Municipal Building, 65 Main Street, Spartan, New Jersey. The town council meeting is open at 7:07 p.m. All council meetings are now livereamed and can be viewed at the following link
www.youtube.comwpstreams. Adequate notice of this meeting was provided to the public and the press on January 7th, 2026 by delivering to the press and posting on township website a copy of the notice. Madame Kirk, please take the roll call.
>> Councilman Scott >> here. >> Councilman Murphy >> here. >> Councilman Clark >> here. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester >> here. >> We have to call sorry. We have to call It's a monster.
Let's get the volume up. Mayor Bumemedi, can you hear us? All right. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Yeah, we have you loud and clear now. >> Okay. Thank you. Before I start, I just
want to offer our deepest condolences to uh Mayor Blumeetti and your entire family on the loss of your father and our deepest sympathy and condolences and prayers are with you and yours. So glad you could still call in Dean and appreciate you uh you know being able to
participate on the call. All right, we uh you all join me in saluting the flag please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Okay, we'll go to the minutes. May I have a motion to approve the December 9th, 2025 regular meeting minutes as presented? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> I'll second.
>> All in favor? >> I >> I >> opposed. I have an abstain by Mayor Bumemedi. Motion carried. Uh executive meeting minutes January 14th, 2025. May I have a motion to
approve the January 14th, 2025 executive meeting minutes as presented? >> I'll make a motion to approve the executive meeting minutes. >> May I have a second? >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. >> Abstained. Executive meeting minutes February. Did I go out of order? January 28th. Correct. >> Yes. >> Executive meetings minutes January 28th,
2025. May I have a motion to approve the January 28th, 2025 executive meeting minutes as presented. >> I'll make a motion to approve January 28th executive meeting minutes. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I
>> opposed and abstained. >> Okay. Executive meeting minutes, February 11th, 2025. May I have a motion to approve the February 11th, 2025 executive meeting minutes as presented?
>> I'll make a motion to approve executive meeting minutes February 11th. >> Second. Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> Iain. >> Abstained. >> Motion carried.
Executive meeting minutes. March 25th, 2025. May I have a motion to approve the March 25th, 2025 executive meeting minutes as presented? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Second.
>> All in favor? I >> I >> obtain >> abstained. >> Keep going here. Executive meeting minutes, March 28th, 2025. May I have a motion to approve the March 28th, 2025 executive meeting minutes as
presented? >> I'll make a motion to approve March 28th, 2025 executive meeting minutes. >> May I have a second? Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I
>> abstained. >> Okay. >> Manager Zep, may I uh may you please present >> Surely your report? >> Good evening, Deputy Mayor, Council members, and all Spartan residents joining us in person or watching from
home. Thank you for being with us tonight. I'd like to begin by once again expressing our sincere appreciation to our police, public works, and parks departments for their outstanding work during the recent significant snow event. Their dedication, coordination, and long hours ensured that our
community remained safe and accessible and well served throughout the storm and after. Please be advised that the Morris Automated Information Network, better known as Main Alliance, now includes the Sparta Library. Recently, the Sparta
Library became 100% on the KOHA integrated library system to where they have full access to materials from libraries in Hunteran, Somerset, Morris, and Warren counties. After a huge surge of materials moving in and out of the Sparter Library, they now found an
equilibrium and enjoy a much more robust catalog, creating a greater service to their patrons. Registration for seniors for the following events is still open. St. Patrick's Day party Thursday, March 5th, with lunch being catered by the Irish
Cottage Inn. Cost is $15. Eat in at the Senior Center or take home a meal. Bus trip to Wind Creek Casino outlets in Bethlehem, PA on Thursday, April 16th. Other recreation department sponsor program news. Circle of friends
preschool registration for the 2026 2027 school year is open. Junior youth track and field starts mid-March, but registrations are still open. Puzzle Palooa on Thursday, March 5th. A few spots are still open for this fun family event. Day camp at Camp Sak Jia.
Registration begins on March 3rd. Camp is scheduled to run for 6 weeks from June 29th to August 7th with full day and extended day options as well as enrollment options for any number of individual weeks or the entire season. Some information regarding our municipal
finances. The township's finance department has published the 2025 annual debt statement on the township website under the budget document section. The report reflects a strong financial position with the township maintaining a manageable debt burden that preserves
our ability to take on additional debt if needed to support future projects and community priorities. Our 2026 budget update. The finance department is currently working with the township's auditor to finalize annual financial statement. The AFS is an
essential requirement in the Division of Local Government Services and is necessary for the township so it can formally introduce the 2026 municipal budget. Meanwhile, all township departments have submitted and discussed their anticipated 2026 expenditures.
These requests have been compiled and will soon be reviewed by the town council. We are tentatively scheduled to hold our first budget workshop on Saturday, March 7th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This workshop will provide an opportunity for the council and public to review key budget components and
discuss priorities for the upcoming year. I would like to share the unfortunate news of a couple of Sparta Township retirees and their passing. We wish their families our condolences. Maryanne Stevens, municipal court administrator.
Fred Ryzen, Sparta's old health department inspector. I had a fond relationship working with them both. This concludes my report. Please stay warm and safe. Chief McCarrick will now report his portion of the report.
Thank you, Manager Zep. Thank you, Deputy Mayor, Council. I just have one thing tonight. Uh it's with great sadness that I announce on behalf of the police department the passing of retired officer Russell Smith. Officer Smith followed in his father's footsteps by taking the oath in 1981 to serve as a
Sparta police officer. Officer Smith was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1996 and further promoted to the rank of lieutenant prior to his retirement in 2006. He served the community with pride. Uh he was a very great man. Uh always had a
big smile and a big laugh. He taught much of the sport of youth. I know around my age in DARE classes throughout his career, he was a DARE officer for me. Um, and he's one of the reasons why I'm I'm sitting here today. Um, I looked up to him and you know, an officer being
in a school is more than just an officer in a school. It's a mentor and uh it's a great thing what he did for the community. We thank him for the dedication to our community and you know, our prayers go out and thoughts to his family and the entire Smith family.
