together. But again, uh if you notice, uh my assistant Mark's assistant RNA is here. I don't want anyone to think she works snowplow or anything, but she is DPW secretary also and she handles the residents issues and relays them to the guys and so she had a lot more to do and
always keeping our residents happy and working with the guys. So, with that being said, uh, Township of Washington Department of Public Works, in recognition of your hard work, dedication, and outstanding service during the 2026 snow season, your commitment to keeping our community safe
and our roads clear is sincerely appreciated. >> Who wants to take Thank you guys. >> Thank you gentlemen. Thank you ladies. >> Thank you very much. Thank you guys. Appreciate >> Mr. Lola for us.
>> Picture. Don't leave. Don't leave. Don't leave. Come back. Sit back. >> Anyone want to grab a picture? >> Yeah. Give me your best smile. Can >> I get a wallet? >> Next, uh, the mayor has an Arbor Day
proclamation. Yeah, there you go. There you go. >> Yes. Thank you. >> You want to read your arbitration? >> Yep. >> Whereas in 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the
Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. And whereas this holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska. And whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the
nation and the world. And whereas trees can reduce the erosion of our precious top soil by wind and water, cutting heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce life-giving oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife.
And whereas trees are renewable resource, giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for fires, and countless other wood products. And whereas trees in our city increase property values, enhance economic vitality of business
areas, and beautify our community. And whereas trees wherever they are planted are a source of joy and spiritual renewal. Now therefore, I, Peter Calamari, mayor of the township of Washington, do hereby proclaim April
24th, 2026 as Arbor Day, and I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands. And further, I urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote well-being of this and future generations.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Payment of bills resolution number 26-20 213 authorized payment of bills March 19, 2026 to April 1st, 2026. Do I have a motion? >> So move
seconded by Dr. Cassio. >> I just had one quick question. Go ahead, Mr. Um, on page five of the purchase order listing by PO number, guess it's like the admin print out
for Lurch, Vincy, and Bliss, the review and reconcile GL. Do you know exactly what they're doing in that? uh what what role or what action they're taking.
>> Unfortunately, I could explain it only as they're reconciling the general ledger from uh the last day of 2025 and that assists them in preparing the annual financial statement. It's done every year.
>> Any other questions, Mr. Uh, no. >> Roll call. >> Councilman Casio, >> yes. >> Councilman Sears, >> yes. >> Councilman Omen, >> yes. >> Counciloman BZ, >> yes. >> Council President, the Senate, >> yes.
>> Public service announcement for April 6, 2026. Construction has begun on the new DBW building at Town Hall. With this construction, the DPWR will now remain closed on Tuesdays for household debris and recycling drop off. Residents may still drop off items on Saturdays
between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1 p.m. Please note during the hours of construction, there will be limited parking to the east side of Hudson Avenue. To report a power outage, gas leak, street light outages, or downlines, please call PSEG at 1 8004367734,
or you can download their app. 2026 animal license renewals are now past due. A list of unlicensed animals will be given to Tao, our animal control officers, to possibly issue a summon. Please call the con, please call
or contact the clerk's office ASAP to avoid any future action. New law regarding public notices. Governor Murphy signed into law on June 30th, 2025 a new law which reflects the transition from traditional print newspaper to online platforms as of
March 1st, 2026. You will find on our township website a tab on the homepage named public notices where all official public notices are required to be posted and may be obtained or viewed. These documents in addition will have a hyperlink to the secretary of state's public notice web page. Our township
fourth our township's fourth annual family spring into wellness 5K run walk-in health fair will take place on Sunday May 1726. The event will be held outside the Township of Washington Public Library, 144 Woodfield Avenue. The health fair will take place starting at 8:00 a.m.
and the 5K run walk will kick off at 9:00 a.m. on Woodfield Avenue. Please visit our website for registration info. Our next council meeting will be held on Monday, April 20th, 2026. Thank you. Approval of minutes, none reported the administrator.
>> Good evening, council president and uh everyone. Uh very quick update. Last meeting, council asked me if uh we could find out where the sanitary lines for the new development at Franklin Court were going to go. They are going to go to the township sanitary lines. Uh
council also or council president Denno also asked if we could check in the street lights that were out in the township. Uh the patrol uh division responded very expeditiously and located 14 street lights that were out throughout the town and reported them to
PSEG. Thank you. >> This last update I'm going to sneak try to sneak in a little bit of a discussion to get some guidance from uh council. Hopefully that'll be okay. But the update is in fall, early winter of 2025, I brought
to the attention some issues that were uh at the memorial field um field lighting the tall lights. Council assisted me with approving ordinance 25-21, which appropriated $68,000
$68,61 of uh already funded uh funds. So it was not a bond ordinance. We reappropriated a total of $43,61 from old ordinances that we closed out
capital ordinances and also used $25,000 from capital fund. The project uh based on the first estimate was expected to cost between 50,000 and 60,000. We went back to the original company which was Hannerhand Electric that was able to uh
complete everything to include the uh pads around the 10 tall light uh posts for about 20,000. So right now the balance is at 42,000. The last part of that um was to rent a
boom which according to the warranty provided by Han in 2020 when he did the 2021 when he did the uh field lights any fixtures that were out would be replaced if within 5 years but the township was responsible for spending uh
the funds to to rent the boom. So, we have the boom that was an additional $4,500, which brings the balance down to 42. Few uh weeks ago, Council President Denna requested us to look into the lights not working around the basketball
court at Memorial Field. I wasn't able to determine why or when, but it looks like the electricity was cut to the four posts around the basketball court at some point. There were fixtures on the four posts. They are very old. The bulbs
weren't out. Um but I would imagine these fixtures were have to be more than 30 years old. They're older uh pineg um fixtures. So again, we weren't able to figure out why the wires were cut, but on one of the poles on the north
west pole, um the fixture was taken down. And I think a year or two ago um a boy scout for his Eagle Scout project was permitted to put a bat box on one of the posts. So why Hannah Rahan was at um and by the
way we got all new LED lights at on all the posts. We were able to replace all of them whether they were out or not. So, I asked uh Hannerhan Electric to provide us with an estimate to put um lights on those four posts around the
basketball court if we wish. The estimate is uh $7,400 and that would put light fixtures on all four of the basketball uh I'm sorry. >> So, we're moving the bat. >> No, the bat box would not be affected. they would just put they would adjust
the I'm sorry, install the fixture below the bat box. They said it wouldn't interfere with it. I don't know from an environmental standpoint if it would interfere with the bat box. They said electricity wouldn't interfere with it. Um, this would give us all new LED
fixtures, all the electrical, and the plan would be to put a timer within the electrical box that'll work a timer out on the pole. So, say, you know, kids or group come, >> you turn it on and it gives them like an hour,
>> like a 30 minute wing, but it will only work up to a certain amount of time. So, if they wanted to come at 2:00 in the morning, they couldn't. So, by >> between the hours of like what 4:30 and >> however we decide 9 or something. Yeah, that would be um >> that'd be awesome because I know a lot of people want to play and there's no lighting there now,
