call the meeting to order. Roll call. >> Councilman Soluca >> here. >> Councilman Okamando >> here. >> Councilwoman Sanchez. Councilwoman Sanchez is unable to be here this evening due to her family commitment. Councilwoman Mer >> here. >> Council President Garrick
>> here. Please rise for the salute to the flag. 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 meeting act chapter 231 public law 1975. The
public is hereby advised that any statements made during the meeting of the township council of the township of Sandbrook may not be privileged or protected and our persons or entities who take issue with such comments or are offended by saying may have in the past or a legal redress to the courts. Any
member of the public who addresses the council speaks for themselves and not for the council. >> Okay. Before we open the meeting to the public, I just want to explain to everyone this is not a meeting about the building. It's a meeting about the plan for that property. Okay. Um motion to
open the meeting to the public. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Anyone wishing to address the council, please step up to the microphone, state your name and address for the record. Thank you. >> Uh Andrew Judget Sook just sticking on
9395 Market Street. Uh, you had two requests for proposals out. So, this is a brand new applicant that hasn't done a presentation or or a proposal. I thought the initial fourstory six unit was going to a Korean. So, is it actually going to
be a a traffic study, an engineer study, a flood study, a school study on this? Uh, is this going to be presented in 30 days, 60 days, 90 days? I don't know. When the first RFP went out four or five months ago, you had one person, then you
were negotiating with three or four, then you fixed him. Now this is a whole new developer, development, contractor. Uh, and in terms of the actual property, what is the sale price? Are we looking for a million, 3 million, 5 million, 10
million? Uh, and if they get it looks like 60 units, what's the actual tax revenue the town will have per year going forward off those 60 units? So, just looking for an actual date. When's this going to be presented to the
public? Uh council workshop where it's not recorded in a public meeting. Uh traffic study, engineer study, school, flood study. Uh and also we're having this same meeting in a in a town a few miles away in Coralstat. They mailed the
whole town. Uh it was a very nice letter asking for everyone's comments, opinions, concerns. Uh feel free to come by. I don't think you guys mailed half the town, a quarter of the town. I don't even think you mailed a district. I think you just you sent this to one
street of residences. Why wasn't districts three, four, and five mailed this two or three weeks ago? I I I don't understand between the RFPs, these different negotiations with developers, um the sales price, how much tax revenue
we're going to get, uh what the zoning is, is it staying commercial, residential, is it going to residential? Um, I just think you're going to open up the whole market street, both sides, to uh developers that are very ambitious in in Pamis and Garfield and Hackinack and
Tene. Um, and between just not communicating to even half the town or a quarter of the town. I don't think you should put developers over residents. I think you should put residents over developers. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to address the
council? My name is Tommy Hayes. I live in Floral Lane in Saddlebrook. Um, I'm not here for political reasons. I'm here to brighten your day. So, I'd like to talk a little bit about what I do. Drums from Heaven is my
charity event that I hold every year. I try to help people. I care about community service a lot. That's what keeps me going, trying to do good things for others. So, I'm here to invite the Saddlebrook. Hopefully, they'll see this
live stream because the event happens on Saturday, October 18th. We're doing it at the VFW. We go from 4 to 10 p.m. It's $25 donation to get in with food included.
It's the 20th anniversary I've been doing this and it's the last one I'm doing. I'm getting kind of old for this and my body's aching a little bit. So, this is it. This last one. So, I'm hoping to get some Saddleberg people out here. We're raising money for a
10-year-old Saddleberrook girl. I just her first name is Paige. She has Rhett syndrome and she has some medical difficulties and a young man who lost his leg to cancer. So what we do is we have drums of
course. We have performances by uh the caravan belly dancers. Nothing x-rated, just the cultural dance. Um I have a band. We do some uh parodies, song parodies about drums. And um it's a
fun night. It goes for six hours. So, since I'm helping a Saddlebrook resident, I thought it'd be important to come out and and invite some Saddlebrook people. So, if you can come to the VFW, I'm sure you'll enjoy the night. We have an annual U costume contest. It's
Halloween themed. Don't have to wear one if you don't want. If you come, there'll be tricky tray prizes. I have $3,000 in prizes to give away. a lot of percussion stuff and some dinners, gift certificates, things like that. I
have a very special tambourine signed by Vanilla Fudge. All four living members, current members. It's a collector's item for sure. Other other special drums are there if you're into that at all. But the main thing is we get together to help other
people. So, that's what keeps me going. That's why I do this. Over the last 20 years, my charity has raised over 125,000 for worthy causes. I appreciate the people that have supported it, and I
sincerely hope that more people can come out for my last event. Again, it's October 18th at the VFW, and it goes from 4 to 10. Every hour is a different part of entertainment. So, if you come for a little while, have a bite to eat,
make a donation. If you want to try for a prize, fine. If not, just support it if you can. I know there's a garage sale this weekend. Hey, at night you want to go relax, come to the VFW. Last thing, if you can't come and you'd
like to donate, please use Venmo. Tommy Hayes at Drums from Heaven. That's it. Thank you for your time. Thank you, council. >> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to address the council
>> Timothy Stan 35 Harrison Nav just have a couple questions want to know where all the council members stand on this proposal for 9395 Market that could be answered now. I appreciate it. >> Well, everyone's going to make comments
later, so they could include that as part of their comments. >> Later, we don't have a chance to address them. >> This is a comment, a public comment portion of the meeting. So, you can make your comments. >> This isn't a question answer. I'll give you my position when I make the
comments. >> Is I don't understand that. I know you just fine. coming in here and speaking to everybody. I can tell where you stand on this. I live on Harrison.
I don't think Marcus Street 60 apartments. I certainly don't want to be looking at 60 apartments right outside my front door. How would you all like it if that was in front of your house?
I know your answer is going to be, "Oh, Marcus Street's commercial. We can do what we want. What about the residents that live behind it?" It's not fair and it's not right. How is the guy across the street head
tavern? How many apartments are over there? 8, 10, 12? I don't even know what the number is. How come he didn't do more? Was he told no
this guy even come in here and put 60 units on Market Street? One, I don't think it's safe. Two, I just think it's a bad idea. How many accidents have there been already on Market Street with people going into that building where Eds was
ridiculous. I think you really need to take a hard look and maybe reconsider what you're thinking about. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Rudy Chair.
