In compliance with the open public meeting law, I wish to state that on March 6, 2026, an in or notice of this meeting to the upper township committee was posted on the official township bulletin board, the upper township website, emailed to the Atlantic City Press, the Ocean City Sentinel Library,
the Herald Times, and file with the township clerk. Tonight's meeting is being video recorded up until the close session portion of this meeting will be available on the Upper Township website. I hereby direct this announcement be made part of the minutes of this meeting.
Would everyone please stand for the pledge? >> 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 andice for
all. >> Please remain standing for a moment of silence and reflection. Amen. Thank you. >> Will you please call the RO? >> Mr. Cassaceio >> here. >> Mr. Nappen >> here. >> Mr. Sam Palumbo is absent. Mr. Zack Palumbo >> here. >> Mayor Corson
>> present. >> Has everyone had an opportunity to review the minutes of our February 26 or 25th meeting? Yes. Motion to approve. Second, >> Mr. Cassaceio. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nappen. Yes. >> Mr. Palumbo. >> Yes. >> Mayor Corson. >> Yes.
>> Motion carried. >> Okay. At this time, we're going to report a government official. We'll start with you, Tyler. >> Zack, do you have anything for us tonight? >> I do. I have actually a few things. Uh first uh as we go through the ongoing cleanup from the blizzard, I know that
there's a lot of people who had uh trees that went down on their property or also uh you know off to the side of the road. Uh public works is going to be going around and picking up any brush or damaged trees uh starting March 16th. It has to be out onto the road curbside
much like you would do for regular landscaping. Uh so I would like to thank public works for taking the initiative to start that. um they're just basically going to see it and we're not going to do a time stamp or a deadline. It has to be out by there. We understand that there's a lot of difficulty actually,
you know, uh in talking with a few landscapers. Uh they are swamped with the cleanup. So, you're looking at, you know, significant amount of time that they that's going to have to go on there. So, for as of now, we're just going to get move all of that debris onto the uh streets uh come March 16th.
Uh and public works will start that. In addition, uh you know, Sam is not here. I'm gonna throw up this uh that we're having an Easter egg uh stuffing uh for the uh for the Easter egg hunt that's going to be on March 25th from 3 to 7 at
the community center. I know that there's quite a few students who need to get their hours for National Honor Society and Junior Honor Society. So, they can definitely get those hours and we'll sign off on that. And what isn't you, but the continuation of the uh
stuffing of the eggs leads to the Easter egg hunt which will be on Saturday at March 28th uh from 10:30 to 12 at a man's field. And we're looking for also for volunteers for stu uh for students or adults to uh hide the eggs at a man's
field. So we have that going on. And also as an educator, I also want to acknowledge uh number 10 on the consent agenda for developmental disabilities awareness week. In a former life in the classroom, I was a special ed teacher and I know how parents have to go
through that and also the challenges that students have to face on a regular basis. So I'd like to thank the committee for putting that on. >> Dick, do you have any? >> I do. Good evening. Thank you so much everybody for coming out as always. Um, just echoing what Committee Palumbo just
mentioned, I want to welcome Kate May County Commissioner Melanie Klette to the audience. She's who sent that our way. Um, as a current teacher and someone that does currently teach a class with with individuals with a variety of learning disabilities and
developmental disabilities, it's great to see that on there, too. So, thank you for sending that to us and thank you for you guys for um helping move that forward. Um EMS I just want to again double down thanking EMS for everything that was done during the storm. Um we we did right by them I believe this week
Mr. Vanzite and so um I just again it was an incredible effort and finally we had a meeting regarding our website and it went very well and so we're going to continue working through that making great updates to our website um on the IT department. That's all I have.
>> Thank you sir. County Commissioner Melanie Black. Thank you for joining us tonight. And I am not an educator nor a teacher, but my daughter is a special education teacher, and I'm honored to see that on the reservations. >> I would like to thank everyone for coming out tonight. And just one thing
about the brush collection, we will be picking up brush and compost in Stratford tomorrow, which is a little bit of a deviation. So tomorrow will be picked up in Stratford and again the following week also. But that's something we can get out of the way.
easy because most of that is at the curb and we have to worry about drainage and all that over there. So, that's important to get that off the street in a little more time fashion. Um, I do want to caution people when you put your brush to the curb. There's a lot of people that are doing it. We've had a
couple nice days, a decent weekend, please be cognizant they have to pick it up. If you bury your mailbox with brush and they pick it up with the claw, you're going to lose your mailbox. If you read our ordinance, it says 10 foot from any obstruction. That would be a
mailbox, a utility pole, street sign. Please be cognizant we pick these up with equipment. So, some people need to move to brush piles or they may not be picked up. That's all I have at this time. Tim, do you have anything for us tonight? >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. A couple
initiatives going down. So, I've been working diligently with Sam Palumbo regarding expanding hours at the community sour community center and expanding the open gym experience. So, we've been discussing the possibility of expanding the hours on nights and weekends. Um, ideas include uh
availability as well as hiring part-time staff to monitor the building while zone public. Uh, you know, that's just step one in in our commitment to the public as far as recreation's concerned. Um, and you know, thank you to uh Elsie Jameson out there in the crowd.
Initially brought it up as a resident uh you know, with kids and it's like, man, I want to take my kids to our community center and pay taxes for, but it's uh oftent times it's either closed or is jammed up by non-residents, right? So, um this is step one in figuring out this
very complex problem and uh looking forward to offering new creative ways to to opening and expanding recreation to the to the public. Uh second thing I have is uh I've been digging in uh kind of with John and in the zoning planning board uh about the New Jersey Real Pact
Act. This is the state legislation updating land resource protection regarding um you know addressing the impacts of climate change, right? What does that do? That adds two feet of free base uh base flood elevation to building standards and flood planes. And so
there's going to be a tangible um immediate impact to us come July. So, we're trying to understand what that is. Uh what does what does that mean to this community and and where it is we want to go forward with adopting those rules and how we are going to navigate that nuance. Um and then lastly, uh you know,
there's a lot of uh thanks to EMS and public works and I want to echo that, but I also want to include in that group of people I think uh the Atlantic City Electric uh line, right? Like the talk about an unsung job, right? Because everyone's really urgent to get their
power back restored. uh get immediate services uh restored to their home and these people are out there day and night trying to restore services to our community. So uh I just don't want to you know I want to include them in that group of people I thank and you know offer u my deepest gratitude to those
crews out there electric team that's all I got. >> Thank you. >> John, do you have any good uh nothing right now? Mr. Mayor, thank you. >> Joan, do you have any? >> No, nothing. Thank you. >> Barb, do you have any question? >> I have nothing now. Thank you.
