Okay, people are coming in. Very exciting. Okay, we have fixed it with the old restart. All right, so back to the the mayor's report. Uh, thank you to everybody who participated in our Memorial Day ceremony.
Unfortunately, the weather did not hold out for us. U, but it was a nice ceremony regardless. I'd like to thank Chris Gould and the township manager's office as well as the fire department, police department, emergency management, the Vermont High School choir, uh, and the rescue squad for being there and as
well as our our grand marshals, Colonel Simmonelli and Mr. Hildebrandt. Um, it was lovely to have them join us as well. Um, happy Pride Month. I was unfortunately unable to attend our event yesterday,
but it is always a great time. Um, and we have that. Um, oh, congratulations as well. Like to recognize that after the Memorial Day uh festivities. We had a clap out for 25 year serving officer Joel Martin. So, congratulations Joel on
his retirement, he has been a a fixture in Verona since he was a a child and uh and really has affected this town in so many positive ways uh since then as a police officer, a resident, and friend. I'd like to uh thank the Lions Club for
the invitation to their 75 year anniversary dinner. I'm wearing my official pin, Lions. So, thank you for that. Uh it was a lovely event and it was great to be in the presence of a group of people who care so deeply about this community and we will be reading a
proclamation for them in a minute. Um we had our Junth flag raising immediately uh prior to this meeting as well. Also, thank you to the representatives from for from the NAACP of the Oranges uh for being there as
well. And I don't think and congratulations to Councilwoman McGrath who was a tough vote getter in the Democratic primary for uh for county commissioner. So, let's It's always exciting uh to have great
news like that. And on we go to Mr. Cultra County Le. >> Good evening, mayor and council. Congratulations, council woman. Right now, soon as the commissioners most likely or hopefully
uh we're moving into the summer season and the first thing on my list is Forever Young, which I will be, but they will be at the Verona Park on Wednesday, June 17th. And it says that uh there's a conflict.
It says all performances begin at 7:30. My notice says 7:00. So pick one. Uh we're moving into fireworks season and our first one will be Wednesday, June 24th at Weekquake Park. Then Friday,
June 26th at Branch Brook Park. And then our grand finale goes Wednesday, July 1st at Brookdale Park. Uh, Brookdale is very, very exciting. I'm a big fireworks person. So, you will enjoy that event,
all of our events. But there are many festivals and gospel singers and the first one really kicks off at Yanaka Park on the 16th. It's Walker as Elvis and an array. And you should have received the postcard in
the mail. If not, it will be coming and I will forward and the clerk received a uh notification today in the mail. So, she will then post it on your website. And basically, that's my report this
evening. Anything for me, Mayor Council? >> Thank you, Jay. >> Thank you very much. I'll be here. And >> now for the for the Lions proclamation. We'll invite you up when the proclamation has been read. Whereas the Lions Club International
continues to be the global leader in community and humanitarian service. Whereas the Verona Lions Club was established in 1951 with a total of 20 members listed on the original charter. Whereas the Verona Lions Club promotes friendship, good fellowship, and mutual understanding among the members. And
whereas the Verona Alliance Club collectively takes an active interest in civic, cultural, social, and moral welfare of our community. And whereas the Verona Alliance Club has made significant and very charitable contributions to our community with projects such as the hospital loan
closet, eyeglass collections, assisting Camp Marcela, providing vital services to the designated I'm sorry, designed to prevent blindness, restore eyesight, improve eye health, and help the visually impaired. And whereas in recent years, the Verona Alliance have sent
medical supplies and equipment valued over $35,000 to Ukraine hospitals assist the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee. And whereas the Alliance maintain the bus stop shelters in our township, providing convenient and safe
coverage from inland weather. And whereas most recently, the Verona Lions donated $20,000 to the township to put toward the purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox electric vehicle for the township health department's medical transport program, providing residents
an affordable means to get to their area doctor's appointments and hospital appointments. And whereas today there are over 35 members of the Verona Alliance Club who are dedicated to creating and fostering a spirit of understanding toward those in need. Now
therefore be proclaimed that I Dr. Christopher Tamoro, mayor of the township of Verona, hereby commend the Ron Lions Club's dedication to serving the residents of the township of Rona and congratulate them on the club's 75 years providing long-standing services to our community. witness whereof I
appear to set my hand and cause the official seal of the township of Verona, New Jersey to be fixed on this fourth day of June in the year 2026. Congratulations to the Lions. Everybody is um we did uh present the Lions with an official proclamation at their event.
So, I'm going to present them with an empty folder tonight. Um, because they have the official one because this is a the uh this was I think the first draft uh here. So, that you have the final one. It's it's all good. Uh there were a couple versions that went back and forth. So, I think we got I got the
wrong one in here. All right. Come on down for a photograph. Let's get Bob and I in the middle so we can >> rows. And Bob, do you want to hand me that check? >> In the mail. It's right here.
>> All right. >> Excuse me for a minute. >> I'm sorry. >> No, that's all right. They have to >> Oh, here. >> Okay. There we go. Okay. And on to the town manager report,
Mr. O Sullivan. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um the considering the length of the agenda, I'll try to hit the highlights on my report. Uh on tonight's agenda, you'll see we are closing out the Pekman River Bank stabilization project. Uh that is
with an $11,985 reduction at project closeout. Um for Lynen Avenue resurfacing, uh the final tree planting list is uh being coordinated and tree plantings are
scheduled for June. Road milling and paving is scheduled for the first week of July. Uh there is a change order on the agenda for tonight. It's a change order increase of $77,350, which is largely reflective of the additional tree removals uh that have
been previously discussed. Uh the construction on Dodd Terrace after Glowway and Summit Road began with some tree work last week and uh the concrete work is starting this week. Um,
we do have Boswell here tonight to speak about the um county speed limit and the personnet uh orientation. I'll um I'll have them come up at the end of my report. Uh as far as Everfield goes, uh the last
elements of construction are expected to be complete this week. That includes the playground safety surface, which is substantially complete as of right now. Uh there's some minor uh touch-up work on the safety surface scheduled for tomorrow. There's some miscellaneous sod
work that needs to be completed and final punch list. Uh we will be coordinating a ribbon cutting ceremony uh based on the project completion at this point. Uh for the um shared service with the schools, we do have trees that
are being delivered this week for planting on the school uh school properties. Uh that's the subject of a uh shared service agreement with the schools. The planting should be complete by June 19th.
Um the the building facilities uh continue to move forward. Uh our facility roof um the roof upgrades are complete. There's a change order reduction on the agenda for tonight and a contract closeout. It's a reduction of $13,7749.
Uh the facility audit for all of the municipal facilities is complete. We will be scheduling solutions architecture to come to an upcoming meeting to present uh a report on the same and we are currently out to bid for the community center ADA upgrades. We
will be receiving bids on June 17th. Uh similarly, we are out to bid for the emergency services building. uh the uh for the I'm sorry for the subject matter expert to assist with the uh the um concept plans for the emergency
services building. We will be receiving the RFPs for that subject matter expert on June 26th. Uh and then the last item I I will report on is regarding the Green Acres uh project. Uh we uh received an announcement, it's not in
my report, but we received an announcement earlier today that the township is uh being awarded $900,000 in the calendar year for the Green Acres uh reimbursement for Commerce Park. uh that will be formalized uh when the
uh when the grant letters are received, but we did receive an announcement from uh Green Acres earlier today on the uh the list of announced awards for the calendar year. Um circling back to one of the uh I guess maybe I'll I'll pause
unless there's if there's any questions for the council. >> Councilwoman McGrath. Uh yes, thank you on uh so I just came from the shade tree commission meeting and they do have some concerns about Everfield and in particular the sloped area on how
it was um um designed and with the terrace and mulch. So I believe that you have all of their feedback. I just wanted to confirm that you do have that feedback from them. I did receive I've walked uh Everett with a couple members
of of Sha Tri at different points. Um and I did receive some feedback. Some of it was on the orientation of the mulch which has been addressed. Some of it was on some of the steeper slopes which are going to be an area that we will be monitoring and potentially making some modifications to maintain a stable slope
in the the steepest areas. Most notably behind the uh the snack bar area kind of on the first base side. there's a a steeper slope that we'll be mindful of and >> and determine if we need to do take on undertake additional stabilization measures.
>> Yes. Um I think they have the long-term uh needs of the township in mind in terms of maintenance and you know that material sliding off the slopes and ending up in drainage and places where it shouldn't be. And obviously these projects are really dynamic. Um, and you
know, not everything is necessarily to plan, especially when you're talking about trees, but I think it's important that wherever things were finally place that if any adjustments need to be made um that they're made before this project is closed out, like maybe some trees were pl planted in places or certain
species a little too close to one another. So, I believe they detailed all of that, but I just wanted to get that on the record. Okay. >> So, thank you. Any other questions for Mr. O' Sullivan? >> Okay. Uh the uh I'll move into the uh
reports from Boswell. Uh we do have two representatives from Boswell tonight to speak on two different items. The one item is the person avenue orientation. Uh the county is proceeding with the construction of that traffic signal. Uh they are expected to be complete with the traffic signal. Based on the last
update we received, uh they should be complete this summer. Uh at this time it would be appropriate for the council to consider the ordinance which would uh amend the one-way designation on the portion of Personate Avenue into a two-way designation. Boswell summarized
uh a report uh and they can speak to that more specifically or answer questions from the council. Welcome. >> Good evening. Thank you for having us. Um just to introduce myself again, I'm Mike Kajiano. I'm here with my co colleague Marco Navaro, my traffic
expert. As Kevin described, we took a look at the section of Personnet between Lind Drive and and Depot, which is currently uh designated as a one-way. Um, and looked into the feasibility if the council so chose to turn it into a a two-way. Um, now would be the the quote
unquote right time to do it with that signalized uh intersection going up at Fair View and uh and Person. Um and Marco will discuss his findings a little bit further. >> Good evening, council. Uh based on the
uh evaluation of making the that road uh that portion of person at two-way between Lind Drive and Depot Street. Um the the overall roadway of Person Street is a municipal roadway. uh based on title 39, the township has the ability
to make that designation. Um in so doing, that would require obviously some changes to be made um at the intersection with Lynn Drive with striping, signing, things of that nature
in order to to make that requirement um happen. Um there did not seem to be any uh adverse impacts related to that. Um so again if if if council so chose uh
that would be a possibility uh for you to take into consideration. >> I just have one question for Mr. Sullivan. Lind Drive um is that a municipal? >> That was the tail end of the discussion I did want to bring up as well. Lind
Drive is a municipal road. Um the overnight on street parking um has um not been uh enforced to the extent it is on other streets. So, as uh there's a
consideration to um amend avenue to a two-way street, uh now would be an appropriate time to both educate and and publicize the fact that on street overnight parking is an enforceable measure on Lind Drive. try
to get word out to the community and then uh uh and then provide enforcement at after a time that there is enough communication >> or let people apply for permits >> or let people apply for permits. Correct. >> That would need a lot of communication.
