WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=dhaG0nVXW1g

Part: 1

1
00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:38.480
are confirmed at the annual meeting are posted in the public bulletin board in the lobby of the municipal center and published in the record within the first 10 days of the new year. Salute to the flag, please. Omar, could I have a roll call, please? Council >> member Corsair.

2
00:00:38.480 --> 00:00:54.879
>> Council member Dayton >> here. >> Council member Jackson >> here. >> Council member Michaels >> council member Dr. Okconor >> here. >> Council member Roleri. Mayor Senna >> here. Okay, welcome everyone. First item on the agenda is the East Hill uh the East

3
00:00:54.879 --> 00:01:23.520
Hill property. You want to talk about that a little bit, David, for us? and we could talk about it. There's been some request for being able to walk uh in the nature center and that has uh been met with some uh objection to do it

4
00:01:23.520 --> 00:01:38.880
on the nature center property. So, there was some thought that we could come up with a solution by allowing dogs to be able to walk at the East Hills playground. So, basically, there's a revised proposed

5
00:01:38.880 --> 00:01:53.759
resolution in your packet that will spell out rules uh to I think it's uh R26 253. >> It's right here up front.

6
00:01:53.759 --> 00:02:10.959
>> We're living to uh Tennifly. uh licensed dogs, not outside uh towns uh licensed dogs. >> Listen, before we get through the minutiae of the rules, can we just talk about this as a concept because I strongly disagree that dogs should be

7
00:02:10.959 --> 00:02:25.760
there? >> Well, dogs are walking there now. >> Okay. But they're not in this path and they're not on the nature center property. >> No, but people this is not the nature center. >> Understand that. But understand that right now the nature center has been um

8
00:02:25.760 --> 00:02:41.360
cleaning up this property, maintaining this property. The blue path of the nature center goes through this property until we very recently did our renewal of our green acres trust. We as a bureau believed this property to be incorporated within the nature center.

9
00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:58.720
Now when we did our master plan, this is carved out but the nature center has been maintaining and stewarding this piece of land for I don't know plus 50 years. Not only that, we have an existing place that would be amazing for

10
00:02:58.720 --> 00:03:15.120
dogs. The Churchill Nature Preserve. It's 8 acres. It's already done. It actually has dog beds outside. Everyone already uses it for dogs. >> What dogs are allowed there? >> The Church Hill Preserve. So dog out there, >> we have an existing natural 8 acres of

11
00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:32.159
land with paths. The Eagle Scouts have done incredible job of bridges in that area. So we have this already. And what I think is confusing is that the rules on the sign say no dogs and everyone takes their dogs and yet we put a dog um receptacle with green bags outside of

12
00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:48.480
it. So it's very confusing. I think instead of starting from scratch and interfering with this nature center uh piece of property, I think we should advertise the Churchill Preserve as a wonderful place to walk dogs. Not only that, I have been on the nature center

13
00:03:48.480 --> 00:04:05.760
board for many, many years in which they say having dogs up in the nature center, having their scent, having their noise will distract and take the animals out of the preserve and into your lawns. And so if we are looking at deer problems, at fox problems, raccoons, whatever else

14
00:04:05.760 --> 00:04:20.560
is living in there, actually there's been bear and putting the dogs there, the animals will not want to stay in that area. And we absolutely should be encouraging our animals to go to our nature preserve and our 10fly nature

15
00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:36.400
center rather than our streets and lawns. And we all know that's an issue. So I do think this is >> Can we talk about the concept before we talk about the issue? Sure. >> Go ahead, Jenny. >> No, I would like for someone who's been working on this or, you know, to talk about

16
00:04:36.400 --> 00:04:55.520
>> what it is that we're proposing before we're talking about what's wrong with it. >> So, go ahead, David. Why don't you finish up >> or continue? I mean, >> yeah, some of the suggestions from the nature center

17
00:04:55.520 --> 00:05:18.400
uh that we uh tighten up some of the revised. >> Okay. So, I spoke to Andrew McKesh today about this exact issue. And Andrew McKesh said that the nature center board feels that they must appease us by doing something in this property or else that they're going to lose their open space

18
00:05:18.400 --> 00:05:34.560
funding. >> And that is not a position we should be putting in the stewards of our >> Who has bro who has said that to anybody on the center board? >> It's not said. It's felt and that felt it's felt. >> I approached Andrew McKesh last night at the at the board meeting and he thought this was an actually good compromise

19
00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:51.840
between not going into the nature center which they don't want but still allowing the residents to have an additional place to walk to walk in nature with their with their pets. Actually, he thought this was a good idea. He they actually suggested that over in the in

20
00:05:51.840 --> 00:06:09.759
the past to to use this land. That's the municipal land. Yeah. They don't want to put I just want to respond. They don't want to actually put dogs within the nature center. That's a that is definitely no. >> And we're not we're not but we're not that's not the topic tonight.

21
00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:25.280
>> This piece of land is has been encumbered and into the nature center until recently that we've now decided to to you know carve it out as a box. But up until now it has been again the blue path runs through it and treated as a nature center and stewards by the nature

22
00:06:25.280 --> 00:06:40.880
center. So as far as their understanding even putting a fence that's not enough to delineate and take this piece of property out of a nature center concept I mean I would hate to see you clearcut and cut all the trees on this. That's for sure. >> Say anything about cutting trees. I'm

23
00:06:40.880 --> 00:06:58.880
>> just saying you could make up as much as you want but that's not what we're talking about. I am just saying that you could say it's not part of the nature center but it is next to Abuts and right now is incorporated within the >> Yes, Julie. Go ahead, please. >> Hi. So, um, thank you. Um, so I've also

24
00:06:58.880 --> 00:07:14.800
been following this for a number of years and there's a couple of things for the compromise that seem to make a lot of sense. So this is burough property and the nature center director has pointed out to me that yes they have

25
00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:31.039
been maintaining it through the years. So if we are going to move this into the kind of DPW purview and this is going to be something that it's a a a place that people can hike with their dogs which

26
00:07:31.039 --> 00:07:46.800
have to be leashed. You know it have its own rules then that that is another place the DPW will be responsible for not the nature center staff. And then part two of this is the idea of a fence

27
00:07:46.800 --> 00:08:02.639
that would let people know when that they're in nature center property as opposed to burrow property. And that could be a very simple type of fence, a very >> rail or something >> like a simple fence. But those are

28
00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:18.720
things that have to happen uh for this to to move forward just with the burrow understanding the nature center is not going to be doing the maintenance. And then for the people who choose to walk dogs leashed on this property where the

29
00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:33.599
property ends. >> So um there's not really much debate in the sense of that the nature center you know does understand what property they're responsible for. And at the same time we all must

30
00:08:33.599 --> 00:08:50.800
recognize that there has been problems through the years with people walking dogs on the nature center where they're not allowed. So, we would not want to exacerbate any of those issues, but this if we do this right, then this is a compromise that I think uh makes sense

31
00:08:50.800 --> 00:09:08.000
and has been approached to us. We just have to do it the right way. >> So, I'm going to say that when we had the idea to put dogs in this municipal lot >> uh in the what >> in this municipal area, we were going to do the dog park, >> right? You adamantly defended the rights

32
00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:23.920
of residents from not having to live across the street from dogs and dog parks and the noise and everything else and they got moved to group and you mayor sat on this council with me and defended the right of those residents to not have to be across the street from a dog park and that no resident should

33
00:09:23.920 --> 00:09:40.640
have to have that because you said to move everyone to Churchill and advertise. So how did the people at Churchill is 8 acres into woods >> along road 14 acres? Okay, guys. One one at a time here. One at a time. >> I I know there's here in the audience

34
00:09:40.640 --> 00:09:57.519
that do not want to live across the street from a dog park. >> So, the issue the the one of >> dog park which is clearly >> Yeah, we're not talking about that. We're not talking about building trails and bu putting seats in there or anything. The property you were talking about was at the corner of Foster Road,

35
00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:14.399
which is inherently way too small for any dog park, which is the primary reason we moved it away from there and put it where it is now on Grove Street. This is not a dog park. This is a place for people to walk their dogs. We're not making any additions to the land. We're not putting any benches there. We're

36
00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:31.279
basically putting up a sign that said because right now it's completely out of it's I I won't say out of control because it's not out of control, but there are no rules. So, people do whatever they want. We want to install some rules there. I think we also have to not tonight, but we have to deal with the parking issue like we did with angle

37
00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:47.279
with the commuters to make sure there's no excessive parking going on over there. So, that doesn't change, but we can deal with that with parking regulations on the street. >> So, now you're taking quiet enjoyment of a quiet street and you're going to put in parking into a main thoroughfare in

38
00:10:47.279 --> 00:11:03.519
Tennifly like I >> I don't I don't know. I mean, >> I think Go ahead. you know what I mean? is to uh put time limits on street parking so that people aren't invading the the residential streets for extended periods of times similar to what you do around

39
00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:21.920
the elementary school than what's done on >> I mean I've right now could park there all day >> I mean you go anyone can take a ride to the Churchill preserve that is not a parking lot and that's people take their dogs there all the time >> again that exists so why are we pushing

40
00:11:21.920 --> 00:11:38.880
to take this piece of property with the blue path of the nature center. Why are we pushing to undo that? What is the need for us to have a secondary nature preserve for dogs when we have one that exists? >> It's up and running. >> Julie, I want to speak to that, Lauren,

41
00:11:38.880 --> 00:11:56.399
because my understanding is that this is an area that has a lot of people who take their dogs there. And that's what I learned when I was on um when I was liaison. uh and that this in fact perhaps this can assist because right

42
00:11:56.399 --> 00:12:13.600
now the Tenplay Nature Center is um caring for this property where people are you having their dogs go on and then they're further going on to the nature center property and right now they you know the nature center is is not going to allow dogs on their property nor

43
00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:29.760
should they care for the burrow property. So you know I think this is might be a response to a problem. I don't I don't know that this was a oh let's create something. I thought this might this was a response to an issue that's already occurring. >> It is and it's like so many things. We

44
00:12:29.760 --> 00:12:46.880
build tennis courts because there's a group of people who like tennis. We built pickle ball for the pickle ball people. We redid a municipal cool pool for all the swimmers. We have a senior center for the seniors. So there's a lot of constituents in town and so we serve each one of them. That's

45
00:12:46.880 --> 00:13:03.040
why we have a huge constituency that loves walking their dogs. >> I'm a dog walker >> and I walk my dog in church hall and I walk my dog where I can, >> right? >> And I know not to take my dog next to wild animals and leave scents and bark and all of those things. I want the wild

46
00:13:03.040 --> 00:13:17.839
animals, the deer, the fox to stay up there. I don't want them on >> I wouldn't go too much into the deer because you'll get a lot of people who don't agree with that. >> I'd rather foxes deer. going to have a dead resident in Burton Street.

47
00:13:17.839 --> 00:13:33.440
>> Let's stay let's stay on track, guys. Guys, I don't want to take those animals. Let's stay on track. >> Yeah, on track. >> I want to just also point out though that I've been to the Demores Nature Center where they have they allow dogs and that's the nature cent's policy.

48
00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:48.880
Again, this would be Burough policy and they have a lot of signs that say the dog must be leashed. Every time I've gone there, there are dogs not leashed. So just we have to be very conscious that if we are going to have signs there h like with everything has to be

49
00:13:48.880 --> 00:14:04.800
enforcement because you will most likely find people who don't know how to follow the rules. National Park Service allows dogs to eat most of their parks, >> but I'd imagine leashed, right? >> Can Can I ask a different question? And maybe David, you know this, but how much

50
00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:22.160
how much money does it take to maintain this land? Because now we're absorbing this before our stewards absorb this. >> And so down trees, lightning storms, storm places natural state, >> but okay. Natural state needs maintaining. And the nature center comes

51
00:14:22.160 --> 00:14:39.120
in and clears in clears up what you believe to be a natural state. But they take down trees down. They clear paths. If there's debris, if there's a storm, there's things that now we have to pay for with our tax money instead of the stewards raising money and paying it. How do we do it for the church? How is

52
00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:55.600
it done for the church nature? >> Churchill, >> the Boy Scouts, >> the Boy Scouts have maintained that and built it. But we're not build, we're not talking about building extra paths and bridges like Churchill has bridges, paths, seats. We're not talking about doing any of that. >> It's the woods where people walk

53
00:14:55.600 --> 00:15:12.160
>> maintained maintained. Churchill is maintained. Churchill. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Churchill. >> Yeah. And my question is what time and energy and money is going to go into this new piece of property? >> Right. So we haven't contemplated maintaining this the same way Churchill has maintained.

