Y >> welcome to the 17th meeting of the year. Today is December 15, 2025. Alyssa, can you please read the publication? >> In compliance with chapter 231, Public Law of 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 in the front door of the criminal justice building at 61 Main Street South River. >> Roll call. >> Mayor Gindy >> here. >> Councilwoman Ballas >> here.
>> Councilman Santis >> here. >> Councilman Damian's not here. Councilman Janicopolis >> here. >> Councilman Gchensky >> here. >> Council President Cula >> here. Please stay and stand for Senator Flag 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. >> May be seated. We're going to go into the agenda sessions. Uh bond anticipation notes. Uh
Joe, >> thank you. Mayor, the burrow had an annual band sale. We had five biders received that interest rate of 2.75 which is very very good. Um interest rate was 4% and then they gave us back
end of >> all right thank you um Andrea there's three for um second reading if you could uh >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Uh we have 202529.
202529 is a financial agreement with 25 Main Street uh South River Urban Renewal LLC. 202530 that's amending uh the burough code to amend 262 rental properties. It revamps your rental
property registration and 202531 that's the fees associated with uh the rental property registration. >> All right. Thank you. Melissa, can you please read 2025-29? >> Ordinance 202529, an ordinance of the bureau of South River, county of Middle
Sex, state of New Jersey, adopting the financial agreement under NJSA4A 20-1 at SEC and authorizing tax exemption and payment in lie of taxes with 25 Main Street, South River, Urban Renewal LLC. >> Motion to wave the full reading. >> Second.
>> Motion by Council President, seconded by Councilwoman Ballas. >> All in favor? I >> I like to open this to the public. 5 minutes. State your name and address. First call. Second call. >> No, hold on. No, no. This is for something else.
>> Motion to close. >> Second. Motion by Council President Cola. Second by Councilman Kushinsky. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Council discussion. >> Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Motion by Councilwoman Ballas. Second.
>> Second by Councilman Gunopoulos. Counciloman Ballas. Councilman Asantis. >> Yes. >> Councilman Janopalis. >> Yes. >> Councilman Gachensky. >> Yes. >> Council President Cula. >> Yes. >> Melissa 2025-30.
>> Ordinance 202530. 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 262 entitled rental properties. >> Make a motion. Wait full reading. >> Second. >> Motion by council presidential. Second
by Councilwoman Ballas. >> All in favor? >> I like to open this to the public. Five minutes. Say your name. First call. Second call. >> Motion to close. >> Motion by Councilman Kosinsky. >> Second. >> Second by Council President Cola. >> All in favor? >> I.
>> Council discussion. Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Motion by Councilwoman Ballas. >> Second. >> Second by Council President Cola. >> Councilwoman Ballas. Councilman Asantis. >> Yes. >> Councilman Janicopolis. >> Yes. >> Council member Kensky. >> Yes. Yes. Council >> President Sula. >> Yes.
>> Melissa 2025-31. >> Ordinance 202531. An ordinance of the burrow of South River County of Middle Sex State of New Jersey amending and supplementing chapter 155 of the burough code entitled fees. >> Motion awaited to full reading. >> Second. >> Motion by council presidential. Second
by councilwoman Ballas. >> All in favor? >> I like to open this to the public. Five minutes. State your name. First call. Second call. >> Motion close. Motion by council presidentola. Second by councilman Desanis. >> All in favor?
>> I. >> Council discussion. >> Do I have a motion? >> Motion by councilwoman Ballas. >> Second. >> Second by Councilman Kensky. >> Councilwoman Ballas. Councilman Asantis. >> Yes. >> Councilman Janikopolis. >> Yes. >> Councilman Kensky. >> Yes. >> Council President Cula.
