There we go. >> This meeting is called to order in accordance with the open public meetings law. In accordance with chapter 231 of the public laws of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided. This meeting of October 20th, 2025 was published in the Courier News and Star
ledger and placed on the bureau's website and bulletin board at Burough Hall. A copy of this notice is available to the public and a copy of the statement shall be included in the minutes of this meeting. Mayor Brian Gallagher >> here. >> Council members Terresa Bonner >> here. >> Andrew Ki >> here. >> Glenda
>> here. >> Randy Pittz >> here. >> Gina Stravik >> here. >> Roger F >> here. Please stand for the salute. 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. >> Okay. Can I have a motion for approval of the minutes of October 6? So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. Andrew Ki, >> yes. >> Glen Deny,
>> yes. >> Randy Pittz, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Ferm, >> yes. >> All right. Departmental reports. Uh, early election, uh, voting is occurring between October 25th and November 2nd. For those who are not aware, uh, election day is November 4th. The polls
are open 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. And, uh, on December 2nd, uh, PSE&G will have an an information session right here regarding uh, Division Street. I believe they're going to be doing some uh some construction on division. Kevin, >> that's correct. Yes.
>> Okay. >> All right. Um item number six is the appointment of William Kale to the planning boards. It's a two-year appointment as alternate number one for the unexpired term ending on 123126. And I will make that appointment. Um
committee reports. Andrew >> uh historic advisory committee met this uh past week. Uh I just want to congratulate them on their successful weekend journey to the past uh event. Um they've also been able to complete the plaque uh map. So if you haven't been
able to find that, I'm sure it should be available sometime soon. I think we have a link to it that shows you all the plaques and historical spots in town and you can go ahead and it's based on Google, so it's pretty easy to open up on your phone. You can go ahead walk around town and uh even when you're trick-or-treating and enjoy that. Uh
otherwise um the facade improvements and the frontage at the uh at the burough hall continue and uh we hope to see that finished soon. >> Great. All right. Thank you, Gina. >> The rescue squad has uh several events that they've um completed the past uh uh month. Um they'll also be at the uh
spectacular coming up and um they have several training events. If anyone's interested in joining the rescue squad, uh just uh go to the website and uh or speak with me or anyone else in town and we'll be happy to point you in the right direction. Um the board of health has not met uh yet this month, so uh no
report there. >> All right, great. Thank you, Glenn. >> Great. Thank you, Mayor. Uh the fire department had a very successful uh inspection day last Saturday, the 11th, and uh despite all the rainy weather, uh we had plenty of people out and uh enjoyed seeing all the different facilities in the new fire truck as
well. Um also for the fire department, the holiday lights parade is coming sooner than you think, December 6th. that will be starting at dark around 6 pm. And then for the environmental commission, uh we had our meeting last Tuesday, the 14th, um we reviewed the we had a climate proof your yard
educational event that was held in September. Uh was a great success with over 40 people attending. Also, uh Vanderver, we did our native plant planting was on the 6th and the 7th of October. Uh there was a presentation from flower to the people and hands-on
planting with the students and we thank the environmental commission volunteers for coming out to help with that as well. Um we were also the environmental commission is working on finalizing all their comments for the master plan for the planning board. Also, they discussed the value of composting your leaves and
uh possibly either uh using them for mulch or uh composting them which will help provide habitats for overwintering insects and improve your soil quality. Um also on October 11th, busy day, uh the environmental commission planted 186
plants and nine shrubs for the Peter Peters Brook Habitat Restoration Project with the help of over 30 volunteers of all ages. Um, in addition, they would like to thank the DPW for all their help and support with their ongoing projects for that. And then, um, also they're excited
for resolution 296 and they recommend us passing that which will help with a grant, excuse me, uh, that they've received, uh, with additional plant native planting for the Hollyy Street median. And the next meeting will be Tuesday the 11th at 7 PM right here. So,
see you then. >> Awesome. You ran out of paper, didn't you? I did. >> All right. Thank you, Teresa. >> Thank you. Um, so the library board of trustees will be meeting this Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Somerville
Public Library. It is open to the public, so if you have any questions or concerns, please do join us. Um the Municipal Alliance and Youth Services Commission will be volunteering at the Halloween Spooktacular next uh Thursday
evening, October 30th. Um handing out candy and information about how to fight addiction and the pedestrian safe, I'm sorry, public safety committee uh met last Thursday here at the civic center um
discussing pedestrian safety. Um, October is pedestrian safety month and uh I will be um celebrating pedestrian safety month by joining Ridewise tomorrow uh between 12 and 1 p.m. on
Main Street doing a walk-in talk. Um we're going to be meeting in front of Ambi and walking around. We're going to be handing out uh information about pedestrian safety, bike safety, handing out bike reflectors, um candy bars with little uh QR codes with information
about learning more about pedestrian safety. So, if you can join us on your lunch break, please do. That's it. >> Great. Thank you, Randy. >> Thank you, mayor. I'm excited to announce the Somerville Police Department will begin operations out of their new location at the Emergency
Service Facility, 85 North Gaston Avenue, as of this Friday, October 24th, at 7 a.m. All contact information remains the same. 911 for all emergency calls. 908725331 for all non-emergency calls. I'm looking
forward to the official walkthrough with the chief and staff. >> Awesome. Great. Thank you. Roger. >> Uh just a few reminders from uh the recreation committee. The house decorating contest is uh is uh the registration, excuse me, is up tomorrow.
Registration is free. So, you can decorate your house no later than Sunday, October 26th in an autumn or Halloween themed decor. And there'll be a variety of prizes as well as a map of the participating houses. So, uh the rest of us can go and take a look around
town. Again, winter programs that are available. We've got uh RIB basketball league grades three through eight. Deadline to uh apply to uh sign up is November 5th. DST Beginner Basketball Clinic, Friday nights in January and February at VDV, grades one
and two. The deadline to sign up for that is December 30th. Again, the spooktacular was talked about, but it's going to be held on October 30th from 4 to 6 p.m. Lots of fun things to do. Registration is still open for the turkey trot. Again, that's on
Thanksgiving morning. I meet up at at uh the former site of engine company. And again, all of our registrations are at register.pass.net. /somerville. Thank you. >> All right. Excellent. Thank you. Um, item number eight is a proclamation
recognizing October 2025 as breast cancer awareness month. I don't know that we have anybody here accepting the proclamation. Um, obviously this is a very important proclamation. Um, breast cancer is one
of the uh um uh most commonly diagnosed forms of cancer. Um and with uh with awareness uh testing and aggressive treatment um you know there there are a lot of survivors that
uh um that can testify to the fact that uh making more people aware of this is uh is a good thing. So uh Kevin, let's make sure that we get that to the appropriate uh person. Thank you. Um next up we have budget presentation
from the downtown Somerville Alliance. We have Dana Kessle here. uh the director of the uh DSA and uh here to make a presentation on uh what's happening for 2026. You're on.
