That's fair. That's fair. That's fair. Are you guys ready to go? I'm stuck here. Okay. This meeting is being held in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act. Annual notice of this meeting was published in the Union County Local Source and New New York Star Ledger. Said notice was posted in
the municipal building and a copy is on file with the office of the burough clerk. Fires are located located in the directions I indicated. If you were alerted for a fire, please move in a calm, orderly manner to the nearest smokefree exit. Proper notice have been given. The burough clerk is directed to include this statement in the minutes of the meeting. Please call the role.
Councilman Petroski here. Councilman Johnson here. Councilman Signarelloo here. Councilman Roina here. Councilwoman Lions here. Councilman Patel. Mayor Signarelloo, please lead us in the opening prayer followed by the pledge of allegiance. 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 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. Okay. There are no communications for review this evening. There are no proclamations or presentations for this evening. May I have a motion to approve meeting minutes pending. Any corrections? So moved. Second. All in favor? I. May I have motion that bills
and payrolls be not read and passed for payment? So moved. Second. All in favor? I. May I have a motion to open the public portion on agenda items only? So moved. Second. All in favor? I. If you want to come speak, you may do so now. State your name and address for the record. And for those of you who haven't
been here before, you have five minutes. Joshua, 231 Sherman Avenue. I'm talking about uh resolution number 187-25 directing the layoff of five employees within the Department of Public Works and resolution number 188-25. Obviously,
I only got rights for 187, so I know you guys want to talk about that. I signed it. I absolutely want to talk about that in public, not close session. Uh it so in all honesty, I don't understand why
this only came through after there were so many problems with the building brought to light. So I did the math with six employees, it only comes out to 600,000 with benefits. You're paying all of us basically. So 1.4 million 800,000. Why
don't you start? If you start putting that into a building, you can start approving it. And then you don't have to do everything at once, but you could do all the major areas that you go through. It would make more sense to keep it inhouse. people who care. When you go to another town, and I'm not saying it's going to be like this, but I want you
guys to think about this. When you go to another town, you're not getting the same people. You're getting people from another town. When you have people who lived in this town, grew up in this town, they care about this town. You can't guarantee that with other
towns that Thank you. Did you did you want me to respond? Yeah. Okay. Sure. Yeah. So, I mean, look, um, we have done the math on this and I'll defer to Ken for the exact math, right? But, um, we do feel like this is going to be a savings, right? I
mean, Ken, am I right or wrong? What is that? Sure, 100%. I'll show you the math. the the the numbers for the current I know a lot of you guys haven't been here before but if you want to come up and speak you can come up and speak when your turn. Okay. Thank you.
Sure. So instead of investing in the town investing in the workforce rather invest in someone else's workforce in their town. Uh look the purpose of a shared service is to get economies of scale right with another town. We share equipment. We get the benefits of
sharing equipment. We share a workforce. How many years? We'll see savings next year. Because the because the aggregate amount of the Department of Public Works, all the employees, all the benefits, and all of the contracts that we have are less than we're paying Kennorth. It's simple
math. That's that's that once again, thank you. Yeah. I So, listen. Who are you anyway? Uh, there's a name tag right here, sir. It says you live in town. Okay, sir. Sir,
you live in town. Sir, you don't live in town. That's what I figured. Sir, live in town. You're a public to them, sir. You're the lawyer that's going to do whatever he wants to do. Sir, I I sit up here people here. It's sad, sir. Sad,
sir. I can't even believe you're sir, man. Please, please. Please, sir. There are sir. So, my job as the burough attorney is to make Yeah. All
right. Got it. Right next to the mayor. All right. So, there are certain rules and procedures on how a meeting has to occur. All right. One of my jobs is to make sure those rules are done. All right. There's a microphone. You get five men and and
you get five minutes. All right. But it's not respectful to the man who's here now to yell over him because then his point isn't heard. Fair enough. Right. Fair enough. Bless you. Right. So yelling over him. We're with him. Again, one person speaking at a time makes life
easier. This way everyone gets heard. Everyone gets the same respect. Everyone gets treated the same. All right. Apologize. Otherwise, it becomes disruptive and then nothing gets accomplished and no one's heard. Apologize. All right. I accept the apology. Thank you, sir. You still have
some time left. If you have other things you'd like to say, feel free. All right. So, I was asking before I was trying to I think he was asking I I know he knows you're the attorney, but I want to know what your name. Sure. Joe DeMarco. D M A
R C. Not a problem. I think that's all I have to say. Thank you. [Applause] Right there. Yep. Good evening everybody, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Brian Flynn. I'm a
resident complex. buildings and yards and with the numbers compiling and a pre-existing uh question as to building
for personnel and equipment. Was it ever in the drawing board for a office trail that could have been piped right into the existing sewer systems to mitigate
the existing building problem for the employees, which would be a substantial difference in monetary uh expenditure and also erect a steel building for
the housing and the working on of the equipment as far as the trucks are concerned. So, I'm not saying you did or didn't, but I was just, you know, as an option that could be for new construction, permits,
um, foundation breaking and all that other stuff. There are multiple ways to save six figures with something that would rate for at least 10 or 15 years on the same scale.
All I have to Yeah. So, thank you for your question. Um, look, the history of the buildings, right, we're talking specifically about the buildings. Uh, before my term, um, there was, I believe, three $3.2 million bonded for a new DPW building, right? mayor and
counsel at that time went out to bid. I think the bids came back, lowest was $5 million, right? Um when I came into office, uh and this is pre- pandemic, right? Pre- all the massive inflation. Uh we went back out to bid u with a completely paired down project, right?
Like pretty much prefab buildings, right? Like very very simple structures. The lowest bid I think we still had was $7 million, right, at the time. Um and you know it's it is more I I'm not this is not my field right I'm in technology
not in construction but we are beholden to pay uh prevailing wage right we can't just do it like um you know some private corporation so that increases the costs right we have to purchase things through state certified vendors right so that increases the costs um I can't tell you
sir why it was so expensive when it came back but I can tell you in good faith that we worked with our engineers to significantly scale back the scope of the project and the quotes we got were still astronomical. Yep. I'm still getting over the shock.
I've lost jobs. Now I have to deal with my son and even worse than that. My family hurts. I respect
volunteering has always been a part of my turn. We were so proud and then things over time unravel it. But I would have expected superior thinking
overcomes and solve them in a way that this may not where we're all friends. A little bit of higher between us. I apologize in
advance. Yep. Maybe there's a better solution who may not really regard us for what we value ourselves home. It's not that devotion now everybody
feel part of something special do that as I feel and I'm disappointed that this even got so far said you can't stop. Thank you Jeff.
[Applause] Um, it comes to my attention that public works on the ground there and I would like to address that. I want to say that it is I think the
health and safety of the people citizens of this town should be our number one priority and um as a town it would it would benefit us greatly to put that first and I feel like um we will likely get sued as this is a gigantic ocean
violation and it should have been checked beforehand before any any new construction had been done to make sure that to make sure that it was a safe environment for people to work on and uh
just be found because an extremely cancerous um material and another substance found that was apparently black and oily. And that begs the question of whether any other um
work places in town have this issue and and this and the citizens in this town very much will be at jeopardy and we could be a lawsuit and I don't think I want to see that happen. Thank you.
[Applause] Good evening. Oh, just pull just me. Um Ryan, I'm sorry. Just pull it just pull closer to you. Well, nobody could hear back there either, so I'm going to speak loud. Good evening. So throughout this week,
I've been on the forums, the mayor's post, the Councilman Johnson's post, uh I'm sorry, Brian Urban, 1901, Elizabeth Dev, Rawway, New Jersey. Um, and I've seen many comments and I've se I haven't seen any, not one, maybe one, that were
in favor for getting rid of our DPW. And you know, the the point of mayor and council is to come in, go back to your wards, have residents call you, reach out on Facebook, what have you, and you guys
come here and you vote on it, right? It's not just you guys, right? And I'm friends with many of you guys. Absolutely. And you know, you and I, we spoke on the phone. It's all good, Ryan. And you know, these men have families to go home to kids in college. One guy has
a sick father. I worked at the DPW. I've watched people go and I've busted my back for this town. I've volunteered for this town. And there are three gentlemen that were a part of that DPW
that volunteered for the fire department and rode calls during this town. And you told me you did everything for the fire department. You respected us. Your father's been on the fire department. And we're here. We are. They're back doorored. So now Kenowart's going to
come in and you know we're gonna have a major storm and I saw branches all over town today and obviously Kenowart's going to take presidents because then their mayor is going to be up in Adam up and at him. Mhm. And we have six
gentlemen that know this town well, know this building well, know all our facilities well. wrote on the fire department and they're gone and Kenoworth didn't agree, as you said in your article, to hire them. So, they're guaranteed an
interview. Now, I have a question for the council. So, if they're guaranteed an interview and they do get hired in Kennaworth, do they go back to starting pay? Um, I honestly don't know. So, we didn't look into this. It depends. It depends on it depends on it depends on how
they're hired, right? If you could get back to me on that. Sure. Yeah. So, and then I also saw that Yeah. the building needs a lot of repairs, right? And we don't have the money for it, right? Yep. Why do we spend 900,000 on a parking lot? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Sure. Sure. Sure.
Sure. That's all I got for you. Have a good night. Cool. Yeah. Look, I I'm not going to answer everything, but I do want to I do want to dispel a couple things, right? So, look, on a personal note, right, like this is not fun. Letting go of people is never fun,
right? Um, I can tell it's I I I but but we work in the best we work and make decisions on what we think is the best interest for 14,000 people. But look what you did. Some of our res, Ryan. Yep. I I'm on a timer. Yeah, go for it. But some of our residents just got laid off at their jobs. I understand. But
that doesn't mean all the residents disagree with it. Right. And and I can tell you anecdotally, right, if you want to talk about Facebook, I've gotten calls for legalizing marijuana. I've gotten calls for apartments. I've gotten calls for a whole bunch of things. I haven't got one email. I haven't got one
call on this. Have you been on the forums? Yeah, the forums are this. I know. I know. It's the same people who constantly take a dump on me or on the forum. So, you know what else is new there? But but but the other thing I really want to say because this is a very important operational thing, right? So, we're going to have a sub department
that services Rosal Park, right? Which is actually going to be larger than the workforce that we have now. It's going to be nine people, right? So in an emergency, right, people keep talking about snowstorm happens, this happens, that happens. We're not going to be operating with the same staffing that Kennorth has. So how many will we have?
Because I know two are there'll be nine. Okay. And one's a one's a mechanic and one's going to be a superintendent. Correct. No. So what's the other one? I mean, so the other there's going to be a work. Well, again, they're subject to how kind of work. So how many did we have up until the last gentleman left?
We had seven. Correct. We're laying off six. What is Yeah. So, what's one more guy going to do? I'm just I'm just curious. It's not one more guy. It's It's three more guys. Mechanic's going to be in a garage, right? And there was there was another guy. The mechanic doesn't panic plow snow when the snow comes. According
to the contract, I don't think he should. And and when a truck goes down, passes, have they not? Or have they have they not? When when a truck goes down, he's in the garage fixing it. So, he's not out there. Okay. So, my point is is is even if you're saying, "Okay, whatever. What's one more guy going to
do?" It's it's not one more guy. It's it's a full compleiment of nine, right? In in a in a situation where there is an emergency where there's a Sandy or something like that. Let's be very honest, right? There will be a staff for Rosal Park. There will be a staff for Kennaworth, but Ryan, you've been
through these things. At what point have we ever had enough guys when we've had that bad of an issue that we haven't had to pull in other help? Exactly. Exactly. Right. So, so, so by that logic, I'm supposed to have a staff of 30 people for year round? Yeah. Thank you.
