are you guys ready to go okay hi everybody hopping tonight uh this meeting is being held in accordance with the New Jersey open public meetings act annual notice this meeting was being was published in the Union County local source and the newwork Star Ledger said notice was Post in the municipal building and a copy is on file with the office of the burrow clerk fire exits are located in the directions I'm indicating if you're alerted for a fire please move into a calm orderly manner to the nearest smokefree exit proper notice having been given uh the bur clerk is directed to include the statement in the minutes of the meeting Andrew please call the roll councilman Petroski here councilman Johnson president councilman signorella here Council Robina here councilwoman Lions here councilman Patel here mayor sella here all present mayor uh you got it please rise Eternal God grant us thy help and all our duties and perplexities we ask for thy guidance give us thy protection in our dangers and Sorrows grant us thy peace amen amen I pledge allegiance to flag the United States of America and to rep for stands one nation under God indivisible with liy and justice for all okay uh there are no Communications for review this evening uh but we do have a bunch of proclamations and presentations um coer you want to come up and uh troski you want to president Hi how are you thanks old yeah I'll um so uh tonight uh we're going to recognize uh first off the USA New Jersey state wrestling championship contenders um The Co-Ed uh third to fifth grade recreation basketball champions and boys middle school wreck basketball champions uh Council TR I don't know if you want to say anything yeah um I've been doing this for a while and I'm always there for athletics I know my uh councilman large over here is good for the academics and the Arts but I always want do things for the uh athletes so I got with Coach reer we talked about having the wrestlers in there and also the basketball that won the championship um which I want to congratulate all the wrestlers that are placed in the state and also the uh two basketball teams that won the championship um we at the mayor and Council are very proud of you and keep up the good work thank you [Applause] the Rosel Park recreation department has long enjoyed a level of support that is unlike other Recreation departments we'd like to thank mayor signarello Town Council our Recreation leaon councilman petski Andrew casayas Ken Blum the recreation committee the asyc staff our volunteer coaches and our members I'm honored and privileged to join the recognition of the winter Recreational Sports Awards wrestling the wrestling season is complete the offseason has begun we're happy to report our teams represented Rosel Park well in all three leagues we had a number of tournament Place winners and champions I'd like to recognize the following outstanding accomplishments but first please allow me to offer a special thank you to our head wrestling coach at Rosel Park High School Ryan Rooney and Jason Kars in addition our Rosel Park recreation coordinator Craig Frost for all they do for the growth and development of Park wrestling the 20 24 USA New Jersey kids Scholastic State wrestling qualifiers Junior 70b qualifier Paul Toms Paul next we'd like to introduce our 2024 USA New Jersey kids Russ WR Ling State Place winners tot 53 PBS eighth place Cole [Applause] aell novice 110 pounds third place Hunter [Applause] orello intermediate 91 pounds sixth place Jake appello [Applause] intermediate 98 lbs Seventh Place Anthony molinero next we'd like to introduce our 2024 USA New Jersey kids Scholastic State wrestling champion girls intermediate 112 pounds Luchia Riri lastly would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to our volunteer Rosel park recreational coaches Russell Benner Matt kikki Pete Hillburn Chris gal Bob appello Troy mcdermit Keith appello John Gora and Craig Montgomery thank you [Applause] just going to take a picture this is good that's why behind [Applause] next is basketball our basketball numbers were very good we had 11 teams practicing and competing in schools through the Barrow and County we had over 56 games scheduling not including the playoffs and championship game that was held in the High School main gym please allow me to offer a heartfelt thank you to our head basketball coach at Rosel Park High School Matt talbet and Stacy Hartzler in addition the recreational basketball and official coordinator Clark Crawford and Tina Schwarz for all they do for the growth and development of Rosel Park basketball next let me introduce our 2024 Rosel Park recreation third through fifth grade basketball champions team Adams coached by Dan Adams and Steve Lyall [Applause] all right I'm G say say first names I'm not go with last names all right and I have Khloe number number 22 Chloe I have number 23 [Applause] Alex can I have number 28 Usman [Applause] can I have number 47 Gian can I get number 29 Brian I get number 32 Javi and I get number 31 Roxy I get number 36 Madison [Applause] can I get number 35 Anthony and can I get number 30 [Applause] Camilo congratulations [Applause] [Applause] next let's introduce our 2024 Rosel Park recreation boys middle school basketball league champions team rotman coached by Mike rotman and Coleman Cooper [Applause] all right number five Javin [Applause] Cruz number 16 Braden ratman number 27 Adrien kabalo [Applause] number four Jackson [Applause] Moda number 26 Hunter Morales number 20 Logan Albano number 12 Carter Cooper and number 35 Zachary Ramirez Point [Applause] everybody just bring this over here turn yeah you can give it to me no there looks like they're kind of going pretty quick doie uh okay onto the boring part uh okay may I have a motion to approve minutes pending any corrections so move second all in favor I may I have a motion that bills and payrolls be not read and passed for payment so move second all in favor I uh may I have a motion to open the public portion on agenda items only so move second all in favor hi anybody wishing to come up and speak may do so now do I need to give my name and all that again yeah name and address please woodriff 134 Bender um got the agenda and I noticed there was something there that caught my eye um there's $140,000 appropriated for a Rick Barry statue yes why um he's an NBA Hall of Famer who grew up in Rosel Park um we did a study uh when I first got elected uh 6 years ago about kind of what the town wanted and wanted to see more of in the downtown um and it was placemaking things right so things that we can gather around things that we could be proud of um you know it's not often that you have a Hall of Famer um you know the guys in the top 40 NBA players of all time um I think it's something that we can be proud of something that we could highlight in the downtown and something that you know was kind of overdue I mean you know I look at places like you know uh Larry Bird's Hometown in Indiana has something similar same thing with uh you know Michael Jordan you know a lot of these places when they have really important athletes they recognize it I don't believe he belongs in the Veterans Park it's in appropriate sorry I don't believe he's belongs in the Veterans Park nobody's putting him in a Veterans area where is he going to where is he going to be placed where is the statue going to be placed the place would be considered in Michael J Mory Park is where it's thinking about right now where it's considered right now I thought I had read the library Park no totally inappropriate yeah no no no that's Veterans Memorial Library that wouldn't be the right place for it well okay thank you anybody else I'm seeing no one may have motion to oky doie how you doing uh George Ramirez East Clay Avenue y the sewer taxes yes they're doubling yes uh why is that so uh I'm going to defer to the attorney to figure out how much I can say here but in Broad Strokes we are going to start incurring a fee um for an adjacent town that we haven't had to pay in the past am I treading on the right ground so far that's all public knowledge yes yeah so basically I mean can I say the to can I say the city uh yeah yeah so we have't we half of our town and I think you live in this area runs off into the Elizabeth stormw water system okay um we have a separate uh storm water and wastewater system the city of Elizabeth has a combined storm water system um which means they get DP fines anytime that there's an allotment for how much combined Wastewater that they can have and because Rosel Park runs off into that they keep getting overage charges right um so uh after a lot of legal wrangling um we've had to come to the table to pay them a fine or a fee going forward and that's why the sewer tax is doubling we we've run off into the system for a hundred years they've finally called our tab on it and uh you know such as life this issue's kind of been going on I think predates me since Carl right the we've been kind of negotiating this since 2012 since 2012 so who's in charge of the uh sewers like we own our sewers no but the committee who's in charge what Committee Member is in charge of like the sewer and all of that council member the budget's considered by the entire mayor and Council I don't yeah so it's going to be double of what we're paying now is there like a grant money that we can apply for or we are um yeah we have to get off their system but that still doesn't uh include the fees that we have to pay in the meantime now is there talk of us selling the sewer system potentially um but this is storm water we would the only thing that we could sell is Wastewater right um and that would have to go to a public referendum so we couldn't make a vote on that the people