Now he's back because was about the Fourth of July thing when I got here. I missed the whole thing. Like I get it. I get it, but like at 3:00 I
tell people 3:00 change like a day or two. It's not that easy for us. Like I can't change, you know. I got here. It's hard. You're one minute left. 659.
>> I'd like to call the July 14th council meeting to order and start with the flag salute. 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. >> Moment of silence. Remember the service and sacrifices of the armed service members who protect our nation and the first responders who protect our neighborhoods. I'd like to give a uh special mention to uh serial Wowski. Um
former member of the Bhin Council, son is on the Birwood Fire Department. Uh good public servant. Uh his father passed away uh yesterday. Eric's father passed away uh late last night. So I wanted to mention that. Did you >> That was the same. >> Yeah, same as well. >> Okay.
He over 40 40 years he was uh serving for elected office. Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Salberg >> here. >> Council member Wovich >> here. >> Council member Freelander >> here. >> Council member Royek
>> here. >> Council member Freed >> here. >> Council member Quinn >> here. >> Council member Kelly >> here. >> Council Vice President Sackett >> here. >> Council President Marson >> here. Adequate notice of this meeting was
provided to the daily record in the official newspapers for the township of Rockway. Notice was posted on the official bullet boards of Rockaway Township, the township website, and notice was filed in the office of the township clerk. Uh before we start the business of the meeting, I'm going to hand over the room to Mayor Joe Jackson.
Uh I will also say that immediately following uh your presentation, we'll take a short break um for pictures. Thank you, Council President. Excuse my back, council. So could I have the members of uh Rockway Tunch of Unico and
Substance Abuse Alliance come up front? So um we want to do a presentation today um to the substance abuse alliance. I wanted to say a few things before I turn it over to the chapter president. Um the Wexler family uh created the substance abuse alliance
about 30 years ago. They're the type of people they saw a problem. They didn't complain about it. They didn't point fingers. They came up with a solution and they executed the solution. And they've been deeply involved in the community, in the school system, um,
with everything they've done for almost the past 30 years. And it made a difference to the lives of hundreds if not thousands of children in our school system. So to honor them, uh the UNICO chapter Rockway, who by the way over the past two years has donated almost
$60,000 to different charities in the area, scholarships to students. So again, this group of people does incredible work um for your community. Um daytoday food drives, probably 400 bags of groceries in the past two years we've
collected for people in need. So just two great groups came together and did something wonderful. So, I'll turn it over. >> Hi, thank you for having us this evening. Um, there's a lot of people to thank for this um event. Friends and
family, um, state, local, and county organizations, our local PBA that um, came and supported us. Um, Rockaway Township Substance Abuse Alliance, um, does a lot of great, wonderful things for our community, specifically for our youth, because they
educate our children about the dangers of substance abuse and alcohol abuse. So, um, every year we do the Danbell Citizenship Dinner. We find a local organization that is very good to our community and helps us in many ways. So this year we selected um the substance
abuse Rockway Township Substance Abuse Alliance in conjunction with um Joe Bell and his family. We held the dinner um and we are honored this year to present them with a check in order to help them continue what they do for our children
um a check in the amount of $14,000 um to hopefully help them in in what they do going forward. We're very honored to do this for you. >> [applause] >> If I can have um Frank is our um vice president from um National Unico, so I'm
going to have him help present along with um our members. The chat, >> you guys can come up front if you want to take a picture. Way to go. [applause] >> Thank you all. Thank you.
I also like to thank um Councilman Freedellander who plays a big part in the substitution alliance, Councilman Quinn, his wife who came um to the dinner, Councilman Roy who came to dinner, and Council President Morrison who donated to the substitution
alliance. Um so on the theme, first just say it's great to see the RTPD in the back with a great presence. So appreciate you all being here. Um, next, you know, along the theme of doing things for community, I'd like to call up Jared, Brendan, and Kathy if you're
here tonight, Chief. And uh, we have a special awards to give out and I'm going to turn it over to the chief first. >> Good evening, everybody. Uh we'd like to welcome you uh this at this time
a and fortunately for us we have three amazing individuals uh they're standing to my left that decided on uh one evening in Rockaway Township not to just drive by uh an incident in a problem but
to actually engage get involved stop and help uh somebody that was in serious need of help. All right. Uh that being said, on behalf of the Rockway Tancha Police Department, it is with great pride and sincere appreciation we
recognize civilians and an offduty uh police officer Brenda Stoppa, Kathy Finkele, and offduty officer Jared Holik for the extraordinary actions during a motor vehicle crash with serious
injuries to a motorcycle rider. On April 28th, 2026, at approximately 1839 hours, the Rockway Township Police Department received numerous 911 telephone calls reporting a downed motorcyclist. Callers reported that the motorcycle
rider had just collided with an SUV that was stopped in traffic on Green Pond Road, south of the area of 789 Green Pond Road. While the Rockway Township police officers were in route, three citizens, Brenda Stoopa,
Kathy Finkele, and offduty officer Jared Holik began rendering first aid and life-saving measures on the injured motorcyclist who was unconscious and unresponsive.
Brenda and Jared immediately began CPR and were able to revive the motorcyclist and gain a pulse back again. Brenda Stoop and Jared Hokus remained with the injured motorcyclist until responding officers
arrived at the scene. They all assisted with ensuring he was safely loaded in the ambulance for ultimate transport to Morristown. Through their coordinated and decisive life-saving efforts, Brenda
Stoopa, Kathy Finkele, and Jared Holik were instrumental in saving an injured citizen's life. The actions taken that night truly exemplify
the highest regard for others in need. their combined efforts, their medical training and their willingness to stop, help, and get involved for a person in need are a reflection of their exemplary
character as well as a demonstration of the care and compassion they have for others. So, in recognition of their heroic actions and lifesaving efforts, the Rockway Township Police Department would like to present them
with a life-saving award. [applause] Thanks. >> Thank you all. Thank you sir. [applause] >> All right, we're going to take a five minute if anybody wants to come up for pictures. Where's Machafano? Italy.
>> You don't know [clears throat] where your partner is? >> Okay. All right, we're going to pick up the meeting. What a what a great show of like brotherhood for like all those police officers to come here and support, you
know. It's it's really really nice to see. Okay. Uh approval of the minutes. Uh June 9th Township Council meeting. Can I have a motion? So move. >> Second. >> Cler, please take the role.
>> Council member Salberg. >> Yes. >> Council member Boyovich. >> Yes. >> Council member Freelander. >> Abstain. >> Council member Royek. >> Yes. >> Council member Freed. >> Yes. >> Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> no.
>> Council Vice President Zackett, >> yes. >> Council President Morrison, >> yes. Seven yeses, one no, one abstension. Motion passes. Uh March 14th special budget meeting. >> Council President. >> Yes. >> Just a quick question. Um I did not see
in the minutes anywhere about the um discussion with a motion made or request made from council for opening a tab or reopening a tab. Okay. Was that an error? Was that something that was inadvertently left out or >> I didn't generate Can we uh shut that
door? Thank you. >> Uh, I haven't looked at all 461 pages of the of the minutes. >> You didn't read the minutes before approval. >> 461 pages. >> Transcript. >> Is there a motion on the table? >> So moved. I'll second. Cler, please take
the role. >> Council member Sberg. >> Yes. >> Council member Voytovich? >> Yes. >> Council member Freellander. >> Yes. >> Council member Roy. Yes. >> Council member Freed. >> Yes. >> Council member Quinn. >> Yes. >> Council member Kelly.
>> No. >> Council Vice President Sacket. >> Yes. >> Council President Marson. >> Yes. Eight yeses, one no. Motion carries. >> Okay. Before opening the public portion of the meeting, I want to remind everybody of
the rules that apply to anyone who wants to address the council. Any member of the public wishing to address the council will have three minutes to do so. While an extension of time may be requested, it should not be assumed that an extension of time will be granted. While addressing the council, members of the public may not address or question
any individual council member. If anyone addressing the council violates these rules or conducts themselves inappropriately, their speaking opportunity will be terminated and they will be instructed to return to their seat. A refusal to comply will result in removal from the room. Members of the public in attendance may not make
comments from the audience without recognition by the chair. Persons doing so will be subject to removal from the room. As council president, I have tremendous [clears throat] respect for my fellow council members and the public who take the time and effort to attend council meetings. These rules are necessary to protect and respect, but also to permit the council to do its
business in an orderly and professional manner. When I call your name, please approach the microphone. Uh state your name and address for the record and there will be a 30 minute time limit. Christy Curillu Curu Laru. I'm sorry.
>> I know nobody >> Christy C. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Christy Kilu, 562 Mountain Hope Road. Um I've had meaning to come here, but I travel a lot for work. Uh so my apologies for that, but I have been watching online. Um I just wanted to first take the opportunity, it's a shame they left, to thank the um police
department for um doing so much to enforce the rules on Mount Hope Road. It really has made a difference and it certainly hasn't gone unnoticed by our community. Um, there's still a lot more to come and I hope that we won't take our foot off the gas. Thank you also for attending that Silicon meeting. Um, so, uh, you know, there's still more to do.
