Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for
all. Amy, please read the open public meeting statement. >> Adequate notice of this meeting of the township council of the township of Roxbury was given as required by the open public meetings act as follows. On December 31st, 2025, notice was emailed in fact to the daily record, the
northstar ledger, the west reporter and published in the daily record. Notice also remain posted throughout the bullet board in the main hallway of the municipal building. >> Thank you. Roll call. >> Councilwoman >> here. >> Councilman Kerry >> here. Deputy Mayor Crowley >> here. >> Councilman Dippo
>> here. >> Councilman Hall >> here. >> Councilman Riley >> here. >> Mayor Patillo >> here. Thank you. >> All right. So before we begin, I just like to make a comment. First like to welcome everybody. Chief, if you we have concerns, if you could just keep us up
to date on uh her uh condition. We'd like to make sure she's um all right. So I hope everyone's been staying warm. Thank you for being here. Uh tonight I'd like to remind the audience that uh this is a budget meeting rather than a regular council meeting. Tonight's purpose is to focus
on the review of Roxbury Township 2026 budget. I respectfully ask that the public keep this in mind and comments remain focused on this important process. Our residents deserve a clear, accurate, and thoughtful budget review.
Before we begin, council would like to address some concerns raised over the last few weeks. Roxberry residents, Roxbury businesses, township staff, and members of this council did not ask to be placed in this current situation, and we certainly did
not invite anyone to put a detention center in our town. During the last few meetings, the council has tried to accommodate the large public turnout, and we have instructed the staff and police to cooperate, provide information that they
are able to, and to protect everyone involved. Spam emails, calls to disrupt our town, or to boycott businesses in Roxberry just don't make sense. Suggestions of for laws and ordinances
have been referred to our attorneys for review. The Roxbury Township Council has unanimously adopted resolution 26 2026-029 unequivocally opposing the proposed
federal federal processing facility. I assure you our opposition is unwavering. Our top priority remains the safety and protection of Roxberry's people, property, and resources. Our approach
should not be mistaken for empty silence or inaction. It reflects deliberate, steady leadership focused on achieving the outcome, which is opposing a federal processing center in Robury Township and building a strong a strong case as
possible. Certain details and opinions for achieving that goal cannot be discussed publicly as doing so could compromise the township's options and compromise our position. Once again, this council remains focused
on protecting Roxberry. Finally, I'd like to thank Chadam Burough for passing resolution 26-88, which support which supports Roxbury's resolution 2026-029
and our concerns for opposing a facility within our borders. Thank you for listening and for your consideration. Moving on to item four, reports of council leazison representatives, council committees, new and old business.
I'd like to start our budget process review for the non. Good evening, mayor and council. Uh it's a pleasure tonight to bring you five different departmental budgets. We're going to start with OEM to go to health, police department, engineering, and DPW.
And uh we'll start with Bob Hackett. Good evening. I have a couple of slides that I'd like to show the council. Basically, it's an overview of what emergency management our mission is. And um we prepare for
what's known as a allhazard uh any type of hazards that can occur. And we have right now the emergency operations center and the staff has been up and operating for 38 years uh consist
of 15 highly trained volunteers. As you can see there's an emblem on the right side races that's radio amateur civil emergency service. U all the members are licensed as amateur radio operators. the function of amateur radio in the United
States to provide emergency communications. >> I don't mean to interrupt, but if you could tell us what page numbers we're supposed to be on >> page 57. >> Thank you.
Um, the amateur radio service will work when cell phones go down, computer internet, as we've seen in prior emergencies throughout the country. Amateur radio will function. We operate off numerous repeater stations that run off generators. We operate off
satellite. Um, there's a satellites in space uh that we can operate. We can talk around the world. And the saying is uh when all else fails, amateur radio will prevail. So, they're all highly experienced amateur radio operators. Uh, the emblem on the left is our emergency
emergency community emergency response team. Everyone who's part of my 15 volunteer staff is trained um as ser, CPR, professional rescuer, uh, minor
firefighting. Uh, their gear bags, they can turn off electric, gas lines, search and rescue. Uh they're trained in traffic control. Uh they were very valuable during CO. Uh we assisted the police in traffic control. Uh 72 Avenue
for food distribution. We also assisted the police in pet distribution at the DPW garage. Uh this last storm which um the winter storm firm, we had 14.7 ines of snow in Roxbury. We're extremely
fortunate that um we didn't have the icing. We had icing. we have problems. We opened the emergency operations center here. We're operational for 48 hours. Uh we did a reverse system on our phone. Uh we put out information on our social media. Uh we man the center here
uh to provide assistance to uh the residents. We u we opened all the fire stations as warming shelters with emergency backup generators. This is just kind of an overview of what I just basically spoke about. We meet
here the first Monday of every month at 7:30 at night. We we train uh we work the uh the amateur radio station, our repeaters throughout the area, throughout the state in conjunction with the state police. Uh we test our system
monthly and we conduct our training. And again, this is just another overview of what what you know we've done. And I guess now we can talk about the budget process. >> Looks good. >> The budget for OEM is flat. Not asking
for an increase. But we wanted Bob to go over. No questions. Don't don't ask him to comment otherwise here a little longer. >> I think Bob, you're being dismissed. Take take the win. And uh
>> don't mind that. I'm certain that we need that you do a fantastic job with the resources that you have available to you. I know everybody you just touched the tip of the iceberg. So
>> thank you for that. >> Thank you very much for your attention. >> I'll pass on to your volunteers how much we app 117. >> Good evening, Mayor Council. My name is Courtney. I'm the health officer for
Rockberry Township, but I am an employee of Township. So, before we start, I just wanted to >> You haven't met yet. >> We're not going to hold that against Welcome. >> I'd like to put the pleasure into yours.
>> Thank you for being here. >> Um I'm happy to be here. I have been um with for about the last year and a half replacing the health officer who was here for about two decades before me. Um I would be remiss if I didn't start by
saying what a wonderful staff you all have. So I just wanted to put that out there. I'm really thankful for the health department staff that we have here in Roberry. Um, and just wanted to sort of provide you a visual um
because the shared services can be a little bit confusing. I'm licensed health officer employed by Rol Township. I oversee four towns that are all up here. Roxberry Township has its own staff and those staff cover Chester
Township through a shared service. In the health department, there are what I like to break into four different divisions, although it can be a little bit more complicated than this. Um, the environmental health division covers things like retail food inspections,
massage inspections. They do septic and well plan review and inspections. We follow up on complaints. Um, any body art establishments or tattoo parlors fall under our purview as well. Um, under public health nursing, we provide
vaccinations and hold different vaccination clinics. Um, every day care public school gets audited for immunizations in both Roxberry and Chester. Um, and then communicable disease investigation and contact tracing also fall under the health
department. Um, animal control, our animal control officer here is very, very busy. We get a lot of calls for service here in town. We're really grateful for Sue as well. And then uh the fourth division being vital statistics which are the provision
of birth, death, and marriage certificates. Um and so I just wanted to sort of put this up as a comparison. Um I'm hoping that um the council consider bolstering
personnel in the coming years. Um so Randolph Township covers the same in another town that Roxberry does. And uh you can see that between the two towns there are some staffing disparities and uh public health can certainly be
bolstered here in town. Um as far as my capital budget goes, um I know that Steve will cover this in greater detail, but I have two requests in for replacement vehicles. One is a field inspection vehicle and the other is the animal control vehicle. Um that
needs to be replaced and then my operating budget this year remains. >> Any questions? >> I put in a recommendation for additional staff for the part. Yes. hours not the position >> ultimately I would
>> hours not position right >> yes yes so I to increase the partition what's in the current budget >> I mean I would say the All we're looking for is what sorts of things are increasing in town that the health
department needs to septic systems, closing houses, what what specifically do we see? >> So I I think that can sort of be separated into a couple buckets. One being what we're statutoily required to
do and those things are the things that I talked about and um so most of those are require we're required to inspect once a year a restaurant at least once a massage parlor at least once. So part of their request would be there's a lot of
quality life issues that are entangled in some of these inspections and more personnel would increase the number of inspections that we would be able to do at these places. Um >> beyondce >> beyond once a year, right? Um and the
other part would be then us being able to be proactive about things. We get a lot of nuisance complaints, tall grass, garbage, things like that. Um, we also get a lot of tree complaints that end up taking a very long time as well. Um, and
so more more staff would be able to be able to address these things more proactively than we're able to do right now. >> And one other thing I wanted to point out that was brought up in our
briefings, things like uh inspections or in partnerships that they have with the police department when they go out to smoke shops selling uh the miners and things like that. So was something that I figured you guys would want to hear impacting quality of
life. >> Doesn't that have police it does uh it's in partnership with the police department that they work some of these operations help usually vehicles miners
When we go into violations, it's not just the police. We bring voting in. I mean, you can talk about it, but >> right. I mean, we we try to bring in all the different departments that it touches, but um right now we're trying to do as much as we can with compliance.
