WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=p39j-BaSu4w

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: p39j-BaSu4w):
- 00:00:03: Meeting Called to Order; Budget Workshop Overview
- 00:01:36: Budget Difficulties: Insurance, Pension, and COVID Surplus
- 00:05:30: DPW Reductions, Health Care Costs, and Ozempic
- 00:07:46: Department Head Budgets, Employee Contributions, and Tiers
- 00:12:17: Increasing Revenue, PILOTs, River Bend, and NASCAR
- 00:18:18: Capital Budget Discussion; Road Improvements, and Planning
- 00:22:23: COLA Ordinance, Amendment Explanation, Board of Education Increase
- 00:31:44: Opening Public Portion: Questions and Comments
- 00:32:04: Public Comment 1: Meeting Notification Concerns
- 00:35:54: Public Comment 2: Bordentown Roundabout Involvement


Part: 1

1
00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:30.760
May 11th, 2026, special meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council, budget workshop. I'm going to call up All right, so I'm going to call the meeting to order. Will everyone please stand for the Pledge of I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

2
00:00:30.760 --> 00:01:03.160
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Oh, notice of publication >> The special meeting has been advertised in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, Public Law

3
00:01:03.160 --> 00:01:19.160
1975. Roll call. Councilperson Womack. Here. Kolesky. Yeah. Novak. Here. Rios. Here. Sinarski. >> Here. Zabrowski. >> Here. Okay, so the purpose of this special meeting is a budget workshop. It's open

4
00:01:19.160 --> 00:01:36.280
to the public. It's being televised. Uh Not being televised. It's not being televised. Is it being recorded? Yes, the audio. >> Okay. Well, at some point it'll be televised. Uh that being said, uh I'm going to turn it over to Danielle. Thank you, Mayor.

5
00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:53.320
Um as you all know, it was a very difficult budget year um here in Sayreville and all over the state of New Jersey. Municipalities are really struggling. Um there's a lot of increases that are beyond our control, mainly insurance,

6
00:01:53.320 --> 00:02:12.440
pension obligations, um our sewer um contract with the MUCUA went up a lot. So, it's it's made it very, very difficult for us. There's also, you know, We had some surplus come that was,

7
00:02:12.440 --> 00:02:28.080
as a result of COVID money, that we used a lot of that last year. So, that, you know, that's no longer available to us. Um, I know we introduced a 25 cents, and we were able to amend the budget to get the tax rate substantially lower to 16

8
00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:45.720
cents. Okay, were you able to do that chart that shows the extraordinary expenses this year to the traditional expenses? >> I wish that I was able to, but unfortunately, we are under state review this year. Every couple of years,

9
00:02:45.720 --> 00:03:01.200
every town is under state review. So, the state was asking me for so much information to get the approval to So, so our budget the best you can do it on the back of an envelope. Mhm. Well, Well, we have, 9 cents is, if we we picture the tax

10
00:03:01.200 --> 00:03:18.239
rate increase at 16%. 9 cents of that is for our insurance. Um, almost 2 cents is for pension. And our waste water is 3.3 cents, which is 14 cents. Okay, so the increase. Nobody gets a direct

11
00:03:18.239 --> 00:03:34.480
We're still nobody gets a direct sewage bill. The borough still pays it through general taxes. They're going to pay the the shortfall. Everybody has a sewer bill. Glenn said that he's going to be working on the to raise that so that yeah, the

12
00:03:34.480 --> 00:03:54.480
homeowners, but it it by the time it goes into effect, it will probably only get maybe one quarter. But that does not reflect in here. That will go into next year's budget. So, Mary, do you want to go over what the meetings that you've had? Um, We really only had two meetings and one

13
00:03:54.480 --> 00:04:10.240
was extremely short because two of our members two out of the three had to run to the Sarah meeting. So, we only had it for an hour. That's when we were first uh you know, we were told that, you know, we had 25.2 cents. And uh

14
00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:26.360
I was choking on that because that's when I read the budget, that's what I came up with, but I said, "I must be wrong. I must be reading this wrong." I wasn't. Um I begged and pleaded that they get it down to no more than 19 cents. Um it didn't look like that was going to

15
00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:41.800
happen for a while, but uh when we came in here that and she uh Da- Danielle had uh emailed me and said that uh we were going to be pleasantly surprised and when we came in it was at 16.4 cents, which is, you know, just a