Right. And and we'll we'll fix the taxes, too, that way. Yep. Anybody else? Go ahead. Over here, sir. Please. Good evening. My name is Wayne Malone, 6 something Avenue, Rosen Park. I came here actually to speak about something
as I've spoken through. Can you speak closer to the mic, sir? I actually had came to speak about something else and realized when I was my way the subject matter of what's taking place. I've spoken to
Andrew and numerous times and Congressman Johnson. So my first issue before I get to the second issue with the laying off of employees at public work department, my sewer bill,
if we have a and look, I have put my life on the line for this country. So I'm here to speak and I could speak my life on this line for this country. Absolutely. I'm saying look let's let's the Is is there anything on the is there
anything on the sewer bill on the agenda? Why why can't I speak on the because because there's two public sir sir you have the right to speak as a person that as a taxpayer and as a human being here it go for it. Okay. Now if
you have a bill yes if you're being paid if we are paying a bill we should have a breakdown of this bill. Yep. Right. Where's the breakdown on these bills? Where is the breakdown? It's printed on there. No, it's not the units time the per unit price. What are we paying for?
Water usage for what? How much water usage is being used? What where's the breakdown on the bill? You're giving us a bill. So if if if you look at the gas company, there's a breakdown on electricity that's being used during a
period of time. Yep. There is breakdown of the whole bill. What is the breakdown on the sewer bill? Look, again, um we sit here in a bad time countrywise.
Period. And you guys are billing individuals and when they confront and ask questions about the bill or anything, they're being stonewalled. Second, Andrew,
people have to feed their family, man. You guys talk about the public work department. I've had issue with you guys and I had to come to you and the congressman about putting a garbage can in my sidewalk and about cutting a tree down in front of my house that was probably getting ready to fall in my
house. And you and you didn't take care of it, Mr. Andrew. You definitely didn't. I've had good encounters with you. People have to feed their family. We're living in a very bad time. You're saying that I just heard you make an
explanation to someone about the pricing and the budget. $1 something million you're giving to Kenn. Yep. What was the payroll for the six individuals that you had per year? And if the bill is less than that, how
is it logical to all of the minds that are sitting here that that is a logical thing to do? Understand? How is that logical? Once again, once again, sir, the math is that with all the payrolls, with all the benefits, with everything else we pay,
when you look at the total package plus the contracts, it is more expensive to keep our department of public. But is you're you're saying, hey, listen to what you're saying. Listen to what you're saying. You're saying that it is more expensive. You gave us a figure for the number that you're paying Kenwood. Give us a figure for the number that is
the payment for the six. What is the number? What exactly is the number? You got Chem. What's the What's the total right now? He's our CFO. What a peach. Yeah. Sir, excuse me.
Class act. Yeah. Class act. Mhm. Yep. Super. Yep. Hey, sir. Eddie, please. class. You shut up, please. Immature. Can we get him out of here? Be immature. You're immature.
You're immature. Everyone, please calm down. Everyone, please calm down. Can we just please calm down? Calm down. Councilman. Councilman. Councilman. Councilman. Councilman. Councilman. Yeah. Are you retired? What are you, sir? Please. You're
away. We got a mayor. Sir, [Applause] look, I'm not here I'm not here to insult anyone. Okay. Okay. I'm I'm not here to insult anyone. I'm I'm trying to get facts here.
All right. So, sir, sir sir. Sir, excuse me. over here. You got to calm down, please. Listen, I've been in this town for 50 years. No,
I I understand. I understand. I understand. But you're not you're not helping anyone. Paul Devito is freaking This is not helping anyone. What' you do, sir? And you're at his wake. Sir,
you should How do you even sleep at night? Sir, that's embarrassing. Sir, what? The guy died. Sir, what do you got? Sir, got nothing. Sir, you sat next to me and cross. All right. So,
every night you go to bed, sir. Sir, I haven't had to do this in seven years. If you do not stop, we're removing you. It's that simple. I don't care. Yes, I can. I don't care. You are you are being disruptive to the public meeting here every Thursday and
every Tuesday. You're more than welcome to. I'm going to follow building. What's going on with that place? I'm sure that's got a lot of So, glad I'm glad you're gonna follow me. The town [ __ ] all this [ __ ] It's
sad, man. All right, sir. Move on. Let people take care of the town. Mr. Andrew, what's your what's your deal anyway? I don't really Oh, your son.
All right. Can Thank you, sir. Leave or I'm gonna sit here and I'm gonna fight. It'll be so that sir announc that's your [ __ ] thing. Sir, [ __ ] [ __ ] Sir, if you can leave and calm down, I'd appreciate it. You
can come back if you calm down, sir. Money. You know what you guys? You know what? I talked to the guy at school. The guys told me he wishes. Sir, I just sir, please. He'll get help. You know what he gets? He gets zero. And you
guys sit here. [Music] Thank you. Thank you, sir. [Applause] Wayne, if you would like to finish. Ma'am, please. I don't want to say that. Ma'am, please. Again, I'm I'm not here.
Just let Mr. Wayne finish. Anyone? I I think that by the reaction of people in the audience, you see the the the the effect of the situation that it it has brought on. Look, Andrew, Congressman Johnson, we live in an era and time
where people have to feed their family and we have to be more considerate about the way we're handling and dismissing folks. Again, look, man, this this township that has a problem with PW in terms of employees, in terms of the lack of employee there for that it
always had, right? But to take these employees now and send the jobs over to to to to um Kenz I think is a bad decision. I again I would like to know at some
point and if it doesn't have to be here Andrew a breakdown on my sewer bill. I don't I don't have a problem and an issue with paying what I'm supposed to pay. Let me see in black and white. Can Can we provide that for the man? What I'm paying for? That's what I would like
to know. Yes, it's online. It's in the adopted budget. Wait a minute. Why you got to be online? You don't We have to We have to We have to cut this time off at some point. Look, sir, you can either set up time with the finance department or come by or email me and we'll set up a time to walk you through it. Okay.
You know, look, again, I I I'm just asking some questions again and and back to the employee situation. Andrew, you you you you have to you guys I I I don't know if you guys could reconsider maybe, you know, I you you talk about
them going for interviews for the jobs in Kennorth. How about just making some deal in this progress and just giving them work in Kenward, just adding them to the staff so they could continue to feed their family. We are living in hard times and people need their jobs. You
guys know that. You guys have family. you guys. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Hello, I'm John Devito. Um, I just first want to start this off with I really didn't want to have here. What did your address, John? Sorry. Five High Street, Three Bridges, New Jersey. Thank you,
sir. I'm a former employee here and resident, but I didn't want to have to come up here, but I feel like I need to now. Good evening, Rosell Park. For those of you who don't know who I am, my name is John Devito. I was born and raised here in Rosell Park. I met some amazing families over the years from
school, sports, even through my years of working at the DPW. Being part of the DPW in the town I grew up in, I felt a sense of pride of where I was always able to help the community that I was brought up in. And for those of you who don't know, my family and I, we have
always been the type to help others before ourselves on the clock and off the clock. Look around this room and I will guarantee you many people agree with me on that. I had the pleasure of working with my father in the last years of my career at the Roso Park DBW. My
father had left the Union County parks and wreck heavy equipment operators position to come here at Roso Park DPW to work alongside his son and to be closer to home to be there for my mother in case of an emergency to continue to help everyone in Rosal
Park. But on another level level, I ultimately left the DPW for two reasons. One, I would ask over the years to be sent to classes to educate myself with equipment, whether if it was the CCTV
truck, which cameras your sewers, which I had to learn on my own. I had videoed all of Rosal Park's sewer systems to find out later that I'm assuming they're being used to help sell the sewer system or whether it was going to Arbor School
to become the next bucket truck operator. I was shut down by management at the time. And the other reason which is tied to the first, I did not feel appreciated for my commitment and willingness to learn more to move up in the department. Every storm, every sewer call, every town event from the
Christmas tree lighting to the h Halloween on Bender to the last snowstorm, I worked three to four days straight without going home to help open the streets of Rosel Park. Even after I put my two weeks notice in, supervisor at the time said something to me and it
stuck with me and I was it was that I was better than this place and that I needed to get out because things didn't look good there. And in my head, it really confused me because the entire time I wanted to better myself to benefit for the town.
The last year of my family's lives have been nothing but a nightmare. the wildest of roller coaster rides. Times of our lives that should have been nothing but the greatest times. Nothing but nightmares. My father got hit in the head in July setting up for the Fourth of July fireworks, not knowing it was
going to be his last day at work. A couple days later, he realized he didn't feel well and went to the doctor and found out he had a brain bleed from one side to the other. As that roller co coaster ride was over, the doctor shared with us they
discovered a tumor and had to be operated on as soon as possible. July 8th, my father had his operation. They removed the tumor the size of a peach to the best of their ability. Tumor ended up being cancer called glyoplasto and it was grade four. My
father is the strongest man I know and I mean to date. He worked so hard through the months of rehab and being continued to get knocked back down and have other operations and get right back to rehab and beginning
treatment all while missing his grandson's baptism, his son and daughter-in-law's baby shower. We watched my father slowly become weaker and weaker. My brothers and I along with our significant others had to deal had to had to do what we had to do to take
family leaves from work to try to help in every way possible along with being there for my mother who did not leave his side from day one. After nine operations and months away from home, the doctors wanted to do two more operations, but said there would be no
more quality of life. So, we had to make the most difficult decision as a family. and my dad was put on hospice on November 14th. My father ultimately passed on November 24th and still this still does not feel real. Through those months of everything going
on, I've heard rumors of the DPW and I've held them back from my family so that we could focus on my father. I really did wish none of these rumors were true because I had faith in the community that the right thing would have been done. But it looks to me that these rumors are true with facts and
I've had to bring this up to my family not only because of the concern of my father what happened to my father but the fact that I also worked there and was given the same tasks as my father and many others. I cannot express how concerned I am with the health and for
the future because I do not need my life c cut short due to the negligence of others. I want my wife and son I have three more sentences. Please go for it. Yep. I want my wife and son to have me around like my father was there for me. You
council men and women that are up there, I really hope you can do the right thing tonight by the Rose by the people of Rosel Park and your past and current employees and help those who've helped you. Thank you.
