Got you. Got him. Good. >> You hear him? I say do it. All right. This meeting is being held in accordance with public laws 1975 chapter 231. 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 the municipal building and on the township website. To lead us in the pledge of allegiance, we have uh American Legion Post 228 Vice Commander
Mark Krauss and a special guest uh member of the Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 228, Mr. Judah 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 continue standing for a moment of silence for our service members here and abroad. >> All right. Before uh we go with a roll call, I want to make sure everybody
speaks into their microphones. Um so we don't hear about it online or Linda doesn't get calls about it. So please speak into the microphones. Madame clerk, >> Mayor Lauer >> present. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser >> present. >> Committeeman Capid
>> here. >> Committeeman Huber >> here. >> Committeeman Weber >> here. >> All right. Proclamations and announcements. The Springfield 55 plus residence calendar for April 2026 is available and
it is stocked full of events. If you are interested in serving on any boards, please send an email to residents review at springfieldj.us. us.
The egg hunt and kite fest is on Saturday, March 28th. So this Saturday from 2 to 4 at Chisum Park. Rain day is Sunday, March 29th. Bring your baskets and bring your kites. Photos with the
Easter Bunny, DJ, music, and much more. All municipal offices will be closed on Friday, April 3rd in observance of Good Friday. And join the first aid squad to welcome
Springfield's newest ambulance. On Saturday, April 11th from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be carnival games, face painting, and so much more. It is on number 10 Trivet Avenue right outside this building.
Community Health Fair hosted by the First Aid Squad is on April 12th uh from 11:00 a.m. to 300 PM at the Chisum Community Center. Learning life-saving skills, meet your first responders, and enjoy fun activities for
all ages. Uh the Springfield Community Pool Membership is open at www.thesays saw.orgsc. orgscp. The township committee meeting on April 14th will include a dedication of the
mural plaque, that one. Um, and reading of the act of the state of New Jersey establishing the township of Springfield and the minutes of Springfield's first ever township committee meeting, April 14th, 1794,
just a few years ago. Uh, finally, the township would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the family of first aid squad lieutenant Jeff Sheainus uh on the passing of his father, Irwin. I know the Shaneis family
very well. They're wonderful people and we are very sorry for their loss. We also have uh Springfield Community Cleanup Day, April 26th at 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Meet at Laurel Park. Parks
meet at Laurel Park. Gloves and bags are provided. And uh we have an Arbor Day proclamation. Uh but the person who couldn't make it was not here. So it is being sent to them. uh instead of that
uh we're moving on to public comment on agenda items only. Okay, we now have reports. Um I'm going to turn it over to uh Jay Spanelli who's going to pinch hit in
terms of our reports today. So Mr. Spanelli, >> thank you Mayor. So, we've been working with our 250, as you heard, the one that we're going to have here at the meeting is coming up. And before that, we've had opening up the vault at the library, which was a great success. We had the
curator there, uh, Committee Capidities, you were there. I know you saw what it was about. It was nice to just have everyone there and kind of be involved. Uh, we took great pictures with everyone, got great information. And as we continue our 250th celebrations, uh, one of the things that we're having, which is coming up, uh, before uh, the
one that's coming up on the 14th is April 12th, which is community day at the library. So that'll be community day at the library between 1 and 3. And then we have after the one that's going to be here, we have the Reverend and the Rabbi, which is the third time we've had to reschedule this, unfortunately. But
fortunately now, we seem like we have it at the right time at the right place. that will bre that will be on April 29th, which is Wednesday, from uh if I'm not mistaken, 6:30 to 8. So, that will be something that I know everybody was kind of waiting for. We had a lot of people set up to come to that. We had a
lot of people reserving spots with the um with the recreation department. So, with that also being said, we're now adding something that wasn't on the agenda for the 250th. And I think uh Committeeman Kaiser will be happy to hear about this because he was the one that brought up the fact that he wanted
to do a time capsule. Had a nice conversation this afternoon with the superintendent and the nine principles. We all met today and had a nice conversation about what we were going to do and how we were going to build this. And it became a little bit bigger than we thought. All of the schools would
