Call to order. It's now 6 pm. Uh, according to the Open Public Meeting Act, public law 1975, chapter 231, according to the open public meeting at this meeting of October 8th, 2025 was published in the Bergen record and the
Herald News on January 8th, 2025 and sent to our town. The executive session meeting notice was published in the Bourbon Record and Herald News on October 3rd, 2025. In addition, copies of said notice are and have been
available to the public and are on file and no office of the township clerk. May roll call, please. Committee woman here. Committee woman here. Deputy Mayor Miller here. Committee man here. Mayor Javo here. All thank you very much. All
right. So the next is resolution uh number 25-261. This is authorization to go into executive session. Um and it's regards to litigation, negotiation, deter client privilege matters relating to personnel.
May I have a motion to go into close? Motion. We have a second. I'll second. Roll call, please. Committee woman PG. Yes. Committee woman. Yes. Deputy Mayor Miller. Yes. Committee. Yes. Mayor Davilla. Yes. Okay. We will go into close session approximately be approximately 7 p.m.
Thank you. I have a motion to come out of close executive and open reopen to the public session. I'll make the motion. May I have a second? I'll second. Roll call, please. Committee. Yes. Committ.
Yes. Deputy Mayor Miller. Yes. Truinsky. He just took a break for a second. That's okay. But he is here. Mayor, Judge Caval. Yes. May we stand for the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence.
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. Thank you.
[Music] Okay, good evening everyone. Thanks for coming this evening. Sorry we're a little late coming out, but uh we're here now. So, we're going to start with our discussion and this is the Bergen County co-op pricing system
electric generation supply service. Our our administrator will speak about it. Thank you. Sure. Thank you, mayor. So, uh, several months ago, I received, um, an email and which comes out, I believe it's every two years, um, in reference to this cooperative pricing system, and I I've
on the township's behalf partaken in other cooperative, uh, pricing systems that have benefited the township and and decreased costs. Uh, this one specifically pertains to electricity. Um, I'm obviously happy that we're going to see a decrease in the cost of
electricity through this co-op, but what I wanted the mayor and this committee to be aware of is uh there is an option uh that's available to us. Uh, but it comes at a 5% loss in that discount, but it's only a 5% loss, mayor. Um, and that's if
we were to opt in, and it's a voluntary opt-in that we could do uh basically for renewable energy. So, we would have to opt into renewable energy and the cost would the savings is would still be about 15% for the township overall. Uh,
however, by opting into the renewable energy, I'm sure this will make Mr. Warren's ears perk up will help us with our sustainable jersey credits. So, again, I just wanted this committee to give me some guidance. We have until uh by October 15th where I have to let them
know um which direction we want to go. So, do we we know what the cost will be to opt into this? So, again, it's it's a a 5% increase over the regular optin. And don't ask me to explain these costs um as far as electricity cuz it's I don't I
don't I don't All right. Maybe next give us kind of a little general. Yeah. I mean, looking at capacity, you know, it's $8.76 per kilowatt. You know, I'd have to I got it. I understand. Okay. Anybody have any questions on it? So after we provide the interest, would there be a
resolution that we would put forward? Correct. Okay. So it saves us 15% also even with that extra 5%. We still will save an extra 15%. Correct. Okay. So saving money is a good thing. It is and you know with sustainable Jersey credits it does open up some
grant opportunities and again helps us achieve um you know what we set out to do when we this committee approved the resolution for us to join sustainable Jersey. Great. So I know that uh there was another discussion that uh uh Mr. Miller
had sent to you about if you if you don't mind. Yeah sure I don't mind. I was actually going to cover that under my administrator's report. So Bergen Fiber, I started looking back into it in in December of 24 and quite frankly they hadn't built out their system yet in Bergen County. Mr. Miller brought to my attention to look into it. I had a
meeting last week with uh the representative from Bergen County as well as a representative from Millennium Fiber who is the the county contractor. Um and the long and the short of it with Lieutenant Kakowski, myself, and I also brought in our professional uh IT person
to look at it. He's instituted now in several other municipalities. Millennium also happens to I know directly provide Park Ridge, the burrow of Park Ridge, not through the county system, but uh we've done work for uh here in town with Millennium as far as the police department goes. So, they're a viable company and I think now that the county
has completed their loop, um I think we're going to opt in and and it'll be a shared service agreement again that will come before this committee and it'll be approximate about $450 a month because we would cancel out one of our current providers. So, we would keep the other
um cable. We would probably opt out of our cable provider, which is for internet, and keep our uh fiber optic from um a different company and have the county as our our primary because you always want to have redundancy, right? Um so, we think it makes sense. We we walked the facility, they looked at both
of the server rooms, both on the township side and on the PD side. We happen to have to run proper cables run because of the technology changes we've made over the last four to five years. Um, so again, I appreciate Committee Miller bringing that to my attention. And, uh, also learned of a different
shared service opportunity as a result of this meeting that I'll bring forward to this committee. Um, and it's actually things that are very useful to us, I believe, as far as more Yodok uh, barriers, which are those we could use during flooding and street closure, actually bulldozers, uh, excavators that
if Bergen County is not using them, our DPW would have access to them. Um, and again, it's just through a shared service agreement. So, I I'll be following up on that and have more for you hopefully in the in the meetings to come. Great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All righty. So, you covered that, but you have other
stuff you want to say in your report. Correct. Correct. Okay. Great. So, uh Miss Kim, would you like to give a correspondence here, please? Yes, Mayor. Uh first piece of correspondence. Um we have a uh recognition here from the board of
county commissioners certificate of commendation honoring the township of Rochelle Park. I will read it into the record. In honor and recognition of hosting your Hispanic Heritage Month flag raising ceremony on behalf of nearly 1 million residents of Bergen
County, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your commitment to honoring the rich culture, history, and contributions of the Hispanic community. Presented October 1st, 2025. Okay. Um
I just want to say a few words on that. That was a wonderful event. Uh quite a few people showed up. Um they also there was also a stunning uh picnic that I ended up going to that Saturday which was a wonderful event also because I've
never tasted such good food. This food was so delicious and it was a lot that was homemade. Right. Um and um Jen and I were at that one and Tommy and I were at the flag raising and we want to thank everybody for participating in it. It was a both
events were very very um nice and and uh productive and I think it was a nice thing to do and Mr. Miller did a lot of that work. I'm going to give you all that credit for that five right there because that was a lot of work. We talked about it and you just went with it and thank you for doing that. Uh I
know that uh it was Harp who did the um uh picnic the Hispanic picnic again a beautiful and nice event. So the next correspondent you have is for Sheldon. Yes. Next correspondence is from Sheldon's home team. I will read this.
