How are you? 247 And I had a great time. Hi, pretty Yeah. I'm going to call the meeting to 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. >> Amy, can you please read the open public meeting statement? 31st
email. >> Thank you. >> Rollley >> here. Paul >> here >> here. >> Well, good evening everybody. Uh, welcome to our neighborhood meeting. We
do these three times a year. Uh, it's an informal meeting where we get to sit down with the uh, neighborhoods, different neighborhoods around Roxbury and uh, just have open conversation, see what's working, what's not working, and um, you know, make sure we all uh, move
forward together as a unified township. Um, this meeting tonight is about you, not us. So, I'm going just move to our agenda quickly. Uh, Marty Kane, who will be here, he just said he's running a few minutes late. Um, and uh, but he'll be
here uh, hopefully within 10 minutes for his update. Uh, so I'm Rockbury Township Mayor Sean Patillo. To my right, I have Deputy Mayor Mark Crowley. To his right, we have Councilman Bob D. Philippo. Moving down, we have
Councilman Fred Ball. We have Councilman Tom Kerry on the on my left, I have Councilman Jim Riley. And to his left, Councilwoman Jackie Alrech. Uh we also have Where's Kathy? Former Cath former
council person Kathy D. Philippo, former mayor and county commissioner in the back with us. Um, and here with staff, we have our township manager, five months on the job, doing a great job. Thank you, J. We have our township clerk, Amy Reid. We
have our chief of police, Matt Holland. We have our director of DPW, Steve Senise. We have fire chief, John Romeo. We have emergency manager, Bobby Hackett.
All right. Um All right. So, I have an update moving down in the agenda. Uh like I said, Marty Kane will be here shortly. We'll let him circle back. I received an update. One of the agenda items is for the landing bridge. Roselyn and Chris
had another meeting tonight. There are representatives from the county um that have been u giving us updates on on the status of the new bridge. For those who may not be aware, the landing bridge here, which is uh to behind everybody,
um is scheduled to be replaced. It's uh probably 125 years old. This project has been on the books um since >> 125 years. >> 125 years. Um about 10 years ago there was a resident committee where we were
allowed to put add input uh to the county to help with the design of the bridge. Uh the original structure that was proposed was a straight trussle bridge. Uh that committee was able to um ask the the county to remain consistent
to what is there and that the historical value of the bridge that is there. That bridge is a double span bridge that over uh goes over top of both New Jersey Transit and the old now. Uh so we we asked the county to maintain that that that look. They agreed to it. So we're
looking forward to when it finally happens. Uh and we'll get a bridge uh that's more walker friendly, more more friendly to alternate modes of transportation other than cars. Uh so this is an update. uh on the 8th of April at the commissioner's meeting, the
budget was approved for $37 million for that project and all to complete all three phases. They're anticipating awarding the bid end of June, early July of this year, uh with a pre-construction meeting held in
late August where we'll be uh invited and we'll be able to get some uh additional updates as to timelines uh how the road's going to be handled and those types of details. And uh I know they say this every year, but they are anticipating a spring of 27 uh shovels
in the ground. Um uh for anybody who would like to see what the bridge is uh anticipated to look like, there is a rendering uh to my left. Um that is not final design, but uh that should be pretty close to what we're anticipating.
We'd asked them to also work on the bulkhead uh overlooking the lake. The the new design is meant to be, you know, a nice gateway into landing and the lake will back on. So very excited for that project. come along when it gets here. I
don't have any more words for that and I wish Marty was here now. Uh yeah, I'm going to skip down. I'm going to ask our director of public works, Steve, to give any updates in town for the DWS.
>> Evening everybody. So, I don't have a lot. Um there's a couple projects and different things in town this year that um you know we'll be addressing from DPW's perspective. Aside from all the normal maintenance, we're paving a couple roads, Har and Beach. Those are
the two roads in the landing area that you folks will see paved this year. We've done a lot of paving previously. Um, in addition to that, our uh, street sweeping for the year has started. We'll probably be in the landing area sometime mid is what we're anticipating. And you
will likely see that sweeper again for another two times this year. Three in total. I don't have the timing on that, but the first round sometime mid you'll see that winter time. And the last thing I have, unless there's any questions, is there is a clean up this weekend for a
townwide cleanup. It's Saturday the 25th, generally 9th to 11. Anybody have any questions for >> Steve? The time has changed drastically. Is this the new time after?
>> So they're permitted via their contract to pick up the hours of 6 a.m. 2 p.m. We don't control what time they pick up, just the date. I'll be here. He's not going anywhere. Think of anything.
>> All right. I also have our our fire chief of company 2, John Romeo. Any updates for the area? >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First off, welcome everyone to Roxbury Company 2. Uh we do have two events coming up. Saturday, May 2nd. Uh, Old Navy at the Ledger Commons will be holding their
annual safety fair from 12 to 4. The fire department, fire prevention, I believe the police department will be down there showing off the equipment, talking about fire safety, water safety. Uh, also Friday, May 22nd, uh, the Friday before Memorial Day, Company 2 will be holding our annual coin toss.
Uh, we'll be here on Shipport Road Landing in Lakeside Boulevard. Please come on out and show some support. Uh if you're ever interested in seeing the firehouse, want to know a little bit more about what we do, we're here all the time for calls. But every Tuesday night from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. or
anytime that you see the bay doors open, feel free to stop down. We're more than happy to give a give a tour. If you have kids or grandkids, you want to bring them out, let them see the trucks. Uh also, if you know of anyone or if you yourself are interested in joining, we're always recruiting. We are your
neighbors. We're here to help you and you know we're always looking for help. So any questions I'll also be here for the rest of the evening. >> Thank you. All right. So, I'm going to open it up to to questions from the audience and then when Marty gets here, we'll allow him
some time to give his update on the foundation and the comm and and the commission. Uh, all right. So, it's informal. If you have a question, please raise your hand and we'll call on you as we see it. >> Anthony, you want to kick things off?
