ready. Good evening. Welcome to the 9th meeting of the year. Today is June 23rd, 2025. Alyssa, can you please read the publication? In compliance with chapter 231 of public law 1975, notice of this meeting to be held at the criminal
justice building, 61 Main Street, South River, has been published in the home news Tribune on January 5th, 2025. posted on the municipal building bulletin board, the burough website, the front door of the criminal justice building at 161 Major Street, South. Mayor Gindy here. Councilman Balis here.
Councilman Desantis here. Councilman's not here. Councilman here. Councilman Gensky here. Council President Sula here. Please stand 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. Please stay standing for a moment of silence. You may be seated. We have no proclamations. uh transition session. We have five for a second
reading. Um Art, can you please uh The first two are dealing with the state regulation for lead paint inspection for multif family housing. Okay, John. The next two are ordinances. Um they are for purchasing trucks for
DPW, assault shed, various equipment for police and fire, uh improvements to volunteers park, and then roads apprentice Tyson Cleveland Avenue. and then purchasing computer equipment and then water improvements. Andrew. Uh yes,
Mr. Mayor. 202521 is approving a financial agreement with 55 Main Street. Okay. Then uh for first reading, Andrew, would you like to Sure. Uh 202522. It's an amendment to your board's commissions and authorities. Uh it's basically creating what we're calling a
redevelopment committee. It is uh a list of appointed officials that are going to review redevelopment projects and give recommendations to the governing body uh on their thoughts to move forward if they'd like things to get changed those
type of issues. Thank you. Melissa, can you please read 2025-17 for the second reading? Ordinance 202417, an ordinance of the burrow of South River, county of Middle Sex, state of New Jersey, amending the burough code of the burrow of South River so as to amend chapter 258 entitled property
maintenance. Make a motion to wave the full reading. Second motion by council president, second by council. All in favor? Like to open it up to the public. Five minutes. State your name. First call. Second call. Motion to close
public. Second. Motion by council president. Second by council member. All in favor? Council discussion. Do I have a motion? Motion by council woman. Second. Second by council member. Counciloman Ballas. Yes. Councilman
Santis. Yes. Councilman Jan Phobas. Yes. Council member Chensky. Yes. Council President Sula. Yes. 2025-8. Ordinance 202518. An ordinance of the burrow of South River County, Middle Sex, state, New Jersey, amending and supplementing chapter 155 of the burough
code entitled feeds. Make a motion wave to full reading. Motion by council president, second by council. All in favor open this to the public. First call. Second call. Motion to close public.
Motion by council council president. Second. Second by council member. All in favor? I. Council discussion. Do I have a motion? Motion did not. Second. Motion by councilman Kosinsky. Second by council president. Council
Val. Yes. Councilman Santis. Yes. Councilman Janis. Yes. Councilinsky. Yes. Council president. Yes. Listen. 2025-9. Ordinance 202519, bond ordinance providing for various capital improvements and the acquisition of
various capital equipment appropriating $1,575,000 bond therefore and authorizing the issuance of 1,14,682 bonds and notes to finance a portion of the cost thereof authorized in and by the burrow of South and the county
middle sex New Jersey. Motion to wait full reading. Motion by council president. First call. Second call. Motion to close public. Motion by council president. Second. Second by council Christian. Who
in favor? I like to open this council. Discussion. Motion to adopt. Motion by council woman. Second by council. Council Malis Councilman Dantis. Yes. Councilman Janopus. Yes.
Council Ginsky. Yes. Council President Sila. Yes. What's the 2025-205-20 bond ordinance providing for improvements to the water treatment storage and distribution system appropriating $950,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of $900,000
bonds and notes to finance a portion of the cost thereof. Authorized in by the burough of suburb in the county of Middle Sex, New Jersey. Motion to move the full reading. Second motion by council president second by council. All
in favor? I open this to the public. Good evening everyone. This is Joe Donado 3 South. Uh this bond of course the water manes is also going to go towards the improve the replacement of the water manes in town. It's everything
has water mains. It also has the building that's down by the water treatment plant. I think the roof collapsed right on some money going towards that. And then also valves and hydrants and everything else. So it's almost a multi-purpose water department. Anyone
else from the public? First call. Second call. Motion to close public. Motion by council president. Second by councilinski. All in favor. Discussion. Do I have a motion? Motion by council
president. Second. Second by council. Council balance. Councilman Santis. Yes. Councilman Janopus. Yes. Council member Kachensky. Yes. Council President Sila. Yes. Or 2025-21. Ordinance 202521. An ordinance of the Burough South River County Middle Sex
State, New Jersey adopting the financial agreement under NJSA4A 20-1 ETSC and authorizing tax exemption and payment in low taxes with 55 Main Street 55 Main Street Urban Renewal LLC.
