Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by resolution number 300-2025, sending a copy to the newspaper officially 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 bulletin board. and the mayor hereby do accept the same included in the minutes. >> Thank you very much, Mrs. Clerk. Okay, good good evening everyone. Hope everyone's staying uh warm, dry, and safe. Welcome to the February 10th, 2026
8mm open session meeting of the Township of Tina Council. Township administration president at tonight's meeting are Jaclyn Hashm, Township Manager, uh Doug Rousion on Zoom or No, no, Doug Rousion is not there. Uh, in spirit, Christian, our deputy township clerk, Scott Salmon
our township attorney, Ron Goodman, our volunteer cable master, Michael Ash on Zoom as our redevelopment attorney, Gold McMillan as our township planner. Upcoming events and council meetings for the public's information. We are currently holding a hybrid format meeting. We have people in person and on
Zoom. If our Wi-Fi municipal building has an issue with the Zoom meeting drops, we'll aim to retrieve the connection and continue the meeting. If you haven't yet signed up for the DR alerts, please do so on our website. The next regular council meeting will be on Tuesday, March 10th, starting at 6:30
p.m. with open portion beginning at 8. The 2026 budget council meetings will be held beginning not as originally listed on Tuesday, March 17th, but on Monday, March 16th, and we'll have a uh we'll be we'll have a resolution on that after for that later or not needed. It'll be
properly noticed for Monday, March 16th. And then again, Tuesday, March 26th, 7 p.m. in the council chambers. Um, we're going to have two moments of silence or we're going to have a moment of silence for two long-term township members in volunteers. Our first is Ari
Litz. Ari was a uh 49year-old that passed away that last week. He was a 25year resident of the township, a 22year member of the Tene Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Ari's been in this chambers on multiple occasions on awards, CPR saves and whatnot. Um, our
second is for Don. Um, I'm sorry I I'm down, right? Don Don was um but not just a longtime active tenic resident, but he was on the environmental commission for many, many years. So, with that, please everyone keep their families uh in their
prayers. Thank you. and I thank them for their years of service. Um, our Crossroads American Legion Redevelopment Community Forum will be on March 4th at 7:00 p.m. here in the council chambers. And thanking everyone who was able to attend our 20 the 2025 Ramadan celebration at
the Rotary Center last Thursday. The crescent moon will be lit on the municipal green until the end of Ramadan. Council met in close session to discuss the following personnel contracts, zoning, affordable housing, recycling presentation, legal issues or
opinions regarding any open session agenda, litigation updates, and OPRA. And with that, we will begin our meeting. Um, I believe we have a few changes to the agenda just based on attendance and people not able to come.
Um, see okay the first well three presentations I don't believe any are going to be happening tonight Chris we will skip the three presentations that are on the agenda and we'll head right into our work session items with miscellaneous does anyone have anything on miscellaneous council began
>> thank you mayor for shade tree advisory board can we please make an amendment make a motion to make an amendment to add Debbie Bahar to the full member and make the other two the alternate members alternate one and alternate two >> I'll second that >> okay not Okay. Are we on a vote to move that on to the resolution?
>> Um, do I need to do a second if they just do we need to do a resolution for next meeting? >> Yeah, we can do it for the next one. >> Yeah. So, Debbie Bhart one would be on for next meeting and then the two on tonight will be for alternate one and alternate two. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you everybody.
>> Any else on miscellaneous old business, new business? communications uh committee reports by council lea zones markers update that would be
deputy mayor belt your name >> uh yes yes we have um we have just a basic update um on the markers um the markers that have been or presented previously uh this is a marker that will be uh at at the library um indicating
the original funds that came through the uh sale of the enslaved um African cabin that was in town. Uh so we have two markers. One will be there and then one will be at Mckel Park um which is on Tene Road. Um the MOS committee has
approved it. Of course the historic preservation as well. Uh, one recommendation that I did see from the chair of the most committee was that we place the marker inside of the park, which I think is a is a good idea to do uh as well because it's um it's it's uh
very close to the actual site itself and it uh would be enclosed within a fenced area. So uh so I'd like to proceed and make a motion to proceed forward with the markers. So most had also asked in that email to be included on the markers
and we had also discussed taking the names of neighborhood groups off. So is this >> Yes. And I I think you want to explain uh that the whole point of is that most is a um would be added to the marker and
uh because they are an advisory board within town. Uh and the uh block association which is not an advisory board would not be listed is what you're asking. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I was I was going to agree with I was actually going to say the exact same thing. So I know that the chair most
reached out to me about the same concern today as well. >> Yeah. No problem there. I'm sure that the historic preservation um commission would not have a problem as well. We'd like to see us progress forward with these markers that we've been talking about. Yes. >> You need to vote on that. Are we looking for Sorry.
>> I think we'd be good to vote on Yeah. to vote on it. >> Vote. Okay. So, >> I made a motion that we >> second that and please go a roll call. Mr. Clerk, >> with with those changes though? >> Yes. Okay. >> Changes. Yes. Mhm. Councilwoman Goldberg.
>> Yes. with those changes. >> Councilman Pagan, >> yes. >> Councilman J. >> Yes. >> Councilman, Deputy Mayor Belchure. >> Yes. >> Mayor Deputy Mayor Organ. >> Yes. >> Mayor Schwarz. >> Yes. Thank you very much. Council listed
items. Snow parking emergency count. Um Councilman Gobert, please. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, I I know that um there's been a lot of discussion about snow and I just wanted to discuss with the council and open um I what one
of the two of the bigger complaints that I had seen from residents about is they're not sure when the snow emergency ends and then I'm also we're also hearing you know whether we need more time or the roads are too narrow. So, I was looking and I saw Montlair had someone I'd sent the ordinance to the
attorney. Um, I would like to see if if council's open to changing the code to having a clear time for the residents to know when the emergency's up with the discretion that the manager can extend it if it's necessary because in a storm like this, what was it? 20, how many
inches? 24 27 in it needed to be done. And then the other piece to it, which is what deputy deputy mayor suggested last meeting, and I'm not particular about how it's worked out, but is also, you know, during that time, some sort of a snow alternate side of the street
everywhere. Um, just so it's totally fair. Um, because this way if you're thinking about safety, you have the the snow banks on the two sides and the plows can't get through, everyone's parked. It's going to take longer for the DPW and for for our staff, and it's not going to keep people safe. So, if council's open to changing that and if
the attorney can put something on for next meeting. Anyone thought? >> Do we need an ordinance for the parking? >> Yeah, there's an ordinance on the books now. >> Yeah, we would need to change it. Change it for an ordinance. Yeah. >> Oh, looking for nodding heads. >> Yeah.
>> I just want to if we could just describe for the benefit of the public, what does that look like in terms of are we proposing alternate street parking >> only during snow emergency? And I'm not particular on how that looks. If someone has a preference, I I just think
especially on a narrow road when you have parking on both sides and we're trying to clear the streets, people can't get through. They're parked on both sides because the snow emergency is lifted. We have to and we have to f find something that's fair across town. So again, something easy, but and I'll
defer to the manager and and >> I don't think it's alternate side. I think it would be just one side so that cars only park on one side, but more than just plowing, school buses can't get down the streets and emergency vehicles can't get down the streets and cars can't get down the streets. So,
please God, we won't have another storm like this for many years, but on the chance that we do, um, might make it easier, um, then. >> Yeah. And like I said, I I just think that the manager should have in in a snow emergency, giving her the authority if if she needs to handle parking
regulations in in one of the parking lots or extend um you know, giving her that. And literally, I I like the language from Mont Clair, which is what I sent to the attorney. And if someone else has other language, I'm completely fine with it. I just think it's it'll it's in the best best interest of safety for the
residents and the staff. I >> I I would just agree. Uh I hear what you're saying and I know we're trying to solve for the problem because this was a historic uh blizzard. Uh and it really kind of um created a lot of havoc. But I
would suggest that maybe we, you know, have some insight from DPW in terms of how we would progress with this because they're the ones that are out there doing the work. So, um, essentially, um, you know, Miss Manager, I'd like to kind
like get their input as well, uh, because we don't want to be solving for a problem that's creating a problem, too. >> Hey, so has mine not I think we have nodding heads and I think we have our marching orders. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, and with that, we'll go to our
township man. Nothing to report tonight, right? >> Nothing. >> Okay. Yes. Thank you, mayor, and good evening, council and township residents. Uh, please be advised that as of 12:00 noon today, the snow emergency has been lifted and all residents must remove
their vehicles from all municipal lots as soon as possible. A community meeting is scheduled for March 4th at 7 p.m. in council chambers in reference to the crossroads project, and all are welcome to attend. Our recreation department is gearing up for another successful pool
season and we are also offering badges for pickle ball and tennis and tennis courts. The TE community pool membership registration starts on March 2nd. Please refer to our flyer for spe a specific list of items to bring proof of residency.
NG DOT has recently updated the township that they are planning the Route 4 West Decar A ramp widening project for March 2nd. This ramp will be closed during construction and detours will be in place. I will start notifications to everyone later this week. Holy Name
Medical Center will be hosting a file of life event at Tene Township Hall parking lot on Tuesday, April 21st from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Residents are welcome to visit their mobile education lab to learn about the fire file for life card
and receive a card and magnet. No registration is required. Due to excuse me, due to the increase in winter weather, our walk for wellness program will be postponed by two weeks. So, it will now begin on Sunday, March
15th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Some project updates I have for you. The Bell Avenue bio swalls, the construction will start the first week of March. The Brooks Park exercise station, we poured concrete on January 22nd. forms were removed and saw cutting has been
completed. The Brooks Parks restrooms, the bids were opened on February 10th and apparent lowest bidder is developed builders with a total bid of $37,373 and we are waiting on the award of contract. Maple Avenue Improvements, the punch
list is remaining up until the spring. Griggs, Van Beurren, and Heric. The project is out to bid and the bids will be opened on March 3rd. Livingston Place and Clinton Place main sewer replacement. The pre-construction meeting was held on January 13th, and
our construction is scheduled to begin March 2026. Some general updates. We received an inquiry in reference to the parking enforcement on West Anglewood Avenue, to which I was informed since January 1st. 109 tickets have been issued for parking
violations. The police department will continue to monitor the area. Our 2026 municipal operating budget is scheduled for presentation on March 16th instead of March 17th. Um, a formal congratulations to Andrew
Fiser, our MIS IT director. This evening we will um adopt an ordinance adding him as a adding his title as a department head for the township of Tene. Um Andrew is very self-motivated supervisor and always available and willing to help all of our departments. So I just wanted to
mention a congratulations to him for joining our team of department heads. Now on to the blizzard that we've all experienced. The blizzard of 2026 brought some historic and record-breaking snowfall to Tene with approximately 27 inches accumulating.
>> Sorry, manager. I know you're about to make an important speech, but I believe there's a volume button so no one hear you outside of the 20 people in this room. >> So, just give this >> R. >> I hear her perfectly.
>> You What are you on? I'm sorry. >> I'm on Zoom. I hear her perfectly. panels should not be different. >> Maybe it's the cable. Maybe it's the cable channel. >> Oh, they probably I think it's the only person on the
cable. I don't think we have a cable. Okay. So, let's let's if as long as the zoom is working, I think that we're going to continue. Thank you. >> No problem. So, back to our snowfall the last 48 hours here in Tene. We um
received about 27 in of accumulating snow across our communi community community creating extremely challenging conditions for emergency response and snow removal operations. During the storm, we spread 870 tons of salt and the Tene Police Department
issued 402 snow ordinance tickets which ultimately means that residents remove their vehicles from the roadway to allow plowing operations to proceed safely and efficiently. and for that cooperation. Um, and for that our we truly we truly
appreciate your cooperation. Um, what was I going to say? Um, next I wanted to mention I'm sorry. Our storm team entered this event fully prepared. We pre-saltted all of our roads. Our fleet was 100% ready and our manpower
was truly committed. However, as previously reported, the township continues to operate with an aging fleet and we experience multiple breakdowns throughout the storm to include eight large plow trucks and along with 10 additional winter
operation trucks that are now sidelined and not operational. On behalf of myself and the township council, we extend our sincere appreciation to our D our DPW staff who have worked tirelessly in 12-hour shifts and around the clock since the storm
began. They are still committed to serving our residents and are still working this evening to serve us. We also recognize the disappointment and frustration many residents have expressed through emails and social media. We hear those concerns. We take ownership of the challenges experienced
and we are actively meeting with our management team to evaluate and strengthen our winter operations. We thank all of you for your patience as we regroup and develop a long-term plan to address our fleet, much of which is over 20 years old. And we will we plan
to responsibly replace this fleet with with responsible budgeting over the next few years. That is all I have for you, Mayor. >> Please. >> Okay. Uh, thank you for that, uh, Mrs. Manager. Uh, you're 100% right. This was
truly a historic um, blizzard. Uh, some I can't remember the last maybe the 1990s or something that we saw something similar. Uh, one thing that I I would just uh, recommend is as we're, you know, looking to improve our equipment, which to your point is like 20 years
old. their equipment is uh capital equipment is very aged. Um one of the things that I would think in terms of residents um uh being responded to or having issues in terms of their streets having been plowed or assaulted or whatever that we I would recommend that
we set up like a simple like Google form where um residents could um simply just go to the form and complete it with basic information about their street location and and the condition. And so, um, it would create like an Excel spreadsheet for the DBW team could to
really kind of like divvy up the work. So, uh, if I have four nodding heads, perhaps we could, um, do that or we could proce proceed with something like that. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Um, something the manager can handle. Is that
>> Yeah, I think the manager can and we have the IT the IT department now can also chime in, I'm sure. >> Okay. Any else? Um, township maternities report. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, I have a couple things. Um, first, uh, ordinance
1220-2026 is currently on the agenda up for adoption. It involves recovery of, uh, fire department related, uh, costs and expenses. Uh, we've received some questions about the types of insurance that could be built uh, uh, under this
ordinance. Um, the purpose of the ordinance is to allow the township to build auto insurance. So, I'm asking the council to amend uh this ordinance before adoption. Change all references to from insurance to uh say auto insurance. It's not a substantive
change. It's just it's what the ordinance already does. It's just clarifying it for anybody that has any specific questions about that. Uh the second uh thing is that there is also on the agenda is ordinance 16-2026.