>> Yes. >> We're going to go into reports. Uh Justin, CMA. >> Thank you, Mayor. brief update on all the capital projects going on in the bureau for the 2023 and 2024 local aid program. The contractor has completed our office's punch list. We received a minor punch list from the DOT that the contractor will need to address. Then we
can begin project closeout for the 2023 local transportation project grant. Our office submitted a limit modification form to the DOT. The DOT requested additional information which our office provided this week. The 2025 local aid program. This is for Apprentice Avenue
from Willlet Avenue to Sheldon Avenue. Ty Avenue from Old Bridge Turnpike to David Street, Cleveland Avenue from Virginia to its to its end. The project design has been completed. We're just doing a quality check right now and we expect to submit that to the DOT by the end of this week. The 2025 electrical
substate maintenance program project was approved for award in the amount of $131,540 to REIA service. The contracts were signed and submitted to the bureau. the stormwater assistance grant application, our survey department finished their work for this current phase of the
program. And then for the 2026 local aid program, the bureau received $582,753. And that's for improvements to Mercer Street from Willlet Avenue to Johnson Place, Lion Street from Sunset Street to Francesen Avenue, and Mitchell Avenue from Old Bridge Turnpike to Garden
Street. We submitted a proposal to prepare the design work. That's all. >> Thank you, council. Anything for uh CMA? Joe CFO agenda checks. Another one is a resolution for purchase made through state contract and
emergency repairs. And then lastly, we have a resolution to purchase and install all inclusive playground equipment at volunteers park. This is for that $750,000 we got for the program. >> All right. Started. >> Good. Thank you council. Anything for
Joe HPW? >> Council, anything for uh age? I would just like to add uh obviously we had a heavy snow over the weekend and those cold temperatures make the clean up a little bit more difficult. Anything that falls on the roads or is left on the roads freezes and I drove through South
River then East Brunswick and I feel like our roads were better than theirs. So that's my assessment of >> a good job. So thank you. >> Anybody else? Good. Andrea, >> I have nothing tonight. Mayor >> Melissa, >> nothing tonight. part.
>> Yeah, mayor. The only thing I have is on resolution 333. I sent the council all a memo that the CFO and myself looked over the um power costs for through November and came to
the same decision that I'm recommending no annual increase in the electric rates for next year. >> Great to hear that. >> Awesome. >> Thank the battery project. Mhm. >> Uh council, anything for art? >> Uh just to add to that, uh based on the
latest data from the EIA, which is the statistical department of energy, um the New Jersey average rate is 23.39 cents per kilowatt. South River is at 19.7. So we're now 16% lower than the state average. So kudos to Art, Joe, and the
projects that we've done to keep our electric lower. Uh it's a big deal in South River to have low electric. uh a lot of contrary to what you hear uh in certain instances where people don't really understand the numbers. They just say what they think and they don't know the facts. So we have officially lower than the state average electric. So good
job. >> Thank you. Uh Councilman Kosinsky. >> Thank you, Mayor. I have nothing to report for on the Office of Aging. Uh everything is pretty much done for the year. Um that's pretty much it. Thank you, >> Councilwoman Ballas.
>> Okay. The VFW Post 1451 is having a blood drive this Friday at 31 Reed Street from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you would like to register to donate, you can call the Red Cross at 1 8007332767.
And my last library notice report will be this. Uh Santa Claus is going to be there on Thursday, December 18th at 6:30 p.m. There's no need to register. Just bring your kids and say hi to Santa. And the library is going to be closed on Wednesday, December 24th and Thursday,
December 25th. And always go to the library website for any upcoming events. They do a lot of things for towns, for kids, adults, for seniors. Don't miss out on all their programs. That's it. >> Thank you. Councilman Desanis.
>> Yes. on the board of ed. Um, recently I had some residents ask me about the start time for the crossing guards and expressing that 7:45 was a little bit too late based on some of the school times that may have changed this year. So, I worked with chief to work with his
um safety officer and they moved that start time back 15 minutes to 7:30 a.m. So, they moved their whole window of time to start 15 minutes earlier. We do feel that this will be an effective change. We're going to continue to monitor it. Uh, but we do think it'll add safety to our schools and of course most importantly our children. There
actually is a board of ed meeting currently right now as we speak. So obviously I can't inform you of that one, but the next one is January 5th, January 5th at 5:15 and that is their reorg meeting from the recreation advisory board. Our comp competition cheer teams this past weekend went to
Philadelphia and the 10U team took second place and the 14U team took first place. And these are major competitions with teams from all over the area. So, we're very proud of the girls and the coaches for representing our burrow so well. Wrestling season has begun. For those of you that may not know, I've
been the head coach of the Wreck wrestling program for the last 12 years. And I'm proud to report that we have our largest number of enrollment in my term there. We have 42 kids, which is a lot and a lot of little lot of little guys and girls and it's it's fun to see. And we're also going to have some home matches this year. So, I'll be reporting
when we're going to have some home matches in the high school gym, which is great to get some of the town out to see wrestling, which has a long history in our town. Basketball registration is still open for the fundamentals kindergarten through 2 grade. And you can register on the website. And lastly, registration is also open for the adult
yoga, which will start on January 6th and is held on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30. You can visit the Bur website for more details. And to register, www.southoverj.org, Click departments, then parks and recreation, and you'll see a link to enroll. And if you have any issues
online or prefer, you can call the office at 732254-4412. Thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you, Councilman Junior Copus. >> Yes. Yes, Mayor. Um, I have a the end of the year is coming up and the town has a lot of organizations and committees and
in January we get together and we review people that want to be appointed to these committees and there's openings on there. There's environmental, there's shade tree, there's a health department, there's food bank, library,
um the economic development committee. All those committees have open positions. And if you want to get involved in your town and make the town better, they're out there. Let any one of us know. Go down to the burrow. They'll let you know how to inform us
and we can appoint you to one of these committees because we're always looking for volunteers. to make your town better. Thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you, Council President. >> Thank you. Uh EDC, they're finished for the year. Uh they'll be starting up their meetings again come January.
