we can better serve our students, families, and the entire community. We have a 33 council and we want to work together for the good of the town. We will not oppose for the sake of opposing, but neither will we vote yes
when we don't think it's warranted. Thank you again for this opportunity. I'm proud to serve and ready to get to work. Councilman Rios. >> Happy new year everybody. >> Uh first and foremost uh foremost
>> you have to close. >> Sorry I was no >> problem. My apologies. >> It's my first time. First and foremost uh thank you to the residents of Serville for placing your trust in me. I am truly grateful for that confidence and I promise to honor it by working
every day on your behalf. I have been proud to call Saraveville home for more than 20 years. This community is where I built my life, where my family and friendships have grown, and where I've come to understand how much local government matters in people's everyday
lives. To now serve this town as a member of the council is a tremendous honor. I would also like to thank my family for their unwavering support, patience, and encouragement throughout this journey. Public service is never a
solo effort, and I'm deeply grateful for the sacrifices they have made and the strength they continue to give me. To my supporters and everyone who believed in this campaign, thank you for your time, your voices, and your faith
in me. I would not be standing here today without you. As I stepped onto this role, I do so as a newcomer. I know I have much to learn and I'm not afraid to say that. I
believe that inexperience can also be a strength as it will allow me to listen closely, stay accessible, and communicate with residents in a clear and straightforward way. Transparency was a core value of my campaign and it will remain a guiding
principle in how I serve. I'm especially mindful that we are entering a meaningful moment in our nation's history as we approach the United States semicentennial 250 years since our country's founding.
That milestone reminds us that democracy is sustained through service, participation, and cooperation at every level. including right here in Sarville. I look forward to working with my fellow council members
across the aisle and alongside our residents to deliver thoughtful, practical results for our community. Progress happens when we listen to one another and work together. And I'm eager to be a part of that work. Thank you
again for this incredible opportunity. I am humbled by your trust, energized by the road ahead, and ready to serve. >> Councilwoman Novak, >> I didn't expect to be called so soon. First of all, I'd like to wish everybody
a happy new year. Uh, doing this job is not for the faint of heart. Running for this job is very hard, but when you actually get up here and serve, it's even harder. I think it was Kennedy that said once that you no matter what you do
up here, you annoy somebody whether you want to do it or not. That was one of the reasons why I jokingly said I was a on the first aid squad so long because nobody ever got mad at me when I showed up in an ambulance up here. If I pave your street, you you're concerned
because you got tar on your car or now cars were going faster on your street because there was no potholes. And if we don't pave your streets, you're mad because of the potholes that are ruining your cars. So being up here is a very, very, very tough job. And anybody that is willing to even try to sit up here
and then to serve for three years, and you know who is the hardest for the families, like we said before, there's going to be that empty seat at the table where you used to sit. And as family, it's going to be very difficult to hear people
criticize your loved ones. But so to the families, I I can only say stick with it. It's hard, but it's going to be worth it in the end. I have sat up here and I've never I've won. I've lost
for anybody that that knows me. I've won and lost what, three or four times, mayor. And winning's better. I'm not going to say it isn't. But I don't sit up here. I don't say that the most important thing is I get reelected. The most important thing is what we leave
for the residents of this town when we're done sitting up here. We have to be responsive to the residents. But so many of the decisions that we make, heck, I might not even be alive to see the fruit of it at some point. So my priority, and I think everybody's up
here, is going to be how much better we leave this town for the next generation. I want to thank everybody for electing the two new people. I want to thank everybody very much for reelecting me in a time where I was the only Democrat in this town that won. The
Republicans kind of won everything. So, I want to thank everybody. And once I sit up here, I now work for everybody, even the people that voted against me. Again, happy new year. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Uh, Councilman
Kazy, >> happy new year all. Thank you uh very much. Uh, congratulations guys on your uh appointments and very very nice. I look forward to working with you guys uh
throughout the year. And uh like Mary said, you know, we work hard to make uh something of ourselves while we're here in this position. Everything is for you guys and our families that still live in this town.
So, happy new year and uh thank you, >> Councilman Sonarski. >> Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to congratulate the two new council people, and I'm looking forward to working with everybody throughout the next year. But
the only thing I will say is sometimes be careful what you wish for because this is not an easy road to be sitting up here. Uh there's a lot of things going on in town and we do try to do our best. Thank you again. Happy New Year to everybody. >> Council President Zrowski.
>> Thank you, Mayor. And once again, uh happy new year to all of you. I wish you a very healthy and safe 2026. Uh I want to also congratulate uh congratulate Erve and Alberto. uh looking forward to working with both of you uh on the
council and I'm going to hold you to your words that you want to be collaborative because I think uh the speaker was correct when he said not only are the people of several watching but others are as well. This is our opportunity to work together as a group
putting aside political uh affiliations and working as a group. We may not always agree and that's okay. Being able to talk about things and discuss them and being able to come up with a solution is what we're here to do. And I ask you to continue to
think about that as we move forward because time is short and it's a lot of things for us to get done. And I look forward to working for all of you. And once again, I appreciate uh all our volunteers, our members of our first aid squad, members of our fire department,
as well as everyone that volunteers for our committees throughout the uh community. And once again, thank you and have a happy new year. >> So, I'd like to begin by saying a very happy new year to one and to all. It is my distinct honor and pleasure to
welcome you to the annual reorganization of the Burough of Saraveville. Thank you for being here and joining us in this annual New Year's tradition. As we plan yet for another year of progress, I would like to acknowledge my colleagues
on the dis and to offer a special greeting to our newly elected council members Hervey Blum and Alberto Rios. Gentlemen, I look forward to working with you as we plan for the future. Congratulations again as you embark on
this important journey of public service. I'd also like to congratulate my long-term friend and colleague, John Zabrowski, who was appointed today as the council president. John, a retired police chief for the burrow, continues to eagerly serve the people of
Saraveville. John, your ascension to council president is welld deserved and I look forward as always to working with you on behalf of the people. When I was last sworn into office in January 2024, I made a pledge to greatly improve the
parks of our community as part of our overall commitment and I just lost my place to renewed customer service. Not only that, but I can't pull the pages apart.
