I bet I'm like I had the card, I had your little goodie bag and I haven't seen you so far. That's really cute. Thank you. >> Thank you. You had to get that out of there. >> Sorry. Okay.
>> Yeah, that probably after back on it. >> Yeah. Okay. >> You want them to do it? Yeah. Welcome to the Vernon Township Reorganization meeting of 2026. Adequate notice of this reorganization
meeting was provided to the public and the press on January 19, 2025 and was posted at the newspaper in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act NJA 10 col 4-7. Will you please
to the flag United States of America to the republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all >> council member Higgins Take the roll call.
>> Council member Higgins. >> Bill. >> Are you here or not? >> Here. >> Council member Rudo >> here. >> Council member Sparta >> present. >> We're going to start with our swearing
in of Council Member Patrick Rudo. Place your left hand on the Bible. Raise your right hand, please. I, Patrick Rudo, >> I, Patrick Risudo, >> do solemnly affirm >> do solemnly affirm >> that I will support the Constitution of
the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith >> that I will bear true faith >> and allegiance >> and allegiance and allegiance to the
same >> and to the governments established >> and to the governments established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> and in this state >> and and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> I do further solemnly affirm
>> I do further solemnly affirm >> that I will faithfully >> I will faithfully >> impartially >> and partially >> and justly >> and justly >> affirm perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> as a member of the Vernon Township Council >> as a member of the Vernon Township Council
>> according to the best of my ability >> according to to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Thank you. >> Have the swearing in of council electrons. You're welcome.
Second. I'll keep them as shorter if I can. Better for me. >> Okay, great. >> You can just place your left hand. Raise your right hand, please. >> Oh, my right hand. >> Yep. I, Sandra Ows, >> I, Sandra Ows, >> do solemnly affirm >> solemnly affirm
>> that I will support the Constitution >> that I'll support the Constitution >> of the United States >> of the United States >> and the Constitution >> and the Constitution >> of the State of New Jersey >> the state of New Jersey. and that I will bear >> that I will bear >> true faith and allegiance
>> true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the governments established >> government established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people
>> I do solemnly affirm >> I do solemnly affirm >> that I will faithfully >> I will faithfully >> impartially >> and partially >> and justly >> and justly Please >> perform perform all of the duties. >> perform all of the duties >> as a member of the Vernon Township
Council. >> As the member of the Vernon Council Vernon Township Council >> according to the best of my ability. >> According to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Thank you so much.
>> Yes. Thank you, sir. Congratulations. have the swearing in of Councilman Elect. >> And swearing him in, swearing him in is Congressman Josh Godheimer. Good to see you, brother. Welcome.
Thank you. Thanks. >> I have it. >> Okay. If I mess it up, you'll >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Happy New Year, everyone. >> Happy New Year. It's great to be here. I hope you if you indulge me to speak just for a couple minutes. Is that okay?
Thank you. Uh I appreciate it. Uh it's a huge honor for me to be here. I'm very excited about this. I do want to thank uh Mayor Rossi and Councilman Rudo and Councilman Higgins, Councilman Spara, Councilman Holmes. Uh congratulations to
everybody. Uh Senator Space is here. He's a good friend Parker. It's great to see Senator Space and Commissioner Henderson and Commissioner Silverthornne and Commissioner Carney, Mayor Burell. I see my good buddy. That's good to see you as well. And uh all of our first responders. I want to thank you so much
for your service uh to our to our city, state, and country. Very grateful. Uh you know, it is I love coming up here because I think the air is cleaner to get to get to Vernon. Um I'm very excited to uh this morning wearing Councilman Cantino who is going to do
just a phenomenal job. I want to congratulate Carl and his family and friends and everyone else who has been with him along the way in life. Um, uh, Councilman Rudo and Councilwoman Ols, congratulations again on your terms. Uh, you know, Vernon has such a wonderful,
rich history. I've been very honored to represent it for nine years now. Established around the same time George Washington was reelected president. Vernon has gone from an iron mining hub to an outdoorsman's paradise. I say it's a paradise because when I'm in Washington and I'll meet people and I'm
and I they'll ask about Jersey and they'll say, "So, where are you from?" And I tell them some towns and every time I mention Vernon and I'm like, you know, the place with the skiing and the trail and like, oh, I love that place. It's beautiful. Um, I love going there. And I said, yeah, people, they love you to come, but just as long as you leave.
Everyone's very happy. Uh, I I'm taking my uh niece and my son to ski at Mount Creek this Sunday. So, I'll be back up. Move the swearing in. Um uh today the history reflected here in this community and the great families and a belief that
when we look out for one another everyone does better and uh Carl's life and career I believe really reflect that. It's a huge honor for me to swear I'm in. As uh you know, President Kennedy said, things don't happen, they are made to happen. And you know, whether it's the council behind me,
elected officials in front of me, you know, things things don't just happen by accident. It needs really good people who were willing to work hard and step up and and look out for the community. And you've got just such great representation here in in Sussex. And uh
it's a really it's a great thing. you know, I've been to Parker's farm many times, the zoo many times. I've hung out with him and uh uh you know, he he just, you know, I know wakes up every day and thinks about how he's going to serve and help and look out for you. And I think that's kind of the way whether it's law
enforcement or the the mayors of the council, how they look at things. You know, you got to get the streets paved, got to take care of people, make sure the communities are safe, that our small businesses can thrive and do well. Uh and one of the most powerful things we can do to make sure that we keep it that way is to vote and to participate. So
people came together and voted for this past November for the elected officials behind me and for Carl to serve and lead New Jersey forward. Uh bringing his experience and his values and commitment. You know, Carl's born and raised in Vernon, been in the community 26 years, right? So he's not new, right?
He teaches social studies to uh sixth and eighth sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at Patterson School number 21. Not an easy job, but he does it with he does it incredibly well. Very popular in school. Loved by all the teachers and and by the students. When school's out for the summer, you can still find him
behind the counter of Highland General Store where he where he started working 10 years ago. At 23, when young people are figuring out what to do next, you know, Carl did whatever you kid does at 23. Joined the Vernon Board of Education um to start giving back to the community
he loves so much. He understands something fundamental that strong communities start with good schools with a good education. And whether it's supporting educators or advocating for students or making sure families have the resources we they need, Carl has spent his career focused on creating
opportunity for other people, making sure that our next generation is even smarter and better equipped than this generation. He believes that every child, no matter where they're from, whether they're from a city street or from a farm here up in the northern part of the state, everybody deserves an
opportunity to succeed and to do well and to get a great education and that we do everything we can to make life more affordable and get those costs down and those taxes down and make sure that we can be practical and responsible and and just solve problems for people in a common sense way. asking those tough
questions, being transparent with people about government, and with the cost of everything going up and life becoming less affordable these days. He's just the kind of leader we need, who's going to look out for us. And so, I'm excited to partner with him uh and and to make sure that we do everything we can to make life more affordable for you and to
build an even stronger community. You know, I I've I've been very proud to represent Vernon. As I mentioned, we've gotten more than $6 and a half million dollars back for Vernon over the years for to fund projects like uh money for a truck or ATV or medical supplies. We got
an ambul we got supplies for for Glennwood uh ambulance corps. We got four $40,000 for our firefighters and protective gear. Again, working with our council and our first responders. Three million for infrastructure, more than two million for our schools. All earning working together. That's the kind of
attitude we should have. not worried about political party. Worried about who's focused on getting stuff done for you. That's the job. And that's what I know Carl's going to do. I know what the council and the mayor are going to do. Clawing these dollars back, getting your taxes down, making life more affordable.
So, uh, and and by the way, my office, as the mayor, the council will tell you, we have an office right here in this building. Uh, every week we open up for you. And part of why I wanted that, why was important to me is because I think we should be here all to serve regardless. Again, party does not
matter. What matters is, are you an American? Are you willing to get stuff done? Are you want to help out? Look out for each other. I I I I started my morning this morning on CNN with a guy named Mike Lawler who's a Republican from New York. Two of us doing TV together. And you know, the first thing the the announcer, you have his little
earpieces in and the the producer comes on and says, "So what are you guys going to fight about?" I said, 'N no, no. We're here to talk about why we got to rock Iran. What are you What are you talking about? We're not fighting with each other. We get along. We're close friends. And you hear them say, 'Th that's really And that's the problem. It
shouldn't be really. It should be about what are you getting done for the country and putting the country first. And if Carl takes this oath, I know that's what he's going to do. Always put Vernon first, put the community first. So, just two more things about Carl, then I'll be done talking about him because such a good guy. he becomes the
youngest elected official on the Vernon Town Council. I know that's shocking at the age of 11 that he's going to be the the youngest one. Um I mean again, he did all this stuff at such a young age. It's incredible. uh and and you know I I think that he's going to be a voice for
young people uh and everybody and understand the next generation to me is a huge a huge opportunity for the community because leadership is open to everybody and we need those all perspectives and what matters most isn't history alone it's leadership and I know that he is going to lead thoughtfully
prepared and dedicated as he did on the board of education as he does in the classroom steady exactly what we need solving problems helping local government and I know he'll bring that attentiveness. In fact, if you really want to understand Carl, you only need to ask his students and he's learned as
you hear from them and his his fellow teachers the importance of patience and persistence and showing up day in and day out, you know, and that's what you hear when you talk to people about him and we have. It's just an incredible thing. The respect people have for him
is off the charts. He knows the public service is not a solo effort. It's supported by friends and family and neighbors and his from Jimmy his fiance to his father Paul to his grandmother Ellen to his aunt Laura and his sister Julia and even his cat Buu who's not
here by the way. Um couldn't make it. Um there's a whole community rooting for you as well as the entire Vernon community and all of Jersey. So with that Carl congratulations on being sworn in as a councilman. Thank you for answering the call, for stepping up to serve, for making history, and for your
commitment to Vernon Township, to Sussex County, the United States, and our our great state, and to the next generation. And now, I'll be very honored to administer the oath. Thanks so much. >> What are you using? Are you using any of these? >> Uh, yeah, this one, I guess. >> Okay, we're going to hold it. Take it
right. Okay. >> I, Carl Cantino. I, Carl Cantino, >> do solemnly affirm >> do solemnly affirm >> that I will support the Constitution >> that I will support the Constitution >> of the United States >> of the United States >> and the Constitution >> and the Constitution >> of the State of New Jersey
>> state of New Jersey. and that I will bear >> And that I will bear >> true faith >> true faith >> and allegiance >> and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the government >> and to the governments >> established >> established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people
>> under the authority of the people >> I do further solemnly affirm >> I do further solemnly affirm >> that I will faithfully >> that I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> as a member of Vernon Township Council >> as a member of the Vernon Township
Council. >> According to the best of my ability. >> According to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations, Councilman. >> And And just for the record, I I I sent you a request for 12 more million dollars. Whenever you get to that. No, please.
