Hello again. Hope traffic was not bad for our council members. >> Nice to have a little break between open and closed. Closed and open. >> Very, very nice to have that break. And Doug, you and Ron sound great. Crystal clear on Zoom.
>> Perfect. >> Okay. >> Hello. >> Hello. >> There he is. Ellie White Cats reporting for duty. We are streaming to YouTube. We're
streaming to Facebook. Mr. Goodman is in the coal wiring room making sure we're going to public access. I think we're just waiting for a couple council members here.
Mayor Schwarz got lost in the interwebs. Maybe any one two three four five. We do we do have a quorum. Um if you'd like to move forward, council, if you want to wait for our
other two members. Oh, here's the mayor. >> All right. >> Sorry. Sorry. I got stuck at the light. It's [laughter] all good. >> All right, Mayor. Mayor, we have a quorum. I think we're just missing Miss G right now, but she will certainly be
>> good. >> Um, good to see you. [laughter] >> Sorry. >> Okay. Um, Mr. click like we used to do. If you don't mind, I'm going to ask you, I know you have no no skill set when it comes to DJing, but if you could DJ this
meeting because you're got the whole setup over there in terms of uh you know, running the running a little bit on the more the lead side that you used to do, that'd be appreciated. >> You got it. You want me to run off the announcements to start? >> Yep. Yeah, if you don't mind. Yeah, if you can do the whole, you know, >> absolutely, sir. >> Drop that set
>> with dignity and honor. So, we do have a quorum. Mayor, could you please call the meeting to order? >> Call the meeting to order. Pledge allegiance. Yes, we stand. Right. So do that. >> I pledge allegiance. >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Hey, Mr. Clerk. >> Goldberg >> here. >> Councilman Pagan, >> present. >> Councilwoman G, >> here. >> Councilman Catz
>> here. Deputy Mayor Belchure >> here. >> Deputy Mayor Oregon >> here. >> Mayor Schwarz >> here. >> Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by resolution number 300-2025, sending a copy to the newspaper sufficient designated for 2026 by way of
resolution number 2-2026, filing a copy in the township clerk's office and posting it on the municipal building and bulletin board. And the mayor hereby directs this statement be included in the minutes. And uh the mayor has respectfully asked here at the mothership that we do our
opening announcements. So we will let everyone know this evening. It's July 21st. Thank you for joining us at our open session council meeting Zoom only. As you can tell, township administration present tonight digitally. We have our township manager, Miss Jacqueline
Hashmat. Doug Rousion, yours truly, your township clerk. We have Mr. Tom Yarden from our township attorney's office. We have Ron Goodman, our volunteer cable master. Again, we are on a Zoom only
meeting tonight. So, if we drop the meeting due to our Wi-Fi or internet connection, we're going to be doing our best to bring it back. Please be patient. If you hadn't haven't yet, please sign up for township alerts, website alerts on tenej.gov.
The next regular council meeting will be on Tuesday, August 18th, 2026, starting at 6:30 p.m. Public portion beginning at 8:00 p.m. National Night Out, our favorite Tuesday in August with the Tene Police Department is at Vote Park
Tuesday, August 4th, 5 to 8:00 p.m. We're looking forward to seeing you all there. Council met in close session this evening to discuss advisory board interviews, personnel, contracts, legal issues and or opinions regarding any items on the open session agenda, litigation updates, and of course,
Oprah. And with that, mayor, you are free to start rolling through the agenda. >> Okay. Thank you very much, Mr. Clerk. Welcome everybody. Hope everyone is staying dry. Um, and with that, we're going to go right into
um work session items. Anyone for miscellaneous? Anyone for old business? Anyone for new business? Communications. Community reports by council leaders.
>> Yeah, Mr. Mayor. I have a couple. Go ahead. One >> second. I'm just pulling up. Okay. Um, so I have two. Sorry. So, the pedestrian safety subcommittee um Oh, sorry. the task force met um and about 30 residents had reached out to New Jersey Easy Ride
about some traffic concerns on Country Club Drive and East Cedar Lane. There were concerns about speeding and volume uh that there was a traffic study done and they saw about 3,900 cars driving northbound at peak times. Um this has been kind of an issue over there with
ways and Google maps. Um residents had requested that we close uh Country Club Drive to inbound traffic. Uh but the police had concerns about this because it's going to divert volume to another street um after observing the same change after speed humps were put in on
Columbus. Um but there was a suggest there's also a suggestion about um having traffic rerouted to north on Tene Road, but I had a huge concern with that given there's already an increased traffic on uh Tene Road heading north. So I appreciated the suggestion, but we
do have to be concerned about increases of traffic um for areas that are already feeling that. But the engineer did propose a um a demo project at peak times of having potentially a oneway on Cedar Lane and uh that
intersection over there, Cedar Lane and uh oh my gosh, uh Country Club Drive and lower potentially lowering the speed limit to 25 due to pedestrian concerns as part of the demo. Also potentially like a three-month pilot and then uh review the assess assess the results
after that. Also, NJ Easy Ride made note that there's a NJTPA complete streets technical assistance program that's a possible resource for us for a townwide traffic study. Um, Leona is doing it now and the window for that opens in the fall. And kind of lastly on this, um, I
actually uh went to I stopped by Mrs. Baker's house and there was a huge traffic issue there with that things backing up to the house. There was a double stop sign with crosswalk that had a stop sign. So um just related to this and people sitting on her front steps eating their lunch. So maybe we can
involve NJ easy ride to take a look and evaluate that um before I move on to PPB most environmental commission. Anyone have anything questions on that? >> No. >> Okay. Um so then most PPB and environmental commission have kind of been having a lot of the same
conversations. So I'm going to kind of combine this. They've had pretty extensive conversations about Argon Park. Um so there was a proposal uh submitted by one of the co-chairs of PPRB um Mike Norris and uh I think um so
Allison Davis Mike Norris and Rush Makan and they are proposing a comprehensive maintenance plan for both the developed recreation and the undeveloped woodland area of Argon Park. The undeveloped woodland is about 45 acres. So, what they proposed is a onemile walking trail through the southern woodland woodland
area, naming it um Harlem Hellfires Heritage Trail. I know that there's been some environmental concerns and some concerns about people dumping. Um members also expressed that we need to ensure that we are identifying sensitive areas that needs protection, improve access for invasive species. Um and
members from all three boards have suggest suggested and I strongly agree that this would be a great use of a portion of the municipal space open trust as well as matching funds from green acres and potentially the county. Um I do think that the current budget that they propose is a little low. Um
given current pricing and procurement rules, but nevertheless um they ask that I bring this forward and I think it's something really important. Um they just we just have to get the numbers right. Um so in the meantime, I do think that we should look into an environmental study to take that first step. That's all I got. >> Thank you very much. Any comments on
that? Anyone? Mrs. Manager, I think you'll address some of that when in your um in your report. Right. Excellent. Okay. >> I I don't uh have any comments as um but I do want to uh report up from the historic preservation uh that uh regarding Argon Park, there is a sincere
interest um as uh was mentioned, Dr. Norris and the entire uh commission is very uh very interested in in looking at this as this walking trail as a very uh important historical um fact that uh could be used um to to really um enhance
u TX's largest park. Uh many people don't know that Argon Park is larger than Vote Park. Uh and it certainly could be um a good way in which we can um uh really revitalize that particular park. So, um, the Historic Preservation
Commission, uh, is is 100% in support of this and, uh, would love to to be able to see what the next steps would be in terms of, um, uh, tagging funds and resources to move forward on an important initiative. >> Mr. Mayor, I have a couple things. The
first thing I went to the TX Senior Citizen Advisory Board meeting a couple weeks ago and they asked if we could consider putting a speed bump on Palisade Avenue between the Roa Center main parking lot and the Black Lives Matter parking lot. And I I brought it to the attention of our manager. I know
she's looking into it with traffic, but I wanted to make sure that you also knew and everybody on council also knew. And the second quick thing is I attended the new Bridgelanding Park Commission meeting a couple of weeks ago as well and they're going to be reaching out to our manager and our police chief if they haven't already because in a couple of
months they're going to be reenacting George Washington's retreat route um from Fort Lee to New Milford and as you know they cut through Brett Park to do that. So just an FYI, sir. >> Okay. Excellent. Thank you very much. Uh any other reports?