like to dive into this full force, allowing themselves and their classrooms to give something, whether it's a letter from each of the classrooms, pictures, articles, things that they may be able to put into the capsule. So, this smaller capsule that we thought we were going to have is going to have to go a
lot bigger than we thought. It has brought a lot of excitement into the schools and the community is starting to get behind this. So, I would love to hear a moment if possible. Again, Committeeman Kaiser, I know this was your thing. I'd love to hear some thoughts, some ideas. Uh, you know, we
talked about possibly doing this for a 250th and putting this maybe in front of town hall with a nice plaque there. >> The 350th >> Well, for whatever you guys want it to be. I don't know if we're going to do a 100 years, 50 years. You know, Rich is like, I'm right there. We're going to
Don't worry, I won't be there either. Um, but we I would like to hear some ideas from this committee if you'd like to say some and give some thought about it about where we might be able to put it and what else we might be able to add to this. I figure we would bring in Rotary. We would bring in some of the other small groups that are from the outside and bring them in. But at this
point, I I would like to ask for some thoughts on this possible. >> I want to kick it off to Alex if if he would like to go first. Um, if not, we can just, you know, go down the day. It's totally up to you. It's it was your idea. >> Yeah. No. Hey, it's a a time capsule is
supposed to be a moment in time. I think it's for then a future generation to open up and look back and hear what the the the people of that day thought. So, I I I would envision that it's, you know, I've never done a time capsule
before, but I think it it it it takes uh uh some relics of our time, right? Maybe that's probably what's most important to us from an iPhone or a cell phone to uh comments from the students and and and
and comments from people up here and then for a future generation to look back and say uh hey what's in there? So I I think that's the point of it. I don't know if it's necessarily for the people who put it in to see if it's for
future Americans in a future time to say, "Hey, uh uh what we have we already have a time capsule out in front. I think there is a stone marking it um from I forget what year, but I think we can go find it." >> Uh uh so maybe putting it next to that
with uh uh a new date and time in the future. I see Chris I see committeeman Weber's faces looking at where is it >> from we have a time cast >> yeah it's it's it's by the on our front lawn and there's a marking of a stone I'm pretty sure >> okay
>> is >> I'm fairly certain I think it's from >> I never noticed >> it's not for you guys from like uh uh maybe 200 year and and marked to be 100 years in the future whatever
>> cracking this thing open night. No, >> no, the see the pro that's the point is like you're supposed to it shouldn't be stuff like that you're going to say, "Oh, yeah. I remember like having a VCR, right? It's supposed to be for a generation that would have no idea what
a VCR is." >> So, it would be like my my daughter's generation with a rotary phone. >> Yes, >> exactly. >> Yeah. >> I think that is what we're envisioning. >> Okay, Rich. >> I don't know what else to say. I mean, you know, we just to put things in there that from this generation.
>> I like to see the one from 200. >> Yeah. >> Cuz I was here. I was here. >> I >> Yeah. >> 50 years ago. >> Somebody go outside tonight and go look around for this stone. >> That's an interesting point, right? Because you have two you have two different uh viewpoints. Viewpoint number one is yours that you know it's for a future generation. But then you
look and you and you have every school that wants to be involved and there's going to be kids that >> you know are 13 14 years old and 50 years >> they're 63 years old 65 >> there's a there's a good chance that a lot of these people would be in town and
and it could be a really big event in 50 years >> sure >> to have them open this up. You know we have a teacher in Codwell um Mr. Campbell and Mr. Campbell makes our kids write letters. >> Yes. >> Themselves.
>> He does. He read one on uh TV, one of those shows. >> It was on the show. Yeah. And my my daughter and you know got her letter last year and she wrote this letter I think when she was seven. >> Oh jeez. >> Oh, it was it the whole house was crying. Oh my. >> But it was it was fantastic. So
>> I don't know. I I I would like 50 years. I can see a hundred. Maybe there could be both. But where would you put it? I guess in in the front of the town hall again. Yeah, we put in town hall. >> Okay. >> Yeah. We got to get something that's big enough to do for some of the screws, some of the things, you know,
>> and then and then you get a headstone, whatever you call it, and you mark it. >> How big is a capsule? >> So, so I do have I I do have sizes that we can go over. There's different ones. I found a company that specifically does this. Yeah, there's a company that does this. So, >> Hellcat, can we get a like?
