personnel, contracts, potential property for sale, legal issues and opinions regarding any items on the town open session agenda, litigation updates, and OPRA. And with that, we'll begin our meeting. Uh start with a presentations. I'm going to come down there. M manager, you'll come with me.
>> Okay. You okay, thank you very much, folks. Um, we're going to be talking about uh the the incident that occurred on August 14th. It was a tree in incident that occurred at Church on Sussex. Um, on Thursday, August 14th, 2025, at approximately 8:03 a.m., the Tenic
Police Headquarters received multiple 911 calls, reporting that a large tree branch had fallen on Churchill and Sussex, trapping two individuals beneath it. A Tesla was struck with two occupants, but thankfully reported no injuries. This fallen branch took down power lines that were believed to be
live wires. What unfolded next was a testament of bravery, quick thinking, and the commitment of our police department, fire department, DPW, and emergency services. Sergeant Brittingham of the Tina Police Department observed a private tree company in route to the
call Cousins Tree Service passed it while he was passing the intersection of Churchill and Sussex and waved the driver of the truck down to assist. Without hesitation, Alder Messa in the tree truck in the tree company truck provided two chainsaws and immediately assisted to cut away branches to rescue
the women trapped. Sergeant Marina utilized the second chainsaw to assist the rescue efforts. Several officers aided in lifting off the branches and bringing the women to safety in immediate medical attention. Our scenic fire department arrived on scene to assist with any and all medical and
emergency services needed. Our DPW tree department was also on scene to quickly remove tree debris and branches from the roadway so next stop steps for tree removal by the property owner could be arranged. Today we pause to honor these individuals for their courage and self
selflessness in the face of a tragic situation. The quick action of cousins tree service, the ten police department, ten fire department and the DPW reflect the very best of what it means to serve, protect and to care for others. I would also like to extend our gratitude to TVAC, the holy name paramedics in
Bergenut Salah that were also a great assistance to the victims of this tree incident. With that, we'd like to call up the following members of the Ten Police Department in recognition of their leadership, selfless, selfless teamwork, and heroism. Sergeant Bringingham,
Sergeant Marina, I understand. Sergeant Ramirez, Lieutenant Antinori, Lieutenant Dlesio. I here, and officer Scufus Rosen and Pelgro. Scofus
from our DPW. I'd also like to recognize the following employees who assisted with quick action to remove the destruction from the roadway as quickly as possible. TPW Superintendent Michael Sarabekian. He's Michael M. Andreas. He's here. Tree
Department Supervisor Edward Javier. Not he's here. Lewis Rodriguez, Lester, I'm sorry, the following are not here actually. I apologize. Lewis Rodriguez is not here. Lester Autry, Lonardo Blanco Vasquez, Brian Flynn,
Kenan Tucker, and John Urban who are unable to join us. In representing our TIK fire department for their ever ready response to all our Tenic residents, Chief Persel, please come up and accept a certificate. In closing, it is important to be reminded that true heroes are those that
run towards danger when others cannot. Today, we recognize these individuals not only for what they did on August 14th, but also for their character, courage, commitment, and commitment to TK. We are very fortunate and we thank you. We continue to pray for the two victims and their speedy recovery in the
coming weeks. Thank you. >> Okay. Um council um Deats. >> Yeah. Um I I just want to echo what you said, Mayor. Uh honestly, you guys are amazing 365 days a year. We give you certificates every council meeting. We
should be. That's the truth. Um but uh I certainly um this incident was certainly very memorable and I got a lot of phone calls and text messages about this. Um so thank you very much for everything you did and uh for your quick actions and we really appreciate you all the
time. Thank you. >> Yeah, this is what Tene is all about. I mean, you represent what is at the heart of Tene, and that's being there when we need each when we need help from one another and, you know, getting creative and flying down help. And I'm just so proud of how quickly you all reacted and
and you really saved lives that day. And so, thank you for your continued commitment to the work um and to the people of Tene. >> Um, every day you wake up, you never know what the world is going to bring you and what is going to happen to you. and we run down that same street four times a week and we wave to a lot of you
and um you just never know. Um and you never know who's going to be around to help you when something like this happens. And these two ladies were so lucky that all of you were around. I know some of you left from headquarters and ran right over there. Um we're we're
grateful to have you here. They were so lucky to have you there and it's so nice for us to know that you're around. So, thank you for everything you do always. Yeah, I just want to uh echo that the same sentiment. Uh thank you so much for your bravery and courage in the midst of
a a really um bad situation. I know many of us are attracted to Tene by the beautiful trees that we have that line, you know, our streets and our homes. Um so it it's really nice to know that uh we have such a um great um emergency services um available to our our
residents. Thank you. So, at my day job, I get to work with a lot of different police departments, fire departments, and DPW. And whenever I'm dealing with these different organizations, I always tell them that Tene has the best police, fire, and DPW across the state. And then they argue with me over that, but um what you guys
did last week is prove positive of how incredible you are. We can't thank you enough for what you did. We can't thank you enough for what you do every single day in and out. So, we're grateful. We're appreciative. Thank you for what you do. So, I also just want to thank you for your extraordinary response. All the
officers, fire, DPW, and TBACK, I don't think was mentioned or here, but I want to thank them as well. Um, everyone saved lives and um you guys freed two women and we really pray for their um swift recovery. Um, and I we're really really grateful to you and I just want
to echo what um Deputy Mayor Belchure said. you know, we we all love our trees and, you know, we all carry a responsibility to to care for them, whether they're township trees, private trees, um, and we just need to figure out as a community to make sure that they're all responsibly maintained together so that way this never happens
again. But thank you so much everybody. >> Thank you very much. Yes. Um, also in mentioning and we mentioned TVAC responded also thanking our deputy manager Anthony Verley who also left from here to pick up an ambulance and uh, head out there as a former as a life member, president and active uh, member
of TVAC. So, also thank you to all the police officers in the room, the family in the room, uh our former police chief, Bobby Wilson in the room as well. Uh to everyone that's watching at home, uh this is what it's all about and we are hiring. So, if you want to get involved, we are we we we need people. So, please
look us up. Uh Tina, police, fire, DPW, TVAC, we're all looking for great help. So, thank you very much, guys. Uh hopefully the next time we continue to celebrate the uh the good that you've guys do this this had a good outcome and only through all your hard you listen to the radio jumping on it. Thank you very
much guys. Thank you. And let's picture There's that one moment where you guys don't worry about [Music] Got it. You ready for the next? Okay. Next up is going to be a fit Tene youth
presentation. Um so Rosewood come up and introduce yourself. This will be a presentation about six seven minutes about and we'll give some nodding heads afterwards for the township to join uh the presentation or you'll explain what we're looking to do. So we jump right in. Start.
>> Yes. Does this work? Okay. Great. Hello and good evening. My name is Gabe Rosenluth and I'm a rising sophomore at Tora Academy Bergen County High School in Tene. I would like to thank Mayor Schwarz and the council for taking the time to listen to my presentation
tonight. All right. Healthy Tene 2025. My proposal for community wellness. All right. Next slide. >> Christiey's not working the slides. >> All good. All good. >> So, a little about me. I have a strong interest in fitness and wellness and I
would like to share my passion with the Tina community. Uh here are some of the activities I've done reflecting this interest. Uh next slide. The New Jersey Mayor's Wellness Campaign is a statewide health initiative launched in 2006.
Of the 565 municipalities in New Jersey, 435 have joined so far. However, Tene has not yet done so for the 2025 season. The township had the township had participated in the 2023 season. Tina incurs no cost to join the campaign. The
program provides evidence-based tools for mayors and community leaders to create fitness programs that promote healthier lifestyles and improve community wellness as a whole. The campaign is led by the New Jersey Healthcare Quality Institute or NJHCQI and the New Jersey State League of
Municipalities. I have attached the link to the complete MWC brochure which goes into greater detail about the campaign. Next slide. As a member of the MWC, Tene would be eligible to apply for a mental health grant from the state of New Jerseys
quality institute. The NJHCQI awards grants up to $15,000. Oh, that's Uh, next slide. That's okay. Here. So, here's an overview of the timeline and steps involved for the program as
outlined by the MWC. In September and October, the mayors involved will sign the MWC pledge, committing themselves to the program, and they will all nominate local MWC champions of health. In November, healthy town applications open and there is an MWC panel conference
held at the League of Municipalities Conference Center. In December, the MWC holds a webinar that helps designated healthy towns with technical assistance for the application process. In January, the MWC will hold an incentive drawing to provide funding for
innovative wellness initiatives. These wellness initiatives can encompass various areas including mental health, social health, physical health, team programs, volunteer events, and community assessments. During March and April, awards are distributed to recognized healthy towns for
implementing strong, accessible, evidence-based wellness programs. All right, next slide. Here are some participation benefits for joining the MWC. The MWC provides updated tools and approaches to promote healthy, active living for citizens. It helps connect
the town to local partners and volunteer networks. The MWC will also provide information on additional program funding and grants. On top of that, the campaign offers in-person workshops and online webinars. Another benefit is of course to be named the opportunity to be
named a healthy town. Lastly, if Tene were to participate in the sustainable Jersey program, which is run by a nonprofit organization that provides tools, training, and financial incentives for communities to pursue sustainability programs, the town could
get up to 25 sustainable Jersey points for joining the campaign. More details about Sustainable Jersey can be found through the link. All right, next slide. Tap into published a press release about Bloomfield which recently joined the MWC
in June. The this article lists some of the health initiatives they took. Next slide. Some examples of initiatives that other towns have taken and then submitted to receive the designation as a healthy town are yoga in the park, various free health clinics including vaccinations,
hearing screening and blood pressure screenings, onem walks, 5k runs, health department openh houses, cancer awareness and prevention events and hearts smart. I am aware that tene and holy name hospital already host numerous health and wellness events including
some of the ones I listed above. These can certainly be used in the application to designate Tene as a healthy town. Next slide. TK is an opportunity now to build a stronger, healthier future for all its citizens by participating in the mayor's
wellness campaign. I want to help make that happen and I'm ready to get started if you give me the chance. Here's my contact information with my email and cell phone number. Thank you again so much for your time and attention. I'm happy to answer any questions. >> Um, thank you very much. What I'll do is I'll bring up a new business for nodding
heads to sign up. I don't think anymore. >> Mr. Mayor, I just wanted to I was checking with the manager. So, I actually went to the presentation for this last year and it was phenomenal. >> Um I think Jackie can maybe fill in because I know there was a a matching piece that I think that the a lot of towns in Mining County are doing this.
It's amazing program. This is I'm very excited, but we were looking to see if we can get Holy Name to work together. So, do you remember where we left off on that? Um I think it was um too late in the year that we were going to reexplore I at the point when we were looking into it so we didn't you know get fully into
it but yes >> but I don't remember what the other half was but it might be worth looking into but the it was amazing. It was amazing. >> Excellent. Okay. So we do we've uh we got our nodding heads so we'll go ahead and start the process. Uh and thank you very much for the presentation. Um do we put that um distribute that to the council? Is that
>> yes presentation? >> Perfect. >> I'll make sure everyone gets it. I'll also include it in the minutes. >> Mr. Mayor, can I just quickly say like fantastic job to come up here as a rising sophomore and present to all of us and quickly have all of us nod our heads in support. Like that was amazing. So just shout out to you, shout out to
your parents. Great job. Really proud of you. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Okay. Um with that, we'll jump into our work session items. Um and if you want to leave, you can leave as well. That's just I that we're going to skip the awkwardness. Skip the awkwardness. >> Also I Okay. Also, you should uh
challenge the mayor to erase since he >> does double dutch, too. >> Double D and push-ups. We do some push-ups. Um, okay. Miscellaneous old business. This new business item we just did. Anybody else for new business?
Communications. And I do realize many boards did not uh meet these last few weeks. So, we'll jump into committee reports by council leazison if there's anyone. We'll start with the budget subcommittee to add in additional budget meetings. I believe deputy mayor organ that was on you. No,
Mr. Belchure. I'm sorry. I apologize. Deput. >> Uh yeah. So we just basically one of the recommendations that we had was that we wanted to start budget season uh a little bit earlier um than waiting to the new year uh essentially. So, um, we
we feel that the the, you know, we're facing some serious decisions to be made and, you know, the early bird is is the one that we want to be in terms of really addressing it. So, Mr. Mayor, I'd like to recommend that we we start um as early as September.