Um that requires us going out quite often to see after they've been notified if they've pulled it down. that also off the shelf that also requires a strong municipal court to follow up on these violations. So a lot of the followup is
is time consuming as well. So I thought I saw on the previous sheet that you currently have per month for those hours per monthly.
That's that's what was recommended >> and and I think it's important uh I know this is a different presentation but because Courtney works in four municipalities uh this has never been done here and it's not done in all her municipalities
but she does do this in Randolph I thought it was important that you know this is more than numbers right it's more than budget it's the impact we're having in the So that's this is that's why I want to try to get all the departments in front of you so they can kind of touch on
what's driving some of their daily work. >> It's okay. I want to ask questions. I'm just trying to understand this more information to contract services you have in there 125 hours I don't understand what the contract is
though. So when I we talk about 125 hours you're talking >> we have a revenue source forester >> that's what I understand how much money is coming back >> it's not necessarily
a little bit That's even better. >> But it's looked at separately because it comes in figure out how much >> it's time. That's what I'm looking And just just for Sorry, I didn't want
>> just just for a couple numbers here in town. Uh there's 141 retail food establishments here in town that have to be all inspected at least once and that doesn't count having to go back if there are violations. 10 recreational bathing facilities, six
body art facilities, six massage parlors, three tanning salons which are also required to be inspected by us. And the department also is responsible for 176 temporary events throughout the year where there's
lake. This is just sort of a glimpse but a very busy department and a lot of a lot of things that are happening that aren't necessarily recognized while looking if that makes sense.
>> I got to be honest with you this is the first time this has ever detail about the is that coming up our capital. Are we going to look at all of that? I understand
pres I >> figure as much I might somebody might have rather gave me a heads up. >> So my point is whether or not we would address that now or address it. I think it's important if you want to
ask the question sir. I I I think each department should defend how many vehicles they have. I know we had already. >> Yeah, I I put the request the request has been in before. >> It's a field inspection. >> Field inspction.
>> What are we working with now? >> The one that's driving the one they're driving now. 2009. >> It's a >> 2009. >> And how old is the um the animal control? >> I was just following the slides.
>> Yeah, it was uh 2014. >> There you go. >> Do they have to bey? >> Yes. We'll make sure we get each of you copies of all the slides so you have back up. You have the budget books, but I think it's important they're sharing
good information. We'll get you the slides. >> Thank you. Thank you, Courtney. Very nice to meet you. >> Nice to meet you all. got to visit more often. >> Chief, by the way, the health department doesn't I got extra sir.
>> All right. >> Yes. Mayor from council. Thank you very much. Bear with me. Uh, you know, I am the chief of police of Roxberry and it's my first time going through a budget. So, uh, I might fumble over a few things and everything that
I'm going to say up here is just, uh, out of the utmost respect and I just want to, you know, make everybody on the council aware of, you know, what's going on with the police department. >> What page? >> 49 49.
Thank you. >> Yeah, no problem. So, capital wise, we don't have much of a capital budget. If you look at our capital budget, it's very uh it's very uh low. It's a ballistic ballistic vest and our our fingerprint stuff. Okay. We're never
asking for a lot in the capital budgets. Uh operationally, uh what page is the capital budget on police department? Sorry, >> they don't have a capital budget this year. >> We don't have one this year. I'm sorry. Yeah, our capital budget is
>> doesn't start till 2027. So, I I didn't know if I should bring that up or not. So, there, like I said, there's a few things I'll probably bring up that I wasn't supposed to bring up. Uh, and I didn't realize, so I apologize. Yes. So there's I'm I'm going to keep this uh fairly simple and I know there's going
to be a lot of questions for me. For the most part, my operating budget has remained the same except for uh a couple categories. I the the biggest one being manpower which I'm going to go over. I'm going to show some slides in a minute
here. Uh and uh hand in hand uh an increase in a in our overtime budget request. Uh, also it doesn't reflect it in there, uh, but I wanted the, uh, the vehicle request to go up $20,000 just
because the cost of our vehicles keeps going up. And if the council is not aware, we have a uh we have a uh fund that uh was started during Chief Adone's time where uh any of our third party details. It's a reoccurring account
which which uh we save to uh hopefully down the road maybe uh buy another vehicle or help outfit some cars. And uh unfortunately and I understand the budget uh restraints you know we have to dig from that account to to make up the the balance. But that is also something
that you know down the road that I wanted to bring up that I uh that I would you know would like to see the police get more money for so we don't have to uh delve into that account like we have been doing just to make you aware. But the biggest thing uh for the
police department really is uh manpower and it's something that uh I think has uh needed to be addressed uh for quite some time uh over uh several years this this town has you know seen some major changes and when I when I show you some
of the numbers of the things that we're dealing with and we get into how it affects us I think uh you'll you'll be able to see where I'm coming from um you know since You know, in the last five years here, we've seen a major increase in uh most
of our statistical categories in the police department. Uh so yes, back up one. >> Yep. Did that increase go back up to precoid levels?
>> It's been increasing every single year. We're just we're just saying that since co COVID was just a was just a weird year because we weren't responding question is that you have data before co
>> I can easily Yeah, the data from CO will show that everything will be co >> a dip in infie so we sort of had a soft touch during >> right >> yeah we didn't do a lot of Yes, statistically right. But if you go to
the year before CO everything is rising. I was told the last five years and you can see the year after and the next four years when I go through the slides co was just saw it right. We we used a lot of discretion in what we responded to and how we responded to it for the
health and safety of the public and the officers. >> I think we're looking for the context. before that during >> two slides ahead. We'll give a fivey year look back. However, >> uh I will get you the years prior to co
just so you can see everything >> if I removed >> right if you if you removed CO if we just removed that year you would see that the trends continuously have gone up over the years.
>> Okay. Um this is basically I said just uh uh the purpose of today's slide show. So call volume, motor vehicle crashes, arrests, criminal complaints, and mental health emergencies are what I want to
highlight. All our other call volume, anything you can think of, nothing has decreased. But these are some of the major categories that have uh continued to cause the police department uh a lot of stress and a lot of strain on the
personnel. Uh so if you look at our overall calls per year, okay, in 2025 we were at over 43,000 calls, which is a 3
uh 15% increase over the last 5 years. Um the new and again this stuff is just coming off of uh Sorry, coming off some of our calls to uh park management and Brian Holmes. Uh and you
go right on the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs website. I understand that the town council is working on the affordable uh housing act and and doing everything that they can. And these numbers are these are just the numbers off of there. I know you guys are are uh
these are not you're fighting you're fighting the good fight. These are not I'm just taking it off there just to show that the units are increasing. Increases are coming. So just to just to paint the picture that hey look how much
the town is is growing here uh as far as all these uh new increases coming in. U motor vehicle accidents. You can see the sharp increase. We had 1,247 motor vehicle accidents in Roxbury last
year. Uh 132 resulted in injuries and uh three had uh fatalities. Uh so ton of motor vehicle accidents, uh retail space. Okay. with the
revitalization alleged with comments, it's very hard for me to get a accurate number, but when you look at the highways that we have coming through Roxberry, I would argue that we have one
of the largest daytime populations in Morris County out of any of the towns. Um, we deal with countless amounts of retail thefts and issues that come in from the amount of people, increases the traffic, uh, the
accidents. Uh, it it's our daytime. So, you can't just look at the people that live here, but our daytime population in Roxberry is huge. Absolutely huge. And anybody who drives to Roxberry and goes, you know, into those malls, drives on
route 10 to Route 46, you can you can see how many people are in this town on any given day. Yearly arrest data. This is a big one. This year, 2025, we arrested 47
people. That's more than that's 1.2 arrests a day in this town. I just looked at our book for January. We have 37 people arrested for January 26 and 43 complaints signed.
