All right, everybody. We're going to get started with the meeting. Uh folks in the hallway, if you'll want to take a seat. Everybody, could you please get settled? Thank you everybody and welcome to the regular monthly meeting of the mayor and
council being held Wednesday, March 11, 2026 starting at 6:34 p.m. Missy, could you please call the role? >> Mayor Niato >> here. >> Council President McAuen, >> present. >> Councilman Kley, Councilman Ero >> here. Councilman Guzman >> here.
>> Counciloman Deler Conn here. >> Councilman Mone >> here. Thank you. If you're able, please stand for the salute to the flag. 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. >> Missy, could you please read the provisions of the Open Public Meeting Act? In compliance with the open public meetings law chapter 231 public laws of 1975 notice of this meeting was
transmitted to the record and Herald news and filed with the burough clerk on November 21, 2025 and February 27, 2026 and is posted on the bulletin board outside of Burough Hall. >> Thank you. We have no presentations this evening. Uh we'll now move on to the
engineers report. >> Thank you, mayor. I want to start off by giving a couple updates to the Memorial Park improvements. Our office has been coordinating with the with the co-op vendor to uh schedule
some sanitary sewer work. This was this work is to relocate the sanitary sewer that currently runs underneath the future improved Diamond 3 multi-use field. And we're relocating this in
agreement with Pake Valley Sewer. Uh since in our agreement they want to have all the sanitary sewer outside of the limits of the field. Currently it would be underneath it. So this is we're doing
this in anticipation of the work that's going to be scheduled this upcoming summer. Pricing this week and we're currently reviewing their pricing. Um, and we're going to be negotiating with them to see
if it is reasonable and if we need to uh procure other vendors uh and see if we can get them scheduled as soon as possible. In addition to that, we've also been following up with NGDP with status of
permitting for the site itself. Uh we have actually gotten contact with them late this afternoon. Uh it sounds like they are very close to be approving the permit and issuing uh paperwork for us.
So just some minor stuff and I think we're very close to closing that that item off this list. Leisure Lane improvements. I know uh Brian from my office has been uh sending
stuff uh regarding concepts and also I believe he's going to be starting procuring pricing for the those improvements as well. This will be a resurfacing of the existing pathway in a
blue and gray pathway coating. Moving on to the Tamblin playground improvements. We've um we've reached out to First Environment who is a vendor who is a qualified vendor to investigate
removing the oil tank that's present within the site was has the oil tank previously heated by oil converted to natural gas. We need to um because this is D funded,
we need to remove the oil tank before we can begin any work on that playground. Moving on to the roadway improvements that are I know our office has sent over preliminary scope for 2026. Uh this will
be for the DOT portion Darwin Avenue, Hastings Avenue, CDBG funded portion of Wingra Avenue and an all bid of Morse Avenue and
Montros Avenue. Yeah, Montros. Sorry. We'll be beginning to um look at designing that and we'll send over uh estimates. Hopefully we can get that out early summer summer construction depending on DOT review and approval for
the 25 roadway improvements. We um coordinating with the contractor. We had a site walkthrough meeting with them last week on Friday. And with that meeting, it looks like we're going to be mobilizing
early this spring, probably midappril. And those roads will be finishing out Wood Street, Irving Place, and Fair View Avenue, Hopart Avenue, Donaldson Avenue, and Silven Avenue.
2024 roadway improvements program. We're gonna it's also scheduled to continue early this spring at the same time midappril and that'll be Beach Street is completed uh Inley
Avenue, Carneer Avenue and Clark Avenue. >> That's all I have for updates. >> Thank you. Anybody from the council have any questions for the engineer? Council, >> thank you.
>> Thank you for your uh report. Um although I I don't suspect you'll have this information this evening, but if possible, if you could circulate back to us through Brian the anticipated start date for the Tambulan Together playground. Um that would be great.
Thank you. >> Thank you. See nobody else has any questions. Thank you. You're good to go. >> Thank you. >> The next item we have is a resolution for close session and potential litigation. Missy, >> whereas the open public meetings act
requires that a public body adopt a resolution at an open meeting before going into a closed session to discuss the matter which excludes the public as permitted under section 7B. Now therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and council will hold a closed meeting at 6:41 p.m. on March 11, 2026 at 176
Park Avenue to discuss the following matter. Potential litigation. >> Thank you. I'll now accept a motion to go into close. >> Motion. >> I'm sorry. Motion by Councilman Mone. We have a second. >> Second.
>> Second by Councilman Guzman. Any questions or comments? Seeing no favor, roll call, please. >> Council President McGowan, >> yes. >> Councilman Ero, >> yes. >> Councilman Guzman, >> yes. >> Council Del Cohen, >> yes. >> Council Mazone, >> yes. Thank you. will be
>> 100%. Okay. She went to Happy Jack is Ready? What happened? I told you to be Yeah. Thank you.
There you go. Good morning. I don't know. Wow. Thank you. It's not tomorrow. Unfortunately, I don't know where they are. All right, folks. We're going to go back in. I know you guys are upset that we
didn't take longer. >> All right, we're going to be back in open. Missy, could you please read the role? >> Mayor Niato >> here. >> Councilor President McGawan, >> present. >> Councilman Ero, >> here. >> Councman >> here. >> Councilman Del Con >> here. Councilman Mazone
>> here. >> Yes. We'll be adding one item under consent agenda. It'll be item 11, item C under 11, a resolution for payment of bills number two. That's all I have. >> Thank you. Anybody council
motion? >> Motion. >> Motion by council president. Second. >> Second. Seeing none, may have a roll call, please. Council >> President McGawan, >> yes. Councilman Ero, >> yes. Councilman Guzman, >> yes. C Delary Con, >> yes. >> Council Mazone,
>> yes. Thank you. Ordinances on First Street. Councilman Guzman. >> Thank you very much, Mayor. Uh, this ordinance that I have on First Street may look familiar. It's because there was a publication error by a newspaper. It did not get in by the deadline. Therefore, we are reintroducing this ordinance um to
establish a handicap space on fireplace. Missy, could you please read the ordinance by title only? >> An ordinance to amend and revise chapter 126 vehicles and traffic of the burough code of the burough of Rutherford established a handicap space on a place. >> I'd like a motion to to move, excuse me, I'd like to move that the ordinance be
passed on first reading and advertised according to law. >> I have a motion by Councilman Guzman. May I have a second, please? >> Second. >> Second by council president. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, roll call, please. >> Council President McGowan, >> yes. >> Councilman Ero, >> yes. >> Councilman Guzman, >> yes.
>> Council Deler Con, >> yes. >> Council Mazone, >> yes. >> Thank you. Before we start the ordinances on second read, I'm going to turn it over to our B administrator. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, so yes, we tonight we have two ordinances regarding
affordable housing issues. Uh, as I understand, most of the people in the room tonight are here regarding that. They must have received your 200 foot notice. uh these this is a very complicated but required process we're going through right now. So, we've asked our attorney who's representing us on affordable housing matters to be here
tonight to explain and hopefully address a lot of your questions um and and to your satisfaction. So, tonight I want to introduce Brian Chicowski from the law firm of Clear Jacobe Alfier and Jacobs. Uh and Brian will speak to what these
two ordinances mean tonight. >> Thank you, Bob. Uh I guess we have to start a little bit at the beginning. Uh the Fair Housing Act was amended and uh created a very difficult burden on municipalities.
This process basically started in 2024 because by 2025 in order to participate in a program and may maintain immunity from builder's remedy suit a declaratory judgment action had to be filed by January 31st,
2025. Uh that declaratory judgment established what the obligations of the municipality would be. In October of 2024, there were numbers published by the Department of
Community Affairs and Rutherford had to make a determination whether to accept or reject those numbers. Those numbers were accepted. Then the hard work be began is how do you address that? Uh that's addressed by your professional
planners from the Neglia group who started preparing a housing element fair share plan. And what is that document? That document tells you how you're going to address the affordable housing. One aspect of that is a vacant land analysis
to determine what the realistic development potential of Rutherford would be. After that, that realistic development potential, if it was accepted, would result in
a number that is classified as unmet need, which I'll talk about a little bit in in a little bit. That housing element fair share plan under the law had to be adopted by June 30th of 2025.
It was uh that was done. Once that was filed, challengers to the housing element fair share plan were required to file any of their objections by August 31st, 2025. There were two
objections. One was by Russo development with respect to a property uh under the jurisdiction of the sports and exposition authority and the other was the housing al advocate fair share housing center. So Rutherford's not
unique. Fair share housing center filed more than 400 challenges to housing elements fair share plans throughout the state. The legislation created what was called the program. The program consisted of a
retired judge and a special adjudicator who is a professional planner to assist the judge for review and recommendations. The program judge assigned to Rutherford was Judge Hanssbury, the special adjudicator Beth Mcmanis.
There were several mediation sessions held. The last mediation session held on December 15th of last year. There was no settlement. So the program, the judge was supposed
to make a determination by January 31st of 2026. As of today, there is no determination. And that determination is a recommendation to the Mount Laurel judge in Bergen County as to what that judge
would believe whether a housing element and fair share plan is in compliance. So this is the most important aspect. There has been no such determination. However, there is a hard and fast date
under in uh in the afford uh fair share the amendments to the fair housing act and that hard date is March 15th but since March 15th is Sunday it's March 16th. So compliance documents had to be
adopted in place by March 15th and because there may be some time for publication and effectiveness that it was March 31st, but governing bodies had to act by the 15th. So that's why we're
here this evening. So what was determined between our office, the municipality, the planners? It was determined that irrespective that there was no determination by the program judge that Rutherford would
undertake the actions necessary to be in compliance. So what's before you this evening are two ordinances and two resolutions. Working backwards, the resolutions basically establish a
process, a process regarding an affirmative marketing plan for affordable housing that devel that uh may be developed in the community and another resolution regarding a spending
plan. That spending plan deals with how money collected from developers that is currently in an affordable housing trust fund will be dealt with. The two ordinances you have again working
backwards you have an affordable housing uh let's call it the administrative ordinance. There's an ordinance in fact in Rutherford already for the third round. We are in the fourth round. This ordinance upd up updates the rules and
regulations governing affordable housing consistent with the regulations that have been promulgated by the Department of Community Affairs. Now, probably why all you are here tonight is the last or last ordinance which creates overlay
zones. You're here because the law requires if there is a change in zoning that people within 200 feet or that are affected by that change in classification receive notice. So you have to get
written notice of the ordinance. So what does this ordinance do? It establish overlays. What is an overlay? An overlay is in addition to the underlying zoning is not affected.