>> I brought it with me in a truck. There you go. You guys uh you go I'm going to present Okay. Going to present you a certificate and mayor if you want to join. >> Okay. >> Okay. I'm going to present you with a quick certificate after you say hi to them. >> Certificate.
>> Oh, got one more honor and then >> I know. Sorry. By the way, we we uh also flew this flag over the United States capital today in honor of of your big day. So, your family. >> Uh any of your family members? Okay.
>> You don't have to you get these days one year. Come up. You know, this is for you. Okay. Thanks. Awesome. >> Okay, congratulations. Thanks for having >> a good Republican.
>> Oh, the Democrats. >> Thank you for coming. Thank you and thank you for coming up here. Come up again. I have a right to read that. >> We can share it.
>> No, no, I put it. No, >> I just need to read a statement. Uh, a statement of determinmination canvas held in the township of Vernon, county
of Sussex and state of New Jersey officers, municipalities on the 4th day of November. The board does determine that as said elections Patrick Gazudo town council four-year
term township council four-year termino township council four-year term were duly elected to the offices and for the terms of set forth. Now have the swearing in of the fire
department chiefs and deputies by the mayor. You're >> I'm going to be off. Good evening everyone. Uh today we are going to be swearing in um members of the fire department, but I just want to
go over the gentleman that fire commissioner John Kosh. Um he is a lifelong resident of our township. He joined the Pchuk Valley Fire Department in 1998 as a junior member. Went through the ranks to chief 2007 to to 2010.
Served as deputy chief 2015 to 2022. Currently serving as the chief since 2023. Serving as deputy fire chief 2023. Currently serving as the township fire commissioner since 2024.
Behind me as well is is Deputy Fire Commissioner Jeff Anderson, lifelong resident of Vernon uh Vernon Township, 15-year member of the McAfee Fire Department, went through the ranks to become chief from 2023 to 2025.
Currently serving as the as the department president and as deputy township fire commissioner since 2025. Vernon Township Fire Chief Kevin Cook joined the H joined the joined the High
Lakes that's not he's not hold on excuse me he joined the high lakes fire department in 1996 to 2002 moved back to to Vernon in 2007 and joined the Vernon Township worked way through the ranks to become
the chief in 2022 and 2023 served as the deputy fire commissioner in 202 22. Currently serving as the chief since 2025. Vernon Township Deputy Chief Tim Davis,
38-year resident of Vernon Township, has 29 years of fire service to the township between the Highland Lakes Fire Department and Vernon Fire Department. Worked through the ranks in Highland Lakes Fire Department to become the chief in 2011 and 2012. After joining
the Verna Fire Department, he he continued his leadership roles and is serving as the deputy chief in 2026. McAfee Fire Chief Mike Pazaro started with the Greenwood the Greenwood
Forest Fire Department in 1987, serving through the ranks to assistant chief, moved to Vernon and joined the Vernon Fire Department in 2000. served up served up to the rank of lieutenant joined the McAfee Fire Department in
2010 and has worked through the ranks to to the chief in 2026. McAfee Deputy Chief Dan Gross started with the Upper Greenwood Lake Fire Department serving for eight years before moving to Vernon in 1999 and
joining the McAfee Fire Department. worked through the ranks to become chief three times. Served as the fire township fire commissioner in 2022 and 2023. Currently serving as the deputy chief in 2026.
Highland Lakes Fire Department Chief Scott Samchzan, I got that right. Uh Vernon resident Vernon Township joined the the Highlands Fire Department in 1998. worked his way through the ranks
to become chief in 2023, 2014, 2021 to 2022. Currently serving as the chief since 2024 and he is also an employee with our DPW.
Highland Lakes Assistant Chief Karen Thomas, lifelong resident of Vernon Township, joined the Highland Lakes Fire Department in 199, worked her way through the ranks and is currently serving as the assistant chief since 2024.
Bochuck Valley Fire Department Deputy Chief Ryan Ening started with Maywood Fire Department in 1992, serving for nine years. moved to Vernon in 2005, served the Potuck Valley Fire Department
in in 2009. He has worked through the fire officer ranks while serving as the department secretary, currently holding the rank of deputy chief since 2023. And I have one other note I just want to
make here. that in my office. But um I just want to take a moment just to say uh thank you um for for your service our township. Uh I I always feel uh
warmth and and welcoming every time I walk into your into into the firehouses. Um, and I know that by simply the language that we use together and the jokes we we we we uh we speak out of it. And uh I just want again thank you again
for your guys service and and I really appreciate it. Thank you. And thank you to all the firefighters again who stepped up every day and to the family members who you know because of your sacrifice as well every time they they get up and they appro um without without
your support this wouldn't this wouldn't happen right this is an accomplishment for everybody. So again, uh thank you gentlemen if you don't mind. We've since we only have limited Bibles. Um
we're going to have to do this. Um what I'm going to do is I'm going to ask uh to state your name. Going to go through it and then you'll state your position. >> Okay. I >> I >> your name
>> do solemnly affirm >> affirm >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> constitution of the state of New Jersey. and that I will bear true faith and
allegiance I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the governments >> to the government >> established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> I do further solemnly affirm >> I doly affirm
>> that I will faithfully >> I faithfully impartially >> and justly perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> as a as a judge of the Vernon Township Fire Department. >> the Vernon Township Fire Department.
>> According to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You too. Thank you. Congratulations. >> Thank you.
>> Hey, congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Mayor wants a picture. >> Take a short, please. Easy. >> Stay there for a second. This is official. Getting back to order. May we have the
mayor's comments, please? Thank you all for coming tonight to our annual township annual reorganization meeting. I'm not going to go into all that we've done for 2025 uh or what we're going to do in 2026. So, I will save that for my I'll save
you guys and my and and uh that for my township address uh in the coming weeks. It's an honor to stand before you as mayor of Verning Township. I want to extend a special welcome to our residents, municipal staff, volunteers,
state and county elected officials, as well as Congressman Josh Guyheimr, and to those who are streaming this from home. I want to take I take a moment to thank our outgoing or continuing council members who have served with dedication.
Thank you for for your work on budgets, infrastructure upgrades, new and old development projects and responding to residents issues and everything else that help Vernon stay strong. Please give them all a round of applause. What do you say?
to the new council members. Welcome aboard. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Let's work on areas where we do agree. Sandy, for example, you campaigned on the creation of new revenue streams, commercial ratables,
signage ordinance for our businesses, which is much much needed. And I I love that. I think you you recognize that there's some signage issues with our business owners who do struggle every day uh trying to make those ends meet.
Um and and hopefully uh in the next year or two we can really uh help that out. So Carl, you mentioned you want to promote long-term planning for a sustainable budget track new business. I'm with you. Remember,
we're not here to represent only one person or a small group of people. You represent all 23,000 residents of Vernon Township. It is your name and your reputation when misguided by those who seek failure. If I fail, you fail. And
most importantly, Vernon fails. We can't always agree, but let us be mindful that while we may have different perspectives, we share one goal. That goal is to move Vernon forward to a stronger, safer, and more vibrant
township. My message to all the council, all the council members tonight is simple. I will treat you as full partners in the work we are about to embark on, which is a lot. from finally developing Main Street, the construction of our sewer
expansion area, and finally, finally closing the chapter on one of the biggest problems Vernon Township has endured for over a decade, and that is legends. Closing this chapter will open a new door for Vernon Township and the county
council. I will give you straight answers, even when you're not like the answers you want to hear. I respect your voice, your perspective even when we disagree and I will expect the same in return.
I ask one thing from the council and that is to allow myself and my administration to provide you with the facts prior to making voting decisions that can forever impact our township. We must work together. We must.
