Why not? Why not? >> I'll do it. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Call the meeting to order. Will the clerk read the statement?
of this regulatory was provided by the was provided to the public and the press on January 19th, 2025 and was posted at the municipal building in accordance with the public act NJSA 104-7.
>> Thank you. >> Please stand and join with us in the pledge of our flag. 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. >> Roll call. Council member >> here. See the mayor is present. May I have your comments?
>> Thank you, Council President. Uh this last week, Detective Sergeant Charlie Reed retired. Want to congratulate him on his retirement. Uh along with that, promoted was Corporal
Steve and Corporal Derek Scaderi to the rank of sergeant. this on August 14th. For those uh looking for uh PBA fundraisers, uh our Vernon PBA will be having a fundraiser
uh August 14th located at Bonham Cove in Lake Packon at 12:00 noon. Um there's a there'll be a dinner at the Beacon uh dinner and open bar from 4 to 7, $65 a person. Again, for more details, PBA
local285gmail.com. This is for the Morris and Sussex uh PBA. August 23rd, we have our uh EM uh Vern EMS is having a blood drive August 23rd from 9 to 3 on at 164 Great Neck.
Continuing on, our garbage survey is on our website. It's also I've been posting it as well. Please take the survey for the garbage. Please remember if you live in a community that has garbage part of your dues, do not take the survey.
Obviously, you would not pay for garbage and while you have it for free through your not free but through your dues. Uh this this more details will follow when the financials will be presented to the council on all the details. We are
looking uh to put it into the advertiser to especially for those who were not aware because again social media is only limited to the audience. Again so far we had overwhelming support. I have two pages of nos but a lot of them are
because they live in Barry Lakes and then three pages of yeses. We could always make those available to the council as well so you could see the actual outcome of the survey. Um, what else we got here? Sorry. Schoomer application. The Schoomer
application has finally move forward after many years of I guess trying to plan this. Um, but so on it was last week. So again, uh, just pleased to announce that the Ven application has
been officially approved by Skuma and is now moving forward. Our application will come before the commissioners for final county approval on August 20th. After that, it will be sent back to the D. Uh the governor has promised that he will
help expedite our request. So, I look forward to to keep pushing that along. So, that's been something uh a long time in the making. Legends, I don't want to go into much details on legends, but I will tell you this. We are not sleeping
on this. we we are working um and I as soon as I can I will provide an update on where we're at with this but I will tell you that we this is not something that we are just sleeping on. So the clock update which will be supposed to
be in on Wednesday but that I just got an email it's got to be pushed possibly to next week sometime. On Sunday, we had the Oh, Saturday, we had the Lake uh Pro Valley Fire Department went down,
which was a pretty cool event recognizing the new fire apparatus and mini pumper. Uh several fire trucks, apparatus, I say fire trucks, but they like to call it the fire apparatus. Uh, a lot of them from different
municipalities, Point Island came uh, came in to celebrate um, to recognize the the new apparatus. There was a DJ, a lot of food. All the families came out. It was it was it was a great time. In recreation, uh, this we on August
14th is the sidewalk sidewalk chalk event on August 14th. On August 22nd is the adult field day. So, I hope some of you guys will will join us. Um, that information is online on our recreational Facebook site. I think I
posted as well. Uh, you can always call the rec department for more information. And the 911 ceremony this year will be held at 8. It'll be held on 911 at 8:30 a.m. That's that's all I have. That's all my
comments. Thank you. >> Thank you, like to have a motion to open the floor. Public comment moved by Mr. Higgins. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by Mrs. Bucheri. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Floor is
open for comments. Public comment on the agenda items only. Limited to three minutes per person. Is there anyone wishing to come forward and Mr. Council please? >> Good evening. Thank you Sassy. I just have a couple.
>> See you again, former counsel. >> Nice to see you. >> Um, resolution 25202. There's actually no estimate of what the five-year contract would would. So my
question is, shouldn't that be cost contained in some way? It's open-ended contract like that. I mean, it's listed a bunch of figures, but there's no actual committed amount for what the contract would be. Just
seems a little vague. 25203 the uh first responders memorial. When is that going to be made public about what that is and how you know nobody really knows about it?
We've heard rumors but >> and you're putting out for bids and nobody knows anything about it. So when is that going to become publicly detailed? Um 25205
purchase of a B from the council. We bought a bucket bucket truck. Question is why do we need a dual vehicle? What is so high in this town that we need to spend another 70,000
plus for a bucket truck? The banners, Christmas ornaments, light set. We've got a fire truck that has it. Why can't we use that? Why do we need to spend more money? Um,
I just think there's a little too much spending going on and I'm very concerned about who's watching the spending and what kind of containment is being placed on
it. Um, I am assuming and maybe I'm what that means, but the council should be in my opinion checking and questioning like I just I
don't see that happening and I see a lot of expenses going through like there's over $50,000 worth of uh repair bills this month. That makes me wonder why
our equipment being so abused and not taken care of properly by the users. I'll leave it there, but it just seems to me we've never had those kind of bills before. Um, the ordinance go. Are we going to have
public comments on the ordinance tonight? >> Of course. >> If it's a second reading. If it's a second reading, >> not if it's if it's just a first reading, it's just an introduction. >> Well, is this is a second time on the uh >> and we will have a
>> on the star gold star, right? >> Yes. >> Um >> hey, your time, >> your time's just about up. >> Three minutes are up. Thank you. >> Comments. Anyone else wishing to address the
council? Good evening everyone. Sally Ranker Vernon. >> I apologize for any repetitiveness. We did not collaborate. So, okay. So, this agenda tonight does have many noteworthy and questionable expenditures. I will
try to address my concerns briefly. Uh, several weeks ago, a second vehicle showed up on the bills list. Line item admin lease vehicles. Please refer to number 64368 on your copy of the bills list. It shows now that we have two administration cars
and the price per month has now doubled. So, uh, when taxpayers wonder why taxes go up, we all know there's expenditures that cannot be avoided. But where and when this council can avoid unnecessary spending, you must protect the taxpayer against that. Since 2010, when I was
mayor, through three mayors thereafter, no mayor had a dedicated vehicle to use. Fast forward to this administration. Now taxpayers are paying for two unless there's some other sensible explanation about why there's
two on the bills list. Resolution 25-203 rejecting a bid of 275,000 for first responder memorial. One has to wonder how elaborate are these plans? Has anyone seen what is going out to bid around here? And like how it's an astronomical number. It's almost
unbelievable. We go to resolution 25204 authorizing our purchasing agent to now negotiate a contract with vendors for the memorial. And again, you know, does anyone know what that thing even looks like that now we're going to give
permission to someone to go negotiate on what? I I don't know. I haven't seen anything uh you know on Facebook or any other place that we usually get our information in this town. uh resolution 25-205, a bucket truck for $182,000.
I agree with what was just put on the record. So, we already have the DPW outfitted to doing highlevel work, extra money spent for them to be accommodated to do that. For contractors with bucket trucks in this town, there are bucket
trucks for rent if an occasional one needs to be used. And to me, this is a completely unnecessary expenditure. 25-206 we have a salt conveyor for 93 plus thousand dollar. I don't know if the
council's aware but the county has a salt conveyor that they lend to every town in this county. So why would must we buy one for ourselves? >> 30 seconds. >> The gun and carry permits. Why after spending $50,000 for the manpower in our
police department to handle these permits would you now vote to refund and reduce the permit fees? The se sequence of order is reckless and an abuse of all taxpayers. And reading ordinance number 25-10, which proposes $2 for pistol
permits and $50 for a carry permit, leaves nothing to cover Vernon's administration fees in my estimation or mathematical deduction there. So the council must not pass this burden on to every tax. May I finish one more sentence? Great.
You gun owners must be the only ones who pay the costs. Please don't pass it on to all the taxpayers who don't use the uh privilege. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Right. It's a right, not a privilege. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome.
