Everybody, it's January 7th, 2026. Could uh everybody please stand for the salute to the flag. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under
God, indivisibley and justice for all. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Platt >> here. >> Mr. Rabbits >> here. >> Mrs. O here, Mr. Mona >> here. >> In compliance with the open public meetings act, notice of this meeting has been published as required in the
courier post and the inquire newspapers and notice has been posted on the bulletin board outside the township clerk's office and on the township website. Now, we're going to begin the swearing in of committee woman elect Jaclyn Febort. Chris Long, our township solicitor is going to be swearing in. [applause]
Raise your right hand. >> I state your name. >> I, Jaclyn, >> do solemnly swear >> domly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey. And I will bear true faith >> And I will bear true faith >> and allegiance to the same. >> and allegiance to the same >> and to the governments established >> and to the government established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people. I do further solemnly swear
>> I do further solemnly swear >> that I will impartially >> that I will impartially >> and justly perform >> and justly perform >> all other duties >> all other duties >> of the position of >> the position of >> foresee committee woman committee woman >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability
>> to help me out >> to help me out [applause] >> keep it to like a half hour though >> followed in your footsteps I'm so sorry I didn't get to say hello to everyone. Good evening. I first want to thank everyone for being here tonight
and I hope to get to say personal hellos to everyone before the night is out. It means a lot to me to see so many familiar faces and it's a reminder of what this is really about which is our community. To our solicitor Chris Long, thank you for administering my oath and
thank you for your counsel and steady guidance on just about everything. [laughter] I also want to recognize and thank my fellow members of township committee who are my friends and colleagues and important people that I know that I can
count on. I thank you all and I look forward to continuing all of our work together. To our township staff, our administrator, CFO, community director, department heads, police, fire, EMS, public works, and every employee who keeps Warhees running. Thank you. Local
government works because you show up every day and you do the work that most people never see behind the scenes and mostly because of the pride that you take in our community. Special shout out to our retired chief and our incoming Chief Harrington. Congratulations to each of you at this momentous [applause]
time. I also want to thank a group that deserves to be recognized more often, our volunteers. We have so many residents who serve on our boards, commissions, and committees. You give your time, your expertise, and your energy because you care about our
town. You shape smart decisions and strengthen our civic life. And by that, you make our town better. On behalf of the entire township and members of committee, I want to thank you. So, tonight, I'm humbled and honored to be sworn in for my third term of Vorhees
Township Committee. Sounds strange to say it, and I assure you, I don't take it lightly. Public service is not about title. It's not about a meeting schedule. It's about responsibility. It's about engagement, research, building consensus, securing
votes, hard conversations, and the reality that every decision has a real and imminent impact on people's lives, their families, their homes, their businesses, and their sense of safety and belonging here. So, let me start with gratitude to my family who is not
here as you all can see because every year my husband's in Florida this week and my kids are home with the flu. [clears throat] But I want to thank them for their support and also for their understanding uh meetings, calls, community events. It
all adds up as somebody who has quite a few things to do. They've also sacrificed time and energy to allow me space and grace to be able to do this and to serve. And for that, I'm deeply grateful to them. To the residents of Orhees, uh, thank you for trusting me.
Again, whether you voted for me or not, I want you to know this. We work for all of you. We're available. I'm out in the community. My phone is always on and I respond to emails pretty timely. I'm committed to earning your trust every
day during this term. As I look back on my time on committee, I'm proud of what we've accomplished together. not as individuals but as a community working toward the same goal. Keeping Vorhees a great place to live, place in which I grew up and brought my family back to
because I love it so much. I had a bit of a laugh thinking about my time on committee. I've actually seen in my short time the retirement of every department head. I'm not sure what it says about me, [laughter] but uh I've had the privilege to work
with and celebrate the retirements of Larry, our administrator, Dean, our CFO, Kathy, our HR director, Mario, my dear friend in our community and economic development director, Joe from public works, and as I just mentioned, Lou from
our police department. First from fire and then from police actually. I learned something from each of them and I'm grateful for the time that our service over overlapped. I realize that I can, you know, joke about apparently I have some Black Widow ability or something.
