All right. I don't see the recording thing. Would you should move the mouse around? There it is. Okay. I can see it. Yes. All right. Great. Are we ready? >> Yes, sir. >> Call to order the meeting of the mayor council for River Edge, August 19th, 2025.
Uh regular meeting at the River Edge Library, 685 Elm Avenue, and via Zoom. I ask everyone to take a moment uh and uh of silent reflection for the people of Ukraine and Europe and um and then if uh
if Councilman Glas 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 liberty and justice for all.
>> Okay. a statement of compliance with the open public meeting act. This meeting complies with the open public meeting act um by notification on July 29th, 2025 of this location, date and time to the town news and the record and by posting of the same on the municipal
bulletin board in the burough website and filing notice of the same with the municipal clerk. Madame clerk, roll call, please. >> Sure. Council President Montano Cohen, >> here. Councilwoman Canella.
>> Councilwoman Malari is absent with prior notice. Councilman Benson >> here. >> Councilman Glass >> here. >> Councilwoman Dari Walls currently absent. Mayor Papileo >> here. Okay. Uh could I have a motion and second to approve the minutes of the
mayor and council regular and close session meeting July 24, 2025? >> So move second. >> Okay. Uh I'm going to ask first of all all in favor and if you need to recuse for either then you can do at that time. All in favor? >> I.
>> Any recusals? Okay. Any abstensions? Very good. Okay. Um without objection I'd like to move a U swearing in oath of office. I have nominated uh as a mayor's appointment Tracy Lavine of River Edge.
She will be joining LA's board for one-year term alternate 2 through 12312026. Um so uh if uh this does not require a council approval but uh all in favor anyway.
>> Excellent. Very good. Right over here if you could stand at the end of that table right there. Okay. so that you are visible, you'd raise your right hand and repeat after me. I say your name.
>> I was going to joke for your name. Do solemnly swear >> Do solemnly swear >> that I will support >> that I will support >> the Constitution of the United States >> the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I
>> and that I >> will bear true faith and allegiance >> will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the government >> to the government >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state
>> under Under the authority of the people, >> under the authority of the people, >> I state your name. >> I, Tracy Devine, >> 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 the land use board >> as a member of the land use board >> to the best of my ability. >> to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. Um
I'm gonna hold on to this because yes, this has to be filed. >> Okay, cool. Um wonderful. Um it's a big commitment. It's twice uh a month and it's a it's an important responsibility and so Tracy, thank you so very much for
stepping up and being a part of this. >> My pleasure. >> Okay, great. All right, so we have uh for discussion. First, we're going up. First up is KGB Field Improvement. Mr. Costa, Mr. Flores, >> Mr. Mayor, >> and if you just state your name and your
association for the record. >> Robert Costa, I am the Burough Engineer. Costa Engineering. Jason Flores to my right. Say hello. >> Good evening everybody. Jason Flores. Thank you. >> All right. Mr. Costa, if you could talk
to us about uh and uh this is in reference everyone to resolution uh 227 25-227. Mr. Costa, you have the floor. >> Just to bring everybody up to speed. So KDG Field was was actually bid not once
but twice. >> The the first bid uh had to be extended for two weeks. Just to remind you to count the mayor, yourself and the council and the public. >> Not because there was a detail missing on the sheet. There was actually we
removed the item, but we never took off the actual detail on the construction drawings. There were questions by some of the uh biders to earn the side of caution. We extended the bid for two weeks and took that bid in. That bid was over the budget amount.
I think it was 1.6 6 million on the first go around if I'm not mistaken. >> 6606. So the recommendation was to reject the bids obviously because you didn't have enough money to do the project. We bid it again. Those bids came in. There were
three biders in total. Excuse me. Those biders came in. I wasn't present at the bid. Uh Lette took the bids in. I believe Joe was also present. And I believe Jason, you were present also. Um, two of the biders or one of the
biders that were in the audience said that the bid did not come in on time from Gallon who happens to be the low bidder. He sent a letter from his attorney uh to I believe I don't know if he sent it to the mayor or to yourself, John. >> We got we got it. >> We got and again I got a copy of
>> responded to it as well. >> All right. Um based on my conversation with Mr. Rub Mr. Jordanian's office. Um, he feels that it's not an error. It's not a problem. It's not an issue. And I I certainly based on everything that was
said yesterday, I certainly concur with that that I don't think it didn't prejudice um gallon against any of the other biders. So, one second. >> So, what happened was the the the um objection was that the bid was received
by Gallon at 10:01. The bids were supposed to be received at 10 o'clock. Um the BA was not even present. The the individuals were were receiving the bids were not even present in the room until 10:05. So this is what we would call a dimminimous uh um uh violation, if you
want to call it, and it's one that can be waved. Um and there are probably at least five or six cases that say that. So I'm totally comfortable, as is Mr. Rup, that we received the bids properly and that the burrow properly is awarding this bid to Gall. >> Right. >> Okay. Okay. So based based on that um we
went over the bids with Lette yesterday. Base bid because I can't read without a telescope at this point is 1,428,694. The alternates if you look at if you have the copies A1
we would recommend to do A1, A2, A3 and four. you do not have to do unless you're going to get rid of the turf. So, if we get rid of the turf, then you have to plug in A3 and A4. My opinion is
do A1, A2, A5, and A9. And that will bring the total price to 1,493,773 under the 1.5 million. Uh we have a contingency in there for $50,000 in the event there's some unforeseen
going on and if you want I talked to Mr. interrupt yesterday about this that if we award the base and award uh these items if you do the arithmetic on the other biders gallon is still the low bid whether you take it in don't do it put
it in subtract it he still becomes the low bid >> okay um council president questions >> so because we're doing turf your advice is that we drop those two.
>> You don't need them. >> We don't need them. And they were left there by mistake and that caused some confusion. Am I getting that right? >> No. The original, this was the second bid. >> Okay. >> No confusion on this one. If you're going to stay with the the turf, if you're going to remove the turf, then
you have to add in A3 and A4 because you're going to put a grass grass infield in the uh the clay. And to add on if I if we may uh to add on top of it as part of the bid bid document there was a specific language that each item was going to be awarded separately
>> right >> and you know so that language is part of the bit item and on the bid summary that it was sent to uh the board administrator is copy the exact language which was also reviewed by board attorney >> right so you don't have in order to do the alternates you don't have to you
don't have to give do all of them you can you can handpick which ones you want to do and how Okay. >> And by doing the ones that we're recommending, um, getting the sidewalk along the the parking lot, the additional mulch, cleaning it up a little bit, that's part of the alternates.
>> So, does that impact the the design as it would presented on >> three pickable cores, everything everything. Okay. >> Get your As I walked in, I hear the sound of pickle ball going on. So, that sound will move down to the >> Thank you. to the field.
>> Okay. Thank you. You're welcome, >> Council M Canella. >> Um, yes. My question has to do with timings. So, now that if we go forward with this bid, when do they start? >> If you award tonight, we call them
tomorrow morning, we get contracts. Um, as soon as we can get a contract, get the insurance, get the performance bond, we're sign the contract, ready to go. >> So, this could start at the beginning of September >> as planned. as planned.
>> I would say yes. >> The only thing that could possibly and I'm gonna hand hand the pickle ball back over to uh the attorney because I don't want to play attorney tonight. If the lower if the second bidder files an action
um to reject >> proid protest I mean but I would think it'd be relatively fast. >> Yeah. I mean, normally what happens is if there's a protest uh filed, it's an order show cause that go and and those are decided, >> you basically want to lose them at the
initial hearing. So, if you know, I mean, it it could potentially get it could drag on potentially if the judge didn't deny it. But again, I'm comfortable with what happened that the reasons that they indicated that they would protest um are would not be successful.
>> Okay. >> Right. >> Just to help >> no. Sure. Um, Councilman Glass has some pertinent information he wants to add. >> I just want to check with um, Mr. Costa. Um, because I I don't want anyone to misunderstand when the start schedule
will be. There might be some submitts. There might be some leads. >> It could be. Yes. >> Okay. So, and and and also might depend on the contractor's availability. So, >> yeah. just not to mistly it might be October like when they >> if I if I may the part of the specs
originally when we came and presented a KBG field a project uh the tentative the start date was the middle of September so like around September 15 uh everything that we have done so far is falling within that schedule uh so you know um the submitt will fall for the
turf for the uh for the drainage but you know regarding the pickable core it's just you know they can't start the pickable core so there's a lot things that can be done while couples do we review it. So, thank you. >> But as you can see by some of the emails, most contractors hate me. It's almost to a point where I might need
protection. >> Good job. >> I mean >> I mean how much more can we fight about grass? >> How how much more? >> Well, let's let's bring that up in a minute. Yeah. Counciloman Canell, anything else on this item? >> Just to follow up. So if it starts let's
say midepptember what is the end date and will the fields be ready for let's say spring for all of the the the different various groups to start playing on the field >> that's the that is that is the plan >> that we have sing
>> we have soding on this we don't have >> correct >> we don't have seed in in hay again you should have give it some time for this obviously for the sod to take but that the goal is to get these things available and up and running in the spring >> in
early March. But I need I need some some time. >> Can we put a black post? >> Yeah. Like just >> the problem is is that you we we would have to hold him to it. So you're saying we're not holding him to it. But we're ballpark, right? >> Right. Right.
