Okay. This meeting is uh being held in accordance with public laws 1975 chapter 231. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by uh notice sent to the
star ledger, the local source, posted in the main lobby of the municipal building and on the township website. Uh the pledge of allegiance will be held by the brand new commander of uh sons of the American American Legion. Uh, brand new,
newly sworn in commander Judah Krauss and Vice Commander American Legion, American Legion, Post 228, Mark Krauss. Please rise. I pledge >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Please remain standing for a moment of silence for our service members here and abroad. Madame clerk, please call the role. >> Mayor >> present.
>> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. >> Command Capes >> here. >> Committ Huber >> here. >> Weber >> here. >> All right. Proclamation and announcements. Uh 55 plus residents calendar is out for
May 2026. Pizza with the police is tomorrow, May 13th, 7 p from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at TD Pizza. Springfield community pool membership registration is open. Uh and you can
access that information at www.thesay.orgscp. org/scp overnight parking permission request will now be accepted online. Please visit www.sprfield Springfield NJ
usep departments back slashp police. Questions can be directed to traffic at springfieldj. us. The union county board of elections is currently seeking Republican and
bilingual pole workers for the primary election which is going to be held on June 2nd. Compensation for the day is $300. If interested in serving, please apply at www.ucnj.org/poleworker. The dropbox is located in the Chisum
parking lot in the back by the handicap ramp. Early voting begins Tuesday, May 26th, and ends Sunday, May 31st. Visit the county website for participating municipalities, www.uncountyvotes.com.
Please note that Springfield does not offer early voting. Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Veterans Park with a parade immediately following uh down Mountain Avenue to
Jonathan Dayton High School where the Springfield Hillside Elks Lodge 2004 has a free hot dog and a drink waiting. The grand marshall for the 2026 parade is Joseph Poccastro. Please be advised that garbage collection will increase to twice a week
starting Tuesday, May 26th through Friday, September 4th. Collection days will either be Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday depending on your location. The townwide garage sale is scheduled
for Saturday, June 6th and Sunday, June 7th from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. While no permit is required to participate, we ask that you register your address on the town website, which will allow residents and visitors to easily locate all homes.
We're almost done. Uh Springfield Pride Month celebration will be Friday, May 29th at Chisum Park near the community center. 6:30m will be the rainbow fra raising speeches, live musical performances, and 7:30 will be a viewing
of Wicked on the big screen. Refreshments uh will be served. RSVP for the event at and event updates are https colon slbackregister. Communitypass.net
backsprfield. We have a proclamation for EMS week which will be presented to our Springfield first aid president Liz Fritzen and au jack of all trades. So let me let me read it very quickly.
Whereas emergency medical services is a vital public servant and whereas members of the EMS services teams are are ready to provide life-saving care to those in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whereas to qualify, emergency care
dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury. Whereas emergency medical services system consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers,
firefighters, police officers, educators, administers, administrators, prehosp nurses, emergency physicians, trained members of the public and other out of hospital medical care providers. Whereas the members of the emergency
medical services team, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their life-saving skills. Whereas the township relies on not only upon the members of the Springfield
First Aid Squad, but also the generosity of those residents and businesses that provide financial support to fund EMS equipment operations and training. whereas we join and celebrate the arrival of a brand new ambulance, ambulance number 56, the Springfield
first aid squad's fourth ambulance in their fleet provide of providing emergency medical services to the residents of Springfield. Whereas it is appropriate to recognize the value and accomplishments of the emergency medical services team by designating emergency
services week. Now therefore, I, Harris Lauer, mayor of the township of Springfield, on behalf of the township committee, do hereby proclaim the week of May 17th to May 23rd, 2026 as emergency medical services week in the township of Springfield with the theme
improving outcomes together. And I encourage community to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities and to support the efforts of the first aid squad and consider membership to this vital and all volunteer organization. So let's
give a round of applause to our first aid squad. Come on up. yours. Yep. Thank you all mayor and township committee. I want to say thanks uh for always recognizing us. >> Thank you.
>> And you know our great excitement was last month when we welcomed ambulance number 56 into our fleet. The first time we've ever had four ambulances. there certainly is a need for ambulances to call volume uh in the township. So,
uh you know that's our big excitement. We're working on getting that service and uh again as always I thank you for on the squad your support over the years and
>> thank you. I also want to add an announcement. Uh celebrating 250 years in God's sight, Presbyterian heritage in the American Revolution. Join us uh for a community special event May 30th. Doors open at
12:30 from 1 to 3:30 at the Presbyterian Church. They're going to be doing a program on America 250. Okay, moving right along. Springfield Police Department will host
a presentation on New Jerseyy's ebike laws and roadway safety Wednesday, May 20th, 6:00 p.m. at Chisum. Questions, please dial 973-912249 or email community-
policing at springfieldj. us. And now uh I'm going to turn it over to our CFO Diane Sherry for uh >> That's right. >> We could do the discussion first and
then do the public hearing. >> No, Adam, >> I think you open the Let's do it. Let's open the public hearing uh for purposes of discussing uh uh the town budget. >> I second. >> All in favor? I
>> Miss Miss Sherry, please turn your microphone on. Oh, and before everybody starts, please speak into your microphones. >> Tamara, thank you for your time. This year, um, as we go through every year, the budget
is a combined effort of the finance committee. Thank you Alex and Harris for your um input and hard work. And Jeff Sicolo uh as we put together that put together the budget we meet with all the department heads. So thank you to all
the department heads for their efforts um in this process. It's a starts early on back in November. The department heads submit their budgets to me where we they use historical data and
their upcoming needs to create their individual requests. And then they the department heads meet with the finance committee and and John Bicolo and myself and we discuss what their needs are and what their all the requirements.
