a plastic spoon. How much like you really need to Yeah. I'm ready. I mean, we always put the meeting to order. Will the clerk please read the statement? Adequate notice of this regular meeting was
provided to press on January 19, 2021 and was posted at the municipal building in accordance with the open public meetings act NJSA 104-7. Thank you. Um please stand with me and
join pledge to the 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. Here. Council member Benadetto present. Council member Higgins here. The president here. This evening we are pleased to have with
us one of our valued employees, one of long-term employees. And uh I want to ask the mayor to please speak to Mr. Babcock's presence.
Just going to go through his little history here. Um, sorry. I'm gonna date you a little bit. Uh, Ed Beck was uh he was hired in in April 23rd, 1984. He was hired I don't
as a storekeeper in the Vernon Township Road and right he was making $6.85 an hour. Oh boy. And December 20th, 1993, he was promoted to road repairman. August 13, 1999, promoted to public
works report. August 15, 2003, he was promoted to senior public works repair. August 5th, 2005 was promoted to assistant supervisor of public works. November 1st, he was promoted to director of public works, department
head. and as of July 1st, 2025, you'll be retired from Vernon Township. I just want to thank you for 40 over 41 years of service to Vernon Township and thank you for your dedication, your early mornings, your late nights. Um you lead
you led a team of of great great people. Um I I enjoy every time I go over there. Um and it shows from the leadership. Um so I I I have an award here I'd like to present to you uh with your family. If
you guys can come on up. Yes. There way. There you go. Ed Becock, in recognition of a distinguished career with the Vernon Township Department of Public Works, Vernon Township deeply appreciates your
dedication, loyalty, and exceptional service to the residents of this community. Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement of over 41 years of outstanding service with the town of Vern, town of Vernon. That's good. Now Ed, you get to enjoy
stop talking about me twice. All right. But um enjoy your retirement. Um I know the last couple years of your brother passing away and I said, you know, we had this conversation. I said, you know what, Ed, it's go enjoy your life. you know, uh
you 41 years um is is a long time to stay a long time, you know, and it's unfortunate a lot of places you can't stay there that long because they they don't I mean I know you know they they tend to push out and that was something that um having you
here 41 years which was which was uh it was great to have you on and again I have only uh been with you for you know a year and a half and and I appreciate all the time you've given me patience and and your continued work. Um, and I
appreciate and you you helped uh train Howie over there. So, Howie will uh hopefully lead the way. All my guys over there. Thank you again. Thank you again. Thank you very much. Enjoy your first snow.
Congratulations, Ed. Enjoy your retirement. You enjoy your retirement. Thank you. Thank you. Mayor's comments, council president. So, uh, we've reached 250 the US Army. Sorry, I didn't I
didn't hear you. up to 200 the army US army's 250th was celebrated um again that's been uh the strongest the strongest and best military in the world we got to we got to watch that all unfold on TV um last
week we had the vermin senior Olympics I don't have that we I know we took one gold a couple of bronze and silver as well so thank you to all the hardworking seniors who who gave it gave it their all. It was a it was a great day.
The Sussex Fairgrounds, unfortunate weather, um didn't help much, but we were we were under there billion there. So, we were able to achieve the best we could. So, thank you to all of our our senior Olympics Olympians.
Uh yesterday, we had our second annual car show, which was again another great success. So, I want to thank our recreation department, Michelle Mag, all of our volunteers in our rec department. I mean, they they really uh they went
above and beyond. Also, Kevin Gill did the from the Vernifi department who did our uh the hand cut with the CNC machine, the the trophies, the first, second, and third trophies. certificate. If you look at
the pitches, he actually custom made. He made them last year and he made some different ones this year and they came out awesome. So, thank you. And again, thank you to our fire department, DPW, uh, EMS, police department. Speaking of
police department, we unveiled our 50th anniversary uh, patrol car. It should have been yellow. That's what someone said, too. I don't know. They were when we first had a police department. They were yellow cars. Wow. If you look at the way the the side
emblem is, it's it's taken off of the the original patch that they used to have, which was in red. Um, but so they kind of mix kind of the new with the old. I I thought they did a good job with it. Um, they're still outfitting the patrol car with the cage, back
seats, and things like that, but it was nice to to see that out display. And thanks again to the to the DPW for for putting all the the stickers on the labels. They they do a fantastic job um doing that. Um
oh, and I want to thank Mindy Martin who uh she volunteered to be in the dump tank. So that was uh that was a fun time. I didn't go in the dump tank, but maybe next year. Also for the Vernon police anniversary.
