However, they just set it up that way. I don't know. You could ask. Oh, he's not. Uh, sure. I don't see why not. Yeah. I Yeah, maybe. Yeah, it's fine. Yeah, it's fine. Okay, whatever. It's fine. All right. She
wants to see my Honor Councilman Sakos, you will lead us on flag, please. With pleasure, please rise. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. This meeting is convened in accordance with the provisions of the open public meetings act of New Jersey. Let the
official minutes reflect that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by publishing a notice in the Edge Bay Park Press on Friday, January 10th, 2025 and the store ledger on Friday, January 10th, 2025 and thereafter posting same on the town hall bulletin board for such notices and filing same with the
township clerk pursuant to a resolution adopted by the township council on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. The meeting dates have also been posted on township web page. Mr. Hel, roll call, please. Council President Lamb here. Council Vice President Coleman here.
Councilwoman Otto here. Councilman Burn here. Councilman Sakosi here. Councilman Iverson here. Councilman Quinn here. Item number five is the minutes from the March 26, 2025 council meeting. Move the minutes. Second. Motion was made by
Councilman Council Vice President Coleman and seconded by Council President Lamb. Council Vice President Coleman, yes. Council President Lamb, yes. Counciloman, Councilwoman, yes. Councilman Burn, yes. Councilman Sakosi,
yes. Councilman Iverson, yes. Councilman Quinn, yes. So item number six, uh we have two honoring resolutions and presentations. Uh the first is one for National Poppy Day. Can we move the honoring uh
presentations resolutions, please? So move second. All in favor? I I Please step into the well. Thanks. [Music] If the ladies would like to join us, [Music]
it's our honor of the governing body to present to you that on May 23rd, 2025 will be the National Poppy Day. And again, this goes back what 101 years uh that represented World War I, post World War I. And if you ladies would like to
speak about it and speak about the program, please come up. Uh good evening. You can hear me. Um the the American Legion Auxiliary, we do our poppies every year. Uh usually it's in May, but it is an all year around. Uh
the poppies are for our veterans, the children, and the community. We do not sell poppies. Poppies are donation. You don't have to donate. You can have a poppy if you like. We we don't discriminate. Uh poppies have been since
Flanders Field. Uh if you all know Flanders Field and uh yes, we do. And it has been there ever since. And we have carried on the tradition ever since. And we will
continue to do so so long as we are here supporting our veterans, our community, and our children. Thank you very much. Thank you for coming. Thank you so much. Thank
you. Thank you. If we could have the Thomas North Mariners band come up to the front, please. Thank you. Well, first off, from the governing body, myself, including the mayor, would like to honor the mariners band. They've
completed and competed in one championships in various musical and performance categories. Upon a promotion from a class in 24 and 2025 was their first year in a more rigorously judged open class competitive category. In the 2024
25 school year, they placed second at Bricktownship and Jackson Liberty and third place best percussion at the region 7 championships and New Jersey state championships. Deserve a round of applause for that. Great effort. In addition, these fine students
performed at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Quite an accomplishment. They will also participate as the Allshore Band, Allshore Jersey Band, All State Band, and the All Eastern Band. Great job, guys. But it doesn't end there. One
more, John. In 23 and 2024 the school year, they placed first place for best percussion in region 7 championships. And in 2022 and 2023 school school year, they placed first at Jackson Liberty, second place region 7 champions, and
third place best percussion at Southern Regional. So for that, I commend all of you. The governing body commens all you and and we also wanted to present a proclamation to band director, Mr. Powers, who's uh it's my understanding you're retiring this year. Very sad.
very sad. The kids are going to miss you. Something terrible. Thank you for your service and all that you've done for the band and the whole year. Ready? I don't know if we could fit in one picture. Did anybody else want to say anything? Dave,
you guys ready? One, two, three. Thank you very much. Take care. Oh yeah. Sorry. Looks the law looks the same back here. You're welcome.
Yeah, no problem. Item number seven is an ordinance of the township council of the township of Tom's River, Ocean County, New Jersey, amending and supplementing section 477-69, title uh sorry, schedule 11 through streets of chapter 477 vehicles and traffic of the township code through
street Hancock Road. Uh this is a final reading. We're going to open up the public comment. If anybody has a comment, would they please step up to the microphone and offer comment on this? Seeing none, and close public comment, please. So moved. All in favor? I
I a vote. Motion to approve. Second. Motion was made by Councilman uh Coleman. Seconded by Council President Lamb. Council Vice President Coleman. Yes. Council President Lamb. Yes. Councilwoman Ul. Councilman Burn. Yes. Councilman Sakosi. Yes. Councilman
Iverson, yes. Councilman Quinn, yes. Item number eight is an ordinance to the township council of the township of Tom's River, Ocean County, New Jersey, amending and supplementing section 477-7921 speed limits of chapter 477 vehicles and traffic of the township
code. Reducing the speed limits on Windsor Avenue as follows. Between Princess Court and Vaughn Avenue from 30 mph to 25 mph for the entire length. Between Vaughn Avenue and Fischer Boulevard from 40 mph to 35 mph for the entire length. and between Fischer
Boulevard and Eastern terminus from 30 mph to 25 mph for the entire length. This is also a final reading. Again, I open this up to public comment for ordinance number eight. If anybody has a public comment, please step up the microphone. Seeing none. Motion to close
comment, please. Motion to approve. Motion to close was made by council vice president Coleman. All in favor? I I mot uh motion on the ordinance. Second. Motion was made by Councilwoman Otul, seconded by Council Vice President
Coleman. Councilwoman Oul, yes. Council Vice President Coleman. Yes. Council President Lamb. Yes. I'd like to thank Chief Sundzac and the township engineer John Mey and the administration for working to get this done. This was these areas were uh dangerous, accidentrone.
Uh we had the uh the metrics were not good over the last couple years. So, I'm glad to get this done. Hopefully, we slow down traffic over there. It'll help alleviate potential accidents. Thank you. Uh, Councilman Burn. Yes. Councilman Sakosi. Yes. This is a good
thing. Uh, a lot of it is in Ward 4, uh, my ward. So, um, happily, uh, vote yes. Thank you. Councilman Nverson, yes. Councilman Quinn, yes. Right. Moving on to item number nine is an ordinance of the township
council of the township of Tom's River, Ocean County, New Jersey, amending and supplementing section 477-71, schedule uh 13 yield intersections of chapter 477 vehicles and traffic and section 477-70 schedule 12 stop intersections of
chapter 477 vehicles and traffic of the township code as follows. to remove the yield sign at the intersection of Indian Hill Road and Carol Drive. Install a flashing stop sign at the intersection of Indian Hill Road and Carol Drive. And to remove the yield sign at the intersection of Indian Hill Road and
Roundtree Drive, and to install a flashing stop sign at the intersection of Indian Hill Road and Roundtree Drive. Again, a final reading. Motion to close. Public comment. I'm sorry. That's right. Is there public comment? Oh, please come. That's right. I'm sorry.
Katherine Gleski, Green View Way and Tom's River. The yield signs exist for traffic that is off of coming onto Indian Hill Road. That is my question. Do I understand that correctly? So,
you'll be installing the flashing stop sign for traffic coming onto Indian Hill Road in L of Yes. Thank you so much. I do support that. Thank you. Thank you. Any other public comment? Seeing none, motion to close public comment. Make a motion. All in favor? I.
Motion to approve. Second. Motion to approve is made by Council Vice President uh Coleman. Seconded by Council President Lamb. Council Vice President Coleman. Yes. I um I'm one of the Indian Hill people, not in that section of Indian Hill, but I think this was a great idea
and I'm really hopeful that this will uh will alleviate some of the problems that we've had on that short span of Indian Hill Road. So, I appreciate the council's approval of this. So, the answer is yes. Council President Lamb, yes. Councilwoman Otto, yes. Councilman
Burn, yes. Councilman Sakosi, yes. Councilman Iverson, yes. Council McQuinnisk. Yes. Item number 10 is an ordinance of the township council of the township of Tom's River, Ocean County, New Jersey, amending and supplementing section
477-70 schedule uh 12 stop intersections of chapter 477 vehicles and traffic in the township code to reduce the incidence of traffic crashes and to promote pedestrian safety as follows. To install a flashing stop sign and stop bar at the intersection of Guilford Avenue and Anthony Avenue. and to
install a stop bar at the intersection of Guilford Avenue and Morris Boulevard. Again, a final reading. Again, I'd like to open us up to uh public comment for uh ordinance 10. Hi, Julie. How are you? Um Julie Adam,
69 Cedar Grove Road in Tom's River. Um I'm gonna ask the uh the board to vote no on this u particular item here. Um, I've been on this street many times, Anthony, and in this area, uh, as I have a friend that lives on this area. I've
been on all different times of day on the weekend. Um, I've never encountered a a car when I've been dri when I've driven on Anthony or when I've even come to this intersection at Guilford. So, uh, there's minimal to no traffic in
this road on this in this area. And I think it's an abuse of a flashing uh red uh stop sign. Uh we h the Indian Hill Road area is extremely busy and that needed to be changed. Clifton Avenue and Bachelor got flashing um stop signs an
extremely high area of accidents and traffic and um school crossings there. Um so if this goes through then every other stop sign in Tom's River is going to be needed to changed to a to a
flashing uh stop sign, including the one at in at Edken Avenue and Cedar Grove Road, the one at Cedar Grove Road in Hooper Avenue. Um, and the list goes on and on. So, um, I'm asking you to, uh, use common sense. Presently, there's no
stop bars at either of these intersections and nei and and there are no stop signs at this area. So, why it would go from nothing to a flashing um stop sign is beyond me. Thank you. Anyone else have any comments?
12 Avenue. I just noticed this. Uh for 28 years, there's never been a stop sign on Anthony and Guilford, and the traffic is really low there. I know that you put a stop sign up on Morris and Guilford.
Not many people are aware of that yet. So, it's kind of scary, but I can see a stop sign being put up. I don't know what a flashing stop sign is. We really don't need one there. So, I don't know that. Mayor, you want to explain a stopping flash? One of the reasons that
when we put up a new stop sign, we put up the flashing stop sign is for that very reason. So, if a stop sign is new and people are not accustomed to it being there, flashing makes it highly visible. after the fact you can turn that feature off. Does that make sense?
Any other public comment on ordinance 10? Seeing none, motion to close public comment. All in favor? I a motion on the ordinance. Approve. Motion to approve. Motion to approve is made by Council Vice President Coleman, seconded by
Councilwoman Otul. Council Vice President Coleman. Yes. Uh Councilwoman Oul, yes. Uh, Council President Lamb, yes. Councilman Burn, yes. Councilman Sakosi, yes. Councilman Iverson, yes.
