What the hell? Where do this? Are we ready yet? We should have it done by 7 o'clock. The public's here. Good evening everybody. Hope everybody
had a good Memorial Day. This meeting is being held in accordance with the public law of 1975 chapter 231. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a notice sent to Star Ledger, the local source
and posted in the main lobby of the admissible building and on the township website. And please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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 for our servicemen here and abroad. Thank you. Okay. Roll call. Mayor Weber Yuber.
Hey, Chris. Do you want to You answer, Chris. Sorry. That's cuz I was marching with him yesterday. Linda and I, we did the whole parade together. Handed out flags and everything. I was there, too. Whoa.
Everybody left. Everybody left. Linda and I. That's all I'm going to say. Mayor Yuber. Yes. Mayor Laer present. Committeeman Capidis here. Committeeman Kaiser here. Committeeman Weber here. Proclamations
and announcements. Springfield 55 plus residents calendar is here for June. Um Pride Pride Month flag raising is Friday, May 30th at 4:30 at Chisum
Community Center. Rain or shine. Garbage collections will increase through twice a week starting this week through Labor Day. Collection days are Monday and Thursday, Tuesday, and Friday. The farmer farmers market opens
on Monday, June 2nd. New hours are 1 to 6. Food trucks will arrive earlier with some great lunch options. Townwide garage sale Saturday and Sunday June 7th and 8th from 9 to 6. Permit
fees are waved. But do you want them to call call and you you want a record of who haven't grass? You don't. Do you want them? Yes. If they call in, they can be put on a list. If you call in, you can be put on a
list. Uh let me see. Where am I? Primary election is Tuesday, June 10th. Polls will open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. And just one thing, mayor, that means that our next township committee meeting will be Wednesday, June 11th.
Yes. All right. Uh bulk pickup is scheduled for Wednesday, June 11th. Please have all bulk items out by Tuesday evening, not a week before, please. Township of Springfield. We're going to
2025 budget discussion of budget. Public hearing motion to open. Let me have a motion open to the Do we go to the budget first and then go open? Right.
Is it going to this? It is. Right. I put it on out. I want to do it now. Okay. May I have a motion to open the public hearing? Motion. Second. Yeah, but they don't I gota open it after they also present the budget. It's
all part of the same. Okay. Part of the same. Okay. All right. Okay. Um, yeah, it works. Um, so everybody knows this is our favorite time of the year. It's
our uh it's time to adopt our municipal budget for the year of 2025. Um, this is my seventh year chairing the uh uh uh budget subcommittee. Uh uh my
co-chair was committ Harris, but I've had the pleasure of working with every single one of us uh over the last seven years. So, everyone has had a taste of the budget uh committee which is an intensive uh uh uh subcommittee of the
uh town council. Uh every year the process starts uh uh towards the end of the last uh calendar year. Uh that is when our township administrator, our CFO, uh the members of the budget committee sit down with each and every
department head uh uh gather uh uh ask questions, realize what uh uh each department needs to sustain itself, uh what it wants to do in the next coming year. Um there is a constant back and
forth uh uh every over the next few months of of where we can cut, where we can make improvements, where we can be leaner, where we want to invest more uh uh money in so that we continue to uh meet the expectations of uh the township
residents and its businesses. Um as I said, this is the seventh year that I've chaired this. Uh it does certainly does not get easier. uh uh but we always start out with a few select uh objectives. Uh it's maintaining
services. We never want to cut uh uh uh the levels of service that our residents expect. Um ensuring that police and fire are adequately staffed, adequately have the funding to meet uh the needs of the town. Uh making sure that our DPW is
able to uh pick up leaves and uh and plow snow. uh making sure that we uh collect the garbage uh uh maintaining and and resurfacing roads uh throughout the town so that we have
uh not dilapitated uh roadways that our residents would not want to expect. We want to make sure and and it's been since day one of uh of reducing our long-term debt uh uh which is just previous administrations or our
administration. We don't want to burden uh uh future administrations with uh debt that straddles us from accomplishing uh future goals. Um we're always looking to control our expenditures as best as we can. Never looking to spend more than we need. Um
and always always understanding uh uh that taxes are a huge impact on our residents and trying to limit uh that cost every single year. And when we start with those objectives, it's then that we're able to uh uh through hard
work meet our uh uh uh meet with the department heads and form our budget. Uh uh our budget this year makes key investments uh uh throughout the town. Uh it's putting new money uh uh and
investing in a new pocket park at the intersection of Oakland and Mountain Avenue. It's roadway improvements from digital crosswalks through a number of locations throughout the town. Uh I it's making sure that our public safety equipment uh uh body cameras that are
statemandated uh uh by the town so our our uh police force has the best body cameras. It's updating our IT equipment for the police uh uh and making sure that uh we continue to uh invest in an
IT infrastructure that meets the 21st century. It's it's buying new equipment for DPW, like a a vehicle lift for the garage so that we can make uh in-house repairs rather than going outside and costing
the town uh uh inordinate expenses. Uh uh continuing to invest in our parks and update our playground equipment, making road repairs. We invested another uh n a million dollars
in over in road repairs. Uh uh u making investments to our buildings from uh a new generator that will hopefully keep town hall going in an event of uh inclement weather that might take out uh
uh the township uh town hall for in a prolonged amount of time. Prior we were only to able to keep uh uh essential employees but now we'll be able to keep the entire town hall running. Um it's making infrastructure
to to to pump stations to control our our our sanitary and uh storm water improvements. So we every single year try to invest in new projects. We try to limit the tax increases uh as as best we can. And I think we've all been there
where we know uh uh what you get for your dollars. Uh your tax bill consists of uh basically three parts. Uh uh we collect and we remit. So we collect the portion for the schools, we collect the
portion for the counties, we collect the portion for the library. Uh library is very minuscule. That's about 1% of your uh uh your tax bill. Uh a little under that is the county government which is like 16%. Uh your schools are about 50
50% and your town is is about 33% of uh of your budget for so for about a third of your tax bill goes towards maintaining the township services whether that be police, fire, DPW uh uh making sure that we meet our
needs. the the the vast majority goes to school and county. Uh for this year, uh the it certainly was a a trying year as we continue to face in inflationary
