Good, good evening everyone. I'm going to call the meeting to order. Everyone, please stand for a short prayer and a salute to our flag. Almighty God, grant us the wisdom to make those decisions that are in the best interest of all our residents. May
the heavenly father of us all bless those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation and may he watch over and protect our service men and women now guarding the gates of freedom. Salute to our flag. I
pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Statement of publication.
>> Take notice that this regular agenda meeting of the mayor and burough council being held on this 9th day of February 2026 had has been posted and advertised in accordance with the open public meetings act chapter 231 public law 1975. >> Roll call. >> Council persons Blumare >> here.
>> Kesi >> here. >> Novak >> here. >> Rios >> here. >> Sarski >> here. Zabowski. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, council president ad approval of prior minutes. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I move I move the
following minutes of the mayor and council be approved on roll call vote subject to correction if necessary. And that is the January 29th, 2026 uh minutes. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Roll call. Council person Zabrowski, >> yes. >> Lumare, >> yes. >> Khesi,
>> yes. >> Novak, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Sarski, >> yes. >> Okay. Uh, this is a followup from our last meeting. It concerns the Burough skate park and it concerns um a wonderful, wonderful resident who's
gone on um he he he left us a very short time ago. His name was Troy Janowski. And there were many people involved in the skate park, but it wouldn't have happened cuz you always need one person to pull it all together and that was
Troy. Uh, and we just needed to to verify that. Uh, so with that, I'll ask our our liaison to recreation, Mikey. >> Good evening, everybody. At our last meeting, I did request that this item be
carried to tonight's agenda so that we could take the time to uh reach out to uh some of the individuals who were involved with this creation at uh inception. So, after speaking with those uh recommended by the mayor
uh including other members of the skate park community, um I received unanimous support and heartfelt appreciation for the contributions made by Troy. So, with that in mind,
I'm proud tonight to make the motion that the Kennedy Park skate park be formally dedicated in memory of Troy Janowski. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Comments. Roll call.
>> Council persons Khesi. >> Yes. >> Bumare. >> Yes. >> Novak. >> Yes. Rios, >> yes. >> Sinarski, >> yes. >> Zabowski, >> yes. >> I know there were people that came
tonight to support this motion. Who would like to speak first? Rebecca, >> you're not going to speak. Rich, you you were you were a right-hand man to Troy in that project. >> First of all, uh thank you very much for
doing that. Uh Troy came to me in 2002 and said that he heard that there was some grant money and if I could help out in any way. Uh I was no longer in the skate community at the time and
we got >> Rich if you'd speak in the mic. >> Sorry. >> Thanks. >> So we got in touch with Kennedy Mr. O'Brien and uh we got the wheels in motion. Mr. Lewis also from the uh middle school was involved early on. couldn't remember his name. >> Yeah, I was wondering where he was right
now, but uh and everything got going and Troy reached out to Wally Holiday, which was the premier skatepark builder in California at the time, and New Jersey did not have a skatepark, especially a concrete skatepark, I
should say. Uh Mr. Holiday was from New Cherry Hill, New Jersey originally, so he was very interested in coming back east and helping us out. and we advised them we only had $50,000 in grant money and he provided us with a skate park valued at $85,000
for $50,000 and that was all through Troy's communication and dedication to getting that done. Uh I think I was the first one to break bones in that skatepark. Uh that was that was a few weeks after it was
finished. Uh and I haven't been on a skateboard since. Uh I'm very happy and proud that this is going to be uh named after him and uh it's very it's very nice. >> Rich, you won an award uh that skate
park won an award for skate parks that were 10,000 square feet if I remember correctly. >> I vaguely remember that. Yes. >> Well, Rich, you're younger than I am. [laughter] >> All right. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Would anyone else like to speak?
Would anyone else like to speak uh on behalf of Troy and and and Becky? Okay. >> Thank you so much, >> Becky. Hand to hand the tissues.
>> The whole box. >> The box. >> Just want to thank everybody very much. Um, that park was his pride and joy, as some of you know, and he worked very hard to keep it clean.
And he was out there constantly sweeping it, painting it. He got volunteers together for it. He'd be out there alone. He'd be out there with the guys, constantly taking care of it. Um, I just want to thank you very much. It means a
lot to us and our family. Thank you. Thank you, Beck. He's a remarkable guy. He was dedicated and devoted and and just a remarkable guy. And it'll be a long time before I meet somebody of his of his caliber. Uh
with that, um I'm going to ask his mother-in-law to speak. >> Wow. >> Come on, Peg. We'll get you a box to stand on. I haven't signed him yet. I'd like to thank I can do that >> much better.
>> I'd like to thank you for doing this for my daughter. It means a lot to her. It means a lot to us that Park was his pride and joy. It was his baby and he just took pride in that and he's glad he could h have it done.
>> Well, you had a wonderful son-in-law there and had a wonderful wonderful residence. So, >> he was a pip. [laughter] >> Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. He was a good man. Very good man. >> Yes. Thank you very much. >> Our pleasure. P
>> [clears throat] >> Uh, is there anyone else? Okay, Becky, now you can go home. But thank you for coming and thank you for lending the burrow, your husband,
for 25 years. >> He he dedicated himself for 25 years to virtually 25 years to the park. Yep. Yep. Thank you, >> Mayor. May I say something? >> Go ahead. I
>> I was when this first came up, I knew Troy of Troy, you know, I never knew he was married to Becky. Becky was always Becky Gowski. Me and I never put two and two together until this came up. And and
I'd also like to say about Mr. Botti, he is the first one to injure himself in that skate park. I took him to the hospital and I want you to know he had every piece of protective equipment on him, wrist, elbow, and he managed to break his arm right in between all the
protectors. So, >> okay. Anyone else? Okay. Uh, anything for executive? All right. Then we'll move on to all business. Public hearing on ordinance number [clears throat] 1-26, an ordinance supplementing and amending ordinance number 3-24 fixing
the salaries of certain burough officials, officers, and employees for the years 2023 to 2027. >> This time, I'll open the public portion for questions or comments on ordinance uh 126. Are there any questions or comments? There being none, I'll
entertain a motion. Councilwoman Novak, >> I move the public hearing be closed. The ordinance adopted on second final reading and advertised according to law. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council persons Novak, >> yes. >> Blumeare, >> yes. >> Kesi, >> yes.
>> Rios, >> yes. >> Sonarski, >> yes. >> Zabrouski, >> yes. >> Public hearing on ordinance number 2-26, an ordinance supplementing and amending ordinance number 2-24 fixing the salaries of certain burough officials, officers, and employees for the years
2025 to 2027. This time I'm going to open the public portion for questions or comments on ordinance uh 226. Other questions or comments? Being none, I'll entertain a motion. Councilwoman Novak, >> move the public hearing be closed. The
ordinance adopted on second and final reading and advertise law. >> Is there a second? >> Roll call. >> Council persons Novak. >> Yes. >> Blair, >> yes. >> Kesi, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Zarski, >> yes. Zabowski. >> Yes.
>> Public hearing on ordinance number 4-26, ordinance establishing the Burough Cultural Arts Council in collaboration with the Recreation Advisory Board and amending the terms of the Recreation Advisory Board. >> This time, uh, I'll open the public portion for questions or comments on ordinance number 4-26. Other questions
or comments? Being none, I'll entertain a motion. Go ahead, Jim. Mayor Jim Robinson Parlin. Um, >> could I ask Councilman Kuchi if he could explain this, >> Lazy? >> Well, well, I'll have the attorney.
I I will have the attorney explain it. >> Go ahead. Uh, Joe. Uh well, this is an ordinance came to me because we were looking through all of our ordinances and um and all of the different boards and committees and working with the clerk's office as well as the recreation department. We realized that there was
no ordinance ever actually establishing the um cultural advisory committee. It was put together, it was run, but there was no resolution or ordinance that we could find that actually put forth it its creation and memorialized that. So, it was um >> working together. We put together this
ordinance that put together com the committee or the commission c excuse me council as currently operating. So it would nothing would change. It would be exactly how it is. Uh and since they operate underneath recreation department get their funding from the recreation department and so forth. We uh put it
under the recreation subchapter of uh chapter 2. So it's under section 2-62. >> So you're saying they operate under the recreation department? >> Yes. That's my understanding. That's what I was told. So they won't be autonomous. They'll operate under
they're they're a council, but they'll operate under an advisory board. >> No, they are their own council, but they get their funding from the advisory board. That's how I'm told it was currently operated. >> Well, there is a separate line item for cultural arts. There's always been a separate line item for cultural arts in
the budget that's different, separate and distinct from recreation. Yes. >> I'm just not understanding why there can't be an ordinance just creating the cultural arts commission of nine members that are autonomous that report to the governing body that have a
budget but that don't have to meet for instance before the advisory board meets. I mean >> I just drafted it how I was asked to draft it. >> I'm sorry. >> I was drafted it how [clears throat] I was asked to draft it from the recreation. Who did the did the cultural arts commission ask you to draft it that
way? >> Oh, Jim, this uh the cultural arts I had revived it about two years ago and what we needed was an oversight for uh state procurement um regulations
uh for budgetary for for really the the administrative part of it. there you had the creative part but you did not have the administrative part. So the simplest way was to just put it under the director of recreation.