So, uh the increase in arrests that have been going on uh in this town going up up and up and up. Uh we're looking at what are some of the reasons for this uh increase in time. uh the lack of cash bail complexity of the
crimes being committed. Uh they uh they contribute to officers signing more and more complaints. Uh the yearly charging data. Uh let's see here. >> The number of arrests in the field, how
many? >> Uh not a ton. Not a ton. We do have some. Uh I'm going to be getting into uh slide with uh uh the emotionally disturbed population in Knoxberry that we deal with. That's really a lot of
repeats. Uh domestics are repeats. Um but uh uh as far as a lot of these not a ton of repeat offenders. >> Do you have Oh, I'm sorry. two primarily arresting counters that are
coming, you know, how close we are to that, >> right? It's a mix. It's a mix because we'll have, like you said, we'll have a lot a lot of our arrests are domestic violence, which a lot of that would be in town. are uh emotionally disturbed
population. A lot of drugs, a lot of drunk drivers. Um so it it's a it's a mix. We have a a pretty good mix of in town and out of town, but 100% the the the travel ways through Roxberry
and the attraction why everybody comes here, all the restaurants, all the you know, there's a lot in Roxberry that everybody travels through. You know, the more people you bring in, the more we're going to have this stuff. Retail theft is huge. Um, we we do a really nice job
with those. Our detective bureau sets up a lot of uh a lot of towns just sit there and they don't do anything and they let it happen. We are always proactive. We're always putting together uh operations and plans to make the business owners
feel safe. And I think over this uh holiday season, we arrested I think it was 14 or 16 people for retail thefts in just a couple days for from our uh detective bureau uh putting together these operations. >> Can I just ask one quick?
>> Yes. As far as the mutual assist is that something that has expanded for you over the last couple years or is it something pretty much stays status quo? >> No, it is it's expanding and we also get it uh we also get it back with us
because uh regionally through the county uh there is and I don't know if this is exactly answering your question. We we back up the neighboring towns a lot and they back up us as well. However, we have many partnerships within Morris
County now. Uh we have the fast the first amendment response team. Uh the SER team which is like a SWAT team. All these uh we have the uh McRad's activation with with uh the all the chiefs of police have an agreement that if something major is happening in
another town that we commit officers to be on standby or they're parts of these special operations like SER or FAST where uh they will uh deploy and we use them a lot. We actually have Eric Weaver, one of my sergeants who is
commander on the surf team. Uh, and he deploys quite regularly and those are for uh high-risisk situations, a lot of times barricaded subjects with weapons and things that need uh optimal levels of training. So, >> just to be clear, >> yes, countywide things.
>> Those are countywide things, >> right? Right. Those are countywide things. That's why I wasn't sure if you were referring specifically to are we going up to back up the state police because they got a crash because that happens all the time too. We're we're constantly giving mutual aid to other
police department. the whole purp. >> If we if we're helping somebody on the outside, it's it's for a a brief moment that is not tying us up. If if if an agency is really having a problem where they need an officer,
we're we're paying overtime for that officer, which is is very rare. things going have to be something serious. >> Okay. So, with the arrest, the charges uh have gone up. If people don't know the difference, you can arrest somebody. So, you know, you can have 400 people
arrested, but you could have 500 charges because the charges are are what they're getting arrested for. So, one person could have multiple charges, but um every when I when I get to the end of this, I'm going to uh get into it right
now. And I may I may I'm not I'm not a great uh slide guy. I I I will start talking about things that I'll probably bring back up in the slide here. But the but the bottom line is the increase in
activity in arrests in motor vehicle accidents in retail thefts in emotionally disturbed uh populations popping up which I'm going to get to those slides. uh they are taking a tremendous amount of time for the officers and when I started this job
over 20 years ago we could resolve things very quickly and these slides again are coming up but I I don't do a good job reading them so I'm just going to I'm going to hit over them here um what used to take us 30 minutes can take
two officers up to two three four hours because everything now and I'm not saying I don't disagree with it but is about it's deescalating. It's talking to people. It's making sure that we uh you know we have exhausted every single
possibility uh to to resolve something peacefully before we have to move to the next element of force or to get those people help. And those types of calls and situations have been increasing so much in my time here. It's unbelievable
that uh you you lose officers for hours on end all the time to deal with these things and and then and then we don't have people actively patrolling the streets and that's just
uh that's just basically it in a nutshell there and going so when I go to behavioral health emergencies if you look right here uh we have had an increase of over 129% in calls for individuals uh with
behavioral health crisises. Okay. Uh they require lengthy lengthy amounts of time of uh deescaliza escalization hospital transports. Uh we never have one officer alone. We we always have multiple
officers that have to handle these situations. Uh if you're not aware, the county created something called the arrive together program. We actually have a mental health uh expert that uh multiple
times a week stays in our police department. And what they will do is they will come out and they will uh help with uh evaluations uh and and give resources to anybody that's having any sort of issues. And
what I wanted to bring up about this is Roxberry was selected for the pilot program based off of how many of these calls that we get. Okay. So if you if you wanted to talk to Mag Regress or anybody from the
posters office, we were one of the first, if not the first, I think Sean, were we the first? >> We were in the core four. >> We were in the core four. Um when was this program in this year? >> About two years ago. and we we were in a
pilot program uh and then now we are we're basically the leaders of it and you know a lot of reasons for this is you know in our motel receiving state aid parole probation OTAA placing individuals who suffer from mental uh
health crisises in town we have uh we have several hotels and motel in town that are uh loaded with people that are under these types of crisis not, you know, and then and then you just factor in people at their homes who are dealing with things on a day-to-day
basis. Uh the the numbers are uh they've gone up like I've never seen before. So, I'm just painting a picture here of how busy we've been. All right. Uh this just goes back to what I was saying before. Uh the attorney general guidelines now
for how we have to deal with everything. uh the use of force amendment B time as a tactic. Okay, we have no we have no luxury of of uh getting things done quickly. So when these calls come out uh
it's it's taken an officer hours upon hours to get these things completed and multiple officers to do it. And we experienced this in Roxberry more than almost any other agency in Morris County, which is why they started this this program with the core four of us
with the mental health association in in Roxbury. So just just showing how busy it's been here. Um just throwing some stuff in there about uh you know statistics. You know it's not about stat statistics you know just
the rising crime trends uh the population uh the the the daytime population in the malls. Uh we really are at a point where thank god I can get rid of this thing because I like talking better off the cuff. We're we're at a
point now where we just I've had to restructure this department and I know Chief Adone started with this stuff and it's something that is going to continuously come up and I'm being completely respectful about it because I
I I suggested four officers we put one officer because I know realistically we have a budget. We're managing everything. I'm not I'm not coming up in here, you know, saying give me four officers. I want to plan and I want everybody to see that
our police department our police department has lost officers over the years. Um we need the the the crime rates, the population, the the everything that we're dealing
with is just continuously going up and we're kind of staying flat as a police department and we need to start moving. We need start moving with what's going on and and we'll we we hire the best
officers. I don't mind touting about Roxberry Police. We have been able to get done uh to get more done with less because we, in my opinion, are the best police department in in this entire state and we handle things very well.
But I worry about uh the stress on the officers over time. Uh and how long can we continue to keep up with this? And and I really think we need to start adding to this
police force a little bit whether we sit down and we talk about a 10-year plan for whatever it is because I do understand that budgets are tough. >> Chief, I don't think anyone disagrees with you. We have the best police force and all. >> Right. Right.
>> Right. I just >> I just want I I want to paint the picture that we're if you see these stats and we can get you the stats from previous years. I'm not trying to skew it skew it with it doesn't last five years is just what I researched was
probably the best >> thing to show. Yes, sir. >> Chief, first of all, uh don't underell yourself. You painted a great picture in statistics matter. For budget purposes, I want you to know what we're recommending to go forward to you is one
officer for this year and a $25,000 increase in the overtime budget. That's what was presented to you in the budget. Uh but chief, good work of of sharing your story. I think that's important. And >> and I'm prepared to answer questions
about the overtime budget. Uh, I have a nice nice thing is I was not involved in previous stuff. I'm just talking about what I'm seeing live here in Roxberry. I'm not coming to you with a FBI national like, hey, because of your
square footage size, this is what they what they say you're supposed to have as police departments and things like that. I'm just just giving you my real take on what I'm seeing now and where I think we're headed. Um, as far as the overtime
budget, uh, Captain Efron's in the room with me and he did a great job of it. We have we have to we do a good job of keeping it right to where it is, but like for instance, you don't know what's going to happen. We have these hospital
visits. We had an officer dislocate his shoulder and have to get a surgery this year. And as a result, we can never take away from the quality of officers that we are uh putting out on the front line. So I have to take officers from
important positions. Like this year we used the detective bureau and we shorted the detective bureau to cover the road. But the more overtime budget I have, the longer I can go and the more cushion I can have without having to short other
units, if that makes sense. So that's that's just the way I'm looking at it. >> If it if it doesn't increase, then we have to find it from somewhere else. We make it work, but it's it's getting more and more stressful for us. It would be a big help. I think we have to move in
that direction. So thank you. review the budget that we have in front of us >> which is the operational budget. >> Yes, >> sure. >> Contracted services looks like we spend about $70,000 a year. Pretty close to exactly $7,000.