>> Excellent. To begin um our our budget um subcommittee. >> Are they going to be workshop meetings? Is that what the motion made? >> I think that was the Yeah. >> Yeah. We had said work that we were going to do some workshop meetings at least one uh >> schedule a workshop for like September September before the
>> I think that's your motion was >> right but then I workshop meetings and then we're going to you know of course have um you know our subcommittee meetings are open uh as well. So um do we have dates um when >> we'll pull out a calendar. The dates are going to be a little bit limited to the end of September, but in reality they go
from the 2nd of September through and including the 18th is pretty much all that is available in September. If uh you want to look at your calendars or this is for an open open workshop of meeting of the council. Um I I'll start
the bidding at um when our council meetings on the 9th. I can do the we can state if we stick to the regular Tuesday uh 2nd or the 16th >> that works. >> Uh when is our second meeting in September? >> Uh the second meeting in September is something we actually should talk about
because we'll talk about that the 30th. It's a day before Yam Kapor. Uh I know I'm going to be out of town though available to zoom in. Uh let's just book this one first. 2nd or the um >> the 16th or the 23rd? >> No, no, no. It's not. We said it's only
available through the 2nd through the 18th. So the 2nd or the 16th or the open Tuesdays. >> I'm going with the 16th. >> 16. >> 16th. >> 16. >> I'm just warning you. There are a lot of back to school nights that week or that
month. So I may or may not be available. >> If you want to miss back to school for this, I'm just going to let you know. I I use that. Um >> 16th works. >> Okay. Let's let's book that. >> We want to look at October and November
>> to at least get it on the calendar. >> Anything for October and November or we just want to keep >> Okay. Okay. Yeah. >> Hold up. >> Are we canceling the 30th? >> So, let's while we're on the same subject, let's talk about the 30th. The 30th. Um, I'm not sure. I I wasn't I
didn't do this calendar. Um, >> I can't make it. >> You can't make the 30th. Um, Deputy Mayor Katz, are you available? It's on the 30th or take a look at your calendar. September 30th, you'll be out of the country and I know I'll be out of the country. Um >> available. >> I'm available. >> Um Councilman Goldberg.
>> Um is it Sus? I think I'll be I'll be out for Suko, but if it's Yamipur, I'll be here. >> We're discussing >> I think I'll be here. >> Postponing the 30th. >> We're discussing the September 30th meeting. I'm not sure that at least
three of us are not available, but it looks like everyone else is. So, we'll circle back in the next few weeks on that. >> Uh, for September 16th, what I can do is add that meeting via resolution on our 9th meeting. >> Excellent. And that's enough time. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's more than enough.
>> Okay. I'm sorry if I can ask you one last question. Are we still publishing or the publishing law ended? >> Say it again. >> Did the publishing law end? The newspaper publishing law, did it end yet? So, the legislature is mandating starting sometime in 2026, which we're already ahead of, that we
will not be publishing full legal ads in the paper. We will need to publish a notice in the paper once a month directing the public where they can find it on our website. >> That is a pure waste of money, but okay. Thank you.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Still homework from the papers, but yeah. Yeah. Still a step in the right direction. Yeah. And we're already on top of that. We're going forward on that. Okay. >> All right. Cool. >> Excuse me. Uh Mr. Clerk, um if the budget meeting for the 16th is a workshop meeting, would it be h uh held
here or should we we we would hear? Okay. We want to hear. >> So, yeah, it'll be it'll be a workshop meeting specifically to discuss the budget. >> Yes. >> Cool. >> Okay. Um on to street naming subcommittee and nominations for same.
Um, Deputy Mayor Morgan, do you want to give the recap of the street of the subcommittee meeting we had? >> I'm so sorry. >> Yes. >> Do you have a preference of a start time? Okay. >> The 16th. >> Let's do a 8. >> Let's do an 8:00 p.m. Yes. >> Cuz that gives everyone
>> 8 p.m. guys. 8 p.m. >> 8 p.m. 8 p.m. >> 8 p.m. >> In case Yeah. 8 p.m. >> You got >> We maybe also have the option to do a close before if something comes up on the 9th. >> We'll keep that to date. Okay. Deputy Mayor Morgan, >> we had a very short, very small um subcommittee meeting for street naming.
Um we are looking to put some criteria into play. Up until now, we've had people reach out to us with suggestions for people to name streets after and or it may have been um an event that had happened that that we thought council thought would be a good reason to name a
street a certain way or for someone. We decided we'd like to get criteria down uh for starting in January and we're looking to name two, not more than three streets a year depending on on what's going on. Um we would like to open up
nominations in this the same way they do with the Mattie Feldman Award um or a hometown hero award so that everybody knows uh that this is an option. I think most people in town don't know that naming streets after someone is an option for them. um we tend to get the
same people over and over again referring people uh to us to name streets after. So this year um we had one street that we named that was a hold over from years past. We haven't nominated anybody to name a street
after. And up until now we've had uh three people reach out to us with three names to name streets. One of them was um for Sarah Jessica Parker. It's all in the packet from Jeremy Lent, but that was to have her here around the time of the Tina Film Festival, and she will not
be here. So, he'd like us to put that on a shelf for now. So, we do have um two other people who have uh reached out, Daryl Green for Robert Elmo Wright, and um for Rabbi Feldman,
uh Benjamin Kelson, uh the street in front of the Tene Jewish Center. Um, my personal preference is one every six months. I think it takes away from it if we do more than that. And since we're in the latter part of the year, I I would be happy with one. But, um, I leave it
to everyone else here to comment if they want anything at all or someone else. >> I'm okay with both of them. >> I said I'm good with both of them. >> I'm good with both. >> I'm good with both. >> I'm good with both. >> Good.
I'm fine with both as well, but I I do think uh deputy mayor um organ does have a point about not wanting to do too many every year. >> Great. So, I think this is takes care of this year and then we move forward that to a year like we said in the meetings. Okay. Thank you very much, Miss Organ. >> Can we get resolutions for the next
meeting? >> Oh, yes. Just making a note connect with you about some details on it. >> Perfect. >> Okay, cool. >> Okay. Um other reports. Um Mayor Pagan. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The shade tree advisory board met recently and it was noted that this board is celebrating its
30th anniversary in September. So we were thinking maybe we can give them a proclamation or a certificate of appreciation and maybe even a special shout out at Tenic Day which is also happening in September. But also members of this board expressed concern about talk they are hearing about possible
future development in Shepherd's Woods which is in Argon Park on the border of Englewood. So the shade tree advisory board is asking if a report can be prepared on how many trees might be taken down if there is any future development in Shepard Woods because they would like to be kept in the loop on about how the trees in the wetlands
will be affected there by any possible development if it is to ever happen. >> Thank you. I think we have some stuff that we want to bring up later about the shade tree advisory board and some we'll do it right now. Actually, if no one we do it right now, is it about Shay tree? Because we discuss shade tree have a really I don't think it's related. Um at
TEK day, one of the the shade tree women, I don't remember who it was, there was a um a high school kid, a TK high school kid, the one that did the trees for Dean in the pots >> was he wants to join Shadree, but there's no youth member. So, they were asking if we can do that. I don't know
what it's been in the past. I don't think it's very common that teenagers want to join shade tree. So, I think it's a good thing, but I said I would ask >> okay >> something to >> ask the personnel committee you want to answer, you want to opine on that or
>> is that a lawyer legal issue? >> I wonder if there's an opportunity to like join the youth advisory board and be like a liaison to think >> shri that might work, but he was he wanted to again this was a specific request. I don't have a preference. I just said I would ask >> and also just to note the shade tree
advisory board members all know this young man and they're all okay with it. Yeah, I just I know that the youth advisory board is set up for youth members. I don't know if there's any specific criteria like you know in terms of how it's run. I maybe that's a Scott question. Um >> there's no there's no legal barrier to
doing this >> and then in terms of like the meeting times. >> I don't know. This was the ask I said I'm not the I thought I would ask this. >> I thought it was I don't know. I don't know how many teenagers. >> Can we explore it? Yeah. >> Look into it just to see how we can possibly make it happen >> if so. Mhm. Yeah,
>> not a problem. >> And then just two questions for Shade Tree if you could relay them. We got had a lot of questions after the the private tree fell, the branches fell last week. People are asking questions. How do you know um if a tree is diseased, if it's
dead? Um is there anything that you can do? So, I was wondering if we could get a report from them on that. that it might make people feel um a little safer report and maybe even a brief presentation because they love talking about this. >> And um the second thing was lantern
flies. I I had spoken to Nancy at National Night Out and she showed me her um presentation for it, which is great if you're at a table, but if she could write something up for everybody, if if they could come to a consensus on how to treat that something helped them with that, they're ready to rock and roll. I
really >> at the next meeting or two on both or >> Thank you. We'll reach out to them. >> And then just a question I guess for the manager. Um, if people are looking to have their trees checked by a private company, is there something that we can
do to help? Is there someone we can contact or partner with or is that something we shouldn't do? I don't is there something we can explore? >> I always air on the side of caution when we are giving private advice for different companies and things like that on private property. So my
recommendation would be um if Scott could chime in and let us know if like what our um like what our parameters are um because if we are recommending any kind of company I think it should be you know if it's a list of companies if it if it if it's approved um to do that and
not making the township liable. I know we have a lot of township trees that we do tend to from the DPW side, but as we all know, homeowners are responsible to on an annual basis um check their trees, have them looked at, and I think uh Deputy Mayor Organ had mentioned to me a
lot of these companies do do free estimates. So, um if it is okay for us to give a list of these, I would like legal advice because I would like to make sure that the township does remain um out of any kind of liability. >> Sure. Yeah, that's definitely something that we can do. We obviously need to make sure that the companies are, you
know, insured and bonded and all that and there some disclaimers we'll need to put on the website to make, you know, that to make sure that the township can't be held liable for it. But yeah, there's there's that's something we can definitely do. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other uh reports have two?
>> Oh, yes. I apolog. Um so first I just wanted to give some feedback. So on the 28th we had um the easy ride uh with police at the pedestrian community engagement event at the ROA center. So uh residents came and they spoke directly to the police and
easy ride about their concerns from speeding to lighting sidewalks and pedestrian safety around school. and we got very meaningful feedback and it was so strong that um the deputy attorney general for New Jersey division of highway chimed in um and he sent a good
email to easy ride that she forwarded to us and I thought it was great because it was says a lot about our residents. So um he said I watched Wednesday's meeting via town hall you did a magnificent job. Wow, there's some really good citizens that showed up. The way you and your team set that up set this up can be a model for all similar events going forward. the information and suggestions
were clear and to the point and it was evidence that the folks who showed up appreciated uh their time to address the team. It also shows that the residents of Tene realize and appreciate that the work that is being done to make them safe. Great job and keep up the good work. Um so that I just was good for residents and we should all be proud of
that. Um but then also going forward so um the plaza demonstration project is coming up um with Easy Ride and Bergen County. They're going to launch a temporary curb extension in the plaza on uh Sunday, September 28th at 10 p.m. Sorry, 10:00 a.m. Ayers Court and Queen
Road and Palisade. And residents are encouraged to join and help paint the curb extensions. Um so it'll be like a community effort as well. Um and they will remain for about four to four weeks to eight weeks. And during that time, the traffic flow and pedestrian safety is going to be studied um with feedback.
The police officers will be present as well. Um also the they did a speed study on Queen N road um in June and July um and there was they did an alternation between self mode and visible mode so that they were really able to capture
the traffic behavior. Um and one of the the police noted that and this was really important that a lot of the drivers they it was one of the busiest roads. I think you said 6,000 drivers drive uh down Queen Road. Um so um it's
there was there was not enough volume to put in some of the requests but you know he wanted them to make sure that you know they it was enough to notice that they why they say that they're feeling unsafe which raised uh concerns that residents do sometimes feel dismissed when studies say there's no issue even though their experience is telling them
otherwise. So, we were asked to encourage residents um to call the traffic bureau directly so the officers can walk them through the speed study data, explain what the numbers mean and their limitations and have a dialogue. Um and um also there's going to be a
senior pedestrian safety program at the ROA center in October. Uh an evening community webinar on pedestrian safety in December. And then Easy Ride is looking in February to have another in-person pedestrian safety town hall. Can I jump right into PPRB real quick?
