You know, so but we're well aware that we need to count for them and their and their customers. >> Good. That'd be great. >> Um and obviously I think all that I stated when you were in here like we would like, you know, as we always have the burough administrator involved in everything, but like a little working group because we do have a lot of

532
02:32:26.640 --> 02:32:41.920
ordinances that we threw out there tonight and it's going to >> And you're going to include the burough attorney, right? Of course. Yeah. >> And then that um and then lastly, >> just like that. >> Um lastly, I there sample ordinances in

533
02:32:41.920 --> 02:32:58.240
there. I just that's not 100% exactly what we you know, I literally just said, "Oh, I like Wood Ridg's section here. Threw that in. I like order." Just so like >> can I chat for a minute? >> I highly recommend that you come up you

534
02:32:58.240 --> 02:33:13.439
not do the sample ordinances. you come up with the ordinance that you want and then bring it to the committee. >> I'm just talking in these packets right now. Yes, you read the packet. I don't want you like tonight being like, "Oh my god, you wanted this." It's just a framework and >> because the working group will go much

535
02:33:13.439 --> 02:33:29.200
faster if they're working when we have the working group. It's going to be everything the police department wants, everything that we hear from the the public and the council members. I just didn't want to do and >> so there's just for transparency reasons. >> Thank God. >> Yeah. Uh and for transparency reasons as

536
02:33:29.200 --> 02:33:45.439
traffic and safety said for there is currently traffic studies being conducted at some crossing guard posts. Yeah. >> Whether they're going to be stay be eliminated but that's the reason for the summer meeting. We might be moving cross like it might be a proposal to move some

537
02:33:45.439 --> 02:34:01.840
crossing guards around. So um >> from their current post to >> to a different post or eliminate based on needs. Um but that I don't want to speak ahead of the study because the study's been ongoing. I just for transparency reason come back to us in the summer. We'll just need to know answers on that. So that will be all

538
02:34:01.840 --> 02:34:17.600
provided to you. Um because there will be there will be ordinance amended as the attorney knows each school crossing is in an ordinance and has to be eliminated by passive >> and you have to know if before school starts anyway. >> Correct. So that's the reason why I'm saying we're going to call the great

539
02:34:17.600 --> 02:34:34.399
summer meeting of 2026. Got it. And um I want to commend you guys for everything you do. The police department is great. Your community policing model is outstanding. Um as as spoke by our residents who constantly are sending letters of, you know,

540
02:34:34.399 --> 02:34:51.439
gratitude and thanks to our police department. Uh especially uh managing this construction issue right now. Doing a great job. I just wanted to say that. Throw that out while you're here. Um traffic safety is hard. >> Is not >> what >> a r ps is not. Well, yes, but but our

541
02:34:51.439 --> 02:35:06.800
police officers keep us safe with, you know, with what's happening. So, we we thank you so very much. >> Thank you for your support. Mayor, >> excuse me. I think just a procedural thing. I'm not sure when you were out. So, when you were here, you got us all to weigh in on each proposed item, but I

542
02:35:06.800 --> 02:35:23.280
think when you were out, we didn't. >> Okay. Is uh in the items, is there um is there any objection to any of the items that were raised during um my rec? hearing none. So moved. >> I'll stick around over here for public

543
02:35:23.280 --> 02:35:38.000
comment. If not, I'll see everyone. Have a great weekend. >> There. Um, Sergeant, there's no more public comment. >> Oh, there's no more public comment. >> Yeah, we only we did one and it's open for everything. >> Then I will see everyone later. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.

544
02:35:38.000 --> 02:35:52.080
>> Sorry, Chief. No worries. >> All right. >> Um, could I have a motion and second? Uh once I read into the record, appointments and personal change approved the salary increase of Edward Hazuka, laborer in Department of Public

545
02:35:52.080 --> 02:36:08.240
Works for a probationary rate of $47,760 to step $459,433 effective July 27th, 2026. Approve the salary increase of Eric Phillips, fourman in the Department of Public

546
02:36:08.240 --> 02:36:30.880
Works for the rate of $13,2580 to step three, $1113,44356 effective June 1st, 2026. Approve the revised list of camp staff on file with the Burough's clerk office. >> So moved, second.

