Call to order. Good evening everyone. The date is April 8th. The time is 6:00 and I would like to call this work session meeting of the Rochel Park Township Committee to order. Pursuant to the open public meeting act, notice of the April 8th meeting was published on the township website on January 7th, in
the Bergen record and Herald News on January 11th and in the hour town on January 22nd. Notice the closed session was published on April 2nd, 2026. and copies of all notices are on file with the township clerk and have been made available to the public. Roll call, please. >> Woman PG
>> here. >> Judge Carllo >> here. Smith will be absent from today's meeting here. Deputy Mayor Trolinsky >> here. >> And Mayor Miller >> here. Thank you so much. At this time, I'll ask for a motion to adopt a resolution number 26-116
authorizing the township committee to enter close session, discuss legal issues, litigation, potential litigation, contract negotiations, and attorney client privilege matters. Topics include shared service agreement with Midland School, land acquisition, New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolence Association and United
Public Service Employees Union and Professional Service Agreement, Master Plan. Do I have a motion to enter close session? >> Motion. >> Do I have a second? >> Roll call, please. woman. >> Yes. >> Woman, Judge Carllo, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Tolinsky, >> yes. >> Mayor Miller, >> yes. All right. The town committee will
now enter close session for approximately 1 hour after which we will return to public session for further action. We are now in close session. Motion to come out of close session. >> Motion. >> Have a second. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Committee woman.
>> Yes. >> Committ. >> Yes. >> Committee Smith will be absent from the rest of the meeting. Deputy Mayor Tolinsky. >> Yes. >> And Mayor Miller. >> Yes. Please rise and join us for the pledge of allegiance. >> 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. And now a moment of silence for our US military. Thank you. You may be seated. >> All right. Is there any correspondence
to be read into the record? >> May. >> Wonderful. May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the public session of March 25th, 2026? Do I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> 41 PG.
>> Yes. Women, Judge Carllo, W. Mayor Schwinsky. >> Yes. >> Mayor Miller. >> Yes. >> May I have a motion to approve the agenda? >> Motion. >> Have a second. >> Check. Roll call, please. >> Committee woman PG. >> Yes. Committee woman. Judge Cabelloo.
>> Yes. >> Mayor Schwinsky. >> Yes. >> Mayor Miller. >> Yes. Is there any new business from anyone tonight? >> Thank you so much. Moving right along. Our next item is the introduction of ordinance 12666-26
entitled 2026 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget cost of living allowance and to establish cap bank. This ordinance allows the township to increase the budget beyond the standard cap in accordance with state law. May I have a motion to introduce ordinance number 1266-26? >> Motion.
>> Have a second. >> Second. Roll call, please. >> Committee woman. >> Yes. >> Woman judge Cabell. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Schwinsky. Yes. >> Miller. >> Yes. >> And you read my little >> please. >> Notice hereby given that ordinance
1266-26 was introduced and passed on first reading at a meeting at the township committee of Rochaw Park held today, April 8th, an order published in accordance with the law. Set ordinance will be considered for final reading and adoption at a meeting held on April 22nd at 7 p.m. in the township of Rochel Park
Municipal Building at which time all persons interested will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning such ordinance. Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you so much. >> All right, our next item is uh the adoption of ordinance number 1264-26
amendment of chapter 158 property rental. This ordinance establishes a minimum rental term of 6 months for residential properties. May I have a motion to open this to the public for any questions regarding this ordinance? I'll make a motion. Do >> I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call, please.
>> Committ P. >> Yes. Committee Judge Cablla. Deputy Mayor Chinsky. >> Yes. >> Mayor Miller. >> Yes. All right. Public hearing is now open. Please state your name and address for the record. Seeing or hearing no further comments, may I have a motion to close the public
hearing? Motion. >> Have a second. Second. Roll call, please. >> Woman PG. >> Yes. Woman Judge. Deputy Mayor Chinsky. >> Yes. >> Mayor Miller. >> Yes. All right. May I have a motion to adopt ordinance number 1264-26?
