Okay, I'm ready. I don't know. It's all right. Yeah. >> I go to I go into >> You're kidding. They're not getting back to I know.
>> This is My eyes were like this is going to go over just They put it on the website. >> Yes, we'll get it. >> Yes.
Yeah, because >> I think there were fair Little again. You can't get away with that. Maybe >> I No. Okay. Oh, it's very easy.
That is true. It's the first screen, right? Nope. >> Are we changing? >> Story of my life. >> Changing my name. I knew it for yourself. Well,
Yeah. >> No, she didn't. Oh, yes, she did. Well, I guess it's better than falling down. >> I have [Music] I'm waiting for my administrator.
I guarantee my birthday. I don't know where that order. Please rise for the pledge of >> 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. >> Please read the open public meeting statement. Adequate notice of this meeting of the township council of the township of Bradbury was given as required by the open public meeting act as follows. On
December 31st, 2025, notice was emailed and texted to the daily record, the Northstar ledger west recorder and published in the daily record. Notice also remain posted throughout the year bullet board in the main hallway of the municipal building. >> Thank you. Roll call. >> Counciloman here. Councilman Kerry
>> here. >> Deputy Mayor Crowley >> here. >> Councilman D. Philippo. Councilman Hall, >> I'm here. >> Councilman Riley >> here. >> Mayor Pat >> here. >> So before I begin item four, reports of council on representatives council
committees, new and old business. Um I I love looking out and seeing a full chamber. Um this time this time of year, we we we have three different types of meetings that happen right during this time. We start off with a reorg meeting, then we have standard meetings, then we
have budget meetings. So tonight is focused on our township budget. Uh it's an annual process that we complete every year um to show transparency on our taxpayer for our taxpayers and where their money is allocated. So, I've asked
the public that's here with us tonight, please be considerate that this meeting is focused on township business in reference to the township budget and that during public sessions, I ask you and humbly request that comments, questions, concerns be focused on the
township budget tonight. All right. Thank you. >> Excuse me. Is that for both public portions? I'm ask for all public for this particular >> budget presentation.
>> Good evening, council. >> Tonight is uh the first budget presentation. I just want to walk you through what's going to be a high level presentation. Um, we certainly want to be collaborative during this budget process, transparent, and then we'll
continue to bring forward what we see as vulnerabilities for the budget process and the fiscal outlook. Uh, we certainly staff, as you know, I've been here two months. We're looking for additional revenue streams, uh, supplemental revenue streams, um, that don't hit our
taxpayers necessarily, and also exploring new grant opportunities. Uh, Val will walk us through fiscal updates, cover the last year, cover what we have projected going forward. Uh Rod will
cover construction, the construction budget, Rob will cover the IT budget, and Jackie uh will cover updates from the assessor's office. So, we think that's a good framework for night one. U again, my first budget process. Um, I'd
ask for uh cooperation back and forth. If this is uh what you like seeing, we know we're meetingable to be flexible. But uh I really want the staff to come up in their departments and tell their
story. U what happened over the last year, what their outlook is, what their vulnerabilities are going forward. And I think you hear from the subject matter experts better than me coming up here and um talking about things that I'm not the subject matter expert on. So with
that, once you have any questions, I'm going to turn it over to Val and have go over. We don't have our first question. >> Yeah. I just want to be clear for each one of the budget capital and operating here in the right capital and operating.
Is that >> That's a good question. >> Well, first of all, good evening on this very, very cold night. Um, I'm going to give you some things to keep you awake hopefully. Uh, this is the
2026 budget presentation. I'm going to start off with a budget recap from last year just to um you know get it fresh back in your mind. Um in 2024 um we budgeted our appropriations of 33
about 33 million. Uh we anticipated um surplus of 2.8 million and the tax levy with the library was uh 24.7 million. Um, and I put I put two 2024 on there because I wanted to compare it to 2025.
Um, how different it was. So, in 2025, the appropriations that we authorized were actually 36 million. Uh, we were able to authorize that amount of appropriations because we had a um an influx of surplus that year. If you recall, our surplus was at about 11
million. Uh, so we were able to um anticipate about four million in surplus towards the budget. That year we also took in the special revenue item of 1.2. Um, and with those two items, uh, our tax levy with the library was about 24
million. As you can see, it's the same 24 million tax levy in 25, 24 million tax levy in 24. And the reason for that is the the third uh bullet point which is that our tax rate for 2024 and 2025
was equal at 635 municipal tax rate I'm talking about. Um and then below that I have a couple charts just to give you an idea um of the the various municipal levies from 2021 to 2025
um and the percentage increases. And as you can see um at 25 we had the 0% increase. Um the highest year was 2024 where we almost made it to 2% uh municipal increase that year. 2023 was
uh very minimal at 010. Uh 2022 1.36 and then you got 2021 at 0.58. Um, and then the next chart over shows the amount of surplus used each year to
offset the budget. And as you can see, we started off in 2020 with about 1.2 million, uh, 1.4 in 2021, 3.3 in 2022, about 3 million in 2023, 2.8
24 and then in 2025 we were able to use four about $4 million of surplus. Uh this slide shows the tax rate and I wanted to show this because um mainly for the public because a a lot of times
we stress in our meetings and we're very uh frugal with our tax rates for the town and municipal side but people become misled and they wonder why their tax bills went up anyways. And this is exactly why. So I showed the 2024
tax rate uh which was 2.7 and the 2025 tax rate which was 2.8. And if you look to the right of each of those uh pies, you could see um that everything pretty much increased except for the municipal
purpose and the municipal open space. The rest of um the rates increased some of the 2025 budget highlights. Um this is what we were able to do with that extra influx of surplus that we got last year and the uh and the special
revenue item that we received. Um so we were able to do $1.2 million of road paving. Um we bought the street sweeper for $400,000. We put $100,000 towards the design of the parks building. Um we were able to
purchase a new bus for Deride and we um we were able to refurbish the Quantis tennis courts. Um the one thing we also did was we put uh we set aside um in a reserve $750,000
to help offset the purchase of the fire truck that we had purchased in 2023. So you're going to see in the next this this budget, the 26 budget, we still have about $425,000 to uh raise for that truck. Um if that
is in fact if you don't want to um do a purchase of it >> just for clarification I believe that 2024 >> the first >> No we did we bought the pumper in 23 >> the first one we paid for
that >> how much do we have for the second >> we 750,000. So we have to we have to raise another 425 >> plus we made a deposit on that truck. >> Yes. That that that takes that into
account. $100,000 deposit on that truck. >> Any more questions? So um that leads me to the key challenges for 2026. So this year we we bid we had to bid our sanitation
um which was um increased significantly. Um we also have an increasing capital increasing capital and infrastructure needs throughout the town. You're going to see a presentation from Steve where he's going to show you
based on our new AI that we have how many roads need to be resurfaced. Um, sidewalks that need to be redone. Um, so those are increasing. Um, and then we have the inflation and increasing cost
of operations. Um, we've basically been staying steady with our tax rate while the price of everything is going up and we're not really kind of keeping up with that. So, that's been kind of difficult. Now, as usual, we have our salaries and contractual raise raise increases. Um, I
put I left this one in here even though we did decrease on our health insurance, but we did increase on our liability insurance. Uh, you'll see that. Um, so it's still raising insurance premiums. Um, and then of course we have the stagnant revenues. So the general
revenues, they're not really increasing that much and when we have like a flat tax rate, we don't have the influx of revenue from that. Um, so that puts pressure on our long-term budget. And then I have a a slide in here that just kind of shows the tax increases
throughout the years and how they're kind of flat or steady. So these are recommendations, my recommendations for how can um kind of
do away with these challenges or or overcome these challenges. Um so my first recommendation is we need to start seeing a moderate tax levy growth. I know that tax increase is not looked upon well here and I understand that.
