WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=f7gRB9RxBxM

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: f7gRB9RxBxM):
- 00:00:00: Team Kolorants Recognized for Zero Robotics Competition Success
- 00:03:44: Proclamation for Valerie Machio, Senior of the Year
- 00:07:18: Sparta Township Budget Review and Finance Department Restructuring
- 00:17:15: Public Comments on the Sparta Township Budget
- 00:27:05: Approval of Executive Session Meeting Minutes
- 00:28:14: Town Manager Report: Events, Reminders, and Hometown Heroes
- 00:30:47: Police Chief Report: Torch Run, Grants, and Route 15 Crash
- 00:34:18: Motion to Accept Reports and First Public Comment
- 00:35:26: Expenditures Approval and Resolution Discussions Begin
- 00:37:16: Surplus Property Sale Authorization Via Online Auction
- 00:38:58: Hiring Qualified Purchasing Agent and Increasing Bid Threshold
- 00:46:16: Purchase Approvals Through State Contracts and Public Comment
- 00:46:56: Caitlin Gagnen: Veteran Tax, Stolen Valor, Local Governance
- 00:51:50: Landfill Update, Bank Reconciliation, State Contact Info
- 00:52:58: Community Events, Donations, and Fourth of July Parade
- 00:54:08: Hometown Heroes Banner Program and Municipal Outreach
- 00:57:42: Council Liaison Updates Begin: Weddings and Senior Volunteers
- 00:59:53: Trails Committee, Film Committee, Beautification Committee
- 01:04:13: Rev250, Flag Day, Environmental Committee, Data Centers
- 01:08:19: Senior Olympics and Planning Board Meetings
- 01:09:09: Business Development Site and Website Update
- 01:11:06: Council Unfinished and New Business Discussion
- 01:14:38: Educational Forum Resolution for Future Agendas
- 01:16:49: Surplus and Previous Town Accomplishments


Part: 1

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gravity environment. And whereas team Cool Shrunk demonstrated remarkable skill by programming their Astrob to plant, water, and harvest crops within a 4-minute window as part of this year's

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mission, stimulating greenhouse farming in space, earning high scores through strategic planning and precise execution, advancing through competitive rounds, and ultimately finishing in the top four worldwide. And whereas the team

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is led by dedicated coach Joseph Giovanni supported by alum members Siraj Bose, Evan Rizzo and Michael Patrolards and is comprised of exceptional students as follows.

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Mia Rizzo Aberk Job John Lub Chonssky Macy Neco Artum Taylor Ryland Chintatada Diana Reninger Chance Cosenza Shaming

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Adrien Ozarali William Franco and Matthew Gazilo and whereas established in 2011 team Koulron has a long history of success and this year's achievements continue their

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tradition of excellence while also supporting the expansion of STEM education through the development of a new middle school zero robotics team where high school members were will serve as mentors and leaders. Now therefore, be it resolved that the

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township council of the township of Sparta congratulates team Kolants on their outstanding performance, celebrates their commitment to innovation and teamwork, and extends best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors. So, would you like to

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come up, please? Congratulations again very much to all of you. Thank you so much for being here tonight and for your amazing accomplishment. Uh we're all proud of you and you know, fourth is is incredible. So, you should all be proud of yourselves and to your mentors and coaches as well. Uh it's a

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it's a true pleasure to have you here and we encourage you to keep this going and uh it's wonderful what you're doing with the middle school, too. Um encouraging the younger folks. So, thank you very much for being here. Appreciate it. >> Patience again. They have a meeting tomorrow

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meeting. >> Please also note there was a slight typo on the agenda that um it is Pope John and the proclamation was correct. Okay. All right. Our next proclamation is to our 2026 senior of the year,

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Valerie Machio. Whereas older Americans are cherished members of our community, deserving respect and gratitude for their lifelong service and contributions. And whereas Valerie Machio has been a devoted resident of Sparta for over 25

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years, sharing her leadership, compassion, and dedication with the community. And whereas after earning dual master's degrees in marketing and international business from Fairley Dickinson University and building a successful career as a vice president of

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marketing and consumer insights, Valerie founded Cornerstone Marketing, a research firm in Paripony. And whereas she has given generously of her time through volunteer work with Barks Animal Rescue, Karen Anne

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Quinnland, and Northern Hills Academy, where she inspired students as an art instructor in watercolor and acrylic painting. And whereas Valerie's service expanded when she joined the far the Sparta food pantry at the First Presbyterian Church,

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assisting with food distribution and later leading major fundraising and board activities. And whereas through her commitment and leadership, she became executive director and board president, guiding

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the pantry's 2019 transition to the Sparta Community Food Bank, which now serves individuals and families across Sussex, Warren, and Mars counties. And whereas over 18 years of volunteer service, Valerie has helped the pantry

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grow to feed more than 4,000 people each month. including seniors, veterans, the unhoused, working families, immigrants, and all those in need received dignified support, including culturally

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appropriate and specialized dietary options. And now therefore, it be it resolved that the Township Council of the Township of Sparta proudly proclaims Valerie Machio as Sparta Township's 2026 Senior of the Year with sincere

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appreciation for her extraordinary service, leadership, and unwavering dedication to our community. Congratulations to Valerie. who looks very young. >> So again, I'm not Valerie. I'm Emily Song, the senior coordinator with Sparta

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Recreation. Um, so I will be sure to get this to Valerie. Thank you for your continued support and appreciation for the senior volunteers of Sparta as they continue to make our community great. >> And some of us got to uh enjoy meeting Valerie a few weeks ago at the dinner

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that uh was run by the recreation department for all the senior volunteers. Okay, now we're moving on with the agenda and we have a uh slightly out of order um element added for tonight's um for tonight's agenda.

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Uh if you see this on the agenda, it's regarding the budget, the proposed budget and um we introduced the budget recently and that was approved. In the meantime, uh as was required, we need to send the budget to the state um once every three years. The state needs to do

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a review of it um before we can move forward and usually ask questions and ask for adjustments. Um so that's still underway and we will have an amended budget coming soon. At that time, there will be an introduction of the amended

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budget and just as you would expect later, four weeks later, there will be a hearing for the budget. Uh tonight, what we're doing is just a procedural step to keep the process moving along. Um and uh you may ask, you're open to ask

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questions tonight if you'd like. Um, I encourage the council and and most of us to if you can delay your questions and wait until we have the amended budget and can talk about what the budget will be that we're going to introduce and have the hearing at that point. Um, I'll

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defer to um our town manager and if we have any other points to make before >> Yes. Thank you, mayor. Before u we open up um I'm going to uh just read a section of my manager's report, but because of the order we went on, uh it'll make sense now. So about uh a

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month ago, two employees departed from our finance department. After reviewing our operations and considering several factors, we have taken this opportunity to restructure the finance department in a way that strengthens our fiscal and financial management and ensures

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continuity of service. This evening, you will notice several resolutions pertaining to purchasing. One authorizing the appointment of the Canning Group as our qualified purchasing agent or QPA they're referred to. In addition, with the recommendation

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from uh Deputy Mayor Sylvester here, we will be entering into a shared service agreement with the town of Newton for CFO services. I'm pleased to introduce Tom Ferry seated to my left. Tom is the chief financial officer for the town of Newton and will be leading operations for

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Sparta's finance department through this shared service. Tom has more than 40 years of experience in municipal finance and he pref previously served as Sparta's auditor. Therefore, he has a strong understanding of our community and our financial structure.