APRB. >> Uh, if that's your next committee report. Yes. >> Yes. Really quick. Um, so on the 29th, actually, myself, um, the manager, engineering, recreation, and the two PP chairs met so that we could discuss the
design phase of the vote park inclusive playground renovation. Um, and uh, the discussion focused on making sure that PPRB gets uh, structured feedback. So that's meaningful but also actionable for the engineers um and the uh Jake's
Law grant requirements. Um so the PPRB is going to gather the survey responses. They're going to go to the park. We discussed the QR code. Um they also they're going to focus on equipment layout and accessibility features. Um the manager actually just sent uh a
survey that uh engineering and um recreation put together yesterday. So they're going to get to work on that. Um and um like I said, so there's going to be QR codes with the survey. There'll be visuals tied to it um so that
residents can see examples of what they're saying. And I think it was recreation that mentioned the idea of having a plexiglass uh protected posters on the easels in the shade in the back of the park. Um so uh I just want to also thank Farah because this was really
her idea and I think it was a great idea to you know we don't have to pay an engineer. we have the volunteers to do it. Um, so they're working together on the survey and PP is going to do the community feedback. That's it. >> Thank you very much. Um, I do have a new business item I skipped, but we'll go
back to after committees. Um, anybody else on committee reports? >> You're good. Committee. Committee. Committee. We're good. Okay. Um, Mr. Clerk, sorry. In terms of the the walk-on resolution for our expired judge term, is that new business or is that later on in the meeting? >> Whenever you see fit, mayor, we can we
can >> We can definitely do it later. Could we do it later on the meeting? >> Yeah, whenever if you want to add that to the consent agenda. Let's just do it before um public hearing of ordinances. >> So, you could do that down. >> So, I have to do it now. >> Uh it would need to be before the consent agenda. Yeah. >> If you want to add it to the consent >> I do want to add to the consent agenda.
Can we do that later and continue because it's already 9:00 and could it be done after good and welfare? >> Uh it should be done. Sorry, Miss urgent. >> I'll jump a new business. Okay. So, um council there there is and if you maybe I should Sorry to put you on the spot. We have three. We have two judges in
town and then we have an alternate judge. Our two judges are judge Erica Young Bloodood and our judge and his first name >> Jeppi Randazzo. Those terms are not up. Our third judge term is up. We've been extending it over the last few months
because we had interviews and then there was a few of us that were were traveling and sorry we missed the past meetings. Uh tonight um we do want to fill that term. There were three interviews that we had. We had the the current alternate judge, Seth, >> sorry,
>> Zephy. >> No, no, that's not the Miss Young Bloodood and Mr. And there's already judges. Seth Donic. >> Sorry. Yeah. >> Our our chairman of our board of adjustment, Yan Meyer, and then we had a third interview and I do apologize. I forgot her name. >> Um, yep. So, I I what I'd like to
mention, we were going to do this in this August meeting. So, I'm going to make the nomination. Is that later or now that I made the nomination? I'm going to make the nomination for our chair or to Yan Meyer to be the alternate third judge. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Is there now we do discussion on
this or this go on to the consent? This is consent agenda and there'll be a vote later. >> Yes. >> There's a vote to add this. So there's a vote to add this to consent agenda. >> Please call the role. >> This is for >> the alternate judge. Yep. >> Meer for alternate judge. First from
Mayor Schwarz, second from Councilwoman Goldberg. We'll go down the role here. This is to add to the consent agenda. Councilwoman Goldberg. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pagan. >> Yes. Councilwoman G.
>> Yes. Councilman Katz, Deputy Mayor Belchure, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Oregon, >> yes. >> Mayor Schwarz, >> yes. >> We'll add that to the consent agenda as
resolution number 243-2025. >> Council listed items. Um, financial advisory board and our resolution for the uh 400th anniversary of the enslaved Africans. Deputy Mayor on Advisory Board. >> So, I understand that this year's budget
was a shock to everyone and to us and um I understand there's a need from council to to take some action whether it's a workshop meeting or earlier budget meetings. Um I'm not sure that that's going to provide the result that we're
looking for. I think we can look at the same numbers as the same people over and over again and they're not going to change. And so, um, what I'd like to see, in the past, I know we had an official financial advisory board who looked at the budget. I'm not sure that
that's something that we need right now, but I would be interested um in advertising and asking for anybody in the township who's got a background in finance who might be interested in reviewing last year's budget with us to see if there's anywhere where they think we may have um made some mistakes or we
could have done something differently. And if that works out, I would love to use that or those people as a tool going forward um each year. It's always nice to have somebody check you. We trust our professionals and we do our due diligence, but I think it would be nice
um we have a lot of talent in town and I I would love to hear from people if there's something that they think could be different. I think when we have a workshop meeting, we have lots of people come out. Um, and everybody has an idea, but they're usually not people that have
taken the budget and looked through it line by line. And I would be looking for people who would be willing to do that. And I was wondering if everybody would be okay with that. And um, I spoke to the CFO. He's happy to share the information. And maybe we'll get some good feedback. Maybe we won't. And and
we did everything exactly right. But it might be nice to just see if there's some um alternative or or something we could do better. >> I have a question. Why did the um advisory board in the past go away? >> I have no idea. >> Uh eight years of zero. Hey, thanks for
your financial advice, but I took care of it. >> The only one on there. I just want to know why it dissolved. >> When did it dissolve? No, it was dissolved. >> I believe it was 2013 or 2014 when it was resolved. >> 06.
>> So, I'm going to um disagree that um I think that first of all, we did get we got told the past two years that the the budget would be this. Um but I think that there's process improvement uh opportunities
where we can um help our department heads, our CFO, our manager, ourselves, our constituents. Um, and that really means, you know, looking to software upgrades and process improvement to really because if you look through the budget,
and I have gone line by line for about 10 years worth, there's things hitting the wrong GL's and I think this was inherited from like the 90s of I mean it really is old and I don't I think it's just how it is. Um, and I think that until we get those numbers reconciled,
first of all, we can make their lives easier. We can make the CFO's life infinitely easier. can take a week off the manager's um plate with the budget book by automating it online with software. And we can really see what's in there. But from everything that I
hear, I think if you just look at the bottom line, so to speak, people are going to want to make cuts. And I think that's a huge disservice to our employees and our residents because I don't know that there's much bloat, per se, but I do know that things aren't hitting the right places for decades
now. And I think that, you know, we can go into automation and help our CFO, you know, with that. And I I think my my ask would be that we do a task force with um uh Councilman Katz, Mayor Schwarz,
myself, the manager, and the CFO to explore that as an option. Um because we we really do need to provide the tools to help make it better. It's not just cuts. It's not just right wrong. There's a lot of decisions to make, but we have
to be able to give the tools to do that. And I think that we owe that to our residents and our employees and ourselves. >> So, I think we that's a good idea. We could talk about it, but I don't see there's a reason why not to go with both. I mean, I I actually thought there were many people in the audience and in the in I thought you in the past before
you were elected that wanted to see the financial advisory board brought back. >> I don't know. I haven't heard that second that to be honest with you. >> So, then do both. You can do both. I don't agree with that, but I think that we should do the task force. >> Let's go to the advisory board and let's talk offline about a task force. That's just my thought for now.
>> Or or at at the workshop meeting discuss that. >> Just in my humble opinion, the more eyes on the budget, the better, whether it's in government or out of government, whether it's residents or >> non-resident what are they actually going to do though, I guess. What what is the role? Are they going through what are they looking at? Yeah, I I I think I agree with um
Pagan that I I think that we have talent within our township that could um provide some really good, you know, subject matter experts that can help us and um you know, why not reach out for that? I I I don't I don't say see it as
one or the other, but why not both? My concern is that they're going to recommend cuts that aren't necessarily there. >> But but we wouldn't live listen to that. None of us want cuts. I just I don't understand. We we asked for help over and over again during budget season from you and we could get no response. We
could get nothing but a no vote. So we're actually all trying >> I did have recommendations. >> I'm speaking now. >> Okay. Well, I had recommendations. Plenty of them. >> Finish, please. Um, we're trying to be creative in any way we can and I don't think that one should be as at the
exclusion of another. If you have an idea, we've been asking you for your ideas for months now. Please feel free to bring them forward. This is just a way to to utilize people who may be able to contribute. It doesn't mean that any of us are interested in cutting services and to spread that around would would be
false. I think that the budget is an entire township conversation and there's participatory budget processes that are happening all over the country and it's great where residents can like there was one I forget it was New Hampshire I think it was where they took a$1,000 monopoly money and said okay here's all
the unfunded mandates that we have to do here's what's left and here's what you get but there's some real decisions that we have to make that's a policy whether it's long-term planning for our debt but I think we owe it to our residents ourselves and our staff to really look into upgrades to our financial systems
to a cloud-based system so that we can make their lives easier and get the data that this board would need, but it's backwards. >> I'm I'm not quite sure what one thing has to do with the other, but if if we could um see if we've got enough nodding heads to move forward with this, I would love the town to >> They're both I think they're excellent
ideas. Let's do both. Why do we have to exclude ourselves? Let's do this financial advisory board that people were asking for for years. Let's talk offline against about going to the cloud-based budgeting and then we have a workshop which we scheduled for the 16th. That's a win for everybody. So >> why it's a private conversation. We can
have it right here. >> I I I'm don't know what a task force is. I don't know anything about AI. I don't haven't spoken to the clerk. I'm not sure what AI budgeting is. It's also not on our agenda. So we're going to talk what's on our agenda and discuss offline. If you're asking to put me at if you're asking to put me on a task
force, the answer is I don't want to be on a task force without further discussing it. give an example. I when I I'm going to give an example of why this is not going to work yet. There's someone else is going to speak first. >> Go ahead. >> Go ahead. >> Yes. >> I think both of you have a good idea.
The only part of the idea I don't like is having other white cats on the on the task force. So I uh >> I hopefully and and thank you experience. >> I'm not It's overrated. Um, I will tell you that um I do think that if you're
going to do a a community task force of of reaching out and we have amazing talent in this town and and councilman deputy mayor is 100% right. I do think you need some liaison from the council to work with them. So having a task force could be very helpful and it goes to coun mayor Pagan's comment of having
more eyes on it. So that could be helpful as well. So, I would suggest you do some type of hybrid, like I said, minus LY cats. Um, and and uh then you get everything you wanted on this one. >> I think this is a real process change
that we have to look at. I mean, the fact that when I got on uh my one of my first asks for the CFO was, can I get the bills list in Excel? And it was a standing uh ask. And then at some point I had asked for previous um bills lists
in Excel and he had to call admins and it was a very complicated thing because we weren't set up to do it. Um wait maybe that's what I the fact that we can't even get the data e you know exported into Excel very easily.
I'm looking to give our clerk our clerk our CFO an upgrade to help them. I don't see why this is a bad thing, but >> excellent. So, let's discuss that at a workshop and let's see if there's nodding heads to also talk about the financial advisory board. That's all we're looking for. Those are probably excellent ideas and let's discuss that.
