Yeah, I wish Look at this dog. Very cute. >> Bless you. >> So for my grandson's birthday, >> bless you. Yes. >> 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 August 3rd, 2026 was provided to the Curry News and Star Ledger and placed on the burough's website. Also placed on the bulletin board at Bur
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 is excused this evening. Andrew Ki >> here. >> Glenn Deny >> here. >> Randy Pittz
>> here. >> Gina Stravik >> here. >> Roger Verm >> here. >> Please stand for the salute to the flag. I 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, we have no uh departmental reports or notices. Uh however, we do have a uh these are always good nights. Uh we have resolution number 260803
233 approving the hiring of Eric A. Melendez as police officer effective August 4th, 2026. Do we have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call, please. >> Council members, Andrew Ki, >> yes. >> Glen Deny, >> yes. >> Randy Pitts,
>> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Verm, >> yes. All right. Uh, Mr. Melendez, come up. Come on down. Oh, you know what? You know what? If mom's here, we're going to hold If she's not here, we're going to hold off a few minutes.
>> Absolutely. Mom's got to be here. >> All right. So, we're going to defer that. That's all right. Not a problem. Not a problem at all. [laughter] No, but no. Mom holds the gavl. That's
all right. Um, let's go into committee reports then. Andrew >> uh historic advisory committee hasn't met yet this month, but we look forward to discussing uh few items uh at the end of the month and specifically uh potential for um our artifacts and uh
museum items uh to be more on display at um in the town and also continue mapping out the historic um places [clears throat] in town and putting them on our map that we actually have up. So if anybody's interested in looking at historic sites in town, you can check out the historic uh advisory commission's website. We have a we have
a map, a Google map that'll take you everywhere you want to go. >> Great. Thank you, Gina. >> Uh September 27th, the board of health will be uh at the farmers market doing some board of health stuff. So, um thought that was a great partnership and a great opportunity for the board of health to work with the community. Uh
the rescue squad continues their good work. I do not have a full report um but know that they are there for you. >> All right. Uh Glenn, >> great. Thank you. Uh the fire department responded to 74 service calls in the month of July. So, they've continued their busy streak for this year. And
then the Environmental Commission met on July 14th. Uh, two new pet waste stations were installed along the greenway and that was with a partnership with the New Jersey Water Supply Authority and their water ambassadors program and a little bit of help from our DPW. So, we thank them. On September
9th, a member of our green team, David D'vorne, will host a talk on how to fight high energy bills. And then finally, uh, volunteering days are coming really soon. There's a number of them, so you can check out some details on our social media or website for, but
we will be continuing our work on the Peters Brook Habitat Restoration Project. Uh, the dates right now are August 22nd, September 16th, September 27th, and October 1st. So hopefully you can come out during one of those days uh to help us out with that. There will be
more details and signups available. Um the environmental commission will see you at National Night Out tomorrow uh with some energy saving tips and more at the tent. So come on out and see them and all the other great community groups that'll be there. And then uh also you can come out on next Tuesday on uh the
11th of August for the uh monthly environmental commission meeting at 7 o'clock right here. >> Okay, great. >> Busy busy. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Ready. >> He's stole my thunder. [laughter] >> There's plenty to say. There's plenty of groups.
>> Tomorrow is National Night Out Day. Come out and meet our entire force, fire department, rescue squad. Um, this year's event features live performances by Elite Dance Center, School of Rock, Black Belt World, plus a dunk take.
Maybe the mayor. >> That could [laughter] be. It may be on the agenda. >> Yeah. provided by Somerville Recreation. Free hot dogs, drinks, and snacks will be provided by the community partners. Meet your neighbors. Connect with our local
police officers, our beautiful and great police officers. We even have the chief here tonight. I want to give him a shout out. It's my guy. [laughter] We hope to see you there tomorrow. That's all I have. >> All right. Great. Thank you. Roger. Uh,
from recreation, the Somerville YMCA will be offering free classes to Somerville residents at Michael Lep Pool Park, which is the one on Park Avenue, on August 10th, 12th, and 14th. The program is designed to help young children become more comfortable and
confident in and around the water while learning essential water safety skills in a fun and supportive environment. There are two sessions for young children. Uh they will be run at 11 to 11:30 which is going to be safety around the water. It's a parent and me class
for preschool aged children ages 3 to five. And then from 11:30 to 12 on those days it'll be safety around the water uh children only uh ages 5 years old I guess and up. So space is limited. Uh please register now on the community
pass uh website under summer programs. And that's what I have. >> Okay. All right. We're going to jump and do ordinances for public hearing and adoption. Ordinance number 2807 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 burrow of Somerville in the county of Summer owners like what prompted this? Uh what what prompted this is it's the time is so as you know there is a cannabis well maybe you don't know
there's a cannabis location further um west on route 22 or actually 202 206 um we're we're making it so the cannabis uh facility that's located on 22 could compete hour-wise with that so it it
matches their time only it actually matches their time only Friday to Saturday they may be appearing in the future to match your time on Sunday, but at this point this is uh this is just um basically mon uh Monday through Saturday the change.
>> So they requested it. >> Uh yes, it it came about um as you know we do get um transfer tax from that. So the revenue if they open early obviously the anticipation is the revenue would be um
um better during those morning hours. Okay. Roll call. >> Council members Andrew Kiy. >> Yes. >> Glen, yes. >> Randy Pitts, yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Verm, >> yes. All right. Is mom here? >> Is she? >> Yes.
>> All right. [laughter] All right. Let's uh let's go back to item number six, which is the oath of office uh for police officer Eric A. Melendez. Eric, if you come forward. That's your queue, Mom.