>> It does. >> And there's two different condominium or apartment complex complexes there. The running meat gardens and the uh forgot what the other one's called at the end. >> The end. >> Yeah. 300. Um, but we need to make sure
we talk to both groups. Any other questions? Councilwoman McGrath. >> So, um, I do have a question. So, do you recommend any new signage at the intersection of Persona and Lynn Drive? Then what is there? So, you know, you're you're in theory recommending removing
the barrier to allow two-way. Could you go a little bit further on, you know, where are the stop signs located and should we put in additional stop signs? the stop line. Well, because it's it's one way westbound,
>> the stops the stop sign on the on the southern side or on your left basically would have to be removed >> um in order to allow for that that southbound left turn to be used as a receiving lane. Uh the the striping for
the stop bar would have to be redone basically to take up half the roadway as opposed to the full cartway width that it is now. Um the crosswalk can be refreshed because obviously uh pedestrians would be crossing there anyway. Uh a double uh center line at
least for at the very least for 50 ft um should be should be implemented as well. Um and we still would recommend on the southern side or which would basically be the new receiving lane or you know at least existing now going out the left
the left turn the left word portion if you will excuse me >> um to m to keep those signs or to refresh those signs for no no parking on street any time. Those those are the vast majority of and then I I believe
it's on on the the opposite face of the stop signs that do not enter. Those would have to be removed as well as I believe the the oneway sign would have to be taken out because it's no longer one way.
Other questions? Councilman Ro. >> Deputy Mayor. >> Deputy Mayor. >> Thank you. Uh, I know it had to be about four years ago, we changed parking and had no parking on the eastern side of Lind Drive. So, when you come on the top
of that hill, there's no parking. So, your line your your line line of sight is clear going that way. Was there any consideration for a three-way stop sign at the top there? how it was presented to me.
The overall the answer was no. Based on how it was presented, um that could be a possibility, but that would we'd have to look into we'd have to further look into that >> and do another study >> and and do another study or an addendum or something like that.
>> That's it. Thank you, >> Councilman. Um, so Personnet, if we make this two-way, Person is a relatively steeply sloped street up at the top there. Um, it's been historically one way going up the hill. Uh, the only concern I would have is is
people just having a natural tendency to sort of pick up speed going down, you know, going down the hill, especially this being a new traffic movement. Um, obviously you you've studied it and it meets all the, you know, it meets all the regulations. just any concerns in general about that factor or how we
might mitigate that tendency. I if related to that um you are within your ability to provide additional um speed limit signing in
there um to make it more >> vis vis I'm trying to find the right words right to make it more visible you could potentially look at ones that are border lit um as well you know to to consider that as Well, I I would not yet recommend anything related
to um any other traffic calming measures at this time until we can kind of get a better idea. >> Right. And I tend to Sorry, my microphone is off. I tend to be a little bit averse to artificial sort of traffic calming measures, but I would say that if we are able to post additional just
for the existing speed limit, just to post additional speed limit signs, especially if they're brand new signs and are highly reflective and so on, I think And those can all al can always be like if there's one hypothetically in the middle, we can there's some wiggle room, >> right, >> to to space them out a little bit better, >> right? I think that that would be
helpful just to, you know, make people watch their speed going down the hill. >> Absolutely. >> Any other questions on the L drive personnel? Do you want to get into the county um speed limit recommendation? >> Sure.
So, at the request of the township, um we uh studied the five uh county roads that cross through Verona for the feasibility of potentially setting a universal speed limit of 25 miles per hour that uh Marco dug pretty thoroughly
into. We uh had sent a draft report to the county engineers office just to get feedback. you know, ultimately it's their roads and we we'd hate to see any kind of dispute there or bad blood if we propose something they're diametrically opposed to, but our conversations so far
have been fruitful. Um, we don't have any definitive yes or no from them, and they may require more from us in the in the future uh in regarding potential speed studies or or any other thing they'd want us to look into before they uh would buy in. But Marco can speak to
the uh the specific findings of his uh his studies. Mike pretty much summarized it quite well. No, you're you're quite fine. Um overall uh based on the state statutes and and title 39 um the initial
means of of looking to reduce speeds on on roadways within the state of New Jersey tend to be looking at the municipal land use uh for the areas as well as as the the type of speed reduction. Um being that the the
consideration was for an area wide 25 mph speed limit and the fact that the area the roadways in question are within um residential and sort of suburban business district areas, they meet those requirements. Um that that was what was
stated in the report. Um addition, we we provided some additional recommendations as to how that could be implemented. things such as um dynamic feedback, speed feedback signs, um striping, additional striping on the roadways and
etc, etc. Um however uh we would advise that prior to um voting or I'm not sure the process of but prior to the township uh pursuing something further just yet that we
consider discussions additional discussions with Essex County. Uh they were receptive and uh to our concerns and ideas um but nonetheless um the county engineer would have to review Excuse me. And we would like their
feedback prior to um potentially issuing something that may not be in accordance with what they had thinking. >> Any questions about the speed limits? >> Mr. uh mayor, if I could just um add to
what was just explained, the the process for the the council's edification, public edification would be the the council would need to introduce an ordinance amending the speed limit. They would need to be then presented to the county for the uh county commissioners to then approve. Uh they would likely
rely upon a recommendation from the county engineer and then once it passes through that process then the uh the council can then act upon adopting the ordinance. Uh so before we present something that uh we know the county
might uh either support or be opposed to the the request from the council is at this time to discuss ask any questions and if there's verbal support from the council at this time we'll continue those discussions with the count uh with the county engineers office and make sure that uh there aren't any major
objections uh to taking the process through uh what was just explained. Does anybody have any objection to proceeding >> proceeding with a discussion or >> with discussions with the county? >> I'm open to you know having a discussion
with them. >> Yeah, let's >> Okay, proceed. >> Okay. >> The only I mean if I go ahead >> may make a comment. The only thing that you know where I think we might end up with this is there might be some different way you know this is proposing I think a 25 mph limit throughout this
entire area which I think it might be a little bit more variable by zones and roadways and so on. So >> you know that's where I think we might end up from a negotiation and discussion standpoint is is picking the appropriate speed limit for each of the areas to maintain you know a reasonable level of
service and balancing between you know traffic safety. I mean, I think the the crash statistics here are, you know, pretty numerous, and I think that there's a good argument to be made and especially the the number of pedestrian uh incidents here is is very high um for
the amount of roadway. But, uh I think that's probably where we'll end up. I I you know, if we go into it saying every single part of this has to be 25 miles an hour, I don't know if you know, I don't know if that's where we'll end up or not. >> Yeah, I I tend to agree. I think there there was some discussion in the
memorandum about the uh the east end of Bluefield Avenue that's in the extended town center and I think that might be an area that's just don't necessarily have changed but um in other places I I think the entirety of Fairview Avenue would be appropriate. Entirety of Lakeside Avenue
would be appropriate. Grove Avenue is already 25 miles an hour, right? >> Um and uh and Mount Prospect would be appropriate to be 25. I really just think it's that one piece of avenue that would be the the issue. or you might end up at a 30 mph limit in somebody's area. So just you know just saying it's that's
where I think the discussions may may lead >> and we have to think about enforcability as well too. Are we going to be trying to enforce something that >> is people are just going to break anyway because they think it's more appropriate to go faster there. Uh so we have to decide that uh as a behavioral thing but
we'll get there. So it's maybe we get feedback from the county talk about that piece and go on. Okay. >> All right. Uh, thank you gentlemen. >> Thank you very much. >> Any that >> else on your report? >> That concludes my report.
>> Deputy manager. The highlights. Um, up at the community center, we started the mold remediation work. Um, the contractor will return next week to
reconstruct um what they had taken apart. And >> go ahead. >> And um also tomorrow, Sustainable Verona is hosting a community solar information session. Um those interested in
attending the sessions are at 100 p.m. and 6 p.m. Uh we today sewage plant superintendent job posting closed. We are scheduling interviews for June 16th. Um, specifically we are looking for
individuals who hold an S3 and C3 license and we receive multiple applications from qualified individuals. Um, on the insurance front, there is a resolution on tonight's agenda to award a contract to Harmony RX, which would be
changing our prescription benefit plan from Benard. Um, Fair View Insurance, the township's insurance broker, has assured administration that the plan is equal to or better. Um, and Harmony has engaged um in answering numerous
questions from both administration, PBA and OPEIU. Um, all staff have been sent a deescalation PowerPoint. Um, this followed harassment training. There was also an incident at
the community center where an individual was loitering and refused to leave and became confrontational. Um staff have been reminded that um individuals are not permitted to simply loiter in township buildings. Um they are to they
must have an official purpose for being there attending an event, a meeting. Um you cannot just um hang out in the bathroom or the ballroom. um especially as the building is closing. Um the
shade tree commission received um comments from or up an updated community forestry management plan from Gracie and Harrian and we'll be submitting that resubmitting that to the state for their approval.
