Call to order. Good evening everyone. The date is July 8, 2026. The time is 5:01 p.m. I'd like to call the special meeting of the Rochelle Park Township Committee to order. Pursuant to the Open Public Meeting Act, notice of July 8th special meeting was published on the township website on July 2nd. Copies of
all notices are on file with the township clerk and have been made available to the public. Roll call, please. Committee one >> here. George >> here. >> Smith >> here. >> Mayor deputy mayor will be late in the evening but he is on now. Mayor Miller >> here.
>> All right. Thank you everybody. 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. Please remain standing for a moment of silence. >> Thank you. You may be seated. All right. Any correspondence this evening? Uh, >> none at the moment. >> Thank you so much. All right.
Oh, but first we're going to jump to discussion on the annual audit and corrective action plan. So, our CFO Roy Riotano is here. Roy, please take it away. Okay, so the audit this year is, as far as I'm concerned, almost perfect.
We can't get perfect yet, but we're really close. So, there were four comments. Two of the four are basically the same. So, contracts award for goods and services in excess of the bid should be approved by a formal resolution in the minutes. So, we're making sure that
they're in the minutes this year. They were prepared, but we didn't keep them in the minutes. Fees charged for recreation department must be approved by former resolution. That was corrected last month. That is now corrected. Reimbursements for completed uh prior
year grant receivables due to the capital fund. We got those back in March already. Uh thank you to uh councilwoman township committee. She helped with that. Uh Teresa, >> thank you Teresa. >> Yep. That was the uh 75,000.
>> So we got it. And the last one is the co-op. This is all on me. So, we bought a DPW vehicle last year. We saved probably $40,000 or more. We used a national co-op. Everything was fine
except I forgot to tell Gina to advertise for the uh the co-op itself to purchase it. That's your audit. It is just about perfect. Couldn't do it without all of you up there. Uh thank
you. And the staff is just amazing. You've had no comments in taxes. Virtually uh no comments with the uh any of the opponents. Thank you. That's good. Thank you.
>> All right. Good evening, gentlemen. Any questions for Roy? >> No. I just like to thank Roy, the finance department, the auditors for all your hard work that went into preparing the audit and to complete the audit. It was an excellent audit as far as I'm concerned. So, thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you, Jan. >> Uh Bri, I have a question. The one with the fees, that is for that was for recreation. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, going forward that we have to approve that. >> It's in you you approved it June.
>> So, we going >> every year we'll we'll put that on January, February. >> So, we can do it automatically in January or >> Yeah, we will. This way. It's part of the uh our opening of the year. Uh Gina, if we could do that when we do our um
year end the resolutions for the uh fees for recreation fees, we'll put it on in January. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Good. >> Thank you. Well, this is great. It turned out to be a very good audit and I >> thank you again. Thank you. Right. I could say
>> we work hard for you on >> Yes. >> Great. >> Absolutely. Thank you so much, Roy. Thank you to our finance team. Yes. Job well done. >> Thank you. >> All right. Our next discussion item is a presentation from our planner, Joe Burgess, regarding the legal process for
redevelopment and condemnation under New Jersey law. Let's turn it over to Joe Burgess. >> Well, thank you. I would love to say I could be quicker than that, but I can't not be. That was pretty good. Um, I do have a quick hand out. Would you help with the presentation?
Thank you. >> Thank you so much. I just ask to talk about area need of redevelopment process and uh redevelopment plans. There's actually two kinds of area in need of
redevelopment that you can go through. Uh one is a standard one where you would not use your condemnation or eminent domain powers to acquire property. Um, if you are going to consider using
condemnation as part of the process, you have to declare that at the very outset of your process and include that in your resolution where you're directing the planner to prepare the condemnation area in need study. Um the actual analysis
for whether it's condemnation or non- condemnation is exactly the same but it is simply that um you have to identify the fact right up front as to whether you're going to use that one power. Uh the area need
uh legislation uh adopted by the state is called the local redevelopment and housing law. Uh that was adopted actually in back in the early 90s and it took all the old what they called blate statutes and put them all together into
one single new piece of legislation. And the reason for that was because those various blight pieces of legislation occurred over about a 40-year period. And over time, legislation being what it is in the state of New Jersey. Sometimes
people didn't pick up areas where the with the new new legislation and new regulations, they didn't quite pick up all the conflicts with the old one. So that was the reason why they adopted the new local redevelopment and housing law to
refine the system, make it smoother and make sure there was no internal conflicts in the regulations. If you turn to page three, you would see that all the different kinds of powers that an area that the local redevelopment and
housing law gives you. And it's, you know, varied. Of course, there's the designation of property as an area need of redevelopment. Uh you could also do an area in need of rehabilitation, which I'll get into towards the end of the presentation. Uh this is what allows you
to prepare redevelopment plans. Uh through this process, you're allowed to issue bonds. You could use your eminent domain powers that I had indicated. You're even allowed to convey property to a developer without the need to go through the read um public bidding
process. Oh, thank you. And um you can also grant tax exemptions and abatements if you so choose. Uh the actual process is spelled out in on page four. Uh significantly, once the governing body
decides to go through this process, you're obligated to adopt a resolution directing the planning board to prepare an area need study. And it's the planning board that prepares the study whom I would be working with when
preparing that study. They then hold a meeting or public meeting on that study and then they are obligated to make a recommendation to you as to whether or not you want to uh designate an area in need of redevelopment or not.