I'm frugal myself and I'm a resident of Roxberry and I appreciate the fact that we are watching every making sure we are being careful with our residents money. Um, but I do believe we have to have a moderate tax in order to keep up with
the inflation and the expenses and everything that's that's happening in town. Um, the more we kind of let things go, the more it gets pushed down, the more it costs later. So, it's it's kind of important to kind of start
a steady moderate tax growth. Um, and this one I believe I put it in here, but I think we I think we have very good controls on our expenditures. We have a very good staff out there. They're they're very uh well-minded with um you know keeping our expenditures
um not necessarily low but just like watching it, not just making sure that they're on top of it. Um and that's the reason why we've been able to have surplus is because you know we have department heads that even though they're asking for money, if they don't need it, they're not going to use it. So we're able to take that and lapse it
over as an appropriation reserve to put it back into our our surplus. So um that's one way. Um I think we need to you've seen the trend of we're we're using a lot of surplus and we're using more and more and more each year. I
think we need to kind of get on a steady trend of how much we're going to use. Like say you know we never know how much our surplus is going to be every year. I just found out today, and you're going to see it in in one of my slides, what our surplus is is going to be early on,
the early number. Um, but you never know in a year how you're going to close out that year. Um, so it's important that we kind of keep to a steady uh surplus instead of, you know, 1.2 and
then three and then two and then four. We need to kind of kind of steady. Um, and then we need to explore alternate revenues, which JJ shared earlier. Um, these could be anything from pilots. I know we're starting to look at pilots.
When you have a pilot come into town, um, at least during the pilot period, you don't have to share the revenues with schools and the and and the counties. It's get to keep a little bit more of that. So, it's good to kind of explore that. um explore any type of the
only way that we're going to generate revenue is by um you know having people come into town and you know increasing our net value tax. That's that and increasing the actual taxes that we charge. That's the only way we're going
to generate. Um and then long-term planning which we already do also. I think we're we're very good at planning. our capital budget goes out five years. Um, but when we close out a year and we say, I actually just said this to JJ today,
like we there's things that we just can't do. So, we wind up saying we can do it and pushing it down and pushing it down and pushing it down. So, we've got a lot of that going on. And unfortunately, a lot of the things that we pushed down are coming back this year. And so, we're in a we're in a little bit of a bind. That's why you
guys don't actually have your binders yet, your budget binders yet, is because we're still trying to figure things out, trying to make it work with what we got, which is difficult this year. Um, so here is the 2025 revenues. I'll
caveat it with these revenues are unudited. Um, they just came in today. Um so in 2025 our budget revenue we budgeted uh about $36 million in revenues and we were able to realize 38
which is really good. That's a 2.1 excess in revenues. Um the general the general this is what made up that excess. The general revenue excess was 429743. Um that excess was mostly made up of the
increase in interest on investments. If you guys remember last year we opened some money market accounts and you'll see in both the current water and sewer we generated um a good amount I believe over 400,000 in the current fund of
interest revenue. Um the the municipal court increased by 60,000. Um that you could probably uh say that our young Our young officers are out there writing tickets, more tickets, I guess. So, either that or people are
speeding more. I don't know. Maybe it was the potholes, but we had a $60,000 increase in court revenue this year. Um, the construction UCC uh permits were up by 81,000. That you can probably relate to the villages,
all those new houses coming online, but we can't always anticipate that. So that'll probably once those houses get on unless there's any other building in town that's going to go down again. And then our cell tower rentals were 60,000 in excess of 60,000 this year.
Um the revenues that were general taxation, so the amount to be raised that was up by 1.3 million. That mainly includes prepaids from from um the previous year that are realized in the current year and also
of the added and omitted that come online during that year. Um, and then of course the receipts for the taxes, we received a lot more than we anticipated. We received almost $150,000 more than we anticipated. So that means people are paying their own taxes. So that's good.
That's good news. The 2025 appropriations, again, this is united. Um the we budgeted in 2025 36.4 million. Um we paid and char paid and charged 35.
Um that leaves us with about 1.2 million that's going to go into our appropriation reserves. Now as you know appropriation reserves will sit on the books in our balance sheet for a year. And some of that, the majority, I would say like at least half of it will probably go to old bills that haven't
been paid yet or, you know, things that haven't come through yet that are charged the previous year. That's why we keep it in a reserve and then it lapses into surplus um the next year. So this year with that said, lapsing in a surplus um is 438,000
from last year's reserve. And here's my surplus. Um, so 2024, as you know, our surplus was 11 million. Um, and we used for about 4 million to offset the 2025 budget. Um, this year,
our 2025 surplus is going to end up at 9.7 million. Um, and you can see my chart below that. It has the thin line that goes through them is all the surplus we use throughout the years. And
then the the bars are the the amount of surplus that we we had each year. And then the charts to the right kind of just say the numbers. And you can see that in 2021 we had 8 million kind of jumped around 8 10 9 11 now again. So
we're staying up there. Uh we haven't gone below eight in five years. I think that's pretty good. Um surplus. >> It is a healthy surplus. Absolutely. >> Um here are some 2025 budget highlights.
I'm sorry, 2026 budget highlights. Um the net value tax, which Jackie is going to talk about in her slides. This is the this is our main value that determines how much money we can use to to help our
municipal budget. Um That number is uh $3.6 billion. It's about a $6.9 million increase. And when you take that number and you multiply it by the current tax rate, that gives us about an additional
$43,000 in revenue. Um, one of the biggest highlights is our health insurance savings. Um, the 2025 budget was 5.1 million. Uh, we're going to budget this year about 4.4 billion 4
million and it's not only lower than what we did last year but it's significantly lower than it what it would have been if we would have stayed with state health benefits as you recall that was going up
about 36% this year so that is a huge savings to the town um and then I have here the capital requests these are requests came in at about 48 million
So, that's a lot. Um, and then we have a contingent liability which is due to the Garden State joint municipal that we're going to have to budget for. We're going to have to budget about 300,000 in the current year for that because I'm going
to take 300,000 out of reserves and I'm going to budget the rest out of the budget. Then we have the additional funding for the pump truck. So, those are some highlights that you're going to be seeing in the 2026 budget. Let me say the attorney is trying to work on that
number. I think it's unfair that we're paying that get charged that liability. He's been fighting it. We're not in it anymore. They're back charging us.
>> From years ago, yeah, it's it's been a it's been a point of contention initially. They came to me. >> So that that's what when I said addressing vulnerabilities like this is what I'm talking about. There's things out there that you could have never budgeted for, but we're getting hit with
that bill that we're trying to evaluate. >> State health benefits guidelines that actually said that we were liable for >> this isn't state this is actually our liability insurance. So this is what this is and yes there was there is
something in there that you it is you can be held you can be assessed supplemental um assessments >> even after it's only during the years that you were
in the fund. So they're what they did is they did they did a calculation based on the years that we were in the fund and they assigned us 2% of that and that's the am that we're liable for for those years. Now, I wasn't happy with the way
that they sent the information over and I wanted it to be more detailed. And so Tony is we've been working with Tony to go back and forth between the attorneys, number one, to get the more detailed information so that we can say, okay, that is a true cost to the township. And
two, they're trying to make us pay it all at once because we're no longer in the fund even though all the other members get to pay it over a period of 10 years. So there's a couple of inequities that are involved that we're trying to work out. This is the worst case scenario. >> We should have a detailed list of what
it is. >> What years do we have been transparent and second >> giving it to us because we're not in there anymore. So >> we're fighting that. Just we wanted to
highlight it here because $600,000 that's real >> liability. for the fire. Is that the final amount? >> Yes, >> that'll cover it. >> Is Is there an opportunity to earmark
some this year and some? >> It depends on when it's going to be done. I was under the impression that it was going to be done this year. If it's not going to be done this year, then we can do some this year, some this year. I want to be delivered to us.