Thank you. Okay, >> thank you very much. >> Thank you. Our condolences to Officer Smith, and to you, Chief, and to all your um employees who worked with them. >> Thank you. >> May I have a motion to accept the
manager's report? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I >> Okay, manager report is approved. So, we're going to go to the open to the public section of our agenda. Please
state and spell your name for the record. Each speaker is limited to one comment of no more than five minutes and then yielding of time to another person. This only applies to items on the agenda at this time. >> Hi, Jenny Derek. Tapping the Sparta. I
just have one quick uh question 811 resolution 811 can you confirm that the um increase in cost was due to us increasing the scope of work because it's like nearly 100% in uh change order
>> that that's correct um >> okay >> I know further when this gets introduced here uh our township engineer Cory Sarn will elaborate >> thank you >> any others Okay, thank you. Move on to the expenditures.
>> Councilwoman Murphy, would you please read the expenditures, please? >> Yeah, the expenditures for February 24th, 2026 is 9,276,81820. Okay. Make a motion to uh approve.
>> I make a motion that we approve the expenses. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> I. Thank you. >> Okay. Item six on the agenda. Moving right along. Introduction of ordinances.
Madame clerk, can you please read the title of ordinance 2602? >> An ordinance of the township council of township of Sparta, Sussex County, state of New Jersey, amending chapter 18 entitled comprehensive land management code to prohibit detention, correction
or other carceral facilities within all zones throughout the township of Sparta. Okay. May I have a motion to introduce ordinance 2602? >> Move we introduce uh ordinance 2602 as read. >> May I have a second?
>> Second. >> Madam clerk, can you please take roll call? >> Councilman Scott? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Murphy? >> Yes. >> Councilman Clark? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester? >> Yes. >> Mayor Blumeetti?
>> Yes. Okay, madame clerk, can you please read ordinance 2603, please? >> An ordinance of the town township council of the township of Sparta in the county of s state of New Jersey amending chapter 18 comprehensive land management
code including section 18-8.4 Four, residential development fees for low and moderate income housing and section 18-8.5, incentive zoning and mandatory set aides and replacing them in their entirety and
repeals appendix 8-18.4 residential development fees for low and moderate income housing of appendix A fee schedule and replace it in its entirety. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. I'm just confirming based on our discussions that
Councilman Scott and Murphy will recuse from this ordinance. >> Okay. >> Well, you can stay you can stay present. You can we're just taking a roll call to introduce it. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> May I have a motion to introduce ordinance 26-03?
>> I move we introduce ordinance 2603. I'll second. >> Madam clerk, can you please take the roll call? >> Councilman Clark, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester, >> yes. >> Mayor Blummedi, >> yes.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you. Hearing of ordinances. Since there are none, we can move on to the next section and which is resolutions. At this time, I'd like to ask council if they want to carve out any resolutions
um that are noted. Mr. Dash, I think we want >> Yes, I think carve out one in particular. >> Yes, if we could please carve out 8-12 um for the same reason that Councilman Scott and Murphy recused. If we could bring this forward and have this uh
moved for a motion so that Councilman Mayor Diplomati can um vote on this resolution, that would be appreciated. You want a motion for that? >> Yes. Could we if we could have a motion and Councilman Scott and Murphy will think >> I can make it.
>> Um I move that we move uh resolution 812 uh to the beginning. Uh so it is the first resolution that we discussed this evening. >> Okay. Any other carveouts? >> I think uh 811 81.
So saying that, so we're going to make a motion to approve 8-1 through 8-10 at this time. Okay. Motion to approve.
>> Yeah. MO. Uh, I move we approve resolutions 81 through 810. >> I'll second. >> Madam clerk, please call the role. >> Councilman Scott, >> yes. >> Councilman Murphy, >> yes.
>> Councilman Clark, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester, >> yes. >> Mayor Blumeetti, >> okay, saying that we could discuss 8-12. Correct. >> Mr. Dash, >> would the council please present a motion to approve uh 8-12?
>> I move we approve motion uh resolution 812. >> Okay. I'll second. >> It goes back to us for discussion. >> Correct. >> Okay. I think it may be helpful at this time. So, it goes back to council for
discussion. We have I think uh our fair housing attorney Steve Warner here. um if you could just explain the basis of the motion and and why it's on the agenda and its necessity etc. >> Certainly, I'd be happy to do so. Uh
council members and deputy mayor, the uh the uh this is a binding resolution which is pursuant to the amended fair housing act. Uh it is >> Excuse me, Mr. Warner. >> Certainly. Is it on?
>> Yeah, you can move it over. You can't hear you very well. Okay. Oh, that's a first. I'm generally heard very well. >> I can, but maybe. >> All right. I hope everyone can hear me. >> Yes. >> The the the um >> Yes. This resolution is what is referred to as a binding resolution. As uh many
may be aware, uh we are in the midst of the fourth round of the affordable housing process. Uh the fourth round being uh June uh excuse me July 1, 2025 through July uh June 30, 2035.