>> There. Anyone else? >> How you doing? Mike, Franklin Burough. I just came here to support your resolution on the uh reduced fees for the uh constitutional right that we have. I'm just happy to see it's on the agenda and up for consideration and just to show that there are people here that do support it. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Please come forward to be nervous, right? >> Okay. >> You shouldn't be. >> Well, I consider you guys friends, family, >> absolutely >> neighbors. I'm a proud taxpayer in Vernon Township. >> State your name. >> Love that we opened up to >> Excuse me. May you please state your name?
>> I'm sorry. Augustino Rockat 13 Pan. Sorry. >> Augustino Rockinati 13 Panorama Drive. >> We opened up with the Pledge of Allegiance and that really made my heart feel warm because I haven't done that since. So, um I don't know of any other
constitutional right that I have to pay for. So, um I think I'd like to end that there. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. Brian Janton, uh, Wantage resident and
manager of a Mastadon Ammo Camo business in your own community that, uh, offers firearm services. And, uh, I want to thank you for considering to support, uh, law-abiding firearm owners with your resolution. The costs keep going up for gun
ownership. An initial new gun owner currently pays in excess of $100 just to exercise this right to go through the process. And they repeat that every single time they want to expand additional items that they want. And um unfortunately in certain cases I think
it is viewed as a way of because law-abiding people are willing to pay for that right that it can be used to fill in a budget gap not just in communities uh in individual municipalities but across the state and
uh it's also not fair to burden just one segment of a community that's willing to pay to spread that out in other areas. >> Thank you. Thank you. What else can come? Good evening. Uh Bryce Chanella, my
first time. >> Welcome. >> Thank you. Uh I'm here to comment on resolution 25215 as well. Uh, I think it would be great that we don't have to pay another $150 to
exercise our rights. Um, prior to 2022, we weren't we really weren't able to have a carry permit. We New Jersey is very restrictive. Now, we are able to do that and the fees had just went up because they let us
have it. So, and I don't think we had to hire any additional officers to do anything here. We've already been issuing gun permits, pistol purpose permits, FID cards. Vernon Township PD is great at getting all that stuff out quick. Vicki in the office is fantastic.
So, as far as administrative costs, they really think there aren't any. We already have the guys on payroll. We're already paying for them. So, they're doing a little bit more work, but not much. I think Vernon issued about 60 permits. So, not not a ton of work. We
have a good amount of people here. So, I I'd like to I hope you guys vote yes on that. Thank you. >> Anyone else wishing to address the council? >> If not, I'll ask for a motion to close the meeting to public the moved by Mr.
Higgins. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by Mrs. Bucheri. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. All council members have received a copy of the review bill.
>> Yes, the bill's list. >> Received a copy of our bills list. Comments on it or questions? >> Have a few lesson. >> Oh, yeah. I just Well, do you have an answer to Mr. Stassy's question? Is there another administrative vehicle?
Did we buy one in the last week? >> Um that I believe that one I can't guarantee, but we did have to uh um trade in one of the detective bureau cars >> and they consider that as like an
administrative. So that was the police. One was police, one is admin up here. >> Okay. So it's we traded in a police vehicle and got >> they switched one of their admin cars was up for their lease. So it was just swapping the cars for the new one.
>> Okay. All right. Thanks for the clarification. >> And I just want I want to comment as well. This they keep talking. It's my car. This car is used by every department. This car was also used as a backup should one of our inspected
vehicles breaks down or is in the shop and it's happens. Um, recreation uses it. I was writing checks every week for mileage for employees. That pretty much has come to an end. Every department except for the police
department. I guess if I had some some lights in there, they would they would have borrowed it too. But from the DPW to my office in between even the commissioner fire marshals have used this vehicle as
well. It's not my vehicle. This is to keep to cut cost and also to keep government moving forward. >> So whenever something like that occurs, it's listed as a separate lease here. It's listed as an admin lease vehicle,
which is two cars. You just said it's being used for other things. Police are using it. >> No, there's two separate admin vehicles. So, we have one up here for >> um the employees here. If >> Excuse me. Let's let's talk the cars.
You have two. One is a blue car and one is a black car, right? >> I don't know what colors they are. I know the one up here is black. >> I don't know. And I think the other one is a dark blue because I see that parked up there. I don't >> I don't know. I don't know who
>> that's the fire that's the uh fire marshals uh cars that the blue one that's up here is the fire marshals. I think this is the uh detective bureau uh admin car. I believe >> you said it was a police car for that line. She's underneath
>> under admin, I guess. But >> no, it Well, it is Seth. It does if I'm reading the right one that she said. um uh 368. So that admin lease vehicle is the one that they traded in for the police department. So they have an admin
car down there for the police department. >> So that's what I believe that this one is. I can confirm it, but I know that we just they just traded in a lease vehicle for one of their admin vehicles for a
new admin down there. >> And it was an ad >> and they call it the same thing. >> It's not a it's not outfitted like a regular police car, >> they can the detective bureau might use it or like if the captain or the lieutenant needs to take take it somewhere so they call it an admin
vehicle also for the same reasoning. >> Sure. So there would be an offset then if one was traded in and this one is now an admin car. We should see a savings somewhere else for the one that was traded in. >> No, it's just an equal trade. So they traded in their old admin card
>> for a new admin if it was called a police vehicle. The police lease would go down if the admin lease goes up. >> It was an admin for an admin. Right. >> Right. It was an admin for an admin >> previously listed as a police vehicle or never had two admin cars.
One is for the police department, one is for the rest of the township. It was a >> I don't know what it was listed. Uh we can we can go back into history and get that information to you. But this is not this is not an add-on. Um especially to
to the administration upstairs. It's again police department uh how they labeled it. That's how they that's how they labeled it. But we'll we'll find out what it was prior to uh calling it this or maybe it was called Matar. I don't know. But but we'll find out for
sure. Exactly. >> That's really what everybody's asking. You know, >> one of the things that I've talked to a number of mayors, starting with Mayor Morata, rather than we we sit and wonder about
what car is what and how many miles, is there any way we can get a I've done it myself because I when I was selling shoes, I also had to, you know,
make sure that the the types of the colorations and everything were confirmed by the buyer and I would embed the picture of the the item being purchased and send it out back and forth
and every all of the information is listed right underneath. Is there any way that we can get a folder or uh of the various cars we have? Uh not necessarily the police because they move
too fast in terms of where they're going because of the amount of mileage that goes on them. But can we get, you know, a picture of the car with the mileage when they started and uh a number, a
picture of their plate and uh showing uh what uh you know how what kind of mileage they is being put on them and and so forth. So that when we're talking about this, we can say, "Oh, car 472,
you know, here it is." and uh and this is the one we're going to be asking to be replaced and it's got x number of miles on it and so forth and so on rather than have to sit sit here and and and wonder about it.