>> Okay. We can make that in half. >> That's a question. >> Can you come up? Come up to the mic. So, in regards to the the engine, the times have shrunk. We don't have an
exact date. We were on schedule target, so they're not pushing them out. They are reducing, but we can get an answer for you exactly when the date is. >> Currently, we're anticipating 27, but you're saying times are being pushed up, so it could come this year. >> It could come back, but I don't have an
exact defend. I'll make a phone call. >> We'll get the information. >> Any other questions on this page? >> That's it. Any other questions for me? I'm sorry. I do have one question
surplus and you laid it out very nicely over the years. What's the rule of thumb as far as how much surplus should be carried? >> It's 20% of your I believe it's 20% of your budget. I believe
>> I I would have to look for sure. That's a case where I remember correctly number%. >> I I uh I've always been told GFOA doesn't want you to go below 16%. So there's >> I think that I think that's the floor.
It might have gone up. Yes. >> Anywhere between the 16 to 20. So based on the budget, I guess we're in pretty good shape. >> We budgeted 364.6.2. just highlighted them. >> Yeah, I just highlighted them. I didn't
I didn't want to list them all out >> because there were some that were like minimal and some so I said I'm just going to do the the ones that are some of those things Right. >> Right.
Last year's expenditures. >> So, we're gonna with that said, we're gonna have Jackie, our tax assessor, is going to present next Right in the house. >> Okay. You're going in.
>> All right. We'll hold you to that. Hello. How are you? Happy new year to everybody. Uh thanks for having me. So normally I don't do this sort of thing in any I'm in four municipalities now. Um so this will be my first uh giving
highlights for the uh for the financial aspect of the assessor's position. Um so just going over um a little recap for 2025. Um for added assessments, those are improvements to um to homes, new
construction, um any um uh tenant fitouts in commercial spaces. So, we brought in 26 million uh in added assessments um this in 2025
um hoping to, you know, hoping to do a little bit more next year. I'm always I like money, so I like to bring that in. Um we did have um we settled 14 we have 14 uh county tax board appeals. Um we
settled um or withdrew six of those. Um were very minimal um as far as uh changes or or settlements um go. Um for uh state tax courts, that's where our big one is. So right now we have uh we
have uh seven uh I'm sorry, we have four appeals that have been lingering on for over 10 years uh here in Roxbury Township. Um we have uh six that are
years old. Uh seven that have come on within the last four years. So, we did have um we did settle a good chunk of some that have been lingering because the uh the state tax board uh they're they're forcing us to they're trying to
get rid of those older appeals. So with that, we are trying what I'd like to try to do is try to do a step down going forward uh in the new year um and withdraw prior years. But some fees that have um no current uh business here,
these are older appeals. There's just still waiting. We have to we have to settle those. Um so um I am working on those. One of the things that I um I did recommend to Val and JJ is that um an increase in to settle some of these
appeals before we get hit by the state um tax court to to have them settled so they don't kick into our regular >> uh Fred as a tax attorney. Yes. >> Okay. Yes. So we have um so we have some of our bigger ones are wealthy um Conway
Fright um and um uh the Ledgewood we did settle Ledgewood uh investors over at the mall. Um one of our big ones that we did settle was the landing mall um which um >> uh with the uh
>> oh with the with the with tax with the updated tax. Absolutely. Uh so uh there's a lot less when I started here. Um I'll be in March. I'll be here for two years. So there's a lot less. Um we do uh we did have several withdrawal because they um
uh whether they didn't have their chapter 91s in place with their income and expense. We we filed motions to dismiss lack information. Uh so those um that's good. You know that is um you know that's good for us. Um so we don't
have to uh worry about refunds uh in those instances. Um for the um we did uh for the 100% disabled veterans there um they are coming in NAS um and not just
here in in all of my town. So we did I did approve 18 100% disabled veteran applications in um in Roxbury, excuse me, which is uh which was a million dollar um reduction in assessed
value. Uh but we did um we did bring five back um who either moved um out of town, passed away, or um or just did not qualify any longer. >> The 100% disabled veterans. I could get that for you as well.
>> I don't need to see the list. I'm just >> uh we do we do audits every 30 years. We out what we call a further statement and that is to make sure that um that they are still living in the home. If it's a surviving spouse, that they have not remarried um that they um you know if we
do need additional paperwork, we we will request that paperwork. um if a propert once a property sells, we get the when um whenever property sells in town, we did have 300 um deeds come through um our system. So when um when there is a sale, it gets recorded
through the county. The county sends it directly over to our office and it's coded. So if you're 100% disabled veteran, it's coded as a 15F. That's an exempt property. So my my assistant Lydia, she um will put that on my desk
and say that's no longer. So if that disabled veteran happens to say moved away in May, we will put an added assessment on that property from May through December for the rest of the year for that new owner um to uh take
that tax burden off. Um the um but so five of those which amounted to 1,255 we did we bring five back on to the gradable base. Um my uh my recommendation with uh with
the 100% disabled veterans and I am 110% gunko veteran. Um in my other municipalities, we do it just saves us a little bit of money. We approve the veteran as the day that I approve that application. Um because going back, we
don't get a credit going back from the county or the state. we get it from the date that we have that approval in my office. So that's just uh that's not my decision. I leave that all in your capable hands as far as that goes. >> Is that how we're doing it right now?
>> Right now it goes back um a little bit beyond a year. >> Uh two years I believe it is two years. >> In my other towns we do it as a date. It's an ordinance. It's as of the date that I approved that application. Um, just to give you, you know, an idea. Um,
so you come and you move into town, you apply, I approve you. Um, you may have been approved as of two years prior. You may have been getting in that benefit in another state that two years prior that we don't know about. We're not allowed to ask about that. So, um, so it's just
for, uh, and and we I've never had a problem. >> I just would There are a few of these things that we want to bring forward as part of the collaborative conversation that says I think I know what the intent of the
council has been but there's repercussions from a negative and fiscal standpoint of going backse I thought we talked about years ago from another state. I'd rather get the information.
