Good evening. I call to order this. Are the mics on? >> Good evening. I call to order this regular meeting of the Arona Township Council for Monday the 4th of May, 2026. Madam Clerk, would you please read the open public meetings act compliance
statement? The notice requirement of the open public meetings act have been satisfied with this with this meeting of the township council. Specifically, the time and date were included in the publication of the annual meeting notice. The public notice and meeting agenda was posted on the municipal
building bulletin board at least 48 hours preceding the start time of this meeting. The agenda and meeting documents can be viewed online at veronj.org/counsil meetings. Please take notice that pursuing to New Jersey public law 2025 chapter 72 the complete text of each
legal notice of the township of Verona including all public entities under the authority of the township may be obtained or viewed by the public on our official state registered web page veronj.org/legal public notices. A public comment period
will be held in the order. It is listed on the meeting agenda and instructions on how to comment will be provided at the appropriate time. >> Thank you, madam clerk. Could you call the role, please? >> Councilwoman Holland, >> here. Councilwoman McGrath >> here. >> Councilman Roman >> here. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy >> present.
>> Mayor Tambbor here. >> Mayor also present tonight is township attorney Brian Laoya, Township Manager Kevin O. Sullivan, Deputy Township Manager Michael Krauss, myself, municipal clerk Jennifer Kieran. >> Thank you. Would everybody please stand for the pledge of allegiance?
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Good evening everybody and we're going
to start off with the mayor's report today. I did not see Mr. Culture. just get into a few of our things this evening. >> Uh first of all, I had the the opportunity to attend the Arbor Day celebration um not this past weekend,
but one before. So, I'd like to thank the uh friends of the Ron Public Library who were present, the um environmental I'm sorry, the uh Sha Commission and the Sustainable Verona for being present and
as well as the uh the town garden uh for providing a really nice event that day. I was unable to attend the Eagle Scout ceremony for five uh Verona youth, but Deputy Mayor Mackoy went in my place and I congratulate all
of them. We'll be bringing them to a council meeting to honor them at another time. I'd like to recognize that the Verona Fire Department and the Verona Rescue Squad went mutual aid into Belleville last night for the major 12
alarm fire incident that happened there. Uh I was on scene in a county OEM capacity and I know exactly uh the impact that Verona had, including helping to fight a houseire and transporting an injured firefighter.
So, thank you to all of our volunteers for doing that at a at a difficult incident u with a lot of obstacles. We have teacher appreciation week. So, I'd like to thank and appreciate all of my colleagues in Verona and all teachers who reside in town as well and thank them for all of their work on behalf of
our students. Um, and I encourage everybody else to when you see a teacher, thank teacher. It is my honor to name our two grand marshals for the Corona Memorial Day parade this year. They will be Sergeant David Hildebrandt and Colonel Joseph
Simonelli. And I have just have some brief information on them. Uh, Mr. Hilda Brandt was drafted into the US Army, the Air Defense Division, and served two years in Alaska during the Vietnam era. He performed his duties as an E5 sergeant at the administrative level and trusted with the protection of
classified documents, including sensitive communications and radar installations. After completing his service, Mr. Hildebrandt gained employment at a steel company in Alaska, who brought him to work in New Jersey. He went on to open his own steel company in the Caldwell area. He has been a
great volunteer in Verona and to this day serves as the crossing guard on Ghoul Street for HBW students who love to see him every day. And if you see him around Memorial Day or Veterans Day time, you will see him who can impressively still fit into his uniform
uh from many years ago. We also recognize Colonel Joseph Simelli Jr. who started his military career in 1987 after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point and finished his Army career as chief of staff of the Arlington National
Cemetery. Held a variety of leadership positions from small units to the top levels of the Department of Defense. Um we'll read his entire bio later. He is a Gulf War and Iraq War veteran participating in Operation Southern Watch, Northern Watch, and Iraqi
Freedom. In addition, uh, Colonel Simonelli has mentored applicants looking to attend West Point and he is currently the chair of the newly formed Gavin Martin Foundation, giving back to Verona to this day. So, congratulations to Sergeant Hildebrand and Colonel
Simonelli. We look forward to honoring them on Memorial Day. Uh, I would be remiss if I also did not share my condolences to a the family of um Gary Resnik. Mr. Resnik was a frequent
attendee at all of our veterans and Memorial Day events. Uh just a kind and wonderful man, a real class act, and I will miss seeing him. So, um my condolences to the Resnik family uh for the loss of Gary. Finally, um before going on to
statement, it is municipal clerk's week as well and we are blessed with a very strong municipal clerk and I would like to read a proclamation in our clerk's honor. It reads, "Whereas the office of the professional municipal clerk, a
timehonored and vital part of the local government, exists throughout the world. And whereas the office of the professional municipal clerk is the oldest among public servants. And whereas the office of the professional municipal clerk provides the professional link between the citizens, local governing bodies and agencies of
government other levels. And whereas professional municipal clerks have pledged to be ever mindful of their neutrality and impartiality, rendering equal service to all. And whereas the professional municipal clerk serves as the information center on functions of local government and community. And
whereas professional municipal clerks continually strive to improve the administration of the affairs of the office of professional municipal clerk through participation education programs, seminars, workshops, and the annual meetings of their state, provincial, county, and international professional organizations. And whereas
is most appropriate that we recognize the accomplishments of the office of professional municipal clerk. Now therefore, I, Dr. Christopher Tambboro, mayor of the town of Perona, to hereby recognize the week of May 3rd through May 9th, 2026 as professional municipal clerks week and further extend
appreciation to our municipal clerk Jennifer Kieran and to all municipal clerks for their vital services they perform and their exemplary dedication to the communities they represent. And witness whereof, I here on to set my hand and cause the official seal of the township of Rona and the county of Essex State of New Jersey to be affixed on
this fourth day of May, 2026. Congratulations, Jen. Thank you. >> Shall we get a photograph with our municipal clerk? >> Oh, I think we need one. >> So, he's taking the picture. So, now we get our and we have two proclamations
for you because for you and your >> I got it from the good. Um, >> right in the middle. >> Mike, you got it.
>> Right here. >> You can hold one of these. >> Adam takes a picture for the class. said it to Alisa. >> Oh, it's going to be a whole thing. >> Yeah. >> All right. Now, to finish out my report, um I'm going to ask everybody to bear with me
because the rest of my report will take about five times longer than the first part of it. Um I'm going to read from a statement in order to provide some information um on related to pilot funding and school finance and township
finance to hopefully answer some common questions that people have brought to the council um and explain how the finances work. So hopefully everybody can bear with me um as we get into this.
I'd like to extend my appreciation to the residents who reached out to the council and me individually with questions related to the finances of the pron of education and the township. Over the past week and a half, I've had extensive and productive conversations with many residents, including a small group meeting with concerned elementary
parents for which I was joined by Deputy Mayor Mackoy. Thank you, Jack. It is vital for residents to go directly to your elected officials rather than rely on misleading or incomplete information from other sources. This has been a difficult period for families, students, and staff in the run of
schools. Some residents relying on incomplete or incorrect information has only made it more challenging. As an educator and resident, I am concerned with the impact of proposed programmatic cuts in the school district budget. They directly affect my students
and colleagues. While I will not use my elected office to share my specific thoughts on the decisions made in the preparation of the school budgets, I've offered my feedback as an educator and resident to the school administration. As a separate government entity from the board of education, the township council
does not set school budget priorities or have the power to restore programs or positions. In light of the budget difficulties, questions have arisen about the nature of school district and township finances. I would like to clarify that pilot agreements are not the reason why
the board was forced to make cuts this year. The gap between revenue expenses was largely created by unprecedented increase in health benefits costs, an outdated tax levy cap system enacted by the state in the wake of the Great Recession, the state's failure to design
and implement an equitable school aid plan, and dramatic inflation since 2020 that's affected not only individuals but also the public and private sectors. This caused the school district to share with the public cuts needed in order to fund the board and administration's
priorities for the 2026 to 2027 school year. The township of Verona and the Verona Board of Education have enjoyed a collegial collaborative relationship that has only improved over the last several years through deliberate efforts. During the township's budget development period, school district
representatives did not make a specific extraordinary request for funding this year or detail to us specific programmatic changes that they would be making. I learned of the extent of the specific cuts at the same time as the public did last week.
There are similarly not been sorry that should be two weeks ago. There has similarly not been a formal request after the budget failed at the last board meeting. These were not errors on the district's part. I believe that the school administration and the
majority of the board understand how the district is benefiting from the township's prior land purchases to prevent overdevelopment for which the debt service on the bonds are repaid with pilot funds and further recognize the services that the township provides at a significant expense. The school administration did not site
pilot allocations as the region for its budget decisions. The township and school district have collaborated over many years to provide budget relief for the schools. This has included the ongoing development of a memorandum of agreement between the bodies on shared
services. The majority of the services in this agreement are provided by the township to the school district, including all lawn and field maintenance and snow removal. This saves the district hundreds of thousands of dollars in personnel or contractors, disposable equipment costs, and
amortized capital investment annually. In addition, the township provides dumpsters, trash collection, trucking, and tipping of garbage to the board of education at no cost, which reduces their budget liabilities by another six-f figureure amount. There are further items provided,
including use of fields, school security software, public safety coverage, a board of ed events, and more. A conservative estimate of the value of these services is between 425,000 and 734,000 annually as determined by our administration. Additional township to
provided services like tax collection, assessment, re evaluation, and crossing guards represent an annual value to the uh board of ed of approximately $429,000. That is their portion of the total expenses.
The township is already providing budget relief to the board. The township gets to use school gyms for basketball and the HBW track and return. During the last BOE meeting, Superintendent Diane Geppe correctly characterize this agreement as one that benefits the district more than the township.
Even if the council has historically provided budget funds to the school district, cuts would still have been necessary in this year's budget due to rising costs. The total amount of pilot funds from the township anticipates its income this year is much less than the district's total budget shortfall and
the board possessing a proportion of the funds would not restore all cut positions. It's impossible to speculate on what the district would prioritize when making their budget decisions in these circumstances. Specials, gift and talented music, and anything else would
still be subject to reduction. difficult decisions would still need to be made. Despite no prior payments, pilot payments to the schools, the funds have been working for the district. Each agreement was effectively tied to financing of a major project. Prior to my service on the township council, the
governing body acquired 27 acres of land between Brookside Terrace and Commerce Court on Mount Prospect Avenue from a developer for $12 million. This prevented the construction of 360 residential units which would have resulted in a significant increase in
the student population to the school district. The debt for these purchases is currently being financed through the open space trust fund which requires other land purchases, recreation improvements, and field resurfacing that might have been paid through that same fund to be financed with bonds through
general capital, which is paid off in part with income from pilot agreements. On behalf of the township, the prior council purchased the property on which the Verona Flats buildings were constructed for about $6 million. The development of the all affordable housing building was able to meet in
part the township's third round affordable housing mandate and dramatically reduce the number of new residential units being built in town by hundreds as the affordable housing set aside for rental units at that point was only 15%. Several hundred units would have had to
be constructed throughout our town if not for this action. While Verona Flats has increased student census in the schools, not constructing it would have resulted in a much higher impact for the schools, potentially requiring not only more staff but also the costly expansion of facilities.
Unfortunately, state imposed affordable housing obligations and the threat of builders remedy lawsuits that could result in property owners being able to override zoning laws and build horrific developments have forced a township to take action to prevent overdevelopment. Had these purchases not been made, the
staff and infrastructure required to meet student need would have resulted in catastrophic budget issues for the school district. Prona Flats was the only pilot development that resulted in consequential increases in student population. However, this property did
not result in new significant building or personnel needs. Most properties from which the township currently receives pilot payments, including the Hilltop White Rock Road Apartments, Verona Place Apartments, Hillwood Senior Housing, and the Anen Flag development have resulted
in very limited student census increases due to their housing offerings. The pilot funds were earmarked to pay off a portion of the debt service liability on Verona Flats as well as the field projects on White Rock Road that were conceived over a decade ago at a
cost of between 10 and $20 million between acquisition and construction. Essentially, the pilot money is working for the school district despite the funds not being under control of that entity. The township is still awaiting
pilot payments on one sunset avenue as construction has not started. While I was not a member of the township council when they approved the Verona Flats and One Sunset pilots, I believe that given the totality of the circumstances that it was the right approach to use these pilots from these
projects to reduce overdevelopment and school census in the township. The governing body at the time, which included Deputy Mayor Makavoy, Council Councilman Roman, and Councilwoman McGrath, made the difficult but best decisions for Veron. I admit that as a teacher and union leader when this was
happening, I originally felt differently before fully understanding the positive impact of these agreements on the schools. Verona continues to successfully employ pilots as an incentive to prevent overdevelopment by reducing unit counts in proposed projects, reducing number of bedrooms in
units and imposing design standards. The first pilot agreement on which I had the opportunity to vote was for 885 Bloomfield Avenue, commonly referred to as the Valente tract. The pilot for this site was part of an agreement mediated by the courts and the affordable housing special adjudicator between the
developer and township representatives including our manager, special affordable housing council and township planner. The property owner's intention was to build 60 rental units at the site. The agreement was then reached that lowered this to 28 for sale townhouse units, all of which with the
exception of the affordable housing component are limited to two bedrooms. Our experts advised us without this agreement, the developer would have had the right under zoning ordinances to build a significantly greater amount. Without the pilot, the agreement would have been for more units as the
developer would have argued that its margins on home sales will be lower, which is considered by the entities mediating the affordable housing plans. The reduction in unit and bedroom counts helps to reduce the impact on school population. Based on trends from comparable developments like Huntington
Park off of Derell Street, which is made up of two-bedroom town houses, the impact will most likely be minimal. This agreement does not affect the school budget for the 2026 to 2027 school year as neither a pilot
nor new improvement taxes would be collected until construction is completed in several years. The owner will continue to pay tax on land assessment and will pay improvement tax for as long as the billboards remain operational on this site. Pilot or not, the district will get the same amount of
money from this site in the next budget year in question. It is important to note that regardless of pilots, the board is still entitled to its full share of the land tax annually, which is distinct from the improvement assessment that is replaced with pilots.
Further, the board receives 100% of its tax levy every year. The township holds all of the liability for uncollected taxes. Regardless of the existence of pilot agreements, the board is able to revise its levy by the state cap. Raise
its levy by the state cap. Meaning, even if a property that previously paid taxes on improvements switches to a pilot, the district does not lose any of its ability to levy taxes or maintain its budget. The actual tax base does not affect the dollar amount of their levy
as the cap regulates uh increases from the prior uh prior levy level. It can still raise 2% plus more than the previous year's levy. The burden on the new levy would be split among all taxpayers. This means that if the levy were $100 and the tax gap is 2%, the
board could raise its levy to $102 the next year. The school budget does not decrease when there is a pilot. Several of Rona's pilot projects had little or no improvement tax prior to construction. This included the Hilltop development, an untaxed county property,
one Sunset, owned by a nonprofit school entity, and in Flag, whose factory was largely vacant and subject to lower occupancy taxes, and Rona Place, which were vacant parking lots. Residents have cited the 1 million plus payment the town of Cedar Grove provides to its
board from pilot revenues from the development on the former Overbrook site at the Vernon Township line as an exemplar for us. The fundamental difference with the nearly 600 unit Cedar Grove development is that is approximately half or more three and fourbedroom units with significant
impact on schools. Verona has worked deliberately to prevent such developments. While the sharing of the funds can be reassessed annually, providing the school district an allocation to address its budget gap would result in increases municipal taxes to maintain services and
pay debt service or major cuts that would include public works and public safety. Funds from past pilot agreements are counted as revenue in our budget. There is no separate account. Pilots are not kept in a slush fund. The money cannot
be spent twice. If revenue leaves the township budget, the reality is that services must be cut or taxes must be raised. Transferring funds to the board could result in interruption of the services that we already provide to them to lower their operating costs.
Any municipal tax increase would be on top of the 6% additional levy that the Verona Board of Education is proposing at the same time as its programmatic cuts. A significant increase would have to happen even if the township were able to provide direct funding to the
district. Many of our community members aren't able to afford such increases. Part of Verona will hurt regardless of what entity has direct control over the funds. The county mandated tax revaluation has further increased this burden for many homeowners.