All that data is then taken into one one area and we look at it and come up and debate and change and all that ins and outs. And then I come along and I take all all of that data along with the revenues that we're allowed to anticipate and
create the document to become the budget document that was introduced last month with all our different statutory requirements and um inputs that we need to do and we come up with our tax rate and we introduce
it. So Tara through all those discussions we focus on our budget objectives. >> Oh yeah. Okay. That's we're good. So we always look at the community and we want to maintain our levels of service and
continue maintaining roads and also focusing on our long-term debt situation. And we looking at controlling expenses and our we limit the tax increases. This year we wanted to support our efforts to
um celebrate America 250. So next one and also the budget um adds looks into our capital plan. We
always consider how much debt we have outstanding where we want to keep our funding um going on different projects and some of that's funded this year and some of it's funded next year. We're always looking for where the needs are of the town. Are we meeting the
needs? Are we keeping our eyes focused on what's going to be coming because we never want to be in a crisis situation. So therefore, when we plan our projects this year, you'll see them in the capital plan. But more import also as we do our capital ordinance this year,
we're looking at road paving and ongoing improvements to our buildings and sanitary and sewer improvements, which aren't fancy, but they're very important to our infrastructure. We have some new purchases for public safety, new equipment for DPW and public
safety, and we're looking at an IT project to upgrade our servers, and a lot of that is in the police department. Next, now all this work is only one less than one-third of your tax bill that will
um come out this year. will be sending out uh estimated bills as usual around June and then your final bill your correct your abs correct your certified bill will come out in November after
um for the November payment. Uh so that's where we are. We're looking at the increase to the taxes for the municipal portion is 2.18% which is well below our appropriations cap and our levies cap and all the other
things. It was it's below the CPI. We did the best we could to control our to control the tax rate. So that's pretty much where it is. You could you could do the next part. The next part is official. have to do an open public
hearing and then vote on it and we'll the rest of the year we maintain that budget and monitor it and make sure we don't overspend it. >> Are there any questions from the public on the presentation that we just got?
Seeing none, um I'm going to close the public hearing. Are there any questions from the members up here? >> I'll just make a comment. Uh, every year continues to become harder and harder to manage a budget. We do the best we can
every single year to keep costs under control. Um, we are facing uh effects of inflation where we're facing now we will be facing effects in this year's budget. uh on uh
the oil prices that will continue to skyrocket uh uh and we try the best we can. Um but it is becoming more and more difficult. We continue to look at uh savings and uh
shared services and uh cost cutting measures, but at the end of the day to provide quality services to your residents that try not to infect the daily livelihood, right? We we like to continue to have uh twice a week garbage
pickup in the summer. Uh uh we look to continue to making investments and improvements in our recreation and our fields across the town. And we aren't going, this administration up here is not going to allow our buildings to fall
into disrepair. It's not going to allow our roads uh to fall in disrepair. So we continue to make those investments year after year uh uh to ensure that we don't face a cliff at
5 10 years down the road 20 years down the road. So but it is becoming more and more strenuous year after year but we continue to work with the department heads to try to find savings. We continue to try to be innovative with what we're doing. But you you're not
magically just going to create revenue. Uh uh there's not uh unless Chris Weber is going to start uh knitting blankets and selling them uh to bring in revenue. >> I would uh you would absolutely buy one.
>> Uh we'll we'll consider that for next year. uh that's that's not so there's not necessarily we we try to be as creative as possible but there's not waving a magic wand to just bring in the revenue that's needed and we understand as we are all taxpayers here up here uh
just like every resident it's we're not getting a magical break everybody is in this together and at the end of the day I think uh uh while I'm not this budget meets our obligation uh and continues to to ensure that we're
not burdening the future generations and and future administrations. It's making the prudent decisions it needs to. >> Can you give us because you you you know listen you have handled in my opinion the budget um
really really well for the last eight years. Can you give us a um a snapshot of where we saw the the biggest increases in terms of uh the health >> has that affected our budget?
>> Healthcare is number one this year and has been the past few years. There is no one uh anybody that you talk to uh across all governments and private sector. health care is and uh uh will be
for a while uh uh the driving factor uh uh and burden that you have and and there's there's a lot that could be said, right? diabet I think people point to still procedures that were pushed back after COVID that does you have an
aging population that is drawing on our health care benefits and and and and continues to rely on uh year after year as they face uh greater health challenges that we still have to pay
for. Uh uh it's it's also just the cost of everything, right? Med the the the the medical industry faces the same inflation that everybody else does. Costs continue to rise. Prescription drugs continue to rise. Procedures continue to rise. It is unattenable.
That's not something that we are going to be able to fix on our own, but it's something that we have to face. uh uh I think you have to unfortunately this is even probably beyond the state uh uh issue as the state grapples with
trying to figure out how to sustain a a state health insurance plan that is slowly in a death spiral. We are no longer in, right? We made the decision two years ago now, I think, to to to pull ourselves out of the state
insurance plan. Uh, which hey, you saw some savings or more of just more or less stop the bleeding. Um, but those increase continue to rise. So, unless people are going to get serious,
talk about it, right? That's this is why federal government matters. They need to get serious in tackling health care costs because it's a burden on everybody. On top of that, energy costs are a huge driver for us. You we have we
have a number of buildings that have to run 24 hours a day and have to be prepared. Just like your own home where you see heat and uh electricity costs rising, the township faces those same
issues. Uh we're going uh uh also then it's just regular payroll pension contributions that continue to to affect us all, but we continue to manage and do the best we can. >> Well, I just want to I I I just want to add a few things uh from the public
safety perspective, right? Um our our police and fire are the highest department for payroll and salaries that we rece that that we this township has. We are still under, you know, we we signed a wonderful deal with them.
Six years ago, I think at this point, they got 2%. Right. So, nobody's getting an exorbitant raise on anything. They got 2%. We're in meetings. We're we're we're looking at have making the, you know, you brought up a good point. Gas back up to four and change a gallon.
We're not getting a bargain on gas either. We we're we're looking at making these guys drive motorcycles around the the the the town. We're looking at almost any possible way to cut costs for
first responders, but yet not cut services, response time, or or any um services to the public at all. And while that even includes sharing dispatch with
the county which is coming uh how long how long we got before that >> by Christmas now I met with I met with the county uh last week soft opening is middle of June hard opening is June 30th. >> Right. So you got the we're we'll be
going to hopefully to dispatch for county in July which by our estimations is is >> Christmas >> $400,000 savings at least because you you put manpower back on the road >> and we've already seen savings with that because we switched uh fire and EMS.