>> So you want this for every council meeting? >> No, for every council person. You you can only you can do it once and anytime every council you know once you do it >> well do you maintain like a roster of the vehicle >> once you do it once you do it it's
available for all council people just by >> having it printed out but that >> if you're going to make a trade in on that >> then you know that's easy to identify which one and then replace that one with a new one. So, it's not really I don't
see that as a great uh matter or a great issue. Certainly, we would stop the question of whether or not we're looking at it. >> Yeah. And like you said, you might have it for insurance purposes and the DPW might have it for like maintenance
records. who has a list of all the >> I don't know if they have you know if they one they come in they're going to have a license I mean a you know mileage on it but obviously that's >> we're I'm not asking that we you keep track of the mileage and we have to keep
track of it. I'm asking that car comes in with you know 38 miles on it and here's the picture of the car. Here's the picture of, you know, what it looks like and and the all of the appointments on it. And when you go to
sell it or when you go to trade it in, here's the same car. It's got, you know, you know, 52,000 miles on it or whatever the agreement with the leasing company is. And now we can begin to look at it and you can look at the condition of it and see what it is and so forth. We'll
talk to Danell about uh how she can go into the fleet software and and see if they can run some kind of report. Now whether or not say car 404 is with zoning um then I may have that. Well, we
got to have that somewhere. >> They have a list. They have a list of roster >> pictures or maintenance >> and pictures or no we don't have pictures of it but >> yeah they don't take pictures of the vehicles when they come in. They have a a roster that's kept
>> and are you only concerned with um with administration you're not concerned about police cars? I I >> No, I don't think police cars are necessary because the only people that drive the police cars are the police. >> Correct. Police. And plus the fact as I
say it I think there's just too much movement on those cars in terms of uh hitting their mileage um uh peaks. And >> so is it just the like it say inspector's cars? >> Inspectors well if you want to use that it's up to you. Uh but certainly what we
have out front and you know what we are having what we have uh put forward on the uh on our DPW >> and the DPW. You want the DPW too >> if it's possible. >> Yeah. Because you're going to get you're going to get trucks in there or you're
going to get up and stuff. So, um >> either that or or or included we could possibly use uh I know from when we had some questions regarding uh whether or not our snow plows were
passing a particular point early enough and late enough and people were doubting whether or not they were ever able to make it. We had uh you know locators put in the in the vehicles. Are those are they still there? They still in in those
vehicles. >> They still have locators in them. Yeah. Um the fleet software I believe is all everything is equipped. Yeah. So that was great because we would be able to tell the >> for the trucks for the >> trucks and yeah, we would be able to
tell the people that, oh yeah, you're uh a a truck passed your house at, you know, 710 this morning is scheduled re, you know, to come past it at, you know, 9:15 for a second pass, that type of
thing. So it it res it eased a lot of uh concerns, let me put it that way. >> Okay, just another comment on the leasing. Has there ever been a feasibility study? We
lease here there's $75,000 worth of lease payments here and then on the page previous to that, which are the normal monthly bills we see all the time. And uh we're leasing from enterprise number of cars. What's the advantage of leasing versus purchasing? Did our purchasing
director ever ask that question? I'm sure the company enterprise does a presentation say you you should lease instead of buy because here's your savings. Hopefully there is a savings. Is there? And has that ever been done? >> Oh yeah, Denell has talked about this at length.
>> Who did? >> Dell. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm asking was did she ever do the feasibility study? Yeah. When it's done. >> Yeah. That's why she switched to it because it used to not be done before. Yeah. She talked about it probably before you were on the council bill, but she could explain it better. I'm sure
Danell could answer your question. >> It was a tremendous buyback advantage rather than >> Yeah, >> it was. Yeah. >> Mhm. Okay. >> Yep. >> Other question? No, it's for me. Thank you. Seeing no other questions.
All council members have received copies of the copies of the minutes for the executive session of June 23rd, 2025.
May I have a motion to approve those executive session minutes? Minutes >> moved by Mr. Higgins. Is there a >> second? >> Seconded by Mrs. uh I'm sorry, Mrs. Hig. This is scary. I'll get it right once I
>> keep saying it. >> Yes, absolutely. Um, are there any requests for corrections, additions, or deletions on it? >> No. May I have a uh
roll call? >> Council member Bushi? >> Yes. >> Council member Denardetta? >> Yes. >> Council member Higgins? >> Yes. >> Council member, I'm sorry, Council President Rudo. >> Yes. All members of the council have received
a copy of our regular meeting minutes of June 23rd. May I have a motion to place those minutes on the floor for consideration? >> Moved by Mrs. De Benetto. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by Mr. Higgins.
Are there any questions or comments or requests for changes updates? If not, may I have a roll call, please? >> Yes. Council member, >> yes. >> Council member H. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> All members have received the copy of the meet meeting minutes of July 14, 2025. May I have a motion place these minutes uh on the floor for
consideration? Moved by Mr. Higgins. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by Mrs. uh Mrs. Beri. >> Uh I'm getting into one of those things here. All right. Um any questions or
comments on it? Changes. >> Roll call, please. >> Council member Busheri. >> Yes. >> Council member D. Benadetto. >> Yes. >> Council member, >> yes. >> President, >> yes. Motion carries. and give consent agenda
resolution 25-201 approving a pedaller's license for Frank the Angel. Before I start, uh, if you have any requests to have any of these resolutions separated from the consent agenda, please make your wishes known so
I can do so. >> Yeah, I'd like to remove definitely 202. Okay. 203 204 205 208 210
and 215. Any others? Resolution 25-206 authorizing contracts with certain approved state contract vendors under T-3124. Resolution 25-207,
authorizing 8 municipal tax sale. Resolution 25-209, authorization to endorse the treatment works approval application to the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection Production on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system alteration at Village Way located at block 22, I'm sorry, 451,
uh, lot 12. Resolution 25- 211 authorizing the use of Mars County Pricing Cooperative for uh
proposed improvements to various streets. Lake Conway resolution 25-12 authorizing the award of contract for proposed improvements canister road resolution 25-213
authorizing the use county Pricing Cooperative for proposed improvements to Canister Road. Uh and finally, resolution 25-214
authorizing the use of Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council for proposed improvements to McPakood. May I have a motion to place these resolutions on the floor for
consideration? >> President, yes. Did you include um 25201 Pedler's license? >> Yes. Yes, I did. >> Frank the Angel >> moved. >> Moved by Mrs. Benadetto. Is there a second?
>> Second. Seconded by Mr. Higgins. Seeing no questions or comments during the initial proposal. May I have a roll call, please? >> Council member Busher. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Higgins. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Carious. >> Yep. Moving to the individual resolution 25-202 I am interested in awarding
6- 2025 to little environmental and a fair and open award for lead paint inspection consul. May I have a motion to place that on the
floor? Moved by Mr. Higgins. Is there a second? >> Uh second. >> Seconded by Mr. Miri. Are there any questions on comment on this that can >> Yeah, just a couple questions really on some of the wording. So, we've received
competitive contracts. So, this is under a uh a uh apparently not an open bid, but it's a bid for people that were on the contract. I would assume >> there are providers who are on a
contract that provided >> competitive bids and it says in here that our rating committee has reviewed the submittals. Who's our rating committee? So you would have three people from the municipality that would know anything about these things and
they would rate each one of those bids to you know as for the information if they can actually um you know do the job that's that is required of them. There's specific things that they have to rate
and then it's sent to our QPA. He averages everything out and the highest um final average of everything is the company that we would agree to go with. >> So the rating committee could be
different for whatever the bid is. >> There's three three people. They don't do it together. They do it separately. Each one is individually sent into our QPA. He takes it, he averages it out, and then comes back with the outcome of
it. So this is dependent upon the various areas of expertise. If it's roads, if it's >> blind basically. >> Yes. And it says dually advertised. >> Advertised out to all the different types of companies.
They have a certain amount of time that they can get their they have a whole uh vendor packet that they have to fill out and have to send in. The vendor packet is then um displayed for all the different companies to see and then everything is sent to the raiders. The
raiders actually will go through it once the final outcome is come out like this. You'll see the rating and the company that we felt >> that has the highest rating gets the bid. >> Yes. >> Gotcha. >> And then that's sent to our qualified purchasing agent. So my question would
be Tina, many business administrators are qualified purchasing agents in boards of ads as well as municipalities. Just on a personal basis, you interested in becoming a qualified purchasing agent so we can avoid the cost of paying an outside firm to do this.
>> Well, I would have to go through training. That's not something that I would have to, you know, >> right? Yep. You know, >> that might be something to consider for us as well as yourself because we're using an out of state agency instead of having it in inside, right?
>> I would have to think about that. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Anything else? Roll call. >> Council member. >> Yes. >> Benadetto. >> Yes. >> Council member Higgins. Yes.