[Applause] name and address. Sir, good evening. Mil Woodruff, 134 Bender Avenue, Roseel Park. My
comments pertain to the GPW initially. It just seems like your numbers quite frankly do not articulate whether we're talking about six people that are on our payroll or the nine that they're going to hire. Why was it not possible to at
least have these six people that were our that were part of our DPW may become part of the Kennorth Korth team as well with experience and now they can go out and how and hire nine people and you got
people here that know what they're doing and have really with a number of years of service gave the town the best they can. Makes little sense to do that and to pay them 10 worth 1.4 million for
what? For six or nine people. The numbers don't articulate. It just makes no sense. And one of the other questions posed is about the storage. The storage thing has been a nightmare from the word go from
the time in which we had the suit with Do we have anything on the agenda? the suit with Elizabeth. It would upset Lena. Go ahead. And we got $3 million back from the state to help take care of that. Yes. And we use that money to pay
Elizabeth off. Mhm. But we last year our SU bill went up almost double what it was. Mhm. We were told somewhat that we were going to get some sort of an adjustment on our bill. Yep. But that that doesn't seem like it's going to
happen. And there's still problems with our bills this year. Is it a question? Well, I question pertains to are we going to get any money back on the RSR bill? Yeah. So, um I'll repeat what I said last meeting. So, um we did get the
$3 million from the state. the $3 million from the state didn't come until late December, which means that we it was not possible in last year's fiscal year to give people money back. So that uh that funding went to the budget for this year, which enabled our budget to
go from $10 uh what's the metric? $10 per eight to five. So it used to be it was four before the sewer lawsuit. It went up to eight last year and then it went back down to five this year. So the sewer rate is lower than it was last year. that $3 million went to go
lowering the sewer bill. Now, some people saw a different sewer bill, some people saw higher ones, some people saw lower ones because we also changed the way it was calculated. We went from the calculation from 12 months a year to 3 months a year to try and be fair to the people who use water for their pool and
lawn. What happened? All that money was from last year though. What about last year? Now, what happened to the money from last year? We had to pay um we so the total settlement was $4.6 million. 4
million. Sorry. Was 4 million. Four million. Right. So we only got three million in state aid. So we paid but you said it a portion of that last year. You settled for three. You didn't pay him four. We What was the final settlement? We we paid we paid the first installment
of the agreement at the time. Right. The money that we received from the state paid the renegotiated rate to Elizabeth. Yeah. Yeah. So any money that we took in last year was ultimately paid out based on the bills that we received, not only from Elizabeth, but from the two sewer authorities that we paid to for
treatment. The capital improvements on those sewer authorities that were assessed. So it's not just the Elizabeth issue that drove the cost last year, although was the most noticeable. The other thing is we also still until we disconnect, we have an ongoing fee to
pay to Elizabeth. clear last year. I I I would Mr. Woodruff I would say in part because everyone is was rightfully focused on the Elizabeth issue which ultimately got renegotiated. A little clarity would help. Thank you.
And why why was it possible to have the six people from the ZPW become part of this shared services? Because it's not a merger. It's not a merger. It's a shared service with Kennorth as the lead.
[Applause] George Ramirez, 500 East Clay. A uh a couple questions. So Ken Blum took in a $60,000 raise last year for this shared services agreement that we previously had when we
did have a DPW. Now that we don't have a DPW, is he giving that 60,000 back? Uh he's still working CFO for both for both towns. So even though we don't have a DPW, it's a totally different agreement that we had last year. How does one have anything to do with the other? One's a
shared service for the finance department. And the other is for shared service for the Department of Public Works. Well, it was a shared service agreement. It was a totally different agreement that we used to have. Once again, one was for the CFO services and this one is for DPW services. Okay. So,
they're two different departments that do two different things. A second question. You said that we're paying off we're paying 1.4 to Kennallorth. Yeah. What guarantee do we have that that's not going to change? Um we have a stipulation in the um in the agreement
that if there's any significant costs one way or the other that we'll negotiate it or um you know we have the right to terminate if we need to we can also go to arbitration if we need to. Huh. So I mean going by what you've done in the past with like Neglia Group and all of these things just as an example
you hired Negleia Group for 510 Chestnut Street where it started off at 13,000 for them to do their redevelopment plan. Yep. And now we're up to like 30,000. Yes. I mean, again, these are apples and oranges, right? So, should that should that should that get happen, right? Then
a developer ends up paying us those costs. It doesn't matter. I'm talking about it does if you're saying we're incurring costs, but okay. The resolution says in an amount not to exceed 13,000. So, it's not to exceed 13,00. But then you come out with another resolution that changes that amount once again. So, let's just say we
spend $30,000. If somebody ends up developing it, then a developer comes in and pays those fees. I'm bringing this back to the DPW. So right now I don't see how you are. Go ahead. Yep. Right now you're saying 1.4. So what's to say that in two months from now another resolution comes out and says it's 1.8
because it's legally binding agreement. But you could come out with another resolution to change that. Correct. Just like you changed. No. No. And no. And and just like anything, please go ahead, Andrew. Yeah. I just want to bring clarity. So I'm sorry to Can I finish my I don't need my five minutes. So on
Tuesday you guys had a uh the redevelopment agreement for 510 Chestnut Street. You had Neglia Group who's supposed to be an expert uh say that the current board of education building is up for redevelopment because the sewer is 50
plus years old. Okay. Against superior court cases that have come before that. I brought that up. She said it's not only that that the sewer is 50 plus years old, but it's also the fact that there's no handicap ramp at the board of ed building now. Okay, which if you look
here, there's a huge handicap ramp in the back of the uh board of ed building. Okay, so supposedly an expert not on the agenda tonight, so there's nothing I could do about it. This is part of the redevelopment plan, which is part of the uh the Department of Public Works somehow, huh? It's part of the Department. It's not on the agenda, but
okay. What whatever else you got, George? Yep. Go for it. The redevelopment plan here from Neglia is what I'm talking about. Is the redevelopment plan on the agenda tonight? Yes, it is. You should know that the the the 510 Chestnut Street redevelopment plan is not on the agenda. The housing element fair share plan endorsement. The housing element is part
of the redevelopment plan for 510 Chestnut. It's an overarching plan for affordable housing. It's that's the specifics are not in there. No, no, no, no. The designation for whether or not it qualifies for redevelopment is not in that plan. But but whatever. What else you got? is saying she said also that
the it's we should knock down the building because the pin striping for the parking lot are faded. Okay, which I mean it's just a can of paint and it's not faded as you can see. So, right, why are we knocking down a building over
a $2,000 fix? Nobody's knocking down anything. This is why are you bringing this up and calculating the amount of apartments? You even got to the point where you're calculating how many bikes are going to be stored in this place because that's the way redevelopment works these things because you you say what could potentially be there. If the
board decides to sell it, that's what could be there. If not, nothing happens. But why are we spending 30,000 then for something that's just ultimately because we have a state obligation to build affordable housing. And if we're going to build affordable housing, we should build it in a smart place and by the train station is a smart place. We have
15. I understand. We still haven't. Please, please, again. Really? The board of ed. Go. You should go to the board of ed buildings then if you want some schools. Please. Anything else, George? Same people on the board there. Incorrect. Incorrect. Totally
incorrect. Wrong. Uh, please. Yeah. George, anything else? Uh, sewer. Sewer payment. We made a double payment last year because of the sewer. Correct. Yes. All right. No. Well, it's a double payment. It was a pay one payment broken up into two separate payments. Correct. Yes. For the lawsuit. For the lawsuit,
which we ended up getting the money from the state for. Correct. Yes. But not to cover the entire cost of the lawsuit. So what was the settled amount to the lawsuit being that we made that one lump sum payment? What was the amount that Elizabeth settled for? The final settlement. No, we got a little knocked off because we did the lump sum. Yeah,
but I'm saying that was part of the first payment got Yeah, understand. But yeah, so so again, we only got $3 million, right? which is great that we got it. But can we go back? What's my the answer? Well, how much did we pay Elizabeth for the lawsuit settlement?
I I don't want to quote you the wrong number, so I I can't tell you right. Was it over 3 million? Yes, it was over 3 million. Total settlement is over 3 million. Yes. Yeah. 4.2, I believe, was the number. That's including That's because of what? No, but wasn't the by law by the courts it was 4.2, but then they accepted a lower amount. Correct.
Yeah. But it still was over three. I It's It's I think I want to say it was at 4.2. It was 4.2 2 and then we got down to like 3.6 from one nump. So, but there's still 600k that we had to pay last year in that scenario. And the other thing, George, just again, I know this is confusing, but we also still have to pay ongoing fees now going
forward until we disconnect from Elizabeth to Elizabeth. One one is for the retroactive, the other is going forward. All right. Well, I I'll talk again. Okay. You want me to answer the question on the No. Anybody else?
Good evening, Mayor and Council. Maryann Brener, 141 Charlotte Terrace. If you would please hold your comments or your answers until I'm finished with uh what I have to say. I have a few points to bring up. Um first point is that I want to remind everyone that Josh who really
it is. Do you think you guys could be closer? You gota could be kind of close. Y um that uh the one of the individuals that was given that Rice notice asked for this to be talked about and voted upon in a public session, not in a closed session. So, I just want to remind you all of that. And um there was
a news article on June 16th, which was 3 days after the act of show of serving the notice to these six employees that the action that was taken was quote months, even years in the making end quote. Yet this is the first action of
removing employees. So even though this was talked about, this is the first time that any of us residents and the workers were told of this or or that this was a possibility to happen. So to say that this was months in the works, that means
that some of you sitting here knew that this was going to happen. So were you all aware of this action? I mean, raises were given to individuals who already work for our town, the CFO and the business administrator, so they could
handle the extra workload. So that would then give us more of a tax burden even though this was going to only be temporary. But this tax burden of the raises stays with us as residents of the
town. So if you knew that this was coming, then you knew that this was going to be a burden for us. Yet you were still going to move everything over to Kennaworth as a group agreeing to this contract that you cannot quote compel Kennorth to accept our workers.
Yet there is a worker that was moved from the DPW and is working now for the Burrow of Kennaworth. So why wasn't that person also included in who cannot go to Kennorth who was not compelled? This person was a secretary who is now
working in Kennallorth. So she is also a union person. So this is a person who even though it wasn't compelled to do is doing it. There's a there's a there's a current worker that moved to Kennorth. The secretary for the DPW that worked at that building is working in Kennallorth
right now. Yes. Incorrect. Incorrect. Incorrect. Yes. Not incorrect. I was forwarded from a phone call and spoke to that person who says they're working in Kennallorth. False. So false. So that person Okay. So she doesn't know where she's work. Okay. Um I'll move on. Okay.
When most companies who have to downsize their employees, they try to find other ways to do something for their employees. Some of these employees that you just disregarded are residents of your own town. There are people who possibly
live here who who want to stay here and work. Why wasn't any of these six negotiated? This is a negotiated thing. They want to hire nine people. They only would have had to hire three. You could have put in the negotiations. I did
contract negotiations for years. One of the stipulations could have been, we have six people. You want to hire nine now, you only have to hire three. Also, Kennorth is going to use resources, money, time, and work to reinvestigate
and rehire and go through everything of the vetting process that we already did because you have to hire new people. I mean, I don't I don't understand how we didn't put this into a contract negotiation that these people could keep this. It would be seen as a savings all
around for Kennallorth for Roselo Park that these people this this information was already finished and done. Also another question that I have is reading the contract that came out is there is absolutely no cap anywhere listed when they say they could possibly have to
expand to get the nine people for their building. They might have to expand and make arrangements and adjustments. There's no cap. What if Kennorth says, "You know what? We have to build a whole another building and it's going to cost you a million dollars." In the contract, it says Roosevelt Park is on the hook to
pay for this. Which is means we will have to pay for it. All of you who live here and all of these people who live here will have to pay for that quote expansion that we don't know because there is no cap on what Kennaworth can say is the cost of moving all these
people there. Okay. Um, I I just we're focused on different issues here and I would say that the Roso Park residents, we we all voted you in. We didn't vote for you to take residents and workers and move them out of a job and say,
"Good luck. Hope you don't have to do it again. Charlene Comr story. 318 Persing Avenue, also known as the street that has been killing your car for years. And I don't want to hear it's being redone. It would never be in the condition it's in now if
we had a working DPW for the last few years. Plain and simple. Okay. U number of things uh just to hit on. I one of the things I was going to bring up was the was also why was it not negotiated that
our employees would have the first right of refusal as it were for a job in Kennallorth. That to me should have been part of the negotiations. I do not understand that at all. Um before I go any further be I also want to point out that this is on the the consent
calendar. Uh so you're just going to take these comments and then go ahead and vote. you. Nobody's I mean this is uh I mean here we have our little asterisk considered to be routine and non-controversial. This is non-controversial. Yeah. Really? Yeah.