The school district is not alone in budget concerns. During the township budget development season, our manager and CFO informed the department heads that there would be cuts or no increases, which considering inflation means that less can be done. There was pain even before the proposed budget was
presented to the council to be considered in our highly transparent review sessions that bring department heads directly before the governing body in open meetings to answer questions while full budget is available online for public view. A resident asked a great question on whether the township
is the rich uncle that could save school programs. This really is not the case. The township lowered an originally proposed 5.88% tax increase closer to 3% this year and then further by moving health insurance costs to the water and sewer utility to cover workers in that
department. However, this can only be done once. In addition, the state reviewed the budget and reversed projected increases in budget lines, including for garbage collection. If we see higher than anticipated costs in these lines, spending freezes and cuts to other services will need to be made
made mid year to account for this. Like every other year of my tenure on the council, the governing body unanimously passed the township budget after a series of sessions in our public hearing. This budget included the use of pilot funds as revenue, payment of debt
service on anti-development programs, and financial support to the schools in the form of services. The budget has been certified by the county, and the tax rate has been set. The township has reached its appropriations cap, and this no additional funds can be allocated
even if we wanted to raise taxes to do so. Attempting to change the budget is not an option available to the township. The township council and board of education held a joint meeting last year on March 25th, 2025 during which most of
the time was spent discussing school finance, including pilot agreements. I would encourage you to view the recording of that meeting in its entirety. During this session, the board requested that the township consult them on future allocations of pilot funding, and there is an informal agreement to do
so. In furtherance of this, I started the discussions during last Monday's council meeting to uh last two Mondays ago council meeting in order to consider an allocation of some of the pilot funds from the 885 Bloomfield Avenue to the district as these are not tied to a
specific project like those in previous years. Despite an incorrect assertion that I did so in the wake of public outcry over pilots, it was actually in furtherance of the discussions in the joint meeting. I brought this up in good faith at a council meeting prior to the nature of the district's cuts being
announced. In fact, I first learned of specific layoffs the next day from my colleagues affected and then received the same press release from the board as did the remainder of the community days later. Since we would not receive payments for several years until site plan review and
construction is completed, we have time to thoroughly engage as a council and with the board. This pilot agreement is the first to be proposed during my five years on the council and through starting this conversation, I've worked to fulfill the informal agreement with the board.
Pilot funds as part of the township revenue structure are already both directly and indirectly helping the board. The board and township have always worked together in service of Verona residents. I'm confident that this will continue.
I'm a teacher in the Verona schools and would love nothing more than the district having no need for cuts. Unfortunately, reductions are a reality that districts and municipalities across New Jersey are facing. The board and the township finance
situations are not optimal. However, the alternative to pilots and the allocations of their revenue are much worse than the status quo. While the schools may enjoy more revenue from traditional taxation, it would be highly unlikely that they would ever be able to make enough from this to offset the
population effects of extensive multifamily construction that would require major increases in operating capital expenditures. The character of our township would additionally change dramatically from overdevelopment. That is not a verona in which I would want to live.
All this being said, I remain committed to continuing our dialogue with the board. Anything that the bodies can do to expand our shared services is on the table. However, there may realistically not be much left to consider. Both entities already participate in
money-saving intergovernmental insurance funds and health trusts. We both use cooperative purchasing agreements and state contracts to reduce expenditures. I'm open to creative solutions in the best interest of our community. Since learning of the district's budget news, I brainstormed with our attorney and
township of manager ways to expand shared services with the district and outofthe- box funding options to see if they're feasible. And that work is not over. During the town of manager's report, Mr. Sullivan will be addressing current pilot revenues and debt service
obligations. The council will begin discussing a new business, how to allocate future pilot funds from 885 Bloomfield Avenue. Prior to this meeting, we listened to legal advice from Joe Bowman, our attorney who specializes in these matters.
We will then be able to meet with representatives of the board of education to discuss. I look forward to this conversation and plan to discuss offering a proportion of the anticipated revenue from new agreements to the district. But this does not come without
a cost. The township continues to face expensive infrastructure challenges that the current council has been forced to address. Allocating more funds to schools means that the tax impact of necessary projects will be higher. This must also be considered in our discussions.
Residents have inquired about passing an ordinance that establishes a permanent pilot sharing formula. This is not permitted under state law. Any pilot contributions to the schools are offered on an annual basis as this council cannot make commitments for future
councils. Nor should the board rely on these funds as a future governing body could choose to vacate any commitments we might make this year. If you have any questions about public finances, please feel free to reach out. I'm happy to schedule time to discuss in person on
the phone. Email me. I will give you my personal cell phone number. is the worst kept secret in Verona anyway. Right. But please reach out. And that concludes my report. Mr. Sultan. >> Thank you, Mayor. I will quickly go
through uh my my regular meeting report on a number of the capital projects that we do have ongoing and then I'll also read a statement regarding the uh pilots and the shared services with the school. Um to provide an update to the council on the pool season. uh we are continuing
to hit the financial targets on family memberships, total memberships, non-resident memberships and sponsorships. However, there is still uncertainty on the total memberships which which can be expected for the rest of the season. Um as such, uh the count
the administration is recommending an amendment to the non-resident membership total from 100 to 125 to allow the 11 weight listed non-resident referrals to join and allow for 14 additional referrals. That's on the agenda later this evening. On a couple of our
wastewater projects, uh we are anticipating the Derwent Avenue sewer trunk line repairs to be awarded at one of the future meetings subject to the capital budget. Uh the final u final punch list is underway for the primary
clarifier pump station projects and then our UV disinfection system and microscreen projects are ongoing uh and they are going through uh plan review and permit review by the state at this point. Our Fairview Avenue well uh
rehabilitation project is uh slightly delayed. Uh the there were materials that were delayed for delivery. uh they are expecting to start the first week of June. Uh they are still expecting to complete be complete by December 2026
and to place that well back online. Um regarding Lynden Avenue construction, uh tree removals and road trench repairs are complete. Concrete work is expected to be complete this week.
Uh there have been several responses from residents on that uh on Lynden Avenue who have requested tree plantings that will be coordinated in the coming weeks and then road paving will be scheduled for the first week of July uh after school is out. Uh similarly Dodd
Terrace afterway and Summit Road construction expected to begin June 1st. That will also be a summer paving project. Fairview Avenue and Personnet Avenue signal. It's a county project, but the contractor is expecting to start in the
next several weeks. Uh, and um we will provide an update once we have additional information from the county on that project. Uh, regarding Ever Field, um, since the last meeting, the clay and fields been constructed, additional trees have been planted, playground construction continues, top
soil and final grading was completed, and the big one was that sod was delivered and installed over this past weekend. uh construction will continue but we are uh approaching the final weeks of construction on that project and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be
coordinated at such time um regarding our uh Bloomfield Avenue streetscape project that is um we're anticipating a presentation from the design engineer at the next council
meeting on May 18th uh that will incorporate comments ments from uh the different stakeholder groups, committees, uh the council members and uh comments received from the general public. Uh this will be a final concept presentation before they go into final
design. Uh and then regarding our facilities upgrades, uh the roof needs are is the roof project is complete. We'll be closing that project out at the next meeting. Uh the windows and repointing punch list should be uh complete as of
today. We'll close that out at an upcoming meeting and then we've completed our facilities audit with solutions architecture. They'll be coming in to present to the council at an upcoming meeting this summer. Uh and then also what everyone probably noticed was the front steps for town hall are
ongoing currently. Um last two items I'll I'll touch on from my report are the community service projects. Our age friendly audit and action plan uh is ongoing. The age friendly leadership team met on April
27th to discuss the needs assessment and action report. Uh that is anticipated for final completion and presentation to the council in May or in early June. Uh and then also moving forward is the inclusive healthy communities uh grant
uh efforts. A community survey survey is being uh ready with anticipation of being presented to the public later this month and then results will follow the same process. It'll lead to small group discussions and an action plan by the end of the summer which will then also
be presented to the council. Um may I'll pause if there's any questions from the council on that. Otherwise, I have a >> any questions for any of Mr. O' Sullivan's updates? Councilwoman Holland >> on in your report? I'm looking at the
page. Um there's discussion about the asset management plan update and that the draft is currently under review. I don't recall receiving the draft. Was it provided to the council or is it reviewed by your office? >> It was reviewed by my office. There were there was one final uh adjustment that
needed to be made. Um I provided comments to Boswell over the weekend. So when we do receive that updated version of the asset management plan, it'll be circulated to the council. >> Okay, that's great. I I look forward to reading that. Thank you. >> Any other questions, comments for Mr.
Sullivan? >> Mr. Sullivan. >> And then uh mayor, I will also um read a written statement regarding uh the pilot agreements and the shared services with the board of education. I I know you've touched on a lot of this, so a lot of
this will uh reiterate and echo things that you've already spoke uh spoke to, but uh to um to that same point, uh township council is aware that the township of Verona and the board of education benefit from a strong relationship that is unique to Verona.
The relationship is best exemplified through an extensive shared service agreement that provides value to both parties. The relationship between both organizations has existed for several years and has grown through the years. Some elements within the shared service are tangible while other elements of the shared service are less so. Nonetheless,
administration supports the current framework of the shared service and the ongoing informal arrangement by which the shared service is grown in both organic and deliberate manners. Questions have recently been raised regarding the township's prior pilot agreements. Given their prominence in
recent discussions, it's important to clarify how these agreements function and their impact. And again, I know you've spoken to some of this, but this is uh again uh worth noting that first and foremost, pilot agreements have no impact on the school's budget. School's
budget and their tax levy is subject to an overall 2% cap compared to the prior year's levy, plus exceptions for added costs such as health benefit increases. Pilots do not impact this formula. The township is responsible for collecting
and remitting 100% of the school tax levy each year regardless of whether pilot agreements are in place or not. The pilots do not change the size of the school's budget but simply change the distribution formula. It is also important to note that the
land value for pilot projects is not exempt from from taxes. Therefore, the land value is still part of the aforementioned distribution formula. As such, pilot projects will typically pay a portion of their taxes, which are then distributed normally between county,
township, and school. The exception to this would be the two fully exempt projects in the township, which are the Hillwood and Vernal Flats projects. It should be noted that the Hilltop property was previously entirely untacked as property owned by the county
of Essex. Under the previously approved financial agreement, the property value is now taxed while only the improvements are exempt. Annual payments collected by the township from pilots pilot projects often coincide with other previous financial decisions or part of other
considerations. For example, the the Hilltop pilot agreement was implemented at a time the township undertook the development of the Hilltop recreation fields. More recently, the pilot for 885 Bloomfield Avenue was part of a
negotiation by which a fourth round affordable housing intervenor was negotiated downward from a much denser development on the same site with a settlement supported by the courts of New Jersey. The reality is that all existing pilot payments have been
assumed within the township's annual budgets as one source of its anticipated revenues. All revenues, pilot or otherwise, are part of the municipal budget building process to cover the entirety of the township's expenses, operating budget and debt service
included. The pilot revenues are integral to the municipal services provided to all, schools included. The diversion of existing anticipated pilot payments from the municipal budget is not recommended as it will create a hardship on the township which can only
be reconciled through cuts to staffing and services. Such cuts which will be discussed uh shortly will directly impact the township's ability to fulfill the shared service agreement with the schools resulting in a whiplash hardship
back to the school. This is this is a result which must be avoided as it becomes a poor use of fiscal resources and is in poor planning for the collective best interests of both organizations. The shared services agreement between the township and the board of education
is a source of pride and a model model of effective collaboration. It provides substantial value and has expanded over time. Certain services are clearly defined within the agreement, including maintenance of school fields and grounds, snow removal, parking lot
maintenance, use of township fields such as Veterans Field, Centennial Field, and Freedom Field, and the collection and disposal of trash, bulk waste, and recycling. In addition, the township provides support in more informal ways such as supplying traffic control
equipment for school events or temporary sharing vehicles and equipment when needed. The township also absorbs several costs that are directly or that directly benefit the schools but are not explicitly included in the shared service agreement. These include the
operations of the tax assessor and tax collector offices, periodic property reevaluations, crossing guards, and the reserves for uncollected taxes. The value of these services can be estimated in several ways. based on salary, equipment, and operational costs, or by
comparison to contracted services. The defined shared services are conservatively valued between approximately $425,000 and $734,000 annually. Additional township provided services non-explicitly listed in the agreement
represent an estimated value of an additional approximately $429,000 to the board of education. Another way to ass to assess value is to consider the cost for the board of education to independently provide these services.
Establishing a standalone building and grounds department with supervisory staff and operational staff, which would likely cost approximately $1.6 million annually in salaries and benefits, along with a significant capital initial
investment for equipment and vehicles, which could range from $400 to $500,000. Given these considerations, the township is already well positioned to efficiently deliver these services and the current shared service model
represents the most effective and economical use of taxpayer resources for both the general public and the school community. There's been a recent inquiry into the township's ability to share pilot revenues with the schools. These funds
would be a form of bonus funding to the school above and beyond the values already received through the shared service agreement and the full tax levy already collected on the board's behalf. This suggested financial agreement is not feasible.
The township's 2026 budget has already been adopted and approved by the state. The 2026 budget was has maximized the township's 2% appropriations cap limit. Any additional expenses would effectively push our budget beyond the
2% appropriations cap limit and result in a rejection of the budget by the state. Alternatively, the township would need to find $1.5 million in cuts in the 2026 budget to avoid the budget cap issue. Had this approach been
effectuated in January, the township would need staff reductions of approximately 15 individuals, assuming an average salary and benefit package of approximately $100,000 to accomplish the $1.5 million in savings. The staff reductions would need
to be doubled to accomplish the same amount of savings given the remaining 2026 calendar. In this hypothetical scenario, the township would need to effectuate approximately 30 staffing reductions. Such reductions would severely harm
municipal services to the town that that the township provides to all members of the community, including public safety services, infrastructure maintenance, and essential operations, and would effectively eliminate the township's ability to sustain the shared services
arrangement. The sharing of pilot funds from existing developments would be detrimental to the services provided by the township and would effectively create health, welfare, and safety concerns due to to any such unrealistic cuts.
For these reasons, reallocating pilot revenues from existing agreements would be detrimental to the township's financial stability and its ability to provide essential services, raising significant concerns related to public health, safety, and welfare. That said, the township may consider
cost sharing approaches for future pilot agreements where revenues have not yet been incorporated into the budget. However, it is important to note that the recently approved pilot for 885 Bloomfield Avenue will not generate revenue until the project is completed and certificates of occupancy are
issued. As the project has not yet received planning board approval or necessary permits, any associated revenues or any potential sharing of that revenue remains speculative and likely several years away. And that concludes my my report and
statement. >> Thank you, Mr. Oullivan. Any questions about Mr. Sullivan's statements? >> Councilwoman McGrath. >> Uh, thank you. I just want a clarification. So, um, the Spectrum development or one Sunset Avenue, can
you give the public an update? I mean, that project has not moved forward in several several years. Um, but when it is complete, it will have a pilot payment. Can you just give an update on where that project is and when it may be completed to the best of your knowledge?