>> And he he is he makes sure that uh the procurement is done in the proper >> so it will be under the director of recreation. Well, he he will be responsible to make sure that the rules and laws of procurement uh and and background checks and there's
a number of things that that had not previously >> be done if they were their own separate independent a lot of things. >> This is the only >> committee is it called a committee or council. This is the only council that is under another group. Even the
environmental commission which is subsidiary to the uh planning board isn't under the planning board. They're they're their own. And okay, let me ask this qu in section E Joe um of section one letter E. The cultural arts council
shall not have the authority to expend public funds with without the prior approval of the burough council. if such expenditure was previously budgeted for and approved by the burough council.
So one way to read that is if it if the money wasn't previously budgeted for and approved by the burough council then they have the right to spend that money. So right >> no
>> that's what it says. The Cultural Arts Council should not have the authority to expend public funds without the prior approval of the council if such expenditure was previously budgeted for and approved by the burough council. >> That's the only way they're allowed to spend any public funds is through
approval from the county. They cannot they have no authority to that's not >> Well, that's not what it says though. >> How do I read it? That's why >> if such expend the last part does if well >> it means they only get to spend >> why don't you just put it after burrow
council >> and that will make it clear what you want to do. The other just qualifies it and confuses it. So if something isn't budgeted, then they have the right to expend because this law says only that money that is
budgeted they can't expend, which is contrary to most ordinances. All right. I just think that the cultural arts comm fantastic job. They should be their own,
not be subservient to or underneath the recreation advisory council or the recreation director. >> Thank you, Jim. >> Thank you, >> Ken. >> Thank you, Mayor Kent Alaski. I've been involved with the cultural
arts programs and attending them for years within the burrow may have attended more programs than anybody in a burrow. Madeline Sachawiki ran this program for years and years and
she had a board with her and they were a pretty faithful board and they had programs in the senior center. Um, Matteline died and when she died, uh, Edna Pilch, I believe it was, had taken it over for a few years. Um, it was a
separate entity. Their budget was $6,000 a year. They weren't part of anything else. I don't know what the paperwork was. Now, that could be true. Uh, yeah, I have a little problem. I don't know how these ordinances get established, but it's the old story. Where where are
the agenda meetings? Who authorizes the ordinance to be even put on on on paper here? The attorney to draw them up. Does he do it for free? Do you do it for free? Counselor, >> don't answer. >> I would don't answer. Yeah, you're afraid to answer because you're blowing all borrow money.
>> Ken, with a guy like you, I'm afraid of nothing. >> Who authorizes these to be put on? >> It's a discussion. You know, Ken, we were trying to This is the issue. And there all everybody that in the last two years was new. They had no mentors on
how to run it. So there there were there were they weren't familiar with procurement laws. Uh they weren't uh familiar with with a number of other laws. So what I needed or what the burrow needed was an
an administrator whose job was to be very familiar with procurement laws with with the with the background checks etc etc. Very our our current cultural arts is a very creative board. >> I agree with that. Well, Ken, that being
said, you always need an administrator in there and that's what we're ensuring that we have an administrator so there'll never be a problem on that side. >> And who is the administrator? >> The rec director. >> The recctor. I I can't imagine. I think
they're they're they're doing a great job. I haven't been to any of the newer programs down, but I hear nothing but good things about them. And I see no reason why they can't be maintained as a separate entity. I think this is a sham.
I think it's the same thing that you tried that you cut out uh you you had to have be a resident of Sarville to be on a board and some of the things you've done with the with the uh uh with this historical society. I think it's a
grudge against somebody. Thank you. >> Okay, Sharon. Sharon Ruters, 22nd Street. I just wanted to talk about the budget real quick because I thought I understood from Michael. >> Sharon, this isn't the budget's not said. >> No, I know. No,
>> no, no. This is about the line item. That was all I was going to ask. I thought we were told we were going to have a separate a >> It's not on the Sharon. We're only discussing the issues on >> He just brought it up that we're not having a separate budget. That's the only reason I'm asking you.
>> No, I didn't say that. I just said it was my understanding was they had currently operated the council was currently operated under the direct director. I never said anything about budget items. >> We didn't operate under the rec director last year. >> Well, going forward, Sharon, the the
board like I said has no shortage of creativity. It has a shortage of administrative experience and that's what this bar that's what this ordinance addresses. >> Okay. When will we hear how the budget will be taken care of? Because Michael told me it would be separate from
recreation. >> You'll be given a budget. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Nothing has changed. >> Is there anyone else? >> All right. Being no one else, uh, I'll entertain a motion.
>> Mike. Uh, Mary. >> Uh, >> no. I'm sorry. Mike, >> can I just make a statement first? >> Uh, do you mind, Kennedy? >> What are you doing, Mary? Can I make a statement? >> Yeah, [clears throat] go ahead. >> Um, just so everybody knows, the committees,
every committee and every council, every commission is under a specific department under uh like the environmental is under water and sewer. Um, and in this particular case,
recreation, because I was in charge of recreation once, and I know that cultural arts was listed under recreation as well as office on aging, human relations, and the library is even under recreation. I think we've had some confusion here. Um, this is the the
first ordinance I I felt was a little uh >> Yeah, >> it was a little bit over the top. This is Brian is there and I've talked directly to Brian. He is there to help you administratively if you need
portaotties. Uh what uh permits you would need to have food trucks there everything like that. And this is what I have been told. It probably probably shouldn't have been under the wreck advisory board. It should have been just
listed under recreation because every you need collaborate. It says collaboration. It doesn't say under. And you again, you're going to have your own separate budget. And if the things you want to purchase or is within that
budget, you know, it's already approved by the mayor and council because it will be approved in the budget. >> Just go on. it. For as long as I've been sitting here, and this is my 20th year, cultural arts has always had a line item. I was shocked to find out it
didn't have an ordinance. That was something that probably went back to Uncle John, uh, Mayor Chernikowski. Everybody called him Uncle John. Uh this this could have been handled in a much better way, but I I will follow
through on every promise that I am making here that you are autonomous that you're not responsive to the recreation advisory board at all to the recreation the the department the paid people. They are there to help you. And you know,
there's certain things that you uh a commission cannot do, like accept money or sign contracts that the lawyer hasn't gone over. And this is all the help you need from the recreation department cuz damn, you're doing a great job. I mean, you everything you've done has been well
attended. Everybody loves it. But I I I hope that this will pass through just because I want you people to start working. If this doesn't go through tonight, it's going to be another month and 10 days for a possible veto. So, you
know, we're talking it's going to be the end of March before you actually get appointed. So, I am promising you I will follow through on everything that was promised. You will have your own budget. Nobody is going to tell you how to run your things except what is allowed under
law. We really think you guys are great and I'm I'm sorry for all the confusion. Thank you, mayor. >> Okay, with that, uh, Councilman Kawuchcci >> move the public hearing to be closed.
Ordinance adopted on second. Is >> there a second? >> Second. Roll call. >> Council persons Khi. >> Yes. >> Blue. Mayor, >> one question. I just want to be clear. They will have their own budget.
>> And we can't hear you. >> No, I I just want to be clear that they will have their own budget. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Novak. Yes. Rios.
I just um before I vote, I I I know we we have a time issue and and if it doesn't, like Mary said, if it doesn't go through, uh then we'll have weeks uh of los, you know, lost time. And I
really really want them to get to work. I I'm really proud of what they've done and I can't wait to see what they could do. Um, I still think that they should be their own committee and I would only vote if I have reassurance that they will be autonomous.
Is that >> No, you have to wait a minute. You're given a budget. So when there are questions about the budget, they don't come to us. They go to Brian. >> I just, you know, administratively and financially, they go to Brian. >> Okay.
>> All right. >> [clears throat] >> Zarski. >> Yes. >> Zabrouski. >> Yes. With just a quick comment. Um, in spite of what some say, I I want to thank everybody that's here this evening that was part of the construction of that ordinance. It was a lot of hard
work on their part in order to be able to get what we have here for them. And it was for that purpose to to hear them and make sure that that was correct. So, my answer is yes. And thank you very much for all your help.
Okay. Um, appointments. Okay. Tonight's appointments. [clears throat] Um, there are no openings on commission on aging or there are openings. Okay. Okay. So for three uh two three-year members
on the commission of aging, first one is Julia Gomez and the second person is Bartis Shaw. Is there a motion? >> I move mayor's excuse me I move the mayor's appointments be approved on roll call vote.
>> Is there roll call? Second [clears throat] person's Novak. >> Yes. Lumare. >> Yes. >> Khesi. >> Yes. Rios, >> yes. >> Tinarski, >> yes. >> Zabrowski,
>> yes. Okay. Now that the cultural arts has been established by ordinance, we received 10 applications for uh appointment on onto the u
uh onto the um cultural arts there. It's a nineperson board and it's nine person because you need an odd number of people [clears throat] so that there's not a not a not a tie. Uh so the only the
fairest way we came up with on appointments is in the order in which the clerk's office received the application. So for um so there are three three-year members,
four two-year members and and two one-year members. So for the three one-year me uh for the uh for the three slots for a three-year member, Jessica Vant, Deborah Gordon, Sanga Doss. for
the four two-year members, Brian McHugh, Michelle Babino, Christopher Cunio, uh, and Gregory Cunio for the two one-year members, Sharon Rous and Brienne Rogers. Uh, Barty, you're the
10th person. I'm sorry. Uh, is there a motion? You need to go. >> Yeah, I'll make the motion, please. >> Is there a second? >> Roll call. >> Council persons Khisi. >> Yes. >> Lumare.
