Okay. Good evening. Good evening everyone. All right. Notice of this meeting is being held in accordance with the public laws of 1975 chapter 231 and adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a
notice sent to the star ledger the local source and posted in the main lobby of admissible building and on township website. Uh pledge of allegiance led by Carl Oh, here he is. Okay. Oler guard junior vice commander
American Legion post 228 to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing.
Thank you. All right. Roll call. Mayor Huber. Yes. Deputy Mayor Laugher present. Committeeman Capidis is absent. Committeeman Kaiser. Committeeman Weber.
Okay. Proclamations and announcements. Springfield annual Arbor Day celebrations February April. Oh, Friday, I'm sorry, April 25th at noon. Veterans Memorial Park annual planting and seating
giveaways. All right. Spring for community cleanup is Sunday, August 27th, 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Meet at Laurel Park and get
assignments and locations. Wear boots and long pants. Community service hours are offered. Okay. Proclamation to shop right the shop right here. Oh, here you go. Okay. Okay.
Whereas providing help and hope for the hungry is a top priority for Shopright. And whereas we take missions of of our Shopright partners in carrying hunger fighting
inner interact to uh heart by raising awareness of this issue of hunger providing funds to hung hunger fighting charities. Whereas during National Hunger Action Month last September, Shop
Associates in six states participated the friendly competition to support earning activity. And whereas through the collection of donations at checkout and creative
instore events store raised more than 1.5 million to support the food banks and the communities that Shopright serves. Whereas the Shopright was one of the winning stores, Springfield Shopright, excuse me, the
winning stores and two associates beard headed the Springfield's Shopright fundraising activities were featured on a special edition of Cheerios Boxes that was sold exclusively at Shopright stores during the month of March. Now
therefore, I, Rich Huber, the mayor, on behalf of the township committee of the township of Springfield, do hereby congratulate the shrider of Springfield caring carrying on accomplishment and wish them the well in their future
endeavors. in the store. Oh my god. Get him some Cheerios. We got to add that to the uh we got to add that to the process. Yes. Now because of that coming what?
tomorrow night. I don't I mean, we're going to interview you as a whole. All right. Hard-hitting question. Take your time. Take your time. can't be here right now. She's just
so that really showed up and supported um even at our cation last week. people here showed up for us. Thank you so much. That really really raised over $12,000 and um that all goes back to the
community of New Jersey for winning on the box. They also got an extra $2500 that went to um New Jersey for almost $15,000 just really impressive. But again, thank you guys so much for support.
Thank you so much. Thank you. All right. Where is it? Welcome to the Elks Youth Week presented to Dave Duva, Springfield Hillside Elks Lodge 2004.
Okay. Whereas the benevolent and protective order of the Elks has designated the first week in May as youth week to honor America's junior citizens for their accomplishments and to give fitting recognition of their services to community, state, and
nation. And whereas Springfield Hillside Lodge number 2004 will sponsor an observance during that week in tribute to the junior citizens of this community. And whereas no event could be more deserving of our support and participation than one dedicated to
those young people who represent the nation's greatest resource who in the years ahead will assume responsibility for the advancement of our free society. And whereas our youth need the guidance, inspiration, and encouragement which we alone can give in order to help those
develop qualities of character essential for future leadership and go forward to serve America. And whereas to achieve this worthy objective, we should demonstrate our partnership with our youth, our understanding of their hopes and aspirations and sincere willingness
to help prepare them in every way for responsibilities and opportunities of citizenship. Now therefore, Richard Huber, mayor of the township of Springfield, on behalf of the township committee, do hereby proclaim the first week in May as youth week and urge all
departments of government, civic, fraternal, and patriotic groups and our citizens generally to participate wholeheartedly in its observance. Wait until No. Yeah. I'm really proud. Mayor Mayor, before we move on, I just
want to say one thing to um and I I think everybody else is gonna have the same Shopright, you guys from a township level are so involved with the town. Um, you don't say no to anything we ask for,
whether it's uh begging for sports or or fundraising for for whatever thing is happening in Springfield, you always say yes. And um it's not unnoticed. I think every one of us up here has had some
kind of dealing with the Sumis family. I I mean, everybody has talked with somebody and has become friends with somebody from that family. It's not like that in most places. There's no way I'm getting in charge of anybody in from Walmart. Let's be real. You guys are right there. You're always there. So,
thank you. Um, just want to let you know that. Thank you. We'll break for two minutes. If you want to leave, I know you don't want to stay here and listen to us. It's not so exciting. Yeah, you guys are totally free to go.
