Resolution. I'd like to call the April 28th, 2026 meeting to order. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation [clears throat] under God, indivisible,
liberty and justice for all. Before we begin, um I wanted to uh give our mayor uh a couple of minutes. >> Yeah. Thank you, Council President. Um for those you aren't aware, uh we lost a
long-standing member of our community recently. He's not just a member of our community, um but a member of the Rockway Township family. And Mr. North wanted to say a few words, so I wanted to turn over to Al. So, go ahead. >> Yeah. Um, unfortunately, uh, last Friday, uh, Richard Kimell passed away.
He was 92 years old. He was the, uh, former superintendent of Rockway Township Department of Public Works. He was, uh, he is part of a founding, uh, founding family member of Rockway Township from the family farm up in Green Pond. Uh, he's a former US Army
veteran. He grew up in Marcela, lived in the Tomark area of town. He was uh part of the uh ski team in town when he was a kid. Believe it or not, he used to water ski on uh Lake Ames. Um he was uh
superintendent for 30 years. Uh he is instrumental in building the DPW garage complex, the White Mineral Lake Salt Dome, Peterson Field, and former Norway field and town hall, which we're all sitting in right now. Uh he's the father of three three children devot former
devoted husband. Uh he started his own excavating company Rich Kimble and Sons excavating and uh septic. Uh he was a hardworking, generous, devoted person, a wealth of knowledge and uh he will be
sorely be missed. Uh godspeed Rich Kimble. >> Council President, if I could just add something to Mr. on that too. And uh also he's very influential with the civil service uh coming into Rockaway Township as well for fair working equality for all employees that are there. And one addition that I'd want to
mention is Sandy Vandermark who is also a relative of the Kimble family, one of the uh founders of Metro Supply uh with Denny Vanmar um which the father-in-law mayor Vanmark uh was also a mayor in Rockway Township. she had
passed on uh Easter [snorts] Sunday as well and lived in the Telmark area. They were both collectively pillars within the community up there. So, thank you for that moment of silence to remember the service and sacrifices of the armed service members who protect our nation
and the first responders who protect our neighborhoods. >> Clerk, please take the role. Council member Salberg >> here. >> Council member Boyovich >> here. >> Council member Freedellander >> here.
>> Council member Royek >> here. >> Council member Freigh >> here. Council member Quinn >> here. >> Council member Kelly >> here. >> Council Vice President Sackett >> here. >> Council President Morrison >> here. Adequate notice of this meeting
was provided to the daily record and the official newspapers for the township of Rockaway. Notice was posted on the official bullet boards of Rockway Township Township website and notice was filed in the office of the township clerk. Approval of the minutes from the March 24th township council meeting. Can I
have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Sberg, >> yes. >> Council member Vitovich, >> yes. >> Council member Freellander, >> yes. Council member Royek, >> yes. >> Council member Freed,
>> yes. >> Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> no. >> Council Vice President Sackett, >> yes. >> Council President Marson, >> yes. Eight yeses, one no. Motion carries. >> Council Lorson, >> yeah. Real quick on that. In in future with the minutes, if the um the clerk's
office could spell my last name correctly, it's always spelled incorrectly. It's K E L L E Y. Okay. Thank you. >> Um All right. All right, we're going to do the open to the public portion.
>> Thank you. Before opening to the public portion of the meeting, I want to remind everybody of the rules that apply to anyone who wants to adjust the council. Any member of the public wishing to adjust 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 respect for my council, 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. Uh, when I call your name, uh, please come up to the microphone, state your name and address for the record, and again, as a reminder, it's three
minutes. Lisa Ginder, did I pronounce that right? >> Thank you. How's everyone? >> Hi, Lisa Ginder, 136 Bird Street, Dover, New Jersey. Um, and I'm feel like I've been in front of y'all a lot lately and I'm hoping to not see your faces for a
while after I get done with my three minutes tonight. So, first of all, I want to say thank you to um my word representative as well as Lieutenant Hamilton. They've been working with me on the speeding issue on my street and I just want to say that I greatly appreciate that. Um, the thing that I'm
really here to talk about, um, it's something I have gotten to talk to my board representative about as well as the mayor, um, over the past monthish or so, and it's regarding the annual assessments for the taxes. Um, and I
understand that you're looking to pause the annual assessments when the contract is up this year. Um, and I am here in full support of that. uh since I literally moved in and like 4 months after moving in got the letter that the assess reassessments were happening in
my less than 2,000 square foot home has gone up about $4,500 a year which is a significant portion. It's like a 40% or so increase to my annual taxes. I am a very involved person in the town. Uh, I
am I serve on my local PTA and I try to be cognizant of what's happening and all of that good stuff, but I feel overwhelmed by the taxes and how much they've gone up and I feel like that's been exacerbated by COVID and the annual assessments
are not helping that situation. Um, so I'm just here to beg and plead that you figure something different out for us and for the residents. You know, maybe if you do still need to do some kind of annual assessment, maybe it's breaking the town into chunks. So maybe it's a
five-year plan where you get assessed every five years, but you go around assessing a different chunk of town once every five years. So putting that out there, please and thank you. Uh the second uh and it's usually the thing that causes so many blowups in
everything Rock Away on Facebook is the garbage. Now, for all of our taxes, uh, we don't get garbage in our taxes. So, we're paying all this money, but we don't even get the garbage in our taxes. And I appreciate the recycling and I
appreciate the, um, the absolutely wonderful bulk that comes around, takes like everything. Uh, so that's helpful. But um even if you cannot provide garbage if that's like a statistical impossibility for the town, can you
please get the companies to have the same price? We are a large enough place to be able to try to negotiate something. Um I mean I feel lucky the one I've chosen happens to be the lower one, but I see it every day people
seemingly getting bamboozled by the other company. So something to look into, something to say, something to pay attention to because people clearly don't come to the meetings to complain about these things. The last thing >> Yep. You're at three minutes. We'll go ahead and wrap up. >> Okay. Last thing is um we all know that
we've experienced enough drama and what I've what I've been following in Roxberry and most recently in Andover. I'm here to ask you to consider um putting a ban on data centers in the town. I don't know about our large spaces and what those could become in
the future, but um I don't want to be the latest in the lawsuits and dramas uh due to a potential data center because what I'm learning from those other towns is by the time it's happening, you're too late. So, by doing something preemptively, I'm hoping that we could
not face what they're facing. So, thank you. >> Thanks, Council President. Uh, is it possible to respond to one of the comments that she made regarding assessments um and taxes? >> It's not appropriate. >> It's not appropriate. >> No.