Uh our township has participated in the affordable housing dispute resolution program. We have adopted a housing element and fair share plan in June of 2025. the planning board
did uh and uh the town this township council endorsed that plan uh back at that time. Uh thereafter through this affordable housing dispute resolution program, there were challenges to that plan. That program proceeded with a
former Mount Laurel judge uh as our program judge, Judge Thomas Miller. Uh and uh ultimately uh he rendered a recommendation uh that uh among other things, the
challenges uh were not settled. Um but pursuant to that recommendation uh to the Mount Laurel judge uh the current Mount Laurel judge among other things he recommended that our township's immunity from builder's remedy suits and any exclusionary
litigation continue which is very important for the township. Um he also made certain recommendations as to uh potential resolution of certain uh challenges to that housing element fair share plan. Um however those challenges
remain in dispute. Uh and because they remain in dispute, the amended Fair Housing Act provides an alternative to our township and any township having to adopt their zoning ordinances to
implement their affordable housing program by the statutory deadline of March 15, 2026. Many people may have heard that that's a very important statutory deadline. As an alternative to adopting those what are referred to as
affordable housing implementation ordinances, townships can when they have uh their plan still being disputed adopt a binding resolution like the one that we've prepared for the governing
body uh this evening. uh and that is an alternative to the ordinances and it provides essentially that the municipality is in a continuing dispute over the issuance of its compliance certification what what it will receive
when those disputes are resolved and therefore the township may adopt this binding resolution by March 15, 2026 and by this resolution we commit to adopting implementation ordinances and resolutions
following the resolution of the dispute. When it is when these disputes are resolved, what we are committing to do is abi abide by the resolution of those disputes. They may be settled. They may not. They may may they may some or all may come from an order from the Mount
Laurel judge. That order may or may not be appealed. Um but once the process is concluded what we are committing to do is to adopt the ordinances that we are required to adopt when that time comes
in essence um and to make whatever necessary adjustments we must make uh to reflect the resolution of those disputes. Um, so in very short terms, and I know we lawyers rarely use short terms, but
but uh in very uh uh succinctly, we're committing to do what we have to do when we have to do it. Um, and uh and so that's what this binding resolution does. And in conjunction with it, we're
showing good faith because we're indicating we intend to adopt our administrative ordinance, the affordable housing ordinance, which you just introduced and presumably will be adopted after a public hearing on second reading. I
believe the date is March 10th if I'm not mistaken. Uh because that we can proceed with. uh and we indicate that we intend to continue to abide by all our state statutory obligations.
Uh so uh I think I kept it a little uh under the exact uh length of the resolution itself. Uh that was my goal, but if there's any questions, I'm happy to answer them. You like to um open up to further questions?
I mean, from my understanding, we had four pending lawsuits. These are conditional settlements for two of the four. Correct. >> In essence, they're challenges similar uh to in the context of litigation. There's a contingent challenge
settlements with two of the developer challengers. No uh even contingent settlement with the third. And the fourth challenger is Fairshare Housing Center. They are a challenger in every program. They they've submitted a
challenge in every single one of the 425 or so uh challenge uh uh uh declaratory judgment actions that make up this process. The vast majority of municipalities have obviously participated. So yes, with those
caveats, yes, this has a references a contingent settlement to two of the >> three developer challenges. >> Great. Thank you. Thanks for the update. Anybody else have any questions? I think there's a motion to approve on the floor already. Right. So, >> I will take a moment just to uh thank uh
attorney Warner uh his firm uh Katherine Sarmad. Uh we've been undergoing this process for almost a year and um it involved an entirely new procedure. Um and attorneys kind of like to deal with things that they're familiar with,
familiar case law, familiar courts, familiar procedures. And none of that was familiar to anyone. Uh we were literally, you know, building the plane while we were flying it. And they've done a tremendous job. Uh it it really took a lot of legal skill and
professional skill to um kind of figure out what this whole process was going to involve, a lot of moving parts, very complicated stuff actually when you start to dig down to it. So just uh really commend you, your firm uh and
Katherine Sarmad and her offices because you've given us a lot of uh very detailed and very helpful advice along the way and we look forward to, you know, landing this plane at some point. So >> Well, thank you. It's our pleasure and privilege to represent the township. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. I'm in agreement with Councilman Clark's comments as well. >> We're getting closer. I like to see these lawsuits going this way then versus the other way. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else?
>> Okay, without Madam Clerk, please call roll. >> Councilman Clark. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester. >> Sorry. Was there a second for the motion? >> If there wasn't, I'll second it. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> I think I made the motion.
>> Deputy Mayor Sylvester and Neil seconded it. >> I'd second it. Yes. >> Councilman Clark. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester. >> Yes. >> Mayor Blummedi. >> Yes. >> Thank you. And I think Deputy Mayor, you can excuse the mayor as we discussed if
he likes. >> Yeah. Mayor Blumeetti. Um we're completed at this time. So again, our deepest condolences and talk to you soon. Have a great night. Appreciate it very much. Thank you. Take care, Dean.
>> Technology. All right. So, that leaves us with one resolution remaining. Right. All right. So, res resolution 8-11. Move we approve resolution 8-11.
May I have a second? >> I will second. Any discussion? >> I'd like to hear why it was such a huge number. >> Mr. Stoner.
>> Deputy Mayor. Yeah. I'd like to bring up uh the township engineer Cor Stoner. He'll help explain this. >> Yeah. Okay. Hello everyone. The uh the resolution in front of you is for the change order for Main Street Curbon Sidewalk Project.
Okay. The um the the change order is due to some change some items uncovered. One of the questions from Mr. Eric was the uh was whether or not was that scope of work increase. It was related to a scope of work increase. It's uh um but the scope of work was increased due to some
conditions we found during construction. When I state that when you start removing some um concrete slabs and some curbon gutter, we found some um some poor subgrade uh areas which we felt we had to address. Now um replacing of curbon gutters additional curb gutters
resulted into the replacement of additional brick pavers. Okay. Um we're fortunate that we had um estimated uh additional money for the project itself. My original estimate for the curbon gutter was $198,000.
