of the Township of Washington. In accordance with the requirements of the New Jersey statutes regarding the open public meetings, notice of this meeting was legally advertised in the Courier Post and the South Jersey Times as well as posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building. Fire exits are
located to my right, your left, and so forth and located to the rear. We silence all mo mobile devices. This meeting is being videotaped. Anyone who does not wish to be seen on television may be excused. This will be shown on
Channel 9 every week, Sunday 9:00 p.m., Wednesdays at 700 p.m., Friday at 10 p.m., and Saturday at 10 p.m. and will continue until the next meeting. This meeting is being livereamed on YouTube. It can be viewed at the website listed
in the agenda. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Madam clerk, roll call, please. Councilman Bennett, here. Council Vice President Brown, here. Council Councilman Harris, here. Councilman Jükus, present. Council President Deborello
here. Mayor Delopia here. Mr. Russo here. Mr. Rooney present. So we're going to move on with presentations. Like to call Frank Alexander of Tri-State Veterans Memorial Fund who will be presenting a check to
Mark Eberly of Paul's and Joe Lee. I'd like to thank and extend a heartfelt thanks to Mayor Anthony Delipia, the Washington Township Committeemen, and the distinguished residents of this town for their unwavering support of the Tri-State Veterans Memorial Fund. We are
truly grateful for the opportunity to be here this evening at the administration building to present these meaningful contributions. Tonight, we are honored to present two checks. The first is to Sergeant Joe Lee to assist in the purchase of a new service dog, as you
can see, uh following the tragic loss of his previous companion in a car accident. The second is to Paul's Healing Heroes and all the work Mark Everly does in recognition of the vital work they do providing service dogs to veterans living with PTSD. Our mission, my
board, everybody here, um is to raise awareness of the invisible wounds of war, particularly PTSD, and to support the healing power of service dogs. These animals offer more than just companionship. They provide life-saving support and stability for veterans
navigating life after service by helping to mitigate the effects of PTSD and reduce the risk of suicide. These dogs become invaluable partners in a veteran's recovery journey. Thank you again for your continued support and commitment to honoring and helping those who have served. Mark and Joe, if you
guys come forward on behalf of the tri-state Veterans Memorial Fund, please your service and of course Mark Everly of Polls. You may all know him by now. If you haven't, there he is. Mark, thank
you. Can we Can we get a picture real quick? May the Sorry. We'll get it. We'll get it. public comment towards the end. Okay. Moving
on. This uh month is distracted driving month. I'd like to call Joe Bernie and family up to the uh podium here. So tonight we've asked Joe Bernie uh with Green with Envy uh landscaping
company who does tremendous amount of business in the town to uh accept the distracted driving crackdown uh proclamation. Joe maintains um one of the memorials here to a victim of distracted driving, Nikki Coloney uh on
Pitman Road. uh he's been doing this for several years. We thought it appropriate of his dedication uh to the keeping the memorial up to date and clean that it be fitting for him to accept this proclamation tonight. So, on behalf of
mayor and council, uh we have the distracted driving proclamation. Whereas distracted driving is a serious life-threatening practice that is preventable. Whereas distracted driving can result in injuries and deaths to all road users, motorists,
pedestrians, and bicyclists. Whereas distracted driving occurs when drivers divert their attention away from the task of driving to focus on another activity instead. Whereas in 2023 alone, distracted driving related crashes resulted in
3,275 deaths and over 400,000 injuries in our nation on our nation's roads. Whereas in New Jersey, distracted driving was listed as a contributing circumstance in 50% of all motor vehicle crashes in 2023. And whereas the state of New Jersey will participate in a
nationalwide nationwide distracted driving crackdown from April 1st to April 30th to 2025 in an effort to raise awareness and decrease driver distraction through a combination of enforcement and education. And whereas the national slogan for the campaign,
you drive, you text, you pay. And whereas a reduction in distracted driving in New Jersey will save lives on our roadways. Now therefore be be it proclaimed that Mayor Delipia and the township council of the township of Washington declare in support for
distracted driving 25 2025 crackdown both locally and nationally from April 1st through April 30th 2025 and pledge to increase awareness of the dangers of distractive driving. Thank you for coming. Moving on, uh, we have tonight's bill
list for April 2026. Do I have any questions on the bill list? Moving on. Can I have a motion to uh accept the bill list for 20 April 26, 2020? Actually, that should be April 23rd. April 23rd, 2025.
Motion. We'll have a second. Second. Second. Sorry. Motion by Rich, second by Joe. All those in favor? Roll call. Councilman York, yes. Councilman Harris, yes. Councilman Bennett, yes. Council
Vice President Brown, yes. Council President Deborah, yes. Moving on to the minutes. Do I have any questions on the minutes? Can I have a motion to approve the regular meeting minutes for April
9th, 2025? Motion. Second. Second. Roll call. Councilman, yes. Councilman Harris, yes. Councilman Bennett, yes. Council Vice President Brown, yes. Council President Deborlla,
yes. Moving on to ordinances. Ordinance 4, 2025. Ordinance of the Township of Washington in the county of Gloucester, state of New Jersey, cancelling certain excess bond proceeds in the amount of
$352,9122 and reappropriating $50,000 of set excess bond proceeds to the finance the cost thereof. This ordinance is up for adoption after public hearing. Can I have a motion to open to the public ordinance 4, 2025? Motion. Second.