We're talking about getting another body on the roads. That's what you're So there's not a >> So So that's that's that's a big deal. So, so I I can just tell you from that perspective, um, which is the the biggest hit on our
budget payroll-wise, we are trying everything to to keep it at a manageable level, but still, like I said, like benefits, p benefits, and pension, it's it's enormous. >> Well, and but it is an obligation.
>> But it's an obligation, right? And and uh at the end of the day, like just driving home the point, right, that we have a paid fire. We're not about you can't we can't uh we're not going to go back to a volunteer and that's not even feasible, right? That's not even a
question of feasibility. But you have to provide that service because we have emergencies, right? We're not going to cut our police force uh uh to ensure that we continue to have uh public safety uh keep people safe. But to do
this, it unfortunately requires money. Nothing comes free. >> And and calls for service for the PD are are are much higher just in nature than fire. But Chief, what do you see in calls
yearly that um Springfield, your department handles? Yeah. So, um, yearly our calls increase. Yearly yearly our calls increase. Um, we see a rise a few hundred calls a year. Every year we average about 24 to 2500 calls a year
without having a significant storm. Uh, storms will sometimes generate 200 calls for us in a 2-day period. But without having storms, we're we're averaging about 2,400 calls a year. We stay very busy with these um interstate roads and the infrastructure being built. Uh we
average about seven to eight calls for service a day, including our daily inspections that we do. We're out every building. We're doing fire safety inspections throughout the day um in industrial sections and our schools and our apartment complexes. So, you know,
the downtime we have, we spend training and then we unfortunately spend answering calls. You know, >> inctions, >> inspections happen every single day. Uh we're doing inspections. So, you'll see our fire trucks out in the street. You'll see us on the highways. You'll see us out at um buildings and what we're doing a lot of times if our lights
aren't on, we're doing inservice inspections, which those uh men and women of the fire department are out doing fire safety inspections per code, uh issuing penalties and violations and making sure that the building's up to standard and that's that that takes a lot of our day around. >> Let's let let me put you on the spot
right now because those inspections um increased in number because of the effort you put forward to it, which then in turn generated extra revenue for >> Yeah, 100%. We we roughly have a thousand inspections a year we have to do. Now a thousand inspections a year does not seem a lot, but the way it
works is every time we go out and do an inspection, we're married to that inspection until that inspection is uh compliant. So one inspection can have us return to a building three to four times until they're compliant with fire safety violations. So each shift has a allotted
amount of inspections per month that they do while they're answering calls. So, a lot of times they're in buildings, calls come in, they answer calls, and vice versa. So, every time we do an inspection, we charge a a registration fee. The state gets some of that money
and we get some of that money. And that money goes and it offsets a lot of costs. And, you know, the more more important thing is being out there. You know, we answer also several complaints a year with people that call and have a complaint about a building. So, uh they're out there. If you see us, please
say hi. We'd love to show you the firetruck and uh we'd love to give you a tour. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> John. I just got one more one thing for you because Robbie's not here. DPW, we we we've we've
resisted going full-time with a lot of people for budget purposes. We went with seasonal. I don't know if we could do any better at DPW at that point. >> No. and and those people help us tremendously using those as seasonal because there
there's no benefits. They're paid a much reduced salary and and on top of that we use it also as a great training ground for us because if we get somebody that is very good when there's an opening we pull from that pool rather than going
out and taking somebody kind of blind. It gives us a chance to actually see them as they actually work. So, it's worked very well and it it is it helps us very much so on the budget. We didn't replace one supervisor that left a few years ago. We're still operating with
only our DPW director and one supervisor. So, again, yes, we've tried to keep our costs down as much as we can. We did also put steps in in the last contract if you remember. So, the starting salary was much lower. it increases over I think it was a
four-year period to get up to where the the guy currently would be. So again, just another thing we're trying to keep the the cost down. Any other comments on the budget? >> Uh can is can there be a motion to close
the public hearing? >> I'll make a motion to close the public hearing. >> I Well, before we vote, >> can I just talk? We're not going to be in executive till the end. So we have public.
>> Uh just wait till after this vote and then we have public comment. So you're good. Uh so we have a motion and a second. >> Yes. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Public comment is closed. I mean public hearing is closed. We have public comment on agenda items only. Jerry, now
is your time. Hi, my name is Jerryan Casmmore, 128 Short Hills Avenue, Springfield, New Jersey. Uh, so I'm here to talk about the parade. So, it's coming up in just a couple weeks, May 25th. That's a Monday. So, it's going to be great. We've got
the 250th, so we have we've got a couple floats. Uh, the uh American Legion's going to have a float. St. James is going to have a float. The Elks are going to have a float. Um, we encourage everybody to come out. You know, we we I I try to stress this so many times. The parade route is
really very short and we've got parents who walk alongside their kids marching in the parade. Kids love if they would wave to their parents on the side. Honestly, it it we're it's just a short while. Um we would really encourage a lot of the parents, a lot of the people
are just to come out. Um we just want to make it a lot of fun, have everybody have a great experience. Uh the Elks are again handing out a hot dog at the end of the parade route. Uh so we've actually increased our budget this year just to uh accommodate hopefully the crowds that we're expecting.
>> And the price of hot dogs. >> Huh. Everything. >> The price of hot dogs. >> Yeah. Right. So things are free. Everything's free. We hand out a drink and a hot dog. We have the um uh the girls softball is going to have a little uh exhibition game too right at the end
as well. Uh we encourage anybody who wants to come out, the kids if they want to come out, decorate their bikes, we'll have them, you know, come along the parade route. Uh last year, I will say that the the the marchers almost overtook the veteran. So, you know, if
anybody of any coaches are listening, uh if you could please have a banner, walk behind your banner. Don't let your kids go ahead. Everybody wants to see everybody by the time we get to the high school. It's one clump and we've got 400 people coming for a hot dog. It's really
difficult to kind of keep up. So, if everybody could just, you know, kind of hang back. Everybody takes a look at all the fire departments, uh, paraphernalia that comes out there, all of the trucks. They've got a million trucks out there. That's awesome. Police, we've got the, uh, I don't know if the SER team is
marching, but certainly the, uh, uh, the, uh, >> first aid squad. >> First aid squad. Thank you very much. >> Gotcha. Uh so they'll they'll be there as well. Uh the Elks will be marching again. Anybody that wants to I just uh popped in over at uh Chisum. There's a
girls a women's volleyball league and I said, "Hey, you know, if you guys want to march, we're happy to have you guys marching, too." Really, we would just really love to have the more the marrier. uh we'll have the hot dogs to uh to accommodate everybody, but it's really it's a great it's a great
opportunity to honor our our dead our our veterans. Uh I know that the uh the veterans are really happy when everybody comes out. It's really just uh they they just really love it. They really appreciate it. And our grand marshal this year is uh Joe Policcastro.