I don't know if you guys have seen it before. We're actually rated number nine safest town in the United States. Second year in a row for being the safest in the state of New Jersey, but number nine in the United States. That
is a huge huge uh accomplishment and it's it's it gives testament to who who we are as a as a township and and very proud of that. Uh also right now I just want to say say a little prayer for uh I have two we have
two residents. Um I don't want to mention the names quite yet but she's popular here. She went back to Israel to um leave her grandchild um in Israel a few weeks ago. Unfortunately
she can't get back here right now. Everything is in lockdown. I've been on the phone with the congressman's office and and speaking with the the governor as well trying to see if we can find some way of of them coming back here safe. Last I spoke to the resident um
about a half a mile from where she was with an atomic missile hit. So, she's fortunately dodging, you know, the the bombs or whatever, but um hopefully they're going to start up being able to
bring them back. So, uh so pray to them and I wish them the best of luck and hopefully on a safe return. And I that's that's all I have, President. Thank you. Thank you very much. May I have a motion to open the floor
for public comment? I'll make that motion. Second by Mrs. Mccuri. Is there a second? Second by Mr. Sparta. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. The floor is open to the public for anyone wishing to
comment on agenda items only. Which of mics? This one right here. No comments. Right. Okay. It's been a while. Hi. Good evening. Dorian Edwards. Hi Lace.
Um in in regards to agenda resolution um let's see 25-170 that's been we've removed that from the agenda realize you have a either a wrong date or something doesn't apply correctly
there was that's why I was that's that was that was my question like you say you had the public hearing after all right thank you that's all I have to Thanks. Anyone else wishing to adjust
the council? May I have a motion to close the floor of the public? Moved by Mrs. Defendad. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Miss Mr. Higgins. All in favor signify by saying
I. I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Bill's list. We uh all members have received a copy of Bill's list. Any chance to have any raise any questions on me? I have a question. Why are we paying
why do we sometimes pay the spaces to pick up the deer and other times I guess our DPW does it? Sometimes on the bills list every once in a while I'll see deer carcass removal from space park.
Whoops. I'm just I don't know. I And you saying sometimes we we have It's not on every bill's list. And you know there's a deer every week, right? Yeah. I think it depends on like if it's fresh or not. Okay. Um town road. We have a contract
with Space Farm that they will go pick it up. Okay. Not if they're on somebody's property. And if they're on a county road, they don't get it. Well, maybe they get it for the county and the county pays. Yeah, probably. Yeah. And And do they take every carcass? Probably not. We'll pick up any. The township
doesn't. No. Oh. So, it's it's the contract through space forms. Okay. Thank you. That's how he's Anyone else? All members of the council, I've received copies
of the minutes of our meeting of May 29th, 2025, the executive session. May I have a motion to approve by Mr. Spart second? Seconded by Mr. Ne.
Yes. Council member Bushier abstain. Council member de Benadetto abstain. Council member Higgins. Yes. Council member Sparta. Yes. Council President Rudo. Yes. May I have a motion to place minutes of
our regular meeting May 29th on the floor for consideration? Moved. Moved by Mr. Sparta. Is there a second? Second. Second by Mr. Higgins. Are there any changes, deletions, or additions on this partic?
If not, may I have a roll call, please? Council member abstain. Council member Benadetto. Yes. Member Higgins. Yes. Council member Sparta. Yes. President Rudo. Yes. May I have a motion
to place the minutes of our meeting of uh June 12th, 2025 on the floor? I'll make that motion. Motion made by Merry. Is there a second? Second. Second by Mr. Higgins. Are there any
requests for changes or deletion? Not I'll ask for a roll call please. Council member Lucry. Yes. Better. Yes. Higgins. Yes. Council member Sparta. Yes. President Rudo. Yes. Um
move to the moving to the consent agenda. May I have uh anyone who wishes to have any of these items separated so we can discuss it or go down it separately, please let me know. Um
consent agenda resolution 25- uh 7 I'm sorry one 171 uh the procurement card authorization uh resolution
25- 172 uh resolution authorizing Main Street uh relocation and application uh to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for a treatment
works approval application for block lots two and three owned by Red Hand LLC. Uh resolution 25-173 uh an appointment the township
uh Vernon Township director of public works uh public works manager resolution 25-174 a resolution of liquor license in the
township of Vernon for the 25 2025 526 licensing term resolution 25-125 or renewal of inactive uh liquor license
for the 2025 2025 licensing term 25-1 176 a renewal of the inactive liquor license
for the 2025 2025 license. Council President, just with regard to resolution 25175 and 176. Yes. Should be 2025 2026. So it would be approval with those amendments.