547
02:36:30.880 --> 02:36:48.960
>> It's been moved and seconded. It is open for debate. Is there debate hearing? None. Uh, all in fa Oh uh I'm sorry, madam clerk since there are appointments. >> Okay. Council. >> Yeah. >> Council President Canella.

548
02:36:48.960 --> 02:37:03.920
>> Yes. >> Councilwoman Cohen. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Malari. >> Yes. >> Councilman Glass. >> Yes. >> Councilman Feffer. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um in a moment could I have a uh >> Oh, that's right. I forgot about that.

549
02:37:03.920 --> 02:37:19.520
Okay. Um, actually I jumped ahead, but I'm going to stay ahead without objection and come back. Okay. Um, I need to uh make sure that the critical business is done. So, uh, and then I'm going to come back to I skipped over the, um, >> seven

550
02:37:19.520 --> 02:37:34.960
>> uh, seven, but we'll come back to it. Could I have a motion and second in a moment for resolutions 26, 156, 157, and then 159 through 170? um to approve. Could I have a motion

551
02:37:34.960 --> 02:37:57.600
second to move those motions? >> So moved. >> Second. >> It is open for debate, comment, or inquiry. Is there debate, comment, or inquiry? Any of the resolutions hearing? None. Could I have one member

552
02:37:57.600 --> 02:38:12.960
of the budget committee uh read into the record 26-170, which is one of the many resolutions we're doing simply for the sake of uh transparency. >> Thank you, mayor. At a regular meeting of the mayor and council of the burrow of Riveridge, county of Bergen, state of

553
02:38:12.960 --> 02:38:34.479
New Jersey, held on May 28, 2026, be it resolved that the mayor and council of the burrow of Riveridge approve the following expenditures. Current fund 1,85,462.74. General Capital Fund $130,853.13. Trust other $3,13712.

554
02:38:34.479 --> 02:38:54.000
Recreation Trust $17,1885. >> Okay. Uh now, uh it has been read into the record, but we're moving all the resolutions. Madame Clerk. Oh, wait. It has been moved and seconded, right? >> Yes. Madam Clerk. >> Council President Canala. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Monsano Colin.

555
02:38:54.000 --> 02:39:10.720
>> Yes. Yes. Councilwoman Maleri. >> Yes. >> Councilman Glass. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pepper. >> Yes. >> Very good. Okay. Now we need to uh return to request for temporary extension of hours during World Cup for retail consumer licenses. Um uh so one

556
02:39:10.720 --> 02:39:28.240
of our businesses reached out to me as uh as mayor saying that uh the governor had um taken some sort of action. I guess it's a proclamation. That was it was already um the governor issued a

557
02:39:28.240 --> 02:39:44.479
proclamation and the division of alcoholic beverage control created um a model ordinance to amend the sale of alcoholic beverages only um for consumption licenses. So these are bars and restaurants, not um liquor stores.

558
02:39:44.479 --> 02:40:00.720
Those are distribution licenses. during the World Cup uh for from June 11th through July 19th to allow alcoholic beverages um to extend the operating hours until 4 a.m.

559
02:40:00.720 --> 02:40:16.720
>> The request received from one of the businesses was to see if the bureau would like to enact an ordinance based on this um special event. >> What time do they close now? >> Right now they close. I printed it out.

560
02:40:16.720 --> 02:40:32.000
>> 11. >> Yeah. So, they close at 3:00 a.m. So, no alcohol can be served between 3:00 a.m. and noon um on Sundays or Mondays through Saturdays between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. >> So, we're studying for 1 hour.

561
02:40:32.000 --> 02:40:47.120
>> No, they're looking they're looking for 4 a.m. So, depend on Sundays it would be 1 hour. Monday through Saturday, it would be 2 hours. The only exception we have in the ordinance is for New Year's Eve. um that allows uh establishments to

562
02:40:47.120 --> 02:41:02.960
stay open until 4:00 a.m. >> So, we don't have to grant this. We don't have to grant it as requested or we can grant it as requested. >> It's not to stay open. It's to continue serving alcohol, right? >> Well, I think it's both. >> Okay.

563
02:41:02.960 --> 02:41:18.560
>> Yeah, you have to be open to to sell and serve. >> I'm saying they can stay open later. They just can't serve alcohol if they have to. But anyway, okay. Splitting yours doesn't matter. How does the council feel about this? Is the council interested in considering this?