The uses that currently exist can be continued. And if the underlying zoning would permit other uses, that also can continue. Why would why is this being done? And Luke, you're going to have to help
me with the number because I forget off the top of my head. We have an unmet need number. Under the amendments to the Fair Housing Act, a municipality must make an effort to
address 25% of its unmet need. And I believe the uh number we had to reach was 47. Am I right, Luke? Luke, can you can you just stand up by the mic for this?
>> Yeah. So, the full unmet need I'm Luke planner with Neglia Group. >> Okay. >> Um the unmet need is 157 after the VA and 25% of that would be 40 units. >> 40 units. Okay. So what was decided to
do was to look at properties that may address that unmet need. And again, the unmet need is you can't zone areas where properties would be developed in accordance with your vacant land
analysis. Years ago, and you could look at my hair, and you know, I've been doing this a long time. Years ago, that was the end of it. If you went into COA or you went into court and said this is our realistic development potential, that's
what you had to address. Now, there's a specific provision in the Fair Housing Act that said you need to address 25% of your unmet need, and you could do that with overlays. So, it's aspirational, not required. So these two sites were
determined to be appropriate because of their location where they are and perhaps could be developed. First site is on Park Avenue. That is the old police department. That's 184 Park
Avenue and that is under control of the municipality. If the municipality makes a determination that it would like that site developed, it would have to go through a full process public bidding and the like and also pursuant to that
bid, it would be subject to certain requirements. But it there was a determination that since it was underutilized, it was something that could achieve that 25% of the unmet need. The other project is on or the
other property is on Orient Way 44 Orient Way. It's an office building. It's the columns. Our research has indicated that the bulk of that building is uh occupied primarily by medical
providers. So the viewpoint we have that although this permits the potential for housing that potential for housing uh may never occur. I don't like to say
never but you know we're looking at it I look at a viable office building. Someone would have to look at that and make a determination as to whether it would make sense to be a housing site. uh the number of units on that site
would approximately be I should say the number of units on that Orient way site would be 74. The law has changed. We have no discretion. There has to be a 20% set aside for affordable housing. So
rounding up to 75 you got 15 units of affordable. You have 60 market units. Office buildings do not adapt to residential building would have to come down. So it would take a significant investment for this to change. With
regard to the police department that's under the control or I should say the old police department building that's under control of the municipality. The densities that were established in those overlay zones were intended to meet that
25% requirement. That 25% requirement is it says if you cannot meet that you have to establish by sort of like exceptional circumstances why you couldn't meet that 25% of unmet need. So it's something
new. It's something what I consider unique as part of the uh amendments to the fair housing act but that's the purpose. So there are no developers. there's only an opportunity that these
sites could potentially be developed and you know hopefully I address the two sites appropriately and as I've indicated the densities for those two areas and they're not big sites were designed to address the 25% unmet need.
So I have mayor >> thank you. So basically, if I'm interpreting this correctly, we have no plans. We're just following what the state's saying as far as a prep, but we are that if anybody ever did come along
to try to move into an office building that's occupied, they would have to go through the same procedures as anybody else, go before our boards, follow ordinances, so nothing changes, and we're not really looking for that ever to happen here. So, we're just following
the law right now and preparing the paperwork, but we have none of this is is anything that we're looking to do. We're just trying to stay compliant with state requirements. Correct. >> That's correct, Mayor. And I I just want to add perhaps if I may, what comes
after this? So, unfortunately, I have way too many towns, but let's talk about Bergen County. Bergen County has 70 municipalities. There are two specific judges assigned to Mount Laurel litigation in Bergen County. Uh Judge
Coriston and Judge Padavano. There are cases that the program has disposed of through settlements and they are required to have hearings. There are cases and I have one case in Bergen County that didn't settle. So that will
go through a much more uh difficult process. And then you have the most unique case in the world which is Rutherford because we don't even have a program decision. So we can't say we're good, we're bad or
not. But what we're taking is we're being proactive to deal with this. What happens next? What happens next is that if these ordinances and resolutions are adopted this evening, we will alert the court and file them accordingly and be
prepared to deal with what happens at the next step. There will probably be a hearing, but no one could point the finger and say Rutherford did not do what it was required to do by March 15th.
It was expected whether we had a program decision or not that these actions would have been taken anyway. Uh so in anticipation of what we perceive and what we think would occur, this is how
it's being addressed. We knew that there were certain areas that had to be addressed in the original housing element fair share plan and those have been updated and addressed. These ordinances and resolution implement all what we would call the compliance
documentation. Thank you. Want to speak to now? >> Um, thank you, mayor. Uh, thank you, Brian, for that explanation. And, mayor, thank you for summizing um the salable
points that I think people care about very much that are here. And I I think it is worth noting that there is a real concern. There's a real caution in this room from residents about development and about feeling like it's being done
to them and not with them. And um I want to address that in advance to say that we are keenly aware of that. That is why um we have retained the services of Brian's firm um and have really taken I
think an appropriate and aggressive approach with uh fair share. Um, those of you that have been following this for the years that this has gone on, this is for some of you it's new. This this this has been going on a number of years. The
rules keep changing and it is very complicated and it is very frustrating and I want to share I I'm I think I'm speaking on behalf of my colleagues. We're all in this frustration with you. Um, but we are grateful for the professionals that we have brought on
board. um and certainly with our um our stewardship of our burough attorney of of Jonathan Bruno for really helping us navigate the last few months and um I I do as I'm about to introduce this I just
felt that it was imperative to acknowledge the frustration and concern in the room know that it is a shared frustration and concern but we also understand the fiduciary responsibility that there is a compliance deadline and without meeting that compliance
deadline, we open the burough up um to liability and as we're learning from what we're watching happening to other municipalities, it's not a game worth playing. And so I I thank everybody up here, Mayor, thank you for leading us
through this. And so, uh with your permission, I would like to move forward with the ordinances. >> Ordinances on second read. Council President. Thank you, mayor. The first ordinance, as was already introduced by our attorney, is amending
chapter 131, affordable housing overlaid districts to include Park Avenue and Orient Way to be in compliance with our deadline of March 15th. Missy, can you please read the ordinance by title only? an ordinance to amend chapter 131 of the burough code entitled zoning and in particular chapter 131 article 13
general regulations to include park avenue overlay and orient overlay. >> Thank you. I move that the ordinance be passed on second reading and advertised according to law. >> I have a motion by the council president. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by councilman Guzman. Any
questions or comments? Seeing none from the council I mean council >> I just wanted to say um I it feels like a lot of you are here about this and now we're voting on it and then you're going to tell us what
your concerns are um so I just wanted to acknowledge that that the order of the agenda. Um but I encourage you to still ask your questions um simply because we do have Brian here. It is very complicated. Um, I also want to stress I
I don't think it can be overstated what the mayor said, which is um this is meeting an obligation, a statutory obligation that this does not mean anything is getting built. And I think that's important because there is a process for building and our hope I'll
say I'll speak for myself. My hope is that we never need to make use of these overlay zones, right? um we're sort of trying to meet terrible options with worse ones and um that's where we are. But please do despite the fact that the
ordinance is being voted on now that that doesn't mean you shouldn't ask your questions because I think it's important for us to hear from you. >> Thank you, Councilman. Anybody from the public wishing to speak >> before you vote? >> Oh, the public. Oh, great. >> Second reading. So, they'll speak before we vote.
>> Well, why did I say any of that? I screwed up. I screwed up. I went here. >> Oh my gosh. I can't wait to hear from all of you. Please come forward. That feels so much better now. The system works, guys. >> Councilman, that was my fault. I didn't go that way. >> I was so confused. >> My fault.
>> And Denise is ready. So, let's do it. >> I I know that theirs is going to be a lot different than mine with regard to this. So, I figure let me get this out of the way. >> Yes. Is about the ordinance. >> Are you going to be counting my five minutes? >> No. Denise Coredini, one Walnut Street.
Um, first of all, I don't envy the task that you guys have. Um, I'm not going to speak about the overlay zones themselves, but that the way this is being put together, and I understand you're between a rock and a hard place.
Um, one thing that we are not addressing through this is parking. And I had hoped that the police station would become a municipal parking area
because of its location. It's perfect for that. But instead, and I, you know, I again, I understand the rock and a hard place. This is the way it's being offered. But I also look at the old Capital One building and it's going to be another bank. Why isn't you know I
don't know how that process works but that's a perfect place for for housing also and I question whether we can't be more proactive in in addressing this and the situation is further exacerbated from a parking standpoint by employees
who are taking spots that should be reserved for patrons and other autos that are hogging spots including handicap spots all day long. Um, and I have heard from business owners that their businesses are being
directly affected by this with customers saying, "I was going to come, but I couldn't find a parking spot and I didn't have time to walk from one end of town to the other." We have to address this. The bottom line is we know that you struggle with how to resolve this
issue and we desperately need those solutions. Parking needs to come into play along with the affordable housing. I know that every housing unit has a has parking in it, but it's never enough. It's not enough for the residents and
their guests, let alone parking for people who want to visit here, who would spend money in our restaurants, who would buy from our stores. We need to start hearing that there are solutions in the works. Thank you. >> Thank you, Denise. Anybody else in the
public? >> Please state your name and address. Good evening. Please. >> Yes. Good evening. Lane Viviano, one Orient Way Law Office, 8 Station Square. Uh earlier today, I dropped off and emailed um my concern with regard to the
ordinance. I don't know if you received it. I mean, I know you received it if you had the time to look at it. >> We'll answer after. >> Well, the reason I'm asking is I'll paraphrase and keep it shorter if you have. Okay? If not, I'll just do the highlight. I'll do the I'll do the
highlights. Okay. One of the things I want to drop off in the interim is that we're concerned about uh Prism developers who want to put 130 units uh squeeze squeeze the space which not only
would block skylines uh be on top of everybody create congestion and as I as I uh elucidated in the in my uh correspond do you have a question >> Mr. Mr. We're not at that read yet. We're on the first read. So, if you have
any comments for the first read that we just did. >> Okay. The >> You'd have to wait till we do the second one. >> No, there was there's a second reading on 131, right? >> On this ordinance. >> This ordinance and this ordinance only. >> Isn't this the overlay or is that the next one? >> This is overlay.
