You know what? You don't get to beg the gavl every day. >> All right. Welcome to everyone. I want to call this meeting to order. This meeting is being held in accordance with public law 1975 chapter 231. Adequate notice of this
meeting is being held uh 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. Uh we would like to invite Mark Krauss
uh caretaker of the dis as well as vice commander uh American Legion Post 228. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> 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. >> Please remain standing. Sorry we have a lot of new people. for a moment of silence for our soldiers here and abroad. >> Madame clerk, >> Mayor Ler >> present. >> Definitely not. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser
>> present. >> Committeeman Capidis is absent. Committeeman Huber is absent. Committeeman Weber >> here. >> All right. Um proclamations and announcement 55
plus residents calendar for July is up uh for Springfield recreation pride at the pool is Saturday June 27th from 1 to 4. This event is open to the community. There will be a DJ bounce house Zumba
mini golf and giveaways and much much more. All municipal offices will be closed on Friday, July 3rd in observance of the 4th of July. The 4th of July celebration will be on Saturday, July 4th, 5:00 p.m. at Meiselle. Free
admission food trucks, petting zoo, pony rides, trackless train, and a game truck will all be there, as well as a concert, and fireworks will begin at dusk. Next township committee meeting is
Tuesday, July 14th at 7 p.m. Uh there will be one meeting held in July and August. Springfield Public Library is pleased to host a summer concert on Wednesday, July 15th. Trio will be uh performing at 6:30 in front
of town hall. Bring your own lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of classic rock and music favorites. In the event of inclement weather, the performance will be moved indoors at the library. Um, before we go to to letter G, I just want
to point out how important uh our current guests are because uh, Committeeman Weber showed up several minutes before the meeting instead of one minute before the meeting. Um, so I just want you to know how important you are. Um, and how great of a contribution
you've all made to this community. Um, and I want to give it to Chris Weber to read the proclamation. There are multiple parents out there who will confirm that you had to remind me when my daughter was up to bat all the
time because I was always out there talking with you guys. And um the softball program really started uh to take off with what was the class of 2024, right? And we all had it in our
heads calculated when this group of girls was going to hit Dayton and make coach Dave Renie the absolute best coach in Union County. Okay, we had it calculated
and this is now you you've got all three now. You've got a county, you got a sectional, and you got a state, which is pretty amazing. Now, before I get to you girls, I just want to talk
about your parents for a second because my daughter is now coaching. Ash is now coaching for Fearless. She drove to Wall on Saturday and won three games,
I think. Got up at 5:00 on Sunday, drove to Wall, lost one game, and came home as mad as a cougar trapped in a car. Okay? And
I said, "Ash, now you know what it feels like." I said, "What happened?" She says, "Oh, they played like garbage. we we just they just didn't play right. And she said, "I am so aggravated that I drove all the way up there so they can lose." And I said, "Now you know what us
parents go through for year after year after year after year." And sometimes it clicks and sometimes it comes together. And starting with the class of 2024, it really started to come together because unfortunately prior to that, I
think 23 had one girl, 20 two had one or two. There weren't many. And it started to click then. And you parents, this is your hard work. This is you getting up every morning on the weekend in the
summer and not taking vacation and making your vacation the field in Tom's River or Jackson or just getting annihilated by bugs weekend after weekend after weekend. Wawa.
Billy Santangel loves Waw Wa. Okay, can't tell you the amount of talks we've had about Waw Wa, but Billy loves Waw Wa. But how many Waw Wa sandwiches have you eaten and Dunkin' Donuts trips you've made at at 6:45 to be on the
field by seven, right? This is what it is. You just have a group of girls who just won sectionals and states, which is to you parents, this is this proclamation is, man, I it might be it might be more yours than theirs, right?
because you you committed it and you sent them all for lessons and even when they didn't want to have the talks on the way home, I'm sure you all gave them the talks on the way home. Coach, coach, Katie, you know, Dave, you you
you you took these girls and and practice after practice after practice. you know, they would come home frustrated, I'm sure, but you connected with them and you were able to put together a winning formula that no one can take away from you. You
guys are now a piece of official history for Springfield and for Union County. So, this also is as much yours as as everybody else's. So, I will read this proclamation now.