Irrespective of what the board recommends whether they are recommending property be included or alternatively whether we're recommending that certain property or no properties be included is for such a study. You get to choose and
decide what you want to do in the end. Theirs is only a recommendation. Um once you make that determination and you decide, let's say to do a redevelopment plan, you again go back and direct the planning board to prepare
that redevelopment plan. Basically, it's a glorified zoning ordinance. In the end, um they prepare the plan, all the public meeting to discuss it with the public and then they will make a recommendation
to you as to the adoption of the redevelopment plan. You are not obligated to adopt their recommendation in whole or in part. You could reject it completely. You could adopt it in whole or you could
adopt parts of it and not other sections. or you could change it as well. That's you're entitled to do that. But suffice it to say, they prepare the plan, but you make the final decision on it. That
spells out basically the the process. There are very specific criteria that the planning board will analyze to determine if an area meets the criteria or not. They're spelled out on page five of the document. And I'm not going to
read all of that, but it's sufficient to say uh you're obligate the planning board is obligated to only they only have to make the determination that they that someone meets one of these eight criteria
except if they chose only criteria H, which is the consistency with the state smart growth principles. Um, which to sum it up in one sentence, it it relates to sound land use planning principles. Um,
if they only if they focus only on criteria H, they would then be obligated to identify a second criteria, but the criteria is pretty straightforward. It regards deteriorated conditions. that regards, you know, abandonment of
buildings or obsolete layouts on sites that, you know, need upgrading and the like. Um, the redevelopment plan itself, the criteria are spelled out on page six. You have to deal with how this plan will
relate to local planning objectives. And that means looking at your last master plan and make that determination. And then basically it puts together a series of use and area and bulk standards the same as your current as any zoning
ordinance would. The only difference is if you're acquiring property, the document has to identify those sites that are going are recommended to be acquired and the rationale behind that acquisition. And you're also obligated
to identify the fact that this plan will uh how it relates if it's on the borders of your municipality, how it relates to the master plans of contiguous municipalities, uh the county master plan as well as the state development and redevelopment
plan. Um the area in need of rehabilitation provisions are spelled out on page seven. This is a lot simpler approach as you can see, you know, most significantly and the ones that most municipalities
in Bergen County focus on is criteria 2 and six. If more than half of your housing stock is at least 50 years old, that alone allows you to do a area needed rehabilitation. If the majority of your water and sewer infrastructure
is at least 50 years old, that alone allows you to designate an area in need of rehabilitation. And there's some other issues that are pretty simply spelled out on that page. Um the last page talks about the
strengths and weaknesses of the rehabilitation process. Um, one of the interesting things about that rehabilitation process, it can be initiated solely through a resolution by this body. You don't have to actually do
a study. You can just adopt a resolution saying this is what we want to do. We always recommend that it's better to do a study because if someone's going to take you to court over it, then you have a lot of background information to support your resolution. So that's one
of the things we suggest. The criteria obviously is much easier than the area need of re uh re redevelopment. Uh it does only permit very shortterm pilots whereas the pilot under a
area of redevelopment can be as long as 30 years. Under rehabilitation program it's only 5 years. That's a significant difference. uh it does permit redevelopment agreements with developers if so if needed.
Um one of some of the negative features of a rehabilitation approach is that it does not permit you to condemn properties like a redevelopment plan in your study would. Um it's much more difficult than to you know acquire
abuing properties to make something happen. um in the Canada as I've just mentioned you cannot engage in long-term pilots and there's certainly reduced financial incentives um to encourage re rehabilitation in
contrast to the redevelopment process. That is why you you read the papers for example on towns that are doing this. 99 times out of 100 towns are doing area needs of redevelopment. Um
I wasn't the 15 seconds that my colleague was but that wasn't bad. So I'd be happy to answer any questions you you have. >> Thank you Joe. Any questions committee? >> Sure. >> I have a question Joe. Um, what if it was already done on the property? If
this study was already done previous, how long is it good for? >> Uh, the redevelopment plan is good for as long until you want to amend it. >> So, if if if the plan was already adopted for redevelopment, it could be
till you amend it or >> you are entitled to amend the redevelopment plan. Yes. >> Okay. And then if that was already done, what's the next procedure? >> If if it was done and it was in accordance with the plan,
there really nothing more to do, I would assume. Um I know I was handed one redevelopment study and I'm going to look into that to really answer that question after I take a look at that. But um the focus of attention then become typically will become have
conditions changed in the area to such a degree that it really warrants a new redevelopment plan or not? >> Okay. And then if you decide if the township decides that it's going to go forward with this, does the township then have to purchase this property or how does that work?
