The notice requirements of the open public meetings act has been satisfied with respect to this meeting of the township council. Thank you. The meeting time and date were included in the public meeting notice along with the public internet link and telephone call and information. Said notice and meeting
agenda was posted in the municipal building on the township's legal notice web page at least 48 hours preceding the start time of this meeting. The agenda and handouts can be viewed online at veronenj.org/countsil meetings. Pro comment period will be held on the order it's listed on the
meeting agenda and instructions on how to comment would be provided at the appropriate time. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Would you call the role, please? >> Councilwoman Holland here. >> Councilman Roman >> here. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy
>> present. >> Mayor Tambbor >> here. Mayor also present is uh township attorney Brian Aoyo, 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. All right, for the mayor's report this
evening, just a couple items. Um, in the last two weeks, the township had its annual Lunar New Year celebration. So, I'd like to thank our Mandarin teachers in the public school system, um, Betty Hoe, Jenny Shin, and Angie Yang for, um,
organizing the event. It really, it was a, it was a packed house, uh, for sure, Deputy Mayor, right? It was a there were a lot of folks in there and the high school students did um had set up stations and kids went around and got their passport stamped as they went to different stations. It was great and
thank you to Alisa Northrup and our recreation and buildings grounds teams for a really successful event. Unfortunately, we had to leave early for the planning board, but I got to see about about an hour of it and it was a great time. also had the opportunity to attend the interfaith Ramadan meal at
the Verona Community Center that was sponsored by the Verona Clergy Council. Um, anything done by our clergy council is a really nice event. This one especially um had a theme that was very close to my heart uh and that's of charity and we had that conversation and
and many great thoughts shared from different faiths on on that and like to thank the Peace Islands Institute for sponsoring the meal and their president uh for showing up at the at the event and speaking. Uh it was great to to see everybody there. Immediately prior to
this meeting, we had our annual Irish-American uh flag raising uh out in the civic center attended by a number of different groups. I'd like to thank um our challe club um bag pipers for being there. Uh Bod and Dylan, it was always
great to see them and to have them part of that as well as the women of Irish heritage, the ancient order of Iberians and the Emerald Society were all represented. The planning board has been busy in the in the last couple months uh working on everything related to affordable housing and consistency with
the the master plan. We've had several meetings on that. Um and um the the final one that would deal with a lot of these issues will be at the end of this month. I encourage everybody to tune in tomorrow to Governor Cheryl's budget
address. anybody who is interested in um municipal finance and state finance, this is a really important uh event to watch and to really learn how this could potentially affect uh Verona and all municipalities and the state and the programs that uh that we know. So,
please tune in tomorrow uh to the governor's address. I look forward to seeing it myself. At this time, we have a special recognition. Um, and in a minute, we'll we'll call this uh wonderful volunteer forward. But uh
this evening, we get to recognize Carol Stafford uh who has been a longtime Verona resident, but also a member of the Verona Public Library board of trustees for a half a century. um which is uh is an incredibly long
time and it shows a significant amount of dedication to this community that all of us should strive to emulate. And this evening I am honored to read a proclamation presented to Miss Stafford. Um and I hope that we can all follow in her example as we move forward.
The proclamation reads, "Whereas the Verona Public Library Board of Trustees and the Township of Verona recognize that sustained leadership and dedicated public service are foundational to the strength, stability, and continued success of the library. Whereas Carol
Stafford, resident of Verona for over half a century, has devoted more than 50 years of dedicated service to our community, serving as a member of the board of trustees of the Verona Public Library. And whereas throughout her five decades of service, Miss Stafford's
unwavering spirit, strategic direction, fiscal oversight, and dedication have left a measurable and lasting impact on our treasured library through her institutional knowledge and collaborative spirit. And whereas Carol Stafford's steadfast support and vision
was invaluable during the library's renovations in 2016 and helped to ensure that the original Carnegi Library structure dating back to 1923 was kept intact while incorporating the final two-story edition and renovated basement space that houses a children's
activity room, new reading areas, improved archive space, and new featured space for Verona's local history. And whereas the board of trustees of the Rona Public Library recently renamed the Jack Foley meeting room as the Carol Stafford meeting room in honor of
recognition over 50 years of dedicated service and distinguished service on the board of trustees. Now therefore be proclaim that I, Dr. Christopher Tambborro, Mayor of the Township of Verona, hereby formally recognize Carol Stafford's extraordinary public service and I hereby designate Monday, March
9th, 2026 as Carol Stafford Day in the Township of Verona. Be it further proclaimed that I call upon all residents, municipal staff to join in this celebration over many years of service to Verona and our beloved public library. Her contributions will have a lasting impact on generations of
residents and has helped ensure that the library remains a vital trusted public institution. In witness whereof, I here onto set my hand and cause the official seal of the township of Verona, New Jersey to be affixed on this ninth day of March in the year 2026.
Congratulations, Carol. >> Carol, you're welcome to come up here if you want to. >> No, use use the mic and then we'll come we'll take a picture, but please >> So, am I facing you? >> You face us and the camera >> my audience or whatever.
>> Just pull the microphone close to you. >> There you go. They didn't say I'd have to do this. >> Okay. Thank you very much for uh honoring me tonight. Um I'm amazed that I've been on the board for 50 years and
I'd like to hope that I would be on for another 50 years, but by that point I would be a daughtering old coot or worse. So we won't even talk about that. Um I've always been a library user. When I was about eight, um, I lived on Long
Island and I used to walk 12 blocks to the library frequently and I would buy I would take out 10 books, which was the maximum that I was allowed to take out each time. And I couldn't wait till I got home. So, I would carry the books
like this and I would take the top book and open it up to the pages and read it and go like this when it was going to be the curb so I could step down. So, I always liked libraries. I always liked reading and I'm very pleased to be here.
And I've also been very pleased to work with everyone on the library board. They're very, very good people. Thank you. >> Thank you. Stay stay up here. We're going to We have your down everybody. >> What am I doing? Oh.
Good little tighter. >> Congratulations. Now I invite our Essex County liaison Jay Coltray to come up and share an Essex County update. Good evening, mayor and council. Carol, congratulations on 50 years uh being on
the library board. Um I don't know if I'll make 50 years on one board, but we'll try our best. Um there's 50 years of the Cherry Blossom Festival and that will start April 4th to the 19th. Uh couple of things on
this. We have on Saturday, April 4th, 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. is a Cherry Blossom bike race in throughout the park. Sunday, April 12th at 10:00 a.m., we have the Cherry Blossom 10K run. That's for the deputy mayor to be out
there and do a great run. And uh Saturday, April 18th, uh 9:00 am start. It's the children's onemile fun run in family day at the Credential Concert Center in the Southern Division. And finally, on
Sunday, April 19th at 11 to 5:00 p.m. is the Bloomfest in the Northern Division. Um there are postcards that you'll be getting in the mail, but I will also drop some off this week to the town clerk or the manager's office so we can
leave them in the uh vestibule. Any comments, questions? Any questions for J? Go ahead. Councilman, >> I have a question. There's been some resident concerns about Verona Park and and the geese situation there. I know
that there was some communication from the county regarding cleanup. And I was just curious if there's ongoing monitoring, maybe any kind of update that you could provide this evening because I know that we did have some residents concerned. There is always monitoring and yes, they're looking to
progress on cleaning everything up in the park. Uh like I said before, I use the park quite often my >> Yes, I know you do. >> So, and so does I get a report from my wife almost every morning walking the dog. So, I know what's going on. And yes, I will see the parks director
tomorrow morning and pass long. Yes, that >> mayor. No, I'm good. There you go. Okay. All right. Thank you, Jay. Thank you, Jeff. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay. And now we're going to go on to the attachment manager report. Mr. Osan,
>> thank you, mayor. Uh I will be very brief in my report. We have a lengthy agenda with uh affordable housing and budget discussions to still go through, but I'll just highlight a couple of the projects that we have going on. Um, we have our the Lynen Avenue construction
project that is uh we are doing in-house water service uh lead service line testing this week. The contractor themselves will be out uh anticipated by the end of the month to start construction on Lynen Avenue. Uh Ever
Field, the contractor was able to remobilize to the site today. the snow melted and they are back uh in construction on that site as well. Uh we have our Clarage Drive pump station project. Uh the contractor did lose a
little time with snow, but they have uh been moving through the foundation of that pump house building and that project is ongoing. Um and then the the last item that I will highlight is
um I guess that's those are the highlights of the the projects. I'll I'll unless there's any questions from the council. >> Any questions for Mr. Oalt? >> Hearing none. Um, mayor, if if uh I know
we have a few items on the agenda, but with our professionals available for affordable housing, I'd wonder if uh the council would consider uh moving into affordable housing topics and matters first. >> Yep. I don't have an issue. I just know there's one we discussed the one >> there is one. Do we want we'll
>> Yeah, we'll just do the one budget now. Sorry to everybody else that has to wait, but >> Sure. Uh we have um one budget that one department that has to leave a little bit earlier tonight. Uh but uh >> I'm usually
>> you left me already. >> All right, come on up. >> Sorry, my dance card is very >> It's okay. >> It's the only one I can't find. >> Uh Rescue Squad does not have a tab. >> Okay, >> so it won't be on there. It's in
Let's see. It's in number four, I think. No, number three. Uh, their clothing allowance is in tab three number. Let's find you.
Where are you? Uh number 23, rescue squad. Uh their clothing allowance hasn't changed. It's been 65,000 um last year and this year as proposed. Uh but Ricky's here wants to talk to you about capital requests. So let me pull
out that for you. >> No problem. So, you are >> I I know you can probably talk about it. >> I'm I appreciate if you let me uh buck the line. Normally, I'm in uniform, but as you can tell, my dance cart today has been incredibly full between work,
volunteer responsibilities, and my wife not putting me in an early grave. So, nice combination of the three. Generally speaking, uh the clothing allowance has been pretty good since we moved it up the last couple years ago. So, I really not asking much there. I know the capital asks seem kind of odd because
the ambulance we bonded for three years ago is finally getting delivered but the lead time of new ambulance is like three to four years and the prices just keep going on up and with all the buildings of apartment buildings influx in residents anticipated call increases and also the increase in length of time
ambulance they're down for minor fixes because parts are so impossible to get our old model was 15 years frontline service retire the ambulance we're moving to 12 years front line four years reserve So when the ambulances are down, we're still having three ambulances. Uh the environment for EMS is kind of a
disaster at the moment throughout the state and the country and getting mutual aid is not as easy as it once were. So having the extra ambulances to be able to staff up the resources is just kind of a necessity more than anything else. I mean, we generally speaking use very little mutual aid. I think my first year
as chief a decade ago, we probably turfed like 20 25% of our calls to mutual aid and I don't think we've gone above a percent of mutual aid in over the last decade between myself, Cassie or the chiefs. So, we're really going the right direction and our asks are
really just to expand our services. Uh the park has gotten back to if not busier than it was pre-COVID. So, we're there quite often and navigating it and getting patients across it can just be disastrous. Which is why we're asking for the gator because on the far side of the park, we can't get to the patient quickly and we can't move them quickly
or safely in any kind of a manner because regardless of the stretcher and the horde of first responders, people don't necessarily get out of the way. They don't see you coming. And we do borrow Monontlair's from time to time, but they also have lots of parks in their town, so it's not always a guarantee. Um, and I think that was it for the two
capital requests. But like I said, the ambulance that we're asking for now, realistically probably didn't get paid for until 2030, 2020. I'm going to guess probably 2030 the way it's been going because this ambulance was supposed to take three years and we got it in four. So they're expecting three and a half years. So I'm expecting to get in four
and a half years because that's just how manufacturing is currently. And on the other note I'd like to say is that if you're not aware, next year marks our 100th anniversary. will be the first first aid squad in the state of New Jersey to hit 100 years and also be providing 24-hour volunteer service with
no career staff. Most of the ones that were older than us have gone extinct or closed their doors due to either lack of support or lack of volunteers or a little bit of both. And it's something we really don't have in our own. We've always had very good support from the community, the council, the mayor, the town employees, as well as the
residents. You know, running an organization completely on donations has always been relatively a struggle, but we do pretty well. I mean, the biggest savior for us has been with Rescue 8, switching to a model where instead of us paying 60% of the ambulance, the
township has been bonding it because the prices of vehicles have just gotten so insane. It's just kind of crazy. I mean, the ambulance we are getting delivery of this year is smaller and has less equipment than the previous ambulance, and it's the same price, which I just I don't really rationalize that stuff
well, but it's just kind of where we're at with the economy. But I do appreciate your service. We're going doing a lot of 100 anniversary events. We're going to roll them out. We have a committee already formed in the precursors of getting everything together. I expect by the end of summer, we'll start rolling out more firm dates, but now we're just trying to get
ourselves organized. >> Any questions? >> Any questions for Mr. Tempesta. >> Just note for the record that neither councilwoman McGrath and I can ask Mr. Tempesta questions, but everybody else can. So maybe recognized Roman. This uh
might be more of a fiscal sort of mechanics question when we're dealing with very long lead time items like this. Um how does the the cash flow on this work? We actually have to bond for it upfront and we sit on the money until the asset is delivered or >> you don't have to borrow on it. You have to do a bond ordinance for it. You don't
have to actually borrow the money >> until you're ready. >> Okay. But if it's it becomes part of our large general capital ordinance, >> then yes. Okay. >> We can separate it out if that is something that you want to do. But >> the the only thing that I would avoid is just um sitting on the cash and paying
interest on it, >> of course. >> Um that's just my own my only ask if you know I have no problem funding this early because we we know that's the only way to do it. I just don't want to pay interest on cash. >> Understood. >> Yeah. And and this was from lessons learned because we didn't know this going into the current ambulance we built. It just kept getting extended a
couple months for varieties of different reasons, right? >> And like we were supposed to deliver first quarter last year, right? >> So I feel silly asking for a new truck, but when you realize the lead time and how our replacement plan is, I mean our oldest ambulance is a 2002. It's got over 100,000 miles on it and I mean it runs like a tank. It's a great engine
and we'll get more years out of it, but by the time it gets rotated out, we could put QQ plates on it, >> right? >> Yeah. Yeah, we all know I mean supply chain issues for e all all emergency vehicles in general right now uh nationwide we know that the issue is >> just even supplies in general there's
some emergency capital Chris from last year I'm still chasing down to get because this piece or that piece is on back order it's just >> unfortunately something I lessons learned in capital budgeting so we're just trying to keep our plan out and adapt with the timelines that are given to us >> thank you for working with it
>> any other questions okay you're free to run the swap meeting. >> Very much looking forward to it. But seriously, thank you for all your support. Organizations like ours don't survive without a community behind it. Both administration, the council, and the residents. It's just not a thing anymore these days.
>> Thank you so much for your work. Thank you. Um before we go back to affordable housing, Miss Mscara, could you email us in the meantime the u I only had a print copy of the capital list. If you could email that. >> I have it. I can have it. Does anyone
else need it? The spreadsheet. >> Yes, correctly. Just just I just need the capital. >> Yeah, the capital spreadsheet. I can send it out to you, >> Ben. >> Council Roman has it. For some reason, I >> didn't get it. All right. I have the other one. Um Okay, Mr. O Sullivan, we
wanted to go now to the affordable housing items. Yes. >> Yes. Yes, please. Uh our affordable housing attorney is here tonight, uh Mr. Pekk. He was going to give a a brief uh update on current status and then we can discuss the the action for the evening.
>> Mr. Pchek, welcome. >> Good evening, mayor, members of the council. Uh I'll be brief. Uh the planners will take more time so I'll let them get to it and not keep everyone here. So, uh, where we're at now is thank you to the efforts of the planning board. The housing fair share plan as
amended by the, uh, agreement pursuant to those settlement agreements that were entered into and authorized has now been accomplished. That was adopted and that's what we're here for tonight, uh, along with other ordinances. But, and those all will together constitute uh, the required uh, implementing actions
that need to be taken by this body as the governing body of the township. And then I will obtain from the clerk a copy of the final ordinances and uh resolutions adopted tonight. Tomorrow morning I'll have that. I'll get that uploaded onto the docket with the court.
And at that point what we're doing is moving forward with an extension through the end of April. And it's based uh twofold. One subsection of the statute allows for an extension based on extreme weather event. And as you know, one of the properties involved, 251 to Half
Grove, uh required the area need study and then the report authored and due to the status of that property is essentially a vacant property and the way it's set up, access was unable to be obtained due to the snow events and so that delayed some of the efforts on
that. But we've looked at the schedule and we gone over the schedule with the uh planning board at the last meeting last week, the special meeting where we accomplished the adoption of the plan and we were able to confirm a schedule that would require no special meetings.
So assuming no u you know hiccups due to weather or other events that would cancel a a regularly scheduled public meeting either the planning board or this body as the governing body of the township uh will be in a position to have everything move forward through
then with the uh designation and what we will do is at the same council meeting we'll just do it in sequential order. We'll have resolution designating um finding it to be an area in need and then we'll have the ordinance introduced uh for the plan because the plan will be
ready at that point because the findings of the study are clear uh we believe so that's where we are. Um, so we keep moving forward uh as other towns are hopefully and we will be through this and you will be ultimately receiving
your certification of compliance for the fourth round uh providing the township with immunity going forward for the remainder of the fourth round which continues till June 30th of 2035. >> Thanks. Any questions for Mr. PLC?