So again, we just encourage everybody to come out and um thank you very much. Jerry. >> Okay. Oh, and so you know what? I do want to say that um you know, you're talking about the budget, okay? Nobody runs a parade cheaper than me. So, the only expense that I that I that the town
pays for is a pin for the veterans. Okay? That's the only thing I've got and everybody else is just, you know, comes out for the goodness of their heart. The Elks are donating all of this stuff. It's a service that we're happy to provide. And uh you know, so again, that's that's a that's a wonderful thing. And when we all work together,
things magic happens. So, >> thank you, Jerry. Thank you so much. Really appreciate it. >> Are there any other uh public comment on agenda items only on the agenda? >> I don't think so. So, you're going to have to wait till the end. Sorry. So,
sorry. We're going to go we're going to try and go as fast as possible, though. Um uh so sorry. Uh John Piglo, administrator's report. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Touching on Veterans Park, DPW is there working on
it, making sure that it's cleaned up and ready to go for Memorial Day. We're also up at the pool lot for Sunday's food truck festival. The upper lot is also scheduled to be completely restriped after the festival. The striping will consist of all parking spaces,
directional arrows, highlighted speed bumps, handicap, and no parking zone. Vegetative waste April curbside collection has concluded. Please be advised that vegetative waste can still be dropped off at the recycling convenience center on 44 Morrison Road.
Also, just make note that that is monitored by surveillance cameras and we are up to 20 summones being issued and we've collected some $5,500. So, please do not dump things that don't
belong up there. you will get caught. Um, as I think everyone was aware, we had problems with the Jity bus. What we found out was that there was an engine failure. Nothing to do with us. It was just a manufacturing defect. We're under
warranty, so it's being worked on. It'll be taken care of. In the meantime, we're using the other bus from the recreation department to ensure that service continues without interruption. And Tamara, can you just put up the pictures of So Mike, if you would like
to chime in also, we go up to the covert once a week or so to look at the progress. Mike, if you want to comment on where we are in that. They're actually moving along very well. It should be concluded by I think it's June 26th was the last date we got. Mike, you want to fill in some of the details on
what we're looking at? >> Sure. You're looking at a picture of the Caldwell uh covert there. Uh what you what may be evident may not be is the concrete bottom's been poured. You're looking at a formed wall on the left side of the picture or towards the
Dayton side. That's to be poured this week. The other side has been poured. So essentially all the concrete that's going to be poured in place within a week is going to be done. Then the top, the decking as they call it is pre-cast and that's been made already. It's in
Pennsylvania waiting to be shipped there. So that'll be plopped on top of the walls and then they'll be able to backfill repave. What's going to hold what the only thing that will hold up is of course the utilities got to get back in there and transfer the temporary services to the permanent services. So
you'll see a lull there as they coordinate the crews of the various utilities, gas water predominantly. There's one telephone pole being held up in the air right now by by crane and um concrete ballard. Um
there there's a closeup of the formed wall with the the green is the epoxy coated steel in the wall. So it's corrosion resistant. And the black pipe that you see in the bottom left is our sanitary sore that they rebuilt within the excavation.
There's a closer view of it. >> Look at it though. It's quite a project. It's a lot more than I think most people thought it was going to be. >> This is like going to last like another hundred years or something. >> None of us in the room will be here the next time we got to do it. >> Excellent. >> The count the county also won't work on
it for another, you know, 150 years. >> It is a county project. We're not This is not a penny out of our budget. Um and I can keep going, but pretty pretty mundane stuff. So, >> yeah. Any questions or comments on it that we can answer? We'd be happy to
>> anticipate completion >> 26th of June I believe is the date we got last. >> Yeah. Again, I think the contractor who's directly retained by the county through bid. I think they're in advance of that. So, it's really the coordination with the utility and how
long they'll take to determine the final ending. But I imagine once that other wall poured, they're going to get the top on. They can back fill. emergency wise, you could probably, you know, on a stone uh road, you can get through there. It'll be certainly a better
situation than the giant open pit. What you don't see there now is they had to dewater that site. The groundwater is so high that they were failing the dewatering. They'd be operating in constant water. It's an impossible situation. They had to put dewatering uh
mechanism in place prior to the construction. Fortunately, it didn't delay them getting the bottom in. Now the walls are going in. It's been relatively dry lately. So >> So we're in pretty good shape. >> Thank you. So Tamar, go on to the next
pictures. >> Okay. So Gomes p uh striped their lot. Mike, what was that the other day? Was that >> striping was today? >> Today >> they paved it uh over the last two weeks. >> Yeah. So it was striped today. So that's
another step in the process. They still have a lot of work inside, but at least the lot now is completed. So, they are making progress there. Um, most of our other projects in town, there's really no update on them right now. There wasn't a whole lot going on
from the last meeting. if there's any other questions or comments. Oh, I did want to add also, you'll see a resolution tonight for Oakland Park because what we did is after we met with the contractor, we decided to have him actually do the sprinkler system. If you looked at the drawings, there's
extensive landscaping in there. >> Our concern was if we tried to coordinate that with the contractor, we were afraid that we wouldn't have the timing right, we'd end up holding him up, etc., etc. We got a price from that actually turned out to be very reasonable. This way we're out of it.
It's done in one shot and we'll be we'll be finished on time. So that's that added I think it was about five grand. It's not a whole lot of money. If there's any other questions or comments, we'd be happy to answer. >> I just have one housekeeping question that's not directly related to this.