>> Council President Rudo. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Resolution 25-203. The resolution rejecting rejecting bid submittals for bid number 5R-2025
first responders memorial bid. May I have a motion to place this on the agenda? table for consideration. Moved by Mr. Higgins. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by Mrs. De Benadetto. U any
comments on this? >> Yes. I guess I'll follow up on the audience. A number of people came up and had question on this. So, uh a quote was received for $275,000. What was that quote as a result of what design or you know what was it all
about? So, I I talked about it during my uh county's address. We have uh a first responders memorial uh which is
a pondless water feature which will be right out in front of these doors here. I received well most of it I'm trying to get done under under donations. Um, the issue was
because of the threshold of of the dollar amount, we needed to go out to bid. So, when we went out to bid, somebody bidded on this at 275,000, which was insane because we've gotten quotes that were under 30,000. So, and
the one just came in under under prevailing wage at like 38. Um, so this was kind of we had to go out there just test the waters to see what these these bids would come in at. Uh, and this 275 which >> to build a pond.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. This was the only this was the only bid that came in. It was the same process as what we were just talking about. >> The specs were sent out. They were able to um, you know, they had a certain amount of time. We had one company that
came in to bid and that was the price. >> Neat. Okay. Anybody here see the specs? >> Um, >> the council did. >> Yeah. Everything was sent to you. Um, be before we went out to bid, you were given the specs and it was approved for
us to go out to bid for it. >> Yeah. >> Is there a uh is there an existing first responders memorial now? >> No, >> there isn't. Oh.
We should. Sad that this town doesn't, but >> would it incorporate the tree, the the September 11th tree? Would it be near? They have that tree out. >> You walk out these doors um right to your left. You'll see a planter that's
underneath. >> Uhhuh. >> But right outside of that before that blue bench, that's the area proposed. >> Oh, >> it's like a six foot. It consists of three. Um, I thought I post it, but I I'll put it out there. I'll show you
guys. It was And I met with, by the way, I just just This was not just my design or approving. Um, our police chief Pan Young was there. Um, >> our chief uh
Kevin Duffy was there and Brian Lynch who was part of the >> uh state uh memorial fund upon. So we had three three of those gentlemen in the room when we talked about design and everything that this was something that I wanted them to be part of something
that I would like to do and drive um especially with with donations but like I said because of the threshold >> had gratit this obviously 275 is >> what the heck I mean
>> I don't know we got some maybe some in town >> so we had We This was the second time we went out to bid for this. Went out to bid one time and we had no one to bid, you know, no biders that came in. We had to reannounce that we were going out to
bid again. And this time we only had the one the one bid. So with the amount of it, it's obviously way above what we want. That's the reason for this resolution is to reject this bid. >> Gotcha. Yeah, I get that. Okay. And you could we can I think renegoti I think we
go back to them and say you know uh we're not doing 275 we I don't know how that negotiation process works this the first time. Um but I believe we can go back and negotiate but like I said coming from 275 to where numbers where I was getting uh
you know between 30 and 40,000 uh is is quite but I believe at that point >> we can then go with the three quote >> um we can go right uh just as long yeah as long as they have the the the proper
paperwork public works uh certificate and uh then we can go out through with the three quote process again and get it done at at a reasonable price. Again, um I have most of it on donation. Um I think that we're shy about 10,000. So
I'm working on that. So >> thanks. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Roll call. >> Yes. >> Member D. Venadetto. >> Yes. >> Council member Higgins. >> Yes. Council President Rudo. >> Yes.
>> Resolution 25-204, resolution authorizing negotiations for receipt of bids for first responders memorial under NJSA
40 a colon 11-5 parentheses 3. Um, may I have a motion to place this on? >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion made by Mrs. Is there a second? Second. Second by Mr. Higgins.
>> Yes, sir. >> So, it seems to be a duplicate discussion we just had is really what it comes down. >> It's just Yeah, it's just saying that because we didn't get a decent bid. Now, the QPA, if we get some of the other um companies that can fill out the
paperwork that we had quotes on and they have all the approval, then he can negotiate to see if we get a better number. And that's what this is authorizing. >> Okay. This is something maybe just an exercise in futility. Right.
>> Somebody came in at what $275 >> $75,000 uh and we're now asking qualified purchaser to agent go in and negotiate on our behalf. And you mentioned
$35,000. Are we are we really looking to see if we can't get 230 or $240,000 off? I mean, is is that a is that a is
that >> we're not spending that. >> Okay. >> This this would have to be like a footballsiz memorial. >> So, I mean to me it's, you know, if if you can do it, great. Then don't ever dark darken my door again because I
can't believe you're there. Especially if it's the same guy that bids. >> I hear you. >> All right. You got to be careful. There are companies that actually do this on purpose for the purpose of saying I'm the only bidder and negotiating it out. And uh >> they take a shot.
>> They sure do. And sometime they win. >> And any contract come before back to you to vote and approve. All right. Roll call. If there's no other questions, >> council member,
>> yes. >> Council member D. Benadetto, >> yes. >> Council member Higgins, >> yes. >> Patrick Rosa, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Resolution 25-205, a resolution authorizing the purchase of Altech
NT4 G 4x4 bucket truck and accessories through Sourcewell National Cooperative 404924- ALT Global Rental Incorporated.
I have a motion to place this on the floor for consideration. >> Moved by Mr. Higgins. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by Mrs. Cherry. >> Yes. >> Once again, we're following up on the audience and their concern. It's uh $182,000.
I guess the question is how often are we going to use it? Yeah. Are there alternatives? And then another thing I noticed, we're actually purchasing it from a rental company. They happen to be a distributor product. So, I a lot of questions. Maybe we don't have
the answers. Maybe we put off on this decision until we uh get those answers. Is it cheaper to uh rent one when we need it? What What's the plan? Or the question also, didn't we at one point
uh pro provide funding for a bucket for one of for one of our uh fire departments? >> Only once. >> Oh, so so this this bucket truck, >> we're not gonna I mean this this bucket truck is used for for many different
things. Um and most the most common use for this will be for taking down trees and limbs. Um which we we spend quite a bit of money on that. Top of everything, you know, the town lighting. Um just
other areas. I don't have the laundry list of of of things that we we would use the bucket for or what they normally would use it for. I know sometimes they used a a a forklift with a bucket which didn't sound that safe but um so this
this also this also helps with our shared services board of that as well with the trees. Um this has been a long time we've been uh we've been spending money on on on bucket rentals or or other things. But
again, with with the amount of trees and cutting around um different things, uh this truck will come in handy. We we can't use a $2 million fire truck to go stop cutting down limbs, trees. It just Yeah, I don't think the public would
want us to utilize our fire truck that way. That's the reason for this truck. Well, it's not I mean, if you need to use it for a fire, you can't have it being used for >> Well, besides that, I mean, >> yeah, you can't >> you have to run that fire truck. >> Yeah, but god forbid something happened
to it. You You can't No, that's not safe. >> What if you know there's an emergency? >> There's an emergency and it's Yeah. on the other side of town. No, I can't. >> I thought we had something and it just didn't reach high enough. Wasn't this a conversation we had during budget? >> I thought we rented it and it wasn't
like we didn't have it for time. We we um they have like for example for banners they I think they had some kind of uh booklift with basket on it. There's contraption they were using. So it just
>> does OSHA know about this? >> No. >> Yeah. Right. And um especially being near power lines and they're not working that close to power lines. They're not supposed to. uh which these guys are will be getting they will be getting
trained um to work around power lines as well. Uh that is probably one of the reasons why this this bucket truck is a little bit more expensive because uh I've learned that there's two different types of bucket trucks. There's sealed one and a non excuse me insulated or
non-inssulated. This is an insulated one. So, god forbid anything with electric uh our guys will will be safe in that bucket. >> Extra layer of protection. >> It's still the question in my mind is
$182,000 is a lot of money. Can we rent these this type of an item and not have to worry about our maintenance things like that?
