WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=PXNndzCis5Q

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: PXNndzCis5Q):
- 00:00:15: Meeting Called to Order: Opening Remarks and Roll Call
- 00:02:31: Bill List and Meeting Minutes Approval Discussions
- 00:04:04: Adoption of the 2026 Municipal Budget Discussion
- 00:06:03: Bond Ordinance 0013-2026: 2026 Capital Improvements
- 00:07:57: Bond Ordinance 14-2026: Construction of Police Building
- 00:09:37: Presentations: Recognition of Police Officers' Life-Saving Actions
- 00:25:45: 10-Minute Recess & Refreshments Announcement
- 00:37:46: Ordinance 12: Amending Zoning for Conditional Licenses
- 00:47:21: Ordinance 15: Protecting the Township from Data Centers
- 00:53:31: Introduction of Ordinances 16-21: Code Amendments
- 00:57:34: Resolutions 119-128: Consent Agenda Approval
- 01:00:22: Old Business, New Business and Reports from Council
- 01:15:00: Public Comment 1: Barbara Dada - Budget, Development, Infrastructure
- 01:26:50: Public Comment 2: Mr. Drazzio - Budget Concerns
- 01:33:11: Public Comment 3: Mike Dillio - School District Updates
- 01:35:49: Meeting Adjournment


Part: 1

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Good evening. >> Good evening. If I got to have everybody take their seats so we can begin, please. And you got >> Thank you. >> I'd like to call this meeting to order.

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It is 6:04 p.m. This is a regular meeting of the Township of Washington in accordance with the requirements of the New Jersey statutes regarding open public meetings. >> Notice of the Pete, mute yourself. Notice of this meeting was legally

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advertised in the Courier Post in South Jersey Times as well as posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building. Fire exits are located through the double doors to your left and to your right. Please silence all mobile devices. This meeting is v being videotaped. Anyone who does not wish to

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be seen on television may be excused. This will be shown on channel 9 every week. Sunday 9:00 p.m. Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Friday 10:00 p.m. and Saturday 10 p.m. and will continue until the next meeting. This meeting is also being livereamed

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on YouTube. It can be viewed at the link 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

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God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Madame clerk, roll call, please. >> Council Vice President Brown >> here. >> Councilman Harris, >> here. >> Councilwoman Pascalone, >> here. >> Councilman Urkus, >> present.

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>> Council President Dearillo, >> here. Mayor Delopia >> here. >> Mr. Russo >> here. >> Mr. Rooney >> present. >> Mrs. Beckish >> here. >> And Miss Miss Caven

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>> here. >> Can I get a motion to approve the bill list for May 6, 2026? Motion by Councilman Jurkus. Can I have a second? >> Second. >> All those roll call. Councilman, >> yes. >> Councilman Harris,

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>> yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Brown, >> yes. >> Council President Deberella, >> yes. >> The bill list for May 6th is approved. And I have a motion to approve the meeting minutes in the executive session meeting minutes for April 22nd.

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>> Motion. >> Motion by Councilman Harris. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Councilman Jükis. Roll call. >> Councilman Jesus. >> Yes. >> Councilman Harris. >> Yes. Councilwoman Pascalone, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Brown, >> yes.

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>> Council President Deborello, >> yes. >> Moving on. Um, before we get into adoption of the 20. Oh, >> also can I have an a motion to approve the 2026 budget workshop meeting minutes

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for April 29th? Motion. >> Motion >> by Councilman Harris. Do I have a second? >> Councilman York. Roll call. >> Councilman Jurkus. >> Yes. >> Councilman Harris. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone. >> Abstain. Council

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Vice President Brown. >> Yes. >> Council President Deborola. Moving on to the 2026 budget adoption. First of all, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the mayor, his staff for again working so hard and diligently for the residents of Washington Township and coming together

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with a budget that is not only fiscally responsible but uh helpful to the taxpayers of Washington Township from the municipal side. Resolution for conducting a public hearing for the adoption of the 2026 municipal budget.

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Can I have a motion to approve resolution 117 2026? Motion by Councilman Jurus. Do I have a second? >> Second >> by Council Harris. And I have a motion to open to the public on 2026 municipal budget.

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>> Make that motion >> by Councilwoman Pascalone. The second >> second >> by Councilman York. I'm sorry, Councilman Harris. Anyone wishing to speak on resolution 117, please come to the up to the podium. State your name

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and address. >> Seeing none, can I have a motion to close to the public on the 2026 municipal budget? >> I'll make that motion >> by Councilwoman Pascalone. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Councilman Harris. Roll call. >> Councilman.

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>> Yes. >> Councilman Harris. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone. Yes. >> Council Vice President Brown. >> Yes. >> Council President Deborello. >> Yes. >> Resolution 118 2026. Resolution adopting

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the 2026 municipal budget. Can I have a motion to approve resolution 118 2026? >> By Councilman York. I have a second. >> Second >> by Councilman Harris. Roll call. >> Councilman. >> Yes. >> Councilman Harris. >> Yes.

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>> Councilwoman Pascalone. >> Yes. Council Vice President Brown. >> Yes. >> Council President Deborah Ella. >> Yes. >> Moving on to bond ordinance 0013-2026.

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Ordinance providing for various various 2026 capital improvements by and in the township of Washington in the county of Gloucester, state of New Jersey, appropriating 3,983,000. Therefore, and authorizing the issuance

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of $3,783,850 for bonds or notes of the township of Washington financed for the cost thereof. This ordinance is up for adoption after a public hearing. Can I have a motion to open to the public ordinance 13 I'm sorry, ordinance 13,

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2026. >> Second >> by Councilman Urkus, second by Councilwoman Pascalone. All in favor? >> I. Anyone wishing to speak on ordinance 13 2026, please come to the podium and state your name and address.