564
02:41:18.560 --> 02:41:35.520
>> Is the request only for alcohol or are they going to continue full kitchen stuff? >> This um approval is only for alcohol and the request we received was only for serving alcohol. >> Who was the request from >> feathers? >> Feathers. Okay. And then we have the

565
02:41:35.520 --> 02:41:52.720
diner and what other what's the other establishment? Sanuchcci >> River Edge Diner and Prime 259. >> No, Sanuchi doesn't have >> Prime 259 and >> yes, >> there's three

566
02:41:52.720 --> 02:42:08.160
>> 259, >> but if we grant it for one, we have to grant it for all. >> Okay, >> we Yeah, we can't spot zone. >> I don't know why. >> I think what they're doing is trying to uh make money

567
02:42:08.160 --> 02:42:23.520
sales tax. >> So there it's it's I I I don't know that everyone's going to be drinking. I I have lots of my friends who >> drink beer. >> What? >> We got a request from feathers to extend.

568
02:42:23.520 --> 02:42:41.359
>> We have only three and they were the only one who'd made the request. >> Well, I'm fine with this. Do I have to make a motion? >> Well, yeah, if you want to. Can I make a motion to extend? >> It has to be done by ordinance. >> Oh, okay. So,

569
02:42:41.359 --> 02:42:57.040
>> well, I would want a motion and second to direct the um >> Well, no, because of I'm sorry. Say no. I'm used to saying no all the time. Um >> you have kids, too. >> What my husband for? Um and he's asleep. He's not watching.

570
02:42:57.040 --> 02:43:13.920
>> So, um this has to be done by ordinance, which requires two readings, and it's for a limited time. is from June 11th through whatever July 19th 20th. So it would have to be introduced tonight with the second reading on the 11th >> and then it would be effective date of

571
02:43:13.920 --> 02:43:30.960
publication but since we publish online it would be effective the 12th >> which is the start of the World Cup anywhere. >> So can we introduce >> Yes. Because the first the first game starts the 13th >> or the well >> yeah we have the model we just need to fill in the blank. >> Yeah. Yeah. The first game in Metife is

572
02:43:30.960 --> 02:43:47.040
13. Yeah. >> So, >> okay. >> Yeah. >> Do you still wish to make a motion to do that? Because if as soon as you make a motion and second, it's still open for debate. >> Do you wish to make that motion? >> I'll still make the motion. Yes. >> Okay. To 4:00 a.m. >> to 4:00 a.m. Yeah. >> Okay. Is there a second?

573
02:43:47.040 --> 02:44:03.120
>> Second. >> It has been moved and seconded. It is open for debate. All those uh for against comment or inquiry. Is there debate hearing? None. All in favor of moving

574
02:44:03.120 --> 02:44:21.439
the ordinance to uh right now >> just well because this is by consensus say I >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstain? Okay. We got to move the ordinance. We have it. >> Yes. >> We have the model ordinance amending the sale and service of alcoholic beverages.

575
02:44:21.439 --> 02:44:36.080
We just need to >> May I have a copy of it? >> Fill in the blanks. >> So would you fill in the blanks before I do that? Um the most of the blanks are pretty easy. I can do >> the hours. >> Do I have to read it out loud? >> Um no, just just the title.

576
02:44:36.080 --> 02:44:53.439
>> A model or ordinance amending the hours and sale of alcoholic beverages for the FIFA World Cup 2026. >> Okay. Could I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Do we need a number for that? You'll sign the number later. >> Um yeah, we'll assign the number. The

577
02:44:53.439 --> 02:45:09.520
last ordinance I don't even remember what the number was. Is it 26 179 I think >> 171 it's not a resolution it's >> orderance 169 >> do we have one here >> no we don't we don't have an ordinance there all right but uh with the understanding that it would be properly

578
02:45:09.520 --> 02:45:25.200
um listed um ordinance >> we had a motion in second correct >> yes >> all right it is open for debate is there debate is there inquiry is there comment madame clerk the ordinance is on the t

579
02:45:25.200 --> 02:45:41.840
on the board. >> Council President Consella, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Lanopen, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Maler, >> yes. >> Councilman Glass, >> I'm going to abstain. I just don't know what I think. I haven't had enough time to read the ordinance and consider this carefully. So, I abstain.