We're also still having problems with the ponds, but I'm not prepared to speak about that tonight. So, I'm going to save that for another day. A lot of people have been giving me information. I just haven't had time to process. Um, another thing I wanted to talk about is I hear a lot about decorum um, within the council. I was a little shocked um at some of the activity during the first
meeting that I attended. And I really call it behavior, almost like a toddler's behavior, right? Behavior. We all have different behaviors. And I know what it's like to sit on a board with people you don't get along with. I know what it's like to have the public coming in yelling at you or saying things you don't like. I was on the board of education for six years. You know, we've
been called clowns and everything else. Um, but I will say that just because we don't like what each other is saying, just because we don't like the public is asking, doesn't really give us a pass not to address or answer the questions. So, if a public member is saying we're not following process, I would like to
see the council be able to be a council and say, "No, we are following the process and this is what the process is," whether it be that night or online some point later. Um, because I want to have faith in my council that they're doing the right thing. Um, I also want to just ensure that when there's things that are not being done that we
understand the why. So, for instance, not addressing I I supposed to call you guys out, but one of the council members addressing uh, you know, meetings with electric company. I've been having more outages at my house than I've had in the past couple years. I don't know why. So, if we're talking to electric company, I
would like us to. If we're not, I'd like to know why. Um, and then in addition to that, um, you know, there's been talk of, you know, that certain council members can't go out and represent the council, but then other council members can talk to like the, uh, man, uh, the managers at the Rockaway U Township Mall
or, you know, you helped me with Tilcon, you know. So, I just want to understand where the balance is. And so if we're deciding not to do something or not to answer something or to get or or pay an attorney to combat each other, which seems like is the case as well, you know, I just want to know like the why behind it because I I'm a taxpayer. I'm
not trying to start a fight here. I'm not going to yell at anybody. I just want to understand the why. So, thank you very much again for your help with the the ponds and with the trucks. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. Uh just as a note um Alth DPW director
has a very good relationship with our uh utilities. Um a lot of you know the communications and things get coordinated through him. Sorry to put you on the spot right now but uh you know there there is not a void of communication between the town. Um it's
Al's job and he does it very well. You're welcome. Uh Dana Tabadella Dana Tabella, 31 Omaha Avenue. Accountability means more than making a statement. It means being able to support it. When public officials make statements to justify their actions,
those statements should be truthful, consistent, and supported by verifiable facts. What started out to be a simple question about the budget process has evolved into months of back and forth discussion that exposed a much larger issue, a lack of transparency and accountability. In this case, Council
President Howard Morrison publicly stated the budget tab could not be reopened because he had obtained a legal opinion during the lunch break. Yet, when questioned, the the attorney seemed caught off guard. Said he was not prepared to answer something that he had already supposedly given an opinion on.
Also, Mr. Morrison's explanation didn't make sense about getting legal advice at lunchtime when the refusal to open the budget didn't happen till 3:22 in the afternoon. A subsequent explanation provided by Mr. Morrison claimed that the legal opinion was sought because of Councilman Wutovic had requested during
um reopening of the budget before lunch. However, this was not supported by the archive meeting footage. Furthermore, Mr. Morrison portrays that my questions were answered through Oprah requests. However, he's aware that the responses have been that there's no government records responsive to my request or that
the clerk is unable to identify the document that Mr. Morrison is referring to because it's not her job to research. Mr. Morrison was CCd on the email so he had the opportunity to identify that document, but he refuses to do so. Yet, sitting behind this deis, Mr. Morrison
was uh repeatedly tried to discredit me, pretend my question was answered. The archived meetings and the opera responses do not support this and actually discredits him. Public confidence depends on elected officials providing accurate, verifiable explanations for their decisions. When
explanations change and supporting documentation cannot be produced, it's reasonable for residents to continue asking questions. An elected official cannot sink much lower than trying to portray the taxpayer as the problem when it's the elected official who refuses to be transparent. And it's not a good look
for any of the other council members to sit quietly while it happens. And it's a little disturbing to hear that this uh reopening of the budget, I just heard Mr. Kelly say that it's not even in the minutes. We've been going back and forth about it for months and it's not even
reflected in the minutes. So, um, as a matter of fact, when I read some of the minutes, it seems like it's storytelling using uh words like contentious. The minutes are supposed to be something that is reflecting about what happens,
not about people's feelings and and trying to tell the story that you want to tell. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Kathleen Corrosa. Did I say it right? >> Thank you. >> Is that with a C or a K? >> Kathleen with a K.
>> K. Corrosa with a C. Kathleen Corrosa 11 Debbie Place um Dover mailing address. Um I want to first off thank you for um bringing forth for the mayor for bringing forth and and the town council the ordinance amending the land use. Um
and I just want to speak in favor of um stopping data centers from being in Rockaway. Um, you've all heard all of the reasons why, so I'm not going to belabor it, but I also wanted to say two thank yous. So, the first is to all of
you who helped to bring the moving wall here to town. I was able to pay respects to a friend who who a friend's husband who was lost at 21 when they were just married for five months and to four men who were friends of a good friend of
mine who passed away recently who were um his brothers from um West Point. And the second thank you is to the health department. Um I became aware recently my daughter who went to um Birwood and Copelan was diagnosed with a
prolactinoma which is a benign pituitary tumor a couple of years ago. And as it turns out I know of five other young adults from Rockaway. Um two who grew up in Birwood and three who two three who grew up in Birwood and two who grew up in White Meadow Lake. Um all went to
Copelan. They all have this and we were able to ascertain through the work with the health department that this is something that the state does track even though it is not a malignant tumor. So for any of you who might be hearing about this, it would be important for um
people to report it and track it and and the physicians do do that. So I want to thank them for their help because they went out of their way to connect me with the Department of Health at the state level. Thanks. >> Thank you. April Royal.
April Royal 142 Worn Court. Good evening. I am asking you to take immediate action to prohibit or at the very least severely restrict the use of flock safety cameras and all automatic license plate readers in Rockway
Township. This is not simply about technology. It is about whether our community accepts the normalization of mass surveillance. Every vehicle that passes one of these cameras is recorded regardless of whether the driver has done anything wrong. That means law-abiding residents
have their movements captured, logged, and stored simply because they chose to drive through their own town. Over time, this creates a detailed record of where people live, work, worship, receive medical care, and whom they visit. That is not targeted
policing. It is indiscriminate surveillance. The question before you is not whether these cameras can sometimes help solve crimes. Nearly any surveillance te technology can produce examples of of success. The real question is whether
those benefits justify treating every residents every resident as a data point to be tracked. In a free society, government surveillance should be the exception and not default. Once this surveillance infrastructure is
built, it rarely shrinks. Databases grow. Data sharing expands. More cameras are at are added. The public gradually loses privacy one camera at a time. History has shown that powers granted to government are seldom surrendered
voluntarily. If these systems remain, there must be strict safeguards, the shortest possible data retention period, no indiscriminate data sharing, complete transparency, independent oversight, regular p public
audits, and meaningful penalties for misuse. But I believe the better course is to reject this technology altogether. Rockaway Township has an opportunity to lead by protecting both public safety and the constitutional rights of its
residents. I urge you to put the privacy of your constituents ahead of the expansion of government surveillance and take immediate action to ban or severely restrict automatic license plate readers in our community. Thank you. >> Council President, could I just make a
comment or a question? Yeah, go ahead. Uh, Mrs. Royal, could you come back up here, please? >> Yes. >> I just wanted a question on something. Uh, and I appreciate you coming to the microphone and taking your three minutes uh at the public portion in regards to the, uh, cameras that you're addressing
just now. Um, has there been any research in regards to a Supreme Court ruling that allows these cameras to be utilized in the exact way that you are against? Are you aware of one? No. >> Um, also are you aware of the good that
has come out that those cameras that you addressing that you object to? >> Mr. Kelly, I'm not looking for This is not a cross. Please have a seat. This is not a cross-examination. >> Um, I I appreciate where you're coming from, but that's not the point. >> I just want to know if any criminals occurs. >> You look up.
>> Yeah, exactly. >> Excuse me. I have the floor. >> You I'm rescending your time, Mr. Kelly. You're out of line. >> I'm just wondering if she >> You're out of line, Mr. Kelly. you. Yeah, I I apologize, Miss Royal. It's not how we should be operating
here. Um, Gina Fo Howard, is this for her presentation or is this for the open to the public portion? You You may go ahead. Come on. >> [snorts] >> That's In the essence of time, do you want to
give We can forward this out if you like. I can put that uh put the presentation on there. [clears throat] >> No, no, I understand. I mean, I either want I want to let you present that. Either you could do it. There you go.
Yeah, I'll get you. >> So, we could uh Well, if it's got your desktop on, it's just reading the wrong screen. You put it in presentation mode. >> Mr. Spe, is there anything that the clerk could assist you with since you guys uh practice it today?
>> Yeah, I just need >> Yeah, good. Thank you. >> The clerk spent around 45 minutes with her. So, Misso, in the essence of time, here's what I would suggest. Um, I'd be happy to give you the time today without the presentation or if you want to come back the next time with the presentation. >> I'll start and then I'll just see if I
can get it to work because I have it all ready for. Thank you. I'm sorry about the technical difficulties that we're experiencing today. I don't know what happened because um I was here twice and it was able to work um and I don't know
why it's not now. Um but um I'm speaking with you today on the importance of um community mental health and I'm calling on the council here to um be able to create a committee. I have
a presentation and I just don't know why it's not showing up because this has all the um necessary [clears throat] information. But um I'm just start with introducing myself. Um my name is Gina Fo and um I've lived here since 1996.