To the residents of Vernon Township, thank you for putting your trust in the hands of us to lead the Vernon Township Municipal Government. Please remember one thing and it is very important. We're all in this together. We are all
taxpayers. So the decisions we make affect us, too. Make no mistake about it. We will make mistakes. We are human. We all took an oath and that is to support the constitution and that we
will faithfully impartially and justly perform all the duties of our elected positions to the best of our ability and that's really all we can ask for. Lastly, my door is always open. You want
the facts. You want to know where you know where to find me. I will continue to engage and have open discussions and live meetings. I think it's important for all of you to note where your tax dollars are going and that the good work
of our municipal staff. To the on to the oncoming council president, I know we had our differences, but we also showed we can work together. I am hopeful that you will be the council change that is needed.
you will see that things same things that I I saw when I took office and that is the hard work of the employees that do that every that do each and every day. I believe that you will have a whole new perspective on municipal government and I'm truly excited and
looking forward to working with you and to help and to help you and other council members become successful because remember just like me if you fail we I fail and Vernon fails. So congratulations and again I look forward
to working with all of you again and thank you everybody for coming here tonight. Thank you. council president comments. >> Thank you. I think
one of the best things that have ever happened to me is to be able to work with the people of Vernon Township in bettering our town. I can honestly say that in all my decisions, my first
question to myself is, will it make Vernon better? A number of issues have come forward and I think the decisions that the council has made whether it be unanimously or
divided but it has always been with what has been best for Vernon Township and how will it affect our residents in the years to come. More than that, I've found it a great pleasure and a great honor to be able to
have worked with many of these people who I've come to know and uh uh come to trust not only their uh them but their decisions because obviously we as
council members don't have all the answers. We have to relate to our uh professionals and the individuals who work in the township and in this building.
By far, they have a degree of professionalism that uh once you see it, you can never forget it. So, I thank these people for the time that they've given me and the the
uh the fact that they've uh let me into their lives while working with them and I appreciate the effort that they have made in supporting uh what they think has
been the right thing to do for Vernon Township. I know previously I've mentioned our police, our first responders, our fire department, and I continue to
do so because without them, Vernon is not Vernon. We are we are a uh a group of uh residents who rely upon the services that these men and women uh
provide us with and allow us to se sleep safely at night. Uh so uh before I go any further and uh
speak of some of the issues uh that are facing Vernon. Uh I think it's well uh said that the ability to resolve these problems stands with the people on
this day and I look forward to working with them in the future that we may continue to do that. this point, I would like to use my office to ask for a uh the privilege of
making a privilege motion. Uh I'm going to ask that uh the council vote for uh in unonymity
a new council president, Mr. Bill Higgins. I've worked with Bill. I respect him. I think he will bring a uh a good look to the township and uh help move it
forward. And to assist him, I ask that the council vote in unonymity uh for Miss Sandy as vice president. So, uh, to that end, I would ask for a
motion of acclamation. >> You don't the the clerk will call for that. >> Um, do you really have to do that? >> Choose any day. >> Any day? >> Yes, >> please.
>> Are you comments? >> Yes. >> Um, I'm going to ask for nominations for council president. >> I know. You can I nominate Bill Higgins. >> I second.
>> Are there any other nominations for council president? >> Okay, I will take a roll call. >> Council member Canino? >> Yes. >> Council member Higgins? >> Yes. >> Council member Ols? >> Yes. >> Council member Rudo? >> Yes.
>> Council member Sparta? >> Yes. >> Motion carries. President for 2026 is council member Higgins. Here you got Thank you everyone. Next order of business then will be to go for
nomination for vice president as as nominated. I'd move nominate Sandy off. >> Second. >> No other nominations >> and a second. >> Any other nominations? >> Roll call vote.
>> Council member Cantino. >> Yes. >> Council member Council President Higgins. >> Yes. >> Council member Ols. >> Yes. >> Council member Rudo. >> Yes. Council member Sparta. >> Yes. >> Carries.
>> Thank you. If you want to move over here. >> Let me flip over. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Where you going? >> Right here. >> Hello neighbor. Yeah, I'm here.
>> Sorry. >> Don't be doing that. >> One more office and I'm out the building. >> Next order of business is the new incoming council member comments. Carl, if you have any comments you want to make in addition to what you've
already done, now's the time. All I'm going to say is thank you >> and Sandy. >> Okay. I just wrote a little narrative and um I want to share it with you. Um I want to express that it's an honor and a
privilege to have been voted into this seat. I thank the public for trusting me. I have many goals for the future. Um, I would like to create policy that supports good government and refine our
existing policy. I want to implement strategies that support transparency. I would like to see more items added to our website for more transparency when I was here years ago. That was one of my goals and we did achieve it, but I know
there's been changes. I'd like to use work sessions for some of the big items that we have to discuss and vote on um and also the public can attend the work sessions. I think we need to start to address how
we conduct oursel on social media and have a code of conduct. So those are just a few things that I would like to concentrate in these four years. Most important, we have the responsibility of monitoring your money and how it's spent. We're trusted with
the job of assuring money is spent appropriately, legally, and according to state statute. I believe in the process. I have found through my career, when you don't follow the right process, you have poor outcomes.
Um, so I am all about the process. I look forward to working with everybody on this council. I'm very excited um and I'm sure they'll be looking forward to working on some of these goals with me and um as we turn towards
financial responsibility, oversight and accountability. I think we have a great group and I'm very excited to get started. So, thank you very much and thank you all for coming. I'd start with recognizing some of the dignitaries in the audience. Alan Henderson from the county commissioner's
office. Uh Mr. Silverstone from county commissioners, former mayor Varel up in the front, former councilwoman Natalie Perry, and I guess the other people have probably left. Chris Carney and uh Josh
Godheimer, right? >> Space. >> Parker Parker. >> Parker space. Thanks everybody. So once again, I'm here. This is my third year and I was elected the same time the mayor came in
and there were some new members on the council at the time and I ran with Brad as my running mate back then. So it's a great combination of experience, new people. Even so Sandy's new four years experience as a council. Pat's been the
been on the council forever. Brad, Peter, and uh really Marcy, looking forward to working with you. It's uh it's pleasure. I think we've got a lot lot to do. We're in the right direction, and we'll continue to get to the goals
by asking those questions to bring out the facts that I think I've done over the last couple years. I'm a stickler on the facts. I like the public to know what's going on. And if there's a vote taking place, that's why I ask the questions to get the details out so that
people really understand what's behind uh behind the question. And uh we've got a lot of cooperation issues to uh to improve upon. The mayor and I have spoken and uh we're going to get there. We're going to go in the right direction for the town. That's uh that's a
promise. So I look forward to this. If there's any stumbles along the way, we'll get over those just as process and procedure. I've conducted sales meetings for 30 years, so I'm used to interruptions and uh and comments from
the audience. And in terms of the audience, I welcome everybody's comments. We'll have a threeminut timer, but we're not going to stop exactly at three minutes. People get up, they're here, finish their thoughts. You got a lot to say. You're the most important.
And as always, you know, tax money is uh paramount and spending and and doing right for the citizens. It's a great place to live. I've been here 48 years myself, raised a family, and uh I plan on being here for a while. So, thank you
everybody. Any public comments? If you have comments, please come up. Identify yourself. >> Make a motion. and make a motion to open. Moved. >> Second. All >> in favor. >> All in favor? I
>> we get strained out here. If anyone from the public cares to comment, please do so. Yes. None. >> Seeing none. Oh, wait a minute. We have our first volunteer. >> Good evening everybody. Alan Henderson,
Lafayette Township, Sussex County Commissioner. I want to congratulate you to your new position. I had the honor of serving you guys as your leazison with the county commissioner board. I'm pleased to tell you I am also again your liaison to the commissioner board. It's
an honor. I'm here for you. The mayor knows my phone is on 247. Please reach out to me anytime and congratulations to all of you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Any others? >> Okay,
>> we have one in the back. >> Good evening. Uh, my name is William Ricky, better known as Jamie Ricky. um congratulate you all as a new council. I hope to uh I hope to be in total
agreement with you through your terms, although that probably won't be exactly the case. Um I just want to speak to one thing that's a very current issue is the apartments and the pilots. Um
and my biggest concern, I mean, I think the people are voicing their concern. I think you all need to pay >> very close attention to that and what that means and what it means for Vernon for the future. Um
but my biggest concern is looking back um how we got to a town center concept and main street and the fact that I thought at the time where we were moving and what what we had done was
establish I I had thought that the land use ordinance included the requirement for retail and office on the first floor of development in the town center. And I think that's something that it's
actually in question whether it's in the ordinance or not. So I'm I'm at a loss to say what the ordinance actually says, but I think uh think you all should take a look at that because the town center concept depended on the office and
retail on the first floor. So, I hope that you'd investigate that and have the appropriate bodies make suggestions and make some moves in that direction. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Any others? >> Motion to close the public. >> Second. >> A second. All >> clear. >> All in favor? >> I >> Okay. Next will just be the approval of
the minutes from the December 8th executive session, December 8th regular meeting, and December 29th. >> And the the two members you weren't here for. Yes. Right. >> That'll be three members voting.