>> Uh, Michaelardi. >> Michael Lardi, 19 North Brookside Drive. I'll bring up the stop lines again. I've been bringing this up probably two years. Um, El Gangquin and North Brook sides a chronic problem that I see because it's
on my street and people don't stop at the corner. They get into the oncoming traffic before they stop. Um, I've mentioned in the past arrows on North Lakeshore Drive. It's the one-way street that heads to Beach 3 in White Metal Lake. There's obviously a one-way sign
at the entrance and a do not enter on the other side. But when you have vendors or food delivery people go to someone's house, you know, they take that dog leg to go down, they don't even pay attention that it's a one way and when they leave, they go out the wrong way. I ran into a sheriff vehicle the
other day and I put my hand out and he goes, "It's a one-way street, right?" I said, "Yep." So he turned around, but a few arrows on a couple spots throughout that street, three arrows maybe, at least they would drive a short distance, see an arrow, and realize, "Oh, it's one way," and turn around.
um a burm on White Meadow Road from like the Temple Driveway to Clubhouse Way because the water it just ruts out the road and goes right into our preschool property and our sump pump just constantly has to pump it out. Um
the mall taxes, I know Simon gets a break on the taxes based on vacancies, but there's stores that want to expand. Raymon Flanigan wants to expand and Simon comes up with a rent that is so ridiculous per square feet per square
foot because they are getting a tax break. So they don't want to have them rent it because then they're going to lose the discount in the ratable because it's vacant. So there's the incentive not to have places rented there based on
that. I know that's in the contract or something, but when when a store wants to expand and expand the business in the township and the the mall is saying no because or not saying no, but making the price so ridiculous they don't take it
in order to not have to pay taxes on it. We're getting the shaft. Um lastly, White Metal Lake has their food truck Friday starting this Friday. It's open to everybody. It's not just for White Metal Lake. So stop by if you can.
I won't be there. I'll be away, but it's always a good time, especially in nice weather. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Dana Tabadella, >> Dana Tabadella, 31 Omaha Avenue. Um, they sat through the budget meeting on
March 14th and there was a motion made by Councilman Kelly to raise one of the lines that would be beneficial to the taxpayers. The council didn't understand the vote. They voted no to it. And then there was a second opportunity in another area to do the same thing. So
before the vote was taken, Councilman Kelly had asked Lisa Palary to please explain to the council if we raise this line, will this be a benefit to the taxpayers? She explained everything and said that yes, it would. So then the council voted
yes to that motion. Mr. Kelly turned around and asked at that time to please reopen the tab for the original one that you voted no to. And Mr. Morrison, council president, said that you were not able to do that. Um that it was the
legal opinion that you were not able to reopen the tab. Um I was sitting here in the audience. I actually did an Oprah right at that very moment when you said that you had sent uh a text to the lawyer and that he had said that we
couldn't reopen the tab. um when the Oprah came back and it says that there's no government records response responsive to my request. So, am I being lied to that you consulted with the attorney? Um I don't understand why
there's no records. You said that there that you consulted with the attorney. If you did consult with the attorney, I'd like to hear from the attorney why we couldn't reopen a tab if that's going to be beneficial to the taxpayers. Um, I just feel like a lot of times, even when
there's a good suggestion made, um, and I'm addressing this to all of the council, that our council president can't see past his differences with Mr. Kelly. And so now, because there's differences between them, that the taxpayers are not going to get the
benefit because he just doesn't want to honor anything that he says, even if it's a great idea. So you guys didn't get the opportunity to vote on that again. I don't understand why because it would have been a benefit to us. Then the last meeting was cancelled.
The meeting before that ended abruptly. This is not good for our community. And I just want to say that if this this conduct can't change that the council should consider replacing the council president because we can't have this.
You're supposed to be here for us, the taxpayers. You You can't turn around and cancel meetings, make up things saying that you've consulted with an attorney that I mean, as far as I'm concerned, did that happen? The Oprah says it didn't happen.
So, I'd like some responses to that. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, just again, because this is an accusation and I feel the need to respond. Um, the meeting was on YouTube. Please, I'm asking you go back and and watch it. I did not say it was a text. I
said it was a phone call. All right. If you would like to also I mean I'm sure you can even Oprah the video of me walking out into there and at no point am I texting it was a very quick phone call. All right. So that's what I did say and that's why there's no records uh
to hand over because it was a one to two minute phone call. Okay. Um, as far as, you know, personal differences, I may have procedural differences with Councilman Kelly. Um, I
don't, we don't interact outside of here, right? So, there's really nothing personal. It's really just professional. Okay. Um, and there are rules of decorum that need to be followed. All right. Again, if you go back and watch the meeting, you will find that I actually seconded and supported some of Mr.