Um I'm a certified trauma care practitioner. Um so that means I had to go through rigorous training to understand the nuances of trauma and how it affects us. So it's saying I'm not connected to the
stick. Yeah. Yeah, >> it should be right there. That's my back. >> No, no, I know. Should be ahead. >> Okay. So, um, what I'm calling on the
council to be able to do is to create a committee that'll address this ongoing crisis in our town and in our nation. Um, so just to give a little information on what the slideshow was on. So
community mental health um refers to so a few decades ago a lot of the institutions that you know old stigmatize in belief they started closing down and there was a focus to realize that mental health is a
spectrum. So not everybody deserved or belonged in these places away from society. they belong to be part of our town and to you know be accepted. So
what was going on then was um the care became brought more to a community level. So the institutions closed down and aimed at giving care through services um in the towns. So that's had a
profound impact on how we went forward with mental health and how we integrated these people back into society. Um so um let me get a little bit into trauma and
what that is. So we hear the word trauma being you know tossed around all the time. You know, people might say that was traumatic or, you know, this was the trauma in my life, or we might hear people talk about it on social media, [laughter] but I need to really speak with you
tonight on what trauma really is because a lot of people really don't know. So, trauma is um an adverse experience that happens to us. And I have the data all up here in a slideshow that I've, you know, would have loved to been able to show. I don't know why it's not working
because it worked fine earlier today. Um, but statistics are all there to back this up. Um, is it anything yet? >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah, that's >> I just have to get the presentation back up. All right. This >> effect [snorts] and [clears throat] shut it down. >> I really do uh the public apologize for this. I don't know what's going on. Um I
made sure ahead of time that all the proper technology was in place. just kind of >> So, I'm gonna try to get this presentation up once again because it's really >> power numbers.
[laughter] >> Um You know why? Why don't we push why don't we push this off a meeting? I I want you to get the attention that you deserve. >> Can you just read off this to be honest? >> Oh, it needs to pair.
>> I don't know who >> somebody's phone. No, we're not going to be pairing. >> Okay. So, I'm just gonna have to read off and I'm sorry again. Um hopefully this will be sent out. Um, so >> can I help you? >> Yeah.
>> He's got his own computer. >> So, in the meantime, thank you so much. Um, I'll just keep going into it. So, trauma-informed care, a lot of people, even though we hear the word trauma being thrown around all the time, don't understand u what trauma-informed care
is. But, you know, it does exist on both a clinical and organizational level. And that's what I'm calling um on the town to really focus on. So, trauma informed care changes the mindset of what's wrong with you to what happened to you. >> I'm doing fine.
[laughter] [snorts] >> This is mine. And I was here this morning. >> Well, check how are you and said I'm doing fine. It's >> all right. >> Okay, we got it. >> Oh, well, >> there it is. >> Okay,
>> there we go. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. You're a hero. Yeah. All right. I am so sorry to the public for this blip today. So, yeah, this is perfect example. Perseverance.
Okay. So, it changes the mindset of what's wrong with you to what happened to you. So since you know for the essence of time you can just read this up here. You can reach out to me later you know if you have any questions um or if we have time after this but these are some of the pillars of trauma-informed
care. I really like to focus on the safety and transparency piece um and it creates non-judgmental spaces. So here's some statistics. You can read over them but just to kind of give idea of how big of a problem this is. 70% of US adults
um experience one traumatic event in their lifetime. 62% of teenagers, I'm just going to go through a few of these. Three and four high school students um experience one or more ACEs, which are adverse childhood experiences. This means incences like experiencing
violence in the home or community. So, it's a big number. I need for you to take this one point away. Trauma is objective. It is not about the event about or it's about the response. So a big flood comes in and you're trapped
with your family. One person might come out of that, oh my goodness, that was really scary. That was really hard. The other person might wind up developing PTSD. So it's not to say, "Oh, that was hard. That wasn't." You don't get to say that. It's only how the person
internalizes it. Um, so we're in a mental health crisis. This is why I'm speaking to you tonight. um one in 10 um people experience me uh mental health. Young adults are the highest. So this is the group we should really watch. Here
are some more statistics. Um New Jersey, which is like got it together kind of state still um ranks worse than it should be for the ratio of students to school psychologists. So that's an area we need to work on. I want to just talk
about groups to watch. young adults, people with a family history of mental illness and trauma, PTSD for veterans and first responders, um the LGBTQ plus community, people with physical conditions and the neurode
divergent population, so those who have like autism, ADHD, they are at a higher risk of developing, you know, mental health conditions as they progress on in life. and marginalized communities, lowincome individuals, minority and
those without proper um access to health care, how to destigmatize. So, this is kind of the meat and potatoes of it. So, normalized therapy and medication, just treat it like it's any health condition. Like, you know, it's hard because mental
health is rooted in behavior and we have, you know, decades if not centuries of stigmatizing beliefs. But, you know, just if somebody, you know, opens up to you that they're going to see a therapist or they're taking medication, you know, just try to respond to it in
the same way you would respond to somebody who has to take insulin for diabetes or has to take an asthma pump. Be supportive to your family and friends who are struggling. Take the time. We're all busy, but take the time to listen. Stay. There's tons of information coming
out. you know, social media can really be our friend with this, but just stay educated to what the experts are saying and watch your language. So, um, this is not to be overly sensitive. You know, I love a good joke. I'm not like, you know, you got to watch what you say around me, but mental illness is hard
for those who experience it. So, you know, comments that seem, you know, fun and, you know, a joke like, "I'm so OCD about my kitchen or my boyfriend's being bipolar." Again, it really, you know, undermines the struggle those face every
day. So, I just want to go into it. I'm almost done. I'm really sorry again about delay tonight. Why is this important for Rockaway? So, it's a um we we live in a huge town. I mean, we know all this, you know, um where we're
located. We're a military town. So those people that are coming out of, you know, service and or just have that, you know, kind of impending doom of what might happen next, we got to watch out for that group because this military group is at a much higher risk of developing
PTSD and just other, you know, adverse reactions to what they have to go through to keep our country safe. and we have a growing minority population. You know, diversity is something to really celebrate and we see a lot of, you know, that population increasing, but they're
also marginalized. So, we have to keep an eye on for that. So my ask to the council and public tonight is to establish some kind of committee um involvement from you know public figures private um hoping to get people involved
with lived experiences as it grows. hoping to get involvement from, you know, local politicians, you know, the local clergy, mental health professionals, local businesses, and stay committed to our values of acceptance, kindness, compassion,
collaboration, and safety. uh meet with counsel I want to like to if this committee does you know kind of pan out the way I was expecting I would love to meet with the council members from all different wards to address issues at a hyper local level it's open
to anybody and I really think that together um we can create a group uh free of judgment it can set an example for other municipalities as we strive for positive change so I don't know if I have time for questions tonight, but if
I don't, this is my email address. I'll give you a few seconds just to jot it down. >> So, what I'd like first of all, thank you. I think this was >> great job. Uh I'm speaking um it was a great job. A couple points actually, Councilman Sber and I that we didn't
think about we pulled out. Um, we during our emails, Councilman Selberg asked for a list of all of the uh uh public and mental health resources that we have. >> A copious amount that I was not even aware of. What uh what I'm going to do
after this meeting is I am going to put you in touch with uh Britney Bernstein and Peter Tabin. I want to see where you guys can join forces, right? I don't want to duplicate efforts, right? So, I'm sure there's something in there. Um, and I know it was only a short presentation. I think it was very
worthwhile, but let me put you in touch with them. Um, I'll do that tonight. >> Okay. >> And by tonight, I mean by tomorrow morning if I forget tonight. >> Um, and I'd be interested in hearing how that turns out for you. >> Thank you. >> CONGRATULATIONS.
