This meeting is being held in conformance with the sunshine law. Notice of time, date, and place has been furnished in the Bergen record in the Ridgewood News. Notice has also been posted on the bulletin board of the administration building. Will the clerk kindly take the role? >> Mayor Gardano >> here. >> Mr. Brennan >> here. >> Miss Sarak
>> here. Mr. Martinelloo >> here. >> Miss Smith here. >> Miss Wendy here. Everyone kindly rise for the pledge of >> allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under
God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Let's have a moment of silence to all our world veterans all veterans across our country who have given the ultimate sacrifice to serve our country from not returning home so that we can live in a land that's free so that we could assemble the way we are tonight.
the first of prayer. >> Dear Lord, we start this meeting asking for your guidance and wisdom. May we find unity and fairness. We outcome to reflect our wishes to assist the girl and all their endeavors. Thank you in this name. Amen. Amen. We started something new in January that
we look to each other and just say hello. So, hello everyone. Hope you are trying to stay warm in this building tonight. It's not as cold as outside and the weather hopefully is breaking. Uh under my report, I just have a couple of items. Number one is I
want to thank the council members and of course my wife that came with me to the Ramadan ceremony that will be discussed at at Lent by uh Councilwoman um Angela Smith. Also, you'll council each one of you will get an email from me next week.
I have a situation that I need your your opinion. It's about something that's going on in Waldwick. Nothing serious, but it's something that I would like you to just let me know which way you'd like me to pursue with this. So, you'll probably get something either Friday or Saturday. Probably Saturday. And that's
all I have to report. Financial administrative committee. Mr. Monelloo. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, municipal budget talk uh has begun and has is continuing. So I have a few updates just to for educational and some background information. Um so structure of the
budget we talk about the budget in three pieces. One is the general budget which covers our day-to-day operations and salaries operational cost uh for the budget put down. Uh the second is the capital budget. Capital budget is our infrastructure projects, buildings,
roads, equipment. Um and we do that through a bonding process every few years. And then we have the water utility budget as the third aspect of that that has its own general appropriations and capital budget that's specifically separated for water purposes. Each year council reviews all
three budgets to ensure burough needs are met and future planning is in place. We try to keep taxes as low as possible um despite statutory costs that are increasing but those things uh have to get offset somehow. Uh for the 2025 financial overview, our general
appropriations were roughly 16 million which excludes schools and counties taxes. Uh the reserve uncollected taxes were 977,000 and our debt service was nearly uh 1.7 million in interest that we pay on
principal for the bonds. Um the surplus used last year for our 2025 budget was $2.5 million that we used to balance that budget. I'll explain that in in a couple seconds here. Our total revenues for the town were 58.8 million. Sounds like a lot, but unfortunately 35 million
of that go toward the schools and another 5 million go to the county, which leaves the burrow with about 18 million in revenues. When you look at our total expenditures, including the schools and everything else, it's 57.2 million. So that left us an excess
revenue of $1.6 million. Sounds good, right? But you have to factor that we put 2.5 million income surplus. So when you look at that, we had a reduction in surplus again this year of 900,000 which is continuing the trend that we've seen for the last 3 years resulting in
depletion of that surplus fund. So um for educational purpose surplus grows when you have excess revenue exceeds the amount that you use to balance the budget. For the past decade excess revenues has been steady at about $1.6 million per year.
um expense growth versus tax revenue is where you really get the uh the change. Expenses are rising faster than tax revenues increasing, right? So from 2015 to 2025, as an example, in 2015, our appropriations were $13.7 million. And
in 2025, those were $6.5. That's a difference of $3 million. Our tax levy uh for the burrow was 8.7 million back in 2015. and 9.9 million in 2025 increase of only about $900,000. That's
$2 million difference, right? So that starts eating into your um surplus that we have. So the burrow has kept its tax rates down over that that period, but at a cost of depleting the surplus. Uh so what are our options? What do other towns do when you don't have a surplus?