>> Okay. Um >> Mr. Mayor. Yeah. One one other thing I just want to mention in terms of um the uh Chamber of Commerce. Um I had a opportunity to attend one of their most recent events. Um there is u they're doing some really great things in terms of in and around uh town. I'm I'm sure
we all have have really kind of like um trying to rest up from the um the World Cup. They they did some some really nice uh events surrounding that. Well, one thing I want to mention is that um just as a reminder to uh to my colleagues is that you know, Tene, we are um uh New
Jersey film ready and um certainly want to reach out to our businesses as well as our residents to see how they can participate in this uh you know important um designation that we have because there is in fact a website where our residents and businesses can in fact
um post um an interest if they have a unique property be it historic homes or unique businesses that they would like to be um on the um the uh New Jersey film film ready um uh website um as being able to provide um you know really
important locations where because there are you know film scouts that look for uh locations and New Jersey as we all know are is really making a name for themselves uh when it comes to uh new um uh studios that are are making uh a
place new uh New Jersey their home. So certainly uh stay tuned. You'll hear more from both uh through the Chamber of Commerce um as well as to our residents as as to ways in which they uh they can participate in in our new designation as
New Jersey um film ready township. >> That's definitely exciting. And um if anyone has not signed up for the Chamber of Commerce newsletter, they have a brand new newsletter. It's been out for about six months with very detailed called their Chamber Pulse. So take a look at that. It's got some very informative stuff on there as well.
Okay. Any other reports on council listed items or council listed items? I see none. Mrs. Manager, floor is yours. Good evening, mayor, council members, and Tina residents. Uh we continue to host a goggle and bathing suit drive at
the Tene community pool from June 19th to August 1st. Your donation of new goggles or new or gently used bathing suits will help ensure more children can learn how to swim and participate in swim lessons which we currently offer at um our pool. A friendly reminder that
our new ebike law is now in effect. Please inform and educate your family members and be alert to social media reminders as our police department is actively warning and educating our community. Movies Under the Stars will be starting on August 11th. The movie is the Super
Mario Galaxy movie. Movies start at 7:45 p.m. and remember to bring a blanket or lawn chair and free popcorn will be served. Please refer to the flyer for additional showtimes throughout the month of August. The Tina Community B uh
summer band concerts have begun and will be on Wednesdays um up until July 29th at the Vote Park Band Shell. Please refer to the performance um schedule on our website. And in the event of rain, the concert will be moved indoors at
Thomas Jefferson Middle School. National Night Out is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4th from 5 to 8:00 p.m. at Vote Park. Please join us for an evening of fun, food, entertainment, and information. Um the Tina Community Pool, pickle ball,
and tennis courts are now open, as well as our newly resurfaced basketball courts. We continue to focus on some new upgrades this uh summer season as well. Some grant updates I have for you. We submitted some applications for uh the
FEMA assistance to firefighters grant as well as the FEMA fire prevention and safety grant program. And also we have a grant application in for drive sober or get pulled over statewide Labor Day crackdown. and also our NJ DOT municipal
aid grant program for Garrison Avenue resurfacing project phase two. For some project updates, our 2025 road resurfacing project, the work is progressing. Our Turhune Park safety surface installation is now complete and
the playground is officially reopened. The Brooks Park restroom, the shop drawings are approved and the building is due to arrive in September. Sycamore Park Improvements. The bids were opened on July 7th and the apparent lowest bidder is Green Valley Group uh
with a total bid of 1,947,800 and we will award at the next meeting. The Vote Park Middlefield project preliminary work has started and we have a stakeholders meeting that is scheduled for the end of July. Builtin Street, Livingston Place, and Clinton Place improvements. Um the punch
list items are now being addressed. the grids, Van Burren and Heric Avenue improvements. The project had a few delays and we are now expected to finish this week. Some great news I have to report uh for the pedestrian bridge over
Palisade a CSX road and Windsor Road. The township has finalized the their negotiations with CSX for construction management. So we will proceed with the priority repair plans and bidding process. We plan to complete the repairs
for spring 2027. Also, in response to Country Club Drive, I know uh Councilwoman Goldberg had mentioned we did meet with Easy Ride and I will be uh meeting also with our township engineer and the traffic bureau to go through some of those options and I will report at the next meeting on um
on our progress. That's all I have for you tonight, Mayor. >> Thank you very much, Mrs. Manager. Um Mr. Attorney Tom, I don't believe you have a report for us, but I just wanted to double check that. >> Uh, I do not have a report tonight. >> Got it. Send our regards to Mr. Salman.
And with that, we will tend to head over to public hearing and adoption of ordinances. Mr. Mor Oh, yes, ma'am. >> Yeah. Okay. So, um, yeah, I I just um want to report on and speaking of businesses, I I have in the recent days
um spoken with a few businesses that have reached out to me. I want to talk about one of the ordinances that um I'd like to see if we can um we can can pull it and that's ordinance 416. So I can wait until that happens. >> Yeah, I think we have to read it first and then we'll have that conversation.
So let's just >> Okay, Sure. No problem. >> Thank you. Okay, Mr. Clerk. >> You got it. Absolutely. We have a few ordinances that we are seeing again this evening. First up, we have ordinance 37-2026 amending section 36-11.2
of chapter 36 of the town code for the township Petite Act adding restricted on street parking space for handicap at 836 Palisa A. We have ordinance number 38-2026 amending section 36-11.2 2 of chapter 36 the township code adding
restricted on street parking space for the handicap at 1680 Renolia Road. We have ordinance number 39 amending section 36-11.2 adding a restricted on street parking space for the handicap at 117 Shepard
Avenue. We have ordinance number 40-2026 establishing salary ranges and classification of positions for municipal employees in the township act. Last but not least, there is ordinance 41-2026
amending the township code to revise the requirements of food trucks and to set the number of food trucks and ice cream trucks. These are all of our ordinances. >> Thank you very much. Uh Deputy Mayor Belchure. >> Okay. So I'd like to mention um that you know I have been talking with um you
know of course the leazison is on uh to the chamber of commerce uh businesses have reached out to me um regarding this particular ordinance uh 412026 amending the township code to revise the requirements for food trucks and um to set the number of food trucks and ice
cream trucks and and I um some of the a good majority of the the response that I've gotten has been very that uh that it's very cumbersome. It kind of speaks to um harming those businesses that um I would say are not brickandmortar
businesses that do not have physical locations and so they depend upon their trucks um uh similar to a tent of a of a a farmers market for example to be their primary place of business. And um the fact that this particular ordinance
speaks to um charging a fee of $275, which may not seem like a lot to some businesses, but I think when you're a food truck, an ice cream, you know, truck for an example, or a fruit truck or something like that, where your entire existence may be limited to less
than, you know, six months out of the year because certainly we don't see these food trucks, you know, from like November to, you know, the springtime. So, I think um you know, I I really after reviewing it and kind of like surveying some of the businesses I know
within the community, I I feel as if this is very cumbersome. It's uh it pretty much is hindering to some of our small business owners. And I I'd like to to to make a motion that we pull it and that we go back to our attorneys and really kind of revise it. I know that
the initial intent was that we were concerned about location and parking and driving through um you know um uh Palisades Avenue and and navigating that area. I know that the speed limit is is lower there. Uh so if if this is the intent is to fix that problem. I think
maybe we should maybe explore other locations where food trucks can um congregate and can park. I know there's some towns that are doing extraordinary things when it comes to food truck fairs and um and u opportunities for the community to come out and share in
different types of cuisine. And I I would make a motion that we pull this. >> Um I'm going to m deputy mayor. I'm actually shocked. [clears throat] Um I'm actually shocked because this is the food truck matter should be exactly
the concern of the Chamber of Commerce. This is a a type of industry which people love, don't get me wrong. I I don't have any issues with them that are not paying their rent, that are not paying their taxes in the town. So, um I I let other people speak. I have no connection to this in any way. Maybe the
man the manager has some enforcement related matter >> and they're not paying any sewer fee >> and they're not paying any sewer fee. Um but at the same time, we yes, $275 may not be a lot of money, but the rent is free. And so I think that we have to
strongly protect our our our businesses in this regard because otherwise we'll have a food truck festival all day every day all over. Um but Mrs. Manager, can I ask you to weigh in because you're having more health concerns and other enforcement issues that I know was a concern to you. >> Yep. >> Um
>> Mr. Mayor. Oh, sorry. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I was going to I was going to I'll wait for the manager. Sorry. >> No problem. Um, no. I was just going to say I think um this food truck ordinance it it really came to me because of our enforcement and complaints that we were
getting of, you know, food trucks maybe parking in areas they weren't supposed to be parking or operating where they were blocking a right ofway. Um, the actual fees are from the health department. So um the fees associated I did meet with all the departments associated with you know enforcement for
the food trucks to include fire police um and also the health department and also zoning. So what we did was we did do a comprehensive map to make sure that we are keeping the food trucks at least 200 ft from our existing businesses
because we want to respect what they put into the community and you know paying to have their businesses you know operating. but at the same time equally allowing the food truck since there is a large food truck in industry that we you know has been up and coming. So we have an area where they're permitted but we
just have some regulations in place. So um I are you saying you you think the fees that they're going to pay we should revisit? Is that the the only thing that we're looking at the rest? >> Well I have I have another concern actually. >> Um it's not just the fees. So,
um, first of all, I have a very strong issue with the fact that we're regulating ice cream trucks. I mean, it's it's not cannabis where we we have to have a cap. This is ice cream trucks. Um, I I just don't think that's really the role of of this council or government. But the
other issue that I had with it is um we're we're requiring a huge cost to businesses. they could be starting out. But having a commissary requirement, um, it's actually going to force ice cream trucks to have a commissary
requirement because the state has a, uh, requirement that ice cream is a non TCS um, food. So, it like has to have certain temperature and the way the ordinance is written, we're literally going to make ice cream trucks, get a commissary or have a license for one, which is a huge expense just to box ice
cream up. um they're not cooking the food, they're not preparing the food. Um so that's I mean we're literally adding a huge huge expense to them. And then my other question is what happens if they happen to own the business? Can they be within 200 feet of their own restaurant? >> That's a good question. I I can
definitely find out for you. >> Any other comments? >> Want to support Mayor Belchure's motion. >> Thank you. Before we before we do the vote, could we just continue the comments? Mr. from Council Pan and then G and everyone. >> Yeah, I think >> Were we waiting for for Mr. Jordan to answer?