Um and just to reiterate, age guys did a fantastic job on the streets, the plowing, the sanding, and as always, all the departments, electric, water, everybody, sanitation, they always do, they go above and beyond. I see a lot of stuff since I've
been retired and around during the day and the guys go above and beyond to take care of the residents of this town. So again, please tell them thank you very much and uh continue doing a great job. >> That's it. >> Thank you. I'll hold my comments. I am
now opening it to the public. Come up here. >> You get five minutes. Just state your name and the address, please. Harry Bass, 9 Line Avenue. Um, my street has turned into a racetrack. I'm here representing the top of
Lenodine. Uh, the street has been repaved. I think it's a year a year and a half ago. Uh, prior to that they had a slow 25 in front of my house that has not been replaced. Um, I did request stop signs for Garden
Street. I called her public safety. I believe her name is Danielle. Daniela. >> Yeah. >> She told me that the state of New Jersey does a study. They did a study. Uh they
put stop signs down on Somerset uh Somerset uh Sunset and what that did was create a racetrack. Let me explain. They come off the overage turnpike and they fly to get to that stop sign. They then take
their foot off the brake and coast down even the other way. They come up, stop at sunset and they fly to get the open start. We're caught in a crossfire and they're flying. We're tired of getting our mirrors ripped off.
Just I sit in front of my house and like I'm three doors away from Turner Bike and they're doing like 65 in front of my house. I do one of these. I hope they stop. >> We are requesting stop signs be put on Garden Street um if that's at all
possible. >> Okay. because they have in their heads that they don't have to stop to so they are flying. Um hence uh Cam Avenue where they come off Cam Avenue
turn to Cam Avenue. There's a stop sign on James. >> Right. >> Okay. Right. >> There's a four-way stop there. >> And you go down a little bit more to David. There's stop signs there also. >> We're pretty much asking for the same result. >> All right. I'll I'll speak to the PD tomorrow. I'll reach out to you. Let you
know what happens. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else from the public? Good evening. Uh, my name is Yogesh Patel. Y O G S H. Last name Patel. P A T-L. I live at 145 Monttoello Way. Uh,
first and foremost, mayor and council members, thank you so much for the opportunity to be able to speak to you. I just wanted to mention one of the resolutions that believe that was passed uh sometime in August about the need for re redevelopment for the Wii Way parcel.