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Tom will be presenting our current budget status this evening and will assist in addressing any questions from the public and from the council during the budget hearing portion of the meeting, though as as curtailed as uh we're advising. I also want to emphasize that Miss Don

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Crumpford will continue to play a key role in our finance department. She will serve as municipal treasurer and deputy CFO, overseeing day-to-day operations when Tom is not on site. Her experience and institutional knowledge remain invaluable to our organization.

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The town of Newton is scheduled to adopt the shared service resolution and agreement at their town at their town council meeting tomorrow. Thereafter, Sparta will then adopt a resolution approving this shared service agreement at the June 9th council meeting. We welcome Mr. Ferry to our staff. Thank

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you. Okay. Uh, Mr. Perry, would you like to share anything this evening or I I you want to wait till we get the hearing? >> So, you're absolutely you got it act absolutely correct. So, I was going to try and do the amendment um for today because I was going to try and do it over the holiday weekend because it was

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so beautiful out. But, um but I wasn't able to do it because I found some more things that I needed to go over with Cheryl. Um Cheryl Samson is the state um examiner. Um so and then she's bogged down. She's been checking like she said 70 budgets

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throughout this whole process. So I didn't want to like bombard her either. And chances are even if I got the amendment to her, chances are she probably wouldn't have been able to get it. The state's been very um very hard this year. I've never seen it this bad

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where they've had so many questions. Um, and it's just been bogging down the examiners. Um, so what I'm looking for is get the amendment done before um to her and get all her questions done before the 9th at the next meeting in

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which, as you said, we're going to introduce the amendment and that's all we can do. At the next meeting, which is June >> 23rd >> 23rd, we'll in we'll have the um public hearing on the amendment. We'll adopt

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the amendment and then hopefully adopt the amended budget. So, it's going to go in that order. So, um I'm looking to spend for at least first couple months at least two days a week here. Um I got to get the finance the the budget done

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first of all. That's the big fire. Also, I want to get all the auditors adjustment on our computer system on the general ledgers MSI system. Um, my treasurer who's been with Newton 25 years is going to come here and help out

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with the bank reconciliations and get those going so they're so everything's tied in. I think she's going to be um I think she could be here one one day a week and um she because she only has to straighten out five five months of bank

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wrecks. Um if you need Tom Russo, he's available um for for manager um information and um I'm available 247. >> Okay. Thank you. Welcome. Two questions if I may. First is uh am I correct that

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once every three years every town every municipality needs to send it into the state and go through this process? >> That's correct. And actually I was I was in uh this year too. >> Oh okay. Newton was as well. >> Yeah. So I just went through the whole process. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um and just for town managers app just

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to confirm for everyone the two um openings that recently were created by people taking other opportunities elsewhere those are not going to be filled. Correct. >> Correct. >> And we're doing this arrangement instead. Okay. >> Yes. and you can see the obvious advantages of savings that the town will

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realize and uh in many ways I think um uh things will be more efficient and more uh productive. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Mayor Vuli, I just have some questions just about the process. >> Sure. >> Um so the amendments are those ones that

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we've taken upon ourselves to amend or is that at the request of the state that we're amending? So, I'm confused on whether who who's amending out of whose request. The state told us to amend or we're amending just on our own. >> No, it's definitely the the state came up with some amendments that they want.

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>> I got you. Okay. And then what we have to do is make what we think are the amendments that will satisfy the state, submit that to the state, and once the state says, "Okay, your amendments are okay with us." It's at that point that

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we then are able to introduce not just the amendments, the entire budget and we can flag what the amendments will be within that budget. Is that right? >> That's correct. So So what what happens is that the amendment shows the the previous budget and then shows the

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adjustment the change. And the reason why we can't do this all in one night is there are certain state laws that says and one of them being if you increase a line item more than 10% you can't introduce and adopt you have to have it

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advertised. So 3 days prior to the to the public hearing on the amendment we have to have it advertised at a minimum three days. You could put it a week or whatever, but some some budgets if you only tweak the line items 5% or anything

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less than 10% you can introduce adopt and amend amend and have the public hearing and then get it all done in the same night. But there's too many big changes. They also requested like 30 other things. Um shared service

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agreements. Um why did you decrease mayor and counsel? Why did you decrease? Why did you increase? They had a bunch of other questions, which Mike did prior to him um leaving. And um I also looked it over last week to make and to make

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sure it was all correct. Um I tweaked it a little bit. I added some some some stuff and then we sh sent it all over to Cheryl. Um and actually I I've known her because I've I've audited about half the towns in Sussex County. So, she's been

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my examiner for a long time. Um, so we were uh going back and forth on Sunday, texting back and or emailing back and forth um about things the way they should progress. So, she's she's on board. >> And so, the the budget that we you did a

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resolution back in April 26, I think, about introducing the budget and then we post it on the website. that budget that is currently on the website will not does not currently reflect and will not reflect the amended budget until we get the amendments done. Is that correct?

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>> That's correct. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Okay. Um with that being said, I will open it up to public questions. Um again with keeping in mind please that um the questions might be more impactful and

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valuable and accurate if we wait for the new budget amended to be introduced and then have a hearing. Uh but you're welcome to ask questions if you'd like. >> Thanks Jenny Derek's tap into Sparta. I said welcome out there but nice to see you Mr. Ferry. Um Jim, can you tell us

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what positions were eliminated or are not being refilled? >> Was the uh purchasing agent the QPA? But we are refilling them, right? Because we are. That's what >> Okay. So he Mr. Bumemedi just said that we're not refilling. >> Well, we're not hiring a person. Uh the

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the canning group I is a is a an outside service. >> Okay. So you're contracting and was there somebody else? >> The account clerk >> and that those services are going to be handled through the shared service agreement

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>> uh and restructuring of the finance department. Thank you. Um, do you anticipate, and I know this is just uh in vague comment and vague terms, but do you anticipate that there's going to be a change to the

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effective levy that the residents will be seeing? >> I'm thinking no, but I'm still getting up to speed because I was only here last week. >> Okay. So based upon their amendments, um I and I'm going to try and make it where

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if they have a question or I can keep it about the same where it is now. >> Okay, I think that's it for now. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi Ron Sparta. Um just a a process question. So my it sounds like we're

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introducing a budget tonight that doesn't exist. So there is no introduction of a budget tonight. >> No. >> Okay, that's that that makes sense. Um so this afternoon I sent everybody up there an email and I don't expect anyone's had a chance to look at it because I sent it around 5:00. And by