>> Motion. >> I have a second. >> Second. Roll call, please. >> Woman Pichi. >> Yes. >> Woman Jolla. Yes. Deputy Mayor Twinsky. >> Yes. >> Mayor Miller. >> Yes. Thank you so much. Up next is the introduction of the 2026 municipal
budgets. Uh Roy and Andrew, can you come up to the microphone? >> No. >> Thanks for being here, gentlemen. Can you guys please introduce yourselves as well? My name >> Roy Riatano the CFO for Rochelle Park.
So this evening uh law requires on introduction only uh to introduce the budget. Uh the procedure is basically I'll give you a quick overview for the public. The budgets will be available tomorrow for the public to review.
The public will have their say at a public hearing at the next meeting which is I believe May, forgive me, May 13th. At that time, um, Andrew and I will present a PowerPoint presentation
as we've done in the past showing the increases and in this case some of the decreases. What's uh very different this year than ever before of my years doing this is you will see in the newspaper there's only been maybe three or four
towns that have introduced. Um and the reason is just like here we had a very difficult time getting the budget into the appropriation levy which is by law required before we can come to you as a as a whole to review and uh
make recommendations between now and adoption. So with that the procedure is the introduction which we presume this evening. That budget then is sent down to the division of local government services in which they will review the
budget and for the past 3 years has been scrutinized in detail uh anywhere from the annual financial statements, the annual debt statements, the grants etc. That's where Andrew and I come in. we will answer those questions to the
division and at that time they will give us an approval uh which we can then proceed with the uh amendment if need be. I know there are some committee people who want to review the budget even further and then
hopefully uh adopt that date. That is the procedure uh in New Jersey for the budget process. the budget this year. Uh, as I said when we started, um, this budget has been cut already
$430,000 and that was a tough thing uh, to do without touching personnel. So, I know the entire count township committee uh, they were very concerned about public safety number one, which would be for
everyone. Um, and we were able to get into those levy uh situations where there were no uh cuts. Um, Andrew, anything you have? No. No. Again, just to reiterate what Roy uh
said, um, when you're introducing a budget, um, you have to be within both the tax cap and and the appropriation cap. Um, this budget is is in accordance with that. Um the state is very strict when it comes to uh anticipating
revenues in that you can anticipate revenues in addition to what you um realized in the prior year. Um and and again uh this budget is uh it's meeting those stateto state requirements.
>> Any any specific questions uh you want me to answer? Why don't we uh just start with the numbers for the for the public and for us to hear out loud from you all. >> Okay. So the on the municipal side of the budget right now, as you know, you
had the rebal. So before we even started with the municipal side or the township uh budget, we were at 325 on a house increase. That was done a couple months ago with the rebound company. It was state ordered through the um the court.
So, we had no uh recourse but to move forward with the reallow. The actual increase that you're responsible for, if I may, is $160 right now on introduction. So, that total would be $4.85 on a household um with the
assessment of roughly $551,000. Those are the numbers right now. Um, and I just want the public to know we have met numerous times with the committee on this budget on intro. Um, and the toughest part is just getting to uh the
levy and we're here at this time. >> Thank you. Any questions for Roy Andrew? >> Please. Go ahead. >> I have a question for you people understand that we're still working on these numbers to bring. Oh yeah, this is
not final. I know the mayor uh wants to meet a couple more times uh review it again, see if there's any more cuts in that budget without touching personnel. Um review the revenue side of the budget
as well. And we here can do nothing except get your vote because it's your budget. So we can only present to you the facts. That's where we are now. So yes, you can amend and adopt that evening. >> So uh Roy, the biggest increase that I'm
seeing on this budget is healthcare. Am I correct? >> Yes. >> Um and that's increased by from what I have 37%. >> Yes. So the major increase um spot on
>> where we get your uh >> yeah four right 23% was the increase on the um group insurance uh what was the other big number the
pension the pension system uh was also up 13%. So I wanted to reiterate these major increases of this budget. You have no say in these are state mandates. >> Okay. Because the the group the health
benefits are affecting each municipality in the state. All the board of educations in the state. So these are these this isn't just a specific increase to the township of Rochel Park when it comes to the health benefits. This is a statewide issue in in
balancing these budgets. And the final comment, you're one of few towns that can introduce right now by meeting the uh the law of the uh levy for the uh budget levy itself. We're it.