>> So, a big a big thing with that is we're losing the body worn camera grant. We had a uh a grant that offset the $25,000 for the body camera grant. We're uh we're losing a good portion of that. We're completely losing it next year. Is
there an opportunity another >> This one was what was it about years? >> Five years. Yeah. And I mean there's things in here that we like we didn't do any uh serve pro cell bleeding. Thank goodness. But we need to have that because we're going to
have you have your incidents where we're going to have someone bleed in a cell or vomit somewhere. you know, uh there there's things that we have to prepare for um that are essential. Just to just to point out >> we still have some money.
>> Yes. Next year it's going to be the complete deal year or two ago or Yes. >> It's been working unbelievable and we have I can't speak for I know we have several officers that see the person
outside of that. Um I think I I can only speak for myself. Um I never I never spoke to a psychologist before in my life. And when I sat down with our staff psychologist,
uh we and just so everybody knows, we have $10,000 in the budget where we have a staff psychologist who every officer it's mandatory that they spend one half hour with them and they don't have to say anything, but the psychologist will
talk to them. Uh I'm a stubborn old school kind of guy and uh we we do have trauma and and things that happen to us. Uh you know whether we have babies die in our arms or we see someone burn terrible in a fire uh we become
desensitized to a lot of this stuff and you don't realize it that it sticks with you sometimes. So this this is something that is completely nonnegotiable with me. I'll give up, you know, my my my shoes for that one.
>> It's Oh, >> it's been working. Incredible. Incredible. We have many officers, including myself, that uh >> Oh, okay. Yeah. >> No one was making >> I'm sorry. Yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm defensive up here. Sorry.
>> Yeah. No, it's it's awesome. It's one of the best things that we do. I'm sorry. One second. Matt, are you ask you if there's an issue getting a new laptop and reloading all that combination of
myself? >> No. >> Okay. contracted individual is that reflected vehicles that's process >> right we have the computer service contracts uh in
for the 18,000 the software license and agreements. >> Okay. So part of the software license agreements for these if there's an issue they'll work. Thank you. or something like that. Right.
after about some other items. I still have a lot of open questions about >> right >> not just you can't >> I I can only answer for us and >> I'm not looking for right now. >> Oh, sure. Gotcha. We're prepared to talk about
that, but we we do have a we have vehicles being outfitted that when once they come in, others are going out. So, we'll be able to >> explain that. We had a pretty solid program that
one thing I would say >> right and and for the record I think what we're asking for too is like I said before is a lot less than I would like because ultimately it's going to eat into that fund that we have that that's not we
>> that's not what we uh initiated for but we have to go over this and I was made well aware of that by the township manager we're ready to >> I'm trying to discuss >> yes I'm with you I'm with you mayor >> looking at purchase
vehicles That's those are the the current leases. So we So there the three vehicles from two years ago that those are the current leases we're into. So when those leases are up and Val can probably explain it better than me.
>> We we have each lease is three years. So every year we do a new lease. So um there's always one coming off one, but we always have three leases. They weren't always
>> it used to be it used to be like it would alterate. Now it's just actually these numbers. >> Those places that are listed are from the last.
>> Yes. >> So yes. So next year that the oldest one will be gone. The other two will shift and the new one will be in there. We were to maintain the same thing that we do. >> Won't make sense. So today I was
provided a copy of the chief's uh complete vehicle inventory and how many miles are in each car. So ultimately we're not going to be growing at least. had one this year for the SRO. Uh but and we have one new officer who came on.
But outside of that, uh the intent when the new vehicles come on, we had one that was total this year. Once we get that replaced, >> so they were tracking 31 vehicles in the police. We get these three, eventually
three will come back to the township and they'll keep a fleet of 31%. >> Yes, we it has not changed as far as and and again this is I'm this is something not blaming anybody else. This is something that I'm learning and coming
into. This is this is a continued trend of what we've always done. >> Yes. So we're and and it's tight. It is tight. we manage it because if if we the problem is we don't have a lot of uh room for the unknown. If cars get
totaled or something happens, they go down a lot, they're in the garage, you know, that's a problem for us at times. A couple years ago, we started u we changed our policy for uh special details to include a vehicle cost. Do we
have a calculation on how that's offset? Is that actually being applied back to these vehicles? >> That's the one I was talking about. >> Yeah, we have a when when the police officers do the special duty, we collect
$10 an hour and we put it into a vehicle fee >> and that's >> because the intent of it was to grow our fleet. We were hoping when Dean Madon started that we were hoping that every couple years we could maybe add a car.
We could use that to just outright buy a car. >> That was your >> That was a That was the police's intent. So, still we're we're it's it's been a great tool because when we're we you know, we're these two cars got totaled, we're able to replace one with the
insurance money, but the $21,000 to output it is going to come out of this account. That's what we've been using it for. So the goal is not to increase the police outside of we had an officer the SRO. We're going to maintain what the intent was.
>> So we we talked about that. So, no, we don't. >> No, what I'm what I'm saying is um there are multiple cars in their fleet and I just perused the list today or over 100,000 miles somewhere like
144,00 >> right? I don't want to talk about what happened 10 years ago or 10 months ago. >> I couldn't answer that either. Uh and what the township manager is referring to the new officer is when I said I have to restruct we are running we have always run fiveman squads. I am now
running sixman squads. So that's an extra officer out there and it's a necessity to continue to uh deal with what we're we're dealing with out there. So that's that's where there's an extra car being driven uh when they're
on the on the other questions. >> Thank you, Chief. Thank you. Oh, police staff. I'm sorry. Y I don't know if I have the police staff in front of me here except for the overall, but that's uh that's all we need, right?
The one by Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, the police. >> Yes, there it is. Sorry. Yeah. No, that that one uh it's it's only gone up for reasons, right?
>> Yeah, that's that's the uh secretaries and everybody. Yes, they do. Crossing guards still do. We should see we're going to bring a salary ordance forward on that. We should see a bunch of savings in the
future on that chief management creative idea where we should save some money on that. >> Yes. >> Are we good? Thank you. All right. Thank you guys. engineering will come up.
Trying to find it here. Now go through her presentation and we can get into the numbers if that's okay with you or >> that's fine. Thank you. >> Thank you everybody. Um give an overview of the uh engineering department. Um
again again it's myself. We have administrative assistant one staff engineer who's a licensed engineer. An engineering aid one part-time inspector that oversees right permits minor soil. This office oversees the construction inspector by the
consultant who does our development projects. Our water department which has one supervisor, three operators and the sewer department that has uh one supervisor, one foreman, five operators and one lab tech.
Current responsibilities of our department designer roadway mains, water man, drainage improvements, storm water related work which has been um increasing substantially ADA improvements. Uh we provide assistance to other departments, commission
subcommittees. We do grant applications for various committees and departments, CDBG, recreation, NJ do a discretionary a local freight impact fund, New Jersey uh transportation alternatives grant the
TAP grant. We do GIS and AutoCAD mapping for a multitude of uh departments and committees. Um coordination of project with historic preservation grants with consultants and a number of planning and zoning board reviews.
Um, continuing on, flood hazard wetland permits for township projects, rightway permits and inspections, soil permits and inspections, uh, construction site inspections and coordinations, tax map update coordination, open space committee. Uh, we represent the township on the MSA
must connect on sewage authority. We oversee the water department, sewer department, issue water and sewer allocation permits, coordinate treatment works approval permits, road accept acceptances, uh, road vacation uh, and tracking. We track um developer
performance maintenance bonds and a host host of other tasks. And up and coming with increased responsibilities, GIS databases is um increasing with various D requirements uh which is which goes into GIS mapping
and autocap map preparation. Um, additional storm water permitting requirements are increasing. Flood plane management, new and upcoming uh, flood plane development permits is a new one. Highlands permitting and expanded storm
water permitting uh, requirements in compliance. Um in 2025 for permits we issued uh 33 minor soils, 361 rightway excavation permits, 155 with New Jersey Natural
Gas, 145 New Jersey American Water for four for Verizon and 57 um for others. The gas company u just for for um your information, the gas company installed over 2,000 ft of gasoline last year,
which is actually less than what they years. Um 2026 capital requests. Um one is storm water management regulatory compliance um by December.