I'm going to bring mirror language from other municipalities and we have an expert here >> who uh deals with this in other municipalities. >> Oh, sure. Sure. Um >> he's got he's got the legal going right
away. Um so, um as far as farmland goes, uh we have um a little over 30 farms in town. Um I had to deny two of them. We are getting audited now. two farms did have to be denied. So, they are now on
the tax aidable base. Um, uh, one of them is probably going to try to come back on. Uh, the other it's just they just don't qualify. It's a it's a larger farm. They were approved for agricultural use. Uh, but unfortunately, they have a massive pond that takes up
their um that takes away from their eligible farmland. So, um, so I did have to to take two uh two farms out of out of circulation. Um now COA fees. So um we have the
affordable um housing fees. So uh in connection with the zoning department whenever there is um a building that is greater than 1,000 square foot of an addition, uh a um COA fee um is uh is
warranted on the on the home. Another one that's all different in all my towns. Um so this Township is 10,00 um and then I go out I do get their their calculations I do a COA fee and then the zoning department that goes
into the affordable housing trust. Um so we have done nine residential projects on that thus far. Um and then 26 I think I've already done three three or four maybe already. Um so um so things are building which is good. I wish we could
get more commercial um on 46 to build uh because that would bring in Yeah. So, and I'm not from Roxbury. I just drive down and I say, "Oh, the possibilities uh are endless." Uh, so and that would bring in a lot of revenue. Um, so and not another hot
chicken hot chicken wing place. A lot of those. Uh, so and with the with inspections, I performed over 60 60 plus inspections on additions new construction. So, whenever an addition whenever a new home is built at the villages um or anywhere else in
town, I go out, I measure it. Um I go in and I do what we do as far as count square footage, um bathrooms, basement, decks, patios, pools, and we will put on added assessment as of the date that that I do that inspection if it's
complete. So, that's 25. As a recap, I also would just like to point out um that um I was elected president of the Mars County Assessors Association um for 2026 and
2027. And um Lydia Farola, my assistant, she is Miss Fire and Tax Assessor. She'll do a great job one day. Um she was elected secretary of the Mars County Assessor Association. So I had to had to grab her in for a little bit. So
So now for a glimpse into 26. Um looking again for the added assessments to um you know the more buildings that there are uh the more I get to go put values on and um that is um that's always
that's going on uh for farmland. The state of New Jersey is going to be rolling out a portal for farmers. So um away goes the paper and pen applications. Um, so there will be training as far as any I I don't believe
that we're need any financial assistance in this category whatsoever. Uh, but we'll stay tuned for that. Um, tax maps, that's going to be that's going to be our big one. So, um, when you have a
municipal ratio that drops below a certain point, um, what the county does, they usually take the lowest four ratios and they call that municipality in for, uh, a revaluation. So, um, we didn't get called in this
year, so that that is good. But, um, I have a very strong feeling where our ratio is, we're going to get called in next year to do a rebell in maybe 29 or 30. So, that's just getting ahead of it, but what I've been seeing at the county
tax board, the towns that are going through um that the tax maps are a mess in all the towns. Um so, now to give you an example, I have we have beautiful tax maps in in Madison. Um we just got 13 pages back from the state of New Jersey
with corrections. So, um I know the engineering department has the tax maps in their budget, but being that the tax maps are used by the police, the health department, the DPW, um, uh, all all the departments, engineering, assessing. Um, it was my
recommendation that it goes into a capital budget instead of the engineering budget alone. Um, I wish Mel were here. She would she would thank me for that. Um, but that because it's going to be it's going to be a cost because the state wants it in a certain format now and then they want certain
changes made to it. Um, and they will kick it back. Um, Handover just got uh they just got their fourth um uh meeting back at county tax board that they're going to get um signed and be held in contempt because the tax maps aren't
changing. So um >> um the tax maps need to be updated. So if there's a subdivision that needs to go in it's a matter of um who's putting that in there. I'm uh you know I'm not an engineer. We have, you know, surveyors, you have the engineers, but it doesn't fall on the task of engineer.
A surveyor needs to get that in there. Uh so, um so we do have we do have a surveyor. Uh but now there's different levels and layers of the tax maps that this that the state wants. Um they want um zoning layers, they want different
GIS layers. Um little bit out of my scope of experience. Um but what I do is whenever there's whenever there's um a lot line adjustment or a subdivision. I go and I take my hard copy of my tax map. I mark it up. What I normally do is
I'll meet with the engineer in January to go over those. Um I don't >> I thought we had a thing where there was changes made the applicants were supplying us that >> I've never heard that. Um but that um there's there's a few missing pieces
from the prior I'm not going to verb blame, but uh but the uh but there are um a few missing pieces there. So, um it's kind of those those changes, how do they get made? Um I'm used to getting new tax maps every year with I make the
changes uh whether it's six pages that have changes on it. This way, everyone gets a new updated um tax map. So, uh just for just for accuracy, um the town the state is looking at at those. 2019.
>> Yeah, it was 2018 was the field work of 2019. Um with that with the reval, um where uh Madison, we had 4,300 line items. We were called to do a reval. Um it's just a matter of the sales, the real estate sales, the market is crazy.
So that's bringing down that's uh bringing down your rate the ratios. And it's not just in this town. It's um there are so many towns that are have been ordered to do rebal, but it's costly. So Madison is um we have 4,300 line items in Madison. Um the rebell is
costing us1 million30. Uh and that's 4,300 line items as opposed to close to 9,000 line items uh here in Roxbury. So it's just anticipating what is going to be inevitable. So but I was assured that
it's not we're not getting called in this year. Um but um I don't think we're going to escape next year. Um and the tax maps are big taxs are not included in that 1 million30 that's all separate.
>> So there is a it's a ratio it's not based on number of years when it hits a point at a certain number that's
need it's it's sometimes like that. So, we do have one that's coming up. Bin Township, for instance, is one of my municipalities. They have not had a rebell since 2013. Their ratio is it's teetering, but we
had it because we had um we all thought that Roxbury was going next. Uh but that we were saved by the fact that we were we had a reval in 2019. Um now, that reval um again, I was not here for that reval when when I started um two years
ago. we're going through some things and um and the re the rebal it was just not accurate um and I don't know who my job as the assessor is to oversee what the appraisal systems is doing uh but there
are pockets um uh uh just to give you an idea and I don't know where is but um poets peak is so undervalued it's so under assessed right now um it's very very underassessed um some of the properties on the lake are under assessed
Um we have um >> so we have and I I have corrected once at once a house you know say a house in poet's peak it's assessed at 400,000 or 450 it's selling I mean one just came on for 939,000
today um on on Lazarus and um it's so far away if that house hasn't been updated I can't make I have to make that a usable sale and That's what brings your ratio down so badly. Um, so if it's a house that, okay, kitchen's been
updated, baths have been updated, a basement has been finished, then I can go out and send out a letter for inspection, say, I need to inspect your home for improvements that we don't have on record. And it's not that anybody did something wrong. Um, if you uh are updating your kitchen or your baths and
you haven't moved any plumbing or electric, you don't technically don't need u a permit for that um which is what normally triggers me to come in, but it does increase your value um increase the market value. So, that's what I want to get out there, but um it's not happening up at Poet Peak. It's
just u there's no crazy no crazy improvements, but those sales prices um sales prices are crazy up there. Um what's >> um it really is and I've been in real estate since 2001 so I I get the hot
sheet every single day um of the stuff that when they bring municipalities and it's not been it's not just here. Uh so and it's a you have a great school system. You have um I mean I live in I live in Long Valley. I wish we had the uh the recreational department.
>> Thank you. I wish we had the record of some of the services that Roxbury offers. Um I you know makes me sometimes want to move over here but can't afford anything be well that's then we then we'll jump to the salary portion of uh of that
increase. So um so tax that's just um you know anticipating what is what is to come and and getting money put away for that. Um and other than other than that with our
salary ch uh changes our our current budget, you know, we remain pretty flat. Um and um and and lastly, it's just with the with the appeals that we do have to settle, you know, hoping to get a little bit more money in the surplus, the
reserves for for the tax appeal uh uh settlements that we can try to make. >> Let's get up on that. where we stand. >> So it's two two issues. It's the tax appeal side. It's the rebal side.
The assessor has never presented my understanding to you guys before. We wanted to do this is the money, right? We wanted to bring forward how we're turning the money, talk about what's good and what's where are their vulnerabilities. That's why we wanted Jackie to one. Hope you guys appreciate
it. >> Any other questions? >> Questions. And if you ever want to go over how how the ratio sales and the ratios ever want to work, I'm happy to happy to have a discussion about that with anybody.
Rob, you're up. >> Come on up. This should be a lot. >> No promises. >> I mean, we know each other. I've been here 19 years and uh Jim, I think I'm here the second longest.
But uh Roid the construction official in the construction department here. Um just give you kind of a an overview of what we've done over the last 5 years. Um you see the numbers 546 743.
Basically we're we're averaging $593,853,000 a year in permit fees. you know, you see the updates and the permit numbers. We're all kind of consistent. The average permits are 1,650 permits a year over the last five
years. We do that with uh three full-time staff, three part-time, and we have a shared service with our fire official or our fire vet um fire sub code official with Mount Olive. So, he's technically not an employee. And then we also
provide uh the construction official and electric sub code tool. So that that helps offset our budget as income. Um over the past five years, you know,
you see the the capital budget pretty much nothing. Uh in in 21, 23, 24, 25. In 22, we did receive a vehicle Ford Explorer, but that actually was done through the um the equipment and
DPW budget, which brings me here why I'm here today. Again, I've been here 19 years. This is the first time I've come and asked for anything. Uh but this is this is not even an ask. This is a a plead. Um I have have asked
in the past for digital storage. We are inundated with paper files that we have to maintain. We can't we can't destroy any of them. Uh Fabionics has provided us a quote.