>> Mayor, I think I think >> you already you already introduced it, did you not? >> His his concern is relevant to this even though it might be mis he might be misunderstanding what this is about. It is relevant to this ordinance, though. continue. >> I'm sorry. >> No, I understand that. >> All right. Go ahead. Please continue.
>> Put Put it this way. As Brian, sorry your last name. >> Is that the people at one Orient way, there's 48 residential units. It's condominium. We should have gotten notice. We know we're not within 200 feet, but we're two doors away, two buildings away, and it certainly will
impact us, and that did not happen. the uh the as I said the concern is is with I'll I'll give the short version. Uh the concern is the developer as I said wants to place 130 units. Uh the we
we're going to certainly look for and appeal to whatever there's a whole variety of appeals uh not not just uh with the zoning but but also with the u with the issue of the problems of the site and uh it'll end up being a war
zone uh briefly. It took four years and it shouldn't have for Boiling Springs to build 48 units uh in the building. Uh it will definitely take a lot longer considering uh the water issues with Boiling Springs by the train station and
of course Glenn Lake which I I mentioned last time which is Glenn Road now in the Williams Center which they filled in 100 years ago or more uh because they were concerned about malaria from mosquitoes. But that water is there and it's a very high water table and everyone has
jurisdiction. What do I mean by everyone from the Army Corps of Engineers to the the Sports and Exposition Authority, uh the county, DP, EPA, the county, the burrow, and I might be leaving out one or two. Uh there's a lot going on. It
will adversely affect uh the people that are living there, residing there, and um and as I said, it will uh adversely affect our views of the skyline. If I can, I have p just pictures. Can I hand them to you? Submit them to you. Okay,
it's two separate came out. Came out a little dark, but I think you can get the perspective. And again, I'm on the third floor, so others have even more to lose. People, this is to round up. This is their life saving. This is everything they've worked for, and now
it's about to just be taken over without register anyone that we live with. My my view is you want 26 units, the affordable units, go for it. It's all the other housing that that's the concern. We have no issue with the we I understand what the law is. I'm a
longtime lawyer. All right. Uh that's not the issue. The issue to repeat is trying to stuff 130 units. Uh that can't happen. Like it's like 104 more units over and above. Uh so there
there will have to be a solution or we'll be doing some kind of an appeal process but I wanted to give you the courtesy uh to explain as to uh what the position is. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Vanna. Anybody else from the public wishing to speak on this subject in this subject matter only? Please step up to
the microphone. Ma'am, >> please state your name and address and keep your comments to five minutes or less. And Santis, but my address is protected under Daniel's law. I cannot give it at this time. Uh, I just want a clarification. The lawyer stated the address at 44 Orient Way, which would be
residential buildings, not the Boiling Spring Bank, which I understand is the building in question. Is that correct? >> No. What? >> No. The the building is the address of that building that for the overlay is
between Boiling Springs and the other redevelopment. I'm finding it now. 44 Orient Way is the way it's listed on the tax records. >> So, it's the the it's the office building, the columns. It's >> the columns building is 47 Orient Way. >> Well, I'm I went by the tax records when
I looked at it. But that's the >> I just want to clarify which building you want to redevelop. >> It's because we're not talking about redeveloping anything. We're just talking about norm. But we do not we do not we do not do back and forth dialogue. So, you may speak, but we don't go back and forth. Well, want to
know which building. >> Good evening. >> I would like to make sure we're talking about this area. >> Excuse me. Can you Sorry, but you have to say your name and address, please. >> I'm sorry. Yeah. My name is Kalopi Pontes. I'm the owner of 19 Ferronia Way, Rutherford, right by Erie and the
Boiling Spring Center, right behind it, next to the vacant lot, the parking. That's my house. Okay. 1983 I moved in the area. I remember exactly how it used to be. It was an eyesore.
Okay. And I am for progress. I like improvements and we do need housing but not over extend. Okay. We need to keep Ratherford
as nice as it was then. There's ways that we can put town houses all along the railroad tracks, you know, like the carton uh hills renaissance in Rutherford condominiums with little balconies and everything. Three floors.
I think it would look very nice. The trains go by and they see a nice view. And if we need more housing, we have plenty of land on the other side of the highway of Route 17. And we can keep small buses coming into town so that way
we don't have all that traffic. There are solutions as long as there is a will. Okay, that's what I want everybody to to understand. Um, residents and the board and everybody else. We cannot stop
progress. We have to move forward. But how are we going to do it? So it will be safe and it will look nice and we keep When I say I'm from Rutherford, New Jersey, everybody says, "Wow, you're from Ratherford." That's what we need. Thank you so much.
>> Thank you, ma'am. Anybody else from the public wishing to speak? >> David Laberno, 423 Styverson. Uh just a few questions and then hopefully someone will be able to answer them. Um, as I understand it, the uh fair share that we're talking about is set by state
statute. So, who passes that stuff? I mean, we're saying where none of us are responsible yet we endorse, we help elect officials who impose these then on us and then we say, what are we going to do? Um, so I just find it interesting.
And then secondly, may I don't know, maybe you could tell us who who passes these things. And then how can we get this changed if we're also against it? Maybe we could have a resolution that protests to the state or elected officials. Maybe that's something that we could do as a municipal body or
representatives of the municipal body. Um then I I I I also would note some of the numbers that came out and uh the attorney over here said that uh you know it it it it's not going to happen. It would never happen because
it's not it's already rented out building with class whatever C commercial space and yet we have a development next door that came or development to come probably in a couple weeks. everybody. Um, a development next door that's talking
about not being able to rent out gradeA commercial space for the past three years. And so they want a redevelopment. Well, they'll put in 130 units with 74 unit density per acre, exactly the one that we're doing on this overlay. And
that gives you 130 units. He also said, maybe you could confirm these numbers for me, that the police station, and we wanted to get 40 units because we have to get 25% of 157 with which we're shy of. And you get that by doing the police
station, which gives you 74 units on that little acreage, which will give us 14 affordable. And then to get the other 26 is why we have this columns project. And so to get 26, that requires 174 units.
of affordable housing when we do apartments. So, just maybe you could confirm my numbers because I'm not so great with numbers. Um, so it it it seems like with these two projects, um, you know, money talks is the way that it
works. That's become my experience. And the columns project has relatively worse commercial space for rentals. In the better commercial space, the developer tells us they can't do it. So when they empty that building,
then that project would happen. It would seem to make economic sense. But I don't know if our lawyer is an economic adviser. Maybe he can maybe can tell us about those things because it seems I I don't know. Maybe I maybe it's me. Maybe
I don't know how the world works. Um the the the project uh over here at the police station though is on this zone to be 100% affordable housing. I note that that isn't the percentage that's on this
ordinance for the columns property. Only the police station says 100% affordable housing. So I don't know why is that different. I wonder. Um, also, uh, you say that we need to adopt this now
and it it seems like a cart before the horse, chicken before the egg sort of thing, right? The judge has to validate the numbers, but we're in and the numbers maybe they're wrong, maybe they're right, but we're putting in a plan and adopting all this stuff to say
what worst case scenario. I guess just just trying to understand the logic that's going on here. Um the the the a fund of 100% affordable uh housing also though compliance with that
according to various legal articles out there that one could find. Um you need this plan. The plan the state requires the constitution the the the the law about creating a realistic opportunity. what what you said. And so now we're
saying a realistic opportunity is you must change your zoning to allow 25%. Like we have permissive zoning right now and the market will do what the market does and we have pilots that we've given out to juice that along the way. So I
guess you know the whole thing is very confusing and our elected officials seem to have the incentives backwards. You have 15% affordable housing if it's uh rentals you only required 15%. But if
it's condominiums, you require 20%. So what are we incentivizing the creation of apartments? You all uh will read the news and you see how people in this current time can't get on the property ladder, can't afford to get a house. So then we incentivize the developers to
make >> you have five minutes while you finish. >> Thank you. So, I think that incentive is actually backwards and I think it's something we should have some kind of resolution to our elected officials about why this is all so very messed up. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else from the public
wishing to speak? Maya Cruz, 37 Ferrron away. I'm a lifelong resident and own the house that I grew up in. Bought it from my parents after they passed away. I've been I'm really nervous, so sorry. Just want to
clarify a few things if you can help me with. I've been um in that house for as long as the columns has been around. It was built the right the same time I my parents moved me here. And maybe it's a
dinosaur. Maybe I am too. But what I'm not understanding because today's the first day I've heard about potential redevelopment of the columns to knock it down and build something else. Um, is the columns owners are they looking
to sell it? It doesn't sound like it from what I'm hearing from the council. So, but what I'm not understanding is why are those the only two properties that we're talking about? I mean, from what I understand, there's the these other behemoths everywhere, the the Agnu
project and maybe the Boiling Springs project. I'm sure something's going there. Um, why are those not in consideration for affordable housing and spread it out? I I don't understand. But it does seem to me and it feels like our
train hub is under attack and there are giant boxes being put all everywhere we took look around. It feels like you can't breathe anymore because um we can't move. You you can't go to the corner without getting stuck in traffic
immediately. There's commuters you see every day just ditching their car on our street and heading up to the Orient way. Um, so it's like we're already in battle and then to picture all this additional life around us. We don't even know what
the effects of the East Rutherford side are going to bring us. But that will surely bring extra traffic to us. And it's just frustrating because, you know, just because our houses are real near the train, we deserve a quality of life,
too. And um the one comment that I would like to make and I don't know if it's appropriate because it's about the Boiling Springs thing and that stupid triangle on the corner. I don't understand why anybody would ever think to develop that. That used to be the road and that little triangle was
actually built in order to alleviate us from traffic. So now the thought of putting a six-story brick wall at the end of our block that every time we walk out and look down the street, it's like we're living in a box and it's only going to
aggravate our traffic situations. So that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else from the public wishing to speak? Seeing none, I'm going to close it to the public and open up for any council comment. Councilwoman,
>> thank you, Mayor. Um, so I'm going to I'm going to work out of order. Um, I'm first going to thank everyone for being here and speaking to this. Um, I'm going to start with Mr. Lebruno because I I'm always struck, Mr. Lebruno, when you say things like,
"Maybe I don't know how the world works. It like feels like what I say to my 17-year-old when he's being really difficult." And that troubles me because I you're always sort of implying some sort of sinister motive by the council and I
take umbrage with it myself. Um I am an attorney. I would never compromise my ethics for this gig for which we get paid $3,000 a year. Um I would never compromise my day job for this gig for which we get paid $3,000 a year. So any
implication that the cart or the horse is carrying some gold bars that are getting us to build these buildings is really really frustrating. So I Well, you didn't not say it though. And so I think your exact words were money talks.