The licensing year is 25. Okay. That's why I was stumbling there. Maybe. So, making that 25- 26 26 with those changes. So, noted.
Resolution 25-17 authorize the award of a disclosure uh contract with Granicus for a compliance software. Resolution 25-178
lock lot. Uh, I'm sorry. 8 178 block lot 118 lot nine redacted cancelling taxes for lot total disabled uh veteran resolution 25-179
a refund for totally disabled veteran uh block 418 lot 9 redacted resolution 25-180 refund totally Disabled veteran block
lot 9 redacted resolution 25-181 block 387 lot 2 cancelling taxes for the total disabled veteran resolution 25-
182 refund for the totally disabled veteran uh block 387 Lot two, resolution 25-183, refund for totally disabled veteran
block 387, lot 2. May I have a motion to place these? I have items on the floor. I have 176 removed. 176. I'd also like 175 removed. 175.
Yes. Okay. There. Anyone else? All right. With those exceptions, may I have a uh motion to place these on the floor for for uh for consideration? I'll make that
motion. Motion made by Mr. Cheerius. Is there a second? Seconded by Benadetto. Are there any questions or comments on these? Not roll call, please. Council member
Bushard, yes. Council member Denetto, yes. Higgins, yes. Yes. For president, yes. Resolution 25-175, renewal of inactive liquor license
2025- 26 licensing term. May I have this placed on the floor for consideration? I'll make that motion. Motion made by Mrs. Cherry. Is there a second? Second. Second by Mrs.
Questions or comments? Sorry. No. Um, roll call, please. Council member, yes. Denadto, yes. Council member Higgins, yes. Council member Sparta, yes.
President Rudo, yes. Motion carries. Resolution 25-176 renewal of inactive liquor license 2025 26 licensing term. May I have a motion to place this on the floor for
consideration? Moved by Mrs. Party. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Mrs. De Benadetto. There any questions or comments? Can um I'm not sure if this is something we can discuss in public session though.
Can you review again the the new law from the Yes. Okay. So the law has changed effective um August 24. All licenses were broken up in cordals. Licenses that are inactive. Um two of
these license are inactive. So, they're in portal three, which requires them to either utilize, sell, or transfer the uh license by August of uh 2017. 2027, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Couple of
dates today. Uh 2027. Um if they do not, then that license um comes back to the township. So, it's incumbent on the um owners of these license to really start to actively try to either put it in use
in Vernon Township, either sell it to someone who's going to put it to use in township or at a contiguous municipality, they can have it transferred in Burton Township. But again, come the 27th uh 2027, the license is going to be
lost if it is not activated. No matter if we support this resolution or not, either way, that will happen. That's correct. Yeah. Okay. And and by the way, these two entities from what I understand are under the spirit of the law actively trying to put it into use.
Um the again the new law just changed in uh 20 24 August of 2024. So there's there's a lot of confusion. There's been a number of administrative orders and also um directives from the ABC director uh and and there'll
probably be some more. So it's it's kind of a a fluid situation, but it's no you just want Yes. Exactly. You just want to let them know, and I'm sure Marcy will do this, um, that they have to really resolve this by August of 2027.
When is this one been in pocket, Marcy? Um, they they've all been in the same um amount of time. So, they're in the um third um level um cile of what? Like I'm thinking like it goes
by goes by. Yeah, I saw that. I saw that. Okay. I think Oh, yeah, you did. Okay. Where did I put it? It is probably within um probably six I think six years at least. Yeah, it was okay. All right. you did
highlight it, but I can't. So, these licenses are were 25 to 26, but if something doesn't happen by August of 27, which is in the middle of a renewal for them, well, it's going to it'll it'll be um they'll have one more
potential renewal. After that, it's done. It's been in pocket since 2013. So, it would be correct to say a no vote would not take the license away. It would just be a warning to get going. We we know that you're near the 2027 date
and to make some action occur there. There I mean I believe that they're actively trying. um you may want to hold that shot across the bound till next year. Uhhuh. Because that is the last year. And then under the new law, you could grant an extension, a third
extension if they show um good cause, i.e. and there's a number of things they have to do that they've engaged um professionals to design a bar. they have a contract for um a piece of property where the license g is going to sit and they're only waiting for um certain
permits let's say from the state. So if there's good cause, you could grant an extra another third year if they show us those pictures. Those are examples of things, which we haven't. Okay. Okay. Roll call, please. Council member
Bushieri, yes. Council member Deanto, no. Council member Higgins, uh, yes. Council member Sparta, no. Council President Rudo. Yes. Motion carries. Yep.