Sure. Uh, good evening everyone. Happy to be here. Good to see you all. Um, normally I would have brought this to you as I heard it during the budget meetings, but I decided to preserve my piece and not attend the calamity that was going on uh earlier this year. Um,
during the tax assessor's presentation, it was brought up about the potential for looking at taxing unrealized gains as part of increasing the cost basis uh for valuations uh for properties within
the township. And I just wanted to voice a an idea that I don't think that's such a good idea. You know, the distinction was made between the valuations from permitted work on residences versus the her comment at the time was that
valuations in Poet's Peak are 600,000, but the houses are selling for 900 plus because people have done bathrooms or kitchens or, you know, whatever aesthetics, you know, that are subjectively valued. And that
if we decide to pursue something to increase a valuation based on a subjective uh unrealized gain, you're going to have people lining up outside the door if the market, not if, but when the real estate
market corrects. And so looking at trying to tax unrealized gains to get more money into the coffers, it's not such a great idea. >> I think I think what you she was bringing up this leading us down to doing a rebound,
right? Where single family homes. >> Sure. >> Then there was an additional approach that involved businesses because often times these larger scale developments, >> right, >> like warehouses, >> they uh their value changes more abruptly. They
No, have tax appeals against us and to look at where those values are much higher outside of the percentage range we're in now. >> And and the thing right target those large scale developments wasn't visual >> because with with the reval process you just two points. one, we got into a
little bit of a sticky situation because of the when the review was made to look into merging with Mount Arlington and ultimately, you know, DCA says that well, we let you guys go through with the
whole process, but the real deciding factor was that the timing for the revals for both Roxbury and Mount Arlington were not done at the same time. So that there's a disparaging uh between the the valuations for Mount Arlington versus the reval of Roxbury.
And so even though those few years went through looking at merging the two communities, it was never going to go through unless the two communities were reval at the same time. And then secondarily, when you look at the entire state as a whole, and you look at how areas like Patterson, Jersey City, and
Union City went decades without a reval, all while they're collecting extraordinary from the state. It just makes a mockery that Roxbury is potentially going to invest a couple million dollars to do a reval after, you know, 10 years. Um, for what real, you
know, gain? >> Excuse me. We're required to do a >> It's I thought it was his suggestion. There's no time limit. It it's based on when the percentage uh between the perceived value and the
actual values gets to be, you know, greater than 65%. >> And I thought we're about like 71%. >> State the tax the tax was demanding. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> And so you just look at uh if we why
would we spend millions of dollars early if we didn't have to? >> Well, no. If they mandated, that's what we do. We usually probably the year wasn't mandated. So they didn't mandate it this year, they made next year because our values percentage of growth. >> Okay. >> Spread out so much and that's where the
tax board says you must do a rebal to make sure everybody's paying their fair share. >> Yeah. Because it's about 71% now >> to to true market versus assess. >> It's a very expensive >> Well, yeah. That's why >> he's pointing out that it's not cheap yet. We don't have a lot of
>> Right. >> Okay. I have other But I'll let other people go. You can come back to me if you want. >> In the middle here. >> Hi, I'm Susanna. My name is Susan Oliver. I'm one of your neighbors. I live here in Lighting. I've lived here
for six years and I don't plan on going anywhere and I hope to retire here. Um I wanted to um Nobody brought it up on the council. I wanted to bring up the ice facility on the way in. You might have gotten a flyer from me and one of my friends live. She also lives here in
town. Um just wanted to highlight some of the threats to our community and some of the things that we've been talking about at the town council meeting and then give the uh town council an opportunity to address any of that answering questions and or correct me if I'm wrong on any of these statements. Um there's a significant threat to our
community um both environmental and infrastructure. This facility poses an intimate danger to our sewer system overload, drinking water shortages, echol ecological control damage to local waterways and of course Lake of Pekon. There is a significant financial impact
coming our way. Residents will be facing lower property values, significant tax hikes and potential damages to local businesses. Our quality of life here in Roxbury will change dramatically. Uh we will have increased traffic on Route 46.
We will have significant and will have a harm to Roberry Stage and home stealing at the community. Um, some things have been done by the town council. They did pass a resolution to formally oppose the facility that was
passed on January 13th of this year, but we do require that they continue to fight and we demand full transparency and ensure follow through. We really don't hear much going on about the about anything from the town council. defer back to we have a resolution and for
most of us that just is not enough. We as members of the community have noticed that there that our town attorney Anthony Bugo, he's also a state senator. His voting record in New Jersey contradicts our town's anti-ICE resolution status. And we also are
looking for a permanent ban from the town council on immediate moratorum on private prisons and permanent zoning ban on all detention centers and incarceration facilities. There is a lawsuit coming up on May 12th where the state of New
Jersey and Roberry Township will be going with ICE looking for a um preliminary injunction to stop the warehouse. Um what you can do as citizens is you can attend council meetings and have your voices be heard and you can also um email the town
council. Um the card that I handed out at the beginning up here has everyone's email as well as a schedule of upcoming um meetings on the back side. So I'd like to give the council an opportunity to address anything that I just said.
Maybe you have an update or you'd like to um give your views or any support of your resolution. Now is time. >> We have no update on the lawsuit filed. As we previously said, uh we're limited on what we can to the public to the
litigation of uh the suit that we are partnered with with the state of New Jersey against the federal government. >> I think that it would be helpful if you heard from the council members if they personally um are in favor of the resolution because I've heard others
speak in public at meetings stating that they're in favor. I just not here in New Jersey in Roxberry. >> Well, the resolution was unanimously passed by all on January 13. >> I think that speaks for
>> I don't think that it does when they council or they'll say I support ICE. It doesn't give us a warm buzz that you're doing everything that you can to keep ice out of prosperity. >> I'd like to
my whole life I'd like to say that I believe that they have been doing a lot you know and they're working with the new governor chair to to sue the federal government to keep it.