Money's not talking to me in this situation. >> Mr. Lebrono, she speak and you got to speak. >> Yes. You said money talks and money's not talking to any of us in this situation. I think where you're correct is that this is a really to use Mrs. um Ms. Cruz to use her words, this is a
very frustrating situation. Unequivocally, undeniably frustrating situation. And where we are right now is Mr. Lubber, why can't we pass a resolution that says we're not going to do this? Because we would never pass a resolution that says we're going to
break the law. You shouldn't want us to do that. So why are we why are we getting into compliance before there's a decision? Because deadlines are deadlines under the law. And just because the government, it's why they get to do what they do, I guess, at the state level. Just because they haven't
met their obligations doesn't mean we don't have to meet our obligations. I wish it was because it's really unfair. We're sort of driving blind and deciding where we can put an overlay zone. I cannot stress enough how confusing I find it as a resident of only eight years. So, I'm not a lifelong resident
and I know that that for a lot of people take issue with that. But in the time I've been here, the only buildings that have been built are the Parker one and two. The only buildings, there is no agu, there is no prism, there is no columns project, there's none of that.
None of that has happened. So, I want us to really ground ourselves in the reality of what will be and what is possible. There are tons of maybe projects. The builders may build them, they may not. There are projects for which the builders have don't even own
the entirety of their property. That's why it's not getting built. The prism project has been dead on arrival for a year, two years. There is no there I I I can appreciate that if all of this comes to fruition, we are changing the
town. I I want really all of us to like think critically together. The overlay zones are possibilities and he didn't say never. So I want to be sure what Brian's words are clear. He didn't say they never would be built, but the likelihood of them getting built is
extraordinarily small. So what were our two options? Our first option was you all know many of you know about the Russo project. It was a project that's like on the New Jersey Turnpike over green water. It's not zoned for residential. The NGSCA owns it. We would
we would have really had our hands forced if we didn't at least come up with another option. These are terrible options in a frustrating situation. Um, Miss Cruz, I don't know what um brick wall situation you're talking about. I'd like to know about it because I'm not
sure the Boiling Springs project. I don't I don't know which you're speaking of, so I don't want to speak to that. Um, but I want us to just all get really clear on what's actually happening and what our choices are. Our choices are are slim. I, you know, I will be voting
yes to the overlay zone because that gets us in compliance. There are no plans to develop the police building. Zero. None. There are no plans for a columns project. Zero. None. So, we are not looking at us approving this and
then tomorrow you're going to see, you know, cranes in the ground. Well, you know, those would be diggers. Cranes lift. Diggers dig. Um, you would think my son was not as obsessed with trucks as he was that I didn't know the difference. Don't tell him. But there are no immediate plans for anything.
There are no even short-term plans for anything. We just have to get in compliance with the law. Um, Mr. Biviano, I did read your letter. Uh I read it on the on what my walk to the bus. Um and so I appreciate all of the
concerns you've been raising about the or one Orient way building and I do appreciate your concerns as to if there is significant development that will change the quality of life. I don't know how I'm not one to talk about property value. Maybe it will change the property
value, maybe it won't. um it's appreciated and understood, but again, I can't stress enough um I don't want you to be pushing so much energy into things that aren't happening. Nothing is currently happening on Orient Way. Prism hasn't gotten back to us about anything.
We are very responsive because we never want to seem like we're not compliant, but this isn't a project that anyone is pushing forward. We're not pushing it. They're not pushing it. Um, Denise, with regards to I'm sorry, Miss Cordini, I probably shouldn't call you Denise from
here, but um, with regards to parking noted, um, if we had an option to just throw up a parking garage, we don't, right? Um, the bank, I agree with you. Why another bank? We don't get to decide what businesses go into these
properties. That is not our role. If it is zoned for a business, if a bank wants to go into a business where they own the property, we don't decide that they don't go there, right? I my the example a lot of people use with us is like why so many Italian restaurants, which by the way, I'll note they're all quite
different from one another. So, it really is a different dining experience, but like why another Italian restaurant? I don't know. We don't get to decide what else goes in there, right? I love having that many options. Some people don't. Why don't we have an Indian restaurant? I don't know. No one wants
to put an Indian restaurant into some of these buildings. So, I urge you to think about we're doing the best we can with what we've got. And in this instance, the overlay zone is a creative solution to a problem that is impossible to solve
for hundreds of municipalities, right? Um, you know, you're correct, Mr. Lebruno, this is state law. You're correct that we vote people into the state. You're correct that I'm sure most of us on the day as if that was a dig about us all being Democrats, we voted this in. I could tell you our six little
votes probably didn't matter all that much in getting the affordable housing statutes passed. But we are where we are. And finally, cuz my five minutes are for sure up. Finally, I believe in affordable housing. And I want to say
that clearly. I believe in it. I believe in it actually in a town like this, not vast huge buildings, but we are a transportation hub. It gives opportunities for all those families that can't afford a, you know, to live
in a unattached one family house to get to Rutherford, save some money, send their kids somewhere, do something, and it gets us there. And I do believe in that. I don't believe in having it jammed down to our throats, which is what's happening now, but I do believe
in it. So, I want to be sure that I'm clear about that because I'm not against affordable housing. I'm against legislators who don't understand what each individual town is about deciding what we can and cannot do here. That's all.
>> Thank you, Councilwoman. Anybody else? >> Thank you, mayor. Um, and thank you, Councilman. I think that was uh very well said. I just wanted to to maybe add a bit to that or clarify. Um you know there are some comments made about well why doesn't this housing project
hypothetical project go here or there or on the other side of Route 17 or whatever else that is still possible. Uh anyone can propose any project in Rutherford. uh and that project like any of the hypothetical projects even the ones on these overlay zones would still
be subject to multiple uh bites of the apple by the public and by us uh and by our committees and boards to review. So any project that more or less any project that comes before Rutherford for a major project uh a major development
redevelopment is still subject to almost almost certainly the planning board, the board of adjustments and in some cases the council also. So to the extent that the public is concerned about future projects, this is not the opportunity to discuss them, there there are many other
opportunities to discuss them when we know what they could hypothetically be. Um, so I just want to be clear that there are many many opportunities for public comment at any hypothetical future project that might occur. And I do want to clarify that maybe there's some confusion about the prison project or the prison building. As uh the
counciloman mentioned, um, this overlay district is not inclusive of that building. So that that's a completely different project. It's adjacent to the overly district, but it is not this overly district does not include that building. That that building, I believe, is lot 15, and the overly district does not include lot 15. So that building,
that project is subject, as I said before, to all manners of review that the public can comment on. Um it is not part of this overlay district. Um to what extent that, you know, matters for for the general public. So I I do want to make it clear that, you know, we're we're not that's a separate project
entirely. and it's subject to whatever manner of review that the um the our professionals and and our committees and boards would would subject it to. That's all. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman. >> Thank you very much, Mayor. Um I would
uh echo the com the the comments by my colleagues here. Well done, and I appreciate uh your efforts here to um make sure we're all on the same page. You know, it's we're faced daily with really difficult task. And it gets real
difficult when you have the state that is demanding you perform or demanding you put up information before they make decisions and timelines pass. It's okay for them, but it's not
okay for us. We hear your local government needs to be responsible. And I will tell you that this council and our professionals here and our mayor, we're responsible. If we are not, it's a very fine line. We could see builder's remedy come in here, which means they
will tell us what they are building and how high they want to go. Okay? This is our efforts of putting our best pet foot forward and saying we do have a plan. We are complying by your
deadlines even though we don't know what is going on. Okay. To Mr. Bruno's point, the cart before the horse. Yes, it is. Guess what? That's what the state is telling us to do. So, we're complying. We're being responsible.
So, please understand if there if if there's you all we our phone numbers and our email addresses are always published on the bureau site. If you have a question or unsure of what is going on or what is
being mentioned, email one of us. We'll get back to you. I'll even have we there's not one person here that won't have sit down and have a cup of coffee with someone. If there is something you're not sure of before you go out on Facebook or social media, please, I urge you all. Contact
one of us. Get the facts. We can help. That's all I have for today. I appreciate you all. Thank you for coming and I really appreciate the input. This is the way it's supposed to be. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Councilman. Councilman. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um, I'll be brief
because I know my colleagues have covered quite a bit. Um first and foremost, thank you for coming out. Thank you for sharing your concerns, your frustrations on this um issue. Um being the newest member sitting on the deis, I will say this is complicated. Um there are uh many aspects of this to to
consider. Um as Councilman Gwan said, it's been a a thoughtful um process. Um we're we're we're certainly looking out for the best interest of this bureau. Um I do appreciate Councilman Eric clarifying between the Prism project and this. I think there are are important to
differentiate that. Um I do support affordable housing. Um I don't like the cart before the horse. I don't like having it jammed down our throats and I don't want other people telling us what should be in our municipality. Um that being said, I do um agree with my colleagues. I believe we're acting
responsibly in this instance. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council President. >> Thank you, Mayor. Yes. I also want to acknowledge everyone who spoke this evening. Thank you for your comments. Um I I wanted to uh address two
particularly although have already tangentially been mentioned, I I want to address them because uh they resonated very deeply with me. Um Miss Cordini, uh I I could not agree with you more that parking in this burrow is problematic.