>> Sure, >> Dave. Maybe we should have the attorney explain. I know you mentioned as soon as the meeting's clo uh the meeting was closed to the public, I was going to have the attorney explain and answer some of the questions. Okay. Well, it the only thing
is it may some of the people may want to come up and speak >> okay >> about you know once they understand what this meeting is about they may correct their comments a little bit differently. So that's >> okay. John would you like to just give everyone a brief explanation about
tonight? Uh uh yes and and just to address uh some of the earlier comments uh this is the introduction of the redevelopment plan. It is the first step. It is not
the last step. There will be again multiple opportunities for the public to address not only the plan because this is the introduction. It will then go to the planning board. You will have an opportunity if you so choose to go to
the planning board and again voice your concerns and then it will come back to this governing body for a hearing and adoption at which time the residents again will have an opportunity to speak. And not only will
you have an opportunity to speak, but you will know where each member of the governing body stands because they will have voted by that time and you will be able to address your comments before they vote and after they vote. Then after the redevelopment plan, if it is
adopted, after that is done, then any developer can come forward with the project that fits within the redevelopment plan. Two proposals were heard at a public meeting. They
didn't have to be advertised at all, but this g governing body because they wanted full transparency gave notice to those residents who would be most impacted. And I think it's fair to say that those residents f further publicized it whether it was through
social media or word of mouth so that many residents in this community as it wasn't hidden from anyone were well aware of the potential development of that site. Probably not knowing exactly what was going to be there but knowing
from when the time the municipal building was closed and moved to this site. It was stated way back then that that site would eventually be sold and that it would be redeveloped. So it hasn't been a secret. It's not comparable to what's happening
in Hackinac where those projects involve uh developments of three or 400 units in some cases a thousand units. This is not. So when someone compares it to what's happening in Hackinack, that's that's not even to say it was apples and
oranges would be not even enough of a way to describe the difference between what occurred there and here. Uh, also with respect to what occurred here and why there's only been two presentations is because other developers who
approached the committee and the governing body wanted to put over a 100 units, some over 120. That was a non-starter with the governing body. They didn't want to waste the public's time and they certainly didn't want to waste their time with projects with that
much density. So they were told not even to come or submit a plan. So it wasn't that there weren't other people interested in developing the site. It was that their their proposals for the site were far more intense than what this governing
body uh wished to have at that site. As to what occurred as across the street, you know, who can speak to that other than to say that that's what that developer wanted at that time. retail space was much more desirable than it is
today. And additionally, no one no one through all the time that this property has been available, including to the property owner across the street who was approached if he would want to build a similar type develop, including the two
times it was advertised to try to get a development similar to Across the Street, no one expressed any interest whatsoever. So yes, it would be nice to wish for someone to come forward who would have a similar project, but apparently the
market doesn't call for it or developer doesn't feel it be worth their while to do so. As to what will eventually happen as to the value of the property, yes, the municipality will be looking to get the maximum value for the property which
will go into the budget which will have a positive impact on property taxes. In terms of what the potential ratable is, again, if a project similarly like this goes uh goes forward, the ratable will be over $300,000 a year, which is more than what the
prior which was more than what the Home Depot was paying at this site, which was another representation made to the public when this municipal building was built that that site would be developed and the ratable that it would generate would offset the lost ratable that
occurred when Home Depot was taken over for this site. So in terms of the uh property uh impact on the taxpayers, one it will be through the value of the property and two will be through the ratable that it generates. So again there hasn't been
any attempt whatsoever not to include the public. All the advertising that took place to this point was not required at law at all by statutes or was customarily done by municipalities. So the notice that you received was not
required. It was out of concern that you were made aware of each step of the process and and as you are aware because you've been attending the meetings. >> I think did I cover everything? I >> I think so. Thank you, Joan. >> So the letter that we received that came
to our houses said there was a meeting tonight about this proposal and there's a planning board meeting on the 20th. So, what's the planning board meeting all about then? If this isn't approved yet or this isn't submitted or whatever, John,
>> could you address what's planning board meeting for? >> Because by by law, any that project, that property several months ago, I don't have the date in front of me. Our administrator probably does, that property was designated as an area of in
need of rehabilitation and and it met the criteria. That's why it was done. So, so that went through all the formal process. There was a hearing. The the governing body uh requested the planning board to conduct a hearing. Our planner did a report. He
submitted a report to the planning board. So, that was all done. The next step after the area is designated as an area of need of redevel uh rehabilitation is to prepare a redevelopment plan. Again, tonight's introduction is only for the plan, not
the project. It's zoning essentially. So, just as for example, let's say your residential zone has a plan that says you can build a 3,000 square foot structure. It can only be so much in height. Uh, and this is the criteria for the development of the site. That's what
tonight is the introduction of. The planning board reviews it to determine whether or not that plan is consistent with the master plan, what the master plan calls for market street and then that plan gets goes back to the governing body for approval or
disapproval. Again, I know I'm repeating myself, but the question was asked after all that is done then a developer presents a project for the site. I just have to remind the chair, it's not my it's not my decision, but once you allow somebody to get up multiple times, you got to let everybody get up multiple
times. So, just >> it'll take me two minutes. Not even two minutes. It'll take me 30 seconds. >> All right. So, just give me a little patience because it's not in front of your house. Okay. It's in front of my house. >> So, just relax. >> I didn't say I'm I am relaxed. You sound a little agitated.
>> I am a little agitated. >> Okay. Well, I'm very relaxed. Last time, the last countence meeting, the town lawyer said that the height of the building is only 35 ft. So, it's considerably lower than what the
original developer was, which is 40 ft. I don't see a big difference between 35 and 40T. I do construction every day, so I mean to me, >> it's 37. >> It's not a big difference. >> 30 37 more. >> Well, that's even >> Well, I'm just I want to be accurate.
>> Two feet. Wow, that's wonderful. >> Okay, >> sure. >> Um, >> just name and address for the record, please. >> Uh, my name is Muhammad Henfey. I live uh on 32 Harrison. I will be directly affected by this. I think, uh, most of
the members here and most of the people sitting, they've seen our faces enough times. That's how much concern we have with this project. Um, uh, I say this multiple times. I think it's a broken record. We appreciate you guys transparency on this and I understand it's it's a lot for everyone.
I keep thinking about this project because I used to live in Jersey City. I was in a very populated area. I saved a lot of money to buy a house in Sbrook because the area is nice. The streets are much
nicer, quieter, open. the lifestyle is completely different than Jersey City as a lot of people here are aware and for that to completely almost change like I rather go back to my parents house in Jersey City they have they don't have a 60-unit building in their backyard which
is huge um regardless of the case of we talked about this many times there's issues with water there's issues with traffic there's issues with garbage there's issue with noise there's there's so many issues that have to be over you have to overcome First, even if you go
through all of this, there's no way to gauge the physical and the atmospheric impact that it has on the neighbors. There's no test for that. No one knows how that feels. A lot of people don't know that and a lot of people don't
understand it. And with my small professional career of architecture, I see what that does to people. And we have to think about space. We have to think about like the atmosphere, how high buildings are, how it impacts everything. And no offense to my neighbors obviously,
even if they they already know how it feels already, but they have no clue how much worse it's going to be for them. No idea because it is significantly higher than what everyone's used to. Everyone's used to one, two story, orever the case is, and I keep saying this multiple
times, the original zoning is for one to two stories or whatever the case is. You're limiting a certain parking spot. I understand something has to be there, but you just don't go crazy and go 60 units. I know something has to be there. And where someone's always going to complain about it. I get that. But
there's a limit to it. There's a limit why there's zoning. There's a limit why there's rules. We should stick with it. I understand that they have to go through 60 to make it worth their money and their time. But we have to think about the people that are being affected by it directly. No one here understand how much that's
going to cost or affect everyone on a daily basis. It's just not right. I want to be in my backyard with my son without 60 units hovering over me. It sucks. That feeling is going to suck. I rather just go back to Jersey City and the projects at that point. Like, it's
crazy. And it's just not right. We said this so many times. We understand that there's going to be something that's there. We get it. We understand it. Something has to be there. And trust me, I rather have a bunch of two family homes or one family home back there than the old beat up police station. I look
at it every day. It looks terrible. And I wish you guys put Evergreen's fence and go crazy. That's that's great, but to a limit. See what it looks like. See what the impact is. Unfortunately, none of you guys are being affected by it directly. We are. It's literally I'm going to share a backyard with these
people, whoever they are. And it's just not right for us. That's all. >> Thank you. [Applause] Sylvia Zadelli 236 Lanza AB you explained the process of what is going to happen. Just out of curiosity, I've
lived in this town 35 years. Has there ever been a project that's been knocked down? And if so, which one? Because I don't think there's ever any. So, it's going to happen. Okay. Anyone else wish to address the council? >> Okay. Seeing no one motion to close
meeting to the public. >> Second. All in favor? I. >> Uh comments. Mayor. Thank you. Uh, council president, I have a proclamation. This month is breast cancer awareness month. So, did a
proclamation and I'm going to read it. Um, breast cancer awareness month whereas October is national breast cancer awareness month. A national and national mugmography day is always the third Friday in October. For women
in the United States, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer except for skin cancers. Every woman should every woman should know the risks and what they can do to help lower them. Mimography can detect breast cancer up
to two years before physical symptoms can be seen or felt. Death rates from breast cancer have been declining and these changes are thought to be the results of treatment advances earlier earlier detection through screening and increased awareness. So now therefore be
it resolved that I, Mayor Robert D. White, the mayor of the township of Saddlebrook, New Jersey, excuse me, do proclaim the month of October as breast cancer awareness month. I encourage our residents to become educated and informed about programs and
services that offer early detection to also celebrate the survivors and memorialize those who have lost their battle. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. I'm just going to make make some comments about the uh this whole redevelopment plan.
So tonight, as it was said, it is a first step. I mean, you know, I I understand, you know, I understand everybody out there is concerned and and and they should be because, you know,
this we have we're taking another step, another step towards redeveloping that property. So, what's happening tonight is we're voting to amend the plan. The original plan that we put out, the
original plan called for mixed use, which was commercial, retail, and residential apartments. Tonight, we're proposing to just do residential only.