>> I just want Bill, I just want to clarify with our attorney. Since I watch the meetings, I can vote on the regular meetings but not the executive session. >> Yes. You were not in the executive session. If you listen to the 8th, then you >> No, I did not. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. So, they'll be broken separately
then. So, for the approval of the December 8th executive session, >> I can make the motion, but I can't vote. I I'll uh make the motion. Second. >> Second. >> Roll call.
>> Council member Canino. >> He can abstain. >> Council member Higgins. >> Yes. >> Member Holmes. >> Council member Rudo. >> Yes. >> Council member Sparta.
>> Abstain. >> Motion doesn't carry. >> You've got the major. You've got the majority of the people who can vote. >> I have two. Yeah, I have two. Yes. Two of the three >> abstains. >> Yeah. But that's >> But there was three that were present at the meeting. So you only need two of the
three for the majority. Correct or no? >> Never had this situation. >> Yes. Usually it's just the majority of the people who >> Okay. Okay. Motion carries. >> Okay. Next is a meeting from the regular meeting of December 8th. Moved. Second.
Second, Mr. Rudo. >> All in favor? >> No. Roll call. >> Roll call. >> Roll call. Okay. >> Council President Higgins. >> Yes. >> Council President, I'm sorry. Council member Rudo. >> Yes. >> Sparta. >> Yes.
>> Did I call um Council Member Cantina? >> Council member Canino. >> That's the same. Council member Oats >> abstain. >> Motion carries. >> And the December 29th special meeting
a motion. >> Sorry for >> I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> Second. Mr. Rudo. Paul. >> Council member Canino. >> Abstain. >> Council President Higgins.
>> Yes. >> Council member Ols. >> Abstain. Council member Rudo. >> Yes. >> Council member Stor. >> Yes. >> Next to the consent agenda, which is quite lengthy. So, uh, what we're going
to do is request any member that wants to pull out an individual. We'll we'll discuss those separately. Meanwhile, we'll start with Mr. Cino if you care to. left. >> I would like to pull out
resolution 26-41. 41. Okay. Any others? >> Are you follow any others? >> No. I'm going to follow >> Mr. Ruda. No, I'm fine. >> That's okay. That's all.
>> Uh, yes. I would like to pull out 2612, 2613. >> Um, Carl, what did you pull out? I'm sorry. >> 41. >> Oh, 41. Um, yes, those two.
>> Okay, Mr. Spart have a 26 24 ps on the floor. M the question 2634 changed. I I don't have any changes. >> I'll let you pull that one out till we
could be I had that marked myself. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. Thank you. >> And what was that number? I'm sorry. 40. Was it the 34? 34. >> 34. All right. >> So, currently right now, you've pulled
out um 12, 13, >> 24, >> 34, >> and 41. >> Yes. Okay, I'm okay with those. You want to do a consent for >> Yeah, do a consent for all the
resolutions except for 2612, 2613, 2624, 2634, and 2641. Those will be removed and voted on individually. >> All right. >> I'll make a motion for the consent agenda as stated.
>> Motion by Mr. Sure. >> Have a second. Second. >> Second by Carl. >> Roll call. Go. >> Council member Cantino. >> Yes. >> Higgins. >> Yes.
>> Council member Ols. >> Yes. >> Council member Rudo. >> Yes. >> Council member Sparta. >> Yes. carries. >> Okay. So, we'll go to resolution 2612. >> Motion to introduce that
>> and move it on the table. >> Make a motion. >> Second. >> Make the motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> Second, Mr. Rudo. All in favor for discussion. >> For discussion, right? Yeah, you don't
have to >> just now it's open for discussion. >> Open for discussion 2612 which is a resolution in Vernon Township County of Sussex State New Jersey granting authority for approval of certain purchases and next set of bid threshold
through New Jersey state contracts andor purchasing co-ops for 2026. >> Okay. So my concern may I >> address my concerns? >> Yes. So my concerns is there's no cap on this. Um it won't come to our council
for vote. Um we need to know how everything is spent. I mean that's one of my goals is to understand the spending and know what is spent and monitor it. And this does not allow this to happen. If I understand it correctly, if we use
these vendors, they do not have to have council approval to make purchases. Am I correct with that? Yes. >> So, I would like to table that because of those very reasons. >> We >> or we can go to a vote.
>> Can we make some comments on that? >> You want to >> um as the president I can't make that determination. >> Yeah. Okay. So, these all these are the main um a lot of the main vendors that we use
on a day-to-day basis with a lot of our purchases. Um if they're and they're also state co-ops, so they're already approved. So that is why um our uh purchasing agent actually puts
this list together because if we were to have to come to get approvals on all of these every single time, it would just be cumbersome. We wouldn't be able to do our day-to-day business and that's why this list is put together so you guys can approve it and we can
just move on with all our purchases. >> I don't agree with that. um if it was an emergency that we can have an emergency meeting. We need to know what is being spent. >> You would you would >> and I'm going to the limit before that
in the resolution the next resolution with the limit of 53. I would like to see that lowered. So that is where I stand on those two issues. >> The lowering it that's >> I think you need to say I think okay this one first
>> has to be one by. >> All right. So, going back to 2612. >> Mhm. >> Um, there there are things that you won't even see if we purchase off of here. Even if they are you won't have you won't be
the one that's going to approve. It's they're if they're going to be if we're going to purchase them or not. That's why we have a budget. When you guys approve a budget, we use these these >> to process. I want to know what is being spent and when it comes to a certain
limit I think we need to vote on it. That is my opinion. >> You will have that opportunity. Yes. With each item um they will go uh like say like the bunker truck we did right that will go before you to approve that. We can't >> saying every item bought on this list
will become a vote for us. >> Right. Regardless of the price. >> No. There's certain things that we would be able to just purchase without going in front of you if for every bill we wouldn't be able to do our day-to-day
basis. >> I understand that. I'm talking about big budget items. >> Well, big budget items usually go they go to you for approval. >> But according to this, it's not necessary though. Am I correct? >> It depends on how much.
>> Yeah. I I I don't agree with it. >> Is that where the state cap of 53,000 comes in? That's a determining factor here. >> Uh yes. U the only other thing you could do is if you put a limit, but
to to the administration's point, sometimes you have um certain requirements with the fire department, their hoses or the DPW if they have to have, you know, buy certain things. But I do uh understand your concern about uh putting some type
>> on there. There's a lot of other things that aren't emergency. I want to know that when it comes to a certain limit, >> we need to vote on it. That is part of my >> um process. So, I mean, it's up to you guys, but that's where I stand.
>> So, may I ask a question? >> There's a bit. Yeah. From my understanding, this is allowing the township to with these particular um companies go above that cap if necessary without the consent of the council.
>> I think it's anytime not >> because I mean if it's below that threshold, they wouldn't come before us anyway. Right. >> Right. >> So this really allows them to go above the threshold with just these companies. Correct. Yeah.
>> Okay. I just wanted to make sure I understood it correctly. >> And these these companies are from the co-op, so they've been pre-done, but yes, they could go for more. You know, if if um if there was emergency with salt. So So that that's one of these
emergencies where you I would think you'd give latitude to the uh administration that they could get that on emergency basis. >> Um but but you bring up a good point. You know, there is there a limit. >> Thank you. And okay, maybe there's some things such as salt um that maybe could
be changed. Um and the other resolution, I still would want to see that 53 lowered as well. >> And we're not there yet. >> I know, right? I know. But it sort of kind of goes hand in hand. >> Um so if you if you care to have it lowered or removed from this consent
agenda, you can you can recommend that. I would like to make a recommendation and move to have this tabled. >> Do we have a second? >> Not to mean we can't take a second look at it, but >> second table. >> No, you're you're seconding.
>> Okay. Okay. So, we have it. We have a second. >> So, we'll vote >> to remove table >> to remove the table. >> Sorry. Um Okay.
Council member Canino, >> yes. >> Council member Higgins, >> yes. >> Council member Ols, >> yes. >> Council member, >> yes. >> Council member Sparta, >> yes. >> Motion carries to table.
>> Your second resolution was 2613. >> Yeah. And it sort of kind of goes hand in hand. And I would like I know that >> we have to move we have to move >> it on the to the table. So you have to have a first a second and then discussion. >> Okay. We have a first uh for 2613. Bring
it to discussion. Moved. >> Have a second. >> A second. >> Second. >> Council discussion. >> Council discussion. >> Yeah. So prior to the 53, what was it before it was increased by
the state? Does anybody know? I think it was 46. >> 30 >> somewhere. >> I think it was 46. >> I'm sorry. >> I think it was 46. >> 46. >> I think so. Yeah. >> But the wording on 2613 just says granting the authority for approval
certain purchases through New Jersey State contracts. So, it's the authority to purchase under contract. No other details associated with that. Right. Um details will be in the uh resolution.
So it gives the authority of the QPA um to to use their authority to um contract up up to their uh 53,000 threshold without going out to a bid. >> There's no statute that says it has to be 53. Well, there the statute allows if
you're qualified purchasing. Yes, >> but you don't you can go under. >> I guess you could. >> This is a state recommended number. >> All right. Because everything under 53,000
everything over 53,000 you have to go out to bid >> or qualified purchase right there's a >> yes I'd like to give permission for it to go out to bid. So I would like to see it lowered. That is my personal opinion. >> Look you you're actually saying to to
table this as well. That's your resolution >> or if you want to vote on it. Um >> but you have to uh >> Okay. So, I'll make a motion to table it for now. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Okay. >> Being that we have a I'll second it.