>> I think there's some other questions that people wanted to mention. We can >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um Danielle, do you want to go first because you had your hand up longer? Okay. Um I just wanted you guys to know that I have a actually a philosophical issue with this proposed ordinance. Seven out of 10 food trucks in this region are owned by Latinos and
African-Americans. And I feel that we should actually be taking steps to help them succeed in Tina as opposed to maybe taking steps that might prevent them from wanting to participate in our Tina community. And so right now I'm I'm okay with pulling it.
>> Um >> thank you. Thank you that I I would I would you know certainly agree with that. I I think for I look at it uh too um um Mr. on that it is uh it speaks to culture you know and we are constantly talking about how rich of culture we
have in our in our township. Well you know cuisine speaks to culture and if we if we depend upon um strictly brickandmortar restaurants to be reflective of the cuisine that that our township produces then I think
we're limiting ourselves. So that that's one of the primary reasons that I I feel it should be pulled and we should look at maybe other ways um uh Jackie that we can maybe identify locations that would not hinder uh driving. Uh some towns
have utilized, you know, parks. They have maybe found areas in which they they can can host uh uh these these the different locations of trucks. They even have, you know, uh, uh, weekend truck fairs or or food food fairs or whatever that, you know, truck food fairs. Um, so
I'm like saying I think we can think outside of the box beh they don't pay rent. However, they're only operational six months out of the out of the year. You know, when you think about it, they're they're literally operating a business from,
let's say, May to maybe November, and then we don't hear an ice cream truck until the weather gets warm again. So, I I don't feel as if, you know, I think we have to offer a little bit more grace if we want to have the variety of types of
businesses that we want in our township. I just want to clarify that the fee the $275 fee is the existing fee. This is not new in this ordinance. So, what we're commenting on the fee, it's not it's not anything new. Like, we didn't add it to this ordinance. I'm not sure if everyone is is clear on that. It's
not new. Um, and also the the limitation on where they can go. We actually didn't limit them only to one street. We just put it in place that we were protecting some of our existing businesses as well as giving them the option to park on the other street. So, I just wanted to make sure I'm clear and saying they're not
just only allowed on Palisad or only by a certain park or they are allowed in other areas. We just don't want them to park in front of a deli or a or a fruit store and impact their business. So, that's really where that >> Can I ask a question about um this question about that?
>> Sorry, Council Cass before we do that, I think um Councilman G. Organ had also raised her hands if you don't mind if we can just go that in order. Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. >> My comment was already said, so I'm not >> Thank you very much. um deputy organ then council. >> So I believe that's the same fee that anyone who participates in the farmers
market for the season pays as well. And when businesses and food trucks come to the Memorial Day fair or T- day, they also have to pay a fee to the health department. The health department is responsible for making sure that anything that's sold and that people eat
in this town is healthy and is not going to hurt them. And they go in and they inspect the brickandmortar restaurants. They need to be doing the same thing to food trucks. There needs to be regulation and that's to protect the people that are buying food from them. It doesn't seem like an honorous
ordinance at all. Actually, it's just putting some regulations in place. So, it's the same fee structure that anybody who participates in the farmers market's going to pay. It says that you can't park in front of uh on the street on a public street overnight. We have two
food trucks now on um Palisade Avenue that are actually there overnight. We've seen them early in the morning when we go running and there's nobody inside and they're not selling food. The truck stays there. So, that can't be okay either. We have an ordinance that doesn't allow um tractor trailers to
park in front of the park either. It shouldn't be your home base and it shouldn't be your your parking spot there. And it's got nothing to do with um culture or um you know different um minorities. This
is to protect the people in town who are going to these places who are eating. When you're parked at Vote Park now, you have to bring your own garbage bag according to this ordinance. You have to clear out your garbage. It's not going into the garbage cans that the rest of the town uses and then they overflow. So
these are just Will it help them succeed? I think so because we won't have an abundance of them. Um, you know, it does put a limit on them. But we need to think about this in another way. You know, you do we feel bad for ice cream trucks that are only there six months
out of the year? I guess. I assume they each have um some other profession the rest of the year, but we can't maintain an ice cream store in town right now. We keep losing them. So, I I don't I I would find it very hard to believe that
members of the chamber have a hard time with this. I would love to hear from them, but I think it's a really good ordinance. It's gone through many variations and we've commented on it before and I I think this is only protective. >> Hey, council, >> I just want to make one correction and that's
>> we just let one >> Yeah. One correction that because she's basically I'm not saying that the Chamber of Commerce is against this. am saying that as a leazison to the chamber of commerce. I've spoken with many businesses and this is some of the I'm not saying the chamber of commerce is saying I'm saying businesses in general
there that have an issue with this and one thing I just want to mention in regarding the fees failure to pay that fee by January third uh 31st uh the fee doubles and failure to pay by February 28th the fee triples. So, I think that
is cumbersome to a small business ice cream truck owner. I really do. I think we need to I'm not saying that we we should not um have any parameters around food trucks. I believe there are uh regulations we should have, especially
health and safety. However, I don't think this is our best work. I think we need to go back and we need to tweak this so that it's reflective of of what we want our food truck industry to look like in >> Tina. Sure. Can we let can we let council cat
please let council cat talk please? Thank you council cat. >> So I know one would think that I was actually the driver of this but the truth is I happen to love food trucks. Um, I think it would be a wonderful thing for Tene to have a nice cluster of
food trucks in his own where it can be an attraction to the community. Um, but with that said, I also do get complaints from businesses about food trucks sitting in front of their their store.
Doesn't matter what race, nationality, etc. is in the vehicle. The chances are they also have those in Tina because we have such an amazing amount of great restaurants. And I guarantee you none of those restaurants would like to have a
competing food truck right in front of their store. I guarantee it. And with that said, this is I guess a way to kind of give a little controls, but I I don't disagree with uh Deputy Mayor Belchure that there's probably some tweaks that
can be done. Um, I mean it is summertime is practically over. Maybe it makes sense to to spend a little extra time on it. Um, as far as the fee, the one question I had is every single business in town that is health related has to
pay the health department fee. Is this in addition to the health department fee or is this the health department fee? >> Manager, >> that's the fee. Yeah. the 275 that's the annual fee. So in January they pay that fee and I think that then it secures
them. So we put a limitation on it. So if you come in for your annual you know your fee you pay that one fee then you can you know that's all you pay for the whole year and then if you want to do a one-time event you go back to the health department. Let's say you don't want to pay the annual fee then you pay per
event. So if they want to participate in teen day or they want to participate in um Fourth of July by vote park then they would pay an event fee through the health department and [clears throat] like um one of you had commented it it does secure um you know the food being
you know getting inspected and our inspectors come out. So um that fee like I said has always been in place. It did not go into play for this ordinance even though I I know um we would like to revisit it. Um I don't think um everyone knew that it was already there. It's not
it's not a new fee. So they're paying that fee now is is all I just wanted to clarify. >> But I also will say as a I'm sorry if I could just I will say as a as as a restaurant owner that owning a restaurant in today's times with all the different challenges is a lot more
difficult. And you see that by a lot of the empty spaces and the restaurants and the food places that are going out um throughout Tene. Um and if these people are not paying rent, then the money and
the burden of taxes will be shifted on our residents because commercial property is being assessed based on the rents, right? Not based on anything else, not how many toilets. So if we value the fact that we want to protect our tene residents, the homeowners, we
also must protect our merchants. So [snorts] I I do think that there is, like I said, maybe not our best work, but uh I do support this um and for that reason only, just to protect our homeowners so that we're also protecting our merchants by protecting our
homeowners. Okay, we have I'm sorry Hillary stands up. Council Goldber then the deputy mayor organ. >> Um I just want to echo I I totally understand and I agree with the you know inspection requirements. Um my biggest
concern is the commissary requirements honestly and especially for boxed ice cream trucks. Like I think that that would be a like I would be able to support that if we can rework it without the commissary requirements. I think that's I understand if it's preparing
food, but if it's literally, you know, boxed ice cream and I really really do have a strong concern about limiting the number of of trucks, I don't think that's the role of government. >> Yeah. Okay. So, do do we want to there's Okay, Deputy Morgan. >> Thank you. Um, if a if a brickandmortar
store doesn't pay their health department fee at the beginning of the year, does it then double and triple for them also, or do we shut them down? How does that work? What's the burden on them? Typically speaking, you would shut them down. They have to pay their fee. Um the
health department could bring them to municipal court to require them to pay the fee, but if they don't pay their fee, they their license gets stopped. >> So, so you know, I get it. Hibiscus and Bean opened on Cedar Lane, right? And they're not full all the time, though I
I wish them well. But now imagine um a really adorable coffee truck opening in Voti Park where it's just easy for people to go there and not pick up and go to Cedar Lane. There should be some control over the number of trucks that
we have. And I just a question for Tom. Is it true that boxed ice cream can't be sold according to the ordinance? >> Well, there's two things at play here, right? There's a health sanitary code, the state health sanitary code. So you're talking about state regulatory
sanitary violations and then you're talking about your local proposed ordinance that deals with really the operations. Um uh but the answer to your question is yes under a state h sanitary code perspective. >> So it's the state that restricts that.
