Okay. So, before we take this picture, what's 5249? Okay. Okay. We will face in the middle here. Okay, Roxan. [Applause] Okay. The uh next proclamation we have
um is water safety month. um as we enter into uh which really is the kind of in my opinion the best season to be in Sparta uh when you can enjoy the water and all the lakes and streams that we have. So it's very appropriate that we
uh proclaim uh this month water safety month. And so I'll read the proclamation. Whereas citizens of Sparta Township along with the New Jersey Swim Alliance and New Jersey Recreation and Park Association recognize the vital role that swimming and aquatic related
activities relate to good physical and mental health and enhance the quality of life for all people. And whereas the citizens of Sparta Township along with NJSSA and NJRPA understand the essential role that education regarding the topic of water
safety plays in preventing drownings and recreational water related injuries. And whereas the citizens of Sparta Township along with NJSSA and NJRPA are aware of the contributions made by the recreational water industry as represented by the
organizations involved in the National Water Safety uh month coalition developing safe swimming facilities, aquatic programs, home schools and spas and related activities providing healthy places to recreate, learn and grow.
build self-esteem, confidence, and sense of self-worth, which contributes to the quality of life in our community. And whereas the citizens of Sparta Township along with NJSSA and NJRPA recognize the ongoing efforts and commitments to educate the public on
pool and spa safety issues and initiatives by the pool, spa, lakes, water park, recreation, and parks industries. And whereas the citizens of Sparta Township along with NJSSA and NJRPA understand the vital importance of
communicating water safety rules and programs to families and individuals of all ages, whether owners of private pools, users of public swimming facilities, or visitors to water parks. Now therefore be it resolved that the township council, the township of Sparta, calls upon all citizens to
reflect and renew our commitment to encourage responsible water safety, to raise awareness and report issues of concern and effort to keep all our citizens of the community safe. And so um we have uh I think Gene Monturro was here. Yeah, there she is. I don't have
my glasses. And uh I have to think after reading this um I think I'm someone that does need to uh you know exercise responsible water safety. I've done a few of these open water swims including uh a 10k swim uh in the Hudson River a
few years ago. I don't know if people consider that very safe, but you know I made it out uh safely because of our committed lifeguards and people who actually know how to practice water safety. So the reason I can do events and races like that is because we have
people who are trained in water safety. So my hat goes off to them. So thank you. So I will give this award. And we also have uh Linda Tower and some Girl Scouts. Awesome. I water ski in the Hudson River.
Live to tell about it. And live to tell about it. Plans a lot. microphone. Hey Neil, okay. So along with the proclamation for the water safety for this month um NJRPA and the NJSIA are we as of last year I think
some of you might remember but we are going to be collecting bathing suits again it's a bathing suit drive because water safety our community is great we we do have the lifeguards we have people teaching people how to swim but there's many communities in the state that are
not as fortunate us and one of the main things to get people in the water is having bathing suits, right? You need the appropriate swimwear. You want to make sure they're good. So, um we did collect uh probably 30 35 last year, but we can do better than that. We can
definitely do better than that. We do need um bathing suits in the I'm going to say from the five to 18 year range, right? We want to we want to make sure that the middle schoolers that have never swam or whatever are comfortable in what they're swimming in. So, if
you're out there and you want to help this cause, come. There'll be um donation boxes at the recck department. And where are you guys putting yours? Where's your donation box going to be? Um it's going to be our school in the middle of the walkway so everybody can see it. Which school? Helen Morgan.
Helen Morgan. So, Helen Morgan School will have a box also. Um so, just drop them off even at the wreck office. The office is usually open in the morning between 9:00 and 11, 11:30. Um, and the library is open. You could always, you know, Dave will take some there if it's
off our hours. Um, the other thing that's going along with the water safety is New Jersey does the largest swim lesson in the state. So, every everybody registers. There's one day of it and you register for it. So, we're working with
Jefferson and probably Lake Mohawk because the township itself doesn't have a water um facility and we're going to get people registered hopefully to participate in this largest swim lesson event. So, we'll have more details on that when that comes out. But, we are working with Grace Ryan Smith from
Jefferson. She's the director there. So, lots of stuff going around with water safety. And the last thing I want to say is we do our swimming at Camp Sack. We do have lifeguards there and we do have the senior pool. We need lifeguards. There's we are definitely
short a couple that we're going to have some closing dates if we don't get the guards to be able to come out and help us out. At Camp Sack, you only work Monday through Friday during camp hours. Um we have more hours over at Null Heights with the seniors. So, uh we will also do some reimbursement for your
certifications. So, contact the rec office and we'll have more details. How about life jackets? the life jackets. Oh, we will definitely take donations for life jackets and hand them out appropriately to the camps that are in
need throughout the state. We try to prioritize uh camps that give uh free or reduced cost swimming lessons and direct our donations for the swimsuit drive and any life jackets or swim diapers or goggles that we collect to those organizations.
Goggles, I say goggles. Yeah, I'm the executive director for New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance. So, this is a great partnership and Sparta obviously is a big leader in it. Thank you.
You don't want the microphone in No, I want this seal. Thank you. So just to reiterate, you need um bathing suits between the five and 18 age group. The donation places are Helen
Morgan, also the recck department, and you will take um and and here and you will take life jackets. And also until the Sparta robotics team develops a robotic lifeguard um we actually need lifeguards. So um the senior center lead
needs lifeguards as well. All right. So lifeguards needed. Okay. So we are now up to we have no minutes tonight. Um we are up to the manager's report. So manager Zev, could you please give us your report? Thank
you. Good evening, mayor, council, Sparta residents, both present and online. I'm excited to announce a couple of upcoming events in Sparta. As a reminder, the annual trout derby will be held this Saturday, May 17th, at the pond at
Station Park from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This event is sponsored through our parks and recreation department along with the Trout Unlimited. Registration is not required and there's no cost, but they are accepting donations of non-p perishable food items to the Sparta Community Food Pantry. Bring the family
with fishing poles and prize numbers will be drawn every hour. Sparta VFW post number 7248 is organizing the Sparta Township Memorial Day parade which will take place on Monday, May 26, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
starting at Eastore Trail and ends at Dyster Park for a Memorial Day ceremony. Our office as well as the police department received the requested county highway occupancy permit for the road closure. If any organization is interested in participating in the parade, the play the parade registration
can be found on the Sparta VFW post 7248 Facebook page or in the article on Tap into Sparta. As a reminder, the deadline for Sparta's business owners to renew annually for their portable advertisement signs is June 15th. More
information can be found under the Sparta Township General Code sections 4-17.1-4-17.7 or by calling the planning and zoning office at 973-7298093. The recreation department is in need of lifeguards. Where have we heard that before? For both summer camp
at the senior pool and at Camp Sack. Lifeguard certification reimbursement is available. Registration is still open for most age groups for summer day camp and camp sack joua. Please call the recreation office for more information. Our sparter library was
contacted by the Chelsea with the idea of having library staff visit their facility and speak on the services the library can provide to their residents. Certain staff members visited in April and they were able to register a dozen new patrons as well as have a schedule
to return on a monthly b basis to bring in new items to the residents. Dave Costa, our library director, is hoping to reach more people through this arrangement. As a reminder, the Sparta Library offers homebound delivery service, which is a free service available to Sparta Library patrons who
reside in Sparta who may be restricted to their homes due to medical necessity or has no one at home who can provide the service. Please contact the library at 9737293101 or email library sparta library.com.
Ryan Odum, our chief of the Sparta Township Fire Department, has provided a first quarter report for 2025, which resulted in the department responding to 127 calls for service. That's just the first quarter active. I would like to recognize all
first responders in the town for their duties and responding to some of the more recent significant motor vehicle accidents that have happened in the township in the last couple of weeks, i.e. the tractor trailer accident on Route 15 and the Route 517 exit ramp. The dump truck that rolled over at the
intersection of Glenn Road and Main Street by Mavis Tire there. Um, and the dump truck accident at the intersection of Stanh Hope Road and Winona Parkway. If you know a first responder, including dispatchers, police officers, firefighters, ambulance squad members,
as well as those who serve in surrounding towns where mutual aid is received, thank them for the 247 services they provide. Lastly, 30 new hometown hero banners have been ordered, and we received confirmation that they will be in receipt of them before Memorial Day
weekend. I will have my staff put these up uh on the empty lamp posts that don't have the banners. Uh, and we're hoping to have them up before Memorial Day weekend. Uh, I know we have the ones up now and a lot of people who had ordered those banners, they're looking for their banners. We haven't received them yet. I
will let you know as soon as we do and we'll get them up as soon as possible. Uh, Chief McCarrick will now present his portion of the mayor's report. This concludes my report. Thank you. Thank you, manager Zep. Thank you, Mayor, Deputy Mayor Council. Um, hope
everybody, all the moms out there had a great Mother's Day. Uh it was a beautiful day out. Um as I reported last month, uh the police department was awarded uh grant money, $7,000 for put the uh phone away or pay distracted driving campaign. I just want to report
on the results of that. Um the campaign took place during April and as a result uh the officers stopped 215 motor vehicles, issued 71 motor vehicle summones, issued 93 warnings, and there were two arrests made. And that was just strictly for the campaign. That's not
what uh the other patrols did during their normal shift. Also, this month, the Sparta Police Department was awarded $7,000 in the Click It or Ticket Campaign, uh which is to provide overtime funds for officers working to educate and enforce seat belt and child safety restraint
violations. This campaign will take place from the 19th of this month to June 1st, and you'll see extra patrols during that time frame. The annual law enforcement special Olympics torch run will be taking place on Friday, June 6. Over 3,000 police
officers will take place on the streets to run 26 separate legs starting at 4:45 a.m. to a uh raise awareness for the New Jersey Special Olympics. This inspiring event will lead up to the New Jersey Special Olympics Summer Games, which takes place at the College of New Jersey
on June 7th and 8th. And I would like to invite the public to come out and run with us. Uh we'll be putting information on our social media as to how to uh get a hold of us to let you know that you want to run and the times and place to meet. I'm proud to announce the
completion of our second annual report for 2024. The extensive report provides an overview of our police department on all levels and this year we include an analytical review of the department's use of force and vehicular pursuits. I would like to thank our team who put
forth a tremendous amount of time and effort in putting this together. uh especially Joseph Kalusf who really uh uh was uh I say the brains behind the operation and putting it all together and getting it online for us which it was put online on our website
today. Uh last Mr. Zep I want to thank you for uh thanking the first responders out there. Um, and the next thing uh I I feel has uh a very good connection to our first responders. And uh I'm very proud to announce that Sparta Township is ranked as the third safest city in
New Jersey for 2025. Uh report from SafeWise. And consistently for years now, our township has been ranked in the top 10 in this state um and in the nation. Um and as I reported to this to you before um it is a team effort. It's not just the police
department. It's everybody. It's it's the whole community. uh the stakeholders, the the business owners, the schools, um the people who who work here and come here for recreation, um and most importantly, our workers. Um I'm very proud of of my police
department, um and all the work that they do every day, every night when they put on the uniform and they go out there and put theirelves in harm ways to keep others safe and keep our community safe. And uh to my officers, you should be very proud of this achievement as a direct result of of the worth and
dedication that you have for our community. And with that being said, it is National Police Week and I ask you all to think out and uh remember the ones who lost their lives uh in the line of duty or by simply putting their doing their job, going to work and doing their
job. But please celebrate their legacy and support the ones that carried on day in and day out. And that concludes my report. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Bravo for being third in the state. Thank you. Thank you. I I do want to add another thing that um I think last week
uh I had the pleasure of being on a call with Chief McCarrick and some and manager Zep and others from Elizabeth Gas where I think the police were able to express some concerns that they had about how Elizabeth Gas was was setting up to make sure that they were given
proper notice. And so cuz I know you probably got some complaints from citizens and um our police force as well as uh managers up were right on that. So if you could speak a little bit to that that would be great. Yeah. So often time there's there's road work going on in town as we see. I feel like everywhere
we go there's road work. Um you know in our department goes out uh numerous times throughout the day to check on these individuals, make sure they have the proper signage to make sure it's safe for our community. Uh make sure it's safe for the workers, any of our officers that are working it. Um, like you said, Elizabeth Town Gas is doing a
lot of work on Glenn Road up in the areas off of Glenn Road. We have received some complaints and and things of that nature. Uh, we were able to all get together, collaborate, have an understanding of what is needed from the police department, what is needed from the contractors, and the ultimate goal
of bringing this service to town um, in a timely manner and in a safe manner. So, it was taken care of. Right. Thank you. Thank you. And and just so folks know also about the safe wise um you know this is based off of FBI crime data. So this isn't you know what
happens in my profession where you know you can become a super lawyer simply if you just get enough people to uh s submit an application uh to put you in. Um this is actually real data. Um and so it's a really hard one achievement. So
congratulations to all you and and and all members of the force. Um, fantastic job. Thank you. Yeah. Okay. May I have a motion to accept the manager's report? I'll make a motion to accept the
manager's report. May I have a second? Second. Uh, all those in favor say I. I. The manager's report is accepted. Uh, we are now up to our first public comment period. Um this is limited to items not
on the agenda and I would ask that you please be u mindful of the five minute limit. Um you know we we had a problem with that in our our last meeting. Um I don't want to have have that happen again. Um because it has us pursuing
ways to make sure people do get cut off at 5 minutes including cutting the mic. Um we don't want to do that. So I ask you that you be respectful of the other members of the public who who will abide by the five minutes um that everyone uh please abide by it. Thank you. So with
that, if you have something you want to comment on for an item that's not on the agenda, uh please approach the the mic and state your name for the record. J Sparta Township has experienced a significant decline from its previously
well-managed fiscally sound responsible growth plan to a state of unchecked chaos and confusion. Just the last three just three years ago, the township had a budget surplus of over $11 million. Now, which is it dwindled down at the end of
2025 will be around $350,000. This is a direct result of reckless government spending and zero ratables economic growth or prosperity coming to Sparta Township. This fiscal decline has resulted in sizable tax increase as well
as legitimate questions the town will remain solvent through the year of 2025. The unknown costs of significant land use lawsuits and questions around proper ethics and values around land use continue to plague d plague the
residents of Sparta Township and prospective business owners with the threat of additional lawsuits looming. Unfortunately, most of this litigation was unavoidable. Historically, Sparta Township was under the leadership of experienced and
knowledgeable professionals include land used attorneys, planners, legal counsel such as Tom Collins and Tom Ryan who served the township for decades. These professionals successfully represented Sparta Township
in various legal cases, including the recent victory against Diamondship Realy led by Tom Collins. Despite these successes, both Collins and Ryan were terminated by the council. Additionally, Karen Katherine
Samard, who was the former township planner who also contributed to legal victories around the most recent fair share housing requirement, Sparta Township, was also released and let go. The very people that have protected our town and interest for years, been
removed by town council members and replacement professionals that have sued the township and have current lawsuits against the township pending. How'd we get here? I mean, something's really wrong here. And you know, two weeks ago, I was
here and people are all upset about these three cannabis ordinances got put through. Mark, Margie, I have a comment tonight when it comes to new business. One of you two make a motion to repeal those three
ordinances and one of you two second that motion and bring it up to a vote tonight. and we'll see exactly where the town council stands because the people in Sparta gave Roxanne now the correct number of
required signatures. I understand first it was the correct number and now it is. Um so bring up that motion and say get rid of this ordinances second it. Bring it up to a vote tonight. Let's
see where this council stands once for all. It's about time that people in this town are listened to. So, there's 1500 signatures that said, "Hey, we don't want this." And uh that's all I got to say. Oh, a nod. That reminds me, the last
town council meeting you told me I needed to hire an attorney for Oprah. I did. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else uh have a public comment for items that are not on the agenda?