This is the crossroads uh redevelopment plan. Uh there are two uh amendments that we they were asking uh to be made uh to that uh to that. Um the first the two of them are related. The first is on on page 26 of the re redevelopment plan.
Uh it sets the minimum front setback uh for it says from 15t from the curb line relates to Beverly Road. We want to change that to 10 feet uh from from Beverly Road. the the reason for this is uh to make it consistent with the
language the wording of everything else by removing from the cur the the phrase from the curb line. It's making it from the property line. So it removes the sidewalk portion. So the end result is the same or the net result is the same where it's still going the same distance away but just it removes the uh the
sidewalk from it and just makes it consistent with the other the way the other sections are or setbacks are worded. And then second on page 58 we're proposing to remove uh the ph the definition for curb line because without well because we're ch we're changing it uh there we don't we don't need the
definition of curb line any anymore and again this is doesn't actually change anything in practice it's just uh changing the phrasing the wording of it be consistent with it with everything else. Um additionally there are two resolutions uh several resolutions that I'm be
asking the council to walk on uh tonight. they're not currently on the agenda. I want to apologize for this. It's not something we like doing. Uh throwing things on the agenda at the last second. It's obviously pretty rare, but sometimes it is necessary to respond to developing events. Um the two things
are the first is um a resolution to hire uh Collier's engineering uh as as traffic engineering and planning consultants. Um back on February 12th, we received a traffic study from Crossroads um as part which is one of the things that they're obligated to do
under our settlement agreements. We want to have that uh their traffic their study evaluated uh by an independent traffic engineer. So we're proposing to hire Collier's engineer to do so. Collier's previously had a contract with the township that expired. We didn't realize that. We thought I thought it
was still good. So we didn't realize that until yesterday. Uh and so because the contract expired, we need to uh uh we need to renew it to have have them prepare this analysis. Uh Collier has informed us they can have that analysis uh for us by Friday. Um so that way the
the the council and the public will have it long before um for the Crossroads redevelopment plan is up for adoption. Uh ultimately this will not actually cost the township anything. Uh it's going to be paid paid out of crossroads escrow. Um so uh but we do need to
formally hire them and so I'm asking the council to walk that resolution on. And the second one is a resolution to hire uh or retain law firm um known as Hannerhand pack. Um township is dealing with some newly filed litigation right now. We would like to bring in some
additional help uh before our responsive pleadings are due uh in a couple weeks. Hanner Han Pac has done work for the township previously. They're excellent municipal lawyers, litigators. They're very familiar with the township and we just because of timing of when we need to get our our answers filed report.
That's why we're walking this on or asking the council to walk this on. Um that's all I have uh for tonight. Mayor. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Attorney. Um we're going to head to the part of the meeting public hearing and adoption of ordinances. I learned something at the last meeting that there were some people waiting to hear something that ultimately wasn't heard. So, I just want
to review what we're hearing tonight. So, if there's something you're interested in hearing, and I know we have some neighbors from West Anglewood, which is not on tonight. I just don't want to say it. Um, I don't know if there's any more of these cheat sheets down there. Um, we are for this public hearing, which the clerk will read. We're going to be discussing the MIS
department. We're going to be discussing heating requirements, um, a parking restriction on Fort Le and the auto insurance, uh, bill for the fire department, as well as bonding. As at the end of the night, we'll be having introductions on two related matters.
one is um the American Legion drive which I believe mo most people are here for that and the second matter is the overall fair housing act um ordinance that we want to pass uh a general a general like a general would be the word right would that be a fair statement general so if there is something that
you thought was going to be heard tonight and I didn't mention it it will not be heard you're more than welcome to stay we encourage you staying but if you do need to leave by all means absolutely please do we have many more meetings coming up and some of the other zoning uh matters will be heard at those meetings, but as of now, everything
listed will be will be heard. With that, uh, Mr. Clerk, please go ahead and read the titles of the ordinances into the record ahead of our hearing. >> Okay. So, we have five up for public hearing and adoption. So, ordinance 4-2026, amending the township code for
the township of Tina to create a department of management, information systems, and information technology. Ordinance 9-2026 is amending the township code for the township estate heating requirements for residential properties. Ordinance 11-2026
is amending the township code to revise no parking restrictions on Fortley Road. Ordinance 12-2026 is establishing certain recovery of the fire department related quaset expenses. Ordinance 13-20226
amending and restating in its entirety bond ordinance number 22-2025 finally adopted by the township council of the township of Tene and the county of Bergen state of New Jersey on May 20th 2025 and entitled bond ordinance
providing for various 2025 capital improvements by and in the township of Kene in the county of Bergen state of New Jersey appropriating 123 350,000. Therefore, in authorizing the issuance
of 11,600 11,687,100 bonds or notes of the township of Tene to finance part of the cost thereof to increase the authorization of bonds or notes of the township of therein to 10,585
$518,450 to decrease the down payment thereofin to 553,74. 49 to increase the grant therein to $1,242,81 and to amend the description of the
grants referenced in section 1A, B and C and other provisions therein. >> Thank you very much. Before we go to the hearing, Mr. Attorney, can you confirm the voting numbers needed uh the yes votes needed for each of the ordinances? And if it's no, if it fails, does it get
reheard? What the how how would that work? So we have six members uh that are here that are present uh from from the council. So any anything would need four votes. Um a majority of those of those who are present.
>> The bonds ordinance as well. >> I'm sorry. Oh no. Sorry. Bond ordinance is a majority. So that um that would still actually no that would still need four. That would still need four. I think that the math let me double check my math on that. >> Okay. Sex here. FO had mentioned five
for the >> Issa had mentioned >> let me just double check that here a second >> and if it is please let us know what happens fails the next process you know that does still require five votes yeah the bond yeah >> if it's uh if it's tabled and gets five
it passes if it's read now voted on now and it only gets two three four what happened? >> Then if it fails then we need to be re we need to be reintroduced uh at subsequent meeting. >> Okay. >> So I'd like to make a motion to table
13 20226 until the next meeting. >> I'll second that for the purpose of the vote. I don't know that was okaying these four. >> Sorry. Okay. >> Yes. Correct. >> You want to move it to March 10th?
>> Yeah. >> Okay. Councilman Goldberg. >> No. >> Councilman. >> Yes. To tableabling. >> Councilwoman Jake. >> Yeah. Council Deputy Mayor Belchure.
>> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Organ. >> Yes. >> Mayor Schwarz. He >> has four already. Yes. >> Okay. So, we'll open up the hearing on four ordinances, not the bonding. Is there anyone in the audience that wants to testify on these four only? Mr. Dr.
Yuck. >> Good evening, council. I first want to thank you all for the hard work that you're doing so I don't have to thank you during my good and welfare three minutes. I'm not going to speak very long. I'm concerned about the uh uh I have a question about the fire ordinance. Um uh I I I'm in favor of
that ordinance. I don't have a problem with each um billing insurance and billing people whose insurance doesn't pay. However, I think um the question I have is why I I read the ordinance. I didn't see unless I misread it. I didn't see that T-neck residents won't be
personally build uh or their insurance for that matter because you know insurance rates go up the more we have to the insurance company has to pay although on comprehensive if that's what it would be on I'm not sure that that's the case um but I think that Tene residents should be exempt we pay taxes
for the fire department and um and so we should be exempt from that. If someone lives outside of town bill them but don't bill us. Thank you. Anybody else on these ordinances? Seeing no hands, Mr. um table master,
any anyone on Zoom? Uh let me see here. Uh there's a hand up, but it's been up since the beginning of the meeting, so we could try. >> Okay. >> Uh the hand went down. Now it's up. >> Seeing other hands. >> Hang on. >> Sorry. >> Yeah. Corey uh Frankle.
>> Sorry. Sorry, >> Corey Frankle. >> Hello. >> You have three minutes if you want to speak on these three four ordinances. >> Um, just to be clear, this is not including the uh the
item that was added to the agenda today regarding the um emergency snow. >> No. >> Uh, this is not including those items. >> No. >> Okay. Then then no. Thank. >> Okay. Hands. >> Seeing no other hands. This meeting is
now closed. Um >> we we we do need a motion to amend the fire. Um >> Okay. I'll make a motion to amend to the auto insurance only under the fire ordinance. If there's a second >> second. >> Roll call, please.
>> Wait, can we can I ask a question? So, I'm looking at the ordinance right now and hazardous material material and firework work fire watch are not specific to automobiles. So, how would that work? How would we vend it there? >> The >> It would be a hazardous material at an
auto. >> But that's not what it says. That's my point. >> Like it doesn't even come close to saying that. >> Can Scott, it's on page. Yeah, I'm ready. >> 35 we can make the changes. So it's uh so it's specific to
sorry I'm find the right section here. I think the way the way to to to change this is to in section 16-18 uh the following fees and costs shall be charged invoice to the to the user's
insurance company and then we can put in parenthesis uh in case of motor vehicle accidents to the auto uh auto insurance company. >> It's not a dimminimous change at this point. >> I mean, the whole point of this of that is specifically for for everything else is that it's for motor vehicles. So,
just clarify. >> But it's not saying that at all. Like I I I I mean as it >> that's the the auto insurance company is the only one that the only insurance company that would have for for vehicles. >> I think what you're saying is that I understand your concerns. You're saying
is that we're only billing the auto insurance. So, if the auto insurance says this isn't covered, it's not covered. If it's to bill for a door that fell off in a building, it's it's not covered under auto. But I understand your concerns. But >> And why are there fees for firewatch for $150 an hour? >> So >> firewatch, sorry. Firewatch would be
something like um if you wanted to have a party in Vote Park with fireworks. We do charge you for that. That's that's a given. We don't The fire department has to be there just like on Tene Day from the moment that the fireworks are delivered. If somebody chooses to have an event like that, that would be a fire
watch. >> Understand that. But we're telling people that it's only automobile insurance, but it's not. So if insurance, that would just be a charge, >> right? But people are what we're what Dr. Yuck just said is that, you know, if it's only if we're saying that it's only to the insurance, which that's not we're
billing residents where they already pay taxes for the fire department. I understand what you're trying to say, but I just think it's mixed messaging. I think that we should if we should if the hazardous material is supposed to be for automobiles, then specify it. If it's not, then specify the the fire watch is
for everybody and that residents are going to get builds. It's not clear. I think it should be. >> So, are you saying that you're comfortable with it? But I think what >> Oh, no. I I think the whole thing I think there's a problem with the whole thing, but it's not even doing what people are saying it's doing. >> So, you're not voting for it. >> C is firewatch is just a it's a schedule
of fees. So, that fee is not under insurance. It's a fee for using the fire department if you're having an event that has nothing to do with insurance. um >> or telling people that it's only for insurance. >> So he's correcting it. What what what
she's saying is that they're added to the schedule. If you require firewatch for fireworks or any event that we bill, then they can charge $150. Are you more comfortable if that gets removed and added to another ordinance subject fire
fees for Firewatch? Are you com more comfortable with that? >> I'm comfortable with just that without the rest. I'm not comfortable with anything because it's going to raise everyone's premium. It's all right. Um, so Mr. Attorney, do we want to introduce a take that from the ordinance as it
relates to firewatch? Make a new ordinance on that or or or do if there's a motion on the table, vote as is. I would do whatever the council wants to do. >> If if we want to do that, then we would need to reintroduce the whole thing. That that wouldn't be >> So, I'll look at the the now. Deputy
mayor, are you ready to vote? >> Yeah, I'm ready to vote. >> Are you ready to vote or your hand? >> Always. >> Always ready to vote. Ready to vote. Okay. So, we have a roll call. We have It was a motion. There was a second. There was a change that I believe was already approved, Mr. Attorney. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. So, let's go roll call with the
change of the word and the word auto insurance. And then that's going to be on number. Sorry, that's 13. Sorry, that's 12. And then we can pull the roll call on each one. However you want to. Counciloman Goldberg. No. Council >> McGon.
>> No. Councilwoman G. >> Yes. Deputy Mayor Belchure, >> I abstain. >> Deputy Mayor Morgan, >> yes. Mayor Schwarz, >> yes. >> I'm sorry.
>> 32 does not pass. >> The motion doesn't pass. >> Okay. >> So, the ordinance is going to be as is >> to be voted out, >> correct? >> Okay. So now we'll do um does we'll do one by let's do all then people can make
their changes on all protocol for all ordinances >> councilman now for >> everything >> 4 9 11 12 and 13 >> okay so >> I'm sorry no 13 I apologize 4 9 11 12
>> all right so no to 12 and Then yes 4 9 and 11 but no to 12. >> Okay. Councilman Pon. >> Uh madam clerk, I'm a yes on number four. Yes on number nine. Yes on number
11. No on number 12. >> Councilman Jake. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Deputy Belchure. I'm a yes on all and an abstaining on 12.
>> Okay. Deputy Mayor Organ. >> Yes to all. Mayor Schwarz. >> Yes to all. >> Okay. >> Did it pass or fail? unfortunately failed and we'll continue to eat the cost of going to the highway
five times a day. >> Okay. Um and tell Mr. Cler when you're ready. >> You can go. >> Okay. Uh open to good and welfare. Um there's three minutes to anything on the
agenda. I I do want to start by just uh briefly saying echoing the manager's uh words. People wanted their snow removed. We didn't deliver. We can come up with all the answers. We know the answers. We have many good reasons. Ultimately,
people want the snow removed. Um, I've heard from many, many, many people throughout the day. Um, I have the biggest mouth on the day and therefore it is my mouth to say I'm sorry. People pay taxes. People want that want the snow removed. It could be a blizzard.
They want to go to work. It could be a blizzard. They want to go to school. you put your trust and more importantly or just as important your money into this township's pockets and the town in this into into their budget. I apologize and the township didn't deliver that.
Whether or not the reasons were good, bad, it was ugly. For that, we will continue to try to strive to make sure it's done. For those who got it done late, we apologize for the delay. For those who are still waiting for services, we continue to thank you for
your patience. We will all collectively as a town keep trying to do better and better. With that, I call on anyone in the room to first come good of welfare. After that, we'll go to Zoom. Anybody in the audience like to speak? Mly Yahoo.