But [laughter] what occurred because of this next is in fact what I think is the legacy of the last six years of our committee. I've never been more proud of the group of leaders entrusted with the daily care and security of our community. Stephen, our administrator, Alex, our CFO, Jim,
our fire chief, Sarah, our HR director, Jackie B, our economic and community development director, Susie, our community affairs and events director, Chris down on public works, and again, as I mentioned, in a historic promotion for this town, April, April Harrington
as our chief of police. I can assure everyone in this room with the new stewardship uh we could rest on our laurels and I'd be very very content with this legacy and I thank you all for all that you do every day. But we don't measure success by what
we've already done. We measure it by what we do next and how we respond to challenges in front of us. This third term matters because of issues facing local communities right now are real and immediate. Our community is clear about its desires and I intend to work with my
fellow committee people to ensure affordability by being responsible with taxes and spending. Public safety by supporting the men and women who keep our neighborhoods safe, smart growth and planning by protecting what makes Warheis special, but while also making
changes that allow us to lead into the future. And as always, transparency by making sure residents know what we're doing, why we're doing it, and how they can be involved. There's one promise I can make. It's that in this term, I will
keep focusing on the fundamentals of good government. Means being disciplined, asking tough questions, measuring results, and never forgetting that our stakeholders are not just my neighbors, but my friends. So before I close, one last thought because you know
I don't ever give up on a platform in the current political environment. While everything I said is true and I will work towards all of it, it also means working together even when we disagree because disagreement is never a
problem. Disrespect is a problem. Division is a problem. I believe that you can be firm on principles and still be respectful. You can ask hard questions without tearing someone down.
You can debate and then shake hands. That's the kind of leadership I model. And I think that's why I am serving a third term. This means that my governance and those in leadership positions around me must share these values. I know my fellow committee members do. Those are the values of
respect and responsibility. So over the next term, I want us to keep moving in the direction that reflects the values of Warhees. Local government is the level of the government closest to the people. It's closest to your daily life. It's the streets you drive
on, the park you take your kids to, the response time in which you get help and permits that allow you to open a business or a pool. So stay engaged, come to meetings, share your perspective, volunteer, ask questions, and hold us accountable. and always
respect your neighbors. Tonight, I'm proud to take this oath again. Thank you again, Chris. And I'm ready to get back to work. I think I was under a half hour. Thank you all for your trust and for the privilege of serving this community again. [applause]
[applause] Kids have the flu over there. >> I know. I promise. I had it last week. [clears throat] All right. Can I have a roll call vote for with a full membership? >> Mrs. Bethroy
>> present. Mr. Clatt >> here. >> Mr. Rabbits >> here. >> Mrs. Cto here. Mr. [clears throat] Mcota >> here. >> May I have a motion to nominate the mayor? I'll make a motion to nominate Mike Miniona to continue to be our wonderful mayor of Warhees. >> Second. >> Weird.
>> Third. >> You voting? >> Asking for a roll call. I did all all in favor. >> Oh. Oh, yes. Yes. >> All in favor? [laughter] >> We didn't hear any. >> Yeah, normally would roll. >> Call and then Naz. >> Well, let's do a roll call. >> Okay. Okay. I I have that after a motion
to close nomination. Okay. Do we have a motion to close nomination? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Mrs. Bey. >> Yes. >> Mr. Platt. Yes. >> Mr. Rabbits. Yes. >> Mrs. Cto. >> Yes. >> Mr. Reona. >> Yes. [applause]
[applause] >> Say motion carries. I was like trying to talk really fast. >> That's it. I Michael Arona >> Iona do solemnly swear solemnly swear that I will support I will support the
Constitution of the United States >> Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. >> And I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. And I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. >> And to the governments and to the
governments established in the United States established in the United States in this state and in this state under the authority of the people under the authority. I do further solemnly swear I do further solemnly swear that I will impartially and justly but I will impartially and justly perform all of
the duties all the duties of the position of township mayor of the position of township mayor according to the best of my ability to the best of my ability so help me God [applause] Uh Jackie went on during her remarks, so
I'm going to steal her time if I people know. I've already been encouraged to try to um um move things along. But um all kidding aside, there are some things that I always enjoy uh talking about and always enjoy uh saying. And I first want to congratulate [clears throat] my