Well, there there's a significant amount of state sanitary uh codes that apply to itinerant vendors, uh you know, mobile uh food vendors, food trucks, that sort of thing. You're filling in the gaps of this from an operational perspective and
from a licensing perspective, which you're which your board of health is permitted to do. >> Okay. the ordinance, sorry, the ordinance does have an exemption for prepackaged food that does not require commas, >> but the state requires um ice cream is
considered a TCS food. It's in there somewhere. Um and so because of that, so the ordinance excludes TCS foods because of the refrigeration or the freezer issue. Um, so we literally we'd be requiring a commissary or a commissary lease for taking boxed ice cream out
because by definition it's a TCS uh food. Um, and just also to Deputy Mayor Belchure's point about the farmers market. I know that um, home cottage licenses are exempt too, but like we literally have to have police officers checking all the vendors. Like I just think this I'm okay with I have no
problem with the permitting, you know, and the health obviously 100%, but I I think that we're putting a lot of undue burdens on small businesses and like I said about the numbers. >> So So do we have a motion here? >> Yeah, Deputy M. >> So the first motion in the table and I
believe Councilwoman Goldberg seconded a little while ago was to pull this. That's number one. So let's do the roll call on that and see where we go from here. >> And who made that motion to that? Motion by Deputy Mayor Belure, seconded by Councilman Goldberg. >> I'm I'm okay with that. Sorry.
>> I'm sorry. >> I'll wait I'll wait till my turn. Sorry, >> Mr. Clerk. >> And was that a table or >> to table to that was to table it? I guess the manager would make some tweaks based on the comments you heard. That was >> that was the
>> Does that mean we have to reintroduce it though? >> Of course. >> Depends on how significant it is. Sorry, >> it'll be more than typos, so we'll have to read. >> All right, that's what I want to put on. >> All right, cool. Councilwoman Goldberg, >> yes. >> Councilman Pagan,
>> yes to table. >> Councilwoman G. >> Yes. >> Councilman Catz, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Belure, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Wargan, >> no. >> Mayor Schwarz, >> no.
>> Can we just get a deadline? Who's going to work on this? what idea specifically you want because this is something that needs to move forward. >> So, let's for the manager. Can you get in touch with her tomorrow? >> Yeah, I I I would say that yeah, I would
be happy to work with the manager on it. I but I kind of agree with uh with um you know, Councilman um Ellie uh who's basically saying the summer is almost over. So I think if we were to introduce something now at two or three or four months left in the summer, I I
personally would like to see whatever we put together that would start as of when we officially think the next summer will begin. be it, you know, Memorial Day of 2027 because I I feel as if many businesses
are depending upon revenue to to live to to operate their business. So, all I'm saying is I'm happy to work with uh with Jackie on any revisions. I mean, like I personally believe that there should be a a a number of feet distance away from
businesses. I don't have a problem with that. I don't think you should own a coffee shop and have a coffee truck be able to park in front of your your store. I I I do agree with that. But there are things that we can do to improve upon this and that's all I'm saying. >> Yeah, I just like to hear what they are
specifically. So I I was hoping to push this forward. It's going to take us at least a couple of months just to pass it and summer will be gone and then we'll be in election season. So if you could send out your thoughts or meet with the manager so she can forward them to us. I'd like to see where the changes are that you'd like.
>> Sure. And I I would invite my colleagues to add to add their comments as well and send theirs as well. Thank you. >> Okay. So, with that said, I'm going to make a motion to introduce ordinances 37, 38, 39, and 40 of 2026. That was
seconded by Councilman Bean. >> Um, no. Sorry. We need to have um we have the hearing first. I apologize. My apologies. Um, we have to open the hearing first. I'm sorry about that. >> Yes. >> Um, yes. Okay, Mr. Clerk, um if you can please look on Zoom, this meeting is um now the hearing is now open for
ordinances 37, 38, 39, and 40 only. Not for the food truck, not for the storm, nothing else, just these. Um you have three minutes and Mr. Clerk, please call ahead. Please call any names if they're being requested. >> Absolutely. Like the mayor so eloquently
said, this public hearing right now, which we have three minutes each for, is only for these ordinances that we have just read into the record, not the food truck ordinance. >> Any hands? >> No sir.
>> See no hands. This hearing is now closed. I will now to rem make my motion for ordinances 37, 38, 39, and 40th, 2026. Seconded by council began. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Goldberg, >> yes.
>> Counciloman Pagan, >> yes. >> Councilwoman G, >> yes. >> Councilman Catz, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Belure, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Oregon, >> yes. >> Mayor Schwarz, >> yes. >> All adopted. 41 is tabled. We'll
hopefully see it again in the future. >> Thank you very much. Now, this meeting is open to the public for good and welfare. three minutes on anything and everything you'd like to discuss. With that, Mr. Clerk, if I can please turn the DJing over to you. >> You got it. Yes. So, we have three minutes for anything that you would like
to speak about. My friends, residents, the first up that we have is Eva. >> Good evening. My name is Eva. Oh, can you hear me? >> Loud and clear. Eva, you got three minutes. >> Okay. Good evening. My name is Eva Marie Jennings and I live at 962 Windsor Road.
A $25 backyard chicken permit issued every other year functions like a tax on residents do not that do not raise chickens. When violations are found and neighboring homeowners are left paying substantial extermination costs, the
permit holder pays $1250 a year. We pay repeatedly to protect our homes from a public health threat. Tonight, I ask the township to complete the schedule follow-up inspection and set firm deadlines for correcting every
violation. Change permit holders reinspection required because of non-compliance. Explain when a permit will be suspended, revoked, denied, or reviewed. uh review whether the 25 bianial fee and
current inspection system adequately adequately protects uh neighboring residents. Here's my experience. I've lived at this address for 25 years. Until this year, I've never experienced a rat problem on my property or known of
a serious rat problem on our block. At the end of June, I learned of a significant rat activity in the neighborhood. One neighbor reported killing 21 rats. Another neighbor told me that he saw
rats running to my property. I've maintained a licensed professional exterminator for years, internal and external, as a preventive measure. After learning about the problem, I increased my exterior bait stations from two to
four. For more than a month, at every service visit, the bait in all four stations have been consumed, even when visits were only 3 days apart. My exterminator said he rarely sees bait consumed so completely and consistently.
There is a permitted backyard chicken coupe near my property. feed, waste, water, and shelter around the chicken coupe can attract and sustain rats when not properly controlled. A health department representative also told me that the department had encountered
significant rat activity on another block where there was a chicken coupe. The health department inspected the nearby property and found violations. I appreciate that action. I was first told by the inspector he
would return last Thursday. I've now been told he will follow up tomorrow. I don't know why the date was changed, but I inspect the inspector will return and the violations to be corrected promptly. I also placed letters in my neighbors
mailboxes because rats move from property to property and this cannot be solved by one prop homeowner acting alone. This is not a personal dispute. It's about public health, responsible licensing, fair allocation.