You reduce cost of services or you raise taxes. Uh borrow constraints. We can't deficit spend like the federal government. I can't borrow money to just pay it, just print more, right? So, we have to balance our budget and we have to be fiscally responsible. So, what's
our our actions budget request? We have to look at everything under a scrutinized eye and be fiscally responsible with every contract we've negotiated. Uh likely we'll have to increase taxes uh as usual, but maybe a little bit more than in past years. And
we have to look at new ratables. you know, pursue other new sources of revenue such as the redevelopment project down on Harrison Avenue and other ways from excess uh or other fees that we do through the burrow. Um the capital requests and expenditure caps
have to be uh discussed. But so recent meetings, we met with police chief last time we were here. He talked about the capital requests for the burrow. We had a meeting last week with the DPW superintendent for his capital request and I know the fire department department met with council Brennick and
submitted their uh request into the burrow for their capital. Uh we had to aim to keep that capital expenditure around 1.9 million which was what we did last year. Uh clearly we have more requests than 1.9 million um that have
come in. So we have to make some difficult tough choices as a council. Um, and that schedule will go as following. Next week, we'll have the initial draft of the operating budget from Colleen, Tatiana, and Kelly, and we'll share that with our audit team uh
for tax and expenditure cap calculations on what we're allowed to to increase and charge. At our 224 council meeting, we'll have a full presentation of the capital expenditure request and the recommendations for keeping that capital at a uh a lower number. And at our March
10th council meeting, we'll have the presentation of our initial operating budget and fingers crossed our water budget as well, including our capital improvements and potential financing financial options around those water improvements. And even talking about the IBM
uh key takeaways for the council and residents as we talk about it here, Burough faces rising expenses and slower tax revenue growth leading to surplus depletion depletion. Just remember that maintaining low taxes is required using additional surplus which is unsustainable long term. If you start
looking at demand, we have to be fiscally responsible. We have potential tax increases and new revenue revenue sources are essential. Uh capital expenditures must be capped and not all requests will be filled for sure.
uh transparent communication. We'll continue that with all of you and careful planning are critical for Burl's financial stability going forward. We're not we're not uh as bad as some would think. We're not as good as others would think. That's what I'll say. So, we do have to be very cautious in our budget
this year. That's it, Mr. Mayor. And I know later tonight we're going to talk a little bit about the road paving from admin. Well, I think what's going to happen with this uh budget this year and everything is going to be wants and needs. What you want and what you need
you to get want to look into it and okay by police protection committee, Mr. Brick. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just a couple small items. I received a letter of recommendation from one of our members, uh Joseph Trod. Uh he's going out to
other endeavors that maybe should be best. Uh We had a uh we had a house fire a couple weeks ago in Wald rather extensive. However, um damage to the house. Um none of the
members or the residents of the of the house were injured. It was a quick stop. It was multiple towns came in for assistance and they all did a good job. So I commend them all. Um, and I just wanted to say thanks to
Joe for a really, really good explanation of what needs to be done. A lot of times people don't realize how extensive this process is. I think a very good explanation, but I'm done. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Council Blick. They the fire department was right across the street from my house on our fire and they were great and >> made sure it didn't come near my house. Did you give him hot chocolate, please? >> Okay. Public safety committee, Miss
Windgate. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just a quick update that um while there was no meeting since our last meeting, but I did get a quick update from uh Lucas, the president. They um he went to the Well Fire Department meeting last week
and um they were working on um an onboarding process for five new um members. And so once that's completed, they will um be all set with drivers as far as drivers goes. Um just to follow up on what I mentioned last week. And
then um also there was he just let me know that there was 28 total calls um in January and um there'll be a another meeting next week that I'll go to. So I'll have more.