>> They are doing what they can. This is a federal >> other citizens. >> Yes. I let you speak. This is a federal building that they might not have control over. You understand that? So, and I think that they have done what they could and they have spoken and they
they they've created the resolutions. They're working with the governor to sue the federal government to keep it out. And you know what? I'm here. for a local meeting. I' we've heard all about the the opposition and that's fine, you know, like
you just it's just I want to hear what's going on locally in Miami. >> Okay. Moving forward, everyone just address me please. Thank you, John. >> Um before we take anymore, I saw Marty Kane walk in.
Marty, it's your floor. >> Ladies and gentlemen, the one, the only Marty King. >> And I apologize. It's my mother-in-law's 95th birthday today. >> Excellent. >> So, if I'm divorced next week, you know, I'm not here.
Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to talk a little bit about this going on a little bit. It's mostly about projects that are going on in Hills. Um the passing commission unfortunately is not able to be here tonight because um um
her son brought home something from daycare. So we really don't want her here. But no, there are A couple things really going on with the commission. There's some projects actually going on. I'm sure there'll some storm water projects. And the important thing for the um
commission is weed harvesting will be starting in May. They're going to be very second week in May that the harvesters go out there. Um you know we want you know I don't want to say we but the commission and we all work very
closely together. Um just so you know I'm already I work with Foundation. I just presentations tonight. Um, the foundation is the nonprofit, if you will, that tries to help out where there are government funds or unable to be
able to do so and is your government entities with all your local citizens that really in a perfect world. We share a little bit with New Jersey. So, um, the harvest will be out there and that's the good news. They will
start early. both north and south. Um and hopefully um indications are coming out of the winter in very good shape. I know a lot of you have mentioned to us that you haven't really seen been able to look down from your docks and see the bottom
this clearly in years. Um we think a lot of that is because of the fact that um um the cold winter, the heavy ice that was on the winter, the snow has kind of beaten down the algae a little bit. It's really algae that kind of gives that
cloudiness to the water and water has been very clear. Whether it'll stay or not for the duration of the summer, we don't know. We'll see. Um, but there's a lot of good treatments that have gone on out there. There was a fairly almost
complete lakewide aloe treatment um a year ago this past fall and all the decases on the water testing that have gone on is it really has you know done a good job on in the lake so we're seeing
some good signs there. Um the big project that affects Roxbury that we're involved in right now would be the dredging landing channel. that always used to be periodically done. You know, landing channel is a man-made part of the lake, if you will.
Um, and it wants to go back to nature if we let it. Um, it's fairly sal and it does need occasional dredging and it hasn't had it in 20 or 25 years seriously. And we have a great project.
Um, it actually came out of one of the township meetings about 10 years ago to dredge landing and recreate what was floating island because one of the things that happens is when you dredge it's very expensive because you have to truck away materials. You have to test them and
then you have to truck them away. They're wet. They're heavy. Um so the idea was there was always an island in town. It's largely disappeared over time, but we just allowed it to be reconstructed with the material we're
taking back out of town would make it a whole lot cheaper. get this done. Um so, uh the problem is funding. Um you know what kind of money we could get kind of kick off this project. Um we're not looking for any
township money, which I know they're happy to hear. Um and uh we think we have a couple of um both federal and state uh ways of getting this funded. Um and a nice part about starting this project is you don't have to do it all
at once. You know, let's say we got $2 million this year. We could do a lot of it. And if we couldn't finish it, you still have a partially constructed island there and you have a bunch of dredging done. We could just pick it up another year later or so. So, the
project is moving along. Um, I would love to be able to come back here next year and say that project has started. We're hoping we get money this year to kick off that project. For people that live on a Roxbury portion like it would
mean a lot. Um the um when they did the metric study which is they kind of probe down to see how high how the lake level is in different parts of the lake parts of landing town had up to the height of 10 ft above. So it just shows you how
much of this build and it was particularly around Shore Hills Beach which would come as a surprise to any old times here because small used to just wash right in from that area. into the lake, taking all the grit and grind off the lake with it. So, it's a
great project for for Ro. The only other project probably really worth mentioning that although it would be a Jefferson project, so much would be sewers for Jefferson. Um, Roxbury had foresight as did
Arlington, to sew the whole parts around a good number of years ago. 30 years ago. Thank you. Yeah. Um and had money and did about they thought they could do the whole they ran out of money and did about 55% of
Jefferson back about 30 years ago decided that they didn't need they didn't want to spend money on sewers and we kind of paid that price around the lake ever since that there's been no sewers in Jefferson. Um and in the ensuing 30 years um it just got so much
expensive to tackle projects and part of Jefferson is nice and flat and easy and parts as you probably know if you know the lake a little bit are very rocky and can be very expensive. So um Governor Cheryl and she was representative Cheryl got the project
kicked off to get funding with Mayor Susan from Jefferson Township to start the sew project. They're still in the study phase now. Uh they're working with sewer authority to hopefully have enough volume to handle Jefferson. Um and the
project is evening forward. Um the Army Corp is taking uh taking it on. The good part is sewer projects aren't so controversial these days. They have been getting funded. Um the idea is to keep the project moving
along. There's no It's going to be like a 10 year project and we're only about two years into it. But it would have such a huge impact on Lake systems from Lake as you know most of the big restaurants are on that side of lake too up in
Jefferson. So being used to get Jefferson and we can work on that small part of so you know that's just a us foundation is in Roxboro. We love being
in Roxbury. We're that little train station building that you pass all the time. Um we're we're thrilled to, you know, be part of the town. Um you know, I'll just say that little pond across from us, we would love to maybe someday even do something with that and turn it