>> I don't. >> Well, you're here, so I'm going to answer. All right. Uh, I guess we'll move right along now. >> We have our 2026 budget cap ordinance and budget adoption. >> Okay. Number one, we have the introduction and first reading of
ordinance number 7, 2026, calendar year 2026 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank. >> Would you like this? This is something that you have to do. Um, it gives you the ability to spend up to three and a
half% cap and bank whatever you don't use. >> This has been in place now for 20ome years. Used to be automatic at the state, but now they're making the towns do it. And for most of you won't remember, but in 76 the cap was 5% and you could go to
six and a half. So it's been coming down as prices have gone up. So when I first started doing this, it was a 5% cap with 6 and a half% expansion if you wanted to. So that was the 77 act. But this is just a formality really nothing else has
no impact on your spending or your tax levy. >> When will we have a public hearing? April 13th. >> April 13. Would somebody like to entertain? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Mr. Mr. Cassaceio. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nappen. Yes.
>> Mr. Pomo. >> Yes. >> Mayor Corson. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. Number two, we have the introduction of the 2026 budget. >> So, this is the important part. Now, the the the budget you have before you tonight uh has been constructed over the
past several months back and forth between the governing body, the CFO, me, anybody else that participated. And you have a budget in front of you that provides for everything that you need it. Um provides for revenues to support
the stuff and a tax rate increase of 2.97. That's going to be one of the lowest ones you're going to hear um throughout the next couple of months, next month. There's going to be some sevens, some eights, some nines, some tens. It's it's bad out there. Health insurance is
disaster. Um the other costs are up, salaries are up, and there's really no additional revenue. If you've been following the newspapers lately, last 10 days, the governor's pretty much saying gloom and doom on her budget that there's going to be cuts that are going to be made. Tomorrow we'll find out what
they are. You have $6 million of energy receipts taxed. Uh she better not come after any of that. It would be disastrous if she did. U but it's happened in the past. So we'll keep our fingers cross for tomorrow. We're it's in here for now. Um from what I've been
told that everybody's going to be held armless of where you were and some towns will get more and we know which towns they'll be. >> It won't be you. So um yeah. Um the you're within both caps by statute, so we have no problem with that. Your fund
balance is relatively the same as it was before. Yeah. So it's stable. Um the percentage of collection actually is just about the same as it was. So everything is in fine shape financially. Again, 2.97. North Wildwood did 2.87
last week. And then you're going to see some bigger ones coming. I can't tell you who they're going to be, but you'll see you'll see them in the paper pretty soon. Um so tonight we need at least three people to say yes to move forward by the public hearing in four weeks at which time we can change if we have to change
anything. Uh if not we can adopt that night. >> All right. So at this time we'll entertain for a motion to introduce our 2026 budget with a final hearing and public comments on April 13th. >> Motion to approve the budget for 2026. >> Introduced. >> Introduce. Sorry.
>> Second. >> Please call the role. >> Mr. Cassaceio. Yes, >> Mr. Nappen. Yes, >> Mr. Palumbo. >> Yes, >> Mayor Corson. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> And I'll see you in four weeks. >> Resolution. Okay. One more resolution. >> We have authorizing the execution of a
group affidavit governing body certification of compliance with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's enforcement guidance on the consideration of arrest and conviction records and employment decisions under title eight of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Just a resolution >> pretty strict. >> Motion to approve the authorization execution of second. Please call the role. >> Mr. Paceio, >> yes. >> Mr. Nappen, >> yes. >> Mr. Palumbo, >> yes. >> Mayor Corson, >> yes. >> Before we open the public, I'd like to
thank Leon for joining us tonight. I'd like to thank my colleagues and administration for all the work that went into this budget. And Barber, your office. >> Yeah. what you see is the end product. There's a lot of work that went in into getting to here. >> Oh, it's a lot. Yes, it is a lot of
work. And I, my colleagues, I like I said, I thank you for your time and the department heads and everybody that helped formulate this budget. It's a very good budget. Like I said, it's one of the very few that are increased significantly. I mean, the cost of insurance went up, the cost of workers
comp, all that went up employees benefits. So >> we did take the steps to reduce the cost to the township by going out of the state. >> That was part of the work everybody did. There's a lot of hard work. We saved a
lot with our insurance shop. Thank you again. >> Thank you. >> See you in four weeks. >> Okay. This time we'll open it up to the public. Is there anybody in the public that would like to comment on the agenda
items listed below? only the agenda items. >> Go ahead. No, you're first out of the gun. We'll let you go. >> Melanie Colette, 302 Bennett Road in Kate May Courthouse. Uh I'm here on behalf of the Arc of Kate May County. I
just wanted to thank you for resolution for item number 10 on your agenda. uh the resolution acknowledging uh developmental disabilities awareness month uh as you all articulated so well during your comments. It's very important. I also am a former educator
uh who has taught special ed students and uh it's why my work as the chief development and uh marketing officer for the for the ark is so important. And in that role during this month, we reached out to each municipality as well as the
county and asked them to pass that resolution. And many have agreed to do so, including you. And I just wanted to personally thank you for that. It's very important. >> All right. Thanks. >> Yeah. Good evening, gentlemen. Uh, my name is Lou Barbo, 38 Francis Drive in
Petersburg, and I want to direct your attention to uh number 25, public hearing and final adoption of ordinance number 006-2026. I'd like to know um
what that's about and how it's going to be uh addressed in the future. Mr. Bark, there we're going to have an individual public hearing for that because it is a second reading for that ordinance. So that'll be a separate public comment period for for hearing on that ordinance potential adoption.
