Regular council meeting on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026 in council chambers, Sparta Township Municipal Building, 65 Main Street, Sparta, New Jersey. The town council regular meeting is now opened at 7:20 p.m. All council meetings
are now livereamed and can be viewed at the following link. YouTube.comspartwpstreams. Adequate notice of this meeting was provided to the public and the press on January 7th, 2026 by delivering to the press and posting on the township website a copy of this
notice. Madam clerk, would you please do a roll call? >> Councilman Scott, >> yes. >> Councilman Murphy >> here. >> Councilman Clark >> here. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester >> here. >> Mayor Blummeti >> here. Would you all please stand and join me in a salute to our flag?
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> As we begin our time together tonight,
I'd like to offer a brief reminder that we're all here because we care deeply about Sparta and want to keep it a special place that it is. And we belong to one community as neighbors. I respectfully ask that we all myself colleagues on the deis and you the
public to strive to listen to one another and be respectful tonight as we interact. Um thank you for your consideration. Well, we'll start the evening with uh three different proclamations. Uh the first one is donate life and it's
donate life month. Um so do we have a representative do we have Kelly and Gary here? Great. Thank you. After I finish, you can come up and uh I'll present you with it. Whereas realizing the urgent need for organ and tissue donors across the
country, the National Donate Life Month observance promotes a greater understanding about the life-saving benefits of donation and transplantation. Moreover, the need is increasing. New Jersey sharing network is committed to
addressing that need through increased awareness. And whereas the transplantation of organs and tissue is a miracle of modern medicine made possible through the compassion of organ and tissue donors.
Enabling surgeons to save thousands of lives every year. One organ donor can save eight lives and one tissue donor can restore health to over 75 others. People of all ages, ethnic backgrounds,
and religions are touched by donation and by the serious shortage of organ donors that exists. Currently, there are nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents and over a 100,000 Americans awaiting life-saving transplant
operations. And whereas individuals who wish to do so are encouraged to register as organ and tissue donors, share their decisions with loved ones, and learn more about the impact of donation.
Registration is available at locer local motor vehicle agencies and online at NJSharingetwork.org. That's NJ neo rk.org o rg.
Now therefore be it resolved that the township council of the township of Sparta hereby proclaims April as donate life month and encourages residents to learn about organ eye and tissue donation, consider registering as donors
and support efforts to increase awareness throughout Sussex County and the state of New Jersey. So, may I please have our representatives, Kelly Bonaventure and Gary Quaca come up.
>> I have some other Sparta residents with me that also have a personal connection to donation that I would love. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> Good evening and thank you so much to the Sparta Town Council. We appreciate your continued support. This is the 10th
year in a row that we have received a proclamation in honor of National Donate Life Month and we can't thank you enough. It's events like this that help us to raise the awareness. With over a 100,000 people waiting, the need is great and the need is real. And less
than 1% of people pass away in the manner in which they're eligible to become an organ donor. So we really encourage you to learn more about donation. You can visit our website at njsharingetwork.org which you already mentioned. And we are
so grateful that I have such special friends here to join me tonight. If you each want to introduce yourself. >> Hi. >> Your connection to donation. Hi, I'm Gary Cauer. I'm a uh kidney recipient from a living donor.
>> I'm Dan Sarnowski. My uh the love of my life, Betsy Niles, became an organ donor back 15 years ago and saved several lives. >> I'm Birdie Noble. My husband Doug donated his skin tissue for um whoever needed anything.
>> My name is Jason Margalefki. My wife Sean Hoppy is the one who donated her kidney to Gary. So you can be a living donor. You can donate your kidney. You can live with one. And obviously the recipient lives with one. Gary's led a beautiful healthy
life. And it's amazing how just in this small little town how many people have been dut touched by donation. I've been a Sparta resident for 32 years and it is amazing to me how often I run into somebody who's been touched. So, I just want to read this poem because these are the words I want to leave you with
because these are the words that resonate the most and capture the essence of what organ and tissue donation make possible and what our beautiful, selfless, courageous donors make possible by giving the gift of life. It's called to remember me by
Robert Test. At a certain moment, a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function and that for all intents and purposes, my life has stopped. When that happens, do not attempt to instill artificial life into
my body by the use of a machine. And do not call this my deathbed. Call it my bed of life, and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives. Give my sight to a man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby's face, or
love in the eyes of a woman. Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain. Give my blood to the teenager who has been pulled from the wreckage of his car so that he might live to see his
grandchildren play. Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week. Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body, and find a way to make
a crippled child walk. Explore every corner of my brain, take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow. So that someday a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain
against her windows. Burn what is left of me and give my ashes to the winds to help the flowers grow. If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses, and my prejudice against my fellow man. Give my
soul to God. And if by chance you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do all I have asked, I will live forever. So, I just ask you to take a moment and realize that you can help to make something like that possible. And
thank you again to the Sparta Town Council for having us here this evening. Thank you. That was beautiful. Thank you. Thank you, >> Mayor. The uh the town hall column lights will be lit uh green and blue in in uh notice that's the color of
donation. >> Yes. In recognition of the proclamation. Thank you. >> Thank you. I wish I had had a donation for my sister. She may be here with us today. >> Kelly, is it as easy as just checking a
box for your license? >> Yes, you can check the box on your license and we also encourage people to register online as well. Um the National Registry is a much more dependable source. Um you can do both um and better yet to do both. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
Thank you for everything you do. >> That's why we continue to do what we do. So, next I would like to introduce our deputy mayor Mike Sylvester who has a proclamation in honor of Fallen Firefighters Foundation. >> Yes, good evening everyone and uh great
way to start off the meeting here with these proclamations. Um, as you're aware, we had a substantial brush fire over the weekend of which the Sparta Fire Department did a phenomenal job under the leadership of Chi Chief ODM mitigating and extinguishing the fire.
If you have any questions about our fire department or doubts, I don't think after this weekend you should. They were phenomenal. Um, in addition, you know, saying that Chief ODM and the entire Sparta department along with Chief McCarrick and our police department, our
EMTs and the additional personnel who assisted along um the entire day and weekend um to support and put this fire out was just amazing to say the least. Uh and uh not to even bring this to
light, there were additional local fire departments, agencies and uh a wealth of you know support given around the entire township as well as the county to help you know mitigate the fire. So it just shows you know communities you know and
support our local volunteers and they do play a role and I just think it's just in timing of this next pro proclamation I wanted to bring light to that. So my sincere congratulations and gratitude to to everybody I referenced and you know I'm sure my colleagues and you know feel
the same sentiments and we just want to congratulate everybody that helped the town. So thank you. I read that. So next proclamation off office of the mayor proclamation light the night for fallen firefighters week. Whereas the township of Sparta honors
the courage, dedication and selflessness serves service of firefighters who protect lives, homes and communities across the nation. And whereas the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, NFF, honors fallen fire heroes, supports
their families, and works to prevent firefighter deaths and injuries throughout training and education. Each year, approximately 80 fires make the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. And whereas during it during its 2026
Memorial weekend, the NFF will honor firefighters who died in the line of duty, including Captain Henry Sardina III of Apachon, who passed away following a medical emergency during training on November 24th, 2024.
And whereas the NFF's light the night for fallen firefight firefighters initiative invites communities to illuminate buildings and homes in red as a symbol of remembrance and gratitude. And whereas members of the Sparta
community volunteer with the NFF offer support and compassion to surviving families. end. Whereas light blading Sparta's town hall, fire stations and residents homes from April 26 through May 3rd, 2026 will unite our
community with others nationwide in honoring fallen heroes. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Township Council of the Township of Sparta hereby proclaims April 26 through May 3rd, 2026 as Light the Night for Fallen
Firefighters Week and encourages all residents, businesses, and organizations to participate in this display of honor and remembrance, expressing the township's deepest respect and gratitude for fallen firefighters, their family, and those who continue to serve. So,
thank you very much. Amy, >> is Amy? >> Is Amy here? >> Okay. >> Oh, great. >> Thank you. Well, thank you. >> Thank you. Would you like to say a few words? >> Um, my name is Amy Hayawick. Um the National Fallen Firefighters is a an
organization that's near and dear to um me and my family. Um and we have been so proud to be a part of raising awareness and educating families and supporting the families of those who've lost their loved ones um either dynamically through
fire or through a medical emergency following that. Um and so to be able to light the night and have a united display will be fantastic. We will be taking photos and video and actually putting it on the teleprompter that will be available n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n nationwide that Sparta has
participated in this. So I'm just uh I'm just so grateful that I was listened to. Thank you Christine Quinn for pushing that button for me and connecting me with who I needed to. Thank you. >> Our pleasure. >> And here you go. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. I really appreciate it.
>> Everybody light their lights. Thank you for being here. >> And yes, we saw the just one thing I'd like to thank all of the fire squad, the ambulance, the EMTs, the police, everybody this weekend because firsthand we Councilman Scott and I saw it as it
was practically in our backyard. So it was tremendous. all 24 36 48 hours that you all did was phenomenal. Thank you. Thank you very much. So, our our third and final proclamation
for tonight, I'm going to introduce uh Councilman Neil Clark uh to do a proclamation for child abuse awareness. >> Thank you, Amy. >> Thank you. Um again, this is a proclamation I wish we did not have to give. Um, but I want to thank all the
agencies and volunteers who do just an incredible work uh on this issue of child abuse prevention. And without you, um, you know, our town would, you know, everyone knows the negative consequences that happen from people who have been
abused. And if that goes untreated and un people are unaware of it, um, it hurts not only the child, but it ripples out through the entire community. So when you help that child, just helping that child and family, you're helping the entire community. And so um I want to thank institutions like Jenny's House
who do incredible work on this. So with that, I'll I'll read the child abuse prevention month. And I think we have some folks here I'll announce later to accept the proclamation. Child abuse prevention month proclamation. Whereas child abuse and neglect is a
complex and ongoing problem in our society affecting many children in Sussex County. And whereas every child is entitled to be loved, cared for, nurtured, feel secure, and be free from verbal, sexual, emotional, and physical
abuse and neglect. And whereas child abuse and neglect not only directly harm children but also increase the likelihood of criminal behavior, substance abuse, health problems, and risky behavior. And
whereas the effects of child abuse are felt by communities as a whole and need to be addressed by the entire community. And whereas effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships among families, social services agencies, schools, religious
and civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community. Now therefore, be it resolved that the township council of the township of Sparta does hereby proclaim April as child abuse prevention month and calls upon all citizens, community agencies,
faith groups, medical facilities, and businesses to increase their participation in our efforts to support families, thereby preventing child abuse and strengthening the communities in which we live. Thank you. And I have um Kelly Bonaventure. Oh, no, sorry, wrong
one. Uh, Mar Maria Soposski and Andrea Riker. I don't see Andrea though, but we have someone. Okay, fantastic. >> Okay. Thank you. And um
>> is this thing on? Fantastic. >> Why don't you introduce yourselves? Tell us where you're from and and if you know a plug for Jenny's House or whatever organization is working on uh stopping child abuse. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Hi, Eileen Matthew. Carol Celli. We're both volunteers at Jenny's House and
we're also members of the Sparta Women's Club. So, uh, thank you, mayor, and members of the town council. The Sparta Women's Club would like to thank you for recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and for your commitment to protecting the children in our
community. Jenny's House was founded in 1998 by Jenny Latell and serves as Sussex County's Child's Advocacy Center. Their mission is to provide a safe, child-friendly environment where children and families can begin to heal
once abuse is suspected or disclosed. Through coordinated efforts with child protection, law enforcement, health care, and mental health professionals, they ensure that every child receives compassionate and comprehensive care. At
Jenny's house, children are supported through legally defensive defensible, excuse me, forensic interviews that reduce the need to retell their story, minimizing further trauma. From there, trauma focused therapy is provided,
always tailored to each child's age and needs. Importantly available are critical support services for families, recognizing that healing extends beyond the child alone. Jinny's House even has a service dog on staff, Huie, who brings
comfort and calm to children during some of their most difficult moments. Although the response to abuse is vital, prevention is a prominent goal. And that's where the Sparta Women's Club came in with uh volunteering for Jenny's House. Along with prevention and
education initiatives, the hope is to stop abuse before it happens, empowering adults and the children alike with knowledge and the tools to stay safe. This proclamation not only raises awareness but strengthens our shared responsibility to protect the most
vulnerable among us. Together as a community, we can create a safer, more supportive environment for every child. Carol and I would personally like to donate a pinwheel kit to for display in Sparta as a symbol of hope, awareness, and the bright futures that every child
deserves. Thank you for your continued support of Jenny's House and for standing with us in the fight to prevent child abuse. >> So, am I all right? You're still you're still offering um these people can uh purchase these. Okay. How long is that
going for? >> All month. Okay. And how much is that donation? >> 35. So, for $35, you get this beautiful sign that you can put in your front yard. I have one. Um, also, isn't Jenny's House doing a fundraiser? Is that coming up?
>> Several. When's the next one? >> This month? It's the >> Okay. >> tournament. >> Okay. What about the really the the dinner that you do? >> The Boots and Boogie. >> Yes. >> May. >> May 2nd. So, May 2nd, Boots and Boogie.
If you've ever been to a Jenny's House event, uh, that one, they're a lot of fun. Even it's a very serious subject. Um, their events are fantastic. My wife was a board member for many years, so I got the benefit of getting to go to these. So, I encourage anyone look up Jenny's House. Please donate. Uh, go to
their events. It's a fantastic organization. And, you know, thank you for all the work that you do. Um, you've healed a lot of communities and a lot of families here and and the children most specifically. So, thank you. >> And thank you for this. It's going to look good in town hall. Thank you.
Sure. >> All right. >> Thank you. Okay, moving on to uh we have some minutes to approve this evening. These are all executive session meeting minutes. the first one for December 22nd, 2025.
Um, Councilman Scott and Councilwoman Murphy um will withhold from voting abstain on this one. May I have a motion, please, to approve the executive meeting minutes from December 22nd, 2025 as presented.
>> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Okay, motion carried. May I have a motion, please, to approve the executive meeting minutes from January 27th, 2026 as presented.
>> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. May I have a motion to approve the executive meeting minutes from February 10th, 2026 as presented? >> So moved.
>> May I have a second? Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> And finally, may I have a motion to approve the executive meeting minutes from March 10th, 2026 as presented? >> So moved. >> I have a second. >> Second.
>> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Motion carried. >> Okay. Moving on to manager's report. Uh, town manager Zep, would you please share your report with us this evening? >> Surely. Good evening, mayor, council members,
and all Sparta residents joining us in person or watching from home. Thank you for being with us tonight. This may sound familiar. At approximately 100 p.m. on Sunday, fire crews responded to Fairway Terrace for a reported brush fire. The fire originated
from an unattended, unpermitted bonfire and spread up the mountain side. About three and a half acres of wooded area were affected and no structures were damaged. Two firefighters were treated on the scene for heat exhaustion and smoke inhilation. One was transported to
Newton Medical Center for evaluation and was released a few hours later. No civilian injuries were reported. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service led operations under a unified command with mutual aid support from Andover Township, Byum, Ogdensburg, Jefferson
Township, Company 2, and the US Forest Service. Sparta Police Department's drone unit provided aerial support throughout the incident. Fire suppression efforts concluded around 17 7:15 p.m. Overnight watch was maintained by patrol units, a forest fire service
crew, and Sparta Township Fire Department engine 7 until 8:00 a.m. Monday when the Forest Fire Service returned to address remaining hotspots. As Deputy Mayor Sylvester had said, "We extend our sincere appreciation to all
first responders for their swift and professional actions in managing this dangerous situation." I thought it only appropriate to segue into New Jersey remains under a statewide drought warning as reservoirs
and groundwater levels continue to run low. The New Jersey Department of Envir Environmental Protection reports that as of late March this year, about 31% of the state is experiencing drought conditions and another 42% is classified as abnormally dry. Most regions are
seeing declining water levels except for the Jersey Shore, which has benefited from recent storms. Residents are strongly urged to conserve water to help protect and stabilize the state's water supply. This Saturday and Sunday, April 18th and 19th, Barter will host its annual Bagot
Day. A special thank you goes out to Mitch Morrison for organizing this important community event each year. Volunteers are always welcome and greatly appreciated. For details on how you can get involved to help keep Sparta beautiful, please visit the township website and check the news flashash
section. This past Friday, the township received the 2025 annual financial statement. Following its release, my finance team and I met virtually with our auditors to review the document in detail. The AFS is posted on the township uh web
financial web page. My finance team and I are now working diligently to incorporate the auditor's guidance as we finalize the 2026 municipal budget. We plan to introduce the budget at the April 28th council meeting and we'll continue to keep the governing body
updated as key elements are completed. Public handouts will be posted on the township website as soon as they are available. We continue to make steady progress towards closing the landfill. The township has established a strong working relationship with our D
representative, and we are now moving forward with the next required step, securing title commitments for each of the five parcels being donated. These donations will allow us to mitigate the two acres of wetlands that currently prevent the landfill from being formally closed. Once the title work is
completed, our environmental scientist, Laura Nugard, will provide an explanation of the donation process. At that time, we'll be asking the council to formalize these property donations through a resolution. The township continues to take all
appropriate steps to ensure full compliance with local zoning and land use regulations at 809 West Mountain Road. Last week, township professionals and administration met directly with the property owner to advance our requests for on-site soil testing and related
activities. The property owner has confirmed full cooperation and has verified that the former truck parking depot operation at the site has ceased entirely. The township is now working with the property owner to finalize the schedule for the next phases of soil testing. Soil sampling is scheduled to
occur before May 10th and all required permit applications and testing data will be submitted to the township by June 1st. The township has also communicated with the neighboring property owner and provided an update on the status of this matter. We appreciate the cooperation, patience, and
understanding of all parties as we work toward a complete and compliant resolution. As will be reflected in the upcoming resolution, the township is pleased to welcome Miss Carrie Brown as our new land use administrator. Miss Brown
brings over 25 years of planning and zoning experience to the position. We are confident that she will be a strong asset to our busy department and to the community. The spring and summer recreation brochure is on the township's website under the parks and recreation
department. Registration for all programs begins tomorrow, Wednesday, April 15th for Sparta residents and next Wednesday, April 22nd for non-residents. New programs added this year are the following: mom and me karate, family
kickball, adult Pilates, and women's self-defense. The park staff has been able to get all the fields for lacrosse, baseball, softball, cricket ready for use, as well as all sparks are ready for the public to enjoy. A couple other
reminders of events at town hall. Saturday, April 5th, 11 to 3, Earth Day Fair, sponsored by the Environmental Commission. Rain or Shine. Saturday, May 30th, 9 to noon, free paper shred and e-waste event. Rain or shine. Further
information is available on the township's website. Chief McCarrick will now be reading his report. This concludes my report for this evening. Thank you. >> Thank you, Manor Zep, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Council. Just have one thing to touch on tonight. Um, this is a
recognition of National Public Safety Telecommunication Week. April 12th through 18th marks the National Recognition for Public Safety Telecommunicators, uh, dispatchers and their vital role in public safety response. Our dispatchers are the first voice someone hears when
they contact 911 for an emergency. Their voice is the essential start to public safety at its best by gathering critical information during very stressful moments when someone is experiencing the worst moment of their lives. Dispatchers do this calmly and professionally, all while multitasking
with their partners and dispatching the appropriate emergency services with vital information needed. The Sparta Township Police Department Communication Bureau consists of 10 full-time dispatchers and three part-time dispatchers. Together, they provide 247
365 coverage telecommunication services to five municipalities for police, fire, and EMS. Our dispatchers know the communities they serve. They know our first responders and what is needed to save lives and it's a perfect example on how well they communicated got the
resources together by notifications uh this past weekend with the brush fire. Very proud of our communication bureau and our professionals who fulfill those roles. I want to thank all of our dispatchers uh across our nation and most importantly here in Sparta for playing the vital role in saving lives.
Thank you. Thank you, Chief McCarrick, and thank you to Manager Zep. And again, a welcome to our new employee, Carrie Brown. May I have a motion to accept the manager's report as presented, please? >> So move. >> So moved.
>> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Manager's report has been accepted. And >> just one question. Um you alluded it to it in your um comments. Manager Zep. Bonfires are prohibited in Sparta
Township absent a permit. Is that right? >> That's correct. >> Okay. So, no one um and there has not yet been uh a a fire restriction on like campfires yet, >> but I just want to give guidance to our members. You can't no bonfires, but an
outdoor like fire ring is still okay. >> If you have an open burn, a fire pit or something, you have to get a permit from the Forest Fire Service. They'll come out, check it. You have to pay attention to the website. There will be restrictions on there. If it's posted, do not burn. Obviously, don't on days,
you know, that are windy. Use your do do not burn. It's it's not going to be uh safe for those conditions. Um but the best thing is to go based upon what the website is for the New Jersey State Forest Fire. >> Okay. And just those little fire rings that you can get from Lowe's, are those
okay right now or not? If it's if it's open, >> you're sitting out on a Saturday afternoon. >> If it's a open burn, you have to get a permit. >> It's very easy to do. >> Okay. >> I don't I don't correct me correct me if I'm wrong. I do not believe there's a cost. Contact the fire uh forest fire.
They'll come out and inspect the area and then issue the permit. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Now, we're to our our first open to the public segment for tonight. And this is for items that appear on tonight's agenda, including the
resolutions, but with the exception of ordinance hearings. Ordinance at the hearing stage, always have their own public comment segment as well. So, this is for anything on the agenda, including resolutions. Um, there will be a second public comment period
later for items not on the agenda. So, as you approach the microphone, uh, please state and spell your name for the record. Each speaker is limited to one comment of no more than five minutes and no yielding of time to another person. >> Hi, good evening. My name is Angel Diaz. It's uh good to be before you again. I'm
sorry to bother you. Um last time I was here, we spoke about the look back program. You got a lot of veterans here from the Veteran of Foreign Wars and I'm a member as well. Uh I'm very proud of of what I did for my country. I'm sure all of them are. All of these veterans
here want have a lot to say and forgive me if they are a little pumped up about this. I just want you to know that uh this is something that's really important. You know, it it takes years for a veteran to uh get approved to be
100% service connected. Years. And that's after appeal after appeal after basically uh going with uh the Veteran of Foreign Wars representatives to help basically get through a mountain of paperwork, documentation, evidence, you name it, testimony.
But um it's really important, you know, and I I am appealing to your uh your kindness and your generosity and your you know what's right and good and just to please understand that if a veteran
basically goes to war voluntarily. He goes to war to represent all of us. I served in Beirut. I served in Grenada. I'm proud of what I did. I didn't have to get drafted. I I went down to the recruiting station and I signed on the dotted line. The people in this town
where this where this look back program is going to directly affect, they weren't drafted. They were volunteers. They went because they were called. They went and did their duty for their nation because their nation needed their help.
I sincerely ask you to to really think about one thing here. life is incredibly short. You're going to be on the record basically um saying yay or nay to this program, but I need for you to
understand that this program, the support that these families need because of this look back program, they need that assistance. I'm sure many of them have been waiting years to basically get their benefits and have struggled in the
process. I I implore you, please uh take that into consideration. And this is the face of veterans who died in Beirut in the Marine Barracks bombing in 1983. They don't have a chance to say their
piece, but I want you to actually think that there are faces behind every 100% service connected veteran. Think about that. Please do the right thing. I'm sure there's some way we could raise the money to u allow these
veterans have the benefits that they so rightfully deserve. >> I thank you for your time. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Just uh just for a clarification point, I don't want to interrupt you, sir. Um this is not the opportunity to
speak about the ordinance hearing. Um, >> no, the the each hearing for an ordinance. We'll get to the ordinance. It'll have its own time period, but we we have we already got you. So, no worries. No worries. Yeah, this is for anything on the agenda that's not an
ordinance hearing. Okay. So, it's resolutions agenda. >> I saw a lot of changes for the thing for the property. Um, >> Mr. Castmore, would you mind the microphone just >> Thank you. >> Um, I saw the thing the ordinances for
zone changes and stuff. Is this in relation to the I'm I'm going to call it COA housing. Is it? >> Yes. >> Okay. All these properties were involved in this or are there specific properties?
They are two specific properties on tonight's agenda, but we're not going to really address that. We'll have a hearing for that as well. Tonight's just introduction, but it's regarding two separate properties. >> When is that required to be to the state of New Jersey? >> But we're in compliance with the New
Jersey. We filed. We have extensions. We're totally in compliance with the rules. >> When is the extension over >> for part of it? April 30th. >> Today's April 14th. >> Correct. The ordinances don't need to be well the ordinances are if they get approved
tonight introduction the hearing will be at the end of April before the 30th but the these ordinances actually the hearings can be after April 30th >> but you already submitted it to the state of New Jersey then correct
>> we submitted early or earlier plans to the state of New Jersey since that time things have evolved like every other municipality where there's been objectors and there's been settlement agreements and things that are underway way. So that's why there's the extended time frame. >> So doesn't this have to go to the
planning board first for them to say, "Okay, yay. This is the spots. We're okay with this." >> No. >> No. This these these ordinances will next go to the planning board for a master plan consistency review, >> right? >> Um and then that will come back to us. But affordable housing is not under the
purview of the planning board necessarily. The governing body makes those decisions. The ordinances do need to go there like every ordinance that is related to land use. >> So what are the two pieces of property that you've negotiated besides what I've read on the court paperwork? You I mean
these negotiations started back in August of 2025. It's published in Superior Court of the State of New Jersey. Is that the properties we're talking about? >> I don't know which properties you're referring to. >> Uh the one property I think was uh five West Shore Trail. The other property is out here on Route 15.
I mean, I don't want to we're not going to get into details about the ordinance tonight. Attorney Dash, are we talking about specifics at all right tonight or >> we we would respect that the ordinance hearing will be heard in two weeks on the 28th and would welcome any questions
at that time. >> Okay. Now, it just strikes me as odd that the properties that are mentioned in this court paperwork is the very ones that the guy is now going to federal jail over. And the other ones where it was going to
be kept the cornfield only and all of a sudden it looks to be, unless I'm not reading it right, obviously I don't have a college education. I've been told that before. uh that somehow miraculously that piece of property that you all put an ordinance in
is now all of a sudden going to become this housing unit out there. And it looks like this negotiation's been going on since August of last year, 2025. I realized that Councilman or Deputy Mayor Sylvester was not on the board at the time, but it I I don't understand
it, but okay, I'll wait until the hearing. >> And actually, the Yeah, just to correct you that the the properties and the facts you mentioned are not actually accurate. So, we'll get to that in two weeks from now, but it's not what you're thinking is not >> what we're talking about here. >> Okay. But it's in there's there's been court documents that said these
negotiations were going on with those properties. >> Correct. >> Okay. All right. Maybe >> that's factual. >> Thank you. >> And Mr. Castmore, um, you accused or you stated at the planning board that Miss Murphy and myself, Councilwoman Murphy
and myself own five and seven West Shore Trail. That is incorrect, sir. And we do not have any interest in those properties. >> I own number nine. >> Oh, I own number nine. Yes. But you said five and seven. >> It's nine. >> Okay, folks. Let's move on. Thank you.
>> Thanks for correcting me. >> I already did. >> Okay. >> Oh god. >> Good evening, Pete Lichfield. L I t F I Eld 120 K Knosogga Trail Sparta. Uh
on Friday night, most of us get together at the BFW, we try to solve all the problems of the world. And one of the questions that a lot of people ask me is when it comes to our legal fees with lawsuits, I know you don't want to
discuss the lawsuits, but I look at the legal fee as like the head of the octopus. What are the tentacles costing us? Anytime there's a lawsuit, I was an engineer. You have to have an engineer, a planner, you got to have uh traffic studies, you got to have administration
costs. So, what are the tentacle costs of all these lawsuits, not just the law, you know, what the lawyer gets or the law firm, but all the tentacles that we pay for. So, people in town would like to know that. Thank you. Okay.