But I'm not We already have one person that declined the invitation. I'm not prepared to be added to a task force until I respectfully sorry, respectfully declined and I'm not declining, but I want further conversation on it. Not sitting here, not right now. So you're you're if the fact that we don't have
anything in the cloud is very interesting and you're not wrong at all. So let's keep talking through this and work it out. And that's where we actually scheduled a budget workshop on September 16th. So with that, I'm going to look for nodding heads to that to work with our clerk and our attorney and
manager on forming a financial advisory board that that process could be reported back at the budget meeting. That work for you? Does that work? Do I have nodding heads for that? >> Excellent. Are are you okay without a um formal financial advisory board for the
town to start advertising to see if anybody's interested in working on something like this now? >> I'm happy to be the liaison to it. I don't think >> why don't we invite them to the meeting on the 16th. I was deputy um I think this is this is something different. This is just to see if anybody's got an
interest. It we don't have to make it as complicated as anything else. We could just see maybe nobody wants to. Maybe there's nobody, but we don't need to rewrite the code right now. >> Can I also suggest we we just interviewed a slew of candidates for open roles. Maybe we inform them that
we're looking to build the new board and see if they might be interested as well if they have the skill set. >> I think whoever is doing this, it's important to know that um New Jersey budgeting law doesn't follow GAP, which is very complicated for like it took me a while to understand that too. So, it's not just something whatever. And like I
said, my biggest fear, and I hear this all the time, is people are going to make cuts. And I don't think that that's just great. >> Okay, we're good. >> I'm a no on this, but okay. Well, let's we're good. Let's we clarify
this. It was a request that we're going to discuss at the budget workshop the cloud software, the AI. We're going to have the clerk here, the the CFO as well um in the discussion of uh adding a financial advisory board. We're going to coordinate to please work on that over the next week or two. Is that
>> No, no, I I'll just move if we could um advertise out to the community seeing if anybody would be interested in working on some kind of uh financial review board right now. >> And I would just add if we could email all the candidates who in the last two
years applied to advisory board roles to see if anyone would be interested and have the the financial background to potentially participate. Is there a second? >> That's a good idea. >> Second. >> Okay, we'll do a roll call on that, please.
>> So, just to be clear, we're going to I'm going to add to the agenda specifically um to discuss on the 16th some budget software innovations and a financial advisory board. In the meantime, I will also advertise for uh interest on this board. I'll set up an application for
it. >> Yeah, just to make make that a separate motion, please. Just to Yep. >> It's an it's an ad hoc financial advisory board, right? >> Correct. Now, we're not even going to call it a financial advisory board. We'll call it a financial review board. So, it's not advisory. It doesn't need an ordinance. And just to reach out to
the community to see if anybody would be interested at this time in working on a financial last year's budget. Yeah. >> Res. >> Okay. So, there is there was a motion from Deputy Mayor Oregon to put out a call to accept applications
for a financial review board that will be ad hoc. We could put something like that out through the website. We'll set up a small application. Uh, that was a motion from Deputy Mayor. Is there a second? >> I'll gladly second that. Nope. Sorry. Second that. >> All good. Going down the roll with a
second from Councilwoman G. Councilwoman Goldberg. >> No. Councilman Pagan, >> yes. >> Councilwoman G, >> yes. >> Councilman Catz, >> yep. >> Deputy Mayor Belchure, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Oregon, >> yes.
>> Mayor Schwarz, >> yes. >> Cool. >> Okay. Um, >> put that call out. >> Deputy Mayor Belchure, if I can ask you to do the next council aside, please. >> The resolution. >> Okay. Read it. >> Yeah, sure. I have it right here. Yeah. Okay. So, um, we have a resolution that,
uh, we want to put forth Uh, is my Yeah, it's it's on. It's on. Um, commemorating the um the 400th anniversary of enslaved Africans arrival in North America. As many of you know, many of historians and
and our township, New Jersey was the last northern state to abol abolish uh slavery um as a result of the ratification of the 13th amendment in 1865. So, we'd like to put forth this um
commemorating the 400th anniversary. Whereas, August 2019 marked 400 years since the first arrival in English occupied North America of enslaved Africans, a history that has deeply shaped our nation. And whereas the state
of New Jersey played a significant role in the in that history with generations of African-Americans enduring slavery while also contributing immeasurably to the the growth, culture, and progress of our communities. And whereas the New
Jersey Historic Commission through its resources and initiatives such as the Amistad Commission interactive curriculum, the Princeton and Slavery Project, the Sanca Collaborative, and the Straber Sauerland African-American
Museum has worked to ensure that this history is not forgotten and that current current and future generations are educated about the struggles and triumphs of African-Americans. And whereas Tene proudly acknowledges the
importance of confronting this history, honoring the resilience of African-Americans in reaffirming our commitment to justice, equality, and inclusion for all residents. And whereas Tene pays tribute in honor of the enslaved people who endured the hardship
of slavery imposed upon them in this township, the historic burial ground on Pomander Walk is given recognition as the hallowed ground of enslaved people in Tene. The township also recognizes its use of the slave cabin that served
as the first Tene Library. Whereas the historic information will be published on the township web website. In addition, Tene will submit this history to the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission and support of
their efforts uh to record historic sites and museums in New Jersey. And now therefore, be it resolved that the Tene Township Council hereby recognizes and commends the ongoing efforts of educators, historians, community
leaders, and institutions across New Jersey who work diligently to preserve and share the history of slavery and freedom of our state. And be it further resolved that the resolution is presented as a testament to the township
of TX's dedication to acknowledging the past, educating the present, and inspiring a more equitable future. >> Second >> and just sorry that's this is to list Mr. Clerk, I'm sorry, the regional
question >> to the consent agenda. That was a motion from Deputy Mayor Melture Melture and a second from Councilwoman G. This would add it to the consent agenda is 244-2025. Councilman Goldberg.
>> I'm a yes. I have a question after the about the library real quick with this. Sorry, but I'm a Yes. >> Councilman Pagan. Yes. Councilwoman G. >> Yes. >> Councilman Catz. >> Yeah. >> Deputy Mayor Belure.
>> Yes. Mayor Oregon. >> Yes. >> That mayor Schwarz. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> On the consent. >> Can I I just asked a really quick question. I think um I don't know who actually could answer this. So if the the libraries um have you know was a a c
a slave cabin. Is it a historical site? Do we is it listed? I mean I'm just curious. >> It's not the current library. It's where the library was before. >> Right. It was a cabin that was sold and the the revenue that was received from
it was used to build the library. >> Got it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, country manager. >> Thank you, mayor, and good evening, council and township residents. Friendly reminder that Movies Under the Stars will offer one more movie on August 26th
at the Vote Park band shell. Showtime is 7:45 p.m. Please bring a blanket or lawn chair lawn chair for your comfort. Free popcorn will be served. To date, our composters have diverted over 4,000 pounds of material from landfill.
Neighborhood compost plans to be at Tene Day with three 64gallon totes of compost for our current participants. They will also share uh facts um about composting. We are currently working on details for expanding the program at the at around
November 1st. Um we will have future details on how that will um how we will roll that out for November. TK day is quickly approaching the weekend of September 6th and 7th with a rain date of the weekend of September 14th and 15th. We have many things scheduled for
a fun day for your family and friends. Some attractions will include music by the 5 band, surf simulator, a trackless firet truck, photo booth, character meet and greet, a live wrestling match at the sports plex at 6 p.m. and fireworks at
dusk. The Tina community pool has about 3,000 registered members and we are winding down a very successful first season. We have taken notes on all of our community feedback and will be organizing our upgrades for next season. Our pedestrian
safety initiative continues. Um as um Councilwoman Goldberg mentioned, uh we do have a demo project scheduled um to include curb extensions on September 28th. Uh our traffic bureau um bureau
has recommended heirs court, Queen Anne Road, and Palisate Avenue for this project. The curb extensions will be in place for a minimum of four weeks and maximum of eight weeks and we will be utilizing surveys uh to receive feedback on the effectiveness.
In addition, we are working with the senior citizen advisory board for a senior citizen pedestrian safety se safety seminar on September 30th at 12:30 p.m. This will require pre-registration, so a flyer will be posted for your convenience.
Tene road repaving project began yesterday from Cedar Lane to Degra Avenue. This is a county project that is scheduled uh for concrete work this week and then milling and paving will be completed by August 29th. This is all weather permitting and the schedule is
subject to change. Please plan alternate route for next week as traffic patterns will be affected. I will continue to keep you updated via Nixl, social media and robocall as needed. Our next shredding event is scheduled for September 20th from 9:00 a.m. to 1 pm or
until the truck is full at our Township Hall parking lot. The township along with Cedar Lane Management Group will be hosting the T-neck tailgate on September 28th from 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This event will be located on Cedar Lane from
American Legion Drive to Elm Avenue and will feature a beer garden, vendors, music, food, and family fun. The senior citizen prom event is officially scheduled for May 14th at the Glen Point Marriott. Sponsorship efforts are now underway.
Please be advised that our 911 ceremony will take place on September 11th at Township Hall at 8:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend. For our project updates, um our greenhouse prog um greenhouse progress progress. We recently met with the
garden club to discuss this the specifics of our prefab greenhouse project. We have decided to wait until the spring so we can secure a contractor for the foundation that is needed for our new structure. In addition, we need some additional funding to ensure we can
include all the amenities that we we discussed. The project will include will conclude and um I will continue to keep keep you updated on our next steps in future council meetings. Perrick Park had a ribbon cutting ceremony this evening. The parking area and
surrounding areas will be resurfaced in the near future. We are also exploring areas for to um install benches with some punch list items that are also going to be looked into over the coming months. Bike lane improvements, paving is now
complete and we are um also addressing some punch list items for this project as well. Argon Park Tennis court. The contractor is painting the courts this week and we are scheduled to open at the end of August. Andreas Park pickle ball courts. We are still exploring the
lighting options with our township engineer, but I will keep you fully updated. The Bell A drainage project pre-construction meeting was held August 7th and the con construction is due to start on August 25th. Sagamore Park will
prepare for closure this week and will remain closed for two to three months. Once the detention tank is installed, the contractor will mill and pave Bell Avenue from Beatatric to Sagamore Avenue. Press release and Nixel messaging are forthcoming.
The Bell Avenue rain gardens are still in the final review phase. Our 2024 road repaving project is underway. As a reminder, the list of streets is posted on our website under the projects tab on the front page of our website.
U Maple Avenue improvements, the pre-construction meeting took place on July 29th and construction is expected to begin in September. Phelps Park splash pad design is completed and we are going out to bid soon. The um some additional updates I
have for Sussex Road. Stansions have been moved to the roadway and speed bumps and speed pumps are not recommended for the roadway. Rumble strips have been reviewed by engineering and the and and our traffic bureau and we will be installing those as soon as possible.
We have also ordered radar speed signs for Hillside Hillside Avenue and Winthrop Road because these roads have been recommended based on traffic studies done by our traffic bureau as well. West Anglewood Avenue between River Road and Windsor Road has now been
changed from 35 mph to 25 miles hour. Our cable TV access has now been also restored for council meetings. Uh, please remember to sign up for Township alerts on the front of our website and wishing all of our TX students a great start to the upcoming school year and
have a great Labor Day weekend. That's all I have for you, Mayor. >> Thank you very much. Um, before I actually didn't hear anything you said except for SAG war starting. I stopped and ended this. That's all that's all I need to hear for tonight. So, I'm going to make it a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to say thank you to our manager, our clerk, and Ron and everybody at town hall who
helped fix channel 77 and 47 because wherever I go in town, especially at the road center, I would bump into older adults who prefer to still watch it on cable TV as opposed to Zoom. So, thank you all. >> Um, okay. >> Can can you just repeat the date of the night out on um on Cedar Lane, the um
>> Oh, yeah. >> tailgate. >> Um the Tene tailgate. >> Yeah, that >> Yeah, that's September 28th from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. And I'd be remiss um if we actually we had a question that was unable to be answered about a year and a
half ago, which was what is the town going to do without manager Dean Kazinski? So, I just want to wish a happy one-year anniversary to our township manager Jaclyn Ashenberg. >> Thank you, mayor. I appreciate it. >> You're supposed to be doing you forgot.