16
00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:57.800
little, you know, a little over 9 cents decrease. That's pretty damn good considering uh what what education is. I'm sorry, Kennedy. I'm saying I thought I thought knowing Is he here? No, he No, he never hears me. But,

17
00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:13.720
that's with with or without the hearing aids. No, I I was uh very pleasantly surprised with this. I uh Would I have liked to have seen it a couple of cents less? Yes, I would. But, uh knowing what I know, uh this isn't my first rodeo with this and uh

18
00:05:13.720 --> 00:05:30.360
I I was very pleas- I mean, we had some found some things that we weren't aware of which helped us out and lot to do with pilots. We know there was some more money coming in from pilots than we originally anticipated, so that helped. So, and there's nothing we can really do

19
00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:49.520
to to lower the cost of health care. That's just what it is, you know. Okay. Um So, let me start. Uh we're not anything with DPW, any additional uh reductions that you foresee? Uh, I have

20
00:05:49.520 --> 00:06:07.160
nothing beyond the thing that I did, [clears throat] uh, read was the, uh, health care >> And and granted, it's your first year. Uh, but I think that the bulk is, uh, health care. It's, uh, I believe it's 33% or something like that.

21
00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:23.160
So, What's our total health care expenditure? [clears throat] Uh, it it's 12,600 I mean 12,600,000 is what we have to budget for. We're payroll of about 300. And this I think this was what this 3.3 million

22
00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:41.080
that it went up. Uh, it went up 2.3 2.3 and change. And I think the, uh, what I heard, you know, people talking and we got to make clear that this this health care doesn't cover any weight loss, uh, cuz that's that was one

23
00:06:41.080 --> 00:06:56.560
of the concerns out there. Yeah. So, you know, uh, so that it's it doesn't cover anything. Weight loss really. No, uh, there's a big interest in in those drugs and we did look at it earlier in this year, but that it was just cost prohibitive for us

24
00:06:56.560 --> 00:07:11.400
to be able to add that into our plan. You know, there's one question I didn't ask you. The health care cost, was that just the medical insurance? That was my original thought. No, that's all of our benefits. That's everything. Okay, that's I originally thought just medical and I said No, that's everything. Just

25
00:07:11.400 --> 00:07:31.080
to just to cover the Ozempic At the at the beginning of the century, the product there were two products that were hot on the market. One was Rogaine, which was for guys that were losing their hair. And the second one was the little blue pill for guys that had lost some other

26
00:07:31.080 --> 00:07:46.360
ability. >> [clears throat] >> And and at this meeting, I said, "We're not covering them." So, if you wonder why it's not covered, it It back 25 years. That's why you have you have molding

27
00:07:46.360 --> 00:08:05.920
relatively happy guys working on. Or happy wives Uh okay. Uh Herve? Um I don't I don't have anything in terms of bringing production up to public safety. >> All right. I do have to also say though Mayor that I talked to I didn't talk to

28
00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:21.400
every department head but I talked to >> can't hear you, right? I I didn't talk to every department head but I did talk to several and they were you know, content with their they had content with their budget. >> Have you ever talked to department head that raised their hand and said I have a

29
00:08:21.400 --> 00:08:37.280
cut? No, actually this was I'm telling you they were relatively happy with with what happened in this budget so which is unusual. Usually I get a list from everybody of things they want that they didn't get. They were relatively happy. All right, so Herve?

30
00:08:37.280 --> 00:08:52.320
Nothing. Sash? Don't shoot me but do borough employees pay anything toward the medical insurance? >> 30%. Yeah. 30%. Okay. Because that was a big problem for us. >> No, they they pay we're in chapter 78 they go right into

31
00:08:52.320 --> 00:09:08.640
>> Yeah, it's it's a it's a scale based on their salary. Um it tops out at 30% of their premium. Okay. Uh budget wise um they will contribute $1.8 million towards the cost of health benefits. Okay, and retirees are still is this

32
00:09:08.640 --> 00:09:23.560
Yeah, the tier one people are covered with no development. Oh, yeah. Okay. As far as I know it's all covered. We don't have many tier ones left. Uh to to be to be retired. Oh, we do. And police you have like 73. Mhm. Really? Yeah, the

33
00:09:23.560 --> 00:09:38.800
majority of the force. Maybe like six or seven here. I'm tier one. I'm tier one. So, how many how many how many tiers are there? I think five. Five or six now. >> Yeah. But the distinction is tier one that's the old old system where you got