Thank you. Thank you. now I don't give 10 minutes. The township extends its condolences to the family of Ethel Judy Copan, retired deputy, county
clerk, oh court clerk, I'm sorry, who passed away on April 8th. Also the family of Rabbi Mark Malik who served as spiritual leader and senior rabbi for 21 years at
Temple Betham Ishel who passed away on April 16th and to the family of retired township clerk Kathleen Wnooki whose son Paul passed away on April April 20th, 20
25. Um, well, I knew I knew the rabbi good. He was a very fair man, very good man. I thought um the community will miss him. I don't know if you I mean, you know, Yeah, sure. Uh, Rabbi
Malik was the riding rabbi. Um, he would he'd ride in his little tubular bike and raise money for charity. You'd see him all over town. uh and he would wave to you and he would make sure to recognize you before you recognized him even though he was much more standing out
than everybody else. Rabbi Malik was an incredibly kind um and and gentle person. um served uh Temple Betham and Temple Betham Israel uh for 20 plus years and served it with
served that temple in our in our town with with uh with distinction and he will forever be remembered in Springfield as a great community partner uh on behalf of uh Temple Betham.
Was at many a bar mitzvah uh officiated by him. though ran a very smooth operation. As far as the Runnooki family, I know there was family very well and a sad moment with Paul passing.
Can I speak for Judy for one second? Be being one probably one of the very few people that were working here when um Judy was here. I'd just like to say just a few words about her. uh you know she was a deputy clerk with our court I
believe and worked with her for several years because I wrote a lot of tickets so I was always up in court. Um great lady, beautiful soul, always involved, loved Springfield. I seen her last year at the uh the food truck event
that we had at the pool. Um she just loved being around Springfield and uh just a great lady and sorry to sorry to hear that she uh she passed. Anybody else? All
right. Public comment on agenda items only. Anyone who like to come to the podium speak. Seeing none over session of is
closed. All right. Reports. Administrative report. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Couple of things I want to touch on. PSCG paving is done finally. Uh that includes Meiselle, Caldwell, Brookke, Keeler Rose and Salter were Mill and
Pave, curb to curb. All the necessary road striping, crosswalks and other markings were being applied over the past two days. The other streets that were affected by PSEG will be paid by the township and they're going to be done in the very near future. We'll
provide advanced notice before anything is done. Vegetated waste curbside pickup ends on Wednesday, April 30th. EPW will make one final canvas of the town Thursday, May 1st, to ensure nothing was
missed. Beyond that, residents can utilize a drop off at the recycling center, 44 Marson Road. I want to mention something that I I hope our residents will help us with. We've had a real issue lately with dog waste and and
this is just driving our DPW guys crazy because they can't cut the grass because we are literally running into piles. It's not just once in a while. It's becoming a real issue. So please, we
have pick up after your dog, please. So hopefully what can we do on that? I was hoping that this was enough. pick it up. I I'm going to tell you that South Maple, Colonial, Battle Hill,
Joanne, same thing. We walk around every Fifth House something like like they don't even care. I agree. Let me ask a question. Isn't it against the law to bring a dog into the park? Yes, it
is. I've said things to a few people and they've weren't the most friendliest people in the world. I I totally understand that. We had an issue the other morning with someone. So, yeah, you have to you have to be careful. But, yeah, hopefully I agree with you,
Councilman Weber, that hopefully people get the message and we pick up because it really is becoming an issue for us. It's uh it's not also picking up, it's putting it then into the trash. There's a lot of instances and and it's not just
our town. I've seen it on numerous forums uh uh in our area of people just picking it up and then throwing the bag on the the the that's honestly arguably that's worse. Like you putting it into a bag and then leaving that on the street
then just causes it to uh not disintegrate, not get washed away. It just sits in a bag. So, I don't I'm really lost on that how somebody can justify leaving a bag just uh on the side of the waist. It's it's it's not middle evil Europe. Uh you shouldn't
just toss your And and it's not even any better to throw it in my garbage can, which was just emptied out by sanitation. Now I have an empty garbage can that's got somebody's dog bag in it. Yeah. You take it home and discard it in your garbage. It's not that hard. and