Hi everyone, Joan Ferman, chair of the planning board. First, I'd just like to address what the gentleman just said um and make a correction because Katherine Sarmad did in fact resign uh from the planning board. Okay. So anyway, I'm only here to correct a misstatement that
was made at the last April 22nd uh 2025 meeting wherein I represented the Sparta Township Planning Board in declaring its unanimous opinion that the proposed ordinance 25-07 was not consistent with the master plan. I also reiterated several
recommendations that the planning board deemed appropriate and further referenced the municipal land use law statute 4055D-26A relating to our referral powers. I was challenged by a belief that once the report is acknowledged, the next steps by town council became
permissive. It was cited several times that quote the recording of reasons is only triggered if council again quote approves or changes those recommendations. However, the correct language is that the governing body may
disapprove or change any recommendation by a vote of the majority. So, let's be clear. You would have to vote to disapprove our recommendations and this was not done. In summary, the plain language of the statute was not adhered
to prior to voting on ordinance 25-07. The planning board has scheduled an executive session at our next meeting to review these procedural aspects and the board will render a written opinion at that time. That's all. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. I would like to make a comment. Uh, Miss Ferman, I I disagree with your assessment that Katherine Sard resigned. I think there was that simplifies it to a large degree. I watched the proceedings. I've also talked to a lot of planning board members. I don't think
that's an accurate statement to just leave it out there as she resigned. Um secondly, uh you do realize that the planning board and council can directly communicate. I mean, I know you it's you can come up here and speak obviously representing the planning board obviously or as an individual of course,
but the planning board and council can also communicate directly outside of meetings like this. So, if there's issues or communications that are needed, u feel free to do that as well. You don't need to wait till a council meeting to make a statement. Um it'd be quicker probably just to send us a direct conversation or memo. We're going
to do that. Thank you. Okay. Thanks. And any other member of the public about items not on the agenda? Hi, Beth Broadick Northshore. I just have a couple of um ordinance questions. regarding the dispensaries and the 250
ft. I saw something I don't have the ordinance with me, but I saw something about proximity to establish establishments that sell and serve food. And I'm just looking for clarification. An example would of my question would be
in the theater center, the RJ Mar spot is now empty, but it's right next door to a coffee place. And then there's another restaurant right next door. Yeah. Oh, I I know. I just I'll let you finish, but I have it. Yeah, I'm just trying to stay within the 5 minutes. Okay. So, what is the pro what are the
guidelines for that? And also, is it the that's the whole section of the parking lot because you can also look at the movie theater because they sell food, so does CVS. So, I'm looking for clarification on that. And also, so does the bowling alley. So is that going to factor in
to would a dispensary be permitted there for example because of the 250 ft or whatever the distance is. The other question that I have regarding the 250 is when we're going door to door are you going door to door in all directions? So
like if the empty building or the proposed location is on a corner and you have a house behind it and a one direction and apartments the other direction and a church diagonal and if you want I can tell you it's the Sparta
cobbler location. There's a house behind it on East Mountain. There are apartments to the left and there's a there's religious buildings diagonal from it. So are you measuring behind the building in front of it? Are you looking at the house behind it and those doors as well for the 250? Again, I don't know
if there's a proposed there's anybody looking, but that's just an example. I drive that road every day. So, it popped up that he was retiring and could that be a possible place. So, I'm looking for clarification on that. And also, there was some com there were comments about
safety and enforcement. Two and a half years ago, there was an issue at the location across from the railroad tracks on Route 15. And yes, and the headline
on the news report is two men sentenced to prison for illegally selling marijuana out of Sussex County store. They were arrested. They're in jail for they were sentenced to six years. Not only were they caught, but it says they both plead
guilty to seconddegree possession of more than 5 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute that marijuana, thirdderee criminal facilitation of money and money laundering, and third degree unlawful possession of a rifle. They admitted to, and there was a whole list of stuff that
they did. And they also admitted to possessing and transporting the illegal cash proceeds from those marijuana sales. He admitted to possessing rifles in violation of our state's firearm laws. This is a licensed
business for, and I'm not sure how you guys are class classifying it, but this is a business that was approved by Sparta that was caught or busted, however you want to call it, doing something illegal. It may not be a
dispensary, but it's in the same general category. There are other places that we all know are doing illegal things, including a few feet from residences, a ball field, and religious buildings. So,
I would like to know under the ordinance that three people voted to support. How are you going to task Chief McCarrick's team with security when you have an admitted thing right here and I can forward it to you
of huge violations where people are in jail for it and they admitted breaking the laws. We keep hearing that they're safe, but clearly there's a problem with a licensed place in Sparta. I don't know if it's a smoke shop or what because I don't I
don't go. But I'd like to know what you guys are planning on doing. Maybe Dean and Neil, you can address that because this was under your watch. And then 3 weeks ago, you approved an ordinance that said, "Hey, they're totally safe. There's video. Nobody under 21. The guys
that own it are the problem." And you guys said 3 weeks ago, not a problem. We're going to put it 200 We were approving 250 ft from churches, playgrounds, schools, and
residences. And there was nothing. This was not a big deal in Sparta. It kind of got swept under the rug. If you guys are going to continue with this ordinance, I really hope to God before anybody gets approved that there is some kind of plan that you guys have put together to
address it. And the other last thing is we had 1529 people sign a petition saying we don't want it in its current state. I really hope that you guys would reconsider or like Mr. Castmore said rescend it or even send it to referendum
because 1529 people said they don't want it in its current state. The people of Sparta have spoken. Okay. There was there was a lot in there. I'll try to remember. uh one on I think thank you Matt the the issue about
my understanding we can take a closer look at it is that about the food that means you can't offer food within the actual premises of the dispensary because then you convert it into that that doesn't apply to you have to be 250
ft from a uh a food shop because if you will look around Sussex County you will see a dispensary in the same shopping center as a food establishment. Well, no, Augies, you can't and that will get to your third
point. Um, so and so again, that 250 ft does not have to be 250 ft from a food or that means you can't have a dispensary where you're also in that same dispensary unit selling food. That then you're converting into a consumption lounge. No, no, you Yeah, you can't.
Yeah, McDonald's can't say I'm gonna have this corner over here that sells, you know, uh, cannabis. Yeah, that that's what that means. The second one about the measuring, um, frankly, that's, you know, the statute doesn't necessarily specify the means by which
you have to measure it. Um, I think that would require some degree of re of how that would be measured and that would be something that would probably come up during the application process when you have an applicant in front of you about trying to determine the proximity that
it has from a school. Um, and that's something that can be addressed. Um there on your third point, you gave exactly the reasoning that I put on the record in April 22nd of why we did this dispensary, which is all those rules and
regulations that that can of campus is what you're referring to. They were not a a dispensary under our they were not a regulated dispensary that had to follow all the rules and regulations and that so that they so to that that is exactly
why we're doing what we're doing. Um is because they didn't have to that we're not going to have a back and forth. You can you can email me. But you know, um, what I'm saying is that's the whole reasoning for this in the first place is
that Sparta had done absolutely nothing to regulate the transmission of cannabis and that's the reason why we did it in the first place. And why is that? So, and I'm not we're not going to belabor that point. There's also there's other, you know, and and again, I'm not going
to stand in the shoes of Chief McCarrick. He he decides on what to investigate and which not. It's not my job and I'm not trained in that and so I'm not going to tell him how to do that job and he doesn't tell me how to do his job and so um I respect our police and
everything that they do. Um make a comment real quick. Yeah, sure. To the public, if you have information of a crime, you got to come talk to us. Come talk to us, our detective bureau. Um you can email us uh detectives spartapd.org. Um or you come talk to us
in person and uh we'll take your information. But that that's all I had to say about, you know, cannabis. You know, frankly, we we've the ordinance has been passed. We've we've labored on it. We've discussed it. Um it passed. There are no
pending applications. Um I know there is a petition. It has to get certified. That certifi certification process is ongoing. Um, so, uh, we will let that play out the way it will play out. Um,
but I will remind people that, you know, we have a lot of work to do in this township. The people up in here were the people here were elected not to be the cannabis council person or appointed to the planning board to be the the
planning board, the cannabis planning board people. There's a whole bunch of issues that we have to address and we need to start addressing them and we're not going to spend the next 6, nine months dealing with this issue. We will we will let it play its out the way it's
going to play out, but we need to focus on the myriad of items that the town folk voted us to do. And they didn't vote for us just to focus on cannabis. And I hope that we going forward can start addressing some of those issues.
So, thank you. Rob Autoto 41 Northshore Trail. Um, yeah. So, I appreciate that because I see this as a big misdirection. Uh, and I do see that we have there's a big picture that we have to deal with, but I do want I'm not really satisfied. And since
the chief is here, I I'm curious. I don't want to put you on the spot, but I just I do want to know like going forward. So to the mayor's point, uh there's rules and regulations that are state promulgated for cannabis
dispensaries. So and it seemed like that the ordinance, you know, promotes health, safety, and well-being. I'm still not sure on that, but I understand the interpretation that putting in rules and regulations in theory is going to
provide a safer marketplace. That's fine. And I have no issue with that. I have an issue with where those markets are situated because I like Beth, you know, the 250 ft door too. Um I don't know if I said I'm speaking as a private citizen. Sorry.