Thank you. >> Thank you. Recreation and health committee Smith. >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. The um board of health doesn't meet again until April 16th. So I will report um back after that meeting which I will be attending. Um I did want to talk about the Ramadan
welcome to Ramadan celebration that was hosted by the Walden Public Library. And um I wanted to particularly thank make sure I get their names right. Uh the Wald Library director Lorian Quinn and youth services coordinator possibly
director um Jennifer Kelly Maloney for creating a welcoming space for everybody. and we probably had over 80 people in attendance which was really well attended. Um it was also attended by our police chief Troy Seaffort, myself, um Councilwoman Lindgate and
Mayor Gerardano and we also had county guests. So the county commissioner was there as were four of excuse me the county executive was there as were four county commissioners. And just to relay a funny story, the executive, county executive has his security detail and
the mayor was asking Troy, Facebook Troy who came in who they were and he said, "That's um the county executive security detail." So he looked at Chief Seaffort and he said, "Well, you're mine." The other thing I wanted to say is there was a resident of uh Waldwick who is
Muslim and he got up and he shared an experience that happened uh when he came to Waldwick. It was right before 911 and he probably was the only Muslim family living here in Waldwick and they were a little fearful about how things would be taken. needed children in the school at
the time. And he very graciously shared with every everybody in the room, which was more than just people in Waldwick, how welcoming Waldick was to his kids and to them. And that continued. He is still a Waldick resident. And he encouraged people in the room who were
not from Waldwick to move to Waldwick since they were we were a welcoming town for all. And um I was just really I thought it was a great story to share. Just wanted to pass that on. The other thing I want to mention and I see Stan over there is the um Waldo Chamber of
Commerce is having their uh 5K and onem fun run walk. I've done the walk before. I don't know about the run. And um registration opens next week on President's Day. So they are looking for runners. They are looking for sponsors and whatever we can do. It's a great
Wald event. Really well organized. and just want to thank Stan and the Wy Chamber of Commerce Road is the 18th annual that they're putting on. So, thank you, Stan. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> Because of the way the building was designed with ice dams on the roof, so
our DPW superintendent said that it's always been an issue when it snows like this. Uh it shouldn't cause extensive damage, but hopefully we will just stay on top of that. The elevator, um during the last quarterly inspection, we identified a preventative issue. So, we
have approved a fix for that. When you move on to the police department, there are a bunch of light fixtures out. So, they've been approved to be repaired this past weekend. The ambulance corps building, the DPW will be installing an interior door there. And finally, the pistol range, they should be installing
the equipment that we've been waiting for this week, and there will be an on-site meeting scheduled for next week to catch up on the status. Thank you. >> Thank you, our administrative. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I will save uh my remarks for the road paving program which will be we will be going over as
part of the uh budget uh information that we'll be sharing this evening. >> Thank you mayor. Uh just want to remind everyone the burough offices recycling center and the library will be closed on Monday, February 16th in observance of President's Day. There will however be
normal Monday garbage uh collection on fe Monday, February 16th. Uh my petition memo to the party lead theaters went out this month so everyone has what they need um for the uh the two seats and for the county committee. April 8th is the deadline to change your party
affiliation declaration form. Uh we have those forms here at Burough Hall. We also you can also get them online or on our website. Uh Melissa uh continues to do a great job with the licensing of our our pets. We are up to uh 651 pets
licensed to date. Uh reminder that the Hocus Free Rabies Clinic is tomorrow night, uh February 11th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the St. Luke's uh church parking lot. Uh alarm registrations are coming in now and we will we have
collected about $1,200 thus far in fees. That's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I return. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just one item. We're working through our COA obligations in regards to the settlement with Fair Share Housing, everything. We just have a couple of items to address
to complete that. The deadline's March 15th. So, we still have some time. You have the ordinance on tonight for the introduction which amended amends your affordable housing ordinance and spend in u development fee ordinance and everything. So, that's one step in this. That's what takes the longest because
you got to introduce it. Planning board's got to review it, make comments, and then you have to do the adoption and that's all got to be completed by March 15th. So, the introduction tonight's important. But once we have that done and everything back, we should have no problem meeting the March 15th deadline and you guys will be good for the next
10 years. So that's all I just have one item for close session under litigation. Mr. Mayor, no decision will be made on in regards to that. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. Just wanted to say thank you to um Mr. Bassang for all his efforts on COA. It is a tedious, long process and a
lot of components to it and um he really helps us in the administration office get through all of it. um with least amount of worries possible. So thank you. >> Thank you. Consent resolutions and resolutions of the governing body.
