Good. All right. This meeting is uh being held in accordance with public laws 1975 chapter 231. An adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a notice
sent to the star ledger, the local source and posted in the main lobby of the municipal building and on the township website. We would like to welcome Carl Osterard Jr. Commander American Legion Post 228 to lead us in the pledge of allegiance.
To the flag of the United States of America and to the stands, one nation, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Please remain standing for a moment of silence. For our service members here and abroad.
>> Thanks, Carl. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Have a good night. Uh, madame clerk. >> Uh, Mayor Lauer >> present. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser is here. >> Committeeman Capid
>> here. >> Committeeman Yuber >> present. >> Committeeman Weber >> here. >> All right. Announcements and proclamations. Springfield 55 plus residents calendar for February 2026
is posted and packed uh with great events. All municipal offices will be closed for Monday, February 16th in observance of President's Day. Springfield celebrates the 250th
anniversary of America. reenactments at the Cannonball House Sunday, February 15th from 1 to three. I know Chief Cook is really excited about that. Um, reconciliation, building the bridge at Jonathan Dayton
High School is on Sunday, February 22nd from 2 to 4, the 63rd anniversary of the first time Dr. King spoke in Springfield. It is a rescheduled event uh from the storm of the eternity. Um as
well as coffee with a cop on Tuesday, February 24th, pack day. We got a township committee meeting that day, too. From 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Halo Roers. Uh, I would also like to announce that we have a uh we have a a
residents uh budget review committee as well as several other uh township boards uh that need residents to join them. Uh we would welcome anybody to submit their uh intention to join or their request to
to come on these boards uh and email uh residence review um residence review at springfield NJ us
um and now we will move on to our regular business with public comments on agenda items only. Seeing none, we're going to keep moving. So, uh we're going to do reports a bit differently. Um we're going to hear from
uh Adam Lee, our rec director, uh and uh our administrator today. So, John, please kick it off um for reports. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Couple of items if I may. Uh we've been out DPW. We've been extremely busy trying to clean up. We
got 800 storm basins that we've got to try to make sure that we got drainage because as the snow is going to melt, it's going to have nowhere to go. So, it's they're iced up. So, we're out there trying to get the ice away from them. Um other crews have been out widening the streets trying to clean up the intersections and the corners. We're
still we were forced to salt multiple times because we've had 12 water main breaks since the storm. Obviously, American Water was out fixing them, but it still involves DPW's got to be out also. Um, we were very busy obviously
with maintenance and repairs on all the equip equipment from the snowstorms. >> Thank you. >> Um, Tamar, can you put up that picture, please? This is the pool parking lot just to give you an idea. This is the snow that we've picked up at the
intersections and the corners and the and that type of thing and just bringing it up there to to get rid of it. So that's been a project and again >> taller than a Tahoe >> when all of the and it's long. You don't see all of it but I mean this that goes for a long way. When all of this melts,
we're going to have flooding issues if we're not careful. So yeah, so please if you don't put anything by the basins so the water can flow, make sure we keep leaves away, etc., etc. Our DPW brochure
this year is going to appear in the Patriot. So you'll be able to take that piece out and hold on to it if you wish. We also had an idea we're going to start a DPW corner in the Patriot. So we're going to post if bulk pickup is this month or whatever, we'll just make sure
that we post that so that it reminds people what's going on. That's important with DPW. Uh even though it has snowed and we the weather's been terrible as far as the temperature, we're still meeting with people in the downtown. We met with the business last last week or this week.