numbers. Uh uh uh that cost every cost to increase uh uh across uh the board. uh salaries continue to go up, insurance, health care, uh which are the leading driver for our tax bill. So we
are looking at a $146 per average assessed household uh uh throughout the township. Uh this year we continued the effort to make sure that the residents
have a direct uh way to to to to talk and review with the budget committee. Um we had a number of members volunteer uh uh their time this year. Uh the budget committee, the citizens budget review committee met a number of times. So we
want to thank the the the uh the the four members that gave their time over the last few months. Monty Ma Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mara uh James and Melanie who uh gave their time, met with us, reviewed it, saw uh uh what the township was doing uh tried
to offer some suggestions that we continue to look to incorporate in years going forward uh uh as we make it an accessible uh and transparent budget process. Uh with that being said, uh Committeeman
Lauer, would you like to make any remarks? Sure. These microphones, man. Um so when we sat down with uh our department heads, you know, everybody
gives us a really long wish list. Um, and you know, Alex and myself and Diane and John have the unenviable task of telling everybody no. Um, and you know, I think, you know, I
want to give a lot of credit to Alex here. Uh, he was the, uh, driving force behind the budget like he has been for seven years. Um, hopefully he'll take it on an eighth year. I want to give Diane and John also a ton of credit. We had a couple tough conversations about where
we could possibly cut um and without compromising service and I feel that we've done that. Obviously, uh $146 on average per house is not where we want to be, but the cost drivers being the county and the board of education are we can't really do
anything about that. So, um I I am enthusiastically uh in support of this budget because it doesn't cut services for residents. Um, and I think that's our one and only mandate. Uh, keep the town safe and don't cut services. Um, so
those are my comments. Anybody uh uh the township committee have any questions, comments? I have. So, uh, the the increase right now is 146 for the year per average household at this point, right? Okay.
Um, break it down. That's $1216 per household on average. That allows everybody in this township, our employees, to continue working. Um, getting a a modest cost of
living raise, keep services going. Um, Alex, you did this for seven years already. and I was with you for a year and like you said, everybody's been up there with you. The one thing I can say, two
things. Number one is there's not one time in seven years where I doubted what the budget was or was there any kind of waste or or or frivolous um spending on our part. And number
two, for the last two years, we've opened it up to the residents. We we did not pick anybody. We we we we opened it up. We only got four out of What were you given? Nine spots. I I don't even Yeah, we were giving nine spots or so and only four people
responded. And thank you to those four. I I don't know how much more transparent you can be. And as a taxpayer here, um I'm glad with the budget. I am very satisfac uh satisfied with with the
modest increase and it wasn't uh exorbitant and thank you to all the committee who worked so hard on getting this budget done for 2025. Yes, I would like to echo uh both Deputy Mayor Laer and and Committeeman Weber's
uh comments. Um and again once thank our chair um for spearheading this uh with your breath of knowledge and experience doing this for so many years. You really have uh good grasp of where we were and where we're headed. Um I know sometimes this can seem to be like an
insurmountable task, but I appreciate your efforts and the committee's efforts and I appreciate the collaborative and transparent effort um that we have underwent the last two years. Um, I'd like to thank the volunteers for coming forward to to to kind of get a peak
behind the curtain, if you will, about what it is we talk about when we have these tough conversations and the things that we have to consider uh when when going through a process like this. And uh to have a to have a budget, that's uh something that we can be proud of and
fully support is uh not an easy thing to do. and we have uh consistently shown that we're willing to put in the effort to do what we need to do to con contain and consistently have those services delivered to our residents year after year. And uh I appreciate the efforts of
the uh committee as well of all of our township employees and township leadership. Uh just to uh thank Yeah, you go. Thank you. You go first. You go first. No, thank you,
Alex. No, thank you, committee. I thank the residents. I wish we had more. Um, I think it was very good with the residents giving their opinion of it and they approved it. So, uh, what two Chrises says, everything
that they said, so I don't want to prolong this, but thank you very much. Did a great job. So, as always, you guys bring up uh some points just to to talk through the uh with the I think going
forward as we progress into next year. I I I think we've discussed as a committee of trying to retain uh uh some of the citizens. Uh it's kind of tough. This was a last year was a completely new kind of like subcommittee uh community
committee that kind of met. Um it's very tough. uh to learn the budget in one single year. Uh uh to it's the first time you're looking at a document. It it it's taken me a long time to to learn everything from the first year. Uh and with more experience, you trust me, you
do better and ask better questions. So I think going forward, we're going to try to retain uh the same people that met this time. I think we're going to try to meet uh uh certainly earlier uh uh introduce them to the process uh at the start of when we start
reviewing it and and and seek their guidance throughout uh uh so as they learn it a little bit more. was completely new uh individuals from last year who wanted to participate. Um uh uh so retaining that knowledge
allowing them to expand and review it of course we'll still certain be certainly be open. I think there's like nine positions uh uh created by the uh the the ordinance that we established. So certainly seeking more people uh but
trying to keep the four uh on and and moving forward and in in that I think will help us. Now there's a public I'm going to open up to the public. Do they have any questions they like to ask?
Seeing none, I'd like to move to close the public comment portion. Closed. I'll second. All right. Thank you, gentlemen. I
158. Yep. Alex, I would invite you to make the motion. Make a motion to adopt resolution 2025158 as read by matter clerk. Second.
Okay. Who second? Okay. Committeeman Capes. Well done. Yes. Deputy Mayor of Blauer. Uh, yes. Committeeman Kaiser. Uh, uh, yes. With one final comment.
Every the every year comes up that, you know, taxes are huge uh impact on our residents, but all of us are felt that way, right? We're all of us elected are up here. We all want to try to do the best we can and uh uh we're all in this
together. This whole budget affects everybody in the township including us and and we try to do the best we can every single year. So with that being said, I vote yes. Committeeman Weber u very happily yes. Mayor Huber.