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Seeing none, can I have a motion to close to the public? >> I make that motion. >> All right, Councilwoman Pascalone, second by Councilman Harris. All in favor? >> Can I have a motion to approve ordinance 13 2026?

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>> By Councilman York, second Councilman Harris. Roll call. >> Councilman Jurkus, >> yes. >> Councilman Harris, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Brown, >> yes. >> Council President Deborello,

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>> yes. Moving on to ordinance, excuse me, 14, 2026, a bond ordinance providing for the construction of a township police building phase one and in the township of Washington in the county of Gloucester state of New Jersey

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appropriating $10 million therefore and authorizing the issuance of 9,500,000 in bonds and notes of the township finance part of the cost thereof. Before we move on, I want to thank the mayor

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and the chief of police for their hard work um and talking to council about replacing this building that is in dire need and necessary for the safety of our officers and the betterment of the public. Can I have a motion to open to the

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public ordinance 14 2026? >> Second. >> Motion by council York is second. Councilwoman Pascalone. All in favor? I >> I >> Anyone wishing to speak on ordinance 14, 2022, please come to the

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podium. State your name and address for the record. Seeing none, can I have a motion to close to the public on ordinance 14 2026 >> by Councilman Jükus. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Councilman Harris. All in favor? I. And

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>> I have a motion to approve ordinance 14206. Councilman Jükis, I have a second. >> Second. >> Councilman Harris, roll call. >> Councilman Jük. >> Yes. >> Councilman Harris, >> yes.

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>> Councilwoman Pascalone, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Brown, >> yes. >> Council President Zabarella, >> yes. >> Ordinance 14 passes. Moving on to our presentations. Mayor and council takes great pride in

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the performance of all of our emergency services and we're glad to see so many represented here tonight. With that being said, I'd like to ask Chief Chief Garc to come forward for presentations of officers. Council May there

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please come up. Good evening, Mayor Delip and members of town council and our residents. Thank you for coming out tonight and supporting the uh police department and our community um with with such a strong showing. Um our police department truly

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appreciates the mayor and council's vote tonight supporting our agency. U tonight we're here to recognize four of our officers, Officer Dante Moore, Ben Swan, Rob McNair, and Matt Tucker for their exceptional actions on the evening of

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Saturday, March 28th. At approximately 8:23 p.m., officers were dispatched to Green Tree Road in front of All-American Assistant Living for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a vehicle that had struck a telephone pole. The caller reported that the driver was unconscious

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and not moving. Within one minute, officers Tucker, Swan, McNair, and more arrived on scene. They located the driver, Kathy Friedrick, unresponsive, and locked inside the vehicle. Without hesitation, they forced entry into the vehicle by breaking out the windows.

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They quickly removed her from the vehicle and determined she was not breathing and had no pulse. The officers immediately began CPR and deployed an AED, delivering two shots for approximately 7 minutes. They work together seamlessly performing

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life-saving measures under extremely stressful conditions. We're grateful Kathy has a second chance and she and she is now part of our Washington Township family. We're proud to call her our new friend. So, before I

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was able to share um this video on social media, um the Friedick family came into police headquarters and I saw them in the lobby with giant bags of Chick-fil-A. I was wondering, "Wow, it's really nice. Chick-fil-A is delivering lunch to our officers." So, in speaking

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with them out in the hallway, I learned that they were here to recognize our officers from the first platoon um that helped save her and they were serving our officers lunch. So, I I went back to my office to watch the body camera video and um I was impressed, extremely

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impressed by these officers actions. Um and I wanted to share it with Kathy. I wanted to share it on social media and I was sure that the press would be calling for it. However, I had to cut and paste and edit it. Um Officer Swan here clearly the the leader on the platoon as

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a senior officer. He's a SWAT team leader also. um clearly provided leadership and direction out at the scene. Um however, he used some colorful language on the body camera. So, Kathy, I'm not I'm sure you don't remember this. When they when they tore

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you out of the vehicle, your sweatshirt uh got tangled over your head. You had a your hoodie was on and he provided some very direct instructions to the other officers here to clear the way. Around the seven minute mark of the

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video, recognizing the urgency of the situation, he used what I'll call motivational speech. To make it very clear that it was time to get her into the ambulance immediately. I just wanted to share two messages I

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received. Um this is a ve a very rare save um from Gloucester County medics from from Andy Lavell. He's the chief of Gloucester County EMS. Way to go. Good afternoon, Chief. I note it was I noted

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with out I noted with interest the outstanding service your officers recently provided to the motors who experienced a cardiac arrest while driving. Successful resuscitation of an out of hospital cardiac arrest is

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regrettably uncommon, meaning it doesn't happen often. Successful resuscitation with a complete neurological recovery is even more elusive. As a 20-year paramedic here in New Jersey, please pass on my sincere appreciation to your

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officers that resuscitated the motorists. Their actions is clearly pushed the bar high for all fellow first responders. And I received another another letter from a paramedic. On March 28th, your officers responded to a motor vehicle

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collision with reported entrapment on Green Tree Road. They arrived ahead of other resources. They identified an unresponsive patient, initiated care immediately, proceeded with life-saving interventions, including CPR and AED

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use. By the time our crews arrived, your team had already delivered two rounds of CPDR and two defibrillations, resulting in the patient regaining pulses and ultimately consciousness shortly after. I'll wrap this up. We later learned the

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patient was transported to Jefferson Hospital and is and is expected to make a full recovery. This outcome is a direct reflection of the rapid response, clinical awareness, and decisive actions taken by your officers on scene. Without their

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intervention, this outcome could not have sign could have been significantly different. So for my officers, for your officers, um I have to award you chief's challenge coins for your integrity, community response, and your

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responsibility to our residents. Um, like the Friedick family said, I wish I wish we could do more for you. Um, from from everybody here in the room tonight, thank you so much. Would you want to say a few words for council president?