>> Okay, thank you. Jake, Mr. Hobin, welcome back. >> Yes, I am back. Uh, good evening everybody. So, um, I'm going to let uh, Sam discuss the zoning organization. >> Just one second. For any member of the public who does not know who this
gentleman lectern is, this is Dan Hen, our affordable housing planner. Dan, go ahead. >> Yeah. Uh, and I'll follow that up with um, don't shoot the messenger. Uh, so, uh, yeah. So, uh, thank you, mayor. Um, so, uh, so tonight I'm here to I'm
going to let S talk about the zoning ordinances because there are several on the agenda tonight. Uh, tonight I'm just going to talk about the, uh, some of the other just kind of core affordable housing items that, um, we're asking you to take some action on tonight. Uh the first is uh endorsing the uh housing
element of fair share plan that the planning board adopted last uh week. Um this has been historically a core part of the affordable housing process uh for or compliance process because it shows that um the municipality the the the
people who actually make the zoning decisions are committed to uh executing the plan uh because you have the most of the power to actually make this all uh happen according to how the plan is written. Uh, another item is approving
or adopting the spending plan uh for your affordable housing trust fund, which uh is a document that identifies um or I guess projects out how much uh revenue we anticipate the the township is going to take into its affordable housing trust fund over the next decade.
uh and propose how we intend to spend that uh that funding um that that those funds. Um and which if if you want me to get into kind of the the high level of that, I can. Uh and the third thing is approving the affirmative marketing plan
uh which was prepared by your administrative agent. Uh and just to kind of a reminder, your administrative agent is the one who actually makes sure that the affordable housing units go to who they're supposed to go to. Um she operates the uh affordability assistance programs which is one of those sort of
kind of passive uh bon bonus programs that have we have to have in the background to um make sure that affordable housing is actually affordable um to the uh income qualified tenants. Um and the affirmative marketing plan is a document that
basically states how she intends to um uh ensure that the the the qualified people are aware of the available units. Um the uh oh you know what there is one more there is one ordinance that I'm also here to talk about tonight which is
the uh ordinance uh basically replacing your existing affordable housing and development fee ordinances as I previously uh shared um the since the state adopted the new affordable housing statute in 2024 um the uh the department of community
affairs and uh HMFA the housing mort mortgage finance agency in New Jersey um uh updated ed existing rules or created new rules uh that towns are required to codify in their local ordinances which is what uh this ordinance would do. Um
so would you like me to get into detail on any of these things? Um there is one item that I think that we have to that we want to amend in real time here uh which I can get into >> the well the spending plan there was an amendment to the spending plan that uh
was circulated to the council. So we can maybe highlight just the >> Yeah, sure. >> change. >> So um on page, please tell me I numbered the pages. Yes, page three, middle of the page, the uh language in the uh version of the spending plan that was originally
circulated uh said that the township uh will commit uh up to $150,000 to uh provide special needs housing at the 885 uh Bloomfield Avenue development. um because we are going through the the um
the financial I don't know what the official term is but kind of the assessment of the the financial requirements for that pro project. Uh we are proposing uh that uh the spending plan be approved with revisions. or revisions basically stating uh that um
you know should we find that the $150,000 uh $150,000 isn't required for the group home uh or the special needs units at 885 Bloomfield Avenue the township can use the $150,000 for um other purposes
which may include uh uh going toward your affordable housing professional expenses uh which is called the administrative expenses or toward the creation of affordable housing elsewhere in the township. Um the one thing that I will note with that is that you are required to allocate uh some of your
funds to what is called affordability assistance. Um which uh the funding of a special needs housing would qualify as. Uh so uh we will need regardless of how much uh money we're talking about where it's going uh you will need to allocate
some portion of that money for that affordability assistance if uh if we determine that it's not needed to make 885 Avenue realistic. Um, and then there's this one other uh place where I just realized we'll make the language a little bit uh softer as well, which is
on page middle of page four where we uh restate that we would be making $150,000 available for special needs housing. We're just going to say up to um $150,000. So, uh I would suggest that we
adopt with those revisions. And one other we had one other revision from the planning board Dan which was the bank name that we ever the one. >> Yes. Uh and um oh boy did I let me see. >> It still says citizens. >> It still say I think it is citizens. It
is not investors. >> It is citizens >> citizens bought investors investors. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Now we know at least what bank. Yes. Council McGrath. >> Uh thank you. So on this particular
point with the spending plan I I um there's so many projects um so Hillrest also don't they also have um special needs? >> They do. Yes. Uh >> so I think my question is why this project and not that project? So we this
the uh the money was uh uh determined that we should go to this project because it was part of our negotiations to to get them keep them at 28 total units. Uh we want to make sure that they are able to make, you know, a portion of
those units special need. >> Um because if they if they can't, they may not be able to they may come back and say they need more units on that site. Um, we know that, uh, in previous discussions with a group home provider that we may be connecting with the 885
developers, they indicated that they, you know, I think they need said they may need it on like $50,000 a unit or something like that, which is what this comes out to about. Um, so, uh, this is, uh, so that that's why this site was spec specified for this purpose. Mhm. Um
well, listen, there is no there's a lot of great evidence that there is a shortage of special needs housing and it's wonderful that we're actually going to be building some as part of this process. Yeah. Um but I do think some of those negotiations, you know, I went back to the settlement agreement. I
didn't see it really clearly in there and that's why I was kind of questioning. >> Yeah. I I I don't know that it's in the settlement agreement specifically that we would be uh providing the funds and I I would defer to the Okay. attorney who's here, but it is to make sure that uh those that at least three of the
units on that site can be >> um special needs. So, but uh to to the point that I think is important, which is that we don't need know that they're going to need it, but that's why we're coming back and and revising the language. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Any other questions for Mr. Hen?
>> Okay. Thank you, Dan. >> Thank you. Good evening everyone. >> Good evening >> for the public. This is San Shioban from H2M the township planner >> just for the numbers.
>> Okay. So um how would you like me to go through each of the ordinance that um is >> just Yeah. I mean any updates you have because these are all >> Sure. So as you went over them last >> Yes. I had actually presented in the last two or three meetings but this is
the um second reading and the planning board has given their comments and um I'm going to start with 320 Bloomfield and 11 Church Street um Reed Weapon area. The planning board recommended to
have a landscape area of 10 ft between the Bloomfield Avenue sidewalk and front of any building or structure and a 6-ft privacy fence um or solid made of solid or vinyl um on property line that
borders a residential property. And uh also more specifically um they they wanted us to not include a ghost kitchen or virtual kitchen um in in one of the permitted uses which is a shared kitchen. So those were the three
um three recommendations and um you know uh when you adopt it it's obviously within uh your uh rights but uh do you would you like me to go through everything and then you'll make the adoption? >> Yeah, why don't you go through everything and any council can stop you
if they have questions. >> I'm sorry. the the council can ask you be recognized if they have any questions but if there are no questions just keep >> okay then uh the second one was 176 200 Bloomfield this was prepared as per our settlement agreement so the planning
board accepted um accepted it they didn't have any recommendations um the third ordinance was to supplement the standards in the TC zone district this was again a part of our settlement agreement and the edits that I had
explained at the last meeting was based upon what um our special adjudicator and our settlement um agreement required us to do. Um the planning board determined it that it there were no provisions that were uh inconsistent
and um uh I can move on to the next one. Uh the next one is 420 Bloomfield Avenue. Um we designated this as an area in need of breedwapman last week uh whenever there was a snowstorm two weeks ago. Um I provided a presentation on
this. The planning board heard it on February 26th and uh there were two recommendations uh to tighten the language uh one of which was to uh ensure that all the of street parking
requirements must be satisfied within the redevelopment area. The second one was to be more specific regarding permitted and prohibited uses within the redevelopment area. So these were the two recommendations. Um moving on um this was um for 885
Bloomfield Avenue which um we did a consistency review on February 26th. Uh here uh for this red plan, the planning board had um uh a few more comments compared to the prior ones. Uh one of
which was uh given the rear yard along residential properties. Um it was recommended that at least 90% of the rear yard must have a 10-ft buffer uh to require a buffer between the bus stop and the nearest residential unit. uh to
require all residential structures to have at least double pane windows um given the impact of the buses and uh the traffic and to require filters of grade MV 17 or greater to require all fencing
to be either board on board solid wood vinyl or wood and to require compliance with the township's tree ordinance which is chapter 493 article 2 and to require tree plantings to be in accordance with
zoning ordinance 1501.7 which is plan selection and placement attachment three so um this is it these are all the ordinances that we were discuss discussing one other I I think I should um I would like
to add is the TCMU if I didn't speak about that I don't believe I did uh the TCMU zone um the as per the settlement agreement and the special adjudicator required to have standard language. Um the prior um uh the the current
iteration was 15% set aside for rental and 20% set aside for sale units. They want across the board 20% and that was something I discussed two weeks ago. So there are no uh planning board found it
not um inconsistent. So there were no other comments. >> Thank you Sam. Any questions from comments from the council? >> Deputy mayor. >> Uh yeah, I'm going to go back to uh H5. Uh when we spoke at the planning board
meeting about we discussed one of the board members had questions because of the building being closed to Bluefield Avenue and the air quality. >> Correct. >> And we discussed going to MV 17 as far as filters go. And doing a little
research they we should change that to MV 13. Okay. because no residential units go above MUV 13 because 17 is too dense. >> Okay. >> Uh and I asked a couple people about it and they said 13 would be the most you want to go. >> Okay.
>> And I will just for our uh clerk's understanding base once this is accepted I'll uh update the exhibit and send it over to you >> and the the applicants councils in the audience you don't have any problems with lowering the mer rating sir right.
Okay, deputy mayor, if you hadn't brought that up, I would have. All right, any other questions? Okay, hearing none. Um, thank you. If you guys want to have a seat and relax
for a second. Um, at this point, because our experts are on the clock, um, I'd like to call for a motion to change the order of business to consider ordinances H1 through H7.
um and resolutions L1 through L4 and L11 at this time so that we can enjoy the expertise of our um of our experts. >> Are we doing R4? I mean L4.
>> Yep. I said L4. Yep. 1 through four and 11. >> I have one question on L4. I think it would >> we could do it when we get when we get there. Does anybody have can somebody make the motion to change the order of business? So moved. >> Motion's made by Councilwoman Holland. The second is by Councilwoman McGrath.
Um this time we can do a a voice vote. All those in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? >> Motion carries. This time the next item on the agenda is ordinance number 2026-02
on second reading. Madame clerk, would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record? >> Adopting the redevelopment plan for 320 Bloomfield Avenue and 11 Church Street, block 704, lots 18 and 20, redevelopment area. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Would somebody
move the ordinance? >> Motion's made by Councilwoman McGrath. Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Second is by the deputy mayor of the U. Sorry, Councilman Roman. You were deputy mayor once, weren't you? I was like eight years ago or something. Okay. All right. At this time, I'll open for
public comment on ordinance 2026-02 only. Uh, madame clerk, would you please read the public participation statement? >> Anyone from the public wishing to speak on this matter only? 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, please press star 9. If you are 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'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 and there can be no cross dialogue during this public portion. After everyone wishing to speak has been heard, the council may address
your comments and or questions. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Any public participation on this item only? Hearing none, I close public participation. 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 Tamorro, >> yes. >> Mayor, um, ordinance 2020602, adopt 50. It will be published according to law.
>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. The next item on the agenda is ordinance number 2026-03. On second reading, would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record? >> Adopting the redevelopment plan for 176-200 Bloomfield Avenue, block 202,
lots and for rehabilitation area. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Would somebody move the ordinance? >> So moved. >> Motion's made by Councilman Roman. Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Second is made by Councilwoman McGrath. Mr. Mayor, >> Deputy Mayor,
>> if I may, I'm going to recuse myself from this because I live within 200 ft of the property. >> So noted, Deputy Mayor, at this time, we'll open for public comment on this ordinance only. This is the 176 200 Bloomfield Avenue property. Madame
Clerk, you don't have to read the public participation statement again, but we are doing public participation for this item only, and this is open at this time. Hearing none, I hereby close public comment. Any
council discussion? >> Hearing none. Madam clerk, could you call the vote, please? >> Councilwoman Holland, >> yes. >> Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. Councilman Roman, >> yes. >> Mayor Tambourro, >> yes. >> Mayor, uh, 2026 03 passes by vote of 4
to zero with one recusal. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. The next item on the agenda is ordinance number 2026-04 on second reading. Would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record? >> Amending and supplementing the standards of the town center zone district in
chapter 150 zoning of the code of the township of Verona. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. I will move this ordinance. Is there a second? I'll second. Second is by the deputy mayor. This time I'll open for public comment on this ordinance only. The same public comment statement applies.
We're going to say that a lot tonight. Just by the way, hearing no public comment, I hereby close public comment. I did just want to make one comment before I forget. I want to thank the planning board for all of their deliberations on all of these uh items.
It has been many uh many meetings and some lengthy meetings and the planning board offered a lot of very good suggestions on how to tighten these up. Uh so it was great to see that process and and I thank uh our not only our planning board members but our experts who really guide this process and our
township manager Mr. O Sullivan um for everybody for for jumping in and offering their expertise um and our our zoning official Kathleen Meech um and our zoning secretary DD carbon carbonelli and our planning board secretary for all their work organizing all of this. It's been it's been quite a
feat in the last couple months. Um any other council discussion? Yes, if I may. Um, council, >> the uh the prohibition on ghost kitchens, uh the language doesn't doesn't look like it's made into the actual ordinance. It was in the redevelopment plan for uh Bloomfield
Church and in uh in the zoning code here. The definition is still here, but it's not explicitly banned in the language. >> No, actually I have I'mma >> um I'm speaking out of sorry. Um, no, I did make that change um um and forwarded
it to um our clerk, but I can send that ordinance again. I definitely made that change right after the meeting. >> Okay. I'm looking at the >> That might be my error. >> Yeah, I'm looking at the version that's on the Google Drive and that was in the packet. So, let's just make sure that we're just passing the right version.
>> We Yes, I made changes to um to that. >> Okay. Oh, what do you want to table that until we can >> Well, we could table it until later in the meeting until we can get the right version in front of us. >> Yeah, if we can just clarify where that
language is and just read that little chunk of language. I just have been searching for the word ghost in it. I only find it in the definition. >> S if you can find it real quick. Otherwise, we'll give you a couple minutes. We'll go through some of the other ones. >> You found it. >> No, I will look while you keep >> Okay. We could potentially table this and move on to the next ordinance and
wrap right right back around to it. Maybe. Why don't you move to table and then >> uh so I'll move to table this until uh let our professionals uh review quickly. >> Okay. Motion to table H3. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconds by the deputy mayor as a non-discussible motion. All those in favor?
>> I I opposed. >> Motion carries. >> I actually found it. I can wait. >> Did Why don't you just make sure and then we'll come back. We did all that tableabling and uh
>> I know. >> Okay. All right. The next item on the agenda is ordinance 2020 6-05 on second reading. Madame clerk, would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record? >> Adopting the redevelopment plan for 420
Bloomfield Avenue, redevelopment area, block 701, lot three. >> Thank you. Would somebody move this ordinance? >> So moved. >> Motion is made by the deputy mayor. Is there a second? I'll >> second it. Second paid by Councilman Roman. This time I'll open for public comment on ordinance 2026-05 only. The
same public comment statement applies. Hearing none, I close public comment. Any council discussion? I would just like to acknowledge a couple some residents have reached out and asked some questions specifically about this property. Mr. Solivan, I'm wondering if you maybe you could just give a brief summary of some of those
comments and your your answers. >> Sure. Uh Mayor, the uh the general questions that had been um raised by the public were surrounding uh ingress egress to and from the site um parking on the site and any potential traffic
impacts to the area. Uh generally speaking, the answers across the board have been that the the project itself will still be subject to final design. uh it will need to go before the planning board for a site plan approval.
At that time, the uh the planning board would be tasked with reviewing those kinds of elements of the project. Uh and uh likely one of those uh items would probably include uh the traffic study from a traffic expert. Uh but again, those would be coming at a later date at
the time of application to the planning board. >> Thank you. Um, I will note just as a comment, I was originally not in favor of this plan. Um, and the I think our administration, our planners did a good job of negotiating this down.
Um, and uh, we had numerous conversations about this and in executive session. I can only share what my thoughts are now. Um, but what I think is important about this development is, uh, not only were we able to get all the parking on site,
which was a big concern. Um, most of the units, the large majority of the units in this development are single or one-bedroom units, which do not have an impact on the school system, which is very important. Um, I thought that was helpful. And in addition, the the
property itself is serving no purpose to the town at this point other than being a nuisance. Um so there there was that as well. So um I think that the the design all the design specifications and um and all that will be helpful and us building in some design standards into
plans is also really helpful as well. um based on some of the the uh the first drafts of what this might look like um that were sent and our planners, you know, and our potential manager went in and re uh uh refocused the the uh
developer as far as making a more attractive building. Um so, for those reasons, I I will be voting yes this evening. Um and uh that would not have been the case if those um those things have not been met at this point. And it's also important to note that, you know, on all of these items as we
discuss, as our attorney points out all the time, um, and our is that our hands are are very much tied in a lot of ways as far as what we can and can't do. Um, but I think this was probably the best we could do on this site at this point.
>> Any other discussion? Council Roman. Um I'll just concur that uh with a lot of the comments we got about traffic and parking um that was an extensive area of focus for the council was looking at the circulation plans on site. Thinking about how vehicles enter and exit including regular vehicles such as
service trucks um making sure that all the uses within the uh the parcel had parking allocated. Um that was extensively reviewed and then as we as they go into uh site plan review uh there will be further valuation of that. the framework is here in this plan and then the specifics of making sure it
complies will be during that stage. So, >> thank Council Roman. >> Madam Clerk, would you call the RO please? >> Councilwoman Holland. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes. >> Mayor Tambbor,
>> yes. >> Mayor, ordinance passes 5 and will be published according to law. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. The next item on the agenda is ordinance number 2026-06 on second reading. Would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record?
>> Adopting the redevelopment plan for 885 Bloomfield Avenue redevelopment area block 2205 lot 6. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Would somebody move this ordinance, please? >> So moved. >> Motion's made by Councilman Roman. Is there a second?
Well, as mayor, I guess that's my job. I will I will second the motion. Um, as you can Well, I'll wait for my comments in a minute. Uh, this time we'll have public comment on ordinance 2026-06.
The same public comment statement applies. M. Oh, sorry. I I called on Mr. Ray, sir. You can >> I'll let you have the last word, counselor. You can
>> Hi, Michelle Gruer. Uh, Verona. Um, usually I come with prepared remarks and I don't have them tonight. Um, but I just wanted to first thank the town council and the planning board. I know that there's been a lot of time spent um
with negotiating and trying to put everything together for 885 Bloomfield A, the Valente tract. um it's a lot of building um to be put on that land and I know that that has been negotiated and
there's been you know a lot of discussions already but as a resident I'm really trying um my best to keep up with the the legal documents that are available to the public to review before
meetings. And um I know that the planning board did vote that it was not inconsistent, although it was not a unanimous vote. Um and I brought up at the planning board and I just wanted to bring up here that
there's this term called the maximum allowed lot uh size. I can't remember the exact term, but it's basically gives you a percentage of how much of the land can be covered by building and parking
lot, I I guess would be a way to describe it. And um when you look at um 885 Bloomfield A, it's zoned A3 residential as far as I
can see. And that means that it's zoned for town houses, which is the plan. The A3 in I guess in the master plan, A3 residential um lots um have a 55%
maximum allowed lot usage. Um then coming into the town council meeting, I guess maybe it was two weeks ago, um I looked at all of the materials in advance and I noticed that in the draft
information that was, you know, being given out with the agenda, it said 65%. So that there had been an increase. And then um I was very surprised that um what was then shown during the meeting
in you know in public it was actually had then jumped to 70% and then that ended up being the number that was voted on and I did go to the planning board looking for a little bit of clarification of how these numbers could
have changed compared to the master plan and during the public part of the planning board meeting it was um mentioned that um lawyers had come to the town like an hour before the town council meeting and asked for these
changes asked for the maximum um allowed lot um percentage to be increased to 70%. So, I guess part of what I'm saying is um it's really difficult as a resident to try to keep up with what's
going on and to try to follow it and to really try to understand and it almost, you know, I don't know what the fairness is, but you know, there's meetings happening an hour before, but agenda items have already been distributed to the public.
