Welcome to the regular meeting of the Von City Council meeting on May 26 at 5:30 p.m. >> Dr. Arthur >> here. >> Council member English >> here. >> Council member Vargas >> here. >> Vice President Gomez >> here. >> President Spanelli absent.
>> Please stand for the pledge of allegiance, please. 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.
>> Public notice this meeting pursuant to the open public 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, Milan Voice, and publishing electronically on the city's
official website, and filing written notice in the office of the city clerk of the city of Miland. >> Chair entertains a motion that the premeating conference, regular meeting of May 12th, and the work session of May 19th, 2026 be approved as submitted. >> So move. >> Second.
>> Discussion. >> Any discussion? >> Seeing none. >> Seeing none, >> Dr. Arthur, >> yes. Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> And Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> We will now uh open the public portion of this meeting.
>> Public port, excuse me. Public comment provides an opportunity for members of the public body 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 three-minute limit to
comment, cannot yield time to another individual, and may only approach the podium once during public comment for any one topic. The city council will not engage in dialogue with the public at this time. Disruptive conduct by audience members may result in removal following a warning, and all
participants are expected to adhere to professional decorum. The governing body maintains model courtesy and respect and requires the members of the public to do the same. Is there anyone in the audience that need that wishes to be heard? >> Mr. Vice President, I have Maryanne Lyelli. Maryanne Liyelli, come up
please. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Maryanne Lielli, Vinland, New Jersey. I'd like to start off with a visual. This area outlined in the dark lines is the area of New Jersey that is fed by
the Kirkwood Kahenzy aquifier as you could see or aquifer. As you can see, it's most of South Jersey. It's the largest aquifer in New Jersey. It covers approximately 3,000 square miles and contains 17 trillion gallons of fresh
water, enough to cover the state 10 in 10 ft of water. Most of the wetlands, lakes, streams, and rivers in South Jersey is water that seeps or flows directly from the ground from this aquifer. It is a relatively shallow aquifer, and shallow aquifers close to
the surface are likely to be used for water supply and irrigation. We are promoted as a farming community. Where I live, I see the ground come alive every sp every spring with people's livelihood,
their contributions to employment and providing food for the city, the state, and the country. Data centers have a negative impact on farming. Regenerative Farmers of America states Royal Data Centers construction can drain local
water sources used for irrigation, negatively affecting agricultural operations. It is concerning that the industry that our area is now dealing with
is in an area where we pride ourselves on being an agricultural community. It's like we're inviting our own feet to be shot. After the initial fill, oh, I'm sorry.
After the initial fill, data 1 is estimating an annual consumption of 20 million gallons of water. The water will be drawn from the Vinand municipal water supply which sits above this critical aquifer. It is reported as a closed loop system.
It will still require water top offs through uh during droughts. At the present time, all 21 counties in New Jersey are in a drought situation. My research discovered that this project lacked an independent, and I stress the
word independent, environmental study. As of March 26, the NJP had yet to issue air permits, nor had it received water allocation applications for this project. So, I checked the site again. As of April
2026, the data center, while under construction, still lacks final Department of Environmental Protection air and water permits. Earlier today on an AlphaTech podcast
with Mr. Benet, within the first five minutes, I heard the terms fake news and paid protesters. >> Three minutes. Yes. Just to assure you, we are doing our research and no one is
getting paid. I would like to say kudos to our community for speaking out. We ask you to not have our voices fall on deaf ears. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. Uh is there anyone else that hasn't signed on the blue form that would like to speak? Please come up. >> Steve Lewis, Vinyl, New Jersey. Uh, I'd like to speak about the memorial services. Uh, the other day at the
Landis Park. Uh, it went off very well, even though the weather was a little iffy, but, uh, it was really good. Uh kudos to the uh public works that uh always does a wonderful job cleaning the place up and uh it it was really pristine considering the situation we
were in with the storm. So uh Mr. Mayor, you and your people, you deserve a thank you for the work you always do every year. Um and uh Ed Ed was the organizer and uh everything
went really really well and uh so once again another year went but let's remember those people that died the ones that died for us to be here today and uh continue to do the right thing in their
honor. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Lewis. >> Anyone else? >> Hello, my name is Bert Brewster. I am here today talking about the ordinance 2026 20 I wrote down the wrong one. the one
today revolving around the uh center city redevelopment plan and plans for the commercial district concerning social services. Um >> it's ordinance 36. >> Yes, 36. I did get that wrong. I wrote down 23. Um which was a couple weeks
ago. >> Sorry. >> Um when I went to the work meeting last week, you had concerns about the soup kitchen and its rowiness, which can be observed by an outsider. Even I can admit that even though I have certain opinions about that. Um,
the soup kitchen, the one soup kitchen that I am assuming is the Spirit and Truth Ministry Soup Kitchen because there is not another soup kitchen that I can find on Landis Avenue um is not in that area according to the GSIS maps um
that are available for center city redevelopment plan. Um there are quite a few social services such as medical dayc care, food pantry, um health hospice service, benchmark
human services and um center for human services in New Jersey there. I also think that the proposed ordinance fails to completely consider what a social service is and that by completely removing it or um
removing it as a principal permitted use doesn't fully consider the whole entire scope of it and potential outcomes of its and consequences of what it does. >> Thank you. Have a nice day. >> Thank you. >> Okay.
