e e e e e e e yes this is a regular meeting of the township committee public notice of this meeting has been given as required by the open public meetings law a resolution was adopted on January 1st 2024 designating this state this holl in 7:30 p.m. as the time for this regular meeting of the township Committee of the township of Union in the county of Union a notice of each and every meeting of the township committee was posted in accordance with the affers said open public meetings law and one public public place reserved for the posting of ordinances and official notices of the township of Union namely the bulletin board next to the clerk's office in addition thereto a copy of said resolution was forwarded to the local Source in Star Ledger a copy of said resolution is on file with the clerk of the township thank you madam clerk this evening the prayer will be led by committee woman G Frasier and the flag salute will be led by committeeman Bowser everyone please stand let us bow our hearts and Minds As We Gather as members of this Township committee we pray that we are ever mindful of our opportunities to render our service to fellow citizens and to our community keeping in mind always the enduring values of Life exerting our efforts in those areas and on those things upon which future Generations can build with confidence let us continue to strive to better a our community amen amen I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all Madam clerk can I have a roll call please Mr Bowser here M Fraser here Mr Florio here mayor figorito here before we begin the the business of the meeting I have from the Democratic Municipal committee three names submitted to replace James Bowser who has resigned James Lewis James Lewis James Lewis sorry sorry sorry Jim sorry Jim James Lewis uh the three names are Sandra Terell Kenneth Cruz and Anthony benna Mr Mayor and committee I'd like to move the appointment of sanra Terrell as a new toship Committee Member effective tonight second all in favor I I Sandra in the audience Sandra Sandra Sandra [Music] congratulations join us up let me at least get the chair out for you too I'm just going to let her sit do you have any family here I do want to come up out way here I state your name I swear you solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution that I will support the Constitution of the United States United States and the Constitution and the constitution of the state of New Jersey of the state of New Jersey that I will bear true faith that I will bear bear true faith and allegiance to the Saints and allegiance to the Saints and to the governments established and to the governments established in the united states in the United States and in this state and in this state under the authority of the people under the authority of the people and that I will faithfully and then I will faithfully impartially impartially and justly and justly perform all the duties all of the duties of the office of Township Committee of the office of Township committee according to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability so help me guys help [Applause] congratulations congratulations Sandra it's good to have you here with us joining us on the day is here to make decisions on behalf of the 60,000 plus residents in the township with you welcome thank you very much happy to be here and James you're not going nowhere that was trying to get rid of you that was a big surprise I held right on to him I didn't let him go um okay let's move on to the approval of minutes for the executive conference and regular session on March 12th 2024 so moved second I I I I I think the state senator wants to say something oh I'm sorry I apologize I was looking down retract Senator sorry mayor thank you for the Indulgence I appreciate it very much if I don't have the opportunity to meet you my name is Joe cryan not only do I have the privilege of being the state senator for the 20th District but I have the honor of being the township of Union Democratic Municipal chairman and in that role I want to take a moment and congratulate Sandra on her selection this evening um I want to thank the municipal committee for coming together so quickly and doing its work we were only here we've been here a couple times recently but uh wanted to take a moment and thank James Lewis for his service and as we know James received a promotion so good for him and work work gave him a new opportunity which unfortunately prevented him from enjoying this as much as he wanted to or have the have the opportunity to serve but a little bit about Sandra because not everybody knows her right so she is a business executive and has a work career that's included Horizon uh Express Scripts Medco to some of us along the way and today she is an executive with Delta Dental we're six separate departments report to her here in New Jersey um she has had a variety of tasks throughout life she's been a volunteer she gives back to the Union Township Community Action organization where she serves on the board currently and by the way a lifelong resident of Vox Hall and as we like to say to her she's lived on the same street for her and entire life in voxhall all right same street different house but same street so she's in a great neighborhood she's in a great place the place she calls home and the opportunity to give back is something I know that the township of unions residents including myself will have a source of pride of not only for tonight but for days and years to come congratulations to you on behalf of all of us from the committee and together let's do great things thank you very much mayor thanator thank you Senator um with that can I have an approval for the executive conference in regular session minutes of March 12th 2024 so moved second all in favor