It came in at 98. We had but so we had a very good price. Not the reason why we did the extra work. We did the extra work so we wouldn't have to go back later at a later date after we paved the roadway, did repairs. Um we felt we if we did it uh at this time we would address some deficiencies that we
uncovered um related to subgrade um some grade issues we we're um there are some marginal trip hazards which with the settlement conditions once we replace remove some of the slabs we felt were going to get worse so we we decided to do it now while we're doing
construction. Um it does it is a much larger change where you you normally see it's 97% of the original cost. Um the overall cost of the project, it's about 25% of the cost of the original project. That's due to we we broke this project
out into different parts. We we bid out the uh the actual curb and gutter. We're doing the Morris County co-op. We're going to use the paving and we're doing striping. Um we did the traffic control. We used the the township police forces. So when it comes to I know it's 97% of
this contract, but the overall contract it's about 25%. and it is in with within the original budget of the entire project. Um, so that's that's the specifics. Again, we thought we'd do it now um do these repairs now
um during construction so we wouldn't have to have some repairs after the fact when we've paved the roadway, striped the roadway, finished all the um um uh the construction would have to come back at a later date to do do the work and when we may not have the funding which
we had in last year's budget to handle it. >> Did any of it have to do with water? Well, there was water because the there was settlement that occurred, especially the curbon gutter where the water was laying on the sidewalk or on the curbon gutter and it it caused the subgrade
below to become saturated and it and it um uh it settled. When water gets underneath a sidewalk or curbon gutter has a tendency to settle and you have voids underneath the curb and then I and it drops it drops further. the um um one
item that I think Jim and I have talked a lot about that we have we have a grant for the Sparta Avenue project is just maintenance. I think it was one of the issues that this this project for curbon gutter project it hadn't been maintained very heavily for I think 12 to 15 years.
So it's uh it was aged but didn't have a lot of maintenance on it and it wasn't budgeted. Um I think it we have a project uh we're going on to next year. It will be the uh Sparta Avenue um which everybody drives into town, you see how bad the curb and gutter is on the Sparta Avenue project. We're looking to remove
the curb and gutter on that project uh because that's a state roadway and the the you see what the salt does to the curb and gutter and it destroys destroys it. So, we're looking to um remove the curb gutter and replace the brick pavers. But we have two grants for that project. We have one grant for the Main
Street project, just so you know. It's about $150,000. not exact, but we do have a pro a grant, a DOT grant for this Main Street project um which will be completed in the spring um once the weather allows. >> And that's when we received the grant. >> What's that?
>> That's when we received the grant, right? >> Yeah, we received a grant for Main Street. Um that's a 2024 grant. We also have a 25 and a 26 grant for Sparta Avenue. >> Okay. But I'm not sure with the budget if we'll be able to finish that whole
project in one year. It might be a two-year type. >> Is there any um the building that's going on behind Burger King, are they contributing anything to the Sparta Avenue sidewalk? >> We haven't reached out. We haven't um I
I haven't followed up on that at all. I I don't think it is. I'll I'll double check with the planning board if there was an off-site improvement to that, but I don't believe there was. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. So, you're looking for completion dates sometime in the spring.
>> Yeah. Yeah. With the the Yes. Not yet. Yes. I apologize. The um when it comes to the uh the paving, we're doing it under the Morris County co-op. We'll be doing it under the TW the new the new co-op. Um it ends up being the same contractor, Tila, New York. So, which is
a good thing. Uh we might be replacing the striper. You doing it. So, you might find me rescending the striping award from last year and getting a new striping award because they have a new contractor and um I wasn't thrilled with the contractor we had last year, not on Sparta projects, but I had them in other
towns and uh so we'll probably, you know, bringing that back to a contractor that's done more work in the town and do a better job. So, but that'll be in the spring. >> All right, how long ago did we replace that
sidewalk? What do you mean replaced? The the entire project. >> I mean, it was rather new. >> It was about 12 to 15 years old. I'm not sure the exact date. I think about 15 years old. >> Is that about how long they last? >> Yeah. Well,
yes. It especially that curb gutter. That carbon gutter, you know, designed the way it is, it has a tendency to settle. It has the the salts get to it. It deteriorates. Um it's uh I I it's not advisable we go that route
again if we ever you know do the curbon gutter because I think it just deteriorates once the salt hits it. It it deteriorates and that's this this Main Street I think and Jim you can state a little bit more about DPW. I think they they were conscious about how much salt they put on Main Street and it lasted a little bit better than what
Spart Avenue did. Spart Avenue with the state with the brine and the salt you if you drive up there it looks like a bomb went off. Yeah, that's >> that's exactly right, Corey. And that's why we we renovated and kept the concrete structure and work the the design of Main Street that way. However,
Sparta A, we're looking to remove that gutter because the state uses chemicals and it's much more costic on the concrete. We don't have a lot of say on the on the maintenance of that roadway. >> Right. We don't. And I think Councilman Scott, there was several years ago where
DPW did uh uh pull up the pavers on the walkway up here and we reset them, but we didn't replace them. It was just a resetting trying to take away the trip hazards and whatnot. But um that was phase one of the first Main Streetscape
projects. You know, we're up to phase four, phase five now, but that was phase one. And that started back in 2002, I believe. >> Took down the trees. I don't remember taking trees down, but >> on Main Street in front of like the Presbyterian Church and all that on the
>> I think this has been about 15 years up front. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's it's it was overdue. Um but the change order what what was appropriate. Uh Corey and I spoke about this at length. We were fortunate enough to have the funding in place when when it came up and to me it was a no-brainer
on to keep the quality of the repair moving along, have us stay on schedule. though we didn't because we we wanted a pave before the year was up but >> just got late in the year. >> Uh weather didn't allow it and then uh the projects didn't allow but um we'll be back on schedule come spring.