>> Thank you. Hi, Quinn Alpine Trail. >> Uh, good evening everyone. Let me begin with reiterating uh what I think we can all agree is clear. Uh, we all understand and appreciate that Sparta
Township's facing a bit of a financial emergency right now. This is a time when difficult decisions need to be made and priorities need to be set because the budget is much more than numbers on a spreadsheet. It's a reflection and a
moral document that reflects our priorities, what we choose to protect when times get hard. That's where I want to speak directly. I want to talk about our veterans and the current look back um policy as it
relates to the budget. So I don't know if you want me to to because they're both connected talk about it now or if I should talk about it. Would you prefer that I wait till later or talk about it because it's kind >> I wouldn't mind maybe during the hearing so keep that concentrate there. Okay. Yeah. All right. I just wanted to make
sure and and I didn't want to lose the opportunity to speak. Okay. No thank you. Appreciate it. Thanks for asking. All right. Anyone else from the public on items on the agenda excluding the ordinance hearings? Okay.
Okay. Seeing none, let's move on with the agenda to expenditures for this evening. Uh, Deputy Mayor Sylvester, would you read the expenditures for April 14th, 2026, please? Expenditures for April 14th, 2026 totals $52,45942.
>> Thank you. May I have a a motion to approve those, please? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> I'll second. >> All those in favor of approving the April 14th, 2026 expenditures, say I. >> I.
>> I. vendor's expenditures have been approved. Okay. And now we're moving on to the introduction of ordinances. The first one is ordinance 2607. U I'm going to interject here and and u
make a motion to table 2607 so that it can be refined and finalized a bit more. Needs some further definition and some components added to it. Um, I'd like to share that in a moment or two if I could just have a second to get to a discussion, please.
>> So, Mayor, before you do, just um, Councilman Scott and Councilwoman Mery have been previously recused from this ordinance, correct? >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. Councilman Scott, you could still sit at the desk. I don't follow the rule of
having to leave the uh, >> I'll I'll second that just so we can have a discussion. And if you could lay out the basis for the the tableabling be helpful. >> Sure. Thank you. Okay. So, this ordinance is um and I won't get into the the merits or the content of the
ordinance. Okay. Um this is re it's related to um a land use in the White Plaza area and the surrounding area of White Plaza. Um the ordinance is bigger but in there there's
a um a description and a definition and some rules around allowing bed and breakfast establishments there. Um I believe that we have a responsibility and a duty to flesh that out a bit more and add some more details
uh and content around what a bed and breakfast is and some of the rules around that. Um, if you look at ordinances for other towns, uh, there are some good examples in Maplewood, New Jersey, and also the township of Washington, New Jersey. And there's plenty others, but those have good
examples of defining a bed and breakfast and laying out some of the guidelines around that. The reason why this is important, it's not just about that little area, but this will de facto become our bed and breakfast guidelines, right? So if and when we do allow it elsewhere and some
zones have that, this is what we'll look to and this will kind of define what a bed and breakfast is. So that's why I think it's important beyond just this ordinance. Uh just some examples. Uh I believe and most of them have a definition or stipulation that it must be a residence, right? So a detached
single family residence and that the owner operator must be either on site or nearby within 15 minutes. Uh potentially there is a uh some towns require a bed and breakfast license from town hall on an annual basis. Uh there's
stipulations around the fact that the the food part the breakfast part needs to be part of the total cost. And these might seem like minutia, but there's a difference between a bed and breakfast and a small inn or a small hotel. And this is meant to be a bed and breakfast in the ordinance. Uh there's also some
towns have different rules around signage because they're in residential neighborhoods or in pockets like that. You want to control the signs outside of it a little bit more. So I I respect greatly the input and the preferences of the LMC leadership and I do believe that
we have a responsibility just to look at it, bring it back in two weeks, put in some of these more details, especially to differentiate it from a small hotel, right? That's a that's a different type of business. If we're talking about bed and breakfast, which I I believe we are, we just need to tighten this up a little bit. So, those are some of the examples.
That's the reason why I I' can make a motion and I'd like to We have a second. I'd like to uh ask my my fellow council people to table this for tonight and bring it back in two weeks to be introduced. >> Um, are we still open for discussion? >> Sure. Yeah. >> Yeah. Now, with no disrespect, uh we had
this ordinance presented and we pulled it to then further reach out to LMC, work together, share some of our concerns. So, we went through this process once before and when I saw this coming up here tonight, I thought those
conversations and you know those that that dialogue took place and we were we expressed some of those other issues that you may have or will be referencing and they came back and they were very comfortable putting this forth and and gave us the confidence. Now, Mr. Dash,
is that correct? It is. But I actually should have mentioned that my firm is recused from substantive um polic policy discussions on this on this um ordinance. Um >> I can answer a little bit. I mean I I
just want to know the sequencing what took place after our last last time we pulled this. >> Yeah. Last time the we one of the defaults one of the deficiencies of this was there was no definition of bed and breakfast period. Right. The first version was linked to the New Jersey I believe was bed and breakfast. So
whatever it is, which no longer exists, so there was no definition in here. So um the Lake Mall Country Club took this and put in a definition and we got it back late Thursday. So I think we saw it on Friday. So that definition perhaps
they're satisfied with it, but because this has implications for the township in general and it's missing some of these items, that's why I don't think it's really been fleshed out in terms of a definition. and looking at other examples too around >> I just think it's important to get the
sequencing on the record because I just you know as I said we have one chance to get this right. Lake Mohawk uh country club put the request and they've asked us to consider and have wanted us to move forward on this. So I just want to make sure that we're in agreement >> and the dialogue's been open and and
we're both satisfactory with their suggestions as well as ours. >> Yeah in return. So, all right. Thank you, Mayor. >> Yeah, I was at the um we have I'm a council liaison along with uh Councilwoman Murphy to Lake Mohawk and
um so I I got a little background on where they got their definitions and um this is from other townships as well. Um, so it, you know, cuz they knew that we needed to flesh out that definition cuz the definition that existed
previously was simply referring to, um, a kind of defunct association as far as we can tell. So there really wasn't a definition. Um, I think, you know, I'm, you know, my inclination here is to, you know, I' I'd like to see, uh, you know,
these bed and breakfastes, you know, we have, right now we have a lodging problem all over Sussex County. We we do um, and we have the need for it. Uh, and in Sparta, you know, we ban short-term rentals, so you that's not an option for
lodging. Um, and I think bed and breakfast makes a lot of sense uh to have that. It's going to drive commercial growth. It's going to uh bring people to the town and and particularly for this zone which is in uh Lake Mohawk in particular, they are
in very much need of of of a bed and breakfast because when they have weddings there, there's nowhere for people to stay. They have to stay 15 miles out and that's uh negatively affects them. So, I really want to do this, but also want to do it right. And I understand uh Councilman Blumemedi's
ide, you know, argument that this isn't just for the C1H. It's going to have a spillover effect to every other zone that, you know, Ben breakfastes are also allowed in other zones, but that isn't what before us right now, but it is going to impact that. Um, I'm my view of
it. Let's make it simpler and not more difficult to attract this type of use in our town. I think we need it. I think it would be helpful. I think it helps economic growth. So, I don't want to bog them down with a bunch of, you know, needless requirements. But that being
said, I need to see what they are first. And so I think um I'll support the motion to table that I hope that Councilman Bumemedi will um you know that we can get this back on the agenda on the 28th with you know and and during that intervening period tell us what you
what additionals you want, why you want them and you know and how they will not be kind of a needless impediment to getting this type of use uh up and running in Sparta. >> Any more comments? Yeah, I'm still a bit unsettled because I look I I think if
we're going to go back, we we I do not want to see this be, you know, used as a, you know, a back and forth, a volley back and forth, and we're not moving this along. So, you know, what what would be the sequencing if we pull this tonight? Who's going to be representing the township to go have that dialogue?
Would that be Councilman Clark since you're the liaison with Lake Mohawk? >> Yeah, I can tell them that we, you know, we want to flesh out, we we thank you for your definition. We're doing our due diligence to see if that's going to be sufficient because this isn't just a, you know, for that historic zone. This
is going to affect other zones that have bed and breakfast and we want to make sure we get this right. >> For those other zones that you're referencing, we can't put other ordinances in place specific to those zones. This one's just going to be uniformed and carried through across the entire town. >> No, that's a good You're right. That's a
good point that we could, you know, but I think there should be some comedy between them at least. I think you know that's um you know I think that's going to be the measuring stick. So say you know there's a bed and breakfastes are allowed I don't know if they are PCED
right well how come PCED gets a less restrictive one and Lake Mohawk gets a more restrictive and then we have to explain that. So it may be that um you know it's not necessary. I I think I want to take a look at what, you know,
Councilman Bumemedi is proposing. Um, and I think that we just reintroduce it again. Uh I think between now and the 28th, um I'd like to hear what these additional ones are and then whether um they should make their way into the uh
revision as opposed to waiting for the hearing and then trying to introduce these additional requirements that may turn out to be a significant change, thereby requiring a reintroduction. >> Right. And I'm I'm just hoping that, you know, the assumption is that we're going to go back to Lake Mohawk and they're
going to be accepting the other suggestions they're making and in the event they don't, they have a process they have to go through and therefore it's going to create either frustration andor more delays. I'll follow through if you want to pull it with but but only with the conditions and the intent the the intent
that we are going to really try to reach out and work together and if there's any conflict that there's compromise there with Lake Mall community to you know mitigate and bring something forward so the next time we see this this is something that and I would love the fact
if someone from LMC could come up here and represent themselves as well and be be present if that's the case >> I And hopefully, you know, I said we got one chance to get this right. Let's >> Yeah, let's get it right. >> You know, three is a charm here. >> As if, in fact, it's it's meant to be an
inn or a small hotel. Let's let's craft that the right way then if it's not >> I understand where you're going with it. But, you know, I think >> and you know, and with all complete respect for what their desires might be, we as a governing body also have to keep
in mind and oversight of zones and uses in the township, >> but they're trying to also administratively correct and fix things that they're governing in their private community. So, I think there's a little bit of Oh, >> absolutely. >> understanding what they're trying to accomplish here as well.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, >> and and and to echo uh Councilman Clark's sentiments too, we do have a shortage of places for people to stay in terms of like bed and breakfast in things like that in the county and and around there too. And um you know, personally, I love staying in these types of places. So, I just want to make
sure we get it right. I'm not opposed to it at all. Okay. Uh so, we have a motion in a second. So, uh all in favor of tableabling this 2607 uh for this evening say I. >> I. I. Mayor should have a roll call.
>> Call because it's an ordinance. >> Councilman Clark. >> Yes. On tableabling. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester. >> Yes. >> Mayor Blumeetti. >> Yes. >> Okay. 2607 has been tabled. Okay. Moving on. Next introduction.
2609. an ordinance of the Township of Sparta, County of Sussex, state of New Jersey to amend chapter 18 entitled Comprehensive Land Management Code by amending section 18-4.8
eight districts by the addition of new zone town center inclusionary housing 2 otherwise TCIH-2 by adding section 18-4.39 entitled Town Center Inclusionary
Housing 2 TCIH2 and by amending the zoning map to show the new zone boundaries for block 5024 lot 10. May I have a motion to introduce ordinance 2609? >> So moved.
>> May I have a second? >> Mayor, for the similar reasons that we've discussed, >> there's right. Councilman Scott, >> I'll second it. >> Deputy Murphy or have a conflict. >> Okay, so we have a second. May have a roll call vote, please.
>> Councilman Clark, >> yes. Deputy Mayor Celesteer. >> Yes. >> Mayor Blumeetti. >> Yes. 2609 has been introduced. >> Ordinance 2610. >> An ordinance of the Township of Sparta, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey to
amend chapter 18 entitled Comprehensive Land Management Code by amending section 18-4.8 8 districts by the addition of a new zone town center inclusionary housing 1, otherwise known as TCIH1
by adding section 18-4.38 entitled Town Center Inclusionary Housing 1 TCIH1 by amending the zoning map to show the new zone boundaries for a portion of block 10002
lot 61 and by amending section 18-4.28 for the existing Town Center professional business TCPB zone to remove certain permitted uses. May I have a motion to introduce ordinance 2610?
>> Mayor, before you do that, um, Coun deputy mayor Sylvester and I have spoken. He's also going to recuse himself from this ordinance due to a conflict. >> Okay. >> Okay. Okay. May I have a motion to introduce 2610?
>> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Is it just me and Dean? >> No, I'm sorry. Um, my apologies. Councilman Scott and Murphy are permitted to vote on this. >> Okay, I'm out. You're in.
>> Okay. >> Okay. So, we have a fir we have a motion. I'll just need a sec. I'll second it. >> Okay. >> Okay. Councilman Clark. Motion. >> I second it. Yeah. >> Okay. Uh, madam clerk, may I have a roll call vote excluding deputy mayor?
>> And so it's >> I think four of us only except Mike is preluded from this. >> Okay. Councilman Scott, >> yes. >> Councilman Murphy, >> yes. >> Councilman Clark, >> yes.
>> Mayor Bli, >> yes. Ordinance 26-10 has been introduced. Okay. Moving on to hearings of ordinances. Ordinance 26-05, an ordinance amending the general
ordinances of the township of Sparta in order to adjust certain fees and escros. May I have a motion to adopt ordinance 2605? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> I'll second.
>> Okay. May I have a We will now open it to the public for public comment. Uh the same general rules apply. Please state your your name and spell it at the microphone. Um and please limit your comments to five minutes
only 605. Okay, seeing none, we'll bring it back to the council to deis for any discussion or comments on 2605 here. >> Which way we going? >> Uh my only question was
we didn't see a delta on in the analysis as to how how much they went up. Are these inflationary moves, these these fees going up or or the cause for that? >> I'm going to defer to attorney Dash. >> Councilman, the delta was uh shared with
the council previously in the last couple of weeks. The costs do account for increased labor costs and increased costs in the market. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. I I will I will say too in in that analysis when you have a chance
there's uh also benchmarks across different municipalities in the area to kind of see what they were charging as well for a lot of these and to make sure that we were in the right range. >> Just wanted to thank manager Zep and his team. A lot of work went into this and
uh just acknowledge that. That's all. >> Ernie Dash deserves a lot of that recognition uh as well. He he he did a lot of work on that. >> Thank you. Any other comments or questions from the deis? >> Nope. >> Okay. Hearing none. Uh for ordinance
2605. Madam clerk, may I have a roll call vote, please? >> Councilman Scott, >> yes. >> Councilman Murphy, >> yes. >> Councilman Clark, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester, >> yes. >> Mayor Blummeti, >> yes. >> Ordinance 2605 has been adopted.