Um hello Lisa. We deal with many building departments during our real estate transactions and many are not the most accommodating. So we just wanted to acknowledge how grateful we are to deal with you and the building department. You really are a pleasure to work with. And Cassander and I wanted to drop these
trees off just as a small token of our appreciation. Thanks again and we'll see you on the next deal. uh Sheldon Neil and Cassandra Baylor. So, this was just a letter uh stating how wonderful our building department is to work with with with Lisa. She got treats, too, huh? Should we ever find them out? No.
No. The treats were not true. All right. Well, maybe next time. If you could put that in her file, that would be great. Thank you so much. I will do that. And it's nice to hear that um our people are doing great stuff with our community. Yeah. Um we have to announce
Yes. Uh We our third piece of correspondence we have um is actually just announcing that a committee woman of PJ um will be stepping down um as liaison with the recreation committee
for reason um her I will uh her level of involvement has become too limited to affect the support the committee. Okay. Well, thank you for what you've
done so far. I'm sorry. Yes. But she states that she remains committed to helping in any way to ensure the continued success of recreation. Well, thank you, Jen, for everything you've done. You know, I can say probably all of us, we all appreciate a lot of it and it's a lot of work and uh
I I know that um you know, there's only two months left uh to go. Um but I understand you kind of restricted and I can understand that. Uh we have a great wreck team. Um and there's two months
left. So just for right now, if anybody needs a leazison, they can just call me. They're they're very they're very well organized and I know they deal directly with Dean uh who helps Matt a lot. Again, they I don't see any any um any reason to go through the whole leaison
thing again. But if they you know, if you want to call me a leazison, that's fine. They're they're really very organized from what I'm understanding. You're getting a lot of stuff done. I believe you have a lot of the stuff that they have a lot of the stuff already set up, right? There's my not too much much more, right? Okay. Again, thank
you. Appreciate it. Um what else do we have on that? Any other correspondence? No. Thank you. At this time, may I have a um motion to adopt the minutes for September 24, 2025? And
that's the public session and the executive session September 24th, 2025. I'll make the motion. May I have a second? I'll second. You have a roll call. I have such as woman. Yes.
Mayor Miller. Yes. Truinsky. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Here we have a motion to approve this agenda. Motion. I have a second. Second. Roll call, please. Committee woman, yes.
Committee woman, yes. Deputy Mayor Miller, yes. Maninsky, yes. Mayor Judge, yes. Very good. Thank you. Ministry's report. Thank you, mayor. And if I may just go back a little bit to that energy agreement. So, I do have to let the
county know we're opting in by October 15th. Um, so if this committee, if that's the way you want to go, let me know. I don't think I'd be able to provide you an actual number. I'd have to take our electric bills, fill it, figure it out. But understand we're still going to see if substant, you know, a 15% savings on our electric use
in the bills. I'll make a motion. Hold on. Hold on one second. Hold on one second. Do we already have uh until I say so about entering into the co-op? So the co-op we would we don't have to do anything because we passed a resolution
to allow me to look into it months ago. It this this is a voluntary optin and there's a form that's the last page of that form that's they're telling us is required literally that has to be approved. Correct. But we're not doing that tonight. I would I don't want a motion.
We need a motion for resolution. We need a resolution. Well, we can do the resolution to memorialize your action by resolution after meeting. We can vote on it tonight. Correct. Right. So we could put it down with the other resolutions. Yes. Right. You want to put it into that. So on the consent agenda.
Yeah. Yeah. Please add that. Thank you. Mr. Terinsky just made a motion not right now. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. And I apologize. I actually I actually thought it said October 25th, but I realiz Yeah, I put my reading glasses on there. I apologize.
No worries. No worries. I mean I understand reading glasses. Okay. So now we have the art of 14. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Um just an update on the elevation of homes. Again, we're the two homes that have uh continued in that prog that process and in that
project. Uh permits have been issued. Um so the builder is getting ready to move ahead on those. Uh the Howard Avenue trees within the next two weeks. I'm hoping we'll see all the trees planted. Originally, our hope was because of our it was two different uh
engineering firms. We were hoping to use the same tree vendor. Um, unfortunately the one doing the majority of Howard Avenue, uh, pricing came in a lot different for the smaller version of Howard Avenue. I spoke today with Negley Engineering. I think, you know, we'll line it up. Matter of fact, his vendor
is ready to move within a week. So, um, the trees will still be all approved in the same forms that, you know, the DPW and Jay Tree are aware of and, um, we'll we'll continue going forward there. I know a question came up recently about the tenants, uh, on the second floor.
I'm extremely happy and pleased to announce, you know, when I took that position over, mayor, the company that was running it for the township had gone bankrupt. We hadn't seen revenue probably in about a year and a half. Um, when I started, I literally would knock on doors upstairs, collect checks from
tenants as the administrator, and, you know, then realized it was best to bring in an outside service to help us. We're currently at full capacity. There actually are no empty office space upstairs. Uh last month alone, the rent um and revenue received by the township is $17,028.