>> Um I'd first like to thank the governing body. >> You may just want to turn your mics on. >> Sorry. >> Uh I'd first like to thank the governing body for the past, present, and future support and commitment to the Downtown Somerville Alliance. um from allowing our events to negotiating reduced rates
to the PD provide security for those events to the DPW to the fire department first aid squad and office of emergency management um for their review of our emergency action plans to keep everyone safe during our events. Um to the support of the grant writing and fiscal
matching of the grants that we've both received and that are we are looking to or have applied for um that are infrastructure in nature. our success now and in the future are in large part because of the council and the community's dedication uh to our
community. Um so you do have in your folders in the blue folders um a copy of the presentation as well as a copy of our proposed budget that was um passed by uh the board of trustees for the downtown Somerville Alliance at our
October 13th meeting. So, this is going to be a transformative year focused really on some innovation, um, inclusion and revitalization, especially after PSEG hopefully finishes their work on both Main Street and Division Street. Um, we're strengthening
how we connect, um, with our our businesses and partners and modernizing our organization. Um, so that includes reimagined experiences, um, some new events, cultural expansion. We're very excited about the partnership
that we now have with Fever um to bring Candlelight Concerts uh to downtown Somerville. We will be the Central Jersey Hub. >> Bought my tickets already. >> All right. Um yes, we have uh two different concerts on January 24th and two more on February 14th. Um and we
plan on having uh them nine out of 12 months uh of the year. So, we're very excited about that. We've also redesigned some favorite things such as uh a music festival, summer stage, and our starlet cinema. Um so those are all just to increase traffic to hopefully
increase retail and uh restaurant sales. We've done updated policies and clear processes, stronger communication uh just to be future ready um for moving into the next stage of our development. Um and that includes regular feedback l
loops, ongoing surveys, um you know, datadriven decisions in everything that we do. Um from Placer AI data about how much foot traffic we receive at our events to, you know, data that we get um from social media and our different
advertising um avenues. We're also working on different types of grants and creative placemaking and investing in um the downtown's visual and cultural identity. We've recently applied for two different grants. Um the county LAP grant as well as a T-Mobile
placemaking grant. Um and one of those will be for a mural that hopefully will become a photo opportunity um in one of our avenues. Perhaps Gordina um is the one that uh that we're talking about right now. as well as a glow-in-the-dark
path um in Gardina that will increase visibility, increase safety um and of course be a placemaking opportunity that people will want to come and see this innovative uh approach um to art and storytelling.
Um we have made uh a lot of landroads with uh working with the um department of economic development um and reaching out to our landlords and a landlord collaboration. Um we're receiving reports now from the county on uh different types of uh different
vacancies that exist so that we can help with the economic vitality of the downtown area. We continue our small business report with a new education series to help small businesses with things like social media and outreach to agencies that may be of help like NJA
and just building uh ongoing partnerships and sponsorships. We just um secured a partnership with the Somerset Patriots um which is a brand new partnership for us that we believe will be very advantageous to our downtown area. Um so these are expanded growth
opportunities, year-round engagement and just community impact alignment. We also are going moving in a more modern marketing approach um and with a digital first strategy. Most people are now consuming um their information from
social media and from digital platforms. So, we'll be moving um in that direction um with influencers and and enhanced storytelling and doing destination marketing, not just marketing around our events, but marketing around what makes downtown Somerville such a special
place. Um just to give you some metrics, um we have reached uh 29,000 accounts um just in May alone of this past year. That's a remarkable 47% increase month overmonth.
We have consistent views ranging from 175 to 315,000 monthly on all of our social media platforms with a steady engagement of 3 to 6,000 interactions per month. So, not just people who are following us but
interact with our posts. Um, and we've, you know, continued to grow our our our media following. Last week, I checked on Facebook, we have 22,000 followers. So that's just an update just from multiple different things that we've been doing
recently um um in on both uh Instagram and Facebook. Um and so these are you know just strategic things that we've been doing and trying to do and continue you know trying to do videos and reels that seem to really enhance engagement
um with uh the people that are consuming our information. So this just gives you uh you know the the typical our open rate, our click rate and our unsubscribes compared to averages. So you know we have an excellent u marketing um you know
strategy that's really working for us right now. The key takeaways are that we have a lot of social media momentum. We have excellence with our email marketing. We have um great uh foot traffic that demonstrates steady recovery and strong
visitor retention. And we've got a formula for growth. So, we're moving forward to to keep that and grow it. In terms of our budget, you also have in your folders a copy of the entire budget. But summarized here, we have an
anticipated um you know uh revenue of $994,728 with anticipated expenses of 994,014. um this, you know, our actual assessment revenue is $865,000
um with a $25,000 projected um revenue increase from businesses that will be opening in 2026. Um we have sponsorships and events and we continue to grow those um and have meetings with corporations for sponsorships. And then as I said, we're
looking at different types of grant funding. As you probably know, the grants are shrinking unfortunately um in the latest um you know economy. Um but we continue to look for those and apply for them as um are applicable to our
mission. In terms of the allocations, um you can see that we've got a pretty good breakdown um in terms of the different categories. um 30% of our budget is in salaries, but that's compared to if you look at a school district 7 in a
services industry, 70 to 75% of their budget is salaries. In the typical nonprofit, it's 50 to 60% um is in salaries. We do put a lot of uh money into our streetscape support and services, which includes trash pickup
and and uh gardening. Um we have 85 different potted plants all along um within the SID um that have changed out and they're just beautiful. And so we're we're you know happy about that. And then we spend a significant amount of
course on our events and programming that to drive traffic um to our downtown area. Um you have a very very detailed version of our budget in your folders. Um so in terms of that, we're looking to broaden our audiences um with our
events, um broaden our demographics, build stronger foundations, deepen our engagement, and just create smarter strategies. Does the council have any questions? >> So, so thank you. Um it's a lot to
digest. We just got this. So, so, um I guess a couple of things. Um, the the the bond debt, was that retired this year or last year? The original bond debt was that I thought that was a 30-year note.
>> To my knowledge, it is not retired. Um, although it's not being actively sought out. Um, so right now, um, according to our auditors, we have to put that money aside, um, for our budget, um, in case it does come, if the state comes and
asks for it. Yeah, I I thought it was done at the end of last year. >> So So there were there were uh multiple bond issues. Uh one was for uh there were two separate ones. >> That's the larger streetscape >> that that was a Yeah, that that was for
um parking lots, I believe. I think that >> No, there was another No, the original the original 30-year note to do the uh sidewalks, the streetscape. I thought that was retired. >> That's done. It that's on. Okay. Yeah. And then the burrow couple at the municipality a couple years ago. Yes.