There's a second >> and go to vote. >> Second. >> Uh Carl. >> Okay. >> Council member Canino? >> Yes. >> Council President Higgins. >> No. >> Council member Ols.
>> Yes. Council member Rudo, >> I would like to have comment to see from the mayor. Um, what is included in this? I would not like to see certain areas of uh
activity that the count that the township is required to perform being held hostage to our schedule for meetings. I'm sorry. Can can you tell what do you mean you're scheduled for meeting? >> Is there anything in the in in this area
that that this within the scope of this um resolution that permits uh that holds up the activities of the township until this is resolved. Uh I think we we
have you know we have something ready to go out to bid, right? Um I think it's from one of our grants that we >> Yeah, that's that wouldn't have anything to do with this. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> No.
Harries the table. >> Um may I ask the question of the lawyer, the attorney, please? >> Yeah. the the the resolution table has already been made but yes >> um maybe you could catch up with me um
as I remember when we bring something back that's been tabled there's certain guidelines so who can bring it back to the table am I correct with that >> so on a resolution you can bring back a resolution >> and anybody can doesn't have to be the person that tabled it okay very good thank you
>> excuse me uh excuse me >> yes >> say that again >> with regard to a resolution that's been tabled It's it's essentially dead. So you could bring it back at any any any time. >> So at next meeting if all the answers are answered um then we could just bring
it back and put it on at next meeting. >> If it's an ordinance >> that's a different >> that's a different story. Okay. Thank you for clarifying. Thank you. >> I remember that was tabled. The next resolution to pull out was 2624. Correct?
>> 2624. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Uh reason why I had this pulled was uh for a couple different things. one um our budget hearing is normally the last Monday in April and it always seems like
we are um that's like the last possible day for us to uh approve the budget. I'd like to see if it's possible to move that meeting to the 21st so that way we had a little bit more time to
um approve the budget and make changes as needed rather than being held under the wire. Um >> the 21st is a Tuesday. >> Oh, I'm sorry. The 20th then I'm I'm sorry. My subtraction was wrong there. Um so if we could have that as April
21st and customarily in December we always um cancel our second meeting and especially since uh it's the 28th this year. I was wonder if it's possible we can just make a meeting for December 21st. Uh so that way we don't go from
December 14th all the way to our reorg um for a meeting. Um, so those were the two um two meetings that that uh I would like to change if possible. >> Any other comments? >> Council President
for next year on January 15th is um a Friday. Um, I wanted to see if it was possible if we can make that another day. Um, after January
15th, um, Monday, the 18th is Martin Luther King Day. Um, >> isn't the 15th the latest we can have it? >> Yes. I think by No, it's just like the the statute if you were having it on on
January 1, it's um you have a couple days after where you can also have it. It doesn't have to be exactly on that date. >> But we can't have it before the 15th. >> No,
actually, and there's no new members, so you you' have continuity of government. So that's fine. I just don't know. I mean, we could leave it on Friday. That's up to you. But >> So, are you suggesting the 19th then?
>> 19th is a Tuesday. I mean, that that would be fine with me also >> cuz the 18th I I assume government office is going to be closed, right? >> Yes, we are closed that day. So, can I make an amended uh resolution? >> If I can make a motion to amend a
resolution to change um the April 27th date to the April 20th. >> No, >> 21st. 27 minus 7 is 20. I screwed up on the 21st. Marcy corrected me. >> It's the 20th. It's Monday.
>> And then December um Eliminate the 14th and 28th of December. Make it December 21st. >> Just one meeting that much. >> Just one meeting that much. Custom area. We always cancel the second one anyway. Okay. >> And make our reorganization meeting u
January 19th, 2027. >> The 19th. >> I don't know if you can change that. >> Maybe you can. >> Is there a second? Is it 18? >> Do we have a second for the amendment? >> I'll make a second. >> Oh god. Roll call. Roll call.
>> Council member Contino. >> Yes. >> President Higgins. >> Yes. >> Council member Ols. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Council member Rudo. >> Yes. >> Council member Sparta. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Okay. The next one that was requested
was resolution 2634. Point a council member leazison on for development matters in Vernon Township. >> We have a motion to discuss 2634 moved. Do we have a second? >> Second.
>> I do have a question about this one. Um so it says the township council hereby appoints councilman Patrick Rudo or his designate council's liaison for development matters and he shall attend all meetings with developers etc. or his designate
that means if he is unable to attend. >> I'm sorry I did send an updated resolution. >> I was wondering yes because when I saw this I was >> um council um >> council designate. >> Council designate. >> No, I have a question about that too. >> That's fine.
>> Um council designate. Does that mean we should appoint an alternate like now or would we appoint an alternate as needed? Because that only the my only concern is if you say council designate that implies the body chooses his designate
but if he can't make it to a meeting does that mean that we have to come together for a meeting to appoint a designate or would we have an alternate set aside already because that implies an alternate to me >> or may I make suggestion if he can't make it to a meeting and we all work he
can appoint whoever is available. >> Yeah. Would that be a third option >> as long as they're a council member? That makes sense as well. I just I felt like this >> I didn't pull this one out, but I feel like that's a worthy discussion point. >> It's a good point. The discussion is the
intent of the uh resolution was to have someone be helping the mayor and have two people rather than just one. Not when he gets a phone call and he has to call someone to say, "Hey, yeah, I'm talking to a developer." These were pre-arranged meetings, discussion points
that uh have to do with development in Vernon because it's a big issue and uh the person most available and most experienced on our side is Mr. Rudo and uh you're not always available. >> So it would be letting us know or
letting me know that you're not available and then we fill fill in the spot. except the problem is going to be if that meetings don't come up with two week intervals. So if there is a problem and I can't make it for whatever reason, I think the mayor just does it by himself.
That's all. I mean because can't call the group together holding up the business of the township that the mayor has worked with, >> right? >> So that we can come up and pick a somebody else to do it. uh it it I think it becomes more
cumbersome than it should be and I think you know on this particular case we just let us you know let go >> if you can't make it you would probably let me know right >> you're the person I know then I'm >> probably have more freedom in my schedule and I could step in
>> but we don't have to vote on it >> no >> right >> so so meaning council designign can say hey anybody available to go and he appoints the designate, >> right? >> And the verbiage is okay and allows that. >> Yes.
>> Okay. >> Okay, that makes sense. Thank you. >> Yeah, I didn't get the update, so I had no idea. >> Okay, good. >> So, thanks for clarifying that. >> Good. So, we'll vote on forward now. Roll call. >> Roll call vote. >> Member Canino? >> Yes.
>> Council, >> yes. >> Council member Ols, >> yes. >> Council member Rudo, >> yes. >> Council member, >> yes. Motion carries. >> And uh the last one was 2641
>> which is a resolution authorizing appointment of a chief financial officer for Vernon Township. >> Do we have a make that motion? >> Motion motion Mr. Sparta second Mr. Rudo.
Um, so I just wanted to have this brought up to the I just felt like this is something we should discuss in public, especially considering this is such an important position and um I feel the public should be aware of who we're appointing and is it is it above board
to discuss the applicant because it is in the resolution. I mean it is in the resolution. >> Yeah, it's in open session. You can you can discuss. not an employee. So, >> she's not Well, you you would have to have raced her if you wanted to go to executive session, but but it's open to
session. So, you can discuss. >> She isn't an employee yet. So, >> well, but there's Yes, that's correct. She's not. But there's some case law that says that even if they're potentially an employee should rice, but but it's open session. You're not going to exe executive. So, you don't have to
rice. You can discuss. It's on the agenda. So, it's an open item to discuss in public. Okay. Um, could the is it appropriate to ask the mayor and the BA to speak to how they feel about the the applicant or
>> Yeah. >> Sure. Um, being a uh New Jersey municipal CFO uh requires a certain um certification. You just can't just be a regular CFO. Um she
has been a CFO for I believe she said 20 years uh in the in the burrow of Rockaway. Um she's also the business administrator and she's also well right now she's the acting clerk as well. So she kind of handles she wears multiple
several hats not mult several hats she wears. Uh she is local to Vernon Township. Uh she lives um in in in Vernon and I said uh she checks all the boxes for
qualifications. Um uh she's met with our finance department already. Um they seem to engage in a lot of good conversation and we're uh we're eager to to start working with her and I think she'll be she's going to be a good fit for for Vernon Township. and plus the most one
of the biggest things is that she's she's also a taxpayer here. So, um so she'd be very cautious on on on spending money, right? So, I have to say the fact that she's local makes a really big difference to me because like you said, when you live in
the community, when you're working in the community that you're working towards, I mean that you live in, sorry, I tripped over my own words. Um I think that that's a really beneficial thing to have. Okay. So, you're good with uh any comments?