directly would have to vote on that so are there talks right now of selling the sewer system or no I don't think this year um I think it's too short notice for this year um potentially next year so there's no talks at all we've been talking about it for the last four years I mean people have interest in our storm water system or waste sanitary system thank you all righty all right thank you yep anybody else going once going twice three times all right may have a motion to close the public portion on any subject M or on agenda items some move second all in favor I I okay uh may I have a motion to accept the reports of departments as submitted so move second all in favor I uh Andrew please read ordinance number 2774 by title yes mayor ordinance 2774 is an ordinance for second reading and public hearing and ordinance amending chapter 27 section 6 subsection three of the code of the B Rosal Park entitled imposition of charges uh may I have a motion to open the public hearing on ordinance number 2774 so move second uh all in favor I anybody want to come up and speak on this ordinance okay okay seeing no one may have a motion to close the public hearing on ordinance number 2774 so move second all in favor I may have a motion to adopt ordinance number 2774 so move second is there any discussion Andrew please call the rooll councilman Petroski yes councilman Johnson yes councilman sigell yes councilman Rina yes councilwoman Lions yes councilman Patel no five votes in the affirmative one in the negative the ordinance is adopted uh okay Andrew please read ordinance number 27 75 by title yes mayor ordinance 2775 is an ordinance to exceed the municipal ordinance for second reading of public hearing an ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a c bank for calendar year 2024 pursuant to njsa 4A 44514 may have motion to open the public hearing on ordinance number 2775 so move second all in favor I I anybody want to come and speak on this ordinance seeing no one may have a motion to close the public hearing on ordinance number 2775 so move second uh all in favor I I may have motion to adopt ordinance number 2775 so move second is there any discussion uh Andrew please call the rooll councilman patoski yes councilman Johnson yes councilman signell yes councilman rabina yes councilwoman Lions yes councilman Patel yes five votes I'm sorry six votes in the affirmative the ordinance is adopted okay please read ordinance number 2776 by title yes mayor ordinance 277 76 is an ordinance for an introduction a bond ordinance to authorize the making of various public improvements and the acquisition of new additional or replacement equipment and Machinery new information technology equipment and new Automotive Vehicles including original apparatus and equipment in by and for the bur Rosel Park in the county of union state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $ 3,987 th000 to pay the cost thereof to appropriate various grants and to make down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes and antip of the issuance of such bonds may I have a motion to approve ordinance number 2776 for introduction and fix the date for second reading and public hearing as May 2nd 2024 so move second uh is there any discussion uh I'd like to just start off the conversation by saying I'm really happy um with some of the things that are in this capital budget this year this is the capital budget right y um you know obviously we talked a little bit about the Rick Barry statue I think that's going to be cool and something the town can rally behind um you know we obviously have a a a downtown that is on the come up and having something um that is a placemaking thing is going to be really important as part of that um you know also we're finishing up some roads that we haven't gotten done yet um I think over the past couple years what we did the math we hit like 70% of the roads in Rosell Park ballpark um it's our goal to hit 100% um after this year there's only going to be a few outliers and I promise you if your road is in bad shape I see you Walnut uh it is on the horizon um if it hasn't gotten paved yet it's because we are waiting on utility work um and the gas company is going to get on that and we pave it with some fresh asphalt after that um yeah uh just good stuff all around here any further discussion okay uh may I have a motion to approve oh got it uh Andrew coll councilman Petroski yes councilman Johnson yes councilman Sig yes Council Rina yes councilwoman Lions yes councilman Patel yes six votes the affirmative mayor the ordinance is introduced okay please read ordinance number 2777 by title Mr Mayor ordinance 2777 is an ordinance for introduction ordinance mening chapter 7 of the code of the B of Rosell Park entitled traffic with spe specific amendments to section 11 entitled stopping or standing prohibited During certain hours on certain streets section 12 entitled parking time limited on certain streets section 14 entitled parking prohibited at all times on certain streets section 37 entitled loading zones and section 42 entitled fire Lanes Okie doie uh may have a motion to approve ordinance number 2777 for introduction and fix the date for second reading and public hearing is May 2nd 2024 so move second uh is there any discussion Andrew uh this is just a mouthful but maybe you could just I've spoken a council individually on this maybe you could just highlight for the public and and Council sure a little bit of what we're doing here yep so there's a couple things that I think everybody really wants that's in this ordinance um which is 15 pages long and probably very tedious I know it's very tedious to put put together um this is uh an ordinance that addresses a lot of the things that when this governing body talks about the burrow code being very incorrect or inaccurate corrects a lot of those things not all of them um unfortunately it does not correct street sweeping uh though I tried that once and it didn't work um but uh there are certain things like loading zones in certain areas um addressing some short-term parking accommodations in the downtown area um there are some totally outdated uh areas of town that are uh classified as 1 hour parking in vast swats of the downtown um that either do or don't have the signage still up I actually met with DPW today to get some of those taken down immediately um because they just create a lot of confusion um trying to think of some others um there are some portions of the bur code that are just misplaced um because either previous staff members wrote the code or the police department tried their crack at it um this is kind of a holistic take on both what's out there and what is desired I mean in lie of going section by section I'm happy to field any questions um no I think it's a decent overview it it also incorporates several asks that we've had with DOT for Westfield Avenue um certain no parking areas by uh driveway Lanes where it's very hard to see oncoming traffic um you'll see those uh implemented in here so that there's a better sight line leaving those areas um as a professional that works for the burrow this is long overdue I I hope the government and it also helps it will help restripe the downtown area so that we have a a working parking situation that we haven't had in over a decade okay any further discussion Okie do call the rooll councilman patoski yes councilman Johnson yes councilman signorella yes Council Rina yes councilwoman Lions yes councilman Patel yes 6 the affirmative mayor the ordinance is introduced uh okay please read ordinance number 2778 by title mayor ordinance 2778 is an ordinance for introduction ordinance mening chapter 7 section 17 subsection 17.2 of the code of the B Ros a park entitled preferential parking zones locations and restrictions uh may have a motion to approve ordinance number 2778 for introduction and fix a date for second reading and public hearing is May 2nd 2024 so move second is there any discussion OK do uh call the rooll council pataski yes councilman Johnson yes councilman sella yes Council Rina yes Council Lions yes councilman Patel yes six affirmative mayor the ordinance is introduced okay uh please read ordinance number 2779 by title yes mayor ordinance 2779 is an ordinance for introduction in ordinance amending chapter 7 section 20 of the code of the burough Rosel Park entitled stop intersections uh may have motion to approve ordinance number 2779 for introduction and fix a date for second reading and public hearing as May second 2024 so move second there any discussion uh Jay this one's got your name what's what's this one this one is uh adding a stop sign at Ashwood and Amsterdam Avenues um on the southbound side got it okay cool any further discussion please call the roll councilman patoski yes councilman Johnson councilman signell yes councilman Robina yes Council Lions yes councilman pel yes six votes the affirmative May the ordinance is introduced okay please read all resolutions listed on the consent agenda by title yes mayor resolution 9924 is memorializing the passing of crossing guard Todd craft sorry uh 124 is promoting alternate crossing guard Kathleen tilletson to the position of crossing guard resolution 10124 is awarding a Professional Services contract neglia the neglia group for professional engineering and construction management services for the project 2024 Capital Road program in an amount not to exceed $ 68,800 resolution 10224 is awarding a contract to porino builders LLC for the project 2024 Capital Road program in an amount not to exceed $497,500 authorizing the B clerk to auction unclaimed Vehicles resolution 10824 is approving a 5-year tax abatement for 145 East Webster Avenue block 802 Lot 37 to the municipal