Picked up a portion of the debt service for the parking lots. >> And then the DSA does have a uh a debt that that came with them on the transfer >> from from Burough Hall. That debt by the state of New Jersey like Dana had said
is um they've been having difficulty um invoicing the SIDS for this particular grant. I say this particular loan. It's a zero interest loan, right? However, Dana is accurate is is um extremely accurate is is our auditor is
saying whether they ask you for or not, you need to budget for it, right? So, we need to keep putting money aside. I've had a couple conversations with the Department of Community Affairs on it and they just, you know, things kind of get in their way that the same people that are handling other things haven't
got to that. >> So, um I I guess a couple of things. So, so I know you and I had a conversation about, you know, the marketing direction for um for downtown. Downtown obviously is the economic engine of not only Somerville, but it's downtown Somerset
County and and um so so the messaging that we are putting out there, we we talked a lot about, you know, what what what is that going to be? What's the promise? Um and I'm not expecting you to come out come, you know, to to answer that today, but is that something that
is being developed? that. >> Yes, that's in the digital first strategy that we're putting forward based upon the the um research that we've done and what we know is the trends in marketing and advertising as well as what we're seeing is working um
for us in terms of surveys that we've put out to the community um and um you know where people are seeing us. Well, I I I I I guess more from a messaging standpoint in terms of branding identity. Who are what are we to the
outside consuming public? So, in years past, we've been >> downtown Somerset County. We've been >> um there's always something happening in Somerville. Um >> where do you see that message in 26? Where do you see it? because, you know,
there there's a lot of variation in the consuming public that we have coming to Somerville. So, so trying to wrap a message to all of those people, um, as as an overarcher, uh, you know, it's not that the other ones are old or tired.
Um, they're still good and there's still a promise there for people who come to Somerville. >> So, you know, for for 26, >> what is that promise? What what will people expect in 26 coming to downtown Somerville? And I know it's a very big broad question. >> I actually have an answer for it though. >> Okay.
>> The answer is that we're not just a place to visit. We're a place to belong. It's an inclusive um community where you know you know our business owners become not just the owner of the business but regulars
become you know customers become regulars, regulars become friends. Um, everyone belongs here. Everyone should feel like they can belong here. There's something here for everyone. >> Okay. Council.
>> Yes. I um Well, I'll approach this a little differently this year. I ask this question every year. Um, but you just commented that we we need the community to be inclusive. And so that's very important to me as well. um walkability,
safety, the sidewalks are not safe. The the lack of maintenance has been ongoing and I've heard all the stories and it's kind of been a merrygoround of who's
responsible, but ultimately something needs to be done. Um, I don't know what $120,000 in your budget uh stands for in terms of cleaning and maintenance, but there needs to be simple things done. I'm not talking about replacing the
entire sidewalk. I'm not even talking today about trees. My favorite topic. I'm talking about a block missing out of the sidewalk. Who who can put a new block in there? It can't be that hard. Get the block and put it in there. Basic
maintenance. um bricks piled up in all different areas along Main Street, especially East Main Street, just piled. Do where do they need to go? Do they need to be stored until they can be replaced? Can they be replaced into the hole that's where the brick is missing? When is this going to be addressed? And
who is going to address it? And is there money in the budget to address it? >> So, the only money that we have for what you're talking about in terms of infrastructure would come from grants that we could apply for. Otherwise, you know, as I understand it from my
discussions with the burough administrator and our burough liaison, the responsibility for sidewalks falls either on the burrow or on the landlord of the commercial property um by ordinance. Um that is my understanding.
So, no, the DSA has not budgeted for those types of things. If the DSA didn't exist, that would be the responsibility of the bureau. So, our budget does not have in it, as you can see, we have a very tight budget um the kind of money that would be required to do the type of
things that you're asking for. However, we are happy to apply for those grants. We're happy to partner with the burrow um on messaging around what's happening um on different projects that we can do. Um we're constantly looking for ways to
partner with the burrow and uh to do different projects and apply for those grants. we're in a position to apply because we are a nonprofit in for certain grants that the burrow would not be in a position to apply for for as an example. Well, the grants aren't here and there's immediate need for
maintenance and I would wish that you take that to your board and have it addressed in some way. And if we need to have further discussions, I think we need to have further discussions because if we want to be inclusive, we have to be wheelchair accessible, right? We have to be mobility challenged accessible
people with walkers and even people who come from Gallentine in high heels. Uh, I mean, it's simple things that just need to be addressed and I can't imagine there can cost that much money to put a couple bricks in the ground and fill in some holes and and and I I implore you
to address that because for three years I've heard the same story and we still have no accountability. Thank you. >> So, I mean, if I could just speak to that just a little so that everybody's clear on this is is that if you recall the SID was born 30 years ago for an
infrastructure project. That's how it was born and ever since then um that that that work was really turned over to the um turned over to the property owners. However, the DSA's been able to assist some property owners with fixing
sidewalks. Um we we used to allocate when I say we as a DSA used to allocate $50,000 in the budget to do sidewalks. We were able to do a couple and and make them whole and nice and so forth. and they weren't, you know, they were
complete renovation projects. Um, fortunately, we've we've also had some developers that as part of their project has been required to do it. Um, if you recall, Councilwoman, last time, the same amount of time, I I recall the
question is is we did have our enforcement officers go out there and issue violations and repairs were made uh that were within within the ability of that property owner to do Since then we've taken up the grates which everybody here agreed that we wanted to
do which has exasperated some of that as well. Um when the D the DSA it its stakeholders feel that are what what the DSA is doing is is what they want to be done. Uh which would include the
injection of new events to some of the traditional events. Um but infrastructure would have to relate to some sort of artistic rend rendation something like uh where Dana mentioned where alleyways and so forth. There are
there have been multiple grants that the DSA has applied for successful or or not we we've done the work for that as far as the board. Um, and I unfortunately at the end of the day, the the property owner has some level of responsibility
for that and we could take it up to the next level and identify some of those locations as a result of um as a result of the tree grates being moved. >> This has nothing to do with tree grates. I'm talking about basic maintenance
>> and and councilwoman I will tell you >> and ridewise has done the walk >> and ride wise provided that information right >> and ridewise provided that information to our code officers who went out and cited those f those uh folks and and also gave them an opportunity to fix
them. So there were some repairs made. The problem that the DSA is going to have is funding. It's not cheap is funding it is is a problem because you know we have funded several which then creates a problem of who you're funding. So here here's here's what I would
suggest because I I I agree with Gina um you know we we have a problem. We we do um and we're caught in that catch 22 that it it is the responsibility of the uh the property owner, but if we give them the full responsibility, we're
going to see issues repaired that we don't want. Um so, so 10 years ago or so, uh we actually it was the it was a partnership between the burrow and the DSA. There was a portion of money carved out in the budget. I you say 50,000. I
just don't remember what the number was. And I think the burrow helped participate in that as well. And the the concept was over the course of a few years we would take sections of uh the street of of the sidewalks and we do general maintenance. The pavers have to
be resanded there. The sand's all falling out of them. Um I don't know if there's a rat slab. Is there a rat slab underneath, Rich? >> Most of them are not. >> Yeah. So that's part of the problem as well. The new ones have rat slabs. Yeah. A rat's lab is just a rough concrete base uh for those that are that that uh
don't know. So, so you know, I I think as we approach our budget year, uh, at the same in the same matter that that you are, I think there's an ability there for that same thing to happen again where we can start to carve out a little bit of funding in our capital as
well as a little bit of funding in the uh in the DSA's budget and let's create a static plan that doesn't change. As soon as you finish over the course, let's say it's two years, if we've got a $100,000 to do general maintenance, whatever that number is. I don't know
what that number is going to be. Um, and over the after two years, you know what? You go back and you do it again. And then you do it again. And over time, we'll have a better maintained sidewalk. We won't have those holes of bricks as as you know, we we all see or the piles
of bricks which PSEG or whoever is leaving around the water company. Um, and I think I think that's an approach that is uh a little bit more longer thinking. Um, and it it does it
take some of the responsibility off of the property property owner? It does, but I think for a reason because if if left to their own devices, they will probably do things in order to repair sidewalks that we're going to say after the fact, oh, we didn't want that to
happen. Trees in particular. So I think we need to be careful and that's where we have a stake in in all of that as well. So I think the idea of coming up with a a number that allows us to take uh sections, you know, a portion of the
north side and a portion of the south side each year and and let's see what that number, that magic number, whatever it is, can get us in terms of maintenance. And this way we have it as a rolling consistent maintenance. and and we're not coming back 10 years later
when we had the same conversation 10 years ago and and saying, "Okay, well, let's do it again." If we do it consistently, it will become cheaper. >> Mayor, can I ask a question? >> Who what organization is responsible for going out
looking after what's going on in in our on our main street in our downtown. I have a business as everyone knows for many years. I get many people who will come into my store because they know who I am to
complain to me. I'll call Kevin. Simple things, the benches that haven't been touched in years that people are afraid to sit on or the animals, >> you know. Yeah. >> Do what they do on them. Um I had a
gentleman just last week come in. There were two bolts sticking out of one of the uh handicap paddings on the sidewalk. He does a walk every day. He tripped and fell. Uh one day I was the Jazzfest. I'm
walking back to my store. As I'm walking, there's a family coming down all excited to see the Jazzfest. I saw this woman there in the sidewalk. There's not a tree. There's just a pit. The woman fell in the pit. I didn't tell
her who I was. I just made sure she was okay. Didn't want her to come back and sue the burrow. Um but she was hurt. Who's responsible for looking over these things? >> Well, I think ultimately all of us are.
