Evening everyone. Please take notice that action will be taken on the following items at the regular council meeting on Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 in council chambers, Sparta Township Municipal Building, 65 Main Street, Sparta, New Jersey. Uh the regular
meeting is now opened and it is 7:34 p.m. >> that action will be taken on the following regular council meeting. >> Yeah, thank you Mark. I think we have a little feedback from you if you keep it on mute. >> Thank you.
>> It's on YouTube. >> All council meetings are now livereamed and can be viewed at the following link. www.youtube.comspartships. 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 the notice. >> Madam clerk, would you please do a roll call? >> Councilman Scott >> here. >> Councilwoman Murphy >> here. Councilman Clark >> here. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester here. >> Mayor Blummeti
>> here. And would you please all join me in a salute to our flag? >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America >> and to the republic which stands one nation under God, indivisible with
liberty and justice for all. As we begin our time together here 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 the special place that it is. Uh we belong to one small community and we're all neighbors. I respectfully ask
that we all including myself, my colleagues on the deis, and you the public strive to listen to one another and be respectful as we interact tonight. Thank you for your consideration. So, first order of business is we have a proclamation this evening. Um, it's an
it's in honor of proclamation of Black History Month, which is obviously February. I will read this into the record, this proclamation. Whereas Black History Month is celebrated annually in February to recognize the contributions that African-Americans have made to American
history. And whereas Black History Month provides an opportunity to reflect on the significant roles that African-Americans have played in shaping our nation's history. And whereas Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of
African-Americans and to recognize their central role in American history. And whereas the month of February was chosen for Black History Month as it marks the birth of Frederick Douglas, We Dubois, Langston Hughes, and of course,
Abraham Lincoln, whose actions greatly impacted the lives of the American black population and grew out of Black History Week, which was traditionally celebrated during the second week of February and expanded in 1976 as part of the nation's
bicesentennial. And whereas the township of Sparta invites all residents of the community to renew their commitment to ensuring racial equality, understanding, and justice for all, and their efforts to advance the cause of equality for every
person, regardless of race, creed, or religious preference. Creating a world that is more just, peaceful, and prosperous for all. Now therefore, be it resolved that the township council of the township of Sparta does hereby
proclaim the month of February as Black History Month and encourages all residents to honor the history and contributions of African-Americans in our nation, state, and community.
Thank you. Okay, we move on the agenda. Our next item is our minutes. Uh we have two minutes to go over tonight. And uh we have approvals for November 13, 2025 and November 25th, 2025. Um I know that the
first one uh Deputy Mayor Sylvester was not here, not deputy mayor yet, so he'll abstain. Um may I have a motion to approve the November 13, 2025 regular meeting minutes as presented? So moved.
>> May I have a second? >> I'll second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Motion carried. [clears throat] >> May I have a motion to approve the November 25th, 2025
regular meeting minutes as presented? >> I'll make a motion to approve November 25th meeting minutes. >> May I have a second? Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> I.
>> I didn't hear um Deputy Mayor or Councilman Scott. >> I >> I >> Thank you. Motion carried. Next, we'll move on to the manager's report. Uh would town manager Zep, please share your report with us.
>> Thank you. Good evening, mayor, deputy mayor, council members, and all Sparta residents joining us in person or watching from home. [snorts] Thank you for being with us tonight. Over the past two weeks, following the recent snowstorm, temperatures have
remained below freezing. I want to extend my sincere thanks to our public works and parks departments for their outstanding efforts in clearing Sparta roads and public spaces. Crews have worked diligently to remove snow from culde-sacs and intersections, ensuring safer travel for everyone. Looking
ahead, we're finally expecting some warmer weather this week. As conditions improve, please help keep our community safe by ensuring that fire hydrants on or near your property remain accessible. Additionally, do not block storm drains as clear drainage is essential for
proper storm water runoff. Thank you for your continued cooperation and support. The recreation department has the following events, activities, and programs to announce. Please contact them directly or go to the township's website for their winter program activity calendar. Keep in mind to
register early as space is limited. St. Patrick's Day party for seniors on Thursday, March 5th, with lunch being catered by the Irish Cottage Inn. Seniors will have the option to either stay and eat their meal at the senior center or they may take home their meal
for a cost of $15. Senior bus trip to Wind Creek Casino and the outlets at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on Thursday, April 16th. Circle of Friends Preschool registration for the 2026 2027 school year opens on February 18th.
Junior youth track and field starts in mid-March, but registrations are still open. Puzzle Palooa takes place on Thursday, March 5th. There are still a few spots open for the fun family event. Summer is right around the corner. Registration for summer recreation day
camp at Camp Saka Jia begins on March 3rd. Camp is scheduled to run for 6 weeks from June 29th to August 7th with a full day and extended day options as well as enrollment options for any number of individual weeks or the entire season. This concludes my report. Please stay
warm and safe. Chief McCarrick will now present his portion of the report. >> Thank you, Manager Zeb. Thank you, Mayor. Deputy mayor and councel. Want to give an update on uh ebikes under title 39. New Jersey has significantly changed how electric
bicycles, ebikes are regulated under title 39, treating them similar to motorized bicycles. This is uh effective as of January 19th, 2026. And what has changed under the law? Individuals under 15 um may not operate an ebike. Ages 15
through 16 must possess a motorized bicycle license or permit. And age 17 or older, you must have either a valid New Jersey driver's license or a motorized bicycle license or permit. Additionally, you must register uh your bike with the Motor Vehicle Commission
and operators must carry proof of license, registration, and insurance while operating their motorized uh bicycles. [clears throat] Violations are subject to up to $50. Officers have been updated on this Title 39 and will enforce. Um I know uh warm
weather hopefully is right around the corner and we'll be seeing these out. So we also posted this information on our social media pages and our website. On Wednesday, February 5th, 2026, 5-hour officers were trained and certified in
ice water and cold water rescue. The training was held on Lake Packon or hosted by New Jersey State Police Trooper Anthony Burrow. Last year, our department purchased six dry suits and rescue gear in order to be prepared for any type of emergency in this category. is my plan to continue having all of our
officers trained in this area and work on multip multiple response training with our fire department and ambulance squad in the very near future. As many of you know, train this training was put to use in the successful rescue operation of a dog that fell through on
the ice of Lake Mohawk on December 17th, 2025. Officers Lieutenant Joseph Antonelloo, Sergeant Steven Guido, Detective Thomas Herd, Officer Michael Pune, Officer Andrew Spitzer, Officer Brian Gallagher, and Officer Nicholas Marti all played a
part in the rescue which resulted in saving the dog's life. The remarkable point about this rescue was the teamwork exhibited by our officers. Everyone played a vital role in this rescue to ensure the safety of everybody, all the officers and the bystanders and another dog that was actually out there, too.