>> No. Even where you have a condemnation area need, you in the end are not obligated to condemn property. But by stating >> to condemn the property, >> you are not obligated to. But by designating the study as a condemnation
area need study, at least it gives you that opportunity >> to to condemn if you wanted to. But that's your choice in the end. >> Okay. So if it's if it's condemnation, how long Let me put it this way. If you want to
condemn property, um, is that the property that hasn't been used or utilized for a while to condemn it? Or if it is being used in some aspects, can it still condemn it? Let me answer
it this way. when you do your area in need of redevelopment, whether it's condemnation or not, um not all properties have to be deteriorated and meet the criteria. The statute talks
about how there may be certain properties that don't meet the criteria, but in the end are necessary for the redevelopment of the area that you're looking at. Mhm. So, um you know, you can make adjustments to your to an existing redevelopment plan,
for example, and with that in mind, and um as we prepare new redevelopment plans um that's always your option >> and that would then um be a study done by the land use board. >> The planning of it is done by the land
use board, but in the end, you make the final decision as to >> under their recommendation. >> Yes. >> Got it. Thank you. >> Okay. Now, one thing I did want to add from what I uh understand, the first step here will be for me to look at um I
guess West Pacic and Michelle Avenue to determine where it may be most appropriate to proceed. So, that would be step one. And then following that initial step, you know, we would then talk about specific areas. I'm sorry, do that study. talk about specific areas
that it where it may be appropriate to proceed. >> Mr. Burgess, thank you for being here and thank you for the full explanations on rehabilitation and redevelopment. In front of you, uh there's a copy of the
redevelopment study that was done and apparently our council committee designated the area as an area in need of rehabilitation by resolution. If you look on the first page in there, if you'll turn the first page, uh second paragraph down on the left
side, we in March 19, 2014, there was areas delineated. I my question would be um obviously this is an important piece this this will be
helpful for us, right? uh to start out um to revisit this. But if you declare an area for rehabilitation, do you box yourself into a corner that you can never turn it into a redevelopment study? In other words, if you go in one
direction or the other, that pin you in only to that direction, right? So if you're in rehabilitation, can it become a redevelopment study rather than >> I'd like to beg off for that answer for one specific reason. This is entitled on
the cover sheet a redevelopment plan. I would like to read this to see in the end what criteria were used before the 2014 council decided to call it a rehabilitation plan to find out whether
or not was the rehabilitation standards used in a document that the planer called a redevelopment plan. So it's Congress. >> This is unusual. That's why I did notice the two different terms being used in uh
>> Yeah, that's quite unusual. So >> it looks like they did I mean there was some extensive work done on this in the past which might be helpful to us. >> Well, I know the firm and they tend to do you know a good job but it just seems odd that it's called a redevelopment
plan but then >> point to rehabilitation. >> It talks about rehabilitation. >> Yeah, I just noticed that too. I could better answer the question after I go through this. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Anybody else? I just a really quick question. I just wanted to ask about as
far as the rehabilitation goes to criteria 2 more than half of the housing stock is at least 50 years old. But what I would like like as far as if you could explain that a little further. Well, u typically one uses census data because
in the census data it identifies when all homes in the municipality are built and they give the statistics of what you know how many built at different decades. Uh and as long as you can show that more than half it doesn't even have
to suggest that the housing stock is in bad condition. That's just >> part of >> that's what I was going with. It's simply, you know, is it 50 years old or older? And then you can designate it. You could use that
criteria for the area rehabilitation designation. >> Well, wouldn't that be more more than half the houses? >> Yeah, I mean that's >> I mean that kind of would put a lot of I know my house in that area. >> So does that mean that because my house
is over 50 years old that it would be in that category that >> Yeah. But typically, think about what rehabilitation is. Um, typical funds. Exactly. >> Yeah. Typically, it's the rehabilitation of homes. And often times,
municipalities will establish a funding program for primarily incomequalified households to utilize that funding to rehabilitate their homes. It's not that your home could be taken, for example.
if that's your concern. It's simply um for the municipality to establish a funding program to assist incomequalified households to rehabilitate deteriorated homes. So if your home is in good condition but 75
years old, you're not going to qualify because one of the components will be to identify the criteria to determine if something is in need of rehabilitation. And the regulations are pretty specific about deteriorated features. >> Okay. So what defines what defines good
condition? You know what's what one person's treasures and other person trash a lot of ways. >> How does it I'm sorry. >> Yeah. No. Okay. >> How does it actually who goes out and determines that? Uh typically what happens is we will go out with the
building uh the building department and drive up and down streets and try to determine you know what house appears deteriorated or not. Uh in certain instances we have knocked on doors to
ask homeowners about certain things. If you have a lot of um infrastructure inside, your house is falling apart, for example, all your bathrooms aren't working and you know that sort of thing or your plumbing is
constantly flooding your basement. Um, that's a condition that we would want to know about and that would qualify in within the context of the regulations that would qualify house that would qualify for the funding. But then you
have to look at the homeowner when they make the application. They have to show their income to determine whether or not their income qualifies. >> Yeah. Robert Moses called. He wants the Crossro Expressway back. >> Yes. I I thank you.
>> Thank you. >> You have to be of a certain age to know this. >> One more question. One more question I have or one more um it would be I'd like to ask you if you could just explain
to to the to the entire deis um the difference between the process that we're talking about now and just simply reszoning areas in the asking the land use board to look at areas for reszoning within the township.
Okay. On a res for properties just to be simply reszoned, that's a simple process that the planning what you would recommend to the go the planning board to look into the issue. Um we would assist them in preparing a report identifying whether the reasonzoning
makes sense to reszone the property. >> And who does the this or the land use board? >> Well, the land use board. Well, typically the land use board is the entity that prepares an ordinance, you
know, the regulations. You put it in the form of an ordinance. You introduce it. It gets referred to the planning board for what's called a consistency review with the master plan and then it comes back here on second reading and you adopt it.
The downside to that or the one negative feature in contrast to the area need designation. You don't have any of those powers that I mentioned earlier in terms of um you know choosing a developer
um preparing uh those ancillary features of a redevelopment plan that you don't get through a simple reasonzoning request. A resoning request is just what that is. you're changing the zoning on the property. You're not doing anything else. Okay?