Um uh you know, it's it's part of the uh the as I said before, it's the it's the economic engine of downtown. it's incumbent upon us to make sure that it's it's wellrun. Um, and that's doing it in concert with the DSA. It's doing it in concert with us. It's doing it in
concert with the planning board. Um, and and so I think exactly to that aspect, I mean, I same thing. I sat out at an outdoor cafe on on Saturday and uh, you know, watched a couple of people trip.
Um, so so I think we all recognize it's a problem. So let's all recognize that it's a shared responsibility to fix it. Um and and I think you know the ultimately it is the property owner's responsibility. Well, then if it is,
let's let's take a look at the um um the rate and and is there something that can be done or can we build it into the existing because we do have an expansion of the revenue coming in. Um and it's a pretty significant expansion of the revenue over these these past seven
years or so. So, um you know, let's between the burrow and the DSA uh u we have you're going into budget year, we're going into capital. Let's take a look at it. And and I don't think it's a big I it shouldn't be a big fix.
Um you know, going in and sanding, we've done it before. Uh and it was a great relationship that the burrow and the DSA had in making this happen. Let's just make it happen again and fix it. So that's my Teresa.
>> Um yeah. So, I used to be on the DSA uh board and it was uh something I really really enjoyed. Um, and anybody who knows me knows that I'm very passionate about promoting our small small local businesses,
excuse me. Um, and you know, the main focus of the DSA is to bring businesses to downtown Somerville and bring people to our downtown to boost
our economy. Um, and I'm just I I did notice something on the the, you know, itemized list here that was a little strange to me that there's only an allocation of $3,500 for
Small Business Saturday, which benefits all the businesses in downtown Somerville, but there's much higher expenditures for International Street Fair, puppy Palooa, which I'm all for bringing
in new exciting different events. Um, but you know, International Street Fair is not in my to my knowledge, unless it's something that I don't understand, uh, an event that's going to bring
business to the businesses. It's it's unless I don't know, unless I'm not understanding what it is. It's it's going to be vendors up and down the street of small of other businesses. um which I love street fairs um but I
don't know that it's a benefit to our businesses that are already in Somerville and Puppy Palooa although it will benefit the the pet store and some of the businesses it won't benefit any of the restaurants because you can't
bring dogs into restaurants. Um, so I'm just a little worried that we are not that the allocations are not going harder
with the events that would actually benefit all of the businesses. Um, Small Business Saturday is the day for a small business. I used to have a boutique on Division Street and that's what we all waited for was Small
Business Saturday. Um, and I feel just my opinion as a small business owner and someone who cares deeply about the small businesses in Somerville that there needs to be more money there. Um, Holiday Jubilee, that that's great.
Looks like there's a lot of money there. That's another day, another night that a lot of uh small businesses benefit from. Um but uh I don't know. So that's just my, you know, looking over the budget. Those are just my little
critiques. Um but yeah, so that's all I had to say. >> Thank you. Anybody else? >> Uh I have a question. I was wondering if uh you have the numbers of attendees to the various events. We do.
>> I don't have them with me right now, but I'm happy to provide them. We have all of those numbers through place or AI. >> I'd appreciate that. Thanks. >> Um we're not taking any action tonight, are we? >> Well, well, the the um governing body of
the DSA has approved the budget. So, it's an odd situation that it has to be done this way. um both we had the introduction as well. Um it does require the the burough council to affirm this budget and I do want to make you aware that it's not you
know the the DSA budget is a little different than the municipal budget. Municipal budget requires us to kind of know exactly what we're doing till November 1st until we can move money around. the DSA budget because of of the nonprofit status um can move money
around in different areas as the as the burrow I'm sorry as their governing body sees fit to do if something comes up shorter or requires more. Again, this this provides um a a a a fairly good
guideline for for the DSA to follow throughout the year. So your comments that you know I want to let you know your comments are taken and we'll have to talk to the board and we could tweak that. Um but but it's not firm but from the from the council side the council
does have to affirm the adoption of the budget >> by when? >> Uh today would be good. >> Yeah. So if you recall we used to do this years ago. It used to be next year and then >> then it's hard to make changes. However,
in the last two years, we've been at the board's been worked real diff diligently to get our schedule earlier. So, so this is basically the public hearing. Certainly, you could you could vote for on the next meeting, just that this is
the public portion of the requirement. >> Yeah. I I my my sense would be and I don't know if the council agrees would be for based upon the comments that you've heard tonight to go back and and adjust this a bit. I don't think they're heavy lift adjustments, but I think they're adjustments uh based upon the
conversations we've had tonight in order to uh you know to satisfy some of the concerns that you know for both from an infrastructure standpoint and also from a uh I'll call it a marketing standpoint. So um in terms of the events
I I will just point out that um the amount of money spent on an event is very dependent on what types of things that we plan for the event that brings people. So as an example with um you
know a music festival we have to provide sound technicians and drum technicians and we have to provide stages and we have to pay talent. So hence why something would be much more um expensive to run in terms of you know
rather than other events for small business Saturday um we have a very robust um you know programming for that day but we don't need to bring in um you know expensive bands and we don't need to bring in sound technicians and so
what we have planned for that day we do have music all day long live music all day long that day. We do have um gift wrapping that will be going on all day long that day. Um from 11 to 5. Anyway, um we've got a um raffles that will be
going on all day long um that you know um that will draw people in. We've got a different types of activities that are going on, an entire bingo game um for shoppers. Um so it's a very very robust program. Um, but that program doesn't
require a lot of money because we're not talking about, like I said, bands and stages and sound tech and those types of things. >> No, I I I think we all understand that that, you know, there's different expenses with different events. Um, some some are very uh heavy in terms of of
cash outlay and some are lighter and some sometimes the lighter ones bring in more people and vice versa. I I we get that. Um but based upon you know I think significantly the infrastructure discussion um again I don't think it's a heavy lift to go back and and and then
just come back with um you know outlying or outlining you know what what type of infrastructure investment we can make together um you know based upon our initial discussions from from our budgeting standpoint and and then from from the
DSA standpoint and let's fix it together. So, so my suggestion to council would be let's just defer this until the next meeting. Let's get a little bit more beef on on the bone here from from an infrastructure standpoint and then we can move forward. >> So the just to give you a quick idea of
the infrastructure. So we we're apply we've applied and we have the documents we spent significant amount of money to re not not redesign division street but update division street which would require an investment by the borrow. um
in addition to what we what the DSA has allocated also the the walkways um both of those grants would require an investment from the bureau. >> So so just keep that in mind too if we're successful in getting the grants
>> the the we'll be back here talking about who's paying for that extra portion because there has to be skin in the game of every grant. >> Understood. And yeah all right everybody okay with that? Okay. Great. Thank you very much. >> Thank you.