May I have a more excuse me a motion to open the floor to public comments by Mr. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Deto. All in favor signify by saying I. Opposed. Motion carries. Uh, anyone
wishing to come forward and speak on any issue may uh please approach the council. Good evening, Dorian Edwards, Highland Lakes. I want to get back to that resolution that you pulled for this evening 25-170.
Will there be a land use board presentation on July 9th for the public to be part of? That's I'd have to ask with the land use board in the land use board at the land use board meeting. Mr. Mr. Higgins is a
member of the land use board, right? Will there be a meet this item on that? Yes. We have two agendas in July and that's that's on one of the agendas. Not sure if if it's the public hearing before or after they're all public. The
way it sounds, it sounds like it's a special. It's July 9th at the Landing Sport meeting. Okay. And where is that usually held the land sport? Where I'm standing? Okay, there I got it. Also, Pat, is there one or two meetings in July? And is that uh for you
for council one council? We we we um one meeting has been cancelled. Yes, I saw that on the door the 24th. So, we got a check today. The same thing for August. One meeting had been cancelled. Yeah, I'd be very interested in going and uh and listening to that presentation. Um,
also in the light of transparency, can you advise what's going on with legends and the uh tax issue up on the tax issue? The last I read was that the check that what was given to the town had bounced, but that's long time ago now. So, um, I'd appreciate and I know
the public would appreciate some type of update. I mean in the last town we I saw too I think Mr. Florida had said we're going to give them to the end of so go ahead. Go ahead. No, feel free. As
far as u the issue regarding the the check, you don't know a check is going to bounce until you deposit. And as regards to that, uh we are in current litigation. So I'm going to ask the attorney if there's
anything that we should not comment on in this. No. So, so essentially the the monies were not provided to the town. Uh, no agreement has been signed. The town, I believe, is looking to appraise the property and and as Mr. Sparta had
mentioned, there's two things we could do. One is that we could condemn it so that go through the process to redevelop it, but that also gives the current um entity who is trying to redevelop and get financing, it gives them time. So
there's a parallel track that's that's going on, right? But they won't be able to do that unless the taxes are caught up to date. That's correct. So So either way, unless we do imminent domain and then it's a loss issue, we don't get any bad taxes.
There are there are taxes that have to be paid on on the on the property. township cannot you know uh reduce taxes or forgive them in any
once the issue once the people who are trying to purchase the property come in they must pay up the back taxes. um if in fact uh that they are um
do so then then in fact uh they can proceed and draw up permits and so forth. Excuse me. In condemnation it changes slightly. condemnation, the property is
condemned and the township takes ownership of that property. Uh is that different than eminent domain? Yes. Okay. The eminent domain would be if the property
were to be challenged uh by the owner and the township would say that you know we are taking this property for the good for a common good. I don't know where we would find the reason for the common good on collect
taxes on on a a piece of property that uh was a hotels, but you know, certainly still there. But so I I think the issue right now is just simply looking at what happens if the township takes the
property uh for for basically forecloses on it and uh and Is there speestous in that building? Sorry, there's spe I've heard uh there's been minimal
asbestous to somewhat more so. But in any event, that would have to be handled by anybody who uh were take take the property and were to demolish it. Some people might want to take it and condemn
it, but they might want to use do something else with it. But the town is doing what we can, right? This is not on the way side. This is there's two parallel there's two parallel tracks, right? Good luck to the taxpayers. Good luck to Listen, I I think you have to
look at it this way. We are probably closer now with doing something either with the people who are trying to buy it. They're waiting for their funding to be approved. Of course,
they've been telling us that for a while, but I can only point out, I think people would only agree that, you know, this is not a place where you can go down to your nearest bank and take or banks and take a substantial position
with them and and you know, purchase the property or but then they would have to go through due diligence as far as the use of the property as well, right? So, well, it depends on what it is. Uh, they would have to whatever they whatever
they're going to do to that whoever's going to do anything to the property. If if either the if we take it or and and then find someone else to redevelop it or if this current person gets their financing, they do the redevelopment, it
goes through a planning process. However, if it's still if the current if the current purchaser wanted to purchase it and it was determined that they were going to continue with that facility as a hotel, that's what it was
approved for. So, there's really the use. Yes. But but they would still have to come before a planning board for site plans, improvements to the to the site depending on what they're going to do with it. Okay. Saga continues would be an
albatross around our necks for so long. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to confirm? Not 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 Bennett. All in favor signify by saying I. I opposed motion. Council comments. I just have a comment concerning uh a discussion we've had two or three times.