So, thank goodness for that. >> And also the the ratables, we have a a different ratables evaluation. >> So, the reval skews the ratables. the variables did not go down. Um they are
actually up um but it is skewed with the reval. So it's you can't really compare from last year to this year. But I could tell you um Andrew in detail it did go up uh quite a bit. >> Your rateables are are now um 1.5
billion compared to 963 million prior to the rebound. So yeah, there was a significant increase in the um in in the assessed values throughout the town. And when
when you do the you you do the rebal um uh what can potentially happen is there can be a shift in the in the assessed value of the properties from commercial to residential.
So, so then and your and your shift was approximately 6% between commercial properties and and residential meaning the residential portion of your assessed values increased by by 6 more%. So then um then that what that actually
then hap what happens then is the residential the homeowner ends up bearing a little more of the tax burden as a result of the shift in the assessed values from commercial to residential. And it's probably important to note that that probably is true of any town in
Bergen County, if not the state of New Jersey, that had to undergo a reevaluation because everybody knows from just looking at the newspaper, that residential properties have significantly increased in value while commercial properties either were
stagnant or were or maybe even declined a little. >> Yes. Yes. And again, that that isn't an issue specific to the township of Rochelle Park. That's statewide. >> Um, thank you guys. I just want to read
some fast facts just for my knowledge and just correct me if I'm wrong. We've gone over all this, but so appropriations for 2025 were about 15.8 million and right now for 2026, we're at about 16.9 million.
And the largest increases in spending are coming from approximately about 500,000 in contractual salary obligations, approximately $500,000 in employee group health insurance, and 161,000 in pension contributions. Right. >> Correct. >> Correct.
>> And we're using $1.9 million from surplus, which is currently at 3.9 million to support this budget. But even with that, the average household tax increase is still $485. So that leaves approximately $2 million in surplus going into this introductory
budget, right? And that same $1.9 million from surplus resulted in only a $17 increase last year. But of that $485 increase, approx approximately $325 is attributed to the rebound. >> Yes.
>> And that $485 increase represents a tax increase of 12.88%. But >> the rebal is 8.6% of that 12.88. >> That is absolutely correct.
>> Okay. Um so this township committee has a big decision to make. Uh as Roy mentioned, uh this is just an introductory. Uh we can uh adjust this number uh before we adopt. Um so we have
to decide, are we going to deliver a a nearly 13% tax increase to our residents? Are we going to offset more of that using surplus? And if we do use additional surplus, are we prepared to commit to a long-term solution such as shared services and evaluating the
consolidation of physicians within our municipality to reduce the burden not just this year but going forward? So, I just want to hear from my colleagues on this. >> Well, I'll jump in on that. Thank you. Um, I think uh I think it's it's prudent
of on our part and I know I'm and I'm looking at this as clear as I can and clear eyes to look at whatever options are available out there for this township for shared services for the ability to, you know, um, purchasing power with other other townships. what
whatever we can look at that can offer something more to our our revenue and and and and our budget. Our our um it was very clear to us when we did the revelout that our commercial sector is hurting us and that we need to bring
that up. That's that's our my opinion that's our one of our long-term solutions as well is development. We have uh development that is kind of went stagnant across the way and that can't happen in the rest of the town. We need a master plan that's going to work for
us and we needed we need developers that are going to work for the township and they're going to do right by us and we got to hold them accountable to what we need. Um there's not much more not much more that I can see to look at other than you know
looking at a couple couple different ends, right? Uh, but that that's, you know, if without without doing our due diligence, we're not doing the township any we're not we're not working for the township up here. That's the way I feel anyway. I mean, I've been living here since 1988, and I've seen the
changes. I've seen some of the changes. I haven't lived here as long as some of us over there, but but I I uh I've seen I've seen the changes. I've seen some um seen some changes in in in in demands and in and and and in in the times and
um you know I I think this whole state is headed into a shared service into shared services. I mean we're we have to the state is dying without doing it. We're headed that way whether we like it or not. We have to figure out the best
path to get there. So that's all I have. >> I agree. I I agree. I think as long as the shared services are still giving the same level of service to the residents, I don't see an issue >> and it's saving us money and it's saving the residents money and not putting the
burden on the residents further. I think that's the way we have to start looking forward to same level of service, not costing us more, less burden on the township and the residents. It's a no-brainer,
>> right? >> Yeah. >> I'm I'm I'm for that. >> Thank you so much. >> Anything on that? >> So, read the Could you read your last statement again, Tom? Please. No, just about, you know, if we take more money from surplus, which will probably be the
most money we've probably taken from surplus ever, that we explore, if we're going to do that, that we take a serious look at shared services and consolidating positions within the municipality. >> Yes. >> Okay.