>> All right. Uh we are actually going to pull the discussion on item B under number 10, which is the Grove Street East Summit. Uh which will also pull the um the introduction of the ordinance 2773. I
understand there's some some additional discussion ongoing behind the scenes to come back with one that's correct in terms of line of sight from the corners. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. That's fine. Um item number 10A 2025 best practices.
Kevin. >> Yeah. So I'll be I'll be very short. The uh best practices most of you have been here are very familiar. We have to do this every year. It's a DS a DCA requirement and it does it does identify whe whether we're fully eligible for all
the funding we received from the state of New Jersey. So I'm happy to say that our scoring is above that number. I believe it's you need to get 32 points. We're at 50.5 points. The areas that um some of the areas aren't applicable, but
some of the areas um are. And there's just a couple that that we need to kind of clean up um on reporting to really maximize the number. The best practices is like I said, it's budgeting, capital projects, ethics, personnel management,
shared services. Um I did provide you the whole listing of that. Um it's it's it's not very interesting reading. Um but for those that like to go through it, you're welcome to do that. This is uh it is a requirement that we do make this available to the public and that
that there's an opportunity for the public comment on it if they wish >> and there's no real action that we have to take on this. >> No, there's no the only action is has to be at at this meeting. >> Yeah. The um so it it's this is
something we look at every year. Uh when we began this I was asking Kevin how long ago we started this has got to be at least a dozen, right? I'm thinking and you know the the uh I think it's put out by the DCA Department of Community Affairs and it's an attempt to try to get uh again as Kevin said uh local
governments to operate in a very efficient transparent manner and uh obviously we're doing a a very good job of that which is uh which is good. Um and if anybody has any questions you know you can speak now or or get back to
Kevin uh if after you've had a chance to take a look. Um but uh what is interesting in this is there's a lot of uh non-scoring questions, unscored survey questions that the state has put in, which is something a little bit different. You know, we always had a couple in there, but now they've got a
lot in there. Um and and it's just all in different areas. It's in um insurance, lead remediation, uh cannabis stores. So, it's kind of across the board. >> Mayor, question. I the first time I'm seeing this document and I I don't see on it like
who's the author of it like you said it's best practices it's not sustainable New Jersey is it >> is a department of community affairs local government services. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Okay. All right. Um at this point I'll open up the meeting to the public. Uh
I'll ask for a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. Andrew Ki, >> yes. >> Glen Deny, >> yes. >> Randy Pitts, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Verm, >> yes. >> All right. Public portion is now open.
>> Mr. O'Neal, >> please state your name and address for the record and please address your comments to me. >> And just make sure that microphone's on. >> Either I got to get taller or it's got to get lower. Rich O'Neal, 124 Westcliff Street,
Somerville. I just listened to the discussion started by Gina on the uh maintenance of the of main street and DSA. I was around for what I referred to as a battle of Main Street. This was a very very very controversial program to do it all. The
town was pretty well derooked at that point. Something had to be done. People stepped forward and made it happen. But a lot of us had concerns, myself included, that we're going to do these sidewalks. Who's going to take care of them? Because you know my thoughts on government. government takes care of nothing. You build it and forget it,
which is exactly what has happened. The deal was at the end that the property owners on Main Street would not be responsible for maintaining those sidewalks. The DSA would install them and maintain them. I was concerned about the trees because I know what trees do
to sidewalks. Lost that one. We have trees. They're beautiful and the sidewalks the sidewalks are lousy. I really think you have to address it. Gene is exactly right. There's there's tank traps on Main Street. There's one by the post office. I could fall in scene again. I mean, it's got to be
addressed and it's got to be done uniformly. And that was the idea of the DSA. Fix everything. And the deal was DSA, whatever it was called at that point, would install them and maintain them. They would have a maintenance problem. It never happened. And going
back to landlords now, I think is kind of, you know, it's contrary to what we originally agreed to. I was there for all that. And I remember it distinctly. I voted for it knowing that it was going to be the road to hell and it has turned into that. You know, we got to address the maintenance.
Government does not do maintenance. Government cuts a ribbon, walks away, and smiles. You're exactly right. I mean, I almost fell the other day. Honestly, I was looking at a girl across the street and hit the sidewalk. But that's at my age, I'm allowed to do that. >> But we really, you know, it's it's got
to be addressed. It can't be forgotten about. And they're getting worse every day. So, please do something about it. >> Yeah. I I I think the will of the council now is that it will be done. >> Good. >> Thank you. Any other comment, Mr. Hadley?
John Hadley, 8 Lori Drive. Um we've seen a boom in apartments in being built in town over the last several years. And apartments are great. They bring in younger people. They help support our downtown restaurants and other businesses. At the same time, they
bring a different attitude towards the town because apartment dwellers don't have that ownership share in the town. And in the event of an economic downturn, empty apartments and stressed landlords could be an issue. So, I I'm
not privy to what deliberations may have gone on or be going on as to exactly what the right percentage of of the town composition should be of apartments versus homes. But I hope that is being
given careful consideration. Um to that end, I wrote the following email to the mayor and council this morning. Um at the last burough council meeting, an interesting presentation was made by the auto group and I understand there's been further discussion of their presentation
by the planning board in the interim. During the presentation, a number of economic assumptions were presented as the consensus or simply factual assumptions underlying the presentation. At the time, I was a little concerned about some of them. So, I Googled them
and there did not appear to be as uniform in agreement on those as was implied in the presentation. This caused me to do a bit more research and it appears from my limited research that their public presentations may lean prodevelopment and progrowth.