Thank you. Good evening one and all. Debbie Eli Yahoo T-C resident. I have a bunch of questions about cross cross roads, not cross words. Pretty good at those.
Um, first one is about collars. Are they going to be reviewing the traffic study that um Crossroads did or um or are they going to I
understand if it's going to be done by Friday if I understand correctly which I may not um if there are deficiencies including in the um methodology what is plan B the
second thing is Um when on the at the planning board uh Mayor Schwarz you said that um because I'm you intimated that because I'm a quarter of mile away from the development it's irrelevant the issue of uh traffic.
I'm retired. I can sit in my driveway for 10 hours and wait till traffic opens up. The issue that I was trying to bring out is that Garrison Avenue, all along it is a feeder for one of the very few ways to get over uh the the over Route 4
to the other side of town. So, um that's going to be an issue for anybody who wants to go over that um overpass or for people who want to get on to Route 4 or people who want to get to Lowel School. Um there is uh there's a lot there are a
lot of buses that go down Standish. Even the people who walk their kids to school in bad weather, they don't. So the rush school rush hour, it's um traffic is backed up there even now. So adding a lot of a lot of more cars is just going
to make it more backed up. And I don't care. I'm telling you, retired can sit in the driveway. Don't care. Um the uh another thing is you said about the pipes uh carrying the water from the uh
development at uh at Beverly. Uh the pipes already exist under Cedar Lane but would be extended. First of all, who would pay for that extension to where would they be extended and where would they empty because they got to empty somewhere? And are the recipients of the
water in agreement with the plan? So that's one concern. And the last thing is com commuter mass transit. Now the letter that I have is from 2000 mid 2019. So it's not many many years ago. And what one of the things it says is
that statewide there's no new ability especially till there's a new port authority building. That is from Paul Wyoff who was the CEO of New Jersey Transit um commuters commuting
uh facilities. So unless there's a new Port Authority building, there's no new ability for commuter. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you so much. Um have a lovely evening and stay safe.
>> Anybody else in the room like to speak? Dr. Yuck again. Welcome back. >> Speak fast. >> Oh, no. You have your three minutes. Take your time. >> Phil Yok resident. First of all, kudos go out to Councilman Pagan for abstaining from the vote on 54 West
Anglewood because of having received a small campaign donation from the owner and developer of that property. Thank you for doing the right thing. Now, on to ordinance 16, 2022 that we and the public call the Crossroads Project. Most people who are familiar with how this
AINR came to be believe it was done uh corruptly because uh it was Crossroads vice president, now the president of Crossroads, under the guise of being the president of a Crossroads subsidiary company, who investigated the Stop and Shop supermarket and recommended that
the prior council declare it to be an area need of redevelopment. The rest is a history that all current council members are familiar with. So, how do we write a wrong that is now coming to the time of reckoning? When our children do something wrong, do we reward them? Of
course not. By the same token, should we be rewarding Crossroads by relinquishing our municipal property and approving massive development in the center of town so they can profit handsomely? I say no to that. And I believe that the vast majority of residents would agree regardless of what someone on the
council might say. We are being told that we must approve this redevelopment plan or else the developer can sue the town for builder's remedy and that would result in a devastating outcome. We are told that the state is mandating that we approve this plan. What the council must
do is make the right decision for our town on a project that will affect all residents in multiple ways for years and decades to come. Quite frankly, I have come to realize that builder's remedy might actually be the better option for the entire town that will be impacted
should this redevelopment proceed as planned. We are told that the council has a fiduciary responsibility to protect the residents who pay taxes. That is absolutely true. But the council all has a also has a responsibility to protect the town and its residents from
other potentially negative outcomes such as over density, pollution, excessive traffic, and others. This development, if approved, will create 100 years of consequences. There are many reasons why builder's remedy might be a better option. It can't be worse than what
Crossroads is proposing. I am happy to have that discussion with anybody when I have more than 3 minutes. There will be no pilot and even if approved, no pilot should ever be awarded and the Beverly Road portion will potentially become optional. We need to scrap this
redevelopment plan, start from scratch, and think out of the box for more creative solutions to our affordable housing requirements and the beautifification of our business districts without adversely affecting existing homeowners, even if more difficult than uh even if more difficult
than simply slapping up apartment blocks and parking garages wherever there is leftover open space in town. I implore you to please vote no on this development plan. Thank you. Thank you, Jia.
>> Hi, I'm Susan Mayor, Tene resident. I understand the pressure that Tene and the council is under in order to meet the March 15th state affordable housing deadline. That being said, it appears that Tene has haphazardly approved one
off development proposals in several parts of town, including Crossroads. Despite a master planning project which took over a year and involved the input of many residents, none of the developments proposed, including the Crossroads plan, adhere to the vision
the master plan proposed for this town. that is to maintain our suburban character, revitalize our business districts, build lowdensity housing, preserve green space, among other things. There are many unresolved issues
with the crossroads plan that have not yet been addressed. Flooding, traffic, yes, there was a traffic study. Interestingly, it was conducted the day after Rashashana. I just want to point that out. um noise, emergency services,
school impact, utilities, the um CSX and adequate farmer market space. I believe that there are ways to create affordable housing, preserve the suburban character of Tene, support a vibrant main street,
all of which are part of the most recent master plan. And this crosswords thing is not it. Thank >> Thank you very much. >> Um Miss Dysler and then Mazers >> Judy Distler 58 years in Tene I'm tired.
I'm sorry I'm coming to this late but I believe I'm part of the neighborhood that will be negatively impacted by this building and I don't live in the immediate area. This was a town that was committed to diversity of housing, to
protecting the green belt. What are we doing? Take a look at Hackinack. Take a look at any of these towns where these huge apartment houses are going up right on top of the sidewalks. We move to a town, not to a city. And it behooves you
to remember that and to realize that people are not in favor of this. There has to be a more creative solution. What about Cedul Lane? You think this will save Cedar Lane? There's nothing there to be saved right now except maybe the
movie theater and and that horrible whatever it is that's been up there for a year and a half that nobody seems to know what they're doing. At least they didn't know when I called. I don't know what they're fixing or why it's there. But this will add traffic. Parking
garage. I don't want to park in a parking garage. How many people in this town are about my age who don't want to park in a parking garage, yet you're eliminating parking? I I I can't believe that there isn't someone out there who
can come up with something with mixeduse development. Or maybe there could be tax breaks for people, landlords of existing buildings as people move out to make more affordable units in what we already have. Please don't turn us into an
overcrowded city. It's not what we want. >> Um, sorry ma'am. >> Do you Sorry, ma'am. I forgot your name. Did you want to speak? I know you have a child. Do you want to speak? So, in case she has to go. Sorry. I just want to see if you want to go first.
You can come back. Um bit taller here. Diana Peralta. Um I am a six-year resident here in Teneck. Um I did not prepare anything as eloquently as some of my neighbors have and I appreciate everyone who's here who especially if you do not know me. Um I'm
over at West Anglewood Avenue. Um I am here with my three and a half-year-old daughter who is past her curfew and bedtime of course. Um, and I do this um to some extent intentionally, so she can see what our council is like, what um democracy is like, what standing up for
what you believe in is like. Um, and God willing, she'll be standing here in front of you someday um on the better side of things. Um, I mostly end paying attention to 54, that's her phone, that's my daughter's
phone, 54 West Anglewood Avenue. Um, and, uh, I think it was 1387 Hill Avenue. If I have the address wrong, um, please forgive me. Um, I am also against any of the massive, um, buildings that are going up
here in T-neck. Um I was here at the planning meeting um a week ago mentioning and pointing out that um my daughter walks safely through the town because it is not overly um populated
because our sidewalks are wide. Um, and just to hear that our our our some of these developments will be taken away, sidewalks in which from the day she was born, I've been able to walk through the streets at all kinds of hours, um, has been a the reason why I live in Tene,
the reason why I stay in Tene. Um, the reason why I moved from the big city into Tene. There were obviously plenty of places a commuter can move into. Um, but Tene had its highlights. It's the the town folk, um the small community,
um all the all the beautiful um historic sites that are here that we enjoy on a daily basis. Um I'd love to speak to some of the issues with the snow and being able to get to school in the morning. Um she is at the Telk Center on the other side of town on Maiden Lane
and that just is very complicated. Um the snow isn't plowed um very well on that side and obviously makes it complicated when you're cutting from west and go wood over. Um the traffic is ridiculous. Um and having such short time to again address the issues of
putting up a four or fivetory building in a very small populated area to now bring another 60 80 90 um units in that area with all the cars. Thankfully my neighbors decided to move their cars this week. However, there is still mountains of snow in front of our
properties even on the sidewalks that don't have parking at the moment and people are moving their cars as the or as the um the the the issuance was allowed to people were allowed to bring their cars back into town and to park on the sidewalks. Um I just like you to
reconsider. We myself and Dream, her name is Dream, will be here at the following meetings in order to be able to speak our voice and our minds in regards to all these issues. Thank you. Any Mr. Lazarus? I got your name this time. >> Not quite. Lazar.
>> Lazar. Robert. >> Hello. Robert Lazeroth. I live on Beerra Street. Folks move to Tene for many reasons. One of which is the promise of open space. Driving down Route 4, a visitor's first impression of Tene is the green belt.
And the idea of a green belt has helped define our town. Tene is a first ring suburb of NYC. The houses can be close together, but there is open space. Built recently, the Avalon luxury apartments set back on Windsor Road
upholds this promise of open space with acres of greenery and trees in front of it. The face of the Avalon is ways away from the single family homes on the other side of Windsor. In fact, driving down Windsor, you'd hardly know the complex is there. There's an expansive
green and other proverbial green belt separating the Avalon from the single family homes nearby. Not so for the proposed Crossroads. What Crossroads represents is the opposite of a green belt. It's a cement belt. The
luxury apartment buildings constructed over multi-story garages are to be wedged into what now are open parking lots. And as we learned earlier tonight, a mere 10 ft from the curb. And after three plus years of meetings, members of
town council have yet to convince residents that this crossroads debacle is a way forward. Members of this town council continue to paint all of us who speak up against the project as ones who don't want change, who want to live in
the past. We are all for change, the right change. We'd love to see Cedar Lane itself designated an area in need of redevelopment and apartments built right on the main street of town. It is Cedar Lane where attention needs to be paid,
where change needs to happen, not the residential streets behind it. When the parking lots, what the parking lots represent to those living nearby is not a paved paradise, as Joanie Mitchell once sang. But you can look up from the open parking lots and see the sky, see
the clouds. You can live in not just the promise, but the reality of open space in residential neighborhoods in Tene, a budding Cedar Lane. This crossroads project denies us all of that. In Herman Melville's Moby Dick, Captain Ahab is
monoomaniacal in his determination to kill the mighty whale. All the seller, all the sailors on the Pequad keep trying to reason with Ahab beg him to give up his folly, but Ahab is resolute. Nothing is going to stand in his way. For Ahab had for Ahab, it's kill the
whale. Kill the whale. For us, the residents of Tene, we feel kinship to the sailors on the Peekquad. Members of this town council, like Captain Ahab a century and a half ago, are hellbent on a misadventure. They are monomomaniacal
in wanting this misguided crossroads project fulfilled and use the fear of not complying as the compelling reason and the chorus of Tene residents continue to stand up and speak after meeting that no one wants this.
>> Thank you, sir. It's not my move. Good evening. Anita Gazinyan, Tina resident. Um, I am of course very concerned about the Crossroads development. My children attend school, um, on Chestnut Avenue and it is already
a challenge navigating our way there every morning. Um and with this development um there is undoubtedly many concerns with traffic with parking and all the things that uh a giant building uh built there would bring. Um my larger
concern is the way in which the council has gone about certain things and and certain uh changes uh with the town zoning proposals. And um your ordinance
number 15, 2026 amending the um development regulations for the town um are seemingly a blanket permission for the town to reszone areas um in ways that are not consistent with
the master plan, in ways that are not consistent with the due processes that such changes require and are certainly not consistent with the wishes of the residents. Uh, as many of my neighbors stated today, we are T-neck residents by choice. We, many of us have moved from
the city because we were looking for a different kind of lifestyle, a small town feel, something that the master plan was intended to guarantee its resident. So, with these uh resolutions and ordinances and and changes, it seems
that the town is um willfully neglecting the existing residents. um because of the state mandates and um certain requirements that the town has failed to
meet yet. Now um as other residents proposed, there may have been other creative solutions or not creative solutions but other solutions that the town has not uh made provisions for over the years. And now with the deadline looming March 15th, we're supposed to deliver a certain number of affordable
housing units. Uh it definitely seems like there are certain changes that are just swept in under the pretense of delivering certain requirements and meeting certain requirements. Again, all
done at the expense of the existing residents who have very valid concerns about our uh way of life that we chose and that we bought into when became Tene residents. the reason that we pay taxes to Tene and choose to continue residing here. So, I'm very concerned regarding
these ordinances and um I know it's not on the agenda today, but there was a a settlement discussed on the January 6th meeting. I believe that was one of those uh reasonzoning concerns that the council is planning to deliberate and
and uh deliver a decision on March 10th. So again, my concerns are with the way that the council has um addressed certain things and in um not uh keeping their residents informed and following the due procedures. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. >> Yes. Howard Rose, 45-y year resident of Tene. I speak from the perspective of several areas. I have a business on Cedar Lane. My bookstore is there for a quarter century. I have a home in Tene. Been
living there for about 45 years. Same dwelling the whole time. I have some credentials in terms of community service, having been on the planning board for 17 years. Having been on the board of education as a trustee for nine years,
I look upon what's going on regarding these areas in need of redevelopment and specifically crosswords roads as something that has been evidenced at every meeting by the people who come to meetings as it's not something we want.
I think Crossroads is a private business that can do a very good job in putting up a building that we just don't want. And that's the essence of the situation. I'm keeping it very simple. I'm not going to quote laws or space or parking or traffic flow.
