Good evening and welcome to the January 13th, 2026 meeting of the Rosland Governing Body. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act and that the date, time, and location meeting were including the annual meeting schedule, post on the public bulletin board in the municipal building, and filed in the office of the burough clerk. For those attending
tonight's meeting via Zoom, the agenda and any any other relevant documents can be found on the burough's website, attached to the meeting notice posted in the news and announcement section. During the meeting, announce made prior to the two public comment periods. Anyone wishing to make a public comment via computer will be instructed to use
the raise your hand icon. And anyone wishing to make a public comment via telephone will be instructed to dial star9 at the appropriate time. For those in attendance in person or remotely, please provide your name and address when selected. If you're eligible for Daniel's law, please just announce your name. Mr. Watkins, please call the role. >> Mayor Spango, >> present.
>> Mr. Bardy, >> here. >> Mr. Bront here. >> Mrs. Par >> here. >> Mr. Schroeder >> here. >> Mrs. Tolley. Mr. Trillo >> here. uh going to rise for the flag salute. If we could have the uh Girl Scout troop come up in front. They're going to lead
us in the flag salute. >> Whenever you're ready, ladies, >> start us. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you, girls. Stay up there, girls. We're going to move the agenda around a little bit. Uh, first we are going to do our presentations. First we have Girl
Scout Troop 201131. Excuse me one second. Just had to get the list of names. I'm sorry. Um, Girl Scouts are all receiving proclamations today for an initiative they did to restock our food bank. Uh, the Girl Scouts that are with us are
Adriana Vipoto, Amber Shioone, Anastasia Brudniaak, Anne Mandel, Aria Pascal, Ella Connor, Emily Schroeder, Estelle Sebastian, Francesca Rella, Harper Kriscolo, Lucy Hall, Mariana Gibbons, Mia Connor, Nina Gross, Riley Nigro, and
Sophia Bergos. Each girl is going to re receive a certificate. But if you see the picture behind me, that's what I asked them to do in the back before. These girls didn't just go somewhere and collect food like at a shop, right? They petitioned the community and then with the help of some parents, they went door
to door and actually picked up the food. And correct me if I'm wrong, where's Benny? Am I correct? >> And two awards. See, Sally gets coach of the year today and something else. um went out and picked up the food from the residents and then dropped it off at
Burrow Hall. We took them in, we showed them where the food actually went. We thought it was important for them to see where our food pantry is and it showed how it was empty and how it was filling back up and spoke to them how important it is to do things like this cuz even in a community like ours, there are people in need that we don't even see. Our food
bank delivers food anonymously to residents in need with the help of the helping hand sometimes from Noacer. Um, but it's not just to do something to say they did. It actually has real life impact on people in our communities. So,
I wanted to honor them and thank them for everything that they did. I wanted to put the picture up there to show how our Roseand Girl Scouts are a little bit different in other towns where they go out and actively engage the community and went door to door and picked it up. So, the girls deserve a big round of applause for what they did and they
should be honored. Just just so the girls know, the certificates, they were printed in error. They only have the troop name on it, but when they're corrected and they have each individual name on it, we'll make sure that we get them to the houses for the girls. If the two troop leaders could come up, we'll take a picture so
we can put it in the newsletter. I'm going to hand the girls AGAINST I want to come up with your voice. >> Sure. >> You're not a teenager yet. >> Enough. >> A
short. >> It's easier. >> So, it's a little bit more balanced. Lie down on the floor. >> Beautiful. Thank you. >> Good job. >> In your house
big one day. is crazy on campus. >> I bet >> cuz all the kids were back this week the last game and they weren't back there. >> Well, my daughter was, but not everybody was. But this one will be there. >> Sure. >> Now, the Girl Scouts that are on the on
the soccer team get to take their sashes off and to keep their shirts on. >> Love the shirt. I wore it in Florida at the soccer tournament this weekend. Everybody liked it, too. I wore that red one, too. Um, next up we have another uh soccer championship. We have the fifth and sixth grade girls team, Rosland
Spirit, head coach Sally Sebastian, assistant coaches Matt Mandel and Lisa Chriscolo. Um, I'm going to call the girls up by name. They're going to get their trophy from Dave Robotham, our our uh recreation director, and then if the coaches come up also to say a few things about the team. Congratulations, girls.