>> I state your name. >> I Eric Mendes. >> Do solemnly swearly >> swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States. I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the State of New Jersey >> and the State of New Jersey >> that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.
>> I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. and to the governments established in the United States and in this state. >> The government established in the United States and this state. >> Under the authority of the people. >> Under the authority of the people. >> And I will faithfully >> And I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially
>> and justly perform >> justly perform >> all the duties of police officer >> all the duties of police officer >> for the burrow of Somerville >> for the burrow of Somerville >> according to the best of my ability. >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations.
Congratulations. [applause] Thank you, >> Chief. >> All right. So, Officer Melendez already. >> He's already a police officer. So, we had an opening and we've had an opening for a while due to retirement of someone. So, we're building a spot and
we had a process where people applied and we several trained police officers. He came out number one on our process and after a thorough background he ready to go but having police experience
is a giant benefit to us here in town and he's got a new support group with a training officer for a while about three months I guess three months so he can learn how we do things our way here and uh that's it he's ready to go we were
told that he has a very tight close family and that's obvious by the amount of people. I do want to thank you guys. Thank the council for doing this and working with us. We always have a good working relationship and we have to keep that going. But thank you guys, >> Chief. Thank you. >> Thank you, Chief.
>> So, just just a couple of comments. Um I always love these days. Um I think it's wonderful. Um it's a uh another officer joining the ranks of our community. And when you look around you and you see this uh these lines of blue, um these
are the folks that uh the men and women who keep our community what it is. We live in a very special community. We have very engaged citizens. Um and uh and and it's wonderful. So remember this day because it's a good day. It's a happy day. They're not all good and
happy. Uh but think back to, you know, this day when you're having that tough day. and uh uh make sure you wave to the citizens and go after the bad guys with a vengeance. All right. So, thank you and congratulations. Thank
you. Uh Chief, I know you've got a couple of other things you uh you'd like to do. >> Yeah, we have some awards we'd like to give out to some of the folks here and we'll start with I got what I like to do first achievement award and I'm going to actually You guys know me a long time. I
don't read anything in general. We just But Lieutenant put some nice fancy stuff together. So, I'm going to try to stay on here. Anyway, uh officer, could you come down please? So, officer Spidea and Detective
Fulmore. Detective Fulmore is not here tonight, but we want to give him the chief's award. What Lieutenant came up with was being awarded for an outstanding act of achievement. Moving into the new building would not be possible without
the dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment of officer, which you guys know is true. On behalf of the entire department, thank you for your countless hours, your commitment to excellence, excellence, and your steadfast dedication to the
organization. Your work has left a permanent mark on a department and every person who walks through the doors of the building. [laughter] Congratulations. It's my honor to award this to you. So the lieutenant is going to give it to you. >> Good job. [applause]
On top of what was written, the amount of work, effort, and problem solving that went into getting us in there was >> difficult and amazing. >> Can I just say [laughter]
>> if we could have officer Keller and Officer Shah come up. So, these two are getting the Medal of Valor. And what I'm going to do is I am going to read this because it really does lay it out pretty nicely as to what happened. So, um
August 15th of last year at about 3:45 in the afternoon, Mandal PD was searching for a male suspected of being in possession of a firearm, possibly fleeing by the train. surrounding agencies were advised to check a train station which we have
train station did that officer responded along with me from the prosecutor's office checking the platform the actor was actually located and if any of this is off you can correct me but blame him the actor became immediately agitated and argumentative with the officers on
scene the actor then tried to walk away and began reaching into his waistband towards what the officers believed to be was a firearm Every police officer here knows and you guys probably do too. The things that get you hurt hands you watch the hand. So when he's sticking his hand
somewhere makes you nervous. The actor started shout a physical confrontation ensued. Officer Shahad arrived on scene as well. The actor started shouting, "Kill me, shoot me, I'm not going back." Also during a length of time trying to take control of his hands, he was refusing to remove his left hand for
holding the handle of a firearm. The actor was in a handcuff and secured as more officers were on the scene and the weapon was secured. Officer Kelly as I'm reading something about you broke your finger and the actor actually spit
on officer in the face and mouth. Officer Keller and Officer Shah recognize both of you for your acts of extraordinary heroism that were displayed during your actions on that day. responding to a subject with a firearm. Your immediate actions
displayed that day are an example of how you're willing to place the welfare of others above yourselves. This exemplifies the essence of the valor award. Congratulations on the award. [applause] [applause] When I was up there, too, I watched what was going on. They had him on the ground
by the time I got there. and the guy was very very violent and it was not a good situation. They were also honored by the 200 club of Sun County for their actions. So congratulations. [applause] Okay. Uh Officer Black, come on up here,
please. And this is a good one. This is a real good one, too. He's also the medal of power. So again, I'm going to read it because I think you did a good job. September 6 of 2025
at 217 in the morning. So, you know, there's a little different environment going on, right? While investigating an unrelated incident, a report from dispatch came in that a male was on a street in town uh with a gun threatening people. Upon arrival, officer Black
confronted the subject who was in the area and gave him clear verbal commands not to move. He assumed it was the person that he was sent there to deal with that had a gun. At that point, the actor then started running and ran away from Officer Black who started running
after him and caught him. Officer Black immediately without any hesitation chased the subject for approximately 30 yards and was able to stop him and place him under arrest. The actor was in possession of a loaded magazine and ammo in his pocket. In addition, a firearm was also found near where the actor was arrested indicating
that he had the gun on him when he tackled them out of his pocket. Is that pretty much accurate? The summer police department like to recognize you for your act of extraordinary heroism that was displayed during this altercation. The professionalism, confidence, and quick
action that was displayed at night while responding to someone who had a gun. The result was even though the result was imminent personal hazard to yourself was a selfless act of bravery. Due to these actions, you'll be receiving a medal of valor. Congratulations.