Okay, moving on to ordinance 266, an ordinance amending chapter 2, administration, article 11, taxation and revenue of the revised general ordinances of the township of Sparta, amending section 2-62,
100% disabled veteran tax refunds. Okay. Okay. May I have a motion to adopt 2606? >> So moved. >> I would uh before we get into this, I think we should table this. I
was going through and this is on the look back >> correct >> and I think that I have come up with different numbers than the reports that we have and uh I think we need to refine
them. Yes, it it is it's a lot of money, but I I have come up with different numbers than the reports. So I am I I'm would like and our CPAs and our our Dawn's not here to go over these
numbers, but um I just I I I don't know why the look back is maybe we adjust it yet and not completely get rid of it, adjust it to a
whatever to an average of the housing as as was mentioned prior. the average tax. But I mean, I only got for this this year for 2026, I got 71,000. And why is
it from previous years brought into 2026 to be paid? I I don't understand. So I >> Before Before we discuss it, let's You have a motion. You made a motion to table it. So before we get into discussion, we have to have a second on the topic of possibly tableabling this.
>> I want to table it. All right. But so you have a motion to hear it and a motion to table it. Yeah. How about a discussion? >> If we have a discussion, we have to vote. >> Well, there needs to be a second on any motion. So, we haven't had a second yet.
>> I I'm second. I would like to second tableling it. >> Okay. Now, >> Okay. Now, we can have a discussion at the table. >> Discussion around the >> on the motion to table >> tableabling this. >> Okay. >> Would you like Sorry. >> No, that's not yet. >> Not yet. >> We're not into the hearing. We're We're
not there yet. The public segment comes once the ordinance is introduced and we're going to move it to the public. Right now, we're >> embedded in a tableabling. It's nested. >> I I Yeah, I want to was curious why that
there in the 2026 exempt veteran register why there are numbers. I just mine don't add up from those particular block and lots were not
in 2026. They're from 2023, 2024. Um but yet some of them were just and then yet some of these that are on here I've not even seen. So I don't know where they came from.
>> I agree with Councilman Councilman Murphy. We've had some analysis from from intern from uh from our town manager that shows a a number of over $500,000 is the cost.
We've had some analysis from uh concerned individuals in the town that have spent time with our CFO and they've come up with numbers that are significantly less. And >> I think for the council to make an
educated decision in this time of exceptional, you know, financial pressure on on the town that we should get the numbers right. I mean, that's that's really the the
that's the only thing that miss that Councilman Murphy and I have the issue with is that, you know, we have one number at 139,000 and another number 520. Seems to be a big difference.
>> I Councilman Scott, we there was a a number of reports that came out from our CFO >> and our finance staff >> and I read every one of them. >> Okay. Do you have one? They gave me even additional numbers. >> Okay. Well, this one here, >> wait, we still going to comments, right? Are we >> Mhm.
>> Yes. I'm commenting. We're still within the motion to table. So, I'm commenting on that. So, >> the the cost for 2026 January, February, March is 130,538.606. >> I understand that. So, and there's a I
asked also the same question as council woman had about the timing and I was a little confused about it. Um, so I asked uh >> town manager >> which one was it? >> 130 >> 130 and change for this year so far. >> I got 71.
>> Um, and there's a there's a reason why I was confused why the timing. Why why were some in November and December? Why were they showing up now? And the the reason is because when there's an application for the assessor to review the documents and approve it, that takes
time and that's one date and say that's in October, right? And then there's a time gap between the individual comes and submits to the township for the tax refund, right? And that's when there's another date and the exemption date
could be before that. So the it's not that everything happens in the same month or same quarter necessarily. So these for 2026 are when the actual money got paid out for 2026. So that's that's the 130,000 figure.
But there's and on 2026 there are lot and blocks that I don't see anywhere in any of our minutes on and I just I mean and unfortunately they're not here to explain but
I don't know where they came from. So I would like to table it. That's There was opportunity over the last >> I've looked and I've called I've emailed >> our CFO or town manager
>> and you still are confused. >> Yeah, today >> I said I one question I had today. >> Yeah. >> And it was answered. >> No, it wasn't. >> Yes, it was. >> No, it wasn't. >> Yeah, it was. I I I'm copied on the answer. >> No, it wasn't.
>> It was a timing timing issue maybe. >> No, I'm sorry, but it wasn't. Right. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> But anyway, um >> may I'm gonna take I'm gonna take a side step on >> this is this is comments on the table.
>> I'm going to comment. All right. Regardless of your numbers, I'm going to bring you back to November when this first came up. And I uh politely, professionally, and personally tried to gain your respect to ask you to table this and and and drop this issue uh for a number of reasons. It didn't belong up
here. It's not going to fix any budget. Trenton was floating different types of ordinances out there that may be self-funding this. And I said, "This is not the time, nor should we be considering writing these ordinances, coming back and forth, spending more legal money, fees associated with doing
all the research." The amount of um town manager Zep's efforts to find out what numbers are correct or incorrect as well as public members, this ordinance just needs to go away. And I think Absolutely.
>> Okay. And I just want to close on this. I and I appreciate the applause because that's how I felt from day one with this. All right. And and number two and more importantly with this is let's see what Trenton does. At the very least, we're
putting the cart before the horse again. Trenton has one or two bills floating right now. This is a hot topic. We have we have a governor that served and I would love to see Trenton step up to the plate and give back to communities whether it's one or the
conflicts of many others that say they give it back or not. Let's just let's just drop this issue. I really believe that you know you want to table it. I want to table it indefinitely >> if that's okay to face. >> Yeah. >> Hey, excuse me. Excuse me. Keep it down. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. >> No, I hope Yeah. It's been it's been floating for a while. >> Um just a question. Did we have a report prepared by someone by the name of Robert Coolen? >> Mr. Manager's out.
>> Yes. >> Okay. Who is Robert? >> Robert Coolen is our assistant tax collector. He works closely with the tax collector. Um you received uh two reports from Robert who did an indepth analysis on this topic. I provide it to you uh through my weekly manager report.
>> And how long has Mr. Cooland been with Sparta Township? >> Several several years. >> Okay. And uh what is Mr. Coolen's training to provide such a report? >> Well, he's he's he's worked in lock step
with our long long long veteran tax collector Diane. And have you relied on him u in the past few years for decisions that you've had to make as town manager? >> Yes. >> And do you trust the accuracy of his
work? >> I do. >> Okay. And you have you had any occasion where you doubted the work that he has done? >> No. >> Okay. So, I understand people want to get the
numbers right or whatever, but we have a report from our tax assessor who's qualified to do it, who has come up with the numbers year after year.
And, you know, I'll just read a part of what he says. Sparta Township operates on approximately 17 cents of every property tax dollar collected. The remaining 83 cents goes to the school district, the county, library, and other obligations
before it ever touches our municipal budget. When a veteran qualifies for the exemption and we issue a 24-month refund, we are returning 100% of those taxes, including the 83 cents we never kept. For every dollar refunded, this
town is paying out 83 cents it never had. The money is paid back directly from Sparta's surplus. The veteran loses nothing the state has promised them. The lifetime exemption remains. What we are removing is a
locally invented financial obligation that this municipality cannot responsibly sustain. One that was created outside of state mandate and is funded entirely on the backs of our taxpayers. Look, this decision is not
going to get any easier. It's not. The last people we want to make angry are our veterans. And I admire all the passion and compassion that these folks, they deserve it. They absolutely deserve
it. But I sit here knowing that I don't represent just the most heroic and admirable community members, which are our veterans. I will concede that of the people who live in this town, the most admirable and heroic are our veterans.
They are. But we represent 19,000 other people. and what I got this our qualified person from our tax office saying this is structurally unsound we can't sustain this
right I have to look at that and understand that I represent all those folks this decision is not going to get easier tomorrow the next day so I think we have to have the courage to face it and do what our township is
asking us to do Every department here has made a cut. Every single one. Wreck, police, DPW, they've all been doing it. Y >> right. This is to me, you know, I wish we could do, but there are bills pending
here. There are there's currently stalled. So, I I would encourage everyone who's contacted us via email and via, you know, uh, meetings, go talk to your state legislators because currently there's a bill in the assembly that's stalled in the appropriations
committee to refund this. There's another one stalled in the Senate. And I'll just stop at one other issue. I really hope that people use this energy and compassion to talk to the folks in our federal government who have
cut over 28,000 positions at the Veterans Administration. All right. It absolutely does. If you really care about this population, please put your energy into in in that. I think that to
me is where that energy is required because that's having a huge effect on our veterans right now. and we're simply in a moment of budgetary um you know crisis and we're trying to figure out we're asking every department to come up with it and they have and to
me this is a reasonable response to that so it's not going to get any easier if we table it it's always going to be a hard decision do what your conscience and your courage tell you to do >> and my view of it is I represent every single person in Spar not the most
admirable and the most heroic which are our veterans I got to think about the other folks and I've got my tax person telling me this is structurally unsound and it cannot be sustained and I have to listen to that. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I'd like to comment on that. May May I? >> Sure.
>> I mean we have that tax same tax person commenting that our ratables are down 40 something% and there's a number of different reasons why we're facing this budget deficit and it's just not because of this issue and this issue alone. We have a spending problem here. We have we spend more money on lawsuits and
professionals in a given day and or you know in a month than we do trying to fund this program. So with no disrespect, Councilman Clark, and it's not to politicize this, not directly at you or any of our council members here or anybody else. I promise no politics.
I just this is not something to play politics with. And I think this isn't the answer. That's going to be the the fixall for our budget. Yes, we do have a budget issue and it's going to get challenging and more challenging as we move forward, but rising health costs and everything aside, this this doesn't
even put a dent in anything. So, I just want to go back to my original statement of please table this indefinitely if that's the vote on the table. Thank you. >> So, just saying until we get some answers and we I might turn Let me just speak here. Please let me speak. So, um
we we know the numbers, right? There's no if you don't if if people don't understand them. If people in the public excuse me I'm speaking people in the public or if you don't understand numbers we have an 11page report. We've seen a bunch of versions of these of the facts from the finance office about what the numbers are. Okay. The numbers are
130,000 for the first three months of this year and out of that 108,000 the town did not have to pay because we already sent most of it to the board of ed and to the county. That's how it works. So the 17% stays here. So out of the 130 paid, 100,000 108,000 we did not
have here. So that's that's a fact. I'm I'm I have no doubts these numbers are correct. We've gone through them a million times. The numbers are here. You've seen the reports. Um there's a timing issue about when things show up. This is what the first quarter represents. 130,000 for the first quarter. If that
were to multiply out for the year, talking over half a million dollars. >> Okay. No, let me finish. Yeah. Why not? The numbers have been increasing. Numbers have been increasing every year. There's no reason to think that they wouldn't. Maybe not quadruple, but >> at this pace, >> we're looking at over half a million
dollars. Okay. And >> the town, as soon as it gets the money in, it sends 83% of it off to the county and the board of ed. So even though the refunds are being made, the money is not here. Okay? So it's not that it's a one for one. So that's one thing that you
have to understand. Um, I do I do always support and believe in our veterans and I want to do everything I can. This is a painful discussion and immensely proud of my family and my friends and my grandfather, my cousin, uh, my godfather
and a lot of others who have served, okay, and what they gave up. And with this budget situation, we're talking about not only cuts to departments and not only programs and services, but we're also talking about layoffs, okay? there are potential layoffs and that affects real families as well. Okay,
that's where it gets serious for me. Okay, and I know this is a benefit that I would love to continue on and maybe we can shortly, but when you look at the numbers, a half a million dollars, 130,000 somewhere in between, that is something that we have a tough time
supporting right now. And I'd ask if anyone up here, as painful as it is, if we don't take some action on this, what's the solution? I haven't heard an answer. Okay. So, where's the other 200,000 300 500? Let me finish. Let me
finish. Where's that $500,000 come from? Councilman Scott, I looked I know I emailed you on your proposal, your idea, which I love the idea of finding a middle ground and you know the the 13,700 per refund assuming only a one-year look back and all that and
you've seen that you you saw the analysis. So that's still 200 to $440,000 this year alone. So it doesn't really solve anything. I mean, it's in the spirit of a concept of compromising, it does, but it's still
two three $400,000 this year. So, it really wouldn't make a dent. Um, but may I just mechanically, uh, manager Zep, this is prepaid. This is money that they paid. This is tax money that we receive from them. Is that not going into a
reserve fund or it goes into our general fund to be used at our discretion? Because money in if this money if if this money was coming in knowingly that this can be reimbursed to them. >> It's not no it's not >> they've already paid it and they get reimbured. >> They pay you're giving you're giving
them a reimbursement >> and it's coming from your surplus. >> So >> to pay for them. >> Okay. >> Well, exactly. >> So So from an accounting principle standpoint, you're taking that money. You're you're getting you're they're prepaying their taxes. No, they're not
prepay. They're paying their taxes. They're paying their tax. They're paying their taxes. >> So, you're giving them a reimbursement. >> We're refunding them for the taxes they've paid. >> Going backwards. >> Going back. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> What are we doing with the money while
it's sitting here? While they paid it where you're saying 82 cents goes to the schools, 18 cents. >> It's already It's already gone. Yep. >> So, we never set up a reserve. There was no anticipation of this program or some because we had a big surplus. We were
able to absorb it that way and it was no money in money out no big deal. >> I'm just trying to understand the financial mechanics. I'm a little confused. >> Well, I would say that we have to understand this. >> I mean, let's call a spade to spade. Between the year of 2020
>> and 2024, the town raised the tax rate less than 100 basis points and the rate of inflation went up 2800 basis points. That's unsustainable. Rates are cost of living is going up.