Emma Bardy, Anastasia Bruniac, Ella Connor, Juliana Constantino, Arthur Chriso, Mariana Gibbons, Annie Mandel,
Riley Nigro, Antona, Amber Shioone, Estelle, Sebastian, Ali Sodto, and Joyce Sang. >> If coaches Sebastian, Mandel, and Chriso
could come up, please. I know they're only recruiting for their kickball team in seven years, so that's why they're doing this. >> Sure. Okay. Um, thank you. Thank you all. I just wanted to uh congratulate these girls. Many of you know this, but
this is our third year in a row of winning the championship. So, for the fifth graders, it's been our privilege um to get to coach you. For some of the sixth graders, I got to coach you. We got to coach you two years ago and again this year. These girls did not have an easy season. We went undefeated with one
tie. Um, no losses. We played Essex Fells for the second year in a row for the championship. Um, and we were told we were going to lose and we did not lose. Um, every single girl on this team brought it. They showed up. They worked
hard. Our season was extended way longer than it should have been. They were out there in the cold, the snow. Um, I'm so proud of you. I love being your coach. CONGRATULATIONS. You >> want to call a demo? >> Assume the position.
Council, can you shift this way? No one get >> Yes, >> right there. Thank you. fully take my text. This is the part of using never slow
>> that thing's held up by like two hangers. Where's the in the back? >> You're a teacher. You should have this done in two seconds. >> I don't use these anymore, but you're still the resident
and it was a world map. >> Yeah. >> But they're different sizes. So like >> there we go. >> It's coming down one day. >> Let's just hope the day is not today. is coming down like rolling them out.
>> You want to call it new? >> Gently used like 25 years old. >> No, there's a there's an electronic one. >> What's that? >> Just people find it. I can was
>> He was always good for that. Um garage sale. >> He found good stuff. >> Have some chairs. We load it up. >> Okay. What's the
>> matter? Just >> Why are you >> It's not the Is the door closed? >> No, it's not. >> Can you stop saying? I'm going to go a little bit in reverse
here. Um, I would just like I don't want to uh bring down the mood of of the kids. I just want to uh have everyone rise for a moment of silence. Um, there's two people that our community lost in the last week after losing Chairman Lasal, which was irreplaceable
to begin with. One's very well known. One is not but is known to some of us. The uh former president of the um Stonegate Association, Nick Deilia, who served for 18 years, died suddenly on Friday night. Um I'd like to have a moment of silence for him, thoughts and
prayers with his wife and family. >> Thank you. This the second moment of silence is for um our friend, our governor, our resident uh Richard Cody. Um, Governor Cody uh sum succumbed to his illnesses uh very early Sunday morning. Um, we thank him for everything
he's done for everyone. He was a a a great regular person and and a great person who got a lot accomplished and always did what he believed was right regardless of any influences whatsoever. So, I'd like to have a moment of silence and extend our condolences and thoughts
and prayers with his family. Thank you. Okay. Next on the agenda, we have our first round of public comment. Any member of the public wishing to be heard, come forward, state your name address for the record. If you're with us via Zoom, use the raise your hand icon. If you're with us telephonically,
press star 9. >> Hi. Uh Gibbons. >> Can you unfortunately sorry first time. >> Hi. Uh Andrew Gibbons. Uh 16 Conover
Avenue, Rosland. I came with a quick suggestion. Um about a year or so ago, I went to Boomtown to get some useless piece of plastic at a Walmart. And when I drove up, there was a beautiful water
tower and it said Boomtown USA on the water tower. And I thought that's cool as hell. And I thought Roseland should have that. So, I know that in Harrison we have that big antenna. Not the most attractive looking antenna. We have lots
of Rosaland things on the fields, but you can't see them when you walk up or so I thought it would be really cool if we had on that tower Roseland USA. Not Rosland, New Jersey, Roseland USA in black or red letters. It would be super
cool. Please consider it. Great idea. Thank you. >> Thank you. I'd like to make >> Yeah. Can we do that? Why not? >> All right, guys. Uh Kyle Kovat's 10 Plymouth Place. Um just here tonight to
express my want, desire, or ability to serve on any sort of committee um or any sort of board that is specifically geared towards uh improving our center of town. and not even just the center of town, but the town in general for all residents and prospective residents. Um,
to be completely honest, this comes from my frustration, which I think uh, a lot of people see, you know, my frustration with some of these things. Um, I grew up in town, grew up in town in the 1990s. Um, and we were fortunate enough to just
give, well, not me, my wife did it, uh, gave birth to our first son back in September. And um I think about all the things that I enjoyed growing up in town doing. And unfortunately, we've lost a lot of those things. Um one of the things I used to always love doing was going to Eminem Deli. I don't know if