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the way, welcome. I'll get I'll get a copy for you as well. Um, and and in it, I looked at the budget over a fiveyear period as opposed to I think a lot of people look at it over a two to three year period and looked at the trends and the ups and downs and and they're all in the email. Um, and that

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had a potential 307k in salary and wage savings and that's without cutbacks or anything. That's just based on sounds like the finance thing is something we talked I I looked at as well. um looked at what was done the year before and there was one one other department where I think there

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might be some headcount reduction but you'll see that in the memo. There was also another 175k and other potential costs and and I'm going to admit probably about half of that is achievable but based on where we are I think it's it's it's worth looking at everything we have right now. um also

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summarize what what I felt were uh litigation costs from 2022 to 2026 and I came up with about um 1.5 million and I listed where they all came from. They were basically appropriations and budget line emergency mercy approach

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appropriations in the uh FOC I think it's 2155 but it's all in in memo. So I'd like maybe next week if you can just take a look at it and give me a feel. Does does that sound right to you guys or or am I offer just something to take a look at? Um I also gave a few recommendations on

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on what we could do if if we're able to achieve some savings. It it doesn't sound like there's going to be a whole lot there. Not enough that it's going to make a difference in the tax rate going to the people. So, you know, two things I gave four or five recommendations. The two that I really going to ask be given

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some serious consideration is number one, let's provide the township employees with some type of increase. If we can find the money to do it, you know, why why you know, we don't want to do this to them. They're all good. You know, that's going to create havoc. We may lose people we need. It's probably not that much money in the in terms of

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increase. So, that's one thing I'd like you to consider if we have enough money. The other one is something I I've been thinking about for a long time and been waiting for the right time to bring it up. So, I'll bring it up tonight and maybe you can think about it between now and the next meeting. And that's at when I look at our our

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police department staffing, our emergency uh staffing, our services staffing. When I look at our police department staffing, it's been level since like 2022. Um I think it's like 39 full-time and and I don't know how many part-time. Um

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but this town has grown and and it's going to grow even further. And if we don't start finding money to start at least incrementally beefing up our police our police for force and the other the other emergency services staff, we're going to find ourselves in a world of hurt, I think. So, just

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again, if if there's money available, think about it. That that's all I ask. Um, couple questions I have for tonight and if you can answer them, great. If not, next week is fine. Um, it'd be I think it'd be helpful to have someone prepare prepare prepare a

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forecast of when the 2026 budget is finally adopted. What does that mean to 2027 in 2028? I think most of that stuff is pretty easily uh forecasted. You know, your your revenues are pretty steady. You know which ones are you have

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a feel for what's going up, what's going down. Appropriations are pretty constant. you know, wages, maybe put a little bit in there for um for you know, we've we've got a history now with medical costs. But, you know, what we don't want to do is is get through 2026 and find out that we've got a real

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problem in 2027. Let's let's let's address it now. If you know, if we have to take action now, let's let's do it. Um the other question I had that there seems to be some confusion on the municipal municipal tax increase. I hear numbers of 10% and I hear numbers at 3%. Can someone tell me what the right

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number is? I don't think you've heard three from us. Um, three might be someone representing the overall impact that makes sense. Board of Ed and the other >> So the municipal is around 10 and it could change based on on the Yeah, >> correct. >> Okay, thanks Ne. Um,

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>> but the municipal makes up just 17% of the >> I I understand. I I just want to make sure that we all have the right numbers. We're all thinking the same way. Um, and then the last question I'm going to ask, and I'll save it to next week, is when the budget is done and adopted, do you as a town council feel we have

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sufficient funds to support the existing litigation, the lawsuits, um, or are we going to need to introduce emergency appropriations once this passed? Right now, I saw I saw nothing in the 2026 budget. Um, other other than I think there was like 200k under the the legal

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expense. So is it and there may be some leftover from last year, but that'd be good to know. Again, what I'm concerned about is not just 2026, but what's that going to do to us next year? Let's not have these same discussions where we're, you know, do we have enough reserve? Do we not have enough reserves? Let's just get it right this time. So, thank you.

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Perfect timing. Thank you. >> Hey, Mr. Dave, if I can ask for next time, too. um not to continue it tonight, but I know you had mentioned um a few different things that you emailed. Um and one of them I think was savings ideas. Yes.

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>> Um if you could um next meeting or at the hearing I in the savings ideas you mentioned increasing employee uh benefits or comp or something and also expanding the uh police and emergency. So if you can next time those don't sound like savings opportunities, they sound like spending opportunities. So

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I'm sure you have a balance in the email. So >> let me just correct. I misspoke. If we find savings in the salaries and wages and then the other cost expense that we talked about, take those savings and and and look at can I use that money. >> Oh, you're saying apply savings, find

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>> savings because I think I think the number might be enough. Maybe we can add one or two people to the to the uh police department. Maybe we can get a car. Maybe maybe we can afford uh a uh increases for the for for the township employees. >> Okay. So, you're saying if if we find savings at some point Yes. that we

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haven't found yet. Okay. Correct. Got it. Thanks. >> Okay. Anyone else uh from the public? >> Hi Quinn. Um Alpine. Uh welcome Tom. Jim. Uh this is for you. So, I know um I

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think it was in 2023 and 24 there was a presentation that I went to from Jackie from DCA and it was all about shared services that are being supported in New Jersey. And there was an entire outline with all these different types of programming that the state would

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contribute significant amounts of money to when it comes to a new shared service. whether that shared service was municipality to municipality or municipality to the the county itself um at that level. So, the great news is I'm

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I'm so excited that you're getting into these shared services. Um just a reminder, I don't know if you saw have that presentation, but the state was throwing a lot of money at new shared service initiatives and really covering a lot of the costs associated with them.

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So, if you have it or you you don't have it and you need it, let me know. Um, oh, you do have it. Perfect. Okay. I think this is really a great way for us to get great service and also be really mindful of the pricing and of our budget constraints that we have right now. So,

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thank you for thinking outside the box and for implementing this and for for looking at it and for implementing because I think it's it's really something that deserves to be looked at further. Thank you. Okay, seeing no one else, we'll uh close this portion of the agenda. Uh thank you

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for your engagement and uh we can look forward to having more conversations around budget in the coming weeks and month. Okay, next we're moving on to minutes. We have two minutes to approve tonight. Both are executive session meeting

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minutes. May I have a motion to approve the April 6th, 2026 executive meeting minutes as presented? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I.

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>> I. >> I. >> Okay. >> That motion has carried. Approved. Next. Are the May I have a motion to approve the April 28th, 2026 executive meeting minutes as presented?