>> Yes. >> Novak. >> Yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Sarski, >> yes. >> Zabowski, >> yes. >> Okay, there you go. Thank you. cultural arts and you can have your
first meeting I think you said March Nicole March 5th here in Burough Hall. >> Yes. Uh no it'll be I think you said Sadlac center. >> Okay. At the Sedlac Center what time? 7 o'clock. >> 6 o'clock. >> 6 o'clock. Okay. And it's an open public
meeting. >> Public meeting that I'll advertise it for Friday. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh next order of business is new business. Jessica >> introduction of the following ordinances ordinance number 5-26 and ordinance amending chapter 2 administration section 2-41 human relations commission
of the revised general ordinances of the bureau of cereal >> councilman klesi >> I just want to add a little something that this ordinance is requested because uh previously the human relations commission has added new members
and uh re-energized itself so in the um they had challenges holding quorums uh at their meetings. So hopefully this will eliminate the issue. So uh right now I like to make the motion to introduce
um I move that the ordinance be approved on the first reading advertise according to law and a public hearing to be held on February 23rd. [clears throat] That's it. >> Is there a second?
>> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council persons Khesi. >> Yes. >> Lumare. >> Yes. >> Novak. >> Yes. >> Rios. >> Yes. >> Zarski. >> Yes. >> Zabrowski. >> Yes. >> Introduction of ordinance number 6-26. Burrow of Seville County and Middle Sex. Ordinance amending the rates for towing
and storage service. >> Uh, Councilwoman Novak. >> I move the ordinance be approved on first reading advertised according to law for a public hearing to be held on February 23rd. Okay. Is there a second? Second. >> Roll call. >> Council persons Novak, >> yes.
>> Blumare, >> yes. >> Kesi, >> yes. >> Rios, >> yes. >> Zarski, >> yes. >> Zabowski, >> yes. >> Okay, at this time we're going to go over uh consent agenda items. Uh, >> one more thing, Mr. Mayor. >> I'm sorry. Resolutions. I'm sorry. What?
last time uh you had assigned me to HRC, but I was told that's under recreation. I mean, this is something that I I I really want to do, but I could be second to um >> Well, I'm working on it.
>> Okay, >> we have a meeting tomorrow. That's why I'm asking. >> You should attend. >> You can't. You could always attend. Okay. >> Every meeting. Every council person. every meeting. >> Oh, no. You'd have a quorum. You can't do that. [laughter]
>> I mean, not every, but one of yours could show up. >> I don't mean the whole group. [laughter] >> Somebody did that. >> Go ahead over the res. >> I just want to make correction for uh on resolution number 2026-75
for the animal control services. It is going to be a two-year contract. >> Okay. Um questions uh questions or comments on these reszos? Jim, >> thank you, mayor. I couldn't hear the clerk's comment on the correction. I'm
sorry. Could you please repeat that? >> It is a two-year contract. >> On which one? >> 75. The animal control >> 75. Okay. Well, let me let me ask about that one because I asked about the uh contract for animal control services at
the last meeting and the administrator said that that had expired in December that it cost to roll it over was going to be something like 25% and it was cost prohibitive. they would not do a
monthto-month. Um, and now we're awarding them a two-year contract. So, what what's happened since? >> They submitted for the RFP. They recognized that the proposed cost that they had initially put in front of us
was exorbitant. They've agreed to an incremental cost of this year into next year to get us closer to an agreeable term. >> And so, what what is the amount? It doesn't say that in the resolution. I don't know. I think the cost is supposed to be in a resolution. Um, but what uh
what are the costs for this year, next year? What's the increase? >> Do you know, Danielle, >> you have it? >> Um, memory serves. >> I'm sorry. Can you use the microphone, please? >> I don't know it off the top of my head, but I can look it up and get back to you
tomorrow if that's okay. >> I believe it's 150 for 26. I believe it is 150 for 26 and 185 for 27 >> if I recall correctly. >> 150 and 185. >> That's correct. >> Okay. But the council should know that
before they vote, right? >> Oh, okay. And and and how much was it last year? >> I don't know, Daniel. >> Probably close to the 160 number, I believe. >> Close to what? >> About 160 >> one. >> Yeah, I think estimated. >> And this year it's
>> 15. We have to understand that it might might have been 160 last year because they charge over and above when we're dealing with the feral cat population. That's an addendum to the contract which drives >> I'm glad you're doing this. I I I thought this should have been um it
should have been renewed. I'm glad it's finally being renewed. Now, does it create a problem that you put out a request for proposals for other >> This was part of the RFP process. They submitted to the RFP. It was reviewed.
The numbers were found to be okay and that's what was recommended to the council for approval. >> Okay. Was the original date February when when that when they were due back and were going to be approved? >> I I don't know. >> February. They were due back on February 3rd.
>> When? February 3rd. Okay. I just want to make sure. I'm glad this is being renewed, but I just want to make sure that somebody somebody got an RFP that said they have to be back by February 3rd to be awarded and then somebody else comes in in the meantime
says, "Oh, I made a mistake. I'm going to lower it." That you don't have a problem. That's all. But I'm glad this is being done. I did want to ask the agenda says gone speed. I I'm sure it means go net speed. They were supposed to make a presentation. I had asked about this, I don't know, a year ago or
more, bringing somebody in and Glenn said that something would happen then. And is this what happened to them? >> They didn't show up. >> They didn't show up. >> Did we confirm with them that they were coming? And >> the date was reflected to them on when
they would be appearing before the council. >> So, they didn't show up. >> Correct. >> Okay. All right. Thank you very much. >> Any other questions or comments? Being no other questions or comments,
only to um council president move the public hearing be closed and the consent agenda resolutions be approved on roll call vote. >> Is there a second? >> Thank you. >> Council person Zowski.
>> Yes. And one comment on 202673. We're applying for a grant for a disc golf course. This is something that Brian and WCK department has been working on for several years. Uh I happen to have had the opportunity to play this uh in another state. I think it would be a great amenity uh to round
out a lot of what we do in our rec program and uh my fingers are crossed that we're going to get that grant because I'd really like to see that course come in. Uh, and I vote yes for >> mayor. >> Uh, yes. Uh, to everything but uh, 52
and 55. 52. I don't know what they do. I don't see um I I was looking to see what was done for the month of January. I didn't see anything different than what was done before. >> I'm sorry. I should have done this at the beginning. Uh,
uh, I asked Jaffy Communications to send me a a list of some of their clients. As I've said, they're they're a mediumsiz firm. Um, and the response I got, which I'll read into the record, is Jaffy has
worked over the years with government at all levels in the state. The firm is currently under contract with the Robinsville Board of Education, the Belleville Board of Education, the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Roselle
Board of Education, the Education Services Commission of New Jersey, the New Jersey Clean Communities Council, the Middle Sex County Tourism Bureau, Middle Sex County Regional Chamber of Commerce, the City of Perth Amboy, Perth
Amboy Redevelopment, agency, the township of Scotch Plains, the township of Lindhurst, the burrow of North Arlington, the township of uh Belleville, New Brunswick City Center, and the nonprofit Early Childhood Education Advocates, among other public
and private entities. Um, it's a it's a it's a it's a qualified. >> Oh, no. I I I don't doubt that. I'm just asking what they do for us because all these other places I'll check. >> Can't hear her. Oh, I said I I don't doubt that they are um dealing with all
these folks, but I want to see the difference between what they do for us and what they do for them in terms of quality. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> No on 52 and 55. >> No, 55. I have a question. Um >> but no on 52. >> No on 52. >> Okay.
>> Um 55. Is this is this a replacement of um >> Yes. >> And how old was the other one? And in terms of >> in the neighborhood of 25 years, it's it's about the cycle we replace firet trucks about 25 years old. >> Thank you. Yes. On that,
>> please. >> Yes. >> Novak. Uh couple of things I want to say. First of all, I am I am no on the Jackie contract because I mean I voted no on it last year. I I don't care what other towns
they work for. I still don't know exactly what we pay them $40,000 for. So, I I can't vote. I I've never seen a contract. I mean, we're awarding a contract. I haven't even seen the contract. And I didn't see one last year either. Uh, and also on the bill list,
um, JCPNL, I mean, I know that we still owe them a lot of money because we stopped paying, and I don't think we've even started paying again yet, but I'd like to know if we can legally charge them for what it cost us to put up that
warming station when we were out of power here. It's always the same area of town and they have one thing blow and that same area goes out for three hours on the coldest night of the year. I myself stayed up until the power came
back on shoveling wood in my fireplace, which doesn't usually go all night because I was afraid my pipes were going to freeze. I had had all my my inside plumbing doors open trying to keep it and the town spent a lot of money opening that warming station. And this wasn't a car hit a pole. This wasn't a
tree fell on a line. This was their equipment that malfunctioned and it's happening all too frequently. Can we charge them back? I mean, if I was a resident and I had things go bad in my freezer, I could charge Jersey Central and they'd be responsible for that. Can we charge them back for what it cost us
for that? >> I'd have to look into that. I honestly right here on the day I'm not sure if we would have legal standing to do that or not. I have looking >> well please do because >> that right now on my >> it it just seems like you know again you know accidents happen I really thought
it was going to go out because a tree was going to fall on a line with all of that ice and I kind of expected that but to just have this blow for no real reason it's just because they do not maintain their equipment. Uh, but I'm voting yes on everything else except for the Jaffy contract.
