City Council for Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. Roll call. >> Dr. Arthur >> here. >> Council member English >> here. >> Council member Vargas >> here. >> He's still President Gomez, is he in
there? >> Uh, President Spanelli >> here. >> Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. The school kids. >> This school >> kids from many >> kids. The kids. >> Yes. >> Today we had the kids from uh many
school. Isabella Alvarado, Liam Aila Guavara, Eric Robinson, Arthur Shinn, Nathan Shin, Whitley Turner, and William Turner. I guess that's Pastor Turner's children.
Congratulations. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Good job. Good job.
>> Stay right there. Oh, sorry. Good job. Stay right there. my dad. >> Anybody get one candy? Go ahead. >> Good job, guys. Great job. Good job. >> Thank you.
>> All right. public like to thank the principal from many school and the kids and the parents that got them here as well. It's always a pleasure to have the young kids here to help us with the pledge. Thank you. >> Public notice. This meeting pursuant to the open public's meeting act has been
given by the city clerk on December 12th, 2025 in the following manner. Posting written notice on the official bulletin board in the lobby of city hall providing written notice to the offices of the daily journal press of Atlantic City and the violent voice and filing written notice in the office of the city clerk of the city of Vinland. Chair
entertain a motion uh to approve approve the premeating conference and regular meeting uh regular meeting of January 27th minutes special meeting work session and close session minutes of February 3rd 2026. So
move. >> Second >> discussion. Seeing none. >> Dr. Arthur, >> yes. >> Council member English, >> yes. >> Council member Vargas, >> yes. >> Vice President Gomez, >> yes. >> And President Spanelli, >> yes. >> We'll open up the general public comment
portion of the meeting. >> Public comment provides an opportunity for members of the public to inform the governing body about their views. The governing body prescribes the city council's bylaws in New Jersey statutes and open public meetings when engaging during public comment. As such, each individual shall have a fiveminute limit
to comment, cannot yield time to another individual, may only approach the podium once during public comment for any one topic. Vulgar offensive language is prohibited and city council will not engage in dialogue with the public during this time. The governing body maintains model courtesy and respect and
requires the members of the public to do the same. Rich, you got people signed up or not? >> I have two, Mr. President. The first one is Maryanne Lyelli. Maryanne Lyelli, followed by Mary Gaunt. >> Please state your name and the
municipality where you live. Ma'am, >> Maryanne Leelli Vinland. Uh, first of all, I recently saw the um update from Mayor Fenucci about the playground, the all-inclusive playground at Romano Park. To say that I am
thrilled about this would be an understatement. Um, given my profession, I know firsthand the value of this playground and it will be um a feather and vinyl's cap and
hopefully it will draw from all of South Jersey. Um, it's a benefit to the children, to the caregivers, and even if anyone just shows up to observe the interactions on the playground. So I do want to thank you for that for any part you had in that because it is
tremendous. The next thing um and it does concern the data center so please don't roll your eyes. >> I didn't roll my eyes. >> Okay. Um on the 21st of January there was a meeting at um the Landis Theater.
Someone posed a question at that meeting and oh sorry someone posed a question at that meeting and I don't want to paraphrase and I don't want to misquote so if I may I'd like to I recorded I'd like to play
also have to turn my phone on sorry now you can roll your eyes can't get my phone there we with the community. >> Good evening. Super quick long line just yes or no. In the spirit of, you know,
mutual respect and collaboration with the community that you're looking to cultivate, would you be open to obtaining and making public an independent environmental impact study? >> Of course, we are doing as we speak. So, we have no obligation to do it. We are doing as we speak. It's going to be public within the next few days.
>> In the next few days and it's independent. What is the source of that? What's the company that we're are working with which is doing the um so I know AKRF is on the maneuver of getting this done and then it can be
released by anyone. >> Good evening. >> Okay. >> We got it. >> Sorry. >> Oh my gosh. Um that leads me to my question. um he said that it was going to be ready within a few days and that
was within a few days of January 21st. My question is have you or the mayor's office or anyone received a copy of this independent study that was supposed to have been completed and if so how do we get a copy of that?
>> We we did not get anything. I don't believe Bobby got anything. >> No, >> but he volunteered it. >> But he volunteered it. So it would have to come from them. >> Will that be addressed? >> Not required by us at this point. >> Right. But he said he would.