>> The alternative is we wouldn't have done the extra work and I feel like we would have been back here in a few years doing the work anyways and and then and then you're you're you would damage the the roadway that was just paved and some of the other improvements that were done because some of the slabs were you had a slab and then right next to you to it
out and then you saw there's a void under the next one. Okay. And if you didn't pull that one out, you it would later that one would settle next to what the one you just repaired. So it was a and we and the brick pavers had to be re you once you re you do one slab, you got
to reset the the brick papers which that was interesting, too. We've changed the brick pavers. We're trying to eventually we want to try to move over to a a a hardier I'm looking over to you with the landscaper, but you background. I know you have the um the uh we're trying to
change to a more durable you know paper um and um because the ones we we were removing were disintegrating as we were taking out. So they were just over time you just have to maintain these. That's a problem. The only problem with brick uh brick pavers you have to maintain them over time and they just becomes
quite a project to maintain them consistently and um before they deteriorate and you get and sidewalks are the same way. no matter where the sidewalks are, 15 years out of the sidewalk, you you hope you get much more. Um, but if water gets underneath
them, it settles and and then you have some failures. So, so that's what this change order is for. I think I think we were fortunate we had the money set aside at the beginning for for the project. Um, or else we would have had a harder time trying to do the work that we needed.
>> So, this rightsiz the budget. This gets you back. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> Um the the issue that you encountered uh doing the curb and sidewalk repair that necessitated the change order. Um is there any reason
um or could you explain why that issue could not have been identified earlier? >> I think the majority of the the issues we had to address weren't uncovered until we took out some of the other slabs next to them. So, you took out a concrete slab sidewalk out and we were
able to witness, you know, what was it what was underground, you know, that was that was part of my concern. Uh, some of the items with the grade issues between slabs, um, in hindsight, we might be able to catch some of that, but I think the majority of the items were do we
didn't realize what the underlying subgrade condition was until we actually pulled out the concrete. >> Got it. So, you didn't know until you actually unearthed the the sidewalk itself. And that's something that could not have been done prior to figuring out
the cost and the bid, etc. >> It couldn't have been done without doing some extensive um you know um investigation into cing and things of that nature where it ends up being a kind of destructive you know type of investigation work and that's not the normal what we would do for this type of project.
>> Okay. Okay. And then the second question, I think you said this is part of a multi-phase project and it only represents 25% of the overall project, but does that we're going over by, you know, it's a 97% increase. Does that
then cause everything else to now blow a hole in the actual overall amount? We because we didn't anticipate 97,000. You talking about the percentage over for public contract law or you talk public contract law requires once you go over a certain percentage
>> um that they'll um the c the QPA will have to publish it you know resolution in uh the they'll have to publish it like you would an award a contract award so it gets noticed a notice has to be filed and I think they have to let the state know of the increase but I got
that's that's all as far as >> okay I think that's more like this is a multi-phase project. How many phases in total do we have? >> Well, Main Street is we consider that one large project. Okay. We're Main Street by itself and then we're going to be working on Sparta Avenue which we've
been considering. I think Jim was talking about that this beautifification project was like a fivepart project or Main Street and you had Sparta Avenue then you had going up through Mohawk school. You know, there was different phases of of that project. the fact that we're going over on this
particular let's just call it a phase. Is that going to cause us then like a chain reaction? >> No. >> On the other ones that will have and if if not what could you explain that >> original estimate actually had it in the original estimate. >> Got it. Okay. >> And this is by itself. Main Street
stands on its own. It's its own project. Um it's Sparta Avenue with this a separate be a separate project. We have two separate year two-year grants on that uh project, but we'll have to um bid it in a manner that we can track um um the dollar amounts um you know for
each grant grant project. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. Okay. >> No further questions. Thanks. >> Any other comments? I >> think we have a motion second for Madame
Cler. May you please call roll. Councilman Scott, >> yes. >> Councilman Murphy, >> yes. >> Councilman Clark, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester, >> yes. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Corey.
All right, we are going on to open to the public. Again, please state and spell your name for the record. Each speaker is limited to one comment of no more than five minutes and no yielding of time to any other person. This is for any items for
discussion. Hi, I just wanted to check in um and ask if there's been any discussion about Sparta joining the Highlands impact discussions. I understand that there's Highlands aid that could be awarded to the town, grants, etc. And I was just
wondering if we'd taken part in those discussions. If not, are we planning to? And if we aren't planning to, what would be the reasons behind that? Thanks. >> All these land use people around here. I'm wondering who's going to answer this one.