Second. Second. All those in favor? I. We're open to the public. Does have anybody wishing to speak on ordinance 4, 2025, please come up to the podium, state your name and address. Seeing none, can I have a motion to close to the public ordinance
4 2025? Motion. Second. Second. All those in fa All those in favor? I. Can I have a motion to adopt ordinance 4, 2025? Motion second. Roll call.
Councilman Jurus. Yes. Councilman Harris. Yes. Councilman Bennett. Yes. Council Vice President Brown. Yes. Council President Deborah. Yes. Ordinance 5, 2025. Ordinance amending
chapter 258 of the Washington Township Code entitled Vehicles Abandoned. This ordinance is up for adoption after public hearing. Can I get in a motion to open the to the public ordinance 5 2025?
Motion second. All in favor? I. Anyone wishing to speak Anyone wishing to speak on ordinance 5, 2025, please come up to the podium and state your name and address. Seeing none, can I get a motion
to close to the public ordinance 5 2025? Motion. Second. Second. All those in favor? I I. Can I have a motion to adopt ordinance 5, 2025? Motion. Second. Second. All roll call.
Councilman York. Yes. Councilman Harris. Yes. Councilman Bennett. Yes. Council Vice President Brown. Yes. Council President Deborola. Yes. Moving on. Ordinance 6, 2025, Ordinance amending chapter 76 of the Washington
Township Code entitled dumpsters and other re refuge containers. This ordinance is up for adoption after public hearing. Can I have a motion to open to the public on ordinance 6 2025? Motion of a second.
Second. Second. All in favor? I. Anyone wishing Sorry, we'll have to wait for Pete's delay. Anyone wishing to speak on ordinance 6, 2025, please come up to the podium and state your name and address. Seeing none, can I have a
motion to close to the public ordinance 6, 2025? Motion. Have a second. Second. All in favor? Can I have a motion to adopt ordinance 6, 2025? That motion. Have a second. Second. Roll call. Councilman, yes. Councilman
Harris, yes. Councilman Bennett, yes. Council Vice President Brown. Yes. Council President Deborello. Ordinance 7, 2025, ordinance amending chapter 137 of the Washington Township Code Entitled
littering. This ordinance is up for adoption after public hearing. Can I have a motion to open to the public ordinance 72025? Motion. Second. Second. All in favor? I. Anyone wishing to
speak? Anyone wishing to speak on ordinance 7 2025, please come up to the podium. State your name and address. Seeing none, can I have a motion to close to the public ordinance 7 2025? Motion. Second. Second. All in favor?
Can I have a motion to adopt ordinance 7 2025? Motion. Second. Second. Roll call. Councilman, yes. Councilman Harris, yes. Councilman Bennett, yes. Council Vice President Brown, yes. Council President
Deborah, yes. Ordinance 8, 2025, ordinance amending two chapter 213 of the Washington Township Code entitled storm water control. This ordinance is also adop all
Yeah. is also up for adoption after public hearing. Can I have a motion to open to the public on ordinance 8 2025? Do I have a second? Second. All in favor? Anyone wishing to speak on ordinance 8
2025, please come up to the podium and state your name and address. Seeing none, can I have a motion to close to the public ordinance 8 2025? Motion. Second. Second. All those in favor? I.
Can I have a motion to adopt ordinance 8, 2025? Motion. Second it. Roll call. Councilman. Yes. Councilman Harris. Yes. Councilman Bennett. Yes. Council Vice President Brown. Yes. Council President
Deborllis. Yes. Ordinance 9, 2025. Ordinance of the Township of Washington, County of Gloucester, state of New Jersey, amending chapter 254 entitled trees. This ordinance is for introduction only.
Public hearing and adoption will occur on May 14th, 2025. Can I get a motion to introduce ordinance 9, 2025? Motion. Second. Roll call. Councilman Urkus. Yes. Councilman Harris, yes. Councilman
Bennett, yes. Council Vice President Brown. Yes. Council President Deello. Yes. Resolutions. The following resolutions are by consent agenda and only require a 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 it prior to the reading of the titles. Does anyone wish to have any of the resolutions re removed and read separately?
Seeing or hearing none, can I get a motion to approve resolutions 117205 through resolutions 12025? Oh yeah, that would that would help. I'm sorry. Read. Resolution 117, resolution awarding a
contract to block group and for block safety for the police department. Resolution 118, resolution appointing members to the Washington Township Planning Board and amending the mayor's appointment book. Resolution 119, resolution authorizing a change order
and accepting a maintenance guarantee from Capella Construction, Inc. for Salem Avenue Culver Improvements. Resolution 120, resolution accepting a change order and accepting a maintenance guarantee from Capella Construction,
Inc. for St. Charles Colulbert Improvements. You figure five times I would have this down by now. Any questions, comments? Can I get a motion to approve resolutions 117205 through
resolutions 12025? Motion. Second. Second. Roll call. Councilman. Yes. Councilman Harris, yes. Councilman Bennett, yes. Council Vice President Brown, yes. Council President Deborello.