Motion to wave. Full reading. Second. Motion by council president. Second by councilman Kashinski. All in favor? I like to open this to the public. First call. Second call. Motion public. Motion by council president. Second. Second by
council woman. All in favor. Do I have council discussion? Do I have a motion? Motion. Motion by councilinsky. Second by council. Councilman. Yes. Councilman Santis. Yes. Councilman
Jopalis. Yes. Yes. Council president. Yes. The first reading first meeting ordinances uh 2025-2022. Ordinance 202522 an ordinance of the burrow of South River County Middle Sex
today New Jersey amending the burough code the burrow of South River so as to amend chapter 22 entitled boards commissions and authorities. May I move that the council pass ordinance 2025-22 on its first reading by title only the clerk be authorized to publish the same
as required by law with the second reading and public hearing to be held at 7:00 p.m. on July the 21st 2025 by video conference via Zoom or in the council chambers of criminal justice building 61 Main Street South New Jersey. Second
motion by council president, second by counciloman. Councilman Santis, yes. Councilman Joplas, yes. Council member Chensky, yes. Council President Sola, yes. We're going to go into reports. Uh Cine
Arts. Thank you, mayor. Uh NJOT fiscal year 2023 local a program and NJOT NJ DOT fiscal year 2024 local a program. The borrow received a grant of $681,45
for Leonard Avenue from New York Turnpike to Grand Avenue and Barrel Street from Cleveland Avenue to Wilcox Avenue was awarded the borrow grant in the amount of 66,000 $980 for the improvements of Barl Street from Virginia Street to Bright Street, Del Street from Ferris Street to John
Street and John Street from Kfax Street to George Street. The contract was completed to sign repairs. Leonard Avenue has the mil and paved. The contractor mil and paved the remaining roads last week. NJ dot fiscal year 2023
local transportation project grant. The burough received a $575,000 grant for the improvements to Alhorn Street from Ferris Street to Sepi Avenue, Franklin Street from Wilson Avenue to Pilaski Avenue and Ultrasy Avenue from Cam Avenue to Frankfurt Avenue. CM is resubmitting the plans to
get documents to the NJ DOT for review. NJ DOT fiscal year 2025 local aid program. The borrower received a $56,913 grant for the following roads. Francis Avenue from Will Avenue to Sheldon Avenue. Ty Avenue from the old bridge
turnpike to David Street. Leven avenue from Virginia Street to the terminus. We submitted a proposal for four professional services associated with same 2023 electrical substation maintenance project and are working on proposal for this year's work. NJD
stormwater assistance grant application our survey department is currently working on this year's portion of the project and the NJ DOT municipal aid applications. We are working on the grand for street and
thank you. Thank you. A couple resolutions. We have two chapter 159 for grants received the clean community grant after the budget was adopted for $37,250. And we also have the chapter 159 for the greenacre $750,000 grant for volunteers
park. We finally got approval from them. So, we're doing a resolution to put that in the budget this year. Also have a resolution to purchase a bucket truck under a co-op. This was provided for the 2025 electric budget. Resolution to lease the copy machine office on aging. Their lease expired and so we're
renewing the lease. And last thing is resolution to provide demand relief that we do every year for the nonprofits in the school. So, that's on for approval, too. Begins July 1st and September 30th. Thank you. uh page DBW. Yes. Uh this Saturday the 28th is our
paper shred event down in the DBW yard to 12. Also uh Friday July 4th will be closed for the holiday no pickup. anything. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Currently,
you will see two resolutions on the docket for tonight. Number 190 for Thomas Lucas as a firefighter for South Fire Department. He will be assigned to Summit Engine Company and 191, appointment of James Marin to firefighter South Fire Department and he will also be appointed to Reliable Engine Company. We are on track this
year moving forward. All units are being serviced. No issues. All units are being serviced as well. this Saturday, but between 9:30 a.m. and probably 2:30m, we did have a previous approval on a resolution to have a boot drive fundraiser for the fire department. So,
you will see us on the corner of East Prospect and also overturn by collecting for the fire. I have nothing tonight. Nothing. Yes, mayor. On the consent resolutions,
you'll see 206 that's authorizing the execution of agreement county for South Waterfront. That's Gracowski Park, the portion of Graowski Park that belongs to the county. And this is giving renewing our lease with them for the next 20 I
think it is 20 or 30. And the last one is uh resolution 212 authorized water contract replacement HBC system that's for the museum work will start on Thursday they their age
completed out we had all the reports we got as fast as we could Thursday the vendor who got awarded the contract we'll start working I'd like to open this uh actually sorry let me go to council
Thank you, mayor. Um, on aging is going to have their real ID coming up this Wednesday. Uh, these, um, the program is actually closed and filled up rather quickly. Uh, I believe they're going to try to, uh, implement