Okay. that when we originally wanted the mixed use, we were thinking like across the street at Eds, okay, that was a good project. I mean, it has, you know, it does have some traffic concerns and somebody brought up about accidents and
uh, you know, the parking is a little bit of an issue there. Um but anyway, what we found out that we didn't get any bites on when we put that proposal out mainly because the shape of the lot it's
irregular and it's not conducive to that mixed use that we originally wanted. You know, we believe though now at this time through, you know, we're learning as we're going along too that residential actually is a better better
alternative than the mixed use. And one of the big reasons is because like like Mo said, the problem with when you have retail is you have more traffic. You have people coming in and out depending on the hours of operation.
You're going to have people all day going in and out. Whereas residential, it's limited. And you know what? I I I know it's hard to believe, but I I I just task you with when you're driving around town, okay?
Go past May's 140 Mayill Street by the railroad tracks there. Go past the Grand, okay, which is on uh Midland Avenue by Route 46. Go by there all, you know, if you're retired, go by there all different time. Go by their rush hour.
You don't get that much traffic. Not nearly the same amount. I'm telling you, you know, I' I've done it myself. I mean, I've seen cars. I haven't seen cars backed up trying to pull out or pull in, but you know, there's there sometimes there's cars, but a lot of times there's no cars. There's no no
people coming out, you know, even during rush hour. So, and there's a lot of reasons for that, but we feel that commercial only would be better than the mixed use. The traffic at rush hour is is a problem. Okay, it's a problem on Market
Street. It's a problem right now. Okay, and the biggest reason why it's a problem is because the intersection of uh market and Maine in Loi Market Maine and Rochelle and then turns into Astics. That intersection is terrible
because there's only one lane each way. And what we've been asking for a long time at Mr. Mr. Maluca has been on the council and and Flo for you know almost 20 well 24 years and or 20 25 years and
andrew almost 20. So we've been asking the county to widen that area but it's a big it's a huge project. It's a big expensive project but it does have to get done. And you know, I know myself, you know, regardless of what what happens with
this project, it needs to get done because that's what's causing especially with the traffic that's going east on market during rushing hour. We've all seen it. We've seen it backed up all the way past I mean sometimes when it when there's a problem, there's an accident, it's all the way to 7-Eleven,
you know, it's crazy. So during rush hour, um, so we want, what we want to do is we want to really pressure, if that's the right word, the county to widen that, but you got the river underneath, so they have to, you know, go they got
the bridge over, you have to widen it and you have to put pillars in the water. It's a big expensive thing and really they've been talking about it for years, but we got to push to get that done regardless. Um, so when we put when we first put this
plan out, the original plan out to bid, we got no interest at all. Nothing. Nobody. So we put it out a second time. That time we ended up getting three developers that showed interest. The first, as as Mr. Scatino said, was an
individual did a lot of work in Garfield. I don't want to mention the name, but he wanted 120 units there. Okay. and he also wanted a pilot which I don't know if everybody understands what a pilot is but basically it's a it's a it's a tax abatement they don't have to
pay the full taxes and and you know it could be 5 year 10 year 30ear but you know that that's you know that's what the person wanted so we we flat out said no no way we're not you know not going to do it so we never heard from from that developer again he
didn't come back then the second the second developer proposed came and proposed 60 units. Now, he did that person, uh, Mr. Daniel Lee, um, he came in and and a lot of you in the audience were here. Um, and he did a presentation
and his presentation was, you know, much higher, you know, there was no underground parking, not not nearly the same amount of parking. Um, so there was a lot of concerns and and the people that were the residents they were here really did do, you know, they grilled
this, you know, this person and their engineer and and they came up with a lot of good things, you know, a lot of cons legitimate concerns. So it ended up that that, you know, he he ended up backing out. We we asked him, he said, "Look, you know what? We can't the way you proposed it here. You
got to come back with something different." And he chose not to. So then the third developer came in. Okay. Um and he knowing that we were we heard from the residents and the concerns were
basically I mean not this is not all inclusive but the height of the building was a problem. The setbacks, okay, how close the building was going to be to you know to the Harrison Avenue residents. Um they felt was too close. Insufficient parking and increased
traffic. So those were, you know, those were the primary concerns. So the third developer, Kenneth Mecca, came in and he did a presentation. A lot of you were here, Mr. Ditzik. I don't think you were here. I think it was I I do think it was during a a work session, so I don't
believe it was videotaped. I don't remember, but I know many of you were here. So he did the presentation. I think it was back in August. and uh he was able to alleviate or we felt and I think some of the residents did too some of the concerns
um and his proposal was for 60 apartments with no commercial retail component to it. Now what he suggested was underground parking for 120 vehicles plus which is very important 40
additional parking spaces for the police department. When we built the police department, there wasn't enough parking years ago. We actually were looking to maybe purchase the pro the property on Harrison Avenue so they can go out the
back, but that didn't work out. So there there's limited park. But now for since 2006 when they vacated the old police department, that that that's been vacant. That building's been vacant and that's where they park the police cars now. And they also park there when they
report for duty, they they park in the parking lot which is a little further west. So anyway, uh so that was the other thing was the roof the the height was was too high. So
they proposed a tiered type of roof where it was lower and then higher in certain area. At the highest it would be 37 ft. the building. Also, he proposed to move the building closer to Market Street, so it wasn't so much on top of the of
Harrison Avenue. Um, also he suggested larger like a larger buffer zone with recommended privacy uh type of landscaping with giant orb of that would would eventually grow in and you wouldn't even be able to see the
building, you know, at eye level anyway. or if you were sitting, you know, on your if you had a deck or something. But if you obviously if you looked up, you know, there there's 37 feet, it's going to be above. So, you're gonna probably see that until those arable vites grow
if they grow 37 feet. Um, but the other thing was, and this was this was this was always the case because even with the second person that came, uh, Mr. Lee, Harrison Avenue is going to be blocked off. There's going to be no
access in or out, you know, from the apartments, from the from the pro from the construction site and from the eventual project or whatever that is is going to go there. There's going to be no access onto Harrison. Okay. So, that
was another thing. Um, a big a big problem was I don't know if I mentioned it, but the garbage dumpster. That was there was a lot of talk about the garbage being in the back and the noise from when when the uh garbage hauler comes and collects it. So this proposal
is to have it underneath in by the parking garage. So uh actually in the front. So there there shouldn't be any noise or smell or anything. And it's he's proposing a garbage some type of garbage compactor. So that's really the history of it.