anybody was still in Rose when Eminem deli was here, but >> somebody here actually knows it pretty well. So you counter there. So like Eminem deli was great. You used to go in on you know the mornings you'd see guys like Mr. Pacio and you know your whole crew hanging out you know there and whatnot. So that was a great
socialization spot and I just feel like we've lost a lot of socialization spots in general. So anything we can do to gear businesses like that in Eminem delhi at coffee shop and ice cream shop somewhere where I envision in the future I can bring my children anony's children. Um you know after sport, you
know, sporting events, little league games and things like that. Part of this is my frustration with you know 192 and 194 Eagle Rock. I thought that would have been a generational opportunity to be purchased for a municipal metered parking lot. Um the biggest issue as you guys all know in our center of town with
both attracting businesses and our current businesses is what it's parking obviously. So I love Picos. I think it's my favorite Italian restaurant in the state. I might be a little biased there cuz I live around the corner from it, but um obviously they can't even open for lunch because there's no parking. Um we have other businesses there that
people don't even go to the center of town because there's no parking for it as well. But I felt like with that property, there's never going to be an opportunity again to buy that size property for below a million bucks. That could have again, it would have cost some money, of course, and it might not have been profitable right off the bat,
but with thousands of new residents entering town within walking distance of our center of town, I think there was going to be plenty of people that could patronize businesses that went there. Um, so yeah, just in in general, some of you may know this, some of you may not. I'm a real estate broker. Um, some
people always say, "You're just saying this because you want prices to go up." That's a load of crap. That's not the truth. So, are prices going up a good thing? Probably, right? And why is that probably a good thing? Because if people willing to pay more for something, what does that tell you? That tells you they probably think it's a good thing, right?
So, just to give you a quick stat, Verona verse Rosland. Verona has gone like this. And Rosland prices have gone up as well. But from 2015 to 2025, Verona has outpaced us in price growth by 18%. on the neighborhoods that border the main strip. Neighborhood being my
neighborhood where Plymouth Place is, neighborhood over there being for forest a neighborhood where the Forest AB school is. And the number one reason why if you look at every survey of every single home buyer in the country right now, there's one thing, the number one thing they're looking for is what? >> Walkability. They want to be able to
walk the stuff. So, um, Rosland's a good town. I think we can make it a great town, though. And I think part of that is really really putting together a plan and having some kind of vision and you know having some kind of tangible plan that we can execute on. So I just want to express my want, my desire, my
ability to serve on any committee um or you know again whether it be the planning board, a committee geared towards you know improving business in town and doing something just to gear towards young families in town number one and number two attract young families. My sister, it's driving me
nuts. We're trying to beg her to move to Roseland. Her husband from Long Island saying there's nothing to do in this town. I'm saying there is some stuff to do in this town and I hope I'm very hopeful there's going to be more to do in this town. So, I'm very hopeful that we will be able to get something done. And again, just want to express my want, desire, whatever you want to call it,
ability to serve on any committee that can help this town. Thank you guys. Thank you. >> Don't trust those folks. >> We have we have we have we we attracted a few allstars from Long Island, though. I can say that. >> Any other member of the public wish to be heard? Please come forward. State your name and address for the record.
Hearing and seeing none. Next on the agenda is ordinance 1-2026. Mr. Watkins, please read the ordinance by title. >> Excuse me. An ordinance of the bureau of Rosland in the county of Essex, state of New
Jersey, amending and supplementing the burrow code to amend chapter 2 administration section 2-24.2 composition of police department. Is there a motion to introduce ordinance 1-2026? >> So moved. >> Second. Paratti Barty. All in favor? I
>> opposed. Hearing and seeing none. >> Mayor, can I just make a comment? >> Absolutely. I'm sorry. You threw me off there for a second. >> I'm I'm sorry. The copy that was distributed to the uh the public is has
a couple of typos. One is that it says seven patrol sergeants. It's going to be reduced to six. >> No, it is seven. >> No, it's seven. >> No, it is seven. >> It's going to stay seven. >> Correct. >> Okay. Then how about the patrol officers? >> It should be stay 16 up to >> the patrol officers by table of
organization are going to be increased by two pending budget approval. >> Okay, >> we can change the ordinance, but we don't have to fill it if the if the governing body doesn't >> Okay. Right. >> Good enough. So much there is accurate. >> That is correct. Thank you.