I'm not sure. Again, just about cleaning up their building, trying to make some improvements, that type of thing. Was actually was Hunan Gardens. They were Hunan Springs, sorry. They were um very accommodating. They're very nice. So, we just explained to them what we'd like to
see and when the weather breaks, they're going to do some work around their building. So, that helps. I also want to announce that if anybody still needs their real ID, we've got the mobile unit coming Saturday morning from 9 to 2 at Chisum. You can go on the website and
I'll have Jay host this. You can go on the website on Thursday morning at 11:00 and book a space. And the website is mvc.mmobile agency all one word at mvc.nj.gov.
gov. So, if anybody needs that, again, we'll put it on the website. If you need a real ID, it's your chance to go get it. Um, it's actually it's very convenient. They did a great job the last couple times that we've had them here. Um, and
that's that's kind of all that we have going at the moment that's of importance. Our other developments because of the weather and how cold it's been, hasn't been a whole lot going on. So, it's been a little quiet. We're hoping that maybe we're going to get a break in um in the weather and it'll start warming up a little bit. Adam,
would you like to do your Rick? >> Sure. Uh good evening everybody. I have just a few things I can point out, take any questions you might have. Um on this agenda, the few items that I have, the first is to um authorize the pool concession contract for the third year
with Elite Concessions who who've been with us. this is the the last option year we have with them. Um also we are hoping to receive um with your approval a donation for a memorial park bench uh that would be placed at Ruby. It's a
very similar bench that we have at other parks. We keep things consistent and there's a family that's being very generous to to donate um close to $2,000 for that bench um in memory of a longtime Springfield resident. And then finally, just um approving a hold harmless agreement to have another monthly blood drive at Chisum, which
which have been very very popular. They usually get anywhere between 30 and 40 appointments each time that we host one. And the one in May is going to be uh co-sponsored by the first aid squad. And then a few other other developments I can just mention to you. Um like John showed the picture of the the snow in
the pool parking lot. Even though the pool parking lot is covered with mounds of snow, um work is being done both in the building and outside to prepare for the summer season, which will be here before we know it, including deliveries, um touchup paint inside the clubhouse, moving some equipment around, and just
monitoring the grounds. The YMCA has already posted and opened registration for pool camp, which is really one of the the most popular activities that they have over there. I think it sells out um almost every summer. So residents can go on to the uh the recreation
department website or the Wise website to link to pool camp and pool membership is going to open through the Y I believe um very early in March. Um over on the other side of town um we're waiting for Henshaw Park playground structure equipment to be delivered. As soon as
the weather is good, the equipment that we purchased using grant funds as well as township funds will be delivered and installed probably within a week. Um, and we also, like I said, have that have that bench coming to um uh to Ruby Park as well as one that we already received
from the last donation that's going to go to Irwin Park. So, there will be a lot of activities in the parks this spring. Um, I can also mention that over the next week or two, you'll start to see publicity for the egg hunt. Again, the good weather will be here before we know it. We have a few new items that
are going to be um hopefully very attractive to kids and families at the egg hunt this year, but I'm not going to announce them yet because we're finalizing everything, but I promise you some new things coming up uh the end of March. Um Chisum Playground Camp registration is going to open uh probably within the next few weeks. We
usually see anywhere between 70 and 100 kids each week over um eight different unique weeks. So parents who are ready to plan their kids summers will be able to do that. And then finally on the senior citizen side of things, we have a few bus trips coming up. Uh we go to the
Hunton Hills Playhouse in April that's already sold out and Wind Creek Casino in Bethlehem at the end of next uh next um next month. So we have some tickets available for that. Finally, uh the senior citizens are celebrating Black History Month um on Thursday, February
26th. any Springfield resident who's 55 and over can RSVP with the recreation department and attend um a lunchon with a service and a m musician. Um it's not exclusively for club members. It's also for Springfield residents and it's completely free, you know, on behalf of
the township. So if anyone's interested, they can call my office and RSVP. Um happy to take any questions you might have on my report or anything else. >> Any questions? Yeah. >> Parks, you're we're going to mulch them in the beginning of the season versus
the end of the season this year again. >> Yes. So, our our budget has funding for every single playground in Springfield, including the pool. Um our biggest playgrounds, our smallest playgrounds. Um the pool mulch has already been ordered. The rest of the parks um are going to be ordered just as soon as you know the the funding is okay. But yeah,
that's the plan. >> Perfect. Second question, that's snack shack for Chisum Softball. Is that thing plumbed already? electric's done and everything or >> it's it's um the electric has been tied in. It's um ready to go. The base uh excuse me, the softball league is
scheduling um like a grand opening. I think they're going to publicize that for either March or April. But there there's no plumbing. There's just electric. Um and they're going to have concessions, frozen stuff, um anything like drinks, snacks, anything that can be housed in.