tax map and resolution 10924 is awarding a Professional Services contract to the neglia group for professional Engineering Services for the project njd tier a ms4 storm water permit compliance measures in an amount not to exceed $20,000 we pulling anything um can I do 103 yep uh okay uh may have a motion to approve the resolutions remaining on the consent agenda so move second all in favor I I may have motion to adopt uh resolution 13-24 so move second is there any discussion uh yeah I just want to highlight the uh Painting and installation of banners on the railroads um we're spending $37,000 on it um can you just highlight uh what's going on with that cuz I thought we already had a brand new Banner right there so this was I think that's part of the capital budget it is uh so it's not pertinent to this no it is okay I got it it's it's so so the so um when you're introducing a bond ordinance um a multi-purpose Bond ordinance like this you need an accompanying resolution that stipulates that the capital budget is amended to include the items in the ordinance got it okay yeah so I there's two pieces to that one is something one is replacing what we've already done the other is net new workor that we haven't so um the idea is to also paint it's actually I think your ward um the rail line that goes over uh Westfield Avenue uh you know by ramari you know what I'm talking about so that would be the new piece that hasn't been done already uh the other piece would be to replace the chestnut banners um you know candidly I think it's something that we had the uh we had the banners beforehand before we replaced them for I don't know 15 years they looked worn out they look bad um I think it's something that we should replace every couple years you know they get worn out they're not fixed things right um and uh yeah no I think it's also you know the message then was you know rebuilding Rosal park I think we're probably on our way to doing that if you look down Chestnut Street for better or worse there's a lot going on so you know I think the messaging is no longer pertinent and deserves a fresh upgrade what do you think councilman councilwoman lines I was just going to say if I could say something I mean honestly it's something I mean you you could definitely look and see why number one she thinks my Design's ugly no no no I mean there's a spelling mistake and there are certain things and it's a new season and like you said there's up and coming and certain things that are happening in Rosal Park and we need to be able to to update that um and it is a welcoming point of view once you either come into to Rosal park at that point or leaving so um it just needs to definitely be updated yep agre for that um just a comment on the Rick Barry statue personally I don't think it's worth it to spend $150,000 on a statue that's just my opinion U lastly uh the Boy Scout uh what's uh for we're spending 130 uh what's like the uh things that we're trying to improve there yeah so um I'll let councilman rabina comment on this a little bit but I'm I'm pretty excited about it too so let me try and te it up and then you send it home um so there's we have uh active parks and passive parks in Rosell park right uh it's a lot of parks um so we're redoing acur Park this year um I think aline's next for the active Parks um but we also need to take a look at the passive Parks um Girl Scout park being one of them and boy scout park being the other that just come to mind um so again this is theme of the day is called placemaking um so we will put a uh it's not called a Gaz it's what a Pavilion in the center um we're going to upgrade some of the Landscaping there um do um concrete work for the uh around the area for safer walking um and then I think we're also just putting in electricity there um because who knows when we'll need it at that point since we're ripping it all up councilman Rabino I'm probably I probably just stole your thunder but is no that's you nailed it yeah but um and the rain Garden coming up at the uh corner of Ashwood Y and are we getting a grant for this specific uh gu yeah I don't know if we can announce it but we actually got uh $65,000 from the county to uh offset that um so I don't know exactly how the minations of are going to work candidly I think this project is going to cost less than that given that we have uh with the grant money whatever it is um is it going to be addition to 130 or is it going to take out uh minus 13 it'll be it'll be credited as part of it'll won't be it won't be 130 plus 65 is is the answer I think you're looking for or the question you're going to get like refund yeah we could we could also the I think the net cost in terms of whatever debt is issued or the cost to the burrow will be half of that so the 16 or the 65 it'll cost the burrow 65,000 if the total cost of the project is 130,000 okay yeah and the other thing we've done this in the past with a lot of road work is so let's just say you know we have now now with with the grant we have 195k for the project let's just say it costs 140k what we've done in the past is flex that money to do something else right so a good example in your ward which I think would make sense is you know maybe we could take that 40K and Spruce up Girl Scout Park as an example I think would be a you know worthy Endeavor uh one of the things I would like to see is at the end if we do have money let's just say left over I like to see like a little bit more roads uh if you could could spend money um pick roads out I know they're bad overall everywhere but I know first war I would challenge that bad overall everywhere is a pretty strong statement you got a couple roads bad than every single Ward so if you could you know actually like one of them was Bridge Street that we have an issue with the the storm water yeah so that that's one I would like to see if we could pave and you know get it yeah so two comments on that um I would say and this is this is not my opinion as matters my opinion as a citizen uh we have a lot of very clean roads that and the ones that are look bad are really bad because the utility companies have torn into them and it also looks pretty rough jux toose the brand new roads um Bridge Street is a problem I think part of the issue with Bridge Street is we got a quote for that it was a pretty hefty price tag right do you remember what it was off hand I it like $300,000 right and that's not that's just Paving without any of the potential storm water issues so so it's certainly something that um look I've spoken to people on Bridge Street um we had some more urgent ones this year um you know I committed to so for example Larch Street uh it's a big problem it's probably one of the only streets besides Ashwood that doesn't have curbs and Larch is in really rough shape so we definitely committed to doing that this year um I think if we can't Flex to do bridge this year it's something that we should prioritize for next year you know as a matter of fact we can probably even it's might be a good case for a DOT application or did that dot application but whatever it should be it should be on the near Horizon I agree anybody else okay please call the RO councilman patoski yes councilman Johnson yes councilman sell yes councilman Rina yes councilwoman Lions yes councilman Patel yes six the affirmed of Mayor the resolution is adopted okay um councilman Patel you can start off not even ready man all right um good evening uh the environmental commission applications are now open for the Rosa Park Community Garden there are about 15 spaces left uh open at the moment and the cost for the season will be $50 to rent for 4x8 uh bed please contact me or the environmental commission for additional details uh applications are due by Saturday April 27th uh if you have any questions or any concerns feel free to reach out to me at cap rach. net thank you okay um I went in a weird order now I don't know who to do next uh councilman Johnson you you really going in a all right uh good evening uh mayor council residents first I would like to start off by saying congratulations are in order to Andrew and to you and your family and uh more importantly it's nice to have you back so I love being back don't worry we got a lot of stuff we got a lot of stuff to do watch the frames are going up though oh I was trying to I was trying to be easy and let him ease back in um speaking of congratulations I be Reiss if I didn't extend a heartfelt congratulations to my colleague and friend uh councilman patski let's give him another round of applause for 43 years of commitment coaching to our youth uh within uh Rosel Park Community just an outstanding uh job in nature to see uh such a long commitment uh it's truly impressive so I just want to give I awesome I I really 43 years you're not even 43 years old right no I'm 45 so I wasn't even Bor but um also this week um I attended a well put together Public Safety and listening uh session hosted by Fifth W councilman uh Jay rabana and the uh Rosel Park Police Department Community Police Unit mayor uh you know what I'm going to say next right got it go what can I say it was just exceptional uh job uh Jay so um thank you for inviting me and being part of it U such a great job so uh next um as a friendly reminder to Residents that have been reaching out to me uh regarding uh Burl noise ordinance I just wanted to give you guys advice uh advise you guys that b burrow professionals are still working on improving said ordinance and we should have a draft hopefully submitted by next council meeting or so don't hold me to that sometimes things come about but we are working on that uh noise ordinance uh lastly as the weather breaks um in Rosel Park um the buror has already started its