Um, but all of that aside, um, I want to know how do we go forward with the smoke shops or with the businesses that had been selling that are now going to be competing with official
dispensaries. I mean, we report it to you. This whole gifting thing, it seemed like that was tied into the state rags. like the I just I don't know how it works, but like could you not act on it until we add
uh dispensary language on the books or the whole gifting thing? I I just don't understand. Tell me when you're done, then I'll All right. Sorry. I I guess I'm done. I mean, I think you can pick it up from there. It's just going
forward post ordinance approval. What do we do about the smoke shops and the businesses that are skirting what should be the the legal regulations? Thanks. So, you're not putting me on the spot,
but you are. Um, so when you're talking about businesses in town, there's there's zoning regulations that our department doesn't deal with. Um, and I believe with uh can cannabis dispensaries that is going to
be zoning regulations and they're controlled by the um cannabis regulatory commission. Okay, that's on a state level. So, it's it's almost like a a version of the ABC. Um there's different inspections that they could do. Um come
in and take a look at things. They control everything. Our department has had many talks with the uh regulatory commission um and they provided us a lot of different information just like any business in town. Anybody who reaches out to us that has doesn't matter what
kind of product if it's cannabis or if it's jewelry or if it's flowers or if it's uh clothing that's a vested interest in that business which is money. um and they have product in there and they may ask us to come out and say hey what are some of the safety measures
that we could look at here to keep our store safe um to notify you if something is happening and so on and so forth and we provide that service we would with anybody if these stores do come in uh I I would expect to have meetings with uh the owners to see what their safety plan
is and and to have the correct contacts and uh hopefully have links to their camera systems for when we need it if something happens. for the dispenser. What about correct? You're talking about gifting. Gifting is illegal. Gifting is distribution. Okay.
Um cannabis is is um regulated from from seed to sale by the state. That's what is legal in New Jersey. Um buying something off market that's not regulated as cannabis is illegal and you cannot do it. And that's why I encourage
anybody who has any permission to bring it forward to the police department. Everybody can come up and sit here and talk to us and say this and that. Come have a conversation with us. Hopefully that answer. Sorry. Yeah,
that's why I'm here. It's like we we go in circles. Yeah. And I will also add that um we are and I've asked on and to take a look at it. There is the New Jersey Hemp Act um which has a lot of different provisions in it um to really
actually go after shops that are selling cannabonoid products that have sort of a very low level of THC and it's a very low threshold. Um and so that has that you know that passed the New Jersey legislature there was litigation over it
and there's a stay. Now some people have been interpreted that stay as a blanket stay. There's other people say, "Well, it only that state only applies to a very small provision in that and one that would not apply to a township that could now go in and enforce the New
Jersey Hemp Act, which is a validly passed law. And so there's a lot of analysis that needs to be done with that. But I think we are currently looking at the New Jersey Hemp Act and whether that gives townships certain remedies that we didn't have prior to
the passage of the New Jersey Hemp Act. So that that's an ongoing thing um that we're looking at. Obviously subject to attorney client privilege, but um I just wanted to let you know we are looking at that. So maybe that was what was I don't know. Yeah, I'm not sure. But I
I just I just wanted to let you know that we are looking at all available um and I will I was going to wait to do this um until new business. Um, and I will probably wait, but I just a spoiler
alert. Um, I will be making uh a motion tonight um for uh to refer to our planning board uh to prepare a report uh within 35 days. It's under a particular provision uh to determine the
feasibility of prohibiting in all zones can smoke shops that sell cannabonoid products. And it will have to be some finetuning on that. Um, but look, the point that Beth raised about
the the the place on Route 15, um, those places were allowed to be around for for years and nothing was done about it. um as far as a regulation from this town council. Um in fact that place after they were busted as I pointed out in the
last meeting uh after they were busted a new place said they wanted to come in and they got the most cursory review that you could get under our planning board. Not this planning board that's here now but the the planning board. Um and
so we're trying to address that. That was the point of the regulation in the first place. And so again, um, you know, I will I will I'll make an official motion later, but there will be a motion by me to have the planning board to investigate the feasibility of banning smoke shops that sell any cannabonoid
products uh, whatsoever. So that way uh, we can't have this proliferation of smoke shops and they can't get the kind of expedited review uh, that the previous ones got. Sure. Have to be smoke shops or can it just be cannabonoid? It's cannabonoid.
It's not. Yeah. Because listen, if you're the Yeah. No, it's it's it's Yeah. If you want to sell cigarettes, we're not going to ban that. So, Well, no. I'm just saying if you if you're operating another retail use and you had an accessory cannabonoid, I don't want them to skirt. Oh, we can only come
after us for a smoke shop. Want to keep it. Yeah. And that's something you'll have to you as member of the planning board, you guys are going to have to work out. So, and how to define it. But um this council, at least speaking for myself, and I I would expect most people sitting up here, would want um you'll
have, you know, receptivity to that. So, is there anyone else member of the public that wishes to be heard on items not on the agenda? You going to double dip, Jim? All right, we'll let you double dip. Okay. You said you're going to have the planning board 35 days. Is that correct?
Well, we'll see. I mean, that's the provision under the statute, but under but under the but under the the way this ordinance is written, it goes into effect in 20 days. This No, no. We're talking about two different things. We're talking about smoke shops. Smoke shops are a separate animal from
cannabis dispensaries. Yeah. Because right now we have the proliferation of smoke shops that have uh that not only sell cannabonoid products but it's pretty well understood that also going on in there are the Yeah. So I'm trying to cut that off.
Yeah. Make make that motion tonight. Okay. I will. No. No. Mark will a rare agreement. All right. Let the record reflect. Jim Castmore agrees with me. [Applause]
Um, okay. Any anyone else? That doesn't happen too often. I know. I mean, I'm I want you to know that, right? I'm playing a lottery tonight because it's my lucky night. Um, all right. We are now, if anyone else on items not on the
agenda. Okay. We uh are now up to expenditures. So, Deputy Mayor Murphy, would you please read the expenditures for May 13, 2025? Yes. The total expenditures are $5,261,591. All right. May I have a motion to uh
approve the expenditures for May 13, 2025? So moved. Uh may I have a second? I'll second it. And all those in favor say I. Hi. Hi.
You are you did you vote? Vote. Okay. Say it. So, we have uh three eyes and one abstension for the expenditures for May 13, 2025. We have no ordinances to both introduce
or have a hearing on which then moves us right to uh the second public comment period related to resolutions. So if looking at the resolutions um if you have any comment you want to make to the resolutions please do so.
Jenny Derek, stopped. Just a quick question is what are there? Can you give us the highlights of the police contract? Um, we will uh I will do that. Uh, Jenny, if um I'm going to take care of the the a couple of those. I'm going to handle that one separately and so I will
uh Yeah, unless you want to comment now, however you want to do it. Yeah. No. Well, we discussed in executive session the terms of uh it's a three-year contract with the Superior Officers Association. that includes the captain, the lieutenant and the sergeants. Um
this is uh their contract had expired uh December 31st of last year. Uh we went through negotiations. Uh we came to terms in the in the contract and we develop a memorandum of understanding that the council agrees with and we're ready to formalize that and uh develop a
new contract. Thank you. Any other person wishing to be heard on the resolutions? Okay. Um, may I have a motion to approve uh resolutions 91 and
92? I move that we approve resolutions 91 and 92. All those in favor say I. I will second it and I. Um, all right. So resolutions 91 which is uh and 92 have been approved. Um we'll now take the
rest of them one by one. Uh may I have a motion to approve resolution 93 which is a resolution approving the lease agreement for the operation of a summer day camp at Camp Sack Jawia. Make a motion to approve resolution 9-3.
Uh may I have a second? I'll second. Okay. And Jim, this is a pretty standard lease agreement that we do every year with camp. I I I'll be honest with you because I I love the fact that Gene Montrono is here. She's such an excellent recreation director.
And you know what? I had her give me a cheat sheet for this question. Good. But I tell you what, I'm going to take the easy way out and I'm going to have Jean elaborate on what this resolution is about. So, we've had this uh lease for longer than I've been here. uh a lot longer. Uh
James Kimble, the owner of the camp, leases his properties for us to use as our day camp. Um the lease includes the week before camp, we get three days to be able to run our uh staff training. 6 weeks Monday through Friday from 7:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to actually run the camp, which includes uh he's done tons of improvements since co he kind of reinvented himself over there. And he allows us to use everything. We've got the the huge tent with the concrete pad.
He lets us use all his tables. We use his barn for storage. We use the big house and some of the other buildings when it rains. Uh it's a very to me it's one of the most cooperative agreements between government and a private in in
whatever what we pay him for the whole season I know he can make in one wedding renting from us a Thursday to a Sunday and he doesn't do any rentals until Friday after 5. So it's it's a really good arrangement for us and White Lake is a beautiful place for them to be able
to swim. So, in exchange, we pay a rent that um the lease off the top of my head, I don't remember what the number was, but 13 135 um and we um he does all the maintenance while we're there. Like if we need anything, we can call him and
say, "James, we need this or that." He comes down, does it for us. He um all we have to do is we pay that lease and then we uh we mow their facilities, the larger fields and that kind of stuff from May until August. So that that's the only two things. He has not raised
that lease in at least the eight years that I've been here. So it's a good it's a lucrative it's a good partnership. Jean, can you share how how many uh students how many children not students children do we have usually every summer? Well, we we average um our limit
is 150 per week. So, we're not we're a little bit light this year on all the weeks, but it's it's about one I'm going to say right now we're averaging about 100 125 a week for the six weeks. And do they vary each week different? It does vary. You can register per week by week.
So, we do have openings for anybody who's out there and still looking for that uh for your kids. Uh but some people use it as their daycare because it's probably the least expensive camp around. Um and so they'll go all six weeks. But we have some people that just love it down there, but their kids, they do family vacations and stuff, so they
can go week to week and pick and choose. That's great. I went to Bronny day camp there. A colleague of mine when she saw our our flyer, she goes, "I went to camp. I went to Girl Scout camp there." So, yeah. All right. Well, thank you very much. Thank you very much.
Uh, so all those in favor of resolution 93 say I. I. I. Resolution 93 is passed. Uh, may I have a motion to approve resolution 94, which is resolution of Township of Sparta supporting the New Jersey Highway Traffic Safety Click It
or Ticket 2025 seat belt mobilization. I'll make a motion to approve resolution 9-4. And and thank you. And and Chief McCarrick, you alluded to this in your speech, but I think this is a grant, am I right? So, this is uh the money that
we this is basically paying for itself, correct? Okay. Yes. The uh the money goes for overtime for specific details for officers to go and enforce this uh click or ticket. Fantastic. And then I'll tell you what I told you when you had the other one which was had to do
with distracted driving, I believe. Correct. Um you know, thank you very much on behalf of township of pursuing these grants. Um because like I said, we a township would otherwise need to actually investigate and and go after people who are seat belt violations or distracted driving. And this way we're
able to do it but also not expend funds. Uh we're expending grant money funds that have been given to us. So again, thank you very much uh for doing that. It's much appreciated. Absolutely. All right. So we have a first and a second. Uh all those in favor of approving resolution 94 say I. I. I. Resolution 94
has been approved. Next. May I have a resolution, a motion to approve resolution 95, which is a resolution of the township of Sparta approving the memorandum of understanding with the superior officers association of the Fraternal Order of
Police, Spartan Lodge number 26A, S SOA, and the Township of Sparta. So, I'm looking for a motion for to approve resolution 95. I make a motion to approve resolution 95. Uh, may I have a second, please? I will second.
Uh, all those in favor say I. I. Resolution 95, uh, is approved. Um, next up, uh, may I have a motion to approve resolution 96, which is resolution authorizing a fireworks display, Lake Mohawk Country Club? I'll make a motion
to approve resolution 9-6. Uh, may I have a second, please? I have a second. And before we vote, just uh anyone who hasn't been able to see the the fireworks display at Lake Mohawk, you're really missing out. Um that's about as close to Americana in July 4th
as you'll ever get. I know the first time I ever saw that, I thought I'd been transported to the 1950s. um such a sense of community and and and many thanks to the Lake Mohawk community uh for putting on that event that not only benefits people who live in Lake Mohawk, but all the other people who
crowd around uh you know on Hill and Dale to make sure they can see the fireworks and also thank you to our police force uh who helps monitor traffic uh for that special event. Um so with those kudos given, all those in favor of approving resolution 96 say I.
I. Resolution 96 is approved. Next up, we have uh may I have a motion to approve resolution 97, which is a resolution authorizing the use of the Union County Cooperative Pricing Agreement.