Anyone else, uh, Nancy Martin from Bridton. Um, I'm back. I was here at the May 12th meeting. I'm here to follow up on the um issues I raised last time, specifically the lack of transparency around the issue of the animal shelter
and not meeting the legal obligation that the city has to contract with a shelter after the meeting in the parking lot. Um the attorney, Richard Tanetta, which I don't believe is here tonight, um had met up with a couple of us and I do appreciate he said that reassuringly
that Violin is working on plans to secure land, build their own shelter. That's great. That's a future plan. However, that does not address the current need or the present legal obligation that Violin has to have a shelter and animal control services in place currently. That is a future
possible plan. That's not even a definite plan because that's still in development. And Violin was very concerned on social media and in the news about Associated Humane South operating without a license at temporarily um and not meeting their
obligations. And yet Vinland right now does not seem concerned about meeting your own legal obligations to have the taxpayer money go to a contracted shelter of some type. All we know so far in terms of transparency is that two dogs have been adopted off the animal control Facebook
page. Not an very official source of communication. We have not received any other communication in terms of what about the dogs not adopted? What's the outcome? How long can they be held at this temporary facility? What are the protocols addressing things that come up
in shelters? Medical quarantine, bites, cruelty investigations, staffing concerns, cleanliness, things that are regulated as a shelter license. The temporary facility, K9, the LA K9 training academy is not licensed as a
shelter and they're not claiming to be a shelter. This is a temporary boarding facility. So, they cannot meet that legal obligation that Violent has. So, we are still waiting for communication, answers, responses. Emails are not being answered. Calls are not being answered
as far as calling violin, calling animal control. We have Facebook as a source and that is completely unacceptable. This is taxpayer money and we don't have answers. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Um, I'm going to also talk about the ordinance with the changing the
>> Larry. You want to state your name for the record? >> Oh, my name is Larry. I'm from Vinland. um the ordinance where you're going to the community centers and it's not whatever the definition is not specific enough but you have like official offices or something in there too and that doesn't sound very specific. So I'm just a little concerned does this mean this is going to affect the businesses
that are already there that qualify underneath that term or can it can I put a business there that qualifies qualifies that term like I'm just a little bit worried because we kind of need community outreach programs in the city kind of badly. Um yeah and then uh the the Rowan thing I just wanted to
bring that up real quick. I saw Dr. Arthur and Mr. But anyway there, I just want to ask for like it came up that uh Dr. Arthur is a big proponent of the data center and I just would like explanations. That's all. I just want to hear like people speak. Uh Mr. English did it, Mr. Ted did with the shelter. I
just don't understand how hard it is just to give your opinion to the residents and let them know why you think this way. That's all. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? Seeing no one, we'll close the public portion of the meeting.
>> Mr. Vice President, I present ordinance number 2026-33, an ordinance to amend and supplement ordinance number eight, which establishes classification and compensation plans for the city of supervising heating and air conditioning mechanic, which is ready for public hearing. Chair entertains a motion that
ordinance number 202633 will be taken up for public hearing and open to the public for discussion. >> No move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas? >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez? >> Yes. >> Is there anyone in the audience that
would like to be heard on ordinance number 2026-33? Seeing no one, >> chair entertains a motion that the public hearing on ordinance number 2026-33 be closed. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes.
>> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> Chair entertains a motion that ordinance number 2026-33 be taken up for final reading and adopted according to law. >> So move.
>> Second. Is there any discussion by council? Seeing none, >> Dr. Arthur, >> yes. >> Council member English, >> yes. >> Council member Vargas, >> yes. >> Vice President Gomez, >> yes. >> Ordinance 2026-33, an ordinance to amend and supplement ordinance number eight, which establish
classification and compensation plans for the city of Vinland supervising heat and air conditioning mechanic with a vote of four yays. This ordinance is hereby adopted. >> Director, can you submit ordinance number 2026-33 to the mayor for his approval or disapproval, please? >> Yes.
I present ordinance number 2026-34. Ordinance amending ordinance 2024-44 is amended chapter 81 of the code to the city of Vinland entitled Land of Theater Foundation Board of Directors which is ready for a public hearing. >> Chair entertains a motion that ordinance number 2026-34
be taken up for 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. Is there anyone in the audience that would like to be heard on ordinance number 2026-34?
Seeing no one. >> Chair entertains a motion that the public hearing on ordinance number 2026-34 be closed. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez.
>> Yes. Chair entertains a motion that ordinance number 2026-34 be taken up for final reading and adopted according to law. >> So move >> second. >> Is there any discussion by council on this? >> Seeing none. >> Dr. Arthur,
>> yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 2026-34. Ordinance amending ordinance 2024-44 is amended chapter 81 of the code of the city of island entitled Landis Theater Foundation board of directors with a
vote of 4A. This ordinance is hereby adopted. >> Director, can you submit ordinance number 2026-34 to the mayor for his approval or disapproval, please? >> Yes. Present ordinance number 2026-35.
Ordinance amending ordinance 2026-13. An ordinance approving the purchase of 4378 Juniper Street, also known as block 7304, lot 19, for $70,000 even, which is ready for a public hearing. >> Chair entertains a motion that ordinance number 2026-35
be taken up for 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. >> Is there anyone in the audience that would like to be heard on ordinance
number 2026-35? Seeing no one. Chair entertains a motion that the public hearing on ordinance number 2026-35 be closed. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English.
>> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. Chair entertains a motion that ordinance number 2026-35 be taken up for final reading and adopted according to law. So move >> second. >> Is there anyone Is there any discussion
by councel? >> Seeing none. >> Dr. Arthur, >> yes. >> Council member English, >> yes. >> Council member Vargas, >> yes. >> Vice President Gomez, >> yes. Ordinance 2026-35, Ordinance amending Ordinance 2026-13, an ordinance approving the purchase of
43 Juniper Street, also known as block 7304, lot 19 for $70,000 even with a vote of 4A. This ordinance is hereby adopted. >> Director, can you submit ordinance number 2026-35 to the mayor for his approval or disapproval, please?