into something really pretty pond. Um whether it was a public or a private type of thing, it is something that we'd love to see it happen. And it's really, you know, a wonderful thing for Atlantic to see that maybe as a walking track around or something. I can say them
keepers make a lot of noise on there when I'm working in the gardens. >> Wow, they are noisy over here. So, I know there's a lot that lives in Bricks. So, it would be good for that. Um, other than that, you know, I'm really happy to try to answer any questions about Lake
So, we were hoping Colleen was going to be here because she has some information that I really wanted to make sure that the the local landing Fort Morris area heard. And um on the corner of Rogers and Arlington Boulevard, right in front of the Shore Hills Beach Club, across
the street from the front of the beach club uh adjacent to the landing market. Um the Lake of Pacon Commission had uh some extra grant money left over and they approached Roxbury Township to see what if there was a project that we could work on within the watershed of
Lake of Pacon here. Um so we got together Steve Senise and a few other people uh were doing um on the corner there on that burn where the Shore Hills Country Club did a great job u putting the mulch there collaboration with the township. They pulled the trees down. They
We're going to continue to enhance that area with uh a native species um landscaping design to help beautify that area, enhance that area. Um so we're really excited to see that come together. It's a $50,000 planting. So it should be significant and it should add
some nice color to to landing there near the lake. So >> and you know and two points off of that. One, the money from that actually came from a project that was being done in state park where they didn't spend all the money really
is Roxbury just run by the state. And the other thing is if you have a chance and you're interested in native plants, please stop by the lake foundation offices. We have about 47 or eight varieties of plants there. We will try to kind of interpret for you and just to
show you what your garden is native. You don't have to water it once you get it established. done it for tens of thousands of years. We have some American chestnut trees there
trees and we can grow it on landing road with all the traffic that goes by there. It has to be able question. >> Yes, my name is Dave. I live uh right here down on the lake and I was just curious when they do that where will
they access like what's that going to look like? >> You know we're talking about that now. Last time we had an access we accessed off of that open area of Kingsland. Oh yeah, the little exactly and that's where we we access that something that we would have to
discuss with um you know your officials in Roxbury as to what would cause the least problem because as always you know maybe off the shore hills beach a little bit maybe off of the end of the channel just whatever will be least disruptive I think is what we would look to do. Would
that be in the summer months? >> Um well we can't really do it when it's frozen. that lake does freeze again. Um, it's going to be what we're at least looking at right now would be a dredger that sits in the lake and pumps in the lake.
Um, I think what they call that type of drizzing operation, but yeah. So, the dredger just moves around the channel and it will be a hose going over where it's pumping. >> Will it initiallyffect I'm sorry, but will it initially affect the the water level in the lake as they dredge? Will
it get lower? Is there going to be an issue with the boats or anything in the summer? you know, we we just have to make sure what we do is we're not going to be doing it like Saturdays in July. You know, the idea is to try to, you know, minimize it, but you know, that's something that we have to work.
>> Put it this way. When we get to money, then we can really, >> but if you want a little thing, we might be able to spray a little that way. Really, I mean, ide police disruption and open up that channel. So, we give
you some real excited that we will know we're successful when you see Miss L coming to the end of the channel and going back. >> Last question. They put the brewery in over there or not. >> I don't know if you want to handle that one or >> people have been asking that for a long time.
>> I don't have any update on that. >> Yeah, it's there might be some issues with ownership there. So, uh I don't foresee in the near future, but hopefully we're still trying to encourage them to get food. >> Township fully supported and approved
that project. It's an ownership issue. >> We approve. We approved it. Be nice to see something. >> I will say just, you know, everybody likes a little gossip. The Jefferson house actually is under
contract right now to be sold because that's the one we know for 20 years. You heard something here was sold. This time it's actually if it gets through the lawyers >> you know if it gets through lawyers that's
the one major change on the latest question >> I'm on the board for health the maintenance. >> They'll handle it in the beginning and then like Marty said, they're native, so they won't need any maintenance. >> I mean, I I will tell you for the ones
that we grow that first year, it would it would probably behoove everybody to kind of help out a little bit because they just need to get started, but they should be fine after that. Even in drought, they should really be fine. And someone's going to have to trim them at some point if you put some shrubs in
some. But yeah, the idea is the natives is exactly what the mayor said. >> The country club less work. So he won't mind. >> Thank you. Thanks. Open it back up for questions. >> Hi, I'm Lois from Center Street in Fort
Morris. >> Um, first I have to say thank you. This has gone on since the time Chris Rap was our township manager. Thank you for replacing the sidewalk on center and Palmer streets last year.
>> I didn't do it, but this guy right here did. >> Thank you. It's a long time coming. Um, the next thing I have on my list, as you come in from Necom, can something be done with that welcome sign? It's
peeling paint. You see it just stucking concrete pylons. I know two years ago, a number of the signs in the township were fixed and I I'm not sure if it was the women's club that were supporting that and they ran
out of funds and never got to that to that one. I don't know if anything can be done with it but at least a coat of paint so it's not peeling um last year >> scheduing all around town. >> Okay.
>> But we'll the DPW will take a look at Last summer into fall, there was construction on Center Street. Um, I don't know what they were putting in, but it was one lane only back and forth.
>> Was it gas lines? Was it electric? It ran from in front of the old center >> up to the first railroad trusses. >> Gas. >> What was it? Gas. >> Are they coming back?
to pave it. >> I'm sorry. >> Are you saying are they coming back to pave it? >> No. Are they coming back to Is the job complete? >> Because there's still tubing and debris in the brushes there. >> We'll take a look at that.