Uh to my knowledge, the the development of that project um is prefaced on the school vacating from the building, which will not occur until the completion of this school year. So, the demolition of that building would not occur until this
summer at the earliest. Um as a result, then construction of any new development on that site uh would not likely begin until later this fall. and is at least 12 months probably worth of
construction. So, you're probably not seeing uh construction completion until sometime towards the end of next year or even the following year. So, by the time they are being issued certificates of occupancy, that will likely fall in the
2027 or 2028 calendar year. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Anybody else? Okay, on to the deputy manager to report, Mr. Krauss. Um, for town hall, we still have the vendor
cleaning the police department. In a meeting with the PBA today, they discussed some additional items they would like the vendor to address. We'll be reaching out to them um to do a walkthrough of the building in the coming weeks. The Verona Community
Center DPWs advised the bike lane and EV charging um is expected to be stried in two weeks or within two weeks. Uh there was a delay on the mold remediation as the vendor was unable to obtain a NJBRC
that which is necessary for purchasing. they emailed today that will be that they should have it within two days. Um we will be posting for a position at the wastewater treatment plant for a
sewage plant operator. Um we hope to have that up um within two weeks. Um today administration met with um both unions uh Fairview Insurance, our
insurance broker and Harmony RX uh who is a PBM on potentially switching um prescription benefit managers effective July 1st. Um the reason for this change
is increased data that the township would receive as we don't currently receive any data from Benard on a utilization ratios or top um drugs that
are used by our population which limits our ability to um put wellness programs into place and reduce the plan spend. Um we have uh supervisor harassment training is
scheduled for this Friday. Um regular staff will follow uh the learning management system. We are still going back and forth with the NGIF on um getting it set up especially as we get closer to the pool and summer
playground seat um kicking off at the pool. Um we are going to be holding we have partnered with a vendor Rescue Ready. They will be putting on a few classes at the pool open to both um the general public and
pool staff. Um the new pool management is also exploring scuba classes at the pool. Um unfortunately we were not awarded grant funding to um replace some vehicles for senior
transportation. We have submitted a reimbursement request for the recent um EV purchase uh for the medical transport vehicle. We're eligible to receive $4,000 for that. and $5,000 for the new charger that was
installed, which is um behind the building a few spots away from the gym doors. Um the shade tree commission submitted the CF the community forestry management plan directly to the state. They're going to review that on May 6th.
Then on to pool numbers. Um, Director Prrisco sent an update earlier today. Since May 2nd, we have picked up an additional 12 family members or family
memberships. Um, we are up to 1,162 total memberships and the community services department and administration have successfully hit the $50,000 fundraising goal set by the
recreation advisory committee. Um, as of Friday, the amount received was $50,025. There was also a sponsorship from uh a jeweler to
sponsor the nerds concert. Um and the tickets that went on sale today, approximately 700 were sold. >> Thank you, Mr. Krauss. But Bernie's excited for the nerds coming to the pool.
>> Any questions for Mr. Krauss? >> Deputy Mayor. >> Uh Mr. Mr. Cross, you said we're looking to change our prescription vendor. I know a couple months ago we got the memo that our prescription rates were going up 26%. >> Does that lower rates at all?
>> The Benard renewal was uh 30%. The renewal or the proposal from Harmony RX was 26%. It might have been 26.1 26.2. They are coming into it slightly blind as they did not get any data from Benard
prior. They were just going off of the renewal provided by Bart. >> Any other questions for Mr. Krauss? All right. Hearing none, we'll move into council member reports. Deputy mayor Mako, you're up. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, continuing
with the end of the deputy manager's report. Uh, I would like to thank the pool staff, uh, buildings and grounds, and the pool, uh, parks and wreck committee for all the work they put into the finances and, uh, trying to push
this season along and get it into the, uh, the positive number and they're doing a heck of a job and we're looking really good. So, I thank them for for their work on that. It's been a lot of work, a lot of time, and a lot of analysis. Uh, as the mayor mentioned, I sat in for
the, uh, Eagle Scouts uh, medal giveaway, uh, the Eagle Scout Court of Honor last week. Uh, I'd like to congratulate the five Eagle Scouts uh, for their achievement. It's it's a great achievement. I'll leave their names uh, to the proclamations when the mayor does
it in a couple weeks. Uh, I was happy to step in, but the mayor took a took a personal day, I guess. Uh, I thank you for that. And I did some research and found out uh, We want to congratulate you for receiving the New Jersey Daughters of the American Revolution, this year's outstanding teacher of
American History. So, congratulations, Dr. Mayor Damboro. Uh, >> and going through moving forward, I wanted to I actually sat and read emails, and I'd like to thank all the residents for
their emails about uh the school budget and the cuts. Uh, I made a list of about seven, eight, nine things and I've checked everyone off. Uh, mayor, your your statement was very thorough. Uh, I I want to add uh
just a tiny bit of history on it. Uh, I came to the council in 2017 and the meeting prior to me getting sworn in as a council elect, I was actually called into a closed session just to discuss the affordable housing
uh predicament or uh concept that we were be being drawn into because the decision uh the court decision was made a couple months prior. uh in the coming years. I believe it was 2018, we had uh four
interveners and it was touching five properties. We actually had a six property which we just did two weeks ago, 885. uh they weren't actually an intervenor at the time I don't believe but of those all those properties
collectively when we started the process there was a total of 870 units they wanted to put in Verona uh because of our negotiations our land purchases uh we got that number down to 295
uh and 200 of those those units were on are haven't been built but will be as we just talked about one sunset. So, there were a lot of decisions made uh a lot of lot of time spent uh a lot of money spent uh $18 million just in land
purchases. Uh did doesn't include our all of our professionals, which had to be over a million dollars, I would say. Uh, I don't have that exact number, but if anybody wants to reach out and discuss all those properties, I can name every one and give you the numbers on
them. I'd be more than happy to do that, but we've heard a good bit already on it. Uh, I will say the only other one that came back was 8.85 uh that started out at that time at 60 units and we are now approving them for 28 units. So
overall, it was 323 units when other towns were putting in a heck of a lot more. Uh I want to just touch on one last thing. Uh Councilwoman McGrath just brought up the uh Spectrum pilot. Uh during discussions at the time when we
were uh negotiating the finances of it, we actually knew know exactly what that number was at the time. I was believe it was 2019 or 2020. And we that money was actually earmarked to pay for the land purchase and the building uh at Verona
Flats for the 95 units. So that's where we balanced it out. So we for the pilots that we approved, we we had earmarked those that that money for other projects in town. Uh that pretty much touches on
everything that wasn't discussed. Uh but again, I'd like to thank all the residents. Uh, and again, just like the mayor said, if you have any questions or want to talk, I'd be more than happy to to uh reach out, you can Google my name, you'll have my cell number, and that's all.
>> Thank you, Deputy Mayor, Councilman Roman. >> Thank you very much. Um, I'll also touch on this topic. Thank you to all the residents who have reached out and sent us inquiries about this. We know that this is a very important topic to everybody. Um, I've been around two years longer than the deputy mayor. I
joined the council in 2015. Um at that time our largest pilots had already been put into place. The um Hilltop pilot uh the second phase of that building I believe had just finished build being built out. Um that money was immediately committed by prior councils to pay for
all the field development up there. Uh Hillwood Senior Living was also already on the books and Spectrum 360 was paying a small pilot. Right now that's 18,55. Um, I looked at our total list of pilot revenue and in uh in last year we
brought in 1,695,674 in pilot revenue. Um, that goes into the municipal general fund in all of our revenue. So, basically when we develop our budget, all of our non-t taxable revenues, in other words, the pilots, various fees and charges, grants, etc.,
uh, go into the top line of our revenue in our budget. We figure out our expenses. the difference results in the tax levy that's charged out to taxpayers as property taxes. Um, but what happens with pilot revenues when it comes in historically a lot of the time there has been a large capital expense uh tied
with it. The hilltop fields are an excellent example of this. Um, what we talked about with uh the um Spectrum 360 project and building out Verona Flats is another example of pilot revenue being tied into a very expensive purchase. Um
I can tell you from sitting here through all the discussions uh on development uh in this community and we spend a lot of very late nights here in uh close session basically talking through the mechanics of development. What this council continuously focuses on is how
are we able to avoid impact on the schools? That is a primary topic of our discussions. Anytime a developer comes to town wanting to develop something, we look and see how much we can shrink the project down. How many fewer units can we actually build out? How many fewer bedrooms can we make happen there? The
pilots are very frequently a tool for um these negotiations with developers. Um they rely on the pilots in terms of developing their financing for the buildings and making it so that the numbers pencil out on their side of the table. And the pilots are not always but frequently they tend to backload a lot
of the um revenue so that it lets the developers basically build out the buildings pay for their construction costs get leased up and then eventually the the revenue starts to increase year-over-year. I remember before I got onto the council uh in like 2011 to 2013
um it was being said that the Hilltop was developing a million dollars in revenue for the township. It wasn't. It was developing about a half a million dollars in revenue only. Now in 2026 do we see $950,000 in revenue coming from the Hilltop just to show you sort of how backloaded these a lot of the pilots
are. It depends on how you structure them. But I can tell you that we are consistently trying to minimize the impact on the schools through our management of development. It's our number one discussion point through all the land purchases we did eliminating the number of residents residencies that
would have been built here uh 360 on the two parcels alone that we bought and preserved as open space. Just imagine the impact on the school system. Again, you look at the project in Cedar Grove, all those town homes that are three and fourbedroom town homes compared to what we do in Verona where typically the unit
mix is heavily weighted towards one and two one-bedroom units with some two-bedroom units and the three-bedroom units typically are there as a result of state affordable housing regulations that actually mandate a certain number of uh bedroom counts in that category.
So that's our efforts on a large scale really to minimize the impact on the schools. If we simply didn't do this and we just you know negotiated these as advil valorum uh developments and did not really push as hard as we did. I feel like the impact on the schools would be greater than it actually is. I
feel like then you would actually start seeing a lot of school children um entering the schools from these developments. And that's really what our biggest fear is is the day that the school board has to go to expand a school. Um, that's really what we're trying to avoid here is the very large capital investment it would take if they
ever had to significantly expand any of their buildings, let alone if they had to hire up and uh, start providing services for a lot of other students. Um, we have this very collaborative relationship with the school board. Uh, we do what we do very well, which is we maintain um, facilities and property.
Uh, we handle a lot of services for them. As we said, we don't charge them for garbage removal, for snow removal, for when we send police officers to school events, etc. All of these things are part of the collaborative relationship because we realize that one tax base is essentially paying all of
the taxes for both of these entities. It's the same, you know, the school boundaries are co-minerist and the town's boundaries. So, we put it we put forward the services that we're very good at. We let them concentrate on educating children. We do what we can do in terms of managing development in Verona to minimize their long-term
burden. Um, as I talked about with where the revenues go, um, I know what everyone's really looking for is for us to come up with an allocation right now. I know that the schools are in the middle of a budget crunch and you would love for us to basically be able to fill
that gap. The issue is that if we were to do something like that, it would mean a commensurate cut in municipal services. We cannot take money out of our budget and write a check to the schools without a corresponding reduction in our own services, which means basically personnel cuts or a tax
rate increase, which we can't do right now because we've already set the tax rate because we've passed our budget. Um, we are open as a council to looking at pilots that are going forward. I think you've heard that from a number of people a number of times. Uh, but it's very hard for us to change the past. As
I said, the vast majority of our pilot revenue um basically $1.1 million was decided was brought in pre205 when I joined the council. Um so we really do have to look going forward. So people that are looking for us to be able to
fill this gap right now, it's very very challenging. If anyone, you know, knows for a way for us to come up with a million and a half dollars to take out of our budget, I would love to hear it. We racked our brains during the budget meetings and hearings um to try and reduce our budget as much as possible because we felt like the tax increase
that was proposed was going to be a pretty substantial burden on the Verona taxpayers and what we recognize is a very tough year for a lot of people. People are hurting. They do not have additional cash. Inflation is still rampant and we did everything we could to reduce our budget to bring down our increase to our own tax levy just to give people a little bit of tax relief
where we could. Um it's been a difficult year for us in terms of inflation. Uh you just heard that our Benard costs, which is our prescription drug coverage for our employees, went up 30%. You know, we have to handle these cost increases as well. We pay more for fuel, we pay more for building materials, we
pay more for contracting services. Um it really hits us as well and and we do a really we do a lot to keep our budget down in order to keep the overall tax burden in this community as manageable as we possibly can. I sympathize. I mean the the the school board has basically
delivered some very tough news to people and all the programs that they are um proposing reductions to. I recognize that um everyone is very dependent on them and that those enrich everyone's children's lives a lot. Um every parent who you know is sitting here or is on Zoom tonight is is here for a reason
because they're concerned about what services are being offered to their children and the fact that you know some of these may be pulled out from under them. And I you know I really do sympathize. It's very it's a very difficult um decision. I'm just having a very hard time finding a way that we can act right now this
year. We are continuing this the discussion a lot. Like I said, we do recognize that this is a single community that the schools are not us and them. They take on a specific um set of governmental duties. We take on a different set of governmental duties, but we are not looking to play keep away
from them. Um, and as as we've talked about, we use pilot funds, we use development management for a long-term plan of making sure that they are not impacted and they are able to provide the excellent education, all the services that we do. So, we'll keep the discussion going. I look forward I know that a lot of people are going to want
to speak to us tonight. So, I'm going to wrap it up there and let us move along and uh hopefully you all be able to to tell us what's on your mind tonight. So, thank you for that. >> Thank you, Councilman Roman. Councilwoman McGrath. >> Uh, thank you, Mayor. Um, obviously a lot was already said tonight. Um, and I
agreed with the majority of what my colleagues have presented. I'm not going to, um, you know, go through line by line on a few nuances here and there where maybe I'm not in agreement. I think, um, the area where we're most divided on this council is in the area
of development and the idea of using development strategically for revenue generation. Um, as it's already been reported, I think at the board of ed meeting, um, I did not vote in favor of this last pilot, not because of the issues with whether or not we were going
to share it with the school district, but because I don't, uh, really want to see development on this track of land, and I don't think the pilot was actually um, appropriate. Um, and that was my provocative to, you know, not vote in favor of it. Um, I also just want to
clarify that again people were talking about their histories on the council. I was elected seven years ago and the day after I won the election, but before I was sworn in, the council had a meeting that went till midnight where the the deal with the developer for the spectrum
project or sunset um one sunset was struck where a pilot was going to be part of that. So even though you know I was part of some of the decisions and they were necessary decisions to purchase land to prevent development to consolidate properties so that we could
build Verona flats so that we didn't have to overpop populate um you know the number of units in town um and to finalize the financial agreement with one spectrum. I was even locked into some of those decisions you know based on when I joined and that's how long
development takes. I have um as part of my reelection campaign and um throughout the years said that we really need to get more um uh creative and have a more revenue generating um mindset. Um you know, we tend to only do these
developments because the state of New Jersey forces us to deadlines by the way that were long predicted and known. Um, and so that's part of my frustration in general is hiring the right professionals to understand how can we get more money into the system so that
things are just not so tight so that we're not squabbbling over these pilot dollars that we're talking about. Um, now, you know, I've spoken to many parents over the last few days. I want to thank everyone who's emailed us. You did not get an email response from me. You will in the upcoming days. Uh, many
of you know my story. I'm a mother uh a parent of two boys. Um one of whom is now in college, the other who is a freshman in the high school. Both were very involved in the music department and in fact my freshman is incredibly involved in the music department and I'm
staring at many friends and familiar faces because I am a volunteer for the Verona Music Parents Association. Music is an important part of um our community. It is the crown jewel program of our school system. And I was really
gutted and devastated when I heard we were losing two incredible teachers, both of which my son has um my children have benefited from. And that's after losing an another incredible teacher um just two or three years ago, which was
incredibly emotional to lose him. these are the future teachers of our music department and the fact that they're being cut is really really difficult. Um I you know really want the board of ed to come to the table and I want us to
really work with them to see what can be done. You know, we talk about the transparency of our project uh of our excuse me, of our process and I brought our budget binder a year ago when we met with the board of ed and I'm going to bring the physical representation of
what we provide to the public and this year we ensure that this was posted publicly so that you could examine line by line how we're spending our money and offline as part of other conversations. Are there one or two places where we
could get a little tighter? Yes, but not enough to, you know, generate the funds that people are requesting us that would make a meaningful difference. Um, I think that the public really, what I've been hearing from all of you is that you
want transparency. You want us all to come to the table, but that also requires information on both sides. Um, and I think we're all looking to understand better how we can um, help the board of ed um, not just this year, but next year, which is predicted to be
even worse. Um, I've been, um, very, um, attuned to what's going on around Essex County. Um, and I've been, uh, reading a lot of news articles. Obviously, you all know this, everyone I'm looking at and everyone on Zoom. Um, this is facing
almost every school district. um some more severe than others that we are laying off uh teachers and valuable staff because of basically an archaic and not relevant anymore 2% cap because of a health insurance system that is
clearly broken and in crisis um and due to a high inflationary environment. Um, and so I've applauded all of the residents who are advocating, who are here tonight, who have emailed us, who went and spoke. I heard uh many great
things about the youth and how they advocated to save their programs. And I applaud them. And what I've said to many of you and what I will continue to say is this is uh just the beginning of a long road for all of us um to advocate
to restore tax dollars to fund our incredible school systems. that is a fight for Verona specifically um you know with the cuts to these particulars staff members um and trying to get that money restored in future
years but also just on a global basis. We need our legislators to um to um come in with solutions whether it's the school benefit formula, the 2% cap or again this broken healthc care insurance environment. So what I want to add to
what all of my colleagues have said is I do encourage you first of all to not stop coming here uh not stop emailing us and going to board of ed meetings and getting involved um but to now take it to the next level which is our elected
assembly members and state senate members and um the leadership of the legislature and the governor's office. I think phone calls to all of them which only take a few minutes are worthwhile to say, you know, I'm a taxpayer and my
school budget is being devastated because of systematic things that you put in place. you need to um you know come to the table and figure out these things um so that we can try to make steps to um restore um and and prevent
devastation of our public school system not just here and in Verona. Um, and I just want to end with saying, listen, uh, we've, um, we've gone to the League of Municipalities many times, and echoing what has already been said, you
know, we have, um, attempted to kind of share revenue with the district by um, having a very generous uh, shared service agreement and continuing to expand that. Other districts have purchased things. So, you may be aware that the school district can't just bond
for things like we can. Um, we were supposed to have on our agenda tonight, but it may be postponed to the next meeting, you know, our bonding for all of our projects for the year. The school doesn't have that flexibility. They have to go to referendum, which is costly and time consuming. And so, in other
districts, they have bought things. They have they have put in fields. They have bought school buses. And so, that's another mechanism we can look at in the future. And then of course the third is a cash payment. So it's really what I look forward to in the upcoming weeks
and months is really balancing like what are the mechanisms that would really most help the board of ed. Do we ratchet something up? Do we think creatively on a purchase piece? So you know I think there are options but there's no solution this evening. Uh just a lot of
information. I do want to thank our township manager, you know, since our um and and the superintendent since our meeting a year ago. They have been meeting collaboratively and talking about these issues but again not to the point where we understood that um that
they were going to be facing such cuts and that they actually made a request but they have been in constant communication our town manager and superintendent and that's one level of collaboration but boardtoboard um should grow and continue and we certainly want it to. Um in addition to that um
rambling statement um two things. I attended um Holy Spirit's commemoration of 10 years of the food pantry. They started um 10 years ago with 16 families. Last year they grew to um
1,789 families. Uh the dinner on Friday night was lovely and as um we they didn't want to call it a celebration because the fact that so many people are food insecure is not a celebration but it was a marking of um all of the volunteerism
um that the community is putting in towards the effort. Um and it was a great community event and I really enjoyed going. Um and today I uh did something a little different. I attended the state committee um for LGBTQIA+
youth equity and inclusion in schools. Um I've never attended a state committee meeting, but it happened to be held in Essex County. And so um I attended and it was um a very interesting um group of very dedicated volunteers that come from
um all different sort of state um areas and uh including parents. and uh it was an interesting discussion on how to protect our children and keep them safe. Um and that's my report. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman McGrath. Councilwoman Holland.