>> I just felt it was good to talk about it in public. Well, it's an important position. Yeah. CFO, our CFO left uh what, three months ago. We've been paying a firm uh $168 an hour for CFO services. And uh
this will stop that outflow of 168 an hour and we'll have a full-time employee. And and just one one last thing, council president, the uh Phoenix advisors um we are still going to for one month after um after the appointment
um will Phoenix advisers will still be on just in case there's any open issues uh that the CFO would have, she can communicate back and this way that there is a very smooth because again it's such a vital position for the town. We want to make sure there's a smooth
transition. So >> good. >> So just so you know when you when you see that um that that's the reason for that is just to make sure that we we have redundancy in place and we can always and and knowing the old CFO um she's still a homeowner in in Vernon
Township. Uh she's she's the MUA director. She's a good egg. So we we know we could always call her should we ever need anything or information. So but we want to make sure we have that that that coverage. We feel confident that we followed all
the right procedures with our guidance from our counselor. The uh the uh PA and the mayor CFO did the interviewing process. Uh made the offer. We got to meet the candidate tonight for an hour
asking questions, saw the resume, went through a process of learning a lot about her and feel comfortable with the hire. But that'll be uh future. >> Can I just ask Peter to explain to the public about the
appointment as to uh appointment uh in compared to why there isn't a contract on that? >> Sure. So this is a statutory position. You have um >> this is a statutory position.
>> Can you hear me? >> All right. This is a statutory position. You have the clerk, you have the CFO, you have the assessor, and you have the >> collector >> collector the collector. So those are all statutory positions. Um in title um
title 39 uh title 40 there is a section uh for these uh p these people. Uh and they are positions that get tenure. Uh so the first appointment is not tenured. After the after the second appointment then you would get tenure. Uh it's it's
a position that um you know the mayor as you've heard interviews he does an offer and he has brought it to the council. The council has asked the applicant various questions they found that she is qualified. Uh the there was an offer
letter that was shared with the council. It's within um it's within guidelines. Uh there will be a salary ordinance as many of you know that will put forth the salary and that will be what will be paid and then she'd be entitled to the um
benefits uh that other employees have which is the health benefits sick days vacation etc. Uh so that is the process. >> Thank you. So, do we have uh any other questions on that resolution?
Okay. Ready to move to a uh >> roll propose a roll call vote. >> Council member Canino? >> Yes. >> Council member, >> yes. >> Council member Ols, >> yes. >> Council member Rizo, >> yes.
>> Council member Sparta, >> yes. >> Carries. Even though 2642 was not on the list, I just want to make a comment. This is a a long a laundry list of many people that we hire on a contractual basis per year.
And uh on the last two years, I made a big point of this. Did we ever ask these people to submit an RFP to update their quote from the previous year? And if there were competitors that we might want to do business with had a chance to uh make an offer. So this year I want to
thank the mayor, the BA, the CFO for sending out the RFPs to the various people who are here and anyone else that wanted to bid for their services. So uh it's a most of these are the same people that's fine but we followed the process
and if there was competition they had a chance to speak up. So thank you very much for the effort. >> Thank you. Just be before we move to audiences. Um I I don't know why I thought there'd be a section in here for um mayor appointments. I do have
>> mayor. There are sections on >> Okay. >> My bad. Okay. Okay. >> Okay. That closes out all the questions and all the resolutions >> and all been approved. >> All approved.
>> Now you can go to ordinances. In the ordinances, there's two ordinances. First reading, Ordinance 2601, calendar year 2026, model ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to
establish a bank cap. >> We have a motion >> motion to second reading. When will the second reading be? the first um February which I believe is um February 9th with the second reading
February 9th. >> There'll be a motion to approve the first reading. Second reading will be February 9th. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second call. >> Roll call. >> Council member Canino? >> Yes.
>> Council President Higgins? >> Yes. >> Council member Owens. >> Yes. >> Council member Rizuno. Yes. >> Council member Sparta. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 2602, first reading. Ordinance the township of Vernon County of Sussex
State, New Jersey, releasing, esting, and vacating the rights of the public in a portion of block 436, Law 22, Burglar Road in Vernon. Second reading. >> Second reading February.
I move. Got a move by Mr. Cino. >> Second. >> Second. Mr. Sparta. Roll call. >> Council member Canino. >> Yes. >> Council President Hibings. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Council member Sparta. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Ordinance 2603. Ordinance ending lease agreement between Vernon Township Board of Ed and the Township of Vernon and subleasase agreement between the township of Vernon and the dog owners
gathering society of Vernon Township Inc. for certain unapproved real estate identified on the official tax map tax maps of the township of Vernon block 308 lot 2 which was old block 133 lot 2.05.
Do we have a uh motion to put this on the floor? Move. >> Approval of first reading. Second reading will be February. >> First reading. Second reading February 9th. Same as the other two. >> Move. Move. Mr. Sparta.
Second. >> Second. >> Second. Mr. Cino. >> Roll call. >> Council member Canino. >> Yes. >> Council President Higgins. >> Yes. >> Council member Ols. >> Yes. Council member Rudo. >> Yes. >> Council member Sparta. >> Yes.
>> Motion carries. >> Ordinance first reading 2604. Ordinance to amend chapter 250 entitled fees and escros of the code of the township of Vernon Sussex, New Jersey.
>> I'd like to make a motion to discuss. >> Okay. We don't >> first we got this for the first reading. Second reading February 9th. We can discuss it. I think it needs to be changed. Um, you want to wait till the second reading to do changes?
>> Yeah. >> Well, usually you do a first reading and we would discuss it at the second reading. >> Well, >> this is just in you're introducing it, then it has to be advertised and then at the second reading is when we would discuss it >> and then it would go back for changes and have to be
>> well, you would um >> go back again. You would you could change well you'd vote it probably down and then would have to be brought back >> rehab some clarification maybe >> other way.
>> Yeah. If you have questions we can ask in the meantime so that we're prepared to discuss those details at the next meeting. This is just to introduce it. >> Yes. But I can't say anything about it >> at first readings. No. But if there's information, I'm sure the uh administration would love to give you
all the information so you can vote. >> Okay. >> All right. Okay. >> I've always been I've been of your thinking, but >> this seen you guys talk about things on first readings. >> People come up and they talk and you
guys answer questions, but you want to say nothing about it. So, I understand the rules. >> That's how they've done it. Yes, that's how we do it. >> Okay. >> And the discussion is on second. >> Okay. And then you guys worry about holding up
>> the flow of government, right? >> So >> So So I guess >> you can't have it every day. >> So that that could be a discussion. You there there are some towns that do a workshop. So you have a workshop on the first meeting and you and you do discuss everything and then all the answers are
either identified, information is given. So at the second information at the second meeting of the month then it's the actual meeting where you would vote on things. >> That may maybe something we can address. >> Yes. >> Okay. Did we move on this?
>> We had a first and second. Correct. >> Um I don't have either. I don't know if I missed some. >> Do we have first a motion? >> I'll make a motion. >> Have a second. Second, >> Mr. Risto. Second. Roll call. >> Council member Cantino.
>> Yes. >> Council President H. >> Council member Ols. >> And I'm voting to just let this go through without I'm going to say no. >> Okay. Okay. >> Council member Rudo. >> Yes. >> Council member Sparta. >> Yes.
>> Motion carries. >> Number 20. Mayoral appointments to boards, commissions, and committees. Unification Committee, Board of Rec, Economic Development Advisory Committee, Environmental Commission, Land Use,
Senior Citizens Committee. I have a motion to >> These are just the mayor's appointments. There's no um vote. >> No. >> Okay. Ready. >> Okay. Um these are my appointments for
boards, commissions, and committees. I'm going to apologize in advance if I butcher your last name. I do apologize. Beautification committee 7 to9 open spots. All have one-year terms expiring January 14, 2027.
Karen Gunnan, Lord Jillian, Jesse Cosmosi, my daughter Marissa Rossi, Mega Wan, Taylor Spid, I should notice I'm Italian, but uh
Spittle Spo T I do apologize. Board of Recreation, Heather Levance, three-year term expiring January 14, 2029. Economic Development Advisory Committee. All one-year terms expiring January 14,
2027. Hi Liz, Peter Knight, Evan Kovich, Deborah Chase, Paul Estanti, Environmental Commission. Natalie Gucci now joined us again. Uh three-year term
expiring January 14, 2029. Edward Canel, three-year term expiring January 14, 2029. Land use Use Board. My design, mayor's design to one-year
class one term expiring on January 14, 2027 is John Olberger. Class 3, three-year term expiring on January 14, 2029. Environmental Commission Designate Nally Busher.
Class 4 term expiring on January 14, 2030. Willard McPeek, class 4 term expiring on January 14, 2030. Paul Millie, alternate number one,
two-year term expiring on January 14, 2028. Jody White, Berto Barel, Bachelor. Sorry, Jody. I messed up your name there. Um, alternate number two, unexpired term ending on January 14, 2027. Mark Vzini. Alternate
number three, unexpired term ending on January 14, 2027. Marissa, I'm going to mess up your name, too. Hey, Marissa. Uh, Broadenale Poti. Got it. All right, good. Alternate number four, two-year term expiring on
January 14, 2028. Richard Wangen, Senior Citizen Committee, all a three-year terms expiring on January 14, 2029. Kathy Zelitz, Sue Pazette, Pazete,
Gloria, Fra, Josephine Prrisco, Christa Jerry, Veronica Rundeler, and Tina Kempka. And that is all of my appointments. Congratulations and thank you very much for your service.