Okay. So you understand that um some other things are um by doing this project some of the advantages to the town as a whole. I I I know look I'm not going to convince people from Harrison and the people that are here that this
is a good thing. You know it affects them and I and I and I get it. I I I do. I understand it. Um and I feel for you. I I do. But you got to kind of look at what we're what we're facing up here too. We got to make a decision, what's
best for the whole community. So anyway, so by doing this project, we'll get credit um nine additional units towards our affordable housing obligation, which I can't get into the whole thing with affordable housing, but let's suffice it
to say that we're obligated that we have to we have to work towards meeting our our the number of units that we're required to build in the next 10 years. We have 10 years to to try to do this, okay? And there's no way around it. You
know that a lot of people say, "Oh, just ignore it." All the towns that have ignored it or that tried to sue have lost and they've lost a lot of money. They've lost a lot of money paying attorneys. They end up sometimes builder remedy comes in and they have to put instead of 60 units, they got to put in
200 units. So, it's it's not a good thing. It's easy to say, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, do this, do that." But you know what? Again, we we got to protect the town and do what's right for the town. um the breakdown of the apartments per
the CO requirements, there'll only be three three-bedroom apartments. Now, that this important because the more three bedrooms, the more kids you're going to get, right? So, three is not so bad. Now, we check with our school district. I mentioned this the last
time. Um the other apartment complexes that are that are you know I mentioned 140 Mayill that that's one of the newer ones and the newest is the Grand over on Midland Avenue there it's minimal that it's there's not a significant impact on
on school and student enrollment. It's just not and uh you know we have the numbers and and we've checked with other towns. We check with Hackinack. Hackinack's there thousands of units and you know what it really doesn't I mean it has some impact but but it doesn't have a huge impact that you know people
fear oh we're going to you know we're going to need to build a new school or or more classrooms or or there's going to be more kids in the classroom. It's going to affect the school. Um this is a big one. I mentioned it but
there's a lot of rumors out there about about the pilot. People are spreading rumors about the man that just walked in, you know, he's telling everybody that, you know, that there's that that >> Thank you for the >> Yes, m Mr. Rodriguez. Yes, he Well, I'm
I'm introducing you. >> But, um, you know, he's saying that that there's going to be a pilot 30 years and, you know, the de the developers in our pocket or we're in the developer pocket, I guess. You know, whatever. Um, you know, there's there there's also a
rumor out there that that I that I'm a realtor and I'm I gave up my license. I'm I'm actually I'm I'm saying this because I want to be, you know, to totally honest, you know, I'm I'm what they call a referral agent. I I really can't buy or sell anything, but people
are saying that, you know, I'm that I'm sell I'm the one selling the property. That's what they call horseshit. Okay. Horseshit. So, um, but anyway, once the apartments are built, as Mr. Catino said, we're looking
at estimated 300 300,000 plus in revenue. Now, you know what? You know, I've heard people say, and and you know what? Look, maybe maybe it's a mis a misstatement or whatever, but you know, I know I've said it myself, you
know, oh, it it's going to lower your taxes. You know, it's not going to lower your taxes, but it could stabilize them. It's an extra $300,000 that the rest of the property owners don't have to pay. So, you know what? It's going to help. It's definitely
going to help. And you know, as you know, taxes go up. You know, they're going to go up. We're subject to the same, you know, your energy cost. Look, 20%, right? That's we have how many buildings do we have in town? How many schools do we have in town >> that we got to pay for? >> Healthare. healthcare is big big one as
well. So anyway, it's going to help. Um the other the other thing that I've heard which is which is really and I've spoken to all the fire department, the police department, the ambulance corps, it's not going to put 60 units, let's say there's 120 people, let's say there
200 people in there. It's not going to have a negative impact on our emergency services. It's just not. In fact, I had a good conversation with the fire chief today. Everything's going to be up to code with the fire codes. You know, all new equipment, fire alarms, you know
what? They're going to have access to easy access to get in and out of there. So, you know, that's that's just uh it's it's kind of crazy talk. It really is. I mean, I can understand people may be thinking that, but that that's not going to that's not going to impact our
our police, fire, and ambulance. So, that's all I have about that, but I I do have some other things I want to get to. I'll try to rush. I know I'm talking a long time here. Uh, okay. We should have received the budget. You
should have received tax letters. Um, the final tax bill which uh with along with a letter explaining the taxes uh which came with your tax bill. Uh, as far as uh public service, the the gas man replacement
project and the paving, thank God they're almost finished with with the gas mains, and they should be done by the end of the year, and then they should start paving. Hopefully, they'll be done in time because they can't pave once it gets below freezing. But whatever they don't get done this year
with the paving, they'll start soon. Uh, they'll start in in the spring. So, some events this month, we had the shredding event. Uh, I want to thank my secretary Christine and the DPW for their help. Uh, Manny uh help from the DBW. Our Lady
of Mount Virgin car show. I want to thank everybody um you know, the the committee for Mount Virgin, all the participants. It was a really very very good show. Well attended and uh uh the mansos, John and Kathy do a fantastic job with that. We had a senior pancake
breakfast. I want to thank uh Karen Dminino, our our uh director, and everybody that helped with that. The fishing derby, which was postponed. We usually have it in uh in in May, I'm sorry, in in June, um near Father's Day.
Um thank everybody that participated. Our ambulance corps came out and uh recreation director Andy Gallow, my secretary Christine. Uh the Unico Street Fair, uh another annual event. I want to thank the Unico for all the hard work they put in. Um and and they do a great
job. This year was perfect weather and uh and it was a very well attended and really it's a tremendous I like to call it a town event because the Unicode does all the work but you know what the town gets a lot of credit for that. You know what I mean? People from other towns
come. So, uh, also too, there's a resolution that we have on tonight celebrating Italian-American heritage, uh, and culture month. Um, uni, uh, UNICO has given, uh, me the Italian
flag, which we, we put up on October, October 1st, and we'll take it down on the 31st. It flies for the whole month. It's out here um, in the parking lot. Um, leaf bags are available. they they uh well until they last here at the
municipal complex. You can come anytime 8:30 to 4 pm uh here at town hall. Um some upcoming events, October 21st is a senior Halloween party. Uh 600 pm at the VFW. You can call the senior center
20118454594. I think there's some tickets left. Um it's free for residents. the Halloween home decorating contest. You have to register by October 24th. Registration information is on our website,
saddlebrookenj. us. Uh, the trunk or treat is October 25th in the municipal lot here, 12:00 noon to 2 pm. We also have an extra hour where we added a century trunk or treat from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Um, our senior
center open house we're having on October 27th uh from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. um at the senior center on Coldwell Avenue. Uh, the board of education candidates night is October 29th, 7 p.m. at Satderbrook High School Middle School
auditorium. Um, don't forget about the election, November 4th, election day. Polls open 6:00 a.m., close at 8:00 p.m. Uh, Veterans Day is November the 11th. Uh, services uh, at the VFW Circle at 11:00
a.m. at Mayo Street and Saddle River Road. Municipal offices in DPW will be closed. Section two pickup will be Friday, November the 14th. Some other items, um the fire department is doing their calendar drive. I think they they
started last week. They're going to do it again this weekend. So, please be generous. Our fire department does a fantastic job. They're volunteers. They put their lives on the line and and you know, really our emergency services are second to none. So, uh very proud of
them and they do they do a fantastic job. We also have uh something new that we we created a community calendar. Um it's on the township website. Now basically what a community calendar does it is acts as a central hub for local
events and information. So um you go to this the website saddlebrookenj. us. Um, so any commu nonprofit uh community any any nonprofit organizations can request there's you got to submit a
request via the website to be for an event to be posted. Now there's some restrictions obviously against commercial political or private activities. So but you know if you if you're unsure submit it and we'll you know we'll we'll get it posted on there.
So this way you can go to that and everything's going to be there. I mean some things are not. I mean as far as obviously it's every every recreation game, every high school football game is not going to be there. You you know that kind of thing, but special events,
anything with the school if they do they do that community partnership at night or or some other event that that this meet the candidates night would be posted on there. Um I want to do a shout out for Tommy Hayes. Tommy, you know, for 20 years you've been doing this and
uh you you've helped a lot a lot of people and you know what I've gone to if you haven't ever been to one of the drum circles, you got to go. I'm telling you, you'll have fun. It's worth it. It's for a worthy cause. Even if you stop in and have something to eat or just stop in
and watch it, it's a lot of fun. Very interesting and uh a great time. Tommy, thank you. Thank you so much. Well, finally, happy Halloween. >> Thank you, Mayor Councilman Akamando. >> All right, I'm going to start out
different. I'm first. The car show was well attended. It was a great event. Beautiful weather. Uh, we have the trunk or treat coming up. Please come out, volunteer if you can. It was well attend. It's It was uh We need We need volunteers for that. If you want to
volunteer, call Christine. the mayor's secretary now with the with the residents on Harrison. You know where I stood, where I stand, but I'm concerned and I and and I spoke
to some of you people directly and and I genuinely am concerned for you for you guys. But my biggest concern is that like the mayor said with the fair with the affordable housing, we have a opportunity to control
what comes in there at this point. If the state comes in and says, "Well, we want to put up 280 units," we can't fight them. We don't have the means to go against them. And that'll be even worse for for I don't think just for you guys, but for the whole town. I grew up
in low-income housing. I don't want to see 180 230 250 low-inccome housings. So, I could I could relate to what you're saying and and I I'm generally torn right now what what what to do.
Um the problem is the area is in need of redevelopment and the state's going to use that against us in my opinion and that's just my opinion. So if, like I said, if we have the opportunity to control what's going there, I'd rather
say, "All right, put the 60 units, but move it this way, move it that way, make it nicer for or more appealing for the residents opposed to a few hundred units coming in, all low income. Um, so I I really don't know. I'm I'm
honestly I'm teetering and I've I've like I said, I'm being honest. I've always been honest. I've listened to you. Um, so I just honestly think that this is a better way to go opposed to affordable housing coming in and and
doing what they they want to do. So I think that that will definitely hurt not just you guys, which is our big my biggest concern, but the whole town. So I'm I'm torn honestly. And I, you know, I just want you to
understand what, yeah, we're up here, but we're not just doing what we have to do for us. It's for the residents, not just you. You guys live on Harrison A. by all means. You have 100% at stake. Other
people are coming here, which is I'm glad to see people from other sides of town coming here because they show concern, and that's what we should have for each other's concern. So, I'm torn. So, >> thank you, Councilman Councilwoman
Maser. >> Thank you, Council President. Um, first and foremost, I want to address what Sylvia asked. Uh, like like the mayor said, I've been sitting up here for 25 years. Um, we did have a um an issue. I I'm not sure the year, and I'm sure Mr.