Well, according to the the township storm water department, the township is required to retrofit or replace all municipal storm drain inlets in accordance with um their regulations. those those streets um that are in direct connect with any
repaving, repairing, um resurfacing of any kind. Uh we are currently about 50% complete. The main roads are mostly complete, but we have to work on all the neighborhood roads. Um in general, the brakes are required to have an opening no more than
seven square in or any space greater than two inches across. Um, and that's to keep the uh debris from entering storm drain. Uh, we also look uh review privately owned or operated storm systems. Uh, we
have an ordinance in effect that anytime they repave their driveway, they have to change out their uh, storm drains. We don't do them for them, but we'll remind them of that requirement. All right. Next um capital item uh sidewalk and bicycle facility main
street improvements. Um completed items include um the CED which is called the categorical exclusion document. Uh the residence meeting the first residence meeting the preliminary design um the NJ pre-application meeting um has been
completed and we have submitted for the NJD land use permit and flood hazard permit. Um our consultant is continuing with the electrical design. Um and we are in the process of of obtaining right of entries from the affected properties.
That's for um if we have to go on private property for grading or to make um driveways work. The next steps is another public information meeting, the submission of the final design specification estimate
to the NJ do for review. Uh we will be required to solicit proposals uh for construction inspection and contract administration of the project and budgeted cost will be offset by the T grant. The next budgetary item is drainage
improvements townshipwide. Um the NJ storm water management rules require the township to develop an update and implement a program to detect and investigate control any localized stream scouring from storm water outs owned and operated by the permit for the township.
We have to prioritize, schedule and complete remediation of those identified um scoured areas um and drainage issues as soon as possible. Um this funding uh would help us address these existing and
emerging emerging townshipwide drainage problem projects. Excuse me. Next item is the Dell Avenue resurfacing street to Berkshire Valley Road. Current estimate for construction is about $400,000. The goal is to complete the resurfacing
of Dell Avenue, including the concrete at the tramway. Um we completed a portion that along the frontage of the park up to around Pine Street. We did receive a local municipal aid
grant for the space 2 um of $277,978 which known as an offset at the bottom of the sheet. We have applied to the NJ dot local freight improvement fund uh for the balance of the project. Um we
have not yet heard back. Probably March. I anticipate hearing back from them. But um a good portion of that is the tramway. replacing the existing concrete pavement at the tramway and replacement of this section will involve
um having a temporary traffic control signal to remove the concrete and re uh establish the road. The next project is townshipwide ADA grant project. We will be applying for a CDBG grant project. Approximately
$125,000 grant request to provide ADA accessible grants in areas to enhance the existing pedestrian transportation system in neighborhoods to access park, schools, areas of high vehicular traffic. Um
the grants were provided an improved means of access and sidewalks to ensure those people with disabilities have the opportunity to use um transport uh this method of transportation mode um in an accessible and safe manner. Um there's a
number of locations both in the Sana area, the Kendall area and and in uh Fort Morris that we will be looking at. We did this once before and we did I think two uh locations was very successful
avenue sidewalk project. Um this project limit extends from South Hillside Avenue 9 away to about 170 ft west of the Alcott Way intersection where the existing curve and sidewalk begin. The length is approximately 3,850 linear
feet. The township received a grant from the NJ DOT discretionary aid um in almost the almost the full amount of $73,000. Um the budget cost that's in this year's budget is to cover ancillary items such
as tree replacements. The next steps include residence meeting and obtain rights of access agreements for uh grading work and uh side um driveway replacements as necessary. Uh submission of both project designs both sidewalk
and resurfacing to the DOT um is required for the authorization to proceed. We anticipate awarding the contracts with a target date of April 2026 and then with the following that's this year
>> uh with following construction period >> that grant that we received about $73,000 remain that grant we just have to award the contract correct >> we have to award
>> so right now We're going to get the residence meeting, obtain the rights of access or um there's some rating work that ends up having to occur on private property um and driveways because you're going across you're changing everybody's rating around their driveway areas. um
the project. >> If there's a delay, um I'm ready to sub I'll be submitting for the paving that road will be paved. >> I was going to I was trying to schedule before one of our council member council meetings.
>> So, uh those >> council meeting We wanted your your thoughts. You can give them to us now. We just thought circle back to that. >> Circle back. It's fine. Um that's I think the most um
>> you're going to be here. So that's what we were trying to >> Yes, it will be properly >> 703,000 that cover the cost or in the budget is there more additional
>> there's a minor increase in cost I put in what I did include in the original estimate was um tree replacements there's like 66 trees that have to come down along the roadway in order to to install the sidewalk.
Um, and the what's in what I'm proposing the budget will offset that cost. >> Yeah, that's correct. out of our treatment. I don't see
we'll circle back with the council. You have individual opinions. Why don't you give them to me? Reason I say that you'll have a seam down. We have to decide whe >> the next item um space in the works um
budget will be addressing the vehicle replacement. Sorry, Steve, I stole your slide. Um this the vehicle scheduled to be replaced next year is um or this year. This year would be the um 2014 Ford
Escape. The vehicle is currently out of service. Friday we're trying to um take it out and it overheated. So it's right now offline. It overheated on Friday. So, which was 11° out. So, I don't know what's wrong
with it. >> They were pushing it back. >> Yeah, we had to push it literally push it back into the spaces. All right. Um going into the operating budget. Um this year's operating budget is consistent with the prior year. There
are no increases to salaries and wages beyond the union's contractual obligations. Um the materials and supplies will have a slight increase due to the age of the plotter. The existing plotter was purchased in 2018 and has an end of its
life of 2026 this year. To date, we've printed about 3/4 of an acre of prints and I've scanned about another 1.5 acres to think about that way for how much paper we generate. Um parts of the unit of the unit will no
longer be manufactured after 2000 uh June of 26. Um service of the unit will continue but the maintenance cost will increase. We are scheduling um the replacement of the unit in 2027 by either a lease or a
purchase. Say that was that one. And then contracted services. Um we intend to continue with the tax map updates which will include an update to the township's digital layer which is used for um the spatial and gut pilot work order
programs. We are also continuing with compliance with the township storm board permits. A lot of the GIS information um is utilized um or has to be submitted to the D for either on the water from
the water departments um storm water has to be um provided to the state on an annual basis. Um due by January 1st 2027 we will need to submit a watershed assessment report um which will be prepared by a
consultant. We are also required to update our Storm water management plan. U we are required to conduct a re-examination of the plan as part of uh the re-examination of the municipal master plan at least every 10 years or
more often as needed. Um the plan was originally prepared in 2006. So we're beyond um we're beyond that 10 year period. I'm not aware of being re-examined.
Uh tax map updates. Uh the last full tax map update was completed in 2015. Minor revisions were completed since additional updates will be uh necessary in preparation of a future uh tax rebal.
Um the engineering department will be recommending various ordinance sections be revised. This is in the future to require applicants to contribute financially to the update of the tax map sheets and data layers. Just if you don't mind feels like we just did the
reval. >> I'm not scheduling the reval. It will be 10 years from now as far as I'm concerned. But I just want to make sure the maps are up to date. >> So we're going to update the map. >> We're looking at updating the map. most recent reevaluation and then so we can then continue maintain it as
>> if we maintain it we're not going to get that big hit like >> so you don't >> um so if we do a little bit at a time and we get the information from the uh developers and the applicants on a in a in a timely manner we're not wasting
wasting wasting we're not expending additional time um trying to incorporate that information into the tax maps properly So, have you had discussion with the tax assessor? Does she need a big update expensive update?