it's it's not our DPW workers job to be picking this up. You know, it's really causing an issue. So, please make an effort to clean up after your dog and dispose of it properly. I did want to make a an an additional comment on Arbor Day, Mr. Mayor, if I may. Our forester
will be on site on Arbor Day. So, if anybody has any questions on trees, he'll be happy to answer whatever questions you may have. Our annual storm water report is due early part of May. We're working on that. Now, there's a
new Union County Capital grant that came out. It's total $6 million to be split between the 21 towns. It's for capital projects over $100,000. We are going to apply for it. And the last thing is both Marina and Johanna Way pumping stations
are underway. We are ahead of schedule. We've got equipment in already, which we were concerned about, but supply chain issues. We weren't sure, but it looks like things are in. We're waiting for electric to be done now and that type of thing, but I think we're in pretty good shape. So, that's going to that's going
to help us. We we will have brand new pumps in there. We won't have to worry about those breaking down and it'll be hooked up with alarms so that if something doesn't work properly, our DPW director will be notified on his phone that we got an issue at a pumping station. So, that should help us. Also,
uh, on our developments, I don't know if anybody's been down, um, at Patriot Way down the end of Church Mall. The decking is done. The first floor is framed out. They're moving. I mean, the the site is perfectly clean. The cement work underneath in the garage is already
done. It's been graded. So, they're in they're in tremendous shape. Um, we are, as you'll see tonight, we're going to introduce Scotty's tonight. And at the next meeting, if everything goes according to plan, we're going to have a presentation to bring everybody up to
speed on exactly what it looks like, what the materials are, etc., etc. So, other than that, if anybody has any questions, I'd be happy to answer. How far along are we with Gman's building? With what building? The Gome's
building. We were in court with them again. Um, they're doing Mars Avenue as I think everybody could see with the pavers and then they're going to be doing Center Street. They cleaned the building on Caldwell. I say, you know, I asked them,
we had a meeting uh last week or the week before and I asked the owners, I said, "Do we have an end date? When is completion?" I said, "Because it's coming up on another anniversary. We're going to be six years in July that this building is going on. It's just
ridiculous." We did a tour of that building fourish fiveish months ago. Yep. And that place was from what I could see 80% sheetrocked. Oh yeah. Furnished. I I should say, you know, um kitchens were were were fitted, baths
were fitted. They still have a lot of work. They're still I I would say at best they're a year. So the only thing we can do is stay after them. Okay. Mr. you had a question. Yeah. Um, are we
getting the machine back to clean out the brooks? Cuz I'm I got calls from people saying that they see trees growing. That's that's counting. Well, I'll have to have Mr. Beter call the county. All of Brooks County. Uh, we we
don't have the equipment and with D, you're not allowed in those streams. I know you're not allowed. So, we need the equipment in order to reach stuff. I I will check if I may and get back to you. Yeah. Yep. I will check that right
away. Anybody? Anything else? Can I comment on the dog issue? We had the monthly report. Chief Cook wanted Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, well, well, first off, I I like the segue of talking about the dogs, then talking about trees after that, and that was very good for Arbor
Day. Um, as far as the dogs go, uh, this comes up every so often. I will be sure to put out something to the guys, uh, tonight about enforcement again. Um, that area you mentioned, I'll make sure we target that. And the parks, you know, supposed to be no dogs off leashes and
all that. Um, so it's that time again, I'll put it out there and, uh, won't be any discretion. No dogs in parks at all. Am I correct? Yes, you can have a dog. have a dog in the park, right? I I was at a couple of games of Dayton's and I
was there and I just said to somebody said, "I think there's a sign out there that says no dogs allow a future." Yeah. I mean, they let him especially the park that's down off of Colonial cuz it's kind of tucked away and people they treat it as if it's a
dog run back there. So, um I'll make sure the guys are aware of it and take care of it. Can we have uh the public information officer put out what is the fine? Um everything that that is associated with if you were caught with it.