>> Be resolved that the following resolutions herewith listed by consent having been considered by the governing body of the burough of are hereby passed and approved. 202664 approval of consent. Policy votes A. Jen and Paul Riml's request to use pavilion A on May
2nd from 11:00 a.m. to dusk for a birthday party with alcoholic beverages being served. B. Caleb Pacini, request to use pavilion A on May 30th from 2:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. for a birthday party with alcoholic beverages being served. C. Angela Scraven, request to use pavilion
B on June 6 from 9:00 a.m. to dusk for a year-end soccer party with alcoholic beverages being served. 2020665 authorizations for the execution of an application for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Treatment Works approval for 6 Monroe Walwick LLC Emerson Street, block
134.02, lot 15, 202666, Appointment of Clean Communities Coordinator Lindsey Ry 20267, Appointment of Municipal Recycling Coordinator Lindsey Rley. 202668 approval of appropriation transfers and 202669 payment of
vouchers. >> Do I have a motion in a second? Motion by Andy, second by Joe. Anyone have a question? >> Nope. Cler, please take the role. >> Mr. Brennick, >> yes. >> Miss Cole Drake? >> Yes. >> Mr. Martinelloo? >> Yes. >> Miss Smith? >> Yes. >> Uh, Miss Windgate? >> Yes.
>> Okay. We have one public hearing. Would the clerk kindly read ordinance number 2026-01? Ordinance number 2026-01, an ordinance amending chapter 91, vehicles and traffic section 91-12, parking time limits on certain streets subsection A for West Prospect Street to
change the time limits and hours. >> Anyone from the council like to comment on this ordinance? Would you like to do like >> these uh recommendations were put forth by our chief of police and um it is
pertains to the area that has become rather busy with all the you know small businesses that we have in town. Um and so in order to uh keep the cars moving there regularly and having uh giving you know patrons the opportunity to be able to park uh run in pick up what they need
to do have lunch um we have limited that parking time to um a half hour. >> Anyone else? Not I close the council's comments and over to the public and anybody from the public would like to comment. Not I close the public's comments and ask for a motion and a second to pass
his audience on second reading and that the court be authorized to advertise it in a local legal newspaper as required by law. Motion and a second. Motion by Courtney. Second by Angela. Clerk take the role. >> Mr. Bernick. >> Yes. >> Miss Eric Drake. >> Yes. >> Mr. Martinelloo. >> Yes. >> Miss Smith. >> Yes.
>> Miss Winggate. >> Yes. >> Okay. We have one introduction of ordinance. Clerk kindly read ordinance number 2026-02. >> Ordinance number 2026-02. An ordinance amending chapter 97 zoning to amend um affordable housing.
What is that? What's a affordable housing >> overlay? Thank you. Zone one, affordable housing. Oh jeez. Overlay zone one. Uh AHO affordable housing overlay zone two and affordable housing controls and development fees. >> Anyone from the council like to comment?