>> Yeah. Yeah, we'll get a car and put it in there for you. >> I know a guy who has cars. We just bury one of your cars. >> There we go. That's a cap. >> I just my two cents would just be uh I would like to make sure all of the you know organizations that are participating in the 250th
>> are involved as well. >> Yes. >> Um and the schools and you know our environmental commission things like that. So things in town. Uh >> cap anything? >> I'm I'm loving all the ideas. >> That's right.
>> More more ideas the better. >> Okay. Yes to all. >> Okay. Uh anything else? >> Yeah. The last one is we have been working toward the fall festival and we do have a company that we are talking with and actually are done speaking with. It's on the agenda for this evening to be able to go over and they
will be assisting us to make this a bigger and better fall festival than we've ever had with incorporated the individuals that have been involved with it already who do an absolute phenomenal job. So uh you know with bless you >> uh and that just means it's the truth.
So with saying that, I want to thank everybody who was involved with this process so far. Mayor, deputy mayor. I know that we've been doing this and it's been, you know, something that we wanted to just make a little bit larger and we're all behind this. We got sponsors that are already involved and we're looking very, very forward to one of the biggest events that we have every year.
Obviously 250th we're f focusing on Fourth of July, which will be bigger and better as it is already, but the next one is the fall festival. We're very excited about that. So, if anybody would like to go over it, Craig, I think you there was uh we have the we have the document out there, correct? >> Uh yeah, it should be should be
>> on the agenda. >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah, it's on the agenda. >> Okay. So, anybody who'd like to go over it >> by the time the capital's open, Gomes's building will be open. >> Maybe we'll take Maybe we'll take a picture of it and put it in there. >> I don't even know if that's funny at this point.
>> More tragic than anything else. Um okay. Uh, moving right along to Alex's uh, second favorite part of the meeting, which is minutes. >> Uh, I will make a motion to adopt the regular and executive meeting minutes of February 10th, 2026 as emailed.
>> I second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> All right. New business. We have nothing on second reading. Uh, however, we do have an ordinance on first reading. uh >> is ordinance 2022605.
This ordinance amends the township code at chapter 7 to modify the township's traffic regulations. >> Make a motion to adopt ordinance. Speak into the mic, please.
>> Make a motion to adopt ordinance 2026-05 as read by Madame Clerk. Do we have a second? Second. >> Okay. Discussion. Uh Mr. Dow, can you
give us a a brief uh summary of what's in that ordinance? >> Certainly, Mayor. Uh this is a relatively simple ordinance. This amends the parking regulations on Profit Avenue, to eliminate the need for a license, also known here as a permit. Uh the conditions, according to the police
department, the conditions that cause the necessity for permit parking there no longer exists. So they want to make sure that people can uh park their freely subject to any other you know any other timing restrictions etc. But no permit is necessary once this is adopted.
>> Okay. Anything from the dis. >> Okay madame clerk can we have a roll call? >> Committeeman Weber. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Capid. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Huber. >> Yes. >> Mayor La.
>> Yes. Resolutions. Um, if you'd like something pulled, please say so. Resolution 2026 105. Resolution 2026 106, 107, 108,
109, 110, and 111. >> Pull 110. >> Pulling 110. Make a motion to adopt resolutions 2026-105 through
>> 2020 uh 2026-109 and then 2026-11. >> Second, >> Madame Clerk. >> Committeeman Weber. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. >> Sorry. >> Committeeman Yuber. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Capid.
>> Yes. >> Mayor Low. >> Yes. >> Okay. Resolution 2026 1110. This resolution authorizes the sale of street signs no longer needed for public use.