friend and colleague Jackie Feeper on her reelection to our township committee. As Jackie [clears throat] said, uh she grew up in Vorhees and um she has a vested interest in making sure that that we have a wonderful town and she brings a passion um that is just
tireless to her position. So uh Jackie, congratulations and thank you for doing what you do. Uh, I want to thank uh everybody, my colleagues on township committee for once again giving me the opportunity and the honor. It is an honor to serve as the mayor of this
wonderful community. It's a it's a privilege and an honor that I never take lightly and I never will take lightly. I will work hard to be the best leader, the best mayor, and the best ambassador for the township of that I can be. Uh
I've always had the philosophy that uh local government our job is to provide the best quality of life to our residents and it begins with public safety. Uh our police department obviously has been through a transition
and a progression. Uh we saw some of what I like to say the o the OG the old guard retire. We saw Lieutenant Derek Hawkins, Sergeant Ken, [clears throat] Ken Sakovich, Captain Bill Walsh, and of course, Chief Louorty retire. Uh, but
we're entering in a whole new era. I am so proud. Uh, and I know no better cop or person to become our new chief than Chief Harrington right here. Congratulations, Chief. [applause] Want to say a few words? [laughter]
Um, I know that Chief Harrington will lead our department into another era and will continue doing the great things that our department does. And as I always say, it's not just a matter of public safety, but it's a matter of community engagement that makes me so proud of our police
department with our our two policemies, our junior and our adult academy and our national night out and the holiday fund that they do. One of their new initiatives this year was called the Blue Envelope Program. For those of you who have never heard of it, uh it's a program geared toward drivers with
autism and communicative disorders that they can put their documents literally in a blue envelope and then if there's a traffic stop, they give the blue envelope to the investigating officer. It makes for a much safer and a much more positive dialogue between the investigating officer and the driver.
So, I'm very proud of that of that blue envelope program. and they continued with what I believe is is our most important initiative, which is a cop in every school, all day, every day. Very important to keep our kids safe, our teachers safe. Our fire department and EMS, many of them are here this evening.
Thank you for everything that you guys do. Uh you do it without pause. You you walk toward the problem, not away from the problem, and I thank you for that. Uh I did I did say hello to to George Devacos, who is here this evening. uh for four decades he's been serving as a
firefighter and an EMT and because of his service he's going to be honored this month as the first responder of the year by the Vorhees breakfast rotary. So [applause] congratulations. [applause] They also had some cornerstones retire with battalion chief uh Matt Pacion and
EMS supervisor Harry Woods. Um but I know that they've hired additional EMTs. They put a new ambulance in service. Uh and and again, our fire department is much like our police department because their community engagement is just unbelievable. Uh fire prevention night,
what they do for our holiday festival. There are presence at every one of our festivals and you guys do you make me so proud every year. So, thank you. Uh under the direction of our new uh community enhancement coordinator, Susie, who is here somewhere. There she
is. Um, our community events this year were bigger and better than ever. They were really unbelievable. Uh, we had our harvest festival, Halloween day, um, here at Town Center. We had our our our, um, Christmas winter festival, which was
absolutely packed this year. In addition to the parade and the tree lighting, we added a Christmas village, uh, which drew even more people than it usually draws. We had another successful summer concert series. Over 10,000 people came to Connelly Park to watch the very
popular FM band tributes to the Beatles uh and to Springsteen and we had our first food and music festival which was at Connelly Park also which drew a huge crowd and our movies under the stars which was another very popular event. Uh
quality of life uh means keeping our roads, our sewer system, our parks and fields in great condition and uh our people work hard to make sure that's done. This year we installed a new playground at the Myroa soccer complex with a grant that we that we received
and the playground was assembled actually by our DPW uh which was great. With a with a New Jersey Department of Transportation grant of almost a million dollars, we uh we made better access to the Ashlin station with pedestrian and
bike and bike lane paths. And with another grant of $1.24 million, we put new sidewalks along Ashlin u I'm sorry, along Vanburn Road and Lucas Lane uh to provide better access to the Ashlin station. [clears throat]
Uh as part of our five-year road program, we t we surfaced or resurfaced 18 township roads in our community and five courts in our community. Um our um our our our guys do a wonderful job in keeping our our streets uh efficient and