54
00:15:12.160 --> 00:15:29.279
>> I think we need that information. I mean again this is not a nothing. This is an as our DPW. It could be overtime and storms. It could be you know liability issues. I'd like to see this. >> Right. So I guess the question is though if we're not maintaining it I can't estimate the cost of not maintaining it.

55
00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:44.800
That's a question for David can come back at another meeting with of not doing anything. >> How much time is spent on the church hill? >> I don't know. >> Give the nature center money, right? >> All right. So, this is going to be unless there's more questions about this

56
00:15:44.800 --> 00:16:00.000
topic. We're going to have public comment after the next uh topic comes up right away before we vote on anything. So, it'll all happen in good order. >> I'd like to make sure that this ordinance get pulled out of the consent. >> You can vote on it's a resolution. We can vote on it separately, of course.

57
00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:17.680
>> All right. Uh, second item is the 2026 NJLM conference and then we're going to have public comment. >> What uh >> Okay, this is just the hotel reservation process for November July 1st. So, if you plan to go and you have a preference

58
00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:39.759
as to where you stay or so your first choice, take it. Okay, >> that covers it, right? >> Yeah, >> covers it, Omar. >> Definitely. >> Good. Okay. All right. Let's go to public comment. Audience members wishing

59
00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:55.759
to speak will have a threeminut time limit to address the governing body on any item on or off the agenda. Large groups are requested to have a spokesperson represent them. We're going to do uh public comment from the people in the chambers first and then we're going to go online to whoever is on

60
00:16:55.759 --> 00:17:12.799
Zoom. Everyone will have an opportunity to speak if you choose to do so. Uh, who would like to go first? Sir, come up to the microphone. And just give us your name, please, and not your address. Peter Tilder, board member, Tennly Nature Center, and

61
00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:30.000
chair of the land and facilities committee and longtime trail maintainer. Well familiar with the blue trail. The Templine Nature Center does not permit dogs on the land it manages for the town due to the negative

62
00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:47.840
environmental impact of pea poop and their presence in the forest native inhabitants. Block 2802 lot 5 aka East Hill playground is immediately adjacent to the lost brook preserve land the

63
00:17:47.840 --> 00:18:05.840
teniflide nature is responsible for. Walking there, you cannot tell the difference between 2802 and the Lost Brook Preserve land. An unleashed dog will chase after wildlife, losing itself to its owner in

64
00:18:05.840 --> 00:18:20.559
the preserve nearby residential property and in traffic streets. A runaway dog does not make for a good day. I hope the council has the foresight to

65
00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:37.600
erect a fence defining the lot's 14.8 acres to keep dogs in and safe and their owners happy. >> Thank you. >> Can I ask do you know the cost of maintaining that area the blue trail? So

66
00:18:37.600 --> 00:18:54.440
I know you're on budget. >> Your questions >> the cost of maintaining that area and blue trail. >> We're volunteers. >> All right. Thank you. >> Who would like to speak next? Please come up to the microphone.

67
00:18:56.720 --> 00:19:13.120
>> Just your name, please, not your address. >> It's Michael Epstein. Hi. So, I am I live across the street from this parcel. And uh we only very recently became aware of this. And we see the resolution uh that's

68
00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:30.160
before you today. and it feels a bit vague. So, being that we are in the immediate vicinity, we'd like to know more. And I think, you know, Lauren raised some questions that we also have uh about, you know, if there is going to be a fence here, what is that going to

69
00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:47.520
look like? Will any trees be removed from this space? Um if we are segregating this from the rest of the nature center, then how will it be maintained? And If the pee and the poop and all these

70
00:19:47.520 --> 00:20:03.919
things that the nature center does not want in on their property is having a negative impact would have a negative impact in the nature center. What is that going to do to this parcel that's directly across the street from us? I think as a longtime resident of one of

71
00:20:03.919 --> 00:20:20.400
the things that we have always felt most valuable about the nature center is just how rare it is. We live in an area that is very developed and developing very rapidly. We see old growth trees coming down all the time. And having a pristine

72
00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:36.159
lot of natural forest in this area has been I think one of the most valuable things that the people who came before us, our our fathers and grandparents were able to do. And I think rather than developing

73
00:20:36.159 --> 00:20:52.799
this lot just because we can um a better use of it might be to actually preserve it, make this part of the nature center because you know our children want to enjoy this space too. Uh and we would like to see

74
00:20:52.799 --> 00:21:11.200
this available to future generations. we we we see the uh the green spaces being reduced in Tennifly and here is a chance to preserve some green space. Um, you know, some of the provisions here

75
00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:27.360
talk about, you know, maintaining a beautiful, well-kept space that fosters community among dog lovers. And I think that that just doesn't really say what this will be. And I've heard, you know, Mayor Zenno, you talk about this being maybe a split rail fence, no benches,

76
00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:44.559
you're not talking about removing trees. But I think if this motion is passed as it's written, that can change in the future, right? Because it doesn't actually say any of that here. It just gives sort of a wide authority to develop this into something that is a

77
00:21:44.559 --> 00:22:00.000
clean and welcoming environment. And I think that that sort of vague motion becoming law in Tennifly is potentially a slippery slope. And I would like to see what this really will look like

78
00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:16.480
fully detailed so that we have a chance to really understand what this vision is. >> Thank you, Mike. >> Oh, go ahead. You want >> just for the benefit of the public, it may be helpful if I give a brief explanation of how this actually works.

79
00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:34.400
So by the burough's code, which is the law of the town, there is already certain rules and regulations that apply to all open space, parks, playgrounds, etc. of the burrow, such as no open containers, you know, profanity, no smoking, etc. Within the burough code,

80
00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:49.520
it also provides for the ability and the direction for the mayor and council to adopt by resolution rules pertaining to certain open space areas. So, what is on the agenda for tonight potentially is

81
00:22:49.520 --> 00:23:05.760
the consideration of rules for what this area would have. There's no proposed development of the space. The space will still remain open. Um, the way resolutions are written, everything that has a whereas in front of it is not part

82
00:23:05.760 --> 00:23:21.360
of the actual rule. It's the explanation for the why. And so where on the agenda and on the resolution where it says dog rules, that is actually what is being voted on. The rest of it is is preamble. >> Preamble. Yes. I

83
00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:36.400
>> literally and figuratively. Yes. >> Wendy, can we change the wording? Michael makes an excellent point. Can we change the wording so that this remains in a natural preserved state and that we just allow dogs on this piece of property? And I think that's very important. >> So let me just

84
00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:53.760
>> Yeah. This resolution doesn't provide for any development. This resolution just >> But it also doesn't prevent any. And so I'd like to have it. I I think the wording is very important at least if we're going to pass this, which looks like I'm outvoted. Um but it looks like

85
00:23:53.760 --> 00:24:09.520
>> the wording should be must maintain and preserve this natural state. It should be a must. >> Is rules for people who use the park. It's not rules for what the governing body is going to decide to do with this property. >> And again, I think it's important since

86
00:24:09.520 --> 00:24:24.880
we have a preamble. >> I understand what you're saying the wrong >> the wrong way and the wrong place. >> It has it has a purpose. And I think the purpose can be to allow dogs within a natural preserved environment. >> So what would be the right way? That's the question then.

87
00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:40.000
>> Space inventory. that is the only way to prohibit >> right >> which I think was originally talked about a couple years ago. >> So it was spoken about. Yes. Um and >> in my knowledge of the history of this

88
00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:57.360
property um it was always I think it was originally intended as a school >> fifth elementary school. So, it's never been on an open space inventory because the opportunity to develop it into a public purpose was always on the table. By creating rules for the park and

89
00:24:57.360 --> 00:25:12.720
bringing it into your inventory, should you ever go out for green acres money, you would be forced to put this on your open space inventory. Nothing prohibits you from doing it in advance of that. But that's a different process than a resolution that sets forth the rules for the dog park. So, it's not I understand

90
00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:28.720
what what the counciloman is asking for and I'm not opposing it or saying that legally you shouldn't do that. I'm just saying this isn't the right venue for it. >> But can I just >> as far as this resolution, >> but since there's a is there any downside in putting this on green acre inventory, I know it's separate in the

91
00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:44.159
park just wanting >> so that is a much bigger question. Um, the only downside becomes in the use. You're you're now under the Green Acres rules for use of your property. So, if you wanted to put a playground on it,

92
00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:58.400
you'd have to go get permission for that. Anything you were going to do, >> but we still have a lot of our things under Green Acres. So, we're used to this, >> right? So, there's two different ways things go on to Green Acres, either because they're funded or because they're unfunded. And there's a little

93
00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:16.000
bit of a um a difference in how they get managed as such, but they are still do uh sus sub subject to state oversight in that respect. So, so just to to follow up, I understand it's not the right place for it, but I think given the

94
00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:34.320
residents um good interesting points and I agree, you know, I certainly wouldn't want it to be because of absence of saying something that now a possible aperture has been created and to what can be done here. as I remember it from a little while back, I I would like to

95
00:26:34.320 --> 00:26:49.919
propose this uh for a future meeting to be part of the Green Acres inventory. >> Okay. >> So, I I really do want to officially >> That's fine. Yeah. >> request that. >> I should also maybe note that your burough code, which is an existing law,

96
00:26:49.919 --> 00:27:07.360
would prohibit dogs in playgrounds. So you'll never once you make this a a dog walking area, it takes away the opportunity to >> to make it a playground and clear it for that use as well. >> I have a series of >> without another legal ordinance.

97
00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:24.000
>> Tomorrow morning if I drove up the top of the hill and I had my dog with me and I walked into this property, would there be any prohibition against that tomorrow? >> Candidly, no. >> No. So, I'm just trying to get to what it is that we would potentially be changing because I feel that we're

98
00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:40.880
actually codifying and making something a little bit more restrictive than it might exist today or tomorrow by saying, "Hey, look, let's recognize that this is something that's currently available to our residents and let's be thoughtful about the fact that we're not developing it. There will be no development on this land, but we're putting rules around it

99
00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:56.799
to say yes, this is a permissible space. Always has been. We're simply applying rules to it that say if you do, you need to follow these prescribed rules. Is that a fair and accurate assessment? >> Yeah. And I think uh Dr. Councilwoman Okconor already had mentioned that this

100
00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:13.039
is somewhat of a reaction to an existing issue. >> What's going on? So, we're tightening. We're not loosening. We're not developing or we're not permitting development or changing or removing trees or creating anything. We're merely codifying something to make this more restrictive than it exists today is my

101
00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:29.520
view. Right. Right. I mean, I I have lived here for a long time and I do. I'm I'm guilty. I'm a dog walker and I go up there and I live near there. If it's available today, this should make it better. Uh I would respond adversely as you did. See, I hear things like parking ordinances because that sounds like a a

102
00:28:29.520 --> 00:28:45.440
zoo and I recognize and I know that the residents for 50 years at the very top of that hill and I can imagine that can be inflammatory. But I believe this is a more restrictive policy than exists today. And so rather than having the conversation about incorporating or

103
00:28:45.440 --> 00:29:01.440
changing, I think that we're responding to residents asks to do something that's already permissible and saying, "Okay, but is the way that I'm viewing this just just to respond to your comments." >> Can I ask a followup question to the Epstein on that point? You guys are there. Are you seeing a lot of dog

104
00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:28.720
walkers? Like what's the volume you're seeing or is it just the few surrounding homes around you that take their dogs? I'd like to know how it's being used. Right. >> I mean, so John, to your point though, I think even though we might be codifying it, we are also, I think, like, you

105
00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:43.760
know, putting a nice big spotlight now come walk dogs where before maybe some local residents or local houses around there came. But when we create this, I think it's going to be a very different thing for the residents that live on these streets.