And I can tell you in looking back over all the months it's been since um they've been running our landlord business or our port that part for us since that time. Um it's averaged between 11,000 and 20,000 a month. So
again, it's good to know that. I don't know of many other office spaces that are full. So I'm very happy with that. Um, I know you have a resolution on for tonight and I just wanted to touch base a little bit upon it. Uh, back when again when I took over in 2022, uh, Kathy Cerichi came to me and said, I I
really have a problem with this high sewer usage by this one company. And when u industrial user in town um, and it kind of fell flat on its face for for a long time until this committee uh, pushed and uh, gave me the professionals
uh that were able to get this agreement on tonight. So, I'm very happy and I think Kathy, Mr. Cino, and this committee should all get some credit. So, thank you again for giving giving us that opportunity to follow up and work steadfast to get this done for the residents of Rochel Park because again, it was lost revenue and now it's revenue
that'll offset uh taxes. One last thing I just learned today, uh a former grand marshal for Rochel Park from our Memorial Day parade, uh Mr. Frank Kieran passed away today at age 95. So, uh sad news. I hate to end on sad news, but for those who knew Mr.
Kieran. He was one of those, you know, he's his generation is they were special and he was a special guy. So, yes, that's very sad. Yeah, it is very sad. That's all I have. Mayor, I can give you a little history. There's the judges, the Monies, the
Morgans, and the Kieran. True. Seven, eight children in each family, and we all happen to be in the same grades. All these different for some reason it worked out that way. And I can tell you um the Kieran family was um very well respected and and as far as we
were all friends and that's what was a good part. We wrote community together amongst ourselves. There was quite a few of us. Um and Mr. Kieran I only saw him maybe a couple of months ago I remember and he was still working uh 90s something years old. 95
95 God bless right up until a couple weeks ago. Yeah. It's it's it's hard to hear that but you know um I know Mrs. Kieran passed away a few years ago too. About five it was I think it was around when my mother passed too. It was about five or six years ago and um um you know uh our
thoughts and prayers go to the family at this time and I believe I speak to the council when I say that. Would you let us know please if you hear any? Um absolutely I would. I appreciate that. Thank you. Okay. So the next we have is our attorney.
Well, actually uh Dean stole my thunder with the uh virus, but I do I do also want to uh extend uh the uh you know, it does take everybody involved. The mayor and the committee authorized me to pursue this aggressively, which is what we did. And uh Kathy and Dean were very
uh helpful in getting me the information I needed to take a hard line with the Laris. And the issue as I uh stated before with coming to a final conclusion was I wanted a commitment that they would continue to pay this going forward
and not just for what they owed. And the uh ultimately we were able to get the language in there that unless there's a change in the law that says that they can pay less or they don't have to pay which is unlikely to occur, they will continue to uh pay the uh township for
their uh usage. Mr. Spina, give a little bit of backstory why what they are paying for so the public understands. Right. So, uh, they're paying, uh, back for, uh, four four years that they, uh,
or some years they were build, some they weren't because the township, uh, professionals were under the impression that perhaps they were exempt from having to pay. This is for overage of sewage. Yes, this is for the storm the what they put into the system. They're classified
as a heavy user by the PCA. They give us the calculation and once they're characterized as they have a user, it's up to the municipality. They have the right to assess the cost or pass the cost on to that user, whoever they are. So in this case, we did compromise
somewhat, but they're going to pay retro for the four years that they didn't pay, they're going to pay. And again, going forward, they are going to pay as long as the law requires them to pay, which it will. and the township committee and the mayor have also authorized me to uh
prepare an audience which I should have for the next meeting which addresses all uh heavy users. So we have something in our own municipal audiences requiring the payment. Thank you very much for all your help Mrs. Patino on this because um it was brought to my attention and I
I couldn't believe the amount of money that was owed um and has been for years uh and going forward it can be uh collected now uh under this agreement and um we should have the rear in place
December the first payment it will be 5 days uh it's three payments I think it's like $168,000 total equal payments first payment5 5 days from when this agreement is signed, which I'm sure the mayor's anxious, it's not already signing it. And then the
second payment would be uh in November and the full third payment before December 1st. So with the town should have all rearages paid on or before December 1st of this year and that'll be for next year's budget, right? And that will be right. And that
money and they're going to pay again next year. And they're going to pay again next year, right? And this will be a resolution also to pay any other I'm sorry ordinance we're going to have go through and that would be for any other high users of this. Correct. Okay. One one other provision that I I think is outstanding here is that if they fail
to pay us all everything by December 1st then they have to not only pay us what they owe us but also the year of 2021. Right. So that was one of the things that we worked out with them. And um we're going to be watching for December 1st. That's what we're going to end up doing.
I know that Mr. contain a little beyond that. Uh, clerk's report. Mayor, just one thing. I just want to kindly remind everyone that we will be um open late next Tuesday, October 14th until 9:00 p.m. uh to accommodate my
voter registration. Again, this is the last day to register to vote for the November general election, which is scheduled to take place November 4th. So if you have any questions about elections and voting and voter registration, please contact um myself
at I'll give you the number 2011587730 extension 2020 2020 extension 2020. Okay, very good. Thank you. Also um the flu clinic is tomorrow. Yes, the flu clinic is going to be held tomorrow, October 9th, from
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Um, Shopright has graciously um agreed to host uh this year's flu clinic. It's going to be held at the senior center, 151 West Pac Street. Uh this will be open to all seniors disabled in Township and Flu.