Moving on to old business, new business and reports. We'll start with Councilman Harris. Yes. Um just want to talk about uh last Thursday I had the pleasure of uh attending Java J Cafe. This is uh held at the Washington Township High School
and this is where some of the uh MD and ASD students are given the opportunity to learn real world working skills uh and experience in the food service industry by greeting guests, taking orders, serving and practicing money skills. Um it's a beautiful thing. Uh I
got a a good meal and drank some coffee and then went right to Seven Brew Opening and uh that was that was really great. Looks like they're thriving right now. So, I had a very highly caffeinated Thursday. So, it was a good day. So, I just wanted to acknowledge both of those
things. Thank you, Councilman Bennett. All right. Couple things are coming up. So, this weekend will be the 17th annual car show at the Old Stonehouse by the Historical Preservation Commission. Like people to come out. Um, we're going to have probably 200 cars, vendors, uh,
music, uh, chance, uh, things and, um, Chinese auction or whatever they call that now. Um, so do come out and support, uh, the historical preservation and it's a great event from 10 to 2 and
you can see me in the parking lot. Um, also with distracted driving, again, as I always say, slow down. Uh, it's very, very important. Residential areas. Now, the kids are out a lot, especially
with uh, you know, being nicer. We're going to see more kids out uh, with bikes and walk people walking. So, make sure that you're aware of that and do follow uh follow the uh residential speed limit of 25.
Um over at the environmental um tomorrow there'll be a uh planting at the veterans park um at 11:00 a.m. um we had a tree donated by uh Columbia Bank.
Um on Friday, actually on Saturday, this Saturday, there's a bird walk in the park at 7:30, meets at the amphitheater, uh hosted by um the Gloucester County
Nature. Uh on Sunday, uh this Sunday coming up, we're giving away milkweed and maragold at the Washington Lake Park uh entrance off of Green Tree right near the garden area and like people to come
out and take advantage of it. Um and then the following Saturday we have tree seedlings giveaway and that'll be again also at uh in front of the uh garden area at uh the green tree side.
So do take advantage of these. They're great opportunities. Uh the tree seedlings are great and actually the flowers. And I I always tell a story is I have I have a maple tree that I got probably 15 years ago that's now 20 feet
high and uh and that was because of the um environmental. So and and also just to let you know that there is an upcoming um board of ed meeting uh next Tuesday at 7:30 at the
high school. That's it. Council President Delvillo. The other thing that I want to talk about was again I wasn't there for the seven brew but I've been watching what's going on. So congratulations to them. Uh they're just amazing people. Also I was challenged to the ice bucket challenge
from Logan Ellis from our ROC right in our Washington Township High School. I did challenge you council vice president. I did also challenge the mayor and chief Gersik. So I'm looking for those uh ice bucket challenges to come back from you guys as well. And the last thing I want to end on is that
getting a lot of calls, a lot of emails from residents about all different things. So, please continue to do that. Anything you have questions about, anything you need to know, if I don't know the answers, you know, I always reach out to the mayor or our BA Joe Russo or anybody and we'll get you the answers. So, please reach out to us and
and that's how we're kind of solving a lot of things going on within our town. That's all I have. Councilman Yorkis. Thank you. Um to piggyback on what Councilman uh Rich Bennett said, um Friday, April 25th, noon, there's a tree
planting at the Thorn Track. The address is 231 Woodbury Turnerville Road. It's Arbor Day. This will be the kickoff for Rotary Woods. Uh the Rotary Club's part partnership with the township um and open space. Uh if you can try to make
that Saturday, April 26, 7:30 a.m., bird walk in the park, meet at the amphitheater. Uh, this event led by Marie Hegman and friends from the Gloucester County Nature Club is always a hit, weather permitting. Uh, and then
Sunday, April 27th, 9 to noon, um, milkweed and maragold giveaway plants will be distributed at Lot J in the Washington Lake Park. Volunteers can arrive at 8:15 to help bag the plants. And um as we all know, yesterday was
Earth Day. Hope the weather was nice and uh just continue your good mother earth practices throughout the year. That's all for me. Sister Rooney. Thank you, Mr. Council. Uh vice president. Um not much to report on my
end as the agenda indicates. We had I think six ordinances on tonight. So the legal department remains busy. But one of the interesting contradictions of my job as a lawyer is I can't talk about much of what I do until you see it on the agenda. Um but we maintain very busy
u very busy schedule and I hope that everyone had a very wonderful holiday season and I hope that you're enjoying the weather now that spring has has finally arrived. It's New Jersey so hopefully it's for real and not just a fake spring. Mr. Russo,
Mayor Delapia. Thank you, Councilman Brown. Uh, first I want to congratulate 7 Brew on their opening. We were there last week. Uh, great new people and uh, great business in town. So, I wish them the best. Um, I attended uh, with Councilman York South Jersey Periodonics
Dental Implant uh, groundbreaking. Dr. Dan is building a new building on a Carver Road. It's a beautiful different architectural that we're not used to in town that I think will stand out. So, we wish him and his staff the best. Um, I also attended the
Rick Zaminer awards uh put on by the Washington Township Chamber last last week. They recognized Alicia Elliot from MCINUS. Anybody knows Alicia? She's well deserving of this award. So, congratulations to her. And last, I want to say um please keep the people up north in your prayers for all these
wildfires in New Jersey. Thank you. Moving on to my report uh from the library. Uh they have several activities and events listed on their website. Uh one of notables is collecting sports memorabilia with Dr. Nicholas the Pace