It's great to see Mr. Disco two meetings in a row first on the screen and now in person. Um the video that we shared last month. >> Yes. Um, I have some people ask me about it that don't have access to Facebook if we put it online or >> We were We were trying to get it. I'm
not sure if it got up today. We were trying to get it on the website also. >> But our our way we've got to and I can't explain it, but it's just a project. It's not easy. So, we got to go through our website master to get that up. So, it's being careful. >> That's great. I appreciate >> it. If it's not up to date, it'll be up tomorrow.
>> Perfect. Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments? Seeing none. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Okay. Okay. So, we have no minutes uh today. We have new business ordinance on second reading. Uh Madame Clerk,
>> ordinance 2026-7. This ordinance amends various provisions of the township code regarding snow and ice treatment and removal. >> Madam clerk, uh I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor, I move that ordinance 20267, as read by
Madam Clerk, uh for approval on second reading. Second. >> Uh, we have a public hearing on the ordinance. Is there anybody that would like to be heard? >> Seeing none, I will close the public hearing. Uh, Madame Clerk, can you
please call the role? >> Committee man, >> yes. >> Committee Huber, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser, >> yes. >> Committee Weber, >> yes. >> Mayor Ler, >> yes. Now we have ordinances on first reading. Uh, madame clerk,
>> ordinance 2026-08, this ordinance amends certain land use provisions at chapter 35 of the town. >> Uh, Mr. Mayor, I move that ordinance 20268. We move for approval on first reading as read by madam clerk and publicized on
the township website May 14, 2026 with a final hearing on June 9th, 2026. >> Is there any discussion on this ordinance? >> Second. >> Good save, Alex. Is there any discussion on this ordinance? >> Can we just get an overview?
>> Provide that, Mr. Mayor. >> Yep. >> Uh so this is uh this came from our land use um uh folks within the township, their recommendations. This based this does really two things. One, um it updates a number of different sections within the township code regarding what
used to be called the development review committee. It that has since been updated to the technical review committee. So there's a bunch of updates to correct >> the word development to technical. Uh and then the other portion of it is to update a few of the escrow fees >> um and the application fees on the
application fees um for the technical review committee appearances. Uh it used to be a single fee. Now because there are some times that that committee does not require the use of outside professionals, we decided to separate that from those um times where professionals are needed. So there is a
fee put in place to help offset the costs of professionals when they're needed for purposes of that uh that committee. Uh on the escrow side of things, they're just update there. Uh I believe three up three or four updates to existing items, minor site plan,
preliminary site plan, um and excuse me, um the uh use variances. And then there's the addition of a bulk use variance for non-residential as opposed
to residential properties. So that's a new one. The other new one is when there's a site plan waiver um sought for cell tower or cell to or cell tower antennas. Um and that's a new item um for escrow.
Other than that, that that covers all those items unless there are any questions from the committee. >> Can I add a little color to that? These are escrow fees. If they're not used to support the the uh professionals, the money is returned to the applicant. What we were finding was that the escro fees
we had were not covering our costs from the professionals after the fact. We were having to go out and try to get the applicant to give us more escrow and we weren't successful a number of times because they had already obtained their their approvals. So the escro fees that
we were collecting were too low to cover our professionals. So that's really what it was driving it. >> Yep. Makes perfect sense. Um, any other discussion? No. >> All right. Madame Clerk, can you please call the role? >> Committee Cap, >> yes.
>> Deputy Mayor Fiser, >> yes. >> Committee Hoover, >> yes. >> Weber, >> yes. >> Mayor Ler, >> yes. >> Moving on to resolutions. Um, please let me know if you would like one pulled after I say it. 2026 143
2026 144 204 2026 145 2026 146 2026 147 2026 148
2026 149 2026 150 2026 151 2026 26 152 2026 153
2026 154 2026 155 2026 156 2026 157 2026 158
2026 159 2026 160 I need to pull that one. um 2026 161. And that is it. I'll make a motion to adopt the resolutions by consent agenda.
Resolution 2026-143 through resolution 2026-159. We'll pick it up with resolution 2026-161. And that's it. >> Second, >> Madame Clerk.
>> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. >> Yes. Committee Huber. >> Yes. >> Committee. >> Yes. >> We >> Yes. >> Mayor. >> Yes. >> Uh resolution 2026 160. Madam clerk, can you read it? >> This resolution reestablishes
subcommittee of the township committee's cannabis subcommittee and authorizes the town clerk to begin accepting applications for a cannabis retail license. >> I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2026160 is read by madam clerk. Second.
Is there any discussion up here? Uh, we'll wait till public comment and and and then absolutely. Um, Madame Clerk. >> Committee man. >> Yes. >> Huber. >> Yes. >> Committ Weber. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kiser.
>> Yes. >> Mayor, >> I have to abstain. Uh, discussion and action items. Uh, I don't see any. Alex's favorite part of the meeting, finance. I'll make a motion to to pay the payroll and
invoices for the period of April 29th, 2026 through May 12th, 2026 in the amount of 10,375,14. >> Second, Madame Clerk. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. >> Yes. >> Deputy Committeeman Weber.
>> Yes. >> His Huber. >> Yes. >> Mayor Ler. >> Yes. Uh, we have correspondence 2025 Tree City USA recognition from the Arbor
Day Foundation. Notice of public hearing, New Jersey American Water, BPU. uh WM2511 0610 May 20th 2026 4:30 PM and 5:30 p.m. For
further information contact the board's Division of Case Management at 6092920806. Notice of public hearing NJ American Water BPU WR 2061 0110 May 27th
4:30 and 5:30 for further information contact the director of the division of rate counsel at 6092920806. public comment on any governmental issue. Uh before before anybody goes, we have a four-minute time limit. Please give your
name and address before you speak to the body. >> Jerryanne Casmar, 128 Short Hills Avenue, Springfield. So I have a question. Actually, not a question, a comment about the uh cannabis, you know. >> Wait, could you could you because they're going to complain they can't hear.