Councilman Quinn, yes. Item number 11 is an ordinance of the township council of the township of Tom's River, Ocean County, New Jersey, amending and supplementing section 477-79, schedule 21 speed limits of chapter 477 vehicles and traffic of the
township code, reducing the speed limit on Grand Avenue and Lexington Avenue to promote enhanced vehicular and pedestrian safety as follows. Grand Avenue from 35 mph to 25 mph for the entire length. Lexington Avenue from 30 miles an hour to 25 miles an hour for
the entire length. Uh, another final reading. Mo again. Open up the floor to ordinance 11 for public comment. Seeing none. All in favor? I I. Motion to approve.
Second. Motion to approve was made by Council Vice President Coleman. Seconded by Council President Lamb. Council Vice President Coleman. Yes. Council President Lamb. Yes, Councilwoman Oul. Yes, Councilman Burn. Yes, Councilman
Sakosi. Yes, this is also in Ward 4. So, um I'm grateful and the residents are grateful and thank you council for approving it. Thank you, Councilman Iverson. Yes, Councilman
Quinn. Uh I just want to point out that uh uh I've been told historically that when uh communities ask for all these speed reductions and stop signs, it's typically those same residents that wind up getting pulled over uh for violating those uh those speeds and stop signs. So
please be careful with all these new uh signs out there and the new speed limit zones. Um and as far as Guilford Park, I agree with the with a couple of residents got up. I grew up in that area. The only traffic back there when I was younger was my bicycle. There's no through traffic. It's literally people going home. So, some of it may be a little overkill, but I'm going to trust
that the police department did their due diligence and I'm going to vote yes. Um, and item number 12 is an ordinance of the township council of the township of Tom's River, Ocean County, New Jersey, amending and supplementing section 477-79, schedule 21, speed limits of
chapter 477 vehicles and traffic of the code of the township of Tom's River to remove Colonial Road and Continental Drive as these streets do not exist. Uh, this is a final reading. Thank you. Does anybody from the public have any comment on Orange 12? Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion to close public
comment. So move. All in favor? I I. And a motion for the ordinance. Second. Motion was made by Councilwoman Lun Oul, seconded by Council Vice President Coleman. Councilwoman Ul. Yes. Council Vice President Coleman. Yes.
Council President Lamb. Yes. Councilman Burn. Yes. Councilman Sakosi. Yes. Councilman Iverson, yes. Councilman Quinn, yes. Item number 13 is an ordinance of the township council of the township of Tom's River, Ocean County, New Jersey,
making the provisions of title 39 applicable to Southwinds Homeowners Association. Uh this is a first reading. There'll be no discussion from council. Again, we're going to make a motion. Can I entertain a motion for 13, please?
Motion was I'll make a motion and uh Okay. So, councilwoman seconded. Uh motion was made by council vice president Coleman. Seconded by councilwoman Otul. Council vice president Coleman. Yes. Council uh Councilwoman Oul. Yes. Council President
Lamb. Yes. Councilman Burn. Yes. Councilman Sakosi. Yes. Councilman Nverson. Yes. Councilman Quinn. Yes. Item number 14 is an ordinance of the township council of the township of Tom's River, Ocean County, New Jersey,
authorizing the acquisition either by purchase or imminent domain of real property known as 415 Washington Street, block 687, lot 16. 89 Water Street, block 669, lot 38. 93 Eastwater Street, block 669, lot 52. 95 Eastwater Street,
block 669, lot 37.01. 97 Eastwater Street Block 669 lot 36.01 and 99 Eastwater Street block 669 lot 35.01 on the official tax map of the township of Tom's River Ocean County, New Jersey. Motion to table. This is a first
reading. I still think we should table it. I'll second it. Motion to mo motion to table was made by Councilman Nverson. Seconded by Councilman Clemus.
I I implore all the council people up here. Discussion. We're going to discuss it. No discussion. I think the town wants some discussion. It's a first reading. I know. I don't care if it's a first reading. We have rules. You need to obey the rules. Your rules. No, the council. No, your rules. No, the council rules.
We have council rule. Okay, Mr. Pascal. Mr. Pas, we need to take Washington Street off of this. We need to take Washington Street off. Okay, let's just take Washington Street off of There's a motion. Second a floor.
We have a vote. This is a motion to table. Motion was made by Councilman Nverson, seconded by Councilman Quinnisk. Councilman Iverson, yes. Councilman Quinnisk, yes. Uh, council council president Lamb. No. Come on, Craig. Do the right thing.
Craig, do the right thing. President, get out of order. For the first time this year, do the right thing now. Now. Now. Now. Come on, Craig. Get out of order. Yeah, I know. I'm out of order. You should get back on. Get back. Be removed.
[Applause] Come on, Craig. Thank you. For lunch, Craig. The right way, Craig. For once, we've got to be able Craig. We have to be able to conduct the meeting. We have
to be able to conduct the meeting. Please. I need I need I need I can't We We can't hear. Excuse me. Excuse me. We need the clerk to entertain the motion and second and need to actually record a vote. I need everybody to be quiet at least until a vote's carried. And that
includes you, Councilman Knives. I'm being polite with you. Please be polite back. Thank you, Councilman Noul. Please, with your vote. Okay. Why, Lynn? You hate God. You hate Christ. That's not the way we conduct business. Please.
Obviously, you hate humanity like our mayor. You hate homeless people. Come on, Lynn. For once, once. Not once. Since you've been up here, have you done the right thing? I am doing the right things. What do I do? Right there. Oh, come on, Lynn.
Order. Point out of order. How can you order? You're out of order. You're out of order. Mr. Hans, there there's a motion. We're on council. Vice President Coleman. Council Vice President Coleman. No. Thank you. Why? Councilman Councilwoman
Tul, please stop. No. Councilman Burn, no. [Music] and Councilman Sakosi. Yes. Mr. Mr. Motion for tape,
please. There's no discussion on this. David, David, you're being out of order. David, you're out of order. Have a seat. David, you're out of order. David, you're out of order. David, you're out of order. [Applause] Earth daily bread and forgive us.
Amen. This is This is our first reading. Motion 14, please. Motion was made by Council President Lamb. Motion 14. Second. Second. Second by Otul. Seconded by Councilwoman Otul. Roll call. Council President Lamb. Yes. Council Woman, yes.
Council Vice President Coleman, yes. Councilman Burn, yes. Councilman Sakosi, it's a vote for yes. Vote for yes. They're asking if you want to vote yes or no to this ordinance. I table. I
know. But now the vote is yes or no. Yes. Okay. Vote. No. No. No. Okay. Say it. No, you don't want to vote for this ordinance. We do want to vote for the ordinance. Not the table. Table's done. No, I don't want to vote. Well, you got can't hear him. No. Okay. You got to say
it. Okay. He said no. Council Mr. Cozy. Yes. Yes. I said no. Councilman Iverson. I I vote no. And we're supposed to be here for the people. Correct. Councilman
Krimless. There's no discussion. Mr. For the people, right? Hey, Craig. For the people. You're out of control. Hey, Bill. What are you getting out of this bill? You're out of control. Next. Do it for you. A motion. Councilman Corninless. He should be removed. Councilman Quinnless. There's no way on
God's green earth. Your vote, Councilman, please. That anybody should vote for this ordinance. This vote. Record your vote. Record your vote. This is setting up the town for yet another Valupa lawsuit. One that I don't think he understands the scale of. This
is bad in every direction. My vote is unequivocably no. Mr. Hel. Moving on. Moving on to the consent agenda. All matters listed under the item consent agenda will be enacted by one motion in the form listed below. There will be no separate discussion of
these items. If discussion is desired on any item that will be considered separately, if the members of the public have an agenda agenda item they would like to vote on separately, please form a line in the center aisle. When called upon, approach the microphone, state your full name and address, and identify
the agenda item by the letter you like a separate roll call vote for. Persuade the township code, members of council can ask for a brief discussion and no roll call on a specific item. The discussion shall remain relevant to that agenda item being discussed. Discussion period may
be suspended at the discretion of council president. Now, as any member of council requests a roll call or separate item to be discussed, any member of council? Yes. What would you like, Jim? Like to call out F, I, O, and Q. You got to slow down that Jim.
That's slow down and take it one by one, please. F. Wait, hold on. Mr. Anel, record F, F, I, O, and Q. Thank you, Steve. I an agenda. You want to discuss Discuss them real quick? Okay. Let make sure I get that correct. That's
F. I'd like I pull L pole, please. I'm out for a second. I have, you know, I just want to get this right. F I What's the next one, Jim? Sorry. O, thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, Tom, please. M. Uh, L,
please. Thank you, Tom. I'd like to have um resolution P held. P. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Anzel, balance, please. Oh, we need a time out. Sorry.
M and N I think uh I believe M was already called. No. Was M. No, M was. Okay. M andN. Got it. Got you, David. Yeah. Thank you. Yep. Anybody else? Seeing none, Mr. Enzel. Okay. We need a motion to prove uh to approve the balance of the consent agenda. Minus FIO
QLP PM MN. Motion. Second. Motion was made by Councilwoman Otul, seconded by Council Vice President Coleman. Councilwoman Oul, yes. Uh, Council Vice President Coleman, yes. Councilman Lamb, yes. Councilman Burn, yes. Councilman Sakosi, yes. Councilman Nverson,
yes. Councilman Quinn, yes. So, F first. Item number F. Who was that? Jim. Yes. Uh, F is pulling out the uh temporary budget. I'm wondering why we haven't seen any budget information yet and uh
is there a finance committee or a budget committee the committee that had met about the budget and why are we extending it yet again? Sure. If you'd like me to council president. So uh the extensions are required. The budget is not uh fully due yet. The budget is uh
done. However, we need to do a presentation of the budget. So we're waiting for a different meeting. Um it's a very good budget. Um, I'll wait I'll wait to relieve uh release the details at another meeting. So, all this is is every time you see one of these temporary budgets, they're
required by law. They are a full extension of the prior year's budget uh as a percentage for that time period. So, that's all it is. There's no new money. No, unless there's a spec and you did vote at a prior meeting. Sometimes there are lima items that need to be
moved around like when we had the high electric costs at the ice rink and things like that, but um for the most part now when you see this just like this, it's an actual percentage of the prior budget uh just to extend until we vote. Thank you. Motion F. But I
understand it it's been due and you didn't do a presentation for it tonight and I'm concerned about it because one of the big things on that temporary budget is you had a specific line item for over a half million dollars for legal fees. again, Miss G. Uh, actually, actually, Jim, since you wanted to bring
it up, the the budget numbers um are going to show that spending has been reduced so much that it's gone from $146 million down to $135 million, an $1 million Please don't yell out from the audience, please. An excuse me, please don't yell out from the audience,
please. Thank you. Not not a $500,000 increase, as you said, but an 11 million decrease. But we'll we'll get to that another day, Jim. And then when that comes out, you can do what you always do, which is vote no against that. And the people of Tom River will hold you accountable for that. Motion F. Second, please. Motion was made by
Council President Lamb. Second. Seconded by Council Vice President Coleman. Council President Lamb. Yes. Council Vice President Coleman. Yes. Councilwoman, yes. Councilman Burn, yes. Councilman Sosi, Council President, I just have one question, please. Will the
budget be presented in the uh May meeting? I believe it will be. Thank you, David. Yes. Yes. Okay, then I'll vote. Yes. Thank you, David. Thank you, Councilman. Thank you. Thank you, David. Councilman Nverson. Yes.
