Good evening. I call to order this meeting of the town council for Monday the 8th of September 2025. Madam clerk, would you please read the public meetings act? The notice requirements of the open public meetings act have been satisfied with respect to this meeting of the
township council. The meeting time and date were included in the public meeting notice along with the public internet link and telephone call-in information. Said notice and meeting agenda was posted in the municipal building and sent to the official newspapers of the township, the Verona City Grove Times,
the Star Ledger at least 48 hours preceding the start time of this meeting. The agenda and handouts can be viewed online at vereronj.org/counsil meetings. A public comment period will be held in the order it's listed on the meeting agenda and instructions on how to comment will be provided at the
appropriate time. Thank you, Madam Cler. Councilwoman Holland here. Councilwoman McGrath here. Councilman Roman here. Deputy Mayor Makavoy present. Mayor Tambbero here. Mayor also present is Township attorney
Brian Aoya. Township manager Kevin O. Sullivan. Deputy township manager Michael Krauss is myself municipal clerk Jennifer kid. Thank you. Would everybody please standy and justice for all? It's good to see everybody for the
mayor's report today. First, um, want to congratulate the Unico on a fantastic day 5K event. It was a a pleasure to attend to everybody on pitch line um, 5K and fun run. Verona
Unico uses the proceeds of this race to provide community programs and scholarships for a lot of uh students and also all the support they provide for various different groups that need to so congratulations. It was also great
to see our legislative delegation there Philips participated in the 5K. So it's great to see them there. Congratulations to Makavoy for his finish though he was soundly beaten by town attorney Brian Aoya uh this time
around again our township attorney is a beast up the street the word soundly it was pretty sound Jack but he certainly finished a lot sooner than I would so we should probably note that for the record regardless I would
still be doing the uh fun walk now I want to thank all of the um members of the Verona Community Garden who donated their produce to the terrace. Uh it was really such a great example of community. Um we will be recognizing
them in the proclamation at our next meeting. Uh they were not available tonight. So we will be doing that our first meeting in October uh to thank them for being phenomenal examples for our community. Um we like to thank all of our summer recreation staff including
our pool staff, our office staff, managers and meeting staff um for uh providing great summer to all of our uh pool patrons. Um but thanks and recreation counselors as well um for
their work that those programs were success was well enjoyed um and based on our numbers with the um participation. We also had some summer interns here uh in this building that did a lot of meaningful work and thank
but administration for mentoring them projects uh and demonstrating how that there to thank all of our patrons of our summer recreation and pool programs uh continuing their patronage and for uh trusting to provide
that for them. Hope everybody is having a great back to school. I know I am. Great to see everybody. I think there's some energy in the school year for sure at the beginning and which is particularly interesting. It's one of the short summers we've had with Memorial Day being late and being
early. Our last summer concert of the season is this Wednesday 7 o'clock. Please join us on the sorry tomorrow 7. Um please join us there for that. Um, we
have our uh 911 ceremony on Thursday at 8:45 at our 911 memorial. I hope to see you for that as well. And I hope you'll join us for sports women's club taste of Verona
event on Friday and are followed by our DHS footballer to support our football players in our band there as well. At this point I invite Mr. Pra council
the first alternate citizen my wife who walks around the park noticed manhole collapsing in the south part of park. I don't know if anyone saw it. They did put some fencing around it. So that was
taken care of. Um our county engineer said he went out 12 traffic signals. One of them will be on. So for that in the right direction
again Thursday is remembering 911 and we have our 24th anniversary and it will start at 8 a.m. at reservation hopefully uh I
know conflicts with yours but come and say hello we would app yes and how long is that ceremony because it is true we never it's hard to double I would say it's almost an hour
interesting there are a lot of people from the come from airlines. It's a very very on September 2st at 11:30 p.m. at the environmental center. We have family
festival. I will leave these and send to the clerk. So, uh if you'd like to post them, please do so. The other thing is this is our second annual road to wellness mobile health fair. It's Sunday, September 28th
at 11 p.m. at the Essex County Park uh Churn Blossom Center. They have an array of wellness things happening there. and participated with Johnson plus Kinder Smile
Ruckers University Cooperative Extension County and array of other agencies that are participating. Um we have our on Tuesday September 30th from 10 to 2 p.m. at the Richard Cody
Arena 560 Northfield we have our annual Senior wellness and again a lot of hospitals and other participants to help our seniors wellness
and probably another one but I did not September 30. Any questions comments? Any questions for Terrific. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mayor. I'll I'll be very updates. We can get into the presentations for tonight. Uh but but briefly, uh the Fairview Avenue well pre-construction meeting was held August 27th. That project will be uh we await a construction schedule from the
contractor. uh the Pekkin River Bank Stabilization Project. We received bids uh and we have a resolution authorizing award on the agenda for this evening. Our Lynen Avenue reconstruction project should be out to bid within the next few weeks. Uh
we will expect an award contract at the second meeting in October. Um we continue to move through a number of um improvements to the town hall building.
um which includes the completion of the town hall windows and repointing project. There are still a few minor items that are required but we are moving forward with that. Additionally, uh the mold remediation lead paint baitment uh replacement of the HVAC air
handler and the repainting of the police department is complete and the HVAC duct cleaning is scheduled. There's some additional work that is still ongoing uh but we are continuing to move forward with it all these projects. Additionally, the roof replacement
projects for the other facilities at the community center and some of the other incillary buildings is um being scheduled for public bidding currently. Uh and then the last item uh I have that I'll address from my report is the Ever
Field project. Um the project is ongoing with construction. Uh and uh I'll actually use that as a unless a question from the council on it in my report. I would then ask come to the podium to present the field.
Question. All right. Welcome. Good evening. My name is Dan Zarino. I'm here on behalf of the PSL. Um I want to thank you for having me and I want to let you know a little honor on behalf of the Rona baseball. We are honored to donate the fieldhouse at Ever
John Marquez and myself from want to thank the mayor and council for everything done. We know it's been a long process leading up to this point. So, we're incredibly grateful and looking forward to partnership.
I'll let Christie finish. Is there a better spot for this? We have share. I'm assuming we're just going to trust you.