I'm very proud of the officers and how they work together and and the teamwork and I know that they'll continue to do a good job and hopefully we don't have to do any more rescues, but we will be prepared if that happens. And that concludes my report. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Chief. Thank you, manager
Zep. Um, may I have a motion to accept the manager's report? >> I'll make a motion to accept the manager report. >> May I have a second? >> I'll second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. I >> I >> I >> motion carried. Um housekeeping item I
did want to mention for those who um can't tell from visually, Councilman Scott is participating via conference line um here. So yeah, you can't see him, but he he's here. [laughter] Okay. Next, uh open to the public. This
um is for items on the agenda. So this first open to the public segment is for any items on the agenda including resolutions but excluding ordinance hearings because an ordinance hearing has its own
built-in public session that we need to go through when we're hearing an ordinance. So this is for resolutions. Anything else on the agenda? Uh just so everyone knows the second public comment period down a little bit little while from now is for items not on the agenda.
Now note that there is a resolution on tonight's agenda that moves up the positioning of that second public comment section to earlier in the agenda so as to make it more convenient for our residents. If approved, that segment will become that will appear on the
agenda before the council leazison updates before the unfinished business before the new business. As we thought through this, those three segments alone are are pretty lengthy in time. So, we wanted to move it up in front of those. So, again, if approved, we'll switch right over to that later on tonight.
With that said, uh please, is there anyone in the public that wants to speak about anything on the agenda? Okay. All right. Seeing none, we'll move on to expenditures. So, uh, Deputy Mayor Sylvester, would you please read the expenditures for
February 10th, 2026? >> Yes. The February 10th, 2026 expenditures total 5,934,578.86. >> Can we have a motion to approve that? I'll make a motion to approve the expenditures. >> I have a second.
>> I'll second. >> All in favor of approving the expenditures for February 10th, 2026, say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Right. Motion has passed. Number six on the agenda. We don't have any introductions of ordinances tonight. So, we'll move right on to the hearing of
actually our first ordinance of the year. So, ordinance 2601, Township of Sparta, ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limit and to establish a cap bank NJSA4A
colon 40-45.14. So, at this point, I'd like to open this up for public comment. Madam clerk, do we need to uh get a motion in a second to introduce this before we go to public comment?
>> No. Once you open it up, public can talk. >> Okay. Anyone from the public any comments on ordinance 2601? Okay. Seeing none, we'll bring it back to the deis for council discussion and comments on 2601. I will start with my
far right. >> Uh, no comments for me. >> And the only thing I just wanted to um Mr. Zep, I wanted to clear something up. if you could give us a briefing of the
budget and the the amount of money that is spent and the percentage of litigation on our our litigation funds that we have spent in reference to total budget. Can you give us an update on that? >> Actually, I think
>> on how much >> Yeah. Why don't we wait for new business or to do this later on or offline? >> This is not relevant to this ordinance. I'd rather just keep this conversation only to this ordinance that we're passing. Okay, >> we're good. Okay. Um, Deputy Mayor, [clears throat]
Councilman Scott, any comments? >> Question. >> Okay, >> Jim or Don could walk us through exactly what this ordinance is about. >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Yep.
>> Okay. take advantage of having our CFO. >> Our CFO is here. So, >> so she's here. Um, all I'm going to say is that uh for the past two years that I've been here, we've passed this ordinance and there's a reason why. >> Okay. Just a just a very brief Yeah.
Very very brief. >> You can hear me without this. I'm loud enough. >> No, but for the live stream, we need to be close >> for the live stream. >> May want to move your microphone. >> You have to have this passed ahead of time if it's needed when you do your budget. If you don't have your ordinance passed, the state's not going to let you
do it. We tend technically pass this to go from your 2.5 to 3.5. If it's not needed and we don't use it, we can bank it. Okay. But we've been doing it for years.
>> Okay. So, it provides a little leeway, a little buff. >> It does. You have to have permission from the state. You You can only go up two and a half% in a budget. If you can if you need to, you can go up to 3 and a half% but you cannot do it without an ordinance ahead of time before your budget's processed and passed. >> Okay.
Councilman Scott, did you have a question followup? >> No, that was great. Thank you very much. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. Any other comments? If not, we'll bring it to a roll call vote, please. >> I'm sorry, Mayor. I think we do need to have an introduction. I mean, just a
vote to to vote on it. a motion to to introduce, you know, to to hear the vote in a second. >> Sure. Okay. Thank you. So, uh, may I have a motion to approve ordinance 2601? >> So moved.
>> May I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Okay. Uh, roll call vote, please, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Scott, >> yes. >> Councilman Murphy, >> yes. Councilman Clark, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester, >> yes.
>> Mayor Blumeetti, >> yes. Okay, that ordinance has been approved. >> Thank you. That was my error. I should have realized the motion in a second, of course. >> Thank you. >> Okay, so uh we're going to move on to resolutions.
As you look through your list of seven, I I do plan to separate out or carve out three of them for now. And let me know if anyone else on the deis would like other ones, but I'm planning to carve out 83, 84,
and 87. Are there any other resolutions that council members would like carved out or should we proceed with the others? >> I think we should carve out 86 also. >> Okay. Okay. So, we're going to carve out 83,
84, 86, and 87. So, then may I have a motion to approve resolutions 81, 82, 85? >> So, move. >> May I have a second? >> Thank you. Uh, all in favor of approving
resolutions 81, 82, and 85, say I. I >> I >> I >> Okay, those have been approved and passed. Okay, moving on to resolution 8-3. This is a resolution authorizing a local
recreation improvement grant through New Jersey Department of Community Affairs program. May I have a motion to approve resolution 83? >> I'll make a motion to approve resolution 83. >> May I have a second? I'll second.