Yes. budget public hearing agenda items or public comment on any agenda. My agenda item. And just to put my two cents in, if anybody from the media is watching this and is going to write that we post pass the largest budget ever, that is what happens every
year. We pass the largest budget ever. It goes up every year. It goes up every year. That that that's common sense. It's not a sensational headline. Please. Nobody from public on on agenda items. Actually, uh uh expenditures are down,
but revenues were also down. So that that that's why. So it's not frivolous spending. See none. Closed portion of the public. Next reports administration. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Few items if I may. We spoke
about uh PSCG. We're going to be working on a gas man on from Milbour Alvin Terrace. It has now been postponed. When we get an update, we'll have more information for everyone. But this is what happens with PSEG. They give us information and then next thing
you know, they've changed their minds. So work will continue on Lindon between Wabino and Aasa. Uh residents expect detours during this work. Planned paving projects we're working on. We're going out for engineering bids for full length
of Highlands Millan overlay with miscellaneous curb repairs. Full length of Windsor. Same thing. Curb repair and milling overlay. project includes upgrades to any DE New Jersey Drainage inlets, frames, and grates and
regulatory signage. Uh we at public works will take care of all the internal televised inspections so we won't have to go out to get that done on all our storm and sanitary system that we'll be uh working by. uh ball fields. We're
we're still obviously working on ball fields, cutting everything in all of our parks, but we also had a meeting with our supplier of equipment for our ball fields. We're looking at possibly a demo on something that would help kind of break up the clay and and make it a
little bit softer and smoother. So, we're going to see what that demo shows and then we'll go from there. Before we do anything, we'll keep everybody in the loop on it. I wanted to discuss, if I may, Oakland Park. I had the survey was started last week. It'll be completed this week where the corners of the
property will be staked so I'll know exactly where we are. Then we're going to go to removal of we got some work to do. Removal of trees. There's some scrubby trees left there that have to go. Grading has to be done and drainage has to be done before any of the nicities happen. So that'll probably be
the start. I also I think I had mentioned that six eight weeks ago we applied for a grant with the county and I'm very happy to announce we were successful and we received a grant. I would like to thank the county for their generosity to us. I would like to thank
our team. We had our outside engineering firm GPI Andrew helped us tremendously. Our our internal engineer Mike Disco helped put the the grant together. did a fantastic job and we were awarded the sum of
$416,000 for Oakland Park. So, Oakland Park between receiving that park for a dollar and the $416,000 that we're going to receive uh should cost the residents nothing. So, we're we're thrilled with this. I think it's going to make a great
little pocket park. We've been working on security cameras for the for the township building here. Also, our DPW, we've had some issues there and the pool parking. We've had some issues up there where the the dump site is. Uh we met
the other day with the new CEO of um the Y. Paul retired recently. So, we have a new young lady that actually I knew from before. She's taken over. So, we walked the pool, made sure everything was ready, and we opened this past weekend.
I didn't hear any problems unless someone else did. I'm sure the water was a little chilly, but that'll warm up in a couple of months. The heaters Yeah, the heater. All right, I think they're on order. Mr. Mayor, uh, the traffic
boxes. If you look in front of you, there's a copy from, uh, Applied Graphics and also you'll see a copy of the boxes where they're located. Applied Graphics is someone that we use currently in town. They do our work on our police cars. Hey, John,
before we go into the boxes, because that's going to be a whole discussion. One quick question about Oakland Park. before we start doing demolition, we're going to make sure to, you know, we're we're going to engage the residents that live around there and
have public meetings um to make to keep residents involved in that process. Can I ask you a question if I may? Absolutely. On on that part of it, on the removal and the grading and things, there's really not a lot for them to I'm just I'm talking about meeting, you know, not just I want to do more than
meet our legal requirements here. This is I I understand. I just don't want to delay. No, I kind of, you know what I'm saying? That is part that's not the design like or anything. That's just getting it ready. Sure. And I agree with you. We need to have some public forum on on as we go forward. But I, you know,
you may see some work being done again because rough it out. I I understood. I just want to make sure that we're keeping the public we're going to give the public plenty of opportunity to come before us and there you go. Give their concerns on Yes, I agree.
Min Kaiser, did you? Um, no. I'll reserve my comments for future. Okay. Um, so back on the traffic boxes, Applied Graphics does work for us currently in town. They do our police cars. We've had, you know, very good luck with them. They do excellent job.
You'll see there's a copy of the quote that we received from them also. And the boxes, if you look at the quote, they'll do they'll do as little as three boxes so we can kind of get a look at them and see what you guys think. And I'll show you the samples that they brought in. We
can hold up and pass. Story time. I don't know how you guys want to do this. So you you tell me how you want to you want to just pass these around. You want to um You know what? You wanna you wanna
play you want to play Vanna White? So, let me just let me just give you one thing that the owner of Applied Graphics told us that they've learned over the years is that if you go with a solid background, like let's say we just put a a navy blue on the box with the town
seal on it. He said what ends up happening when you do that is now you've created a field that's blank for somebody to start putting stickers and stuff on. So he said what they found is that with something that's busy, he said then they don't have a spot to put
something on it that becomes very visible. It kind of discourages everybody from doing it. So that was his recommendation is is one of the flowers. The nice thing is with these if if it should get damaged, he can come out and take off whatever side is damaged and
just replace that. He doesn't have to take off the whole box. He also offered us there's a an additional film that will resist graffiti as far as paint. It can be cleaned off. It's a couple more dollars, but it's something you might want to consider.