Okay. So, my name is Christie Barto. I'm record and I have been a huge baseball and softball So I'm just going to walk you through this very very quickly. I'm sure everybody has seen this before really
hasn't changed much time. Uh the building is situated towards the north end of the site which is where home plate exists today the design of the site had actually already been completed came on board. So I was just given a concrete pad.
subject to inflcture. Uh it should be noted that the construction materials and labor for this building are actually being donated so by Mr. and bunch of so it's currently designed with new materials in mind and we're hoping to
retain those on the first floor there is a concession access window which is facing the current parking and current concession just to give you some orientation. So that's going to have a roll down door obviously when when the operation is
closed. Over here in the center you have a storage area that has some equipment, the sinks and then actually the electrical panels for the plates. In addition to that access from the outside on the plan right side is two
ADA toilet rooms and then on the outside of that on the exterior wall there is a drinking fountain water refill station. Okay. There's a set of stairs here. This is a twotory structure. You go upstairs. There's a meeting space up here and then
just the counter for the announcements. And then the three sliding windows are up here. I'm going to switch for just a second to the elevations. The elevations are intended to have a vertical vinyl siding to them. Um, and then the main roof
itself is just a standard asphalt roof. And then over the either end, there's a metal accent roof that's held up by wood brackets. So, I mean, that's that's really it. That's the extent of the building. I'm happy to get into other infrastructure
questions or anything that you have if you so desire but this is pretty much the question and for tonight as well mayor there's resolution.
You want to take that order at this time while VBSL is still here. Um I EA. All right. Uh do you hear a motion to approve resolution E3? Well, I'm gonna go with
the deputy mayor on this one and the second. Okay, there we go. Uh, I appreciate everybody's exuberance to move. We government really likes when things are given to us. So, entire buildings. Yes. Entire building
structures and services. Uh, at this time, I'll open public comment on this item only. Madam cler, please read the public interest. Anyone from the public wishing to speak on this matter, if you're attending via Zoom, you can raise your hand by pressing the
raise hand button on your monitor. If you're dialing in by phone, you can press star 9. And if you're attending in person, please raise your h hand and wait to be recognized before approaching lect turn. When you're 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 meeting recordings are a public record and addresses will not be redacted for any purpose. You'll have four minutes to address the council and there'll be no cross dialogue during this public portion. After everyone wishing to speak
has been heard, the council may address your comments and or questions. Thank you, Madam Clark. Any comments in the gallery? See no comment on Zoom. Close public comments. Any council discussion?
Madam, Councilwoman Holland, yes. Councilwoman McGrath, yes. Councilman Roman, yes. Deputy Mayor Mackoy, yes. Mayor Tambbor, yes.
May resolution E3A will be numbered 208. Thank you so much. That's wonderful. And now I want to follow that presentation event. What are you feeling about ladies and back? Good evening, Mayor Town. It's good to
be here again. for several months I've been dealing with working with the administration and the uh neighborhood safety and traffic committee uh to develop sweet and green streets program. Uh this this
program uh worked hand in hand this policy involved worked hand in hand with the Lindon street uh grant we had received uh working with transportation center and the There's plenty. So it's just out of that
uh effort uh streets green streets policy uh flow and uh for decades the complete streets policy has been in the doc program u and
recently it has uh they added the green infrastructure part of the policy. So uh there's two parts to the draft that you were given. One is just a resolution adopting the policy and in the resolution um
it gives some whereases and definitions that the complete streets part of the policy provides a comprehensive integrated connected multimodular network of transportation options for planning construction design
etc. uh for new and retrograded streets and rides away for pedestrians, bic bicyclists, persons with disability, motorists, movers and transit and then the uh
the green street part of it. Then pace that incorporates a sustainable green design elements such as green water infrastructure, traffic, economy, shade trees, use recycled materials to flooding, protect and create healthier
natural social environment. So they're followed. U so the second page uh the resolution goes on to say that the uh policy should not negative impact the affordability of potential neighborhoods with current
residences. It applies to new construction, re construction, retrofit, reservicing projects and it involves planning, design, construction all so uh
the policy itself um evolved from a model policy that we uh believe we received from the national transplant and what we did is adopted it to Verona's
um say requirements situation and uh where we see things where we're going to go with it and as a result like I said we work intimately with it developing the line plans which Kevin said we'll be we're finalizing
plans by the end so u the first part on page one and I know you got accepted you may not I don't want to read it verbatim but I'll just summarize the key parts of it u so the transportation project shall strive
to advance street goals and it lists the goal of safety, environment, economic and health and equity. Uh so applies to public and private transportation projects uh including those using public funds.
So uh then it goes on to say the uh cooperations needed between the counselor, the administrator and the engineer, police department working with each other as well as adjacent jurisdictions and any relevant advisory committee such as
transportation safety. Uh next part says in the within two years of the effective date of the policy potential council shri to inventory procedures and policies consistent with this policy. So
in a conjunction basic I I went through the whole policy. There are some responsibilities which I I've outlined in draft form and once the policies adapted we'll be following through on the requirements and schedules for that
are outlined this policy. particular attention on on the next page number six is paid to m is paid to maximize the safety at street crossing schools of schools in in detention
and um what we say in number seven is transportation project should strive to include where appropriate and not the cost prohibited sustainable design methods such as traffic coming water infrastructure shade trees per the
the addition and I'll further uh go into the talks about the green infrastructure later on but just in summary green infrastructure involves uh possibly creating uh little water detention basins on the sides of roads uh ways to
trap the water and have the water go into the ground and there when we're doing researching projects that is that is u with existing uh rights away that's difficult thing to achieve. So uh that's why we added in
here it's not being prohibited and it's being practical element. So we're going to strive to do that. It's not always practical but that's the intent of the the ordinance and our responsibility to or we can achieve it
to justify why it's included or what we have. We typically do include pavement issues, some shade trees and a lot of the traffic caling measures of the other other aspects of green street infrastructure.
