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good evening how's everyone tonight oh thank you sorry this meeting is being held in accordance with the public laws of 1975 chapter 231 me inadequate notice us meeting has
been provided by notice s St Ledger the local source and posted in the main lobby of the municipal building and on the township website pleasure of Allegiance led by Carl asard right Junior Vice Commander
American Allegent post 228 to the black United States of America and two the Republic for which it stands one nation under God individual with liberty and justice for all please please remain standing a
moment of silence for servicemen here and abroad call Mayor Yuber yes Deputy Mayor laer present committee man capid is absent committee man Kaiser is here committee man Weber here thank you I
apologize for last meeting I wasn't here I was sick uh all right Proclamation is an announcement Springfield 55 plus residence calendar is here for March
2025 all right bulk pickup is scheduled for Tuesday March 11th all coffee with coffee with a cop Halo rooster Tuesday April 1st 99 to 11 public hearing uh Community block
development Grant Adam leave Adam Adam so I need a motion yeah motion to open open I I move to open the public hearing for Community Development
block grants second second thank you good evening everybody um as you know the recreation department administers the funding grant for senior citizens transportation and the engineering department administers it for public
Improvement uh this funding is federal government funding under the Community Development block grant program that the county of Union disperses to municipalities late last year we came um became aware of some additional funding that could be used towards public
improvements that that we hadn't already decided upon for the year so we jumped on this really quickly so I'm speaking tonight on behalf of the public works department dep because they identified a project that we thought was very very important to apply for some of this funding um it's actually going to be um
assuming we get the funding and perhaps the township can contribute some some funding as well um two illuminated crosswalks so this would be for pedestrian safety and Ada improvements um they were identified on myel Avenue
one of them is at the intersection with Wabo and the other is the intersection um of Evergreen so the the idea with those two intersections is that the crosswalks are on a stretch of road where there are not a lot of traffic lights or there's a distance between
traffic lights so pedestrians walking along those crosswalks would unfortunately not have the benefit of um cars or trucks stopping very close to those intersections so to have illuminated crosswalks which you see in other towns um it increases the safety
of The Pedestrian because cars and trucks will now see flashing lights from both sides of the street um at a distance so that they could stop if somebody is crossing um the Ada actually recommends illuminated crosswalks if possible so what we're doing would be
something that the federal government's Ada program the law actually um is in favor of and we don't have any um on on this stretch um I'll just explain it very very briefly because you know you can ask me questions after or or Mr beter but um in addition to some of the
flag Crossings we have and in addition to um the heavily painted crosswalks the stanions on both sides of the street here would have solar power and a battery back up you push a button when you're about to cross and probes
actually flash into the crosswalk so anybody driving One Direction or another can can see a pedestrian so it's a lot safer than um a red light let's say flashing or a flag so in addition to those at others this is just a major benefit at this particular intersection
we applied for $45,000 um it hopes that there will be some sort of a Township match um but we applied for that which could potentially fund most of the program um so we we just found it as a major benefit to the
township I think the community as well as yourselves would um you know would would would agree so the public hearing just required me to explain the project and see if you had any questions or members of the public I believe if they have any questions how long before you see these
installed so it could be one of two different ways one is if the township decides to do it regardless and hopefully receive the funding because the funding um has not been released from the federal government yet unfortunately for this particular program with cdbg um uh our our uh our
Elon Musk probably sto that so you I look forward to if that act actually gets funded so yeah Union County is still waiting to receive the money so we could do it first or we could wait this is um a very easy project to start the um the county has a
co-op there's also the ability for us to do three quotes it's a fairly common product to get um and so either way either we wait or or it's budgeted for or Capital my my opinion is sooner than later like tomorrow that's my opinion
for you guys yeah I mean I the cdbg public improve improvements committee our Township's rep on that um you know we've we've met and we've we heard two projects from Springfield this and and uh a larger Street
uh re re re uh refurbishment for lack of a better word repavement um and typically the they try to kind of split the baby um you know for instance the the most common thing is curb cuts for ADA compliance and they usually just
give them $1,000 Township foots the rest for a curb cut so this is how this was handled um but the way this money works is it comes and tranches from the federal government this is you know this is long-standing federal law um and it comes down into
the counties into municipalities uh for anybody that wants to know um I I'm entirely in favor of doing it I think it's th% I think it's such a smart idea I I I'm not joking when I say you know hey there's no relying on the
federal government anymore if we if we longstanding Traditions are out the window right so if if if we have expected funding repeatedly year after year after year there's different power now in in in in in Washington Andy that that's