>> Okay. Okay. So Jerryanne Kasmar, 128 Short Hills Avenue, Springfield, New Jersey. Um, so I have a comment about the uh the cannabis. You're reestablishing a subcommittee. You know, we are living in a crazy time at the moment and what's happening is we
have a lot of our young people are high. They're driving around high. Uh, you can't walk down a street. I, you know, I work in Bayon. I I can't walk down the street without smelling it. I can't walk down the street sometimes here. I'm driving on the road. We've got
the smell of, you know, people are smoking weed in their car. We are enabling our children and our old people, too. Honestly, I know I know a bunch of people that are taking gummies and everything else. We need to be more alert, not to not to be uh, you know,
just half dead. I mean, this is this is what's happening. I don't want our town to enable these people to do this. It's it's it's incredible to me that people are so easy and they say, "Well, you know, it's it's money for the town." Damn it. It's blood money. I don't This
is not how I think that we should do this. And so that's that's my opinion. I don't think we should have another one of these places in town. Um they're they are saturated. You can go all over 22. They're they're up and down the roadways. I mean, this is really we we
need to help protect our people, not again enable them, not to make them keep them high, keep them stupid and um you know, oblivious to what's happening in the world and in in our town. And I think that's the problem. And so, I
don't think this is a good idea. I think we should stop what we're doing and just not uh not not put any more of these places uh in the public eye. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you, Miss Kazmar. Are there is there anybody else who
would like to speak? >> Come on up. >> I wanted to talk about the dog park. >> Um what's a mic? Sorry. Yes, please. >> Allison Miller, one Hemlock Terrace, Springfield. Um, first of all, I'd like to thank you
all for what you do. I appreciate all of you making our town better every day, and you don't hear that enough. So, thank you. Um, as far as the dog park that's proposed, I'd like to come out and say that I, as I've sent you all a letter, I think it's a poor idea. Why? I
own a dog walking company. We walk over 700 dogs a week. I've been doing this for 22 years. I have a lot of experience with dogs. People think that they have great dogs that are socialized that aren't properly socialized and they bring them into spaces like this and
other dogs get hurt. My dog got hurt. Chris, your dog got hurt in a supervised situation. It happens all the time. You bring a lot of dogs together, especially people who are unaware of their own dogs. You know, we love them so much. they're our family that we
don't see their shortcomings and that maybe they weren't socialized properly and shouldn't be around other dogs and it can become very dangerous. So, the location where you guys proposed it is a very small space for a dog park first of all. So, you get big dogs, you get
little dogs, and it's right next to a playground. You get little kids sticking their hands in. And, you know, not all dogs are good with kids. It's a dangerous situation to have a dog park so close to to children. Um, another
point of contention I have is there's no parking over there. So, we have the community gardens there and our gardeners complain all the time that they can't find parking to go work on their gardens. This is like a sanctuary to our gardeners. They come for a safe,
quiet space. We have a zen bench over there. There are students that come um on the paths and and they lay down underneath the trees and relax there. It's a quiet, really nice space for people to relax and enjoy peace and quiet. And having a dog park there would
ruin that peace and quiet. There's a lot of noise with dogs. My dogs bark constantly. I'm constantly stopping them and having to bring them inside and reprimand them. And and they're mine. I It's It's just not a good location. Um,
I I nobody loves dogs more than I do. Um, you know, they're they're my family. I went into this business because I love dogs so much. But I just think that there's too many um too many bad factors
with this location. Not to mention, I was upset that they took down some trees um to make room for the dog park. I do love that you guys are going to bring some water in. That'll be amazing for the gardeners. I mean, we've been needing water over at that location for
a long time. We've been go with our rain barrels and and grabbing buckets and going to the river and and watering the gardens. So, having water there is amazing. Thank you for that. But I just wanted to come out and say that as a professional who works with dogs every
day, this is a poor location. And um you'd be ruining a really nice quiet park that I know you guys think is underutilized, but if you actually look, there's always people there. There's people laying down under the street, under the trees. There's people walking
through the paths that go to the high school in the back. It really is utilized and it's a lovely quiet park. And I just wanted to say I hope you know you consider all the factors and you know that's it. >> Thank you, Miss Miller. >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Mr. Mayor, can I just make one comment? No trees were cut down for the park. The trees that were moved were stoned dead. I think I think Mr. Betra, I think you went over there, did you not? >> He did. And and so did so did I spoke to the arborist, too. So, the trees
eventually would have to come down. They obviously moved up the removal of these trees because of the prospective dog park. >> Okay. I beg to differ, but okay. >> That's what I was told. >> Thank you. Come on up.
This is great. We have actual public comment at a meeting. Thank you for coming. >> Thank you. Um, >> thank you. >> My name is Lauren Klene. I live at 77 Wabino Avenue, which is adjacent to the proposed dog park. Um, so I understand
the value of community spaces, and I want to be very clear that I'm in no way opposed to dogs. I'm actually a dog lover, but unfortunately I'm not able to have a dog. Um, my concern is with the location of this proposed project and
the very real impact it'll have on residents who live immediately beside it, especially my family. My property already experiences ongoing issues from the current park activity, including excessive foot traffic, people cutting across our lawn and through our driveway
daily, littering, noise, and dog waste being left behind on our property. Establishing a dog park in this location will significantly increase those problems and permanently change the quality of life for the nearby homeowners. I am deeply concerned about
increased barking and noise, traffic and parking congestion, which is something we already experience, sanitation and waste management, safety and liability concerns, as you've already brought up. Um, and especially near a park that is designed for very young children. Uh,
the envir environmental impact and the potential negative effect on surrounding property values. I also understand and want the committee to understand that this issue directly affects my family's health and our ability to enjoy our
home. My son has severe dog allergies and increasing concentrated dog activity directly beside our property raises serious concerns about exposure to dog dander and waste affecting his ability to play safely in our own backyard. In
addition, many residents appear to have learned about parts of this project only after discussions about utilities and waterline approvals had already begun. There have been two articles in Tap into Springfield about the proposed dog park. However, when I reached out to the
township committee, I was told that nothing had been approved to date and there were no plans available to be reviewed. That to me is concerning because residents deserve transparency and meaningful public input before decisions that heavily impact our
neighboring homes move forward. I ask that the township clarify whether any historical, environmental, or preservation conser considerations have been reviewed regarding this area in the nearby Battle of Springfield walking path and area.