Okay. Uh comments, discussion. I'll start again my far right. Uh Councilman Clark, any comments, questions on this one? >> Uh sure. I think um as a member of the recreation committee, um we do have our
next meeting uh next week. Uh, one of the things that I'm trying to seek clarity on is the prioritization of certain recreation projects. And so, because I know that we have uh a kids castle that we were to refurbish and
redo. Um, not sure that where that stands. Second was to I think expand some of the trails at White Lake to go around that. Uh, third was improvement of the trails at Station Park. And so where do those fit in with respect to
this looks like simply a grant for a pickle ball court? I think pickle ball would be great and fantastic. Um I think what I'll be interested in hearing is um assuming you get the grant, how does that, you know, for all our focus is going to be put on a pickle ball court. Is that going to affect the
prioritization and the completion of other projects that the recreation uh department has endeavored to do that preceded uh this grant? So, I think we'll have better clarity on that. Um, but I think that, um, you know, a pickle
ball court would be great in White Lake. I think it's a fantastic location for it. It's outside of a residential area, so I don't think it will be problematic in that respect. So, again, I just want to get some clarity [clears throat] on our the recreation department's ability to do all these other projects
in addition to the pickle ball project. >> Okay. Uh my understanding first of all I could start with this this um authorization is for us to apply for a grant. I had similar questions and I asked it's it's non-binding. So even if we receive the grant we're not obligated
to a accept it or b spend it right away. U it gives us the opportunity to defer um in time and to prioritize before that. Amanda Zap any other comments? I mean, we'd have to prioritize the other Councilman Clark mentioned a bunch of
other projects that we want to probably get in the right order. >> You're you're correct, mayor, and we we discussed this briefly just a little while ago. Um, right now, we're simply applying for the grant because we're eligible for it and we have uh the means to do it. We used a very similar grant for this for the maintenance building up
at White Lake. Uh, in fact, once that project closes out, we'll be receiving that 75,000 back, which would go back into the capital fund uh for as as Councilman Clark uh had mentioned, the the projects need to be prioritized. And
mayor, we talked about this too that when we do our budget and we do our capital budget, uh the department heads usually will list what they feel is a a priority projects and then whether the council is willing to fund them or not. Um the grants are are just, you know,
they help us financially. Uh and when we can match the grant with a project that we have on our list, uh it's a win for the township. So, we're just simply applying for this grant. There's no downsides. There's no commitment to it. Uh if for whatever reason we need to back out of it, uh we can change course,
we can do that. >> Okay. And then going forward to the way that we'll prioritize and it doesn't mean that just because it's in a capital budget, you know, the buttons pushed and it's being spent. We we still the council still has the ability to intervene and say pause this or do this, you know, with with guidance from the
less on and from the committee. Is that correct? I would say that's fair though on on behalf of the department heads who research these projects who vet them from vendors who go out for quotes and vendors are getting kind of >> excited to to to partake in in the
projects that you know I think they would really like to get the commitment from the the council at that stage and know that that they've got the green light uh to to proceed um you know in the most efficient way possible. So, I understand exactly what you're saying and of I'm all open for communication,
but put yourself in the department head's shoes when they're trying to get a a good project going and and if town approves it through their capital and then we even get bonus of of a of a grant to help that you don't want to be
told, hey, no. [laughter] So, >> yeah, I think some things may move up on the priority list on the basis of their ability to have grant funding. So even though a project may have come in at a later time than uh earlier projects, if
it's a project that may be available for grant funding whose grant funding will expire at a certain time, that may happen. That's just something that we'll we'll I think the recreation committee can discuss. >> Agreed. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I have a question. >> Thank you. >> Actually, Councilwoman, anything just want to
>> No, on that. No. Okay. >> Yeah. Just just to be clear, this is earmarked only for the pickle courts if it's my understanding the way this reads. Correct. >> So if we get this grant for75,000, it's solely for the improvement of the pickle court facility, right? >> To build it build it from scratch.
>> To build it, but is there a matching component to that that we're obligated to match? >> No. >> But when will the cost of the project is going to exceed it anyway? Uh when you put in for the grant, they like to see a commitment from the town. >> Uh so there isn't a required match. uh
and you know, but we're we're going to be clearing the match uh if we do the project >> and we have a budget currently established for this particular project >> from last year's capital uh parks improvement plan. >> Is there other grants to support
Councilman Clark's um issues related to other projects that may take priority? Does this program also offer us the ability to apply for additional recreational projects um above and beyond just this pickle court >> right now? Not that I'm aware of, but
our grant writer will alert us uh when when any opportunity comes up. I'm alerted >> and I I pass them on to you folks as well. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Any other questions? Uh Councilman Scott, any questions on 83?
>> Yes. Um question is did if I heard this right did this money was already allocated in last year's capital grant capital for the recreation department. >> Yeah that's correct.
>> Okay. Number two. If we take money from the state does that mean anybody in the state can use our pickle court? >> No. >> No. I the question was I don't know if everyone can hear it. If we take money for the state through this grant for this, does that open it up to access to
anyone to use the pickle ball courts? Um, correct me if I'm wrong, Attorney Dash or Mr. Zap, but I think it's that's only when you're taking like Green Acres funding that it gets into those stipulations around access to all. >> Right. Correct. >> Correct. Okay.
>> I mean, it's Well, it's probably I don't know how as a practical matter how you would enforce somebody from Newton using our pickle ball court, but >> True. >> Yeah. Yeah, because our parks are open to the public generally, right? Okay. >> Okay.
>> Okay. >> What was the answer on that? >> Uh, the answer is no. If it was green acres, that'd be a whole different story. But this does not require access to anyone, although our parks are public. So, from a practical standpoint,
if someone from the next town over wants to come and use the pickle ball courts, they they can. We not going to stop them. And normally for the for courts um the townships run courts, they usually create a scheduling system um that you have to run through the scheduling system um in order to get a court and
there's you know someone who monitors that say you know you can't just show up one day and start playing pickle ball because you know it's limited. Um so there's a way if the Sparta so chooses to you know prioritize access to Sparta residents I think they can do so and I think the portal system will enable
that. And so, um, you'll need to have that just so you have an efficient use of of the facility >> timing. >> And the insurance just blankets the use whether it's resident, non resident, just a blanket insurance policy. >> Yes.
>> Mhm. >> Okay. >> So, if Jason and I want to sign up on the pickle ball court, I can do that through the recreation department or I can't take this money.
Well, has nothing to do with Yeah, it's not related to the money, Mark. That's what I'm hearing here. It's it's um independent of whether we take this we get the grant for 75,000 regardless of whether we do or don't. It's it's a different issue. >> If you read the ordinance here, it's to support what Mark's saying though, if
we're going to it says for our residents. >> So then you'll probably have to create in on the portal to put your address in. We could either put signage up for Sparta residents only andor >> now our residents are going to other towns pickle ball courts to play pickle
ball >> just for [laughter] the TCA money or whatever state money that that there aren't any uh clauses that we have to >> there are not in this grant.
>> Okay. No. >> Yeah. Yeah, I'm hearing Mark. I'm hearing uh from that there's not from from here from Yep. >> All right. Thank you. >> So, we're good with that then. >> Okay. So, we're going to move on to vote for 83. >> Before we do, are we good with that
language? We're good. >> Yeah. I don't have an issue with the language. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh so for 83, can we do a roll call vote, please, Madam Clerk? Just >> Councilman Scott, >> yes.
>> Councilman Murphy, >> yes. >> Councilman Clark, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester, >> yes. >> Mayor Blummeti, >> yes. Okay. 83 has passed. Resolution 84. This one is a resolution um related to
our relationship, our shared services relationship with Hardest Township for Fire Prevention Shared Services. And it's um you saw one recently on the agenda establishing this or re renewing this. This one is around the transfer
um of some real property for a credit in an account. That's my quick summary of it, but [laughter] I will I will start there and I'll I'll let uh I'll let Town Manager Zep add to that. And I do have one motion I want to clarify a piece of language in here, but if you'd like to Did I miss anything or you want to
>> You were pretty good on that, Mayor. Basically, it's an addendum to the the current agreement we have. Uh, and in this, it's a it's a very beneficial um um basically we're turning over the two fire prevention cars that were previously used for fire prevention over to the
Harson Township with their equipment so that they can use them for fire prevention. And in that they will um be allowing us to uh keep the $15,630 in the Sparta penalty fund and in if you
read the whole resolution, the penalty fund can be used for equipment for the fire department. So the fire department is able to access this. So the transfer of those vehicles will directly uh benefit the fire department. So uh I see this as a real win and the value is is
fair. Um, I actually think it's a little more than what we would get in public auction. So, um, I was really supportive of of this, uh, transfer. I have a question. Um, [clears throat] on u the now therefore be it resolved
section. Um, on number two, >> I get to look on it for that. Okay. >> [laughter] >> Um, number two, it just mentions that uh pretty much we agree to apply the
15,000 and change, which is the value of the vehicles and equipment against the 2025 Sparta Fire Prevention Offic's penalty reserve account balance in the amount of 24,109 that is due to be transferred.