>> I will make a motion to adopt a resolution uh as read by Madame Clerk. >> Second. >> Here we go. Uh I just wanted to make a a point. This has been uh something that I've raised for a little while and we
finally were able to work it out. uh that would potentially we go through a lot of signs. Some get taken down because of accidents. Some are just out of use. Um some are uh you know just replaced over time. Um we're going to try to sell those street
signs. I don't think anybody's anticipating a large sum of money, but it's better than it just being piled into a uh a pile of scrap metal by the town hall and uh and never being used. So, uh, we don't have every street in
Springfield. Um, but we have a few and, uh, I think it will be categorized and put online for people to potentially buy and if they want their maybe maybe perhaps their street sign is available and they'll be able to buy it. So, >> I think it's a fantastic idea,
>> especially for guys, you know, like me. I collect them, put them on on the wall in the garage, anything. $10, 20 bucks. What are these things selling for? Do we know yet? >> $10. >> So, it's it's not to make any money. Fantastic. >> It's just >> to kind of get rid of some stuff and uh
>> clean up. >> Clean up, >> make some money, and give something back to the community. So, >> absolutely cool. Yep. >> Madam clerk, >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser, >> yes. >> Committee Yuber, >> yes. >> Committeeman Capes,
>> yes. >> Committee Weber, >> yes. >> Mayor Laugher, >> yes. All right, moving on to discussion and action items. A joint request by the Edward Walton PTA, James Caldwell PTA, and Thelma Sandmeer PTA for $150 program
credit from the recreation department for their annual basket auction on May 8th. >> Uh motion to approve. >> Second. >> Committeeman Weber. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Huber. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Capid. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. >> Yes.
>> Mayor Ler. >> Yes. Next, uh, township accepts the resignation of Mary Feldman as a member of the environmental commission effective March 19, 2026 and appoints Nina Tbachnik as a member of the environmental commission to film a term
expiring 1231, 2028. >> Wait, is she resigning or is she just leaving the her >> Mary Feldman is resigning? Uh, >> yes. But >> she is still coming to the meetings, but she will not. >> You're voting. >> You're resigning the secretary position.
>> Secretary. Yes. >> Okay. >> I make a motion. Oh, sorry. You You got something? >> Oh, make a motion to approve. >> Second. All in favor? >> I I >> I just want to say something before we
go to the next. >> Yeah. >> I want everybody out there. If you want to get on a committee, all you have to do is get your resume in here and you know, we'll do what we can to get you on a committee. I mean, a lot of people think, "Oh, well, you got to be friends." You don't have to be friends
with anybody. All you got to do is get your resume here and we will read it. I mean, goes to the mayor and the mayor goes through them. Everybody goes to them. >> Absolutely. >> I literally met somebody the other day and I was just talking to them. they wanted to get more involved and they're right now currently talking to both the
environmental commission and um the library people to figure uh you know what best role she would want to serve either either one or both she doesn't know but it's it's you know they came with uh a willingness to volunteer and we we just directed them to the right
people because we're always looking >> 100% >> it it actually going on what Rich said it actually helps us if you're not a friend we've got a lot of friends it helps us if If new people get involved who who are, you know, we don't know at all,
>> it gives people a great insight into what goes on. It gets them involved and it opens the doors for them to get involved in other boards and and so on because it is unfortunately uh the same people over and over again that are on all of these boards. So yeah, even if
you don't know anybody, put it in, put the letter of interest in and and we'd love to talk to you. >> I also want to point out it's not political. If anybody wants to serve the town, come right on. >> Republican, Democrat, unaffiliated, come on in. We would love to have you serve
the town. Uh, next is a request by the Springfield First Aid Squad to wave filing fees of $40 for raffle applications as they are raising funds for a new ambulance that they are received. >> I make a motion. Second.
>> Committee Capid. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. >> Yes. Yes. Committeeman Huber. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Weber. >> Yes. >> Mayor Laugher. >> Yes. Now to Alex's favorite part of the meeting. I'll make a motion to adopt uh to payroll and invoices for the period
of March 11th, 2026 through March 24th, 2026 in the amount of $5,249,17945. >> Second. >> Deputy Mayor Kaiser. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Yuber. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Capid. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Weber. >> Yes. >> Mayor Ler. Yes. Now we have
correspondence. Union Township Planning Board meeting uh March 26th at 7 p.m. at the municipal building property located at 2735 Route 22 West. Second, uh the county of
union department of engineering, public works and facilities management areawide notification for application of adulticide used to control adult mosquitoes. Visit the county website at www.ucnj.org
for more information. Legal notices will be published in Union County newspapers from May through October. I just really think they need to use a different word than adult aside. Um, but other than that, any other information can be found on the county website. Public comment on
any governmental issue. Uh, if anybody would like to address the township committee, please come on up. Please say your name and address and uh, we look forward to hearing from you. >> Michael Ferie, 139 Hillside Avenue. >> Yeah. Just pull just pull it towards you. Mr.