>> Okay, Mr. Attorney. >> Thank you. So, the only thing I have is it was a question that was raised to me um by Councilwoman Goldberg. Hang on. Yeah, by Councilwoman Goldberg and Counciloman tell feel free to jump in if I'm not answering this correctly. Um the I got I received a question about the
swim club and the use and occupancy agreement that we have with the swim club and I suppose I guess how how it >> fees. Yeah. Like who's the fees? >> So the fe the fees the the the fees. Okay. So, the way this uh is set up is
that the the township essentially took took back the property, but we are, for lack of a better phrase, I'll say leasing it out, I guess, to to the uh to the swim club itself through the use and occupancy agreement. The that is sort of our way of transitioning it
transitioning the swim club fully over to uh township control. Um, as part of that, the use agreement uh would allow would otherwise allow the swim club to set things like the fees. Um, but
because of the way that we structured the agreement, they're essentially giving that responsibility back to the township specifically to um to Miss Hashmat uh to set those fees. And um that is it's just their in their prerogative to to essentially allow us
uh or allow as hashmat to to do that. I understand there's a committee essentially that that is essentially um uh working together to come to come up with the day-to-day things decisions on this, but ultimately those decisions are issued through her. >> I guess I'm just confused because we've
always done fees by ordinance. So, we did the fees for recreation in January and the pool was taken out for both above ground and belonging ground, but it was in there forever. So, I was just confused because I mean, we're getting
complaints about fees and affordability with it and it's kind of falling onto us, but we didn't vote on it or have any discussion with it. So, I'm very confused who's deciding what they are really. We'll let that those decisions ultimately come come down come down to Jackie, but she was specifically
authorized to do that by council. The council, it was, you know, pretty clearly in the uh in the contract uh or the use agreement that allowed her to do it. Um and so because it's because it is the TX Swim club that is essentially authorizing her to do that by way of the use and occupancy agreement. That's why
we don't have to work through through any resolution or ordinance because the only resolution that mattered or was relevant here was the one that authorized the con the contract that allows her to to make those decisions. >> The swim club is authorizing the township to set the fees. We're
collecting the revenue though. >> That is correct because we're because we're we're back in possession of it. >> Okay. I'm still confused but I don't know that I'll get it but okay. Thank you. I think the swim club is not we we authorize the manager to set the fees
for the swim community pool. Is that what you're saying? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> When you mean the swim club, you referring to the old entity. >> No. No. Yes. I apologize. >> The community pool the year is what I'm asking about. I just want to confir Okay. Um next public hearing adoption of ordinances. Mr. Clerk, can you please
read the ordinance into the record before we start our hearing? >> With pleasure. Mayor, we have a few ordinances. We only have one ordinance actually. Ordinance number 30-2025 establishing salary ranges and classification of positions for
municipal employees in the township. >> Thank you very much. And this hearing is now open for anyone that wants to discuss specifically ordinance 3025 for the salary ranges and classifications of munible employees. Anybody in the audience? Seeing no hands, do we have
anyone on Zoom that wants to testify to this hearing? Thank you. This meeting, this ordinance, this hearing is now closed. There's no one else on council wants to discuss it. Roll call. Mr. Cler, >> wait. Mr. Mr. Mayor, it's not for me. It's it's um uh Councilman Pagan had a
question earlier and I spoke to the CFO and I think it's just beneficial for the uh the town. Um is the CFO on to >> Is that Mr. Pagan right here? >> No, this >> I'm sorry. >> No, I Mr. Pagan had a question then so did I about the the ordinance and I think a lot of people did too about the
the range and I just want people to understand that we do this every single year is what the CFO was saying that you know we're adding in the hourly employees um but you know this is we do this every year and I think >> excellent a lot the same question in spoken >> well yeah just to help to to
>> no okay >> yeah Mr. Mayor, just to help clarify, so I've noticed similar ordinances on several times this year. So the question was just to the CFO, why do we keep doing this? Because some residents have asked me and I explained it to the residents, but I wanted to make sure that I was accurate in my explanation.
So that's when I reached out to the CFO provided. >> And you got your answer, right? Yep. >> Excellent. So that roll call, please. >> Who was the first? I'm so sorry. >> There was no first. I'll make the motion. Sorry. >> All good. Is there a second on the motion to for ordinance 30 of 2025? Second.
>> A lot of people want to say. >> Councilwoman Goldberg, >> yes. >> Councilman Gan, >> yes. >> Councilman G, >> yes. >> Councilman Catz, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Belchure, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Oregon, >> yes. >> Mayor Schwarz, >> yes. >> Adopted.
>> Okay. Meeting open to public and good and welfare on any topic you'd like. You have three minutes. We're first going to take everyone in the room and then we're going to turn over to the Zoom. With that being said, Mr. Schwarz, please come up and tell us what you'd like to say. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First, as an individual, I would like to commend the
council for turning the uh TX Club into a community uh club. I think my wife and I have been there several times in August. We are so glad that it is now a pool open to the whole community. The people going there now truly reflect what the town looks like and have the
opportunity uh to commiserate with each other and to talk to each other and to be together. Secondly, on behalf of one town, one vote, um we are completely unsatisfied with the answers given to our uh questions that we had at the last council meeting by uh redevelopment
attorney Ash regarding the controversy surrounding the adoption by the planning board and this body of the affordable housing element to the master plan that the standard had at one point required to be done by June June 30th. Uh just to remind the public what this controversy
is. Uh on June 16th, a over 200page document was presented to the planning board which included several um uh proposed uh developments in town that the town had not approved and that no one in the public had added any input uh to which also included five out of the
six proposals only in the northeast part of town to the planning board for approval on less than 10 days notice and over 200page document. Many members or several members of the planning board at that time asked redevelopment attorney Ash who was present if they had the opportunity to amend uh this uh plan on
June 16th because uh it was not supposed to be filed and did not have to be filed until June 30th. Uh redevelopment attorney Ash at the time said absolutely not. This is a hard and and fast date. You have to adopt this plan as it is uh uh tonight. And based on those representations,
despite the fact he was asked several times whether uh any amendments could be made, he said absolutely not. Uh you have to adopt it as it is uh uh written now. Um he did failed to tell the uh members of the planning board that he
had filed a motion with the court to extend the deadline from June 30th to September 30th. Failed to inform any me any members of the pling board at that night. The next night also it was presented to this body, the council with the same representations.
Council members wanted to ask about whether they could amend this plan. Mr. Ash said absolutely not. It's a hard and fast uh deadline. You have to accept this plan as it is without any amendments. He failed to inform the town council that he had a motion pending that had not been resolved yet to extend
the deadline to September 30th. Two days later on June 19th, Mr. Ash was informed by Judge Cariston given a order and a decision that his motion had been partially granted and that there had been an extension granted to July 30th some 41 days uh from that date. Despite
that fact, Mr. Ash filed the plan as is without telling either the planning board or this body that the motion had been granted to give them a 41-day extension and possibly more to September 30th.
He nonew withstanding that filed the plan anyway and he told Judge Carrison in a letter dated June 19th that we have your order. Thank you for the extension but we will not need it because we are filing uh >> Thank you Mr. >> uh now let me just give you one more
minute >> not one more minute it's not find the period now >> Mr. Ash has had taken the position that he did not know about the granting of the order when he filed the plan. This is contradicted exactly by his June 20 19th letter. I'm going to give it uh
>> please give it to him. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else in the public like to speak? >> Sir ma'am. >> Hello, my name is Sam Pasner. Um, yeah. So, I was reading the ordinance related to noise and as I came in and I just had
a couple of questions, I suppose, for the township attorney and for the township council. Um, again, I'm not a lawyer, but when I read this, I had a lot of questions based on how and in what cases this could be enforceable. So I read So I looked up the decibel limits
that are presented on the weighted a level sound for this ordinance and they said to be at the level of ordinary conversations. So I was wondering if I'm walking outside at night or even during the day and my dog barks or I'm playing
a video loudly, am I f can I be found in violation of this ordinance? I understand that this ordinance specifically exempts in one of its sections a clause for the unamplified human voice relating to when it relates to the state law exemptions on this matter, but it doesn't seem to prevent
regular use and regular reasons why I might be outside preventing a voice. And so if my dog barks, does that mean that I have allowed or caused or permitted the operation of any source being my dog or being my phone to present this noise
onto public property? And if so, can I be found can I be found in violation of this ordinance, be warned, and then should I continue to walk around and have my dog bark, which is not directly under my control as long as I possess a dog, be fined $2,000
for violating this? Am I misunderstanding some piece? Am I misunderstanding the decibel levels here or some other way that this could come into practical use? I'm just very confused as to how this ordinance works in practice. and I would like to be able to know as a member of the public how I
should be able to interpret this. Thank you so much. >> Thank you very much. I'll address that at the end. Anybody else in public like to speak? >> Sir, anybody else afterwards? >> Uh my name is Abn Strauss, longtime member of the TX Swim Club.
Um, I'm hoping that each one of you have had a chance to visit the club and see it in its new means of operation. It's glorious. I urge anybody who hasn't visited, do it
before the end of the season. Um, when you see those kids in that pool, it is spectacular and the families and all the new people. And I urge the council to very seriously consider
whatever action is necessary to ensure that this glorious place is protected for all the coming generations who will enjoy it. Thank you for your work on that matter.
>> Thank you, Mr. Trust. Dr. Powers. at 83 the knees don't work much. Um I'm this is basically a question for clarification. I did not understand why the township
had a ratify payments item wherein we gave $4,275 to the developer of the 329 Alfred Avenue
very large facility and what we are told about it in the acquisition which is not signed is that we are doing that to provide a security deposit. One assumes that is not for the affordable housing units
there. I have no idea what that is for and I hope that can be clarified. Second issue very quickly on ordinance 31 20 sorry 2025.
We are again as a town trying to see what our noise ordinance should be like. It is apparently been even this week been modified. I am hoping that if you folks do in fact introduce it tonight that there will be the red lining that
we have been promised so we know what the amendment is in relationship to what the uh what is actually there in the in the existing noise ordinances and the like. Finally I want to just make sure
that everyone understood what it was that Mr. Schwarz was saying. He was there is at least a rumor that it has been claimed that the township redevelopment attorney did not know that
the township had been granted a an extension before he filed the HFSP passed by both the planning board and the council. It is not the case because actually in paragraph one I if you folks
now have that that letter it says we are in receipt of the court's 20 June 19th 2025 order on the township motion to extend the deadline and then the final sentence says therefore an estim an
extension will not be required and the plan and endorsing resolution are are filed herewith. That was done hours after, not hours before the the
filing occurred hours after and not before. The township had received that extension. I don't know who was the actual recipient, but Mr. Ash knew about it. Else the words of this letter would be as as they are. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you, Mr. Seagull. We're in good and welfare now, right? Are >> okay. I was in the men's room. My name is Rich Seagull. I'm a 26-year homeowner here in Tene. Um, I just came from Hackinack where I
shouted down germinatorial candidate Mikey Cheryl uh because she supported the uh IH bill that equates anti-ionism with
anti-semitism. I went down to Trenton to speak against that bill and I know one of our council members went down to Trenton to speak in favor of it and I know that it passed it. It's simply a factually incorrect
bill and it's aimed at limiting um criticism of Israel. So um we are watching the eraser of our right to free speech in order to protect
what should not be protected which is a genocide. So um about Zionism, here's a quote from um Bessel Smootrich, Israel's finance minister. He says, "We
conquer, cleanse, and stay. On the way, we annihilate everything that still remains. We're breaking Gaza apart, leaving it as a pile of rubble. Total unprecedented destruction."
and he's saying it so obviously he's proud of it. And they did um Hararets did um a study that determined that actually 65% of the Israeli public is in favor of killing
every man, woman, and child in Gaza. We have a depraved society which is being supported by the depraved Zionist Jewish community right here in Tene and in Bergen County. I know that the real estate events are continuing to
go on. They're not being advertised. And that's what Zionism is. It's it's a global mafia with tentacles everywhere. That's what it is. I'm Jewish. I am an anti-Zionist Jew. The IH definition
of anti-semitism says that I don't exist. I don't know. I know you all are sick of hearing me and I'm sick of coming here, but I don't know how to live during a genocide. I can't go there and stop it.
I can't convince you to at least stop the activities here that are illegal and that are supporting what's happening there. So, I'm here. Thank you for letting me speak.