>> But he said he would do it. So I >> I mean we really can't force him to do it. But if somebody chooses to call from the city, that's that's pretty much up to the mayor. I think >> that these were in his words. >> We understand. >> Okay. I just wanted to make you aware
and now I know that you're saying you didn't get it. So if it could be >> I will see the mayor tomorrow and I will speak to him. >> What is it? >> The environmental study independent environmental study. >> He said that it was in the process of being completed and it would be
completed within a couple days of that town hall. He didn't say D. He said it was independent. It wasn't D. So that's that's why I wanted to play because I didn't want to misquote. So all right,
thank you. >> Thank you, Mary Gaunt. >> Hello. My name is Mary Gaunt. I'm a Vinand resident, a homeowner, and a Vinland public school teacher. Um, I want to talk a little bit about the
recreation survey responses. Um, according to the responses from the city's recreation survey, skateboarding came in at number four, only six responses less than gardening and 24 less than pickle ball. I teach at one of Vineland's public middle schools and some of the students participated in the
survey. They were disappointed to hear the that pickle ball and gardening may be prioritized over their interests, especially because there are are already pickle ball courts in Vineland. They asked me to speak today and bring their concern about the limited access to available space for non-structured
sports in the city. They would like you to consider building a place where skateboarding, biking, roller skating, and scootering can be prioritized, such as a skate park. I'd also like to take this opportunity to expand on the positive outcomes that skateboarding and skate parks can bring to a community and
its young people. According to a recent University of Southern California study, skaters develop the ability to communicate and build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and are excellent critical thinkers and problem solvers who view success from a more communal perspective. These findings are
directly related to key the key competencies outlined in the Vinland public schools portrait of a graduate initiative which include communication, critical thinking, adaptability, and perseverance to name a few. Skateboarding also has positive effects on the mental health and well-being of
people with and without disabilities. The same study shows that a majority of skateboarders site that they skate to relieve stress. An essay featured in Attitude ADHD: Science and Strategies highlights the author's experience as a teen and adult with ADHD, stating that
when he is skateboarding, his head feels lighter and he can just be in the moment and not have to think about his trauma. Additionally, a study published by the National Library of Medicine found that when skateboarding was used as an intervention for students with ADHD, uh the students were able to improve their
cognitive and motor test performance. As our city has been focused on including people of all abilities in recreational activities, see the inclusive playground plans and the accessible senior outdoor workout area plans. Uh, I think it should be noted that
accessible skate parks are another way to serve people of varying abilities. Many of the newer parks can be built with diverse users in mind. Wheelchair motocross or WCMX is a growing sport and community organizations um in our area such as Heart of Surfing, which is
located in Atlantic and Cape May counties. Um, they uh help to get kids with autism surfing and skating at local beaches and skate parks. Um, finally, the economic impact is always an important part of any upgrade to a city.
Our area of South Jersey does not have the skate, bike, scooter infrastructure that is available in towns closer to Philly and the shore. Uh, from the information I've gathered online, the people of Hamilton have been asking their city to build a skate park for years to no avail. A skate a violence
Whoops, sorry. A Vinland skate park would bring people from our region to Vinand to spend money at local restaurants and shopping centers. A strategically placed skate park could also bring renewed interest to the A, especially a special events like competitions uh like competitions were
held there. Think food trucks, local artists, and band. Um a sport shop catering to park users could also bring more traffic to the A. Uh, I also have a couple bullet points that one of my friends who couldn't be here um would like to add since they know that
sometimes cost is the reason um cited for not building these. Um, affordable designs are achievable. Fifth pocket builders out of the Philly area have a global reach and they work within all budgets. Um, a well-built and a
well-built concrete park will far outlast a metal one and require a lot less upkeep. Um, I hope that you will take the time to consider an accessible skate park as one of the recreational amenities to be added to our growing city someday soon. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Hi. >> State your name, please, and municipality where you live. >> Andrea Land, born in Vinland and a land owner here for 45 years. 25 of those on South Main Road where I
still live today. I'm here to talk about the data one the data center situation. Charles Antoine Benet whom I'll refer to as Charles spoke at the town hall. He told us the wonderful benefit his data center will have on Vinland. Hearing
Charles talk, I couldn't help but be reminded of Elizabeth Holmes. She founded the health tech company Theronos in 2003. She promised that her technology could perform a broad range of clinical tests on merely a drop of
blood. Investors threw hundreds of millions of dollars at her company. When she couldn't produce what she promised, she was eventually charged and convicted of fraud for misleading investors about the capabilities of her technology. She