this Saturday, April 26th at 2 p.m. So please continue to check on their website. And a reminder about Everbridge. If you want to receive important updates regarding township emergencies or special events, please
grab one of the QR codes on the front table and uh sign up. If you have questions or problems signing up, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone or by email. Uh that's it for me other than I did attend several events with
the mayor last week. One was a lemonade stand at the um bunk bunker, I'm sorry, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, uh the opening for the laundry, and then of course we can't forget the baseball parade, uh which was well attended. And
we still are planning on doing the softball game. We just have to get another date. So once that's confirmed, uh we will uh break out our uniforms and get beat again. So, moving on, please be sure to check the website for
information and updates about the new trash and recycling collection process. All dogs in the in the park, I'm sorry, all dogs in the township are required to be registered and vaccinated. Please stop in the clerk's office to register your dog for 2025.
The deadline is next Wednesday, April 30th. Please check our website for information on Earth Day. I know it's past, but the Earth Day activities. This includes bur walks, exhibits, poetry walks, recycling lessons, milkweed, maragold, and tree seedling giveaways.
The Old Stonehouse Village is holding their 17th annual annual classic car show on Saturday, April 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. More information and the registration form can be found on the website. We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy. All proceeds will be
used toward the Stonehouse Restoration Project. The annual Red Cross Battle of the Badges blood drive is on Tuesday, April 29th from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the municipal building. Please respond to the call and support our fire department and police department and
give the gift of life. Please call 1800 Red Cross to schedule an appointment. Gather your family and friends and come out to enjoy Super Saturday on May 10th beginning from 10:00 a.m. to 4 pm in Washington Lake Park. There will be live music, vendors, and more. Mother's Day
is Sunday, 11 May 11th. Wishing everyone and a happy Mother's Day weekend. And finally, the primary election will be held on Tuesday, June 10th. You may only vote for the party you are registered during the primary. The deadline to change your party affiliation is April
16th. The deadline to register to vote is May 20th. Quorms can be obtained in the clerk's office. Audience participation, please follow the public decorum posted, which has also been attached to the public agenda and limit
your comments to 5 minutes. Once you have completed your comments or questions, I will then ask if any member of the governing body or their designate wishes to address your questions or comments. Can I get a motion to open to the public? Motion. Second. All in favor? I. The floor is now open to the
public. If anybody wishes to speak, please come to the podium. State your name and address for the record. Good evening. My name is uh my name is Denise Brush. Um, I live in Washington Township here at 243 Boothby Court and I am a local volunteer with an
environmental group called Food and Water Watch and we are currently conducting a campaign to ask local municipalities to pass resolutions of support. For the New Jersey Climate Super Fund, could you just tap your mic to see if it's on? We're having a hard time hearing you. Oh, that's right. Okay. And your name is Just talk a
little closer. Oh, sorry. I'm not tall enough, I guess. And your name is Denise Brush. B R US. Okay. Yeah. Um so um I'm talking about the climate super fund act which is being considered by the assembly. Um it's assembly 4696
and uh Senate 3545 the New Jersey climate super fund act. And it states in the summary, it imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in the Department of Environmental
Protection to collect and distribute compensatory payments. So this bill um is currently working its way through the various committees. Um it has been certified for a fiscal note, so it's making some progress. It's gotten through some committees. Um, and as you all know, the state is currently working
on its budget for next year. And a lot has been said in the press about all the challenges the state faces in meeting its fiscal obligations in the rise in the face of rising electricity prices, inflation, other pressures. Um, and of course, this budget will also affect
Washington Township. Um, and one of the areas where the state must spend more money each year is on repairing damage of various kinds caused by climate change, caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, uh, drought, and even um, the intrusion
of salt water into our groundwater. So, we're all affected no matter where we live in the state. Um, and as you know, the this year um, Gloucester County has been affected by wildfires due to a drought um, which we had over the past year. um which was one of the most
severe we've seen. Um so what this bill does is it establishes a process for the state department of environmental protection to collect compensatory payments for climate change related damages. So compensatory payments will be sought from large fossil fuel
companies operating in New Jersey that have been responsible for more than 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions since 1994. So these payments will then be put into a fund from which payments from climate change adaptation
projects will then be dispersed. So municipalities such as Washington Township will be able to apply to pay for local climate change adaptation and resilience projects. So I have uh a resolution which was drafted by this
organization, Food and Water Watch. Um and I can leave a copy with you. Um, and I also met with the Environmental Commission last week um to introduce this and um explain it to them. Um, and
so as you know, resolutions are non-binding. Um, they're in support of a bill or issue. Um, and so far in New Jersey, um, Maple Shade and Haden Township have passed resolutions in support of this Climate Super Fund Act.
