I'm good. 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 July 6, 2026 was provided to
the Courier News and Star ledger and placed on the burrow's website and placed on the bulletin board of 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 is excused this evening. Council members Terresa Bonner
>> here. >> Andrew Ki >> here. >> Glenn Deny here. >> Randy Pittz is excused this evening. Gina Stravik >> here. Roger Ver here. Please stand for the salute to the 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. Do I have a motion for the approval of minutes from June 15, 2026? >> So moved.
>> Second. >> Discussion. >> Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Ky, >> abstain. >> Glenny, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Verm, >> yes. Uh, departmental reports and notices are as listed. Uh, committee
reports. >> Teresa, thank you. Um, so for the summer Somerville branch of the Somerset County Library System, the summer reading challenge is underway. Please visit the library between now and August 22nd to
earn prizes for each day of reading and comp and completing activities throughout July. There will be so many great programs for kids, teens, adults, and the whole family. Log on to sealsnj.org org to find out what's happening at the
library and register for events like jewelry making, drop-in arts and craft studio, historical programming, and book clubs. The Downtown Somerville Alliance uh had a great Somerville family pride night uh and it was a wonderful night of
music, lip-sync battles, and community involvement. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate and thank you to all the downtown businesses who participated in making the event a huge success. And we are all we are well into summer and this week's Starlet Cinema
begins with National Treasure this Thursday night at 7 PM. Of course, there will be summer stage and Friday cruise nights every Friday night for the duration of the summer. For more information on all downtown Somerville activities, visit downtownrville.org. And the public safety committee will be
at the farmers market community tent on Sunday, July 19th. stop by the tent and let us know what you're concerned about safety-wise in Somerville. Thank you. >> Thank you, Andrew. >> Uh, historic community did not meet this
past month, so I have nothing to update. >> The burough council, I mean, the board of health met two weeks ago. Um, they reviewed the uh um inspection reports. Um, looks like we're in pretty good shape. And, uh, the the Somerville rescue squad, uh, I have no report uh on
their statistics for May. >> Thank you, Gina Lyn. >> Great. Thank you. Uh fire department has been very busy. June they had 47 calls for service including five building fires and have also been um responding with mutual aid supporting nearby towns.
So we thank them for their service with that and keeping busy. Uh environmental commission will meet uh on July 14th at uh 7 p.m. Tuesday. So I don't I'll have an update after that. >> Fantastic. Thank you. Thanks. >> On tonight's agenda, we have a
discussion item uh chapter 149A uh storm water control ordinance. This is uh in regards to the requests that went to the planning board from this body uh to review some recommendations from environmental. Uh the planning board
looked at those recommendations. I know that hopefully everyone's had an opportunity to read uh their email and saw the response from the planning board. Uh, so at this time I open it up to the council for discussion. >> Well, I think that we continue to have a
narrow-minded planning board um that we need to look at the bigger picture. Um, and I think that's what the environmental commission has spent a lot of time um, investing in. I know we want to protect development in our community, but I also think that we have we we have to do it with more modern and more
relevant techniques when it comes to new construction. especially around green infrastructure. I think that we need to look at that municipalwide in terms of the board of education, the fields they're putting in, in terms of what we do in our homes. Um, and and I don't
think we're getting good dialogue and good communication back and forth. It's been separate meetings and not a collective uh conversation. And maybe we need to move it to some type of community community group meeting that
meets the state laws. But the way it's working now, it has not fostered um true communication, collaboration uh and opinion sharing, it's been very very narrowly presented um this against this and and I think that that's a failure on our part.
>> So let me just if I may just jump in very quickly. Um the environmental commi commission had the opportunity and did speak in front of the uh in front of the planning board prior to their consideration and during their consideration of the stormwater
ordinance after this body made our recommendations to the planning board to have that discussion. It was put on the agenda um and it was discussed again at that time. No one from this body or from the environmental commission was at that planning board meeting to bring up any
concerns. Um the planning board did thoroughly go through all of the different areas. Um it was actually I think we had a lot of if not the entire planning board there that evening. Um but there was quite a lively discussion going on in concern and and taking what
the environmental commission had to say and what this board had to say very seriously. um you know they felt as though they had touched on everything but they wanted to go back through thoroughly and have these discussions and they felt as though that the first point and the the last point uh in regards to the concept of a major
development um and the fact that our number is considers a smaller size than what the state does and the fact that we do have um the uh storm water uh plans on file and that we do hold on to them that's all met
with this and as a matter of I know that we want to be progressive and we want to look forward and we want to see ourselves as as a leader uh with this based based on how weather impacts our
town and the towns around us and we we you know I think everyone on the planning board understands that but there were certain concerns that were raised not only from a development concern but for folks for their own homes that this that some of those changes in the storm ordinance would
have would have elicited um a a meet having to go to a planning board, having to go to a zoning board. Um and so those were a lot of where the conversation revolved around. Um
so based on that after we had those discussions and again I think it took up a large majority of that meeting um the the goal was sent back to say these are the things that we feel like we're doing. Some of these other things might be a little bit of an overreach. Um I
know that I'm quoted in what uh Mr. Nicole sent back saying that I think it's up to this body for us to create incentives for us to create ways and work with the environmental commission to create ways that we can incentivize green infrastructure that we can that we
can look towards you know rewarding and encouraging uh whether it's certainly homeowners um and businesses that may be coming in or businesses that are existing uh to to invest in green infrastructure as you said before. Um I
think that that's an important thing, but it's something that we can speak about as far as incentives go here. Um and even as a matter of course, I was going to say this before and I lost my train of thought, but uh the uh state pulled back on the real rules.