[clears throat] >> Uh, yes. Uh, yes on everything. Uh, but 52, I'm on the same boat. Although they have an impressive client list. I don't see any value on it. As far as what they've done, and from what I
understand, they been doing this for three years. Um, I don't see how that it's uh justified. So, there'll be yes on everything but
52. >> Yes. [clears throat] >> And mayor, there's a tie on 52 for >> Yes. Okay. May I need a motion to accept the correspondence? >> Okay. >> Motion.
>> Second. >> Council person Zabowski. >> Yes. >> Blumeare. >> Yes. >> Kesi. >> Yes. >> Novak. >> Yes. >> Rios. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council reports. >> Okay. Um, Mayor and Council reports,
Councilwoman Novak, administration and finance. >> Yes, Mayor. Um, I don't really have a lot to report on the budget. We're still in the process of working uh with the department heads, but I promise you a much more lengthy report at the next
meeting. I'd also like at this time uh to make a motion that we declare the his the firehouse first burrow hall next door uh give it the a motion to give it the historical designation. I think at this point everybody knows what's going
to happen and maybe if we do this we can start getting some um grants so that we don't have to keep using the open space money. I know that legally we can, but you know, I'd like to save that for actually trying to buy some open space.
Thank you, mayor. Progress. >> Motion made. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council persons Novak. >> Yes. >> Kissi. >> No. >> Lumare. >> Yes.
>> Rios. >> Yes. Sinarski, >> I'm voting no because I don't know what's going to happen if we get name it historical. If we can continue building it the way we're building it, I do not know what the is going to happen with
the plans that are already established for that building. >> Zabowski, >> I vote no to with comment. Uh I I agree with St. My concern is getting the uh getting the building uh moving forward uh as I think we are. It's it's been
slow paced as it is. I think there'll be plenty of time to be able to make an appropriate designation uh at due time. >> Mayor, it's 33. >> Uh I'll I'll vote no. >> Can I just make one comment? If we are using money that specifically says we
can only use it for historic preservation, why can't we have the designation as historic designation? If we are concerned that they'll say we can't, you know, spend it the way we want to, then we're illegally spending
it from the historical preservation fund. Thank you. >> All right. We're right in the middle of a project. So, finish the project. This can be revisited every every council meeting. >> I realize that it's it's just that what was just said. They're afraid that we won't be able to continue, but we're
using historical preservation funds. If we can't continue with a historical designation, that doesn't make any sense. That means they're afraid they're spending the money illegally. >> Well, first of all, the the um we we had our grant writer look into uh historical
grants and they're few and far between. So, had we gone that route where we turned it over to um we went through that designation. The first thing is the u the council has no say once you once
you make that a historical um uh site and then you appoint somebody uh to or or a commission of people to be in they they can they can make the burrows
spend money they never counted on. So at the moment it's better in my opinion. Uh the second thing is there wasn't any any there was no there was no $3 million available in grants to do the work that
we're doing. All that being said um it is being preserved and the burrow has a chronic need for office space and that's a designation. Uh remember with the historical society's building now we pay
for everything. We pay we pay for all maintenance, all heat, all repairs, all utilities. We pay for Windex and toilet paper and janitorial services. A and it's fine. It serves a purpose. Um, this is just going to be another burrow
building. So, this this political thing of of making it a historical designation, it's an office. That's what it's going to be, an office. >> Then I don't see that we're legally spending the money. >> Okay. All right. Uh, that's it.
>> Yes, Mayor. >> Okay. Uh, public safety, Councilman Balmore. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, thank you, public safety, for working 24/7 throughout the winter storm, continuing
to to provide support and emergency assistance to all residents during and after the storm. Uh, we've had two fires. one at Cresview Apartments and one at the old electrical plant at River Road. Cresby required
police, fire, EMS, and OEM. One resident was displaced and the apartment building sustained minimal damage. Now the old electric fire plant on Riverwood requires required all of that
police fire EMS and OEM and a hazmat response as well due to gas/ oil burning in a turbine and of course they also sustained minimal damage. We had a blown transformer on Main Street in town in
the Town Lake area. OEM activated the warming center at the senior center in case the power outage was for a longer duration. Fortunately, the power outage was only for about 3 hours.
Sergeant Jeffrey Taylor graduated from the NJSAS COP's command command and leadership 13week leadership training academy and Captain Kieran and Lieutenant Shihan attended to represent the agency and show support for Sergeant
Taylor's accomplishment based on Councilman Skannowski's email and the report of numer numerous traffic and parking violations in the president park area and Truman School traffic safety made their presence known on
Wednesday by citing and enforcing moving and parking violations. Traffic safety will be deploying to other residential area and schools based on the complaints of numerous traffic and parking violation. We recognize that people are often in a
hurry. However, the safety of our children and the community must always come first. Sarville PBA hosted Omega uh raffle drawing and a pocketbook bingo
event at Stand Stands which went very well and was very successful. The PBA is very appreciative of the community for supporting our officers. I've had a lot of productive meetings with the various leaders in the town
and we'll continue to do so. The next one will be a come by meetings with Morgan First Aid and Saraveville Emergency Squads to foster better relations and communications to better serve our town.
In other words, these these guys will be working together to back each other up. That way we could have a quicker response time. Now we desperately need volunteers for all, fire, first aid, police, OEM,
and I am willing to meet with anyone who's interested in volunteering for this for for these places. And um it's very important uh for parents to encourage their children to volunteer.
I've been doing this forever in my father's church now with youth develop uh youth development at my job. So the idea is if anyone has any questions regarding volunteerism, please reach out to me and I promise I will get back to
you and we can talk oneon-one to explain to you the benefit. A lot of people that have volunteered, believe it or not, a lot of the kids that are volunteered in certain area, they now have are working in those areas. That's their careers. A
lot of kids who want to go to med school, what they do, they volunteer first aid squads. Next thing you know, they apply to med school. And of course, it's always a plus on your application. I work for a medical school. I know you
know you already get a skill be ahead of everybody else. So that's one leg up about volunteerism. Also I believe um the board of ed is having a career career speakers event
from two from fe February 23rd to the 27th. Parents are encouraged to talk to their kids about signing up for volunteer work. It's life-changing. Finally, unfortunately, one of our officers recently had a devastating home
fire at his residence. The PBA will be assisting him by having a fundraiser which will take place shortly to raise funds to help him and his family during this time. That is my report and thank you.
>> Thank you, Councilman. Uh, public works Councilman Rios. >> I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor, one more thing. Uh, I I forgot to mention, I'd like to start having a conversation about acquiring the and preserving the 40 acres, Marco's 40 acres if possible.
>> Go ahead. >> No, I'm I'm I'm saying I would like to start to have the conversation. We don't have to have it now. I'm just opening it up because I'll be talking to everyone after. >> Okay. >> You understand he doesn't want to sell the property. Well, that we go through
this once a year. So before the meeting, do I'll have the business administrator reach out to Peter MCO to see if his interest level has changed about selling the property right now. There's nothing happening to it.
So, uh, uh, anyway, it's Jim Robinson's favorite topic, so it'll give him something to write about on Facebook. But Glenn, if you, if you would, >> uh, reach out to Peter MCO, ask him if
his position has changed. Anything else, Councilman? >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Okay, with that being said, Councilman Rios, public works. >> Good evening, Mayor and fellow council members, the public. Um, uh, as far as public works, uh, this
time there's nothing new to report, uh, regarding operations. Uh, we would like to formally commend Craig Fallon for his outstanding work coordinating the snowplow operations and the ongoing storm cleanup efforts, which are still
continuing as of today. Uh, his organization, leadership, and dedication throughout the storm response was exceptional. Uh we will also like to recognize Dawn and Enza uh for their profess professionalism in handling a
high volume of storm related complaints including interactions with difficult residents. Uh they conducted themselves in a professional and courtous manner at all times and we are proud to have them as members of our staff.
Um, I know this there's still snow um on the streets and um I don't think there's anything coming uh as far as in the near future, but we like to recognize that many residents uh require assistance following significant significant snow
events. Uh elderly and disabled residents in particular may need help with snow removal from sidewalks and driveways. So we just ask our residents help your neighbor. Uh residents seeking snow removal
assistance may contact the Serville Senior Center at 732-390758 to obtain a list of individuals willing to provide snow shoveling services. Uh please note that this service is not provided free of charge. Residents are responsible for arranging payment
directly with the individual performing the work. Um, as a side note, I I'm just want to say that I'm really glad that the elevator uh is fixed. Um, and I'd like to stress the importance of using current technological tools to
facilitate open discussion with residents who are unable to attend meetings in person. Uh, residents who are elderly, disabled, ill, or just constrained by work obligations. Um those residents are currently being
excluded from this process. Uh so I'd like to make a motion to reintroduce Zoom meeting participation for council meetings. >> Second. >> Motion made and seconded roll.
The motion made was to reinstate Zoom meetings before calling questions. Council persons Rios, >> yes. >> Lumare, >> yes. >> Kesi, >> no.
>> Novak, >> yes. >> Sarski, >> no. I don't think it's necessary at this time. >> Zabrowski, >> no. >> It's 33. Mayor in your Recreation Councilman please.