Councilman Quinn. Yes. Next, I believe is item number I. Is that you, Jim? Yes, sir. Okay. [Music] Oh, the fireworks. Uh, we don't have a budget yet. We're approving a contract.
No, wait. I think we're an I. Aren't we an I? That's L. L. Oh, I'm sorry. Then I meant to call out L. Sorry. Oh, I thought Okay. Sorry. Apologizing. It's L. Okay. Um, we're we're approving a temporary budget. Uh, apparently includes these fireworks. We have no dollar amount for these fireworks yet. We're going to do L anyway. Or are we
going to do I? Which do L? What about I? L is I. I'd rather go in order. Let's do I first. I is on a list, Mr. Ransel. No, I'm saying my mistake. It's supposed to be L. We have it on ours. It could be a mistake. It could be a mistake. So, you don't want to discuss I. You don't want to discuss I. No. I I is okay. No. I in
L. I don't think I don't think this is spending approval here. I believe it's for the license. Correct. It's for the license. Correct. Yeah. If you don't have the license, you can't shoot off the fireworks in town. So, we have to apply to the state for a license. There's no dollar amount. It doesn't say contract. No. Uh it's you got to read
these things. It's specifically to have the permit. These are the dates. Dates in question. Dates and the permits. That's it. That's not the money. Thank you. Motion L. I I wanted to discuss L2. I have a motion on the floor. Motion was made by council president Lamb. Second, please. Second.
Do we need roll call, please? Second was made by council vice president. It wasn't fireworks. Council president have a motion. I pulled L to discuss it and I was overlooked. Wait, so you you pulled I pulled L. He pulled I. Okay. What do you want to know? You gave it to him. Do we need six fireworks displays in
Shelter Cove? Yes, we do. Yes. Fireworks used to be Fourth of July. They lose their luster. Wait, did you come out last year? It was a great time at shelter. I came out for one of them. Great. I remember I remember you were there one. I remember seeing you there. It was good time, too. I remember.
Do we need to spend for six? Motion, please. Does it Do we have a ballpark what they're going to cost? Motion was made by Council President Lamb. Seconded by Council Vice President Coleman. Council President Lamb. Yes. Council Vice President Coleman. Yes. Councilwoman Otto. Yes. Councilman Burn.
Yes. Councilman Sakosi abstain. Councilman Nverson, no. Councilman Quimisk, abstain. Excuse me. Council President, I'd like to jump in. Um, before we I There's obviously a question. Excuse me. Don't speak out for the audience, please. Don't speak out for the audience. I
can't hear. This is like They do this nationally, too. Now, they stage all protests and they interrupt. And so getting back to the fireworks, Tom, as far as how much they're going to cost, it'll be about4 to $5,000 a show. That's what they cost. Uh it's part of
the recreation budget. Was it was a great time. We had 600 to a,000 people out each time. Uh which which makes it about $4 per resident. What does it cost for the extra police, presence, fire, uh ambulance? They're on duty. They're on
duty. Yeah. 24 hours a day. We have police and ambulances. They're always on duty. Um we have to go through the rest of these. So M's next. You want You want me to do Did we do Oh, we did I? No, we don't. I don't. We did I. Okay. Let's take a vote on I first motion I please. All right.
Look, we're going to go back to I can be quiet though. I cannot hear up here. Please be quiet. Thank you. I can't hear. We're going to go back to letter I. Thank you. Motion to approve. You all have a chance to talk at public comment shortly. Thank you. Second. Motion to approve letter I was
made by Council Vice President Coleman, seconded by Councilwoman Otul. Council Vice President Coleman, yes. Councilwoman Otul, yes. Council President Lamb, yes. Councilman Burn, yes. Councilman Sakosi, yes. Councilman
Nuson, yes. Councilman Quinn, yes. Now, I believe we're on letter M. M. I don't believe who who's that. Uh, Councilman. Okay, Councilman SK, go. Go ahead. I I need M andN explain. I'll let the administration explain next. I
believe it was derived from their departments. Mr. Solanis or the mayor would like to speak on that. How about Mr. Solanus for Excuse me. I'd like to hear from Mr. Solanus for one. Stop interrupting me. That's the last warning I'm going to give you. Stop interrupting my meeting. You're interrupting me every
every stage here. Please, I'll give you your time to speak at the end. Thank you, Mr. Slas, please. Or mayor. Uh, I'll I'll just jump in. I have it already. What we This is because our purchasing agent, she would like to work as a part-time person in other
municipalities. She has a QPA. Okay. So, she's applying a Explain that to me, mayor. What's exactly that? A QPA is a license that that many towns want uh that allow allow the town uh you know uh more freedom with purchasing. So, uh
most big towns have QPAs. small towns don't pay for them to be on staff usually. So typically they'll reach out. So this particular employee, she has this certification and she wants to be the purchasing agent in name for some other municipalities. Uh I've been
advised by legal counsel that we have to we have to we have to do this for her. We can't like not allow her to work somewhere else because she's already submitted to us that her hours would be outside of her work hours here. We cannot restrict somebody from picking up
an extra part-time job. David, is that satisfactory to you for M andN? I don't know what that means. Is that not satisfactory? Motion M, please. Motion M. Motion was made uh on letter M by Council President Lamb. Second. Seconded by Council President uh
Coleman. Council Vice President Coleman. Council President Lamb. Yes. Council Vice President Coleman. Yes. Councilwoman Otto. Yes. Councilman Burn. Yes. Councilman Sakosi. I'm going to abstain from this one also. Councilman Iverson, I will abstain. Councilman
Quinnisk, yes. Letter N. We're going to make a motion and second. Motion was made by Council President Lamb. Seconded by Council Vice President Coleman. Council President Lamb. Same same discussion. Got to read it. Roll call. Council President Lamb.
Yes. Council Vice President Coleman. Yes. Councilwoman Otto. Yes. Councilman Burn. Yes, Councilman Sakosi. Councilman Iverson. Yes, Councilman Quinnisk. Uh, yes.
And next is letter O. O, who was that? Um, let's get let's get our township attorney to opine on O, please, Mr. Pascal, please. O is uh to authorize uh the spending plan. So, uh, one of the, uh, items that were in the spending
plan, uh, was allocating money, um, from the, um, affordable housing fees that the town has been collecting for a number of years. Allocating money to pay, uh, existing affordable housing, uh, units to, uh, increase uh, the
number of years um, for their um, uh, for the uh, deed restrictions on them. Do do you mind if I jump in just on the politics side of this? Sure. One thing that everyone should know and I've spoken to the to Gene Mickel from the Asbury Press, Asbury Park Press, and
several other folks. Most people don't realize we get these affordable housing obligations, municipalities, and they fulfill the obligations. They go out and they say, "Hey, uh, you know, to a developer, can you come in here and build us X number of units of affordable housing?" and a and then they give them
special tax breaks and so on and so forth to do 20% affordable. But what most people don't realize is after 20 years all of those deed restrictions expire. So for example, the last affordable housing obligation in Tom's
River was one of the largest in the state. The prior administration agreed to about 12 to 1400 units somewhere in the net which resulted in thousands of units being built. Well, we're at the end of that 10-year round. In 10 more years, every one of those deed
restrictions will expire. So, the township collects monies for affordable housing. We collect them into this trust fund. And right now, the town has about $9 million in it. So, what I'd like to do uh to prevent more overdevelopment is
use some of that money to go back to those people who own those properties and extend those deed restrictions out another 20 years so that it provides affordable housing for at least another few decades. It will greatly reduce our obligation. Uh right now the state,
we're negotiating, we haven't come to an agreement yet. The state was asking us to do around 500 and some odd units. Uh if Tom's River were able to extend all of its expiring units, uh we would have 450 credits. So there So we have nine $9
million right now. If we if we were able to extend all of that, it would be money well spent. It would mean we would have all of those units available. We would greatly reduce any kind of obligation and uh we would do it without having to
build more apartments. So it's a it's a it's a it's a great idea. Thank you. Um and and that's what I'm asking everybody to support. Motion, please. Motion was made by Council President Lamb. Second. Seconded by Councilwoman Oul. Council President Lamb, yes. Councilwoman Oll,
yes. Council Vice President Coleman, yes. Councilman Burn, yes. Councilman Sakosi. I don't understand it fully. So, um I'm I'm going to vote no. Councilman Iverson,
I'm sure he spun it his way. I'm voting no. Councilman Cummless, as you all can imagine, over the last 24 hours since receiving uh uh this agenda, uh I've been inundated with phone calls and text messages and emails about
another issue in town. Um this this particular resolution came with over 65 maybe 70 pages of information to read through. Uh it's a change from uh what we've done in the past and because the state has already rejected our uh proposal of no uh affordable housing units. I am going to or sorry 114
housing units. I'm going to have to say no to this thing at this time and allow me to have more time to read all that information before I can possibly make a logical decision. So you guys are saying that you want to build more? Yes. They want to they want to build more affordable housing rather than extend the deed restrictions. No. Move on to P,
please. The only thing you haven't stopped besides building with a lawsuit. Tom, please. We're moving on to letter P. Not interrupt my meeting. Item number P. P. P is mine. Um, I'm going to have to obtain a vote on this as I sit on the board of this uh particular
organization. Very good. Motion P. Motion was made by Council President Lamb. Second. Seconded by Councilwoman Oul. Council President Lamb. Yes. Uh, Councilwoman Oul, yes. Um, I know he said it, but Council President Coleman,
uh, St. Uh, Councilman Burn, yes. Councilman Sosi, yes. Councilman Iverson, yes. Councilman Quinn, yes. And the last one is Q. Not sure who. Is that you? Yes, it's me.
Um, I I saw this one up there again. I uh I just wasn't sure if this was a change to what we had approved last year or if there are some additional things in there. That's a quick answer. Either Mr. Salass or the mayor would like to explain dental benefits, health, uh vision. I didn't know if that was all in
one uh I believe that was the change. We don't actually have like again this is not an insurer, right? So the reason that we were able to save $6 million on insurance is because the township is now the insurer, right? So we have like reserves with tens of millions of
dollars. uh they are the broker that put together that plan. That's all they are. Is there any change to what they're brokering for us is the question. No, all of the all of the the the healthcare is all dictated by contracts with the collective bargaining unit. So that can't change.