Really? I mean it's not paying your taxes. How did you guys do it? How did you How did you do when you were councilwoman? You did it differently. I'm not going to go back and say how we continue before I use your time. Let me finish because you are treating me with the same contempt that you used when you
said to somebody when you said, "Oh, the people on the forum are the same people who are always criticizing me." They still count. I I do I do have contempt for people who did it worse than we did. I do. I do have contempt for people who kick the can down the road and we had to deal with those issues. I do have
contempt for those people. Specifically for those people Well, but go ahead. I don't want to take up your time. Councilwoman, no. I I I have a I have a question then. Why do you support the the the man who was on the council then and and have him come back here? Some people some people switch to an independent if you have such contempt
for them. Yeah. You tell me. Yeah. Anyway, let's get back to uh uh if you don't you should have negotiated that hiring. Yeah. We have Okay. You're talking about efficiency
now. Efficiency is great. We should all I'm nobody opposes efficiency in business. However, while you're talking about efficiency, you just spent $900,000 across the street here. While you're talking about efficiency, there is here ordinance number 2824
where we are fixing or raising to be a more honest wording the salary ranges of non employees. I mean a possibility of spending $20,000 for a
part-time mayor when actually it's the administrative people who do the work. Every one of my budgets was better than yours. Further, further we have here. Imagine you just put somebody out of the meeting for
being disruptive and you are a public official disrespecting for well that's coming up. You're the guy who told me that nobody please I remember you. Okay. Authorizing a
$10,000 increase to the professional service contract with Kurubo and and Capesi. Another $10,000. We can add all these things together and all of a sudden, but we're being efficient. No. Part of the problem is there's a a
mentality of here of running Rosel Park as a business. Running it efficiently and running it as a business are two different things. This is not a business. This is a government. You are doing things like outsourcing part of the DPW's things. Outsourcing
kills the middle class. Everybody knows that this is when mall killed small business and now the please come on right here. All right. But but all right there there's that. But there's also the the fact that
this this is a government. This is not a business. You can't just say, "Uh, well, it's not working out. Let's get rid of the DPW." What do we get rid of next? Mayor and council might work. That's why there's elections. Anybody
else? I'm seeing no one. Okay. All right. Just Just You're addressing people, sir. Very rude and sir. Got it, sir. I know. But but you're doing the same thing, right? But but you
I did. I did. And I'm telling you. All right. Please. Thank you, sir. Yes. Sorry, ma'am. Gene WS 110 East Rosel Avenue, Rosel Park. I too am very,
very saddened at learning about the DPW. It disturbing because I do question how much service we are really going to get from Kennallorth. Not nothing against Kennallorth, but just wondering, but I'm also wondering, you mentioned that they were going to have a substation in
Rosdale Park. Where is that going to be? And what are you going to do? What are your plans for the DPW property? Is it going to be redeveloped? Is it going to be another apartment house? No. What do What are your plans for it? No, the the plans as they stand right now are to um
take down the buildings and use it for equipment storage. What equipment? We gave it all to Kenn. We did not. We still retain all of our equipment. What are we putting on that property? Yes, ma'am. The same thing we put on the property, the firehouse. Continue. I'm just I'm I'm wondering
where our future goes with this. Uh because it is it is a change. It's a big change and and changes are difficult. Yep. So, I'm looking having lived here a few years, where is our future going? Deep concern. The other thing, if I might, it's it's a little bit of a
sidebar, but I if I can, I don't think it's really on the agenda, but I live on East Rosell Avenue, and a year ago, I believe it was, they tore up our streets to do the uh water u lines that they had to do. Fine. Maintenance. I have no disagreement with maintenance. It has to
be. It's uncomfortable. It's annoying, but when it's done, it's for the betterment of all. Again, the streets are marked now. They're going to start digging, I gather, for water manes again. Does anybody know what's going on? Where and how we we we
do. We do. It's very frustrating. Makes no sense. This makes no sense. So So that is uh Do you want Andrew, do you want to comment on that what that is? So M I know it too. We could Miss Miss Jans. So, generally generally speaking, what you're what you're more than likely
seeing are markouts called in by the water company, not necessarily for digging in the street. What they're doing is they're digging test pits behind the curb first to see if there's lead or galvanized water service lines, running from the water man that was put
under the street to your home. The first step in that is digging in the grass area that's likely between the curb and the sidewalk or between the curb and your house. they need to call the markouts anytime they dig. Okay? So, unfortunately, a lot of times when utility companies call for a markout,
they don't tell the town and and they're not obligated to tell the town. They don't tell any town. It's what they're required to do by state law before they dig anywhere. So, it's not necessarily them excavating the street. They are going to be digging in your area just to verify if there's a lead line. Okay. So,
it's it's it's on grass property that they will probably not digging up the streets. I I I 99% I don't know your particular situation where you where you live on on East Roselle, but generally speaking, there is a lot of that activity happening now.
Okay. Luckily, the return the return rate the return rate for American water right now is about 5% on galvanized and and lead. So, they don't have to dig up as many streets as they originally thought. There'll be more to come when they find out what they want. So, because the signs are up for all next
week, no parking on the streets and here we no makes no sense. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else? Anybody else? Not true. Yes, ma'am. Name and address. East Devon, 617 Filbert Street, Rosel Park,
New Jersey. Thank you. I've lived in the town for 32 years and I consider myself an educated resident. I watch the meetings. I ask questions when I need clarity. I've sat in this room many of times where it has been standing room only and watched residents speak passionately about topics that concern
all of us. But I can only remember one or two times that I felt our voices were actually heard from apartments to sewer bills and tonight's topic for the DPW. The Facebook keyboard warriors blast it with comments, some valid and some not. And when I suggest they come to the
meetings to to ask the questions, they say it will never change. Well, they are here tonight. They are here to support the DPW and the service they provide to our residents. When it snows, the sewers get clogged and the trees are down. There has been a significant amount of
DPW employees, past and current, that are born and raised in Rosal Rosal Park. My son being one of them. Um, and it seems to be the dedication to this town that reaches far past typical employees. Some of them are so dedicated to the town they volunteer to the fire
department as well. Going the extra mile to ensure that the residents are protected. That dedicate that's dedication. But it's not possible to negotiate in a contract that our current staff be retained for their jobs. You can't even tell us tonight what the yearly payroll is, yet you're telling us
their savings. So these dedicated employees deserve better than that. and they deserve their voices heard and they deserve the consideration of being negotiated into that contract. They serve this community in more ways and they're not recognized for it. It's not
right what you're doing. Thank you. Anybody else? Cindy Mayo, 433 Walnut Street. Just going to ask you to tone it down because I'm not here to fight with you. Yep. This is personal for me. My dad was one of the casualties of the DPW.
Frankly, I think so was my mother. And ironically enough, today was 7-year anniversary of her death. So, I think that this vote today is pretty ironic. I think that you all need to remember I I get that you're up there and you make decisions what you guys think is best, but the residents also aren't stupid.
They have an opinion and you're supposed to be listening to them. And the guys at the DPW, just like my dad, they bust their butt. They're not making this extraordinary salary. They're making minimum working
hard. When it snows, they work 24 hours a day. Sometimes my dad didn't come home for three days because he was working overtime day after day and then went right back to work the next day. They're residents of this town and I think you all need to really think about it before you vote tonight because sometimes the
dollar just isn't as important as keeping our town. We've already gotten rid of the first aid squad. Now we want to get rid of the DPW. We want to sell the sewer. Are we going to get rid of the cops next? We only have a fire department that's volunteer. What is next?
We're a small town at this point. Why don't we just sell Rosel Park to Kennorth and let them run the whole town? We're You guys all live here. Some of you for your whole life and generations back like me. Really think about this. We're a small town and we need to stay
Rosal Park, not outsourcing everything to everybody else. Thank you, Cindy. [Applause] Anybody else? I am seeing no one. May I have a motion to close the public portion? So moved.
Second. All in favor? I I uh may have a motion to accept the reports of departments as submitted. So moved. Second. All in favor? I I uh may have a motion to adopt. Oh, you don't?
Yeah. Uh, can you read ordinance number 2821 by title? Sorry. Yeah. Yes, mayor. Ordinance 2821 is an ordinance for second reading and public hearing. It's an ordinance amending chapter 40 section 3004 of the code of the bur rose all park entitled fences with specific
amendments to subsection A thereof. Want to advise the governing body that the matter was referred to the land use board. Uh, and uh, after 35 days they've not opined back with an opinion. So, you're free to act and hold a public hearing at this point. Uh, okay. These are for second, right?
Yeah. Um, may I uh can I have a motion to open the public hearing on ordinance number 2821? So moved. Second. Uh, all in favor? I. Would anybody like to come up and speak specifically on ordinance number 2821? I am seeing no one. May I have a motion
to close the public portion on ordinance number 2821? So moved. Second. All in favor? I uh may have a motion to adopt ordinance number 2821. So moved. Second. Is there any discussion? Please call the role. Councilman Petroski? Yes. Councilman Johnson? Yes.
Councilman Signarella? Yes. Councilman Robbina? Yes. Councilwoman Lions? Yes. Councilman Patel? Yes. Six votes affirmative. Mayor, the ordinance is adopted. Uh Andrew, please read ordinance number 2822 by title. Yes, mayor. Ordinance 2822 is an ordinance for second reading and public hearing. An ordinance amending chapter 40 section
3005 of the code of the ver resol park entitled driveways with spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe specific amendments to subsection B thereof. Again, this matter was referred to the municipal land use board after 35 days. They've not opined and you're free to hold a public hearing and consider adoption. Uh we have a motion to open
the public portion on ordinance number 2822. So moved. Second. All in favor? I would like to come up and speak on this ordinance specifically. I'm seeing no one. May I have a motion to close the public portion? So moved. Second. All in favor? I. May I have a
motion to adopt ordinance number 2822? So moved. Second. Uh, is there any discussion? Andrew, please call the role. Councilman Petroski? Yes. Councilman Johnson? Yes. Councilman Sigarella? Yes. Councilman Robbina? Yes. Counciloman Lions? Yes. Councilman Patel? Yes. 6 months
affirmative. Mayor, the ordinance is adopted. May I uh Andrew, please read ordinance number 2823 by title. Yes. Mayor Ordinance 2823 is an ordinance amending chapter 10 section 4 subsection 4.1 of the code of the Bur Rosel Park until the recreation fees enumerated. Uh may I have a motion to open the public
portion on ordinance number 2823? So moved. Second. All in favor? I I would like to come up and speak on ordinance number 2823. I'm seeing no one. May I have a motion to close the public portion? So moved. Second. Is there any discussion? Oh uh
Andrew, please call the RO or all in favor? All in favor? I uh may I have a motion to adopt ordinance number 2823? So moved. Second. Is there any discussion? Please call the role. Councilman Petroski. Yes. Councilman Johnson. Yes.
Councilman Signarella. Yes. Councilman Robbina. Yes. Councilwoman Lions. Yes. Councilman Patel. Yes. 6 months. The affirmative. Mayor, the ordinance is adopted. May I have Oh, Andrew, please read ordinance number 2824 by title. Mr. Mayor. Ordinance 2824 is an ordinance for second reading and public hearing an ordinance amending ordinance number 2806
fixing the salary ranges of non-union employees and officials of the Burros Park in the county of Union state of New Jersey. Uh may I have a motion to open the public portion on ordinance number 2824? So moved. Second. Uh all in favor. Would anybody like to come up and speak on this ordinance?