Kelly's motions because he he does have good ideas. All right. It doesn't mean that they're all going to be agreed on. That's why it's a council. Everybody gets to put in their input. All right? And it's everybody has their own opinion, right? It's your opinion that it was a good thing to do. And you're
entitled to that opinion. It was the opinion of eight other members of the council that it wasn't for whatever it was that you said was voted down. All right. But I've I will certainly vote with Mr. Kelly if I think it's in my opinion to be good for the town. >> Well, it wasn't only my opinion. It was
Lisa Pal Mary's opinion. She had clarified that. >> Um I will come back and I will listen to the news again. >> Right. 100%. >> Thank you. >> Council President, can I respond since she responded to the accusation? Just something's brief. [laughter] I mean, you just did it. >> I know. But she was accusing me.
>> Well, she was also mentioning my name as well, >> right? But she was supporting you. So >> So because she supported me, not you, then I >> She wasn't accusing you of anything. >> That's discriminatory, isn't it? >> Oh, that's your opinion. >> Okay, council president. >> Yeah. Um, can you please clarify something quickly though? >> Yeah, but if I'm not letting if I'm not
letting him Okay. >> Then I can't >> Please sit down. Please sit down. Your time is over. >> The attorney could respond. >> Your time is over. Please sit down. >> Okay. Um, R 2673. Uh, this is a resolution to cancel the reserve balance. I want to
explain, um, to the public what what this is because this is a good thing. Um, we talk about a lot of times, especially at the budget meeting, we talk about if something isn't used, it goes back into the general fund, right?
And this is a good example of something like that. So, we have um uh we have a balance for um ACUAC, right, which is accumulated sick and vacation time. Um when all of that money
is not used, it goes somewhere. So instead of instead of the the the tax burden being on the residents to you know pay for that $587,000 that extra $587,000
is being brought back to offset the tax burden of the town. Okay. It becomes a line of revenue. Thank you. Um basically this is a good example. People bring it up. They say I want to see where it is. Here's a great example. So, we're taking over half a million dollars and putting
it back into the fund to uh offset the tax burden [clears throat] um on the people. That being said, uh resolution our just on on that particular comment that you said about the refund to the into the fund for the taxpayers's benefit. >> Yeah.
>> When we have other areas in the budget such as vacant positions that we're paying for even though there's not a body holding that position, right, >> that same money goes back into that general fund. We're not talking about that. We're talking about the accumulated sick and vacation. >> We're just talk but I'm I'm talking about refund back into to the general
fund again. >> The answer is yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh resolution R2673 resolution to cancel the reserve balance. Going to have a motion. >> So move. >> Second. Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Sberg. >> Yes.
>> Council member Vitzovvich. >> Yes. >> Council member Freellander. >> Yes. >> Council member Royek. Yes, >> Council Member Freay. >> Yes, Council Member Quinn. >> Yes, >> Council Member Kelly. >> Yes, >> Council Vice President Sacket. >> Yes,
>> Council President Morrison. >> Yes, that is nine yeses. Uh motion carries. Uh okay, we are going to go on to a couple of items um regarding the budget. Um we have uh one ordinance, couple resolutions. Um at a point after
this first ordinance uh we are going to have another open to the public session uh relative to the budget. Uh 02608 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank. Can I have a motion? >> So move
>> second. >> Is there any council discussion on this ordinance? >> Who second? I'm sorry. Mr. S. >> Is there any public discussion on this ordinance alone? Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Salberg,
>> yes. >> Council member Votovich, >> yes. >> Council member Freedellander, >> yes. >> Council member Roy, >> yes. >> Council member Freeday, yes. Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> no. >> Council Vice President Sack,
>> yes. >> Council President Marson, >> yes. Eight yeses, one no. Motion carries. Uh, okay. Um, this is now the for the 2026 budget hearing. Uh, it is another open to the public portion. Uh, same rules apply as
I read before. Uh, if you do wish to speak, you'll get three minutes. Please state your name and address for the record. Is there anybody here from the public that wishes to speak? >> Dana Tavadella, 31 Omaha Avenue. So, this is in regards to the budget. just the budget. >> Okay. So, my question that I had asked
before, when you didn't vote to raise that one number and the tab couldn't be reopened, that would be beneficial to the taxpayers. I want to know, can we reopen that? And if we can't, I would like the attorney to let me know why we can't reopen that if that's going to be a benefit to the taxpayers.
>> Okay. And and again, it's your opinion that it's a benefit to the taxpayers. Miss Yatra, are you prepared to respond or would you prefer to >> Well, you said a a phone conversation with about it and Miss Palm Mary did say it. Don't say it so that I'm saying it was a benefit. Miss Palm Mary said it was a benefit. >> Okay. Professional.
>> Mr. Yachaf, are you prepared at this point? No. >> Okay. >> I am. >> You are. No, you're not recognized for this. It is not. You're You are not a legal representative of the town. >> I'm I'm a council member of the town, the legislative branch, the pur strings of this governing body, >> as are the other eight council members
up here. I'm the only one that probably can answer that question right here. >> Mr. Kelly, you can't just set yourself up as the smartest person in the room because you're not. >> This is a council. It is a a group that handles things in a collaborative manner. >> Is there a reason why you wouldn't want to just address it and have that answer?