annual sidewalk program thank goodness uh last year uh the West was done and now this year we're focusing on the east side so these safety concerns are extremely important to me and uh the rest of the council es especially uh with creating safe routes to schools for kids and our residents um and Council I just but I don't want to interrupt you but that was so that was last year's program that unfortunately didn't get done there will be another 50k in the budget this year for a renewed fund so you know if uh ideally uh as rosan always says if you have an issue put it in your phone on in the my Rosal Park app I love that you Embrace that uh you can reach out to your counsilman but the best thing to do is just call the DPW fill out a form yeah so uh also uh before I conclude I just wanted to extend my condolences to the craft family um I I just wanted to take a moment to say that um uh also so please remember your voice matters and as first war council I will always place the concerns of the residents within the bur first if you need to get in contact with me please email me at G Johnson rollal park.net or you can call me at 908 3031 1519 May that conclud thank you councilman councilman patoski thank you mayor uh first of all I want to send my condolences out to Nancy seika hem andway singoli family Nancy was a 1973 graduate of roselt Park High School um I I actually graduate with her brother and her brother is actually a good friend of mine so uh also I want to send Ellen G odano who's a 1960 graduate of Rosell Park High School on April 8th I attended the fire department meeting um mostly they went over work orders for me and um I'm I'm waiting for them to send me an email and to get these jobs done uh the 10th I attended to Recreation again teen a great job at the uh Easter egg hunt as usual um um you know we're getting ready for next year things going on so uh again it's a great group and uh I'm I'm proud to be a part of it thank you uh on the 14th I attended the legal Little League parade um um I thank them very much for giving me a plaque for my 43 years of service to roselt park L leag I actually started in 1977 and Mr Leonard I had your daughter Cathy on my team that year so uh it was a great honor I want to thank the mayor and councilman Johnson uh for coming it was great support um and uh like I said I was telling councilman Johnson and how many things have uh replaced since the beginning of uh um you know the when I started like we didn't have lights back then we didn't have a batting cage um and uh like I said so much uh has improved and I wish the Little League good luck hope their numbers stay uh strong um you know and um this year they combined with Kenworth which I think was a great idea and hopefully uh they have a good uh both towns uh do and it was good Kenworth had their parade on Saturday and Rosal Park had their parade on Sunday so uh congratulations Rosal Park ly um on the 18th I uh which is today I joined sewer we approved the contract construction requests um and also replacing six 35 volts Transformers um uh congratulations to the kids from the recreation uh they got uh certificates welld deserved um and also um I want to thank all the coaches I want to thank Tina and her committee and John reri for a great job with the program uh um Andrew congratulations to you and your you know the mother of your child and everything um and uh baby Mom good luck okay youy uh if you need to get a hold of me get me me at J Petroski at rosar park.net 908 6667 1821 and that's my report thank you thank you councilman that a long one from you tonight geez uh councilman rabina thank you mayor good evening good evening Rosel Park I wanted to acknowledge April is Autism Awareness Month in New Jersey 1 in35 children is diagnosed with autism a 300% jump in 16 years with and without intellectual disabilities this month is about raising awareness to promote autism acceptance celebrate neurodiversity and individual differences and continue to advance inclusivity and connectedness throughout the community I'd like to also acknowledge the special education parent advisory group and thank Jackie Garcia Katie McDermot Jessica Nash and the former co-founders for your continued parent advocacy efforts and collaboration with the Board of Education and the Rosel Park School District to ensure all of our children have the tools resources and accommodations to learn grow and have an equitable and inclusive educational experience on infrastructure in the Fifth Ward I'm happy to announce Pine Street between West suar and West Rosel along with large between West suner and West Rosel will be repaved this year also glad to announce Rosal Park was awarded $65,000 from the 2024 Union County infrastructure and Municipal aid grant uh the burrow was awarded this money for much needed improvements to the park I'd like to also thank this team my colleagues on amending ordinance 2779 which adds a stop sign at Ashwood and Amsterdam Avenue residents requested this it was studied and it was warranted your voices matter just like councilman Johnson says during the last two weeks the Rosell Park preschool located on the corner of West Webster Avenue and Laurel Avenue was renovated the John J ad Center was formerly leased to a child care center for a number of years this building now leased to the board of ed now makes way to accommodate our youngest and newest of residents in our growing community with the sellers Market over these last few years empty nesters have taken the opportunity to realize huge Returns on their single family homes and new families are jumping at the opportunity to raise their families in our burrow it's cyclical just like larger families during the baby boomer generation we're a desirable Community even folks who no longer live in our community or don't even live here wish to gain access to our school system and efforts are being made to make sure folks don't take advantage of our system thank you to the Board of Ed and to District leadership and employees for quickly renovating in everyone involved in making the arrangements with the property owner and ultimate Thanks goes to taxpayers who contribute 53% of their tax bill to the Board of Ed this is our community and nothing gets done without teamwork without Partnerships and collaborations so we should act as such so once again thank you to all involved how we take care of our schools is important and your tax dollars continually enhance our schools last night we held a public safety and listening session at Alan School officers cambero and Matthews presented On Target hardening and thank you to the residents who showed up engaged and not only learned how to keep safe but offered feedback and had the opportunity to see what RPD is Tak see that RPD is taking matters seriously and is out there doing what they need to do to deter these malicious acts and bring perpetrators to Justice thank you to the Rosell Park Police Department Public Safety chair councilman Johnson and councilman at large Joe uh Joe signarello for joining and providing tips anyone seeking information on the presentation please email officer cambronero J cambronero Rosel park.org or officer Matthews B Matthews Rosel Park pd.org I look forward to seeing more of these events throughout town in the future and thanks for bringing back the police plotter it's a peace of mind in a few weeks on May 4th we'll be hosting our annual bike clinic and first ever tour to Roso Park please be sure to follow the announcement on the Burrow's Facebook page and I've shared it on my page so if you're interested in writing with us sign up soon Sunday May 5th is the rain date last week I was in Tampa visiting my family and I had the opportunity to visit the pinelis trail in denen it's a 43m rail trail and it was amazing it's truly a walkable and bikable experience one that positively impacts health safety and not only improves quality of life but generates local business bike and Mobility micro Mobility Advocates we're making progress but let's continue to Advocate to see more Greenways and safer streets in our communities and lastly congrats to Andrew and his family um fifth word I can be reached at J robine Rosel park.net 862 23619 mayor that concludes my report thank you councilman were you not here last no I wasn't oh you weren't is this your first meeting back yeah oh it's CU we had land use sporting that's why okay yeah uh councilwoman Lions good evening mayor and Council and Rosel Park family and congratulations Andrew and family um I need to see pictures please um but it's awesome awesome to have you back we definitely missed you um so I just wanted to a really quick report um we did have karaoke night at Costas Last Friday um please support our local um events that we have cuz we need you we want you to you know have um access to things they are having karaoke night at the casano center coming up in May so uh wait for that announcement and also in the fall uh so we definitely uh want to bring that into the community have some fun sing a little bit okay um we I went to the library meeting yesterday and they gave me a great update we do have Museum passes um and we are working on getting more so this one is actually in Cape May um it is a little far but if you're down there I think it's like for two adults and six kids so um we are definitely working on some things being able to provide that uh for your families but our library is definitely a great place to come to the there's a craft night on Mondays um that there's 32 people signing up for so they are definitely having a great time um but there's so much going on and it is a central location positive atmosphere um definitely uh check that out um on either their website or the app hello my