>> So it's not going to be tonight. Is that >> it is it is going to be tonight, but it's not in this particular public comment portion. >> It is when we have that number 25 comes up, we will have a public hearing on it. So you can speak on that then. >> Oh, okay. I'm sorry. Uh
and that and about this uh authorization number three is is that also going to be covered in the uh public hearing >> that was already done. We will have a public hearing on that April 13th. But what was your question about it?
>> Well, I I just want to know what it's about. I I it looks like affordable housing and I want to know like where it's uh where it stands right now, where the houses are going to be built, houses, apartments, whatever. Well,
number three and affordable housing are completely different. So number three is an affidavit that's required by the EEOC um which is a federal agency to confirm that the governing body complies with their hiring practices. >> Oh, okay. >> That's so that's what that was. >> Okay.
>> Was adopted. All right, then. I must be looking at the uh at the wrong Well, I know there's something about affordable accessory apartments >> that will be in >> that's number 24, >> correct? We'll have a public hearing on
that as well. >> Okay. >> All right. And this is this is just about the agenda items for this uh >> session. Thank you. >> 4th through 20th grade.
Number four through 232 >> 223. >> Oh, right. Separate. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Uh Natalie 759 Route 50 Petersburg. Could you speak
to number 17, please? Yes, I can typo in the first >> it was there was a portion of his salary that was uh omitted from the original resolution. So this corrects it. Amending resolution number 76-2026
appointing Nicholas Mason as assistant public works superintendent. >> You're saying that >> a typo in the >> there was there was a portion of his salary that was not stated in the first
in the resolution at the last meeting. This resolution now corrects it clarifies his full salary >> because I believe at the last meeting I did about the resolutions and the salary. Do you know what the salary is? >> Uh the resolution should have the
salaries. >> It says 95,000. I it is 95,000 Natalie. >> Okay, thank you. And then I guess um number 23 stands by itself. 24 and 25 will stand by themselves.
>> Yes. Well, no. 23 will not stand by itself. So, you can ask questions on 23 at this time. It's going to be acted upon, not as consent item, but it is a resolution on the agenda. >> You can ask about 23. Um rescending action taken by the upper
township committee pertaining to option adoption of ordinance 1226 and scheduling of second reading and public hearing on ordinance 2026 for the March 23, 2026 township
committee meeting. I believe that was on the February 25th meeting which was supposed to be on the February 23rd meeting. >> Yes. >> So I don't understand.
>> We're rescending it. There was >> I'll let John give the legal explanation of why we're >> I'd like to hear it from you, mayor. >> Well, I don't feel comfortable saying it. That's why we take legal counsel. So if you don't want to hear from me, let
him say it and I'll par if that has to happen. So >> I can tell you that's why you're adopting the action set before it's number 23. So when we acted on ordinance O12026 on February 25th, um one thing that was
not done prior to doing that related to the required notice for a zoning change, right? So that ordinance not only uh permitted recreate or retail cannabis sales in the uh cannabis overlay zone that was created, but it was also a zoning amendment. Right? We amended that
zone to create the cannabis overlay zone. So there are specific notice requirements under the municipal land use law that have to be met in order to effectuate a zoning change. One of which is sending by regular and certified mail to all property owners within 200 ft. So we noticed after adoption that the
certified mailings had not finally gone out to all those residents within 200 feet. So the action taken on that night is that it's void as a matter of law. Right? By not abiding by the public notice requirements, any action that you take cannot stand. So what you're doing through this resolution is formally
rescending that action and rescheduling it for a second reading and a public hearing at a date in the future. That's all that you're doing there. >> Okay. >> But that night it was advertised as a final adoption. Well, what happened? There was a mistake, a clerical mistake
made. The certified letters to the 200 foot remedies and the people in there were not sent in a timely fashion. Our office picked it up. So, we have to resend that ordinance, do it again in a timely fashion, and rehear it. So we are
going to resend the ordinance that was approved last meeting. Reotice and rehear it again on >> 23rd of March. >> The 23rd of March, which weather permitting, it will be a Monday night.
>> Okay. Well, I believe that I was clear when I testified at that hearing about the master plan and the difference in notice for a meeting. >> This has nothing
>> and a hearing. >> This has nothing to do with the meeting night. The meeting night was scheduled and the meeting night was moved. That was all perfectly in our right to do that and that was perfectly legal. The legal notice that was wrong was the
legal notice that was supposed to be sent out 10 days prior. We did not meet that window. >> And mayor, that that's only for residents within within and >> the zone within 200 ft >> and it was a credit to our staff that they caught it before
>> we went too far. But it's been on the Facebook and it's been in the newspapers that this um >> and tomorrow's Facebook and tomorrow's newspaper is going to say we rescended it and we made a mistake.
>> But everybody's been told that it passed. >> There are people from out of town >> that believe that it's been passed. >> Yes. >> So then am I I understand that on the 23rd you're just going to go through the
same motion and just pass it again or are you going to have an open hearing for people to come that weren't able to come during the blizzard period here? >> According to the law, we have to have a public hearing and we will have a public hearing with the same format we had
before. >> So, it'll all start over again. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Oh, not all the way. It's been introduced. There's no change being made. We're just going to go through the second reading of public hearing again, but we're not reintroducing. >> We do not have to reintroduce it.
>> There was also um somebody there was um a four-page letter that was admitted into evidence at that hearing. >> Correct. >> Is there a question? I don't want to address the speaker, but >> I don't know what the question is, but yeah, there was
>> Do you remember there was a four-page letter that was um testified to and admitted into evidence? >> The receipt of it was put in the record. Yes, >> it was put in the record that we received a letter. >> So, what happens to that now? >> It was probably filed.