>> The state pulled back because they're getting crushed by the developers and and that's that's a whole another issue. I mean, we >> Is it Is it okay if I finish? >> Yes. >> Thank you. I I really don't appreciate being talked over. Um I will say that they pulled back. Yes, they are getting
they that they are experiencing that but we went through and we made sure that we did that. The planning board took took it very seriously brought it to this council. This council approved it. Um, and I think that that's an important step and we are ahead of the curve in this circumstance and and ahead of a lot
of other towns and municipalities because we did adopt the real rules where a lot of because the state has now rolled back, a lot of towns and municipalities have pulled back on passing that. Are there opportunities for us to find other ways to do things? Certainly, you know, we talked again about incentives. We talked about education and I think a lot of that can
happen from here. I don't know that that's part of a storm water ordinance. >> If I may, Roger. >> Sure. Uh I I I hear what Gina is saying and I also listen I I was unable to attend the planning boards but I did watch and and listen to those meetings
as well and I understand their rationale and reasoning behind why um the four amendments that we were discussing to add to it were not necessarily going to do what we needed them to do here. Um I do think and I I heard you sort of walking around it is I I I think we need
to reestablish the ad hoc flood committee. I think a lot of good ideas had come from them, but those ideas are now three or four years old. And I think that might provide the working group that might be able to give some more ideas for either ordinances or policies moving forward. Uh things to even help
with the planning board as they review all the different redevelopment areas and ways to really incentivize that green building infrastructure because it's mentioned in there, but it hasn't really happened that way. So, I think that would be a great start. Um, also I know we're working on our tree inventory, but I think trying to come up
with a way to also incentivize and increase that tree canopy would be other ways to get around the same to tackle the same issue. And I I I think the storm water ordinance may not be the way to do it, but I think there are plenty of other ways that we need to start to do that. So
>> yeah, if I can jump in here, um I I do thank the planning board and uh everybody here and on the environmental commission for taking the time to go back over it and spend the time to be as thorough as we should be about this topic. I still think, you know, the
general principle of the idea that we should let rain water hit the ground and get into the ground, it should be retained on your property for a certain period of time so that we don't cause more flooding and flash flooding to be worse around town. I think these are all public benefits and and things that are kind of in the commons of our discussion
of how do we manage water in town. All of them are going to require every landowner and developer of any kind doing anything to have to do something slightly different than what they've done in the past. And I understand that that's inconvenient in a lot of places for all of us, right? Uh and I understand the personal property
arguments of uh it's here, it's what it is, you can't tell me to do that. But science is very clear that having more vegetation, more trees, more um places for the water to sit and stay, the the
having the the landscaping that is more appropriate for the environment we're in rather than a lawn, things like this. uh which are all educ points to your point Roger an educational um necessity for us to get the public to understand the value that these natural services are
provided to us from just what nature normally does if we let it do what it does. Um the problem is that we as Teddy Roosevelt always said you know conservation is as much about development as it is about actually just preserving land. You have to get into the ground of and that's not a direct
quote just to be clear. um you have to get into the idea of we are going to build something and we must do something about it. So I from that perspective I commend the efforts that have been done to advance us to where we are now. And I do agree though that there's more
nuanced changes that need to come in the future for us to do better management of of our burough's water so that we're not a problem for Manville and other people downstream. Do I think necessarily this stormwater ordinance and going back and forth in a continuous uh argument about
what this ordinance says is really our right path forward? I don't think that's going to get us where we need to be, right? I think incentivizing things makes sense, but only if the incentive was real enough. So, if we're going to talk about incentives on say reductions of our property tax if you
put in green infrastructure or development costs from us if you put in green infrastructure. Um, you know, maybe there's a world in which that, you know, incentivize we could come up with an incentive that actually gets people to adopt it. But if we're going to go down that road, which is a road I'm very
familiar with from my my own career of working with renewable energy incentives and energy efficiency incentive programs, if you actually want adoption, we have to make it meaningful. So my main point, and I'll conclude here, is that I'm happy of the efforts that we've
taken. I'm happy that we've gone back to look at this. I do think there's probably more work that needs to be done, but to Glenn's point, it can be done in other areas to help satis and meet the same goal. But I do think that we do probably need an ad hoc committee. I I I like that
idea. I think we should bring it back to Gina's point. We need to have more conversation about it and less p ships passing in the night and messages coming through our professionals as opposed to some real just meaningful discussion like we originally had. Uh I mean I'm only involved in our burough government
today because I got invited to sit on that ad hoc committee and and see how it worked and then see how I wanted to throw my hat in the ring. So the the idea to me that we cannot let this conversation end here. We didn't pass a resolution or an ordinance that now
solves the problem. We've passed an ordinance that gets us closer to solving the problem. And I think it's on us as elected officials to continue the conversation and continue to take those steps. But tonight, I'm not saying that we need to make specific edits and or changes or recommend ordinance language.