Rosal Park app everybody have it little plug there um for things that are coming up Arbor Day on uh April 26th and April 27th it's meet the burrow so the new residents in Rosal Park new neighbors we're going to definitely uh be able to meet and greet them and uh just another congratulations for the wrestling champions um basketball champions that was just great to see and uh I definitely commend you uh all and uh councilman uh patski for setting that up that was amazing it's it's great to see the kids and celebrate Sports and celebrate you know people so um I it was beautiful to see um yeah if you need me our lions at Rosal park.net and uh keep the unity in community that's all I got to say thank you thank you councilwoman uh councilman signal okay so first uh 43 years nice job Joe appreciate all your service and uh second thing I got last night I attended the the information session with Rosa Park PD I learned a couple of things and I put a couple my uh three cents in uh as uh fortifying what it say Your Castle and then just giving a little recommendation as a fireman uh when you fortify be careful I concur we probably should have others or whatever uh down the road um I had a couple of concerned citizens over the last couple weeks uh one or two concerns about I guess they call it Meridian Creek mer so it's kind of the creek or whatever goes behind uh um Mavis and uh uh um the pizzeria uh who who Who's bring who's bringing this up the dwellers behind the on the abandoned train line a guy walks on Locus Street okay so how many concerned citizens huh how many concerns just two okay but I answer them all right councilman that's my turn to talk man so anyway so I got the I had some dialogue with our professionals I just think it seemed different or they seemed it seemed smaller reduced I did talk to uh uh Dave from Nea and he assures me it's the same spec and I just need to documented and I questioned so we've done a nice job on not flooding down Chester Street with a new business opening I don't want to see us going backwards and hopefully we keep Chester Street being uh flooded we as a team fixed this two years ago on to more flooding so we do Lincoln ab's been flooding since I can remember I'll go with at least 38 years I've seen an uptick on more flooding in the last two years I do have some concerns of the Walnut Street Basin and um we you we talked with uh thank you Andrew and uh Kevin from cers we have some ideas and thoughts about the Basin in Walnut Street and uh the um I don't know what the the well I the creek that goes under Walnut Street and I'm one of the older guys in a room and I used to go behind uh Mr gerso house and that Creek so it goes from Walnut Street you know to dowlings and behind the theater so we're going to slowly look into it Andrew was out there and we're going to come up with a plan see what's going on see what's going on with all the above so to be continued um we did talk about um the paving after all the uh utility work Andrew so what they say another about roughly May is their uh settling period all right so uh settling period's done next week uh and then we're looking at June probably right after school lets out I would think for uh it's Lehigh Avenue Spruce Street Hemlock Woodland Avenue East Lincoln Avenue uh that section up there and then there's a section south of that will be later in the year probably in the summer I would guess uh and then they're starting their uh pipeline Improvement project in their Final Phase uh on suar Avenue Walnut Street um Hamilton and then that section and then that'll be that section will probably be resurfaced in the spring of 25 based on their time thank you for the update and then last we're proud for all the student athletes who are here tonight and I I I should said some before as uh I've said this more than once but Mr fizio a great uh leader and education bur he used to talk about the Three A's the academics arts and Athletics so congratulations all them so you needed again hold of me Jay signorella Rosa park.net have a good evening thank you councilman um I have a pretty short one uh I just got a preview of dings um and I'm very excited for what they have to offer um I took a sneak peek in um and uh it looks night and day different uh you can already see in the facade uh how much money they put into it um uh very excited uh just so everybody knows they're they're going to open up phase one of the corner and then the dance studio which they purchased has been completely gutted they're going to work on phase two while phase one is open so you'll see phase two come along but uh certainly something to be proud of um very very glad that we kept them in town and very very glad that they took over that building uh also happy to see that the building across from them uh the high impact printing where high impact printing hasn't been open for a while uh just did a face lift which is nice to see um and uh they uh high impact printing is supposed to open back up in one of those buildings and they have another tenant for the other so it's good to see empty buildings being filled um and uh that's it I had somebody asked me or somebody on Facebook was asking about the train station the train station is embarrassing uh we keep pushing I talked about this a couple meetings ago but uh just as a refresher it's supposed to go out to bid end of this year NJ Transit wants to uh for the project and I think they want to break ground early 2025 so can't come soon enough as somebody who frequents that station it is problematic um any questions uh mayor s at Ros park.net and uh may have a motion to open the public portion on any subject matter so move second all in favor all right andbody wish to come and speak on any subject matter may do so hi zindy evening Cindy Meo 433 Walnut so I have two fa important things yes to discuss the first is that Saturday April 20th will be the high school PTSA car wash to benefit Project Graduation anybody that doesn't know what Project Graduation is it's uh a great event for our graduating students to have one last fun night together creating memories and keeping them drug and alcohol free so please come out and support from 9:00 to 3: on Saturday and the other is May the 4th is the Aline Tricky Tray at the VFW in Kenworth and if anybody wants tickets they can reach out to me thank you I'll be there awesome you will I have to be there now uh anybody else melt oops mil wuff on V ravio Andel Park yep I have several questions I'd like to see if yet resolved uh one of the points I was Che about we do a lot of recycling what sort of a kick money return do we get on the materials are recycled from the town do and do we get any money back on that I don't think we get any money back do we we get a do we get a recycling credit what's the story so the material the way oh I think uh the material the way we've bid it out Mr Woodruff Andrew Mr woodu uh the way we bid out the uh recycling project the material is actually owned by the hauler uh which means they recoup the oh you know what I'll get back to you exactly on that um but there is a variable cost to the disposal of recycling um do we get the benefit of that we do see the benefit of it but it's very minimal it used to be years ago the market for recyclable material was much better in which case a lot of times the municipality wouldn't pay anything um we did see that actually during some parts of uh the pandemic like at the later part in like 2021 um but we haven't seen that over the last year where we do actually end up paying for the material I think the biggest sticker shock came sometime 2020 China stopped taking americ Amer recycling right they were one of the big importers are there any plans for the properties that were recently cited for redevelopment do you feel any plans for those right now uh so this is the so this is the movie theater I think you're talking about any no the buildings that were the properties that were recently reclassified for redevelopment the only ones that have recently be re reclassified for redevelopment bun of them on West Westfield Avenue yeah so so Mr just cuz I was at the L new sport meeting on Monday so it uh we're talking about the non- condemnation area uh in the block that includes oh that one yes so I can I can uh yeah so there's an interested party who wants to one wants to put a hotel there um there's varying degrees of appetite for that and then the other one is uh somebody wants to move their office building there but the area but the area by the movie theater currently there is not there's going to be no movement on that beyond the study yeah uh um my other question pertains to the ordinance you just we just talked about the uh 2776 mhm uh you're talking about uh a bond a bond ordinance you're talking about raising $1.6 million yeah Ken what do we normally do in debt each year I mean to to do our capital projects this is part for the course well we try not to issue more debt than we're paying down and we were able to do that by $10,000 this year paying down a milion 650 and you're authorizing a million6 40 yeah I mean so what's the rate you think you're going to get on this what did we get uh last year uh the rate from last year's bond s no it was I'll have to get back to you I'm sorry I don't remember the actual rate itself so on a million six you're talking about over $100,000 to advertise that that that kind of a bond but you can't but you if I could mayor so so we won't just be selling the so this authorizes this year's worth of projects uh when we go out to bond which may be at the end of the year depending on the market it'll be the 2024 multi-purpose bonds 23 and 22 so you'll have a larger Bond and the sale and the and the interest rate on that larger Bond