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I just want to say it's a big night for our police department, especially these four officers. Um, it's a great honor to be associated with this. One of the things I always admire about our first responders is they get up in the morning, they go to work not knowing what they're going to face that day. Um

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whether they're going to make it home or not. And to know that these kids, I mean, as I'm getting older, officers are getting younger and younger. These kids acted the way I I I couldn't fathom. Um it's just again, it's an honor to be associated with them and congratulations

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for everything they did. Thank you. As the mayor stated, it is a proud moment for the residents of Washington Township to be proud of their emergency services. Being part of an emergency service in the form of police and fire

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that I've been for several years, I can appreciate the training experience and the leadership that comes along with this profession. Our chiefs of the departments are to be commended for the professionalism that is instilled upon their officers and the

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commitment that they give daily to the community and we are thankful that they are here to support us daily and be there when we need them. Their their efforts sometimes go unappreciated. We do not always know

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some of the sadness that they encounter but they are resilient. They come back and they are there to fight another day. With that in mind, again, on behalf of mayor and council, we honor you and we appreciate everything that you guys do

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for us, protecting us day and night. Thank you. Everyone can sit down if you'd like. Sorry. I am not a public speaker by any means, but I do want to take this time again to thank the officers, the EMTs, and

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everyone in the hospital, my family, my friends, my co-workers, my fellow physicians. I just want to say if it wasn't for their immediate response to my event, I would not be able to

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stand here today to thank them. AS as a nurse, I performed CPR on many patients myself, not ever really getting to see the full outcome of their response.

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But I am a true witness of their outcome. It was their immediate response that has given me a second chance of life and I am so thankful for them and they will forever be my new family

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friends. I thank everyone. I thank everyone for coming here not only for me but for them. This is a total shock to me. I did not realize the extent of this recipient, this award

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ceremony and I just again am overwhelmed by the love and support from everyone and I appreciate it and thank you. Tell me. You guys jump in the center. Why don't you get in the >> middlebody

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in here? We need one more second. Are you ready? >> Three, two, one. If I could have everybody's attention. While the police department was on scene

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and uh being one of the first ones there, we also have our other departments, the uh police uh the fire department and the ambulance squad. If I could call members of the ambulance squad and the fire department forward, please for RECOGNITION YES. I was just going to call on uh

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Chief Gazinski and Chief Dogus if you could come forward as well. This is what teamwork represents. Again, thank you for all for attending to honor these individuals who provide self unselfishly

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um the care, honor and uh uh professionalism that they do daily to uh protect our township. Thank you. Everybody got their pictures? Chief uh Chief Garc >> 10-minute break for the

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>> break room is over. >> Okay, we will be taking a 10-minute recess. The chief chief Gersich has asked me to uh tell everybody that there are light refreshments in the break room. Moving on to ordinances.

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Ordinance 12 of the township of Washington, the county of Gloucester, state of New Jersey, amending chapter 285, zoning, article section 285 342 entitled classes of license conditionally permitted within a township. Maximum license is permitted.

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This motion was previously tabled at the last meeting. Can I get a motion to remove from the table ordinance 12? >> I have a motion by Councilman Jükus to remove it from the table. Do I have a second? Do I have a second? >> Second.

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>> Sorry. >> By Councilman Harris. All those in favor? I'm sorry. Roll call. >> Councilman Jükus. >> Yes. >> Councilman Harris. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Brown. >> Yes. >> Council President Deborello.

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>> Yes. >> This can Can I have a mo This this ordinance is up for adoption after public hearing. Can I have a motion to open to the public on ordinance 12 2026? >> Second. >> Second by Councilwoman Pascalone. This

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ordinance has been re uh advertised in accordance with uh the public notice law. Anyone wishing to speak on ordinance 12, please come to the please come forward

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and state your name and address for the record. Seeing none, can I have a motion to close to the public? >> Make that motion >> by Councilwoman Pascalone. Second. >> Second >> by Councilman Harris.

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>> Can I have a motion to approve ordinance 12 2026? Can I have a motion to approve ordinance 12 2026? Make that motion >> by Councilwoman Pascalone. Do I have a second? >> Do I have a second on the ordinance?

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I'll make the second. Roll call. Councilman. >> No. Councilman Harris. Sorry for the pause. I do apologize. I got a little sidetracked on on what exactly the

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ordinance is. Um, is there a way of revisiting this ordinance? What's up? >> So, I can jump in here. Councilman, is your question that you want the ordinance to be reread so that you can confirm exactly what's being voted on?

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>> Yes, that is exactly it. >> Okay. Okay. Ordinance. Ordinance 12, 2026, ordinance of the township of Washington, count county of Gloucester, state of New Jersey, amending chapter 285, section 285 342 entitled classes of

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license conditionally permitted within the township of Washington. Maximum license is permitted. Does this apply specifically to one business or license class? >> Did you hear that? >> Sure. Was that a Was that a question for

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me, Councilman? >> Yes. Yeah. So, this ordinance which is here for just to give everybody some procedural background. This would be uh third reading. Um ordinarily we do an initial introduction and we do a second reading. It was tabled um by council at

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that time. It's been renoticed and introduced again. This changes the number of retail licenses that the township is going to allow. It also clarifies how many uh cultivation licenses are going to be permitted

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specifically in the redevelopment zones. Um so the the most significant change is the retail license that are going to be available. It's my understanding the township currently has one license in operation. Um another one that is coming

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uh online. So this would be eliminating the additional available retail licenses >> and for the public's benefit max we're talking about cannabis sales. >> Correct. >> That's that's correct. >> Okay. We're not talking about any other

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kind of license. We're dealing specifically with the dispersement uh of cannabis. >> That's that that's correct. And just to be clear if this further helps explain anything for anybody. So in the in the state of New Jersey, it's actually the

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state that awards you a license. Um but the town can decide how many it wishes to to offer um as a matter of course and of course you know it can restrict zoning from a zoning perspective um how

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many licenses it wants in certain areas. >> Thank you. currently. Um, previously about four years ago, previous administration and council uh elected to have three total up to three cannabis licenses in the

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township for this, uh, for sale. We currently have one active um, council. Um, we're not in a discussion phase of this Mhm. All right. Being that there was a little bit of confusion about the ordinance,

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I'm going to take a step back and ask again for a motion to adopt uh ordinance 12. motion. Do >> I have a second? >> My council woman has gone.