Ah, there we go. I didn't finish. There was another sin. There there's much progress to report today. We have new renovated restrooms and once the weather allows further construction and we'll have new walkways
at Kennedy Park. We have also vastly improved the parking lots at Veterans Park as well as the lighting. We very much look forward to opening a new athletic field at the US Recreational Complex in a few short months and
hopefully adding another and that a lot of that funding was done by our assemblyman and the speaker of the house Craig Coughlin. So a very a very warm thank you Craig. Uh, working with our state partners on both sides of the
aisle, my administration will will continue to explore outside funding opportunities to enhance the parks and expand recreational opportunities. My hope is you and your family are already taking advantage of the new programs we
initiated this year through the recreation department as well as visited our everexpanding farmers market that opened in 2024 in the park behind this building. By the way, it was a little bit of a bumpy start. We we passed what
I consider really a very significant thing this year where any kid that wants to play youth athletics just signs up. There's no registration fee. There's nothing to prohibit them. There's no uniform cost. Ju I I personally I would
just like um every child that wants to play a sport be able to play a sport. And we accomplished that last year. and and um I have I have great assurance that the road will be a lot less bumpy
this year and u and and I really look forward and and you know I've run into in my long term as mayor. I have run into a lot of mothers whose kids wanted to play various sports and they they just had a full they had a full house
and it really just wasn't in their budget and and I don't ever want a kid in that position. I don't ever want a mother a serville mother in that position. So I truly look forward it was a complete bipartisan support. everybody
got on board, all the all the youth athletic associations and um it's just it's just a really good thing for our town. So any kid that wants to play regard uh can play. You just sign up. I think that's just
fantastic. As for other areas of progress, we continue working closely with the redevelopment team at Riverton which have made tremendous strides in construction over the past year. Anyone driving over the Driscoll Bridge can't
miss all the activity quickly taking shape as we look forward to the opening of Bassbro. By the way, I I thanked the the the guys in charge down at down at Riverton uh for the progress that they've made.
I've spent 20 years answering people's questions in Shopright of what's happening and when is it happening and I said, "Fellas, well done. Job well done. Um, Bass Pro will be opening this uh this
spring and and we really look forward to it. It's the largest singlestory uh BassPro in the country and the owner of Bassro just is couldn't be couldn't be happier working with the people of Saraveville.
Uh in tomorrow's serville news, our eblast news uh letter from Burl Hall, there will be a video on the progress. Again, in terms of cooperation, I asked them uh I said, "Listen, I've been doing
I've been doing this for a long time." I said, "But it's really not my job to tell people about what you're doing and when you're going to be done." I said, "So, I'd like you to take that over." And I said, "What people are looking for is information."
And uh they said, "We're with you, mayor." So, um and and you know, I see I see the the updates on Facebook and they're doing what they should be doing and and they're very cooperative people. Uh the continued planned construction of
Riverton Boulevard will quickly translate into more revenue to Saraveville, helping to offset the local tax burden from a redevelopment project this community has waited decades to bear fruit. We expect many more groundbreaking events in the coming
years. My office receives phone calls daily from many other major investors across the country looking for opportunities in Sarable. Everyone I've spoken with about this progress is amazed and proud at how far we've come.
We carefully balance each and every proposal we hear. We're only interested in projects that create jobs and stabilize taxes for the long term, making our burrow more affordable for you. In short, in reviewing these projects, we want to make sure any
proposed use is a good fit for Sarable. We aggressively seek outside funding beyond beyond what is raised by taxpayers to achieve many of the projects you're seeing around town. By the way, we have our BA Glenn Scarzinski.
We we employ professional uh grant writers, grant seekers, uh and Glenn has has an awful lot uh of experience in that. and um quite often uh were very successful in in uh getting the grant
money and again my thanks to to our BA Glenn. Uh to that end I would like to once again express my deepest appreciation to the commissioners of the reinvigored serville economic redevelopment agency which is ensuring
the right time investment comes to our community. Sarah and I share a vision when it comes to redevelopment, minimize impact and maximize returns for the people of Saveville. Sarville has identified several high priority areas,
one of which is the Hercules property. I would also like to provide an update about reservations, renovations to the historic firehouse next to this building. You may recall the burrows approved a special ren referendum to
fund these improvements. So far, both an an environmental remediation and a structural uh engineering assessment has been completed with architectural designs being finalized in the coming weeks. Those
plans will be presented to the burough council for the review and approval as we steadily move towards returning the building to public use. On the way in, I spoke to the president uh slashtown
historian, Frank Terzino, that uh the that Frank and his his committee uh will be scheduled to meet with the architect to discuss what some of the things they would like
uh and and what what we're trying to accomplish. Uh so Frank, as I said to you, uh grab me after the meeting. Uh uh how fortuitous as the a uh as the aging trailers that are house our construction
and health department have exceeded their useful life and we must create appropriate space for the support of our community. The burrow plan uh that building has essentially been office has been an office u uh building uh for a
number of decades. that housed the fire truck. Uh the population when they built that was about 5,000 people. Uh and it will be upgrade. What it is is it no longer meets the building or fire standards
of 2025. So we will be restoring it for a useful office space. And the timing again is is just perfect because uh we need to start moving the people in the and the four construction trailers into permanent uh
office space as those four trailers are at the end of their useful life. We also continue to invest heavily in public safety, ensuring our emergency responders are equipped with the best tools and techniques available
uh to keep us all protected. Um not done yet. >> Sorry, >> you're good, but your timing is a little off. Um to that end, the Seville Police Department will deploy will be deploying
an updated closed circuit system that will enhance their ability to detect and prevent crime throughout the burrow. Glenn, if you could elaborate a little bit on uh on this on this camera system. Um Glenn's done a great job on it. camera
systems are expensive, but what's what's the focus on on what what you're going to be >> uh this system is used pretty much uh across the entire country. It's called the flock camera system. It's put in public places whether they be parks, public buildings or uh thoroughares and
it allows the capture of data and information. So if we have a crime or an incident, the police can get that much quicker uh toward solving it. and and and the price tag on this uh >> to the taxpayer at zero. We're paying for that out of forefeite funds, which are monies that are confiscated from
people that commit criminal acts. And it's uh with the permission of the prosecutor's office, it gets rolled back into a law enforcement purpose. >> And and how much on this on this phase? >> Uh we're about $300,000, I think, would be the >> So there we are. Job well done, Glenn.
Uh allow me a moment to thank the many volunteers who are being appointed to municipal boards and commissions this year as well as many other important positions around Saraveville. I've said it for years and I'll say it again. Volunteers are the backbone of
Saraveville. In closing, I'd like to once again thank the people of Saraveville for entrusting me in this important leadership role as your mayor. I remain and will always remain deeply honored for your support and trusts. God bless our armed forces protecting
democracy overseas. God bless America and God bless the people of Sel. My warmest my warmest wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2026. Okay. And with that
we move to where is it? Okay. Appointments. Okay. Uh for a one-year term for the burough attorney the reappoint of D. Francesco Baitman Ksman Davis Lair and
Flom. Is there a motion? >> Is there a second? >> Second. Roll call. >> Council person Zabrowski, >> yes. >> Blemer, >> yes. >> Kesi, >> yes. >> Novak, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Zarski, >> yes.
>> Okay. Burrow engineer David Samuel, CME Associates. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council persons Novak, >> yes. >> Leur, >> yes. >> Kesi, >> Rios, >> yes. >> Narski,
>> yes. Zabowski, >> Labor Council, uh, Rosstein, Mandel, Stro, Hal, and Cypriani. Is there a motion? >> Make a motion. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council person Zabrowski, >> yes.