>> Estimate >> ballpark. Realistically, >> May >> May 1st. >> Let's go May. Let's go May 7th. My birthday. I mean, get a cake. We'll get a cupcake even. And I can't put candles because that
would probably burn the grass. So, >> and a turf. >> Yeah. >> For everything to be and ready to go. >> Ready to go. >> Okay. I'm gonna I'm we're on it. I mean, right now I have a
>> You can see me in the mornings up in Burough Hall just to get my daily dose of aggravation first thing. >> We're going to get to that too. Let's Let's stay on topic right there. Councilman Ben, anything about this topic? >> No, they question. >> Councilman Glass, >> I just Thank you, mayor. I just want to thank uh the borrow administrator for
answering a lot of my questions today. >> Both our questions. Um I would ask um the bar administrator if she could and I know we've been over this a million times and K has done a great job of explaining but if you could just briefly
for everyone's benefit just go over what the need is that we're meeting with this project what you know why we need to move forward >> and can I can I add another one >> and Lisad if you could also talk a little bit about the open space grant
the the open grants that are being used to uh reduce the cost uh for this project as a whole please. >> Okay. Um sure. The um the fields
this project involves three grants in 2019 and 2020. There was an application to um do drainage and um address uh a lot of the erosion issues that had happened with the fields down the
baseball and softball fields down at KBG since it abuts the river. We received about 131,000 for one year and 136,000 for um the following year. And that
project was delayed um a bit. We were looking, the burrow was looking into adding another field possibly for Regal, but because since it's by the river, it required a lot of um um investigation with the D, Department
of Environmental Protection, we needed a line of interpretation. Where are the wet line? Where are the wetlands? What's title? What's freshwater? and um based on the investigation an additional field could not be added. Um subsequently last
year we for the open space grant round we applied for um a grant to install pickle ball courts down at KBG and part of that also involved relocating the batting cage. So, and we received I don't remember off
the top of my head about 230,000 give or take um for for that grant. So, in total we have about $500,000 in county open space grants that will be reimbursed once this project is is
completed and all payments have been made and closed out. So, it's to rehabilitate the softball and baseball field that is heavily heavily heavily used um you know men's, women's as well
as soccer and um to give the pickle ball community uh a permanent place so they could play. And it's upgrading the batting cages. We're putting more safety netting. It is um a complete revamp of
KBG because it's one of our two uh active recreation facilities. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Excellent. Thanks, Lisette. >> Okay. Are we good? >> Are we good? >> Okay. So, uh if if this body chooses to
approve uh 25-227, that would be the go-ahhead, and I'm assuming we will. Uh Mr. Kasa, this is not on um for discussion, but uh could you please comment on Bogurt Road and Burough Hall?
>> So, Bogurt Road, as you're aware, we have two contractors. One is um Marini Brothers who had the second phase and Joe Matarazzo from DNL Paving who had the first phase. Obviously, there's been a lot of complaints as far as the restoration in
the grass area between the curb and the sidewalk. The office reached out to Joe. The office sent emails. I spoke to him numerous times. I told him it was serious. And to date, we've gotten pretty much nowhere. Um,
he sent me a text message last week basically saying, "I can't believe for the amount of years that I've done work for Riveridge and you know me that you would report this to the bonding company." I didn't even answer the text message back. Um I we we've given him
ample time, ample warning, ample I'm not going to fight about grass. So um the bonding company has copied on everything. Uh if your pleasure is to put in the formal claim, which I recommend, we do it tomorrow morning. I
want to talk to uh obviously the the burough attorney, but that would be my recommendation. take it out, remove the weeds, remove the top soil, rake it out, put back in proper top soil, hydro seed it, and move on in accordance with the NJ DOT specs
that the bid was was basically bid on and awarded. >> Lizette, do would you comment on this uh Mr. Costa's recommendation? >> I I totally concur with our professional
>> and Mr. Would you? Absolutely. I mean and and the manner Mr. C and I will discuss the manner in which we make the claim to the bonding company bonding company that's most expeditious or if we can hire someone
>> do it and don't pay them. >> Yeah. Reduce uh just take subtractive off that. That's what I at this point I'd rather just do that. Um >> so um Robert's rules requires us to uh move in and second the the engineers and
then we can open it to debate and then we can then uh vote on it. Could I have a motion in second to um to proceed with the advice given to us by our burough engineer with the concurrence of our business administrator and our burough attorney.
>> Is that the latter recommendation? >> I like the latter, >> but it's actually two. He would work on whatever. You have to put a formal >> I think we need to put a formal claim in no matter what and then based on if I can based on your recommendation judgement they needed to
to achieve the goal. >> So we would be basically authorizing them to achieve the goal. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> To to to first do the formal claim. Correct. >> And at the same time have to have it no matter what. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Anything after that we can
>> Okay. >> We'll figure out. >> Go ahead. Would it be more money to get someone new to do it? >> No, it has to be subtracted from their costs or the bonding agency needs to do it. Somebody needs to do it, but it's no additional cost to River. >> That's all I want to know. >> And it's it's been neglected to the
point where some residents have already started to take money out of their own pockets to repair it and that's just not acceptable. >> Right. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um so could I have a motion and second? >> Double second. >> Okay. It's been moved and second. It is open for discussion, debate. Are there
further questions? Hearing none. Um, can we do this uh by acclamation or do we got to do it by uh roll call? >> I will call the roll call. >> Roll call, please. >> Sure. Council President Monttoano Cohen. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Canella? >> Yes.
>> Councilman Benson? >> Yes. >> Councilman Glass? >> Yes. >> Okay. Borhal, where are we? Oral. Uh the uh radiant heat is going in as we speak. It'll be finished tomorrow. The concrete will be poured for the ramp, the stairs,
and the uh the actual sidewalk that runs adjacent to the building. Next week, I anticipate brick pavers, and that'll get you to the steps. At that point, Steve will issue, as he said that we had our meeting, issue a CO, and
then you'll be able to occupy the building. >> Excellent. So, I think by the end of next week, realistically, um I can't force his hand, but based on his on his uh verbal commitment, this should happen by the end of next week. So, we're
probably behind roughly 10 days. >> Okay. So, we're looking at uh pretty much hopefully getting a CO or a TCO by the 29th. >> Okay. Okay. >> Then explain to the public and the council what we would be doing next, which would be in front of the police
department. Right. >> Correct. >> And we do the same thing. Rip it out, bring it up to uh ADA and put it in. And how long is that projected to do? >> It should be much faster because the learning curve is over. >> Yeah. >> So two weeks not as much there isn't as
much to do on that side as there was on >> Yeah. >> on the right hand side as you're looking at the building. >> Okay. So two to four weeks additional >> I would say realistically eight four weeks from tops three weeks from next week I would say.
>> Okay. >> Where the whole front will be complete >> and then uh for the public's benefit and the council's benefit uh we would then move to the side and the back. >> Correct. >> And explain what we're doing there. >> Uh additional parking spaces for the police. as you look at the building to
the left and pick up two additional parking spaces. Uh fix the 88 parking spaces and get them up to code. Um adjacent to the building there. There's some water intrusion that's coming into the building on the westerly side. We're going to rip out the sidewalk and fix
that. Um what came to our attention recently was that there's some water intrusion into the basement area at the north end of the building. So, we're probably going to excavate down to the footing at that point and possibly see what's going on. If we have to pge the
walls, uh, pressure wash them, p them, waterproof them at that point, and see if that stops the water intrusion on that corner. And then obviously build three parking spaces in the front, three additional, and then mill and pave the
parking lot, stripe it, and get out of everybody's way, and we're gone. And that would uh so that that uh >> October >> October. Cool. Cool. >> I think I would say by midocctober plant should be planted and get the
ribbon. Mayor, if you want the uh flag poles, we're going to put in the sleeves or we're going to put in anchor bolts and uh ready to go. >> Excellent. Very good. >> Okay. >> Uh I open to council for questions or comments. Um
I may Yes, those uh flooding mitigation measures those are change orders to >> that could be a change order but that's to the landscapers country >> possibly depending on what what he certainly has an excavator that there's
an excavator on site we can find out what's going on there but then once >> we had that allowance though right we had >> we do >> okay >> yes >> so I might be able that might should >> I said I wasn't coming back. >> That's right. >> I did. >> Very honest.