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Now, if there would be some discussion, I I apologize. So, yeah, that'll help. So, we're asking uh we we have a motion on the floor and a second, and this is would be an appropriate time for any further discussion on this motion.

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Okay. As I stated previously, um, we have a maximum up to three cannabis licenses available. One is already been in use for the past year and a half, maybe two years. >> Yeah. Speaking of your mic, >> I am >> and short people.

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>> One one is currently approved and going up at the intersection of Deli Drive and Selena Road. That'll come online sometime this year. What we're discussing is the possible use of the third one. and we've had applicants and now council decides whether or not we

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want to proceed go forward or table it indefinitely until uh a future date. Correct. We've already tabled it. We've removed it from the table and right now we have a motion to adopt

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with a second. So at this proper time it would be uh reason to call for a vote. So, Council, um, Madame Cler, can I have a roll call? >> Councilman Jus, >> no. >> Councilman Harris, >> is there still some confusion?

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>> Yes. Yes. I'm unclear on are we this vote of a yes or a no? Is this to have a third license? >> This is to remove the third license. >> Okay. Remove the third license. My vote is yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone.

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>> Yes. Council Vice President Brown. >> Yes. >> Council President Deborello. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 12 is is adopted. >> One second. Got it. That's why I'm make sure. Ordinance

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15, excuse me, ordinance 15, 2026, ordinance amending chapter 285 of the township code of the township of Washington. This ordinance is up for adoption after public hearing. Little background on

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this ordinance. Township um council and the mayor's office. We have um been seeing a trend of other towns uh taking interest in protecting the town's uh ecological um well-being by because of

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the data centers that are being uh brought into the region. Council is taking the step to uh protect Washington Township from the addition of data centers. That is the crux of this ordinance. Can I have a motion to open to the

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public ordinance 15206 >> by Councilman Yorkis? Do I have a second? By councilwoman Pascalone. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Those once wishing to speak on ordinance 15, please come forward and state your name.

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>> The blend. You got it. And I thought my problem was going to be the balloons. Well, good evening members of council and mayor Delipia. Um, I my name is Victoria Benetti. I live in the school

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section of town and I am also chair of the environmental commission. Uh, I am not speaking here this evening on behalf of the environmental commission because we did not prepare official comments. So there's our council leazison taking care of us.

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>> Thank you. >> I was involved over. >> Thank you so much. Um but but I feel I do know the sentiments of the commissioners and so I I will speak on my own behalf but I I think I can probably reflect what the environmental

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commission on the whole feels about this. Um we are grateful we have witnessed other communities dealing with the introduction of data centers sometimes without the knowledge of the residents. um you know sometimes the

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procedures that were in place actually did not function as they should have in the public forum. But in any event, as the data centers develop, we're learning a lot from these communities about their impacts on the environment as as has been said on uh

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certainly a tremendous amount of energy consumption which impacts all of us in terms of cost as well as the availability of electricity. Uh but additionally water consumption, uh air contamination,

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um land use, it's just been incredibly challenging for so many communities and terribly disruptive and in fact life-changing. So we are grateful, very grateful that we are taking affirmative and preventative steps to actually not allow

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data centers in our community. And we thank you. Thank you, Vicki. >> Yes, sir. A little taller. Uh Rick Eckert, a 34 year resident of town, also an alternate member of the environmental commission.

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Uh if you had a chance to watch the news at all, you've seen what's been happening in Vinland, what's been happening in Monroe, and what has happened um around the country related to um these data centers. Um, I sort of

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raised the issue to the commission back in December, uh, when I got tuned into what was happening in Vinland and saw just how amazingly huge these things are and potentially disruptive and resource hogs. Um, so we reached out

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uh to the mayor and to council and um, you know, had a meeting and a discussion and I'm very happy to say they were very very happy to um, think about that on our behalf. uh consider the township first in terms of um the uses of these

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data centers if they were to get in here and uh and move very quickly and we're very proactive to get in front of the problem before you have an issue like Vinland or like some of these other towns where you already have an application right now in East Greenwich. They're they're uh in a situation where

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they're putting forth a ban very similar to this, but they have already an application before them. So, they've got to handle that um you know outside of the ban. So, you know, again, very grateful um very happy to to have worked so closely with the town and to be very

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proactive in terms of uh eliminating this problem from potentially coming here. Appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Eer. >> Would anybody else like to speak on ordinance 15? Can I have a motion to close to the

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public? >> Motion >> by Councilman Harris, second by Councilwoman Pascalone. All in favor? >> I. Can I have a motion to approve ordinance 15 2026? >> I'll make that motion. A second. >> Council uh Councilman Yorkis motion.

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Councilwoman Pascalone. Second. Roll call. >> Councilman York. >> Yes. >> Councilman Harris. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Brown. >> Yes. >> Council President Deborello. >> Yes.

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>> Ordinance 16. I'm sorry. Ordinance 15 is a pass. Ordinance 16, 2026. Ordinance amending. Thank you. Ordinance 16, 2026, Ordinance amending chapter 108 of the Township Code of the Township of Washington entitled

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graffiti. This ordinance is up for introduction only. Can I have a motion to introduce ordinance 16, 2026? >> Motion >> by Councilman Harris. Do I have a second? By Councilwoman Pascalone. Roll call. Councilman, >> yes. >> Councilman Harris,

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>> yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Brown, >> yes. >> Council President Deborello, >> yes. >> Ordinance seven, I'm sorry, Ordinance 16 is introduced. Ordinance 17, 2026, ordinance amending chapter 80 of the

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Township Code of the Township of Washington entitled fees. This ordinance is up for introduction only. Can I have a motion to introduce ordinance 17, 2026? Motion >> by Councilman Harris. Second by Councilwoman Pascalone. Roll call. >> Councilman Urkus.