For example, many of Otto's reports are commissioned by redevelopment clients or local governments initiating new development, which could naturally lead to more optimistic assumptions regarding the impact of development. Now, this doesn't mean their presentations are in any way invalid, and I'm not trying to
cast any aspersions on their work or their reputation. I would just like to suggest that before either the council or the planning board integrates any of their conclusions into their deliberations, it would be wise to have a group with a different perspective present a similar analysis so you can
compare the results and have a balanced perspective as you consider the future of Somerville's development plans. >> Thank you. Any other public comment? Yes. Good evening. Michael Blair, 154 West
Cliff. Um 2023, I sent an email to the previous council and then Gina, you responded to my uh my recent one about the problem with the garbage at Brookside Apartment Peters. And um to put it lightly, I'm not satisfied.
Nothing's happened. Um two years a long time. Three years long time. actually go as I look it up today. It's uh over a thousand days. You know, as a landlord, I take care of my properties and uh it just frustrates me because I walk along that path each day. And uh that garbage
goes from those dumpsters into the creek. And like I mentioned, other times there was uh a crib on the side of the creek. There's people that park their cars uh around some of the benches. There's a lot of beers, beer bottles and such. So I I I've raised it a couple
times. I'm sure I can't be the only one, you know, so I'd like to understand what the uh what the latest update is. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any other public comment hearing? None. I'll ask for a motion to close. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Theresa the Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Ki. >> Yes. >> Lendiny. >> Yes. >> Randy Pitts. >> Yes. >> Gina Stravik. >> Yes. >> Roger Verm. >> Yes. Okay. Uh Mr. Hadley. uh in regards to um planning and development. Um
you're not you know I think they're they're valid concerns. Um you know what I took away from that presentation. I wasn't at the presentation but I did watch it. Um it it did it did talk about development but it also talked about slowing beginning to slow development
down. That um the the the the big rush for apartments is now over. uh I shouldn't say over that it's it's beginning to wind down. Um in terms of deliberations, you're going to see them front and center on these cameras uh through the
planning board. The planning board is has a very aggressive agenda to go through our redevelopment zones, our master plan, um our uh our zoning uh uh statutes, uh sorry, zoning ordinances. Um and that's all going to be front and
center over the course of the next year. Um so so there's no private deliberations going on behind, you know, let's do x% here and x% here. It's all going to be take place right here at this table. So come to those meetings, participate. Um we want that to happen.
You know, we want the public to come in. Um, you know, one of the challenges that we've had is we crafted a dozen years ago these redevelopment plans and then over the course of time the plans were not updated as developments came in to
allow for um to adjust to the impact of what that development has done. Um, it was they were taken off the shelf and let's cut and paste and let's go. So, that's what we're we're doing now is we're taking all of those redevelopment plans and we're adjusting them to what's
gone on in Somerville, the impacts that we have from um from a residential perspective, from a commercial perspective. Um so, that's all going to be uh very public. Uh and the deliberations will include everybody out there. So, thank you. Uh Mr. Blair, uh I
wasn't here in 23, but I believe you sent me an email about two or three weeks, maybe about a month ago. What I can tell you is we've reached out to the property owner, Colin. We've reached out to them um to fix it, to put uh uh the
retention fences back in to get dumpsters that look a little nicer than than onelegged dumpsters that don't work. Um and in fact at last Thursday's meeting um Colin was the recipient of
some choice words to make I did to make sure that the uh the property owner addresses this. We can't let it go. Uh and that was a direct result of you contacting me. So that is in the works. Thank you. Thanks for coming out. Appreciate it.
All right. Um ordinances for introduction. Uh 2773 was pulled for a future date. Uh 2774 is amending chapter 150 of the burough code article 3 entitled seasonal sidewalk cafe. Uh this
is addressing the um a few items surrounding the uh the seasonal cafes. Uh a couple of them include uh the the pathway distance going from 3 feet to 4 feet. Um, it also is it creates a more
stringent timeline for the uh for the uh cafes to apply for that uh for that cafe license or that cafe permit. Um, and and it also creates a I'm not going to call it a fine, but a uh an incentive to get
their uh applications in on time. And what else? There was one other major one that was in there. >> Uh, the carb blind use. you want to talk about that? >> Yeah. So, so thank you. Yeah. So, some of the businesses um have a desire to be
on the curb line opposed to be against their property. Um you'll see this in some other municipalities where they will allow a table of chairs to be set near the curb line. Um, in this particular ordinance, uh, the committee had met and discussed it and felt it
would be appropriate if we allowed it provided that there was no waiter service to it. So, if you were going to pick up a hot dog or you wanted to get an ice cream and you purchased that ice cream or hot dog and you brought it out there and that's where you and whoever
else sat, that would be acceptable. if there's waiter service that's going through back and forth, they would not be eligible for curbline cafe. In addition, if they uh serve alcohol, uh if they have an alcohol license, they wouldn't be able to move back and forth.
And the thought behind that was that the the the person really the waiter walking back and forth to eliminate that where once someone's there, they're there. And you've seen some uses in the municipality where it has been already uh been desired like the the Main Street
cheese for instance they they have like that and it does work in those scenarios. >> Yep. Okay. Thank you. Uh not that we have to but I always open up the on the introduction for ordinances for any public comment. Um it's not required by law but it's a a long-standing practice
that I've had to allow people to make comment. Public comment on the ordinance. Uh 2774 is now open. Hearing none, I'll close 2774. Ask for a motion for introduction. >> So moved. >> Second. Discussion.
>> Yeah. Um couple things. I like that we're addressing this. I think it's a good idea to get there. I do want to point out that it's changing some of the authoritative uh approvals uh to the planning board as opposed to the architectural review board. So now creating an opportunity for a public
hearing I suppose for folks to show up and talk about it uh if they have any problems with their uh plans that are or are submitted I suppose. But um I'd like to see a few things in here that that aren't. Um, one thing that I've noticed
that is frustrating to me is, um, are the sidewalk cafes for one business allowed to be set up in front of another B storefront even if that storefront is open or closed or are they allowed to extend their reach if >> if they have an agreement with that property owner? Sure. >> And that would show up in this
application and we would review it and approve it and that would be clear to us as municipality that that's what they have the right to do and not do. Right. >> Correct. >> Okay. So, they can't just do that on their own. They can't just decide, oh, because I own this one and I don't have a formal agreement or anything in place, but I own it, it's fine. I'll just be in
front of this as well, right? That's not a thing that business owners can do. >> Uh, no. They would they would need an agreement with their property note next door. And the thought process behind that was and and that's been allowed. So whether it just hasn't been formalized. Um, but you know, it does it could
reduce the the length of the cafe if they go horizontally and some of the business next to them may be closed in the evening. And it actually just makes a little more sense and it's a little, you know, it again, it just adds to the uh the night life of the street.
>> Um, the four feet of unobstructed pedestrian pathway walkway. I mean, um, I have a father in a wheelchair and two kids that go in a stroller. Uh, it would be single file through there. You can't really stand next to somebody at four feet. Even at two adults standing next
to each other, I'm pretty sure we'd bump into each other trying to stand in four feet. I really feel like that it should be six feet. And I think it would be more appropriate given the width of our existing uh sidewalks in most places and the places where it does impact the businesses. uh which because I do
recognize that that would reduce some of their cafe frontage. Um maybe they could work with their neighbors. >> So I I mean certainly a try. Um Srville is known for its downtown. It's known for its street cafes. >> Um the the 4T, you know, the argument
before was it was three feet, it was less. Um the 4T is something that that we have been strictly adhering to in the last several months. Um, so again, that that's I guess for a council debate if if you'd like to change.