uh will be better than if we went out for 1.6 the interest rates are pretty high right now well we'll have to look we may sell notes instead it depends either way either way but anyway uh I notice also there's a lot of Grants and as part of your offsetting costs and those grants are already have they already been approved or you need to seek those help anything that is on the cap we can't issue a capital ordinance and put a grant on there unless it's been approved keep me honest correct but you're talk $2 million yes no we we we have commitments and all those grants are approved yeah I think you're out of time I'm sorry well I two a quick questions so uh what is the statue for Rick Barry yes is that really necessary no I think it's nice though and might be nice but you know what it's our tax dollar yep and quite frankly uh my recollection sir yep is that he essentially uh saluted us with fly fingers and said he was from Elizabeth okay that was Mr Barry yeah okay I mean you know again he was born in Rosal park I think it's something worth celebrating well and also you talk about the girls the Boy Scout Park yes spending money on that yes with the boy shelves maybe just something on a volunteer basis so they did do something on a volunteer basis two years ago and I'll be honest with you I love their efforts but there's only so much sprucing up you can do on a volunteer basis it it needs an overhaul well we're putting a lot of money out and uh taxpayers really appreciate any kind of cost efficiencies that you can come up with yep and we have grants on some of those but I'm sorry I gota I got to cut you off absolutely i' let you get some extra questions in there though mayor just uh for the governing body in in conjunction with Mr woodruff's Question so the amount of money that is offsetting the $4 million that's reference in the title block of the bond ordinance is about $2 million um it's quite a bit of money it's actually more money more grant money than we've ever gotten at least in my time here um and most of those are new grants so those are monies that we sought out and are not going to be born by the taxpayers directly in Rosal Park hey ad Leonard 504 Laurel Avenue um just kind of a historical note as you all know I'm kind of a historian kind of guy I've been involved with history in the town for probably 50 years but 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of our Roosevelt Street tunnel and that tunnel like the railroad station is in dire need of some some maintenance or whatever this came up last night because the police were kind of interested in too because there's evidently graffiti on the walls and they want to kind of go in there and look and see who who might be doing this based on the the code if you will of of what's on there but anyway uh given that it's less than two years and so uh till our 125th anniversary it'd be a great project to kind of get that tunnel all fixed up and actually the paving on either side of it too it' be a really nice looking thing maybe put historical murals in it or something like that with better lighting and some kind of improvement now I know uh Mr casayas had mentioned to me a couple months back that there might be an opportunity to get some money from the railroad through some Legacy agreements even though the Lee High Valley Railroad doesn't exist anymore and I was wondering if there any anything else had come of that I don't know what you're referring to so I'll defer to the ba here so we have a we have a yes we have a legacy agreement that was with with now Conrail I was uh I I believe it was signed in 1924 um where we would bear the separate we would bear half the cost of any repairs or improvements to the tunnel uh we did have a conversation with Conrail and Congressman pay staff at the time uh they indicated that they would conduct the necessary they did their assessment and they would conduct the necessary repairs and improvements within the first quarter of 2024 which clearly didn't happen um so it's very difficult dealing with a railroad as every ruin can attest uh they're slow and they're Ted and they don't like to do the type of things that you're suggesting and just as that context we had this call and they called the bur well I get called this often but they call the bur Rosal Park the second most annoying uh town in the uh in the State uh behind Jersey City which is actually the mayor being annoying in a positive way for you guys um but we really do hammer them on this stuff yeah well like I said it is an an anniversary and uh this year 100 years and actually it was called Rosevelt Street was called Locust Avenue at the time this was it wasn't called Roosevelt Street but unfortunately one good thing the borrow did was change his names because we had a locust street Locust Avenue Chestnut Street Chestnut Place Etc one other question sure um with respect to the uh resolution 10324 in there I see uh improvements to Grand Avenue and then it mentions various other burrow roads uh kind of maybe a catch all that $600,000 uh is there any consideration uh to uh repaving Laurel Avenue uh that was one of the few streets that was not done in all of the West End improvements that uh were were you know the infrastructure improvements over the last three years yeah let me take a crack at that and Andrew you can fill me and uh if I messed anything up we have a quote for Laurel um right so it's on the short list right we we track all this ones that aren't done um so there's a couple that just didn't make the cut this year um but so I would say we're going to do um short list being so bridge is on there Laurel's on there Maples on there usually when we close out projects we've been very lucky and projects have been coming under budget so we can Flex that for more roads um so if we can Flex that for more roads it's certainly on the hot list for the next up um if not it's something that we'll probably see in 20125 okay last item uh there was also something in in the in the budget am I um with respect to signage yes uh on the railroad stations has there been any consideration to to putting one on the uh right on Westfield Avenue over the new NJ Transit there is I would love to do one actually my mom suggested it um so I think phase one is painting it uh because it's it's Rusty now and then phase two would be some kind of signage I think given how big it is you need to paint directly on it versus a banner um but we're going to do the foundation now just make it clean and make it look whatever a neutral color and then something welcome to Rosal park or something on well even even like an anniversary thing for the 125th it's a it's a great idea but it's something you know look we are spending a lot of money but we did want to come under what we uh you know pay down debt so there's limits to it so phase one is cleaning it up that keep the taxes down right yeah thank you mayor if I could again I don't want to believe her the point but one of the things Mr Leonard spoke about was the various you know the certain roads and then various other roads so something that's something we've done and the governing body has done pretty wisely over the last few years um we've been able to have budget efficiencies uh either through bidding competitively or just kind of scrimming and scraping when we have projects that come up and and do them wisely so resolution 1022 24 is the 2024 Capital Road program a little bit of a misnomer because none of that money is being issued this year so that project that half million dollar project roughly uh in addition to the Engineering Services which is another $70,000 none of that is new debt so all of that is monies that were previously issued um and based on budget savings we're able to do those roads while we await the funding availability for the 2024 capital budget so just in simple terms we went under budget we're flexing that money to do more roads and not putting down more debt right so it is achievable is the point yep yeah come on luy hi Lucy F all 33 Sheridan Avenue so I have a question so you're saying last year when you did um Chester um you said New Jersey Town gas is the one who did the paving yep and they were going to pay for it now you're saying are the town's going to pay for it or is it a New Jersey so it depends so there's certain streets like um like Larch I think we're paying for on our own because I don't think there was any work there is an example um Walnut just because I got my Walnut crew here uh Walnut will be done by uh Elizabeth Town Gas right so we actually when I got elected this is 6 years ago we did half streets originally um and then everybody else I think Westfield's the first one in the county that said forget half roads you need to do full roads so there's a mix uh so I would say it's tough to to split but if there's if there's a work done by Elizabeth Town it's most likely Elizabeth Town paying for it okay um if there's not work done by Elizabeth Town then it's most likely us paying for it we've also done like horse trading with them and said like hey look we're going to we're going to do that one next year just do another the road for us so it gets a little murky but we've benefited from the policy that we have with Elizabeth no cuz a friend of mine lives on Chester and she asked me to ask you so y y um the other question is I've asked Joe um so I know that um which Joe there's three Joe's oh I know I'm um so I know that uh the Water Company came around and they fixed our area well two of my houses mine and somebody else's were not fixed y so now they're going to tear up a road for two houses so it's bad what's going to happen so uh do you have anything else cuz I I could ramble on about this okay got it so um we're going to