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So moved. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstained? Okay. Motion is carried. Minutes have been approved. All right. Moving on. Uh town manager Zep, would you please present your

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manager's report? Good evening, mayor, council members, all Sparta residents joining us in person or watching from home. Thank you for being with us tonight. My report is now a little shorter. I'd like to extend a sincere thank you

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to Christine Quinn, Vanessa uh Sarino, and Pete Lichfield. Thanks to their efforts, we received another order of hometown hero banners last week. I also want to recognize and thank our public works staff who installed the new banners in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Their work ensures that our

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community can proudly honor our local heroes during this important time of remembrance. Thank you to everyone involved for your dedication and teamwork. As a reminder, the deadline for Sparta business owners to annually renew their portable advertisement signs permit is

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Monday, June 15th. More information can be found under uh the Sparta Township general code or by calling the planning and zoning office at 973-7298093. Sparta's annual fishing derby took place on Saturday, May 16th. Approximately 70 children enjoyed this family outing with

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their parents and grandparents in this beautiful weather on that day. Thank you to the volunteers from Trout Unlimited. The recreation department has shared that there is still room in various summer programs. Please visit the recreation section of the website for the brochure and online registration or

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contact them directly. A couple of other reminders of events. Saturday, May 30th, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Station Park is Sparta Day. This free event is organized by the Junior Women's Club of Sparta. Information can

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be found at wwwcspar.org. or the township is grateful for their continued success with this event that brings the community together. Saturday, May 30th, 9:00 a.m. to noon, the town hall lower parking lot will be our free paper shred and e-waste event,

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rain or shine. Saturday, June 6th, at 9:00 a.m., the trails committee is having their first community hike. Please sign up to register. Sunday, June 14th, at 10 a.m., the Sparta Elks Lodge number 2356 is

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inviting the community to celebrate Flag Day, which is being planned in front of town hall this year. Further information and registration for these events is available on the township's website. Chief McCerrick will now be reading his report. This concludes my report. Thank

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you. >> Thank you, Manager Zeb, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Council, Mr. Far. Welcome. Look forward to working with you. Thank you, Chief. >> A reminder that the annual law enforcement special Olympics torch run will be taking place next Friday, June 5th, 2026. And I just want to remind the

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the motorists to expect delays in area 517 Main Street, Woodport Road, and Stan Hope Road that morning between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Anybody from the public would like to run, uh, we'll be meeting at the, uh, police department at 7:45. Expect to see some council members

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there. And manager, I know you've run before. I'd like to see you again. The sport of police department was awarded $5,500 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. These funds will be utilized to purchase new bullet resistant vests for our officers. Our police department

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continues to be proactive while seeking and applying for grants to benefit our department and of course our taxpayers. For example, with bullet resistant vest grants over the past three and a half years, we have been awarded a total of $35,1328. I'd like to thank my administrative assistant, Marie Morrow, for being

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proactive with the entire process involving these grants. Early Sunday morning on May 17th, 2026, patrols responded to a motor vehicle crash in the area of Route 15 by the railroad tracks. Witnesses have observed a vehicle traveling northbound cross

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over into a southbound lane prior to driving off the roadway into a wooden area off the railroad tracks. Responding officers were able to locate the single vehicle involved in this incident. There was a total of three passengers at the time of the crash. Two female passengers, both at age 20, sustained

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minor injuries and were transported to Newton Medical Center for treatment prior to being released. The driver, a 21-year-old male from Morris Township, was pronounced dead at the scene, and my heart goes out to the young man's family and friends. The cause of this crash is still under

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investigation by our detective bureau. I would like to thank all agencies who assisted this in this incident with the investigation, including New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Unit, Sussexus County Sheriff's Department, New Jersey State Diversion Team, Sparta Fire Department, Sparta Ambulance Squad,

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St. Clair's Medics, Morris Township Police Department, the New York Suscuana Railroad, the New Jersey State Police Incident Management Unit, and K&A Towing. And I'm sure there's others that I may have missed. I'd especially like to thank Sergeant Dan Elig of Sparta Township Police Department and his patrol squad as well

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as detective Sergeant Hassock and our accident reconstruction officers and our dispatch team for their exceptional teamwork and professionalism while handling the response, coordination, and investigation into this critical incident. And although this is a part of the work that we do as police officers,

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incidents like these are never easy to deal with for any first responder. I would like to also thank Captain Ben Wright of the Spartan Squad for coordinating a crit critical incident debrief with all involved first responders post incident. With summer upon us, I would like to

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remind everyone to remain vigilant with while operating their vehicles. Please do not drive distracted or aggressively. Obey the speed limits. Be courteous to other drivers as well as pedestrians and cyclists. and safely if you need to call 911 while witnessing any erratic driver

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behaviors by other motorists. We all want to enjoy the summer and the warm weather and what those months have to offer for us and our families. And most importantly, we all want to make it home safely to our families and we want them to come home safely to us. That concludes my report. Thank you.

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>> Thank you, Chief. And uh managers have one clarification if you could just remind us SPAR day it's on Saturday, May 30th. Is it this coming Saturday? >> Yes. >> Right. Okay. Yes. Excellent. Thank you. >> Okay. May I have a motion, please, to

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accept the manager's report as presented? >> So moved. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> I. >> I. >> Okay. Manager's report has been accepted. Okay. Moving on to our first open to the

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public segment on the agenda. This is for items on the agenda. items on the agenda which includes the resolutions. Uh there will be a second public comment period later on for items not on the agenda. Uh please state and spell your name for your record the record and

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you're limited to one comment of no more than five minutes and no yielding of time to another person. Okay. Seeing none, we'll close the first open to the public period. Moving on to expenditures. Uh, Deputy

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Mayor Sylvester, would you please uh read the expenditures for today? >> Yes. Expenditures as of May 26, 2026 totaled $429,8101. Motion to approve. >> So moved. >> There a second. >> Second.

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>> All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> I. >> Okay. expenditures have been approved. There are no introductions of ordinances tonight and no hearings of ordinances tonight. So that brings us right to resolutions.

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I will carve out resolutions 84 through 87 to be handled separately. That means we're going to do a bulk approval for 81, 2, and three. Would anyone else like to carve out anything besides four

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through seven? Okay. Hearing none. >> Could I could I carve out 83? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Okay. May I have a motion to approve resolutions 81 and 82?

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>> So move to approve resolutions 81 and 82. >> Okay. Okay. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor of approving resolutions 81 and 82 say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Okay.

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Resolution 81 and 82 have been pro approved. Moving on to 83. This is a resolution of the township council of the township of Sparta authorizing the sale of surplus personal property no longer needed for public use

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on an online auction website. May I have a motion to approve 83? >> So moved. >> I have a second. >> All right, I I'll second. Any questions, comments on 83?

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>> Is Gov deals the only website to use for this? >> Mark, can you use your microphone? >> I'm sorry. >> I was just wondering is how did we select gov deals? >> They're a state contract. They're state sanctioned. >> Okay. >> That allows us to use them. All right. >> And therefore, we don't need to go out

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to bid. And we've used them uh several times in the past. Okay. though we've used other online agencies as well, but um they're still state sanctioned and that's who we use. And this resolution though actually isn't for gov deals so much as it is deeming all the the the

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property that we have as no longer needed and necessary. So it's the first step that we have to make before we enter uh to into business with gov deals. >> So >> all right, thank you. I just wanted to understand that. >> Sure. >> Any other questions or comments on 83?