>> I mean, I I I get Well, I think six feet is a little ownorous. I think four feet going from 3 feet to 4 feet, we're increasing it by 33%. Um, the sidewalks all over town are, I think, 3T wide. So, you know, creating creating something that's ownorous for downtown, which is
which is what the draw for downtown is. Um I I just I I don't >> Well, are there ADA specifications? Cuz I would think >> four feet. >> That is it. Not six. >> It's just better practice at six feet because you could have two adults walk
next to each other. I mean, the point to come to downtown is to walk to the businesses that are there and enjoy that with the folks that you're keeping company with and to have a wider sidewalk, which we obviously have there just without the sidewalk cafes. you have a large sidewalk on purpose in that
area, larger than the rest of town. We then put in the sidewalk cafes and make it the same width as any other sidewalk in town so it's less comfortable to walk on for pedestrians. So, I hear the points and I know I'm not going to win it over, but I just wanted to point out that that's probably not the minimum
footage that it would be comfortable for folks to walk down Main Street on. >> I think it's going to cause choke points as we've seen this summer and previous summers. It's >> I I I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> It's just gonna exacerbate the issue we already have. And we talked about accessibility
earlier. This is it's an accessibility issue. It's also an emergency response issue because um it's hard enough to get through Main Street on a Friday night. If a rescue squad uh had to get through a crowd of people's, it's hard enough already. And now we're we're going to
clog the the sidewalk up even more. And you know, we're going to say four feet, but you know, it's going to be four and a half feet. It's going to be, you know, three or three and 1/2 ft. three feet, two and a half feet, it it the encroachment just just appears. So I'm for six feet and no c no cafe on the
sidewalk. >> I mean I I will tell you this is and again this is the governing body establishing committee to review this, right? So the committee reviewed it. The committee came up with these more restrictive changes and that's their recommendation to the governing body. >> So So a few things again I go back to
the fact that every sidewalk in Somerville is three feet wide. uh the residential sidewalks. Um you have to go back 20 years and recall that we didn't allow outdoor cafes at all and our downtown was pathetic. There was no foot
traffic. There was no vehicle traffic. There was no there was nobody in the stores. There were no stores. So we created something uh that works. Um, and you know, I think I think the burrow's done a fairly good job of enforcing it
uh this year in terms of the uh the sidewalk width or the the uh pass through width. Uh I think they've done a good job. I the the complaints have diminished. Uh they haven't been there. And I think if you bring this out to six feet, um you're we're going to we're
going to start to see a a big problem with the restaurants who a lot of them live hand-tomouth. Um it it just doesn't it doesn't make sense. Uh four feet width. We've just re we've just taken out all of the uh the planters, the grates. Um we've just talked about uh
fixing all of the pavers. These are all positive things. And and now we're going to take away space from the very people who are creating success for this town. It doesn't make a lot of sense. So, >> well, I mean, they do have the
alternative of moving into their neighbors frontage. Um, but again, I hear I'm not going to win the day. It's only the two of us that feel this way. So, we'll maybe revisit in a later time. >> I think the the thing that we have to remember is that not everybody has the
ability to go in front of another business. Not everybody's going to have that that possibility. I think making the sidewalk one foot larger is a big step in the right direction. I think that working with some of the businesses, some of the restaurants to
not have their planters and even with the DSA to move some of the planters out of those locations and be more strategic. I think those are some of the things that we can discuss. I think limiting, as the mayor said, one of our biggest economic draws in the in the
burrow >> in the county >> is silly. I think that I I appreciate that you that we want to walk, you know, with with our our our friends and families next to each other. I get it. My you know, I've got, you know, my
three kids and my wife, and it'd be great if we could all five of us walk down the the street together. Um, but just like the mall, it doesn't work. So, I think what we have to think about here is that people come downtown, they come to sit outside, they come to enjoy it. I
think that again with what the mayor was talking about before, figuring something out where we can fix the issues that we're having with the sidewalks, fixing issues where our planners are staged by the DSA strategically, working with the um restaurants to stage them
strategically. I think all of those will be benefits that will make walkability easier. I think getting rid of our highly successful outdoor cafes is not what we want to do. >> I think you raised a really good point
about moving those planners and and I do see the other side of it now. So, I appreciate the discussion. >> Thank you. I I can add um the DSA does have an ongoing project through arterial that's going to change everything we're
talking about and that I think we should get that out to council once again because it was years ago when some of you may have not been here but um >> well we still don't have the grant for it though, right? >> It's it's in its stages. Kevin could give you more information.
Um, but yeah, >> I I appreciate that, Randy, because I was sitting here thinking, I know we're talking about sidewalk cafes, but it's definitely a bigger infrastructure going right back to what we were talking about earlier, and trying to solve those problems actually makes this one also easier to solve, >> right? Yeah. This uh the ongoing project
would cure a lot of this or we wouldn't be having this conversation. >> Okay. Uh roll call. >> Council members, Terresa Bonner, >> yes. Andrew Ki. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Glendon, >> yes. >> Randy Pitts, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Ver, >> yes. >> Okay. Uh, item number 2775 uh is amending the redevelopment plan for the East Central Business District. Um, that actually is being pulled as
well. It jumped onto the agenda a little bit early. The planning board is taking this up on Wednesday. So this will be on for the following meeting. Uh ordinances for public hearing and adoption. We have 2771 which is amending schedule B of the
land use code entitled lot bulk and intensity of development standards for the PO zone one family to reflect that the maximum floor area ratio shall be 30%. Um currently it is now 25% uh because of the nature of uses and and
people's ability to uh renovate expand their properties uh that both the planning board and the council have have thought that this is a very good thing to do uh to allow an additional 5% uh for the uh floor area ratio. So um I will ask for a motion to open the public
hearing. >> So moved. >> Second >> discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. Yes. >> Andrew Kiy, >> yes. >> Glendee, >> yes. >> Randy Pitts, yes. >> Gina Stravik, yes. >> Roger Fern, >> yes. >> All right. Public hearing on 2771 is now open. >> Hearing none, I will ask for a motion to
close. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Council members. Theresa Bonner, >> yes. >> Andrew Ki, >> yes. >> Glendee, >> yes. >> Randy Pitts, yes. >> Gina Stravik, yes. >> Roger Verm, >> yes. >> All right. Motion for adoption, please. So moved. >> Second.
