regular meeting of the township of Washington in accordance with the requirements in New Jersey statutes regarding open public meetings. Notice meeting was legally advertised in the Carrier Post in the South Jersey Times as well as posted on the Bolton board in the missile building. Fire exits are located through the double doors to your left and right. Please silence on mobile devices. This meeting video taped if
anyone does not wish to be seen on television may be excused. This will be shown on channel 9 every week. Sunday at 900 pm, Wednesday at 7 pm, Friday at 10 pm, Saturday at 10 pm, and we'll continue into the next meeting. This meeting is also being livereamed on YouTube. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance
to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Before we begin, I'd like to do a moment of
silence. Uh, tomorrow being 911. Thank you. If everyone please stand. Uh, we're going to have our national anthem sung by Officer Pagarini. [Music] By the dawn early proudly
we held at the twilight last [Music] We watch [Music] and the rock is red.
The bombs bursting in gave proof through the night there. Oh, say does that star spangled
[Music] yet? For the land of the free and the home of the brave.
[Applause] Thank you, officer. Roll call, please. Council Vice President Brown, here. Councilman Harris, here. Councilwoman Pascalone, here. Councilman Jük, present.
Council President Dearelloo here. Mayor Delipia here. Miss Package here. Mr. Rudy, present. Moving on to presentations. Chief [Music] Thank you all for being here this evening to celebrate a very special and
joyous occasion for our police department and for our Washington Township community. Tonight we proudly recognize the well-deserved promotions of three outstanding officers. Leo Depitro to captain, Joe Rosen to lieutenant, and Matthew Lensen Sager to
sergeant. These men have demonstrated remarkable dedication, professionalism, and leadership throughout their careers. Their hard work and commitment to the mission of the Washington Police make them among the very best in their field. But I also want to take a moment to recognize and thank their families.
Behind every promotion stands the quiet strength of loved ones who sacrifice so much. Holidays when these officers are on duty protecting our town. Weekends and midnights spent apart. and the patience and understanding when duty called. Families also give officers the
time and support to study and prepare and test for these promotions. Without that commitment at home, their success here tonight would not be possible. Thank you to our mayor and council for approving these promotions tonight. On behalf of the township and our entire
police department, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to Captain Ditro, Lieutenant Ralson, and Sergeant Lensener. And a very special thank you to the families for the sacrifices that make these achievements possible. At this point, I'll uh turn the floor over
to Mayor Delipa for the promotional process. Can Sergeant Louden Slagger come up with his family? support to the state to the government to the in the United States and in the state
and the under authority of the people. [Applause] Nice family, please. Three, two, one.
Can Lieutenant Rson and his family please come up? Yeah. Almost. [Laughter] You swear or I will support the Constitution of the State of New Jersey
to the government established in the United States in the United States. the state authority of the people. I do furtherly swear the duties of the Washington. Congratulations.
[Applause] One more heavy Captain Pon, please come up. You good? I therely swear affirmly swear
that I will support the Constitution of the United States of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey that Iare to the government in the United United States
or affirmally perform. [Applause] Finally, come up, please. You guys step behind it alone. Back over the stairs.
Three, two, one. [Applause] Let's give all these officers a warm round of applause and thank you to all their family as well. Two minute recess. We're going to take a
two-minute recess. I want five. Grand Christmas. There's the whole room. Moving on with our agenda tonight. Next, we have a proclamation in honor of
the library card signup month. So, it's a library. Staff could please come up. Council Brown. I don't want to say staff. I'll say team. I didn't mean staff. I meant team. I think they're a good team.
[Music] Whoa, it's a giant library card. [Music] Jenna, her parents are right there. That's awesome. We got to laminate it.