>> Thank you. Um good evening everybody. Um so first of all, I just I want to thank all of the residents, the parents here in the audience this evening. I really appreciate it. I'm I I appreciate you for coming to our meeting. I appreciate
the 44 43 attendees who are um currently on Zoom waiting for their chance to talk. Um and I do mean this very sincerely. Thank you for coming out. Thank you for the emails. We did receive a number of emails. I've been trying to keep up with replies to them even during
the workday, which was not necessarily the easiest thing to do today. But I do think it's important to be responsive to residents and I do really appreciate your engagement. Thank you for engaging at the April 28th board of ed meeting. Um, and thank you in advance of tomorrow
night's board of ed meeting because I expect many of you will be there as well. It's really important to have engaged citizens in this process and more often than not, our meetings are not well attended. Um, and there um that is the same that is also true for the
board of ed. As was already stated, my council colleagues and I went through our detailed and transparent budgeting process, submitted our materials to the state before learning that the superintendent and the board of ed were proposing cuts to the music program and
other programs. So, in the interest of full disclosure, I have two children in the Verona public schools, both of whom participate very actively in the music program, one of whom is an HBW sixth grader directly impacted by the proposed staffing changes. My husband and I uh
volunteer for the program as well. He's much more actively engaged in that. So, some of you may know him very well as but we are engaged in this process because our children really love this program. And so I really want to reiterate the fact that I learned of these proposed staffing changes at the
same time that you did because I'm a parent and because the board of education's budgeting process does not have the same level of transparency as the council's process. Um I have so much sympathy for your children um and so
much heartache for my own daughters who love their music teachers. This is a very difficult situation and and I just really want you to know that my heart is with you and my heart breaks for my daughter who's very upset. Um but we are the council and we do not have control
over the BOE's um staffing decisions or the superintendent staffing decisions. That is a separate body. So I do understand however that the desire is for a one Verona approach. And so one of the things that I think is really worthwhile um is that you heard this
evening that the township does provide a variety of services to the board of ed that is not necessarily done in other towns and I think at least one of my colleagues um Councilwoman McGrath just referenced that. Right. These shared services represent hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of value that the town
provides to the schools. Um that's not often acknowledged. Um, but I do appreciate the township manager's thorough written review of um, the shared services. Um, as well as the superintendent did acknowledge at the April 28th meeting that we do provide
these services and that they are very valuable. They're just not often acknowledged in the larger discussion. Um, but I also want to acknowledge the fact that just because we do a good job, and I think we do do a good job of providing shared services to the board of ed, doesn't mean that we're done,
doesn't mean that we couldn't do more. Doesn't mean that we can't have a dialogue about it. And so, I think the honest answer to all of that is we should continue to have a dialogue about this. There may be further opportunities. And I think that's a great outcome of this is that we could
have more transparency and more dialogue about what could be done to have a more collaborative approach between the board of ad and the council. Um but those are not solutions that are going to be reached tonight. These are discussions that are commencing tonight and there's
a meeting tomorrow night. This is not going to be resolved in 24 hours. These are solutions ultimately for a later year and I appreciate that that may be disappointing but it is an honest answer and I do think it's important to
approach this with cander. Um and I also want to stress that transparency um and that continuous dialogue is incredibly important to this process. Yes, in the five years I've been on the council, I never voted for a pilot. I share many of Councilwoman McGrath's concerns about
our strategy around development in this community. I will also say in the nearly five years that I've been on this council, we've only had the one joint meeting with the board of ed. And I think coming out of that joint meeting, there are a lot of opportunities for better collaboration between the board
of ed and the council. How many of us this evening have just said, "We only heard about this when you did, right? and we only heard about it some of us only heard about it because we're parents and because we're in these groups and that's how we were hearing about it. Um so I think that's that's
challenging because having heard about it at that time that was after our budget process concluded and only before only days before the BOE's planned vote. Um so as a parent as an elected official I think that needs to change. I think there's lots of opportunities for
improvement and I'm willing to be part of that process. But I also want to again thank you for your engagement in this process and thank you for your emails and thank you for attending and in advance for attending tomorrow night. Um because you're doing the right thing
because your engagement is what will lead to this being a much more open and collaborative process. So I want to encourage you to continue to do that. Um so thank you again. That concludes my report. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. This time we will uh open for public
comment on any matter anybody wishes to bring before the council. Madame clerk, would you please read the public participation statement? >> Anyone from the public wishing to speak on any matter. If you're attending by Zoom, please raise your hand by pressing the raise hand button on your monitor.
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 the lectern. Once recognized, clearly state only your name and township of residence for the record. You are 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 public portion. After everyone wishing to speak has been heard, the
council may address your comments and our questions. Thank you, madam clerk. Mr. Walsh. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Uh my name is Brendan Walsh. I live here in Verona. Lived here for uh almost 20 years. Um I've got uh three daughters.
Uh the oldest graduated from Rona High School last year and I have uh a daughter who's a sophomore at Rona High School and a daughter who's seventh grader at HBW. Um I'm I'm here tonight uh not for immediate solutions. I I want to make that clear. I'm not expecting the
township to to write a check right now. I understand that anything that happens is probably a year away. Um, but I'm here to share my concerns about the uh the substantial financial crisis that our our schools are facing. And I
believe that the town uh and the council have the means and the responsibility uh to be part of the solution. Um as some of the uh council alluded to tonight, uh parents are furious and we're being told
that if we're mad this year, just wait until next year. Um, and so that's why I'm here to plead uh that you begin that process now. I know you had a meeting last year. It doesn't really sound like anything uh you know substantial
happened. Um and and there's blame all on all sides to go around for that, but I'm urging you to start uh resuming those conversations now. Um I I want to be fair. I I understand that pilot
agreements can serve legitimate purposes and um I'm a litigator by day. I'm not here to relitigate any of those issues. Um I recognize um that uh the town and the board of education that the town
shares a lot of meaningful services um including grounds maintenance, you know, facilities use and many other shared services. Um but shared services in my view are just good government. They're not a replacement um for for the the
money that our schools uh need. Um for example, it just it wouldn't make sense for both the town and the school district to have snow plows. So I understand that the town is doing that, but that would be a complete waste of money. And so I'm I'm very glad to hear
that we're not doing that. Um and I and I think that there are probably more things. I don't have any, you know, silver bullets or any um anything um magic that I can share right now, but I think that there needs to be more discussion around more shared services,
more creative shared services, uh whether it's in the form of even staff. Um, but I I want to be very clear that I do believe that going forward there needs to be actual revenue sharing, not just with 885 Bloomfield, which is going
to start uh, you know, in a few years, but with existing pilot monies. Um, I have one very specific question that I'm hoping I can get an answer to tonight from either the council or the town attorney. I've heard um in both emails and in in some um the remarks tonight
that prior pilot funds were earmarked. Um I want to just confirm my understanding is accurate that an earmark is not a formal legal pledge meaning that those funds are not legally obligated to be spent on any specific funds. My understanding is that they
come into the general revenue. I think council roman councilman roman said that they come into the general revenue and they can can be spent at like any other funds. My understanding is also that um uh that that debt service is outside of
the 2% levy cap. So, um I have lots of complaints about, you know, how high my taxes are, but uh and I I'm not necessarily asking for a tax increase, but one thing I hate more than paying high taxes is paying high taxes and then having my children's school education
cut. So, um I I just, you know, I'm here to ask for very uh you know, uh collaborative uh engagement with the with the school board. My time is up. I have more to say, but I'll let it uh others talk. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Walsh.
questions. >> Yeah, it's just to reiterate the um uh the rules. We don't answer anybody directly until all public comment is over. So, hang in there. Uh we will get to you because I have some great answers for your questions, Mr. Walsh. And thank you for coming.
>> Hi, thank you, Mayor. Uh and once my name is Rachel, Rachel Carmel. I live in Verona. Uh and thank you very much uh mayor and deputy mayor for meeting with us uh to talk about our concerns to the cuts to elementary education.
Uh I moved to Verona 12 years ago specifically because I liked the feeling of stepping back in time almost in to a quaint town. Uh I was standing on my street and there was children playing
outside and riding bikes and I knew that that's what I wanted. I want that sense of security for my children and a good education. So I'm not talking about cutting a police force or town services to fuel education, but how we can work
collaboratively so that people who are coming to the town so that their kids can be play tag in the street and get the education they need uh to be a functioning member of society and what we want from our kids. Uh I know that
the township manager said that he's meeting regularly since the March meeting with the superintendent, but it was still unclear that there was going to be these budget cuts. Uh in the board of ed meeting on the 28th, we were told
that they knew since last fall that they were going to have a significant amount uh a significant uh deficit. The exact number of the 3.2 too before they made the cuts was not known, but that they knew it was going to be significant. So,
I would urge that I I think um Councilwoman Holland said a one Verona approach. That is what I think everyone here tonight really wants. If we had a Juan Verona approach, ideally that number or just that the significance of
that number would have been known sooner by all involved so that there could have been something possibly for this year. But where we are today, I don't think that anyone is asking for this year. We are all asking to look down the road and
not just to the 885 Bloomfield property, but we're talking about I think I only just realized in this meeting that um one sunset is 200 units. I do live in the Brookdale section. So to me, the idea that that
that there's that many units going in in that area and then just in general in any of these areas, it seems that because we have the capacity, Brookdale does get uh kind of the the most of the overflow from those. So,
if we can please have a conversation about pilot funds and have it not be limited to that, anything that we're able to do to have a one Verona approach because people who have lived in town um are going to there's going to be an
exodus if we are paying these taxes and having to send our kids to private school or it it's not going to be attracting our home prices have gone up and it's not it's going to stop having that appeal. And I'm really hoping for the
sake of my first grader and uh I have twins that are four that we can kind of stop the trend that seems to be happening this year and kind of save that step back in time uh that we have in Verona. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Anybody else? Hi Dana Bichon um 52 Derwent Avenue. I wanted to say I agree with everything that everybody else is saying. This is not about like tomorrow fix the budget. This is moving forward and looking at
how as much as you say pilots are not affecting our district. I I actually think they're even affecting the town income. Like I I don't know that I understand them. There's a lot of different components here and you guys are giving us a lot of different numbers and I'm trying to like as a just normal person trying to understand how this
even works. From the beginning of when this started I had assumed and I I had heard the information that I had gotten that was that pilots are used as a means to kind of like you said negotiate down affordable units and at the time we were dealing with that major affordable
housing unit thing and we didn't have enough units so that all made sense. Um, I didn't realize that it took from the schools, but that all made sense as to why you would use them. Looking forward at all of these projects that are kind of up and coming. It seems like most of them are already earmarked with, well,
this is allowed to go here and this is how many units are allowed to be here like under the restoration laws or something whatever uh restorative I forget what it's called. But, um, so it seems like you guys already have control of what can be built now on a lot of the properties in this town. So if that is
the case and we're already kind of overcrowded and the schools are struggling and the schools are now having to pay for students that the cost I think the cost of each student is almost like $19,000 per kid now in the district there's about 44 of those if
you count just Ann and Verona Flats 44 students that are $19,000 per student that the the school now has to pay for. Um, like you said, shared services, that's great, but eventually like the cost of p plowing a parking lot and
throwing out garbage, those are remain the same. They're not going to change much, but if we keep on giving the district students that aren't paid for, eventually the benefit is going to outweigh, you know, or the the cost is going to outweigh the benefit for the schools. Um, I think it already has
actually. So my question is why if we have a say over what can go how many units can go on properties from this point forward why would we use a pilot at all? Why wouldn't we just have these people pay real taxes like the rest of us? Wouldn't that generate more income
for the town and generate more income for the schools? I don't see the point of them. So I hope that you can clear that up tonight. Good evening, council. Um, my name is Jed Dinnerstein. I'm a Verona resident. Um, also want to begin um with a couple
thank yous to the mayor and the deputy mayor for speaking with us this weekend. Uh, also to Congresswoman Holland for speaking with me as well yesterday. Um, I'm going to echo a lot of the things that have been said already, specifically that I'm not here for this
year's budget. Um, but that I am here for next year's and the years beyond. Um, I think Congresswoman McGrath, your your discussions around opportunities for creative solutions. >> Um, I think really what we want and and
um, Councilman Roman, your comment about one Verona and and Councilwoman Holland as well. I think really what we want is to see that active collaboration between the council uh and the board and the you know the the district. um
my sense that there you know given there's been one meeting you know last year none as I understand it for seven years before that and none since that you know the extent of the closeness feels a bit overstated and it feels that
in practice the two bodies operate in a relatively siloed way and not in a one verona way that I think would really have the most benefit for the town. So, I think really the specific ask that I come with tonight um is a commitment from the council that should the board
of ed and superintendent be open to it uh that the collective bodies would commit to meeting no reason for me to be prescriptive but call it at least twice a year or quarterly whatever was most logical to achieve that ultimate goal of careful year-over-year calibration
within the one Verona context be it pilots be it shared services. I think all of us here are ultimately method agnostic. What we want is the result that the the the the benefit of the bargain that brought all of us here. And that's something that I think because it's so nuanced and, you know, give give
true credit to all of the things that the township does already, but it's so nuanced and so complicated that it needs to be looked at on a year-over-year basis, facts and circumstances at the time. And the last thing I would add to that is that it be done in a public form as well. Like I appreciate that the
township manager speaks with the superintendent. I think even better would be the council speaking with the board of ed, you know, and again maybe some of those meetings are public forums, some are behind closed doors, you know, for for whatever the the the pros and cons of each are, but I think
clearly even the council and certainly the public had no visibility into the the deficit that the board was facing. And I would really hope that in future years that committed, active and public collaboration could ensure that this doesn't happen again. Thank you so much
for your time. >> Thank you, Chad. >> Good evening. My name is Michelle Gruer. I live in Verona. This town council recently approved a long-term tax exemption for the developer of 885 Bloomfield Avenue, known as the Valente
Tract. Days later, Verona Public Schools announced a $3.2 million budget shortfall that threatens arts, music, world languages, and staff across every school in our district. I fully understand that the board of ed budget
shortfall is for a number of reasons, including huge increases in health benefit costs, transportation cost, etc. But this new pilot certainly doesn't help. Just recently, you voted 3 to2 to approve a 30-year pilot for the Valente
tract, 24 market rate town houses and four affordable housing units. Before this um agreement, Verona's master plan zoned this tiny strip of wooded land for 14 town homes. So now we stand with
twice as many units. The developer also received additional concessions, including approval to have the town's lot coverage limit go from 55% to 80%. So, the four buildings on this 1.77 acre
lot will now cover much more land than our town ordinance allows. Okay. Based on current construction costs for market rate town houses in suburban Essex County, this project carries an estimated total construction
cost of somewhere between 16 million and 17 million. At a conservative average market value of $650,000 per unit, these 28 town houses would carry a total assessed value of roughly
$18 million. At Verona's current property tax rate of 3.06% that would generate approximately $550,000 per year in conventional property taxes,
the kind that everyone here pays that owns a home in Verona. Of that $550,000, roughly 50 cents of every dollar, about $275,000 per year would go directly to Verona's
public schools. But the Valent was given a pilot. Over the 30-year life of the Valent pilot, that tax abatement represents more than $8 million in school funding that our children will
never see. more than $8 million just from this one property. I have three questions. First, did the township retain an independent financial professional to evaluate whether a pilot was truly
warranted on this parcel? Second, what is the anticipated annual service charge, the actual dollar amount that the Valente tracked developer will make to the township each year? And how does that figure compare to the roughly
$550,000 this property would have generated annually in conventional property taxes? And third, will this council commit to a moratorum on future pilot agreements
until a formal review of their impact on school funding is completed? Thank you for your accountability, transparency, and willingness to ask hard questions before signing agreements that last 30 years. Thank you.