>> Because it's been addressed many, many times. >> It hasn't because nobody's answered it. >> Moving on. >> Okay. >> R 2686. This is a resolution to read the 2026 operating budget by title. Uh the purpose of this resolution is to uh to
avoid having to literally open up the book and read every line. Can I have a motion? >> So move second. >> Clerk, please take the role. >> Don't do it to uh don't we have our opportunity to speak? >> No, it's a resolution, not an ordinance. >> It doesn't make a difference though. It's a budget hearing that we just allowed the public to speak about.
>> Uh not on a resolution. No, an ordinance. Yes. >> Council member Salberg. >> Yes. >> Council member Voitvich? >> Yes. Council member Freellander, >> yes. >> Council member Roy, >> yes. >> Council member Freeday, >> yes. Council member Quinn, >> yes.
>> Council member Kelly, >> no. >> Council Vice President Sack, >> yes. >> Council President Marson, >> yes. It's eight yeses, one no. Motion carries. Uh, all right. R 2687. This is a resolution to adopt the 2026 municipal budget of the township of Rockway in the
county of Morris. I'm going to read the resolution now. Be it resolved by the township council of the township of Rockaway, county of Mars, that the 2026 budget herein before set forth is hereby adopted and shall constitute an appropriation for the purposes stated of
sums therein set forth as appropriations and authorizations an authorization the amount of $31,186,2716 for municipal purposes and $459,685.70 cents for open space, recreation, farmland, and historic preservation
trust fund levy and $2,261,55 for minimum library tax. Can I have a motion? >> Debate, Mr. There is no debate on this, sir. You can vote yes or no. >> You're not going to allow any conversations about this. >> I made I made it clear. >> That's just yes or no, Mr. President. >> Clerk, please take the role.
>> I got a motion. Is there a second? >> I'm sorry. >> I'll second. >> Okay. >> Was >> I made the motion. You >> second. Okay. >> Council member Salberg, >> yes. >> Council member Votovich, >> yes. >> Council member Freelander, >> yes. >> Council member Roy,
>> yes. >> Council member Freed, >> yes. >> Council member Quinn, >> yes. [clears throat] >> Council member Kelly, >> no. >> Council Vice President Sacket, >> yes. >> Council President Marson, >> yes. It's eight yeses, one no. Motion carries. >> Council President, can I be recognized
real quick? >> Yes. We we're just dealing with a a large number of a budget of uh over $45 million and you did not allow one council member to address anything, make any kind of statement with regard to
that, have any conversation at all for us to represent any of the members of the public as well as our constituents in each one of our wards. >> Was there a reason why? >> We've had multiple occasions and multiple opportunities to discuss this. >> Is there a reason why that you wouldn't allow tonight us for questions, the
questions that were asked. Okay? You can speak by your actions of voting yes or no. All right? Again, this is a collaboration, right? This is a council meeting. It's not a Councilman Kelly meeting, right? It is a collaboration. It it represents a lot of hard work by
the administration, a lot of analysis and contribution from the council, yourself included. Um, it has happened over the course of many months and you have had more than ample opportunities to speak about it as have the rest of the council. I understand. And the problem was though, we had a meeting
that was canceled last week to have further conversations, potentially make even further adjustments that would benefit the taxpayers of reduction reducing the levy. And even tonight, as you had stated from legal counsel that I don't believe that you actually received in order us for us not being allowed to
open the tab in order to address areas of potential savings that are there. >> So tonight, I had asked in order to speak about this budget after the public hearing for the for the public. And you would not allow me to speak to address some of the concerns and issues
prior to the vote of the budget. >> Right. It was open to the public, not open to the council. >> But there's nothing that bars and I there's nothing that bars us to open it to the council to have discussion because this is the only time that we can deliberate and have a conversation amongst all of us without being in violation of the open public meeting act. >> It is not the only time. We had many
council meetings. You have many other council. We've had budget meetings. We have council meetings. And as far as the last meeting, again, you've been the council president, so you should know that the last meeting would not have had anything to do with the budget. All right? It has to wait a full cycle to this meeting. Okay? And all right. And
as far as if you want to talk about cancelling the last meeting, there was only two items on the agenda, right? None of which were timely, right? None of none of which were under a time constraint. And in order to be fiscally conscious, right, as you constantly bring up, we decided not to hold a
meeting. So we didn't have to bring people in and pay overtime and bring the meeting just for the sake of having a meeting. >> But there is no over. These are all department heads that are here. There is no over and you deprive people of talking to public to raise issues because we only had the introduction of the budget. >> You are out of order
>> and you wouldn't allow anybody to do out of order. >> It's not true, Mr. President. You're actually interrupting me, >> Mr. Kelly. Twice. You're out of order. >> Okay. Ordinance for introduction 02614. An ordinance amending chapter 28 entitled
health and environment to add a new article 28-6 entitled Farmers Markets to create provisions for the licensing of and establishing standards for farmers market operations. Now make the motion. >> I will I'm not asking for a motion yet. Um there are some slight adjustments
that I would like to read into the record. Um regarding the fees um after uh discussion um be with the mayor. Uh the fee for the operator license has been reduced from $50 to $10. The uh
farmers market type 2, three or four operator license has been reduced from $75 to $15. um the general operator uh reduced from 25 to 10 and type one operators from $50 to 15. Um this is all uh in order to
make it obviously more enticing for more vendors to come to these markets. So the um the motion for the ordinance uh again will read as stated um in addition to the changes that I just mentioned. Uh I made the motion. You want the second?
