--------- I'll give it another uh another minute to Yes sir. >> Going to call this meeting to order. Please rise and salute the flag. The adequate notice of this meeting has been sent to all council members and to all legal newspapers in accordance with
the provisions of the open public meetings act chapter 231 public law 1975. Public is hereby advised that any statements made during the meeting of the township council of the township of Saddlebook may not be privileged or protected and that persons or entities
who take issue with such comments or are offended by same may and have in the past sought legal redress through the courts. Any member of the public who addresses the council speaks for themselves and not for the council. Notice is hereby given that beginning January 1st, 2026, the complete text of
all legal notices required to be published in the Township of Saddlebrook shall be obtained or viewed on the Saddlebrook website, saddlebrook nj. us. In addition, the New Jersey Secretary of State will be establishing a legal notice hyperlink page allowing members
of the public to find hyperlinks for every municipality. Hon or about March 1st, a hyperlink to the Secretary of State's web page will be published on the municipal web page as soon as available. >> We done. >> Yes. >> Okay. For first order of business,
motion to open the meeting to the public. >> Motion. >> Motion Mr. Rakam. >> Second. >> Second by Mr. Garrick. All in favor? >> I. >> I. No objections. Uh meeting is now open to the public. Mr. Van Winkl. Thomas Van Winkl, 128 Lincoln Avenue, Saddlebrook. Um, I want to begin. I
wasn't here for the June meeting. I was unable to attend, but I want to share my thoughts on Peter Loico, especially since today is the one-month anniversary of his passing. Um, you you can't you couldn't find anybody better, you know, more not knowledgeable of our town. Just
involved in our town for over 50 years. um from being on the board of education to the council, being a mayor, and of course our township clerk. Um somebody he was somebody I looked up to. Um somebody who I enjoyed talking to about our town's history. Um talking about all different council meetings back in the
day. I know the mayor even said that last month. He would always tell me stories too about council meetings back in the 70s and 80s and 90s and every year just remembered every you know he just had and I I'm stealing the mayor's thunder a little bit and just saying like how great of a memory he had just
how he remembered everything. I used to always uh joke with him with the township events like the picnic for example. I used to say oh let's do it by your house. Those of you who know where Pete lived you know would you know what I'm talking about. Um and he'd always get a kick out of that. He just he loved
everything about Saddlebrook and that's what really made him Mr. Saddlebrook and he will be missed um you know and he just was very approachable, very friendly and I know Frank is doing a great job um following his footsteps and I wish him all the best on and continue
as township clerk, deputy clerk and then township clerk. Um okay and actually the other thing and my idea with Pete I know we've been talking about like ways of honoring him. My idea is just twofold.
Number one is, you know, with Mayill Street after the traffic light, hey, as you head past Acme to get to here is to name that part of Mayill Street to like Loco Way, Loco Street. Name that part of May, change that to Loco Way. And then I guess you have to change the address of
this building. You know, 55 Lico Way, Loico Street, whatever, whatever is involved with that. The other idea, my other suggestion is to either name this council chambers after him or even name the whole building after him. I mean, it's some that'll be something that
should be considered. So, I think definitely I know you guys all want to honor him and I know you will and and I and I look forward to hearing what comes out of that. Okay. The next thing I want to talk about um is our is a community partnership because in my hand here we
have our this community partnership back in May started a new newsletter. It's called Fabric Community Connections and really for those for those people who attend our community partnership meetings on the fourth Thursday of every month. One of the big one of the biggest sections of our meeting is devoted to
talk about um stories of collaboration and partnership and that's really highlighted in the comm in this community connections newsletter. Um it's printed. It's available at various businesses in town also available at the in the three uh entrances to the municipal complex. There are copies on
the table where the agendas are in here and I thank you for letting me putting them there as well. They're in the rec center town hall. I put them at the library, First Reformed Church. My churches, it's a whole bunch of places. I'll be sitting here all night naming them. I was just going all around town just handing them out um different
businesses and we'll continue doing that. It's going to be printed monthly, also available digitally monthly. And I want to emphasize too, it's no cost to the residents because we use LPI. We have a time. Okay. So, we use LPI and you know with for the senior
senator's life. So, it's no cost. So, I just wanted to share that with you. Thank you. >> Yeah. one what Stanford >> just one question uh and I apologize I we did talk about your July 4th >> um >> event at at the church I had 25 people
at my house I couldn't but can you just say how that went >> sure we had about we had roughly 55 people in attendance um we had we had dignitaries township officials and the mayor was in attendance our um father Bruce from St. Phillips, um, Pastor Park
of New Life Korean Church, which shares the the First Reformed Church. They they worship in our building. Um, and of course our interim pastor, Pastor Tom Larkin, amongst other people. So, I really want to thank them for, you know, kind of help lead service, lead the prayers. Um, it was beautiful. We had we
had the service down downstairs in our Van White Fellowship Hall, which is which is the name of the fellowship hall in the church basement. Um, we set it up all nice, you know. Um I also want to thank to our he serves as our chairperson of buildings and grounds in our worship committee. His name is Tom Wick who was very very help very
instrumental in putting this together. So I do want to acknowledge him for making it all possible. It was a beautiful day. And then after the service we went outside. We rang the bell for 250 seconds. So the bell just kept going for four minutes straight. >> So
>> that was at that was at 2:50 p.m. celebrating the 250th anniversary of United States. Were you, this is my question, were you able to hear any other church bells while you were there? >> I couldn't hear it at the church. And because that bell, for those of you who heard the bell, it's very loud. And that
bell, that church bell that we rang is original from 1901. It's been on the church property for 125 years. >> Wow. >> And it still works. It was restored in 2019. It works like a charm >> because of the restoration. So, >> I'm sorry I couldn't make it. That sounds pretty cool. Also want to thank
the town also for the food truck for providing the food truck for the hot dogs. Um I also would be remiss I want to thank the fire department as well who who brought the tent over so that we could set tables up out in the parking lot on Acriman Avenue. So I do want to thank I know Chief Wensel's here but I
want to thank him for and and the fire department for all their help on that. All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Sylvia Zotterelli 236 Linds A. I was at the work session. You guys know I came up and I asked about what was going to be done about Walmart. Mr. Similuca, you
keep saying that it's an enforcement issue. What are you going to do about enforcing? I just sat here almost two hours and listened to everything you're going to do to help Lester Avenue residents, which they deserve it. What are you doing about Atlanta Avenue residents? This is six, seven years that
I have come and complained, you know, it's a valid issue. Other residents have come, they're disgusted, they don't want to come anymore. So, I'm just curious as to what it takes to get something done. If it's enforcement, it's up to you guys to enforce it. We can't. So, I don't
think that's a valid excuse anymore. I really don't. That's one. Second, as far as Pete goes, some people might think it's creepy, but it's an idea. I think to make a bust of his head and put it on a pedestal or something and showcase out
in the front hallway. That's all I got. >> While we have the officers here, she's right. I keep talking about enforcement. How are we doing the with the enforcement of the noise that's behind Walmart to help out these people across the creek?
Either of you guys want to comment on that? >> No. once we get calls we respond. >> Okay. >> It is and I've said this for for years that that two things that that I think
should happen. Our code enforcement officer should do a driveby at least once a day. I think he works four hours a day. It doesn't take long to go around that building for refues, whatever trash is there, things like that. Uh, but if
he does that and he sees something, he would report it. Also, that being that it's a known area that the police should do enhanced, and again, I'm not a cop. The mayor was a cop. I'm just maybe talking out my butt. I don't know. But I
think again, enforcement is to go there and sometimes be proactive and not wait for the call because sometimes people get disgusted or uh, you know, they just don't want to do it. and and call because they feel that the their their calls aren't being answered. But have
the again have the drivebys. It doesn't take much if somebody's going to on 46 to make that loop and go back there and see what's going on. And if they hear anything, do it. You I know that there's no way that you're going to catch every time that there's a loud noise. It's just and I think Mrs. Adarelli would
understand that that there's no way every single time something happens. Something happens. You know, I see that all the time. Somebody will say, "Uh, where's a cop when you need it?" Well, we have three of them. You can't. Um, but if there's a if there's a driveby and
you see them and you kind of know when they're doing this, drive by and see. And if if they're doing something wrong, you know, issue the issue tickets, you know, issue summones because the, you know, they can't just disturb said at
length at the uh at the the work session that this is a a resident friendly uh council, a resident friendly town. Uh and we don't want people to come here for five or six years on the same problem. Again, I you know, I said it's enforcement. I think it is. I I don't
know what else to do. I can't issue a ticket. Uh but you guys can. So if if you can just try and make a special effort. So not that I don't like seeing Miss Zerelli, but uh this way when I see her, it's on better circumstances.
>> Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Anyone else want to address the council? Good evening. Omar Rodriguez Satderbrook, candidate for mayor. Um, it's going to be a speed bomb on the U agenda on Claremont Avenue. More than a
dozen residents while knocking doortodoor has expressed their concern about being a shortcut for Marcus Street. This is just the beginning. When Market Street opens with these 60
new units and 120 cars coming in there, right now it takes 25 minutes to half hour to leave Marquestry. How long we will take? Then definitely they will take Clareman as a shortcut. Talking about those 60 60 units that has
been sold for $1.6 million, $26,000 each unit. Every time that I say something, it seems like I'm I'm making it up. But everything is on the record. They say that 120 cars will be coming into Solderbrook and will improve the traffic on Market Street. I
want to see that and it's on the record. It's not made up. So we should have mayors on debates on a lot of issues because three minutes is not enough to discuss a lot of issues like the high density on housing in town. People wants
to know if if you have any new ideas for the future and betterment of the residents. Um actually if a 120 cars are going to come I want you to explain to the residents how are they going to improve the traffic on March Street. If anything it
will make it worse. Then um on the high density pramos as an example they were told by the state that they have to build a thousand low-income housing units. They managed to reduce it
by 68% and they just have to build 340 units. Sadderbrook has to build 279 + 42. So it give you 341. But we didn't negotiate with the state. So we going to have to build 341.
I don't know. We have to come a little more creative. I think um the debates for many months I've been saying we should go for debates because a voter that is more informed will make a very better decision in November. I believe
that the residents deserve more than that. Finally, last month I asked the council and mayor by dismissing the bus driver for the senior citizens how much money it will save us. I didn't have a response. Then
I want to ask how much money does it take to print all those nice glossy brochures for the town that it just serve the purpose of selling yourselves but not to the residents and it was some um
[snorts] some words that were not right against the senior citizens and one of them and I would just like to say that the poor choice of words that we're against the seniors
is bad. They're not secondass citizens. They are the main power and part of the town. We have to treat them with respect and love. Thank you all for listening. Have a good night. >> Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez. Hello, Karen Arminino, 537 Avon Lane.
Um, Omar, I'm sorry you're walking out, but yeah. >> Okay. Um, I I'm going to be of good note. Uh, as the new director of the senior center, we now have lunch Monday,
Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. $1.25 is requested donation. Um we are doing really well and um I invite all the seniors um in the town to come and have lunch
with us. Uh we have trips, we have um line dancing, we have lots and lots of activities. So it's all good. And I don't know why he says we don't treat our seniors well because I have been
down there for 30 years. And now that I'm in charge, seniors are first. And that's all I want to say. >> Karen, can I just ask you a question? uh the senior bus. We we we cut the hours
of the driver from full-time to part-time and and then uh we we did we terminated services and also the bus >> is I I know we had a young lady here who had an issue um and it it really
impacted her, but have you been down there on a daily basis? Is is there a lot of uh kickback on or should say push back on? >> No. And actually when he went when the bus driver went to four days he was
part-time two of those days. One day he went to the mall um in the morning and then one day he went to shop on Thursday. We had exactly seven calls for the doctor. So there were seven
appointments in five months. for doctors. All he did what I don't want to talk about anybody but the the mall and shopping was the primary and when we took it away from them they were
disappointed and we're sorry that they did but the county offers a better service. they're handicapped um in in the bus. Like we had somebody call for the doctors that wanted to go in a wheelchair. We can't accommodate
them. We can't strap down the wheelchair. So, you know, the bus is old and really we didn't get the calls for it >> other than shopping. Thank you. >> Okay.
Denise Monastery, 25 Dan away. Good evening, Mayor and Council and friends. First, I would like to thank Township um administrator Jimmy Holmesy for taking the time to speak with me. The conversation was productive and I appreciated the update he provided
regarding the senior bus. One point that was reinforced was during our conversation is that providing services is only one part of the equation. If residents do not know a service is available then for all intents and purposes that service does not exist for
them. Outreach needs to be active not passive. A notice on a website, a Facebook post or information available at the senior center and local businesses will reach the people who are already connected. The challenge is reaching the seniors who are not
connected. It is the same concept as when someone is running for office. A candidate with only a website, a Facebook page, and a flyer at a campaign office will have limited reach. While a candidate who combines those tools with
door knocking, phone calls, mailings, community presence, and direct engagement will reach far more people. The strategy is the same whether we call it outreach, marketing, or communications. There is a significant difference between actively promoting a
service versus saying the information is available on our website. In an effort to better understand the decline in writership that led to the discontinuation of the senior bus, I submitted an open public records act request oper request for bus records
from January 1st, 2024 through when the township ended the service on May 22nd, 2026. The township provided records from August 6th, 2025 through May 14th, 2026. After following up with the deputy clerk
regarding the missing records, I was informed that those additional records could not be located. This is not to criticize anyone. However, good governance depends on accurate and well-maintained public records in order to make informed decisions. Data allows
leaders to understand how a service is currently being used, where gaps exist, and how future decisions should be made. Reliable records also preserve institutional knowledge rather than assumptions. When records needed to evaluate a public service are
unavailable, there is a ripple effect because public trust can be eroded when information needed for accountability is incomplete or unavailable. Transparency is essential because we are making decisions that directly affect
the lives of people living in our town, especially with something as important as transportation, which goes far beyond point A and point B. Communicate community transportation is a bridge to civic life. The Bergen County transportation program is outstanding. I
I I use it, but it does not operate on weekends or evenings. So, how does a senior who no longer drives attend the township picnic in August? That's on a Saturday. >> How do they get to National Night Out? >> Ma'am, I'm just going to ask you to finish up because >> Yep. >> beyond the time. So, just I'll give you
a chance to finish up. >> Yep. How are they able to participate in council meetings like this one? >> And how do they attend evening concerts, community celebrations, or events like one hosted at our local church, which sounds beautiful. These are simply not transportation questions. There are
questions about inclusion in our community life. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Good evening. Jerry Taylor, 318 Sheep Avenue Township Council candidate.
um through the chair. Do we know with all the dispensaries in town, is there um a line item in the budget that shows how much money the town is making off of those dispensaries? >> I I think there's only one that's been active and one that's
brand new. So, I mean, we're not overrun by by dispensaries, but in terms of uh where that money goes, I know we get to 2% um of the revenues and not just the profits, but the revenues. Let me stand up. Um but I'm going to defer Wow. I'm
going to defer to our business administrator to like is is there an item in the budget for income relevant to the the dispensaries? Yeah, there is a um a revenue permit line and on top of that that it gets deposited into and um
in addition I do keep a spreadsheet that's a report uh that that anyone could have access to that's shared with the council on a monthly basis what those uh what those figures are each month from each dispensary. But as uh Mr. Simuklas said uh right now one is
active, one just recently opened. Uh so right now it has been the one uh retail uh shop that has been uh contributing their their uh mandated taxes. >> And is it also true with the um I heard that the mo where mo is next to the
cleaners was going to be another dispensary. So that'd be three on 46 or no? >> Well, just so you're 4. We we developed and determined the best places to put these dispensaries and we made an
overlay district. Um so that's where they're supposed to be for the most part on on 46. But in terms of mo I think that was going to be a medical uh dispensary and I'm not sure about the mayor. Do you have any idea about what went on with that?
>> Is that still >> medical not public? >> It's not going forward. It's probably not going forward. >> All right. And uh and in relation to 580 Midland with the um I know the zoning was changed uh question I guess to the
attorney once that goes to be developed will the residents be notified like when you when you go for a valance and and a person does that will there be notices coming to me since it's going to affect me saying that there's meetings going to start?