>> Okay. I'm going to start with human relations. Um in the observance of Black History Month, the committee has selected Mr. Jared Lamin as a distinguished community honore in recognition for his
contributions to education, youth development, and community service. So, Mr. Lanin is a New Jersey native born and raised in Lakewood. He holds a bachelor's degree from Montlair State University and two graduate degree
degrees. One from St. Peters University in education with a concentration in administration and supervision and another from Rucker University in math education. So he served as a teacher in the Sarville Middle School
for 16 years and he's demonstrated a strong commitment to student growth and achievement. In addition, he also serves as the youth uh ministry director at the Sarah Woods Bible Church. So he he uh provides mentorship and leadership to
the youth within the community. So Mr. Lanin is also recognized as a speaker, an educator, an entrepreneur dedicated to empowering young people. So the human relations committee will host a a public
um recognition ceremony in his honor on February 23rd. Yeah, we have a council meeting that night um at the Saveville Public Library 6:30 to 8 o'clock. So, we commend Mr. Lanin
for his service and thank him for the positive impact he continues to make within our community. He's an extraordinary person. uh office of the aging. The United Way is providing the free income tax
preparation for individuals with um uh low-inccome and senior citizens at the uh Sarville Adult Center, which is 423 Main Street. All seniors receive this service for free, as do non seniors who
are under the 75,000 um income limit. So, it's really worth it. It's a great service. So, simply drop off your tax documents there. There's a form to fill out. They'll uh
make an appointment with you and uh follow up and take care of your tax needs. No charge. That's a big savings. So, some upcoming things at the senior center. Friday, February 13th, they're
going to have um 11 o'clock 11:00 a.m. they have a Medicare fraud presentation. Uh Thursday, February 19th, they're having the their monthly bus trip to Super Walmart. You have to um reserve a
spot for that. Friday, February 20th, uh from 10 to 12, they're doing a portraits social. And then Monday, February uh 10th at 11:30, uh they're going to have a health
education seminar. And now on to recreation. I attended uh the first meeting where we approved the events for the 2026 calendar. Um, and they'll be posted chronologically on the recreation
website and the social media Facebook. So, the next event uh is going to be February 20th. That's the LED uh mini golf that will be inside of the senior center. Um, that's going to be from uh 6
PM to 8:30 p.m. So, registration for Sarville uh recreation's spring programs is now open. So, check out the website for everything that they have to offer. It in it includes things like adult
yoga, uh, parent and me painting, skateboarding, performance training, and a few others. So if you have any questions, you can reach out to Nick Jenkins directly at njenkinsville.com and he can answer any questions or uh
inquiries that you have about that. So as a reminder, there's still time to sign up for recreation's murder mystery show and adult canvas painting night. So and all that information is posted as well. Recreation is now accepting
applications for camp counselors at Burks Park camp. Applications must be at least 15 years of age um or have completed a CIT program uh a counselor in training. So applications
are available on on the recreation website. So um that's all I have for now. from your favorite councilman. >> Thank you, Councilman. Uh, water, sewer,
environmental, councilman Sinarski. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh, last week we had, uh, the environmental meeting and that was also environmental meeting and that was also attached to the farmers farmers
meeting. The farmer first registration is going to be February 19th. Mickey Sedlac Hall 6:30 p.m. There's going to be another one March 19th, same time, same place, 6:30 p.m. And that you can buy a $40 plot. I met a gentleman the
other day that I really I'm inviting him and he was such a nice guy. I told him, I'll pay for your plot. He just his wife died. He needs something like this and I think it's the best thing for him to do. So, I'm even going to sponsor him if he can't even afford to do it. So, he's going to make sure he comes to the
meeting and he he will be there. Uh the water department, the main thing in the water, the pipes are freezing all over town. The frost is leveling, changing the ground heights and everything else. Pipes are free breaking all over town. So, there's a lot of repairs all over town with water. The best thing you guys
could do like for your outside faucets and everything else, make sure you got them styrofoam little covers that go on your faucets so they don't break for you. That's very important to do. And don't leave your hose connected to the spot either. Make sure your hoses are disconnected from your spets. Uh I had
some issues with upper Main Street up here residents and businesses complaining to me about the snow. So thanks to Glenn and George from the road department. We had the snow removed from possibly Dolan Street all the way up to
the end toward OL so residents can park. So businesses could be open in front of Sunnyside Up restaurants, gi several seafood. They could park for the Bomber Beyond Bomber Cafe across the street. So we tried to make room for everybody. So everybody's happy about that. I had
other issues with residents complaining about the speed limits in their areas where it was Laurel Park was one of them, Pine Tree, all the streets up there behind the high school. And we have an increased police presence there. That's been reported back to me that they do see that. they see the speed
limits, people obeying the speed limits a little more there. Also, uh Merit Avenue, I had a lot of complaints from Merit Avenue, people flying down Merit Avenue. That's been addressed. There's more police presence in Merit Avenue, so we're all doing good with that. Uh I am
not a Facebook guy, but I'll tell you something about Facebook. There was a lady getting out of the Venetian in South Amboy lives on Ner Street in Saravel. She could not get into her yard because her yard was badly plowed out.
So, yes, there are people that are doing it. They wanted $500 to shovel this lady's house out. This is ridiculous. This is what I do. I volunteer all over. I'm still plowing last week people's driveways. So, the day of the lady's
post on Facebook, I went to Ner Street. I met the guy there. Just happens to do the same thing I do. His name is Steve Thatcher. He's a South Oldbridge volunteer fire department guy. He came from Oldbridge because he saw the same
post on Facebook as my wife did because I was going there to see what I needed to do it for the next day because it was too late in the day for me to do it. So the next day I was going to go there and take care of this lady so she can come home. This guy did everything same as I did, but he did a great job and I want
to commend him for coming from Oldbridge to come to Save to help somebody out. But that's what we do. We help the people out in the town. But somebody charging an older lady $500 to shovel their snow with their yard and clean their driveway. Good thing he wasn't
there when I was there. I'm telling you. Uh what else do I got? Community garden, upper main street, water and sewer police department. I mentioned I'm good. Thank you, mayor, for your time.
That's it. Thank you, Councilman. Uh, planning and zoning, Council President Sabrouski. >> Thank you, Mayor. And, uh, gosh, thank you for that dedication for all that hard work and and helping out during the, uh, storm. Uh, one of the things I wanted to say because I know we we get a
lot of complaints at times, but I got to tell you what I also saw was an awful lot of cooperation from an awful lot of residents uh, from from an opportunity that, you know, a 10-year storm. And I I really I'm thankful and and honored to
be a lifelong resident of Sarable and seeing the wonderful things that I did see over this um this cold spell. One of the things uh I also saw was and I was a little frustrated like Mary with uh with First Energy um
going back about well actually about two years ago when we started all the uh brownouts and and power outages and stuff like that. I I compiled a list of 10 questions which I thought were the most essential questions of where are we at in Saraveville and what do we need
and what is First Energy doing for our infrastructure to improve the quality of the of what we're receiving in our electric uh electricity. Uh I never got a response. Um and we've asked for the representative come to meetings and for
various reasons have not shown up. But I I normally don't like stash take to Facebook, but I did for that. Uh because I think it's important to that the rest of the community partake in what I did is in contacting our board of public
utilities and showing my frustration and also sharing those questions that I had for First Energy because quite frankly, we need an answer. We need an answer as to why this is happening. And I think the answer is you just haven't put enough effort over the years on our infrastructure, but we're tired of it.
We pay very we pay a lot for our our bills, electric bills, and we have expectations. They're not high expectations. The expectations is the lights go on, the heat is on, and we're comfortable in our homes. And I for sure was not comfortable in my home for those
hours in which the power wore out. So I commend all the residents of CBLE that also took up that cause and also emailed or called the Board of Public Utilities. Uh want to congratulate Chris Barsley who's going to be our first OEM coordinator, full-time coordinator. Uh
haven't had the opportunity to do that on a part-time basis. Uh this is a very good thing for our community. Uh there are uh a number of things our OEM does for us on a daily basis. Uh in addition to being crisis management, uh looking
for grants and ensuring that uh that all our community is safe. So, uh, congratulations to him. As most of you know, he was our chief for the seable auxiliary, a volunteer organization, uh, as well as a full-time dispatcher. So, he's going to do a wonderful job there.