Rodriguez would probably correct me, but um where um a builder came in for Veterans Field and um they wanted a higher density than would have been allowed and we took them to court and whenever um
ultimately we ended up purchasing it and that's Veterans Field versus all the apartments that that they wanted to do because we still had them we had actually I was the beginning of the Mount Laurel obligation at the time. So, we we don't want to be in that position
to be honest with you. And I don't and I wouldn't be build I will not be building it e either, but I don't I'm look forward to a builder's remedy coming in and asking for an even higher density than 60 units to be honest with you. Don't want to be there. But at the same
time, I'm going to keep an open mind. I do sit on a planning board. I do uh look forward to what my colleagues have to offer also. And um you know I'm going to keep the best interest of our township always at my heart. Um Mr. Hayes, thank
you for your 20 plus years I'm sure of dedication to our community. You did s amazing things. Um thanks again. And uh just one more reminder that this weekend is the um
uh uh townwide drive starting on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. >> You're welcome, >> Councilman. Uh Simluca. >> Okay. Um again, what was said today is correct that today is just the one of
the first steps. We shouldn't say it's the first step because we've been doing this for months and months and months. Um, I know back when we were thinking about building this place or taking over this place, um, we had people coming in saying, "Oh, you know, you're not telling the town, you're hiding it." And
at that point, we were in negotiations for two years, but people seem to always think that things are being done uh, non-transparent. We try and be as transparent as possible. Maybe we could do a better job, but I think that we've done a pretty good job of telling everyone
what's going on. The tonight's vote is to adopt basically um or send the the redevelopment plan to the planning board for their review. So this is going to be reviewed a number of times. Uh the
developer has already taken into consideration as the mayor had said has already taken into consideration the defects that everyone here including me uh saw in the original developer plan. Uh what they did was they moved it
further away from Harrison. They lowered it. Might not be as low as some people would want, but there has to be it has to be a certain height to get a certain number of uh of units in there. They did provide the parking underground and also
gave us forever 40 parking spaces for free that we are not going to have to pay for. And they've also indicated, and I think I can say this, that they would dedicate the western part, the basically the tip of the triangle, um, for town
use. And we're talking about bringing back that electric billboard and have it there. Just because people, uh, often say, well, we don't know what's going on in town. We didn't know about it. Well, that's I thought that billboard was one of the best things that we had because you just everyone's on Market Street.
you um you're going to see some stuff there. So I if it goes through and again it's just in the planning stage right now but that's one of the things that I've been pushing that if this is going to be something we know that they can't build there rather than just have it um
just grass or bushes or or nothing gravel um to get something. So this way it it helps the town. Um now originally I think I mentioned it at a meeting that I felt that uh the place
should be a combination of residential and uh businesses or you know I said put the market in market street but I think that most of the I was surprised that even the residents on Harrison at least some of them that came up and they didn't want that and in thinking about
it they probably were right because when Think about how many times you go in and out of your house. I mean, you generally go to work, you come back, you park your car, sometimes you go out at night, and you come back. But for the most part, you're not going in and out.
But with retail space, a doctor's office or anything like that, you're going in and out. There's people coming in, people coming out. I do think that this would generate, in retrospect, uh I think I was wrong. Uh this would generate less traffic. And as the mayor
said, I I was a zoning board attorney for a while and uh the Verizon I I don't even know if people know that there's a Verizon place on on Midland Avenue and people came to the meeting saying, "Oh my god, the traffic is going to be horrendous. Midland Avenue is going to be backed up." That's not correct. And
as the mayor said, the Mayill uh Mayill Apartments, you can go past there. There's there's no line of traffic. And at the Grand where Bob Skis used to be, you pass it and you don't even know it's there sometimes. Uh
people will say, "Well, to to all of us, well, it's not in your backyard." And I understand that, but listen, none of us are immune from having things developed. I live around the block from a school, and Ms. Narelli knows she lives right near a school from 8 to 9:00 and it's,
you know, 2:30 to 3:30. You can't go around. you you can't get you kind of can't get out of your driveway. That's I bought it I bought the house uh around the school and and I got to live with it. Now on the same block as me, they're going to have that 58 unit uh affordable
housing. Uh it's down the street, but it goes on to market, it goes on to Midland Avenue, and that's where my street intersects. So, you know, if there's there's an issue there with traffic, it's going to directly affect me. So, uh, again, I'm not immune and I don't think anybody here is immune to having
things that are built in town, uh, that have an adverse effect on them and hopefully it'll be a minimal adverse effect. The mayor had mentioned about the intersection and I was at a doctor's visit today and my doctor said, you know, in 1972
there was a headline in the Bergen record that talked about that same intersection and how it was horrible and how it needed to be fixed. And he also said that President Nixon at that time had something called the highway trust fund and they gave money to the county
again 50some years ago to fix that intersection. And then the county took that money and did something else with it, but didn't fix that intersection. So, this is ongoing from from 50 plus years ago. Uh,
we're like the mayor said, we're putting as much pressure as possible. Um, it is an election year for our state representatives and our county representatives. And believe me, we've been talking to them about trying to get this done. Unfortunately, it's a
combination of county, state, and federal. I mean, Route 80 is right on top of it. It's an interstate highway. So, when you got three levels of government above us trying to uh that you have to deal with, it just makes it tougher and tougher and tougher. Uh the
mayor had mentioned pilot and for those who don't know pilot stands for payment in lie of taxes and what what happens is they would instead of paying taxes, they would give an annual amount of money. Sometimes it's it's attached to how much revenue they have uh for either
a a minimal time or a longer period of time. The difference is that instead of taxes, the pilot goes directly to the town. Whereas our taxes go toward uh the board of eds to us and it doesn't go to the board of ed. So in some places, some
towns like that. Oh, we don't have to give any money to board of ed. But we're all in this together. So whether it comes out of our budget or their budget, it's coming out of your budget. So um I for those who didn't uh know about that. Um other things uh that we have here,
I'm glad that the mayor had mentioned all these events that we have and it makes me proud to be from Saddlebrook that we have a lot of things going on uh throughout the town. I mean he mentioned, you know, between last month and this month probably 10 10 different
events. um including the UNICO event and I'm uh think there's going to be a resolution tonight uh honoring UNICO. I've been a proud member of UNICO for over 20 years. I was happy to go to our UNICO national convention down in Fort Lauderdale this year because one of our
hometown guys, Joe Nello, was inducted as the president of the entire international organization of Unico. Edel's here and Sue Sim um bunch of people that are here were also there. I think we have two Saddlebrook guys that were uh national presidents. I correct
me if I'm wrong. I think Sal Mano was the national president um and and now Joe. So, congratulations to them. And congratulations and thank you to everyone in UNICO. It's a great organization and uh anyone who's eligible to join, I recommend that you that you join. Tommy Hayes is here. I
had dinner with his brother on Monday and he mentioned that you were kind of retiring from the drumming business. And I know you got mad at me the last time I said this, but it's the closest thing to Woodstock that you're going to find. And don't get mad at me, Tom. It's not in a negative way.
It's a cool thing. People are having fun just letting loose and uh I've been to a number of them and they're great. It's uh it's a great thing. And thanks Tom for everything that you've done um over the years and continue to do. Um
Andrew had said something last month about the salary increase uh in the budget of $400,000. He he looked at the numbers and I said that can't be I mean I just as he was saying that I said that that can't possibly be true. Uh so I asked our business administrator to look
into it. Um, he did get back to me, but I think he I'm going to defer a little bit of time to him to explain where that number may have come from and the fact that it's not right. I I don't blame you for getting it wrong, but there is an explanation.