>> Leur, >> yes. >> Kesi, >> yes. >> Novak, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Narski, >> yes. >> Uh, for auditor, a one-year term, the reappoint of Suplo and company. Is there a motion? Make a motion. >> Is there a second?
>> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council person Sonorski, >> yes. >> Blemer, >> yes. >> Kesi, >> yes. >> Novak, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Drowski, >> yes. >> Uh, for a one-year uh term, a reappoint of our bond council, Archer and Griner,
is there a motion? >> Motion. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council person Zowski. >> Yes. >> Bleur. >> Yes. >> Kesi, >> yes. >> Kovac, >> yes. Frios. Yes. >> Sinarski. >> Yes. >> Uh for a a reappoint a one-year term of
our financial advisor, Northwest Financial. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council person Sinarski. >> Yes. >> Blemer. >> Yes. >> Kesi, >> yes. >> No, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Browski, >> yes. Uh,
>> one year reappoint on accounting services PFO Connor Davies. Is there a motion? Make a motion. >> Second. Roll call. >> Council person Sinarski. >> Yes. >> Leur, >> yes. >> Kesi, >> yes. >> Novak, >> yes. >> Rios,
>> yes. >> Browski, >> yes. >> Uh, for a two-year reappoint of municipal prosecutor, uh, Scott Lamount and John Krenel. Is there a motion? >> I make a motion. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council person Sinarski.
>> Yes. >> Blemer. >> Yes. >> Kesi, >> yes. >> Novak, >> yes. Rios. >> Yes, >> I just want to correct that. That's a one-year term. >> One-year term. My apologies. >> That's okay. >> One-year term uh reappoint for public defender. Roselli and Roselli. Is there
a motion? >> Make motion. >> Second. >> Council person Zabroski? >> Yes. >> Blemer? >> Yes. >> Kesi? >> Yes. >> Novak? >> Yes. >> Rios? >> Yes. >> Yes. Uh,
Mary, can I do these in mass or >> Yeah, we have municipal judge. You know what? You don't have that on there. >> Okay. All right. We'll keep going. Uh, one-year term reappoint special counsel tax matters. Nolan and Lang. Is there a motion? >> Got it. >> Yeah.
>> The judge mayor. >> Judge the last one. >> Yeah. It's not on there. >> Judge, >> Jim Weber. >> Yeah. >> Okay. One one one thing it was not on my uh for municipal judge uh a three-year term the reappoint of James Weber. Is
there a motion? >> Second. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Novak. >> Yes. >> Leur. >> Khesi. >> Yes. >> Rios. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Zowski. >> Okay. One year special uh one-year
reappoint special counsel for tax matters. Nolan and Lang. Is there a motion? >> Move. >> Second. Motion made and seconded. Roll call. >> Council persons Novak. >> Yes. >> Khesi. >> Yes.
>> Rios. >> Yes. >> Zarski. >> Yes. >> Zabowski? >> Yes. >> Uh, special counsel reappoint to her one-year term. Habinski Law and Jordan Rickards Esquire. >> Jordan Ricks. We have to take off. He he didn't >> RFP uh
>> or other matters. >> Other matters. Yeah. Thank you. >> Is there a motion? >> Make a motion. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council person Zabrowski. >> Yes. >> Blemer. >> Khesi. >> Yes. >> Novak. >> Yes. >> Rios.
>> Yes. >> Narski? >> Yes. >> Uh, one-year term special counsel. A no appointment. >> Nope. >> One year special counsel rent leveling board. Nolan and Lang. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Second.
Roll call. >> Council persons Novak. >> Yes. >> Leur. >> Khesi. Rios. >> Yes. >> Narski. Yes. >> Zabrowski. >> Yes. >> One-year reappoint for municipal planner acuity consulting services. Is there is
there a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Zowski. >> Yes. >> Blurr. >> Yes. >> Kesi. >> Yes. >> Novak. Yes. Rios. >> Yes. Okay. One-year reappoint special counsel
on COA matters D Francesco Baitman. Uh Davis Lair and Flaw. Is there a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Zabowski. Leur. >> No.
>> Kesi. >> Yes. >> Novak. >> I'm voting no. I just want to say I think uh they're an excellent firm, but they have in the past represented somebody whose uh property has previously been considered to be used as
affordable housing, and I I feel another attorney would be better off handling this. Thank you, Mayor. >> No, >> no. Conflict of interest. >> Yes. It's a 33. >> Yes.
Okay. A one-year um reappointment for architect USA architects. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Novak. >> Yes. >> Leur.
>> Kesi. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Dinarski. >> Yes. >> Zabowski. >> Yes. >> Okay. one-year uh re reappoint public agency compliance offer Glenn Scarzinski. >> Is there a second? >> Second.
>> Roll call. >> Sarski, >> yes. >> Leur, >> yes. >> Kesi, >> yes. >> Novak, >> yes. Rios, >> yes. >> Browski, >> yes. >> Okay. One-year reappointment on affordable housing administration and planning services, Acuity Consulting.
>> Is there a motion? >> I'll make a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Zabowski. >> Blemer? >> Yes. >> Kesi? >> Yes. >> Novak? >> Yes. >> Rios? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um,
now we get to uh boards and commissions. Uh, board of adjustment. >> Are you doing Are we going to do one at a time? One board at a time. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh
are these is this full-time >> would be >> under under >> four year >> me fouryear membership. Yeah. >> They're doing four-year members. >> Yes. >> Okay. So for uh fouryear membership to the uh board of adjustment Anthony
Espazto and Phil Emma. Is there is there a motion? >> Is there a second? >> Second. Roll call. >> Council persons Sarski. >> Yes. >> Khesi, >> yes. >> Leur,
>> yes. >> I skip him. Uh, Novak, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Zabowski, >> yes. under the planning board uh for a two-year
for a four-year term rather uh the appointment of Barry Mueller and Christine Saddaka. Is there a motion? >> There's only >> there's only one four-ear spot. >> Christine would be the uh class two. >> All right. I'm sorry. So Barry Mueller
is the class 4 and Christina Sataka is the class two which is a two-year term. Is there a motion? We don't need a motion. >> Yeah, we don't need a motion. >> Okay. I'm sorry. All right. So, let me repeat it again. Barry Mueller is a
four-year term and Christina Sataka is a two-year term. >> One year class. >> One year. One year. Jesus. All right. Um, is there a motion? >> Don't It's your appointment. >> That's right. They're my appointments. Um, okay.
uh several economic and redevelopment applications uh the reappointment of to uh I believe a five-year term. Uh Rosetta Fiser, Trussar uh Periq, Robert
Davis, and Donna Roberts. Uh is there a motion? >> The unexpired Paula Duffy. >> Donna Roberts is okay. and Donna Roberts will serve the unexpired term of Paula Duffy. >> Mayor, I I just have a question. Did we
change it from July to January for all members? Because I know we were the last my last year on here before we did not do it. So, because we would have had extended the terms of the other people that were on there and we never did that. >> So, you changed it the year I was off
because it we never got around to it. >> It's been January 1st for a while. >> Yeah, we did change it. We we changed it and we just made their terms instead of expiring July they just expired for. >> So we we extended them for 6 months because I remember the whole thing was your as as clerk you had Okay. Yep. That
was >> okay. Is there a motion? >> Yeah. Make >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Zabowski. >> Yes. >> Blemer. >> Kesi. >> Yes.