Uh, Jay, thank you for, uh, starting the discussion with the Middle Sex County Department of Transportation on the request for a traffic light, uh, in front of Winding Woods, uh, apartments. Uh, I will continue to follow up and and I really hope that uh that dialogue
moves forward quickly and and thank you for doing that. Herb, I want to follow up on what you talked about our volunteer first responders and Mary what you discussed about the fact that our budget discussions are coming up. uh it's time for us to put our money where our mouth is and that is it's been a
long time since our first responders, our first aid and our firemen have received um higher contributions to our LOAP and also to their clothing alliance and um if we are going to recruit and if we are going to retain and we're having
a difficult time doing that uh we we must be able we must provide the the necessary incentives to do that. Uh, and I hope that that's going to be a a major goal on on the next budget for that. Um, and finally for planning and zoning,
Sarah meeting is this Thursday. We have a workshop at 6:00 and a regular meeting starts at 6:30. Planning board start uh meets next Wednesday. The last meeting was cancelled because there was nothing on the agenda. That's next Wednesday at 7:30 and the board of adjustment meets at the last Wednesday of the month and
that's upcoming as well. Mayor, uh, that is my report. Thank you. Thank you. Um the comments I have are are about the historic society. This is it's just a business issue. So,
at when the building is is finished, when the when the interior is done, and I don't know where we are on that, Jay, uh, and then the exterior, and we have a critical need for more office space because the construction department are
in the four trailers on the end of the parking lot. And those trailers were generously donated to the burrow 20, 25 years ago. Jimmy Gillette called me up and he's in the construction business and and he said he had four trailers
and could we use them which we certainly could at that time. Uh so that being said we we need to we need the construction department. It's all uh and and we need we need the office space. That being said, the the historical
society is is made up of volunteers, great volunteers, but under the burrow's uh management, we have attorneys and engineers, and we have the ability to allocate funds for
um for bringing this up to code, a 2025 code. Um it's just a prudent thing to continue till the the Oh, the other thing is I have the president of of the
historical society, Frank Torino. He's he is actively part of meeting with the architect and reviewing uh the plans and giving his input and he brings I think Art Writtenhouse who's a trustee. Um, so
nobody's being excluded, but from just from a practical perspective, the way we're doing it makes an awful lot of sense. Like I said, we we had our um grant writer look for historical
grants and they were small in dollars. So, by the time and if this is indeed a $3 million project, by the time that we would have gotten uh any kind of grant money, um the building would have
probably collapsed. Uh I mean, it would have taken years to get this kind of money. So, I I'm very comfortable uh having the burrow in control particularly during the renovation and restoration of the building. any
business banker would all agree with that that it's where it should be and it's being overseen by who it should be overseen by. Uh that being said, it is shared with the with the historic with the local historical society, but I'm
not sure of their membership as they are completely autonomous from the burrow. Um so I don't know if they have contractors. I don't know if they have restoration contractors, you know, just it's in it's in it's in where it should
be. That being said, we'll move to uh general discussion items uh and our business. Oh, by the way, there was one thing I I uh let me put on my reading glasses. My wife sent me a a text
uh last week and she says, "Uh, wahoo. We weren't eligible for the senior pro property uh tax freeze." Jim, if you could take that outside, please. Yeah. Well, um, we weren't eligible for the senior
property tax freeze, but we did already get the $1,250 anchor benefit. And yesterday, we got a notice that we'll also get $4,146 for the state New Jersey benefit, which will be paid in quarterly in
installment. and she writes, "These two things are offsetting properly uh property taxes, effectively cutting ours in half. We pay $10,000 a year in property tax. Uh we live over in Woodside and that seems to be the
growing going rate for our town. So, it's money. It it's it's out there. Uh and and you just need to apply it." Special thanks to our assemblyman and speaker of the house Craig Coughlin who put these rebates together.
He he is indeed a friend of Saveville. Uh Glenn, you had something to add in addition to this. >> Just to remind everybody that's eligible and that's 65 and over or those that are disabled, uh the stay program applications are out now. So if you're
eligible, uh it's recommended that you uh apply for those too. How how who who who could they call to get a to get an application or get the link? >> I believe there's actually a stay NJ website. If you give me a second, I could tell you exactly. >> Nicole, could you put that on the burrow
uh website and put it out as a as a Facebook uh blast? >> Yeah, we'll get that out. >> Glenn, question for you. Somebody asked me that I didn't know. Uh are you eligible the year you turn 65 or the day you turn 65?
>> Have no idea. Okay. So, I'm not the only one. Okay. Go. >> Okay. Glenn, >> go ahead. >> No. >> Authorization to award a contract to Tactical Public Safety for the 2026 radio system maintenance through NJC
contract in an amount not to exceed $72,318.25. >> Any objection? Next item. An application for membership as a fire firefighter received from Ryan Sutton accepted by President Park after December 9th, 2025 meeting. >> Any objection? Next item.
>> Authorization to appoint Christopher Barsley to director of emergency management retroactive to January 1st, 2026. >> Any objection? Next item. Authorization to promote Vincente Buffalolino from public safety telecommunicator to supervising public safety
telecommunicator retroactive to January 1, 2026. >> Any objection? >> I just have one thing. I'd like it to indicate that it's acting. >> Is ital >> provisional? No, I think it's acting because we don't have a list or provisional because we don't have a list. >> We don't do really too much provisional
anymore. >> Yeah, it's it's I think it'd be considered acting because we don't have a list. Well, he just goes to that title until the test >> believe. >> I just don't want anybody to say later, well, you already promoted him to it, you know, because I know that is a competitive test. >> It is, and we're going to be compelled
to do a test once civil service gets around to that. That could be a year or two, >> at which time then the council can determine off of the eligible list who they'd like to permanently give that to. >> Is that I'm not trying to start trouble here, but I know that you can't have by
civil service rules. I wish Becky had stayed. Uh, you can't have an acting for any more than 6 months at a time. >> That's why I think they just go into that title for right now until the test comes out tomorrow. I think the correct the correct phrase is uh provisional
pending the outcome of testing. I believe that's the correct phrase that would be employed here. But I'll verify that and let you know tomorrow. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, anything else, Glenn? >> No, that's it, sir. >> Okay. CFO's report. >> Thank you, Mayor.
>> Yeah. >> Sorry about that. Thank you, mayor. I just have a transfer resolution on. Thank you. >> Thank you, bor attorney. >> Uh, nothing this evening. Thank you, mayor. >> Okay. Uh, public portion. Uh, anyone with questions or comments? Yes, young lady.
Hi, I'm Lisa Brown from Driffwood Drive and I just had a comment I wanted to read for the Seville Arts Council. >> Go ahead. >> Um, congratulations to the Seville Arts Council just appointed this evening. This arts council is something that is not specific to any political, religious, or cultural group. It is for
every single person in this town. We spend so much time arguing and fighting and being negative about everything in this town, but this is something very positive that affects everyone. My family and I are very passionate about music. Both my husband and my son are both amazing musicians. We spend all
summer long going from town to town to enjoy outdoor concerts. For so many years, we wish Seerville would have something like this as we definitely have the venue for it. Woodbridge, for example, has had bands six days a week all summer. We've seen so many, but what
stood out to us last year was the level of detail this committee put into every show Seville had. You didn't just sit in your lawn chair and watch. You were able to enjoy the theme of the night with specific food, decor, speakers, dancers, and activities.
The high school has had Bonjovi, Dave Sabbo, and so many upcoming things that are lined up to help recognize the arts, and we as a town need to match that. Personally hearing from Dave Sabbo, he was honored to meet the kids at the high school. And in his words, he said, "I
must admit that in recent years, I have watched music become less and less important in people's lives. To a certain degree, it has become background noise. But seeing those young adults yesterday helped restore my faith in the beauty and importance of music and art.
This committee needs your support both personally and financially to make this program bigger and better and show our town you are capable of doing something so positive for all of its residents. And maybe even more importantly, the committee's focus on entertainment activities for teens is something we
need as well. Halloween was just a stepping stone last year and I've heard ideas being thrown around this year which I know many teens will love. I've attended some of the cultural arts planning meetings and as long as they have your support, there are many others, including myself, who will be
happy to volunteer to help at these events. This committee can make a huge impact and difference in this town if we let them and support them. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, >> Ken. Thank you, Mayor Kenky. terrible. I want to address the uh the power failure. Not
only last two weeks ago, but for the last several years, I have probably had at least 10 power failures over that period. Probably more than I've had in the prior 25 years combined. I addressed you people when you started
meeting at the senior center with this fiasco with the elevator. Uh, Jersey Central First Energy is a highly troubled utility. I know because as I told you at that meeting, I own numerous ones and I
follow them very closely. If you don't believe me, just Google it and you'll see what I'm talking about. Uh, these power failures are not an act of God. They're not coming from storms. They are negligence on the part of
Jersey Central and we're not in a thirdw world country where you know they turn the power off couple nights a week in in many of these countries. That's not where we're living and as as councilwoman Novak said it's in the same area of town all the time. It's from I
can't tell you exactly the Kaplan P over to to uh Park Village and all the side streets over to Washington Road. That's a it's that whole quadrant that's out all the time. So, we don't need Dick Tracy, you know, and and we don't need
uh Sherlock Holmes to figure out this is an issue with a lack of power. I'm glad to see I did see Councilman uh Zabrowski uh with some stuff on Facebook
and I'm glad he's at least addressing it. I think you're a couple years late, councilman. Know where you were the first two years of your term and you probably a Johnny come lately on this, but I've been on top of it from square one and I told you and I told everybody down there and I can't see where
anything was done. And with all due respect, having the residents contact the BPU, [clears throat] was that a joke you put in there? Because the idea that the residents are going to get something out of the BT BPU is a joke. We can't get
anything out of this cerebo burrow council. If you really want to get serious about this, you need to contact the 19th district officials and you need to bring them in here. Do you know who they are? You know their names? Do you want their phone numbers? Do you want
their address? You need to get them in here and advertise the $40,000 man that you just appointed tonight. have him put something in and his nonsense about not all the feelood things in the burrow. Did he ever put anything in about the elevator? Did he ever put anything about
the power problems in town? Of course he didn't. No, nobody wants to deal with that. And you people have done nothing. We need help. And I'm tired of it. Uh this is this is threatening when you talk about your your heat is out for
hours in uh uh in 10°ree weather and I'm glad you opened the active adult or senior center, whatever you want to call it. Did you provide transportation to bring any vulnerable people in there? Was that done? No, I'm sure it wasn't.