It has been problematic for years and every time we are looking at development we're asking them to make the accommodations they follow the regulations but the reality is you know um you know once upon a time I remember in
my house growing up we had one car for our whole family right and now if that family was like if I was back in time we probably have five right and so I think about that so that that's not even just changing where these larger buildings are. It's also it changes our side
streets, our everything, right? Because we can't all fit in a driveway. We How do we know this? We all just survived three feet of snow and people came out and they said, "How come the DPW went around cars?" And they were like, "Well, I can't fit all my cars in a driveway." Right? And that's how we start back on these conversations. So, I I bring it
full circle to just say that uh I'm stealing your words, councilwoman. Um but, you know, all these things can be true, right? the parking thing is in fact something that has to be in consideration at all times in every conversation. So yes, I just I
wanted to come back to that. That needs to just be a yes. Okay, that's that's a yes. And and I hope that we continue to address that, including as we talk about overlay zones and where these places are. So yes. Um, the second thing I wanted to swing back to that I felt was
germaine to this overlay conversation. I I just I want to come back to the fact that this is round four. That means there have been three prior rounds. So when we're talking about all these other projects, I I I say this not in
criticism. I say this is like this is a shot for us to share knowledge, right? So, you may or may not be aware that in all of those rounds, this this negotiation, this back and forth with the state, we need space. Where will you put it? We have this space. Okay. We
have a developer. Well, they haven't developed. Well, that means you said you're going to do it, but you didn't produce it, right? Well, that went on for these three rounds. That went on for a good, I don't know, 10 plus years. Well, now we're in round four. And and here's the reality, right?
I know that our our um our intentions have been the right ones. When we go through these things and we say they're in our rounds and we're meeting our obligation, we're really saying what we believe to be true. I can't speak that everybody's a good actor across the state that everybody was doing this in
the right form. Well, what happened? As as my council colleagues pointed out, we have projects that come forward, they get approvals, but they don't move. They don't get built. But all of those numbers were put forward to the state over the last 10 years saying, "Look,
Rutherford's really trying to meet our obligation." The challenge is now we're at round four and the state is not just looking at Rutherford. They're looking at I don't know how many we got 600 and something municipal. Am I close? >> Five something, 600. I don't know. It's a whole lot. Okay. We got all these
municipalities and they're saying, "Well, if everybody built what they were supposed to build, why don't we have enough housing?" And the reality is they're probably in the same boat we are. Projects said they were going to go, they didn't go. The market changed, they didn't buy the property, it got too
exp. I don't know. There's a whole host of reasons why these projects start and stop. That doesn't diminish your frustration in this room right now. I share that really as a point of information to understand when we say like this isn't something that just
happened. We're in round four. The reason why and and Mr. Dr. Labbr, I I will end with, you know, I respectfully you and I usually spar after the meeting, so I I don't want to lose that momentum for us. Um, you know, I would be so disappointed.
Um, and I always welcome it and you know that. But I I do want to say I kind of I just got to go there. Okay. The reality is we have to be compliant.
I'm a taxpayer. You're a taxpayer. We're all taxpayers. You know what I don't want to spend my money on? No disrespect to the lawyers in the room. >> I'm not interested in paying the professionals hundreds of thousands of
dollars. Hear the number I said, by the way, to go defend why we didn't put something in on a deadline to meet a requirement because they didn't do their job. I'm not their boss, but you asked me to
be ours sitting here. So, what I'm going to do is my best to make sure whatever dollar you put in the coffer and whatever dollar I put in mine that we're good stewards of it to the best decision we can make in this moment. Is it perfect? Probably not. So, I apologize
in advance. I'm sure next time you come to the meeting, you'll question why I just said what I said. Even better, and I welcome it as always. But that's the truth of the matter, right? So, for better, for worse, I always speak what I think to be the
truth with you because that's how I'd want somebody to talk to me. So, I just felt mayor before we go forward with voting this, like I just want everyone, whether you're new to this conversation, you've been with us for years, whatever. I want you to have as much information as you can so you don't feel like you're
being blindsided or you get some card in the mail and suddenly you think somebody's showing up at a shovel tomorrow. I think that's all I wanted to say. Thank you, Mayor. >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. >> Mission, could you please read the role?
>> Council President McGawan? >> Yes. >> Councilman Erico? >> Yes. >> Councilman Guzman? >> Yes. >> Council Deborah Conn? >> Yes. >> C Mone? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Next ordinance.
Thank you, mayor. Continuing with what had been presented earlier, this is amending chapter 51, which is updating our affordable housing. Missy, can you please read the ordinance by title only? >> An ordinance repealing and replacing chapter 51 article 7 entitled affordable
housing production of the code of the bureau of Rutherford to address the requirements of the fair share act as amended and the uniform housing affordable controls as amended regarding compliance with the bureau's affordable housing obligations. >> Thank you. I'd like to move the ordinance be passed on second reading and advertised according to law.
>> I have a motion by the council president. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by council del. At this point, I'll now open it up again for the public for any public comment. Anybody from the public wishing to speak? >> Oh, I'm sorry, not this ordinance.
>> Sorry, I thought we already I thought I could already talk to Steph. Sorry. >> Close it to the public and now open up for any council comment. Seeing none, may have a roll call, please. >> Council President McGowan, >> mayor, before I vote
up to speak to us. I just that maybe didn't get out of the aisle. I just want to be careful that somebody didn't want to speak. >> Are you looking to speak on this subject matter and this subject matter only? >> No. Okay. Thank you. I'm sorry. I saw somebody move, mayor, and I just wanted to make sure that everybody had a
chance. >> Council President McGowan. >> Yes. Councilman Erico, >> yes. >> Councilman Guzman, >> yes. >> Council Del Conn, >> yes. >> Councilman Mone, >> yes. >> Thank you. Now, we're going to move to the hearing of citizens. Anyone from the
public wishing to speak about any matter? Please step forward to the microphone. Mr. Lebro is there. >> You're welcome. Uh, thank you. David Labberto, 423 Stason. Uh, just about one of the resolutions on there. talks about a spending plan $2 million that will go
to kip property where we're where the housing was offloaded affordable housing from Agnu and I was wondering why that contribution is I thought the housing the affordable housing was offloaded from Agnu onto the kip property and then they would be responsible for paying for
that. So I'm wondering why our spending plan calls for $2 million to be given to that project. Um, secondly, I just want to address some of the things that were said. Uh, I can appreciate I take people as they come. Uh, I didn't say anything
or impugn anyone's ethics. I just want to make that clear. I did not You can create as many straw men as you want and knock them down. I don't have a problem with it, but I did not impugn anyone's ethics. I asked the gentleman who was saying that it would never happen. I'll listen back to the tape and see if he
said never. But he said that it wouldn't happen. and I said, well, economics drives business. So, just so we clarify that so we're certain what I said and what I didn't say. So, u secondly, um I
wanted to say about uh Mr. Erico mentioned that uh there'll be plenty more opportunities, but I personally I would uh add a caveat to that because when we pass zoning then whatever zoning is permitted then the person who owns
the property can perform underneath that zoning. This zoning will allow 74 units to be built. So if they come with 74 units and they meet the wiring requirements and all this other kind of stuff that the planning board looks at,
then there's no way that this council could stop anything. Just so that the public is clear and please correct me if I'm wrong. Um and then uh uh I guess uh let me think let me look at my notes before I can because there were a couple
things saying I I would agree you know we have to meet the requirements of the law as Mr. Guzman said about statutory not statutory but deadlines so that we remain compliant. My point about our elected officials where those people at the state level are the ones who keep on
passing these new acts that me make these new requirements and this council passes lots of resolutions endorsing many different things uh at the state level. We have uh people who want us to endorse uh various uh uh uh laws that
that they want to have passed at the state level that were not signed by Governor Murphy that are being reintroduced for Governor Cheryl to sign having to do with uh immigration. So are related to that and and I I guess they're going to ask you tonight what you're going to do about that and you'll
have some reason statement on that. So I'm just asking if we disagree. so much with what's happening. We don't want to pursue a lawsuit against this because it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, but we can make our voices
heard in other ways should we want to is is my point. Um, and then yeah, I guess other than that, I I can't read my notes about Stephanie, so I'll have to speak with her after. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You have to get to the mic.
>> Get on Get online if you want. doesn't want to take your >> good greetings mayor, >> council members. I'm Reverend Annie Allen. I'm pastor of the Rutherford Congregational Church, 2A East B East
Base Avenue in Rutherford. On January 2nd of this year, I stood before this body and I prayed for each and every one of you. I sincerely prayed a blessing upon you that you may serve this community with courage, with
vision, and with hearts of compassion. I'm here today with the same prayer that you stand to protect the most vulnerable in our community. I'm asking for a firm and clear statement from this body
in the form of a protect our neighbors resolution. This resolution, we hope, would support the immigration uh protection bills in our state. The legislation currently working its way through the legislature will include a
bill that will codify into law the attorney general's uh immigration trust act uh directive. The directive states that local authorities are responsible for enforcement of criminal law, not federal immigration law. In doing so, the
directive makes clear that victims and witnesses can report crimes to law enforcement without fear that they would be turned over to federal immigration authorities. We have the utmost confidence in our police chief, John
Russo, but we are here, mayor and council. Uh we are asking for you as our governing body to make a statement. As our public officials, we depend on you to protect the civil right the civil rights and the civil liberties of our
residents and irrespective of their immigration status. We are asking that you affirmatively take a stand governmental against governmental outreach and ab abuse specifically the abuses of the
Department of Homeland Security and Immigration Customs Enforcement Agency. I urge you to follow the lead of our New Jersey attorney general and the lead of our governor who's been who have been taking very strong and firm and clear
stands against bad actors in the federal government and urge the restoration of civility, prudence, and the rule of law. I understand that there are those in our community who support the actions of the
federal government. I know that passing such a resolution uh would uh risk alienating some of our neighbors and some of our voters, some of your voters, some of our neighbors. But I' and I'd also like to mention a
little bit about fear that Governor Murphy in his uh final radio broadcast stated that he did not want to wage war uh World War II on Washington. We are long past that.
ICE is already uh uh armed ICE officers are already surrounding Rutherford in all of our towns around our um uh community. Uh they are already here.
They are um they they are uh ex they're building in they're filling our detention centers. They're buy they're building warehouses and ramping up operations. Our residents deserve to feel safe in our town.