Novak, I'm going to abstain. >> Rios. >> Yes. >> Sinarski. >> Yes. [Music] >> Okay. The housing authority uh the appoint a five-year term for David
Lewis. Is there a motion? >> Is there a second? Second. Okay. Roll call. >> Council person Sinarski. >> Blemer. >> Yes. >> Glei. >> Yes. >> Novak. >> Yes.
>> Rios. >> Yes. >> Zabrowski. >> Okay. Commission on Aging, a three-year nonvoting uh terms. Uh the first is News Danker. It's a non voting business rep. And the
second is Robin Krypa, which is a non voting business rep. Um, is there a motion? >> What? I'm sorry. Next one on my list is the housing authority. >> We did that. >> They did that. >> Oh, I got to skip a whole page.
>> No point. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Is there do both? >> Motion made and seconded. >> Motion. No, >> nobody s Okay, I make a motion. Is there a second? >> Second.
>> Novak, >> yes. >> Leur, >> yes. >> Kesi, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Sarski, >> yes. >> Zabrouski, >> yes.
>> Okay. Library Board of Trustees. Um, the reappoint of Julia Green. Uh the re I think it's a reappointment but it's the school superintendent's recommendation. Laurianne de Rosinski
and my recommendation is the reappoint of Karen Pero. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Novak. >> Yes. Leur. >> Yes.
>> Kesi. >> Yes. Rios, >> yes. >> Sinarski, >> yes. >> Zabrowski, >> okay. The Environmental Commission. Um,
John, these are all full terms. There's no alternates in here. Okay. Um, the reappoint of Nicole Ranovich, Maness Sha, Anton New, Shirley Reed, and Cassandra Dy.
Is there a motion? >> The only >> Andra is going to the alternate. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Second. >> Second. >> Uh Sinarski, >> yes. >> Blemer, >> yes. >> Kesi,
>> yes. >> Novak, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Um, and Zabroski. Oh, there we Okay. Anyway, >> okay. Open space committee. Um,
>> these are all three-year terms, right? Nanish Desai, Nicole Ranovich, and Donna Roberts. Is there a motion? >> Wait, hold on. >> Yes. >> As appointed by the council. >> Yeah.
>> All right. So, we'll do that first and then the council will make their their appointment. >> Okay. >> All right. Okay, I need a motion to accept those. >> Is there Is there a motion? >> Motion. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Which one of these are on the environmental convention?
>> Uh, Nicole is >> okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Roll call. >> Zowski. >> Yes. >> Bleur. >> Written right there. >> His >> Novak. >> Yes.
>> Rios. Yes, >> yes. >> All right. Now, the council needs to >> Okay. Uh >> make an appointment. >> Who who who wants to represent the council on on the environmental committee?
>> No, open space. >> Open space. >> Open space, rather. Herby, you look interested. >> I always look interested. >> Okay. >> Don't do that around me. You'll get a point. I make a motion that Ive uh
Blomar uh is the council uh member of the open space committee. >> There second. >> Roll call. >> Novak. >> Yes. >> Lei. >> Yes.
>> Rios. >> Yes. >> Starkski. >> Yes. >> Zabrski. >> Okay. Board of Health. Uh a three-year member reappoint. Karen Bert. Is there a motion? >> Moved.
>> Is there a second? >> Novak. >> Yes. >> Leurk. >> Kesi. >> Yes. >> Rios. >> Yes. >> Sinarski. >> Yes. >> Zabowski. >> Yes.
>> Okay. The rest of it I believe is OEM. Uh so as >> so with that as written >> is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call.
>> Person Novak. >> Yes. >> Leur. >> Yes. >> Kissi. >> Yes. >> Rios. >> Yes. >> Sinarski. >> Yes. >> Zabowski. >> Yes. >> Wait a minute. One's building something else. >> Yeah, we got to do GIF.
>> Okay. Under the GIF insurance. uh one-year uh employee Meadow Magnani and one-year alternate Jessica Zabrowski. Is there a motion? >> Is there a second?
>> Roll call. >> Uh Sinarski Leur, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Novak, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Zabrowski, >> yes. Okay. So, the community development
block grant administrator is Gwendelyn Knight. Uh, >> are we reappointing her? >> Okay. >> Okay. How about >> and then the Veterans Alliance >> wanted it moved. >> Uh,
>> what the mayor's designate for solid waste. >> Wait, wait, wait to >> at least. They'll let me know. Um, mayor's designate to Mid City Transportation.
We don't have anybody. >> So, where am I? Down by Dave Lightner. >> Um, well, we got to do equal opportunity housing. >> Is Glenn. >> Okay. So, the equal opportunity, it's a three-year term. It's the reappoint of our BA, Glenn Scarzinski. Is there a motion?
>> Some moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Novak. >> Yes. Leuri, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Sinarski, >> yes. >> Zabowski, >> yes.
>> Okay. Mayor's designate to Mid City Solid Waste Advisory Council, one-year. Elise Baron. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Novak. >> Yes.
>> Bleur. Yes. >> Kesi. >> Yes. Rios. >> Yes. >> Sinarski. >> Yes. >> Zabrski. >> Yes. >> Does he need to be appointed? >> No, because he was just re >> Yeah, that was Arzo.
>> How about Dave Lightner? >> No, because that's >> actually there is a couple appointments we missed earlier with the planning board and uh Sarah. We have to have the council members elect their representative uh for the planning board and the two uh council member
representatives for Sarah. Okay. So, for the planning board, uh, who's interested, >> isn't it John? Is it John? Because John, >> you're interested. Okay. John Zabrowski. Uh, is there a motion? >> So, moved.
>> A second. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh, roll call. >> Uh, Novak. >> Yes. >> Blemer. >> Yes. >> Khesi, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. Sinarski. >> Yes.
>> Zabrouski. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And what was the other one? >> The other There's two council member position on Sarah. >> Okay. Uh Mary, from your side. >> No. Either of you guys want to be on Sarah. I'll nominate you.
>> Yeah. You kind of You want to be on Sarah? >> It's an important board. Okay. I nominate Alberto Rios. Is there a second? Roll call. Novak. >> Yes. >> Leur, >> yes. >> Kissi,
>> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Zarski, >> yes. >> Zabrowski, >> yes. >> Okay. >> John, uh, from the from our side, >> I have been serving on that.
