Okay, >> good evening everyone. Thank you for coming out. Um, the meeting will come to order. U, madame clerk, would you please read the adequate notice of compliance statement? Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by the city clerk's office in preparation of the
council annual meeting notice dated December 17th, 2025, which was properly distributed and posted per statutory requirements. Please be advised that fire exits are to my right, your left, and at the back of the room. The city has a listening system to assist the
hearing impaired. If anyone needs hearing assistance, please obtain the system at the deis and return it thereafter. >> Thank you. Would you please call the role? >> Mr. Ber, >> present. Mr. Chris Foley >> present. >> Miss Cmanson >> here. >> Miss Landman >> here. >> Miss Laroscina >> here. >> Mr. Powski
>> here. >> President Toe >> here. Um, officer Korea, would you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance? >> I aliance 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. Madame Clerk, would you please read the notices regarding closed session and hearings and comments? >> A close session meeting as authorized by state statute was announced and held prior to the start of this meeting, and
the known items for discussion were listed on the published close session agenda. Please be advised that council meetings are broadcast live on Comcast channels 34 and 36 and Verizon channel 30 and rebroadcast on Thursdays and Saturdays on HTTV on Comcast 36 and
Verizon 33. When invited to speak, please come to the lectern. Clearly state your name and address, spell your last name, and speak into the podium microphone so that your comments can be understood by all and properly recorded. Whenever an audience or council member reads from a prepared statement, please
give or email a copy to the city clerk's office at citycler cityofsummit.org. To help facilitate an orderly meeting and to permit all to be heard, please limit your comments to no more than 3 minutes in length. Unless you are using an electronic device to follow the meeting agenda or need it for
professional emergency contact purposes, please turn it off. Thank you. >> Thank you. I'm going to expand a bit on the city clerk's note about hearing and comments. This will facilitate a smoother process, particularly for those watching remotely. If you are seated in the first two rows, please remain
silent. Anything you can say will be picked up by the recording microphones and make it difficult for to hear official proceedings. The threeminut limit on public comments corresponds to a bit less than a single printed page. So, if you're leaving your written remarks with us, please put your name on
them and place them in the box near the lectern when you're done. And with that, let's move on to the city's business. Um, for the on to the minutes for approval. Do I hear the a motion to approve the the minutes of the regular
and closed session of April 7th? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. And reports. Madame Mayor. >> Thank you. Good evening everyone. Thank
you for being here. Um, we had several wonder, wonderful events over the past week. In recognition of local government week, we held our second annual summit showcase at the firehouse with all of our city departments represented. There were plenty of vehicles for kids and for the kids at heart to explore and cool
swag and candy to collect and a great sense of community as residents came together in a fun and interactive environment. And this past weekend, we also held our Earth Day cleanup in our parks with volunteers coming out to help Summit's green spaces get clean and beautiful. In addition, we celebrated
Revolutionary Trail Day as part of America's 250th anniversary. The event featured summit students reading the plays they had re researched and written as well as reenactors fs and drums revolutionary pirates singing chanties spies of the revolution performers
helping children decode their own messages and wonderful crafts designed by our summit students. We have more to look forward to in the days ahead. For Arbor Day on April 24th, we will gather outside of Brighton Elementary School at 10 a.m. for a ceremony celebrating a newly planted cherry tree. and I will
read a proclamation. And then on May 1st, we will kick off mental health awareness month with a lineup of activities on the village green from 5:00 pm to 7 pm. We also have our annual PAL fishing derby on May 2nd and 3rd at the municipal golf course. Hope to see
you there. And uh thank you. >> Thank you. And now on to Tammy Baldwin for the city administrators report. Administrator Baldwin. >> Thank you, Council President. Um, the next Summit Free Market will be held this Friday, April 24th, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the transfer station.
Summit residents with a parking disposal permit can attend and browse donated items, take what they want for free, and you can also donate. You can review the guidelines for those donations on our website at cityofsummit.orgfreearket uh before bringing those items to
donate. Animal license renewals. The deadline to renew your dog and cat licenses is June 1st, 2026. Renewals received after the June 1st deadline will incur a late fee of $10. If you've previously registered
your dog or cat with our health department, you should have received a renewal notice either in the mail or via email if you had provided your email address. Renewal information is also available at the city website at cityofsummit.organic. And lastly, a friendly reminder that our
budget hearing will be held at our next council meeting on Tuesday, May 5th. We have several documents that are posted on the city website at city ofsummit.org/budget that you can review before the hearing, including my presentation that was given at the last meeting um from the
introduction on April 7th. And our annual budget snapshot document was recently mailed out to all residents. It's also on the website, but you should have received it at home. and it gives you an overview of the 2026 budget uh in a more condensed version. And that concludes my report.
>> Thank you. Um I want to remind people that our second listening session in April is going to be next Monday at the community center from 7:00 to 9:00 is at the youth lounge. Um and I'll be having my regular office hours next Monday as well from 3:00 to 5:00 in the conference
room right outside. Um, I have a few updates on some of the work the city's done to beun to begin implementing the um round four affordable housing settlement agreement that that was entered into last year. Um, the city is
working with the housing authority to hi to to determine the the requirements to hire a consultant who will help them um find additional apply for additional funds to to facilitate all of the rehabilitation that's needed to go on
there. Um, we're working with our house to develop a concept plan for a four-bedroom home to be built on Springfield Avenue below the paddle courts. Um, and the planning board has approved a project to be built across the street from Little Kings, um, on
that abandoned garage on Old Springfield Avenue that's going to supply one unit of of affordable housing. Um, and finally, this isn't quite council, but the vote by mail ballots for the June 2nd primary are coming out this week.
Um, and with the closing of the Chestnut Street parking lot, our resourceful city clerk has moved the vote by mail dropbox to the community center. It's um on the Morris Court and side of the community center to the right of the main doors.
Look for it there. Um, that is by far the best way to return a vote by mail ballot. In the past year, the post office has changed its rule about postmarking and the dates for postmarking. So, if you or a family member must return a vote by mail ballot
in the mail, um please be sure that it's mailed by um Memorial Day to get there in time. Um thank you. And let's move on to our historical minute. Council member Palowski, >> thank you very much.
So, uh, for our historical minutes, we like to try to find students to come and speak. It gives them a great opportunity. But, um, sometimes, you know, there's just something very compelling about having folks who lived
the history come and report on that history. And so tonight we're going to hear about the history of Summit Lacrosse Club from Leo Pis who is a Summit High School class of 1981 and a Summit High School athletic hall of famer along with Karen Abate who is a
Summit High School class of 1986 and also a Summit High School athletic hall of famer. both were members of Summit's first boys and girls state championship teams um respectively and both came back to Summit to raise their
families. We think we thank them for coming tonight and I'm excited for their presentation. >> Thank you. >> I was like we're not students anymore. So everybody we both did graduate. So
>> um thank you council. Um, pleasure to be here. Uh, before we kind of get started, I wanted on behalf of the club to kind of recognize uh, member of the community who recently passed away. They had a great function for Gil Orin at uh, at
the Elks Club. Gil was a longtime member of the community, grew up in Summit, uh, part of the fabric of the community. Uh, his dedication, service uh, was really second to none. So, on behalf of the club, we just want to sort of recognize that before we dove into this. Uh, as I
said, uh, do you need guys need our address and spelling of our last name and that kind of stuff? >> No, I we're good. >> We're good. Okay, I'll I'll get you off then. Uh, the Summit Lacrosse Club was established in 1972 with a clear mission to teach the Summit
children to play lacrosse with a skill and integrity, sportsmanship, and fun. The club's early leadership reflected both experience and community spirit. The founders included Rip Collins who was a standout goalie at Williams in
1944. Later went on to the Naval Academy and was a standout goalie there from 45 to 47. Eric Schmidt, Bill Weebi, Ed Joffy, and Bob Ginsburg were also founding fathers that signed the uh uh the incorporation back in ' 72. about 10
families of uh and three influential coaches, Howard Kesler, Ray Dolo, and Paul Geonitis uh helped launch the program and establish a culture that has carried forward for decades. uh momentum quickly build for the uh uh
for the program particularly after the Summit Herald in January of January 27th uh 1972 where an article titled Summit organizes a lacrosse team and invites the community to take part. A standing room meeting at the fieldhouse at
Memorial Field on February through drew interested parents sports enthusiastics setting the foundation that would become Summit's most enduring youth sports tradition. Initially open to Summit resident boys between the grades of 8 and 12, regardless of their school, the
club's inaugural class featured only five games and even a memorable first contest against the Navy Academy Pavves down in Annapolis. In its second year, so 1973, the club captured the New Jersey B division state championship,
defeating defeating Princeton Day School. That season, it also had a signature win of six to3 over a top five Pingry squad. An alumni game tradition started shortly thereafter and reinforced the program's community spirit, lifelong bonds among its players
and families. This tradition has sustained more than five decades, thanks in large part to the efforts of David Hadley and his family through the KD Hadley Foundation, which now also provides a high school scholarship. From the onset, the club was aimed to see the
high school varsity boys program, which it successfully did in 1975. Then the club focused on servicing just the seventh, eth, and nth grade boys at that time. Um, which by the way, uh, was
our class of 1975 that went on later to, as Bob pointed out, win a state championship, too. Uh, so, and we were playing lacrosse. and it's the first time we started playing lacrosse together at Lincoln School. Um over the enthusiasm and participation um the
growth not only here in Summit but also around the state and in 1970 1987 the boys program expanded to include the fourth, fifth and sixth grade. And the club's volunteer governance followed a steady stream of cadence and often with
an eighth grade father basically becoming the president of the club for that year and then handing it down to the next group. In 1990s uh marked a period of formalization and even more rapid growth. 1992, Brett Hair, Pedro
Cordre, and myself took on the lacrosse club's board of responsibilities on the boy side, which continued in part over the following 20 years, overseeing the programs initially, 60 boys in the program from grades four through six and expanding
expansion to include the grades first in grades one through three and champion the installation of the turf fields. uh that was uh really spearheaded by Kevin Gardner. And then Karen's going to kind of give you a little bit more history on the the girls program as it started.