[applause] 2:15 in the morning, you get a report of a guy. He's out there by himself. Takes off, goes after him, gets him. Got guns. I thank you guys for allowing this tonight and participating with us. Thank you very much,
>> Chief. Thank you. Um, thank you. Thank all of your officers, those that are here and those that that are uh that are not here. Um, you know, I just find it fascinating. So, more and more our police officers are called on to to do different things. uh everything from
what you heard about tonight to um marriage counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, um you name it across the board. Uh and it's not an easy job. It's it's a passion that uh our officers have and and we have a difference. I think we
have an extremely well-trained force um led by an administrative team that is uh second to none. I I'll put our officers up against any officers in the county. I think they're top-notch. Um they're always out there. Um they're always waving, at least they're waving at me.
Um that or they're telling me get out of the way. I don't know. [laughter] Um but I want to thank every one of you for what you do every single day because it's it's not just the the um uh these items that you heard about today. It's the every day. And uh um it's it's not
easy. It's a challenge. It's a challenging job. You do it well. You keep our community safe. Thank you. God bless all of you. Thank you. [applause] All right, you can go. >> And family, you can go too. All right, we'll continue on. Um before
we get to uh to the meeting uh open to the public for public comment uh because I know there will be public comment on the library issue. Um, I just kind of want to cycle back a little bit and uh and and talk a little bit about that uh because it's become a a strong issue uh
for our entire community and and I think everybody's goal is exactly the same. Um it's that we want to have a a premier a good a fantastic library in our community. And and I also believe that the
long-term goal of trying to build something bigger and better is also good. And I think I share the same sentiment of council that that we'd like to see that. The challenge is we have this goal
that's out here and we have now which is over here. And obviously recently, uh, the Somerset County Library Commission has taken steps to, um, close the Somerville
branch. Um, citing a number of issues, uh, one of which was, uh, mold issues, uh, health concerns of their employees. We take that very seriously. Um, once that was
uh made, I ordered the testing of the area immediately. And I'm going to back up a second because there was mold testing and remediation done about a year ago. Uh, and that was in the downstairs level uh the the basement
level of the uh the library. Remediated, brought back to uh standard. Fast forward to this year, um we received a letter and uh it said we we're closing uh citing those concerns.
Uh again, so testing was ordered immediately. Uh when the initial testing came back for the upstairs, that testing showed no elevated mold. Uh the area was okay. I had ordered immediate testing of
the downstairs again just to ensure that uh that the remediation we did last year uh held and that has come back now and that also shows no elevation of mold. So that presents a challenge. Um it
doesn't negate you know uh the the idea that somebody may feel ill. Um, so we've taken an extra step and I've ordered that we bring in an environmental engineer slashindustrial hygienist to do
further testing to ensure that the air uh and the quality in the library both upstairs and downstairs uh is satisfactory. Once that's done and they come back to us with those results, one of two things
will happen. either the results show that there are no issues um or they will show that there are issues, they will be mitigated and we will also implement best practices that they show we should um
I think that's going over and above what the cited reasons were for uh closing the library. And I think it's a good practice for us. Um, and I would even take it a step further and say that we would conduct further
testing as the years go on or as the year goes on just to ensure let's monitor monitor testing. Um, the challenge we have is that while the mold issue seemed to be the
impetus for this, other issues now have come up in that the space isn't suitable. the space is not big enough. Uh, and these are some reasons that we've been given for uh for the uh county to close the library.
Um, I don't believe that's right. Um, this is a small branch library. It doesn't mean that we can't grow. But
what it does mean is that between the time that we grow into something else and now, we have to maintain that service to our constituents.
In 2010, I brought our library to the county because our library was not in good financial shape. and the library embraced us. The county system embraced us. They wanted us to be a part of it. And 15 years later, um I'm
I'm questioning some of that. So, it it is a challenge. I think there's an opportunity for partnership there to achieve this, but you can't eliminate what we have in order to
achieve this. You know, I almost look at it as if we're kind of the first pin in this process. You know, what what what is next? I don't know the answer to that, but what is next? So,
you know, it's it's a very challenging situation and and I've been in meetings and and I said, part of my job is to try not to get try to not get people into their corners. Sometimes it's very difficult to do because people feel that they're right.
And I think tonight we went into corners. Um, and I believe and I think the council believes rightfully so at this time that we did go into our corners. Um, our goals are the same.
They are the same. I haven't met one person that says, "I don't want a library." I haven't met one person who says, "I don't want a nicer library. I firmly believe I raised five kids in this town.
That was my wife's salvation. Three in the triple stroller, one on her back, and one walking. That was her salvation. Now, my granddaughter loves to go on Saturdays to pick up my paperwork and hop over to the library and do something
cool. So, you know, it's it's this is not a pleasant situation and I know there's people who have a lot of different feelings out there. Uh there's a lot of different emotions out there. My goal, our goal as a council is to
ensure that we have those services. There's been talk about renting space somewhere downtown, renting space somewhere in the burrow to achieve those services. If we have a space that's clean, certified,
it's okay. Is it an old building? Yeah, it is an old building, but it's Somerville's building and it still serves its purpose well. And if we can show that it's certified
clean and we can we can keep that level, I don't see why we can't reoccupy from this time forward to the new beginning of whatever that library is.
One of the challenges in creating something is you have to define what you want. Now we all have opinions on what we want, but what does the public want? What does the public need? We don't have that. We know it's
technology, kids library. You know, we had floated the idea of, well, why don't we make the the counties, the region's most special children's library in our space and allow the other libraries,
Hillsboro and Bridgewater, to absorb the adult. I don't know whether that's right or wrong, but it's a concept and I think that's where you have to start with these concepts. And I know the commission has talked about going out and doing these types of of surveys.