[applause] >> OKAY. UH, TV's off here. Can you Oh, look at that. >> Nice. >> Okay. Um, I am going to move the agenda around. Before we do the ordinance or
introduction, I want to open it up to new business. Uh, council members with new business. >> I'm sorry. >> We're going to open it. We're going to do the new business portion now. >> Oh, okay. That's great. Um, thank you, Council Mor. I'm sorry. I just want to
remind everybody the same three minutes. You still going to have reports and stuff later. So, >> yeah. And just in case here uh if there's a thought at the end just to add an extra small amount of time, but there may be some engagement too. Um to my colleagues and to the members of the public, maybe some of you may have witnessed um throughout this year uh
third-party uh work that's being taken place on our our public roadways. A lot of it being county side roads uh assisting uh contractors JCP now natural gas um the uh the fair that we had recently. But a lot of the times I do
not witness Rockway Township Police officers doing the third party. I see outside municipalities and police departments, Dover, Rockway Burough, Sheriff's Department that are doing these third parties. And uh one, I was wondering why. two, when I went and did research in some of the neighboring
municipalities comparing to what we have, um there is some lucrative benefit that these other neighboring municipalities are achieving through admin fee, hourly rate. Uh >> just to clarify, you're talking about
the police officers when they're there. >> Third party. Yeah. Nothing to do with taxpayers. It's paid by >> No, no, no, but like there's always a cop there. You're talking about that, >> correct? Okay. Yeah. >> No, I know we don't pay for that. Um they're not on the job. They're
>> security. >> Um yes. Um and I'll not clarify that if there's any additional uh need for definition and maybe Mr. WTOA could could chime in too as well. Um so any event, when you look at some of these uh other contracts and agreements and policies in place in our neighboring
towns, um they do charge an admin fee. Rockway Burough is $130. It's $50 for the car up to four hours and it's $100 for the car over four hours up to eight hours and it's time and a half. However, our um
agreement that we have, it's only $5 an hour for the car which basically almost consumes the the cost of fuel for that and there's no uh benefit financially for us. There's no profitability to offset some of the operating costs. In
addition, um, third party and and and in in my belief creates a morale boost for the police officers by getting this extra work, especially a lot of the newbies that come in that are uh cadets that are hired in their first step that will have the opportunity to get extra
money. Third party does not cost the taxpayers any money. It's all paid by contractors um and other individuals. So, um I don't see us do any outside third party and other municipalities like municipalities do in Rockway
Township. Contract allows it, but I don't see anything being taken place. Again, all of this third party is a a revenue generator to offset operating cost and also give the ability for the police officers to make additional revenue during their off time uh when
they're not on duty for the township. And as long as there's an infeector, they can't take a sick day in order to do third party. So, what I would like to present to this council now, uh, because we're almost, uh, just under 6 months away, could I just finish since we're
almost just under six months away, uh, from the contract to expiring for, uh, the PBA 287, uh, which is December 31st of this year. We need to re-evaluate the cost of these agreements that we then put upon the contractors to be somewhat
competitive or the same with our neighboring municipalities. Again, since 2022 and even before that, $5 an hour is not I mean, and they don't have to even fill up the cars again after they use it like a rental car would be. So, one um I hope that there's no reason why that
these police officers in Rockaway are not allowed to do third party work outside. I hope we can address that if that's an issue. And secondly, um I think we need to encourage more thirdparty work with a higher competitive rate for our administration
fees and vehicle usage fees. And I just wanted to get some of that conversation because this is the only time we can talk about this. And we do have an officer uh that sits next to me, a council at large. Maybe he might have some insight uh being in this realm of potential third party that he's been a
recipient of. Can I just ask a question before you? I don't want to. >> Sure. >> All right. Um, first of all, I know what these guys get paid, and hell, I would do it for half of what they get paid. A couple questions, chief. I don't want to put you on the spot, and I know you're not prepared for this. One, are the rates
set by the union because this all goes to the union, correct? >> Yeah. What we're currently referring to, I believe Councilman Gell is referring to the administrative fee, which is $5 per hour additional uh to the cost of
the officer. The officer makes time and a half top patrolman rate at third party. And if it's in Rockaway, because again, I don't know. Years ago, somebody told me about this, so I just wanted to make sure jobs in Rockaway are offered to Rockaway
officers first. How? How does it work? >> Correct. That all goes through an app. So, what happens is that goes out to bid. Uh the officers get to put in whether they would like that job or not. Uh when we can't get a response from our officers, it then goes to surrounding
towns. >> So, our guys do get first dibs. >> Absolutely. >> Can anybody can we do it? It's all good money. >> And and could you just ask the chief uh what about outside municipality bids? Do you allow that? Is it like
>> for officers to work outside of Rockaway to do third party? >> So like Jefferson, those guys don't nobody in Jefferson takes a job. Do does Rockaway find out about it? Do our guys get a shot at it? >> We c we currently do not do uh outside unless an extreme emergent, but we have
not been doing outside and it there are a couple other uh concerns in reference to that matter, but no, we currently do not. >> But it's in the contract that we can. Is that correct? >> It's at my discretion. Yes. So you don't allow the third party. >> Listen, Mr. Kelly, if they're not taking it in town, they're not going to take it
out of town. >> That's not necessarily true. >> Listen, I'm not trying to paint him in in a corner. >> You're answering something for a chief of police when you're not. >> I'm saying that we're not trying to This is again, it's not an interrogation. I'm not painting him in the corner. He's not prepared to have this discussion. >> He's a chief of police that signs and
agrees to the contract. That also said matters. I do not know the answer to that. >> Sorry. The chief doesn't approve the contract as the union with the administration. But >> have you read the contract? the the other municipalities when we do see them not other police departments when they do work in Jersey City are those officers working when maybe they start
the job in their town and the job moves with I don't know JCPNL and they move into Rockway Township is that when we see let's say the burrow working in uh on Green Pond >> what >> that can be the case but that is not necessarily always the case and again
what I believe is being referred to is when that goes out uh through the the service that we have uh for the officers. When a contractor wants to bid a job, uh it goes in through the app, the officers all get first crack at that opportunity. If it does not go to them,
it then allows that uh service to go outside the jurisdictional boundary of of Rockway Township to fill that position. >> Bottom line is our guys are not suffering because they're just choosing not to do it. >> I don't think you want to answer that for the guys. I think there is a concern.
>> I'll rephrase the question, your honor. There are ample opportunities for our officers to take them, but they do decline them, in which cases the offers are go to outside of town. >> But that's not true. The chief says that he doesn't allow outside his discussion and he doesn't allow it. >> Mr. Kelly, that's not what he said.
>> Yes, it is. Repeat that then, Chief. >> Okay, you're going to move on. You're time is up. You got a lot more than three minutes. Is there any other council members? >> Uh business. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I would like to ask if we could if the township the [clears throat] administration could look into maybe changing the ordinance with some setback
on uh Green Pond Road. I had a resident that contacted me about a few weeks ago and he purchased the house Rockaway Township. Green Pond Road has a 65 foot front yard setback and the house was built >> right88 and it was built you know way
before that. So now he's looking to expand his his uh front yard, I mean, I'm sorry, front stoop, and he can't do it without going to the board of adjustment. And that's going to, you know, this this person is a mason. He could do the work himself. I'm sure we
have a lot of DIYers that could do the work themselves, too. The project will cost him $1,000 in material, but to go in front of board adjustment, he's got to spend three to $4,000. So maybe if we could reduce that, I don't know, 40 50 or whatever you guys look into other towns and and reduce
that that that could not only, you know, help out some of the residents that are DIYers want to do some work to the to their properties, but also uh help out with the aesthetics on Green Pond Road. You know, this could be something that that's restricting some residents to do that. So we hope that >> I see Hang on. I see Mr. Novak chomping
at the bit. Did you have >> But Mr. Mr. from Novak is is there isn't of a stoop though >> Mr. Kelly I have >> Mr. Kelly, I have the floor. >> There's certain I didn't know that. Um, [laughter] >> sorry. >> By the way,
>> he was not brought here just for this. >> No, no, no. But when it comes to setbacks, I know a couple things. Um, there are certain allowances for um a stoop as well as a covered entryway to it. Once that stoop gets expanded to, let's just say like the front porch,
that's when the barrier can get triggered, right? >> So, if it's something that's kind of in the front of the doorway, then it would be allowed. Anything greater than that, that's when the varant gets triggered. Um, one of the issues that we have, especially up in the north end of town, is that we have very large lot zoning. We have the R88 district, the R5 AC
district, which is five acres. Uh, we have an a 20 acre zone, believe it or not. >> Um, you're right. >> However, [clears throat] we do have a lot of smaller lots in those zoning districts that are kind of leftovers. So, maybe 40,000 square feet, 30,000 square feet, sometimes an acre. Um, so
there are opportunities to maybe consider reduced or lightened setback requirements for those pre-existing non-conforming lots in those larger zones, right? Um, >> something we can always look at, but that could be a potential solution or some sort of balancing act. >> And just to follow up with that though,
is there a um I know some towns, and correct me if I'm wrong, they have an ancillary board for dimminimous relief rather than go through like we have a tenency board uh just a couple of committee members during a planning board meeting and whatnot. If we were to make a motion to create an ancillary
board or a small um committee for review of a dimminimous request of this of a a small like if a deck needed a three feet of a variance of some sort or an eve or an overhang or in this case a stoop or a porch. Was that something that you've
ever dealt with with other municipalities in your field? >> Not with me necessarily. No. Um I've done or I've dealt with so smaller subcommittees typically with minor site plans. Um I've dealt with
we'll call it um what do they call themselves in one of my towns in in Mercer County. It it's a group of the zoning board that'll actually go there and do the inspection, write the report. Um I am familiar with the concept that you're talking about to an extent. I think some of the larger towns do that. Um, we could certainly do the research,
but off the top of my head, I don't have >> I mean, if we be compliant under 4055D, doing something of that nature to minimize some of those impacts and financial burdens would be great, too. >> Here's what I would suggest, Mr. Wovich. If if this is something you'd like to pursue, I'd love for you to connect with Mr. Novak >> and then building
>> and then in turn obviously our our legal counsel will find out what's going on and but I think it's a good call out. >> Could we start with Mrs. Fonte first since she's no cost? >> No, I will. Listen, we'll we'll handle it. We'll we will >> Mrs. Fonte. Thank you, Mr. Kelly, please. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Novak.
>> Okay. Sorry. [snorts] >> Ordinance for intro. I'm sorry. Is there anybody else do business? >> Ordinance for introduction 02625. Ordinance providing for mun [clears throat] building ADA improvements and restoration in by the township of Rockway in the county of Mars, New Jersey, and
appropriating $86,132.81, 81 cents. Therefore, constituting proceeds of a community development block grant from Mars County. I have a motion. >> Second. >> Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Sberg, >> yes. >> Council member Voilvich, >> yes.