>> My name is Karen Everling. Um I wanted to mention my maiden name because it actually has something to do with the history of the program. In February 1981, four parents of girls and summit met to figure out how to initiate a girls lacrosse club in town. The boys high school club and high school team
had been successful for many years. And with 1972's title nine as a backdrop, four parents, Larry de Caesar, Moren Moley, George Howey, and Gail Gail Everling were intent on the girls having the opportunity to play lacrosse for the spring 1981 season. Clark Abbott, who
was an instrumental as a member of the school board at the time, had two daughters that were also interested in playing. And the girls in grades 7 through 12 were eligible to participate in one team. Remember at that time the middle school was 7th, 8th and 9th grade and the high school was 10th, 11th and
12th. These four parents specified to the school board that the players would come with equipment, both our cages as well as our sticks. That's the only equipment we used at the time and coaches, but needed field space. We needed someone to help us with scheduling as well as referees. Over 70
girls registered, ages 13 to 18, and I was one of those 13year-old girls. and we paid $35 to play and we bought one stick. Steve Hadley, as Leo mentioned, has been instrumental. He was heavily involved as a cheerleader behind the scenes. He even brought the Brian
Lacrosse representative to the middle school to help us get our sticks for the first time. I was fortunate, as I said, to be a seventh grader at that time. So, I was actually one of the first classes to ever make it from seventh grade all the way through high school, playing as part of this inaugural season. After two seasons as a club sport, Steve Hadley
actually became the head lacrosse coach at the varsity level in the high school. At that same time, a girls ninth grade club team was started. So, we kind of evolved from that. And again, seventh and eighth grade just weren't part of it anymore at that time. Um, the ninth grade team was coached by a man named
Jerry Petraora. And at that time, when the varsity program was established, that's how things started to change. Um, and just three seasons later, 1986, which I happen to be a senior and a tri captain on the team, um, coached by Joanne Leavia as the head coach, assistants Annie Deltu and Dave Peas,
who many of you all know, um, we won our first state championship. It was the first title that the women's team had won in Summit's history with 14-2 season. Out of the girls varsity high school program and the ninth grade club team came the recognition that the high school program needed more of a feeder opportunity. So, those girls were better
by the time they got there. We wanted to expose girls at a younger age so they could experience the creativity, the fun, the athleticism of the program. Lacrosse was very fast growing in the east coast altogether and Summit had this great community support really engendered by what the men had been
doing for many many years. The girls were interested, parents were very interested in this being part of it. So in the spring of 1987, they began a club program for girls that included seventh and eighth grade. And by that point, ninth grade was actually part of the high school. The Summit Girls Lacrosse
incorporated in 1992 and by that point we had a third, fourth and fifth grade program and eventually even brought it down to the first and second grade girls. Throughout the initial years of the girls youth program in the late 1980s and 90s, parents and non-parent coaches were instrumental and
foundational component of this strong community program. There were very few female coaches at that time um in the early years of the club program. There just weren't many women had that had been exposed to it at the time. But we certainly welcomed everyone. But as that program expanded and evolved in the 80s
and the 90s, we certainly saw more women becoming involved. Many women actually became involved before they had children in the program as did the men. Elizabeth probably you did as well. Um, and as we welcomed everyone, our only request, which is if anyone knows men's and women's lacrosse, is that men were
required as coaches to use a female stick, >> which I learned how to play with. >> So, as the decades progressed, the girls and boys program merged in 1998, which was a big, you know, as as unified the lacrosse under one umbrella with a common goal. It helped coordinate the
resources and scheduling. And from 92 to 2012, participation I mentioned before that it was 60 boys in the program grew to over 1,200 kids in the program both girls and boys. So, tremendous growth over those 20 years and by then the
Summit Lacrosse Club had become a wellestablished uh in which the high school benefited from the player development, coaching continuity and the community support that translated into sustaining a competitive success. >> On the field, Summit High School's
achievements grew in parallel. The boys captured their first state varsity championship in 81, which he captained. And just a couple years later, the women did in 1986, which I happen to captain as well. Leo and I have known each other for decades, coached together for decades. We have daughters that are the same age. Over time, both programs
accumulated numerous Union County and group titles with the boys and girls team winning, we believe, around 10 for the men and seven for the women over the last several decades at the high school level. Along the way, Summit produced numerous all-Americans, all state players, as well as as well as alumni
who excelled in college the divisions one, two, and three levels. The decades strong Summit Lacrosse Club is the foundational feeder program for both girls and boys at the high school. No matter what high school they go to, whether it's Summit High or Pingri or Satan Hall or Delbarton or Oaknull, who
knows? Um, this community as a whole has experienced decades of success thanks in large part to the youth of Summit having the opportunity to experience lacrosse for years before reaching Summit High. >> So, the club's strength has always been its people. um many of whom have come through the program remain in Summit
today volunteering, coaching and cheering new generations. Countless number of players, boys and girls, all Americans, all sters, many of the athletes from Summit gone on to those championship teams that Karen has talked about. All just a total number of players through the system is incredible. Many of those individuals
have also come back to serve and be a part of the community overall. Um, some of those family names include Badgely, Baker, Britt, Morardi, Leki, Dugan, Demute, Decker, Schmidt, Everane, uh, Hair, Whitman, Zanelli, Ford,
Hadley, Geonitis, Mcinn, Tyler, Dunn, Jones, Kovello, Homeman, Abate, Pis, all those numbers. Numerous other children have gone through the program, too. Bout Gumps who've participated in a lot of these activities. And I have to I would be remiss if I didn't tell one story
about our our mayor. So we used to um uh coach Fagan, I'll call her, instead of Mayor Fagan. Right. So uh Elizabeth and I were coaching together and this is just gives you an indication of how the dedication of of the players in the
community and involvement in the community. So, um, just had, uh, one of her children and and couldn't necessarily get a babysitter for her. So, you know, Elizabeth threw her daughter in one of those backpacks that we all have like when we were having kids in there. So, she's running around
the field and she's blowing the whistle and the baby's crying behind her, but she can't hear it because the whistle is getting blown all over the place. Just tell she gives you an indication of of how um, you know, um, the community has has really wrapped itself around uh, uh, the sport. Um, so sort of to close, you
know, we had a handful of visionaries in 1992. To a thriving communitywide institution, the Summit Lacrosse Club has upheld its mission for more than half a century. In many ways, uh, only a few of the sports in Summit captured the spirit of the town. Quite like lacrosse.
Rooted in tradition, elevated by teamwork, and sustained by families who give back generation after generation um, to play the game the right way. Thank you all for allowing us to come in and and give you kind of the historical minute about some of the cross. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Now we have a couple of presentations from our police department. Uh Chief Peters. >> Thank you. Through you, Council President. Get this right. So, init uh first I want to start with a
uh award presentation. Uh on the evening of March 4th, 2026, while off duty and driving through Clifton, New Jersey, Officer Ashley Kareah to my left encountered a critical situation that demanded immediate and decisive action. While on her way home from work, Officer
Koreah observed an adult female lying face down in the roadway. Without hesitation, she exited her personal vehicle and had attempted to perform a welfare check on the female. Further investigation revealed the victim was unresponsive with agonal breathing.
However, she still had a pulse. For those of you luckily have never been in the scenario, Seconds matter. Due to the fact there were no visible signs of injury, officer Koreah instructed a pedestrian to call 911 while she began began to perform sternum rubs in an attempt to regain consciousness.
Unfortunately, the victim was not responsive. Due to a variety of observations, while made on scene, officer Koreah suspected the victim was overdosing. As a result, she immediately returned to her vehicle and retrieved Nlloxxen HCI, otherwise known as Narcan.
For those of you who are not familiar, Narcan is an FDA approved nasal spray, over-the-counter medication used to rapidly reverse life-threatening opioid overdoses such as heroin, fentanyl, and prescription painkillers. Officer Korea then administered one dose of Narcan. Shortly after the Narcan was
administered, the victim regained consciousness and became responsive. Local authorities arrived on scene and the victim was ultimately transported to a local hospital for treatment. Officer Kareah's actions that evening were nothing short of exemplary. She acted not because it was her duty, but because
it was the right thing to do. Her commitment to preserving life, even while off duty, serves as a powerful reminder that the oath we take as law enforcement officers is not confined to a shift, a uniform, or a badge. It is a constant calling for her composure and life-saving intervention. I proudly
present Officer Korea with a life-saving award award. Please join me in congratulating her for this well-deserved honor. Congratulations. >> Thank you for that. I've certainly heard Officer Koreah's fellow officers tell admiring stories about her work in the
field. And now we have another story to tell. >> That's correct. She's doing great. She just got reassigned to the traffic bureau. Um, somewhat unprecedented for the amount of time she's had on to be in a specialized unit, which is great. >> Okay. >> Uh, I think I'm up next for the quarterly statistics. >> Now, you were up for crime statistics, chief.
>> Lot of police action tonight. All right. So, I'm going to lead with my opening UCR statistics. Disclaimer considerations for UCR, uniform crime report statistics. They are imperfect. Simply taking a snapshot of a moment in time. So, CFS codes, for those of you
guys who don't know, I think council knows and has probably heard this a few times. CFS codes are originally um created when somebody calls dispatch center. So dispatch will identify what type of call for service the person is requesting and put in a CFS code. That being said, there's initial CFS code and
then also an actual CSF CFS code which is done by the officer once they complete the call for service. For example, you might get a 911 hangup when we get there. Could be a domestic dispute which ultimately results in obviously that type of investigation. If you guys want to go, go ahead. Ashley, you want to take it down?
hang around. >> You did a great job. >> Thank you. >> You guys, too. I mean, I don't know. >> All right. Go ahead. >> Um, so then obviously once the officer goes there, investigates the matter, CFS
codes can change. Um, that being said, sometimes CF CFS codes are imperfect. Statistics are counted based on initial reports and allegations until proven otherwise. Also, we often encounter initial allegations with no further cooperation from victims, resulting in a
case being closed by exceptional means, which means we can't prove or disprove an incident took place took place. However, because an initial report was made, the statistic still counts for the uniform crime report data. CFS codes always reflect the most severe criminal
activity. For example, a stolen car um might seem as the most important highle crime. However, if it was a result of a burglary to a house, the burglary would be the UCR statistic that we have to report or which would show up in my report. So then we have to keep sub um subsequent lists to make sure that we
have accurate reporting. Um sometimes there's a delay in reporting which we often find with sexual assault allegations. Uh for example, if someone reports a sexual assault in 2026 that occurred in 2024, that statistic actually would show up in the wrong reporting year based on our our stats. And lastly, in 2025, the Summit Police
Department handled 52,478 calls for service. While we have checks and balances in place to ensure proper reporting and CFS codes, there are times um where CFS codes unfortunately do not accurately reflect the final disposition of the call. With all that said, let's dive into it. So, first quarter
statistics, I went back four years um compare to to get a true comparison. So, the first um column we have here is violent crime. So, that would be made up of homicides, which we had zero. Um, it's also made up of aggravated assaults, which we had three. Um,
attempted rapes and rapes, which we had two, and robberies, which we had zero. So, uh, in comparison to the previous years, it's hard to say. We went through this on the annual statistics. We do have healthcare facilities that have a duty to report any allegations of rape.