Um, but I think it's premature to begin that process without knowing what are our asks, what are we doing, where are we going? So, so the burrow has committed that
that space is going to be occupied. We'll know in a week or two what the results of of all of that are. Um, and we'll either have a timeline for remediation or we'll have an all clear and let's get
back to work. Um, I've asked the commission if they are willing to work towards a um a goal of reoccupying that space and it was a qualified yes if it
expanded. Well, we're not expanding right now because we don't know what we're expanding into. The goal is to reoccupy that space. >> Excuse me. >> Excuse me.
Excuse me. >> Excuse me. You are out of order. You are out of order. You will have your five minutes during public session. >> That's probably only the fourth time I've ever gave in my life. I don't gave people. So, let's have a little uh decorum
here. So, at this point, um, you know, sometimes you do have to go into your corners and, uh, what I will do is ask the council for a motion to authorize the attorney to begin drawing up, uh,
papers, uh, to ensure that the library commission uh, follows the terms of our agreement that's been established. Regrettably, I make that motion. Second
>> discussion. Roll call. >> Council members, Andrew Ki, >> yes. >> Glen Deny, >> yes. >> Randy Pitts, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. >> Roger Ferm, >> yes. >> Okay. All right. Uh, at this point, I will ask for a motion to open the meeting to the public.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Roll call. >> Council members, Andrew Kiy. >> Yes. >> Glendee, >> yes. >> Randy Pitts, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, >> yes. Roger firm. >> Yes. >> Okay. Public session is now open. Please state your name and address for the record and please address your comments
to me. >> Peter Bramberg. My address is 121 Agnes uh Place in Balbrook. I am the director of the Somerset County Library System. I am not a politician. I'm a librarian. It is my life's work. It has been a privilege to to bring library services to the people of different communities
across this state and across this country. I was invited here tonight. I say invited in quotes because I was asked to Might I be willing to come tonight? >> Peter, could you just >> Yeah. Can you stay in the Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. >> And I would also ask if you would just
put the microphone back, please. >> Uh, I'm gonna hold the microphone. >> No, I'm going to ask you to put the microphone. >> I'm gonna hold the microphone. Peter. Um, >> Peter, please just put the microphone back. Why? >> Because it's a piece of burrow property. Please put the microphone back. >> Well, I'm not going to throw it at anybody. >> That I know you're not. I know you're not. Please.
>> No. No. This is just This is just like control. Like, oh no. He's telling me what to do. No, no. I'm going to hold the microphone. So, we were invited tonight. You're addressing your comments. >> We were brought into We were brought into your comments to me. >> We were brought into this room with no agenda. Uh I was asked to hold this this
night uh available. Uh came in, never got a confirmation. I had to confirm and say, "Well, I was asked to hold this night available. is is are we coming? So, we show up. I was asked, "Are you here to talk tell us that you're going to move back into the library?" I said, "Am I here to tell you? I don't even you invited us here. You tell us what you
want to talk about." Well, the question is, "Are you going to move back into that library after we remediate?" I said, "Well, I didn't say expand. I said if and when that space is made suitable for library services, including for our staff, because our staff have no
workspace there. There's no private space. They don't have a private bathroom anymore to use. They were told they can't flush solids. They have to put waste waste paper in a waste basket instead of flushing it. There's no it's not suitable. We've been there for a year and so and last summer when we
closed and we re the lower level and we uh brought everything upstairs. We got the all clear right that everything was going to be fine. Well, since that time uh staff have continued to have health issues. I have I have reports here from eight different staff members about their health issues. That was this is
going back through oral summer. I'm sorry. Yes. I apologize. Yes. Yes. Absolutely. Um from through through through the through the winter through the fall. Headaches, hives, persistent sore throat, severe nasal drip, neurological pain and symptoms, pressure headaches tracking closely with office occupancy and sinus congestion. I can go
on and on and I eczema, headaches. This is eight different people experiencing these symptoms on and off depending a little bit on the weather, but persistent and consistent. and when they go when they leave the building for two days they get better. When they come back they feel worse. Now there has been
a lot of misinformation but when we made the difficult decision first we were looking at this and saying we probably need to to find a new a new location by the end of the year or by the end of the summer. I communicated this with the bureau. This was communicated immediately when when staff were having
some some spikes of issues probably due to water and humidity and weather. Um, and we sat down and said, looking at this, like looking at all this in totality and what's happening, what's happening with with our our the staff health, um, can do we have a high level of confidence that there's a significant
issue, and can we send them back in in in good in good faith? And me and my leadership team said no. Our level of confidence is high. It would be unethical, immoral, and also take on liabilities for the organization to send staff back in there. As soon as that conversation was had, I reached out to
the bureau and I communicated this. Okay, fine. I was told that commission was read in on this or the council was read in on it and that there while the the timeline for July 31st closure was quick, no questions. We'll talk about it at the lab meeting. The lab meeting where you sat here and said, "We're
going to work together and we're going to" and I have I didn't get returns from phone calls. I didn't get return from from emails. I said the next day I said let's put out a joint statement to assure everyone that we're working together. No response to that and everything you said here today if we had had this conversation that you're up
here at the deis in that room I wanted I want your the people here to know that you have not been showing [clears throat] up in good faith to work. That's what I want to do. I want to work in good faith. And if you're willing to do that all of you on this deis well let's do that. We owe it to them. We're on their dime. We are public
servants. This is my life trying to get library services to people. And I am so, I will repeat, deeply deeply disappointed in the way you you you you treated us, the the the the what you the disconnect between what you say publicly and what you say privately. The disconnect between saying, "Oh, we all
want to work together and come up with a plan and not returning phone calls, not engaging. I mean, it is it is shocking to me. And I'm not naive, but it's certainly disappointing. It is so disappointing. I am here. Our our commission chair is here. We are ready to work handin glove to come up with
solutions. Do we need a temporary solution between now and when we have built some grand building 3, five, seven years? I don't know when it'll be. Yeah, we need a temporary solution, but a temporary solution that is not making people sick. Not making people sick day after day. That's all we're asking for.