Um, and Woolwitch and National Park. um are also considering it. And that's just in, you know, in Glouester County and Camden County. Um and so the more like the more municipalities that came out in support, the more likely the bill is to pass. And um so obviously you would
benefit from it. Um and so please consider um take a look at this resolution um and um hopefully pass it and you know, show your support for this resolution. Thank you, Miss Bush. if you could uh we could have that resolution give to our
uh clerk here and she can distribute it to us. Thank you. Anybody have any questions? Thank you. Next, sir. Good evening. My name is Frank Tragno, T
R A GN O. I reside at 462 Egg Harbor Road on the Turnersville side, which is just one block south here past Ganttown. I'm here this evening to request a street light for the
electrical pole that sits on the strip of land between Egg Harbor and the Egg Harbor service road between Heather and Penbrook evening. It's very very dark
and very difficult to see. The pole in question has no number on it, but it sits just a few feet away from the stop sign that faces Heather Road.
partly up the pole. There are coils of wire and a metal steel frame that I believe a solar panel should have been installed at the time when other solar
panels were installed and the service road correction egg harbor road was resurfaced few years back. The pole that exists there now is a replacement
pole where a vehicle had ran into it and split it in two a few years back. Just recently, well, not too recently, there are trees along that same area that was also
hit. The tree is now dead and leaning. At this time also I would like to request that that tree be taken down along with its roots to avoid any safety problems. In addition to that living on
the corner of A Harbor and Heather, I have trees planted there on the corner which were also hit by a vehicle. Fortunately, no pedestrians were walking at the time, which they have a tendency
to do early in the evening along with their children and small ones at that. I would like to have this request passed on. The only objection may be in my
opinion there's a street light directly across the street on the soul side in the evening. It does not shed enough light for an already darkened area at the Heather Road entrance.
It is very difficult to see at night, especially when you're traveling north to south and you want to make a lefthand turn. You have vehicles coming at you with their headlights. I myself have passed it. No,
it's not my age or my eyesight. It's just that you just cannot see and judge where it may be. Uh that's my request for this evening and I thank you for your attention. Sir, if I may ask. Yes. Prior to that pole
being damaged, was there a light on that before? No. Okay. Um and that's at Heather and Pemrook on Egg Harbor Road. Sorry, give me again. That you said it's between Heather and Pemrook on Egg Harbor Road. That's the pole that you're talking about. The pole is located on
Egg Harbor and Heather. Heather. Okay. next to the stop sign that faces Heather Road. Maybe we can I'll I'll take a picture of it. We'll have uh Joe. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you for bringing it to our attention. Hi, ma'am. My name is Rosemary Columbo. I live at 32 Chel Lane in Washington Township and I'm here on behalf of the homeowners of Heatherwood which is a 55 plus community off of County House Road
and Caserta Drive. Our community is composed of 160 individual homes. The average age of the homeowners in our community is 75 years old. 58 of those homes are occupied by single or wided widowed individuals.