I I Iain thank you madam clerk move on with the ordinances and resolutions please I have Rec consideration on draft in first reading an ordinance amending ordinance 3729 to add a handicap space in front of 1499 Village Road move draft be taken up on the first reading by title at this time second an ordinance amending the designation of restricted parking spaces for use by persons with special vehicle identification cards in the township of Union Union County New Jersey this ordinance creates a handicap space in front of 1499 Village Road Mr Bowser yes Mr Terell yes yes M Fraser yes Mr Florio yes mayor figurita yes move draft be taken up at the next regular scheduled meeting for second and final readings second Mr Bowser yes Mr Rell yes M Fraser yes Mr Florio yes mayor figurine yes amending ordinance 3729 to delete a handicap space in front of 835 West Chestnut Street move draft be taken up on first reading by title at this time second an ordinance amending the designation of restricted parking spaces for use by persons with special vehicle identification cards in the township of Union Union County New Jersey this ordinance removes a handicap space in front of 835 West Chestnut Street Mr Bowser yes Mr trell yes M Fraser yes Mr glorio yes mayor figur yes move draft be taken up at the next regularly scheduled meeting for second and final reading second Mr Bowser yes Mr Terell yes M Miss Fraser yes Mr floral yes mayor figurine yes the following resolutions auor authorizing the payment of all approved vouchers for solid waste collection holl and Disposal at the interim rate of $759 per ton for household waste and $172 per ton for bulky waste for the month of February move to approve the payment second all in favor I I authorizing an agreement with the county of Union for the union Municipal drug Alliance grant for fiscal year 2024 in the amount of $2,282 move for approval second all in favor I I authorizing the purchase of safety Footwear for the Department of Public Works from Redwing shoes at the responsive quote not to exceed $155,000 move for approval second all in favor I authorizing the removal of brush and logs from the Department of Public Works from top quality services LLC at their low quote not to exceed $35,000 motion to approve second all in favor I authorizing the purchase of road salt for the Department of Public Works from chemical equipment labs for an amount not to exceed 8 2,879 through the Union County Co-op move to approve the purchase all in favor I authorizing the personto person transfer of plary retail consumption license number 201932 0373 TOA de Chapala LLC 1637 boxall Road move to approve second all in favor resending resolution 2024 359 which changed the effective date of plenary retail distribution license number 201 94466 0085 points beverage move to approve second all in favor I have an additional resolution authorizing the filing of tax appeals and counter claims that's me right just move for approval move for approval second all in favor I I ask you to approve the finances as listed on the agenda move to approve second all in favor I I following Communications from Terry Manda tax collector requesting the township committee authorized checks issued to the following representing the Redemption of tax sales certificates as listed on the agenda motion to approve second all in favor I James Lewis informing the committee of his resignation as a member of the township committee effective immediately move to approve second all in favor I from Albert E cook Jr George Canon Elks Lodge 103 Valley Street requesting permission to hold a Community Day event on Saturday June 8 2024 from 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and to block off tuxedo place to Valley Street also requesting the use of the showmobile move to approve second all a favor from Angie Dean mayor Berkeley Heights requesting the use of the showa bill for the Berkeley Heights block party on Sunday June 9th 2024 between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 4 p.m. move to approve second all in favor uh Township Clerk requesting a refund to Marco tavara in the amount of $60 for an unused parking permit motion to approve the refund second all in favor I I from Anthony manguso construction official requesting the return of a demolition bond to jar remodeling in the amount of $10,000 Mo for approval second all in favor I Christopher Donnelly Police director recommending the denial of a handicapped parking space at 1138 Howard Street move to approve second all in favor hi from Amanda Brown owner free to be yoga 1016 ston Avenue requesting to host free community yoga classes at rapkin Park once a month from April through September 2024 move to approve second all in favor I I from somach oppara 1293 Dartmouth Terrace requesting the use of Weber park for a picnic on Saturday July 13th 2024 from 1: to 7:00 p.m. for approximately 100 to 150 people motion to approve with a Certificate of Insurance and a fire inspection second all in favor I from yanu Chen 99 cents plus 350 Chestnut Street requesting to continue displaying merchandise in front of the store from March 20th through May 20th 2024 approval second all in favor I the following Department reports from Community Development and police department move reports be received and filed second all in favor I I that concludes my part of the agenda thank you madam clerk we go on on to our committee reports committe man Bowser please uh yes uh before I get my reports I'd like to move that the special budget hearing scheduled for April 23rd at 5:30 p.m. conference room Shon all in favor I I uh my first report is the public works department Road division the road division continues to work on repairing potholes and patching sections of Roads throughout the township since our last meeting the road