This is this is a um you know it's it's a it's a rough quote because it's it's impossible to figure out how many copies we have, how many boxes we're going to actually have. But I just want to get started started in the process. This is not a one-year one and done process. This is a
multi-year process. But for the quote I've received is for 28,000. Um that will get us maybe one out of the next five or six years of doing this. But if we don't, we just simply just do
not have room. >> How many years >> do we have to save? the life the life of the building. So, anything we've generated since uh since moving into this building is here
to >> uh it went into tab, right, Amy? Tab. >> There's a lot. Yeah, that that was a site storage. I know it's both in storage.
>> I I will of our storage. I'm just going to jump. >> No, that's a section of the shelf. You see the shelves? That's that's just this is just a glimpse of what we have there. The 56 boxes would probably get one full
rolling and maybe a third of another shelf. So, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, maybe nine of those shelves clear. And we have at least 10 of them. So, so Rob, what's
your plan here as far as concerned? I mean, digitizing is absolutely the way to go. Talking about that in a little while, I would imagine with our Are you looking to just do this over five years? >> Five. I I think the next slide says this
is a first year of a six year plan. Sorry. I asked him to go to the picture just to give you an idea. >> This will this clear what we have in storage as well? >> It will clear up what we have here in the building. >> Not in not int.
>> I don't I don't know what we paid for that. Amy might might know better, but it's been It goes up every year because we had stuff that was like $60,000 a year, I believe. >> Yes. But we also have to pay and bring stuff back.
>> They don't use it. Like my department doesn't have anything there. It's in my budget, but >> it's benefit from having all that digitized and getting certified by the state have digital
records. comprehensive plan. >> I can talk to about other ideas I have as well um with different company for one where we don't have to pay every time we go to get a record um like I went back to my books for example and we
have that they took them we got it done >> I know I'm still working on >> but yes Yes, the company that gave us the quote Fabionics, they they're state approved.
They're part of the co-op. Uh they can destroy them and then we can just go on and at any time pull up the record. Uh it's going to help with Oprah requests once once we get it all on. >> Would we start would we start at
facility first? No, we start in our office because if we don't, you're never going to find us. [Laughter] There's actually been discussion. >> There's been discussions about also pursuing grants, but what we're here to
talk about is the problem we're facing today. Like we could do this 28,000, but we probably need 200,000 >> planning to the engineers office, office, >> you know, you're talking about tab. So
we might have a $200,000 liability. We're looking to get started,000 $200,000. >> That's just in this department. So >> I'll give you a little bit >> I'd like to get started and I think
goes down parallel path. Let's potentially get started. Let's explore with you know Amy's gonna have a chance to sit here. We can talk about some other options looking at a tab what that would cost. I agree. Uh I'm just here to talk about and that's why I used the word
vulnerability at the beginning. There there's things that have been talked about for years that never got put in front of you and we're trying to bring it all in front of you to say let's get started. >> Now Jim, you you're the only guy that
might remember Russ Brown 19 years ago had put a request. There was a $100,000 budget line item for digital storage. And when I came here 19 years ago, I kind of kicked that down the kick that down the road. I took that off. Kept I
kept every year I put it out, put it out, put it out because at the time it was a want. Now it is not a want. It is an absolute need. And we've scaled that back to start just to start. Well, >> let me ask you a question. And I've been
here almost As far as that's concerned, why are we using >> we can't single, you know, item that they have. >> We have to request permission to get rid
of anything. >> They don't store it. >> Pretty good with it. So, I don't think they might have permanent records that need to be kept. >> What I'm trying to say is this. We're looking to use this particular vendor for this purpose. Okay. already storing
this website using dorm right is the destruction >> destruction. So when we is there something that you've been using over the years Amy >> that's Artemis and DRAM right it's the archives and records management which and destruction of archives and records
it's darn and we request permission to destroy the records based on calculation that they go through that process we should use the same system as a whole >> so that again that's just for
destruction we do do that when we can we can destruct get rid of plans, certain plans. What you see there, those those are we have to keep that for the life of the uh the building and you know just every year we're 1600 plus permits a year. That
file could be a quarter inch or it could be 4 in. Do the math. I mean there's just it could take up this entire table one year. We don't have that room. I've I've added uh I've added multiple rolling shelves that I've taken from other offices.
Chris Ras used to have they were unused. I took them I' I've built other racks in the office. We just simply don't have the room anymore. Years ago when we needed a um an office for the um the prosecutor,
that used to be a storage room down there. My office was much bigger. I gave half of that or a third of that to to storage so that we could facilitate an office down here. I don't have I don't have wall room to even add
another $4,000 worth of shelving. >> Okay. That's why I'm here, Jim. >> Um I'm going to jump back because I just wanted to get to the photos. So, okay. So, uh, one other thing I'm just going to also, um, mention is that we are
looking also for another vehicle for the electrical inspector. Um, Steve Senise with DPW and Equipment, he'll be handling that portion of it, though. But, uh, our electrical inspector, he's he's probably putting on more miles than anybody in a year, and it's the vehicle
is now 11 years old. He's putting on 20,000 miles a year. So, um, there there's there's a need there, too. But again, that's not going to come that's going to come when Steve does his presentation down the road. And then there's just the yearly
maintenance of this, you know, a little over 2,000. And then you see there, this is that kind of my my first year of a six-year plan. Might be five, might be seven. You know, it depends on what we get each year.
If it's five or seven, it doesn't matter. You won't be seeing me here. So, I'm kind of getting prepped for the next guy coming in. Help help him out. >> I'm sorry. >> Is this a free company that does this type of >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> And you can see the towns that they work in. That was perfect segue. Um, they're doing uh all the towns right around us, including Mount Olive. I don't think that's on the list, but um they're just they're wrapping up with Mount Olive, too. Um,
another town that's right here, Menonboro. They just did all of Mendau. So, they, you know, they're they're kind of the premier company doing this and and again, they're also in the co-op plan. Can >> I ask a question about that? Do we have to we have to pay every time we
have it in Rand. Do we have to pay every time we want a document? >> No, because you go on you go on um problem. What is it called? Data. Um, >> can you just pull it? >> Yeah, they just host it. You're going to go to their site. >> Yeah, you're gonna go to
>> You're gonna download it as a PDF and send it. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> There's a call for hosting. >> Well, that's that's what that's what this is right here. >> Um, so it's like 200 200 a year,
but we don't like tab. Like tab you paid every time. They would pay you paid for the search. You pay for the delivery. You pay for the pickup. >> Yeah, this would not this would not be that way. >> Um, so I'm going to now just go to the
operating budget. The operating budget is pretty much been the same since I've been here. Uh, you know, short of any salaries changes. Um, But it's, you know, remains pretty uh pretty flat. Uh the salaries,
the salaries and wages, that's actually offset by the contribution with Randolph for both construction officer, my position, and the electrical uh sub coach's position. >> And the first, you know, the first few items are
just a few thousand really. simple simple stuff. But then you get down to the bottom, the pension contribution, the FICO, that's all >> whatever finance has told us. Yeah, that they figured that all out.
>> Any questions on operating budget? >> This is basically the next sheet is just the worksheet. First time we've had the opportunity to see this. >> Anybody have any questions and then leave with that unless you have any
questions. Let this pile is that all the different department >> I believe that's just for our department. Again, it's something that we take >> UCC. Yeah. He gets a portion of it and
then the rest of it is in Rob's budget. >> Yes. Yeah. Anything the the gasoline pension health >> questions? >> No, I think we're good. Thank you, Rob. >> Thank you. >> And I think Rob is up next. >> Good thing is I can open my own
PowerPoint. Yeah, right. Rod thought he was thought he was cool. >> This is the good news. I have two slides, one for capital, one for operating. in my budget. Um, when you look at the actual sheets,
you'll see that there's increases. Um, the increases are strictly cost increases. There's nothing new added. Um, for example, you're looking at capital, there's $28,000 in there for discontinued replacement of desktop PCs.