There are ways to are exemptions to the policy that are listed on the next page. Uh and in order to do that, the exemptions have to be in writing and list the exemptions here. They're
not regulatory compliant with other existing regulator. issues uh and uh adverse impacts significantly way to get the benefits on a particular project or cost of implementation is excessively
disproportionate to the cost of the project. So um well the strategy to that particularly is if a private development involves development that involves public streets we will work with the developer and they
will have to comply as there's a a section called program reporting where uh administration has to make available to the town council uh a list of the projects that were done and
what the degree that uh with various projects comply. So that'll be part of the checklist that we have to provide. Uh again in the next section completing green sheet checklist we're going to develop a check check checklist once
this is approved of u checklist used by project teams during project selection developing design funding main transportation projects that is reportable to the uh the council
fun everything will be transparent be online at some point. Then the final section deals with definitions and u so
does talk about green streets here and green storm water infrastructure uh types of practices or street trees trench boxes that you can install where which capture the water to feed the trees and take some of the water off the street.
design biosils are the shallow vegetative channels that convey slow down the water runoff. There's some vegetative grouts coming. A lot of these are are sound good, but when it comes to trying to incorporate that on a
reservicing project, we eliminate the sidewalk and the trees areas. Uh there there's challenges with that. So, we're going to have to evaluate that in each project. Traffic calming, uh we're employing some of that in the project where we're narrowing some of
the roads down over that bridge at Becky Creek and also uh putting that chicane in the middle of this street toward Avenue where we're trying to slow the traffic down and
speed is actually and that's primarily it. We have objectives we have the policy that complet like I said and we have bicycle lanes
on London Avenue and you know we have to evaluate that on any future street like I said it's easier when you have new development you can incorporate some of the additions right into the design of development help them evaluate every new project
that comes down both public and private where this policy. So that's a brief summary of the policy. We have worked with the uh committee they've seen this draft. The draft that's presented is the same draft that
the u transportation committee has reviewed and u review of Kevin and uh the resolution that this is the best policy
we can have at this point. There's no there's nothing to say we can't improve on it or make it better or change it what we find in the future. It's a starting point to get this on the books and get it get it looked at as we review
our streets in the future. You have anything to add? I I don't think I think you've covered everything that there is to discuss. Uh I will say that um there was a lot of back and forth discussion with the neighbor traffic safety committee to get
to this point. I know there's um building it up and whitting it down, building it up and whittling it down to the point where we do have the final recommended version of um before us tonight, but this is um I think you've summarized it well. So, I have a bit of a mixed set of views
on um these sorts of proposals. Um and pardon me for playing the contrarian here. Uh the concept of adding green infrastructure is fantastic. I always love to see that and you know we know that that's necessary but found it very interesting when we did the Lynden project that basically we started to look at a lot of data that you got that
we got back anyone who didn't live on Lynden was in favor of a lot of the things that were going in people who lived on Lynden didn't want it um the only thing that out of all of that that really uh took was the narrowing of the lanes at the
bridge which made a lot of sense um people regarded the chicanees as being a serious traffic hazard um because they force cars essentially into oncoming traffic. Um and generally they refer to the street as an obstacle course when we um we talk about speed humps and tables.
That's another kind of constant um topic of discussion here. Uh everybody loves speed humps unless they're in front of their house um or if they're an emergency vehicle. Uh so this is one of these things where the devil is in the details. I've seen cities, you know, I travel, I see cities where they do curb
extensions that are so large that again, you've got a risk of head-on accidents and turning vehicles at corners. Um, so the concept of sort of requiring all of these things to go into a roadway is an interesting one. I, you know, that
puts it down a road where you just start going down and just doing this and doing this regardless of where it makes sense. I mean, I've read a lot about what makes streets the kind of streets that people want to live on. And what it tends to come down to is the fewest number of traffic controls possible on the street
tends to define a residential street. And when you look at a lot of our streets here in the community, the ones that have the most like livable residential feel are the ones that don't have painted center lines, that don't have painted parking spaces, that are, you know, ultimately that are just asphalt with stop signs. And the thing
that tends to calm traffic the most is vegetation. Um, are one of the things that are the largest. Street trees and allowing um parallel parking on streets are the two things that tend to reduce the natural um natural just natural speed that people want to drive at the
most. If you have a street that's clearly too wide for the use, people will tend to speed up on it. Um but generally the more traffic controls you put on the street, the more people think that it's a major collector road when it's not. So that's the only thing that I would say is, you know, there are
great applications for these sort of things, but sort of prescribing them as the default that every single street should have this set of controls on it. Um, I just really kind of don't want to get to a point where every street that's, you know, more than two lanes plus a part, you know, that's two lanes plus with room for parking all of a
sudden starts getting stripped. You know, that's kind of what I would rather sort of stay away from. And I know, you know, this is kind of a a popular thing in transportation planning, but I tend to look at the reality of what it turns into. So that's where again, I know it's a contrarian view, especially versus
committee, but that's sort of been my opinion as I've seen traffic measures. I don't have um I want to addressed the green infrastructure and it's interesting that my colleague did start with green infrastructure and then ultimately send
the straight trees that are have calming effect. I appreciate that it's incorporated into the plan and I and I appreciate also the sentiment that it's very challenging to incorporate things like bio swailes into new roadway designs like the rightway is only so
wide. You have to accommodate sidewalks and the like and perhaps parking infrastructure. But I do think it's a really important aspect um of our planning and future planning for Verona. Um we are a valley town. We're very floodprone. We do have a lot of issues
with storm water management and I think it would be a significant benefit for us to do more of that kind of green infrastructure for storm water management. So I do appreciate it's here but that you do have like the caveat that you know it'll be evaluated. I just
want to make sure that that exception doesn't swallow the wool kind of thing where it just ends up being that it's never ultimately incorporated because I do think there will be opportunities um where it can be uh incorporated and I think it can be very meaningful and contribute a lot to our community. With
regard to the concerns about Lynden Avenue, I feel like the administrations addressed them before that was, you know, kind of a demonstration project. It's not consistent with how typically these designs would be. There were various different designs that were being experimented with during that
process. Um, and there was various amounts of feedback, but I'm not going to go through all of that. I'm not the leazison to that committee, but I do know that they were very passionate about this and I do think that this is overall a very positive step forward for the community. So, thank you for your presentations.