I I think the amount of times you'd be renting and then also like I said uh areas that these those trucks may may or may not reach um and hiring hiring these tree tree service companies to go ahead and do
this stuff. Um it it makes sense to have our own bucket truck. >> I just I just want to note we did approve the bond ordinance and this was listed as equipment on the bond ordinance that was passed. Yeah, we had this convers >> Yeah, we had this conversation already. So I
>> But to appease the folks with questions, do we have an idea of the breakdown of how much we spent renting this equipment and hiring? Because it's not like you rent the equipment and you just get to use it, right? They it has to be staffed.
>> Well, you need guys to to know how to use the truck, too, >> right? Their their own people is what I'm saying. So in other words, we're renting them and their equipment, >> correct? >> Not necessarily. >> No. >> But the tree guys, especially >> certified to operate one, you can rent it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. >> Uh I'm sure Dell probably has in the record how much we're spending on tree removals. >> Yeah. >> He has that break. >> I don't think it's unreasonable to explore that, but I mean I I was going to vote yes because we did have the conversation during the bond.
>> Yeah. Yeah, >> I like when we we had those banners with the the forklift truck, but by all means, I mean, I wish it was sufficient enough to so we didn't have to spend that. Uh I I know last year there was a backo on there
that for 180,000 that I took it off the capital uh purchasing fees. I felt we had front loaders, we have other machinery. So like that's something that I cut out. Um, we have all again front loaders and an excavator. So, we we
don't necessarily need the uh backo as as a priority. Um, we'll just keep fixing the older one that we have because we don't use it every day. So, so but this is uh this is a truck that we will use quite often. So, >> you mentioned the board of education.
Are you planning on getting uh having a shared use on that and gaining a revenue stream from schoolboard on that? >> Our our shared service agreement covers all outdoor uh maintenance for whatever. Not
necessarily. We're not looking to to start dropping huge trees and things like that. We're not going into the tree service business, but uh if there are certain branches that may be dangerous, we will have the capability of doing it and then we build back for it
>> and they'll pay us. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yep. That's the agreement. We we kind of we didn't want to single out each task, so we we covered it under all outdoor maintenance, but we don't do all outdoor maintenance just just for the record,
too. But >> like as needed, so they'll contact us. Absolutely as needed. Um if we have the machinery uh that that's something that if we can help we can we can help. If we can't then we can't. So >> we do get build. I mean we do build it.
>> Sure. >> Yep. Being that there's >> they us services for them too. >> That there's still some questions and this this is not a big emotional issue and uh probably the guy with the most expertise on the council side is Brad.
He's got a big background in this. I'd propose just to table this until next meeting. Move motion to table has been made. We have a mot a vote on the table. Motion made by Mr. Higgins.
>> I'll second it. Second by Mrs. Benadero. Thanks. Please. >> Yes. Council >> member. >> Yes. Council >> member Higgins. >> Yes. >> Council President Rudo. >> Yes. >> Motion carries.
>> Thank you. >> Resolution 25-208. a loan agreement between Mountain Creek Resort and the state of New Jersey to buy and for the department of environmental protection. May I have a
motion to place the sound consideration? >> Moved by Mr. Higgins and seconded by Mrs. Beach. >> So, it's a $3 million agreement that we're backing Mountain Creek on repairing a dam. So I guess the first
question and it's it's enough money to bring to the public just everybody has an understanding what's going on. We're not taking out the loan. Mount Greek is we're guaranteeing the loan however and there's a 2% uh rate at the rate for the
loan. So uh who owns the dam I guess would be my question first question. >> Creek owns the dam. It's a dam is a dam and it's part of environmental everything else. So they have to repair the dam. Right.
>> Right. Our our affirmation >> the agreements. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It it did seem pretty straightforward and uh you know there there's no problem on my part. I just wanted to >> I'm glad you brought it up because I
know people see this and they think that our pain we're getting we're giving special treatment. No, >> it's not. This is simp right. Anything else? >> No. Roll caller. >> Yes.
>> Member Denno. >> Yes. >> Council member Higgins. >> Yes. >> Yes. Resolution appointing I'm sorry. Resolution 25-210. Resolution appointing Thomas Vanlven as
fire official for the township of Vernon. May I have this on the floor? Moved. >> Moved by Mr. Higgins. Is there a second? Seconded by Mrs. uh Gucci. May uh comments. >> Yes, just a comments. We're hiring a
full-time person. This full-time person is guaranteeing us 35 hours a week doing the job whether he has another job or not. Correct. >> Hiring. He's already >> Yeah, he's hired. >> He's been here for very long. >> Right. >> And so, but this is making it official.
>> It's appointing him as >> So, be How can somebody be here for that long? and we're making an official. >> You can't talk about him >> before this. He was >> tenative >> trial attorney because >> during that period he was in we were in
the waiting period for confirmation. Well, it's not exactly >> civil service. >> So going back to civil service and I see that there is a civil service posting for this job which was January one. We've had many discussions on civil
service. So this one was actually posted as per civil service requirements. >> They're all posted. All positions um for civil service are posted >> and this is the one I actually sent you the emails on. So you actually seen the whole
>> history of the whole process of this. >> So it took so this is an example where it took civil service from January 1 until now to move through the process. Is that what's going on? >> Yes. >> This is the It's even longer because we
made the request back in September, >> almost a year. >> Yeah. >> Crazy. >> Real life story here. >> True. >> Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? >> Thank you.
>> Roll call. >> Council member Busher. >> Yes. Council member Benedo. >> Yes. >> Hens. >> Yes. President >> resolution 25-21 authorizing the use
I'm sorry we already did resolution 25- 215 a resolution >> that the township of Vernon County of Sussex State of New Jersey authorizing a reduction of the municipal portion of the gun carry permit fee effective
January 1, 2026. I have a motion to place this. >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion made by Mrs. Is there a >> second? >> Seconded by Mr. Benadetto. Any comments? >> Yes, I have uh one comment here. I see
in the second paragraph it says by offering refunds and then in the fourth paragraph it says by reducing the municipal portion. So there's two things we're talking about in the same same resolution like little clarification on
that. What are we talking about? >> That would probably be my mistake. I drafted it. What it is is a uh reduction to only $50. So you would be um reducing it $150 the municipal portion and it wouldn't take effect until January 26.
So there wouldn't be any um rested uh there wouldn't be any um reimbursement. So for 2025 all the monies that were collected and will be collected until the end of the year go to the town but in starting in 2026
uh that $150 would not be collected. >> Okay. So that was just a typo. That was my uh my mistake. And again, and it's just authorizing us to change the ordinance. So now I can draft the ordinance, which a um draft copy was um
presented. >> Thanks for clarifying. >> So I do apologize. >> No problem. >> Any other questions? >> No, just part of the vote when it comes up. I guess two meetings ago, we approved spending $53,000
that was uh available through the police department before we even knew about any of this. >> And that 53,000 was used to promote a patrolman to a sergeant and then hire a new patrolman. And that's where the refunds would have come from. I I voted
for that as everybody else did. a I that would be a a uh I guess a bank of money that could have been used to refund to gun owners that's now been spent previously and uh it's just came
pretty close to the same discussion both votes happening within one meeting of one another. So, uh, I'm just saying I'm in favor of of reducing the $50 and and I see that
other towns have actually given refunds through throughout the state. There's no money to give refunds here. That money was spent a month ago. So, uh, you know, my initial thought would be I'm in favor of the reduction.