Thank you, Eva. Your three minutes were up. Please email council if you have any other comments. Council tenecknj.gov. We're going down the line here. Bringing up Alan Sone. >> Three minutes. Three minutes, my
friends. Hello, Alan. Can you hear me? >> Loud and clear, sir. Three minutes. >> Wow. It was particularly gling uh to hear that food trucks would not be
paying any sewer fee. May I remind Mr. Katz that nobody paid a sewer fee for the past three years. For 2023, 2024, 2025. there was no sewer
billing. The one sewer billing item that's on our agenda for this evening uh covers an outstanding sewer bill from 2022 that had not been paid. The amount the details indicate um that there was block
3606 lot 3 4403 lot 1, but no indication of who owns that property. um Glenpoint Senzary which is one of our certainly our largest commercial user they have been incurring sewer fees and not been paying them. Uh Holy Name has been
incurring sewer fees and not paying them. FDU has been incurring sewer fees and the reason is that they have not been built. I do not understand why Mr. Katz and Mr. Schwarz have not been pushing for these sewer bills for the
past three years. There's an impact to not having those sewer bills. The impact is that the taxpayers have had to foot the bill for that $2 million. Either it was borrowed or it was added to their taxes. Over the past three years, taxes
have increased 20%, a $12 million increase. that $2 million in sewer billing could have gone a long way to alleviating the burden that's been placed on taxpayers. There's no reason why that should not have been build every single year. Do we
only bill sewer bills when there's a FIFA World Cup or do we only bill sewer bills when Ellie Cass is up for reelection? This is part of a pattern. We could have used that money for other things. In addition to alleviating taxes, we could
have used it towards a CSX pedestrian foot bridge, which would have provided a benefit to all children, all seniors, all disabled, all people using bicycles who cannot use that bridge. The Americans with Disabilities Act was
passed decades ago. And this is part of a pattern of neglect of resources that have been neglected year after year after year. We can look at all the things that are on the uh capital taxes, capital budget for the next six years,
whether it's firehouses, whether it's the fire headquarters. Uh we can look at what happened with the pool which was neglected into non-existence in vote park. We can look at our police headquarters which has been at Petri Dish. We can look at the ground floor below the council chambers which has
been neglected for several years or the upstairs of that building uh which still needs work. There's a tremendous amount of work. But if we neglect what we have, if we don't take care of those things, if we allow that perpetual neglect, that's only going to harm residents and
taxpayers at a future cost of several million dollars more. This neglect of our resources, this neglect to send out bills, this hyper concern about whether whether we food trucks pay bills, but not whether the businesses and major
users pay them or Mr. Catz pays them is why your taxes are going up. This is what's been done to you as as a teen pay taxpayer for years and you deserve better. You deserve a council that looks ahead at all all of its expenses.
Thank you, Alan. In 3 minutes, we're up. We're bringing in Catherine. Catherine, you have three minutes. Whenever you're ready. >> Hear me? >> Yes, Katherine. Whenever you're ready.
>> Thank you. My name is Katherine Burn. I live at 946 Garrison Avenue. Um on July 1st I was crossing Cedar Lane going north to cross over to Garrison and uh the light had changed. The uh walk light
was uh had been on for quite several seconds. I walked into the into the uh crosswalk and out of nowhere some car came tearing down Cedar Lane going at least 40 miles an hour. I luckily jumped out of the way otherwise I would have
been hit and I actually have people who came to me gave me their names and numbers saying we are witnesses to this. I was able to take a picture of the car have the car the license plates etc. But there was no police officer there. So apparently to pursue this um I have to
go to criminal court to report them. Um almost every single day I see someone running lights on Cedar Lane and going extremely fast. There are lots of accidents. You probably all know all about them. About cars pulling a U-turn and knocking two cars up onto the
sidewalk. Um, some car somehow ending up on its side. Um, I know there have been deaths over the years. This is really an incredibly dangerous situation. I'm probably at Cedar Lane almost every day and almost every day someone is speeding
through the the red lights. I know there's some kind of cameras hanging from the lights, but apparently nothing is done with that. But something has to be done or someone's going to be killed. I'm telling you, if I were pushing a baby carriage, god forbid, something tragic would have happened. Um, again, I
know there are cameras on the lights. Maybe the lights need rettimed. Uh even then I people are going crazy speeds whether it needs speed humps on cedar lanes uh or even signs hanging from the lights saying you are being recorded
this is a 25 mile zone or whatever it is you know please slow down or you will be ticketed but something has to be done and it's um it's terrifying I can go and to the criminal court and report it but I don't want it to be a one-off something the root cause needs to be
addressed. We still have 40 seconds. Catherine was there. >> Just that something needs to be done and it's it's incredibly dangerous and there there've got to be ways to do this and some of which probably that don't cost very much money. >> Thank you, Katherine. Council responds
at the end. We appreciate you coming out. We have Dory Rivera. >> Can you hear me? Can you hear me? >> Hello, Dory. We can hear you. Happy Tuesday. Three minutes.
>> Ah, yes. Thank you. Okay. Uh, my name is Dory Rivera. I live on Maple. I am hopping on this call um for uh to speak about the chicken coupe and rat situation that I myself have been
having. I've reached out and spoke at another meeting several months ago and I have continued rat spottings poop uh have rats have run across my feet. I've called in complaints multiple times. I have also spent thousands of dollars to
put up a fence. I have hired an exterminator to come to my property. Still showing activity. Every time I go outside in my yard, I'm like a hawk looking in every corner. And I really feel that the town has not really done anything for me. But the people that
continue to have the chicken coops are still living carefree, cleaning up a little bit here and there, and moving on while the rest of us are continuing to suffer. I am no longer comfortable in my backyard at all. The health hazards that
come along with the rats, we all know what they are, but I don't know why this is still an issue. And I am really hoping that the town considers eliminating permits completely for the town. We all live on top of each other and we really should not be having
livestock on the other [clears throat] side of a vinyl fence or a wood fence. I just don't think it's safe and I I really don't know what else I should be doing as a resident of this town to protect myself. My neighbors are also suffering from this and this is just
very very serious and I I really would hope the town takes to consideration to eliminate the permits completely. No more chances, just elimination. This is going to get a lot worse. Thank you.
Thank you, Dory. We are bringing in Yama. >> Hi, good evening everyone. Can you hear me? >> Loud and clear. 3 minutes. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, I'm here this evening uh to speak about the rat
infestation. So, I had I am neighbors with Eva and I've already I already was aware of the um the chicken coops becoming an issue with rats. I've never seen a rat in my backyard. I've been told you know they
are a natural um you know uh live animal that lives in the area. However, it's it's not a natural thing if it's never happened before and there's a obvious correlation with the chicken coupe and rats as we see um other neighbors in
town are having the same issues. Um so I do believe that they should be eliminated. I I know at one point they uh were in I guess you know it was enacted. There was an ordinance to allow it then that went away. They removed it
and then there was some meeting where someone dressed up as a chicken and did a whole you know theatrical thing and and now chicken coops are back. Um I really believe that this needs to be this ordinance needs to be looked at again eliminated in general. Um, I have
children that play in my backyard. My neighbors have children that play in their backyard. There's no way this is okay. Um, and I also feel that, um, the town needs to care more about the the the folks who are actually paying the
cost of having rats in their backyards and the property value going down. I mean, if anyone knew outside of T-neck that there's a rat problem or infestation that's starting to take hold, I'm pretty sure that that would not be a great thing for Teneck and
folks moving into town. So, please look this over. I beg. I plea. That's my time. Thank you. >> Thank you, Ya. Mayor, at this time I see no other hands. >> Hey, thank you very much. And good and
welfare is over. Uh, with that, we'll go in our usual order. Um, Councilman Go, did you have anything you wanted to add, please? >> I'm going to be short and sweet tonight. Um, I just asked if the manager can um can she tell us in the public, so what's the process for chicken complaints like
from her perspective? I just want to get a better understanding. >> You got it. You want her to go now? I'm sure some other people will say or could she go? whichever order >> we'll go we'll go at the end if there's other comments on chickens. >> Thank you very much Councilman Pagan. >> Yes, [clears throat] thank you mayor. I have visited a few of the infested
properties and have seen multiple dead rat bodies, huge ones. And I've been in constant communication with the manager about this and she's been working hard on this as well with our health officer. Can uh Jackie, if you don't mind later if you just don't mind telling the residents what the process is and what
we've been doing and what we've been trying. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay. Um I'm [clears throat] sorry to think of the order. Councilman Catz, I'm sorry. I'm not sure if your hands raised. I apologize. >> No, I'm okay. >> Got it. Counciloman G.
>> Yeah, it's G then Cats, but it's okay. >> I'm sorry. I apologize. [laughter] Well, I'm trying. >> It's okay. Um no, my question was for um uh Miss Hashmat. Um the I'm curious the number of um current uh chicken permits
that we have outstanding just because I want to understand is this like a pervasive issue or is this two out of hundreds of permits because um I think it would be really helpful to hear from neighbors where you know people are doing the right thing and taking care of
their chicken coops um to really understand is it an issue of just you know certain neighbors not having all the preventive measures in case versus a pervasive issue throughout. Um, so I think having that [clears throat] color would be helpful. Um, and secondly, I
just my my heart goes out to all of the residents who who called in and spoke about these issues. I can't imagine having to deal with them. Um, I you know, I I'm I'm very curious to see what it is we can be doing um in a speedier fashion to address these issues. I know
I have young children and I I would not want to be dealing with these um rats outside of my home. So, um, yeah, those are the two questions I have and and want to get back to these neighbors as soon as possible. >> Got it. Before we go to the manager, um, Deputy Mayor Belchure, any comments?