Oh, okay. Got somebody. George Ramirez 500 East Clay. Uh, I'd like to make a suggestion that since Ken Bloom took this raise of 60,000 last year when we did have a DPW, if you guys
vote to change our DPW, well, this basically uh take apart our DPW and move it over to Kennallorth. That Ken Blum give up the $60,000 raise being that we no
longer have a DPW. Thank you. Okay. Does anybody else want to come up and speak on this topic on the raises that you're giving? They're not raises. They're they're not raises. It's just
All right. So, no one All right. So, just for clarity, it is not raises. They are the salary guides. The low and high. That's what it is. salary guides for people that what? Sir, go ahead. Just
state your name. State your name, sir. Mr. Brian Flynn, 200 West Webster. Um, with the discussion of the DPW with what we have now with ordinance 2824, section one. If we go to page 13,
eight line down, superintendent of public works, minimum 48,000, maximum 100,000 if we're talking about saving money and closing uh the department, is that still a line item that is valid or is that now
a disregarded line item that should be removed? Go for it. Yeah, Andrew. So currently the current current currently there is no salary paid for superintendent of public works by the way this ordinance is written because we have no employee in
the capacity of superintendent of public works. Okay. So as of right now currently that's an inactive line could be removed. A lot of times it's kept on as an administrative function so that it can be referenced in the future if it's ever needed. But it could be eliminated. It's the prerogative of the governing
body. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Charlene Story, 31 18 Persing Avenue. Um, I have a question. May I address a question to the lawyer? Yes, you may. Thank you. Okay. Now, you say that these are simply guidelines. Are the minimums
and the maximums more than they were in the past? As you know, they do go up. Are they? I'm asking you. Yes or no? Yes, they are. Why do we Why would we need to raise them if it didn't mean that at some point in time the salaries
will go up? Did you not hear the last answer to the last question? No, I didn't. Okay. So, the gentleman asked about a specific line item that no one actually occupies. So whether that number went up or down or sideways, it's not being paid. This is the guide and the range that allows the which will
affect salaries in the future. Yes. only if those people get hired for those positions. This allows and authorizes the government to pay those. So you're talking about you know the answer already. I do know the answer but I want to be sure that everybody sitting here understands the answer because none of
you have explained it to them that this means more pay for these people at some point. Correct. Not today. Maybe next week. Maybe next year. Maybe two years. Maybe three years. Thank you ma'am. Go for it.
Andrew, could I I I just I do just want your family. I just I just want to bring I just want to bring clarity because I want to bring clarity only because this this ordinance directly really correlates with the operation of the clerk's office. So we have a retirement
pending July 1st and we have somebody who's in a lower classification position being promoted to a higher classification position. a lot of the salaries that that individual holds which are various it's broken up between
stipens at this point um would roll into one salary which is the reason for the adjustment. So this individual has two separate positions with the town assigned different tasks for the town that is being brought under one umbrella
when they get elevated to this position. So that is the reason for the salary increase. It's an existing employee that's being moved based on a retirement. Would else like to come up to speak on this ordinance? Seeing no one may have a motion to close
the public portion on ordinance number 2824. So moved. Second. All in favor? I. When is the 16 call the rule? Oh. Uh may I have a motion to adopt ordinance from 20824? So moved. Second. Is there any discussion?
Andrew, please call the role. Council Councilman Petroski, yes. Councilman Johnson, yes. Councilman Sigurella, yes. Councilman Robbina, yes. Councilwoman Lions, yes. Councilman Patel, yes. Six votes in the affirmative. Mayor, the ordinance is adopted. So, okay. Uh,
may I please have a motion to introduce ordinance 2825 as written and a fixed date for second reading as July 16th, 2020 17, 2025? So moved. Second. Uh, is there any discussion? Mayor, just for the record, ordinance 2825 is an
ordinance amending chapter 7, section 12.1 of the code of the burrow park entitled time limited metered parking. Uh, any further discussion? Need a motion. Uh, a motion to adopt. Introduce. Oh, have a motion to introduce. Yep.
So moved. Second. Uh, any discussion? Call the roll. Councilman Petroski. Yes. Councilman Johnson, yes. Councilman Sigurella, yes. Councilman Robbin, yes. Councilwoman Lions, yes. Councilman Patel, yes. Six voting in front of Mayor, the ordinance
is introduced. Uh, may I have a motion to introduce ordinance from 28:26 as written and a fixed date for second reading as July 17th, 2025. So moved. Second. Uh, mayor, for the record, ordinance 2826 is an ordinance for introduction ordinance amending chapter
2, section 24.3 of the code of the bur rose park and title police department established. Any further discussion? Need a mot. You have a motion. Isn't there a motion on the Yeah, there is. Okay. So, call the role. Councilman Petroski? Yes. Councilman Johnson? Yes. Councilman Sigella? Yes. Councilman
Rina? Yes. Councilwoman Lions? Yes. Councilman Patel? Yes. Six in Mayor. The ordinance is introduced. All matters listed with an asterisk are considered to be routine and non-controversial by the council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the governing body requests in which case the item will be removed from
the consent agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda as part of the general orders. Uh please read all resolutions. Yes, mayor. Resolution 1862 is authorizing a shared services agreement between the burough of Rosal Park and the burrow of Kennallorth for public
work services. Resolution 18725 is authorizing and directing the chief administrative officer to institute a layoff action including five employees within the department of public works. Resolution 18825 is authorizing and directing the chief administrative officer to institute a layoff action including one employee within the
department of public works. Resolution 1892 is awarding a contract to SJC Lawn Care Inc. pursuant to the base bid and optional bid A for the project 2025 tree planting program phase 1 in amount not to exceed $32,150.
Resolution 19025 is accepting the retirement of Michelle Ba from the position of violations clerk. Resolution 19125 is authorizing the chief financial officer to issue interim payments during July and August 2025 to ensure the continuity of government operations.
Resolution 19225 is waving permit requirements and fees established in section 4-10 of the municipal code for pedlers participate participating in any public events hosted or co-hosted by the bur of Rosal Park during calendar year 2025. Resolution 19325 is awarding a
professional services contract to the Neglia Group for professional engineering services including surveying, design, and construction management for the project improvements to Persian Avenue in amount not to exceed $78,290. Resolution 1942 is awarding a contract
to Crossroads Paving for the project improvements to Persian Avenue pursuant to the base bid in amount not to exceed $493,24.30. Resolution 19525 is authorizing renewal of alcoholic beverage control license number 2015 31171
American Legion Post 60 Inc. doing business as American Legion Post 60 Inc. It for the 2526 licensing term. Resolution 1962 is authorizing renewal of alcoholic beverage control license number 2015 31181 West End Community Center doing business as West End
Community Center for the 2526 licensing term. Resolution 19725 is authorizing renewal of alcoholic beverage control license number 2015 3348 Willow KC LLC doing business as Sun Tavern for the 2526 licensing term. Resolution 19825 is
authorizing renewal of alcoholic beverage control license number 2015 3353 Frenchies Bar Grill Inc. doing business as Frenchies Bar Grill for the 2526 licensing term. Resolution 19925 is authorizing renewal of inactive alcoholic beverage control license
number 2015 333614 cafe C Rosal Park LLC a pocket license for the 2020 2026 licensing term resolution 225 is authorizing renewal of alcoholic beverage control license number 2015 33913
Oldie Dallings LLC doing business as Dings Irish Pub and Restaurant for the 2526 licensing term. Resolution 201125 is authorizing renewal of alcoholic beverage control license number 2015 33106 Ocean Castle Inc. doing business as vintage Italian restaurant and
catering for the 2526 licensing term. Resolution 20225 is authorized renewal of alcoholic beverage control license number 2015 33126 CDR group LLC doing business as Kasa del Rey for the 2526 licensing term. Resolution 20325 is
authorizing renewal of alcoholic beverage control license number 2015 33155 liquor 157 LLC doing business as Deluxe Enterprises Inc. Deluxe Event Planning and Rentals LLC for the 2526 licensing term. Resolution 20425 is authorizing
renewal of Alcoholic Beverage Control license number 2015 33167 Spelanga Food Inc. doing business as Kasa's Restaurante and Pizzeria for the 2526 licensing term. Resolution 20525 is authorizing renewal of alcoholic beverage control license number 2015
44418 Rosa Park Liquors LLC doing business as Rosa Park liquors for the 2526 licensing term. Resolution 20625 is authorizing renewal of alcoholic beverage control license number 2015 4433 Gajani Inc. doing business as Rosa Park liquors and food for the 2526 licensing
term. Resolution 20725 is authorizing renewal of alcoholic beverage control license number 2015 44139 Chestnut Street Spirits LLC doing business as Rosal Park Wines and Spirits for the 2526 licensing term. Resolution 20825 is authorizing closeout of the
contract with Portoino Builders LLC for the project 2024 capital road program. Resolution 20925 is endorsing the fourth round housing element and fair share plan as adopted by the municipal land use board. Resolution 21025 is authorizing the tax collector to issue a reduction and or refund totaling
$19,2859 on one property pursuant to the tax court of the state of New Jersey. Resolution 21125 is authorizing a $20,000 increase to the professional services contract with the Negle Group for professional engineering services for the project NJD tier MS4 stormwater
permit compliance measures reflecting a revised contract amount not to exceed $40,000. Resolution 2125 is authorizing a $10,000 increase to the professional services contract with Gerubo and Capis PC as labor attorney for the year 2025 reflecting a revised
contract amount not to exceed $35,000. Resolution 21325 is authorizing renewal of an inactive alcoholic beverage control license number 2015 3325 Cashios Tavern 2 Inc. doing business as Casio's Tavern 2 for the 2526 licensing term. Resolution
21425 is authorizing the burough clerk to auction unclaimed vehicles. Resolution 21525 is authorizing the tax collector, excuse me, authorizing the tax collector to issue a refund and a reduction andor refund on four sewer utility bills in the total amount of
$4,590. And resolution 21625 is requiring community benefits agreements in connection with financial agreements pilots under NJSA48 20-1 within the bur of Rosel Park. Okay. Uh, I think it's safe to assume we're
pulling 186, 187, 188. I will also pull 198. Does anybody wish to pull anything else? 209. 209. And mayor, uh, 216. Yes, sir. Was it 216? Yes. Thank you. Yep. So, we
have 186, 187, 188, 198, 209, and 216 as pole. Okay. Uh, may I have a motion to adopt the remaining resolutions on the consent agenda? So moved. Second. All in favor?
I. I have a motion to adopt resolution 186-25. So moved. Second. Is there any discussion? Um, okay. I'll go first. Uh, let me see. Uh first question I have is if the employees are laid off tonight, do we
continue to pay them in benefits or like the rise notice or are they completely off the payroll? I believe the handbook states that they that for a layoff it's 45 days. So just to be clear, if approved the not part of this resolution
but the two subsequent ones, the layoff would be effective August 9th. So the last day on payroll would be August 8th. August 8th. So we'll continue. It's stipulated in the resolution. So even after Okay, that makes sense. Um let me see
if this is passed tonight, when does the Kennawward DPW or merger or I guess it's not merger, but when do they start working for us? July 1st. Yes, July 1st. So from
today's date, June 19 till July 1st, um we only have one employee. Yeah. But so let's discuss what services are done, right? Um so garbage will still be collected. Okay. Right. Uh bulk waste will still be collected, right? Um
we will still have tree service because there's another company that does tree service. Um we'll still have downtown cleaning. Um and then we have uh for the other garbage cans around town uh we have Suburban Rosselli doing that. Uh so the things that will be not done in that
interim are alle cart bulk pickup which will resume and we're taking calls on uh we'll have a backlog after the July 1 date. Um potholes um right but we do have extensive road work going on beyond that and honestly most of the roads are
pretty fresh at this point. Um and um setting up for events uh we have coverage for um and that's really it for the events. Uh when you say coverage, who's covering that? I believe it's going to be a mix of the the K is
Kennorth and No, no, it's just the board of ed school board, the the maintenance staff. Yeah. Board of Ed. Yes, we've done this before um when we didn't have adequate staff. Any further questions, Connor? Yeah, I got a couple. Sorry.