There seems to be discussion well there was a discussion on civil service hiring and this year there was an open request put in on the number of people which we've discussed in the past. The answer given was that there was one person
listed and there were five people hired and we went around the horn with the discussion on how uh civil service is delayed whenever you have a need for an opening. So we never really came to a conclusion if we're in compliance for civil service or we're not. So, if we've
hired at least four people this year and it hasn't been posted and they've been hired, I think the answer that was given to me was we'll catch up with them after after the time frame goes by when they can respond. I I think that was the
answer. And that to me doesn't make sense. Do we what is the policy? If we if if civil is late on responding to your request to post a job in civil service, do we still go ahead or do we wait for them and just keep that
position open until we we're in compliance? Because so far, in my opinion, we're not in compliance. So, uh I bring this up again because we really never did get an answer to these questions. What's the policy and what are we doing?
We did uh give a response to that. Uh we go forward and what happens is let's just say uh Kurt just correct me if I'm wrong. So um they temporarily you you appoint someone temporarily
and they act in that position and you haven't hired someone from outside. It's someone from inside your department's mayor. Correct. So what they do is they take the next person, you know, the the the in this case if the gentleman here um let's say he wasn't didn't have
certain certifications, they would put him in there for for you temporarily until he either had his certification or until it was posted. Um and that's what they do. So then it'll be posted again and then that process will um start once
once we get the um notification it's posted. They wait for certain amount of time for the paperwork to be filled out. If there's somebody more qualified that actually comes up on that list, then we can go around the person that we have in a provisional spot and make that
other person um you know give them that that position, that job. The person who was transferred into that position who's been trained at our expense then would be re reverted back to their old position or would be out of a job possible? No, they would not be out of a
job. they would just go back down to their old position. And that example I gave of the DPW, that's bad because that he's a department head. That's a different Right. But that's exactly what happened with that other person. She the there was an employee who filled a position and we can't speak about that.
Yeah, you're right. However, I do believe there were people hired in this calendar year who were not employees who came from the outside and have been hired and are employees now. They're part- timerrs. They're part-timers. All
part-timers. Yes. No full-time. No. And part-time, you don't need parttimers don't go through civil service. Okay. If someone not, but they're not also even even in the union. If someone is
part-time and uh gets promoted to full-time, such as the lady that uh we were speaking about with the uh nutrition program, She was a part-time nutrition. She's a full-time employee because she's then a
full-time recre department employee when the site manager program is under the wreck department. That was that was an internal move to go from part-time to full-time. Was that something like that posted? I don't know. That was before May. Yeah. I have no idea.
So there's there's there are things going on that I think it would be beneficial to the township to have a clear uh statement as to how this does work. Uh you know I I just want to stop favoritism and nepotism and make things
uh as the rules are supposed to be. Well, I don't think we we have any of that. I handles a lot of the civil service stuff and postings of it. Um they take that very seriously. So like you're audited. I mean civil service will audit and and if they find
something irregular, you'll be called down to Trenton. Absolutely. So that answer your question? Uh well partially. It didn't really answer it totally because we we'll come up with the names of the people say that were
hired this year and we'll follow the process to see the the part- timers though, right? We'll follow the process. Let's see uh let's see if everything is done according to civil service. I'm just curious. That's it for me.
Okay. So, I just want to my reason for pulling ordinance 25175 and voting yes is because I just wanted to contrast the two where the ordinance uh ordinance oh my goodness resolution 25175 those folks are making a good faith
effort to use their license. They've just run into some unfortunate circumstances whereas 251 resolution 25176 they've had their license dormant for 12 years. So that's why I pulled it. I wanted to show the contrast in the vote
because like I said, one party's making a good fa faith effort to use it while another has held it for so long and not used it. And I just feel the township. You know what? Let me stop there. That's it. That's all I have. Thank you. I
understand what you're saying. I have no comments. I have no further comments. This time of the year, school is out. Children are in the roads. They're playing. I would ask people, parents, drivers to
uh please be careful. Uh pay attention to what's going on, you know, rolling balls and that type of thing. and uh and hope that our youngsters and our families have a very very healthy and
happy summer. And uh that I guess for a motion to done moved by Mrs. Debonadetto. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by by Mrs. Bucheri. All in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. Motion carries.
Happy 4th of July everybody. Happy 4th of July. You know what? I gota go. Oh, no. That on honey. Oh, fun. Well, enjoy. Good day, everybody. Why did you guys split up the veterans in because they're different quarters and you had to do it?
Some's some's cancelling. Oh, okay. Yeah.