Uh, and like I said, two of the five were allegations of rape. One actually did take place where we did arrest the suspect. The other was an allegation in which the victim has not cooperated. As far as the aggravated assaults are, one occurred within the privacy of a home
and the other two occurred in healthcare facilities where a simple assault would actually be upgraded to an aggravated assault similar to a police officer. Next would be simple assaults trending in the right direction. Um coming from 2023, we had 18, 24, we had 29, 25, we had 12, and for the first quarter in 26,
we've had six. Uh my one of my two favorite statistics of the quarter is burglary because it's zero. Very excited about that number. Although I want to knock on as much what is that's in the area because it's still the beginning of the year. These numbers can change. Um the weather changes, things things can
happen. Um but as you can see, we are trending in the right direction. Uh as far as lararseny, theft of movable property, again trending in the right direction over the last four years, we're at a four-year low. And then lastly, and my second favorite statistic is a zero for motor vehicle theft in the first quarter of 2026.
>> Um, trending downwards from the previous three years. As we move down to the second table, we have burglaries and attempted burglaries to motor vehicles. Um, in 2023, we were kind of finishing up that that COVID wave. We had 20 to date. In 24, we had seven. And last year
and this year, we're down to two, which I'm happy to say as far as calls for service. So this is not just calls for service. Um this is not just calls for service that are generated by um civilians calling and dispatch. This is also self-generated calls for service. So every time our officers check a school,
check a park, check a business, uh make a motor vehicle stop, um this that they document that through a case number. So if you look at our calls for service, they are going up um 12,36 back in 23 up to 13,54 in 24, 13,959, and then in 2026, we
crossed the 14,000 marker for uh first quarter at 14,311. >> I got to make these uh the font a little bigger. I apologize. Either that or we need bigger television. Um, as far as traffic enforcement, again, motor vehicle stops, they are trending upwards. Uh, the officers are out there.
Uh, they're stopping cars for the most part. You'll see when we get down into the summones. Um, we're not out there to hammer the general public, right? For the most part, we try to educate. Um, so we did have 2317 stops in comparison to 2163,
1433, and 1611 over the previous 3 years. Uh, moving summones are up, but so are motor vehicle stops. So, with 555 moving summones this year, compared to 473, 427, and 353 back in 2023, uh parking summones are down a little
bit from last year, but up from the previous two years. So, that not only includes um illegal parking up town, um in addition to the 2-hour parking that we also enforce, we do do overnight parking as well. Obviously, anybody who lives in town knows that you can't park in the streets overnight between the hours of 2:30 and 5. Total summones
again um over the last four years we are trending up um at 1392. I threw this last table in. I haven't presented this yet but I think it is important um you know based on the work that we do is crash data. So motor vehicle crashes are trending upwards especially for minor
motor vehicle accidents. That's where nobody's injured. It's more of a fender bender. It's a parking lot. Um it's not something where somebody ran a red light, car got flipped over, airbag deployments. Uh they are up. Um, one thing I can say that that might be a reason for that is I do feel a lot more people are going back to work. Um, if
you look back at 2023, I think a good portion of the population is still working somewhat remotely, whether it be hybrid. Um, but I do think a lot of um, companies, especially the government, has had people go back full-time. So, we are up to 162 minor motor vehicle accidents. Um, 34 not minor. So that
means that either an airbag was deployed, um either a building or pole was hit, a vehicle was overturned, or that resulted in an injury. Um so that is trending upwards as well. I don't like those numbers, but I do like the fact that the officers are out there conducting motor vehicle stops because oftent times through enforcement we can
get corrected behavior. Um we have had an uptick in motor vehicle hit and runs. I guess people like to hit things and not stick around. um 23 back in 23, 22 in 2024, 25 and up to 33 um to date this year. As far as
pedestrian strikes for the first quarter, we're averaging around four, uh three back in 2024, but again, those those can change, especially with the weather. Um and then totals, again, trending somewhat upwards. Not a number that I like to see, but you know, I would like to think that there are more
people on the road, more people traveling, and that's unfortunately kind of a um a byproduct of that. So, uh so, Councilman Boyer, that's my story. I'm sticking to it. >> And if you guys have any questions, I'd be happy to take >> Well, thank you. Um let's see. Do we
have any questions from members of the public? >> Means I covered >> questions from members of council. Councilman Boyer, you do look ready to pounce. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Council President. Um I'm surprised the public didn't didn't come up and ask the
chief a bunch of questions. Y'all had the opportunity. Um uh so Chief, are are we fully staffed? I know that's a tough question because >> we are fully staffed. Just shy of one officer. Officer Valerie um just got brought on last month. So there's a a
13week field training officer program. So he's in the midst of that. So he technically doesn't count yet because he's still with a field training officer for the next two months. >> How many officers does that make? >> 52 including Detective Freeman who's on loan to the state PBA. >> Yes. Okay. Um now
these are tremendous stats. Um we're >> and uh but the public should probably know though that because I I see the officers out there that this stuff is still going on. Right. >> Correct. So we have um I was actually going to run those numbers. We've been
quite a few pursuits um the last 6 to 12 months uh weekly basis. We are getting a motor vehicle pursuits. We've invested in technology which allows us to understand when these people are coming into the town uh in a proactive measure. We try to flood those areas and get them out. And our officers are pursuing vehicles. Um we pretty much take them
out to 78. Um not looking to hurt anybody, just get them out of our town. Um but just to let them know we're holding the line. at 24 corridor or the Diamond Hill uh exit off 78 are typically the ways in which they come into town and our officers are flooding those areas making sure that we have a presence. We're being seen. Um you know
I'd like to say I could solve all the world's problems but I just really at the end of the day we're trying to divert them away from summit. If they know every time they come up there here they're met with some type of police resistance maybe they just go somewhere else. So yes that's the plan of attack. >> The our officers are more persistent than the criminals and that's how we
need to be. Um, you know, in in I just want to let the public know in 2023, uh, we made a serious investment to hire four new officers. And, you know, we we always say, where's your tax money going? I mean, this is a perfect example
of where your tax money is going. Zero burgies, zero motor vehicle thefts. Um, what what a tremendous tremendous move. And you know, I uh I I love the job that the police department is doing. There's
a lot of young officers. Um and keep up the good work. Thank you. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Any other questions? >> Yes, Council Member Powski. >> So, not to repeat anything that Jamal said, I just want to thank you and your officers for your incredible work. I
think um these numbers demonstrate what a great job you guys are doing. And I also want to thank you for using the proper nomenclature in referring to our business district as uptown. >> That's right. >> Anyone else?
I'm going to ask the question you know I always ask which is how do we look in comparison to our peer and surrounding communities? >> So I would like to say I mean I haven't looked at the stats of Milburn, Chadam um you know the the immediate surrounding communities. Um, I do know
crime overall regionally um has trended downwards, which is a great sign for all of us. >> Um, but like I I did say previously, um, they're still out there. Um, you know, there there are cars still being stolen. There are pursuits that are happening. Um, and it's our job to hold the line,
you know, to be out there, be present. >> Um, and our officers are doing it to, you know, Councilman Palowski and Councilman Ber's comments. Um, young, very motivated group. uh learning curve is steep, but they're they're hanging on and uh they're doing a great job and I really appreciate them that they're the ones that are out there in the middle of
the night. Not uh not me. I can promise you that. But uh >> I really commend the work that they're doing, especially our detective bureau as well. They've been doing a great job uh with all the follow-ups working uh regionally with all of our shared partners to making sure that any crimes that do occur um get a good disposition.
>> Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> Appreciate you guys. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you. OKAY. SO, LET'S MOVE on to ordinances for hearing. Madame clerk, would you read the ordinance for hearing number 26-3377?
>> An ordinance to amend the code of the city of Summit, chapter 18, streets and sidewalks, section 18-3, excavation of streets. >> Thank you, council member Chrisouli. >> Thank you, council president. Ordinance
ID2451 would amend the city code regarding excavation of streets by utility companies. This proposed ordinance is intended to provide better oversight and quality of work being done by utilities, including requiring restoration paving
curb to curb. I move to open the hearing on this ordinance. >> Second. >> Thank you. Do we have any comments on this ordinance from members of the public? Do we have any comments from members of council? >> Yes, Council Member Boyer.
>> Just only to thank uh Councilman uh Christopher Folley. Um thank you for for for looking into this and and doing this. The city needs this and we we have to hold them accountable because ripping up our roads and stuff is just >> it's it's bad, you know. Appreciate it.
>> I appreciate that, Council President. I appreciate that, Councilman. And I really have to give credit to our city engineer Aaron Shreger for his his diligence on this issue. >> Thank you. And I'll only note that many of our other community the surrounding
communities are are experiencing the same level of frustration as we are and um many of them are moving in this direction. So although the utilities may be grumbling about it, they're getting the same response every place. Um
yes. Um so I'm going to declare this hearing closed and move on to the next ordinance for hearing. Um so mad madame clerk would you please read ordinance for hearing number 26-3378.
An ordinance amending the code chapter 7 traffic section 7-25 regulations for the movement and the parking of traffic on municipal property and board of education property subsection 7-25.2 municipal parking lot areas.
>> Thank you, Council Member Calmonson. >> Thank you, Council President. This is ordinance ID26-3378 and it authorizes a change in the current daily parking rate and prepayments. With operational and maintenance costs steadily increasing, adjusting the daily and prepaid parking
rates will help ensure the city can continue to properly maintain the parking lots and garages. Permit parking rates will change as follows. Daily rate will go from $4 to $5. Monthly prepayment from $80 to $100. quarterly
prepayment from $228 to $285 and annual prepayment from $864 to $1,080. I move to open hearing on this ordinance. >> Second. >> Thank you. Do we have any comments on this ordinance from members of the
public? >> Do we have any comments on this ordinance from members of council? No. Um, as someone who paid daily parking rates for more than 20 years, it's been a couple of decades since they've been raised. Um, and our rates
are much lower than our peer communities. So, this certainly makes sense. And I'll close this hearing. Um, Madame Clerk, would you read ordinance for hearing number 26-3379? >> An ordinance to amend the code chapter 7
traffic section 7-21, speed limits. Okay. Thank you, Council Member Pelowski. >> Thank you. Um, this is ordinance number 263379. And to put it simply, we are lowering the speed limit in a couple areas in
town. The first area is on Orchard Street from the Easterly Summit line to Morris Avenue. It's currently 40 miles an hour and cars move uh pretty fast there. So, this is something we've been discussing for a while. I'm glad we're going to be able to get that done. Uh
the other area is from the center of the easternmost intersection of Springfield A, which is by the car wash. Um and Morris A to the uh Easterly Summit line. I move this ordinance for hearing.
>> Second. >> Do we have comments from members of the public? >> Good evening. Could you start with your name where you live? >> Orchard Street. >> Um, >> I want to >> just just a moment. Mr. Chinuli, do you need that spelled Madame Clerk?