Um I I'll start and say that we we are always um aware and uh the discussions of the Highlands uh uh impact as you're saying uh have been discussed in in many meetings that I've attended uh uh different whether it's affordable
housing, whether it's master plan uh uh discussions or water management. Uh there have been discussions on uh possibly joining up with the Highlands. Uh we uh have a relationship with them. we have contacts with them. Um, and I know that um, it was recently just
brought up again that we should um, um, consider um, you know, aligning with them again on on our next project, which is master plan work um, and and affordable housing and um, the assistance that they could provide for us uh, being that half the town is in
the Highlands area. So, it would make sense that we have that. I know we have dialogue with that. Um I don't know of any actions that are currently going on right now at the time. >> Um >> yeah, that's right. Uh the township
planner is continually reviewing the feasibility, the the benefits, the impacts of the Highlands Act on the council and the township and uh it's it's always under review and we we are aware of its importance and the benefits
that they add to the township. somewhat subjective but um perhaps perhaps it is it is being looked at actively by the township planner. >> Yeah. And I would say in conjunction with that, um, we should probably take a
look at, you know, there's some bills now in Trenton, um, I think it's Assembly Bill 144, uh, that has, it's called the, uh, Highlands Income Stabilization Act, which is to help reimburse towns who have to abide by the
Highlands, uh, thereby kind of limiting the amount of development that they can. So, you know, as folks know, uh, the Highlands provide 70% of the water for the entire state of New Jersey. And so, the theory being that we are essentially subsidizing the development in other
towns who don't have the Highlands, right? They're able to build, you know, as much as they want, uh, thereby supporting having a larger tax base. Towns like ours don't have that. And so, we're under more restrictions than
those. So, um I know that you know some of our uh assembly leaders and senate leader are looking at that but I think that's something that we you know although we you know we don't get a vote in Trenton um we do you know there are you know supportive that a boy resolutions as I call them where we can
support it. So I think maybe we should take a look at those bills and see if that makes sense for Sparta if these were to come uh to be passed. uh what would be the benefit to Sparta to actually get some tax revenue back. Um it's sort of the same theory about that
we go into with the uh the veterans tax abatement that we provide, right? That you know, if we're going to do it, you know, can you can the state come and give us the lost revenue that we have as a result of offering uh the property tax exemption? So, it's sort of the same
theory applied to Highlands region. Okay. Anybody else? >> Jenny Derek tap into Sparta. Uh, at couple of planning board meetings ago, Mr. Porro, the attorney, announced that um there had been a meeting between the
township and Diamondship. and he said no settlement had been uh agreed upon but it was good to have the conversation. So can you tell me who was at that meeting? >> Yes, it was myself, it was manager Zep
and it was uh attorney Kemporo if I'm not mistaken as long as Diamond Ship representatives. >> Okay, so it was the typical people from Diamond Ship. And um how did those how how did that group get assembled? Excuse me.
>> Who chose those? Who chose you and Mr. Zep? I mean, who decided on who would go? >> Zash, would you like to? >> I mean, it was a collective decision by the township. >> So, nobody else wanted to go. >> I mean, it was it was a it was a
strategic decision by the township on who could attend. >> The township decided who was going to go. Okay. Um, was there a decision made on who was going because of any discussion of conflict or perceived conflict?
>> I think I could comment that both parties uh went there and negotiate in good faith. >> And since you were there, um, Mr. Sylvester, do you have uh are you looking for support for a uh Whispering
Wood settlement for about 550,000 square foot warehouse? Is that what you're looking for? >> I mean, the question wanders into a gray area of what is permitted for him to answer. >> I'm asking what he what his view is, what his support.
>> I mean, I mean, the the conversation is the negotiations are still ongoing. Number one, I personally didn't ask at that particular statement you're trying to make right now. It was there was a discussion question I've been hearing. >> It was just a discussion. >> Just a discussion.
>> We were just framing out and >> having a meeting of the minds in good faith. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. >> Any other questions for the public? >> All right. Let's keep on keeping on. Council liaison updates.
Anybody would like to go first. >> No report. >> No report. >> Councilman meeting. >> No. >> Okay. Uh from the senior committee. Uh we had our
meeting that was had a guest speaker from Zufall which was extremely enlightening and the office for any seniors out there or anybody in general that uh needs help with doctors with
dentists with any any any appointment at all then has needs a little help with insurance they're more than welcome to go there and these specialists are in the do office And there is information out by our
uh our little table out here. There's information in the booth that is set up by some of the seniors that are attending it that you can come in that anybody online hears this. Uh you can come in and find out any information
about ZUF or go on their website. It was a great great speaker. Um, as manager Zep said, there they have senior trips planned and most of them are on the uh the >> website,
>> the library website and on our website as well. And uh, Earth Day is April 25th and it is this year being held at town hall from 11 to 3. Um
that is for the senior for the rev 250 committee. We have uh as I said last time the tavern talks at crows restaurant was terrific and everybody enjoyed it and they are going throughout the state and doing this. Um the harps accord
program that was to be held this weekend at Camp Saka Jiia has been cancelled there due to lack of interest I guess and maybe it was just a little too cold or whatnot but that has been cancelled as for the 28th of February.
On March 19th at 1:00 at Vancerk Museum, we are going to have Martha Washington, um, a representative, a a woman's coming in to give us a presentation on Martha Washington, which should be fantastic.