Yeah, they can come over here. Yes, over here. Perfect. Township of Washington proclamation in recognition of library card signup month where libraries play a crucial role in the education and development of
children from story time for preschoolers to college and career planning for high schoolers fostering literacy and a love for reading. where heirs libraries are welcoming and inclusive spaces for people of all backgrounds to learn together and engage with one another across cultural,
ethnic, generational, and economic lines, strengthening the social fabric of the communities they serve. Where's libraries strive to develop and maintain programs and collections that are diverse as the populations they serve and ensure equity of access for all.
where LI libraries help people of all ages navigate the complexities of life, providing access to research, information, and government services that allow everyone to lead more productive and fulfilling lives. Whereas libraries contribute to a strong local
economy by providing access to technology and training that are critical to the success of job seekers, entrepreneurs, and students. Where is whereas in a time of crisis, libraries and library professionals play an invaluable role in supporting their
communities both in person and virtually. Whereas the shared resources of libraries offer offer reduced the number of items household buys and dispose of providing an effortless way to save money, conserve resources, and
reduce waste. Whereas a library card sparks creativity and empowers all people to explore new passions and interests and pursue a path of lifelong learning. Whereas libraries are the cornerstones of democracy, promoting the free exchange of information and ideas
for all. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that mayor and the council of township of Washington proclaim September library card signup month in the township of Washington and encourage everybody to sign up for their own library card today
on this 10th day of September, 2025. [Applause] I just wanted to mention that we are raffling eight tickets to the Phillies
and four will go to a new card holder and four to an existing card holder. You just need to come out and fill out the slip and put it in our raffle box. The game is on September 28th. [Applause] Hello. What's this?
Thank you. Thank you so much. [Music] Thank you so much. Thank you. Yeah. Okay. Who are you? I'm sorry. They're the same. Oh, yeah. Handler.
I don't know if two people There he is. All right. Hi folks. I'm Rich Nardiello and I'm here because September is childhood cancer awareness month. Um just like in October, breast cancer month, we go
pink. Well, in September, we go gold. And you can see some of the folks wearing the gold ribbons. And tonight, I requested that our mayor and town council honor a young boy from Heritage Valley. His name is Gavin Todd. And
where the heck is he? Because he's not here. Well, I can tell you where he is. Um, he is at back to school night at Herville. And after that, he's at hockey practice. So, I'm going to try to sneak this proclamation in somewhere in Hollale to
give to him, but because of all the fine work of all the help from PD and fire department. I mean, we did a parade for Gavin Todd back in January, right? And I think when the mayor was sworn in the next day, it was 12 degrees and first
responders showed up big time and made this little boy's day very special. So, it's about making the little boy special. And you can see my cool poster. I didn't want to get, you know, beat out by the library here, too. Um, what folks should just be aware of, just a couple
of facts. Childhood cancer is now 1 in 257. I made this poster like four years ago. I keep on scratching out the number. It goes from 300 to 257. Excuse me. Um, 45 kids a day are diagnosed with childhood cancer. I could
come up here and list the names just in Washington Township that I've been doing what I do for children. Um, they're in every school. They're in Bells, they're in Hurfield, they're in high school, etc., too. So, I just want folks to be aware and I really wanted somebody with
a lot of really good um community standing to be here. Um, so I chose a good friend of mine, uh, Captain Adam Sechek to actually accept the proclamation from the, uh, from council and mayor and, um, and then we'll take
and I'll take it from there and bring it over to his, uh, location. So, thank you so much. And you can please read the proclamation and go from there. Council Township of Washington proclamation in recognition of childhood cancer awareness month. Whereas September is
National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the United States and the Township of Washington has proclaimed the month of September as childhood cancer awareness month. And whereas, please join childhood cancer advocate
Rich Nardella as we go gold during the month, showing support for continued research to find a cure for childhood cancers and spread awareness. And whereas each year nearly 16,000 children from
birth to age 19 will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States, which is one in 285 children. And whereas there are approximately 40,000 children actively receiving treatment at any given time. And whereas
New Jersey Senate joint resolution number 49 unanimously passed in 2016 designated designating September Go Gold for Children Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to increase public knowledge and
awareness surrounding childhood cancers. And whereas guided by this resolution, municipalities can designate ambassadors by way of proclamation. And whereas Gavin Todd is in first grade at Hurfield
Elementary School and loves hockey, hanging out with friends, chicken and ranch dressing, and watching Minecraft movies. God bless him. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of Washington
Township, County of Gloucester, state of New Jersey, hereby recognizes Gavin Todd as the childhood cancer awareness ambassador of 2025. Gavin's not here, but give him a big round of applause. We have two of them.