Um, all right. Um, as far as the can you just um explain the health benefits of Kworth, uh, page 23? Um, I believe that they are
they're paying their employees for at least 15 years who have worked for 15 years uh, and then have enrolled uh, with 25 years enrollment in the state health benefits. So will this uh are we
going to assume the risk and cost of doing um with rose um with Kenworth? So yeah. So Kenoworth is actively and I can't can I even speak on this? It's in the it's in the contract. Yeah. So so so they are actively looking to negotiate
with the union to remove that provision. Okay. Um should they not if and when that comes up? Right. And we have to think about this. So first off, the first term of the shared service is only 5 years, right? So there is a chance that five years comes up, it's not
working out, we make our own DBW again, we go do it with somebody else, right? There's a there's a there's a situation we never do, we never ever see that. I get that a lot. Um, so so so we may never have to deal with that. A
because they're they're looking to negotiate out of their contract and B because we might have a different partner in 5 years. Uh but yes, there is a provision that if that still stands, we'll share in the cost of whoever has worked for Rosal Park. So the cost can go up too much after we're agreeing for
1.4, for but it could go up depending on what are we in the in the unlikely event that they cannot um that they cannot negotiate that out of their contract then yes if the first person retires in 15 years potentially 15 years from now
15 years from now okay um I guess one note I believe that you know in inhouse service would always be better for us as we saw some of the employees that work for the town. They're from Rosal Park and they care
about the town and if we go through with this um I think I saw one of the posts on Facebook where there was a garbage can that wasn't picked up and one of the resident asked if the whoever was cleaning up the garbage cans can do that garbage can and they said no it's not my
job to clean up that garbage can which if it was from someone from Rosa Park they were happily taking care of that cuz they're from Rosa So far, are we we we K John we haven't had full garbage cans uh in uh in the past three years as
you've been councilman? No. The point is if there's a garbage can Yep. if we're hiring people from Cameronorth. Yep. They're they don't care as much as people from Rosa Park because they they are from Roso Park, right? So that's
okay. Thank you. Any any any further discussion? Any other questions? KJ. Yeah. Can we uh can we can we have order so we can have Councilman speak please? Yeah. The one last question um I have is what
is the projected cost savings or increase over the five years compared to maintaining of our own DPW service and do we have this by projected by per house? Do we have this number? So so the projection the projection of
savings for next year is about $100,000 ballpark. What is that for per house? What is $100 per house, Ken? Ballpark. Not even that. Every 105,000 is uh
just totally drew a blank. 40 bucks. [Applause] Okay. 20. I I'll I'll I'll I'll go in the office and get that. I would like to I drew a blanket. I would like to ask to table these until we have the actual numbers. I would like to table these for
the next meeting. Are you done, Councilman? Is that it? Is that a motion to table? Yeah, I I would like to motion. Can we finish discussion first? Yeah. Yeah. I was going to say go for it if there's anything else. Yeah. Oh, we could continue on. Yeah. I just wanted to make one statement just so I could get it out the way uh for
resolutions 186, 187, and 188 cuz I don't know I think it it encompasses and touches upon everything. So, for the record, I wanted to emphasize that I have uh consensusly advocated for pursuing our uh local department of public works long before any uh
considered conflict of mind that was uh hired. In fact, I previously served as a union leader and have always stood for protecting essential services and working uh workers who deliver them. I believe it's my duty to participate in this vote holistically as it directly
impacts the future of services in our community. In line with New Jersey ethics guide guidance and this burrow's past uh practices, I've respectfully requested for clarity for everyone that any matter where I may have a potential
conflict uh be separated into its own resolution for that matter. And that's why you see there's a separate resolution uh for the DPW uh employees where it's five and it's one. And the reason for that is so I could still vote appropriately for the community. So, this allows me to abstain where
appropriate while still fulfilling my broader responsibility to represent the residents of my ward and the burrow as a whole. My vote reflects not only my long-standing principles, but my commitment to transparency, ethical conduct, and best interest uh of Roosevelt Park. So, lastly, I just want
to say I get no financial gains for this. And there's a reason behind this is because there's an employee there that works for Roosevelt Park, but uh people think that I can't vote and I can vote. Uh this community is very small. Everyone is related to everybody. In fact, we got two elected officials up
here related. If that's the case, we will be abstaining from everything. So, uh I just wanted to say that statement. And at this point, I'm ready to turn it back over to you guys. And and basically, this just allows me to vote and protect myself. So if people want to
complain, uh, go for it. Any further discussion? So, uh, Ken, Ken, do you have the number? Yes, it's about $25.30 for the average
house at 253,000. So, since it's only $25 that we're saving next year, I'd like to make a motion to table this and ask the actual public,
not just everyone here, to review if it's even worth it to do this just for 25 bucks. [Applause]
Is there a second? Yes, I'll second that. Conjure. Okay. [Applause] Please call the role. Councilman Petroski, you're voting on a motion to table. No. Councilman Johnson, yes. Councilman Sigello,
no. Councilman Robin, no. No. Councilwoman Lions, no. Councilman Patel, yes. Four votes in the affirmative, two, I'm sorry, four votes in the negative, two in the affirmative. The motion is not agreed to. The motion
on the table is motion to adopt 1862. Is there any further discussion? I'm I'm hearing none. Please call the role. Councilman, this is a vote on this is a vote on the resolution to adopt. Councilman Petroski, yes. Councilman
Johnson, no. Councilman Signarella, yes. Councilman Robbina, yes. Councilwoman Lions, yes. Councilman Patel, no. Councilman Patel, no. Four votes in the affirmative, two in the negative. The resolution is adopted. Thank you.
May I have a motion to adopt resolution 187-25? So moved. Second. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Hearing none, please call the role. Councilman Petroski, yes. Councilman Johnson, no. Councilman Sigerella, yes.
Councilman Robbina, yes. Councilwoman Lions, yes. Councilman Patel, no. Four votes in the affirmative, two in the negative. The resolution is adopted. May I have a motion to adopt resolution 188-25? So moved. Second. Is there any
discussion? Uh Andrew, please call the role. Councilman Petroski. Yes. Councilman Johnson. Abstain. Councilman Signarelloo. Yes. Councilman Roina, yes. Councilwoman Lions, yes. Councilman Patel, no.
That's four votes in the affirmative, one in the negative, one abstension. The resolution is adopted. 198. May I have a motion to adopt resolution 198-25? So moved. Second. Yes.
Is there any discussion? I have to abstain on this. Please call the role. Andrew, Councilman Petroski, yes. Councilman Johnson, this is a this is a vote on resolution 1982.
Councilman Signarella, I'm abstaining. Abstains. Councilman Robbina, yes. Councilwoman Lions, yes. Councilman Patel, yes. Five votes in the affirmative, one abstension. The resolution is adopted. May I have a
motion to adopt resolution 285 or 208-25? 209. So 20, sorry, 209-25. So moved. Second share housing. Yep. Is there any discussion? Yeah. Can you just go over the resolution and the fair share? Go ahead, Andrew.
Councilman. So, uh, resolution 209-25 is the fourth round housing element and fair share plan. Um, the plan was reviewed by the municipal land use board at their meeting on their special meeting on Tuesday. Do you want me to keep going? Nope. Pause.
Thank you. Time to go. Time to go. Can we Can we please guys? Please. That's enough. Thank you. We're good. Thank you. We sir, you've been warned. We have to remove you now.
Thank you. cat. Uh, I don't even know where we're at. Let me know when you want me to. Yeah. Was there any discussion on this? Yeah. No, I I I'm just I'm I wanted to ask the question. Yeah. Go ahead, Greg. And Andrew's probably going to explain. Greg, can you just Oh. Uh, can you just
wait on a minute? Can you just explain the entire resolution and then we'll go. So, so what what this resolution does is it endorses the housing element and fair share plan which was adopted by the municipal land use board on Monday. Candidly, this is a little bit of a formality because what the housing element and fair share plan is is a
technically an amendment to the master plan that was required because there's a fourth round obligation for affordable housing throughout the state. The municipal planner put together with with our affordable housing attorney, the housing element fair share plan. It sets out our plan to achieve our affordable
housing goals and obligations over the next 10 years. So that really broadly speaking is what encompasses the plan. That's what this is, right? You're you're you're endorsing what the municipal land use board adopted on Monday. Saying that they're saying that
you understand that this is what has been adopted by the municipality through its land use board. Got it. And then how many apartments or affordable apartments? I see we're going to have required to build 75. So there's so there's two there's two obligations that
uh the municipality has. There's the uh rehabilitation need um which will be run through our rehabilitation program and other rehabilitation programs. The uni county has one um which we kind of piggyback on as a municipality within the county. And then we have our own
municipal uh rehab program. the 75 perspective need which are is the perspective need of affordable housing in Rosel Park. Uh that is achieved through
development projects in part. Um there is uh group home projects. Some are are pre-existing. So we do have a group home in municipalities that we get credits for. We also have credits for some of the things that we were able to achieve in the third round. So things like um
the Fernmore development project, right, which was part of a builder's remedy lawsuit back in 2009, 2008, 2009. There are already affordable housing units there. So we receive credits for those. Um so it's not necessarily as easy as
saying the municipality has to somehow spur 75 additional units. Um it's a combination of actual units built and credits. Um, so the way the municipality achieves compliance is by adopting a
plan and executing on that plan to the best of its ability to spur development to encourage whether it's group homes, rehabilitation, whatever the case is to get there. Now, there are situations where there are projects in this plan
may or may not come to fruition. If they don't, if they become not viable, what that will prompt is a review of the housing element and fair share plan, it'll prompt the municipal planner to go back and review and suggest an amendment to the plan. It'll go back to the planning board. There will be a public
hearing. It'll come back to the mayor and council for an endorsement, an acknowledgement of understanding, and then it gets filed with the court. Got it. So, for example, um on page 65 of the agenda, part C, we're
saying 40450 Westfield Avenue. We're going to say um total residential units is 218. Is this the one? That is the That is the Fernmore project. That's my place of first radio. Okay. This is my So, this
counts as a credit to the 75. Correct. Correct. Okay. Yep. And then for the 125 West Westfield Avenue, is that the one uh next to Lacasa del Rey? Yeah, that's uh that one's not come up. We we kicked that one back. That one
was we were talking about a mixeduse project. The current idea, which hasn't been proposed to council. The newest one would be um a specific senior affordable housing building. But I believe that we took the entire and we said that we're not going to do
any residential units. So do we have to amend or change the redevelopment? We would we would uh adopt a new plan. Yeah. And the plan as it's being proposed right would be uh specifically restricted to 55 plus.
Oh yeah. So, and then last is 510 Chestnut Street. That's a BOE building. Yep. So, and has there any update with the BOE? Are they switching buildings or I don't know. Um, but what I will say is so the plan can be amended, right? So,
should that one not go forward, we could always update the plan, replace it with a new project, right? So, none of these are necessarily set in stone. being be this being on the fair share housing plan does not mean that anybody's obligated to do it. Got it. Okay. All
right. Um I have a couple myself. Um Andrew, I just want to make sure we're not locked into the 75 rate here, right? We still are able to appeal like uh for lowering that number. So based on based on what the potential is of the project.