>> No, I do not. I know Mr. Chilli very well. >> Just I I suspected, but I wanted to check. Okay. >> I want to thank especially Jamal and Bob and Chief Peters. I had met with Chief Peters a couple of years ago on this
issue. And for me, this was more than just being bothered by people going too fast on the street. Uh for me, it was a personal issue because 25 years ago, uh my daughter had got hit by a car in
front of the library and the lady who hit her was going 25 miles an hour. and my daughter was by the grace of God and a young gentleman who was an EMT at
the time was now a detective in Cranford uh named Russell Lud Decker. He happened to be at the library the day that happened and he had some immobilization stuff in his car and he was able to call
for the helicopter right away. And the point being that if the speed had been any more had been 30 m hour when I when I got up to the scene my daughter's shoes were in the crosswalk
and and >> she was >> Yeah. The woman didn't know that she hit my daughter and she was about um up past lo uh um
almost by the bank up there by the church and um but the point is that at the impact the only reason she's alive today of course by the grace of God and this
guy Russell Lud Decker because like the chief said before time is critical in those situations because when she was airlifted to University Hospital um she was a two on the Glasgow scale which is basically she was brain dead
and um they they don't they can't explain how how she survived. So from about 5:00 that night till about 10:00 that night, she was she was at a two on the Glasgow
scale and about 10:00 something happened and she went up to like a six and it was just it was it was a whole combination of miracles and it's so for me it's personal because I think 25 miles an hour saves lives.
You know, it's a difference of getting hit at 25 as opposed to 40. And this was a little car, you know, today. I mean, I got trucks whizzing past my house 35, 45, 50 miles an hour carrying tons of dirt and stone and stuff. And there's a
there's a crosswalk right at the bottom of two inclines, 40 miles an hour going to that crosswalk. It's ridiculous. I mean, I got on the weekend there's kids and everybody going, you know, to the park. >> Every time I see a kid go by the house,
I I just wait to hear the tires screeching because it it the street's just too fast. >> So, I want to thank you guys. >> Thank you, Mr. Chin. Wow. Thank you. Um,
I want to thank everybody here for doing this. It's a great move forward. I agree it is not enough. Um, a few years ago I was talking with Lieutenant Daly of the traffic detail in
the police department and he challenged me to drive to once try driving downtown 25 miles an hour the legal speed limit. I encourage everybody to once when it's empty attempt to do that for a moment
and you'll realize that a lot of our streets have speed limits that are unreasonable. Um I would love this to be the first step to having a city that only has a 25 mph
speed limit maximum. And I don't know how it may be difficult to achieve, but an an even lower limit in downtown. I know there's a lot of trouble with county roads and all that stuff. I
understand that it cannot be done once by fiat, but we should strive to do that. It's in everybody's best interest. This is a great first step and I hope that you will all vote in favor of this and
pledge to continue this work because it's one of the best things we can do to make our city safer. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other comments? Any comments from members of council? >> Council President.
>> Council member Boyer. So, I strongly support reducing the speed uh at Orchard Street. Let me explain. So, you have uh Orchard Street and right adjacent to that on the other
side of Brian's Pond, right, is by the car wash is where we're reducing the speed limits. I mean, you have you have a park right there where people have to cross and their children have to cross. Um, and in 2024, I received a couple of
complaints about heavy pedestrian use at uh, Brian Park, documented frequent crossings, driveway conflicts, crashes, uh, people have been hit. Um, so I would really like to see this uh adopted and
install clear signage and have our police actually be able to finally enforce the speeding law because it's when it's that fast, they can't actually give by someone a ticket. So now they can for for speeding. Um and you know by
the way the the story that we just heard you know reducing the vehicle speeds from 40 to 25 m an hour uh reduces uh an incident where a pedestrian um has a 90% chance of survival as
opposed to um the 40 mph speed limit. So um I I truly support this and uh Mr. Ho said something that I just realized. I was driving through Planefield. My cousin lives in Planefield. Almost every street in Planefield, New Jersey, right
there, it's 25 miles an hour in the back roads. Almost every street is 25 miles an hour. So, just something to think about. Uh I know driving slow is is kind of difficult, you know, um but it really reduces the the the the critical injury
to a pedestrian. So, you know, I support this and I'm glad that we worked on it and finally got the county to do it. So, I thank our police department chief uh police chief Peters and our engineer and and the county for agreeing to it. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Any other comments?
>> Yes, Council Member Calmanson. >> Um thank you, Council President. Um thank you, Mr. Chian. I'm sorry if I got your name wrong. Um um thank you for sharing that. My heart goes out to you. I'm I'm really glad your daughter's okay. Um, and I'm I'm glad that we were able to get the speed limit reduced.
This came up last year. And um, we said we we said this doesn't make any sense. >> I'm sorry. >> Oh, four years. >> Well, I'm I'm glad that I'm I'm really glad that we're able to be voting on this tonight. Um, we said this doesn't
make any sense for for this to be 40 miles per hour. This is a narrow road. the speed limit actually goes up when you come from Springfield into this more narrow road and the speed limit goes up. Um so also want to thank um Councilman Ber than thanks our city engineer but
also um yes, thank you to our city engineer Aaron Shger um because he reached out to the county and worked with them to lower these speed limits. Um so I'm I'm really glad to see this happen tonight. Thank you. >> Any other comments? >> No. Um I I'll just add yes. I'm so
thrilled that we're doing this on county roads. And as far as I'm concerned, next up is Glennside Avenue and Broad Street from Ashwood to Route 24. They both need to come down as well. Um, so we'll work on that and I'll call this hearing
closed. Um, so now we get to move on to ordinances for final consideration. Um, back to you, Madame Clerk, to read the caption for ordinance 26-3377. >> An ordinance to amend the code of the city of Summit, chapter 18, streets and
sidewalks, section 18-3, excavation of streets. >> Um, thank you, Coun Council member Chris. >> Thank you, Council President. Having closed the hearing on ordinance 20 26-3377 just moments ago, I move this ordinance
for final adoption. >> Second. >> Okay. Roll call. Madam clerk. >> Mr. Ber >> I. >> Mr. Chris Foley. >> I. >> Miss Cmonson >> I. >> Miss Landman. >> I. >> Miss Laroscina. >> I. >> Mr. Powski. >> I. >> President Toth. >> I. >> Okay. Madame Clerk, would you please
read the caption for ordinance number 26-3378 for final consideration? >> Yes. An amend uh an ordinance amending the code chapter 7 traffic section 7-25 regulations for the movement and the parking of traffic on municipal property
and board of education property subsection 7-25.2 municipal parking lot areas. >> Thank you, Council Member Calmanson. >> Thank you, Council President. Having closed the hearing on ordinance ID 26-3378
moments ago, I move this ordinance for final adoption. >> Second. >> Okay. Madame clerk, the roll call, please. >> Mr. Ber, >> I. >> Mr. Christopher, >> I. >> Miss Cmonson, >> I. >> Miss Landman, >> I. >> Miss Lucarina, >> I. >> Mr. Palowski, >> I. >> President To.
>> Thank you. Um, Madame Clerk, would you please read um the the caption for ordinance number 26-3379 for final consideration? >> An ordinance to amend the code chapter 7, traffic section 7-21, speed limits.
>> Thank you, Council Member Palowski. >> Thank you. And um Dan, I loved your intro to that. I I wrote it down so it's nice and crisp. And having closed the hearing on ordinance 263379, I move this ordinance for adoption.
>> Second, >> Madame Clerk. >> Mr. Ber, >> I. >> Mr. Christopher, >> I. >> Miss Cmonson, >> I. >> Miss Landman, >> I. >> Mrs. Saroscina, >> I. >> Mr. Palowski, >> I. >> President To >> I. >> Okay, that concludes our our the ordinances we're passing tonight. We're
going to move on to ordinances for introduction. So, madame clerk, would you please read ordinance for introduction ID12515? >> An ordinance authorizing the temporary closure of Maple Street pursuant to NJSA
4067-16.9 in the city of Summit County of Union, New Jersey. >> Um, thank you, Council Member Chris. >> Thank you, Council President. Ordinance ID 12515 would open a section of Maple Street and downtown Summit for community
use during our school summer vacation period this year. Please note that the start date has been changed to June 18th to reflect the last day of school which was extended due to snow day. Um, the pedestrian area will include tables
where you can bring your own sandwich or takeout from any local restaurant, games for kids to play, space for seniors to meet, including myself, uh, retail popups and outdoor dining. Participating residents will pay, I'm sorry,
participating restaurants will pay a fee for each seat they use. Uh, in speaking with residents, I often hear about the crown jewels of our town, the top quality schools, express trains to the city and our charming downtown. Talking to merchants, and through my role on
Summit's economic development advisory committee, I've learned that our downtown is at risk. The change in our shopping habits has accelerated. We're all seeing the mountains of Amazon boxes waiting for recycling. Tariffs have hurt
small businesses in particular. We need creative approaches to ensure downtown Summit's vibrancy in the years ahead. Important to our community and important to our property values. As chair of the capital projects committee, I can assure you that we've done our due diligence on
the health and safety aspects of this proposed ordinance with full consideration and sign off from public safety officials. The traffic study indicates that opening Maple Street, quote, will not have a significant impact. We are limiting the calendar to school summer vacation days to further
mitigate traffic concerns. So it'll be lower traffic than what was in the traffic study. Uh we expect we will ensure that potential health and safety outcomes will be monitored along with the economic development outcomes and other outcomes and that this information
will provide input to any future programs that could take place on the street. So, we've listened to Summit, learned from prior experience with opening Maple Street to pedestrians, and um we feel the benefits are real and valued by the community bringing
neighbors together uh especially kids, families, and seniors. Um people choose Summit, they tell me, because of this crown jewels, and programs like this one help keep Summit the special place it is. I move to introduce this ordinance.
>> Second. Okay. And I understand there may be an ordinance from the floor. >> Uh I move to amend the ordinance that I just introduced with a streamlined version recommended and approved by the New Jersey Department of Transportation
which incorporates all relevant state laws that are referenced in the previous longer version. It's a streamlined version which incorporates all relevant state laws and will have a hearing date of May 5th, 2026. >> Second.
>> Okay. Now, Madame Clerk, I understand we're first going to have a roll call vote on amending the ordinance. >> Correct. >> Correct. So, >> this the second version is what you're all voting for, >> right? We we are voting whether we should >> whether to
>> you should actually substitute. >> Substitute. Thank you. Substitute. substitute um the the the version that was in the distributed packet with the version that is now outside the room. >> Yes. >> So just this is a motion on the amendment. >> Right.
>> And then if the motion on the amendment passes then you do a vote on the introduction of the as of the amended version. If the amendment fails then it'll be a mo then it'll be a vote on the original version.
>> Correct. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay, I'll proceed. >> Mr. Boyer, >> is there Wait, is there a hearing on the amendment? >> No. No, it's just a vote. >> Wait, >> this is just introduction tonight. >> We can't comment on the amendments to
the we should be able to comment on, right? Like >> um if I'm wrong, Miss Brown, but they the voters can comment on how they vote. Am I correct? In making your vote, you can explain why you're voting one way or
another on the amendment. But since this is just an introduction, I don't believe the common council traditionally does comments on an introduction. >> We do not. It it's it's akin to a motion to table. >> Can I ask the city solicitor one more question, please?