Uh, well, you know, you have a question on on this introduction on that because you just you just provided us some information that wasn't provided earlier. Do you truly believe that a $10 or $15 difference is going to be the course of attraction to people to come and participate >> between 10 and $50?
>> 15. [snorts] >> We lowered it to 15. >> But I'm saying like you you believe that's the that's the ultimate cause of people not participating in this is over uh >> the ultimate cause. No, I think but I think that anything we do to help a small business I mean you know some mom
and pop think about the the the girl with the cooking business if we're going to charge her $50 instead of 15. Yeah, I think actually would if I could speak it's definitely part of it and and historically >> maybe we make a couple hundred a year on these fees as it stands at $50 and we're
hoping that by lowering it. I get a lot of feedback from these different places that want to do these farmers markets that it's prohibitive for these people. So, yeah. >> Was there any other complaints though, Joe? Like any Was there any other complaints? I I mean, it's not that I'm going against it. I just No,
>> I just didn't know if there's locations, establishments, interior, inside access, outside access, parking. >> No, it it's really >> the fees because these people that are coming to farmers markets and stuff, they're not making a lot of money, right? >> So, by telling them, you know, you're
only going to pay $10 instead of 50, it is a big difference for them, >> right? >> Um and again, it's not costing us anything. We're still going to do what we do today. Um but hopefully it brings in I think it's going to end up bringing in more fee revenue than what we're getting today because I think we're going to have more people want and
[clears throat] the fees that are on here. Um Mayor, are they the same effort into the process? You know, person that's paying a $10 fee or a $15 fee. Is it the same process to to get um these people permitted or
>> it uh >> So then why not have them all even? process isn't changing, but the $15 versus $10 is a little bit uh a deeper process that we follow. Okay. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Good questions. >> I have a motion still. Do you want the second?
>> Mr. Kelly. >> Second. >> Please go. >> Council member Salberg. >> Yes. >> Council member Vilovich. >> Yes. >> Council member Freelander. >> Yes. >> Council member Royer. >> Yes. >> Council member Freed. >> Yes. >> Council member Quinn. >> Yes.
>> Council member Kelly. Yes. >> Council Vice President Zack. >> Yes. >> Council President Morrison. >> Yes. It's nine yeses. Motion carries. >> Uh 02615, an ordinance amending chapter 28 entitled Health and Environment to amend sections of article 11. Can I have
a motion? >> So moved. >> I'll second it. Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Salberg, >> yes. >> Council member Vtovich, >> yes. >> Council member Freelander, >> yes. >> Council member Roy, >> yes. Council member Freed, >> yes.
>> Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Zack, >> yes. >> Council President Morrison, >> yes. It's nine yeses. Motion carries. Uh, ordinance 02616, an ordinance amending chapter 17, parks and
recreational facilities of the revised general ordinances of the township of Rockaway, Marsh County, state of New Jersey. >> Motion. Second. >> Cler, please say go. >> Council member Saber. >> Yes. Council member Voytovich. >> Yes. >> Council member Freelander. >> Yes.
>> Council member Royer. >> Yes. >> Council member Freed. >> Yes. Sorry. >> Yes. [laughter] >> Council member Quinn. >> I jumped the gun. Yes. >> You're excited. >> Council member Kelly. >> I'm sorry. What was that? >> Council member Kelly.
>> Yes. >> Council Vice President Sacket. >> Yes. >> Council President Marson. >> Yes. It's nine yeses. Motion carries. Ordinances for adoption 02609 bond ordinance appropriating $4,248,890
and authorizing the issuance of $3,268,595 bonds or notes of the township for various improvements or purposes authorized to be undertaken by the township of Rockaway in the county of Morris, New Jersey. Can I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Uh let's give uh
>> go to the council. >> He'll get it. I'll do second. Is there any council discussion? >> Can you just tell the public and and what these various improvements are or focus on some of the larger ones? >> Okay. So, ordinance 2609 is the general
improvement ordinance. This uh coincides with the capital budget that we um approved in the municipal budget. The next ordinance uh 2610 is the water improvements um ordinance for funding capital projects. again tying into the um budget that we had just adopted. And
the last one, 2611. This is actually reappropriating not additional debt to move um 750,000 out of old unexpended ordinances that were previously authorized into a new ordinance to um fund road paving projects. >> So an example of when we don't use
money, it goes into another >> This is going Yes. It's not going back into general. It's going into another capital. >> All right. Um, is there anybody from the public that wishes to speak on this ordinance alone? 02609. >> All right, clerk, 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, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Zack,
>> yes. >> Council President Marson, >> yes. Nine. And yes, motion carries. O2610 bond ordinance appropriating $1,730,000 and authorizing the issuance of $1,690,000 bonds or notes of the township for
various improvements or purposes authorized to be undertaken in and by the township of Rockway in the county of Mars, New Jersey for the water supply and distribution system of the township. >> So move second. >> Any council discussion? Council [clears throat] President just asked
that if you can just give a um a few examples of the projects or what this money would be going to. >> She just about water. >> No, I mean she talked about water but that's just general. I mean what is it? Is it a certain well? Is it for remediation POS? I mean >> the public have no idea right now. >> The public also has an opportunity to
ask these questions. >> You know I know that but okay they don't get any answers when they ask it. So I mean you >> see that's uncalled. >> But you just proved it. >> Mr. person's going to come up and ask a question of that. You're not going to answer the question. >> You're out of order. >> So, I'm asking, can we answer the question of Mrs. Palmary? Can or Mrs.