>> right? So, the only other thing I I would think we we have plenty of money to do, I just don't have the estim for it is put those um those uh what did I call those things? The padding that we put around the light towers around the four poles. It's probably not going to add much, but I
think the whole project could be done for under $10,000. And if that's the case, if council's cool with it, we'll do with it. We'll do it. and then we'll be able to cancel probably about $32,000 of that capital ordinance back into the capital fund balance. So, we got a lot
of work done. Um, so if the council has a um >> I'd like to see it done because I know the boys and girls are out there playing basketball and it's very dark because there's only one light right now and it's very dark there. It'd be nice to have it back the way it used to be where it's a well lit court. So, I'm okay with
it. >> I like that timer idea. And the timer right there is awesome, too, because they're this way. It's not on all the time. If nobody's playing, it won't be on. >> Correct. >> Cuz that's probably why the old ones are cut is because they used to stay on. >> I asked everybody, but no one No one seems to know. They just know it was
done. And >> it could be the same guy that cuts the fire horn all the time. Could be. >> Is it Is it one cut that took out all four or >> No, they were all disconnected. Like we don't think it was like criminal mischief or anything. We could tell it
was purposely done because then the wires were wrapped around checking with DPW, checking with Mr. Scooty from recreation. Um, you know, Mr. Sears with the green team was um part kind of participated in the whole bat box thing as well and you know, he kind of just
remembers electricity not being there. So, we just we can't really figure it out. I couldn't find a a purchase order that, you know, that was done for. >> So, for 10 grand, we'll get the pads and the timer and everything. >> Yeah. you know, a few dollars north or south of that. But >> I would hope so, but um you know, we
just need four pads, but they're he couldn't give me a uh last minute. Um you know, I kind of asked him by like 4:00, hey, can you give me an amount, so he wasn't able to do it, but based on how much the ones cost for all 10, I don't think it's going to be another $2,300 um for it. But uh I think it would be
good. And just to remind everybody that's listening, by ordinance, Memorial Field can operate up to 11 p.m. It's the only one. Everything else is a half hour after sun after sunset and half hour after sunrise. >> Just one additional question. Um so the
field now uh and the tall lights are remediated and we're going to remediate the basketball. Is there any other lighting gaps uh by the clubhouse uh that need to be done? >> Is the pavilion lighting up to code?
>> You know, I could certainly ask. I I didn't But I mean, you know, if it's okay, I will >> Can Han just confirm that there is a timer that shuts the lights off at 11:00 at Memorial? >> The big ones. Yeah, there is not. It's the responsibility. So, I'm getting
>> It does. It does. It does stay on past that some nights. And I guess what who goes out there PD after they get a complaint? >> I don't know cuz I'm not aware of any >> because I left seasons. We left seasons the other night at like 12:15 and the lights were still on it. So, whoever left >> I thought it I asked Mr. Scooy. There
was no activities. We thought maybe it was either softball or something, but softball hasn't started yet. So, when I talked to uh Hammeran today, they said the door closed, you know, like must have closed in the wind up the wind and they couldn't get back in and that's why they stayed all night. So, we
coincidentally got did get a complaint through the website um from a gentleman on Pasak Road that I went and visited today and um I explained how the process works. So, I asked the electric company to also give us an estimate to put those switches on a timer. So, the switches if
they're left on >> will automatically shut off. >> We make it like 11:15 so people have time to get off. >> Yeah. I mean, I'll, you know, I'll discuss Yeah, cuz I think softball can go rather late. >> Yeah. But you don't want it shutting off at 11:00 and then everybody's scattered like they know it's over at 11. They have a couple minutes to get to their
cards and stuff. >> Yeah. And we'll we'll work on uh Mr. scooty area with the activities and you know they won't be able to turn on before a certain time and and turn off so technology is pretty good. So we're going to do that too. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. That uh concludes my report. Thank you. >> Report of the mayor.
>> Thank you Mike. Good evening everyone. Um it was a pleasure to attend the ambulance corps officer's annual installation dinner. It was an honor to swear in the officers but even more so to swear in the new members. We appreciate their willingness to help their fellow residents. I also had the
opportunity to read to fourth graders at Jesse George school. The children probably don't realize that I was enjoying spending time with them more than they did with me. I enjoyed the annual pancake breakfast held by the fire department. It is always a great fundraiser and it always reminds me of
attending as a child and then bringing my children to the event. Recreation news. The 2026 basketball season has ended. Thank you very much to the many volunteers that helped this season. Congratulations to all the recreation and travel teams that won the
championships in their divisions. The 2026 lacrosse program has started its season. Good luck to all the teams. If you are interested in volunteering to coach, please contact Dan Scudi. A background check for all volunteers 18 years of age and older is required. The
2026 Fun with Art program spring season has started. A big thank you to the instructor The teams will be drafted soon. Games will begin on Monday, April 27th. The 2026 summer camp program registration will open this Friday, April 10th.
Please visit the Township of Washington website under the recreation page for registration and program details. The Burrow of Westwood and Township of Washington recreation departments formed a joint venture to create a year-round program called SNAP for children and
young adults with special needs. The goal is to provide positive recreational and social experiences for all the participants. Program is open to any child age 7 through young adult who has a physical or learning disability. Please visit our website for more
details about this program. Teen night at the Westwood Recreation Center is available to all Westwood and Township of Washington residents in grades 6:00 to 8 at no cost. Basketball, pingpong, billiards, and air hockey are just some of the activities taking place on Friday
nights from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Parents must register their child in advance at Community Pass, uh the Westwood site, not the township site. Police Department news. Officers participated in the ReadAcross America at Jesse Forge School and Washington
School. The mobile APR unit was installed. A new policy was created and the unit was put into service. The officers completed one week of of rifle range training and another week of handgun range training for their spring firearms qualifications. The new
officers were certified in red dot optics for firearms. Fire Department news for the month of March. There were multiple fire and CO CO alarms as well as three runaway furnaces and multiple calls for odors of natural gas. They had two calls for
arcing wires and one called to a residence for a dangerous CO condition. On the 24th, the department along with mutual aid departments responded to the shopping center for a gas leak on the property. The scene was deemed safe and turned over to PSENG. On March 22nd, the
department was dispatched to the Parkway for a party and trapped after a single car crash. The department extricated and assisted to remove the victim. The person was unfortunately pronounced at the scene. On March 29th, the department held its
annual pancake breakfast and would like to thank everyone that came out to enjoy some breakfast and neighborhood camaraderie. On March 31st, the department was dispatched via a mutual aid with a ladder truck into Emerson for a working house fire. DPW news. They
offici they unofficially began the garden debris roof collections. Spring cleanup started at the fields. They cleaned catch basin grates. The installation of new stop signs has been completed. They filled potholes around town using 1,000 pounds of black top.
And the employees continued their safety training. public affairs. >> Excuse me sir, can I interrupt you? >> Of course. >> Sue, I got a text message that the live feed went out. >> Sorry, >> Ricky. Sand the live feed is up.