Thank you. Um I am the liaison to the neighborhood jobs and safety committee. And I do want to start with that committee's um passion and advocacy for really making sure that we are um a a community that never experiences and
tries to prevent um really death and injury due to cars which is only rising in New Jersey. Uh Baron is one of the last towns in Essex County to have a complete streets polic. Uh so I really would urge my colleagues to when we
review this to really consider where can we start. This is not, as you've always said, a prescriptive policy that says, well, when every time we do something, we're going to do, you know, 10 things or five things or even one thing, but just that we need to develop a process
by which we put um traffic and safety in the center when we do these road redesigns and we consider things like accessibility and biking because people do want safe, walkable, and bikable communities. We know this from research
um and the committee members which unfortunately our chair could not be here and he's exceptional because he is a statewide advocate for biking safety. When he hears the replay on this he may um you know put together some thoughts and share some research with all members
of the council. Um we have uh we know from our master plan survey that people do not feel safe walking in our community and we want to make sure this is a walkable community. So, I think this is a great place to start. As a process, I you know, we did get this
late today. The neighborhood traffic and safety committee actually voted on a a policy to send to the council. So, we're going to check this draft versus what they what they passed. They're meeting next week. Um, and you know, we'll
they'll do a recon quick reconciliation and if they have concerns with things that were removed, uh, because the administration is recommending this policy, they'll send a memo. I'm sure they'll vote and they'll send a memo to the council. But I do encourage my colleagues to,
you know, really I I one of the consistent feedback that we get from residents is about the traffic and safety on their streets. They don't feel safe. Cars are going at increasing speeds. statewide the accident statistics are only getting worse and
towns like Montlair have moved to a 25 hour mile um you know per zone. They just revised their complete streets policy actually make it more meaningful. Uh the the county is doing safe streets for all project. Everything's moving in
this direction and to be honest we're we we're at nowhere. So I would love for this council to consider adopting something so that we can move forward. But thank you um Mr. Tenki for all of your work on this and your advocacy and for your work on
I do believe this is to the best of my knowledge it's the same policy but I appreciate that check make sure we're on the same thank you Mr. Pen first thank you for your time on this uh getting us to it very educational uh I think when it
comes to the council I think everybody's in favor of safety of the residents in the community when they're whether they're in a car on a bike or walking and running. Uh I do really appreciate the green infrastructure part of this and to Councilman Roman's point about
trees. Uh as I walk, I run uh not as fast as Mr. but uh I plan my routes based on some you know on a hot summer day a treeine street. I sometimes I run up into Mont Clair on High Island Avenue because
there's trees all down the road. Uh so I I think moving forward I I'd like when we do streets over to maybe try to preserve more trees because we've really seem to clear them all out and I'm not a big fan of that. Neither is the door. But I I I think that's a very very
important part because when you have that green infrastructure and nice trees and stuff like that, people gravitate towards those streets more. Uh the interesting thing with this that it comes up tonight is just today I was driving through Glen Ridge and on
Rididgewood Avenue which is a very wide street they have a actually a shoulder line for their sides. Uh I noticed on their lane narrowing and I was coming up to a corner and a biker coming down the side. those, you know, the lane
narrowing or the curb extensions, I think we really have to think about where we put them because the biker that was coming down the shoulder actually had to veer into the lane of the traffic to get around it to pass a corner. So, I think where we put them, if plans come
up, I will be looking at that and and being very detailed on that. I think it's important to to put them in certain spots, but like a street like Grove Avenue or Fairview Avenue, obviously it's county and I hope they don't put these up, but what Glenidge has is just
three of those temporary uh ballisters that are just sticking up and they jut out into the road. So, I think we have to be careful with them because we have a lot of bikers and we have a lot of people on these little scooters, all the EVs. So, that's just my thought on this, but we will look at it moving forward.
Thank you. Um but I'll finish with a couple comments. First, just in the text of this on the street checklist area, there's reference to a complete streets oversight board which does not exist.
So, we need to obviously that uh I don't know exactly what that would be whether it's something else and so I would like to know more about That looks like um I uh in going to the
definitions I share Councilman Roman's concerns about speed tables. Actually speed tables are mentioned twice items three and nine and speed humps. Um I happily ensured that we project that
speeds because they were problem especially my father's basemented from speeds off his street entire street because so many people's houses actually
especially storms. That's one thing. In addition, if you drive through, but unfortunately, you know, there was a long street that resulted in speeds up there.
A lot of people bumps like up their time and it actually makes it more dangerous in some ways. So, I feel like are often seen as the answer but in reality there are other mechanisms. So we do not have
any speed bumps. I council woman to this but from emergency services standpoint they amulsed to that also if you have a dire emergency
including ambulances, police, cars, fire trucks have to consider things like that or otherwise barriers because they don't just control speed limit speed limit
force you actually speed limit and slowing things down. So that is a That's a significant concern. I get worried when we have these kind of general definitions
from this list because not everything's everybody for every tool. But I also think that there is a resolution which has to be every year. And so that's something
something that addressed every year. Um, so future council may disagree with us on some of these items, but uh at the same point there needs to be some additional oversight as far as who the um
the final approval body for any project is going to be. Because right now there are a lot of boards and staff and people mentioning there but council as the direct repres the representative process that we have
our charter. Um I I've heard council statistics of a EMT in the town for 16 years. Um I respond to a lot of
accidents. Um I don't I'm trying to think through all of them and I can't I don't know I've been fatal accident but it's not that policy
to the county in the last you know couple couple months has has their own plans and policies and things like that. Um so We don't I'm trying to rack my brain, but um
but um but I I look back at that um as well. That's another thing that I I don't want there to be an appearance out there that people think that our streets aren't safe because almost all of the streets in that are streets are 25 already the
residential neighborhoods stop signs over the years and things like that. I walk three and a half to four miles every day in this town. As many people know, I've walked every street in this town at least once and um
and understand as a pedestrian. My my biggest concern as pedestrian is safe crossings um and you know that that is worthwhile focusing on but um neighborhoods there
that drive quickly. Um but there's also things we can do for enforcement and stuff in those areas. So um I'm not opposed to aopting a concept as well. But I also don't want people
what I've been hearing from res now and I see a lot of people out. So I don't want our residents to think that there's some kind of danger that that this has to solve. I would like to see statistics
from our police department on our serious accidents are right because really focus on a policy that's driven based specifically once
rather than adopting a model policy that may not specifically lead to what we're talking about that would actually presumably help better in the long run and certainly revising much more But don't want people to think our roads
are not safe or walkable. As pedestrian, honestly, I'm more likely to trip and fall on a, you know, on a cracked sidewalk by a tree that the town owns rising up than I am probably.
Um and uh so I just want to put that out there that could start thinking focus based on the data that we have and that would be helpful knowing I think that you know people
definitely have a woman pointed out whether it's something Um and but finally I do want to thank the neighbor for their work on this we all recommendations we don't
necessarily recommendations as a basis policy very helpful but whateveration council something
without process. So I see this as something that we can look down at this day has been as office and this does data collection boxes.