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>> Yes. >> Councilman Harris. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Brown. >> Yes. >> Council President Deborello. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 17 is introduced. Ordinance 18, ordinance amending chapter 185 of

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the Township Code of the Township of Washington entitled rental property and landlord registration. This ordinance is up for introduction only. Can I have a motion to introduce ordinance 18 2026? Motion >> by Councilman Jükus, second by I'm

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sorry, motion by Councilman Jükus. Second by Councilman Harris. Roll call. >> Councilman Jurgis. >> Yes. >> Councilman Harris. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Brown. >> Yes. >> Council President Deborello. >> Yes.

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>> Ordinance 18 is introduced. Ordinance 19, ordinance amending chapter 285-15 of the Township Code of the Township of Washington titled building and zoning permits. This two is up for introduction only. Can I get a motion to introduce ordinance 19206?

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>> Motion >> by Councilman Harris. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Councilwoman Pascalone. Roll call. >> Councilman Urkus. >> Yes. >> Councilman Harris. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Brown. >> Yes. Council President Zabeller.

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>> Yeah. >> Ordinance 19 is introduced. Ordinance 2020 20 Ordinance 20-2026. Ordinance amending chapter 179 of the Township Code of the Township of Washington titled property maintenance and housing standards. This ordinance is

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up for introduction only. Can I have a motion to introduce ordinance 20-26 by Councilman, second by Councilman Harris. Roll call. >> Councilman. >> Yes. >> Councilman Harris. Yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Brown.

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>> Yes. >> Council President Zabella. >> Yes. >> Motion is uh I'm sorry, 20 Ordinance 2026 is introduced. Ordinance 21206. Ordinance adopting the amended

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redevelopment plan for the Washington Square development in accordance with the requirements of the local devel redevelopment and housing law. NJSA4A col 12A-1 at SEC. This ordinance is up for introduction

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only. Can I have a motion to introduce ordinance 2021 26? >> I'll make that motion. >> By councilwoman Pascalone. >> Second. >> By Councilman Harris. Roll call. >> Councilman Urkus. >> Yes. >> Councilman Harris. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Brown. >> Yes.

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>> Council President Zabella. >> Yes. Moving on to 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 council wishes to have one removed

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and heard separately, they need to indicate it prior to the reading of the titles. Does any member of council wish to have any resolutions removed and read separately? >> No. Seeing none, resolution 119 2026, resolution approving the release of a

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maintenance guarantee for a bond opening permit at 25 Sunset Road permit 2023-48. Resolution 120-2026, resolution approving the release of a maintenance guarantee for a road opening permit at one Samantha Court permit

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2023-49. Resolution 121-26. Resolution approving the release of a performance bond for Joseph P. Marino III 145 147 and 149 Hero Grenlock Road SU New Jersey block

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52 lot 550 508509 project 08-18-P288 resolution 122 resolution approving a large gathering application for global producers services for wine and barbecue festival in Washington Lake Park on June

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13th through the 14th 2026. Six resolution 123 resolution approving a large gathering application for big karms tailgate Carmen Ki for Barks Beats and Badges K9 event located at 3501

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NJ42510 Turnersville, New Jersey on June 6, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Resolution 124, resolution authorizing the municipal clerk to advertise request for proposals for professional services for

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the township of Washington. Resolution 12526, resolution approving 2026 renewals for massage parlor licenses in the township of Washington. Resolution 126, resolution authorizing the issues

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for limousine license to Paul Singh. Resolution 1272026, resolution appointing members to the zoning board of adjustment. And finally, resolution 128-2026, resolution approving a large gathering application for K9 Resorts luxury pet

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hotel grand opening event located at 5851 New Jersey 42 sweet 23 Turnersville, New Jersey on June on June 13, 2026. Can I have a motion to approve resolutions 119 2026 to 128 2026

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>> by Councilman Jr.? Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Councilwoman Pascalone. Roll call. >> Councilman. >> Yes. >> Councilman Harris. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Pascalone. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Brown. >> Yes. >> Council President Deborah Eller. >> Yes.

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>> Moving on to old business, new business, and reports. We'll start with Councilman Harris. >> Thank you, Council Vice President. Um, first and foremost, I want to uh give a shout out once again to our our officers and first responders um for their actions uh that took place that we all

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uh celebrated tonight. Um, wonderful stuff. And uh these are um their actions are are part of a culture in our police and fire and uh and ambulance. Um so again uh want to commend uh everyone

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involved in that incident. Uh, also want to thank our our mayor and staff for uh putting together uh the budget, working so hard on creating that budget for our town. Um, wanted to mention we had uh we had a parade uh committee meeting uh just the

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other night. Um, so we're hopefully going to put together, not hopefully, we are, we're going to put together a wonderful parade this year uh celebrating our country, celebrating our town. We have some really uh good creative ideas and hopefully some nice surprises in store for the town. um recently attended the car show at the

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old Stonehouse and uh if you haven't been uh either to the car show at the Stonehouse or just visited the Stone House, you really need to do that. I've lived here um is going on exactly 50 years here in Washington Township. And uh although I've kind of stepped foot in the old Stone House, it's the first time

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I actually had a tour and a little bit of a history lesson uh during that car show. And uh the place is amazing. So, if you haven't stepped inside and actually gone up to the second, even third floor, I do recommend that you do that. And um lastly, uh this upcoming Saturday is our super Saturday at