The cost to operate the town is going up. the tax taxes are not going up and the deficit was drawn down to cover the payments to keep the town running and that's what has happened here. >> So wait let's stay on top please that is what has happened.
>> We're going to stay on topic here for this issue. >> We are staying on topic. You want to know why this happened? You want to know why this happened? This is why it happened. We drew down that deficit because we did not keep taxes rising at the rate of inflation >> and we drew down the surplus. Yeah. I'm
sorry. The surplus >> and and here we have no room to move now. >> And what's the solution? >> The solution is like Mr. Clark said, >> it's I don't know the what's the answer then? Where where else do we look? What else do we do when everything else and
we're thinking layoffs or we're thinking job freezes, no capital improvements? >> Well, I've suggested at planning board meetings and I've suggested at at numerous meetings that we charge the developers that come here for their the time that the engineers. >> Okay, let's And that doesn't h and that
hasn't happened because we're user friendly in Spark. >> We just took care of in the last ordinance. >> Yeah. So, that's taken care of. >> That's taken care of. Check. That was one of those. >> Okay. We did two things. >> Okay. This is more of a budget conversation for when we introduce the budget or when we have the budget hearing. I get where you're going. >> My solution is to control the spending
and where that spending goes without making another comment anymore about it. These lawsuits need to be settled and we could cut expenses and focus elsewhere other than just floating this thing for $100,000. If we're down to $100,000, folks, we got bigger problems.
>> It's not $100,000. >> It's It's $130,000 to date and prorated out. You got up to 500. How many applicants are still in the pipe pipeline for this year's uh >> reimbursements? How would we know that? >> We don't know that. >> How would we know that? Just like you're
saying, how do we put money aside? >> What's a fiveyear average how many we've had? I know a report, right? >> Well, it just shows that there's a progression every year, right? 23 there's eight veterans. 24 there's 11 13. >> That's not that's not a quick solution
because well, >> it's not all of >> it's about spending folks. It's not just we have a revenue problem and a spending problem here. We need to generate revenue and reduce and really and tighten our belts on a spending approach. And this shouldn't be the the
the pivot point of which this gets >> it's not up to light. It's not one of many many many it's a very complex thing. It immediately does tie right back to the budget. and the budget, whether it's health insurance, legal fees, professional fees, uh not raising taxes for two, three, four, five, eight
years, burned $11 million surplus over the last three and a half years. Put it all together, it the math doesn't work. All right? And a math's definitely not going to work. Saving $100,000 if you pass this. >> That's you're still you're finding you're finding zero. There's not that
will not have a direct impact to balancing your budget. Maybe maybe zero out your spreadsheet for a little period of time, but it will not balance your budget long term. >> I don't think I think 100 I think 300 400 $500,000,000. >> It's not that it it's you guys are
throwing around numbers. Back to Margie's comment about throwing numbers around. I mean numbers are fine anywhere from 250 originally 250 and we found out the 250 was a total of two years not one. And then we get into it's 130 to date and it's prorated out to 5 550
plus. That's with an asterisk next to it. Correct. Because we don't know. >> We don't going to be 130. We may not get another dispersement this year. We don't know. >> Past three years, Mike, it's increased. >> Then then let's lay it out that way, please, for the public's sake and and
and for them to understand as well. >> So what are we going to do? Lay lay people out. >> I I I gave you my recommendation. table this thing indefinitely and let's move on to bigger issues. >> So there is to to the to to the point there is a there is a report. Okay, everyone has this. This is a report showing back years and years.
>> Yes. >> So I I just I getting tired of hearing people saying we don't know the numbers. That's not true. >> I didn't say we don't know. I said they're not making >> Well, it's also I mean we got this report after we made spending cuts, right? I hear this. Oh, you got to cut
spending. We cut spending. DPW cut it. Our police cut it. Our recreation department cut it. This township is not doing capital improvements this year. How much was that that we cut? That's effectively a cut, is it not? >> 8 million. >> $1.8 million, folks.
>> So, we came up with this not when we were like, "Oh, we need to keep spending money." No, we figured out we made every department cut. And they're still recommending this. This report came in March after after all these departments. They didn't say, "Well, now you've cut enough. I think you could probably float
this. No, we have a report by someone who has done a hell of a lot of work for this town that we've come to rely upon. And what are we going to rely upon? A letter to the editor. That's who that's what we're going to use as a basis to
rebut this. Give me another expert similarly qualified as him and attack those numbers. He's done this work after we've done all those cuts. We're doing all we can to make this a fin to be, you know, one of the two towns in the entire state that does this. We tried
everything. That's why we tabled it the first time. >> But we we had an audit done. This wasn't even referenced in our audit as a recommendation. >> An audit might an audit is for financial recommend. But it does give you recommendations. And this was not even referenced in any previous audit as
being a something that we should be considering moving forward. >> I think that's part of an audit. That's the audit is about financial controls recommendations in the audit. >> It wasn't in there as a recommendation but that doesn't >> it wasn't a recommendation and the audit does mayor with no disrespect. The audit
gives recommendations on how to whether we do administrative fixes or some additional revenue fixes and the like. There's other recommendate. That's the point of it. We got recommendations. Some were heavy-handed and some were suggested. So, this never showed up and
and I don't know. I you know my position on this. I'm voting no for this at 100% and that's it. You guys want to We going to a vote? Not yet. No. Deputy mayor, I I I understand your thinking around the audit, but the audit also didn't identify 20 or 30 or 50 other things
that we cut. So, just saying it's not there is not a valid argument. You know what I'm saying? The audit is or do you do you have financial controls in place? It's not a financial planner or a strategist to say increase taxes, cut recreation, >> but the order focused on specifics as well, i.e. grants when we were just they
gave specifics if you read the I was very very >> handle grants. Yeah. >> How do you the administrative how you handle that the the collections of of uncollected taxes focusing on the rut was a big recommendation. Focus on our
rut to get that money in. >> There was other things. So there was specifics. Mayor, no disrespect. I read that thing. >> I think this is a this is a policy and a financial planning >> point, right? Um >> Oh, it's a budget. It It ties You can't ignore this because it ties to the budget, >> of course. Yeah, it does. I would I hate
to say that it everything ties to the budget, right? Every benefit, every program, everything, every employee we pay, every >> it all ties to the budget. Um >> so I go back thinking about the budget. Okay, so again, what is the what is the solution
to fill the gap? Right. Or just think about that because we're going to get there in another two weeks with the budget introduction. Okay. So, we have to think about making up that gap and what's what's going to be cut >> ratable. Just to be realistic. >> And I said ratable intake. We need to get projects going and start generating.
We have some good projects in field. Let's get some others going. Let's get some new ratables in here and poof. This is this is a secondary third. This isn't even a conversation. As we generate and we keep some progress going with new ratables. I would agree with you, but from a budget standpoint, we are obligated by law to pass a balanced
budget. So, I would love to say, and I I agree with you, things are picking up and we could forecast like a company would forecast, oh, like this year, we're going to make an extra 2 million or 100, you know, but for the budget standpoint, we're not allowed to do that. So, right now, we have we have to balance, but this
>> this is one point. >> Excuse me. >> Any other comments? >> Nope. Yeah, I look forward at the budget for those who think they have a better solution than this to come up with the budget cuts that they think we need to
further cut to to fund this. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, um I I mean I it's enough has been said about this. Like I said, I I get it. It's no one wants this is a hard issue. >> But I think that you know, you got to
remember we've already cut so much. Those cuts are going to affect all the taxpayers, the >> all of them. And we represent all of them, >> not just the most deserving among us. All right? And so, um, I I just don't
see it as a a financially responsible thing to do right now. And so, enough about that. And I think we need to be financially responsible. Our tax assessor has told us what the financially responsible thing to do. um we have no reason uh based on his
qualifications, based on the representations of manager Zep to doubt the work that he has done. So my view of it is let's take what he recommends. >> Yeah, I I feel like we have an obligation and a responsibility um to do things sometimes that we don't like or
that people don't like. Um and it this unfortunately I think is one of them. Okay. Any other comments for now? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Okay. Uh, Madame Clerk, can I have a roll call vote on tableabling
ordinance 2606, please? >> Councilman Scott, >> yes. >> Councilman Murphy, >> yes. >> Councilman Clark, >> no. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester, >> yes. >> Mayor Bli, >> no.
So, 2606 has been tabled. Okay, on to the resolutions. Uh, we're not going to do any carveouts tonight. So, we're going to go through the resolutions one by one. >> Ju just a clarification on the no carveouts. >> What happened in the public?
>> There is one >> involving >> the most valuable member. >> I'm sorry. >> Yes. So, can we carve that one out? >> No, I misspoke. I I meant the opposite. >> Okay. I meant we're carving. We're not carving. >> Okay. >> We're not doing any bulk. >> We're not carving. Okay. Sorry. All right. No, just making sure A3 doesn't
get carved. >> No, no, no. >> No. I misspoke. I meant the opposite. Sorry. Okay. So, we're going to go through each one one by one. >> Okay. Resolution 8-1. The resolution of the township of Sparta appointing a municipal housing liaison. May I have a motion to approve
8.1? 8-1. So move. >> I may have a second. >> This is >> second. >> Any comments, discussions, questions? I need 81. >> We do our new employee.
>> Uh the >> department head now. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> What exactly does the municipal housing liaison do? municipal housing liaison deals with all things municipal housing.
I'm just kidding with you, Mark. I couldn't resist. Um, she provides oversight to mostly our third party administrator, which is CGP&H. They oversee the sales and rentals of all the affordable housing units in the Sparta.
They keep track of the hierarchy of priorities on who is next up for a unit, whether it's a sale or a rental. Uh she also helps oversee the uh affordable housing trust fund. Um we keep track of that. Um and she would be the the go-to
person for questions related to affordable housing, though lately it's been most of you up here. So, >> and just to be clear, this is this is not a new employee. This is not a new position being paid. This is a designation of a title for an an employee. Just to be clear with
everyone, this is not correct. Yeah. This is designating an employee as the liaison. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Designating an employee as the liaison. >> Correct. It's another another marginal cost. >> No. >> No. >> It's another hat. She gets to >> she gets to wear
>> gets to wear. >> It's a group effort though. I'll be honest you. We're all doing it. So, >> okay. >> All right. All in favor >> of approving resolution 8-1 say I. I >> I >> 81 has been approved. Uh resolution 82,
resolution of the township of Sparta, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, acknowledging and providing consent to New Jersey American Water Company, Inc. to be the successor grantee of the franchise agreement between the Township of Sparta and Village Utility LLC in
relation to providing wastewater facilities in the township roads and rights of way. May I have a motion to approve 82? >> So moved. May I have a second? >> I'll second it. Um, town manager Zep, would you just provide
a brief description of this? >> Well, I I think we had invited a representative of American Water. You there? There you guys are. Why don't you step up for me? You know, I know you all through email. I don't know you by face. So, um
this is a group you you got the microphone right there. If you could just uh maybe just explain uh what's happening here for for the council and for the public. We greatly appreciate it. >> Yeah. Good evening, council. Uh my name is Kevin Roodier. I'm the lead engineering project manager at New
Jersey American Water, overseeing the acquisition of the village utility system. So, New Jersey American Water has entered into an agreement with Village Utility LLC to purchase their assets and to become the owner operator
upon close of that agreement. >> Excellent. I'm I'm I don't mean to jump in front, but I I asked them here because uh I figure the common question would be uh for all the residents who live up in the North Village area who are serviced by American Water uh what would be the effects of the new
ownership? >> So New Jersey American Water currently we serve about one-third of New Jerseyians. So we have utility operations across the state. This is what we do in and out every single day.
It's our expertise. We are considered the leader in the utility space. Um so what the residents of that village are getting is by far the best company, the best operations. Um with no impact to
their rates. Um everything is going to stay as is, but we will be owning and operating that system. Um, with me I have our senior director of operations in the north, Jeff Bulby. Uh, he is the one that will be overseeing the crews um
that you would see on site managing that system. >> Thank you. >> Just to be to be clear for the public what this is is we're talking about North Village and this is a private transaction that is in the works. the
current operator of the North Village Wastewater Management is selling to American Water. Um they're here only because the township um needs to provide uh consent so they can then move on to go get NJD approvals and other approvals. Can you talk about that sir
for a minute about what kind of steps happen next in terms of approvals to make sure that >> what's happening is appropriate and proper? >> Yep. So um as I mentioned we have entered into the legal agreement with Village Utility. The first step in the process is to go through certain
regulatory approvals. Village utility being governed by the board of public utilities. Uh we in acquiring them have to receive approval from them. But also uh we have to transfer the franchise which has certain language that you all
agreed to with village utility when the franchise was set up that we require acknowledgement from your council. Once we get that acknowledgement, we can then proceed with the Board of Public Utilities approvals. Um, and that'll take us just one step closer to closing on the acquisition.
>> Okay. >> Thank you. Any uh any other questions or >> Yes. Uh sir, >> when we were campaigning uh just a year ago in in that in the north village, >> we went to many many homes that were
there and we spoke with many many people that were there >> and they're probably number one complaint >> of being up there was the smell and the cost of this system >> and I was wondering how do you anticipate to address that going
forward? Will the costs go down due to the economies of scale that you'll be bringing? >> That's a good question. The costs are regulated by the BPU. Um, so those costs are currently set up in the tariff that Village Utility has approved. New Jersey American Water through this agreement
would adopt that existing those existing rates. So it wouldn't change because of that regulatory environment. In terms of operations of the wastewater plant, um I can definitely say that our team has decades of experience um in running that
plant. New Jersey American Water also continuously invests in our systems to make sure that they are run to compliance with state and federal standards. Um so residents can definitely be assured that we will be maintaining that level of compliance.
>> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you. Yes, I have I have a question. Okay. >> Is the are I'm sorry, one more thing. Is the rate currently under the BPU now? >> Yes, it it is is publicly regulated. >> So, it's not going up or down? >> No, it's regulated by the BPU. So, that
and it's publicly out there like you can look up the their tariffs. >> Yeah. Thank you for showing up and explaining explaining this tonight. Um, you mentioned that the rates are not going up. Is that part of your PSA agreement for a certain period of time?
I know they're subject to BPU. So, as you go in there, you start operating the system and you recognize you may want to put enhancements or improvements into the system, you may suggest a a future >> rate increase to the BPU subject to their review and approval. Correct.
>> Exactly. That >> as of now, you're you mentioned and I don't know if you maybe stated it just as a temporary part of the agreement. Is this a period of time? Are you anticipating any current and or future rate increase to the folks in
>> in North Village? >> What uh let me explain what I said. What I say is when we acquire them, we are not taking their rates in immediately increasing them um to a higher rate category as approved by the BPU. Time to time, New Jersey American Water does submit our investment plans to the BPU
to recover our costs on those investments. Um we are continually investing in our systems across the state. Um as you probably all are aware um way water and wastewater systems require a lot of capital investment.
That's something that our team does well. So we are constantly looking at the best ways to upgrade our systems um replace aging water manes implement treatment for new emerging contaminants. All of those projects then get compiled
submitted to BPU for us to recover those cost or rates. >> Right. And the current operator is currently subject to those same procedures and protocols. Correct. >> Per the BPUs. Yes, they are. Right. Do you know when the last rate increase was
proposed up there? >> I don't know that. >> I I'm not aware of that for their system. >> Right. No further questions. >> Okay. >> So, you're in the process of acquiring it?
>> Yes. Yes, we are. >> Okay. And this is one of the the early steps in the process. >> All right, good luck. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? Uh >> um how often are you allowed to um I guess for lack of a better word, petition the BPU for a rate increase?
>> Good question. Two years. >> Years. >> Every two years. >> Every two to three years. >> Okay. Um, and has it been your experience that after you've acquired uh a system either through a municipality or in this case a private one where you've within that 2-year period you
have petitioned for a higher rate based on the investment that you've had to make for the property for the system that you acquired. Does that normally happen? >> So we we submit based on the investments that we make. We don't always the BPU
doesn't always approve that full level of investment for recovery. >> I see. So you what you do is you say, "Look, we invested $5 million. Let's just take that." And the BPU says, and you know, you say you I we invested $5
million in cost. We want a rate increase of let's just for round up $5, whatever, >> right? and they say, "We're only going to give you two.5 million as your cost that you were able to. Therefore, you don't get $5, you get 250." Yep. >> Is that basically how it kind of works
in a very rough >> view? Yes. Yes. That is >> got you. Um but when you make that rate increase, what you're doing though is you're trying to recoup and c justify that what you think were necessary costs to bring the system um lack of better word up to snuff, I guess.
>> Yes. Correct. Complant. >> Compliant. >> Complant. Okay. So, not just up the snow compliant because I know we're facing now, you know, with all the POS regulations and things like that. >> Yeah. And I will say, >> yeah, Paul Sarabondo, our business
development, uh, manager, >> North Jersey for the North Jersey area. >> Number one, >> Paul Saran, I wanted to introduce myself. Um, I appreciate the council, the mayor's time, the residents out here. Um, American Water, we pride ourselves in being a good partner to the
community. Um, providing safe drinking water operated by licensed operators with over 100 years of expertise. So, just wanted to put that out there and thank you for your time today and inviting us to speak. >> Yeah, thank you for coming and thank you
for being here and >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Appreciate it. >> Okay. Um, >> we'll do a >> for resolution 82. We have a motion and we have a second. Um,
>> so let's go right into the vote. Um, all in favor of approving resolution 8-2 say I. >> I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Or abstain? No. Okay. 8-2 has been approved.
Resolution 8-3. Resolution reappointing Roxan Landy to serve in the position of municipal clerk and municipal registar. May I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second.
>> Okay. Okay. Um >> the only comment I have is thank you very much. You do so much for all of us and for the town and for the residents and we really treasure you being in your spot. So >> above and beyond. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> All right. Congratulations, Roxan. And now we'll take this opportunity >> to swear you in. >> No swearing. Oh, at least we didn't debate this very
Um, >> okay. Please, you have your left hand on the Bible. Raise your right hand and repeat after me. And I will say this is fun to be on this side of the microphone for once instead of having you there doing it for all of us. So, we appreciate it. I, Roxan Landy,
>> I, Roxan Landy, >> do solemnly swear >> swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States. >> That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. >> and allegiance to the same
>> and to the governments established in the United States. >> governments >> and in this state under the authority of the people. >> State under the authority and that I will faithfully >> faithfully >> impartially and justly
>> impartially and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of the office of municipal clerk and municipal registar >> municipal clerk and municipal registar >> according to the best of my ability. So help me God. >> Best of my ability. So help me God.
>> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> And always with a smile. Congratulations, Roxan. >> Thank you. >> Always with a smile. >> Welcome. Can you go with your mom? >> You guys go in front of the sign.
>> Finally, we get to meet you. Wait a minute. Nice boy. Okay, moving on to the more mundane resolution 8-4, resolution authorizing the second extension of temporary appropriations
for operating purposes. May I have a motion, please, to approve 8-4? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Any comments, questions, discussion? >> How long is the extension?
Do we run out? >> This covers the second quarter if it's necessary. >> Second quarter. And And we This helps us keep paying the bills. >> Um >> until we approve the >> the budget. >> Budget. >> Correct. >> Mhm.
>> And this is going to get us to through second quarter. >> Hope so. >> Through that period. >> Yeah, it should. I mean, >> limit your showers. >> Yeah. All the departments are are on super conservative schedule right now.
So >> all right any other comments, questions from the deis. >> Okay. All in favor of approving resolution 8-4 say I. >> I. >> I. >> 8-4 has been approved. Resolution 85, amended resolution of the township of
Sparta to award a contract to Capital Supply Construction Products LLC for Waterworks Hardware, Pipe, and Accessories. May I have a motion to approve 85? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Second.
>> Okay. And uh Town Andrew, could you share a little bit of the background of this? >> Well, I'm fortunate enough to have our township engineer here. um he helped us put this together. Okay. >> But uh it's exactly what it says. This is um >> this is uh the award of contract capital
construction for our water department um for all the hardware and and um supplies that they need to run their department and to service the residents who are served by the public water system. >> Okay. Yep. Hey Corey, just introduce yourself to folks. >> Yeah. Hello everyone. Uh Corey Stoner,
tons of engineer. Resolution 85 and 86 are related on your on your agenda. Um after we made the award last month, we found an error in the uh the award from Ferguson uh supply and by doing so it changed one of the sections of the
awards. The these awards for all the materials and and equipment that the water department uses every year. So there's six sections. Section four has over 100 items, you know, that that you put out for bidding. And there was two items that were incorrect in the Ferguson bid which you know which this
barely happens is the unit price was incorrect. So what it did is it changed the low bidder from Ferguson to capital. So this this ordinance amends the I'm sorry this resolution amends the one we did I believe last month and and establishes the correct uh sections of
the award. So um under section resolution 85 they uh capital supply now is the awarded sections 1 4 5 and six of that bid and then when you when you get to resolution 86 they uh Ferguson is
awarded sections two and three. Section four is removed from their award and moved over to the capital supply and that it all came to a uh incorrect numbers that they had in their unit price. When we do a bid bidding of the project, you have a unit um the
quantities times a unit price and at a full dollar amount. Um they had math errors when it came down and um um I did not catch the math error in the original award. We caught it in this one, but we had to correct it here before we made any any uh purchases or acquisitions
under the award. So that's why we're here tonight. >> Okay. So it's it's correcting and and placing it with the the right sections with the lowest bidder as appropriate. Okay. Okay. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Corey. >> Okay. Any questions or comments on this?
Okay. Seeing none, all in favor of approving resolution 85, say, "I." >> I. >> I. >> Okay. 85 has been approved. Resolution 86, amended resolution of the township of Sparta to award a contract to Ferguson Waterworks for Waterworks Hardware, Pipe, and Accessories. May I
have a motion, please? So moved. Sections two and three. a second. Okay. Um I assume there's no more conversation, discussion. Okay. All in favor of 86, voting for 86, please say I. >> I.
>> I. Resolution 86 has passed. Okay. Moving on. Open to the public. This is for items not on the agenda. Again, items not on the agenda, please state and spell your name for the record. Each speaker is limited to one comment of no more than five minutes and no yielding time to another.
>> Yeah. Jim Castmore, you know, I hear this thing about the the money were short in the town. I got thinking about it. >> You're going to donate? >> Yeah, guys. >> Huh? Yeah, I can. >> Uh, let's see. We got 2022. We had
almost 11 million in the bank account. There it was. 10,973,000. Three years, four years later, nothing. Where'd it go? >> Got asked where'd it go? Well, first we had a lawsuit. Individual sued the town.
Uh, was it a trucking terminal or whatever it was? Lost that one. Let's sue a second time. Okay. Those individuals subsequently got voted onto the town council. First thing we do, Sparta film ready, an
initiative ordinance. Wrote it, rewrote it, wrote it, rewrote it. My god, that thing went that went back and forth like a pingpong ball. You know how much money we've generated today for this township on that ordinance?
Zero. Not a penny. Huge expense. No income. Then we had next ordinance cannabis. Everybody came here, planning board came here and said, "Not in keeping with the town. We don't want it." Nope. We're
going to have it anyway. Taxpayers said, "Uh-uh. Don't work that way." Wrote up to a vote. >> Mhm. >> Was repealed by the taxpayers. There only one problem with that. My memory serves me. If it goes 21 days
without being taken away, it automatically becomes law. So that law is still in effect to this day. Next thing we had was the uh the budget for 2025.
Put a budget together. Waited to the very last minute at the end of June. First meeting in August. Yeah. Well, we got a lot of attorneys bills. So I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll
borrow a quarter of a million dollars from the 2026 budget. That's this one you're trying to put together. Gets better. without a resolution, without a public discussion.
After NJD approved the water quality management plan for the applicant, Diamond Chip Realy Corporation, the mayor at the time asked the township attorney to leave the room
and instructed the town manager to sue NJD, which he did. That is in court as we speak. You know, you created your own monster here.
Now, we get a federal lawsuit. Applicants suing for $100 million. Well, we have a thing we call the GIF fund, joint insurance fund, the state of New Jersey. We pay into it. Now, we don't want you guys. So the township of Sparta
they hired John Bartlett Tyler Newman planning board Richard Oler Township Council John Bartlett Tyler Newman W Clark John Bartlett Tyler Newman Township Council Councilman Mark Scott
John Bartlett Tyler Newman and it just goes on Dan Sheerella same thing. Township attorney Mr. Dash. I always thought attorneys had their own policies. I guess we don't. Matthew Flynn and Steven Warner.
They're also suing Sparta Responsible Development. The president at the time of Sparta Responsible Development was Mr. Dash. That's Steuart Lieberman and uh Michael Gone. So, we get through that. that has cost this town more than money
because the word got out and no one wants to come to Sparta. No one. From September the 1st to tonight, planning board has heard one application. Planning board meetings
have been cancelled. You know what was approved? The 79,000 ft warehouse. Now, let's talk. I got 30 seconds. Ready for this? Total ratable of a house in Spart, New
Jersey, average ratables, $343,000. 2024, you had $143,000 in new ratables. 2025, you did better. 206. So, in two years, the total new ratables to Sparta
was the equivalent of one house or thereabouts. You can't sustain a town on that. You got to settle these lawsuits. Stop all these ordinances. It's costing a fortune. I just opened for all the attorneys fees and stuff is we're going
to get to the bottom of these lawsuits and what the attorneys are costing this town because that's where the crux to the problem is. These lawsuits like Pete said it, the tentacle. Well, guess what? Let's get to the bottom of the tentacle and get this town moving again because
with no raidables coming in, I don't know what in the world you're going to do. >> Thank you, Mr. Customer. >> Thank you. Pete Litchfield, Li TfL. Thank you for your service. you don't have an easy job. Uh in my past life, I
used to work with American Waterworks, wonderful company. Uh but one of the things I know myself, Mr. Finkele, before they were when they were building the shop, right? What happens in all these little package waste treatment plants? I start like Marge and Pete's
LLC waste treatment plant and I run it while it's I'm making my money. As soon as it needs repairs, I worked for in Philont from Paris. As soon as they get all their money out, they get someone to take it over. They're going to do all these improvements and those people are
going to pay for everything. So, in the future, if a developer comes in and he tells you he's going to put a a package plan in, you tell them, "No, you could hook up to uh to Skuma." Ska has we have plenty of capacity, right, John?
I mean to build these little waste treatment plants, it's it's bizarre that that even was there in the first place. I I thought about it back then and any more developments come up, please tell them you got to hook into the sewers. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. I will say just that was an issue that this council did not face whatever council that was there. Um so and I think we're also seeing if North Village was such this financial panacea that was
going to give you know lay a golden egg every year. Uh, I think that's put that issue to bed because if it was going to lay a golden egg every year, we wouldn't be in this position. So, I think that's something that this council should think about every time we hear, "Well, more
ratables is the answer." If it was, then when we have these great big ratables, then how come they're not, why are we in the situation that we're in? So, I don't think it's always the answer. I think you have to control cost. And with every ratable presents cost. The problem is you don't see the cost until 5 years
down the road. Hi Jenny. Sorry. Hi. Hi. >> Thank you. >> Jenny tap into Sparta. Mr. Zep. Thank you for um addressing most of my concerns before I even got here. I did want to just make one statement. The um
at 809 uh West Mountain. I was out there today. There are currently three tractor trailers parked there. Not the tractors, but the trailers. Three of the long truck uh tractor. The trailers >> trailers. Thank you. >> No, not box trailers. Three trailers
plus one refriger two long ones plus one long refrigerated one plus earth moving equipment plus a couple of other vehicles that weren't there back in February. So, it seems like something else is still going on. Uh there's a
road cut in there that looks like it's supposed to be some type of an ingress or egress. U the dirt pile for people who haven't been out there. I don't know if you've been out there. I know, Corey, you have been several times. It's way over my head. If you stood on the grass
to where the top of the soil where the dirt has been dumped, it's I I don't even know how high it is, but it would be way over my head. It's not insignificant. And to have the uh the neighbors um have to bear have to have
this hanging over their head, it you want to talk about trying not to have a lawsuit You know, I know that you're doing what you can and Corey has been out there a number of times, but that really needs to be taken care of up and down as much as possible for these poor
people around there who are have wells that have to have concerns because they will turn around and sue the town if there comes up to be a problem later and the town didn't take every measure at their disposal to take care of this problem. So, I appreciate that. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Jerry Murphy Murphy. Just a little clarification. Mr. Clark, you uh were quoting Mr. Robert Koulan, an assistant tax collector, and stated
that 70% 17 cents on a dollar went to the town. >> And 83 cents on a dollar went to the school >> and the library. >> County, he didn't say that. >> Yeah.