Uh the police department recruits are scheduled to graduate um this Wednesday, June 10th. And then on the pool front, I did not have the weekly membership numbers. However, Director Prrisco
texted me from a plane that the current membership totals are 680 family memberships. Um that does not include 121 non-resident memberships. There are four outstanding who have expressed interest and 1,290
total memberships have been purchased this year. On the revenue front for the pool, um membership revenue is $735,000 which exceeds the anticipated $694.
and miscellaneous revenue, uh, which includes numerous items, including the $53,000 in sponsorships, um, is currently at $148,000 where the anticipated amount was
191,000. That concludes my report. If there are any questions, any questions from Mr. Press? Thank you, Mr. Krauss. Moving on to council member reports, we have the deputy mayor.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, a couple weeks ago, parks and wreck committee had uh two representatives uh from two turf companies uh give a presentation on replacement of turf. Uh, Pivot was one of the turfs and field
turf the other company. Uh I think the meeting was recorded so you can go and look at those presentations very educational and on the 16th they will have the chair of the sustainable Verona and the chair of the Verona environmental commission present on
natural grass. Uh you're welcome to attend those meetings start at 7 o'clock. Uh on the 21st Chamber of Commerce had a lunch and learn. Uh it was an education on what you need to know if you're a business moving into
Verona as far as zoning and as far as architecture goes. And we had uh Christy Darollo for Mindful Architecture. And I thank Kathleen Meech, our zoning officer for uh giving the presentations on that day. It was very well attended and some
very good questions came out of it. Uh Memorial Day celebration. Yes, it went indoors. Uh Mr. mayor, you did a wonderful job speaking. Uh, and the benefit of being indoors is that the Pona High School choir was fantastic in the lobby out there. The acoustics was
wonderful. Uh, I'd like to thank public works buildings and grounds and Chris Gould and everyone that attended. It was a a very very uh nice event. Uh, and again, as mentioned, uh, the clap out for Joel Martin was afterwards. I thank
Joel for all of his years of service uh on the Verona Police Department and we will miss him. I wish him luck in his in future endeavors. Uh I'd like to congratulate uh I I did go to the uh Verona High School awards uh
ceremony and s uh presented for sustainable Verona. uh four uh individuals Jessica, Caitlyn, Andrew, and Sinclair received the scholarships from Verona uh sustainable for their personal dedication to living
sustainably uh and I wish them well on their future endeavors in college. Uh last Saturday, I did help uh the VR Environmental Commission. Uh two junior members did a a native pollinator garden at the high school. Uh it was uh let's
say an exhausting day, but uh the outcome you can hit uh Verona Environmental Commission's Instagram to see the progression of the garden up there. Uh Scarlet and Violet did a wonderful job and a lot of hard work went into it from them and the entire
commission. So I thank them for their uh their efforts up there. It's wonderful. Uh the community solar for sustainable was mentioned by the deputy manager. Uh it's at 1 pm and 6 pm and if you go they are serving pizza so you get some free
pizza there. Uh congratulations to the Lion Lions Club and I appreciate the uh invitation for the dinner last Thursday. It's a wonderful evening. Uh I thank you for all you do. I I got a correction from uh one of your representatives that
their total amount was $130,000 worth of equipment that went to Ukraine. >> The 35 was one truckload. Uh so they they kept going and it there were five events from their hospital loan closet. So uh you're helping a lot of people not only in Verona but around the world. So
thank you for all your time and effort you guys put into helping this town. Uh for those of you with a small business or any business in Verona, the Chamber of Commerce is having a networking event at Nomada tomorrow night at 5:30 to
7:30. Uh all business owners are welcome. It's networking and a meet and greet event and we uh look forward to seeing a lot of We have a the last meet and greet event we had over 20 people. So it was uh they're picking up. Uh, I'd
like to thank everybody tonight for attending the Junth ceremony and all those representatives from the NAACP Oranges and Maplewood branch. Uh, the oldest one in New Jersey. Uh, and that is all I have for tonight. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor.
>> Mayor, Council Roman. >> Thank you. Uh, just a few items. Uh, I was able to attend Verona's Pride ceremony this weekend. Just wanted to say thank you to MAK for all their work in putting this together as well as the township administration. Uh appreciate the participation of Congresswoman Lam Monica Maccgyver, uh representatives
from the Essex County LGBTQ plus affairs office and an excellent job speaking at the event by Councilwoman Holland. So, thank you to all involved for that. Uh the environmental commission will be meeting this Wednesday evening. Um they are going to issue us comments on the
Bloomfield Avenue streetscape and also uh are in discussions about uh uh the benefits of uh of natural grass potentially over artificial turf. So they are very heavily involved in a lot of projects that we are looking at uh here in the municipality and uh will issue us uh recommendations and opinion
on uh a lot of what we have upcoming. So I appreciate their work and that's all I have for this evening. >> Thank you Councilwoman McGrath. >> Thank you. Um, I just want to thank all the voters in Verona and across Essex County who uh voted for me in last Tuesday's primary for Essex County
Commissioner at Large. I was um, as previously mentioned, I was really honored to be the top uh, Democratic uh, vote getter in that election. I want to thank all the Verona residents and others who helped me um, with that successful election. And I want to thank everyone for their notes and warm
messages of support before the election and in the last few days. Um and the next step in the process is that I will appear on the ballot in the November 3rd general election. Um in between campaigning um I attended several uh township events. I did go to the
county's Memorial Day um event um hosted by the county executive uh which I've gone for the last few years. Um it was a really wonderful event on a beautiful day um in Veterans Park, which if you've never been there, it's part of when you go for jury duty. Um it's on the other
side of the building and it's a really great place to reflect all those that gave their lives um for ultimate service to our country. I um saw Congresswoman MacGyver in Verona at Woo Smash. She was there
honoring the owner of Woo Smash for AAPI month as an uh a business owner from the AAPI community. He was uh incredibly gracious uh him and his staff and um we got a little sampling of the food. So if
you've never been to Woo Smash, you should. It was just profiled in USA Today as one of the top burger chains uh burger restaurants, excuse me, in the entire country. Uh so it was great that it tied in with their recognition and I thank the congresswoman um for everything that she does in recognizing
our small businesses. And then finally I represented Verona at the Valerie fund um run and walk uh which was on Saturday in Verona Park. Uh this event raises a million dollars for children with childhood cancer. Um it's incredibly
important that this event still remains in Verona Park. It brings hundreds of uh thousands of people to the area. I was reflective that we were missing um Daria Gibia where just two years ago she was profiled as um one of Valerie's kids um
and now she's no longer with us. So it was a bittersweet moment uh for me personally um since we lost her this year. However, when they profiled and had all of the Valerie Fund kids um go up on that uh platform that's in the
middle of Rona Park, there were several kids who were actually in their 30s. One was clearly expecting a child. Another um you know, a 30-some year old holding his daughter. So, it gave me hope that the Valerie Fund over the course of 50
years has made such a tremendous input um impact on childhood cancer. You can go to valorfund.org or to make a donation if you miss the run and walk. And that's my report. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Holland. >> Thank you. And good evening. Um I would
like to take a few moments to speak directly to the residents of Verona and to my colleagues on the council, uh to the township staff and professionals and to anyone who's been part of this chapter of my life. Um, as some of you know, tonight will be my final meeting
as a member of the Verona Township Council. My resignation will take effect at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow on June 9th. Um, this has not been an easy thing for me to do, and it's not it's certainly not a decision that I came to lightly. Serving
on the Verona Township Council has been an honor and a pleasure. Uh, I ran for this office because I believed then, as I still believe now, that local government really matters deeply. It touches people's lives in ways that are
immediate, practical, and very personal. It affects the water that comes from our taps, uh, the our responses to storms, the roads that we drive on, the fields our children play on, and the culture of the community we choose to build together. I've always believed that
public service is not about egos or fancy titles. Um, and it's not it's not about who speaks the loudest. It is truly about service and it's about doing the work and asking the hard questions and listening careful carefully and making decisions with integrity and
trying to leave the community stronger than you found it. Um, and that is what I have tried to do every day that I've had the privilege of serving the township of Verona. The reason that I'm stepping down now is because of significant changes in my professional
and my personal life. I have recently received a promotion at work to an executive officer position and that comes with significantly new responsibilities as well as demands on my time. This promotion is something
that I have worked my entire career for. Uh and I am very very excited about this opportunity. At the same time, my family needs more of me than I could have anticipated even six months ago. Um,
anyone who has had to balance career and family and public service knows that each of these roles can require your full heart and your full attention. And I can do a lot and I really do. I can do a lot, but I cannot do everything. And
unfortunately, I can no longer give this position the time and focus that the residents of Verona deserve. and Verona deserves nothing less than somebody who can give this role the attention it requires. Um, I did not want to no-show meetings. That's not who I am. So, while
this decision is difficult, I know it is the responsible one that is the best for my family and for my career and for Verona. As I look back at my time on the council, I'm proud of the progress that we made together. First, I am proud of
the work that we did on Verona's aging infrastructure, which is not always the most glamorous issue. It does not always get the biggest headlines, but it is one of the most important responsibilities of local government. When water systems, utility systems, and public assets are
ignored for too long, the cost eventually comes due for residents. During my time on the council, Verona developed its first asset management plan, which we're going to be renewing soon, which is very exciting. We literally cleaned up our act by
improving our drinking water infrastructure, and we did so in a way that made smart financial sense because we secured funding through the state infrastructure bank for the first time in the township history. Second, I'm really proud of the work that we did on
flood resilience and storm water management. Flooding is not an abstract issue in Verona. It affects real families, real homes, real basements, real streets, and real neighborhoods. As storms become more intense and weather patterns become less predictable,
communities like ours cannot afford to treat flooding as an occasional inconvenience. We have shifted the narrative in town to being proactive instead of reactive, which means a lot to residents, especially those who have felt the impact of flooding in their
neighborhoods. Third, I'm very proud of the work that we did to make Verona a more inclusive and accessible community. Work that we are still doing. Um, in particular, the pride ceremony yesterday was really great. So, if you don't have if you didn't have an opportunity to
attend, please do in future years. A strong community is not only measured by roads and budgets and infrastructure. It's also measured by whether people feel welcome and respected and fully able to be seen in community life. I was
proud to help co-lead the creation of Verona's mun uh multicultural inclusion and accessibility advisory committee. I am exceedingly grateful to that committee for their engagement and I encourage them to keep going. I am also proud that Verona delivered its first
ADA inclusive playground, including adult exercise equipment during my time on council. And that project reflects something very, very important. Public spaces should be built with the whole community in mind. Children of different abilities should be able to play.