Thank you, Jake. Call me tomorrow. We'll get all the info to you. Switching gears for like two seconds. Uh we had our first meeting of the 250th anniversary committee. Um it was a great meeting. Uh Jay Spanelli is
uh Thank you. Uh Jay is is turn around. And how much do you get for those, Jay? At the end of the meeting, we're going to sign them and auction them off at the
250th anniversary. Value just went down. Best materials. Yeah. All right. Uh we had our meeting. We're looking to uh start uh we're in the planning stages right now. We're looking
to um do one event per month in the year 2026 leading up to our culmination being July 4th uh being the 250th anniversary of the founding of our of our nation. Um and we look forward to as much community
buyin and involvement as we can possibly have. And I think Diane, correct me if I'm wrong, but we already signed the contract for the fireworks and and it's supposed to be like an extra special show. Yes. Yes, I I remember they like juiced us for an extra special show. So,
last time 50 years ago when they had celebration, it was You just Yes, you just said 50 years ago. I was here. Not sitting up here, but I was in Springfield and they had the battle uh battle was it battle of
Springfield, I think it was. Yeah. And it was uh they camped out by the high school. Mhm. Um, and it was nice. The kids really enjoyed it. It was a great thing for the kids to say and that. And we should try and get the even the schools involved.
Yeah. So, uh, we we're planning on, uh, we've already been in contact with Rachel Goldberg, superintendent of schools, to get the schools involved. We were a little late to the party on reenactors, so we are hoping to get them done for the for the next year, which is
the Battle of Springfield commemoration. uh so we can actually recreate the Battle of Springfield. Uh but there will be hopefully a small reenactment component to what we're doing uh for the 250th
and we need the public to get involved. Right. Absolutely. To see him come to a meeting. Yep. Okay. Now we go to minutes. None. New business ordinance.
Second reading. Second reading. Second reading. Ordinance 202511. This bond ordinance is to authorize the making of various public improvements and the acquisition of new additional or replacement equipment and
machinery, new communication and signal systems equipment and machinery, new information technology equipment, and new automotive vehicles including original apparatus and equipment in by and for the township, county of union, state of New Jersey to appropriate the
sum of 2,756 $6,000 to pay the cost thereof to make down payment to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to pro provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation
of the issuance of such bonds Kaiser motion to adopt ordinance 20 2025-11 as read by madam publication in the local source on April 24th 2025 5. I actually I'll read that again because I
don't want to get in trouble by not having my microphone on. I'll make a motion to adopt ordinance 2025-11 as read by Madame Clerk with publication in the local source on April 24th, 2025. I will second that.
Call. No. Public hearing. Public hearing. Public hearing. Oh, you're right. Sorry. Public hearing. Anyone anything to say about this reading? ordinance. Seeing none, close to the public.
Committeeman Kaiser, yes. Deputy Mayor Laugher, yes. Committeeman Weber, yes. Mayor Yuber, yes. Okay. And we have a first reading on ordinance 202512. This ordinance of the township of Springfield County of Union, New Jersey,
is to introduce the redevelopment plan for 597 Mars Avenue identified as block 505, lot one within the township of Springfield. Uh, madame clerk, uh, Mr. Mayor, I move ordinance
202512, uh, with publication the local source on May 1, 2025 with final hearing on May 13, 2025. Second discussion. This is this is this is Yeah, this is
Scotty's. We'll get a presentation um and we'll and the town can get up to speed. Okay. Presentation will be next week or next week May 13th. May May 13th. Deputy Mayor Ler. Yes. Minimman Kaiser. Yes.