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Yeah. Just um one is it only applies to that listed in a resolution. Correct. >> Correct. >> All right. >> Yeah, that's all. >> Okay. So, all in favor of approving resolution 8-3, say I.

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>> I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Okay. Motion carried. Resolution 83 has been approved. 84 Sparta Township County, Sussex State, New Jersey, authorizing the award or qualified purchasing purchasing agent

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services to Shaun P. Canning of the Canning Group LLC to perform qualified purchasing agent QPA duties. I have a motion to approve 84. >> So moved. >> Second.

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>> I'll second it. >> Okay. any this already was came up a little bit earlier in the prior conversation about um not replacing the QPA role the headcount and using an outsourced service for this. Um any any questions

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or comments on this one? >> Just give me one second. >> I had a question. How did we come across the Canning group and and what do we know about them? Well, I know Sean Kenny has a very good reputation as being one of the ultimate

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purchasing uh gurus out there for he works for a lot of towns. He's got a long reference history. He's taught the purchasing class for Ruckers. Um I I I've uh our joint insurance fund uses uh Sean Canning and I like synergies. Tom

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Ferry uses Sean Canning. Okay. >> So uh that that the whole relationship works. Um this is taking our purchasing in a different uh uh uh angle because it'll a lot of it will be electronic. We use uh the MSI software. Um there'll be training for all our departments who

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spend money. Uh but this will make sure that the money is spent uh properly and uh per public contract law. Uh Sean is a stickler to the rules uh which I think is a benefit. Um so uh I'm looking forward to working with him. >> Thank you. That was a great answer. >> Thank you.

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>> He reviews every resolution. He reviews every requisition and then it goes to uh the manager and it goes to the CFO. So that's the pecking order Newton uses. >> Right. >> So he looks at every one. >> Excellent. >> Okay. I have a question on the fee. It's a

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flat monthly fee of $1,400. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> And that is whether it's not based on the amount of hours worth and it's just a monthly fee. >> Right. >> Right. And is that money being shared

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with >> it? Is half of it will be drawn from the water and sewer utility which do a comparable amount of purchasing. Uh you guys have seen a lot there's a lot of bidding that goes on with water and sewer. Um they they purchase a lot of materials and there's also labor that

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also gets uh um contracted out. So he'll be well utilized by the water and sewer. So half the fee is divided with the utility. >> And Mr. Fair, you feel this is the most efficient way of managing the process? >> Yeah. U if you ever go out to bid for

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something, um he goes online and he goes through the whole process and anybody can go online and watch the whole thing uh transpire. >> Right. Thank you. >> Okay. Any other questions or comments? >> Okay.

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All in favor of approving resolution 8-4, say I. >> I. I >> I >> Okay. Motion carried. Resolution 85, resolution of the Township of Sparta,

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County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, authorizing the qualified purchasing agent to receive certain bids in accord with NCAC 534-5.1 e procurement. We have a motion for 85.

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So move. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> Um Tom Andrew, can you just give a brief summary of this? >> This is uh uh per uh what Tom was just saying about the e procurement method. The traditional method was we would go out to bids with the the proposals going

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out to, you know, the the the contractors and then we would have a public uh bid opening usually done right here uh at 10:00 in the morning and and it it's it's verified and processed properly. It's documented and then it has to be reviewed uh um before we do a

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recommendation of award in which you folks would would pass by resolution. Now, it's all done through an e- procurement process where that's done, but the QPA can watch this uh electronically. Um I I haven't seen it done yet, but I've heard all about it.

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And um uh by the way, Corey Stoner, our town engineer, is also the town engineer for Newton, >> who also works with Sean Canning, who also does a lot of the bid work. The synergies are there that I'm hoping we see a quick benefit. >> Yeah, absolutely.

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Okay. Any questions or comments? >> Yeah. Um, just one. It's an increase. What was the current threshold to be an increase to 53? >> 49. >> 49. >> That's the next resolution. >> Yes. Somebody, >> right? That's 86.

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>> Correct. But good question. Okay. All in favor of approving resolution 85, please say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carried. Okay. Resolution 86, resolution by the Township of Sparta, County of Sussex,

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State of New Jersey, increasing the bid threshold to $53,000. May I have a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> Okay, Mike. >> Same question applies. Well, when we lost our our QPA, you you

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lose that 53,000 uh bid uh threshold and then that means you you know the majority of the items that you purchase now has to go usually out to bid or it's got to get scrutinized through contract. So, it's very beneficial to have a QPA because

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you have that threshold and you can just operate more efficiently and more streamlined with a QPA. So it is a big benefit and and um most towns recognize that >> and without it 175 >> right the pay >> so the volume without having without

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have we approved 85 I'm sorry we approved 84 which we now have the cannon group as our QPA so that allows us to increase the bid threshold to 53,000 which then decreases all the little ones from coming and bogging things up. Okay. >> Yeah. Which gets adjusted every few

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years I forget three or five something like But the transparency and the diligence is still there even though it's 53, right? Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any other questions, comments? >> All right. All in favor of approving resolution 8-6, say I.

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>> I. >> I. >> I. >> 8-6 has been approved. And finally, resolution 87. Resolution of the Township of Sparta, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, granting authority for approval of certain purchases

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through the New Jersey state contracts and/or purchasing cooperatives for 2026. May I have a motion to approve 87? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. >> Um may recall we had done this earlier

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with our prior QPA. It's the same thing. It's just authorizing our QP, our new QPA. Now, uh, as you know, I think we're in almost every co-op, every contract, uh, to give us maximal, uh, opportunities for savings,

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>> uh, and that's why we we are in a lot we're in a lot of cooperatives and purchasing. And so, this just authorizes the new QPA to be able to utilize that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. All in favor of approving resolution 8-7, say, "I." I. I

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>> I >> Okay, motion carried. Resolution 87 has been approved. Okay, now we're moving on to our second open to the public segment. This is for items not on the agenda. Again, items not on the agenda, please state your

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name. 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. Hello, Caitlyn Gagnen, Summit Road, Sparta. Um, I just want to be clear, I'm speaking tonight in my personal capacity, not in my capacity as the

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Sparta Board of Education President. I felt compelled to come out actually a few meetings ago and I apologize as this is a little bit off topic at this point but I do think it has the potential to come up again regarding the um ordinance that has been the subject of much

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discussion. I was very disturbed and upset by the fact that the chairman of the Sussex GOP took the opportunity. Uh while in person the comments were tame enough, the rhetoric that took place online after um was very disappointing

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and puts our township in a very negative light, especially for someone that frankly doesn't live in our township. And um I just want to say that I'm sorry for what you all have had to endure um as a result of that, especially when it comes to taking measures to keep us and

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yourselves safe. I don't think that's ever something that should be made fun of or taken lightly. So for taking those extra steps to keep us and you safe, um I commend that. I respect that. And of of course, as always, I thank um Chief McCarrick and the police squad for for

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keeping us safe. I also really think it's important um I was telling a friend on the way here I used to be a big Jordan Peterson fan and I can't really say that anymore but one of my favorite books that he wrote he did say set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world and that really came

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to mind at that time that th those comments were being raised because while I absolutely agree with advocating for our veterans um I also think it's very important to remember that very serious allegations relating to

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stolen valor and tax fraud resulting from that stolen valor are underway. Um, and I think it's very important that we keep that in mind and kind of remember the people that are here speaking from a place of good faith and those who are speaking from a place of hypocrisy.