34
00:09:38.800 --> 00:09:56.120
lifetime benefits with no contribution, and then from two down everybody's got to pay their portion. Are you an employee of the hospital or the city or the state? The state. SUNY, state of state of So, if if you were if you were had gotten employment like 1970,

35
00:09:56.120 --> 00:10:11.200
you'd retire with full salary, right? If you were to Uh not not full if depends on if you ERS or you UP. ERS is the one that you retire at half your salary. No, no, the original contract >> Oh, the original contract, okay. That's

36
00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:26.920
what I said, if your hire date was like My cousin retired from the state. From the state. She she knew people that were They got in just Right at the time. Right time. Yeah, because uh if they got 100% retirement.

37
00:10:26.920 --> 00:10:43.200
Yeah, my my my health care, I I have to just pay $25 copay um for whatever but it's always been like that. And it still is as a matter of fact I don't have to to not pay anything at all. >> Well, what about when you retire?

38
00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:59.440
When I retire, I still I'm still under the uh I but I have to do Medicare part B, I think. Yeah. Uh other than that, I'm good. And plus I have tons of time where I won't have probably won't have to pay any copay at all because they can use my time as a in the middle of

39
00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:15.600
or you're dead. The my copayment. What do we have? If you know that Jim's been in the hospital and he's had a heart attack and everything, I I don't think the health insurance has paid anything. And Medicare B has been paying all of our bills. >> Well, that's cuz you that becomes

40
00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:30.440
primary when you turn 65. >> Yeah, but that's what I'm saying is that once you turn 65, Medicare is I hope the insurance isn't charging the town a lot cuz they're not really I think once they paid a dollar 32 or something. And the usual what I do with the health care is

41
00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:47.400
is when you have retirees with long-term complicated health issues like like a cancer for instance. Those are very expensive treatments. And now with medical science, you know, what used to be a death sentence is now a chronic disease. >> Yeah, I know. So, >> Thank god. you know, we're we're paying many, many years of that treatment.

42
00:11:47.400 --> 00:12:02.760
We've got, you know, got what? Yeah. Good thing everybody's healthy, but that >> [clears throat] >> And that's what in large part drove our increase because as they the broker explained it to us, you know, we have our 100% of the premiums, Mhm. but the insurance company's showing out 104% to cover our claims.

43
00:12:02.760 --> 00:12:17.800
>> Yeah. So, right out of the shoot, you know, they're they're four four points in the hole and, you know, they've got to Yeah. be paid for it. So, anything else? I don't know of any other big projects that can be changed in the water instance. I can talk more

44
00:12:17.800 --> 00:12:32.960
to David and the Well, the the other the other thing is water instance, what's the direct impact water instance or has on the budget? Because water instance should be paid as you know. It pays pays for itself. Right. Okay. Mike?

45
00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:52.920
No, sir. No, sir. Don't have any. Okay. You knew [clears throat] what you meant. Um What did we get to you? Is there anything we can do to increase revenue? That's that's a tax increase.

46
00:12:52.920 --> 00:13:09.360
Well, Besides that. Besides that. [laughter] Besides that. Look, we'll derive benefits like starting in 2027, the the revenue coming out of River Bend will substantially increase. And that that will continue over the next 20 years. Now, real little bit hard

47
00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:25.440
to quantify what that is, but Basham give us a pretty good shot of revenue moving into the next year. If we land a project for Hercules, that will bring more revenue. Jupiter, I think they told us what John two years before that's built out, we'll get revenue out of that. So, those are

48
00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:39.840
definitive ways that we can see on the horizon coming into town and bringing us We've got Hanover is going to do the old Sunshine Biscuit site. That's going to bring more revenue. We haven't got We haven't realized the money from the sale of the land for the PILOT. Right.