>> I'm not coming back. I'm not coming back. >> Okay. Any member of council wish to ask a question? >> All right. Um Mr. Pastor, I believe that that completes it for you and Mr. Flores. Yeah, I think I mean other than
that uh the paving we're gonna have a you could say I guess August the end of 25th of August we're going to have a construction meeting with JL Xander. So the paving will start. >> Is that the paving of Manning? >> No, the paving of Manning is part of the
uh river of the Riverside co-op. >> The gonna wait until fire company number two concrete is done because that's part also Acuran is part of the riverside co-op. So the other paying that Robert mentioned is the actual municipal uh paving that is just coming out of
municipal the capital budget. So that's something we're going to discuss in order to go ahead because there is no >> what streets are we doing with that paving? >> I don't remember exactly the we're doing I apologize for that. I can >> that you know what streets we're we're doing with that?
[Music] >> Off hand. >> All right. Um maybe later on the meeting you if you can look it up. Oh, wait. Jason seems >> No, I lost Rick Rick.
>> See, when I was this young, I could remember this stuff. But anyway, >> you are not Rick Van Winkle. >> I should have put a list of this. >> Once all of this is done, all I could say is the B has accomplished quite a bit. I think people in the town
>> could probably see it. >> I hope to the other thing I hope people take notice of is the new curb along Kinder Kamak because I think if the county would open up their checkbook and do that the town would look >> a whole lot better >> tremendously better on Kindamak road
>> well maybe we you and I in Buffalo County >> so so so it's Magnolia Avenue from Midland to uh the border uh we have stomit avenue from Lincoln oh it's actually going to be from continental
all the to Midland Avenue. We have Demar's Place between Bogar Road and Summit Avenue. We have uh Oak Avenue between Web and Wells is um let's see, let me see. Uh Center Avenue
from Riverage Road to Tenny Avenue. >> Excellent. >> And let's see, that's the last one. Milbrook will be from Continental Avenue to Wealth Avenue. That's the musical uh local >> I just want to put on the record that I had nothing to do with that list on Sonic or that list. I just want to put
that on the record. I had nothing to do with >> All right. Um great. Um we thank you for >> Sorry. Um can I ask one of the resolut so on resolution 2533 it's for additional um uh professional
engineering services for B road section 9 project. Can you just I'm not sure what that is. >> That makes two. >> Since you're here, so >> yeah, that's the that's the next set of
DOT roads. Um the designs have been sent to the Department of Transportation and we're waiting for them to give approval so we could go out to to bid and do our next our next set of streets in Poget Road. the next um grouping of of
intersections as far as the grant will take us. >> Okay. >> And just to emphasize to the public, uh most of this is uh most of what we're doing in town is uh grants and um and so it's not costing the taxpayers to refurbish and refresh the town and
rebuild. So, and that's crucial. We've worked very hard to be fiscally responsible with all of these very necessary um repairs and updates um because our infrastructure is old. >> It is. >> Yeah.
>> Um and just on this topic, years ago with the state with the municipal grants from the state, usually it was a $150,000 award, but the state would allow you to combine them. So if you got a an award in year one, you combine it
with year two, so now you have 300,000. Sometimes with year three, now you have 450,000. They for whatever reason, they don't allow that to happen. And now you have you're doing a project for 150,000. So you have to do all the paperwork, all
the design, send it out to bid, and now you have phase two. The next year, same thing. Now it's not the same contract. similar on on Board Road you had DNL for the for one phase you had Marini on the other and now you have people why didn't
they do my sidewalk why didn't they do my curve why do we have two different that's the reason so when you become the governor mayor anybody in you need to change that back to where it was many years ago and I don't know what the thinking was possibly that maybe
monies were sitting out there too long and they wanted to get rid of the money and have it being used but In retrospect, it it's costing you more money to do the same job. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> All right. >> But
>> anything else? >> Anything else, gentlemen? Thank you for being here. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thank you for giving us the opportunity. >> If there's any issues, call Jason. Thank you. Season call. Obviously, everybody has my cell phone. Call me. I'll meet with anybody and eat public whoever.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Good night. >> So, short-term rentals, that's our next topic. Um, we're going to have a conversation uh about this in close session, but uh is that correct?
>> I thought close session short-term. >> No, no, no. We're talking about Yeah, garbage. >> We're talking about garbage and we're going to be talking about um >> the buster. >> The buster. That's right. So, uh, if you could just, uh, so there was an incident in River Edge where there was a
short-term rental and I believe the police responded to it, uh, with, um, several very large groups of people on Valley and, um, so uh, and also uh, FIFA is coming and so we had thought that we
could uh, that this was something that we could handle under um, ex uh, acceptable usage, but that is not true. We have to actually write an ordinance. And if you could speak to that, Mr. Shadenian, and also the court cases and
the fact that we will be mimicking a Jersey City or ordinance because that's the only one that uh has passed um judicial review. >> Well said, Mayor. I don't think I need to say much more. So, >> well, if you could give the details behind it. So, um, the the concept of
short-term rentals, um, is very often misunderstood because, and I've had this in multiple towns that we and and Bill Rubas as well that we've represented and we've worked on be because what happens is everyone says, "Well, it's a boarding house or it's a rooming house or it's rental." And I said, "And what the
answer is is it's not because when you use as an short-term rental, it's like an Airbnb." So, when someone does an Airbnb, they're not renting a room. They're not rent. They're renting the entire property. So, it's no different than anybody else who rents a property and uses the entire property. And when
you and you're allowed to do that, you're allowed to rent out your entire premise because it's not uh like an apartment. And so, all of our ordinances that are in on the books that govern that, they don't they're for the control of like a boarding house, which has multiple units or an apartment building.
And that's different than a short-term rental of a of a single family home. Uh and the case law on that is is now legion. It it started with uh towns down the shore. As you can imagine, people own their homes down the shore. They want to uh rent them out. They put
people buy them all the time to rent them out. And they were using uh Airbnb and and similar services to rent them out. Uh that was challenged by the towns who then would pass ordinances saying it's illegal to do that. The homeowners then went to court and the court said
it's legal for them to utilize uh the premises in that way. What Jersey City did was a little different. They passed an ordinance um limiting the Airbnb and and and putting sort of brackets around it. So, um there are specific things that we can do and write into an
ordinance for River Edge that would as the mayor said would be similar to Jersey City terms of the number um of individuals that can be physically in the premise. Um there is there are concerns with occupancy obviously etc. Uh at the end of the day that Jersey
City ordinance was challenged in the federal courts on a constitutional basis and survived that challenge. So that's why it has not been challenged in the state courts yet. Uh but we believe that because it passed a federal court challenge that's the safest route for the bureau to go. I'm not telling you you're not going to have a legal
challenge if if we enact an ordinance and and we choose to enforce it. Um, my guess is that, you know, that there that could happen by someone that that owns a unit that they want to rent out. But I'm comfortable enough with what Jersey City has done and the way the court wrote the
opinion in that case that that we would be in good footing. >> But so to be clear, um, if someone is renting out their basement, just their basements, we already have jurisdiction over that. >> Correct. But if someone's renting out the house, this is where the the courts
have not uh found in favor of the towns. >> Correct. It's it's the individual room, if you would, versus the entire premise. >> Okay. >> So, um so >> that's the distinction, >> Lzette. If I'm not mistaken, what we what what we're bringing to the council tonight is we're asking the council to
make a motion and second to approve uh the preparation of such an ordinance. Correct. >> Correct. because otherwise the code enforcement officer has um no mechanism to issue any violations
>> for a whole residence but he does still have mechanism if it's a single room like a basement room >> correct >> okay so um so I open it to the council for discussion or if the council is is already of the idea that we should move
and second it and then enter a debate we can either way um how does the council feel a question Sure. >> The Jersey City ordinance is the only restriction the number of individuals. Is that the only rest? >> No, there are other there are other things. >> Can you high real high level briefly?