Palmary? I don't Are you prepared at this point? >> I I can answer it because if you turn to page two of the ordinance, which is published, it lists all the improvements. >> So, no, no, no. The information is in there to put it on the record is what I'm asking, Mrs. Palmer. >> It is in the record. It's in the agenda. Stop trying to make trouble, man.
>> Mr. Morrison, please don't make yourself, you know, serving comments on that. It's just putting it on the record. So, it's in the minutes of >> It's on the record. >> It's already on the record. It's in the ordinance. It's in the It's in the packet. It's already on the record. >> Did we have a All right.
>> You didn't even know what it was. >> Anybody? >> You're so out of order, Mr. Kelly. Stop making it personal. >> Um, clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Sberg. >> Yes. >> Council member Voitvich? >> Yes.
>> Council member Freellander? >> Yes. Council member Roya, >> yes. >> Council member Freeday, >> yes. >> Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Sackett, >> yes. >> Council President Marrison, >> yes. It's nine. Yes. Motion carries.
02611. Ordinance providing for improvement of various roads in and by the township of Rockway in the county of Mars, New Jersey, and reappropriating $750,000 therefore from proceeds of obligations of the township here24 issued and funds available under ordinances of the
township here24 adopted. Can I have a motion? >> So move for. >> Any council discussion? Council President ask again that we would provide some information as to what the potential of the $750,000 can go to maybe uh future road projects. And
again, as I stated before um in rebuttal to your rebuttal, um this is all public record. Nobody from the public has contacted asking for information and it is all readily available. >> Can you just tell me the of any major >> Mr. Please do not answer. Mr. Kelly, you're out of order. >> I'm only asking the
>> Mr. Kelly, you're out of order. This is not >> Can you tell me which one it is? >> Mr. Kelly, why is this now a question and answer? Why is this testing period? Because again, why are you making it Listen, you you have to stop making things personal. You have to understand that
other council members and other people from the public are entitled to have opinions opposite of your own despite your proclamation before that you are the only one that knows and can answer the question. This is a collaborative effort, right? We don't do gotchas. We don't test each other in public. All
right? play your part just like everybody else is. All right? Grow up a little bit. Stop making it personal and stop with this kind of stuff. >> Mr. Morrison, it's not being personal. The only problem is that the public on there >> the embarrassment of you not knowing.
That's the problem that you have and I'm sorry for pointing it out. It's not intentional. >> Listen, I feel no need. >> Less is more to you. >> Thank you, Mr. Morrison. >> Please conduct yourself with some decor. >> Thank you, Mr. Morrison. Where were we? Oh, 2612
[snorts] >> D. >> C. >> Okay. >> Did we have a motion? >> Yes. >> And we had a second. >> And we had a second. >> We are ready. >> Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Salberg. >> Yes. >> Council member Votovich?
>> Yes. >> Council member Freelander? >> Yes. >> Council member Royer? >> Yes. Council member Freeday, >> yes. >> Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Sackett, >> yes. >> Council President Morrison, >> yes. It's nine. Yes. This motion
carries. O2. >> 2612, an ordinance fixing the salaries of various officials and contractual employees of the township of Rockway and the county of Mars. Can I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Dare I ask, is there any council discussion?
I appreciate your sarcastic comment, but no, there's nothing right now for me. >> Your appreciation is noted. Anybody from the public wishes to speak on this ordinance alone? >> Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Salberg, >> yes. >> Council member, >> yes.
>> Council member Freelander, >> yes. >> Council member Roy, >> yes. >> Council member Freighey, >> yes. Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> yes. Council Vice President Sackett. >> Yes. >> Council President Morrison.
>> Yes. That is nine. Yes. Motion carries. >> Mr. Morrison, just out of uh procedure, did we uh allow open to the public on C? >> I believe we did. We did. Okay. >> Uh 02613, an ordinance fixing the salaries of various officials and
non-contractual employees of the township of Rockway in the county of Morris. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. Any council discussion? Anybody from the public wishes to speak on this ordinance? Clerk, please take the role. >> Council member Salberg,
>> yes. >> Council member Votovich, >> yes. >> Council member Freelander, >> 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. Nine yeses. Motion carries. uh consent agenda uh items R 2674 through and including R2685 and R2688, R2689, R 2690.
>> Can I have a motion? >> So move second. Cler, please take the role. >> Council member Sber, >> yes. >> Council member Votovich, >> 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. That is nine. Yes. This motion carries. Um I'm going to pull up these two new these two items. Um Liam Mun for
junior membership in Fire Company 4 and David Cho full membership in Fire Company 2. Can I have >> move second? >> Clerk, please take the role. Council member Sberg, >> yes. >> Council member Voytovich, >> yes. >> Council member Freelander,
>> yes. >> Council member Roy, >> yes. >> Council member Freeday, >> yes. Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Sacket, >> yes. >> Council President Marson, >> yes. It's nine yeses. Congratulations.
>> Council President, >> yeah. Can I make a motion? >> Uh, yes. to remove my uh my motion or my uh new business for utility committee. >> No, that's not >> Mr. Kelly, please don't interrupt. >> Council President, I'd like to make a motion to bring back council reports
effective May 12th and keep at three minutes as well as administration reports to three minutes with no extension of time. >> Second that. Cler, please take a role. >> Council member Salberg, >> yes. >> Council member Votovich,
>> yes. Council member Freellander, >> yes. >> Council member Roy, >> yes. >> Council member Freay, yes. Council member Quinn, >> yes. >> Council member Kelly, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Sacket, >> yes. >> Council President Morrison, >> yes. It's nine yes. This motion carries.