580
02:45:41.840 --> 02:45:56.560
>> Councilman Pepper. >> Yes. >> Okay. There will be a second reading and there will be a public comment period during the second reading and that will happen at the next council meeting. Um, so we're done with that. Good. Okay. So,

581
02:45:56.560 --> 02:46:16.240
now we're up to car show banner request. This happens every year. If we you and I think you asked for size and picture, it still hasn't come in. I would I'm of two minds. One mind if we we grant it every year. My other mind is

582
02:46:16.240 --> 02:46:31.279
we shouldn't be granting unless we have a you know some sort of image that we know. So, but it's up to the council whether they want to grant the car. So, do we have details of how it was simply requested?

583
02:46:31.279 --> 02:46:47.680
>> Um, he uh the culture center requested it to the DPW um saying please put up the banner and our DPW superintendent said it has to be formally approved. So, he Jason forwarded it to me and I forwarded it to Ann to put on the

584
02:46:47.680 --> 02:47:02.479
agenda. >> Does the DPW currently have the banner? Is it last year's banner? >> I don't. >> Because if that's the case, then council can >> Where is it going to be display again? >> Here it was last year. Same place. I think it's >> the one on Main Street.

585
02:47:02.479 --> 02:47:18.240
>> No, Main Street. Main Street and Kinder. >> On Main Street. Okay. >> Main Street. If it's the exact same one, then I change my recommendation council just to prove it. But if it's not, >> can we do it on a bas? >> Yes. If it's not, then they have to come back to the council. You can do that.

586
02:47:18.240 --> 02:47:36.319
But do you want to do that? Do you want to make that motion? >> Yeah. So move. >> Anyone for a second? >> Second. >> Still open for debate. Is there debate, inquiry, comment? >> This is not uh this is can be done by acclamation. All in favor, please say I. I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Hearing

587
02:47:36.319 --> 02:47:50.479
none. Okay. Now we are up to old business. Religious display on public property policy. Mr. Feffer, you asked for this, Council Meer, so I'm going to give you the floor. >> I did. Thank you very much and thank you

588
02:47:50.479 --> 02:48:07.279
for the council to uh have uh voted to put this on the agenda. Uh it is late and um we did have a discussion previously tonight. Um so I'm not going to belabor any points. Um my main

589
02:48:07.279 --> 02:48:24.160
comment um and yeah my main comment is that the people who have spoken tonight I think spoke very eloquently very movingly very sincerely and from the heart. Um I

590
02:48:24.160 --> 02:48:42.000
think it's just an issue of fairness. Um since we've already established I think and we already agree I think that this is a matter of policy um there's no legal prohibition to do it uh or prohibition against doing it. It's

591
02:48:42.000 --> 02:48:57.120
simply a matter of whether the council wants to do it and whether we think it's good policy to do it. Um there's been a request from the community. My personal opinion is it's only fair to say yes to their

592
02:48:57.120 --> 02:49:14.319
request um if there's no law against the public display of crescent on government property and if federal courts have upheld such displays elsewhere and if our neighbors in other towns 49 other

593
02:49:14.319 --> 02:49:28.960
towns are already doing it I don't see why river edge can't do it and I I don't see why River Edge shouldn't do it. We're not talking about taking away any other symbols. We're not talking about taking away anyone's

594
02:49:28.960 --> 02:49:45.520
rights. This doesn't hurt anybody. We're just trying to include. We're not trying to exclude. Um I know personally I've lived in River Edge for 17 years.

595
02:49:45.520 --> 02:50:01.600
I don't see our town as being less tolerant than Englewood and T-neck and Bergenfield and Pamis. I don't see this town as being less welcoming. Um, we just, as I think you mentioned, mayor, we just had a a great cultural

596
02:50:01.600 --> 02:50:19.200
diversity celebration earlier this year. I attended, the mayor was there. Um, so why not? Why not do this? It's a simple request. Um, and especially I would say in in these

597
02:50:19.200 --> 02:50:36.479
particular times, what we're all going through and seeing in society these days in this country, um, River Edge can can be a model of how to respond to the fear and the the racism and the hate that's

598
02:50:36.479 --> 02:50:53.359
going on um throughout the country and throughout our society. I think we can be a town that is becomes known for building bridges instead of walls. That's my hope. And so