Seeing no further public comment, I close public comment at this time. I will respond to some of these things and hopefully the the matters will pop in. First of all, thank you everybody for sharing your thoughts. Um, as I said, I did have the option or the opportunity
to hear a lot of public comment from individuals over over the last couple weeks, including spending hours on the telephone with uh several people at in person meetings. So, Mr. Walsh, first um I appreciate you number one bearing with me for an hour on the phone. Brendan,
um, as I talked to your off a little bit, but I uh I do appreciate your concern. Um, when you talk about shared services, this is an interesting piece. Typically a shared service suggests that there is
a one governmental entity that provides service another government governmental entity tends to pay for it. That's typically what we do. So we have a we have a shared court. Um we have a shared service agreement with Roseland. So right now we pay North Caldwell for for the court that they host. It saves
everybody money. uh Roseland pays us for their um building construction code official status. What is actually the the shared services that are happening between the board of ed and um and the township are not
really that same structure. Right? So I just want to clarify that we generally when we have shared services out and I agree the sheriff services are good government. One of the first things I did when I got elected to the council was work to um have a shared court because our court was saving was costing
us a lot of money. Um but I do want to put it out there not there's a there's a nuance in what a shared service is or or not. But I agree that it is good government. A lot of that over the years interestingly enough was simply developed because there were needs and
the township was able to come in and meet those needs. And I think that's something that's going to continue. One of the the issues that um and I'm not I've made a a point not to comment on specific cuts. So, I'm not criticizing a
particular cut for the board because I don't think that's the township's um position, but with three maintenance staff members being cut from the budget and there'll be a lot reliance on contractors, if a contractor is unavailable and there's an immediate repair need, I'm sure the township would potentially be stepping
in to assist between buildings and grounds and public works. So, I think that's going to be another one of those things that naturally becomes part of this agreement just by the fact that it will be needed and that's an important piece as far as the um the question on
the eararking. No, an earmark is not is not a binding situation. And I I brought that up in my original statement and I I want to clarify. Basically, as Councilman Roman had pointed out, effectively when any of these pilots ex prior to the the one 885 Bloomfield were
adopted, they were kind of married to another project. So the the Hilltop uh pilot was went into effect at the same time the high demand fields were being developed, right? The one sunset pilot
was agreed upon at the same time when the township needed to have a plan to pay back debt service to for the Corona flats affordable housing situation. So while they're not earmarked, we can in theory spend that those dollars on something else. The problem is those
dollars are also part of our budget, right, and have been relied on. Um, as far as debt service being out of the cap, you are you are correct on that. We do have we do actually have a cap on the amount of debt we're able to to take out. Um but debt service is generally
outside the cap which means that in theory money can go from one entity to another the same point the tax levy would be significant as a result of that. So there's in any one of these situations there's obviously a trade-off. Um Rachel I I appreciate your
comments as well. Um, it was good to see you by the way while I was out walking the dog the other day. Got a wave in there. Um, but I think that I think the one Verona approach is something that we have always prided ourselves on in town.
Uh, our former township manager, you know, coined team Verona as a piece and everybody was really in that. Um, and I agree over concerns and even up Brookdale. Just a note though that the board of ed has a policy for new developments, new people moving to town
that they will put students wherever the you know class sizes are the smallest. So that's a way that they've mitigated that a little bit as you know because you're seeing some um uh some students from the west side of town over at Brookdale. Uh but I I take your your
points and I think moving forward we're all on the same page with that. As far as uh Miss Bon your comments, um the the need for the pilot did not finish the we entered a fourth round of affordable
housing. Okay. So the third round of affordable housing was the round that included the building of the uh Roma Flats building, the uh the set aside in the One Sunset Avenue property as well as some other areas. That was the third
round affordable housing that finished right before my time on the council. We had now have the fourth round affordable housing that happened after that. So as a result, we had a need that we had to meet for affordable housing.
So how is that done? Well, you have two options. Option number one is to build another allaf affordable building which is once again a significant expense for the town that we didn't have any pilot agreements to go with in order to finance that right like the onet sunset
avenue development how helped to finance the um the front of flats property and that building was not very popular with the community uh to be to be honest but as I said I think that was the right thing to do at the time though I was not on the council
The other option is that when residences are built, there's a set aside. So, it previously was 15% for rental units and 20% for purchase units. Now, with our new agreement, moving forward, it's a 20%
set aside for everything. So, that means for every one unit, you have to build five, right? except when we get credits for uh proximity transportation and special needs housing things like that. So um we don't have as much control.
What happens is if we can't meet our state mandate which Verona worked very hard to reduce through vacant land adjustments. We had an expert team of professionals and I encourage everybody I don't want to spend 30 hours explaining this because that's how long it took in public sessions to go through
this but I encourage everybody to look at those deliberations in depth to understand the affordable housing process. Um because the 85 Bloomfield Avenue piece was that last component in that affordable housing uh well not the last but uh one of the last components
in the affordable housing. So in order to meet our affordable housing requirement, builders are building. Um if a we do not allow a builder to build and the builder can challenge the constitutionality of our plan and claim
that part of it is deficient, then they can sue and they could win potentially what's called a builder's remedy lawsuit. The builder's remedy lawsuit is the vehicle that allows them to forget any of the zoning really in town and build what they want where they want and that's even more disastrous
than than anything else. U so the pilot is part of a tool in order to help us negotiate. So when the affordable housing rounds came through, our team including our manager, our planner, our affordable housing council worked with
all of the different interveners and to negotiate down the impact of the developments. And we worked in close session as a council as well to do the same thing. And that's why the um that's
why the pilot uh was used in that circumstance. That's why we still don't exactly have complete control over, you know, we couldn't, you can't say no to certain buildings because they applied to build at the right time. A lot of the
developers wait until the affordable housing round to do it. If that same developer applied tomorrow, they would not have been in the situation where they would have had the legal leverage to build on the same site. And that's unfortunately a s a
issue that we replaced because of state legislation and Supreme Court cases. I would also like to address the the $19,000 per per pupil number. I'm not exactly sure what the per pupil expense. That number that is cited does not
actually it doesn't actually mean that it cost $19,000 to educate the next student that comes in. So if one more student comes in, it doesn't cost another $19,000 because in theory you can add 10 students
without having to add facilities, staff, principal, supervision. You may have to add some supplies, things like subscriptions, a Chromebook, stuff like that, right? But for the most part, small increases in student population don't actually have that same impact. In
fact, as you have more students on your uh student roster and your budget numbers are about the same, it actually the per people expenditure goes down. And one of the things the Vona public schools has always prided itself on in the board meetings is having one of the lowest per people expenditures actually
in the comparable districts. So just on that point, if you'd like to understand all of this development stuff more, I am more than happy to sit down with you for hours and talk about it. U because it is something that one of the reasons I I ran for the council is to limit
development and I am you obviously we were faced with a lot of issues coming in with new developments, but I think that we did the best job that we could and I'm proud of what we were actually able to reduce. And if you look at surrounding towns like Caldwell or um or
Cedar Grove or Montlair and construction that's happened there, that's changed the character of the communities. That's not something that uh we allowed in this place. Jed, um thank you for your comments as well and it was a pleasure to meet with you. I think more frequent meetings is
always uh is always helpful that that sometimes work gets done uh behind the scenes that is really important and a combination of that behind-the-scenes work or a small group between the board and the council can sometimes get things to move a
little bit more quickly. So I think a combination of those uh things is important. Um to uh Mr. Way's questions, I just want to note first that the
the developer, as was pointed out previously by my colleagues and and myself, wanted to put 60 units on that piece of property. The master plan for the township does not zone anything. It's not a zoning document. The zoning is approved by ordinance by the
township. So just want to clarify that that is uh something that we need to consider. If the council had done nothing during this round and did not negotiate, the developer would have built 60 units because they would have asserted that
they had that right to do that. Our experts informed us that the developer had a property right to build more than 28 units. Somewhere between 28 and 60. The number that was um
uh that we ended up Mr. Sullivan was what from that negotiation? >> Uh the final number? >> No, no. How many the lawyers told us that they could build no matter what? >> 33. >> It was approximately I thought it was 35 or 38. >> So it was higher. I we'll put it I think
it was 38 but we'll we'll put it higher. The negotiation in this case was able to bring that 38 number down to 28. What that did is eliminated apartment buildings on that site that didn't
necessarily fit the residential character of that area and instead allow for a tract of town homes that extend the town home development that already exists in Essex Falls. So
effectively what that did is created a use that would not have that same that would not have some kind of very different appearance and and unsightly look in that place. The only way that 28 unit number was
able to be approached was through that pilot agreement. So in reality you know we could had a 38 unit building. We didn't have to have a pilot, but Miss Gray, you would be the most effective person in the room by
having those 10 extra units on that site. So, I think it's a it's an important thing that we all understand that the council doesn't go and say, you know, we we want to go out and and maybe prior councils did this. We want pilot,
pilot, pilot. In my opinion, the only use of a pilot is to mitigate the number of units and the number of bedrooms in a development. And that was what was done here. So, not only are there only 28 units, but each of those units has a max of two
bedrooms. And as we've seen in comparable developments like Huntington Park on Derell Street, there's not been that significant of an increase in the population of the in the schools because a lot families want more than two
bedrooms now. Two bedrooms are small in comparison to what people are looking for in Verona. So, I appreciate comments, but I I want to set the record straight that the council is not out, at least the those who voted in favor in
trying to, you know, just grab up money from the the board of ed. That's not how it works. This was a tool in order to ensure that we had the least possible development. And I think that's uh very very important to note. There's a question of uh did the
township retain an expert? Yes. Uh we have the law firm McManam in Scotland and Bowman. Joe Bowman, one of the name partners of the firm is sitting in the back of the room who conducted analysis and provided us the advice on that as well.
Um Mr. O Sullivan, can you speak to the annual service charge piece? I don't have that in my notes. >> Um I will say that the annual service charges a a document of record. there are um the pro-forma documents which were part of the ordinance which uh
authorized the financial agreement. So rather than going through and reading that um line by line, I would just uh I'm happy to provide that to anybody and point anybody to the portion of the website that is interested in in viewing that. And I can't I can't agree with um
necessarily the numbers that you provided as far as property tax revenue um for those units. I think $550,000 for school property tax is an extraordinarily high number for 28 units. That would mean that each unit is
paying um like $20,000 in just school taxes. And school taxes are 60% of overall taxes. Um, I the average assessed value of a house in Verona I like the average house in Verona is like a three-bedroom, two bath house and the
number for the overall tax liability is much less than that. And I know that because I actually own the average assessed house in town. So I think we have to be careful once again putting numbers out. we can have our administration and our assessor run those numbers to get what the actual
numbers are so we can have a a uh a proper comparison. Um as far as the question of whether we commit to not having future pilots, I can't commit to that. And the reason I can't commit to that is because as I said the pilot is a
tool to prevent overdevelopment in this town. So whenever we look at a pilot agreement, we have to balance what are the needs of the town, what are the needs of the schools, what are the needs of all the residents. >> So every one of these situations when
this comes up is incredibly fact specific. >> And for any of us to to say no, we won't have any more pilots, I would love to be able to say that. It would be politically expedient to say that we would never have another pilot agreement. Um, but at the same point when we look at all of the different
factors and our requirements and our obligation to this township, I think that as I said, pilots should only be used for one purpose. I have no desire to use pilots to to take money away from everybody else. The only time that I will use pilot and the only pilot that
I've ever uh voted on has been to reduce unit and bedrooms and that was the pilot at 885 Bloomfield. So, um I think that's really important. But I I appreciate your comment as um as I do everybody else's. But once again, if anybody wants
to sit down and go through any of these things, they want to go through numbers. Michelle, I'm happy to sit down with you and Kevin and our tax assessors and we can go through all the numbers on this and so we're on the same page. Happy to do it. And we've talked for hours before on the phone. I'm happy to do that again. Uh that that line is not shut
down. I know we disagree on this, but I think we've always had a respectful uh relationship, but I just want to make sure that everybody has all of the uh all of the facts. And I think together that we can we can do that. Um because it's an issue that I will be accountable for as a member of this township council
that I will live with for for my political career and my future career. And every time I drive down Blue Avenue, I need to know in my heart that we did the right thing. Council Roman, just >> give you kind of a comparison as to how communities look at this. I remember one year down at the League of Municipalities, I was um in a seminar
about pilots and the mayor of one of the more industrialized towns uh boldly stood up and uh pronounced that he was proud that his town had more pilots than United Airlines. Um towns use these to bolster their budgets in a lot of
places. They use them. You know, look at Jersey City. A lot of the development is is pilot- based. Um there's a lot heavier use of it. We use it to manage development and to shrink development. The question was asked, okay, if we're in control of this, why do we allow
large developments? Um, short answer is that we are not totally in control of what goes on here. Um, the entire effect of affordable housing policy in New Jersey as it's applied to suburban communities is to compel us to densify.