is still serving her sentence in federal prison today. During this time, a name for a new business model was coined, fake it till you make it. She knew her technology could not perform as promised, but she hoped with the hundreds of millions of
dollars from investors, she would eventually figure it out. Charles told us that the results of the environmental impact study he was doing as we speak would be ready in a few days
and shared with the public. He also guaranteed 150 to 200 jobs for local people and not a single drop of water or actually 20 million gallons would be taken from our wells. Understand there's a big
difference between the promises of Theronos and those of Data One. When Therronos failed, nothing changed. We carried on doing as we had been for many years. But if data 1's promises don't come true,
we'll end up with a gigantic structure and a gigantic power plant sitting on 109 acres in the middle of southeast Vineland, polluting our air with noise and who knows what else, draining our
electricity, draining our water. And there will be a very large area of ground directly over the Kirkland Cohanzi aquifer blocking the rain and possibly contaminating the water. Already Charles contradicted himself
that night going from not a single drop of water to well at the most it will take 20 million gallons of water. Have we ever been able to believe anything he has said about his technology and his facility?
Now, I want to speak to our city decision makers, city council, city solicitor, the mayor, and our boards planning land use and zoning. You, in my opinion, all dropped the ball years ago and haven't picked it up since. first by
keeping the data center hidden from us. And it was more than a disconnect. Mayor, it's obvious. Even if you found a loophole, so you weren't required to notify people living within a certain radius of the proposed data center. Good
government says they should have been formally notified. Although I haven't seen actual maps, I've read from a reliable source that the data center is being built over a tier 2 wellhead protected area to reduce
risk of groundwater contamination. Just a minute. To reduce risk of groundwater contamination in these areas, the development of land around the wellhead must safeguard against accidental spills
and discharges of toxic and hazardous waste. How could you safeguard development when Charles has given you no proven fact about his technology? Months ago, we asked you to proceed with
caution, asking for a moratorum on further construction until a study is completed and the results show that the data center is safe for the environment. Pass a memorandum or adopt an ordinance banning any new data centers or
increasing the size of the existing one. And what have we heard? Crickets. Nothing. And finally, I understand the city council general code defines zoning rules and
regulations. I read that it's a 710 chapter document that has rules for everything, but that AI is not mentioned. How was an AI data center authorized when there's no mention of AI in the 710 chapter
general code? I say there is a reason why it's not there. If it was, how could you have authorized an AI data center be built smack in the middle of farms, homes, and schools? So, please prove me
wrong and update the general code to include AI. >> Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Please state your name, your mun municipality where you live, please. >> All right. My name is Allora Mallet. I live in Violin. Lifelong Vini resident.
I too wish to speak about the AI data center. Uh there was an article that was shared in one of the servers I'm in by a friend of mine from the Harvard Board Review that says AI was meant to simplify work in it does not simplify
work. It only makes it more thorough. You have to do more work because of AI because it's so dependent on the information that is fed to it and sometimes bad information is fed to it which results in bad answers. And the
other thing I've also noticed is you guys never really vote no for as long as I've been coming out here for these meetings. I haven't seen any of you guys vote no. It's always been yes, yes, and oh yeah, yes. Um I'm just wondering
what's it going to be that's going to cause you guys to vote no on something? This AI data center is one thing that should have been voted no on from the beginning even before we all found out via social media which you know some of
us are really are still a little salty on that the fact that we didn't find out about this AI data center until after construction was started and I can't stress even more to the point of the city cannot handle the electric load
that this AI data center is going to cause. We might end up like Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands with power outages every so often. That is one of my concerns. And that point was brought up because I watched the Super Bowl on Sunday and saw this
halftime show. And you know, if Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are still having problems with their power outages, what's that to say about us? If this AI data center is pushed to completion, which it shouldn't be, especially with the pilot program that
got passed and the only blight I can see in Violin is that AI data center. It's nothing but an ugly eyesore that should be stopped at all costs. and the jobs that it's supposedly going to create, how long are those jobs going to last
before those jobs before people are not needed for those jobs anymore? That's and just this whole AI data center again just what was said before an ordinance or something needs to be
passed to halt construction until this indep independent environmental study that was promised by Charles is done. And it sounds like to me that Charles is all talk and no action. He should have delivered on his promise and he didn't.