It's just not wanted. I I want I want the Tene that I know. I'm not ashamed of saying that. I Are we becoming Hackin Sack East or Englewood West? I want us to remain T-C.
We're different. We should stay that way. And for good reason. It's what gives us the greatest comfort as we live here as community members. I know you hear us at every meeting and the consistency has been thick in terms of what people have
been saying. You hear us and as I said at the last meeting, please listen. Thank you very much. Paul, anybody else go next? Paula Regoven. Um, I live near the cross
proposed crossroads plan two short blocks from the CSX rail line, a freight line that carries extremely hazardous materials. In 2013, trains carrying volatile back and crude oil in Lamagant,
Quebec exploded like a bomb and killed 47 children and adults. Here in New Jersey, we organized for rail safety so we could prevent such tragedies. Finally, after 11 years, we got the state legislature to pass a hazmat rail
safety law. In the process, we learned a lot about rail safety. On December 9th, when an engineer from Crossroads reported on their drainage proposal for Crossroads, he referred to Norfolk Southern. I knew at that moment
that Crossroads nor neither Cross Nords nor the township of Tene had consulted with CSX who has controlled this portion portion of the railroad since 1999. Developers
uh towns cannot towns cannot simply do what Crossroads proposed. send waters from the north of Cedar Lane under Cedar Lane through and American Legion Drive then out into the swale next to the CSX tracks near Kip
Street. Every development needs flood mitigation approvals from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. And this one from the Bergen County and CSX and by the W way the water in the swell at Kip Street continues on into
Bagota where there are major floods at Elm and River Road. How can anyone trust crossroads or town council members who would promote this crossroads plan? A plan that would cause major traffic,
parking, flooding, pollution, and could also destabilize the tracks and trains and potentially harm rail workers and many thousands of us in Tene and beyond. The crossroads plan is irresponsible in
so many ways. Let me read part of this letter that was sent last night to all of you council members. It's from Rail Workers United who are active rail workers from CSX and other rail lines. RWU has supported our fight for rail safety legislation and has spoken in
person and remotely at our yearly rallies to remember the victims of Lamagantic. to the T-neck Township Council. It has come to the attention of Railworkers United that a potentially dangerous development project could be
in the works for the township of T-neck. I I'm not I'm going to skip reading it because I see my time is going, but they are very worried that any water getting sent into the swale could destabilize the trains and the tracks. Um, it would
be a shame if council members refuse to listen to the voices of T-neck residents and vote tonight, even to hold a hearing on this ordinance. We urge you to vote no tonight. Vote no.
>> Thank you, Paul. Mr. Make sure good evening council Ray Adderson ten resident. Um I don't live on that side of town. However, I am here to voice my opinion that the
project that's being proposed over there is probably from a business perspective for crossroads is good, but for the T-neck residents is not something that they want. Um, and I agree with the gentleman who said that
the building that they put in it might be new, but you don't need to put a building like that there. You need to repair, redevelop Cedar Lane. Cedar Lane is an area in need of redevelopment. Yes, build it and they will come.
However, the monies that you will be getting from the tenants there will not be spent in Tene. Tene on Cedar Lane has nothing to offer. we would want to turn our money over in our area and that's not happening on Cal
Lane from a business perspective. Again, I respect the fact that Crossroad has perspective to put a building in there to meet for Tene to meet their requirements by the state, but let's not put a square peg in a round hole or a
round peg in a square hole. listen to the residents because the future of Tene and its beauty depends on what you as a council people do. >> Thank you, sir. >> Yes.
>> Good evening. Good evening, everybody. My name is Donzo. I'm a Tene resident. >> My name is D Alonzo. I'm a T-neck resident. my own property right on West Englewood Avenue where it is a proposed buildout for 54 West Wing Englewood
Avenue and um I'm originally a New Yorker born and raised from the Bronx and I moved out to Jersey looking for some quiet solitude what a small town offers and it just amazes me how when it comes to redevelopment and um having her
fulfill state mandates for affordable housing we're always talking about big residential um buildings that take away from the integrity of a small um small communities. In the Bronx where
I'm from actually they for small houses they developed a lot of small uh family houses, two three family houses and they maintain the integrity in those areas of fulfilling what the state wanted and it wasn't always about big developments. Now, we know when big developers come on
in, they start throwing their money around and pushing their their friendships and everything around and it becomes profitable for other people, but not for the residents. So, I don't know exactly the best way to say this, but there's alternatives to having us
fulfill the state mandates for for uh affordable housings and in what way can we discuss that and not always have to be something that takes away from the small towns in a small community. Now, I'm not born in Tene. My daughter is, my wife and I, we all live here now. We've
been living here for the past 8 years and we've been enjoying living in Tene and knowing what comes in from big developments coming in from the city waves where I'm originally from. That's everything we try to escape from, you know, and not saying that it's guaranteed that that's what it's going to be, but the noise, the congestions,
you lose a certain element when you have this big develop developers coming on in. So, um, all I want to say is, is there different options of aside from always building up and building big? You have to fulfill state mandates for
affordable housings, but can we think of other things that that can't be an option aside from always taking away from the integrity of a small town? >> Thank you, sir. >> Uh, Mr. Brown, you go next. We talk to physical Christian talk.
>> I I never he didn't go over three. >> Hi, my name is Susan Schultz. I want to talk about a couple of things. One is crossroads. Um I agree with everybody who's come up here who's
telling you about the concerns in their quality of life, about the traffic, about the runoff of the water. Um, and I hope that you hear it, that you really hear it. It's been meeting after meeting after meeting that
residents have come out here. And he had great suggestions about other ways of looking for affordable housing. And I hope that you take the time. I know you're under a crunch now, but
we've had years and we've also been out here for years saying this is not what we want to to look for alternatives. The second thing that I want to discuss is the snow and I know that you're
proposing the idea of having alternative parking. Um it where I live I'm on Oakan there's and I I understand that there's so much snow out there that it's hard to
move it. I'm not complaining about that, but I can't even imagine having parking on one side. There's basically one lane that's open and the idea of having parking on one side, it would be closed
up. Um, even the idea of closing down the municipal parking uh for residents didn't make sense to me because there's not enough parking on the street. Thank you,
>> Mr. Brown. Anybody else? >> Chris Brown, Bell Avenue. Uh so there's a plethora of reasons to be opposed to this project as many people have stated tonight and will continue to. Um I live across the street from the uh what is
it? The north site in the redevelopment plan. Um and I'm going to be dealing with all the externalities, construction, more windows that I'm going to be looking at through my living room. Uh traffic, all of the all of the negative externalities that we're talking about tonight. I'm going to have to live through that. um from
construction on on. However, as we've been stating, my first time being here was because I lost a car in a flood. Beverly Road, Beatatric Bell floods. We have a flooding issue. And for what it's
all worth, the redevelopment plan does state in section, what is it, page 358 of 380 something pages. um section O that at the very you know there's that 10 to 15% reduction or at the very least
um improving or increasing storm water flow subject to sign off by the township engineer. That's good. It's a step in the right direction. But that is on you all as council people to negotiate a redevelopment agreement that would put all that in. So that onus is on you all.
you know, we really have to keep their feet to the fire on that specific issue because if not, it's going to have a negative impact on that street. You're putting a building in a parking lot, it floods during IDA, water is in the parking lot, you're putting a building
there, all that water is now displaced onto the street. So, you have to it it you have to improve the drainage situation on that site. I'm running out of time. So, there's just one uh one specific other issue that I want you all to consider. I'd like you all to
consider before this goes as this is going on first reading. Um if you look at the bulk standards, there's that 15 ft from the curb line language. That doesn't work because of the way that it um the way that it correlates with the church. If you look on Google Earth,
just doing the math, I think it's like a 15 or 20 foot step back from the property line. So if you have a 15 foot or a 10 foot whatever from the 15t set back from the curb line or 10 foot set back from the property line you're going to have a building that's jutting in
front of the church on American Legion on Windsor and Beverly that's not a good design right so you if anything you want to flush street wall so I hope that you all can consider that before you adopt that consider the impacts on the
neighborhood and please c hold crossroads responsible for addressing the drainage situation on the street. Thank you. >> Is there anybody else in the audience that like to speak? >> Go ahead. Anybody else afterwards?
Ron, we'll turn it over to you afterwards. Please go ahead. >> Hi, I've never done this before. My name is Muz Gillings. Um I'm a Tene resident for 37 years. Um I've seen many changes in Tene. Um, coming from New York, um, I
remember Cedar Lane, uh, say around 1990 and one of my neighbors complaining about the traffic and I was like, "This is traffic, please." But now it's traffic. Um, it's
traffic. I go up. Um, I'm on Graange Road. I may not be what people may consider in an area that's affected, but that's that doesn't how can I say this? Um, everywhere I drive, I'm affected
because when I go down Cedar Lane, when I visit my neighbor Chris over there, um, I see a sea of red lights at a certain hour. Um, there was a year I remember seeing Cedar Lane having rush hour and I'm like, what's going on? So,
you know, I remember see Lane when how can I say this? It matched the rest of the town, meaning it was idyllic. It was um a nice place to be. And now it's congested. Um,
I'm not sure what can what can remedy that, but I'm pretty convinced that the Crossroad Project will only add to the issues. Um, everybody raised amazing points that I happen to agree with. Um, but I just want to say and maybe
emphasize, you know, these are amazing people. Tene residents are special. It's different from the other towns. We're more involved. It attracts a certain personality type um that I think is great. That's why I love living here. And I know you guys are probably under
other considerations. You're considering other factors. Um the big company wants to come in and do something. Perhaps you're looking at um uh data that suggested it might be good for certain things. But this is something that the town, the people who live here, they're
ready to eat whatever consequences because it's so bad. the development is so bad for everybody here that we're willing to eat the consequences if there are consequences and it would be nice if it were up to us and I don't know if it's a matter of you guys maybe
reshifting how you consider things but it would be awesome if this wasn't forced upon us because this is definitely something we don't want um that's all I have to say thank you very much appreciate it
>> thank Thank you. Okay, see no other hands, we will go to Zoom. Mr. Cable Masher, what do you have for us tonight? >> We got Tracy. >> Tracy, if you could please come on and say your last name.
>> First name. >> Hi there. Thank you. Can you give me like a 30 second warning because I I don't have a stopwatch. Um, my name is Tracy Carcion. I live at Chestnut and North. Um, come Thursday, we'll have lived in Teneck for 33 years. My husband
and I are both blind. We like to walk on the sidewalks. We do not like to walk in the middle of the street. I know you have to clear the streets with the snow plows, but there are like giant mounds at the corners of of North and Chestnut and and we can't cross north to get down
to Cedar Lane or get over to Stop and Shop. I tried to like shovel, but it was like a huge mound of frozen snowballs and and it was it was hopeless. So, the only thing we could do when we really have to get out is go out our neighbors
driveway or our driveway, walk like 80 to 100 feet and go up somebody else's driveway. Mind we're walking in the middle of the street where cars are coming. There's very little space to move over and get out of the way. I don't know what you could do about it,
but I pointed out to you that not having a place for pedestrians to get across at the corners is a problem. And now I want to talk about crossroads. We are concerned about traffic because we walk down, we cross north and Alma
Terrace all the time to get to Cedar Lane to do shopping and we cross American Legion all the time to go over to stop and shop. So we're concerned about traffic. We'd really like to see these traffic studies that are supposed to happen. I hope they'll be made
public. And we're also we moved to T-neck. Part of what we liked about it is that we could live close enough to walk easily down to the main mis business district, but it was quiet where we are. So, we're very interested in the noise
study that's supposed to be done, too. Uh, I know this is all about affordable housing. My understanding is that there's what 48 affordable housing units and 350 as much as the B market will bear. So, no wonder Crossroads is eager
for this thing. I don't know what they mean by affordable housing. Is it like $2,000 a month versus like $5,000 a month? Because the rents I hear people paying are insane. And it seems to me if you guys would just let go of your your
uh your love of crossroads that we could find 48 places that people could live in in Teneck and they might even be much more affordable. And I wouldn't mind seeing, you know, a real, you know, affordable housing complex where most of it was affordable
>> because those guys might be taking the bus, you know, like me. Did Was that my 30 second warning? >> Yes, ma'am. Uh, thank you very much. Uh, do I have anything else to say? Oh, yeah. I'm also concerned that they could say after we've signed the contract, we
don't have room for that farmers market. So, that's out of here, suckers. That's it. Thank you. >> Very much. >> Ron Schwarz got three minutes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ron Schwarz,
46year resident of Tene with my wife, Lisa. For those of you who are interested in an alternate vision for the redevelopment of Cedar Lane, come to a public forum this Monday night at the Rada Center sponsored by the
Coalition of Neighborhood Associations and housing expert Esther Sandra, who will present an alternate vision for the redevelopment uh and revitalization of Cedar Lane with housing involved. eight o'clock on
Monday night. Now, regarding the introduction of this ordinance for crossroads tonight, my own personal opinion is that it is premature and frankly irresponsible for council members to be voting to introduce this ordinance uh tonight. There were many
many studies and I will list them that have not been done that have to be done to protect the safety and welfare of the teen of teen residents. One, the independent traffic study which we have been promised with 477 additional cars at the intersection of Garrison and
Cedar Lane coming with this project has not been done. In fact, there is a resolution that is just hiring somebody to do it now and uh it obviously will be a rush job. That hasn't been done and so the ordinance shall not be introduced. There's been no noise study that was
required by the settlement agreement. There's been no utility study that was required by the settlement agreement. There is no school impact study that has been promised by several members of the council to be done before this would even be considered.