>> Yes, council member Boy. If if I need to vote on uh approving the motion um and I I want to do a nay vote, right? I I should be able to explain why
I'm voting against it or for it. >> Yes, you can you can explain why you're voting one way or the other. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And this vote is just on the whether to amend >> this the substitute ordinance. Yes, correct. Okay.
>> Whether to substitute. >> Yes. >> Okay. May I proceed? Please do. Mr. Boyer. >> So, I would like to explain uh why I'm not in support of this. Um, f first of all,
I just got the the traffic study last night and my understanding talking to Councilman Palowski is that this didn't go through the safety committee and if it didn't go through the safety committee, I don't know how we can say that all of our um, public safety
officials signed off on it. Um, I am not going to be a hypocrite because I've done this last year, uh, where we amended stuff on, you know, during council meetings. Uh, but what I will say is that I've never brought anything
out in public that, uh, wasn't vetted by the safety committee first. And I don't know how you can proceed with this without going through one of the most important committees that I spent the last two years on where you talk about
the safety of the public which should be first. So with that being said, uh I am against this ordinance. I think that it should uh it should it's not ready for prime time and we should do what we normally would do and it should go to
the committee and be approved and come back out. Thank you. >> So that's a nay. >> Uh Mr. Chrisoy >> I >> Miss Celmanson. Hi Miss Landman.
>> Hi, >> Mrs. Sarasina. >> I >> Mr. Pilowski. >> So, I'm with Jamal on this one. I We just got the traffic study last night
and the reason that this ordinance hasn't made its way through safety yet is because we needed the traffic study first. Um, so the fact that we are even considering this, I think is a a big mistake. And um, I did I've been
pressing for this traffic study and I offered to have last week's safety meeting instead of Tuesday, on Wednesday, on Thursday, on Friday, on Saturday, on Sunday. Traffic study wasn't there. we we can't it can't come out of that committee
without um us being able to thoroughly evaluate the traffic study. Um but that actually is why I was going to vote no on the original ordinance that was in the packet um because it hadn't come through safety. Now we have a substitute
ordinance that hasn't gone through any committee um that we're being asked to vote on. And the original ordinance looked kind of similar to this until it was heavily edited as it made its way through the two committees that it that the original ordinance did make its way
through. Um I have received no explanation as to why we're making this last minute change, why it was necessary. Um, and you know, everybody up on this deis
campaigned, preaches transparency and process. And in a single moment here tonight, we're just going to throw both of those out the window. Okay? This is not following the proper process. And this is not being
transparent. the statute that this relies on, I don't think it's reflected in this particular ordinance. Um, the reason that we made those edits previously was to conform with the statute that the council is purportedly
relying on to uh close Maple Street. But I did confirm with the city solicitor that NJSA4067-169, if anybody wants to look it up, is what controls here. No matter what's in this ordinance, we still have to follow the
statute, uh, the municipal code. So regardless of what may or may not be in this ordinance, uh, the city will be complying with the municipal code. So I vote nay. That doesn't make sense. >> Council President Toth
>> I. >> Okay. Motion carries. Now we are voting to whether to introduce the ordinance as amended by substitution. Um so Madame Clerk, will you call the
role? >> Uh Council Member Ber. >> Once again, I am not against dining in public um on Maple Street. Uh, I particularly enjoyed it. However, I'm a safety first person, right? I've been
doing this my my whole life and your safety is my number one job, right? Um, up here and if it didn't go through the safety committee, so that means our police chief probably didn't see the traffic
study. If you didn't see the traffic study, then how can we say our public our public safety officials uh agree with this? May, you know, maybe it's great. I don't know, right? But how can we put something forward that wasn't vetted? So, I mean, I I just I really
just don't understand. So, uh this just seems at this point irresponsible. I mean, there's no even plan. I haven't seen a plan for uh putting up ballards, right? So, you can't drive a car that in 2023. That's what I That's what I said. I didn't say anything else. I said, I
just don't want to see anybody drive a car through where we're dining. We living in an unpredictable times. Just had something happen on 22. Oh, M Councilman Boyd, that never happened. Uh, stuff happens. It only needs to happen once. So, let's really vet this
out. I'm not against it. Let's vet it out. We still got time. It's still cold out. Um, so let's just do the right thing. So I vote nay. So but I hope you all do the right thing. Nay. >> Mr. Chris Foley.
>> I 100%. >> Miss Calmanson. Um I am going to vote in support of this. I am a member of the safety committee and we have had conversations with all of the necessary parties about
how to make sure that we can do this safely. And all of those conversations have resulted in the affirmative that yes, this is something we can do safely and that is why I will support this. Um I vote I
>> Miss Landman >> I and you can see on page 37 of the packet where the vehicle barricades are intended and the detailed plans. >> Mr. Sarasina >> I. >> Mr. Powski. >> Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't have time to
get through all 127 pages of the uh of the uh safety study. Um so I'll I'll continue to read that. Um one thing that I uh want to do is respectfully disagree
with my uh co- uh safety uh committee member Miss Calmanson. We have certainly brainstormed um the safest ways or what would be the safest ways to do this. Certainly never come to a conclusion that we could do it
safely. And um you know I think the conclusion that is never going to change is that it'll be less safe if we close the street for outdoor dining than if we just leave it open. So, um I just wanted
to clarify that. Um you know, one other, you know, I was going to vote nay because it didn't make it through um all three of the committees that should have looked on the looked at this and given their recommendation to the council. Now, we're looking at a statute or an
ordinance that hasn't made it through any I I'd like to know when the decision was made to swap this out and why. Um why was it necessary to make these changes? Um you know, did we have to make all of the changes that we made in
this and when was the decision made? because um last year, Councilman or two years ago, Councilman Mineer um he had a big problem with bringing something up to the floor before the community had a
chance to see uh what it was that the council was voting on. And we made a specific amendment to our rules that if somebody wanted to pass a resolution from the floor, and I didn't know that we could do this with an ordinance, uh maybe we have to amend the council rules
as well, that and and there is not 48 hours before the council meeting in order to publish it to the public. That the moment that we knew we were going to do it, we would publish it to the public. And um you know, if we didn't
know until this afternoon or noon or whenever it is that we knew, I I know we knew yesterday because I was told that we were going to be doing this yesterday. Um I think it should have gone up yesterday, you know, the moment that we knew in the spirit of that rule. Um the public deserves an opportunity to
see this. And I know we don't take public comments on introductions, but um certainly folks might have been interested in coming and speaking their mind during the public comment where they can talk about whatever they want. So I'm still a nay and um
I know it's going to pass. Uh people on the council here have been myopically driven to close this street for outdoor dining for some reason that I can't fathom. Um but I'm a Council
President Toth >> I. >> Motion carries. Um let's move on to >> um >> Can we just announce when the hearing will be as amended? >> Yes. As amended. The hearing on this will be May 5th, two weeks out. Um as is
typical for for ordinances. Um thank you for that. Um okay. And we're going to move on to resolutions be. Excuse me. >> Sorry. I'm sorry. Uh, council president. This the agenda says May 19th. I just
want to be. >> Right. Right. It is it is May 5th. Um, we're going to move to resolutions beginning with finance. Um,
so sorry, Council Member Landman. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh resolution ID number 12498. This resolution states that the common council concurs with the board of school estimate on the taxes to be collected
for the school year 2026 to 2027 which totals 79,873,363. As a member of both the board of school estimate and the chair of this council finance committee, I believe the tax levy is appropriate and I move to adopt this resolution. Second.
>> Okay. Do we have any comments from members of the public? >> So, Diego Ho Argal Court, I recognize the fact that you're not voting on the content of the budget, but let's stipulate that this meeting is
watched by a lot more people than the board of education meeting. And I wanted to bring up to everybody's attention in summit the fact that we have significantly curtailed the money allocated to English as a second language education in a community that
has a very significant immigrant population. My own children were great beneficiaries of the phenomenal ESL education we have here in Summit. And honestly, I don't understand how we can look at
continuously improving our athletic facilities while we defund English as a second language education. So, I recognize that there's nothing you guys can do about it, but I'm just speaking about it in this forum to raise awareness of this issue. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. Do we have any other comments from the public? Do we have comments from members on council? Okay. Um, let's move to a vote. Is this a roll call? It is not. Okay. All in favor?
>> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Um, the resolution that is listed as third on law and labor actually belongs to finance. Um, and I understand that Miss
Lucer Cena is going to introduce this resolution. >> Thank you, Council President. Yes. Resolution ID 12512 relates to council's authorization of a settlement agreement with a city employee employee, excuse me. Uh, it is
captioned a settlement agreement. Uh, but to clarify, there were no claims brought by this individual against the city. uh it's just the city's standard operating procedure to ensure a tr smooth transition both with respect to the function and for this individual
moving to their next professional opportunity. Um we have the opportunity to discuss in close session. Uh as a result of this particular individual's departure, there is a resultant role elimination which impacts the city budget which is why it has been moved
from law and labor to finance. I move that we adopt this resolution. Second. >> Do we have any comments from members of the public? Any comments from members of council? >> All in favor?
>> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Um on to capital projects and community services. Council member Chris Aouli. >> Thank you, Council President. Resolution ID 12456 authorizes a city to submit a
report to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Services on recycling activities in summit. I move to adopt this resolution. >> Second. >> Thank you. Do we have any comments from members of the public? Do we have any comments from members of
council? All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Back to you, Council Member Chrisouli. >> Thank you, Council President. Resolution ID 12427 authorizes the professional services in
support of the rehabilitation of the tier garage in an amount not to exceed $150,000. Uh the bids for the full project, the implementation of the full rehabilitation are currently underway, and we hope to conclude the bulk of that
this summer while fewer people are in town. I I move to adopt this resolution. >> Second. >> Thank you. Do we have any comments on this resolution from members of the public? >> Do we have any comments from members of council?
>> No. Then let's move to a vote. All in favor? >> I >> I. Any opposed? >> Motion carries. Back to you, Council Member Chrisouli. >> Thank you, Council President. Resolution ID 12505 establishes the affordable housing
round four task force with the objective of engaging residents in the implementation of the legal agreement related to affordable housing developed by last year's council recognizing that any element of the agreement that changing any element of this agreement
could risk losing our city's legal protection from additional development including a proposed eight story tower on the village green. Uh so this is a way to engage residents to adjust where we can and ask the right questions while
our ability to make major changes is is almost zero. So I move to adopt this resolution. >> Second. >> Do we have any comments from members of public the public? >> Any comments from members of council?