>> Yes. the the any applicant that's sub submits uh plans for a development to either the planning board or the board of adjustment has to satisfy two advertisement. One is in the newspaper which a lot of people don't read and one is residents within 200 ft will get a
notice by mail typically certified because the applicant has to prove that he provided the service. uh in addition to that and it probably will be posted on the website and uh you you know the agenda gets posted. So there's there
will you should have no uh difficulty in knowing when that application if it's ever filed will be heard. >> Okay. And and just one last thing uh the BA stated that the budget was advertised 28 days before. Last week I did a search
trying to find the budget and I could not. Can you tell like I even looked on our website on the town website and looking for the budget itself? I had a summary but [clears throat] I didn't have individual line items.
>> Is that where normally it is? >> Your time is your time is done but but I'll you know Jimmy will respond differently. >> That was the advertising period. So, in the in our um in our required local newspapers that that that's the the noticing requirement it was located. >> But to actually find the actual budget
itself, you're just advertising you're just advertising that it's it's out there. In other words, I'm looking for a copy of it. >> Yeah. No, that's it's uh after after adoption, it should be placed on the website and then of course anyone could come in and request it. Even even after it introduction, it could be requested.
>> Have to come here. No, I I believe I believe the question is before the adoption before we had our meeting >> able to get >> Was there an ability to for a member of the public to come in and look at the book? >> Yes, after it's after it's introduced. Yes. That it's public it's a public
record after it becomes introduced. >> But it doesn't go out it doesn't go out uh online per se until after it's approved by the budget uh by the council. >> Typically we put the adopted version on the website. Yes. >> Okay. All right. And the speed bumps are
back. So, and they're painted. They look great over by us. So, thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you. >> I got to cut you off. You just lost a minute from next month. >> Good evening. Andrew Judges, candidate for township council in November. Uh
just a few questions. Uh I've been asking the the low-income housing uh the 279 units who were given from the state uh which is just a ridiculous high number. Where are we you know specifically exactly in that negotiation? Uh is there a negotiation
window? What is the actual number uh from the 279 units that the township has agreed to? Um also I was here last month during the budget. Uh we have a paid for the water budget which is over 2 million. And then what I was referring
to was a water utility budget uh that went from 273,600 to 148,900. Uh that's the $125,000. Uh people are very confused why there's a water budget and a water utility uh
budget. So specifically the water utility budget where that $125,000 went. Uh and I think you know a lot of people you know throughout the town many districts neighborhoods uh they're very interested in uh you know this local
election in November um and when the council candidates and mayor candidates when they're going to be having multiple uh debates you know I think maybe three or four debates uh one in August one in September maybe one or two in October um
so I believe both heads of the clubs were supposed to communicate and that uh hasn't happened uh so Just looking for those follow-ups. Thank you. >> Thank you. I'm going to defer to um Mr. Holsy or or or the mayor on the uh the
who who should address the the housing units because I know that Mr. Rodriguez somehow came up with 300 something units and um I think Mrs. had it for uh 279. I know that was the number that was
proposed by Fair Share Housing, but uh the number uh was much less than that. Mr. Holmes, you want to talk about that? >> Well, I I would like to address the process, but I don't have the exact numbers. Do you have the exact numbers, Dan? >> Yeah, I believe the 279 is accurate and
then um after going through the process was reduced to 17. >> 17. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. So, so yeah. So let's just to again correct I know it sounds uh and maybe hope hopefully that's not
the intention to say 279 when it's not accurate. So first of all the town didn't just accept the number that fair share came up with. was contested heavily by uh a special attorney that the governing body hired
who specializes in the affordable housing area and as a result of that going through the process which involves a special master I have to give a little history so people understand the significance of it. So a
special master is considered an independent individual appointed by the court. That special master has a tremendous amount of influence on what the ultimate outcome is going to be because the judges essentially consider
them the only independent objective person involved in the process other than themselves and therefore their recommendation as to what the numbers should be is extremely important. So, the council was able through this
process to get credit for affordable housing units that were already built at one location, to get credit for the units that are being built at Market Street, and to reduce the number significantly,
as our administrator stated, from what they initially wanted to what it was reduced to. And in addition to that, the council was able to draft an agreement that was approved by the court that
allowed them to satisfy their prospective need, which is for the fourth round to get the certification and the immunity from a a builder's lawsuit to meet it with an overlay zone. Which means that if someone wants to
build in part in in a particular zone and no one has come forward yet, they would have to have a set aside of 15 or 20% of whatever they're building for affordable housing to meet this perspective need. So the possibility that nothing gets built is that could
happen because we don't have to go out and find a developer. that a developer has to be willing to build with an affordable housing component and we're not obligated to give them a pilot for the project. So, it's very difficult with the cost of things for developers
to think it's in their financial interest to build uh affordable housing units unfortunately for those who are in need of those. So the scenario being painted is not any near near what is accurate nor is what is truthful. And although I did not handle the case, I
think the attorney who did for the township did a a very good job in getting the number reduced and getting the settlement that I have to say for the most part no one will probably even realize uh where these affordable housing units
are or if they even ever get developed. Is there Jimmy? Was there anything else that I missed? No, I think just I the builder's remedy that we're having immunity from builder's remedies lawsuit too included in that. >> That's about it. >> And uh just before we we open to this
young lady here um just difference between water uh water budget your water utility budget what >> uh I mean this should be all in the water utility. I could take a closer look. If you have questions, I'm happy to, you know, >> there was there was a question as to
there was a $125 $125,000 difference between last year and this year in in one of those two. I think the question was what's the difference between a water budget and a water utility budget because he's saying there's two different sets of numbers. >> Yeah. I mean, the water utility should
be its own utility budget. Um, and I have to look closer at the operating budget to see what exactly is is uh in there for that as it relates to water operations. >> But is is there a water budget? Is there are there two separate areas like a water but he's and I don't
>> to me there should I don't think there should I don't think I would have to double check. I don't think to me everything that water related should be in the water utility that this way at the next meeting we can uh address the resident's concern. >> No problem. >> Okay. Okay. Ma'am, please state your name.
>> Yes. My name is Wanita Hickman and I live on Finnegan Avenue, Saddle Road. And I'm here to speak with the the mayor and the council personnel in reference to our former bus driver,
senior bus driver, Howie, um whether it was a matter of being fired or retired. I've been I had been taking that bus for many years having lived in Saddlebrook and um
if let's say for any reason well first of all I started taking the bus with another driver before how we took over and then the other man moved out of
state uh how we took over and Um we uh we got many years of of good service and um as for our packages and whatever whatever we had uh were assisted through him or let's say um
Sandy who would be the assistant riding on the bus. However, at uh some point in time um let's say when how we would um take off uh there would be um another individual
named Jason who would be the relief person. But uh I just came to to speak on behalf that for the years of service that how we drove the senior bus I have no complaints of the service and uh
whether it was for the mole or let's say um to well let's say for shopping or for the mole and um then somehow in recent years uh there got to be some small
issue as to uh the heaviness of our packages. And um and I'm one of those individuals. Instead of me having to deal with 20 bags, I'd rather have three heavy bags and maybe two lighter bags.
But that was my personal u way of doing it. But um the the service was good and we um I miss him and um
the uh changes have been regarding the uh Bergen County transportation and uh I had started to take them um during the Saddle Brook Senior Bus
Service because um they would take us most any time for our medical appointments and that worked out better for me. >> So, can you your three minutes is up,
but I'll let you finish up. >> Well, that's that's mainly what I wanted to say to speak on behalf of uh Howie that the service was good during the time I was there and the others who assisted with him. I have no complaints
and um I'm dealing with the county now and u so far it's going good but would be good if we could have all of the personnel right in our group together. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> And I'm going to reach out Karen or
Paula if anyone speaks to Howie or Rose can you just relay this young lady's uh comments and her uh commendations to to Howie? >> Thank you. Any anybody else wish to address the council?
>> Okay. Uh, seeing no one. >> Motion to close the meeting to the public. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Motion. Sir, >> it's gentleman. >> Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I didn't see you there. >> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. >> Good evening. My name is John Vitovic. I
live on Caldwell Avenue in town. For the past few years, I've been periodically coming here and complaining about the Saddlebrook Senior Bus
and the dictatorial procedures of the driver. Two years ago, I went to the township Kirk Peter Ludiko, God rest his stole, and I asked for all policies,
procedures rules regulations governing the Saddlebrook bus. Well, he laughed at me and he said, "That covers just about everything." And I said, "I want to be thorough." Three weeks later, he came back to me
and he said, "John, there are no rules, regulations, policies, or procedures regarding the senior bus." I said, "You mean the operator of the bus just does whatever he wants. There's no control. There's no oversight on them." And he'd
come up with rules like, "You can't have more than three bags. The three bags can't weigh more than 10 pounds each. You don't expect me to pick them up and put them on the bus. Then he came out with little oneliners
like, "You can't drink all that soda." Then he looks at my wife and says, "Do you do shopping for the neighborhood? You can't weigh more than 100 pounds." Actually, she weighs 109 pounds.
and he complained about just about everything. So it got to the point where my wife would come home occasionally in tears. I spent a lot of years in the Marine Corps. I was ready to go outside to the
senior bus invite invite him behind the property and would straighten us out. I don't make my wife cry. I'll be damned if somebody else does. And my wife kept on saying, "It's okay. I'll take care of it
myself." I'm glad to see him gone. And this nonsense now about him and his champions going around town saying, "Oh, he was forced out." Well, after I
retired from the core, I got a job in private industry. And I learned there's two ways of leaving a job. You either resign or you're terminated. I don't know what forced out is.
But I'm fed up with this nonsense. And in actuality, sir, and I apologize for this, I blame the council. You created the Saddlebrook Senior Bus
with no control, no oversight, no supervision, no management. And it's like, OH GOD, WE GOT A senior bus. That's wonderful. And nothing behind it. >> Yes, sir. >> And then, excuse me for talking while
you're interrupting. >> No. Well, you're you're the senior bus driver. >> Sir, you got three minutes and you knew that. and you're way over the three minutes. So, I gave you a little leeway, but I'd ask >> if you want to cut me off, that's fine, sir. >> Yes, sir. It's three It's a three-minute
meeting. >> You're done? >> No, you're done. >> Good. You have a good evening, sir. >> You got it. >> Ma'am, you already had your time. >> I thought we were allowed to speak twice. >> No, >> last time somebody came up twice last time. >> Who?
He came up late. >> No, it's one time. You use your three and you were over your three minutes. >> Anyone else? >> Let me ask you this if I may s you have a guy talking for over 20 minutes. What
happened? >> Anyone else wish to address the council? Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion. Close the meeting. Motion to close the meeting. Motion to close. Second. Second by Miss Mer. All in favor? >> Okay. meeting is now closed to the public.
>> Councilman Saluca, he was asking about the long um longer time and that's during the work session. I don't think the gentleman understands. >> Yeah, work sessions are different. >> That was the work session sir that he >> during our work session which was
earlier in the evening. You have unlimited time to speak. >> Well, I know. >> Yeah. I just want to clarify that for you, sir. And there was a special there was kind a special meeting within a meeting on Lyster Avenue. So that was we opened the meeting just on that issue.
So that's why that took an hour in of itself. >> Okay. Uh >> Mr. Chair, did you want me to address the comments that were made regarding the Market Street project list? Again, there were several misstatements. Or just let it go. >> Um yeah, sure. >> Okay. So, and I know this has been said
multiple times by the individual and I've responded the same. So he keeps repeating it. So I'm going to keep repeating the response. The value and the cost of the units was not 26,000 uh dollars as he stated because the
developer also had to build 40 underground parking spaces for our police department, which was estimated by our engineer to have a value of $1.2 2 million, which brings the cost of each unit to $46,666.
In addition to that, the developer did not receive a pilot. So, he has to pay the full property taxes value, which at last year's value and and we all know residential values have been going up significantly every year, would have generated a tax revenue of approximately
$325 to $340,000 on property that was of course taxexempt while the municipality owned it. As to the comment that testimony was that the parking would be improved. No, that was not the testimony. The traffic engineer,
whose testimony was confirmed by our own engineers who attended the meeting, stated that the impact to traffic is existing is not good on Market Street, but this would have a negligible impact to the point that no one would know the
difference because although there is parking for 120 vehicles, there's not going to be 120 vehicles going out onto Market Street. number one at the same time and number two not that volume at all because you have to take into account that everybody is not going to
drive their vehicle every day between the fact that they may not be working or they may be working remotely or they may be using public transportation. So again, it wasn't that parking would be improved, but that it would I mean the traffic, but it would have a very
negligible impact with respect to the existing traffic issues on Market Street. So hopefully those statements will not have to be repeated that were made, nor that I have to repeat what the
actual facts are so that public realizes what the true situation is as to that Market Street project. I I I I think you' said 26,000 is 30. He had said $36,000. >> Oh, I thought he said 26. >> No, I think it's 36. And in regard to
traffic, my recollection is he is correct. Nobody on this council ever said that traffic would be improved. The person making the presentation who was an advocate for the the builder said that there would be
a slight improvement. Uh which I don't agree with. I believe that it may be negligible and uh it may be the same or it may be worse but that that if it's worse it would be neglig negligible. Um but certainly I can't see how it would
improve. He had some idea about how it would improve it. I didn't buy it then. I don't buy it now but uh I think that's going to we're going to have uh and I'm going to ask the mayor to speak on this uh because uh there there is
conversation. I've spoken about it for years about the uh intersection of of Market Essex, Rochelle, A and Main Street uh right down right down the the the road here. Um and if and when that comes to fruition, it's going to solve a
lot of the problems that we currently have uh and will make, I believe, this project absolutely uh to have absolutely no impact on traffic. So, uh, we'll start with, uh, comments from the mayor.