I'm sure it wasn't. Uh, it's sad that we're at this point and it's sad that we've got a governing body that's basically going to do nothing. Mayor, why don't you bring your friends in from Woodbridge? Remember how you brought them in to give the $60 billion company uh to give them a pilot when they said,
"Oh, the sky is falling in. If we don't give him the pilot, maybe you can bring him in from Wood Bridge, Mayor, maybe they can help us." This has to go to It's got to go to the BPU. that Jersey Central is not going to address it. The councilman said, uh, we contact them.
Mary's contacted him. You don't even get them to show up. It's got to go to the BPU and it's got to be done by our 19th district people. You represent 48,000 people. The 19th district people, do you know how many they represent? 240,000
people. They've got it. We've got the speaker in in our district. And of course, we need the senator because the senator has to confirm appointments to the BPU. So, please let's take a look at that. And it it ultimately pro it needs to go to the BPU. It probably needs to
go to a lawsuit by the BPU or the attorney general's office for failure to provide power to the people of Serbo. So, I would appreciate if you would consider that, not blow this off like I blew off the last one nine or 10 months
ago and not look for political gain in this thing. Look to help the people of Stville. And mayor, let me say in the last moment about your wife, uh a very very good thing. Uh it's uh the one of the things about it, the income limit is
$500,000. So don't don't blow it off if you got a lot of money. and and they take half your taxes and they subtract what they already paid you on these two programs and they pay you quarterly for it. Thank you very much. [clears throat]
>> Mayor, may I just say one thing to our I I I agree with you. Um >> that's true. >> I'm sorry, Ken. Uh I agree with you. I wrote directly to the BPU. They never responded to me. So I sent another letter, you know, asking where the response was from the first letter, and
I was ignored on that one, too. So they're not listening to the mayor and councils. I agree that we got to go higher because they just they just ignore us. >> Another 15 minutes for the council meeting, but oh boy, you know, maybe you got overtime for staying here.
>> Jim, if you would, young lady, >> yes, >> Jessica Vant Parl, thank you for the appointment to cultural arts tonight. Our group is very excited to get to work together and deliver amazing events this year. Sharon and Chris did an excellent
job managing the budget last year and the Halloween Halloween event was a tremendous success. We look forward to building on that momentum and on behalf of the group, I would like to request that you consider increasing our budget for 2026. This would allow us to provide even more
impactful events in the community. As a realtor, I see how towns that have strong community involvement and events really thrive. It only adds value to our burrow. Our team is committed to introducing teen events and creating fun experiences for the kids this year. I'd
like to point out that according to the New Jersey Department of Education, 39% of the students in our district are considered economically disadvantaged. This is a great example of why it's so important for us to create community events for families that are fun and
affordable. Please keep this in mind when considering a potential budget increase for cultural arts this year as you're creating the budget. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Jim. You sure? >> Thank you very much. I too am happy the
elevator is working. It was out for [clears throat] 10 months and then within I don't know seven or 10 days after uh the council finally passed an emergency resolution, it got fixed. So that's that's great. There was something I wanted to bring up at the last meeting. I ran out of time.
Um and that had to do with the Crossman redevelopment. And my suggestion is this. I think when Sarah or whoever that was referred to next, the planning board, when they take a look at it, there are two things I think they should take a look at. One
[clears throat] is there is a connection between that excuse me and the main street bypass which as we know [clears throat] hasn't excuse me hasn't been completed. I think that that ought to be a part of that redevelopment study to find a way
to incorporate um expanding continuing the main street bypass which is so very necessary. The other thing I was going to say is um you know I've seen a lot of place I'm involved in a lot of affordable housing things. I've seen a lot of places where
on the first floor they have commercial on the second floor they have apartments that can be affordable and I that means you don't have to you're on top of a building. You don't have to knock down trees. You don't have to buy other property. I would suggest that that be a
part of that. Um, I talked at the last meeting about our sesqua centennial. Um, and mayor, I know you read my Facebook um, things. I posted um, something from the centennial the other day and within 24 hours 300
people commented on it. What great memories it brought back, how pleasant it was, how fun it was. And I would very strongly suggest I know that I talked to Dr. Labby the other day, the schools would be happy to participate in the
burrow's anniversary. I know the uh the um historical society would be anxious to participate in that. So I would I would very much suggest that in addition to the um 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we do
something like that because it builds community spirit. And if you just take a look at the comments on my posts, people really really somebody said uh it was the best burrow party they'd been to. Now, that might have been because there was a beer truck out here and I think
the kid was 18 at the time. But anyway, um it it it was a good time. Somebody who was involved with that. It it was a good time. We did a lot of good things. So, I I would suggest that the I'm happy that Morgan is getting a new fire engine. What's happening to the old one?
when >> it'll be offered for sale. >> Offered for sale. Okay. Thank you very much. Um the the we were talking about the um warming center. On days when we don't open a warming center, I have on a few
occasions seen some folks who I assume are homeless sleeping over by the mini mall. I've called the police and say, "What what can you do?" They didn't have a good answer. They said, "There's a shelter in New Brunswick, but they don't transport to New Brunswick." Um, I think that's
something, especially in this weather, that we ought to take a look at making sure that there's there's something in place there um for those folks. Um, I will say this, dosh, when the governor declares a state of emergency, there's
an anti-gouging law that goes into effect. So, anybody that charges $500 for a driveway during a state of emergency is in violation of that law. And they're pretty strict penalties for that. You might recall during Sandy that was that was implemented. You can get in
serious trouble for that. and and morally it's just outrageous um um what they were doing. Um our good friend Craig Coughlin um that you just
referenced, Mayor, I know a number of us talked to him a couple years ago and he said he he would have been happy to help us get state funding for the firehouse. Mary, I think you were involved in some of those conversations. I know we al also talked to the commissioners. So, the idea that there wasn't money there,
that that that's just not accurate. Um, and that we it's going to be a state-of-the-art facility, the mayor said, a modern state-of-the-art facility, and we're using historic preservation money for what is going to be a state-of-the-art facility on a
building that we won't declare historic. Something isn't right there. Something just doesn't make sense. And since I have 8 seconds left and it is National Pizza Day, I wish you all a happy National Pizza Day. Thank you.
>> Uh, is there anyone else? Please come up. [clears throat] >> Good evening, council. My name is Brienne Rogers. I am a mostly lifelong Saraveville resident and I also run an animal rescue in Saraveville. But I am talking to you tonight about the
cultural arts department. I want to thank you first of all for appointing me to that department and to that committee. Um it has been such a pleasure getting to know this group of individuals. One of the things that I am very passionate about on this committee is the teen program. And I think that
it's safe to say that if budgets are cut for cultural arts, that is going to be the first thing that goes because that seems to be what has been the first thing that goes or it doesn't even get incorporated. Our teens in town need somewhere to go on a regular basis. If
we can offer them monthly, bimonthly, that's a start. But we just had a shooting in this town recently that involved two teenagers. And it's something that we need to really look at as the adults in this community. I have a 13-year-old daughter in this community. I know what these kids are
going through because I see it in my own home. They go to school, they hear this rhetoric, they get clicks, they go online, they're being brought up by social media in some households where they're taught who they should like and who they shouldn't based on somebody else's views. We need to give them a
space where they can come together and join together no matter the background, the culture, the home life. It doesn't matter. And they can learn just what it is to be kids in an environment that is safe and welcoming and nourishing to their growth and character. So, I just
wanted to come up here when you're thinking about the budget, keep those teens in mind. I see a lot of things in this budget that have a lot of numbers attached to them, but none of them equals the cost of a teenage life that could possibly be saved by having a safe
space to go. So, if you could please keep that in mind that cultural arts, our teens are the heart of this community. They are what makes up the culture that is going to be coming up into this community. So if we don't give them a space to be have that mindset,
have those ideas be nourished and let them bloom in a positive environment, then we're doing them a great disservice. And no matter what we do for this town, as those kids grow up, we're going to see that disservice being played out within our environment and within our community. So thank you. Just
just to bring you up to date with a two-year history, [clears throat] a little over two years ago, I was speaking with somebody with a young family, uh, and we were talking about life in general, and I was informed that if you
have children that are in youth activities, whether it's athletic or dance or gymnastic, that all of your money goes for those activities. ities. Um whether you're doing special coaching, summer um summer
programs, um travel, um she said, "We're broke." You know, we're broke for our kids. So the the vacuum that I saw in town and the reason I I revitalized the cultural arts was the summer because my
feeling was and my kids I'm a grandfather and I have and my grandkids are in college. Um so it's been a long time but long story short I made the assumption that there was I I wasn't looking to compete with anything
September to June. I was looking to fill in the summer months and that was uh when I when I spoke to Moira McCormack who was the first chair of the cultural arts. I said Moira I I think when I was
a young person growing up once a week you had um basically in those days you had high school bands and everybody would come to those. So that's that's in the past and Moira is a young person and I just I I wanted the perspective of a
young person with kids that were grammar school uh junior high, high school. Um and so I I said, you know, let's start out with summer concerts. Um so that that was that was the genesis behind
reviving the cultural arts. The big thing I was very concerned about was I didn't want to compete with high school events, whether they're sporting or drama or music. Uh I saw no no upside to that. Um so as you go forward, the big
thing I'm really looking to fill in is if you're not on vacation with your parents for those 12 summer weeks, you have a tendency to get into trouble. and and I was looking to fill that time
slot first first uh where and and again the big thing to me is for the residents it's free because it started out parents with small children or with school-aged children are are pretty tight on money
because of the cost of extracurricular activities. The summer is like a dead time. So that that was that was my hope when I revived it when when when the summer is is full.