I just would love some clarification on that. And also I am still stuck on really what the total lot coverage should be because right now it's a wooded lot so it is a a huge impact on that part of town. Thank you for your
time. >> Why don't we wait until all the public comment is done and then we'll we'll address Mr. FKer. I just >> Stephen Ferger from Greenbro Smith and
Davis attorneys for uh ANR Skyline. I just noted that there was discussion earlier that the deputy mayor brought up with respect to the review of the re recommendation of the planning board. So we just note that in your uh the governing body review of the report of the planning board and its
recommendations that you should note the modification um from the um MV factor that's in the recommendation that's in the uh what was provided to the public and what would be ultimately adopted in
the um in the ordinance. Thank you. Thank you. Any other public comment? I hereby close public comment. Mr. Sullivan, did you want to touch briefly on that um >> question from Miss Square?
>> Sure. Um, I can say that the um the township reached a settlement uh to assume township compliance with fourth round for housing obligations and we need to assure immunity for the township from builder's remedy lawsuits uh which could result in a more intensive
redevelopment of the site. Uh so in order to remain compliant the 70% is what was reviewed by our professionals and recommended by our professionals for compliance purposes. >> Thank you Mr. Solivan, right? Um, Miss Siobhan, did you have
anything other than that? You No. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> And any council discussion on this item, Councilwoman McGrath? >> Um, thank you. I do um want to echo uh appreciation uh since I'm taking this moment to speak
um for our professionals who um for all of this work um who have uh negotiated the best that they could for the township, for the planning board and their thoughtful comments on revising this plan. I appreciate their additions.
Um, consistent with my earlier votes, I won't be supporting the redevelopment plan tonight. Um, but I do want to thank the residents, volunteers, and advocates, and people who live in the neighborhood who are um voicing their needs, and I hope they continue
throughout the process as we um um in the future have a site plan for this project. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Holland. >> Thank you. Um, I too won't be supporting the redevelopment plan this evening, but I do also just want to echo um the prior
statements. I do understand um affordable housing law and I understand the uh importance of avoiding builder's remedy lawsuits. However, I've previously articulated some of my concerns regarding this um this area um
as part of our affordable housing plan and as an area need of redevelopment. Um but that is not to say that I do not appreciate the hard work of our representatives um on the ad in the administration and our prof our professionals. So thank you for all that
you do. >> Thank you Councilwoman Roman. >> Thank you. Um I'll just generally comment about you know where we are on these projects and sort of how we end up at this stage. I the the the principles of the affordable housing plans in New
Jersey and uh that whole framework um compels you as a township very frequently to build more densely than you otherwise would um in order to meet your numbers of affordable housing units and your obligation. Uh it's a process of a lot of compromises uh where you
know we have developers who uh have sites who state that they are buildable who choose to intervene or to negotiate with the township and we have to assemble a plan by which we're going to meet our number and that frequently has us looking at different sites within the township figuring out what's the best
way to accomplish that um ensuring that uh we can get buyin from the courts and fair share housing center and come to a plan that's achievable Once we have that plan in place and we've made these larger decisions about where things are going to go, we then start looking at each of the sites as we
develop these redevelopment plans. And at that point in time, it shifts to mitigating impact as much as possible. Um, we recognize very much that in this town that any site that we choose, there's going to be residences all around it. Those are real people that live there and this is quite literally
in their backyard. Um so we look at these and we go okay how do we make this less intrusive to the neighborhood. Uh on this particular parcel the unit count has gone down very very substantially u from where it was originally proposed at. Uh obviously we've been
concentrating very heavily on um what are the measures that provide adequate buffering to the existing residences around it. How do we make it so that it is less imposing on those residences? Uh we recognize that it's not the same as having a lot that has no development on
it, save for two billboards and a bus stop. Um there's going to be a new building there. It is going to change the feel of that area. That's every development site that we look at. We look we run into the exact same thing. Um, and all I can say is that we do spend a lot of effort and a lot of late
hours and our professionals spend a lot of time negotiating uh with the land owners and looking into these to figure out how we manage to fit the unit counts that we need to avoid builder's remedy lawsuits and also recognizing that we try and protect our neighborhoods as
best as we can. So, I can say, you know, I know the neighbors are going to be dissatisfied with us approving uh this project here if that's the way this this vote goes. I just know that's the reality. Um, if I were in your position, I would have the same concerns. Um, it's
our obligation up here to look at the township as a whole and again to protect us from the worst case scenario scenario which are builder remedy lawsuits and does intend with does end up with a lot more development uh than you can through all these negotiated settlements. So, that's all I can all I can tell you is
that we look at this, we recognize the impact um for anyone that lives around it. Um, I understand that this is going to be a change to the feel of your property and your neighborhood and I wish you know there was a perfect solution here. This is the nature of compromise. Um, I appreciate all the
work of our professionals uh who continue to work on this and then as we go through the uh individual site plan review and getting this through to approval uh more work goes on there. Um, so I do, you know, I in the interest of protecting the township as a whole, I am
compelled to support this. Um, so just recognize that's where I'm coming from on this is looking at the larger picture, but I do recognize the concerns of the individual neighborhood as a whole, the individual neighborhood. >> Deputy Mayor, >> thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, I'll start off. Uh, Miss Gru, I agree. Uh there's
just a ton of paperwork in this and uh it seems like we've we've we go through so many documents and as councilwoman McGrath said it gets confusing because you go from one project to the next and even being on the planning board we're jumping from
one to the next. Uh it's been like this since 2015 or 16. Uh it was when I got on the council on 17, I was called into a closed session before I was even sworn in to start dealing with this. Uh and unfortunately it just keeps continuing.
And it's it's really when it comes to the council, our hands are tied. Uh and it's it's the state of New Jersey that's doing it to us. And they don't care about the schools. They don't care about the infrastructure. They don't care about the rescue squad. uh you know, we
had one project we just approved that was going to have 120 or 130 uh assisted living fac uh facility rooms in it uh or beds rather and that would have just ruined the rescue squad. So, thank God that got put aside and negotiated down
to a smaller uh property, a smaller build. Uh this property along with another one of the four that were interveners uh is larger but has the same amount of units as another property that I had to recuse myself from because
it's within 150 ft of my house. Uh it's actually 100 foot from my house. So uh these are very very difficult uh decisions that we have to make up here. Uh I would throw a question at our council sitting in the back. What
happens if this gets turned down? Uh, do we want to risk this developer suing us and coming back and getting 80 units put on the property? Uh, you know, these that is realistically what could happen.
Uh we could look at uh a lot of the uh other towns in the state of New Jersey. I can't remember the number of them that went against their affordable plan and took it all the way to the Supreme Court. And two weeks ago that just got
shot down. Uh I I wonder what's going to happen to those towns and what the outcome of those interveners in those towns are going to end up with on their properties. It's going to be interesting to follow and interesting to see. Uh like I said, these are difficult. Um I
look at Roseand uh Becker Farm Road and Harrison Avenue, they're putting over a thousand units in that area. It is just it's crazy. And like I said again, I'll repeat it. Our hands are really tied on some of these projects. I really think
our experts did a great job getting this number down. Uh if people stick around during my council report, I will give an update on what's going on in West Orange where they want to put 496 units uh right on Verona's border. Uh
collectively, I think we're doing 30% of that in Verona. And that's just one development in that town. So again, all of our experts have put a ton of time into this. uh our board members, our council members. Uh I I don't want to
vote yes on this. Uh but I I really have to because I don't want to see 45, 50, 60, 80 units going on this property. And that's what people can do. I mean, we we approved in the last round the the the plan at Sunset that's putting 200 units
on the five acres there. uh it's really an 8 acre property but through those proceedings we kept hearing the threat the plan B which was 300 units if we shoot it down and they go to fair share housing and they become an intervene they were an intervenor but if if they
go the distance they're going to put 300 on that property so that was another another one that we had to battle. So, these are difficult decisions. Uh, but unfortunately, you know, I don't want to see a vacant piece of property that I used to ride my bike through when I was little because I used to go right under
Bloomfield Avenue and right down into Callwell, uh, right down that track, but unfortunately, uh, this is something that we really have to approve and sadly have to see it get developed. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. I will, uh, I will finish the discussion by >> Mayor,
>> just I know you like the last words. So, I just wanted to say as part of the discussion, as council indicated, uh this was referred to the planning board. They found that there were no provisions that were not inconsistent with the master plan, but they did recommend uh seven changes. If the council just wants
to discuss those seven changes so the record's clear. Okay, >> that would be great. >> Um we had Does any object to any of those changes? Obviously, deputy mayor wanted to uh change one of the recommendations that he had made at the planning board from 17 MUV to MURF 13.
Anybody have any objection to that or any other recommendations? >> No objection. I mean, do we uh >> you'll have to amend your motion to include the um changing them or >> 17 to 13. If you just want to do that
now and I can Okay. >> And then just state for the record the reason why. >> Okay. Um, I would like to amend my motion um for this uh ordinance uh to adopt the recommendations of the planning board with the exception of the change from uh the language of require
filters of grade MV 17 or greater to require filters of grade MV 13 or greater um for constructibility reasons and that no uh residential HVAC equipment uh can support MV 17 air filtration.
>> Thank you. I will second that motion. um for just discussion purposes, I I can echo my my colleagues on the council is that honestly I wouldn't want to build any of these um new buildings if I could avoid it. And I think that's the um
that's the big piece down there. The the state of New Jersey has the legislature and the courts have put local municipalities in the position um where we are the losers in this in this process 100%. Um and that is you know
it's it's a process that we were not involved in. It's a process that we were largely not consulted on. Uh and it's a process that has um changed uh almost every round there has been new requirements or something along those lines. It has been it's a disastrous
municipalities but at the same point um because this is a it's a constitutional obligation it is it is upheld uh that is you know judicialmade uh precedent that created that um but I I would say our last
year's legislature when they attempted to fix affordable housing didn't really fix it uh in any way um and I think that has uh drastically affected us Um, I will say I don't have the luxury of voting no on this particular ordinance
because knowing that two of my council colleagues are planning to do that. Um, I can't in order to protect the the township um from builder to remedy lawsuits that could not onlyffect affect this property but potentially others. Um, and creating an environment where we
have a lot more units with a more significant impact. right now. Uh we've had discussions about traffic and we've had discussions about density and that could only get worse. I mean, you you know our the the developer settled in this case at at a at a number
uh through negotiations, right? And the way negotiations work are you have to determine what your liability is um and decide if I agree to something now, is it better off than the alternative, right? which would be litigation. So, if
if any of the the three of us in the middle here were to vote no on this, the township would be immediately put in the position of litigation um for not meeting its constitutional affordable housing requirements, which could mean that builder's remedy lawsuit. And what
does that mean? Well, the developer in this case originally posed somewhere around 60 units on that property. And that would not be town houses, right? That would become apartment buildings. um and which would be an even worse um situation along Bloomfield Avenue.
Getting this down to 28 was a pretty significant feat. Um the 28 town houses that will be there will be effectively continuing an aesthetic that exists already in Essex Fels, which is town houses. Um so this really has the the
minimal impact. Um and these are also for sale units. We have had a lot of our affordable housing units coming in have been rentals and now we are looking at for sale units which is um certainly better for the the township uh in the long run as far as being able to
maintain long-term residence um and uh and that generally when you have affordable when you have for sale units it generally means properties are better maintained um because of the that resident control that exists there. So frankly don't think that we can risk
litigation on this matter uh because of the horrible alternative that really comes up. Um what I will say um is that you know the planning board already gave some excellent recommendations and I know that there will be an extensive
review of this property uh when it comes before the planning board. Um and so I say to all the residents in that area, understand that there are elements of this um redevelopment plan that still require that the the area is consistent
with our with our things like our our tree ordinance and our steep slope ordinance and so on. Um and you know that's that's significant. That's important uh to note and I know that there will be an extensive review and I know that I will be at that table during
that review u and I know that I will be questioning um all of those decisions in order to make sure that this is the best possible uh development for our town during this time. Um, so and I'd like to, you know, just point out that I
previously mentioned on the the 420 Blue Foot Avenue property that originally I was opposed to the the size of this building and and the number of units, but sitting and hearing what our um professionals have done, providing
negotiation strategy, getting that number down and getting a better alternative than what was originally proposed led me to vote in that favor. And I am sorry that my my colleagues voting no on this uh do not see the same
thing for this property. Um and I I'm glad that once we approve this, we'll be able to hopefully wrap up um our affordable housing piece here, but while making sure that the character of our town remains and that we have design standards and that um the development
will have minimal impact. Madame Clerk, would you call the role, please? Councilwoman Holland, >> no. >> Councilwoman McGrath, >> no. >> Councilman Roman, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy,
>> yes. >> Mayor Tambourro, >> yes. >> Mayor, ordinance passes uh three to zero. Will be published according to law with the appropriate changes incorporated. >> 32, Madam Clerk. >> What did I just say? >> 3 0. >> Sorry, I meant 32.
>> You're all right. Um, it will be published accordingly. >> The next item on the agenda is ordinance number 2026-07 on second reading. Madame clerk, would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record? >> Amending and supplementing the standards of the town center mixed use zone
district and chapter 150 zoning of the code of the township of Verona. >> Thank you, madam clerk. Will somebody move the ordinance, please? >> Motion's made by councilwoman McGrath. Is there a second? Second. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Holland. This
time, I'll open for public comment on the TCMU zone ordinance. The same public comment statement applies. Hearing none, I close public comment. 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 Tambboro, >> yes. >> Mayor 2026-07 passes 5 to zero and will be published according to law.
>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. The next item on the agenda is ordinance 2026-08 on second reading. Would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record? repealing article 19 and 21 of chapter 150 of the code of
the township in its entirety and placing replacing with a new article 19 affordable housing and in article 21 development fees. >> Thank you, madam clerk. Would somebody move this ordinance, please? >> So moved. >> Motions made by the deputy mayor. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second made by councilwoman McGrath.
This time we'll open for public comment on ordinance 2026 08. Same public comment statement applies. Seeing no public comment, I hereby close public comment. Any council discussion? >> Seeing none, Madame Cler, would you call the role, please?
>> Councilwoman Holland, >> yes. Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes. >> Mayor Tambbor, >> yes. >> Mayor 2020 608 will be it passes 50 and will be published according to law. This
time I'll hear a motion to take ordinance 2026-04 off the table. >> So moved. >> Motion is made by Councilwoman McGrath. Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Second made by Councilman Roman. The ordinance is off the table. It has previously been moved and seconded. We
had public comment. Um this Council Roman. >> Uh I believe we've been handed a new copy of it, but I'm still uh looking for where the >> page seven. >> Uh page seven. Okay, I can only read so much while uh keep up with the
discussion. Um, >> F >> page, >> it's under drive through facilities. It's under prohibited uses. >> Prohibited uses. The following uses are expressly promoted in the TC zone district. Number seven,
>> event venues, banquet halls, party halls or similar houses of worship might this still um this copy if it still doesn't lift number seven here is any use rel any use requiring regular reliance on municipal or public parking lots to meet minimum parking
requirements. I don't know what copy you got because this is the copy that >> Yeah, >> it shows whatever email I sent to you is what I have. It shows seven poster
virtual kitchens. >> Okay. So, that one has one more point than what we have in front of us. >> Okay. I'll just ask Mr. Aoya how we ensure that our legislative intent here is correct. >> Sure. So, Sam, if you just want to read that out loud so we have the right language for the record so everyone knows what they're voting.
>> Certainly. Yes. So um under subsection F prohibited use uh numbers uh number one is event um uh venues banquet or banquet halls etc. Second is house of worship etc etc. Third is nightclubs dance hall
um and then as we go down to se six is drive-thru facilities. Seven is ghost or virtual kitchens. >> Okay. And then what's what we have is number seven in our printed packet here is number eight on >> that is correct. It's any use requiring regular reliance on municipal or public
parking lots to meet minimum parking requirements. >> So the ordinance in front of you council seven is ghost kitchens and your seven that's in front of you comes to eight. >> So for the purposes of clarification our intent is to prohibit ghost kitchens as a use in the sun. >> That's correct. And it does so based upon the ordinance as you tried to amend
it previously. You're just given the wrong cop. >> Thank you. And just and also note that anything that's not specifically listed as a permitted use is prohibited anyway. >> Right. >> So >> I was just concerned about the definition of shared kitchen could permit it. So we have to explicitly prohibit it.
>> Um I just would like to make one other. There was an amendment at the planning board on this as well. uh where on our original version um it talked about uh medical offices not being permitted in this area. And I
brought up at the planning board on further review that some medical offices like optometrists and chiropractors tend to their business model is to have these physical therapy have these center of town uh items. So that was adjusted to
provide exceptions for those specific offices. That is in um the definition of medical office on page two going into into three. So examples of medical office shall
include not be limited to uh no it's in somewhere else. >> Right. That's the challenge is once it's in a definition you still have to reference it somewhere else. So it's either permitted or promoted. >> It's uh >> you you probably have the wrong version
that edit was made in the newer version. >> Okay. No, I have it's on the electronic version. It's on this one. >> Okay. >> Yeah, >> it says u examples. >> There was a um Yeah, the exception was put in here.
Any other council discussion? See none. Madam Cler, call please. Councilwoman Holland, >> yes. Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes. >> Mayor Tambboro, >> yes. >> Mayor, uh, ordinance passes 5 to zero.
And I just forwarded Sans's email directly to you with the correct question. >> Thank you. >> Apologize. >> All right. Um, at this time, we're going to address the that was all the ordinances related to affordable housing. Um, there a couple other zoning
ordinances don't relate affordable housing there. Uh, at this time, Brian, can I just as a matter of procedure, can I put one, two, three, and four, and 11 into like a mini consent agenda? Move them all at once. All right. Just want to make sure. I
have a motion to >> um approve >> no >> uh resolutions L12 3 4 and 11. >> I I think four. >> Oh, that's that's not this affordable
housing. That is affordable housing, but it's not this affordable housing. Uh 1 2 3 and 11. Council member. >> Um, thank you. I would, um, personally, I would prefer to vote on one separately. Thank you.