>> Uh, yeah, just just a couple comments. Um, I I too remember, um, uh, Mrs. Rivera, Mrs. Jennings, and Mrs. Rivero. um that uh the day that we had the the the chicken suit um that was kind of
came in and and and and this ordinance passed. I want to mention and remind my colleagues, I think I was the only one that voted against chickens in town and and I and that that's not because I I don't like chickens by by any means. I I I just happen to have been raised by uh
parents that grew up on a farm and every summer would visit my my my grandparents and I know that chickens, you know, do kind of bring other um animals. So, I I know it is a problem and I I feel as if
whatever we can do um Jackie to kind of help our residents because it it I agree with one of the callers who said it's only going to get worse. So, uh, I think we need to really kind of wrap our arms around this, um, very quickly. I just want to mention a couple things that,
uh, Mr. Song has said. I I too want to know what is the status of the, um, sewer bills being, um, uh, distributed to these major institutions within our township. I also agree that we have to
constantly imagine what could we do to bring relief to our residents. But not only that, what could we do to fund the unfinished projects that we have right here in our township, i.e. the um basement in the uh municipal building.
We have had that kind of hanging over our heads since I've been in office. And I have to say that just imagine how we could have helped a food pantry that potentially need space and how we could have helped the Chamber of Commerce.
both of those um entities um from the original plan from the previous uh town manager have space relegated in that in in the uh in in the municipal uh lower level. So I just really would like us to really take a proactive approach to uh
making sure that these sewer bills do get out and they do get paid. That's all I have to say. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Uh Deputy Mayor Morgan. >> Yeah. So um not not negating the issue with the sewer bills, but there is a greater problem with the basement of the
municipal building. It's getting grounds water. So it's not a money issue that's not put aside for it. There's actually um a seepage of water from the ground and that we can't do any work on it until that problem is solved. Um, I want
to go back to the food trucks for a minute and just put out there that any food truck operating right now has already paid the health department um, for this year. They've paid their permits. Um, so this would definitely be an issue for next year. But, um, still I I would like to get a jump on this now
and not kick it down the road so that it's not done for next summer. And I think it might be a nice idea to bring the health officer in. We did that um, with the previous health officer before we passed the chicken ordinance and got her perspective. Now that we're dealing with this, I think it might be nice to
hear from him and also to get the exact numbers that he's dealing with. So if if we could ask Michael if he would be okay coming to our next meeting, that might give us a clearer picture. >> That's it. >> Okay. So before we turn it over to the manager, I'll make my comments. First of
all, Miss Burn, please, please, please follow the report. Right now, we've significantly increased our traffic enforcement. I'm actually getting more complaints about I don't want to use words over enforcement, but I'm getting more complaints about the enforcement than I are than I am about the lack of
enforcement. So, please, we'll continue enforcing, we'll continue giving tickets and but please file that report. Uh we can't film, by the way. New Jersey law doesn't allow us to film. But, uh putting that aside, you're absolutely right. Had that been a woman in a stroller, God forbid, this could have
got a lot a lot um worse. So, I I'm glad to hear you're okay. Um, Miss Manager, if you can also add to when you finish to your comments. I believe we already built the 22 sewer. Uh, 25 sewer is not yet data is not yet out and 23 and 24 sewer. The engineer the outside engineer
firm is already working on it and has been retained. Um, and um, I look forward to hearing about the chickens. So, with that, Mr. Manager, you're the council. Please comment accordingly. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, so first uh, I'll start with uh, the chickens. Um I have
been uh working diligently with Michael Meyer from the start of the complaints. They have been working diligently. I know I have let all every all everyone from council know. We we start with the complaint. We send an inspector just so you know the process. We report to the
you know whomever has the chickens. We do an inspection of the property thoroughly to see what the issue is. We look for areas where the rats may burrow or you know, you know, certain areas of the property that need attention. Um they direct the actual resident on what
they need to do to abate the violation. A notice of violation is issued and then they are given seven to 10 10 business days to address this. In addition, um they are required to get a pest control uh company to come in once we see that there might be an issue on their
property, whether it be chickens or any other property maintenance issue that might need pest services. With that, our health department then gets proof of their pest services and that they're getting treatment on their property so that we know that they're actually addressing the issue at hand. Um, I will
confidently say that this has been the process with these properties that are still coming up as a recurring property. Um, I will say that our health officer, I have followed up with him and he has reported that he has reached out to some of the properties to check in, see if
they're having any recurring issues. Um, just as as early as two weeks ago, he reached out to um, one of the residents and he did not receive a return response. So, some of these things are communication. Um, on our part, we're reaching out and we are not really getting any feedback that we have an
issue on these properties. So, I just want to be upfront that it is important that we are communicating resident to our health department. That way, we could be as a much assistance to them as possible. Um, if there is an issue at these properties, I'm going to make sure we schedule to go out again um and reach
out to these residents again this week. So, we just ask for that cooperation. That way we can go make sure the pest services are still in place for the the properties that have chickens currently. Um and also see if there's any issues on their properties where you know they may need our assistance. Um but we are going
back um we are reinspecting. Um just recently we had a property on Windsor. Um the property was inspected and the violation was abated. Now, rats can still remain in the area. So, pest services should still continue past the point of us seeing that, you know, the,
you know, the inspections are being done and there's proof of this of the pest services. Um, my recommendation is yes, let's have Michael come in. Let's have him give us his recommendations on what's been going on. I think, um, we're seeing a rise in these rat reports, uh, in the areas where people do have rat
um, do have chickens. Um, and I think we should have a serious conversation that maybe this is just not for our township. Like maybe like our properties are just on the smaller side. Uh, we're seeing an overflow of rat um, you know, population in our areas and our homeowners are being affected. So my recommendation is
like let's bring Michael in and let's all um, you know, rethink whether we you know want to continue this or pull the ordinance al together. >> I think that's a great suggestion and please let's set that up. Okay. Um, with that it is time for the
>> Oh, mayor, did you want us to comment on the sewer billing? I I do um I I know Issa is on to give an update on out on your billing if you want it. Did you want >> He's on. Yeah, >> Isa, I'm coming for you. Give him one minute, guys.
[clears throat] He's moving over to our side right now. Give him one minute. Yeah. >> Hi. Sorry. I don't know why I had just a bad signal. Um just a quick update. Uh yes. Um the mayor adequately or aptly said it. The 22 sewer billing was build.
I personally delivered it to the post office on May 4th. Um, we have gotten a good I would say at least 50% of the receivable. The outstanding bills really are the larger commercial properties, but we did have an issue where we were advised that the um one on resolution
tonight since did not receive their bill. This is not something I do uh just for anyone. Believe me, I have at least three or four conversations with individuals who are late and I do not wave interest for them. Um, that is state statute. But if it is my policy
that if they did not receive their bill, which is no fault of their own. We know the post office is uh unfortunate track record of the last half decade. I do move forward and recommend that interest is wait. It is no no fault of their own. I actually met with the outside engineer today. The 23 um sewer billing data
extrapolation is near completion. He's working with our IT department. We just have a few punch list items to resolve and then really 24 and 25 should flow smoothly. We are still working on um having the 23 billing done for the
fourth quarter and then for next year we're still in charge of for 25 and 26. >> Thank you very much Mr. Sivon. I appreciate you calling in. Thank you very much. Okay, Mr. Clerk. Consent agenda. Take it away, >> sir. We have a few things on our consent
agenda this evening. We have [snorts] two raffles, two sets of minutes. >> There it is. >> Two raffles, two sets of minutes. Resolutions 257 to 284 2026
and the bill list in the amount of 14,770,75146. >> Best money spent. Is there any resolutions that anybody would like to pull? Councilman Goldberg, I see your hand. [snorts] >> Yeah, I actually have a few. Um, it's
257, 258, 259, 26. 257, 258, 259. >> Quick questions. >> 260. >> Um, 275, uh, 278, sorry, and
two, 283 and 284. And then um >> 257258 259 260 275 278 283 284 >> Okay. >> Uh
27. Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Any other any any other council members like to pull any other resolutions that have not been mentioned? Seeing no hands, I'll make a motion to pass the rest of the uh I'll read it to pass 261 262s 263 64 65 66 67
68 69 70 71 72 73 74 Mr. Clerk did anything else after that? 76 >> 76 and 77. Correct. >> 79 >> 79 80 81 82 >> 79 812 and the bill list and it's seconded by Councilman Pagan. Roll call,
please. >> Councilwoman Goldberg, >> Emma, yes. And an abstension on the bill's list. >> Councilman Pagan, >> yes. >> Councilwoman G. >> Yes. >> Councilman Catz,
>> I'm a yes. Abstension on the bill list and abstension on all the um resolutions after 274. after 274. Debbie May Belchure. >> Uh I'm a Yes. I just have a question for Jackie on the was it a competitive bid
that went out for the contractor that is doing the work on the lower level? Was that done by competitive bid? Uh you know what? I'll I'm I'm voting yes and I'll come back to that and give you the number on it. Okay. >> Okay. Excellent. Could you the roll
call, please, Mr. Clerk? Deputy Mayor Organ. >> Yes. >> Mayor Schwarz, >> yes on all. Okay. Deputy May sorry, Councilman Goldberg, please proceed. >> Um, really, really quickly, Doug, I just also need to abstain on the two minutes because I wasn't here last meeting, so I can't vote on them for the two minutes.