It says to the township. Is that Hardest or Sparta? That was my question. Because how does that work with the mechanics of that? I'm just trying to follow. >> So the 24,000 is the existing balance in that trust line right now in that reserve. >> Okay. >> Right. It will be transferred over to
hardest because they are the fire prevention bureau. though, believe it or not, it's accessible by the Sparta Township Fire Department as long as it adheres to the uh the the regulations of eligibility, which is like gear, uh any training, any anything related to to
further uh fire prevention uh at the fire department. So, the fire department benefits from that. Uh, and what they're doing is the 15,000 is they're allowing to us to keep in our balance here at the town and utilize as as the fire
department sees fit. >> Meanwhile, the 24 still is going to hardest 156 stays here with Sparta and then it gets directly applied to benefit the fire department. >> And then, believe it or not, fire department still has access to to the
the the penalty fund at Hardistan. It's just Harson would be administrating it >> and we don't need those cars. We don't need those SUVs. >> We don't. [clears throat] >> So the 24109 that is due to be transferred to the township that is to
Sparta Township. >> No, the 249 goes to Har. >> Okay. So do we need to clarify that I guess is my question in number two because we both are called townships and we have it capitalized. >> We can we that's a we can make that change. It's not material. We can add hardest in township that.
>> Okay. If that's the case, I think I'd just like to make a motion then um in the now therefore be it resolved section item number two at the very end of it just to insert the word hardest in front of township.
So that's my that's my motion. Uh do I have a second? >> I'll second. Is that is that necessary for this type of ministerial change the matter? Okay. >> So either way either how council's pleasure >> first and the second.
>> Okay. Guess we can vote. >> Okay. Yeah. Uh all in favor of the addition of the word hardest say I. >> I. I. >> Okay. Amendment has passed.
Okay. Uh, Deputy Mayor, do you have any questions, comments on this? >> No. >> Okay. Uh, Councilman Scott, any questions or comments? >> Okay. >> Nope. Councilman Clark.
>> Uh, just an annoying legal question. Um, if we're transferring title and ownership to Hardison, the fact that it's via a shared services, do we are we still encumbered with any potential liability? Should the
car that we transfer be involved in an accident or is this now Hardistan's responsibility? >> I think it's hardest. >> Okay. >> I didn't know if the fact that this has happened under shared services changes the analysis, but it doesn't. Okay, >> I'm good. [laughter] Okay,
>> pretty much. >> Okay, I think that we're we're good with our comments and questions. So, uh, >> yeah, I just want to clarify when you introduced the resolution, you indicated there was a transfer of real property. Real property just denotes the transfer of land and fixtures on land. This is
personal property. Okay. >> Just to make that clarification. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. May I have a motion to approve 84 as amended? >> So moved.
>> May I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor of approving 84 as amended, say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Okay. 8.48. Uh, resolution 84 has been approved.
Next, moving on to resolution 8-6. This is a resolution amending the order of business for regular Sparta Township Council meetings for 2026. Uh, may I have a motion to approve 86? >> So moved. >> May I have a second?
>> I'll second. >> Okay. Any questions, comments? The reason I wanted to cut this out is because during the past week or two, I've been fielding quite a few com comments, questions from concerned
citizens as to why we're doing this. And I mean, now that we live in the, you know, our our focuses here from the mayor is that, you know, we're going to be transparent, we're going to be open. I just want to understand I I want to be
able to re reassure the public that this is in that spirit. Okay. Yeah. I mean that's that's the intent is that this clarifies the two different public comment se segments and this resolution
uh amends the one we did during our reorg that was approved and moves up that second public comment segment. uh particularly for residents who don't want to have to stay to the very end of the meeting to share their comments, concerns, questions uh with the council.
So, this makes it more convenient and moves it up for them. U in the past, we found that most a vast majority of comments on the items on the agenda were related to resolutions. Um so that first segment still appears up front where it
needs to. >> Okay. All right. But yes. Okay. So, people will still be able to comment on each resolution as they come up. >> Uh, >> yes. Well, not as they come up. And it's
never been that way, but uh before they come up, so they can comment on them earlier uh prior to the resolution segment being introduced. >> Yep. So, they still have a chance then. >> So, we're not taking any public speaking opportunities away from the public. We're just reordering it and making it
more con convenient for residents. >> Yes, that's what this resolution is doing. It's it's having two clearly defined ones and it's moving up that second one um just to make it more convenient. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> All right. Any other comments, questions? Yeah, I think in the in the past the concern I had was my recollection was the first public comment period was limited to items not on the agenda. And so uh you had people
commenting on things that were not on the agenda, therefore depriving the council of that type of comment on items that would follow. I think now that we've changed the sequence, we now have the benefit of hearing public comment before we get to the main items on the
agenda. And so we can take that into account during our deliberations because a lot of time it just never made sense to me why the first public comment period had to do with items not on the agenda when the purpose of the meeting is to get through the items on the agenda. So, I think we could all benefit
from hearing from the public right off the bat um about items on the agenda and included in that item are are resolutions. So, yeah, great point. >> Okay, so uh we're going to move to a vote for resolution 86. We've already uh
had a motion in a second. So, all in favor of resolution 86 say I. I. I. Okay. Five 86 has passed. And finally, resolution 8-7. Uh this is a resolution to accept the
project of the municipal building, sidewalk, patio, and stair improvements, which is CN 254. I have a motion to approve 8-7. >> So moved. May I have a second? I will second. Uh, and
>> this is to improve out front. >> Uh, fix that. >> I was going to ask manager Z if you could explain us a little bit more about >> this was the project that we did last summer, I believe, um to um level up the the plaza. We did all all that work out
there and and the stairwork and the sidewalks and all. And it makes it a lot easier for uh our parks guys to clear during the the snowy weather and all that good stuff. And um we're continuing the practice of opening the project with the resolution uh with the award and
then closing the project when it's completely done. Um it really just puts good bookends on this. Um town engineer uh Stoner here, he's the one who introduced the idea to us and I think it's a good practice for us to do. Um this project came right in budget.
Everything worked out. Um I I I have on order though two lamp posts that are will be installed on each side of the of the sidewalk straight as you go out. So still some stuff that need to get done on a different end. But uh as far as the main contractor here um we agree that uh
he can be paid and the project can be closed. >> Are the lamp posts in the 86? >> No, they're they're not. That's why um they're not included in here. >> We used So this is work that's been done. And you're just getting him final payment. >> Yes. >> So, this is just to close down the project. Close it up. Okay. Correct.
>> And it makes it much better for to have Sparta Day and Earth Day >> out in the front. >> Uh, Mayor, I think our engineer has a few comments for this. >> Sure. Come on up, Corey. >> From here. Um, I just want to add with
the acceptance. Um, you know, we've always practiced that we accepted, we close out the project. We don't release retainage until this council, you know, uh, accepts the project. And by accepting tonight, then we establish the one-year maintenance guarantee from today's date. So, that's another reason
for the acceptance. >> Anything projects, we do like a cooperative program. We don't have a a performance bond and a maintenance bond situation, but because we competitively bid this, this is a nice way to close it out. We start the maintenance bond from tonight and then they post that and they have a one-year maintenance guarantee on
the workmanship. >> Okay. So, I just want to add that. >> No, it was a good point. Great. >> And we haven't we haven't ordered the lamps yet or Yes. >> No, we have ordered them. >> Oh, we have. >> I'm waiting for them. >> Do we know what the the color that? [laughter] >> I think I'm trying to match what you
have out there right now. >> Okay. >> If I can get you a picture, I'll send it to you. >> Thank you. >> And am I right? You said this came in uh as budgeted. There were no change orders uh that had to happen in for this project. >> Correct. Great.