>> Discussion. Roll call. >> Council members. Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. Andrew Ki, >> yes. >> Glendon, >> yes. >> Randy Pitts, yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Verm, >> yes. >> All right. 2772 is approving the pilot application and authorizing the mayor and burough clerk to execute a financial
agreement buy and between the Burrow of Somerville and Foundry Urban Renewal LLC pursuant to NJSA as noted for property located at 100 Fairview Avenue, also known as lots 2.0 and 2.01 in block 50 as shown on the official tax map of the Burrow of Somerville located in the
Kirby Avenue redevelopment area. Um, Colin, can you give us an overview of what this is? >> Yes, ma'am. This is >> uh Colin, can you come up to >> Okay, >> this is a pilot um which is very consistent with other pilots in the
town. They applied for it over a year ago. Um it's been reviewed by the redevelopment committee. It's been reviewed by council. Um it starts off at uh 10% of the revenue they generate for
five years, 12% for another five years, and then 15% of the revenue from rent um for the balance of the program, which is the maximum that we can do. We estimate that it will generate about $450$460,000
a year when fully occupied versus if no development took place. U we'd be getting maybe um 70 to $80,000 a year in in property tax. So it's a benefit for the town. It helps the developer offset
some of the setup costs and uh there it is. >> Thank you. >> Okay. I'll ask for a motion to open up the public hearing. So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Theresa B. >> Yes. >> Andrew Kiy. >> Yes. >> Glendee. >> Yes. >> Randy Pitts. Yes. >> Gina Stravik.
>> Yes. >> Roger Ferm. >> Yes. Public hearing on 2772 is now open. >> Hearing none. I'll ask for a motion to close. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Council members. Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Ki. >> Yes. >> Glendiny. >> Yes.
>> Randy Pittz Traffic. Roger Fum. >> Yes. >> Uh can I have a motion for adoption on 2772? >> Sorry. So moved. >> Did we have discussion? >> We're going to do that right now. >> Yeah. >> Second. >> That was the that was on closing public.
So now we just we just introduced it. >> Yeah. >> Or rather the motion to >> there's a whole lot of action going on. >> Yeah. My head's spinning. >> So now So we have a a >> motion. I motioned and Glenn >> seconded. So now we have the >> So discussion. >> Uh yeah, just a question Colin. Um I
believe it was last meeting Larry Cleveland was here from the planning board and he spoke to um the need to have the pilots out in front of us earlier. Um, you said this was a year in the making. Is it possible to to do what
Larry's suggesting and um be able to have pilots before we engage in before the project's underway and built >> or >> so what I just kind of an kind of an overview before you you go on that
Colin, this actually predates some of the council people and myself. These were discussions that were held with the redevelopment committee um under the previous mayor. Um and I asked him about this and he said yes, he had those discussions with council as an
overview of what the pilot discussions were so that there was an awareness from the council as to what these pilots were going to be. Um it predates a number of the folks up here including myself. So um uh but call it
>> just just a brief response to the direct question. It state law says we have to know what the project is before we can write a pilot program. So it has to go through the planning board and get approval before we can draft the
document. We can agree in principle as the mayor said, but we can't be concrete and do the pilot agreement until the project exists on paper and has an approval. >> So the idea of having the pilot first and being able to negotiate more is not
a reality. >> Well, it can always be negotiated, but it happens after there is a project legally on the books. >> Thank you. Further discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner.
>> Yes. >> Andrew Ki, >> yes. >> Glendon, >> yes. >> Randy Pitts, >> recused. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Broom, >> yes. >> Okay. Consent resolutions. Any to be pulled off for further discussion?
>> Uh 286 and 295. >> Okay. All right. Uh 284 is approving placetoplace transfer of license as noted Darun Inc. to be used at 132 North Gastonav uh in Somerville. Uh 285 is
approving the 33rd annual St. Patrick's Day parade for Sunday, March 15th, 2026 starting at 1:30 p.m. and approving request for road closure of Main Street beginning at Grove and ending at Burrow Hall. 287 is awarding contract for spatial data logic to provide license licensing services in the amount of
$24,840. 288 is accepting a grant of $2,288 and approving chapter 159 from New Jersey American Water for 2025 firefighter and EMS grant. 289 is approving the temporary installation of the Little Food Pantry at various
locations within Somerville Burough. 290 is affirming the Burrow of Somerville's land use pledge. 291 is approving scorekeepers at a rate of $18 per game for the recck department from January uh 2026 to February 2026. Approving Anthony Smith as an hourly employee at a rate of
$25 for the basketball gym supervisor from January 9 to February 28, 2026. 293 is approving placetoplace transfer of licensed as noted West Main 53 LLC to be held in pocket to be used at 49-53
West Main Street. Uh 294 is authorizing the reauction of a commercial range in oven previously sold on municip. 296 is authorizing implementation of a grant for plantings on the Hollyy street median. 297 is approving annual renewal of taxi driver's license for year 25
through 26. Do we have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Ki. >> Yes. >> Glendee. >> Yes. >> Randy Pitts. >> Yes. >> Gina Stravik. >> Yes. >> Roger Verm. >> Yes. All right. 286 is awarding a contract to KM Construction Corp for
Lincoln Avenue improvement project including Cleveland Street and Hollyy Street fiscal year 24 NJ dot municipal aid for a total bid amount of $74,6325. Do we have a motion? >> So moved second >> discussion. >> Yeah, I was just curious what is the uh
I'm apologize for not getting to this beforehand. Life has kept me a little busy outside of this, but uh the Lincoln Avenue Improvement Project, what does that include? It's uh milling, paving, and and some minor drainage. It's a DOT funded project that was I guess um it's
about close to two years old. >> Okay. >> Um between spec writing and and bidding and uh I think we have to award this by the end of the year. >> And these weren't areas that were touched by the PSEG project or >> uh if if they were we would get a credit
towards that either way. Okay. >> Um I don't think they were, but >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Just curious. >> All right. Uh, roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner, >> yes. >> Andrew Ki, >> yes. >> Glendiny, >> yes. >> Randy Pitts, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Ferm, >> yes.
>> All right. 295. Authorizing an amendment to the contract for final design services for safe routes to school along Veteran Memorial Drive East project with NV5 to increase the contract amount by $46,86051 to a new contract amount of $296,11967.
Do we have a motion? There's before you take a motion on that, mayor. Excuse me. Uh there's going to be changes to this resolution. So, if it's the council's desire to pull it, it would be fine. We put on the next meeting. >> Um basically, just so the understanding of this project, this is that veterans
project that that you know that will go on forever. >> It started when I was here. Yeah. In 2017. >> So, we're we're very close to basically what it is, it's fedally funded. So, I don't want you to scare you out of the numbers um because those are ridiculous numbers at this point. Um, but it's a fally funded project that would include
the the the veterans um the second half of Veterans Memorial project being done. It it's actually pretty close ready to go out to bid, but due to the federal government shutdown right now, there's really no action taking place right now. The DOT is kind of trying to move some projects. Um, so if it would actually be
helpful for me if we just didn't have this conversation twice and and we just pull it and I'll be able to get you some further detail on that project as well. >> I'm all for that. We'll strike it. >> Sounds good. >> All right. Uh, bills and vouchers. Roger. >> I make a motion to pay bills and
vouchers in the amount of 1,610,29564. >> Second discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Ki. >> Yes. >> Glenn Deny. >> Yes. >> Randy Pittz, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Firm, >> yes. >> All right. And I will ask for a motion for adjournment. Mr. Pittz,
I'll make a motion to adjourn.