I think we need to take our time and figure out how it fits into our master plan, into our approach to zoning and into our approach to trees and other items that have been on our agenda for a little while because it's all tied together. It's all one thing. If you change an imperous surface coverage,
you're affecting water, you're affecting everything. You cut down a tree, you're affecting water, you're affect it's there's effects that happen that roll on from these decisions that we all know about. And so putting our heads together and coming up with a better community-based decision that works for everyone and something ultimately that
doesn't become a reason we have to spend taxpayer dollars defending it going forward is also an important principle to keep in mind. There's no world in which I think any of us want to have to sit down and pay an attorney to no offense uh too much money uh to to to
protect uh defend some of the rules that we made if our rules are overstepping for what would be a reasonable approach. Uh not to say that I think what we had before was reasonable. But I think what we have now is more reasonable and we need to continue in that direction. So I hear where everyone's coming from. I
thank everybody for their passion and for digging into it. I don't think the conversation should stop here, but I do think that we need to have more of a formal let's put our heads together before we come up with what the next recommended iteration of this is.
>> Well said. I I uh really appreciate this conversation. It's uh been lacking, I think. Um and I think that um if we I don't know if we want to move today to reenact the the committee uh or create a new committee. Um, but I also think that
um time is of of the essence. Um, you know, here we sit here today uh with storm storm threats, flash floods. Um, it's been what, five years since Ida. Um, and um, you know, everybody was it was fresh in their mind when when your basement's flooded and every and our
community was ravished and um, we haven't done anything about it. Um, and I think that's that's where issues lie, especially when we continue to look at new development, new development around the brook. Um, and we don't we don't have five more years. So, I I think that
we need to move this along as quickly as possible, come up with the best possible solutions. We we have bright people, bright committees, a lot with different viewpoints, and that's great, but let's all sit down in the room and get it get it worked out and and not keep wasting everybody's time. So, how do we move forward? >> So, I I will say this. Um, thank you
everyone for your your feedback. You know, it's good to have these have these discussions and again, thank you to the environmental commission and the work of the planning board. Um, I have I have no problem in recommending to the mayor to to restart uh the committee. I will say though that the planning board in their
current planning because we're working on the uh ECBD has been talking extensively at this time about what the areas along the brook look like in the ECBD and what they look like throughout the burrow. So the decisions that are being made right now at the planning
board in those areas that are considered by um the DP as uh zone AE is that correct Mr. Cole? >> Flood hazard zone AE. Thank you. Um
those areas are have a high high uh expectation of flooding um at at low water times. So the planning board is we've had multiple conversations. We had a conversation at the last meeting. That conversation is going to continue on at
this meeting because we're trying and starting to set the framework and and Jason Kra who's the vice chair is here this evening as well um with Lisa Warner is the chair. We've been having some really wonderful conversations about what does that look like for the burrow going forward. to give you some kind of an idea of the things we've been talking
about. You know, possibly some of that land that's closer along the brook goes back to being land around the brook. And those are conversations that are going to have to uh happen here because the the planning board can only
ask and and recommend so much. And then it's up to the council to say, "Here are the things that we want to enact as far as resolutions and ordinances go to make those a reality, the incentives." You know, uh, Andrew, if you're interested, I'm sure we could talk to the mayor. I'm
sure we could start up a committee to investigate with the help of the members of the environmental commission some incentives for green infrastructure if if you're willing to do so. I don't mean that as a glib comment. I'm serious. If you you know, if you're interest, I'm interested in the question. I think that that is something and those are the steps that we can take now to move
forward. Um we are again having those discussions about rainwater and flooding and the brook and uh if you'd like to attend the next meeting which is this Wednesday. It's one of those great months where both meetings happen the same week. Um we're having some very
thoughtful and hard and difficult conversations. Um but it's going to impact a lot of different things once we get to that point because we're we're starting to set the framework. Correct me if I'm wrong, Jason. We're starting to create we're starting to look at that framework and what's that going to look like. So, that's happening because we we
actually had a little conversation about this earlier. Uh the master plan is what's going to set that tone, >> right? >> And that's where we really have to focus our efforts right now. Um because those things that were discussed at that flood committee, of which you were a part, of which Jason was a part, Mike was on that
committee as well. Um those conversations are now taking place at the planning board. Well, there's one thing I want to jump in and just since you're having the conversation, uh, and with my small children, I find it hard to attend any meetings other than the ones that we already have on the schedule. Um, but that all being said,
uh, there's an idea called transct zoning that came out of new urbanism, which was more meant for zoning based on density and this whole style of how do you grow a city out of a suburb, but uh, it can also be reverse engineered and used for environmental protection in the
idea of setting a zone around the the for for building style and bulk and use and what's possible there, what's required there from green infrastructure, things like that. that if you are going to develop that's related specifically to the environmental hazards that are related to that area and then branching out our zoning from there as opposed to thinking
of it in what's normally called uklitian zoning where we're kind of just drawing lines around things defining it as a single use and that's what it is we might allow different uses we might look at it but really basing the decisions on what's the environmental impact that's going to happen because of this and I'm not saying every decision should be that
because I think that that would also lead us in a weird direction as well but ultimately just the idea as you think of it as you look at it of this idea of setting up um the the the planning rules, the rules for development that happen around the brook and what plan of
how do we vacate some of that area or makes as I like to say make space for the water to go, right? There's nothing we can do. The water's going to be there. Let's give it somewhere to safe to be that's not going to hurt us. Um, that strategy could be paired with a land use approach that makes it easier
for us as a municipality to continually have decisions that protect that those properties and the people that are stuck within that flood zone and aren't leaving and also protect the rest of the burrow from the impacts of that that brook. So, just think about it. It's a slightly different uh approach to zoning
than what is normally our traditional form of zoning, but it's an idea that might give us some uh new thoughts about how do we how do we treat that areas, those areas, those neighborhoods, those properties that surround the Brook thought. Thank you. >> Anyone else on council?