It's a slow jog. Thank you everybody. Can I get a motion to approve the bill list for September 10th, 2025? Motion. Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Urkus, yes. Councilman Harris, yes. Councilwoman Pascalone,
yes. Council Vice President Brown, yes. Council President Deborello, yes. Can I get a motion to approve the regular M meeting minutes for August 13, 2025? Motion. Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Urkus.
Abstain. Councilman Harris. Yes. Councilwoman Pascalone. Yes. Council Vice President Brown. Yes. Council President Deborello. Yes. Madam Clerk, would you please read our ordinances?
This ordinance is up for adoption after public hearing. Ordinance 162025, Ordinance of the Township of Washington, County of Gloucester, State of New Jersey, amending chapter 179 entitled property maintenance and housing standards.
Can I get a motion to open to the public on ordinance 1625? I'll make that motion. Second. All in favor? I. Anyone from the audience wishing to speak about ordinance 1625? Seeing none, can I get a motion to close, please? Close.
All in favor? Hi. Can I get a motion to adopt ordinance 16-2025? I'll make the motion. Roll call, please. Councilman Jurgis, yes. Councilman Harris, yes. Councilwoman Pascalone, yes.
Council Vice President Brown, yes. Council President Deborello, yes. We going clerk. This ordinance 17. This ordinance is up for adoption after public hearing. Ordinance amending chapter 246 of the
code of the township of Washington entitled towing. Can I get a motion to open to the public an ordinance 17-2025? I made that motion. Second. All in favor? I. Anyone wish to speak? Please just come to the podium and just give us your name and your address.
Please. Hello. Hi. My name is Paul Gang. I live at 744 Her Folk Cross Keys Road and um just a little background. I've been towing for this town for over 30 years. Give them, you know, everything I got and everything. And they threw some changes
in there that are um Sir, can you talk? Oh, okay. I'm sorry. And so they threw a few changes in there that um I thought were like a little crazy. So the uh time response dropping them from 15, you know, it was 20 minutes and they dropped
it uh to 15 minutes. I was sitting in my driveway in the truck yesterday at about 1:30, not even rush hour time, and I went to Berlin Cross Keys in the Pike and it took me almost 17. And that's not even being in the shop, getting the phone call, writing it down. So, you
know, that's, you know, like there's um it's just a safety issue, you know, cuz you still got I don't have lights and sirens, so we're just buying speed limit, stopping at stop signs, and if the school's letting out, you got to stop for, you know, them. um and all that kind of stuff. And then the next
thing was um the fee. So prior to 2022, the fee for the application was only $100. So in 2022, they raised it to 500. So now only a few years later, they're trying to raise it to a,000. So where does it go from there? You know, that's
just, you know, it's only a few years and um they're just doubling it where we're at the same rate for probably almost 15 years now, right? So, it's just, you know, everybody else's gets their increases, but we do not. Hopefully, that will change. And then
the license, you know, you know, maybe they want to be more on top of it. So, they changed it from 3 years to 2. So, they did that also. But the hours of operation, that's a little crazy. They're trying to say that they want you open from 8:00 a.m. to 6. So, if you
look at this facility, it's only open from 8:30 to 4:30. So eight, you know, that's 10 hours just on five days a week. You know, 10 hours a day, that's 50 hours. And then they want you um open Saturday and Sunday. I mean, that's 7 days a week. That's crazy. The old
ordinance, they never stated a time. It just said they wanted you open during normal business hours and from 9:00 to 12:00 on Saturday. So to throw a full other day in there, I mean, you're asking people to sit at the storage yard for 70 some hours a week, that's just I mean, that's crazy. like, you know, and
so you would have to pay somebody like 30 hours overtime a week, you know, just because they're changing all this stuff and um and that's about it. But um you know, there were major things because you know, the response time like you still have to buy all the traffic