>> How's that? Yeah. I mean, that's the simplest answer. Why you can sit here and explain it and go for everything? That's the simplest answer that you can be given. You know, do I think that we have to worry about going down with gradables? Yeah, we do. Do I believe we have to do smart building? Yeah, I
believe we do. And hopefully the master plan will help us with that also. So, >> let's see. Um, you know, I I do want to say that I think we're going to take a real look good, you know, a little bit harder look at this too before we decide to look at service. That's just my opinion, >> right?
>> Yep. Wonderful. So, with that being said, uh can I have a motion to authorize our township administrator to research shared service opportunities for the township of Russia Park and bring back all that research to this governing body? >> Motion. A second. >> Roll call, please.
>> Committee. >> Yes. Committee woman judge. >> Yes. >> Chillinsky. >> Yes. >> Chair Miller. >> Yes. Yes. Thank you. All right. Uh before we formally introduce this budget, I also do want to inform the public that we are pursuing approximately $400,000
in summons related revenue from the developer at 120 West Bake Street. That being said, do I have a motion to introduce the 2026 municipal budget? >> Motion. >> Have a second. Second. Roll call, please. >> Committee woman. >> Yes. >> Women judge. >> Yes.
>> Mayor Chinsky. >> Yes. >> Mayor Miller. >> Yes. >> Thank you so much, gentlemen. Thank you so much for being here. really appreciate it. >> Thank you guys. >> All right. All right. It's time for my favorite part of the meeting. Uh, can I have a
motion to open to public comments? >> Motion. Do >> I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Committee. >> Yes. >> Committee women. Judge Cabelloo. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Schwarninsky. >> Yes. >> Mayor Miller. >> Mayor Miller. >> Yes. All righty.
>> We are open. Public comments open. Please state your name and address for the record. You have 5 minutes and you are limited to one speaking opportunity. >> Hi, Michael Warren Wester Street. Um, thanks for the presentation from Roy and uh, Andrew. Um, just be careful of what
of what you cut. But, uh, you know, um, I've been up there when there's been $100 tax increases and then 20 and $17 and it all sounds good, but it bit me in the yesterday and I'm paying $2,100 more
um because of the reval. Um, I'd ra for me personally, I'd rather see a $100 increase every year than a $21 increase every year or each time there's a reevaluation. And then because we have to make up for so many things
like health insurance and pension um maybe look at health insurance, uh maybe teaming up with other accounts. I know you're in a gift or something, but maybe there's an alternative. I don't know. But um maybe that's something that's more for the administrator to do. I have a question totally unrelated to that.
Um, does the uh township have an a policy in regards to how long uh a resident should wait for an email back from an employee? >> It's a great question. I don't believe such policy exists cuz I've been waiting
now 3 days. I emailed an employee. um either they ignored the email um and I I'm not sure they ignored it, but I did get an email from them promoting some merchandise or store that they're that they're putting out there
for autism awareness. So, uh either they sent the email and skipped mine, but I haven't heard back. Um I know at my job when the parent emails, I have 24 hours to respond. as the policy of the board of education. Um, so I just wonder if we
have the same policy here. >> It's a great question. I mean, you are a department head, so you know that >> I'm also a resident here and I was reaching out to an employee uh who helped out last year for Arbor Day and uh now there's you know complete ghosted
email and I'm not quite sure what the issue is but um the email should just be yes or no. we are willing to help out again this year, but uh there's been no response. >> If you don't mind, uh please send a follow-up email and CC myself. Uh Miss
Kim, >> who is the who is the police up here? >> I am. >> Is that something you think is inappropriate? >> It's very inappropriate that you were not answered. Um this needs to be this needs to be looked at in my opinion. Um just making sure that he did get it.