599
02:50:53.359 --> 02:51:09.359
I intend to vote yes on the request that um River Edge allow crescent displays on public property on burough property uh along with the tree the manora and uh

600
02:51:09.359 --> 02:51:25.760
and that such displays be allowed consistent with what the law allows and in accordance with legal um conditions and interpretation. patience. I think that's what the other towns are

601
02:51:25.760 --> 02:51:49.279
doing and I don't see why we can't do it too. Thank you. Any other member would like to offer a comment? All right. So, uh Mr. The issue is uh burough policy and if we

602
02:51:49.279 --> 02:52:06.960
approve this then it would basically got turn. >> Oh yeah. Um is it is it what is it that this is an all or nothing uh thing if we do this then we're basically saying any religious display um and or any any

603
02:52:06.960 --> 02:52:24.000
display that any group should wish to make. I mean what would be the criteria that would uh would govern this and what would be any obligation or um or legal concern? So in in probably the most recent I think significant case on this

604
02:52:24.000 --> 02:52:39.600
which is involved a Christian flag in Boston. Um it basically if you open this up my opinion is that if you open this uh uh if you change the policy to permit the display of

605
02:52:39.600 --> 02:52:55.760
religious or other secular symbols um you have to allow them all. Uh I it's a it's because we're going from the the traditional issue was always an establishment clause issue under the constitution whether or not this was uh you were favoring one religion over

606
02:52:55.760 --> 02:53:11.920
another. Now it's it's morphed a little bit into free exercise conversation a lot into free exercise. Um so that's really what this would become. And again, I think that's why a lot of municipalities have opted to allow sort

607
02:53:11.920 --> 02:53:28.640
of like an open more open forum because it it it does it does allow everybody to get say their peace so to speak. Uh that's my colloquial way of saying it, but it also it also immunizes you from most potential editation that some group may bring because they want to have

608
02:53:28.640 --> 02:53:46.720
their say or on on their particular day. >> Okay. Um so that's the question before the council. >> Correct. >> Okay. Now I also noticed uh in the survey that uh councilman had asked for uh that um that there are towns that

609
02:53:46.720 --> 02:54:02.000
have create if they if the council should consider this they could consider it just to be an open event where somebody makes a request that's it or uh I know the town of Bergenfield has uh created a resolution where they put a

610
02:54:02.000 --> 02:54:18.399
permit fee they put uh insurance of permit they put traditions of the issuance, duration. Um, so would you opine on u on whether if the council wishes to consider this, should they also consider uh something like

611
02:54:18.399 --> 02:54:33.840
Bergenfield has done or maybe some other municipality? >> I mean, I I always think it's it's good to not reinvent the wheel. I mean, if other towns have done it and done it successfully, um it's it's a good thing to to look at them as a potential model. I mean, I also represent Bergenfield. I

612
02:54:33.840 --> 02:54:49.279
don't know if the council's aware of that, the labor council there. Um I I do think that the permit concept um is a good one because it does insulate the burrow to some extent. Uh the time limitation also makes it so it's not um

613
02:54:49.279 --> 02:55:05.760
again like for example if someone wanted to leave a holiday tree because I'm not going to call it a Christmas tree now. Uh but if someone wants to leave a holiday tree up for all year that might anger some people if someone left a monora up all year that might anger other not because of the the actual thing is anger because it's like it's

614
02:55:05.760 --> 02:55:22.240
sitting there and when it's not the season right so I understand why there's a time limitation um you know Ramadan which the crescent celebrates has a specific time limitation so so you know it would be only up during the celebration of Ramadan so I mean you

615
02:55:22.240 --> 02:55:37.200
know I think the same thing for the holidays is usually it's like the month of December, right? You know, like post Thanksgiving, right? That's when the holiday stuff goes up that that we've been discussing. Um I think that's what Bergen Fields, if I remember correctly, that's how Bergen Field does it. They don't it's it's not

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>> I have I have it. It was sent to us. They say uh the conditions is a permit for an outdoors holiday display should be given if the applicant satisfies all the following criteria. Uh but this is actually we we're not there yet. >> Yeah, there's a lot of details. >> There's a lot of details. So right now

617
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we're just talking in concept. Um so the council has before it I think four options. Let me see. One is to take no action to stick with the current policy. Um second is to simply change the policy and say we're going to open it to