Mr. Rogan, >> Paula Regoven, I spoke last meeting about the um the uh submission of uh proposals for development in the northeast
um high-rise development um and that in oppos that community. Large numbers of people from the northeast have objected to these kinds of developments and yet
that's what was submitted by our town. That's wrong. Um I said that it it smacks of racism and I say it again, but I'd like to speak about something else now. Um on October se this is on behalf of
the Tene peace and justice vigil on October 17th 2023. Some of us some told us it was too soon to hold a peace vigil on our town green often a gathering place during times of
crisis. I ask too soon when is the right time? 1,000 killed, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 7,000, 8,000. Now more than 62,000 people killed. UNICEF says that more
than 17,000 were children. Yes, 17,000 children and more under the rubble. And now famine, a deliberate withholding of food, clean water, medicine, famine. On
October 17th, 2023, we chose to gather in the town green. Early on in a circle, small lights, thoughtful words, then a song. All we are saying is give peace a
chance. It's never too soon to say no to war. And now on August 19th, 2025, we say to the Tene Town Council, it's never too soon to say no to sam famine. It's
never too soon. The Tene Peace and Justice vigil calls on the Tene Council to pass a new resolution calling for the United States Relief Work and Works Agency to immediately be allowed to resume its program to provide food,
medicine, and other supplies to the people of Gaza in order to avert more famine. Yes, we want the hostages and political p prisoners returned. Yes, we want a ceasefire. But at this moment it is essential that the people of the
world unite to join the call for immediate humanitarian aid under the opaces of UNRA for the people of Gaza. That is what we ask of you tonight. >> Any anybody else in the chamber is supposed to speak? See no hands. Mr.
Clerk, anybody on Zoom? We do. >> I have Margaret Baker. Miss Baker, you are free to unmute. >> Yes, Doug, can you hear me? >> One second, Miss Baker. We just got to turn you up at the mothership here.
>> Give me a check. One, two, Miss Baker. >> One, two. >> You sound great. Three minutes. Okay, as usual, 4 and a half years later, I'm still
calling about the speed on Decator Avenue and nothing has been done. It is out of hand. And at this point, I've been asking and
I get no answer. I'm tired of it. It's time to do something. You can do something all over town. Everywhere else, put up stop sign,
blinking stop sign. This is one of the busiest streets in Tene. this one block of Decator and you put that monster building
across the street. And oh, by the way, personally, I think the name is misspelled, but something has to be done about the
traffic, about the parking. We live here and we have to blow our horns to get out of our driveways. This parking here that you have on both sides
of Decar, it's not working. And who's suffering from it? The three residents who have been here. Something has to change. You said you were going to put up the
sign in regards to no parking on Decator. That was brought up at the last meeting. Well, here it is. I'm at this meeting and it hasn't been done
and the parking on Decater is being done by the residents of the apartment building. So either they don't want to pay for parking,
but I am not going to be inconveniently every time I get ready to leave you blowing the horn to get out. No, you need to come out here and put up the
signs that says no parking. It's out of hand and it's getting very close to rage. So, you've been for warned.
You put up a building like this and going to put parking on Decar Avenue. >> All right. Thank you very much, Mr. Baker. We We discussed we're not doing the clapping. We're not doing clapping. Is anyone else on Zoom?
Who's Coleman? >> I have Rebecca Fineberg. Please unmute. You have three minutes. >> Can you hear me? >> Loud and clear. >> Great. Thank you so much. I'm very excited. I'm coming here tonight to say thank you. I'm thrilled to see that the
Sagamore holding tanks are going to be breaking ground and starting next week. Um I just hope that they could clarify for the residents in this area. Um, the email we received today from Miss Hashmat uh talked about road paving. Um,
but none of at the end of the project, none of it clarified if we needed cars moved, those of us who are literally right across from the park, if we need to be out of the way and have our cars on other streets and things like that. Um, and also I know myself and a number of the mothers in the area are asking if
the closure applies only to the fields or if it also applies to the playground. And if it applies to the playground, will the playground be open during uh evening and weekend hours when work is not happening? And also that goes along
with the redesign of the playground. I assume that the playground redesign is happening because of all the work that's being done and some of the disruption that will happen during the holding tank pro uh project. And so the question I and many of the mothers in the area have
is will there be open comment and open opportunity to participate in the planning of the new playground to make sure that it's the most productive for our community and those of us who use it on a daily basis. Thank you again. I'm thrilled to hear the holding tanks are
finally going in. >> Is that all, Miss Fbert? >> Yes. >> Yes. Thank you. >> No problem. Thank you for coming. We have Lillian Lewis. Miss Lewis, please unmute. Oh, >> anybody else? Mr. Cler,
>> we have Crystal Thomas. >> Good evening. My question is actually about the township pool. Um, I heard the attorney discuss that the township will be in control of setting the fees and I wanted to know if there would be a reduction in those fees. Um, prior to
the new swim club, um, my family was able to attend the pool for about $100 and that's with multiple children. And now with the new fees, it's just, um, not in reach. It's just not affordable for our family to use the pool. And this
is our first year as residents not using the pool. We've always used it. So, um, if a consideration of a reduction in fees is on the table, please do so. Thank you. Thank you,
Lillian Lewis. >> Good evening. Can you hear me? >> Loud and clear, Miss Lewis. >> Thank you. Lily Lewis, 42year resident. I applaud Councilwoman Belchure on her proposal for the resolution regarding the enslaved Africans and the impact it
has on the African-Americans in this country. And I also thank the entire council for their yes vote. We're living in a time this 2025 where inequality still exists. Many states have enacted laws banning the critical race theory in elementary schools and
high schools. Tenic has always been in the past in the forefront of equality and equity and we must continue in those efforts even if we must stand alone. Thank you. >> Thank you Miss Lewis. Thank you, Mr.
Clerk. Seeing another any on Zoom and welfare is now closed. Um, big professional night tonight. So, which attorney would like to start? >> I I'll start. So, I want to address the comments that we received about the Nory's ordinance. Um, so in terms of the
red lines, the question that Dr. Powers asked about the red lines, um, the ordinance is essentially completely new. Um we're you we use the model ordinance that is promulgated by the uh uh by D.
They essentially issue a uh a draft ordinance uh that municipalities essentially have to take it or leave it. Uh you can make some some slight modifications to it but for the most part you just have to you know take take what's given um for it to be um approved
by them. Uh which has to be approved by DP to be able. So because of that, it's basically all new uh uh and is replacing everything that is currently in the township code about uh noise and nuisances. That said, you know, assuming
the council introduces this, I have no problem with providing a fully redline version. That's not a problem at all to see you can see for yourself. Um the uh other question that we received was about about dogs and barking. Um, and the short version of that is that no,
you're not going to be fined if your dog just randomly barks or something like that, whether you're at your house or on a walk or something like that. Uh, the slightly longer version of it is that the ordinance actually specifically addresses this point. Uh, and again, this is language that was written by the
state of New Jersey, uh, through the D. We were just using their their own wording, and I'm going to quote I'll quote the actual ordinance for what it says about this. It says that it shall be unlawful for any property owner or tenant to allow any domesticated or caged animal create a sound across a
real property line that unreasonably disturbs or interferes with a peace, comfort, and repose of any resident or to uh or to refuse or intentionally fail to cease the unreasonable noise when ordered to do so by a noise control
officer or a noise control investigator. Primmaaccia evidence of a violation of the section shall include but not be limited to a vocalizing which is defined as howling, yelping, barking or squawking for five minutes without interruption. defined as an average of
four or more vocalizations per minute in that period or vocalizing for 20 minutes intermittently defined as a period of defined as an average of two vocalizations or more per per minute in that uh in that period. It is an
affirmative defense under the se this subsection that the do or other animal was intentionally provoked to bark or make any other noise. What that means is that if your dog just random randomly barks, rand, you know, randomly yelps or something like that, then no, you're not going to be subject to a fine. If the
dog or or other pet is continually doing it for an extended period of time to the point that it is it is truly creating a nuisance for for your neighbors, then yes, in that situation, you could potentially be subject to a penalty. But, and there's a, you know, a pretty
big butt. Uh, it would be considered under the ordinance to be what's called a minor violation unless you are uh purposefully, recklessly, or criminally, neg negligently refusing to try to stop uh your your animal from from doing so.
So, if dogs barking continuously and you are refusing to do anything about it, then yes, in that situation that you could you could be uh subject to a penalty uh which is as the is indicated, it's up to $2,000. Uh that is the maximum that township is allowed to uh
to find anyone for basically anything. It's not guaranteed to be $2,000. I just say that because that was the amount that was specifically cited. That's in the discretion of the uh municipal court judge. Typically for something like that for something like this, they do I'll say very small uh fines to start and if
it's a repeated occurrence, the fines would increase over time. But you're not, you know, I can't even imagine a scenario that you'd actually be looking at a $2,000 fine uh for this unless it was happening, you know, every single day and you're absolutely refusing to do anything about it. Um, but yeah, if you
receive a minor violation for this, it does happen once you you essentially get a warning and then you have an opportunity to try and fix the situation. If you don't, then you can get and get a penalty. So that I hope it helps clarify the situation a little bit. >> Thank you. Um, Mr. crash, did you have
any uh thing to add on good welfare? >> I I don't and I would uh refer back to my comments. >> Thank you very much. Which I listened to after the meeting. >> Thank you. And um those are available on the line if anyone wants to hear. We had
discussed it um his comments in relation to the affordable housing planning board and council vote. Uh all the minutes can be heard online. Uh Mr. Manager, before we go into the council, did you have some anything to add? Um, yes I do. Um, in regards to Decatur, I am still working with the traffic
bureau on some solutions. I do need to still meet out there. I apologize. Um, I am a little delayed on getting back to you on that, but I I am trying to find some positive solutions for Decar that will work both for the resident and for the township. Um, I do want to comment that with eliminating the area with no
parking, as much as that is a solution we were looking into, when we remove all of that as no parking, it does widen the road and it does leave us um in a in a position where we could see increased speeding on Decar, which is something we definitely don't want to see. So, I am
still working with the traffic bureau. I have not forgotten. Um, and I apologize for the delay. >> Thank you very much, Council Goldberg. Um, thank you. So, I just wanted to um very quickly um so the affordable housing law was signed by Governor
Murphy has very strict deadlines and the failure to follow them within 48 hours results in builder's remedy lawsuits. We have a zoning subcommittee and an affordable housing subcommittee to address the timeline of the bill. And in May 24, I made a motion seconded by
Mayor Schwarz to follow Leona's very good model. I think it was great. terrible speaker book rate of having a jo a a public open joint council and planning board workshop meeting so both bodies and the public can hear from an independent speaker and ask questions about the process to be able to address
exactly the questions that were asked the planning board in open session um but it didn't happen and I don't understand um why having an opportunity to let the public and both bodies have that meeting was an issue I then asked at January 28th meeting to the planner directly how
there would be public input for the housing element and how we would be ensuring that any development is equitably placed so it's not all in one neighborhood. There still was no workshop meetings and we see the community is unhappy. I just want to stress though going blaming the attorney
and calling him names like racist. He is not racist. He didn't write this law. Yes, the public has a right to be upset that there was no workshop meetings, but that is not the attorney's fault. And I I just wanted to set that say that is is really uncalled for to say those things
to him. As far as uh Mrs. Baker goes. Um uh I don't know who to ask there, but um I think when I watched the video last meeting, somebody said that if she there's three residents on the street, if they all sign the petition, is that allowed? I mean, she's been asking for
she has valid concerns. She asked for moving the garage that was turned down. She asked for lottery tickets and milk that was turned down. If I think we really owe it to her to address the very necessary parking concern. Thank you,
>> Deputy Mayor Belure. >> Yeah, I just want to thank my neighbors for coming out tonight. Um, I want to uh simply say that um, you know, Martin Luther King said true peace is not merely the absence of uh, tension. It's the presence of justice. Uh Miss
Rogivan, I want to thank you for your commitment to peace. Um the affordable housing subcommittee um certainly was open to anyone that wanted to come and I think we were giving myself as well as um our township uh manager regular
updated reports on compliance. U we all knew we were faced with uh specific dates that all municipalities were faced with. Um, so it is a question not so much of the dates, but it was it's more of a question of of how the document was
was presented and how the planning board did not have or the township residents just didn't did not have much insight. I think we had like all of about 72 hours before we had to vote on it um from the
time we actually saw the sites. So, um I I think it's totally valid for residents to ask questions of our redevelopment attorneys or any of our attorneys or any of our uh subject matter experts. So, uh and I'm sure our attorneys will be make
themselves available to answer detailed um questions about the timeline of of document submission and so forth. So, I I would simply say ask our attorneys and I'm sure they they would be able to provide that timeline. Miss Baker, I I certainly agree with our township
manager that the parking analysis of Decar is very important. I'd like to see it as soon as it it is the results of that um analysis and um because we certainly want to solve for issues related to traffic and parking on Decar.