49
00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:56.160
So, realistically, once we get those that coming in, what are the chances of that transpiring into lowering taxes? Zero. Oh, yeah. I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm >> So, but then then Well, I I think the better phrase [clears throat] to use would be to

50
00:13:56.160 --> 00:14:12.520
stabilize taxes. You You never want to lower. You want to have that nominal 2% growth in your budget every year because, just like the cost of milk and bread goes up in a household, the cost of milk and bread goes up for the borough. We have to keep pace with inflation for that. So, I mean, a 2% usually people don't even

51
00:14:12.520 --> 00:14:27.440
blink at it. It's a couple of dollars. But, this was an extraordinary year in terms of what we were faced with and we kind of So, the people In the In the newspaper, when they were they were doing Woodbridge to Piscataway, >> [clears throat]

52
00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:44.839
>> so I know Mayor Wahler of Piscataway made the comment that he he was okay because of PILOTs. PILOTs is a grossly misunderstood, I think. Uh essentially, what we're taking is undesirable land and we're incentivizing

53
00:14:44.839 --> 00:15:00.160
its development. And this legislature did this because we don't get the grants that the Board of Education get for operational costs. There's a difference between capital costs, which is building or buying a

54
00:15:00.160 --> 00:15:17.600
truck or something, and making payroll. We don't We don't We don't really We don't really get operational costs. Correct me if I'm wrong. No, no, that's correct. So, And frankly, it was PILOT revenue that pulled our bacon out of the fire this year cuz that last-minute revenue that we got was was that from

55
00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:33.640
PILOT. PILOTs are incredibly misunderstood, but Mayor Wahler, who has six data centers in Piscataway um said it was the pilots that kicked the taxpayer uh taxpayers of uh

56
00:15:33.640 --> 00:15:49.680
uh Pis- of Piscataway level. And McCormick and Woodbridge said the same thing. Um So, the revenue's got to come from someplace. So, it's either going to be taxes are going up or we find an

57
00:15:49.680 --> 00:16:04.760
alternative source such as PILOTs. And what a PILOT does in 2020 for in the beginning of the of the century National Way, which was the property owner for Riverton before Riverton, paid

58
00:16:04.760 --> 00:16:22.320
$300,000 a year. And that was for parcels A, B, and C. That's what their tax bill was. >> [clears throat] >> At that time, Governor McGreevey asked me to meet with NASCAR cuz NASCAR was looking for a track in Metro New York. I

59
00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:39.080
had a lunch with NASCAR. And one of the things that came out in the discussion was how Sayreville going to benefit. And they said, "Well, NASCAR doesn't There's no contribution to no contributions from NASCAR. The borough

60
00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:54.600
will benefit from They have six days of racing a year. The The borough will benefit from the hotels, res- everything that surrounds the track." And I said, "Fellas, I I said, 'Listen, I have people that that are going to pay

61
00:16:54.600 --> 00:17:11.040
the the the borough in Sayreville $20 million a year.' I said before we had the second meeting, I think you need to revise your business plan because the other's current statute, the people of Sayreville will not accept it regardless if you're a NASCAR I don't I

62
00:17:11.040 --> 00:17:28.360
don't have to be a NASCAR fan. Um >> [clears throat] >> But that's the benefit. The We were chasing Mary, A. You you you and I were here the same time. We were chasing the power stations on Cherry Hill Road. We can only tax the structure regular

63
00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:46.240
taxation. You only tax the quonset hut, right? The building that that the that the turbines are in. You don't tax what's inside. So, the thing with the data center is it it's a big warehouse, right? Inside is 17 bill or you know,

64
00:17:46.240 --> 00:18:01.360
it's it's 17 billion dollars, which I'd like to get some something for it. And which we will get something for it. So, so this year between school and borough the average home is probably going to go

65
00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:18.920
up six 700 dollars. But we don't know what county it is yet, right? I think the school came in at 1.5. No, county. County. >> Oh, county. Yeah, I don't know. They're usually very low. Yeah, they they usually have They're usually flat. But any anything is it I did notice that

66
00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:34.120
now I have seen and I think Alberto and and John have seen the capital budget. I it's not here and I don't see it. They're in the pages 40. Okay. Sheet 40. I don't have my glasses back.

67
00:18:34.120 --> 00:19:09.520
I did not see that. Oh, no. No, no. This is not Yes, 3B. 20 feet 100 feet by 20. Now, 5% of what is in operating for any projects that were supposed to be done this year is included in the

68
00:19:09.520 --> 00:19:27.360
operating the Yes. Yes. Yes. I know you know what That's the required down payment for the um for the bonds. Um now this this is a capital plan that's part of the budget. Um it includes it's it includes everything

69
00:19:27.360 --> 00:19:44.360
that um the departments have requested. We don't have to have all of that in the capital ordinances uh when we do the bond ordinances. Uh hi, is this the town manager? Yeah. Um you know, so it might look higher than

70
00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:59.960
than what um it settles out to after we select the projects that we wanted to fund um this year. Also, >> [clears throat] >> um we have to do a water quality analysis um every year and the state in our capital

71
00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:15.760
budget wants us to tie the water quality report to our capital plan to the penny. So, um you might see some um stuff in here on the water side that they look a lot We're on 40B. Hi, yes. Sorry.