>> Ricky, are we having trouble with the live feed? I don't have anything from Ricky yet. Just a call. >> Texting him as well. >> Just want to let you know. >> Yeah. No, thank you. Thank you. >> He's texting me back in a second.
>> There was a small glitch with the server, but we are still alive. >> Okay. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. No, no, no problem. >> Public affairs continues to make strong progress on planning for the upcoming community events. They are actively coordinating both the July 11th
celebration in honor of our nation's 250th anniversary and the annual Memorial Day parade. Preparations for the July 11th event are in their final stages with only a few finishing touches remaining. A full event flyer will be released soon. Please stay tuned for additional
details. The Memorial Day parade is quickly approaching and they are currently seeking vehicles and participants to be part of this important community tradition. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to reach out to the public affairs office for more information. We look forward to the success of both
events and to continued community engagement. Zoning office. There were a total of 30 zoning applications reviewed for the month of March. Library. The March event saw some great turnouts. Over 120 people ascended to St.
Patrick's Day celebration with the Ridgewood Irish step dancers. Maker Day brought a wonderful creative energy into the library as residents of all ages learn new skills. The Reading Buddies program continues to grow and the Jigglywiggly dance party for toddlers
has been a big hit. April programming features a lot of green programming in connection with Earth Day, including a class for adults on how to make wool dryer balls, outdoor green hour story time, and much more. National Library Week takes place April 20th through the
24th and will feature a variety of book displays, themes, and giveaways. The spring newsletter has been mailed out, so please take a look at the many programs offered in the library this season. Municipal Alliance High School drunk driving and prom safety events have been
scheduled. Footprints for life and anti-bullying program has begun. Police Academy and Safety Town plans are being finalized and safety town registration will be opening in early May. Municipal Court 216 total traffic
tickets were issued in February with 187 from the Township of Washington Police Department and 29 from the state police. The court collected $6,1867 in revenue to the township. I'd now like to make some comments on
the budget process. First and foremost, I thank the members of the council for agreeing with most of our budget recommendations. However, I would like to point out a few things I failed to understand. Keep in mind that all amounts and numbers may not be exact. The clerk presented me with salaries in
some of our neighboring municipalities. Out of the six presented, our clerk ranks number five with only one paid lower for the position. Throwing out the low and the high, they are separated by a spread of $5,000. The administrator also presented me with salaries in some of our neighboring
municipalities. Out of the eight presented, our administrator M ranks last. Throwing out the low and the high, they are separated by a spread of $35,000. I use these two positions as examples for all of our employees. I will favorably match the performance of our
employees with those in our surrounding municipalities. That is why each year we go through the exercise of comparing salaries for a couple of our positions with our neighboring municipalities and then make recommendations to the council not to bring them to the top but in the
middle. Again, to use the recommendation for these two positions, the cost would have added an additional $7,160 to the total budget. Cost of the taxpayers for these two raises would have been an additional $3 per year on the average assessed value property. The
council majority denied the request. Now I need to talk about another position, the one of benefits coordinator. The person holding the position put in additional time beyond what the position calls for when the town was researching lower health care options. We found one that saves the
taxpayers over $300,000 per year. It does require the person to do some additional daily work. I recommended an increase to that position of just over $1,500 per year or $6 a day. That request was also denied by the majority
of the council. In the future, when we have ideas for cost reductions for the taxpayers, how can I in good faith approach employees who do research and take on additional work knowing that the council will not recognize their efforts? Like most organizations, our employees
are the backbone of providing our municipal services. for Councilman Casio, who is paid with government funds for his job outside of our municipality. To initially offer the nonCBA employees a 2% raise when he probably got well in excess of that was
insulting and demoralizing. Just because you are not a member of a CBA doesn't mean you deserve less of an increase. That is why I recommended a 2.75% increase, the same as the PBA increases this year. I sincerely thank the council
members who saw past his rhetoric and voted in favor of a 2 and a.5% increase. It helps greatly with morale knowing some members of the council recognize the work and professionalism of our employees who should not be treated as secondclass employees.
I'd now like to discuss capital purchases. During the final budget meeting when capital purchases were discussed, members of the council decided to move some items to the current budget. This council has now been seated for three budget years. Why make that change during this year's
process and without notice to the administration during the final meeting? This is one of the reasons the administrator and I request for capital and salaries to be discussed at the start of the budget process, not the final meeting. The work involved in recalculating each affected employees
salary and move capital spending to the operational part of the budget is significant. It shows some members have no regard for the work involved for the administration to prepare the final budget after the final budget meeting for introduction or they just do not care. This year the final budget meeting
was held on the night of Wednesday, April 1st. That gave the administration just one day, April 2nd, to prepare the final budget for introduction as April 3rd was a holiday for the town employees. By order of the DLGS, the budget presentation must take place on
March 31st or the next regularly scheduled uh council meeting, in this case being tonight, April 6th. In comparison, we turn the budget over to the council on February 23rd instead of the DLGS deadline of March 9th, 15 days
before our deadline, giving them even more time. In addition, I would like to address the topic of police vehicles. Some members believe the department has too many vehicles. I will summarize the vehicle usage now. Four vehicles are allocated to our special officers. Three
of them are required by agreement to be at the schools along with the officer detailed to the schools. None of those vehicles are newer than 2018 model years. They are ex patrol vehicles with high and rough miles. I believe some council members do not take the use of
these vehicles into account when looking at the entire fleet as we have only had officers in our school for about 5 years. Four of them are extraduty detail vehicles. They're used primarily when officers and equipment including vehicles are needed and paid for by the
utility companies. The newest one of those is a 2016 model year and those vehicles saw the same previous usage as the special officer vehicles. The department requested three Ford hybrid Mavericks to replace most of the extraduty vehicles. The outfitted cost
for each of these three vehicles was 39,500. Putting these vehicles into service from new for this purpose, their life expectancy is 10 years. Based on prior years patterns, they would have generated enough income to pay for themselves in the first year of service
as opposed to the existing ones that have each needed two to $4,000 annually in repairs. Stated another way, these vehicles would have also paid for themselves over their 10-year life expectancy just from the money being saved in repairs. Vehicle and repair
costs will continue to rise. So far, I have accounted for eight vehicles. There are eight frontline duty vehicles. They are each used for patrol operations on average 12 hours per day, 365 days per year. They need to be newer vehicles
based on their use. The model years on the current ones in service vary from 2019 to 2025. Out of the two requested this year, the council funded one of them. The process years ago of acquiring two one year and the one the following year and repeating
that pattern used to work very well for the fleet. It has been years since two were approved in one year. That now accounts for 16 vehicles. Two administrative vehicles are needed for when officers are on off-site training operations. They are both model years
2009 and 2017. Then there are the chief and detective vehicles, each of which are 2020 model years. That now accounts for 20 vehicles. And lastly, there is the motorcycle that has specialized usage, bringing the total vehicle count to 21.