I need a motion. Yeah. A motion to approve the resolution authorizing the use of the Union County Cooperative Pricing Agreement. Make a motion to approve 9-7. Uh, may I have a second, please? I'll second it. And Jim, could you just
fill us in a little bit what this about? I was wondering what this is about, right? This is about asphalt paving. This is about asphalt. All right. The public works department, we use a lot of asphalt and uh we try to get the best price uh of tonnage of asphalt. So,
we've been going to Welden Quarry right there in Apache for our asphalt and we operate off of the Sussex County co-op price there. Um, and what happened was that contract had expired and um we were
able to uh learn that they had awarded a contract to the Union County Co-op, the Welden Corey did. So, we're just jumping on to another contract, uh, the Union County Co-op to enjoy their best pricing because the Sussex County one, uh, had expired. So, we're just keeping our eye
on the ball for a cost effectiveness on asphalt. And how favorable is that? Or is it the same or better than the previous pricing that we got when we were in the the other cooperative? I believe it was very similar to the same price and that's why we did it as
the other one. Um, I got to look at on the exact details. I can get that to you, mayor. Okay. Can we share that advantageous price with Lake Mohawk? Lake Mohawk is not a a public entity. Well, I understand, but they're the biggest taxpayer we have. Mark, can you
use your microphone, please? Thanks, sir. Yes, but they're the biggest taxpayer we have in this town, right? But they don't enjoy the the the nonprofit status, the exemption, the governmental exemption of a co-op like Right. But is there some way that Lake Mohawk can enjoy this favorable pricing
that you experience? Uh, they could ask, but they couldn't they couldn't ride the coattails of a co-op like we do. They're not a government entity because they're not a government entity, right? They're they're a private community. It's been asked several times. So, I I
that's it's okay. Probably for over nearly a hundred years. Um, all right. We've had a first and a second. All those in favor of approving resolution 97 say I. I. I. Resolution 97 is
approved. Next. May I have a motion to approve resolution 98, which is a resolution awarding contract for the project known as 2025 road improvement program part one as part of the Morris County contract number six for a total amount not to
exceed $724,49.75 is a motion. So I need a motion a second and if you have questions we can get to that. So, may I have a make a motion to approve resolution 9-8? I'll second. All right. And before we vote, I think you may have a question. Yes, mayor. To Is
this to pave Fox Hollow and around Sussex Mills? And yes, that the roads are listed in the in the resolution here. Yes. And we're utilizing the co-op again for asphalt and uh the milling services of the road. And basically what we've done is this is strategic because
we waited for the gas lines to get installed. All right. And and then after all the gas lines are installed and all the residents are are majority hooked up, we we go in and we pave the road. Um this works out really well for everybody. The residents are are very
happy with this. It's just um we um um alert uh Elizabeth Town Gas uh of this schedule so they know. Uh if there's any stragglers who need to tie in. Uh they need to tie in because we do have a 5-year moratorum. Once we pave the road, you really can't open it again. Is this
Can we include West Short Trail? Sounds like a road to me. Does the gas company contribute to this? They actually do. um when we uh discuss their their u when they're opening up the trench that we do a calculation of of the disruption to the roadway and um the
town engineer calculates an asphalt reimbursement and uh it's for sort of like in the form of an escrow and we're able to draw off of that and put it towards this cost. Hence the reason we're able to start our our road improvement program uh early. In fact,
as you know, we haven't introduced a budget yet, and we're already improving the roadways. So, this was a a very good move for us. Jim, I have a question. This is a um a big project, right? And rightfully so. It's it's paving at least at least a
dozen roads here. Um can you just share a little bit around the um competitive bidding process or just how we know that this total cost um is a good price and is appropriate? Well, you're off the co-op, so a lot of hard work's already
done. We're using the Mars County co-op. There's other co-ops that that we can look at, Somerset County and all. And you may recall a few years ago, uh, we actually did a bid out where we actually bid out the co the the the roads. And we had a whole uh array of of pricing to
the point where they were assigning uh the paving projects per road, per lowest cost to the vendor. It got kind of messy because you're dealing with a whole bunch of different vendors. It's tough to administrate. The quality was questionable to say the least. Um, we know this vendor, Tilcon, who's working
off of uh uh the Mars County Co-op. We're very familiar. They've done a lot of roads already in town. Uh, the pricing is most advantageous because it's already gone through the competitive bidding process of the Mars County Co-op. Uh, so it's been vetted there. um the engineer has done the
calculations plus Tilcon also comes out and they'll do their calculation and we compare them and we come up with the best estimate here. You'll see though when we close out the project is because we we discussed how we use a resolution to open up a big project and when we close out the project there may be an
adjustment. Sometimes there's a credit, sometimes there's a there's an extra bit depending on what the work the the you know the work comes out to. Um, and just so you know, this is just for phase one. We um, we plan on doing more paving uh, in the summer. So, more roads are going
to be added. I know residents who are watching and listening uh, and they don't see the road on here. It may be on here, but uh, uh, for the past couple years now, the roads have been highly dictated where the gas lines have been going in. All right. And and there's a whole lot of work going on out there.
So, um, stay tuned for phase two. Okay. All right. Thank you. Other questions? Okay, we have a first and a second. All those in favor of approving resolution 98, say I. I. I. Resolution 98 has been approved. Uh we
are now up to uh the council liaison updates and I'm going to start actually uh which I usually don't do uh with myself. Um I am pleased to report that Sparta Township uh has now certified as
a film ready community. And I'll read the letter that I got from the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission dated May 8th, 2012, 2025. Dear Mr. Clark, first let me say how thrilled we are that Sparta Township
has completed all steps for F certification and is a film ready location. We will announce that township's official film ready status at our upcoming board meeting in July. Your certification is the strongest tool you have to attract studios and networks looking for their next production site.
We also want to sincerely thank you for your patience during their approval process, which was delayed this past summer due to extensive program review with the state's attorney general. The new the new film ready requirements are designed to create a standardized, streamlined process that makes our certified locations incredibly appealing
to the film and television industry. Congratulations again. We're excited to see what productions come your way. Best regards, John Crowley, executive director, New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission. And um if Frank Dolce, you're in the audience, if you please stand up. Thank you um for on
behalf of the commission, all the work that you did to make this happen. Um so really that was as as people know that was a long and kind of arduous process that we went through. Um but we got through it and um we're really excited. Um, I think right now
there are probably close to 42 active uh major motion pictures being filmed in New Jersey as we speak. Um, and Mammoth County Netflix just broke ground uh on the first phase of, you know, I think what a $950 million uh production
studio. So, there's going to be more filming in there. And, you know, we're starting to put pressure, you know, we're now third in the nation, I think, in in entertainment production. And that's putting a lot of pressure on California who's losing a lot of business for that. And so, um, while I'm
on the film commission, there's some other things, uh, to report. So, members of our film commission, uh, recently went to the film expo, uh, in the Metallands on May 1st. There were over 3,000 registered attendees. Uh some members of our film commission met with
professionals from the production side of the industry, various vendors, studios and service related companies. Um they also met with commissioners from other towns as well as members and heads of the state film commission. Um just a chance to make connections, learn more and exchange contact information. Um and
so that's was very helpful and now even more so now that we have uh the certification also. Um the film commission right now uh is working with you know four possible film projects that have expressed an interest in
coming to Sparta. Um really we're at the pre-application stage. These folks are deciding whether they want to file an application in the first place. Um and so the members of our film commission who have experience in the production side and uh of the industry are speaking
with them and then at you know the appropriate time if they do decide to file uh an application um you know then that triggers everything that we did on the ordinance. But I appreciate that the members of the film commission are doing this kind of pre-application vetting um so the township doesn't have to um at at
the very start of these cuz sometimes you don't know how interested someone is and you waste you spin your wheels and you waste time. Um and I I'd hate to have members of the township having to do that and so you doing it for free is is is much appreciated. Um finally
um in the future uh we uh the film commission are is going to put on kind of a a seminar where um if people are interested in offering up their private home as a film location. Um we can and
there's compensation from the production companies obviously not from the township. Um, this is, you know, whatever film commit commission, uh, film production company. Um, if you're interested, um, we'll have a meeting so you can kind of explain what
that would be involved and how that works and so you can and and probably even get some people who've had this happen at their own private home who've opened them up to film. Um, but again, stay tuned for that. And um also uh there is
uh work right now with the uh movie studio that is uh looking to come to Sussex County. Um they are well underway. Um I'm also happy to report that the county uh will also be uh
exploring opening their own um film ready um committee. and so and with partnership with uh Sussex County Community College um and also exploring at the community college certain curriculum that would apply to the
entertainment industry um that would be able to be offered at the community college and so that we can um we can be the community college can be a place to to prepare people for uh the industry is which is such a big and active part of New Jersey and is soon to be probably a
big and active part of Sussex County. Okay. And now we're up to the our trails committee. Um I want to thank uh Deputy Mayor Murphy uh for going to uh the county Sussex trails meeting that happened on Friday. I had to be in
Atlanta for a wedding and so was unable to attend. Um, and I know with, you know, as I mentioned before, our trails committee, um, we have, you know, three separate trails that we're, you know, working on to try to, um, which require a lot of leg work. Uh, the first one
being, of course, the one I mentioned, uh, the trail going from the middle school to the high school. Um, and we're underway. I think the next step for that is we needed a representative from the New Jersey Land Trust to come to Sparta because they own part of the land and
Sparta would have to do an exchange of kind of basically swamp land for swamp land. Um and and the New Jersey Land Trust is is looking at that and I don't think they've uh they're not here yet. Um but again there's a lot of steps involved with this but um my much
appreciate to to Doug Dystra who's done a lot of work with the maps etc uh about how to make this a reality to improve the trail access in Sparta. So fill me in on what happened on Friday. So what happened was uh Mr. Dystra printed out
some very detailed maps and because we were able to close the landfill uh over on Dummerrist that the trails will be able to they can look at that as part of the trail. Also there's a meeting with the DOT
uh on the 30th of May which will also um they asked us to come and and talk to them about the crossings of Route 15 and how where the trails go and uh with providing these maps and what they
discussed. I let him do all the talking cuz he knew. Smart decision because he knows what he's talking about, what they did. And they were very very helpful in saying that they could get um hedgehogs out there and clean the trails up
and where there were parcels that needed to be either uh whether with bridges that needed to be repaired or if there's a way to go around them or um there's a a terrific
plan that they've got in place now that it made a lot of sense and once we can get across cross route 15 and some of them will these trails will lead all up into New York State and pref and at one point across the country. So they're
doing a tremendous amount of work and it's uh getting the land cleared and because you can't take any mechanics back there, any uh power saws or anything like that. So they're working with us to help clear our our trails.