106
00:29:43.760 --> 00:29:58.799
>> All right, let's get back to public. We're in >> the only one there with my walking my dog. Like, it's not it's I think that you're creating a fear factor that is just not going. >> Okay, let's get back to public comment time. >> Who who would like

107
00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:15.120
>> Who would like to speak next? >> But I I experience it every day. Just give us your name, please, not your address. It's >> Carl Zipperly. I just wanted to quickly comment on the the uh that property up there which was originally designated as a school. And I think in the in the

108
00:30:15.120 --> 00:30:32.799
2000s, early 2000s, it was erroneously categorized as Green Acres, and I'm glad to hear was fixed. But with the rate of development going on in Den Tennifly and the fact that the state may force that development further, we may need property for a school in the future. So

109
00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:48.880
I think it would be a mistake for another school. It would be a mistake to give up property that's designated for a school when we clearly might need. >> So you just hit on a very important point and it's very relevant to this. I think the governor is discussing

110
00:30:48.880 --> 00:31:05.600
yesterday or today about using state land for housing. And um one of the challenges we have is when we when the burrow owns a piece of land, we need to use it because if we're not demonstrating that we're using it,

111
00:31:05.600 --> 00:31:20.799
we are opening ourselves up to issues that are far beyond the issue of a dog park at the top of a hill in a beautiful area. >> But we can preserve our lands. >> This is a whole separate you brought up a whole separate topic where we have

112
00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:37.600
sunny side. It's eight or 10 acres over there. Whatever. What's the size of Sunnyside? Right. It's not subject to that sort of thing because the burrow uses the land. Um the other parks, Walnut Park, whatever our Churchill Preserve, whatever our different areas are, the burrow uses it. So, right now,

113
00:31:37.600 --> 00:31:53.840
the burrow is not officially using this area and we want to officially use it in the simplest way possible to protect the land because we don't want development up there. >> So, it's a bigger part of this whole picture. >> Yeah. And maybe maybe you somehow tie in

114
00:31:53.840 --> 00:32:10.000
the board of education into making occasional use of that land to to put a stake in the ground. >> Correct. >> I'm sorry, but when we designate something as open space, it is considered a use and not affordable housing eligible. >> Right.

115
00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:25.600
>> But when we designate this as a as a preserve piece of land, it also shows a burrow use. It is does not have to have a dog park to show burrow use. So, let's be accurate about that. >> No, that's your opinion and that's fine. Okay. Next person who'd like to speak,

116
00:32:25.600 --> 00:32:42.000
please come up to the microphone and just >> not my opinion. It's the way open space works. >> Can you uh please give us your name but not your address, please? >> Lao. Um I'm a resident of Hillside Avenue. I'm not giving you my address. Um so, I thought this was going to be on the agenda today, but it's not. Um so,

117
00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:57.279
I'm going to speak about something off agenda. Um, every house on the north side of Hillside Avenue between Angle and Ravine received a code violation notice last week. Um, I have several issues with how this situation played out and I'm just

118
00:32:57.279 --> 00:33:13.039
going to go through the notice. Um, one, uh, I don't know if you guys are aware, but I know Council Corsair is aware. Um, I would have had a much easier time accepting this violation notice if I believed it been based on a systematic assessment across town, but this came about because of a single complaint

119
00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:28.480
called into a council woman. To be fair to the complainant, she thought it was the town's problem, not the responsibility of each homeowner. Um, but she wasn't informed on the process, nor its consequences. We've lived lived in our house since 2017. We have scores

120
00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:44.799
of people of all ages and abilities walk up and down our block daily, including each person in my own household. We walk to and from mom's school and to and from the bus stop downtown. We keep our sidewalks shoveled and clear of snow in the winter and free of grass and leaves the rest of the year. We have never

121
00:33:44.799 --> 00:34:01.200
received a complaint until last week. If Tennifly had a sincere interest in walkability and pedestrian safety, I would suggest the buildings department take a look at Magnolia between Hillside and Mom School. Second, the notice was dated June 15th, but we didn't receive it until June

122
00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:17.760
18th, and it had a compliance date of June 25th. I don't know how we would all have been expected to comply by that date. Third, the notice indicated generic trip hazards. We had no idea what or how to remediate it without calling the buildings department to request a code

123
00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:34.000
enforcement officer come out to explain the violation, which we did last Friday morning. And by the way, Jerry Keenan was a very courteous and polite person and I want to acknowledge him for that. Fourth, while Hillside is outside of the historically designated Magnolia District, we are extremely fortunate

124
00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:50.480
that most of the houses on our well on our block are well-maintained old homes along a mostly contiguous slate sidewalk that matches the aesthetic of the block. Leaving reme remediation of the sidewalks up to individual homeowners is not only significant financial burden to each household but is likely to result

125
00:34:50.480 --> 00:35:07.359
in a patchwork of solutions from house to house that detracts from the uniform beauty of the buck. Additionally, we understand that if the homeowner takes responsibility for his oro his or her own remediation, we open ourselves up to lawsuits should someone injure themselves after the remediation

126
00:35:07.359 --> 00:35:22.400
because we were the last touch and presumably did something wrong to cause the injury. Lastly, every house on our block received the same generic violation notice. Resident written in place of our names, address numbers handwritten on the notice, and the block lot and lot

127
00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:37.839
number crossed out. Every house having the same violation strongly indicates that the individual homeowner is not at fault, but there is something systemic the town needs to address. I sincerely hope the council in the burrow can come up with a better solution to this problem. the burrow itself identified

128
00:35:37.839 --> 00:35:53.359
the residents of Hillside Avenue and the many residents that walk our street to get to and from downtown deserve that much. Thank you. >> Thank you. You want to address that a little bit, David? >> Yes. The the violation notices are generated by the computer that gives the

129
00:35:53.359 --> 00:36:10.480
time to cure the violation. Uh typically code enforcement will work with the resident and provide them as much time as needed to uh come up with a solution and they'll work with them. do that. So the uh the compli date is something that

130
00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:28.240
uh can be extended for long periods of time. Um the borrower's code currently requires that property owners are responsible for maintenance of their sidewalks. In this particular case, uh there was a complaint about sidewalks

131
00:36:28.240 --> 00:36:45.599
that put the borrow on notice that if there was to be an injury that after that notice that the borrower would have some liability by not uh taking steps to try to correct that and put the property on notice that there

132
00:36:45.599 --> 00:37:00.720
was violation the there sidewalks and reference to Nolia one of the issues that's going on is that they're kind of the property owners have a hard time finding uh the slate to

133
00:37:00.720 --> 00:37:16.880
replace uh the slate that's there of the issues on on hillside as you mentioned it's outside of the historic district so I'm not clear that that the placement has to be slate it could be uh regular concrete

134
00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:31.200
uh but I need to get some clarification on that with the historic preservation commission but this is uh there were 10 letters issued uh on hillside uh earlier this

135
00:37:31.200 --> 00:37:47.760
year there were six issued by uh I've asked unfortunately will give me a list of like uh violation notices uh the last days. >> So how do we get the new how do we get the information to all the residents on hillside that this deadline is

136
00:37:47.760 --> 00:38:03.440
essentially not a real deadline that this could first we have to answer the question about the slate concrete and all that has to be done. I will have the I know this is updated or I'll I'll write this letter.

137
00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:19.599
>> Okay. I think Lauren was first then John. >> I live in the area where blue slate sidewalks exist and they're very very expensive. Number one. Number two, they're very soft. So every truck or delivery truck that parks on my slate, I replace them all the time. They crack them all the time. Not only that, on on

138
00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:34.960
all these streets on Highwood, on Hillside, on Magnolia, on Laurel where I am, um when it's not done with consistency, and Jolie made this point, and someone has cement and then the next person has blue stone, the blue stones crack immediately because it's not

139
00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:50.079
>> and so hard to maintain on their street in particular on hillside. You know, remember trees have grown up and everything. So, I don't think it's fair to to have like this engineering problem for all the homes. I do think we should

140
00:38:50.079 --> 00:39:05.920
look at it holistically as one and maybe maybe our DPW can assist here. Maybe they can procure blue slate, whatever it is. But these were historic sidewalks that were all around the Magnolia area, like the Magnolia Historic District. Um,

141
00:39:05.920 --> 00:39:23.280
I mean I have one so I know how hard it is to find and replace and maintain because you know it it they crack. I mean you're somewhat close to this too. I don't know if you have those sidewalks but I I just don't want to start doing violations and costs fines for things

142
00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:39.440
like this when entire street if it's the entire street obviously we should look at it holistically. >> What do what does holistically mean? What do you mean >> like all at once? All at once. Not patchwork. not this house gets this and this house gets this. I'm saying the entire hill and it's a steep hill and

143
00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:55.839
you know again when delivery trucks have to park on the hillside they have to park up on the curb or else they block the street. So they're constantly like the delivery trucks are coming up onto our curb onto these sidewalks. >> I mean on my street alone they're cracked everywhere. So you know delivery

144
00:39:55.839 --> 00:40:11.200
trucks constantly on top of that blue slate. >> Right. Right. And you know the other problem is too is that we don't have the curbs maintained there and so the curbs are all broken. So it's like chicken and egg. You got to fix the curbs then fix the slant. John

145
00:40:11.200 --> 00:40:26.480
>> um the first house I owned in Tennifly in 1998 was 60 side on the south side of Hillside. I had two kids there. I fully understand those sidewalks and completely agree with you. I also don't think it should be the resident's burden. I think that that is a main thoroughare that goes up and down in

146
00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:41.359
town and is an incredibly important place and I could not push a stroller up and down that sidewalk and those are not yours that you put in and that is not something that you created and not a hazard that is that was borne out by the residents. I'm an advocate of incorporating sidewalk maintenance as we

147
00:40:41.359 --> 00:41:00.720
do with curbs and roads as part of our municipal budget and I'm happy to have that conversation but I want to at least support you in that that I don't believe that that's your creative problem or should it be your ongoing problem you will be but when your turn comes you'll be able to come right back up again. Yes.

148
00:41:00.720 --> 00:41:19.920
So like this young lady is next to speak. There's no anyone can talk about any topic they want in any order they want. Yep. Okay, >> Jenny. Um, I wasn't planning to speak, but I wanted to address some of the comments made by the resident and

149
00:41:19.920 --> 00:41:35.920
council women Dayton. And basically, I want to echo um well, first of all, a resident on Hillside Avenue who was affected, she mentioned that this might be a systemic thing. Um I come I live on the opposite side opposite side that doesn't have a sidewalk. So I am not one

150
00:41:35.920 --> 00:41:52.640
of the affected property owners. But the reason why I want wanted to share my comments is because I want to show them support because I think that this is a larger issue. Um as you mentioned, Hillside Avenue is a two-way major corridor that goes directly into the

151
00:41:52.640 --> 00:42:09.200
downtown area. There is basically one pedestrian sidewalk that runs along pretty much the entire side of the street. Um, Hillside Avenue is also on a hill, hence Hillside Avenue. Um, and therefore the potential consequences of

152
00:42:09.200 --> 00:42:26.160
a, you know, a a potential slip and fall accident could be more catastrophic than if it was on a flat piece of property. And also, this isn't just a single property owner that's affected. This is numerous owners. I moved into Hillside Avenue four years ago. My son was two

153
00:42:26.160 --> 00:42:41.680
years old at the time. Um, and it it like you said, we can't push a stroller down. It's a Angle Street is the street at the end of it there. You that's even more dangerous, right? So, I have neighbors on Angle Street when they have

154
00:42:41.680 --> 00:42:57.920
guests, they have to park on Hillside Avenue. When there are events downtown, the entire both ways there's cars parked. We we are inviting people out of town residents to come to our events and having them park on Hillside Avenue and

155
00:42:57.920 --> 00:43:14.880
it's dangerous. Um I don't think that the homeowners or the property owners should be affected unfairly because of this. I think that I'm here to to respectfully ask if there are ways to collaboratively work with them work with them to see, you know, if the town could

156
00:43:14.880 --> 00:43:32.160
share in the burden or essentially maybe address the issue, you know. So I I come from the other perspective, I don't have a sidewalk to maintain, but I do think that this is a broader issue. Um and that the res the property owners shouldn't unfairly front the burden of

157
00:43:32.160 --> 00:43:49.119
having to repair repair this. As you mentioned, um Hillside Avenue, there are utility trucks, delivery trucks. There are major construction going on at all times all around the year, and they're parking on the side. So, if there's damage to the sidewalk because of those