>> Anyone else? I I just have a question and I know I have to look at this as being apart from the gun carry issue. Not a question of rights. It's a question to me of
as a gun owner, I choose whether or not to carry or not or to apply for that. If I choose not to, then I have to abide by whatever the
law is. However, um I I still don't believe it's proper for uh the township to re to use
u this issue to and and backcharge, so to speak, or to to bring it back to people who do not carry firearms or do not wish to and to use that amount of money to uh support
u people who are um you know are uh don't wish to carry I was we we had this discussion at last meeting and it was pointed out that
there's a difference these are you know these are the rights and I'm not going to pay for my for a right that I I I have under the constitution. I agree. But what we are doing here, this is not
a charge. This is a a fee. It's not the same as a tax. So, we're not using our taxes. We're using a fee. And the fee is
for the ability to go ahead and have the necessary uh investigations done within the scope of what is required to say that we're going to you're going
to do it and without having question of using that money coming from the fees. I I just question whether or not that's
>> that's right. Right. >> You know, I agree. I want to carry a gun. I don't think that $100, $150 is too much to pay for the administration
of that right to be able to uh follow it. get it done and be able to have it followed through for the uh by the community. Uh >> if you were to ask this, I mean, I I
suppose we could probably extend it to a to animal licenses. >> Those are not covered by the constitution. >> And and I agree. So, let's just make it a constitutional carry town and then we can settle this once and for all. >> Well, we couldn't do that.
Can you make it make it a constitutional carry town? No. >> So I >> sound like a lot, but >> to some people >> it Yeah, >> it's a lot. >> But the problem is it's every two years. >> Yeah. >> On top of the qualification. >> On top of the qualification, on top of
all the other >> my Pennsylvania carrier is $25 and it's good for I don't know five or seven years. Somebody will probably correct me. >> Five five years. There are other things that are not right that we do share as
members of the community like our school. No, >> garbage. >> Um well, don't bring up garbage, Peter. That's um you know and and because we believe that um you know educating our children is important to the whole community and you know some people might
argue that um safe gun owners that are mostly NRA trained background checked um know their know their um firearms know their guns well are um vetted through the police department
um you know qualified through a gun range. Those are the type of people that probably make your community safer. >> 100%. >> So that those are so it kind but that falls in line with like a well educated children, right? Like those are the
people that I would feel safer having in my community. >> This is this is not a question of that. I I I >> So that's a small financial burden. I very small compared to like $68 million burden >> for a school budget. 25,000 a student.
>> Can Can I ask you this, Mr. Mayor? >> 150 a person. How many people How many purchasers permits? How many carry permits? What? 60 a year. Under 50 a person, >> I think. >> Even if it was a hundred. >> Yeah. >> $25,000 a student.
>> My question is, how do we make up the shortfall? >> But it's not that much. It's not >> We're doing 2020. That's why we're doing >> Yeah. Right. >> So, that's why there's no there's no shortfall. There's no it's nothing >> in the 25 budget. >> 100 people. Yes.
>> 100 people times 150. It's it's nothing. >> Okay. Just wanted to have it on the record. >> Once again, >> if it was anything other than a gun permit, this wouldn't even be a subject. It's emotional to people obviously. And you know, the town has permitting cost.
If you want to use the park and cook hamburgers, you need a fee rather than bringing the food in just because you're cooking something. another fee and people don't talk about that but here it's a gun >> a hamburger is not a right I guess exactly
>> in the constitution >> you don't have a right >> and just for the record you can't cook in >> anything else roll call please >> I just want to let you know I took out um the by offering refunds
>> okay so amended Um, council member Lucier, >> yes. >> Council member Danetto, >> yes. >> Council member Higgins, >> yes. >> Council President Rudo, >> certainly. Yes. >> Introduction of ordinances
25-11. An introduction ordinance to amend chapter 5 entitled administrative administration of government code of the township of Vernon Sussex County,
New Jersey. May I have a motion to introduce um 25-11? >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion made by Mrs. Biri. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by Mrs. De Benadetto. All in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. >> I. >> Oh, wait. >> Oh, roll call. Yeah, roll call. Sorry. >> Appreciate that. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Ordinance 25-12, an ordinance to amend chapter 250 entitled fees and escros the code of township of Vernon in Sussex County, New Jersey. May I have a motion to introduce this
ordinance? >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion made by Mrs. Bucheri. Is there a second? >> A second. >> Seconded by Mrs. Debendettto. No comments. Uh, no, please. >> Council member, >> yes.
>> Yes. >> Council member Higgins. >> Yes. >> Yes. Ordinance 25-10, an ordinance establishing chapter 409, parking for the gold star families of
the code of the township of Vernon. May I have a motion to open this particular item for public hearing? >> I'll make that. Moved by Mr. Higgins, seconded by Mrs. Bucheri.
All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. The meeting is open to the public for discussion of ordinance 25-10. If you have any questions on that,
please come forward or comments on it. Glad to hear your comments. >> Still burning. The verbiage in this ordinance states shall be designed when when they are already designed, purchased, and
installed. So, I'm speaking to this ordinance tonight not because anyone would be against a gold star privilege parking spot. To me, it disregards the voting authority of the council that things are
done in the wrong sequence of order. expenditures of money, ideas, plans, concepts done. And now we're coming to you to say, can we do this for approval? It's an exercise in futility. Think you said that before about something,
>> right, >> Mr. Higgins? So once again, I do believe that this demonstrates the value of voting on the bills of this town before they're paid. That is your only p place
and position to interject, to debate, to discuss, to get information before you go and spend all of our money. And I want to remind you almost every other town does that. Schuma does that.
>> MUA does that. Our land use board does that. And the county commissioners do that, too. By the way, everybody votes on the bills before they are paid. And I don't want to hear the empty excuse that, oh, vendors need to be paid, so we
can't do it that way. What about all the other vendors for every other town and agency and entity? Vendors wait happily for government money because they know it's coming. There's no doubt that they're going to get paid and they know they're going to get paid.
So, I would just ask you to consider un unless and until we start voting on the bills before they're paid, things like this are going to keep happening and Lord knows how many other things have happened we don't even know about. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Sassy Glenwood Mr. SW brought this up quite a bit that things are being done before the approval is put through. It shows a total disrespect for you as the body in
this town. That's it. >> Anyone else wishing to comment? Yes, sir. All right. Anyone else? >> Um I I just have one comment. It's I'm totally in favor of this. You know, it's
it's something that I would have loved to have had the council with the mayor front of one of our gold star parking lots. spaces uh with perhaps a gold star family where
this could have been recognized it wasn't done as an opportunity we can do it but it's kind of after the fact so that's my only comment uh I I think members of the council would have
appreciated that for sure uh especially those who have lost who have lost um their uh you know kin on the uh relatives in this type of
a situation. >> Thing never stops working and then it starts working. >> Was there a spot uh designated for the pump track for a gold star family that's not included here? >> Uh we have the list. I think it's there
should be one down there. Maple I don't have >> Veterans Park and the municipal building right here. >> Oh, you're not on there. >> No, it says three spots. One parking spot in the municipal, >> right? >> Maple Graange and two spots at Veterans
Memorial. >> Right. Well, um to add it. >> Thank you. >> Motion for it. And the reason why I didn't >> have a motion to close. >> I didn't want to politicize. >> I'm sorry.
>> I didn't want to politicize a Gold Star family member with the sign, >> but I did >> give recognition to what we are doing. So >> I don't think anybody would have felt that >> when we when we march and our members of
the council march in Memorial Day parade and they recognize people have given and many of us have relatives or have had relatives. uh it's just a form of recognition and sometimes we just don't have enough opportunity to
say thank you and this is one way that we can and I applaud you for your for your thinking of this. Uh but as I said it it it I think this is something that everyone love to have taken part in and saying
thank you to to these families that have given so much please public comment >> one but there's one issue if you want to amend it amend this ordinance you do you
want to table it >> you have to table so it can be amended and brought back. >> Yeah. >> There's no ch there's no reason why to pass it on first reading to to have a second reading where you're going to >> Yeah. Okay. >> It has to be >> it has to be >> it has to be reintroduced.
>> Yeah. It's going to be tabled and reintroduced. >> So you either pass it with these three locations and then amend it down the road. >> We can we can add another location. >> We can at a future time. I think we should pass it since they're already out. Honestly, I think not having it
passed if they put them out is not good. Um, >> right. >> So, I need to close it. We need to close it though for public. I make a motion to close it for public comment. >> Yes. Passing it. Okay. Close. I make a
motion to close comment. Second. >> All in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. May I have a place 25-10? >> I'll make that motion >> for approved.