I ask that respectfully that the committee consider pausing any further development plans, provide full public disclosure of all proposals, approvals in studies connected to this project, and seriously reconsider whether this is an appropriate location for a dog park
giving its close proximity to residential homes and a park designed again for very small children. The residents most directly affected deserve to be heard before any permanent decisions are made to our home and our community. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Jeff Chate 47 Shel. Uh just two quick things. One is is the Oakland Avenue Park is that the final name for it? >> No. >> Okay. Because I know we talked about it last year about putting it out to the town, to the students, the community. try to come up with a historic name that might be something interesting.
>> We're just calling it the Oakland Avenue Park for the sake of building it. It's not the final name. >> Okay. And one other thing, one of the dealerships I don't want to mention on public record, maybe I will, that Paramis Ford, I dealt with them years ago. I didn't have a pleasant experience and I see you're buying a truck from them. It might be too late.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> Any other uh final uh public comment? Okay. Uh seeing there are none uh I just wanted to open it up to the dis.
Um so conveniently I I saw um a video from Echo Park, Echo Lake with the dog park. Yeah. And
they have a great looking dog park. But I I guess what I never realized was that there's a big dog park and a little dog park. >> Yeah. >> And these dog parks had a lot of space in them. My opinion on this is after looking at
other dog parks is that um I don't think we actually contain an area in Springfield that has enough for a big and a little dog park. Uh but anyway,
I see your point on that one. Right. Um and then I just want to say something about the cannabis situation. Um I'm a guy that drinks one beer a year. I
I really hope that the attitude that certain people take about people who want to use cannabis is the same as it is with drinking. Because I'm going to tell you as a cop, when people asked me what my problems were in the North
Police Department, if the camera's watching this, it was alcohol and then it plummeted down to cocaine, heroin, PCP, angel dust, pills, Xanax, codone. It it I I was a drug guy.
All right. Alcohol. Most obnoxious, disrespectful, and downright criminal people in the behavior that that I've ever seen comes from alcohol. So, while I understand the situation that that cannabis isn't for everybody,
I hope you take the same stance for alcohol because there's a lot going on with that one. >> Anybody else on the D? >> As most of you know, I voted against cannabis here. I always did. I always will. Um, not saying we're going to open
another shop, especially around here. we will not. But I I hold strong against it. I grew up with it and I'm against it, you know. I'm against that. So, I mean, I know Jerry, I'm 22. I go
22, my wife and I, and every other corner there's one. There's too many. I feel >> it did. >> Yeah. >> No, there's one. >> That is accurate. >> I don't even think we >> Here's here's what happened.
We we had one dispensary and it was Story. And Story, we had a what what we considered a very good deal with Story as long as they were the only game in town. We received $75,000 a year
for them as a police officer for police officer. 75,000 a year for community projects. >> 25, I believe. >> 25. >> It was 25. >> 25, sorry. 25 of community projects and 2% of gross receipts. >> Correct. >> Which the short time they were open I
think was about 100,000. >> 30. If it was 30 then >> open the full year. >> All right. We're going to have to have a talk because I was told it was a hundred. no more than uh a week or two ago, but needless to say, they went out of
business. >> That is correct. >> We pulled that resolution and normally when that happens, we take a moment to explain what the resolution is. And and for some reason, and I don't know why we didn't do that,
>> we only pulled it because the mayor needed to. Yeah, >> I I I understand and and usually sometimes, you know, sometimes we do, sometimes we don't. >> I what I wanted to ask is if Mr. Dow would just explain the purpose of the that resolution and and and what it's doing uh by by its approval,
>> what it is doing and maybe what it isn't doing. >> Sure. Sure. And I think that most of the points have already been touched upon, but um yes, it was noted that story dispensary uh is no longer operating. Um that and the town has there's authorization for up to one license for
a retail establishment within the township of Springfield. Uh because Story is currently out of not operating. Um the intent of the resolution is is is twofold. One, uh to reconvene the cannabis subcommittee because the cannabis subcommittee has a role to play
in reviewing potential applicants um and and uh making recommendations if any to the township committee about how to move forward. Uh and in this case that would that would potentially be if the story dispensary license is no longer active
or no longer otherwise sort of operable, the town wants to be in a position uh to make the choice uh about putting another about awarding another license if there's an applicant that comes in that's qualified. Uh and that's what the township code provides for right now.
Um, and so this really just recognizes what's already in the township code um, in light of the developments with the previously existing um, cannabis business in town. >> If I'm if I'm not mistaken, we also have a lot
of uh, laws you want to call that they can't be around schools. They can't be so far from schools. So, and I forget off the top of my head a minute we were talking about arguing about it. I I think everybody I think we're losing the plot
here. We we've already gone through this. We've already done this. Uh a few years ago, there was a cannabis uh review commission. It was chaired by myself and I think uh uh Committeeman Weber sat with me. We reviewed at that time I think there was under 10
applicants. We went through them all. There was a thorough review process, a thorough study process, uh, uh, showing, you know, what they envisioned, the plans they had to apply to the state. The same thing would just be replayed
out now because we currently have an open uh license and uh if they haven't started already, there has been interest in potentially uh other businesses uh uh
approaching the township uh uh with a license available. So, we would need to reconvene this subcommittee to review that. That does not mean that anything has been awarded. it does not mean that we will reward. Um, but we have to
create this uh uh to review that. With that being said, I think I speak for majority of the members here. We were supportive of a a a retail license before. I'm imagining that we would be supportive of a retail license in the
future. It is a legitimate business now. It is brings in revenue for the town. It brings in it is part of a growing new economy. Uh uh uh people are going to
partake in that whether we have a legal market or an illegal market. If you want to put your head in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist or doesn't happen, that's your right. But unfortunately, I don't think that we should uh uh uh let
this pass us by while every other town continues to make revenue off of it. >> Well, he he 100% agree with you. Here's my situation right now because Kathy, I put something online to you that is not accurate. So, John, Diane, you two are
going to figure out somehow how I got a $100,000 number from from the two of you >> because that is that is what I was told for a fact. >> I was I asked exactly what was the revenue from story that we got for the
year and I was told $100,000. >> I may have I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mr. M. I only listed the amount I gave you was only the revenue that's listed for tax the revenue tax it from just 2026
2025 I will go back and double check the numbers that were given to you that if they they may be included up to the date and including the police contribution where the police contribution is not shown within the budget. So
>> I think I miss it. I I I miss I answered in your direct question tonight incorrectly >> or not as you're expecting to hear. >> Kathy, I'll amend my comment to you on that one. I'm sorry about that. >> I wasn't given >> Let me ask Christian. Can
they sell the license to someone else just like a liquor license can be bought by someone else? >> No. >> No, they can't. All right. I didn't I I that I didn't know >> they can they can go through the ownership change process. >> Mhm. >> But um that is a completely different
process than the liquor license process. >> Uh the >> the parent company of Story is in bankruptcy proceedings >> because they've they've opened too much too soon. >> Um and there's it's kind of on them to
see what they're going to do. Um it is uh it is on Springfield now to choose what we would like to do which is all we're doing is beginning that process >> and that and that was the
>> that was the point of bringing up my point to Mr. Dow. Obviously we're not going to be talking about the whole process and procedure now but it was more of having Mr. Mr. Dow explained that we are at step one, the exploratory stage by opening up the ad hoc committee to
explore and have the conversations that we were having now with the ad hoc committee for them to come back and and and explore more options with us. And that was my whole point of of introducing and and having Mr. Doubt explain what that is so that we can be
more transparent about what this resolution does and doesn't do and and what the intended steps may may be moving forward. I appreciate that, but I I I think I kind of with that got us a little off track. Yep. I apologize. >> No problem. >> And and I just want to add one more
thing to to my statement before. Listen, I'm not a fan of the liquor stores either. If I can get rid of I'd get rid of them, too. >> I I don't like them. I think they are they are I think that the aggravation that we get from General Green for the littering and everything else is not worth the headaches of people coming
online and and sitting there saying that they live in a hole town because there's litter by a bus stop. If that's the biggest complaint you have, if that's the biggest complaint you have, that there's litter by a bus stop because the people of General can clean it, you live in a damn good town, right?