Correct. All right. All right. Thank you. Motion Q, please. Motion to approve. Motion to approve is made by Council Vice President Coleman. Second. Seconded by Councilwoman Oul. Council Vice President Coleman. Yes. Councilwoman Ot. Yes. Council President
Lamb. Yes. Councilman Burn. Yes. Councilman Sakosi. Yes. Councilman Iverson. Yes. Councilman Quinnisk. Yes. Moving on to the reports. Move the reports. So move. Motion was made to
move the reports by Council uh President Lamb. Seconded by Council Vice President Coleman. Council President Lamb. Yes. Council Vice President Coleman. Yes. Councilwoman Otul. Yes. Councilman Burn. Yes. Councilman Sakosi. Yes. Councilman
Quinnisk. Um like I said about the uh the previous ordinance uh having less than 24 hours to review this. This particular document was 118 pages long I believe. Uh obviously I have not had time to review that either. I think it'd be uh wrong for me to vote vote on this
thing. So I'm going have to say no. Councilman Nson. Sorry. Make I'm sorry. Make that abstain. Abstain. Mine's a no. Okay. Moving on to the approval of the bills. Move the bills, please. Motion was made
by Councilman Council uh President Lamb. Second. Seconded by Council Vice President Coleman. Council President Lamb. I see to abstain from bill number 25-0210125 also sorry 25-01785 and yes to the balance. Council
Vice President Coleman, yes. Councilwoman Oul, yes. Councilman Burn, yes. Councilman Sosi, yes. Councilman Iverson, I just have to abstain from 252125. Yes to the balance. Councilman
Quinnisk, I I have to apologize, Steve. I jumped ahead. I'm yes to the reports. Okay. And and abstain from the bill's uh entirety. entirely. Moving on to public comment. I will now call on
the public for comment. This public comment session will be for a total of 60 minutes. Each speaker will be given three minutes and must yield the floor to the next speaker upon completion of their statement or at the three-minute mark, whichever comes first. Please form a line in the center aisle and when
called upon state your full name and address. There will be no extra time granted and no speaker may yield their time to another. Speakers and members of the audience at all times at all times shall maintain proper decorum and shall
make their comments in a civil manner. Personal attacks, obscenities, slanders, or mandering remarks will not be tolerated and may automatically seed your time. All comments or questions from a member of the public shall be
directed to the council president who is under no obligation to answer impromptu questions or address any remark. I ask the audience to remain completely quiet. Any disruption shall be treated as a interference of a public meeting and I will stop the speaker ask the disrupting member of the audience to leave. I ask
all council members and the administration that if they wish to speak or ask a question for clarity throughout this session, please ask me first to be recognized before you speak. Upon the conclusion of this portion of the meeting, I may call on
other council members, department heads, or the mayor to respond to the topics presented during public session. Mr. Hansel, please set the running clock for 60 minutes and begin once the first speaker begins speaking. May I have the
first speaker, please? Yeah, you might want to take that down there. Paul, you want to help? Hi, Susan. How are you? Susan Gato uh 1946 Mount Juliano Lane, Tom's
River. First of all, regarding the housing population um we are an aging population, so there will be more need for housing for people with disabilities and those aging. There
will be more need for lowincome housing. uh criminalizing poverty and mental health will not take care of the homeless and the homeless will always be with us. There'll always be mental conditions that we need to treat and
look for and take care of people in our community. Eminent domain apparently maybe some of you don't like the Episcopal Church. I don't know. Um, but that's a question I have that if it were another church or something else, you
might vote differently. Fireworks. The current method of fireworks is very old-fashioned. It doesn't take into account the dangers of using explosives. It doesn't take into
account the sensitive individuals that will have to be listening to these fireworks, the noisy ones. and it doesn't take into account the effect on animals in our community. There are much more modern ways to celebrate our
country and we don't have to do it with the danger of blowing fingers off or knocking eyes out. So, um, thank you very much for listening. My name is Mary Maligeri, 868 Crest Ridge Drive, Tom's River. And um it was
a little chaotic a little while ago, especially when we went into that first reading for the resolutions. And my question is I really would like a very clear understanding as to what happened. the resolution was pulled from this
agenda and is it being going to be rescheduled? Please clarify and let me know what the just the first reading right the council and the uh again everybody up here has a month to go over it review it the second reading will be next month next month and there you'll
have again you'll have separate public comment for that second reading and'll be able to show up and and voice your opinion as well again. Okay. So it passed it passed. Yeah, it passed. All right. It passed. Yes. The first reading. The first reading. So it was approved as it was written. Oh no. The
table failed. The table failed. But the first reading passed. It was tough to hear. I understand that. Yes. What? So you tabled it. So no tried to the table. No, I can answer this. The table the table failed. The first reading passed. So next month there'll be a second
reading. So and then if you all vote yes, then it is approved. Is that correct? That's correct. Next month. And the only time the public will have an opportunity to speak will be after the vote for approval. Is that correct? No. Prior to the vote at the second reading next month, you'll have the ability to
speak on the ordinance. And that will be at a regularly scheduled council meeting. That's correct. Which is it's the last it's the fourth it's the fourth Wednesday of the month. The fourth Wednesday 4 p.m. Correct. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Hi Pat. How are you? Good. Good to see you. Um Pat Claslo, Orton Beach. Uh I know you have everybody here has so many important things, but my concern is the neighborhood watch. The neighborhood watch was put into place in the 1980s. We were just told that
neighborhood watch is now gone. Also, we've have association meetings where police would come and talk. That's been cancelled. The police cannot come. Why are the police not being able to hold meetings or talk to us? All right. All right. As Let me finish. Sure. One
second. She has She has uh There is nothing's been cancelled, but but during Gohead. You want to or you I was I was at the meeting. I was at the meeting. Was I not? ETA meeting. Yes. Yes. I spoke. I was advised that they couldn't show up that day and that's that's the direction I got. So, if the mayor wants
to explain it, Yeah. I I'll I'll jump in. I actually uh called uh your association uh right now your president all rightly voters be taxpayers he he's running for office Mr. Lamb is running
for office and uh I felt that sending people down from the township to speak before this board uh might be perceived as political at this time. So, uh, when the elections are over, they don't speak political. He tells us I'm not going to we can't have a back and forth. So,
anyway, across the board, um, right, I members of the township during election season in the past under prior administrations did go into associations and speak. I don't think
that's proper. I don't think it's a proper use of staff that they should go down and speak on behalf of the town in the middle of an election. Mr. Lamb is a council president and it might be perceived as the township helping him in an election. I know the prior
administration allowed that. I don't think it's proper and that's why it's not going to happen until June. Well, if you're going to talk about political, you have to invote invite all parties. When we have our meetings, they don't talk politics. They tell us it's one meeting, Pat. They'll be back in June.
They'll be back. It's one meeting. What about the neighborhood watch? That's been going on for over 40 years. That that was that was interpreted based on the chief must have interpreted my directive regarding associations to extend to that and then that would have been his directive to
hold off on that, not mine. Mine was no associations so we can get that stuff. Uh and and again again we have all of these Democrats here just yelling out like they do nationally. So bizarre. Thank you. All right. All right. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Screaming
screaming that screaming that we don't want to get involved in an election. Screaming. It's not an election. Come and tell us different scams. What's going on all these accidents and stuff? That's what they talk about. It's not politics. It's you don't want us knowing
anything. Pat, that's not the case. Pat. Hey Julie, how are you? Julie. Hi, Julie Adam. Tom's River. Um, I'm giving uh them to pass out to you exhibit A and B uh which relates to um uh pictures on the deplorable road
conditions on Charles Drive and Edken Avenue um in Tom's River. These two roads were reported over two years ago and the they are the worst roads in the entire town of Tom's River. I have seen uh they've been completely ignored and
both of these streets need to be repaved. Um we also need police enforcement and issuing of tickets at the Route 37 and Hooper Avenue intersection and Route 37 and Route 166
intersection. I was just at sitting at the intersection at 166. Um there was a a young boy wing a helmet with his mother in the crosswalk with the white uh pedestrian walk sign in their favor
and uh motorists that were heading south towards Main Street were uh cutting them off uh making a right on red uh when they were still in the intersection. We've had so many deaths, so many injuries at that intersection, both
motor vehicle accidents and pedestrians that have died. So, uh, this problem needs to be addressed and we need to have some ticketing going on. And as far as um the housing situation, we know we have a a homeless problem. The problem
is not to uh the solution is not to dump these individuals on other towns or other counties, which is what's been happening. uh these this pro this problem's nationwide. It's growing. Uh it's going
to continue to grow as the uh housing costs increase. So to try to figure out and finagle things so you don't have to make a affordable housing in this uh town is just uh egregious. Uh the people are going to more and more people are
going to end up out on the street. you're not going to decrease it if you try to figure out ways that you're going to cut down on affordable housing. Thank you, Julie. [Music] Uh uh the other thing is I got a letter from the mayor, as all the other
residents saying that most of these individuals are struggling with substance abuse problems and severe mental health issues. I think you should look at the board uh because I know there's at least one person that probably qualifies fitting that same
criteria. So instead of throwing stones at uh at the homeless, I think people need to do some self-reflection. Thank you, Julie. Mayor, you want to Mayor would like to explain? Go ahead.
Just to uh clarify it the deed restrictions that we just discussed is not he's not at order not finagling to not interrupting the meeting. No, he asked to clarify and you're at you interrupting the meeting. You interrupted the meeting. Mayor go. You
repent first. Mayor, go ahead. Go ahead, mayor. So, it's not finagling. It's literally creating another unit because that unit expires. So after 20 years, it's no longer an affordable unit. The owner then of the property
doesn't own a property that is 20% affordable, 80% market rate. They then own a property that is 100% market rate. So when you extend that unit, you create a new unit of affordable housing for the next 20 years without building and
destroying our lands, our natural lands and places where our animals and deer and everything else are. Which of know where to go. Let the audience again the audience is calling out. We're trying to explain. Let it finish. You know what? Uh Councilman Lamb, um again,
many of these folks that are yelling and screaming aren't even from here, so why don't we just No problem. Let it go. Let it go. We let it go. Go ahead. Next speaker. Next speaker, please. Thank you.
My name is Herb German from Tom's River, New Jersey. 97. I can't I can't hear you. Get closer to them. Yeah. Thank you. My name is Herb German. Hi, Herb. Uh, council members and citizens of Tom's River.
Um, I'm exercising my First Amendment rights and the right of redress, not necessarily township issues, but I have a son who's autistic and he uh was autistic from birth. He comes under the category of
DEI, which is diversity, equality, and you know the rest. And he's disabled. I don't like the fact that he's now the enemy of the people, you know, scum he's been called. We have I'm I'm calling on the council members. I'm calling on
citizens for decency. And I gave a flyers of George Washington's farewell address. It's hopefully on the day. And uh let me tell you a story. In 1969, I was in Moscow. I made
the US national track team. And I was in a room with a Soviet athlete. We were discussing in perfect English problems in the United States and the Soviet Union. And suddenly the Soviet officials walked into the room.