>> Motion made by Mrs. Bucheri. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by Mr. Hicks. Roll call, please. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Thank you. >> Public comment. May I have a motion to open the floor for public comment? >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion made by Mrs. Jerry. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by Mrs. Benadetto. All in favor
signify by saying I >> I motion carries. We uh are uh open to the public. Floor is open to the public for comment on any item they wish to
>> you want to talk about the second >> Rinker Vernon. Yes, there is one at the pump track and it was remissed that it's not on the ordinance because that's where I first saw it. >> So the ordinance might need to be amended or something. I don't >> No, we'll make sure that it does.
>> Yeah, there's one at the pump track for sure. I'd just like to make a point, Mr. Rudo. I do understand your personal concern about being involved in the things that go on in our town and money that's spent, but my concern more is the spending of the money out of the
sequence of order. honestly. Um, when it came to that um, and when it comes to trying to decipher, do we need a bucket truck, do we need a salt conveyor, do these big big ticket items, it would be really helpful if the
data and backup and information to support these requests was available to you instead of entering about the last minute, do we need one or don't we need one and who climbs a tree and who doesn't climb a tree. the facts and the figures will tell the real story, not
the just generalities of people who want to ask for things, you know. Um, at the March 24th, 2025 town council meeting, I was speaking at second public session, and as I had two more sentences
to finish, I was called attention to my five minutes being over. What happened at that point I do take some responsibility for because I should have announced. Please let me finish two sentences left.
But instead I continued and only to be rudely spoken over by Councilwoman Buchiier and our own town attorney. They spoke in unison to drown me out. I discovered li viewing it later that I
was only 40 seconds over my time. First of all, the attorney has no place interjecting and circumventing the council president who chairs the meeting on such a small matter really as a resident. >> Ma'am, ma'am, I I have to give legal advice. >> Well, ma'am, you've you've made a
statement. the authority of the council president who chairs the meeting. It would be >> I think >> both councilwoman Buchiier and the attorney I believe violated my first amendment right to speak. Why? Because though the timer is used as a guide,
others have enjoyed the privilege of speaking past their time allotted. I can recall a certain outspoken resident asking for extra time to finish stating, "I only have one more paragraph." And that woman was allowed to continue.
Councilwoman Buchier and the attorney did not disrespectfully interrupt her, and she was allowed to finish with extra time. At the next council meeting on April 14th, after I was rudely spoken over, a resident spoke of an issue for
13 minutes uninterrupted. Yes, there was a little bit of interaction, but not 8 minutes worth. Therefore, I want to put on the record tonight that the time allotted cannot be randomly changed person to person
because I believe that violates my rights. Some are allowed almost double the time and I will not accept that happening to me again because I believe that is a violation of my right to speak. Thank you.
>> I think I remember that situation. that was we had an issue regarding flow of water on property and I thought that that was an issue that needed to be expanded for the benefit of the individuals who had had continual
problem with that. In any event, I I do believe while we try and maintain a a consistent uh level of u representation of our time. U sometimes
I think it's within the prerogative of a council president to extend that. I feel it's necessary and I I'll continue to do so. Uh anyone else wishing to come forward? Yes.
Hey, just ask from Glenwood. Well, you just proved my point tonight. There were two points tonight when you could have cost contained expending of our tax dollars and you threw it away.
You did bring up an excellent point, Jessica, that there should be a financial history of the entire situation with the cost analysis.
That should be right up front. All right? So, I'm requesting that that be done before the next meeting. We need to know the facts. How can you make decisions in the blind like you're making? That's
if you were in business, you as I'm sure Mr. Henkins would agree and you when you were in business, you didn't make decisions without knowing what you were looking at entirely. You didn't because it was coming out of your pocket. Well, you're
spending our money and this has to be stopped. This frivolous spending has to be contained. It is your responsibility to think of the whole of this community,
not one or two individuals. Natalie, you said the cost for those permits is nominal. You just hired a $53,000 cop. That's not nominal. That's a huge expense. Why should I even though I'm a
gun I'm not a gun owner my husband is and I don't deny that right but why should I pay for that salary so somebody can carry I'm sorry I'm opposed to we should at least cover our expenses
I'm not saying we need to collect all the thing that the governor said we can but we need to at least cover the expens expenses of this salary and all of the other little hidden expenses that are
out there. So, I beg you, please really really think about what you're doing when you're spending our money. >> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> McUade Huitt, um I'm thankful that you dropped that on the handgun permits. Uh
the one thing I I was talking to a state trooper that used to do the background checks and the time that is spent now is like non-existent. It is all automated unless a red flag is brought up then a cop can investigate. And when these uh
fees were raised ridiculous there uh went from $225 from $10 to50 from $25 to 250 or 200 rather. um it doesn't really make any sense whatsoever because it is all three of those are the same background check. There's nothing
different. So why is one the $25 and one's 200? It's the same exact check. And our officers are not doing hours and hours worth of work for each applicant for one of those. It doesn't happen that way. The mental health used to be paper waiting for a facts to come from different counties. Now it's all
automatic. But I thank you for that. Uh, second thing, I am retired public works supervisor from another town and I can't believe that Vernon doesn't have a bucket truck to be quite honest with you. Um, the guys are out. The first thing that when I hear about, can we rent it? Can we rent it? This this is
going to be used when you have gale force winds and rainstorms and snowstorms. It has to be available at all times. I suggest that you do do your research and you get the correct one. Insulate it. Guard it because limbs are going to drop on the truck and all those things. But I think that that it's very
important to have a bucket truck in this town, a town this size with the roads that we have is extremely important. I can't believe that we don't have one already. Third thing, being a soul service uh in the past, I did have a title one time that it took almost two and a half years to from I was
provisionally came out number one on the test and finally approved was two and a half years. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there any anyone else wishing to come? Yes, sir. Um, Brian Janton, Wantage Township and uh
business sorry >> Frank uh Brian Janton >> Ryan Jan uh Wantage Township and business owner from Maston. Uh some clarification um the uh fees associated with firearm
permitting process uh they're actually carried out by the ATF and the FBI for no fee whatsoever. the fact that New Jersey interrupts that process, they're allowed to charge a fee. Uh my partner down in Texas uh was waiting for a bill and never got one because they follow
the FBI's procedure. So it exists only by New Jersey code to create funding specifically. Um and uh the next thing was is um in comparison to fire apparatus being used for maintenance purposes, I'm a
volunteer firefighter. Aerial device for rescue purposes is a very different thing than a bucket truck uh where it needs to be stabilized not unlike a crane operator and the operators extend quite a bit of training. It is not something that you can just maneuver
about as easily as something specifically designed to do the purpose in what it is being uh investigated for. Uh so uh going back to the u the background checks, I was a municipal dispatcher in
Hanover Township for over 20 years and the detectives used to bring me the investigations to do before it when it was handled at a municipal level. And so while I was there for my 12-h hour shift, I ran through every bit of piece of paperwork for them to evaluate and
then they did. So it does split the workload when it was uh done by people and not just the automated systems. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else wishing to come forward?