>> But they're ready for the 2026 season. >> It's going to be open in a month, month and a half. >> All right. Beautiful. Y >> hiring. We're still looking for hire. We're still looking for any kind of part-time employees that can help out at wreck or, you know, take after. >> What are the hours you're looking for
mostly? >> Yes. So, we have two different positions that are open on the township website, but the one that you're referring to is the recreation assistant position. We have um usually at least two people on every single shift at Chisum, and we're open seven days a week. Sometimes from after school hours until 10:00,
weekends, sometimes um 8 to 8. It really just depends on what's going on. But our biggest need right now um are for recreation assistants who can work right after school. So starting at 2:30 and who can work um at 2:30 to 5 shift at 2:30 to 8 9:00 shift. These are people
who monitor the lobby, who monitor the bathrooms, who monitor the um the hallways to make sure that kids are, you know, safe and behaving. And other people in the building also can go to their meetings and not be trampled on. >> We're looking for out of school kids. We're looking or out of school, I guess,
over 18, I guess. Safe to say. >> Ideally, yeah, >> ideally over 18. We're looking for a few people. If anybody's out there watching and they're looking for some a position that can can, you know, take up a few hours in the afternoon, we can use some help and chism. Um,
>> hey Adam, could you throw together a uh flyer that we could post on social media? I mean, those those jobs are huge. >> The advertisement. >> Yeah, for the advertisement for the for the job. I mean that those jobs are super important. So I mean we'd love to see them filled.
>> Sorry to cut you. >> No, no, that perfect. Thank you. Yes, because it is important. And and the third thing is or fourth thing, I've been sleeping on it. I know I've had some complaints about the senior bus. >> I mean, so there's nothing we can do. >> We've had the senior bus. We had our
mechanic go over it, try to tighten up stuff. It's mechanically. There's not a problem with it. We said when we do take longer trips, we will try to accommodate and switch the two buses so that when there's something that's a a longer duration, the seniors can get the newer bus.
>> That is wonderful. Okay. All right. So, AC trips or anything like that fixer issue. >> Yeah. Adam, what do we spend for that one? Do you remember was was over a hundred, wasn't it? >> For the bus. >> Yeah. Yeah, I I don't think it was I don't think it was over a hundred, but the the Jity bus that's modeled after
the train station bus I I want to say was maybe 70 somewhere around that. >> Maybe I'm >> And we did receive some I think some grant funding for the first senior bus that's still in in use. But um late last year when we did switch with the Jity bus um we went down the Parkway. The
senior citizens were much happier with the train station Jitney bus. So Moren and John's office are going to continue to do that with me whenever possible. And this is really only for longer trips out of Springfield down the Parkway down 78. >> Yeah, perfect. All right. So, that's a
that's a pretty uh compromising um solution. >> And again, I think we can look at replacing that one. I think we should start planning. We may be able to get some help with some grants, that type of thing. So, >> yeah. Is that something we could use CDBG money for? I mean, I know Brendan's
proposed in the past for our senior bus service. I mean, is that something that we could possibly look at. >> Yeah, I've got another idea, too, Mr. Mayor. We'll talk. >> Cool. >> I think maybe we can get some money. >> Cool.
>> Okay. Any uh anybody else questions for uh our guest star tonight? All right, moving on. Uh Alex's uh favorite part of the meeting uh which is minutes.
Uh so, uh Deputy Mayor, take the floor. I'd like to make a motion to adopt the regular the reorganization meeting minutes of January 1st, 2026 as emailed. >> I second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I
>> All right. Moving on to new businesses. Uh new moving on to new business ordinances on second reading. Uh, Committeeman Weber, >> ordinance 20261. This ordinance amends provisions of the
township code to create the position of OEM liaison officer. >> Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to adopt resolution 2026-1 as read by Madame Clerk, publicized in a local source, February 12th, 2026.