Suddenly no speak English. I fear that we are experiencing this today in the United States. [Applause] I fear a
reprisal against liberty and freedom and education. I taught at Ocean County College for 40 years and you know that the culture of the campus comes from the top from a coach to the football players from the
president of the United States down to the common denominator from the mayor of the township to the citizens and when that I don't want to use the word corruption but when the top of the system is in chaos and bile it filters
on down. George Washington, thank [Applause] you. George Washington 1796 talked about the dangers of partisanship. He said, let me quote, "Chaos of
dysfunctional democracy compounded by relentless party warfare would erode faith in effectiveness and self-governance and open the door to a demagogue with corrupt authoritarian ambitions." And dictatorships happen.
They happen when we attack the media as the enemy, politicize justice in the courts, control education, create chaos and division, suppress the truth, and double
speak. Tom, thank you. You were speaking out. Maybe a little bit wild, but I appreciate your discourse. Thank you very much. I'm not going to Could I three minutes? No, there's no extra time, please. I have rules. I follow
them every with the public speak. I know the mayor of Paul doesn't believe in rule, but I do. I Please, please indulge. Well, can you just finish real quick? It'll be real quick. Washington's remedy was vigilant citizenry. Exactly. Respect for the separation of powers.
Correct. And for people to speak out. Yes. And not liberty. And not rule. Thank you. Next. So, Katherine Gillesi, Green View Way, Tom's River. My question is one about process. Uh, I'm curious about the
process of how the township council comes to present uh and consider plans like this. Is there um in its process of formulating these
plans, has there been discussion in a particular subcommittee in executive session? First, let me explain. You're asking about the whole agenda, how it's No, no. I'm asking specifically about the ordinance on the administration domain. I'll let the administration jump in and I can explain it. Well, you know,
you're you're not allowed to talk as a whole council behind closed doors about something like this. So, for example, when we it it's illegal. I know some of you up there that are not astute or not in your head or what have you, but it's you can't meet in secret like we noticed
this meeting. Uh oh, we advertised it what two two weeks in um the park press. We advertised weeks and weeks in advance. has to be a public meeting if you're going to have a quarum except in certain circumstances. So, and finish uh
probably about three of us had internal discussions about the plan. And when might they have taken place? Various different times over the phone. Only three of us. So, so is there like a subcommittee, recreation subcommittee? I think one did used to exist. No. No. Mohill didn't have a recreation
committee. No one had a recreation. I think it was maybe under Kell or her that was No, I've been here for seven years. We never had a recreation committee. But it's an interesting idea if you want to start one. Yeah. How would someone go about in having more discussion? Get a couple get a couple of citizens together and email me and I'll
certainly meet with you. That sounds excellent. It sounds like a very straightforward process. Stay behind. Thank you. Thank you. And I would also like to applaud the three council members who voted to table the eminent domain ordinance on first reading. My name is Robin Sherbini. I live on
Center Rothport. First, I would actually like to thank you, mayor. You've done a great job unifying us against you. All comments. All comments. That must be directed towards me. Oh, I'm speaking every help, too. I
have to give you the rule. That's all. Um, yeah, there's no rules. No rules. Okay. Well, I have rules of the council. We'll have rules, the council rules. So, do not violate my I'm not. I'm just telling you the answer me. Stop talking when I'm talking. Okay. I want to know what you're going to do about the homeless. Have you actually ever gone
out and spoken to somebody? Again, all comments are directed to council president. I can choose to look at him if I want. That's what you want to do. But comments, the rules, I want to know. Have any of you gone out to speak to the homeless? The one that you're accusing of being drug addicts and drunks. No, most of them are not. No, you will not.
You will not speak. Almost everybody here. Tom, you don't have the floor. You don't have the floor. Yes. If anyone have the floor raising my hand. Thank you. And I know you have I have home I have taken homeless into my house. Have any of you? No. Stop
lying and saying that they're busting them in from other counties. We are busing them to Atlantic County. We are one of the richest counties in New Jersey. Yet, we are one of the only ones without a homeless shelter. Thanks for coming.
You are so obnoxious. I cannot wait. You guess what? I'm not a Democrat. Thank you. Because of people like you and you. Thank you very much. I am now an independent. Are you going to make us start wearing R&D soon? Cuz you're trying to take everything. I'm just trying to be polite to you. You're just
again I'm just being polite to you. I am specific. I'm just being polite. We are done with you. Thank you very much for your comments. Have a nice day. Can't wait till you're out. Thank you. [Applause] Phil Brilliant 79 Holly Tree Lane. Uh
first, uh Council President Lamb, you made a comment tonight. Very clear and you have a couple times. This is your meeting. No, it's our meeting. It's council meeting. No, you said No, you said No, sorry. You said this is my meeting. I'm going to ask can we consider and you have plenty of time to public notice a change in the time the
main meeting because you have a budget agenda you're going to put out so why don't we move it to a time that's convenient for people to come and have complete transition where you move your MUA meeting time what time is your MUA meeting at I'm sorry what time is your MUA meeting at my MUA meeting you're commissioner of the MUA or Tuesday what time is it your MUA meeting meeting is
at 4:30 4:00 it's at 4:00 4:30 4 is so early so early hypocrite Can I have my time here? Oh, you asked me a question. I asked you a question. I asked you. I said it's your meeting. Let's move it so you have transparency. I'll talk to other I'll talk to other council
members. I'll take it consideration. Please. You're hearing you take the vote tonight. Plenty of time to have No, no. Will you also move your meeting till a better time? Why don't you come to our meeting and ask? I would love to move it in. Very inconvenient for me. But anyway, so what I say is if you consider that because there's a lot of numbers
going on about this budget. I think people should hear it face to face. Second, you just and you said your agenda. The board just approved fireworks. We just had the largest fire fire forest fire that we have pioneers and you're approving fireworks. Why? And
there's still a drought. Why don't we wait to hear? So, I'm going to continue on. I have sent multiple emails. Okay. I've gotten limited responses. Okay. And I would expect the day after Mayor Rodrik leaves office, his picture will go on the wall. We're over 16 months. We
haven't seen Mayor Hill yet. We should see him up there. I would hope that the council considers that and administration does. He deserves to be up there for his time in service on this council as well as mayor. Mr. Bley, I question the floor. We don't have the floor. David, we can make you a big 8
by10. You can hang it at home on your fireplace if you like. All right. Finish. I will continue. Councilman C. So, Councilman Burn, are you aware? You're a director. Is Councilman aware he gets paid for this job? Because right
now, Councilman, former Councilman Loen is still getting paid. I think it's unfair. He should get his pay. Look at the look at the payroll stubs. We look at it to let you know. Okay, we have someone talked about the uh neighborhood watch. Basically, email went out. The
neighborhood watch meetings across the town are cancelled. It was not just Ortly Beach. And that's an issue in itself. There should be transparency of the police. Right now, we had 162 police officers at the start of this administration. We had 156 at the start
of this year. We have 16 slated for retirement to bring us down to 140. And this administration cancelled three cadets contracts and two cadets going to the academy. Why is it happening that we have a shrinking police force with a
population that is growing? Thank you for coming. Thanks. My name is John Farrell. I live at 879 Indian Hill Road and I've been here several times with the stuff that's going on in my street there and had another incident and they took down the
street sign and it's happening all the time. I think I need more than just flashing stop signs to stop Can you give it to them? Yeah. When the stop signs go up. Can I? Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. But when when did they go up? I think I thought we just did this like recently.
Well, that that's the date that it happened. And these are the pictures. They took down the sign again. And who took Oh, somebody somebody uh hit into the sign. Okay. But all right, we'll take care of it. But you're saying the the new the new new stuff is not
working. You're saying no sign back up. But what happened is the f the last sign was down 8 months. This one was back up in 3 days. But what I'm saying is people were still losing control because of the curve coming across where it used to say
35. Now when I don't know if it was your administration or the other one changed it on Indian Hill to 40. Well, they changed that 35 before the light. We only we only moved the speed limit backwards. That's we just did 12 of them earlier on. 12 12 traffic ordinances. So
we we we did we did get a recommendation from the police department to do what we did on your block. I started that with with Schwarz or whatever my concerns. I feel like we only put this up within weeks. Am I, you know, I don't know where the township engineer is, but um let's continue to
look at it and give me a call or and we'll send the cops back out to take a look at what's going on. You want to set up the machine again or like you have to you have to give it a little you do a change like a stop sign, you got to give it a little while. If you put up a stop sign and then an accident, the problem isn't the stop signs. That's on the side
roads, right? The problem is the people coming across from the 40 mph, they see the light changing, they speed up. It's like Dukes of Hazard going over the What would you like? You've never actually given us a recommendation. What would you like to see? I would like to speed
see one speed hump at least. Here's all here's all I'm going to say to you about speed bumps. I like them. If you want a speed bump, you need to go to your neighbors and you need to put together a petition for it. Because based on one person's recommendation for a speed bump, we can't put a speed bump
in because people have to sign a petition because respectfully respectfully road there is only not even 13. I think there's uh 10 houses on that side that affect you. We traditionally, the township traditionally does not do speed bumps
unless you have a group of people that ask for them because inevitably if you stick them in front of somebody's house, they get very upset when it's in front of their house. You can put it in front of my house. Well, tell you what, why don't you stay put where it needs it right at the curb because this is going to continue cuz
nobody does the speed limits. You can keep lowering all the speed limits you want, but everybody spoke. When I speed limit, they're flashing their lights at me and everything. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Hi, council mayor. My name is Gregory
Andrew, Silverton section of Tom's River. Hey, Greg. I have a page called Portraits of the Jersey Shores. Just so maybe some of you might know that page to who I am. I come to you without yelling, with respect, because I believe that's the best way to get things
done. I want you to know that I used to be homeless. I used to be on again, off again, alcoholic. I had a lot of demons from my childhood that haunted me that I tried to get away from. It was a church that took me in. It was a church that showed me there
was a God that loved me, that cared about me. They showed me that through their love and their care. and my life started turning around to where now I have a wife, two beautiful boys, a house in Towns River, which I'm a very proud resident. I just want you to know that
when you go after a church of faith, you're losing the faith of the people. That's really what it comes down to. [Applause] I don't like to see all the vitriol and all the animosity. I want to see people working together to come up with
solutions. We have a homeless problem. Many of these people don't want to be homeless. We need solutions. I would love for the council and the mayor to please give us just contact my page. I'll get it out there so fast. The reason why these people are here are because of my page. I want to work with
you. Please let us know what your solutions are to help these people instead of trying to criminalize, demonize, and villainize them. We want to work with you. Hi everybody. I'm Mo Huggins. I am a lifelong resident. 44 years of Ocean
County and Tom's River. Um 1957 Tekwood Road right now. And I felt so compelled to get up here because I would love to break the stigma, right? I'm bringing it to you since you won't go out there. Two years ago, I was homeless and came in
through Just Believe. They reintroduced me to a 12step fellowship which holds meetings. 14 of them that I go to. My 12step fellowship, 12 meetings would be displaced if 415 Washington Street was
taken. We have area there that oversees all of the meetings in Ocean County. It's not just the homeless that are going to be lost. It is people that are in recovery that are thriving today because of these fellowships, because of
that church. And it can't be taken from us all just because there's something that you don't want there that doesn't fit into your township. I will tell you what, I have been here my whole life and because of the problems that we have with the
escalating housing. I found myself homeless and I found myself using because I was a single mother just trying to take care of myself and my kids. And thank God for that church and the fellowships and for just believe for
helping me to get back onto my feet because who knows where me and my children would be without it. [Applause] Good afternoon. Uh my name is William
Winky, 22 Cedarwood Drive. Um I'm generally not politically active, especially in township politics. But I found out about um item 14 at uh 10:30 last night. Um, I took three hours off
of work today, so I'm going to have a short paycheck for coming down here and talking to y'all today. What are we doing? What do we There's There There's a There's a thriving church in this location. I could pick out where I sit right in the
pew. I go there every Sunday. We We're trying to help people there. I know there was a some sort of zoning meeting I heard about where we were thinking about putting a 17-bedroom homeless shelter there. Sounds like a great idea. What's happening? Why? I I'm
sorry I missed that meeting. I'm sorry I missed that meeting, but I drive by the library downtown. I see the homeless out there and there's I feel like there's nothing I can personally do, but there is something my church can do.