>> Can't just go to the school. >> The balance the balance goes down to the county. There are three parts of your tax bill. >> Municipal municipal county. Don't interrupt me, please. >> Yes, sir. >> The county, >> smiles,
>> the tax the the local municipality and a school. Also, he said it was locally invented that that resolution. No, it's a state, >> not the look back. >> The look he was referring to look back.
The look back is not was not a state created thing to suggest otherwise. Yes, it is correct. No, it's not. >> Yes, it is. It's title 54 taxation section 54 colon 4-3 d uh30 disabled veterans exemption
>> smile. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Joanne Scy c a l y. Um to uh Councilman Clark, I just wish you were so more fiscally responsible when you filed the suit to D. Um I have a question.
>> Just just a correction. I didn't file the lawsuit. >> You told you in told town manager to do it. You instructed him. >> That's not accurate. I don't know what your source is. >> I don't I don't I don't file lawsuits on >> You're saying you instructed the town
manager to do >> Where are you getting that from? What's your source? You asked the um town attorney to leave that >> we voted on it. >> Yeah, that was not it was not a single person. >> Yeah, I don't the litigation matter discussed in executive session. >> Okay, I'll go back and look. That's why it's not public.
>> I'll go back and look. >> Um I have a question. Um >> with town ordinances, are they follow followed 100% across the board for everyone or are they enforced the town ordinances 100%. They I don't They should be.
That's the intention. >> Okay. I have a question. Um with these gas line projects. >> Um I waited two extra years because I was like on a gas island. Um they came down Mountain Heights, they came down
Tomok. Three houses were there. I did ask because we're the next year we would have been out less than a year um out of the prohibition period. Told we couldn't do it. Um so I had to wait an extra year after that. um to save money. And now I
go around town. I go up Sawmill. They're still in the prohibition. The roads open. Go up to Under Rock. That was over a year ago. The gas line was laid. And I go up to Angelo, which was only a year since they've been repaved. And they
were all marked out for gas lines. How come? How come these people are favoritism that they're only a year since that road was repaved but they are all marked out for gas? And I know um at one meeting you did say well one person was saying
why are you doing this bringing up Glenn Road and you said they want to save money. Yeah. Well everyone else wants to save money too that are waiting for their roads to be um off the prohibition list. I know up at Cardinal Hills they're waiting. It was right down the street but yet Angelo it's only a year.
Is it someone you know? Is it favoritism? What is it? You know, something has to be done about that. It's not fair. Under rock already done. That's over. But they are on the provision list. Um Saul Miller just drove up it. Cut into it. Something
needs to be done. You can't show favoritism. And it's not fair. You know, something's got to be done. I don't know why Angelo can be a year a year. So, they're not even close to being off the prohibition list. How can they possibly
be marked out for gas line installation? Can anyone answer me that question? Or should file a lawsuit of why, you know, uh, >> please don't file a lawsuit. >> Well, no, maybe I will because it's not fair. >> Yeah. >> Wait, I don't want to cut off your time if you have more questions. If not, we can
>> No, I want you to answer that one. >> Okay. Uh, I would first say, do you know whether the gas company has planned for or wants to install on your street? >> I had it installed. They just said two years after um they were right at my street. But there's other people um that
want it in town, but other people up Glenn Road who um Angelo has only been paid for one year and they're already marking it out to put the gas line in. Under Rock was on the prohibition list. They got gas like over a year ago. Um
sawmill on the prohibition list. Go up sawmill. There it is. Cutting into it. So why are some streets, some people being prioritized and others are being told no? I had literally coming down Mountain Heights. I'm right around the
corner 30 ft. Tell them walk right there. I'm on a gas island. >> Mhm. >> Gasless island, but I'm told being told no. I have it now, but I was told no. So it's not fair when I go around town and I see these streets that have been opened when they are on the prohibition
list. So, you're not following the ordinance around town 100%. It's not fair. Um, I think people that are want and they've got gas, they should band together. I would be one of them to buy all soup, but it is not fair. How
can someone be on Angela only a year and you're going to destroy the street? >> So, that's my main thing. And um another thing, if um that um $500,000 um sweeper, can we put that off for a
couple years just to save some money? You know, that would help with the VA um veterans um doing it. So that's just my questions, but I'm strongly that's why I asked you if you follow the ordinance 100%. Obviously, they are not. Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you. I um I don't know if there's an ordinance dictating uh who gets gas when or streets being repaved, but I think there's maybe a policy that Yes, Mayor Miss Scall, you bring up a very good situation and question. Um it is
common. I I get phone calls frequently from residents all around town. Um my township engineer Corey here uh he and I actually uh discuss this all the time because we get a lot of requests for uh
gas installation and um there is a a a rhyme and reason behind every road but every road is handled differently and the moratorum uh dictates some of that. So I I'm going to turn it over to Corey here. >> I can't. Um yeah, we're getting hit with
road opening permits left and right. Um uh all over the township. It's uh it takes up a lot of time just to keep track of all the the the the permits that are coming in. Right now the one the one um some of the roads if they're under the five five-year moratorum we we
do um restrict the installation of gas but we have given the gas company the um the okay to do so if they agree to pave the roadway curb to curb. Okay. So an Angelo there's large section Angelo they're going to be off the edge of pavement. They might have marked it out,
but a lot of there's a lot of section when they say they mark it out, they mark out the u um where the water line is where any underground utilities, but the main itself is going to be constructed off the roadway except for there's there's certain locations they have to come on the road and we're going
to make them pave from curb to curb you in those sections. Um when I state that there there is an understanding that they may have to um when they come across an onside service, they may have to open the roadway for a small patch for a water line. Um but we are restraining them from putting any new
mains in roadways into in the moratorum unless they agree to um extensive paving. We're not going to allow them to do it just a small trench on the side of the road make them go curb to curb um for the for the most part. I think um um if we're also we do work with they're
coming off the off the moratorum they're in the fifth year within a few months of the fifth year we're working with them at that point they make them do a whole half a lane half a roadway. Um, so we're trying trying really hard not to allow them to do a trench up this, you know, side of the roadway. They've done that
in many many communities, many neighborhoods. And you you notice the roadways are not restored um properly. Um, we're also going after um going after Elizabeth Town Gas been working with us to give us restoration funds so we can take money um from the restoration of trenches and putting into
our roadway resurfacing program. Um so we do we do honor the the the moratorum. Under Rock wasn't paid. >> Um, Under Rock. Not yet. It's not. >> Yeah, >> they haven't restored it yet. >> It's not It's not restored. It will.
>> It's been well over a year. >> I know. They're still doing services. >> And I thought that um the guest lines couldn't be um they had to be in the road. It couldn't be on the owner's property or anything. That's I was told >> they can be off the edge of the road. >> I was when I was questioning why we
couldn't get it. >> That's what I was told. I don't know the answer to that, but we are allowing them to go off the uh the the pavement where they can where it's allowable. You know, a lot of locations they can't. There's too many utilities, you know, either be cable or telephone or something off the edge of the roadway makes it difficult. Um
>> electrical lines underground, >> Angela. >> Yeah. So, so quick question. They So, permit comes in, >> they have the paving request, street opening permits, all the all the utilities and all that. after they're done, portion of andor
percentage of the road uh restoration occurs. They're putting it into a restoration fund >> sometimes >> that they're parking that money and then do we hire them to go back and do the paving or do we take that and we give it to a another contractor? >> What we've been we've been doing we're
trying to incorporate it. It's actually if we do it right, it actually helps our roadway resurfacing program. Um we did end Sussex Mills for instance they went through Sussex Mills and um we got a check I believe for over $200,000 for the restoration they didn't do to go into our roadway resurfacing program
that helps you know you know address the the roadways in those neighborhoods. Um the roadways are going up Glenn Road. Some of those roadways were just recently you know paved inside the 5year they're going to pave them curb to curb. Um we're making them do those roadways. um other roadways. Um it it varies per
street, per location. Right now, I have a I have a permit application for 36 roadways off West Mountain Road. I mean, that's it's a it's a I think it's uh uh the 36 roadways and I think 18 miles of road. You know, that's uh that's the
kind of impact you're getting right now from >> Liz Restoration Fund is funded. >> Well, right now there's not a we we've been doing this the last few year few years to to do it that way. um um to uh right now there's like $200,000 in the escros for roadway restoration that sits
there today. We're looking to move that. We've been kind of leer that because we want to combine it into our capital fund for resurfacing this year, which you understand where the capital fund is. So, it's kind of we're kind of holding and see how the year goes with that. Typically, if we if we get the money from um Elizabeth Gas, we can get a
little bit more of a project done because we can pave under the co-op and our capital program cheaper than what they can patch the road. So, we're figures. >> We're trying to pull that all together, but we are conscious of it. We had another um another location um this year. Um I think it was Warren Drive.
They wanted open. >> Yeah, they wanted open Warren, but they were they were in the fourth year. They had a fifth year. I gave Elizabeth Town Gas the OP. >> This year is the fifth year. >> I gave Elizabeth Town Gas the option. They could go in last year, but they'd have to pave the road. They said, "No, we'll wait a year and then come in."
>> Why would they go to pave uh >> Excuse me. Why would they pave the Angelo if they're not I always heard that they're not into paving any roads. So why would they listen? >> Because because we're requiring them to do they want to go into Angelo, you know, truthfully because the houses are large and they want to they want to get
the services >> in Cornell Hills. >> I'm just I'll tell you what I'm working with right now. >> If they're going to go in a newly paved roadway, they're going to pave the roadway curb to curb. If they're if they're less than five years, I give them the option. If they decide not to,
they may. It's I'm not making Elizabeth gasco on Warren Road. I gave them the option. If you want to go in this year, that was last year. I said, "You got one more year. You go in a year early, you're going to have to pave a large section of the roadway." They said, "But we'll wait until after the 5year is over." They're making a decision. It's a
financial decision they're making as well as >> So this year, this summer, they be able to go in there. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you, C. >> Maybe you can push that. >> Okay. >> Appreciate it very much for clarifying. There's a process thankfully. It's a sore topic. They just cut my cable line uh last week. They were all done and then right at the end they and there's a
feeder line too. So my neighbors were not happy and it's still I have a long cord now aboutund and something feet running from the street box all across my lawn into my box. Um but let's feel I think you were up here earlier in this segment already. >> So one thing I forgot.
>> Okay please just keep it brief. >> We talk about you know the veteran thing. You talk about everybody in town. I'm sure all the citizens in town will be more than happy to have their taxes go up a few dollars to fund this uh
ordinance. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Anyone else from the public items not on the agenda? >> Okay. Seeing none, we'll bring it back to the >> deis. So Quinn back again. Um I just want to
read this into the record because I'm not sure if you're going to table this indefinitely or if you're planning on bringing this back, but I think there are some really important things that we should get on the record around this initiative. Um and I think, you know, so
many people have gotten up and spoken about how important this is to the veterans. Um, I think when when I'm sitting here and I'm listening, I I attended the budget workshop session virtually. And honestly,
I was really kind of taken back because I understand we're we're in a financial crunch. I understand that. But it kept coming back to have the employees go back. Oh, it's the employees healthcare. Oh, have the employees go back and have the employees cut more. And and that was
a large part of the discussion. And I think Jim, you were saying, and I was on the phone for 3 and 1/2 hours, so I was on the phone for the whole thing. You were saying, "My employees have cut everything. They are barebone. They're looking at programs. They're looking at
this." So you were saying the employees have basically cut everything that they could cut. It's not the only an employee program, right? Or an employ I'm sorry, an employee problem. When you go to the budgets and you've cut everything you've can and you've gone to the overtime,
you've cut it all out and you've gone to all those things, you don't have a capital improvement plan, that means no roads get paved. Am I wrong? That's done. We got no roads getting paid this year. When you get to that level, you have to start looking at the bigger picture. And other people have touched
on this tonight. The ratables, you know, you have to stay in line with your ratables. You can't be spending more than you're bringing in. It's like household finance, you know. So, we need the leadership to be able to really turn the page and help us get the message out there that, you know, we want the right
businesses in Sparta. We want the right development in Sparta. And quite frankly, we have to have the right development in Sparta. We can't just say, "Sorry, we don't want it because it's this these problems aren't going to be solved on the back of the employees, on the back of the veterans, on the back
of anyone else." And also when we were talking about the veterans ordinance, I kept hearing people saying,"Well, you know, you can't you don't know what it's going to be and you're not really sure like, you know, it could be this or that, but we don't really know what the number is, what we could guess." It is a look back program. So, the part to um to
the point of what we said here, what we do in Sparta, it is up to a 2-year look back. If you buy a home in Mar if you buy a home in January and in March they you are declared to be 100% disabled you
don't get 24 months you get three >> three months correct >> you don't just come in and we go oh hi welcome to Sparta we're going to give you two years worth of taxes okay it doesn't work that way so we have to be mindful the other thing is I think if you really look at the numbers you will
see you have an influx in 25 and 26 because in 25 and 26 was when you guys started messing around with talking about not doing this ordinance anymore. And I think that really brought to the attention of a lot of people living in Sparta. Oh my gosh, there's a two-month look. There's two there's up to a
two-year look back. I should sign up, right? So, all these numbers are relative. You can't say, well, it cost us 130 last last quarter and if we take that and multiply it by four, because that's just not it. the 130 or whatever
it is, the 71, the 131, whatever it is, you don't know how much it's paying a look back for. You don't know if it's totally paid in full or if that carries forward. What Jerry's talking about through the state is once you're dis deemed disabled, moving forward, you pay
nothing. You're not paying taxes at all. So the only thing that we're trying to debate here is that and that is not something that you can you know you can't plan for it. But equally as important as that that you can't plan for is these lawsuits and these
professional costs and all of these which are much much much greater than the kick in the bucket or the drop in the bucket that this is. So I think really again from I want to really I want to defend the employees. They work hard. They are not. They are looking at
everything to cut. They serve this town morning, noon, and night. They are dedicated staff. They don't deserve the brunt of this. The disabled veterans don't deserve the brunt of this. And I think really the first step in any self-help program I've ever even heard
of is understanding you have a problem. We have to really look at what are these problems. And to Mike's point, what are the best ways to solve it? you know, picking at this or kicking over that rock is not going to fix the gravity of the problem we're facing. So, let's
start looking in other places. And um I I had some other comments, I'll save for the budget meeting. And I I have some concerns also about these these uh zone changes. Um, and I have some questions around that as well because I think the
some of the properties conflict with things that are going on with affordable housing possibly and the conflict with information that came in from the traffic study. So maybe we could follow up afterwards. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Seeing no one else, we'll move on to council leazison updates. All right, let's start at our far my far left. Councilman Scott. >> Municipal Alliance did not have any meetings. I don't have a report. Um,
business development next meeting is April 23rd. Uh, >> Mark, can you use your microphone, please? >> Yes, I'm sorry. Business development, next meeting is April 23rd, 7 p.m. in the conference room there. We are working on our website and trying to bring that up to speed. Also for if if
you cannot make the Earth Day events this weekend, um we have the LMPF Lake Mohawk Preservation Foundation Earth Day uh on Saturday the 25th at 9:00 a.m. So please come on out and help us uh pick
up some garbage. Thank you. >> One clarification, I believe the Earth Day event here is on April 25th. >> Earth Day. >> Oh, the baget day you meant. Okay. Okay. >> Bagot Day. >> Yeah. There's like four or five events. There's Mr. Morrison's. There's the baget day. Okay.