And we will pay the bill. We will find a place and we will pay the bill. And in the meantime, we will continue to do programming with through through partner locations, which we've been doing all year. You will continue to do story times and book clubs and outreach and and your and residents of Somerville
will continue to check out materials at other locations. You over the last 180 days, more people are checking out materials in Bridgewater by by two to one than they're checking out here. So already you because you're part of a large county multibranch system, residents
have options to go to other locations for robust collections and programming and services and spaces to study. That's the benefit of being in the system. Now, if you all decide that you want to pull out of the system because it might take us a couple months to find a temporary location, that's your decision and you
can hold your people behind me can decide whether you want to hold these people accountable or not. >> You're just about out of time. >> Okay. But I what I'm asking for is honesty. What I'm asking for is consistency and congruency between what you say to them publicly and how you behave when you leave the deis. And
let's work on their behalf. Let's work together on their behalf. It is our responsibility to do that. >> You're about done. >> I am done. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your time. >> Thank you for your comments, sir. >> I apologize earlier for my for my uh passionate uh comment. >> Thank you.
>> Yeah. >> Any other public comment? >> I won't grab the microphone. Thank you. You're welcome. Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I am Jonathan Lee from the Burrow of Rocky
Hill, 10 Toe Lane, Rocky Hill. I am also a councilman in the Burrow of Rocky Hill and chair of the library committee. Um, it seems very suspicious that you have a mold problem in your library.
We've gone through a tremendously difficult problem regarding our library and it has nothing to do with mold. It [clears throat] has to do with the fact that um the Somerset County Library System decided to no longer support our
library. Um we were the first branch of the Somerset County Library System. Um we had we had a unique situation because um we were the um beneficiaries of an
endowment provided by a um a lawyer from Philadelphia to honor his wife. His name was Harold Jacobs and his wife's name was Mary. They are both um buried in Rocky Hill Cemetery
because it was a public private uh agreement. Um Somerset County Library became uncomfortable with it over the years. Um eventually, uh Montgomery created a new um town hall and they
established a branch of the Somerset County Library System in their town. Previously, the citizens of Montgomery had shared our library for u approximately 50 years. There was a short-term agreement where
we continued to run our library uh with their support. Um and then uh there was um a period when we were supposed to determine what the future of the library is. Um they uh
were not too conducive to doing that. Um they said that they were running out of money and they told us they were going to close down. Um, so instead of closing down, I believe it was um in uh May of 2024,
they closed down the previous August because they said they had a mold issue. Now tests were run and I will tell you now that the mold inside the building was
lower than that which was outside in the ambient air which is the control. Um so this seems somewhat like a modus operendi to me. Um I would tend to um
fight for your library. We spent three years. Uh eventually the foundation that ran the endowment that was given for our library decided they no longer wanted to run a library.
And um we went into a lawsuit with them. It took three years and hundreds of thousands of dollars, but we won that lawsuit. There is now a new board of trustees being constituted and the town
is now getting control of the building so that we don't have an issue again. Um we will probably I don't know what the future brings as far as what kind of a library it will be whether we join the county library system. They apparently
are not interested in joining us or us joining them even though we were the first branch. Um but um we will have a library. We have a significant endowment. Um I could get
into details about some of their underhanded dealings during that um lawsuit where they became an amicus cure and basically presented facts that didn't hold water as far as I'm
concerned trying to prove that we could not financially run a library. We proved otherwise. We won the lawsuit. Um suspiciously they were um third in line to receive the assets if
the endowment failed, if the bureau couldn't run the library. So my question is who are we dealing with here? Um so I figured I would come tonight. I just read an article about 30 seconds
>> today about this and I thought it would be >> good for you folks to hear some of the background that we've been dealing with. >> We appreciate your comments. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any other public comments, sir? >> Is this just the library? >> No, anything.
>> Okay, good. >> My name is Daniel Pantonio. I live in 101 Eastern A Somerville. Um, first thing about the library, I'm curious. Is there a county library? Somerset County Library. >> Yeah, it's not a Q&A, but yes, there is. It's a whole system. There's a number of different libraries. >> I didn't know that. Just
>> it's a comment period. >> Okay. So, the reason I'm here today is we were in the process of buying a home on 69 Fairmont A, which is right down the street from you. When we went through this process, what we found out through the inspections is that this
particular house had a chimney that had about $30,000 worth of damage. So my whole thinking was coming from where I came from, Vorhees, New Jersey in South Jersey. Down there when you go through inspections, the township is required to do a CO and they do not let you in that
house if you're missing sidewalk, if you're missing, if you have a crack in your fireplace, any kind of damage you have in that fireplace, they will not let you move in because it's a hazard. What I found out when I called the township here, because it was an argument with this guy, that the township doesn't care about a CO, that
you don't need a CO to move into an older house, and all they care about is carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Now, with that said, this town, if you take out the new town homes and the condos, homes are about roughly about 80
years old in this town. You did a great job at refurbishing this town. Like, I'm not from here. I love this downtown, right? And I lived down the street and I watched the house and I watched the firemen and I watched the the police run
into a house where a girl died and that hit home. I'm urging you to change your laws. You need to have a CO. You need to inspect fireplaces. The guy that owns that house, what did he do to fix it? He
tried to sue me for my 80 grand down deposit. What he did to fix it is he brought in a guy to paint the chimney and he's back selling it again. And god forbid if somebody buys that house, I do plan on giving my level two inspection to whoever buys that house because
there's multiple hazards, there's multiple conditions, there's cracks in it, you burn a fire in there, there's no vents, carbon monoxide will leak throughout the house, and god forbid if there's kids in that house, those kids will die or they will get ill. So, my
urgent to you, change the laws in the town. I don't care if you have to, whoever buys a house, they have to pay $150 fee. You're already paying $650 for a home inspection. Pay a fee. Pay it to the township to come in there. You need a CO to get into this house. You need a
CO. You need to have full inspection, fireplace, and you can't have sidewalks missing like this guy was going to sell me. Not until I backed out did he finally go in there and replace the sidewalks. I just am a firm believer that, you know, safety is first and this
town I I've only been here five or six years. My future in-laws have lived here their well, they lived here their whole lives until they moved to Branchburg branchburg. I love this town and that's why we're looking to move back into this town. So, I just urge you to really take a look at the laws.