So if the number of police vehicles is only looked at after hours or on the occasional day when there is no extra duty or training taking place, incorrect judgments can be made about the fleet. My question to the council is what determining factors are used to
disregard requests from police chiefs who in recent memory each have 30 years of experience? Also on the agenda tonight is an agreement and general release regarding a retiring police officer. As demonstrated by previous occasions, we when we have executed these agreements,
the town saves money in the following years. For example, when we executed two of these agreements late last year, the town realized the proposed savings in this year's budget of $200,000. The saving for the average assessed property in town based on that amount is
$64. In this current case, the approximate amount is 115,000 of savings in 2027 or another $35 to the average assessed property. >> I urge the council to unanimously pass
this resolution this evening. And if any of them do not, I ask them to please educate us on why they do not want to save the taxpayers money using this previously proven opportunity. In addition to the mayor's job of always looking out for the interest of the taxpayers, I am tasked with ensuring the
town employees are treated fairly and with the respect they deserve. That is why I must call out Councilman Casio's recent statement from the Deis accusing the administration of spending money that was not yet appropriated as part of his no vote to continue the financial
operations of the town for the second quarter of this year while the council was meeting to complete the budget process. This is a baseless accusation. Quite the contrary. The most recent audit carried out by the auditor who was appointed by and reports to the council
as part of our checks and balances showed no actions that even hint of the willful misconduct misconduct being accused. The town received the best audit we have had in years due to the administration's work. It also scored the highest ever on its best practices
survey. If the reason for his no vote had any merit, which it doesn't, it must be recent as he voted yes on the same resolution last year 25-19 on March 17, 2025 to fund government
operations for the second quarter of 2025. His statement is at a minimum demoralizing to the many employees who are part of the checks and balances of money being spent and at worst could be considered grounds for a defamation lawsuit against the governing body and
hence the town by those same employees. Our employees work hard for the taxpayers. They deserve better treatment from than this from the elected officials. Statements such as this are nothing more than political sound bites designed to advance a personal agenda and an attempt
to distract the taxpayers from his own lack of achievement during his now longest tenure on anyone else on this council. It undermines the legitimate hard work and efforts of other elected officials and employees, opens it down to potential litigation, and is certainly not looking out for and
respecting the taxpayers. He also mentioned that I have not turned the budget over to the council by the deadline in our local ordinance of January 15th. Since I became mayor and long before that, the Division of Local Government Services, also known as DLGS,
which supersedes local ordinances, has extended the deadline for both the mayor and council's respective parts of the budget. This year, the date for the mayor's budget was extended to February 28th for the next regularly scheduled council meeting, which in this case would have been March 9th. As I said
earlier, we submitted the budget to the council on February 23rd, 15 days before the deadline. I will now take even additional time to read the DLGS notice. This is their notice date uh their
addition I guess 2025-18 put out on December 12th, 2025. It was the cover page headed CY 2026 budget matters. This notice contains important updates on the budget process for counties and calendar year
municipalities. Please review the notice carefully. 2026 budget deadline extension and enforcement as authorized by NJSA4A 4-5.1. The local finance board approved at its
December meeting the statutory budget deadline revision set forth below. These changes modify the statutory dates for introduction, adoption, and related budget transmissions. The revised dates are shown below.
Budget transmission to the governing body. Revised date 227 or the next regularly scheduled council meeting. Municipal introduction and approval of budget 331 or the next or the date of the next regularly scheduled meeting of
the governing body. Governing bodies may by resolution adopt no later than March 31st, 2026 to increase temporary budget appropriations for the 2026 budget as may be necessary due to the extension.
Therefore, if he has an issue with any of their changes, he should take it up with them. Conduct like this undermines the work the current administrator and I have worked so hard to move the town forward. It also wastes people's time by having to listen to his misinformation and me having to correct it. Please
always hold your elected officials accountable, not just at election time. We all ask the voters for the positions we hold. There are ethics that must be upheld as part of the trust you have all placed in us. Thank you, Mike. That completes my report. >> Thank you, Peter. So just very quickly,
everybody on this day has spent countless nights and we thank the administration for all their effort of getting it on on the times we did. We were uh we were handcuffed by the COA uh meetings that we had to have, all the
affordable housing meetings we had to have, and that delayed the introduction of the budget. Um and also the planning board meeting that was put on from Monday night when we had a budget meeting scheduled. So we we uh thank you for getting it done on time. Thank you. Go ahead, Miss W. Council.
>> Yeah, >> thank you. Yes, I'll be quick. Um, on March 14th, I also attended the event, the St. Patrick's event at the library. The Irish dancers did a fantastic job. I want to thank the library for all the work that they do to bring our community
so many fun and engaging activities. Um, I know my daughters enjoy it very much. Um, I also attended on March 20 March 27th the ambulance dinner. Thank you to all the members who volunteer so much of their time. And to the newest members,
welcome and congratulations. On July 11th, as was mentioned in the mayor's report, is the 250th anniversary. Um, I am volunteering, but I Sasha and the team are working very hard. There's a lot of fun in store. So, please be on the lookout. Save the date
for July 11th. And then on May 17th, we will be hosting the 5K and run, walk, and health fair. The health fair begins at 8:00 a.m. and the run at 9:00 a.m. All the information is located on the website. Registration is open and live.
Um, sponsorships are available. If anybody has any questions, feel free to reach out to me. Uh, but all the information is available on the website. So, please see that. We hope to uh see you there. And I want to thank the library for hosting us this year. And that's my report.
>> Mr. Sears. >> Well, thank you, council president. Uh, first of all, I would like to thank the council for going through the budget. It's not an easy task to do. We have to balance
community needs, residential needs, and what we can afford. And we have to watch the property taxes. Now, going through this property audit, a lot of the values of the houses and taxes are going up. Was
it an easy task to do? Absolutely not. But you do the best you can and you make the clearest decisions uh going forward. I do want to thank the department heads that made great recommendations and kept
their aligned items within a budget because that made us uh going forward a lot easier to make proper decisions, you know, and I want to thank those department heads for doing that. >> On April the 22nd, the green team in
BFW, which is Earth Day, will uh be cleaning up some parks. Um, we will be at 4:30 p.m. on April the 22nd on Clark Field. We will start there doing a cleanup uh
to tree trimming for and fertilizing the cherry trees down there. The second uh the other item is I met with uh Matthew Murray um uh from Montlair State. He is the professor that is going to be working
with me this year on doing a uh environmental health study within the community and see how we can address the loss of our canopy and moving forward with uh uh the nature plants that the
governor governor Murphy signed in to be placed along uh the parks in the brooks. So we have another Zoom meeting tomorrow night. I have a total of five graduate students that will be working through IMAP
uh which is a a Rucker's um environmental study um program that they have and uh we have our second meeting to a zoom meeting tomorrow. So we will be working on that um shortly. Thank you. That's
>> thank you. >> Mr. Alman, >> uh excuse me. I have no report at this time. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Casio. >> Are you there, Mr. Cassia? >> Yes. You have any report for us at this time?