Are there any other major restrictions? >> Um it you know it's it's it's length length of time um how long you can you know how long you can you know you have to rent it out for there's a minimum length of time that you have to rent it out for. So it can't be like a one night two night okay >> kind of thing. So, so all those apartments in Jersey
City, they're not Airbnb is not renting any of those. Nobody. >> Well, they are within the parameters of their parameters, right? >> Number of individuals and length of time. We just started. >> Okay. >> So, I mean there are a few more, but those are the those are sort of the main
things that keep it um to to a uh adult roar. >> What would we like what intentively what we then what would be the number of individuals and length of time? Well, that would be what we're authorizing him to explore. Okay. That would fit us, but right now we have no protection, right,
>> at all. Um, so what happened on uh I believe it was on Valley could happen again tomorrow and it can happen until we have an ordinance. So if we are going to um be pro take some action, we we
need to authorize uh our burough attorney to begin to uh and he meet with the chief of police and you know and um and uh >> Lieutenant without saying >> to be able to expand what I don't I'm not familiar what happened in the valley like what what
>> I don't want to go in too much uh of it because it was a police action uh but there was There was a large crowd. It was noisy and um the plea police responded and so >> was it through an Airbnb?
>> Yeah, I think it was a Verbbo. >> Okay. And I was just going to s say that in addition to having this ordinance, you still have your traditional ordinances that you can use that the police can use such as the noise, >> you know, or ordinances and the decibel levels, you know, and or if they find
that there are people that are, you know, uh, drinking out in public or what, you know, or underage or you know, those are the typical things that you, you know, when you have a large party like that that they would be looking for. There's other things, too, but that's certainly some of them. >> Okay. Thank you. And also just for for
context, I think it's pertinent to understand that I think if you survey Airbnbs in River Edge, I think four come up and we don't have any control over that. >> So this this will allow us to start um
taking control over it and responding to residents concerns. >> Makes sense. >> So this is just specifically for Verbo and Airbnb. >> No, this is those are two companies that do it. This is or the action that these companies are taking. Okay. The renting of your homes. >> We don't want to show any bias towards
any specific company. All right. >> No, we're not. >> Those are the only two I know. >> We're only using them as examples. >> Like the main company. >> Yes. Right. Right. Right. >> Yeah. But we by no means are trying to uh single them out. >> Okay. >> Which is good for us to say on the record.
>> We're not the only burrow who's thinking of these kinds of >> No, no. This is there. We I believe when we in Tene they passed one. Right. >> Um there there are a couple other there are a few other towns in Bern County that have similar have adopted similar ordinances. >> Yeah. And with uh with the world uh uh
football championship coming >> Oh, right. Okay. >> You know, this is this is this is this is this is a very timely thing for us to get ahead of. So, could I have a motion second uh if the council is so inclined to uh
authorize uh the burough attorney to work the police department to draft such an ordinance? >> Second. >> Uh roll call, please. >> Council President Mont. >> Sorry, wait. Is there debate?
>> Hearing none. Roll call, please. >> Council President Monttoano Cohen. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Canella. Yes. >> Councilman Benson. >> Yes. >> Councilman Glass. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh Burton County Historic Society
requests banner and reduced outdoor duty rate for a baron October Fest. Is there someone here to speak to that? Lizette, what uh can you speak to it? Um this is just their annual request for their
October Fest event to um have a banner put on um Main Street in Kinderac as well as um the reduced outside duty rate instead of whatever our ordinance says to be the assigned officer's overtime
rate. >> And just for the public's benefit and for the councils, this is something we have uh done year after year. Correct. And that is correct. >> Okay. So, uh I open it to the council. What are your thoughts? >> No, I'm just
>> makes sense. There is, you know, an important part of our community. So, >> okay. Could I have a motion in a second? >> So, move. >> Second. >> All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All right. Are we good with acclamation for that one? Yes. Very good. Okay. Uh bust your stock banner and flyer
request. Bust your boxes. Come on up. I brought uh you know my second with me. I just want to give you guys this invitation to the show. >> Oh, great. >> Thank you. Thanks for having us. >> So, um we need to uh state your full
name and address for the record and then you have the floor. >> I'm going to speak if that's >> No, you both have to. >> Oh, we both have to. Okay. Go ahead. >> Mike Mari, 174 Wales Avenue, Riveridge. >> Good. Samantha Mari uh 310 Spring
Avenue, Rididgewood, New Jersey. Okay. >> 07450. >> Um so thank you for having us today. We would like to have So for those of you who don't know, Buster Stock is our annual concertf fundraiser. This is our third year doing it. We have moved it to
Pamis because we've been partnered with the Pamis Public Library and the Paramis Police Department that helps us fund some of the um things that we do for the show. And it's a concert where we raise drug and alcohol awareness partnered with the Bergen County Recovery Support
Services. Um, and we like because we're from River Edge and we did it here in River Edge for the first year and Buster was from River Edge. Buster was my brother, his son, um, overdosed on fentanyl, 24 years old, um, in 2021. So, we just try to bring people together. We
bring a bunch of really amazing organizations together to give out information to our community because as we know this is an epidemic in our area. So we'd love to have a banner put on the street of Continental right next to um
you know kind of by where the farmers market sign is which is where we did it last year was just really great. It got us a lot of viewers and people who know about it. So I was hoping we could do that again. Okay, this we're going to break this into two topics. The buster boxes we're
going to uh leave to close session though we want your presentation. Yes. >> But the first part uh the banner and the flyer request uh if the council is interested in approving that or asking questions uh now would be the time to um to raise them.
>> I vote to approve. Yeah, I don't have a problem as long as we can find a placement that doesn't, you know, that is I I think Jason can work with you that I think he did last year, right? >> We put it next to the um market. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That that shouldn't be a problem.
>> Okay. So, I'm going to say that's a motion in a second. >> Oh, yes. Okay. So, so moved. >> Second. >> Any other discussion? >> I went to it the first year here at Riveridge and it was fantastic. So, >> totally support it. And you're musicians. Yeah, we perform the whole night.
>> Oh, wow. >> Yeah, it's really cool. >> We had 700 people and raised $20,000. >> It's amazing. >> All right, but >> uh we have a motion in a second. Is there debate? >> All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I.
>> You guys, this is this is a this is a wonderful thing you do. We appreciate it. >> Yeah. >> So, I want to thank you on behalf of the community for you guys putting the tremendous amount of time and energy you do and making this possible. >> Yeah. Thank you so much. >> Welcome. >> Uh let's talk about the uh Buster Box.
>> So, this is a new addition that we've actually been working on since we started, but we finally got some movement from a bunch of towns in Burn County. We weren't going to call it Buster Box, but it kind of came to us through, you know, one thing we said when Buster passed was we we have to
keep saying his name because it's such an unusual name. You don't hear it often. And now it's like the only thing that comes out of my mouth. So, it it worked to our advantage. And um so Buster Box is essentially a newspaper box that will be filled with free boxes
of Narcan >> public benefit. This is Lieutenant Joseph Semin alliance chair a surprise to me. >> I was gonna thunder, but you got better working knowledge of it than I
>> so awesome. Pull the chair up and join us. >> Yes, please. You sure? Yeah. Come on over. Um so essentially >> our goal um with all the money that we raised which is about up to $45,000 thus far all through just donations and you
know we make merchandise so people you know buy that and that's where the money goes. Um our goal was to get a box that we're going to call a buster box which will hold hold our house about 50 boxes of Narcan that is free to the public.
Um, we want to put it in a hightraic area, um, so that people can go and grab one and have it for themselves and for anybody that is in danger of overdosing. Um, obviously I've had a lot of questions regarding this, like, you know, what stops somebody from going in
and taking them or does this promote drug use? Um, in my opinion to those two questions, I would rather have it there because what I've learned in my experience in this scenario, more people are good than bad. And um, if it's going
to promote someone to use, we want to save their life rather than have them overdose. And that's exactly what this does. Um we've been approved in nine towns thus far. That being T-neck, Anglewood, um Pamis, Loi, Hackinack,
Monteale, Franklin Lakes, and Holy Name also wants to put one there. And Riveridge of course we're hoping to get one here. Um, and essentially this is this is our been our goal from the start to have a free um use to this medicine
that can save somebody's life hopefully in the event that they're overdosing. So we I believe River Edge has approved of the idea, but they don't know where to put it yet. >> Not yet. Just been discussion.