>> Thank you. If if you stay for the meeting, I just ask you to get your name and telephone number to Mr. Slooka. Sure. And we'll make a connection. >> Sure. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other public comment? >> Thank you, mayor, and thank you, council, and thank you, Summerville.
Somerset County Library System. You got a problem here. I was a property manager for a while, and I know once you have mold in any building, it always seems to stay. And I understand that problem on both sides of it. And I understand the mitigation you can do, but people say,
"Oh, it has mold. Maybe I'm sick." So, it's a hard problem. You're gonna have to solve that. I'm not saying you can't. I'm just saying it's a hard problem. And it's a hard problem for you because you have that behind you. You weren't here when that was going on, but unfortunately, you have it now. But I'm
here for a different reason. Jim Somerville was our town historian for many, many years. We have a Jim Somerville room. It's full of history. Full of history of this town, this area. I haven't heard it mentioned at all. I'm really concerned about that. And you
know why? I'm a historian type. You know, my wife and I ran four symposiums about the Brev War. We're really concerned about that. And I hope in your thinking of what you're going to do, where you're going to live, we don't lose that room and we don't lose that
material because it gets abandoned for a while. And that's what I wanted to say. Thank you. >> Agreed. Thank you. Any other public comment, >> sir? Uh Justin Kaiser, North Clerk Avenue. Uh
I'm here tonight on behalf of uh SBI. I'm currently a board member. I just want to take a moment to thank uh you mayor Gallagher, the council uh for passing uh the new ball field going in the Carol Pedro ballpark. Um I grew up playing on ball fields. I feel it shaped
me as a man. Um building lifelong friendships, teamwork, uh discipline. Um it's just a wonderful thing. You guys are making an investment in not only a ball field but in the kids, uh the parents, the town. So, I just want to
say thank you very much. Truly appreciate it. I know it wasn't a small undertaking. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for coming out and saying that. Thank you. >> Any other public comment? >> Good evening. Robera Carpin at 66 Fairview Avenue and I'm also the chairman of the Somerset County Library
Commission. I would just like to say, mayor, I respect what you're saying. I think an an issue that we're encountering is we are not seeking to close the library. We wish to provide 21st century library service to our
patrons and it in a healthy safe environment. Right now the mold is an issue and we do appreciate what you're doing to remediate it. But I stopped down in the library on Friday.
And it's not just mold. As Peter indicated, the sewers are a problem. The emergency exit door in the children's room, there's a big sign on downstairs in the basement. There's a sign on it that says alarm door locked. The door's
a jar. Can't close it. It's a jar. That's a safety issue. There have been in you've had reports over the years through the hack that there are other issues with regard to water. The windows are moldy.
If you look at the windows, they're moldy. You have chunks um of of insulation where pipes are chunks ripped out of that insulation. There are there are issues there that make it untenable for us to continue to
provide service upstairs. We've had concerns from parents. They don't like that we have glass walls in the children's room. That's a concern for them. They're concerned about the emergency exit. I took a look at that.
It's totally rusted. And yes, mayor, they did repair the bottom step by putting 2 by4s on it. That's not a safety situation. So, we do want to work with you, but that wasn't the question that was asked
of Peter and I when we were in the executive session. We cannot address a hypothetical. If something occurs which we don't know what it might be, will we do this? If the question is, can we work
together? Yes, absolutely. I started my political career working to save the Somerville Public Library and I' I've spent most a good part of my time doing that. And mayor, we worked together to join the county association
or the county commission. Why would we want to change that? But we do need to work together. And I'm hoping perhaps the governing body and the commission we can all take a deep breath and say let's start again
maybe have another discussion but one where the question is how can we work together not will you do this oh if your answer isn't yes please leave the room thank you >> any other public comment Yeah.
>> Hi, my name is Kate Ambrose. I live at 204 East Cliff Street. And I just wanted to say the library has been and will always be extremely important to my family and I. We use the library a lot. Um we my daughter loves
to go pick out books. We my husband just gave a a book reading there a couple weeks ago and it was great turnout and um so that's where I'm coming from. I the librarians and other staff members
at the library are also many of them are also our community members and we care about each other deeply in this town and I really care that they are getting sick. As someone who suffers from migraines, I really have heard what
Peter had was saying before about their symptoms and the mold testing was a good start. I'm really happy to hear that. Did you say it was an industrial hygienist? >> Yes. >> Is doing the testing. That's exactly who needs to be doing the testing. I'm not
an expert, but I have talked to one about this very issue. And um there are many apparently many other things in the air that could be making people sick, not just mold. There's other particles,
fibers that could be in the air that make somebody sick. um people who are susceptible, people who have asthma, people who have allergies, people who suffer from migraines, um people who are on chemo, all all different people that are
susceptible could be affected by these other things that aren't necessarily toxic mold. So, I'm really glad and the public will um be anxious to hear those results. Um,
it's not okay that this relationship has soured and I'm sure it's not okay with any of the people in this room. This relationship needs to mend for the good of the community.