effective, which makes me very proud. On September 18th, we joined with Gibbsboro and the Vorhees schools to open the Vorhees Early Childhood Development Center uh on 561. It's a beautiful facility. Um and it's going to give 300
of our young people preschool age the ability to begin their educational journey uh earlier than usual. It's uh preschool all day for 300 kids. And I'm so proud of that partnership that we have with Gibbs and with our schools. [clears throat]
As Jackie said, quality of life means transparency and accessibility. Our uh information director and and social media director, Danielle Dorto, does such a great job with that. Uh we continue to televise all of our uh public meetings. We continue to work to
make our website um friendlier for those like me who are not very IT oriented. Uh we have 8,500 people following us on Facebook. We have uh 3,000 on Instagram, almost 6,000 on our Township app, and
10,000 on our Next Door app. We had many community outreach programs which um which really are important uh not only for our seniors but for everybody in our community because we we had our annual rabies clinic which is very very
popular. We had a a real ID services in conjunction with New Jersey uh motor vehicle commission. Also with them, we had motor vehicle inspections right here at the Vorhees Town Center. We helped our seniors with the tax tax assistance program. We helped with TSA pre-check-in
for those who travel. Uh we had housing and mortgage assistance programs and we had several shedding of shredding events. Um, quality of life means a a very very strong business climate. And I'm so proud to say that this very town
center that we're in right now uh is going to uh get some new life put into it because on October 27th, this committee unanimously voted uh to enter in a redevelopment agreement with uh with a company called Hope Oak and Brownstone for a mixeduse housing and
retail development of this of this site which is long overdue. Uh there will be a combination of town homes and apartments, over 38,000 square ft of new commercial and entertainment space, a multi-level parking garage, new park
areas, bike paths, and public spaces. They're donating 30,000 square ft of space in this building to the community for community use. So, we're very excited about that. I'm hoping that it once again uh as Mario likes to say and I like to say, become the heartbeat of
our community. Mario, long overdue. And thank you, by the way, Mario, who is very influential in helping move that thing forward. Um, we have three successful cannabis retailers here in town creating revenue uh for for our tax base, and we hope to have a fourth in
2026, and our shop Vorhees tax credit program continues. We have 2,000 households, 19 businesses, and we look we're going to look to increase those numbers this coming year. Very proud of that program. Um, a successful business climate is a
partnership. A partnership between this township committee, our Vorhees business association and our residents. Our Vorhees business association is so active with monthly lunchons to allow for marketing and networking for our small businesses in the area. And they also have happy hours which have become
very successful. They sponsor our pumpkin patch uh at the at the Halloween day and made a sizable donation to our police holiday fund. Uh because of that partnership between us and the residents and the VBA, 46 new businesses opened in
Vorhees Township in 2025, which makes me very proud. Um quality of life means celebrating the arts. Our art commission is so passionate and tireless in everything they do. They had their uh annual he's got talent contest this year, the fifth one. Very involved in
all of our uh activities, our winterfest, our fall festival, art in the park, uh healing art for a hero's heart, and they're they have such a pres a presence at any one at every one of our events. Um and and they're tireless. They really are. I'm I'm proud to say
the arts are alive and well here in Vorhees. Um, and in Vorhees, we continue to embrace our diversity, which always makes me very proud. Our Vorhees cultural and diversity committee continued to be ambassadors of celebrating our differences. Uh, they put on a Junth freedom celebration at
Connelly Park, which drew thousands of people, and their international day was more popular than ever. In October at um at Eastern Regional High School, I was honored to celebrate our diversity with many members of our community. I celebrated Diwali with our Hindu
community, Tanga with our Indian at the Indian cultural center, the Islamic school graduation at the mosque, Cambodian new year at the temple, the Philippine independence day at Koopa River, Pakistani independence day at Karachi Cafe, and uh on an emotional
morning in October, uh I joined our Jewish community in the 13th annual March of Remembrance, which u is always a very emotional uh and um meaningful day for me and for the entire community.
Uh as I like to say and many of you have heard this before, but I'm going to say it again. Here in Vohees, we acknowledge our differences and we embrace our differences and we celebrate our differences until differences make no difference at all. So, thank you to our diversity committee.