>> Council member Freelander, >> yes. >> Council member Roy, >> yes. >> Council member Freigh, >> yes. >> Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Sacket, >> yes. >> Council President Morrison,
>> yes. Nine yeses. Motion carries. O2626, an ordinance amending chapter 54 entitled land use and development of the code of the township of Rockaway, adopting a new zoning map and relocating specific ordinance sections. Can I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second.
>> Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Salberg, >> yes. >> Council member Wovich, >> yes. >> Council member Freelander, >> yes. >> Council member Roy, >> yes. >> Council member Freed, >> yes. Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> yes.
>> Council Vice President Zackett, >> yes. [clears throat] >> Council President Morrison, >> yes. Nine yeses. Motion carries. [clears throat] >> Ordinances for adoption 0.2623, an ordinance amending chapter 54 entitled land use and development of the code of the township of Rockaway to include and
designate data centers as a prohibited use in all zoning districts. Can I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Is there any council discussion on this ordinance? Yes. >> Go ahead. >> Uh like I said during the uh introduction,
I think that we should [clears throat] maybe introduce an ordinance that again addresses the resident's concerns and at the same time [clears throat] uh allows the data centers in certain areas in our township being that we're
46 square miles. uh Governor Cheryl signed a new law last week which is called the data center fair share act which actually mandates these data centers to generate their own power. So the issue
of you know power usage I think that could be addressed I mean it's addressed in the state law but we could address it in the ordinance as well. uh when it comes to the water usage, again, there's a lot of these uh uh cooling systems that don't use a lot of water and and
being the size of the township that we are, you know, we could have in a location where it doesn't disturb any residents when it comes to noise and things like that. And a lot of these towns, municipalities in New Jersey, Caucus, there's there's a town uh in Union County, it's building a huge one. I mean, these data centers generate
millions of dollars in tax revenue. Uh, one of the biggest complaints we all get on this council is the taxes keep going up. I mean, this could be a huge revenue source. Again, we don't have to start building one tomorrow, but I think an ordinance that that um, this common
sense addresses the resident's concerns and allows us to generate some tax revenue would be something better than the current ordinance that that is strictly prohibitive. >> Um, I just want to make sure I have my facts straight. So the law that was signed says that
they have to they can't tap into the power grid. >> My understanding my understanding is they got to generate their own power figure you know or add back to the grid. A lot of these towns actually what happens is that they generate so much power they actually do add to the grid.
So it does help uh the residents. >> What about water? [clears throat] >> I'm sorry. >> Water >> like they they could have a closed loop system. A lot of these data centers now have the closed loop system where the water is used once and then it's re recycled through to cool the uh data
centers. >> So Mr. Prone, let me ask you a question. This since the time this was introduced until now, right, the the laws have changed >> a week ago. a week ago, which kind of addresses some of the >> addresses.
>> Let's just say if for let's say the council we >> let's say the council votes this down now, right? Is it does that preclude us from going back and taking another look at it like a different ordinance
accounting for like if they want to come in to you know an area in a neighborhood obviously we can look at it and deny that. But it doesn't if we vote it down now, it doesn't it doesn't open it up for anybody and it it wouldn't preclude us from putting in a
[snorts] Yeah, I just >> I Yeah, I just it's fortunate I guess that the laws have changed since the last meeting that really addressed public concerns. But for me, it's quite honestly your point with the tax base. I
mean, if we can Well, all right. So, since there's a motion on the table, is it inapprop Mr. Kelly, is it inappropriate >> to procedurally, if the council agrees on it, pull it for further consideration later?
>> How do we >> So, we make a motion to withdraw the introduction. Who made the who made the uh >> the correct >> So we would have to vote it down and
then reintroduce a new ordinance, right? >> Okay. [snorts] >> Okay. Well, we're in the middle of an open public portion right now, so the public has an >> Mr. Kelly, I I know how to run a meeting. Please. Okay. So,
the bottom line is is we can make a motion to withdraw >> the motion and then is there another motion needed to table this for future consideration? >> Okay. Thank you. Um, any other council discussion on this? >> I do.
>> Go ahead. Unless somebody has it first. Mr. Felander, you >> go ahead. You have the floor. >> Go ahead, Manny. >> No, Mr. Mr. Kelly, you have the floor. >> I I'm asking Mr. Freelander to go just to give me an extra some thoughts on that. Thank you. >> This is your chance or you're going to give up your time. >> You're only giving me the option now. >> Mr. Kelly, I I don't understand why
>> you could have given it to Manny. We could have end this whole argument for now. I could have >> I don't understand why everything has to be a battle. This is your time. >> I asked you the same question. So my question then is uh we have an ordinance that's been drafted, introduced. We had some public participation against this.
We had I'm assuming professionals, Mr. Peron, right? you you you you build us for the ordinance and doing a review. We have um Mr. Novak that reviewed it and if there was any negativity or any consideration to to not do this
ordinance, wouldn't our officials, including yourself, had raised those issues. Now, I I don't doubt >> you reviewed this. Did you see anything negative on going against the ordinance? >> Right. And was there any anything that
would >> Were you uncomfortable with what we were doing here today to ban data centers in Rockway Township? >> Okay. >> No, because it's Listen, it whether you felt uncomfortable or not floor. I mean, I I don't >> I know whether you felt uncomfortable or
not is not really the question. You you did your job. It's either black and white. You prepared the document as required. Your uncomfortability is that word is really not the point. Well, I'm relying on a professional, Mr. Novak, I rely on you. I, Mr. Morrison perhaps doesn't. I do. And your
expertise and specialization in land use and the common concern of data centers, you then applied that into this ordinance, which our town attorneys drafted. That's pretty simple, right? >> Oh, so you charge us for what he did.
>> Mr. Kelly, I'm your time. >> This is not an inquisition. Mr. Mr. Freedellander, you have the floor. You you you charge us to make this ordinance. >> Mr. Kelly, your time is rescended. Please have some decorum. Please, Mr. Peron, please don't inter Mr. Peron,
please don't interact. It's childish and I apologize. Why would you want to >> Mr. Freellander? >> Well, basically, we did the work. >> We did all the work to accept this ordinance as it stands. >> Yes. >> Okay. You said that we can always go
back when time comes that it's working and we could review it. So we're just why we having all the discussion vote on it pass it and if things change down the road we bring it back. >> So if we approve it, we can change it
later. >> No, no, but procedurally we can do that. >> The issue with that is if you have data setters that are looking at, right? Is that what we're doing right now? I pulled your time, Mr. Kelly. >> Okay. >> When you look at a company's data set is that are looking to invest in a town, if
you have an audience that restricts it, they're just going to skip your town and go somewhere else. So, you're just not >> you're just you're just well then to come back to the council and change it. Again, we could propose a council I mean an ordinance that that like I said earlier re you know addresses the
resident's concerns and and allows these data in certain area uh areas that could benefit the uh the residents of this township. >> Are we landlocks? By the way, >> Mr. Kelly, >> are >> you don't Mr. Kelly, you're you're >> These are important questions. Mr. >> Mr. Kelly, you're being childish. >> I'm not. I'm asking >> you are you're being childish. And I
again, I apologize to the council. This is not how you asked our engineer if it's been >> Mr. Kelly, we're not going to do this again. If you if you insist on disrupting the business of the council, if you insist on acting like this, all
right, this is your warning. This is your warning. >> Or what? I we're gonna I'm gonna have to vote again to censure you. This council will vote for the second time to censure you because you have no decorum. You have no respect for the rest of the council. You have no respect for the
public. If it doesn't benefit you personally, right? Or you try to prove that you're the smartest guy in the room. Then it's not worth it. >> Is there anybody from the public that wishes to speak on this ordinance alone? >> Please. >> Please.
>> Same thing. name and address in three minutes. >> Kathleen Corrosa, Kathleen Corrosa, 11 Debbie Place, Dover mailing address. So, one thing I would put out there because I understand what you're saying, the laws have changed and down the road in
five years, there may be a difference in what we realize could be the negative impacts. Right now, we don't know. What has happened in Andover is because somebody was looking at property and there was no ordinance and then the town put in the ordinance, they're now being
sued. So, you may be opening yourself. I'm certainly not legally able to tell you that, but that would be one concern I would bring up based on what I've seen recently in Antifer. I totally understand it may down the road things may change and I feel like you have the
power at that point to make a new ordinance for maybe a very specific type of data center but at this point I'm really hoping that you will vote for this ordinance as it's written. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, Mr. Wtovich, did you want to
make a motion to >> pull the motion and table this? >> Sure. Id like to make a motion to uh table this the ordinance 26-23. >> I'll second it. >> Clerk, please take the role.
>> Council member Sberg, >> no. >> Council member Votovich, >> yes. >> Council member Freelander, >> no. >> Council member Roy, >> no. >> Council member Freed, >> no. Council member Quinn, >> no. >> Council member Kelly,
>> no. >> Council Vice President Zackett, >> no. >> Council President Marson, >> yes. Uh, seven nos, two yeses. Motion does not carry. Now, do we need to reintroduce the ordinance? >> No.
>> Yeah. Okay. So, now we can just vote on the ordinance. >> The original motion carries. Okay. Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Sberg. >> Yes. >> Council member Votovich. >> No. Council member Freellander, >> yes. >> Council member Roy, >> yes.