>> Okay. You know, why don't we start there because, uh, with with the meeting that, uh, myself, Jimmy Holmes, and and Bob Klein, a virtual meeting that we attended, right, with the New Jersey Department >> and there is a new meeting uh, this
public uh, what's that? Tuesday, >> Tuesday evening, uh, 21st from 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. So, uh, Mr. Mr. Holmes, do you want to talk about that meeting and what went on? >> I think Bob might Yeah, I'm going to defer to Bob, but I just want to be clear about that meeting on the 21st is open to the public. So, anyone's invited
to attend that meeting >> and and just so we're clear, there's a flyer. Uh now, I have it in my packet. Is this online? >> It's on the table. >> We have it at the table. Uh it's online and we have it at the um the pamphlet section two at the >> Okay. So, it is accessible. I I urge
everyone who is concerned about the traffic in Market Street, which should be every single resident of Saddlebrook who has a car or knows someone who has a car, uh you can join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone, uh go on the website or come to town hall
and and get that and you can uh attend virtually. But uh we'll defer to uh Mr. Klein on what went on at the uh the inerson meeting. So they they presented this project and where they currently stand. Apparently
it's been a you know a project for a while. Um they're currently in the preliminary design phase. Um they're looking to uh replace the bridge that goes over the
Saddle River so that they can add more lanes, more more traffic lanes going through that intersection. um in all four directions which would certainly improve traffic flow. Uh the whole reason they're doing this is because of the traffic issue that that
is there. It's going to they're going to enhance pedestrian traffic as well. Um there will of course be uh when it's under construction a an inconvenience. There'll be detours. Um, I think what they're going to do first
is take care of the three legs that don't include the bridge first, which will initially improve traffic. And then while they're replacing the bridge, there'll be a detour, you know, coming from either way on Market Street going
in both directions. >> And that that's the leg that's really impacts Saddlebrook people and Saddle Brook traffic, >> right? So, um, that'll be part of what they they present. And the project looks like they they gave dates which are I'm
sure preliminary but right now preliminarily they think construction is going to take place between 2030 and 2032 would be the the time. >> I was unaware of that. >> Um yeah because uh I've said it over and
over I went to a meeting it's got to be a dozen years ago and we talked about this and I said the same thing. make left turn only lanes on each leg of that intersection. And I believe that's what they're going to do. Um that seems like the only viable solution. Why it took or
why it's going to take almost two decades to get it done, that's not even local. That's that's county and that's state. And above us is Route 80, which is federal. And they are impacted because there's the u
the the structures holding up the highway. So, so they got to they had to be involved and probably D because there's a river involved. So, you got all these agencies and the more agencies that you get involved uh the more uh time it takes. So, I'm glad it's finally going to get done. I will not be a
council person at that time to see it done, but I'll gladly go to the grand opening of that new intersection once they cut the ribbon. Um, mayor, do you want to go want to do your comments or was there other things? >> Yeah, you know, I I was well, you know, the other thing while uh Mr. Holmes, I
wanted him to to speak a little bit because we we spoke about the bus drive the bus service and I just want him because well I want him to uh tell the public how much money we are saving and
uh and a little bit about the county bus service that um you we we Mr. Holmes spoke to Mr. Sinq, who's the director uh at the county, and how many residents use the service and how many total rides
uh thus far and how many they believe they'll they'll do by the end of the year. And uh I I I think it'll shed some light on that. Uh you know, you I don't want to get into uh the bus driver, you know, what his performance was. You know
what? He was with us a lot of years. And you know what? I I thought he did a good job. But you know, sometimes uh you know, sometimes the county, they formed this this uh uh this service and and they really, you know, they they
built it up. I mean, it started small. It started with about 10 buses and I think they got over 100 buses now. Uh every bus has a driver and an assistant, an aid in the bus. Every bus has a a ramp that that uh a mechanical ramp
that'll uh you know that'll lift a lift I guess to bring somebody that's handicapped into the bus. Um so [laughter] and you know what we it it wasn't like we just ended it and said hey you know what this bus service the
county service is better. So we we you know we tried we made uh the the driver part-time. We wanted to see how that would work. You know, we just didn't say, "Hey, look, you know, we don't need it anymore. That's it." And uh it just,
you know, it it comes down to uh you know, a decision that it was better for the town. The town's going to save a lot of money. And Jimmy, you know, just Sure. >> I just got Mrs. Scatino. Being that the the that employee is no longer employed
by the town, there's no rice notice for >> correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. at at the full-time status, the salary was $55,000. Then, of course, whatever maintenance and operations to continue the operations with the bus and so on and so forth. So, that was at the full-time status what the cost was for
us in the salary uh capacity. Uh after speaking, as the mayor mentioned, after speaking with the county, we asked them um for some for some data to confirm how many riderships are taking place in Saddlebrook. They confirmed they have registered in their system 285 residents
from Saddlebrook with a minimum yearly um at minimum each year they're servicing 500 rides at minimum they stated um in addition just looking in other towns with the operations the you know similar senior transportation uh
operations most operate in the same hours you know time frames of you know Monday through Friday you 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. So most most if not all operate in a similar fashion. You know, you you
rarely see any that operate on weekends, of course. And you know, for our big events, we offer that and we're going to offer that at the picnic. Um they pick up from uh from town hall a shuttle service back and forth. So we do we did arrange for that to continue this year. Um, so you know, nothing was uh, you
know, what we offered was was fantastic, but the, you know, the county, like the mayor said, has a an aid on the bus. Uh, they're able to carry the uh, bags for them for groceries. And, um, you know, it's a, it's we just felt it was a good business decision to continue the service for and, you know, to, uh, to
assist in in our in our financial operations. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Okay. Um, I'm just going to start off by uh someone mentioned about uh these debates that uh I I [clears throat]
guess the Republican candidates are looking to have. I said at the last meeting, look, this is not the place. This is a public meeting. This is not, you know, campaign headquarters. This is not the place to talk about having debates. And uh and I and I I told
the Republican candidate who's running for mayor. Uh he had left, but I'm sure he watched the meetings, but I had said I I said that last week. Uh and last month, I should say. And uh we didn't receive any calls. I said, "Look, you
can call my campaign. There's a lot of ways to get in touch with me. You know what I mean? I think our campaign's all over the place. Uh, and you can you can call the uh the local Democratic chair, m Mr. uh Mr. Garrick down there. We
didn't receive any calls. So, you know, why is it they keep bringing it up here at the meeting? So, I guess the public at the public meeting at the public meeting that's televised. So, that this way, you know, you're getting it out there that well, we want debates, but I
guess our side doesn't. Nobody said we don't, but you know, we want to do it the right way. Look, I'm the incumbent. My team, you know, me and Sarah are incumbents. If you want to have a debate, you do it
the right way and contact our campaign. You have a Republican chair, Bob Cougler, okay? Have him contact either me or Mr. Garrick and and and we'll get the ball rolling. So, but you know, we have to come to
terms on it. I don't know why you're smiling out there, but >> but that I said I can't say I'm I'm not going to say it again. And you know what? If it's brought up again here, I'm not I'm not speaking. >> I'm I'm just going to ignore it. So,
from now on, that's it. Uh I just want to bring up uh something that Mrs. Monastery said. um and she was talking about and I you know I agree with her that you know you have to you do have to reach out to
people that are shutins seniors uh people who don't have maybe access to computers uh you know you really have to go out of your way and I I've always been an advocate that you know I try doing that you know the town tries doing I think we do a pretty good job school
district does a pretty good job too you know but you can always do better you can always do better and and I think That's what we strive for. We want to strive to, you know, get those people that that might not, you know, might not have access, that might not, you know,
know what's going on because, you know what, I've seen it. We've advertised things and put things all over the place and no matter what, you know, if if it's a nice event that people, you know, would have liked to have gone to the shredding event. That's a good example, the shredding event. uh every year,
every year without a doubt, you know, we'll post it and you know, we'll put it all over the place that we normally do as far as advertising and then the date comes and we'll put a, you know, a photo. Oh, went great. The shredding event went great and and I have, you know, three or four people that, oh, I
missed it. You know, nobody told me, you know it's and I feel bad. You know what? because obviously, you know, we we try to get to everybody we can, but unfortunately some people are are harder than others to get to, but when it comes to seniors, we
really do have, and I agree with her, we have to try to make every effort to get to everyone that uh that could use the services. Like this lunch program, it it's a great program. It's going very well, but I know there's people out there that would love to do it, but they just don't know about it. They they
don't they don't have family members. They live alone. They don't get out much. So, we have to reach out to those people. So, I'm going to go through my uh my normal uh routine here as far as uh comments.
I'm going to start with the budget. Uh the estimated tax bills were mailed out at the end of last week, beginning of this week. Uh and uh they're due by August the 10th. They should be by the end of the month, but there's a 10-day
grace period. Uh the tax rate is 2.377, which is up only 4,000 of a point. The average home in Saddlebrook now is valued at $500,700. So on the municipal side, taxes are
increasing by just a little under$187 $188 on the average house, which I just said valued at $500,700. I just want to make sure that the seniors know and not just the seniors, but there there is tax relief offered
out there in New Jersey. You got the anchor program, you got the senior freeze, and you got the stay New Jersey. Um now they use one single form which combines all three applications uh to apply for all all of them or some
of them. Uh eligibility and payment schedules vary for each program. But please if you're interested check the New Jersey website at nj.gov gov. Or for more information, you can you can also call our local tax collector uh Linda at
20115872914. Um resolutions. I'm going to I have ordinances, but we're going to table that lister a ordinance. Uh resolutions. Um we have the appointment of Frank Bali as municipal clerk. Um I just want to say that Frank has earned the position.
He had he has his state certification already. So, it's not something that he has to do. He's got it already. Uh he worked under Peter Ludiko for probably a little over four years and filled in in Pete's absence. Um he did a good job and
you know Pete would have approved of Frank taking his place. I know that you know I had many a conversation with Pete and uh you know they were they were got to be good friends and I know Frank learned a lot from Pete. So um
uh, public service gas main project, we we talked about that earlier. Um the engineers report that was at in the first meeting but uh they're doing work now at Floral Lane, George Street, John Ox
Drive um and some other Lean Hart some other streets in there and they should be finished uh in a month or two. So, um, but then they're going to have to they're going to have to pave the the
trenches, so to make sure that they're they're uh solid. Um, also the 2026 road resurfacing program. Uh, the engineer is working with the DBW superintendent, uh, public
service because we're doing a lot of their roads with them, uh, to determine which road should be paved. Also, the council weighs in on that as well. Um, we have New Jersey DOT. We have a grant from last year for Floral Lane and South
Street, but we're waiting on that because public service is doing the gas man. We want to get that done and and then uh so how that would work is we're going to get like that that's going to get covered under the New Jersey DOT
grant. So, we get credit from public service because they would have paved paved the road. So, we get credit for another road. Um, Bergen County Community Development Block Grant uh is South Street. That's
going to be done probably the fall or the spring. And then the new New Jersey uh 2026 New Jersey Department of Transportation grant we've been awarded for Grace and North 7th Street.
Um and then the Bergen County Community Development Block Grant for 2026 is Miller Street. Uh I just want to mention too that we recently are have opened up our Saddleberg Splash Pad. Um, it's going to
be open uh seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 3 pm. It's at 20 Samson Street, which is Veterans Field. Uh, for residents, uh, Saddleach residents only. It's free. There's no no charge. Um,
okay. Some events, some past events. They had the Carnation Ball on Monday, June the 1. It's I'm going back a ways now, but uh that was a nice event for the eighth graders or middle school middle school kids going into high school. Um thank the recreation
department for handling that. They do that every year. The mayor's fishing derby was Saturday, June the 20th. I want to thank my secretary. She always handles all that and uh organizes everything along with the I want to thank the fire department too as well
and the ambulance core that were there helping out. Um fireworks we got them off Friday, July the 3rd. They were late but uh we had some unanticipated storms and they didn't go off till about 10:30. So uh you know some residents weren't
too happy about that, but at least we got them off and uh and they were they were spectacular. They were very good this year um at the park. Thank the fire department, ambulance core, um Mike Sites who who runs the show there, our
our fire marshal, um everybody else, Raphael and and uh Thomas for uh handling the video and the photos. Um Thomas talked about the bell ringing. I'm glad uh that um that council
president Simaluca mentioned that. So, I'm not going to go over that too much, but it went well. And I really want to thank uh First Reform and Thomas and Thomas WJIC too as well and Pastor Tom for uh because you you know what I I really felt we needed to do something
and they stepped up and it was you and it was nice. It was a nice event and I'm I'm so glad we did it and we got participation from the fire department, the ambulance core, the board helped out. Um I know uh St. Phillips. So,
Father Bruce was there. Um, so upcoming events, we got National Night Out on Tuesday, August the 4th, right here at 6 p.m. in the parking lot. The Junior Police Academy starts August the 6th uh through the 14th. Um, that's done here
as well. Uh, the town picnic is Saturday, August the 29th at Saddle River County Park. The rain date is Sunday, August the 30th. Uh the last thing I got is about the ebikes. I'm very happy to say that the
new law is going into effect on uh on July the 19th, so next week, right? And uh thank thank God because it's been it's been a long road with that. And uh you know, I've been uh I've been on with
the chief and the command staff and and and you know, I think they've you know, they they've done a good job. uh with it as far as getting some enforcement and because you know just because the new law doesn't go in effect to the 19th you
know these these kids they're they're they're they're really reckless. I mean, they're doing all kinds of things that they shouldn't be doing and and and and honestly, you know, some of them are they're they're brazen and and they're uh they you know, they flip people the bird and you know, they just and some of
I I've seen them do wheelies where they got they do have helmets on. I guess that that's one good thing, but you know, I've seen it where their helmet is hitting the pavement and there's sparks coming from from the helmet. You know, I know they can't be everywhere at once, but you know what? I think the last
month, the last six six weeks have been good, but we we got a tremendous amount of complaints. I I can't tell you how many complaints we got about about these kids and their behavior. So, um you know, and we got to keep enforcing like Mr. Mr. Maluca says we got to enforce
enforce enforce especially that and I know there was a some a lot of education but I guarantee you know what the first the first person that that you end up apprehending or whatever if it's a juvenile and you take them home I
guarantee oh we didn't know nothing about it you know again you know it's about advertising you know somebody's going to say they they oh I didn't know they're going to conveniently say that you know because they're going to want to So, but uh we we got to definitely stay
on top of that. It's it's a big issue and other things too. You know, like Mrs. Zarelli says, you know, we know we know that the mall is a problem. You know what? So, all I'm saying, and I think Mr. Simaluca was trying to say the same thing, is you know what? There's a
few problem areas. Luckily, we don't have that many. I don't know, five or six. But those areas have to be priorities. You know, the officers on patrol have to go through there, you know, more than once. They got to go through, you know, every hour to check
on it. And and you've been doing that. You know, I I I know you've been doing that, but you got to stay on top of the officers. And I know sometimes they're, you know, sometimes they're they're busy. I get it. But when they're not busy, they need to concentrate on those areas. So that's all I have.
>> Mr. Akamando. Yeah. Well, with that being said, I think property maintenance should also hold their own. Go there once, twice, three times a week. >> Not just to put it on law enforcement, but if there's a littering issue,
>> absolutely. That's definitely on property maintenance. Um, but from my understanding, I thought they were once corrupt construction is done, they're putting a fence on that left side. Well, the right side. So I I thought it was going to be a gate >> that they had to get buzzed in to make delivery. So
>> that should help with some. That's what we're told. >> If it happens on the right side, >> who knows? >> The left side they wouldn't agree to it, but supposedly they were going to put a security guard like a shack over there. >> Yes. >> On that other side because well hopefully they'll they'll do it >> at the construction supposed but we'll
see. Um I just want to say great job by the by the police for whatever happens in town. you guys mostly run short all the time and you still seem to get things done. So, thank you. Um, as far as everything else, I just wish
everybody a safe rest of the summer. And as far as everyone who gets up here to speak at that podium, I thank them because sometimes they bring stuff to our attention. Sometimes they in a nutshell, they speak But,
um, it takes a lot to get up there and speak in front of a room full of people and a council. Um, I was there. It's a little intimidating, but you get past it. It's It's surprising that lately it's been kind of professional where it
usually isn't. And we're a small town. There's no reason to be hateful towards each other. It's it's it's too small of a town to be that negative when you come up to the podium and speak nonsense and lies.
Well, regardless, have a great summer and enjoy the rest of the uh July. I believe we come back in August, right? >> Yeah, August. One meeting. >> Thank you to the council for putting up with what we put up with. Hey, mayor. >> Mer, >> thank you, council president. Yeah.
Yeah. I just want to mention that I had the opportunity to have lunch at the senior center, and I have to say the lunch was pretty good. Uh they're doing an amazing job there, and I have to commend Karen, uh Dominio, and that crew. They really have a great system
and um it it seems like the residents are enjoying it and um and afterwards they play bingo certain days. I'm not sure exalt I know Friday for sure but um and as far as the senior bus I think we should take advantage of whatever the
county has to offer us. We are we do pay county taxes so why not >> right? >> That's right. >> Thank you. And as far as um ordinances and things like that, you know, well, it's trial and error with a lot of things that we're, you know, trying out
trying out there. I would like to have, you know, we could always amend it, change something up, but um you know, we're always here to listen. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Garrick. >> Um I have a few things this evening. Uh first, I'd just like to congratulate
Frank. I'm very confident in the job you're going to do. So Frank, uh, congratulations. We're happy to have you on board here, my friend. >> I don't think we had the vote yet, so you know. >> Oh, [laughter] let me let me take that back then. >> It's coming up. [laughter]
>> Um, the the mayor had >> Just kidding. the the mayor had mentioned the paper shredding and um all the dates are listed on the county website, the Bergen County Utility Authority, and sometimes
I've missed a date and every weekend they have a different shredding event. It may be in Garfield or Loi and I believe it's open to all county residents. So, um if you plan on coming to Saddlebrook, it's September 26th this
year from 9 to 1. If you want to do it on Saturday, you can go over to Prammise. So there they're usually throughout every community in Bergen County, you can go to a a shredding event and it usually goes from the spring into the fall. So um again,
parameters tomorrow, but Saddle Brooks is going to be September 26th. Um I too want to commend Karen and her staff at the senior center. A lot of wonderful things are getting done there. Uh that lunch program is excellent. Um, and we
got a lot of seniors going there. So, it's a successful program. Um, also I want to mention the spray park. Yesterday I was down at Veterans Field. Uh, there was 50 students from the U summer program jumping around and I think it's a wonderful addition to the
community. Um, it cost us very little. We got a grant for $750,000 I believe. Um, which was a wonderful thing. Um, I also want to mention some things that we take for granted. Our road program.