Uh to our residents on Sagamore uh surrounding Bell Avenue, I know the retention tanks installation is a is of um utmost concern for all of us. So, I'm happy to see that that is going to be beginning and uh we will uh see resolution to that soon and I just want
to wish uh our uh neighbors a safe and happy end of the summer. Thank you. >> Thank you, Deputy Organ. >> Uh just two items. Uh the first the pool. Thank you, Mr. Strauss. I was there. I did see uh what's going on
there. I'm so happy that so many people are happy. I love that you use the word glorious. I'm sure you didn't mean it, Mr. Schwarz, but you said commiserate. I hope people aren't commiserating there. I hope they're enjoying and celebrating. Um, and to Miss Thomas, there is uh financial relief for people if they
can't afford the pool. Um, and you can reach out to the wreck department for that for next year. We're going to regroup and do a post-mortem um and a look forward for next summer uh at the end of this season. Um, so if anybody has any comments, feel free to send
them. We also had a resident who offered to pay for five um scholarships to the pool for this summer. So, if anybody wants to take her up on that uh for next year, I think she'd probably still be willing to do that. Uh for Miss Fineberg, Sagamore Park will be closed
the entire time that they're working on the detention tanks. It's for safety. There can't be children at one part of the park while they're working on uh another part of the park. I hope everybody understands that safety is first and foremost, especially with children involved. And um when it does
come time to pave the street and you need to move the car, we will um reach out and let you know. I'm sure there'll be many notices. Sign up for NIXL, everybody, if you're not already signed up for it. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Um I have nothing more to add that wasn't said except that
uh both people in this room and many people online have been reaching out to me in general. So, please um uh feel free to keep reaching out to me. You can uh email me or email the council or our our one or one email for the whole council. It's councilj.gov. Please keep emailing us. Uh as well as
you can always reach out to me at 9179029303 or hit me up on Facebook as well as many people seem to be doing. Uh looking forward to resolving all those issues. So, with that being said, we'll now head over to the consent agenda and I'll turn it over to the clerk for one lead on
this please. Yes, we have a not the largest consent agenda this evening. We have two sets of minutes. Resolutions. Apologies. I need my bill list number. Forgive me. Two sets of minutes. Resolutions 229
to two. Yeah. >> To 244. This is including 243 the alternate municipal court judge and 244 the 400th anniversary of enslaved Africans in North America. Uh 244-2
in the amount of 24,987,848141. >> Thank you very much. And I'll make the poll. Can I pull 229, 238, 239, and 240? >> Say only if you say it quicker. 229, >> 229, 238, >> 238, >> 239, and 240. And just just for
>> So, it's the um >> Got it. We have it. >> The ratified payment. >> Okay. >> The I just want to make sure we I got uh the crossing guard, the high fund, and the >> same. Thank you very much. Anybody else
to pull anything? >> 2 I'm sorry 229 >> 238 239 and 240. >> Cool. >> Seeing nothing else to be pulled. I'll make a motion to approve everything else as well in the bill list and the amount that was listed. >> Yes. >> Is there a second on that? >> Second,
>> Mr. Clerk. Roll call, please. >> That was a second from Councilwoman G. Councilwoman Goldberg. >> I'm a >> Sorry, I hit the right. I'm a yes, but I'm abstaining on uh 236. It's a liquor license. I have a conflict with an immediate family member and um an
abension on the bill's list um uh as a whole right now because it's so big. But yeah, >> abstension on >> the bills list. An abstension on 236 because of a conflict. Yes. On the rest. >> That was Counciloman Glover. Councilman Bean. >> Yes.
>> Counciloman G. Yes, >> Councilman Catz. Um, yes, with an abstension on the bills list and abstension on 236. >> Deputy Mayor Belchure. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Oregon. >> Yes. >> Mayor Schwarz.
>> Yes. On all. Thank you very much. >> All adopted. >> Tooth. Now we go. Miss Goldberg. Council Mc Goldberg. 238. Please go ahead. >> So I'm actually doing both 230. Sorry, 220 229 and 239 together because they're sort of tied. So, um there was a
question it was raised by Dr. Powers. I raised it to the manager also. Um and I'm trying to understand I think first of all, so we have an a resolution to expand the uh Hyatt fund which I'm more than happy to do. I believe it was
manager that changed it to do the um interest only. I could be wrong on that one. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. Um, but anyway, I'm more than happy to help everyone. My question is that we have a limited amount of funds. So, on this agenda, there's about almost $8,500
of the $10,000 that we had um asked for. And I think that if we're going up to a higher number, we have we have to find a way to, you know, do it probably by percentage because we have different forms of rent. So, on the ratified payments, we have 4275 for a security
deposit, which I have a question for the attorney after. Um, and then smaller amounts for I'm assuming rent. So, I'm going to ask if Councilman Pagan can go to the Social Services Advisory Board and have them come back in person at the next meeting. Um, to figure out a way,
you know, if we're going to do this, if we have seven security deposits, um, the whole $30,000 is gone because of the the price. And I think the the barest way is percentage, but I'm going to defer to them. But I think that's something to do. That one security deposit took 42%
of the the $10,000 which we we want to help as many people as possible. So is everyone okay with me asking Councilman Pagan to do that? >> Yes. >> Other Oh, sorry. Can I ask the attorney a question real quick? >> Can I say something? Isn't Isn't that kind of punitive though?
Isn't that kind of like um Well, >> we want to help I I want to I think we want to help as many people as possible, but we can't help, you know, everyone if it's you live in this apartment and it's $800 and then this one is $4,000 and I
understand that was a market rate unit on top of that. Like I think the social service advisory board has historically managed the high fund. So I'm asking for a policy, but I think percentage makes it more equitable than a dollar amount. Am I >> just just to be fair to the members of
the social services advisory board, a number of them do feel that this Hyatt fund hasn't been used to help enough people over the years. So, they honestly would like to see as much of it spent as possible to help people. I know that's not our policy, but it's something that they have voiced at the last couple of meetings. >> Um, Deputy Mayor Cass, I know this is
something that's been near and dear to your heart for decades. >> Yeah, I just think it's a mistake to keep going into the principal. Why not continue with the interest, especially with the interest rates the way they are? Okay, we went into the principal a few years ago, actually was under uh Mayor Parker, I believe, when she was
the representative um because the interest rates were a lot lower. So, we were getting really no money back. But now interest rates just are not so bad. I mean, as far as they're higher um doesn't make sense to chew into this principle and then not have it in a few
years. >> Yeah. >> Council G. >> Yeah. Um so, uh kudos to you for finding this. I didn't it was very difficult to find but this is this is troubling if it is a market rate um rental assistance for a
deposit at the mark and tene um are we concerned? >> No I think I don't believe that's a market rate department. >> Yeah. Um so I met with um our social worker today. So, to give you a little background, there is by ordinance, our social worker is tasked with doing all
of the application, which we do have on our website. Um, any any township resident that comes to him and says, you know, I have a hardship or they have a rental property they're trying to rent or they're being evicted or whatever their financial hardship is, he is tasked with vetting that process through
an application process, through bank statements. Um, so he has been doing this for four years. I did have a meeting with him today. I am going to continue meeting with him because I do think we do need to update the ordinance. They are looking at the ordinance itself because the cost of
living has gone up. Uh people's rent is, you know, when someone's being evicted, it's not like 10 years ago maybe someone needed $1,000. Now they need maybe $2500 to $3,000 to cover this eviction notice. So, I think um the process with this resolution was to give us a little bit
more cushion to help people based on the cost of living that we're dealing with now. Um the unit at the mark um I'm I'm getting more clarification if it is an affordable um affordable unit um that we're looking at now. I believe the other two units were not the one for the
mark. So, I I don't believe that was a market rate one. So, I I will confirm >> the mark was the highest one. Yeah. >> Yeah. So I will confirm uh more information tomorrow but just so you know there is a vetting process. I do think that we could put some other uh parameters in place for vetting this
process so we can help more teen residents but in this situation um this was already vetted properly and I think we should moving forward maybe look into other processes if all of you agree. No, I agree. And I think the issue isn't that we don't want to help, but the
issue is that so the three I'm not make not names or properties. So we have three things on this agenda. One is for 4275, one is 20 28.66, one is 12.88. So um Councilman uh Katz, the total is
8429, which is almost the whole $10,000 budgeted. So I'm more I don't I don't know what the interest in the account is. I'm more than happy to spend it all. I think the qu the concern is and and um Councilman uh Councilman G um you know I think the concern is that it's it's such
a huge amount compared to the other two. It's how do we say okay because rent is so the disparity and the rents some are so huge. It's not fair to say okay you you live in this building so you get more. Like I said seven applicants like this would eat the whole thing. We
absolutely should do it 100%. My concern is how do we make it so we can help more? >> We are um just so you just so we all know we are usually um passing two resolutions a year. We're spending 20,000. So the process was to up it to 30,000. So just so you know it's usually
it's been 20,000 for the year and I did confirm with Issa that we have not tapped into the principal um at this time like >> and just to clarify there's like $300,000,000. I don't think Councilwoman Chief finished her comment from before. So, can you continue your comment?
>> Yes. Sorry, I wasn't Um, so again, even if it's $30,000, I think we need to really be careful. I mean, if if if the word gets out that you contact us to pay off your security deposits or like we're going to run out of money really quickly. Um, I think we want to
help as many people as possible with these dollars uh versus a few. Um, and so maybe there, you know, when we rethink about the the process, maybe there's a maximum dollar amount that we we share out per per request. I just, again, this dollar amount seems really
high for uh such a limited budget. Um, and again, we're, you know, this is taxpayer dollars to to have such a large amount go to so few people, I think, is is not the intent of the fund. >> Can I ask my a legal question? Sorry. Sorry. >> Can I also ask another question? Maybe
it's for the attorneys. Um, and and maybe it's simple, but if this is money for a security deposit, so it doesn't get spent, so it stays with the building until the person moves, is there any way to get reimbursed after the fact for a security deposit?
>> It seems like we're helping someone get a home. >> Yeah, >> we're also not um depleting the fund in that case. >> I I don't know. I don't know the answer to that. That's a >> Can we look into it?
>> Sort of a loan. No interest loan to your point. >> Can I Sorry, I'm saying >> thank you so much. >> Um that that might solve part of the problem. We're being helpful at the same time while not depleting any of the balance. >> Dep
I was going to similar to what Worgan mentioned, meaning security deposits most of the times supposed to get back. Have we ever had a situation where we actually asked to get back or did it end up going to the tenant when they moved out? >> Um, so that's number one. But number two is I I unless Mayor Pagan thinks
different as a representative, I really think that I prefer to not spend principle and and just keep with keep with the interest. Meaning fortunately, this has been around for over I think 30 years, right? I this was built in the in the late 80s, early n
late 80s. So, we've really gotten some good bank for this and helped a lot of people. I think it would it would be in our best interest to continue having this around for the next 30 years by not eating away at the principle. >> So, I I think there's a lot of comments >> within our means, >> right? I think there's a lot of
comments. I I think the manager should go back and speak in the board, the the social service board and think about everything that was said tonight. Um, obviously, if it's not an affordable housing unit, that's my opinion that should be rejected. Um, security deposits is a very interesting. You know, you're you're helping someone find
an apartment that's important, but at the same time, are we ever going to get it back? And I know that in 17 years from now, it's we're not going to know about that. It's going to be gone. So, I I think that that the the manager and the liaison should be speaking in terms of how to um
close the circle on a bunch of things that were discussed here tonight. Uh, as for as for the resolution, uh, what are we looking to do in the ratified payment? M, Miss M. manager, did you want to suspend that for this time being or I know it's your social worker that's um handling it? >> Um well, I do need to mention I did
confirm with ESA it should say interest. The resolution needs to be amended. It should not say principal. We are not using principal. So if Doug could fix that for us. Um I I believe when I spoke to him a promisary note has already been issued for this. So I think this is something we move forward and make
changes for not this specific case >> uh just because this was something from June, end of June. So, this is already something delayed. So, I think it's in our best interest. Let's move this one forward and um let's look to make some changes to the ordinance and decide as a council to make it even for everyone. >> Excellent.