Um, that's >> wasn't passed. >> I'm sorry. >> It was not passed. >> It was I I believe to I I agree it was not uh passed. I think it was just a resolution for the planning board to be able to assess the uh >> correct >> ability to be able to uh if that area
can be designated as a need of of development. So, I understand it's we're still early on the process. We're not there yet. Uh I had gone to the planning board last week but due to some uh issues with uh I believe the uh notification they've delayed it to the
upcoming one in January whenever the next meeting is. Nonetheless, it was advised during that time because I believe the township planning planner had mentioned that uh the initial call to for this area to be studied was was done by the council. uh naturally at
that time since we didn't discuss it. We mentioned if there was any questions can be brought to to the council. Uh again totally understand no no resolution nothing has been stamped that we're going forward with this. Nonetheless I just wanted to simply share some some of my sentiments regarding uh the potential
of something to uh occur there. Um as we know I think that area has been designated as a PR zone. Um, and so, uh, property owners such as myself and those in that neighborhood purchased our respective properties with the mindset that that area would be preserved,
whether it was eventually going to be a park, recreation zone, open space or conservation. Um and so simply my ask is that whether it goes through P the process goes forward in the planning board and it comes back to the council to make that ultimate decision whether
to do an analysis and a study of what proposal can be done on that parcel just to be able to share with the community perhaps what was the reason uh for designating those areas as a need or a potential to to excuse me to have that area as a study for a need of
redevelopment and simply uh if there's any develop ers who may have come to present it any any potential ideas for that property if anything of that nature was was ever presented. I understand today might not be the forum uh since that was not discussed in in today's meeting but if in future iterations
whether that was that that could be shared with with residents so that we might know what was the impetus for the council to potentially assess or have this land studied for a potential of need for redevelopment. >> All right. So when we allocate or we're looking at a redevelopment any part of
the South River that's the first stage >> once it gets allocated for if if if it does if it doesn't whatever may be next stage is if any developers want to come to us and say hey we're interested in this piece of property at that point we now could say okay this is what we're
looking to do right now there's nothing there there's nothing that's allocated there's nothing we're just putting out a study just for these this piece of property that's all we're But we'll keep you, you'll be well informed, especially the whole neighborhood. >> Sounds good. >> Thank you so much. I appreciate your time. >> Thank you, sir.
>> Anyone else from the public? Oh, my favorite guy. Evening. Barry Bril, uh, Monaceel Way. It's about the closure of Collins Drive to Monaceel. Sorry I missed last week's but uh
personal and up but a little bit appalled about the whole thing two two meetings ago you know I usually count how many people account about safety here and it wasn't mentioned once
but you know it's safety having this thing reopen because someone could Hi. And mayor, I'm getting tired of getting a runaround. You haven't told me a real
answer. You told me, uh, worried about the person going the wrong way and hitting that one person. I understand that, but you're not getting rid of the bad drivers. So, you're just moving them from one side of the town to the other side. You didn't talk about the safety of the 3,000 plus
children there. I worry about them, too. I would like to see the bad drivers get out of there taken out. You madam, you made a statement. How would you feel if someone died? >> Who said that? >> You. >> When?
>> Two two uh meetings ago. >> Yes, you did. >> Put it down. I don't remember. >> Just go just go with it. >> Well, I mean, yeah. How would you feel? Affect all of you. How would someone feel? I mean, someone died. You're a first responder. I mean, I don't know how you got to
chief of police or the fire company. You even ask the right questions. If I asked the right questions, if you're on uh Collins Drive, you had to get to uh Monttoello or uh Bark Red Frederick Veterans Place, you have to wait waste
uh two more minutes to get to these places. Or vice versa. If you were in the uh DPW yard, please go out there. If they wanted to get to Collins Drive, they would have to spend another minute going around That may be somebody's life. Time is money. Uh life time is
life. And if you wish the police, your fire commission, how would I how would question them right now? I mean, you're a first responder. How do you think how would you feel if someone died? I mean, what was the response of it? >> I would entertain it right now, but
we've had multiple meetings over this. I've shown you videos over this. I've explained it over and over again. So, at this point, no, hear me out. At this point, I'm just here to listen to you along with the rest of the council and rest of South River. So, just >> I mean, >> I'm giving you five minutes to talk.
Whatever you like to do. >> Totally here. >> Yeah. I mean, yeah, you showed me video of it. People going the wrong way. You know, I could show you videos of, you know, I'll take videos of on uh any of the streets there, uh, Whitehead or anything like that, and you find
people. You take a look at Main Street. I mean, it's a drag race coming off the bridge over there all the time. I go up there and do 35 miles an hour and people are passing you, you know, within less than a half a second. That means they're doing at least 20 miles faster than you are.
So, I mean, there's all kinds of there there is. But then there's also another thing that I just looked at. If you look at a map, if you lose uh Whitehead between Cam and uh Roger and you lose
Constitution, haven't you? How you going to get to uh Monttoello? How are you going to get to LARK Veterans Place? You have to go through uh East Bronswick. That was the third way to get there. You closed it down.
You care about safety at all. That >> you for your time. >> Appreciate it. See you in January. >> Thank you, sir. >> Anybody else from the public? >> Going once. Going twice. >> Motion to close public. Hold on. Hold on. He put his hand up.
>> You're still good. >> Good evening to Joe Donado from 30 Daily Street. I just want It's going to be civil tonight. I'd like to thank uh Councilwoman Ballas and Councilman Sello Cello. I I'm terrible. I don't really I can pronounce my own name.