I also just want to point out a lot of these things like I love just not something that we can do where we could easily round. Um but it's it's in our policy. It would seem to be like we're not having roundabouts here.
policy, you know, let's let's really formalize what might think we have we have a good start with and keep efforts in
the last four years with Thank you. Thank you. We'll take your comments back. Um there I do have the deputy manager's report. Um
the street project has a meeting with many of the boards this Friday regarding the reimbursement for the town hall. not received any additional reimbursement despite pretty regular
followups. We did hit the selfinsured retention and they're now passure which we are justing more requests for them. The community center concrete work is
done signs have been installed. Um we met with neighborhood traffic safety on August 15th they had comments which we'll review with the engineer. Paving is
we hope to do it in the next month. However, there are difficult schedules at this time and once it is paid there will be striping. An offer of employment was extended for the direct and accepted the director services position.
We expect process four weeks. Um at the pool, the amount of revenue that was collected exceeded anticipated revenue which will assist with regenerating surplus.
And the shade the shade tree commission has started consultant forestry management plan and street inventory which we are bringing forward.
also expense. There are two ordinances tonight. One is a prep update with some changes from last time and then business.
Any questions? Thank you, Mike. You're welcome. Mayor, at this time I would ask uh for consideration to return to an early executive session for discussion of one item prior to moving into uh the rest of
the business on agenda. Um we have a resolution that is L14. Would somebody like to move all session by councilman?
Second. Second is made by council. You guys can stay here. I have to call a roll. I'm sorry. You have to take a roll call. I do. I'm sorry. Um, this for the reszo. Councilwoman Holland, yes.
Councilwoman McGrath, yes. Councilman Roman, yes. Deputy Mayor Mackoy, Mayor Tambbor, yes. Mayor L14 will be number 209. We're going to move on to council member reports mayor
may be tonight I'll keep it short tomorrow night we do have it the concert uh I too want to thank for a wellorganized Labor Day race everyone
uh and thank our public works, our fire department and police department was keeping the streets safe while we now. Uh I also want to thank the Southern Health uh rec department pool and also
our public works uh laborers that come out from the cover and help keep Verona nice and clean. And lastly, I will just wish the mayor a happy birthday. Hope you had a good one. in light of
in light of the remaining items on the agenda. I will limit my report to all the wishing mayor. Thank you. Thank you. Um the multicultural inclusion and accessibility advisory committee had a meeting at the end of
August. Um they had a really great uh seminar that is now on our town's YouTube channel on inclusive business h um hiring practices. Um this is a great resource for business owners large and small. Um and that can be accessed on
our town's YouTube channel. They are partnering with the Bron Public Library for Hispanic Heritage Month. They are planning an event on Saturday, October the 4th, um that will be focused on Puerto Rican culture. Um and their next meeting is on September 24th. Uh the
Shea Tree Committee um has moved their um a typical meeting uh to Wednesday the 17th. As was already mentioned, they are working on their community forestry plan and the neighborhood traffic and safety committee, which we talked a lot about
the um their complete streets policy tonight. They're meeting on Tuesday, September 16th at 7:30 p.m. Uh they also sponsored the ebike safety seminar. Uh ebike safety is on the top of mind for
residents in our and parents um and um young adults um and so I thank them for their leadership um on this area. I too attended the Dream Co. um fundraiser
5K um and I do want to echo all of my colleagues and saying um how much um UNICO is such an important organization for our community uh not just to promote Italian heritage but really raise necessary funds to support our youth, to
support our first responders, to support our community efforts. They are a true partner and I do appreciate them. And I want to echo what the mayor said about the Junior Women's Club of Verona. They're having their fundraiser, Taste of Verona. It cannot be missed. It is um
really a fantastic night of food and fun at the community center. It's on Friday from 6:00 to 9:00. You can go to taste of veronj.com to purchase a ticket. Uh there were a limited number left and that's my report. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Hall.
Thank you. Um I just want to wish everybody um a happy fall uh end of the summer um I know that sometimes it comes very quickly. Um, and certainly with school starting the day after Labor Day is a bit of a a harsh
reality for my kids at least, but I'm sure other residents as well. Um, I do want to congratulate Unico for a very successful Labor Day 5K. Um, and so it's one of the highlights um, of
our year. We enjoy watching it um, from the end of my street. Um, so that that was a great time. Um, I also want to thank all of the crossing guards and everyone that contributed to a safe and happy and healthy first day um back to school um this p past week. Um so that
was very exciting. I will echo some of the sentiments about the exciting events coming up this week. We have um the final summer concert um that was rescheduled till tomorrow night. We do have uh the taste of Verona. Um I want
to particularly note that we do have the pattern changes at the Verona Community Center. There will be sports games happening that same night. So, I just encourage residents to be mindful as you're driving to that event. Um, and just so that everyone is safe and happy
um uh both attending their sports games um as well as the Taste of Verona event. Um and I do want to acknowledge that tomorrow night we also have a rec committee meeting. Um so I am the le li leazison to that advisory board. They
have put in a lot of effort and dedication into evaluating the pool. Um we did obviously just complete the pool season. So I know that they will have feedback on the revenue data and budgeting referenced in the deputy manager's report as well as perhaps some
recommendations that they'll be considering. Other items on the agenda include discussions of the U turf and grass uh pilot programs. Um and certainly there's been a lot of concern about the fields over the years as well.