Uh, seeing none, Mr. >> Ordinance number 1-2026 will be posted on the burough's website. Notice of public hearing will pub will be published in the progress. Public hearing will be held on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. >> Thank you, Mr. Watkins. Next on the
agenda is introduction of ordinance 2-202626. Mr. Watkins, please read the ordinance by title only. An ordinance to amend chapter 30 land development article 4 zoning by amending various sections of the same to reszone block 32 lot 9.01
from the R six residential zone to a new R15/ AH9 affordable housing zone. >> Is there a motion to introduce ordinance 2-2026? >> So moved. >> Second trillant. All in favor? I opposed
hearing. Seeing none, >> ordinance number 2-2026 will be referred to the planning board to asssure that the amendments proposed herein are not inconsistent with the master plan. Ordinance will be posted on the bureau's website. Notice of public hearing will be published in the
progress and a public hearing will be held on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. >> Thank you, Mr. Watkins. Next on the agenda is a public hearing on ordinance 3-2026. Mr. Watkins, please read the ordinance by title only.
>> An ordinance to amend chapter 30 land development article 4 zoning by amending various sections of the same to reszone block 30 lot 4 from the OB2 office building district to a new R14 AH8 affordable housing zone. We have a
motion to introduce ordinance 3-2026. >> So move >> second shardy. All in favor? >> I opposed >> hearing and seeing none. >> Ordinance number 3-2026 will be referred to the planning board to ensure that the amendments proposed
herein are not inconsistent with the master plan. The ordinance will be posted on the bureau's website. Notice of public hearing will be published in the progress. Public hearing will be held on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. >> Thank you, Mr. Watkins. Next on the agenda is resolution 30-2026.
Motion to approve the January 7th bill list. If everyone received the bill list and there's no questions, concerns, comments, or recusals, take a motion to approve the bill list, please. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Bar Trillo. All in favor? I
>> opposed. Hearing seeing none, next we have resolutions 31-2026 through 52-20226 by resolution number by agenda items one through 22. Questions, concerns, comments, or
recusals on any of these resolutions? If there are none, can we have a motion, please? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Party Trillo. All in favor? I >> I opposed >> hearing none. Next we have our consent
agenda. A bingo application for the HSA, raffle application for the HSA, and a merchandise raffle application for the HSA. Do we have a motion to approve these items? >> So move. >> Second. >> Parate Trill. All in favor? >> I I
>> opposed hearing none. Um mayor's report. Um, I said my what I could about Chairman Lasal, Governor Cody, and Nick Deilia. It's it's a sad time for our burrow. We've
lost a lot of great people. Um, just once again, thoughts and prayers with their family. Um, I did want to mention one thing. I don't know if everyone's aware of it. I spoke to uh Ryan, our public information officer. There was a great article that was posted by um New Jersey 101.5.
And it's the article is can you really retire cheaply in New Jersey? These nine towns may surprise you. And why am I reading this? Cuz yes, Roseland is one of the towns. >> Actually, probably I think that the only town in Essex, that's for sure. But one of the few towns in the northern part of the state. And it's a little blurb and
I'm just going to read it into the record. It says, "So, how can anything in Essex County be affordable?" But that's where you'll find Roseand. and they say it is a small burrow with a small town feel where if you're willing to live in a condo or smaller home, the housing is said to be very affordable. Plus, you'll get big city amenities like
snow removal, etc., for example, but all in a small town atmosphere. It's a testament to what this governing body and people who served before us have done. So, I just wanted to read that to the record. We're proud of it. I don't have anything else for my committee reports. Finance administration, Councilman Barney. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh we're now in budget
season and uh we're going to be starting to have have our hold our budget hearings. So we're going to have our first meeting January 31. So this is the proposal of the governing the governing body and if these dates work. So our our schedule tentative schedule January 31st
which is a Saturday uh 9:00 a.m. uh to review DPW code enforcement and recreation. February 10th, which is a Tuesday, um at 6:30, review uh updated budget, police, fire, and OEM. And then our third and uh
likely final meeting, February 17th, T which is also a Tuesday, 6:30, um technology administration, insurance, and debt service to review. >> Are are these >> this is so this is a proposal to everyone here. We we tried to pick the off weeks of the uh for the uh of our meetings in February.