So the the answer to your question is yes. We didn't have to do that because based on what we have kind of in quue we're able to achieve that number. So in lie of going to the court and saying we need to lower this number because we can't
achieve it we can. So the risk in going to the court in in our particular situation given some of the projects that are moving through the queue so to speak um would be a challenge. So, a a developer or just another interested party, Fair Share Housing Center, the
the Builders Association of New Jersey, may come forward and say, "You do have the potential. There are viable items on the table." Well, well, that's that's what lead me to my next thing. Uh I wanted to um and I and I will make a move. I I wanted to move to amend this
resolution to add the following uh wording. I feel like this will protect us more. um you guys uh it's up to you guys this PL because I do understand the affordable housing component. Uh it's a state mandate. It's not something that I don't care who sits up here, whether
it's Trump, Obama, whoever is your favorite elected official. It's a state mandate. There's there's different uh there's different levels of government for a reason. And so the municipality doesn't have absolute power. And unfortunately, we we have to follow this unless we're going to fight the state. And that would be where you guys would
have to go to Trenton for that. Uh but I would like to put in wording that will kind of uh protect us if it if possible. I would like to say this plan is uh supported with the understanding that the bureau keeps the right to act for changes to the affordable housing number
such as land or infrastructure limits as allowed by state law. This resolution does not prevent the bureau from making future changes to zoning redevelopment or financial agreements if needed. I I feel like if we put that in there, uh
we'll still be able to um if later on be able to mitigate uh the 75 units cuz uh I think everyone up here, no one wants to build the 75 units, affordable housing, but it's a state mandate and we would like to get that number lower. So, I just want to make sure this type of
wording is put into this resolution so uh there won't be anything down the line that'll bind us. Yeah, there's no there's no objection to that. No, I know. That's why I got my MPA. I know. Do you have that written out? Yes, I have it written out. I can easily pass it. No, no, just give that
to Andrew. Thank you, Councilman. I just I just uh Sorry. Um if I could just know where you want it. Uh oh, man. Um I'm sorry. Uh I'm assuming it's a whereas whereas it's a whereas probably Andrew probably
three up from the bottom. Now therefore so after in accordance with the amended fair share FHA above that one above that go with that I just want to make sure we can amend it if possible. So
the fourth to last whereas clause will be well John I'm just going to read it again is this plan is supported with the understanding that the bureau keeps the right to ask for changes to its allowable numbers such as land or infrastructure limits as allowed by state law and the resolution does not
prevent the bureau from making future changes to zoning redevelopment or financial agreements if needed. And then it'll say and whereas in accordance with Yes. So that's the um motion by Councilman Johnson. Yes. Is there a second? Second. Uh there's no discussion
on that. Um no, you're good. You have it on a on a an amendment. Okay. Yeah. So, uh I just need a motion. I need a a a roll call on the amendment. Yep. Please call the role. Councilman Petroski? Yes. Councilman Johnson? Yes. Councilman Sigurella?
Yes. Councilman Robina? Yes. Councilwoman Lions. Yes. Councilman Patel. Yes. Six was the affirmative. Mayor, the amendment is agreed to. Need a motion to adopt as amended. Have a motion to adopt as amended. Oh, did you have a question? Another question. Go ahead. Just a last comment. Um,
I know this is something that we're endorsing and I don't think that we should be even endorsing more apartments. So, that that's just my last comment. Okay. Um, any further discussion?
Please call the RO. I I need a I need a motion on the Oh, yeah. Do I have amended? Do you have a motion on as amended? So moved. Sorry. No, no worries. No worries. Pick Pick your Pick your moved. She can have it. I'm already I already re amended, so that's fine.
Okay. Uh please call Please call the RO. This motion to adopt is amended. Councilman Petroski. Yes. Councilman Johnson? Yes. Councilman Sigrell? Yes. Councilman Robin? Yes. Counciloman Lions? Yes. Councilman Patel? No. Five in the affirm. Five votes in the affirmative, one in the negative. The resolution is adopted. Okay. I think
it's the last one's 2016, right? 2016. Yeah. 216. May I have a motion to adopt resolution 216-25? So moved. Second. Uh is there any discussion? Yes. Just briefly. I won't I won't uh belabor this. Uh I'm sorry. The reason for this uh resolution is since the state is
mandating us to to do a lot of apartments and and uh for some reason people are not seeming to understand that uh we're almost locked in. Uh I too don't want apartments either. Uh but at some point we have to fulfill the affordable housing mandate. So my
thought was to get the most for the community by putting this CBA uh which is called a community benefits agreement. It it it takes away the feel-good. No longer are we develop are are are negotiating with developers. We're telling them that you have to do a
community benefit if you want to build here in Rosel Park. If the state is going to mandate us, you have to do something for the schools. You have to do something for the community. you have to spend some type of money or or or some sort of uh recompense for the
community since you're going to be uh bombarding us with uh increasing of of people, labor, taxes, uh schools, inflations, etc. So, I just feel like this is uh I can't see anybody voting no on a community benefit that benefits the
community. I feel like this is a nonpartisan uh vote and I hope to get everybody from here in council support. This basically tells the developers or whoever's negotiating, you don't have the right to negotiate, they have to come with a community benefit on the application and the governing body gets
to vote on that. So, it's a good idea, Councilman. I uh I agree. I think uh the two things that made life easier is by ordinance um having the 20% affordable set aside and then having this, it doesn't leave it to negotiation. I just think it's a win-win for the burrow. Yep. Good idea. And and for the schools,
any further discussion, please call the RO. Councilman Petroski? Yes. Councilman Johnson? Yes. Councilman Sigella? Yes. Councilman Roina? Yes. Councilwoman Lions? Yes. Councilman Patel? Yes. Six votes in the affirmative. Mayor, the resolution is adopted. Okay. Uh reports of burough
council and committees. Uh we'll start off with um Councilman Sigarella. The meeting is going on long tonight. I'm just going to if you need to get a hold of me for any questions, been doing this for a long time. 908721-6488
or email me. Thank you. Okay. Uh Councilman Johnson. Yes. Uh thank you, Mayor. Good evening, residents, mayor, council, and residents. Just a few community updates to share at this time. Avon and
Burwin infrastructure projects have finally concluded. Uh, next on the first ward list uh, that is pending is Persian. Sometime coming up, we'll we'll find out. Uh, updates will follow. And Charlotte Terrace is one of the streets
that were still under the half uh the half pave rule and um, this is backlog that we need to get resolved and fix up. So, um um if I'm correct, we we should be submitting a grant for uh Charlotte Terrence a uh by the end of the
Charlotte and uh Bridge Street and Bridge Street. Yeah, but I'm only talking about first board. I got you. In response to uh our community feedback and the need to better balance residents access during uh temporary disruptions. At this time, I'm I'm working on the
resolution uh that I uh for the next governing body meeting, which is a community courtesy parking policy during infrastructure improvements for minor parking infrastructure. Uh uh this allows uh this policy aims to
provide parking enforcement relief for residents affected by burrow approved road work or services closures, whether it be utilities as well. So, anytime someone decides to close up the road, I've been during these past few projects, uh, it's a, uh, progress is an
inconvenience, but so is potholes. However, I have been listening to the community and some of my residents have reached out to me about them getting tickets when we are closing down uh, certain roadways and forcing residents to not have any parking. So, I feel like
at some point we can't tell law enforcement to have discretion. I I as an a legislator, I want to effectuate law to to add one more step before that um before that discretion so we can make sure residents get relief and and and
will not be getting ticketed and towed and things of that nature. this policy. More will uh be about it, explain about it online and on on um before the next meeting. And I just hope to have uh the rest of council support because sometimes we need to listen to the
community and uh exactly like one of the uh residents said, uh you don't run government like a business. Government uh is ran completely different. Um, so, uh, with that being said, um, a resol be on the lookout for a resolution to help
mitigate those, uh, residents that were getting tickets. I'm trying to, uh, prevent that where it forces them to have what's called a community courtesy discretion prior to even officers being able to have a discretion. They have to warn the resident. So, that's what I'm
trying to do and it should be lawful. I'm ready to take on any challenges legally. Um, on another note, Junth Junth will be this Saturday, June 21st, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Michael Mory Cazebo Park. Your diversity
and inclusion committee will be hosting a vibrant Junth celebration for all to enjoy. So, please come out, join us as we come together to honor this meaningful day with live music, delicious food, wine garden, local vendors, games, and more. It's time to celebrate freedom, culture, and unity
right here in Roosevelt Park. We hope to see everyone there. Uh lastly, uh a heartfelt congratulations to Roosevelt Park class of 2025 seniors. Your hard work, resilience, and dedication have brought you to this incredible milestone as you
close this chapter and step boldly into the next. Know your community stands behind you, proud and inspired by all you have accomplished. The future is yours. Go make it extraordinary. Congratulations once again. As summer approaches, I wish uh I'd like to wish
all the Roosevelt Park families a joyful and relaxful season ahead. Your voice matters and it is my pleasure to serve. So, if anyone needs to get in contact with me, please uh email me at gson roseelpark.net or 9083031519. And mayor, that concludes my report.
Thank you, Councilman Councilman. Thank you, Mayor. Uh first of all, I want to send my condolences out to Martin Story family. Uh he uh was involved in Little League many many years and he took on the probably one of the hardest jobs down there was the
umpire and chief and uh uh uh back then uh it was very hard to get umpires and Marty was down there almost every day umpire. So uh my condolences go out to his family. On uh June 11th I attended the recreation meeting. Uh tomorrow
night 6:2025 at 6:30 at Gazebo parking lot they're going to have a summer kickoff there's going to be ice pops bubbles and music and fun. Um it'll be from 6:30 to 8:00.