>> Anybody else have that desire? >> I do. >> Okay. All right. We could just do that then. All right. I'll hear a motion on resolution L1. So move. >> Motion's made by Councilman Roman. Is
there a second? >> I'll second. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. Second is made by Councilwoman McGrath. Any discussion on Sorry, actually I'm going to call for public comment on resolutions L123 and
11 as a group at this time. Same public comment statement applies. Okay. Close public comment. Any council discussion on L1? Hearing none. Madam clerk, call the roll, please. >> Councilwoman Holland,
>> yes. Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, yes. Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes. >> Mayor Tambor, >> yes. >> Mayor L1 will be number 2026-058. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. The next item on the agenda is resolution L2. I'll hear a
motion on this resolution. >> So moved. >> Motion's made by Councilman Roman. Is there a second by Councilwoman McGrath? Any council discussion? >> Question mayor. >> Yes. Uh to our experts. Uh in this
resolution we list four counties that we have to notice. Is there a minimum of how many counties? Because I look Essex, Mars Union. Okay. Warren County. Like is someone from Blairestown going to >> move to Verona for >> those are all the counties that are in
uh Verona's affordable housing region. Got it. So, >> yeah, it's a >> Thank you. >> You beat Mr. Pekk to it. He was ready. He was ready to jump in back there. >> Madame Clerk, would you call the roll, please? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Holland. >> Yes. Councilwoman McGrath. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Roman. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Tambor. >> Yes. >> Mayor Ela will be number 2026 059. >> Thank you. Would somebody like to move L3? >> So moved. >> Motion's made by the deputy mayor. Is there a second? I'll second it.
>> Seconds by Councilman Roman. Any council discussion? >> Hearing none. Madam clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Counciloman Holland, >> abstain. >> Council McGrath, >> abstain. >> Councilman Roman, >> yes. >> Councilman I mean Deputy Mayor Mackoy,
>> yes. >> Mayor Tambbor, >> yes. >> Mayor, uh, L3 reumbered 2026 as 060. Passes 30 with two extensions. >> Thank you. Would somebody move resolution L1?
I'll move it. Is there a second? I'll second it. Seconds by Councilman Roman. >> Who moved it? I'm sorry. >> I did. >> Thank you. >> Um, any council discussion on L1? Hearing none. Madam clerk, could you call the role, please? >> Councilwoman Holland, >> abstain. Councilwoman McGrath,
>> abstain. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, I mean, I'm sorry, Councilman Roman. >> Yes. Deputy Mayor Mackoy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Tambboro. >> Yes. >> Mayor L1B number 061 passes three to zero with two. >> Thank you. Okay.
All of our affordable housing friends, you are dismissed. Thank you for your service. >> And now we're going back to the county manager report. >> Thank you. >> Back over on page one. We uh we're back to our CFO for
continuation of the budget discussions. >> Okay, got it. >> Okay, good evening. We are going to start I'm going to make it fast. We are going to start with tab 16 construction code.
>> Mr. Jacobson, your last budget hearing. >> Okay, that's page 27 in the binder for the those at home. >> Yes. >> As a sendoff, I got all my questions ready. >> Did you want to go home?
>> I was just going to say any questions. Go >> ahead. I'll let you go. You >> sure? No, go ahead. >> Okay. Thank you. Good evening, mayor, deputy mayor, members of the council. I realize we have a jam-packed agenda tonight, so I will go over quick highlights and then discuss our budget.
Code enforcement is divided into two categories. Construction code, which consists of building, electric, plumbing, mechanical, fire, technical assistance, and property maintenance. In 2025, my office issued 870 permits compared to
833 permits in 2024, an increase of 37 permits. The building department is off to another robust year, and 2026 looks to exceed 2025. Total department revenue for 2025 was 311,958
compared to 2024, which was 301,000, an increase of 10,958. The building department conducted 2,97 inspections for 2025 compared to 2,845 for 2024. That's an increase in 62
inspections. Some quick highlights. As um our town manager had mentioned a few things already. Um the Everfield project is well underway with both construction and inspections taking place to move the project along. We have continued to advance green technology in the building department in support of sustainable
Verona committee. To date, we have 139 properties with solar panels and 169 car charging outlets in town. Digital file storage has continued to be handled by the Floionics company. Thank you, Miss Kieran, for spearheading this uh project. And thank you to the
administration for installing security cameras and combination keypad locks on the office doors of the community center offices to increase security. Construction of the new pump station is underway at Clarage Drive. We have updated the building department webpage and made it more user friendly for
residents thanks to my technical assistance Kristen Spatola, Renee Reynolds, and public information director Alisa Northro. And Rosland shared services contract has been in effect for 15 years. And it looks like Rosland is going to renew the contract another four years and I believe it is
on the agenda tonight. Correct. Future projects that are coming down the pike. As you mentioned, there's so many coming down in the next year or two, but uh pretty much immediately POS the well station on Fairy Avenue, we're expecting some permits to come in very soon on
that. The Spectrum 360 project with 200 units on Sunset Avenue will be submitting construction permits in the near future. And every few years, I review our fee schedule and compare it to neighboring towns with a sampling of 10 similar towns. I try to keep in the middle of the pack and create a
spreadsheet that I will submit to the township manager for review. So, the line by line items, if you notice, our uh our uh our budget is uh modest. It's um $12,675
for our operating. It's very modest. And uh I will take any questions as far as that's concerned. >> Any questions for Mr. Jacobson? >> I go on. >> Well, we're letting you off e easy this time, Tom. No questions. I'll just make
a just a brief comment that it's you know it I'm glad you mentioned it. One of the things people may not realize about your department is the role you play in all of the uh public works and and civil construction that is done by not just the township of Verona but I I gather the county as well and other any other agencies that are building within
our borders. You have a role at plan check and inspection all the way through those projects. So, I know that that's quite a bit of work in addition to all the multif family. And how many units going up in Rosland? >> About a thousand going up now. It's it's crazy. And more to come. And like like that deputy mayor said, it's uh Becker
Farm is just every all the big buildings are being demolished and new units going up about a thousand units in the next two years. >> All right. >> And it's important to note that you are a revenue generating, you know, department. Not enough to cover every expense, but enough to cover most a
large a majority of them. Um, so we appreciate that as well. >> Right. >> All right. You're off the hook, Tom. Thank you. >> Um, if I may, mayor, if could I uh invite Leandola up here? >> Sure. Absolutely. >> As you almost know by now, I am retiring effective April one of this year. And Lemonola, I would like to introduce
Leandola, who will be succeeding me upon my retirement, April 1, 2026. Glenn has a vast amount of knowledge and experience having served as a construction official, building sub code official, zoning official in Summit, Maplewood, South Orange, Cedar Grove, North Coral, and Montlair. Lenn is
already working for the township of Verona as my building subco. And I'm confident this will be a smooth transition for the township of Verona because I promised our our manager that this will be a smooth transition and then I'm confident that Lenny will uh will do an excellent job for the township of Verona. Would you like to
say a couple quick words? >> Mandola, welcome. Just two words. >> How many units are going up? >> Um, good evening, mayor, members of town council, town manager, different manager Pierce. Thank you. I'm short and my and
the public. I'm honored to be joining Verona Township as a new construction official. I know I have large shoes to fill. Mr. Jacobson has been a Verona Township employee for almost 50 years. Rumor has it they're going to name a street after him. Who that is. Um, I bring 20 plus years of experience
working construction, building departments, and I'm looking forward to working with the township team and serving our residents. Thank you for the opportunity. Um, and I again I'm looking forward to working here and I feel at home. I've live I've grew up in this area for a long I've been in this area for a very long time. So, I'm very happy
to be here. >> Thank you. And we'll see you in 50 years. >> Thank you, Councilman. >> I would just like to >> and a final wrap up, mayor, if you don't mind. It has been an honor and a privilege to work in my hometown of Verona for almost 50 years. And I want to thank you for the support and encouragement that this mayor and
council has shown the building department and myself. And these are my words, not AI. Thank you very much for hold. >> I just wanted to say just a personal thank you. Um, so I've been sitting up here for 10 years. I think you were the first department head that I sat uh sat
down and met with uh after I was elected to this council and you gave a very comprehensive and very detailed um rundown of all of your operations and I learned a lot from you and one of the things that's always struck me every time that you come up you've come up here is your commitment to public service. Um you've always described your
role as protecting the public um protecting their assets in their homes, helping them out when they have issues with contractors, making sure that they're well taken care of. um that's really just defined your time with the township of Verona as true just public service. So I just wanted to say thank you. It's been a pleasure working with you all these years and uh for
everything you've done for our community. >> Thank you for your kind words. >> Hopefully see you before before you're out of here entirely, but just wanted to say that on the record. So appreciate it. >> Thank you, Tom. >> All right, what's next? We're not going to be as nice to the next person. >> Oh no. Oh, who should I pick then? No,
I'm just kidding. Uh next is tab 17, fire prevention, uh page 35. Thank you. >> For everyone at home, >> you want to talk or you want me to talk? >> Okay. >> Uh salaries um salaries have been
consistently 90,000 for the last few years. This year there was an a request for an additional $10,000 um for an increase in pay for our part- timerrs. Uh the operating expenses remain the same on the bottom line um at
8,000 The only reason uh for the requests for the 10,000 was the last time I met with Jen back in 2023 to request an increase. The total possible um amount for the year was very close to our maximum. We obviously only came up we came up to
80,000. So there's still $10,000 left. I just didn't want to if requested a increase and given permission by the administration. I didn't want it to be too close to where it'd be a concern. Before you leave, you also have capital which is on this page. On the next sheet
is uh Matt's capital requests >> uh for capital requests this year. Um again just radios. Um that is for one mobile radio for a vehicle and one portable radio um for uh one of my staff. Um and then the fire prevention
um uh invehicle uh computers. That's just for one. Um it's a Panasonic tough book um with a vehicle specific mount. Um they are uh what the same computers the police department use. They're very rugged. Um and they're uh you know recommended for fire prevention line of
work. >> Matt, do you think if you get this it would require fewer hours from the fire prevention? >> Absolutely. Yeah. The addition additional the the computers um we also plan to get a printer which would save uh time running back and forth to the
office to print things out. we uh would be able to print um certificates, violations, uh email them directly from the computer in the vehicle. So definitely save time um from running back and forth to the office. >> So you would you would anticipate a reduction
in hourly in the hourly uh what we're paying. >> Yeah, absolutely. Or more productivity. Um we don't we are required by law or by the fire code to um inspect all of our life hazard uses. The non-life hazard uses are on a 5-year cycle. We'd obviously like to get to all of them
every five years. It's just not possible with the current staff that we have, but it would definitely make us more uh efficient. >> Any other questions for Mr. Gford? >> Thanks, Matt. You're all set for now. See you in a minute. >> Of course. Uh we are going to jump back
up to tab 11, which is communications. Miss Kieran, communications was not on your >> I didn't see it on the I was going by the agenda. I'll find it right now. >> Okay. >> Do you want me to talk?
>> Mr. Fan, welcome. >> Thank you. >> Anybody who doesn't know Tony, Tonyy's our new IT director. Uh just started when? Two months ago. >> Two months ago. >> Two months ago. Okay. Um so your salary and wages are on top. um Tonyy's salary as well as a part-timer salary is in
that budget. Um on the bottom is their operating expenses. Um you may or may not be aware that there was an additional staff member that had resigned late uh 2025. Um, so the increase on the bottom is to
if in case Tony needs another uh professional to come in um that would be the offset to that. Um >> that's the consulting line. >> That's the consulting line. Yes. >> Do you want to add anything? >> Page 29. Sorry. At home it's
>> okay. >> Do you want to add anything? >> Good evening May and council. Uh I'm currently working with uh the township manager and the CFO looking through the uh the township infrastructure and then go to improving the the township
technology in the system networking bring it up to this day as well as the cyber security. >> Thank you. Thank you for >> Councilman Roman. >> Um as far as the the capital are these the ones that fall under these are all under administration.
>> They are all under administration. um >> capitals kind of came in um earlier than when Tony was hired. So that was handled more by administration. >> Okay. Um can we at least go through the 2026 IT capital items? I see only two of them marked on there. You've just got
server replacement and backup system upgrades uh totaling $38,000. Just uh what are you looking to do? >> These two are yours. Is there a specific project planned for those or
>> Yes. So um currently we go definitely we go to in improve the backup solutions uh for the uh for the fora currently we are still using tape backup we are planning to go to the digital backup to the cloud on premise and to the cloud and then so
currently I'm working with couple uh manufacturer technology to pick the right one for the township for owner and also we uh our current system right now is uh the hardware is getting outdated it. So right now I am also uh trying to
bring a virtual environment into the Verona and to help help some reduce the the hardware cost and have uh build up the virtual machine within a probably three to four server and then build up to uh probably can bring up a dozen
virtual server that we can separate the their functions. >> Okay. Um are you going to be a under $30,000 you're going to be able to buy four servers in a hypervisor? >> Um so for the uh the virtual environment we definitely going to move away not
going to choose VMware because VMware uh lately their pricing is increases tremendously. Uh but I do have a meeting with them sometime next week to go over see what the option is. we would definitely go with the hybrid v with Microsoft at this time and then so I
right now I'm working with the working out with a couple of vendors and then um Dell HP nova see what their pricing is and also I'm working with the township manager and to see some of the budget maybe we can move some of the a uh
budget around to help funding some of these project >> thank you thank you at The virtual environment will certainly save on the fact that we may think about that is show up before where we're buying like a like every computer at once on the same cycle. This would
reduce that. >> Well, this is this is more for the server environment rather than the workstations. It was the workstations where we were trying to replace an entire year. We were replacing every workstation in the entire town all at once. Um >> we could get to a point where you can use virtual workstations, right? In >> it depend it whether that's more
efficient or not depends on what you're doing. But >> we can dream. Yeah, we'll have sidebar at some point, but >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Fan. Thank you. >> Uh tab 12, volunteer fire department. >> Um for everyone at home, that's uh page
34. >> Come on over. >> Good evening. Um for this budget, the operating expense is remaining the same, but they'll go into their capital requests. >> Good evening again. Um with the capital
request, so fire department administration sat down last year. Uh together we mapped out a five-year plan for the fire department for capital needs. Um it was something I asked of the upcoming officers in our department that we continuously do this um to keep ourselves ab breast. We met with the
town manager. We met with the deputy manager to go over our plans moving forward into 2030. Um, so I'm going to start I'm going to leave the big ticket for last. I'm going to start with smaller ones. Apparatus repairs. So I kind of took a page from Mr. O Sullivan who last year put together a facilities
audit study. We did the same thing for our vehicle apparatus. Um, vehicle apparatus is extremely expensive. Costs are only going up every single day. that something has to get repaired, whether it's parts, labor, the cost just continually continuously rise. So, we
met with our vendors that do our vehicle repairs. We had them analyze every vehicle in our fleet, and they came back to us with a list that was massive. So, we had them take it down to a critical list of things that do have to be addressed and things that do have to be repaired. So, we have right now $60,000
outstanding worth of repairs to our current apparatus. So, we want to take it in a tier approach. Obviously, we're not going to try to tackle everything in one year, but $30,000 this year for apparatus repairs. We'll put a big dent into that. We'll get a couple of our rigs fully completed, and then every
year hopefully we can gradually decrease that number as we move forward and get these things addressed. Uh, next is turnout gear. Um, it's pretty standard request from the fire department. $25,000 gets you five sets of turnout gear. Uh, right now we're turning over double that rate. So, we're
putting on 10 new members a year. The service gear has a 10-year lifespan. Uh, one of the things we've always done to to lengthen the lengthen the life of the gear is to give it to newer members coming on, junior members that can't yet go into fires or be put into dangerous
situations. But what we're seeing just as recently as last week, members are getting rejected from themies and told that the gear is non-compliant. So, we're running into a little of a hard place right now uh getting some newer gear or getting some better gear for these younger members to get through
them. So, just a a continued investment in uh the numbers we're putting on. We have to outfit them. We have to get them stuff that's compliant with the state and with fire regulation. So, $25,000 will get us five sets of turnout gear. Uh computer software, $5,000. Um so, the
council did approve two years ago the purchase of computer software equipment. This is the first computer software equipment in the history of the Verona Fire Department. So, we're literally going from Excel in paper and pencil to now we have a fully fully operating
computer system called Red M red NMX. Uh, we went soft live in December. We went full live in January. The software is working great. The $5,000 will just allow us to continue to invest in it. Uh, there's different modules that we could progress to. Uh, currently one of
the things we bought with our our most recent funds was hydrant mapping. So this software will now pinpoint all the hydrants in Verona. There's a ton of data we can work with with the zoning and the permitting offices for solar panels and areas of concern as we get into some of these construction
development sites in Verona. Uh we can preload information that those offices get uh things that we need to be aware of responding to emergencies. So again, that $5,000 will just help grow that database. Uh $5,000 firefighting equipment. That's just our basic tools and equipment,
cameras. Um, some stuff we carry on the apparatus that uh needs to be replaced from time to time. Um, we used to be able to cover a lot of that stuff out of operating budget, but things are just going up. You know, we're seeing increases of 10% a year. I just got a quote this morning for something that had a drastic increase from the year
before. So, we're we're working hard to go out to new vendors and get quotes for things, but we're just finding it, you know, it's it's a market thing. Um, everyone's raising their prices the same rates and we're just fighting to get we're getting less out of our operating budget than years before. So hopefully
with some capital investments we can keep pace. Uh the last item here on the smaller ticket items is radio equipment. So the township uh had a meeting I believe it was in July or August uh with our emergency services with DPW with buildings and grounds to go over the
current radio system that we have in town right now which is functioning well uh for all our departments. just a continued investment in it. And one of the things that was talked about was radio replacements. So the radio system that we have now, the radio hardware that we have now is in its 10th year of operation. On the fire department side,
none of those radios have been replaced yet. So um you know, we put in for 50,000 and we said subject to what the township plan is. We don't have a township plan yet for for how we're going to approach that. So if we asked for 20,000 of that, that would allow us
to buy two radios, similar to the ones that Matt and I have. We are the only two members of the fire department that have those all band radios. So this would allow for us to metriculate some of those down through the ranks of the officers and then eventually into the membership and then just continued
investment with batteries and pagers and the things that that seem to wear uh pretty regularly and that need to be replaced and upgraded to keep the system functioning. All right. Any questions on those? >> Yeah. I was wondering if you could get
to us um as we consider these items for the firefighting equipment specifically what you're looking for for that $20,000. It would be helpful. I I'm a little wary when we're borrowing money to pay for things to uh just to approve a blanket number for just equipment
because right now it seems like we're treating capital a little bit as an extension of the operating budget which I don't want to be doing. Um, so I'd like to know exactly what equipment um that >> Yep. So for this year we're asking for $5,000 for fire firefighting equipment.