>> Excellent. It looks wonderful and it's a a big improvement. >> Okay. Uh so we're going to go to vote for 87. Um all in favor of approving resolution 8-7 say I. >> I. >> I.
>> 8-7 has been approved. Now, we're moving on to So, I'm going to shift the agenda from what you might see in front of you because we passed resolution 8-6 a few minutes ago, which means the new order
of the agenda. This is the next open to the public segment. This is for items not on the agenda. So, open to the public items not on the agenda. Please uh state your name for the record. And each speaker is limited
to one segment, one comment of no more than five minutes. >> Mr. Otto, >> how's it going? Uh, Rob Otto, I guess we just say Sparta now. Um, [snorts] good evening, Mr. Mayor and Council. Uh, we
rely on a clear division of labor, township manager, Mr. Zep for daily operations, chief of police for order, attorney for compliance, Mr. Dash and a clerk for our community memory. Uh, Mr. Mayor, you've asked us to assume positive intent and I think that's a
worthy unifying sentiment. Uh, also respect is earned. So, I prefer personally to give the benefit of the doubt which assumes positive intent until actions dictate otherwise. Um, you and many before you have pet projects, and I urge you, do not let
these personal legacies distract you from the local issues that you're tasked to resolve. Change is harder than it looks. We can see all the portraits on the walls behind us. Um, just a reminder of what the legacy is built on and it's
ordinances, not optics. So, [clears throat] uh, council persons, you're all equal. Now, Mr. mayor has a little special consideration, but we're all equal under this form of government. So, I urge you to verify that your
appointments were made legally. Um, we're kind of experiencing a sense of deja vu. Just over a year ago, a planning [snorts] board member was removed for being a prior liaison. Um, meanwhile, as a member of the environmental commission, I was seated
in a full class 4 seat, but never named as a liaison. It was convenient that I was removed three years early, yet it's inconvenient that the actual listed liaison did not see their term expire as legally required. Um, so I would just
say if you choose to manipulate board composition to achieve a convenient consensus, it could be conceived as arbitrary and capriccious. So I suggest that you just backfill the code so we don't have to revisit this. and specifically the language regarding
prior curtailments because I think last year um Mr. Blumeetti, you specifically said Sparta wants a voice on an environmental voice on planning board and for one year we had two voices on planning board. A class 4 alternate
albeit but someone who um [snorts] I think with Patrick 1996 Patrick verse uh city of Jersey City um ruled that that was sufficient to satisfy the ordinance. So
many of you know that um I spent the last year slogging through our code to deal with 50 applica almost 50 applications for the minor site plan subcommittee. So here's the reality as I see it development in Sparta. If you're a big developer, you hire professionals who know our code better than our own
staff. If you're a small business, you're buried in a process that you don't understand. You're paying fees for applications that volunteers then have to spend hours curing just to make them legal. Um, I've heard ideas of expeditious approval. I think that's a
terrible idea. Uh, when we depart from the code to move things along, we risk becoming a monoculture of big box developments and losing that small town aesthetic that we all know and love about Sparta. I think we need to support our small businesses with actual guidance, not shortcuts that lead to
lawsuits. Uh, our design standards aren't just red tape. Signs and parking standards exist because distracted driving is a major contributor to local accidents. Storm water limits exist because we sit on the highlands, the source of water for 70% of the state.
Um, ignorances of the law or the local code is no excuse. So, I would suggest that we just don't undermine the master plan for the sake of fitting specific applications to specific sites. Often times, we can find better suited sites. So, there's an urgency I've seen in 2026
to write the ship. Many of you were on the ship last year and did not speak up. You all have an equal voice. Um, the public did not vote for a governing body too meek to do its business in the light of day. The horse trading for seats is hopefully behind us. So, I would just
urge you the real work should begin. Sparta is not a transient community. We do have long memories. We will not allow representation that appears self- serving. Um, lead with transparency, which I know you want to, courtesy, humbleness, and you will regain the trust of your community. Forget the
petty alliances. We all breathe the same air. Drink the same water. Your job is simple. Keep Sparta pretty. Keep it safe. Balance our natural resource and and our community resources. I'm not mad. I'm a little disappointed. Um, but
I'm hopeful that you're going to choose choose principles over PALS going forward. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Auto. Appreciate it very much. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else from the public for items not on the agenda?
[clears throat] Jenny Derek's tapping into Sparta. Um, some of my favorite questions. Uh, how are we doing with the landfill? [laughter] >> I really don't have anything to report. It's it's being worked on. I I I know that we're trying to get connection down
at D Okay. So, still still no response about they're receiving they're accepting our plans for a land swap. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um, how are we doing on salt? Are we do we have enough salt for our community? Are have we been approached
by other communities uh to purchase salt from us? >> We're we're sitting pretty. We're doing well. >> We're doing well because there has been reported that the the county at large is has shortages of salt. Has any have any of those municipalities come to talk to
us about tapping into our supply? >> They have. They have not. Um >> um Chief McCarrick was was nice enough to share a notification to me about the salt situation and that there isn't a shortage of salt. What happens is is that a lot of the communities all put
their orders in at the same time and there's a lack of ability to deliver the salt uh because everyone wants it at the same time. Um, so with that big storm that we went through, uh, you had that convergence of of all those orders, creating what looked like a a salt
shortage, but that really wasn't the case. It was the ability to get the salt to all the orders that they had. So then what they were doing was they were cutting the orders to try and give a little bit of salt to everybody. Um, fortunately we >> Sparta was doing fine because we have a
salt barn that's large enough to stockpile salt to get you through situations like this. >> I think um I think the looking back at old reporting on the salt issue itself. I think the number was something around four to 5,000 tons of salt per to get
one sweep of the town. Is that an accurate? >> I have to look back at that. I think is a little less now because uh we've really dialed down on our use of salt. >> Okay. >> And it always is storm dependent >> of course. I just meant in one >> in general
>> pass. And so how do you know approximately how much salt we have? >> I don't um it's got to be around 2,000 ton. I'm going to guess but um >> dozen tons. >> I wasn't expecting the question tonight. Okay, Jenny. So, >> um,
so you say we're we're okay and we haven't had anybody asking for help. No other community is asking for help. >> No, but I said though, if if if we have the enough salt and we our neighbors needed help, we we would definitely help them. >> Okay. All right. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Oh, one other thing. I'm sorry. Has there been any movement at 809 uh West Mountain at the uh truck? Has there been any uh changes in the in the um situation over there with the dirt being
dumped there and the trucks being parked there? Is there anything new? Has there been any changes, >> Mayor? If if you don't mind, we'll have our township engineer address that. >> Sure. Yeah. Thanks. >> Okay. Um 809 West Mountain Road is the
the property. Yeah, Derek is speaking about the uh if you recall that this came back uh you know this was brought up at mid mid 2025. I' I came in involved in the late fall uh November, December. Um I' I've been on this
property on 809 West Mountain Road. I met with the uh the property owner. Um we've established a um a plan of what I want to see happen from the property. When I state that, I've asked for um you know the surveys, you know, permit applications,
um the testing of the soil that was brought onto the site because they did basically they had two different violations. Um one for uh soil fill without a permit and the second one was the construction of a uh of a uh in the means of constructing a parking area for
trucks and trailers. Um those violations have stopped at the violation issues. We have not gone to a summons uh because the fact that the property owner is working with us. Um I met with them back in December before Christmas and since then I don't believe we've seen a couple more than a handful of days without snow
on the ground. So they they've asked for some extension. I've asked originally it was March 1st. I've talked to their surveyor. I've talked to their um their site engineer and um basically I given a little extra time so we can get the snow off the ground so they can get an an
accurate survey of what's out there. Um basically in the stipulations that I provided um requested is that they have to provide a plan application to Sparta for um for the soil fill aspect of it. Um the u and then a permit to the upper Delaware soil conservation district. The
soil soil conservation district is aware of the situation as well and they're they're okay with the the fact that they are the property owner is working with us. Um I don't have nothing to state that he has not worked with us. they have um other than there's still some trailers and some vehicles parked in