>> Yeah. Elsie, would you uh >> I would just say that uh representing the alliance as the alliance chair, we passed it around the alliance and the alliance municipal alliance was all on board with it and then the purpose tonight was to come presented to the mayor and council to see if the mayor and council could get behind the idea in
the interim. I've also talked to Daryl Connor, the library director, who is supportive of the idea, but he has to obviously pass it by his board of trustees. Um but he, you know, he's supported the idea. We had conversations about where exactly it would end up going. Um, one of the things with the
medication is that ideally it needs to be climate controlled, right? Extreme heat, extreme cold is going to make it ineffective. Um, so what we were looking to do is I know Darrett does a lot with various organizations in the lobby of the library. The lobby can get a little
busy. Um, I also don't know, again, if we're looking to promote um, people being able to access it without any stigma attached to them, something a little more discreet might be better. So, me and Daryl walked around and was thinking back by the other meeting room
across from the bathrooms. Somebody's going to the bathroom and they just so happened that they grab a box and they go about their business. Um, you know, this way they are prepared in case they do decide to use. Um, and if somebody else is over there, they don't necessarily have to grab a box at that
time. So, um, again, Dar is, you know, on, um, in theory, or not in theory, but on premise is on board with it, but has to present it to his board. This was our opportunity to then come to the mayor and council, get support, you know, to um, move forward with the idea.
>> Okay. Yeah. And like Sam said, just echo what Sam said, is just the other towns that have already um jumped on and I know Premise and Franklin Lakes are specifically put it in their library. A lot of the other towns might still be looking for a location or haven't gotten necessarily. >> I know Tina is stop and shop. They're putting it in their stop and shop.
>> Okay. >> So, how many um this was the thing I was unsure of from our meeting and it was a question I wanted to ask and I didn't. Uh are we are we looking to do one buster box, two buster boxes? >> So, we had talked about that too. Um I
think definitely the one we were looking at was for here they you know in talking to Ellen Ellias from uh children and family services. She had you know we thrown out potentially a second and maybe uh visiting an idea at the train station the reverro train station but it would just be a jurisdictional issue on
you know who I'm not 100% sure who owns the building if it's transit or if it's the burrow. Um >> not us. >> It's not us. Okay. >> To the best of my knowledge it is not us. >> Okay. So again, at this point, we're just looking for the council's idea. I'll say not to limit us, but just to be
on I on premise with the idea of um we're good with moving forward with this idea for the borrow. >> Okay, we're going to talk about that in close session. Uh I was about to say Joe, I'll take um Lieutenant Se. >> Yeah, I'll just follow up. So like Sam
said, there's 50 boxes initially. Um, uh, Ellen from Children and Family Services said she's going to need a little help with just monitoring use. Um, so that's easy enough between Darra and myself. Um, we'll kind of see how much is there and when it needs to be replenished. Um, and Deari Foundation,
the Buster >> Spike Lucken Mari Love and Luck Fund. I'm going to shorten it. It's a little bit crazy, but you know, >> they should be funding uh, the boxes as well as the Northern issue, so there's no cost. LT, is there a is there a time
constraint that we're concerned about? >> Yeah, there is. Um, so we're looking to get this rolled out for uh September. Darra has his meeting on September 2nd. We were looking for um >> September 18th to do an official >> the green light tonight. The 18th was going to be the official unveil here in
River Edge as the um I'll say the center of it all again with what the Mari family has been through. Uh and then the other sites I believe are maybe going the following week. Yeah. >> So, the council's going to talk about this in close session, but we have a council meeting now scheduled for September 4th.
>> Okay. >> Would that be too late if the council waited till then to to um take a vote, or do you need for us to take vote tonight in tonight? In which case, we'd have to go into close session and come back into public session. It'd be e it would be better for us to do it on the
fourth um to make a decision >> to pressure you. But if if you could uh um get it tonight, I think that would be preferred. >> Uh so if if the council is so inclined, that's what we'll do. If not, we'll leave it to the fourth. Okay. >> Perfect. >> All right. Um anything else that you
want to present to the council because council is not going to debate or discuss this because we're going to close session about it. But uh >> what does that mean exactly? Uh it means we're we're going to get legal advice and we're going to we're we're concerned about liability and and and everything else and so um and that is that is
privileged and confidential. >> Got it. That's what I >> I have two questions. I think only these folks are going to be >> Yes, you can. Absolutely. >> Yeah. I thank Thank you. I just want How much how much is a one of these doses? >> So I believe it's around $300 to get
from a pharmacy or someone that's supplying it. It is expensive. They do give them out at a lot of events for um drug awareness, but as far as going to get one yourself, yeah, it's it's not easy. And um only certain places have
them in stock. It's just one of those things that is not, you know, I think as you mentioned, the stigma behind it is so heavy in our area just as far as addiction goes. Um, but we want it to be something that is not so uncomfortable
to say, you know what, I have one in my bag. God forbid something happens and it doesn't make make you have this bubble around you that's like, oh, you're, you know, you're an addict or you're for for drug use or anything like that. I mean, in truth, if if we had had it and we
knew what was going on, Buster would be here right now. And that's the reality of it. So, and for a lot of people, and for a lot of people, they are here because of it. So, yeah. >> So, okay. >> Yeah. >> It's going to be $50, $300
items for free that anybody can pay. >> So, we are funding it. Yeah. >> I I get that you're funding it. >> Okay. All right. I mean, I I support it by Yeah. >> You're going to close. Yeah. I have to confirm the exact price. I'm not a
thousand% on the record sure of the exact price. Okay. Yeah. And just one question. Each box has is when you mean box is one spray in each box. >> It's a injection. >> Yeah. One per box. Yes. >> So if I understand this is to mitigate
an emergency, >> correct? >> Right. >> So one I have two questions for you guys. one is um if I could just if you could help me understand better why we wouldn't want to put this in a location where there's 24hour access that's one
question and my second question is are we seeing a lot of overdoses in Riveridge >> absolutely >> so we had a conversation too this there was kind of a there was a conversation on the alliance front um as far as
putting Narcan throughout the town right and not using this box but having essentially, you know, maybe a few doses in some type of container around town, still exploring that. Then this idea came to fruition and it was full steam ahead and again we kind of rallied
around it and we said this is I think this is the way to go at least to start. >> I'm just thinking I'm sorry for interrupting a lot of kids come into the library and we have a life safety building that's open 24 hours. So I'm just trying to understand. So making that
>> to that point is that why you wouldn't put it in the public safety building is because we're the police >> and if we know you have drugs on you, it kind of would deter people to come in there and want to go and get a bach because now you're kind of on the radar
that you're using an illegal substance. So having it in the police department is not necessarily a >> where you're going to get most criminals. >> Yeah. where you would get most uh most use out of it. It it's again I feel like
the library is the community center of this town. Um, and it it's where there's a lot of different programming for a lot of different age generations. And I think what we've seen um I think it would I think it would be Councilman Glass I know Councilman Benson had
previously asked too. Are we seeing a lot of ODS? Listen, we see it was you I know another conversation Yeah. another conversation with the Councilman Benson about it. Listen, >> I don't I don't know that there's a number to say that there's that it's a
lot, right? It it's um I'm just thinking to >> you have the demand or people are going to be coming in from all over the place now to River Edge to get >> if you have nine other towns. I wouldn't be concerned about people coming from all over the place. And again, if somebody needed it, listen, maybe it gives Daryl a little more foot traffic
in his library that somebody decides to take out a book or something while they're here. Um, I would I would also um just say as far as the use, right, I've had several um classmates from my Riverdale class who have uh since overdosed. Um, I know there's other
other children in town that have overdosed. I know that we have responded as a police department to have pe to people parents who have overdosed. Um, some have been successful, some have not been successful. So, I think affording
people um this medication for a potential reversal if they're with somebody that could administer to it or or they themselves be able to administer it uh to to themselves if they see that things are starting to to go downhill. I I think would be a benefit to anyone.
>> And I guess maybe this is a close session thing, but does this create any liability? >> Well, that's why that's important if if I may. It's not just for the folks that are using. >> It could be for a family member that has a family member using.