>> You were there. Are you sure? Michael Fergie, 139 Hillside Avenue. Um, at the cost of sounding like a broken record, I'm here again to discuss um, uh, PAS Forever Chemicals.
A few years ago, I was up here and I told you that it something that was pervasive and something that concerned us, should concern us all. Um, now I'm here to tell you that um, it's here and it's going to bite us
in the ass. It's it's chomping at our ass cheeks right now. >> That's a visual. >> Um, just to give you an idea what I'm talking about, um, PAS are a large group of man-made chemicals, uh, commonly referred to as forever chemicals because
they don't break down in the body or in the environment. Uh they're pervasive and in thousands uh upon thousands of of products uh clothes, uh teflon pots and pans, uh firefighting
foam, um it's it's it's in everything. Uh just to give you an example, you know, you fry a couple of eggs tomorrow morning in a teflon pan, then you go wash it in the u in your sink with a teflon uh spatula.
Um that stuff winds up at the sewer authority. Um when I came last time I told you that there was um a number of lawsuits u brewing or stewing regarding this
major one is is coming to a head in the near future and some of the consequences from this um this lawsuit uh could be what I think uh a
devastating ing blow to not just Springfield but um Kennorth Westfield Kennaw the entire community at large um because
a lot of this stuff winds up at the authority and if we are forced to um to mitigate this it it would cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Uh numbers that that I've seen that I don't think are sustainable in any way, shape, or form. They're talking about uh possibly are our sewer bill would would triple from
3.2 or whatever it is to $9 million or $10 million. I don't know if um if any of you have any um the power to uh to you know to reach out to anybody to uh
to inform um anybody to inform as many people as you can about this because um it's something that's going to affect um I I think everyone. Um, I'm not at liberty to to discuss the specifics of
of um of what's going on with this lawsuit, but I can tell you that if it's if it ends up the way it's uh it's heading, um it's not a good thing for not just
Springfield, but to our neighbors as well. Um, I don't think there's anybody that can sustain um the cleanup cost of something that's been around since the 1940s and something that is today is in
everything. It's in this carpet. It's in my clothes. It's it's in it's in electronics. It's in everything. It's in our food systems already. Um, I don't think it's something that we can sustain
and I and I I don't think it's even fair that the producers of these uh of these chemicals are are going to get off with uh paying some small amount of what the actual damages really are. Well, just just to give some context to to what it
is, is is there is talk that I've heard, not from you or anybody else, but there's talk that I've heard that uh the lawsuit settlement amount that's possibly being talked about is substantially lower than it would cost to remediate all of the the
sewage treatment plants to to rid them of this chemical. >> Yep. When I say significantly smaller, >> a small fraction, >> small fraction. And um I don't even know what to do because
because the number the number that I've heard, if the number is correct, I I don't even know if that number is even enough to fix one plant. >> I'm not at liberty. >> I know you can't say anything, but I'm just I we had talked about it up here because we had >> had some info on it. It would be
hundreds of times it would be hundreds of times more >> right >> than what the settlement would be. All of that would come back to the taxpayer to the rateayers and I don't know if we can afford something like that. $9
million just to flush the >> Now you're you're you're our liaison there. So I I have to what my question for you is is is the technology there to actually remediate this I if the if the money was there is the technology there >> it is to to want to pay for that Chris
trust >> we do not want to pay right just just as one example the last meeting here before co shut us down >> if you recall the water uh company uh New Jersey American came for a permit for uh 20 million gallons do you remember that >> I remember
>> that was for a filtration system because they they had a contaminated well. The only well left in Springfield turned up contaminated. >> Remember, >> exceeded by far the the limits that are already high. >> Yep. >> So, and that was a $20 million
improvement. >> That was one well, just to give you an idea of the cost that we're talking about here. >> This is this is ridiculous. These numbers are unfathomable. the the this is not something that Springfield can sustain or our neighbors can sustain.