Side down. Upside down. And he can do those in a fairly short time. I have a question. Yes, sir. Um, these images, where do they where did they how are they um where do they come from? The the images that were used, these these
ones are standard. He's got these. You can go with original art if you wish, but there there's an additional charge. It's a hundred and I think it was $120 an hour. Okay. and and it would take him probably he said between an hour and a half and
two hours for for original art to be put on because I again I'm not you know obviously we're looking at cost but I thought it would be kind of nice if we had some Springfield background to it but if that's not going to be cost effective then we shouldn't do it but I've just
Well, could I make a recommendation? What if we what if we pick something to try and if you guys are happy with it, maybe we do this on prominent boxes that you really want to do something different, we could always do that. Yeah, we we I mean we have historical paintings and and and and monuments and
and plaques throughout the town and maybe something that represents that on the decal would and again maybe in more prominent places might, you know, be a little bit more wellreceived and it might even deter people doing not nice things to the boxes even more. Yeah. And I mean they do have, you know, I don't
know if I particularly like them, but he had some others that he kind of brought with us. You know, something like this inside of a watch. And again, the idea is that it's busy, so you don't have a clear field. This was just a village scene
that he had also forth and the rest were somebody did Benjamin Franklin off of money. So, so that's kind of the idea. kids, you know, it's you guys tell me what way you want to go and whenever you're ready and we'll uh contact him and get him started. So So
when you went around and you looked at the boxes, um last time I had went I I was certain that we had about five that were desperately needed. Do you have a count to that or you you were saying about five? Well,
here's the beauty though. Keep this in mind. included in his price. He will do all the prep work, clean them off, sand them down. We do nothing. So, whatever one you pick, we don't have to worry if it's been done or not been done. It's it's taken care of. That That's one of
the good things. If you want, um, we can go out and if I've got pictures, but they weren't, um, Robbie hadn't done them where we could identify where they were, unless you could figure out by just looking at where they were located. So, I'm I'm going to piggy back on what
Chris said and and while I like the images that you just showed me, I love them because they're spring now and I'm going to love them because they're summer. I don't know how much I'm going to love them in October, December, and February. What, you know, looking at sunflowers? Sure. Is it optimistic? It
is. I I'm wondering if it is maybe small money spent to have something that is 365 that can be used all year round. That's not going to be, you know, I I
don't know. Just tell me what it is and we'll and we can we can, you know, it doesn't necessarily have to be Springfield historical photos. It maybe could be historical landmarks in town, like photos, actual photos of landmarks in town that people see and identify as
part of Springfield. I mean, we don't we don't have to determine that tonight. I mean, we've got time. just, you know, you guys decide what it is and we'll get pictures over to them and we can get pricing from them and go from there. I mean, by the next meeting, if you tell me how many boxes you want to do or
whatever, will the the the the information that you got here, right? Yeah, it's from Robbie. Yeah. Is um these are the ones uh is this all the boxes? That's I believe these like Okay. These are in our like downtown, not these were the boxes that everybody
walks by and has access to. Right. So that that's what I just thought. If you notice, these are not on Mars Avenue. No, no, no. These are all in town. You know, can we just, you know, flowers are great. I always love flowers. Uh uh Jay, if you're listening, flowers on
Avenue. Um but uh maybe clouds, you know, something like that. You know, I I I think it should be a mix. I don't uh uh uh overgoing on too much historical, you know, we probably don't need that on every single box, but uh uh uh and not
every sing I I would hate if every box had the same image, too. I think it should be kind of uh different. So maybe we can do a mix of standard ones that he has and and a mix of like creative I'm I'm gonna imagine that some of these
boxes would contain uh street signs that would have indicators, you know, welcome to Springfield. Uh silly as it is, the Simpsons, you know, that is a When was the Simpsons contest for the for the township? About 15 years ago. About 15
years ago, right? 15 years. There's a lot of Springfield. There's a lot of things around that could be used. And for I just think we just need creative. Uh we we'll figure it out. But okay, I love that we've identified it. I think we're all in agreement that we need to
make these improvements. I think it's a great thing that we reached out. Uh it'll save us in the long run of in-house work um and allowing him to get it done. Um, so I think over the next uh uh couple weeks I think we'll identify what kind of designs we want, but I I do
think this is a simple cleanup of a something that's an industrialized look that brings down uh uh the the the view and we'll hopefully make it more pretty. Can I let let me say one more thing that was uh mentioned and I don't remember
who brought it up. I remember uh Robbie Bcher brought up head of DBW. His idea was to give every department a box and have every box in town have something relating to the department, recreation, DPW, police, fire, which I
didn't think was a bad idea. I love that idea. I think the only problem with that though is and and I think if you look at what are you going to put on, I think you're going to end up with a solid field with the fire department symbol on it. And and again, I'm not saying that he's 100% right, the owner, but he said
when you do that, you're gonna get stickers on it. Agree. Yeah. No, I and I don't want him I don't want to see him get defaced after we spend the money. No. No. The the the point should be that uh Right. It's trying to think outside the box of making it something more at
home where you're not going to face it. Exactly. I I agree heavily with what you said last meeting with when you make something look industrial or governmental it it's going to be doesn't matter. It's stickers on it all day long. I really
like like kind of doing some kind of design with street signs, something creative, not just a stereotypical uh uh insignia of that department or the township. I think that's that's a mistake. I have had a I've had three
residents come up to me and say that the stripped aluminum boxes themselves look worlds better than the than the stickered and graffitied green ones. I agree with that. Um so I mean my two cents I I I don't see why we I mean
there's by my count there's 20 boxes on here between small and large. Um let's do a little bit of all of it. I mean, we've got 20 boxes. It's not going to be 20 street signs. It's not going to be 20 flowers. It's going to be a bunch
of a bunch. Like, yeah. Like, let's Yeah. Like, you know, I think I would love to see what Deputy Chief Mrron's guys come up with. It better not just be a uh, you know, just a fire emblem, you know? I mean, like, I I think I think doing some creativity is good. I think
building community is good. I would love a box for the 250th anniversary, for instance. like, you know, just pride and community. My car on the box. There you go. Old school. Old school on the box. Just get
the spoiler fixed. Anyway, I think it's the right direction. 100%. Wonderful. Okay. If there are any other questions, I'd be happy to answer. If not, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Minutes? None.