Um, I'll just say that the ability um to apply to become a member of this task force should roll out tomorrow morning. Um, so please, if you live near one of the um areas that's that where we expect to be making development the next 10
years, apply to join the task force. Um, all in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Um, moving on to law and labor. Council member Lucer Cena. >> Thank you, Council President. Resolution
ID 12500 relates to a certification of compliance. This is a standard requirement in connection with the adoption and submission of our municipal budget. The EEOC guidance relates to the
municipality as an employer considering conviction and arrest records of applicants for city roles. We have reviewed the guidance. the council members in support of our uh city solicitor and our city administrator. Miss Baldwin has kindly affirmed to us
that our hiring practices are indeed in conformance with the EEOC guidance. All that said, I move that we adopt the resolution. >> Second. >> Thank you. Do we have any comments from members of the public? >> Do we have any comments from members of
council? Okay. All in favor? >> I >> I. Any opposed? Mo resolution carries. Um, back to you, Miss Laserosina. >> Uh, excuse me, Council President To. May I be excused for this one?
>> Oh, thank you. Yes, please. Council member Palowski. Okay, Miss Lerina. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh, Councilman Palowski is a practicing attorney at a law firm. His law firm represents one of the parties involved
in this litigation uh by firm policy and to avoid in the appearance of a conflict of interest, Councilman Palowski has recused himself from all matters related to resolution ID 12506, which is a resolution authorizing the
execution of a settlement agreement with Broad Street West Managers One LLC. The pending approval of this settlement agreement will bring this litigation to full resolution in satisfaction of all
the parties. Uh and I am hopeful it will be adopted. I look forward to removing this matter from the city's docket and looking ahead to the future. Uh that said, I move this resolution for adoption. >> Second. >> Okay. Do we have any comments from
members of the public? Do we have any comments from members of council? >> Council president. >> Yes, council member Ber. >> Only to say that I am also so happy to move forward uh that the city is moving forward from this litigation that has
been uh is it four or five years now? >> Um the place to era. >> Yeah. Yeah. So uh I'm I'm happy to see that this is one lawsuit that has been settled. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other comments?
All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carries. Um, Council Member Powski, I think Mr. Chinuli is telling him he can return. Okay. Okay, thank you. Um, do we have a motion
to approve our consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Um, does any member of the public wish to comment on the consent agenda? No. Does any member of council wish to
comment on the consent agenda? >> Council President. >> Uh, yes, Council Member Christopher Lee. >> Thank you, Council President. I will just comment on the Arbor Day festivities. It sounds like some historical artifact from a bygone era. >> What is an arbor anyway?
But I I I'd like to reflect that it's actually very important. It's celebrating our trees, our green canopy here in Summit that helps absorb all that storm water runoff and it keeps our streets and homes cooler. And I think it's it should be one of our top
priorities uh for those reasons. and it shouldn't be just viewed as a musty fussy old relic. >> Thank you. Any other comments? Okay. All in favor? >> I >> Any opposed?
Motion carries. Um and thank you to our city staff. We we appreciate that you're here. You are free to leave. Um and let let us move on to public comments. Um, as we begin public
comment, we ask that the residents of Summit step forward to speak first. We value input from everyone. And of course, any member of the public is welcome to speak. We simply ask for your courtesy in allowing our local neighbors to lead the public discussion.
And again, I'll remind you three limits, three minutes on public comments. Uh, good evening. My name is Dave Hoffman. I live at one New England Avenue, apartment 17A. For those of you who don't know where that is, it's across from a Summit Playhouse in a
group of apartments called Manley Court. And, uh, we're very manly at the Manley Court. Uh but we have an issue of parking. I know we've addressed that before. And whenever I talk to my friends about that, they say, "Well, don't you have uh residential parking
stickers or tenant stickers?" No. No. This is summit. We don't do that. Uh recently it's become very personal to me because of a health issue. I'm supposed to walk more. And I thought that's easy. I can walk to the train station, take a train to work, walk to my school, walk
back, a good walk. I can't do that here because if I walk to the train station and take the train, my car will be ticketed for violating a 2-hour limit. And there's really not much I can do about it. And when I tell people about it, say, "Well, of course, use the
parking sticker." There isn't a parking sticker. So, I'm told that there might be. And I just want to put my two cents in that I hope that the issue can be resolved. I know that a few of you are meeting with some of the residents uh for a manly discussion and I look forward to hearing the results. Thank
you for letting me speak. Bye-bye. >> Thank you, Mr. Hoffman. >> Good evening, Mayor Fagan, Council President Toth, members of council and staff. I'm Jim Bennett, ben ne 38 Fairview Avenue. Um I will not be
available on May 5th which is when the municipal budget is going to be discussed. So I just wanted to uh make a few comments. Now um I first of all commend the uh city on uh putting out this uh uh budget snapshot. It's I find
it very transparent and my attention every year goes to page three which is municipal debt and it uh overall it seems to be pretty much flat. So I would commend the city on accomplishing that. Um I would uh ask
the city to focus on uh two main topics. Uh one is to avoid uh tapping of reserves in order to uh pay uh current expenses and two uh the control of new debt um subject of course uh to the
necessary debt that has to be taken out in order to maintain property. Deferred maintenance is really a false economy and I would not advocate for that. Um, I uh call for a scrupulous review of
physical plant and infrastructure that generates the need for debt and uh to um uh to uh uh to be very scrupulous about the uh uh uh about the acquisition
of new debt and to avoid those things which would uh look good on paper for lowering taxes, but in the long on do not serve their residents well. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Bennett. >> Mayor Fagan, Council President, council
members. My name is Ben Golden. I live at 28 Morris Avenue Summit. I'm not I'm not sure if I'll be here for the u May 5th meeting on uh Maple Street. So, I would like to
make some comments. Now, for the record, with all due respect to the council, if someone came forward to the zoning board or the planning board with such a der of information and simply said, "This
building will be fun and will be adding to the vibe of our downtown." He'd be sent packing. This council and the restaurants that have prepared in the past closings on Maple Street have refused to
provide any information other than it would be fun. How many tables for dining were used in past past closures? How many chairs are at each table? Assuming a table turns every one and a half
hours, how many potential meals could have been served from 12 noon to 8? How many actual meals were served? Lacking this information, anyone can say what they want.
My observations of past closures, which are as valid as anyone, was that from Monday to Friday, noon to 4, there was little to no usage of the street. Monday to Wednesday, from 5 to 8, we're
lucky to have 20% usage. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 5 to 9 was peak demand, and there were still tables available. Sunday from noon to 8 there appear appeared to be no large demand. So
failing to provide any factual usage data, this council and the residents who keep saying they like the fun and the vibe just they don't they have provided no evidence of such and this lack of due
diligence on the part of council or the restaurants who are clamoring for this is just so troubling. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, Rosemary Rosemary Zadi Champike
wrote, "Who on this council thinks closing a through street in the center of town, leaving only Summit Avenue open to emergency vehicles and traffic is a good idea? Think about the fire trucks have to
maneuver such a wide turn off a broad street only to be met with total gridlock. When you're driving on Summit Avenue, your head is on a swivel because cars and people are coming at you from both sides.
People are cars come into Summit Avenue from Broad Street, Union Place, Franklin Place, the Railroad lot, and Chase's drive-thru. And the the end it's 24 getting on to
24. People are crossing from the train station to the parking garage. They're also crossing to go to the diner and into town. They're crossing on Bank Street and cars are parked on both sides of Summit Avenue. Imagine the traffic if
Summit Avenue is the only through street in town. Only four restaurants are truly benefiting from closing Maple Street. We were We were there for them when they needed to be outside during the pandemic, but not now.
Summit residents need to get through town. Why should we change how we get through town for street dining? This whole idea about closing Maple Street has to end. The last time I spoke, I
brought up the prominade. It's there because the building on that piece of property burnt down. The fire trucks came through Maple Street to get to that building. There was at least a dozen pieces of equipment, including three
aerial trucks, fighting the blaze. A resident had to be rescued from her third floor window. A month ago, on a Saturday, I drove up Maple Street to get to CVS. Fif
15 minutes later, on my way back, Maple Street was closed. There were three fire trucks and police vehicles on Maple Street. This time, thank God, there wasn't a real fire emergency. You're not closing Maple Street for the
majority of Summit residents. You're closing it for a small minority of residents and out oftowners who want to eat outdoors. Our streets are for cars and emergency vehicles, not dining tables. If there is an emergency, who on
this council wants to be held responsible because they voted to close Maple Street? It's the responsibility of this council to do what's best for all Summit residents, building owners, and Summit businesses. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Um, did you put it? >> You can put it in there. Thank you. Yeah. Is your name on it, sir? >> Is your name on it? >> Uh, it is not. I say >> thank you for asking. >> Fitzgerald third grade. >> I was just about to say elementary school >> name on paper.
>> Very good. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Daniel Jackson, 28 Morris Avenue. >> And I have to comment about Maple Street and the reasons not to close it except for emergencies. Doesn't matter if it's seasonal. That does not give a
justification just because it's seasonal. Public I'm I'm going to read the the numbers if I have. Number one, public streets are regulated by the state of New Jersey for the benefit of all citizens. If Maple Street is closed, consideration must be given to the
compression of vehicular traffic onto other public streets and the effects on the general flow of traffic. Unsafe business deliveries and pedestrian safety must also be considered. Maple Street is one of two major downtown
north south south arteries and as Gil Orin uh former Gil Orin has stated several past council meetings quote when Maple Street is closed Union Place is gridlock unqu
vehicle obstruction a Milbour resident complained at a public council meeting that an ambulance was delayed due to the closure of Main Milbour ceased the closure the next year. And I'll just repeat the question uh that was asked. Who will take
responsibility if police fire and ambulance vehicles are stalled or prevented from reaching an emergency situation in Summit? Who will take responsibility? Number three, the unfairness to Maple Street businesses that have addressed
their closer opposition at past Summit Council meetings. Parenthetically important, in August of 2025, a petition with over a hundred business signatures was presented at a Redbank, New Jersey burrow council meeting stating, quotes, I am in full support of
ending Broadwalk immediately and permanently unquote because of business losses. It's on the internet. You can check out the petition and the story. Bottom line, Summit should not be picking business winners and losers by
closing public streets during non emergencies. Number four, the unfairness of closing a publicly dedicated and major street that everyone should have access through to primarily benefit those who can afford
to pay for expensive restaurants. The roads belong to everybody. They're public streets. The poorest resident in Summit should have full access to Maple Street just as much as the wealthy.
Number five, the contention that Maple Street must be closed to provide outdoor dining is untrue because some Summit already has outdoor dining and Gil Orin presented at a past council meeting a detailed survey that as of September
2024, the Summit Downtown provided 532 outdoor dining seats by 27 dining establishments. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Please vote no. Good evening. >> Good evening.