>> I don't agree with like the the I don't know what like full update she's talking about. We we are updating anything that has been minor subdivisions, minor subdivisions, major major minor subdivisions, any easements. Um >> I thought we had that automatically updated every time the building came
online. That's what I was surprised to hear. >> Yeah. Um I don't know what actually referring to like if all the sheets are now going to have to get certified which is possible but we would send them down to the state and be
reertified by the state and that's possible that that's part of that rebal can we get some clarity on this because you know given the earlier testimony I think we're looking to understand where we stand I understand the market
conditions change so rapidly that rebound not as effective as we thought it was going to be. I I would love to have a little bit more of a conversation about this. >> Yeah. So, I'm not I'm not speaking on behalf of the rebal or or no readal. I just got to make sure that the maps are
up to date >> with with all the changes. Villages, they paid a we got them to pay um a contribution to the tax map updates. >> Other subdivisions um have not because right now it's not in our ordinance. I just requested it and certain certain
individuals have >> we should and we're going to we're going to include that. It's not in there now, but we will um you know and getting everything in AutoCAD format will help us as well. So we're not getting everything in automat
>> they they submit the preliminaries in autoad once it gets to the final site plan for the asbuilts >> they are submitted in paper form and that's really the way that's the final and I and you know I I use this
information for not only the tax maps, what we use it for, our our water system maps, our sewer system maps, water service inventories. Um, >> so why don't we get the final >> we've been requesting it, but it's not
it's not it's not check that way. >> I thought it was You check with Tony's office on that too. >> When I read it, it was in I did not talk to Tony's office. Uh budget items. Um no no change to
education and training. Um the permit billing item is the storm water regulatory permit fee. Um it has been um 2025 was $5,250. Um I don't foresee that changing. Um
they did update the they did issue a new um new storm water rules. Um the 78 have recently been changed. So um our permit is good until 2028 which time you know additional requirements will be uh made
of us. Um and then we have one one individual with a uniform and there's no change to that. That's a union contract item. We were working with the lake foundation and the commission on storm water
drainage. Is there any money available for that effort? >> I did not put money specifically in there for those efforts. Um but the line item
um that I I put in um drainage improvements drainage improvements township wide. Um There's a number in there right now. Um, a portion of that is um earmarked for some work
down in the um Hilton Estates area. We have a storm drain collapse that's going to be pretty just from the piping along. It's going to be more than normal for from a cost perspective, but you know, for uh Lith, I'm sure we can probably
utilize some of those funds depending on how much they're looking for. pretty much it. Did you want to go through the sheets themselves? >> Thank you. We also had on our agenda tonight budget. We're going to push that to our
next budget meeting. Um, thank you for being here and spending the evening with us tonight. We look forward to seeing you again. >> Remind me. We'll let you We need to get our salt delivered. >> All
the salt came >> finished on Saturday. Excellent. Um, all right. Moving on. Item five. First of all, thank you all the staff for being here with us today. We're going to do the first public portion. Nobody has any specific questions on part of the
budget. Um, thank you so much for being I'll just go through the agenda quickly. Uh, item five minutes request referred by council members managers returning to none. This brings us to our first public portion. I'd like to ask that if anybody in the audience has any questions, we
just focus on the budget for this public portion so that we can allow our staff to head home. Seeing none, I'll close. >> Hi, my name is Suzanne. I'm a resident of Roxberry. I live in Landing on King Road. I have a comment and then a
question. U my comment is about the um mental health um um services that are provided to our police officers. I just want to say that I do not think that 30 hours is sufficient. Um, I did a quick bit of math and um, knowing what it
costs for a licensed clinical social worker at a $10,000 a year budget. That's about three hours a week. I um, personally manage a group of software engineers and we allow them 10 hours of free counseling per year for for um,
employment stress. And I can only say that I imagine a police officer stress level is way higher than that of a software engineer. So, uh, think about maybe next year upping that. um to support our police officers. And secondly, I wanted to ask about the
number of arrests. Um the slide said >> Oh, sure. >> That's exactly why I asked the question to make sure that >> Okay. But as a citizen, I don't think that's sufficient, but I'm just letting
you know. That's my opinion. Um and of the 400 arrests, I wanted to know specifically if anybody has any data around um the number of police hours and or the number of arrests that are attributed to undocumented people. That
would be a drain on the budget. uh meaning do we have more arrests of undocumented um individuals this year um rather than previous years that's taking away time or resources that are uh police staff could be doing other things meaning is
there a legitimate concern around undocumented immigrants being arrested in Roxberry specifically >> we have our chief here but I'd also like You'll need to go back and look up data on that before you can misspeak. >> I I was going to I was going to say I
believe it is low to none, but I don't have that data. We have to have that up. >> Thank you. I appreciate your transparency. I only ask because it's, you know, out there that we spend so much money and time um on police officers and other resources. So,
I just wanted to clear that up. Thank you. Ma'am, if you ma'am, if you can give the chief your name and number, please look at the data and somebody from the staff will get back. >> Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you for your transparency.
>> All right, I'm going to close this public portion. Uh number item seven, introduction of proposed ordinance. None. Hearing adoption on ordinances, second reading, there are none. Introduction on ordinances or resolutions, there are none. Personnel change is done. Communication's done. This brings us to
our second public portion. If anybody in the audience wish to be heard on any topic, please come up to the microphone, state your name and address for the record. Thank you to all of our staff who spent the night with us and and helping with our process. William Angus from Hacketstown. Mr.
Angus, how are you? >> I'm doing just fine. Mayor Patilla, you used the word spam emails earlier this evening. Can you please tell us the definition or your definition of spam emails? the act of sending the same email hundreds of times and commonly called
email spam or simply spam. >> Okay. And that happened to the town council's uh members. They received hundreds of emails from the same party. Is that what you're saying? >> Indicate that has to be from the same party.
>> Has to be the same. >> Okay. So would are you saying so would 50 or 100 people all emailing you about the same issue. Is that spam email to you?
>> I'm saying according to the internet. >> No, no, you use those words. I'm asking if that would if if that's how you would >> clarify it. >> I'm sorry. >> No, I'm just trying to understand how you're using that term in this context.
I received the same email many many many many times. I read that email many many many many times. I looked it up. That's the word it said that that particular case.
So the content of the email was identical or or very very similar. Is that what you're saying? >> Very very similar, sir. >> Okay. All right. That is my only question. Thank you. >> Casey Miller, Washington Burough. I would like to read out two proposed ordinances towards the township of
Roxberry. An ordinance declaring a moratorum of all approvals for detention, corrections, and other uh carceral facilities being ordained by the township of Roxberry and the township of Roxberry in the county of Morris and state of New Jersey as follows. Section
one, that the mayor and council hereby declare that there is a moratorum on all approvals for detention, correction, or other carceral facilities, including the issuance or approval of building permits, special use permits, zoning applications, conditional use approvals, and variances. Plan review, project
plans, development plans, and any other approvals allowing the charge the change in use, acquisition, construction, facilitation, or expansion of an existing project or initiation of a new project. when the application for the project was filed on or after January
1st, 2026 and where the subject matter of the project or any purpose related to or incidental to detention, corrections or other carceral activities. Section two, this moratorum shall remain in effect until January 2029. And then the
second one, an ordinance to amend chapter 13, land development, article 7, zoning regulations, section 137.8 8 General provisions for all zones subsection 13.7815 prohibited uses of the code of the township of Roxberry to include a new
paragraph G to make detention correction or other coral facilities prohibited uses within the township of Roxberry whereas the township council of the township of Roxberry believes it is appropriate to prohibit the operation of detention correction and other coral
facilities within its jurisdiction. Now therefore, be it ordained by the township council of the township of Roxberry in the county of Morris and state of New Jersey as follows. Section 1, chapter 13, land development, article 7, zoning regulations. Section 137.8,
general provisions for all zones, subsection 137.815, 815 prohibited uses is hereby amended and supplemented to include a new paragraph G ent entitled detention correction or other carceral facilities and uses prohibited to read
in its entirety as follows. G detention correction or other carceral facilities and uses prohibited. The operation of all detention, correction and other carceral facilities is an expressly prohibited use within the jurisdiction boundaries of the township of Roxberry.
Section two, upon the adoption this ordinance of this ordinance after referral to the township planning board for a consistency determination pursuant to NJS455D-206 and 64 and proper notice of all hearings on the adoption of this ordinance to the
county planning board, municipal clerks and adjoining municipalities and to all other persons entitled thereto pursuant to NJS455D-15 and -63. if required and public hearing thereon. The township clerk is further
directed to publish notice of the passage thereof and to file a copy of the ordinance as finally adopted with the Morris County Planning Board as required by NJ6455D-16 section 3. This ordinance may be remembered for codification purposes.