>> Second. Okay, we are going to open up a public hearing on this. Um, the hearing is now open. Okay, seeing uh as nobody is is interested in uh in the public hearing,
is there any questions from anybody up here? Okay, I will close the public hearing. Madame clerk, can we call the role? Committeeman Weber, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser, >> yes. >> Committeeman Capidis, >> yes.
>> Committeeman Yuber, Mayor Laer, >> yes. Madame Clerk, >> ordinance 20262. This ordinance amends the existing ordinances governing certain employment positions and establishes salary ranges
and compensation levels for such position within the township. Uh, I will make a motion to uh uh uh adopt ordinance 2026-02 as read by Madame Clerk uh with the
publication in the local source on February 12, 2026. >> I second. >> All right, we're going to open a public hearing on uh ordinance 20262. Uh if anybody has uh anything to say
from the public, please come up to the podium. Seeing none, um, anybody up here? Nope. >> I am going to close the public hearing. Uh, Madame Clerk, can you please call the role?
>> Deputy Mayor Kaiser, >> yes. >> Committeeman Capes, >> yes. >> Mini Yuber. Committeeman Weber. >> Yes. >> Mayor Laer, >> yes. We have uh nothing on first reading. Um, so we are going to move on to
resolutions. Uh, please let me know if you'd like any of them pulled. Resolution 202671, 202672, 202673, 202674, 202675, 202676 202677
202678. Okay, we're going to pull 202678. Uh I Well, Committ Weber, >> I'll make I'll make a motion. Sure. Uh motion to approve resolutions 2026-71 through 2026-77.
>> Madame Clerk, >> Committeeman Weber. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Huber. >> Committeeman Capid. Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. >> Yes. >> Mayor Lford. >> Yes.
>> Uh, so we pulled resolution 202678. Um, do we talk about it first or do we move it first? >> First. >> Should I read it? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Resolution 202678. This resolution sets the formula for calculating certain full-time employees
health benefit contributions. I make a motion to approve resolution 202678 as read by madam clerk. Second Diane, I mean, would you >> It's definitely not going down. >> Yeah,
>> this resolution um is required by our ordinance that it basically adopts the same level of contributions that employees are making based on the old chapter 78 law. So, it
mirrors that um That is correct. This is This will also mean that every employees deductions will also increase. So it offsets the township's cost. >> But our percentage is not increasing that we're increasing them. It's just
they're staying at the same percentage that we're giving them. Correct. >> It is just that they're increases because of the state. I just want to clear that one up. >> Correct. It's codifying the state the old state chart that many employees are familiar with. >> And this was something we should have
done before. This is just kind of clean up. It's housekeeping. That's all it is. >> So, if any employees are are listening to this, we're not changing your percentage. If you're seeing an increase, it's just because the state whatever plan we're on is going up.
>> Correct. Right. Okay, >> Madame Clerk. >> Committeeman Cathodes. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Yuber. >> Committeeman Weber. >> Yes. >> Mayor Laer. >> Yes. Yeah.
>> All right. Discussion and action items. Uh, a request from New York Blood Center, New Jersey Blood Services for the use of Chisum Community Center, Adler Gym on Friday, May 15th, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 900 p.m. for a blood
drive. >> Motion to approve. >> Madame Clerk, >> Committeeman Weber, >> yes. >> Committeeman Yuber. >> Committeeman Capid. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. >> Yes. >> Mayor Wer, >> yes. Uh, Alex's second favorite part of
the meeting. Uh, I'm signing because I didn't get to move enough stuff tonight and very upset. Um, I'm going to make a motion to adopt payroll and invoices for the period of January 28, 2026 to February
10th, 2026 in the amount of 5,911,3268. >> I second. >> Madame Clerk, >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. Yes. >> Committeeman Capid. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Huber. >> Committeeman Weber. >> Yes. >> Mayor La. >> Yes.