Uh, and two of the main focuses there are going to be >> So your your capital says $20,000. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. The the spreadsheet spreadsheet in front of us has fire >> 5,000 for software, 20,000 for firefighting. >> Okay. Yeah. It's 5,000 a year. So that
20,000 is cumulative. So we're not asking for 20,000 this year for firefighting. >> That's right. in in what we have in front of us is asking for,000 a year. Okay. So, what are your two pieces of equipment you're >> looking? Uh thermal imaging cameras. So, uh we have four in the department. Two were replaced in the last two years.
We'd like to replace the other two. Uh the two that needed replacement are over 10 years old. Um those thermal thermal imaging cameras allow us to look at walls, to look at ceilings, to look through uh structure. So, that allows us having to cause some damage where it might not be necessary. And $5,000 would
handle two replacement cameras for us. >> And it has for your radio purchase $200,000. >> Yes. So that was again subject to the town plan of replacing. >> But if you you said you had wanted to um you know add a couple radios to the
department, deal with some pages of batteries. So that's just normal maintenance. What do you think that would cost? So, what we were asking for for 2026 was $20,000, which would get us two radios, 10 pagers, and about 10 batteries. >> Those numbers are a little different
than what we have in front of us. >> Yeah. And we'll just note that um I think Chief Kieran will when the the radio um new plan comes into play, Chief Kieran and Mr. O' Sullivan would be presenting a budget that would come as
the needs of all departments at that point, right? So, just don't want to think that I don't want you guys to to think that you're kind of on your own for planning ahead for that. That would be part of that plan as it was 10 years ago, 15 years ago. I don't know >> 10 10 years ago when we moved from the EDX. >> Well, the plan started a couple years
prior to that, right? >> Uh, no, we were going to put in we were going to put in an RO and P25 phase 2 until >> until we saw the light. Yeah, I was there. I I remember, right? Yeah, you and I were at the same meetings back in the olden days. >> Um, okay. So, but just want to note that
um that the chief would provide us with a whole budget on that, but for right now, >> you've gone from asking for in in our spreadsheet $220,000 for those two items to $25,000, which is a very positive change. >> Yeah, let me just check what's on the
sheet here. >> Yeah, it looks like >> Can you double check the first two? Because your apparatus repair, you said 30. We have 20. >> Yeah. We have we have 30,000 in our 2026 sheet here. Uh this has 25,000. >> Turnout gear says 20,000. We have 25,000
for turnout gear. Computer software is five. That's correct. Uh firefighting equipment should be 5,000. And then the radio equipment um again subject to the town plan, we're asking for 20,000 for this year to make those upgrades um and
purchases that I just spoke about. >> Can we get a reissued capital spreadsheet? All right. Now, on to the uh the very red or bright green elephant in the room. >> Okay. So, the the large ticket item is a new firet truck. Um right now in the
industry, uh Chief Tempesta or Ricky Tempesta spoke about it earlier. Fire service is looking at about four years right now for length to build apparatus and get it delivered. Um, we have a 2004 engine up at station number one that is
the next in line to be replaced in this department. Um, a 4-year window puts us somewhere around 2030 for delivery of that. So, that 2024 engine will be 6 years old at that time. Um, we were approached in 2024 by the then township
administration of what we should be targeting for our next apparatus replacement based on the master plan and based on the development um kind of what we spoke about earlier tonight in this meeting and we have some stats here which I'm sure you're all familiar with. But with all the construction and development in Verona, our needs are
changing um especially for emergency services. You know, I'm not going to speak for the other chiefs of the other organizations, but certainly continued development and the type of development puts more strain on our emergency resources and what we do. Um, so the vehicle we've speced out, which is came
in under this 1.95 budgeted number, uh, is a Quint. So, a Quint is a fire engine with a ladder on it. So, it gives you dual purpose. It has a ladder. Um, will not be the type of ladder that we have currently in station number two, but it also serves as an engine. Um, we're
seeing more towns switch to this approach of having dual ladders. Uh, Claudewell being the most recent last year. Claudewell took possession last year of a new ladder truck and they're keeping their old existing ladder truck in service. Um, the most recent as the fire we had two years ago on Bloomfield
Avenue that affected a couple businesses. U, we called another town in for mutual mutual aid to help us assist with that as two ladders were needed as we were possibly performing rescues out of two different buildings. Um it's just becoming more of a need um with the
development going on uh the the change in elevation to some of these buildings, the tightness uh maneuvering around these buildings. So this new vehicle is being designed to have a better reach and a better turning radius into some of these developments. Obviously, um you
know, the code officials all have the turning radiuses for our ladder truck when these developers come in and they all build to those specifications, but those specifications don't include snow mounds. They don't include where dumpsters may end up. They don't include where delivery vehicles or illegally parked vehicles happen on these
properties. And we're seeing it all the time. Um we went out two weeks ago for a drill to one of our newer developments in town and we could not get fire apparatus around the development. It's just too tough. Uh there's vehicles everywhere. There were snow mounds everywhere. So, we need some
alternatives to help us uh with how we approach these these new buildings and then construction. So, we feel that a Quint is most suited for what we need right now in this township. >> Is the uh the browning out of one of the the uh ladder trucks in Monontlair going
to affect our ability to receive mutual aid or do we have another because they often come and provide us a ladder. Will they send us their remaining ladder if we need it? So it depends on what their service capabilities are for that day. If Monontlair was not an option for us, we would still receive mutual aid from
another township. It just may not be a bordering township. That mutual aid could be 10 more minutes, 5 10 more minutes, 15 more minutes further than Monontlair is from us. So it does impact Verona. What's going on in Monontlair is their neighboring town. Uh Monontlair is our first dual ladder truck for mutual
aid. So if we have a significant fire in this town, um we call for two engines and one ladder truck to come to the scene of the fire to assist us. Currently Monontlair is that ladder truck. So if they're unable to provide, we have to go further than distance limits than Monontlair to get that.
>> Are you going to consider changing your first two with >> you know changing who the first two ladder is and as a result of >> No, because they're coming out of different stations >> so the needs will be different. Any other questions for the fire department?
>> So would this Quint? Sorry. >> Uh would the Quint replace an engine? >> Yes. >> Okay. Then what happened? What's the remaining lifespan of the ladder? And would there be an intent to replace the the ladder truck? >> So the ladder is what's the age on the ladder? 15 years.
So you know 10 years from now we could be talking about that replacement as well. Um, one of the things we have to be cognizant of with these long lead times is that we don't want to bottleneck apparatus replacement. We don't want to be doing it every two years because, you know, that's a huge
capital investment. So, we want to be able to get in front of it instead of behind it so that we don't bunch two replacements in a 5year window and really put the town in a bad position. >> Will aquint fit in one of the bays at the station one? >> Okay. >> It was designed to fit in that firehouse. So, >> Okay.
>> Yep. It's conceptualized. Um, you know, we met with the manufacturer. It's um it's it's I don't want to say it's a base model, but it really doesn't have a lot of add-ons to it. Um, the biggest thing was just finding a manufacturer that could built the rig that could fit in our building. >> Okay. >> Um, pumping capacity and tank capacity
versus the engines. >> Same 2,000 gallon per minute pump and 500gallon water tank. >> Okay. >> It's basically the same wheelbase as one of our current engines. It just has a ladder on top. >> Okay. >> Councilwoman, >> um, Dr. refer to um
>> I saw your hand first >> when did we capitalize for it and when was it delivered? >> We took receipt of it in 2020. Um was a three-year lead time at the time. >> So I would estimate 2017 is when we put in for that and the town
went out to >> Right. And then we got it during co Yes. >> Okay. So that was the last one. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Deputy Mayor. >> So just a question. Do we ever put out for mutual aid from West Orange >> and that because we have that >> West Orange is a part of that when we
talk about that um that working fire dispatch. >> Yes. >> Um West Orange is part of that first alert. >> Okay. >> And West Orange is currently providing an engine to us as based on the logistics of their fire stations there. They have a station with an engine that's closest to Verona.
>> Got it. And you mentioned like turning radius in developments and stuff. Do you get do you have a a a group like a committee that looks over development plans that because I I know obviously seeing plans being on the planning board
they do show the turning radiuses. It's always something that's asked for but do you have a committee that reviews that? >> So Matt and I now are reviewing it. So Matt obviously wearing two hats as the fire official has been copied in on these zoning plans as they come out for
review by the township officials and he's recommended to the administration that the fire chief whoever that may be at the time right now it's me be added to those emails so as of the last three or four months I'm now receiving that. So when those plans come out from the township I'm able to review them. You
know we can look against what we have. We can look for other things as well for sprinkler locations. We can ask for if it's parking garage that the parking garage be sprinklered. Things that aren't necessarily code, but we can ask that the builders put those in and we can review how it fits the needs of our
departments with being able eress getting into those complexes, getting out of those complex, being able to turn around inside them. >> So, yes, that is we would want to hear from. >> Yeah, >> I do send the we have a CAD drawing of the largest ladder truck and I usually send it to
>> Yeah. And that's been I would say since uh probably the last 10 years uh the fire official has been doing that with these uh development sites. He's been setting the turning radius the size of the ladder truck which is again the biggest apparatus. So that's incorporated into the plans.
>> Thanks. >> Any other question? >> And just a general comment on you know fire apparatus. We used to buy engines for I think $550,000. And when we had talked about a replacement on the ladder truck, I think we had talked in the realm of 1.1 to 1.2 million. All the
fire apparatus manufacturers in the country have basically been consolidated down into two ownership groups, I think. >> And this has become sort of a national crisis at this point in time that every single department nationwide is seeing these lead times and paying these prices. Um it's so
>> and there's lawsuits out all over the place because of that, right? And again, it's, you know, we we are part of different associations within the county. So, I know Fairfield is taking delivery this year, North CLwell's taking delivery this year of apparatus, and those are things that were ordered
four or five years ago, and the lead times are just out of control, >> right? So, this is not surprising, but it is a shockingly large number, but this is >> this is kind of where we are. >> Yeah. And again, you know, we'll submit to administration. Um, there are payment options that the manufacturer is
offering that can greatly reduce that price down as much as $275,000 based on what the town's able to do uh, payment wise. So, there's options. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions for the fire department? >> Thank you, gentlemen. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. Who's next? >> Uh, we're moving into police 13 and 14. Chief >> Chief Keran, you wore your budget shirt today. >> You want to go over salaries? You want me to start? >> Sure.
>> Okay. Um, for the chief's salaries, um, you had three retirements last year, >> correct? >> And we hired four, >> correct? >> Last year. Uh, which is why >> six total. >> Six total. >> Four in the academy right now. >> Okay. uh which is why you see a slight
reduction in salaries in um regular salaries. On the next page is the chief's operating expenses where you will see an increase. Um the trailers are new at number 22. I'm sorry for everybody at
home. Let me sorry this is new for me. Uh page 31 for everybody at home. Um the trailers are uh new this year or well last year um which was budgeted for um number 22. So that is part of the
increase. Um also part of the increase is cleaning service um which is under number um three in your um in your list. Um, do you want to go over any other ones specifically or does anybody have
questions specifically on the operating expenses? >> Yeah, I just have the question on the overtime piece. >> Overtime. Let's go back Paige. Sorry. >> So, kind of about 80,000 over budget on the overtime. I was wondering if you
could just briefly detail what uh led to that. Okay. >> So, our biggest overtime uh budget for hours-wise was uh desk coverage for dispatch. Um that was almost double of our next
highest which was training that was required from the state. We saw an increase to overtime. Uh we were out of the building for almost the full year. Uh anytime we had to process a prisoner or take statements from victims that
required two officers to leave town. Um, so you saw an increase there. Uh, we had a couple high-profile incidents throughout the year uh that put a dent in the overtime. Uh, we had a on a happy occasion, we had nine births within the department. There was nine children that
were born. So, we did have some uh staffing issues for that happy occasion. >> Thanks to a very fertile drinking water here in the hall. Actually, that was up up there, right?
Uh any other question on any of the expenses for the chief >> here? Deputy mayor council. >> Sorry. Councilman Hollra. >> Thank you. Everybody >> um just on uh some of the line items. So
I notice vehicle leases is down. Um, can you refer is that due to the um the way they're paid from the um special arrangement when they're if you could address that. >> Sure.
>> Uh we were leasing uh vehicles which uh made sense for us at the time. We started that in 2019. Um it no longer made sense about three years ago. Um the lease company, the business arrangement was not something they were looking for. we were making
out a little too well. Um, so we we've been reducing that as the vehicles come off lease. Uh, what we try to do is is spend the money for the current leases as well as a lot of the upfitting from the trust fund which comes in from the
vendors. So, we took in $52,000 approximately last year from uh vehicles when a vendor. So, when you see a a construction company or utilities using an officer for traffic control, there is a fee for that police vehicle. So, we did bring in about 52,000 on that and we
use that to to spend on leases as well as upfitting for some of the newer cars. >> And then do you want to address I see a big increase in patrol equipment repairs and service. >> Yes. So basically that's just the uh increase uh on uh the cost of a lot of
the items um that we've been replacing. Um a lot of that is is vehicle uh equipment uh what's in the trunk what we carry around as well as um newer equipment for officers. So with the increased officers we uh as per
contractual uh all uniforms and supplies are paid for by the township as we hire them. So, as we're seeing the new officers come in, we are outfitting them with uh all the equipment that's needed to attend the academy or if they came from another department, which we had last year.
>> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Anybody else, >> Councilman Roman? >> I assume that the um uh education and training uh going up as well is just a result of just having several in the academy at the moment. >> Yes. And it's also uh an increase in
required training from the state. um you know uh we're huge on training obviously as you guys know um but there is more required training. What one of the good things is Verona we've and I'll pat myself on the back for my
command staff to be ahead of the curve. Uh we've had this training and we've been engaged in it. Um and then the attorney general guidelines would come out or attorney general recommendation would come out. This is now mandatory. So, we've been a bit ahead of the curve and and that's a credit to the uh the supervisors and and the officers who
come back looking for this other training. Um there's also what we call required training which isn't required from the state. That would be uh our officers carry tasers, less lethal. Uh there's training required for them to
continue to carry them. Uh as far as um EMT status, we we will uh pay for the officers to keep their certification as EMTs. a lot of times obviously they're first on the scene um CPR first responder all these things that we have
as required training that's not necessarily required from the state but what we have is required so that increased those numbers um the training it's not all you see increase in the
overtime But um we spent 4562 hours in training uh last year. 3,140 was done while the officers were working or amending their schedule. >> So basically during regular regular time, >> correct?
>> Okay. So it's not drive drives the overtime, but it's not >> we try when we can thing things like the range, defensive tactics, right? uh need to be in person and it's uh difficult with the pitman schedule. >> Okay. And then the new item for trailers, what is that?
>> That is for the locker rooms. >> Oh, okay. That's okay. That Okay. >> Do you want to go into your capital? >> Uh yes, the actually the capital is um a little little uh fluid at this time. Um, we're always exploring shared
services with surrounding towns. Uh, there may be an opportunity to save money um, with a couple shared services uh, that we're currently engaged in with Cedar Grove, but might uh, change some equipment as far as our 911 infrastructure. Um, I had capital for uh
the upgrade of the 911 system in 2021 and that would have been what's called nextgen, bless you, nextgen ready, uh, which the state was rolling out in 2022. So, we had that capital set aside. The state never rolled it out. They moved
the goal line a bit. Uh, it's going to cost us significantly more to be nextg 911 ready. And what uh the short version is it's going to be text to 911 as well as FaceTime um and a few other upgrades that the
state has uh mandated. Um but we're looking at ways to keep that cost down. So some of this may change. I'll be back before you to explain it in more detail, but um there are some items on capital that may change on that. >> The the two vehicle Oh, you showed two
vehicles for 220,000. >> Yes. So the two vehicles that we approved in capital last June uh we took delivery of in July, they are still sitting waiting to be upfitted. Uh there's a unbelievable uh difficult time
in upfitting police vehicles which is throughout the state no matter which vendor you try. Um so that would be for the vehicles and the upfitting. Uh again, we're still sitting waiting on those other two. these two. Uh we would
increase the fleet by two cars uh based on now that we have more officers on the road. >> Um you you put in for a $50,000 for a gator and another department um put one as well. Is that something that could be
shared in some way? So the difficulty we had in sharing um that piece of equipment was when the rescue squad would need it, the police would need it as well. Um so we were trying to work that out amongst the two agencies and it really seemed to overlap that we would
both need it at that time with different specific needs. >> Any other questions for the chief? Okay, >> don't go anywhere. You're in tab 14 as well for under dispatch salaries. >> Uh the salaries just contractually for
the OPIU members um increased slightly. So that's the difference there, but I'm not sure if you need the chief for dispatchers if you have questions on that one. >> Just a one question on the dispatch piece. seems that
one of the big overtime drivers for um the police department is, as you said, desk coverage. And when you're paying overtime for desk coverage, you're talking for a patrol officer. It could be somewhere overtime could be like $100 an hour, you know,
pretty easily to pay for desk coverage. Um, would it make sense for us to try to offset some of that overtime cost by increasing the rate for hourly dispatchers? Um, to try and incentivize
dispatchers to work for us rather than to work for other places if they're going on. Um, I think that might be able to save some money. It seems like we're um doing that. I mean, I don't know where our dis our hourly dispatchers make, but even if we if we could pay them, we could probably increase their
salary 200%. And still will cost less than having a a patrol officer doing that same job at the same time. Um, so I'm thinking if we could potentially uh look at the economics of having a significant increase in perium
dispatcher pay, uh that would probably save the town a significant amount of money uh over time. for sure. >> It did work with our school guards. Um so when we have a we have four full-time dispatchers that cover the shifts with the pitman. When a dispatcher has time
scheduled time off or is sick, we first try to get a pdeium. Um that's has the least impact fiscally. Uh if we can't get a PDAM, we then try to see if we have an officer who is desk certified because to answer we are PAP center,
which is 911 center. Just to answer that phone, you need uh EMD, emergency medical dispatch training. Um and you have to keep those searchs up. That's another one of those required that we call required training for our officers. There's a handful of officers who are
desk certified. So, we'll try to use an officer who's already working. That does take them from patrol on the road. If we cannot do that, we will put it out for overtime to the dispatchers and then overtime to an officer as a last resort.