>> I don't really have anything unique to add. I have enjoyed the conversation. I think it's really important and I'm thanking the environmental commission for being here and the planning board for everything they've done and I'm just really glad we're having the conversation is continuing forward.
>> Uh since we obviously we've had quite a lively discussion here. If anyone uh from the public I will open it up since this is a discussion item. If anyone public would like to uh speak uh you can certainly do so now on this topic that we've discussed. Yes,
>> is on. You're good. >> It is on. Can you hear me? Okay. >> Hi guys. Tim Marie Deal, 76 Cobra Street. I'm the chair of the environmental commission. Um was not planning on speaking about storm water tonight. Um but I am very glad that we will be continuing this conversation and
that it sounds like it'll be a more open and um cross collaborative situation moving forward. um uh the environmental commission would be happy to be part of the um subcommittee or uh ad hoc committee whatever it's called um if that makes sense. Um I did just want to
clarify so uh before uh before we even submitted the ordinance last September um to the burough council and then it moved to planning board. Um our commission had actually been working on it for almost two years. Um Jeff Kaiser had worked pretty tirelessly um on it
for a very long time and um I inherited it from Jeff as the previous chair and um so we had already done a lot of work behind the scenes and then um we came to the planning board a few times with um our different concerns that we tried to
evolve as we understood what um what the planning board's um kind of lens was on things and we tried to uh express what what we where we were coming from in the hopes that um you know maybe we could try to meet in the middle somewhere. Um so I'm
bringing this up because you mentioned that we weren't at the um meeting when uh you know you guys sent it back down to planning board and the reason being that we had put in the time and effort to make that presentation. Um Jeff did that video that was you know like a
10-minute um pretty comprehensive overview of exactly what our concerns were. So we felt that um we had moved it through the uh right channels to get to the right um solution for our town uh and were kind of leaving it to the
burough council and planning board to make those decisions. So just wanted to clarify we weren't um you know like boycotting the meeting or you know coming because we didn't care. Uh we felt like we had said our piece and um wanted to to leave it with you guys. So,
um, and then, um, I did want to mention too, um, I think, you know, you mentioned about some of the issues being around kind of the more minor development pieces. Um, I think when we made kind of our adjustments for the four main focuses, we were kind of
thinking that those were more for the major development size um, projects. So um trying to uh lessen the burden on the standard resident. Um and then um education is also something that the environmental commission takes very
seriously. We um use our social media to help educate the public on various different environmental impacts and um what people can be doing to help alleviate that on their own little parcel of land and for our community. Um, so we definitely will continue to um
push that and uh make sure our our residents know uh what they can be doing to try to help the collective in terms of storm water management. So um thank you very much. >> Any other comments from the uh audience?
>> Thank you. No, and honestly, thank you uh for the work that the the environmental commission has done. I realize how what I said came off as a dig. That was not my intention. Um, my point was that we had we had the discussion. Yes, Jeff did provide some
fantastic videos. You didn't necessarily have to be there. I was only saying that it was there was nobody I don't think there's anybody in the audience that night. That was really kind of my point of that. So, I I apologize if it came off as throwing you guys under the bus was not my intention. Um, the the work that you've done so far has been
spectacular and I've I've said that multiple times and I you know, I've said that to these guys as well. Uh so that's it. All right. Moving on to bring the environmental commission back up. >> Close discussion. >> Oh yes. Well, this just the discussion
so we can move along. Right. >> Um did we want to make a motion to to re uh establish the ad hoc committee? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I have to I we have to speak with him. I will I will do that. >> Okay. >> We can make we can I'll make the recommendation based on the conversation
we've been having and we'll go forward from there. Sounds good. >> Perfect. Um, okay. Uh, I'd like to invite obviously, uh, team Marie back up to, uh, discuss the, uh, Somerville community
energy plan. All right. Hello, everybody. Um, okay. Timarie Deal um the chair of the environmental commission. This is David Dvorin. He's on our green team and um he sits on the Somerset Energy Council. So you can see why for the community energy
plan he would be um part of the part of the A team uh keeping it keeping it moving. So um we met with you guys back in May about this. So we'll try to keep this short. We know the USA team has a a
an important game tonight. So um uh essentially um what we had provided to you back in May was essentially the list of initiatives that we had determined and there's been a lot of movement since then and what you guys have in front of you and on the agenda um is the final
draft that was authored by TNM Associates um which is our consulting partner um and uh and yeah we'll just talk a little bit more about it. they weren't able to be here tonight to do the presentation. So, David and I are um going to uh handle
it, but um it is a pretty dense plan. So, um we are still doing a little bit of a digesting of it as well. So, um we'll do our best to handle any questions if they should come through, but um uh yeah, so we'll we'll go ahead and and jump in.