Correspondence. Uh, New Jersey American Water Company notice of a public hearing in the matter of their petition for the authorization to change the level of its purchased water adjustment clause and purchased
wastewater treatment clause. It is February 12th from at 4:30 and 5:30. For further info, please see the company's website, www.new
jersey.com. Public comment on any governmental issue. Not everybody come up at once. I do have a question for >> Adam. I think >> 100%
>> been to other towns. I've gone through a few other towns. >> Yep. >> Thank you. Everybody went through the same thing where, you know, I'm out there doing my sidewalk and the plow comes in. >> I must have cursed that plow driver out
three times right the sidewalk. Adam, uh, I just want to go back to one thing about the blood drive. >> You said that general attendance is 20, 30, 40 people each drive. Yeah, we get those statistics after when the they
they they you know they thank us for that. Um I believe they could hold more people um through appointments, but that's considered good between 30 and 40 or so, but they they absolutely could use more. We publicize it. They publicize it. So, it's a great thing just to mark your calendar to do every
other month that we have it at Chisum. Always a blood emergency. So, >> well, that's why I wanted you to give that another plug real quick because I know there's still after all these years a blood shortage >> dating back to COVID and and prior. Um, one more time, February May 15th from 11
in the morning till 9 at night, blood drive. >> Thank you. Um, we also uh had uh two email correspondences. Uh, I'll read them in chronological order from Michael Barttosh, 77 Tutor Court. Good evening.
I would like to say uh that I would like to have Oakland Avenue made into a one-way. Also, I spoke with Mr. Huber about tractor trailers on Myel Mountain hillside apps. A study was sent out by the county in
2020 about tractor trailers on county roads. I think this should be revisited by the council and discussed with the county. Much more trailers are running on these roads since 2020. All they are are cutthroughs from Route 78 to Route
22. They are not making deliveries on any of these roads. And please say it can't be done because other towns in New Jersey have stopped them from running through their town. nothing. >> Correct.
>> Yeah. No, it's 100% right. Uh and I mean the only thing we can really do is reach out to the county, which we will continue to do. >> Yes. Uh, next also, Michael Bartage, 77 Tutor Court. Good evening. Have the mayors of
Union County met recently with the Union County Board of Commissioners and the Army Corps of Engineer referencing the flooding of the Rawway River Basin? I don't believe they have. >> Are you looking at me? Um,
>> uh, yes. Uh, no. They they they have uh the mayor's council, which I do serve as a rep, has not recently met with uh the Army Corps of Engineers or or as a county as a whole. And it's more than just Union County. It's includes Essex
County, too. Um at this point in time, everything just, you know, it's still a functioning, we're still part of that group. Uh the Army Corps of Engineers is still tasked with uh trying to find a
solution. Um currently there is not a solution that is viable um from the federal government funding perspective. Uh Milbour has and uh I I think they've discussed it at
their their meetings. they have started to look at self-funding a uh a a project that might help uh Milbour and then lesser extent to towns down uh uh down the corridor. Um but
that is years if ever or if D would our Department of Environmental Protection the state agency might not even approve such a project. Um, and this is getting really into the weeds, but if the federal government
uh uh isn't in favor of a project uh our understanding of meeting over the years is DP is not about to go off on their own and approve such a project even if the locals want to fund it just because they partner so much uh with the federal
government that they rely on their expertise. So the the the that was my always understanding and I I wouldn't want to hold don't hold me to that. I'm just kind of putting that out there for context and at times we have discussed that in our meetings and and that was
kind of a takeaway. Um and even even if hey self-funding amongst the town it would probably not be even feasible. So I I don't even want to really put that out there. I'm just kind of giving you that right now we're wouldn't say at an
impass but uh uh uh uh I would think that it's going to be very difficult uh in the near future to have a project um not to mention and beat up on the federal administration
but currently the federal administration doesn't doesn't believe uh in climate change and I think that's a uh as a strike uh uh historical context as they strike words as they strike uh data from
websites. It is not a priority to deal with effects of climate change and at right we we talk about all politics is local if that's unfortunately who you supported at the the federal level. Well, these are kinds of the
ramifications when the administrations uh uh start to take hard look at projects. So, you can't be you can't recognize that there's effects of climate change that require mitigation and adaptation projects and then suddenly be surprised when that uh uh
administration isn't prioritizing those kind of projects. So, um, am I hopeful that something is going to happen in the in the next few years? I am not hopeful that a project. We we we hope on the
local level to do their best and I know our DPW does a good job of of upkeeping our our channels of the riverbank. I know Milbour has prioritized that. We will continue to prioritize that. Our
public safety and emergency management is top-notch and knows what they have to do in in in situations flooding and we hope to not incur uh uh those kind of storm events. >> Yeah,
>> we met with we met with Army York over there. years ago. All set first term when he was president. We did hear back. We we they they did
come back with a presentation and their uh analysis and proposed project was not able to uh meet the requirement for federal funding because it would not have alleviated. Even if they built the
project, it would not have alleviated uh uh uh it wouldn't have dropped down the water enough in all these communities down the river uh to meet to to to uh justify spending the initial project.