Families should be able to gather. Adults should be able to use and enjoy public spaces, too. Accessibility should never be treated as an afterthought. It should be part of how we defined good public service. And relatedly, I'm very proud of the progress that we made on
the long-standing on on several other long-standing community needs, including Everett Field. For years, residents have talked about the need to improve public recreation spaces and invest in facilities that serve our children, families, athletes, and our community
organizations. Everett Field has been one of those long overdue priorities and I was so happy to break ground there and look forward to seeing its completion. Of course, none of these accomplishments belong to one person. Local government is of course a team effort and it
requires the council members and the township staff and the professionals and volunteers and the advisory boards and all of you residents and many other people that work behind the scenes. So, I do want to personally thank all of my colleagues on the council. Um, we have
not always agreed on every issue and frankly, we should not always agree. Um, healthy disagreement is part of good government and I'm always happy to disagree. Um, to the township manager and township clerk and department heads and employees and professionals, first
responders, DPW workers, rec staff, library staff, and everyone else um that keeps Verona running. I really do want to sincerely thank you to all of the residents who supported me and challenged me and emailed me and stopped
me around town and asked me questions and raised concerns and held me accountable. I want to thank you as well. When I ran for council, one of the reasons I did it was because I wanted my daughters to see that working women and mothers can be involved in public life.
And I wanted to see I wanted them to see that that service was worth doing even when it was hard. And I wanted them to understand that communities do get better. Do not get better by accident. People have to show up. People have to engage. People do have to put the work
in. And I do still believe all of that. And I really want to strongly urge women to run for these offices because we do need female leadership and female representation. We need to see women in leadership roles. Our daughters need to
see women in leadership roles. And even though I am stepping down from the council, I am not stepping away from Verona, nor am I stepping away from leadership. Um, so I hold true to my core values. Women do deserve a seat at
the table. And it has been a honor to hold a seat at this table. Um, and I do just want to thank all of you for trusting me and thank you for challenging me and thank you for allowing me to serve. Thank you. You
This time I'll hear a motion to change the order of business to allow a special new business session. >> So moved. Motion's made by the deputy mayor. Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> Second's made by Councilman Roman. All those in favor?
>> I opposed. >> No. The motion carries. Um, Councilwoman Holland, I just uh we have a couple things for you, but just want to start off. The first time I met you, we were running for office uh at the same time and our first conversation was about
having a positive issues campaign, uh, which I enjoyed. Uh, and it, you know, we've been working together since then. Uh, I just want to share my appreciation for the work you've done in the council. uh you you were uh detailed a lot of
these accomplishments, so I won't repeat them, but I appreciate your expertise throughout. It takes everybody's expertise on the council to make things work. Um and you had the right expertise at the right time for a lot of these projects. That was very valuable. Uh and
I appreciate your uh your work and all the extra time and advice that you put into a lot of these things. Um and I have a proclamation that I would like to read if that is the >> Thank you. That's very sweet. >> You're welcome. >> Whereas well the proclamation honoring
Cynthia LM Holland Esquire dedicated public servant and council member at large. Whereas Cynthia LM Holland has established a distinguished career as an attorney, energy policy expert, and public servant, earning widespread respect for her leadership in the fields of energy regulation, utility law, and
public policy. Whereas, Miss Holland currently serves as an associate general counsel for Exelon Business Services Corporation, where she leads legal teams responsible for critical federal energy regulatory commission matters and provide strategic counsel on significant utility and energy issues affecting
communities throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Whereas throughout her accomplished career, Cynthia has served with distinction at PHI Services Corporation, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Gova Burns, and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, contributing to the development of energy policy, consumer protections,
utility regulation, infrastructure planning, and clean energy initiatives throughout the state of New Jersey. Whereas, Miss Holland has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the residents of Verona through her service as a council member at large, fully serving, faithfully serving five years,
contributing her expertise, integrity, and dedication to the governance advancement of township. Whereas during her service as councilwoman, Miss Holland has served as council leazison to the Veron environmental commission, Cedar Grove, Rona, Little Falls and Woodland Park joint flood advisory committee, the Verona Municipal Alliance
Commission and the Verona Park and Recreation Advisory Committee and Verona MAK. Whereas her leadership extends beyond government service through involvement with the New Jersey State Bar Association and Girl Scouts of New Jersey where she has devoted countless hours to mentoring, advocacy, and
community engagement. Whereas Cynthia's academic achievements, including earning a jurist doctor from CNL University School of Law, graduating Sumakum Lahi from the University of Georgia, fully exemplify her commitment to excellence and lifelong learning. Whereas the township of Verona is honored to recognize Miss Holland's many
contributions, legal profession, public service, and the Verona community. Now therefore, it be proclaimed that I, Dr. Christopher Tambboro, Mayor and our council members do hereby proclaim that the Verona Township Council recognizes Cynthia Elellanena Holland's distinguished public service on unwavering commitment to the residents
of our community, honoring two successful terms, served as council member at large. Through dedicated leadership, integrity, and tireless advocacy, the service has contributed significantly to the betterment of our municipality and the quality of life of its citizens. It further resolved that
the mayor and town of council extend their sincere appreciation and gratitude to Cynthia and wish her continued success in all endeavors. In witness whereof, I offer to set my hand and cause the official seal of the township of Verona, New Jersey to be fixed on this 8th day of June in the year 2026.
Congratulations, Cynthia. >> Thank you. Um, and now I'd like to move uh resolution 2026-121 that Councilwoman Holland does not have a copy of. Uh, is there a second?
>> I will second that. >> I will uh read the the resolution into the record designating Cynthia LM Holland Esquire as Councilwoman Amerita. Whereas Cynthia LM Holland has faithfully served the residents of the
township of Rona as a member of the township council from 2021 to 2026. And whereas throughout her tenure, Councilwoman Holland demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership integrity, and commitment to the public good. Whereas her service contributed
significantly to the advance municipal government, community development, public engagement, and the quality of life of residents town of Verona. Whereas Councilwoman Holland has earned the respect and appreciation of fellow elected officials, municipal staff, community organizations, and residents through her tireless efforts and
distinguished record of public service. Whereas it is fitting and proper that the township of Verona recognize her lasting contributions and preserve her legacy of service. Now therefore, be it resolved by the township of council of the township of Verona and the county of Essex, New Jersey, that the Township
Council of the Township of Verona hereby confers upon Cynthia Ela Mahaland, Esquire the honorary title of Councilwoman Amerita in recognition of her distinguished and exemplary service to our town and its residents. The title of Councilwoman Ammer of Merida shall serve as a lasting acknowledgement of her contributions to municipal
governance and the betterment of the community. And the township council extends its deepest gratitude and appreciation to Councilwoman Holland for her years of dedicated public service and wishes her continued health, happiness, and success in all future endeavors. We further resolve that a
certified copy of this resolution be presented to Councilwoman Holland as a token of this council's esteem and appreciation. And by law, I have to call for public comment on this resolution,
which just slightly awkward, but uh uh madame clerk, would you uh please read the public participation statement? And it would be fitting at any time if any member of the public would like to uh to share their thoughts or participate. Uh you are open. Um we'll we'll give you a wide birth on this uh
resolution. Anyone from the public wishing to speak on this matter, please raise your hand by pressing the raise hand button on your monitor. If you're dialing in by Zoom, if you're dialing in by phone, press star 9. If you're attending in person, please raise your hand and be acknowledged before approaching a
lecture. Once recognized, clearly state only your name and township of residence for the record. You're not required to provide your street address. However, if you do, please note that these meetings will be posted on the township's YouTube channel and addresses will not be redacted for any purpose. You'll have four minutes to address the council.
There'll be no cross dialogue during this portion. After everyone wishing to speak has been heard, council may address your comments and or questions. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. >> Come up to the mic. >> Mayor Meredith Ryan, >> excuse me.
>> Uh, good evening. Kevin Ryan, Verona, New Jersey. Uh, I just would like to express my appreciation for Councilwoman's Holland's service. As someone who has been in this position a little bit longer than you, but that five five years is is quite a lot. Uh, I
am fully aware of the sacrifices that uh that you made as a working uh parent. uh I had the luxury of uh being retired and uh it presented a great deal of uh stress and uh on my time and I don't
think the people of Verona realize how fortunate they are that we have so many people like you and the other people sitting up here who are willing to give their time and dedication. And I'm going to say this again because I have no uh
I have no uh nothing to profit from this. You you're getting the best bargain in the world. These people, five of them, $15,000 total. Okay? And not only that, but the people who serve on the commissions, the
planning board, the shade tree commissions do this for absolutely nothing. So for for the rest of the citizens out there, just try to keep that in the back of your head when you have a little bit of a complaint or you're a little bit of annoyed with
maybe how someone has uh presented their their case to you that they're doing this solely due to their commitment to make Verona a better place. And Councilwoman Holland, I want to thank you personally for your dedication to the town. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Ryan. Uh Jason Heman on Zoom. Mr. Heinman, >> hold on. I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry. >> It l >> Whatever it takes, right? >> He's gone. >> Go ahead, Jason. >> You can unmute.