>> Okay. So, the reappoint of John Zrowski. >> So moved. >> All right. Mary dead be. >> All right. >> Roll call. >> Okay. Um, Novak, >> yes. >> Leur, >> yes. >> Kesi, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes.
>> Sinarski, >> yes. >> Zerowski, >> yes. >> You done? >> Yes. Okay. for the public hearing when they were concepts. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. I I know we've already informed the council of this by by email, but for
the benefit of the public, uh it's becoming an increasingly harder process to hire qualified police officers. Our entry level list was received on the first week of December from the Civil Service Commission. The police department has diligently vetted the
candidates. They've identified three that they would like to extend conditional offers of employment to and that will be pending the successful completion of their medical psychological testing. And if the council so desires setting up a special meeting, uh we could also uh advance
interviews, although we did forward the uh uh biographies of each officer to the council members. So with that said, I'm seeking permission to issue uh conditional offers of employment to Joseph L. Smith, Brandon Alisia, and Blake Luchard. All of whom who are
several residents. Is there a motion? >> Do we need a motion? >> I don't think it's just >> Okie dokie. >> Is there any objection? Do it that way. Any objection? >> Okay. >> It's important that people realize that
we're doing this at the last minute because the academy starts January 26, right, Glenn? >> Correct. >> And we don't want to miss this opportunity. we will have to wait all the way till August to do it and we want to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to uh hiring police officers.
>> Okay, that being said, uh I'll open the uh public portion on the consent agenda. Are there any questions? Jim, >> thank you, Mayor Jim Robinson. Harllin, happy new year to everyone up there, everyone here. You know, January 1st,
Reorganization Day is supposed to be a ceremonial and celebratory day and congratulatory day. Instead, on the consent agenda and and it should set the tone for the rest of the year, a tone of efficiency and good government. On the consent
agenda is the adoption of the affordable housing agreement. And I saw that and it's like deja vu all over again. This is what happened in 2016. We all know the results of that when that was rushed through and we're
living with it. That's not government at its best. And the affordable housing plan, which will dictate building in the next 10 years, is among the most consequential votes that this council is
going to take. And you have some people here who are expected to do it in the first hour of the first day of their term. Nobody knows the plan. I looked online. It's not online. I thought it might be
at the back table where plans are normally. It wasn't there. The plan should have been posted on the website. It should be there. We the people should know what's in that plan that you're voting on. It's it's a pretty important plan. The
professionals who develop that plan should come in, make a presentation to the council and the public and answer questions. Let us know what it's about. It could be a great plan. I hope it is. I understand the 40 acres behind Kennedy Park are now
out of that plan. They were only getting us 22 credits anyway. That's a great thing, but that's just rumor. I don't know that. We should know it ought to be online.
And this is no way to start the year. This is no way for two new councilmen to start their tenures with being told they have to vote on this plan. This plan could have been adopted the last week of December. it. You can call a meeting in
48 hours, have the professionals come in, put it online, have a presentation, let us know. I I I'm assuming and I'm hoping it's a better plan. Couldn't be worse plan than the than the first draft. I'm
hoping it's a good thing, but we don't know. And how do you folks vote on it if you don't know? And I'm I'm betting if I were to ask all of you to explain in detail what the plan is, you wouldn't be able to do it and you wouldn't be expected to. But we have
professionals. The professionals should be here. I mean, this isn't this this is pretty consequential. It is going to dictate the building of homes and apartments and various other things over the next 10 years.
It's pretty important. We ought to know. And it doesn't have to be done today. It doesn't have to be done without it being out there. I mean, technically, it should have been done last year. Um, but we can call a meeting within 48 hours.
You you cancel the second where you didn't have a second meeting in December. Would have been an ample opportunity. Um, so I just hope you know the new councilman I congratulate them took an oath and the oath was to do
things to the best of their ability. You do things to the best of your ability when you have time to look at the plan. You have time to ask questions of the people who develop the plan. That's serving the people to the best of
your ability. So, I hope I hope this is the last time something like this happens. I want to say just two other things. Mayor, I'm very glad to see you here tonight. I hope uh you're feeling better soon. John McCormack called me
this morning to remind me that it was 30 years ago today that he finished his three terms in office. And what I want to say about that is he had 33 counsel
for some of those terms. And he said to that council, I will break a tie if I have to, but I don't want to work together. Work together to eliminate three three
ties because that's what's in the best interest of the people. And John McCormack was a great mayor, successful mayor, productive mayor. I would urge you to follow that advice. Work together so that you don't have three three ties
so that you have >> something you can all agree on. Thank you, Mayor. Happy New Year everybody. >> Thank you. >> Counselor, if you would please. Uh yes. Um with regard to the affordable housing, we actually can close the public portion. >> Can you what?