>> That was amazing right there. >> For their their time and service. I know it's not an easy thing to be a a a voted in civil servant and it's not easy to be a civil servant. I know that for a fact and I just want to thank you for all
your all your efforts regardless of maybe we disagree on things. >> Congratulations to you also. >> Thank you. >> Um but good luck. >> I'm sure see you guys from time to time. >> Oh yes. >> Thank you. Oh, and uh about the uh
speeding. Speeding all over the town. We all know that. I live on Daily Street. My my uh short span of Daily Street. We got a stop street at Virginia and we've got bumps and everything, you know, with the crossing of the streets and it makes no
difference. They fly down that street whenever they can. >> And there's been accidents all over the place here and there. I don't know how you get people to start uh doing the speed limit or less and it's uh it's a difficult thing. I agree
with when people say they want to make sure that uh things are safe. The only thing the only three things I worry about for safety of the public is the fire department, the police department, and the rescue squad in order to get emergency vehicles. As far as in my my
mind, as far as uh the traveling public, if it takes me two minutes more to get from one side to the other, that's two minutes. It's not a life-threatening thing. So perhaps something that taken that into consideration may come to a
happy uh conclusion with that uh that site. Um, I've got a lot of questions about it myself and I'm sure we'll be discussing that from time to time when we get I like to see it get straightened out so it's over and done with and we go
on to other things that really need to be done. >> Again, oh, happy uh merry Christmas, happy new year and enjoy the holidays and I will see you again soon. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Jim Hutcherson, 38 Virginia Street. Just
to tag along with every other speaker from tonight as far as the speeding is concerned. Um, again, just as a refresher, I lived at 38 Virginia Street. three years ago, this past October, was where the woman was killed um at that intersection because of a kid
not stopping at a stop sign plowing into her and uh uh on a Saturday night, she lost her life going to work. Virginia Street now has the four-way stops. Um we still have a lot of speeding. People
still fly through on Virginia Street. They still fly through on Darrow Street. And uh again, it's this is a problem throughout the entire burrow. And I think if we had police officers at every intersection where we have stop signs,
we could be writing tickets all day long. Um so it's not just Leonard Dean, it's not just issues on Colin, it's not just on daily, it's South River. We just have people that do not pay attention to the 25 mph speed limit throughout town
except on OBT and on uh River Road. Um and then when we have a tragedy like we had at my property for a short period of time, people pay attention. Now they just fly through. It's it's
unfortunate. I wish we could do something about it, but it's an inherent problem right now. And I don't think South River is the only town that has that issue. Um, ordinances. I've brought this up in the past and and I appreciate uh you just having a brief discussion of what the ordinances were. I think we need to have
a little bit further explanation. Um, like layman's terms, what is this ordinance actually doing? What are we conducting business on? Um, in layman's terms so that everybody who's either here, watching it on YouTube, whatever, understands what each ordinance is
actually doing. uh because again we waved the full reading which I totally understand but the body of that what what's actually happening what what are we doing here I think um I' I'd like to see that with a little bit more of an explanation um one thing that I'd like to submit a
request for um in 2026 is that we have more meetings these once a month meetings I think it's I don't think it's enough for the public. I I know just stepping aside and saying as a member of the Office on
Aging, um there's times where there's bills and they have to be paid to the vendors and sometimes everything is rushed to get it in prior to a meeting because you don't want to wait another one more meeting because we're only meeting once a month. Um plus it doesn't
give the public an opportunity to provide any questions, answers, things of that nature. I think meetings twice a month in my opinion would be better for 2026 and going forward. That's just my opinion. Uh I know what it was like when I sat up
there. Um you don't have to cram everything for one meeting. It spreads it out. Gives an opportunity for uh uh more information to be exchanged in a quicker uh format. Um snow cleanup DPW,
great job. Great job. Um, there's no doubt South River has the best people working there in DPW, whether it's water, whether it's electric. Um, everybody does a great job and when you drive around, you see the
results of the people that care and they care and we're we're extremely fortunate to have the people and uh the dedication there. They do a fabulous job. So again, Dage uh congratulate them. They've done a fabulous job.
um election results. I want to congratulate Sandra Dilva and Joe Donado on their uh success in the election. And I also want to congratulate Christian Alo and Anita Chada. It's not easy to come forward and
put your name out there. You catch a lot of flack. You have to do a lot of things. It's time spent. Uh so congratulations. And again, Sandra and Joe, congratulations. is looking forward to seeing you sworn in on January 1st and being a major contributor as part of
the burrow. Um, and finally, congratulations and thank you to Council President Sula and Councilwoman Ballast. You guys have done a fabulous job. You're just uh I mean, former mayor and
former council president, then not, then council president. Um, great job, guys. Congratulations. Thank you for your service. really appreciate everything and from the Hutcherson family, merry Christmas and happy new year all to you. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jim.