>> So, get out there and pick it up. >> Don't throw to begin with. >> All right. Mike. >> None. >> None. Okay. Uh for myself, last night uh was the latest master plan subcommittee meeting. Um we took a deeper dive into the circulation element. We had the
traffic uh expert there talking about the findings but more importantly explaining some of the data sources and setting the stage and expectations we did for uh a final strategic vision around and recommendations around the circulation plan. Uh we also uh worked
through uh goals and objectives uh for the master plan. We want to be very comprehensive looking back at prior master plans. So back to the 70s, back to the one in ' 84, and make sure that uh as we move
forward, we're reviewing all those goals and objectives because there was a reason they were there. And we're trying to make sure that the ones that are still important to the character of Sparta that we are um including those still. So we spent some time working on that um as one of the elements. And then
finally, I I'll discuss this more under new business, but they we talked a lot about uh a Highlands Council grant that would um fully fund a small assessment that would support some of the master plan work and uh can also lead to
additional funding in the coming uh months to support some other master plan work. So, I'll talk more about that in new business. Marty. >> Uh, yes. We have an incredible event coming up Saturday, April 16th at 1:00
at the Sparta Presbyterian Church for the Rev 250 committee where we are going to be honoring and placing historical markers on grave sites that were revolutionary war veterans. And we actually have uh we
have the the D is going to be there. There's going to be different chapters of historical societies around the county and we have uh been contacted by the actual by Ogden relatives and they are going to be coming as well to honor
their ancestors. So everybody come on out. We would love to share this with you. We're putting the county has made grave markers for us, historical markers, and
we will be honoring each one. And this is only at the Presbyterian Church, and it's this coming Saturday at 1:00. Uh, also we have other events and they're all listed on the town website under the Rev 250 committee. So, please
check that. Um, we had the historical society also did Martha Washington, which I think I had mentioned before at the Presbyterian Church. We had a reenactment. She was terrific. So, they have a they have a
full program. Please check it out. Also on the environmental committee, they put signs and officially cut the ribbon for Yoner's Landing.
So that is in the signs are up. The it's in cleaned up. It's in full use. And also I just rejoined the environmental committee. So I will have
more on that to come. Um there are that is it for right now. Besides Earth Day, we will have it. Thank God it's going to be a town hall
this year. So there'll be several vendors there. So come on out, please. >> Thank you. and one uh expand upon the Glenn part and the trails even even beyond Yonker's Landing. It's the the trails. There's new signage there. Um I
remember years and years ago trying to navigate some of that and always said you we could really use some nice markers and signs in there and trail maps. Um so they there's a wonderful job to put that together. A lot of people were deserve credit for that. >> Yeah, they do. They do. >> Uh Neil,
>> uh yeah. So, you know, one of those folks that deserve credit, um, is our trails committee, uh, particularly Doug Dystra >> helped design the graphics for that. Mhm. >> Um and so but it was a really a group and team effort between trails
environmental commission, the sustainable Jersey grants program and so that those you know you now have an actual map that you know includes trail routes and distances and difficulty levels so you you can better plan your hikes uh in the Glenn. But it really was
a team effort and you know thank you to um our environmental commission members. Neil Saurin in particular had was sort of the brains behind trying to this collaboration. So thank for his invaluable work and thanks to the folks um from the environmental commission and the trails uh committee who helped put
this together um with the trails. We are in the process of um applying for a grant that the county is offering and that deadline is in miday. And so, uh,
we need a resolution probably by April 28th, uh, in support of that grant. We're, you know, we're in the process of filling out, um, the actual grant itself. So, we're actually meeting tomorrow to, you know, we met two weeks ago to talk about the, uh, the grant.
Um, you know, with just a little bit of it. It would be uh part of the Iron Horse Trail um which would connect a certain portion between uh where the DPW is and then connecting from a Sunset Lane to that other area right there. I
think there's it gives a better access to that. So, we'll spell it out um in the grant, but it's that particular one that I think the county says we already have, but we really don't. It it it's not really accessible right now. So, uh, in any event, we're in the process of
filling out that grant and we'll probably look to the town council on the 28th just to support our applying for the grant. Um, and so that's what we are working on currently with the um recreation.
Um, we haven't met yet. I know that as I alluded to in statements about the budget, there had been plans to possibly do a a pickle ball court, but that's going to get pushed off probably till 2027. They're still doing the um
at Dyer Field. They're redoing >> um what is that again? The name of the >> the Fiser building. >> The Fiser building. Uh that's being redone. Uh and then the shed that they have at White Lake Field. So, they're they're focusing on that for this year, but they were willing to dial that one
back. Um, that's one that I think we've already approved the grant for that, but um we're still going to put that one off field, sorry. Um, with the film, we are currently preparing for a a presentation um at
Spar today. It will be an interactive booth um and kind of get an an idea of what goes on in film production as well as um actually previewing likely a short
film that was uh done last year. It's almost two years at um primarily at uh Burger and Butcher um that a lot of the film was there. You'll recognize uh Station Park is in it as well. hope to be able to release that uh as part of
Sparta Day. Um, also I was asked by Sparta friends and neighbors on April 8th to speak about the film production uh in Sussex County and um I I found at least 60 and 80 women who were more than happy to be extras in movies. Um so but
anyway they I was given an opportunity to speak to them about it. Also, what we are doing now is um Sussex County overall, Spartic too, is getting scouted for a lot of productions, but a problem that we've run into is, you know, a production
assistant has a specific idea in mind of what the house they want or the farmhouse or etc. And so, we go and we're trying to find that. Um, so an idea that we had was reaching out to some of our realtors who have a much better access and idea of what their
client's house is. And so we're reaching out to them. I've already had one, you know, agreed to work with us if they have, you know, clients who were, you know, we can go to that realtor and say, "Hey, we're looking for a farmhouse with a pond in the front that goes back, you
know, a couple miles. Do you have anyone in mind who may be willing to do this?" So, um, we're getting ideas with that. So, that's ongoing and we're updating the, um, photo database that will be used by production assistants. So, um,
there's a fair number of projects that are in the works, but these are issues that you don't announce what they are until they actually are ready to start filming. Um, because it's just not a great idea to disclose this ahead of time. I a lot of these folks are under NDAs that you they can't disclose who
the actor is when it's happening until you know they actually put the application in. So, uh with Lake Mohawk, we met um this week and so there, as you know, Lake Mohawk is undergoing some significant capital improvements uh
starting with the Westshore Bridge, probably likely to start in June, close down 3 to four months. Um, and then they're also replacing, I guess, a retaining wall by the gate, Westshore gate. That's also going to cause some road closures and road
detours >> probably at the end of June. >> Yeah, probably. Yeah, that will start at the end of June. And that will be a three to four month project. So, there will be um some, you know, road closures and detours as they uh undergo that. And
you know, we're looking with uh collaborating with Lake Mohawk and to the extent we can um helping them with issues that they have like you know debris etc. We're really working collaboratively and I thank the township
for the efforts that they made and they're very appreciative of it as well. Um and oh beautifification. So, um, we met this week. We are, um, we have to get a, uh,
we were waiting, as I alluded to, we had a pledge of money from Beyondo Investments to get this off the ground. Um, we are finalizing that because then you have to create an account for it. And then the committee is meeting to figure out how best to to take that
money and spend it on um, beautifification. And so we are hashing out that plan and hopefully have one soon. We want to we'd like to get this started quickly because as our expert uh horiculturalist says, you want to uh after May 15th, that's when no longer a
frost warning. So, you want to get that stuff up and it'd probably be a window between May and September that you would have um some planters hopefully on Main Street and but there's some and I'll be in touch with you Jim and probably you Corey because there's certain specifics
that I have to ask about about the the lamp post etc if we decide to go that route. So, in any event, I'll be in touch about that. But, I'm very happy with this committee. They've done a heck of a lot of work and uh we even have a long-term plan that we're working on
that what what do we want this to look like because a lot of towns do this. Danville, Vernon spends 10 grand a year on their beautifification. Um there's also ways and Dville appropriates about 10, but they get about 17,000 in donations. And there's a lot you can do
here. You can put on seminars about, you know, what plant should you plant in the fall? and we could give, you know, instructions about that. Our people on our committee are qualified enough to actually provide that. So, in any event, uh, look forward to that, uh, committee really shaping up.
>> And with that, that are all my committees. >> Thanks. >> Sorry, Dean. I have just two more things for the environmental committee. Um, on town hall where we're having the Earth Day here from 11 to 3, we will also have
a native plant sale. Um and overflow parking. Thank you very much to the VFW. They have offered their lot for people to park there. So uh we and also we're encouraging all of the rel the uh any
Sparta residents or any residents that come if you would bring a shelf stable food for the Sparta community food pantry it would be most appreciative. And um that is all I have. >> Thank you. All right, on to unfinished
and new business. Um, we'll go back the same way again. Actually, uh, Councilman Clark, we'll start your end instead. Do you have any unfinished or new business for tonight? >> Um, no. I think the new business was simply to clarify the record. I think
there was some statements made about me filing a lawsuit against the D. Um, which is just nonsense. Mr. This was this was done by the the town council, you know, based on a vote. Um, and you
know, the the challenge to that uh water quality management amendment is is based on what we found to be an improper calculation by the Department of Environmental Protection and by the applicant. And so, you know, you have, if you want to avoid
lawsuits, know how you avoid lawsuits, just let the developer decide what the flow rate is. just let the developer decide what the zone should be. That's one way you can avoid lawsuits. But I think we have sometimes a requirement to stand up for our town to make when a
when a when an applicant gives an incorrect flow analysis. We just had someone stand up and say, "Why are we giving these private people, you know, private developer their own sewer, you know, then they just turn around and sell it." Well, here we had a private developer. They should they get to be able to determine what their flow rate
is without us doing any analysis? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. If we did, that's not we're not doing our duty. So, in any event, I just want to clear the record that I, you know, this was a town council decision, not a Neil Clark decision to challenge the D. So,
that's all I have is new business. >> Great. Thank you. >> I have no new business. >> No. Okay. I have um I talk more about the New Jersey Highlands Council grant and the master plan work. So,
New Jersey Highlands Council um has dollars set aside for Sparta Township and there's an application to fully fund an assessment which would be part of the master plan and it could like I said earlier lead to further
funding for the master plan. This is not a new topic. Some of you may have just heard this already last year. Um this has been discussed and the application process was actually begun um a year or so ago, a year and a half ago, but the requirements were changing
with the application with other commitments, things like that. So we we held off. We re-engaged them. There's no strings attached. There's no matching funds needed again as dollars that the Highlands Council has earmarked for Sparta for things like this. um this grant application and the grant if
received would be for 19 $19,000 and again there's no matching funds no strings attached is to fund the assessment of the Highlands planning area portion of town and the output of that would then feed into master plan.
um it it will fit into the master plan timely timeline. Generally speaking, we our planner uh expects that it might extend it by about a month for the completion of the master plan and our planning board planner and their company
her company has submitted a proposal that meets all the requirements for the Highlands Council assessment and for um meeting the needs and for the dollar amount. So again, it's $19,000. I'm bringing
this up tonight so we don't have to wait another two weeks to just start applying for this. Um the Highland C Highlands Council has been engaged so they know this might be coming, but we want to keep the momentum going here. So all that being said, uh I want to make a
motion that the council supports the grant application to the Highlands Council for this um assessment work tonight. And may I have a second? >> Second. Any other questions or comments for now? Okay.
Okay. All in favor of uh approving the township to apply for the grant application to Islands Council say I. >> I. I. >> That has passed. All right. That's all my new business for tonight. Um Mike, >> I have none. Thank you.
>> Okay, Mark. Okay. Excellent. All right. And with that being said, uh, it's time to go home. So, may I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Yes. Make so moved. >> I have a second. >> Second. All favor.