And I know you guys don't really have any way to authorize him to deliver what he said, but if someone gives you their word that they're going to do something, they should follow through on it. And the fact that Charles hasn't is not
good. It It really irks me. If he said he was going to do this independent study for the environment, he should have delivered back in January. But here we are. Valentine's Day is coming up. We're almost in the middle of February. Where is it? Where is the study?
Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> State your name, municipality, where you live, please. >> My name is Larry. I'm from Vineland. And I'm going to ask, have I ever been threatening? Have I been violent?
Because it's two times now I've had the police confront me. And I haven't been violent or threatening to a single person in this room. I think that's despicable. You're not going to let me have my freedom of speech. You're going to have the cops stop me mid-spech. I was talking about Jesse Eisenar, how much of a bigot he is. You're going to be stopping me from speaking or have
cops approach me. And as I'm leaving the other time, whoever the security guard was, Jimmy, he's getting aggressive. I tell him to back off. I'm already leaving the building. He grabs a cop. I have never been violent. I've never been aggressive. I don't understand the problem. I don't agree with what y'all are doing. I think you have failed the
city. And I don't think you operate in favor of this city. And I know dang sure Fenucci doesn't cuz Fucci wasn't even planning to be mayor. Fucci was going to jump straight to Trent with Jack. That was the plan. He never wanted to be mayor. I I just think those letters Indiana, our mayor's mayor
and our state senator are now marketing for data one. That's I don't know what we're doing. I think it's despicable that sustains SJ is basically taking over the city's job by keeping people informed about this. I think it's despicable that we have states reaching out to us how to stop these data centers while our mayor and state senator are
helping build one. I think it's despicable that Fucci puts out these terrible videos where he's staring into a teleprompter and can't even give us his own words. I think it's despicable that every single one of you failed your jobs. And the first time I came up here, I asked a question. I asked, "What's the role of the city council?" It's to
represent the people that live here. and every single step of the way, either it's a data center or the mega church or whatever, you have failed every single time. I also ask you if you think megaurches and data centers are what's good for this city, put in your
resignation letters cuz you failed. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Seeing no one, we will close the public session. >> Okay, Mr. President, I present ordinance number 2025-94,
ordinance authorizing the execution of a contract of sale and other documents necessary for the joint acquisition with the CCIA of vacant land for the development of a youth sports facility, which is ready for a continued public hearing. >> Chair a motion ordinance number 2025-94
be taken up for a continued public hearing and open to the public for discussion. >> Move. >> Second. >> Anyone in the audience wish to be I'm sorry, >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez.
>> Yes. >> President Spanelli. >> Yes. Anyone in the audience wish to be heard on ordinance number 2025-94? >> Seeing no one. Chair move to close the public hearing on uh ordinance number 2025-94. Need a motion.
>> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. Yes. Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> President Spanelli. >> Yes. >> Gerald entertain a motion to take to
take ordinance number 2025-94 up for a final reading and adopted according to law. >> So move. >> Second. >> Any any questions by council? Seeing none. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes.
>> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> President Spanelli. >> Yes. Ordinance 2025-94, ordinance authorizing the execution of a contract of sale and other documents necessary for the joint acquisition with the CCIA of vacant land for the development of a youth sports facility
for the vote of five years. This ordinance is hereby adopted. >> Branchetta, please submit ordinance number 2025-94 to the mayor for his approval or disapproval. >> Yes. I present ordinance number 2026-6,
ordinance authorizing the execution of contracts and other documents necessary for the acquisition of portions of certain properties on West Wayoth Road in the city of Island, which is ready for a public hearing. >> Chair entertains a motion ordinance number 2026-6 be taken up for a public hearing and
open to the public for discussion. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur, >> yes. >> Council member English, >> yes. >> Council member Vargas, >> yes. Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> President Spanelli. >> Yes. Anyone in the audience wish to be heard on ordinance number 2026-6?