Most importantly, there is no flood remediation plan in the redevelopment plan being introduced tonight. There was a plan that was suggested by the uh redeveloper crossroads on December 9th that involved uh uh leading water
through more pipes as Paula Regoven um talked about tonight. That plan must have been rejected by council members because it is not in the redevelopment plan that is being introduced tonight. In fact, there is no workable remediation of flooding plan uh in this
plan tonight. At least two and possibly more council members on this council have said in public that they will not vote for this plan without a workable flood remediation uh plan to uh protect the residents of Beverly Road, Bell
Avenue, and the surrounding areas. Those have not been done. There's been nothing about a pilot program indicated. There's nothing about what the uh developer is going to pay for the public land. There are four public lots that are being transferred to the developer at no cost
or is there an appraisal being done or has an appraisal been done to say what the town is going to get out of this? That's the point. No appraisal has been done. We don't know what the pilot program is going to be. There is such lack of information about this crossroads project that it would be
premature and irresponsible to introduce this ordinance tonight. If you need to get an extension of the March 15 Got Alex. It's Alex's phone. Can you state your name? >> Sorry about that. Um, hi, my name is
Alex Kriteman. I've been a resident of Tina for the last 30 years. Um, I live at 837 Bell Avenue. Um, whenever I talk, I tend to be, you know, not necessarily heard because of my voice and my baby
face and slash I'm a female. Um, so I wrote a letter um because I also tend to ramble. Um, so that I'd be a little bit more constructive. Um, so good evening, town council and mayor. I understand that the towns near New York City are
attempting to build luxury buildings to attract young adults and couples and become a luxurious place to live. However, I must express the other population that is being left out and either forced to live in uncapped lowincome housing or addicts converted into a room. Rent is at its highest it
has ever been. More and more middle and low-income families are living in poorly kept low-income housing. The streets are in the on the streets or in shelters which are honestly unsafe. The low-income population have been forgotten, left to the freezing cold weather, ultimately putting them at high
risk for illness and death, as we recently saw in New York City. One of my neighbors has lived here for over 40 years. Their children have made a home here. Their children's children have made a home here. This is what Tene should represent, a home. I've been I've
seen so many family family homes for sale on their and leaving town because Tene is starting to no longer feel like a home. More recently, during our last snowstorm, I and my parents were treated very disrespectfully by the police, including three police officers and the
sergeant, and we were discriminated against as individuals with disabilities. We were told to park blocks away from our home or even a mile away to PL so that the parking lot by our home could be plowed. This issue was presented to the town manager. However, I nor my parents who have lived here for
over 30 years have ever been treated more poorly by the council or police in Tene. Please think about this long and hard. How do you want to represent Tene knowing all and knowing all of this information and think about how are you able to sleep at night? Thank you for
your time. Haley, you want to make maker? >> Haley, you have three minutes. >> Okay. Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. >> Yes. Hi, Wana Maker, 148 Church Street, lived in Tene uh for 36 years. Um, I'm
just want to say something about democracy. All of you sitting up there have been elected by us, the people. And we have been saying to you for three years that we don't want this. I have heard maybe one or two people say they
thought it was a good idea. And 99.9% of your people who elected you have said it's not. So I don't understand what's going on here. Are you representing us or are you representing Crossroads? I I really feel like maybe there's
something going on here that, you know, you're supposed to be our representatives for what we want as taxpayers, as people contributing to this town. So, I wanted to say that. I also wanted to say that March 2nd,
Monday, March 2nd, the Coalition of Neighborhood Associations is putting forth an alternate vision of how we could both provide more housing and redevelop Cedar Lane. It's been developed by a very well-known housing
expert, Esther Sandro, who lived in Tene for like 40 years. and she has a whole other idea of how we could go about doing this where we can yes we can re redevelop Cedar Lane and yes we can do more housing which we need. So everyone
is invited to come to that coalition of neighborhood association meeting on Monday March 2nd at the Rada Center at 8:00. Please come, please spread the word that and the mayor and the deputy mayors have seen this plan and they like
this plan. They thought it was great. So, I'm really like shocked that they're plunging forward with this despite meeting after meeting after meeting with us and and I mean I feel like it was a joke. You guys weren't listening to us
at all. What were you saying then if you thought this was such a great plan and then all of a sudden you're going back to Crossroads? It's really a slap in the face as a person who's really believes in democracy. Also, I just want to say all the things that have been brought
up. The thing what Paula Rogoven said, my goodness. So, we're going to take a flooding problem on one side of town and put it on the other side of the town and make the tracks more dangerous where a train could derail and we could have the same thing of an explosion and kill many
of our residents. That's just a crime that you would even consider this. And last but not least, everybody on this council seems so afraid of this quote unquote builder's re remedy. Guys, get a spine. Fight. Stand up for the right
thing. This is you're you're just standing up for Crossroads, a private company that's going to make a lot of money off our town, putting buildings on a parking lot that we need when it snows 2 feet, we need a place to park our cars.
>> You're giving away our parking lot. >> Ally, please state your full name. >> Good evening. Ally Rosenthal, uh, nearly 10-year T-neck resident. Um, I'd like to speak about the town's abysmal plowing performance both during this storm and
the previous one. Um, as far as the previous one, the fact that the town never even attempted to plow curb to curb on most streets was extremely frustrating. Not only did this make it very hard to get through side streets when people were parked on them, but even made main roads, even main roads had 10 feet of snow, losing turning
lanes in places like westbound State Street at Queen Anne. It stayed like that for three weeks. Unacceptable. The idea brought up tonight about alternate side of street parking could help address this. I think it would be a very good idea to implement that once the snow emergency is lifted so that people all park on one side of the street on
even days so the plow can continue cleaning the other side of the street and switch to the other side and odd days so they can clean up the other side of the street. Now moving forward to this storm. What a disaster. My street wasn't plowed after 3:00 a.m. Monday morning until about the same time on Tuesday morning. I know other streets
that hadn't been touched as of 7:30 a.m. today. The fact that Tina cance canceled school as early as they did showed that the town had no expectation of clearing the streets in a timely manner. They had 18 hours to clear them after the snow stopped. I wonder if any resident died because an ambulance couldn't reach them
because the streets were in such a poor state for so many hours. We had out of town guests staying with us who were stranded by the storm. They were beyond shocked at how poorly the town managed the storm. Their daughter and new son-in-law had just moved to Tene last week. Not a good impress first impression. Today I saw two plows. One
was parked in a very unsafe area on Windsor right when at the bottom of the State Street Bridge. Not sure why I was sitting there. And the other one was driving hard of Queen Anne that could have used some more plowing or at least salting. And it was just driving, that's all. Then I saw some poor town employee shoveling the State Street Bridge. Do we
not have snowblowers? As for what Miss Hashmat mentioned about needing to replace a town's plows over the next few years, we cannot wait a few years to make improvements. If we don't have working equipment, then we need to lease working trucks ahead of storms. Um, the bottom line is that the town needs to get their act together. We pay insanely
high taxes and deserve better. There's more snow in the forecast. Our neighboring towns seem to have figured out how to do this. Not sure why Tene can't seem to do the same. And the excuse I heard from someone that Tene is bigger than those towns is ridiculous. I have lived in much larger cities and they were somehow able to manage the process. And the fact that you want to
add more development when you can't even manage the current state of affairs is a cons is concerning and upsetting. The town needs to stop making excuses, stop striving for mediocrity, and figure out what needs to happen to improve things significantly before the next snow. Thank you,
>> Corey Franco. You have time three minutes to speak now. >> Thank you. Um, my name is Corey Frankel. Uh I have lived in Tene for a little over a year now and I would like to bring to the attention of the town council two correlated issues plaguing
Ayers's Court which is one block away from the intersection of Queen Anne and State Street. There are many tenants of the apartments on Ayers Court Hill Street and Wal Raven Drive who have been struggling with an increasingly difficult parking situation. There are
many couples, families, and individuals living in the so-called T-neck apartments community, and we have different schedules, and many of us need parking. We have jobs, classes, and errands that take place at any point during the day and during our busy weeks. Our proximity to a nucleus of
businesses is a perk of living in this neighborhood. However, it also means that finding parking is a challenge every hour of every day. Sometimes it becomes necessary for us to park in municipal lots and sometimes in the parking spots by the Chase Bank down the
block. We have we used to have more spots, but in the past several months those spots were converted into 2 hours parking spots during business hours. We get tickets because we can't go move our cars because we are taking care of children or attending remote classes.
The recent blizzard exacerbated these parking issues. He's Court and Wal Raven Drive have not been sufficiently plowed. Cars and buses got stuck on the ice multiple times, presenting a danger to the lives and property of these residents and the T-neck township as a
whole. Furthermore, the parking notices have been difficult to track. There's a lot of confusion amongst our community about who can park where and when. I would like to advocate for clearer communication of township parking regulations before handing out tickets to people who have nowhere to park their
cars. and I implore you to please plow the small side streets housing many of your TAK residents. It would be greatly appreciated. I yield my remaining time. >> Chuck Powers 3 minutes. >> Do you hear me?
>> Yes, we do. >> U two quick things. one tonight you're asked to once again approve a anou between the burrow of Leonia and Tene
um on the hope that we'll be able to work out all the issues associated with protected property in Leonia where we are now suggesting again as we have several
times in the past that we um that we put our DPW facility and perhaps most of our our recycle. We need something someone to explain to the council and to the PI public tonight
what the timeline is on that how we're going why we think we can now handle all the issues that are identified actually in in theou which all suggest that there are enormous set of problems we're going to have to get by to deal with putting
that kind of device that kind of facility on protected property. We need an update on that. Now I want to turn to the question of crossroads. Once again, the entire township has told
this council that they don't want the crossroads plan and that there are options and they want to have two opportunities next week to on the one hand look at an alternative and two have a m another major discussion.
Why in the world would we go ahead and approve tonight the introduction of an ordinance that has so many flaws in it as you have heard about repeatedly tonight and the reason always comes back to what our attorneys have told us is we
have to do it because otherwise we're going to subject ourselves to builders remedies. Well, actually think about it. builders don't have a right to put any of their new unwanted developments on
public property. They have no right to do that and they have no right to have any pilots associated as we are about ready to hand to crossroads. And no question about it that a
builder's remedy will be a challenge to put into operation while we work out all the things that you've heard the public say they want tonight. But there is no reason to believe that handing a
redevelopment plan to crossroads tonight would not be a far greater risk because of all the issues that Mr. Yuck talked about the night in terms of the way in which Crossroads has treated us and the way in which they got in this position
to be able to point to both a settle a litigation and point to a state a state uh requirement to have. All right, >> we have someone named iPhone. Please
state your full name. >> Uh hello, good night. My name is uh John Theas Windsor Road in Sagamore. Uh I've been a Tene resident for about 12 years.
And the uh the traffic on Windsor Road is absolutely ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. From the time that uh I moved here till now, I' I've never seen anything like this
uh in my in my life. And I wanted the uh the panel to know that I strongly oppose this development happening in Tene. All I see is problems after problems
after problems. I don't know if you're aware of how this development will affect every municipality in Tene, including the police department and the fire
department and the board of education. I'm I'm a I'm I I'm a I am a strong supporter of training and training. Our police department don't have enough
training to adequate to to to deal with the with this with this increase of new people come coming in. If you think you have problems now with with with with the uh the T-neck police department discriminating or pulling people over or
uh issuing parking tickets, it it's only going to calcify calcify. It's only going to create more problems uh in in our municipality. There'll be more lawsuits against the police department. The fire department will definitely not be able to to keep up
with with with the problems that's going to come with this uh uh this development. And as far as as far as crossroads, the the lights on Cedar Lane, especially especially the one with the Garrison Garrison and Cedar Lane, that light is
about 60 seconds. 60 seconds as as of right now. If there's just a little bit of of of traffic on Garrison and Ced the Lane, it'll take it'll take like 10 minutes just to get on Cedar Lane, just to make
that left turn or right turn. So, I I strongly strongly oppose uh uh this this development. It's it's bad enough that we have the worst property. Our property taxes is out of control. Absolutely out of control. Bergen County is out of
control. The the previous caller said that there are so many homes being put up for sale. She she wasn't exaggerating. She was not exaggerating. Teen you could you could kiss Tina goodbye. you you might as well change the name to to something else because
Teneck is you you might as well call it New York City. It's it's not even a it's not even going to be a suburb anymore. It's not going to be a suburb anymore. It's it's it's I I strongly oppose it and I I I could speak for every >> Yeah, your time is up, John. Thanks.
>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Uh, Brian Harland Brooks. >> Hello, my name is Brian Harlon Brooks. I live on 36 Garden Street in Tene, New Jersey. Um, what I hope that the council
is hearing that the town that was made years and years ago in it creation was made for residential experience. We don't have thoroughfare, meaning the streets don't go all the way through. We have turns and culde-sacs. This is not made, the arteries, the foundation of
the neighborhood is not made for large projects like crossroads. I live on west the west side of Tene where there are already two large apartment buildings and the traffic is beyond bearable. But beyond that traffic issue, going into places like Tenic and State Street Plaza
is almost impossible. You can't turn left into it if you're going towards Bergen Field. There are multiple traffic issues within Tene that are built for small town traffic that haven't been expanded. Basically, what I'm saying is that we haven't grown the town in an
infrastructure uh perspective in order to accommodate larger and more transient things like apartment buildings. When you have large apartment buildings, you create a large large group of people that are coming and going and renting for temporary amounts of time. We also don't have businesses that will attract people to spend money within Tene, but
they will dump their trash here on the streets. They will walk through and move on without really caring for the town that has been created throughout the years that that I have lived here. I grew up in TAK. I went to Tene High School. I moved away. I lived in Brooklyn. I lived in Chicago. I lived in Philly and moved back to Tene. I live in
the home in which I grew up. The town has shifted. It takes me now as long as it takes me to get from the George Washington Bridge. It takes me to get from the bridge in in the middle of Tene to my block. It takes that long to get home because of all the traffic that
comes past Forest Avenue and then you have to emerge into the side. We all know that the streets are not made for that many cars and that much transit. It makes it very difficult and it makes the town very unattractive for the high taxes which will cause movement, attrition and will change the shape,
tenor and um community that we all have worked very hard to build here through all the things that we've been through over the last year from COVID to the protests against Palestine. We have maintained a town unit because we have had communication and be able to reach directly to the council and have
conversation and impact. It'll be disheartening to hear this many people say that they do not want something to say, "We hear you, but we're doing it anyway." I yield the remainder of my time. >> Michael Goldberg, three minutes. >> Yeah. Hi, this is this is not Michael
Goldberg. This is Hildy Dylan, uh, chair of the environmental commission here in Tene. Um, I share a Zoom with Michael, which is why his name came up and I didn't have the option to change my name. Um,
however, I'm listening to the residents and as many have said about Crossroads, you've been hearing from this community now for three years. um from many I have not I listen to the council meetings or
I come in person. I've gone to many of the public meetings. Um I personally have not heard one person stand up and say this is exactly what we want. you know that the these plans that have been proposed even as
they have been even as they have evolved over time but from an environmental perspective just so the town understands the environmental commission's job would be to review site plans once they once this
project is approved to go forward when when the crossroads company actually issues the site plans we would have an opportunity to review them make recommendations, but we have no regulatory authority to say no, we don't approve this. But in
conversations with uh the members of the environmental commission, because this comes up during our meetings repeatedly, the current storm water mitigation uh plan of as one resident so accurately
said is moving the water from one side of this area to another area of within the township and dumping the water or or routing the water to the CSX tracks makes absolutely no environmental sense.