that area um where the uh uh where the fill was placed and we've asked them to remove those I will ask that again um but I am given a little time until they they show me they're not playing ball with the town right now I would say they are playing ball >> okay
just a couple more minutes left on my clock um just >> actually Johnny I think I know it's important your questions I think we were down at nine seconds when Cy came up if you wouldn't mind if we just Can I say it real quick? >> Okay, sure. >> What are they doing about making sure that there's testing for the soil to make sure that the stuff that they did
put in there is clean and not polluting the wells? I think that was >> I think that was 8 seconds. So, I think she did [laughter] the u um there's three professionals that they have um hired for this uh to try to rect rectify the situation. They
have a um um an engineer uh for the site the site preparation work uh which are preparing the soil conservation district uh uh permit plans and approval. They [clears throat] have a surveyor. They also have an LSRP that's going to be doing the testing of the soil. Okay. Um I have stated when they do do the
testing of soils, they I'll have to have somebody from my office present so I can know what they're testing. They just can't test, you know, spot over there when the field's at one location. So, um, somebody at my office will be present when they they actually do the sampling. So,
>> but again, I have not pushed the situation since we've had so much snow in the last two months. I'm going to give them a little >> trailer still there. So, >> I believe they are. Yeah. I So, that's an issue. They said that they would remove them because technically they are allowed because of an agricultural use.
They can use trailers or, you know, vehicles related to their farm, but if it's not farm related, they can't have it on the property. >> Oh, >> so, >> okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Corey. I would just ask that once we do get the results of the soil
um if we could make that available to council. I think we also have ma'am I think you are the adjacent property owner if I'm not mistaken. You probably have a very important interest in knowing what's in that soil that's near your property. [laughter]
>> Archery Castell. Um I'm at 353 North Church Road. Um, and [clears throat] my big concern is the amount of dirt they brought in. It went on for months and months and months and they would they
would trucks were just dropping constantly. So the amount I'm curious like how is there a for is there a formula? Like it if there is dirt that's three times
the size of this room, they don't just test like, you know, a couple feet of it. I would imagine that they have to there must be some sort of a formula. I I'm not familiar. It's not something that I do, but I would think that there'd be something
>> how far down they can go and test. Yeah, because it's it's I you saw the pictures when I brought you folks to fit pictures. You can see where the ground went and you can see where the ground went. >> Yeah. >> But anyway,
>> I hope there's no Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you for your concern. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. >> Have a good evening. >> Thank you very much. >> Yeah, I'm Do I have to close out? >> No, no, that's [laughter] good. If you're done, you can drop the mic. >> We might have more answers for you. And Margie's been very nice. She's had
let me on her property as well to do, you know, investigation, you know, on my side to see what it looks like from her property. She's she's been very cooperative as well. Um, yes, they've hired an LSRP. Um, they're going to have to um there is a substantial amount of material that was moved in. So, that's why I've asked for a survey so we can
try to account for how much volume, you know, so they'll do a survey um uh of the existing ground and the proposed ground. Best you can um um know what the existing ground is. uh from a survey so we can see how far they got to bore bore down through they're going to have to soil they're going to have to bore down
through the material and get sampling and there is um an LSRP is much more qualified than I am with the testing but there is amount it's so how many volume how much volume and how much how many samples they'll have to take but um the an LSRP is a licensed site remedial uh
remediation professional and that their license is on on the line as well so >> and there's sampling guidance to your question is based on the volume there's a certain number of samples a minimum samples required. So the LSRP will have to make sure that the material stockpiled is sampled properly that's
being removed as well as check checking the subsurface or natural soils that were there prior to them bringing that material on site. >> And that's one of the questions I've asked or one of the items I've asked that they have somebody from my office on site to make sure that they get down through the whatever soil that they brought uh to the site that we get down
to virgin material. >> Yeah. Good. Good. >> Yeah. Thank you. Sure. >> Sure. >> Do I announce myself again? >> Yeah. No, you're good. You're good. >> Okay. So, I'm Marjorie Castel. Um, so the other question that I had was I have
two wells on the property. Um, and I was just trying to find So, I've had a couple different water tests, like just the um, you know, when we moved in, we tested the water. Um and then I had a
project that um I did that I told you folks that I got all the proper um permits etc. Um and I h So when that well was done, we were uh we had to have the water tested again. And then after
this activity started, I tested our water again. And that was before we I don't this past summer, we went dry for a long time without any rain. And fortunately, my te my water has tested good all three times. But is there
anything like are there any are they going to be responsible for any um to like to look after that my water gets tested for a an amount of time for for the activity that they've done? I don't I don't know what I'm you know I'm just
>> curious. I I personally have an answer. I'm not sure. >> Yeah, I'm it's a it's a good question. I would be it's a valid concern. Respectfully, the council is not in a position to provide a response to that as to the liability between two private owners with respect to wellwater
testing. >> Okay. >> So, I'm I'm sorry if it's not a satisfactory response, but if you are concerned, I would respectfully reach out to um either legal counsel or an engineer
to to advise you further. >> Okay. Okay. >> Sorry. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And this this is for Corey. So, um, and you're confident that the testing methodology [clears throat]
that the soil conservation folks or the licensed remediator will engage in is is sufficient to a reasonable degree of professional certainty to determine that that soil is a fair representation of the entire lot of soil that was put on there. I think the concern probably by
the homeowner, my concern and I think your concern which you pointed out was they have to make sure they test enough of this soil that the entirety they're confident that the entirety when they come up with the results represents the entire soil that's on that property as
opposed to some small little bit of it >> that I totally agree. Yes. Yeah. They they have to test enough of it to make sure it's sufficient. I understand the concerns. You see a lot of material coming in. You don't know where it's coming from. Um, but I'd like to say what I right now I believe um, Miss
Castile has stated right now she has no signs that there there's any kind of contamination uh, in her wells. Um, everybody hopes that it comes back clean and everything you know is modern and then that's not an issue. But if it is an issue, we'll see what the next step may be at that point. Then LSRP is
involved. I mean the D would be involved to some to some aspect of it with reporting. Um, because they're going to test it. They're going to test it to basically determine if it's residential, you meets residential site improvement standards or non-residential site improvements. You know, there going to
be testing that's going to be done to make sure it meets certain criteria. If it doesn't meet criteria, it'll be elevated and then not just because we elevate it, because the LSRP will have to ele elevate it because it's their license that's on the line. >> Good. Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Good. Thank you. And you know just to clarify those results if if those results exceed those standards uh depending upon those results it may trigger a groundwater. That was my next question. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
>> For further further action the LSRP is overseeing and managing that activity. >> Yeah. So did you understand that that what that means if if it turns out the soil is over an elevated amount that may trigger the requirement of the property
owner to now test your well right because now they've exceeded that limit. So you know I think you may get an answer to that. Hopefully the answer is they're below the standard no harm. Everything's okay. That's what we all hope for. But if it does, then I think what council uh deputy mayor Sylvester
is saying that may trigger them to have to or the state to monitor >> investigation and sampling. >> Yeah. >> So, >> yeah. So, as long as the LSRP is involved, that would drive a lot of this, right? Okay. Excellent. Thank you,
everyone. >> Anyone else from the public have a comment for items not on the agenda? Okay. Okay. Seeing none, Mr. >> Mayor, I have a quick question. >> Um, regarding the landfill, you know,
I've been on account for 14 months, but it's 28 meetings. I've heard that we don't have any progress on the on the landfill. I mean, it seems like the old way isn't working. Is there a way that >> Councilman happened in my business? I would call the D every day.