But yes, uh I'm in favor of increasing those rates and and it's difficult to retain. Um we have a couple long time, but majority uh come and go. >> Yeah. I mean, I think there's a there's unfortunately a small market for per team dispatchers in this area. Um, and
if we could attract them and say, "Hey, come work for us. We're going to pay better than anybody else." That might work. I don't mind spending money to save money if that that makes sense. >> Agreed. So, >> we'll do a a survey on salaries for dispatchers and present findings to the
council. >> Yeah. All right. Thank you, Chief. Thank you. Next is tab 15, building and grounds for anybody at home. It's page 41. Come on up.
>> Sneakers. >> Uh do you want to talk? You want me to talk? Go ahead. >> All right. Um salaries at the top. Uh you will see an increase of $40,000. That is because Mr. Waterman here has decided to retire as well at the end of
the year. So, uh that would provide a uh new employee to start about midyear to come in um at the lower level. >> Right. >> Um good.
>> Sorry. Operating expenses remain the same that um 228 250. Do you want to make any comments? >> Just so you know, we have there's four employees in B&G. three that work with B&G and one as custodian in the town hall and the library. Um, as you can
see, our other expenses, we came within $104, I think. So, it's going to be tough keeping it that way, but we'll do our best to try to keep it under. Again, it's not easy with these new tariffs and everything like that. So, um, any questions on the budget part?
>> Um, I have a question. Yes, sir. >> You did not ask why write a statement. You did not ask for approval to retire. happen. >> Well, I figured after 45 years I don't need approval. >> Hey, if he just stops showing up resignations not accepted. So,
>> uh, capitals, we only have three capitals because next year we might get hit with some fairly big numbers because in a facility audit that we have it's >> we got a draft but it's not complete yet. So, um, the first one is the new
truck for building grounds 20 2013. The compartments are rusting out. We have to like put hatch on them to keep them close so we don't lose our tools. So, that's kind of a necessity. The annex building improvements is the
police were there for a year and it got pretty well abused. Not abused, it got overworked. So, we need carpets. There's a bunch of doors that are rusting out on the first floor that have to be changed out. And the security cameras,
which is an ever everlasting thing. Last year, you got we asked for 50,000. You asked me to give you a number for the whole thing. I came back with that number and you gave me 50,000. Ideally, to do the sewer plant and ever field,
your new gem up there, I need about 140,000. So if you want to, you know, be nice and >> and be nice, we think nice is a part of it. >> We'd be more than happy to accept your funds,
>> but otherwise the 50,000 we'll have to do a peace meal again like we did. >> You can fight Tom Jacobson. >> Awesome. >> Any questions for Mr. Waterman? Councilman. >> Um I think it's actually a question for our town manager. So we didn't budget in
as part of Everett. The security piece >> that the security piece is not um the cameras are not part of the Everett field project itself from the general contractor. Uh there are conduits and the preparatory work to to install
cameras has been completed. Um at the completion of the project there may be some additional funding depending on the final cost of the project. There may be some funds available in the Ever Field bond that maybe uh apply to security cameras there. Uh that we will likely
know in probably about six to eight weeks. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Just a just a comment. Um well, thank you uh for your 45 years of service. It's >> Wow. >> Hopefully nobody else shows up here
telling us we're going to quit. >> Okay. We we got through we got through Chief Kieran's presentation without him resigning. >> Uh but in all seriousness, I think you have certainly earned the the right to retire. Uh and thank you for all of your work. I know Westwood Township is better for it for sure.
>> Thank you. >> And you have uh you have kept an eye on these facilities like they were your own home and and we appreciate that because you can tell the the pride of ownership and um and the work that's done. You've done a very good job training an excellent staff as
well. Thank you very much, >> Deputy Mayor. >> Uh Lyn, just a question on uh annex building improvements. Does this include that balcony area? >> No, it doesn't staircase. >> Uh next year there's a uh a 75,000. >> That's the increase there.
>> Improvement lot for next year. >> We have you for this year, so we'll be picking your brain quite a bit. >> All right. Thanks, L. >> All right. Thank you. >> He'll be back during pool. >> Okay. So >> this I'm going to call for about a fivem minute recess at this point.
>> I say we skip skip public works just worried about >> the money's already gone. >> I don't know what that is. That was >> in the meantime, I'm gonna pass this out
before we get to water. >> Yes, there was another public comment period >> after um >> yeah at the end. See item P. It's always after new business. >> Oh, okay. Yeah, because we saw it up here and then seem to
>> he did call public comment but he did it on the three. Okay. >> Yeah, but they'll have it they have to have it legally on that. >> Yeah. Um I can only twice a week. the other family.
>> I know you wanted that. >> Oh, absolutely. just update to work. >> I think Liberty Recorder. >> Yep. >> I love that.
The greatest thing I've ever Oh, good. >> 11 years. I think it's the paused. >> Oh. Oh. >> Knocking off. I've actually thought about it so much. >> Um I have them behind like the
department >> listed by year. >> So like I call the meeting back to order at 9:28. I think our mics are >> I'm got it. I'm SL. >> Yeah, >> there we go. >> All right. I call the meeting back to
order at 928. Back to you, Miss Mascara. >> Okay. Tab 18, Street and Highway and Engineering. Chuck, >> just let I'm following suit. I'm leaving the December 31st. I want to do like Lenny and Tommy
like those guys. >> No, you want to stay forever. >> I'll be here for a while. >> Yes. Um first page is salaries. You will see that there is an increase in salaries. Um part of that is number
five. Oh, for everybody at home, sorry, I'm new to this. uh page 36 for everybody at home. Um our reserve for storm trust um I increased from 25,000 which was last year to 75,000 this year.
It's probably not enough. I'm just going to be honest. Our snow was insane this year. Um one of the overtimes alone was $85,000 for the January snowstorm. So that completely blew out that. um guess
early on so far. Um so we will see how the rest of the year goes for our snow. Hopefully we don't have to say the sword any longer in 2026. >> Um but part of that increase you will see is part of that reserve for storm
trust. Any comments on >> does any of that number factor into overtime the overtime line there or no? >> Uh we've been anything that's storm related whether it's shoveling snow shovelers anything like that is been
going to line five just so that we can track it internally. Of course it will override into the other lines as it will show a total say it's $100,000 this year. it will show in the storm trust. But if there's any money remaining in um
the regular overtime line, it just will show as a decrease there and a positive in the other one. >> Any other questions? >> Okay. >> Okay. Next page is operating expenses.
Um this operating expense has increased from 3375 to 3475. Um most of this is your snow plowing and equipment line. Um some of it has changed within the lines itself. Flowers
and wreaths has increased. Um but some other items have decreased. You want to go over any of those? >> You got any questions? It's cut and dry. It's right there. >> Nope. >> No. Okay. >> These guys want to go home.
>> I uh next page is engineer. Um, this has been pretty standard. Last year we was 27,000. Uh, the reason it shows 22,000 in your books is because 5,000 was transferred out for another
purpose and Junior for everybody at home is page 24. Um, so it pretty much stayed flat. On the next page is the capital request for public works.
Want to go over those? I we're looking to replace another mason, another dump truck. Uh my fleet is old and every year I'm trying to buy a couple of trucks just to get my fleet up to date. Um our normal sidewalk repair, our normal catch basin repair, our normal storm water repair of
maintenance, running all the catch basins and stuff in town. Um there's another truck I'm looking to replace. I'm looking to replace two trucks this year. Uh I want to upgrade some of my lawn equipment, which is all old. Uh shade tree maintenance and planning.
That's our usual 75,000 for capital for um a major major project and 25,000 for my residents who would like to shade trees. And my last big item is I like to we need a garage for police impounds. Uh we've been having problems when the
chief impounds a car, it gets put in my garage, which is basically in general population. So we buy to cone it, we try to barrel it, we try to keep out of the way, but it's becoming an issue. We had a snowstorm early on where a car was in the wrong spot and I had to move it and it cost the chief a lot of headaches
because we had to touch the car. So I'm looking to put up basic two bay garage double deep. The chief will use it now for his impounds. Put it down the sore plant facility. When the police department gets a new building they will have their garage that will
give my store plan a garage which they never had. All their stuff is in trailers or left outside. So, it's a dual purpose for this garage. Right now, it'll be police. In the future, it'll go to the SW plant. >> So, that would be like a Martin building. >> Yes. More or less. Um, manager has found quite a few buildings
we found and they seem like it's really going to work for the chief was happy with it. So, yes, nothing fancy. No water, no sewer, just lights and some heat. >> Councilwoman McGra, >> thank you. So on the lawn equipment um obviously like a lot of lawn equipment
has a lot of noxious fumes you know um because they're gas like so can you talk a little bit about when you replace like what is what is the new equipment like and are any of them green technologies electric >> battery electric or battery machines are not going to make it for me when I spoke
to the guy because I cut too many hours I cut five days a week >> 3540 hours he said the amount of batteries I would need to back up would be phenomenal So, they're all new. They're, you know, they're the newer style equipment that I have. I mean, uh, one of my big mowers that I want to replace is is 15 years
old. So, of course, it's old style lawnmowers. All the new stuff is more economical, more safe for the environment and better >> and for the health of the employees. >> Right. Right. But yes. No, but the a battery operator electric is not going to make it for me. From everybody I talked to, I cut too much grass.
>> So, how many pieces of equipment is this capital funding? You think >> my one big machine? uh my one big machine, my big riding mower that I use for all the fields and all the schools about 140,000. And then I'm looking to replace probably five or six of my standups, my whips, my
backpack blowers. It's it's quite a few pieces of equipment. >> Okay, great. Thanks. >> $140,000 >> for a very expensive. >> It's a 90 but it's a 97 inch. >> Yeah. >> Big deck. It's a big deck. the big ones we use on all the fields to cut HP, FM
Brown, Everett, Lynn, you know. >> Wow. >> Council Roman, >> uh just a sort of accounting mechanics question here for things like sidewalk repairs, catch basins, storm water, etc. These are things that we mostly do with in-house labor, I assume. How exactly do we capitalize these? Is it just the
materials we're capitalizing or >> it's outsourced? It is out. >> It is outsourced and it goes by complaints. >> Okay. So, if a catch basin fails, you call in someone to replace it. I try to get a list of them and we repair like right now I think I got six of them >> through the winter that need to be done.
Sidewalks are best. Sidewalks are basically raised by >> shade trees. >> People complain. We try to figure out who's the worst. You know, we might get 10 complaints, but I don't do them in that order. Maybe the eighth complaint is raised four inches where one complaint's only raised one inch. So, I put them in a priority and we go as far as we can.
>> Okay. You got to go out to a contractor and then that dollar amount gets capitalized. >> And the storm water maintenance is uh cleaning catch basins. Clean catch basins run lines. >> You know, I get x amount of dollars. I go as far as I could go. You know, if they're not bad, I might get half the town done. If I run into problems, I
might get a quarter of town done. >> Again, from an accounting policy perspective, is that something we should be using bond dollars for, or is that a >> I don't mean to kick over a hornets's nest here. Well, in the future, I I've been speaking to the the manager and it might be feasible in the future to buy
us our own truck and create a whole department for storm water and sewer and stuff, but it's a big investment. So, that's why we spoke about pushing it off for next year. Kevin, you want to touch on it? >> Yeah. Uh, that we'll touch on that with the uh water and sewer capital list, but
that there was initially in the water and sewer capital budget a jetervac truck. uh that's been deferred until next year. Uh we're currently pursuing um a grant for the acquisition of that
piece of equipment and we're also looking for a shared service with the other towns in our uh flood advisory committee. So um that would allow us to eventually eliminate this as an annual uh capitalized cost. It'll just be the the piece of equipment
potentially offset with uh both grants and shared services. Okay. Okay. >> And that'll be done then we'll do it in house. We'll make a basically put another department in the public works that'll take care of that in house. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Don't go anywhere. >> Don't go anywhere.
>> Tab 19 shade tree. Uh this budget is remaining flat this year. Uh for anybody at home it's page 39. It it actually shows a $15,000 increase >> on your book.
>> Yeah. >> The bottom line of it does >> bottom line does >> Yeah. The line four pruning raising removal repair went from 117 to 132. >> Wait, not in my >> spreadsheet. I don't know. My my book
shows 135. Yeah, we see I see 135 20205 budget uh 2020 proposed 150 >> in the electronic in the electronic workbook that we got. That's what it has. >> Okay. It it is 135. >> Well, that makes that takes that question. >> Yes.
>> Any questions on shade tree? >> Councilwoman, >> I just want to say that I just came from the shade tree meeting earlier tonight. Um and they thank the administration for um the sha tree budget not just this one but also a capital request which Mr.
Molinro just went through. Um they are working on their five-year strategic plan and there is a a list of um you know um trees that need to be addressed um with removals or serious maintenance and uh that will be addressed in this
budget and then the capital is for tree planting. >> Correct. um so that we can replace our aging canopy and they'll have more information when their plan is done which will be hopefully later this first quarter. Great. Thank you.
Moving to tab 20 vehicle maintenance. Vehicle maintenance last year was budgeted at 145 I believe. Uh the increase here, I know the increase here is numbers >> is due to transfers that happened last
year u to cover the additional expenses. Um but we are proposing 1525 for 2026. >> Council enrollment. >> Uh just again our our sheet here shows 2025 budget at 170 2026 proposed at 1525.
>> Yeah, that was >> that's correct. That was raised from the >> It was raised in in a transfer. I just wanted to note that it was around 150 last year originally. >> All right. Okay. I got >> We have a question. >> Okay.
>> Tab 21 for recycling. >> Uh the difference on the top um as you could see salaries and and wages. the full-time um recycling coordinator used to be Lenny Waterman. Uh it has now moved to another employee um and part of
that salary has been transferred to the grant that he's working out of. Um so that's why you see the decrease up top. Um and the operating expenses was raised by 2000. Any questions?
>> Nope. >> Nope. >> Next. >> Okay, you can have a seat for now. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. Tab 23, recreation. Uh, I'm going to put on my recreation hat now, uh, since Pam is away. Um, but if there are
questions that I can't answer, I will obviously forward your comments and concerns to her. Um so salaries um the summer playgrounds um in tab three sorry everybody at home number 43
um summer playgrounds as you could see was underbudgeted in 2025 it came in at 160. There were some um resident complaints that the counselor versus um staff versus um I
can't children ratio was sorry it's late now um was a little unbalanced uh which is why we are proposing the 200,000 uh also in regular recreation um there obviously has been some change over
there and they are proposing to hire an additional employee but later again later in this year probably November December of this year which is why you see the increase in their salaries
um their operating expenses um have also increased um in years past um they have felt that they have been underbudgeted for for their programs um so they have requested a much larger increase than
typical um which is what you will see there um under under their operating expenses. Town Fields is under recreation. However, Chuck is the one who basically >> who basically runs um the budget for the
town fields which includes the paint the you know the line painting and everything else. Um so that is increasing by 10 there. Um the thought process behind that was also adding in Everett Field um that we will need to um
maintain Everett Field. So part of the increase was part of that. Any questions on that page? >> Any questions? >> No. >> Okay. Tab 24 health.
uh their operating uh their salaries, I'm sorry, remain the same at 28,000 and their operating increased um which is basically our contracts for our shared services. Any questions on health?
Tab 25 is seniors. Um there was discussion in this budget um season of increasing our medical transport driver um hourly wage which is why you see the increase um in the
part-time salary and wages and their operating increased by 2,000 on the bottom. Um mostly it's their senior pool party >> and that increases from the pool charging more for >> correct. Yes. Thank you.
If there's no questions on that then that concludes our current fund. Um we can move either into water and sewer or we can move into pool. Um, if we move into pool, I have an
employee here who is in the union. So, if we can move him out of here, that would be helpful. >> Do you mind if we move to pool? >> No. >> No. Okay. So, we're going to we're going to move to
>> Why is the employee leaving? >> No, no, no. He's not leaving. He's here, but he's an OPIU employee. And I All the other employees were department heads. And I I would like to get him in and out if possible if that's okay. >> I'm sorry. Is the employee just being asked to lead the meeting?
>> No. No. I'm trying to move pool in front of water and sewer >> so that he is able to go home soon. >> He just left the room. >> Yeah, he just left. >> That's what I was concerned about. It's a public meeting. Anyone's allowed to be here. >> It is way past my bedtime.
>> Well, now two hours ago. >> Okay. Sorry. I wanted him to be here but not have the whole time. >> We were confused. >> Okay. Well, we'll start on tattoo with
>> I didn't want you to leave. >> Everyone's welcome. >> Okay. Come over here then. >> Tab 28 swimming pool. >> All right. Okay. Uh I'm sorry. Sorry for the
confusion. Um so the first page shows your anticipated revenue and your appropriations. Um membership fees are based on your actual fees collected in 25. Same with your miscellaneous revenue and your fund
balance. I decreased to 145 instead of 200,000 from this year. So that covers that for salary and wages. Um last year we budgeted originally at 402. Um there was
a budget transfer which is why you see 3875 in 2025. So it went from salary and wages to operating. So we're remaining we're keeping the 402 the same as our salaries um came in way under um what we had
anticipated for 25. Um knowing that we still will have increases this year as minimum wage obviously goes up and employees are working and their hourly wages have increased for their operations.
Let's go to there. Okay. Um overall last year they were at 25850 for their budget. This year we're proposing 267250. Part of that is a marketing plan um for
$10,000. I'm sorry for everybody at home. Page 55. Um marketing plan number 21 for $10,000. Um there's been a lot of discussion on the pool that you all know that we've are trying to
increase memberships um and trying to drive more um residents to the pool. um most uh safety equipment last year. There was um some life vests that were
needed um that they didn't have the certain size in stock and you can't come to the pool with a life vest. You have to be using one of our provided life vests. Um so that's why some of those changes are there.