>> I I checked I So you guys know me by now. The email I received the next day about autism awareness. I checked the email it came from and I went back to the one I sent. >> It's the same one. Um, so I'm just curious. Uh, I've never had this issue
before, but maybe after comments I made at the last meeting, maybe hurt people's feelings. I don't know about shared services. Um, that's not right either. >> So, I don't want to speculate. I just want to know if you have a policy or if you might want to consider one. Thank
you. Thank you. And please uh if you send a follow-up email, please CC Mr. on that as well. Thank you so much. >> You know, I mentioned Miss Oh, and the township administrator obviously as well. Thank you. >> Uh mine's just a simple announcement.
Look, you're aware of this, but the welcome committee will be meeting next week to do bags again. We have over 35 I was thinking all this when they gave their talk about residents. Uh we have 35 home purchases that we're going to be delivering bags too and there's 10
people in the condos complex also. So that's a big turnover in a few months. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you for sharing that with us. Since January. >> Since January. Wow. That's quite good or bad that we haven't turned over, but it's 35 people are moving. And let me tell you, looking at the prices that
houses sold for that's pretty rebound. People spend a lot of money. >> Anyway, >> thank you. >> I'll thank the committee who's helping me. >> I really appreciate it.
>> Yeah. about 334. How was the budget reintroduced? You know, you can't change it by 10% or you have to reintroduce. >> Yes. No, I I appreciate you bringing that up. Thank you. >> Um, tonight the budget was introduced.
Townships in a tough spot. One thing that I cannot stand is wasting taxpayer money. When the pump station fla was ordered, 18 by18 bronze casting at a cost of
$2,295. And what made me more pissed off was the funding came out of a bond. Something to add to this, it was ordered on July 18th, 2025. The township committee discussed
November 25 putting the bid out for the pump station and the bid was open. It was a December 11th. I put partial blame on the previous administrator who didn't shut this charade down.
Teresa, this has you written all over. >> Just direct all your comments to the chair, please. Thank you. Thank you. >> Teresa, this has you written all over it. Where's your fiscal responsibility? You have voted for more tax increases in
this town. Teresa, you wanted your name on it as mayor. Now you need to reimburse the township. You could take it home and hang it there because it's useless now. Do you really care about the residents?
I believe you don't. It's all about you. I'm tired of seeing jackets on people, phones, this and that. We don't We're one mile square. We're one mile square. >> I said that time, right? >> You got three minutes. >> I'm going to go after you at every
meeting to reimburse the town for that plaque cuz that had you written all over. Thank you. >> Anybody else? 17 street. Um, a couple of things. Number one, what is the protocol for an
organization? >> I can't hear. >> When they hold an event and pictures are taken, do we have to get waivers signed by people? what is the protocol for that so we know going forward that we're not
violating anyone's rights. Second, um April 23rd from 6:00 to 8 is our ice cream social down at Carlock Hill down. And number three, does the town have an ordinance about landscapers blowing the
debris off of a resident's property into the street? >> I believe so. If not, I think we need to enforce one because three separate occasions I've seen landscapers blowing the debris into the street. Twice
I've been hit with the debris and it happened as late as today this morning on the corner of Boulders and Rochelle. Someone was blowing cuz you had two landscapers and they parked on corners.
So that being said, you can only get one vehicle off of Boulder Street onto Russia Avenue. As they were blowing, and we all know they use those high power blowers, so it's more powerful than going to residential ones. Debris hit me in the
face. Now, if I were to jump the curb and hit a resident, I'd be liable. But yet, it wasn't my fault that something hit my face. So, you might want to think about coming up with an ordinance and regulating the
landscapers and the use of water. Walter, >> before you uh go, do you know what time of the day and what day of the week that was? >> It was early afternoon today. There was a corner of Bulis and Rochelle.