>> Okay. And if this is finished, are they going to come and pave that? >> Because that's pretty bad. >> Um, >> whoever opened it up will be responsible. >> Yeah, they're responsible for Uh, landing center.
I think it's great that a lot of stores come in there now. You've got the nail salon. >> The pizza place has been there for at least a year, the barber shop, the Dollar Tree, uh, the Indian restaurant is still
coming. why this was such a dead place for years. Is it now sprung to life? Is there something else behind it with this owner? >> I think over well the original owner,
Mr. Kvant has passed and then the sons took it over. So it sat stagnant for a while. Um, one of the things I worked with our previous manager on was continuously reaching out to the children to push and let them know that they're single-handedly strangling a
community. They need to do something about it. I think after a few years of writing letters and calling them, they're finally moving forward. Um, and I'm not to talk rumors like Marty spreading gossip, but I have I have heard some good things coming to that plaza in the next year or so.
>> Okay. >> I'd like a call out for He's been on top of it since he got elected on regular phone calls trying to get a hold of that family. So kudos to Thank you. >> It's nice seeing the resurrection there. It really is.
>> They had all new power run by JCPN. So they're they're working >> and the Port Morris. Welcome to Port Morris sign that's on that first train.
overpass. I don't know if somebody put stickers on it, graffiti on it, but there's something on the port side that really should be removed. >> Okay, >> you write it down.
>> Um, do you have any updates on the warehouse on landing road? >> What the status of that is? >> McNair. >> Yeah, that's they haven't started that project yet. They're still probably held through compliance. I'm not 100% sure.
>> And there'll be no access on landing road, >> but are they also going to be held to the 49% >> warehouse of what's up there? >> What do you mean? >> Well, I thought the township was a
warehouse you can only allocate 49%. >> Uh there's certain types there's only there's certain types that are like that. This is not one of those. >> It's not. But it did comply with everything that we required of that of that building based on our
>> new warehouse. Correct. >> Okay. And we're not going to have the same issue that we're having now. >> Your your guess is as good as mine warehouse market is too. And the last thing that I have to say is
I really don't think your hands are clean in this ice issue. Um I personally think if you had held to not allow that guy to originally go to 99% warehouse and you held it back to what it should
have been, maybe this wouldn't be an issue. That if he was forced to have to do something else with more than half of that space, might have been able to do something with the space and now not sell out, give the township the middle finger and
walk away and leave it in our lap. Well, for starters, the warehouse zone, there are different zones. The warehouse zone that was on that property was for a warehouse, which provided up to 100% warehousing. It wasn't a change in that.
That's just the type of zoning that that was. It was situations with warehousing like the threats we had on um on Hercules property etc that made us look at our warehouse ordinance and we've updated it but there are still areas
where you can build 100% warehouse that it was never that's never been there's no use out there for people with 50% warehouse use. >> Nobody's buying that. So they would be unviable would be built
just make it light. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Olivia. I'm a Roxberry resident like most of you, so I am your neighbor. Um, so I'm going to bring up the ice facility again. And I frankly don't care if you're tired of hearing about it because I'm tired of talking
about it and I'm tired about this consuming every waking moment. Um the fact of the matter is that if this warehouse is transformed into this ice facility, none of our lives here in this room are going to be the same. And it's really nice that you guys um are going
to have a great lovely new bridge for ICE to drive into town with while they're on their way to uh you know arrest, assault, andor shoot like dogs in the streets, our residents. Um, so it's really nice that, you know, you have your priorities in straight. I'm really glad that people here are fussing
over the welcome sign to our town and if there's some graffiti on it and not whether or not mass goons are going to be patrolling the streets, dragging people out of their homes, potentially killing them all while traffic is going by, while children are on their way to school. People are on their ways to
work. People are simply trying to live a normal life here. This has no this has no purpose in a residential area like Roxberry. I am a resident and I can tell you that I'm probably one of the younger people in this room and nobody my age is
going to move to Roxberry with children if there's an ice facility here. Do you understand me? It doesn't matter how good the schools are. It doesn't matter how nice your bridges are or how clear the lake water is. It doesn't matter. All this will be known for is the ice facility. I have kids. They're not
staying here. If there's ice walking around kidnapping people, we teach children not to get into vans with strange men and now we expect full grown adults to somehow be okay with the same concept. The the amount of sheer disconnect happening here between, you
know, we care about our local community, but only to the extent that we're going to put blinders on and ignore the giant elephant in the room that is overshadowing everything. I know you're sick of hearing from me, and like I said, I don't care because I'm sick of talking about it. None of this
beautifification will matter if nobody wants to live here. And I'll tell you straight off the bat, no one under the age of 30 is going to want to live here. This town is going to get older and it will dwindle and it will die. >> Those over 30 don't want it either.
>> I'd like to speak when she's done. >> I'm done. >> I am not a Roxberry resident. >> Please address us. I am not a Roxberry resident, but I did live here for eight years. And my niece and her new husband live here right on the the the lake.
And they've been talking about children and they've been talking about leaving. That's why when she said something, not only does it affect your community, it affects the other communities.