New business. Okay, we have a first read. No second reads on any ordinance. First read ordinance 202516. This ordinance amends the land use provisions at chapter 35 of the
township code governing freestanding air conditioning air conditioning equipment and permanent generators. Mr. Mayor, I move for approval on first reading ordinance 202516 as read by Madame Clerk with
publication in the local source June 5th, 2025 with final hearing on June 24th, 2025. I second his motion comment. Oh, I'm sorry. No discussion. Yeah. Can we have clarification on this, please? What's
this? Is in reference to a house that sits on a corner lot. You're on a corner lot. You have two front yards. We do not allow air conditioning. This is a house that sits on a corner lot. You have two front yards at that point. We do not allow
central air or generators in front yards. So, corner lot has to go before the planning board in order to get a variance to be able to put that in the front yard. Um, this was recommended that we send them instead to the
planning board. This would then go to our technical review committee, which is which is myself, Bob Herbert, and Mike Disco to see if it uh it's not intrusive or obtrusive to any of the neighbors that surround this, you know, a
particular house. So, we would still get a review on it, but in looking at it, um we found very few actually that we've looked at over the the past five years. There was a there was a handful. It's not It's not that we got people coming in every day that are on a corner lot
looking to put a generator in the front. You could still put a generator. You have to put it in the backyard of the house. Yeah. I got to be honest. I'm not a huge fan of taking uh authority away from our boards that we appoint. That's just my
two cents. I don't understand why uh uh I I could understand um uh uh uh that that one street that we worked hard in green that that those
individuals unfortunately how it was built have two front yards and they don't have a backyard. that I could understand because yes uh uh that's a a a lot but a corner lot and I'm sure we have more than that than our evergreen situation which we faced last year. Uh
they do have a backyard like there's they have a backyard to put it just because the uh if you're going through it I don't know what the size of generators might take some space of your your your your backyard but to then kind
of put it in your front yard I I I don't know. I I'm I'm uncomfortable. Well, they would have to fence it in or or or you know shield it with some shrubbery kind of thing. Uh but again, if if they don't want to they don't want to put it in the backyard, then they would still then have to go
back to the planning board to get approval to put it on the the front yard. This doesn't change the process that's in place when for when the land use board approval is necessary. Uh what
it does is it used you're changing the threshold to which you get the land use board involved the for as it does. Well, it's it's I think the in my understanding is that the intent of it was to make it clear that you can't have you can't have
these in the front yard for for any home unless it's unless it's a corner lot. And for a corner lot, it still can't be in the front yard if that's where the main entrance to the building is. Yeah. There's on the back. So clarifying question. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Clarif clarifying question because for
corner lots, there are two front yards and and the the ordinance wasn't very clear in that regard. So that that a potential homeowner on a corner lot could uh under our current rules and
regs, right? They could apply uh uh they could apply to do this uh now and just go through before a board. There was the problem is they have to wait for the board to meet and they would have to wait for the TRC to meet. Well, I mean
the the TRC meets more than monthly. We meet basically we will meet when somebody calls us and say that's what I'm saying. I mean right now a lot more flexibility from that standpoint. Right now the the the process is planning board. Yeah. Well, for some of these for some of the
provisions, the the the existing township code just allows the zoning officer to sign off on c on certain things. This puts the the um review committee um in some cases in place of or in concert with and they would have
to pay for zoning officer TRC $300. $300 and and versus if you go before a board, what's that fee? Do we know? I I don't think it's a whole lot more. So, it's basically about the same. Um it's just timing. I uh the other just just the
other element here was putting in the buffers. That wasn't in the that wasn't in the ordinance comprehensively previously and that's in terms of well, I mean the ordinance now defaults to what the planning board would say in terms of needing a buffer,
right? I think it I think it anticipates what Yeah. what a requirement that might would might have otherwise I don't have I don't have a problem providing for a buffer ordinance if you will where I where my hiccup comes in
is we go in front of the planning board that's that's a process that's uniform a TRC I mean what if I have a zoning officer who's what if I don't have a zoning officer or what if my like I
believe we have citizen boards. We should go in front of the citizen boards. That's my two cents. I'm a no. I don't think a a gener a a generator isn't done lightly. I don't
think one day a homeowner works wakes up and says they're throwing in a generator. That takes time process. Uh uh it's an large expense to begin with. uh uh uh the boards meet regularly. I don't think
planning board has been off uh uh one month at all. Um uh even zoning meets regularly. Um I don't any I'd like to hear other
committee uh opinions. So, corner lots are kind of hard. Um, and I'll tell you, there's one on my block that uh has a generator installed in the front yard and and they have shrubs around it and it looks
proper. I I don't have a problem with it. I I think what you have to look at is is the uniqueness of the corner lot. The uniqueness of the corner lot is the anchor of the block. And
um sometimes it doesn't afford them the privacy, the fencing. It doesn't afford them a lot of things. That's that the house right next door and all the way up the block until the next corner house can. I'm looking through
this. I don't see anything that is detrimental to any block that it would be. Um, I I don't really have a problem with with it as it's written. Just I I just think they're in a bad spot. I think people in corner lots are
in a bad spot. They have to be your your home doesn't suddenly become a corner lot, right? Like we don't we don't suddenly make them a corner lot. They're buying a house. They know they're a corner lot. There's perks and there's negatives, right? Uh uh uh uh to a
corner lot. I I you know I like the buffer language. There's no doubt the incorporating that and making that uniform is is I think a smart uh uh thing that you should not just throw out a generator uh uh putting
that but I I I I don't know if there's much difference in my mind of asking the TRC versus the board currently. So certain s certain situations from my perspective change and I'll give you an example and I use
it all the time. I use Chris's block at Henshaw. You know uh young young f young two young couple moves in and you know they're in their early 20s and they're not thinking about having any kids right now but unfortunately they have a driveway that parks a car or two. 17 18
years later they got two kids. they got a driveway that they can't do anything about and their car is overhanging the sidewalk and there's not any, you know, circumstances change. And my my argument to that would be, you know, some people
need generators just for um life- saving equipment at times. You know, whether it's they have to have air conditioning because of breathing issues or or so on. I I don't think you're going to see that many. I think we have
205 blocks in the township. I don't see you having that many people applying for for generators like that, especially with a cost of they already have but my point is they already have an avenue for it. Like it's not saying we're not current we don't
currently prohibit it. So like I'm I'm I'm just a little lost on that you already we already have a process for this. I like the buffer language. There's no doubt I would be I am very comfortable uh uh trying to amend it and move in the buffer language tonight or I don't know if we can. What John? What
was the what was the genesis of this whole entire ordinance? We had a resident that had a health issue and wanted to put a generator in what was the front yard. Okay. And they had to go before they they were trying to do it
quickly. This was the special meeting, right? Yeah. So, go ahead. that they were trying. That's that's what kind of drove it. But but again, I'm not sure that that the board has ever turn someone down. They get approved. Yeah. Yes. I don't This was like an extra step
and not I I don't know if it's an to Alex's point, there was a process that already was established and this seems to be another step that's potentially not needed. The the buffer aside, well, it's not an extra. It's instead of going
to the the board, you go to the TRC. Yeah. It's it's creating it's creating a different process. It's creating a slightly different route that might be quicker to address instances which I I I would understand if you had a medical
concern, you're quickly I I just also I don't know how fast you can install a generator. I I can't imagine. One thing also I think you want to keep in mind is that Mike Disco look back to see how many of these we've had today. We've had like, you know, in the past five years, we've had three or four. I mean, it's
not like somebody's coming in every week looking to put a generator in the front yard. It's it's the exception, not the norm. So, we're talking about a handful over five years. I I my opinion hasn't changed.