Um it allows you know a situation or when we go through these rounds there's a computation or a challenge made to determine our need for additional affordable housing units. It's done um through the court system through uh fair share housing center and they come to us
with a need saying that you have to add this many units. um a developer who comes in saying I will meet that need by developing by building these what are also called 8020 buildings where there's you know a ratio of 20% affordable to 80% market rate can then make an
argument that your zone that they can override your zoning um that they can build denser than your zoning codes allow. Uh that is what goes on through the negotiations of the affordable housing process is this need is developed. We then go and negotiate down the need and make arguments as to why
we've either met portions of the need or we disagree with the need. Um we look at individual development parcels and determine if the developments are realistic and we go and we negotiate with the developers. So every time that you see a large development I would say almost all of them has come to us proposed much larger. Um we've
given numbers you know deputy mayor gave I believe an 800 unit number roughly um the 360 unit number sticks in my head for what was proposed on two trackcts of vacant land. So uh the tract of vacant land that's basically right next to the
afterglow neighborhood as you come into town on Mount Prospect um that's one of two tracks of land and then the other one is basically sort of behind uh Commerce Court uh which is where a wastewater treatment plant exists. Both of those lots, which are undeveloped lots, were proposed for full development
of new neighborhoods. And I can absolutely assure you that those developments would have put a lot of kids in the school system. So, we looked at that and we looked at the numbers and the types of housing that were proposed and we said we had to do something about it. And that was where our strategy came to acquire that land and to conserve it
as open space. That land is the property of the township of Verona. We've put greenacres designations or are putting greenacres designations with the intent to preserve open space and not develop. That cost us millions upon millions of dollars. We still had to meet our
affordable housing need and that's through other forms of projects. That's the strategy of building Rona flats which is 100% affordable development. In other words, not an 8020 development in which the developer can build five market rate units for every affordable unit they built. That development is all
affordable. So it met a very substantial portion of our need. That being said, building an all affordable development is not a a very profitable enterprise for a developer. So the township ultimately had to make maneuvers in order to make that development financially realistic, including acquiring a substantial amount of land.
Again, millions upon millions of dollars. Um I would say that we spend more time here on this council in the aggregate over the, you know, 11 years that I've been sitting here on affordable housing than any other topic. And again, our tactic in affordable
housing and in development management overall is to try and minimize the density that is put forth in Verona and to try and minimize the impact on the school systems. So, it's this constant back and forth where we're negotiating with developers trying to figure out what their profit margins are actually
going to be, trying to fill figure out what sort of deals we can strike, what levers we have to pull. Um we spend a lot of money on excellent legal counsel, excellent develop um land use planners to argue the township's case and try and
come up with very creative solutions. Being able to make Verona Flats happen was a huge lift. Um that was a lot of work uh by all of our professionals in order to come up with that strategy to avoid again hundreds upon hundreds of units. So, we don't go
into these things being very excited that we, you know, some towns really, really do want these big 50 over1 projects. 50 over1 is five floors of woodframe construction over one floor of concrete, parking deck, and retail on the ground floor. It's basically the most profitable type of building that a
that a developer can build. You see a lot of towns and it's five over ones all up and down Main Street. We're trying not to do that. where we do put development in place, there's a specific reason as to why and it usually has to do with meeting obligations um for affordable housing. So, that's just kind
of the large frame framework that we operate under. But all five of us live here and we move to this town for a reason and we like, you know, the feel of living in this quiet suburban community and we're trying to manage the development. It's pilots are a tool in our toolbox. There's a lot of other
negotiating tools that we use, but that's our end goal ultimately is to bring densities down. I'll leave it at that. All right. At this time, um, >> uh, there'll be another public comment period at the end of the meeting.
All right. We are moving on to ordinances for introduction. The first ordinance is labeled I1. Madame clerk, would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record?
>> So, matter if I could just interrupt uh briefly. The following ordinances uh the next three ordinances are bond ordinances. Um that would be I2, three, and four. Those um I'm sorry uh in also I5
and I6. All the capital ordinances other than the pool, I would ask if the council would table it. Uh the bond ordances themselves were uh distributed to the council late. >> Five and six we can do. Those were in the packet. >> Oh, >> five and six are fine.
>> Five and six are in the packet. Okay. >> Okay. So, two through four. So, two >> two through four. Okay. >> Two through four. Thank you. >> Uh yeah, I was just going to address those one at a time and do a motion >> on on each one of those. >> I'm sorry. Um so, we just need to
announce for 251 and a half. >> Okay. Is that because >> I am announcing that the public hearing adoption for 251 Heaven Avenue will be carried to the May 18th council meeting. >> Thank you. >> Is that sufficient for now? >> Yes. Excellent. >> We are. We noticed. >> Thank you. I was just so excited to skip
over that and move to something else. All right. So, the next ordinance on the agenda is labeled as I on introduction. Madame clerk, would you please read the title of this ordinance in the record? bond ordinance providing for improvement of the municipal pool facility in and by
the township of Verona in the county of Essex, New Jersey, appropriating $100,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of $80,000 bonds or notes of the township to finance the cost thereof. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Would somebody move the ordinance? >> So move.
>> Motion is made by the deputy mayor. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Any council discussion? Do we specifically know what part of the main building like what
exactly what this >> there are um some structural repairs to the awnings of the buildings uh and to um some of the roof work uh on the uh what would be considered I guess the
south side of the building is primarily where the majority of the work is is needed. Okay. Any other comments? Councilwoman McGrath. >> So, this isn't covering the pool furniture as well? >> It's in addition to pool furniture. >> It's addition. Okay. Yes. Okay.
>> Any other comments? Madame Clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Councilwoman Holland, >> yes. >> Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes. >> Mayor Chambro, >> yes. >> Mayor, I1 will be numbered uh 2026-8.
Uh it will be posted uh notice of the public hearing on May 18th. >> Thank you. All right. Um I would just like one motion to table ordinances that are labeled I 2, three, and four.
So move. >> Motion's made by the deputy mayor. Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Thank you, Councilman Roman. Um I just for clarification what happened on these ordinances is that there were the actual text of them was not included in the council packet. The council did not have
the opportunity to review all the ordinances. We did get it today but several of us felt that it was not appropriate at this point to uh to discuss something for which we didn't. We've seen the projects over the years but several of us had questions. So that'll be dealt with at the next
meeting. So be aware. The next ordinance on the agenda is labeled I5. Madame clerk, would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record? >> We an ordinance to amend ordinance 2026
pool membership fees to increase the number of non-resident memberships. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Oh, I'm sorry. I Oh, wait. I'm sorry. water capital. >> My fault. I apologize. >> This is for 67 capital ordinance
appropriating 67,500 from the capital improvement fund for various improvements by the township of Verona. >> Thank you, Madame Clerk. >> It's a little confused. And yeah, there was a lastm minute alteration to the
order >> of the ordinances because we had to introduce other things before these and >> and then I printed out my wrong >> so on. So >> we are just to clarify we are on the one labeled the 67,500 for capital
>> uh improvements. >> Would somebody like to move this ordinance? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Councilwoman McGrath. Is there a second? >> Second. Thank you, Councilwoman Holland. Any council discussion on this?
I will note just for the public, this is coming from the capital improvement fund. This would not be bonded money. That's why it's in a separate ordinance than the bond ordinances which will be discussed in the uh the next week. Any council I'm sorry, any council
discussion? Okay. Madam clerk, would you call the role, please? Sorry. Councilwoman Holland, >> yes. >> Council member McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes. >> Mayor uh Tambbor, >> yes.
>> Mayor, uh it will be I5 will be numbered 202619. Will be noticed in a public hearing will be held May 18th. >> Okay. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is ordinance I6 as an introduction. Ordinance on introduction.
Madam clerk, would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record? >> Water and sewer utility capital ordinance appropriating 113,000 from water sewer utility capital improvement fund for the various improvements by the town of Veron in the county of Essex, New Jersey.
>> Thank you. I will move this ordinance. Is there a second? >> Second. >> The second is by Councilwoman Holland. 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. >> Yes. >> Mayor Tamborro. >> Yes. >> Mayor, the ordinance will be number 2026-20. Uh it will be noticed in a public hearing held on May 18th. >> And for the public certification, the reason why this is in a separate ordinance is this be comes from the
water and capital fund which is paid by water uh and sewer rates rather than by taxes. So that's why it's in a separate bond. All right, madame clerk. The next item on the agenda is ordinance I7 for introduction. Would you please read the
title of this ordinance into the record? >> Amending chapter A575-7 Verona Community Pool Membership and other fees. >> Thank you. Would somebody move this ordinance, please? >> So move. >> Motion's made by Councilman Roman. Is there a second? >> I'll second.
>> Seconds by the deputy mayor. 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. Mayor Chambro.
>> Yes. >> Mayor um by seven. Well, which is really not will be numbered um 2026 21. It'll be noticed in a public hearing held on May 18th. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. The next item on the agenda
is ordinance I8 for introduction. Would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record? Now, it's an ordinance to amend ordinance 20 26-26 pool membership fees to increase the number of non-resident memberships. >> Thank you, madam clerk. Would somebody move this ordinance, please? >> So moved.
>> Motion's made by the deputy mayor. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second made by Council Roman. Is there 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, >> yes. Mayor Tambbor. >> Yes, >> Mayor. Um, this ordinance will be number 2026-22 and it will be noticed and a public hearing will be held on May 18th. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. All right. For our consent agenda, we have two sets of
minutes and 11 resolutions. Somebody would like to anybody need to pull anything first. Counciloman, >> I'd like to pull K1 and L10. >> K1 for a separate vote. >> Okay. Okay. One in L10.
And um I just want to pull L1 as well. So at this time, would somebody please move K2 and L2 through L9 and L11? >> So moved. >> Motion is made by Councilwoman McGrath.
Is there a second? Second. Second is made by Councilman Roman. At this time, I'll call for public comment on all consent agenda items, including the ones that we pulled. The comment is only for consent agenda items
hearing. None. Actually, Madam Cler, are we at the top of the >> Yeah. Could you scroll down on the Zoom? >> Well, it'll it'll pop up on the Zoom, so everybody will be at the top if their hand is raised. I just don't know >> if we are at the top. >> Yes. That's the top.
>> Okay. >> All right. So, just pop pop back up. There you go. And all the hand raised would be at the top. There we go. >> I got Yeah. >> Okay. Hearing none of close public comment. Any council discussion on the K2, L2 through L9, and L1.
Okay. Hearing none. Madam clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Counciloman. >> Councilwoman Holland. So, so clarifying this is the non-pulled consent agenda. Yep. Yes. >> Uh, Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman,
>> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes. >> Mayor Tambbor, >> yes. >> Um, L2 through L9 will be numbered 101 through 108 and 11 will be 109. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Will somebody
move? >> Yeah. >> Uh, K1 the minutes. >> So moved. Motion is made by Councilwoman McGrath. Is there a second? I'll second them. Any discussion? >> I was not in attendance for this
meeting. Um, so I asked for the second vote. Thank you. >> Thank you. Madam clerk, would you call the role, please? >> What are you going to recuse? >> No, I'm just going to abstain. >> Okay. Councilwoman Holland, >> abstain. >> Councilwoman McGrath.
>> Uh, yes. Councilman Roman. Yes. Deputy Mayor Makavoy. Mayor T. Mayor Tambbor. >> Yes. >> So K1 and that's it, right? We're just doing K1. >> Just K1. >> Just K1.
>> Would somebody move L >> L1, please? >> So moved. >> Motion's made by Councilwoman McGrath. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second is by Councilman Roman. Um I have just some questions on this. I know when
we originally conceived Ever Field and went with the >> three minutes are up there. >> Yeah, >> it's on it's on override. >> You need to put your cell phone in the caddy with all the other cell phones. All right. Um anyway, we had talked
about having a turf management specialist and I know that um you know the the contractor that's been suggested here is is a um like a property maintenance company that deals a lot with you know commercial and and residential, you
know, grass mowing and plantings and things like that. I just wanted to see if we had an idea of what their depth of their experience is. I know they were the most responsive bidder, but does somebody there have a, you know, degree from the Ruckers, you know, Cook School
that specializes in turf management? You know, what level of expertise do they have? Because with the amount of money that we're spending on this field, I want to make sure it is this is the right company that we choose. >> Sure. The um the contract that is
presented to the council tonight will be supplemented by an additional independent party that would serve us as a um a greens management um consultant that we are still uh interviewing those
professionals. they will be below the bid threshold. So, they will not likely require a formal resolution, but we are reviewing professionals that will act as an independent uh oversight management firm for the maintenance element. >> All right, that is vital and I think
it's important that we keep a very very close eye on >> on all of that. I know I will be popping over to watch them mow the lawn on occasion because it is that important. Uh despite my grass allergies that will just make me cry the entire time. Um >> question.
>> Yes, deputy mayor. >> Uh does this in this is the entire field includes >> mulching any all that or is that >> it's everything within the fences. So it's maintenance of the lawn. Uh it is
mowing, trimming, um any um additional feeding to the lawn. Uh it also uh it does not include the outside perimeter which is the treed and mulched area. that would still fall within the purview of the public works department,
>> but everything inside the fencing is within this contract. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> Please stop. >> Madam clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Councilwoman Holland and Yes.
>> Thank you. Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, >> yes. And thank you. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes. >> Mayor Tambbor, >> yes. May L1 will be number uh 2026-110. Passes 50. >> All right. Would somebody like to move
L10? >> So moved. >> The motion is made by Councilwoman McGrath. I will second that motion. >> Any council discussion? >> Um I've stated on the record almost every single year. um is really um abhorrent that the state of New Jersey
has stolen money from local towns um by diverting the energy tax receipts which has happened for several years under both Republican and Democratic administrations. I do support the restoration of this line item in all of our budgets. Um I wish they had put the
tracker back out. We got to be over about $2 million. So, um hopefully, um as part of the budget process, they'll cons consider restoring it and it's important to pass this resolution every year. Thank you. >> Thank you. And I will leave it with your
sentiments. Um Madam Clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Councilwoman Holland, >> abstain. >> Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Roman, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> please forward to all listed on here. Yes.
Mayor Tambboro. >> Yes. >> Uh, Mayor, number 10 will be number 2026- 111 and it passes quarter zero with one extension. >> Thank you. All right. Moving on to uh
I'm actually going to flip 02 and 01 and um go to the discussion allocation of pilot funds from 85 Bloomtown Avenue. At this time, I would like to invite Joe Bowman from Mcban Scotland and Bowman to come forward. Mr. Mr. Bowman provided us legal advice in the meeting prior. I've
asked Mr. Bowman to provide some general not legal advice but for the public an understanding of options available to councils as far as how pilot funds can be deployed um without providing us any legal advice on those options. >> Right. Great. Thank you mayor um
council. So, uh, as we discussed, um, there are ways in which public bodies generally have and can share pilot revenues with the board of education. Uh, in our opinion, they're limited to multif
family projects where there would be most appropriate anyway because they impact schools, right? Um, generally, um, there is no specific rule about how you would go about sharing that pilot, meaning there's not a predetermined percentage of the annual service charge
you might share. There's not a predetermined dollar amount that you might share. Um, so that sharing of the pilot um is sort of a to be negotiated, to be determined. It's pretty much at the discretion of the governing body. as I think you suggested in your initial
remarks, mayor. Those are subject to annual appropriation every year. So, you could reach an agreement with the board of education uh to share a pilot and then you would look to the governing body each year to make an included in their budget and make an appropriation. Uh we've talked about different ways to
share the pilot and some of the suggestions that I posited to you were things like u establishing a capital fund. So, uh, agree to perhaps, uh, take a percentage of the pilot and put it into a fund to share with the board of
education for capital improvements, uh, by way of example, as opposed to a straight out allocation that sort of goes right into their budget. Um, and through an agreement with the board of education, I believe there's a lot of opportunity to figure out how those funds could actually be used. Um, in
terms of like this example, a capital fund, you're at the end of the day though, the board of education in the school district only have the have the powers to educate children and you don't. So there is still a limitation to the extent that you can be involved
specifically in how those pilots get allocated for operating expenses. For example, if you just shared the pilot with the board of education, I do not believe you'd be able to direct necessarily how that money would get spent specifically in their operating budget. Um but there is a myriad of opportunities to sit down with the board
of education as has been described in this meeting come to an agreement about what's the best way maybe engage in a open transparent opportunity uh dialogue about where the money's get spent both on both sides exploring you know shared services things you've already done but
then coming up with a way in which the pilot could be shared either through sort of this suggestion that could be like a c a trust fund for capital improvements or perhaps just again allocation to the um to their budget. Um and you know that is a dialogue I'm
seeing more and more throughout the state of New Jersey. You know conversations about how to address particularly as has been said here and as everyone's well aware your problem is not unique in New Jersey. Board of educations are struggling with this and as our municipalities with budget
constraints. um you don't need to look very far to see budgets that are struggling with big deficits on a municipal and a board of education uh level. So um you actually approached me about this weeks ago. We've had an opportunity to share and we had a nice meeting today. So I'm glad we've been
able to explore it and I look forward to talking to you more about it as you begin to engage with the board of ed on the best way to work through these challenges. >> Mr. Bowman, in your experience, what do most what do most of the agreements look like? Um well um I think mostly they're
just a percent. They they come up with a percent. I don't think there's a rhyme or reason necessarily% >> a percentage of the pilot for example >> as far as a capital like in one of those >> that I think is a more unique scenario. Okay. >> Um yeah >> other questions. Councilwoman Holland.