Um, and I if that is what stands in this plan and it comes into a site plan, not only will it you may have problems with CSX ever accepting this plan or the rail workers not standing up as Paula
had said against this plan because it may impact the safety of those tracks. Um it's just not sound storm water mitigation. Um so I really think that you need to listen to the plan that's proposed to
you on Monday night. Somebody said get a spine. Let's be a democratic uh let's work democratically in t in tene. Um the the residents want a different option that makes sense both
for us as a community. We don't want to. We We understand that there are certain limitations we have or requirements that we have to meet the state's requirements, but this is just a crummy plan. Um, and the residents have been
telling council this repeatedly for years. Um, so I hope that you will consider that. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mrs. Baker. You have 3 minutes. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. Three minutes. Thank you.
>> Okay. Margaret Baker, Urban Teen. I'm one of the victims of the mess that was put on Decar Avenue. And I'm really feeling it for the rest
of the residents of Phoenix. It's no fun having a building that high in your front door. And when I
say front door, I mean front door. It has changed the neighborhood. It's not a neighborhood anymore. And I just hate to see other sections of
T-C go through this. I'm willing to be the victim for the rest of KC when you put up this sixstory building in my front door.
and it's been a living nightmare. So, I really have been keeping up with what's going on and I agree with all of you and if you want more details, you can
contact me. I'm a living victim of this development in Tene. And by the way, the second building is going up down.
So T-neck is no longer suburban T-neck. It's urban. And pretty soon it'll be little New York. So, I just want to let you know I fully
agree with you. I was not in favor of this, but of course I couldn't get a meeting with the council. I guess my mouth is too big.
But believe me, I will let you know what I think. You don't have to agree with me, but you will hear me. And Teneck with this building over here.
I know it's not near many of you, but I know in some way it has affected you. and more buildings like this one out here. T- neck is no longer
>> Mrs. Baker up. Thank you. >> Keith Kaplan, you're the last one. Three minutes. >> Hello, Keith Kaplan, Tene resident. Uh, I think Chuck Powers had a good point. There are other options that were available to T-neck. Let's review a
couple of them. In the 1940s, they wanted to put up apartment buildings. They said absolutely not. That's not what we're going to have in Tene. There were a need for people. They were saying, "We graduate Tene High School and we can't have a place here. There's
10,000 houses and that's it." And it was just tough luck until World War II came by and they said, "We need a place for the GIS." They couldn't turn them away. So they built Ayers's Court. And that's why we got the Ayers Court apartments. And that was it for a long time. The 60s
came, they tried to do a little more. They wanted apartments up and down Cedar Lane. Absolutely not. The letters came pouring in. Those twostory uh apartments you see on Cedar Lane, they called them skyscrapers. gonna change the town. We can't have
this here. They screamed. They settled on two stories. You go through to the 80s, people screaming about uh getting duplexes. The same duplex that a certain state senator and former council woman lives in was
fiercely opposed by everybody that worked here. That everybody that lived here can't have one of those duplexes. 1990s you had tennis club associates versus t- literally the spot we're talking about tonight demanding that
they do not build in that spot where stop and chop is you go forward there's more opposition opposition to Avalon opposition to the places that were built I sat on the planning board I heard the opposition now look you have a court
case in New Jersey that says According to the Mount Laurel doctrine, you need these places. If you didn't want them in the Ayor's Court area, you didn't want them in the Cedar Lane area. You didn't want them where Stop and Shop is. You
didn't want them where the duplexes are, you didn't want them where the hotel is, and you didn't want them where uh Windsor is. Where exactly did you want them? Chuck Power said there were other options. which ones existed that
somebody said this is great because if you say no to everything because you're holding off for that smart development. Look, it just doesn't come. And then you can't be shocked when someone says a builder's remedy is going to force this on us. They're right. But this is what's
happening. Look in the mirror, folks. You said no until you hit the wall and now you're complaining. You're getting a concussion. Good grief. >> Ron, anybody else?
>> Keith, are you done? >> I think I'm done. >> Thank you. >> That's it, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you very much. Sure. No one else on Zoom welfare is now over. Before we go to the council, u Mr. Attorney, is there any comments you have to make? I always forget about you. I apologize. >> That's okay. Uh, yes. So, I can um
answer some of the questions that were raised and respond to some of >> Mr. Mayor. I just saw a hand go up if you're interested and then it's too late. Okay. >> Sorry. >> Uh I'm sure with some other things I'm going to say are not going to be popular. Um I'm obviously paid over here to tell to tell the mayor and township
council the truth and not not what you know makes people clap. Um it's going to take a few minutes so bear with me. Um first is that there's a question at the very beginning about whether collers uh if the council decides to retain them would be reviewing the traffic study. Yes, that is exactly what we'll be hiring them to do to provide an
independent analysis of the uh um of the study that was uh drafted uh by by by cross service. Um we'll also be doing our own independent study uh after the zoning is adopted as we stated in our settlement agreement for a redevelopment
agreement is uh is adopted and any site plan uh is reviewed. Uh second, there were a number of comments about the storm water flooding runoff. Uh Crossroads has submitted a water remediation plan which has been reviewed and confirmed by the township engineer.
Uh no water will be dumped on the CSX lines. We do not believe that the drainage plan proposed by Crossroads is going to affect CSX whatsoever. Currently, the storm water runoff from Bell A and Beverly flows south across the municipal property beneath the Cedar Lane down American Legion Drive and
eventually discharges onto the into the existing drainage swale located next to the railroad tracks. This is all part of the township's existing storm water sewer system. Crossroads would be responsible for paying uh for this upgrade. Um, Crossroads is proposing to
add an additional pipe that will allow the storm water to drain faster into the system which is more than enough capacity to handle the runoff. In other words, more storm water runoff will get into the system before it ever gets to the CSX tracks. Additionally, uh,
Crossroads overall proposal for development will actually decrease the amount of impervious surface coverage by about 10 to 15% compared to what is currently there, which will mean even even less storm water runoff from the properties we currently see because it'll just be able to go into the ground
more easily than it than it currently has. So, combined that will mean that there's less runoff. Whatever runoff is there will drain faster, uh, which should mean that in the end there will be no flooding whatsoever. And again, the township engineers have reviewed this plan. Uh they believe this will be
a massive improvement for the community. Third thing I want to respond to is one one comment that really stuck out to me. I think more than more than anything else, which about what would happen if there was a builder's remedy lawsuit and the comment was specifically that you that
it can't be worse than the the Crossroads plan. If you hate Crossroads and the Crossroads plan, you cannot imagine what will happen with a builder builder's remedy lawsuit. If the township loses immunity, we don't just lose it at the Crossroads site. We lose
it everywhere in town. What that means is we have in specifically for Crossroads, we have 72 affordable housing units done that we are required by law, by state law, uh to build. And anywhere in town that a builder comes in and says, "I can build you 72 affordable
housing units." It's going to mean that I have to build 500 units overall, but I'll get you the 72 units. A judge is going to approve it and they're going to require us to build it. Doesn't matter if it's a skyscraper on a quarter acre of land. As long as they get the affordable the affordable housing units, that is all the judge is going to care
about. They will approve it regardless. And we don't get any say over it, over where it goes. We don't get any say as to what goes there, how it looks like or anything like that. >> What what what makes it what makes it even worse is that all the benefits that we get are also gone. So we could easily
be facing a situation where Crossroads is allowed to build basically exactly what they want except they aren't required to provide the storm water remediation, not required to provide the farmers market or all the other benefits that they've agreed to do as part of the redevelopment plan. Again, the only thing a judge is going to care about is
whether they will build the affordable uh affordable housing units that we're required to approve to approve without giving us any say whatsoever with the zoning requirements. And then the icing on the cake is we then have to pay their legal fees for the privilege of the of them getting to do this. I have heard a
lot of comments tonight about democracy and that somehow approval of this project is anti-democratic. The approval of this um project uh is not a rejection of the opinions and ideas of the residents many of which have been incorporated into the plan over the last uh last few years as we've heard heard
from you. This what is on the table tonight uh is not approval of the crossroads project itself. The approval of this zoning is the result of a democratically elected governor legislature making statewide policy decisions as to how our affordable housing is developed. Tene voted over a
year ago, believe it was over a year ago now to participate in this process so that we could remain in control of our own zoning. We faced that builder's remedy lawsuit. We will see the same number of units, but with no control over where they go, what they look like, and we won't get any benefit, public
benefits with it. No studies, no drainage infrastructure, just there's no question, I've heard from both the council and members of the public that this is an awful situation. Nobody is happy about this. Nobody has a love affair with crossroads by what one
resident said. We do not have any other option which is the entire point of the law that that the state passed. The entire point was to remove those options and take them away from us. But they want to provide a uniform fixed deadline that allows or that requires that affordable housing gets built no matter
how many people complain about it. Took it out of our hands by passing this law the way they did. There is no extension that we can get. We have until March March 16th and that is that is the end of that is a deadline that we have and if we don't meet that again we lose our imu lose our immunity.
Again I know this is unpopular. I apologize for that. I would much rather be telling you guys all something that you want what you guys want to hear. We were all the council the mayor and council making the best of a bad situation. That is realistically all we can do. Thank you Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you very much. Um Miss Excuse me.