Yeah. Thank you. And I and I think that's part of the initiative is that if if Sparta starts doing what we want to do in Sparta, that creates a ripple effect across the county then and and across you know, northern New Jersey to really have an intersection of all these
various trails. Um but you know, we're focusing on the property that obviously is in Sparta and trying to improve those and our hope is then that will then lead to other towns doing the same thing. Um so it's I'm very happy with the the progress that they're making. Again,
there's a lot of steps involved, a lot of um work to identify how we, you know, because you have to get sometimes easements and other things. So, there'll be a lot of kind of technical work. Um, but we're very again uh grateful for uh Doug Dystra who's done a tremendous
amount of work using his skills as a surveyor. He's he's done a lot of this and it's been very helpful. Finally, um, now up to the other committee that I'm a leaison on for, which is Revolutionary 250. Um, so the official kind of launch
for Rev 250 will be at Sparta Day. Um, where we'll have anformational booth to share with residents our plans for commemorating the 250 years. Um, as well as soliciting event ideas from the community. Um, and there'll be an interactive activity. I'm not sure quite
what that one is yet, but again, I I if you're planning on going going to Spar today, I really encourage you to stop by uh that uh booth. I think we're going to have a Model T there to hopefully attract people to come that who may want to be interested in the seeing the Model
T, but you're also going to get uh solicited for talking about, you know, what events you'd like to see at at uh for to commemorate. We do have um you know the keynote event will really obviously be on July 4th, 2026 and that will take a significant amount of
planning but leading up to that um we've already have a planned uh tavern talk which I've alluded to and before which will occur I think in January of 2026 um yeah crows um that features uh reenactors who kind of immerse
participants to kind of explore events that were happening at around the time 250 years ago. Um, they'll also be honoring Women's History Month with portrayals of important women during that period. Um, I'm also, we are working on I didn't
know this. Did folks know there's a time capsule buried by the library that's 50 years old? Okay. Um, well, that we're going to crack that thing open uh in 2026 and and find out uh what's what they put in there. So, that's going to
be another component of it. And there's more that we're working on. Uh we just got to try to get the logistics of it. Um but we have a great committee who's been very involved and but again it's not don't encourage folks from our community. Uh don't just rely on the
folks at that meeting. You have some we have a very uh wonderful community here and you know your ideas will also be helpful. Um, and and don't worry, we are still putting on there the simulated crossing of the Delaware, which Lake
Mohawk will will uh will substitute as the Delaware, and someone's got to dress up as uh General Washington and cross Lake Mohawk. Um, but I don't think we're going to do that in December. So, don't worry, it's going to be that cold. So, anyway, that will be another one of the
events. But um there's a lot to do uh and all these committees and again I think each one of them really contribute to the improved quality of life uh for Sparta. So I thank all the committee members who have taken time out of their day uh where they could be doing a
myriad of other things to get involved in their community. It's much appreciated. So with that I will kick it over uh to Councilman Blumdi. So update on two different topics. First it is the the business development committee. I know last meeting uh we we
kind of cut out the uh leazison updates. So I have uh news that we met both on April 24th and also March 27th. So last two meetings uh again fourth Thursday of the month. Uh one night I also wanted to
mention on that though there's an opportunity for others to join the committee. So, we have several open uh positions on the BDC if anyone's interested. Uh the requirements really are that you uh are a Sparta resident or you own a business based in Sparta. We
have a good mix right now of both types of people. Um we typically have I think a little bit more business owners, which is wonderful. So, we're looking to diversify and even get more representation there if possible. If you're interested, please just go online township website, look for the volunteer
applications. as you're filling it out, there's a spot for business development committee. Uh we'd love to have a few more folks join us. Uh second is um again, it's a little bit of a dated update now, but the uh
master plan subcommittee presented uh at the planning board meeting in April. It was actually April 16th. Um I attended both as a member of council and of the subcommittee looking at the master plan. Uh much of that meeting was dedicated to uh providing a presentation to the
public on the community survey that took place last fall and uh showing the results and uh kind of a little bit of analysis of what uh came through in that survey. Uh over a thousand responses at that survey actually. So the meetings are continuing. Uh next step is the uh
numerous focus groups that are being planned now with different stakeholder groups throughout the community and additionally there'll be uh largecale community open houses and opportunities to engage the public uh for ideas and and reactions to different parts of the
master plan. So uh it's going well. More to come on that uh over the next uh number of months. Thank you. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Murphy. Okay. have an update on the environmental commission. We had Earth Day and it was the first
time it was at the middle school and uh unfortunately I mean there was incredible displays and tents and different groups from all around with regarding bees and regarding
um natural grains growing with the mill um out in uh on Route 94. and they have a a store out there that you can go to that uh all different types of of grains that they're growing. They've redone all
of the in their fields, they've redone all of the grounds and upgraded all of the grounds themselves, so the dirt and the earth is much cleaner, more there's no pesticides, and the the grains that
are coming out of there are fantastic. So there was that there was uh oh there must have been eight 10 different organizations there. Unfortunately it didn't have as many people as it did when it was located
here two years ago. So next year I think we are looking at possibly maybe bringing it back to town hall or maybe at the middle maybe at Mohawk Avenue school because it was uh I
don't know maybe there was also a bad accident that day at the bottom of Glenn Road that people couldn't get through. So that may have hindered it as well. I don't know. But unfortunately it didn't have because it was supposed to rain but it didn't. But it was uh it was it was
really well done. Very well done and I applaud them. Uh also we have uh workshed ambassador is coming to and we're going to have a rain
barrel workshop on June 12th from 5:30 to 7 right outside here where you're going to be able to learn how to make a rain barrel and what to use it for. So, if anybody and any children want to sign up for that, please do so. And to help
with your own plants, use the the water that's coming from the rain and off of your off of your pipes that you can make rain barrels. Um also they have [Music]
um we are waiting for tree ordinance that with you and Mr. Stoner. Yeah, we currently have a tree ordinance. I think he's looking update updated. Okay, we have one now. Okay, that we need to pass on to the
environmental commission. And um they said making polluters pay resolutions and and to make a resolution to make polluters pay. So it's something
that we could think about anybody that we catch polluting and then maybe we won't have as much to pick up on Earth Day all around the all around the town and all of the roads and highways like even even car parts that we picked up.
But uh it's a it's a thought. I don't know if we do it now when we catch polluters. Chief, can you Well, you have littering fines, summones, uh illegal dumping, which you know is is a is a uh is a disorderly
person's offense. So, there's fines that come along with that. So, it's being done already. Yeah. It's just I'm sure it's hard to it's hard to catch them. Catch them. I know. It's amazing what we picked up on Earth Day, but there was quite a bit.
Quite a bit. Um, also from senior committee, there is the senior awards dinner tomorrow night. Um, Dean, may I see the invitation that you have there? Honoring the senior of the year and it's
Thank you. If anyone wishes to go, it's tomorrow night at 5:30 at the Sparta Senior Center and uh you can RSVP to the Sparta Rec Department. Um and it'll be outstanding older
American honor will be awarded. So that's tomorrow evening. And the seniors center, they are looking for lifeguards as we heard earlier. And also, wouldn't it be great if we had a senior another senior center
that was a larger uh possibly for more people to attend in a bigger facility with more activities that we could place somewhere that we could build. So, that was a that
was another thought. Just slip that in the budget. Put Yeah, put right in there. Just put that right in there. um the cultural center and that is oh there's also a a
they wanted there's a deer um a speaker for the deer population. We keep getting asked about the deer population. There is a speaker willing to come but would like to come to the town council meeting in possibly July to talk about the deer population and how we can help manage
that. So that's something we can take a look at for possibly in July and that's all mine. You took care of the riv. That's what I have. Thank you,
Councilman Scott. the uh planning board met uh a week ago and the Sussex County uh technical school is putting in a new wastewater management plan, a new wastewater management system and uh we
saw a presentation on that. In addition, uh another application which has been long uh long studied by the planning board has been withdrawn and that's on the the RAM Rammes or the uh Sparta pharmacy
application that was withdrawn. Um there was also a lot of discussion, there was a great deal of concern um by the planning board on the cannabis ordinance and the uh lack of proper procedure followed by the uh town
council. That's it. Okay, we are now up to our um now our unfinished or new business. So I'll start again uh with uh Councilman Scott. Do you have any unfinished or new business? Yes. I'd like to make a motion
to resend ordinance 257 and 258. I will second that a motion. Okay. And motion. All right. All those in favor of uh rescending ordin uh ordinance 257 and 258. Now we should have a little
discussion on this. If you want to have you can Yeah, I want to have a little discussion. So, in the past week, uh 1,500 1,500 people have signed a petition indicating that they are in opposition to the new cannabis
uh cannabis legislation that was passed by the majority of the town council. and that was submitted to the town clerk and it's under uh process of being uh certified. Um also we I I believe
there's a uh section 62 violation here. It's that it this this ordinance is in violation of the master plan and should be overturned. I believe that the procedures by the town council were
improper in their ex in their deliberations of 257 and 258 and I think that we should resend this and continue to talk about it.
Anyone else? I have to say I agree. I really would like to have it put to the public for a referendum or have it put on the November ballot and have the town of Sparta vote on whether we want any
cannabis stores in the town of Sparta period or even possibly put it in the ED zone which would be a th00and ft and not 250 close to our town center.
A referendum would be a great idea. Let the people speak. I really would. I agree with that. Dean, what do you think? No comments. I don't agree. No. No. I I uh I still stand by my reasoning and we
can disagree respectfully. Um. Mhm. You know, it's it's again ready already used today by many residents. Uh this does not make it legal. This does not make it illegal, right? It's already illegal in New Jersey. Um I've heard that it's commonly
known that several places in town already it's available and it's offered illegally, which is unsafe and unregulated. Um so, uh I don't have any other comments in terms of your proposal. I just don't think it's a look that we need for our town. There's so
many places around that that can be bought. We don't need it for Sparta. There are 11 stores within 2 miles of the Sparta border and delivery services available. So, we don't need these stores in our town.
Um, am I correct? And the people obviously don't want it. It's just time and time again. It's four to one. The people of Sparta have no interest in these stores in our town. But am I right that the the that a
petition has been uh given to our clerk and the purpose of that petition is to uh have a referendum. Am I right? Correct. Okay. Um so that that that is in process is my understanding. Um and
then you know secondly um you know I will disagree vehemently with your characterization of uh the procedure that this uh town council followed. Um and you know I don't I don't think more needs to be said in that. I think that
if you go back and you look at the April 22nd, I think we, you know, we we explained uh our reasoning uh and we complied with the uh requisite statutes and um so I don't think any more needs to be said with that. So um my vote's
not going to change. Um but and so in in any event, why don't we go ahead unless anyone else has any further comments, we can go to a um the eyes's and and naz. Okay.
Right. So all those uh in favor of rescending uh ordinance 256 and 257 uh say I. I. 257 and 258. I think it was is it 25? I'll do it again. Seven and
eight. Okay. So, I'll start over. Um, all those in favor of rescending ordinance 257 and 258 say I. I. I. All those opposed say opposed. Post. Opposed. Um, so the vote is 22, which
isn't a majority. Uh, so the motion fails. Do we have a roll call vote on that? Motion passed. Councilman Scott, yes to rescending. Councilman Blummeti, no. Deputy Mayor
Murphy, yes to rescending. Mayor Clark, no. Okay. Any other unfinished or new business? Uh, by Councilman Scott? No, sir. Okay. Deputy Mayor Murphy, any unfinished or new business? No.
And Councilman Blummeti, any unfinished or new business? No, none for me. Okay. And so I will get to the part that I alluded to earlier. Um, again, I think it's been been clear here uh that these unregulated smoke shops that sell
cannabonoid products uh have been uh are problematic. Um, and I think finally we and need to do something about them that hasn't been done. And so, um, I would make a motion to refer to the planning board pursuant to
18.32 G8 of the Sparta's municipal land use law and pursuant to 40-55D 26B of the New Jersey uh, statute, that's the municipal law, land use law for for New Jersey, uh, to consider and make a report within 35
days to town council uh, about the legality and feasibility of prohibiting smoke shops that sell cannabonoid based products uh in all zones in Sparta um so that we can no longer have this proliferation of these uh smoke shops
that sell cannibonoid products in Sparta. So that's the motion. Um and may I have a second? I would just like to make a amendment that we also include any business that offers cannabonoid products even if not considered a smoke
shop. Okay. So, um, the the I will then rephrase it, I think. Is that okay? Or do you do I need to make a motion to amend it? I would make a motion to amend it. Okay. Um, well, it hasn't passed yet. So,
wasn't changing changing. So, this is a motion toend the motion. Uh, so it will read as follows. um to uh refer to the planning board pursuant to 18.32G8 of the Sparty Municipal Land Use Law and pursuant to
40-55D26B of the New Jersey uh municipal land use law to consider and make a report within 35 days to town council about the legality and feasibility of prohibiting smoke shop or any store uh that sells uh cannabonoid based products
in all zones in Sparta. I will second. Uh, all those in favor say I. Can we have some discussion about this? Sure. Before we do this, I mean, why waste the planning board's time if we're going to have the same reaction to uh all their
effort by by the town council? Why spend hour after hour in a planning board meeting writing it up, presenting it, and then just have it ignored by the town council? No. Well, for one, this has to
do with uh uh stores that are not legal dispensaries. You know, this obviously would not cover legal dispensaries. What it does address is these uh these smoke shops that here to for there hasn't been any action uh by
the planning board to to regulate these in any event. In fact, they've they've received the most cursorary approval um that that's allowable. And so, uh my view of this is that I think if the the
planning board um should act on this and explore the feasibility of in and all zones um uh making this a a prohibitive use these these smoke shops that do sell can cannabonoid based products.
So that's the unless you know they're if the plan board's okay with these then okay then they can say that um they don't see any problem with it then they can tell us that they don't want to do the report they don't have any problem with these then okay we we'll listen to that but I think that in light of the
discussion that we've had and the examination that we had um and if you're really concerned about the delivery of of cannabis based products in Sparta then I I think that the planning board would want to do something about it and
I know I do. I I know Councilman Blumi does and I would think those who have done so many efforts to uh you know should not have dispensaries would also be in support of this. I disagree with the accusation that this is the planning board's
responsibility. Uh these these smoke shops were approved in in prior planning boards and they were not approved to be selling THC like products. And to to say that the planning board
has has been ignorant or or or has not done their job and to blame it on them is I I think far from responsible. Um and I just don't think it's appropriate. I I
I I guess it's up to the planning board to consider if they will take up this issue and spend the time required especially with the uh response they received last time.