618
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everybody. Uh the third would be to say we need more time to think about it. Um or the fourth would be uh we we're inclined to do it but we we need more time to create a um a policy that uh

619
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would be permitted and uh have limitations and durations and application information. So >> there could be a fifth. >> There could be a fifth. Tell me. >> I I think unless I missed it when you were saying it, but I I think the fifth would be we will do it, but we will we

620
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will work with burough council and consult with other or not consult, but uh >> look to other towns to um to formulate a formal policy >> because I think you said inclined to do

621
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it. I think we would need something if we were going to do it. we should be more definitive about it. >> Well, we can we can say that, but in truth, we're until we create an ordinance, we're we're not doing it, right? So, I get what you're saying. >> I'm just saying we

622
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>> better semantics. You say >> if we decide that we want to do this, then it's just a matter of crafting an ordinance and that would be talking to the burough attorney and looking to ordinances like Bergen Fields, etc. >> Okay. But I think the good news is I think the next religious holidays would

623
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be in September, right? That's beyond my pay grade. >> It would be the Jewish religious holidays in September. I don't think there's anything before that. >> No. Yeah. But that doesn't No, >> off the top of my head, >> we're opening up. We could have we could have people who I would assume once we change this policy, we could have people

624
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say, "Well, I want you to put up our flag. We're giving you our flag." >> But the policy can remain in effect until an >> ordinance. Flags also could be a different not to not I really don't want to throw another bomb into this but uh like in Tene when I was the Tene attorney um they created their own

625
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policy on flags because flags can be considered an expression of the governing body and you can you can put make a create a flag policy if you want so that you can say yes or no to flags. Um that's a whole different thing. That's that's a that's a that's a it's there's the only reason I brought it up

626
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there's a whole body of case law on flags. >> Yeah. The only reason I brought it up is because it is a public display issue and residents have approached me about are we we have three flag posts uh on for Burough Hall. Are we putting up new flags? And I said, "No, we're not doing that. We're just putting up the state of

627
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New Jersey. uh US American flag, state flag and um we we do allow for u uh MIA and uh we and but that's been a long practice because uh and we um we can put up the river edge flag. So they were

628
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asking you know how free articles are you putting them up and I said no that's that's not our current policy. >> So and that is a display. It's a public display. I would probably want to review whatever the current language is in accordance with it if we're going to change this other policy to make sure

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that it's all consistent. >> Yeah. And just for information purposes, I mean, I printed out the the response that we got from Teneck and Teneck's response was we don't have a formal policy. We work closely with the respective community on these observances to asssure proper respect is

630
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paid. It has been known to us through concentrated community expression that folks want to see X Y and Z. We have a Christmas tree, Hanukkah manora, Kwanza canora and a Ramadan crescent. Not having a formal policy has yet to blow

631
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back at us. So we can at this point we can agree to just quote work closely with the respective community on these observances to asssure proper respect is paid. And then along the way, if we wanted to have a specific ordinance with guidelines and permit requirements,

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maybe we can form a subcommittee to do that or or we could just get guidance from our borrower attorney on what what that should say. >> So, right now it's just you and I going back and forth. I don't know how the rest of the council feels about any of this yet. >> No, no, no, no. Uh

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it's almost 10:00. Uh I need um we have uh we have to close. So, is the council interested in extending uh the council meeting for 15, 30 or 45 minutes or not at all? I need uh if not the meeting will be ending in one minute. >> Move to extend for 15 minutes.

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>> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It has been moved and seconded. All in favor, please say I. I. >> Any opposed? Any abstension? Okay. Appears to be unanimous. I'm good with any of the five things that you said, but I am not good with

635
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the six thing you just said. I don't think as my role as mayor, everyone's role as mayor should be to protect the town from litigation or exposure. I have taken that very seriously and I have gotten a lot of guff over it over the years. But one of the things is we went

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from multiple lawsuits when I first came on the council to no lawsuits right now. And I am not comfortable with uh with uh with TX willing. >> So what would you be comfortable with? >> I'm if the council wants to do any one of the other five things that we

637
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mentioned, that's fine with me. >> Take no action. Simply approve it uh without creating ordinance, create a create a group for an ordinance, create um you had said create some sort of positive language for an ordinance. You