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Washington Lake Park. That starts at 10:00 until 4. Uh it's going to be a great time for the entire family. Uh food trucks, uh inflatable rides, pony rides, petting zoo, face painting. Um it's going to be a great time for the entire family. Hopefully the weather

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cooperates. Uh but I hope to see everybody out there Super Saturday. Thank you. Moving on, Councilwoman Pascaloon. >> Yes, I also want to thank the police and first responders for their quick thinking and life-saving measures for our resident. And today was a much

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needed reminder in life there's a lot of stressors and deadlines and just keeping up seems impossible anymore. However, today was a reminder that life is very precious and we need to continue to be kind and help others and give back to our community like these police officers

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and first responders did. And that's all I have for tonight. >> Our high school leaison, Giana. >> Thank you. Um, good evening. Um, Thomas Jefferson Elementary is working on a reading garden called Where Literacy Grows. In addition to an actual garden,

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it also includes a book trail and a free library book exchange um, from contributions of rock animals from their green club and contributions of windchimes from their STEM club. The reading garden is due to be completed for a grand opening on May 14th.

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Our spring sports season at the high school continues with over 540 student athletes participating across 11 sports programs. Girls and boys track and field competed at the prestigious pen relays. Girls golf is off to an 8 to3 start on the season qualifying for the state

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tournament. Boys lacrosse is currently 10-2 on the season tied with Kingsway for first place in the South Jersey Lacrosse League. The Washington Township High School's athletic department will host their annual college announcement day for our senior student athletes continuing their academic and athletic

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careers at the collegiate level on Wednesday, May 20th. The class of 2026 is gearing up for a memorable end of their school year. Next up, students will attend their senior prom on May 21st, 2026 at the Sheridan in Atlantic City. There was a softball memorial game

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for Sophia Bennett on the varsity softball field at Washington Township High School on April 30th. There was a ceremony prior to the game to honor Sophia and a game that followed at 4. Finally, on behalf of the students of Washington Township, I would like to

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extend a sincere thank you and congratulations to all of our amazing teachers as we celebrate National Teacher Appreciation this week in our schools. Also, thank you to our nurses as we observe National School Nurse Day. Thank you.

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>> Moving on, Councilman Juris. >> Thank you. I wanted to uh piggyback on what's been said so far about um our police and fire departments, our EMTs. I happened to be uh coming outside of the building that night, sorry, at the All

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American Assistant Living Facility and saw all the lights and ambulances. So, I walked up a little bit and saw the um policeman giving uh CPR. And it wasn't just for officers and a couple EMTs. The street was loaded. fire trucks,

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emergency rescue vehicles, police cars. It was a big effort. There had to be at least 30, 40 people there, cars, trucks. Um, and that's why I'm a big supporter of our police and our fire department and our EMTs. Um, I've seen them in

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action. When we first came on board here three years ago, we had a big windstorm in the wintertime and we met at the uh facility on Hollyell and we saw firsthand these people in action coordinating rescue efforts, fallen

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trees and wires on cars. Um we just don't pay lip service to it. We get behind them which it's long overdue. Our police and fire need 100% backing from the community and this council and mayor, which they're getting. And I'm

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very proud of the actions taken by this council and mayor and our whole administration in forging this forward because that facility goes back to 1967. It's called functional obsolescence and that the building can no longer be

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repaired. We don't want to keep our our people who work there, police officers, administration in any kind of danger. And God forbid we do have some kind of super emergency terrorist act. We want a state-of-the-art facility that can

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protect our residents. Uh it's enough that we're dealing with carjackings and the dangers from uh people here who legally should be in jail or out of the country, but they're not because we're in New Jersey, a sanctuary state. And I'll say

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it. I'm against being a sanctuary state. Governor, you better change it. No one in this town ever better get hurt by someone who should have been deported, and they weren't. But I'm very proud to have

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uh voice my opinion for the police administration building. I know our chief has worked hard and you saw how many police officers we have here tonight. We have a hundred people on this force now. Not seven or 11, hundred. They deserve this and as do we

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as a as a community because we all benefit from it. So I want I wanted to thank all the EMTs, the policemen and the job that this board did. It's long overdue. So, thank you all. >> Thank you, Councilman York. Moving down the dez. Miss Bakage, do you

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have anything you'd like to add? >> No. Thank you. >> Ba Russo, >> no reports. Thank you, sir. >> Mr. Rooney, >> you had to look for me for a second because I'm not in my usual spot. >> I was trying to keep it in order.

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>> Nothing to report, Mr. Council Vice President. Thank you, >> Mayor Delpa. Thank you, Councilman Brown. Uh, first I want to reiterate, uh, thank you to our first responders. Uh, to them, I guess that's a normal day. Something to expect for us. We can't fathom being in that situation. It

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definitely puts into perspective uh, some of the things in a daily basis that we think are struggles or um, not going our way. But, uh, I'm happy for them and and those officers, especially some of them I've sworn in less than 12 months ago. So, very proud to be associated

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with them. Weather is getting nice. Uh, please slow down. Uh, I spent many hours at the baseball field last couple weekends and people are driving very fast around there. There's kids crossing the road. Um, and it's everywhere, not just that road. So, please be cognizant of there are kids out in the streets.

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Um, with the weather getting nice, Washington Lake Park, go to our website. There's many events coming up. We have music festivals. Uh, Joe mentioned Super Saturday being this Saturday. Uh, music in the park. We just approved uh the wine and food festival. So, please come

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out, enjoy the parks, national night outs there. All that information is on our website and the park website. And lastly, I want to mention that ordinance that uh Vicki and Rick spent uh spoke about. I did get to meet with them. That's my job is to meet to the

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residents, listen to your concerns. If it's something that we should act on, I bring it to council. I'm lucky that I have a council that believes in what we want to do. They put it forward. Um, and you know, we were able to get done what the residents and what you guys had

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asked for. And and we're here for businesses, but the right businesses. We want our town to move forward like the police station is moving our town forward, and we're open to listening to all the concerns of our residents, and we're going to continue to move our town forward each day. That's all I have.