So the committee will be discussing all of those and several other items. Um we have heard that there may be some robust attendance tomorrow night. So, I do want to thank the administration for working with the committee chair to evaluate that situation and um to be fluid if we
do get a lot of residents attending um just to make sure that we can accommodate them um comfortably um and so that they can still have accessibility and transparency to the meeting. So, I do appreciate you working with the committee chair on that. Um let's just make sure that that we're
safe in doing that. Um so, thank you. That concludes my report. Thank you. This time I'll open for public comment on any agenda item anybody or any item sorry that anybody wishes to discuss. I do not believe we have changed
anybody are public. So the same comments anybody in the gallery wish to any item. Um the signs Hey guys, I am Pines. I'm reser and I'm
a member of the traffic and safety and I really just wanted to say a quick thank you to the council uh to Sullivan and to Boswell for getting this on the agenda tonight. Um, I think it's really important to get a complete streets policy on the books before some of the
redevelopment projects uh in our affordable housing plan um or others that are being considered were to move forward because they'll be an important tool in our toolbox uh for us to be able to work with developers to help shape the transportation element of those
element aspects of those projects and perhaps get some additional benefit out of them for folks who live here. Um, complete streets and traffic calming are not they're certainly interrelated, but they're not the same thing. Um, so
the policy doesn't mean we have to do any crazy striping or lots of speed bumps or because I think that's terrible, too. Um, or really any particular traffic plate measure. It's really about creating rights of way, including sidewalks that are intended to serve people, all the people who use
them, and not just vehicles. So, it's really about incorporating that into all the transportation projects that we work. Um, I think complete streets are good for people because they keep us safe. They improve mobility. They give
us more choices about how we travel. Um, they make our streetscapes accessible to all people regardless of how they travel, whether it's foot, bike, automobile, stroller, wheelchair, whatever it is. Um, complete streets are good for the environment because they
make it easier. to make some of their trips by bike or by or on foot rather than uh by car. And they're good for business. There's a lot of solid research out there in the planning world um demonstrating the link between street
investment and uh increases in both residential commercial property values and other economic metrics. So, it's kind of a winwin win. Um so, I just wanted to say thanks again for getting this on there, for pushing this along. be talking about it some more traffic
safety committee meeting next week. Sure. Greetings everybody. Thank you very much New Jersey. Um so I just wanted to uh support today the u the ordinance for the rec program
piece. It started months and months ago put a lot of effort into it along with the committee and the subcommittee and I think it's a good step in the right direction as far as our fees are concerned. Um it's not the it's not the last um these are just percentage of
fees that need to be maybe increased a little bit in the budget and occur months down the road. But I think, you know, looking at the summer playground and um I think it's a good step in the right direction to um have the right
fees so that activities have the proper support um they have the offer um activities u making sure that the kids are safe. So I think and also these fees also put us into where other towns were
equivalent and we're not so low and I think that's an important thing. Uh one thing I'd like to also u mention I I usually don't I don't mention it but I want to talk about the emergency service building. Uh it's the first time I've actually talked about it. I've listened to it for like the last year and a half.
So I just feel with um there's a lot of different opinions about the cost. We all I I think the residents all feel that it's definitely necessary the building for firefighters and police department, but I think the cost and how
to make it is is is a is a problem. And I don't think I think we're very divided on that from the council from residents. So I think the ultimate solution whether it's this council or maybe a council in January saying you don't know is to
probably ask the voters a referendum on that building. I I think just I think just passed three years of um of a um rental facilities out here for the uh for the police. I think maybe something
like this you ask the voters for such a large body about what they want to do, whether they want to vote yes or no. And good examples would be the kindergarten program, the facilities for the uh for our schools. I mean, kindergarten was great. I 20 2017 2018 I um I moved into
town and do one full day kindergarten. Of course, I voted yes for that because my kid just came out of kindergarten. So, and I have another kid that's going through it. Though, I think when it comes to facilities and big items like this, let the voters aside and I think that would be the best recommendation I
can give tonight. So, I'm excited about the the fees, excited about the pool and all that discussion that we're gonna talk about over the next couple months. But, um, you know, thank you very much for your time. com.
Thank you for the comments and your sort of safety committee. Um, as we got this policy very shortly before meeting um and like any policy that comes before there's a lot
appreciate your work and feedback and your in that area with something fits and specific needs. Um, Mr. Shore, I uh do forward to I'll say my comments on
your comments for discussion on that item uh on the emergency services building. Um I think all the council members I won't speak for everybody but I think there is some general agreement that a building is necessary to building looks like that is the question the
council still deliberation on what that is going to be and that's a process that will continue once we get our uh answers back from the town administration. Um we're having some
additional discussions. I will say that we have discussed the idea concern that remains one of the things we all agreed on necessary referendum the council referendum non
circumstance actually I'm sorry but uh the uh but the council to go against the the public because we have some other legal issues because we're not necessarily
doing so we have to you know those are the one of the things that at this point is determined what this building required to do. They think this is a priority project, right?
And this one 50 years really about that cost that's typically also caution things like that.
having a hard time now. So all things I look forward to questions. Um moving on to um ordinances for
introduction. Madam clerk, the first item on the agenda is ordinance I1 on first reading. Would you please read the title of this ordinance? Amen. Amending chapter A 565 schedule of fees section 5 recreation department and
community center fees. Move the ordinance, please. Second. Second. Motion is made by council. by council Holland. At this time I will
council discussion else going to um the the ordinance as it is presented provides ranges for these and as far as the management of these
things that's good I still think there needs to be some council oversight related I don't mind to allow for necessary program increases to go up. Uh I think I was heard the last time we had
pretty significant increases costs. That's a lesson we learned from you know raising the pool rates uh which was obviously you have demand related to that as likes to find
out they need to interpret that these programs are public services. This is pay taxes recreation department and programs to profit careful just raising raising rates. Um
so I I will support the ordinance in its inception. However, I I believe that part of this is is that by resolution or by some kind of consent process that
the council should be on a daily basis presented with what those rates are going to be and that say that I do pretty representatives of the voters. Um so I
think the plan is good increases are good feedback on this. This is the first time this is really tackled in substantive way. Mr. leadership on that matters and but in the end you know just there
should be a process you know should go back to the when things are raised it should start with administration committee you know there should be a minimous increase within cost of living I'm okay with that you know whatever but
something that look like I do feel some reasonable are so I will approve the ordings for these breaches but with a caveat that my uh
that you shouldn't be charging the upper limit you know they want that's not um that being said I I do want to raise the point um that a lot of families in town are struggling with affordability of everything right now with these costs with inflation job markets getting more