We already have two ice facilities in this little tiny state. They're trying to put a mega center here. And in South Jersey, they have data centers which completely are total
light pollution, ruining our garden state. They're putting or trying down in Monroe there to put a mega data center. Are you going to change from the Garden
State? Cuz that's what you're doing. And all of you, you're not going to be alive long enough to pay for what's going to happen. But your children will and your grandchildren. And when they ask, "What did you do in this historical time?" I
know what I'm telling them. Who are you going to be standing with? We're watching and we're judging and we also vote. >> All right. Grants and revenue. So, you've seen from Congressman Kaine's pie
charts, uh, perhaps how he recently showed and illustrated all the different federal grant money that's, you know, coming in in and being distributed through his office's, you know, efforts. And Roxbury has uh enjoined a third party to look for additional sources of,
you know, revenue and so forth. Commend you for doing that, uh, Mr. Murphy or the council so forth. You know, wonderful. And then again, hats off for the way your methodology for doing the the budget presentation seeing you know coming in to have the department heads
you know speak and you know so forth as you you're taking on a new role I thought that was done very well with you know grant ideas what's interesting is that okay with the 1.8 that is now not coming into Roxy's coffers from the
Route 46, you know, warehouse can instead of waiting for Congressman Kaine and Congress to look at and perhaps enact this federal legislation to reimburse municipalities for lost tax
revenue. Can we approach the third party to seek federally as a separate line item the 1.8 that we're not receiving this year? >> Uh so first off, thank you. Yes. Uh the
township hired plenty of strategies and we've applied for uh dozens of grants already and for the first time in more than probably five years we applied for to each of our congressional represent representatives uh some
appropriations both senators and the congressman. We got a quick form letter back from the congressman that we weren't move forward, but we have uh moved forward in some of the other grants that we're looking for on the federal level, >> right? Because it's neat to see in that
pie chart where we're talking hundreds of thousands if not, you know, low millions that went to construction of a new police station to a new firehouse for fire apparatus. uh as well as you know infrastructure within the
municipality, sidewalks, crossing areas and and local parks and and so forth. Which brings me to the next you know idea you know for grant money. I've been pestering well some of you have been on the council for you know as long as I've been here about 28 years or you know
longer um in Roxbury and that you know something I dialogue with Bob and and Fred about you know often is that the street tree replacement program and that you know it's been in the works and discussions for about you at least 10 years I have an email chain that probably goes back to 2016 or 14 you
know or something like that and we go through you know the whole scenario with how the township had to eat the dollars to take care of the emerald old ash boore situation in 1617 18 you know 19 and that with this new you know grant you know funding strategy back at the
time I had brought up for how is it that Newark Belleville all these different blue municipalities can receive federal you know funding for uh street trees parks and so forth but our areas don't get it and so with this was hey can we
look at um grant funding for doing Fred's big project on street trees unnoticed in order to get a lot of opportunities what we need to have is a forestry plan.
So what we've done recently and actually Steve's here this we went out we received a grant to allow us to actually put together this large street plan which is well along the way
completes and hopefully replaced by street trees as you stated. >> Suck. I mean, I just remember Bob's comments previously on how, you know, the different areas uh in Sakasana and former manager Chris Wrath, you
know, saying that the area was completely naked when you he had ash trees that were 60 plus feet high. >> Trees, right? >> Yeah. and between what you know you can get JCPNL to take care of in proximity to
electric lines you know and so forth. Uh I saw this as an opportunity to reset >> millennial and Hall, we received a grant from the Highlands to create that study so that we can move forward to the bigger
opportunities. >> Cool. Great. Because the with that 1.8 missing, you figured there's like you know what, 400 that would come directly into the township. Uh and you know, you can do a lot with 400. Uh and when you look at you from other revenue, you
know, coming in, Stonewater is almost fully complete. And when you look at, you know, those 163 houses or so, the current ones are selling between 900 and 1.2, you know, contributing about 18 to 24,000,
you know, a year. Uh, I believe most of it sold, probably 3/4 or at least 80% of it built, you know, the third phase and so forth. That >> twothirds Okay. Uh, but that's where the uh the 500 comes in for New Rescue 24.
So, is rescue 24 still on track? >> Yes. >> For here? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. We're on track >> 27. I think the manufacturer is keeping pushing it back. >> Okay.
>> Yes, we are still on track >> because the last interesting piece, you know, with revenue and funding was that with the Stonewater development and for what those property valuations are, I've had interesting conversations with our school folks uh as your counterpart that
the Nixon school has lost some federal funding because of the increased property values when you look at landing as a whole because of how Stonewater has bumped up uh valuations for the zip code. So, it's kind kind of interesting.
Don't know if you guys had heard any of of that. >> Okay. All right. Let me take some come back to you >> in the back. >> I have a question center. I had heard last year maybe was a rumor that there was going to be
housing there, but I see plants so I don't know. >> Uh there was a proposal for it since we opted into the Highlands region. Uh the Highlands frowned upon that development. >> So it's still a proposal but this year
>> right now it looks highly because the amount the amount that would be permitted there is probably not worth the developers. >> Okay. And I have a second is it possible to have a microphone or something at these meetings because this gentleman stood up. It was hard to hear anything
in the back and even from you guys it's hard to hear back here. I'm loud but not everybody is. >> I hear you ma'am. Um, just a reminder, the World Cup is happening this summer. The final will be
played in New Jersey. I like to think that the World Cup is a an occasion where we can all celebrate immigrants and their culture. Um, but we can't celebrate if you're going to kill us. I ask you to use all of your resources to
fight for us, not some. Because our government is the corrupt and it's your job to put it back in its place. I ask for everything. You have to fight with everything. You can't kill us if you don't if you don't do this.
I'm address like the green coat said about the um the warehouse and landing that is MD and um therefore that is one of the reasons why we have been asking permanent ban and the moratorum on private prisons and
permanent zoning bans on all detention centers within Roxberry for any warehouse. What is to say that if they don't go to this ICE warehouse in on 46, they just can't pick up and go somewhere else? We've been asking for a moratorum
on any warehouse to be banned for ice. When can we expect that to happen? Obviously, other people are concerned. There's an empty warehouse in landing. Who's to say that like ice can't move right in there? So, can we
that is specific to landing? >> There is no warehouse in landing. >> She just said there was a specific warehouse and landing. >> It doesn't matter if it's built or going to be built. >> Why don't you protect the rest of the warehouses that are around town?