laws and everything and and the amount of traffic in 30 years in this town. There's probably at least 15 more traffic lights since I came to this town, you know, and now they're putting another one in Selena Road. So now for me just to get the five points now I'll have to go through three lights. You know what I mean? You know because
county house was never there before or anything. So you can't drop our time and expect us to be safe and abide by all the laws and then just keep putting roadblocks in our way all the time with all traffic lights and everything. That's all I was just saying. I mean that's a major safety issue, you know,
on my opinion, you know, and that's about all. Oh, thank you so much. This is all good information, Matt. Yeah, I'm a little late. I didn't know that it was the second reading. I'm sorry for that. But I never even knew this would took effect. I know that the application is due. So I go online and I
wanted to print it out and then I seen this and then I startled me and that's why I'm here today or I would have never even have known anything about this. So I you know I I don't know but it's not like I'm new and I just started you know I you know you know I started telling
when uh Chief Moore was uh chief so I've been around a really long time you know so it's not like I just you know and so for all that time it was 20 minutes right so now all of a sudden it's 15 that that you know it's just um I don't want to see me or my son or anybody put
themselves in harm's way you know trying to get out there you know because you're afraid they're going to get punched punished, but for all this time it um you know, if somebody went over the 20 minutes, you know, they never got punished or anything. That's the problem. You know what I mean? The 20 minutes is a good time, but if if
somebody is is over that, they just let it fly. You know what I'm saying? And it also goes by um when the tower's called, you know? So, if there is a motor vehicle crash, like the fire company shows up, the ambulance, they'll wait till everybody's almost ready to leave
and then they'll call the tow. Well, if they called the tow 10 more minutes earlier, you know, everybody, you would be there in acquitted time. You know what I mean? Like, you know, so if you're waiting till everybody leaves and then the cops sitting on the side of the road for another 20 minutes, you know, he might get aggravated. But if he would
have called him earlier, he would be loading up and leaving the same time as everybody else. You know, that has a lot to do with it also. All righty, Paul. Thank Thank you so much for that. Oh, thank you. Thank you.
So, I want to have more conversations all about some of this stuff. Can should we pass this tonight and then have those conversations, go back and fix those things? Can we So, Mr. Council President, um your options are to pass it as is. Um, and
then of course, as with any law that's on our books here in the township, you can always continue to interface with the community and make additional changes. Um, you could also vote to table it at this time and then consider whether you want to do amendments um or
possibly introduce a revised ordinance in the future. You have a couple different options. Um, my only comment would be I think the current licensing period, and the chief can correct me if I'm wrong, is up at the end of the year. Um, so if you want to consider changes for the for the current cycle, there is
a little bit of a time frame to consider. U, but those are your options tonight, assuming you don't want to assuming council decides not to vote it down. Council, but I would also include discussion chief.
lay down myself trying to leave town 25 minutes. So yeah, so I guess we we want to kind of get it done before the end of the year Paul. So let's let's do this. Let's let's table it, right? Let's have a conversation. If you can give your information to Barb, let's have a conversation with you and obviously we'll have a conversation with the chief
as well. And that way we can kind of see where some of these things why these things changed, get some of those answers for you and for ourselves, right? And that way we kind of all get on the same page. Okay. All right. But yeah, so Barb's sitting right over there. So before we leave, you can give her that information. All right. So everybody like to table this. Is that what I'm hearing?