And we have that is at 1:00 and it's you can pay it's $10 at the door. Um on April that that's March 19th. On April 18th we will have the cemetery dedication for all of the um read the
headstones and the families of revolutionary soldiers. So that will be at the Presbyterian Church and at also the um the other location is
oh my gosh I believe at on 94. I will get that information um at the other the other cemetery where they have soldiers that they have found. They have been cleaned up by a lot of students. Boy Scouts have helped tremendously. So
there will be a dedication at both. Um I also went to the mayor's meeting last Saturday which was primarily about the Rev 250 celebrations being held by the county. And
on Sunday, June 7th, uh at the fairgrounds, they are going to have a kickoff from all of the all of the municipalities in Sussex County. Everyone having a booth. They want to have fireworks and bands and displays
and food trucks, vendors, and uh that is going to start, I believe, at the 3:00 to dusk. And they're putting a new website together on the county website. So stay tuned for that. It is almost complete and we will be logging into that. So everything from Sparta will
also be on that website. Um let me see. And I believe there'll be a um there are also signs uh flyers that I will put out by the front about when everything is
happening along with on the website for the each date. And I think that is it. >> Okay. Hey, if I may, um, planning board update, just a reminder to all council
members that, um, the planning board is, uh, awaiting us to, uh, fill the class 2 position and, uh, I don't have any further updates to report report on the planning board activities. We do have a BDC uh, meeting uh, this Thursday at 7
o'clock. Councilman Scott and I will be in attendance for that, but no significant or major updates to report. Thank you. >> But ju just a question about on planning board. I know that there was a traffic study introduced. Um do you know when
council will actually be able to see that or because I know that will be used to justify some of the master plan recommendations. So it may be helpful for council to get it earlier rather than later because I understand that's how you kind of back in to the uses that
you put up is you know what's the traffic for these type of uses? Why is this type of use justified in this zone etc. Do you know anything about that about whether we'll get >> I mean I I think I mean that was presented and then it was uh it was
asked to be shared. Mr. Landrew Zep, have you received a copy of that? I have and I'm I'm happy to share it as soon as I receive it. >> Yeah, let me follow up on that. That power that presentation should have been passed along. >> I'm sorry we couldn't hear you. Can you use the mic? >> Oh, yeah. Sorry. I was asking uh I
understand at the last planning board meeting uh that Neglia is our traffic engineer presented a traffic study and I was hoping council could take a look at that. Uh it's my understanding that that these type of studies will inevitably be
used uh once a uh master plan uh you know ordinance or recommendations are made and I would gather that that would be one of the justifications for the particular uses would be it's consistent with the traffic study. So it'd be helpful now to get a copy of that. If
>> I can just help real quick I'm on the master plan committee. So the probably the reason why you haven't received it yet is because it's an incomplete element. He was just presenting Mr. Inendola was simply presenting some of the data that he's already put together.
But the element itself is not fully fleshed out. He doesn't have all of the information and the subcommittee is also asking for additional information and for that information to be honed to make it more relevant to the master plan process. But as soon as that it's it's
completed, I'm sure there'll be no problem. Okay, got that's very helpful. Thank you. >> Have an incomplete document. >> Got it. Yeah, I wasn't I I was on the misunderstanding that it was a complete report and it's not. So, Got it. All right. Any others? That's it.
>> Unfinished business. >> I got I have to go um for my committee updates. Um, so first is recreation. And I know that, um, Jim rattled off a lot in his manager's report. Um, there are
some additional ones. Just need to pull it up real quick. We had a meeting about 10 days ago. Um, and so this this year they've added some additional programs. Um, >> Mike, I just couldn't hear. uh jewelry
design. Uh the poor uh a college workshop is starting uh there's Zuma gold for seniors. There's candle making popup painting. And if you're wondering about how do I find out about these events? Um you should have received Sparta residents should have received
like a uh postcard with a QR code and in that QR code links to all the offerings by the recreation uh committee. But it there's a ton of stuff in there. Uh it's pretty remarkable all that they do. Uh this year they are not doing uh the
winter carnival. Uh that is because of one it was the tend attendance had been slowly dissipating to the point. So what they're doing in in lie of that is uh August 28th they're going to have kind of an an outdoor uh summer festival with
um at White Lake Field with food trucks etc. uh they expect that to have better turnout. So that's why uh they've shifted it. Instead of having a winter carnival, there's now a summer carnival. The next thing is track and field will be starting. They've have almost 70 kids
signed up for that. So we have that's a very successful program uh that they put on. Um this year they will be putting in to funding for a pickle ball court at White Lake Field. Um, and the the reason
for that is they've had consistent requests uh for over the past few years to have a pickle ball court. Um, so you know, when we get around to the budget, expect to see that. Um, they are still continuing to look at improvements at
Kids Castle. Um, so that it it won't you that was my concern was that well, how does that affect the prioritization of other projects? And again, they will still be able to do some improvements at um at Kids Castle. And you'll see that
they will be finishing up the storage uh shed at uh White Lake Field. This enabled for DPW and others to store uh the grass cutting equipment so they don't have to haul it all across town. So, that will be an improvement uh that you'll see. And there is still plans to
expand uh the trail there that goes around White Lake Field. Again, this is, you know, part of uh what you may see in their budget request for this year. So, that's everything that I have, but I do encourage people to take a look at the
um the QR code that you have so you can get all the offerings by the rec department. The rec department is in need uh the rec committee is in need of additional members. Looking for additional members. one, all those events that you hear, the
winter carnival or the summer carnival, the Easter bunny hunt, the trout derby, those all require people to help beyond the employees of the recck department. Um, we do it is helpful to have volunteers. So, if you join the committee, uh, one of one of the tasks
is to also help out with some of these events, but it's also you can bring your ideas that you have. A lot of these events that we have are the direct result of committee members that we've had in the past who say, "Hey, it would be a good idea to do this and then they
did all the leg work to make it happen." So, if you have an interest in helping your town, also some events that you may think would benefit, uh please uh fill out the volunteer application form online and um we can get you on the rec
committee uh with um so that ends my report on the rec committee. Beautification and cultural affairs will be meeting probably either next week or the following week. Um and I'll have an update on those. The film committee uh