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Speaking from a place of good faith, I want to say I do not support the ordinance. I live a humble lifestyle and a humble home. I budget every two weeks with my husband. I am more than willing to pay more at the end of a year so that a 2550 100% disabled veteran has one

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less thing to worry about. Um, so I just want to go on the record in saying my personal opinion on that. Um, but I also think stolen valor and tax fraud stemming from that are horrifically egregious. And um, again, maybe a separate conversation for another day. One other thing I want to mention. I

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think it's very important to look around and pay attention to the people who are speaking in good faith. I had the pleasure of serving with Ronda on the planning endorsement endorsement advisory committee uh for quite some time and he is measured. He is honest.

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He cares deeply about this township. Even if not every recommendation he poses is something that's viable for the town to pursue, it's worth listening to because at the end of the day, his recommendations are solid and they're rooted in a place of not only service and volunteerism, but a profound care

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for our community. Um, I could say the same for township managers that we've worked together in various capacities. Someone pointed out, you know, you're thinking outside the box to find solutions. This is what we need. I feel like as a community we need to come together and focus on the people who are

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offering ways to find solutions during very very challenging times. Sparta is not unique. While some of the circumstances maybe when you look at the last few years we're not unique in terms of what we're facing with rising health care costs. Um and I believe someone asked about the tax levy for the

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schools. It's 2.99% by the way, but separate um the point that I the reason why I raise that we are facing huge issues on a state level, federal level, they're going to require advocacy, but on a greater scale, it's going to require collaboration and a cohesive

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community that comes together because we all care and we all are happy to live here. So again, maybe a little bit belated, but while I don't support the ordinance, I support you all for the work you do. It is a thankless job at times. It is difficult. Um, and at the end of the day, you know, people will be

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disappointed. Um, but let's not make sure that the people that are disappointed are not our veterans. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any dera? Hello again, Mr. Zep. Do we have anything new on the landfill?

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>> Don't. Uh, I did inquire about the progress of of the title commitments and I I'm waiting on a a reply. Slow going. >> Thank you. Um, Mr. Farah, you mentioned um the biggest

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fire right now is the budget, but then you are going to be tackling bank wrecks for the last five months. We haven't done bank wrecks in five months. >> No, they've been done, but the auditor made adjustments. So we have to then incorporate those adjustments into the

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new bank wrecks and make sure that those the the the bank reconciliations and the book balances agree with the MSI report that the uh auditor did most of the heavy lifting for me. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. That's

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puts my mind at ease a little bit more. Um and then when you reference the state, you did mention a woman's name. What department is that that you're speaking? Charles Samil is with the Division of Community Affairs. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you,

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>> Jen Rogoff, one Milstone Court. I just wanted to say it was so lovely yesterday to see so many members of our community, including many members up here, join uh us yesterday. Um the rainy weather thankfully didn't keep people away, so

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it was a wonderful event. Um, I wish we didn't need to um, put our police force and EMS to work the way that we did yesterday. Um, but thank you all for being there and making an absolutely lovely event. And thank you to some generous donations within the community

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that that helped us with the stipens that couldn't be handled from the town at this year. And I do know that the Elks is still fundraising um, for the Fourth of July parade. So, if there are any um citizens or businesses in town that are looking to make donations, um

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the VFW was able to secure donations to have a lovely event yesterday and we'd like to see the Elks um follow through on that as well with their July 4th parade. So, thank you all. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> It's Quinn. I'm back. Um, so just really

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quickly, um, big shout out to Aano, uh, Econopac and also Wax Masters for their contributions to the parade yesterday. Um, and also I wanted to just talk for one second about the Hometown Heroes banner program. So Jim, you mentioned

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it. Thank you for the kind words. Um, this program is amazing. As Jim, as you know, we have well over 220 banners right now. We were nervous that we were running out of flag poles, but then we um we talked to some friends and utility poles might be able to be used. So,

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we're in good shape moving forward. I know we have I think some left. I just wanted to be clear on the process and if anyone is interested in actually um ordering Hometown Hero banner for um someone in their family, all the rules

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and the guidelines are on our space on spartanj.org. If you do a search on hometown heroes, it'll bring you to the form. The form has all the guidelines. So, the um hometown hero has to have lived in Sparta. So, you can't order one for a

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relative that's that's somewhere else. Um also, there is a a cost, but we do not deny anyone. So, we have some uh contributors and things of that nature. The VFW funds it through contributions and through payments for those that can.

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So people are not turned away. I want to be clear on the process of it. So um we put these orders in once a year because it's just too overwhelming to keep up with it on a monthly basis or whatnot. So we take orders. The order form is

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online right now. It's open for anyone that's interested. Once we um usually in February we close it. We take the orders that came in for that year and then an email is generated back to the requesttor of the banner. Then they uh

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email us an electronic photo that we can use to create the banner and then the b orders go in usually right at the end of March and they're so that we can get them before Memorial Day. You guys did an amazing job this year and I want to thank you. The banners literally came in

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I think the Wednesday before and you guys had them up. Um, so thank you so much. Thank you to Vanessa Serrano who um works on this initiative with me and Pete and also to people in the past that have worked to really make this initiative what it is. It's been a

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pleasure working with all of them. So to Tina Rowan, to Donna Wilson, to Vanessa and um Jim and obviously um Pete from the BFW, but this is such a great community event and and it means so much. I also want to say that when we

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started this, one of the goals that we had was, wouldn't it be great if other townships saw it and wouldn't it be great if they brought it back? And I just want to let you guys know that through this program, we've been approached by 11 municipalities that have contacted me, gotten the

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information, and implemented this program. And it's not just in Sussex County, it's nationwide. Guests from Texas and Wyoming and different places like that. and then they'll email back and say just want to let you know thank you we implemented it there too because it's so important for us. Um so I just

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wanted to say those things and if you hear anyone that would like to order a banner please please send them to the website it's electronic and if they have any questions they can call me directly. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks Chris. >> Okay, seeing no one else from the public

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we will move on. Okay, moving on to uh council liaison updates and um I'll I'll go first tonight actually. Um three or four items to talk about. Um first of all, one of the unquestionable

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special moments of serving as mayor is the opportunity to officiate weddings. Um I had the true honor and privilege of doing so this past Tuesday, the 19th. Congratulations to the beautiful couple Kira Welsh and Gary Burn. Uh may the love that you share continue to be a

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source of strength, comfort, joy, and profound peace. Second is I uh I was able to and enjoyed attending the senior volunteer appreciation dinner on May 13th hosted by our recreation department to celebrate all the senior volunteers and

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especially to celebrate as you heard earlier with the proclamation Valerie Machio as our 2026 outstanding older American recipient. Uh third, I attended Sussex County's quarterly mayor's breakfast on Saturday

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the 16th hosted by the county commissioners. Uh it was uh great to just be there in a small group of just the mayors um and several of our commissioners from the county um to talk about multiple topics. They had things they wanted to share with us

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specifically and then we had a little bit of time to um share our own thoughts on different topics that we're facing in our own communities. Enders, I got to tell you, they're very very similar. Also, our our governor's office leaison was there, too, which was a good opportunity to speak with him again.