How do I change? Oh gosh. Okay. Okay. So the thousand foot view, why do we need a community energy plan? So um as many of you will know, the New Jersey um the state of New Jersey passed
a resolution and goal to reach 100% clean energy by 2050. Um so this is our municipality's um portion in trying to help meet some of those goals. Um the plan was created based off of some
climate data. So, um, the community of Somerville, um, in 2020 emitted 155,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Um, so that is the baseline that we are working to try to decrease through um, all of
the initiatives stacked together um, for the community energy plan. So, um they uh address different strategies to reduce that carbon emission, but that's the baseline that we're working to reduce over the next four years and
forward. Um and then 62% of those 155,000 um uh emissions come from on-road vehicles and commercial natural gas. So, um that's factored into the plan. And then um there also are some
supplementary benefits outside of just carbon emissions for the initiatives that we're um uh attacking here. So um cleaner air for the community, lower energy costs, and a more resil more more resilient energy grid, which can only be a good thing um as the climate continues
to evolve and so do our energy needs. Um as a refresher, what is the C? So, it's essentially Somerville's four-year action plan for reducing energy related emissions and also kind of a guide for the bureau to reach towards cleaner and
more affordable energy. Um, so as mentioned, we worked with the burough administration to determine the initiatives that were um approved by this council. Um I think the mayor had uh an addition that we swapped one of
them out for. So that was really good feedback. In addition um the environmental commission conducted a community survey which we'll talk a little bit more about. Um and then TNM authored the actual draft in front of you. So tonight what we're really asking is um to adopt the C by resolution um
and that will kind of open the door to to some grant funding. Okay. Um so we had um as part of the C we wanted to open up uh kind of a public
comment for um the initiative list. So we ended up having a few different channels for providing comments. One was a comment board in the burough hall. Um one was through email through the environmental commission email address. And then we also created an online
survey which drew 87 responses which was far more than I was expecting. Um and I think for a burough of our size that just kind of signals that residents really care about how we're handling um energy and uh we we got some really
interesting results which David will talk through. >> So the feedback clearly showed that solar and green buildings were enjoying the broadest support EV chargers, interestingly, was the most divisive.
And it's only because the residents, the survey respondents noted that they wanted the EV chargers to be for residents as opposed to visitors onto Main Street. That came up a few times.
Equity was also seen as essential. In addition, the the survey response also pointed out gaps compared to the initiatives that were being proposed and they wanted to make sure that we kept those gaps in view. Examples
include flooding, heat, and getting around town as examples. Now, whether they're related to the community energy plan is a different question, but still, nonetheless, they're topics that the respondents did want us to keep in mind. Here
are a few more call outs. People were remarkably consistent on where solar should go. Roofs, lots, brownfields, yes. Parks, and open space, no.
Cost and affordability came up often, and data centers surfaced as another concern. I have the understanding that you all have access to the full report that includes further analysis of the survey
and all of the raw data associated with the survey. >> Yes. And um the survey is also going to be posted on the town website. Um we should be able to search that. Uh we should have had the URL up here. Sorry about that. >> Back to you, T.
>> Yes. Um so thank you to everybody who took the time out of their day to um respond to the survey. uh all of the uh data was was really taken into account when creating the actual draft. Oh, actually this one's you. >> Um if you look if you look at the the
initiatives that we're moving forward with or proposing to move forward with, they do fall into these buckets, we wanted to make sure that the initiatives that were chosen covered a broad set of goals. Those goals are listed here. The
one in the middle, the energy efficiency, that's the one that the mayor had called out that we should include in addition to the ones that we had initially proposed. And you'll see that these initiatives align with what we saw in the survey results.