Approximately 33% of our homeowners generate only one tall kitchen bag of trash a week. In addition to that, they only put their recycling out once every two to three weeks because really they don't generate that much recycling. The remaining homes are occupied by two
individuals. Can I ask you to speak into the mic, please? I'm sorry. You don't hear. If you can raise it up. Yeah. The remaining homes are occupied by two individuals. And I I'm sure that they don't generate as much trash as the average home in Washington Township. Uh
Heatherwood has a private landscaping company that comes once a week and they take away all the yard debris. So we really don't need that yard debris trash can. Majority of the remaining homes, as I stated earlier, the homeowners are 70
to 80 years old. These new 95gallon trash cans are very large and bulky. These cans have increased the burden on our senior citizens to wheel them out to the curb. With all due respect, I understand that these new trash cans
receptacles will save time and money and protect the trash collectors from un from injury. Unfortunately, one size does not fit all. We have done some research and determined that Riverwinds, a 55 plus community in Westford, have
given have accommodated their seniors with smaller trash cans that fit the arms of this trash process that you're introducing. Cherry Hill and Manua also have differing size trash cans. Again, one size does not fit all. If these
communities have accommodated their senior citizens, then Washington Township should be able to accommodate us. We are asking you to reconsider the sizes of the trash cans and give our seniors smaller ca trash cans that make it easier for them to wheel them out to
the curb. I just want to add that uh Washington Township has always been very gracious to the senior citizens. Frank Elmoro, who is your director of public works, has always received any requests that we that we've generated with uh uh
haste and he's he's a very nice man. So, um I don't want this to sound adversarial. We're just asking for smaller trash cans for our senior citizens who some some of them use canes and walkers and it really is a burden on
them. Thank you for your time, sir. My name is Jim Sherry and I'm the treasurer of the Heather Board of Trustees. And just in addition to what Rosemary said, I went in and talked to Frank Altoro about this. And he
basically said it was a done deal. Everybody's getting 95gallon cans and it didn't matter that other communities are able to accommodate their residents needs. But Washington Township made a decision
to just buy one sizefits-all and it doesn't work for us. We also have a requirement in our community where the trash cans are not to be outside. We have to keep them inside. So this is a burden for everybody with these giant trash
cans and especially with the amount of trash they gener we generate which is min very minimal. So, I just think that the township has made a rash decision here and needs to rethink this whole
situation. Thank you. Well, we appreciate your uh your input, sir. Hello, Lorraine Hilen, Six Grove Street. I was here uh two weeks ago fighting for my lake for 30 years. If you can speak into the mic too, please. Okay. So,
basically I'm back this time because I just want to make sure that I I'm not missing anything since, you know, two mayors ago, Mayor Gatinelli had told me about fixing the township dam that destroyed my lake. um that they were
putting in for the grant and that it would it would take o you know past the year for us to find out. So that kind of kept me quiet for a while until it came in. And then when it came in and everyone said congratulated me that you know you're finally going to get the dam
fixed which will fix your private lake. Um, there was a new mayor, Lorie Burns, who really helped me a lot because I found out that with the grant money, they were not fixing the dam and they were just going to fix this spillway, which doesn't come into play. So, now here we are with another administration
and even though I went through all this last week, I was just wondering if someone could explain to me to make sure I'm not missing anything that it's almost $800,000. And if you're not if you don't have that same engineer anymore and you
don't have the construction company anymore, is it is it all on hold? Cuz I I just want to make sure that I'm not missing that there's permits out and they're using the money for something else and you know while I'm trying to fight that it, you know, that dam really needs to be
fixed. Um can some can anybody explain to me that it is all on hold or how that works? So I I could start out just for a second, Mr. Council Vice President, if that's okay. So ma'am, hello. Good evening. I think we had a chance to
speak briefly um offline last time after you came to the council meeting. I think you were going to provide us with documentation. Did we my office? Okay. I started. Okay. So the mayor has it. He started to take a look at it. So I can only speak for myself as solicitor. I
will speak to the mayor. um he's going to take a look at what he has and I'm sure he may have some questions for me based upon what he takes a look at and then as we discussed last time that may better enable us to answer your questions. Okay, may I speak also? Um so
Lorine Frank's on vacation this week because of the holiday. Haven't had a chance to talk with Frank, but we were planning on walking walking the site and coming out to you to make sure cuz he was saying spillway. you were saying, damn, we want to make sure we're talking about the same exact thing so it' be easier for us to come out and walk it
with you so we know we're on the same page. Um, but since Frank wasn't here, I start reviewing the paperwork myself. Um, I can pass it along to Mr. Rooney. It is her only copy, so I really didn't want it to leave the building so I can put it in your office for you to review next time you're in the building so it
doesn't get misplaced. Okay. But does anybody know if that money is already being spent? It stays on hold until you have new plans for what it is for.