158
00:43:49.119 --> 00:44:05.280
utility trucks having no choice but to park on the sidewalk, then I don't think that the burden should be on the property owners. So, again, um if you can I respectfully ask to that the council to explore ways to work with the affected property owners because I do think that this is a broader public

159
00:44:05.280 --> 00:44:23.359
safety issue. Okay. >> Thank you, Jason. Come on. Oh, yes. Carl Zipperly and I do live on Hillside Avenue. Um there's one thing I want to touch on is is there's a certain

160
00:44:23.359 --> 00:44:39.760
inequity at work in in the rules that exist that impose uh the responsibility for repair on on the homeowner. In most towns, everybody's required when they develop a property, they have to put in a sidewalk. We don't do that. So the

161
00:44:39.760 --> 00:44:55.520
only the only places where there are sidewalk for the most part >> are main main thoroughares. So the sidewalk is not existing for the benefit of that homeowner. It's existing for the larger benefit of a larger public so

162
00:44:55.520 --> 00:45:11.200
they can safely walk on heavily trafficked roads. So I think that that kind of makes the case for you know so why why am I burdened with uh you know maintaining this this sidewalk when other people other people are not who

163
00:45:11.200 --> 00:45:26.240
have you know much more expensive houses than than mine on hillside >> for for in so tennifly road has sidewalks whereas nicobaka does not as a general rule nicer doesn't have sidewalks in a lot of spots to your point >> yeah so so I think I think there's

164
00:45:26.240 --> 00:45:41.920
there's a there's a reasonable case for the as you know John mentioned for for the bureau to take responsibility. So putting putting aside the equity or inequity of of the c current circumstance, Lauren pointed out that

165
00:45:41.920 --> 00:45:57.119
you know right now if you come up and down or look up and down hillside the the slate has become a mishmash of it's all over the place that if if you have 10 different people doing 10 individually repairing it, it's not

166
00:45:57.119 --> 00:46:12.400
there's not going to be a consistent look and feel and you should and I think there's some recognition that Hillside Avenue is to a certain extent the the the front door to the town. There's a lot of traffic going through there and the look and feel of the town is

167
00:46:12.400 --> 00:46:29.760
affected by by the messy state of that that sidewalk. So, I think there's a there's a an aesthetic interest that the that the larger community has in ensuring the the look and feel of that of that sidewalk. And then, you know,

168
00:46:29.760 --> 00:46:45.280
finally, I think the uh um you know, that you know, in the time that I've lived here, all a lot of blue stone has been ripped out, you know, all over the place. And it's it's kind of a shame. And so, I think, you know, this is the kind of the last stretch that

169
00:46:45.280 --> 00:47:00.800
people see frequently, you know, ought to be it would be a good investment for the town to make to improve that. Now, and then finally, I have um I I walked Hill uh Magnolia Avenue uh

170
00:47:00.800 --> 00:47:22.599
yesterday in the rain, which was good because I found that one one house had a flooding a flooding problem, but I uh I results here. I have copies from the distribution 100% of the houses.

171
00:47:23.280 --> 00:47:40.720
There's only one house that has only one issue. So they have multiple issues on. So, so I think you know Hillside and Magnolia the town ought to take this on as a project and you know in terms of

172
00:47:40.720 --> 00:47:57.119
the cracking that occurs when heavy trucks come over the driveway that can be solved by I I did it on mine because I I had a heavy truck come in crack squeeze is you put concrete bed down and then you set where the driveway is. You

173
00:47:57.119 --> 00:48:17.119
set the the st Okay. Thank you. >> On your chart. >> Yeah, >> I'm on your chart. >> Jason, well, how you doing? >> I'm fine. >> Just give us your name, not your >> My name is Jason Hart. Um, I'm Some of the other points of that I want to make have already been raised, so I'll keep

174
00:48:17.119 --> 00:48:32.640
this brief. But, um, I think you all would agree as the governing body that the, uh, code and ordinances that govern that code, uh, should be logical and they should be fair. uh the reasoning behind any of those codes ordinances should be able to easily explain to a resident right if they have a question

175
00:48:32.640 --> 00:48:49.119
about it. Um I think our current sidewalk ordinance is neither logical or fair. Uh so sidewalks is public infrastructure. All other public infrastructure on private property not subject to maintenance and repair by the property owner. If I have a light or

176
00:48:49.119 --> 00:49:05.440
electric pole on my property, not my problem. Traffic sign, not my problem. Fire hydrant, not my problem. I'm not responsible for that if it breaks. Storm drain, not my problem to maintain or repair that. Trees, not my problem. Why are sidewalks treated any differently

177
00:49:05.440 --> 00:49:20.240
than any of this other public infrastructure? So, the resident who, you know, brought this complaint uh to Councilwoman Corsair's attention, she assumed the burrow was responsible for sidewalk maintenance and repair because it's a logical thing to assume.

178
00:49:20.240 --> 00:49:35.359
So, you know, property and the the residents of Hillside Avenue, we can't v all say, you know what, we don't want this sidewalk. Take it away. We don't have that choice, right? But we are forced to maintain and repair it. Um, which does not seem fair. What other P

179
00:49:35.359 --> 00:49:52.000
what other public asset is treated that way that a only a certain group has to, you know, fund? That's just that's not how it works. Uh, to sum up, you know, the most dangerous trap any kind of body like yourself can fall into was it's always been done this way, right? Um, I would ask you guys to consider the

180
00:49:52.000 --> 00:50:07.760
current ordinance from a sensibility and a fairness standpoint and uh bring sidewalk maintenance and repair into line with how all other public infrastructure is treated. Thank you. >> Howie, come on up. >> Dave has a sidewalk ordinance

181
00:50:07.760 --> 00:50:24.880
maintenance. Help us find it. >> How you doing, Howie? >> Good evening. >> Just give us your name and not your address. >> Sid, New Jersey. Uh, sorry. Sorry to disappoint you. I don't have a dog. I also don't own a sidewalk. Uh so let me

182
00:50:24.880 --> 00:50:40.319
give you some other issues. Um item number one, uh the National Weather Service this week is lightning awareness. So it got me thinking. Uh I know you're building the new amphitheater. Is that

183
00:50:40.319 --> 00:50:55.359
going to have a lightning detection system on it? >> Good question. I don't know if we have the answer to that question. I >> we have not discussed that but very good question. >> There could be something on the roof because you not you can't there's a good chance you won't hear the sirens you

184
00:50:55.359 --> 00:51:11.760
know from another facility. The other thing with all the technology we have today and I was thinking about it you know people aren't only going to the parks some people are jogging on the streets. Is there a way to tie our lightning detection system or if not

185
00:51:11.760 --> 00:51:27.760
upgrade it so that people can get text messages, you know, they can sign up for it when an alert goes off? >> I would imagine the technology is there. I don't I don't That's a good question. >> New alert system has a lot of capabilities. So I would imagine

186
00:51:27.760 --> 00:51:43.920
>> I think we should tie that. >> Yeah, that's a good one >> into the bridge. Uh I know where you're right you won't be able I get tons of >> the alarms are at all the sports fields. Yes. So you won't nec if you're on uh Right. If you're over on Franklin Street

187
00:51:43.920 --> 00:51:59.119
or so you're not going to hear it. >> Absolutely right. >> I heard the one at Stillman had a defect in the middle of the night and I'm only a couple blocks away but I didn't hear it. >> Yeah. I was I'm across the street so I know what you're talking about. >> Uh >> that's been fixed. But it it's just a question, you know, it I was thinking

188
00:51:59.119 --> 00:52:15.040
about it the safety, you know, our kids sometimes go out riding bikes and things like that and you could put it in your kids' phone. So, >> right, >> hey, it's just another level of >> we spend money on some things that weren't necessary and I just thought this might be a good thing. >> Okay.

189
00:52:15.040 --> 00:52:30.559
>> Uh that's item number one. Item number two, uh when they repaved Willow Lane, they forgot to put the stop line at the end of the street last September. So there there's no stop line at the end of the street there. >> We'll look at that. >> All the other streets were done. So,

190
00:52:30.559 --> 00:52:45.119
>> uh I just brought it up as a safety issue. >> Okay. >> And item number three, um the playground at at the pool. I swear they put a new playground in, >> right? >> And it's good to see it's being used by the kids. The only thing is I feel it

191
00:52:45.119 --> 00:53:02.880
was quite large and it took down some of the trees in the area where there was some shade and that area has very little shade. So I don't I don't know if you want to think about maybe buying a canopy for some some person so it

192
00:53:02.880 --> 00:53:17.839
doesn't affect me either which way. I'll be out there baking in the sidewalk, >> but but perhaps, you know, I know a lot of the older folks like to sit in the shade >> and >> lately there hasn't been many trees

193
00:53:17.839 --> 00:53:34.240
there. So, if if maybe you can look at maybe a canopy area. >> We're writing that down, that one. >> I've heard I've heard from a lot of people at the pool that they love the new um playground, but also Yeah. can foresee that being a need in the future and an interest for the pool club members. So

194
00:53:34.240 --> 00:53:48.720
>> yeah, I mean it came out a little far. So I'm just worried that it'll be on days when the club is congested. But I also think it's probably a great thing because now with wreckies when they're there, the kids that don't swim, >> you can see them from the pool. You there's this line of sight where the

195
00:53:48.720 --> 00:54:16.960
whole place feels um together. So >> thank you. >> That's all I wanted to bring up. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Howie. Who anyone else like to speak in the audience? Please come up to the microphone. just talk it Omar maybe perhaps you might need got it. Okay.

196
00:54:16.960 --> 00:54:31.040
>> 50y year resident as of this year. >> Congrats. >> We begin in 1976. So, um I just wanted to I have the same uh issue having to do with Hillside

197
00:54:31.040 --> 00:54:47.839
Avenue and I think that there is a precedent that with Highwood there was definitely a problem with the sidewalks and the town came in and took care of them. So, I thought I would just mention

198
00:54:47.839 --> 00:55:02.400
that apparently that happened. You're talking about from angle up, correct? >> From >> angle street up. Angle street up and angle street down. I think you're right. >> Both of those. >> I'm talking about Highwood. And uh I

199
00:55:02.400 --> 00:55:17.119
would mention that when you have a hill on Highwood or on hillside, you have the runoff that's constantly eroding the um the dirt that's on the side of the road.

200
00:55:17.119 --> 00:55:33.680
the uh the lip if you don't have um a curb that the lip often is damaged because you can see the water running down and eroding it. >> So, it is a problem that's geographic

201
00:55:33.680 --> 00:55:51.040
and it isn't something that homeowners in individually can really solve. So, I would suggest that there's a way to handle the situation. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.