>> I'm sorry. >> It was probably filed. >> Public file. >> Public. It's filed. It's part of >> file. It was put in the file cabin. It was put in the file. I mean, it didn't Go into the abyss. It's still here. >> And that was dated February 25th. >> Mayor, if you haven't seen it, I
wouldn't answer any question on it. >> I can't. >> It was received in advance of the of the public hearing on ordinance 012026. >> Well, I'm a little confused about the legal or the not legal.
aspects of what happened on the 25th. >> A mistake was made. We are resending the ordinance, fixing a mistake, and moving forward. >> Who was the um person that made the clerical error that >> that was a personal issue? It's not
relevant. Our personnel caught it in house and it is being fixed. >> It's a good thing. and saving us a headache in the future to do it this way. >> So, it got past um >> We're rescending it. >> We're rescending it.
>> Yeah, but it got past the legal counsel. >> Yeah. >> Sure. I mean, if there's an attack to be made here, if she can make it. Yes. It got past me the first time apparently. >> Clearly, >> if that answers the question that's being fired about, I'll fall on that sword. >> It got past many checks and balances.
>> Thank you. Hello, I'm Diane Leo from Armora. Um, regards to 0012026. There's a hearing on that, but there were three other ordinances that were involved with this cannabis dispensary.
Are they they're just passed and that's not going to be brought up again? They are passed because there was no legal notice on that. >> Well, there was no there was legal notice required to pass an ordinance, but there was no additional notice for a zone change amendment. So, those passed as as previously noticed.
>> Yes. >> All right. Well, then it just sounds like the cannabis is going to happen because these other three things were already approved. Doesn't seem like there's much difference except it's just a formality of having the hearing then. Um, this you're all going to vote for it
anyways. That's the way I see it. Thank you. >> Is there any more public comment on agenda items? >> Hearing no more public comment on agenda items, we'll close the public this public portion and move on to our consent. Joanne,
>> all consent agenda items listed below are routine in nature and will be enacted by one motion. If the mayor or any committee member wishes a particular agenda item to be considered separately, it will be removed from the consent agenda and acted on separately. >> Motion to approve the consent agenda. Second, >> Mr. Cassaceio,
>> yes. >> Mr. Nappen, >> yes. >> Mr. Palumbo, >> yes. >> Mayor Corson, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Under number 23, rescending action taken by the upper township committee pertaining to adoption of ordinance number one, 1226 and scheduling of second reading and public hearing on
ordinance 1, 2026 for the March 23rd, 2026 township committee meeting. >> All right, John, just for the record, I would like you to give us an explanation again. We've just heard it, but I want to make the record crystal clear. >> So for this ordinance, Mr. Mayor, this was um an ordinance that not only
permitted cannibal cannabis retail sales use within the CM2 zone, particular the cannabis overlay zone that we created, but it also created that cannabis overlay zone, which is a subset of the CM2 zone. So, because this was an ordinance that amended the zoning
chapter of the municipal code, you were required to abide by the notice requirements under the municipal land use law. The notice requirements are include not only publishing it as you typically would in a newspaper or general circulation, but by mailing by regular and certified mail to all those
within 200 ft of the affected zone. Um, what we discovered was that the regular mailings were timely sent out, certified mailings were not. So, because we didn't do both of those things, we have to, as a matter of law, the action that you took is is void. So, we're going to formally resend that action this
evening, schedule it for another second reading and public hearing so that you can legalize what wasn't done the first time through. That's what we're looking to do. >> So, at this point, we'll entertain a motion ordinance number one of 2026.
>> I'll make that motion. >> Second, >> and we will have a public hearing and final adoption on March 23rd. >> Please call the role. >> Mr. Cassaceio, >> yes. >> Mr. Nappen. >> Yes. >> Mr. uh Palumbo. >> Yes. >> Mayor Corson. >> Yes.
>> Motion carried. >> Under ordinances, we have the public hearing and final adoption of ordinance number 5, 2026, an ordinance of the township of Upper County of Kate May, state of New Jersey, amending, revising, and supplementing chapter 20 entitled zoning of the municipal code by repealing sections 20-14
through 20-14.5 and replacing with new sections 20-14 through section 20-14.21 21 and repealing section 20-15 through 20-15.10 and replacing with section 20-15 through 20-15.10
and amending in part section 20-44.19 and affordable affordable accessory apartments. >> And Mr. We do have our affordable housing attorney, Mr. Olsen, is on Zoom here. >> Okay. >> Hey, Bill, can you hear us?
Bill, is there can you just give a just a just a brief overview as to what we're looking to do through this ordinance? >> Sure. So, the ordinance uh uh 520-2026 uh for the township is the updated
fourth round affordable housing ordinance that outlines the general responsibilities of the township uh as part of its round four outlaw affordable housing case. There's a deadline of March 15th for the township to adopt all of its necessary documentation uh which is why we have certain resolutions on as
well uh that kind of outlined the general responsibilities of the township. The township at this point has filed its plan with the court and has entered into a consent order with the fair share housing center uh who has you know substantively agreed with the township's plan. At this point, all we
need to do is pass kind of these, you know, out overall general ordinances and resolutions uh to adopt the manuals. There are no sight specific uh zoning ordinances at this time. >> Any questions that you guys have for for Bill
>> at this time? >> No, not that we'll open it to the public for a public hearing on this. And Bill, you're available to answer questions should they arise? >> Okay. >> At this time, we're going to open it up to the public. Is there anyone from the public that would like to comment on ordinance number 24
of 2020 or ordinance number five, item number 24 of 2026? >> Natalie N 759 Route 50 Petersburg. Um >> who who was that on the Zoom? >> That is our affordable housing council. >> Who's that?
>> The lawyer William Olsson. >> Who? >> William Olsson. >> Yes. My name is William Olsson. I'm from the firm Serenium Edwards Buzzac and Nolan. And we are the affordable housing council for the township. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, and you said it was
an update of the fourth round. >> How long has this been going on to get to a fourth round? >> Sure. So round one was from 1987 to 1993. Round two was 1993 to 1999.
Rounds three is 1999 through 2025. And now round four will be from from 2025 until 2035. >> And Bill, when you talk about the rounds, this isn't particularly to upper township. This is statewide. Correct. >> Correct. This is a statewide obligation.