>> Council member Freed, >> yes. >> Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> this is temporary protection. Yes. >> Council Vice President Sacket, >> yes. >> Council President Morrison, >> no. Uh, seven yeses, two nos. Motion carries.
Uh 0.2624 an ordinance amending chapter 28 of the Rockaway Township general ordinances entitled health and environment to amend article 3 entitled food and beverages >> motion. >> Can he wait until you finish reading? >> No, he can't. He did finish. You can
watch the video at later tonight. >> Okay. Procedurally I would ask for a motion at which point but again >> I'll I'll make a motion again. >> [sighs and gasps] >> Miss Fel, I'll take some of your pamphlets.
>> Okay. Uh, there was a motion. There was a second. Uh, is there any council discussion on this ordinance? Any public discussion on this ordinance alone? >> Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Sberg, >> yes. >> Council member Waitovich,
>> yes. Council member Freelander, >> yes. >> Council member Roy, >> yes. >> Council member Freed, >> yes. >> Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Sacket, >> yes. >> Council President Morrison,
>> yes. Uh nine yeses. Uh motion carries. Okay, we're going to move on to the consent agenda. I would like to point out that R2617 is the uh governing body certification of the annual audit. Uh we have Sarinelli's and we have Dave Novak in
attendance. Um I want to thank you guys for the tremendous work that you've done. I know that um Ray, you've spoken to the council before. Um the bottom line is is we're in very good shape right now. Um but I I just want to thank you for the hard work that you did and
for hanging in there tonight uh at this meeting. >> Uh Mr. President. >> Yeah. >> Can we can we vote on that separately? We pull that to vote it separately just in case there's a question. >> I have one. a motion to >> Can I make a motion to pull 26-17? >> Second. >> All right. Course we take >> Can we do two at the same time?
>> Uh yeah. >> Because we have Mr. Buzzac here too. So I just want to add or maybe you could add John. >> Uh that would be uh 125. >> And Mr. Buzzac's here that represents the town on that map. >> All right. I'm fine with that. It just to officialize it.
Motion to pull R2617 and R26125 for separate discussion and vote. Is there a second? >> Yeah. Okay. Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Sber. >> Yes. >> Council member Voyovich. >> Yes.
>> Council member Freellander. >> Yes. >> Council member Roya. >> Yes. >> Council member Freed. >> Yes. >> Council member Quinn. >> Yes. >> Council member Kelly. >> Yes. Council Vice President Sack. >> Yes. >> Council President Marson. >> Yes. Nine. Yes. This motion carries.
Okay. Consent agenda items R2618 through and including R26124. Can I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Sber. >> Yes. >> What's that? >> I don't see you. 126. Yeah, right in the
bottom above 12, but it's not >> it's it's on not on the other one. Okay, I apologize. I'm missing it. So, let me rephrase my motion. Make a motion for R26118 through and including R26124 and R26126.
So, uh motion. >> Second. >> Clerk, please take the role. >> That's weird. I did. Council member Sberg, >> yes. >> Council member Votovich, >> yes. >> Council member Freellander, >> yes. >> Council member Roy, >> yes.
>> Council member Freeday, >> yes. >> Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Sacket, >> yes. >> Council President Morrison, >> yes. Uh, nine yeses. Motion carries. Uh, okay. Opening up uh for Mr. Sacket R
2617 for discussion. Uh, thank you, Council President, and um, thank you for the excellent report as always. Um, didn't have a chance to look through the monster book yet, but I did read the the notes and everything, so thank you for that. Um, just maybe
um, briefly, there was one or two um, notes in there about um, some improvements, couple small things that you recommended. Can you go over to us again briefly? Thank you. Good evening everybody. Ray Sarnell,
township auditor. Um so there's there's several things that um when we report on in an audit um the way we comment on the findings that we have. So there can be a comment without a recommendation. Normally
that's something that was wrong but was maybe wrong for part of the year corrected before the end of the year. So that would be a comment without a recommendation. Sometimes there are things that while we're auditing um we'll find and then make what's called a management suggestion. So not something
you're doing wrong, but a suggestion on how to do something better. And then worst case scenario is a comment uh with a recommendation. That means you have a comment um something was wrong and then a recommendation. Okay, this is how you fix it. So in the report tonight, there
are no recommendations. So there's nothing came to our attention that was wrong and uncorrected. So no comment with a recommendation. We did have a few suggestions in there and yeah we did have one comment uh without
a recommendation and then a few um suggestions. So in the capital fund, let's see, there is one improvement authorization in the general capital fund and one improvement authorization in the water utility capital fund which
are 5 years old with deficit balances uh as of December 31st, 2025. This situation arises when expenditures are made from an improvement authorization without related debt being issued. As the township has already implemented a plan for future budgets to include the improvement authorizations over 5 years
old, cash deficit balances, including a recently adopted 22 26 budget, a formal recommendation is judged not to be necessary at this time. You guys all got that right? >> Yeah. Break out the crayons for me. What does that mean? So, what that means is when you authorize an improvement authorization
uh with debt associated with it, just because there's debt associated with it doesn't mean that debt is outstanding. Right now, there's one improvement authorization in the capital fund and one in the utility that currently are not funded even though there's debt outstanding. So, you don't want that to
go on for too long of a time. In those two particular instances, the decision was made to fund those through the budget and not go through the debt process. Can bore you with the details on why that was decided, but that's not really necessary. So, they are being
funded. So, what's happening is is by the letter of the law, something is wrong. There's a plan to fix it in place. It'll be fixed in two or three years through the normal course of the budget process. So, something wrong, but a plan to fix it. So comment, no recommendation. There's it's already
being fixed. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> I do. >> Good. Yeah. Uh thank you, Mr. Sarinelli. And uh I hope your father's doing well, too. Great guy. Um in regards to the negative uh when you talked about those two amounts of those 5-year-old uh
capital amounts. Is there any negative dollar value of continuing the delay? Like you say that we're going to correct this in two or three years through the budget process. Is there any uh negative uh fiscal impact amongst the taxpayers
or the budget itself for the delay? Why not sooner than later? >> So there could be uh potential cash impacts on that. Your cash position is extraordinarily doing extraordinarily well. So outside of that, there's really no negative impact on taxes or the
budget. Actually, it's saving you money because you're not paying interest on the debt. >> The other question I have, this will be the last one. Um, as you're aware, we did have the audit through the controllers uh, office, Kevin Walsh, and then there was things that were implemented. I think 13 out of the 15 items that were implemented that are
there and it's we're talking millions of dollars of issues that were created and caused and found and we're trying to correct that. Is that part of your review when you did this 2025 report? >> So, it's complicated. the initial audit
that they did it. I don't even like that they call it an audit. It's an operational audit. I have a financial statement audit. So, it's two very different things. Once they have a finding, yes, I'm I'm responsible for ensuring that following up on those
findings. So when the controller came back and said 13 out of 15 were implemented the two that were still remaining they they have a and all audits have a specific cut off date. So their re-review was
ended I believe the December 31st 2024 or maybe even December 31st 2023. They were both corrected immediately subsequent to that date and we even had the conversation with them those two things have been corrected. Do they really can't we just say they were
implemented and they said no our cuto off date is the date that we've decided and [clears throat] so the re-review was what it was but they've both subsequently been but both audits the definitions that you gave your financial audit and the additional
audit through the controllers they still have the focus on the same money right >> so your focus on your audit versus the other the other description of the audit that you made between the controllers on your fiscal audit, they still focus on
spending and money >> very differently. >> Okay. >> Mine is just to make sure that the financial statements are accurate. They're doing an operational audit. >> Okay. >> So, uh mine is more reporting. Theirs is more operational.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Any other council members? Okay. Um thank you. Right. Um, before I make the motion for R2617, I would just like to let the entire council know that there's paperwork associated with this that everybody needs to sign off. I'm
asking the entire council as soon as the meeting is done, give us five minutes. Um, don't leave and then we can all sign this and we can close it out. Uh, R26 motion for for R2617. So move second.
>> Cler, please take the role. Council member Salberg, >> yes. >> Council member Votovich, >> yes. >> Council member Freelander, >> yes. >> Council member Roy, >> yes. >> Council member Freed, >> yes. >> Council member Quinn, >> yes.