>> Yeah. >> And they would want to have that with them. >> Yeah. >> And I know folks that carry Narcan >> just in case. It's not just, you know, I'm hanging out with a buddy and I'm going to use and maybe I go get a Narcan
for the hell of it. Who knows? But it's, you know, I think the the bigger challenge is parental awareness and not my kid. And I think every household should really have this and not just for their
children, but their children's friends or another family member. So I think it has multiple reasons why it's would be the >> youth >> and the so the strategy is um
is kind of twofold which is people will have it just in case but then it'll be there in case there's an emergency. So I'm just curious so some somebody was oding in a house there's enough time to come into the library and get it >> no
>> you're calling 911 if somebody's oding in a house. I think what Mike's point is is that if >> he knows a family member is using, >> he's going to keep Nor can available that he has in case that family member ever needed it that then he could
administer. >> So it's not right. It's not for immediate emergency. >> Well, no. If there's an emergency, you're calling 911. >> Yeah. >> It's in preparation for a potential emergency. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Just one last question. Does because
there's a lot of young kids that come to the library. Does that give you any pause of where where I mean I know Joe >> um >> location wise? >> Yes. Yes. >> To be completely honest, I'm happy to have it anywhere. Um to me knowing that
it's here even if it saves one person's life. Um, and just to to add on one more thing, there's so much secretism that comes behind drug addiction and you know, from our personal experience, although we were very open in our home
about it, you know, buying Narcan outright wasn't something that we had the opportunity to do because, you know, it in particular made Buster question what our intentions were, what we knew, what was going on. So knowing that you can in a way just go somewhere to have
it in your pocket without nobody knowing you have it um is a benefit to a lot of families and a lot of people because it when a user knows that it's there in a way sometimes it it's they don't want to know. They don't want to know that it's
in the house. They don't want to know that you have it. It's not the point of why they're using those drugs to you know and it's it's not always to overdose. they usually don't mean to overdose. So yeah, >> it's also drug awareness. If a young teenager is with their
parents and they see this, well, mom, dad, what's what is this? Okay, now it's well, you know what? Son, daughter, this is Naram folks that that use and it becomes it becomes a conversation in the
family which I don't think happens enough. Mhm. >> And when we talked at River Edge at the high school and or when it was my turn to speak to the kids coming from a guy
who looks and who I am, um I I think it was very real. Wasn't coming, let's say, from a police officer or someone different. You know, I'm a I'm a street guy. I'm a, you know, bluecollar
guy. And uh when I asked if who knew about it or knew nobody really said anything and I said come on don't you don't have to be ask me it's okay let's talk about it and then people started the kids started to open up they felt
yeah we do know about it and and so on and I think just the drug awareness is so important it this being in in sight is incredible uh and for parents parents to understand
and see it. And I can't tell you how many parents talk to me about my my daughter or son's going into the middle school. Would you talk to them? Of course. In the high school, would you talk? Of course. Drug awareness
to me in any way, shape, or form. You saved one life. We if we've saved one life, then we did a good job. >> Thank you. Any other questions? >> We really appreciate you coming to us for listening.
>> I just want to close just as far as where your concerns are in closed session and whatnot. It's not like we're the poster child for this >> um project. There's eight other towns, nine other towns that are on board that have given it the green light already.
So, I would just hope that that guides your decision. >> When you say green light, they actually have a they haven't >> they've been ordered. The box the box is out and ordered. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you all three of you.
Appreciate it. >> So much. >> Thank you guys. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Could I have a motion and second to open the public on any item on the agenda? >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor, please say I. >> Is there any member of the public who'd like to speak to us about an item on the
agenda? >> Anything we have talked about or will talk about? come on up. And uh would you check who our attendees are? >> I said two. >> Those are the attendees. Yes. Okay, great.
>> Good. Good evening. My name is Marge Burns. I live at 236 Wales Avenue. I'm a resident of Riveridge for 48 years. >> Hey, Marge. I am uh referring to the update on the Burough Hall repair and renovation project which was submitted
on your website on July the 7th. This was insufficient. There was no spreadsheet. There was no indication if there was a cost over on. It did not indicate what the project was going to total. It did not indicate whether there
was a clause in the contract to give an incentive to the contractor to finish earlier. And I am deeply concerned about all of this happening when we got a
tremendous tax increase in our with our assessments. This is not going over well with with the town the town people. It's not going over well. And what I see at the burough
hall and it's sad. I hope that you kept their brick pavers. They're very expensive. All of that landscaping that was done. I believe it may have been done by the beautifification people in town. How do you answer to that? One day
everything was there and the next day everything was taken out. And if I'm not mistaken, I believe Mr. Costa stated something about um heat. Is there a heat element that's going to be going in under the surface of
wherever? >> So, you get your two minutes and then we'll see if there's anybody else and then we'll close and then I'll answer and comment on whatever to say. That's how the process works. >> Okay. You can't tell me if there's a heat element. we don't enter into a debate with this because it's this is
the way it's process works. >> All right. And I think that's the only thing that I have that I can actually speak to you about that was on the agenda. But this is this is crucial because this here said nothing. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Thank you for coming. Is
there anybody else? >> Two minutes. Yeah, I know. >> Uh what >> Yeah. >> Ken Schffenhower, 780 Milbrook Road just uh tied into the KBG discussion. Uh Mr. Costa answered a bunch of stuff and I
was supposedly surprised this morning. Um and it was a great job. I put a request out last night for information. Her day started earlier than mine. So there was an email waiting for me. So, just uh two more question, a comment as far as with the bid process. Does the
base bid trump the other the grand total? Because I know looking at the second bidder, uh it was around a $20,000 difference. Uh but either way, both bids were going to be over that $1.5 million. you locked off whatever
A1, A2, and whatever A's came off of the uh additional bid. So, do you only look at the one bid or was the second bid looked at to see if that would also come in at a lower point? So, that would be the question on that. And just the
comments on I believe uh part of the question was answered. So I think it was 120 days from start to finish of the project. But I guess at a certain point when the question was when will the field be accessible? I guess that's where kind of mother nature takes over
because the sad and everything. But May 7th will for the most part eat into a month of the sports season down at KBG. In the case of the kids sports they can look elsewhere because of daylight other
fields. Um, in the case of men's softball, which I'm also involved in, we only have the one field in town with lights. So, that's just just anything good word you can put in with mother nature for the getting the grass to grow and take and everything, but that would
be just a concern leading into the season where there is no real alternative. during the fall season. Um they'll be playing in Pamis, but there's less competition for field time than uh Jim Kian Pam police officers.
>> Ben, that's your two minutes, but uh I just need clarification. What specifically do you want us to answer? >> Uh just as far as the bid process, whether both bids were get re-reed when you take out the other portion. So, Lette will explain that once we once we
uh go um close to the public. Is there anything else? >> Nope. >> Okay. Because I want to make sure >> Last time you didn't answer my question. >> Yeah, I didn't. That's why I'm checking this time. >> Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. Okay. Uh is there anybody else who would like two minutes?
>> Raise your hand if you have questions. >> Okay. Could I have a motion second to close to the public? >> Second. All right. Uh, all in favor, please say I. >> Okay. I would just say there might have been two other members in the alliance that were >> Okay.
>> Um, I I don't see that there was this iPhone and she >> they were there from the beginning. >> Yeah. >> So, she just came in. Um, it was Jason Leo that was there. >> Oh, okay. Uh, I don't think she wants to talk. Joe,
are you saying she does? >> Does she want to ask a question? >> Claudia, uh, can you raise your hand? If you do, I'll reopen to the public for two minutes. Yes. Okay. Could I have a motion second to reopen to the public on any on the agenda?
>> So, move. >> Second. >> All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Okay. Uh Claudia, you need to state your full name and address and then you have two minutes. >> Sure. Claudia O'Neal, 911 Bogurt Road in River Edge, New Jersey. Um Joe asked me
to come on just to talk a little bit about Buster Stock and the support the alliance puts behind it. Am I right about this, Joe? This is what I'm talking about. >> It was just the boxes that the emails were going back and forth about. >> Oh, the boxes. My apologies. Sorry. The
boxes. Okay. So, there are boxes that, forgive me, I apologize. I believe they're coming from um the alliance is receiving >> a supported grant basically we'll call
it um to put Narcan boxes in the town and it would be connected to the Buster Foundation. So, I just wanted I'm sure Joe spoke about it, so I I apologize. I'm just
coming into this last minute and Joe's texting me stuff. Um, but so I just wanted to put our support as a alliance committee member that this is important for the town. This will have NAN that will be available for people
who feel they need to either bring the boxes into their house or if they see something on the street or bring it to a party, whatever whatever it is that they feel they need to use the Narcan for, it will be available to them. So, I just
wanted to make that point to you guys. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Sure. Uh Stephanie, would you please state your name and your address? And you have two minutes. >> Hi. Um can you hear me? >> Yes.