But it it does pertain to upper township. >> Yes. Yes. >> Of course. >> We're understanding New Jersey. Yes. >> And I'm thinking it has something to do with um
Tyler Kistachio's family property. Ralph Clayton. If there's a question it could be public talking to you, mayor >> and I'm giving the mayor advice. I'm giving the mayor advice. I'm not talking. >> Am I correct that it it does involve
Upper Township and that it involves the Clayton Castio property? >> Yes. Shaw's Pig Farm is included in the round four obligation made by the state. Yes. And what year did that start? >> Any development in the township
is included in round four. This is statemandated. We have to do round four. This is not something we want to do. Have we have to do it to be in compliance otherwise there will be a builder's remedy lawsuit and god knows what can happen then.
>> So we're doing it to protect the township. no benefit to us to do this. >> Everything we do up here affects all of us. We all live in Upper Township. >> So you say a builder remedy suit. Do you
have to be an LLC or something? Or could that be somebody that owns a property and they want to build it? >> Anyone can file the builder remedy lawsuit. >> Okay. And um
it's my understanding that the Shaw that that's been going on for 15 years. Is that correct? >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. And I thought that I was at a previous >> last year. Last year I was here and there was something about um we had to
put 40 47 homes in within 10 years. And I believe it was said that um Castio one was going to start putting them in this summer and I'm not sure how many um >> I don't know off the top of my head what
our uh round three obligation is. Round four it did go up a little bit but we still have a round three obligation we have to meet too. >> Am I right? >> Correct. So the the way that the affordable housing obligations work is
that um unless and until you know every unit is constructed that is anticipated um that carries over from round to round. So there's there's an outstanding round three obligation and there's now an additional round four obligation uh which the township has planned as to how
to meet. Um but at this point the only ordinances that are on are the generalized ordinances um that kind of outline how the town will comply for the board. Is the uh retired judge Perski still involved in this?
>> I apologize. What was that? >> Is the retired judge Steven Perski still involved in this? >> I I don't believe so. Um the way the way that the current setup is is that a
sitting mount Laurel judge is handling the the township's case, not not a retired judge. Okay. And for the record, I requested um a copy of the ordinance 5-2026
uh contains 35 pages. So, I'd appreciate anything else that you, Mr. Corson, and your board could add to this for the benefit of the public. >> If the ordinance was made available, I'd
rely on that as a recommendation. was introduced at our last meeting. It was sent to the planning board. They found it consistent with our plan. It's here. There's been two Nobody was at the planning board to comment on it. It was
publicized and it's here. So, I'm not going to elaborate on anymore. >> But that's the same procedure then that for the cannabis as well. >> It's not. >> No, it's not. Okay. Because it's an overlay, there's a difference.
>> We're just talking about this ordinance at this time. >> We're talking about this ordinance. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else who would like to comment on ordinance number five of 2026? >> Diane Leo from Armora. Um on number 24, could you tell me exactly where the
affordable housing's going to be? I don't understand where these properties are. >> So, I I can answer this question. The amended ordinance doesn't set forth areas specifically as to where it's going to go. It it sets new set aside requirements into place. So, developments of five units or larger.
There's a 20% set aside that's required in all zones throughout Upper Township moving forward. And it also includes additional items build like uh uh residential developers fees, non-residential developer fees, and how we can utilize funds in those pockets. Correct.
Correct. >> But it doesn't set a specific area as an affordable housing area. >> When would we find out about that where they're going to be? I I I think it's wonderful we're having affordable housing here. >> It's a it's an application by application basis. So, it's going to
depend on what what developers come in and where they're seeking to develop and then whether any affordable units are going to be required based on how many they're proposing in a particular area. >> Okay. for for for the last number of years whenever a project came in upper township they had to meet affordable
housing obligation. >> There is some sprinkled around the township. Some people paid money. Other people built units. Some people bought and remodeled units. There is affordable housing usage spread throughout the township.
It's not not a high-rise what you would >> think like >> I just wonder what they consider affordable housing because >> there's a whole different bunch of criteria to meet the affordable housing
threshold. I don't know what it is is based all based on income. >> Do you know how I would find that out? Is there a state place I would find out? How can she find out? >> Uh, Bill, how how in terms of income
requirements and things, would we put them in touch with our liaison or or >> administrative to the administrative agent? The administrative agent would assist with that process in terms of applying, determining whether or not you're eligible and then you can get put on a list. Um, you know, if you are
eligible or and uh at that point, you know, you can see if you qualify for. So, Miss Leo, we have an affordable housing administrative agent that's retained by the township to effectuate the ordinance and the administrator, Mr. Van, can get you their information, but you'd contact them and they'd give you info on that. >> Okay, good. Thank you. We certainly need
affordable housing here. There's two little houses that just went up for their 600,000 for a threebedroom, one bath, 1500 square feet. That's a lot of money. Is there anyone else who would like to
comment on ordinance number five of 2026? >> Yes, I was just uh reading this. My name is Lou Barbo. I live in uh 38 Francis Drive in Petersburg. I was uh a couple things I wanted to uh touch base on with
you uh folks and is uh well, we answered that there's no specific area where this is going to be built at this time. Uh is the construction going on at the I guess
it's the Shaw farm? >> Yep. >> Uh is this part of this affordable housing? >> That development like any other development in the municipality has a affordable housing obligation which they will meet. And anytime you have, John,
correct me and Bill correct me if I'm wrong. Anytime you develop a property with more than five divided parcels, um you're required to have 20% set aside for lowincome housing. >> That is >> any developer in the township who wants
to develop a street, uh develop a housing complex, anything to that 20% after five units is required by the state to be set aside for affordable housing. So, you're going to mix affordable housing with say the Horton stuff that was built for
$800,000. Is that >> am I correct? >> That is a requirement. >> The state requirement is supposed to be mixed, blended into the community. It's not supposed to be isolated and separated. You don't put all the poor people in the west of the railroad.