Thank you very much. Okay, so that's uh tomorrow between 1 and 3:00 p.m. in the senior center. There's a little side office thing area that they're going to do it. Thank you, Chop right, for donating that for us. Appreciate that. Thank you. All right. So, next is any uh
new business. Now, I'd like to um ask Mr. uh Mr. Warren, anything with the shade tree with that? No, we're very excited about the going on. You've had Oh, yeah. I have to say this first year commission has been a learning experience to say
the least, right? Correct. Yeah. But we're getting it all good as we go and working with Dave and teachers and and engineering groups that we have. Why don't we go through this? Yeah, just for a second if you don't
mind. Can you just go for a second? I appreciate it. Thank you. I know there's a lot Excuse me. I know there's a lot going on with the trees being planted on Howard coming up. Yeah. No, just again that um everyone is communicating, I got to say, and uh we're all being in touch with each other, keeping each other on up to date
with what's happening because things can move fast. But the Howard app trees are going in. We had a an email chain back and forth about um the size of the trees, etc. But um like I said, this first year we are learning a lot that will take us into year two. That will be
very helpful. Um, and even say talking with Dean, I know mayor, you've asked us to look at to get some planters around town. Uh, we're in the midst of doing that right now. So, we have some money left in our budget that we'd like to do that for next spring. Maybe get some planters in front of the businesses on
Rochelle A, that strip mall. Um, so there's some greenery space there where um, Maestros is, etc. Um, so anyway, so I mean, things are are happening and uh, again, working with Dave's been great. Um, I met all the neighbors who got
trees on El Dorado and Crescent. They were for the most part very excited about it. Um, and um, you know, they can't wait for them to grow a little bit, their baby trees. So, um, but other than that, uh, what's the update on the watering truck? It'll be here by the end of October. I
know we're uh we thank God we got some rain and looks like in the forecast there's some more rain coming too. People seem seem to be okay helping out. In the meantime, we have had some drought conditions. So, if you can help water those trees, that'd be great. But we did visit everyone to hand out the flyer to them. Um, and the environmental
commission, we did the garden clean up. I guess I'll just do my homework thing right here for you guys. I might as well. Might as well. Um, the cleanup went very well. Uh, that whole space is ready. Um, we're just waiting for the leaves to fall, had the leaves taken out. Mr. Schwinsky helped get that fence down
that was in between, which actually was great because we now have a section where we think we could do a pollinator garden, not just to grow food. Um perhaps some small fruit trees, but um so we're just waiting for the next phase of the winter just so that um and Dave
said he him and his guys would get in there to to flatten some of the ground out. So um that should be ready to go for the spring. We'll have more information about that. So you got another event coming up? I have no idea what day it is. So, what day is this? Wednesday. I uh No. Oh, we have a
Well, there's a town cleanup, right? That's for team Marshall Park on the 18th. So, um anyone's welcome to come. We we we pick up trash and litter and uh that helps go toward clean communities grant, etc. Which, by the way, I've been reading the clean communities grant, so we'll I'll email you a couple things,
but um uh yes, that's coming up. And um Dean, did you mention about us getting connected to the other towns on the Saddle River? I did not. I don't if you want you want to talk about that because actually pretty it's pretty good news. I mean I don't know where it's going but it's literally in
my notes. I will and before you leave then I make my main there may um Mr. Warren got firsthand experience today learning why sometimes there's multiple week delays in municipal government. uh when he reached out to a vendor and was you know asking for pricing they said hey we can get that to you in about 13 to 18 weeks so not the
pricing but the material item and you mentioned pollinator and I I did have a conversation with the mayor of Parkridge over the weekend um and I might follow up on it they actually are hiring or bringing in a beekeeper uh for localized honey and I I think it you know something we should look into
we can look into it yeah that back section that yeah well we had a local res this is a service that comes in If you provide them the space, they in turn sell the honey and give you some. The the soil that was behind the fence that we were able to take down, that wooden fence, it's town property. We didn't we didn't knock down someone's
random fence, but town property, but uh the soil there is not sandy where it was sandy and the part that uh we're going to put the bed. So, um these I mean, I love them. They're great. Maybe a bench back there. I don't know. But I know people who were cleaning up want to
donate peach trees and all sorts of things. So, uh, we will get there. And back to the grant that Mr. Warner discussed. So, there's a, you may remember, one of our residents was here at last meeting talking about this $10 million, um, availability of a grant that's out there. I immediately followed up. Um, and thank you to another one of
our residents, Christina Holtz, for giving me the contact over at Bergen County. Um, county was still on the fence about it. I reached out to Pete Leiddo in Saddlebrook, had him reach out to the county. I think based on the interest from the municipalities of the Bergen County has now said they're actually going to pursue that grant.
We're one of the towns included as well. Saddle Brook, Loi, Pamis, Rididgewood, um if not more. So again, six towns. I wanted to say I want to acknowledge the town of committee for bringing back the environmental commission which I
think helped connect us with other town environmental commissions which carried some weight toward the county moving ahead on this. I mean, I know we're small, but they said, I saw the email, so we're on that list and and they're going to pursue it, which would be really nice. And I did read in the paper
the Colombia study was done. Sam Hoover, he's friend of mine. He uh has been pursuing that for months. And I have to talk to him on the phone a lot and we know Sam has a heavy French accent and um but he uh he really helped pursue that study. He was interviewed, etc. And
they they did recognize that Roshchel Park and Saddlebrook are two of the most high-risisk areas from the Saddle River flooding and that have the potential to really see harm that exceeds the amount of money we would ever be able to get
from federal government or whatever the case is. So, if we can do something with the river with that 10 million, that'd be great. So, I just wanted to thank you guys for restarting the commission. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Also, I wanted to ask U.
Pete, there's questions on on the resolution adoption of the annual update to flood plane management plan. Can you just talk a few minutes about that if you don't mind? You getting old? Just turn them on
on the bottom. No, just hit the button on the bottom. should turn red once you hit it and let go. Got it. Great. Okay. I took that document and I summarized it because I know you wanted to uh speak to it. I could just bring it down.