>> Sure. Um during our discussion earlier, I mentioned and I did state in public comment earlier that a concern that I have is um kind of the general lack of transparency and that there's opportunities for more of that um in your experience um or just drawing upon
your expertise. Do you think it's possible that if there were any kind of sharing agreement that we could incorporate terms into that to enhance transparency for the public benefit? um possibly on both sides, but in particular for our colleagues at the board of ed.
>> Yeah, I do for sure. Um you know, barring things that are clearly by law not permitted to be shared, right? There's clear privacy issues and other things that can't simply can't be shared or shouldn't be shared. Um but you know, any any dialogue I think or any agreement with the board of education presumably would have a much more robust
sharing of information perhaps since happened in the past for no bad intent maybe just hasn't happened. So I think there's an opportunity for that for sure. >> Absolutely. Yeah, I don't think there's bad intent, but I do think that there's opportunity. So, thank you for that. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Councilwoman.
>> Thank you, Mr. Bowman. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. On to the open burn ordinance discussion. >> This was amended from a few meetings ago just to
more simplify it. Um the there is now an exemption for certain um the burning of trees and weed or twigs
and I believe also we have removed the has to be discharged. >> You removed what? Uh, there was a concern that >> that's still in the copy that we have. >> It's absolutely still in the copy that we have. >> D3. >> What is it?
>> I couldn't hear what he said. What are we talking about? >> Uh, it's it's uh section 2026-21-2 D3. >> Three is removed. He >> This is This is the wrong version. >> It is.
>> Yeah. Brian, we had sent the >> All right. Well, if that's not what's in the packet, I think we need to wait until next meeting until we have the proper uh >> proper ordinance. >> If I may, I I did have a little bit of feedback on this. Um
>> so, if this isn't the right ordinance, so be it. Maybe you've made further improvements since then. Um but I can see that some improvements were intended to be made in this draft. Um I do appreciate that there was an effort to include an exemption for recreational
fires. So, like if people have fire pits, but as was noted, it does still include the requirement that it be through a stack or chimney. And that definition, I I I think it's not clear if that definition allows for like the standard
fire pit that people might get from like a Home Depot. Um, it also says um not if burning items prohibited above. And then it says that the items that are prohibited are rubbish, garbage, dangerous
material, trade uh trade waste, structures, and plant life. And then under plant light, it includes tree branches, which I really struggle um because I think logs in somebody's fire pit are probably a version of a tree branch. So, I just think we're
still falling short on this ordinance and likely capturing a lot of people's kind of recreational fire pits. Um, which is kind of a nice thing to do in the spring and the fall when you get like those chillier evenings. Um, but mindful of the fact also that we've been
under a drought and there have been burn restrictions. But, um, I do think that there's value in having an ordinance that's prohibiting somebody just like lighting a match for all of their vegetative waste. But like um I I think we have more to do before I would feel
comfortable introducing this ordinance. So I hope that some of that feedback's captured in whatever revisions were made. >> Yeah. Just so the council's clear, the revisions that were made actually dramatically changed the ordinance. >> Great. >> So I've just sent it to the clerk so she can send it to you, but the ordinance now actually just defines um the fact
that you can't burn, I'll call it garbage, and then it says that you can burn, for instance, your small twigs as kindling and whatnot. So it forgets the smoke stacks. It forgets everything else and says you can't burn your garbage basically. >> Great. >> So you can go through the definitions and if you have questions if we think we should add more, subtract more, that's
great. But I think you'll be happy with it because it's completely different than what you have. >> Excellent. I love the idea that our code enforcement aren't going to be, you know, parts log and what's a tree branch and things like that. So thank you. >> We will not have to supply them with
rulers to make sure like that wooden ones that they can put in the fire. Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Just a quick correction. Uh, in 262-21, we could actually take out it says trade water. >> It's kind of >> I think that was a typo. It meant trade waste,
>> but even trade waste is trade water. It's just it's kind of the same thing. So, >> all right. Again, what you're looking at is not even close. >> So, I would I would suggest that >> throw what you have in the garbage. This is this is literally two sections A and B. >> It needs to go back. >> You have pages of nonsense. We narrowed
it down to two paragraphs. It needs to go back on new business for next meeting. >> Next meeting. >> Yes. Okay. >> Um I will open for one more public comment session. Madam clerk, would you reread the public comment rules, please?
>> Anyone from the public wishing to speak on any matter. You're attending by Zoom, please raise your hand by pressing the raise hand button on your monitor. If you're dialing in by phone, press star 9. If you are attending in person, please raise your hand and be acknowledged before approaching the elector. Once recognized, clearly state
only your name and township 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 public portion. And after everyone wishing to speak has been heard, the council may address your comments and or questions. Okay. Hi, Maria Ki, Verona resident. Thank you first of all for this conversation. It was very enlightening. I'm happy to be
seeing this dialogue begin between the council and the schools. Um, I just felt as though the conversation sort of took a turn into, you know, why a pi why pilot
programs. Um, and I I think that you did a really great job of explaining the use of them as a tool and how much it's helped to contain development in Verona. I think that the question that I have and I'm suspecting
that a lot of my friends out in um in the audience have is why until now have we only just why is it that it's taken this long to only begin to discuss the sharing? And I really appreciate the um
guests that you brought in today to discuss what those sharing agreements can look like. But, you know, when I sit here and I I I heard about Hilltop and that was long before, you know, I lived in Verona and any of you were elected,
um, it just kind of defies logic that eventually that question of, you know, those funds are being used by the town for town things would not eventually trickle down into, well, the board would have got the board of education would
have gotten 50% or more of a property tax. When are they, you know, when is it going to be time to pay the piper, right? So, I'm really happy that we've begun the conversation. I think that we can't talk about pilots
anymore without talking about including the board of ed. It just it's given the situation that boards of education are facing now. I just don't think it's right for the town to to keep it all
without an open dialogue with that other that other body and we won't even talk about county government. They don't need a sheriff. But that's all I have to say. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Ki. Hi, my name is Charity DC. I'm a
resident in Verona here. Have two daughters. They attended music in elementary and middle. Mandarin all the way through, art all the way through. Um, I have two questions and just a comment. Um, I wanted to know what's the amount of remaining affordable houses in
this fourth round. the state number of 172 was thrown out at one point, but then I heard a lower number that was based on something else. So, I just wanted to clarify that. I also wanted to check in on when was um the shared
services last discussed um expanding beyond the services that we currently have because um obviously in New Jersey municipalities and school districts are separate legal entities and state law the uniform shared
services and consolidation act make it really clear that they can merge back office costs like health insurance and since health insurance seems to be about 30% of this debacle and that's only growing over the next I would say more
than next year but many years um a lot of schools you know keep their governing bodies and schools independent but merge on those things so I'm curious if Cedar Grove you know Verona Rosland there's other shared services what has been the
last time that there was a discussion about that with our school board and then other mun municipalities ities and school boards. Um because I think the health insurance funds, the f the FIH's in central Jersey health insurance fund
and the South New Jersey Regional Employee Fund Benefits Fund have reduced their costs by like 35% if you look online by doing that. So other county shared services, I know we don't want to talk about the county, but Payic does
that and that's why Hilden and all the other small towns have that bargaining power and you know for sheer numbers so they negotiate those lower premiums. Finally, um, in interest of moving forward, I just want to throw something else out there, and this was when it was
last discussed in 2022, um, in a month from now, June 5th, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day again. And um I know Mayor Tambbora, you stated you didn't think that we should be lighting up our township facility for
something ideological. And I understand you said that it was veiled as a gun safety issue and that's what the proclamation that we have in places etc. Um but the same organizations that support this are also
very much trying to limit gun rights and so on. And I think a good portion based on the number of gun permits that we have in Verona of residents do not support this. You went on and on about that. So I'm opposed to lighting up the building orange for that purpose. And my
request is simply that um preventing gun violence has been framed as an ideological and partisan divide in American politics. However, there's significant evidence suggesting that framing this in this way is completely inaccurate.
Research, public opinion polling and legislative actions indicate that a broad non ideological consensus exists particularly regarding safety measures which is often obscuration. I'm again raising this issue four years
later requesting that the Verona Town Hall go orange on July 5th or June 5th, 2026 for what most agree that gun violence awareness is actually a public health issue um and in the research as well as practice. So rather than framing
this again as an ide ideological issue as it was previously characterized, I think that's really out ofd and I respectfully request that we join um 300 landmarks, buildings, and stadiums across the United States along with 170
mayors and city officials who participate. 45 of which >> Thank you. But your your time is up. >> Yeah, that's so you get the gist. especially in light of the public venue. Your time is up. >> Thank you.
>> Any other public comment? Yes, Mr. Mchu. >> Hi, thank you all. My name is Marielleen McHugh. I'm a resident of Verona. Uh thank you all for your time and also uh thank you in advance for partnering and working in collaboration uh with the board of ed to make our schools keep our
schools as amazing as they currently are. I just have two uh comments or questions. One is regarding shared services as they're currently known. I know mayor you said that it's not quite the actual definition but we'll go with it. Uh
where are the services that are supplied to the schools by the town? Where are they outlined uh for public review? And also are they quantified like a dollar value, maybe an annual value of one to the other? And then in addition,
do they include the services provided by the schools including building and field use for summer playgrounds, w track, uh wreck basketball, and other programs? because I know that I don't think the town pays the schools for building and
field use throughout the year. So, there's value to that as well. And then just one comment regarding the addition of 10 students where the schools can realize some economies of scale. Mayor,
but at what point are the added students creating diseconomies of scale where the cost increases resulting in cuts made to the staff and programs in the schools? I propose it is somewhere between the hypothetical 10 students and the actual
43 students that enrolled. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Battersby. >> Hello, my name is Will Batsby. I'm a Verona resident. Um, so I really do want to commend you all for this commitment to working more closely with the board
of ed. And uh, we will obviously be sort of putting their feet to a very friendly fire as well to do that. Uh, one of the things I did want to just actually sort of put on record for those of you who don't know who don't have kids in the in the music program. Um, maybe don't have kids, whatever. But, you know, at
present time we have over 600 kids in town studying music from uh, you know, our elementary schools through our high schools. It's the largest group of kids you've got of, you know, doing any extracurricular activity in this town. So, I think it's a great idea that when
you guys are, you know, obviously focused on your priorities and, you know, Everett Field drives me crazy for the record, but whatever. It's happened. You know, I think that finding that sort of balance and that synchronicity between you guys and the board of ed so that the expenditure of our tax money
actually represents the values in town, right? and and not just the siloed um things that you guys obviously have to deal with and we super appreciate what you do. We super appreciate what the board does. Um but don't forget that massive number of kids who study music
in this town. Music is the one thing that is scientifically proven to increase academic uh you know uh results. Academic results schools quality of schools drives property values. Property values drives taxes. So I think there's
this great synchronicity one Verona sounds like a great idea. Thanks very much. >> Thank you. >> Hi Dana Bon again. Um I just want to thank you for clarifying some of the pilot stuff. Um I have lived in this town my whole life. I'm a lifelong
resident. I have seen it change dramatically. And although I I know you've worked hard and you've tried to prevent growth, growth is still something that is happening whether we like it or not. And it almost seems like the cards are really stacked against everyone. Like there's really no hope
that this is not going to happen. I still am not sure what if the alter is the alternative of not having a pilot that they build more and they pay full taxes and we and then the town generates more income and the schools generate
more income and the town is more crowded but it's paid for. So like I feel like are we just going to give it away for free and it's going to happen anyway? Should we consider just letting these builders build what they want and paying full taxes? Um, so the question is, is that the alternative? Like what is the
alternative to a non-pilot? They just build more but they still pay full taxes. >> Thank you, Mr. Barrows. >> Hi everyone. Uh, Chris Barrows, VR resident. Uh, I want to one I'll echo what everyone said. Thank you for everything today. I think everyone feels more informed. I want to go back to
something that got said earlier which was talking about the taking the time to meet even twice a year with the board of ed. That's a two-way street. Totally get that. I one of pieces got mentioned was transparency of that. I think if the town even knew that one of those
meetings is public and they're going to see that it's valuable to them. The other thing to think about if that goes forward is also think in a cyclical nature. you've got a cycle of things that happen, but the schools have a very cyclical nature that you have to consider, but it can make that work really well to find a time that's just
perfect. So, just want to put that in mind. And last but not least on the shared services piece, I love this conversation happened. I want to bring up one thing just as you have those conversations, as you consider the sharing of pilot and and and all of that as the opportunity is there. I want to I
and I want to speak to when I had a chance as a small business owner, which is, you know, it's something I do as a small part of what I do. We were doing an event at Threefold on small business night. It was a business initiative. The talent that came out that night was
musicians from the high school and they participated and they performed. They performed for us at all of our major events. We have librarians and other services coming and former teachers teaching students in our library, getting more students in our library.
And I can speak to that personally because that's transparency. I am a library board member and treasurer. So when I say that, I just hope you consider that additional thing that does not actually have a money number attached to it. But if you think about
the cost of pulling in a musician to sing the national anthem and all those costs over time, there's another service that as you're calculating that, I just want you to put into that consideration. And if you've had a chance, even though uh I would just encourage you and and
I'm hoping people listening, if you if you go back and watch the students pour their heart outs at that board of ed meeting, I think it's impactful for this entire town, the people in this room, the people at home. Um, but I'll just hope you think about those things. I thank you. This has been a very, I think, productive conversation overall.