>> Mike? >> Yes. >> Michael, can you hear me? >> Yeah, we can hear you. >> Okay. Okay. Wonderful. Okay. Uh, yeah. Uh, I wasn't mad to report tonight, but I will respond to the mayor's accusations, but I am not here to make
anyone look bad as the mayor likes to do as such with me. That's okay. I'm I'm I'm okay with it, you know, because I don't get everything I don't want. It is what it is. And the mayor comes across as being very spoiled and petty if he
doesn't get his whole budget passed the way he wants it. And I'm okay with that because it just shows the type of person he is and that's fine. Listen, all I do is try and make the best decisions for the town as I can. I've been doing it a
long time. Maybe some people don't know the intricacies of what goes on and I'll be glad to educate them. Uh, regards to the budget timing. Um, you know, the problem with budgets and law is that the
municipal municipal code does supersede and is can be more restrictive than the county and the state one. And I will leave it at that and that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Mr. Cas. Very quickly, Washington baseball.
>> I have to correct him. Siobhan, would you please weigh in on this thing? Does the DLGS supersede our local ordinance? Yeah, I I believe the way it's drafted is that notwithstanding anything any regulation statute law to the contrary
the following are the timelines within which you know the budget process has to proceed. So in this particular instance the statute this statute is drafted to supersedes that any locality conference. >> Thank you. Um, you believe that or it's
that's the fact? >> That's what it says. I can think Do you have the site uh I I can read it if you'd like into the the budget? >> That's not necessary. It's just you you
open with I believe I just wanted to make sure that is it you know an opinion or is it you know is that >> I I know that the it's I know for a fact that it starts with notwithstanding any
other regulation law ordinance to the contrary uh the following are the time for I I'm not the rest of it I'm not sure but >> yeah maybe maybe Sue if you ran a really That's fine. >> You have it?
>> I don't know if I have it in this book. >> All right, we'll get it for the next We'll look it up in the next. >> So, on um we'll have opening day for Washington Township baseball and softball on April 18th, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at Clark Field. The entire council
and the administration and all the department heads have been invited to the event. Um Mr. D. Carlo, I still you still haven't made it for your sausage and pepper sandwich. >> Three sandwiches. >> Yeah. So now three, right? So on February on April 18th, uh hope everybody can come out and we'll have
great weather hopefully. And I appreciate the invite to the ambulance corp dinner. However, my mom had surgery today. I missed it. Uh but I want to congratulate all the new members and the board on their new installation. And I was uh
that's pretty much it. Thank you. At this time, motion to open the public comment period. >> Some move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Would anybody like to come up and address the council for anything that's not on the agenda tonight? >> Anyone?
>> Yes, Mr. Dagnell. >> Good evening. Good evening. Hope everybody had a good Thanksg Thanksgiving was >> Easter. >> I just have a few questions. Sure. In regard to >> if you just just All we need is your name. >> 667.
>> No, we don't need your address. Just your name. >> Deborah Agnella. >> Thank you. >> I forgot. >> Um I just have a few questions about the property over at Hasak in Washington. >> Okay. >> Is one of them is the um the drainage. Will they be the construction the new
construction that's going on? Will they have their own drainage or is the runoff going to go into our street? >> No, they have to meet all the they have to meet all the New Jersey state standards for you know containing their drainage on site. So then we won't be getting anything on M Street going through the
>> You should not You should not >> okay cuz that is >> it has not been designed but uh they do have to meet all the state storm water runoff rules that are >> um are they going to have the um normal regular trash pickup in front of
people's homes or are they going to be trash receptacles? Um >> I believe there's a a dumpster enclosure showing right now. >> So they're going to be dumpsters. Do they would they happen to know where the location of those dumpsters will be? >> I don't think it's finalized yet.
>> Yeah, I think that gets worked out when it comes to the plan. >> Yeah, it'll get when you go to the planning board meetings or the zoning board meetings, they'll it'll be >> Yeah, there's a zoning board um >> Yeah, but they don't have the plans have not been submitted yet. So, >> okay. Okay. And um another question is on Well, first of all, on Friday at 6:45
in the morning, I have these papers. They had um about 20 cars. Three of the property owners public um vehicles on there. Can I bring this up to you? >> Sure. >> Okay. >> No, I'll come down.
>> Reporting in progress. >> I have a few copies. >> Do you want to pass? >> I'll pass. I'll pass. So, when I passed that at 6:45 in the morning and I saw a parking lot, my concern is the parking lot that they
want to use as a parking lot. >> Oh, the brand new one that just appeared. >> Yeah. So, it's going to be on the lot on Me Street, which is also a residential street. and looking at that disturbed me
because that will be right on the corner of Me and and Washington Avenue. >> So that is a big concern. If the property owner is um if his best interest is for visitor parking and not
for his commercial use, why can't the and I don't know. I know the plans are drawn up or whatever, but on the other side down at the end by Northgate where the entrances and exits will be, why do they put a parking lot
over there instead of on that space? because the way the the way the developments laid out will not allow for that to happen. >> But it >> and we're going to and and as we re as we revised the ordinance last time after one year of uh we're going to see if the
parking lot is needed or not. >> I know. But if he doesn't have enough parking spaces to begin with, why doesn't he limit the amount of units he's putting there to make for those parts? because our cuz our agreement, you know, based on the original ask to
what they have now, he's that's how many units he's going to get in the in the agreement. >> Yeah, I I understand all that. It's just a precaution in the event. >> Yeah, he's >> um Siobhan Bailey, excuse me. um that
that lot will only be looked at in the event the current RSIS, which is all that's required uh that all that he's required to do, is insufficient. The the problem with that location is you have to have some type of a backup in the event there's an issue because there's
really no >> other parking around in the surrounding area. And I understand that. But if he can't fulfill parking for his tenants or visitors, >> but he can we can he can fill the parking lot right now as we speak. Mrs. Egnello, >> right where that is on Ry?
>> Yes. >> So either either we we we we try to we're trying to appease everybody here. We're trying to work with everybody including the neighbors and everybody. >> But he could build that lot right now as it sits, but we said let's see if we need it. Just like originally when the
application for the shopping center was there, he had to build all that extra parking, but everybody thought it wasn't needed. So, we had the same caveat like, "Hey, we're going to wait a year. After a year, if you need to build that parking, you're going to build the parking." And we're doing the same thing here.
>> I know. But then what's going to happen? How is he going to maintain that park? is I mean it's going to look awful having a parking lot in the middle of our that's our main street that everybody sees. We're going to have a parking. Do you see that what it looks
like? Is that what it's going to look like? >> I mean that's what he had there on Friday morning. That's >> I can't answer what he did Friday morning. I just see your pictures. Yeah. >> You know, we're not This is a residential area. We're not supposed to have a parking lot on a dead end side
street in a residential area. Well, well, one of the requirements would be that in the event the town requires it and it's in the town's control to require it is that he'd have to go back to the planning board and lay out exactly where it's going. You know,
>> the setbacks, >> the the setbacks, the the buffers, all of that. So it would be heavily regulated >> appear at the planning board hearings and you know >> it's you know you want to keep with the beautifification of of the town and not
have that looking at us. It was horrible when I passed that absolutely horrible you know so if that's what it's going to look like that's a shame. So anyway, and and and you know, that's
whatever, but and >> I appreciate I appreciate you taking the time to come and realize >> we're trying we're trying, you know, we're we're we're we're trying to balance, you know, like Mr. Shear said before, sometimes we have to make tough decisions here and we we do the best we can >> and I think this is the best solution we
have right now because the parking is required. So Mr. Burgess is here. He's not going to speak right now because he's got time later, but he'll agree that the parking is required because he's the one that >> But as long as they make it look presentable.