just something we do have to take into consideration there's massive Cuts uh uh that are going to affect us all I would imagine this is something that would affect us so I'm for putting it out there I don't this isn't going to break any Bank whether it gets totally put on
the township or not so I'm in favor of doing it but if if I wouldn't be holding our breath you have a budget so um Mr beter got a project estimate of approximately $45,000 so we we applied for everything but again the
county assumes that the township would would match a a portion of the of the funding um I'd like to get it started get the budget get out there for pricing and everything else well thank you for you know having this public hearing as I
said it's a requirement we'll submit the minutes from this public hearing to the county I will speak to Mr beter about you know your comments tonight and I'll decide how he he'll decide how he wants to move forward okay is there any public comment on it I
I'll add in on it if you don't mind those you're public though well I'm sitting on this side so uh and committee Weber knows that we these are things that we had discussed um a couple weeks back along with the speed signs which have been purchased and specifically
these two uh particular intersections um so we if you speak with Adam if you speak with Lieutenant West over we probably have all the quotes already um so that'll cut that part of your process out and um to put it out
there for three bids right he's saying they did well we had to get quotes I think it was quotes say they did that already right so that we may be able to take that part of it off your hands for you um just talk with Ryan when you get a chance and maybe we can get it done
even faster um I just want to correct that if it's over 40 $44,000 and it's not a um State contract would we would have to go for the REITs but since it's a safety product we there might be State contract
vendors available anybody else else in the public thank you thank you all thank you can I have a motion to close public comment move to close second second thank you favor
I public comment on agenda items only how are you Sherry Fernandez 393 Hillside Avenue just wondering the resolutions 8 n and 10 I know they get clumped in sometimes and you know with all the others just wondering if you can go over those three for me if you don't
mind what numbers 8 n and 10 which is uh 2 83 84 85 correct thank you these Mr Mayor okay these are so there's these are the these are related to aole certificates
um for two of the Redevelopment projects um there was the first one is resends a resolution that we did at the last meeting we had a scrivener's error in that resolution um so we are um requesting that that resolution be rescinded that's the first resolution
the second one deals with um an esole certificate which the township is obligated to um to issue pursuant to the Redevelopment agreements U when a one of the redevelopers is securing certain
project financing um from private lenders uh that applies to both projects uh so one is the sax the sax project uh which is the Milburn Avenue uh one and the other one is the uh Church Mall project anyone else
public motion close yep reports Administration report we got from John nothing tonight has monthly reports as emailed
yep right minutes meeting of January 1st I will make I will make a motion to adopt the reorganization meeting uh minutes of January 1st 2025 as emailed by Madam
clerk second second all in favor I I thank you almost there new business uh we have a second reading for ordinance 20253 this ordinance amends the Township
Code of chapter 7 to amend the Township's traffic regulations prohibiting right turn turn unre as specified make a motion to adopt ordinance 25-3 as read by Madam clerk publicized
in the local Source March 6 of 2025 uh I will uh second that motion public comment on on this close comment what about beer talk about all
talk yeah I mean we've we've talked about it but I just want to reiterate that there what's been out online is not what's uh like there was a misprint and tap into uh this takes an existing no turn on red sign uh on Hillside Avenue
uh going toward Walton school uh and it takes the uh the blanket whoa it takes the blanket no turn on red and puts it for the school hours only which is in several other places in town um and that
is all it does it does not prohibit left turns or anything like that that is what the ordinance does anybody got anything else nothing okay okay I'll do roll call committee man Weber yes Deputy Mayor
laer yes M Kaiser mayor Yuber yes and we have a first reading on ordinance 20255 this ordinance amends the township codes tree removal and replacement Provisions to update certain tree
removal contractor insurance requirements uh motion to to to to adopt ordinance 2025-the in scheduled on March 25th 2025 second
discussion the only change on this Craig was just the the monetary value right yeah just reducing it's just reducing the limits at the Foresters request call uh committee man Kaiser yes Deputy Mayor laer yes committee Weber
yes mayor Yuber ordinance 20256 this ordinance amends the provisions of the township code regarding sick leave for certain Township employees I'll make a motion to adopt ordinance
um somebody want me would you like me to give a summary pleas so this is uh this is just this is an update to the township code to to bring the Township Code um to modernize the Township Code a little bit as it relates to the earn sick leave Law
the earn sick leave law was passed I think it was four or five years ago now and the town has been operating in accordance with it which is required to do This only affects um seasonal employees part-time employees who are not covered by Union contract and temporary employees
and it like I said what it does is it it IT addresses some of the inconsistencies that were in the township code to ensure that um that our policy is consistent with state law anybody anything else nope nope committee man Kaiser yes Deputy Mayor
laer yes commit man Weber yes mayor Yuber yes ordinance 20250 7 this ordinance amends provision of the township code regarding regarding certain elements of the promotional process within the fire
department have a motion motion to adopt ordinance 25-7 is read by Madam clerk publicized in local Source March 6 2025 with final hearing on March 25th 2025 second nope committee man Weber yes Deputy Mayor