Sure. I could either just answer your questions director. Maybe it's better I just go through the summary first and then be happy to answer whatever questions there may be. Just Yeah, summary is good and then everybody has Yeah. Thank you. Okay. Yeah. I'm not going to go through the whole document. I got a lot highlighted here. Uh this is the Rushel
Park annual update to the flood mitigation plan and it's important to not to be confused with the other document that's floating around from the Columbia University graduate capstone project. Okay, the two excuse me, two distinct different things. Uh this is part of the Burbank
County hazardous mitigation plan. Um and which has been in effect probably since 1999 or early 2000 and it's updated every five years. So our flood plan uh that I have presented to you for adoption of a resolution is part of the hazard mitigation plan. Going back some
years ago, the mitigation plan used to be done individually. Each municipality had to submit one. It's probably been about two or three cycles, maybe the last 10 or 15 years, we've been doing this on a county level. Each municipality now submits it to the county. The county hired Michael Baker associates who, if you remember, uh
Eugene and I had attended the meeting with those folks and we had put together the plan. So this is in a sense part of that. It's although it's separate and apart, but it does interconnect with that. Um the annual update identifies potential hazards within Bergen County
and details way ways to reduce them. Uh specifically of interest to Rochelle Park is the flooding of the Saddle River in Sproutsbrook and the localized flooding, urban flooding during periods of heavy rain, which could be just as significant as what you see in the brook and in the river. This update notes 11
actions which we identified as our goal seeking funding opportunities either locally or federally uh or through the state. We are we need to identify these projects in this document or we will not be eligible for funding. Um, and in part what we identified is, and I'm not going
to go through all of them, but in part we identified installing a generator at Midland School and the Knights of Columbus for shelter operations, continue to coordinate with Bergen County and regional management of the Saddle River and the Morsala Street Bridge project, which is still ongoing. Uh, we clean up and dnag the Sprouts
Brook, DPW repair, reconstruct, storm water outfalls, discharging into the brook, and annual inspections to remove obstructions, all outlined in this plan, which we need to adopt. Uh the flood plate management plan needs to be submitted upon passage to the uh passage of the resolution to Bergen County OEM,
New Jersey State Police, OEM, FEMA. And as mentioned, these projects outlined will enable us for federal, state or other uh public monies um that's not included in the hazard mitigation plan. We're not eligible to receive those monies, grant monies or otherwise. And
this is just one element. There's several that are involved, but this is one element of that. the hazard mitigation uh plan. Bergen County officials identified five goals and objectives. Uh this plan also outlines um preserving national uh natural
environment, promoting public health and safety and Rochelle Parks priority and flooding. Some of what we do is mentioned in the update of the plan. uh the letters we mail to property owners in repetitive loss areas every year which is has to be included in this uh outlining awareness warning and response
capabilities which we do and the outreach programs the flood programs that we do every year. Um the OEM public outreach flood programs is part of our CRS the community rating system which um allows our residents to receive a discount in the flood insurance
premiums. Uh the DPW work also provides us with CRS credits and the OEM tiger dam that we just I say it's OEM but the Tiger Dam that we just purchased um which assists the um which keeps the flood waters out of the firehouse part of the EMS and OEM building which is all
part of this plan and identified as um as targets that we need to meet. Um the plan also outlines what's realistic and achievable for the protection of public private and p and private property. Uh a component of this plan addresses elevating dwellings. Okay,
which we're doing. Uh new building department land use ordinance adoption is also part of the activities of the hazard mitigation plan. We discussed back in January. James Di Maria was just starting to roll that out back then and I believe that's subject to uh
yeah to some discussion but to to approval which um yeah really put you put you in a tough spot. Yeah, it's understandable. This plan also outlines a component of the OEM alert emails uh which I send out on a regular basis looking for um really just to make you
aware that we could be looking at a potential issue with flooding uh whether it's localized or something more severe. Uh it also notes this plan um it also noted in this plan rather as Rushfield Park OEM met with the National Weather Service and Noah representatives uh to
improve the Saddle River monitoring gauge which we know is um uh is not going to happen with the current uh federal system and the uh funding detriment that we're we're seeing on the federal level to to all of the departments thanks to Doge. we're we're not going to see that funded and
um unfortunately it looks like we're going to be stuck with really not getting accurate readings but again it's outlined in this plan. The flood plane management plan also outlines other activities as part of the community rating system. Um public participation and what we have a
local emergency planning committee. We have business owners. We have administration. We have OEM certain we have some members of the public at large that sit with us in a minute a minimum of at least twice a year really to discuss the response and flood mitigation planning. Uh final draft is
updated is due this month and it'll be submitted to as I said Bergen County State Police OEM at FEMA. We should hear from Michael Baker Associates hopefully by the end of this month. Um regarding the Columbia University capstone report I read that report. I don't know if you had a chance to look at it and again not
to be confused with this. There's nothing in that report um that we didn't know 20 years ago. Um it really doesn't say anything different. And I just need to kind of put that in perspective going back um some years ago. And one of the reasons why I have to we have to make
the distinguishment between that program or that project that's out there in this is uh folks from we had a you had an opportunity to sit back in 2021 at the uh Load Boys Club when we put the disaster recovery center in place for the residents along the Saddle River and
and and I hope you're going to have better luck than than we have since 1977 because the towns that we that are part of this part of this project had basically had and their elected officials, the higherups that were there with their OEM coordinators, they said,
"Hey, Pete, look." He said, "I have in my town, without mentioning names, maybe 13% of the town floods. 87% doesn't." Another said, "I have 10% of the town floods. I got 90% doesn't. I have 18% of the town flood." Another one said 82 doesn't. Uh, and then that most are
rental properties. So, you're asking us to go ahead and start to spend some of our money and to start putting resources into this. The honest answer is the taxpayers aren't going to support it. So what RF plan does, uh, it addresses what's achievable, what's realistic, and what's attainable. Okay? And that's why