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And then finally, I attended the Sparta uh Chamber of Commerce meeting last week and similarly uh great updates, great conversations with uh the representatives that were there and I shared an update on what's happening at the municipal level with them and uh it's just a wonderful way to engage with

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them, hear their thoughts and uh hear what's happening in our community and uh to encourage them to to be engaged. Um so that's my leazison updates for tonight. Um, I'll start to my go over to my right next with uh Councilman Clark.

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>> Sure. Um, and Manager Zep already mentioned it, but the trails committee will be having a hike uh on June 6 at the Sparta Glenn starting at 9:00 a.m. at the second parking lot. And you'll see that there's a new signage there. We've mentioned in the first and

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there's, you know, a much more detailed uh signage that's there. Um, and we're working on so that you can have a Q QR code so that you don't have to just take a picture of it. You can pull it up as you're hiking and figure out where you are in the Glenn. Uh, next is on May

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15th, the trails committee submitted their grant application to the county. Um, as folks, as I've mentioned before, the county has um a grant process this year uh to provide funding to municipalities who want to improve uh

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their trail. And you know, we our submission deals with a um onem spur that we want to create that will connect Sunset Inroad to Demeis Road. All the land is owned by count Sussex County. It's preserved as open space.

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Theoretically, it's they list it as a trail right now, but it really isn't. It's it's not it needs to be cleared. Um, but what it will do is it will give people from Sparta currently don't have access within Sparta to the Pollinskill Trail, you know, which goes for miles

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and miles and miles. So, what this would do is provide access starting in Sparta. Um, so it would be from Demerest on to Sunset in Road and then you'll catch the pollen skill there. So, uh, we submitted that. Um, not sure how long that'll

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take, uh, for the county to get back to us about that, whether we got the grant or not. On, um, the film committee, uh, you will see them at Sparta Day this uh, weekend. And they have a lot of kind of

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interesting things planned and including a green screen which those who you know who've ever been to like Universal or whatever. a green screen, you can kind of get in front of it and all of a sudden behind you, they can put all kinds of different backgrounds and sort of give folks an idea of, you know, what

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it is to to put on a movie and a production and and and there'll be stuff for the kids. So that hope folks who do attend the um Sparta day will will go there. Our beautifification committee uh

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is meeting uh this week trying to figure out um the best use of the contribution uh that we got from Beyondo. Um we're have to clear some of the stuff with our um you know whether we can actually put

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up you know planners and that where we'd put them setbacks kind of things. It's very kind of logistically you have to think through. you can't just say, "Well, let's just get a bunch of flowers and throw them up wherever we want." Um, it's not how that works, especially in municipal government. So anyway, we're

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trying to figure out the the most cost-effective way to do that and hopefully we'll have an answer after uh this week and rec committee has not met, but I did get an interesting um notice

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from a uh it's there's a healthy cities grant cycle and because I'm on the recck committee, it felt this is probably up my alley. Uh anyway, um they are looking they said Sparta Township has been identified as a strong candidate for the

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current healthy cities grant cycle. Um and this is to create kind of health and fitness infrastructure within the township. Um so apparently we may meet some initial specs for this uh that we would qualify for a grant. I will look

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into it and and report back. Um but I think that would be great. um um depending on what you know type of health and fitness infrastructure they're they're talking about. But again, I thought that was very interesting. So I'll report back at the next meeting what that's about. I'm

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going to talk to the guy this week. And that is it for me. Thank you. >> You deputy mayor Sylvester. >> Go to Marge. Margie's on phone. Yeah.

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Margie, uh, any council leasison updates from you? >> Yes. I don't know if you can hear me. Okay. >> Yes. >> Um, the Rev 250 will be at the Sparta day from 11 to 5 and uh,

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we will also on our website, we'll be having different uh, different events every month. So check it out on our news on the website on the Sparta Township website. Um the

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June 14th flag day, you already went over that there was no LMC meeting liaison, so I have nothing to report on that. uh our environmental committee. We uh want to let people know

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that the New Jersey School of Confer conservation after 75 years and it has been the heartbeat of environmental education in our state in Stoke State Forest. It's a tremendous

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It's a $34 million stateowned asset that has transformed the lives of nearly half a million students. And it's more than a school. It's a lab for science. It's a champion for equity and in incredible

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resource for children, for adults with continuing um burgeoning green economy. It is now under an immediate threat. Governor Cheryl's office has proposed to eliminate the the funding, $3 million funding. So, unfortunately, if that does

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not go through, the school will be forced to close. So, if you have any any inkling or any interest in it, please go on the New Jersey Highlands Coalition post and on action NJ action. NJLCV.org.

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org/njsoc-26 and please find out about it and help us continue to keep it viable and growing. Um, also we have are working on, pardon me, my voice is cracking a

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little, a uh an on the environmental commission. We had a guest speaker, Mr. Robert Bole to come in and give us an intelligent speech on not only data centers but what

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exactly they mean and how they can affect a town negatively and positively and because there's a lot of questions out there and people really want to know. So if you can want to look on the environmental meeting on YouTube from last time, it

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would be very helpful. And uh we just it it was just helps knowing what telecommunications medical engine and educational inter internet that is what we need. So it's there's a lot of

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information on there. So, please feel free to look that YouTube website, the our environmental commission meeting from last time. Um, and you said you already thanked them for

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the rec department for the senior dinner and the Sparta High School um choir at the part the uh was fabulous. They came and did the ac cappella group and they were just wonderful. It was so appreciated that

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they became a part of this as well as the students who helped serve everybody that night and Anthony Franco provided the food. So I thank everybody for attending and that is up. Anything else you want to know

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about the senior Olympics coming up? It's also on the website. So thank you. Thanks Dean. That's it for me. >> Okay. Thank you. And uh yeah, I think all of us in attendance at the uh the volunteer dinner that night. I'm looking at Mike here. Um that yeah, the singing

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was incredible. So, you know, kudos definitely to the a capella group. They were they blew us away. They were incredible. So, thank you for bringing that up. >> Okay, Mike. >> I do not have any updates to provide other than the next planning board meeting is June 3rd. We didn't have the last one was canceled. So, we will be