Yes, sir. Bryce Janella. Uh my first meeting and it's been an experience. Uh I think I'm going to come again. >> Okay. >> Uh on the uh Lou environmental resolution 25-202 as being a property
owner in Hamburg. Hamburg hired Lou. We had to use them to do do the evaluation. It was flawless. and very simple. So for the end user, it was easy, made life a lot easier for us. So I don't know what the costs are on your end, but for the
end user, it made it easy as pie. Uh in reference to the bucket truck, you know, we should have a bucket truck. I I've seen these guys on front loaders standing in a bucket, no harness, someone's going to end up getting killed
and it's going to cost us a lot more than 180 grand. So, I think that's definitely a must. Looking into it is good. And sounds like you guys have already approved it from the previous bond or I think it should be a moot point. Um, and as a business
owner, when you need the piece of equipment, you got to have it here. If you got to go get it, it's going to cost you more money. You're going to set how many guys to go rent it. All right. Two guys in a truck, two hours. Got to go get it. pay for the insurance from the
rental company, which is skyhigh. I know we we use that stuff, but very infrequently, so we've decided to rent it. But when I need stuff all the time, just buy it. It's easier. It's cheaper in the long run. Always is. God, the guys are already on staff to maintain
all this stuff. Let's use them. Uh lastly, on the uh fees on the permits for Barry, if we're waving the fees, we're not collecting the fees. So it doesn't only the guy applying for
the permit is paying the fee. We're already have the costs involved. So if you if I'm you're waving as a courtesy to me, that's it. There's no other taxpayer burden, you know. Yeah, we hired another officer, but didn't one
just retire, so we got to like fill a slot. So I mean, he retired probably up here. We hired a guy down here. So the way I look at it, kind of saving money in the long run. So that's that's kind of just how you know and we got to pay for the background check. It's 16 bucks
every time whether we buy a purchase permit, get an FID card, renew any of our permits, every time we have to go through a background check and there's always a fee. It's a lot of money to get your to get your initial carry permit is probably close to $1,000. Exercise your
right as an American. We have to do qualifications every two years. It's live fire. It's almost the same as PD. The first one was the same as PD. We had to be as good as them. So now it's a little bit more relaxed, but you know, we're not out there on
patrol every day. We're just there to protect our families. That's it. That's all we want to do. So, and if I can save $150, that would be nice because it's, you know, $200 every two years just for that part. I also have to submit the
paperwork to your portal. That's another $23 every time you hit hit the button. So, it's just constant constant constant. So, that's all. Thanks. I'll probably be back for another one. Thank you. >> Anyone else?
Seeing no one wishing to come forward, may I have a motion to close the floor to the public? Moved by Mr. Higgins. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by Mrs. De Benadetto. >> All in favor signify by saying I.
>> Opposed. Motion carries. >> Council comments. >> I've sadly decided not to rerun for my council seat, but I think that gentleman in the blue shirt should be >> That's my only comment, you know. You got got about one week to go. Is that it? >> Hurry up. Get your signatures all
signed. >> Yeah. I have a comment to make concerning the uh the mayor early on referred to the Skuma agreement with the town and even before I got involved with this council. I was you hear all the
stories about the town making promises to Skuma Skuma expanding the municipal utilities. We we never provided the gallons of sewage that was supposed to go there. They put that money then our fees went up. That seems to be the crux
of what was going on over the course of the years. And uh we sued them twice and we lost twice. The second suit should never have happened. Maybe the first one shouldn't have happened, but definitely the second one. And it cost both sides a lot of money and legal fees. So Schuma
was asking us to reimburse them for the uh for the fees and uh due to one person's intervention, the gentleman sitting next to me who has so many years on the experience knowing the people at the county using his personal relationships, his uh his ability to
negotiate to use those friendships and all the years of being involved saved the town $125,000. That's what it's leading to when the final agreement is done. But uh it wouldn't have happened without Mr. Rudo and I just wanted to acknowledge that
right now. >> Thank you, >> Mrs. Ber. >> Um yeah, I just want to make a quick comment about the police officer. Um I just wanted to make a quick comment about the police officer. um
he uh he was not doing background checks full-time. There is no way it was a full-time job. So it that full-time salary is not going to to background checks. It's probably I don't even know maybe a couple hours a week or something like that. Um so it's it's definitely
not um you know over $50,000 a year for the um for the um carry permit. If I'm not mistaken, did not the chief say that he required the rank of a sergeant in order to complete those requirements
>> for the accreditation program. >> Sorry. >> For the accreditation program, it requires a sergeant, >> right? That's that's why and unfortunately, not unfortunately, but the way it works is >> so get paid more than >> Yeah. Okay. But it's not a full-time position. It Yeah. There's other
responsibilities for that person. Yeah. It's a it's a management type role. So >> yeah, >> you have to have >> Mayor that would be an additional duty. Correct. Because sergeants you have to take a test >> and then there's a list and when there's an opening that person gets promoted and
then an additional duty would >> Yeah. >> Correct. And then this >> So my point is that it's not it's not just like that one task. There's many other >> even though we've already passed, you know, the ordinances, I think there's still some questions answered
that people might want to have addressed. Do you think you might be able to ask the police chief to come and visit us in the early part of the meeting and uh allow us to express our, you know, questions and uh see where we
can go from there? >> Sure. Yeah. um is available. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. I'm sure the council >> the closure to it. >> Yeah. >> Um
as far as I'm concerned, uh we're getting into that point where kids are going to go back to school. And I know every year I say be careful because kids are going to be going playing in the streets and so forth. right now
they're going back they're going to be going back to school and uh uh they're all going to be going on buses and I would just ask the drivers in town to please uh heed the sign that comes out lights
that go on and says you know please stop. We have children crossing in front and we certainly don't want to see an accident take place going to be horrific for anyone. Um
secondly, all the activities that take place uh in our schools will begin occurring and I invite members of the public to please go and uh visit, see
what's going on and see what a nice job our students do. And third, uh, I've sent or going to be sending a letter to our new superintendent welcoming her to our community and
asking if she would giving her the opportunity if she would wish to come and speak to the council in a uh a more relaxed atmosphere rather than up, you know, down from Adis. So uh
but I I think uh she's going to be welcomed by school board and I'm sure she's going to be welcomed by parents. Her background seems to be uh very very complete. Finally, and this is something that is
close to my heart because I was there. There is a date uh in November, I believe it's November 15th if I'm not mistaken. Uh correct me
if I'm wrong, I apologize. where the board of education is going to be uh hosting a uh an event between the hours of 5 and 6:30
and recognizing the uh 50th anniversary of the construction and opening of the high school. Oh, >> that's a big deal. And I remember as a board member, my first
position in terms of working with the community that I was there when uh that particular issue uh that building began to take shape. A lot of stories go
back there. People want to know why we did this, why we did that. And there are a lot of good reasons that people may not understand. One of the things that I I always used to find an opportunity to answer even if not asked the question is
why in heaven's sake are you making that building an electric building rather than oil? And you know you're absolutely right. It was crazy. Unfortunately, that was a deal from the federal
government that were there was supposed to be Tox Island dam that was supposed to be established there and we were supposed to get hydroelect electric power and after we had made the commitment to the architect plans have
been developed and the uh uh and the uh contracts have been that they said, "You know what? We're changing our mind and it's now going to be we're not, you know, we are not
cannot uh make it an oil powered situation. We've got to stay with uh the electric and we had to live with it." And just one of those things that you
just had to live with. So, uh, I would ask that for many of you, if you have any interest, you have children going to the high school or approaching that age to come up. I'm sure they're going to have guided tours like that
>> and take a look at what our high school is. It's a it's a wonderful place. Uh, it's won many awards and our student body up there has done a great job in uh in working
uh to move Vernon Township uh forward and uh to recognize the uh the advantages of an education in Bernard Township.
All three of my children, one retired lieutenant colonel, another teacher, third second one teacher, all went to school in Vernon and all have a
are well trained and well uh well coached so to speak >> and uh I thank the district for it. So with that I will stop my meandering and just say thank you so much for coming
and uh ask for a motion to adjourn. >> One more statement. >> Certainly. >> I was sorry to hear that Jessica is not running. Jessica, you brought something special here and uh you got six more months, I guess, or four more months, whatever it is. But uh we'll miss you. And to the public, the worst thing to
happen would be to have only the same number of people running as seats and not really have an election. So, you got about another week. Somebody please. I I hear there will be people running, but uh maybe not enough. So, the more the
better. And uh there's three seats available. Some incumbents are on here and I hope they all run again. So, uh, please, you know, pass the word. Thank you. >> Thank you. May I have a motion to adjourn? >> Moved by Mr. Higgins. Is there a second?
>> Second. >> Second by Mrs. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Meeting is adjourned.