Our ordinance already prohibits any private >> zoning zoning ban is what we're looking for. That ordinance does not do that. I've read it. Everybody else has read it. Zoning ban and at meetings who you've asked and asked. >> Why can't we just do it? Other towns
have done it. Many of them. >> Is there a reason why you won't do a zoning thing? >> It's a question. >> Thank you. Transparency. Demand it. We don't get it.
>> Are they calling me? >> I don't know. >> Whoever was back there. Go ahead. >> Go ahead. You first. Go ahead. A while back there was a discussion about equipment to do sidewalk leveling and so forth. What's the status of that?
I mean >> we've been using that program for over a year now. >> Okay. There's places like up in I think it's called Mountain Park over there between Creek and then actually Hunters. The sidewalks are visible. They really are. The only reason I'm bringing this
up is um and it's a nightmare. It's an absolute nightmare. So I was wondering what's the current status for >> what? >> So it's started midsummer last year. We acquired the equipment in May. Went very
well. We've got about mile sidewalk done. before we lost the weather conditions the winter. My staff has started that work again. So that coupled with folks may not be aware but in the budget process the council authorized
significant amount of money to address our sidewalk issues in town. We're going to even move forward with a new type of program where it's more directed by the township where we're going to address the sidewalk issue. We have probably
spoke to a lot of res about our sidewalk issues. We're making an ex offering a lot more money authorizing a lot more money this year. So the folks in the township should see if you have sidewalks you're going to see some form of action in the next few years. We're
going to start kind of where we uh started off last year in the further end by Nima area and we'll be working our way out. There is going to be significant amount And one other question, the budget was
passed and I guess taxes going up. Is there a percentage that the taxes are going to be going up? It was not. Um, are you guys going to be I guess I'm just going to have to wait and see. I don't know what the effects going to be between the loss of the
warehouse. What's the effect on residents? What's the effect on? And they're going to go up. So we anticipated. >> All right, thank you. >> Somebody's alarming.
I'm in round, but distancewise from you guys where I am versus the facility, I'm actually I know I'm supposed to address you. I'm trying to address in general. I heard the clapping when um when that
gentleman spoke about this is a um sorry this is a thing in landing. I heard you say that. I heard people clapping like they don't want to hear it anymore. And I see the group of people who have spent at least two hours at town council meetings every single week since
December. And I think number one got to give those folks a little bit of credit. And thank you to the town council. You guys are involved with the lawsuit. You guys are involved with the moratorum. I think we also need to consider the fact that the uh amikas brief was filed by
community called uh people within an organization called ninja no uh ICE in North Jersey Alliance or I don't know if it's called New Jersey Alliance now um is not going to take one person if you're watching of the warehouses that
have gotten shut down um of not having people physically in them um you'll notice that It was a lot of grassroots efforts as well. So, thank you for what you guys are doing. Yes, it is frustrating. Yes, we need more
information. Yes. Um, but for folks who are in here who don't want to hear about it anymore and they're hearing, okay, the lawsuit's been filed, but this if don't come to meetings, you don't need to come to meetings. maybe get on the ninja newsletter, but be aware of be
aware of what it is and more than just the fact that a lawsuit was filed and all. It's great the lawsuit's filed, but we need all the help we can get with making sure this doesn't happen. I would like to do a little introjection
about private prisons because although I was born in Jersey, I came back two weeks before Sandy hit. Um, but I spent 32 years in Tucson, Arizona. I worked the elections for a decade in the polling places. I also worked a decade in the state
prisons for men and they got taken over first the juveniles by private prisons and it went into the toilet. They had problems. They had incidents because we can't call them riots
because we have to fool everybody else not tell the truth. >> Yes. now cuz I have family and people in Tucson and I'm letting you know you're going to regret it. If any of you have really not a lot of experience seeing
what happens over time when private prisons take over, you might want to do some research cuz I have seen it and it's not pretty. I just have one more question. Since you've kind of backed out of Mount
Laurel, is that it? >> What steps is the council taking against developers now coming in? I don't want to see a 10story apartment complex get popped onto the national bank site because
somebody bought it up. Is something in place that's going to stop that? >> Mr. So why we did not opt in, the reason we didn't opt in is because the burden was so great on the municipality that we would be building four or fivetory
buildings because we sat and met Mr. Hall, Mr. people and myself along with attorneys and and planners sat literally four to six weeks apart for the last two and a half three years guys trying to find places to locate these
things >> I remember when it has to be in the sewer service area we couldn't get to the number they wanted to put on us a thousand units don't forget a thousand units meaning you have to build 5,000 units 5,000 units because only 20% are set aside for fair for fair share
housing We couldn't find it without going higher and higher. You saw what's happened to towns around us. Mine Hill >> Yeah. Randolph look crazy numbers going. So that's the kind of development. So it started going from the place that we
permitted the plants permitted up on 46 the top of the hill by Kingtown Mountain. That was 5 minutes per acre. That was built less than 10 years ago. Now they're what they're starting the minimum number is 10. They're asking for
as much as 25 units per acre with no amenities. You know how high you have to go for 25 units. So we backed out. Does not mean we're backing out of building fair share housing. We still have previous rounds that have already been approved for up to 10 units per acre, most less. um if we didn't pass a a uh
zone change on it yet, we might have some recourse to prevent that or move in another direction. What we gave up was our protection, our protection of um uh of developers being able to sue us. Now,
we're in But we also opted into the Highlands. So this is a very confusing subject. So try to get through it as quickly as I can. But by opting into the highlands, it it uh made it harder to develop some of the preservation areas and planning areas,
which Roxbury has preservation area that's not being built 206, for instance. >> Yeah. What the councilman is trying to say is we're firmly against high density housing in Rockville. We're firmly against we're not against we're
building we're actually next meeting we'll be uh approving money for the new Habitat for Humanity. So we have some beautiful affordable housing in we take it very seriously but to answer your question we will not we will not accept
high density fivetory fourtory buildings we will not that's what that's what >> but we are at risk of the developers renting That's the biggest risk. It would be it would be a lawsuit. So they'd have to have rationale to come in and ask where
it was done and they won't have zone to meet. So go but we don't anticipate that in the near future. >> Thank you. >> Hi Sierra Winters. I think some of you are probably used to be coming to
more so about the ice facility, but I think we've heard a lot of comments about that today and I'm going to talk a little bit more about affordable housing. Um, as I just want to give you some perspective as a 31year-old woman with two children. I've lived here in this town my entire life and I'm raising
a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old here. Um, and I've been looking for a home in town because I love this town. As you probably can see my dedication to coming here week after week, I love Roxberry. Um, and it's really difficult and buy home here. It has been a heartbreaking,
devastating, painful n months. I was, I think, a little bit tricked and bamboozled into buying one of those stonewater houses while ago. I sold it within a year. Pipes freeze. They're put up terribly. Like, that community is not what they're selling it to be to people.