So, I don't know how many of you are going to be here in 10 years, but the Christ Episcopal Church will [Applause]
be. My name is Scott Susich, 301 Berman Avenue. Been in Tom's River since 1997. as a taxpayer to see money already being spent for political retribution on a
house of worship. I don't belong to the Christ Episcopal Church, but I do belong to another Christian church in town. And when the nonsense gets to a level that people are talking about taking an active church, not a defunct church, not
a a a a dilapidated church, not something that is in in dire need of improvement, but an active, thriving, serving church that is serving the constituents of this town.
And when you decide to take political retribution, I that's really that that's my friend. This is not going to go well for you in the terms of history. It's just not when when you try decide that you're
going to take political retribution against a house of worship. Um that that's just absolutely a new low. also from the terms of a taxpayer. The New Jersey is already the poster
child for the Religious Land Use Act. If you look at the Department of Justice folder, it uses Jackson, New Jersey. Those laws don't exist simply to serve the Jewish community. All right? You're taking on the Christian
community. And there's going to be a problem when you start spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend yourselves from this utter ridiculous nonsense. And you sit there as if that's not what this is. You're trying to pass this off
and pretend like this is something that's that's been in the works. Like it we all know what this is. Just just stop the nonsense. Just save the taxpayers money. What' we spend on these drawings and working up all of this kind of stuff? How many tens of thousands of
dollars did that cost us? It's ridiculous. It's nonsense. It's childish. It's juvenile. Grow up. [Applause]
Okay. Angie Felton, 2482 Woodbine Lane, Toms River, New Jersey. You know, as they was talking about the homeless, talking about the homeless, that is what we supposed to do is help
people, not put a label on them just because they're in bad times. And uh you have a church that's willing to do that. I don't understand why we going back and forth trying to make this all political. You
cannot demonize a church when they're doing the work of the Lord. I don't I don't know how many of you I don't know whether you believe in Christ or you believe in God, but when you start messing with his children that is in
me, you asking for trouble. So that's all I got to say on that subject. And then also about this affordable housing, I I don't know why they like to label it as a certain type of peoples that are applying for affordable houses.
That's when you put the stigma on it. It's not that you can make a certain amount of money and be eligible for affordable houses and after you keep those houses with what the mayor's talking about after so many years, you can sell that house. But he wants to go
to the peoples that now have those houses and give them an extension. That's not right. You're punishing the ones that need houses now. So, let's take care of the people that need houses now. Let's take care of the
homeless like we should and stop thinking about ourself. Everybody that's here, you got a house. You got a place when you go to bed at night, you can lay down and relax. You got people that's living on the street. And this is this is a town that shouldn't be like that. That's all I got to
[Applause] say. Carlos Hammond, sorry. Last meeting that I was here, um, a few things happened, but on top of that, Justin, you told me, you know, to take it to the
county, so I was at the county meeting last meeting. Um, I heard what I needed to hear from the county. Now, I went to a few neighborhood towns around here and I heard what they had to say as well. Now,
I did what you told me. So, I'm going to invite you to walk with me to go speak all these homeless because you know I know the one that at the library. I know the one that are at the park behind us over here. And I know the one that are sleeping behind my house because this week there was a photo of Just Belief
picking up somebody. Me and my son gave him the blanket and the little yoga mat. [Applause] So I'm tired of disagreeing to agree. You don't want the shelter there. Excuse me. Don't call out like that
again. So please. That's rude to him. Gosh. So he's speaking. He can't call out. Let him talk. Go ahead. So, look, it's time we sit down and we come to an agreement. Go ahead, Carlos. I'm sorry about the audience. It's time we sit down. We come
to an agreement. You and our mayor got to sit down with the nearest towns because there's Manchester, there's South Town River, and there's a few other towns like Lakewood. We got to sit down with the county and let's get this fixed. Now, Ultimate Domain, don't play with
God, guys. That's I even know that. Um, we got to move forward with this because it's getting out of control. We need to work together because you guys wasting a lot of time and you guys playing with people's life. I know you want to see the beach over
there. Come at night time over here or come night time by my house. Ask all the police department. Everyone that goes there, they see me because I come out every time something happens. Um, guys, we need to work with the county.
Stop wasting time. You guys don't want the shelter over there. You guys don't want the shelter over there. Pick one. We have enough property that we could build. Since we're going to have money for this, let's take care Let's take care of the homeless first and then we could go forward for this because like I
said, you know, the business that I'm in, I will pay for it, too. [Applause] Stop calling out for the audience, please. Yes, please. I can't hear the speaker.
Amendment right. No, you can't call out when it's public comment. I need to hear the speaker. Please. Will you stop pointing and screaming out loudly or I'll ask you to leave. Ask me to leave. Please leave. You're screaming out. Well, stop screaming.
No, your first amendment in the meeting. You can't scream out when a meeting's going on. Officer, will you tell this person to please step out of the meeting till he gets faculty's right? Please step out of the meeting. Please, if you can't, be quiet. And I can't hear myself speak. Pardon
me. Please step out if you can't keep quiet. Excuse me. I told you I'd be keep quiet or step outside the meeting. Why won't you address the mayor? I I have to watch here. I don't watch anyone. I'm just confused as to why. I don't want anybody
speaking except the speaker. Go ahead. What rule is it that I can't have my phone in my hand? Is there some sort of rule? Excuse me. Stop speaking out. Go ahead. Thank you. Bradley 133 Jeff court, Tom's River, New Jersey. We reinforce that. We'd have to Today marks the 50th anniversary of the end of V of
the Vietnam War. I encourage everyone to thank a Vietnam veteran who at the time came home to a nation that didn't understand what they went through and treated them horribly. And on that note, I would like to talk about selflessly serving and what has meant to me. When I joined the Army in 2009, I signed a
blank check to the United States where I may have been asked to make the ultimate sacrifice for a nation I so dearly love. I took an oath which I will now read. I, Clinton J. Bradley, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That I will bear true faith
and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office of which I'm about to enter. So help me God. That oath I just read will never expire so long as I live. Within
our constitution is the first amendment which is commonly referred to as the five freedoms with two of the most important being freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Freedom of speech guarantees a citizen the right to say how they feel while being respectful and being able to vote for who they want. I
feel if anybody should be able to vote for who they want, it is a veteran. When voting at the local level, it is about who will do best for their town. The freedom of religion guarantees that anyone regardless of faith will be free to practice their religion in a manner that is prescribed in their holy book. A church who is following the teachings of
Jesus as specifically laid out in Matthew 25:4, the king will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." and are now being punished by trying to follow the teachings of Jesus.
This town deserves members of council who care about everyone, not just about how much money they can make or how much power they can obtain. I hope nobody on this council ever has to be woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of the danger alarm and running in the pitch black to the closest bunker and
hoping sl praying that the defense systems take out the threat. I also hope you never have to experience being caught out in the open as the danger alarm sounds and you must sprint across the open desert hoping you make it to the bunker before the threat makes it to you. Two incidents I experienced while deployed to Iraq this past year.
Deploying has changed me as a person and made me appreciate what we have as a nation. The ability to wake up every day in peace, walk down the street without a worry in the world, and have the constitution to ensure you can do all this and more. Remember, government works for those who elected them, not the other way around. Most of you can
learn a lot from myself about how to be a selfless leader. Thank you for service. Thanks. [Applause] Uh Ken Gogran Fellowship Court in Tom Driver. Um I want to start off with I've been a lifelong resident of this town
for 31 years. Uh 25 of those years I lived on Madison Avenue right down the street. For four of those years I went to High School South right down the street as well. And in all the Rolling Stone magazines, everything, all the news articles about our town in the past two weeks, nobody happened to mention that the high school is built right next
to the Ocean County Jail. And it amazes me. I also want to mention also in the four years I went to High School South, I was never attacked, harassed by any homeless person on the street. When I lived on Madison Avenue, I was never attacked or harassed by any homeless person on the street. But when I was 8
years old, there was a breakout from the Ocean County Jail and the person escaped down Madison Avenue and hid in our neighbor's yard right across the street. So, we keep talking about how the homeless are a danger to Tom's River. They're not. Absolutely hell no. But we
have a jail right next to the high school, which in 2011, there was a high-profile court case there that had snipers on the roof. You had people walking around with uh semi-automatic police officers and school was in session at the time, but there was no controversy over that as well. We
couldn't even walk downtown that night that day. So, my point is we're making a whole fuss about the homeless, but I I've never faced any danger from them. And in addition to this, when I woke up this morning and saw this news that we're trying to take over a church now,
I mean, that was incredible to see. I mean, we've already made enough national headlines. in the past two weeks. But let's take it a step further. Recently, United States Attorney General Pam Bondi under the direction of President Donald Trump directed a task force to prosecute
anti-Christian bias. And so, I don't know about you, but this sounds a lot like anti-Christian bias to me now. And so I hope that uh if the attorney general happens to hear about this um shutting down churches, maybe uh Miss Bondi would like to come pay a
visit to Tom River. Thank you. Hi, I'm Holly Wman, 17 Walnut Street, Tom's River. Um so public speaking is definitely not my thing. Um I could care less if somebody's on their phone. You want to take a selfie with me? that's perfectly fine, too. Um, I just want to
share my experience um, as a homeless person, my experience as a drug addict, so many people like to call, and a mentally ill person. So, I've been a public service worker for the past 25 years of my my life. Um, I never picked up a drug until after I ended up
homeless and struggling. I didn't struggle with PTSD because nothing caused the PTSD until I was homeless and struggling. Um, however, there are places like 415 Washington before they were helping the homeless who allowed me
to hang in their gazebo when it was snowing or raining outside while I was homeless. At no point in time was I walking around spooking people's children or robbing them. Do you understand? So, uh um before Just Believe was a thing, Paul House Paul helped me. Um, these people have paved
the path to how to handle homeless, hopeless, drug addict, mentally ill people. They have resources all over the place. Um, there's nobody that's done it better. They wrote the book in this area, you know. Um, so these people help
me. These people have helped me. And now, you know, I'm a productive member of society. Um I was just at um a roundt discussion with some hospital administrators, doctors, surgeons, a few lawyers in the room, medical professionals, chiefs of uh different
hospitals and stuff like that. And the funny thing that we all had in common the other day was that we are all um with the same disease, substance use disorder. We all have it. So it's not just the homeless people that do drugs because trust and believe, I've partied with a lot of surgeons over time. Thank
you. Robert Burns, 531 Lily Road, Tom's River. Um, I I agree with everybody that the church should not be removed. Um, being temporarily homeless myself, when you're when you're homeless and
observing homeless people, they feel isolated and they really don't want to bother anybody. and they don't and they want help and they need help, but they don't want to bother anybody. And government agencies
and churches that reach out are the only thing they'll come to because they see that those people willing to help them. And in the 1990s when Rudolph Giuliani took over New York City, before he took over the homeless were everywhere and
nobody was taking care of them. and he he got him off the street, but he didn't kick them out of town. What he did was he allowed churches to be involved. He got government uh shelters, you know, homes for them. He put some of them in psychiatric wards because some of them
just needed medication and they became functioning people. Homeless people need to feel like society is willing to connect with them and they'll they'll be they'll say, you know, I don't want to be homeless anymore. I'm not isolated.