laer yes minman Kaiser yes mayor Yuber yes all right resolutions if you want one PLL let me know resolution 20 2576
77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84
85 86 and 87 I have a motion make a sure uh Mr Mayor I uh make a motion to adopt resolutions 2025
76 through 2025 87 I will second that okay Deputy Mayor laer yes commit man Weber yes commit man Kaiser yes mayor
Yuber yes discussion and action items uh we have a request from Jonathan do I read you read it request from Jonathan dayon High School to use Ruby field for overflow parking for graduation on Wednesday June
18th at 6 o'cl uh Mr Mayor I move to adopt uh the request made by Jonathan Dayton high school for use of Ruby Field parking for gradu yeah for parking for graduation June 18th at p.m. yes
yeah I'll second that all in favor icept donations of Rosner Rosner field bugout fencing and signature upgrades by Springfield New Jersey baseball league uh be coordinated with
Springfield Recreation Department I make a motion to adopt that donation by SNJ BL second all in favor I request from
kabad thank you I got you learning center to use Chisum Community Center for the annual P purum for event on Thursday March 13th both harms and certificate of
liability Insurance provided uh I will make a motion to approve the request from The habad Learning Center um for Thursday March 13 2025 second okay committee men Weber yes
Deputy Mayor aler yes m m Kaiser yes mayor Yuber yes okay Point Christie ar ar as a member of the free Springfield
library Board of Trustees for 5year term expiring December 31st 2029 I will I will make so moved second all in favor I I uh I'll uh I'll make a motion to adopt payroll and invoices for the period of
February 12th 2025 through February 25th 2025 in the amount of 8,757 88567 second committee man Kaiser yes Deputy Mayor laer yes committee man
Weber yes mayor Yuber yes okay all right correspondence uh J American Water Company notice a public hearing fing of appr Pros rate
change February 27th 2025 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. fall in number is 86 862 294
2638 meeting I D 47 447 38151 or joined by video conference at https line line
bit L LA 42 capital g n g u that'll be on the website am I correct yes okay yeah let's just get that out on the
website the American war though my w has been going up every month everybody's no okay Springfield planning board February 26th at 5:30 is remote application file
by Ross stores 240 Route 22 for preliminary and final major site approval we also have that on our website now they can get on am I correct I think
it's all right I also have one other thing um going a question was asked by Mike wasall does Township commit does TC
going to permit a grant to the bid to furnish the streetcape on Mountain Avenue on one side down to the fence at excuse me Jonathan day high school and the other side down to the
bank exective lights posted to like they have on the other sections of Mount AB Mike I really can't answer that and nobody from nobody's here from there does anybody know anything about that yeah I was uh
speaking what what ended up happening is once we got the the property from out front from the billboard there was no sense in doing everything twice it is just simply it is going to be done it is we just waiting to um speak
with the company on on what the design for the park is possibly going to be like and integrated all as as one unit I agree it will all be done it will all match the money is there everything is is is ready the bid has it they're all ready to go but why do something twice
and spend two times the money I agree with you so that's all it was I wouldn't vote for anything unless it was permanent right and we agreed on everything plus there are two more stores that are going in uh one actually just finished construction and there is a Magic Fountain that's
going into um the building where that streetcape will be so there there is a lot of things happening the sidewalks will get done okay I hope the answers your question Mike and public comment on any
governmental issue how are you Jerry Fernandez 393 Hillside Avenue uh I got to start with this little comment here I guess the following statements are made in my four minutes you four minutes I don't my the following statements are made in my
capacity as a private citizen and not in my capacity as a board member on the board of education these statements are also not representative of the board or its individual members and solely represented on my own personal opinions um for years the
township has used payment in lie of taxes pilot programs to encourage development these agreements allow developers to make reduced payments to the town instead of paying traditional property taxes while Pilots may help our
help spur investment they come with a major downside our schools receive nothing from them Public Schools heavily on the property taxes for funding over 50% of Total Property Tax Bill goes to
the school district yet under pilot agreement the school system gets zero doar Shifting the burden entirely on homeowners right now one of our local developments which includes over 20 residential units in retail space is
paying as little as 10,000 annually far below what a normal tax assessment would require meanwhile in another de Redevelopment area we know of two students with special needs that could cost our district as much as
$61,800 each student this was never the original intent when I served on the township committee discussions always included the idea of allocating a portion of the pilot Revenue to our schools but over time that idea was abandoned and now our
district is left absorbing costs without any financial support from the these develop redevelopments it's time for a change we need one of two solutions the township could dedicate a portion of the pilot payments to the board of education or two we could reconsider or eliminate
pilot programs and allow responsible development without sacrificing school funding Springfield's a desirable town for families and businesses we don't need to Short change our schools to attract developers without adjustments to the pilot agreements we risk higher property
taxes on homeowners and businesses larger class sizes reduced educational and reduced educational resources I urge our local officials to do what's right either allocate a fair percentage of pilot funds to the school