Do you want to leave? No one did that to whoever was hissing. Do not do that to anybody else. Council McGover. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, let me first start by saying I'm not against everything. There are circumstances in a world that I might have sat up here and
said yes to some of these projects, but none of those circumstances have been met. Supposedly, we have control. So, where's the control when we can't make changes to anything? when we hold community meetings after the redevelopment plan is introduced and nothing can get changed as a result. We
are the ones who vote on these projects, not crossroads. We serve Tene. So why are we not allowed to make changes to overlay zones or redevelopment plans without developers permission? We have a responsibility to make sure that what we vote on protects the people we serve, no matter where they live. So why is asking
questions so terrible? Why are the answers given to us as if we can't read? The traffic study I can read on page 16 of the stop and shop settlement agreement. It requires the study to conclude quote the crossroads project will result in no degradation in
existing levels of service or function. That is the same settlement agreement that Mr. Schwarz held up in this room the day it was walked in. that does not allow us to approve a plan um that pushes any discussions about uh satisfactory
levels of improvement into the compliance section of the redevelopment agreement. It defeats the purpose of of zoning if the studies can't be changed to address it in the plan. Why is the settlement required then the that is why the settlement required the plan to be submitted to write the plan not as an
afterthought. What the February 2026 traffic study actually concludes is, quote, "It is the professional opinion of dynamic traffic that the adjacent street system will not experience any significant degradation. It's not the same thing as no degradation. I can read. I don't need a subject matter
expert to tell me the difference between no degradation and no significant degradation. I'll ask my own questions. I never blindly trust. I always verify. Thank you, Dr. Powers, Councilman Sone, and Dr. Tooffler for teaching me that. By the way, did anyone notice that the parking garage will have 590 spots? The
traffic analysis says 590. The redevelopment plan, minimum of 450. So now we know 590 spots in the parking garage in front of Chris Brown and Phil Yuck's house. The drainage study, I read the drainage study, too. The current plan does not include the detention tank that was suggested as a part of phase
two that slowly moves the water from the culverts to when it fills at a controlled rate in a controlled rate. Instead, on December 9th, the developer stood here and said that it's impract impractical. So, why would detention be impractical? Because the only place to put it is the exact location that the 94
units in 590 spots is slated to be built. You cannot easily build a multi-story parking garage on top of a 100,000galon tank that the town the township has completed every other phase of that work. So, I want to thank the manager. I know it's been very stressful. Instead of detention, the
plan has apparently been agreed upon also in the in the agreement between Crossroads and the township. I'm not sure who agreed on that, to seven parallel pipes, noticeably only that the proposed construction sites, perhaps to push the water away from the future buildings. And how is that going to work
with the phasing requirement of the 2022 settlement? That means C and B are not built at the same time. This plan requires the building in the Stop and Shop parking lot and the Beverly Avenue ot to be built at the same time. Where exactly are people going to be parking for Cedar Lane, let alone for Stop and
Shop? That seems like business disruption to me. We're not allowed to make that happen. We have all heard about the 90° bend in the pipe, the sharp curve that's critical to the flooding problem. So instead of not getting rid of that, we're adding seven. Those seven pipes, yes, they meet the
15.1% flow rate requirement, but they do so by delivering 5755.46 46 cubic feet per second of water towards American Legion Drive into the existing pipe that is not being expanded and ending at Turhune. We were explicitly told and can all read the
project does not enlarge or modify the storm water pipe that currently conveys water to the swale. The system will continue to operate within the existing downstream pipe capacity. Every engineering study shows that the ground is completely flat and saturated with a high water table. So, if you put seven
massive pipes to force 15% more water into a flat saturated area, the downstream is not being expanded. Where's the water going to go? Lastly, the drainage study actually says increasing capacity south of Cedar Lane is not anticipated to be necessary as
the existing infrastructure in that area appears to have adequate capacity. Everything is modeled to justify the approval. The moment the pipe reaches the section south of Cedar where all of that accumulated flood ends, it's got to find its way somewhere, they stopped analyzing the data, which is why I asked
for that data today before the redevelopment agreement before the redevelopment plan. I got told to wait for the redevelopment agreement. So, I'm asking directly, show us the hydraulic model for the pipe south of Cedar Lane to TuneU that that shows why it appears
to be adequate. that 5,755 cubic square ft load is safe and if they can't produce it, this project has no business being approved yet. That's my fiduciary responsibility. I don't have to wait for anything else. I have to protect my residents now.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. As always, I want to start off by thanking all of our residents for coming out and participating tonight. When it comes to development, like I said at our last council meeting, I will be voting no on Crossroads, no on Regina's, and I have to abstain on the West Anglewood Avenue
project due to a campaign contribution. But I do support a number of the other projects in town. And when it comes to snow, I'm not going to let my manager and my mayor fall on this sword alone because a lot of our residents are complaining about snow removal. And they
are right. I agree with them because there is always room for improvement and we need to do a better job of snow removal in Tene because it affects our public safety which must always come first especially on our roads and in our neighborhoods. Now before I elaborate a little on why this keeps happening in
Tene I do want to say thank you to our DPW and our manager and everyone who works for the township who was working so hard to help improve the situation because it's not an easy job and it comes with a lot of challenges. So, thank you to our staff for all of your hard work because it's not easy. Okay,
in a nutshell, our equipment is really old and keeps breaking down. Our DPW trucks on average are more than 20 years old and need to be replaced. A lot of our other DPW equipment is also very old and needs to be replaced. And the parts
for this equipment and the parts for our trucks also keep breaking down as well. Which is why we need to stay on top of ordering parts when our equipment breaks down. And we have to continue to purchase new trucks and new equipment every year going forward if we are going
to solve this problem. Now this is not an excuse. I'm not making excuses be because I agree that we all have to do a better job of snow removal during snowstorms and that goes for me too. But we also have had a very harsh winter with historic amounts of snowfall. And
unfortunately, there is even more snow in the forecast for this upcoming Monday, 8 in. So, we have to get ready for that as well as we try to continue to remove the snow and ice that is already on our local roads. But I know how hard our staff is working on this
and I do thank them all from the bottom of my heart from for all their work. But also in addition, budget season is upon us. And while we talk about taxes and improving services, it is important that we keep the needs of our DPW and the equipment they need in mind as we debate
the budget because budgets are about priorities. And our DPW and public safety must always remain a top priority for us. And it does. And that's why it is also so very important that residents please take note of the memorandum of understanding that is on the agenda
later tonight that we have with the burrow of Leonia for a possible new joint DPW facility site on the border of Leonia and Teneck by Overpek Park near where the old dinosaur exhibit used to be located. Building a new DPW site for our
residents and our employees is a can that has been kicked down the road in Tene for several decades and the time to act is long overdue. So I look forward to seeing where that memorandum of understanding between our two towns actually takes us because that is just the first step in a very long process
but it's an important step. And Mr. Mayor, there is a lot more I would like to say but it's getting late and I think that's my time. >> I appreciate that and agree with everything you said. Um, Dep Councilman Go Councilman G, did you want to speak? >> Yes, please. Thank you. Um, so I'm I'll keep it brief. I'm not going to read any
prepared remarks, but I do want to acknowledge um everyone that came in and and spoke out about the development. Um, I've said this before. I I have grappled with this um for a very long time. Um, I don't love the way that we came to this. I don't like the the the um March 15th
deadline that we're being rushed to make decisions by. Um, I don't like the idea of builder's remedy. I don't know what that, you know, I've heard several different things about what it really means and, you know, what it might look like. Um, I think what I'm hearing residents say is that they want us to
roll the dice on that and potentially take on that risk. Um, I don't know if I'm there either, but what I would say is that I'm willing to potentially table this until we have that community forum and until we get those um that the
review of that impact study from Kier so that we have a little bit more information to make an informed decision. But again, like the we I won't speak for everyone. I don't love the plans as they stand. I wish we had more time to get it right. I love Esther
Sandro's plan. It's fantastic. It really is um I think the kind of plan that we should be going for and that really aligns with our master plan, but we don't have enough time to to play that out. How do we getund I think what is it 24 uh affordable housing units using that plan? What does that look like?
Could we negotiate that with fair share? We just don't have time to do that by March 15th. And that's part of why they had these these deadlines because they want us to move quickly. So that is what we're grappling with. We know it's not perfect, but we have to meet these deadlines. We have to help design more
affordable housing. And this is coming from the state. It's statemandated. We don't have the pleasure to say we get to keep TK the way we want to keep Tene. Um these are decisions being pushed on us by the state. Uh and so that is is you know what we're grappling with. I don't
want you to think that all seven of us are on the deis um enjoying um you know making these decisions. These are really tough decisions and many of us agree with many of the things that you were saying. Um, so I just wanted to make sure that that was clear. Um, I hear
you. Again, I'm willing to potentially table it if I can get the support from enough of my colleagues um, so that we can hear from the community and that we can review those studies. >> If that's the motion, I would second that. And then I I just as it relates to
the snow, I just want to um agree with my colleague that we had a really really rough um go at it with this blizzard. You know, again, this is the worst blizzard we've had in 30 years. No excuses. We understand um that we have limitations with some of our our trucks
and um our town manager and our DPW is working really hard to address that um with short-term solutions, but they're also thinking further out with long-term solutions. How do we make sure this never happens again? And so, while I know it's been really tough, I do want to just um I promise you that our town
manager and our DPW have been working nonstop. I mean, all of us have been sending messages, sending emails nonstop, and she goes through hundreds and hundreds of emails, and I promise you, she reads every single one, and she won't stop until they're all addressed.
So, please be patient with us. I know it hasn't been perfect, but they really really are doing everything in their power to make sure that all of our our snow issues are going to be addressed. Thank you. >> I want to uh also thank neighbors for coming out tonight and it it was very
important to hear from from everyone um regarding uh crossroads. I have been um really um an advocate for community meetings uh an advocate for um analysis of impact studies because we need to
know how does every development impact where we are what we do our schools traffic um New Jersey transit we have not had a New Jersey transit analysis in in almost 10 years so you know how can we talk about bringing hundreds of units
into our community and not have not speak to New Jersey Transit. Uh it to me that's like a no-brainer. So essentially uh many things that many of you have said tonight I'm in agreement with. Many of you have reached out to me individually and and I think you know
you know how I uh feel about uh specifically Crossroads. Um I think that it was a um a flawed u plan. I think that the housing element was uh flawed uh because it didn't it's not indicative of all housing types. Uh it left out
ADUs. It uh doesn't speak to resales and how can you build a community uh when you don't have home ownership uh when you have just 100% rentals. Uh the National Association of Realtors speaks to the fact that communities are built
um by home ownership. So even if there are condominiums, you have commitment from people that are living in our communities and want to be invested into into our communities. So I I hear everything that's been said tonight and I I too am have asked my colleagues and
our attorneys if there's any way we can table this. And so after the collier's analysis so that we can all see clearly, we can all have an independent um uh engineering firm um confirm all
the concerns that we all have until after uh the the actual uh community meeting that we all feel I personally feel is important to to hear from the community. Uh, but I I just want to say that, you
know, I I hear what you're all saying. I I feel exactly what's being said. Uh, I think it's important to to to talk about these things uh and not to be to to operate in fear. I was not elected to be driven by fear and, you know, things
like builder uh remedy and lawsuits. I mean, if we if we had a nickel for every time we heard about being sued, uh, we would all be wealthy. Um, but I just want to say uh before any governing body, you know, casts a vote that that that um sh uh shapes the future of this
community of our township, we carry a responsibility that goes far beyond a simple yes or no. Our obligation is to ensure that every decision is informed, it's transparent, and it's grounded in the real impacts it will have on the people we serve. Impact study analysis
is not a formality. It is a safeguard. It allows us to understand how a proposed development will affect traffic, schools, infrastructure, public safety, environmental conditions, and the overall character of our neighborhoods. Without that analysis, we
are not planning, we are guessing, and our residents deserve better. Equally important are meaningful community meetings. Development does not happen in a vacuum. It happens where families live, where small businesses operate, and where generations have built their
lives. Community engagement ensures that residents are not just observers uh of change but they actually participate in shaping it. Listening to concerns, answering questions uh and and uh sharing accurate information builds
trust and trust is the foundation of good governance. I think the problem with this development is that it has been enshrined in a lot of distrust and we have to get in front of that. Taking the time for thorough review and public dialogue does not slow progress, it
strengthens it. When we understand the full impact and bring the community into the conversation, we create better projects, fewer conflicts and outcomes that uh that that reflect shared values rather than uh rushed decisions. And that's how we all have been feeling that
we have a gun to our heads and we have to make decisions to protect the township. That's exactly how uh we we oftentimes sit in meetings and and feel that way as leaders. However, our role is not simply to approve or deny development. Our role is to steward
growth responsibly, balancing opportunity with accountability and vision with due diligence. Before any vote is taken, we owe it to our residents to ask, have we studied the impacts carefully? Have we listened openly? And have we created space for the community to be a part of the
process? So, I just want to end with this that I know this blizzard was very difficult. I have confidence, however, in our town manager, in our DPW, and our uh township staff in terms of getting it right. Uh, you know, just bear with us.
Understand that we all want um safe streets and and so forth. Thank you. >> Um, so I want to echo I want to thank the DPW for all the work that they've done. For anyone who's not aware, they've been working 12hour shifts on and 12 off with CO set up at the Rotus
Center um because they couldn't go home. And I don't know, I assume a lot of the people in this room remember the blizzard of 96. I do. I was living with my parents and we had four cars, four working adults and I used to come home from work at tw 10 10 o'clock at night and we would all pull our cars out of
the driveway and put them back in in the order that we were leaving for work the next day because you could not pass more than one car on the street. And so the fact that we're not two days out from this and uh the manager was able to answer 350 emails today of people who
were having issues in front of their house through most through the mayor and clear up I think all of their problems at this point to me is remarkable. Social media definitely has its downs but it also has its ups. If anybody um is still having an issue with snow they
should reach out. I am very happy that we're adding uh equipment to the capital budget this year and I hope that my colleagues will vote unanimously to approve the capital budget this year because it's very important. Um I'm not sure what Dr. Powers was referring to,
but resolution 18206 is the most exciting piece of legislation that we've passed here since I've been here. the fact that we were able to come up with anou with Leonia to lease seven acres from them right next door to their DPW
property acres that are now being used by Downs Tree Service. We're going to be able to build a safe and warm um new facility for our DPW workers who have been working under terrible conditions for way too long. will also be able to
store our equipment indoors so that it doesn't get destroyed by the elements. So, I cannot wait to vote for this. Um, I am hoping that the building goes very quickly and um that we're able to provide them a new home that they so well deserved.
Um, crossroads. Um, we have a deadline. The Democratic Legislature in New Jersey sent Governor Murphy a bill. There is a shortage of housing in this country and in this state and there is a shortage of affordable housing and municipalities
were going through the steps of of um approving developments that never got built and they said we're giving you a deadline. We're giving you until March 15th um and you need to pass your zoning on all of these a certain number of developments by then. And that's where
we are now. And as much as I would like to say let's table and let's ask if we don't approve the introduction of this ordinance tonight, we will not be able to pass it by the next meeting. I am so sorry for anybody that lives near here
who will be affected. But we also need to to not make up stories about people dying on trains or moving when we're saying 10 feet from the property line.
Paula, stop. When we're saying moving 10 feet from the property line instead of 15t from the curb line, we're saying exactly the same thing. We're not removing sidewalks from t- we have to listen to facts. So, so drainage right
now goes from the north side of the the proposed development underneath Cedar Lane and comes out to a swell there. What what the developer would need to do with the approval of the township engineer, she's reviewed this and she's
okay with it, is to either expand that pipe or put piping next to it so that the same amount of water would be drained, but it would be pulled from the Bell Avenue area quicker. There would be more of a release from that area, but
all the water still goes to the same place. So, we can discuss not being happy with um with a development, but we need to tell the truth and we need to get the facts out there. For anybody who's willing to say a developer remedy lawsuit is nothing and take a risk and
be brave, I don't think they fully understand what this will open up the town to the resources, the finances that it will drain from us and what type of types of buildings it will allow in this town with zero zoning control. It's
terrifying. There were I don't know how many towns total. A good number of them were from Bergen County. The local leaders of responsible planning led by the mayor of Montil tried to fight um this whole process and
they made it all the way to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court denied an emergency injunction and these municipalities need to pass their zoning still by March 15th. This is the hand that the state of New Jersey, the democratically elected Democratic state
of New Jersey dealt us. and um this is what they're holding us to. So, while I understand the urge to vote to table this, it's not going to change anything. We still have a strict deadline from the state.