People outside of me do like me. So, please keep the uh the church in intact the way it is. And it's something that you don't have to spend money on. Private citizens are spending money. That's money in your pocket. And you
know the resolution for Q concerning the brokerage for the employee thing. Worked for Waste Management. They did the same thing. They're self-insured. If the brokerage company does the insurance broker does not do a good job, you fire them. You get somebody else. [Applause]
Good evening. My name is Eileen Schilling. I live at 1060 Malbury Place in Tom's River, New Jersey. I'm a 1987 graduate of Toms River High School East. Both of my children are graduates of Tom's River High School North. As an
adult, I returned to Tom's River because I believed it was a good community and I've been back for 25 years as a resident of Tom's River, New Jersey. I've worked at Ocean County College for 24
years. I understand who our county is and whom we're serving. I was proud to be affiliated with an institution that was available to everyone who wanted to help themselves and who was willing to come and learn. Whether it was to come
and get an associate degree on their way to bigger and better things, simply earn an associate degree so that they could go out and work, earn certificates, or earn nonredit certifications that would help them to more immediately enter the workforce.
We currently have a program on campus that feeds students who come to OC every day who do not have enough food to eat. We're lucky to have federal funding behind that program so that we can offer that service to our students who could
not afford the food in our outsourced cafeteria. They were going hungry and we know that many of them are homeless due to addiction, domestic violence situations and things of that
nature. I will be honest with all of you. I am a member of Christ Church since 2007. My children were part of that church. They went to their Sunday school and teen programs through that program. Additionally, I serve on the board of
interfaith family services who also serves homeless in this community and which until recently was providing service to homeless who are working poor who work all throughout the county and
who cannot afford a home either because they lost jobs or were undermployed. And with the help of these services, they're able to get back on their feet and become productive members of society and can raise their, you know, family up
where it's safe and they have housing and clothing. as a member of both of these boards and participating in u many evenings with our guests at Christ Church with both
myself and my children. I was happy to be part of something and to let my children know that yes, residents in Ocean County and in Tom's River are part of that program. Once when I took them, my children saw their
classmates in the program. They did not have a hope. Thank you. [Applause] My name is
Pamqatsi. Um, formerly of 170 Hobson's Boulevard, Tom's River. Formerly of 33 Joseph Street, Lavallet, Tom's River. Right now I live in
Manchester. I'm here to address the stereotype that has unfortunately been presented consistently res recently regarding the homeless. Earlier this evening, the
council was looking at changing uh laws regarding um speeding to eliminate um car crashes at um stop lightss and elsewhere in town.
So, one would assume that there are no car crashes in Tom's River, that there are no catastrophic injuries that people in Tom's River might sustain that might cost thousands and
thousands of dollars for your medical bills so that you might end up homeless. Or one might assume from these stereotypes that
um there is no spousal abuse in Tom's River. There are no husbands and wives screaming and yelling at each other and there are no spouses that end up in the emergency room or end up murdered as we
had a few years back in Neptune. when a police officer murdered his wife, his aranged wife with the child in the back seat. No, the stereotype is all homeless
people are drug addicts and alcoholics. That is a stereotype which is very, very sad and it needs to be changed. Thank you. [Applause]
Mark Mossup. I am homeless. Now I'm here to the stereotype. I've been clean for a year. I've been fighting to get housing for two years with this state. I've been in this county for five years. I have a
beautiful child that I get to see, but I can't take my home because you guys refuse to help us at all. Now, I heard that there's a $250,000 budget for us homeless. There's no help for us. I am a caretaker to a 70
year old 78y old lady I let sleep in my tent because she can't find help from this county. How is that fair? I struggle every day to keep my sobriety because I am labeled as this drug
addict, this piece of crap, this person that's no good to the county. That's not fair to us. That's not fair to me. That's not fair to the elderly that are struggling out here. So where's our help? How come we
can't get help? It's awfully quiet. Nobody has anything to say. I get all this help. And then you want to turn tear down. The only church that has us come out and helps us get resources, food, social services comes
out so we can try and get housing. But you want to tear this church down. That's not fair to us either. They're the only people. I don't see you out there handing us food. I don't see you out there handing us food.
I don't see you out there saying, "Hey, you guys okay? Do you need a bottle of water? Do you need some help?" No, I see just I see these people who do the laundry for us. Those are the people helping us. Those are the people that
should be work. You should be working with. I've been homeless two years and your county told me it was my fault because I was asked to leave a shared home. That's not fair either. And then you want to stop building affordable
homes. I can't even find a one-bedroom in this place to get AHA to help me because there is none. But you guys don't want to build any more homes for us. You want to keep the same homes that are there so the people that are already in
them are the only people that get to stay in them where the other people just have to struggle and you hope leave your county. That's not fair. That's all I have to say. [Applause]
Robert Panero. My driver's license reflects 24 Main Street here. Sir, could you flip the microphone up a little bit? Thank you. My license reflects 24 Main Street here in downtown Toms River, zip code 08753. That address, if you're not familiar, is actually for the NJ
re-entry program. I'm a successful candidate graduated from said program. But it's not just me. A multitude of people that have lived in Towns River a lot longer than some of you have been in office have been in and out of that program as well as others such as Just
Believe, the Hope Center, and a plethora of others. And for the life of me, I find it absolutely appalling that we could sit here and talk and entertain about wheeling and dealing 4,000 $5,000 firework displays, but we can't deliberate. We
had to table the conversation about something that in my personal opinion ex drastically and overwhelmingly supersedes something as trivial as firework displays. Some of you should feel absolutely ashamed of yourselves.
And I say some because it's not all and it's not fair to criticize you all as a one governing body. But you know who you are and it's unfair and it's shameful because while I have a residence here in Tom's River according to my driver's license, I am currently homeless. I've been homeless since July of two of 2024
and I went through social services here in Tom's River, the O Ocean Ocean County Board of Social Services. No assistance, no help. there was not enough evidence to support that I apparently was made homeless outside of my realm of actions
or responsibility that there wasn't enough evidence to support that unfortunately I was sent out on the street that I was subleting a room because it's what I could afford because my credit score wasn't good enough for an apartment complex certainly not for a first-time home buyers loan I can tell
you that much and yeah I made some mistakes when I was younger and it impacted my credit and I could have made better financial decisions I am a productive member of this society, this community. I went to Tom's River North started 2009. It actually kind of funny that Mr. Powers earlier
for those of you that were here in the beginning, he said he's retiring. Well, 2009 he that was actually his first year. My first year I was a trumpet player. I went on to go to Ruckers University in New Brunswick and march with the with the Marching Scarlet Knights. We performed in the Super Bowl.
We got to do great and amazing things. And that was off the heels and the support and the resources of this community. So for the life of me, I can't I can't determine I can't pinpoint what what is so important that we're discussing all these other matters, but
we at the table the one why threearters of the people in this room were here today for the last I believe that was how much time we have. Uh Mr. Anel uh 24 seconds. I'm sorry. We're out of time. 60 minutes is our Do it in 10. Okay. 10 seconds. I
staffed a cold blue shelter this winter. Do you mind letting her speak? They are five women over the age of 68. Four men that got up every day at 5:00 a.m. to take the Route 9 bus to go to work. Nobody's busing them in. These
are your aunts, your fathers. Motion to close public comment. Motion Second, please. We have a motion and a second to close public comment. All in favor? I I moving on to elected officials
comments. I'll start to my right. Uh, actually, Councilman Burn, please. Councilman Burn, he's sleeping. No, he's not. Tom, no. Councilman Burn, please. Thought he was. Councilman Burn, you have any comments tonight?
Bill, you have any comments? No, I'm sorry. That's okay. Councilman Iverson, please. Thank you. I I've attended many meetings at the Episcopal Church with their outreach programs with members of my family, and thank you so much.
We won't let it. We won't let you guys be hurt. Trust me. I'll put my life on the line. You got my word. Woo! We We need to get We need to get out there and get the vote out so we could
vote these puppets out. Okay. Don't believe Don't believe any of the mailers that come out because it's all lies. I've been with him while he's scheming these lies. Check this out. Oh, this is going to be good. Oh, you're not going
to believe this. And I would just say to myself, they're all lies. Doesn't matter. And people believe his li he's like he makes Joseph Gobles from Hitler's regime, the propaganda master, he makes him look like a Sunday school teacher.
Hey, Tom. Is that it? [Applause] And I hope the fireworks don't burn down Catis Island. They won't, Tom. Okay. Yeah. Oh, you're going to sit there. You're going to You guarantee that? Okay. So, yeah. Justin's going to be there with a fire extinguisher. Well, I'm a volunteer fireman. It's just
amazing. They're all Hey, Justin, I'm talking. You're not a fireman, are you? I'm talking right now. What have you done? What have I done? I've done way more than you have ever done in your life for more people than you will ever do. Yeah. Thanks, Tom. Wrap. Okay.
Let's just hope Catis Island doesn't burn down. One last thing. thing. I want everybody to look up the the word despicable right there. Despicable. Is that me or D? Who's that? Councilman pointless, please.