638
03:01:37.279 --> 03:01:53.359
know, any of those things is fine. um it's up to the council. Um you would need a motion and a second and then if the you don't get a second or it doesn't get approved doesn't mean we can't consider one of the other options. Um unless the council is not interested in

639
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doing anything just sticking with a policy that so far has worked for us but maybe needs to be changed. It's up to the council. Um I've spoken a lot and now I'm going to stop. You have the guidance. It's the five of you need to decide. No, I appreciate the openness

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and directness. Mayor, thank you. >> Mayor, I do I do want to say something comment. Uh I was part of the council that enacted the policy. >> Yeah. >> That we currently have >> and I respect everybody's point of view

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and everybody who came in to say what they needed to say. Respect. However, I believe in separation of church and state and to insinuate that we do not the council the previous council did not respect that and did not

642
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hold events for other religions is is is very alarming to me because we did like the mayor had pictures of when the individuals came to to request Ramadan. We had a ceremony for Ramadan. Mhm.

643
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>> Sorry. >> No, no, I'm just saying in just in general and um but I don't think that you have I'm just I'm not going to say um that's that's all I say on that matter and um I respect the

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decision that the council made previously and I'm going to hold to that decision. >> What is our policy? >> There are no religious symbols. If if you were going to do that, wait, I just want to say like in Hindu religion, we have many many symbols. So someone come

645
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in here in Hindu religion be like we need all of these symbols at our all. So cuz it's either in my point of view, it's either all >> or nothing. So no one

646
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has told me with certainty that the crescent is any more of a religious symbol than a Christmas tree or manora. I have not heard that with certainty. >> Thank you. >> So I can't you given your time council's time. >> I can't fathom how we cannot allow it.

647
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>> I just can't fathom it. >> That's I I don't get it. >> Okay. No one has said with certainty that it's more of a religious symbol than a Christmas tree or a manor. I asked you and you said it's fuzzy.

648
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>> No, I said I can't answer. I'm not an expert on it. >> Okay. So, no one can tell me. So, I don't I can't fathom how we cannot allow it. >> You don't have to comment, but if you want to. No, I just I mean I was also part of the council that made this

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policy decision and I think there is a clear distinction between fairness and fairness fairness have been thrown out many times and I think there's a very distinction about display and recognition and I think we've established the fact that we have

650
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recognized the Muslim community as a whole and embraced them and we have allowed for their activities to take place in the uh library park like the Hindu also the the Diwali eventually >> um

651
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>> I I feel very strongly with the separation of church and state. I don't necessarily need to make a decision based on what other towns do because I think we have recognized the existence and the religious liberty in River Edge. Um so I

652
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want to be very clear that there is a distinction between display and recognition. Um I think it a very slippery slope uh for opening the the the question to what happens next and it's al all or nothing and I don't like

653
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these kind of decisions all or nothing. Um and for those reasons and until we maybe get some more clarity in the future uh I'm I'm I'm staying with my the decision the way we actually address this based on the Supreme Court uh case.

654
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The policy is quite clear based on those facts and until we can get any other guidance I am not comfortable making uh a different decision at this time. >> You don't have to but if you want to uh you didn't turn on your mic. >> Oh, sorry.

655
03:06:18.160 --> 03:06:34.560
>> Um I agree with uh Councilwoman President Canela and Lisa. I was uh part of that uh council when we decided the policy and I am a strong believer too of separation of religion and uh

656
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government. So I we acknowledge the religions everyone that's requested the the park is part of the uh boro the library is property of the boro we allow the events to take place and and display but at the bora hall um because it

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represents the body of the government I don't see that uh like the right place to display but we do acknowledge all the religions and I'm not a Christian I'm a different religion and I uh I respect all of them. So it's

658
03:07:10.160 --> 03:07:24.960
but I'll stand to the policy that I decided a few years ago. Uh we do not allow any culture or religion display at the borrow hall. All other uh properties were displayed. We celebrate it. We

659
03:07:24.960 --> 03:07:39.920
participate and that's all. >> That's a lot. >> Okay. So, the council has um weighed in. You still have the right to make a motion and if there is a second, the

660
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council will then have to vote or we can move forward um and to council comments. So, uh Councilman Feffer, you called for this, so I'm going to turn to you. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I I will make a motion because I think it's the

661
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right thing to do. I my motion would be that we support the request uh to have a crescent display for the Ramadan season or the Ramadan holiday uh on burrow property consistent