It's just something we do ongoing. refresh them on a schedule to keep them uh functioning properly. Same thing server wise. We have servers that are replaced on a schedule. Three different buildings all housing their own rack
that needs the equipment swapped out on a on a schedule. Security equipment same way. Uh some of it gets swapped out. Some of it is a phase project that you guys had approved several years ago uh to get through Whether it be cameras, uh,
access control systems, uh, panic buttons, various alarms, uh, this is a continuation of that project to grow into some of the other buildings. So, it's they are increased numbers. The capital budget isn't necessarily an
increase uh, as compared to what was outlined in the, you know, in the forecast from prior years. But on the operating side, I'll highlight a couple. It is it is increased, but contractual increases. Sort of sort of to Rod's point with his
paper data, um, electronic data is my my responsibility and it just keeps growing. It's the more pictures we take to document a inspection, a complaint, they all have to be kept.
Just a constantly growing number. Um, you guys could probably attest to at home looking at your phones, how many pictures you had. If you looked at your phone and said, "How many pictures have I taken since January one of 25 December 31st?" You probably fall over actually
quantified that number. Multiply that out by all of the employees here that are out there on, you know, inspectors out there documenting things, the number of emails, all of it, and then double it because now that stuff has to all be backed up.
So it's it's just a growing number. Um some of the others are compliance issues. U the website there's a increase in cost there to start the ADA compliance requirements that were mandated to fall under by
April of 27. We have the first portion is active already. Uh the final portion will be quite a deadline 27 but it does come with to get that off. Um the
transcription software you see has a a substantial increase in it partially because we you guys approved it last year so we didn't pay a full year. So if you look at it 26 versus 25 looks like an increase but it's that you're paying the full 12 months notated
by the time was available last year and security equipment is up again on the same principle as data. It's the things we've added. They all come with a subscription with maintenance charges. Posting up the data from those devices
that annual cost per device costs you guys. Mayor question. Mary, that's all I have in terms of the team for tonight, but I would welcome any feedback on this style.
[Applause] I take notes from somebody comments. >> The numbers just came in today. on the website. >> Any other questions? >> I got an updated time frame for the apparatus. The scheduled date is May of
2028 and early was earliest would be late 2027. >> Okay. And I just also want to just mention that tonight we took uh delivery of our new chief vehicle tonight. >> We glad we took delivery of our new chief vehicle tonight.
>> The new chief vehicle. >> So thank you. >> Yep. >> We will we will take that information and divide the 425 450 between the two years. >> Yeah. Once we see everything
else >> feedback you like this department operating >> I'll circle back. >> Okay. [Music] We could cover in 20 minutes time. >> Thank you. Great job today
presenting us the budget. annual journey. You guys can question >> Yeah. So brings us to item five. Matter request referred by council members, managers of clerk. There are none. Uh this brings us
to item six, our first public portion. Um I'd like to ask that we focus on our budget and our town business on this portion. Um It's open to any topic. Anybody who wishes to be heard from the public, please come to the microphone,
state your name and address for the >> Hi, my name is Heather. I'm from Roxberry Township. So, here uh some questions I have for >> I need your address, please. Uh Heather Shab uh Roxbury Township
>> 11 Justine Police. >> Uh so ha has the town increased their police budget in preparation of the possibility of an ICE facility opening as there will be significant situations
regarding and requiring police protections. It's a great question. We have not been presented the police budget for 2026 yet, but as that comes to us, we'll be able to answer that question. >> And also, does the budget reflect increased costs for sanitation, sewer,
sewage, and other costs associated with a possible ice facility? >> Again, great questions, but we haven't been presented those budgets, and we'll be able to answer those questions. >> Okay. And will uh any of these kind of increased costs if possible be
responsible on the taxpayer? >> I can't answer that question right now because I haven't seen the any future budgets the department you just asked about. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much.
>> Hi McGovern St. John's in Paripony. Uh just to follow up on that question, I'd like to know what kind of contingencies you know you may be planning and uh if there's any been an analysis of what those costs might be because uh I mean
as you can imagine uh I know that you've anticipated some of this in the very wording of the resolution that you passed last week that we much appreciate uh that it would be burdensome you know to an extent that is uh you know hard to foresee and even harder to absorb. So,
you know, uh I hope that that uh is being factored into your your considerations. Um just to follow on that, um this uh it all comes back to the budget because of the way you know that this will impose burdens on the town, but um I'm wondering if either
tonight or at your next regular meeting, uh if you can, uh disclose more of your own impressions of the uh site tour that you did last week uh so that everyone is kept informed about that. And I'm wondering if you are in touch with the many other municipalities across the
country, most of them Republican controlled, who have been swiftly passing ordinances uh you know to uh uh impose moratoriums on this kind of uh development uh you know to head off uh the u the consequences of having an ICE facility in town. Um, as you I'm sure
noticed, uh, thanks to our Democrat governor, uh, we did not get a law about data protections signed today that would have, uh, stanched the flow of people who might be going to this jail. Uh, so, you know, municipalities have to be, you know, shoring up whatever protections
they have. Uh, it's also been leaked that ICE believes they're going to have these facilities up and running by March. So you have to be, you know, ready for the onslaught of whatever uh precipitous uh, you know, tramplings uh of your uh of your permitting and your
zoning that they might be planning that you have to be, you know, on the lookout for. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Can I have some township business raises? >> That's all right. >> No, go ahead. If you want to I'll let you go first. That's fine. >> Quick question. Robert Cost. Uh I'm
surprised nobody picked up on that one item on the u uh the maintenance of uh computer maintenance or something. They they asked for $8,000 and they're being given $14,000. What uh
>> so Mr. Cross, this is the first time we've seen these these budgets. We have time to review them and then circle back detailed information detailed. >> Okay. So then >> that will will come. So, we'll be talking about this later on. >> I would absolutely say yes.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Is there anybody that has any questions that would relate to our staff so we can go? >> All right. Seeing none, I'm going to close this public portion and we'll have a second one just a few minutes. All right.
So, since there's no questions for staff, thank you so much for being here. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. Uh moving on to item seven, introduction of proposed ordinances or none. Item eight, hearing adoption of
ordinances. I'll second reading none. Item nine, introduction of adoption of the four of resolutions, there are none. Personnel changes, none. Allowing communications, none. This brings us to our second public. Anyone in the public wish to be heard on any topic, please.