I think I I think it's, you know, it would be appropriate to look at other things, but we're not in the competition. You're going to have three events that are separate. You have seal day. Uh last
year we had the first uh festival of lights which was an Asian Indian and this year we'll have our first Latin day. The ne if if you look at the demographics of Saveville the largest
group is 20% Latin 18% Asian Indian and about 13% African-American. So e you know each each in its time. So the next one after the Latin day is is is I
think you went to that flag raising >> is now called Pan-American >> or Panaffrican rather. >> Pan African. >> That's the correct term. >> Yes sir. >> So it would be appropriate to have a a Pan-African uh day. Uh
but we're doing one thing at a time. So a as you go forward this year, remember it's summer, summer, summer. That's that is the critical need in my opinion. You're a mother. Other people on on cultural arts are a mother. We got to fill in the summer hours.
>> I I agree with you 100% that we have to fill in the summer hours, but and also with what you were saying about there's so many things during the school year. That's where those clicks fall into play. The football players go to football games, the cheerleaders go to football games, the theater kids go to play in drama. There is no community
space for these kids to come together as a whole. Or for the families that maybe you've got a single mom who works the weekends. Maybe it's a good place for her teen to go and hang out where she's not worried about that. >> Doing doing what, dear? who a single mom who works the weekends and maybe we offer a program once a month where you
know she knows her kid can be hanging out in a safe environment and maybe that kid can meet somebody there who's an adult who's a trusted safe person or another friend of a different ethnic background and I understand what you're saying where we're focusing on actually I'm going to be honest with you I don't understand what you're saying when we're
focusing on one culture at a time because the object of cultural arts is to have a diversity of cultures so So, I understand wanting to bring in certain cultural aspects to the community as an individual aspect like Latin Day for
Latin Americans and Pan-African Day for for that culture. But when we're talking about cultural arts, we're talking about the multicultural diversity. And I think that our children are our greatest melting pot for that, for lack of a
better word. They go to school and they're all in one area, but they're not taught to be together in one area, if that makes sense. So, I understand what you're saying where you want to focus on individual nationalities. But when I also spoke to Brian from the
rec department after the Christmas parade, he had told me that one of his biggest things that he was hoping to get into town is more of a teen program because the rec department does focus >> more what? >> More of a teen program. because the recck department does focus more on the younger children.
>> U so I think that if Brian from the recck department is on board with getting more teen events in town and the cultural arts is on board with helping to facilitate those events and we are talking about lowcost events especially for the teens where we can kind of just
recreate on a monthly basis. Um I think that's something that maybe we should be open to. >> That's all I'm saying. Yes, >> I I expect this um but my first priority is to fill the summer
>> because you know years ago um I was giving out the mayor's trophy at at the marching band um behind the high school and and at about 11:00 one of the police officers came over to me and he says, "Mayor, we have a
complaint. Somebody lived behind Shopright. They're complaining about the noise and they want to speak to the mayor. They called the police department about it and the police department says, "Well, when the mayor finishes handing out his trophy at the band competition,
he'll call you." I would rather have the kids doing that than other things. So, I've sat up here for 25 years and and this isn't the first time I've done it. When when I see someone is passionate
about identifying an issue, I I generally charge them with the solution. And I'm not being a wise guy about this. You have young children, you see the world differently than I do. So the
board, first of all, in the burrow, in the in the world of government, it's all about crossing tees and dotting eyes and staying in the budget. So that's your first charge. It's not a, you know, budgets are not unlimited. And and when you're when the
money's gone, the money's gone. There's no coming back for more money. >> And I don't I I'll admit I do not understand how budgets work. I mean, I I ran businesses before, but when it comes to government, I don't understand how budgets work. >> First of all, there's a misnomer. Government is not a business, and it
cannot be run as a business. It just in in all my years in government, it's just not a business. There's no P&L statement. It just it's just revenue and expense. So, that being said, you have a
good group of people here and you'll do great things for Seville. Uh, and and I applaud you for volunteering and we're here to help you uh you know, ma make it make it happen. >> Thank you. But I will ask you, it's the
summer, the summer, the summer. All right? And and that's what needs to be what needs to be filled for the kids. And and at Sarable Day, we we they we rent the
inflatable rides, right? And and it gets a fair amount of play. There's different things you can you can incorporate. Um, but you'll find your way. I'm quite sure of it. You're very talented people and and you all
have young kids and and that's exactly the perspective that I was hoping for on this committee. So, I got what I wanted. Now, you work on what you want. >> Well, hopefully we can fill the summer with events and then we can keep moving forward and we'll get more of a budget.
>> Yeah. [laughter] But I charge you as you come up with the solutions. But there it's not go the other thing that people get very frustrated easily if you come from the private sector to the public sector. >> Nothing happens quickly. >> Oh, that I know.
>> So you're you Nothing [laughter] happens quickly. >> No, it doesn't. Right. >> And the things that you want to like go slow tend to happen quickly. Right. Right. Time flies when you're having fun, but when you need something done, it tends to go like a snail. >> Okay. >> Thank Thank you for volunteering. Of course. Thank you so much, friend. You guys have a great night.
>> You, too. >> Anyone else? Sharon, >> one thing, Mr. Mayor, I'd like to speak for a minute. >> Go ahead. Go ahead. >> I got one more thing. When I was talking about Facebook earlier, there was another posting on Facebook about the elevator. I am willing to work with
everybody up here on the council for the betterment of the town of Saravel, but it's hard for me to work with people when they're posting on Facebook since they've been on the council only for a month. They repaired the elevator already. I This council up here was
definitely aware of the elevator. We brought it up periodically. We were under contract with a company for the elevator. Yes, I've heard that we could break the contract or whatever emergency repairs, but we had a contract with them. They were supposed to repair it. They did not repair it. It was overdue,
but we got another contractor to do it and it was repaired in a timely manner and we were back in action again. I don't want I if if the other side took takes credit for that, please let them tell me what did the scope of the first
contract, where did they get the second contractor from, and how much was the repairs and what was done to it. Tell me if you guys fixed it, tell me what you did to fix it. Who'd you get? How did they fix it so fast?
>> But somebody's posting this on Facebook. >> I I am posting that on Facebook. >> Oh, okay. I didn't say you. >> I haven't posted anything about this. >> Nobody said you either. I'm not mentioning anybody's names. But >> who's that? >> They're on It's on Facebook. Look who posted it.
Figure it out. It's not that hard. That's all I have to say. >> Thank you, Sharon. anything. >> I hand uh Chris came and handed this out. I don't know if it made its way to you. >> Yeah, but Sharon, this is one of the
things about the government rules. Your first meeting isn't until March 5th. So, your committee hasn't met to vote on that. >> No, I know. No, we were just giving you ideas of what we were talking about. This is just like an example. >> Okay. But but please don't because you
haven't had your This doesn't exist. this can't exist because you haven't had your first meeting. You haven't had your organizational where your uh plan, >> but we've been talking. We're a group that talks. We're on a joint text message. >> No doubt about it. There's great
>> excit Yeah, we're very excited to get working. >> But government is about crossing tees or dotting eyes because there's always somebody. We have people that come here every so often and what they're hoping is that we make some kind of a mistake and they
file a lawsuit and it goes to our insurance carrier and they go give them $10,000 and settle it out and that's what I'm trying to stay away from. >> Okay. I was just sharing my example. >> This is where I come. where I get wildly
concerned because these nuisance lawsuits, they're taking money out of everybody in this room's pocket and and it's unfortunate, but I h I try very hard to make sure we don't say something inappropriate in in
in the moment of exasperation or something where you get what was John, what was that? Um they would come around to the police stations a number before before um Plumacher um
bonaf he he bonafideed the process you know anybody could come in after he finished it. What the hell was the name of that? Glenn whom I when he was when he was the captain or lieutenant, he went through the certification
and then people would come to the police station and it was a setup and and they would ask for certain documents and if you didn't have them, they'd immediately file a lawsuit. There there's a whole business going on about people suing
particularly small towns or any size town. Um and we've taken great pains to make ourselves current and and to be on top of it. So as I said um you you have
to wait for your March 5th uh meeting till you formally adopt your president. >> This was nothing formal. These were just >> Sharon Sharon like I said >> in any case this is the public portion. I just wanted to thank you guys for
meeting with us. Both sides of the council people made time to work with us and deal with us and and talk and teach us and we're very grateful for all of you meeting with us a couple times and and educating on us. Um when Briana is
talking about Tonight, we've already ran things past Brian and Michael has worked with and spoken to Brian if we could utilize the Mickey Sedlac building. It's a it's a property that we have. Can we utilize that once a month? So, that's the direction of where we were going.
Brian already knows about that part. Um, and just thank you for resurrecting this program for us. >> I expect great things. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Any other questions or comments? There being none, I'll uh take
a motion to close the public portion. >> Second. >> Is there a motion? >> I made it. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> All favor. >> All in favor take a motion. >> Motion to adjurnn.