>> All right. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Uh thank you, uh mayor, council members. Um and I also want to um echo Mayor Ryan's sentiment. Um, you know, congratulations, uh, Councilwoman Holland on on this promotion and, you
know, this exciting, uh, new chapter of of your life and and chapter with your family. Um, and I just want to express the utmost gratitude uh, that I have for all the work that you've done. It's been a pleasure um, you know, working and serving the community with you. you are
a fantastic council woman, individual, mother, attorney, um all of those things you excel at. Um and we are so fortunate to have you serve um for these past five years. And hopefully um this won't be
the last um last position you hold in in the community. Um and again, I wish you all the best. >> Thanks, Mr. Ryman. >> Thank you. Okay. All right. At this time, I will close public comment. Uh, council member
discussion. Deputy mayor. Make a comment. Thank you. Uh, first and foremost, councilwoman, congratulations on your promotion. >> Thank you. >> Uh, I know I think everybody really hit it. Uh,
timing uh with life things. It it takes a lot of time out of life. And when you have a family and kids, uh it requires a lot of time and not just being on the council. Uh the mayor read the list of committees that you're on, you're
liaison to uh that adds to the time taken away from family and I've said it all the time. It's it's a commitment and we thank you for it. the town of Verona thank yous thanks you for it and timing of what we went through with infrastructure and your expertise on all
that throughout the last five years has been very helpful to the township of Verona so I thank you for that and I wish you well in your future uh promotion >> thank you >> thank you deputy mayor Councilman Roman >> thank you much councilwoman if I remember correctly during one of your
squaring squaring ins uh the phrase that was used about you was that you know how to make square corners >> yes Um, and that kind of stuck with me and that's been very true. You've been encouraging us over the years of your service to make sure that we get all the details right, that we review everything thoroughly, uh, that we look at
applicable law, that we meet every regulation. Um, and you've been right. We need to, and I appreciate all of your efforts and your expertise and knowledge in pushing us towards this goal, and it's had real practical effects on making sure that we are prepared for the future in the long term. This is this
town has been here a very long time, but that also means that it needs a lot in terms of infrastructure management and renewal. Um, so I appreciate everything that you've done to encourage us to go down this road. Uh, you commented in your remarks about uh, you know, how you've not always agreed with all the
council members, but always, you know, been able to uh, you know, find common ground with us. uh when I was mayor in particular, I remember you and I used to talk on, you know, issues all the time and we didn't always agree on things, but uh I just genuinely enjoyed um all of our discussions um and how much you
participated and and let your voice be heard. Uh and I've had a lot of respect for you over the years. I know how hard you work in your professional career and you balance that with being a with being a mother and uh you know, I just I've always respected that about you a lot. So, I was, you know, sad to hear that you'd be leaving us, but I was uh very
very uh proud of you and just happy for you for this advancement in your professional career. I wish you the best with it and just thank you for your service and uh I know that uh you know, we'll still hear your voice here in Verona. So, just thank you for everything and it's been a pleasure serving with you over these years. >> Thank you,
>> Councilwoman McGrath. >> Thank you. So, I wrote some things down, but actually what's not on this this is that Councilwoman and Holland and I, we were friends before all of this serving together. In fact, with gun violence
awareness day being last weekend, I was looking back at old photos, photos that Mayor Ryan was in as well, and we did a lot of work with Mom's Men Action together, and you were at BS Smarter Center, which for those of you that don't know, that's the the safety
program where we educate parents on how to keep their children safe um from um unintentional injuries with guns and firearms. and we were early advocates for that um in New Jersey. And so we knew each other then and then we ended
up serving on the council together. Um and so I'm so glad to call you not just my colleague but friend. And you know you really were, as everyone has already said, an exceptional council person. You elevated the level of discourse on this
council tremendously while also saving the Verona taxpayers millions of dollars. Um, you approached every issue so thoughtfully and strategically. You were financially responsible. You valued and championed the diversity of our
community. And you were deeply committed to ensuring that the interests of families and especially children were represented in the decisions that we made as a governing body. And I'm going to miss serving alongside you greatly.
um you know dur we served five years together and so we are now in the record books in Verona um as with the milestone of being the longest serving consecutive pair of women to serve together. The previous record was only two years.
We've set it for almost five. We almost got there. We just just shy of five. I look forward to the next two or three women breaking that record um in the future. Um, some of my fondest memories of us together is when we got a chance
to talk with the scouting groups and in particular the Girl Scouting troops, which was a passion of yours and mine, uh, but mostly yours. And, um, encouraging young people to be engaged. Uh, will we ever allow chickens in? I
don't know. That's an inside joke. Sorry. All right. I went off the script. Okay. It's just really difficult. Imagine serving without you. Uh, I'm so grateful for our friendship, our partnership, your dedicated service to Verona, and I do wish you every success
and happiness with your new professional opportunity. I'm so proud of you. Thank you, Councilwoman Holland. >> Thank you, >> Madame Clerk. Would you call the role, please? >> Do I vote on my own? >> No. No, please don't because we we
already wrote it out without you. >> Please don't. Just skip me then. >> Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> Mayor Tibbor, >> yes.
>> Mayor, resolution 2026-121 passes unanimously. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And conveniently, >> somebody ran real quickly and brought it to the framer. >> Oh my gosh. Um, we we got you some decorations for
your new office. >> We know how much lawyers like paper, so >> we do. And it actually matches like my other brain >> down there. back at 350. >> Okay. >> Hold your name. >> Hold your name plate.
>> Oh, yeah. I need a couple extra arms. >> Are we positioned rightly? >> Oh, these are beautiful. >> These are beautiful. I'm gonna put this back because I still have like a meeting. >> I have Oh, thank you.
>> Thank you. And thank you to our town clerk, Miss Kieran, who worked with me on all of this stuff. Um, and is our mystery framer, uh, who takes care of all of those things. This time, I'll open for public comment on
any matter anybody in the public wishes to bring before the council. The same public comment statement applies. Hearing none, I close public comment. and we move on. >> There's actually >> Oh, sorry. No, they're leaving there. Oh, >> okay. >> Yeah, that I uncloed public comment.
>> Sorry, it's closed. >> Just make sure you turn that mic back on, please. >> Yeah, hit the button. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you very much. And also wanted to thank uh Councilwoman Holland for all of her service and uh it's been felt by the residents. Um and uh >> you got to give your name >> Josh Jacobs Verona. So, thank you for
that. Uh I wanted to also touch on the Boswell Engineering report regarding traffic safety and uh the speed limit specifically. Um we already have on Bloomfield Avenue uh the eastbound side and um variable speed. So going up the
hill from Verona Park, you know, that's 25 miles an hour and then it's 35. So that's a significant portion of those accidents happen on that stretch. Uh so I do want to kind of um uh support that unified speed limit. Uh I think it's really important that we consider their
recommendation and their traffic findings before we express concern about variable speed. Um it's uh you you know we don't have any speed limit signage on that stretch except for 135 mph speed limit sign in the 25 mph site distance
there. So uh excuse me. Uh just really wanted to uh support that unified speed limit uh throughout town and especially on Bloomfield Avenue. the entire stretch just to help uh driver behavior. So, thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Um >> good evening from John Brazella Person Avenue. Uh regarding the Boswell report and the two-way traffic, just want to make sure the council something I like to bring with the council is there's no sidewalks from the Combone Gate up to Lyn Drive on the north side. So, as we
look at whether to make it two-way traffic, please take into account the pedestrian tra the pedestrian flow for there. Right now, the pedestrians including the kids going walking down the hill to go to school and the seniors especially, they walk down the street up to the trombone gate and they cross over
where the sidewalk is and continue down. If you're going to make the town make it two-way, we have to do something to make sure it's safe for them. Also along with that we look at the down now the track engineer talked about the downhill actually you talked about the downhill uh condition there the stopping sight
distance the stopping distance to get to the the intersection depot is going to be a concern right now your primary movement going westbound is up first that left hand turn on to up the depot if you're going to have the crossing traffic coming back the other way you need to look at whether that's a safe
safe intersection there it might be worth putting a traffic stop sign of that intersection to stop them so the left-hand turn movement doesn't conflict with the uh people trying to stop come down the hill. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. Rosal.
>> Jessica Medina. >> Go ahead, Jessica. Hello. Uh, I just wanted to circle back on the Everett Field update. Um, I heard there was some Shade Tree Commission um, concerns. Could you just clarify what were the concerns? Um, the reason is, you know,
the spring season is done for already for our travel teams. Uh, we're approaching the summer season. It's about four to six weeks for the summer season and wraps up end of July. Um, and we've we've yet to use Everfield. you know, the kids pass by it every day and
we hope to play in it one day. So, just want to encourage, you know, um speed to get through these these last few hurdles. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jessica. >> Cory Shore, >> I can't find it.
>> Mr. or you should be able to unmute. >> Okay. Thank you very much, Mayor and uh council. Um I appreciate your time. I I really wanted to say thank you to Councilwoman Holland as she has been the less on to the rec committee over the
last several years. Uh, Councilwoman Holland um brought me into the rec committee and and I really appreciate that because I spent a lot of time and I spent a lot of time with her and the committee working on the pool and and and rec committee items and she really
made a huge difference within the committee and the pool and the service and the time and effort that she she spent. So, I'd like to really much thank her for all the many years and I wish her the best of luck in her her career
and um I have the utmost I'm very fond of her and um thank you very much again uh councilwoman Holland for your service towards the town of Verona. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Shore. else. Miss Hines.
>> Hi there, Elizabeth. Sorry back on, but I figured out how to mute it. >> There you go. >> That's it. Hi there. Elizabeth Hines, Verona, New Jersey. And I also wanted to add my thank you and congratulations to Councilwoman Holland for all of her
years of thoughtful service uh for us. Um, but I also wanted to come up and just also speak in support uh very quickly of the 25 mile speed limit throughout town. Um, you've heard me talk before about how important um speed
is, particularly with uh pedestrian collisions and that even small increases in speed drastically um change the outcome um in the in a pedestrian crash. Um, so anything we could do to slow
people down even a little bit is Did we lose it? >> Some muted. >> Okay. Is um anything we can do is is really important. Um, so
>> thank you, Liz. James Evans. >> No, I got muted. >> You can leave it on. >> Thank you. Go ahead, Mr. Robins. >> Yeah. Uh, I also live on Personnet near
Mr. Rosella, uh, between, uh, Fair View and Depot. And just want to also, uh, reiterate what he is saying. Um, and I also want to caution that opening two-way traffic there, I worry that people can speed down the hill to try to
make the light once the light goes in. Um, also as someone who's on multiple occasions heard accidents and seen accidents at Personnet and Fairview, it's it's very frequent. I also support uh the 25 mph speed limit there.