have American Water do a a full presentation on this um we don't know so they have to go in so they've done there's two projects that American water and Elizabethtown Gas have done Elizabeth toown gas has been is it coating their pipe or have they totally running they're running new high pressure pip elevated pressure pipe and American water in some areas have put like a plastic wrapper in between the pipe that goes down the streets Now American Water due to State legislation has to replace all lead or galvanized pipe did I say that right yes within Rosel Park they've identified I think 500 homes that need to get replaced at a minimum at A Min at a minimum but it's really going to be on a house by- house basis right so the hope is obviously and it's it's stinks for the homeowner might be myself included too most of the work is actually going to be on the property right so you know your front yard could be right blame American Water don't blame me um we hope that there will be minimal damage to the newly Road paved roads but American Water their credit has said look um we'll work with you right so if we do some extensive damage we'll be replacing those roads too no and I get it but what they already did some why wouldn't they just do the whole uh I don't know so it's it it partially is because this this is new to them H having to replace the lead and galvanized lines is a completely different program then upfitting the mains so they were going through Rosel Park increasing the capacity of their Mains and upgrading the pipes the infrastructure that's underground from the old clay pipe in some areas and just substandard size pipe um this is actually going to each house seeing what type of material the infrastructure is made of all the way up to the connection point with your house no and I understand that but they did six houses this way six houses this way and left my house was that but was that the water company or was that the gas lines cuz that gas did the meter replacement it was the water oh May yeah when they they did the infrastructure water they only did the the high pressure lines in the street they didn't do water house to house like gas to domains do me a favor send me send me a text tomorrow I'll follow up with I have a contact American Water I can follow all no problem than you yep oh yeah love it Bill Crosset 412 Galloping Hill Road Roso Park uh Mr Mayor I want to thank you and everybody else for the sidewalk repair program I had to get councilman Petroski involved a little bit last week due to some confusion because nobody knew why there was no parking signs put up by order of the Police Department police department knew nothing but it was a sidewalk walk project and just so you know and I already talked to Paul and told him they were doing it correctly yep because they had to replac the same sections five six years ago and they got pushed up again by the trees since I was home I got to watch them do it and they were pulling up the slabs and then they would carve the roots of the tree back so this new sidewalk should last a while yeah we're so Council moski was on me about it made sure and and Johnson he was the e e Eide Eide need to get done uh and actually I will take a a little touch of credit here I said look I said this has already happened I said you got to clean out the roots you know so very happy you're happy yeah they they did a great job uh Paul had a couple guys that were there watching them sitting in the truck I talked to them and I said these guys are doing it right good so um and you know this is coming because the weather has warmed up oh yeah you solve one problem you get another one um it's a little worse this year yep um loud mufflers the speeding just like every other year is one thing last week three days in a row a group of three motorcycles definitely speeding because they could do wheelies and in order for a motorcycle to do wheelie they got to be up there on the speed yeah it's a it's a rough area and and I actually uh so I will talk to the police chief to see if there's a campaign we can do unfortunately it's kind of you know chasing you know it's tough to catch here especially motorcycles it's yeah it's exceedingly hard I used to ride so but we uh we have and it's it's not just bad there Sheridan is a Sheridan people use to get around East Lincoln or wherever and I've seen over I've heard them over and over again people just blowing the stop sign on Sheridan um so there's something we need to think about with that Corridor but look I'll talk to the chief see if we can you know Step Up enforcement there now it's yeah and I also want thank uh thank Ken and his Department uh back in January I had a little problem with American water so watch your water bills they over Build Me by 89,000 gallons and if that had made it to the sewer bill yeah it would have been a problem Ken and his Department told me what to do took them till the middle end of March to get a resolution they did send me the letter which I sent it over to Ken's department so I don't get overcharged on S yeah that's all I got good to hear thank you thanks Bill anybody else going once okay hi Council Jerry vry Ragin Drive um I have a question will there be any parking changes on Colonial uh West East Westfield Avenue and Bender um or will it stay the same so I would say as far as the changes tonight I were there any changes considered in the ordinance for that area of East Westfield in the area you're talking specific there are changes on East Westfield Avenue um talking about specifically yes area Galloping Hill and banther yeah there was a there was an inaccurate reference to I believe Colonial Road for a parking regulation that doesn't exist but in terms of what you know as a resident of that area nothing will change there are no there are no parking regulation changes contemplated for that area as part of that ordinance yeah um I had a question for councilman Johnson I remember when you came to my house and spoke about a good town good neighborhood I want to know what's your stance on this Dispensary on the dispensary yes I've been voting for it for the past four years you might want to turny on your mic Greg yep uh I've been I've been public about that for four years there's videos out there of me I have never hid my position in in that so my vote was yes and that's pretty much where I'm at so you're you're fort in a residential area no I'm I'm for it on the the main throughway well I'm talking about it's a residential area Colonial Road the house right next to it is 9 foot away it's Westfield da it's Westfield da and the back of the building is where back on Colonial Road back of the building it is a residential area do you agree or not yeah okay do we put a dispensary in a residential area and harm the neighborhood no you don't harm the neighborhood you don't harm the neighbor just the differences of opinion yes it is a lot of differences of opinions in the in our opinions aren't factual opinions aren't factual so I agree with you there are differences of opinions but they're not factual we have a lot of opinions that it's not good for the neighborhood I got you and you came around and you represented as good for the neighborhood and good for roselt Park this is not good for the neighborhood that's your subjective opinion that's my opinion and a lot of others in the first word thank you you're welcome hi um sorry I'm dressed like this but I taught a fitness class and this is how I dress it's lovely color my name's Arlene Brown reie is my nickname you probably know me as reie uh 475 East Westfield Avenue I have a very very very strong objection to The Dispensary being one for recreation you want to put a dispensary in my neighborhood on my block it's not Westfield Avenue that dispensary is going to the doorways to it open up onto Bender the parking in order to go it used to be when you were going West on East Westfield Avenue you could make a leftand turn and go down right into into the parking lot and park you can't do that anymore that road's been changed you have to go down Westfield Avenue to the light on uh ging Hill gping Hill Road you have to make a left then you have to go down Raglin road which there's children there they have basketball hoops set up the kids are always in the street playing they're anywhere between the ages of maybe six to about 15 with their basketball hoop right there in the middle of the street that's the only way you can get to that dispensary unless you go backwards into other neighborhood streets on that same left hand turn off Westfield off galing Hill Road so you go down raging Chase all the kids away you have to come up to Colonia you have to make a leftand turn you have to go back onto Galloping Hill and you have to make a right-hand turn and get back onto Westfield Avenue come down Westfield Avenue going towards the center of town and then you can pull into their parking lot I am so objective to that I so object to that I'm sorry my voice is shaking shaking I'm extremely angry at all of you because anyone who could could vote for that in my neighborhood my residential neighborhood a lot of children a lot of people like me just ordinary citizens I don't do pot I did when I was in grammar school not Grammar School High School um and it was my boyfriend's problem because he was the one that introduced me to it it makes you stupid and these people are going to go in there and they're going to buy their pot and yeah okay you're going to have your ordinances you can't smoke it in the building you can't smoke it in the parking lot what do you think they're going to do if they're potheads they're going to go over to Warren anko Park and they're going to sit there and smoke otherwise they're just going