>> This is not a Union County thing. This is statewide right now. >> This is not a Union County thing. This is not a Kennorth Westfield. Uh this is not a member of the RVSA municipality only problem. There are 100 plants in New Jersey that would have to
accommodate these new limits. And just to give you another example, they're talking about uh drinking water at four parts per trillion. Sewer uh waste water that's already been filtered out and dump back to the red at
one part per trillion. So in other words, we will be taking in at the authority >> water that comes in legally at four four parts per trillion, illegal for drinking water, and we have to clean it up further to one part per trillion. You tell me what what kind of sense that
would make to put water into the river that's cleaner than the water that's already in the river by far. Not even close. >> One part per trillion is is is minuscule amount, but it's a deadly deadly poison. And I'm not saying this, you know,
the authorities are saying this, the the EPA is saying this. Everybody's saying this now. And the way it's looking, it it could wind up that the taxpayer will be made to pay this bill. And for for 3M
and DuPont, they poisoned everybody for since the the 40s. All right? And now they want the taxpayer to uh to do the cleanup. I just want you to be aware of uh of what's going on and the potential
ramifications that I think would be devastating not only to our town, but to the sur the whole state and surrounding areas. Thank you, Mr. Fergie. Thank you for representing our interests on the RVSA. Uh really appreciate the conversation earlier. Um and we look forward to further updates. Thank you so
much. >> Thank you. >> Tough act to follow. >> That's for sure. Dan Kirk, 159 Short Hills Avenue. Hello everyone. Sorry. Uh, I'm glad I came and I heard about
the resolution that was read about the parking on profit. >> Yes. >> I wasn't prepared to speak about that, but I will. Does that mean we can take down signs in our neighborhood? >> DPW. If the signs are irrelevant, DPW will come by and remove the signs. >> Correct.
>> If it pertains to profit. >> No, it doesn't. >> I've had my sign removed for 30 years or 25. >> We can have them look that also then. Short Hills Avenue. Hills Avenue, 159, Profit Avenue. I drive on it all the time. And it's dangerous because as I'm
coming down approaching Mars with the funeral parlor on my left, people are parked on the right, people parked on the left. >> Yeah. >> People coming across Mars Avenue where the people coming from 7-Eleven are going 50 miles an hour over that hill. They make that left and it's hard if there's people coming out
>> to make a right if someone else is coming in. Just so you're aware that% parking parking is an issue over there. >> 100%. >> I see the mural. It is so spectacular. I would love to see that on the laundry at the laundromat wall.
I drive in Newark and Jersey City all the time now. I'm retired and I see murals everywhere. I would love for Springfield, you know, historic town to have something like that out there. Be great. Obviously, what I want to talk about tonight is not as important as what's
going on, but I did check with the police before I came, and it's in fact a law. You can't litter in town. So, I'm wondering what we can do about these people that throw the newspaper ad on our driveway every single week. Is there anything we can do? Well, I
asked the lieutenant. He said something was done in his town. I don't know his name. I'm sorry. I wish the chief was here. So, I actually made a few phone calls myself and I can take my name, my house, my
writing email, this email address. I don't know if the township committee wants to talk about that. >> Yeah, you can pass it up here. >> It is. >> Maybe you guys pick up as I as I walk. >> Yeah. No, totally. I don't know if
anybody uses them, but if somebody is upset that they're not getting it anymore, I'm sure they could write that email. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Kirk. Appreciate you. >> I'm not opposed to taking the
>> taking action poll around town to see if people are in favor of them or not in favor of those newspapers. >> I don't think anybody is in favor. >> Right. >> I think there was just questions of what we can do on this. >> Right. Correct. Um before uh you go, I
did want to recognize Mr. Spanelli on the on the the laundromat property. >> Yeah, I know we spoke about the the laundromat and what was going on over there. I know we're working on the corner there to to work on that to fix that. And we have talked about murals within the township as well, especially with the new park. I know that's coming
up as well. So, to be aware that we do want to bring art to the area and some murals. I just want to bring that out that we are looking to do that and I I think we have some really good ideas to bring some great things into Springfield with those murals. It'll make it look really nice. So, >> yep. Thank you. Sorry about that. You're
up. >> Hi. >> Hi. My name is Gail Donner. I live at 18 Richland Drive in Springfield. I was raised by morals and values. And when John F.
Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." I'm here for the fourth time to ask what Springfield can do for the Jewish members of its
community. I am ashamed. I am appalled. As a public school teacher for 32 years, I recognize everybody's religion. Springfield has 55 to 60% Jewish
residents in its suburbs of Springfield. It is sad when I know what you do for the Christian Society and they're welcome to it. A thousand lights before
you on town square. Santa Claus comes. Donuts and coffee. What do you do for the Jewish residents? Habad has to be separate and not equal to in a park to
light a manora. I wanted a manora here. They said it broke. They didn't get another one. Put a drrele outside so every student can feel the holidays as every Christian child does. Not every
Jewish child is Orthodox. Not every child is conservative. Not every child is even reformed. The parents can't afford nowadays to do separate schoolings.
However, do you give donuts in the separate park? Do you do lotkas in the separate park? I'm here to see things change and be respected. Now is a time when Jews need to be shown
and respected and this community falls short. >> And another thing I have to say by a past mayor I was told that we can't Habat can't get a school for the holidays.
I say shame on everybody sitting before me because the Catholic Church on uh Mountain Avenue can park in the schools on Sundays and use their property for a parking lot and you can't give a place
of worship maybe five to eight days a year when schools are closed. That's another problem. It's also another problem that when Passover comes, there's signs, don't
park near the synagogue in the streets. Well, when there's Easter, I don't see those signs by the church or Christmas time that they can't park near the church.
I'm asking everyone of you to find some moral values to respect other people's religion. I am dismayed. I am saddened because I know this is a great community, but we have to stand together. You don't
patronize just the Catholic religion in the front. It's not only the Catholic religion that makes this town what it is. As Mr. Weber once said to me on a nasty email that I still have, he heard I was
rich when I was campaigning against taxes. You show me your money, I'll show you mine, Weber, as far as other people. >> We're never responded to an email to you ever. Okay. Go ahead. on the town. I could find it and show you. Okay.
>> Right. >> We've never been disrespectful to anybody. >> I can deny too. Denial is easy. >> Right. >> And I'm here to say to you and everybody else, if you have a core of decency and you know what goes on in the front of
this town hall, you'll make sure it stands for everybody. not just one community member, not just one community religion, and especially when the Jewish religion
nowadays needs to be heard, needs to stand proud and be recognized. I'm not one to be pushed in the corner. I'm one to face things head on. Do for the Jewish people what you do for the
Christian people. Then I will come and thank every member who got a Jewish vote so you can be sitting in those chairs looking down upon us. Do something for your vote and do something for the
Jewish people. Thank you. I've gotten calls and I usually don't speak out about a lot of things on public property. Do we put him in order? >> Is there a manger? >> We No. No. Is is do we put manure on public property?