another session for the real ID locally here in town. Um, aside from that, I have nothing else. Um, I have really nothing from my committees, but I I went over I went to the South Everford Library website today
and there's just so many summer programs there that the list is very long. I advise people go to that website. They're doing a lot of family oriented. They want to do family portrait night. Bring your family, paint your own pictures, do week by week, and then
they're going to have um an an exhibit for that. But there's a really really a lot of things to do this summer at the uh at the library and their little patio is open also now. So if you want to go out there and read a book or just get some peace time, you can just they'll let you out the back door and you can
sit there for a little while and watch natur. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh congratulations to the class of 2025 and all the students moving up. Hope they have a great summer. I was at the board of education um the sorry the next board of
education meeting is Monday July 24th at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium for the recreation advisory board. Um we have a couple things that are open right now. One of them is hoops with Hank which is with Councilman Hank Tazia and he's going to be doing a free
instructional clinic at Leonardine Park on three Saturdays in July. So that is now open on the website to sign up for. Again, it's at Shinefind Park or Leonard Dean as most of us would call it and it's the three Saturdays in July starting the 12th, the 19th, and the
26th. And Hank is doing this free of charge and you can register on the Burough website. Also visit our website to register for Pop Warner football and cheer. The end of summer fireworks will be August 22nd at the high school football
field and the rain date is the 23rd, Friday night for the first date and then a Saturday night for the rain. And that's all I have. Thank you. Yes, Mayor. So this uh Fourth of July is a Friday.
There'll be no bulk pickup. I just want to remind everyone about that. The uh shred event is this this uh Saturday between 9 and 12. That's June 28th at 9 either way. You could bring all your documents that you need shredded. We'll
be down there doing that. And uh just letting everyone know that we're still doing pothole repairs. We had a lot of rain, so we got backed up with uh you know, days that we just couldn't go out there and do it. So the DPW is still out there repairing potholes. Just letting people know that
that's something that's still going on. And that's all I got here. And uh happy 4th of July, I guess, to everyone. It's our nation's uh birthday coming up. Um my group's going to meet uh in June,
so we won't have a meeting until July. So I really have nothing. Hold off. I'd like to open this to the public. You have five minutes. State your name and your address. 443. Uh last minute I came and asked
about uh parking uh permit plans that uh were recommended by the planner and whether or not uh the council is complying with those or you have your own plans. So I was wondering seemed to indicate that the attorney was going to
look into that and I haven't heard anything myself. So I'm here asking if there's an update. Not yet. We're still working. So, uh, you're still working on finding out whether or not you're complying with our planners plan. Is that we're working on? So, you don't
know whether you're complying with our planners recommendations or not? I believe that we are, but we're still working on it. And any way to know like when the the work will be done and we'll find out whether or not we
council meeting, you know, whether the merit council care about our professionals and what they were having. The next council meeting for sure. For sure. July 21st. So this new redevelopment advisory committee, are those meetings going to be opened up
to the public? Probably not. Probably not. So, it's going to be secret meetings five minutes. Can the public attend the meeting? No. Will the minutes be uh available for the meeting? We would have minutes on what we spoke about to the council. Yes. So, I could request the minutes absolutely
of all the meetings like private meetings with the developers and stuff. Absolutely. But the public won't be any public. This is a committee. You're going to appoint everybody. That's correct. going to be you, the councilman. It's going to be somebody from the uh
land use land use. That's correct. What exactly is the difference between what that meet that committee is going to do and the economic development commission? So the economic development commission only deals with the businesses of the town. That's all they
do. They don't help build the building. They don't help construct a uh a establishment. That's what the economic development commission does. So So the economic development commission doesn't make recommendations to the council for
structure. No about what should be done as far as businesses and stuff. No, that's not in the ordinance that make they they do recommendations for business, not for construction, not for redevelopment. That's totally two different entities. So the ordinance doesn't say that the
economic development commission should make recommendations on how the town should proceed with economic development which of course would be buildings and stuff buildings. It's nothing about totally two different things. But I want you to know is that your interpretation?