Motion to table it. Second motion. Motion. I did. Roll call. Councilman, I vote yes to table it. Councilman Harris, yes to table. Councilwoman Pascalone,
yes to table. Council Vice President Brown. Yes. To table. Council President Zabarello. Yes. To table. Ordinance. Ordinance 18. This ordinance is up for introduction only. Ordinance amending
chapter 254 of the code of the township of Washington entitled trees. Can I get a motion to introduce ordinance 0018-25? Motion. Roll call, please. Councilman Urkus. Yes. Councilman Harris, yes.
Councilwoman Pascalone, yes. Council Vice President Brown, yes. Council President Deborello, yes. Public hearing for this adoption will occur on September 24th. Next ordinance, please. Ordinance 19. This ordinance is for introduction only. Ordinance amending
chapter 47 of the code of the township of Washington entitled Charities. Can I get a motion to introduce ordinance 0019-25? Motion. Roll call, please. Councilman Urcus, yes.
Council Councilman Harris, yes. Councilwoman Pascalone, yes. Council Vice President Brown, yes. Council President Deborello, yes. Public hearing and adoption will occur on September 24th. Moving on to resolutions. The following resolution are consent agenda only and only require
vote for all listed. Each one must be read by title. If any member of the council wishes to have one removed and heard separately, they need to indicate prior to reading the titles. Does anyone anything removed or read separately? Seeing none, madam clerk, please. Okay. Go ahead. I'm sorry. So, R231-2025
will be taped. Correct. 231. 231 will be tabled. Okay. So, all right. Can I get a motion to table R231? Motion to table. Second. Roll call, please.
Councilman, yes. Councilwoman, Councilman Harris, yes. Councilwoman Pascalone, yes. Council Vice President Brown, yes. Council President Deborello, yes. Madam Clerk, will you read the other resolution, please?
Resolution 228, resolution appointing a member to the Washington Township Municipal Utilities Authority. 229 Resolution authorizing the appointment of a deputy tax collector in the township of Washington. 230
Resolution authorizing Washington Township to submit a strategic plan for the municipal alliance grant for cycle July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Resolution 232, resolution authorizing the Township of Washington to enter into
a cooperative pricing agreement with Somerset County Cooperative Pricing System. 223 resolution authorizing the cancellation of staledated bank reconciliation items of the tangible Washington trust account. 234 resolution
requesting approval of revenue and appropriations from the department of community affairs for the opioid settlement grant in the amount of 106,85 and 32 cents. 235 resolution requesting
approval of re revenue and appropriations from the state of New Jersey for the FY2024 community development grant phase 3 of the White Birch Road improvements in the amount of 129,634
236 resolution accepting guarantees and engineering inspection escrow from Scapisi Inc. for 110 Ganttown Road block 150.77 lot 1.01 01 237 resolution accepting guarantees and
engineering inspection escrow from ProGood Su LLC for sprouts located at Egg Harbor and Herfeld Grunlock Road Soul, New Jersey, block 199, lots 12. Resolution 238, resolution authorizing a
change order and accepting a maintenance guarantee from South State Inc. for the 2023 road program phase 2 project. 239 resolution authorizing a change order on accepting a maintenance guarantee from Capella Construction, Inc. for the Alden
Road Outfall improvements project. 240 Resolution authorizing refunds of tax over payments. 241 resolution cancelling taxes for a totally disabled veteran at 216 Hillary Lane effective July 22, 2025.
242 resolution resolution cancelling taxes for a totally disabled veteran at Six Grove Street effective July 24, 2025. 243 resolution can cancelling taxes for
a totally disabled veteran 10 packer court effective 20 July 26, 2025. 244. Resolution cancelling taxes for a totally disabled veteran, 22 South Mars Drive, effective July 28, 2025.
245. Resolution authorizing the execution of treatment works approval application for Turnersville Equities LLC. Thank you, Mader. Can I get a motion to approve R228-25 to R230-2025
and R232-25 to R245-2025? Motion. Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Urkus, yes. Councilman Harris, yes. Councilwoman Pascalone, yes.