Um, prior to Bob White becoming mayor and our council being put together here, there wasn't a lot of roads getting paved. We've done a tremendous amount of road improvements. And for that I want to thank you to thank you mayor for
doing that as well as the council for all their hard work and the wonderful professionals that we have here uh working for us. Um the recreation programs are expanding. We haven't mentioned the library. The library programs are incredible.
Um also our parks. What's been done there? Pickle ball. Um we're getting Fifth Street done. Kern Park, May, you name it. We've been doing so much here. Um, and then we could talk about our first responders, police, fire,
ambulance corps, our great DPW. We have people in this community that are incredibly committed and dedicated, and I want to thank every one of you. But most of all, we have a full-time mayor.
He's working endless hours. We have a committed council here. Um, so I'm optimistic about the future here in Saddlebrook and the property values reflect that. People want to move to Saddlebrook. I've said it before, I'll
say it again. There's a reason why the property values have escalated here. I said enough tonight. I appreciate it. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Garrick. Miss Sanchez. >> Okay. So, um, unfortunately I couldn't
make it to the bell ringing. I really wanted to, but um, it was my sister's birthday, so I unfortunately could not attend. Um, I just wanted to say that the green team will be hosting um, the sustainable
Jersey uh, Bergen County hub meeting on July 27th at 7 PM. Um, and I also wanted to touch on Walmart with what Todd said. You know, hopefully when the construction is done, the
issues will improve. Um, if not, we're definitely going to have to look into something further. Um, and there was a comment made earlier, um, where it was said that
I'm not sure who, but uh, who called the seniors secondass citizens, but I definitely don't feel that way and I don't think that anybody else up here feels that way. And I was really bothered by that comment. So, um,
I just wanted to say I just needed to say that because, you know, we definitely don't look at our seniors as secondass citizens and if anything, we're always trying to improve, you know, the services that we have for our seniors. So, I just wanted to to address that. >> Thank you. Yeah. No one on this council
or the mayor and anyone who sits up here uh called senior set secondass citizens. And if they were, they would have been publicly uh reprimanded and humiliated because that's just ridiculous. And certainly we don't treat our seniors as secondass citizens. We do have a viable
and vibrant uh senior program and senior center um and uh a great director. Uh in terms of the uh the young lady who who did the oper request about some records uh for the senior bus, I'm not making
excuses. There should be total transparency and there should be records. However, our longtime uh senior center director passed away a year ago, year and a half ago. So, um I I do not know if he had the records at his home.
I I don't know any of that, but that could be an explanation. I'm not trying to get out of anything, but um that that might be an explanation for it. Um in terms of of the bus, you know what? It's weird. You go on Amazon, you want to buy
something and you look at you you look at the reviews, right? And you always wonder how is this a five-star review and there's a bunch of five star and then there's one star reviews. I mean, it's the same product. Well, this is a perfect example today. You had a young lady here who gave five stars and said
how wonderful uh the driver was and the whole program was and then you had a gentleman coming up and you know he he wanted to have a fist fight with the bus driver. So just straight opinions, but just this goes to show you how opinions can vary on on different things. We had
a very lengthy uh work session and I'm not making it any shorter by talking a lot here, but uh a lot of it dealt with Lyster Avenue. Uh there were issues on Lester Avenue. We are trying to uh alleviate those to best of our ability to try and um help
our our residents. uh not punishing any individual or any business, but uh we're trying to make this uh more the parking situation on that street more tolerable. Thank you to Lieutenant Buchek and Captain Calano for your attendance and
your input uh on that um and in reviewing what we had put forth and thank you to Mr. Scatino who did a great job on doing the ordinance. Now, what we did was there were some open spots in the in the uh proposed ordinance that we
had to fill in and we worked on that diligently during the work session. Uh so, Mr. Cino's got to prepare it with all the you know, fill in the blank type thing. So, we are going to I'm going to entertain a motion to table the ordinance for tonight when we get to
that point. Um and hopefully, uh that will resolve that issue. Again, there are certain areas in town that are known to be problem spots and we try and and do our best to uh concentrate on those. Um, we talked about the uh graffiti ordinance.
Um, uh speed hump on Samson Street. There was a request for that. We're going to do a speed study on Samson Street. We are also going to do a speed study on the eastern leg of Claremont Avenue because there are some complaints over there. In
terms of the Fifth Street speed study, um I thought as chair of that committee that we should put a speed hump right around uh Fifth Street Park. Um we got some feedback uh negative feedback from the fire department. However, uh former
president of the ambulance corps, uh Bill MGO had shown me uh speed humps that are designed for uh to allow emergency vehicles with wider axles to uh proceed without having to stop, go
over slowly or damage the chassis. So, we understand these are very, very expensive uh pieces of equipment. We certainly don't want to damage them and we don't want to delay any response for our our firefighters to get to a u a situation. So, uh I talked to Mr. Klein
about that. He looked at it said it sounds good, but we're trying to locate a place that that's actually been installed. So, I'm going to get back to Mr. MGO and we're going to see if there's any place in the area that has actually installed it. It sounds like a great idea. It seemed like a great idea.
Um, what else I got? A second got the bus. Uh, congratulations to everyone on the police department. Again, police uh police issues that are being promoted and you said it's it's on a Thursday
evening, mayor. Yeah. July 30th. >> July 30th. >> July 30th, 6 p.m. >> here. So, anyone interested in attending? Um, and that's going to be a couple of uh two captains and people moving up to sergeant and a lieutenant. >> Yeah,
>> a lieutenant. So, there's four four promotions. >> Four promotions. >> Two captains, one lieutenant, one sergeant. Okay, great. And great job on on everyone to earn those promotions. They're not just given out, they're earned. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> that's it for me other than uh again, I
can't emphasize enough. There's a lot of talk about how there's going to be horrific impact on traffic by the building of these 60 units. Again, as the mayor said or Mrs. Scatino said, there's no guarantee that every single unit is going to have two cars. And
there's certainly no guarantee that all of those cars are going to come in or out at the same time. And I always look back. Now, I know Midland Avenue is a busier street than Market Street, um, but Market Street's a little more concentrated. There's the development there that has
200 300 units. I've I travel that way on the way to take my train and on the way back. I've never had an issue there. Now, Market Street is bad. Uh but the the implication, you know, the
assumption that this development is just going to, you know, cause mass chaos uh is just not is not true. uh the traffic studies that we always have uh that that have to be done indicate that there will
be obviously an effect you got people coming in and out no matter what you build. But the people that are coming in and out are coming out at different times. So when people say there's going to be 120 cars, not everyone's there's not robots that everyone comes out at 8:00 and they go get in their car and there's a procession to get onto Market
Street. It just doesn't happen that way. So uh we think that the uh the impact on the traffic will be uh negligible if if at all. Um okay, I think that's all I have and we we'll go into ordinances and actually the first ordinance that we
have on the uh on the books here is to establish a resident parking permit program on Lyster Avenue. We talked at length on that. I think we got that done right and if we're not, we could always amend it. But uh uh since Mr. Scino has to do some uh extra work on this. I'm
going to entertain a motion to table uh that ordinance 1806-2. >> Motion, >> Mr. Akamando. Second by Miss Major. Roll call. >> Councilman Garrett. >> Yes. >> Council Aando. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Sanchez.
>> Yes. >> Councilwoman Major. >> Yes. >> Council President Simo. >> Yes. So that uh motion that ordinance is tabled for this meeting. And maybe I'm missing something. The graffiti ordinance is where is that?
>> Are we not? >> Yeah. No, >> that wasn't on the agenda. >> That was on the agenda for the next meeting. >> Okay. It it was it was tabled uh at the last meeting. Do we have to continue to table or it's continuously tabled until we untable it? >> It's if it's not on the agenda, it's continuously table. So you
>> unt Okay, great. Okay, now we're going to go into um I guess a consent agenda. >> All items listed with an asterisk are considered routine and non-controversial by the township council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no
separate discussion on these items unless the council member so requests it, in which case the item will be removed from the cons consent agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. The one motion signifies adoption of all resolutions, receive and file letters, correspondence, reports,
and approval of minutes and applications. Resolution number six will be voted on separately as uh Councilwoman Maser has to repeat. >> Okay. >> Uh motion to approve the uh consent agenda other than resolution six. >> Motion.
>> Motion Mr. Akamando. >> I think so. >> Looking for a second. >> Second. >> Second by Mr. Garrick. All in favor? I >> I any against seeing none passes unanimously and the next one is resolution number six.
>> You want to read it or >> uh it's payment of bills. >> Okay. There's a resolution pay for payment of bills and Miss Mer you are going to abstain. So um motion to approve. >> Motion Mr. Akamando, second by Miss
Sanchez. Roll call. Uh, Counciloman Garrick, >> yes. >> Councilman Agamandanda, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Sanchez, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Mer. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. >> And Council President, >> you got to call. You got to call her so she can abstain.
>> Well, she's recused. >> Oh, you've recused? >> Yeah. >> Oh, I I apologize. It's a recuse, not an >> council president. >> I say yes. Okay. Old business that we haven't talked about. new business that we haven't talked about yet. We don't want
to beat any dead horses. >> I I just just real quick, I I just want to um I want to thank the DBW. I always leave somebody out and I've you know with all these events they do they really do a spe you know thankful for them. Um
I I just want to mention too that u >> you know what Mr. Samuki brought up about, you know, the the >> the bus log the, you know, the book and uh, you know, we do know that it was seen it was seen after we moved back
from here to the, you know, to the center on Caldwell and it was seen as of a couple of months ago. So, uh, it's a little suspicious, you know, that it's missing and, um, you know, we're not doing a full-blown police investigation
into it, but we are, you know, looking into some Jimmy and I are looking into some things. I just wanted to get that out there. But uh um I I also want to mention this, you know, the senior center, Karen and Paula, they're doing a
tremendous job. Ricky, um the volunteers, Lori, Lowry, um I'm sure I'm missing somebody, but um they really with with this lunch program, it's going fantastic. And uh you know what? to to
make a comment to say that any of us here call the seniors secondass citizens. You know what? I I think the the people that are watching it live stream probably aren't the seniors, but you know, the seniors watch the watch the TV station and they're going to
laugh at that because you know what? I I go to the senior center often, especially with the new lunch program and you know what? I see it on their faces. They're happy. They're happy. You know what? They they're thankful. They're always saying, "Hey, this is great. Thank you." You could just read
their faces. They know that we don't consider them secondass citizens. If anything, you know, we consider them very very valuable citizens. And uh you know what? Their generation is uh you know, the best really. I I don't
think uh you know there was a better generation than that group of you know seniors over well now I'm 65 but I'm talking about like you're 75 80 years old that you know that they were the greatest generation the World War II well a lot of them are gone now most of
them are gone but you know that that era so and and we and we love them I I know I love them >> so and I want them to know that they they know it because they you know they feel it you don't have to say it they feel It's very true. >> I feel it. They feel it.
>> Very true. >> Through the chair. Just one item. I apologize uh to report on to uh satisfy my BA report tonight. I did attend the uh Farazzo Lane development for the affordable housing uh development over there. I did attend today virtually
their lottery drawing. Uh they did uh have over 400 applications submitted for uh for interest in residing at the complex. So they will begin their process of contacting those individuals. So they will be moving in a couple months not even very short.
>> Um it's so there are a number of uh de developmentally disabled >> and the rest are um are income restricted. Yes. >> The developmentally disabled I think they're all on the first floor. >> I I believe most most if not all. Correct. Yeah. It's they have it
structured in a way. This is uh it's operated by Ingramman uh in collaboration with um uh New Concepts for a living. Uh they're very familiar that this is not their first uh development. They're they're uh very reputable. They know they know what
they're doing and uh they they'll begin their moving in process in the next month or two. >> Yeah. And I I thought that when they did their presentation there's like levels of low income. There's like low income. There is there's >> very low income and ridiculously low
income. >> There are three levels. Yes. >> Okay. >> Very strict criteria. Describe it. >> I'm sorry. >> Is that the way to describe it? Low income, very low income, and ridiculously low income. >> Not quite. Not quite. >> Okay.
>> That was an excellent uh BA report. Appreciate that. >> Uh Sarah or Dave, >> I I just want to piggyback on something that the mayor said earlier. Um, these meetings are for council business, not for campaigning and so forth. I have not
received a call from anyone regarding a debate. And I pretty much know that the residents here in Saddlebrook know where the mayor and his team stands. So, if there is going to be any type of get together to discuss issues,
we're in favor of doing that. Uh, I don't think we need three, four debates. This is not the venue to even discuss it though. But they're going to continue to bring it up and I just suggest not even talking about it. When we get a phone call, we'll set something
up like we do every two years. We have something every two years and meet the candidates night which is what we've done forever. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh just one thing that we talked about at the work session for a bit is
uh Mr. Akamando and I were discussing it and brought it to the attention of the council and the mayor and our engineer and our police department about the the the lack of stop signs on certain streets. So what we did was he asked the engineer to get together with the police
department and see if maybe we can come up with u an idea as to certain intersections that should have stop signs and and don't. We identified a certain area of town that just seemed
absent of stop signs to be honest with you and on intersecting streets t intersections. But um you know especially for the young drivers that would be I think would be helpful and safer for our residents. Um I just one thing I I hope I didn't
appear to be rude to the gentleman when I cut him off. No no comments that uh this is not the public meeting portion. Thank you. Um, so I I hope I didn't appear rude to the gentleman who went over his time by, you know, a bit. Um, we do have the
threeminut uh time limit uh that was set in the beginning of the year and I said this and not everyone's happy about it, but because it is an election year, uh, September and October meetings, I'm going to allow five minutes. um you know
whether that's good or bad it turns into uh you know crap show is is to be seen but uh I think that uh you know we we should extend it a little bit uh because there are election issues that need to even though there's no campaigning that's supposed to be done here. There
are election issues that are important to to the residents of the town. Uh but again if I seem to be rude I apologize. Um, we do have we do have uh, you know, some limits here and they have to be enforced and I give everyone a chance to try and
finish up. No one here, by the way. No one finished. Maybe Mr. Taylor, but but no one did it in three minutes. We gave everyone a chance to to finish their thoughts. Um, but u, you know, so if I was rude to that gentleman, I apologize to him and I apologize to to the people
in attendance and the audience out there. I don't think I was, but uh if I was my apolog you better get escorted by the police out there and he might be waiting. I think he I think he could take you. >> I Yes. And you know what? I I don't know
if the uh if the the new uh bike ordinance applies to rascals, but I don't want to get I don't want to get rode on by by a guy in a rascal. Uh in any event, uh motion to open the meeting
to the public on agenda items and agenda items only. >> Motion >> Minister Garrick, second by Minister Akamando. All in favor? >> I. >> I. Any objections? No. Passes unanimously. Anybody want to speak on agenda items? Agenda items? No. Okay. No
takers. Uh motion to close the meeting to public on agenda items. >> Motion. Second. >> Motion. Mr. Rekondo, second by Miss Sanchez. All in favor? Right. >> Right. Okay. Hopefully there's no other comments. No, no. Jimmy, you're dying to say something right?
>> Supplemental BA report. Nothing. All right. >> Close. >> Motion. >> Wait. Oh, we need close session. >> Yes, but it's only going to be five minutes, which you'll understand when I explain. So, a motion to go into close session. >> Motion. >> Motion. Miss. All in favor? >> I. >> It's going to be about five minutes. And
um the >> meeting will reopen further action. We expect expect that we're going to open the meeting just to close the meeting. Thanks. >> You should have told me while I was on camera. That was
>> when I You know, I'm from M council and then I'm running for board of ed. >> Okay, Jerry. By the way, Joe status. >> No, no, no. I He's got to be 90, right? Uh motion to reopen the meeting.