[clears throat] Some um some personal memories and special people I'd just like to mention. Um, one of my favorite philosophers, Mr. Rogers, um, famously said that when I was a boy, I would see scary scary things on the news. And my
mother would always say to me, "Look for the helpers. You're always going to find the helpers." Well, the helpers are are what make our community very special. Back in 2001, a young woman came into our police department and she came in because her sister was battling cancer
and was having some financial issues. Uh she spoke to Stephanie Fowler who was the supervisor of records in our department. Stephanie and her colleagues not only provided the the sick woman with car seats for her children, but they bought Christmas presents to give
her family a a very merry Christmas. And 25 years ago, our police holiday fund was born. So for the last quarter century, I'm proud to say that our police holiday fund has provided hundreds of families a merry Christmas and a happy holiday for for many, many
years. And for her her work with our police holiday fund, Stephanie Fowler, I'm proud to say, is going to be honored by the Vorhees breakfast rotary as its citizen of the year. So congratulations to Stephanie F. >> [applause]
>> One of the other helpers is a woman named LeShawn Crawford who owns a restaurant in the Ritz Center called Girl with a Grill. And uh LeShawn came up with a program called Pay What You Can. And that's literally what it is. She invites people to her restaurant
once a month uh to be to to have a delicious meal because the food is great there. And she has a a box, an anonymous box where people can put whatever they can afford into the box. Some people can't afford any, some people can, but it's become such a popular event that
they now have three different seedings on this particular night that she has this event. So, thank you to Leon Crawford of uh of Girl with a Grill. Uh, and check out our restaurants. It's a wonderful restaurant. Um, it's it's it's families that make me proud, like this
year, the Geller family who lost their beloved their beloved son Dylan in a in a jet ski accident. Uh Dylan had epilepsy and in Dylan's memory his family put together a foundation called um do it like Dylan. Um and on a brisk
morning in um in November, 800 people came to Cooper River to celebrate Dylan's life and to um to raise money for uh causes that Dylan would have been proud of for epilepsy awareness uh causes and for kids who are going to
school to become special education teachers because I think that's what he wanted to be. So, uh, thank you to the Geller family for being helpers and thank you for turning what a grief into a celebration and for giving back on on
Dylan's behalf. Uh, in in November, I attended an event with um, uh, at Lucian with about five or six hundred people called Kiss Hate Goodbye. Didn't know what it was. wasn't sure about what it was, but went and I have to say there
was no political agenda, there was no racial agenda, there was no religious agenda. It was people getting together to share love and to literally kiss hey goodbye. What a great evening it was. [clears throat] Uh, one more tip of the hat to my friend
Luberty, who I know is here. uh he uh he retired and um he um he served our our our town for 38 years protecting our families and um you you can't I can't say enough about Lou and what what he
did. In 2012 he became the fifth chief in the history uh of our township and he initiated many many many uh policing programs. The two that I that stand out to me are his community engagement programs, which I think are very important, and of course our school
safety programs, the school or the cop in uh in every school all day, every day. So, uh Lou, thanks for that. Thanks for your service. [applause] Uh I want to thank our our township employees and professionals for everything that they do. As Jackie said,
the many volunteers on our boards, committees, and commissions who give us their time. Um, thanks to the families of my colleagues on township committee for your sacrifice because it is a sacrifice to share your loved ones with us. It's important u that that they have
the time to to do what they do to serve our community. So, thank you to them. Thank you for my brother Steve for once again swearing me in. My sister-in-law Leslie is here this year. Um, it's been quite a tradition and I hope mom and dad are proud. I think they are. Um, thank
you to my lovely lady Katie. Um, my confidant, my partner, uh, the wonderful mom to Will. Here I go. [laughter] Um, she had another fancy year. You'll be happy to know because she she loves fancy things. And for those of you who
may not know, uh, we had an addition to the family this year. Yes, we did. Um uh I called the uh the AWA knowing it was uh uh there was no return after making this call and and we adopted a rescue
kitten by the name of Harper. And Harper uh uh they they wore me down, I have to say, because there was an agreement that we would get a cat when I finally sailed. So So Will would always ask me about my health and how I was doing. Uh, but they wore me down and I gave it. And
let me tell you, if I knew it was going to make them this happy, I would have done it a long time ago. So, so I was number two in the pecking order after Will and now I'm number three. Uh, I'm not sure if Harper or Will is first. I think I think Will is and then Harper and then me. So, um, but no, Harper's
been Harper's been wonderful. Things just keep showing up the house with Harper's picture on its own. Um, thank you to my uh wonderful kids, my oldest, Kelly, who uh continues to thrive in the HR world, uh, a wonderful wife and mother, to my precious granddaughter,
Lucy. Uh, Kelly has become quite the softball mom. That makes me very proud. My son Matt, who's followed in the footsteps of both of his grandfathers and uh, became a teacher and not just any teacher, but a special ed teacher in Morristown High School. He also coaches
football and wrestling there. But I'm most proud of the of the husband and father he's become to my two wonderful grandsons, Bo and Otis. To my daughter, Marie, you're here. So that's [laughter] she continues to u spread her marketing genius and that's what it is. Not only
locally, but throughout the world because she travels the damn world. It scares the heck out of me. But um she she does she she she spreads her marketing genius which makes me very proud. And um she met a young man named Lawrence who was here this evening um
coming up on their year anniversary. I understand it. Um Lawrence, I'll trust that this was the happiest year of your life [laughter] because you are the luckiest man in the world as I've told you. Um and I know that you make my daughter very happy and that better continue.