>> Thank you, M. Robins. >> Hello, Abby Jericho. Live on Sunset. Um, I just want to also support the 25 mile per hour um universal speed limit. Um, even
though you um had some um reservations for it, I agree with what some of my um fellow residents have said. I think that um by having two separate speed limits, it allows for confusion and with
confusion that it's not going to be followed. if there's one, it it will um have a better chance of actually reducing the speed limit, which is what is is needed on Bloomfield especially. Um and um like my fellow resident said,
I think um with the lower speed limit, it just it benefits everybody, especially um the pedestrians and the bikers who are who are also sharing the road with. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Denise Rosella. Hi, thank you for um Denise Frisella uh
Verona, New Jersey. Um I just wanted to uh also comment about the Personnet Avenue one-way uh change. Um as I was listening and watching this meeting, I did just observe someone reverse their way down the oneway on Personate Avenue. um which
is something that happens frequently. Um so I I would actually although still support keeping it one way because I think the major increase in traffic that will come um will be devastating to the neighborhood. Um and although my husband
did mention about um one side of Person Avenue between the trombone and Lind Drive not having sidewalks, what also has to be visualized is that the sidewalks on the other side do not go all the way down to the trombone. They actually stop well short of the
trombone. And um there are garages and a driveway that people have to cross um in order to get to the trombone to cross over to the side that has sidewalks. Um in addition, I can't remember if it was
Councilman Roman or Councilman Makavoy who commented that they don't like artificial traffic calming measures. Um, I think that is honestly a mistake to not put some sort of stop sign. Um, preferably
at depot and personnel because I think that will at least provide some traffic calming measures because people already illegally speed down that road on a daily basis, probably an hourly basis.
Um, and when you open it up, you are it is just going to encourage more traffic. Um, and a lot of young drivers because it is a frequent um area that people go from the high school
to the fields up at the community center um and back down. So, there are a significant number of young drivers that will be driving uh that route. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Denise. Anybody else?
>> Uh, thank you. My name is Paul Mikawitz, president of Verona, and I want to join my colleagues in supporting the 25 miles an hour townwide. Uh, there is a lot of hurry up and wait that takes place and people think they're getting somewhere so fast and then they just have to slam
on the brakes and and stop at a traffic light or for any number of other things that take place in front of them. So, uh, I feel like the 25 m an hour would be, uh, make for a much safer and and more livable community. Uh, it's
stressful. I often walk down, uh, my my wife has her business on Bloomfield Avenue and I cross at the traffic light and standing at that traffic light, cars are going by me sometimes 35, 40 miles an hour at the busiest intersection in town and it's crazy. Uh, so I support
the the uh, speed limit. And regarding personnet, I'll just add one other uh element to be aware of. People who are coming out on depot and turning right, they're not used to people having coming down the hill at them uh because that's been one way. So that's something uh
that that needs to be addressed as well. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, this time seeing no other public comment, I'll close public comment. Uh just to respond to a couple things. As I said, the speed limit we're kind of setting back some are interest to the
county and we'll see how much of that they're amendable to and then engage in discussions as appropriate. Uh ultimately the uh the speed limit is is up to them uh to agree with. We can't legislate it without their ascent. So we will have those conversations and
provide updates as we go forward. Uh, I appreciate the comments of everybody on um the person at Lynn intersection. I have walked up there with my dog as well and uh know what you're talking about, but uh we'll take another drive by up
there. I am certainly uh amendable, I think, to putting a stop sign on on Depot Street going north. That makes complete sense. Um and just a there's always a reminder that with the um uh with the traffic light going in and
the traffic light is impetus behind this going to way uh is that that will also you know be a slowing traffic as well. Um so uh the directions would not change until traffic light is installed and and functioning. uh and they've done testing
to make sure cycling properly and and all of those things that go along with putting a new traffic light in. Uh to answer Jessica Medina your question, uh I can't speak to the shade trees specific pieces, but your question was more are the concerns going to stop the
usage of the field. Um and as of right now, uh the administration is going through a final punch list on the field. Um, we plan to have a dedication of the field soon and the field will be usable uh in the summer. So, uh, at this point,
as long as there's nothing glaring on on the punch list, Mr. >> Agreed. And I think any of the comments from the shade tree wouldn't would not prohibit the use of the field. Um, the the time for the sod to establish itself has occurred. So, we are now at a point
where the field can be played on. The trees don't need to delay that process. We try to do the final safety inspections, all the punch lists to make sure that it's not just the field itself, but all of the components that are put in and the buildings and uh and all of that. So, uh that is being worked
on. Mr. Sullivan is actively working on that. We've had a number of conversations about that. The playground surface has been put down, which was one of the last remaining things there as well. So, I think that's uh I think hopefully that answers your questions.
Any council comments on anything? Go ahead. >> A quick comment about the person at Lind Drive area. I would, as I brought up when they were giving the presentation, I would definitely think we're going to need another traffic study on the Lind Drive Top of Personnet intersection and
I think at the same time incorporate the depot intersection of uh person. I think is a really good thing that was brought up about sidewalks. Uh because we do have a lot of people up there and it's going to be a safety issue if we don't
add sidewalks as well. So I I do think another study should be done uh prior, but obviously I think we have to wait until that light goes in and then see what type of uh changes we get then. >> I don't think there's no emergent need to no
>> to do any of this. Councilwoman McGrath. >> Uh thank you. just um uh two additional uh points. One is that on the speed limit, you know, Montlair was successful in getting the county to agree to 25 miles in their entire township, which
also then helps that flow of traffic um going from Monontlair into Verona on Bloomfield Avenue. So that, you know, is one piece. Um and I think that when we have this transition of uh should it
pass uh moving personnet to be two-way obviously I'm going to defer to our chief of police you know to make sure not only that we educate through like a lot of you know alerts and but sometimes they have those flashing things that you
could say new traffic pattern ahead proceed with caution because I agree with my colleagues and with the public comment we have to see do we need a couple of strategically placed stop signs and thank you to the residents for also raising about the sidewalk. So I I
share my council member and the public's concerns on both of those matters for sure. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. On to hearing adoption or amendment of ordinances. The first item on the agenda is
ordinance 2026-16 for adoption. Madame clerk, would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record? >> Amending chapter 55, land use procedures, article one, planning board, section 1, establishment and composition, paragraph D2 and article
two, zoning board of adjustments, section 12, establishment composition, paragraph D. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Will somebody move this ordinance, please? So move. Motion made by the deputy mayors. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second is made by Councilwoman McGrath. This time we'll confer the public
hearing on ordinance 2026-16. Same public comment statement applies though comments are limited to this ordinance. >> Mr. Ryan. >> Yes. Good evening again, mayor and councel. Uh just uh here to uh uh
strongly uh support uh your passage of this ordinance. I will say upfront that I was not able to listen to the meeting where where it was introduced and so perhaps the rationale was given. So if I'm being repetitive uh I'll ask for uh tolerance on that. But uh having served
on the planning board for many years and currently serving on the board of adjustment I'm also want to express I'm just giving my own personal opinion. I'm not speaking on behalf of any of the uh uh the boards itself but uh there is a strong need for uh additional members uh
certainly on the board of adjustment the uh the agenda uh has been very very full uh a number of special meetings have had to have been called and uh as I sort of alluded to when I uh congratulated uh
the council woman uh it's been a placed a tremendous strain on the membership uh in terms of having to attend special meetings because also when you sign up, you sort of have a calendar and you know each regular meeting that you're supposed to be at. But the continuing uh
need for these special meetings places a great strain upon uh individuals who've had plans who have families who have uh job responsibilities. So uh I would really hope that uh this is a well-needed ordinance. And I would also
encourage anybody who's listening from the public to strongly consider. It's wonderful to make a third alternate position, but if we don't have anybody who's interested in uh in applying for the uh the job, it it it's it's it's kind of tough. And one of the things that that's caused this to happen, I
think, is uh in indirectly uh you know, has been the uh the adoption of the new master plan. uh and some of the um or and yet our ordinances are still many of them are still back from 2011.
So, uh, this has come up on numerous occasions where our current master plan doesn't always jive with our ordinances and I will be diplomatic and say sometimes the members of the legal community and the uh, real estate development uh, community have noticed
some of these discrepancies and as is their responsibility, they've pointed them out to us and it makes it somewhat difficult for the members of the board to uh, you know, to nail this down. So hopefully uh the board is giving uh uh
feedback through uh uh Miss Mur who's been a great addition. I want to compliment uh you you for putting her in as a zoning official. She has added greatly to the uh uh the just the organization of of the meetings and the
laying out of the agendas and providing information to the applicants. So, uh, once again, thanks for putting this up there, and I'm hoping that you're all going to vote unanimously to support. Okay. >> Any council? Uh, any other public comment?
>> A close public comment. Kevin, don't worry. Liz Hines's already put in for that position. So, we're all we're all good. She just sent me a message. Uh, >> uh, Madam Clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Just for the record, that is not the
case. I'm like looking >> Jen was hoping. >> No, I'm looking at the >> Okay. Uh >> go ahead. >> Yes. Councilwoman McGra I mean sorry. Councilwoman Holland, you're still here. You're still here.
>> You are still in. >> That was an immediate. >> I could have left, I guess. >> Yes. >> Oh, Councilwoman McGrath. >> Yes. >> Councilman Roman. Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy. Yes. >> Mayor Taboro. Yes, >> mayor. Ordinance 2026-16
passes 5 to zero. >> Thank you, Madame Clerk. The next item on the agenda is ordinance 2026-23 on second reading. Madame clerk, could you please read the title of this ordinance into the record? a bond ordinance providing for various capital improvements and by the township of Verona in the county of Essex, New
Jersey, appropriating 400 4,173,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of 4,71,000 bonds or notes of the township to finance part of the cost thereof. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Would somebody move this ordinance, please? >> So moved. >> Motion made by the deputy mayor. Is
there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Seconds by the councilman. This time open for public comment on ordinance 2026-23 only. Same public comment statements. Hearing none. I close public comment. We'll just make one comment. Um
this is you know obviously there's a big number being put forth here. Um I appreciate the department heads putting in their requests, the administration whittling them down and all the council members who further whittleled these requests. A lot of thought goes into not only the
operating budget of the municipality but also the capital expenses to decide what do we need to do right now what can we wait what is our loss that we will suffer harm that will suffer if we don't do this and um so all of that goes
through it is very expensive to operate a municipality um and um I but I do appreciate the township manager sitting down with me and and helping to remove some of items from the original draft deciding they could wait. Um it I I
appreciate that and I thank the department heads who will bear with that for for a little while. >> Madam clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Councilwoman Holland, >> yes. >> Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes.