Here's here's my interpretation and I I actually thank you for what you recommended last year. What do I recommend? You recommended and I quote, you sat up there and said it doesn't matter because the redevelopment committee happens to be the mayor council. So what happened I know it's probably a long time ago you don't
remember this but what happened was what I did was I just making it up. I'm definitely not making it up but anyway what I did was I decided to pull a committee just for redevelopment so they could overlook what a developer likes to do. Once they have accomplished what they like to do in their recommendations
then they bring it to the mayor and council. So like you are going to recommend to yourself what you should do if that's the way you think. Yes. Well, you're going to be in the committee to recommend to the council. I'm being entertained right now. So I'm going to enterain every member. All right. And one last thing, the majority of
businesses in town are open past 5:00 p.m. You look at the businesses, they don't I'm open till 6. The drug store is open till 7. a lot of the the majority of businesses in town are open past 5:00 pm and there are a lot of hidden gems in
this town for the Martins uh Causeway Ice Cream. A lot of hidden gems. Maybe some people don't know about them, but there are a lot of hidden gems. And if you need to know what some more of them, you can ask me. I'll tell you what the hidden gems are and how
long people are open. Thanks. Thank you. I appreciate it. Anyone else? Yes. All the way about the closing of Collins Avenue.
This discussion from last week here we didn't get to the police. Uh, I wanted to take them in the worst case scenario close. Worst case scenario, they have to travel 1.2 miles. Anybody want maps of it?
Made some maps. Sorry. Come from uh then said something about fire department. It's 96% that station one the fires most of the fires 4%. But then if you look at
the town, I'm only talking about the 150 houses in Tage Lane, those houses there. So if you look at the uh map and the topography and the road map you find that the 4% basically
is all in that dear south district that 15 20% area where you know being an engineer uh you figure people but if
you look at the 4% so basically you're saying 25% of the fires are uh in that area would be like someone say a station first time and it'll be even faster at Collins Avenue. So,
and you came up with 34 seconds that the uh the ambulance basically said you better just ask them what it is. I I for the Lord me I spent a good hour
looking at the map figuring out different ways and all that. The best I could come up with is 50 seconds difference. They might be right but 34 seconds if your life depended on it. If you was
your father, your son, your daughter that lived in this area, you wouldn't hesitate. But you could cut that 34 seconds down. Same thing with the police. Police will be the first ones there. Uh I admit that most of the police, you know, Collins
Avenue someplace between 5 and 10% that the this will benefit. Actually, it's a win-win situation for Collins Avenue and Curry and uh Fourth and Fifth Street there. That'd be a win-win situation if this thing's open
because the police if they're down in DPW yard, they could go there a lot faster than going that extra mile around. It takes a minute, minute and a half, two minutes and the traffic is and that's one of the reasons why I wanted to build it. I think uh everybody has to
agree that safety is paramount. And the other thing he got to me is he basically said that there was a video of someone going the wrong way driving. Yeah. And he asked if this person had a ticket for it. I got the law enforcement.
But I do but I do know that when we did have this video going, we had two people from Montello area go up the wrong way and they both got tickets. Well, I met one of them. I mean
yeah I mean just you know redirectly in uh you know bottom line is just don't push this problem on some other place in town I don't think this drive is all there you
know and then you talk about the children safe I think it was what do you say to the other children if you have equal distribution of school It's all over the neighborhood. But we can say to the people on Constitution, which has more traffic
and Buck Avenue that a lot of people will be traveling on because it's easier to get through. They got children there. I mean, uh, this is like pushing stuff off to somebody else. Uh
besides being a uh service road that desperately needs some cleaning because the one thing is do that's all we do is cut. That's about it. I mean uh next time
we'll probably be look for and then uh I don't know uh those kids are more equal than the other kids where the people there are more equal than our residents 400 450 plus residents that live in that
area and the people serve better and I understand the Paul's problem about cars going way all that out and do a couple other things. But most of this stuff I think is more like in not my backyard syndrome.