>> Council Scott understand why we have this issue. >> Are you are you referring to the the property we were just discussing? Uh the West Mountain Road or >> I'm referring to the land though. >> Okay. The uh Brownfield over by D uh
DPW. Okay. Let's wait for Let's wait for new business for that if you don't mind. That's Let's move on to counseling as an updates and we'll get on to new or unfinished business. That actually sounds like unfinished. So, what we just do it if you could just uh bear with me and just pause for a few minutes. Okay. All right, let's uh let's go to
the council leazison updates. I will start to my left with deputy mayor Sylvester. >> The only update I have from the planning board is that it was requested that we consider filling the class 2 position and I informed that we are in a process
of and I've received applications and we're reviewing them and hopefully making a decision um hopefully before the next meeting or one subsequent from that. Okay. Great. Thank you. [clears throat]
I uh I'll go next. Um so first item is uh manager Zep and I attended a a breakfast for the Sussex County mayors and town administrators hosted by Newton. Uh the purpose was really relationship building
collaboration and majority of municipalities in the county showed up which was great. Uh thank you again to Newton. They did a wonderful job hosting. It was uh really valuable to meet some of our Sussex County neighbors. Not surprisingly, many towns when they were giving their couple
minute update to all of us, they're facing very similar challenges as we are. Health insurance costs, uh water utility system needs, investment needs, constraints, uh concerns, budgetary, um a lot a lot of them except for us
talked about salt shortage, all the snow we've been getting. Uh anyway, it was it was a wonderful experience and uh I think it kind of laid some groundwork for some good relationships. Uh second is the uh master plan subcommittee and I see a couple people out here um was holding and I guess just
held its first meeting of the year tonight uh down the hall as it continues to drive towards completion of Sparta's new master plan. So look for opportunities uh to learn more at various upcoming planning board meetings this spring.
uh affordable housing meetings with our expert professionals continue as we uh move towards resolution final resolution in the near future on that. And then finally uh since we don't have an environmental commission leaison
currently um I've been reaching out to our chairman of the EC. They actually haven't met since our last meeting here. So I don't have any real updates. Uh their next meeting is two days from now, Thursday the 12th. And I do understand that there are still uh two open
alternate positions on the environmental commission. I would u encourage any any resident interested in volunteer volunteering to help uh protect our environment and our precious uh natural resources here in town to complete the short online application and uh and get
in the queue to um perhaps help volunteer on the environmental commission. The website, the Sparta website has the volunteer application for that. Uh that's all my leazison updates for tonight. We'll move on to Councilwoman Murphy.
>> Thank you. I have for uh do the Rev 250. We have a uh an event coming up on February 28th at Camp Sack Jia which is we're going to post it should be already
posted the uh the flyer that anybody can purchase tickets from 4:30 to 6:30 and it's a day in the life in in 1776 with the ministers of Apollo and it's A
it's a harps accord band and they're going to have refreshments and appetizers and they I said last time we did a tavern talk at crow at uh crows which was fabulous and every all the
participants in costume and uh so you can purchase tickets and it's $55 per person and again it's from 4:30 to 6:30 on the 28th so monthly And this will all be posted on the website and monthly
there'll be an event to celebrate the Rev 250 and anybody who wants to get involved please do so and join our committee. Um also with um the seniors we had not had a
a meeting but um for the environmental committee the uh Christine Rogers did a salt watch exhibition at LMCC this weekend on Saturday and she we had a group of students National Honor Society
students from Sparta High School that came and they are going to start taking testing thing for salt issues in different waterways and she showed everybody how to do it. Did a beautiful presentation. It was really I I wish there had been more people and I wish we
could have we do have actually the uh presentation she did that we can anybody can look at up here um that more people would come and we can do salt testing on all of our waterheads on all of our streams and it was really quite
fantastic. So that if you need anything, please reach out to the environmental committee, to the commission, or to me and I can get you test strips or there is a way that you can order them um for anybody that wants to test any waters.
So, it was a an excellent excellent presentation and and the uh the kids that came from Sparta High School that were all part of the National Honor Society, they get points for doing this and then they can compare them do them several times and they can compare them after a storm once when the snow starts
to melt and then again of something if we get a rainfall. So, it was it was really really good. They were really excited. So, it was great to see them there. And that's all I have for my leaison right now. >> Great. Thank you. And Councilman Clark.
>> Sure. Uh none of the five committees that I'm on have have met since the last uh meeting. Um but I do have one uh sort of update on on the film uh kind of film committee, but sort of film in general.
um is that Sparta has been considered for certain films um that have been coming out of the Barnlight Studios. Um but that's you know that's a location scout and you know I think they do have one need right now for a secluded
farmhouse. Um if you know anyone in Sparta that has kind of a secluded farmhouse that has a driveway going up it I have the specs for it. Um they've been looking for that for for a movie that uh is in pre-production right now that they're hoping to shoot probably in the spring.