lucky that this is the second one we've been able to do in three years. Whereas the Jonathan Dayton Bulldogs had a very impressive 2026 softball season in which they won a North 2 group one state sectional title for the first time
in Dayton softball program history with a 5 to4 win over Whippony Park. hand. Whereas the Bulldogs won the group one state tournament for the first time in school history with a 2-1 win over Brownbrook. And
whereas we are gathered here on this occasion as friends, family, and neighbors of the Jonathan Dayton softball team to congratulate them on their achievements this season. And whereas the township of Springfield desires to express its admiration for these athletic accomplishments.
Be it hereby proclaimed, the township of Springfield hereby recognizes the Bulldogs Blake Acroth, Carolyn Kagallo, Ivy Klene, Ariana Ortiz, Lola Mestroni,
Quinn Mongan, Tiffany Ruez, Mackenzie Taran, Aubrey Kentagallo, Avatel Candell, Sophia Solish, Charlie Balmente, Jessica Miller, Pton Riolo,
Samantha Sonado, Juliana Santangelo, Madison Tarant, Abigail Tran, Llaya Carroll, Bella Pentado, Carara Steer, head coach Dave Renie, and assistant coaches Caitlyn Scurro and Kevin
Schultz. Is Kevin here? I didn't see him. for the hard work and dedication exhibited them by this softball season and recognizes the exceptional magnitude of the accomplishments of the Jonathan Dayton Bulldog softball program. Be it
further proclaimed that Harris Lauer, mayor of the township of Springfield, on behalf of the township committee, proclaimed that June 23rd, 2026 is declared to be Jonathan Dayton Bulldog Softball Recognition Day and
that all residents are encouraged to express their admiration to the members of the Jonathan Dayton Bulldogs softball program. Congratulations, [applause] >> [applause] >> So, uh, we have a copy of a proclamation for everybody on the team. So, if you
guys are going away to school, this is obviously prime dorm room hanging. Uh, uh, this is this is prime for your dorm room. It's really impressive. You got a fancy piece of paper from the town. Um, and then, uh, if if coach would like to say a couple words or a captain or
whoever, um, the the mic is yours. And, uh, we'll we'll come down and we'll, uh, we'll hand out, uh, we'll hand out proclamations. Come on down. Alex, you want to come down? Yeah. So, come on.
Like you're getting the Don't worry. everything else. Back to the front. Everybody else. One, two, three. >> That was really sad. >> Come on. Ready.
>> One, two, three. >> Bulldog. [applause] Congratulations. Move out of the way. >> Take it. Take it. Take it. >> So, the only thing I'd like to add is
how these young ladies have impacted the community. First of all, I want to thank you for inviting us. Second of all, I want to thank you for the parade, which was amazing. Um, but also not only their influence and impact on the community, but even more important, the impact on
the young ladies in town who play softball at the youth level. Uh, we started our camp today and uh the enthusiasm is amazing. Um, and I don't know that you could even put a price on that, how important it is to to impact
the young girls in town like these young ladies have. So, they were doing it anyway. They're they were already rock stars to these little ones, but this raises it up even higher. So, congratulations, ladies and thank you. [applause] Would [applause]
anybody I mean you said your piece but if you have another piece feel free. Alex a very exciting time making all of us proud at the same time our orange and blue is the same time when the Knicks with orange and blue making all of us
all proud around us. So it's just a fun time uh to be a local sports fan. So, thank you. You really do truly uh are an inspiration to everybody else and and every other uh uh sports is competitive and and you'll push every other sport to
continue to want to be in your your footsteps and and and and win us a state championship. So, thank you. [applause] >> Um go one more thing.