>> Well, but we don't again that's why we miss Miss Bailey just said we don't know what it's going to look like until it's laid out later on. >> I remember when he first started all of this stuff 18 years ago and he used that his property as a parking lot. 50 cars were back there. The lights, the noise,
the his employees at 1:00 in the morning throwing beer bottles and smoking cigarettes in that area. There has to be some kind of >> Again, this would only be this would not be seasons parking. This would be townhouse development parking only.
>> Not for seasons. >> Yeah. And I understand it's grueling for all of you to listen to us. No, no, we appreciate No, we like I said, I appreciate your time coming here. >> The same things all the time. >> It's your job, you know, and you try to answer and
do everything for the residents and we appreciate that. We appreciate you. >> I mean, the last thing we want to do is build a parking lot that's not needed and then find out that it turns into something else rather than wait, take the wait and see attitude like we were in the past.
>> And that's fine. But then when that time comes, we have to speak again. >> Yes. >> For ourselves. >> Absolutely. >> You know, and it >> because don't forget that's our main thorough. >> Yeah. There'll be buff there's buffering required around the parking lot on all sides. So, I mean, they'll have to
address that when the time comes. >> I understand. >> All right. Excuse me, Miss M. Excuse me. Can you just I'm sorry. Could you just repeat when this was taken? Friday morning 6:45 a.m. >> Was anyone on the town or every anyone
aware? >> I believe I believe the police was dispatched, right, Mr. >> Yeah, we call I text the administrator and I text the code official. Um I believe the police uh the code official went there later.
>> Uh I know they said the police were dispatched over there, but you are absolutely right. It looked like Oh, it was hard. >> He didn't have enough cars to park in his regular. So, he decided to park whatever vehicles he had. >> But I could see if like he called you
guys, the police department, and said, "Can I use the lot for a day?" And if you approved of it, >> we could not we we could >> Well, that I don't know whoever it is, but they were just there. >> Well, thank you. >> All right. Thank you.
>> Would anybody else like to come up and address the council at this time? Seeing no one motion to close the public comment period. >> So moved. >> Can I ask a question about this? Sure. >> Do we know if they were cited? >> So by time the code enforcement officer got there, the violation no longer
existed, but he immediately went to uh seasons and issued a notice of violation. We were unable to determine the individual he spoke to knew exactly why he was there, but we were unable to figure out at the time why it was done. Um, but I had further discussions with
the code enforcement officer as to what we will do the next time and how we're going to do it. Unfortunately, Miss Bailey has I haven't been able to touch uh base with her. So, I was hoping during the closed uh session tonight, we could discuss it from a zoning perspective. So, we want to make sure
our ducks in a row and we issue for the right offense and who can issue it. So, >> further further discussion will be done today. >> All in favor of close public comment period. So I >> second >> I >> all in favor. >> We had a motion to second but we had motivation.
>> Yes. >> I >> ordinance is adoption second reading ordinance providing for the improvement of must must quaps brook in and by the township of Washington in the county of Bergen New Jersey and appropriating 100,000 therefore from capital fund balance of the township. Resolution
number 26-214 authorizing second reading and opening of public hearing for ordinance 26-05. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. I'll second it. Any discussion? >> Roll call. >> No Casio.
>> You're muted. >> Mr. Cassio, you're muted. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Councilman Sears. >> Yes. >> Councilman Omen. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman BZ. >> Yes. Council President. >> Yes. Would anybody in the public like to discuss
resolution 26-214? >> Seeing no one, motion to close the public hearing for ordinance 26-05. Do I have a motion? >> Second. Roll call. >> Councilman Casio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sears.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Omen. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman VZ. >> Yes. >> Council President. >> Yes. Motion to adopt ordinance 26-05 at second reading by title. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call.
>> Councilman Casio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sears. >> Yes. >> Councilman Omen. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Bles. >> Yes. >> Council President of the Senate. >> Yes. I wanted to say thank you officer uh to Congressman Gothimer for getting us the funds for this project. It's very
thankful and a wonderful opportunity to work with him. Introduction. First reading. Ordinance number 26-06. An ordinance under chapter 87 of the code of the township of Washington setting forth the rate of clothing allowance of officers and firefighters of the fire
department in said municipality for the year 2026. Motion to introduce and pass ordinance number 26-06 at first reading by title. I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> A question. >> Oh, sure. film. >> Do who uh do we set this or is this a
recommendation from the fire department? How does how does this come to our attention? >> It's both. You guys set it and it's based on a recommendation from the fire department. This year the fire department is making a recommendation to keep it where it where it's at. And I
think I think last year >> I think it stayed the same last year last year. >> Yeah. So, I mean, I s I'll certainly approve it, but the one question I have is if this is a clothing allowance,
why would the mechanic get the least? Uh why wouldn't he be uh >> I can't speak for the fire department. I'm sorry. get the least if he's the guy is that's I'm assuming is doing repairs and
working on >> it's we talking mechanic >> mechanic yeah he's saying why does he get the most allowance because he's doing a lot of the work >> I mean if it's a clothing >> mechanic stuff >> it's only general mechanic stuff >> light bulbs and stuff
>> yeah we yeah everything major gets done by parameter uh the county right >> just trying to look out for Roll call. >> Councilman Casio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sears,
>> recuse myself of voting. >> Councilman Alman, >> yes. >> Counciloman BZ, >> yes. >> Council President, >> yes. Resolution 26-215, authorizing publication of ordinance 2606 and schedule of a public hearing. Do I have a motion? So move. >> Second.
>> Roll call. Calio. Yes. >> Councilman Sears. >> Recuse myself from voting. >> Councilman Alman. >> Yes. >> Council BZ. >> Yes. >> Council President.
>> Yes. Ordinance number 26-07, calendar year 2026, ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cat bank. Motion to introduce and pass ordinance number 260707 at first reading by title. Do I have a motion? >> So move.
>> Second. Roll call. >> Councilman Casio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sears, >> yes. >> Councilman, >> yes. >> Counciloman BZ, >> yes. >> Council President, >> yes. Resolution number 26-216, authorized publication of ordinance
number 2607. And schedule a public hearing. >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Councilman Casio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sears. >> Yes. Yes. Councilman Omen. >> Yes. >> Councilman Deles.
>> Yes. >> Council President, >> yes. Ordinance number 26-08, bond ordinance appropriating 1,799,000 and authorizing the issuance of 1,464,398 of bonds or notes of the township for various improvements or purposes
authorized to be undertaken by the township of Washington in the county of Bergen, New Jersey. Motion to introduce and pass ordinance number 2608 at first reading by title. Do I have a motion? >> I'll make the motion. Somebody second
it. >> I'll second it then. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Councilman Casio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sears. >> Yes. Councilman Omen.