>> Anyone else from the public? >> First call. Second call. >> Motion to close public. >> Motion by Council President Siola. Second by Councilwoman Ballas. >> All in favor? >> I >> I. >> Alyssa, can you please read consent resolutions 2025 332 to 349, please?
Whereas resolution 202501 authorizes the bro council to utilize a consent agenda to adopt various resolutions of a routine and non-controversial nature at one time. Now therefore be it is hereby resolved that the below listed resolutions are hereby adopted by the burough council in whole. Is it the same
or individually acted upon? Consent resolutions 2025 3332 to 2025 349. 332 authorizing the requisition of funds for payment to the custodian of the school monies. 333 authorizing no annual
power cost adjustments for 2026. 334 authorizing the cancellation of all balances less than $10. 335 authorized 2026 public health services interlocal agreement. 336 authorizing the purchase of rock salt. 337 cancellation of
outdated stale check stale items. 338, resolution authorizing the carryover buyback. 339, authorizing the purchase and installation of an inclusive playground at Volunteer Memorial Park. 340, authorizing purchases through state contracts. 341, authorizing the
continuation of a grant program for free swimming lessons. 342, authorizing the ex execution of an agreement with Raritan Valley YMCA. 343 Appointment of Gideon Diaz as firefighter to the South River Fire Department. 344 Authorize
certain utility refunds. 345 Transfer of Year 2025 budget appropriations. 346 Authorizing permanent status to police officer to Michael Manory. 347 Authorizing an agreement with the Southernther Rescue Squad. 348 accept
November 10th, 2025 regular and executive session minutes. 349 authorize the bills and claims list. Second >> motion by councilman uh no sorry councilwoman Ballas seconded by councilman uh council president sila >> counciloman ballas >> yes
>> councilman Santis >> yes with and abstain from number 348 and on 349 abstain from number 25-03274 >> councilman Janicopolis >> yes councilman Gchensky >> yes council presidenta
>> yes with the abstension from 349 in its entirety All right. Council member Gopolis, >> I have nothing to thank just a happy new year, happy holidays, and merry Christmas to everyone in South D.
>> Councilman Desanis. >> Yes. So, obviously, everyone's already taken their time to thank uh Donna and Tony, but I just want to personally thank you for uh taking me under your wing and and offering to help me through the process uh being up here new and not
really knowing what's going on. You guys offered a hand and you know, I know how much you care about the town, but for me personally, I felt like I always had people who cared about me and the burrow and uh I just want to thank you for that. Councilman Kosinski.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, first off, I'd like to thank all of our public service workers, our police, especially our DPW, uh, Robert Wood Johnson, and our firefighters for all they do to serve our, uh, township. Um,
Don and Tony, good luck. It's been great working with you guys. Um, and also I'd like to wish everyone a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy Quanza, happy new year, and anybody else that I missed. With that, thank you, mayor.