Council Vice President Brown, yes. Council President Dearella, yes. Moving on to all business, new business, and reports. We'll start with Councilman Harris. Yes. Thank you, Council President. Um, first of all, I'd like to
congratulate uh our new uh Captain Depitro, Lieutenant Ralson, and Sergeant Lden Slagger. Um, which we witnessed today. That was a really nice event. Um, want to mention Friday I was able to acknowledge uh my friends uh Luke Stanch
from Stanch Property uh services and Joe Bernie from Green with Envy. Uh they used their their talents and their time to beautify the entrance of Washington Township High School. They pressure washed and and redid the front. Uh and they did that pro bono kindness of their hearts just to give back. So that was that was a really nice thing to to to go
to and experience. Uh Saturday um this past Saturday was the Veterans Cup for Peewee football. Uh so myself uh council uh president Peter Delberelloo was there. We got to meet a 99year-old uh vet fought in World War II and the
Korean War. Um he he was amazing. Uh and in his story uh they also told how he was injured and was offered the Purple Heart and declined because he didn't feel his injuries were severe enough. Great crazy stuff, but crazy crazy good.
Um, so that was some heartwarming uh uh heartwarming event. So, God bless him and um God bless Charlie Kirk and his wife and his children and God bless America. That's all I have. Thank you. Council pass. I this weekend there's mother's cover
which we're going to feed families through Rotary. So, if you want to volunteer, let me know. If you want to just come by, that's great, too. That's the only announcement I have. Thank you so much. back. Um, I wanted to congratulate
Pauletti appointed a board. She's a great person. I'm sure she'll be great to the board. We had a veterans advisory board meeting this past week and we are preparing for Veterans Day. And in case you all forgot, uh, please put on your
calendar. Veterans Day is November 11th. Starts at 11:00 a.m. uh, at the Veterans Memorial behind the police station. That's where we we um, uh, meet with a lot of veterans and we thank them for their service to our country every year
and welld deserved. Um, also, um, we had the Open Space Advisory Committee meeting this past week, and I want to thank Leon and Vicki and the committee for their continuing efforts to keep Washington Township
beautiful. Try to keep it as best as we can as a farmland community um, amongst all the growing and development that is going on in our area and South Jersey. Um
lastly, um it's with a sad heart that I say, God rest Charlie Kirk's soul, an American citizen, a family man
protected by the First Amendment. He was gunned down by a gutless coward. And that's all they are, gutless. when they take and try to take the life out of a fellow American or anyone. This will not dampen the American
spirit, but will amplify the message. And I want that to be go going out across the country. You're not going to stop us. Our forefathers would fight like hell at Constitution Hall and argue over every point and have lunch together at the
Philadelphia Tavern. Why can't we do that? Why can't we get along? have a good debate discussion because we all learn from it. Hell, I learned a lot from Paul tonight about the towing industry. I didn't ever knew. We all learn from each
other. The First Amendment is first because of a reason. They don't have it in Great Britain. In England, comedians get locked up and put in jail for making fun of someone. They can't criticize their government. They can't criticize the king and queen. Well, we had a war
back in 1776 and 77 and 78 and 79 and 80 which my great-grandfather fought in under George Washington. And I'll be damned if I'm going to give in to these cowards. I know no one up here will. So, let's send
a message. You're a gutless coward. Don't try us. Thank you. Thank you. Councilman Harris. Uh, nothing to report, Mr. Council President. Thank you, Jage. Mayor Delpia.