>> Uh, I'm voting no. Uh, I'd just like to get some further clarification on section 4 part D. Uh, I had a question to Mr. D.
Carlo who he who provided a reply and I asked for further clarification. So, uh, >> are you on page five, Mr. Alman? Page five, >> section D. >> Section >> amounts not exceeding 200,30 of which is bonding cost.
>> Correct. >> And you had a question on this. >> I believe you were you got the response. I saw this from Mr. Carl. >> I did receive a response. Uh but I had I have some additional questions
and uh >> is that a Mr. Vinfeld question when he comes or >> I believe I don't know if he's due here. I eventually >> for the public hearing I guess we'll have the answers I mean you know
hopefully this >> okay um council woman >> yes council president >> yes resolution number 26-217 authorize publication of ordinance 2608 and schedule a public hearing do I have a
motion so move Second ropoff. >> Councilman Gasio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sears. >> Yes. >> Councilman Omen. >> Yes. >> Council BZ. >> Yes. >> Council President. >> Yes. Resolution number 26-226. Authorize
temporary capital budget section CYA 2026. Do I have a motion? So move. >> I'll second it. Roll call. I'm looking for this.
>> Councilman Casio, >> yes. >> Councilman Sears, >> yes. >> Councilman Omen, >> no. >> Counciloman BZ, >> yes. >> Council president, >> yes. Ordinance number 26-09, an ordinance under chapter 87 of the code
of township of Washington setting forth the rate of compensation and manner of payment of employees for the year 2026. Motion to introduce and pass ordinance number 2609 at first reading by title. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> I'll second it. Roll call.
>> Councilman Casio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sears. >> Yes. >> Councilman Omen. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Deles. >> Yes. Ke present the seven. >> Yes. Resolution number 26-218 authorizing publication of ordinance number 2609 and scheduling a public
hearing. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Councilman Casio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sears. >> Yes. >> Councilman Omen. >> Yes. >> Counciloman BZ. >> Yes. >> Council President.
>> Yes. Budget resolution. Resolution number 26-219. Introduction of the 2026 Township Municipal Budget. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Councilman Calio.
>> Yeah. >> Councilman Sears. >> Yes. >> Councilman Omen. >> Yes. >> Counciloman BZ. >> Yes. >> Council President Sun. >> Yes. >> Resolutions consent agenda. The following items have been determined to have the unanimous consent of council will be enacted in one motion. Should any item require independent
consideration, any council member may have such item removed from the consent agenda. Would anybody like any items removed at this time? >> Yes. 220 >> 220 Mr. um Sears >> 222 >> 220 >> and 224
>> and 224. >> Yes. >> Any others, ladies and gentlemen? >> 223. >> Okay. So, I'm removing 220, 222, 223, and 224. Okay.
Resolution number 26-221 authorize release of a portion of the performance guarantee block 25502.02 lot 20 not to exceed $1,000. Resolution number 26-225 authorize solid waste service agreement first amendment with the BCUA solid waste cooperative
marketing program June 1st 2026 through May 31st 2027. Motion to move. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Councilman Casio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sears. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Omen. >> Yes. >> Council BZ. >> Yes. >> Council me. >> Yes. Resolution number 26-220. Authorize release of escrow balances and performance guarantees various projects not to exceed $18,64825.
Do I have a motion? >> So moved. Second >> discussion. >> Yes. What are the projects that we are uh looking for here >> for the 18,648?
>> Sir, I don't have any of that. I don't have that specific answer. I'm not sure what >> you don't have that answer. >> No, I'm sorry. industrial balances homes are various projects. >> Yeah, but he wants to know what projects >> um should be in the resolution, aren't they? Listed on the resolution, the block and lot, the addresses,
>> the block and lot are. >> Yeah. Okay. >> The name, but I don't know addresses. >> You want the addresses, Mr. Sears? >> Would be nice to see what the projects are. >> No, I believe they're homeowner escros. They're homeowner escrow.
>> Property. >> They're private property escros. the ones I used to read one by one. Remember? >> Yeah. Well, I couldn't determine what's going on here. That's why I just wanted an explanation. >> All right. You want to know what the the projects are?
Councilman Se, you'd like to know what the projects are then? >> I can talk to you tomorrow about it. Okay. >> Okay. We can hear from Miss Aar. >> Okay. Roll call. >> Um, >> just for 222. >> Yeah. 222. Councilman Casio. 220 220
>> 220. Okay. Yeah. 220. >> I'm sorry. 220. 220. >> No. Um. I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry. Councilman Casio. Yes. >> Yes. >> Thank you. I'm sorry. Councilman Sears. >> Yes. >> Councilman Omen.
>> Yes. >> Councilwoman BZ. >> Yes. >> Council President. >> Yes. Resolution number 26-222 authorize adjustment to LOSAP contributions for emergency services for local finance notice 2026-2. Do I have a motion?
>> So moved. >> Seconded discussion. >> Yes. Is this for ambulance >> for just the ambulance court? >> No. Both sir. >> Both. All right. >> Yes. And >> but this is not their recommendations. This is from local finance.
>> Yes. Yes. The local finance notice establishes the CPI. >> Correct. That's all we're doing. But there was other requests made that we're not addressing at this time. >> Absolutely not. >> That's I think what your question is. >> Yes. >> This is just the local finance CPI adjustments for low. >> I still haven't recuse myself.
>> What was in the budget book? Yeah. >> Yeah. I still have to recuse myself. >> But that was your question. Yes. >> This does not address what's in the budget book. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Roll call. >> Councilman Casio. >> Yes. Councilman Sears. Uh, >> recuse myself from voting.
>> Councilman Owen, >> yes. >> Counciloman BZ, >> yes. Council President, >> yes. Resolution number 26-223, authorized adoption of the Bergen County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2026. Do I have a motion?
>> So moved. >> I'll second it. Discussion. >> Yeah. just in the resolution. Uh bullet point or not bullet points but point two and three are they
mutually ex exclusive will not require the township to readopt any further iterations and then the next one is separate adoption resolutions. I don't know what the timeline is.
>> Council President, if you're uh if it's okay with you, I'd like to >> Mr. Kenny can answer that. Yeah. Thank you, M. >> Let me get you the uh paperwork so you have it in front of you. >> You need the or he needs the resolution in front of him. I have >> I'm just going to give him 10. I think
>> so. So I guess the first question is bullet points two and three on page one >> right Mr. Yes, just I guess when I read bullet point two talks about content will require revisions.