>> Thank you very much. Um Deputy I'm sorry, Councilwoman G, I I heard your motion. I'll ask the attorney to discuss the um ramifications of that shortly as soon as I finish a few quick comments. Um many of the concerns tonight were
very valid. Um, I I want to um I I believe a bad settlement is always better than a good trial outcome. And I'm going to agree with Holly. I'm not going to I'm going to fall to my spine. I'm not going to have a spine when it comes to the state legislature, to the
governor on this bill. I can sit here and I can approve the plan that we're forced to or we can risk a much larger lawsuit. I can approve a plan that gives the drainage that we need or we can approve a plan that gets us nothing. A plan that gives us affordable housing or
a plan that can do whatever they want to get that affordable housing. So, I am looking at the entire town, the entire town's pockets and I'm going to fold my cards and settle. I am very familiar with the plan laid out by Esther Sandruff, who is a renowned affordable
housing um leader, especially in New York City where I where I work. Um, I hope to one day know as much as she's forgotten as it relates to affordable housing. Um, I'll continue to work on that plan. That's a 10-year plan. That plan, unfortunately, does not fit within this deadline. I believe that plan has
lots of merits up and down Cedar Lane, and I look forward to continue having that conversation, but I will be voting for this in accordance with the rules of the state New Jersey legislature and the governor's bill. Um, with that, um, if if it's all right, Mr. attorney, can you
just um describe the pros, cons, or whatnot as it relates to tableabling that ordinance? >> So, if uh the ordinance is tabled tonight, the next meeting that we could put it on for is the uh March 10th uh agenda. Um the next meeting after that
would be on March 16th, uh which is the deadline for us to uh adopt uh to comply with the the the state statute. Uh we're required to provide a 10-day notice period. So, if it's tabled till that next meeting and we would not be able to comply with with those requirements. Um,
I'd also just point out that this is obviously this is introduction of of the ordinance. It's not the final adoption. You'll have the collers report assuming council agrees to hire collers. We would have the report by Friday and so the council would have time to consider it before uh adopting uh we're not adopting
this uh this ordinance. But introducing it tonight would allow us to stay on track with with deadlines. >> Mr. Mayor, um, may I ask a question? >> Yes, please. >> Um, my understanding, um, Scott, is that there's another, um, aren't we also
delaying another with the 54 Englewood project? Isn't that going to be after the 16th? So the 54 West England project is in a different situation in that the uh developer there has agreed uh uh proactively agreed to get to allow us to
adopt a after uh the deadline without filing for a builder's remedy uh builder's remedy lawsuit. Um the reason why we're they agreed to do that is because as the council knows there was a community meeting last week and so there
there were changes that were being made. uh they're still being made to into their plan as a result of that. And so because we're working with them, it's not a final finalized plan yet. It's just not ready for adoption. So because of that, they they were willing to agree to agree to uh uh to allow us to go past that. We're not in the same position
here though with >> Right. But I guess my point is by the time they tried to file a suit, we would have already had the second meeting anyway, right? So like it would be moot. There's no guarantee that you know with clock strikes midnight on uh going up to
March 17th they're entitled crossroads would be entitled to file you know whatever they want. Same with honestly stay with same same with stop and shop because we have the separate settlement agreement with them as well. >> But I guess my point is if we had our second reading within two weeks of that then so what?
>> So what is the court could say that you violated you violated it you adopted it but it was too late. Uh we don't know what a judge is going to say. They could they could easily say, "Yes, you adopted, but it was too late. Therefore, it's no it's no good anymore." And so, you know, they're entitled to builders, you lose your immunity because you
didn't meet the deadline. >> I guess we'll address that as we get over to the um ordinances. Is that all right, M Council G? >> Uh yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Okay, with that, we'll head over to the rest of the meeting. U Mr. clerk, I'll turn that over to you and I believe we go with um
raffles, minutes, resolutions, consent agenda and we'll pull over or >> Okay. Okay. No problem. >> Sorry. Um Okay. And the or and the resolutions and the billless in the amount of >> Before we proceed, I'm going to ask if
you can do a motion to amend um the council meeting schedule a resolution to amend it from the budget meeting from 17th to 16th. >> Right. I'll make that motion to move the meeting from the 17th to the 16th as a um on Monday and a second on that.
Seconded. When you want a roll call, I'm staying. >> Council Pan, >> yes. >> Councilwoman J. >> Deputy Mayor Belchure, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor, >> yes. >> Mayor Schwarz,
>> yes. That's going to be resolution 128. And then also I'm going to ask if you guys can do a motion to add the resolution for Crolers and then also for Thomas Hen on to the >> Yes. So as presented I'll make that motion.
Is there a second on those two that motion? Is that one or two resolutions? I'm sorry. >> It's going to be two resol. I'll make a motion on both those resolutions as described by the attorney. >> Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Roll call on that, please, Mr. Councilwoman Goldberg,
>> yes. >> Counciloman Beg, >> yes. >> Councilwoman G. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Belure, >> yes. >> Counciloman Organ, >> yes. >> Mayor Schwarz, >> yes. >> Consent agenda. So, we have two raffles,
four sets of minutes. Resolutions 111-2026 to 130-2026. a bill list of 5,214,924.3. >> Thank you very much. Is anyone pulling any would like to pull anything?
>> 114. >> 114. Is that what we said? I'm sorry. 114. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you very much. Anybody else? With that, I'll make a motion to approve everything else. Is there a second? >> Second. Roll call, please. And just so
you guys know, for resolution 122 and 123, their appointment resolution for PPI, there's only one spot open there, so you have to vote yes on only one of them. >> And that's switch to 122 and 123. >> Yes. So 122 is for Michael Dodes and 123
is for Yale Gill. >> Thank you very much. >> Councilman Goldberg. >> All right. Um I'm gonna do what I did last time. So I want to go through it and then I'll send you a list. So, yes on 111, but specifically no on the CSX payment. Uh, also I knew that PO number,
but yes on everything else except for that one. Um, abstain on 112. Uh, yes on 113. She pulled 114. Um, yes on 115, no on
116, yes on 117. Abstain on 118. I'm unsure about a potential conflict. Um, yes on 119. No on 120. Yes on 121. Yes on 123. Abstain on 122. Uh abstain on
124 cuz I have no idea who that is. Uh no on 125. Yes on 126. Yes on 127. And abstain on the bills list. >> I abstained. I said yes on 123 and no and abstain on 122. >> 126 and 127. What did you say? >> I said yes.
>> Yes. Thank you very much. and 128 and 29. So, those are the annotations. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> And abstain on the bill. >> I'm sorry. What did you say for 122? >> Abstain. I voted yes on 123 and abstained on 122.
>> Go. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. I'm a no on 112. I'm abstaining on 122. I'm a yes on 123. And I'm a yes on everything else. >> Councilwoman J.
>> Yeah, >> Deputy Mayor Belter, >> you have to Sorry. Um, >> one of the others. >> 122 to 123. It's one of the other. Yes, nos or abstains. Sorry, it's two applicants for one position. >> Michael Co is 122 and Yeller is 123.
>> Oh, I missed that. Sorry. Um, yes to hold on. Yes to 12. >> On to 114, which is you. >> Yeah. Can um I don't know. Is it Scott? Can you talk us through this?
>> This is the uh unfreezing of the grand funds. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, um a couple years ago, I'm not sure exactly off the top of my head. How many years ago was uh there was a uh the the former township manager gave an gave an
instruction to um to Issa to to freeze the uh the funds uh the grant the freeze the expending the grant funds. Um there's been a request now by the uh uh which is essentially akin to like an like an executive order sort of thing.
Um there's been a request by um the uh uh the the committees to unfreeze the unfreeze the money so they can get reimbured for money that that has been spent uh that they're that they're entitled to. Uh there was a question about whether or not we need a
resolution to do this or if the if uh if if could just start uh giving out the money upon proper documentation. have discussing with him decided the cleaner better approach was to have an official action by the uh u by the um council
just to to authorize him to do so uh and make sure that all funds that are paid out are in accordance with established practices to make sure there's documentation and back up on all and all that. So just a cleaner way of of unfreezing this money than just him just
doing it. Um my so my understanding is that these grant funds were initially for the garden to nature um project which was a joint project. Since we've decoupled them to me it would seem that they no longer eligible to receive these funds.
the the funds have already been issued uh to the township and so whether or not the project goes the project either whole or in part goes forward the those funds are still able to be spent just because they've already been uh paid out by the by the state.
>> But if the garden to to nurture project is non-existent anymore then what are we allowed to use the funds for? >> Could we use them for something else >> there? No, they can only be used for for what the what the application was originally for. And so that process,
whether it's completed or not, they're still entitled to use it for the the process of of uh of making their applications uh and so forth into the township. >> So, you're saying even though they no longer exist as the joint initiative, they can still
use these funds. That doesn't make sense to me. they can they can use it for I'll say for for things that have already been uh incurred as part of their their application process. So they for the last two or so years uh or three years, I'm not sure exactly how many years it's
been since it was it was frozen before it became decoupled and before it no longer existed, they were still expending money under the assumption that they would be reimbursed for it. So if we hadn't frozen frozen their funds, they would have been paid out all along. And so this is to reimburse them for the
money that they would have gotten along the way. >> Um, Councilman G, I believe, um, Deputy Morgan wanted to make a comment. >> Sorry. >> I think a lot of the money they got before they even coupled and the balances.
So, um, Enslaved African has $62,22.65 and Holocaust has 17,82547. So they were the the CFO was keeping track of how much each spent from their portion over time.
>> What is your pleasure Councilman G on this? >> Um Oh yeah, that was it. Thank you. We can uh >> you'll make that you're making that motion? >> Sure. So move. >> Second that. Roll call, Mr. Clerk, please. On 114. Councilwoman Goldberg,
>> I'm abstaining because we didn't really freeze the funds. >> Councilman Begon, >> yes. >> Uh, Councilwoman J. >> No. >> Deputy Belure, >> I I think I'm going to I'm staying
because I don't think we we froze the funds. I mean, we're we're making a we're voting on something that was never voted to have happened by the prior council. So, I'm not quite clear on that. So, I'm going to abstain. >> Deputy Mayor Morgan.
>> Yes. >> Mayor Schwarz. >> Yes. >> So, three yeses. >> Okay. With that, we have a motion to adjourn. I'm just a joke. That's okay. On to ordinances. It did pass. >> It has three.
>> Three to one on a resolution. Good. >> We have three yeses, two abstain, and one no. >> It does not pass. >> That's what I thought. Okay. So, it doesn't pass >> either. Well, either way, if if the council's position is that the money was never frozen, the next state out either
way. So, it doesn't matter. >> This is we thought a cleaner way of doing it, but >> Okay. Um Okay. Um M clerk, we're going to go with two ordinances. We'll do them individually and discuss and vote on them individually. If you could please go ahead with the ordinance 15, then to 16.
>> Sure. Um, just before we move on with the changing of the budget being now being on the 16th, if these two ordinances are introduced tonight, do you want to have the public hearing on March 16th? >> What? Um, Mr. Mr. Attorneys, that's
fine. There's Am I Is that your question? We're good. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Council is >> You mean because it's it's a it's a budget meeting? Yeah. Let's we're we're holding that on for um action. We do want to take action especially that day specifically. Okay. So, the two ordinances for introduction is ordinance
15-2026 amending chapter 33 of the township of Ken to address the requirements of the fair housing act the uniform housing affordability controls and to comply with the town's round four affordability affordable housing obligations. And then or 16-226 is
adopting the Cedar Lane CBD redevelopment plan in furtherance of the redevelopment of block 819, lots 14,16 and 17, block 707, lots 1 through 5, block 705, lot 4.01
as shown on the tax map of the township of Tene in accordance with the law local redevelopment and housing law NJSA4A 12A-1. Thank you. Um I'll make a motion to approve ordinance to introduce ordinance number 15.
>> Second. >> Council Ger. >> Yes. On 15. >> Yes. On 15. >> Uh yes on 15. >> Council Pan. >> Yes. >> Councilman J. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Belter. >> Yes.
Deputy Mayor Oregon. >> Yes. >> Mayor Schwarz. >> Yes. Um ordinance number 16. I'll make a motion to approve ordinance to introduce. Mr. >> Mayor, we never voted on my motion earlier. >> Happy to. Please go ahead and make the motion again.
>> Uh make the motion to table. >> Second. >> Okay. There's a >> I'd like to amend that to include the hydraulic study for the pipe capacity uh south of Cedar. >> Second. Second. Okay. and hydro.
>> Wait, I'm sorry. Can we get I'm not sure what that's what you're asking. >> It means it won't be ready by the next week. >> I understand. >> I want the pipe. I want to see if they're if they're claiming that the pipe doesn't need to be expanded and they're putting all that extra water down there. I want to see that the pipes they didn't study that pipe. So, I'm asking for the study to show me that the pipes expanded.
>> One second. So, okay. These can't be two these can't that can't be an amendment of that vote because one is the table and one is to change the substance of it. So they >> wait council member G what your what was your request in your motion? >> I had wanted to table until after we got
the collier study and had the community meeting. >> So can't we have collars do that analysis for the drainage since they're already going to be analyzing? >> I don't know the answer to that. I don't know if they can do that. I don't know
when they can do that by there's no way for me to give you that answer. So, I don't think that's a proper way of of amending this unless the unless the the the phrase is that this is going to be tabled until after all studies are completed, then there's no way to the
two of them can't be tied to that. So, >> okay. So, we go to that goes to Councilwoman G. I'm sorry. Follow the rules of tableling. Is that go to Councilwoman G or is there a vote on how the what would be the proper process? question. >> We can't we can't my motion we can't do
>> unless the unless the motion to the initial motion is to table until after I'm sorry unless the motion to to amend it is to table it until after all studies have been completed. >> I'm literally only asking about the drainage hydraulic study. So that's
that's all I'm asking for >> after the drainage hydraulic study. I don't believe there is a requirement in here that we that we >> Right. They're saying that all that seven pipes are going into one tiny pipe that's not being expanded. That's why I'm asking I want to know that the I want to see the pipe capacity there. Why are they saying that it it can
adequately accept the increase in flow and velocity? That's why I'm asking for the study. It just says uh I have the quote appears to be adequate. That's why I'm asking for it. So if it can't be done, it can't be done. But that's that's my ask. >> I don't think the two can be tied tied in that way. No.
>> So then I'll withdraw my motion. I >> thank you very much. Councilman G. Your motion is on. It was seconded and that is to table this matter. Is that Did I say that right then, Mr. Attorney? Was that the >> Until when is there Can we properly phrase that? >> Until March 10th. >> Sorry.
>> Until the next meeting on March 10th. >> Yeah. >> And the but uh Councilwoman G, that's with the assumption that we are going to be able to have the analysis from Collers and we will have had the community meeting completed.
And and everyone's fully aware that there is no possible way that this could be then voted on by the 15th. >> Oh, legally, I don't believe. Right. Is that the case? >> It's not possible for us to >> legally. I'm saying legally if we It can't be done by the 15th. >> No, not not if it's tabled to the 10th.
Certainly not. No. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Councilwoman Goldberg. >> I'm a yes to table. >> Council Pan. >> Yes. The table. Councilwoman G. >> Yeah. >> Deputy Mayor Belter.
>> Yes. To table. >> Deputy Mayor. >> No. >> Mayor Schwarz, >> absolutely not. >> So, it's April to March 10th. >> Excellent. There's a motion to adjourn. >> Definitely. >> Thank you. Second.
Meeting adjourned at 10:53 p.m.