Section four. All ordinances or parts of ordinances which are in conflict or inconsistent with any part of this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict or inconsistency. Section five. In the event that any section part or provision of this
ordinance shall be held >> my name is Brianna Campus. I um am from HPA, New Jersey. Uh there's been a lot of talk about mental health and actually a mental health counselor. So I wanted to read something that I had written. Uh again, my name is Briana. I am 35
years old. I'm a mental health counselor and I am actually also a single female homeowner in Sussex County and I'm also the daughter of an immigrant. My father came to this country when he was 25. He's been a US citizen longer than I've been alive. He was a bluecollar union
worker till he retired two years ago. My father is the not the exception, he is the standard. What is occurring across the US is not only unlawful, but it is perpetuating emotional dysregulation. I want to share with you an example. Just recently, my dad and I were at the
farmers market, and at one point, a very tall man yelled something towards my father in a very authoritative voice and approached him quickly. I didn't know what was going on, but my brain told me, "It's happening. They're going to take him." In psychology, we call this catastrophizing. The case scenario. I
dropped my groceries in haste and ran towards my dad. Now, I've been a practicing clinician for nearly 10 years. I specialize in conflict resolution. I know how to deescalate situations quickly. But for 30 seconds, none of that mattered. In that moment, I decided I would go to jail before I let
anyone take my father. This is a trauma response called fight or flight. Now, thankfully, I misread that situation and quickly realized there was no danger. But that exchange was 30 seconds. And I proceeded to play it in my mind over and over and over again for a week. We call
this post-traumatic stress disorder. I'm a mental health counselor. I have a master's degree in counseling, 10 years experience, and not even I was immune to the trauma we are witnessing. If you truly care about us, and not just avoiding the stain a detention center would leave on our zip codes, I beg you
to care about our physical, emotional, and mental well-being of our communities. We the people are hurting and we are begging you, our government, to help us. This council has stated that you disagree and it's with a detention center and that it's not a problem to solve yet, but it's not that is not a
solution. It is an avoidance and your lack of response could cause irreparable and emotional and physical damage to your constituents and your neighbors. This council has stated that they care about upholding a letter of the law when it feels like we are watching the prequel to the hunger games unfold
before our eyes and we are expected to back and wait for it to resolve itself. The damage is already done, but the severity of the backlash depends on what our government does next. As a child, I always wondered how people could condone slavery and comply with Nazis. But it
feels like we are watching history repeat itself. History is going to remember this moment and it will remember what our government does does next. We ask that you pass a zoning ordinance banning detention facility centers in Roxberry zones and issue a resolution that Roxberry and surrounding towns are not suitable for an ICE
detention facility. Chadam and Parony have already done this. I beg you to stand with your constituents and your neighbors before there's no one left to stand for. >> Thank you. Good evening. Diana May, 30 Whisper Way East in Ledgewood here in town, Roxbury
resident. I'm here tonight to offer suggestions. I would like to be viewed as an ally rather than as a thorn in your side. First for Rooers Parking. At last week's meeting, this council recognized two small businesses that have served this town for 25 plus years.
My understanding is that it's very difficult to open and sustain a small business. I would like to see this council help roosters to thrive as the overflow of parking clearly indicates that it is. Prohibiting parking on these public streets would most certainly negatively impact the business as well
as the residents who live there who would no longer be able to accommodate guests. Suggestions. Meet with the business owner to see if their parking lots can be expanded to accommodate more parking spots. designate specific places along one side of the street to avoid
mailboxes and driveways while leaving room for emergency vehicles. The residents concerns are valid and can be addressed in this way, but they do not own the public street and cannot insist that no one park in front of their houses. Let's work together to help roosters become one that gets recognized
by this council 23 years from now. As for the ICE detention center in Virginia, protests, calls, and over 1,000 public comments led to a company halting the sale of a Virginia warehouse to DHS that was going to be used for an
immigration detention center. Here, residents are contacting Dolphin Industrial, Adler Development, and JLL to request that they not sell or lease their property to DHS for the many negative impacts on our community. It would be helpful to the cause if this
council also contacted them to discourage selling or leasing to DHS on the basis of unpermittable use of the property if nothing else. What was earlier referenced as spam emails and calls and disrupting our town
is actually advocacy and it is our right and our responsibility as American citizens to speak out for the causes we believe in even if you request that we do not. Thank you. >> Hi, Jody Keagan, 90 Union brick
roadstown. I have a question first. Are the ordinances for Roxberry all online on the website? >> Yes, >> they are online. Okay. Uh, so ICE either read them and then decided to ignore the fact that a jail is not performing,
right? they were doing their due diligence or they didn't bother reading them because they don't care and they're not going to do their proper research. Uh either instance shows to me that they're not engaged in their due
diligence and they're not serious. So, while I approve the mayor's remarks at the beginning of the meeting about this jail, I feel that the government is definitely going to play dirty.
And so, that's that's what scares me. So, even though your remarks were, you know, comforting, the federal government is going to play dirty. And we need to be ahead of them and try to imagine like what they would try to do to work around the system. But clearly, they're not any research
because the ordinances are online. They should know better. They're going to know what kind of fight they had and but they're still they may still go ahead anyway. We Oh, and um about the spam part. I mean, I'm I'm hoping that uh
>> I'm sorry. >> The what part? >> The spam. The spam discussion. um in order to help out repetition so that because I'm interested in like did the planning board get notified of something? Did the zoning board have an application from the government that
maybe we in the audience could figure on, you know, just one or two people to call weekly instead of having all, you know, 50 people call the uh the clerk and say, "Hey, did they make an application yet? Did they do it yet? Did they do it yet?" And that's all. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Good evening, council. Pria spots 64 St. Mary's Drive in Sakathan. Um, this uh the beginning of the meeting, you referenced that not everything that you guys are discussing as a council and with attorneys can be shared and that is
makes total sense. Um, but we haven't really gotten a lot shared with us since the resolution was passed. And I do think that that will quell a lot of what is happening here and the emails that you are receiving if there was more put forward. Um, a simple I don't want to I
don't want to simplify this, but just a statement of where the progress is right now. I know you made one last week, but if we're going to be here weekly and a lot of people have been here weekly, that would be awesome. Um, even to the residents who are not here weekly is something that can go out to the other
residents of Roxbury because they're not getting the full story. We're getting you're getting bits and pieces of things from I don't know just hearsay. Great fine. Um some communication to the residents of this town would be helpful in regards
to this issue. Thank you. >> My name is Paul Randolph. In September, Mayor Patillo spoke at a Charlie Kirk Memorial in Roxbury, stating that he was speaking on behalf of his family and town council colleagues. He stated, "We must all look toward building a better future, one entrenched in peace, unity,
and respect for one another." Referencing the homicide of Kirk, a Ukrainian refugee, and two Colorado students. He further stated, "These things should not happen in a civilized society. These were not acts of courage but cowardice and they must serve as a turning point for us as people. Now over
the past weeks and months many individuals have been shot, injured and some killed at the hands of ICE. This has included well-known names now US citizens Renee Nicole Good and Alex Prey. There are far more names though including some dying in inhumane conditions including Delaney Hall. Last
week, I requested that you, as the mayor, or any of you council members make a statement unequivocally that while the Roxbury Town Council agrees with US laws regarding immigration being fairly and humanely enforced, that you do not stand with what ICE and Border Patrol is currently doing in regards to
their treatment of human beings, including US citizens. Murder, kidnapping, breaking into homes, and more, are only a few examples. Why have you not done that? What don't you agree with? Will you make such a statement now or this evening? Not replying to any of
my questions is tantamount to stating openly that you are okay with what is happening. And and then the second thing I wanted to mention and chief I don't you know I ignore you but the use of the word emotionally disturbed is inappropriate
and stigmatizing. One in four people will live with a mental illness in their lifetime with eight of you up there. Well, there's a ninth person, but I didn't see her when I was sitting. That means two of you. And stigma results in people not getting
treatment. I'm sure there are a lot of people in here, depression, bipolar, anxiety, whatever you call it, that fits within. So, if all of you guys can refrain from using the word emotionally disturbed, I would greatly appreciate
and I'm sure a lot of your residents would, too. Thank you. Cass Saladino. Um, the reason you are receiving so many calls and emails is because your opposition hasn't been strong enough. If you're so burdened by complaints when it
comes to human rights abuses, then say it outright. Say it out loud and unequivocally condemn the actions of the federal government and you won't allow it in your town. There's something holding you back from condemning fascism and that's why you're catching so much flack. You continuously put your foot in
your mouth, like referring to advocacy as spam. New Jersey law does not require you to respond to public questions. It also doesn't prohibit you from responding. I asked you last week, do you believe the public execution of Alex Ping was justified? Your response heard by hundreds of thousands of people, Mr.
Patillo, was you can't ask direct questions. And I can ask what I want, but it's your choice not to answer it. You don't have to take a political stance in order to condemn a murder. Your inability to condemn these actions speaks volumes to your character. Mrs. Albbright, I know you spoke at the vigil
for Alex Freddy. Why won't you carry those sentiments into this room and speak on the record alongside your colleagues? We are not holding you accountable for the government the government's actions. We're holding you accountable for your lackluster response to those actions. It took no probing for
you to offer your support for ICE and immigration law enforcement. But after hours of public concern and hundreds of spam email, you still haven't acknowledged these human rights abuses. Please don't forget that voters put you in those seats and they can just as easily take you out of them. Um, I want to turn my attention to not only the
council, but to my peers. Please keep all eyes on Palestine, Sudan, Congo, and Iran. It's critical to understand that what our government facilitates and allows overseas will always come home to us. The United States has been funding and arming the genocide against
Palestinians for over two years, and they've been illegally occupied by Israel for over 75 years. Israel is the leading recipient of US foreign aid, including military assistance. Brutal tactics that ICE and police use on Americans are tactics that have been used on Palestinians for decades. The
USA has given Israel over $300 billion since 1946. Our own Cory Booker has received 871,000 and Andy Kim 59,000 from Apac. We cannot expect Congress to put us first when they're bought out by another country. While we were here on January 27th, our
government was approving a $6.6 billion arms deal to Israel and a $9 billion arms deal to Saudi Arabia. The government wants us to believe that undocumented people, transgender people, and other marginalized communities are the cause of our suffering. It's important that we don't believe them.