it's important it's it's adopted. Uh, and then we make that presentation once it's done to the Burbank County OEM, state police, and then FEMA. So at least within all of those projects that are outlined, and again, I didn't mention all of them. It's in it should be in that report, which I think it is, you will have the ability to be able to seek
funding. Okay? Okay. And if there's monies that are out there, uh, that's great. And if you could get it to en enhance some of the things that we're talking about, that's even better. But, um, I just want to let you know about 10 maybe 12 13 years ago, is probably better than 10
years. I was invited to attend what Loem uh, and their officials to testify before Congress regarding the flooding of the Saddle River. Unfortunately, due to a work commitment, I was unable to attend. But the conclusion reached um was that the cost estimate of reduced
flooding compared to the impact and the amount of residents and property uh presented didn't warrant the type of expenditures necessary to the areas of impact is so small compared to New Orleans, Houston, Miami, Fargo, North Dakota, and other states that suffer
more significant flooding than all of our towns combined. Basically what they said is um we're just not going to do it. Okay? Whether it's uh through federal monies or other monies that are out there, we're just not going to do it. So whatever we could do to help
enhance our ability as this flood mitigation plan outlines to get this through and then to continue having those conversations um you certainly do whatever you can, but I will tell you uh hope is not an option. I mean hope is not a plan rather and failure is not an option. M
so you know either one way or another we're going to have to deal with this. Our focus is going to be through this um update to the flood mitigation plan is really dealing with the things that we could deal with. Okay, which is outlined in this plan. Um we're not going to be able to stop the flooding. Okay. The
only thing we need to be able to do is respond to it effectively and efficiently. Okay. And that's what what this outlines. Okay. So I don't know. I mean that was a summary, believe it or not. Okay. How many minutes did you give him? I know I still have 30 seconds left. I think
that was a that was a good summary that the you know concerns of course with everybody who happens to be in a flood area which in my area down in the mayor's area um you know was considered some areas not wood whatever I didn't flood and but I was there when it
happened and I saw the devastation. So well other you know the government says well these people flood worse than you that's fine for them but for the residents that have to deal with it three four whatever many times it's not
good enough for me or anybody I think on this things I think that we all have the same thing I appreciate you putting this through for any federal funding that we can get I know we're looking at the 10 million also that the the six six I think it's six towns right I think that we're all involved in it yes
any way we can try. When I was growing up, and I can tell everybody this because I've been here all my life, years ago, the Saddle River was dredged. And how it was dredged was with a big like a backho thing and it looked like a shovel in the front. Uh so if you're you
know if you call it the sand pit, you know you're a county. Um and it used to come down very slow every few years and then they stopped doing that and I I believe it came in for whatever reason. And unfortunately um a lot of flooding
happened from that cuz the as Brook goes with that they go in conjunction with each other. This is um this is something that hopefully we can get some kind of grants for. We have the county looking for us trying to help us out also. Um and I appreciate you putting all of this
together. Yep. Though if you are I do remember actually when the brook was when the river rather was Do you remember? I do. That was probably the last time because we suffered in 77 the election day Floyd which was pretty much equal to what we had in Floyd maybe a little less than what we had in
well I'm going to be honest with you I don't remember being that bad down at the maze I remember I remember some houses getting it but Floyd destroyed how a revenue and as far as I'm concerned I can remember distinctly I was probably one of the few people that stayed and I I you know I
stay for you know a reason um but um it it destroyed it for a very long time and those Those people suffered at least four times with a loss of everything in their homes. A loss of everything. So this is why this new one that's coming through with the 50% of the loss with
flooding is mindboggling to me because you know with insurance companies and everything else then they would have to raise their houses if it goes above it. We have no choice. We have to accept that. You know that seems to be the answer instead of fixing the problem. Okay,
which again they're saying the amount of money it's going to take to really fix it is just exorbitant. So their answer is you have to elevate. Okay, we're taking that a little bit further. We're saying all right, you have to elevate. We right now it's not mandatory. The ordinance though at some point perhaps
will trigger a mandate to elevate. But some of the other things that we're doing which is all part of that CRS with the DPW u out there with the Brooks and and cleaning out the the storm drains before a major incident. um the programs that we're doing all of those criteria that fall
into this community rating system is you know right now is uh that's attainable and achievable. It would also just so you know uh mayor and council we're also right now we're at a at a class 7 at 15%. We're looking to get to a 20% discount. We're working with Monica
and putting other activities together and some of the other things we do and I think maybe through even some of your efforts. I don't know if that's going to qualify or not. We have to look at their criteria, but we're hope our goal is to try and get at least to a 20% discount. You know, we were at a five, then a 10. We're currently at a 15. Our our
that discount is for their insurance for the flood insurance. Flood insurance, right? But let me just qualify that. Say that's flood insurance underwritten by the NFIP, the National Flood Insurance Program, which is FEMA backed. Any private insurance companies that are not FEMA or NFIP backed don't qualify for
that discount. Okay. So, everybody understands that that that's what the the difference is. Yes. You could have private insurance, right, through your homeowners or through FEMA NFIC insurance NFIP, National Insurance.
So that's where they get the percentage of only on those policies that are written. Yeah. Anything private doesn't unfortunately doesn't qualify. Well, thank you Pete for putting this all together and giving a quick review. I appreciate your time. Thank you. Quick review would No, it was very good. Anybody have any
questions before Mr. Can you leave? No. Okay. Thank you again. Okay. Thank you. All right. So, that's another new business. All right. So, let's see. We have now public participation. Excuse me. May I have a motion um to open to the
public? I'll make the motion. May I have a second? Roll call. Committee woman. Yes. Committee woman. Yes. Deputy Mayor Miller. Yes. Minsky. Yes. Mayor Josh, yes. Okay. So, we are now open to the
public. Council, yes. Uh, everyone is limited to uh 3 minutes. Please state your name, your name, and the town in which you reside at the mayor's discretion. Your time may be extended. Thank you. Anybody from the public like to speak?