>> Everybody lives together in harmony. >> Okay. Uh, so in other words, there's going to be some houses, uh, I'm just picking numbers out here. I don't expect you to agree with me. Uh, some houses that are going to be $800,000 in development and others are going to be
400,000 or 300,000. >> Yep. Well, we don't know how low. >> Like I said, I I'm just picking numbers. >> Like, so say half of it'll be half of what most of the houses are worth. They
might be they don't have to be sold units. They can be rental units. There's a lot there's more there's more than one way to meet this criteria. >> Okay. And the other question I have is uh apartments. I I noticed that that we're at affordable accessory
apartments. Does this mean that we're going to turn this township into Summers Point where there's apartment complexes all over the place? Bill, can you touch on the accessory apartment aspect of the ordinance? Sure. >> So, the accessory apartment ordinance is
that if you have, you know, really a single family lot um and you have the area, if you are interested in building an accessory apartment, it's really only, you know, a unit maybe two that you're eligible to build. Once you build
it, um you know, the township can can basically assist you by providing a stipend. you would have to put a dean restriction for a certain amount of years. At this point, it's 30 for for sale and 40 for rental. Um, and so at that point then you would have an administrative agent, you know, finding
somebody to live within that accessory apartment. But it's not like building an entire apartment complex. um you know all you know kind of cross town >> and and that deed restriction limits how much right depending on how it's classified how much you can collect in either rent or for sale units for
>> right agent sets the sales price and the rental price uh for all the units in the town >> all right so in my interpretation of apartments is is like a complex are you talking about
that or are you talking about say building a three-story house and having three apartments? >> Neither. What is >> think of uh I would say it's more closely analogous to say have say you have a garage you have an apartment
above the garage. >> Yeah. It's like an in-law suite like a second property on a parcel >> something that's accessory to the principal structure. So in other words, somebody buys the house and then rents the second floor.
>> No, basically if you have >> a detached garage and then you have a living quarters above that detached garage is what that's >> or if you want to convert a separate garage from your house into an apartment or like an in-law suite. It's not like an an apartment complex in your
backyard. You can make one house with one apartment. That's but by state statute. That's what we're >> Is that could or have to? >> No, it's could. Could. >> Okay. So, in other words,
if you had a a big enough unit like house, whatever square footage, you can make part of that an apartment. >> No, >> it's a separate >> like a detached garage. >> So, a house I just >> Well, I'm saying you could have your
attached detached garage or attached into an apartment. Not if it's part of one unit. So a single family home is a single unit. You can't just create a wall and separate it. Say here's a second unit, right? It's one unit. But if you have something accessory to that that's detached, you could create a
secondary apartment, accessory apartment potentially in that. And that's what we're talking about through this ordinance. >> Uh that I'm not too clear on because I I don't see the difference in >> Bill. Do do you want to elaborate a bit
further? Maybe I'm not doing it correctly. >> No, you're you're right. It's a detached residence. I I can tell you is it's a it's a purely voluntary program. So, you don't you know, obviously there's no obligation for any person to to go out and do it. It's just an option that if they want to to kind of build an
accessory structure on their apartment um and kind of create that apartment, um you know, the township is offering a statement basically to do that. However, you know, you would be obviously liable to signing a deed restriction to get the money uh to build that structure for
for, you know, 30 or 40 years to reserve it for an LMI household. >> All right. Well, then if I wanted to build a unit or I don't know how you you know the building terms, maybe Mr.
Gustachio knows about that. But what if I wanted to have an accessory, you know, if I wanted to build a house and have an accessory unit, would would they build it a different way or
>> it would have to meet New Jersey construction code >> and it would have to meet all your septic requirements and I don't know what the I mean I don't know what the septic requirements are, nor do I know what New Jersey building code is. Okay, that's a whole different But it would have to meet those
requirements. >> Okay. I appreciate that. Thank you very much. Uh the other uh issue I had was number 25. >> We're not we're not there yet. That'll that'll be coming up next. >> Oh, okay. All right. Thank you. >> Is there anyone else who would like to
comment or is this number five of 2026? Yes, Natalie. >> A question about I heard something about affordable was an attached garage with an apartment apartment above it.
>> There's a there's a definition section to this >> or definition section. It could be a garage with an apartment or it could be a garage apartment. I don't know. You could just You don't necessarily have to have a garage, >> right? It's a detached. The purpose was
my analogy was so that it is not an apartment complex. It's just a detached unit on your property. >> Okay. So, presently we have an upper township residential zone with side front and rear setbacks. Um, can
somebody with a house structure in an upper township residential zone? Build an apartment over a garage or build a garage with an apartment. as long as the um septic requirements are
met. >> So, Bill, would Bill, would all all the other zoning requirements still pertain to these accessory apartments? >> Correct. You would still be obligated. So, the way it would work is that, you know, the the homeowner would be the one kind of doing the plans, speaking with
the contractor, going through the process themselves. You would still be, you know, subject to the zoning standards um that are within that that area. Basically, yes. They would have to meet all the sideback requirements. >> So, would they have to make an
application to the zoning board or they can just apply to zoning and construction and do it if they meet the requirements for the >> Yes, >> they can just do it without a variance or going to the an application to the
zoning planning board. And um also I had a question about we're saying affordable affordable affordable like is there a difference or what is the distinction between affordable and
low income? >> There's there's no difference. So what the the type of units that we're talking about are units that are going to be deed restricted for for 30 years for for sale units and 40 years for rental units at this juncture. And so those units are
reserved specifically for for what are called low and moderate income households. Um those units are gene restrictive. It's not gene restrictive. It's not, you know, a law. It's not an affordable unit um under New Jersey under New Jersey law. >> Okay. Thank you.
Is there anyone else who would like to comment on ordinance number five of 2026? >> Hearing no more public comment, we'll close the public portion and entertain a motion to adopt ordinance number five of 2026. >> I'll make that motion. Second, >> please call the RO. >> Mr. Caceio,
>> yes. >> Mr. Matens, yes. >> Mr. Columbo, >> yes. Mayor Corson, >> yes. >> Bill, thank you for joining us. >> Thank you, Bill. >> Thanks, Bill. >> Thank you, everybody. Have a good night. Okay, next we have the public hearing and final adoption of ordinance number 6, 2025, an ordinance amending revised
general ordinance chapter 13, street sidewalks and sanitation of the code of Upper Township to establish a mailbox damage and restoration policy. >> All right, before we open it up to the public, can we have a recap on this one?