72
00:20:15.760 --> 00:20:32.040
Page 40B. Now that uh what it has in here for road improvements um is that um including any of the projects that are being done? Cuz that that number seems a little high. Which one? Road improve- road

73
00:20:32.040 --> 00:20:49.000
improvement. The 3.7? 3.7? Um this is >> Debt authorization 3.7. Yeah. Is that >> I was talking to Glenn about that. >> Yeah, listen. Column three is estimated total cost to get like all of the roads done. Capital improvement fund is the down payment we have to provide for in the

74
00:20:49.000 --> 00:21:03.960
general budget, and then the debt authorized is the actual amount for this year to do projects on on 5E. Yeah. And is that So, for roads this year >> Yeah, that's for six years for the road improvements. Cuz the the capital plan

75
00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:19.000
is for six years. Yeah, the 21 million. This uh 3.7 That's everything we're doing, even roads that we might be getting some sort of grant for? Or is that just what we're doing? >> are separate. Okay. >> Yeah. Um Yeah, no, that doesn't include that. And

76
00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:35.400
and and I just want to make sure cuz I >> And never forget that we don't we don't realize these roads like we're budgeting for them in '26. You may see this paving happen in '28. Yep. You know, we're paving these this year with '24 money. And It takes that

77
00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:51.480
long to get the engineering and the permits and all that stuff. >> So, anything we Anything we approve this year >> Yeah, the money's sitting there, but we we the the actual implementation of the road is looking at a 2-year cycle. We might we start this year with all of the engineering and all that stuff. And then in the spring, that's when we

78
00:21:51.480 --> 00:22:07.080
actually start going out to bid on the project. And we're still doing Matter of fact, I think we might even be doing a '24 road now, aren't we? Okay. A a road from '24 now '25? Mhm. Yeah, but that I think there might have been something like that. Yeah, I mean, not

79
00:22:07.080 --> 00:22:23.000
roads, but you've got something on the agenda tonight. It's a capital expense for police that was under the '25 budget. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, we're still the roads we're doing now where, you know, from last year and maybe even the year before, so. And and all of the roads.

80
00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:41.400
Okay. I don't have anything else to say. I'm not supposed to. >> [clears throat] >> Yeah, Marjorie, nice. Um I just have two uh small points. Um we do have to do uh I know on the agenda for this evening uh the budget is listed

81
00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:58.280
before the Cola ordinance, but we have to have a public hearing on the Cola ordinance before we do the public hearing for the budget. Um Okay. Yes. >> Yeah. Mhm. And I just wanted to talk a little bit about the Cola ordinance. It seemed like at the at that meeting where we were

82
00:22:58.280 --> 00:23:14.720
going to have the public hearing and we tabled it that there was some hesitance about it. Um it really is just a tool that helps municipalities where um it gives you the option to raise over we're allowed to raise 2% of our

83
00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:31.040
appropriations over the previous year. And then if we can do it another 1.5% to 3.5% if we pass that COLA. So it doesn't obligate you to do anything, but it is a tool for us to be able to use it if we need to.

84
00:23:31.040 --> 00:23:47.920
Um the other big benefit of the COLA ordinance is that it allows us to bank anything that we don't use to use in the next 2 years budgets. So I just wanted to clarify that >> The better thing is if we don't pass the cap what's the danger of not passing the

85
00:23:47.920 --> 00:24:04.960
cap? Well you can't get um within your appropriations and then you have to file for a waiver to the state and Do we basically shut down? Um Close the door. It it could happen. >> Yeah. I mean we passed I I think we

86
00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:19.840
since the state put in the 2% cap we have passed that COLA you know ordinance every single year. And most years we don't even use it. Yep. It's a tool. If we don't pass it we might as well all get up, walk out,

87
00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:40.120
and turn the lights off on the way out. Because it it absolutely can't happen. And yet we're going to So [clears throat] the cap Mhm. the budget, but there's also We have to be explain the amendment. Yes. So that's so that you can make a change.

88
00:24:40.120 --> 00:24:55.400
>> Yeah, that we're we're going to amend the budget because what the introduced amount was with the 25% 25 cent tax increase. So we've amended it and now we're at 16%. So it's not three things that we're voting on or is it three things that we're No, yeah, yeah. It's three different three separate things.