>> Thank you, Mr. We'll be doing that um starting with the next meeting. >> Okay. >> Um where we at? >> Utility committee. >> I'm sorry. >> Utility committee. Uh, I I don't see that on the agenda.
>> I got it right. Yeah, it's all on our new ones. >> It's on the new one. >> Yep. It's the one that you were arguing about trying to remove my right to add to the agenda today. >> If you're going to make that accusation, please support uh with documentation. >> Uh, I had a conversation with Mrs. Paul Mary that actually contacted you to show
that you were in violation of 257c where you weren't going to put my reports as well as my new business on this agenda because I >> contacted me. Yeah. Mrs. Pal Mary, you want to respond? >> No, she doesn't need to respond. >> Sure, she does. She's right there. >> Hang on a second. Yeah, but
>> and you I mean, you had some collaboration between the acting clerk and yourself, and so the utility committee was added on to it after she had spoke to you today. >> I think we had our our conversation at what, four o'clock, Mr. Pomeary? >> Yeah. Does that wake up your memory at all?
>> No, not at all. >> I don't see it. >> What number is it? It's right here. What number? There is no number under new business. It doesn't go like that. Oh, we got Liam Mun, we got David Cho, and we got utility committee. >> I don't see it. All right.
>> Um, go ahead. You have three minutes. Um, so the utility committee, which many people don't understand, and I have spoken to Mrs. Paul Mary about that in length as well today. Uh, in the northern end of it in a ward six, we have a lot of power loss. Um, not to say that other areas
don't have power losses in some of the storms, but we get uh some crazy winds, some heavy rain, snow, ice, all that stuff. Uh, it's always pretty much a guarantee of some type of a loss. And we do not have some sort of communication
or liaison position between uh the governing body and utility committees. It could be JCPNL, it could be um Verizon, and it could be um Cable Vision or Cable. So recently, uh, there were some updates in my report where we had in the breezeway in Green Pond Road, we
had a tree that came down onto the cable lines, not power, and contacting directly to Verizon unless they found the owner of a tree, which was on state land. They weren't doing anything about it. Tree was overhanging. Uh, Officer Foster did an amazing job directing traffic, got down through the shade
tree. And then we had another thing that Mrs. Fonte was very helpful as well as Mr. off on Denmark roadway had a split tree which is threephase up there and a delta power line on a high leads that are 7,000 watts up there um and they
addressed it but again we don't have any kind of communication um of a liaison ship or committee to kind of assess some areas that we need maybe vegetation control some areas that are maybe on the easement of of township property state property and then there's some concerns
on personal properties I mean even on upper high road, we have some really concerning trees, whether it's ashborne from, uh, the beetles into the ash trees or just really dead trees that are somewhat undermined from the conditions in the slope. So, um, I would like to
create, which was part of my campaign anyways, but this isn't political. I'm always very involved when we have power outages. Mr. Sacket, you're very aware well over that. Um, and I do have contacts from my line of work that I do in construction with some of these utility companies.
And so I would like to get some of the consensus of this council and our administration to somewhat create committee or at at minimum a liaison which I would love to be the leazison to have that direct conversation and community connection with these utility
companies addressing some of the power not just in the six ward even though we're the large abundant of those power losses but throughout the entire township and if somebody wishes to be on the committee I would I would be more than happy to have somebody with me but again if nobody's is interested in that. Um that is something that I would like
to take that task on. >> So as a former resident of the six word, I think it's a fantastic idea. >> Yeah. So >> um so I would I I don't know what the procedure is. Would Mr. Kelly have to like submit an outline? I don't know how
this something like this would go. >> So So I would say it's um two things, right? So, number one, um, historically, in my experience and in in our council and all that, like committees, um, don't
seem to go far and do a lot like I I I don't see that being real. I think it's an administrative function, but I would encourage I would love to have you as like the liaison. I think you do have contact. >> What? >> Can't hurt. >> Oh, I thought you said you can't hear
me. Yeah. Like I think it would be good to have you be like the leaison um and work with the administration and the power companies um to to control these things, the reports that come in and all that stuff. I don't have a problem with that. >> And it would I think that it would actually minimize some of the efforts because Mr. Front is extremely busy
throughout the field. Mr. off. I don't know how you do it. You need like six of him for the work that he does as one person. >> How do you know there's not six of them? [laughter] >> I know he was in that cloning process. But anyways, in all seriousness, >> no, that's >> I don't know if there's even a motion that we need to create a liaison um or
if it's something that the administration >> Let's find out. I think it's worth exploring offline, but that's that's what I'd prefer to do. >> If it ends up being some kind of a committee, I'd like to serve with Mr. Kelly on that, too. But again, if you ever follow some of the stuff I post on
there, I am all about our power and a very quick response and I think through my years I' I've proven that and want to continue to do so through a committee or a leazison position. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> And then following that, I would like to make a motion on something else.
>> Um I'd like to make a motion to recognize uh a phenomenal police officer that we have in Rockway Township, uh Jordan Matoss. And Jordan Matoss was just re officer Matoss was just recently inducted into the 200 club for a uh a a
great heroic thing that he did um with another do two other do police officers. One which was his father who's also serves as a police officer in Dover. And I a little disappointed that we weren't notified of the 200 club and been invited to that. And it was even a
little bit more disappointing that our own police chief did not recognize or uh put Mr. Matoss or Officer Matoss in that 200 club where it was uh a wonderful chief and over uh Delaney.