>> Council member Kelly, >> abstain. >> Council Vice President Zackett, >> yes. >> Council President Marson, >> yes. Eight yeses, one abstension. Motion carries. Uh, discussion on R26125. >> You know, I do. And Mr. Boozak, first of all, it's great to see you. Um, and I
know that you've been involved in this matter uh since the get-go. And again, as I mentioned before, when I first saw you before the meeting started, um, all the attorneys involved, some of them that I know personally, have constantly bragged about the excellent work that you did spearheading this issue at Jersey City um, in the Rockway Valley. I
don't know if you can just give us a small little uh, synopsis of what is actually going on and why we should vote in favor of this resolution moving forward. He's looking for okay from you, Mr. Morrison. >> Good. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Thank you very much. Uh my name is Edward Buzzac. I've [clears throat] represented the township uh in this litigation, which is the Rockway Valley Regional Surge Authority Jersey City litigation uh since the 90s. I've been involved in a case almost from the inception of it
in 1968. What you're being asked tonight to approve is a resolution that will utilize or allow the utilization of an ADR, an alternate dispute resolution
process to address uh engineering questions that will then impact on whether Jersey City has to share in the cost of the contract that the RVRSA has
let under a 28 8 ruling, the RVRSA and the municipalities within the RV RSA absent Jersey City [clears throat] are responsible for the payment, their proportionate share of the payment for
enlargement, expansion, improvement, and upgrading of the plant. That's not something Jersey City should pay. On the other hand, Jersey City is responsible for operation, repair, maintenance, and upkeep of the plant. And there's definitions for each of those
categories. There are seven contracts that have been let since the 2018 litigation uh which in which there is a contest between Jersey City and the RVRSA as to whether they are improvements,
expansions or they're just upkeep and maintenance. And the result of that determination is whether Jersey City contributes or does not. Uh that process through a litigation through trial through witnesses through
cross-examination and so forth is a long tedious and really uh ineffective mechanism for these determinations because you're asking a court, a judge who handles all sorts of cases to deal
with very complicated engineering issues uh to make that evaluation and make a determination as to what category it's So to their credit, both Jersey City and the RV RSA, despite the fact they've
been in litigation for over 50 years, uh came up with an alternate dispute resolution process uh to substitute that process for the litigation process. And basically the it's a binding alternate dispute
resolution process, which is why I'm here because when that determination is made, it's binding. It's binding on Rockaway and it's binding on Jersey City. It's binding on everyone. Uh but but [clears throat] that process will be handled the the the
individual who will make the determination will be an engineer. It will not be a judge. Okay? An engineer who's qualified, who understands this. The ADR agreement that was attached to the resolution
establishes a mechanism for the selection of that engineer and that engineer has not been selected yet. Jersey City picks three. The RVRSA picks three. Uh each side, I'm
sorry, four. Four and four. Each side has the ability to strike one of them immediately. So now you're down to six. And then there there will be discussions between Jersey City and the RBR say as to whether they can agree on one of those six. If they can't do that, they
do the process a second time. If that doesn't work, then they have to revise the agreement. So, we don't even know if we're going to get to sort of first base here, whether we're going to be able to select an engineer. But in order to see
to at least get up to the plate, we need to have the agreement that if we can get up to the plate and get the first base, then we have a process uh to utilize. So that's in a nutshell what this resolution is seeking from you. Approval of that process and approval to be bound
by it, assuming that process works at the end of the day. >> That's a big nutshell. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Buzzac. >> Thank you. >> Uh you want to make the motion for it? >> I do. I would make a motion to pass uh or uh 26125. >> I'll second it. Clerk, please take the
role. >> Council member Sadler, >> yes. >> Council member Vtovich, [clears throat] >> yes. >> Council member Freelander, >> yes. >> Council member Roy, >> yes. >> Council member Freed, >> yes. >> Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> yes.
>> Council Vice President Sacket, >> yes. >> Council President Morrison, >> yes. Nine yeses. Motion carries. >> Thank you, Mr. Pa. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Boozer. Thank you. >> Uh, okay. We're going to go into council reports. Uh, this will be a strict three
minutes. Uh, we'll start with Mr. Kelly. Hold on one second. Mr. uh, a couple things. Uh, one, I want to congratulate Sergeant uh, Gregory Albert um, for his award. um he was uh nominated for delegate of the year of
the PBA287. So congrats to him. Um I also want to thank Mr. Noff and his team. Um the men and women that work underneath here are doing a phenomenal job with coordinating with the paving projects that are going on as well as the drainage projects that are taking place in Lake Telmar and hopefully soon
over in Denmark Road. Um but they're all doing an amazing work. Uh Mr. No, thank you for that. Um, I also want to uh make mention of um Adam Power um one of our former chiefs in Hiburnia Company 1 and he works for JCPNL and he was very
rigorous on getting a lot of the power outages that we had recently up and going and a little bit of the hiccup over there by Darlington Road uh on Green Pond Road. Um he was also somebody that facilitated that uh relatively u pretty quickly. And um I also want to
mention uh this Saturday I did ask the clerk if she could pass some information around. Maybe she'll send it to you via email uh after this meeting or tomorrow. Uh Marcella Community Center is having a festival for first responders. Um it will be the third annual first responder
um pig roast uh barbecue and they do a phenomenal job. It's zero cost for any first responder. You go there, you're a first responder, there's music, there's drink, there's food. Uh, it's a great thing to do. Anybody that's not a first responder, it's only $10 for an open
buffet to eat anything you want, as much as you want. And and, uh, the Marcela Community Center does a really great job. So, I hope um, the acting clerk will circulate that information to you guys. I'm sorry, >> it's two o'clock it starts. I know you have festival day and I'll I'll I'll
give you that that and um there is um oh I guess the last thing would be um happy belated father's day for all the dads out there and also want to mention uh the moms that do dual roles for um
absentee fathers. So I do appreciate um the moms as well. Thank you Mr. Well, the only thing I'm uh going to say today is I want to thank the police department like one of our residents said earlier the issue with Telcon their
trucks uh you know speeding and and the material spilling from these trucks. I mean I've seen a huge difference. Uh it was a great collaboration with one of our residents, our police for the traffic unit and also Tilcon. Uh you know I drove in here today passing
through Tilcon. There was a truck going I think I don't know 15 miles an hour. It's a 35 mile speed limit. So, it seems like they got the message. I just hope we keep it going. And again, thank you. That's all I have. >> Councilwoman Freed.
>> Hello. Um, I attended the Aldi grand opening. We're all very happy they're here. Uh, also the library meeting. The the library is still working to um renovate their bathrooms. They picked up a tile sample and the librarians are very excited about it. Very excited about it.
They added um for they have um excuse me they have I'm just trying to read my own handwriting is a challenge. They added more museums to their museum pass including 200 tickets for the natural history museum. So if you want an excuse to get the kids out of the house and save some uh some money, I highly
recommend um um um uh going to your library to get some of those tickets while they still have them. Um they have links on their website to help prevent the summer slide with kids. They're not reading, they're not learning, you know, this links to kind of help encourage to trying to keep their minds active. I
attended the the tour at the new water facility today. It's um over by was it um field a >> field? >> A field. Sorry. It's surprisingly clean. They they keep a tight run a type ship there. Everything's organized.
Everything's very They're doing a good job. I have pictures online. Um they introduced us to one of the trucks. Apparently, that was the hero of the water main break that cut the work time by half. And I intended the moving wall when it was here. It was really just a very beautiful thing. Thank you to
everyone to that help made it happen. It was incredibly moving and I hope everyone had a chance to to see it when it was here. And I believe that is good. I'm good. >> Councilwoman Roy, [clears throat] >> I don't have my readers. I forgot them. Um,
>> borrow mine here. >> Yeah, go ahead. [laughter] Oh god, >> it's one and a half. >> One and a half. 1.5. >> Forget it. Sorry. [laughter] >> Two half. >> It's okay. I think I can do it. I attended the June and July board of
education meetings. Um in June [clears throat] they honored retiring teachers. They were recognized recognized and applauded. Um and they also canled the Ruter's mental health program due to cost I believe. But they did I found out in last night's meeting
they are having a new district social worker that would be replacing them to help the students to be there for the students and also they the new principal acting principal that'll take over in September. She was there Dr. Ellen Jean Geianakis
and she spoke briefly. They are two vice principles Edwin Kamacho and Penny Zodtoir. They didn't speak but they were there so they were introducing them as well. Um I attended the Aldi grand opening as well
which is located across from Macy's. Um the outer mall was very nice. Um and I did attend the um opening ceremony of the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall on July 2nd and it was very moving and it was wonderful that they honored the Vietnam
veterans. It was it was thank you too who who planned that and [clears throat] did all the work. It was very very nice. Thank you >> Councilman Quinn. >> Thank you. Uh yes, I attended the Audi's
opening, the water department and the moving wall. Um it was quite moving for me because quite a few of my uh classmates were on that wall. So um
it hits home. So, um, moving on. Um, [clears throat] the Wexlers do a great job and I'm very honored that they received this award tonight from UNICO. Uh, they really
don't ask for anything, but they do it for the kids and it's fantastic. Today too is the Junior Police Academy for this week. And thank you, Chief, for
all you guys do with these kids. I know I saw the helicopter. I saw the kids and the exercises and it's a great program for our kids. So, thank you for all you guys do.
And seeing this is the last meeting for the month. August all the fall sports are going to start up. Football and cheerleading of course and soccer and basketball down the road. But if you
want to be a coach, please reach out. They do need help. So please help. Uh it keeps the kids busy and you enjoy it yourself. >> That's it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Morrison. >> Yeah. >> Did Did we cancel a meeting already? I
mean, I'm not I haven't got a notice about a cancellation for a [clears throat] meeting at the end of this month. >> Yeah, the notice will be sent out afterwards. The next meeting will be August 11th. It was part of my uh Okay. >> It was part of my um >> How did Mr. Quinn know about it before anybody? >> Because it's in the packet right here at the bottom of the packet.