This is Yeah. Uh so what it is is um earlier workshop item we recognized that there wasn't a policy in the books what the township's obligation and requirement was in the event that there was a damaged mailbox as a result of snow
plumbing operations. All right. And so what what this is is uh we set a uh an ordinance that says, you know, if you live on a township road and it's plowed by your township public works and you sustain a damaged mailbox, um the public works will go out there, validate it,
and if it is found that the township was the the nexus of the damage, they will cut you a $50 check to replace the damage once per year. >> All right. At this time, we'll open it up to the public. Is anybody in the public like to comment on ordinance number
six of 2026. Item number 25 >> Natalie N 759 Route 50 in Petersburg. Um, does this include um this chapter ordinance chapter 13 streets,
sidewalks, and sanitation of the code of upper township? Is that only for mailboxes or does that have anything to do with the um the meeting uh with the engineer on March the second, safe routes to school?
>> This is about the mailboxes. This is about mailboxes only. This has nothing to do with meetings. It went on anywhere. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Is there anyone else that would like to comment on ordinance number six of 2026?
>> Hearing no more public comment, we'll close the public portion and entertain a motion to adopt ordinance number six of 2026. I'll make the motion to uh for ordinance 6 of 2026. >> Second. >> Please call the role. >> Mr. Cassaceio, >> yes. >> Mr. Nappen, >> yes. >> Mr. Palumbo, >> yes.
>> Mayor Corson, >> yes. >> Motion carried. Under new business, we have Parish of St. Maxmill and Colby request use of Strathmir Beach for an Easter sunrise mass on April 5th, 2026. >> Um, obviously we they've used Williams
Avenue in the past. They've used 2400 before. I think uh Williams Avenue has about a 10 foot drop off. >> They were informed that they had to use 1400 Commonwealth. >> They're using >> 2400 1400 Commonwealth.
>> I uh as of right now it's safe. I see no issues. Just we'll have public works check it prior to and I anticipate it'll be fine. >> Can I have a motion? >> I'll make that a motion. >> Second, >> Mr. Paceio.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Nappen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Palumbo. >> Mayor Corson. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Number 27. Parish of St. Maxmillian Kby. Request to hold a raffle RA 620 at 200 Tucker Road, Marura on August 14th,
2026. >> Motion to approve. Second. >> Mr. Cassaceio. Yes. >> Mr. Nappen. Yes. Mr. Columbbo. Mayor Porson. >> Yes. Motion carried. Okay. What's everybody's opinion on the bill? >> I hereby move that all claims submitted
for payment at this meeting be approved and then incorporated in fold in minutes of this meeting. >> Second. >> Mr. Cassaceio. >> I have three abstains tonight. 26-00175 26-00245
26-00246. Yes. >> Mr. Nappen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Palumbo. >> Yes. >> Mayor Corson. Yes. >> Motion carried. >> This time we'll open it up to the public. Is there anyone in the public that would like to address the township
committee and any subjects on the books? >> Uh yes. Natalie N 759 Route 50 in Petersburg. Um I've been in this upper township community 70 plus years. I was present at Upper Township Planning Board, zoning board and committee
meetings since 1997, 29 years. Previously, I ran for upper township committee office on save the rural landscape, create town centers. I have experience in land planning from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and where I had
been a political committee woman. Uh the cannabis thing is not about pot or no pot to me. It is about the zoning, land planning, general welfare, health and safety of our upper township
community. And I've been asked to run for upper township committee in this Republican primary and I'm going to do it. Thank you. >> Anyone else like to comment? Uh yeah, my comment is on the uh March
2nd uh public information uh meeting. Um it says uh the project consists of installation of a bike lane and sidewalks on North Old Tahoe Road and
Shore Road. Uh this is a good idea. if it didn't cost almost a million dollars to build and affect so few people. I I want to know
what what was the thinking behind all this? >> Well, that was awarded and started under the last administration. Um, and I believe that was primarily funded with grant money, >> right? But isn't there something better
you can do with your grant money to less than a mile of roadway and bike paths? >> Buses. Buses take those children to school. >> This grant in particular is uh designed
for bike paths and sidewalks. You can't use it for anything else. And it's in the vicinity of the school where there are neighborhoods that kids walk and frequent every day. >> Yes. >> But they don't have to walk there every day. The next thing would be, okay, let's have sidewalks for the middle
school. >> Well, I can tell you it was less than two years ago where they looked at cutting transportation. And when they look at cutting transportation, the courtesy busing is transportation. And that's anybody within two miles of the school. >> That's a state law.
>> That's a state law. So they actually looked at cutting all this transportation two miles from the school. So that was reality. That's when the last administration applied for this grant. This grant is exactly what it is. It's safe routes to
school grant. It puts bike paths and walking paths within two miles of a school so children can get to school. >> Okay. So, what you're saying is they're eventually going to cut busing in those two miles. >> We're not the school board. >> We're not the school board.
>> Okay. But uh it's just to me looking at this if they keep busing I think it will be a little bit I mean those buses have to go up those roads anyway. They could stop and pick up a little bit more you know a few more children. >> I'm not on a school board nor am I a bus
coordinator. So I don't know what the capacity of the bus is or the how they plan their roots or any of that because that's held at the building over there. where I teach in Millville, I have a student that's 1.9 miles from the school and even when there was all that snow on the
ground, she just doesn't have a bus, so she walks. >> So something like this, having a safe route to get to school would be a good thing in in Milville. Happy to have it up. >> And to comment on that too, I work with two walking districts and the only bus comes from the Coast Guard base which is
paid for by the United >> Yeah. But we're not in in that district. >> Right. Exactly. But that's the whole point is to Victor's point, the safe routes is allowing students who do not have the ability to ride a bus to safely get to and from school. >> Thank you. >> But right now there anybody
>> right now there's busing. Yes, >> there is busing. >> But we should plan for the future or just put our head in the sand and wait till it's reality. >> Keep the busing. Keep keep the busing. I I don't >> It's not our decision. >> Well, I I think it's my opinion
uh you know if this was like half of that it would be worth it but I mean you're you're just you know a million dollars could be spent in in other ways to >> notion this million way this million dollars can be spent is if it's on safe
routes to schools is the only way we can spend >> if we didn't apply for it another district would have and it would have been building sidewalks and bike paths to some other community. No, I still think it's a waste of money, but that's my opinion. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Is there anyone else who'd like to comment? >> Yes. >> You want to go? I was at the uh March 2nd um meeting with the engineer here um safe roots to school and um
Zack Zachary >> presented um there was one woman from that neighborhood who was there um that was interested in the sidewalk.