>> Motion to reopen the meeting. >> Second by Mr. Akamando. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Seeing none. Motion to close the meeting. >> Motion. >> Motion. M uh Mer. Second Miss Sanchez. All in favor? Are you against? Seeing none, meeting is now closed. Everyone
have a good rest of July. We'll see you in August. What's that Part: 2
I'll give it another uh another minute to Yes, sir. >> Going to call this meeting to order. Please rise and salute the flag. The adequate notice of this meeting has been sent to all council members and to all legal newspapers in accordance with
the provisions of the open public meetings act chapter 231 public law 1975. Public is hereby advised that any statements made during the meeting of the township council of the township of Saddlebook may not be privileged or protected and that persons or entities
who take issue with such comments or are offended by same may and have in the past sought legal redress through the courts. Any member of the public who addresses the council speaks for themselves and not for the council. Notice is hereby given that beginning January 1st, 2026, the complete text of
all legal notices required to be published in the Township of Saddlebrook shall be obtained or viewed on the Saddlebrook website, saddlebrook nj. us. In addition, the New Jersey Secretary of State will be establishing a legal notice hyperlink page allowing members
of the public to find hyperlinks for every municipality. Hon or about March 1st, a hyperlink to the Secretary of State's web page will be published on the municipal web page as soon as available. >> We done. >> Yes. >> Okay. For first order of business,
motion to open the meeting to the public. >> Motion. >> Motion Mr. Rakam. >> Second. >> Second by Mr. Garrick. All in favor? >> I. >> I. No objections. Uh meeting is now open to the public. Mr. Van Winkl. Thomas Van Winkl, 128 Lincoln Avenue, Saddlebrook. Um, I want to begin. I
wasn't here for the June meeting. I was unable to attend, but I want to share my thoughts on Peter Loico, especially since today is the one-month anniversary of his passing. Um, you you can't you couldn't find anybody better, you know, more not knowledgeable of our town. Just
involved in our town for over 50 years. um from being on the board of education to the council, being a mayor, and of course our township clerk. Um somebody he was somebody I looked up to. Um somebody who I enjoyed talking to about our town's history. Um talking about all different council meetings back in the
day. I know the mayor even said that last month. He would always tell me stories too about council meetings back in the 70s and 80s and 90s and every year just remembered every you know he just had and I I'm stealing the mayor's thunder a little bit and just saying like how great of a memory he had just
how he remembered everything. I used to always uh joke with him with the township events like the picnic for example. I used to say oh let's do it by your house. Those of you who know where Pete lived you know would you know what I'm talking about. Um and he'd always get a kick out of that. He just he loved
everything about Saddlebrook and that's what really made him Mr. Saddlebrook and he will be missed um you know and he just was very approachable, very friendly and I know Frank is doing a great job um following his footsteps and I wish him all the best on and continue
as township clerk, deputy clerk and then township clerk. Um okay and actually the other thing and my idea with Pete I know we've been talking about like ways of honoring him. My idea is just twofold.
Number one is, you know, with Mayill Street after the traffic light, hey, as you head past Acme to get to here is to name that part of Mayill Street to like Loco Way, Loco Street. Name that part of May, change that to Loco Way. And then I guess you have to change the address of
this building. You know, 55 Lico Way, Loico Street, whatever, whatever is involved with that. The other idea, my other suggestion is to either name this council chambers after him or even name the whole building after him. I mean, it's some that'll be something that
should be considered. So, I think definitely I know you guys all want to honor him and I know you will and and I and I look forward to hearing what comes out of that. Okay. The next thing I want to talk about um is our is a community partnership because in my hand here we
have our this community partnership back in May started a new newsletter. It's called Fabric Community Connections and really for those for those people who attend our community partnership meetings on the fourth Thursday of every month. One of the big one of the biggest sections of our meeting is devoted to
talk about um stories of collaboration and partnership and that's really highlighted in the comm in this community connections newsletter. Um it's printed. It's available at various businesses in town also available at the in the three uh entrances to the municipal complex. There are copies on
the table where the agendas are in here and I thank you for letting me putting them there as well. They're in the rec center town hall. I put them at the library, First Reformed Church. My churches, it's a whole bunch of places. I'll be sitting here all night naming them. I was just going all around town just handing them out um different
businesses and we'll continue doing that. It's going to be printed monthly, also available digitally monthly. And I want to emphasize too, it's no cost to the residents because we use LPI. We have a time. Okay. So, we use LPI and you know with for the senior
senator's life. So, it's no cost. So, I just wanted to share that with you. Thank you. >> Yeah. one what Stanford >> just one question uh and I apologize I we did talk about your July 4th >> um >> event at at the church I had 25 people
at my house I couldn't but can you just say how that went >> sure we had about we had roughly 55 people in attendance um we had we had dignitaries township officials and the mayor was in attendance our um father Bruce from St. Phillips, um, Pastor Park
of New Life Korean Church, which shares the the First Reformed Church. They they worship in our building. Um, and of course our interim pastor, Pastor Tom Larkin, amongst other people. So, I really want to thank them for, you know, kind of help lead service, lead the prayers. Um, it was beautiful. We had we
had the service down downstairs in our Van White Fellowship Hall, which is which is the name of the fellowship hall in the church basement. Um, we set it up all nice, you know. Um I also want to thank to our he serves as our chairperson of buildings and grounds in our worship committee. His name is Tom Wick who was very very help very
instrumental in putting this together. So I do want to acknowledge him for making it all possible. It was a beautiful day. And then after the service we went outside. We rang the bell for 250 seconds. So the bell just kept going for four minutes straight. >> So
>> that was at that was at 2:50 p.m. celebrating the 250th anniversary of United States. Were you, this is my question, were you able to hear any other church bells while you were there? >> I couldn't hear it at the church. And because that bell, for those of you who heard the bell, it's very loud. And that
bell, that church bell that we rang is original from 1901. It's been on the church property for 125 years. >> Wow. >> And it still works. It was restored in 2019. It works like a charm >> because of the restoration. So, >> I'm sorry I couldn't make it. That sounds pretty cool. Also want to thank
the town also for the food truck for providing the food truck for the hot dogs. Um I also would be remiss I want to thank the fire department as well who who brought the tent over so that we could set tables up out in the parking lot on Acriman Avenue. So I do want to thank I know Chief Wensel's here but I
want to thank him for and and the fire department for all their help on that. All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Sylvia Zotterelli 236 Linds A. I was at the work session. You guys know I came up and I asked about what was going to be done about Walmart. Mr. Similuca, you
keep saying that it's an enforcement issue. What are you going to do about enforcing? I just sat here almost two hours and listened to everything you're going to do to help Lester Avenue residents, which they deserve it. What are you doing about Atlanta Avenue residents? This is six, seven years that
I have come and complained, you know, it's a valid issue. Other residents have come, they're disgusted, they don't want to come anymore. So, I'm just curious as to what it takes to get something done. If it's enforcement, it's up to you guys to enforce it. We can't. So, I don't
think that's a valid excuse anymore. I really don't. That's one. Second, as far as Pete goes, some people might think it's creepy, but it's an idea. I think to make a bust of his head and put it on a pedestal or something and showcase out
in the front hallway. That's all I got. >> While we have the officers here, she's right. I keep talking about enforcement. How are we doing the with the enforcement of the noise that's behind Walmart to help out these people across the creek?
Either of you guys want to comment on that? >> No. once we get calls we respond. >> Okay. >> It is and I've said this for for years that that two things that that I think
should happen. Our code enforcement officer should do a driveby at least once a day. I think he works four hours a day. It doesn't take long to go around that building for refues, whatever trash is there, things like that. Uh, but if
he does that and he sees something, he would report it. Also, that being that it's a known area that the police should do enhanced, and again, I'm not a cop. The mayor was a cop. I'm just maybe talking out my butt. I don't know. But I
think again, enforcement is to go there and sometimes be proactive and not wait for the call because sometimes people get disgusted or uh, you know, they just don't want to do it. and and call because they feel that the their their calls aren't being answered. But have
the again have the drivebys. It doesn't take much if somebody's going to on 46 to make that loop and go back there and see what's going on. And if they hear anything, do it. You I know that there's no way that you're going to catch every time that there's a loud noise. It's just and I think Mrs. Adarelli would
understand that that there's no way every single time something happens. Something happens. You know, I see that all the time. Somebody will say, "Uh, where's a cop when you need it?" Well, we have three of them. You can't. Um, but if there's a if there's a driveby and
you see them and you kind of know when they're doing this, drive by and see. And if if they're doing something wrong, you know, issue the issue tickets, you know, issue summones because the, you know, they can't just disturb said at
length at the uh at the the work session that this is a a resident friendly uh council, a resident friendly town. Uh and we don't want people to come here for five or six years on the same problem. Again, I you know, I said it's enforcement. I think it is. I I don't
know what else to do. I can't issue a ticket. Uh but you guys can. So if if you can just try and make a special effort. So not that I don't like seeing Miss Zerelli, but uh this way when I see her, it's on better circumstances.
>> Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Anyone else want to address the council? Good evening. Omar Rodriguez Satderbrook, candidate for mayor. Um, it's going to be a speed bomb on the U agenda on Claremont Avenue. More than a
dozen residents while knocking doortodoor has expressed their concern about being a shortcut for Marcus Street. This is just the beginning. When Market Street opens with these 60
new units and 120 cars coming in there, right now it takes 25 minutes to half hour to leave Marquestry. How long we will take? Then definitely they will take Clareman as a shortcut. Talking about those 60 60 units that has
been sold for $1.6 million, $26,000 each unit. Every time that I say something, it seems like I'm I'm making it up. But everything is on the record. They say that 120 cars will be coming into Solderbrook and will improve the traffic on Market Street. I
want to see that and it's on the record. It's not made up. So we should have mayors on debates on a lot of issues because three minutes is not enough to discuss a lot of issues like the high density on housing in town. People wants
to know if if you have any new ideas for the future and betterment of the residents. Um actually if a 120 cars are going to come I want you to explain to the residents how are they going to improve the traffic on March Street. If anything it
will make it worse. Then um on the high density pramos as an example they were told by the state that they have to build a thousand low-income housing units. They managed to reduce it
by 68% and they just have to build 340 units. Sadderbrook has to build 279 + 42. So it give you 341. But we didn't negotiate with the state. So we going to have to build 341.
I don't know. We have to come a little more creative. I think um the debates for many months I've been saying we should go for debates because a voter that is more informed will make a very better decision in November. I believe
that the residents deserve more than that. Finally, last month I asked the council and mayor by dismissing the bus driver for the senior citizens how much money it will save us. I didn't have a response. Then
I want to ask how much money does it take to print all those nice glossy brochures for the town that it just serve the purpose of selling yourselves but not to the residents and it was some um
some words that were not right against the senior citizens and one of them and I would just like to say that the poor choice of words that we're against the seniors
is bad. They're not secondass citizens. They are the main power and part of the town. We have to treat them with respect and love. Thank you all for listening. Have a good night. >> Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez. Hello, Karen Arminino, 537 Avon Lane.
Um, Omar, I'm sorry you're walking out, but yeah. >> Okay. Um, I I'm going to be of good note. Uh, as the new director of the senior center, we now have lunch Monday,
Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. $1.25 is requested donation. Um we are doing really well and um I invite all the seniors um in the town to come and have lunch
with us. Uh we have trips, we have um line dancing, we have lots and lots of activities. So it's all good. And I don't know why he says we don't treat our seniors well because I have been
down there for 30 years. And now that I'm in charge, seniors are first. And that's all I want to say. >> Karen, can I just ask you a question? uh the senior bus. We we we cut the hours
of the driver from full-time to part-time and and then uh we we did we terminated services and also the bus >> is I I know we had a young lady here who had an issue um and it it really
impacted her, but have you been down there on a daily basis? Is is there a lot of uh kickback on or should say push back on? >> No. And actually when he went when the bus driver went to four days he was
part-time two of those days. One day he went to the mall um in the morning and then one day he went to shop on Thursday. We had exactly seven calls for the doctor. So there were seven
appointments in five months. for doctors. All he did what I don't want to talk about anybody but the the mall and shopping was the primary and when we took it away from them they were
disappointed and we're sorry that they did but the county offers a better service. they're handicapped um in in the bus. Like we had somebody call for the doctors that wanted to go in a wheelchair. We can't accommodate
them. We can't strap down the wheelchair. So, you know, the bus is old and really we didn't get the calls for it >> other than shopping. Thank you. >> Okay.
Denise Monastery, 25 Dan away. Good evening, Mayor and Council and friends. First, I would like to thank Township um administrator Jimmy Holmesy for taking the time to speak with me. The conversation was productive and I appreciated the update he provided
regarding the senior bus. One point that was reinforced was during our conversation is that providing services is only one part of the equation. If residents do not know a service is available then for all intents and purposes that service does not exist for
them. Outreach needs to be active not passive. A notice on a website, a Facebook post or information available at the senior center and local businesses will reach the people who are already connected. The challenge is reaching the seniors who are not
connected. It is the same concept as when someone is running for office. A candidate with only a website, a Facebook page, and a flyer at a campaign office will have limited reach. While a candidate who combines those tools with
door knocking, phone calls, mailings, community presence, and direct engagement will reach far more people. The strategy is the same whether we call it outreach, marketing, or communications. There is a significant difference between actively promoting a
service versus saying the information is available on our website. In an effort to better understand the decline in writership that led to the discontinuation of the senior bus, I submitted an open public records act request oper request for bus records
from January 1st, 2024 through when the township ended the service on May 22nd, 2026. The township provided records from August 6th, 2025 through May 14th, 2026. After following up with the deputy clerk
regarding the missing records, I was informed that those additional records could not be located. This is not to criticize anyone. However, good governance depends on accurate and well-maintained public records in order to make informed decisions. Data allows
leaders to understand how a service is currently being used, where gaps exist, and how future decisions should be made. Reliable records also preserve institutional knowledge rather than assumptions. When records needed to evaluate a public service are
unavailable, there is a ripple effect because public trust can be eroded when information needed for accountability is incomplete or unavailable. Transparency is essential because we are making decisions that directly affect
the lives of people living in our town, especially with something as important as transportation, which goes far beyond point A and point B. Communicate community transportation is a bridge to civic life. The Bergen County transportation program is outstanding. I
I I use it, but it does not operate on weekends or evenings. So, how does a senior who no longer drives attend the township picnic in August? That's on a Saturday. >> How do they get to National Night Out? >> Ma'am, I'm just going to ask you to finish up because >> Yep. >> beyond the time. So, just I'll give you
a chance to finish up. >> Yep. How are they able to participate in council meetings like this one? >> And how do they attend evening concerts, community celebrations, or events like one hosted at our local church, which sounds beautiful. These are simply not transportation questions. There are
questions about inclusion in our community life. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Good evening. Jerry Taylor, 318 Sheep Avenue Township Council candidate.
um through the chair. Do we know with all the dispensaries in town, is there um a line item in the budget that shows how much money the town is making off of those dispensaries? >> I I think there's only one that's been active and one that's
brand new. So, I mean, we're not overrun by by dispensaries, but in terms of uh where that money goes, I know we get to 2% um of the revenues and not just the profits, but the revenues. Let me stand up. Um but I'm going to defer Wow. I'm
going to defer to our business administrator to like is is there an item in the budget for income relevant to the the dispensaries? Yeah, there is a um a revenue permit line and on top of that that it gets deposited into and um
in addition I do keep a spreadsheet that's a report uh that that anyone could have access to that's shared with the council on a monthly basis what those uh what those figures are each month from each dispensary. But as uh Mr. Simuklas said uh right now one is
active, one just recently opened. Uh so right now it has been the one uh retail uh shop that has been uh contributing their their uh mandated taxes. >> And is it also true with the um I heard that the mo where mo is next to the
cleaners was going to be another dispensary. So that'd be three on 46 or no? >> Well, just so you're 4. We we developed and determined the best places to put these dispensaries and we made an
overlay district. Um so that's where they're supposed to be for the most part on on 46. But in terms of mo I think that was going to be a medical uh dispensary and I'm not sure about the mayor. Do you have any idea about what went on with that?
>> Is that still >> medical not public? >> It's not going forward. It's probably not going forward. >> All right. And uh and in relation to 580 Midland with the um I know the zoning was changed uh question I guess to the
attorney once that goes to be developed will the residents be notified like when you when you go for a valance and and a person does that will there be notices coming to me since it's going to affect me saying that there's meetings going to start?