Um, so and the cool thing about Lawrence is every time come comes to my house, he brings me a present. So, [laughter] and it's usually some kind of bottle, which is great. Um, and then the little man, Will, who's, as you can see, not little anymore. Um, uh, I've given these
remarks for many, many years and watched him grow here. And he, um, he started middle school this year. He's thriving. Yeah. I told him tonight he has a suit on that that that's you can tell that he's growing because the the pants are getting short. Um he has his first
travel baseball practice tonight. So as soon as I uh I finish my remarks, his bag is in the back and he's going to go to that. He plays travel basketball. He plays uh piano sometimes reluctantly, but I assure him it's going to pay off as he gets older. Um and he added golf
and photography to his repertoire this year. So, but I'm more proud of the gentlemen that you are that you are. Um, 2025 was a wonderful year, but 2026, I look forward to it being a year of hope, optimism, and love. Thank you for being
here. Happy New Year, and go Birds. [applause] right around. Next on our agenda is the motion to nominate the deputy mayors. And I will make a motion to nominate committee persons Michelle Nto and Jason Rabbits as our deputy mayors this year. Is there a second?
>> Second. >> And third. >> I have a motion and a second. Um, may we have a roll call vote? >> Mrs. Bey, yes. Mr. Platt, yes. >> Mr. Rabbits, yes. >> Mrs. Yes. Mayor >> Mcnona. >> Yes. So Carrie, um,
Deputy U Deputy Mayor will be sworn in by Jackie Feick. Okay. All right. >> [snorts] [snorts] [laughter] [snorts] >> Will you raise your right hand? I I messed this up once before, so she's
checking me. >> Please repeat after me. >> I shall >> do solemnly swear >> domly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States. I will >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey
>> the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> I will bear true >> to the same >> and to the government established in the United States >> and to the government established in the United States >> and in the state >> and in the state >> under the authority of the people
>> and the authority of the people. I do further solemnly swear >> I do furtherly swear >> that I will impartially and justly >> that I will impartially and justly >> perform all the duties of the position of township deputy mayor
>> according to the best of my ability to the best >> [applause] >> I'm hug. And now Jason Rabbits will be sworn in as deputy mayor by Assemblywoman Melinda Keane. Uh also, while we have a little moment, I'd like to recognize
Commissioner Jen Fleer, who is here. Thank you for coming out, Commissioner. We appreciate you being here. Um, I already mentioned our our Chief Harrington is here and Chief Fire Chief Jimmy Poland is here. [snorts] >> You ready?
>> [laughter] >> Keep them in line. >> I state your name. I Jason >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution >> that I will support the Constitution >> of the United States >> of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the governments established into the United States >> and to the governments established in the United States >> and in this state
>> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people. >> I do further solemnly swear >> I do further solemnly swear >> that I will impartially >> that I will impartially >> and justly perform >> and justly perform >> all the duties of the position of
>> all the duties position of >> slow down the board deputy mayor deputy mayor >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations. [applause]
I just want to really quick um say congratulations on your retirement to chief. >> I was out of town so I missed the walk out and then the party last night or Monday night. Um, Chief and I have been I don't know what I'm going to do.