Get involved, be outspoken, and if you have privilege, use it for good. Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Patty. >> I'm sorry. Say it again. >> Patty, my last name is Keith. >> And your address? >> I live in Stan, but I lived in Roxbury
for 25 years. I raised my kids here. I lived just four miles away from the proposed site of this detention center. I have a grandson who lives Maybe he would move closer. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I have a grandson who lives in Mount
Arlington. He's my heart and soul. If you're a grandparent, I think you know what I mean. >> His father is Puerto Rican and I worry about him and the Puerto Rican side of his family all the time since Justice Kavanagh said it's okay to stop someone just for being brown or speaking with an
accent. I've worked in hospitality for 21 years. Many of my co-workers are from other countries and English is not their first language. They are some of the kindest, most hardworking people I've ever met. But with everything that is happening, they are scared and I am scared for
them. I have immigrant neighbors in the community where I live. They are great neighbors and I'm concerned for them, too. If this facility is opened in our backyard, it will need to be filled because that is how the private prison companies make their money. People like
my grandson and his family, people like my co-workers, and many of our neighbors would become more vulnerable than they already are. There are already two ICE facilities in New Jersey, and conditions there have been described as inhumane with poor
nutrition, inadequate medical care, and unsafe and unsanitary conditions. 32 people have died in ICE custody in 2025. It was the deadliest year in ICE detention in more than 20 years. In January of this year, six people have
died in ICE custody. So at that rate, more than twice as many people will die in ICE custody in 2026. That doesn't even include people that ICE kills on the streets. You have objected to this facility because of water and sewer capacity, because of the strain on public safety
and the increase in traffic. And all of these things are true, but there are also bigger issues. People are in real danger. Please do everything in your power to stop this from happening. Please pass the ordinances that have been proposed. Please do whatever it
takes because it's literally a matter of life and death. Thank you. Nicholas Nan, Elizabeth Way, Landing, New Jersey. I'm not opposed to uh what they're all opposed to. I want the building. I want them to fill the
building. I want them to get as many illegals out of our area as possible. I'm a local for brick layer. These guys come in, they take our jobs. Now, our jobs, number one, we support the whole community. We're middle class. We are the tax. Hey, we're the heavy duty
taxpayers. So, you're saying you want to keep having illegals in here. They're called illegal for a reason. Come here the right way. >> Am I right? >> What do you mean? What do you mean? How do you figure? I have a cousin that
came from Middleland. >> We allow everybody to speak. You focus on >> I'm not opposed to anything. I think that you guys should fill it. Let the federal government come in. We'll get more federal funding and you'll also be able to keep union brothers like me working and that means more taxpaying
money going to our state and to our town. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Stay safe. I'm >> Hi, my name is Kathleen Roa and I'm a neighbor from Knockway, New Jersey. >> All day every day.
>> I'm a neighbor. My name is Kathleen Corrosa. C A R Occa. And I am a neighbor from Rockaway, New Jersey. And I'd like to counter what was just said about coming here the right way. I am on the board of refugee assistance Mars
Partners and we resettle refugees here in Mars County. And while I'm not speaking as a board member of that association, I have certainly learned a lot about our immigration process. And one of our big challenges is that we
certainly don't have a terrific way for people to come in here. We know that coming over the border, we have seen a lot of people who have come over legally, including a father and son who were just detained in Texas. We know
that people are being detained regardless of whether they are here legally because of the color of their skin. According to the last census, about 30% of your population fits into that profile. You made a large statement
about your strong support and care for your community. I was very impressed to be honest. I have never attended a c town council meeting even in my own town before. I was very impressed with your presentations, the care that your staff
give to the community and your residents. And without a forceful push back and avoidance of having this detention center, 30% of your population
will be at risk. Birdie Green Monu. >> I'm sorry. >> As in Birdie Green Monu. So, we already had the conversation about Montigue um in Sussex County. Um we already had
the conversation about the spam emails. Um, and again, I will reiterate that the use of that word and that language in reference to concerned citizens reaching out, I know for a fact that people did not send the exact same message. I know
that they filled in their own details, said where they were from, right? You can't fault us for giving people the words. The emotions were real. >> Okay? So, when you referenced it as spam, you're diminishing that. And
that's not right as somebody as a as a mayor, right? That these constituents of this community, these people are reaching out to you because they're concerned. So I ask that you reconsider your use of this language because again, it re reiterates this idea that we're an
annoyance to you and that you don't actually care about why we're here, which is not going to be to your benefit. You've mentioned before that you need to keep all of this information private in order to keep your options open. I don't
understand that there are multiple towns that have successfully ended the threat of an ICE detention facility in their own town. And Rachel Matto gave a 10 plus minute long playbyplay on how they did it. What do you plan to do differently than an already successful
approach? You choose not to answer. Okay. Do you realize that a lot of your headaches in this situation would be resolved if you were more transparent with your constituents in this community? Don't just say that you're fighting it. Show us.
We respectfully request that the two ordinances that you were sent and that were shared tonight be put on the agenda for approval at the next council meeting. It doesn't matter where it came from or who gave it to you. They did the research and then wrote it for you. We
said we would help and we did. Will you let pride lay the first brick of this facility? Or will you protect Roxbury and take the ladder that's been freely offered? >> Hi, my name is Sierra Wilson. I'm your Budlake neighbor. I want to read something for you. This is from the
official congressional website constitution.gov just to uh just to let you know what what it says. The Supreme Court extended these constitutional protections to all aliens within the United States, including those who entered unlawfully,
declaring that, quote, "Aliens who have once passed through our gates, even illegally, may be expelled only after proceedings conforming to the traditional standards of fairness encompassed in due process of law." End quote. The court reasons that aliens physically present in the United States,
regardless of their legal status, are recognized as persons guaranteed due process of the fourth and fifth, sorry, excuse me, fifth and 14th amendments. Thus, the courts determined, quote, even those whose presence in this country is unlawful, involuntary, or transitory is
entitled to p constitutional protection. End quote. Thank you. Hi, Carrie Stler Taber. Um, so your resolution opposed the detention center for the potential impact on residents. I know your job is to serve and protect your constituents and some of you have
been frustrated by outsiders sharing your concerns here. But I want to remind you that the center has the potential to hurt people throughout Morris County and beyond, no matter their immigration status. And I can understand why you would be frustrated by emails that are repeating themselves, but
obviously it's just a gesture of concern and people are trying to convey that to you even if they're being redundant. So, um I mean other people have said the same thing to you, so I'm just underscoring that point. Um so I I don't
want to repeat what a lot of people have been saying tonight and you know over the the past few weeks. Um just I just want to say that a detention center here is increased presence of ice like throughout the region. There's going to be a climate of fear that could
reverberate. It could have economic consequences, you know, the whole nine. People have have told you about that. But what I wanted to ask you is if you've gone to Delane Hall or if you plan to Okay. Well,
um, people who have been there, they've shared their, uh, people who have been there, who have supported families there and advocates, they've shared their stories here about conditions at the center. Um, the lack of medical care, edible food, adequate water, measures to ensure basic hygiene. So, you've heard
it all. Um, and just to add, um, so between January and October of 2025, there were nearly 4,000 children under the age of 18, including 20 um who were arrested and detained by US immigration authorities including most of them were held in custody with
detained family members. Um and some of them have been there for up to a year. So just um throwing that out there. Um, so and I hope you do visit Delaney Hall because if a detention center is being placed in your own town, it seems like
it would be helpful to see how it functions both from the outside and the inside to gain a better sense of the impact on people nearby and those inside the facility. I have to say >> thank you everyone for coming. >> Before I make a motion,
>> I have a quick question. My name is Jerry Cranmer from Um, and he gave a great presentation on a budget increase, but if ICE is in the community, wouldn't there be more concern for
police around to help residents and their safety? So, I was hoping that you were all going to consider that in your budget as well, because we're going to need a bigger police presence to help our citizens. And I don't know about this
comment. Are you asking us not to email you? >> Okay, thank you. >> It's close. >> It's close. >> Thank you so much. >> I wasn't documented. I just want I have to say this what that gentleman says
before I was paying taxes and I didn't know the guy who was the scum from me. every single penny he was not paying taxes. >> So, and next time I will come back, but definitely we need to pay attention to
what people said because it's completely wrong. >> We have no executive. Before I make a motion, I just want to put on the record that I will not be here for next week's meeting and our deputy mayor will run the meeting. I have a motion to
>> adjourn. Second. >> All in favor?