>> You want to close the public portion first? Oh, okay. >> Um, with regard to the public the affordable housing resolution, it uh the court actually Oh my Oh, I apologize. I apologize. I'm not on um the court actually ordered us to have it done by this date. Um and actually it was a it
was a a discretion because most of the judges do are requiring that the towns to hold special meetings uh to get it done prior to uh the judge allowed Seville to have it done by on its reorgan excuse me reorganization meeting because it is on the first of the month I mean yeah January 1st first of the
year. So she was given a discretion to allow that to happen. So, and one of the things were was discussed is to allow the new council people a chance to vote on it, to consider it rather than being rushed at the end of the year with uh with council members who were no longer going to be on the council. That was some of the the considerations that was
discussed as to why it was placed on this agenda versus trying to squeeze in a uh special meeting because it wasn't that we had all of December. This plan, this settlement, everything was coming together literally as as of December 31st. in I mean December 20 22nd was our
last program session before the judge and we were still working out uh terms and settlement terms with Fair Share Housing Center who is the objector to our plan as well as working with the uh affordable housing special adjudicator from the court as to what those terms
are. And in fact, we're still getting as of this uh as of even as of last night getting tweaks to the actual term of the agreement from the court saying, well, we'd rather see a reporting done in July versus December at the end of the year. So, that is something that was um still
being u you know, kind of put together into a final version of the agreement that can be signed. As for um the actual plan, uh uh Mr. Robinson, you are correct. the that one site uh next to Kennedy Park has been removed from the plan. I will say I was not part of that
negotiations. As I cited before, I did have a conflict with that uh uh well appearance of a conflict with regard to that property based on uh work that a prior attorney for my firm who's been since retired uh worked on for for the property owner. So I had recused myself
from all work on that particular property. uh but the planner had worked directly with fair share in the court and had taken that piece of property out of the uh plan. The plan currently has three uh sites that are to address the affordable housing
obligation. Again, our municipal obligation for the fourth round is 240 units. Uh the one site is uh that was in the plan originally is the Gillette Towers expansion. that is an age restricted special needs housing that will provide 16 units uh towards the uh
borrow's uh requirement. Uh there's the mobility special care site which is a group home which is already constructed and built and that provides four units as well as four bonus credits. And then there is the one site uh called the rar which is identified in the plan as the
raren street transit village that actually was in the original plan but the plan uh had mistakenly only include the actual uh park and rides in that as the area to be included which that's actually not was the intented this is
coming from Sarah and actually this uh pending uh redevelopment preliminary investigation before the planning board as we speak uh to declare that entire entire area surrounding that between Route 9 or the Parkway and Route 9. Is
it Route 9 and Route 18? I'm sorry, I'm just trying to play my head. It's Route 9. Sorry, >> trying to vis visualize it. Um that would be considered a uh for redevelopment overlay zone that would provide for the remaining units uh of 173 units and uh which which would also
provide us approximately because of the uh transit village type of designation or orientation additional bonus credits of 48 uh 48 to 49 uh bonus credits. So in total our plan would provide for um uh just over the 240 units. I believe
the final number is 245.5 units uh uh to address our affordable housing need. That transit uh rarity street transit village area is just an overlay zone. It's not no condemnation, no taking of land. The intent is to put the zoning in place to revitalize that
area so that it can be developed uh and become more uh fruitful uh type of uses and provide for affordable housing mixed type use development uh to meet our obligation. That is something that is still in the plans at Sarah level. There is no final plan for what that
redevelopment plan is going to look like. But the intent what's going to be included in our housing uh housing element fair share plan is that port that property really satisfying the majority of our obligation. And to do so uh we will be proceeding through two different avenues like I said
redevelopment which is already in the process as well as getting a either a transit village designation or uh transit village uh uh orientation um uh designation. There's two different types of designations you get from the
the state which allows for extended uh additional fundings from the state uh grants uh infrastructure fundings uh that would allow that to really be vitalized by private developers whether they come in whether existing property uh developers or excuse me existing
property owners who want to redevelop their property to try to revitalize that area of the burrow. Uh, and that's the only three sites that are included in the plan that's part of the settlement. And I, you know, we we were trying our best to get somewhere beforehand so that we could have more time to talk about it. But we were under deadlines with the
courts under the deadlines with the statute. Uh, and the court allowed us to put it on for this uh rather than to squeeze in a special uh meeting right in the middle of the holidays. So that is why it was put on the agenda for for this meeting and that's why it's being presented at this time. If we don't
adopt it then uh today uh then we don't meet the statutory deadlines even as slightly extended by the court and depending on the judge's discretion on how they want to rule uh whether or not we will continue to be able to uh have our immunities from builders remedy
lawsuits or not uh it's up in the air because this is all new territory. Uh as some of you who may be at some of the prior meetings and heard updates on how the pro new process works. This is a whole new statute under this fourth round affordable housing. it follows a whole new process and this is all new
territory. So, we don't know how the courts are going to handle the fact you don't have a final um settlement agreement entered prior to uh the deadline set by the courts what they're going to do and how they're going to handle it. So, we could lose it, we might not. Maybe they give us some more time, but to avoid that question mark,
we have this settlement on the agenda under resolution at this time to try uh to u address our uh the borrow's affordable housing obligation. And we have time periods set forth throughout the entire fourth round which is a 10-year period where we have to meet Ben benchmarks. We're adopting the
redevelopment plan and so forth which we haven't been it hasn't been drafted yet. So don't know what that's going to look like but that will come before this council for adoption. That gets adopted by ordinance and that ordinance then uh is something that is adopted by this council. So you have very much
involvement and on the whole development process though it will initiate through Sarah. It will be a recommendation to this council. This council is the one who makes the final determination. >> Question. >> Okay. Uh council have any questions? >> I have a question. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Go ahead, Hervey. >> Um
>> this seems this seems rushed and my question is how long do we usually have to come up with a plan? >> Well, when if if it's not for affordable housing purposes, it varies. In in the past, uh let me make sure I'm talking into the mic. In the past, for the other
rounds, for the first and second round, it followed a a a uh regulatory uh program and timing that was established by COA. Uh for the third round, COA was disbanded. So, then it just was kind of the wild west. No one knew what to do. So, everyone just filed their actions
with the court and the courts just set forth random dates and times and scheduling orders and case management orders as when things needed to be done and the the municipalities had to follow whatever the court order issued. Here we had a new statutory framework that was established by this legislature. The legislature said for the for this plan
you every municipality has to have their number adopted meaning what they calculated their affordable housing obligation to be by January 31st of LA of 2025. We did that. We made that happen. It got it got challenged. There was there's also a process in there where you can challenge it through what
they call the affordable housing dis dispute program which is run by retired judges. At that time we had fair share uh object to our number uh and we had to resolve that with them and we came into a settlement with regard to establishing our 240 uh obligation for the fourth
round that by statute had been finalized and entered by March 31st in an order entered. We didn't get our order until early April but from the court but you know we were very close. We met our timeline. The court kind of was a little late on that. Then after that the next
statute the statutory timeline was we had to adopt our housing element and fair share plan by June 30th. So while in the normal course of things we're not under a deadline under this statute we had from April to June to come up with some type of affordable housing plan. That was the one that was originally
adopted back in June. Uh it was it was rushed. It was collaborative. We were trying to come up working with Sarah got working with the planners to come up with some plan that would meet our number that would be what would be in the burrow's best interest. uh that was adopted, submitted to the program and
then the program then allows for uh once again objectors to come in to object and go through this uh dispute resolution process that we did that fair share once again objected to our proc our plan then and we initiated discussions through the
program through that that they had they had until August 31st to file their objections and then come late September is when negotiations started and we started talking and through that is When the plan our plan started evolving, we started looking at and when I say we, a
lot of it was Sarah, it was the planners, you know, looking at well, how can we modify this to address the the objections from fair share while at the same time um building the town and planning for the town that makes sense so that the burrow controls the development and it's not developers
coming in telling the burrow you have to build here, I have to be allowed to build here and so forth. So that's where this plan over time in matter of months was started to get developed and worked on and involvement with the court. It's the pro, they call it the program, but
it's really judges and courtapported uh special masters that worked together numerous meetings, numerous ver virtual conferences, uh including uh Judge Jacobson, who was involved quite a bit. And that's when we got to where we are here. And this as of like I said, this
was finally presented to the court on December 22nd. So the and we presented to the court to make sure there was no objections by the court if we went forward with this as a settlement with fair share. Fair share was in favor of the plan as I I outlined it. Uh the
court then said they would approve it and they said you know by the statute we have to have the settlement finalized by the end of by December 31st 2025. But the judge like I said previously knew that we had this reorg meeting. So in lie of trying to schedule a special
meeting prior to the end of the year allowed us to give that one day extra time uh and wasn't going to take away our immunity by adopting it today. Uh I I I understand that. But the the thing is um if you had a prior council
um to me that would be a better solution for people that are aware and you know familiar with what what's going on as opposed to you have a new council with two council new members and then now we have to go through I'm I'm I'm reading
all of this and even uh from the email I got um when was it on what's today? Thursday. I got I think I got it on on Tuesday. It's even say you're still negotiating in a final form of the mediation.