Since you knew what AHO is, you could comment. >> Thank you, mayor. This is the revisions to the affordable housing ordinance and the development fee ordinance to comply with the recently amended fair housing act passed by the state legislature. The
main a lot of it is um not really substantive in the sense that its definitions it's complying with the regulations. The most important part as it pertains to the burrow is under a HO1 and a HO2. We've increased the density
that's permitted from 10 units per acre to 15 units per acre to allow for uh a little bit, it's a very small increase in the grand scheme of things, but to allow for a little bit higher density to provide more opportunity for affordable housing in those zones. Thank you. That's
>> okay. We did we did a motion to second. We did not. We did not. Okay. Do we have a motion to second? Motion by Joe, second by Andy. And the motion is in order to move and pass this ordinance on second on the first reading that be advertised a local
legal newspaper that required by law setting a public hearing two weeks from tonight meeting at 7:30 p.m. or soon thereafter madam as the matter may be reached clerk take the role >> Mr. Brennick >> Mr. Sarre >> yes >> Mr. Martinello >> yes >> Smith >> yes >> wingate >> yes
>> okay we have unfinished business we'll talk about the 2026 municipal budget >> thank you Mr. Mayor, just want to share with everyone. I have a print out for the council here. Uh, this is the proposed 2026 road program. Pass
through. Just a little background. Um, as everybody knows, So the burrow um as part of its capital projects has um always had a component um related to road uh resurfacing. Um
going back um the past pre you know past few years just a rundown to give everybody a picture of where we've been. Uh I'll start in 2022 the bureau had allocated $150,000. In 2023,
it allocated 405,000. In 2024, 400,000. And in 2025, uh we allocated $520,000 towards the road resurfacing program. Uh road resurfacing program. Uh we do have uh Mr. Lour, our DPW superintendent, who
monitors the streets. He goes out, he evaluates. It's an ongoing process. Uh the bureau does receive feedback from residents uh in regard to requests to be put on that list. Uh and as Mr. Lour goes through and evaluates the streets,
um you know, he puts an an order uh together for us. Um he usually has a few years worth of streets outlined and uh you know, those can change depending on additional work that the bureau might be doing. Um and you know, it's a tough
decision. um every year when we sit down and we take a look at it um you know everybody's street um is a priority to them um but then we've got to make those tough decisions internally on the streets that make it uh to the list. So uh pivoting to 2026
um as many of you are aware Hudson AB has been on our radar the burough's radar for many years. Feedback has been received from the residents in that area um you know just expressing their concern for the the deterioration of the street. Uh the council did make a commitment uh going back a few years to
make sure that this is addressed moving forward. Uh that project is not a small project. Um the costs are significant. And so what the bureau did to prepare for for this scenario is um apply for some grants through um through the NJ
do. Uh very lucky in that the bureau did receive two grants. So in 2025, the bureau was awarded $171,045 from the Department of Transportation. And then again in 2026, we received notice that we will be receiving
$151,154, which is significant and good news for the burrow. Uh that's a total of 322,199 uh to be allocated to Hudson Avenue uh section 2 and three as we're as we're calling it. So, uh, what does that mean?
Well, we did do some preliminary prep work on Hudson A in 2025. It was part of, uh, another grant that we had received, um, CDBG grant through Bergen County. Again, grants have been a really, uh, major component to, uh, to completing this work. And so, the prep
work has been done. And, uh, now what we're looking to do is include the paving of Hudson A in the capital budget for 2026. Uh what I can share with you at this point um having collected all the data and the information is that our quote um
for construction of that roadway uh came in at $690,000 for the construction. We have as I said $322,199 in grants to apply to that project which
leaves us with a total of $367,81. There are cross streets in that immediate area off of Hudson A that um we would like to propose as part of the road paving program. That's the sheet that you have in front of you, the spreadsheet. So if you take a look um at
the first few entries, Dora A, Grove Street, Manhattan Avenue, Wald, and Lincoln Place uh and Bergen are all cross streets uh of Hudson A. And so the intention would be to pave all of those areas at the same time. Um Malcolm
Street and Duncan Street have also uh been on the radar for the burrow. And the biggest component uh to holding off in that area has been the Malcolm Street pump station which is currently being repaired and in its fi final stage of uh
you know the project and so the goal has been that once that project is completed Malcolm and Duncan would be addressed as well. So the recommendation uh based on what you have in front of you and based on estimates uh which you know tends to be pretty accurate. Mike uh prides
himself in that um you get a total uh down there of $286,76. So, uh, the nice thing with the road program is that we usually as a bureau go into a co-op with our surrounding communities, which helps drive down the,
uh, the price of the paving or at least makes it a little bit more, uh, competitive since we all go in on it together. That would be in the intention for this year as well. It has worked well in the past. Uh, and with that project, we're able to manage internally
from the DPW the management of that paving program. The Hudson A project is a larger project and so that does require a uh a soft cost uh from Boswell as our engineer to monitor that uh that project. So um you know they'll be
responsible for A through Z on that portion but of course the paving would all be done at the same time. That additional cost uh is 134,800. So, uh, one of the things that we do and and Colleen and I do is we review, uh,
previous capital accounts to see what's available. Uh, you know, we we estimate as best as we can on capital, but, um, in in some cases, we wind we wind up lucky in that we haven't overexpended or expended fully what has been allocated.