difficult And we do have a lot of families struggling. Not families that necessarily um would be evident that they are struggling. Um so we need to keep that in mind. We set these costs in
summer like our summer programs are used to offset childare costs like that families especially parent households. and something that we need to pricing out of those u forcing make
decisions about they do. Um but I think we also need to look at is there you know way that we can help offset some of these foramilies that might be struggling the children's fun same point um the way that we looking at
requirements a lot of people who are struggling still children's fund they're kind of in this um this right so you know I would ask the administration committee to look at
is there way that we can um especially for revenue projects um find a way to gauge a sliding scale for people um you know you know parents during high school I can say that you
know it was easy and that situation in town as a teacher a lot kids helping them and you know as we increase these things
you so that is my so for that but I appreciate that administration as well I'll just kind of do on that that you know very much in agree when when we have to raise fees fees I always kind of
do begrudgingly. Um I view success in a lot of these programs as being how many people can we possibly serve. Um I do appreciate there was some backup here about some of our increased costs particular on the ski bus for example. Um and I I get it. We do need to cover
those costs. Um but yeah, I just you know I'm willing to move forward with this. A number a number of these are basically for sponsorship fees which is actually you know revenue in some of the programs. Uh but that's just my only encouragement to the administration is
um just as we set the final fees on this um please as data driven as you possibly can to try and um cover the cost of the program um and try and make it possible for as many people who want to participate to be able to do it not to be priced out
people kind of getting shock everything but I need a couple. Thank you. Um I We want to thank the rec committee for the time and effort put into this. Um I know that there was a lot of analysis that went into it. A lot of back and forth with the township
administration to gather the data to support their recommendations. Ultimately the concerns are that driven by the fee increases are driven by concerns that some of the rec programs are really very much in the red. Um and that this ultimately has the unfortunate
effect of decreasing the quality of the services that rec department can't actually provide to our residents. So, I definitely considered and really hear the concerns about the affordability crisis, but at the same time, I think it's important
that the cost of the services provided enable us to provide the quality of service that our residents are expecting. Um so there are certain programs including summer playground program that have been repeatedly communicated to the recck department as being so cheap. Um in fact I believe
some on this day as well have commented very flippantly about how like it's like the best deal around. Um so some of these things can be addressed um by like improving the wreck fees and having that opportunity for a sliding scale address. Addressing ski bus is another
opportunity that is a program where the residents are very interested in the quality of services. We shouldn't be getting ourselves in a situation where we're running in the red. We have an opportunity where we can be charging fees that the residents are comfortable with paying that they've articulated a
willingness to pay um and that they can still receive that quality of services and it doesn't affect other services that or limit other services that some of our residents that struggle with affordability would have access to. Um,
ultimately I think again a lot of work was put into this by the rec committee. Um, and I know that there was a lot of partnership and complimentary work done by the administration to move this forward. So I do very much appreciate that collaboration. Thank you.
Uh, yes, since everyone's talking, I will just add um, I actually want to go further than the mayor's comments um in with the administration. I think it's wonderful that the rec recreation advisory committee did this work.
Honestly, this is the role of the administration of the director of community services and recreation to provide transparent information to the council on the finances of the department. Um I've had some conversations with residents that I
didn't realize that certain equipment programs is not being funded because of budget cuts. It was a cut to a um important recreation program for those um children that are neurodeiverse and it had to be reinstated after we found
money in a grant. So there are clearly some budget problems and like when we see the budget binder at the end of the year everything looks great but what I'm hearing now anecdotally what I'm seeing from this analysis that the rec committee did is actually there were um
some, you know, stresses on this recreation department and they're making choices and cutbacks that we didn't realize were happening, not buying necessary equipment. And with everything going on with tariffs and changes that are happening in the global economy,
this may only escalate. So we do need like really for when every season is over, we should be getting for our big recreation programs, you know, swim team, basketball, ski club, um you know, the soccer programs combined, you know,
what did registration look like? What were the costs? What equipment was purchased? And next year, what is your recommendation on fees? So that gets to the proactive nature that what the mayor was proposing. um so that we have like a debrief after these three seasons or
four seasons um because I I'm not happy that we were caught off guard on how bad the finances were like within this programming right um so I would like you know us to have that level of transparency could go in the monthly
reports uh that are actually so excellent that your staff pulls together um so it's almost like a debrief and then um the surveying that I've been pushing for for years on, you know, what is the quality of the programs that can
be included in that debrief. So, and even maybe the director can come in and give um us kind of like a summary of how the last season of programming went. Um, that would be great. Overall, I think this is a step in the right direction and with rising costs for equipment,
it's likely necessary. So, I'm glad that we're introducing, but I also await resident feedback um before we have a time to vote. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Without being redundant, uh I just want to touch on my thoughts on this is these these fees, these
increases seem very reasonable. Uh I was going to say what the uh Councilman Roman touched on. the major increases is the golf tournament and that is I know for the Eric Morton Mortonson
scholarship fund uh when Eric was the uh rec director uh these other summer playground programs were free so we wish they could be free again but uh they wouldn't be sustainable so uh I'm I'm
for this and I would lastly just I will be redundant and thank uh the rep committee for time they put in this and Mr. Shore for all the effort and conversations we had. All right, Madam Cler, please. Councilwoman Holland,
yes. Councilwoman McGrath, yes. Council Roman, yes. Deputy Mayor Mackoy, yes. Mayor Tambboro, yes. Mayor ordinance I1 be number 2025-15
and a public hearing will be held at a future date. Okay, we are moving on to our consent agenda. I'm pulling trusty mayor one
L14 byuty mayor. Is there a second? Uh, we did. We might as well pass it again. Second. All right. Um, motion has been made and seconded.
Sorry. Who made the motion? I'm sorry. The deputy mayor council. This time I'll call for public comment on any consent agenda items. Do you all have public comment or L I'm sorry L at this time
again public sitting in the room as professionals uh anybody on all right uh any council discussion none we're just doing L8 correct No, we are doing K1.
Okay. Thank you. One seven. Okay. L through. Thank you. Councilwoman Holland. Yes. Councilwoman McGrath. Yes. Councilman Roman. Yes. Deputy Mayor Mackoy. Yes. Mayor Tamborough.
Yes. Mayor uh L1 through L7 and L9 through L13 will be numbered uh 210 through and including 221. I will move eight. Is there a second?
Second by this time actually. This is a pretty significant item. Sure. So L8 is the kind of indicates it's a settlement agreement between the
township of the Fanny called DH2. They're the owners of the property that I describe as directly across the street from Carash with Big Wall. So the settlement agreement has entered into
three years of litigation where they got permission to build a mixed residential commercial development and do a lot of blasting and whatnot. And they sat on those for a period of time which actually did include the township.