We need to get back to communication and problem solving. I think that it's true. um that that space although the staff members have done a tremendous job working with what
they were given um that space was not working as just somebody visiting the library and I'm sure many parents would agree um it's not the same since they needed to move out of of the children's section downstairs.
So, I'm asking everybody just to take a minute and get themselves together and back get back to what's important, which is problem solving for this community. Um, and get back to a working relationship.
We expect it and we demand it. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. >> Any other public comment? My name is Edward Odow. Uh, I work at a facility on Main Street called Freedom Trail, which is um collaborative
services of uh New Jersey, a company that's been in existence since the 80s. We serve uh some of Somerville's most vulnerable. And Lorraine, my partner, and I have been at it for the last four months. We wanted to just generate some awareness about what we're doing and who we are
because we feel like nobody really knows us. Um that was all >> great. I what I would suggest is get your contact information to Mr. >> Sluca >> and uh um website any literature you might have and uh you know I I'd be
interested in finding out more about you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Any other public comment? >> [clears throat] >> Good evening. Uh, Brian Healey, 70 Veterans Memorial Drive right here in Somerville. That's H E A L E Y. And
Brian, just like the mayor, [laughter] >> spelled the right way. >> That's right. Now, I come to you for something very, very simple. I live on the one of the apartment buildings on Veterans Memorial and I want to know I' I've been lived there about eight years now and Veterans Memorial Drive East and West has been basically a test on your
suspension since I've lived there and I know it's not a state or a county road. So, I know when is public works or the bureau going to reserve that road? I know PSEG has ripped it up 50,000 times doing utility work here and there, but it's just it's been a mess since I've
lived there and it's I know other roads have been done and but I was wondering if it was possible because it's a very busy road. It's a very major road, people traveling on it all the time. I was curious as to when it will be uh done or when public works we'll put that on their agenda.
>> Thank you. Thank you for your comments. >> That's all. I >> I will in a in a moment. Any other public comment? Good evening. As many of you know, my name is Mallalerie Craig Karum. I'm a mom and I live at 41 Raw Street. I am
here about our library, but also about something more fundamental. namely, our town deserves to be a partner in decisions made about Somerville's library rather than an afterthought, informed by the county only after
decisions have already been made. So, this is about process. This is not about anything more. Tonight, I'm asking our council to confirm whether the required processes were followed and whether it will be the case going forward.
Somerville's library has served local residents not as a place for reading, but also as an information hub, right, with computer access and trained librarians, a study center for students, a designated cooling center where our
elderly residents cool off in sweltering weather like today, and a center where our families and community groups can gather. Yet, our library branch was permanently closed, at least for this time, by the
county library system last Friday with very little notice given to the public. Looking into this decision, I'm presented with more questions than answers, namely about the process and questions that include the following.
First, section two of Somerville's contract with the county library system requires burough approval before any closure of our branch. I checked with our burough clerk who confirmed that formal approval was never sought nor
given. So, I'm asking the council and our mayor tonight just factually to be aware. Did the burough council authorize the county to close our library? And if so, can you tell us when you authorized it and what led to your decision?
Separately, public records suggest that Somerset County's Library Commission, which is the board that governs the county library system, never formally authorized Somerville's library closure. The library commission doesn't meet in July or August, so I can't go ask them
directly, but I'm wondering if the council knows whether the library commission had approved our libraries closure before their summer break. Note, however, that Even if the commission had separately approved of the closure, this should not circumvent
the county's obligations to Somerville under section two of our agreement with the county. Third, one reason given for the closure, again, just one, was the suspected presence of mold. To his credit, when that issue was first presented and
reported to him, Mayor Gallagher quickly ordered testing to to determine whether mold was a health threat to the libraries, employees, and others. As we've discussed, preliminary samples from the occupied floors of the building found that mold levels there were not elevated. And the county library
director, who we heard from tonight, indicated that the decision to close the Somerville library was not actually caused by the test results and would not sway the decision to close the result the library. It is true that the age of the facility and the reductions in the usable space
within it were less than ideal. But the question arises why the sudden closure of the entire facility including its usable spaces before an improved replacement plan had been developed and shared in partnership in partnership
with our bureau. Put plainly, our library's closure appears to have been a decision in which Somerville's legal right to input was bypassed. And I understand that that input is a right that we have as part of the process.
When the closure was recently announced, we drafted a petition confirming community support for making Somerville's library a priority. This modest effort to build awareness has already resulted in hundreds of local signatures, which I've provided to all of you tonight, and I can also
provide digital copies. We warmly recognize the very important work that you do as our elected leaders to ensure that we have a library that serves our community's needs. And the response to our petition confirms that
the library should indeed be one of your priorities for Somerville. I have personally written to the county library director expressing the concern that our library branch was closed without a viable plan being shared to replace it. And perhaps I'm I'm really
looking forward to answers tonight. Um, you know, without that process being followed. Those of us who love Somerville and believe that our truly great town deserves a vibrant library now count on
you as our leaders to ensure that local library services be restored fully and quickly in some central Somerville location as promised by the county library system. And fundamentally, I ask that you ensure
and continue to ensure that Somerville's rights under our agreement will be honored. Thank you so much. >> Thank any other public comment hearing. None. I'll ask for a motion to close. >> So moved.
>> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Council members and Andrew Kiy. >> Yes. >> Leniny. >> Yes. >> Randy Pitts. >> Yes. >> Gina Stravik. >> Yes. >> Roger Firm. >> Yes. >> All right. Public session is now closed. Um the the easy one first, Veterans Memorial Drive, the paving. Where is he?
There he um I believe we're coming to a close very soon on a grant that we had received which would pave veterans. >> The the uh bids on that project are due August 12th. >> Okay. >> Um once the bids are received, it's not as simple as as our normal process
because it's it's uh federally funded. they uh two things have to happen is it goes to the state DOT who then communicates with the federal government to ensure that the bids were satisfactory and meet their their requirements. In addition to that is uh
the federal government does require a full-time construction inspector on the job. That RFP is is waiting for approval to be issued. So, um, listen, I I know we also use that that road for, you know, one of the state's largest turkey
trots, right? So, that that's the goal to try to get it, but right now, unfortunately, because of the level um that has to go through, but the bids are coming back on August 12th, which is couple >> So, so we can say probably late fall, early spring. Is that a reasonable time frame?
>> Yeah, I I've said that before. Um [laughter] unfortunately the year is for us. Oh yeah. Uh that's our certainly our goal is to push that envelope. >> Yeah. Okay. Um as far as all the questions uh relating to the library and
there's some good questions and look I I appreciate everybody's um passion on this and and we share that. I I I said at the outset of this, everybody's goal is exactly the same. And it's unfortunate that we've been pushed to our corners for a whole lot of reasons.
Um and and I don't like being pushed to corners. Um I sat on our library commission here or committee. Um I've sat on the county li well I was the liaison as a freeholder. I was the liazison to the county library
system. I know how it works. I've been around it a long time. 25 years. I know the process. Um, we have rights under our agreement. Um, I'll agree with Roberta. We do need
to talk. We do need to to come to an agreement. And part of that is first ensuring that that building, our building is clean and safe. That's my primary concern right now. Once that's done, and I said this at our our meeting
last Thursday, I said when we can show that that building is clean and ready to go and ready to occupy, that's when we can have that discussion. And I'm pointing at Kevin. I'm pointing at Peter because Peter was sitting there last week. U but that's when we can have that
discussion. Um we have to do our diligence to ensure that that's safe. At the same time, we also have to as a municipality preserve our rights under our agreement, and that's what our attorney will do. Um,
it's going to be a little bit of a process. Um, I would agree if if they can outsource some at this point while we go through that, great. And I had intimated to that last week that we would help in that process. We can, but
when that building is clean, well, even when it's when we have the results back and again the mold was brought up again that there's mold. There's not there is no mold. There's no more mold inside than there is outside. That's what the
testing is showing. And and we keep coming back to this mold issue. And the mold issue was the impetus for this entire discussion. And we now have proof that that's not the case. So, so I think we have to kind of work through some of those issues as to what
the reasons are. Um, and I would agree with you as well, Mallerie. I think you you you took this on and I give you kudos for that. It's it's you took this on and and you've brought it to um, you know, the forefront of of a discussion
and and I think that's good. Um, I was around for Rocky Hill. I was a freeholder when Rocky Hill was going through and I actually helped the discussions in keeping Rocky Hill open at that time. I sat with their mayor.
So, I'm very familiar with all this that's going on. Um, but my goal is to keep our library in town and this building will be certified
and it'll be ready to be reoccupied in the short term. Then we can work on the long term because we all want the same thing out of that long term. We all do. It makes sense. So,
um, all right. Resolutions. Uh, we have consent resolutions. Any to be pulled off for further discussion? All right. Hearing none. 234 is authorizing the sale of surplus equipment to the Flagtown Fire Department, the amount of $750.
235 is approving chapter 159 from the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse for 26 Municipal Alliance Grant Program. 236 amending approving the release of the performance bond for Shantana LLC as noted. 237 is authorizing the donation of surplus
municipal equipment to the Hillsboro Township Department of Public Works. 238 is amending resolution as noted to authorize and direct the planning board of the Burrow of Somerville to include block 67 lot one which is two Park Avenue as shown on the official tax map of the burrow in its examination of
whether certain property should be determined to be an area in need of redevelopment specifically a non-condemnation redevelopment area pursuant to the local redevelopment housing law as noted and considered for inclusion in the east central business district redevelopment area 239 is
approving the hiring of Kyle Damonte as full-time laborer effective August 24th at a rate of 2250 per hour. 240 is approving a six-month door-to-door solicitor license for power home remodeling for those noted. 241 is authorizing the award of a contract to Millennium Communication Group for
access control cameras, panic buttons, message boards, and software licenses for the emergency services facility police department through the interlocal purchasing system. Authorizing the 242 is authorizing the award of a contract and execution of a master service agreement with language line services
for ondemand telephone and video interpretation services. 243 is approving chapter 159 from the national opioid settlement trust. 244 is issuing a refund of uncollectible taxes address known as 444 Katherine Street. 245 is
approving chapter 159 for state of New Jersey 26 recycling tonnage grant. Do we have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. Roll call. >> Council members, Andrew Kiy. >> Yes. >> Glen, yes. >> Randy Pitts, yes. >> Gina Stravik, yes. >> Roger Ferm, >> yes. >> All right. Bills and vouchers. Roger. >> I make a motion to pay bills and
vouchers in the amount of 1,512,98.80. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call. >> Council members Andrew Kiy. >> Yes. >> Glen, yes. >> Randy Pittz, >> yes. >> Gina Stravik, yes. >> Roger Verm, >> yes. >> All right, Mr. Den, I will ask for a motion for adjournment. >> I would like to make a motion to
adjurnn. Second discussion. All in favor? >> I opposed. >> This meeting is adjourned.