I'm not I'm not I would move to table this ordinance. A second. I I need more thought on this. Yeah, I would move I I motion to table this ordinance. I did. Is that a roll call? Greg. Yes. Okay.
Okay. On a motion to move to table. Committeeman. Deputy mayor Lauer. Yes. Motion seconded by Committeeman Kaiser. Committeeman Capid. Yes. Committeeman Weber. Yeah. Mayor Yuber.
Yes. Okay. Moving on up. You did not take All right. Resolutions 20 25 147. Let me know if you want one pulled. 148 149
150 151 152 153 154 155. I'll make a motion to We've got more.
156 157. All 157. Okay. Y 158 we did. Okay. So I will adopt the following resolutions on consent agenda. Resolution 2025-147 uh
versus up to not versus resolution 2025-157 15 156. I would second that motion. Committeeman Kaiser. Yes. Deputy Mayor Laugher. Yes. Committeeman Capid. Yes. Committeeman Weber. Yes. Mayor Yuber,
yes. Resolution 2025157. This resolution is supporting the township's proposed on ongoing maintenance of the foot bridge spanning NJ DOT property adjacent to Meisel Park
within the township of Springfield. I'll make a motion to adopt resolution 2025-157 as read by madam clerk. I second discussion. Yeah. My question is has anything changed with this resolution? They're they're keeping
we're we're taking over the maintenance of the bridge, but it's still technically considered theirs or how was that? Well, this is so we don't have the form of agreement yet. It's it's going to be a license agreement. That's what that's what we were informed, but we
haven't seen the agreement yet. Before they put that effort in, they wanted a resolution that indicates the township committee's willingness to take over the maintenance obligation. Perfect. The license agreement will be will give the township specific rights to get in there, do whatever need needed to be
done to make sure that it's safe and and and sound. Perfect. All right. They just want they just want confirmation that we're good with all that and then you guys will negotiate that from that point forward or whatever. And I can assure you, we looked at the bridge. Now, the the bridge is a steel structure. It's wood on the top, but the rest of it
steel. We inspected it. There's no issues with the structure of the bridge. So, the only thing really we would be concerned about over the next 5 to seven years is probably replacing some wood. So, it shouldn't be a big deal. Just just question or not question comment.
um uh that that that supports this. Even if uh say that be was structurally deficient at one point in time, uh the likelihood of if that foot bridge does become structurally deficient and then
do allocating resources to fix that steel would be zero to zilch. I it would never happen. It would be permanently closed until that thing falled and fell into the river. uh they were not going to come out and replace wood. They would
never replace steel uh uh a foot bridge. So uh uh as many times as we knocked on their door. So it even if it was uh structurally def deficient, uh you're probably looking at never having it
again versus taking over the maintenance. So it's because that's a lifeline for there. There is no other way to get across the the without walking all the way around. That's literally a vital uh uh infrastructure to take the teams
over there. Yeah. And with our conversation with DOT, they had no idea where it came from, when it appeared. Yep. Yeah. We got nothing from them. Uh with the bridge. With the bridge. I'm sure it's there. Isn't there a train? They weren't even aware that it was there. So, exactly. If that thing ever
became It wasn't getting fixed. An issue. It was not again. It was done at a different time when people just did things at times. It was there over 50 years. There you go. Do it and ask for forgiveness later, which was 50 years later. So, yep. All right. I'm good with it. Just to warn you, once this
agreement is produced and reviewed and and the like, then we'll we'll be coming back again for office. Yeah, of course. Okay. Perfect. All right. Committeeman Weber. Yes. Committeeman Capid. Yes. Committeeman Kaiser. Yes. Deputy Mayor
Lauer. Yes. Mayor, you Mr. Mayor, I make the motion to accept the resignation of Kenneth Steel from the rent leveling board. Second. Thank you, Ken, for your work. All in. All in favor? I
Yeah, thank you. Enjoy. Colorado. Um, approve Colorado. Good for him. Approve the request by the soccer club for a $50 program credit from the Springfield Recreation Department to support the basket auction at the annual pool party
fundraiser on Friday, February 13th. Oh, I'm sorry. Were you supposed to read that? No. I have a motion. Motion to uh adopt that request by the soccer club. Second. Committeeman Weber. Yes. Minimman
Kaiser. Yes. Miniman Capes. Yes. Deputy Mayor Ler. Yes. Mayor U. Yes. Approved the hold on agreement with the Congregation Israel of Springfield Incorporated for use of 345 and 347
Mountain for purpose of fire department training prior to the building uh buildings being demolished. I uh move their request. Uh, Chief, can you can you give us clarification on this, please, first before it goes further, just so people
understand what's happening? Absolutely. Um, so that building, those two buildings are directly to the right of Congregation of Israel. If you're facing the building, they are two right now single family homes. They're going to be demolished. So, when that happens, we like to get our hands on these
buildings for some real time and real world training and to hone in our skills more. Dr. Josh Milo, who is a fantastic person, a premier dentist in this town, might I add. He uh orchestrated this. He put us in touch with the right people and uh we were able to get um approval
to start training on this. So, this will be something as soon as this resolution is passed um with their approval once they cap all of these uh utilities and they secure them, we'll start doing joint training with some neighboring towns there and have some real-time scenarios, of course, without fire just