89
00:24:55.400 --> 00:25:11.960
>> You you to adopt the Cola ordinance? Do you have to do pass the budget and then pass the amendment, correct? Yeah, pass the amendment. The only reason we have to do the amendment because we're amending the introduced budget and that's why. I've never seen that ever pass.

90
00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:35.040
Usually always amended before we pass it. Well, yeah, that's before but we amend it before it's introduced. So, that's how Yeah. budget as it as introduced and then the amendment. Then the amendment. Okay. Do you have anything else No, that's all I have. Mary? No, I'm good.

91
00:25:35.040 --> 00:25:52.000
Does anyone else have anything to add to this to this budget workshop? I just wanted to add that this is not going to be popular, obviously with the board of education increase. This this increase is not

92
00:25:52.000 --> 00:26:06.600
going to be a popular, you know, in uh in our community. Um I see like every council meeting that we come in, there's like salary adjustments and new positions being made.

93
00:26:06.600 --> 00:26:23.680
Are we slowing down on that trend because of, you know, What what's We're basically everybody here is civil service. Relations. Everybody in borough hall, everybody in the water sewer.

94
00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:40.600
They're all civil service. It's all contractual. They're very good employees. And what's the the nominal salary increase goes with cost of living. It's it's roughly pegged to cost of living. Like two Yeah. Yeah, but I I think Mayor more

95
00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:57.000
to Alberto's question is that no, we're not looking to expand the workforce in any large scale way. You do have one on the agenda tonight that is a new position and we only do that when we have an absolute need that needs to be filled. And uh yeah, we we can discuss that

96
00:26:57.000 --> 00:27:13.840
at length if you'd like, but other than that we pretty much maintain the level that we've been at with personnel and not growing the workforce. But as the town grows and the demand for services increase, you know, [clears throat] creates some people have to wait a little longer and whatnot, but

97
00:27:13.840 --> 00:27:29.560
we're trying to be very judicious in doing that kind of thing. The only place I would see in the next several years any kind of expansion will be in the police department. We're going to have to keep pace because with Bass opening in Riverton, we're expecting a increase in calls for service and things like

98
00:27:29.560 --> 00:27:44.000
that and we're going to need to make sure that we've got enough officers to mitigate any problems there. And again, it's going to be incremental. I don't foresee that we're going to go out and hire eight or 10 people at a clip, but we have to start growing that roster because as the town grows, the demand for those services

99
00:27:44.000 --> 00:28:00.600
will grow as well in parallel. Are they going to have their own security force? I would imagine they'll have their own security, but when you get a shoplifter or a property crime, they they can only detain. No, I'm I'm asking for instance, the hospital, >> [clears throat] >> we have our own security.

100
00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:17.560
However, we are in cahoots with In Brooklyn, it's different. You have like three different precincts. precincts We actually have less people on the road right now than we did in the '80s. So, there is going to be an increase. There will be an increase. Yeah, because uh We

101
00:28:17.560 --> 00:28:32.800
can't keep them. Well, what happens also is that yeah, you're right. If even though they have their own police, but when it comes to booking a person, it's still going to be an officer that comes. But what helps is that you have to you use your security force as a

102
00:28:32.800 --> 00:28:48.280
deterrent. And I also have a question regarding um that we have center on Rancine Road. I I think they're using our police officers as a first responder.

103
00:28:48.280 --> 00:29:03.440
I don't know. Well, I'm sure they did not have their own I'm I'm just asking. >> Well, no, they have they have medical staff there, but pretty much the police department policy always is is with a medical call we send an officer cuz they're always on the road. There's somebody close enough to get help there

104
00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:17.840
quick and in a hurry. >> No, I I understand that. What what I'm saying is that yes, I I'm not saying not to do that, but it's a facility. They should be They should have a security guards or cuz it's it's a it's a rehab

105
00:29:17.840 --> 00:29:34.520
facility. They should have that way >> time I'm hearing that. They have They have medical They have For medical stuff, they've got nurses and everything there. I I think they have I'm talking physical. >> They have a nominal security staff, but remember everybody that's in there is voluntary voluntarily, so they can leave. So, the biggest issue that they

106
00:29:34.520 --> 00:29:50.790
have the department has is when someone leaves and they have to go and at least detain them just to find out the circumstances of whether they they have to be brought back or not. But, you're right, there's a drain. Yeah, because there has to be I I'm I'm because normally what happened when you have a facility like that, you do