Uh what coach said about the younger girls is very true. They they look up to you now. They what they see is they see a group of winning girls that I mean every everybody wants to be a part of a team that wins. Take them seriously. Be good role
models. Be kind to them because some of them are not going to be great initially. Some of them end up becoming great after a year or two or five or six. But just take your jobs as role
models seriously and this program will win for a very long time. >> Um so as a as a former Dayton athlete who didn't win a damn thing, um you guys have you guys have have done
something that is uh truly impressive. Uh, I remember, you know, when when I was going to school, Dayton was not a sports powerhouse at all. Uh, you know, it really wasn't much of it was much more of an afterthought uh than it is now. And now we're certainly on the map.
Uh, and I hope uh that we stay on the map. Um, and just raise your hand if you rode on the fire truck in the parade. Uh, I just have a question because I've never done it. Was it cool? [laughter] Um, and uh, and I hope that we we get to
find new ways to celebrate the Jonathan Dayton Bulldogs um, in in years to come. And I, you know, I I can't wait till you guys are back here next year for a repeat. Uh, we'll get you even more fancy pieces of paper uh, and recognize you even more. So, uh, you know, everybody give the Jonathan Dayton
softball uh, team a round of applause. And, uh, [applause] And for my my final act uh in regards to to the to the softball team tonight, uh I'm going to call a recess so you guys don't have to stay for the meeting. Um so we're going to we are now in recess.
Thank you for coming and good luck in the future. [applause] All right. Uh we are back. Um is there public comment on any governmental issue? I mean on agenda items only. Anybody for agenda items
only? Please come up. All right. Seeing none, um we are going to uh move on to reports. Uh Director Bcher, do you have a report for us?
>> Thank you, Mayor. I'm going to touch on a couple bullet points. Uh yesterday we attended a meeting with the DOT regarding the Mars Avenue bridge replacement over the Rawway River. Some of the takeaways were that they
completed the bridge specifications and the final design. Green Acres and easement studies are all completed. They plan to go to bid in the fall and award in early December. Uh so school ends next year on June
18th. The plan is for a hard close beginning on June 22nd, 2027 for 10 weeks. So, their plan is to have that bridge out and back in before school opens in 2027. >> Okay.
>> Uh all the traffic studies detours were completed. Obviously, we're going to be having some meetings prior to the project with emergency services and public transportation. And I saw the bridge bridge design.
Uh obviously it's going to eliminate the three arches. It'll be a oneb barrel bridge with that open concept. And they did try to maintain the historical look of the bridge with I guess is a good thing. [snorts]
Um moving on to the Corwell Bridge cover. So there hasn't been much activity over there. Reason why is the contractor is waiting on the county to approve a change order to add two storm basins to correct a pitch problem in the road
which will eliminate ponding after the project is over. Once the uh once the change order is approved, they'll install the basins followed by the curbing and pave the road. So, the change order did push the completion date back a little bit. Right now, we're
looking at a July 10th completion date. Uh we have a our next paving project is going to be the long awaited Wino and Lynen Avenue. Uh the specs were approved by the DOT. Uh we should be going to bid
over the next two weeks. We're looking at a late summer, early fall for this work to begin. And again, this is a state funded project with a grant of 322,000. Uh the engine the engineering cost was
375. So that's pretty much 85% funded by a state grant. Uh I have a project coming up [snorts] um with lighting. I'm going to we're going to be updating uh all the lighting in all all the main buildings and our
parking lots. Uh that's going to be done by Queen Lighting is going to be performing the work through JCPNL. It's an energy saving program. Uh so they're going to be replacing over 400 lights at a cost to us at $577
through that program, which we'll get that money back in savings quite quickly. Um those are just some of the highlights in my report. Everybody has my report. If you have any questions on anything in the report or my bullet points,
>> can you go the noise? I couldn't hear. Can can you go back to the Morris Avenue Bridge? I I I really I was so distracted between the noise in the hallway and you give me one more time. >> Sure. Okay. So, the bridge over the Rawway River, they completed the bridge
specifications and the final design. It's done. Green Acres and the easement studies are all completed. It's done. Uh they plan to go to bid in the fall and it should be awarded in December of this year, obviously.