to um to have more of a real world uh situations. I I have to ask, is it something that people can come by and watch? You know, inside the building, we're going to have a lot of doors bolted shut probably. Uh we're going to be stretching hose lines. People are going to see the apparatus around uh
getting in the building. Depending on how much demo we're doing, there might be holes in a lot of areas of the floors and the roof. So, I would say probably not safe for people to be walking around without hard hats on. But from the outside, absolutely. We're we're going to be doing multiple scenarios of lading the the building um coming out of
windows and, you know, ultimately rescuing our rescue dummies to simulate a real world uh situation with a person being removed. So, it'll be a multi multi-day event. uh probably going to be at least four days in a row and uh we're going to have multiple departments here probably uh assisting us with this. Let
us know when it's happening. Absolutely. Yeah. And could you put a notification out so people don't get spooked? 100%. Yeah. Once that once that happens, we'll definitely reach out to um the township for they can put a notification out. People are going to question why is there so many fire trucks on Mountain Avenue. Believe me, I I know the questions will come in. So, yeah,
that'll be easier to do it that way. Let the people know around that area. Y everything. And I like they did with the trees and all that. Drop off envelopes at everybody's house around there. I don't want I don't trust the mail. No office in the mail. I want it drop off
at every house. What do you want it dropped off at every house? Well, the a letter saying we're on on December 2nd. Yeah. We're going to be a lot of fire trucks, firemen, all that. Okay. Yeah. I mean, it's a busy roadway, so I think we're just going to have just the people driving up and down Mountain Avenue are
going to be the ones that are going to be uh noticing it and probably calling it in. The residents around there probably will see us there the first day, but we'll talk to everyone around us. Thank you. Thank you. I will uh move the request one more time. Second. Deputy Mayor Laugher. Yes.
Minimman Weber, yes. Minim Capid, yes. Miniman Kaiser, yes. Mayor Yuber, yes. Approval request from a nonprofit organization to wave building, electrical or plumbing permit fees associated with the above ground
swimming pool for the block 123 lot 8. I move their approval of the request. I will second that. Deputy Mayor Lauer. Yes. Committeeman Weber. Yes. Committee Capid. Yes. Man Kaiser. Yes. Mayor
Yuber. Yes. finance. Uh uh it's time to pay some bills. Uh I'll make a motion to adopt payroll and invoices for the period of May 14th, 2025 through May 27th, 2025 in the amount of 8,927,1103.
Second. Committeeman Kaiser. Yes. Deputy Mayor Laugher. Yes. Mini Capes. Yes. Weber. Yes. Mayor Yuber. Yes. But there was three cents in 30. Just make sure. Oh, did I say three? I don't want anybody.
Three cents. Three cents. No correspondence. Public comment on any government issue is open to the public. Recommen 47 Shel. Uh just the naming of the Oakland Park. When did that take place? Because last year I brought up that you know we should bring it out to
the residents in the school. named just it's just a temporary name so everybody knows what we're talking about. Okay. Yeah. Because I that my idea last year was put it out to the schools and put out to the town to maybe come up with a nice historic uh name or something. That's what the history of the town. Yeah. We're just we don't know
what to call it. So it's Oakland. We don't know everything we're going to do yet to it. And what the councilman said earlier, I think that's a great idea. Like like one of those on those uh on the uh utility boxes, those electric boxes, something like that, like on Mountain Avenue, like on Myel where everyone's seen them at the red lights, ones off outskirts of
the town, then maybe go simple or something. Great idea. I just I'm Springfield right there. You know, that's cool, right? Have to be a big traffic box. Or maybe we could just put the bulk the bulk dates on one of the the the boxes. Everybody knows, right?
Anybody else here? Anyone else? Oh, we got one more taker [Laughter] through comments. Um, I just want I don't know your name and address. Oh, Drew Stern by Berkeley
Road. Uh, my wife is the president of this, but I have a bigger mouth. So uh we are start starting has started a group called Springfield Women's 50 plus group.
It is uh it was a group that we felt was underserved in this town for many years and we are uh asking of course for everybody's help here. Uh we're planning all sorts of events. We've had we've had
60 63 women sign up already. That's how we just have signed up. A lot have approached us. That's a fairly big group for uh Springfield. And we're planning all sorts of activities from physical
activities, pickle ball, running, tennis, to book clubs to yoga, all all sorts of I don't want to take up your time. I know also from bridge, chess, everything that you can imagine. We're going to have
uh uh local all all sorts of board games and everything like that that and we're trying to use Chisum for a lot of these things and uh we we're of course asking for uh everybody's support in in supporting this group. It's a large
group and it's a lot of work. I know. Can can you get the dates over to Linda and we'll try and put something on the board when the meeting's coming up? So, so uh so here's here's what uh I was
just talking to John before. We're going to meet with Adam and get stuff from Drew and try to figure out how we we have to figure out. We've actually got some technical difficulties cuz we have a 55 and older group right now and we're
looking at a 50 and older group. There's a few speed bumps that got to get worked out. It's it's nothing major, but I will say this, anytime you get over 60 people to sign up for anything in any town, that's a success.