On the last page are your um your capital improvement fund which increased by $10,000 up to $35,000. Your payment of bonds, your interest on bonds, notes, um your legal installment decreased this year due to the fact that
we went out for bonds in February. Um your contribution to social security increased. Um general insurance increased. Um your co deficit comes off this year. This is the last year. So, CO deficit will be gone in 27. So, thank
you for that. Um, so that rounds out pool. >> I I have a question on >> Yes. >> Um, on here it looks like we're we're budging for membership to be similar to last year, but we're also we added the
$100,000 of out of town memberships. I'm just wondering if what the rationale um to to kind of keep the anticipated revenue at last year's actual was. >> So I can't anticipate the revenue that
we received in 26 um for the outside memberships until it's actually received and it will be used next year in 27 for the budget process. But I can't put it in the 2026 budget
um in anticipated revenues since there was no actual revenue in 2025. >> Okay. I mean that's would seem like they weren't anticipated would would include uh revenue that that we that we have right that people have cemented in. I
guess my my other question is for the touch administration in that um are we I I we're getting uh Mr. Krauss's updates on the numbers as far as the registrations go. Can we get a a
spreadsheet even weekly of what our numbers are now compared to what where they were at this time last year? I think that's really important because your our marketing plan as noted is going to have to be dynamic based on if
we see a downturn in in membership or anything along those lines uh in trying to rectify that. So if there's something that we could do uh but it would help for the council to know just kind of knowing what the current numbers is isn't as helpful as knowing what they were in comparison to this time um last
year. So, but we didn't start like at this point we didn't start early enough registration, right? So, >> I think we opened at the beginning of April. So, >> so the the data now is is 100% as we go forward. It would be helpful to kind of have that because obviously a lot of the
the revenue that we have now would have been revenue that we would have gotten, you know, in the first couple weeks of April. our April numbers are going to be a lot smaller than they would have been previously, right? So, I'd like to start kind of seeing that as we uh as we go
through, but it' be helpful to have that information. >> Council Roman. >> Yep. It's called a sales pacing report. Um I was curious about capital for the pool. I didn't see any in the uh in the list. Uh I know we had talked about replacing some of the pool furniture this year.
>> Yes. All right. >> Two of them. Yes. But where's my other place? >> Replacement for 50,000 >> and repairs to the main building. There's um underneath each I'll call it A-frame for you on the four
sides. The wood is rotten. The main beam across it's I think it's like 6 by 12. Um that's rotten in all spots. We did the snack bar one two years ago, three years ago. We did that one and these are very bad. So they have to be done.
>> Okay. Um, and the 50,000 first replacement will get us about 25 tables this year and another 25 next year. And that should be all the tables. Then we have to work on the benches around the pool. >> Okay. Does that appear anywhere in the capital plan or is that
>> it does in the um not in I guess the sheets here, but it does in the >> Yeah, I at the very the last page. >> Yeah, I just have the spreadsheet for it and it doesn't have a page for pool. So, >> it's on it's going to be on the totals page. Pull does not I don't think has
its own tab. >> All right. All right. Someone else someone else can jump in. >> Councilwoman McGrath. >> Um, thank you. So, on the pool budget electricity costs, how did you estimate the increase there? Because every from a
homeowner perspective, it's >> Yeah, >> it's it's um it's getting scary. So, which the council woman warned us on >> for about two years. So, >> yes. Um, I mean, most budgets, as you know, are are a guess. Um,
>> it all depends. >> Well, I guess here's what is this an educated guess using what you're seeing the PSEG bills come in. Yes. For the other, you know, facilities which you have data for, so you're >> projecting out. Have you had
conversations with them at all? I have not had conversations with PSG. Um but based on our last year bills and obviously the way they've been progressing higher um >> okay >> it's it's a guess though. >> Okay.
>> Any other questions rel >> Okay. Moving back to Thank you. Now you may leave >> if you want. if you want or you just or you can >> excuse me. >> Rich is here because he's going to be taking over for me. I forgot to mention that before.
>> He'll be taking over me and then so he's learning what to do. >> Congratulations. >> Next year. Next year. All right, tab 27. Come on up. Water and sewer. That's my favorite one.
>> Order and sewer. Okay. Okay. Page one. Um anticipated revenue at the top. I don't I don't give you any of this. Yeah. >> Um your fund balance is remaining at 375. Your rents is increasing. Um and
your miscellaneous is increasing as well to give us a a budget of $8.4 million. >> Could I stop you there again? >> Yes, you may. >> Okay. Okay. Now, on this one, >> yes. >> Okay. This is anticipated revenue, but we have a number from 2025 that is a million dollars higher than this. I'm
just curious as to >> what the threshold for what we can anticipate is. >> You can anticipate as much as you received in the prior year. >> Okay. So, why are we not anticipating more? Are we >> You want to anticipate $9 million in utility?
>> I have >> trying to to budget as as accurately as possible. I feel like just having kind of a windfall of that's how you build surpluses. >> I understand that's how you build surplus. But at the same point, I feel like, you know, a million dollar is or
$800,000 maybe is a little much in fund balance just >> Yes. But in comparison, okay, so for the water and sewer capital, um I mean for water and sewer utility itself, if I was to budget up to let's say $8 million, uh
$8 million in rents and make that, you know, close to $9 million. They don't need $9 million in operating. I can do that and have the same effect like you talked about surplus, but if I if I give them
the power to spend $9 million, >> he's going to spend $9 million. If they don't need to spend $9 million, I'm not going to give them $9 million. Even if the revenues came in higher last year, it's more of budgeting based on what
they actually need versus what they can use. >> The difference here is that this is this doesn't function like the general fund where we set a tax rate based on the need that we have for you know after all the other expenses. This we're not going backwards and setting a water rate. We
set the water rate separately by ordinance. So, it's actually almost preferable, you know, we want to build some surplus backup in in in this utility and if we need to set a rate, that's a completely separate action that we would take that's not part of the the assembly of the state budget.
>> Okay. So, I I understand all of that. I just would like us to be, you know, I I'm just curious as to where we are because if we're if we're getting at this point a million over our anticipated, it means that we need to start being realistic about what our
rates are. Um, and that's another piece of it as well. Um, and I know that there was a a capital or an item in here for a another rate study update for this. And I think that's going to be very important because, you know, for the
public who we've been hearing a lot not just about tax increases, but all about also about our utility increases, which were pretty significant for a while in order to meet immediate needs, but we've also had less uh we've had more money come back in um in principal forgiveness and things like that. So between that
and and these numbers, it is important for our uh rateayers to that we charge them a rate that we understand is reasonable based on where we are moving forward because everything is getting more expensive. The you know our utility
companies on electric and gas are gouging um our their rate payers as well. So you know I think we're in a situation where if we can provide a better rate for our residents we should do that. But we need to look at what those numbers are going to be sustainably. >> But but again, the way that the way that
you get there is by having excess surplus and then the rate study is going to show. The problem is that if you as she said, if you if you put it in here in the top line, it opens up the ability for it to be spent. If you don't put it in there and you build excess surplus and then you run a rate study, your rate study is going to is going to forecast
your surplus over time and it's going to show your surplus at greater than you want it to, which is going to do a better job of justifying a rate freeze or reduction than allowing for more room in the operating. >> That's why I said we should have the rate study in L of changing in L of changing. Right. So I just I think we
need to be honest with our rate payers on on these numbers. Go ahead, Jen. No, I'm good. >> Um, okay. Moving into salaries. Um,
the difference here is, um, your overtime has increased for water slightly. Um, you also have an increase for sewer regular as we are trying to hire additional staff members for the sewer
plant. if you want to. >> At one time used to be 12. >> Now we have eight. >> We're looking to bring it back up to back to 12. We can start getting back into doing the maintenance and the repairs and stuff like that instead of just the day-to-day operations and just
putting out fires over the next couple years. We like to get that staffing back up to where it used to be the 12 people. >> Okay. in their operating expenses. Um overall the bottom line increased
about $150,000. Um some of that is the health insurance. Um general insurance uh the sludge removal has increased. >> Chemicals >> chemicals have increased. Um, I'm
keeping water purchases the same as we are back online for Lynn, um, Lynn Drive. Um, but I'll have to see how that goes as well. Uh, the other difference, um, this year is, um, last year we added
in the well costs of $100,000, which is line 11. For people at home, it's page 50. Um we're keeping it the same um in anticipation of of seeing how the wells
um and the maintenance of the wells the wells online um continue >> when are we going to have to do our first uh filter media change in the >> right now we're just monitoring every month. >> Okay. Um, we're right now I don't even think we're close, but we keep in mind
that's going to be a big ticket item that comes with immediate change the big ticket item. That's why I already spoke to Jen. We're probably going to have to well up the wells next year when well number two is back online. >> But but hopefully be able to reduce the water purchase number. >> Correct. But the immediate change is
with it being online the first time. We're still waiting to see how long we can make it before we need to change it. And we're monitoring it every month. And I guess when is the last time we sort of figured how much water we're per when when did the well go back online?
>> January was it? >> It was it might have been February or March of last year. >> So we have about a >> about a full year run rate of of having that one back on. We still we ended up at 2 million. >> Don't forget Fair View was a bigger producer. Fair is our bigger producer.
So this is a decent producer. We should see a difference when we get Fairview back online. >> Okay. Um the last page is um your social security, your insurance, your capital improvement funds, pension, uh reserve
retirement leave, your debt service, um which ends up all coming down to about the same amount of money as it was in 2025. I handed out um a revised water sewer capital list that should be
on your computers or in your area. Um this was revised uh to move the vac truck out of 2026 and into 2027 um and added in the Franklin Street uh water mane replacement. um the design of
clarifier upgrades, um the rate study as you mentioned, and the phase 2 nitrates for design only. Do you want to touch on anything? >> Any questions on these? They're pretty uh cut and dry. >> Yeah. Which which um water man is it on Franklin Street?
>> On Franklin Street Bridge, you know, with the pedestrian bridge on Franklin Street, the water man, >> the one on Brookside that had the issue, >> right? Well, it's under the bridge through the brook. So in the process of we're looking to do the bridge >> as part of the bridge replacement now
would be the opportunity to reset and lower the water man that is currently starting to stick above the the bed of the river at this point. >> So we want to do that before we do the bridge. >> That would seem like a a good sequence of events.
>> Anything else you want to talk on there? Councilwoman McGrath, >> are we planning on is that is it possible to do that construction in the summer or is that going to overlap with the school year? Can we can we get the timing or is it too close? >> The the construction window is going to be largely driven by the permits. So,
there's going to be blackout periods of when you can and cannot perform the construction and that's subject to when we get the final permits. They're usually spelled out in permits by the D. >> Okay. It's going to be disruptive for FM Arab students. Okay. Deputy Mayor,
>> uh, how much of that line are you are you replacing from where it broke >> to the other side of Franklin? >> We're looking to go under the through the water and what 50 ft in each direction. It >> it's right. It's approximately uh 150 ft of both an 8 inch main and a
12in main. >> Right. We're looking 12 inch. Okay. >> And yes, going back. Yes. Back on both sides. I think it was like 200 feet of each main, >> right, >> to replace. And so that should take us past the break. >> Got it. >> Fantastic. >> That's what it is. Keep that valve
though. >> Oh, it's val. >> Jen, nothing else for you? >> Nothing else for me tonight, >> Chuck. Thank you. Thank you. >> All right, I think we are back to the town manager's report. >> Well, like to
>> that certainly concludes my report. Uh, I'll make a suggestion that our deputy manager also forego his report. That suggestion is appreciated. Um, okay. Now we're at council member reports.
Deputy Mayor Max. Uh, obviously in light of the time I'll be brief. Uh, I I don't want to repeat, but uh, I do thank the Mandarin teachers for their Lunar New Year celebration. uh and maybe suggest that next year it
be somewhere in a larger venue than the community center because the community center gym was very very packed. Uh but it was a wonderful celebration. Uh I too attended the uh Ramadan meal that the
Verona Clergy Council had uh and I thank them for all that they do for Verona. Uh this group has just been fantastic in bringing people together. Uh, and I unfortunately I had to leave early. I did go to the West Orange planning board meeting uh because they had uh
deliberations for the 496 units that they're trying to build at the top of uh Howell Drive there. Uh we and I know the council received an email from a concerned resident in the area. They they didn't uh ask uh for a road onto
how the road that's proposed in the plan is currently an emergency access road. Uh the board decided at the end they were almost voted on it and the board decided to give the applicant two months. Uh there it will be on the agenda next month and the following
month. It'll be get postponed and pushed off. Uh but they have to put it on for legal purposes and noticing. uh they are going to give the applicant uh a two-month opportunity to find a second ingress and egress to the
property. Uh and one choice is Howell. Another choice would be uh Oval Road, which goes into Essex Fels, but Essex Fels owns that property. So, I'm hoping uh it's going to be an interesting uh
finding to see what happens with this uh development, but uh the board was pretty unanimous on making sure they did that. So, uh to be determined in the future. Uh and lastly, uh tomorrow night, any business owner in Verona is welcome.
There's a meet and greet at Frank Anony's uh that the Verona Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring. So, anybody who has a business and wants to come and uh greet other business owners and possibly join the chamber, you're invited tomorrow at 5:30 at Frank Anony's. And that's all I have for you.
>> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Councilman Roman, >> in light of the hour, I will be pleased to wave my report. Mayor, >> and we are pleased to accept that. Councilwoman McGrath, >> uh, thank you. As I already mentioned, the Sha Tree Committee met tonight. Uh, tomorrow is the neighborhood traffic and
safety committee. I attended the county executive state of the county um which is always a great presentation. I want to thank the um Essex County for all of their efforts and their investments um in our parks, recreation, and other services. And I too attended Lunar New
Year. Um it was excellent. Thank you. That's my report. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Holland. >> Thank you. Um I will just offer this evening that um I did attend the recent MYAK committee meeting. Um, and I just want to thank those volunteers for all
of the work that they do, um, organizing several of the events that we have here in town, including the Lunar New Year event, um, and many others. I also just want to remind residents that the time for the winter termination program, which provides needed utility assistance
during the winter, is coming to an end at the end of this week. So, it is really your last opportunity to avail yourself of that. Um, and given the current affordability crisis, I do think it's really important for residents to understand their rights with regard to
their utility bills. Thank you. >> Thank you. At this time, I'll open for public comment on any item any member of public wishes to bring forth to the council. Same public comment statement applies. >> Agenda items or >> any item, anything you want to talk about. If you want to read a cookie
recipe, you're welcome to do that from the >> uh just state your name. Schneiderman Verona. So, um, we just want to start a dialogue because, um, we live up on Clarage Drive and we understand that council is in negotiations to use some
of your green acres money to purchase a piece of property um, by the Pilgrim Center between where you're actually, I guess, doing the pump station and I guess you're going to take $80,000 off of we're watching the budget. you you're going to take that off your tax roles
and um from what we've been told some woman came to speak to us uh Linda Glejinski is that you would be spending about 1.8 million of your uh green acres fund hoping for a match from the state. So we
just want to know how it came about. Did you come looking for it? Did what happened? >> Thank you. We we don't do a back and forth. So once all the public comment is over yes
Jill Schneiderman Verona same issue. Um, so once we were educated by the woman from Green Acres, I started to research and try to find, she said it would we would have very easy access online to
find out um the 5050 money that you requested for Green Acres to split the cost of the uh 9 acres of property. And I could only find one instance that
Verona received any Green Acres money um which was like a million dollars, but you requested close to what she said our number would be. So I don't know if that is that. And then other information I found was that the deadline wasn't until
April 29th or March 29th. And so is that in the process? Do you have the money from the state? Um, we're just trying to educate ourselves so that we know what's going on. Um, we felt that during the
presentation, we were also told that everything was set in stone with your obligation for the um, low-income housing. And then we sit here tonight and and hear how um, you're still in the
process of finalizing all that. So that makes us have even more questions. Um we're stuck between a rock and a hard place which has nothing to do with you that the clarage has asked us to vote by March 12th, but we haven't had the
opportunity to fully educate ourselves as to whether we um are in favor of selling the land to the town of Verona with green acres funds or not. So, if you have any information that can educate us, we would truly appreciate
it. We brought a a few people here with us. Um, there's way more at home waiting to see what we find out. >> Thank you. Any other comments? All right. This time I'll close public comment. I'll just address um some of these these items. I
I'm glad you're here and asking questions directly from us uh because that certainly is helpful to make sure you get the the whole picture. Um Veron has an open space trust fund that is the money for that trust fund is raised. It's three cents for every $100 of
assessed value um on your property and that money comes into into a trust fund. With that trust fund, which is separate from the tax roles, um we are able to do a number of things include acquire property, um put upgrades to existing
open space, um and various other items. Uh the the council was uh approached by um representatives of the Clarage buildings um through the administration um stating that this property was was
available and if the township wanted to procure that property. Um the the matter was discussed between the administration and then sent to our open space trust fund advisory committee for review and that committee recommended to the
council to purchase this land and we had additional discussions. A lot of this happened in executive session because it's a negotiation until we came for the price. So that's just why it wasn't done in public. Um the at this point um that's that's where we are. So the the
township is able to purchase um open space in this area. By purchasing the open space and then submitting for 50% reimbursement from Green Acres, it ensures that property is undevelopable. Okay, which means that uh right now that
is zoned for a mid-level uh high-rise building um that area and by the town purchasing that you would be in a position where uh you would be assured that you would your view would not be interrupted that you wouldn't have additional traffic that uh that you
would not have a building be built there. Um and at the same time, um we are able to the township is able to limit the impact on the school system of potential construction at that site, um and traffic matters and all of those
things related to quality of life while having some passive recreation property that um exists there. So, um, when as far as the Green Acres funding, uh, the township has actually gotten tens like
how many millions of dollars in the last >> the the last funding round last year was $1 million on its own. Every year, the state allocates awards town by town. And for the past few years, it's been 5 to700,000 and last year it increased to
a million dollars for the the township of Verona. So what the township does is we use the the trust fund and the bonding power of the trust fund to purchase land. So the township purchased a couple major tracks. One between Commerce Court and Brookdale um sorry um
Brookside uh Terrace and then another on Mount Prospect uh during the at the same time as the last round of affordable housing in order to pre prevent units from uh being purchased there and that was negotiated with the developer uh at that point. So what happens is is that
every year we are able to apply um and they'll pay us another chunk of that money because only so much money for a green acres is budgeted every year. So and that's distributed around the municipalities and the counties that apply for that. So we don't get a chunk
back at one time. So that's why you're seeing a million dollars there. But we've actually gotten multiple payments back from Greenacres on that recent purchase. We also have gotten uh money for the or a a we've applied um for the
uh Everfield that's that's already green acres. Sorry. >> Um but there are there are other areas we can do with that. Um so I see the advantage of the Clarage property purchasing that area as mutually beneficial. Right? We're preserving an
area that um I think it's better for you as the residents to have that preserved. um because you're now not dealing with another building there, but it's also so you get that benefit and you also get that income benefit to apply toward capital expenses or whatever you need to
do to maintain the buildings that were built 60 years ago. Right. >> $150. >> So we we can't we unfortunately we can't have a back and forth, but I understand you know >> have another comment >> uh at the end of the meeting. at the end of the meeting. Yes. >> Um but at the same point that makes sure
the township is in a position where not only uh do we preserve open space but then we also don't have to expand on infrastructure and things like policing and all that in order to uh to be able to to provide that. Um and as you know this is one of the last remaining large
pieces of open space in the municipality uh which makes it important to Verona to purchase in that area. Um, I know I've heard some concerns about who would be on the property and so on. Yes, the property would be available to the
public, um, and to to picnic on or whatever, but as of this point, there's no budgeted improvement on the property as far as what that would be. So, um, in the near future, that would be a wooded area. Um, I can't tell you what would
happen down the line in that property, but it's not it wouldn't be developable. it could only be used for active or passive recreation space. Um so just a a couple thoughts out there that I know um are coming out, but from this
standpoint, we make the the outlay. We would actually bond for this through the trust fund and then we would apply for that green acres funding for additional reimbursement every year in that area. Council Roman, >> a couple of things about the the trust
fund. Um when we've set when the rates have been set on that trust fund, they were set by the voters. Um initially the uh proposal went out to create the trust fund um that went to the voters and then when there was an increase to it, that also went out to the voters. So we are not using the township's general capital
fund and general bonding capacity uh to do this. Um the open space trust fund is its own separate pool of money that as we said is assessed um per $100 of assessed value of all the parcels. So, this doesn't affect the township's general operating account. The budget that we use to pay for roads and buy
pickup trucks and things like that, uh, is not the same money that goes to purchase land. The other thing about us preserving open space is that there's a very large strategic move here in terms of future rounds of affordable housing. Um, the more land that you have uh committed
as as preserved as open space reduces the uh realistic development potential of your township as a whole. And it does put a a leaky cap basically on how many units can ultimately be developed. In this round, they have said if you're claiming an RDP cap, you still have to meet a
certain percentage of your total affordable housing need, but you still get a reduction overall. And it and it comes into the negotiations of okay, how many units of housing can the township of Verona actually accommodate throughout the town. So that's why we look for these large um tracks of open
space and try and preserve them because it's beneficial not just to a neighborhood but to the township as a whole. And then also again the the big defense move we try and avoid we try and avoid having to get into a situation where the schools ever have to expand or have to hire up um because then that's a tax rate increase for the entire
entirety of the town. So we look at a lot of factors when we go into this but um as the mayor said uh there are very few large trackcts of land available which is why uh this one was attractive to us. The strategy of working through green acres has been very effective. Um we are even though you have only seen
those dollar amounts we go back every year basically on the same parcels until the reimburseable amount is exhausted. So up to the budget of which they can reimburse us in a year we get that. Then we go back in the next year and we ask again and we ask again and eventually we get, you know, hopefully 50% of the full
value. So it's been working for us and it's let us um preserve land at a lower overall impact to the public and it's it's a strategy we've talked a lot about. So this is a you know hopefully this is sounding agreeable and like we've you know like we've reasoned through this.