>> Yes. the the any applicant that's sub submits uh plans for a development to either the planning board or the board of adjustment has to satisfy two advertisement. One is in the newspaper which a lot of people don't read and one is residents within 200 ft will get a
notice by mail typically certified because the applicant has to prove that he provided the service. uh in addition to that and it probably will be posted on the website and uh you you know the agenda gets posted. So there's there
will you should have no uh difficulty in knowing when that application if it's ever filed will be heard. >> Okay. And and just one last thing uh the BA stated that the budget was advertised 28 days before. Last week I did a search
trying to find the budget and I could not. Can you tell like I even looked on our website on the town website and looking for the budget itself? I had a summary but I didn't have individual line items.
>> Is that where normally it is? >> Your time is your time is done but but I'll you know Jimmy will respond differently. >> That was the advertising period. So, in the in our um in our required local newspapers that that that's the the noticing requirement it was located. >> But to actually find the actual budget
itself, you're just advertising you're just advertising that it's it's out there. In other words, I'm looking for a copy of it. >> Yeah. No, that's it's uh after after adoption, it should be placed on the website and then of course anyone could come in and request it. Even even after it introduction, it could be requested.
>> Have to come here. No, I I believe I believe the question is before the adoption before we had our meeting >> able to get >> Was there an ability to for a member of the public to come in and look at the book? >> Yes, after it's after it's introduced. Yes. That it's public it's a public
record after it becomes introduced. >> But it doesn't go out it doesn't go out uh online per se until after it's approved by the budget uh by the council. >> Typically we put the adopted version on the website. Yes. >> Okay. All right. And the speed bumps are
back. So, and they're painted. They look great over by us. So, thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you. >> I got to cut you off. You just lost a minute from next month. >> Good evening. Andrew Judges, candidate for township council in November. Uh
just a few questions. Uh I've been asking the the low-income housing uh the 279 units who were given from the state uh which is just a ridiculous high number. Where are we you know specifically exactly in that negotiation? Uh is there a negotiation
window? What is the actual number uh from the 279 units that the township has agreed to? Um also I was here last month during the budget. Uh we have a paid for the water budget which is over 2 million. And then what I was referring
to was a water utility budget uh that went from 273,600 to 148,900. Uh that's the $125,000. Uh people are very confused why there's a water budget and a water utility uh
budget. So specifically the water utility budget where that $125,000 went. Uh and I think you know a lot of people you know throughout the town many districts neighborhoods uh they're very interested in uh you know this local
election in November um and when the council candidates and mayor candidates when they're going to be having multiple uh debates you know I think maybe three or four debates uh one in August one in September maybe one or two in October um
so I believe both heads of the clubs were supposed to communicate and that uh hasn't happened uh so Just looking for those follow-ups. Thank you. >> Thank you. I'm going to defer to um Mr. Holsy or or or the mayor on the uh the
who who should address the the housing units because I know that Mr. Rodriguez somehow came up with 300 something units and um I think Mrs. had it for uh 279. I know that was the number that was
proposed by Fair Share Housing, but uh the number uh was much less than that. Mr. Holmes, you want to talk about that? >> Well, I I would like to address the process, but I don't have the exact numbers. Do you have the exact numbers, Dan? >> Yeah, I believe the 279 is accurate and
then um after going through the process was reduced to 17. >> 17. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. So, so yeah. So let's just to again correct I know it sounds uh and maybe hope hopefully that's not
the intention to say 279 when it's not accurate. So first of all the town didn't just accept the number that fair share came up with. was contested heavily by uh a special attorney that the governing body hired
who specializes in the affordable housing area and as a result of that going through the process which involves a special master I have to give a little history so people understand the significance of it. So a
special master is considered an independent individual appointed by the court. That special master has a tremendous amount of influence on what the ultimate outcome is going to be because the judges essentially consider
them the only independent objective person involved in the process other than themselves and therefore their recommendation as to what the numbers should be is extremely important. So, the council was able through this
process to get credit for affordable housing units that were already built at one location, to get credit for the units that are being built at Market Street, and to reduce the number significantly,
as our administrator stated, from what they initially wanted to what it was reduced to. And in addition to that, the council was able to draft an agreement that was approved by the court that
allowed them to satisfy their prospective need, which is for the fourth round to get the certification and the immunity from a a builder's lawsuit to meet it with an overlay zone. Which means that if someone wants to
build in part in in a particular zone and no one has come forward yet, they would have to have a set aside of 15 or 20% of whatever they're building for affordable housing to meet this perspective need. So the possibility that nothing gets built is that could
happen because we don't have to go out and find a developer. that a developer has to be willing to build with an affordable housing component and we're not obligated to give them a pilot for the project. So, it's very difficult with the cost of things for developers
to think it's in their financial interest to build uh affordable housing units unfortunately for those who are in need of those. So the scenario being painted is not any near near what is accurate nor is what is truthful. And although I did not handle the case, I
think the attorney who did for the township did a a very good job in getting the number reduced and getting the settlement that I have to say for the most part no one will probably even realize uh where these affordable housing units
are or if they even ever get developed. Is there Jimmy? Was there anything else that I missed? No, I think just I the builder's remedy that we're having immunity from builder's remedies lawsuit too included in that. >> That's about it. >> And uh just before we we open to this
young lady here um just difference between water uh water budget your water utility budget what >> uh I mean this should be all in the water utility. I could take a closer look. If you have questions, I'm happy to, you know, >> there was there was a question as to
there was a $125 $125,000 difference between last year and this year in in one of those two. I think the question was what's the difference between a water budget and a water utility budget because he's saying there's two different sets of numbers. >> Yeah. I mean, the water utility should
be its own utility budget. Um, and I have to look closer at the operating budget to see what exactly is is uh in there for that as it relates to water operations. >> But is is there a water budget? Is there are there two separate areas like a water but he's and I don't
>> to me there should I don't think there should I don't think I would have to double check. I don't think to me everything that water related should be in the water utility that this way at the next meeting we can uh address the resident's concern. >> No problem. >> Okay. Okay. Ma'am, please state your name.
>> Yes. My name is Wanita Hickman and I live on Finnegan Avenue, Saddle Road. And I'm here to speak with the the mayor and the council personnel in reference to our former bus driver,
senior bus driver, Howie, um whether it was a matter of being fired or retired. I've been I had been taking that bus for many years having lived in Saddlebrook and um
if let's say for any reason well first of all I started taking the bus with another driver before how we took over and then the other man moved out of
state uh how we took over and Um we uh we got many years of of good service and um as for our packages and whatever whatever we had uh were assisted through him or let's say um
Sandy who would be the assistant riding on the bus. However, at uh some point in time um let's say when how we would um take off uh there would be um another individual
named Jason who would be the relief person. But uh I just came to to speak on behalf that for the years of service that how we drove the senior bus I have no complaints of the service and uh
whether it was for the mole or let's say um to well let's say for shopping or for the mole and um then somehow in recent years uh there got to be some small
issue as to uh the heaviness of our packages. And um and I'm one of those individuals. Instead of me having to deal with 20 bags, I'd rather have three heavy bags and maybe two lighter bags.
But that was my personal u way of doing it. But um the the service was good and we um I miss him and um
the uh changes have been regarding the uh Bergen County transportation and uh I had started to take them um during the Saddle Brook Senior Bus
Service because um they would take us most any time for our medical appointments and that worked out better for me. >> So, can you your three minutes is up,
but I'll let you finish up. >> Well, that's that's mainly what I wanted to say to speak on behalf of uh Howie that the service was good during the time I was there and the others who assisted with him. I have no complaints
and um I'm dealing with the county now and u so far it's going good but would be good if we could have all of the personnel right in our group together. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> And I'm going to reach out Karen or
Paula if anyone speaks to Howie or Rose can you just relay this young lady's uh comments and her uh commendations to to Howie? >> Thank you. Any anybody else wish to address the council?
>> Okay. Uh, seeing no one. >> Motion to close the meeting to the public. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Motion. Sir, >> it's gentleman. >> Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I didn't see you there. >> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. >> Good evening. My name is John Vitovic. I
live on Caldwell Avenue in town. For the past few years, I've been periodically coming here and complaining about the Saddlebrook Senior Bus
and the dictatorial procedures of the driver. Two years ago, I went to the township Kirk Peter Ludiko, God rest his stole, and I asked for all policies,
procedures, rules, regulations, governing the Saddlebrook bus. Well, he laughed at me and he said, "That covers just about everything." And I said, "I want to be thorough." Three weeks later, he came back to me
and he said, "John, there are no rules, regulations, policies, or procedures regarding the senior bus." I said, "You mean the operator of the bus just does whatever he wants. There's no control. There's no oversight on them." And he'd
come up with rules like, "You can't have more than three bags. The three bags can't weigh more than 10 pounds each. You don't expect me to pick them up and put them on the bus. Then he came out with little oneliners
like, "You can't drink all that soda." Then he looks at my wife and says, "Do you do shopping for the neighborhood? You can't weigh more than 100 pounds." Actually, she weighs 109 pounds.
and he complained about just about everything. So it got to the point where my wife would come home occasionally in tears. I spent a lot of years in the Marine Corps. I was ready to go outside to the
senior bus invite invite him behind the property and would straighten us out. I don't make my wife cry. I'll be damned if somebody else does. And my wife kept on saying, "It's okay. I'll take care of it
myself." I'm glad to see him gone. And this nonsense now about him and his champions going around town saying, "Oh, he was forced out." Well, after I
retired from the core, I got a job in private industry. And I learned there's two ways of leaving a job. You either resign or you're terminated. I don't know what forced out is.
But I'm fed up with this nonsense. And in actuality, sir, and I apologize for this, I blame the council. You created the Saddlebrook Senior Bus
with no control, no oversight, no supervision, no management. And it's like, OH GOD, WE GOT A senior bus. That's wonderful. And nothing behind it. >> Yes, sir. >> And then, excuse me for talking while
you're interrupting. >> No. Well, you're you're the senior bus driver. >> Sir, you got three minutes and you knew that. and you're way over the three minutes. So, I gave you a little leeway, but I'd ask >> if you want to cut me off, that's fine, sir. >> Yes, sir. It's three It's a three-minute
meeting. >> You're done? >> No, you're done. >> Good. You have a good evening, sir. >> You got it. >> Ma'am, you already had your time. >> I thought we were allowed to speak twice. >> No, >> last time somebody came up twice last time. >> Who?
He came up late. >> No, it's one time. You use your three and you were over your three minutes. >> Anyone else? >> Let me ask you this if I may s you have a guy talking for over 20 minutes. What
happened? >> Anyone else wish to address the council? Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion. Close the meeting. Motion to close the meeting. Motion to close. Second. Second by Miss Mer. All in favor? >> Okay. meeting is now closed to the public.
>> Councilman Saluca, he was asking about the long um longer time and that's during the work session. I don't think the gentleman understands. >> Yeah, work sessions are different. >> That was the work session sir that he >> during our work session which was
earlier in the evening. You have unlimited time to speak. >> Well, I know. >> Yeah. I just want to clarify that for you, sir. And there was a special there was kind a special meeting within a meeting on Lyster Avenue. So that was we opened the meeting just on that issue.
So that's why that took an hour in of itself. >> Okay. Uh >> Mr. Chair, did you want me to address the comments that were made regarding the Market Street project list? Again, there were several misstatements. Or just let it go. >> Um yeah, sure. >> Okay. So, and I know this has been said
multiple times by the individual and I've responded the same. So he keeps repeating it. So I'm going to keep repeating the response. The value and the cost of the units was not 26,000 uh dollars as he stated because the
developer also had to build 40 underground parking spaces for our police department, which was estimated by our engineer to have a value of $1.2 2 million, which brings the cost of each unit to $46,666.
In addition to that, the developer did not receive a pilot. So, he has to pay the full property taxes value, which at last year's value and and we all know residential values have been going up significantly every year, would have generated a tax revenue of approximately
$325 to $340,000 on property that was of course taxexempt while the municipality owned it. As to the comment that testimony was that the parking would be improved. No, that was not the testimony. The traffic engineer,
whose testimony was confirmed by our own engineers who attended the meeting, stated that the impact to traffic is existing is not good on Market Street, but this would have a negligible impact to the point that no one would know the
difference because although there is parking for 120 vehicles, there's not going to be 120 vehicles going out onto Market Street. number one at the same time and number two not that volume at all because you have to take into account that everybody is not going to
drive their vehicle every day between the fact that they may not be working or they may be working remotely or they may be using public transportation. So again, it wasn't that parking would be improved, but that it would I mean the traffic, but it would have a very
negligible impact with respect to the existing traffic issues on Market Street. So hopefully those statements will not have to be repeated that were made, nor that I have to repeat what the
actual facts are so that public realizes what the true situation is as to that Market Street project. I I I I think you' said 26,000 is 30. He had said $36,000. >> Oh, I thought he said 26. >> No, I think it's 36. And in regard to
traffic, my recollection is he is correct. Nobody on this council ever said that traffic would be improved. The person making the presentation who was an advocate for the the builder said that there would be
a slight improvement. Uh which I don't agree with. I believe that it may be negligible and uh it may be the same or it may be worse but that that if it's worse it would be neglig negligible. Um but certainly I can't see how it would
improve. He had some idea about how it would improve it. I didn't buy it then. I don't buy it now but uh I think that's going to we're going to have uh and I'm going to ask the mayor to speak on this uh because uh there there is
conversation. I've spoken about it for years about the uh intersection of of Market Essex, Rochelle, A and Main Street uh right down right down the the the road here. Um and if and when that comes to fruition, it's going to solve a
lot of the problems that we currently have uh and will make, I believe, this project absolutely uh to have absolutely no impact on traffic. So, uh, we'll start with, uh, comments from the mayor.