Thank you, Council President. Um, I want to reiterate what Joe said about uh Joe Bernie from Greenmith Envy and Luke Sanch. Um, they're two citizens that give back to town. They did a great job over at the high school. Um, it was nice to be there to see our community
help out each other. Um, Rich Nardiello who doesn't like any kind of gratitude. I know he left already, but um he does a lot. We we have a lot of good people in this town and and it's great to be a part of it and see them. So, I thank them for their efforts. Monday, me and
Joe uh attended Dream Home Grand opening. Uh they opened in the old Solar Vision building on the Black Pike. They do uh roofing and and I believe construction as well. Really nice people. So, if you get a chance, stop in. Tomorrow night, we have our 911 memorial
walk at 6:30 at Washington Lake Park. If anybody's available, please attend. It's always a great night. Well attended. This morning, we we did our first podcast episode. So, uh look look for that. It was me, Councilman Harris, and Council President Delo. Uh the name that
was selected was Beyond the Beyond the Welcome Sign, which was submitted by a resident named James. And we thought it was fitting that at all access points of our town there's a welcome sign. And what happens behind that sign, a lot of people don't know. They don't know what happens when you come on this side of
the deis or how things operate or why they operate or when they operate. So our goal is to make sure people understand as much as possible. We talk about transparency. Well, this is as transparent you're going to get. You're going to get everything from beginning to end. You'll understand why we make
certain decisions and why we couldn't make certain decisions. So, uh, it was great to to do the first episode. I'm excited to see what it looks like. And, um, you know, any residents have any suggestions of guests, ideas, suggestions, we're open for anything. So, you could email any one of us and
we'll love to have you a part of the show. And last, I want to mention about Charlie Kirk as well. Um, it's sad that people have such hate to take a life of a father, a son, a husband, and there's just no room for
that in politics, in life, or in this world. And I just wish people would look themselves in the mirror and say, you know what, we can disagree. We can not like people, but it should never get to that point. So, may he rest him and his family um, you know, get through this.
That's all I have. Thank you. Thank you so much, council vice president. So again, congratulations to the members of the police department who were promoted tonight from experience. I know there's a lot of hours, time, and dedication that it takes to reach and be
recognized for that position. And once you get into the ranks, there is a lot of more time commitments and pressure put upon you. Um, but it is all rewarding in the end and we made some
great choices for those promotions tonight. Thank you to Chief Gersich uh for including us in tonight's promotion ceremonies and you have a great staff. Um the library, Sheila mentioned that they have library card signup month and
they had another event um functional foods for life coffee should it be your mug of choice. That's going to be September 24th at 6:30 p.m. at the library and they'll have samples of coffee for everybody to enjoy. Uh I want
to mention the Old Stone House this weekend. They have their yard sale. Um that's a great place to visit. A lot of township his historical value there. Um want to thank public works and the volunteers who uh take great pride in
keeping up that uh facility. If you haven't had a chance to go over and meet with the staff who volunteer and do a lot of the work on their own, please take the time to go visit them uh and learn about the history of Washington Township. Um the mayor mentioned 911 walk tomorrow
night. Um the fire department and the police department, they put a lot of time and effort into that. Um it's really good event and help us to remember those that we lost on 911. And finally, um just to echo the
sentiments of the council tonight, uh our thoughts and prayers are for the family of not just Charlie Kirk who was needlessly assassined tonight. I look forward to watching his podcast and think that um he was a great man and he showed a lot of restraint during a lot
of his debates with people and he never got angry. He always tried to make his message known without violence, but also to the Ukraine victim who was needlessly murdered this week. uh thoughts and prayers for both their families. And
may the uh job that the uh law enforcement is doing to try to um rid our country of these people who tend to harm us uh as American citizens and spread their spread their hate continue and may we rid it from our country.