Do we make is there a way we can make an ordinance that that is not allowed? That that's the point of referring it to the planning board is that the planning board can pursue uh the mechanism by which you could limit uh or even
prohibit uh these you know smoke shops that are not regulated dispensaries from selling cannabonoid based products. We wouldn't make an ordinance first and then send it to the planning board. No, we we can do it this way which is, you know, we can refer it to at least have
feedback from the planning board as opposed to doing an ordinance and then sending it to them. So, this is a mechanism that's already allowed under uh both Sparta and the states um statutes. So, we're we're doing it according to the the the the provisions
that we have. Mr. Mayor, respectfully, um you seem to be well verssed on this. Was the planning board did the planning board in in prior years approve a cannabis shop in this
town or they approved uh smoke shops um obviously because we we see them there and it's my understanding um that the smoke shop that came in that replaced the one um where the owner uh went to
prison um that one was placed uh under a kind of a waiver um considered retail to retail. Um and so obviously there's seems to be a loophole here um that we're trying to address. And so that's
that's the point is to try to if you prohibit the use then obviously um you're not going to be able to have these. So there may be other ways. The whole idea is if you're concerned about the distribution of of cannabonoid based products, I I think this is a step in
the right direction. Well, to blame the c the planning board is I I don't believe is responsible. I'm not blaming the planning. What I'm saying is that this seems to be something that that would that would be addressed that hasn't been addressed in
in in the past. I'm not saying I'm not putting you know it hasn't there that's that's a fact. Obviously it hasn't. Well, the planning board is not responsible for the planning board is responsible for coming up with rules and regulations related to planning and uses in certain zones. That's the
responsibility, right? And as Mr. Mr. Ryan, the private lawyer, the previous lawyer said, cannabis is not allowed to be sold in Sparta. And that's what the planning board knows. I think we all I think we all can agree that these these smoke shops have operated um in
violation of that and so that you know that we we have proof of that. That's a fact. It's happened in Sparta. And so my the point in making this is let's come up with a solution to stop this. Um and that's why I think that you know engaging the planning board to do this
is appropriate. So, we have uh a you know a first and a second and um and so therefore I think we're up for uh it's time to vote. Could we hear from the planning board head, Miss Ferman? Sure. Just to put on the record, the
planning board did not approve that application. Who did? The zoning department. There you go. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So, we have a first and a second. Uh we have a motion. Uh all those in
favor say I. I. I. All those in f the motion is to do you need me to read it again? Yes, please. Okay. Uh it's a motion to refer to the planning board uh pursuant to 18.32G8 of the Spartan Municipal Land
Use Law and pursuant to 40-55D26B of the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law to consider and make a report within 35 days to town council about the legality and feasibility of prohibiting smoke shops and stores uh or
and other stores that sell cannabonoid based products in all zones in Sparta. I think Mark to answer your question I think this is like a multi-pronged approach I think right going at it in this respect we could also go at it through enforcement we could go at it in multiple ways you know and I believe
this last part is also having a legal safe uh dispensary is part of that solution but if we can go at it from a a zoning standpoint right a land use standpoint which this would is requesting for guidance or advice on enforcement other I think it's just multiple ways to uh to kind of minimize
and get rid of that that's happening already today. Would we have to affect the zoning board in on that as well? No, this is just planning. Yeah, zoning board would address an a current application that might come to it for abuse variance. But in this case, it's going back to saying
that here's the zones, here's the land use, you know, uh guidelines as we have today. What is the legality? what is the feasibility of making this a prohibited use in those zones? So, it it cuts it off at that point should a new applicant come in
and it could be further detail that the planning board uncovers and the planner might uncover. I mean, there could be lots of else that comes out of that from that perspective. Yeah. And again, it's just it's further them to consider and and make a report. It's not they don't have to do any action. It's simply to we're asking them to investigate the
feasibility of doing this. Um it seems to be a you know according to both you and others a primary concern of this township about the uh uh distribution of cannabonoid based products in this town.
And I just think this is one of the ways that we uh might be able to limit it is to prohibit the uses um and and make of all retails uh and and and in and cannabonoid these smoke shops that have
have have been um used to transmit both cannabonoid based products and you know THC based products. Um it's a way to investigate whether you know can we do that? Can we make it a prohibited use? What about existing ones? Is there
anything we can do about that? Oh, that's a separate issue and not the subject of this motion. Okay. It's not uh Well, no, cuz they're already I mean, that's something that the planning board considered. Hey, we don't need to prohibit it. We just need to enforce the laws that we have. They can they can
that that's something for their consideration in the report. It's up to them. This is simply to to start getting action on this issue that you know according to you and others is is a very important one. And so I'm I'm trying very important. Okay. That's all I'm
trying to to to to deal with it in in one way. So that's so to be clear this motion is only to stop future illegal stores, not the illegal stores that are here today. Is that what you're saying? That's a
separate that's a separate enforcement issue. And how do we how do we adjust that? Well, I think that I think I alluded to that we have the New Jersey Hemp Act which has some additional provisions in it that's being explored as a way as a mechanism to give uh
further ability to regulate and to help stop the transmission of the and distribution of of illegal cannabis. That's a separate enforcement part. That's not part of this motion. That's um that's something that's looking at separately under legal analysis.
And this is being explored by who? That the this the hemp act. This is our municipal attorney is looking at that. Okay. Can you tell us how that's going on?
I've just begun looking into it. I haven't had a chance to look into it. Okay. Okay. So we could have the planning board and the and the planning board attorney and the
planner put together. That's what you're wanting to put together a full guideline of existing and future retail stores and smoke shops to not allow them to have any kind of cabin cabinoid.
Yeah. It's simply like you would, you know, there's certain uses that a town doesn't want in their town. And you know, what I've heard is people don't like the transmission of cannabis. Correct. And so one of the ways illegal trans transmission of cannabis and so this is one way that they can explore
doing that, which is to prohibit smoke shops that, you know, I think everyone agrees has been, you know, uh, involved in the illegal transmission of cannabonoid based products, including those with THC. Right? This is for the the legal, right? The the unregulated,
non-licensed, the activity that's going on that we don't want. That's what this is an evaluation of. We're not saying do this. We're not saying create an inventory of existing businesses or we're just saying from a land use standpoint. Uh is there an opportunity going forward to change what's what's
allowed in all zones future? Okay. So, this whole little discussion is a kind of a CYA band-aid approach to how we're going to get there, how we're going to enforce this in our town. No, it's a that's a that's an incorrect
characterization. I think I've explained what the purpose is. Um, it's something that they can do a report and consider whether you can uh make, you know, smoke shops and other stores uh that sell these type of products. Can you use that as a prohibited use in all zones? In the
same way that if you know there could be other uses um that we wouldn't want anywhere in this town. You know you could do one you know prohibited uses of a munitions factory uh and because munitions factories have been a problem in this town if it was so um it's it's
simply simply to take advantage of a provision in our land use law that allows the the planning board to make this a consideration. That's all. It doesn't it doesn't bind anyone to do anything uh simply to make a report. Um and then we can hopefully you know from
that report we can then you know act on it. Anna, can you explain this? It seems like this is only for future smoke shops and has nothing to do with existing smoke shops. I don't understand how this can be. How how
can how can this be segregated like this? How can we have Could you explain that maybe? Yeah. So the any ordinance that goes into effect generally would apply
to it's very facts sensitive. So it may apply to prospective uses. Um any existing businesses that are operating would have to be analyzed on a
case-byase basis as to what approvals, if any, they've received. How does a prospective ordinance impact that business? Um do they were they lawfully existing?
Do they become lawfully pre-existing non-conforming? Um, I think the charge is to explore options to, as the mayor stated, regulate uh prospective smoke shops as the first
analysis and see if that analysis will cover existing uses. Yeah, because right now under our existing uh rules, we have vacant properties right now in Sparta. Um and theoretically they another smoke shop
could come into those. It's not a prohibited use. So I think that that's the concern if you want to. It it may or may not stop the existing ones, but hopefully it will stop the prolifation of additional ones. And so I think
that's that's what we're trying to to address that concern so we don't have any more of these and and additional ones. I think folks would be concerned about having additional smoke shops uh in Sparta and that's this is what this is designed to do. You sat here for you
sat here on April 22nd for hours explaining how this was going how 257 and 258 we're going to do that already and now this is just some some cya this is a a band-aid uh let's paint over it approach. No, this is this
is a belt and suspenders approach. And those who are concerned about the proliferation of cannabis, which I think you are, um, would be in favor of this. If you're not, you're not. But that's why would we have the plan, it's it's the planning board's job to put all this together and read all the statutes and
have them and their lawyers. Is that their position? That's their job to do. Well, the there's a provision in our land use law that obviously allows us to do that. So, I think it contemplates that exactly happening. um if if they choose not to discharge that duty, they
can say so. It is it is Margie. So the planning board often the planning board is involved and and overwhelmed with the with applications coming in, right? And that's takes up most of their time. But the the planning board's other duty and you could say equally important duty is to to do planning, right? Is to think
forward, think planning and make recommendations to the governing body. So it is a core duty. um not sure time always allows for it as much, but that that is a key role of the planning board is not just to adjudicate an applicant coming in front of them, although those hearings are very important, but it's
also time permitting to to do things like the master plan subcommittee, but even on a smaller scale to recommend changes and things that it sees, but from a land use standpoint, right? This is not law enforcement. This is not taxation. But yeah, so it is it does fall nicely into what the planning board
get. Mr. Dash, what would you recommend that? Do we get together with the planning board and do this? Do we have the planner do it? Do we I think the the motion is simply a recommendation to the planning board to
take up a review of the request. I I don't think it's a bad idea. Um if the planning board wishes to decline, it may decline or may not respond. And the council the council could uh sue a
sponte take up the same application if it wishes to. I'm sorry. It could on its own the council could on its own initiative if it wishes to to regulate. It could do that or it could delegate it to the planning board pursuant to state
statute and municipal ordinance. All right. So, we have I mean, does anyone need any any further explanation? But we have a first and a second and so I think we need uh to vote. Okay. Any all those in favor of the
motion as read say I. Is this a a suggestion to the planning board or is like a command? Go ahead. Section 26 uh is it's a referral power. So the this this body is allowed to make a request of the planning board to study
any aspect of the plannings or planning of the town. So it's a request. It's a request. Okay. Any further questions on that? I know I just can I see it and you have it
written down. Is that it? 35 days going to be enough time. If you want an extension, they can get an extension. I think that that's just the the time period under the statute. Well, I mean, it wouldn't be Huh. Okay, it would be good that that maybe we
could work together on, but we need we need to clarify. I mean, I'm sure I don't know if you have enough time to do it. Yeah, I mean, they'll listen. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Um, we've got to put stops and before
the master plan gets done, if a if a applicant came in What's what's the downside? I guess as What's the downside, right? I mean, yeah, other than timing. Mhm. No,
I think I think it's a good idea. It's a novel concept that the town council actually listen to what the planning board does. So, we will uh refer to them and and may and we can help. That would be
great. Okay. Um, so all those in favor of the motion as read say I. I. I. All those opposed say opposed. All the Any abstensions? There we have a roll call vote. Sure.