Uh, school ends next year on June 18th. The plan is for them to do a hard close immediately following that on June 22nd for 10 weeks, at which they're telling us that that bridge will come out and go back in, which is possible. It's
probably all pre-cast. Um all the traffic studies were gone uh were done and there'll be meetings prior to uh the project next year. I I see that as being a very logistical
problem. >> They didn't give you any kind of hint as >> I do have some of what they're doing. So coming out of Union, uh when you hit Liberty Avenue, that's going to be the point where uh you'll either be going right or left based on a GVW.
So the lower GVW, probably under 33 GBW would be like a Mason dump and pickup in cars would go to the left. So either you're going to go out, you're going to either hit Route 22 or you would turn on the Miltown Road.
Yeah. Uh, and anything heavier, your heavier GVW trucks would make the right on Liberty. They'll head over to Boxh Hall Road and over through Milbour. I haven't gotten the actual detours
coming down through Springfield, but u I would imagine you're going to hit Maple A and that's going to be it. You're going to have to make a left there. So, um, and they did comment that the, uh, that the detours are going to have
to be constantly adjusted. Um, when you look at something like Miltown Road, when it gets, I mean, if you have the littlest problem over there, it it's backed up all the way to Liberty. Um, just assuming you're going to find impatient drivers are going to
start wandering around through Laurel Drive and Smithfield, which is not really going to help them at all. But, um, I think for myself, I think that detours is going to be a little more difficult
than a bridge. >> It would be easier to build another bridge on the side as a temp bridge. Yeah. than it would to >> Wow. >> There's no way commercial is gonna stay >> Wow. >> going up the box. >> Oh,
>> all the GPS, >> you know. So, you do have, you know, some big trucks. You have a lot of tractor trailers. So, again, this is according to them. They're going to tweak this as they move along. >> And it's a prefab bridge though, right?
>> Yeah. So, thank God it's in the summertime and hopefully it won't end up getting pushed into the school year because I can't imagine that happening. But they seem to be fairly confident they did all the
work. There will be some early preliminary work going on prior to the project, but it's not going to affect the traffic at all. It'll be off to the side of the road. Has [snorts] there ever been a a a car count on Morris Avenue? Ryan,
>> I believe they did it um when they did the repaving a few years back. I don't know what it is. I have a contact to the state. I don't know if that guy still works there. >> It's got to be thousands >> daily. >> I mean, this this these conversations have been going on probably what six, seven years.
>> Yes. Yeah. They actually did a presentation I think back in 19 is when they first approached this with with this. And I know for a fact coming out of Union on a regular day around 8:30 9:00 the traffic is backed up all the
way down past oh god deep into Union down by college >> way to CVS. I mean, >> oh, it's too long. >> A long it it can take you a half hour to just get from the Springfield line down to Kane.
>> Absolutely. >> Lights that the light on Miltown not going to be sufficient to flow that traffic through. >> But those are all things they they did speak about. I guess we're going to get a little deeper into it in the near
future. unfortunately needs to happen and we hope the flow of the water underneath the bridge. >> Yeah, >> we eagerly await those plans. >> Any other questions for Director Bcher?
Captain Westover, >> are you good in terms of your report? >> Yes, sir. Okay, we are moving on to Alex's second favorite part of the meeting. Uh, I'll make a motion to adopt regular
meeting minutes of April 28th, 2026 and regular and executive meeting minutes of May 12th, 2026 as emailed. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> I We're catching up. >> We're doing great.
Uh, new business. Ordinance is on second reading. Madam clerk, the floor is yours. >> Ordinance 202612. This ordinance grants renewal of a municipal consent to Comcast of New Jersey LLC to construct,
connect, operate, and maintain a cable television and communication system in the Township of Springfield, Union County, New Jersey. >> Mr. Mr. Mr. Mayor, I'll make a motion to uh adopt ordinance 2026-12 as read by Madame Clerk and publicized in township
website on June 25th, 2026. >> Second. >> All right. First, we're going to open up a public hearing on this ordinance. If there are any public comments on this ordinance, please step up to the microphone now. Public hearing is closed. Um, is there
any discussion up here? We've we've discussed this ordinance. Um, Madame Clerk, can we have a roll call? >> Committeeman Weber, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser, >> yes. >> Mayor Laer, >> yes. Next, her ordinance is on first reading.