>> Yes. I present ordinance number 2026-36. Ordinance amending ordinance 2004-25 is amended entitled an ordinance adopting the center city redevelopment plan consistent with resolution 5203 of the planning board of the city of Binland for the Landis Avenue commercial district which is ready for a public
hearing. >> Chair entertains a motion that ordinance number 2026-36 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. Is there anyone in the audience that would like to be heard on ordinance number 2026-36? >> U just want to know Larry from B. I just want to really clarify here if it's going to affect any businesses that are in that area >> or affect the possibility of other community outreach programs coming to
that area. I before you pass it. I think that should be explained. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Bruce. Yeah. You want to come up? Sure. >> I would just like to restate my opinion that I do not think that all the consequences and outcomes are being
thoroughly thought about with this. I am sure that plenty of people here have had experience with some form of social service. I implore them to come up and speak on their experience about that so the council can get the full scope of what a social service may be. that includes food services, veteran
services, health service, child care service, developmental services, uh employment services, disability service, and much much more. And I just like to, you know, make sure everybody fully understands that we're disagreeing to
get rid of that in that area, which is in a highly well, not highly residential area, but a very accessible area. As you know, it does state that it does go from automotive to a smaller area that is highly residential. So, it is both an
area that commuters and people that live right here downtown in Landis, right, can access very easily. So, I just want to make sure everybody is aware of that and encourage others to speak on that even if it's just two sentences. That is
all. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Hi, my name is Haley Purich. I'm a resident here in Vinland. Um, I just kind of wanted to uh question and express frustration with the uh the use of the uh Wikipedia definition of social
services. I would agree that definition is over broad. Um, however, I think that there are Um definitely more comprehensive legal and legislative definitions of social services that can be easily found. Um a quick search on the Cornell law site
provided um well which is you know a a pretty reliable uh legal definition resource. Um it provides a much clearer I think overview of what a social service program looks like. um specifies that
um you know it can include things like child care services, transportation services, job training and related services, um information referral counseling, um preparation and delivery of uh meals, um health support services, literacy and mentoring programs, uh
services for the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency and substance abuse, services for the prevention of crime, etc., etc. um things related to housing um as well as specifying that you know
these these programs are geared toward uh improving opportunities for uh lowincome communities. So I I think that there are legal and legislative definitions of social services that would be reasonably read into um the
rule as it stands. So I yeah I I would I would say the the Wikipedia definition I understand why it's over broad but I my reading of how it reads right now is completely clear. I don't I don't think that there's a reason to uh remove that and just say that that's over broad on
the face of it. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? Seeing none, chair entertains a motion that the public hearing on ordinance number 2026-36 be continued to Tuesday, June 9th, 2026
at 5:30 p.m. >> So move. >> Second. >> Is there any discussions by council? >> None. >> See none. >> Dr. Arthur, >> yes. >> Council member English, >> yes. >> Council member Vargas, >> yes. >> Vice President Gomez,
>> yes. Present ordinance number 2026-37 which is ready for first reading. >> Chair entertains a motion that ordinance number 2026-37 be taken up for first reading. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes.
>> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. Ordinance 2026-37, an ordinance amending the code of the city of Island, chapter 216, article 1, section 1 entitled alcoholic beverages annual license fees. Chair retains a
motion that ordinance number 2026-37 be passed for first reading and that a public hearing be held on Tuesday, June 9th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. >> move. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion by council? Seeing none, >> Dr. Arthur?
>> Yes. Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas, >> yes. >> Vice President Gomez, >> yes. >> I present ordinance number 2026-38, which is ready for first reading. >> Chair entertains a motion that ordinance number 2026-38 be taken up for first reading.
>> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 2026-38. Ordinance authorizing the transfer of certain industrial property to the violent Industrial Commission pursuant
to NJSA4A12-13 and NJSA4 55B-8 subsection G and approving the sale of set industrial property by the Vinland Industrial Commission pursuant to NJSA 405B-1 at sick.
Chair entertains a motion that ordinance number 2026-38 be passed for first reading and that a public hearing be held on Tuesday, June 9th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. >> So move. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion by council? Seeing none,
>> Dr. Arthur? >> Yes. >> Council member English? >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas? >> Yes. >> Vice President Gomez? >> Yes. >> The following items. City Council has approved that all matters listed in tonight's 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 case an item will be removed and considered with an individual vote. All matters on the consent agenda have been presented by city council during either a work session or a premeating conference and appear on the consent
agenda without objection. Their titles will not be individually read into the record but be properly memorialized in the meeting minutes. Chen entertains a motion to approve all items on consent agenda. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes.
>> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> And Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. We would now have a privilege of the floor. Uh Mr. Vargas. >> I'm good. Thank you. >> Mr. English. >> Uh nothing at this time. >> Dr. Arthur.
>> Yes. Thank you for the comments on the ordinance uh 36. Um they're taken under advisement. >> Thank you. Awesome. And I want to I want to thank the staff for a great uh Memorial Day. Um it was an amazing
event. Doc um Jimmy Near, thank you for and thank your men for us and women that um that helped um put this in order. The rain was was um threatening, but we pulled it through. Thank you. It was a great event.
Anything else? Need a motion to journ the meeting. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Arthur. >> Yes. >> Council member English. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> And Vice President Gomez. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Have a great night, guys. 550.