>> Jeff Sergeant, three Glenn Oaks Avenue Summit. >> Um I'm here to discuss the the dog parks. >> Um I have been a resident of Summit for over 20 years and the dog parks last
summer, I believe, is led by Bob. Um were uh oh okay. Well um were probably the best thing that ever happened to me in Summit. Uh I met probably 30 new people um from from going to the dog
park and um I knew Bob before but I didn't really know him until I met him at the dog park and now we're very good friends. So um it's been um just a great thing. Uh, I know there's, you know, some feedback about safety and children
on the spectrum. You know, I have experience with that and children on the spectrum love dogs. So, um, um, I just wanted to make a comment that, um, we should continue to have, uh, the dog parks in town as it's the best thing
that's happened to us or for me personally, uh, as a resident for over 20 years. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hi, my name is Bruce Thurkov. I own 26 Maple Street and Summit. Um, just make a few comments because uh I didn't think
we were going to be able to speak at all tonight uh on something that was introduced, but we've been I've been here before. Uh, every time this thing comes up, I thought we had put it to bed. Who keeps bringing this up about Maple Street? Everybody wants to close
Maple Street for what? Four restaurants. What about the If you're going to open up some streets or close down some street, what don't don't the other restaurants in town get should get the same uh the same favors? Uh you know, there's you could close down half a Union Place. You could close down Bank
Street. How about Beachwood? Yeah, let's do Beachwood. Summit Avenue. Summit Avenue. You're going to say, "Well, that's a that's a major artery that goes across town." So does Maple Street. That's the alternative. I was up here two weeks ago and I saw uh I was I was
on a site and I saw the fire truck come through. Apparently, they had a call. They were going down Summit Avenue. Well, they they had to stop. They had to stop for almost two minutes because a guy couldn't get into the parking space on the street. There were other cars that tried to get around and they
couldn't because there was they were backed up coming the other way. I mean, who's kidding who here? Uh, the ordinance, was the ordinance published already? Was it? >> Was it published yet? >> The new ordinance or the old ordinance?
>> Posted on the website earlier today. >> I'm I'm asking a question. >> The the the the clerk just said yes. >> So, it was published. Was it the new ordinance or the old ordinance? The original ordinance was in the packet that was posted on Friday and the uh
substitute ordinance was posted today at noon. >> It was printed again. >> So, are are the people going to be confused as to what ordinance uh you you're trying to pass? >> I did also make copies for everyone as they entered the room. >> Yeah. Well, what about the general public? I mean, and and isn't it usually
30 days that it has to be published before you have a a public hearing? Maybe I'm wrong. I don't know. >> No, it does not. Okay. and and and the uh the meeting time that was published for May 5th public for the public.
>> This is this is not a back and forth. You can have make your public comments and then at the end we'll we'll answer them. There was an ordinance introduced tonight. The public hearing will be May 5th and the publication will happen thereafter. But any other comments you have, you can make them now. >> Okay. And the public will have adequate
notice that there's a public hearing on May 5th. Okay. I'm just it is just confusing that we have to be up here time and time again uh to to try to put this thing down and close it down
because I thought that's where we were and and we know the issues here and obviously the the studies have not been done that really should be done. The prior speaker mentioned that I don't know if there's been any traffic studies recently, but I as an individual because
we've gone through this before. I've been through town and when we did have outdoor parking and I can tell you right now between the bad weather, the hot weather, the insects and and whatever else and then and then you you try to
count the capacity uh of the people actually using the outdoor seating and it's not being used to to any great degree and all those people could well enough be served inside rather than outside. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening. Good evening. Anthony
Belchiona, multiple property owner on Maple Street. I've been here before also. I don't know how much more I could add with these comments are just fantastic. And unless someone comes up after me, I don't see anybody here speaking in favor of this
calamity. Um, I just want to say one thing, a very a great phrase that you should all remember and um and and take to heart and think about this because I know the majority of you who ran for council ran on shutting down Maple Street. Crazy. Uh, risk versus reward.
So, we've heard all the risks and that's plural. safety for all the residents and businesses, all emergency services, which I would love to see this report for police and fire and EMS that says this is
safer than having the street open. It is less safe even by an inch. We can't vote for something like that. Crazy. uh having a Maple Street business for I don't know a couple couple decades uh businesses suffered even though it
was pandemic. Does anybody think about the offices upstairs or the residents who live on that street and how they're inconvenience bringing packages, receiving packages, garbage removal, UPS, trash
contractors, so on. I'll go on more in two weeks. traffic flow and congestion, removing seven very valuable parking spots on Maple Street. And from what I understand, a tier garage will be doing major renovation. Where all these people
going to park? Well, it's summer. That's what I'm going to hear. And lastly, uh a big risk is going to be from the lawsuits that are going to be generated from the Maple Street property owners. Well, I didn't say anything about reward. That's singular. What's the one
reward? The five restaurants will benefit financially and significantly with some of these restaurants doubling the occupancy of their current restaurants
facilities. I don't know the specifics about rent that will be paid, who cleans up, etc., etc. We'll talk about that. um May 5th and uh through you council chair. I miss
Mr. Arduous, but I welcome Marina Brown. Um and I know we can't ask questions, but maybe you can comment. Will this be put out for public bid since we're using a public street? Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Any other comments from members of the
public? Ah, >> good evening. Diego Ho. This is actually why I came here today. Um, isn't democracy great? We have an election coming up and Bob and J up for reelection and they can run on reopening
Maple Street forever. That's that's a that's a campaign promise for you, Bob. Um, it's interesting to hear talk about transparency when for the past two years we have not
had a debate on Maple Street at all. Even though there's multiple surveys that show that about 3/4 of the population in Summit actually like outdoor dining and Maple Street being closed. And
um so I am encouraged that this is happening. I think the vast majority of the summit population likes going down to Maple Street with their kids, have dinner, maybe going to a store.
It adds life. And it turns out that Americans spent a tremendous amount of money going on European vacations. And most European cities
have their entire downtowns shut down and people have to walk and nobody's concerned about safety there. Um, one last thing. We have been told many times that it was illegal to shut down Maple Street.
Uh despite the fact that Mr. Jacobe on numerous occasions pointed out how statutoily it was legal to open up Maple Street. So it's kind of so those in
council seats who may have said in the past that it was illegal have some transparency that they need to come forth with. So I welcome Maple Street being open.
Um I think that I am not alone in this. I think that I respect very much the views of those who disagree with me. This is why we have a democracy. But at the end of the day, the voters did vote
a council majority that campaigned on closing down Maple Street and they should be listened to. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other comments from the public? Okay, then we can move on to comments from members of council.
>> Yes, Council Member Landman. Thank you, Council President. Um, three quick things from me. Uh, first, given the outstanding response I got from the last time I spoke about a need for one of the nonprofits in town, um, about Grocery Bags for Grace, tonight, I want to
highlight as a Junior League member and somebody who also volunteers at Mom's Helping Moms, we are in a collection right now here in the city to um, collect diapers. So, the Junior League is leading a project to collect 100,000 diapers by the end of May. Uh, not only do they take full packages, but even
open diapers. And every parent here can relate. You know, when you open that package and then you realize they need to size up. Um, so you can drop them off at the middle school vestibule among other locations and uh help serve underresourced families while you clean out your clutter. Um, second, I on
Sunday, I had the pleasure of going to the farmers market uh for the season opener and despite the uh kind of cruddy weather, um had a really great time connecting with residents and some of the vendors. Um I did hear time and again their excitement about the seasonal opening of Maple Street to
pedestrians only. Um we have heard concerns here tonight. Uh they are valid concerns around traffic and safety. We've asked those questions, too, and we'll share more for the public hearing. on May 5th. Um, but we, you know, again, we are sensitive to the huge challenge
this time, you know, in this time of online shopping for many of the, uh, retailers downtown. And then finally, as we are about six weeks away from the New Jersey primary election, for those who are new to Summit and have not yet registered to vote here, you can do so
online at uni countyvotes.com. Tuesday, May 12th is the last day to register to vote for the June primary election. That's it for me. Thank you very much. Any other comments? Council member Ber watching you move
into launch position. I'll start out with something nice before I respond to Mr. Hoick. Uh this past weekend we celebrated the life of Gil Or. Now, while I shared some
thoughts previously about his life and his profound impact that he had on me growing up, his son shared a story that uh I just wanted to pass along. So, Gil was a dedicated youth coach for basketball, baseball, and football.
Football was his uh football was his thing though. That was his number one thing. but he was coaching his son's basketball team and from by his son's own admission uh they weren't that good. Uh so during one particular tournament
they lost the first game by 20 points. There were there was a 4-hour intermission. So guess what Gil did? He took them to go see Hooers. Now, if you know Hooers, Bob Knight, Indiana, what a great motivating, you
know, Rudy, you know, Notre Dame type thing. These kids were pumped up. They were ready to play. I mean, they listen, they got out of that movie theater, they drove back, they were about to do some assists and three-pointers and everything else. So, uh, when they got
back, uh, they started out the first quarter, okay, second quarter, all right, they end up losing by 45 points. I thought that story was amazing. And, uh, he his son told another one about
uh, people taking charges, you know, from 40 yards out, but we won't go there. Uh, second thing that I like to talk about is the Summit Housing Authority. I think the game the game nights are phenomenal.
It was they are so phenomenal. Um our council president had a chance to go I think some other council members but uh our mayor was like in the back in the kitchen with with an apron on cutting turkey or something. I mean it was just it
was it chicken. I mean the the atmosphere and the mood >> uh in the senior building is is is amazing. Um and I am just so happy to be a part of that as a liaison there for for two years. Um so we we are we are
definitely moving forward. I asked our city solicitor to do some followup for some really serious things though. Um, you know, like I talked about before, we want to make sure that uh our seniors along with our low-income housing residents uh are getting their money
back that they have been uh inappropriately charged. So, we we as a city, we need to follow up on that. Um that that's a that that's still a problem that we need to to deal with. Uh on uh another note
um just real quick about you know Maple Street. Um and you know Mr. Hoick uh I come from a different part of town. We don't think alike. I'm nothing like you. We you know I I serve this city in the
spirit of Gilor to serve. I don't get nothing for coming up here. I got two kids. One got one more year left. I'm going to college. But I'm up here to raise questions about security stuff, right? That's my wheelhouse. So, I do this uh so that I can actually try to
enlighten some of the folks up here who are not possibly security-minded. I mean, you know, I'm looking at the uh the the Ballards or the barricades here, and the one thing I could think about is, yeah, there's a little space in the middle, right? But if you got to drive a
fire truck down there, what are you going to do? jump out and take an axe to the 2,000galon water ballor to get through. And what about the ones that you know are screwing in? Are they going to be automatic or are you going to screw them in? Some of those things are 25 $30,000.
We got to got a dog park. Just just saying. Shout out to you. Uh but you know, I again I I I've asked residents to email, call me. Some people have called me, friends, family, hey, we
like it, we don't like it. Um, but besides that though, right, I I like to do what the majority of residents like to do. But, um, I just want it vetted by the safety committee. What more can I ask for? I, you know, that's just responsible governance.
Um, and last but not least, I almost forgot. I wanted to give Councilwoman Commonson a a shout out. Uh, thank you. I know, right?