The only thing that's really has you said it was a service street word for that. The road wasn't even supposed to be open. So I mean it was not supposed to exist. But then somebody got used to the idea that the road existed does not exist. The planner shows that it was
never supposed to be there. The only reason only reason it was there was because of convenience while they were doing the construction. That's all it was for. Well, and you're wrong on that because it was closed on convenience. It wasn't open until the road doesn't
exist. Period. I want to I want to really go into the conversation, but it's already been ruled that the road's going to stay closed since it's dirty. Paige, if you don't mind, when you get a chance, send some guys up there just to tidy up the place. But the road is not going to be reopened. Sorry, I I really
want to give you that convenience, but I guess it's safety. I mean, that's paramount. Not even not even the word safety because before we even closed down this road, we made it a point to reach out to all public safety and all of them said, "Fine, we're fine with us to close down." So, obviously, they knew
something better than I did. Well, I don't know how they And this is going on for four mayors. So, this is not even my I know. I'm just saying that. I mean, how can you justify Worst case scenario for police if they're on carry on Collins Avenue and they have to get to
Collins Avenue and lots of cell and they have to go around it's 1.2 miles. Sir, I understand what you're really sorry. S I apologize. Unfortunately, that road doesn't even exist. That's all I have to tell you. So, why was it built? That's
right. Why was it built? Oh, when it was when we realized there was a problem, I I ended up putting it back to where it was supposed to be closed. So, you were right. Why was it though? Thank you. Anyone else from the public?
Let me uh Joe Donado gentleman who was here in talking about the committee. Could you explain to me what that committee is all about? So, let me explain it to you. So, the redevelopment committee at the beginning of last year basically consisted of the
whole entire council. There was no outsiders. There was no one from the land use board. It was more of like, okay, maybe we should pull it away from mayor and council, have one person from the council along with myself, one person from the land use board and two
residents that would chime into the concept of redevelopment in our town. It would only be fair that you're opening it up to somebody rather than just us. Their recommendation now would come before us and then we would take what the redevelopment committee suggested.
That's exactly what that is. Now all the towns are doing that. Okay. So you're saying it before it gets to the land before it gets even before it even gets to land. Correct. To me, to me, now I've only been doing
this for about 40 years, so I could be wrong, but to me, a pre-application meeting is where a lot of that stuff will get patched out. It's usually with uh the representatives of the planning board and zoning board doesn't get there
fast. And our pre-application meeting is to discuss the possibility. This is what I'd like to do. discuss what they may or may not be able what the town may or may not um look favorable on but not where a determination is made so that the committee who's doing the review has no
opportunity to have any in so development when a developer comes before us okay the developer will suggest what he wants to do we will sit there and really tell him hey maybe you should just change this or maybe you should move on that the problem now is
you have the people are voting on it one-sided. So we decided to take it away from the council, give it to two people from the council, one person from the land use board and two people from the residents. They then it comes to the mayor and council as a redevelopment,
right? Yes. So the mayor and council is still the redevelopment entity. This is an advisory board that redevelopers, potential redevelopers, not redevelopers that the redevelopment entity, the governing body have already named and and we think of projects going forward,
but potential redevelopers and even even ones that we've named can go for um the redevelopment advisory committee and say, "This is the project that I want to do. How do you how do you feel about it?" They go back and forth. It's like a
pre-application meeting and then they come up with a recommendation. Yes, we think this would be fabulous at this this location or we think this is a great project but there's too many units. something along those lines. And then they present that to the governing
body as the redevelopment entity. And the governing body then has the authority to mean that person as a redeveloper or not and then approve a project or not. But it it's just so that
there is more input and transparency in the redevelopment process of the projects that are could potentially go up throughout the town. Okay. I I understand the uh concept of what done.
What what I'm asking I guess it's not so certain determination is going to be made before it's even uh put into the application is made to the town. Correct. If I may I don't think a determination they they don't have the authority the
redevelopment advisory committee doesn't have the authority to make any determinations. The only authority that they have is to make recommendations and the governing body has retains complete control to make decisions on its own. It's more of a this is what we would
like to see. These are the recommendations that we're going to put forward. Okay. So, so in other words, when it goes when it's the application is officially put forward to the town. Yes. Okay. The uh the land use board. Yes. They'll review everything and if
for whatever reason they determine that what you'd like to do is not feasible, they can make that determination. Well, they if they can't make the determination, then I think there's a
problem. Well, I don't believe that they make that determination in redevelopment anyway. The redevelopment project is governed by the redevelopment entity. So if this was a regular land use and and and we can talk more about this offline if you're really interested but if this
was a regular land use project they would make a application to the land use board for their various variances and and the board would then do that re the redevelopment world doesn't work necessarily in that aspect but what we can do is if you are more interested in
this we can definitely talk offline and I can give you all the details so when the ordinance is up next and you want to come up and and uh mention whatever your names are during public comment. That's I haven't read at this particular point. Got it. That's not what I mean. I might be more
understandable of it, but um I just don't want anything to be sort of predetermined because I was at the first meeting of the land use board and the impression that was given to them and all the young representatives questioned it is that there's going to be
certinations made before that application is submitted and they don't have the right to review or comment on it and that is wrong. I I think they have the right to Okay, that was the impression I got sitting here in the audience
and that's the impression I got and it was questioned by the young gentleman who was sitting where you are and uh he was told that well no you don't you don't have the the ability to uh to make any comments on it and that was disturbing to me. Now it may have been a
miscommunication but that's what came out of that first very first meeting. So if you whatever you're going to do, I suggest strongly that it's put down in writing and explained so that way no one is misunderstanding it. You're going to have a developer come out and say, "Oh,
here we determine that and they're going to fight you to submit." Well, understood. So I can't comment on what legal advice was given to a different board that I am not a part of. I can only comment on what the redevelopment process is. in the redevelopment
process. Really, the authority of the project lies in the redevelopment entity. And again, like I said, we can talk about this so we can make sure that we're both on the same page and then if you have comments for the ordinance. Absolutely. That
has been published because I might have missed the No, it was on for first reading tonight. So, it should be published. Yeah, it was I mean it was on the website packet but not it wasn't formally it hasn't been advertised yet. But it was with the packet. So I've got that. I just haven't gotten that packet.