Madam Clerk, >> ordinance 2026-14. This ordinance amends the land use provisions set forth in chapter 35 of the township code by permitting car washes as conditional use within the highway commercial zone district
pursuant to section 35-41 conditional use thereby amending appendix A schedule of zoning limitations of chapter 35 to include car washes as a permitted conditional use with the highway commercial zone district establishing specific
conditional use standards for car washes within section 35-41.2 specific requirements and adding a definition of a car wash within section 35-7 definitions. >> I will make a motion to adopt ordinance
2026-14 as read. My madame clerk >> second. Oh, with a I I will note before that second that the township uh website will publicize this on June 25th, 2026 with a final hearing hearing scheduled
for July 14th, 2026. >> Second. >> Um we're going to have a discussion on the ordinance. Uh Mr. Dow, would you care to contribute? >> Can you explain because we did this we we made a first reading already. What was the changes coming from the
planning? So, we did, as uh Deputy Mayor Kaiser just mentioned, this resolution, sorry, this ordinance was actually introduced at the last meeting. Um, that was then sent over to the planning board for a consistency review and for any recommended recommended changes. The planning board did come back with a
couple minor changes, but they were although they were minor, they were significant enough that uh I thought it would make sense to reintroduce the ordinance rather than going through the amendment process. Um the changes from the initial first reading uh really were
just to make it clear that the this is both the westbound side of 22 and the eastbound side of 22 that there'll only be one permitted car wash going each direction. Um it also clarified the uh the limitations in terms of adjacent
property boundaries and and the proximity of one car wash to another. uh and also specifies that the um that there are no manual car washes permitted that it's it's automatic car washes only. Those are the those are the principal changes from the last version
of the ordinance and generally speaking this ordinance allows for car washes in the HC zone uh which is highway commercial and essentially is the area adjacent to the route 22 corridor through Springfield.
>> Any questions on Mr. Dow's uh comments. If not, Madame Clerk, can we please call the role? >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. >> Yes. >> Command Weber. >> Yes. >> Mayor Lurer. >> Yes. All right, we're moving on to resolutions. Uh please let me know if
anybody on the DES would like a resolution pulled. 2026187 202618 2026189 1 9 0 1 1 91 1 92
1 93 1 94 1 95 1 96 1 97 1 98 8 1 199
2000 2011 2012. >> Is there a make a motion to adopt the following resolutions by consent agenda? Uh resolutions 2026-187
through resolutions 2026-202. >> Is there a second? I will second that. >> Madame clerk, please call the role. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser, >> yes. >> Committeeman Weber, >> yes. >> Mayor Laer, >> yes. Uh, no discussion and action items today. Now to Deputy Mayor Kaiser's
favorite part of the meeting. I will make a motion to adopt payroll and invoices for the period of June 10th, 2026 through June 23rd, 2026 in the amount of 4,9292,854.881. 81 cents. >> I will second that. Madame clerk.
>> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Weber. >> Yes. >> Mayor Laugher. >> Yes. >> Um, we have no correspondence. Uh, now is the time for public comment on any governmental issue. If anybody from the public wishes to speak to the township
committee on any governmental issue, now is the time to do so. I am going to uh close public comment and now we have uh an executive session. Madame clerk, >> resolution number 6.23.26. Whereas article six of the open public
meeting act provides that the public body may hold a close session and whereas the township committee will during this meeting enter into discussion of the following matters. attorney client privilege and personnel. Whereas the matters to be discussed in the closed session are to remain in strictest of confidence by all township
committee members in furtherance of their fiduciary duties of the Springfield Township of Springfield. Now therefore, be it resolved, matters discussed at this meeting will be released to the public when the reason for discussing and acting upon them in closed session no longer exists.
So, I'll make a motion to adopt that executive session resolution as read by Madame Clerk. >> I will second that. >> Uh uh before we do an all in favor action may be taken. >> All in favor? I >> I
>> We are enclosed. should write you up. >> You're good. >> Is there a Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> We're adjourned.