>> Okay. You know, why don't we start there because, uh, with with the meeting that, uh, myself, Jimmy Holmes, and and Bob Klein, a virtual meeting that we attended, right, with the New Jersey Department >> and there is a new meeting uh, this
public uh, what's that? Tuesday, >> Tuesday evening, uh, 21st from 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. So, uh, Mr. Mr. Holmes, do you want to talk about that meeting and what went on? >> I think Bob might Yeah, I'm going to defer to Bob, but I just want to be clear about that meeting on the 21st is open to the public. So, anyone's invited
to attend that meeting >> and and just so we're clear, there's a flyer. Uh now, I have it in my packet. Is this online? >> It's on the table. >> We have it at the table. Uh it's online and we have it at the um the pamphlet section two at the >> Okay. So, it is accessible. I I urge
everyone who is concerned about the traffic in Market Street, which should be every single resident of Saddlebrook who has a car or knows someone who has a car, uh you can join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone, uh go on the website or come to town hall
and and get that and you can uh attend virtually. But uh we'll defer to uh Mr. Klein on what went on at the uh the inerson meeting. So they they presented this project and where they currently stand. Apparently
it's been a you know a project for a while. Um they're currently in the preliminary design phase. Um they're looking to uh replace the bridge that goes over the
Saddle River so that they can add more lanes, more more traffic lanes going through that intersection. um in all four directions which would certainly improve traffic flow. Uh the whole reason they're doing this is because of the traffic issue that that
is there. It's going to they're going to enhance pedestrian traffic as well. Um there will of course be uh when it's under construction a an inconvenience. There'll be detours. Um, I think what they're going to do first
is take care of the three legs that don't include the bridge first, which will initially improve traffic. And then while they're replacing the bridge, there'll be a detour, you know, coming from either way on Market Street going
in both directions. >> And that that's the leg that's really impacts Saddlebrook people and Saddle Brook traffic, >> right? So, um, that'll be part of what they they present. And the project looks like they they gave dates which are I'm
sure preliminary but right now preliminarily they think construction is going to take place between 2030 and 2032 would be the the time. >> I was unaware of that. >> Um yeah because uh I've said it over and
over I went to a meeting it's got to be a dozen years ago and we talked about this and I said the same thing. make left turn only lanes on each leg of that intersection. And I believe that's what they're going to do. Um that seems like the only viable solution. Why it took or
why it's going to take almost two decades to get it done, that's not even local. That's that's county and that's state. And above us is Route 80, which is federal. And they are impacted because there's the u
the the structures holding up the highway. So, so they got to they had to be involved and probably D because there's a river involved. So, you got all these agencies and the more agencies that you get involved uh the more uh time it takes. So, I'm glad it's finally going to get done. I will not be a
council person at that time to see it done, but I'll gladly go to the grand opening of that new intersection once they cut the ribbon. Um, mayor, do you want to go want to do your comments or was there other things? >> Yeah, you know, I I was well, you know, the other thing while uh Mr. Holmes, I
wanted him to to speak a little bit because we we spoke about the bus drive the bus service and I just want him because well I want him to uh tell the public how much money we are saving and
uh and a little bit about the county bus service that um you we we Mr. Holmes spoke to Mr. Sinq, who's the director uh at the county, and how many residents use the service and how many total rides
uh thus far and how many they believe they'll they'll do by the end of the year. And uh I I I think it'll shed some light on that. Uh you know, you I don't want to get into uh the bus driver, you know, what his performance was. You know
what? He was with us a lot of years. And you know what? I I thought he did a good job. But you know, sometimes uh you know, sometimes the county, they formed this this uh uh this service and and they really, you know, they they
built it up. I mean, it started small. It started with about 10 buses and I think they got over 100 buses now. Uh every bus has a driver and an assistant, an aid in the bus. Every bus has a a ramp that that uh a mechanical ramp
that'll uh you know that'll lift a lift I guess to bring somebody that's handicapped into the bus. Um so and you know what we it it wasn't like we just ended it and said hey you know what this bus service the county service
is better. So we we you know we tried we made uh the the driver part-time. We wanted to see how that would work. You know, we just didn't say, "Hey, look, you know, we don't need it anymore. That's it." And uh it just, you know, it
it comes down to uh you know, a decision that it was better for the town. The town's going to save a lot of money. And Jimmy, you know, just Sure. >> I just got Mrs. Scatino. Being that the the that employee is no longer employed by the town, there's no rice notice for
>> correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. at at the full-time status, the salary was $55,000. Then, of course, whatever maintenance and operations to continue the operations with the bus and so on and so forth. So, that was at the full-time status what the cost was for
us in the salary uh capacity. Uh after speaking, as the mayor mentioned, after speaking with the county, we asked them um for some for some data to confirm how many riderships are taking place in Saddlebrook. They confirmed they have registered in their system 285 residents
from Saddlebrook with a minimum yearly um at minimum each year they're servicing 500 rides at minimum they stated um in addition just looking in other towns with the operations the you know similar senior transportation uh
operations most operate in the same hours you know time frames of you know Monday through Friday you 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. So most most if not all operate in a similar fashion. You know, you you
rarely see any that operate on weekends, of course. And you know, for our big events, we offer that and we're going to offer that at the picnic. Um they pick up from uh from town hall a shuttle service back and forth. So we do we did arrange for that to continue this year. Um, so you know, nothing was uh, you
know, what we offered was was fantastic, but the, you know, the county, like the mayor said, has a an aid on the bus. Uh, they're able to carry the uh, bags for them for groceries. And, um, you know, it's a, it's we just felt it was a good business decision to continue the service for and, you know, to, uh, to
assist in in our in our financial operations. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Okay. Um, I'm just going to start off by uh someone mentioned about uh these debates that uh I I guess the Republican
candidates are looking to have. I said at the last meeting, look, this is not the place. This is a public meeting. This is not, you know, campaign headquarters. This is not the place to talk about having debates. And uh and I and I I told
the Republican candidate who's running for mayor. Uh he had left, but I'm sure he watched the meetings, but I had said I I said that last week. Uh and last month, I should say. And uh we didn't receive any calls. I said, "Look, you
can call my campaign. There's a lot of ways to get in touch with me. You know what I mean? I think our campaign's all over the place. Uh, and you can you can call the uh the local Democratic chair, m Mr. uh Mr. Garrick down there. We
didn't receive any calls. So, you know, why is it they keep bringing it up here at the meeting? So, I guess the public at the public meeting at the public meeting that's televised. So, that this way, you know, you're getting it out there that well, we want debates, but I
guess our side doesn't. Nobody said we don't, but you know, we want to do it the right way. Look, I'm the incumbent. My team, you know, me and Sarah are incumbents. If you want to have a debate, you do it
the right way and contact our campaign. You have a Republican chair, Bob Cougler, okay? Have him contact either me or Mr. Garrick and and and we'll get the ball rolling. So, but you know, we have to come to
terms on it. I don't know why you're smiling out there, but >> but that I said I can't say I'm I'm not going to say it again. And you know what? If it's brought up again here, I'm not I'm not speaking. >> I'm I'm just going to ignore it. So,
from now on, that's it. Uh I just want to bring up uh something that Mrs. Monastery said. um and she was talking about and I you know I agree with her that you know you have to you do have to reach out to
people that are shutins seniors uh people who don't have maybe access to computers uh you know you really have to go out of your way and I I've always been an advocate that you know I try doing that you know the town tries doing I think we do a pretty good job school
district does a pretty good job too you know but you can always do better you can always do better and and I think That's what we strive for. We want to strive to, you know, get those people that that might not, you know, might not have access, that might not, you know,
know what's going on because, you know what, I've seen it. We've advertised things and put things all over the place and no matter what, you know, if if it's a nice event that people, you know, would have liked to have gone to the shredding event. That's a good example, the shredding event. uh every year,
every year without a doubt, you know, we'll post it and you know, we'll put it all over the place that we normally do as far as advertising and then the date comes and we'll put a, you know, a photo. Oh, went great. The shredding event went great and and I have, you know, three or four people that, oh, I
missed it. You know, nobody told me, you know, it's and I feel bad. You know what? because obviously, you know, we we try to get to everybody we can, but unfortunately some people are are harder than others to get to, but when it comes to seniors, we
really do have, and I agree with her, we have to try to make every effort to get to everyone that uh that could use the services. Like this lunch program, it it's a great program. It's going very well, but I know there's people out there that would love to do it, but they just don't know about it. They they
don't they don't have family members. They live alone. They don't get out much. So, we have to reach out to those people. So, I'm going to go through my uh my normal uh routine here as far as uh comments.
I'm going to start with the budget. Uh the estimated tax bills were mailed out at the end of last week, beginning of this week. Uh and uh they're due by August the 10th. They should be by the end of the month, but there's a 10-day
grace period. Uh the tax rate is 2.377, which is up only 4,000 of a point. The average home in Saddlebrook now is valued at $500,700. So on the municipal side, taxes are
increasing by just a little under$187 $188 on the average house, which I just said valued at $500,700. I just want to make sure that the seniors know and not just the seniors, but there there is tax relief offered
out there in New Jersey. You got the anchor program, you got the senior freeze, and you got the stay New Jersey. Um now they use one single form which combines all three applications uh to apply for all all of them or some
of them. Uh eligibility and payment schedules vary for each program. But please if you're interested check the New Jersey website at nj.gov gov. Or for more information, you can you can also call our local tax collector uh Linda at
20115872914. Um resolutions. I'm going to I have ordinances, but we're going to table that lister a ordinance. Uh resolutions. Um we have the appointment of Frank Bali as municipal clerk. Um I just want to say that Frank has earned the position.
He had he has his state certification already. So, it's not something that he has to do. He's got it already. Uh he worked under Peter Ludiko for probably a little over four years and filled in in Pete's absence. Um he did a good job and
you know Pete would have approved of Frank taking his place. I know that you know I had many a conversation with Pete and uh you know they were they were got to be good friends and I know Frank learned a lot from Pete. So, um,
uh, public service gas main project, we we talked about that earlier. Um the engineers report that was at in the first meeting but uh they're doing work now at Floral Lane, George Street, John Ox
Drive um and some other Lean Hart some other streets in there and they should be finished uh in a month or two. So, um, but then they're going to have to they're going to have to pave the the
trenches, so to make sure that they're they're, uh, solid. Um, also the 2026 road resurfacing program. Uh, the engineer is working with the DBW superintendent, uh, public
service because we're doing a lot of their roads with them, uh, to determine which road should be paved. Also, the council weighs in on that as well. Um, we have New Jersey DOT. We have a grant from last year for Floral Lane and South
Street, but we're waiting on that because public service is doing the gas man. We want to get that done and and then uh so how that would work is we're going to get like that that's going to get covered under the New Jersey DOT
grant. So, we get credit from public service because they would have paved paved the road. So, we get credit for another road. Um, Bergen County Community Development Block Grant uh is South Street. That's
going to be done probably the fall or the spring. And then the new New Jersey uh 2026 New Jersey Department of Transportation grant we've been awarded for Grace and North 7th Street.
Um and then the Bergen County Community Development Block Grant for 2026 is Miller Street. Uh I just want to mention too that we recently are have opened up our Saddleberg Splash Pad. Um, it's going to
be open uh seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 3 pm. It's at 20 Samson Street, which is Veterans Field. Uh, for residents, uh, Saddleach residents only. It's free. There's no no charge. Um,
okay. Some events, some past events. They had the Carnation Ball on Monday, June the 1. It's I'm going back a ways now, but uh that was a nice event for the eighth graders or middle school middle school kids going into high school. Um thank the recreation
department for handling that. They do that every year. The mayor's fishing derby was Saturday, June the 20th. I want to thank my secretary. She always handles all that and uh organizes everything along with the I want to thank the fire department too as well
and the ambulance core that were there helping out. Um fireworks we got them off Friday, July the 3rd. They were late but uh we had some unanticipated storms and they didn't go off till about 10:30. So uh you know some residents weren't
too happy about that, but at least we got them off and uh and they were they were spectacular. They were very good this year um at the park. Thank the fire department, ambulance core, um Mike Sites who who runs the show there, our
our fire marshal, um everybody else, Raphael and and uh Thomas for uh handling the video and the photos. Um Thomas talked about the bell ringing. I'm glad uh that um that council
president Simaluca mentioned that. So, I'm not going to go over that too much, but it went well. And I really want to thank uh First Reform and Thomas and Thomas WJIC too as well and Pastor Tom for uh because you you know what I I really felt we needed to do something
and they stepped up and it was you and it was nice. It was a nice event and I'm I'm so glad we did it and we got participation from the fire department, the ambulance core, the board helped out. Um I know uh St. Phillips. So,
Father Bruce was there. Um, so upcoming events, we got National Night Out on Tuesday, August the 4th, right here at 6 p.m. in the parking lot. The Junior Police Academy starts August the 6th uh through the 14th. Um, that's done here
as well. Uh, the town picnic is Saturday, August the 29th at Saddle River County Park. The rain date is Sunday, August the 30th. Uh the last thing I got is about the ebikes. I'm very happy to say that the
new law is going into effect on uh on July the 19th, so next week, right? And uh thank thank God because it's been it's been a long road with that. And uh you know, I've been uh I've been on with
the chief and the command staff and and and you know, I think they've you know, they they've done a good job. uh with it as far as getting some enforcement and because you know just because the new law doesn't go in effect to the 19th you
know these these kids they're they're they're they're really reckless. I mean, they're doing all kinds of things that they shouldn't be doing and and and and honestly, you know, some of them are they're they're brazen and and they're uh they you know, they flip people the bird and you know, they just and some of
I I've seen them do wheelies where they got they do have helmets on. I guess that that's one good thing, but you know, I've seen it where their helmet is hitting the pavement and there's sparks coming from from the helmet. You know, I know they can't be everywhere at once, but you know what? I think the last
month, the last six six weeks have been good, but we we got a tremendous amount of complaints. I I can't tell you how many complaints we got about about these kids and their behavior. So, um you know, and we got to keep enforcing like Mr. Mr. Maluca says we got to enforce
enforce enforce especially that and I know there was a some a lot of education but I guarantee you know what the first the first person that that you end up apprehending or whatever if it's a juvenile and you take them home I
guarantee oh we didn't know nothing about it you know again you know it's about advertising you know somebody's going to say they they oh I didn't know they're going to conveniently say that you know because they're going to want to So, but uh we we got to definitely stay
on top of that. It's it's a big issue and other things too. You know, like Mrs. Zarelli says, you know, we know we know that the mall is a problem. You know what? So, all I'm saying, and I think Mr. Simaluca was trying to say the same thing, is you know what? There's a
few problem areas. Luckily, we don't have that many. I don't know, five or six. But those areas have to be priorities. You know, the officers on patrol have to go through there, you know, more than once. They got to go through, you know, every hour to check
on it. And and you've been doing that. You know, I I I know you've been doing that, but you got to stay on top of the officers. And I know sometimes they're, you know, sometimes they're they're busy. I get it. But when they're not busy, they need to concentrate on those areas. So that's all I have.
>> Mr. Akamando. Yeah. Well, with that being said, I think property maintenance should also hold their own. Go there once, twice, three times a week. >> Not just to put it on law enforcement, but if there's a littering issue,
>> absolutely. That's definitely on property maintenance. Um, but from my understanding, I thought they were once corrupt construction is done, they're putting a fence on that left side. Well, the right side. So I I thought it was going to be a gate >> that they had to get buzzed in to make delivery. So
>> that should help with some. That's what we're told. >> If it happens on the right side, >> who knows? >> The left side they wouldn't agree to it, but supposedly they were going to put a security guard like a shack over there. >> Yes. >> On that other side because well hopefully they'll they'll do it >> at the construction supposed but we'll
see. Um I just want to say great job by the by the police for whatever happens in town. you guys mostly run short all the time and you still seem to get things done. So, thank you. Um, as far as everything else, I just wish
everybody a safe rest of the summer. And as far as everyone who gets up here to speak at that podium, I thank them because sometimes they bring stuff to our attention. Sometimes they in a nutshell, they speak But,
um, it takes a lot to get up there and speak in front of a room full of people and a council. Um, I was there. It's a little intimidating, but you get past it. It's It's surprising that lately it's been kind of professional where it
usually isn't. And we're a small town. There's no reason to be hateful towards each other. It's it's it's too small of a town to be that negative when you come up to the podium and speak nonsense and lies.
Well, regardless, have a great summer and enjoy the rest of the uh July. I believe we come back in August, right? >> Yeah, August. One meeting. >> Thank you to the council for putting up with what we put up with. Hey, mayor. >> Mer, >> thank you, council president. Yeah.
Yeah. I just want to mention that I had the opportunity to have lunch at the senior center, and I have to say the lunch was pretty good. Uh they're doing an amazing job there, and I have to commend Karen, uh Dominio, and that crew. They really have a great system
and um it it seems like the residents are enjoying it and um and afterwards they play bingo certain days. I'm not sure exalt I know Friday for sure but um and as far as the senior bus I think we should take advantage of whatever the
county has to offer us. We are we do pay county taxes so why not >> right? >> That's right. >> Thank you. And as far as um ordinances and things like that, you know, well, it's trial and error with a lot of things that we're, you know, trying out
trying out there. I would like to have, you know, we could always amend it, change something up, but um you know, we're always here to listen. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Garrick. >> Um I have a few things this evening. Uh first, I'd just like to congratulate
Frank. I'm very confident in the job you're going to do. So Frank, uh, congratulations. We're happy to have you on board here, my friend. >> I don't think we had the vote yet, so you know. >> Oh, let me let me take that back then. >> It's coming up.
>> Um, the the mayor had >> Just kidding. the the mayor had mentioned the paper shredding and um all the dates are listed on the county website, the Bergen County Utility Authority, and sometimes
I've missed a date and every weekend they have a different shredding event. It may be in Garfield or Loi and I believe it's open to all county residents. So, um if you plan on coming to Saddlebrook, it's September 26th this
year from 9 to 1. If you want to do it on Saturday, you can go over to Prammise. So there they're usually throughout every community in Bergen County, you can go to a a shredding event and it usually goes from the spring into the fall. So um again,
parameters tomorrow, but Saddle Brooks is going to be September 26th. Um I too want to commend Karen and her staff at the senior center. A lot of wonderful things are getting done there. Uh that lunch program is excellent. Um, and we
got a lot of seniors going there. So, it's a successful program. Um, also I want to mention the spray park. Yesterday I was down at Veterans Field. Uh, there was 50 students from the U summer program jumping around and I think it's a wonderful addition to the
community. Um, it cost us very little. We got a grant for $750,000 I believe. Um, which was a wonderful thing. Um, I also want to mention some things that we take for granted. Our road program.