>> Yeah. Thank you, Councilman. Uh, after looking at that, uh, in the budget, and I knew at the time, but I just wanted to verify um what the why that was. And pretty much what the CFO and I uh through his recommendation did in um several departments was just lapse a few
departments into one department. For that specific example, the police department had their this is strictly salaries and wages. The police department had a 2024 budget of 4 a little over $4.6 6 million
and the special law enforcement officers had their own salaries and wages budget for $22,000. And if you look at 2025, the police uh budget went up from 4.6 million to 4.9 million. And the other line went from
22,000 to essentially zero. And what happened was we lapsed that all into the police line just to makes it just a financial administrative decision to make it easier. So that line did increase um total by 352,000 but of the 352,000 from year to year 202,000 were
from that uh special law enforcement line. So just lapsing just for financial administrative ease the two lines together in the most simplest form I could explain it in. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> And the special law enforcement officers those are the ones in the schools. >> Correct. Okay.
>> Thank you. Thank you Mr. Holsey. >> No problem. Um, when I was young, my first real job other than a paper boy was at the Loi Library and I became a very uh a voracious reader. Read all the time. Encyclopedias, anything I could get my
hands on. I lapsed um after several years of doing that. Recently, I say over the last year or so, I've gotten back into reading. I take the train into Hoboken every day, so it's a good time for me. 30 minutes uninterrupted because I go on a quiet car. I can't talk. Um,
and I've been reading and I just want to give a shout out to uh our our library. They do a great job. For those who are not members or those who haven't been there recently, it's it's renovated. The people are super friendly. They have many many programs for both children and adults. And I I recommend that you take
a visit there. Uh if you're not a member, please join and take advantage of the programs that they offer. Uh coming up in a couple weeks is an election and it's very important election for New Jersey. it's our governor. Uh regardless of what side you're you're kind of rooting for or
voting for or supporting, um it's very important that you go out there and vote. People have died for your right to vote. Um so I'm just asking everyone to go out there, cast your vote, and it's important for Saddlebrook because uh we have a board of ed election. So, uh, you
know, like we said over here, I think more than 50% of your school budget, I'm sorry, of the town budget is based on board of education. You want to put the right people in there. So, go out um go to that candidates night, find out who you like. Talk to people and you know
what, not just don't limit it to that night. Talk to talk to your friends, neighbors, anyone who's got kids in school. uh talk to them and find out uh what they think and and then you make your up your own mind and see who's the best people to uh lead our board. And uh
lastly, I just want to congratulate and uh uh my good friend Captain Joseph Calfano, Jeppi Calfano, and Shaina Cougler, the chief's daughter, on their wedding, which I believe just happened a couple of couple of hours ago. So,
congratulations and uh best of luck in your married life. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Uh, on the agenda tonight, we have a resolution for in recognition of Italian-American Heritage and Cultural Month. I'd like any s any Saddlebrook Unico members to please step
up to the podium. I I have a resolution on behalf of the mayor and council. Please step up. Uh, any members of the council that are on Unico, please step up. temporary science. >> Yes,
>> the way it is. >> Uh whereas October is Italian Heritage and Culture Month. And whereas we take this opportunity to rec recognize the many contributions made by Italian-Americans throughout the United States, New Jersey, and particular here
in Saddlebrook. And whereas we recognize the commitment of the Saddlebrook chapter of the Saddle Brook Unico to our community by supporting programs including the Saddlebrook Street Fair, local food banks, awarding scholarships, especially awarding the Brian Piccolo
scholarship to a high school senior excelling in sports, supporting causes such as Jimmy V, Koulie's Anema, uh St. Jude mental and health mental and health programs and antibbias programs and
installing benches and a new gazebo in UNICO park. And whereas members of the Satuk chapter UNICO have gone on to serve as union district governor and UNICO national president including current president Joseph Nello as well
as receiving numerous honors and recognition. Now therefore be resolved by the mayor and township council of the township of Saddlebrook that the Saddlebrook chapter of Unico is commended for faithfully following the UNICO model motto service above self and
recognized for its service to our community as we celebrate Italian heritage and culture month. Congratulations. Thank you. Right. finish. Uh I just too would like to comment
about um 93 Market Street. Um unfortunately, nobody gets any joy of having to make some hard decisions. Um, contrary to what some people might think here, um, there are sleepless nights when we affect residents. The last thing
we want to do is affect any resident here. We work for the residents. Uh, unfortunately, at times we have to make decisions based on the entire community. And again, they're not easy decisions to be made. Uh, like the mayor said, like
Andrew said, we're in the beginning stages of this process. and any decisions we'll make on my part will be in the best interest of the of the people here in Saddlebrook. Um, in addition to that, I also want to
mention the trunk or treat on on um October 25th, Saturday. Hope to see everybody there. Uh, Veterans Day is November 11th. Hope to see people at that ceremony. I too would like to uh commend Tommy Purple Hayes for uh all
your hard work and your commitment to the people that need it the most, needy people in our community. So, thank you very much and I just want to wish everybody a happy and safe Halloween. Thank you. We're going to move into our ordinances
now. Final reading. Ordinance 1792-25, an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 206 of the code of the township of Saddlebrook regulating the operation of specific classes of cannabis
businesses within its geographical boundaries. >> Motion for a second reading. >> Motion to give a second reading. >> Second. >> All in favor? Hi. >> Hi. >> Um, good. >> An ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 206 of the code of the township
of Saddlebrook regulating the operation of specific classes of cannabis businesses within its geographical boundaries. >> Motion to open to the public. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I I Anyone wishing to address the council on this um ordinance, please
step up to the microphone. Good evening, Omar Rodriguez Arber. I'm wondering why we have this necessity or love with Canabis business stores. This is about cultivation and you changing the square footage in order to
accommodate someone that you might know. What is the need for Sarbrook to have cultivation? We got all kind of levels. Is the only municipality in the state of New Jersey out of 566
municipalities that we have everything every single thing. We are going to even pack marijuana. And it's up to today that I haven't seen a plan how the other, if any other is
going to come out of those uh uh stores, buildings, whatever you want to call it. This is about cultivation, this particular amendment that you're going to make. But I'm wondering if Serbrook is up is about this. Can someone explain to me what is the
need? What is the purpose to accommodate someone that wants to cultivate? Don't we have enough already with three approved retail store for sale? We got all types the only municipality
in the state of New Jersey that we have everything. We giving out the store. We are a small town but we acting big. What do you think that is going to generate? I heard a couple years ago that is going
to generate millions of dollars. Nowadays in every single block basically in most of the towns they are popping up. Why are we going out of our way to try to accommodate these type of
businesses? Can someone explain to me? >> I guess not. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else to address the council on this uh ordinance? Seeing no one else, motion to close.
>> Second. >> Uh I just want to state that yeah, we gave out resolutions for cannabis. It's been a dud to say to say the least. Anybody that passes on 46 sees the one
store that opened up. uh this same individual who just got done spoking was telling us that we needed to hire a half a dozen more police officers and we needed to have you know we were going to have trouble and everything else. That's not the case. Okay. A lot of them quite
frankly are struggling. Uh having cultivation you wouldn't even know it was there. We would get 2% of the revenue. Some people may be for it, some people may be against it. you will not see people driving in and out of
there. Okay. Um some people again may be for it, may be against it, but the stuff that you're hearing from certain individuals, it's all just grasping and political nonsense. So, >> um chair.
>> Okay. >> Yes. >> Uh that location was already approved for cultivation. The only thing that this is changing is the square footage. I don't believe they're going to be doing manufacturing there. It was >> in in fact uh Councilman Simaluca they're going to be rescending we're
going to be rescending theirs >> for manufacturing. >> Yeah. For the manufacturing. So they're not going to be doing any manufacturing. So that's going to be one less of the nine. So now we'll be at eight. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Just to the chair. >> Sure. >> The thing that boggles my mind and this
goes for not just saddle but every town in in Bur County maybe even state. Everybody's worried about putting in legal cannabis uh uh businesses, but nobody's worried about the vape shops selling legal
marijuana to our kids. That's what bothers me is that we haven't had not one person ever come up to this podium and say anything about the vape shops we have in town. I think you may have come to this town and say, "What are we doing about the vape shops selling illegal
marijuana to our kids?" You know what we've done? Nothing. And it's it's embarrassing that we've done nothing to do anything about it because we don't have control of it. They come in and they could open up without any permits, without any approvals. They could just open up. And
I just don't understand it how that could happen in today's society. But yet we have legal marijuana shops coming in that's going to sell legal clean marijuana without fentanyl in it. And yet people complain about that, but they
won't complain about our kids getting illegal vapes with marijuana in it. I'm just confused about that. That's all that's all I had to say. That's >> Thank you. >> Okay. Motion to approve this ordinance. >> Motion. >> Close the meeting. >> I apologize. Close the meeting.