Go ahead, Jim. Um I I try not to have much too much to say, but somehow these things always wind up coming to me. Um, first thing I want to say is this is going to be might be pretty long. So, anybody who took the bus from out of county or out of state, if you need to
go, I understand. [Music] All right. First, first thing I want to I I want to take a moment and thank all the firefighters that helped with the Jones Road fire this last couple weeks. There were hundreds of firefighters from
all over the state. Most of them, if not all of them, are volunteers. So, what those guys have to do for no money is uh please support your local fire departments. They don't get paid to do this. And they're there. They were there. Our our department alone was there uh three shifts for the first day
there. As soon as one crew was done, they sent another crew down there. It's a lot of work. And they protect a lot of structures. They don't necessarily put the fire out, but they they the fire firefighter service prevents the spread of it. And we only lost one structure
from what I understand in that whole big fire, and that was pretty massive. So, support your fire department. Um, going on to the police department, they're right. We're down uh we're going to be down almost 24 officers. Um, and on top of that, we're losing some of our younger guys to uh uh other departments
because nobody really wants to be here anymore. The morale in that department has been decimated. The leadership has had his head cut off. There's going to be less than 140. We have no new hires. We let people go out of the academy that were scheduled to go to the academy. I don't even think we
hired any class class ones or twos. If somebody can find that out for sure. Um um um one of the things that we keep hearing is that how we our police department has uh you know new hires, but the mayor kind of rolls the CSO
number into that calculation when he says that the police department's bigger. Our CSOS are not police officers. They do not carry gun. They're not going to come save you from domestic violence. They're not going to they're not going to be at the crash scene trying to um um uh do what what a police officer does. They're CSOS and they have
a very important job on their own right. But we only hired eight of them and we did that at the same time that we cut Silverton EMS. So the math says that that's a pretty much a a net zero. All right. They're not cops
either. Um affordable housing. Um the mayor in his newspaper article responding to the state deciding that his plan for only 114 units of affordable housing u and the judge saying that no you're going to get you I think we were the only town around here
to get 100 the the actual number that that the state calculated uh forced upon us. Uh and then in the article he says that he hopes to put most of those units on uh in the w route sorry in w three on the route 70 carter somewhere in that area. Well, that's fine and dandy except for how about we spread that load around
to all the uh wards and not just Route 70. Um the Holocaust, I got to talk real quick. Holocaust remembrance was April 23rd, but because we only have one meeting a month, it's already passed us. Uh that's a very important uh thing for everybody to keep in mind, especially in
light of what's happening right now with our church in town. Um I want to talk quickly about Mr. Coleman's campaign speech last week. um chastising Councilman Shakoszi for name calling and being angry at the the comments from the
mayor. But at no time during that wonderful speech did Councilman uh Coleman mention all the name calling that Mr. Rodrik has done for the last 16 months, [Applause] not only to US council people, but to
the voting public. [Music] Um attempting to have purchased this church uh through in the main is crazy. Joseph Gerbles would be proud. Uh
it's it's bizarre that somebody would even think of such a thing and and and it's clearly as a result of uh their their attempt to help the homeless community. Um it's bad for everybody. Uh I don't know what's next. Maybe we'll take St. Joe's and build a baseball field.
uh Temple Israel. Maybe we could put up pickle board courts, but this is absolutely absurd and should never be allowed to happen. Um and and in the spirit of that, in the spirit of that, I have to remind people that in the beginning of this this particular administration, I made
reference to a a World War II era Lutheran minister who uh who said first they came for, if everybody remembers that prayer. Well, I'm going to say tonight, first he came for the Episcopalians. Read the rest of the speech. Amen. Next, uh, and the last thing I have for
tonight is, uh, months ago, several residents asked about changing the speed limit on Route 7, I'm sorry, Witzville Road by Route 70 to Faraday. I contacted the county since it's a county road, and the county sent back a report saying yes, that they have done their research, they've done their speed studies, and
everything else, and they approve of such a manner contingent on the town of Tom's River uh, approving the ordinance or putting forth an ordinance. Um, that letter came out on February 12th. I didn't hear anything of it from the town. I didn't hear from any anything from the town at the last meeting, even
though both those two meetings afterwards, somebody from the audience got up and asked specifically about that that road. Um, no comment from the town. And then I found out the day after that last meeting that that letter had got sent to the town in February 12th,
two like a month and a half earlier, yet no comments made. So I sent in a request to have Nornens uh presented um for this meeting. And of course, I haven't heard a thing. I understand there's a process, but we're asking for one road to be slowed down, and we've got a neighborhood in Guilford Park that has
no traffic with plenty of stop signs. Thank you all. Have a great day. Thank you, Councilman Saki. Again, five minutes, please. No, you Councilman Siggozi. Yeah, five minutes. Thank you, everyone.
Thank you for coming. But Councilman Neverson, Councilman Quincelis, and myself, we're not here for fame or fortune. We're here to serve you, our town. Period. That's
it. That's our job. But I want everyone to keep in mind that we had more people here, the same amount or more for the police department. They all cheered,
yelled, everything. What happened? We had the animal shelter. We had the same amount of people. What happened? Nothing. The EMS in Silverton, what happened? They all
voted. So in May, you know what's going to happen? Okay. The only way to stop this ugliness in this town and evilness, I've said it hundreds of times, is to get out
and vote and know who you're voting for. Please don't believe all the BS, okay? Cuz this has got to stop. And as it was mentioned, if this happens, what's next?
What's next down the road? You see it with the with the downtown. You stopped that. It's not going to end. And I'm sorry to say, we don't own our town anymore. We don't. It's outside
interest. Are you done? Yeah. No, I'm not done. But we're but we can change it and the only way we can change it is through elections. So it's so important that you get out, you get somebody to go with you
and you and you stop this madness in this town. Okay. Thanks, David. And and then we could serve everybody equally and calmly. Amen. And and humanly. Yes. Amen. Okay.
Amen. Okay. Amen. Have some notes, please. Lyn, uh, it just has some things for the recreation department for Tom's River. Starting the It's a six-w weekek
program from June 30th to August 8th for special needs children. The registration will start on May 7th. There'll be field trips, games, and activity and swimming at Camp
Discovery. Kids for summer camp program, another six-week program beginning June 30th to August 8th. Registration begins May 7th. Activities are arts and crafts, singing, dancing, field trips, etc. Then you have the beach badges go
on sale. They will be $50 for a full season p purchase by May 26th. After that at 65, senior badges are 15. Weekly pass is 40. Daily
pass is 11. So on and so forth. And there'll be Founders Day, May 17th on Washington Street, downtown Tom's River from 11 to 5:00. There'll be free inflatable rides, games, music, so
on and so forth. So, mark your calendars for May 17th. And thank you all for coming. Thank you very much, Lynn. Uh, Vice President Coleman, please. Thank you, President. I just want to clarify uh what Councilman Quiznik said.
Um, when I did speak at the last meeting, I thought I made it clear, but obviously I didn't or people weren't listening. I said everybody has to be their own person. And it's like little kids game. You know, if one kid does something to the other kid, it doesn't
mean that that kid has to respond in the same manner. If I when I was president, if I responded to you the same way that you responded to me while I was president, it would have been very unprofessional. I'm my own person. I make up my own decisions. And that's
what I was asking the councilman to consider to be his own person. He doesn't have to agree with what the mayor does. We don't have control over that, but he can be his own person and be his own man and stand on his own feet. That was my point. Okay. Also, as
in the famous words, and I hope I don't mess this up, President Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." I think the I'm talking. I didn't
interrupt you. I didn't interrupt you. Professional. Same thing applies to Tom's River. Don't ask what Tom's River can do for you. Ask what you can do for your Tom's River. And right, you can laugh all you want, but that's Keep
talking. Go ahead. Be disrespectful. I'm used to it. You're disrespectful. I've always maintained respect for you people. Even if you haven't agreed with me, even if you've called me names, it's too bad that it doesn't work in both
directions. I do wish you an warm welcome. Happy weekend and uh I do look forward to the future. Thank you. Thank you very much, Craig. First, I just want to thank our our police officers that come uh every
meeting. They do a great job. It's hard sometimes. You want to make sure the audience gives the public a chance to talk. It's hard up here to hear sometimes. And again, if I can't hear somebody, I' I'd ask the police to to help out and and and they do a great job and I want to thank them for that. Thank them for being out here tonight. Our
That's a round of applause. These are we have good good great police officers. And Jim, I just want to say our CSOS, I find that insulting because our CSOS or community service officers that are under the tent of the police department do a fine job out there. I believe Mr. Williams saw
that for himself uh at the brewery when it was our first aid call. They're there fast. We've taken response times from 16 minutes and dropped it to six. That's because the administration has made that a priority and I deserve deserve a round of applause. The cso
ent I'm not I interrupt you, Jim. No, I didn't. Thankfully. So, let me let me finish that. Um, on April 12th, I met with the representatives from the north beach associations. Now, if you know the ward that I represent, we have the north beaches, everything north of Lavallet. There's 14 beach associations that I
meet with at least three times a year. I met with them on the 12th. They're concerned about uh several items being the beach replenishment number one because that's happening soon. Also, the lightning protection. I don't know if you remember, Berkeley Township had a tragedy a couple years ago with their lifeguard. um he had struck by lightning
and we're working on making sure we have the best uh alarm guidance safety system we can have up there. Lavallet has a similar system. Whartley Beach has a similar system. Well, the 14 beach associations need that as well. um they have it, but they don't have exactly the right um alarm system. And I'm going to
go meet with them again this Saturday at 11 am. And I would hope that I have council support in the future because um we might need to assist them in making sure they have the right uh lightning protection that Ortly Beach has as well. Um also this Saturday I'm meeting with the Pelcon Island Property Association.
Pelican Island, if you're aware, when you come over the bridge, the you know the Tom's River Bridge there, you have Pelican Island, one side's Berkeley, one side's Toms River. They have a clubhouse. They do their annual beach cleanup. Um they have needs over there. Again, are small community, small part of the ward that I represent, but they
need um some assistance. So, I'm going to help them this Saturday. Also, um I'm meeting again with the Orley Beach voters and taxpayers on the 19th of uh of this month. Um I met with them this prior month and they're again pleased with the beach replenishment which is complete.
Uh the dune planting though will begin in the fall. uh they're concerned because again we move the dune 13 yards west where the surf club was and uh they want to make sure the plantings go down. They want to make sure they have dune fencing. And I want to thank the township engineer John Mey, the
administration, they've been very uh helpful with making sure we get the proper dune fencing out there. The the openings will be done, the MOI mats be put down. It's a lot of work that has to happen quickly and I I again I appreciate um their communication, their speed with that because if you all know we have the boardwalk extension coming
up, that plan will be coming up in the next few months and we need support from the council on that as well. I'll be asking for support. Um and that's really it for tonight. I I look forward to uh Founders Day coming up. I believe also Cinco de Mayo will be downtown Tom's
River. I'll be there and I'll be at the um the Founders Day. Look forward to that. And everybody have a uh happy uh or a again a thoughtful Memorial Day weekend. I think our meeting will be after that. And thank you again, Mayor Roderick. I have nothing this evening.
Okay. Motion to close. Motion to close. May. All in favor? I to close.