Councilman Scott, I I I vote yes. And I hope that the town council takes the advice under after the planning board puts all this effort in, takes it under advisement and considers it. Councilman Blummedi, yes. Deputy
Mayor Murphy, yes. Mayor Clark, yes. Uh the motion passes and um thank you and I look forward to hearing um from the planning board about this and and thank you. We have two members in the audience. I think we even had a third earlier uh from the planning board. So thank
you and I don't have any other uh unfinished or new business. Uh we're now at the final um public comment period. Um and please again be mindful of the five minutes. I'll be I'll be quick. I'll be quick. Just um
so Mark uh I think what this is is just backfilling in protections, giving the chief probably some more tools so that uh we could we could enforce
um what isn't being addressed, right? The CBD and non-dispensory movement of goods. I would just say um I guess as one planning board member um that I think it
would have made more sense to have this request come as part of the larger discussion but I think we should do it. It just would have been good to have a comprehensive I almost think page two of the existing ordinance that you guys
passed where um there's a little section about enforcement Dean I don't know do do you have that with uh the gifting portion like it would fit right in there so I don't really understand it's good that you guys are catching it and it's it's good to put it
in but I just think it should have been part of the bigger uh discussion and you know I still wish Um, it sounds like the legalization or the the ordinance was driven by the smoke shops. Is that
correct? The existing smoke shops. Well, Mr. Mayor, speaking for Yeah. Speaking for yourself, it it sounded to me like when the ordinance was presented, it was this is already going on. Smoke shops are doing it. And so, the reason we're putting it in these zones is because
that's where those smoke shops are. Is that correct? Yeah. For for you. Yeah. For me. Yes. For you. So, I would just kind of look at it the other way because that that's kind of what we're doing and say, well, if that's the case, if we're now dealing with the smoke shops, could it make
sense to then look at this comprehensively and say, let's get the zone right? You know, let's let's we're cutting out everything. We've agreed that some of us have agreed that, you know, we need to have something in place. Let's get the zone right. Let's
get the distance right. Um, and let's take care of the the illegal passage of this. I I'm not asking for any response. It's just that's what I'd like to see and I that's as one person that's what I would suggest, but you guys have already
voted on the ordinance, so I respect that too. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm a little confused. Help me, Chim Castmore. Before the can ordinance went
through, didn't you all make a recommendation to the planning board saying no, this does not fit in with our master plan, so forth and so on. And they asked you to do that. You made the recommendation and it all went to you. There's a real there's a procedure but
consistency. Let me go. So now you're saying, "Oh, let's send it back down to the planning board." Well, heck, mayor, you didn't listen the first time. So what's this all believe you're going to listen the second time? I mean, let's be honest with each other. You didn't listen the first time. They made the
recommendation, said, "Don't want this." And 123 said, "We want it. We're going to get 2% tax money. Oh boy. I don't get it. 1,500 people just signed a thing that says we don't want it. They're saying let's put it up for a
referendum. You're saying no, we'll send it down to the planning board. I'm sorry, but you didn't listen the first time. And I can be rest assured that you won't listen the second time. And these people are volunteers that have given their time to Sparta,
and that wasn't fair to them. Thank you. Yeah. I I think you're con you're confusing uh not listening with not agreeing. When someone doesn't agree with you, it doesn't mean they didn't listen to you. It means they listen to you and don't agree. And so that may be
something that maybe Mayor, hold on a second. You appointed that planning board. So these are the people you appointed to that planning board and they said, "Don't do this." And you said, "Yeah, I'm going to
do it anyway. Why did you appoint them? They're supposed to be part of your team. And in order to have a team, you have to listen to the entire team. I don't care if it's the catcher or the water
boy. And they say, and here's this whole planning board said, "Don't do this." And you said, "Nah, we're not going to listen to you guys." It's kind of odd. That's all. Thank you, Mr. Castmore. I agree with you 100%.
Um, I will I will just say that they got appointed to the planning board based on uh not because they agreed with me on every single thing. Um, I I would suggest you you look into the history of Abraham Lincoln. Uh, book's called Team of Rivals. Abraham Abraham Lincoln's not
an attendance in this town. Well, what my point is that there we have very capable and able people on our planning board who come from a lot of different backgrounds and we're not always going to agree on stuff. We're just not. And that's um you see it in council, you see
it at the planning board itself, and I wouldn't expect that there would be. Um and so that's part of the benefit when you fill these planning boards and you fill them. Um I don't intend to fill them with people who always agree with me. In fact, they come from all different backgrounds because I think
they have to offer um a lot of different perspective that I might may not have on my own background. And I appreciate that. But when you do that, that means you're not always going to agree. In fact, I don't probably agree with people who come who look like me, sound like me, and come from the same background either. So, I can't I don't think you
can expect uh unonymity all the time. I think that's an unreasonable expectation. You guys agreed earlier, but we did agree earlier, Jim. So, you know, hey, a broken clock's right twice a day. Sit down and shut up. So, I guess I'm
off to a good start. Okay. Sorry. Come on, Rob. Hey, Rob, you have to sit in the back next time. Rob the temperature. Thank you. And I just want to follow up and
emphasize that the planning board never made an opinion of whether they support or do not support the legalization and the stores uh for cannabis retail. Our recommendations, you know,
were that it was inconsistent with the master plan and uh we wanted to you to take a look at some of the wording. I brought up the hemp in March. I brought it up again in April. I said that is in
the state definition. It is missing in your definition. And now after the fact, after it's voted on, you're going to go back and look at hemp. I brought up the CBD last time. You know, what do we do about all of this? So, it's you're referring to the referral powers and
citing this statute when it's convenient. Where was it when we should have been the ones looking at cannabis and the master plan, but now we're going to look at canaboid, which I don't even know what it is, tell you the truth. But we'll do it. Um, but
I just want to point out those inconsistencies and I don't think it's fair the way it's been done and the way it's been characterized. And if you know these referral powers, you know that the such recommendations may be rejected only by a majority of the fully
authorized membership of the body. That wasn't done. So, we're going to come back and address this, but uh just keep that in mind going forward. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I have a couple couple reactions to that, some comments. Um I understand your your concerns,
Joan, that the hemp was not part of that. That's a state law. that's state driven. The reason why it's coming up now is because of the recent votes and the progress of that at the state level and how it was passed except there's a small portion of it that's still pending. So that has nothing to do with this ordinance. The town towns don't
define what cannabis means. That's defined by the state regulatory commission. So that's the reason why hemp is not in there. Not included, but hemp is in the state definition. It's missing in the Sparta definition. And that was something I tried to bring up twice. I wanted, you know, to include it. You had that opportunity. You do
have a definition in your ordinances, right? Which states that black? No, it does not. No, but the states the state's hemp definition is law is separate, right? No. Um, if you read it, there is a second sentence in there that deals with hemp and that was missing in the Sparta ordinance, but it's controlled by
the state, right? Yeah. I mean, your definition really should be matching the state definition. And it led a lot of um things uh to be ambiguous and uh the the planning board is the one who has to interpret these ambiguities and that's what we were
asking for and the town council did not address any of those. We asked for definitions. We asked for why is the word delivery service in here? If delivery service is really a class six license, you know, things that could have clarified it, taken it out. Um and everything was just kind of disregarded.
I'm told I had my five minutes. Kind of a same thing, a sit down and shut up kind of thing. And but not in those words. Yeah. So I would say, you know, you say they weren't disregarded. We No, we we received your report. We read through everyone. In my and to me, some of those were preferences or opinions
that weren't data driven, right, recommendations. And like you said, the planning board at that point was being asked to check with consistency or inconsistency with the master plan. Now like every other town the master plan when it's created it's not going to include at that time what is illegal
right so at that time when the master plan was created obviously this was not contemplated right so that's that's not surprising it was inconsistent now is it considered retail or not is it just selling another retail product and it's consistent so I say no that's I'm not asking your opinion I'm not giving my
opinion I'm just saying that so there's where there's where there could be some ambiguity but the master plan inconsistency came back, right? It was inconsistent. That's the reason why is because you can't put it in there as a allowable permitted use when it's not
permitted at the governing body level, right? The township's not. So, it's like a catch 22. So, something has to go first. Either township needs to pass it or and it's inconsistent when it happens, right? Because how could it be consistent with the master plan when a master plan was written and it was
illegal? So, no no no no planning board is going to put an illegal use into the master plan. That's why we wanted to look at it and that was one of our recommendations and it also in the uh statute it allows us to um state any other matters as the board
deems appropriate and to follow the procedure you would have to reject by a majority vote um the things that we recommended and that wasn't done procedurally. Therefore, I personally, and I'm speaking for myself now, question the validity of the vote. As um
Mr. Dash pointed out last time, Jennings versus Burrow of um uh got it right here about Jennings versus Burrow of Highlands. And
uh the governing body gave no signs of complying with the plain language of the statute. And the panel said that the material violation of 40 col55D-26A renders the ordinance invalid. So that's what we were asking for. And you know what? We're just
asking you to follow procedure. That was it. If you follow procedure and you took our recommendations and you disavowed them and you gave a reason why on the record, there'd be no issue. So I'm not trying to make it difficult. I'm just trying to
do what the law states. Well, that that's your characterization of the law and that's I'm reading it directly. It's not a characterization, but that's why I said also that bringing it back is that you know I don't by our silence we're not agreeing and by my
silence you're simply making an argument that that's what you're doing. Okay. And that's an it's an argument and it's you know you may you may be right, you may be wrong. I don't know but it's an argument and and I'm not going to you know debate all the finer points of that. That's what we did on April 22nd.
Um, but again, I I don't want to mislead the public that somehow by not, you know, point by point, we're disagreeing. I just I don't know how much we need to keep. Yeah, I was ready to sit down. I And I said we're bringing it back to the executive session and the board itself
will make a determination. It should not be my determination. It is the board and uh I am speaking for the board, not for myself. So the board will make that determination and we will put something as our township attorney to weigh in on that because that's really a governing body passes the ordinances is probably
the laws that govern us right more than your executive. Well, you said we should we should work together and that part was missing in this whole thing working together. Well, I I I think we all appreciate that we should work cooperatively. Yeah. I just want
conference. We should sit down and talk. Um, I just want to briefly address the last case. That case doesn't the holding of that case doesn't stand for the proposition that you asserted. As the mayor said, I don't um I don't think it's appropriate to get into the legal
analysis, but I understand your argument. Um, I I submit to you respectfully that there are other provisions um that if you I understand what you're saying. I and I respect that. But um perhaps in a different forum um I can
explain to you why we reached the decision that we reached. Um the case I cited stands for the proposition where the governing body doesn't acknowledge the report. We did explicitly acknowledge it. Um but again I I don't um I appreciate your your time and your
your comments. Thank you. I read it as well but um that's why we'll refer back to the board and our legal counsel and then we can go from there. Thank you. So, so Dean, Dean and Neil, after your comments now, should we direct the
planning board subcommittee, the the the the master plan subcommittee to look into the sale of mushrooms in certain zones? I mean, you're saying that we didn't contemplate
that because it was illegal before and the assembly is has passed the sale of mushrooms. So, if we were to try to prohibit the sale of mushrooms in
Sparta, should we be talking should that specifically be noted in the master plan in a new master plan or should we just wait till you decide to legalize those two?
That's a that's a planning board call. So, maybe maybe you should think about it. It would be the master plan subcommittee. If it's you're looking for immediate action, it would be me the the planning board itself would have to evaluate anything that uh the council thinks that they should look at in terms
of land use. We can request that they evaluate it and provide a report like we just did. Um the subcommittee would look at and the chairwoman and myself are on that and as many others are uh would look at future uses and planning. But
whether something would ever illegal illegal go onto a master plan uh well do you think the mushrooms are legal or illegal now? I honestly have no idea. Mark, are you talking about psych psychedelic mushrooms? I have I have no idea. Yeah, they were passed by the uh
Yeah, passed. It's very specified. You know, it's not it's not treated in the same way that cannabis is. It's it's it's you know, we don't know so yet. Well, you know, I have some experience with Maybe
they'll be selling combo packs soon. Well, well, listen, I think you need to take a look. Have you read the statute? Do you know how it applies? I I I would caution people before they opine on something, read the actual statute because it's being characterized that
it's being mushrooms are being the same thing as cannabis and it and it's not. And so I think we're we're way too far a field at this point. And so I I think we need to move on. Um and we've had, you know, the motion to refer has passed.
There's no need for any further comment. And so with that, uh I would make a motion. Uh, Jenny didn't get Okay. And the ordinance prohibited cannabis. Couple of questions first and then I
have a little thing. Um, what is the process you're going to use? Oh, Jenny Derek's tap into Sparta. What is the process you're going to use to fill the vacancy seat when from Dan Quitting? Um, that's still under advisement about the process. I think uh the council
folks need to put their heads together and figure out what process. We haven't decided yet. You don't have a timeline. You don't have an expectation of when you're going to try and fill a seat. Um Faulner says as soon as possible, correct? Yeah. And so we're we're you
know we the deadline to submit the applications I think what ended Friday. Friday. Yes. And today is Tuesday. Okay. So we're working on it. When did um when do we when does the public get to see the budget?
Next council meeting. Next council meeting. The 27th. Will that be a hearing? No, that's introduction. Okay. And then I just wanted to read something um just to refresh your memory a little bit. Um, and for this I'm
speaking as Jennifer Derek's just a resident. Back in September, prior to discussing the turf field, uh, prior to casting his vote, Clark said, "This is a very difficult decision. I'm very mindful of the safety
concerns that have been made, but I'm also mindful of those who are making these claims and want us to use these fields. These people who use these fields seem to be content to have consented to the risk. My concern is that we would be saying, this is continuing to quote Mr. Clark, my
concern is that we would be saying,"We know better. We don't think you understand the risk." Clark said, "It would be significant disruption to our wreck program. Everything in life comes with balance and risk." He said, "They're not looking for a turf field um
on every field, but the people have spoken and they want turf." Well, there were four people that night that addressed the town council. four address the town council and you said that was enough to change your mind. I respectfully request that you would consider the 1500 people that have
spoken. Thank you. Really quick lights are on and flashing. I'm a lot closer to What color is the vehicle? I didn't get close enough. It's on the end. Okay.