>> Everybody else ready. >> Councilman Freellander, >> excuse me. Um, well, I'm just going to give a couple uh quick re reviews because uh my wife superseded all my meetings [laughter]
for for July. Uh just want to thank uh Les again. I've been with the uh Substance Abuse Alliance since the conception and it it's amazing group of people and I'm I'm proud of being part of that
group to to oversee what goes on. Um, and just because he got money, things don't stop. There's going to be a fundraiser at Orange Theory, which is by uh Dicks, uh, the 24th at 5:30, and whoever
exercises, the money goes towards the program. So, it's it's a it's a nice wall. Yeah. Uh, library. Uh, we got $230,000 grant for uh the library at Marcella. So, one of these days you're
going to be walking by and see brand new painted building. That's that's the project that we got the money for. Uh the Ford Face House, the other grant uh which is quite extensive will be starting after the summer
because we're pretty busy in the you know, we have meetings on Saturdays for July and Sundays for uh August programs. Uh this also if you're interested you go on their new the they have the website now different programs first Monday of
every month at the senior center. Uh so that's the library that uh basically it the chief I want to I want to thank you uh for putting up the signs. People are starting to you know the summer and the speeding but you put
a couple real nice signs and I got a call the next day. you know, you put them up real quick and they they were very thankful. Also, thanks Al. Uh, I got here faster because you did that. You did you guys did a great job on after the milling, the paving at the end
of White Metal Lake. >> So, you're saying you're speeding? [snorts] >> No. No, Chief. I said I got here quicker. All right. [laughter] >> Not speed. I don't speed. I get yelled at for going too slow cuz I yell at everybody. I slow up when people are
pressure. Yeah, ask my wife. >> All right. >> Anyway, yeah, that's it for the night. >> Thank you, >> Councilman Sber. >> Thank you, Council President. All right, a few things. First, just add to um uh Councilman Fre uh Council Freedellander's uh discussion about the
uh historic preservation. It was um resolution 2026 544 and it was approved total of $4.9 million, total of 35 projects over 20 towns. And as uh Manny said, uh we were fortunate enough to get uh 226,400
for the Hiburnia Library exterior restoration. So that's that's great stuff. Really is. Um it's all that came out of the commissioners open space trust fund. Um interesting. First time in 33 years. While we had applicants, not one of them was able to get the paperwork done in time. Wow. [laughter]
>> Yeah. So we extended the deadline. U we're going to be helping them shepherd it through. Uh and hopefully we're still on uh schedule. uh for reviewing them in September. So, we still have time. Um no one else mentioned, so I I certainly will. Um the New Jersey uh MVC mobile uh
motor um motor vehicle, yep, it's coming to Rockway Town uh town hall. Thursday, July 16th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Going to be doing things like driver's license registration, uh veteran handicap and purple heart placards, permits, non-driver IDs, license plate, drop
offs. You do have to register though. It's not just a uh show up. Uh the registration link is on the township website. Um and finally, again, just really want to thank Alan Brian for a great uh trip down to the water uh utility facility. Uh as already mentioned, really is absolutely
spotless. Uh state-of-the-art technology. Um it was really great to see uh you know, everything as far as the operation goes. And again, I think the uh the water's going to stay on tonight. So, I think that's all I got. What? >> You have something else?
>> Yeah. I just wanted to say one thing. >> I'll be quick. >> Yeah. >> I forgot to thank >> microphone. >> Joe, that wall, the Vietnam wall, that's the one thing I made before I I left the
town. And I just want to say I'm getting choked up from it because that's that's my friends. That's and I got called so I don't talk about it. It's a time in my life that gets me very say I'm getting choked up.
I just want to say I forgot about it and I'm amazing and that ceremony was really that's that's thanks >> council vice president. Thank you, Council President. And I know
a lot of the council members mentioned there there's a lot going on going going on in town. So, go to the stuff, check out the Facebook page, check out the council members if they have their social media. Check it out because there's a lot going on. Um, I was at the Tri County Fair. That was excellent. I
went on the 20th of June at Christ Church packed. Um, the Aldi's grand opening. Um, I was able to give a couple remarks on that. It was beautiful. Ton of people there were lined up. So that's going to be a nice addition across from Macy's like you mentioned. Um Manny
didn't mention we had the on the 30th very well attended in White Middle Lake was the ribe eyes with the rabbis of Kabad. Probably over 100 people there. So excellent event. Um the moving wall. I missed the arrival. Um but I was there
over the weekend um on the 4th of July. I had some family visiting from out of town. Just great to have it there. It was it was a hot weekend and uh I know Shannon was there all weekend and uh the scouts were there and that was just great to have an honor um to have in
Rockway Township. We have coming up uh Thursday this week um starts a White Lake Festival weekend. We have the parade on uh Sunday 11:30 and a lot of different activities um going on with that. And I also wanted to
give a thank you to Lisa because I've been getting so many emails, the most I've ever gotten since I've been on the council um from residents um which I really appreciate that they send me an email um that way just easier that we have it and uh she's on top of it and uh
because there's so many different departments here, so many different people and um you know, as the BA and the CFO, that's her that's her responsibility, her and Joe. And um I go right to her and uh she's probably like, "Ah, Councilman Sacket again." But uh
>> well and no, she's she's on it. She gets back to me and and I reach back to the residents very appreciative whether whether sometimes it's not the greatest whether it is we have to let them know what's going on. They have questions and um just want to say thank you. Got it.
That's all I got. That's it. >> Okay. Um, talking about the the wall, um, it just, mayor, it's I I I think it's like a a once in a-lifetime thing and I think it's truly like one of the defining moments of your administration to
arrange to get that here, not only here, but on the Fourth of July weekend, and I think you should be commended for that. Um, as far as uh, less Wexler, a a nicer gentleman, you will not find him in this
order. Um, Manny, I know you put in the first thing I thought about was you. I know you put in a tremendous amount of work with them amongst other uh amongst other uh uh groups. Um, every every meeting we have, you have a very robust
um uh detail of what happened. So, thank you for what you're doing. Um, I've I've gotten to know uh less when I was PTA president. We had meetings a lot of times at the same time at Copeland. Tanya, too. Hi, how are you? um and always not only, you know,
looking to uh talk about his agenda, but willing to help with anything else. So, I just, you know, that's welld deserved for him. Um I want to talk about the the storm that came through a couple weeks ago, um driving through other towns, uh
Roxbury, um Ledgewood, um Kenville, >> Dover, no power. So from 46 from do all the way down to Ledgewood, no power. Um Al, I I think that the work that you do behind the scenes in preparation and
talking to these utilities and I see the emails come out um from your discussions like with PSENG and you know storm monitoring. Um I I think people really need to understand the amount of work that you do uh in the background. Uh again talking to these utilities, we did have some outages in different parts of
the town, but they came back quickly, you responded quickly, and certainly nothing like these other towns have seen. Uh and a lot of that has to do with the preparation that you do ahead of time, which sometimes unfortunately goes unappreciated. So thank you for that. Um the water building,
uh I got a chance to go today. Um again, you you think you know what the water department and sewer department does. Uh, every time I'm humbled by by what they do. Um, it's it's amazing. The the new truck is uh Brian and Al could not
stop gushing about the new truck. They're a new toy. Um, I I told Al when he retires, we'll we'll put his name on the truck. >> Uh, and we'll do that. Um, as far as sports are concerned, and in the last 20 seconds, I uh I echo what Mr. uh Quinn
says. Uh my kids have been out of sports now for a couple years, but I still volunteer. Um they are always always looking for coaches. You don't necessarily have to know the sport in the beginning. You have to know how to coach kids. Um so if you're looking to get involved, talk to myself, talk to Councilman Quinn. Be happy to have you.
Um Okay. And just another reminder to the council. Please stay after the meeting so we can sign the paper. Anybody from Min administration have Go ahead. >> I'm just going to do a quick report. Um, I just want to make clear, right, the the moving wall was uh Shannon McCarti.
She did the whole thing. She planned the whole event. She coordinated everything. Um, as it got here, she worked with Morgan Morris and his guys were amazing. You know, helping set up the wall, break it down. Um, but she gets all the credit
for that. Um, I I had her run with it a little over a year ago and, uh, it was great for our community. Um I there's too many people to thank, but I wanted to make sure everybody knew that. Um we had a Boy Scout encampment the first two nights to guard the wall. Um they
couldn't get signups uh for the fourth and the fifth. So Paul Man and I had a man scout encampment. Um so we slept over at Peterson Field, but we did a little glamping. We had CS and stuff like that. >> [laughter]
>> Um, and we we in the in the the second night was kind of rough with that rainstorm. It was it was pretty brutal, but we we slept over and watched, but Shannon was there all weekend. We had a a lot of people come and visit the wall. So, I'm glad it worked out. I did want to wish uh Jack mentioned fall sports,
Rockets cheerleading. The original Rockets cheer coach Elaine How celebrated a birthday recently. I think they po I'm not going to say. I think she's 50. Um, so happy birthday to Elaine. Um, and Lisa had a quick meeting with the new mall manager, there's new
manager at the mall earlier today and talked about um, partnering a little bit more. Um, some things we want to do a walking club. Um, you know, we want to get access back in there again for the concerts if it's too hot or rained out. So, um, he seemed to be, uh, very
conducive to wanting to work with us and tried business both ways. So, uh, it was a very good meeting. And then I'll have everybody's reports posted um by the end of the week. >> That's it. >> Anybody else from administration?
>> Okay. Make a motion to adjurnn by consensus. All in favor? >> I. >> Meeting adjourned. >> Yes, we do. Do a del come around cover the alp has in