>> You're not preparing a a specific plan for redevelopment because when we prepare a redevelopment plan, you're you're going to get a concept plan for that property, okay, or these properties to show how you want it to develop. And
that's probably the biggest benefit of going the area needed redevelopment approach because you will really get to fine-tune exactly what you want in terms of building orientation
look and everything else which you don't really have through a simple reasonzoning. >> Reszoning just gives the current owner the ability to reuse their or repurpose their property >> exactly the way they want. You resone it. Let's let's make up a scenario. You
zone it for a >> threestory multif family building. >> I got you. >> And then you just have to wait to see what you get >> with this with this redevelopment plan approach more specific. >> You get to structure the plan that you want to see. Got
>> offer to developers to build. And they typically they will come in and make minor adjustments because they each have their own particular approach. But you have a lot more control through this process. >> Got it. >> All right. Well, as Mr. Burgess uh
mentioned, there's definitely been a curiosity whether properties along Rosville Avenue and West Pacific do meet this criteria. So, can I have a motion to authorize Burgess Associates to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether properties along Rochelle Avenue and West Pacic meet the
criteria for designation as areas in need of redevelopment and or areas in need of rehabilitation? Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Well, you also want to instruct the planning board >> Yeah. >> to undertake the study. Correct. >> Right. That's what
>> Yeah. Well, this is a preliminary step. The first step will simply be for me to go out and look at the area to decide >> what may meet the criteria with him >> and then and I'll put together a proposal to tell you what that would
cost and then if we will sit down and talk about what sites do you want to look at and let's say just to make up a number there's four areas that we pick. You will then pick which ones you want to start with and with each of those there will be a separate agreement to do
a redevelopment plan for th that particular area and that is what gets referred to the planning board for their >> but you already have one area you said right >> well that yeah that this is unusual they got to take a look at this first >> can we get a copy of that also I see
>> there's a middle of a motion so hold on a second so we just want to clarify what we're going to do for this And is it he's going to just go out and look authoriz? >> Yeah, we're authorizing Burges to determine whether properties do a preliminary investigation determine
whether properties along Rochelle Avenue and West Pacific meet the criteria for designation of areas that need a redevelopment and areas of need rehabilitation. And if I can if I may that's going to be like preliminarily the assessment and then when you tell me
when you adopt a resolution directing the planning board to look at you know section A that's when >> we do a formal analysis of that area but >> in that during that preliminary you also
have the opportunity to look at this and see how that fares up. Yes, I might. That'll should be a helpful guide. >> I really should. So, >> okay. >> All right. Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Yes. >> May judge.
>> Yes. >> Smith. >> Yes. >> Mayor Chinsky. >> Yes. >> Yes. Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Bergus, for being here. >> My pleasure. Good to see you all. >> Sorry, the number. >> Did you need to ride that? Um 198
198. >> We're a little anxious. >> Thank you so much, Mr. Bur. Really appreciate you being here this evening. >> Have a good night, everyone. >> Have a good night. >> Good night. Thank you. >> All right. Any correspondence? >> Awesome. All right. New business. Um, so
I'm going to dive into new business by uh discussing uh some of our ordinances this evening. So I'll start off with ordinance number 12772-26. So township received correspondence from the owner of the Tyson House uh
explaining that while they have no intention of demolishing or fundamentally altering the historic structure, certain restrictions currently in place have created practical challenges in fully utilizing the property and complying with applicable building and life safety requirements. So, after reviewing those
concerns, we're introducing an ordinance that provides the flexibility necessary for the owners of the property um to adapt the property for one of the uses already permitted under the historic home overlay district while complying with applicable building and life safety codes and preserving the character
integrity of the building. It's really important that we emphasize that this ordinance does not add or expand any permanent uses. And remember, those uses are restaurant, banquet, and event facility, bed and breakfast, museum, professional office, an art gallery. But ultimately, the ordinance is about
making sure the township's original vision for the Tyson House can realistically be achieved by allowing the uses already permitted under the ordinance to function as intended. Any questions on that? So you are you looking at this as a as a
are they looking for like a life safety issue u yeah I'm >> yeah for them to >> they need from the third floor and the second floor >> now my question council
>> would they be under >> um the law that says the age of the house could they be grandfathered in or no because they've reconstructed a lot of other stuff. >> Well, this this property has issues because when the town sold it, they put
certain restrictions on it. >> That's the only issue that has to be addressed. >> So, the deed is the deed has deed restrictions for historic. >> Well, does everybody know what the deed looks like? >> Yes, we reviewed it and it lists several uses that are permitted. >> Okay.