Thank you. Thank you, Council Vice President. So, usually I always say this, but by the time it gets to me, we've heard a lot of the same things that I'm going to say again. But again, thank you so much to the chief and all those officers. Thank you their families because they serve, but so do their families. So, thank you to all them as well. The podcast was a
uh success today. We actually had a lot of fun with it. I I would say that we had some good laughs and there's really great information that we're hoping is going to get across to you because you see those things on social media, but tune in with the podcast, find out what's really happening. There won't be any any politics on there. It'll be a lot of fun stuff. We hoping to have uh
veterans and seniors and kids on there. Just really, really fun stuff. If you have a sports group and you're trying to raise money, let us know what's going on. We do have that 911 walk tomorrow in the park. It is beautiful. Thank you so much to the fire department that that puts that on. It's definitely a beautiful event. They had uh at McInness
tonight, they had the 911 where they put all the flags out, one for for each each victim of of 911. There was a woman there that came up and her husband was in the first tower. You don't really know what to say to somebody like that even 24 years later. There's not many words, but uh her strength, you you could feel that coming from her and uh
she has a charity that we're going to get some more information about and and she actually wants to come on the podcast and talk about that. So, it's going to be really powerful. So, we'll have guests like that that that you kind of hear. And kind of going back to what everybody else said, listen, political violence is becoming something that that's normal and and we we can't normalize that. We can't think that's
okay. Bullets will not change. Uh ballot boxes will. So we have to understand that no matter how we we we view each other, we can't let that political label dear R. Let le let's let's be V for for volunteerism. Let's understand that we can have different views. That's the great thing about our country. That's
why we are the greatest nation on earth because we can have different views. We we can look at each other and agree to disagree. That's okay. It's okay to see things differently. But let's not let it slip in into that idea that it's okay we normalize this idea that violence will will solve anything because it never does. So, with that being said, I'd like
to take a moment of silence for for Charlie Kirk and his family. Thank you. Moving on to public participation. Can I get a motion to open to the public? Motion. All in favor? Anyone wishing to speak from the public?
Leon Good evening. Leah Lacitz, 88 Hummingbird way su chairman of the open space committee. Uh this is what I'm about to say is very appropriate because tonight you have uh
on the agenda proposal of a adoption of a new tree ordinance. So what I have in front of me are uh numbers of how we have or we have not
enforced and collected the monies of the current tree ordinance. So in 20 in 2020 we had a balance of $239,000461.
In that year we collected a total of $59,000. Leon Leon could you talk in the mic? Okay. Is that better? So in that year we in 2020 we collected
from builders $59,000. Since then we have not collected one penny. Okay. In the last 5 and 12 years, we've spent
186,572 removing hazardous trees on township property and only spent approximately $13,000 to purchase new trees. And the tree fund actually is established not to
it's established to plant trees to compensate for the trees which are removed by developers. So in this township we've spent $181,000 to remove the trees using tree fund
money and only used about $13,000 to plant trees. But that's not the point. The point is in the last five and a half years we have spent an average of over $35,000 each years
removing money for the tree fund. As of the end of June this year, we only have $44,000 left. And since then, it's even less. But I wasn't able to pull up the figures
fast enough. The bottom line is that in over a year the tree fund, if we don't collect anything, will be there won't be any money in the tree fund. We'll still have to cut down trees
and you're going to have to get the money from the general fund. So the bottom line is we should have to start collecting money. Now I don't want to go into the particulars, but
we've lost over $200,000 and not collecting money. Way over $200,000. So the bottom line is the planning board and the zoning board and everybody else
has got to do their job and enforcing the tree ordinance and the new tree ordinance when it's adopted is stricter than what we have on the books now. Any questions? If so, any questions?
Thank you, Leon. Okay. Anyone else wishing to speak? Thank you, Leon. See none. Can I get a motion to close the public? Second. All in favor? Okay. We will now go in executive
session regarding litigation rising sun versus Washington Township. It lasts about 30 minutes. Can I get a motion to approve resolution R246-2025? Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Urkus, yes. Councilman Harris, yes. Councilwoman Pascalone,
yes. Council Vice President Brown. Yes. Council President Deborah. Yes. Okay. So, action may be taken when we return from our executive session. Can I get a motion return from executive session?
Motion. Return. Can I get a motion to return from executive session? Motion. Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Jurgis, yes. Councilman Harris, yes. Councilwoman Pascal Malone, yes.
Council Vice President Brown, yes. Council President Deborah. Yes. The next council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 24th, 2025. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? Motion. Second. All in favor? All right. All right.