Next item, public comment limited to five minutes. Any subject? >> I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Roll call. >> All in favor? >> All in favor? I >> I'm sorry.
>> I apologize. >> No, you're up. Sorry, that was closing. I want to wish everybody I'm Heidi Lice and uh I want to welcome and I want to wish everybody a happy new year, healthy, prosperous and all the
good things and I hope 6 will bring wonderful good burden and and the community working everybody in harmony. So, uh, you'll be in my prayers and hopefully, uh, it will
be easy, which probably won't, but I'm sure it will. But anyway, I just want to thank you. Thank you. Thanks. >> Done and what you >> Thank you. >> Any others? Council President, congratulations.
>> Thank you. >> Other new members of the board. Happy new year to all. >> You're Mr. Dunlop, right? Dunlop. >> Not to be confused with that other guy whose first name is a little different. Um
there was an article in the advertiser news that referred to um Mr. Jessup as the developers attorney and then people started jumping on that saying, "Aha, I knew that. That's we should have had him sworn in." I think it needs to be stated
for the record that Mr. Jessup does not work for the developer. Mr. Jessup was hired by the township to protect our interests in these pilots and I just think that needs to be clearly stated for the record. Um I did
not sign the uh petition but I did get cornered by a couple of people that um were signing it. Um the reason I didn't have a big problem with it was because number one is 27 units. It's kind of buried
over here in the corner so you don't see it as you drive through town. And um we need the sewer users. And when I mentioned this to the person that I was talking to, she said, "Well, I don't care about the sewer users." And I said,
"Well, you need to care about the sewer users because if the sewer fails, we all fail." And I think we all have some skin in the game with the bonding that was done. I went on to try to explain that we have excess capacity and we need to find a way to use it. Plus, we're mandated by
the state to bring additional people into the township. So whether we like it or not, I've been here since 95. I moved here knowing it was a bedroom community with a ski resort, no fast food restaurants, a couple of red lights, and I was more than happy with that.
I think people are getting the wrong idea about a lot of these things and I think that we really I hear people talk about well it wasn't discussed it was done in secret what 12 15 people here tonight normally there's five or six
this has been discussed these things have been discussed I don't agree with all of them but I agree there is a process and I think the council has followed that process the last thing when I talked about the sewer saying we had excess. Well, we can sell
that excess to hardest city. Can't you can't sell your excess capacity to another township. So, the people that were kind of involved in this, I don't think understood fully what they were doing. And finally, it came down to um the fact that we're
getting about $900 a year off of that piece of property. I understand the first year is going to be 60 70,000 maybe over 100,000 going forward. Then I heard the argument about the school. The ironic thing is the
people the movers and shakers and the one that have been the most outspoken about this have been the most outspoken about how much money the school gets. I mean, last year we had four and a I think a four and a half% increase in our school
budget and then they turned around and added another 9.65%. And thought that was just fine. I think the schools get more than they need. I don't think that adding a few students is going to add the kind of burdens they talk about $25,000 times 10 students
quarter million dollars. They're not going to burn any more power. They're not going to have any more teachers. They're not going to have any more buses if you have a few more students. I do not like the idea of 11 pilots and that'll be addressed at a later date,
but I really think that people need to to really know what they're talking about before they get so involved in these things. Um, I think the mayor needs to cooperate more with the council. I think the council needs to have more dialogue with the mayor. I see
this as positive. Tat Razuto has been has been doing a great job and he's been around for a long time and between his time on the board and his time on the council, he's been a real warrior and I don't think that that can be stated strongly enough. I've seen some really
nasty things posted about him lately and I find it really troubling. I've known him for several years. He's a kind man. He's an honorable man. I know Bill Higgins well. I know Brad Sparta well. These are good people. These people want to do what's best for town. If we could
bury our head in the sand and do nothing, I think they'd be happy with that. But we just can't do it. A lot of this comes from the state. We had our congressman here tonight. I had a real hard time sitting listening to him. Um he almost sound like a Republican
tonight, but we all know he's not. Um I hope we can find a way to work together. I hope the mayor will be more agreeable. I hope the council will be agreeable with working with the mayor. We have a lot of things to do and I just
hope everybody works together. I think this is a good group and um I have high hopes of the future. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Steve. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hey Steve, just to just to add >> add one thing there are pilots that are
out there just that's more disadvant I I hope so. Yeah. >> Following on what Mr. Um, sorry. Mr. Dunlop said, "Mr. Jessup is an attorney that was hired by u the town. He is a um he specializes in redevelopment pilots.
Uh he's throughout the state. Uh I've worked with him before. Um so his interests are your interests, the people's interests." Uh there was also a financial uh report that was done that showed the benefits. There's a whole
analysis that's done. and there's statute on it. So, um to Mr. Dunlop's uh point, yes, he is our town. He is not the de developers town. In fact, he is he's goes against the developer to safeguard the town's interests.
>> Yeah. >> So, the article was in error and those that took credit first saying that they discovered it were in error. Mr. Jess represents the town. >> Any other comments?
No, I hope so. Good evening. I'm Elaine Badgley. I live in the Glenwood section. Uh congratulations to all of the members, the new council president, new members. >> Um I haven't been to a a meeting in
quite a while. I used to come in 70s, the 80s, the 90s. I haven't been here for a while. Um, a couple things that I learned was that I had a few questions about some of the resolutions and I
didn't realize that I could discuss them beforehand uh in the original threeminut um, >> right? They were on the agenda. Huh. >> Right. So, I have them written down for the next session. Um, as and I just want
to mention I'm not for or against development. I've been here a long long long time. We moved in in 1970. Um, with the development that they're planning on route 515, I don't know how
many people are aware of why the speed the uh weight limit for trucks and buses are on group 515. That's because in the 80s there was a very severe bus accident. you know, people lost lives
and also there was an oil truck that actually went into the um the creek at the bottom just below break neck road. So I think that should be taken into consideration because there will be a lot more traffic on that road. Can that
road handle the amount of traffic? These are just some things that >> all those subjects ma'am have been discussed and will continue to be discussed at the land use board. >> Okay, >> that's all their perview to to speak about all those when it gets to us has to do with the financial portion of it.
And uh you're welcome to go to the land use board meetings. That subject was to be discussed on January 28th and the developer now has put it off for at least two months. So there'll be a new date. It's probably I don't know if it's been published yet, but it's going to be
uh probably in March or April. >> So that this concern should be brought up actually. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Do a traffic study too by the way. >> A traffic study is done when and development comes in both.
>> I I that I knew but you know I just wanted the council to know aware. Okay. Thank you. >> And it's on a county road as you pointed out. So, the county had concerns as well and and they'll be speaking about it. So, it's a uh it hasn't gotten off yet. >> Okay.
>> You two can raise your hand if you want. >> Sir, >> Jamie Ricky from Vernon. Um, I want to apologize that I hadn't read the agenda and kind of walked in late and didn't know where you were. Um, so my comments the first time up actually were out of
place. I don't think you actually uh mentioned that it was for items on the agenda, but I had I known, I would have waited till the end. >> Um, I just think maybe it's time to re-engage with the public about what the town center vision is. It's been a long
time. Um, and as we can tell by the recent petition and the recent development, there is a confir concern from the residents. So, I think maybe it'd be the council's place
to um revision or at least explain what the current vision is for the town center and, you know, find out where the public is on it. And then, you know, if you find changes like I thought for sure
that town center properties needed to have res uh retail and office on the first floor. Maybe I'm mistaken. It may have been in the ordinance originally. May have been changed along the way. But I think it's time that we take a look at it. And maybe the town center even needs
to have, you know, maybe it needs to have a core and an outer section of the center. I'm just saying that maybe that zoning needs to have it have a you know have a look at um and like I said re-engage the public on what the vision
for the town center is because obviously there's a lot of concern currently um and with the addition of the pilot issue kind of you know inflamed that whole thing so I think maybe to settle I mean I don't
not I don't have a suggestion on how to do that exactly But um I think maybe like I said it's maybe time to revisit or re-engage the public on our vision for the town center. >> Probably a good idea. There's a lot of people that were not here or weren't
involved just like the uh the MUA the sewage plants. There were a lot of questions and we did have a large public meeting here on that last year that answered a lot of questions and brought people up to speed. Probably good idea. >> Thank you. I just want to add to to add
to that. Um I I do believe that um the master plan for town center was updated in 2022 and approved. Um and I believe that you do not need uh retail below and then uh residential upstairs. Uh but I
do agree with you and I think that and I did try to get that information out there about the master plan that was originally put together in 1995. um that included all of this type of infrastructure. And I know people get upset when they see apartment buildings
in here, but like I said, done back in 1995, not 2025 by Mayor Rossi, you know. So, um we're only and if you start changing that now about moving, you know, res, you know, these properties have been
purchased already. um you're you're talking you know lawsuits that would you know they purchased them knowing that they could build this yourself. >> I've been in a position my family um if you don't know my family's been here for
over 250 years um you know operated a farm business for much of that and we went through at least a couple occasions where zoning was changed on our properties. Um, and that's I'm sorry,
but it's really just kind of, you know, that's how it is. The town has to act in what it feels is best. Um, you know, we've had we've had reasoning that has cost us significantly inequity. Um, so
it does happen. Um, I did speak to an economist recently who's got a pretty pretty pro had a prominent career. He's now retired. He did make the comment to me that, you know, if you're looking for that vision of a walkound, you know,
town center, but if you don't have the density of people living near that town center, it won't that won't it won't really work either. So, that's why I was saying maybe that the town center needs to have a core, an inner and outer core. All I'm
saying is it's I think it's time to re-engage the public and reook at our vision center. Good idea, Chef. We have a website. We could use that to uh spread the word and uh get more input.