>> Which is is a permitted use for the building. >> So, this is to allow him to >> Yeah. They can't use they can't allow any of those uses happen >> unless they follow building. Yeah. Unless they upgrade to their safety. >> So you say like an egress or there'll be
a fire safety for the floor. >> If they build that then they're violating the historic overlay. >> Oh. >> So that's why we're this is why we have to amend this. Yeah. >> And it's necessary. >> Yeah. Absolutely. Totally. >> Only in the only I think only to the rear of the building where it's not
visible from the street or the front. >> Yeah. Yes. Yeah. It won't be visible from the street or front. So, you're not going to walk through it. >> But I know there that we do have there's a law. Correct me if I'm wrong that you can be grandfathered in on the age of the house. But I mean, I understand what you're saying, too. You want to make
sure that the egress is there. So, of course, we want safety. >> Yeah. The building department fully weighed in on this. The construction official, building inspector, fire inspector. So, >> so everybody's on the same page. >> This is the feedback. Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. And then I also want to briefly just address ordinance number
1271-26. Uh as we've discussed publicly over the past several months, the township committee uh continues to move forward the transition to the Burn County Public Safety Operations Center. Tonight we're introducing a bond ordinance that appropriates 675,000 and authorizes the
issuance of up to $642,500 in bonds or notes to fund the technology and communications upgrades necessary to support the transition. A major priority throughout this transition has been enhancing the technology our first responders rely on every single day. And
while less expensive alternatives were available, we believe our officers and first responders deserve the highest level of communication combat and reliability to support our community's long-term public safety needs. And we view this as an opportunity to strengthen and modernize our public
safety technology. And it's important to understand that much of the equipment included in this ordinance was already scheduled for replacement as a part of its normal life cycle in the near future. So it's important to remember that this ordinance establishes the maximum authorized amount for the
project. But if the final cost is lower than authorized, the township will simply borrow less. But it's also important to mention that the CFO informed me that this is paid off over 10 years and cost the average household just $2 a month. But overall, we're pursuing grant funding and reimbursement
opportunities that will remain a priority throughout this project. And we've seen communities who have transition to Burton Peacock successfully secure outside funding for public safety technology upgrades. And we'll continue working to maximize every available opportunity to reduce costs
for the Rochelle Park taxpayers. >> Okay. Mayor. >> Yeah, please. >> So, um, I got a chance to speak. Um, I see we have, uh, Towski here. Uh, I know there's a letter here. I I believe that you >> He's gonna he'll address that later. >> Yeah.
>> Um, one of the things that I know that was talked about was that the Motorola system that they're still looking at, correct? Uh, Samantha, to go forward with Motorola. >> Yes. >> That they have given um a $50,000. Am I correct there, Lieutenant? Correct.
>> Uh $50,000 >> discount because of that. So that's a little extra savings for for the township. Um few thousand comes back or out of the amount that's needed or toward stuff that's needed. So that's that's a great and I know that you
worked on it and thank you. I understand that you did a lot of work on a lot of this. Um and I suppose you're going to talk about it. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Anything else? Any other new business from the township committee?
>> Sure. Uh, thank you, mayor. Uh, just wanted to give some thanks for our 250 celebration that just happened, the July 3rd. July 3rd was a bit of a bummer. >> Yeah. >> Lightning, fireworks. We're out, but >> true bridge. >> Yeah, we didn't get a chance to, but I
thought July 4th really, really hit it off really well. I thought we had a great time at the American Legion. Uh, food, music, uh, live music, DJs. It was really lot, it was just a really good time. So, I want to thank the township committee for all of your hard work and
for helping us the last 6 months. I want to especially thank my co-leazison, Jedapichi. Thank you for really helping me out. When the mayor first, uh, said to me, "Hey, Sean, you wanted to do the 250?" >> I go, "Uh, I think I might need some help."
>> So, uh, thank you, Jen. I really appreciate all the help you did. >> Uh, Michaela's not here, but Michaela was a lifesaver. We must have changed that order two or three times. and she called me on the day to make sure that I got everything on Saturday. So, I just
want to give her a shout out. I want to give uh Andrew Matson who's here and Susan Ayabuchi, our two members of 250 who were there at every meeting and we had meetings like every two weeks. So, it was intense especially coming down the stretch. So, I really want to thank
both of them. um rec chairs. Mark Wrigley and Rob Fre were lifesavers on on the third when we had to pick up all the food from Shopright. It was it was intense and I don't my cars they got a pickup. It was good but it wasn't that
good. >> So their cars and we took everything back was just thanking them a lot. Uh the American Legion Dennis Duddy as usual the man always takes care of things. He was absolutely intricral in the whole 250 celebration. Um, and all
of the American Legion vol American Legion volunteers, they are amazing. An amazing group of people. Flo and Bruce Addington. UNB and their daughter whose name escapes me. >> Ardell. >> Ardell. Unbelievable. They are an incredible family. Just getting to meet
them. They were awesome. And our sponsors, Outback Steakhouse. The burgers. When we when we got to the frozen burgers, everybody could kind of start telling what the Outback burgers were gone. So, that was that was wild. But, uh, Outback was, thank you for the chocolate chip cookies and the burgers.
Acadero, they were great. Tacos, they were unbelievable. Thank them. Roomba Cubana, thank them for all the money. They they they doing some serious cash and so did Invictus. So, thank all the sponsors and thank everybody. We saw a couple police officers at the event, so
thanking them and just it was an allaround really good event. So, thank you everybody. And Jen, if I missed anybody think I did I get everybody. >> All right, >> if I may. Thank you for heading this up because it's I know I saw it as a lot of
work and we kind of stood there in the park at night raining in branches the night before. Even though the fireworks went off at I think 10:30 they went off. >> Yeah, 10:00 10:30. Um but um and Jen also both of you did a terrific job. Uh pod is bleeding but we got through it.