Sure. How are you guys? My name is Jack Rener. I'm a Rosha Park resident. Uh, my daughter is a fourth generation Rosha Park resident. I uh I contacted a couple of you guys over the week. Uh sent you an email regarding this woman right here. Um she made false
allegations against me uh and said she was going to contact Dyus. Uh I just had Dyus show up to my house today. Interviewed my child at school. Just so you know, all your text messages between you and your husband are being posted on my Facebook. Your group messages from yesterday. Nicole gave them to me. You
think I stole them? You got another thing coming. Have a good day. Mr. Governor, let me just answer about the um email council. Would you please address that? Uh yes. Uh the mayor consulted me with respect to your email and and in response. And
as I said to the mayor after reading the letter, the the committee person you're referring to did not act in her capacity as a committee member. The letter wasn't signed as a committee member. She didn't represent that she was acting on behalf of the governing body. Okay. So because of that, it really is a I know it's not a town rather,
right? So, so it was because it wasn't a town matter that I instructed the mayor she shouldn't respond because I understand that because that could then create liability on the town. Why is the town whether it's the mayor or an individual committee person getting involved in a personal issue?
I just wanted everybody to be aware of the type of person that she is. [Music] Thank you. I'm sorry. Hi. Hi. I'm Lauren Telson. I reside in Roshaw Park. Madison Lauren Lauren Ellison Madison Rener's mom um I
reside in Rochelle Park um saw the letter um I'm an educated woman very educated you can ask anyone have multiple degrees I can put two and two together um I can't believe as a parent you would do something like that because
as a mom to go after another parent like that is terrible even the threat the threat of it is terrible that you would even do that. What kind of woman, what kind of mother would do something like that? To put another mother at risk of
losing her child because you're mad about a Facebook post. No, you are a terrible, terrible person. If you did this, I saw the messages. I know it was you. And I know there's multiple people in this town who
are also just with you with this. Terrible people. Terrible. I have been in this town since I was 15. You can ask Dean Pinto. He knows me. You're a terrible woman for doing this and a mother. What kind of mother does
that? You're a despicable woman. And don't worry because my attorney is very well prepared to come after you. Okay. Thank you. Um, anyone else, please? Mr. Warren.
Okay. Um, just wanted to Hi, I'm Michael Warren. Hi. How are you? 181 West Sol Street. Um, I'm very glad this township committee is pursuing all avenues when it comes to flooding. Because if I had an employee who constantly [ __ ] on other
people's plans to try to help with flooding because they're so insecure about themselves and they always have to be right about flooding, I would fire that employee. It is constantly the I swear to God whenever someone talks about flooding
other than the one employee who can only talk about it, it's very disheartening to hear. Nothing can be done. It's too much money. Congress said this. Congress said that. My view, we should never stop trying. We should pursue
every avenue. And I don't know what it is about the insecurity that we have to [ __ ] on the Columbia University study. Bunch of college kids who want to change the world.
To me, that's sick. This study hurts nobody. It threatens nobody's job. But yet, we have to make sure we know that that's a bad plan and that we should not be pursuing anything other than the good plan that's
presented. I hope you guys heard what I heard tonight. Only their word is law when it comes to flood and no other avenue should be explored. Residents don't want to hear you're
getting a discount on flooding. They want to hear the flooding will end. What can we do? The federal government, I can't tell you if they're coming anymore, guys. They're not going to North Carolina. They're not going to Florida. Uh home insurance
companies are cancelling policies. So, it's nice. might get a discount, but that might go away. We need to make enough noise. Yes, it costs money to fix that that river. It costs money to fix a lot of stuff in this country.
We find it somehow. I just don't get the need to really look down upon a bunch of college kids who interviewed people who took this up as a passion project to try to find avenues. And because of this university plan or study, the county is
now re-examining it. Is 10 million enough? Probably not. Probably very little. But if I had that employee work for me, I'd fire them. That's my personal opinion. I just can't deal with the negativity and the insecurity. So, thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Warm. I'm just going to make this very clear. I think that um my uh I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I I don't think and it's my opinion and it's I'm going to speak for myself, but I I'm hope I'm
speaking for this committee. I don't think we're ever going to try to stop somehow looking for some way to help with the flooding. Good. I know I'm not I've already reached out I don't think any of you guys are I don't think any of you are
what I said I don't think any of you are going to stop and I hope that's the truth because I I can tell you I've I've reached out to legislation already. Okay. This this um that you're talking about with the with the college students. Uh I saw the meeting when they presented
it to the county. I brought it up to Dean. I said take a look at it because he was there with the commissioners. Um I I I know the the heartache and I saw that heartache and I don't think I or anyone else.