Although Avery got a seat right next to me, but Lou and I sat next to each other in caucus for I think a decade, which I can't believe. Um, it's been that fast. And uh we went through some
I mean monumental stuff like taking the fire department from the fire district and in the township and uh cops wall to wall in every school increased the police force in town went back to SWAT
locally right um and then just the um succession plan is what I call it in my private life um is incredible and the culture that Chief Bory built in his department that's enabling him to step
aside, know what he did, move on to the next phase of his life, and then Chief Harington, congratulations. It's all yours. >> So, congratulations. And congratulations. And thank you to the police and fire, not to you, Andy. Um,
police, all of our policemen, but also you guys are all here, our fire department, EMS recently had a little episode with my mom in town and uh the reaction and my mom is a different last name than to me so there was no special treatment clear
but the speed to which everything got handled and she was over at virtual when she was almost unconscious and they wouldn't take her to another hospital um because her blood pressure was so low from the fall that she had that they
didn't feel secure doing that but It was awesome and amazing and thank you and uh thank you for what you do every day. And speaking of fire, fire is gone. Nice to have you back in town and on planning board because now planning board is back
to a contentious mess. Thanks for coming. [applause] >> Congratulations. [clears throat] >> And thank you to Assembly Assemblywoman Melinda Kaine for swearing me in. So,
[clears throat] thank you Our next item on the agenda is the public portion for resolutions only. If anyone has a comment on any of our resolutions, uh, please come forward. [clears throat] >> See, no one's moved to close public portion. Second. >> All those in favor? I opposed.
>> Public portion for resolutions is closed. Our resolutions this evening are resolution number 1-26, appointments by the mayor, and resolution 2-26, approving the 2026 temporary budget. Do I have a motion on those two resolutions? >> So move. >> Second. [snorts] I have a motion and a
second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. >> I. Opposed? So carried. Next is resolution 3-26, appointment of our township solicitor, Wade Longwood and Long LLC, Christopher Long. Do I have a
motion on that resolution? >> Yes. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> I want the girls instead. [laughter] >> Discussion point. >> Discussion point. [laughter] All those in favor, please signify by
saying I. I. Opposed. >> Congratulations, Chris. [applause] >> For another three. >> Yes. [clears throat] Our next resolutions are number 4-26, appointment of our township auditor,
Bowman and Company, CPA, PC, Daniel Gangi, PFK O'Connor Davies. Resolution 5-26, appointment of the township engineer, consulting and municipal engineers, CME. Number 6-26, appointment of a broker for property and casualty
insurance, Connor Strong, Michael Abalone. Resolution 7-26, appointment [snorts] of a broker for health insurance, HRNS Financial Services, LLC, Curt Stuml. Resolution number 8-26, appointment of specialized legal service, Issuance of Bonds, Parker
McKay, PA. Resolution 9-26, appointment of our prosecutor, Donald Donna Seagull Plat, Esquire. Resolution 10-26, appointment of the township prosecutor as prosecutor of violations of the township zoning, land use, and building codes, ordinances, and regulations over
which she has jurisdiction, Donna Seagull Platt. Resolution number 11-26, appointment [snorts] of our public defender, Mory Cutler, Esquire. Resolution 12-26, appointment of our township sewer engineer, Churchill, Consulting Engineers, Lewis I Garcia,
PA. Number 13-26, appointment of our special co- attorney, the Plat Group, Steuart Platt, Esquire. Number 14-26, appointment of our conflict attorney, the Plat Group, Steuart Platt, Esquire. Number 15-26, appointment of our special
special projects engineers, Churchill Consulting Engineers, Environmental Resolutions, Inc. and Consulting and Municipal Engineers and Associates. Resolution 16-26, appointment of our financial adviser, Acasia Financial Group, Inc. Number 17-26, appointment of
our grant writing services provider, Millennium Strategies. Number 18-26, appointment of our third party elevator inspector, GS Elevator Inspections. Number 19-26, appointment of our planning board conflict solicitor, Law
Office of John M. Palm Esquire LLC. Resolution [clears throat] 20-26, appointment of our special tax appeal council for reverse appeals. Blau and blau number 21-26, appointment of members of the Vorhees Township Planning Board. Mike Mcnona, class one member.