Lastly, um our this resolution would not in any way prevent ICE from doing their lawfully mandated actions. It would not um the
resolution would not limit or hinder the federal actions at all. But what it would do is send a clear message to our residents, our neighboring municipalities, and the state of New Jersey, what we stand for and how we
live here in Rutherford. It sends a general, it sends a signal of support to our governor and our state legislature, and it will encourage them to continue their initiative to protect our immigrant population. Martin Luther
King Jr. once said that the ark of history is long but it bends towards justice and I pray that this body will be on the right side of history. Thank you for your time. Thank you
folks. You're going to have to I I did give Pastor Annie a little more liberty as far as the time goes, but you guys are going to have to keep your comments to five minutes or less. Okay. long is that's why I went first >> and you knew I was going to let you go. So,
>> a preacher. >> Hi. Uh, my name is Kenya Fernandez. I'm at 24 Walnut. Um, a naturalized American citizen. I voted for some of you, not all of you, but I'm happy to see you all here.
I think we all agree that we have all sworn an oath to the same constitution that gives us all equal rights and due process. As a naturalized American, that's what I expect. Unfortunately, today ICE is being allowed to violate my
civil rights, my equal protection, and my due process. I have been confronted by ICE right here in front of the Candlewick Diner just outside of Rutherford. Okay. So, eyes confronting me, they have the right now to pick me
up on the basis of my appearance, my name, my nationality of birth, uh my speaking in Spanish to my mother. This should not happen. I am not opposed to ICE doing what they legally should be doing. But I think that everyone,
Democrat, Republican, independents, everyone in Brotherford should agree that we should all have equal protection under the law. And if we don't, you have to ask yourself, who's next? For those of you who are afraid of a rogue
government, I have to remind you of the words of Audrey Lord. Your silence will not protect you. But the fear of losing the rule of law and the equal protection under the law and the due process that we all expect to live under, that should
concern everybody in Rutherford. And Rutherford should speak with one voice on this issue. No ice in Rutherford. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, mayor, council members, and neighbors. My name is Sarah Asher. I live at 17 Manona Avenue. You've seen my
face uh speak up here before. I'm a member of Rutherford Indivisible. As you can see, there's a large group of us and only growing every day that will continue to speak up on some of the issues that myself and the rest of my friends are going to be talking about. I ask three main things of the council
members tonight. one, pass a protect our neighbors resolution in support of cottifying the immigration trust directive. Many others here um can more eloquently describe why we need those um
and the reasons behind it um are evident to me. I I don't feel that I should need to describe why we need to protect our neighbors, why no one should live in fear of walking down the street, going to the diner. It's not okay.
Uh my second ask of the council is to publicly commit to and provide additional and ongoing information, resources, and training in order to protect our neighbors. I understand and I want to thank the council for taking a
first step with a know your rights training. I would like to see more additional forms of that how we can uh include members of law enforcement. Um, what I don't want to see is some of our neighbors, if they are interacted with
ICE inappropriately, as we've seen across the country and in our uh in fellow townships, how will the police officers be affected? Are they going to be lumped into the same category as those inappropriate and bad actors that some
of these ICE agents are? We want to be able to help support our law enforcement officers who are doing a great job and have them be protecting this community as opposed to having some folks see them as also bad actors like some ICE agents
are. Um uh and I just want to make note that we're not the we're not going to be the first town to stand up and make a stance and provide information and resources. We're not the first, second, or third. There are dozens of towns now that have
passed resolutions, have made statements um by other mayors, and have provided other information and resources and training. We're not looking to be the first, but we can add to this growing list. Um with that, my uh third uh and
final ask of the council is to continue to make additional public stances on how the council will protect our neighbors on immigration protections. uh whether that's comment on these uh on these meetings tonight, whether that's making
a statement with um the the newsletter that comes out on a regular basis that may lead to a wider source of viewership than just those folks that are standing here tonight. Um, and some of the things that we may not be thinking about are the burden that if
ICE comes here and the inappropriate actions are taken in this town, how that will affect businesses, how that will affect uh people moving out of the town. How will that affect our police department? How will that affect
building and zoning laws and ordinances? What if they want to take over a facil a a building here? What ordinances can we look at that are going to protect our neighbors and not allow any sort of detention facility here as well? I think
the council needs to be wildly proactive in thinking ahead of all of these bad issues that could potentially come because they are happening in other neighboring towns. Um and my final statement is that um those
that live, work, and play and enjoy Rutherford um we all want just transparency and to uplift our neighbors and how each member of the council can protect our neighbors. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi guys. Switching hats. Indivisible. Uh
Denise Cordini, one walnut street. Um you know, I was here last month and and I appreciate the comments that I got from you both from the dis and and privately. Um and I really appreciate
the fact that you guys are moving forward through the civil rights commission with a know your rights session, but it's still not enough. The resolution is extremely important. I wasn't born here. I chose to live
here. I chose to stay here in large part because of the diversity of our community. And now those diverse populations are under attack because the president of the United States supports white supremist doctrine. And that is just
what it is. Um, our ask was to demonstrate to those communities that we support them by fostering the momentum already in the state legislature and affirmed by Governor Cheryl to put forward and pass the
balance of the bills that make our state's immigrant protection bills. We need to be a part of that push. We need to stand up for these people. as as Sarah said, it it not only protects them, but it also
protects our police department and our municipality by saying, "We're not the same. We're different. We're standing up." Um, and according to the Newark Police Department, nothing in the directive limits their ability to enforce state
criminal law or suggest that New Jersey provide sanctuary to individuals who commit crimes. Local police simply cannot question, arrest, search, or detain anyone based on immigration status. And they cannot ask for immigration status unless it is relevant
to their investigation. They can't participate in ICE, civil immigration enforcement operations, nor can they provide ICE with access to state or local law enforcement resources. That's perfectly reasonable assumption and we
need the community to know that they can go to the police because they are facing spousal abuse or they have been attacked by someone. They need to feel comfortable going to the police, going to a hospital. So, what my ask here is
that we put together a resolution that supports the immigrant I'm going to say this wrong, the immigrant trust directive being codified into law and the immigration privacy bills that and
codify them into law to give them teeth. We can't be passive. We really have to act. Thanks. Thank you. Hi, I'm Patrick Doma. I'm actually a resident of Woodridge uh over in 115 115 Truman Drive. Uh I happen to work uh
doing advocacy here not not my job, but I do advocacy here in uh as a part of Rutherford Indivisible. Uh, I'm here today to request that you all pass the resolution um to support our immigrant
neighbors. I listened in on the rest of the meeting and uh got to understand a little bit about the the recent development ordinance uh that you guys are dealing with. And I heard a sentiment uh expressed during that
conversation. It was the idea that we have a lot of state level lawmakers who aren't familiar with the community who are imposing things on us. Um, and this resolution is really your
opportunity to voice back to those state level lawmakers what this community is about. Because when I come here and I participate in protests with many of your neighbors, when I go down to
Delaney Hall and I provide mutual aid to people visiting their loved ones who have been detained there, what I see is a beautiful diverse community here of people who care about their immigrant neighbors. And I think it's imperative that we speak up with one voice and let
Trenton know that we value our immigrant neighbors and that we're not going to tolerate ICE coming in and abducting people off the street. Thank you. Uh Aaron Kleinbound, 62 West Perpon Avenue.
Mayor and Council, I'll try to be brief. Uh you've already heard uh a lot of the detail. Uh just to summarize, during the recent lame duck session of the New Jersey legislature, they passed three bills protecting
immigrant rights. former Governor Murphy signed one of only one of them. Um, we are here, we being uh Rutherford Beacon, Rutherford Indivisible, and the Rutherford Congregational Church, we're
here to call for the mayor and council to further pro the protection of our neighbors and further and support what the Democratic legislature passed last session and has introduced
this session, a commit commitment to strengthen uh our im our immigrant neighbors trust in public agencies and also to support democratic values.
Uh so we want the council the mayor and council to pass a protect our neighbors resolution and support cottifying the New Jersey attorney general's immig immigrant uh trust directive. I have shared with some of the council a
proposed resolution. I'll share that with you right now. I'd like to make it part of the record. I love immigrants, asylum seekers, and our dem and our democracy. I'm the grandchild of immigrants, so it's personal.
and I'm the beneficiary of democratic values that allowed my family to flourish in this country and in this burrow. So, it's personal. Every Thursday, I join a national interfaith group beacon for democracy. We take to
the streets for 30 minutes with our neighbors and with our signs who stand and fight up for an American democracy and human rights and protesting uh the cruelty that we see from our
federal government. We call this demonstration shine the light and we're doing it every week and around the country for a year and in Rutherford since last summer. You're welcome to join us.
Thank you. Hello. My name is Gilerin Gillum. It is 31 IV place Rutherford and I live in Rutherford is $19.99 and I pay $22,000
a year. So I think I have a some voice. I should be having some boys here, you know. I don't know how it matters, but um they built a new building in Union Avenue and I was watching that and the
whole uh lot is a building and it's it's um stops the traffic and also according to the Rutherford building law
every building supposed to have 20% % 25% green. I don't see any green for new buildings developer or not. I don't understand so much your you know legal
jumbo mumbo but what I'm asking to Rutherford just can you please keep on your own law so we can do too it's just
you know not only the traffic view we blocks this new building all the other apartments but they are building here. They have no place left, no green area.
It's just the whole land, whole building. It's really bothers me. Not only the density, um it just everything what they do those boxes. I'm against everything anyway,
but I'm against these new buildings. I don't know how much my voice accounts, but I just wanted to make sure I told my opinion on that one. Anyway, I have another issue that I filed a permit for
my garage fixing existing garage fixing. But building department in Rutherford, it's been two years. They did not deny but didn't accept my permit to fix my garage. All my garage equipments,
everything loans to my engineer husband is ruined under the rain. I'm just trying to fix my garage and um it's been two years now. At the end of the May, it will going to be two years. uh uh according to the law
building department only can hold the permit for two years after that I think the lawyers will going to know better that it will going to give me a reason to sue them back and um my garage is felling apart I just wanted to fix it
but Frank Karati did not give me the permit reason being he said that I will put a second floor of my garage but there is no such a thing because architecture drawing shows that I never ask anything additional
personally I tried so many times to communicate with them and nobody didn't answer also Mr. Z I send you so many emails you should be reading your emails anyway but um I did not get any
resolution meanwhile building the apartment blame me for the smear campaign that I'm trying to turn my house to the third fourth floor something something I never filed this uh that they are just throwing a in
the wall or something I don't know excuse my language anyway Okay. Um, they blame me. Bunch of things I did not do at all. And everything I said I can prove with the paperworks.