Yes. Yes. I'd like to read it and then I have any questions. You can call out. Yes, absolutely. You have my email too, right? My email, my number. I think it's on the website. I think we have it. U I'll just hold everything until next
time. But I just wanted to get that. That was confusing. And like I say, I've been doing this for a while and that was not the message that drove across to the land use board when I was there. Can I add something, Mr. Sure. So, this
is really about redevelopment projects and redevelopment zones, not just any general development project, right? So, we're that board isn't dealing with every development project that comes through the town. the redevelopment zones,
right, have certain projects and we are really reaching out to try to be more inclusive with the town so everyone doesn't think that we just sit here and monopolize everything. So, we're getting more input and they do bring it to us. We do decide on it, but again, it's not
every project in town. It's stuff that involves redevelopment zones. I understand. I understand. And that is probably one of the the key things in any community where it's going to have the most impact. And I've seen what was done has been done in the past and the public had to spend a lot of money to
correct it. Only problem is they never knew it was created by their own people. So I want to avoid that. Um and you're talking about millions of dollars worth of corrections which the publisher not have to pay for. So either it's down
solid in writing so there's no misunderstanding or there's going to be problems and it's not going to be while I'm still alive and probably not will be still alive the rest of us you you know I worry about the people
and that's why I wrote it up and it should be addressed before that happens. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else from the public? First call. Second call. Motion public. Second. Motion by council president. Second by
council woman. All in favor. Hi. Uh we have one mayor of Marial appointments cultural arts and Heritage Commission Sanders to Silva going in and alternate. Uh Alyssa for consent resolutions
2025-18 to 212. Whereas resolution 202501 authorizes the burough council to utilize a consent agenda to adopt various resolutions of a routine and uncontroversial nature at one time. Now therefore be it is hereby resolve that
below list of resolutions are hereby adopted by the burough council in whole as if the same were individually acted upon. Consent resolutions 2025 188 to 20252 188 granting renewal to an ABC license for the 2425 license year. 189 granting
renewal to ABC licenses for the 2526 license year. 190 appoint Thomas Lucas as a firefighter for the South Fire Department. 191, Appointment of James Marin as firefighter to the Sapper Fire Department. 192 awarding a contract to
CMA Associates for professional services. 193 Insertion of any special item of revenue in the budget. 194 Appointing Continuity Operations Group for grant consult consulting services. 195 authorizing the lease of photocopying equipment for the Office on
Aging. 196 Appointment of Summer help to the Department of Public Works. 197 approve electric demand charge relief for non nonforprofit organizations and public schools. 198 authorizing conditional appointment of James T. Delgroso as a
police officer. 199 awarding a contract to CME for professional services. 200 authorizing the purchase of a bucket truck. 2011 insertion of any special item of revenue in the budget. 202 property tax refund for a total disabled
veteran for 156 George Street. 203 property tax refund for a total disabled veteran for 10 Southside Avenue. 204 approval of a special events permit to the BFW for an event that was held on June 22nd, 2025. 205 authorizing the
burough clerk to wave the special event permit fee for the BFW. 206 authorizing the execution of an agreement with Middle Sex County for the South Waterfront. 207 appointment of the crossing guard. 208 authorized certain utility refunds. 209, property tax
refund. 210, accept June 2nd, 2025 regular meeting minutes. 211, authorize the bills and claims list. 212, authorizing an award of contract for replacement of HBAC system. Mayor, if we can, we have 211 read separately. Yes,
we can. [Music] Right. Council, is there a motion from 188 to 212 exception of 211? Motion motion by council. Second by council. Council Ballas. Yes.