division has performed 172 pothole repairs 132 Street sweeps sewer division the sewer division continues to maintain catch basins pump stations and outfalls daily performing repairs where necessary since our last meeting the sewer department has performed 150 catch Basin cleanings 40 mine applications and 30 and three emergency calls shade tree division the S tree division continues to maintain trees parks in the township properties and in Township right ways since our last meeting tree Crews performed 29 removals 21 Trims and five stump removals recycling division as a reminder Brown Goods that's paper newspapers and cardboards should be tied bundled and placed on the curb for recycling pickup all concerns or inquiries regarding all divisions of public birs can be addressed by calling public works at 98686 1922 or by using a report a concern feature on the township website my Police Department report is as follows for the week of or the period between March the 6th through March the 22nd there were 1,862 direct patrols there were 2,913 calls for service 84 rest speed Initiative for the period March 8th through the 21st there were 124 stops 162 tickets 28 were residents red light enforcement for the same period there was 22 stops 24 tickets and four were residents for truck enforcement for the same period there were 13 stops 13 tickets and no delivery and I have a couple highlights here to go through here on March the 7th officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by three males as the officers attempted to detain the driver the suspect attempted to run from the officers officers were able to take the suspect to the ground and after brief struggle officers were able to place in handcuffs and deter and and and determine but the suspect had a loaded gun in his waistband as officers attempted to arrest the driver both the occupants fled the vehicle with with a backpack sir numerous officers responded to the area and set up a parameter after a search of the area was conducted officers were able to locate and arrest both suspects and recover the second loaded handgun in the backpack all three suspects were transported to headquarters and charged accordingly on March the 14th op officers attempted to conduct the traffic stop of a vehicle for for motor vehicle violations the vehicle fled from the officers onto the Garden State Northbound the officers continued his investigation and terming the vehicle was in in fact stolen from Union later that day officers from the community policing unit while riding their bicycles through the area of Union High School located a vehicle and alerted uniform officers officers and detectives responded to the area and were able to box the stolen vehicle in and after a brief foot pursuit they arrested the suspect he was transported to headquarters and charged accordingly that concludes my report thank you man' thank you committe committee woman G frer please from the rec department the union Recreation Department is excited to announ to announce the online registration for the 2024 summer camp will open on Wednesday April 10th the program is open to children who will be entering 3rd to 6th grade two 3-week sessions will be offered beginning on June 24th and ending August 2nd the program is a full day running from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. the cost per session is 425 and covers all activities and trips this program will fill up quickly so please if your children are interested um do not delay the union M Municipal ban has two upcoming concerts that will be benefiting great Community causes first up on April 15th the band's concert at Hannah Caldwell will benefit the union PBA scholarship fund which supports worthy students who pursue college or postc secondary training on May 13th the band will perform at the union Senior Center honoring the veterans Alliance and the annual Memorial Day Parade admission to both events is free however donations um supporting these worthy causes will be generously accepted concerts begin at 7:30 pm. and they are great for music lover of all ages if you need any further information please please contact the recreation department at 98686 4200 and for the senior center the the mission of the senior center is to provide comprehensive array of programs and activities to promote healthy aging and a sense of well-being for older adults 60 plus in our community and I am a honorary member okay Health um health and wellness Tuesday April 9th from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. the nurse prevention service and blood pressure and uh blood sugar check will be available um Health topics the uncomfortable change series um April 9th from 10: to 11: a.m. this will consist of artistic demonstrations of uncomfortable conversations about positive aging um exploring the triggers behind negativity and resources for assistance um coffee and tea will be available programs the Memoir Workshop starts um April 2nd it is 10:30 to 12: noon uh majan on Wednesday uh 1 10000 p.m. to 3 p.m. open seats are available and then fashion upcycling these uh this is from the house of design May 4th 14th the 21st and the 28th from 10:30 to 11: :30 um you have to make a reservation you kind of so upcycling is you know taking old clothing and vamping it up um upcoming trips the Wind Creek Casino sold out guys you got to make sure you contact them and get your tickets because a lot of things are selling out uh Dy and chat at U Mighty Quinn is also sold out um Two Rivers theater gem uh Gem of the ocean is that sold out no that is still available uh for $45 per ticket and that is June 19th the production that tells the story of the first generation of African-Americans to emerge from the end of Civil War and the death knel of slavery um the senior center will be closed this