>> Can I have another I have one thing on the other thing on the ratified payments I wanted to circle back with that I discussed with the CFO. >> Um so, if we look at the bills list, there's a lot of PSEG bills and to the manager's point, the ratify payments are
uh promisory notes have already been done. PSEG is usually not on there. So, we all know that the PSEG rates have just gone up. Was it 17.48% or something like that. So, what I and he's if he's on to chime in, you know, I I just think that this would be
beneficial. One, I would like to be able to approve him to put the PSEG bills on the ratified payments so that way at the back half of the year when we only have one meeting, those bills get paid on time. My other request is that we um ask
him and the manager >> um to work with our PSC and G rep. So I don't know if everybody looks at the the it's bills going everywhere and if we consolidate them into one account and maybe push back on a rate decrease or
based on consolidation at least ask um I don't know if he's on to chime in on that but this was something that we discussed. >> Not going to bring that up right this second. Chiming in is Mr. manager, if you can speak to the CFO in regards to the PSCG bills, and I'm not even sure if we're allowed to approve it. What what
council Goldberg is asking is that we authorize the clerk, the the CFO to make CF to make PSNG payments even before the council's vote on it. Did I understand that was your question? >> The ordinance says that if it's daily, if it's that's what ratify payments, so
bills list is where is is it's not paid yet. Ratify payments, it's done already. >> Exc. Um but but the the PSC and G bills are on the bills list and I'm just saying we should make his life easier and not have to stress that uh to put it on ratified payments like the Violia and
these other things on there. Um is my question. >> And Mr. Manager, if you can please speak with the CFO on that. >> Yes, we'll tie into the next uh with the clerk for future um payments. Um is there any you want to move forward on 229 and make that motion? Yeah, I'll
make the motion on 229. Uh, wait. Um, Miss Manager, I've moved both at the same time and you just said we need to make a correction on the other one. >> And I anticipate that you interest We're not using any. >> Okay. >> Yes. Okay. >> So, I'll move both of those >> and I'll second that. Roll call, please.
>> This is 29. >> Yes. >> 29. >> And that was a motion from Councilwoman Goldberg. A second from Mayor Schwarz. Councilwoman Goldberg. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Gan. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman G. >> Yes. >> Councilman Katz. >> Yes. Deputy Mayor Belchure. >> Yes.
>> Deputy Mayor Oregon. Mayor Schwarz. >> Council Gver 238. >> Um that's the uh >> crossing guard >> crossing guard contract. So if everyone remembers Dean had told us um that the contract was going up, was it 450 last
year? This is about the same or 100. Um I saw in there that the first bid was uh had to be turned down and it was significantly less. Um, but I wasn't really clear why. It looked like there was an error. Like, do you just go into that real quick? I'm just curious.
>> Um, um, Issa is on and and requested if he could explain this. Um, if it's about the >> same question, sorry, >> why the first bid was uh had to be pulled out. Um, this is the same contract or the same vendor that Dean
was telling us that the prices had gone up. Um, and it looks like they stayed flat, so that's a good thing. But the bid was significantly higher than the lower bid. So I'm trying to understand why it uh had that they had to pull out. It wasn't clear. >> I got you here.
>> So I mean Mr. Abasi, >> it's all good. Good evening. Can you hear me? >> Yes, sir. Hello. Oh, this we're talking about uh 238-2025 Crossing Guard Services LLC receiving the contract for Crossing Guards as
opposed to the first bid that was tossed out from Golden Inc., I think. >> Sure. So, under the bidding process, you know, we advertise, you put out specifications, and you wait for their receipt of bids. They're sealed. They're opened and public by the purchasing
agent and the purchasing agents assistant. The results are read out loud and then a tally sheet is done afterwards. Um, and the documents are vetted by the purchasing agent with the attorney. And actually, I was called down to the purchasing agent's office.
She showed me the results and said, "What do you see that sticks out?" And I looked at the first bid and I said, "Is that for half a year?" And she said, "No, that's for the full year." So, we evaluated the bid, the lowest bid, and remember the public
bidding law allows us to bid to the lowest responsive bidder. In short, um the first bid was the lowest bid, but they weren't the lowest responsive bid because they really lowballed the bid. We worked our magic to try to backtrack their math, and the math, as the kids
say these days, wasn't mathing. So just because they had a significantly lower bid, it did not appear that quite frankly they were paying or would be paying their employees a little bit more than minimum wage. So our questions are, well, how are you making money? How is this sustainable? Because the last thing
we want is for the contract to be in December and then they can't afford to function. And now the municipality, namely the police department, has to go out and hire crossing guards. And so we asked the vendor, hey, can you explain to us how you arrived at your figure and
they could not do so. So, um, you know, first they were not responsive. We gave them another chance. We said, look, by this date and this time, if you're not responsive, we, you know, request that you withdraw your bid and they agreed to do so. And therefore, we went with the next um lowest responsive bid, which
actually outbid our current vendor by about nine or $10,000. >> Perfect. Thank you. Um, council, would you want to make that much? >> No, that was perfect. Okay. So, thank you. Uh, I'll move that one. >> Second. Schwarz. Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Goldberg. >> Yeah.
>> Councilwoman Pagan. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman G. >> Yes. >> Councilman Catz. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Belchure. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Oregon. >> Yes. >> Mayor Schwarz. >> Yes. Council Robert 240. >> The last question. This one we didn't go
out to bid for. Um, this was the same company that did the reval. Um, and I recall, uh, Mayor Schwarz, you were you had told me at the time that it was high. So, I'm just wondering why we didn't go out to bid on this one. I'm just curious. I don't know. You can answer that one. I mean, it said that because they had just done the reval,
but if they were high for the reval, I'm just curious why we wouldn't go out to bid at least try. Or is it not high enough? I'm just want to understand. >> Okay. Mr. Abosi, do you want to answer that question on 240 regarding real estate appraisal services? gota unmute.
So, >> I'm not that familiar with this resolution, but it is under fair and open process, which does mean that it could have been under a competitive contract. I can verify that uh with the purchasing agent. Uh but that is my understanding is that it was a fair and open process. They may have been one of
the few quotes that we got back and given our relationship with them um previously with the reval both in 2015 and in 2024 they they had received this award under fair and open. >> That makes perfect sense to me. Mob, do
you want to move 240? Would you like me to? >> Um actually take that back. It wasn't awarded under fair and open. It says that we actually it was a competitive contract because we mutually set forth compensation terms and conditions.
>> Still works for me. >> All right. I'm going to make the motion for 240 2025. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Goldberg, >> yes. >> Council Pan, >> yes. >> Counciloman G. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Catz, >> yes. >> Mayor Belchure, >> yes. >> City Mayor Oregon, >> yes. Mayor Schwart. >> Yes. >> Mr. Clerk, introduction of ordinances, please. >> Yes, we have a couple >> here at August 19th.
Ordinance number 31-2025 amending the township code for the township of Tina to bide for regulation on excessive noise within the township. Ordinance number 33-2025 amending the township code to revise no left turn on certain inter intersections
to include a portion of TAK road and we have ordinance number 34-2025 amending section 36-11.2 of ch 36 township code for the township of adding a restricted on street parking space for the handicap at 1430 Balsam street.
Those are all the ordinances. >> Thank you very much. Is there a motion to move these forward to the next? Now, I have a question on 31, but I'll make a motion to move the other two if you'd like. >> Okay. I'll second 33 and 34. >> Councilwoman Goldberg, >> yes.
>> Councilman Pagan, >> yes. >> Councilwoman G, >> yes. >> Councilman Catz, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Belchure, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Oregon, >> yes. >> Mayor Schwarz, >> yes. >> 33 and 34 introduced. Sorry, Mayor. We'll see them again on September 9th. You still have 31.
>> I'm looking for it already. Mr. Mr. Deputy mayor, what number 31, please? >> 31. Um, section 32. I have A2. I have an issue with um I think it will be a hardship on a lot of
people in town if um I understand not allowing people to mow their lawns early in the morning. Um I understand the um the impetus for all of it. I do think it's going to be a hardship for people in the summer when the days are long to
not mow their lawns after 7 pm. Some people are just getting back from work. Others are getting back from days out. Some are putting their kids to sleep. So, if we can have loud noise till 10:00 at night, I think we should at least allow um the lawnmowers till 8:00 p.m. I
don't I don't think that's excessive. Um I don't know if Scott so on that piece of the ordinance uh we're not allowed to change that. So the that's the literal state noise ordinance that uh that we're not allowed to change that
time on the um the the bottom half of that I um fully agree with you and I believe Scott you put that piece into the nuisance piece but the model ordinance we we're not allowed we're not allowed to touch it. I don't agree with not being allowed to touch it but we're not allowed to touch it. We're not allowed to change that word.
>> I thought we can remove that part. Scott, >> we can My understand is we're able to change the time of it. We can't change like the decibel limit or anything like that. But for >> this is for lawnmowers. Um section two
excluding emergency work, power tools, landscaping, and or yard maintenance equipment. >> That one. >> Yeah. My understanding is that we can we can change is that we can change the time of that. Are you sure? >> That's my understanding is that we can change that. Yeah. I don't I because
this is now this is a new system. >> I mean, I don't mind making it. No, wait. Talking about the noise. Wait, not the not the nuisance, >> right? >> Well, so I'm sorry. You said this. So, section three. Yeah. Emergency. Yeah. This one's now is now part of the nuisance section and not part of the the
noise control. So now it should be with the the change that we made it should they should be out of the out of the control of or out of the um what's the word uh the approval uh restrictions from DP. So I believe we could we could change that. >> I'm fine with with Deputy Mayor Organ's
uh nighttime change. >> Thank you very much. Like to make sure that >> Yeah. Um Doug, you have the change. >> Okay. >> What was that time change? I think Deputy Mayor Organ said 10 p.m.
>> or 8. Wait, um 8. I don't care. 8 9 >> Do nine. >> Nine is fine. >> So what? >> You can mow your lawn till 9:00 at night. >> Public space between the hours of 700 p.m. and 8 a.m. on weekdays or between the hours of 700 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekend. >> Can we just make sure that we're doing
in the right place? >> Yes. So this is going to be uh this is going to be the section three. This is on page 11 of 13. Section 3. A1 A and A2. I believe we're both making those
changes. >> Wait, which Sorry, which page? >> So, this is this is the new the latest version. Yeah, >> I have the wrong version, sir. >> Okay. Section three, section 215, unnecessary noise unlawful, chapter 21, health and sanitation, uh, of township
code. I apologize for not having the page numbers on here. Um, A1 and A2 going on to page 14. I'm sorry, going on page 11. >> So, so it's keeping the 8 a.m. weekday
uh 9:00 a.m. weekend and extending the nighttime to 900 p.m. Deputy 9 is fine with me. >> Uh, yeah, >> Doug, it's just the it's just the end time on page. It's written backwards,
Doug. See how it says seven? >> Yeah. Yeah. The way Yeah. It it >> section three >> is a good way for it to >> subsection A subsection two. That's what we're talking about. >> One and two need. They both need to change to it. >> And you want what time frame?
>> So, it's staying. The morning is staying, but the 900 p.m. is the change. >> Yeah. Doug, I have the I have the change in my version. >> All right. Sweet. I'll wait for it from you. >> Yeah. Excellent. Roll. Roll. There was a motion by Oregon, second by Schwarz. Roll call, please.
>> Uh, for the change, Councilwoman Goldberg, >> yes. >> Councilman Pagan, >> yes. >> Councilwoman G, >> yes. >> Councilman Katz, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Belchure, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Oregon, >> yes. >> Mayor Schwarz, >> yes. >> Introduced.
>> Thank you very much. I have a motion to adjurnn. Second. >> All in favor? I. >> Yeah. Have a good night. >> Uh, tomorrow be weird. Um, I'll know my data. >> Thank you. Congratulations.
>> Good luck. X. I'll just start. What? Where is