>> Thank you. I'm going to skip these two. >> Tell us a little. >> Let me get my comments out. First of all, um, talking about Montasalo, there was a correction in the response time by the fire department
after listening to the actual uh, firefighters dispatch. Uh, it was the timing was a little off. So, I just wanted to put that out there. Uh, I want to thank the parks and wreck uh, beautiful uh, Christmas tree uh, lighting uh, the other day. They did a really really good job over it. The
Department of Public Works, the police department, they did a phenomenal job with uh, removing cars off the road. snow plowing, keeping the roads uh clean and safe. DPW, I know that this is happening all over the place and this is a lot of
complaints and Mr. Donata, you're going to uh experience it along with Mrs. Dilva and that is that brown water. Anything to do with disrupting the lines, you're going to get brown water, especially when it comes down to a water mane. And now the water, sorry, now the uh the water is freezing, so you're
going to have more of it happening throughout the town. Um, and I do this every year, the year end that we have done in one whole entire year. I have to thank this administration along with our professionals for making this all
happen. This year alone, we replaced we redone replaced 13 different roads. Leonard, Leonard and Tabarl, Daryl Daly and John Alborne Street, Franklin Street, Oesi, Apprentice, Ty and Cleveland Avenue, Mercer Street, Lions
Street, and uh Mitchell Street. This is just showing you that every year roads are getting done and we're not going to stop until all roads get done. And it's not going to be an easy task because everybody has a demand on their roads. And believe me when I tell you,
we're gonna follow through. Park improvements. Well, turf field was installed at Gcowski Park, the baseball field. Other improvements uh to Gowski Park was the gazebo, cameras, bathroom upgrades. Not only that, but we received grants to
covered some of that, 554,000 and an additional 79,000, giving us 63 $633,000 just for Gowski Park. Other improvements such as volunteers park included a brand new playground cameras and that came
with a grant which was about $750,000. Improvements to Varga Clark included a new pickle ball court grants came with that one 200,000 an additional 89 giving us $289,000
just on parks alone. And I have to thank Joe along with Dawn for the amazing work that we did on grants and how we applied for them. Building improvements. We upgraded the dispatch area. Various buildings had their roofs repaired and
the salt uh shed we had a brand new uh installed. Purchase of various department vehicles long awaited along with equipment. I'm sure DPW is doing well. water, sewer, and accomplishments. The
burough continues to upgrade so many infrastructures. Now, you're going to say, "Well, we didn't really break ground yet on a lines," which is true, but we did go after a lot of pipes, meters, and a water treatment plant along with the water tank and pump stations. This year, we received $1
million towards the water improvements. And believe me when I tell you, we're working, Joe and I, through a lot of other grants for replacing all the water lines in this town. Yes, there is a plan and you'll be a liberty to see it soon.
Vero applied for an ibank which uh that's one of our grant uh that we applied for. >> Electrical accomplishments. First battery project was not only 100% functional, but we saved right around
$900,000 annually. Nice work, South River, considering that everybody else's water electricity rates went up and we did not. And here we are repeating history for the third year in a row next year and you will be both part of it.
Tekken battery project is now underway. Uh it's going to be operational in 2026 and anticipated uh to increase savings up into 2027 budget year. most of the uh utilities PSE and GG, GCP and DAL increasing rates
were significantly. It's going to keep on going up. Like I said, now we're working on to 2027 and we are continuing to uh upgrade our electrical substation. Yes, if anybody needs a lot a round of applause, it's this administration along
with the professionals of this town. We have done a lot of work to all these people that sits up here. Merry Christmas. Happy holidays. Have a happy and healthy new year. And comes the part that's going to hurt me a
little bit. >> I didn't do it. I didn't do it. >> I didn't do it. You didn't do it. We swear. >> I swear I didn't do it. >> Take that gabble. >> First, I'm gonna start with Donna. >> Okay. Can you say the women like you want me to >> Am I coming up there?
>> Yeah, you're not. >> You're gonna say a little speech on this. >> I don't have a little speech. >> Not a balance. >> Mayor, >> Councilwoman at times council. >> Yeah, I know.
>> And she had done a lot for this town and continues to do a lot for Even when she's sitting at home, she's calling imagining about certain things that's coming up. Yeah, we got it done. Half of the burl south river
appreciation and recognition of the services of Burl South River as a member of the Bur Bur Council 2020 2020 to 2025. Thank you. I just >> mentioned
Throw the gap. >> Throw the gap. >> Sneak past you here. >> No, go for it. >> I don't know where this one neighbor watched me from 5 years old. got me involved with all this and here I
am today stands before you not only thank you for where what you have taken me >> for what you have done for this entire fire department both numerous boards for that matter as a council president
>> nice appreciation to the recognition of services as a member of Thank you all the residents for all the support over the years. Want to congratulate Buck
>> and to the residents. Happy Hanukkah, merry Christmas, and a happy and healthy safe. Last and final, I want to thank uh and I also want to congratulate
Councilman Elect Joe Donado and Councilwoman elect Sandra Dilva. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Looking forward to it. With that said, >> oh, can we adjourn for the lunch time? >> Go ahead.
>> Motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> Motion by Councilwoman Ballas, second by Council President Yola. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. >> I will let you know. Uh, >> I'll know by next. No, that's the reorg
re. >> That's the reorg.