>> Is going. No, but I I also I wanted to say thank you because you know you have been on the safety committee with me uh for for a year and we've we us the police and the fire you know we've done some tremendous things to help this city
from a public safety perspective and you know the the speed limit is just one of many and our chief just gave a phenomenal report about crime in the city. Um, so, uh, with that, um, I would like to,
uh, to say thank you, Council President. >> Thank you, Council Member Ber. Anybody else? Council member Palowski. >> I only have one page tonight. So, >> okay. >> So, first I'd like to thank uh, Leo Pis
and Karen Abate for coming in and giving us that presentation. Um, if you're not following, um, there's actually five high school lacrosse teams in Summit. Our boys are 8 and0 and number one in the state right now. Uh, girls are four
and three. Um, but they're always tough. Uh, Kent Place is 7-0 and number two in the state, and that's the first time they've ever done uh ranked that high. Um, Oaknull is always great, six and three. oratory struggling, but they're
hanging in there. Um, and just to give you an idea of how this program's grown, in 1987, that was the first year that I played lacrosse in Summit. And, uh, there was there were two boys teams, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade team, and a seventh and an eighth grade seventh
grade team. The girls had one seventh, eighth grade team. Today, uh, Summit Lacrosse Club offers, uh, programming for, uh, kids K through eight on both the boys and girls side, and there are two to three teams per grade. So, it has
grown in leaps and bounds. Second thing I have is some of you know, FIFA World Cup is coming to the Medallands this year. I sat in on the NJ DOT's presentation last week um, about that. And what you might not know is that
there is no general admission parking. It's all going to be public transportation. So if you work in the city um and you take public transportation, the the more it's not going to be so tough to get to the city
by train, but it is going to be very difficult to get back because everybody's going to be traveling to the Middlelands to go to those games. So, um, this is, uh, on the NJTO website and the city also issued a press release, but the the dates of the games are June
13th, 16th, 22nd, 25th, 27th, and 30th, and July 5th, and July 19th. So, you pencil into your calendar if you can work from home that day, you'll have an uh, you'll be able to avoid a potential headache of a commute. Um, Earth Day,
thanks to all who participated. Um, I've posted about this before on my uh council page, but Earth Day is every day, so let's keep working to keep uh the city clean and beautiful. Game night at Veto Gallow is a ton of fun. Um, I encourage everybody to come
out, spend some time with our seniors. Um, there's fried chicken every time, so um, just don't take my thigh. Um, and I'm learning how to play back gammon. It it's just it's really a lot of fun. So, um, please feel free to join us on the
third Saturday of every month. It runs from 4 to 7. Um, dog park. So, I had, um, a conversation with Councilman Chrisy this week. Uh, some of you know, we did pass an ordinance to allow for a
popup dog park. I'm waiting with baited breath to see where it's going to go. Um, Dan's uh, looking into other uh, locations. Um, and it is a pop-up dog park, so maybe we can move it around. But I have in encouraged him to uh speak
to the city engineer about putting it up where it was at the end of last year at maybe at least until the construction's done. Um, I think concerns about um, children with special needs and how they might react to a dog are legitimate and
something that we need to look at, but um, they're not going to be playing there till the construction's done, which I understand is going to be um, at the earliest uh, in the beginning of June. So, let's not waste any more time. Let's get those fences up so that we can uh, go and have our dogs play.
Maple Street. Um, I will not be running on reopening Maple Street forever. I'll be running on safety. And it really doesn't matter to me how Europeans feel about safety because I care. Um,
I did say that the last closing of Maple Street was illegal because it was. I didn't say closing Maple Street is illegal. Well, I said the last closing of Maple Street was illegal because it wasn't done the right way and nobody provided the materials to NJ DOT that
they required. So, um that's that. Um, we'll get into a lot of the details about uh, you know, the merits of closing Maple Street and what the various concerns are, but you heard here twice tonight, completely unrelated to
Maple Street, that in an emergency situation, seconds matter. So, everybody could remember that. Um, process and transparency. I I think we took a hit here uh on both both fronts tonight by
bypassing committees to close the street just to make sure it gets done the day after school ends. Um I think it's irresponsible and frankly it's beneath the dignity of this council and I'm very disappointed. Um hopefully more people will come out,
voice their concerns, and hopefully the council will listen on the night of the hearing. And if it seems that it's warranted to um table the motion and uh cons and continue to do our due diligence, um I I hope that we do that.
Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other members? Council member Lucer Cena. Thank you, Council President. One uh quick reminder about the Summit Wellness Symposium, Tuesday,
April 28th, 6:30 p.m. at Summit High School. There will be a forum for different resources and strategies to support our children's mental health. I will be there uh in support of a group called MAMA, Moms Against Media Addiction, but all caregivers are
welcome. There will be a lot of different groups who are there to uh show different ways we can invest in our children's mental health. So, I hope to see you there. On the Tatlock lights, as many may have seen, either in person or elsewhere, the lights have been
installed at Tatlock Field. Uh they will remain off while we work through some key open issues. Uh at the same time, we are working to resolve the related litigation. Uh now I know for some this is unwelcome news that the lights will
remain off for some period of time. We understand the ongoing urgency for all of the stakeholders we do. Uh I apologize that we have not communicated more about the work that is being done but there is earnest work happening to resolve those key open issues and on
various work streams. Uh and we aim to share more in the coming weeks. Uh in brief and I'm sorry I didn't put myself on the timer. Um but in in brief on Maple Street, you know, it is somewhat atypical to have a robust discussion uh at introduction, but but this is an
important issue and we understand that there are a lot of stakeholders with different views. Uh in brief on public safety, uh I agree with many of my colleagues. Protecting the physical safety of our residents is our most important responsibility as elected officials. It is one that I know we all
take very seriously. Though we may take different views on this specific issue, it is something that we all care very deeply about. I appreciate the concerns that have been raised by our neighbors uh as well as our colleagues from the deis. We have considered these issues for for many months. Uh Maple Street was
opened in prior years, right? And we had our experts such as our former chief of police, chief of fire, the head of EMS who opined with respect to the prior closer. We have engaged again with the people who I consider to be the experts with respect to public safety. Right?
Again, our chief of fire, our chief of police, our city engineer and the leadership of our EMS. We have to trust the experts in my view. Uh and I would not be voting in favor of closure uh even at introduction if I did not have
confidence that our experts had confidence that we could do so safely. We will have more to share at the hearing date on May 5th, but I but I did want to share that that one note. Thank you, >> Council Member Chris. >> Thank you, Council President. Um I had
to comment on how council has been developing a relationship as seven individuals >> and we are seven very different people getting to know each other. Um and I would note that until tonight I believe all of our all of our votes have either
been unanimous or close to unanimous. >> Right. I'm getting a nod from Rosie, the ultimate the ultimate source on that. >> It's normal to have disagreements among any group and this council is really no exception to that. I think we've been doing pretty well so far. Um Bob said
that he doesn't like the idea of Maple Street pedestrian use and he, you know, he's said clearly he thinks it's a myopic view. I respect that view. I disagree with it, but I respect it. Uh we've worked with Bob for months to get
him on board, to get him to Yes. And tonight we took steps to make it possible to open the street to pedestrians this summer without undue delay, to allow planning, to get, you know, it takes time to get the thing in place and to get the restaurants, the
other businesses, the businesses, the the popup retail that are not located there. So there's a lot of work that has to be done before the street opens to pedestrians. And so I would say the important part is not that we can't
disagree or that we shouldn't have any disagreements, but is that we keep our discourse civil and cordial and that we can collaborate on all the other stuff that we do agree on. >> Thank you. Um
and I'm just >> I'm sorry. I gota My my wife would, you know, Mrs. Boyer would uh get on if I don't do this. >> Soul Prom, Decades of Dance, uh hosted by uh Lulu Guerrero. Um Lulu was a a
2010 graduate of uh Summit High School. And this event will be held at the Fortnitely Club in Summit, New Jersey. And this is a woman only prom night. and I am uh sponsoring two seniors from the
senior building. The mayor is sponsoring uh two other women who can't um afford to go to these uh uh these events and so is Counciloman Palowski. I would I would ask my my other colleagues here on council um to chip in as well and the
public. uh you can go to my website and and find that the and one of the main reasons why um I'm supporting the soul prom is that I found on council for two years is that we have a lot of events in town but not a lot of different people
show up there right because a they're expensive and they're exclusive and everything but you find that when there is a mix of group of people um you make new friends. You you kind of learn different cultures and different aspects and how people are
living in summit. Uh and you know this is one of those things where you know I'd like to see more diversity of our events right more diversity of people in Summit. You know there's some people that lived here 50 years and other people don't even know who they are
right in the same town. So I you know I like the community aspect of it. So um please know on my website there there are 10 there are 10 women who um you know can't afford uh to go to an event like this and you know we we are we are
sponsoring. We think it's a great idea especially to get seniors anytime we can get a senior to go out and do some dancing. It's really exciting and uh and it means a lot to me. So thank you. >> What fun. Are we invited to? >> Of course. >> Okay. I'm only sorry you and I don't get
to go on the floor. >> Yeah, >> council president >> really quick. I swear. >> Oh, you know, your your one minute one page of notes took more than five minutes to deliver. I I I was going to say something about Gil Orurin and I
didn't because I thought that Jamal covered it, but I just thought of one more thing and and this was really a great man um who we've been blessed to know and have as such a major part of our city for so many years. And the thing that jumped out at me at his
memorial were all the great things that he did for people that you would have never known because he would never tell you. and um he believed as I do that if you do someone a favor and more than two people know about it, you did it for the wrong
reasons. >> Okay, good advice. Um >> Okay. Yes, mayor. >> I know. Um just to add on to what Jamal said about um the prom, soul prom, it does benefit Grace, so just just another
reason to support it. >> Oh, absolutely. Okay. Um, I just have a couple of things to say if if if everyone else is done. Um, every I mean, when you pick up your your agenda for the council meetings, on the front the
first page, it lists all of the unfilled appointments on city boards, commissions, committees, and task forces. Um, and I just wanted to highlight a few of them where we really do need volunteers. Um, the Air Traffic
Noise Advisory Board. Um, this is one if you really like planes. Um, this is a good one for you. The Lacawana Coalition. You can't you wouldn't know by the name. This is how we communicate with NJ
Transit. This is your voice representing Summit to NJ Transit. And it's ideal for somebody who has to suffer through commutes to the city or or even to Newark um and is willing to speak up on
behalf of Summit. Um and the last one is the transportation advisory board which is not planes and not trains. Um but that that that is a county board and it meets occasionally. Um and we could use representation on all of them. So, we
invite you um to apply for these if there are we have something dozens of boards, committees, commissions, and task forces. Even if there isn't a vacancy, you can put in your application. Once there is, we'll consider all of the recent applications.
So, thank you. And um with that, do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So, moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> In fa All in favor? Hi. >> We're out of here. >> Thank you
for