>> You're at your five minutes. >> I made two years paperwork. Everything is in writing. Everything provable. I made a complaint to the Trenton too. But what I understand is there is no such a power on top of the building
department. There is no power. building department do whatever they want. >> Ma'am, you're at your five minutes. You can actually speak to the uh bur administrator tomorrow regarding your issues with the building department. >> Who? >> Gentleman at the end. You could reach out to him tomorrow, schedule a meeting
and discuss that issue with him. >> Okay. I tried to schedule several times with the clerks, but they did not give me an appointment also. I have to mention that too. Over the years, two years now. >> Ma'am, ma'am, they don't do appointments. You you'd have to send an email to the Bur administrator. He's on
the website. >> Yeah. But my request is >> Ma'am, ma'am, your time is up. >> I'm time I'm so sorry. I apologize. Uh, can you please change the Frank Readyat? He's not gone. He's gone.
>> He's gone. Really? >> Thank you. That was I'm now going to close it to the public and open up for any council comment. >> Councilwoman.
Hi everybody. Um >> I'm gonna start with Kenya. >> Hi Kenya. Hello. Um, I want to start with you because you've been directly impacted by what everyone is discussing and I not that your other comments are
not worthwhile, but I think that your uh your it's important to address you first. So, um I my apology for what you went through sounds so um meaningless, but I wanted to acknowledge that it happened and I'm terribly sorry
it happened. Um, the other thing I want to say is for those in the room that there was reference to a know your rights session. Um, we are one of the very few municipalities in the state that has a civil rights commission. Um, we're very fortunate in that way. It was
started um the history of the civil rights commission is really fascinating and I won't bring it to you now but um it was started during the civil rights movement in the 1960s um by a councilman and um we're very lucky to have it. Uh it's a very we're very fortunate that
that the civil rights commission exists because this is exactly the type of effort that they are encouraged to take upon for us. Um, so the Civil Rights Commission has agreed to host a know your rights session. For those that don't know, a know your rights session is exactly that. It's having a
professional explain to the community what their rights are and are not with regards to dealing with things like ICE. Um, I want to tell you a little bit about the individual that's going to be hosting that session for the Civil Rights Commission. Um, his name is Diego
Gonzalez Cordiero. Um, Diego is the rapid response attorney for the Rucker's immigrate immigrant community assistance project. Diego offers Rucker students free and confidential campus-based immigration legal service. Um, and he directs representation for students that
are currently enrolled in the university system. So he of course helps university students but what he also does is advocates for and empowers the immigrant community through educational programming and community engagement which is what we've asked him to do for
us. Um he also had a lot of experience I don't know if you're all familiar with the organization Make the Road New Jersey but Make the Road New Jersey is a nonprofit that's focused in New Jersey on advancing immigrant rights. So Diego spent part of his career working for Make the Road New Jersey and then he's
chose to go back to Ruckers to help run their immigration clinic. Um Diego is a fantastic resource. Um I feel very lucky that he's agreed to do this for us. Um, the other reason I feel very lucky and for those of you that were at our last meeting and were troubled by how long
our close session lasted, I wanted to acknowledge that the reason that closed session lasted as long as it did is because we had a very robust conversation around what this all means, what we are capable of doing and what it can accomplish. Um, we also had the
benefit of Chief Russo participating in that close session. even though he was out of town, he participated at night via Zoom um to give us his perspective. So on March 24th at 7 p.m. in this room, um Diego, who I just described, as well
as Chief Russo are going to make themselves available to the community. Why I think it's important that we discuss that event as being the critical issue that we handle, the critical thing that we do is I don't feel equipped to
know where my greatest impact can be. I understand your ask for a resolution. I'll tell you my frustration with resolutions. They really are just a statement of position. They are not ordinances. They don't change the law. It's really is the same as us writing an
email to the governor's office saying, "Hey, listen. We agree." Um, I don't think personally that's our greatest impact. I'm not to say that shouldn't happen, but what I think should happen first is for us to get educated, myself included, by a professional on where we
can make our greatest impact. That's going to happen on March 24th. So, from my perspective, um gosh, I can't believe I'm using the cart and the horse again because that that horse is really tired after this meeting. But, um for me, the horse in this scenario is the know
you're right session. Um Miss Asher and Miss Cordini, you both sort of said that's not enough. Um I'm not ready to say that's not enough until I do it. Um so, I encourage you all to attend and do it and then after we do it, if we decide the resolution is still the way to go,
let's have a conversation. So from my perspective, that's two weeks away, less than two weeks away. Um, and I'd like us to get really educated and clear on where our impact could be. Um, where I'm going to what I'm going to ask of
Indivisible is, um, get people to come to this session, right? Like I think that we're asking for something and I think that we need to make sure people know about it. Um, I always like reasonable minds differ. I never know who actually reads the newsletter. Like I I don't I don't really know like I
know it's a resource. It was a resource that I think the the governing body started during COVID and I think during that time it was super important. I just always question like how much it really does get access. So I can't believe I'm doing this but I'm encouraging you to
use Facebook to like spread the word. I never really encourage us to share information on Facebook because it's never always accurate but about the know your rights um session. I think that's really important. Um, and I think that it will get us part of the way there. For me, after that session, if we still
think a resolution, which frankly is just a piece of paper asking like saying something we support is is is necessary, I'm open to it. But I really want to hear from Diego and our chief first to see what concerns we can allay and how we can like actually action our fear and
action our energy. You're already doing it in so many ways. I think there are probably more ways that um that we can do it. Um I think um Patrick, I didn't get your last name. I just wanted to thank you for being here. I always appreciate when
folks from other communities come to speak to us. Um yeah, I think that uh Sarah, you use the phrase I I circled it um wildly proactive. I want to be wildly proactive. I think that um that's I I
frankly much to my husband's sugar and I do everything with wild proactivity and it's really serves to his disadvantage but in this instance it's appropriate and um I I think it's it's important uh pastor Annie I'm always stealing a quote from you today it's the art of history
is law but it bends towards justice that's now going to I'm stealing that from you and Martin Luther King Jr. I guess so um I appreciate you being here uh Mr. Lebruno, thank you for clarifying your comments. The only thing I'll say is that you said I I would build straw men. I think you know me well enough. I
would only build straw women, but um but um but I appreciate your clarity. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Councilman. >> Thank you, Mayor. I I just wanted to cut the sentiments of my colleague. Um I really appreciate everyone coming out tonight and speaking on this topic. I
think um you know we in Rutherford often think that we live in a little bit of a bubble here uh because we are uh in many ways isolated from some of the larger events happening on the federal level but uh hearing everyone speak reminds me that we are uh very much involved in
these uh national and statewide issues. Um and I think implicit in in uh Councilwoman Del Cohen's comments is our uh our our shock or at least I speak for myself. um I my shock and and u u
disgust and and continual u amazement at at what is occurring uh on a national level and to the extent that that occurs locally um and that we could be something we could do something locally to impact it is um is something that I I find very meaningful and very interesting and uh again to echo the
comments of of speaking up and coming to the know your right session I I I do think it's appropriate to have a public forum in which uh we can express these opinions and voices um more broadly to the whole community with our professionals uh including our police um
to understand what we can do and how we can be most impactful. But I I I don't want um the fact that we're not you know passing a resolution at this exact moment to in any way um be used as a reflection of our uh agreement or
acquiescence to um to these actions. I think it's very much the opposite at least. I'll speak for myself personally. Thanks. >> Thank you, Councilman. >> Thank you very much, Mayor. Um, I once again I have to say I agree
with my council colleagues comments here. Um, just want you to know that I hear you. I feel you. Definitely. I need to be more educated and I
appreciate the events the the efforts for this event to happen on March 24th to know your rights. Um at the end of the day, this is what makes our community amazing
what's happening here today. I only ask that you get people to attend to know your rights. This is how we get more of the community on board. This is how we understand. We as elected officials get
to understand that there's a lot more people out there that may not be able to make these meetings or maybe they peique their interest by because maybe they you know what they maybe they need to know their rights or want to know their rights. Get those people out there.
Bring them to this meeting. I will be there. I will be getting educated. I have to tell you, I don't know Diego yet, but I do know our chief of police here, which is a fine example of the
finest here in the state of New Jersey. We're lucky we have him in his department. So, let's all get educated together. I may I may I say, let's learn our rights. Let's see what this is more about. Let's go step by
step here once one at a time. I appreciate you all coming tonight. Thank you very much, >> Councilman. >> I want to start by thanking Rutherford Indivisible, the Beacon, certainly Rutherford Congregational Church, and all my friends for coming out. Um, I
think it's important, um, advocacy, um, in this country, especially now, I think is crucial. Um, I'll offer to you, um, again, what I would say is my unique perspective. I think, uh, as my council colleagues have said, we're very fortunate in Rutherford. We have a tremendous police department. Um, our
police department um already follows the immigrant trust directive that was promulgated in I think 2018 and then followed up in 2019 by the then attorney general. Um, that being said, in my full-time professional life, I'm responsible for campus public safety at Teachers College at Columbia University.
That means I get to sit in John Russo's seat there on the campus. That means I have the responsibility explaining to our community what it means for you to be safe and how do we keep you safe. So, since you were last here, um, I had ICE visit the Columbia University campus.
You may have heard about it. So, that created a proverbial, you know, what storm on our campus. Um, it created angst. It created anxiety. It created all sorts of, um, real and perceived um,
threats. Uh, we have a high immigrant um, and international student faculty and staff population. um everything from our daycarees to our students to our faculty and staff. We held a right to know session. I will tell you there is so much tremendous
value in having this session. Um we had an attorney come in from um a different law firm. Um but again uh they told us the dos, the don'ts, the may and the perhapses. They told us what we should carry on ourselves while we're traveling around um the five burrows or our home
communities. what we should carry on us if we're traveling in or out of this country. And I think it's important to recognize that because you don't have all the same rights as you're traveling into this country before you cross over through uh customs and borders. So, I
learned a lot. I will be there on the 24th because I'm here for you. I want to stand with you. And like councilwoman Delery Cohen had said is that if um when this is all said and done and to borrow Sarah's words about being uh wildly um
proactive, I made that note as well. I'm in Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you, Mayor. Great comments, everyone. Thank you. I totally agree. Um,
first I'm going to start with I'm sorry. I was just trying to decide which way I want to go in my notes here. Um, the LeBron I didn't want you to think we forgot to answer your question. uh the $2 million that you referenced, uh that
was the money that was put into an account that accounts for the six units from the Parker that were paid for um and plus a few additional dollars um that we were required from other
ancillary projects uh under our affordable housing um requirements. I talked about rounds one, two, right? So these So what we did was work with the developer who's building that um site.