And the thing is imagine a new council member coming in and reading that and says what am I voting on? >> I I understand. I I was trying to just give as much and as early as possible as as you said that's why I had something I
I fored on um you know there was there was nothing more than you know the judge given this extra day we you know we tried to take advantage of the extra day there was nothing more than than that behind it. Um, but at the same time, I understand what you're saying that, you
know, maybe as new council members, it would have been better that you that the prior council adopt it yesterday rather than you adopting it today. I I I get that. I do understand that >> because the only thing I was happy about is that after I flipped through it and I realized that the 40 acres were not part of this.
>> Yeah. >> So, I was happy about that, but everything else I, you know, I'm still I'm still trying to uh figure it out. But thank you. >> I understand. I understand. Um, and you know, hindsight's a Monday morning quarterback. Hindsight's always 2020. Maybe that what what better would have been the better way. I just what what we
were looking in front of us, we just saw the reorg the judge says get it done. You can get it done there without having to schedule another special meeting. That was all we looked at. Um, and maybe that was the wrong decision. >> Any other questions? >> Um, I'm just uncomfortable. I'm voting
on a on a draft. That's that's my question. >> No, that's that's I'm explaining myself. I mean, I uh I may I may be a yes. Uh I ran on saving the 40 acres. The 40 acres are no longer there. So, I mean, I'll take that win. I just I I need to see a finalized.
>> Okay. >> Oh, if if you ever get uncomfortable, just abstain. >> Okay. >> I mean, that's how that's how the system's designed. >> Yeah, I understand that. I'm just just wanted to say that because it's a draft,
I like it. I I ran, like I said, I ran on saving those 40 acres and it looks like they're not there. So, I'll take that win, but it's not finalized. >> Well, I I can say there's no way we would have the plan finalized in time to adopt because that gets adopted actually by the planning board. That's why in the
agreement, it actually has we have until March 15th to adopt the plan. It just says that the plan that gets adopted should be in substantially compliance with the plan, the draft plan that's attached. With regard to the agreement, yes, that's why I I I in the resolution, it says it's in substantial compliance
with the version that's attached. Like I said, I just got it just as last night. I got a email from the special master. Now, it's not like it's fair share where I could say it's too late, fair share. We've already come I don't want to take your comments. It's coming from the court. So, we kind of have to take their comments, at least consider them. So, uh
but I can say I looked through them this morning. Uh there was nothing. It was really the only real difference from the draft that you have is instead of reporting in J by in December uh you know the the periodic reporting she asked for it to be reporting in in July. Uh I guess it makes sense for them when
they're getting all this documents rather than the new years and the so that would really be the only difference in the agreement itself versus the version you have. Uh but I I mean I understand what you're saying. I just want to let you know that is really the reason why it's in only substantial the form attached to the the because I knew these these things were coming and we
had this I wouldn't be you know be able to give you a final final that's signed by everyone because I'm still getting the comments in even from the court. Any other questions? >> Okay. >> I don't I don't have a question but since we're we're in
>> No, this is Hold on. Uh this is this is we're going over our bill list and the consent agenda. So it's okay to have questions. Usually many times when we do the consent agenda u council members have have questions
about it. Um this happens to be a little bit extended and more complicated. But that being said, and and as a courtesy to Hervey and to Alberto, um you know, if if they have ask questions,
anything, John? >> No, I was going to say I have comment, but I'm going to wait till the uh the vote. >> Okay. Uh so, uh anything else, Ken? >> Who's sitting next? >> Um >> huh.
Thank you, mayor. Uh, happy new year to everyone. I was here at the December 8th, the last council meeting, and Councilwoman Novak, as I recall, had asked for a another
meeting, a special session, and it was voted down by you people here. I don't quite understand that. I agree with the comments of Councilman Blemer and and the the other people here. Uh
this is a town of more than 45,000 people and we're trying to run it with an agenda that's merged with the regular council meeting that lasts for about five minutes. That's no way to run a railroad as they say and it's no way to
run a municipal municipality either. uh you know people here they don't I'm glad the attorney knows something about what's going on when were all the people on the governing body versed on the display all through the year and now we're doing this stuff we're blaming it
on the court right if there was something went on until December 31st we could have had a meeting at when did you say this was resolved uh Mr. attorney December 23rd. There was still time to call an emergency meeting. I don't quite
understand that. And I think we're consistently making mistakes when it comes to this. And that's why we have the amount of lawsuits. That's how we we have the amount of issues that we have because there is no real agenda to
discuss issues here. I don't want to prolong this because it's supposed to be a celebratory u meeting, but I think it's important enough to say that's not a way to run the municipality. We I'm on the housing authority for 25 years. The
better part of it, you were on it too, mayor, for quite a while because I put you on it, if you remember. We always had an agenda on there. We still have one. The agenda may be 20 minutes and maybe a half hour. It may be 40 minutes. the the public meeting after that may
only be 10 minutes because you resolve the things that the working agenda I sat for five years on the county utilities authority the agenda was at 11 to 12 you took a break for for lunch and 1:00 come back and you had the regular meeting I think that's a problem and I think the
excuses you're making here for why this is the last minute and and what's happened I think is wrong and I think our professionals should be here like Mr. Robinson said to explain this and explain it to the public. What is the public here? Chop liver. It's the same
thing over and over. Where was the deal on the on the firehouse that what is going to be? The public voted on it. Uh mayor, you were against it. Councilman Sarski was against it and all of a sudden we're putting offices in there. Where was the public discussion on that?
Where was the discussion with the governing body? It just doesn't seem to be right. I wanted to get that out. I hope there are going to be changes in the new year. I certainly uh would appreciate if that happens because we need a better method of running this
town. Thank you very much. >> Anyone else? Okay. Take a motion to close the public portion. >> My resolutions notice to close and adopt. >> Take a motion to close the public
portion and adopt. I move the public hearing be closed and the consent agenda resolutions be approved on roll call vote. >> Is there a second? Roll call. >> Zabowski. >> Yes. With comment and comment to 202614.