>> Thank you, J. Any others? Seeing no others, we'll close this portion of the meeting to the public. >> Motion close. >> Move. Second. Council member Canino, >> yes.
>> Council President Higgins, >> yes. >> Council member, >> yes. >> Council member Rudo, >> yes. >> Council member Sparta, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> On the agenda, we had a duplicate. The mayor has already had his comments. the
mayor of council president has had to comment. So it's down to the uh council members comments. We'll start with Carl at the end and move away any any additional comments. >> I just want to thank everyone for coming out and thank you again for allowing me
to be in this position. I take this very seriously and I aim to be ears and listen. I think that's the most important thing a governing body can do. So you can always reach out to me if you have any concerns about anything going
on. I'm an open book. Um and again for participating in our democracy. >> Yes. Thank you. Uh my comments were echoed earlier and uh but I would like to thank uh the members
of the uh commissioners of our uh freeholder uh commissioners board for coming and attending and uh and honoring us with their presence. Uh, you know, one of the things I hear frequently is, "My god, we're the
biggest township in the county and yet nobody ever comes to see us." Well, you know, it is a ride. It is a bit. And uh the fact that so many people were here this evening and that uh Commissioner Silverthornne
and Commissioner Henderson uh were willing to stay to the bitter end uh I think gives uh gives credibility to their presence. Thank you very very much. Um I apologize for not making the
uh the event the reorganization meeting yesterday. Normally I go to all of them. U we had some sickness in the house flu which is killing everybody. So it was just a difficult difficulty in getting
there. And certainly we welcome back former council woman uh Natalie Bucheri. Thank you for uh honoring us with your presence Natalie. Thank you. >> Thank you Shannon. Um, I guess I sort of said everything in the beginning, but
thank you everybody for coming here and supporting us and um, I think we're all committed to do the best we can for the community. >> Brad. >> Yeah. Uh, if you guys could just indulge me here for a few minutes. It's been um
a little while. So, uh, first, Mr. Mayor, can we do something about the speakers? >> Yeah. And also, can we do something about the cameras for people talking because >> it's not like >> the best viewpoint >> that I'm adding the the entire system
onto our capital budget plan because it it is everything is just >> um I want to start by congratulating uh Sandy and Carl for for joining us in the in the house fund as I call it. Um, you
I know uh Sandy's been here before and actually first time I got a chance to meet you was at about 5:59 tonight. So uh great I look forward to working with you Carla. I've known you for probably five or six years now and uh look forward to working with you as well. Uh
since I wasn't here uh last month I want to take a minute and just thank uh Jessie Benetto and and Natalie Pucher for their service to to the council for their time that they were here. I've worked with Natalie on the board of ed and and here as well and um uh they
don't come much better than than Natalie. Um she's uh very faith pa faith-based person and um I know in her in her heart she always wants to do what's best for the town and and Jess I didn't know Jess before she got on on the board and had the privilege of
sitting next to her for um two years over there and um you know I I I always think you can learn something from people and I learned a lot from Jess in the two years that she was here and I wish her well. I also want to uh take a brief moment and thank the uh Vernon Emergency
Medical Services. Um my my mother uh the day after Thanksgiving fell in the shower at 11:30 at night and um my dad uh called both uh me and my brother to the house and um the the amount of care
and and compassion that um the two police officers and and um the first responders uh EMS that were there um was nothing short of amazing. We are very fortunate to have um these people in in
our town that gives their time uh their effort, their care, their compassion and their love to the people of this community. Um I had the I want to say honor of riding in the ambulance all the way down to to Hackinack. Uh, and to
watch the three and I I hate to call them kids, but they they were all three college kids that were in the back with my mother and um all of them uh volunteered their time at at their uh colleges uh for their EMS and um
they were they were outstanding. Uh they even uh stuck around and checked my dad out as well. He was he was very distraught uh since uh when he found her in the shower. uh she was unresponsive. So, um
there a lot of good people in this town. Um I want to just also take a moment to explain why I wasn't here on December 29th. Um to think that I can I was not coming to a
meeting to shy away from a vote. um you really don't know me well because when I was on the board of education, I actually voted against my wife's contract. So, uh I don't think I shy away from from votes and uh we've had our fair share of votes here um
in the three years that I've been here. Um the fact of the matter was that my my daughter whether she's 28 or 8, um she asked me um all the way back in August if we can go to North Carolina between Christmas and New Year so she could take off work and and spend time down there.
And uh there was a time in my life that my family wasn't my priority and that's never going to happen again. So, um, you know, I will never let anything come between me and my family. And if, uh, if you feel differently, I
feel sorry for you and I feel sorry for your family. So, um, I'll just leave that at that. Since I didn't get a chance to explain my position on the pilot, I just want to take a few minutes and talk about it. Now, um, the
petition's in. Um, I uh if it goes on the ballot in November, the only thing I ask is that everybody in the community, please take the time to educate yourself. There is good and bad about pilots. There's no doubt about
that. There's good and bad in every deal. Um, if you look at just one side of things and say it's all good, then you're lying to yourself. If you think it's all bad, you're lying to yourself.
And as council members, you know, we have to take a lot into consideration. Uh we can't just think about ourselves, right? Um to think about ourselves would be very selfish. That would be like saying, "I'm not going to vote for a firet truck for Highlands cuz I live on the other side of town." You know, we
have to think about the sewer. We have to think about the schools. We have to think about municipal services. We have to think about the effect on businesses. We have to think about the effect on taxpayers. We have to roll all that in and make a decision that we think is best for the
entire community. Um, you know, I can't say I'm not on the sewers, so I don't care about the sewers. Um, I care about the sewers because it affects people in the town. And I think um as council members we
have to take a more global look at um how things affect uh the entire community and how it affects sectors of our community. Um, you know, I I saw one thing that said that, you know, we all know our
obligation for CO over the next 10 years is uh is about 200 units, give or take. And in order to do that, that's that's like a,00 to,300 units that have to be built in the next decade. go back 20 years in this town and over
20 years we have not built a thousand housing new housing units in this town. So if somebody wants to ask what the rush is and why it was done quickly, if we wait until years five, six or
eight to do something like this, you will end up with projects that we're going to have to do that are not going to be good for this town. So we have to look at what's on the books today. We can't look down the road. Well, in five
years we might have a different governor or in six years COA is not going to be around. We have to look at what's now. If you think you know what's going to happen in six or seven years, please tell me who's winning the Super Bowl so I can put a bet on it because none of us can none of us know what's going to
happen in that amount of time. This isn't a US them issue. It's a community issue and it needs to be thought as I said before on on a global um a global scale for us as as council members. Um you know there's things in
the pilot I don't like. Um but the pilot is um I I I have a a lot of uh respect for for Matt Jessup. I was against pilots when I first got on this council. I fought with Mr. Lynch about it back in
2014. I thought about it. Matt explained it in a way that made sense. You know, we have um every time that there is a um a tax appeal and the tax appeal is one, you
know, the school and the county, they don't give back their portion. It comes out of ours our our our books and that needs to be taken into consideration. Um, I just I I think there's there's times
that there's catalysts that happen. And is this one of these times that's going to spur the development on Main Street? Like I said before, I don't know. I can't see into the future, just like nobody else can see into the future. But I think you know the the community
um really take the time, educate yourself about the pilots, understand what the ramifications are um if the pilot gets repeated voted down in in November. Um because those ramifications, you know, they're not fear-mongering. They're
happening. Um so just please vote. Don't be in an echo chamber. Please learn. There's a lot of information out there about them. Um, just do yourself and and do the
community a favor. I don't care if you vote yes or no. Just educate yourself and make a very educated vote if it's on the ballot in November. So, thank you very much. That's all. >> Thank you, Brad.
And my last comments, not to repeat, but there are some key issues. The pilot is one of them. Some of the others that you'll see resolved shortly in the next few meetings are the final answers on the gun permits, the cost of the gun permits, how much the town gives back to
the people who have the permits. We haven't finalized everything and that will be uh delineated and spelled out very clearly. The uh the mayor had proposed a garbage collection system for the town. We had asked the mayor to give
some more details and the facts of it and Mr. Sparta spent a lot of time going through it. So, we've gone to the mayor and there will be a proposal pri it will come to fruition. Hopefully, the residents will use it and make it
affordable to us and uh our job is to give the opportunity and we're going to do that. Uh the pilot we spoke about and of course, Legends is still the big number number one on the list. There's a lot going on behind the scenes and uh some positive results could result. I
can't say any more about it, but you saw that we're going to have more than one person talking to developers and there's more than one developer involved and there's some new ideas being thrown around. So, there's some positive things happening there. I hope to be part of all that and uh thank you for your
patience on the newness of running a meeting and we'll get better at that as well. >> Thank you. Thank you guys. appreciate. And we have a motion to adjust.