It did include the township because they went after the planning board and then after a great discussion um that weren't granted them the ability to build and then it had other monetary damages [Music]
building which is much smaller than they wanted with affordable housing. Just as a general commentation, our planner, our council in this summer who both have been involved uh in this
and um think this the court case that was put through the building that could have been built in the circumstance that the court allowed things or the neighborhood and would
have shaken the foundations schools and so forth. Um and after some negotiation looking at some plans um this is one of those instances where the council's negotiate this developer is
going to result in a much better product that meeting to fit into things on the roof. This was a pretty significant detail complex negotiation, but thank all the
members of the council on this item and throughout this entire process um but for having stamina to engage in thoughtful negotiations and um I'm glad that our
ideas turned into reality here um and that this building turned out to be something that will neighborhood some housing and be much more responsible development So just some some thoughts on that. So I
look forward to just so the public knows I will be refusing. I'll just echo some of the mayor's comments that this has been a long discussed project and parcel. Um, I am very appreciative of all the efforts of everyone uh from the township who has
worked to bring this to a resolution. Um, as well as uh the developers willing to cooperate and compromise with us. Um, it's good to see this uh being decided on and wrapped up. And I agree that the end product for this will be much more compatible with the neighborhood. Um,
reflects the current market for housing. Um, I we worked a lot on this to try and get this right. Uh, just pleased to see this on agenda and thank you everyone who works for you.
Councilwoman Holland, yes. Councilwoman McGrath, yes. Council Roman, yes. Sorry, Mayor Tambero. Yes. Okay. Um, Mayor L8 will be numbered 222 and it passes 40.
Thank you. We do not have any license permits for agenda this evening. We're moving on to non union staff the township M just This ordinance should it move forward
would provide cost of living positions that the received which is 2.75% There are two exceptions to that
director of community services position maximum allowable salaries to 110,000 which will advertise to talented applicants that was accepted and the confidential
secretary to the township manager that position the proposed salary mirrors the certain steps on the scale. Questions? Um, this is more of an observation. So,
it has been our past practice that we only pass that one year at a time. So, you're requesting that the council pass three years of salary increases. Normally with this ordinance, we do one year at a time. Um, so is that your
recommendation that you want us to just years um versus what we've normally done which is we would just pass out if I'm mistaken right I mean I would defer to the council's
preference on that I think getting the three years done is consistent with the 2.75 OPIU contract however if there is a preference from the council to simply adopt one year and then consider the 2026 salaries in 2026 then defer that
time. I think my concern is that um we seem to be in a very dynamic environment financially. Um so I I guess my other question is this is a maximum
not minimums. So there's a minimum and then it's three years a maximum. If we were to find our our our finances are really topsyturvy. I mean, what is the administration, you know, would they the administration consider, you know, holding salaries
flat if we even if we pass a threeyear? I'm just, you know, trying to it's a, you know, if you pick up the headlines, you know, we don't know, you know, where if we're heading toward a recession or not. You know, I just my question is how
do we adjust for a dynamic uh environment financially if we kind of lock in these expectations? Well, as as you did mention, it is a range. So, it does provide a minimum and a maximum. Um
with the um consideration that uh that you're raising, I think each year would have to on a case by case basis. I think it could be difficult for morale of um employees and department heads who do
put in a lot of time and effort to provide them something less than what they're seeing um their subordinates receive. It's it's difficult to pass something along along those lines. Um so my recommend my recommendation typically
be to try to um to try to accommodate a budget that can afford that. But situations dictate otherwise and it would have to be reevalued at that time. And then finally, how if you can explain to the public how does you know a lot of
uh residents are um they are in environments themselves like you know paid for performance. So how do you deal with if someone is on a PIP or you know is a low performer how do you deal with that in this environment with um it's a maximum again. So what does that mean?
How does that work out from your point of view? Right. So uh each of the department heads would undergo annual employee reviews. If u if any of them were receiving less than satisfactory uh remarks on their performance then uh
the potential full raise of 2.75 could be withheld or partially withheld until they demonstrate an improvement on their performance. Although it would be based upon a case like Jason has the last
situation where the other um the other challenge with doing a multi-year is if we have a retirement in any of these positions um it kind of implies that we're going to rehire essentially on the same scale and not really get any breakage if we
experience level of a new employee would a new manager would be. Um several of our department heads are very long tenur. Uh a lot of them have longevity pay that was folded into their salary at some point in time or another. So you know it's the people that we have you
know we know they they you know they're a great team. Um but as we you know if anyone retires then you know it might be an opportunity it might be a time to look at what the market rate for a single full position might be and higher that market rate rather than just kind of assume it's going to be you know the
existing salary plus a cola. So that would be would make me lean towards doing a single year and then again just the tradition we have never done department head salaries over more than a single year. Again, just for our intent to be sort of responsive to the current state of affairs. Uh, you know,
we generally offered an adjustment. Um, sometimes we tweak that adjustment up or down if we do have a a tight year. Uh, so I kind of lean towards a single year just simply because again our financial environment is could be challenging over the next few years. But I I just want to
bring on that. We are in September of 2025. So I I see the point on maybe 2027 at this point working on construing budget for6
and they do these departments at 9:00 at night. Um but it's been nine months and they have seen increase in compensation. Um and they actually by the time this ordinance is adopted and advertised
it will not be until December that they actually see any increase. Um so I would be of the mind of 2026 salaries being that us include these in the budget
where we haven't got that budget yet but we have people without increase when CPI is increasing for the months and even though they get retroactive salary, it still hurts but it's happening. So there should be some some understanding that
most people generally have compensation increases are prior and they get it the next year. It's kind of unusual to not have your compensation until the year that it's applied. But in this
circumstance uh administration contract to settle but this is not the first time that we staff 2027 and then as far as a new position
Um at that time my only my only for the country manager the 27 actually employment agreement so that the confidential secretary to the country
manager this is mirroring traditional agreement include this again but there are my recommendation I give everybody's probably
consensus to uh introduced on six. Six. Thank you. All right. Um, next we have some uh appointments to uh it I'm just for the
sake of making us go quicker I'll just uh read theation. So um for environmental submissions one for term expiring 1231 2026.
Um I move that we a second any discussion in favorain. Thank you. Um anybody opposed?
Okay, which is good. Um and for the green team which is sustainable I would move Cisco and Rebecca. Uh these are expires from the full
number 1231. Um uh all in favor I opposed hearing none. Um at this time is there any other new
or unfinished business? No. Okay. Um at this time for public comment on any last item that anybody wishes to bring for attention
applies for the comments. You have already resolved for executive session. Will any official action be taken? No, I think we'll see everybody on October 6. What is it?