Mittman Weber. Yes. Mayor Yuber. Yes. Ordinance 202513. This ordinance amends provisions in chapter 2 of the township code regarding the organization of the township's police department. Madame
clerk, Mr. Mayor, I move ordinance 202513 with publication in the local source on May 1, 2025 with final hearing on May 13, 2025. I will second that. Russian. Uh, Chief
Cook, can I give you like 5 seconds, 10 seconds to do a a quick rundown of what this table of organization brings to the town and the police department? Maybe 15 or 20. You can have 25 seconds. Um, so
hope with with the hopefully upcoming in a few more minutes increase in staffing levels for the department. um we you know we've been having issues um overtime comp time issues. We're looking to reallocate uh our resources
for a better efficiency while at the same time um creating further opportunities for our officers within uh that weren't necessarily available before. by being able to um create more
specialized units. Um using rotational, you know, opportunities for officers, uh finding niches for certain officers to fit into. Um I think it'll be great for morale and it should uh have a great effect on the overtime that we've been
dealing with. I thank you for the uh hopefully upcoming increase in the staffing levels that's going to make this all possible. Thank you. any discussion up here? Um, no. I I know what's um I No, I I know I I I am certain that
this is uh the right move for the department and I am glad that's the department, the direction we're going in. I'm very happy with that. Thank you. 10,000%. I think it'll be good for the town, good for department, um, and it'll save us some
money. Okay. Okay. Deputy Mayor Laer, absolutely. Committeeman Weber, yes. Committeeman Kaiser, Mayor Huber, yes. Ordinance
202514. This ordinance amends chapter 2, administration of the township code to create an advisory committee to review issues on redevelopment in the public school system. Madame clerk, Mr. Mayor, I will move ordinance
202514 with publication in the local source May 1, 2025 with final hearing on May 13, 2025. second question. Uh I'll I'll take it. So um in a series
of meetings with the board of education and their professional staff along with our professional staff committeeman Kaiser and myself um want to uh with the buyin from the the entire township committee want to
find a more equitable way in which the township allocates and allocates pilot money and provides for pilot money. So, um, in the event of a pilot, we're proposing a committee made up of equal parts board of education and township
committee members, um, to come up with an equitable compromise. Uh, so the board of ed is included from step one in this process and the township will inkind legal counsel um, as well as planning services, which we do already.
Um, and you know, we want to make sure the board of ad is plugged into this process starting at step one, and this is the first step of that. Nope. It's a smart thing to do. Nothing. Deputy Mayor Ler. Yes. Committeeman Kaiser, yes. Committeeman Weber, yes.
Mayor Yuber, yes. Move on to resolutions. Let me know if you want one out. Resolution 2025 1119 120
121 122 uh 123 124 125 126 127
128 129 9 130 131 132 133 and 134. I have a motion. I'll make a motion
to adopt resolutions through consent agenda. Resolution 2025, 2025-119 through resolution 2025-134. Second. Before we vote, I just want people to realize that
in the resolutions, we are hiring more police officers. Know we've um people have said things. I think there's one, two, there's three new officers and the committee came and it's good
people. Oh, I just want people to realize that. Want to expand on what the mayor said. One of them is uh he's a hometown kid, graduate of Jonathan Dayton. Uh this is exactly uh what this is exactly what the meat and
potatoes of community policing is. Chief Cook, Captain Rachel, uh thank you for doing this quickly. Um and hopefully they're approved tonight. Okay. Um Committeeman Kaiser, yes.
Deputy Mayor Laugher. Yes. Committeeman Weber. Yes. Mayor Huber. Yes. Discussion items. Action items. All right. Join requested by Edward
Walton, James Cwell, and Sam Meyer PTAs for a $50 program credit from the recreation department. for their annual basket auction on Friday, May 9th. I'm sorry. Did that supposed you
supposed to do that, Linda or am I? No, you got it. Okay, make a discussion for the $50. Okay, I'll move the uh I'll move the request from uh Walton Caldwell and Sand Meer PTAs.