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having a meeting on June 3rd. >> Okay. >> So, that's all. and Mark >> um Hometown Heroes. I just want to give a shout out to uh Molly Wildsmith who started the program uh many years ago and it's really as you can see grown

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into a fabulous program. Um there's uh on the business development site we are updating the website. Uh on the township website, we've got listing of the new members, the members resumes, the

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purpose of of the group, and we're going to be talking this week about uh about the expenditure of of developing a a larger, more effective website. >> When's the next meeting, Mark? >> Thursday. I won't be there. It's all

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yours. >> Okay. it when the website when there's more information on it because I mentioned that website um to the chamber of commerce the Sparta Chamber of Commerce meeting last week that they've heard of it before probably more is coming on it so as soon as you have more information let's disseminate it to them

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so they can be another channel to get more people updating theirs adding theirs and having it be robust >> right I'm a little ambivalent you know I mean last last week or at the last meeting um I was you know we we have about a $4,000

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uh bucket of bucket that Mr. uh Zep found and and during the during the uh during the veterans discussion uh it came up but from Miss Quinn that that you know she shamed me and saying that we should return that money. So I

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think the board is going to try to sit down and figure out if we should return that money to the veterans. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. I think it was um it was in the last public comment segment, right, of the night. Yeah, but I think it was open to all topics just to clarify. So,

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>> yeah, the the backed up veteran conversation and other comments um that people shared. >> Okay. Uh moving on to unfinished and new business. And as a reminder, this this is for the council. This unfinished new business is specifically intended for

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council business. Um in other words, it's for things that are left over from prior meetings that are unfinished council business. or new council business that we want to float out there for discussion tonight for future consideration, future followup ideation, but it's it's related

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to township council business. Um I know we've all speaking for myself to we've all been guilty in the past of using this opportunity for just council open public comment and it's not let's is a business meeting. must keep it related as much as possible to council business,

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which is, you know, items that we want to address or talk about that we think belong in council business. Um, with that being said, let's I'll start off on my far right again um with Councilman Clark.

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um under unfinished business. Uh I think the last meeting I had an alternative to the veteran thing um that hasn't gotten any uptake. So as far as I understand that is dead. Um so if you know I

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thought we'd try to get kind of a balancing approach. Um but you know if you can't count to three on on a council then it's dead. So, I I think that that's kind of an indication because I'm sure the public is wondering. Um, at

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least for the where I sit, um, that looks dead to me. So, thank you. >> Okay. I would, um, I'll go I'll go next. Um, and I would ask possibly if um, Councilwoman Murphy and Councilman

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Scott do have any comments on that topic of unfinished business as I know a while ago, I think the last iteration of this um, you had requested that we bring it back and put it on the agenda. So, if there's any plans or interest in that,

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please let us know um, if that's going to be continuing on as it was a month ago. Um, Councilwoman Murphy, any unfinished or new business? >> Well, before you move to her, I just want to say, Councilwoman Clark, thank you for providing that update and um

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bringing that to the table. So, you everybody knows my position on it. So, thanks for uh providing the update to me as well as the public here. So, thank you. >> And I I just want to commend um Deputy Mayor Sylvester uh for his conduct

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throughout the entire I think you kept a principal stance. >> Um I think we did see some scapegoating and some politicking um by others. Uh but you never did that. >> You stuck to your principles and I think you're to be commended for that.

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>> Appreciate it. Thank you. >> Okay. Councilwoman Murphy. >> Yes. I' I'd like to say that um I would like to thank our tax department and Rob and Amanda for doing all the work they did

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and clarifying a lot of questions that a lot of us did not know and including the public did not know and I hope that they are more aware now but uh I agree with Councilman Clark and uh no I'm I

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think it is dead at this point and other than that I have No new business. Thank you. >> Okay. Deputy Mayor Sylvester. >> Yeah. Just real quick, uh, Councilman Clark and Mr. Dash are uh, continuing to circulate a resolution. Uh, Councilman

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Murphy, it was great to hear that the commission met and brought um, I think you said Rob, Mr. um, Rob Bole. >> Boille, right? Sorry, had a mental lapse here. At le I I was really glad to hear

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that you had him come and update the group on the pros, the cons, the good, the bad, and you know, and hold the education forum. Part of this resolution I'm trying to work on with others is to, you know, bring just this to it to bring education before we start passing uh

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resolutions or ordinances. Just educate the public, educate ourselves on on these types of topics or others that may come up. Um, so I'm really glad to hear that that took place and I'm hoping to maybe get this resolution on the next agenda. So other than that, that's all I

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have. Thank you. >> Just a comment too on the resolution. I know there's a draft circulated. Um, so please everyone look at it, read it. Um, comments, uh, you know, keep it, amend it. We don't need it. Um, there's various viewpoints I know out there

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around this. I think no one disagrees with transparency. Um, I think what I've heard a little bit is that we just need to be careful that we're not locking ourselves into um, delays and that maybe it should be more of a best practice that we pick when we need to do this and we make sure it's orchestrated. But

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everyone, please um, give your feedback so we can make this the best it can be. >> Taking the time to circulate and get everybody's feedback and work with, you know, the comments I've been receiving have been through Councilman Clark and Mr. Dash so far. So, if you have others, that's what we're here to do. A little

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bit of collaboration doesn't hurt, right? Yeah, absolutely. >> Yeah, I think I have the pen at the moment. So, as soon as I drop the pen, I'll pass it on to someone else to mark up. So, I I'm the I'm the fly in the ointment at the moment, but as soon as I look at it, redline it, uh we'll pass it on to my fellow council members.

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>> Okay. Okay. Leave us some ink. >> All right, Mark. Any unfinished or new business? >> I just wanted to comment. Uh there was a there was a letter to the editor in the paper that I just wanted to talk about. Um, you know, we've done a lot of

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tremendous things in the past 18 months. We haven't been sitting up here idally. We have no warehouse. We've been pres preserving open space as the sunflower field across from the shop right is is still a sunflower field. We've we've

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worked and and um may former mayor Clark has worked and moved forward with the trails committee. He's also worked with the film ready committee. He's also brought about the beautifification committee. Mr. Dash and and and our and our

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professionals have worked to stop some of the development that has been proposed, such as fourstory towers across from the shop, right? There's no cannabis stores in this town and I'm very proud of that. >> Councilman, if you could just tie this back into council business, uh either

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unfinished or business, right, >> or unfinished or new business for us to address though, if you could, please. Okay. I wanted to talk about uh the surplus, but I'm sure Mr. Far will be able to help us with that in the future. Thank you.

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>> Thank you. Appreciate it. Okay. Uh anything else? No last comments. Okay. Uh with that, uh we will adjourn. It is um 8:40. May I have a motion to adjurnn, please? >> Motion to adjurnn.

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>> May I have a second? >> Second. All in favor? >> I I >> All right, we are adjourned. Have a good evening everyone. >> Is Jenny still here? >> Good night, Margie. >> Feel better, Margie. >> Feel better. >> Thanks, everyone.