Up there. It's not him. It's not me. Just wanted to Somebody's lights are flashing. Yeah, like the front. So, I don't know if anyone wants to get back. Oh, okay. Sorry. Thank you. It's all
yours. Speaker Jesse over here. Uh, I saw you guys at uh what was it? Something 9:23 and I made it down. Uh, a few questions. So, excuse me. Who are you?
Uh, Jesse. Speaker Jesse from Sparta. Um, so a few questions. Uh, last time I was here, I gave Roxan um the federal lawsuit. Is it on the
website? Is it going on the website? What What lawsuit are you referring to? the the federal the the lawsuit uh from the mega warehouse. Um we it's not up yet. I think I did when I I I mentioned um these were
months ago or weeks ago that So if you're going to talk too long and you want me to respect the five minutes, here's what you should do. Get your questions done. Tell me afterwards. Yeah. Uh, second thing was, um, is the, um, IT guy going to fix the
web page and put things in order that I was asking last time. Uh, third issue, I hear that the petition was submitted. Uh, the clerk and the township attorney should certify how many signatures are
required for a petition. And I've heard three different numbers. I've heard 70 and something. I've heard 1,200 and something. I've heard 5,000. So what's the number? Because based on my number, it's 749. So what's the number? A a a clerk,
the township should present to the committee of petitioners. What is your number? And your number keeps on changing from 700 something to 1,200 something to 5,000 something. So what's the number? That's a good comment because they stuck
with the 20 days. So we maybe we should have different amount of days. What's any other further questions? Yes. So also you know your the cannabis thing if you did a little research
Frankfurt and Lafayette also pass the cannabis ordinance but it's for growing only. No retail stores. So they have growers in barns with a hund00 million
budget of income and at 2% you're making $2 million. Putting a lot of retail stores, what are they going to make? A million, 2 million, $3 million. What's 2% of $3 million?
$60,000? It's nothing. So if you want to make money off of cannabis, let grower grow it. He stores it in his barn. He ships it out of the town. And like I said, you can check Frankfurt and Lafayette. That's how they
pass their That's how they pass their ordinance. They're being smart about it. And since this cannabis thing, I I mean, I started driving around. It's like it really is everywhere. I mean, there's like store here uh in Franklin across the street and Sussexboro and and over
in here. It's like there's a lot of stores, but if you really want to make money, the growers um again, like I think you were talking with this young man, he was talking for 5 minutes, then he sat down and then I
clocked it. Then the conversation went on for another 6 minutes. And when you're sitting there talking, we can't hear you back home on YouTube. So unless you're talking to the mic, we can't hear you on YouTube. So he had a five minute
conversation, sat down, respected the clock, but then it went on for another six minutes and you and talking to him. Um Neil, I got to tell you, last time I was here, I got a lot of emails, I got phone calls, I text, I got text message,
people were telling me like, "Man, this guy is arrogant." So, you know, stop being so arrogant. Stop it. You know, uh, you did something with Castmore last time. People that
don't know you said like that you were rude, that you're misbehaving, that you're arrogant. And I'm telling you, I walked away here feeling that you were arrogant. But when I got emails and phone calls and people said, "Man, that guy's arrogant." It's like, okay, that's
a confirmation. You know, so I would like to know what the number is because I want to do a petition to change the five minutes. So I want to know if I have to collect 450 signatures because it's only 10%. Or you're going to make up another number.
Any further questions? I mean, I probably do have a few more questions. Uh I didn't bring my list, you know. Um, no. Okay, I'll stop at this point. Um, so your first one about the the federal
lawsuit on the website that that is something I had alluded to earlier that uh when significant events happen in the litigation um any filings. I would like that on uh on our page. That hasn't happened yet. I'll I'll I'll look into that. Hopefully that will that will
happen. Um your your second one I think was about um the IT guy. Yeah, IT guy about putting things in order. I think that you know we we have have we spoken of he's he's working on it and he's working
with with Roxan on getting you want it in chronological order. Correct. That's how usually most websites are. Yeah. Well, right. And I believe that they are working and I and actually I believe Roxan has been working on that. I'm putting them in order.
Uh, have you or not? No, I don't think so. The the videos the the videos of the council meetings as they're posted on the website. It sounds like a I'll follow up on it. It's all mixed up. I'll follow. I Yeah,
I understand what you're saying. Are you talking about on YouTube site itself that they're in different order? Yes. Okay. I don't know. Um, somebody correct me. I don't know if if any user or any town, anybody has control over how you No, no. If you have if you have a YouTube page, you have control of your
YouTube page. It's your page. It's Sparta Township YouTube page. You can adjust the sequencing of it, of course. And everybody has older videos all the way to the right. And then as you come to the modern one, you just click on their, you know, subscribe and that and
it's right there. I imagine that would be it. Yeah. And it's and you have four different clerk. That's it. I didn't say the clerk. He was saying that you were working on it. Yeah. it. But I think I was referring to Roxan was on our web page how we have the videos on the
council. We're we're getting those in order, but I understand what you're speaking of too. I'll I'll get back to you on that. Roxan, it's working 24/7 as I know. That's why I said I don't think she's doing that. That's why I only said it. It
next. And then the I think I'm going to refer to our certification is a legal issue. Um, and that my understand that's part of the process is so I'm not even talking about certification. I'm talking about the clerk with the township attorney should acknowledge and tell the
petitioners you need this amount of signatures and give a number and they haven't given a number but they gave three different numbers and the numbers are crazy. 700 something. That's my number.
749 based on 15% of the people who went to vote during the general assembly election just you know I I haven't said this in general but again legislation this is going to be a little bit different. The legislation decided to
create this fulner act which is basically give the power to the people right. So then they said listen you can make an initiative petition which is create an ordinance at 10%. And you can repeal an ordinance at 15%. Now if they wanted to
make it difficult they would have said 30% or 50%. You know they would have raised that that percentage higher. And then what they did was they said you know what it's not going to be based on the general election when a president is running because more people are going to
go vote. It's going to be based on the assembly general assembly election which fewer people go and vote. So that's how the legislation of New Jersey decided to create this folk act to make it as easy as possible for the people. Now what the
town is saying so for example 4,500 people went and voted on the general assembly. So the 15% is that 749. We have two general assembly members. They said, "Well, the voters voted for two assembly members, so that means you got to get double the amount."
No, it's not based on how many people cast the vote for general assembly members. And then when we had a conversation, well, during the general assembly election, there's also you might be voting for governor and council members and this and BOE. So now, is it
based on everybody? Like if you did 12 votes, if you cast your votes 12 times, that's counted. No, it doesn't say anything about um how many assembly members the the the assembly um election, that's the that's the
venue. I know the word uses votes cast, but it's basically if there's 20 of us in the room and eight of us went to vote, how many votes were cast? There were eight votes cast. It's based on that. It's not based on how many
assembly members we voted for. In Bergen County, there's six assembly members. So, it'd be really crazy. Every county would be different. That 10% 15%. Legislation didn't want to create a rutus. They want to make it very simple. 10% 15% general assembly not not a
presidential election. Make it easy on the people. I think yeah, you're answering your I think you're answering the question to yourself which is what the number should be, but I think the question was you know what's what's the number and um I think that's part of the my understanding that's part of the certification process but I could be
wrong. I don't so Jesse so you've you've identified an issue which is a fair fair question. I would submit to you is that the petition is a legal challenge under the statute which you've identified. Um, the petitioner has an has a right to
posit what it believes to be a number. Certainly, I I appreciate what you're saying that the township can offer a number for but there is some there is some there is some analysis as to what that number is and I I understand you like to hear a fair number and you may not agree with it and I I totally
disagree with you because the the township and I'm not going to say you or Roxan the township needs to say you have 20 days the 20th day is May 12th and this is the amount of signatures you have to collect. I've done this in
Sparta, in Byron, in Mount Olive, Rockway, Denville Township. Every clerk, every township attorney has given this information prior to the petitioners collecting signatures. Why isn't it why isn't this happening in spart of this
time? Because in the past, it happened. I had a letter from the clerk telling me how many signatures I had to get. Why isn't it happening this time? And why till today, even after they submit it, you still don't know the number. Well, that's not respectfully I
Is it 749? Is it your version of 1,200? Is your other version of 5,000? What's the number? Go on record, you know, go on record. Put in writing. What's your number? What's your number? Well, Jesse,
respectfully, I'm I'm not going to go on record now. I'm going to use the 20 days. the the the 20 days is to verify if these registered voters are registered voters, if they have the
minimum amount of signatures. What is the minimum amount of signatures? I'm asking you and you don't have the answer. Well, respectfully, I have it. You don't want to give it to me respectfully, but that's still not giving me the answer. And and this is wrong. This is wrong what you're doing.
This is not how it's done. Okay. Well, and then your your final question was about uh cultivation for cannabis that you know I I guess we'll put you down as a supporter of cultivation of cannabis and that's something that we can address. If the
town wants to make money, if you want to collect 2%, yeah, let a farmer do it and he ships it out. And again, you can confirm what I'm saying that Frankfurt Township passed it and Lafayette passed it, but they have
no stores and they're making big money. And I happen to know the individual that lent the money to one of the growers and it was a $100 million loan because whenever these cannabis stores open up or these farmers, it's a long-term uh a
long-term investment. That's something that we we can consider. But thank thank you um for your question and I think that was Did I have some other points? Um I think that was it. That's what I wrote down. Um the fifth I don't know if there was a fifth
question that that was so um thank you for coming. Yes. The the last thing was I was I was asking No, no. The last thing there was one other question. I do want I do want to say I understand that you know you can characterize me as but
I have a job to do to try to make the efficient use of our time and the efficient deliberation of matters and that means that sometimes I have to cut people off. But you know you ever clock yourself you're the one that's doing most of the talking. You ever clock yourself? You ever go listen watch yourself on YouTube? You're clock you're
talking more than half everybody else. If if the thing's going on for 2 hours you're talking more than an hour. If the thing's going on 4 hours, you're talking more than 2 hours. Well, I'm going to make a motion to adjourn all those I did still want the answer of the 10%. That's
what I'm waiting for for the I want to know what the number is because I want to create an ordinance to for uh this uh time thing. The petitioner should know what the number is. So,
uh I think that At the last meeting, you said it was not appropriate for the speaker to address anyone other than the mayor. No, I said when you come up here, you should address the mayor, but I could ask Zep something. Hey, Zeb. How you
doing? You're good, chief. You're doing good, too. Five minutes is I appreciate it. I I do want to This is something totally different. I just want to talk. You're allowed to have your opinion of the mayor. Everybody, of course, I just want to mention I just want to mention Elizabeth G. I just want to mention
Elizabeth Gur. Let me let me talk Let me say about Elizabeth Gas. You got another two minutes. Thank you. Mark, we have a We need to all I'm talking about Elizabeth Gas. They were in front of my house. They were in my development. They were
jackhammering and they busted the same day they were right in front of my house, in front of my driveway. My water started leaking from my driveway. They said, "It's too far up. It's not our concern." even though I'm I'm on bedrock. So now they're right in front
of me. That day my water was leaking. Got in touch with Ze, got in touch with the the contractor with this. They said, "Sorry, not we're not going to do anything." So I had a deal with now a water leak because they were jackhammering on the
street. 3 days later, they're jackhammering by my mailbox. They break three of the Belgium blocks. They move dirt next to the Marx. My MX is down. They said like, "You think we did that? We didn't do that." So, you know, Elizabeth Town, yeah, I want natural
gas, but this contractor that they have takes 2/3 to 3/4 of if you don't shut the road down, they take 2/3 to 3/4 of the road. They don't work on their side. You have to wait for them. They put these big bundles of QP right in the middle of the road. I'm going to say
something that you've probably heard before. This could be an email. I'm not going to email you. Okay. Well, I I think I would advise you to to to that if you have That's how a lot of people in town. No, no. I I want I want the whole town to know. I want the whole town now. I want the whole town to know
that if if Elizabeth if the contractor is in front of them and they break their water man to reach out to James E because uh it will be a not a one-time incident. It will be a multiple incident. Thanks, Jess. You're welcome. Thank you. So we have a first and a second for
adjourn. All those in favor of adjourning say I. I. I. We are adjourned. I think I'm going to fall asleep on my way home.