So, um, John's aware of it. I'm aware of it. We just got to get and talk to to the rec center and and and we just got to figure out how to put these worlds together and and figure it out. Um,
well, I was at the last meeting they had. Okay. And they had no idea things that were going on in the town. Really? There was the people in New York. Yeah. The 50 I was there. Mike was there. Yeah. I heard it went really well and and we Yeah, it went well. They were
very receptive to us. I mean it and all it was is just this discussion. Nothing nobody was going, you know, after us or anything like that, but they were happy and we can, you know, like things coming into town. Yep. They had no idea, right?
Yeah. Listen, it's it's it's obvious with this many people signing up, it's it's a it's a um underserved group. Yes, that that's that's looking for things to do and and fantastic. We've had a lot of It was, you know, a lot of women I've seen in
town and seen, you know, and they were saying we're doing Yeah, I heard it went well after your meeting that they had a lot of they were very happy that you went there because Oh, yes. Um, we were very appreciative of you you being there. Let us know and one of us will try and get there. At least one of us.
Let us know when it is. Okay. Ahead of time. I just knew I found out that day it was gonna happen. We ran over there, but you know, I went over there. Well, we gave you 10 minutes to get up to get get your shirt on and get over there. And we've had a lot of business support uh from Game Changers, the Halo Roses,
who is I I don't want to advertise for her, but it's a wonderful place, and they have thrown their support behind us 100%. And that's all we're looking for. This is a fun group. It's not political and we're just trying to
uh those not me the women there quite a few just want to have some fun playing all sorts of doing all sorts of events from parties to exercising to uh whatever it's needed reading clubs artificial we have somebody to teach
artificial intelligence we have all not me all sorts of things all right and I appreciate the time. Thank Yes. Have you gone to the first aid squad at all and talked to them about coming over and teaching them? We That That's a
great idea. We're looking for about By the way, we're looking for more ideas. We've talked to the police department. We've talked to Mike in the fire department. They're willing to throw our support behind us. So, yes, that that's a a great idea, a wonderful idea. Any
ideas that anybody up here has, we are open to. And I'm sure that we'd have five ten people want to do that because we have 20 people doing walking. I mean, uh, game changers, uh, has offered a free month for people who want to
exercise. There's all sorts of things. We're they're o my wife and the rest of the group are open to everything. I just sort of run the meetings because I'm not very shy and I have a big mouth. All right. All right. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for your time. I
appreciate it. Okay. I I have one thing, mayor. Um environmental know. Let me the public first before we get in trouble. Any other public? Seeing none portion is closed. All right. So, we had the
environmental meeting last week and the rails to trails people have been in in contact with the environmental club commission, sorry. and Rails to Trails was asking if the last time they were
here, it was presented that we were the only town in Union County that had not given a resolution or a letter of support for the Railstora program. We did that last year, didn't we? Didn't we do that last year? It was on tonight.
Sorry. Never mind. Uh, piggybacking off of environmental concerns, um, I was a I was approached by a number of other municipalities. I missed that. What? I'm sorry. Uh, uh, a
number of other Union County municipalities are are are attempting, uh, like a number of municipalities throughout the state, uh, uh, nicknaming it skip the stuff. So, our restaurants, when you do takeout orders, a lot of
times they just throw as many forks, knives, spoons, and napkins in there as possible without you even asking for it or wanting it. And what happens is a lot of that plastic and paper builds up and builds up and builds up and you just
have a junk drawer filled with plastic that no one ever uses. Um, a number of towns have tried to combat this by saying skip the stuff and it's not saying no public uh no plastic utensils. Um it's just uh uh saying that you
should have to ask for the plastic utensils uh without it just being supplied to you hopefully with the goal of cutting down on single-use plastics which of course once again we saw in this if anybody read the times this
weekend talked about how pervasive uh uh microlastics are in all of us uh showing up in our body and what effects that has on our health. Uh uh so it's it's about time that uh we try to try to lead on
that. Uh uh with everybody's support up here, I think uh I would like to direct uh uh Mr. Dow uh to try to copy I think Westfield has passed an ordinance. I think someone has passed an ordinance uh uh to try to mimic uh what they have
done with skip the stuff and uh see if we can work in a model ordinance that would require our uh restaurants to just have a simple question. Hey, do you actually need uh that plastic fork and knife before just giving it to you?
Sounds good to me. Sounds good to me. Uh all mayor uh wanted to uh make everyone aware on the deis and the masses uh in the crowd. Um 250th anniversary committee met for
the second time. We've uh cemented a schedule of events uh for uh the leadup to uh July 4th, 2026. um which uh which is going to be a
really really fun and engaging uh 7 months. Uh we are there there's going to be more in more info to come. But uh I just want to start uh telling everybody who's even remotely interested that you know we we we're putting together a
really exciting um hopefully community building uh group of events. Um, and we hope to have a kickoff event later this year to kind of start the excitement. And Chief Cook was there. I mean, you know, it was a great time. Um, and and
if anybody is interested in helping out um on the 250th anniversary, uh there's, you know, we're we we might be looking for a couple more people. Uh it's a great group, but uh obviously we want to make sure residents have the ability to
help it and serve their community. So, uh, it's going to be great. Yeah. Meeting. Great. You know, meeting on the second. Perfect. And that's, you know, this way we could have it. Yeah, we'll we'll we'll put it out. We'll have it out on
board. We can It's a great idea. Get the schools involved, too. They are. They are involved. Yeah. All right. Anything else? Um, executive session. Sorry. Resolution
52725. Whereas article six of the open public meetings act provides that a public body may hold a closed session. And whereas the township committee will during this meeting enter into discussion following matters. Attorney client privilege and personnel. Whereas
the matters to be discussed in close session are to remain in the strictest of confidence by all committee members in furtherance of their fiduciary duties to the township. Now therefore, be it resolved, matters discussed at this meeting will be released to the public
when reasons for discussing and acting upon them in close session no longer exists. Second. Second. Oh, sorry. stepped on your I apolog I mean we might
there we might there was we might we might be back it is possible that action will be taken after this meeting am I supposed Motion to adjourn. Oh, baby.