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Thank you. Oh, lastly, I want to thank Colette, Jim, and Joe for all the hard work on the budget. Um, I I know we start this in the fall and we're here in May and we finally come to the end and I know you can stop biting your fingernails now, but um I do appreciate

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all your hard work, all the late hours, early hours and um you know, again, I just I just appreciate all your support and everything you guys do. Thank you, Jim. Thank you. That's all I have. >> Thank you, Mayor Council President. >> Thank you so much. First of all, I want to echo everybody in the fact that we

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just have so many amazing first responders and it it really is, you know, like council woman was saying, life is so precious. So to to have them all come together tonight to have the woman they save be there, it really is something just truly amazing. It's just speaks volumes of Washington talent. So again, thank you to the mayor, you know,

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and mayor worked so hard on the budget with his team and and the team there. But you know, the things that you don't see either is that a woman reached out and was having a problem with a business. last night 9:30, 10 o'clock, we're going back and forth. Mayor went in today, got it done, got this business where it needs to be. So, anybody who's

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out there, anybody who's has questions, they don't know where to turn, reach out to us. I mean, this has really been so proactive on on the mayor and and all the council members, reach out. We're really here for you. And to go along with that also is that we have a woman who reached out about some internships.

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So, I've been posting if people have any internships, please let us know. or just let me know if anyone's looking to be a mechanic. A new mechanic shop is opening up. They're looking for an intern. There's another one with environmental. So, there's so many things. So, as we get that information, we'll be posting that. Get that information out there so people know if they have any any

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students that need an internship, please reach out to me, let me know. We'll post that. And finally, just want to speak about about myself. Uh coming to an end on this project. I did take the kids down to uh Disney with Meg. It's actually Meg's birthday tomorrow and Mother's Day, so it's a win-winwin

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except for my wallet. That's the only thing not winning here. But they're uh they're having a good time finishing up here. Actually had a tenant coming to the Airbnb now. Can't wait to show you guys pictures. Really excited about it. Really excited to see everybody. Can't wait to come home and spend time with everybody. Looking forward to uh

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catching up and I appreciate everybody and all your hard work. Thank you. That's all I have. >> Thank you, Council President. Enjoy your vacation. Uh, for my report, uh, the only thing I really have, um, is the library. Um,

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they will be holding a concert series in the spring, 2026. Uh, Fish and Whistle May 16th at 2 p.m. Uh, and also Mary Beth John's and Bob Bro June 6th. Um, so if you can attend those events at the

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library, it is well worth your time and effort to attend. and also patronize the library and take advantage of the resources that they have to offer. Uh again, thank you to our administration for their diligent work on the budget

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and helping us get back on track. Uh they do put many hours and a tremendous effort to watch out for the residents of Washington Township with the guidance of the mayor and again our first responders which I participated in the fire

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department for so many years. I also am a police officer so I can attest to the training dedication countless hours and it's not just the academy where uh the EMTs, the police and fire start their

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training uh but it has also continued throughout their entire career and it's a lot of effort a lot of family time uh is taken away from the individual officers and the families and again we appreciate everything that they do to

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watch out for us day and night and respond to the e emergencies that many of us are running from. They're running too and the lives that was saved um this past um incident. It's just a great testament to the teamwork that happens within within and amongst the emergency

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services. So, thank you. Um moving on, all dogs in the park are required to be registered and vaccinated. Please stop in the clerk's office to register your dog for 2026. Washington Township Super Saturday event is on Saturday, May 9th in Washington Township Lake Park at

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10:00 a.m. to 400 p.m. The primary election is Tuesday, January 2nd, 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. >> I'm sorry, June 2nd. June 2nd, 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. You may only vote for the party that you are

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registered to during the primary. The deadline to register vote is May 12th. Forms are available in the clerk's office. Washington Township Shred event will be held Saturday, June 6, 2026 at the Washington Township Municipal

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Building, 523 Egar Road from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Must be a Washington Township resident to participate. And finally, happy Mother's Day to all of the um mothers out there. Uh we appreciate everything that you do for us.

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Moving on to public participation. Please follow the public decorum posted which has also been attached to the public agenda and limit your comments to five minutes. Once you have completed your comments or questions, the council president will then ask if any member of

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the governing body or their designate wishes to address your comments. Can I have a motion to open to the public? >> I'll make that motion. >> Councilwoman Pascalone. Do I have a second by Councilman Harris? All those in favor? Hi. >> Hi. >> Anyone wishing to speak to the public,

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please come forward. State your name and address for the record. Thank you. >> Good evening everybody. Uh my name is Barbara Dada and I'm from Whitman Square. I sent an email out um about a week or so ago

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and um I got no response except for Peter who seems to not be here. Um, I'm going to read this uh email that I sent to everybody. I'm writing to express serious concerns about the upcoming budget, ongoing development, and infrastructure issues in our

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township. And then I mentioned about the meetings being at 6:00, which a lot of people can't attend, but I guess they don't attend anyway, but whatever. So, regarding the budget, I strongly, very strongly oppose any additional tax increases. Many families and seniors in

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our community are already struggling financially. The township should focus on reducing spending and evaluating costs at the administration level before asking reg residents to contribute more. And please no excuses. I am also concerned about continued development

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through the township. Open land and wildlife habitats habitats are rapidly disappearing while some existing vacant or deteriorating buildings remain unused. Development decisions should pri prioritize preserving our community's character and better use of existing

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structures before expanding further. The state's land and use laws are a problem. We don't need more of anything. We can't fix what we have. Don't need more building. It must stop no matter what is on your books. Additionally, road conditions, sorry. Additionally, road

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conditions and prolonged construction pro projects have been become a significant issue. Residents deserve clear timelines, accountability, and timely completion of infrastructure work. Finally, I ask the council members to remain accountable to the people of