district or rethink whether these Agreements are in the best interest of Springfield at all our students teachers and taxpayers deserve better thank you is there anyone else would like to speak yeah I have a uh something um
so I want to close the public so we we have an issue that's been going on for a few months with a bridge that links Dayton to myel field and the issue is no one knows whose bridge this is
this bridge was put up um of ber okay so I don't you know 6,000 years ago we don't we don't even know that that's what that's not no that's not true the that the we're talking about the the Little Foot Bridge the
foot bridge between the high school and that was definitely replaced while either well replac in high school right or not so somebody did it it wasn't the township at that point well so the issue is that the dot says it's not
theirs we don't have any record of it being ours all right but what what's happening is is who who who made The Replacements nobody knows 10 years ago we don't know no so I find but that but that was that
might have been some repairs or something it was done was a full-on replacement well I I am in favor of full-on replacing at this point too I mean if they're saying that they're not aware of whose Bridge it is I I know we're patiently awaiting them to give us
a um letter reducing their liability on this thing which I'm fine with but we've also have spring sports starting soon how do the athletes get back and forth that's the problem so what I'm
saying is that um um I don't think we wait anymore I think we just get it fixed get it done we'll figure it out as we go along because if not I don't know how they're getting the M out field there's no way not drive
from the high school this is just silly at this point or not they're just going to put knowing as a student myself I would have probably taken the risk and jump fre just jump right over it or something uh uh the I mean hey I just find it clearly the state didn't replace it
10 years ago like that just that's what I'm saying this is one of the things that a long time ago our guess is when people just did things they just did things don't have it we nobody has any record of it don't know what else to say on it you know nobody even knows when it was originally
constructed dot says we don't know is old though we know we all know that cuz he says he's had it since he's been around it's been there's always been a bridge I'm saying but I'm saying there was literally like a full-on replacement within the span of 10 years so that's what I'm asking for 10 to 15 I'm asking
for you guys you know same thing is just let's fix this thing get it done with so spring Sports can start and and we can be un interrupted because the only ones that suffer are the kids the the there's a lot of people that that that connects the half of town well also true the
Walkers to to that field yeah without that there's no other you got to go all the way around so there is not only just the students yeah you're you're right about that one is half a town that would Traverse that yep uh I I I I don't know
I don't want us to take on any legal risk but you know if it's a mirror of of just deciding to allocate funding towards it I'm fine just got to talk to I agree with you you know I was talking something I think some body needs to reach out to
the county uh but in principle not the counties we checked with them too check with everybody there has yeah there has been some communication with the county and and I've been I've been in communication with the do recently okay um to follow up on some things that the
administrator had had initiated sure um and in in principle the thing needs to be replaced our athletes our residents need to be able to use that bridge safely anything
else just a quick comment the the the I I speaking for myself as one member up here the the idea that our Township wouldn't use Pilots as a nonstarter that is the only way that
projects unfortunately now get built it Spurs development it's done so in a number of different projects a number of different committees started them uh to cut them out now would would stop any progress further the the discussions
that need to be focused on yes deciding what is a fair and Equitable amount uh uh to support uh uh uh the the children and the the the education of them understanding that all of this amounts
to everybody's paying the public the the taxes it's not just uh the schools versus us right it's not it's one Community but to stop that progress is it might be a simple uh uh uh sound bite
but isn't practical we're trying to we're trying to Spur development and and and and and create a downtown that we're all are are proud of and Pilots are the the answer to get that done uh without
it it would kill any future development uh uh if you didn't have that pilot that project isn't going to get built you aren't going to get the tax revenue that you you deserve off of that piece of property anyway so to to start that you know might be cool from ma chat GPT
sound bite but isn't practical um um you were up here when we voted for uh pilot couple comments over I'm just addressing I apologize think built if
didn't a we will we will we will discuss it next time in private well like you said go continue I'm sorry we we did it I was here you were here we and pilot is the only way that we could get the project started but
rich as you remember what did we agree didn't we this back and forth you agree also to to send money schools that's all I wanted we will discuss it in private
next time next meeting we'll bring it up I'm sorry yeah no no problem uh you know I'm honored that I get to Anchored tonight uh you know usually that's Alex's job so I'll try and live up to it um but uh
a but uh I I Mr Fernandez I agree with you I think schools need to be part of the process in allocating pilot funds uh Alex you're th% right developers will not develop um without a pilot agreement
there's just way too much competition out there um we can agree to disagree on that uh but I absolutely feel that uh the schools need to be part of the process because frankly we are paying for it anyway so thank you for bringing
it to our attention right nothing seeing nothing else move to adjourn second all in favor I