One of the landscaping trucks said Barington on it. Whether that was the landscape, I do not know. But I do know that a police vehicle has to be aware of it because as I was coming down my street, a police vehicle
came charging around the corner off west going over 25 mph and went up the street. So I know they had to see. And in years past, the response that we would have gotten would be, "Well, call headquarters, let them
know." Well, by the time I call headquarters, the landscaper could be gone. That's why we need to have something in writing to prevent this from happening. Thank you, Walter. I I we'll definitely notify uh code enforcement
uh regarding this incident. Uh see what we have on the books as well. Just regarding a few of uh your other comments, uh please send us the flyer. Uh I'm not sure if the library is making it. >> The library made I sent it, but we can't listen to you. I was trying so
>> okay so that we can get that up on the township social media regarding uh waivers uh and this is a great point and we um should provide uh you as well as Mr. Warren who's hosting the Arbor Day events uh those waivers so that if you do take picture pictures and young
people are in the images that those that their parents can sign off so that they can then be put on township social media. So, uh, we'll have, um, our township clerk send those waiverss, um, to our department heads before these great events happen in our community.
Thank you so much. Anybody else? Listen, Bob Davidson, Lexington Avenue. Listen, I recognize the fact that you guys have a hard job here, especially with the budget this year. Um, one of the things which is out of
completely out of your hands, we're talking about $485. Is that what I heard? Okay. We have no idea what the number is going to be with the school. We We are could be looking at a $1,000 increase per household.
I'm going to say this could be very unpopular. you sitting up there receive a salary. I'm not saying that you don't deserve it. I think you need to see the follow follow through with the pain or too. And this and and the whole thing is it may
not be all your faults. There are previous administrations that have been here that has had something to do with where we are today. But the way I look at it, somehow or
another, you as leaders need to show somehow or another that you mean business and and at least let the the taxpayers themselves understand the fact that you're willing
to make a sacrifice yourself. That's only one area. I could go with others. I'll be more than happy to hear what what your plans are for the future at the next meeting, but I needed to say that. Thank you. >> Thank you for sharing that, Mr.
Davidson. You know, I I think that this came up at a previous meeting. You know, the this was all before we came on, but I find it, you know, very fascinating that this revaluation was delayed 5 years. Uh it was supposed to happen in
2020 and uh it did not happen till 2025. And I can't understand why that delay occurred. I've heard the reasons, digital tax maps. I just don't see how that would necessitate a 5-year delay. But thank you so much for raising that,
Mr. Davidson. Anybody else? All right. Hearing or seeing no one, do I have a motion to close public comment? >> I'll make the motion. >> Have a second. >> I'll second. All in favor? >> I I >> I
All right. And I think, you know, we should absolutely note that our priority is getting this pump station done. It's not about plaques. It's about getting that project done and celebrating that project. >> All right. Once it's completed,
>> well, it's also initiation of the flag. Council, can you explain about the facts if there's any time limit or time since Congress? >> Well, plaques are typical in major capital projects. Most communities,
school boards, and public entities have a plaque for any major capital project. uh in this in this case I would I would have to believe that when the plaque was ordered that it came before the governing body and was approved on the
uh payment of claims or as a purchase order or whatever. So the entire governing body approved the purchase of the plaque which again is not unusual for a fact. It's not that it's not unusual. It's very common with respect to capital project major capital
projects which this pump station. >> Thank you so much. Let's >> have him yelling out. >> Let's move. Let's move right along. Thank you. Let voices down for the public. We just publiced by anybody in the audience. >> I'm just I'm literally trying to transition us forward. I don't need to
be interrupted either. Thank you so much. Let's move on to consent agenda. All items listed are considered routine and non-controversial and will be approved by one motion unless requested otherwise. May I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> Motion. Do >> I have a second?
>> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> May PG. >> Yes. Judge Cabella. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Tinsky. >> Yes. >> Mayor Miller. >> Yes. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 22nd at 700 p.m. Do I have a motion to adjourn this meeting?
>> Motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you so much. This meeting is adjourned.