Um so Sparta's, you know, still in the running for that. It has been the running for others, but that, you know, this is up to the discretion and artistic vision of the location scout and director. And so you're not always going to win out on those. Um you know, but we have we don't have a current
application. But again, if you do know someone who may be the owner of a farmhouse in Sparta, um that would be interested in possibly using that house as a location in a movie, uh please let me know and I can give you the actual specs from the location scout and it
will be much more specific as to what the needs are. So, that's the the update uh that I have. But that again there's with Barnlight Studios they do have I think um at least two that are in pre-production right now that will be happening within the county um and uh
probably in the future some additional movies as well and and Sparta's in the running with that we have you know a database set up with all the you know relevant pictures of of Sparta uh to entice these scout lo uh scout locators
and directors to encourage them to film in Sparta But none of that can happen till they file an application. We just try to get on their um on their agenda to take a look at us. So, and that's all I have. >> Good. Thank you, Councilman. Uh
Councilman Scott, any council leazison on updates? >> None of my council has met since the last meeting. So, I have no update. >> Okay. So, uh let's move on to unfinished and new business. And um Councilman
Scott, I'll I'll start with you being your uh hopefully unmuted still. Any unfinished or new business? >> Yes. I just I'm just curious uh about about the landfill being open.
I mean, we um it's it's been a long time. I mean, I've been sitting there up up on the dis for 14 months hearing about how we haven't had any progress on the on the landfill closure. And that cost us some $450,000 a year. That would
really help our budget, I believe. And you know, if this was happening in my office, we would be calling the D every day. But um is there some type of exper I don't know if this is going to be a long it's going to be a long conversation. We can take it offline.
>> I was just going to say Councilman Scott, you're welcome to contact me uh outside of this this meeting. Uh in 14 months there has been some actually significant progress. the the fact that they were willing to take donated parcels uh in lie of a million dollars
to mitigate the wetland that would allow us to close the landfill. That was a huge hallmark. The problem we're having right now is actually putting in the donation to DP to get the because we have to get the permit so we
can start closing. Um we do have a representative Laura Neward of Eco Science who works for us. I talk to her once a week and she is on D's back and we we've I've seen her communicate with two separate individuals down at D who
are both trying to find us the point person to accept the parcels and give us the the the the green light to start uh mitigating the wetlands. Unfortunately, D has a reputation of of just being super slow and and you know
what? If I knew there was a better method to expedite this. I mean, Councilman Scott's been wor, you know, waiting for 14 months. I I've been waiting for almost 24 years. So, believe me, I I want this more than anybody to go through. And once we close landfill,
this has always been my objective is to close the landfill [clears throat] and and and get it done. The fact that we would lease the landfill for a potential solar farm is is a bonus benefit. Okay. And the solar market right now is is up
and down. What the value would be is is it's unknown right now. And there's a good chance that that lease agreement will have to be renegotiated. Um so but again the objective keep the eye on is to close the landfill. that really is the objective and to be able to do it
with minimal cost uh is is really what we're trying to do and so uh unfortunately I you know I'm I'm on at at the call of D right now. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you very much and was a excellent answer. I stand corrected and
thank you for explaining that. >> No worries. Also, uh, uh, Laura Nuggard, who, uh, town manager Zep mentioned, is from Eco Sciences, is a a former Spartan Environmental Commission member for many years, and um, she knows her stuff, and
if she's if she's on top of D, she's probably they're probably sick of her. I think she does a great job. So, I'm glad to hear that that she's still in the loop on this. I I'll make the comment that when we get to the point of the donating the parcels, she uh has offered to come and and and and discuss the process with the town with the the
council in town because there are people who are concerned about the transfer into the those the the trusts and stuff. So, I'm looking forward to that. >> They are going through a transition right now with the new commissioner, assistant commissioner, >> right? So you have a little bit of a a changing over the guard which should
actually still be a favorable thing once they get settled in. >> So what you're really saying is it may slow down even more for a few few weeks. >> No, I don't think so. >> I [laughter] think they're just trying to get their house in order. >> They're historically slow. >> Okay. >> And that that's like all at facets of of
Trenton. I think I had talked earlier about I'd gone to a hearing in Trenton involving the approval of certain licenses for like say you want to be a physical therapist, you have to get a license from the state. They didn't even have the full appointment of the boards
who could decide that. So you had people who plunkked down over $100,000 to get a PT license who were waiting 9 10 months simply for the state to give them approval. Right? And so this is a problem within >> govern the state government is that they
just don't move things along. So, I I kind of echo um Councilman, you know, Scott's frustration not at the township, but at our state D, which is, you know, they're not delivering the service to the municipalities that they need to.
cuz my I suspect if I were to talk to my friends in the League of Municipalities, they could tell all kinds of stories about similar things where they're waiting on the D because they have an important project in their town that is simply they're at the mercy of the state
rendering their approval um and they have, you know, council persons and residents wondering what ever happened to this project and we are at the mercy of the state government here. So hopefully that with the new administration um they will kind of expedite these things and realize this
is an important project for this town and um and move it accordingly. >> Okay. Uh Deputy Mayor, any unfinished or new business? >> None. >> None at this time. Thank you. >> I uh just have one item to share and
it's u probably one of the most pleasant things you can say as a mayor. So, uh, just in the last week, I officiated my first marriage ceremony, uh, last Friday. It was it was right here. Um, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Caroline and Drew
Devoid. Uh, may they have many, many years of happy marriage together. Uh, that's all I have for unfinished or new business. >> Councilwoman, >> nothing. Okay, Councilman. >> Uh, just on unfinished business, uh,
folks will recall, uh, the last term, uh, we had introduced an ordinance about, uh, banning smoke shops. Um, again, these were types of uses that had unfortunately led to the illegal distribution of cannabis. Um, that is
still an issue that we're looking at. However, um there is a the Hemp Act that was passed uh in January right before Murphy left office that will affect that and may moot the need to have that type
of ordinance. So, we're that's under review right now. Uh I just wanted to let the public know that isn't an issue that I've forgotten about or dropped on. It's one that in light of this new um law which has more robust enforcement
mechanisms um I think that we're taking a look at that and I know uh in my communications with uh Chief McCarrick they they've also been uh updated on that new law and and and new possible enforcement that they may have to uh
stop this type of um what they call intoxicating hemp that may fall under um a THC level that uh requiring you know uh lensure but my understanding is even those now are going to require lensure
um and so anyone operating uh with these intoxicating hemp products will then have to come under the CRC and have proper licensing. So again, I just wanted to that's kind of unfinished business that I haven't forgotten about that I want to make sure that you know
Sparta is protected from keeping out the type of use that has proved problematic in this town. >> Agreed. >> Thank you. Excellent. >> Great. Thank you, Councilman. >> Might I just give some information real quick to Mayor Blumetti?
>> Sure. Sure. If you could introduce yourself to those who may not know you. >> Hi, Don. >> CFO Dawn. >> Yeah. I just wanted to let you know that right now it is Special Olympic down at Capitol Hill and our coach is down there with two of our Spartest students.
>> Wow. >> Okay. They've gone around. They've met some of the congressmen. They get to the kids got to speak to all these congressmen to tell them how important Special Olympics is and just how awesome >> Sparta does. And for those of you that don't know, we have the best Special
Olympics program in the county, in the state, hands down. >> Excellent. Okay. So, I just want to let you know that they're there right now. >> Oh, great. Thank you. Wonderful. Thank you for sharing that. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> Well, on that high note, um I will ask for a motion to adjurnn. May I have a
motion to adjurnn? >> I'll make a motion. >> Okay. May I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Meeting adjourned. Have a good evening, everyone. >> That's awesome. It's great.