>> We could talk at the end again, right? >> Yeah. Yes. But you can't talk now. That's the rules. You have to >> Sorry, procedures. But I'll stop that one. Let someone else. Councilwoman Holland, >> thank you. Um, so first of all, thank you both. Um, thank you both for speaking, but thank all of you for
attending this evening. I think you're doing absolutely the right thing. You know, you're hearing a lot of different points of view on this important topic that you're being asked to vote on and you're seeking that information. Um, so I think there is some publicly available
information that you can access. So, for example, discussion of this Clarage property, I believe, is in the affordable housing plan, which um there's some letters that are attached to that plan. Um so, you can see some of this back and forth that Mr. Tambbor was
referencing that is posted on the township website. Correct. So, the affordable housing materials are there on the township website. So, you can see that plan. you can see what this back and forth was and how the Clarage property was uh factored into it. Um
you're also hearing from two representatives of the council that also sit on the open space committee and what their point of view is for why it was appropriate to move forward with this. Um but ultimately, you know, this would require further vote. Um, and so I think
it's important for you all to consider what you think is in your best interest because open space doesn't just mean it's never developed. It it is for recreational uses. It is for the public. There would be an expectation of at
least like a parking spot or two. Um, and so I think those were some items that were mentioned by Mr. Tambboro as well. And we can't say that it would never be developed and always just be woods. there may eventually be some recreation facilities there. It wouldn't be a housing development is really
ultimately what the preservation for green acres is doing, right? It would be for recreational use. Um, and oftentimes that can just be woodlands or a hiking trail or something like that. Um, a lot of times Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts do
activities out in those type of open space areas. Um, so there's a lot of value in preserving open space in our community. It also helps with storm water management as well. So it is um it is valuable, but I think that you are
all doing the right thing by digging into this a little bit deeper and verifying for yourself um some of the representations that have been made to you whether in your meetings um at the Clarage or even here this evening. Um, and if there's some additional public
information, I would just ask like if it's posted on the website whether the open space committee materials or some other if the administration or others would just make sure that um the residents are made aware of where they can find that. Thank you, >> Deputy Mayor. Uh, I just quickly want to
add I I think the major point that we're trying to make here is that once Green Acres funding is used to purchase a property, once we apply for it and they grant us money, it cannot be developed. Uh, it when it can it cannot be
developed. Uh, however, if we decide to put a a walking trail or we we're going to spend any money to do any work on the property, it will come before the council and you have another opportunity to get up and speak and and tell us whether you obviously give your opinion on whether you're for or against what is
going to happen to the property. Uh, you know, we we have used it and it's been very well in the town. The last round we purchased 26 plus acres for uh for and we have been getting green acres funding back for that property. We prevented 360
units to uh from being built in Verona and on both pieces of property collectively. So it it is a good tool that we have and and we try to use it for the benefit of the entire town of Verona. >> Mayor, >> um Mr. Town of Attorney. >> Yeah. I just wanted to point out for the
rest of the public because I know the public here today is from the Clarage. Um, Councilwoman Holland kind of hit on it. If Clarage agrees to this, the uh the proposed contract of sale comes back to the township and within 20
days this council will vote whether or not to pass a resolution. If the council passes that resolution after public input, of course, then there's a bonding ordinance that's read twice that again the public gets to. So there has not been what I'll call robust public discussion because we're not there yet. There's nothing for the public to
consider because the council hasn't made any determination. Neither has Clarage. But if Clarage says, "Hey, we're willing to sell you this." That's when the actual I'll call it large public discussions will happen. First by resolution and then by two readings of an ordinance. >> Thank you, Mr. Township attorney. Councilwoman McGrath.
>> Um thank you. Um and um I'm going to ask a question of our township attorney. Just confirmation. The only thing the council though did vote on is we did an application to Green Acres and we did list it as a potential future
purchase or >> look at the administration. That's correct. It was >> That's correct. >> Yes. So, and we voted on that two meetings ago. >> So, that was the general resolution and application for uh funding request for the 2026 Korean acres calendar year.
Okay. um that would continue to seek reimbursements for the parcels that were acquired several years ago. Y >> uh to to close out the reimbursements out to the township and it also identifies that as a a parcel that has
been opened up for negotiations. Uh but it it separates it from a project that has been acquired as just a project that is currently under negotiation. >> Great. So just to wrap up, I think if you look at the affordable housing plan,
you're going to see some documentation in there about the parcel and then we also have this resolution. So those are two formal and all of the meeting uh documents from the previously me mentioned open space meeting. So those are all the formal documents. Um but as
the township attorney said, we have not voted to purchase this property just yet. Thank you, >> Councilman Roman. Uh just procedurally so you know um for the run we were going to go through our consent agenda here um and through new business and item P on
the agenda um is our next uh general public comment. So if you have unfort you know public comment unfortunately is not a a back and forth questioning um it's it's public comment and then we respond to it just in terms of our of our >> Yeah. So just wanted to make sure you knew but that's our that's your next you next time. I know it's getting late. I I
appreciate it. The next item on the agenda is ordinance H8 on second reading. Madame clerk, could you please read the title of this ordinance into the record amending chapter A565 fees of the township code, specifically sections A565-1
schedule of fees, A565-3 administrative fees and and other fees, and A565-6 uniform and construction code fees. >> Thank you, Madame Clerk. I'll move the ordinance. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconds by Miss Holland. Uh, at this
time I'll open for public comment on any um on this ordinance 2026-09. Same public comment statement applies just for this ordinance. >> Hearing none. I close public comment. Any council discussion? Councilwoman
McGrath. >> Thank you. Um, I will not be supporting this ordinance. Um, I'm not 100% comfortable on the fees for the body. uh worn camera footage. As I previously stated, um I do not like the fact that
there are entities that are monetizing body warrant camera footage. Um and so I agree in concept we should be charging something. Um I would have liked more data, use data, um going back in time on this and I'm not sure we fully through
thought through all of the exceptions, so I'm not 100% comfortable. So I won't be supporting this. I am supportive of the other fee increases. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Madam Clerk. To call the role, please. >> Councilwoman Holland, >> yes. >> Counciloman McGrath,
>> no. >> Councilman Roman, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> Mayor Tambor, >> yes. >> Mayor, uh, ordinance 20269 passes passes vote 41 and will be published according to law.
>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Are we not doing >> We're gonna >> this one. Yeah, >> we have to next one. >> All right. Um, >> H. >> I'll hear a motion to table ordinance number 2026-10. >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion's made by the deputy mayor. Is there a second?
>> Second it. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I >> I. All those opposed? Motion carries. >> The next item on the agenda is ordinance number 2026-11 on second reading. Madame clerk, would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record?
Amending prop chapter 390 property maintenance article two leadbased paint hazard inspection requirements for rental dwellings. >> Thank you madam clerk. Would somebody move the ordinance please? >> So moved. >> Motion's made by councilwoman um McGrath. Is there a second?
>> I'll second it. >> Second made by Councilman Roman. At this time for public comment on this ordinance only. Same public comment statement applies. 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, ordinance 2026-11 passes 50. Will be published according to law. >> Thank you. The next item on the agenda is an ordinance marked as I for
introduction. Madame clerk, could you please read the title of this ordinance of the record? >> Oops. What happened? >> We're seeing the carpet. >> Uh oh. >> Sorry. There we go. >> It's It's sensitive when I don't need to touch it. Um, establishing a new chapter 382 of the
township code entitled pest control upon demolition or moving of buildings. >> Thank you. Would somebody please move this exciting ordinance? >> So moved. >> Motion is made by the deputy mayor. Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Second's made by council Monroman at this. Nope. No. Any council
discussion on this one? No. Madame Cler, could call the role, please. >> Councilwoman Holland, >> yes. >> Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Makavoy, sorry. Yes. >> Mayor Tambbor, >> yes. >> Mayor, ordinance uh I1 will be numbered
2026-12 will be published according to law. Public hearing will be held on March 23rd. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. The next item on the agenda is an ordinance marked as I2. for introduction. Would you please read the title of this ordinance into the record?
>> Amending chapter 150 zoning article 7 regulations governing certain accessory uses specifically sections five and 13. And there's typo in the title for governing objects. >> Thank you. Would somebody move this ordinance, please? >> So moved.
>> Motion's made by Councilwoman McGrath. Is there a second? >> I'll second. Second by Councilman Roman. Any council discussion? >> Deputy mayor. >> Uh Mr. Mayor, uh in section D on the
second page, ABC noise. >> Uh it says in the generator section, no generator shall be located within a sideyard. Uh can we add front and sideyard? I think we just overlooked and thought that people will not put it in a
front yard, but I think it should. And I'm also worried about a corner lot because then you're talking about two front yards. >> Okay. And you don't want a generator be someone looking. So >> I have no objection to that change. >> That's Yeah, we can. I I don't have an objection to it and it's on
introduction. So >> make the change. Yeah. >> Yep. Front and sideyard. >> All right. Um any other items. All right. We'll have that change for adoption. >> Madam clerk, would you call the role, please? >> As amended.
>> As amended. Yep. Okay. Councilwoman Holland, >> yes. >> Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes. >> Mayor Tambbor, >> yes. >> Mayor, um, ordinance I2 will be number
2026 tax 13. It will be, um, sent to the planning board for consistency review, the master plan. >> Okay. Thank you. The we are moving now on to the consent agenda. I'll hear a motion to approve
K1 and two and L45 and 12. >> So moved. >> Motion's made by Councilwoman McGrath. Is there a second? >> Seconded by Councilman Roman. This time open for public comment on the consent agenda only. The same public comment
statement applies. Hearing none, I close public comment. Any council discussion on the consent agenda? >> I I did. Yes. >> Hearing none. Madam clerk, call sorry, deputy mayor. >> Uh yes. Uh on L4,
uh this is the amendment to the pilot agreement. Uh, and we're extending it two years to a 32-year. My question is, and I I wanted to bring it up before, but our experts have left left. Uh, this
property has a 30-year deed restriction. Uh, that this now pilot agreement will extend past. How can we extend that deed restriction to 30 years if 32 years? If we're extending the pilot agreement also to 32 years, >> we can certainly get back to you on
that, but the financing is requiring that and I believe part of the financing requires it to be affordable. So, I think it's already done, but we'll get back to you to ensure that that's the case. >> Just to make sure because after 30 years it could be not affordable and then they're obviously revenue is spiking.
>> Yeah. Okay. All right. >> Thank you, madam clerk. Call the role. Councilwoman Holland, yes. Councilwoman McGrath, >> yes. >> Councilman Roman, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy, >> yes. >> Mayor Tambbero,
>> yes. >> Mayor, uh, resolutions 4 through 10 will be numbered 60 062 through and including 068 and then 12 will be 069. >> Thank you. We have no licenses or
permits this evening. Um, going to new and finished business. Do you still have the intent to >> We can Well, we can discuss them at a future meeting. >> I don't think there's anything time sensitive. >> Okay. I mean, it would be helpful even when we do >> appointment. I know.
>> Yeah. No, I I'm we're getting to that. I'm just going to O um for the Environmental Commission appointment. There was a misprint on uh the agenda. Um the there was Mr. Sudia applied u but there's an existing alternate u that the
commission wished to move up. Um that alternate is my appointment. So um I hereby appoint Kelly Geronimo to the unexpired term for a public member expiring January of 2028.
Um and I'll hear a motion to appoint Mr. Sudia as the alternate to fill uh Ms. Derono's um position. >> I'll make that motion. >> The motion is made by Councilman Roman.
Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Second is by uh Councilwoman McGrath. Any discussion? Did you see the uh the date? >> Yeah. Um I'm sorry. The unexpired term
for alternate one will end 117 2027. >> All right. Call the roll on that, please. >> 117. Councilwoman Holland. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman McGrath. >> Yes. >> Councilman Roman. Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Mackoy. Yes. >> Mayor Tamburo.
>> Yes. Mayor um both appointments pass 5 will be notified. >> Um at this time we'll public comment again on any item anybody wishes to bring forth to the council. Same public
comment statement applies. >> So our concern >> up here up here just state your name again. Just state your name again. >> Okay. Jill Schneiderman Verona. So, we're chatting back there and one of our concerns is what we heard from you is different from we what we heard from
your representative at our meeting. And um we'd like to believe you, but we that was the information she gave to our community the night we had our meeting. So, um is there something you I don't know
about developing? We were told there was going to be a parking lot with three spots and a hiking trail and bathrooms were um not sure of and there was a whole big we had a zillion questions and
that was like the bottom line as to what we were told. We were also told the number was 37 that half of the money was coming from Verona and half was coming from the state. Um, does that 37 number
stay 37? Um, so we just want to make sure that what information this person was spewing to us is accurate information. I don't know how else to find out. >> I can't respond to you while you're up
there, but you're once public comment is over, we can respond to >> state your name again. >> Verona. So my question is, how many more meetings will we have an opportunity to come to before when it's when it's um
before it's voted on by you? And if you purchase it, we don't have to know ahead of time from you exactly what your plans are for that property. So you can purchase it and then decide what you want to do at a later date.
Okay. Any other public comments? All right, I'm going to close public comment. Um, my suggestion is Miss Schneider. >> Schneiderman talk to set up a meeting with Mr. O. Sullivan, potential manager to go through everything. Miss Glinsky
is a consultant who does not work for Green Acres. She works for the Land Conservancy of New Jersey. She's a consultant that we hire on these items. Uh, Miss Sullivan represents the town on this area. Uh, Miss Koshinsky is very wellrounded in these areas and she's an
excellent consultant. Um, but what I think she was giving you was a broader overview of the of what the Green Acres program would allow and so forth. As of right now, the township can't take any further action on this property until
there's an affirmative vote from both clares. Right. So until that time we're in a holding pattern. Um but the you can you can go through. So right now the the money that we would be
paying would be for the acquisition of the property because that money comes from open space trust fund. It needs to be for open space. Okay. when we apply for green acres and uh and get any reimbursement from Green Acres, that
makes it furthers that inability, that restriction to do any development. Um, as far as a walking trail or bathrooms, yes, we would have to put parking because it has to be accessible and and Clarage is is a private road, so we would have to put a couple parking spaces in, but there's an existing
easement um if we needed it, if some arrangement weren't made with the Clarages. um as far as hiking trails or whatever, those are ideas that exist. We're under no obligation to build those, but we are under an obligation to have the um the the site accessible to
the public, right? So, you have to define what accessibility is and what it would be used for. Um, and I I would can't promise anything, but I would conceive if there were some kind of furnish trail there that it would be it
would be set back from the the property line, right? So, you wouldn't, you know, when leaf covering was there, you probably wouldn't even notice people in the woods from where the building is. But that's just how I would do it. I can't say that's how the council would do it in the future because in in 10 years, a different council could say,
"Okay, we want to put a hiking trail there." because they can do that, right? Um, but I all I can tell you is what my intention >> for this property is at this point, but I strongly encourage you to set up a meeting with Mr. O. Sullivan, who would be happy to take that meeting. I speak
on his behalf as I'm his agent now. Uh, he gave me the nod before. So, um, you know, you have that, but feel free. And you're also welcome to call me at any time if you have any questions and, uh, I can give you my phone number at the end of the meeting. >> Talk back and forth >> as not now. No. Oh, yeah. On the phone.
On the phone. We can talk back. But I just violated the rules by answering you just now. So, I'm going to have to I'm going to have to sanction myself later for that. But, but anyway, I'm happy to give you my number and and talk to you anytime. I talked to a number of your residents about this already and I know
Deputy Mayor Makavoy did as well. Um, and provided a good overview as far as where we see this project going at this point. Um, but I I really appreciate you being here because I know a lot of speculation happens around these times. This is a big decision for the residents
of of the Clarages and um and I know I live directly across the street from one of the from a golf course and I just hope every day that that golf course stays a golf course. Um, and you know that is very much on my mind every day.
Um, and you know that's one of those things. So, I'll do whatever I can to keep uh to keep that going. But, um you know, so it's it's another thing. I think we have some things in common as far as that goes. And and recently the the township uh was gifted land behind
my property. I was not allowed to be part of those conversations, but um but obviously I had concerns related to that because