What would have happened? And and hey, right, there's there's different arguments. It may have helped in it may have dropped down a few feet in like raw way. Uh uh it may have dropped uh uh but it's still damaging their first floor.
Uh you come up maybe Cranford gets it only into the basement, but you're still wiping out the basement. Maybe Springfield sees the most improvement, but there's still water coming into uh and causing damage. At the same time,
you would have been wiping out a a pass through that uh is vital to Essex County through the reservation, which would have been flooded for months on end as part of that project wasn't viable for this area. So, uh that was at that point
the Army Corps only saw that as a viable solution. Um and they unfortunat there is a law passed that they have to they can't close the book. Some projects they can just close it and say uh we have
provided you a solution. It's not adequate. This is unfortunate and they can close the book. The there was a law passed that requires the Army Corps to continue to prioritize this project or continue to try to find solutions
uh for uh until until one is viable. So, um, it gives hope that maybe there's future technology. I don't know that that that you can do it. >> At least 10 years. >> I I don't think they have a a traffic
relocation deal that's suitable when you look at it. Yeah. I mean, your only option is to route people through boxall which is >> Liberty Avenue. >> Yeah. I don't think you have an option
of how do you detour thousands of cars? I I don't know what the answer is. >> All right. Uh any other comments from the dis? Seeing none, uh we uh madame clerk.
>> Okay. We have a resolution for executive session resolution 21026. Whereas article six of the open public meetings act provides that a public body may hold the closed session and whereas the township committee will during this
meeting enter into discussion of the following matters. attorney client privilege and personnel, attorney client privilege, potential contract negotiation, and potential lease, purchase, or acquisition of real
property. Whereas the matters to be discussed in close session or to remain in the strictest of confidence by all township committee members in furtherance of their fut fiduciary duties to the township. Now therefore, be it resolved, matters discussed at
this meeting will be released to the public when the reasons for discussing and acting upon them in close session no longer exists. >> Uh so moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Moved by uh Deputy Mayor Kaiser,
seconded by Command Cities. >> And will sorry. >> All in favor? I >> I we may be taking action this meeting. >> We are enclosed. We're open. >> Mr. Mayor, I'd like to place a
resolution on the agenda. >> Uh, committee cavities. >> I would like to place resolution number 202679 for consideration. Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Yeah,
>> sure. Um, I would like to make a motion to add a resolution to the agenda. Resolution number 202679. Um, this resolution approves salary increases for department head supervisors and certain non-UN employees for the year 2026. Can you please pass
this down to I >> Kaiser? All right. All in favor? >> I >> I Oh, we have to roll. We have to do a roll call. Oh, she has to roll. Madam clerk. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> German. >> No. >> No. We have to vote on the resolution. We just added it to the >> Oh, that's right. >> Is there a motion for resolution 202679? >> Sorry, I apologize. I'd like to make a motion to approve resolution 202679.
>> Second, >> Madame Clerk. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> No. >> Motion. Is there all in favor? I We're
adjourned. >> Great job, everybody.