Friday for Good Friday if you have any further information please contact the senior center at 851 5290 that concludes my report thank you and just for the record Jim Joe and I are also honorary members just putting it out there U Deputy Mayor thank you mayor uh I'm gonna put this in a form of a motion I'd like to move an ABC hearing for signatures bar to Monday May 6th at 5:00 pm in this main room here second second all in favor I also uh put in a form U putting in for a motion for a license application for approval for an outdoor Cafe for marriage through de Benny 495 Chestnut Street second all in favor I I now from our fire department uh Union fire department responded to 215 emergency calls for service this period with 69 medical calls it's only for two weeks some significant events during this period are three on March 15th Kane University a fire in the rooftop ventilation system of a six-story building we had structure fires at three at March 16th on Concord Avenue and March 24th at Spruce Street each of these three fires were contained to the area of origin multiple responsive motor vehicle accidents on Route 78 which happens an awful lot it seems with one requiring patient ex explication Mutual Aid responses the plane fill for technical rescue into rollway for structured fire understand our fire department goes to a lot of other towns for Mutual a you have to understand that here's some safety tips our clock is changed right three out of every five home fire that sorry deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms according to the National Fire Protection Association test your smoke alarms every month and replace the battery at least once a year if the alarm makes a chirping sound replace the battery immediately that means the battery's dead smoke alarms should be in every bedroom and in one common area of each floor of a home Mount them at least 10t from a stove to reduce false alarms less than 12 in from the ceiling and away from Windows Doors and Ducks can't emphasize how much smoke alarms are important to save lives for people you need to have one like I said in every bedroom and in hallways and other main rooms that's for my report tonight mayor thank you um I want to begin my report by uh in the form of a motion replacing James Louie as the mayor's rep on the planning board with Patricia G Frasier can I have a second on that second all in favor I I you heard the police report you heard fire safety is important our speed 2024 initiative is going strong you heard all the enforcement that's happening with police going to tell you again everyone red lights stop at the red light don't blow through it as I'm seeing still uh and please follow posted speed limits I'm looking at the reports and I'm kind of happy to see that most of the citations most of the tickets being handed out are to nonresidents so they're not getting the message when they're coming from outside they will eventually I'm glad our residents are now adhering starting to adhere to the speed limits and stopping at red lights and I continue for everyone's safety to encourage you to do that um I want to congratulate Union High School senior Joselyn D salgo who will be attending West Point in the fall of 2024 that's amazing really awesome she has been involved and committed to the award-winning Union High School junior RC program for four years she also takes her place among those who hold the highest leadership level in the pier ambassadors leadership program we wish Joselyn all the best in her future career uh we have our Sid Easter egg hunt we had our Recreation Department egg hunt because it was raining we were inside hopefully it's not going to rain this Saturday uh join us in Union Center and that'll be held at Russo park right across the street from town hall uh this Saturday March 30th from 12: to 3:00 p.m. now when you arrive at Russo park each family will receive a scavenger hunt map with locations in Union Center for you to stop by and to grab an egg so the first 600 children to arrive will receive a goodie bag with a chocolate bunny inside and at Russo park there will also be face painting balloon artists themed Games characters OMG Bubbles and more this is a free event for kids of all ages Joe Jim it's for us too yeah wait we get a chocolate bunny if we come get a chocolate bunny if you come collect okay uh operation clean sweeps coming up um on Saturday um this date is wrong it's April let me just double check my calendar it's April 20th from 8:30 to 1: p.m. on this event after signing up and checking in at the Department of Public Works participants will obtain an operation Clean Sweep t-shirt and be dispatched to different areas and Parks a picnic for all participants will be held following the cleanup at rapkin Park beginning at noon with food DJ Inflatables and more online registration is open via Union township.com and you know you can dedicate a library book to your favorite person or your favorite little furry friend so you donate $10 to the Friends of the Union public library and they'll place a dedicated book plate inside a circulating library book for more details you can contact the union Public Library at 908 85150 450 and Dueling Pianos two pianos these guys go at it tickets are currently on sale for this Dueling Pianos fundraiser this is in support of the 2024 Memorial Day Parade Dueling Pianos will be held on Sunday April 21st at 3 P.M in Union Senior Center for tickets visit Union township.com and as always we encourage you to sign up for emergency and general notifications at ww w. Union township.com and these updates are also posted on Facebook at twpunion NJ and with that I'll open up the meeting to the public again a reminder please state your name and address and there is a five minute limit sorry uh Raphael eureco 357 Forest