>> Mayor Tambbor, >> yes. >> Mayor, uh 2026-23 passes 50 and it will be posted on the township's legal page website. Sorry about that. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. The next item on the agenda is ordinance 2026-24 on second reading. Would you please read
the title of this ordinance into the record? >> A bond ordinance providing for various improvements and purposes for the water and sewer utility in and by the township of Veron and the county of Essex, New Jersey, appropriating $2,725,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of $2,588,750
bonds or notes of the township to finance part of the cost thereof. >> Thank you. Would somebody move this ordinance? >> So moved. >> Motion's made by Councilwoman McGrath. Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Second made by Councilman Roman. This time open for public comment on this
ordinance only. Same public comment. Statement applies hearing. None. I will close public comment. Any council discussion? Deputy mayor. >> A quick question on C on this. Uh Mr. O Sullivan. The Franklin Street water main replacement. Was that not in with the
bridge replacement >> the >> or is it totally separate because it's water utility versus >> this the latter separate >> it's separately funded through the utility. >> Got it. >> Thank you. >> M clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Councilwoman Holland, >> yes.
>> Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes. >> Mayor Chambro, >> yes. Mayor 2026-24 passes uh 50 and it will be posted on the township's legal notice website. >> Thank you, madam clerk. The next item on
the agenda is ordinance labeled as I1 for introduction. Would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record? >> The create creating chapter 168 of the code of the township entitled burning dangerous material garbage and vegetation prohibited. >> Thank you madam clerk. I'll move this
ordinance. Would somebody second it? >> Second. Seconds by Councilwoman Holland. Uh, any council discussion? Hearing none. Madam clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Councilwoman Holland, >> yes. Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes.
>> Councilman Roman, yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> with a thank you to our attorney. Yes. >> Mayor Tambor, >> yes. >> Mayor, I1 will be number 2026-25, passes 50. It'll be published according to law public. I mean it will be published on the township's website
according to law and public hearing will be held on June 22nd. >> Thank you. This time I will turn the chair to the deputy mayor as I'll be recusing myself uh from the next ordinance due to my membership on the burn rescue school. >> The next ordinance moving on first
reading ordinance number I2. Madam clerk can you please read the title? providing for the acquisition of a rescue squad, ambulance, and equipment in by the township of Verona in the county of Essex, New Jersey, appropriating $390,000, therefore, and authorizing the issuance
of $371,000 bond or notes of the township to finance part of the cost thereof. >> Would someone like to move this ordinance? >> So moved. >> Moved by Councilman Roman. Do I have a second? I will second it.
Uh, no comments on this one. Uh, Madam Clerk, can you please call the role? >> Councilwoman Holland, >> yes. >> Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes.
>> And mayor is recused. >> Thank you. >> Okay, it's time I give the floor back to the mayor. >> So, it uh it passes. Sorry. 401 recusal. The public hearing will be held on June 22nd. >> Thank you. At this time, I'll pass the floor back to the mayor. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Um, at this
time, I'll open uh we'll hear a motion to approve the consent agenda, but is there anything anybody needs to pull from that over? >> Yes, I need to pull or I would like to pull L1, L8, and L1.
Also, uh just a point of order. Did we have minutes? >> No. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Um, I'll hear a motion to approve L2 through L7, L9, and L10, and
L 12 through 19. >> I'll I'll make that. >> I'll move. I'll make >> All right. The deputy mayor moves those. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Councilwoman McGrath. This time, we'll for public comment on any consent agenda items, even the ones we
pulled. Same public comment statement applies. Okay. All right. Hearing no public comment. I close public comment and any council discussion on the moved resolutions.
Okay. Hearing none. Madam clerk, would you call the role, please? >> I'm sorry, who seconded on that? I was counting. >> I did. >> Thank. >> Councilwoman Holland. >> Yes. Councilwoman McGrath. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Roman. >> Yes. Deputy Mayor Mackoy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Tambboro.
>> Yes. >> Mayor, ordinances 2 through 7, 9 through 10 and 12 through 19 will be numbered 122 to 137. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Will somebody
move ordinance L1 resolution resolution? >> I'm sorry. Res uh L1 resolution. >> So moved. >> Motion is made by Councilman Roman. I'll second the motion. Council discussion. >> Yes, thank you. Um, so I have some
concerns that this is a change order for the extraordin extraordinary number of trees that we had to remove. The Sha Tree Commission has raised concerns that what we're not though doing is putting money more money into this bond
uh or we're not putting aside any money to replant. So 63 residents have requested trees to replace these 44 that have been removed. So, you know, I may still end up supporting
this tonight, but I wanted to take this moment to say that we don't have a plan to pay for the trees to be replanted. Now, one way to pay for them is out of that capital that we just passed, but
that would be more than the sheet's entire budget. So, we have this road project. We put aside millions of dollars. We're doing a lot of different improvements. The plan was to only remove 12 trees. We had to remove 44 trees. The residents are very upset. The
street looks totally different. They want shade trees to be replanted. They still haven't. DPW has to do that next step to even though someone may have requested it, we still have to see if they have enough space on someone's um on that um piece of curb to actually
replant, but we don't actually have a plan to replant like to pay for it. So, I would like to I'm raising this as an issue like and can we change it in the do we need do we need another change order to kind of to have a plan for
planting? This is just the removal. >> There was uh some discussion back and forth with the uh the chair of the shade tree on this particular topic. The the the project as it currently stands is still an ongoing project with final
asbuilt quantities being measured. The largest of those quantities that will be measured. The largest portion of the project is the milling and the paving which is yet to come. Um there is also uh so we don't know the final last bill findings. We don't know if there are
credits that are to be anticipated at that time. There is also an additional allowance for traffic control directors which we are anticipating that there will be a credit on the contract at the completion of the project on that line
item for the allowance. approximately $75,000 um is is uh s is currently um unpay unallocated at this time and and is available for credit but I wouldn't take credit on that until the end of the project. >> Sure.
>> Um the cost for the additional trees though however would um be approximately 30 to 40,000 depending on the tree varieties uh selected. I believe I do believe the shade tree budget was 100,75
for the shade tree commission and 25 for public works um for miscellaneous tree work throughout the year. So um I do believe that there is uh an an amount of funding that is available both through shade tree and potential credits on the
Lynen Avenue project that would account for the additional cost for planting additional trees. Um the I'm but again I don't have the final credits that we're getting on some of these land owners because that work has not yet taken place. >> Well I wanted to raise it on the record
like we removed all the trees we need to as part of this project replant. I don't think it's appropriate to yes it's possible to take out of the shade trees budget but that's had they known that they were going to be responsible they would have put in a capital request of
75 plus 30 right to to anticipate this project the road projects are supposed to be all-incclusive so I hope that's how it works out when we get to the end of this um with the credits and stuff but I did want to raise it um that you know we needed to
anticipate more if we were going to remove all these trees. I'm a little confused why we're not passing a change resolution to increase the funding for replanting. So, this is like just one piece of the puzzle. We have to do the next phase. I'll support it tonight, but I did
really want to make sure all of my colleagues were aware and the residents are upset. This this street looks very different. Um, and I when we talk about the next resolution, I we really need to think through our approach on these road projects. So, thank you.
>> Thank you. Any other comments? Clerk, could you call the role, please? >> Councilwoman, sorry, Council Holland. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Council Roman, yes. >> Deputy Mayor Macko, yes. Mayor Chambro,
>> yes. Mayor L1 will be numbered 138. >> Thank you. Would somebody like to move L8? >> Uh before I I would move it. I just sent the clerk a note earlier today about uh
just make sure we correct the streets in the before further. >> I did that. >> Thank you for your note. >> But yes, I will move this. >> Thank you for the note. >> I'll second it. Any council discussion? Councilwoman McGrath. >> Thank you. So, I will be recusing myself
from voting on this ordinance because it includes three streets, one of which is Fairway, which is the street that I live on. My comments about the other two streets and not Fairway. Um these trees absolutely need to be repaved and I understand that this
repaving also will tie into very necessary work on our wastewater um um the tying in between the sewer and the wastewater. Um so obvious and a lot of work needs to happen with the catch basins to untie everything. But again
the the trees we need to learn from Derwent and Lynwood as we approach these streets and especially um these streets because they have some very old trees. And so in particular it's what my
understanding is it's about the depth of the sidewalk in particular. So, I can't vote on this ordinance. I won't be voting on this ordinance, but you know, this is we have to and I think I know the deputy mayor has expressed concerns
about U Lynon in the past. This is another area with very big stately trees and we're going to have to be very thoughtful. That is my opinion, but I won't be voting. Thank you, >> Clerk. I'm sorry. Since I am voting on
it, I will express my concern as well. This is something I've talked about on on street projects. You don't always have to say yes to what engineers draw on a plant. Um, you know, these trees have been here longer than a lot of the h, you know, several of the
houses. We've paved roads over and over and over. >> Yeah. >> I really, really dislike it when we do massive tree removal on a road reconstruction project. We need to find a way to preserve the mature shade trees even if it means that the design of the
improvements is not, you know, optimal and according to, you know, every last practice in the book. The trees are incredibly important to the neighborhoods. So, >> I, you know, I know that I know that there's always a reason when someone wants to remove a tree. I really don't like the way the streets look when we
cut down all the mature shade trees. So, that's said my piece. >> All I'll say is I agree with everybody. Madam cler that one. >> Okay. >> So there we go. >> We have consensus. Um madam clerk can call the ro please.
>> Councilwoman Holland. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman McGrath >> abstain. >> Councilman Roman. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Tambbor. >> Yes. >> Mayor L8 will pass 401st. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. >> And I'm sorry. Be numbered 139.
>> 139. Madam clerk, I'm sorry. Uh, would somebody like to move L11? So moved. >> Motion's made by Councilman Roman. Is there a second? >> I'll second it. Second's made by the deputy mayor. Discussion on L1.
I just uh I guess my question is um Mr. Krauss in your report you discussed the you know questions getting answered. Have the questions been answered to the satisfaction of the
parties asking them at this point? >> The OPIO I believe the answer is yes. We're still in regular communication with the PBA attorney who sent two additional questions today. Um we will answer them in the morning. I'm just
waiting to confirm some uh two details with um Harmony and uh Fairview Insurance, but we uh it is not it's a process question on reimbursement for certain members.