Um, prior to Bob White becoming mayor and our council being put together here, there wasn't a lot of roads getting paved. We've done a tremendous amount of road improvements. And for that I want to thank you to thank you mayor for
doing that as well as the council for all their hard work and the wonderful professionals that we have here uh working for us. Um the recreation programs are expanding. We haven't mentioned the library. The library programs are incredible.
Um also our parks. What's been done there? Pickle ball. Um we're getting Fifth Street done. Kern Park, May, you name it. We've been doing so much here. Um, and then we could talk about our first responders, police, fire,
ambulance corps, our great DPW. We have people in this community that are incredibly committed and dedicated, and I want to thank every one of you. But most of all, we have a full-time mayor.
He's working endless hours. We have a committed council here. Um, so I'm optimistic about the future here in Saddlebrook and the property values reflect that. People want to move to Saddlebrook. I've said it before, I'll
say it again. There's a reason why the property values have escalated here. I said enough tonight. I appreciate it. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Garrick. Miss Sanchez. >> Okay. So, um, unfortunately I couldn't
make it to the bell ringing. I really wanted to, but um, it was my sister's birthday, so I unfortunately could not attend. Um, I just wanted to say that the green team will be hosting um, the sustainable
Jersey uh, Bergen County hub meeting on July 27th at 7 PM. Um, and I also wanted to touch on Walmart with what Todd said. You know, hopefully when the construction is done, the
issues will improve. Um, if not, we're definitely going to have to look into something further. Um, and there was a comment made earlier, um, where it was said that
I'm not sure who, but uh, who called the seniors secondass citizens, but I definitely don't feel that way and I don't think that anybody else up here feels that way. And I was really bothered by that comment. So, um,
I just wanted to say I just needed to say that because, you know, we definitely don't look at our seniors as secondass citizens and if anything, we're always trying to improve, you know, the services that we have for our seniors. So, I just wanted to to address that. >> Thank you. Yeah. No one on this council
or the mayor and anyone who sits up here uh called senior set secondass citizens. And if they were, they would have been publicly uh reprimanded and humiliated because that's just ridiculous. And certainly we don't treat our seniors as secondass citizens. We do have a viable
and vibrant uh senior program and senior center um and uh a great director. Uh in terms of the uh the young lady who who did the oper request about some records uh for the senior bus, I'm not making
excuses. There should be total transparency and there should be records. However, our longtime uh senior center director passed away a year ago, year and a half ago. So, um I I do not know if he had the records at his home.
I I don't know any of that, but that could be an explanation. I'm not trying to get out of anything, but um that that might be an explanation for it. Um in terms of of the bus, you know what? It's weird. You go on Amazon, you want to buy
something and you look at you you look at the reviews, right? And you always wonder how is this a five-star review and there's a bunch of five star and then there's one star reviews. I mean, it's the same product. Well, this is a perfect example today. You had a young lady here who gave five stars and said
how wonderful uh the driver was and the whole program was and then you had a gentleman coming up and you know he he wanted to have a fist fight with the bus driver. So just straight opinions, but just this goes to show you how opinions can vary on on different things. We had
a very lengthy uh work session and I'm not making it any shorter by talking a lot here, but uh a lot of it dealt with Lyster Avenue. Uh there were issues on Lester Avenue. We are trying to uh alleviate those to best of our ability to try and um help
our our residents. uh not punishing any individual or any business, but uh we're trying to make this uh more the parking situation on that street more tolerable. Thank you to Lieutenant Buchek and Captain Calano for your attendance and
your input uh on that um and in reviewing what we had put forth and thank you to Mr. Scatino who did a great job on doing the ordinance. Now, what we did was there were some open spots in the in the uh proposed ordinance that we
had to fill in and we worked on that diligently during the work session. Uh so, Mr. Cino's got to prepare it with all the you know, fill in the blank type thing. So, we are going to I'm going to entertain a motion to table the ordinance for tonight when we get to
that point. Um and hopefully, uh that will resolve that issue. Again, there are certain areas in town that are known to be problem spots and we try and and do our best to uh concentrate on those. Um, we talked about the uh graffiti ordinance.
Um, uh speed hump on Samson Street. There was a request for that. We're going to do a speed study on Samson Street. We are also going to do a speed study on the eastern leg of Claremont Avenue because there are some complaints over there. In
terms of the Fifth Street speed study, um I thought as chair of that committee that we should put a speed hump right around uh Fifth Street Park. Um we got some feedback uh negative feedback from the fire department. However, uh former
president of the ambulance corps, uh Bill MGO had shown me uh speed humps that are designed for uh to allow emergency vehicles with wider axles to uh proceed without having to stop, go
over slowly or damage the chassis. So, we understand these are very, very expensive uh pieces of equipment. We certainly don't want to damage them and we don't want to delay any response for our our firefighters to get to a u a situation. So, uh I talked to Mr. Klein
about that. He looked at it said it sounds good, but we're trying to locate a place that that's actually been installed. So, I'm going to get back to Mr. MGO and we're going to see if there's any place in the area that has actually installed it. It sounds like a great idea. It seemed like a great idea.
Um, what else I got? A second got the bus. Uh, congratulations to everyone on the police department. Again, police uh police issues that are being promoted and you said it's it's on a Thursday
evening, mayor. Yeah. July 30th. >> July 30th. >> July 30th, 6 p.m. >> here. So, anyone interested in attending? Um, and that's going to be a couple of uh two captains and people moving up to sergeant and a lieutenant. >> Yeah,
>> a lieutenant. So, there's four four promotions. >> Four promotions. >> Two captains, one lieutenant, one sergeant. Okay, great. And great job on on everyone to earn those promotions. They're not just given out, they're earned. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> that's it for me other than uh again, I
can't emphasize enough. There's a lot of talk about how there's going to be horrific impact on traffic by the building of these 60 units. Again, as the mayor said or Mrs. Scatino said, there's no guarantee that every single unit is going to have two cars. And
there's certainly no guarantee that all of those cars are going to come in or out at the same time. And I always look back. Now, I know Midland Avenue is a busier street than Market Street, um, but Market Street's a little more concentrated. There's the development there that has
200 300 units. I've I travel that way on the way to take my train and on the way back. I've never had an issue there. Now, Market Street is bad. Uh but the the implication, you know, the
assumption that this development is just going to, you know, cause mass chaos uh is just not is not true. uh the traffic studies that we always have uh that that have to be done indicate that there will
be obviously an effect you got people coming in and out no matter what you build. But the people that are coming in and out are coming out at different times. So when people say there's going to be 120 cars, not everyone's there's not robots that everyone comes out at 8:00 and they go get in their car and there's a procession to get onto Market
Street. It just doesn't happen that way. So uh we think that the uh the impact on the traffic will be uh negligible if if at all. Um okay, I think that's all I have and we we'll go into ordinances and actually the first ordinance that we
have on the uh on the books here is to establish a resident parking permit program on Lyster Avenue. We talked at length on that. I think we got that done right and if we're not, we could always amend it. But uh uh since Mr. Scino has to do some uh extra work on this. I'm
going to entertain a motion to table uh that ordinance 1806-2. >> Motion, >> Mr. Akamando. Second by Miss Major. Roll call. >> Councilman Garrett. >> Yes. >> Council Aando. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Sanchez.
>> Yes. >> Councilwoman Major. >> Yes. >> Council President Simo. >> Yes. So that uh motion that ordinance is tabled for this meeting. And maybe I'm missing something. The graffiti ordinance is where is that?
>> Are we not? >> Yeah. No, >> that wasn't on the agenda. >> That was on the agenda for the next meeting. >> Okay. It it was it was tabled uh at the last meeting. Do we have to continue to table or it's continuously tabled until we untable it? >> It's if it's not on the agenda, it's continuously table. So you
>> unt Okay, great. Okay, now we're going to go into um I guess a consent agenda. >> All items listed with an asterisk are considered routine and non-controversial by the township council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no
separate discussion on these items unless the council member so requests it, in which case the item will be removed from the cons consent agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. The one motion signifies adoption of all resolutions, receive and file letters, correspondence, reports,
and approval of minutes and applications. Resolution number six will be voted on separately as uh Councilwoman Maser has to repeat. >> Okay. >> Uh motion to approve the uh consent agenda other than resolution six. >> Motion.
>> Motion Mr. Akamando. >> I think so. >> Looking for a second. >> Second. >> Second by Mr. Garrick. All in favor? I >> I any against seeing none passes unanimously and the next one is resolution number six.
>> You want to read it or >> uh it's payment of bills. >> Okay. There's a resolution pay for payment of bills and Miss Mer you are going to abstain. So um motion to approve. >> Motion Mr. Akamando, second by Miss
Sanchez. Roll call. Uh, Counciloman Garrick, >> yes. >> Councilman Agamandanda, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Sanchez, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Mer. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. >> And Council President, >> you got to call. You got to call her so she can abstain.
>> Well, she's recused. >> Oh, you've recused? >> Yeah. >> Oh, I I apologize. It's a recuse, not an >> council president. >> I say yes. Okay. Old business that we haven't talked about. new business that we haven't talked about yet. We don't want
to beat any dead horses. >> I I just just real quick, I I just want to um I want to thank the DBW. I always leave somebody out and I've you know with all these events they do they really do a spe you know thankful for them. Um
I I just want to mention too that u >> you know what Mr. Samuki brought up about, you know, the the >> the bus log the, you know, the book and uh, you know, we do know that it was seen it was seen after we moved back
from here to the, you know, to the center on Caldwell and it was seen as of a couple of months ago. So, uh, it's a little suspicious, you know, that it's missing and, um, you know, we're not doing a full-blown police investigation
into it, but we are, you know, looking into some Jimmy and I are looking into some things. I just wanted to get that out there. But uh um I I also want to mention this, you know, the senior center, Karen and Paula, they're doing a
tremendous job. Ricky, um the volunteers, Lori, Lowry, um I'm sure I'm missing somebody, but um they really with with this lunch program, it's going fantastic. And uh you know what? to to
make a comment to say that any of us here call the seniors secondass citizens. You know what? I I think the the people that are watching it live stream probably aren't the seniors, but you know, the seniors watch the watch the TV station and they're going to
laugh at that because you know what? I I go to the senior center often, especially with the new lunch program and you know what? I see it on their faces. They're happy. They're happy. You know what? They they're thankful. They're always saying, "Hey, this is great. Thank you." You could just read
their faces. They know that we don't consider them secondass citizens. If anything, you know, we consider them very very valuable citizens. And uh you know what? Their generation is uh you know, the best really. I I don't
think uh you know there was a better generation than that group of you know seniors over well now I'm 65 but I'm talking about like you're 75 80 years old that you know that they were the greatest generation the World War II well a lot of them are gone now most of
them are gone but you know that that era so and and we and we love them I I know I love them >> so and I want them to know that they they know it because they you know they feel it you don't have to say it they feel It's very true. >> I feel it. They feel it.
>> Very true. >> Through the chair. Just one item. I apologize uh to report on to uh satisfy my BA report tonight. I did attend the uh Farazzo Lane development for the affordable housing uh development over there. I did attend today virtually
their lottery drawing. Uh they did uh have over 400 applications submitted for uh for interest in residing at the complex. So they will begin their process of contacting those individuals. So they will be moving in a couple months not even very short.
>> Um it's so there are a number of uh de developmentally disabled >> and the rest are um are income restricted. Yes. >> The developmentally disabled I think they're all on the first floor. >> I I believe most most if not all. Correct. Yeah. It's they have it
structured in a way. This is uh it's operated by Ingramman uh in collaboration with um uh New Concepts for a living. Uh they're very familiar that this is not their first uh development. They're they're uh very reputable. They know they know what
they're doing and uh they they'll begin their moving in process in the next month or two. >> Yeah. And I I thought that when they did their presentation there's like levels of low income. There's like low income. There is there's >> very low income and ridiculously low
income. >> There are three levels. Yes. >> Okay. >> Very strict criteria. Describe it. >> I'm sorry. >> Is that the way to describe it? Low income, very low income, and ridiculously low income. >> Not quite. Not quite. >> Okay.
>> That was an excellent uh BA report. Appreciate that. >> Uh Sarah or Dave, >> I I just want to piggyback on something that the mayor said earlier. Um, these meetings are for council business, not for campaigning and so forth. I have not
received a call from anyone regarding a debate. And I pretty much know that the residents here in Saddlebrook know where the mayor and his team stands. So, if there is going to be any type of get together to discuss issues,
we're in favor of doing that. Uh, I don't think we need three, four debates. This is not the venue to even discuss it though. But they're going to continue to bring it up and I just suggest not even talking about it. When we get a phone call, we'll set something
up like we do every two years. We have something every two years and meet the candidates night which is what we've done forever. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh just one thing that we talked about at the work session for a bit is
uh Mr. Akamando and I were discussing it and brought it to the attention of the council and the mayor and our engineer and our police department about the the the lack of stop signs on certain streets. So what we did was he asked the engineer to get together with the police
department and see if maybe we can come up with u an idea as to certain intersections that should have stop signs and and don't. We identified a certain area of town that just seemed
absent of stop signs to be honest with you and on intersecting streets t intersections. But um you know especially for the young drivers that would be I think would be helpful and safer for our residents. Um I just one thing I I hope I didn't
appear to be rude to the gentleman when I cut him off. No no comments that uh this is not the public meeting portion. Thank you. Um, so I I hope I didn't appear rude to the gentleman who went over his time by, you know, a bit. Um, we do have the
threeminut uh time limit uh that was set in the beginning of the year and I said this and not everyone's happy about it, but because it is an election year, uh, September and October meetings, I'm going to allow five minutes. um you know
whether that's good or bad it turns into uh you know crap show is is to be seen but uh I think that uh you know we we should extend it a little bit uh because there are election issues that need to even though there's no campaigning that's supposed to be done here. There
are election issues that are important to to the residents of the town. Uh but again if I seem to be rude I apologize. Um, we do have we do have uh, you know, some limits here and they have to be enforced and I give everyone a chance to try and
finish up. No one here, by the way. No one finished. Maybe Mr. Taylor, but but no one did it in three minutes. We gave everyone a chance to to finish their thoughts. Um, but u, you know, so if I was rude to that gentleman, I apologize to him and I apologize to to the people
in attendance and the audience out there. I don't think I was, but uh if I was my apolog you better get escorted by the police out there and he might be waiting. I think he I think he could take you. >> I Yes. And you know what? I I don't know
if the uh if the the new uh bike ordinance applies to rascals, but I don't want to get I don't want to get rode on by by a guy in a rascal. Uh in any event, uh motion to open the meeting
to the public on agenda items and agenda items only. >> Motion >> Minister Garrick, second by Minister Akamando. All in favor? >> I. >> I. Any objections? No. Passes unanimously. Anybody want to speak on agenda items? Agenda items? No. Okay. No
takers. Uh motion to close the meeting to public on agenda items. >> Motion. Second. >> Motion. Mr. Rekondo, second by Miss Sanchez. All in favor? Right. >> Right. Okay. Hopefully there's no other comments. No, no. Jimmy, you're dying to say something, right?
>> Supplemental BA report. Nothing. All right. >> Close. >> Motion. >> Wait. Oh, we need close session. >> Yes, but it's only going to be five minutes, which you'll understand when I explain. So, a motion to go into close session. >> Motion. >> Motion. Miss. All in favor? >> I. >> It's going to be about five minutes. And
um the >> meeting will reopen further action. We expect expect that we're going to open the meeting just to close the meeting. Thanks. >> You should have told me while I was on camera. That was
>> when I You know, I'm from M council and then I'm running for board of ed. >> Okay, Jerry. By the way, Joe status. >> No, no, no. I He's got to be 90, right? Uh motion to reopen the meeting.
>> Motion to reopen the meeting. >> Second by Mr. Akamando. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Seeing none. Motion to close the meeting. >> Motion. >> Motion. M uh Mer. Second Miss Sanchez. All in favor? Are you against? Seeing none, meeting is now closed. Everyone
have a good rest of July. We'll see you in August. What's that