CFO can only certain things for certain cost in that we have to spend it that way. So it's very very strict. You can't just say we have the dam to fix, but we don't really feel like it. Let's go fix a road. Yes. And I I understand that. And
so on anything else through Mayor Gatinelli told me that it was it was for that dam. I've been fighting to have that dam fixed for 30 years and it belongs to the township and it's destroyed mine and 12 other properties because the lake doesn't hold water anymore. So she told us to wait. You know, they're putting in for the grant
and everything. And then apparently when the grant came in, even Norcross's office called me and said, "Oh, you got it. All this work you did. You know, they got the grant, blah, blah, blah." And it turns out that the wording in the grant in the in the application, which I
don't know cuz I only got six of the 40 pages. I nobody could get me the rest of the pages, but apparently I'm being told that it it only said for the spillway on on the lake, which doesn't come into play because the water never gets that
high. That's for the overflow, but that there there is paperwork that shows that the dam was was destroyed. It's a natural dam and they put a sewer line in. So, I've been doing this for 30 years, but she told Gat and Ellie told me that that's what the grant was going to be for, but it would take about a
year and a half before everything got approved if they got it. And they got it. And then the wording said the spillway for Ward Lake, which is the lake that I'm on, and storm water management. And that one sentence got
almost $800,000. Now, I was assuming it was for my lake, but when I asked more questions, it was to dredge the upper lake that belongs to the township, which is always full and beautiful, and nobody can answer the question as to why what storm water management is
and why it's not included in the dam I've been fighting for for 30 years. So, I do understand that the grant, it does mention the lake and the spillway and all, and it doesn't specifically say the dam, but it is a township dam that I've
been fighting to get fixed for 30 years. And I was told by two other administrations before this one came in that they were going to do it. When I worked with Lorie Burns and I said, "What what's going on? You know, it's not the dam." I met with Lorie Burns, the town solicitor, and the engineer who
did give me a guarantee that they would use that money and fix the dam. And they even told me it would be this the steel piling and blah blah blah. And now that it's spring, which it was supposed to be done this spring, I'm told no, the only thing is the spillway. So, I don't know
what the what game plan is going on, but I do know that it has to be used for what it says and it should be included in the storm water management because I was promised this and I think you can make changes to it too, but I can't get a straight answer out of anybody. Ma'am,
if I may. Yes, ma'am. exactly where the spent which is what what what no one could tell me what the storm water management is and I'm going to tell you that both that engineer who I talked to many times and uh Frank
Alamurro they they they were involved in putting that request in and I don't know why but Frank Alamuro would come and and say that there was no leak in the lake. And I I in that paperwork I gave you, you could see that they did the borings and said that there was water running under
the pipe. And Frank thinks he could walk the dirt road and say there's no leak. It runs all the way to the pumping station. So I'm I'm getting very frustrated and tired with this. But really tonight, I know you're going to help me. You're going to look at the paperwork. We're going to meet. I would like to be there when you come down and
see the lake cuz I have a lot to show you. I I have so many pictures of how quickly it goes away and I I'm so frustrated, but I I guess really my only question for tonight is is somebody working on on using that
money on something? Are there plans being made, permits out there, anything? because I saw a crew working on Pitman downer road which if you go from my lake to the upper lake that the township owns which is full and beautiful and then you go up from there toward Pitman Downer
Road there's another lake bed and then across Pitman down there there's a very small lake bed and there were crews drilling under the road at there and I stopped and asked them what is what are you guys doing and and who is this for
you know is is this a for township ship or is this county? What is this? And the guy said, I don't know who it's for. All I know is we're trying, they want to know what's under there, under the street between the two lakes. And I thought, is that part of what's going on
with with my lake and working its way down? Cuz they said they were going to dredge the upper lake and stuff. And so I I just want I want to be informed as to what's going on. If they're testing the water up there, that drains into our lake. We're all on wells down there. if they're if they're using the
money for something else and my dam my lake isn't going to be fixed because you're not going to fix the township dam. I don't know what I have to do, but I don't know why I can't get an answer on any of it. Well, ma'am, if I may, um, the mayor has received your paperwork.
He's actively reviewing it. And to just reiterate what our CFO said, the grant will be spent on what is in or what is detailed in the grant. Now, having not seen the grant, I cannot tell you what's in there. Okay? I haven't seen the uh
wording of it, but give us the opportunity to do some more um investigating and the mayor is going to get back to you. Yeah. If you just be, like I said, I know it's been 30 years, but if you could just be a little patient, I just want to make sure I do my due diligence and I talk to council.
We realize about it and you will get an answer. Even if it says this, we're using it for a birthday party. I'll give you the answer. At least I can tell you exactly what it says and what's being done. But as far as my knowledge, nothing is being done on that grant. Correct. Yeah. So, not not a dime of
that money has been spent anywhere yet. We will we will be looking into We don't have the grant yet. Right. Right. Right. So, I'm sorry.
I put it in the budget. I'm tell when I when I met with Lorie Burns when she was mayor, she called me and congratulated me that they got it. They got the award, Jack. They got the award letter. Yes. He Jack called me and said,
"We got it." But but listen, ma'am, if if she's telling you that the award letter is not here, and believe me, dealing with I've dealt with grants before, we don't see any money until we get a corresponding grant letter, award letter. So, I don't know what Mayor
Burns had why she called you and told you that. But if I had North Cross's office call me and Jack Eras, if this is a state grant, um Norcross's office handles federal grants. He may have had an assistance in helping get you further
with the state grant, but I can't. If she says we do not have anything in writing, we have not received the funds yet. But rest assured that whatever is spelled out within that paperwork, we have to spend it on what is in that
paperwork. I have a newspaper article that Norcross came down here, okay, to to to to present that. I understand, but we can't do anything until we receive that letter and the money. So, listen, I we
we do appreciate you coming to us the last time and this time and like the mayor said, he's going to look at the paperwork. When our CFO receives the information, then we can proceed with our new engineer and so forth. We're not trying to stonewall you. We're just
saying we don't have the information to move forward yet and we will. I I'm just trying to avoid being stonewalled because we've been doing this for 30 years. We're not going we're not going to do that. You can rest assured that this council and this mayor will get you answers as soon as we are physically
able to do so. Okay. Thank you. So, okay. And the only other two comments that I'd like you to consider when you're looking at all of this is um you know for for the longest time I said this last time for the longest time every time I talked
about it they'd say it's a private lake. We can't you know it's not a township lake. We can't do anything about it. And I would always say I'm not asking you to fix my lake. I'm asking you to fix your dam which has been broken for 30 years. And Mayor Lamongo did try to fix it. He had he had a whole crew out there and it
didn't fix it. And you know, well, you made mention last month about the township dam damaging the dam. I did ask you to clarify and we do believe it was damaged by the MUA. So, I think we're looking at my next comment. So, my next comment is yes, I I do believe it was
the MUA, right? Okay. But I don't I I don't really care who damaged it, okay? It's not my dam and it's not up to me to fix it, but it is a township dam and for 30 years I've been begging the township to fix their dam. And so if you think
you have to go to the MUA or you think you could use the the storm water management money that they mentioned my lake because of all my complaints and then you know somehow that got screwed up. I think rest mayor and it then the it's the
township dam and I'm asking you guys to figure out how to finally fix it because it destroyed 12 pieces of property. Our property values are destroyed because the township refuses to fix their dam. Okay? No matter who broke it, it's your
it's your with this mayor council. We're not refusing to do anything, but we need to look into what we are obligated to do with this grant and we have your paperwork. The mayor again is reviewing it and we will be back in touch with
you. I just can't tell you exactly when, but we will be back. Like I said, I didn't get I I asked and asked and asked and came up here and signed the paper to that I'm allowed to see certain things and I got six six out of like 42 pages.