>> Awesome. And we figured that one of the first questions we would get asked here is what is the cost to the burrow? Um, so good news is nothing new to um uh to adopt tonight. So, no uh new appropriations or anything at this
point. Um, essentially what the C does is it opens us up to um the possibility of outside grant funding which is really exciting. Um, some of the budget will be uh folded into the municipal budgets as part of the planning process and that will be um you know incorporated and
planned for ahead of time and then um we also do now qualify for various state and utility incentive programs. Um so that's that's really great. So this step essentially allows us to um access uh out outside funding for for various um
initiatives and and um funding opportunities. Okay. So um the environmental commission has been very excited and um a little bit honored to uh be part of
this process. This feels like a a really big big project to be a part of and um it's been great to work with the burough staff and with TNM associates. Um so uh the next step after adopting the plan is to carry it out. Um so uh I think that
will take a lot of upfront work in figuring out processes and um you know the the plan does include uh like ownership for different pieces of the uh of the plan overall. Uh but there will still be a lot of collaboration required
um ahead of that. But we will uh help in any way needed and um specifically in stewarding the implementation of the initiatives. Um we will continue to lead community outreach and education which is already part of um what we do. Um actually a couple of the ongoing
outreach pieces didn't quite make it into the plan but they're already um part of the EC uh book of business, the EV outreach and um the residential energy efficiency which is through the PSENG grant. Um and then also of course
making sure that low to moderate income residents share in the benefits. So um really your vote tonight helps to turn this simple plan into Summerville's commitment to cleaner and more affordable energy. So um yeah, figured we would open it up
if there are any questions. >> Questions, daggers, darts. [laughter] >> Uh no, I'm uh thank you everyone for putting in the time and the work into this. I know that these aren't the simplest things even though um they try and pretend like they're just small one small step along the path. They're kind of
>> kind of the first big leap is really what it is. But what's I think uh amazing about what has been pointed out here uh some things are important to understand the the the low amount of support for EV charging uh rules from what it seems like or even just um using
it as a way of um trying to draw people to the community is not necessarily the most u popular way of doing it. >> But EV chargers in the residential areas is it was something that was seen. Yeah, [snorts] I'm I I think that that uh we
have some ordinances that have addressed that recently about um where they can put them, but in general, I don't know anybody who's not supportive of, you know, as much as we can. I do think maybe some on street in the areas where there's more multif family housing or rental housing is worthy of discussion. And I think we were talking about
something around veterans including something in that space as well. But um I hope it works for all. Um, but what I I think is really important here is that like when it comes to municipal vehicle fleet effic uh alternative fuel vehicles, electric vehicles, uh Kevin
already has an inventory of all of our trucks and what they could be transitioned to should the money be available through grants and other things. When it comes to renewable energy, we're already working on and you'll hear more about a resolution tonight where we're progressing our 10 megawatts of community solar that we
expect to market directly to low and moderate income in municip in the municipality. Um, the energy efficiency stuff, good ad, but at the same time, it's taking care of itself. I mean, everybody these days are looking at their bills trying to figure that out, right? How do I spend less? And that's the the easiest way is to spend PSEG's
money or the money you've already paid PSENG through to uh get back in an incentive. Um, I do hope that this plan though continues to push us along. Uh I know that some of these items that are in here are kind of I wouldn't say uh
superficial by any means, but are are you know outreach the community notifying educational that's great but getting an actual green building policy in is a different level of effort and work and change. So um happy to hear about all the efforts. Glad that the report and plan is finished, submitted,
and uh that we're going to have that opportunity for more money from more programs in the future. Um, I just want to see us pick up the more difficult items first because I think the easier items will take care of themselves. Uh, and great to know we've already made progress on a lot of this to be honest.
>> So, I have a question. Would there be a um ability to have like third party energy source for at a lower rate for um residents? >> So, can I jump in there and answer that question for you guys? Okay. So that's comes from a program called um or an
opportunity that we have as a government where we can do something called government energy aggregation where we would go out and grab all small businesses and residents in the municipality uh and say hey tell us if you want out of this but otherwise we're going to procure a third party supplier
for you. To my knowledge as of recent and late the way the electricity pricing has been there hasn't really been an advantage to have a third party supplier. you might get an introductory rate that ultimately slams you in the end. There's a lot of predatory kind of partners out there looking for those
things. If we were to run a procurement, I'd be interested to see what we would do, what the response would be. But my also my understanding from having done these is that there's a large runup to it from us as a municipality. There's a lot of work that falls into collecting all the information for PSNG. Also, we
have to pass some ordinances or resolutions beforehand in order to be able to just even go out to bid when the timing is right. So, I would suggest that if that is something we want to pursue, perhaps we could lay some of the groundwork, but not necessarily expect that we're going to do this anytime soon. But I also would want it to be
very clear to everybody that while we would try and include everyone in this, it is an opt- out program. If you do not want to participate, you don't have to, right? It's not something that we're going to uh mandate that if we were to go out and get a third party supplier through government energy aggregation that you have to be a part of this. We
would expect that everybody gets notified, they get to tell us and make a decision whether they want in or out. The benefit is is that if we all go out together, economy of scale being such that we're buying more electricity, we should get a lower price. That's the idea behind the whole thing. But again,
market has being where it has been with electricity over the last few years and where it's going in the next few years. Even thirdarty suppliers have had a hard time making money at this. So, um, things have changed. The this summer might be a little different. I'm going to get some better information about
some of that sooner, but ultimately, you know, that's probably why we haven't done it and why it's probably good to get prepared to maybe do it is because I think that in the near future it might be advantageous. Um, but if we don't have the ordinances passed, then we can't take advantage of market timing. We got to get ready for it beforehand.