Councilman Santis. Yes. With the abstension from 188 and 189 in their entirety and I'll wait on 211 since Councilman Jalis. Uh yes. Council Chensky. Yes. Council
President Ca. Yes. What's the 211? 211. Authorize the bills and claims list. Mayor, I asked to have this read separately on uh number 25-03314,
part of the water project. Um the company that is doing the test pits, they are not properly paving them and the streets are very deep in some areas. Uh they did come back and change fill
some of them in, but I feel that they should not be paved until they're completely filled. If a child hits that with a scooter or a bicycle, they can flip over. And some of them are getting deep enough. Uh Park was nice, good enough to call them and have the real
bad one filled in at the corner division and Whitehead. But I read having it read separately to have that pulled until they come back and do it. If I have a motion to have that
second by council council, yes. Councilman Santis, yes. Councilman Janopus, yes. Council, yes. Council president, yes. With the extension of 25-01364,
01729, and 01267. President, was that just for the motion? Okay. So, yes. So, for the rest of the bill list, do I have a motion for the rest of the bill? Motion.
Second. All right. Motion by council. Second by council. Yes. Councilman Santis. Yes. With abstension from the number 25-01662. Council Jopalis. Yes. Council member Kensky. Yes. Council President Sila.
Yes. Extension of 25-01364, 01729, and 01267. Now we're going to go to council comments. Um, I have nothing. Council.
Yes. Uh, on Thursday evening, uh, July 14, uh, June 14th, uh, there was some pretty big wind damage that came through town. Um, a big tree fell and took down two electric poles over on the corner of Fourth and New Street. I took a ride up
there. Gage was there with his team. The uh the roads department, the electric guys, and I never really saw it in action, but they're backing in a truck. They're cutting trees with a chainsaw. They're chipping up wood. They're putting up a new pole. Um, all of the houses besides two had their power back
within a few hours. And the two houses that didn't get restored until the next day, their electric meter was actually ripped from the house. So the contractor had to come in the next morning when it was light out and make sure everything was safe and rehook them back up. Our system was able to isolate those two houses for le less disruption to the
surrounding area. Uh the reason I'm bringing this up is because there seems to be people in town that like to say that the electric utility is is not wellrun or well done or we always have power out or we need to get the real people in to fix
this kind of stuff. Uh it's just it's not true. Um I brought this up at a previous meeting that our our score with the SIDI, which is how much you're out of power, uh is way lower than the metro area uh in in South River. It's not even
close. Uh um the second part about this is the electric utility. Someone asked a question on uh Mayor Gindy's favorite vessel out there, Facebook and social media. The simple question was, with everything going on with the electric, are the South River rates going to go
up? As a resident, you're well entitled to have an opinion or post on any of these sites as you wish. But if the answer to that question that you put is yes, and you don't know, why would you answer? So Art went on and said no, because that is
the answer. So to those that are asking, the rates are not going up in 2025. We've already said that. So last year, yeah, and they went down 10% last year. So we decreased by 10% for 2024 and we were flat for 2025. I think it's
important that I think it's important that if you're going to put a post on Facebook and make and answer a question, say yes, I think or yes, I think I heard that. But if you're going to act definitively, then know the answer or come ask one of us. I'm more than happy to answer the question for you. I'm also
happy to report that as of June of 2025, and this is a published report by the NJPPA, which is the New Jersey Public Power Authority, that at 855 kilowatts per month, which is about the average they put in for their metrics, South
Denver's Electric is now officially lower than all four investor own utilities, which are PSENG, JCPNL, Rockland Electric, and Atlantic City. So we now have what would be the low electric rates. So again, for those of
you that say our electric rates are so high, they're not. This is fact. This isn't an opinion. This is something that I care about. I research it. I work with our team. Our Joe, we have these discussions. We are doing a great job. The utility is healthy. It runs well and
it's very efficient and does good service. So again, these are factual public reports. I'm not up here stating an opinion, so I don't want to be the know-it-all, but I do like to have answers because I ask these questions and this is out there and I'll have a
conversation with anyone that would like to have one in person or on the phone and explain where the reports can be read if you want to look them yourself. Thank you. Thank you, Council. Um, I'd like to thank Gage and your your
guys. I know you went you had a long night because Friday well was it 2:15 in the morning. You took care of my neighbor's tree. I went out to watch for a little bit. He sat on his front porch and he thanked you very much. You did such a great job. The cleanup was wonderful. I know Burton Avenue was the