>> Do we want to make a decision now? check our calendars or do we want to revisit it? >> You're proposing these dates, right? >> These are proposed. Yep. Exactly. >> So, it's good. >> Should be fine. >> Is everybody okay with it? I just want to I want everyone >> February 10th.
>> February 10th isn't a caucus meeting. >> No, no, it's the third. Don't be careful. >> Oh, okay. We checked all them. >> Yes. Early, isn't it? The 3rd and the 23rd. >> Yeah. Yeah. Two weeks in between. Council
>> Broady, you're good. >> Yeah, I'm good. Councilman Bar. >> Yes. Yeah. Council >> Charter. Yes. Councilman Cho. >> Sure. >> All right. So then those will be the meetings >> to publish, please. >> All right. And that's uh that's all I have for tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Uh recreation. Councilman Chillo.
>> Uh nothing to report since we reported last week, but again, thoughts and prayers with the families of uh of those that have passed. uh some some really great um Rosland citizens who exemplify what it means not just to be a a good New Jerseyian, but especially a good Rosand uh citizen with all the
contributions they've made. So, thoughts and prayers with the family. >> It's been a rough few weeks, that's for sure. Councilman Schroer, >> thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um thank you again, the Girl Scout Troop 2013. And so everybody knows, Girl Scout cookies are on sale across the country.
So find your local Girl Scout and um order away. Municipal Youth Guidance uh gave an update a couple weeks ago, but Municipal Youth Guidance will host uh their uh lunch making effort on the 29th of January um making uh bag lunches for
uh folks in need in Newark. So they continue their great work and we uh really honor the ability to support such a great program. So thank you, Mr. Mayor. That's all that I have. >> Thank you, Councilman. Um Council Baron,
>> uh yeah, just um again want to reiterate um thoughts and prayers, condolences to the Cody family. Um, I used to live on Evelyn Road and um, Dakota used to drive down to go to his house and uh, he would always stop and say hi to me and my kids long before I was ever working in this in this facet. Um, incredibly nice,
incredibly down to earth. Um, just the nicest guy. Um, uh, on another note, um, I want to say the, uh, SWAT committee will be meeting, uh, safe walking and cycling committee will be meeting for our first meeting of the year um, January 22nd, next week. If anybody's
interested in joining, I know we've had new residents move into town in the last year. You can reach out to Jacques for a a form to fill out. Um and then also on a lighter note, um Rosland's own Kyle Manungai uh completed his uh rookie season with the Chicago Bears and they won their first playoff game this weekend. So that's pretty cool.
>> Very >> um y >> you know that's uh that's pretty cool seeing him on TV and seeing all that this past weekend. So >> his parents were there. >> I was I was in Florida and the game was on and my daughter said at with the soccer game that kid's from Rosland. He he played for my daughter couldn't
understand how he plays for Chicago like >> anything else that uh council parat >> thank you mayor my thoughts as well thoughts and prayers to Governor Cody's family as well as Nick Dilia's family it's it's a sad thing when we lose anybody in town but Governor Cody was a
special kind of man for sure um I just want to take a moment uh to acknowledge the outstanding work being done by our our detective Sergeant Haidider and his team, Detective Gibbons and Detective Oi. Over the past month, our department
has investigated several robberies. Thanks to their diligent efforts, two of those cases have already been brought to closure, resulting in arrests. In one case in particular, our detectives coordinated closely with the US Postal Inspection Service working alongside the
Federal Investigators to identify the individuals responsible for the theft. They also utilized the ALPR technology which played a critical role in advancing the investigation. On January 7th, Detective Gibbons and Detective
Owie assisted the US Postal Inspection Service along with the United States Secret Service in executing arrest warrants for three individuals connected to that specific incident. On behalf of myself and the council, I want to
commend and thank each of them for their hard work, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to keeping our community safe. I just wanted to shout out to all of them and thank them. They did a good job. Thank you. >> They did a great job. >> Uh, Councilman Ti is here. Councilman Bronner, Council Parate, anything to
add? >> No. No, not that I know of. >> Thank you. Next on the agenda, is there a second round of public comment? Any member of the public wish to be heard? Come forward, state your name, address for the record. If you're with us via Zoom, use the raise your hand icon. If you're with us telephonically, press star 9.
Thank you. If no one no member of the governing body has anything further we'll take a motion for adjournment. So moved >> second party parott I think all in favor I >> opposed hearing none