Yeah. I mean thousands of people are affected by it. Not just people in Marshall Park, but thousands of people are affected by it. Thousands. And I think the study is not a bad thing to go on either. And if the county's looking at it, maybe the government, the federal, I don't know where it's going to go. Instead of saying that's no good, why
don't you try working together instead of saying who's got the better plan? I work with a lot of men too in my life. It's always about the measurements if you get my drift. You know, Dean, if a cop came to you and said every day, can't stop the crime, Dean. Can't stop
the crime. You want them on your force? I don't know. That's just my opinion, but thank you, mayor. I understand. Thank you for your time. All right. Thank you. Is there anyone else, please? Yes, Mr. Don. And you know, I hate to do this, but notwithstanding
the tantrum or the flail in their arms, um the facts are the facts. And no one is ever saying that that study that was uh that was put out there wasn't good. Okay? What we're saying, what we're saying what we're saying is in that uh in in that plan, it's just um
look, it is what it is. The facts are the facts. This has been going on since 1977, since 1945. Okay? And the answers are um really what what they are. I mean, if we can't stop it, then we have to take preventative ways to to do this, right? I understand what you're saying,
Mr. Donatella, but I don't think we're going to stop trying to pursue it whatever way we can. And that wasn't my No, I understand what you're saying. Yeah, that was not my I understand what your plan is, but I also look at I've read that study also. I did read that study, and I'm not going to defend anybody here. I'm I'm
staying neutral, but I think that anyway your way is not good. We're all going to try to move forward and try to look at any way we can look at to somehow whether it's even getting grants through what your program is, right? That could
help us with money to work toward maybe dredging something else. You know, I I I don't want to I again, I'm going to stay neutral on this and I'm not going to minimize any study anything that comes out. I I did read both so I appreciate it and I don't want any arguing with us.
I think it's best to look at both and say, "Well, this could help this way and maybe this way can help with the other plans." Right? We're encouraging that. That that is absolutely the the encouragement and also understand this is not my plan. Okay? This is not Rochelle Park's plan.
This is accumulation. Okay. Of work that was done by a friend that you have to present from Rochelle Park. Correct. That is correct. Right. But it's not something that I sat alone and put together. Right. Okay. There was a lot involved. Okay. And it's taking into consideration all of the uh all of the elements that I
just mentioned. So look, again, regardless of someone else's insecurities or their tantrums or flailing their arms, the plan is the plan. It is what it is. And I think together perhaps, okay, if there wasn't maybe such an ego, okay, that yeah, maybe a sit down would be warranted. Maybe we'd be able to sit down and work
together. Okay, my door is always open. My phone is always available. My email is always accessible. Okay, I have no problem sitting with anyone. We put together an LEPC or local emergency planning committee, right? Dealing with flood right after Ida in 2021. Okay. Um
I don't see him on the committee. Okay. More than welcome to have anybody uh don't remember the gentleman's name. The French individual uh s he sat in on the committee with us. Okay. once or twice. More than welcome to have him or anyone else involved to
sit with us. Okay. This plan is going to be updated yearly. We'll know better when the hazard mitigation plan from the county is put together. But this plan is made up of county officials, state, local officials, and municipal officials. It's not just Roshchel Parks plan. Okay. We specifically deal with our
issues, but that plan is everybody in the counties. Got it. Okay. Got it. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else, please? Yeah, I'd like to chime in on that. So just to summarize, I think the end of the story is we're not going to give up our resources that are available to us to provide relief for the current
conditions that we're in, but we're not going to stop seeking to solve the problem. That's right. Right. That's right. Okay. I believe I said to I believe this whole committee believes Thank you everybody for your efforts. I believe you all believe in that. Right. We all absolutely engage. Okay. Great. Anyone else, please?
All right. Hearing or seeing no one, may I have a motion to close the public. Make a motion. I have a second. Second. Third. Yes, you're the third. So, there is no introduction of ordinance. Us.
I'm sorry. Ro committee. Yes. Committee woman. Yes. Deputy Mayor Miller. Yes. Committee. Yes. Yes. All right. So, we have the next one which is for the Why do you have none on here for the introduction of this? This is going to be for the adoption of the
ordinance. Right. Okay. We're adopting this ordinance because we did it last time. Yes. Would you please read the ordinance? Um, Madam Chair. Ordinance number 1250-25, amendment chapter 161 entitled streets and sidewalks. Thank you. May I have a motion to open
1250-25 to the public? Motion. May I have a second? Second. Roll call. Woman. Yes. Woman Arola. Yes. Deputy Mayor Miller. Yes. Mayor Schwinsky. Yes. Cabella. Yes. Okay. This um ordinance is open to
the public for any comments, questions. Question. Nope. All right. Hearing or seeing I may have a motion to close to the public. 12 1250-25. Motion. Second. Second. Roll call. Committee. Yes.
Committee woman. Yes. Deputy Mayor Miller. Yes. Committee. Yes. Judge. Yes. All right. May I have a motion to adopt this ordinance 1250-25 to adopt? Motion to adopt. Second. Roll call.
Committee woman. Yes. Committ. Yes. Deputy Mayor Miller. Yes. Committee man. Yes. Yes. Motion passes. All right. So now we're going to have this um on the uh consent agenda. for adding 267 which is authorization of the optin
for number 25-267 and it's the optin for electric generation supply service and this would be the optin for the renewable energy part portion of that
Okay. All right. Did you have to read anything there? No. Great. Agenda. All items listed below are considered to be routine and non-controversial by the task of committee and will be approved by one at motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items
unless a committee member or citizen so requests in which case the items will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in a normal sequence on the agenda as part of our general orders. So we have uh resolutions
25-262 263 264 265 266 and now we have 267. Correct. Everybody have pull that together. Perfect. Now I may have a motion to approve this
consent agenda. I'll make the motion. May I have a second? I'll second. Roll call. Committee woman. Yes. Committee woman. Yes. Deputy Mayor Miller. Yes. Maninsky. Yes. Yes. All righty, sir. We're going to
have the adjouring. Our next meeting will be October 22nd, 20 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Mayor, may I just add? Sorry. I unfortunately will not be at the October 22nd meeting. I have a work commitment, so I just want to share that now. Okay. Thank you. Is there anything you'd
like to speak about before I close this meeting? Nope. Sure. Yeah. questions. If there's anything I I'll I'll be happy. Yeah, I'll send you my report. I appreciate that. All right. And we have the senior meeting is tomorrow.
Everybody knows that. And we'll go from there. So, may I have a motion to uh journ the meeting? I'll second. All in favor? I any Okay. Motion.
Good night. Good night. Or you want this folder.