107
00:29:50.790 --> 00:30:06.800
[clears throat] have to have a guard there cuz that happens a lot. I'm I'm only used to to New York to Brooklyn, so like a rehab center get sick the same way they get sick here. Yeah, well, no, but in terms of policy, right? You go to the to to

108
00:30:06.800 --> 00:30:23.640
to to the rehab centers, retirement homes, there's always >> We'll find out this week to see what the what the situation Yeah, yeah, what was it though? Yeah, because you know, we don't have enough officers on the road to protect us on the road especially at night. I

109
00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:41.240
would think I'm not saying for us not to of course service them, but we should not be the primary. Well, since you and I were young they have police in the schools. And it's a good program. And it does nothing but help our kids. It

110
00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:56.920
puts a friendly face on one of the officers. >> Right. And as a result they're able to avoid problems. Right, because it's a deterrent. Well, you got a guy you can talk [clears throat] to, they'll know they'll know to think Well, John's the

111
00:30:56.920 --> 00:31:12.440
expert on it, but it's a very big problem. And we've always supported it. I I'm not saying for us not to understand >> No, no, no, I get it, I get it, but everybody pays their fair share. The epic church, which has a congregation of 11,000,

112
00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:28.520
they pay what on their Sunday service, they pay our they pay for extra police officers. So, off-duty so Is it off-duty guys that go down? Yeah. Right. And they pay that rate. I see that's what I'm saying. It's you

113
00:31:28.520 --> 00:31:44.400
know, like Sunday night going to be we're not going to you know, guys all the way in and then have to come. We'll take a critical look at the call volume there and see if we need to tweak that that's all. Thank you. Okay. Are there are there Is there any

114
00:31:44.400 --> 00:32:04.960
more input at this budget meeting? Okay. With that, I will open the public portion for questions or comments on any and all issues. Are there any questions or comments? I have a question. Okay. Could you state your name and your

115
00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:20.280
street there? My name is Giselle Shabani. I live at One Ridge. So, is that One Ridge? >> One Ridge. Okay. And my question is how come I never find out about these meetings unless

116
00:32:20.280 --> 00:32:37.120
I I literally have to go online and by chance, oh, there's a meeting online. Why isn't there a way for the residents to know about these meetings? What would be the better way? Maybe send an email out, a text message

117
00:32:37.120 --> 00:32:54.000
out, something out. Just to let people know. It wasn't a newsletter, right? I'm sorry? >> Yeah, it was. It was uh so we have a newsletter that we send out all this information and you know How do you send it out? I think you you have to sign up in our >> I'm signed up and I wasn't aware of it.

118
00:32:54.000 --> 00:33:13.800
Yeah, it goes out every Friday. Still wasn't aware. And [clears throat] the entire meeting schedule is posted on the website. If I'm not going on the website to pay a bill, Well, I mean there there is a responsibility. If if the borough is very

119
00:33:13.800 --> 00:33:31.280
very good. Um we used to Do we still put the budget and all their agendas down in the library? Um no, online. Online. Everything's online. No newspapers? >> We we go out of our way to make sure any and all information, all ordinances,

120
00:33:31.280 --> 00:33:47.240
everything is accessible to anybody who wants it. If if there's a if there's a way that we're not doing, it it's like um the Nixle from the police department. If you're not signed up, you don't get it. Exactly. All right? And I am signed up

121
00:33:47.240 --> 00:34:03.400
and I do get the newsletter from the police department. >> Jess, would you check with this lady and and if she isn't if she's signed up for something else, get her signed up for this one. Okay. All right? We're we're not here to hide anything. I've just I'm here those 10 years and

122
00:34:03.400 --> 00:34:18.520
I I end up finding out about these meetings by word of mouth. Word of mouth. At the beginning of the year we post it's just about everywhere what the meeting schedule is for the entire year. Where do you post it?

123
00:34:18.520 --> 00:34:34.440
Face It's on my It's on our website. Our Facebook page has all our meetings. I know that goes out quite a few like tonight it probably in the morning it said council meeting tonight. Um But so you put it this morning? No, no. Announce the meeting

124
00:34:34.440 --> 00:34:49.440
>> Our Our schedule is out for the whole year at the beginning of the year. We remind people on the day of the meeting that there is a meeting. That's just a reminder. On Facebook page. It's listed on our our meeting schedules on our website that we have to list all our meetings now required by law.