202
00:55:51.040 --> 00:56:10.799
>> Any other members of the public that in the chambers here who would like to speak? >> Hey Chad, how you doing? >> Hi. >> Name, no address. >> Chad Pullman. You're going to know my address though. >> Yes. >> I live on Hillside Avenue. >> I'm also a trustee of the Tennifly

203
00:56:10.799 --> 00:56:25.839
Nature Center. So I'd like to address both those topics. Uh they do have something in common. We're all ostensibly gathered here to govern ourselves and make things nice for us and our fellow residents. Um, unfortunately, the complaint driven

204
00:56:25.839 --> 00:56:42.240
process that we're using to govern ourselves is causing a lot of problems. This might be beyond the scope of addressing a particular one. But uh I'd like to remind council mayor and people in the room and maybe some of the people listening that Hillside Avenue was the

205
00:56:42.240 --> 00:56:58.559
site of two traffic fatalities in recent history. >> And while we suddenly after all this time have received notices that the whole block has to fix these sidewalks, I can assure you that that is much less of a concern for our safety than what

206
00:56:58.559 --> 00:57:15.280
you know what occurred at both of those instances. one at the very bottom by a bus and one at the top by by a driver on Mother's Day. I'd remind you. Um, I I would like to, you know, I know we've had a moment here where we're we think, oh, maybe we'll consider public uh infrastructure as sidewalks or address

207
00:57:15.280 --> 00:57:29.680
things in particular like it was done on Highwood, but I I much prefer that we think of this, you know, Councilwoman Dayton mentioned holistically if we were to really concern the ostensibly the problem with the sidewalk is someone's going to trip and who's a liability and how do we fix it and who's

208
00:57:29.680 --> 00:57:47.040
responsibility to fix it. But if if this is how we're addressing issues and we're leaving out issues where our neighbors have died, then what is the point of this process? And and are is it not within our capability as a governing, you know, entity to address this in a

209
00:57:47.040 --> 00:58:01.920
different way? Do we not need to look at the whole town, what real pedestrian needs are, why we have not addressed those traffic fatalities while we're putting an undue burden on particular residents for a problem that doesn't exist. we we have not heard of any trip

210
00:58:01.920 --> 00:58:18.160
hazards or or anything close to, you know, bigger issues that need to be addressed. So, I I' I'd ask the board to the board I'd ask the council, mayor, the public to consider a different approach to all these things. I I maybe that's well beyond the scope of what

211
00:58:18.160 --> 00:58:34.079
we're able to do here. I understand that, you know, you receive a complaint, you give it to DPW, and there's a process, but we can change that process. So, I I I'd like to see a resolution in the future that considers, you know, more of this. I saw that there's something on on the agenda about a

212
00:58:34.079 --> 00:58:49.760
million dollars about about transportation traffic and pedestri I'm not sure what that's about, but I I know you all know that pedestrian safety and pedestrian accessibility is a huge issue. So in instead of bringing people to a meeting where we have to talk about

213
00:58:49.760 --> 00:59:05.520
whose responsibility particular sidewalk is, I I think we really should do so, you know, in a way that we address something that's much more pressing for ourselves, our kids. You know, it's a big deal on our block, the fact that that happened to us and and it was particularly gling to get these things

214
00:59:05.520 --> 00:59:20.559
for the whole block, you know, for us to have to assemble and address this when we felt that that was never addressed in the past. Um, moving on to the nature center. I like I said I am a trustee. I'm not speaking on behalf of the board. Um and and we did talk about the you

215
00:59:20.559 --> 00:59:35.599
know that parcel being uh something that was set aside particular purpose and we didn't use it. We we know obviously where there's a need to preserve and use uh burough property that it's hard to come by in this small place. I I I know that a lot of other discussions have

216
00:59:35.599 --> 00:59:52.079
gone on about that parcel. Um, but mayor, you said yourself, you know, the idea is to preserve the land, and the easiest way to do that is to put it under green acres. you know, you're you're talking about putting a a a dog park in or a dog walk or or you know, like like other commenters said, it's

217
00:59:52.079 --> 01:00:10.079
very inscific, but but um you know, if that huge constituency that you're referring to is is clamoring, I' I'd love to have a discussion with them. You know, how can we solve this issue of people needing to walk their dogs? Because I and I I think there's there's not really a good understanding of this.

218
01:00:10.079 --> 01:00:26.079
We're talking about a nature preserve and and there there are reasons for for dogs not being there. I I know there seems to be some disagreement on this fact, but I can assure you in spite of however councilwoman Porschair characterized previous discussions about it, nobody who's interested in a nature

219
01:00:26.079 --> 01:00:42.559
preserve wants you know uh dogs to come to come on it. You know that I I'll leave that for other people to debate. If we were really trying to address a need for a dog walk, then there are other ways to do it. We can have other considerations. If there's really a need to preserve that land from development,

220
01:00:42.559 --> 01:00:58.640
very easy to do. Put it under green acres and let the nature center continue to to work on it. You talk, you think it's going to be cheap and you're not going have to do anything. You're going to leave it as is. That's a heavily wooded area. Are are you going to have dogs dog walkers just walking through the woods and the poison ivy that that

221
01:00:58.640 --> 01:01:14.559
hasn't been maintained because the trail has been closed off? You're not going to spend money putting new trails in. I I I can assure you that the very committed volunteers who maintain trails all all over the area are not going to apply, you know, their their labors to to this

222
01:01:14.559 --> 01:01:29.839
this idea that that goes against a lot of our understanding of it. So, you know, I I just like to say I I hope we can think about all these issues in in a in a bigger way. We're picking at little particular sidewalks or particular parcel. If we're trying to solve pedestrian safety and we're trying to

223
01:01:29.839 --> 01:01:45.680
find room for dog walkers and we're trying to preserve land, let's think about those things you, you know, a little bit smarter, bigger, and and address things for real. You know, that's that's my deal. >> Thank you, Chad. >> Chad, thanks for bringing up Mrs. Ma. And

224
01:01:45.680 --> 01:02:00.799
>> anyone else from the public like to speak in the chambers here? >> Thank you. >> All right. Anyone else on anyone on Zoom who would like to speak? You can speak up now, please. >> Yes. just >> Jennifer Yanowitz, can you hear me?

225
01:02:00.799 --> 01:02:17.359
>> Yes, Jennifer. >> Okay. Hi. I I wanted to follow up on the discussion around the East Hill playground. Um, and appreciating the terminology of demonstrating use of the land. Um, and I agree with the person

226
01:02:17.359 --> 01:02:33.520
who just spoke before me. I think there there are a number of ways to think about that. This is feeling a little bit like a knee-jerk reaction. and the response of the council right now to Lauren Dayton's questions about the budget and the costs of maintaining

227
01:02:33.520 --> 01:02:49.760
it. I think that some more due diligence needs to take place on a number of things um connected to this before a resolution is passed. I think that we all see waste left all over when we're walking um through the streets of

228
01:02:49.760 --> 01:03:05.920
Tennifly and that will be all over this area. Dog walkers simply will let the feces be there or if they have it they will be dropping waste bags which then needs leads to needing trash cans and disposing of these things and

229
01:03:05.920 --> 01:03:22.720
maintenance around that. So I think that there are just inherent even if you do nothing doing nothing is doing something and I think that there needs to be more thought more detail and more planning around what that looks like because to not know what the cost and the

230
01:03:22.720 --> 01:03:39.520
accountability is to me and to pass a resolution is irresponsible. Second to that, um I I I think that the idea of just the word fence right now is in your resolution and offense is a bigger deal than I think anybody is

231
01:03:39.520 --> 01:03:57.440
really considering. A fence will change the flow of nature, the flow of animals and potential um unintended consequences from that. And I appreciate the Tennifly Nature Center is trying to delineate their space and their land, but they're,

232
01:03:57.440 --> 01:04:14.079
you know, should this resolution pass, I would really encourage a lot of other thought that goes into how to differentiate the space other than using a fence. And my other question is, how much does the fence cost? Because you're talking about 14 acres. So that's just

233
01:04:14.079 --> 01:04:29.520
another taxpayer dollar going somewhere that right now no one is able to speak to. So I it it I app I'm appreciating that we we want this demonstrated use and I understand why and and I think

234
01:04:29.520 --> 01:04:44.720
that's great but I want to make sure that the right thinking is taking place and the right execution understanding it in just a more thoughtful and detailed way and and there are a lot of implications for the neighboring

235
01:04:44.720 --> 01:05:02.240
community and it feels like there's been a little bit of a a lack lack of transparency because none of my neighbors knew about this and this is going to be their backyards. We know that dogs are going to run around unleashed. You know that that is going to happen. So thinking through the

236
01:05:02.240 --> 01:05:17.680
enforcement of the regulations, thinking through the parking, thinking through the trash removal, thinking through all of those things I I think should be required in order to pass this. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Jennifer.

237
01:05:17.680 --> 01:05:32.480
Okay. Who else would like to speak from U Zoom? Anyone please speak up? >> Speak up. >> Hi, this is Alyssa Epstein. Um, can you hear me? >> Yes. Go ahead, Melissa. >> Alyssa. >> Alyssa. Excuse me. Alyssa.

238
01:05:32.480 --> 01:05:49.200
>> Um, I live in this neighborhood. I've actually grew up in the this I grew up nearby also, but now I live in the immediate neighborhood of the um the nature center reserve that we're discussing. My brother-in-law spoke earlier, Michael Epstein and my other brother-in-law and their families, they

239
01:05:49.200 --> 01:06:06.160
also live in the area. Um, we all have dogs. We all love dogs. We walk them in the area. We enjoy the space just as it is today. My kids bike around. I mean, I we I know the area intimately. My kids bike there every day. We walk around there every day. I see, you know, people

240
01:06:06.160 --> 01:06:22.799
that have spoken up tonight. I see them and their dogs. So, I I I know what we're voting on tonight. And it's really, it seems to me, although after I really had to read it through carefully and listen listen in carefully, from what I understand, we're really voting on just allowing the dogs. But when you

241
01:06:22.799 --> 01:06:38.240
look at it, allowing the dogs to come to the East Hill playground. But, you know, in my opinion, from my observations, I don't think that the East Hill is being used by dog walkers any more than any other area that I've observed in town.

242
01:06:38.240 --> 01:06:54.720
So like requiring a formal change is is a little confusing. My main concern of the resolution being passed tonight is really um understanding where this is going to lead in the future because it's really hard to understand and support a resolution without knowing the longer

243
01:06:54.720 --> 01:07:11.359
term vision for the property. We live here and we we love the area as it is today. And you know, it's not that we don't want necessarily, although Jennifer brought up a good point about like it's not just simply allowing dogs. There's so much more that entails. And I

244
01:07:11.359 --> 01:07:27.839
I agree with that wholeheartedly. But, you know, knowing that so much would have to be done, I kind of want to know, is this the first step towards a bigger plan? Like, is this the first step to, you know, building more more structures,

245
01:07:27.839 --> 01:07:44.079
more parking, more fencing, more lighting, increased activity? you know, is it going to change the natural character of the area? Um, we I just feel like we need to understand where this is leading towards, what the long-term plan is here, um, and the endgame, the end goal, so we can really

246
01:07:44.079 --> 01:08:03.720
understand, um, and protect the quality of our lifestyles here that live in the neighborhood. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, some clarification. Thank you. >> Okay. Okay. Who else would like to speak on out on Zoom?

247
01:08:04.720 --> 01:08:20.960
>> Anyone else? >> Mayor, >> no further hands. Did we miss anyone here in the chambers? Okay. Um, we'll close public comment then. Thank you everyone. >> We spoke to Lissa to give some more clarity if she feels she hasn't gotten

248
01:08:20.960 --> 01:08:36.719
clarity on what the vision is for this that someone can speak to that. So >> what the vision is >> I understand that what you're saying is that we're just allowing that like what John said you know we're we're putting parameters around allowing dogs safely

249
01:08:36.719 --> 01:08:53.520
to be in this area what Peter had mentioned we asking that we put up a fence we're discussing putting up a fence and is there anything else to respond that it >> zero plans to do any further to do any development there are no >> plans to do anything

250
01:08:53.520 --> 01:09:09.839
>> doesn't preclude that and so I think the concern that I'm hearing from residents is a very valid concern about well if you open this up what is the next thing and again if we are not putting in cautionary wording into this that's more specific about that this will remain

251
01:09:09.839 --> 01:09:24.719
natural no lighting no paths but again as Chad said very eloquently there's no way we can't not maintain paths and create paths in this place to have a safe walk for dogs when I walk through parts of the nature center when I go up

252
01:09:24.719 --> 01:09:40.960
there of the unmaintained land there are hazards there's trees there's like you said poison ivy there's things there's >> so do you walk it >> no but I I'm walking board members >> understand what the land and maintenance is I'm walking with the nature center

253
01:09:40.960 --> 01:09:56.400
director to understand what we need to budget for how we need to raise money for land and facilities which is a huge part of their budget by the way it is not this is not cheap labor this is hard >> right so I I'm not sure of anyone here other than you who is talking about

254
01:09:56.400 --> 01:10:11.760
doing anything to the land. >> You can't just leave it and it because that's a liability and that's a hazard. >> So I guess maybe another thing we do again I think we council sometimes we do make the old saying about a bullet ho >> right?