You you know I've spoken about this at great length. This is something you know as we are navigating very difficult waters about what affordable housing looks like for Rutherford. It's it's us taking charge and defining what it is we
want it to look like because we want it to reflect our community. Um I'm very very proud that in that project are designated units for supportive housing. Um the first that we've ever done in Rutherford because we acknowledge that
there are individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that are waiting 20 years for an apartment. Wanted to kind of put it out there. So, when you ask where those $2 million are going um and why it was put in there, that was the money that we took while we
were doing these other projects because we wanted to make sure that we were committing to something that our residents have been asking us for. And so, that that is in fact what it is. So, no nothing exciting to see except us being uh responsible and and doing our
due diligence and and following through with what we said. Um, every comment has value that's been shared tonight. I thank my council colleagues uh who uh willingly uh stood forward and made a promise to all of
you. Although you weren't here to hear it, maybe you saw it on the the video, right? Yeah, I know. We were like gone forever and when we came back there was crickets in the room. Um but it do not think for a second we didn't hear your voices echoing. Um, and so I
I am smart enough to tell you I know it's not what you're asking for, right? And so there's always like in good negotiation there's an offer, there'll be a a counter offer. I feel good that this dialogue is going to go on. Perhaps we'll have some inside jokes like I have with um my other colleague in the room.
Uh, and not that I'm making light of this remotely, but more to say that I think what I hope we all take away from this is that there's an open dialogue happening, that you're being heard, that we're trying to move the needle. Hopefully, we start educating members of
our community. I, too, will be standing with my colleagues to learn more because admittedly, I've read everything that y'all have sent. I've read all of the emails. I've read the stuff. Um, uh, you know, we were talking about our representation earlier about who votes what. I'm happy to say that the people
that that are representing our community, they are doing what they need to do there. So, we don't have to pound. You talked about being an action item. Christine knows I love nothing more than to harass those people that are a part of district 36 to make sure that what
they're doing when they're in Trenton rep, you know, recognizes and are the needs of what we need here in Rutherford. So I'm happy to say they're uh it appears that they are doing what we need them to do. Um but there's a lot of work to be done. So I look forward to learning. I look
forward to this continued dialogue. I thank you all for the preparation you put into coming here this night uh this evening and the fact that you have you gave up your time freely to be here with us to share your passion. So thank you for that. Mayor, thank you. I'm finished. >> Thank you. Thank you all for coming out
tonight. We're going to move on now with our um >> regular agenda >> resolution separate from consent. Council President, please. >> Thank you, mayor. First is resolution number 69 approving a fourth round
affordable housing trust fund spending plan and requesting court approval of the spending plan. Motion. Our >> motion by the council president. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Councilman Guzmani. Questions or comments? Seeing none. May have a roll call, please. >> Council President McGowan, >> yes.
>> Councilman Ero, >> yes. Councilman Guzman, >> yes. Councilman Delone, >> yes. Council, >> yes. >> Thank you. Next is resolution number 70, adopting the affirmative marketing plan. Motion. >> I have a motion by the council president. May I have a second, please? >> Second. >> Second by counciloman del. Any questions
or comments? >> See, may have a roll call, please. >> Council President McGowan. >> Yes. >> Councilman Erico. >> Yes. >> Councilman Guzman. >> Yes. >> Council Del Co. Yes, >> Councilman Mazone. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Next is resolution number 71 adopting the Bergen County
multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan motion. >> Motion by the council president. I have a second. >> Second. >> Second by councilman. Um >> Mone Ray. Any questions or comments? Seeing none. May roll call. >> Council President McGowan.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Erico. >> Yes. >> Councilman Guzman. >> Yes. Yes. C Delary Con. >> Yes. >> Council Mazone. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Consent agenda, please. >> Thank you, mayor. All items are authorized to be consent by the council will be enacted by one motion. These items are routine in nature. Motion.
>> I have a motion by the council president. I have a second. >> Second. >> Second by councilman Guzman. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, may roll call. >> Council president McGowan. >> Yes. Councilman Erico. >> Yes. Councilman Guzman. Yes. Council >> Dere. Yes. Thank you. Uh, we have no new
business to discuss and I know how much you all want to keep your uh, liaison reports to a minimum. So, we'll start with the council president. >> You need to start the clock. Mayor, >> I'm joking. Of course. Maybe. Uh
actually, mayor, I'm gonna forego most of my report tonight, but there is one thing that I feel uh necessary to uh bring to everyone's attention. Clearly, my council colleagues are aware, but I want our residents to be aware that tonight under our consent agenda, um we
authorize the placement of a memorial bench in remembrance of uh Mark Toby Gentile. Um it will be uh on the corner of where Park Avenue and Ridge Road begins right
at the triangle part of the church. Um Toby was I I can't call him Mark. I mean I I I'm I'm sure right now I can hear him laughing in my head, but you know, Toby was just a staple of this
community. Um, I miss seeing him on Park Avenue as many of us do. Amazing how you can miss somebody asking you who cares. Um, his uh presence is missed. But there's something very beautiful about the fact
that this bench will be there um for folks who knew him and those who didn't to stop and have a moment and to just be. Um, and so I want to really thank uh his family and his friends, this community, the fire department,
everybody who has rallied to make this memorial happen. Um, and I want to thank Bob uh I want to thank the bro administrator um for working with the family in finding something that was appropriate um and beautiful and just
such an incredible tribute to a dear friend. So, I withhold the rest of my report and uh I'd like to just end it thinking about him. Thank you, >> Councilman Kley. He's not with us tonight. Councilman Erica.
>> Thank you, Mayor. I will uh also be quite brief. I want to mention that the Michael Cassidy Shamrock and Run 5K is this Saturday morning. Um it's a race throughout Rutherford. So, if you see road closures uh during the Saturday morning, that's for that race. Uh it's uh the 15th year uh this is going on.
It's a great race. I've run it um many prior years, although I won't be running it this year. So I think the uh world record for a sitting council person uh time at the race will not be improved on. Although I encourage my colleagues to uh to challenge it and participate if they're so inclined. I also want to thank the uh uh the schools uh the board
of education for inviting me to participate in ReadAcross America Day. Um I uh didn't get to participate in that last year and I did it this year and it was extremely fun. and the certificate that I got telling me that I was a good reader is one of my most treasured things. I don't know why I just love it. So, thank you so much for inviting me.
>> Thank you, Councilman Guzman. >> Thank you, Mayor. I uh have new no new business uh this evening. However, I just want to uh once again congratulate our Rutherford Irish for an amazing
celebration, an amazing parade. Uh it was quite a celebration and uh Rutherford uh once again shining very bright on that day and uh where we are all Irish and uh it's very quite amazing to see such an event here in our burrow.
So I thank them very much for all their efforts. Thank you. >> Thank you Councilman Council >> Del Con. >> Thank you mayor. Um on behalf of the Rutherford Civil Rights Commission, I just wanted to um alert everyone who may not have already seen that in honor of
International Women's Day week and of course uh uh Women's History Month, the Rutherford Civil Rights Commission is again spotlighting Rutherford Women of Impact. Um so it's any woman leaders, mentors, advocates, change makers who lift each other up in Rutherford. um
they are ex accepting uh nominations for folks women in particular or per persons that identify as women um who deserve recognition. Uh nominations are open until March 14th which I guess is Saturday. If you'd like information about how to nominate someone, you can
go to the Rutherford Civil Rights Commission Instagram or Facebook or of course you can go ahead and email me and I'll make sure you get that information. Last year was the first year that they did this program and it was really wonderful. All the photos of the Rutherford women that were nominated were posted in the library um alongside
books um that were uh geared towards women history month. So that's just a little plug for my other liazison assignment which is the library. Um to that end I wanted to um congratulate the library and the foundation on the uh mini golf event that I heard was a wild
success. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend this year. Um, but that was um a really wonderful event, both a family event and an event for adults. Um, and finally, I just wanted to thank the Rutherford Pride Alliance for hosting a number of us at the um their bowling
event. Um, I proved once again, I know that John was uh sort of bragging about being a fast runner. I'd like to brag about being a terrible bowler. Um, I don't think that there's anyone that scored as low as me on in my lane as well. Stephanie may have come close second, but I was the worst and I'm
really proud of it. But it was a wonderful, wonderful event. Uh, really communitydriven and uh we had a wonderful time. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, just uh briefly, um, I also was at the Pride Alliance Bowling event. Um, great time. Um, terrible
bowler, but um, good time have had by all. Glad they hosted it and hope they do it again soon. Um, only other thing I wanted to add is that the Rutherford Health Department is going to be hosting the uh, vaccination clinic um, for rabies on the 28th. So, if you could um,
you know, have a pet that needs to be vaccinated, please take advantage. It's um, completely free. Um, hours are posted online. You can also get your uh, dog or cat license there at the same time. So, thank you. Oh, excuse me. Can I just say one word, Mayor?
>> Two words. Thank you. Um, yeah, I want to take this opportunity, uh, since Councilman Guzman referenced the St. Patrick's Day parade, uh, I want to thank and recognize our Department of Public Works and led by Chris Syler. uh for without them and their efforts
that parade would not have happened. I I want to thank them publicly for everything they did in getting that parade route safe and ready for a phenomenal day that we had. Uh and also thank them for their efforts the entire winter. It's been two extremely
challenging and difficult storms they've had to deal with and uh you know they worked their their tails off and I'm just so proud of them and and want to thank them publicly. So that's all I want to say. Mayor, thank you. Thank you and thanks for stopping me because I actually do need the council consent on the summer camp staff. So I'd
ask for council consent. I'd ask for a motion. Motion by council president. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by councilman Guzman. Any questions or comments? >> Seeing none, may have a roll call, please. >> Council president McGowan. Yes. >> Councilman Eric. Yes. >> Councilman Guzman. Yes. >> Council Del Cohen. >> Yes. >> Councilman Mazone. >> Thank you. Now I'll accept the motion to
motion. >> I have a motion by the council president. All in favor?