>> Other towns do. >> Do do we do it right now? Is there manure go on in Veterans Park? >> I'm not going to get an order. >> So, so okay. Okay. >> No, >> no. I I'm just I'm just going to say a couple things and then if you want to
react, you're more than welcome to react. Miss Donner, I respect your feelings. I hear you as a as a Jew. you are a thousand% right that we need to be seen, we need to be heard and we need to be proud of our faith. But I do want to
to give you a little bit of information uh after your remarks if that's okay. >> Absolutely. >> One, the township does partner with Kabad. Kabad asks for Veterans Park. We provide them with whether it's snow
removal if needed, a DPW uh complement of of staff, auxiliary police, regular police at no cost to Kabad. We are looking at further investing in Hanukkah activities going forward to ensure that
our community is inclusive. That's one. two, as it pertains to parking, uh the the Orthodox synagogue asks for no parking uh because of their customs to walk to Shul and that happens to be their neighborhood. And they've all they
have historically worked with the town to make sure that there is no parking within their vicinity to allow their members to walk to and from Shul safely. That's two. Um, three, in terms of schools for the holidays, I was with
Kabad when they used to have a school. I think it's I think it's a shame that they no longer have one, but I will point you to the board of education for uh use of schools during um during uh you know, religious observances and things like that. So, I would point you
to the board of education for the use of a school. Um, in terms of decorations, um, I I I hear what you're saying. We we absolutely go all out for Christmas and we can do more for Hanukkah. I accept that criticism and we should look to do
more as a community to do so. Um and I think I covered all of your bullet points. >> We also the email that you supposedly sent to me that I responded I never responded to. I was also the mayor when I I supplied Congregation Israel with a
car every every Friday and Saturday with an officer also there to direct traffic to make sure that everybody remained safe and and to this day now that car is still there. >> Yep. Every weekend without fail. >> I see it. I know it. I thank you. I
don't know who did that. I thank you. But and I'm saying this as a teacher, not even as a resident. >> Sure. Every child holds the holidays and birthdays dear to their heart. I don't
care if they're black, white, Spanish, Jewish, Catholic. This is what they're made of. This is what they should respect and like. And if we all agree to our Bibles and our Toras, it would be a perfect world. I'm asking you for the
Jewish child in this city and I know four of them that never sees a Jewish drrele at town hall. Their parents don't want to bring them up here to the Christmas celebration. Maybe if there
was a drrele or something that they could partake and people could come out and feel part of. There's Santa Claus is wonderful. It bestows gifts and happiness. I feel Hanukkah's great for eight days.
And I just want every person in Springfield that your your input is very well taken and thank you for coming out and sharing. >> And can I just say something? the when I first came maybe eight or 10 years ago
and Eleanor can look it up, the mayor told me the drrele um the manora broke and uh we couldn't you remember that it broke and they didn't replace it. >> What happened was
one of and I think Mr. Yuber >> will you know back me up on this. One of the synagogues did not there was a manger up and there was a manora up. >> Yes, I remember this. >> One of the synagogues did not want the
manora up. So when the manora was taken away, the manger was also taken away and it was just at St. James or whatever >> Christian church wanted to have it. But >> I also I hear you and I respect that.
There's nothing to dispute with that. But there is something to dispute that there could be a drreal or something of substance. >> I hear that. >> I absolutely hear that you are. >> I'd like to see it and I'd like
everybody to respect everybody's religions. If they did and if we did, it would be a terrific community. >> I completely agree and I think this town has been incredibly respectful as a whole. I'm not speaking for the whole world. Certainly not. But this town will
strive to we've done well. I think we'll strive to do better. I hear you. In terms of holiday decorations, it is something we're already talking about. It is something we're already planning to look to partner with not just Habad, but the other houses of worship in the
in in the town to make sure that it is inclusive >> for everyone. Am I supposed to get in touch with the board of ed to use the schools or do you do that? >> I I I mean my adi my advice to you would be to do exactly what you did tonight
which is attend a board of education meeting. If you uh if you are unable to do so uh we can some of us can provide you with an email address to email your concerns to the board of education um because they are valid. >> Okay. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank
you, Miss Donna. Is there anyone else who would like to speak from the public? Um, I would like I got a I got a text from a resident uh a couple days ago completely switching gears because I feel that the gears need to be switched. Um, I got a I
got a text from a resident the other day uh complimenting Carla in the tax department. So, I want to give her a public shout out. Um, she was incredibly helpful to uh a dear uh a dear friend of my family and you know, obviously she didn't know that and I just want to give
her a public shout out. I will also uh let Lauren know as well. Is there any final thoughts from anybody on the dis? I got a call from residents who were at I do believe it was Meiselle's field and they had to move the cars off of uh
Meiselle I guess and these I just want the police to know there were two police officers went through the whole park went to every resident and explained the problem and they were very professional very polite and that I mean we usually
don't hear things like >> no that's >> but I got a call about and I want the well police chief to know and the police department that people do appreciate. >> Thank you, Rich. And while I have an opportunity, I just want to give a quick shout out to our township clerk, Linda
Donnelly, who along with Moren have put together the keeps our town running, keeps our business office running, doing the day-to-day operations. We very much appreciate it. Thank you, Linda Donnelly, very much. Thank you, Moren, very much. We appreciate your help and effort as always.
I think that's for the best. >> I think that's for the best. Okay. Um, is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> We are adjourned.