255
01:10:11.760 --> 01:10:26.080
>> So let's let's just make sure we understand the pure facts here. >> The first one is today it's happening. I know we we like to talk about, you know, we're talking about this right

256
01:10:26.080 --> 01:10:42.480
now. So, we expect one, two, 300,000 people a day coming to walk the dogs. That's not going to happen. We're not talking about that. We're not putting out flyers and bulletin boards like we said, like our our burough attorney said and everything else. They're doing it

257
01:10:42.480 --> 01:10:59.040
today. The only thing that this is discussing, and maybe we don't do it, is putting rules around it. But again, for me, you know, and I do see this at a in a lot of uh situations, we like to I don't know. I personally feel

258
01:10:59.040 --> 01:11:14.800
like there's some people on the council that like to rile up the public. >> There's going to be tens of thousands of people that are going to come down. Nobody's saying that. That's not what I'm saying. We're going to talk hundreds of thousands of people every day. >> Go to the hotel now. We're not >> hundreds of thousands.

259
01:11:14.800 --> 01:11:31.199
>> You're ignoring your what your resident said that. No, they are not doing it. They're they're actually saying your res saying we barely see people here. You're solving a problem that doesn't exist. >> Some this is again >> and again I do want to say I very much appreciate I'm the guy that says decisions are made by those that show

260
01:11:31.199 --> 01:11:47.199
up. >> I'm listening to our residents. They're showing up and saying we don't want this. >> But just to be fair, we're talking about look around, please. We're talking about a dozen residents >> who live there. These are the people who live around this area >> and I don't have a dog and I don't have sidewalks. You live on a side street,

261
01:11:47.199 --> 01:12:03.920
not this area. I know where you live. >> Right. Thank you. I'm glad. Thank goodness you know where I live. So again, I just I I think this is a hu I think you've made this a huge thing on three people that are going to come, which by the way, I walk the trails.

262
01:12:03.920 --> 01:12:19.040
Actually, I'm pretty sure my name's on one of the trails because I donate to the nature center actually right there. People go there every day. I hope I'm sincere. I hope more people use the nature center. We don't have enough people using the nature center. My goal

263
01:12:19.040 --> 01:12:35.600
is to get more use of the nature center. That's why we have these amazing 300 acres. Just my point of view. I think that I hope this becomes something >> donating money mean but you miss the entire uh you know like theme of what a

264
01:12:35.600 --> 01:12:50.719
nature center preserve is. You missed the the concept that numerous people from the board have said this isn't in the best interest of the nature center. This isn't in the best interest of the wildlife. >> Members of the nature center actually helped us write the rules. >> I have a question

265
01:12:50.719 --> 01:13:07.040
>> with their back against the wall. >> Listening to the residents you said who show up. I'm listening. I haven't heard one person be like, I love this idea. Let's do it. >> You know what we do? I my recommendation I say we pull. It doesn't change at all the number of people that can bring themselves, their dogs, or anything to

266
01:13:07.040 --> 01:13:24.000
it. Let's pull it and not have rules. Your recommendation is not to have rules. I vote not to have >> That's not my recommendation. >> That is your your not to have rules. >> Don't put words in my mouth. My recommendation is to put rules is to incorporate it into our nature center to preserve it into our nature center.

267
01:13:24.000 --> 01:13:38.159
We're going to move on to the administrator's report. There's a public >> Hold on a second. We're going to move on to the administrator's report. And there's and there's going to be a vote and the council could decide what they want to do by a vote. >> I'd like to pull this separately, but there is a public comment. >> We're not polling anyone. We're going to have a vote.

268
01:13:38.159 --> 01:14:01.199
>> Not pulling it separately. >> Stop talking. I can speak to the gentleman. Of course, Michael. >> You have to come up so we have it on the microphone. I just wanted to ask if if this does turn into this dog

269
01:14:01.199 --> 01:14:16.239
>> arc with >> the dog walking around ever >> if this if this resolution passes as written >> right now there's a trail head there. I do walk the trail. I take my kids there.

270
01:14:16.239 --> 01:14:31.280
Um we we never do see any dog waste or anything like that. I've never encountered anyone on the trail walking a dog. Uh we see people go in all the time. People go in the winter time, they go in the summer. It's it's well used, but it's mostly just people walking or

271
01:14:31.280 --> 01:14:48.000
hiking. It does get steep though. Um and people slip and it gets wet and slippery. Um I do think that there does need to be some provision for maintaining this space. Um it's a single trail and the rest of it is completely

272
01:14:48.000 --> 01:15:05.199
undeveloped. The trail goes pretty steeply up a hill and turns and then sort of opens up and you head into the nature center. Uh so I just wonder if there's going to be a fence, does the fence wrap all the way around this property or is it only separating, you

273
01:15:05.199 --> 01:15:21.520
know, within the woods? >> So the the u the resolution that was online has been updated. So a fence is not resolution. >> Okay. So, does the trail head stay as it is?

274
01:15:21.520 --> 01:15:36.400
Um, or is there is this no longer an entrance to the nature center? If this passes, >> there should be a delineation between where this is when we've got to figure out for sure if this goes forward

275
01:15:36.400 --> 01:15:53.520
>> so people understand this is where you stop. >> You're not allowed dogs. >> It cuts in half the blue trail. It it literally will cut the blue trail. So, we have to >> but I do want to know what we're voting on in the sense of uh I I don't know if fences get mentioned in

276
01:15:53.520 --> 01:16:09.760
the resolution or not if that's the space, but I I know that was the feedback I'd gotten from the nature center previously years back is that we need to demarcate where their property starts and this property ends. So, I'd want to make sure before we just move

277
01:16:09.760 --> 01:16:25.440
forward with it that that was done. I don't What's the correct answer in that? Hold on. Like I said, there wasn't contemplation really to put a fence there if there signage or chain something of that nature. >> Well, a chain is a fence. I mean,

278
01:16:25.440 --> 01:16:42.880
>> well, I mean, it's not going to be a chain link fence or a privacy fence or something of that nature that's compensating. >> Well, I I guess I'm just saying it has to be something. And uh the the question I had had to do with the trail maintenance, which originally when I

279
01:16:42.880 --> 01:16:59.840
brought it up about a half hour ago, um was about DPW maintaining, you know, because now it's a burrow property. Um if the if the town decided not to maintain anything in that area as has

280
01:16:59.840 --> 01:17:15.120
been possibly discussed, what does happen if someone falls there? Same thing that happens if someone falls where it's maintained, >> right? >> Yeah. >> The way we get >> like it's >> it would file a tort. >> Yeah. >> Don't you know that?

281
01:17:15.120 --> 01:17:33.840
>> Okay. So, so the theoretically it could be like >> So, so if if the town decided not to maintain this space, I'm just I'm >> doesn't make a difference in reliability. >> Okay. But right now, people do hike and it is a maintained space. So, I think

282
01:17:33.840 --> 01:17:49.280
that's important. >> It would fall more on our burough workers. It's just a little bit of >> extra thought in this resolution. As I said prior, not against it. I'm just saying we have to >> make sure we do part A and part B. that

283
01:17:49.280 --> 01:18:05.600
that >> well honestly if if that's not uh clarified in this resolution that DPW will maintain that trail and that we won't have the fence then I wouldn't be

284
01:18:05.600 --> 01:18:22.080
comfortable voting with it right this second right clarify just leave it as is let people do whatever they do it uh the nature center u has a lot you I know they maintain a lot as best they can. Let's

285
01:18:22.080 --> 01:18:39.600
let them keep maintaining the stuff and uh and go forth and conquer and go see where where we are. >> Yeah, let's uh let's do that. >> I'm all for no rules. >> I think I think you have an opportunity to do something historic and expand

286
01:18:39.600 --> 01:18:58.640
Green Acres in 10. That'd >> be amazing. >> I think we would all be very proud of you if you did that. >> So, >> thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Howie, you had a comment. Then we're going to we're going to move on to administration report. >> I've never been there, but uh and I can

287
01:18:58.640 --> 01:19:13.600
understand what Lauren is saying about what the cost and everything, but I think the nature center has been doing it sounds like a great job maintaining it. Why does the town just deed them the

288
01:19:13.600 --> 01:19:29.360
right to maintain it for them as volunte for us as volunteers? Um, if they're doing a great job, acknowledge it. Um, and you know, it's not I'm not a dog owner,

289
01:19:29.360 --> 01:19:46.480
so I don't know if the dog owners go to Church Hill Preserve then if they allow them there. It's just it it seems like you might be absorbing costs that we don't need to all of a sudden now with the with the So

290
01:19:46.480 --> 01:20:03.040
Adam's right. You should pull it and research this a lot more before and maybe get the environmental commission involved as well. I don't know what their input might be towards. >> Okay. Thank you, Howie. All right. Let's move on to administrator's report.

291
01:20:03.040 --> 01:20:19.280
Any questions for the administrator who said yes? Go ahead, Lauren. >> So, this is going to sound ridiculous, but is the band stand too high? Because the way we had the image, it was like low and wide and the one that's being

292
01:20:19.280 --> 01:20:35.920
built is tall and narrows and and significantly blocks the church and everything. I just I thought it was lower. Is it being built to spec? Is that the spec? Oh, yeah. Yeah. just me >> the floor is not there yet so it's hard to tell

293
01:20:35.920 --> 01:20:51.679
>> the height of it from >> right >> and again my concern was the the line of sight in traffic and everything else and so when I'm sitting at the light again that that is there blocking the the

294
01:20:51.679 --> 01:21:08.800
opposite sorry east Clinton if I'm sitting on county east Clinton is blocked so it was supposed I don't know there's nothing I mean they're putting it up. But is it that's what I'm saying. >> Yeah, it's being built specifications. Yeah. >> Anyone else? Has anyone else sat at that

295
01:21:08.800 --> 01:21:25.440
intersection and tried to see through that? >> Well, that's what Yeah, that's going to be that's why it's all open. >> What? >> Exactly. >> It hasn't all been. >> Any other questions for the administrator? >> I'd like to understand the 1,00 1

296
01:21:25.440 --> 01:21:42.159
million uh transportation safety pedestrian. >> Yep. So this >> please >> I've been talking about this for a while. >> Yes, >> the I bank has uh approved funding for tenn uh we have approval for at least

297
01:21:42.159 --> 01:21:59.600
$12.4 million and up to million. Uh this uh first uh frustrated this bond or put in place uh the engineering uh required uh to bring this to get the study done

298
01:21:59.600 --> 01:22:15.920
and then to all the uh sign improvements and putting it to specifications. >> And is this the whole town, David? Sorry. Is this the whole town or did we delineate this venture? >> Townwide. Okay. So, and it's for traffic

299
01:22:15.920 --> 01:22:31.280
light improvements, new traffic lights for their bar as well as cross >> traffic safety. Chad, >> all traffic safety >> pedestrian safety >> and and the best the best part about this

300
01:22:31.280 --> 01:22:49.120
>> and it's holistic >> is that you could finance the traffic lights for 10 years. Coincidentally, with the I bank, if you actually finance the project in 10 years or less, the first 75% of the funding is

301
01:22:49.120 --> 01:23:03.520
interest free. >> That's good, right? >> So, yeah. So, 0% money and uh the eye bank has had a history of also giving a good portion as you go through as you go through the process. So, it's

302
01:23:03.520 --> 01:23:20.000
a very good uh big effort. At the end of the day, we'll have new traffic lights that are working and patrols and hopefully it'll stop us from having to have our police department resources out generators in every traffic light every

303
01:23:20.000 --> 01:23:37.520
time. >> What is the rate on% and when do you pay the 1% loan origination fee? Is it refundable or is part of the application which would be adorable in terms of where they frontload their fees? Nothing's free, David. >> Well, it's free. >> 25% is at what interest rates? Well, you

304
01:23:37.520 --> 01:23:52.800
said 75% is interest rate, right? >> That means 25% is not. >> It has no stated rate of interest. >> 1% is still lower. >> That's what that's the I bank. >> Where does it say there's 1% interest? >> It's the I bank. It's uh it's stateans% 2% period

305
01:23:52.800 --> 01:24:07.760
>> and 1% of >> it's lot. It's a lot less than what? >> Uh yeah, just a little bit. It's a lot less. >> That's the reality. You live that all day. >> All day. Yeah. So, David, >> can we can we add now that we you know,

306
01:24:07.760 --> 01:24:24.239
I know we had already talked a little bit about this, but we were always looking and you know, again, the kids that came about their bikes and where they can safely ride their bikes, it's always still on my mind as I see them whipping around all town. Can we add bike and walk paths to any of our streets as part of this?