>> That was very quick. Uh William Angus from Hacketttown. Uh echoing the previous comments about how this is going to impact the budget. Uh when I was driving over here tonight, I was in the left lane coming up from Netcom. There was a tractor trailer that was trying to pull into the warehouse
facility. We sat there for almost three minutes waiting for an opportunity for it to go left. And this was at a time when there's very little traffic, but there's just enough that he could not do it safely. And that hill is a blind hill on both sides. And you also have tractor
trailers that go left when they go up the hill into the pilot and those that are coming out of the pilot turning left onto the westbound lanes. So you already have a situation that's kind of unsafe. And this facility has been labeled as an
active facility, meaning 24-hour activity. And my question is, uh, has any traffic study been done about whether you need a, uh, dedicated lefthand lanes, traffic lights, or more to ensure that we're not having cops and
EMS having to respond to accidents every single day? Because if this place is as active as they say, that's going to be make a dangerous inter dangerous part of the road even more so. Um so so my first question is uh you know regarding is
there any traffic study can you do one uh what what if uh would this be effect on the budget if you had to build a traffic light and then second uh it's going to be drawing from the same water supply that uh Mount Olive Nekong and
Roxbury use and uh there's always been some questions about the water supply and how it can meet the needs of the people and along the same lines have any studies been done or are you planning to do any studies to ensure that the presence of this facility doesn't create
water problems for the three towns? >> So answer your first question on the traffic study or or if a traffic light uh fall back to the budget. No, a traffic light would not fall back into the budget. It is a state road to the state budget. Um we are aware of the
traffic situation in that area. Our chief of police is very keen to what happens in that area. It's people in Roxberry know um the um impact that area has on traffic. Um I'm unfamiliar with a specific traffic study that that you're
asking for. Um I don't believe one exists, but we are aware of the traffic in that area. It's been on our radar for a while. Um, as far as water and sewer, we are also aware of the sewer uh limitations there
um on that property and and township agreement that that falls on that property. Um, so to answer your question, yes, we we are aware of limitations in that area. >> Thank you. Good evening. Diana May, 30 Whisperway
East Ledgewood here in town, a 15-year resident. First, I'm insulted by the request that we members of the public not speak at all tonight. >> There was no request. I asked if we could maintain because this is a a special budget meeting. if we could
maintain >> the budget uh questions >> maintain for um business terms of business >> right >> that that was the request I can ask that >> like I said when I open public portion you can come up and talk about any topic
we're just asking that for the people who are here who are here for the budget but that's that's why >> absolutely I understand >> about seven or eight people >> absolutely absolutely I understand I have evenings for my job that I don't like to be there. The wording was just please don't speak tonight, not wait
till the second public session, which is what my point is that it would be totally appropriate to ask to wait for the second public session. Happy to do that. Um, learn more about how our budget works, but to just be asked to not speak at all was kind of how it came across and that came across offensive.
Um, the topic I'm here for tonight as a Roxbury resident, I am extremely concerned about property values. While my home has appreciated very nicely over the last 14 years that I've owned it, I do expect its value to drop significantly once an ice facility opens
here. That's how it does relate to our budget discussions. Yesterday, Tap into Roxbury reported that the property at 1879 Route 46 had its maintenance guarantee released by this council via resolution 2026-023
at last Tuesday's meeting. Then first thing Wednesday morning, ICE officials appeared to inspect the warehouse at that very same property. And while I understand that the process to approve the property was in the works for over five years, the timing of it being finalized Tuesday night and ICE showing
up the very next morning is either highly suspicious or one heck of a coincidence. At the very least, I would assume that DHS officials have been in communication with Adler Roxbury LLC and following the pro progress of this approval.
to learn when they could start moving forward with their plans. You can no longer act as though the ice facility here is theoretical. I urge you to act proactively and do everything in your power to create every legally viable obstacle to keep ice out of Roberry.
Thank you. [Applause] >> Um Green from Monu. I'm sorry. >> Oh, sorry. I'm Bernie Green from Bonnie. Um, I addressed the council today as a sister of someone with a developmental disability. My family has very different
political beliefs and it's caused a lot of strife, especially right now. But because of my sister, we recognize that sometimes we have to come together when there's someone or something caught in the middle. I don't support ICE, and I know some amongst the council do. That's
probably one of many issues that we disagree on. But last week, your council voted unanimously to oppose an ice facility in Roxbury. I know your reasons are different from mine, and I'm not here to discuss or pass judgment on those reasons. What's
important is that you did oppose it, and it must not have been easy waking up on the next morning to find out that it was not just a rumor. With the national attention and all of these people showing up to your council meetings, I know that you are under a lot of pressure right now to uphold that resolution.
But if everyone in this room can agree on this one thing, this one thing, we don't want an ice facility in Roxbury. Then look around you. We're we're a team now. You don't have to face all this
pressure alone. There are many here with experience and expertise in fighting this. Please let us help you. They stopped it in Kansas City, Missouri. We can stop it here in Roxbury, too. together as a community.
[Applause] >> Jodie Keagan, 90 Union Brick Road, Blartown. Uh, I saw the proclamation last week by this council, but I'm confused because will the federal government approach you
as a board or will they actually approach the zoning or planning board to get their approval? >> They have to reach out to us. But >> that they you mean the federal government? >> Yeah. >> But I mean, >> well, no, technically not, >> right? I mean, typical land use is I'm
an applicant. I go to the zoning or planning board. I won't come to you guys at all. Now, I think that's a great resolution you made, but I mean, I don't quite understand your skin in the game, and I'm glad you're in it because I >> Well, the zoning and planning board are
within the municipality, so we would know that. >> Well, yes, but I mean, but from a practical standpoint, the federal I mean, someone just said someone's going to come here in March potentially. They want to open it. And I've watched a lot of land use. It takes years sometime to get things approved like a Waw Wa or
quick check or you know your backyard pool. So what the next step the applicant would make would be not to come here. It would be go to the zoning board or planning board. I mean do they need a zone change to go from uh
warehouse to I don't know like a hotel? Is that is that a allowed use? I don't usually >> light industrial >> light industrial. >> Oh, okay. So, if it's light Yeah. If
it's light industrial, then does that include what what the fed federal government like is that considered light industrial housing like a jail? >> So, the concern would be whether this federal government can do what they wish. regardless of our zoning.
>> Is there Oh, really? Really? >> Regardless of >> Oh, we is any one of you the like liaison to the planning or the zoning? Oh, you're you're right. Yeah. So, have you like I mean I guess the next stop is the zoning meeting and asking this this
question which is >> this is not a permitted use. >> Oh, okay. Oh, okay. It's not a permitted use. It's my understanding from our our our attorneys and council that state and federal can supersede our local zoning.
>> Oh, really? Okay. >> That's my understanding. My also understanding is that the current warehouse is not zoned for this proposed use >> and just because it's not mentioned in it >> automatically makes it a non-permissible use.
>> Right. So, they would have to go. So they would have to go to the zoning board right to send their case and the allocation for sewer and water is designated during the application process >> right but application to who the application's not coming to you
>> approved application forget about we don't know anything about they haven't decided on this place or I'm not sure that they will decide on >> right but we want to get a jump on the rumor right so we know the rumor the rumor will start probably zoning board that will not
start the planning board or with you guys. That's all I'm saying is I don't want to be caught behind. I want to be ahead and I feel like we're a little bit behind because you're leaving the front, but back here is a zoning board and and permissible use and stuff. That's all I'm saying.
>> I think I think your question >> it's not No, my question is this is not for this is not going to come to you. But I'm repeating myself at this point. And my other question is, what is the plan? Um, is this where the zoning board meets? >> Yes.
>> Okay. What is the plan for overflow people? >> Right now there's an overflow. You're talking about attendance. >> Yeah, attendance. Yeah, >> there's an Right now the overflow room is open in across the hall in the courtroom. >> Okay. So, it's by like a a video or something and we would have the same
right to walk in and ask a question at the appropriate time. That's how work. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Seeing none, I'll close. >> No, no, no. >> What? >> Bonnie Rosen Ball Rand. Um, mine is just
a question actually. Um, we've been coming for three three weeks. This is the fourth week now. And last Tuesday night, you guys passed the resolution. And you can imagine if we're sitting here for hours that when we're at home, we're doing rapid response and making
sure that people are safe. Not just people who are undocumented, but citizens. You guys all know what's going on in Minnesota and now also in New Jersey. Um, my question is, so when we left here last Tuesday night, let's say it was like 900 p.m. By 11:00 p.m., I
knew that there was going to be a visitation by the federal government to the property at 900 a.m. on Wednesday morning. When did you guys find out? And it's kind of odd, like after hours, but I
know people showed up. So, it's just, you know, maybe um maybe coincidence, but it was kind of odd that you >> someone in the public told us. >> And someone in the public told us. >> Okay. >> And yeah, I think it was our people who
told you guys. >> You were the ones that told us there was a list. The list was received by the township in the morning. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. No, that's all I'm asking is that's Thank you for clarifying that.