We can't solve anything today or in this next 24 hours, but next year is going to be difficult. So, uh, the the path has to start today. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> At this time, I Oh, sorry, Mr. Ki. Come on. >> Thank you. Rob Ki, Ron, resident VMPA
board member. And I I want to thank everyone for the education that I've gotten tonight about pilot programs. That had not been my primary focus, but I did want to learn more about it. And everything I've learned I know about pilot programs, I've learned recently
and most of it from my wife. But I do have a question about it. when a friend of mine rang the doorbell today. He was stumping for the um primary election and we got chatting and we were talking about these pilot programs. Uh he asked me a question that
I was embarrassed to not know the answer to and that is is there a legal prohibition of usage of these pilot funds to be disseminated to the county and board uh at the discretion of the town? I said I really don't know. Um, I
know that it's not something they choose to do. So, while I completely understood the motive, the the motives for choosing a pilot program, I'm not sure if I understand the usage of it afterwards when you say that it is either earmarked
or allocated as part of the budget. Does it need to be or could you allocate the portion of it that would otherwise have been the town's portion in a regular tax situation? Um, in addition to that, I just wanted
to make one quick sort of impassion um, statement. We talked a lot tonight about sharing shared services, sharing the information that we as the Verona population need to know. And I would just ask you to share one more thing
with us, the priorities of this town. When we made the impassion plea at the board of education, we knew that it was not anything to do with the town council. We knew that there were difficulties and difficult choices to make, but we we implored them to listen
to what we consider to be a core value and defining characteristics of this town. And they heard us. And I hope that in a similar way the council will in the future be u inclined to be collaborative
with the board to share our priorities. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Ki. Right. All right, at this time I close public comment. I can address uh some of these things as best I can. Um going back to uh Mrs. Conte, I think
it's a couple of the other um the other questions. So why I think the question was why do we wait until now to discuss sharing? I I can't comment any of the the pilot agreements that were entered into as far as prior to my being on the council. I think you heard my comment
that I wasn't there, but I think it was the best option that they had at the time. Part of the uh part of the issue with a lot of these pilots was that they were entered into at the same time there was a significant capital expense. When
we bond for those capital expenses, there's an annual debt service payment on the capital expenses. So what a lot of these pilots look like is the revenue coming in from that pilot is equivalent to the bond payment going out and the
bonds are for 30 years and the pilots are for 30 years. That's typically how that works. The pilots don't have to be for 30 years, but that's just how they've been. So you'll see a correlation between that. And then you'll you'll notice as the pilot revenue sometimes increases in those projects because that the value of
things goes up, you'll also see the debt service payments go up as well at the same time. And that's part of the reason why that's the case. What I can tell you is is that the the most recent pilot project is not tied to anything else. Do
we have $300 million of other needs in this town? something like that. If we, you know, finally redid our whole water treatment plant, build a public safety complex, fixed every building that we have, um,
you know, fixed every road, there are plenty more needs than we have even bonding capacity for, right? Um, so that's, you know, part of that that issue. So that's why I think it didn't happen till now. I can tell you that there was discussion. There was a um
there was a previous I attended as a member of the public um meeting between the council and the board of ed many years ago. And at that point the a council member at the time suggested that the council and the board
of ed pay each other every time they used a building or you know a wreck field or whatever. Hm. >> This is how far we've got gotten right up to a point where we're actually discussing what we're talking about. So, I I would if you can find a video of
that, I would I would watch it because it was a fascinating meeting for sure. Um, on to uh question, Miss Dy, as far as uh when were shared services last discussed. Um,
shared services are constantly being discussed. Um and you uh in Mr. Sullivan's meeting regularly, right, with the superintendent, you're talking about new things. Um the last signed updated agreement we have, I think going to Mrs. McHugh's point, it's available
online. Um and uh we can if you send the municipal clerk an open request, she can get it to you if you can't find it. Um does anybody have a copy print a copy of it here? I can borrow theou or >> the printedou. >> Oh no, I don't have it. >> Anybody have one? Okay. Um it's something we we keep looking at. Uh but
you can certainly get a hold of it. It's not a secret document. We we all um share and discuss it and you know even in conversations that um I was having with the manager this week and we're trying to figure out some other shared service things that we can do. Um but
we're you know minds are open but that's another conversation uh that we have to have. I years ago I had suggested like it as a shared service but that didn't seem to be a viable option based on talking to to parties and things like that. So um largely that would be a shared service that presumably be
provided by the district to us but that's another a piece of it. Um as far as the number of affordable housing units uh Miss Stacy you can get the entire affordable housing plan. It's available to the public. I would encourage you to uh to read the the entire thing. um that'll have all that
information that you need in it. As far as your comments on some previous statements regarding lighting the building, um I would uh refer you to the ordinance that the township passed regarding the lighting of buildings. Um when I originally had an objection, I
was noting that yes, there is not, you know, 100% agreement in this town uh without specifically taking a position. Uh, and that was misinterpreted by many um because people didn't come and talk to me about that, right? But you'll find that one of my concerns was that we
didn't actually have a capacity or a an ordinance by that decided when we did these things, right? So, the council passed an ordinance that deals with uh our flag raisings and the lighting of the building and under what
circumstances, how many days, which holidays. Um, and I did vote in the affirmative of that and one of the days or the the uh the periods of that is for gun violence. So, you can look at that ordinance. My vote is on that and I encourage you to look at that on the record. Um, and certainly, you know,
speak to me before making other public statements regarding that. Um, and that's that'll be I think that record speaks for itself. You'll also find my signature on a gun violence proclamation uh from the same meeting that that was discussed in uh which was uh incorrectly
put out as I didn't sign the proclamation, but in the uh in the same place that that was said, there was actually a picture of proclamation with my signature on it. Um so just another one of those things that I think was was fed by misunderstanding. Um and I think going back to the record, you will see that as well. Um, at our upcoming
council meeting, there'll be a resolution um, uh, addressing gun violence prevention month and all of those things. And you'll see that in June. Um, as far as the uh health insurance trusts, I would
um I would remind I think I I talked about this at the beginning of the meeting, but the township is in the the BMED, which is a cooperative health insurance purchasing uh collaborative, and the board of education is in a uh is in a health insurance trust through that
through like I don't know how many hundreds of um employer units are in it. Uh but pretty much nobody at this point, no boards of education or school boards are on their own buying health insurance because the risk pool is so great and if you have one bad year of uh usage
experience rates, your uh your numbers could go way way way up. So, I would encourage you um I think at this point we can't have the same health insurance plans as the school district because they have collective bargaining
agreements um for teachers and and principles. We have collective bargaining agreements for our office and DPW workers, the OPIU as well as our PDA and their health insurance options that are determined in those collective bargaining agreements and the school collective bargaining agreements as
well. Um and there's also a difference in the uh the town town employees get certain um certain town employees get healthcare after retirement which is an expense whereas most of the board of ed workers um healthcare and retirement is
actually paid by the state of New Jersey through the teachers pension nuity fund. Um so the the board actually doesn't pay for for that as well. So there's some differences there. Um but we do participate in those funds. And one of the items that I I brought up to Mr. Sullivan at one point um in a prior
meeting when we were talking about the budget with healthcare as a big driver is using some of my experience as a uh I'm a consultant in labor relations. Um, specifically, one of the main things I do in addition to grievance adjudication is um, negotiate labor contracts. And I
have some extra expertise in options as far as providing other health insurance options that can both save money um, for the town and for individuals. not by changing the entire plan because that's something that needs to be negotiated,
but by offering additional choices to incentivize people to take on lower cost plans. So, it's something that brought up before. I would encourage you to take a look at that. Um, just trying to now I can't read my handwriting, so I I apologize if I did
not hit on something. Um, going back to uh Mrs. McHugh once again, I would I would look at that document. Um they certainly uh we put a cost estimate on what we provide not only the exact services in there but also all of these other ancillary things that we provide.
Um they would have to come to an agreement on what you know the facility rental is and you know and stuff like that as well. Um, as far as numbers going into the schools, I think the uh to be fair to the board of ed, the
really the biggest cost increase is if you have a special ed student that has to go out of district. Um, and some of that is borne by the budget. Others you get back an extraordinary special ed aid. So, the board would have to give you those numbers, and I'm sure they they would. Um, and they're actually represented in their budget. So, if you
can get a a copy of that, that would certainly be helpful. Um, going to Mr. Batterdsby once again, I appreciate uh you're pointing out the number of um people involved in music programs and I think you know that I've supported our music programs my entire
18 years uh in Verona from attending concerts to going on overnight trips um to helping at fundraisers uh providing EMS coverage for band competitions um and you know constantly being available to to help our students. Um, I think my
record speaks for that. And I don't, you know, I've done that for a long time. It's not a political thing. It's just the right thing. And, um, and I think, you know, that my students have always come first and foremost. And I appreciate and I I've made the point over the years that,
um, that our music programs are the place where everybody belongs and that it's so important when we're dealing with students who who need a place to be and go. So, not only is there that academic piece of this, but there's also that psychosocial piece that is so incredibly important, especially in
Verona that just does such an amazing job with that. So, I said I'm not going to necessarily comment on the choices the board makes. Um, but I think you certainly know my opinion. Um, I I would like that out there. Um, and as far as interesting number, I
think you how many how many people are in the PBSL? Do do you remember how many they told us in the PBS? Definitely over 500. >> Yeah. So, when we look at at numbers up and down, uh just throwing that out there. I think I said 700 last meeting. I think it was was under that, but uh we'll put it out there as well. Uh going
back to Mrs. Bachin. Um yes, growth is happening. We are trying to I think we're all trying to stunt that growth as much as possible. Um because here's the problem and I and if you want to sit down and just talk about the finances of this, I could I could sit for hours and
discuss this because I'm a big nerd. Um but the reality of it is if you kind of let development happen the if you have to build a school because of development that's that's the nightmare scenario if you have to hire
so many more teachers because of development not only do you have salary but fringe if you would just let development go. So I would estimate in that case that the actual cost between building a building and hiring more staff and resources and all of that
stuff would far be beyond what the U board of ed would realize in tax revenue. Um so and um our town would be packed like sardines and canned which we certainly want to avoid um as well. But I'm happy to go through this with you uh
because I I love talking about it. Uh Mr. Mr. Barrows, I appreciate your comments as well. Um, going to Mr. Ki, I I think we uh there's no, as I said, there's no legal prohibition on and as Mr. Bowman pointed out, sharing that
pilot money, but what has happened is that that debt service and the pilot are kind of happening happening at the same time. So, as I mentioned, but Councilman Roman clarified in his statement, or maybe it might have been Deputy Mayor Mackoy, but the One Sense Avenue money
that we still don't even have was part of the conversation as far as being able to finance the Corona Flats building. So, right now, that's been coming out of of general fund uh for that as well. So, um that's a piece of
it. I I'm just not done right yet, but I'll get right to you. Um, and as far as talking on our priorities, um, I would encourage everybody to watch our council meetings, the I have been on this council for 5 years with these same council members
and which is unusual to actually have a council that is consistent for this long. Um, and I will say that I think this council has been very open about what our priorities are and meeting those priorities. One of the problems that we continue to
face is is that our needs outweigh our resources. Right? Board of Vet is having the same problems. We need to do much more. Right? We've talked about these big infrastructure projects. Right? We've needed a new police station since
1977 or 1975 or something like that. All right? It is now 2026. Um and we that hasn't been done. And that is a project that will cost in the tens of millions of dollars to do that and fix a
firehouse that's crumbling. Right? So some of our priorities are developed because it's things that we want to see for the town moving forward. The growth and change that we want to see in the town. Some of our other priorities
happen because they are forced upon us, right? Like getting this affordable housing plan done. um dealing with our public safety infrastructure, dealing with our water and sewer infrastructure, right? And these things take massive amounts of time and resources. So when
we sit down and talk about our priorities, I think you can look at where we're spending our time and energy certainly as one um because if I listed all of my priorities, you wouldn't believe me because for so many of them they would all conflict, right? Um so I think that's a big piece of it to uh to be
aware of. But I appreciate you you asking. Um, once again, happy to talk to you about where I see the town going. Um, and I would encourage you, my my campaign site is still active. Um, as well, and you can log on to that and
actually see my priority list that I published for the public edification. Um, and we we have a conversation starting there. But I want to read a lengthy it's like a 15-page document to everybody. So, that's a lot of priorities, right? Councilwoman um graph. Thank you. Um, just a couple
quick things. So, um, several of you in your public comment again reiterated that pilots, you know, we're not they're taking money away from schools. Again, the budget, um, for the school board, as I understand it, as been articulated tonight, is, you know, they're allowed
to increase by 2% of their existing budget. So again, like this perception that the pilots that you know a regular um a a housing development that's taxed at the regular weight rate is somehow better. It it that's not what we our
understanding is that's not part of the formula. Now I want to give space to the fact that we are you know not on the board of ed, neither is our town manager. And so maybe there's something that we're missing though he has been in con constant conversations with the
finance individuals on the board of ed but it's that's really essential. However, you know, the pilots, they do take assessed value out of the equation. And so, from a taxpayer point of view, it makes us pay more in
um school taxes, but then the town is getting this fee, which then helps to offset the tax rate of the municipality. So, it's sort of a wash for the taxpayer, but and we are just going to have to unfortunately since we're done with public comment, like continue the
conversation. And I also want to give if someone is listening to this recording or is online um and really you know can show me the math I people who know me both in and outside of Verona on this issue I'm like I I really want to understand the math here like let's talk
about it with actual numbers. So I just want to say that um that's important. Um, and the other thing, um, that, um, in terms of priorities, I'm just going to say at a very high level, the health and safety of our township is really
important to me. And that is a priority to me. And so, as much as I love the music program, again, when we're thinking about, well, do we have to make cuts to reduce our police force in order to, you know, give the board of ed more money to use for multiple purposes? You
know, those are really tough decisions to make because on the other hand, we have residents, a lot of residents who are very concerned about safety, about traffic safety. They wanted us to get our we need to have a certain size police force because the town is growing
and because of the corridors that we are in because of, you know, past issues that we've had with cars being stolen and people speeding and concerns with pedestrian safety. So, these are very tough decisions to make. Um, just to go back to Miss Dy on gun violence
prevention, we have, as the mayor already mentioned since um, that um, discussion back in 2022, we did change our ordinances and we do light our buildings every year for gun violence prevention day. But what we don't do is something that we did when I was an
advocate for uh, this issue at when I co-led the group Mom's Demand Action for Gunsense in America in Essex County. We used to take very visible and public pictures with um advocates who came to us dressed in orange and we would wear orange and the deputy mayor wear orange
tie. We would all have you know our ribbons and we would take a picture and that would accompany that and instead the recent practice in recent years has been to just do it as a resolution which is not as visible. I miss taking that picture and I would love to take a
picture this June. And the gun violence prevention advocates already sent an email um to the mayor and to myself asking for a proclamation. I would love to do a traditional proclamation this year. So, thank you so much for raising that. Thank you. And that's um that's the only comment I have on your comment.
I'll stay afterward the meeting to talk to more residents. Thank you. >> All right. At this time, we have made I'm sorry, Councilman. >> Yeah. Thanks. Um, so I I would just like to add and I'm not going to belver the point. I feel like several points have
been exhaustively belabored. Um, but I do just want to bring up the fact that this is not a new issue, right? If you can do some of your research and I think uh Mr. Tambboro has indicated that, you know, there have been prior council
discussions with the board of ed about sharing services, about quantifying those shared services, about sharing pilot money going back uh over a decade. I think the first uh meeting that I became aware of was when I first moved
to this town in 2012. So, this is not a new issue. And so you I think this goes back to Miss Ki your comment like you know um why has it taken so long to have this discussion. I I don't think it's taken a long time to have this discussion. I just think it's not always
been productive. Um and I think there was a gentleman who's since left who kind of pointed out that that maybe there's a siloing and maybe there's that opportunity for enhanced dialogue. And what I would say as a call to action to you as residents is to remain engaged.
Right? So, like if we go back to having no residents speaking on this issue and asking these questions, then it'll be like another four years before this is addressed again. And that's what it was. Like when I looked back, I think it was addressed in 2012 and then maybe the
meeting that um was referenced I think was like approximately 2016 or something like that. It just it would go in these cycles. Um there would be accusations on both sides, but ultimately not a productive dialogue. And what I'm really interested in is enhancing that
transparency and us having a more productive dialogue in a public forum. And that's really my next comment. There's been some um public statements that were made that suggest that there could be meetings between the board of
ed and the council that aren't in a public forum. That's just simply not legal. So any meetings between us as a body and them as a body would be completely public. there would be a public comment portion. You would have the ability to watch that meeting and attend that meeting. So, while small in
like small groups or like individuals can have one-on-one conversations or or any conversations where there isn't a quorum, if there's a quorum of individuals, we would have to do that at an open public meeting. So, there's there's not like backroom deals that are going to be done between the governing
bodies. Um um but of course you have the regular communication between the superintendent and the manager and I think that that is a productive dialogue as well but having that open discussion also aids transparency especially for parents and residents. Um those are the
only two remarks that I was going to uh focus on. I think there's been a lot of response but of course please continue to email me, communicate with me um any way you see fit. I'm I'm very available. Thank you. >> You all right? We previously passed a
resolution to go into executive session. Mr. O Sullivan, do you anticipate any formal action being taken? >> Uh, no, we've covered executive session. >> Oh, because we we did that other thing before. >> Okay. >> That was fresh my mind. All right. I
will hear any motion anybody would like to make. >> Move to adjurnn. >> Councilman Roman makes the motion to adjurnn. Council McGrath seconds the motion. All those in favor? I >> I motion carries. >> Thank you everyone.