>> Motion to close. >> Second. >> All in favor? Hi. Hi. >> Be resolved by the township council of the township of Saddlebrook that the ordinance entitled an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 206 of the code of the township of Saddlebrook regulating the operation of specific
classes of cannabis businesses within its geographical boundaries. This now passed on second and final reading and that the township clerk be advertised be directed to advertise set ordinance or title thereof in the press together with the notice of the date of passage of set
ordinance according to law. >> Motion to approve. >> Motion >> second. Roll call. >> Councilman Simuka. >> Yes. >> Council Aando. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Mer. Yes. >> Council President Garrick.
>> Yes. of ordinance 1793-25 for first reading. An ordinance of the township of Santa Brook County of Bergen, state of New Jersey, adopting the redevelopment plan amendment for 93-95 Market Street for first reading.
>> Motion first read. Motion to give first reading. >> Second. >> Uh, roll call. >> Councilman Simuka. >> Yes. >> Council Malcomando. >> Yes. Councilwoman Maer. >> Yes. >> Council President Garrick. >> Yes. Now therefore be resolved by the
township council of the township of Saddlebrook that an ordinance of the township of Saddlebrook County of Bergen State of New Jersey adopting the redevelopment plan amendment for 93-95 Market Street near Ford passed on first reading be further considered for a
final passage at a meeting to be held on November 13, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. where soon thereafter as the matter can be reached at the municipal complex 55 Mayill Street and at such time and place all persons interested be given an
opportunity to be heard concerning said ordinance according to law with the notice of its introduction and passage on first reading and of a time and place when and where said ordinance will be further considered for final passage. >> Motion. >> Motion.
>> Second. Uh roll call. Councilman Simuca, yes. >> Council Malccomando, >> yes. >> Council Ma, >> Council President Garrick, >> yes. >> All items listed with an asterric 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 a council member or member so requests it, in which case the item or items will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. One motion
signifies adoption of all resolutions, receive and file letters, correspondence reports, and approval of minutes and applications. The minutes of September 18, 2025 is not part of the consent agenda. >> Motion to approve.
>> Motion. >> Roll call. Councilman Simuka. Yes. >> Councilman Okamando. >> Yes. >> Council Meer. Yes. >> Council President Garrick. >> Yes. >> And we have the minutes of the September 18, 2025 regular public meeting.
>> Motion. >> Motion to approve. Motion. >> Second. Second. Okay. >> Uh, roll call. Councilman Sucas said yes. >> Councilman Akamando >> abstain.
>> Councilwoman Maser. >> Yes. >> Council President Garrick. >> Yes. >> Uh thank you. Uh old business >> through the chair. I just want to mention I forgot to mention it in my remarks about the redevelopment. Uh this
is the Andrew Zinszik. Um you keep mentioning that it's a fourstory building. That's incorrect. Okay. A fourstory building would be at least 50 ft. So I that's that's not accurate. In fact,
it's it's untrue. It's totally totally untrue and misleading. So, you know that I I hope that next time you come up that you'll at least not say it's a four-story building because it's not. Um,
my other remark is uh to Mr. Rodriguez. You mentioned about the cannabis and you mentioned that we're one of the you said the only town in New Jersey. I want to I want to make sure that that's what your statement is because I'm going to
research it because I think you lied. I I think you don't even have that information. >> Are you sober today? >> I'm I'm absolutely sober. Yes. I I don't I don't I don't drink at all. >> I don't drink. No, I don't drink at all. >> It's not true. >> Oh, okay. >> Sober. >> Okay.
>> Yes. >> Okay. So, anyway, I'm going to I'm going to You know, you say things all the time. Half the half the thing half the things you said you want to go on with me. >> Half the thing half the things that he says are a lie. So and he's out there
making a lot of lies. And tonight he said something and I don't think he knows at all what he's talking about. He you made the statement. So I'm going to research it and if you're wrong I'm going to come here next next meeting. If >> I'm right
>> if you're right I will I will say you're right. You should have done your job before then. Not now. After the fact, you should have >> I'm going to tell you >> past experience. I know. Past experience. I know you're a liar, Mr.
Rodriguez. Thank you. >> Uh, I just want to mention in new business, the flood committee and the green team committee are um looking into a new program. It's called the Resilience New Jersey and it provides grants for climate change and flooding.
Um so the green team flood committee we'll be looking into this and getting more information on it uh in the future. It is on the agenda so I wanted to mention it. >> Dave just excuse myself for a minute.
Okay. >> Can you hold on one second? We got to just approve this. >> Yeah. We have under new business best practices. >> Okay. Okay. Um, can I have a a motion to approve the be best practices? Motion. >> Second.
>> Uh, roll call. >> Councilman Simuka. >> Yes. >> Council Alamando. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Maser. >> Yes. >> Council President Garrick. >> Okay. I also need a motion for to approve application for the Resilience New Jersey Department grant program.
>> Motion. Second. >> Uh, roll call. >> Council Mr. Suka. >> Yes. >> Council commando. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Maser. Yes. >> Council President Garrick. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Uh, motion to
open the meeting to the public for agenda items only. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> I. Anyone wishing to address the council, please step up to the mic, state your name and address for the record. >> Uh, Muhammad Henfey, 32 has an app. I think this is uh this is a different
topic. Um you mentioned something about the the bridge getting wider. It's a project that's been around for 50 whatever years. Is there anything that the neighbors and we can do to help you guys push that? I'm very curious. That's the only question I had. I just want to
know if you guys could tell us what do we need to do? Do we need to vote it? Push it. It seems like you guys been talking about this for years. If there's something that we can do, you can see us. We're all very active. We would like to help you guys push it through. Contact your state senator Joseph Lagana and the assembly people Lisa Swain and Chris
Tully >> County and the county executive Jim D. >> You said a lot of things right now that I can't even memorize. So you got to >> Okay. >> So I mean I >> we're in legislative district 38. >> Okay. >> Okay. So our state senator here that
represents us is Joseph Lagana. >> Okay. >> Okay. And our assembly um representatives are Chris Tully and Lisa Swain. >> Okay. >> Okay. And the county executive Bergen County is James Tedesco.
And if you go online and look at district 38 here in here in uh New Jersey, it'll give you all their names and numbers and you could contact them. >> So I'm just going to be one guy. Do you recommend a different one? >> A petition would be
>> petition. Got you. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Ordinance 179325 about the redevelopment plan amendment. Uh so when is the date and time of that presentation going to be? Because the
only presentation you had was for the fourstory 60 units and the attorney repeatedly said during the last meeting there's been multiple televised recordings. The council workshop agendas on the first Thursday at 5:30 are never televised. So where are these televised
recordings that you stated in the last council meeting that we've had multiple televised recordings for you to review? We've had none. The only presentation from any developer was four stories and 60 units. So, can you please tell the
public now because unlike the mayor of Carlstat who mails the entire town about a redevelopment project to have their opinions, concerns heard, do you have a date and time? I mean, you've been looking for RFPs for six or seven months
now. And another question, why does it have to be 60 units? I don't understand why can't we get down to to 30 units or or 20 units. So just looking on the date and time for a presentation, any studies going to be done in terms of uh school
impact, flooding impact, uh infrastructure, water impact, uh can the infrastructure even on Market Street sustain a new massive development. Uh additionally, uh I'm very happy of the accounting error,
uh that you found because that puts $300,000 back into the budget. So last year uh in the budget we had an extra $2.5 million and you said that this property of 60
units will generate $300,000 per year. >> Um but you took 1.3 million you left and you spent 1.2 million. And I find it hard to believe that you spent $700,000 on a single tax appeal. If you're going
to lose that tax appeal eight or nine years ago, you pay it off immediately because if you continue to let it run, it's going to be a massive amount. So, thank you for the $460,000. I've been coming here for 4 months. I find it hard to believe we spent $74,000
on a single tax appeal. Um and and the other thing of the the oh, it's going to generate $300,000 per year. Um it it doesn't look like based upon you only telling one street in town about this presentation. We don't even know when
that's going to be presented. But when we built this building for 30 $35 million, there was not even a referendum. So you guys are looking for $300,000 per year, but you're building a
30 $35 million uh building. Um doesn't doesn't make much sense to me. I mean, we have 60 units on Rosal Lane. This could be 60 units. That's 120, not to mention all the affordable housing. I just don't understand. There's no
transparency, no communication. Nobody's getting uh communicated in town, but a single street of residents. >> Okay, Mr. >> So, just looking forward to date and time of that presentation. >> Thank you. >> Just do the chair. Just for the record,
this building wasn't 35 million. It was 28 million completed and purchased. >> By next month, it'll be 40 million and then 45 and 50. >> So that's probably what it would have cost now about 45 million now at a at a
twice interest rate. So >> Okay, thank you for your comments. >> Sure. >> If I may, there um just to clarify one point and I'll and I'll explain it again if I didn't explain it clearly the first time. Uh there was no accounting error. Uh maybe it was just misread on the budget. I know it was just two lines
combined into one. Thank you. >> I appreciate your comments uh Mr. Hamsy. >> Thank you. >> Stick around afterwards. Don't go now. I want I want to have a conversation. >> Sure. >> But I got to be quick. I got to go run. >> Okay.