Um, and it's really unfortunate with many other problems with that community as well. I sold that house within a year and a half of moving in there, causing a lot of instability to my children and have spent the past nine months looking for a new home. Um, some really happy news is
that I did finally get into attorney review with the house. So, fingers are crossed that I'll be staying here in a town that I love. Um, and you'll keep hearing from me week after week. U, but that said, like affordable housing is so so important. I love it here and it shouldn't be so hard to stay in the town
that you grew up in, right? to raise your family here. So, I mean, I'm not an expert in zoning or housing or any of those things, but I hope that if I tell you a problem that as a council you'll work really hard to come up with solutions for us. Um, and that said, anything you could do to make it easier
for families to stay here. I don't think any of us want five and six story town houses after how quick and shoddy I saw Stonewater go up and how horrible it was. I don't think anybody should be going in to these like Ryan homes complexes that are going up in a second,
right? They're going up and down route 10. We see them everywhere. Um I would really urge that we work with more ethical developers, work more with local um companies and local developers rather than uh allowing these types of um
companies to come in and kind of take advantage of our community. And I don't think any of us want to see those fivetory buildings. Like I agree with that. That's not, you know, that doesn't, it takes away from kind of the ambiance of Roxbury that we all love. But I think if instead of dedicating plots of land like that, huge plots of
land like Stonewater to those types of housing, if we could make an opportunity to make some more affordable housing and let families stay here, it' be really special and keep this town um generational, right? And allow it's hard to buy a home in our age generation. It's gotten harder and harder. It's not
as easy as it was for someone buying a home 10 years ago, 25 years ago, 30 years ago. Um, and so anything that you could do to support that would be really appreciated. will have to go through what I faced with so many
very long changing affordable housing. How many times they change? Five or six times I would say. So the last time they did this They dropped on us a 1,000
number that we would have to deal with. If we take that 20% set aside, right? 5,000 units by three or four people per house. We're going to be adding 20,000 people to Roxbury Township
everybody else. As a matter of fact, we've been forunship about 400 units already against affordable against the magnitude being mandated to us by the state of New
Jersey and that's a nutshell. We just don't think it's realist. >> Well, I appreciate that and you know I've been here week after week agreeing of that. You know, I don't want to bring our town resources. I've talked about the ice facility impact on our police and fire many times and how, you know,
scared I am of, you know, raising my kids in a town where there could be 200 plus more emergency responses per year. And so I do appreciate that. I think these things should be done strategically. Um, but I just wanted to share like with you a real person's experience so you can use that to I
would assume you're already homeowners here and maybe have been for a while. Um, so just so you can hear a perspective of what it feels like trying to establish yourself in this town and it's not easy. >> You call the leader of Habitat for Humanity, they'll probably tell you the best municipality they work with.
location. I have questions for you. Um, police activer to Sure. >> But I don't know what's going on down Bell Avenue with the trucking companies, but lately there's a lot of new trucks,
and I mean orange ones, red ones, green ones. They're brand new. They're triple axle, and they're coming down 46, making they're coming west, making a right turn into Dell Avenue >> and they're going to go Jake breaks. I
mean, my house is shaking like you would not believe. >> When they come around the corner, they can't swing that corner. So, they've got the cars stacked over here. These cars are backing up. The cars behind them are blowing their horns. They can sit in my
driveway and really just scare some of these drivers that are coming in. But it really is getting bad. But triple axles sometimes those It's not supposed to be a rule. >> I have I have to look and see what the signage is there because that might be something I have to contact the state on
as far as not allowing right-hand turns there because that maybe it's allowed right now. I have to I have to look at it, but I can uh we can look into that. >> But it but it really is I mean it's annoying with the let me tell you now that it's getting windows and everything and that's why
>> so you could open your windows. Well, the dust, but I've lived there my whole life, so I know I know what it's like. And I'm not I just I just think there's way too many trucks down there. I know they rentes and everything and a lot of landscapers and they come in little
trailers and there cannot make the corner. I mean, we can sit in our windows and then telephone that's on my corner. It's going to come down somewhere. It really is because they miss it by inches. Inches. But thank
you. But I do like the police. >> Thank you. >> Put put coffee back in the back. I'm a rocker res and I just want to thank because I know
there's a lot of hot there's a hot issues going on and you guys and listen I just want to thank it's a lovely town I really enjoy being here and um
I just think when we talk about things and I know you're listening and I appreciate all you So, thank you very much and I know you're doing the best for the township and I appreciate everybody telling you their issues but I believe you are doing everything you can and I want to say
>> anybody else anyone new hasn't spoken yet would like to be heard on any topic. >> All right, I'm going to close down public and I'll make a motion to adjourn. >> I'll make that motion. >> All in favor?
>> Thank you.