307
01:24:24.239 --> 01:24:39.920
>> Um, we can ask. I know that. Uh so this the the one action we have today is to introduce the B ordinance that'll be during July 13th. At the July 13th meeting, John Jar, our traffic engineer, will be here. Um so we will be able to answer those questions. I'll read him

308
01:24:39.920 --> 01:24:56.800
ahead of time so he has some answers. >> Great. Yeah, because we do still, by the way, as council, we need to come up with whether our kids are riding on the street or on the sidewalk because there's a lot of confusion right now. We should Can you put that on a to be considered next meeting the where the

309
01:24:56.800 --> 01:25:13.280
bikers ebikes can ride safely? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Any other questions for the administrator? We're going to move on to the new business. All right. Introduction of ordinance 26-18,

310
01:25:13.280 --> 01:25:29.360
the bond ordinance. Um, Councilwoman Jackson, would you like to uh make a motion? Can you just explain it just like because >> go ahead explain? >> Yes. >> So the one thing is that this does not

311
01:25:29.360 --> 01:25:45.120
add to our general obligation. It's not a general obligation box. So we're not we're not required to set aside the 5% down like you normally would on a bond. This is a financing mechanism that the I bank will will have fund for the IA and

312
01:25:45.120 --> 01:26:02.480
once that is done as we move into the construction phase of the project basically borrow the I bank will fund project as we go along withdrawals every 30 days uh till the project is complete then pay the 0%

313
01:26:02.480 --> 01:26:20.000
interest uh first 75% and then the additional 25% hope get that principle to a brand >> be fabulous. >> So this actually puts the funding mechanism without adding to the overall

314
01:26:20.000 --> 01:26:37.440
general obligation. >> Remind me that we're not allowed to earn interest as a burrow. >> Is that correct? >> Yeah. You can't borrow money. would have to be arbitrage >> and all that has to get >> acrew a DDA account.

315
01:26:37.440 --> 01:26:52.800
>> If you have a DDA account, does that count? >> DA DDA DDA >> doing business as >> you know it's it's a regular way checking accounts 52 basis points on average. Are you allowed to have that? >> We we'd have to

316
01:26:52.800 --> 01:27:07.600
>> question is a DDA account is a basic checking account >> John essentially 100% of the proceeds would have to get turned over to the state treasury. We can't keep any of it. You can't keep a penny of it, >> right? The half the half the towns in

317
01:27:07.600 --> 01:27:23.920
the state would become casinos, >> right? Okay. It's a good thought though. Okay. Councilwoman Jackson, would you like to make the motion, please? >> Yes. Okay. I move to introduce on first reading ordinance 26-18 and set the hearing for July 13, 2026 at

318
01:27:23.920 --> 01:27:39.840
7:30 p.m. or as soon there. >> Could I have a second, please? Omar, please read the title of the ordinance and conduct a roll call. Sure. Ordinance number 26-18 bond ordinance to authorize the undertaking of the planning and design phase of the

319
01:27:39.840 --> 01:27:54.480
transportation and pedestrian safety improvement project in by and for the burrow of Tennifly in the county of Bergen State of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $1 million to pay for the cost thereof to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such

320
01:27:54.480 --> 01:28:10.560
appropriation and to provide for the issuance of the b of bond anticipation notes and anticipation of the issuance of such bonds. Council member Corsair, >> yes. >> Council member Dayton, >> yes. Thank you for David for all the work on this. >> Council member Jackson,

321
01:28:10.560 --> 01:28:26.400
>> yes. >> Council member Michaels, >> yes. >> Council member Dr. Okconor, >> yes. >> Council member Royer, >> yes. >> Okay. Um, moving on to the public hearing. Ordinance 26-17, dumpsters. Omar, could you please read the confirmation of publication of the

322
01:28:26.400 --> 01:28:42.239
ordinance and the title of the ordinance? >> Sure. Ordinance number 26-17. It was posted on the burough website on Thursday, June 11th. Is an ordinance of the burough tennifly amending and supplementing chapter 19 solid waste management with a

323
01:28:42.239 --> 01:28:59.120
new section to be named dumpsters at multif family and non-residential structures of the revised general ordinances of the burough townly. >> I'd like to open the floor for any public comment on ordinance 26-17 dumpsters only. Is there anyone here in

324
01:28:59.120 --> 01:29:15.760
the chamber who would like to comment on it or has a question? Is there anyone on Zoom who has a comment or question about ordinance 26-17, the dumpsters? >> See no hands, mayor. >> Okay, we're going to close public comment. Um,

325
01:29:15.760 --> 01:29:31.520
Councilwoman Dayton, would you make the motion, please? >> I'm going to pass it to Jenny because she's very excited about this one. >> Jenny, Councilwoman Jackson, please. I move to pass and adopt on second and final reading ordinance 26-17 and that notice of same shall be

326
01:29:31.520 --> 01:29:47.040
published according to law. >> Could I have a second, please? >> All right, Omar, could you please conduct a roll call? >> Council member Corsair, >> yes. >> Council member Dayton, >> yes. >> Council member Jackson, >> yes. >> Council member Michaels, >> yes. >> Council member Dr. Okconor,

327
01:29:47.040 --> 01:30:03.320
>> yes. >> Council member Rol, >> all over. Yes. >> All right. Nice job there, council members. Okay. Uh, can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda resolution 26-241 through 26-256?

328
01:30:03.360 --> 01:30:25.920
Which one? Oh, I thought that was I didn't realize that was assigned. Okay, that's my mistake. I I thought that we had to add it in. What did you want to pull? Look, >> right. Right. 253.

329
01:30:25.920 --> 01:30:48.000
I'm just going to check on 255. I think that's done. Right. >> Did you Did you request to pull it or No, I can't. >> Which one? >> So, we're pulling that? >> No. No. I'm going to defer to Wendy. I'm just

330
01:30:48.000 --> 01:31:07.280
>> Oh, I ped it. Yes. Okay. So, we're good with leaving it in. >> Okay. >> Okay. Could I get a motion to approve resolution R26-241 through R26-252 and R26-254

331
01:31:07.280 --> 01:31:25.679
through R26-256? Could I have a second, please? >> Second. >> Omar, could you please call the role? >> Council member Corsair, >> yes. >> Council member Dayton, >> yes. Council member Jackson, >> yes. >> Council member Michaels, >> yes. >> Council member Dr. Okconor, >> yes. >> Council member Rer, >> yes.

332
01:31:25.679 --> 01:31:41.280
>> Okay. Could I get a motion to approve the minutes of June 9th, 2026 mayor and council meeting? >> Could I have a second? >> All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Committee reports. Uh Dr. Okconor.

333
01:31:41.280 --> 01:31:57.679
>> Sure. Yes. Um I'm going to be reporting from Environmental Commission and Green Team. Um, so first we had discussed prior about the Davis Johnson Parks um, room use form and I'm just doing a

334
01:31:57.679 --> 01:32:14.080
gentle reminder. I know that we were talking about revising it so it'd be a little bit clearer if people can rent it if they're from out of town, not out of town. I know. I'm just doing a little reminder to you, Wendy, because I know that uh you know it'd be a nice uh

335
01:32:14.080 --> 01:32:29.280
source of uh income should uh should we make that a little easier, the room use form? Um also, uh so with Grove Street Park, there is u the DPW had purchased a

336
01:32:29.280 --> 01:32:46.239
shed and uh it is a they're placing it there for gardener needs for the raised flower beds. Uh two of the raised flower beds that are there now have a a deer fencing cage over them. So we're going to be starting to you're going to start

337
01:32:46.239 --> 01:33:01.679
to see some planting happening over there. And so to that end, I'd like to ask and I think this might be in uh Omar's department if if I could get a lawn sign like a type with stakes in it

338
01:33:01.679 --> 01:33:17.199
so that we can have information if people would like to contact uh you know the burrow hall or you know for reservation of those gardening plots for people who are going to Grove Street like right now just basically a sign

339
01:33:17.199 --> 01:33:33.360
that says hey if you're interested didn't apply, please contact whoever. Um, so I'd like to formally request that and then you could follow up with me uh about >> you should email each other to figure out what wording you're looking for. >> Okay.

340
01:33:33.360 --> 01:33:50.639
>> You want the communications person? >> Communications. Yeah, that would be great. We've put it in our burough newsletter in the past, but we're figuring if people actually see it being gardened now, they're walking their dogs or they're using other parts, it could like trigger like, okay, let me call this number and and get a plot.

341
01:33:50.639 --> 01:34:07.280
>> Um, also in some uh other good news, there are 50 trees that are going to be going up around town funded from our shade tree trust. So, you know, those are being planted by DPW and uh so keep your eyes out for those. And another

342
01:34:07.280 --> 01:34:23.760
exciting project is the rose garden in the next few weeks is actually going to be having a QR code project which allows you to go to the rose garden and scan the QR code by the roses to see what

343
01:34:23.760 --> 01:34:40.400
type of roses they are and information on there. And so that is uh going to be linking to the town website. And uh uh so two last questions from them was when is community night in September because

344
01:34:40.400 --> 01:34:55.920
we do table there. So um >> September 15th. >> September 15th. Okay. >> With a rain date of September 16th. >> Okay. Thank you. And last thing was um there's a new president. There's two

345
01:34:55.920 --> 01:35:13.120
co-presidents of the uh Tennifly Garden Club and they would like to learn about the club's history. So, they wanted to know if the burrow has any records related to the garden club or or any civic involvement in gardening in town.

346
01:35:13.120 --> 01:35:29.280
Do do we possess any of that? >> In the library, if you ask them, we have a storage section that includes gardening. You have to go in a key. It's behind the glass cabinet and we have it at >> uh David historical room, but those are unorganized and we still need to get those out of there.

347
01:35:29.280 --> 01:35:46.000
>> I think there's been a garden club here on and off for a very long time, like 75 years or something. >> I think that's what they wanted to go back with. So, you think that's in the old? >> Yeah. So the town library they can go and and pursue >> as for historic function they need an

348
01:35:46.000 --> 01:36:02.400
adult and they get lock it's behind locked glass. >> Okay. Right. Because I think it is historic or something. Okay. All right. Thank you. And that's the update. >> Okay. Councilwoman Corsair. >> So the recck department is starting uh

349
01:36:02.400 --> 01:36:19.679
Fourth of July festivities early that this Saturday the 27th. We've got Stars and Stripes celebration at Roosevelt Commons behind the Tennifly Middle School. It's 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There's going to be rides, foods, DJ

350
01:36:19.679 --> 01:36:34.960
music, giveaways. It's a lot of fun. It's always a really great time uh for the families. The rain for that is on Sunday. And then I think the first year in a very long time, we actually have fireworks on July 4th. >> That's correct.

351
01:36:34.960 --> 01:36:53.119
>> So, Saturday, July 4th. Um 7:30 is pre-fireworks behind the high school and 900 pm is the fireworks and they are if you have never seen them or been there they are spectacular. I think it's like New York City number one tennifly too of

352
01:36:53.119 --> 01:37:09.440
course. >> Um and we're going to have a cover band for that as well. Um before that as um >> Billy Dan >> Billy Dan cover band um on Sunday July uh this is a while but July 26

353
01:37:09.440 --> 01:37:25.600
we've got the nature centers doing fireflies and fairies that's coming up and that's a lot of fun and definitely bring your family because it's really great. Anyway, that's all I have. >> Councilman Rolieri, >> Councilman Michaels often challenges me. I think I'm going to win this evening

354
01:37:25.600 --> 01:37:41.280
when I walk across the pond to the middle school on the green film that is, you know, accumulating measured in inches, one would suggest. So, yeah, >> I look at it as color is lovely. >> It is lovely. It is artistic. It is all

355
01:37:41.280 --> 01:38:00.560
the wonderful >> color is good. >> Say our ducks are alive. are not well planned. We need to do something and and appreciate and I know that I've been a pain in the ass about it. I appreciate the fountain works. It's so sad that it's the way that it is because it is a

356
01:38:00.560 --> 01:38:18.000
feature of this town and I'm grateful for the fact that we show it and we embrace it. We got to >> I'll skip myself like there's a couple contracts on my desk that Pat has signed. So I think it's going to be addressed

357
01:38:18.000 --> 01:38:35.679
but I'll follow I want your we still need irrigation but please don't recycling center my apologies uh the recycling center we put in those new trees again we tail to irrigate them they're dying from the bottom is

358
01:38:35.679 --> 01:38:51.280
>> that's an immediate thing that you'll >> be warned every day >> that that's it grateful for the DVW grateful what everybody is doing. If we can, you know, clean those things up, there should be easy fixes and it could be meaningful improvements. Um, in addition on the police committee, we are saddened to see the retirement of our

359
01:38:51.280 --> 01:39:10.000
chief. Um, I understand there is a clap out on Thursday. I want people to be aware of that. I think he deserves that. >> Thursday is for Lieutenant. >> I thought I read one communication that I saw Chamber. So, but I but I did read that

360
01:39:10.000 --> 01:39:27.920
Thursday, July 30th, >> Thursday. Again, why are we doing things on Thursdays for those of us that don't work in 10 to >> be sure to be sure you can't make it Friday, >> respectfully, good for him. Uh, but I do encourage people to go to that. He's

361
01:39:27.920 --> 01:39:42.719
done a tremendous job for this community. Um, we are incredibly grateful for his service. He's a difficult man to replace. We are working on that, but uh, I would really that people would show up for that. I think it's um you know it's a testament to the service and it deserves it.