125
00:34:49.440 --> 00:35:06.400
>> the day of. No, no. No, we remind at the beginning of the year. They're on there now. All of our meetings for the entire year for all the boards and commissions are on our website right now. From page There's a meeting schedule tab. Just hit meetings and it'll bring up all the list of meetings for the year.

126
00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:22.240
>> print out a calendar. I'm not sure. >> sure. Yeah, that's the way. We We decide the meeting schedule for the year right at the beginning of the year and it's posted for the entire year. And unless, you know, we had a couple of snow storms last year where we had to postpone the meetings. But other than that, they just

127
00:35:22.240 --> 00:35:37.520
follow that strict schedule the entire year with, you know, whatever it is. And it's usually the second and fourth Monday of the months except there's three months uh June, July and well, four months. June, July, and August and then uh December.

128
00:35:37.520 --> 00:35:54.160
November this year. November this year, too. I was a little confused at first. This is my first year, so I made a spreadsheet with all the meetings and all the months and all that stuff. I can share that with you if you like. Yeah. Um In reference to the Bordentown

129
00:35:54.160 --> 00:36:09.280
roundabout the Bordentown roundabout is there any part that the town is going to be involved in or is it Well, we're having we're [clears throat] having You're Are you Kenneth Are you by You're by Ridge,

130
00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:24.880
right? No, my son owns um the house on Bordentown and Eugene. Um, okay. Well, that's a that's a that's I'm not on a house. Um So, we're having the the the Department of Transportation come in what day?

131
00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:40.160
21st, I think. 21st? I'll tell you I have no idea. I would be more than >> to We're we're going to hold the meeting down at uh senior center? On a Saturday. No. No, it's not on a Saturday. They won't come out. >> Thursday. Thursday. They won't come out

132
00:36:40.160 --> 00:36:57.360
on a Saturday. So, I was told I had I was told 21st and then I was told the 28th. I was told to contact >> I I I'll send you one It was three phone calls, three emails. We'll get you there. We'll get you there right quick. Okay. Again, back to the question. Is

133
00:36:57.360 --> 00:37:13.400
this town the town, not the state, the town going to be involved in any part of the decision? Well, they're they're coming here to get input and and to answer questions. And how much can be changed? Depends on what

134
00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:29.680
we're looking for that for that interchange to do. All right? But, they're coming here, the state is coming, to talk to the residents. Right. But, this council here is not going to be involved or involved.

135
00:37:29.680 --> 00:37:45.920
>> It's a state project. Like Like any other citizen, the council people will have an opportunity [clears throat] to give input to the DOT, but at the end of the day, it's a DOT project and they're the ones that are deciding what it needs to get done there. >> Okay. From And and paying for it. Yeah. But, but understand that we advocate for

136
00:37:45.920 --> 00:38:01.600
our residents. If it's a dumb plan, we're going to explain to them that we think it's a dumb plan. I can tell you going back in 2019 when I was chief, they came along with a plan that was similar to this, but they were going to close Eugene Boulevard at that time. Oh, I And they were going to make it a

137
00:38:01.600 --> 00:38:18.040
cul-de-sac. Right. So, we fought that at that time. Now, I'm not going to tell you that we can win or not win this, but you you do have advocates, everyone here that listens to the the residents of that area and understands what that intersection looks like. And they're going to Every one of us

138
00:38:18.040 --> 00:38:33.880
here is going to advocate to do the best thing for those residents plus to I'm I'm not here to argue >> No, no, no, I'm not arguing. Just to let you tell you I know how many accidents happen every year. I don't want you to think anybody's going to sit back here and go, "Oh, they're going to do what they want to do." We we worked very very hard for this.

139
00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:48.720
It felt like that. Anything else? What if they go out of the upper pool? No, that was pretty much it. Getting notifications and stuff. >> All right, so when we adjourn this meeting in a couple of minutes, make sure you go to Jeff's and and we'll get you set up on that

140
00:38:48.720 --> 00:39:06.000
notification email. Sounds good. Okay. Okay. Uh is there any anything else for the open public portion? Anyone any questions or comments? I move the public portion be closed. Is there a second? Second. Roll call. All in favor. Aye.

141
00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:17.760
Take [clears throat] a motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. All in favor. Aye. Opposed. Okay. Now, ma'am, we're going into another meeting at 7:00. So