There were some misting fans there too. >> Yes. >> Which helped tremendously behind the grill. I know >> Mr. Matson was also behind the grill and sweating. Uh the photo booth was wonderful. A lot of people got great pictures from that >> and uh most of us look melted. But
that's okay. We're good. But uh thank you for that up. It truly takes a village. >> It does. So, >> all right. Thank you so much in our American 50 committee. Yes, Mr. Twinsky. >> No, we're not doing it. Okay. >> No. >> As hot as it was, you would have
appreciated a dunk tank. >> You would have appank. >> Well played. I would I would like to also I'd like to also know it was a great event. You guys did a hell of a job. Um, one more shout out. >> Oh, DJ John >> and the bands. What were the bands
names? the adventure soundtrack and >> the adventure soundtrack and the second one, >> Jam the Torpedoes. >> Jam the Torpedoes. I'm glad I thought of John the DJ, the the band was really nice combination. So, I'm glad I remembered them. >> You know, in that kind of heat, you really get to see what kind of what kind
of volunteers you have when everybody showed up. >> Yes. >> Ready to go. >> Nobody Nobody bowed that. Nobody bowed out. >> Nope. >> I will say Mark Wrigley had a very interesting cooler that had a little air conditioning. >> I did love that. That's pretty good. >> Awesome. Well done.
>> Thank you all. Really appreciate it. All right. Public comments. May I have a motion to open up to public comments? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> All right. Public comments is now open. Please state your name and address for the record.
>> Andrew Matson, 14 El Court. Um, just for everybody that's going to watch this at home, I think it's not going to make sense. the auditor, he like casually mentioned $70,000 and it sounded like you guys all that meant but if you could explain that I
don't know I didn't understand what >> the the auditor mentioned what about >> $70,000 something about that or there was something in the regarding 70,000 but I mishar that >> 75,000 that we from the state right
>> that that was when he brought up about yeah Okay. I just didn't understand why there's no >> It was a grant that was working. >> Yeah. It just didn't make sense. Um also for the uh redevelopment, he's going to the Fergus is going to go
down um Roshaw a and West Pay Street and look and he's limited to those two corridors. Is that or can he kind of does he have the ability to like meander? >> I think that's where he's going to start. Do you have another suggestion
for >> No, I'm just thinking like you know we have uh businesses industrial area that might be one we look into as well that's not directly on Rochelle just >> central right over here
>> where dominoes is right >> I don't know I can't hear >> yeah where the domino is >> I don't know if it's on >> you want to press the button it'll turn on >> sorry about that from the I have no I I could start from the
beginning. Um also um July 4th I think everybody Sean um Jen you guys did a great job. Um, I just had one concern and I think it's great to like do the self- congratulatory stuff because the volunteers did do an amazing
job, but I do feel like I and I've heard another resident get up in the past and talk about how volunteers aren't really respected in this town and I kind of felt that on Saturday and I know I've made it clear to some of you privately, but I just would like to share this more
publicly. Um, that was a a lot of work. We met like bi-weekly. We put a lot into that and then on Wednesday it becomes, hey, there's potential storms coming in and what are we going to do about this? And as a committee, I
know I kind of took the ball by the horns cuz I'm a little bit of a weather nerd to determine, all right, I'm going to communicate with the band cuz you can't have a band come if there's going to be like a wash out at 3:00 for a 12 to 6 event. So, we kind of took it upon ourselves to create this little like we're going to
look at the weather every day and then by Friday night we'll make a decision. And I don't know like at at a certain point it's like this is a lot of work. I felt like mentally taxed by it and then even Saturday morning to wake up and be like thank god I made the right decision you know but like I made the right
decision. That's the key word. I made the decision. So it made me think um we do have an office of emergency management and as we see like the storm was bad and when I reached out on Wednesday I had
communicated to Sean that this storm is going to be scattered but all the weather lingo I was hearing was where it hits it's going to be bad. So,
was there a plan in place from the office of emergency management for this event? And did it also include the event that was on North Drive where there was residents gathered with a permit so it was known?
And like what was the plan? And is this like a standard plan of action or is it event specific? And then who's monitoring the weather? like there's like a whole line of questions to go down, but really it's just more of like I felt really taxed with having to do that and like it was my call
and uh I didn't really appreciate that. And I know we have the OEM director and it would have just been nice to feel like I was in the loop on whatever was or wasn't or could have been happening cuz I don't really know. I'm not on that part of the membrane. I'm just the
volunteer. I really felt like, you know, we worked our asses off and then like, wait, there's somebody that gets paid to do this job. And that's all I have to say. Thank you. >> So, I can answer that. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Mass. I'm going to
pass it over to Mr. PJ. So, I did send an email on the 26th to or the 20 26th to all the department heads, the police department, the fire department, sir, OEM, uh Tommy, you were on it, Sean was on
it. Yep. >> So, I did let them know kind of the itinerary of what we were doing, where we were going to be at, and the OEM director did write back to me with everyone on it that there was a 20page all hazards incident action plan that
had been developed and will serve as our primary framework for coordinated response. I didn't physically see it. I don't think they it was attached to the email to us. >> I don't think I'd have to go look at the email. I don't see that was attached but they did have something. So to my
understanding you guys did meet correct >> previous plan in place it's an action plan for for something like this. >> So there was something okay >> there was something yeah >> I I would just like I said I would want to know if it was event specific cuz
that makes it sound like it wasn't. There was two events going on at the same time. Um, and one went later and I know it went through the storm when it got really bad and I was out there and it got bad here. Um, and it's just a matter of like
we were on the ground. We were the front line. So if there was a plan in place, who knew about it? And what was the people with the plan? what was their plan to communicate with us said plan
after the emergency hit cuz we were never informed at any point. So I'd have to assume at some point if there was an emergency there would have been this response of some kind and then we would have been our capacity of the the
organizers of the event where people are looking to us as to what's our next move. Where does that put us in the the chain of command? And was that part of the plan? >> Yeah, that is Go ahead.