362
01:39:42.719 --> 01:39:57.520
>> Okay. Thank you, >> Council President Michaels. >> Councilwoman Dayton. >> Uh we have planning board tomorrow night. Uh the mayor and I we are probably uh approving because it's already all three got first vote

363
01:39:57.520 --> 01:40:13.199
approval. Three different um things. The first one will be right behind Cafe Angelique in our town. 7 9 and 11 West Railroad Avenue. So that has been approved to be um a building with

364
01:40:13.199 --> 01:40:29.360
business below mixed use apartments above. So if you think of our streetscape where bread is and the apartment, it's going to be those buildings to the left. So that has been approved by the planning board. Um, the second thing is a minor subdivision. And

365
01:40:29.360 --> 01:40:44.480
again, I would like our councils to take a look at the subdivision ordinances and and resolutions here. Um, and this one again was too small of a property, but it was approved because of where it sits in town. Um, it is on Jefferson Avenue.

366
01:40:44.480 --> 01:41:00.320
It's 161 Jefferson Avenue. It's a very old home that's getting knocked down and becoming two um two homes. I will say um for the mayor and David, there's issues on traffic. There was a lot of questions about the traffic coming off these two

367
01:41:00.320 --> 01:41:17.600
pieces of property onto Jefferson and was it sunset over there. >> And so that's the corner of Yes, that's the corner of middle school and high school traffic. >> So they do want us to take a look at that. Yeah, they want the planning board

368
01:41:17.600 --> 01:41:32.960
had discussed that maybe the town should take a look and discuss with John Jar, our traffic engineer, if anything can be done for that corner so that these homes can get in and out of their own driveways when they need to and also so that they're not also blocking school traffic.

369
01:41:32.960 --> 01:41:49.600
>> Um the last thing of course as everyone knows is the Nickerbacher Country Club is coming back on their site plan and soil moving permit. It was approved the first time and so I do anticipate some residents coming back tomorrow evening and again the concerns are the

370
01:41:49.600 --> 01:42:05.440
surrounding streets and flooding and I do think mayor after we figure out our walkability we need to figure out our storm water management >> and so our permit systems again cannot capture the amount of water it needs to.

371
01:42:05.440 --> 01:42:21.360
It's something that we should continue to ask for our congressmen, for our engineers, >> money. >> Yes, we will need that. Um, so that is planning board. For those of you who are interested in Starbucks, they have not come back to the table yet. That's on them, not on the planning board. So, you

372
01:42:21.360 --> 01:42:38.159
know, again, open hear them as soon as they can they can, but haven't rescheduled. I think they were rescheduled on the fifth game of the Knicks and maybe we moved them. >> I think so. Yeah, they pushed it off. Yeah, everyone wanted to watch the Knicks, so um that's fine. And um I want

373
01:42:38.159 --> 01:42:55.199
to talk about the DPW for a second and I want to talk about our favorite topic for John is PSEG. So what I'm hearing now is that PSEMG is only going to mill and pave end to like side to side on the street where um they had to do

374
01:42:55.199 --> 01:43:11.119
significant trenching and not just you know how they they basically paved like a single line wherever they replace pipes and that they're just going to leave that. And so I wanted to know that was true. When I spoke to the PSEG guys this week and I said, "When are you

375
01:43:11.119 --> 01:43:28.159
coming back to repave and mill and pave?" They said, "Oh, no, no. That's never our plan." >> Well, that's that you're talking to a crew that does a single specific thing. >> David, have you heard anything like that? >> No. >> I want to make sure we're on them and that the whole pave of the street happens. Yes.

376
01:43:28.159 --> 01:43:44.239
>> Two things. One, a, if it's a moratorum street responsible paving, if it's a street that they touch and they're responsible for the street engineers and

377
01:43:44.239 --> 01:44:05.760
change all quantities as to what PCG credits back. So he has a whole schedule that so I ask him to give us a update, but yeah, I I would tend to not put a lot of stock in the crews on the road. They may

378
01:44:05.760 --> 01:44:21.199
not know that it's coming back because they they're not doing any of the paving themselves. They're using actually I want >> you're supposed to be doing some paving July or August and then more paving in September. >> I want the residents to hear you say all

379
01:44:21.199 --> 01:44:37.440
this. But also understand we picked 10 roads this year and they opened up one of them. I don't know if that got called into you. It got called into me. Drawing a blank on the name of the street, but one of our paved roads on this year's paving got reopened by PSEG. So we

380
01:44:37.440 --> 01:44:53.280
should check on that. >> You'll have to repave the whole thing. >> Yeah. I mean, but how but where's the coordination between what our bureau is doing and what we're telling them? Because if if that's on our engineer, our engineers coordinating that. >> So, we coordinate and speak with them

381
01:44:53.280 --> 01:45:09.760
multiple times a week. >> But that happens. So, again, if that's on, you know, collars, whatever it is, we need >> that that brings me to the point. I know Wendy has been doing some research and she's changed offices, but if we can bring back to the point of how we can

382
01:45:09.760 --> 01:45:26.239
potentially legally change the code to require PSNG and other utilities that have to pay that money up front, >> yes, >> for road meeting so we're not scenario begging them to come >> or what asphalt prices are. >> I'd also like to preemptively prepare

383
01:45:26.239 --> 01:45:43.920
litigation to send a message. We're not I I am telling it is >> chuck that and close >> every single day. It's a disc and they just did river road end to end. It's magnificent. We will not be ignored and I would very

384
01:45:43.920 --> 01:46:00.719
much like to bragively let them know their deadline because you know what they're hiding behind they're continue to hide behind is oh we're coming to service. They're pushing it on our residents and that's not fair, >> right? That you can tell there is a 0% chance, whatever you want to bet,

385
01:46:00.719 --> 01:46:15.840
Michaels, whatever you'd like to bet our usual dollars, >> they're not going to do this by 10:31. >> And they need to know on 10:31 that we are going to fight like hell to fix it. It is it is the most it's the most egregious thing I've seen happen in this

386
01:46:15.840 --> 01:46:32.880
town in 50 years. It's an absolute disgrace and they need to fix it. I don't think they care. I don't think they care at all. They're going to gladand us to death until they know that we're serious. We need to be the sweet. So, however, I can help in that. Sounds like a discussion. >> Yeah, let's discuss it in close.

387
01:46:32.880 --> 01:46:51.440
>> And I have one more. >> Go ahead, Lauren. Yeah, you have the floor still. >> Uh, Risa and she is going to be gone for the month of July. And so we are actually one of our very very well educated other social workers on our board is actually going to try to fill

388
01:46:51.440 --> 01:47:07.920
in a little bit. But if you hear of any senior residents or uh any residents at home that need services and they can't get in touch, we do have people that are, you know, volunteering to step in and help or won't be there. Just wanted everyone to know that. Okay.

389
01:47:07.920 --> 01:47:22.960
>> Councilwoman Jackson, do you have anything? >> Okay. Um a a couple of new things. Um well not new pool's open and it's great and the playground is fabulous and you can see it from the pool and it's very fun and potentially we need some cover

390
01:47:22.960 --> 01:47:40.000
but um also swim team is open um and if anyone still wants to enroll it's still open for enrollment. The swim meets don't start until July. So that's a great opportunity for um swimming and community building and um you know etc.

391
01:47:40.000 --> 01:47:56.639
um some new so we met with the downtown committee last night. We have some new concepts at the table. One is um a potential project in coordination with the schools to do art banners. So we're just we're just starting the conversation um and it will need

392
01:47:56.639 --> 01:48:13.520
definitely some work and attention to get into the schools and see and get students to submit art um to put onto banners and maybe potentially hopefully if that all goes well we could do it up by spring. um downtown cultural destination exciting for the

393
01:48:13.520 --> 01:48:29.920
students, for the families to come out. Maybe it will look great. You know, if anyone wants to get involved with that, let me know. Um and then there's another event downtown. There's a a local entrepreneur named Aie who has started a company called Compana and it's a screenfree

394
01:48:29.920 --> 01:48:45.520
um event um concept for families to get together, put their phones and their screens and things aside and connect with one another and just enjoy um being present. And so he I've been helping him to reach out with different to different

395
01:48:45.520 --> 01:49:02.239
restaurants and um now Axia and Simply Vietnamese and BY are on board and we're looking to find a couple more where it's like a townwide event for one night downtown that everyone comes down and goes to these restaurants and gets to be together and there will be some kind of

396
01:49:02.239 --> 01:49:19.199
planned activity around it. So he's looking to do that by the end of the summer or um the beginning of the fall. So, >> can you ask too of these interested teen events? Like that would be great for teens or middle. >> So, this is for everyone to be together. So, if it's teen family, you know,

397
01:49:19.199 --> 01:49:35.520
families with teenagers, it would be open to everyone. Um, so that's that. What else do you want to know about? Does Mayor, do you want to say anything about the Northern Valley Greenway? >> No. >> Okay. So, >> hold on. There's there's too many it's too much work in progress.

398
01:49:35.520 --> 01:49:50.880
>> No, no, we'll we'll talk later. Yeah. Well, it there were more to come on Northern Valley Greenway, you know, etc. All right, that's all fair enough. >> Can I just add one thing I forgot is I want to um thank everyone for a wonderful Junth ceremony and flag

399
01:49:50.880 --> 01:50:06.320
raising. And just Joshua Bieber who's here in the corner helping video did a wonderful reading that day. So, I just want to say hi to Josh. Um so, it was very meaningful and a great ceremony.

400
01:50:06.320 --> 01:50:24.239
Actually, I do have one more very important thing. >> Go ahead. >> Um, I said it last time, but I want to say it again. The FIFA uh events downtown on July 18th and 19th, there is a sign up for the Bergen County's next sport sports cer. There's a contest um

401
01:50:24.239 --> 01:50:41.040
to win $1,000 uh for a student who can will get to be on stage and, you know, cast the event on the finals on the 19th. And uh so if you know anyone, spread the word. It's very easy to find out information. It's on the Tennifly Chamber of Commerce website,

402
01:50:41.040 --> 01:51:02.159
tenniflychamber.org/fifa. Um tell your children, your friends, your family, every like spread the word because we really want to get community involved in that. So we're working with the high school soccer um coach, I believe.

403
01:51:02.159 --> 01:51:17.119
Let's talk to Sounds good. Yeah, because Janine is on it, so that would be great. Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Could you read the uh close session language, please? >> Resolution R26 257 at a meeting of the mayor and council of the Burough of Tennifly, County of Bergen, State of New

404
01:51:17.119 --> 01:51:33.199
Jersey held on June 23rd, 2026. Be it resolved in compliance with NJSA 104-12. The mayor and council of the burough of Tennifly are going into close executive session to discuss the following matters. contract negotiations for real property redevelopment agreement update

405
01:51:33.199 --> 01:51:50.239
and real property potential acquisitions and property negotiations. Minutes will be taken of the meeting and released to the public at the time the matters resolves. >> Can I get a motion to go into close, please? Can I get a second? All in favor? Any opposed? Okay, we'll see everyone inside. Thank you for being

406
01:51:50.239 --> 01:51:53.800
here tonight, everyone.