All right. So, my question for 257 and 258 is kind of pretty straightforward. Um, there's two parts. One, the deadline, actually, for 260 also, the deadline for all three of these has passed. So, I just want to make sure that like we're okay still submitting that. The two are July 20th and then one
was May 22nd. So, I just want to make sure that we're still good because the resolution even says that it passed is my first easy question. >> Mr. Manager, >> I'm sorry, Hillary. What is the deadline? What is it for? I'm sorry.
>> The deadlines for 257 and 258 passed two days ago and then 260 passed uh two months ago. at least according to the resolutions 257 258 and then yeah and I have a totally different question on 260 but
yeah the resolutions p say July 20th 2026 and then on page actually it's in the res uh I don't have it I'm having computer problems sorry um in the resolution on page 35 of the packet that it has to be
done no later than May, July, sorry, Monday, July 20th, which was two days ago. I want to make sure that we're okay. Same for our 258. My first quick question on that. >> Is that is that a question for the attorney?
>> Uh, manager, I think. I don't know. I'm assuming that we're I want to make sure that we reply with getting this >> Okay, >> I dropped I dropped there. Um, >> so 257. Um, go ahead. I'm sorry, Hillary.
>> I just wanted to make sure that we're good on the dates that we can still like the deadline according to these have pass. So, do we are we good still? That's really it. >> We're Yes, we're good. >> We're good. >> All right. My other really quick question on that for the 2578. I only asked this for what project are
we doing this with? The only reason I ask is because these C CDBG and home are being cut out of the federal budget for next year. I just want to make sure that we're applying for 2026 funds, not 27. I think it's on the congressional website. >> Doug, can you see it in front of you? I
don't have it pulled. >> Are you talking about 258 and 259 about the >> 257 and 258 are both being cut or at least >> 258? >> Yeah. I mean, if we're applying for 2026, great. But I just want to make sure that we're not applying for something that we need because it's out
of our control here. It is. >> Other than that, I'm totally fine with these. I just want to make sure that we're >> fiscal. It's [clears throat] fiscal years. >> Hang on, I'm bringing it. The Bergen County CDBG
>> is fiscal years 27 to 2030. >> So, I mean, I'm a I'm a yes on these. I just want to make it I mean, right now they're talking about cutting both of these from the federal budget. Right now, if you look on the congressional budget for 27, it's zero all lines for both of these. I just want to make sure that we're good. But other than that,
>> also the same time frame for the resolution for 258. Both those resolutions are kind of being adopted in tandem. And I'm Yeah. Yeah. I'm sure if anything happens with the funding that the county will expeditiously let us know. >> Okay. Um All right. So,
>> I would just say to that that that's a Trump administration proposal that Congress has to approve. So, it hasn't been approved yet that they would be zeroed out. >> Yeah. I just want to make sure. I saw 60%. I just want to, you know, lose any money for the residents. So, I'm okay
moving uh 57 and 58. >> Thank you very much. Okay. Uh, so it's a motion by Goldberg, seconded by Pagan. Roll call on 257 and 258. >> Counciloman Goldberg. >> Yes. >> Councilman Bean. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman G. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Catz, >> yes. >> Debbie Mayor Belchure. >> Yes. Deputy Mayor Oregon. >> Yes. >> Mayor Schwarz. >> Yes. 259. >> Ken, I don't know who to ask this. What are we actually applying for with the
natural gas supply? I I I'm just very confused what we're applying to and what like where we're trying to save. I mean, I can't really tell. And I also Yeah, I was very confused with that one. Um I don't know if [clears throat] Mana
manager if you can kind of just really quickly the high level of what >> um >> what we're applying to and why. >> I know that we had our QPA um look into it and then I gave it to Doug. It was supposed to be I think this is the one Doug that we thought we had on from the
county. >> Yeah, it was actually from a couple months ago and this is uh for our natural gas supply. >> Got it. Okay. Oh, okay. I do remember this from a few months ago. Okay. So, I'm okay now. I just wasn't clear what that was. Okay. So, I'll move it. >> It's part of a c It's, you know, part
part of a county cooperative that we're in obviously purchasing. >> Yeah. No, now that you said that, I I definitely remember that. So, thank you. >> Yeah. >> I'll move it. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Goldberg, >> yes. >> Councilman Pagan,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman G. >> Yes. >> Councilman Catz, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Belchure, >> yes. Deputy Mayor Oregon. >> Yes. >> Mayor Schwarz. >> Yes. 260. Thank you. 260.
>> Uh 260 >> Harrison Avenue. >> Um hold on. Sorry. Sorry. Um yeah, I just wanted to The amount for the grant that we're applying to isn't in there and I just wanted to know how much we're applying for. So I know there's a lot of residents asking about the like that
area. So I kind of get that question frequently. So, can do we just know the amount that we're applying for? >> Um, I might be able to give you a ballpark. I don't think it's specified just yet at this point. This is just the initial application pro uh pro
>> initial application step to get the project in defining what the project is. >> Okay, that's fine. I just wanted to get try to get an amount. So, >> we'll end up seeing another resolution down the line >> um that will specify the contractor and
the amount. >> All right. So, I will move that. >> Second Schwarz. Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Goldberg, >> yes. >> Councilman Pagan, >> yes. >> Councilwoman G. >> Yes. >> Councilman Catz,
>> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Belchure, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Oregon, >> yes. Mayor Schwarz. >> Yes. >> 275. >> 275. >> Yeah. So, a few meetings ago, I think it was uh council member G and I uh had some questions about the Hyatt fund. So,
I'm I'm okay with increasing it, but I just wanted to make sure. Did we kind of align on, you know, the guidelines of how we were going to use them and not use them? I think there was an issue about one of them going into, you know, kind of a a more luxury building, and I
I don't think we heard back after that on those uses. Um, so I just wanted to make sure before we do that that we're in line together about what we're uh using. >> Still working on that. I um Councilman
Pagan, I believe, right? They're still working on drafting it appropriately so that it's worded properly, but I know we had roughly 10 to 11 people with individual need for back rent. So that this is another situation. So um that's why we have to withdraw a little bit
more money. But yes, I think we did have a conversation of drafting um reddrafting and having that conversation. So I don't know if Councilman Pagan can comment on they are with that draft. >> If I could chime in. Yeah, they're still working on it, but they are um the social services advisory board is okay
with this. >> Okay. Uh council member G, do you have any other questions or >> Yeah. No, my only concern is if we start to dip into the principle, then that will impact long-term the availability of these funds. Like I think the concept originally was that we would only use
the earnings. Um and so my only concern I guess my question is what are what are going to be the the guidelines for how how much we're willing to dip into the principal amount? What financial metrics are we going to use to sort of ensure that we're protecting this fund um for
longevity? >> I agree. I think we do need to put a cap on what we all agree on, like how much we're going to dip in for, you know, the assistance. But, um, maybe we can get working on a draft, you know, before the end of the year for everyone to review it, so we get those parameters in place.
>> Yeah, my miss manager, maybe we can even bring in Alex. Um, I know he um lives far away, but he works hard in town and he can maybe just chime in on Zoom at a next meeting or a following meeting if that's helpful. >> Sure.
Do we have to um do are we okay moving this um if we have to get the alignment that uh you and Council Member G just mentioned or are we good? >> Um no, I think we're good for we're good for for right now, but if like she said, if we continue to do this, we're going
to be dipping into money that we probably should really have a conversation about and put a limitation on like what we're assisting and you know, like you said, luxury things. Um, and also I think it was mentioned if they are going into into these buildings and then they, you know, aren't paying
their rent and then we do give the deposit, the deposit should be returned back to the township. Um, so that we have, you know, in place like if you get, you know, we're keeping a spreadsheet so that if we hear that they do move out of that building that that money doesn't just go back to that
person. So I do know that we are monitoring that more on not on a high level but at least in in office so that we have that to refer to. Okay. And if >> I can chime in one more time, if I could just chime in one more time before you move it, Hillary. Um, this fund does help people in town. It does help people. So, it's a good fund. And I'll
second that. >> Do Do we know how much principal they're asking to take for this? >> Um, >> the number is not that big to be frank with you. Um, manager, you probably know the number better than I do, but I don't remember it being that big. Um, as of
June 30th, um, the high fund was $343,4871 and we generate about 10,000 a year in interest from that money. >> And how much do they want to pay? That's what we used to. >> Um, right now um >> 30 >> I think 3,400 was we paid uh two months
of back rent for a resident in need and that was $3,400. So, so 3,400 would be dipping into the principal. >> Um, no, no, no. I don't think it it dipped into the P principal, but I'll confirm for you. It was just an example that I had. Um,
>> but we're withdrawing 30,000 in interest. >> Yeah, right now. We're not touching. Well, right now, we use >> says one says the title says uh wait, the title says one there's one section here that says principal. The other side
says interest. So I think that's >> this resolution is for interest. >> Interesting interest. >> So why is it worded uh principal in the the resolution?