But I would like for us to do something for this officer, for his heroic efforts of uh reducing a a machete wielding individual um with his father and calming the situation down and saving people surrounding himself, whether we
do a proclamation, mayor, or we do some type of um other recognition uh for his efforts. And maybe this will be uh a spiraling thing that we do for more police officers in our township that do great deeds and put themselves last when
it comes to uh saving the public and helping the public. So, >> uh I I don't want to I would think this falls under Chief Sher. I don't want to put you on the spot if you're prepared to respond, but I I I I do know that you regularly recognize your officers. So, I
mean, we I saw a post on it. I saw multiple posts on it recognizing him >> after the fact. That's the problem. >> I don't want to put you on the spot. >> Chief, was there a reason why you didn't Is there a reason why you didn't put him in the club? Chief, >> we're not interrogating. >> No, I'm just asking him. >> Is there a Is like a process or
something? >> You know what? I I'm sorry. I'm >> Would anybody second that motion? This is going this is going from well again I mean you can make the motion but I have no problem with emotion but be specific like what do you want to do? >> I I would like to make a a motion to
recognize officer Matoss for his heroic efforts and in conjunction with the two other officers in do. >> Okay then >> whether it's through a proclamation or if there's an award or I just it bothers me that our chief did not recognize
>> Kelly. Please don't make it personal. It has to because it bothers me. I have family on the blue line. >> Okay. But if you if you're if you want to make a motion to officially recognize the actions and I think that's very valid. I think anything other than that really falls under the purview of the chief. But if you want to make a I'd be happy
to >> if we were relying on the chief to make these notices and we wouldn't get them. >> Mr. Kelly, there's no reason to make everything personal. >> It's not personal. >> It is personal. >> It's not a proclamation. I mean to make one to
make a motion. >> You know what's interesting? Here's a man that just interrupted me. You don't say a word. >> Wasn't recognized. You didn't say a word. Not one word. >> Be specific. He only talked for 10 seconds. >> Doesn't matter. Was it 10 seconds or if it's 10 minutes? >> Mr. Kelly, you're so selective on how it handles here.
>> Stop taking everything so yell at me. He did yell at me. Just remember, he did yell at me before. Council have a question. >> Hang on a second. >> You know, of course, there should be recognition, but is it under the purview of um the council that if the the mayor
does want to issue a proclamation, is that even something for us to even vote on? >> Can we do a council proclamation instead? Does it have to be a mayor proclamation? >> I mean, I don't think it hurts if you just want to again make the statement for for the council to recognize their heroic actions. I think that that's well
>> I I would like to have something in paper. I would like to have a >> what my recommendation would be is offline >> talk to the mayor, talk to the police chief, find out what options we have because I don't know if this falls under something with, you know, uh it goes on to the patrolman's record or not on his
record, things like that. Let's find out. I don't know if it's something that we vote on, right? So, >> again, do the due diligence and I don't think anybody's going to have a problem with it. Take it offline, find out what options are available, and then we bring it to the next meeting. Chief, can you can you provide me with the options that
we can do to recognize uh officer Matoss for his heroic efforts that he did along with his father and the other officer? >> Again, this is something that this is something that could have been handled before with a simple email. It's not a gotcha thing. Miss Yachano, I'm turning you >> I don't get an opportunity to have a deliberation amongst the council doing
it. >> Listen, this is if you want to make a motion, make your motion as long as it falls under the purview of the council. There are rules of the quorum that you must follow. violation rules. Is there a violation to make a motion to recognize an officer? >> No, form.
>> You can do it to make a recom You can do it to recognize the officer to have the council recognize the officer, but that's it. Anything else that falls under Wait a minute. Where where are you coming up with this? >> Take it offline. >> I mean, serious. You're you're telling me some type of a thing that you have no
foundation, no support. I'm asking the question. That's why >> this is not a this is not >> I didn't think it was going to be that difficult to recognize an officer for his heroic efforts. I didn't realize you're going to be so against doing it. >> See, but see there you go folks. That's the hook. >> I'll look into it again. Mr. Morrison,
>> folks, that's the hook. He wants to put himself as the person who cares and nobody else does. And I think >> you created the hook. Mr. Kelly, you're out of order. Mr. Kelly, you're out of order. And I think that the public is a lot smarter than that. >> I don't think so. >> You don't think the public is smarter than that? I don't think
>> there you go. >> Moving on. >> I don't think they're in your >> Does anybody else have uh Does >> I've heard that before. The public is not smart enough. Okay. Does anybody else have any new business? >> Does the administration have anything?
>> Uh no. We'll post our reports like we did last meeting. >> I thought that was a great >> I did want to just recognize we are 2025 New Jersey Healthy Town Award uh for the second consecutive year. testament to Britney Bernstein. I did also want to point out, yes, very good. We're doing a
lot of great programs for people in our community. Um, at the, uh, White Middle Lake Craft Fair, I got this great book, uh, written by, uh, Maria Milana, a Rockway Township resident, um, 30-year instructor, life coach, uh, about Jordan
Fischer, wears a tie. It's a great inspirational uh, story about self-confidence and being yourself. And, uh, I've read it a couple times. It's great. So, uh, if you get a chance, look her up and get the book and give it to a a child, a grandchild, nephews, niece,
whatever. >> Can you share Could you share the book around so we could all read it when you're done? >> Uh, I don't know. I don't know how long it's going to take you to read it. >> Wow. >> Take me a while. >> No, it's actually got a quite a few pages. >> Shots fired, Chief. >> Yeah. >> And it was a great turnout, right, Joe? It was a really good turnout with
everybody. >> Does uh, anybody else from the administration >> make your motion to adjourn? All in favor? I >> meeting ajourned.