>> Seeing no one. Chair, I'll entertain a motion to close the public hearing on ordinance number 2026-6. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> President Spanelli.
>> Yes. Chair entertains a motion ordinance number 2026-6 be taken up for final reading and adopted according to law. >> So move. >> Second. >> Any questions by councel? Seeing none. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes.
>> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> President Spanelli. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 2026-6. Ordinance authorizing the execution of contracts and other documents necessary for the acquisition of portions of certain properties on Westmouth Road in the city of Miland with a vote of 5
years. This ordinance is hereby adopted. >> Branchetta, please submit ordinance number 2026-6 to the mayor for his approval or disapproval. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> I present ordinance number 2026-7 which is ready for first reading. >> Chair entertains a motion and ordinance
number 2026-7 be taken up for first reading. >> So move. Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> President Spanelli. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 2026-7. Ordinance of the city of Vinland and the
county of Karland, New Jersey, appropriating $1 million even from the capital improvement fund to supplement the 10,600,000 even appropriated by bond ordinance 2025-23. Finally adopted March 25 March 25th,
2025 of the city for various improvements to the Vinland Municipal Electric Utility. >> Entertains a motion and ordinance number 2026 tax 7 be passed for first reading and public hearing be held on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. >> So move.
>> Second >> discussion. Seeing none. >> Dr. Arthur, >> yes. >> Council member English, >> yes. >> Council member Vargas, >> yes. >> Vice President Gomez, >> yes. Yes. President Spanelli. >> Yes. >> Is that ordinance number 2026-8
which is ready for first reading? >> Chair entertains a motion ordinance number 2026-8 be taken up for first reading. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> President Spanelli. >> Yes.
>> Ordinance 2026-8. Ordinance amending Ordinance 1074 is amended. Chapter 687, article 1, section 687-8 of the code of the city of Vinland, entitled Right of Access, right to place instruments. >> Karen entertains a motion that ordinance
number 2026-8 be passed for first reading and public hearing be held on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. >> So move. >> Second. >> Any questions? Seeing none, >> Dr. Arthur? >> Yes. >> Council member English?
>> Yes. >> Council member Vargas? >> Yes. Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> President Spanelli. >> Yes. >> Present ordinance number 2026-9 which is ready for first reading. >> Chair entertains a motion that ordinance number 2026-9 be taken up for first
reading. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> President Spanelli. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 2026-9. Ordinance amending
ordinance 86-46 as amended chapter 687 article 15 section 687-110 of the code of the city of Ireland entitled remote meters entertains a motion and ordinance number 2026-9 be passed for first reading that
a public hearing be held on Tuesday February 24th 2026 at 5:30 p.m. >> So move >> second >> discussion seeing none >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> President Spanelli.
>> Yes. >> I present ordinance number 2026-10 which is ready for first reading. >> Entertains a motion that ordinance number 2026-10 be taken up for first reading. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes.
>> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> President Spanelli. >> Yes. Ordinance 2026-10, Ordinance amending Ordinance 2005-100 as amended, chapter 425, article 8 of
the code of the city of Miland entitled affordable housing and refer to the planning board for review for consistency with the master plan and recommendations there too. Chair entertains a motion ordinance number 2026-10 be passed for first reading and a public
hearing be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. So move >> second >> discussion. Seeing none, >> Dr. Arthur, >> yes. >> Council member English, >> yes. >> Council member Vargas, >> yes. >> Vice President Gomez, >> yes.
>> President Spanelli, >> yes. City Council's approved that all matters listed below in the consent agenda are considered to be routine and non-controversial and be adopted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member so requests in which the
case the item will be removed considered with an individual vote. All matters on the consent agenda have been presented to city council during either a work session or the premeating conference and appear on the consent agenda without objection. Their titles will be not read individually into the record but will be properly memorialized in the meeting
minutes. >> J entertains a motion to approve all items on the consent agenda. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> President Spanelli. >> Yes.
>> Time you have privilege of the floor. Dr. Arthur. >> No problem. >> Vargas. >> None at this time. Thank you. Councilman English. >> Nothing at this time. >> Present. >> Nothing. >> And I have nothing as well. Chair, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn the
meeting. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> President Spanelli. >> Yes. Have a good night everyone.