>> Oh, I see that the t the title is labeled principal. The body is for interest. >> I can answer that. I apologize. At one point in time many years ago, um they did dip into the interest. The original fund is actually 250,000 from its
inception. So in theory, anything over 250,000 is interest at that point. >> But it should the resolution should read interest, not principal. >> I changed that title. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, Mr. Mayor, I also like to register
my comment. I agree with C uh with Mayor Pagan's comment about this helping people. It's been helping people since late ' 80s, early 90s. And the reason is because we haven't touched the principle for the most part. And I I think we should we should not touch it. Continue
helping a lot of people. >> All right. So, how would you word this, Doug? What's the uh the change? Pull it. What are we looking here now? >> I'm just changing the title. That's that's a minimal change. I'm changing the title. [clears throat] >> And we agree that we're not touching the principal. This is not about the principal. Just want to confirm. So,
Miss Council Goldberg motion. Yes. >> Yeah. I made a motion for second. >> Second. Roll call out, please. >> Councilwoman Goldberg. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Pagan. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman G. >> Yes. >> Councilman Katz. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Belchure.
>> Yes. >> Mayor Oregon. >> Yes. >> May Schwarz. >> Yes. 278 if I'm correct. >> Yeah. Um, so I know Issa that you just mentioned. Um, so the the person said that they didn't get the the bill in the
mail. Um, just curious, can you just tell us the amounts and also how many others have we seen that haven't gotten the bill? It's just as Mr. S said the name of the the owner. I'm not going to call him out, but >> So, I've actually received and fielded 12 at least a dozen inquiries about the
sewer bill. Um, everyone I've explained to what what happened um has been fine paying it. They understood, but it it's just not the steward bill. It happens every quarter. I have people that travel internationally that then send me a check or it bounces and then I tell
them, look, you know, you for a tax bill, non-receipt of the bill, actually statutoily on the back of the bill says you're still liable for it. We don't have that in the sewer bill because we're not on a regular schedule, so to speak. This was the only instance I was aware of where they did not receive it.
Could there be another one? Sure. I just have not heard of them yet. The total bill is roughly $120,000 if I'm not mistaken over two properties. Um, and the interest came to a little bit over 3,000 at this point.
>> Okay. Is there is that a motion, Mr. Gilbert? >> Uh, I'll move it. >> Move it. Second uh by Council Mean. >> Sure. Second. >> We'll call on that, please. >> Council Goldberg. >> No.
Councilman Pagan, >> yes. >> Councilwoman G, >> yes. >> Councilman Catz, >> abstain. >> Deputy Mayor Belure, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Oregon, >> yes.
>> Mayor Schwarz, >> yes. Motion passes. 283 and 28. Well, 283 first. >> Yes. So, these are both the cannabis um applications. So I was I know Doug you had sent them to us kind of later in the day and um so I'm just trying to
understand so they I don't think these this was who was this was before uh this council term so I'm just trying to get a sense I went through everything Doug sent but um I don't know who Doug >> this is this is the uh I'll start from
the top this is in regards to the cannabis facility approved over on Alfred Avenue 455 Alfred Avenue Council had approved a very similar resolution like this back in 2022 that was demonstrating the support for T
Verde/neutral Leaf. And essentially what's happening right now is that ownership has been split into two separate entities and they are both maintained by two one individual
each. And we are clarifying this separate entity as well as these separate owners as part of the CRC requirements to continue their licensing process. So, do they each get its own license
then? >> They Yes. Um, and >> we're giving out two licenses to two separate people because they split their [clears throat] business. >> Well, it's actually going to be one license to Neutral Leaf and Neutral Leaf is identified in resol resolution
283. They're going to be getting a standard retailer license. 284 is to T Verde and T Verde is getting a standard cultivation license and a standard manufacturing license.
So, it's maintaining the plan that was initially approved by council and the planning board. It's being done in the same building. It's just being facilitated by separate entities. >> Didn't they have three licenses? So, now they're just dividing them up. They're
not getting additional licenses. They had three. >> Correct. >> So this is clarification and naming only in terms of a name. There's nothing new. It's just this is paperwork. Correct. Nothing's changing. >> It's administrative paper. >> Got it. Okay. Is uh that a motion you'd
like to make? Uh Council Goldberg. >> I'll make the motion. >> Mr. Council McGon. >> Second. Is this 284? >> 284. Yes. 283 and 284. Roll call. >> Councilwoman Goldberg. >> Uh no on both.
Councilman Pagan, >> yes. >> Councilwoman G. >> Yes. >> Councilman Catz, >> abstain on both. >> Deputy Mayor Belair. >> So, sorry. Abstain on both. >> Deputy Mayor Oregon.
>> Yes. >> Mayor Schwarz. >> Yes. >> Adopted. >> Okay. I don't believe there's anything else under ordinances. And I [clears throat] don't see anything on introduction to ordinances unless I had an old Sorry. >> I do have a my hand up. Um if if
Hillary's done, I do have a question on one and that's 277. Um I I did vote in favor of it, but I just had a question for Jackie. Uh and that is um more from the standpoint of what what's the project plan that that
this uh speaks to. Um this is the authorization of the basement renovations design bidding and construction management and um under 277 uh 202 uh6
uh what exactly you know where are we in in the scope of the basement renovation by agreeing to this which represents what is an $82,000 $82,500
contract. Uh this is the one I was asking, was this a competitive bid or not? But um you know, if you could speak to that and if you could speak to um is this the beginning? Uh is this the middle? Is this how far are we when it
comes to that basement renovation completion? >> Um yes, no problem. Um when I first came on board in TAC, I actually uh was presented a contract and I was led to believe that it was already approved. Um
so um this this project was underway. So I when I when I saw this project started um I when I went to the basement obviously there's a lot of water infiltration and it's actually coming from the ground and it's coming into the basement area and we have not been able
to really find the source and we need to do a little bit more work and probably have um go out to bid for a contractor to establish where that groundwater is coming from because even if we plaster the walls and fix the beams and do everything in the basement, the water is
just still coming into the basement. So, we haven't really made any progress in finding out where this water um infiltration is coming from. So, um this was a professional service contract from before I started with the township. So, I was brought up to speed with this and
this is to correct the contract. That's basically what this is. We have to correct this with the change order and everything on the meeting tonight. Um, and then I will pursue this project a little bit closer with Travon. And um, you know, we've spoken about it that us kind of making these other repairs with
Ivino is not out of the question. It's just to make these repairs without fixing our real problem being the water infiltration is just going to be wasting money um, you know, for the project um, to kind of fix the basement area. >> Okay. So, so with this with this
contract, are we putting the cart before the horse or or don't we want to correct the the flooding issue first before >> Well, this already was I mean, some of this work already in the basement. This was a project already started. So, we signed off on this work and this is u
basically memorializing the changes to the contract through the change order. That's what we're doing this evening. So, it is an existing project, but like I said, we really for the township's sake, I mean, to kind of do this project in the reverse order, we need really
need to figure out this groundwater issue that is still existing in the basement. So, I will I will um devote some time, try to get someone in here to kind of take a closer look um because we have a bigger issue down there, which was mentioned a little earlier in the meeting. So, for me to actually put all
of our ducks in a row, we need to fix the fix the actual groundwater issue from what's coming from outside the building into the basement for us to make the proper repair. Because like I said, we do have a beam issue um that he did share with me when I started here. But for us to put the money towards that
without fixing the other water issue, it doesn't really make any sense. >> 100%. I I agree with you. I just think that that we you know this project has been kind of underway for a long time and I I feel as if it's it's wasted
space that that we could use you know we could use for so many things like um you know that was even shared with us in terms of uh when Dean showed us the the plan as to you know conference room the chamber of commerce being there a food
pantry being there that I think that if there was any way in which we could maybe you know, at least put together some type of a potential project plan that in terms of what's what's next and of course environmental flooding issues first. What what does that look like from a from a project plan perspective
and a timeline perspective and and a cost perspective? I think that would be very helpful um that I'd like to see. >> Okay, I'll I'll get that together and be able to share with all of you at a future council meeting. >> Thank you. >> No problem. >> Madame manager.
>> Yes. Can I just ask one quick uh question on the um the uh the watershed uh contract that we just did? Can we just make sure that uh the environmental commission is is looped in because a lot of that is stuff that they had worked on with the ERI. So I just want to make
sure that um Hildy and and Yseph are kind of looped in on that. >> Sure. No problem. I'll look >> Thank you. >> Okay. With that uh being the end of the meeting and no ordinance is >> motion journ second Schwarz roll call.
No roll call needed. nodding heads.