Uh first and foremost, I do appreciate uh all the conversation uh about the affordable housing uh mandate that we are obligated to have and the plan that we're obligated to have. Uh I appreciate uh that explanation. Um, and if you're
confused, um, you're probably with, uh, the majority of people because at the end of the day, the issue that we still have unresolved is this a mandate that has been forced upon us and not just us, but a a myriad of municipality, all our municipalities in New Jersey with very
archaic rules, very bureaucratic and very problematic um, u ways and formulas that are out there. And the fact of the matter is the goal is still the goal and it's a beautiful goal and that is to be able to provide affordable housing to all our residents and those that wish to
come to serbo because that's what we want to do. That's how serable grows. The problem is that because of way this has evolved over 50 years. It now really becomes convoluted, complicated and it
hasn't met that goal. Hasn't met that goal at all. In fact, what we have now is communities like us fighting amongst ourselves because we're worried about overdevelopment, overpopulation because you don't get enough time to be able to plan the way you want because in many
cases there's no ability for the community itself to be able to self-govern itself when it comes to affordable housing. That's really the issue here, the overriding issue. If there's anything we can do as a community, we have to stand up for ourselves and say this has to stop. We
have to be able to make our own decisions on how we want to do this. Not be forced by a court, not be forced by deadlines and time limits. You may say that there is some conspiracy out there. There's no conspiracy. Those time limits and those deadlines are real. And those
issues that build a remedy and everything else, they are very real. I had been on some of those on some of those discussions and I want to compliment our the team that was there, our planners, Peter, Dan, uh Vina, uh
Joe and uh and um Glenn that were on uh on those discussions because they worked very very hard on very tight and restricted uh limited ways in which they could get this done. Um, but I agree with each and every one of you who says
this isn't a way to run things, but it's time for all of us to kind of rise up and say we've had enough of it. And at the end of the day, we need to do something better. If you ask me, we've always talked about referendums. I'd have a referendum where our community
comes together and ask the question, let's go back to the legislature. let's go back to the courts and say you need to redo it because at the end of the day this is simply just not working. So I I am um my vote is still yes. Uh but that
is my comments related to uh 202614 >> um uh yes for everything else other than 20261 which is a no 20262 which is also a no. I didn't get the rules of order and uh for the I would like to have
agenda meetings as well and uh and for 2614 I'm abstaining due to the fact that I don't know enough in order to be able to vote on that. >> Just to clarify that's no on one and two and abstain from 14. >> That is correct.
>> Okay, Khesi. >> Yes. >> Novak. Um, just before I I vote, I would like to make a few comments on on one the rules of order. Um, be I think everybody should really read them well
before we vote on them. One of my pet peeves was there's there's one rule and it says we are not to make any uh like don't say you voted that way because you don't like Jewish people or you you voted that way because your
party told you to. Uh when comments like that were made at a meeting, I used to drive Kennedy crazy when I would say point of order and he was ready to throw something at me. But it is kind of important read those rules of order and try to abide by them all year. Uh
second, the uh I have no problem with the actual dates of the meeting or where they're being held. I would really like us as a council to get together and perhaps make our agenda meetings, although on the same night separate. let's let's take it into 310 so that we
can sit down and discuss it. A lot of times we come in here during the the agenda part of the meeting and it it's rushed so quickly and it's like does anybody have any problems with this and if nobody says anything quickly enough we just rush on to the next thing. So I would like to see more involved agenda
meetings. I came from a place where we used to have two per se separate agenda meetings a month and uh so I don't want to increase it. I know how hard it is. Everybody up here is giving up a lot of their personal times. But if we could just take the time to go into a separate
room and sit down and talk to each other because there's a lot of times I'm trying to talk to the person down there and my voice isn't being picked up on this mic. When we're across from each other, we get along. So, I'm not I don't have any problems with the actual scheduling. I just think we should be a little bit better about the agenda
meetings. Uh about 14. Uh I have lived through builder's remedy and although the attorney has said it's not a definite that we will get hit with that, I have lived through it and it's not a pretty process. The builders basically get to walk all over the town.
zoning laws that we've had in in place for years are just thrown out by the courts and the builders get to do whatever they want to with the Camelot down here on Main Street. Am I right? Is it down there? Yeah. That was originally
zoned for uh businesses. We had to reszone it and all of those apartments went in. What's happening on Cross Avenue again? It was residential, but the lot sizes and the amount of buildings that were allowed in there, we
were just told, "Tough luck, change it." Same thing with what's going on down there by police headquarters. All of that builder's remedy because we didn't dot our eyes and cross our tees, we got hit with that. And as much as the
council, we did reduce quite a bit of it at the time, we still got raped. There's no two ways about it. So, I would like to say thank you to the planners that listen to our comments. When I I feel sorry for Alberto and Irvy because my
very first year up here, I I abstained on the original I think it was the original numbers that >> Oh, yes. >> And because I didn't feel I had enough information and then when the plan came out, I voted no because the planner stood before us and I said to them, well, have we considered other
alternatives? how we've considered working with current apartments in town. We have two three large apartment complexes. Have we tried to work with them to perhaps subsidize some of their apartments so we wouldn't to make them affordable units so we wouldn't even
have to build anymore? And I was told, "Yeah, we can do that, but we don't have any time to do that." I thank God that the planners and I I thought you were involved, Joe, but I realized the reason why you you stepped out of that um listened to us and looked at other
alternatives. We are mandated by the state and it it's very hard to swallow all of the time, but we did we get to choose where we put these numbers and the new plan is substantially better.
And I would like to believe that before we go to the next round and somebody might try to stick that 40 acres back into the next round that the council get into negotiations with MCO to see if we can make some sort of deal where at
least some of that property comes back to the burrow. It's it's prime real estate in this town and it's right there our biggest park and it's it's it's the crown and glory of you know Sable. So, uh, I'm going to vote yes on everything, but I just wanted to make those
comments. Thank you. >> Rios, >> uh, yes on everything, but one and two. One and two will be a no. Uh, specifically for the agenda meetings, I'd like to, uh, have those. I want to
come in and make a decision and be informed. Uh, I don't want to have an idea of what a resolution is. I want to know exactly what a resolution is and I want to go in depth before I make my voting decisions. And on 14, I'm going to abstain.
>> Sinars, >> I'm voting yes on everything. Uh the 2026 14 I do have a comment. I've been watching this since we became involved in this and I think it is the best plan. Uh the 40 acres is off. They're going to have the Raron Street complex. I think
that's going to be big plus in this 40 acre problem and that's my vote. Yes. >> Okay. Um >> so now I'm going to open the public portion for questions or comments on any
and all issues. Remember this is a ceremonial day. The next meeting is is a regular business meeting, but this is to celebrate the new year, the new council people. So, if you would keep keep your
comments in in in a celebratory framework. Anyone for the public portion? No one for the public portion. Take a motion to close and move >> to adjurnn. I'm sorry. >> Anybody second the closing of the public?
>> Closing the public. Okay. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> Okay. At this time, >> Andrew Ozag, if you'd come in for the closing prayer, >> please stand everyone
as we conduct this meeting. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord makes his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen. >> Need a motion to adjurnn. So moved. All >> in favor. Thank you everyone and a happy new year.