Uh so to that end we have been able to identify that um for 2023 we have $73,81 left from that year that we can allocate to the 2026 road uh paving program. In 2024 we have $33,814
left and in 2025 $121,000 uh dollars uh available. So that's a total of 227,98 to apply to this project. So where does that take that us and and what does that mean in looking at doing Hudson all of
the cross streets Malcolm and Duncan with grants and additional funds from previous years that would bring us to a grand total of $560,769. Uh that is the proposal for the road resurfacing uh for this year. Um
although we won't be paying for this. Um, I did want to mention that the county is slated in 26 and 27 to do uh a good amount of paving on the main roads and county roads in town um starting with
this year. So, um to uh to most of us, we'll we'll wind up seeing a lot of paving throughout town, which uh you know, it always makes residents happy. Uh but certainly it's something that we need to attend to. Um so, that's the overall picture. I'm happy to take
questions, um, any feedback, comments, concerns that you have. And, you know, if you need me to repeat any of these numbers, um, I'm happy to do that. But this would take us, um, as I mentioned, 20 2020, uh, sorry, in 2025, we did
allocate $520,000 and we're recommending $560,000 for 2026. >> Yes. once it's been approved by the council. >> Right. >> You have another question. >> Question. Yeah. So Malcolm and Duncan aren't cross streets of Hudson. Right.
>> Correct. Though that's uh in the vicinity, but you know, different area, but uh both have been conversations for the past few years before the council. >> Okay. Just to be fiscally conservative and throw it out there, I would consider maybe taking those two off this year
considering we keep taking from our surplus and we're trying to cut funds this year. And I think it makes the most sense to do Hudson and all these cross streets, but I welcome any other opinions. >> I just want to mention um we did have Brad Brady and Lindberg on this list
which I had asked Mike to remove in trying to you know cut down that number. Um >> yeah, it just seems like we're going to spend 561 this year when we're trying to cut costs. Last year we spent 520. So that's just my proposal. Um, and we
allocated 520 last year, but we um we had 121,000 left over from last year, which we would be applying to this year. So, um, we did overallocate last year. Anybody else? Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. >> Anybody has any other questions for Tatiana? Please feel free to uh send her an email and she can discuss everything with you. Any other unfinished business? We have no new business. Anyone have new
business from the council? No new business. Okay. Public comments. Anybody from the public would like to say something? Please come up to the microphone. State your name only. Please do not give us your address. If not, we have a mo. Oh, we have some
people in the TV land. Nobody. Okay. Uh, do I have a motion to go into close? I'm sorry. We have one person. >> Ted, did you have a question for us? >> Yes. >> Okay. Hi. How are you?
>> Very good. Thank you for taking my question. >> Of course. >> In the in the numbers that you talked about concerning the road, I understand that there was 500 some odd thousand dollars. I understand. But does
that number come down because of the leftover from previous years? >> Right. >> Yes. Yes. So, uh we're just al that money has already been uh we have that money available to us, but
we're just reallocating it to this year's project. >> So, Ted, the 586 you get the 560 you get to by taking the total cost minus the money left over from previous years. That gets you to the 560.
So the the net number is 560 which includes the credits from prior years. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Anyone else? Anybody? No. Do I have a motion to go into close? Motion by Joe, second by
Angela.