So, if I can get rid of them, I'd get rid of them, too. I'm not a fan of it. But what I do recognize is that if you accept one, you kind of got to accept another. And the only thing that we can that I feel that we have control on is the number of ones that we can put
out there. That's really the only thing I I >> And who comes in? >> I acknowledge and and who comes in, right? >> Yeah. >> If this was something, you know, if this was >> if this was the case during liquor stores when when they were put up. >> Um, you know, that's long before anybody
that's set up here. I I I don't know how that licensing came about or or however it was. Um, but I would see things very differently with them. Also, I just recognize though that that one kind of carries the other. So,
>> sure. >> Thank you. >> Any other comments uh before we go into exec? Mr. Mayor, could I could I just update on grants for the >> uh the committee? >> Sure. >> We received a grant of 93,000 from Union
County for community development block grant. That's for Fieldstone Drive milling and paving. also will update all the sidewalks adjacent to the Chisum Rec Center there. We've got sidewalks that have been lifted by trees. We've got a DOT have advertised for four different
types of aid. We really only qualify for one because they're transit means. >> No, we're not we're not we're not a transit hub. >> Not a transit. So, municipal aid, we would like to do a Brier Hill Circle. Um last done about 16 years ago. It
certainly needs it. Uh the applications are due at the end of June. If you feel that that's appropriate, as I do, then we would get a resolution for a future meeting. Got the PGA coming in 29. You're going to have a lot of foot and um vehicular traffic going through
there. So, doing that in 27 or 28 makes a lot of sense. Um John sent me something called safe streets for all which is a um federal program where you try to accommodate all types of road
users. Um there is a grant that we could consider. It's an action plan. You have to have an action plan in place before you can get money to actually build things. The action plan probably costs 100 to 150. federal local match is
something to 8020 or less. Meaning the maximum the federal government would contribute would be 80% of that. So I'm willing to do that grant. It's due at the end of May. It would be have to be done by outside people, but you would
have to probably put up 20 25 30,000 if you got a grant for the hundred or whatever. something to consider, but you would need the action plan which really studies accident rates, how you get bicycle working with pedestrian on
roadways that already are limited in the rightway and cartwway with so um that's something we can look forward to. Um but that's due at the end of end of May. So, two grant opportunities coming up which
I think we, you know, certainly municipal aid we've been very successful at and maybe the federal um one we can also put in. Uh we did also get the brick u Mayor Lauer had forwarded that. We certainly would like to consider Duffy's on that. That was not something
we could do on the Keen the uh Kim uh various subcommittees because you have to have it ready to go. We don't have that permit yet. The brick funding does isn't due to the end of July, I believe. So, it's possible we may get our permit
in prior to that deadline and uh they might accept that. It's still an uphill battle, I think, but I'm willing to do those. So, just an update. I didn't mean to elongate the meeting or or take up your time. >> Nope. >> Alex,
>> thing I'd like to bring to the people's >> attention. I talked with the police and there were a lot of ebikes in town and ebikes law are laws are changing. There was a meeting on Wednesday the 20th
which mayor already said it's 6 p.m. at Chisum Community Center. If you have an ebike or if you're getting an ebike for your kids, for you, I say go to the meeting because you're gonna lose it if you don't know the law.
>> Alex, >> uh I just want to recognize uh last week was municipal clerk's week. Um, and I just wanted to recognize the outstanding team that works every day, not only to keep our elections in town and to keep
our records and keep our minutes uh, but with a lot of the administrative work of this town uh, every single day. So, uh, to Linda uh, Moren and Tamara, you really do uh, help keep us prepared and help every single resident in town be
prepared. acknowledge your hard work, not only last week, but every day of this year. >> Yeah, you you put up a lot with us. We we we you got you you and you know, Linda and and and you put up with a lot from us, and we appreciate
>> Not for me. >> Oh, Mr. Friendly. >> Well, before we go into exec, I just want to publicly acknowledge our Department of Public Works for their work uh at SE on uh Seivera Avenue. a
couple residents wrote to myself um and other township staff to to praise you. So, uh the Bratanos, thank you. Uh well done, Robbie and crew. So, thank you. Um with that, uh madame clerk, can you read
the resolution to go into executive session? that body holding session whereas the council committee will discuss matters. The matters to be discussed in the close session are to remain in the strictest
of the township. Motion go and closed. Second. >> All in favor? I. We're enclosed.