I have a second. Second. Okay. Deputy Mayor Laer. Yes. Committeeman Kaiser. Yes. Committeeman Weber. Yes. Mayor Huber. Yes. All right. Accept donations of Chism Park storage shed by Springfield girls
softball incorporated to be located behind lower softball field back stop $500. I make a motion to adopt uh a donation by Springfield girls
softball. Second. Committeeman Weber. Yes. Deputy Mayor Laugher. Yes. Committeeman Kaiser. Yes. Mayor Yuber. Yes. Cres Springfield resident.
Dawkins. Mattal Dawkins to hold fundraiser dinner in the Chisum Community Center. Marowsk's meeting room to benefit four poor poor morale ability on behalf of her son
who suffers from rental cone distrophe distrophy signh hold harmless agreement attached insurance to be provided prior
to event if request is approved I make A motion to adopt uh the request from Miss Dawkins for the fundraising dinner. Second. Committeeman Weber. Yes. Deputy Mayor
Lauer. Yes. Committeeman Kaiser. Yes. Mayor You. Yes. Report. Treasures report. Uh, I will make a motion to adopt payroll and invoices for the period of April 9th, 2025 through April
22nd, 2025 in the amount of 8,198,6955. Second. Committeeman Kaiser. Yes. Deputy Mayor Ler. Yes. Committeeman Weber. Yes. Mayor Yuber. Yes. All right. Correspondence for Penworth.
Ordinance 2022 adopting amendments chapter 12 land use and Rowway River Wershed Association. Public comment on any
government issues. Seeing none coming close it to the public. Mr. Premier, before we go any, can I just give you an update on the Rowway River that you asked just about? Okay. The Rowway River, I think, as everybody knows, belongs to the county. The
smaller little tributaries that run through town belong to us and those are maintained on a regular basis. So, if there's somewhere that we got an issue where there's a blockage, if you let me know, we'll take a look at it right away. All right. Yes, sir. Can you I do have
something. Can you find out when the county will turn the air raator on over at Myisel Field at the pond, please? My air raator still off. Mhm. Thank you. And if they can turn it up fountainike, that would be appreciated. Okay. Thank you. Uh just one just one
comment and and and not on Springfield related, but I guess it's all you know that a today is Earth Day. It's the 55th anniversary. So I think to acknowledge that but more importantly you know this week we lost Pope Francis.
So I think majority of our board except Harris is of Catholic faith up here and but he wasn't just a leader of the Catholics but a a a consequential global leader that was truly somebody different and and and unlike any of his
predecessors before not only just being a first Jesuit uh the first pope from America's the first pope uh uh chosen outside of Europe in over a millennium uh uh but a a man of consequence that chose his papal name from a a radical
saint that millennia before chose to give up a life of privilege and circumstance to live and serve with the poor. And Pope Francis did exactly that his entire uh uh uh life on this earth
and and and giving something back and recognizing and serving unlike anybody else. He you know and he lived up to his name, right? He's the countless things that we'll remember him for of fighting for the indigenous, fighting for the poor,
serving uh the disadvantaged and and and and living up to uh something truly better than all of us on on earth can try to emulate. And so in his honor and in his memory and as
we, you know, continue to lose great people, you know, you got to remember them. So in his words, let us all, you know, uh, be lights of hope going forward. And, uh, uh, in our troubled world and our divided world that we are all in. I think it's nice to remember a
man that truly gave back more than he ever will receive. And and truly lost a great consequential global leader, fought for so much good in this world. motion go to executive executive. Okay.
Resolution 4225. Whereas article 6 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 of the following matters.
Attorney client privilege and personnel. Whereas the matters to be discussed in close session remain in the strictest of confidence by all township 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 the reasons for discussing and acting upon them in close session no longer exists. Motion. Second. Um we will not be taking any action
after this meeting. Thank you.