Okay. Uh if you need to contact me you can get me at jay patroski at rose park rosalpark.net 908-6667821. That's my report. Mayor, thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Councilwoman. Good evening, Mayor and residents and
council. Um, just because it's such a highly emotional night, um, I'm I don't have a report. If you need to reach me, 908-7268773 or our lions at rosealpark.net. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Patel. Same. I have no report. Okay. Uh,
Councilman Rabina. Same. Mayor. Okay. Um, I'll bite the bullet and make some comments. Um there's a couple things that I want to mention and thank you all for your report. Um and and we don't have to agree here in this room. Um I understand that there's probably a lot that we
haven't people don't agree with with my seven years as mayor. Um but there's a couple things that I just need to dispel. Right. So uh as far as um what we do here on council, we work for 14,000 people, right? We do not work for
just one department. We do the best thing in the interest what we see for 14,000 people. We might not agree with that. We might disagree with that. And these are hard decisions. Nobody likes these. They're not fun. But at the end of the day, I want to show people a little bit behind the scenes of what happens in Rosal Park. So every year, we
have a 2% budget cap, right? We can only increase our budget 2% year-over-year. Since COVID, we've been getting whacked by garbage bills, by recycling bills, because China stopped taking our recycling. We've been getting hit because of medical bills. We've been
getting hit because of insurance bills. Every year that eats up that 2% cap that we have to stay under, right? So, when people talk about good budgets, yep, I'm proud of all the budgets we've had. Part of them is because we haven't been legally allowed to increase the budget because of that 2% cap. As a matter of
fact, last year we couldn't hire any more DPW people just because of that cap. Um a and and and uh as a matter of fact, the only other options we would have is laying off the people that we have uh working in the finance department, which is already thin, working in the clerk department, which
is already thin. Lord knows I'm not firing any cops. I want to hire more cops. Um so there's a lot that goes into this, right? Like this is not some binary thing where I could just wave a magic wand and hire more people. This is the fiscally responsible answer. This is pro this is both pro- union and
progovernment. We are not we are not contracting with a private entity. I'm not privatizing the DPW. We're not we're not putting this out to you know Joe Blow contractor. This is with another government with another union that will actually employ more union members than we have currently in the Department of
Public Works and I would argue form a stronger union. Um so look, we don't have to agree on that. Um there's a lot of things that I think people need to understand and change is hard. Um, I truly feel like once we have things up and running, services will be strong and we will have a more resilient bench,
right? When there is an emergency in Rosal Park, god forbid, we do not just have our DPW, we have a pool of one shared department to work on, right? We have a pool of resources to take and we
have somebody to share the costs with. This is the more efficient option and I truly feel like people will be happy with the results at the end of the day. Thank you. Uh may I have a motion to open the public portion on any uh
subject matter? So move second. All in favor? I I So a couple things I mean last time I've seen a crowd like this here 500 East um was for the marijuana issue which
Mr. Johnson said that we have different levels of government for a reason. The marijuana issue, you guys have a big lawsuit on your hands coming soon. Being that what you approved is against federal law. All right? We have different levels of law. We have
ordinances. We have state law. What trumps everything is federal law. You guys approved a dispensary within 1,000 ft of three schools, a preschool, a youth center, a park, and a church. All right. So, that's one lawsuit that's coming through. You guys are about to
get sued like crazy from this other lawsuit now from the DPW. Over $100,000 savings. You were ready to spend $150,000 for a statute. And now you're talking about a $100,000
savings. And that's if it stays at 1.4 before where if you take your past referendum here, you've been spending money like crazy. Every time you say, "I'm going to keep something at a certain amount," you pass another
ordinance and raise the amount. So, if you want to say that, put something in paper that says it guarantees it at 1.4 because I can guarantee you within six months that 1.4 is going to probably be at 1.8. All right. As far as what other things
you have going on, it's a little speculative of why you're doing this now and why it's happening now. It's not because you guys wanted to save money. It's because these guys opened up their
mouth about their working conditions. There was benzene found at this place. There's people dying of cancer, asbestos. They opened up their mouth and now they're being fired. That's the plain truth of why this is happening. All right.
That's why this is happening. The only for a $25 per household savings, the apartments are bringing in a million dollar right now, which they're not at full capacity. Yep. Right now, we have a million dollars that we're all paying
for here for the 42 students that are coming in from these apartments. And they're not at full capacity. They still need another 40% of capacity, which means if you go by the numbers, there's going to be about 80 students to 100 students coming from these apartments.
At $22,000 per student, that's a $2.2 million increase that we all have to take on because just like you didn't want to give any of the pilot money, the 1.5 million to the schools, we're all paying for that now. So, you just ruined these people's lives. You ruined the
town over $25 household savings. You should be ashamed of yourself. All of you. All of you. All of you. And some people here can't raise their their eyes and and really see these people. And you say we got to stand up for our our veterans and and
our citizens. It's all [ __ ] I mean, nobody can believe you. You have your nice quotes that you come up with and your inspirational quotes, but at the end of the day, it's what? Actions, not words.
Actions speak louder than words. [Applause] I want to make this quick. Ryan Urban 1901, Elizabeth Rawway. Um, you know, as you said, your bills are going up. So are the gentlemen that just got laid off. Um, so tonight I
watched a backstabbing of fathers, brothers, sons, past members that have passed away, brother firefighters, and fellow union members. I want to come on the record and I want
to thank you, Conan, and I want to thank you, Greg, for standing up for these people. And Mr. Mayor, I spoke to you on a phone call. You know which phone call. And I stepped away from my family to speak to you on the phone that night. Yep. I appreciate it. And you said um you know,
and I told you my concerns that we're losing a small town feeling. Yep. And I'm here to tell you again, we're losing a small town feeling. And um you know, it's sad. It's sad because I I had a realtor. I was looking at houses and I wanted to move back to town because it
was a small town feeling and I thought that a lot of you were good and and you were always good to me and you know like like John DeVito said earlier, Andrew said the same to me when I left here. I was better better than this town and I said to Andrew, "No, I'm not. I'm not
going to spend my sick time. I'm not going to call out sick on my last two weeks. I'm not going to do that because I care for this town." And that's what that's what these DPW guys are about. $25 a house it came down to. And these guys are now out of a job. And the
disrespect to the residents tonight, you know, is upsetting. I get it. I get it. It's a tense night. It's a tense night to all of us. And you know, you guys are elected officials and these people voted
you in. So again, I want to thank you and I want to thank you and I think another round of applause for those two gentlemen. [Applause] I have no idea.
Jean WS Rosel Avenue. Uh my statements are not as poant as the ones you've heard tonight, but my question is real. We have I live at the junction of Prospect and Rosel several weeks ago. We had a sunken uh manhole. It was noted to the DPW. They came out and they put out
the uh three cones around it. It's still there. It needs to be dealt with because it's not a safe situation at all. Who's going to do it? Who's going to be in charge of that piece of real estate? The people drive around every day and it makes it a little difficult. Who do we
call? Do we call Kennallorth? Do we tell you? It's been noted we have the cones from Rosel Park. I appreciate your thought about the the grass because we assumed, well, if they're going to be digging up the street, they're probably going to encompass this into this. Apparently, that's not going to be uh
the situation. What happens? Who do we call? Who do we tell? So, you want to Yeah, go for it. So, in that particular case, it is known by engineering. Um there is an issue at that particular manhole. Um it is being
worked through uh at this point trying to design a fix for um I don't have an answer for you of when it's going to be done. Um you can continue to call DPW. Uh you can continue to call Burrow Hall and certainly my office. I speak to the engineers almost every day. Um
unfortunately and it that that will be the particular issue you're talking about near your home will be rectified and it's being tracked. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else? Mike Ryan, 515 Locust Street, Rosel
Park. Um um being at this meeting, I didn't intend to speak tonight, but being at this meeting uh reminded me of uh when my mother was mayor. When my mother was mayor, she uh attempted to uh close one
of the fire halls. and uh she was not only demonized, she was attacked uh over it. And um I don't think she should have been attacked and I don't think you should be attacked either. I um it's uh
I'm grateful that there are people that are willing to stand in the line of fire and whe you know I don't know whether my mother's decision or that what she was pursuing I know she was doing it for fiscal reasons. I don't know whether that was right or wrong and I'm not
saying what the decisions that you're making are, you know, I'm in favor or against. I just uh I want to uh thank you for being in the line of fire and I uh wish you the wisdom uh to make the right decisions. Thank you, Mike. Thank
you, Mike. Hello again. Joshua Regan, 231 Sherman Avenue. First of all, I want to say uh thank you, Councilman Patel and uh Councilman Johnson for making the right choice tonight. You really are representing us as residents and I just want to show appre appreciation for
that. Uh the second thing I want to address and I really don't think that's right is I've seen at a couple meetings the bureau attorney is very rude to residents for no reason. Um I don't think that's right. I don't think any of you up there should be rude to any
residents. I think that it's perfectly fine talking and being respectful to each other, but I don't see any reason why someone up there should be rude at all. So, I just want to address that. I think we could fix that. I think we just need to slow down and talk before we act.
Um, sorry, to slow down and think before we act. Um, it's just I've always grown up in this town and everyone's been very nice. It's never been like that. Thank you. [Applause]
Anybody else? Charlene Story, 318 Persing Avenue. Um I have a couple of questions which are off the main topic tonight but I almost feel guilty changing the topic but some things should also be addressed. Uh I am wondering if we are
still uh going back to the affordable housing. I am wondering if we are still uh offering help to residents under certain income levels and whether that is still being able to be applied. I know there's been a number of court cases and so on. Is that still able to
be applied toward our obligation? Yes. Yep. Yes. That our rehabilitation obligation just to be clear. Um and I would uh encourage more publicity on that. I don't think most people in this town know that that's available. Uh so I I wouldn't encourage that. And
then if I can address a question to you may to Councilman Patel. if we don't do it through apartments and I understand that people feel enough enough how would you meet these obligations because towns lots of
towns uh Milbour has tried uh is still involved in court cases they're getting nowhere the courts are saying you got to do these things and in some cases like in Milbour they're saying you got to do it where we're telling you to do it right in the middle of downtown how else
can we meet these obligations if we don't do it this way. I honestly don't know but this is heavily it only benefits the developer right like all these stuff that is coming in it's only benefiting the devil town
doesn't benefit in most cases with nothing but that's really irrelevant when we have a we have a court order saying we got to do this and it already happened historically here in Rosal Park you don't even have to go far Joe Diorio the mayor Romanowski they got sued I don't know why people don't understand
that if the states say we have to do it we have to do it. We could cry about it. I don't want it either. Like I don't understand what people don't understand about that. I I don't I mean I understand that nobody wants more apartments, but then there has to be some other way because we have to meet these obligations and we will be fined
and it's going to cost us money. Find and sued. So I just kind of wanted to make that point. Um I also have a question. Are is the the burrow considering any other shared services deals?
Uh the only one that is a little bit in flux right now is the Can we talk about the fire prevention? Fire prevention. Yeah. So fire prevention. Um we actually just had a uh conversation with the state about that. So fire prevention is the only other one. Okay. All of these problems go back to the
fact that we're small. I mean that's that's the bottom line. We're small. We can't a and as prices go up, we can't I mean I um garbage collection has always been a problem. Why do we pay so much? Because
nobody wants to be bothered with Rosel Park, so we don't have a whole lot of choices. You know, there's a million different things like that. And I I understand that. So my question is what do we do from there? Are there things that um that the the town is
considering and that we the residents should know about? Because I think that's the big question that residents have to look at. You know, what the heck is happening here? Are we going to lose all these things? Is it worth us to pay more in taxes so that we can keep that
small town feel or or is it not? I don't know what the answer is to that. But the bottom line is that we need to be really kept up to date all the time on what's going on and not not everybody can come
to every meeting. Um people have kids that have to be put to bed. People have jobs where they don't get home from maybe Manhattan. There's people need to whether it's by social media or whatever. People need to know what's our situation so that we don't feel like oh
my god you know how did this happen because you cannot always be sitting here. Thank you, Father. You you you can come. You got Is there anybody else before we go back to for a second? Anybody else? You can come approach if you'd like to ask another
question. Again, just name and George Ramirez, 500 East Clay. It's my understanding we have 10 years to come up with this affordable housing, right? Yes. So, why are we rushing to do it now? You still need to have identified projects in the plan. Yeah, the the it's 10 years to fulfill
the plan, but the state put very strict guidelines. So, by uh July, you needed to adopt this and then uh by next March, you need to see if you can institute zoning to uh implement that plan and
then the plan gets implemented. But what the mayor has indicated and everyone has said all along, it will more than likely get amended many times, right? So what you put forth tonight will change. It just will over 10 years. And we did
amend it uh to put in a clause to try to protect us just in case. That was the whole purpose of me amending that. Uh but to your point, the reason why you had to do it today is the same reason every town and municipality in the state of New Jersey is having the same discussions with their same residents in
the month of June about adopting these types of plans. For the record, we asked for an extension which was denied as well, which was not fun. was denied by the court with everyone. All right. All right. That's just what it is. George,
any further? Seeing no one may have a motion to close the public portion. So moves. Second. Uh, all in favor? I have a motion to adjurnn. So moved. Second. All in favor? All I