>> Okay. So, um Stephanie Hartman, uh 144 Monroe Avenue. And I too am coming in a little bit late, but um continuing the conversation just to expand a little bit um what Claudia was referencing. Um the
funds that are um making the um nlloxxone available come from opioid settlement dollars that came into the county and are being managed by um the center for alcohol and drug recovery. In
addition, they have been um partnering with the Mari family in their um efforts with Bustertock and to advance prevention and messaging throughout the county. And so um Bustertock has been
enormously successful um as a wonderful tribute to Buster Murray and um and his family and our community and the surrounding communities. But um they have it has also been wonderfully um successful in the dollars that is raised
and so that is what's making available the opportunity to not only receive the nlloxxone at no cost but the hardware um the opioid settlement dollars um make the nlloxxone available but they don't
make any um sort of uh structure to hold it in available. Um I apologize for not hearing what um uh officers amenities shared but um the committee has um spoken at length not uh of course about
the concept but also about uh where we might put this and in what kind of fashion and everyone was uh supportive of the idea of making it available um more concerned about um we didn't want to put them in our AEDs um and make and
compromise um the availability and everything that is in there um by having people go in them. Um we also >> seconds >> uh about singular boxes. So this would be a great compromise and I really hope that everyone supports this being in our
community. >> Okay. Thank you, Stephanie. Is there anyone else who would like two minutes? Okay. Could I have a motion second to close to the public? >> Absolutely. Second. >> All in favor, please say I. I. >> Okay. Uh Lette, I'm going to need your
help with the first one. Um uh so um the Burough Hall the reason for the revamping of Burough Hall was the building was collapsing. Um it was uh we brought in a structural engineer when we started noticing the floors warping and
though and this was at a public meeting though the structural engineer said we did not need to evacuate the building immediately. He said we had to evacuate it within two to three months uh and or it would have to be condemned. And then uh this and the reason why it was
originally a hundred-y old building or thereabouts, it was a private home is not built to carry the weight of filing cabinets. A filing cabinet fully loaded can be several hundred pounds um going all the way up to I don't want to give
an exact amount. And um and then uh we have a lot of files we have to keep on uh for the building department, for the land use department, some files uh by a previous business administrator uh to save space, put them into the attic, and the building was failing. So the
building had to be gutted. There were two options that was brought before us with the architect. Um and one was option was to tear down the building and just re build again. and that was estimated eight to10 million dollars.
Another was to gut the building and to um to rebuild within and that's the option we chose and that was uh was that I think that was uh estimated at 3 to four million >> correct and allin with the last change
order um is 3.2 2 million >> and that includes inside and outside. Right. >> That includes inside of the municipal building, council chambers, finance department. The exterior project that is
currently being worked on um is 815,000. So all in all, the price tag is about 4 million. >> Okay. Um now with the outside, um we can't occupy the building. The building's done, but we can't occupy it uh by federal and state law until it's
ADA compliant. That's Americans with Disabilities Acts. So, the work that's being done outside is required. And to get the grading grading uh clear and to uh have the slope of the um
uh wheelchair slope of the uh ramps, we had to literally pull everything out. So, we didn't have a choice on that. We have the reason why we're still here in the library is because we're not allowed to go into the building until the ADA is complete. Um the uh materials
um are and and so that's that's what's happening with that. However, if you'd like more information, you can uh uh go to the clerk uh our clerk is right there and dod and you can say I'd like a copy of the contract. Right? We can give that
right. I'd like to see the specs report. I'd like to see the design. And you can do that. Um, you can go to Burough Hall and request that. That's called an OPER request, which is called Open Public Records Act. And say, and uh, do we charge for that or is that free? I
forget. >> It's It's free if they want it by email. If it's u paper copies, it's 5 cents per page for 8 and 1 half by 11 and seven cents for anything larger. super reasonable. So, um, so that would
be that. Okay. Uh, next we had Ken. Uh, Lzette. U Ken wanted to understand about the process of the bid rejections, the amounts, and why they're rejected, and whether we looked at, uh, if we reject the first one, the second one, and the options. If you could speak to that,
please. >> Yes. All um, all bids are equally evaluated uniformly. Um, in this case, the first time there was there were nine bids and even and as Rob had mentioned
with removing those two itemized options, it was over budget and under the local public contracts law, we um went out to bid again. All the bids were were reviewed. It's not like we just look at the lowest price and don't look at every everyone else because it's more
than just numbers. There's a lot of um paperwork that has to be submitted. a bid, bond, um references to to verify similar projects that are worked on. So, it it is a comprehensive review. Every
bid that was submitted, all three bids were reviewed and each item line by line and not just going based on what the companies had written in their in their bid sheets. um their calculations were verified to make sure there weren't any
um glaring omissions or or errors. So, all bids were evaluated and yes, the the bin notice that this project is 120 days. It's subject of course to weather. Um, and with this project, not
only will Costa's office be there with his inspection team, but our recreation director, Joe Rico, will be um, checking in as well and keeping the leagues updated if anything happens that might um, impact spring sports. He will give
plenty of notice to the various organizations. >> Okay. Okay. Um Okay. And, uh, there would go ahead. Yeah, real quick. So the answer to your question is the low bidder is the same entity with or without the alternates.
>> Okay, >> that was your question, right? >> Yes, >> that's the answer. So um there w there was no questions in regard to uh the buser stock. They were simply um speaking in support of so there is
nothing to answer there. So um u can you can you uh hit where it says view? Could you just X that out so it doesn't appear? Okay, great. Okay. Um, so now we are. Oh. Uh, yes. So uh in regards to the um
to uh both the interior and exterior there have been dozen not dozens there have been multiple council meetings where it was discussed the engineers were brought forth the architects were brought forth everything uh has been 100% transparent they can be reviewed on
YouTube they are on the burough river edge YouTube um so u and uh everything is uh available to the public uh upon request uh and and available in um you can go back to those meetings and you can ask the clerk which meetings they were and
you can go and review them yourself if you want to see the YouTube videos uh going back all the way to when we uh realized that the building was beginning to fail and of course when we say no no no um but you can talk to me afterwards okay because it's a process and it's a
good process and it it works okay um next uh monthly reports there's uh three monthly reports Upon request from tax collector, land use and land use. So July, July and um three July reports. Uh we now have
resolutions uh by consent uh 25-219 through 25-231. Does any member of council wish to um ask a question or hold out for a separate um vote uh any of the items
listed? No debate, but I just want to make sure that people on resolution 25228 the residents are understand that what we're doing is that we're moving the meeting from 911 to 9 September 4th. >> Yes. >> That's important to keep in mind the
date. >> Yeah. So, we did want to have a a meeting on on September 11. So, so that was a small error. Okay. Uh anything else? Okay. Could I have a motion and a second to move uh resolution 25-219
through 25231? >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor, please say I. >> I. I. >> Okay. Could I have uh the finance chair and one member of the finance committee move 25-232 payment of the bills. >> Um at a Thank you, mayor. At a regular
meeting of the mayor and council of the borrow of rever county of Bergen, state of New Jersey held on August 19th, 2025. Be resolved that the mayor and council of the burough of riverage approve the following expenditures. Current fund 7,459,1598.
>> General capital fund $828,3726 grant fund $132,18.82 animal control $7.80 80 trust other $278.78 payroll $23,531.32 developers escrow $3,236.50 recreational trust recreation trust
$14,20.99 so moved. >> Okay. Uh and go ahead second. >> Yes. >> And uh uh Mr. Shaganian has recommended that for this particular uh um um resolutions that we do a roll call for
that. So could I have a motion and second to move 25219 again through 29232 which includes payment of bills? >> So move. >> Second. >> Okay. Now we're going to do a roll call, Miss Dodd, uh for all of the um
resolutions tonight. >> Okay. Council President Monttoano Cohen. >> Yes. Councilwoman Consella, >> yes. >> Councilman Benson, >> yes. >> Councilman Glass, >> yes. >> Okay. Um, that is unanimous. Is there
any new business? >> Hearing none, let us go to old business. Uh, we have proposed resolution to authorize purchase of license plate readers for the police department. This was a a point of business during the budget. Uh the chief had asked us to
reconsider this. Does the council wish to reconsider uh uh authorizing a purchase of license plate readers for the police department, especially considering the chief said uh that u we can get a two for one sale on it? >> Uh yes, mayor. I make a motion to
reconsider and um purchase the license plate readers. >> Okay. So this would uh because this uh so this would be a um this would be a motion to reconsider and then there would be a motion to approve >> and a motion to reconsider must have
four council votes uh and a a motion to approve must have four. So uh Councilwoman I just want to confirm you're moving to reconsider. >> Correct. >> So that's your motion. >> That's my motion. >> Can I have a second?
>> I second. It is open for de uh no this is not open for debate. Motion to reconsider is not debatable. Um madame clerk, roll call, please. >> Or Council President Monsano Cohen, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Canella,
>> yes. >> Councilman Benson, >> yes. >> Councilman Glass, >> yes. And could we please ask Miss Hartman to um mute our unmute? Uh, she'd have to be removed. And the problem is last time we did that, we kind of messed the whole
thing up. So, I don't want to do something. >> We don't want to do that again. Okay. >> Just hear some back. >> Uh oh. Uh, Stephanie, can you please mute your mic if your mic is still on? >> I I I would if I knew where it was. Oh, I see it. I'm sorry you're hearing the
dogs. I apologize. >> All right. Um Okay. So now uh can I have a motion in a second to approve uh a resolution to authorize purchase of license plate readers for the police department? >> Second.