So, it is something that's possible for us to do. It's not and it's something that we can ask for a green energy product while going out to bid for it. But, we have to expect that any supply that includes 100% green energy is going to be more expensive. And if our goal is
affordability by doing this, then we don't want, you know, as much as we want to make sure that we're getting a green carbon-f free electricity source for everyone, it's not necessarily uh going to be the most economical solution. So, there's a lot to consider as you embark on that journey and a lot of uh steps
along the way. I think maybe we could get two or three steps into it and then see what the market has to offer if if at all u at that point. So to to your question, Gina, I think it's something maybe outside of the environmental commission specifically, but it is something that we can get running on and
if we get it we do do it and we do get a heavy renewable energy product as our solution, then we can get some credit for it for our sustainable Jersey stuff, right? Is if we can actually do it. >> But between here and there is a pretty big trip and we got to make sure the electricity is cheap enough to want to do it.
>> As a single individual, one can easily sign up for any community solar project. That's true. >> Uh I personally am involved I subscribe to a community solar and by by law I get at least a 20% discount on the cost of
the electricity. Uh and as a shameless plug uh I am giving a talk September 9th at the at the library on how to fight the high energy costs. Uh where I discuss not only community solar but also PSNG's energy assessment program
which is of no cost. Any other questions? >> No more darts. No, >> I just want to thank you all for, you know, I know how much work has gone into it and the debate and the long list of things. It's hard to narrow down. There's so many good ideas, but we
appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Uh, well, before you go, hold on. >> Hold on. Does anybody have any comments or questions about uh from the from the public in regards to this? Rich,
>> would would the council like to take this resolution now uh and and while the >> Sure. while they're up here >> on on the sixth paragraph where the re whereas and the list of strategies the strategies are going to be replaced with the five strategy areas that Tarie and David had spoken about in that
paragraph. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh so then uh so then a motion for uh resolution uh 202 adopting the burrow of Somerville community energy plan. >> Second. >> So moved.
>> I don't think we need discussion. Right. >> Fantastic. Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Kiy. >> Yes. >> Glenn Deny. >> Yes. >> Gina Stra. Yes. >> Roger F. >> Yes. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. At this time, meeting is open to
the public. Uh, please present your name and address and your questions or comments. I always say questions, comments to me. Uh, meeting's open. Wait, do I have to ask for I have to ask for >> motion and second? Yeah,
>> I didn't think so. >> Okay, seeing none, a motion to close. >> So moved. >> Second >> discussion. Great. Roll call. >> Council members, Theresa Bonner, >> yes. >> Andrew Ki, >> yes. >> Glendon, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes.
>> Roger Ver, that was to close. >> To close. >> I didn't know I was going to do this today. So, all right. Uh, so we have three ordinances for introduction. Uh, the first ordinance for introduction is 2807.
It is a bond ordinance providing an appropriation of $850,000 for the design and resurfacing of South Midaw Street and Washington Place for and by the Burough of Somerville in the county of Somerset, New Jersey and authorizing the issuance of $700,000 in
bonds or notes of the bureau for financing part of the appropriation. Um, I know that the mayor likes to open these up for the public. So, I will give anybody an opportunity if they'd like to speak. Seeing none, motion to introduce. >> So move.
>> Second. >> Discussion. >> I just uh why are we borrowing this money? >> There's actually uh two grants on this project. One for 226,800 and one for 316,190.
There's a gap that we have to fill. So while you're while you're seeing a large number there, it is going to be backfilled by by about a little more than a half a million dollars worth of grants. >> Okay. >> So it's basically the offset. It's our skin in the game for a DOT grant.
>> Got it. Roll call. >> Council members, Terresa Bonner, >> abstain. >> Andrew Ki, >> yes. >> Glenda, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Fern, >> yes. Uh, next we have 2808 amending
chapter 61 entitled cannabis. Section five entitled classes permitted subsection B uh nine entitled hours. Again, opening up for uh discussion or not discussion, public comment. Seeing
none, motion introduce. >> So moved. >> Second discussion. So, this was just uh an extending of their hours that they're permitted to be open. Correct. >> Correct. Uh Monday through Saturday,
it'll change your hours to be uh equally competitive to the uh >> municipal >> other other municipalities around. >> Thank you. >> House cleaning, housekeeping, >> housekeeping, whatever. >> You're tired, man. >> I am, man. Roll [laughter] call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes.
>> Andrew Kiy. Yes. Glen, >> yes. Tina Stravick. >> Yes. >> Roger F. >> Yes. All right. And uh the last one is 2809 entitled Amending Chapter 133 of the Burough Code entitled Retail Food
Establishments. Again, open up for public comment. Seeing none, motion to introduce. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> So this did not come before the board of health.
>> Yeah. So the intent here is there's going to be some tweaks tweaks to this uh ordinance as well. Uh the board of health will get a somewhat of a mirrored um consideration after the governing body introduces and adopts it um for
their consideration. >> So we're going to adopt it then have them look at it and then change it. >> Well, we're going to introduce it with the tweaks that several of the members had asked me about. Nothing substantive. Um, but it'll what I could do is I could send them the copy of the introduce
ordinance before adoption for consideration. They actually have a different code than than the governing body does. So, the governing body is in a different chapter related to this. Um, the board of health provisions are really supposed to be about the
inspections and things like that, but the fact that they would have some of this stuff in here would would would also make some sense as well. So after it's introduced, I could certainly send it to the board of health, hold off the public hearing and adoption until they were able to take a look at it.