So, I don't know what the rest said. Okay. But I think I should be able to see that as a resident of the township. And I just feel like the people that I went to and fought for this for like when Gatinelli was in and Lorie Burns, I I did believe
her and I think she was trying to do the right thing, you know, but I I I I'm I'm always back in the same place again with it not being fixed and everyone go, well, we'll look into it. Well, the this is that if that grant application does not say
anything about fixing the dam, then that was done on purpose because I was told by the by Gatinelli and them and even when the money came in, you know, and it it's like they were just appeasing me
and figured I'd go away again, you know. It's very aggravating. And I I don't mean to sound disrespectful or anything, but I we understand, but unfortunately, we're not going to solve this tonight. And respectfully, we we've already set
our position where we're going to go with it. And the mayor or the business administrator or maybe one of us from, you know, the council president or myself, and we're going to work with with the mayor's office and we'll get you an answer. Unfortunately, we just
can't give you answers tonight. Okay. But nothing's being done yet. Do you know if does anybody know what the road work what the drilling was at that lake on Pitman Road? I do not know. I do not have to like the county could have that is okay. So that was not township and that
was not part of this. I can't tell you yes or no on that. But if it's if if it's a county road, the county is doing the work on it. Bitman down is a county road. Yes. Okay. So thank you. But they now they weren't working on the road. They were just drilling with well for any number of reasons and they may not
they may or may not have communicated with public works. So thank you. We'll uh we'll get back to you. Hi sir. My name is Gary Potti. I'm a resident at Heatherwood. I'm a vice president on the board. We have an open meeting tomorrow
night and I'd like to be able to tell the residents, is this a done deal or is there a possible way we can get an answer on the trash cans? If we can get smaller trash cans or if it's just done, we have to be able to tell the
people. Is there any consideration of maybe going to the smaller ones like other communities are doing? Definitely understand your point. Um the trash cans have been ordered. They will be starting to be delivered within the next two weeks. Those cans are coming. Let me finish. Those cans are coming. Some of
the other communities that were referenced earlier tonight are more mature. They they've had this program for some time. One year. Okay. What What towns? West Westford. One year. So, Manua, Cherry Hill, I know some of the other ones, they've been able to work those cans in over time. Well, what they
did at Westford was they complained because the cans are too big. They said, "Whoever wants to get the smaller cans, turn them upside down on trash day and they'll give you a smaller can." That's all they did. Now we have 160 people like
Rosemary said later. I personally don't care. But for the other people who just could get to the sidewalk, I can't see them pulling them big trash cans. Plus, they can't fit them in their garage. So, you know, to to make it an adjustment like that without contacting the
community is really not a sound judgment on the county states or the township's part. I mean, you can't just do that to a 55 and over community. Just not right. Now, I've been I'm an engineer by trade, so I know everything we're talking
about, but something like that, you say you're saving money. Who's getting that money? We're saving you. Oh, and will my taxes? Yes. Okay, I'll wait for my taxes to be lowered. I'll take the bigger trash can then. Thank you.
Anybody else from the public wishing to speak? Please come forward. Seeing none, can I have a motion to close to the public? Motion. Do I have a second? Second. All those in favor? We will now go into executive session
regarding litigation at 7:08 p.m. will be approximately 30 minutes and action may be taken when we return. Can I get a motion to approve resolution 121205 resolution authorizing executive
section? Motion. Do I have a second? Second. Roll call. Councilman, yes. Councilman Harris, yes. Councilman Bennett. Yes. Council Vice President Brown. Yes. Council President Deborello.
Yes. Okay. We're in executive session.