>> Now does this uh Lzette, does this require a resolution number? >> Yes. >> What would it be? 25-233. >> Perfect. >> Yes. And then when we go to full session, that would be 2, three, four.
>> Right. >> Okay. So, um, so we have a motion in second to approve, uh, the author's purchase of license plate readers for the police department as stated by the chief in his last visit and it will be
resolution 25-233. It has been moved and seconded. It is open for debate. Is there debate? >> Well, I I just want to be clear. It's coming from that trust fund, right? >> Yes. >> Right. So, >> so the resolution uh was actually sent
to the council as a uh as a mock resolution, not a mock, a potential resolution. Uh and um so, uh it came in your your your email, right? So, if you um I have the line I have, um hold on.
>> But the answer is yes. It comes to the outside duty trust fund. Yes. >> Yes. Okay. and has been approved by the CFO and the BA as uh something we can charge to that trust fund. >> Okay. >> Okay. There's no debate. So, roll call, please.
>> Council President Monttoano Cohen, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Canella, >> yes. >> Councilman Benson, >> yes. >> Councilman Glass, >> I want to thank Miss Harman for muting. >> Okay. Um Okay. Uh, could I have a motion
second to Oh, is there any other business? I have a motion second to open the public for any comments at all. Uh, >> so moved. Second. >> All in favor, please say I. >> All right. Does anybody like two
minutes? Um, they may come forward and get two minutes. >> No, no, no, you're not. It's It doesn't begin until after you finish saying your name. until I see it. All right. March Burns, Wales Avenue, River Edge, 48-year
resident. Um, regarding the Burough Hall, how did you guys make out when the earthquake struck? Did it affect anything? >> We can answer that. Keep going. Anything else? You get two minutes. >> All right. Uh, regarding the uh Liberty
Travel building on Route 4, give me an up. Let me know what what's happening with that. >> We can do that. What's happening with the old shop, right, or the the Asian market on Kinder Kamak Road? >> That seems to be
>> a big thing. And does the police department have a drone? >> Okay. Anything else? And um I want to know if the burrow has been monitoring the use of uh personal property,
non-commercial home, you know, our lots that we have. if if they've been monitoring those that are uh potentially using that property for commercial
purposes, >> a business in a residential area. Is that the question? >> Anything else? >> That would be um the CB Well, I asked you about the CBD store. Basically, I think that that's
that's it. >> Okay. >> Okay. Is there anyone else who would like two minutes? Um, Stephanie, your hand still up. No. Okay. Shame. >> Anybody else? >> Okay. Could I have a motion? Seconds close to the public. >> Second. >> All in favor, please say I.
>> I. >> Okay. Um, I Lzette, I'm pretty certain I talked to Jason about this. There was no structural damage in any of our buildings. Uh, and I did talk to the police department when it occurred and they had no reports at that time. Can
you uh update us on anything other than that? >> Correct. There have been there was no report of damage to our facilities. >> Okay. >> Uh second sweet spot. Uh so Friday the state inspector came and
gave the final state final approval on Friday to sweet spot. They also have their certificate of uh occupancy that occurred on Friday. They now have to wait. I think it's 30 days, a 30-day wait period. And during that, Lzette, we
have to uh it has to come before us again. We have to pass a resolution for final approval. >> That is correct. >> So, uh I spoke to Mr. Herbs. Herbs. No, Bener.
Ben, how do I say Ben's? I spoke to Ben and uh he with the 30-day and everything else uh I think they're looking to have a soft opening somewhere between the 15th and the 30th and then a grand opening afterwards.
So, so that's what's happening with them. They >> September >> September. Yeah. >> September. Yes. uh the Asian market um they do not need they they do not need to come for the land use board uh unless they need a food handlers license or they're changing um something
substantial. I don't believe that they did get come before the land use board um and they would simply need permits if they're acting within the usage that is granted. So uh Lzette, do we have any information on that other than um than
what I've just said? No. So, as long as they act within the ordinances set uh by the burrow and the statute set by the state, they simply need a building permit. Um and so they don't come before us for any decision-making on that. Uh
it's reviewed whatever they whatever they're doing has to be they have to have blueprints and plans. It has to go to the building department. If it fits within the ordinance and the statutes of the state of New Jersey, then they're simply granted a permit and they they move forward because they're a private business. And so so that
>> we have no information of the future use. >> No, I mean uh technically I guess uh Ann, can they go can they can you get a copy of their uh permit uh from is that operable? >> Yes, it is.
>> Yeah. So you can also get a copy of their permit if you wish um from the building department actually through the clerk's office. Uh drones. Uh LT, I'm going to call on you. Do we have drones?
>> Uh, so this is Lieutenant Zones. No, I didn't think we did, but I just wanted to double check. And uh if if we are made aware of someone running a commercial commercial business out of a residential, we send out our code
enforcers and it has happened. And so whenever we're made aware of it, we uh we go, we let the resident know that they this must cease and desist depending upon the violation that they're may or may not be committing. And but yes, we do get that from time to
time. Um we also have ordinances requiring that commercial vehicles not be on the street. Uh LT, I think that's from midnight to 6, so we just changed that. Um, and if you have a commercial vehicle in your on your in your
driveway, there is uh there is signage limitations. So, you can't have, you know, this big signed vehicle. Um, so so we do all that. Okay. I think I answered all of those. All right. Um,
council comments. Are there any council comments? I I would just like to say one thing that I was uh I did not mention in our last meeting, but just to uh mention it now since I forgot. I just want to say that uh one of our great residents, Mary
Davis, was honored as a um hometown hero uh for River on behalf of River Edge in July. And I just want to say congratulations to her for all of her um all the things that she's done for the town. >> Yeah. Well deserved. Welld deserved. Anything
else? >> All right, then. Um, >> can I just >> Absolutely. >> I'm not sure if Stephanie I think she put her hand up as we were closing. So I can we make sure that she didn't have >> Stephanie, did you have uh something else you wanted to ask?
>> I did. Two minutes went really quickly. Um, and so >> hold on. Hold on. Stephanie, could I have a motion and second to reopen to the public on uh any items? >> So moved. Second. >> All in favor, please say I. >> I. Stephanie, two minutes starting now. Go. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, so I just wanted to say that um I do work in the field of
mental health and I just recently um took a new training that is called COM and it's meant to um reduce access to um lethal means of suicide and the most common means of suicide. And the most common mean of uh taking one's life is
access to medication. And while overdose isn't always um in um overt act of uh taking one's life, it it often uh using substances is one of those um warning signs and huge risk factors. And so
September is um suicide awareness month. October is um alcohol and substance use awareness month. And so I'm just again adding my two cents. It's not that I don't feel as though the council would be supportive, but I'm adding my extra two cents and my extra two minutes to
really be supportive of supplying our community with access to harm reduction um should somebody um be um dealing with a substance use disorder. >> Okay. Uh could I have a motion in second to close to the public?
>> Second. >> All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Okay. We have uh close session, but we are not but we are going to come back. So, we're going to have to I don't know how we're going to do this. Uh how do we how do we do that? Uh no, Ann with the
with the Zooms. >> Um we have to keep this Zoom open and you can't run two Zooms at the same time. Um >> can we pause it? >> No, you kick everybody off the Zoom for the public who's there. They all have to leave the room. Can you create a separate we make a separate room, right?
>> We can't do that with a webinar. Um, >> can't pause. >> We can, but then we we can't have two Zooms running at the same time. >> Is that what you're saying, Ann? >> Right. >> We can't we can't have a separate link to jump onto. >> Do we have to do we have to go back to
the Zoom or can we uh can we return to business without the Zoom? >> Zoom is an optional. Zoom is not required. >> Ah, okay. So, we'll close this Zoom and then uh we'll go into close session and then we'll reopen
>> uh we will we then we'll close the the close session Zoom but we'll reopen without the uh open session Zoom. Does that make sense everybody? >> Okay. >> Okay, we can do that. All right. Uh could I have a motion second to go into
close session? Resolution 25-234. Resolution to go into close session include the public attorney client privilege NJSA 10 col4-12B7 garbage contract and buster boxes. >> All in favor please say I.
>> I. >> All right. All right everybody >> we're staying here. Okay.