to park somewhere around the neighborhood and hide it and smoke or they're going to take it home and they're going to party I don't care if people want to party people get drunk all the time they party fine but you're putting this in a residential area and you're putting the recreational one you want to put one in that building that has been Pediatrics Dental it's been all doctor's offices all these years and you're putting a recreational pothead place what what's wrong with you people but ma'am just respectfully the all the parking and traffic flow situation that you described yes it exists today yes right so let's just say there's a world where there's four doctors in there fine there's still that same traffic for yeah but they're not getting high they're bringing their children there to get doctored but they could also go over to Union Township and get high just the same that doesn't make a bit of sense to me that you're saying doctors and dentists and people in that building and then you're saying a recreational pot come on the road around you have to go down like I described it you have to go through the residence what are you going to tell tell those kids with the basketball hoop up take your hoop down because there's going to be people driving around all the time to get to that parking spot just to get back on Westfield Avenue and come back up to get into the uh the do the U dispensary I'm I'm totally against this and I I don't know what else to do Jerry's done his part you know what do you want us to do would you want this in your neighborhood your neighborhood behind your house would you want it behind your house now if you look at New York no Las Vegas they opened a dispensary it was supposed to be just recreational it started out just like this one now it's a lounge they have bands they have televisions they have beautiful set you can buy alcohol you can buy your pot you cany buy your alcohol you can sit down with your friends and get rocked out of your mind don't you think that's going to happen it's going to happen throughout America with these dispensaries it's going to loosen up in years to come I I've got to cut you off unfortunately because your time's up but I will state just for the record that consumption on site is not allowed in Rosell Park I know it's not allowed what do you think they're going to do they're going to drive over to waro park or they're going to drive down the street and they're going to close their car and park is in Ros Park don't be Petty I'm not being petty I'm just stting back that's Petty it's Petty this whole thing is petty and I don't know what you guys want you want money for the town find a different way to put an ice skating rink in put something in for the kids to play the teens something for people put put a recreation for people I understand I unfortunately your time's up yeah I know my time's up but you guys time is up because voting for this is wrong in my neighborhood you want to have the medical one fine give us a medical um marijuana dispensary not the party one not the recreational not in a neighborhood with children Bender is loaded with kids understood I I'm sorry I have to I have to all right I'd like to cut you off on this particular subject mayor not meaning to be disrespectful but I think this is very wrong of you it should have been voted on it shouldn't have been hidden and then all of a sudden it's happening I understand I appreciate it and thank you time's up anybody else three okay since she got cut off I'd like to continue what she was saying uh basically name georgez East Clay Avenue as she was saying it's going to be cumbersome for people to get to this place MH and you guys are basically you want that town that part of town to be disintegrated you're good going to impact that part of town and the more that it gets impacted negatively the more money it's going to make for you guys right I don't even I can't even begin to grasp that none of that jives so so you're saying that if the values of the town of that area go down we make more money we make we make money off assessed values of homes so as she was explaining people are going to drive up Raglin go make a left on Colonial yes you want a ton of people to drive down those roads what you want a ton of people so what I will say is let's just say there was a bakery there okay forget about pot let's just say there was a bakery there yeah it's not about a pot it's about let me let me finish right so let's just assume there's not pot there if traffic is a concern any retail outlet of any sort would be problematic the only solution to what you guys are saying from a traffic flow perspective is to knock it down and make a single family home there which is I it's probably not going to happen right doesn't happen in 20 let me finish so so what I'm saying is is this going to take away from my time no go for it you got it all right well basically what I'm saying is there's no other business that's going to be there from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. 7 days a week number one sure all right number two doctor's offices don't get the same foot traffic that um dispensary is going to get okay and driving traffic okay number three you want since you're getting 2% you're going to want them to make as much money as possible in order for you to collect your 2% and make more on it correct I mean honestly anything is more than we're getting right now so whatever they do they do want you want it to blow up you want it to be a huge successful business I want every S I want every business in Rosal Park to be successful my point is the more success that this business gets yes the more of a negative impact it's going to be for the residents in that area I I right or wrong right or wrong logically to totally I so what you're supposing is is that there's going to be droves and droves of people of coming to this there's competition all around the area uh and and once again if traffic is the concern if people have a moral issue with with marijuana understood we're not going to see eye to eye on that if traffic is a concern it is in the RO Zone and because it's in the RO Zone somebody is allowed to purchase that and repurpose it for what's zoned there right and what zone there potentially is you could put a bakery there you could put a you could put a hot dog shop there and all those traffic issues that you're describing would happen regardless of any retail spot that's there it just would well technically that retail spot has to have 35 parking spots correct third of what it should have yeah we deem the application sufficient based on their projections all right and foot traffic there's nothing that you can do if somebody wants to take their marijuana that they just bought there and walk down Bender walk down Colonial walk down Ragland and smoke their weed there's not absolutely one thing that you can do about uh no you can't uh people can smoke Outdoors it is you don't think that's going to impact the neighborhood as well sir I can smell pot on Chestnut Street today and there's not one medical there's not one Rec Marijuana good thing so let's put it's a thing put let's put it everywhere it's a thing that exists but you can choose where you want it or not right look it's legal in the state it doesn't matter you somebody bought it that wants to do it there you guys have the power to put it where it's beneficial for the people okay this isn't beneficial for the people you can choose not putting it there I would also I would also argue an abandoned an abandoned underused building is not beneficial for the people just put a strip club there not zone for a strip club it's legal though not zone for a strip club your your point of thought is it's legal and we could approve it just like it's not approve for 35 spots apples and oranges may can I speak it's not appr for 35 spots we approve it we'll proove 12 spots even though it should have 35 spots I got it you know and it's good to see you at Council meetings you know you could have showed up last year when we were actually voting on this but you decided to show up this year got it thank year consist I'll be sitting right there got it probably not probably not thank you though thank you thank you for your feedback though appreciate it keyboard Warrior I hope you keep coming if that's not true wer aded we would have been here it was it was advertised it's never we do everything transparent noach no Outreach 200 there was a referandum across the state I don't know I'm Betty Woodruff on Bender Avenue still and I want to I've lived here all my life I know this town pretty well and I'm proud of this town I've been here I'm not going to say how many years but a long time I want to think that the people we invite to come to this town are the people we want for Neighbors I'm not thinking that right now I'm not trying to everyone is allowed to make their own choices I'm making mine I chose this town but I think that um as a we small little burrow that's existed here for some odd years 150 maybe uh and I think we're inviting the wrong people we're inviting the wrong industry I'd love a bakery I remember when there were three bakeries in town we had a movie theater we had three hardware stores we had everything a small town that's starting up needs and we survive beautifully on it I just don't see inviting this element I'll invite doctors I'll invite people who will bring something positive if you think that's POS positive and the world is changing thank you anybody else okay I'm seeing no one may I have a motion to close the public portion so move second all in favor I I there are no items for close session may have a motion to adjourn so move second all in favor all right thank you for