>> No, I'm I'm >> It's just No, I understand. >> So it doesn't happen again. >> Yes. That's what I I want to address if I may, Mr. Matson, that I think he has very >> Mr. Madison has a very um good point in that aspect where if something like this
should come up you know I don't know the next one would probably be 9/11 ceremonies whatever that we you know somebody tells and I get it you're the volunteer you didn't want to make that call but you did right and I understand that so maybe going further or forward
it could be somehow communicated that >> I think it's state law that that the young director is supposed to take the >> I don't know the state So yeah, the so the only thing that uh we can really speak to is the correspondence that we received. The last correspondence we received was on June 28th.
>> I don't know of any other additional correspondence that took place. Um and I also don't know if the um folks who did put in the permit for the block party received any correspondence. So we will need to look into that as well. But you make that point. I appreciate you
bringing it to us tonight. >> Anybody else? Evening, mayor and committee members and members of the public. Uh, I'd like to read a memo from uh, Chief the desk of Chief Pinto. Um, he apologized for not being able to attend today's special meeting due to a previous commitment.
However, I wanted to take time to share the progress that has taken place over the past few weeks since moving ahead with the shared service agreement for our dispatch service. In the past month or so, there have been at least five extensive meetings that have taken place between the police administration, the staff from the county dispatch center,
as well as with the town administrator, the appropriate authority, and department heads in collaborating on making this transition happen in a way that will keep our small town and its residents and stakeholders safe. We continue to have these meetings and exchange policy and necessary information in a collaborative,
productive manner to ensure the very best of services is received by the township. A huge part of making this transition happen so that it maintains and provides for the continuity of highquality services and ultimately the safety of our residents and stakeholders is through the purchasing of the Motorola
solutions mobile and portable radios and assorted lobby upgrades and computer equipment that will allow for car to car officer officer dispatch radio communication advancements and eliminate dead spots for our officers in the field who rely on technology in receiving and broadcasting information in real time
and our residents who come to the lobby to have realtime access to dispatch center and for county dispatch center to monitor our lobby in real time. Additionally, this bond allows for the necessary computer system changes with computer monitor aided dispatch and records management system for the police
reports of all types and upgrades to the county electronic summons platform and our patrol legals which allows for more pro more productivity and less out of service time for officers. That's the desk of chief men. >> Thank you so much Mr. Dowski. really appreciate it. And I think just to to
answer Mr. Mast's question, uh, Jack, the normal progression of things are if if there's a weather event, a high weather event, if it's if it's previously known, OEM will be on standby and get involved. But if it's something that kind of springs out, then you can call it department and then we can
dispatch OEM for something like that. >> Okay. >> Can I speak to Lieutenant? >> Yeah. >> So, Lieutenant, sorry. Uh, two things. Um let's let's look at that line again that says the transition happened in a way that will keep our small town and
its residents and stakeholders safe. >> Yes. >> So so moving this transition over the statement saying our residents are safe. >> We we have policies that will be put in place to make sure of that. >> I'm sorry. >> We have policies to make sure that that's put in place to make sure of
that. >> You have policies that are being put in place to make sure of that. Okay. Correct. So, so we're working on I know there's another meeting I believe on the 21st coming up. >> Yeah, we have training too. >> Sorry. >> Tra, we have training coming up too. Training for uh for the new dispatch
services. So, every officer is going to be trained in in a host of things the use of the computer equipment and for how these policies are being put in place on being dispatched to headquarters and stuff. So, there there's going to be a separate training and violence for each officer. So, is there something with the phones now that
it's going to be different with phones and communication with the phones? >> The the phones will stay the same. Um, >> we're not going over to an AT&T or are they going to stay with the Verizon or what are we doing with that? >> Oh. Oh, the town townwide phones that we have for Verizon. Yes, there is a um uh
we had gotten a presentation by AT&T FirstNet and um they gave us uh a pretty good offer on on exchanging our our older modems for newer modems and and new cell phones >> at a at a reasonable price >> at at the modems are free.
>> There you go. That's reasonable price, right? >> Correct. But I understand that um and correct me if I'm wrong that if the anything should go down in the dispatching area that they can go forward phone to phone with the dispatching. Am I getting that correct? >> Yeah. There's actually uh there's a
tertiary backup system. So if if the first line of defense goes down, internet or whatever goes, the phones go down, there's a second line of defense. There's actually a third line of defense which is Verizon but will be AT&T. Okay. So there is actually three lines of defense to to prevent any any phones down or anything.