Hi, my name is Sierra Wilson. I'm in Bud Lake, so I'm your neighbor. Um, my question is, and I found out uh last week as well, and my question is, if you if there was an ICE tour, did you speak with them? Did you speak with the ICE
agents or anyone in government? >> Yes. Yeah. >> Okay. Can I ask what was discussed? >> We expressed our concerns that were laid out in the resolution. >> Okay. Have there been any contact with our congressman, our governor, our new governor, I suppose, uh, anyone from
Washington? >> Uh, we have made contact with our congressman and senators and, uh, some of you. >> Okay. Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Hello. Thank you for your time. My name
is Zoe. Um, I am in Stanh Hope, but I am a grad. >> Zoe Best. Um, I am in Stanote, but I graduated from Morris County School of Technology over 10 years ago. Um, so being that we're speaking about the
budget, I understand you don't have um all of the budgets worked out for this year, but I did just want to note um the safety risk for the schools in these towns and the surrounding areas with the possibility of an increased ice presence
as well as just the current ice presence. Um, as we saw in Morristown, 17year-old citizen was taken. Um so really I guess to connect it to the budget um is that something that's sort of being worked into it for the
possibility of this happening? >> So that is a different budget than your municipal government. The school board is its own elected part um board. Um they meet on >> this but it wouldn't be the school
budget. It would be the like public safety, right? >> No, >> just around the school, not >> on the school. >> Not on the school. Just around the schools like for students walking home, >> public transportation, >> the buses, >> we'll take that up with the chief and
and when that budget comes in front of us a lot. >> Amazing. So, but it's something to be thought about maybe starting now, right? >> I'm sorry. >> Maybe it's something to start thinking about right now. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening. My name is Lori Serredic.
I reside in Paripony. I've been a Morris County resident for over 35 years. Trying to affect change in the current immigration system is beyond our reach today. But having the power to make a difference in the lives of residents who are citizens and immigrants in Roxberry
and Morris County today is not. I do not I do have power in my vote and in the First Amendment. I will continue to exercise my First Amendment rights in hopes that it will exact a change. I was raised in Cedar Grove, New Jersey
by my parents. My father was born in Ohio. His ancestors were Quakers, some of whom were buried in the cemetery in Randolph. My mother was a granddaughter of an Irish immigrant who fled her homeland for a better life.
I claim no more rights to live as an American as anyone in this room or an immigrant who came here to escape violence in their homeland. Were it not for the fact that I am Caucasian, my family's story would be
very different. I'm a Catholic who is taught to believe that all lives have value, that we deserve justice, and all people are our brothers and sisters. This administration says this is a
Christian Christian nation, but they act contrary to those beliefs. ICE agents act with violence and hold power over those over others who are powerless. We will we leave our brothers and
sisters to suffer and give them no hope. Will we put them in confinement without basic needs with no contact with their loved ones who may never see them again? They are denied in many cases a right to
fight for themselves in court and are denied access to an attorney. ICE agents are working for people who believe they are above the law. Where is justice for all? It isn't very different than during
World War II when groups of people, including children, were incarcer incarcerated without rights and denied basic needs. There may not be gas chambers in these detention centers, but the inhumanity is
the same. Don't let Roxberry become the new Awitz. Will future generations look back and wonder why we were complacent? If we are able to act and save fellow human beings, we should do everything
and anything in our power to do so. Call out injustice where we see it and protest any way we can. Will you tear parents out of their children's arms? Just a minute more. Will you deny
the child the comfort of their parents' love? If you do, if you are not willing to do this yourselves, then don't let ice do it. We may live in a world with borders, but we must live and act like there are
no borders that separated us from our humanity. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh, hi, my name is Jenny Garcia. I live at 220 Franklin Avenue in Rockway Township. Uh but I do have family that lives on Howard Boulevard. I stand by
the fact that New China has the best Chinese food in the city of New Jersey. Um so I was happy to be back in the neighborhood, you know, to see my aunts and stuff. Um, I just want to go back to what the previous speaker spoke
on the emotional and traumatic toll that ICE agents are having across the state of New Jersey. Like I said, I work for an organization that provides legal services. And the other weekend, ICE took a mother who was on her way to see
her three-month old baby in the NICU. She begged ICE agents with her hospital bracelet on that she was on her way to see her baby. They told her she was lying. Um, and now she's currently in the Elizabeth Detention Center.
So, I just want the council to understand who we're up against and I understand things are rumors right now. Growing up in Morris County, um, this is not a new thing. you know, I went to high school with other children who threat would threaten to call
immigration on my family um who were undocumented for a long time. So, I think the rumors of this facility is going to scare a lot of people in town. I have a few questions. My first question, I understand that you shared your concerns with the ICE agents. What
was the ICE agent's response to your concerns? >> They listened to what we had to say. But what what did they say back to you? >> They did not communicate much back to us. >> But what was what was said? >> Thank you for Thank you for your
concerns. >> Yeah, you know different components. They didn't say this was a rush and we pointed out some of our concerns including the traffic and security concern. They listened to it understood. They're going out to look
at other facilities. >> Was there followup on when they would get back to you? Like we'll send you an email. We will call or >> it was quite clear that they didn't have >> How long was the tour? >> Okay. Around what time was the tour?
>> Okay. But there was no other follow. Um what specific congressman are um has been like has reached out to you in order to in order to support like which which members of Congress or which elected officials have have reached out in in support or to help you
navigate the situation? and local legislative team. Um, I'll let them speak for themselves. >> And then I would invite folks on the council. Um, I think we often think that ice
detention is a separate issue because the current ICE detention centers are in Newark and Elizabeth, but that families are being ripped apart here in Morris County and in Roxberry and in Barciffany. The conditions of visitors outside of Delini Hall that wait for 2 hours on end to visit their families.
There's abysmal food conditions. The amount of human rights abuses that will happen in this facility if this council does not meet the moment and try to get ahead of it as much as possible is going to be detrimental. It will be a stain on the town's history. Residents are going
to be really angry. I need you to understand that the amount of cruelty and human rights abuses is insane right now. So, I really appreciate the effort to to get ahead of everything. Thank you. [Applause]
Hi, my name is Ardith Collins. I'm a resident of Paripany. >> I'm sorry, your first name again. >> Artist. >> I'm a Jersey girl through and through. I love this country and I love Mars County. I stood here two weeks ago and spoke against the building of an ICE detainment center in Roxberry. I spoke
on behalf of all people targeting who ICE is targeting, which is all of us. 15 hours later, Renee Nicole Good was murdered. American citizens who dare to stand up against this regime are being kidnapped. As JD Vance commanded,
going door-to-door raids are now happening. To the don't tread on me folks, isn't this the definition of being tread upon? To the people who have been saying less government, you now want untrained armed cosplaying boys in your streets. Isn't that the definition
of more government? Isn't this a repeat of Nazi Germany? To anyone saying this is too extreme, literal Nazi doctrine was on the podium during Christy Gnome's recent press conference. One of ours, all of yours. ICE agents get less training than a barista. 47 days at max,
yet ICE budget exceeds what NASA should have. Toddlers know better deescalation strategies than these masked thugs. Whose kids will fill the boots when we are dragged into another for-profit war? Or will you claim your kid has bone
spurs too? I have a question. Has any of you visited Delany Hall? >> Maybe you should. I also ask this. Which side are you on? Which side are you on? When ice comes to
your neighborhood, neutrals have no home. You're in union with your neighbors or you're a thug for Christy Gnome. Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Oh, soldiers, can you stand
it? Tell me how will you endure? Will you defend the Constitution and keep the oath that you swore? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Don't obey the
tyrants. Don't listen to their lies. In union, we will find the strength to be here and organize. Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? I know
I'm on. Thank you very much. Seeing no one else, I'll close public. Motion to adjurnn. Second. >> All in favor?