will be meeting uh the following uh week and we're working right now and really collaborating with the Sussex County film committee because you have to look at this as sort of a Russian nesting doll. You have the state at the top which the state motion picture which is
often times the first point of contact from a movie producer. then it kind of filters down to the county at which point it may filter down to Sparta even though Sparta can do its own kind of lobbying to get films. But there needs to be sort of coordination between all
these and um we are we are doing that and working with our our friends at the Sussex County Film Commission and we're sharing photos. We have a huge library of Sparta photos and we want to give that to the county so the county has it
um when they are shopping films uh in Sussex County that Sparta will be fairly represented. And other than that um of the on the opioid recovery fund um I am working on I have the benefit of in one of my cases
I work with one of the foremost experts on opioid recovery in the country. He's also an adviser to Major League Baseball on opioid recovery, uh, Dr. Larry Westerrike. And I spoke to Dr. Wester Reich, um, about whether he would be willing to speak to our committee about
sort of best practices. What would be, you know, if you could wave a wand and have money spent that would help in opioid recovery, how would you spend the money? And he's agreed to, he'd be happy to u talk to our committee. So, I'm working with the county uh opioid
recovery fund to see if Dr. Westich can come down and and speak to us and just give us some ideas. And I think that we'd be very helpful to do that. And other than that, >> that's everything. Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you. All right. Moving on to unfinished new business. Councilman Scott, believe I have >> uh Yes, I do. I would like to take a
moment of silence for Peter Decker who his family has been in this town from this town for many many years and was uh an ex uh chief of the fire department and was also a pilot who was retired and
was flying missions to Haiti and his plane was unfortunately crashed and uh we lost a very very good human being. So I would like everybody to keep the family in their prayer in their prayers
and uh I went to school with them even though I was a little older but I know the family for many years. So thank you for doing that. >> Thank you Councilman Clark. >> No unfinished or new business at this
time. Thank you. >> All right. If I may just have a few items. Um, manager Zep, uh, if there's an opportunity to, uh, expand on what Councilman Clark was mentioning before in regards to some of the grants, I
think, you know, if we could grab a a list of any and all the grants we're currently applying for, that would be helpful that supports all all the committees. I mean it started with what you know we have all these all these committees and which ones are seeking funded which ones are looking for money and the grant opportunities associated
with all of them. So it's just more or less just get an update from our grant writer >> to see no problem >> you know what we're working on and maybe what's what's available would be helpful um and that would I think that'd be very helpful as we go into budget season and we um move forward with our our budget
schedule. So just just to clarify uh on in your report, I may have missed it. You laid out a series of dates, projected dates to sequentially bring us through the budget process, >> right? And they're they're tentative to say the least because they're predicated
on the initial stuff like so the the the uh uh annual debt statement uh was published. That was the first item we got. Right >> now, we're waiting on the financial statement. This was the the item that Mr. day had brought up. Um, our auditors are working on that now. So, we're
waiting to get that. Once we receive that, we submit it to the uh uh uh DGLS. All right. And and then we're allowed to move forward and introduce the budget uh once we h have done that. Um >> and that and that that document uh the
annual statement needs to be done by March 10th if I'm not mistaken. Right. >> It was actually February 10th. However, we we frequently this and many towns are doing this. Uh we get extensions because you get holdups from the auditors. You're still doing catchup from your the
end of the year of the previous year. Uh and so we do have a a little bit of time on getting that submitted. However, I'm I'm trying to get this as as proactive and as as on schedule as I can. Uh but like I said, we're predicated like we're
what I want to do is work on the budget workshop while we're waiting for the financial statement. >> I was gonna ask that we're going to run parallel while we're >> that's administrative requirements is to start running parallel with that. Exactly. And that public worksh it's open to the public. Correct.
>> Yes. Yes. In fact, it'll get posted. It's actually I have to >> So those who are concerned with you know our 2026 budget process, I would encourage you to participate and and attend. We got our work cut out for ourselves here. So, um, you know, you
know, everything's on everything's on the table and we're looking forward to having those discussions. >> Would you be able to share those dates with the rest of the council? >> I think we should get them on the website as well. >> Well, sure. Sure. But a lot of those dates are actually contingent on you folks. >> I have a conflict on
>> my last one is I've been trying to get a date together for the budget workshop. We're going to try and get that worked out. Meanwhile, as soon as the budget I'm I'm going to try and get it done this week is is uh the temp the the the the proposed temporary budget uh where I went through with all the uh department
heads and all the expenditures and you're going to see the ups and downs. I want to give that to you folks. Then you guys get to comment and ask you know where these numbers are derived from. Uh we're able to trim down some budgets and other budgets had to go up. They all have their reasons and causes. uh you
you folks will be able to prioritize where where we go with that. >> Um and I I I know that we want to be as transparent as possible. So, as as much as I can get out there, I will. >> I appreciate that. And I think we got to keep our eye on the ball that >> this is, you know, budget season, budget
time, and it's one of our top priorities to make sure >> we're with a lot of other towns are in a very similar situation. Uh basically snowballed by the the the health insurance costs. That's the biggest biggest hit right there. And then uh in regards to the the
lawsuit negotiations and hopefully upcoming settlements, it's great to see some movement and progress on some of the pending litigation and efforts being made to try to move those along. You know, less lawsuits are are better than more. So I appreciate the efforts that
all those worked on that. Um, and then finally, I just want to again, manager Zep, Chief McCarrick, the police, fire department, EMT, ambulance, DPW, parks, recreation, and all other township employees for doing a fantastic job
during the the recent snowstorm. I mean, I don't know about others in the audience or or virtually watching. I thought, you know, getting up and out the next day was phenomenal. The roads were done. There was the phones weren't ringing. things were I mean it was just really well done. So, thank you very
much for keeping everybody safe. >> Um, just want to thank them. >> I've been in a few other towns even today and they were not nearly as clean as we were. >> No, we did a phenomenal job. >> I won't mention them though.
>> All right. Any other unfinished open business? If not, then I think I would call for an adjournment. Motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second.
>> I'll second. All in favor? I >> I thank you very much for