>> I think that'd be a good idea. Uh I also, you know, street cafes. >> Do we mean sidewalk cafes? >> Yes, that's one of the tweaks. >> Okay. >> There was a couple of things that were pointed out to me. Like I said, nothing
substantive. Um but but the idea of this ordinance is the the burough council currently has one paragraph in the code regarding retail food establishments. >> Okay. >> Um we we practice, you know, we have a
lot of policies and rules and practices that are really not ordinances and they really should be pulled into an ordinance. and and in our effort to kind of clean our ordinance book over the past this year, this is one of the areas that that not only makes sense, but it
has come up multiple times this year as to where certain certain things appear in the the the law. So, this this is the purpose of that. >> Roll call. We had Yeah, we had an introduction. Yes. Uh council members Theresa Bonner.
>> Yes. >> Andrew Ki. Yes. >> Glen Deny. >> Yes. >> Gina Stravik. >> Yes. >> Roger Firm. >> Yes. >> Uh so we have our consent resolutions. Uh resolution 209 is being pulled at this time and we've already done 202.
Uh do we have any other that need to be uh set aside? No. All right. 195 is approving the hiring of full-time lifeguards for the 2026 pool season. 196 is authorizing an award of a non-fair
and open contract to NV5 Incorporated for construction support engineering services for the safe routes to school project along Veterans Memorial Drive East. 197 is awarding a contract to ACCSE NJ uh janitorial services at the
Somerville Emergency Services Facility pursuant to state cooperative pricing system contract number 77110 under the New Jersey Rehabilitation Facility Set aside Act. Number 198 is amending resolution 25804227
authorizing council president Roger Vroom that's me to execute documents and awarding a contract to association for choices in community spaces and employment access NJ for janitorial services through New Jersey cooperative purchasing program removing police
headquarters 24 South Bridge Street 199 approval to submit a grant application and execute a grant contract with Jersey Department of Transportation 2027 state aid grant program for uh MA 2027.
Is that 2026 27? >> No, it's mun uh MA 2027 for the 2027 road improvement. >> Understood. Road improvement program including North Dy North Dowy my goodness Avenue and Prospect Street. 200
is authorizing the execution of a contract with first due software and hosting contract for Rar and Burough. 2011 authorizing and memorializing the issuance of a request for proposals for construction management and inspection services for the safe routes the schools
uh along Veteran Memorial Drive East road diet and pedestrian improvements project. 203 approving event permit for Somerville Elks to use Carol Pager for Jack's kids softball tournament on July 11, 2026 from 7 to 3. 204 authorizing
the 11th annual Somerville 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026. 205 is approving downtown Somerville Music Fest on September 20th, 2026 from 12 to 6 on Main Street from Warren to Maple and South Bridge from uh
Maine to South Street. Road closures will be from 7 to 7. 206 approving project closeout and release of retainage to Millennium Communications Group for emergency services facility improvements in the amount of $30,000
300 3 $30,348.54 207 authorizing and memorializing the issuance of a request for proposals for construction management and inspection services for the safe route to schools along Veteran Memorial Drive's east road diet and pedestrian improvement projects.
208 authorizing the burough clerk to execute an agreement with public service electric and gas company for outdoor lamp post lighting repairs on certain streets within the burrow of Somerville. 210 approving tax sale costs for 2026. 211 authorizing tax collector Paige Ster
to execute electronic tax sale agreement participate in the 2026 electronic tax sale. 212 approving the release of the maintenance guarantee for Chantana LLC 132 North Gaston Avenue block 43 lot
1.01 1 application in the amount of $6,110.17 213 authorizing the executive execution, excuse me, of an assignment and assumption of redevelopment agreement with CS Energy Hathaway Solar LLC and C
Renewables LLC and the interim escrow agreement with C Renewables LLC. And lastly, 214, amending the Burrow of Somerville policy and procedure manual to adopt a pregnancy and maternity leave POS uh policy. Do I have a motion? >> Uh there was an add-on.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. We've got a walk-on this evening and this is a really great project that's going to be coming up. This is number 215 and it's approving chapter 159 from the Somerset County Community Development Block Grant Program project uh for the Carol Pager
ballfield renovation which I know a lot of uh folks around town will be thrilled about. Now, do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Council members Theresa Bonner, >> yes. >> Andrew Ky, >> yes. >> Glendy, >> yes. >> Gina Stravick, >> yes. >> Roger Verm,
>> yes. Uh, I make a motion to pay bills and vouchers in the amount of $925,36616. I have a second. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council members Theresa Bonner. >> Yes. >> Andrew Ki. >> Yes. >> Glendee. >> Yes. >> Gina Stravik. >> Yes. >> Roger Ferm.
>> All right. >> Teresa. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> I'd like to make a motion to adjurnn, please. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Fantastic meeting adjourned.