Drive Union New Jersey um I've been a resident for uh over 50 years years and um it looks like I'm the only person that's concerned about the highrises that are going up uh it's the area that it's they're on every street it's Chestnut Street all the way out and then on Johnson place and then um I'm not even concerned about vermella by cane College I'm just concerned about this area right here and where people are going to park and um I had been upset once before about there isn't one place that I could go in Union Center to buy a pair of shoes or to get a dress or anything and I had heard at one point that Old Navy was going to come in but they needed the foot traffic first and so um I did call the development uh woman I don't know her name but she did say we need foot traffic first and then we'll get the stores well now we certainly seem like have the foot traffic but I I just I don't know why why is there so much development I that's all I want to know really it's to increase foot traffic to your point that's the important part to increase many foot traffic and it's only certain streets it's on Styers as you said in Johnson there's a parking structure being built back there there'll be plenty of parking is that going to be where the old um senior citizen that's going to be parking correct yes okay thank you very much you're very welcome thank you for coming up anyone else I'm with you on that ma'am I've spoken about that a couple of times it's not just for foot traffic it's their developer buddies that get these contracts Darren Martin 1163 Francine way um first let me thank uh you guys for well um uh don um and Company back there for getting the cross and guard's contract done that should have been done so I'm glad thank you uh I want to thank Marone for putting out um a notice to residents for Quality life issues about putting their garbage out too early garbage being put out with just the bags the cats and everything else eating out of it it's going to cause rodings Etc so he put um a memo together that's going to go out to Residence and both Union and Vox also thank you Marcone I got that email today um I'd like to see a plan from you guys about the blocking of sidewalks another quality life issue um and a lot of people are I know people want to park close to their front door but when when you're walking down the sidewalk whether somebody walking with a baby somebody in the wheelchair kids coming from school cars should not be blocking the sidewalk so I want to see some enforcement around that um if you look around it's happening all over everywhere people are parking overnight it's one thing to bring it in throw the bags in the house Etc and come back and move the car but it's all over the place it's all throughout my district and district 10 Commerce frantin Way everywhere it's happening everywhere so I want to see some enforcement with that um I'd like to know what the police plan is for the overnight uh and I know it's happened all over the country and all over the state uh the overnight uh car thefts um the young kids going out at night going in driveways Etc going in houses um I want to see a plan where we get back to telling people don't leave valuables in the car you shouldn't have to tell them that but they do it anyway don't leave the key fob in the car have motion lights on etc etc etc because some of them are going into the house because the garages are in there Etc so I want to see a plan from the police about that um by the high school for about a month now in front of the soccer field there's a fence that's down somebody put yellow tape up there um and every day I take my my son to school I'm like what the heck is going on somebody has to fix the fence come on this is a easy everybody has to be seeing it please get the fence done um new Committee Member uh welcome um I don't know you you don't know me um you'll see me often come here and talk about um the business in this Township um which I think is not right the way people get chosen and thrown into uh the Township community not against you personally the others have heard about it already it won't take long for people to see whether you're going to do the right thing or just fall in line with the rest um and just do what you're told to do um as the rest of them do um thanks God M uh brother James Lou is don't have to he able get got away from this stuff um good for him thank god um at some point this Township has to get away from just a nepotism contracts to our buddies for developers um contracts at the school board how many more jobs can I get to put my title and my money and get more money to pad my my pension at some point my last point is this at the Democratic Club meeting I know it was a shot at me um um and I don't know the chairman is still here but he'll he'll get the message um he I guess he was uh trying to make it seem as if everything is legit and above board well you don't have to explain things when they're above board it just happens and it goes by your actions by your words because he says everything is legal and everything is going right doesn't mean it's going right um so I know he'll watch this meeting he'll get the message on his people here but um we have to make sure we're doing the right thing and the right thing means serving the people this body has not been serving the people you've been serving one person how pathetic and pitiful it is for one person to tell you what to do and you guys do it it has to be some moral base somewhere on this committee not just coming here and just doing a you're told to do I don't say Happy Easter so I say happy Resurrection Day cuz I'm an ordained deacon at a Baptist Church thank you thank you anyone else wishing to speak seeing none a motion to adjourn motion to adjourn second all in favor I a good holiday everyone