We will not be required uh to readopt any further iterate iterations of the plan. And then the next one is subsequent plan updates following approval require se require separate
adoption. So does this have a end date? >> So right now this end date is going to be 5 years from now. So this is going to be we're going to be looking at a 2031 meeting similar to this to go over the revision. So in in 2030 they're going to take a look at this plan again. They'll
go over everything and any other adoptions that are going to change to our landscape or how our community is any um any other updates that have been in this plan. It's on a 5year cycle. So, this is saying that it's going to cover in this fiveyear cycle any minor changes
that may have to get updated are okay. But any major changes that occur within that cycle are going to be outside of this resolution. This resolution that was provided to us by FEMA and their wording was very specific to copy everything in their template
otherwise they will not accept it. >> That's FEMA for you. >> That's good thing they're being uh disbanded. Uh, I said that jokingly. I think it's important. Other people don't.
>> Um, just a couple of other just quick questions. Um, why is our proximity to the Oriel reservoir? Is that isn't that downstream or sidestream? It it would be downstream or
sidstream to us, but it's based off of water flow and the MOS swaps group flows to the or reservoir. >> Yeah, but we talk about damn >> right. What's that? >> I said it correctly, Mr. Paul. >> I'm looking on the second page. Uh
hazard ranking explanation. >> Yes. So, it talks about a dam failure, which hopefully never happens, but how would a dam failure at Original impact our >> It could be a damn failure in ours, not
necessarily direct from Oridel affecting us. >> Well, it could be a damn failure from the lake. >> It could be a damn failure for our lake, which then would affect our residents in the immediate area in the south. >> God bless. So in the in that hazard ranking, it's
not talking just in that one area. It's talking amongst our our community as a whole. >> Okay. And then um just you know I made a comment I think at the last uh
meeting as we were ending but we talk a lot about environmental impact and higher temperatures and climate change and my only concern is is that um
you know we were fortunate to get a grant from the federal government. Uh, you know, I don't know if they would be as forgiving if we blame everything on climate change,
which they don't believe in. So, I'm just wondering, should this be toned down or is there something we should say that, you know, the town doesn't believe in climate change, but we have to put it in any? I don't think we want to say that.
>> So, what I what I will note is that the instructions that I was given direct from this template that was provided by FEMA was to in the best of our ability not make any changes of it. If they look at this temp if they look at this resolution when it's provided to them because our due date is April 15th. When
they look at this resolution, if it doesn't meet everything that they want based off of the template they provided for us, they can kick it back to us. we would then be out of the deadline which would cause another host of issues. If we're out of this deadline, we're
considered non-compliant by FEMA and from that point it's going to limit us to apply for grants from FEMA for hazard mitigation and disaster recovery >> also disaster recovery and emergency funding, right? We're not in compliance. >> We would then be non-compliant as a as an applicant
>> for outside of this. So even though the federal government does consider the term climate change to be a hot button topic, it was listed in their template that they said provide this, do your best to not make any changes to it and submit your resolutions back. >> So when you say resolution, you're
talking about the entire package, not just the entire page. >> Okay. the the two-page resolution that you guys have 26-223 is what's adopting our portion of the 10page 66 which is a
10-page portion of the roughly 860 page document which encompasses the entire county of Bergen. >> Okay. And then the last question because it's you know fairly comprehensive but in the back there are a number of checklists uh and some of those are blank
for instance uh >> flood plan development. >> Yeah the capabilities assessment storm water management pan excuse me watershed management plan. You know I would assume they're yes or no. And if it's no that we could put an explanation
or >> if it's no we could put an explanation or if it's blank if it's not covered because of something's in an area that's either covered by a master plan from either the county or somewhere else if it's not directly relative to us it could either stay blank or be answered that's enough. So, can we can we note
why it's not? >> I would have to go back for a rendition with the county to discuss this with the private entity and help us. >> Sometimes less is more. I'm sure it'll be good. >> Understoodly. I mean, it's flood plane
development ordinance. There's a yes or a no and it's blank. So, does that mean it's a maybe? It was some of the questions that that I had going through. This is also my first rendition of the plan and everything that I was explained is that they are
tiptop and happy with how everything is set up. >> They're happy with our 10 pages of what we >> they're happy with our section and they are happy with the county section as the larger greater document. >> As long as they're happy and I guess we should all
be happy. >> Thank you, Mr. K. >> Thank you, folks. Roll call. >> Councilman Casio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sears. >> Yes. >> Councilman Alman.
>> Yes. >> Counciloman Bles. >> Yes. >> Council President. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Kenny, for all the work you put into this. It's a lot of work. Thank you. >> Resolution number 26-224. Authorize acceptance of the bid and award of contract for the Musquapsync Brook project with Downs Tree Service,
Inc. in the amount of not to exceed $669,280. I'll make the motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. >> No discussion. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. No discussion said yes. Councilman Sears, >> no. >> Yeah. Council Nman. >> Uh, yes. >> Council member BZ. >> Yes. Council President.
>> Yes. >> Motion to adjourn to conference agenda. >> So move. >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> Next regular meeting of the township council will be on Monday, April 20th, 2026, beginning at 7 p.m. Sign up for
Nixl. Text 07676 to 888777. key code TWWP of Bergen. Thank you. Under conference agenda, we will go into close session resolution number 26-230. Bless you. >> Employment agreement with the police
department, 660 Pasc Road settlement agreement and 370 Pasc Road affordable housing. The township council anticipates that an open session will be necessary at the end of close session. Thank you. Motion to enter into close session. >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> I. We'll take a five minute reset so Rick can shut off the cameras or I'm trying to do it. >> You go out and I'm gonna bring you back in on the second the second um Zoom. >> Okay. >> All right. Motion. Some move. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. Reintroduction. First reading. Ordinance number 26-04, an amended ordinance of the Township of Washington, Bergen County, New Jersey. amending ordinance 2602 as to section 4 only creating a new chapter 580-38.3
AH2's affordable housing district and establishing development regulations for block 2110 lot 1 and lots 6 through 11 motion to introduce and pass ordinance number 2604 at first reading by title >> so move second >> roll call
>> Councilman Casio >> yes >> Councilman Sears Yes. >> Councilman Alman. >> Yes. >> Council Veles. >> Yes. >> Council president of the Senate. >> Yes. Resolution number 26-227.
Authorize publication of ordinance 2604 and schedule a public hearing. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Councilman Casio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sears. >> Yes. >> Councilman Omen. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Valz. >> Yes.
>> Council President. >> Yes. Resolution number 26-228 authorizing referral of reintroduction of ordinance 2604 amending ordinance 2602 as to section 4 only creating a new chapter 580-38.3 aH-2 affordable housing district and
establishing development regulations for block 2110 lot 1 and lot 6 through 11 to the planning board for review and recommendation. Do I have a motion? >> So move. I'll second it. Roll call. Councilman Casio, >> yes.
>> Councilman Sears, >> yes. >> Councilman Omen, >> yes. >> Counciloman Bles, >> yes. >> Council President, >> yes. >> Resolution number 26-229 authorize mayor to execute the agreement and general release between the township of Washington and Lieutenant Roy Sher.
Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> I'll second it. Roll call. >> Councilman Casio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Sears. >> Yes. Councilman Omen. >> No. >> Councilwoman VZ. >> Yes. >> Council president of the Senate.
>> Yes. Motion to adjourn. >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. >> Thank you everyone. Have a good night. >> Thank you.