Andrew Shelenhammer, class two member. Jason Ravitz, class three member. Mario Data, the mayor's designate, Ron Vandergriff and Jacob Platt, alderman one. Resolution number 22-26, appointment of members to the Vis Township zoning board. Lee Cohen,
Jennifer Branch Stewart, Antonio Baron, Alternate One, Nahal Jari, Alternate number two, resolution number 23-26, appointment of class 3 member members and staff to the Bise Township Environmental Commission. Edward Hail, chairperson, Jennifer Gaffne, secretary.
Resolution number 24-26, appointment of members to the Voise Township Business Improvement District Advisory Board. Lindseay Hunt, Frank Roseri, Eric Grimley, Matan Mintz, and Jennifer Gaffne, secretary. Resolution 25-26, appointment of liaison and members to
the Vorhees township culture and diversity committee, Jaclyn February, T township committee liaison, Stephanie Fischer, Sopan Roal, Michelle Randolph, Zahita Rakman, Alisa Castricio, Lisa Rose Witherspoon, Jennifer Branch Stewart, and Robert Craraven. Resolution
number 26-26 appointment of members and liaison to the voy township art commission Jacqueline Fetbreak Township Committee liaison Susie Sherbine Mary Elizabeth Hervitz and Jennifer Gaffne secretary and resolution number 27-26 appointment of members liaison and
township representatives to the Vorhees township recreation advisory board Michelle Nito township committee liaison Anthony Del Palazo John Connors as Susie Baron Kyle Keller Danny Danth and Christian Taylor, non- voting township representative. Do I have a
motion to approve resolutions 4-26 through 27-26? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Just want to say thank you again to [clears throat] all of our professionals and volunteers and those of you who came out tonight. It's been pleasure working with you and we look forward to
continuing working with you in 2026. [clears throat] >> All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I opposed. So carried. Next is resolution number 2826 which are which is our consent agenda [clears throat] which set sets forth uh resolutions
29-26 through 42-26 as set forth uh on on the hard copy of the agenda. Um uh is there a motion to approve our consent agenda? >> Motion >> second. Motion and a second. Any discussion hearing? None. [snorts] All those in favor please signify by saying
I. I opposed. So carried. Next is resolution number 43-26 authorizing the township's purchasing agent to award purchases pursuant to state contract and contracts under certain cooperative purchasing agreements. Resolution 44-26 authorizing
an agreement for extraordinary unspecified services for dental insurance guardian insurance. Resolution 45-26 authorizing an agreement for extraordinary unspecified services for life insurance the Credential Insurance Company of America. Resolution 46-26
authorizing an agreement of extraordinary unspecified services for temporary disability insurance the Hartford number 47-26 approval of the appointment of a crisis intervention team number 48-26 recognizing theerts racist team as an authorized
service/volunteer organization of the township of Vorhees resolution 49-26 appointment of the Vorhees township safety committee Amber Mazola Maria Windbach Daniel Sheets Sarah Schwarz, Patty Moretti, Steven Stglick, Christian
Taylor, chairman Ver Verl Tyther, Secretary Jeffrey Pert, and James Poland. Resolution 50-26, authorizing the tax collector to cancel small balances. Number 51-26, setting the cost of mailing tax sale notices. and resolution 52-26
authorizing the tax assessor to file stipulate settle both regular and added omitted tax appeals and roll back tax complaints for the township of Warheis do I have a motion on resolutions Rh 43-26 through 52-26 >> motion
>> second motion and a second any discussion hearing none of those in favor please signify by saying I >> opposed so carried any additional comments from our committee this evening >> [clears throat] >> Mr. Mayor, I just want to say thank you to our township clerk D. Ober for all
the work. As Jackie said, there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes and she makes all of these meetings run every year, but specifically all the back and forth that goes into this meeting. So, thank you. [applause] >> Any other comments from our committee? Okay, our final portion is our public
portion. If anyone from the public has a comment, please come forward. >> [clears throat] >> Seeing no one move to close public portion. >> Second. >> All those in favor? Opposed. >> A public portion is closed and we are adjourned. Happy New Year. [applause]