662
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with what the burrow does with the holiday tree and the manora. Um I do feel it's a Christmas tree but I I I'm not wedded to that. If we want to call it a holiday tree that's fine. um consistent with what we do with the tree

663
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and the manora, we should have the same policy towards the crescent uh during the Ramadan season. I don't see a way to distinguish one policy from the other. Um, and that would be my motion that we

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support a policy that allows the display of the crescent on burrow property consistent with the way the tree and the manora are displayed on burrow property. >> So is no no he's it's his motion. You

665
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can either vote vote it up or down or or not. If it's not seconded, it won't go anywhere. Are you uh but what I do want to ask for clarification. Are you looking for it to be resolution with um with or or is it just you're just

666
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looking for just to prove that without any sort of um idea of a of a formal policy through resolution. >> I'm not really sure what that means. >> So remember the choice is do nothing >> simply approve it.

667
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>> Okay. uh look towards look towards creating discuss it more. That was the third one. Look towards or move to um to approve it within an um an in u in uh

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encapsulating policy. >> I think if we if we support this motion, if we approve this motion, >> well, I'm asking do you want that included? Are you are is it your intent? That's all I want clarity is that there should be an encapsulating policy by

669
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resolution. >> An encapsulating. >> I think you want door number two. I think >> guidelines. >> Door number two. >> He just >> Yeah, of course there should be guidelines. I mean that's that's what I mean consistent with whatever are whatever guidelines we use for the tree and the manura. We should apply the

670
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exact same guidelines for the crescent. >> There's no guidelines. >> That's all I'm saying. If there are no guidelines then good >> then then we should create guidelines but as long as the display is approved along with the Christmas tree on the monora and that there's no distinction

671
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between one display and the other in terms of how they're displayed. That's that's the motion. If the if we approve that and then the burrow or the council says, "Well, we really need to put a little more meat on the bones.

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Let's look into how other towns do it. I would of course I would support that. >> Okay. >> But >> it's gonna get voted down anyway, but >> Well, I'm making my motion now. >> It's still important procedure matters. >> Sure. And I think also procedurally,

673
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um, Council President Canella is able to amend the motion if she wishes to. >> Anyone's allowed to amend the motion if there's a second. >> Okay. >> Is there a second? >> Yes, I >> It has been moved and seconded. Uh we are open for debate.

674
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>> I just wanted to clarify um your motion. You said borrow hall borrow property. It should be specifically borrow because we do have it in in other parts of the burrow. We just do not have it at borrow hall.

675
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>> Whatever is done he does. So is it do you consider that a friendly amendment? >> So where where is the tree and the monora displayed? It's in Boral Hall, but when we when Boral Hall was being renovated, we had the tree lighting in

676
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Memorial Park. So that's my like >> the point is to make it all equal. >> Yeah, that's all I'm saying. So if you're >> have it right now, >> if you're if you're have it in other places, >> I'm sorry. If your amendment is to say that it would be at Burrow Hall on

677
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Burough Hall property, I'm fine with that. >> So it's a friendly amendment. >> Yes, I accept that as a friendly amendment. >> So without objection, the motion is amended. Okay. Is there debate? Uh, I'm going to actually call for uh

678
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roll call. >> Council President Canella, >> no. >> Councilwoman Montano Cohen, >> no. >> Councilwoman Malari, >> no. >> Councilman Glass, >> yes. I was right about the vote. >> Councilman Pepper, Dave, that's awesome. >> Amazing prediction, right?

679
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>> Wait, hold on. Did >> I said yes. >> You got the vote. Okay. >> Why why make a friendly amendment if you're not going to vote for me? >> I just want to have that distinction on the record. That's all. >> Okay. >> Um, council comments and uh we have to go into close session. So, you might

680
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want to keep council comments long because we got another half hour to hour to go and we have four minutes left on >> extend. So, are there any council comments? Hearing none. Could I have a motion and second to move resolution 26-171

681
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resolution to go into close session exclude the public personnel NJSA10 col4-12D8 uh police department uh pro parole officer staffing. >> So move second. >> All in favor please say I. >> I.

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>> Could I have a motion and second to adjourn the meeting? We will not be returning to public. We will going to close. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor please say I. I. Meeting is adjourned. All right.