And um a lot of the questions really couldn't be answered. I understand that um it was not taped. I didn't see a single one of you at that meeting. Is there a reason why why you weren't
there? >> It was a public information s meeting. was disseminate the information to the public. >> And Zach said that's all that had to be done and now it goes to the Department of Transportation.
And he also said that I think what he said was there's really been no communication between this board and the school. >> That's not true. >> He hears say anyway. I just wouldn't
spoke to the superintendent yesterday. Well, but the meeting was on March the 2nd. >> Well, I don't agree with you. There's been multiple multiple times there's been communication. There's been an administration change and there's been a
a lot going on there, but yes, there's been multiple lines of communication with the >> Okay. Well, what he told us was that children from prek through fifth grade were going to be walking and that route
was basically several blocks around the school and then I believe it's shooting out to Route Nine and going straight down to Harbor Road in um Beasley's Point.
And the children are, you know, prek to fifth grade. That I believe is probably under 10 years old. And there's going to be a big green button for them to push to make the crossings. And there were no crossing guards that he's aware
of. And I um there's a Carlson guard at the primary and elementary school. There's a crossing guard there every day. Yeah, this isn't replacing crossing, >> but they're on they're on route nine as well going down to Harbor Road.
>> That' be a matter for the school board to take up. >> It's the town pays for a crossing guard. There's a crossing guard there. We're obligated to pay for that. >> Um I don't if there's a need for a crossing guard. I'm sure that'll be evaluated.
But at what point does it become a parenting responsibility too? >> Yeah. I also ask about like how many miles well how far it was going to be from Roosevelt Boulevard to where that
um sidewalk starts. And um they weren't quite sure. They thought maybe a quarter of a mile. If you don't know, >> I don't know. I don't even know why it's probably
>> um they weren't sure about who maintained the sidewalks and the cutouts either. Does the committee have it in there or will it be in the budget to maintain the sidewalks?
>> The maintain of the sidewalks is not in our budget because it's not going to be built this year. So, no, it's not in the 2026 budget. >> I thought they said something about in the summer it was going to be done. >> Okay. My my but no, we don't have
anything. We do have a line item in our budget for public works for maintenance and repairs. >> Okay. Well, I'm not clear as to if the homeowner is going to have liability and have to deal um with this or if it's on
the township. He did say that there was going to be a 5 foot wide bike path on the asphalt and then there was going to be a 4 foot wide concrete sidewalk. >> Well, I believe the bike path would be
in this New Jersey state highway right away. And generally sidewalks go in public right away which is a homeowner's responsibility to maintain >> the owners. Okay. And who's responsible for the bike path?
>> Well, that's going to be built in the New Jersey highway. >> So, I'm guess not the county or the federal because I'm not I thought there was, you know, I'm not sure who owns which part of that road.
>> Well, Route N is a highway. State County Road. Taco Road is a county road. >> 662. >> That would be a county. >> Okay. And the estimated construction cost they say is 925,000.
um he wasn't sure, you know, what was happening with the um engineering costs and um you know, I'm not sure that $925,000 is going to complete the project. So, are we going to be asked to put more
money into >> No. >> And the engineering costs, >> you guys budget? >> Yeah. And I I've been able to a couple times. There's two There's a CME one, there's a Remy and Vernick other extension that goes north um which does
largely the same. And when costs are overrun on these projects, you don't you don't go back to the taxpayers and ask for more money. What you do is you scale down the projects and you know, instead of going a mile and a quarter, maybe you go a mile and an eighth instead. So, you know, in the event cost there's cost
overruns, you would eliminate just eliminate the scope to go back and ask for more money. They won't know the cost until the bids come. >> Yes, it would involve a change order to scale down a project involves a change order just like to increase it.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Good evening, Barbara Murphy Seville. Just want to say thank you for your continued um expression of transparency. you are in prior administrations when people got up here and make comments you would get a
blank stare back. I really appreciate your attempts to answer every question to the best of your ability. And regarding grants in my day when I was in business grant meant free money. I thought the fact that you know prior
administration applied for the grant upper township got it and it's a wonderful opportunity. I wish there were bike paths all through upper township as well as sidewalks. Um I agree parenting. Nobody's going to let their
fouryear-older six-year-old walk from Harbor, you know, Harbor Road to the preschool. It's just insanity. So there is a responsibility. I think it's a wonderful opportunity. And again, I just I sit at the meetings. I listen to the meetings while I'm not here. and the
con, you know, you've got more engagement from the public coming out and speaking and you're you are doing your best to answer them in a polite way and in a thorough way and it hasn't gone unnoticed on my part. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else in the public would
like to comment hearing? No more public comments, we'll entertain a motion to go into close session. >> I hereby move that the resolution be incorporated into the minutes authorizing the township committee to enter into executive session for the following matters pursuant to open
public meetings act. Matters are one contract negotiation delta dental contract negotiation block 858 lot 1.05 free personnel I also included my motion that estimated time and circumstances under which the discussion conducted in
close session can be disclosed to the public as follows. A it is anticipated that the matters discussed in close session may be disclosed to the public upon determination of the township committee and the public interest will no longer be served by such confidentiality. B with respect to
employment and personnel matters such discussions will be made public if and when formal action is taken or whether whe when the individuals involve consent that it can be made public. See, with respect to contract negotiations, such matters will be made public when
negotiations have ceased and there is no longer a reason for confidentiality. >> Second, >> please call the role. >> Mr. Cassaceio, yes. >> Mr. Nappen, yes. >> Mr. Palumbo, yes. Mayor Corson, >> yes. Motion carried. >> We're going to take