>> So if anything should happen, God forbid, I know there was a terrible thing that happened with Pamas cuz I went through it the next day and so all the limbs and trees and everything else down and I know there was crazy crazy times there, but um and thank God I'm understanding everybody was safe. This
will be a tertiary thing that would be able to back up the backup of the backup. Is that what we're looking at? So >> yes, absolutely. officer to officer or you know wherever we can with tough can you explain that a little how that works? >> Sure. We have backups in place uh the county has backups in place for their
radio system and we also have a backup in place for our radio system. So there's actually almost for the for the for the phones there's three backups and for the radios there's like four backups. So between the county and us there's there's probably about four backups. So if anything happen with the
communications, these are all safety measures that will keep our residents safe. >> And one important uh reason for that is because the county system is a Motorola system and we're getting the Motorola radio so that we're tying it to their infrastructure, their Motorola infrastructure, >> but we already have the towers for the
the unit for the Motorola upgrading everything to that. >> Correct. And I'm understanding too that as part of it is I believe it was the fire department already is part of this system or >> Yeah, they were they were train already transitioning their radios uh previously
to to to this system. So they don't need as as many radios as us. >> They don't need >> Yeah, they were they were gra gradually >> they were upgrading theirs. >> Yeah, gradually upgrading theirs. So >> So they're upgrading. So this is the police OEM DPW. >> Not DPW. Uh
>> tell me about DPW. Um, >> they get a phone call. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. They they they really don't only don't use a radio. >> They don't use radio. >> Yeah. >> I think Dave would have his because he's a fireman. >> They would have fire. >> So he would have his and
>> Well, they're all firemen. They're all volunteers. Most of DW are firemen regardless. >> So they would have they could have their radio. >> Yeah. They could always have their radios. >> So there's a backup for that. >> Correct. Yeah. they would be on the fire frequency, >> but they can move it over because I know there was who I happened to be with with
uh with our clerk and our administrator. We were at the last meeting and I heard them say about that there's a backup for that too if it happens. >> Yes, there is. >> Which will keep our residents safe. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> All right. Hearing see no one else. I have a motion to close public comment. >> Motion second. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. Just some brief comments. I do really want to thank Lieutenant Kicowski for sharing Chief Pinto's message with us this evening.
Lieutenant, thank you for your leadership, everything you're doing for this transition and everything you do for this department and this township. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. And just to echo what Teresa mentioned, I do believe also that chief's uh message tonight made it clear that this transition is being carried
out in a way that's going to keep our town safe, our residents, and our first responders. He also outlined why these radio and technology upgrades are so important to improving communications, eliminating dead spots, enhancing officer safety, and ensuring our officers have the very best tools to
serve our community. And as Chief Pinto has also shared with me and others of this town committee, the transition to Bern County Peace was ultimately inevitable and much of our radio technology was approaching the end of its useful life and would require replacement soon. I do hope that the
chief will have the opportunity to come before the township committee to share that perspective directly with our residents. I also do want to thank the the officers who have personally apologized for comments made over the last few months and we welcome any opportunity for the chief and the
department to continue sharing this forwardlooking vision we received a glimpse of tonight and have also heard uh throughout this transition that our community does remain safe, that this transition will be a great success and that these technology upgrades will
ensure our officers have the best tools and communication system to continue being the outstanding police department that they are today. And I believe the public hearing that message from the chief and the department uh will help ensure our residents have the facts they deserve and will help our community
continue moving forward together. Anybody else? All right, let's go to approval of the agenda. So, uh, before we approve the agenda, can I have a motion to add resolution
196, acceptance of resignation of Andrew Gorman, resolution 197 to go out to RFP for a forensic auditor. And also, I'm going to uh add resolution
198. Uh, we already uh voted on this, but I'm just going to amend it because Mr. Matson made a great point uh about Overlook Avenue. Can we um so I'm also going to have uh a motion to authorize Burgess Associates to conduct a
preliminary investigation determine whether properties along Rochel Avenue, West Safe Street, and Overlook Avenue uh meet the criteria for designation as areas in need of redevelopment and in areas in need of rehabilitation. Do I have a motion? >> Motion.
>> I'm sorry. Can we also add um Central to that because I know there's industry on Central Avenue there. Can we add some >> Railroad? >> All right. I mean, >> well that that's more of looking at that. >> Yeah. So, let's Okay. So, we're going to add Railroad Avenue um and Central
Avenue. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Matson, for bringing that to our attention. >> Do I have a motion? >> Motion. I'll second it. >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Mayorski. >> Yes. Mayor Miller.
>> Yes. All right. Thank you so much. You I have a motion uh to approve tonight's agenda as amended. >> Motion. >> Have a second. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Committee. >> Yes. >> Committee woman judge. >> Yes. >> Committee Mson. >> Yes. Deputy Mayor. >> Yes. Mayor Muller.
>> Yes. >> All right. Thank you so much. Our next item is the introduction of ordinance number 1271-26. This ordinance appropriates $675,000. authorizes the issuance of 642,500 in bonds or notes to fund radio
communications and technology upgrades associated with the township's transition to the Burma County Public Safety Operations Center. May I have a motion to introduce ordinance number 1271-26? >> Motion second. >> Second. Roll call, please. >> Mayor
Trosky, >> yes. Mayor Mullet, >> yes. Thank you so much. Our next item is the introduction of ordinance number 122-26. This ordinance amends the historic home overlay district to provide the flexibility necessary for improvements that support uses already permitted under the ordinance. May I have a motion
to introduce ordinance number 1272-26. Motion a second. Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. All right.
>> Please. So notice is hereby given that ordinance 1271 and 1272- 26 was introduced and passed on first meeting at a meeting of the subject committee of Rochelle Park held today and ordered published in accordance with the law. Said ordinances will be considered for final reading and
adoption at a meeting held on July 22nd at 7 p.m. in the township of Rochelle Park Municipal Building at which time all persons interested will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning such ordinance. Thank you. >> Thank you so much Gina. Consent agenda. All items listed below are considered to
be routine and non-controversial by the town committee and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless committee member or citizens so request in which case the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately. May I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> Motion second. Second.
>> Roll call, please. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Smith. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mayor Miller. >> Yes. >> All right, everyone. The next meeting of the town committee will be held on Wednesday, July 22nd at 7:00 p.m. I have a motion to adjourn this special meeting.
>> Motion. >> Have a second. Second. All in favor? I. Any oppose? Thank you so much. This meeting is adjourned.