>> Good evening again. I'm going to have my three minutes. Uh about the 28 million. I doubt it very much. I got a C in writing. Uh I request that a year and a half ago and I have I haven't received the paperwork about the cost of this building and it's in excess
of $32 million. I can see that. Unless you show me the paper, that's when we're going to talk about it. But right now, my name has been popped up. I've been in the audience. I came late on purpose. I didn't pretend to speak up at the podium today. I want to just hear what's going on. But since my name was brought up, I
want to just clarify a lot of the stuff. They say that I just spread lies. Okay, let's go just by the facts. Calwell Avenue across the street from Senior Citizen Center. They tried to sell us a piece of property that was paying taxes.
They they we gave it to the county. They build it. How much taxes they paying for all those units? $16,000 a year. Okay. Is that a lie? They told us that it was going to stabilize taxes. Lie.
That's a fact that the residents of Sagber were going to get those units wrong. That's a fact. People from all over the state of New Jersey came to live there. But now he here we're going to talk about what's going on. Uh Council Meer just wrote my name about
Veterans Field. Yes, I'm responsible for the park because they were going to build hundreds of units over there and I fought for that against it because I was in the council. And what was the negotiation that we create a poor we built a poor and they were not going to
build those hundreds of units and I'm proud to say that however since they mentioned again that council uh council woman me got 25 years of experience council woman can you tell me what is a tax abatement I guess not
uh who is the applicant for the 60 units tonight that came you I stated last meeting that it says on the paperwork done on group and you told me that it's not important but today
you're approving for someone that says a different name on the application. >> There is no application. >> They sir I got the floor right now. Excuse me. They put on in the agenda a name. Now the blueprints is a different
name. But now, let me just go on. Right now, they say that it's not a pilot. It's not on your control. Mayor, you you you just stated today that you used to have a real estate license. You should know that if they go for a tax
abayment, they don't have to go here. They don't have to come here. They can go for a tax abayment of 20 years or 30 years and go to the state. >> Completely untrue. I know, >> sir. I have the floor. If you're going to interrupt me, I hope that you give me
my minutes back because when you talk, no one interrupt you. >> Give him another 30 seconds. It's a council meeting, not a Noar Rodriguez meeting. >> Sir, >> why you if you want to debate it? Let's go oneonone. If you have knowledge, let's go. And any issue right now,
>> your time is up, Mr. Rodriguez. Have a good night. >> But it's not about good night. The planning board should have heard about this case before. I just want to ask you this with this elite. What is going to be the asking price? >> Have a good night, Mr. Rodriguez. >> What is going to be the asking price on the property? >> Have a good night, Mr. Rodriguez.
>> Is he wrong? Are you hiding something? Do you have any shady deal? What is the asking price? They have to pay a price. The public got the right to know. >> Motion to close the meeting to the public. >> What is the asking price? Is that too hard to answer? >> All in favor?
>> That's a shady question. I guess a shady answer. What is the asking price? Are they going to pay a dollar? >> You don't. >> Are they going to pay $100,000? >> I don't understand the process. Thank you very much, sir. I just It's so simple. You s You should sell the property for a bowling alley or any
other thing or medical office, but you just want to sell it to create units. You just sold selling to the public. Mr. Rodriguez, please step. >> Anytime you want to debate me, no. Speak behind me. Speak to me right now face to face. You know why? Because you're incompetent. That's your problem. And on
January 1st, 2027, it will be a new mayor sitting there. >> Believe me. >> Thank you very much. >> Have a good night. >> More lies by Mr. Rodriguez. >> Thank you >> through through the chair. If I can just ple >> please do Mr. Scadina. If
>> I can just address what was a to say it was a blatant misrepresentation would be saying it nicely. The only way you could get a pilot is through the governing body. There's no other way possible. Legally, you could go to court. It's
impossible. And there's very few certainties in the law, at least that an attorney would say, because nothing is 100%. But I can tell this audience that 100% the only entity that can give a pilot on property located in their town
is the township committee. And I could also tell you 100% certainty that this whatever gets developed there is not going to get a pilot because they're not eligible for a pilot and they're not seeking a pilot.
As far as a tax abatement, I don't know where he's throwing that up from because a tax abatement by is only by statute that you could possibly be eligible for a tax abatement. So those statements were irresponsible
and a complete mischaracterization and a misrepresentation to the public for whatever purpose he's seeking to achieve. But it serves no benefit to the public to spread inaccurate and misinformation. And as far as when a presentation is going to be made, again,
this is only for the zoning. I'm calling it zoning, but it's legally speaking it's a redevelopment plan. There will be a formal presentation of any application for the development of that site where you will get all the details and there
will be a traffic study and there will be uh studies as to or testimony as to the number of students. All of that will be presented when an applicant submits an application for a project. At this
point in time, no application has been submitted to the planning board, which is where it would have to go. The planning board approves site plan and if there's any variances required, it goes before the planning board. An
application has not been filed by either the uh developer who presented their proposal or anyone else for that matter with respect to the development of that site. So all these comments about the lack of transparency and so forth again
are mischaracterizations. I don't know what the intent of the people are who spread this misinformation. I think the people on Harrison Street deserve the truth. They don't deserve people to try to get you incited over false statements. Perhaps they think that's
the only way they can get you motivated. But you seem pretty motivated just based upon the facts. and it's in everyone's interest to only spread the facts and not spread misinformation. >> Thank you. >> It's really clear. >> Sure.
>> Again, not to beat a dead horse, but um again about misinformation, the gentleman came and said that the name on the plan was different than the name in the uh in the ordinance or on the agenda. I just read the entire ordinance
and there is not the name of a developer on the ordinance because this is not an ordinance to grant the uh any developer the right to develop there. This is all all this is is to adopt the
redevelopment plan. It doesn't mention the name of a developer nor should it because that's not what the purpose of this ordinance is for. I think he was reading >> he didn't understand the process. He doesn't listen when he comes here. He's just thinking about what he's going to say when he grabs the microphone.
>> I think the plan might have the architect's name and he may have gotten the uh name of the developer from the last meeting and they're not the same. But obviously the architect is not the developer. The architect is someone who works for the developer. So that that
may be the issue. But I just wanted to because I I didn't think the that the developer's name would be in an ordinance of this type and in fact it was not. So, another misrepresentation. >> Thank you, Councilman. Anyone else final comments? >> Mr. Chair.
>> Sure. >> Just to clarify with this building because we've all been involved with this building, I think since 2019 when we first met. We borrowed money through the Bergen County Improvement Authority, $28 million.
We did purchase the property. We retrofitted the building and stayed within that 28 million. We were able to get the loan at 3% interest and it was built in over three years into the budget years ago and I think uh just to
clarify that we did stay within the budget at the time of 28 million which is what we said we would do and I think it's a great accomplish accomplishment for the town and for everybody sitting up here. Just wanted to clarify.
>> Thank you Pete. Anybody else have any final comments now that we got our blood flowing? >> Okay. Uh motion to adjurnn. >> Motion. >> All in favor? >> I. Have a great evening everyone. Happy
and safe Halloween to all. Thank you. catches the