>> Okay. Is this something that we can wait until the next meeting to adopt until we have those questions answered or would that be cutting it too close because the benefits period starts in >> the the benefits period does start July 1. So, it does put the provider in a difficult situation of of
>> it could put it could put the employees at a disadvantage if they can't turn everything around. >> Okay. Uh, Madam Cler, could you call the role, please? >> Councilwoman Holland, >> yes. >> Councilwoman McGrath, >> abstain.
>> Councelor Robin, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes. >> Mayor Tambbor, >> abstain. Uh L11 will be numbered. What did I where were we at? 140 and uh wait 38 35.
We got 140 with passes three to zero. Two obst. Thank you. We do have an addendum this evening. Somebody please move N1. Nobody wants to remove it because it's a big tree. So
>> So moved. >> Thank you. Councilwoman McGrath. The second is by Councilman Roman. I'll open for public comment on uh M. I'm sorry, N1. Say no public comment. I close public
comment. Any council discussion? >> The arborist notes that the tree is dead. >> That is a good reason to cut down a tree. >> Madam clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Councilwoman Holland. >> Yes. Councilwoman McGrath. Yes. >> Trusty Roman.
>> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Tambbor. >> Yes. >> M1 resolution will be numbered 141. Passes 5 to zero. >> Okay. Um we do have one item of new
unfinished business that we obviously couldn't put on the agenda. Um, but there will be as of tomorrow a vacancy on the township council um by uh Mr. Aloy, just correct me if I'm wrong, on process as we go forward. Because the
vacancy occurs 60 days prior to the next general election, the council may in the interim appoint um a council member to fill the vacancy from whenever the vacancy occurs uh to whenever the
election results are certified following the next November, this coming November election. >> That's correct. There's 30 days in which you must do that if you're going to do that. If you don't do it within 30 days, you lose your opportunity. >> Okay. And the and just I'm not stating an opinion, but just to have everybody
on the process, the council's not obliged to appoint a replacement. Correct. >> That is correct. >> Um All right. And madame clerk, the appointment of a replacement does not affect the filing for an election. Can
you just give a kind of a brief what that you don't have to give us dates and whatever what you think that might look like? It's going to look like a special municipal election. Uh we'll have packets available for candidates the first weekend in July due August 20th.
And uh in the meantime, tomorrow I will not notify uh the county that there is an open seat and will be on the uh November election ballot for special election. >> Okay. Um, I guess my my first question
of the council is is there a consensus to do an interimm appointment? Is anybody opposed to an interimm appointment? Okay, I guess that is a consensus on an interimm appointment. Um, as far as how
that would um, look, that process, the only kind of example that I am aware of, I think Councilman Ryan was the last vacancy uh, where he filled in and it was 15 years ago at this point, but um, I know what the school board has done in
the past is done, uh, done a call for applicants for the position and done um, interviews on public record in a in a in a meeting. Um that would be my preference for how to
do it. Um I would also my suggestion on how that process would work is that we would get the notification out. talked to uh our municipal clerk about this. Um you know being that this possibility existed, notify the public
tomorrow that there is a vacancy um and advertise the vacancy with a deadline of you know a week or whatever to get um >> enough to review for the following meeting. >> Yes. And um and then my suggestion would
be that uh so as to not you know just to have a kind of a fair process that um council members would come with questions. We would ask the same questions of every candidate. Um I don't think we necessarily need to share our questions in advance with each other just to so I would say every council
member gets to ask two questions and if somebody's asked a question similar we just don't ask the same topical question. Is everybody okay with that? you know, as a >> as a thing. >> Sounds good. >> Um and uh and that way we don't have to have a meeting or an offline meeting
awkwardly to try and decide what the questions are because we're on a tight timeline within 30 days. Um what I would ask is that the night that we have it that we ask the anybody who's interested in the position to wait in our conference room while we have the
meeting so that the first person is not you know doesn't have a less advantage over anybody else presuming that there will be multiple applicants. Who knows? Maybe nobody applies. Maybe you know uh after after uh everybody talking about how much work it is people be running
away and won't be able to do that. But um hopefully we will have people interested in public service step up for that. Um and then so we'll just ask everybody to kind of hang out in there, you know, without watching the meeting. Um and do eight questions total per
person. I would say it's probably, you know, 20 minutes a person, 23 minutes a person, four minutes a person, whatever. >> Under >> um and then we could have a recess and and vote that night or whatever. It is a quick process. Uh we
have two options. Option number one is to have it at our next council meeting which is two weeks from tonight. Um Mr. Sullivan has indicated that that is a light agenda um for two weeks which is a tough timeline. The other option is um
I've asked Mrs. Kieran in to see if uh June 29th um the Monday is available for a special meeting for this purpose. Um and that night is available for the facility, the
zoom, etc. So those are our two options. Um anybody have a a preference? Not a lot of talk about this, huh? Um, well, if nobody has a preference, I'll just put it forth. Anybody opposed to doing it at our next regular meeting?
>> No. >> Since we're all going to be here anyway agenda, >> it's going to be a light agenda. >> We don't really have That's it. Um, and then Okay. So, >> we don't need to take any Do we need to take any kind of official action? Do we
just >> No. Okay. >> Meaning, no. you've directed the clerk as a body just now that and the managers here and the deputy manager that they'll go ahead and advertise this. It's >> okay. So, I'll just put it all in one thing and ask for just a motion of consensus just so everybody knows what
they're doing. Um, so all right. So, I will move I'll offer a procedural motion to declare that a vacancy exists, that the council intends to fill that vacancy. Um, that people interested in applying
for the vacancy would return their applications by the close of business on Tuesday, June 16th. >> Uh, close of business is when, madam cler? Four o'clock. >> Yeah, we'll say 4 pm. Okay. >> A resume and letter of intent. >> Okay. Good.
>> Would that be a application? >> Yes. A resume that whatever format people want a letter of intent, whatever a letter of interest >> would can be emailed to the clerk. >> Correct. >> Um I would recommend everybody also bring a card copy in to be certified
that is received just in case you want that. Uh, it's not required, but just if you feel that that's uh something you want to do, you can go and get your handstamped or whatever. I don't know. But Mrs. Kan will >> I'll confirm >> confirm anybody who emails. Yeah, there you go. That's
>> Yeah, >> actually very simple. Um, >> I'm just thinking about elections. That's what's going on. >> I know. I appreciate. >> All right. So, uh, and then, uh, uh, once Mrs. Kieran gets the application, she'll forward them to the council, uh
the remaining council for review. We will hold our interviews on uh the evening of June 22nd. Um and we will bring questions. Every council member will get to ask questions. We'll just kind of go in order
>> in public. >> In public, yes, this will be conducted in in public. There'll be no public questions of the candidates, but the public can make comment at the conclusion like they would any other meeting, right? So, yes. So, two questions. Uh, do we have a plan to get
this out on social media? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Because obviously we don't want on the 16th someone saying, "I didn't know there was a position." Uh, and number two, I'm looking at >> newsletter as well. >> What's that? >> Newsletter as well. >> Okay, good. Uh looking at our introduction of
ordinances tonight, now that we have only three council people voting on the ambulance in two weeks, how do we do that? >> Does do necessity? >> Doctor of necessity will kick in for second reading only. >> That's correct. >> Okay. All right. I don't love that, but
the the way it's going to have to be, I guess. >> Okay. >> Um Okay. I mean or I mean in theory if we had the person start that night they both correct but uh I think that would be a bit of a rough ask uh when they're they don't have all the the same packets
doing everything like that. So oh the other thing is I I would guess that we would have the the term would would start the >> the next day. >> Well we'd have to have a swearing in that we have to swear the person in. So, do we want the term to start the next
day or do we want it to start the next meeting, the next? >> So, >> well, if we're going to do interviews. >> Yeah. >> So, we're gonna deliberate in public. >> We don't typically. This is a little bit like a job application. So, I think we need to go into executive and
>> I don't think we can. Can we? But because this is not it's not a board or committee appointment. It is a governing. >> So, we are not allowed to >> fall in any of the close session reasons. I don't believe. >> I mean, >> I'll look into it to make sure. The only thing we we could in theory do
>> is take a recess and everybody talk to each other around Robin one by one, but that's kind of doing the same thing. We probably shouldn't do that. It is technically allowed, but we should not do it, but that's the that's it. So, it has to that's why it has to be >> Clifton's going through this right now
because they're deadlocked. different form of too. >> I wonder >> I'll reach out to see what the >> Yeah. >> if they have a different opinion just >> and I'll research the issue. Like I said, sitting here right now at the top of my head, I don't believe that's going to fall into any of the categories for closed. >> Um but I will look at the issue.
>> I mean, I I guess the only the way to do it would be every the council members just have to say who they are voting for and why rather than comment on the people who they're not voting for, right? That's the only way to have it >> be
nice for for lack of a better like better term. Um, okay. So, we could in theory swear the person in that night and then have them start the next day. Um, we'll give them a break to see if any family want to show up. We can
always >> We could always swear them in again, you know, ceremonially, right? And >> at the fireworks. >> Yes, that would be >> that would actually be pretty >> That actually be Yeah, that would be fun. We can do that. All right. Um, and I I mean I can actually swear them in as a notary, so you don't have to be there if you don't.
>> I'll be you'll be there. Okay. Well, even better. >> Yeah, I'll be she can be there now because she gets to bring her swearing in stuff. So, so it's all good. Um, okay. Uh, I put that all in as a motion. Does somebody want to second that? Second.
>> All those in favor? I I Okay. Um, at this time for public public comment on anything else that we were not covered in the previous 36 public comment sessions this evening. Hearing none, I'm going to leave the uh,
no executive tonight. >> Yeah, there is brief executive. Okay, >> I'm >> all right. Uh, I was going to let you adjourn the meeting, but since you're leaving uh, we can't do that. So, um, all right, going to executive session.
Goodbye everyone. >> No official. >> No official action will be taken. We'll see you perfect in a couple weeks.