same. He had a couple more big ones down and he had some on the bridge. So, uh kudos. You guys did a great great job. Uh we won't be meeting until after 4th of July. So, happy 4th of July. Beware of all the lovely fireworks that people will be shooting off. So everybody chain
up your dogs because that's a one night the dogs are going to get loose. Beware of the fireworks and the fallout. There have been a couple of occasions where house houses porches have gotten they caught on fire. The fire department had to go out. You know as well as anybody
and so does Tony and the mayor. Be very very careful. We don't want any injuries. So, um, enjoy your Fourth of July and and just be safe. That's all I have. Thank you, Councilman. Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to thank all
of our public service workers, our police, our fire department. The response that they did the other day was phenomenal between uh the other townships between Sirville and uh East Brunswick at the top of Wilco Street
there. Uh, also the DKW on the cleanup on the little squall that came through town and the uh power outage. I said the guys were right there. They did a phenomenal job and uh that's it. It's warm. Be careful. Be aware of your
neighbors. Make sure that they're okay. Uh that's all I have here. Thank you. Thank you brother. Thank you. Um again reiterate um Fourth of July coming up. Please, if you're shooting off bottle
rockets, roaming candles, whatever, um it's happened in the past. Houses have caught fire. Be very careful. You shouldn't be sending any of these fireworks in the air in residential areas because they do
cause houses to burn. And with this weather, you don't want to be outside in this heat trying to put out a fire. um fire pits in the backyard, any open burning is illegal. You cannot have any type of open burning in your yard. So,
please refrain from that. Um the burrow also has a no knock ordinance. Uh what this ordinance is, you register at the clerk's office, you get a sticker for your door, and no solicitors can
come and knock on your door telling you need a new roof, need new windows, whatever. It's illegal at that point. So, if somebody does, if you do have a register, you do have a decal and somebody knocks on your door, call the police immediately. The police will take
care of it. They've done it in the past with a lot of residents, especially down in the new area. Everybody needs new windows and roofs down there. So, that's it. So, register with the no knock ordinance uh at our clerk's office at 48 Washington. Um
careful with the heat. The heat's going to be extreme for the next couple days, so please be aware of it. Drink plenty of fluids. age. Again, I said it the other day to you. Thank all the guys for a great job they did. It was phenomenal. And I don't
care what anybody says, our guys are the best through and through. No questions asked. And uh happy 4th of July. All right. So, a couple days ago, I received a letter from Mr. Dominicki right here on John
Street. See, you all appreciate this. My property and several others in the neighborhood were the subject of much needed rainwater drainage project, milling of the old roadway, and laying of the new asphalt roadway. While watching the project, I observed the working crew of the local contractor,
Jade's Construction, who complemented one another in their work, which was well coordinated and showed professional work ethic. Corporate supervision was there every day and responded to all inquiries. The day after the new asphalt roadway was laid, the crew from Jace
came by to clean off any asphalt on the grass and curb area the properties opened. Any rainwater roof drains that may have been blocked by the laid asphalt. My compliments to the burrow for hiring the local contractor Jade's Construction, the hardwork crew of Jay's
and the engineering firm of CME who designed and oversaw the project. Well done. Please let your crew know that. Uh this Thursday, June 26th, at the RIMR from 9 to 12, I have the county coming in uh with five speakers. It's called
the business um resources for success. This is for businesses. Please come down, listen to what they have to say. They have lots of programs that can help businesses throughout this town. Uh I also like to congratulate the class of 2025.
Uh it's extremely uh hot outside. Please check on your elderly, check on your neighbors. Please stay cool. And happy 4th of July. At this moment, we will be going to executive session. Um there's nothing
that we voted on. You may sit here if you like. Uh we will be in it. Melissa 2025-20 2013 2025 213 Whereas section 8 of chapter 231 public law 1975 permits the
exclusion of the general public from a meeting of the governing body under certain circumstances and whereas the mayor and council of the burough of South River are of the opinion such circumstances presently exist. May therefore be it is hereby resolved by the mayor and council of the bureau of South River, the county middle
sex state of New Jersey that the public be excluded upon the here and after specific subject matter and that such subject matter to be discussed as as follows. Litigation, attorney client privilege and contract negotiations. We have further resolved that such record of the above discussion may be
public when comp when confidentiality is no longer required. The bureau council of the burough suffer may or may not take formal action at the conclusion of the executive session. Motion by council second. Second by council. Council council. Yes. Council
council. Yes. Council president. Yes.