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this township. Residents expect transparency, responsiveness, and deci decisions that reflect the needs of the community, not outside pressures. I urge you to consider current priorities and take meaningful action on these concerns. And when I sent this uh email

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out out, nobody responded except for Mr. uh Delarello um and he emailed me back saying he would like to have a conversation with me and I don't know why I didn't get an email back from him or anybody and I

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made a a text date with him and he was going to call me and he never did. Why? Why did you do that? And Mr. Deborello, why aren't you here? Is your vacation five weeks, six weeks that you haven't been here at all? I mean, I don't know

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what's going on, but but I'm really very concerned about what's happening. And Mr. Yorky's, thank you for saying what you did about the governor. I appreciate that remark and I appreciate the fact that you're not doing the AI centers here. That is a big deal. But I'd like

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to know why nobody answered me. I really would like to know that. Well, Miss Donna, I I I'll address I started to uh address the email and council president said that he responded. I also you sent an email

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several months ago that I preer I prefer to have a conversation. I called you twice, tried to leave you a message and I also sent you a text who I was and I didn't get the favor of a return. I

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don't remember getting that. >> I have it on my cell phone. I will show you. >> I'll look at one. >> I'll look. >> Um to address some of your issues and I may let the mayor, if the mayor wants to respond to some of this too, council worked very hard with the finance department.

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When council took over the members of council that I am serving with currently, we were in a coming out of a financial situation. the taxes and increases that we are uh have done over the last couple years is to set the township straight.

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Previous administrations uh were using the fund balance and u the American rescue funds to run this town. In four years, the town raised about $400,000 in taxes which did not in did not help cover increase in expenses.

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This year in particular, the mayor when he introduced his budget was very very transparent as well as this entire council that we explained that absence of significant costs in the form of

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healthcare the new trash year and I believe uh salaries which we have contractual obligations our tax would have been raised about 2%. These are c these are costs that the

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township must incur. We are taxpayers. What we do uh affects us as well. Okay. We don't get any breaks. We pay the same taxes. Okay. And as for the open land that you're speaking of, the address the

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the the issue that you should be uh taking them to is our state legislators. Washington Township has a affordable housing component. Do we have to meet and if we don't then we are subject to litigation and other remedies. We do not

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like it but we cannot pass ordinances to supersede state law. Our concerns we share the same with you and if we can get our state legislators to change and move forward with those type of uh changes to the laws. It would be greatly

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beneficial to this township. I urge you to direct your concerns not just to us but also to our legislators who have the power to fix and remedy this situation so that we can preserve open space.

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Uh and as for transparency again we are open at all times. Again I did try to call you. I'm sorry you don't recollect that. And with the other email, >> um, I did, you know, I let council president, as were sometimes the council elects to elect our, uh, have our

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leadership respond, um, as a united front and I did not respond because of um, he took the lead. >> Hi Barb. Um, hi. >> I did get your email. I did speak with council president as well and he said he had responded. Um,

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>> he responded but he never called me. But but that's I I didn't want to over respond and I know I usually see you on Thursday and I haven't seen you. Um and you know I'm very responsive. You have my personal cell phone number. You've text me in the past and I've called you instantly. >> Um >> I don't want to bother

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>> but it's not a bother. That's kind of what I'm here for, right? And so if you ever have any concerns, I gave you my personal number for a reason and you know I'm very responsive. But that is why I did I didn't respond was he said he was handling it and I didn't want to overstep and I figured I would see you on a Thursday at some point and I just haven't seen you. So yeah,

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>> that that is why I I wasn't responsive. >> Well, I'm very concerned about these roads as well. These roads are horrible. >> So a lot of the roads, if you're speaking of the Pitman, Downer, Green Tree, Cross Keys Road, the Pike, they're all they're all they're all county and state roads and us being down here as

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the municipality. We we've dealt with a lot of phone calls. I mean, they're doing repairs. Um they're not doing good temporary repairs. I mean, it feels like you're driving a rumble strips. I've called Frank many of times. Um, all we can do is nudge them and push them to try to

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get it done or get it done quicker. We don't even get timelines. Uh, the chief does a good job of following up and try to get timelines, but unfortunately it's beyond our jurisdiction and we kind of have to follow their lead on a lot of these roads. >> Please don't give out any more permits.

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>> Thank you, Barbara. And feel free to reach out anytime. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Barb, can I say one thing? >> Yes, >> Barb. Thank you for coming out tonight and addressing those concerns and or bringing those concerns forward. Um, usually when it's a group text, I'll let

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Council President Delo or Vice President Tom Brown handle it. Um, but we had a budget meeting hearing here last Wednesday. Lasted from 2 till 5:30. Not one person from the public showed up. Not one.

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All the different department heads were here whenever their budgets that they've been working on tirelessly with our mayor and the administrator and Colette to bring the cost down. We're all in the same boat. We're all faced with rising inflation.

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For example, healthc care benefits last year went up 23% cost to us, 23% this year. Now, there's no way we can ma wave a magic wand and make it go away. We can look to the state legislature and say,

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"What are you doing that you could be doing to bring our costs down?" For example, this will touch upon being a sanctuary state. We have a criminal who's from outside the country being housed in one of our state jails. They will not turn

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over, costing the state taxpayer $50,000 a year to house. that person could be transported to the country where they came from to save New Jersey taxpayers $50,000 a year. Now, multiply that by 5,000 or 10,000 individuals incarcerated in our state prison. That's a lot of

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money that you and I could use. I feel your pain. I talk to seniors all the time who are faced with, I can't afford this, or I can't believe my electric bill. You close down six power plants in in in eight years and you start buying

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electricity from out of state. Our former governor was warned and the state paid no attention to the people who know what they're talking about, know what they're doing. We're not all experts up here. We depend on engineers and and people in different fields. This is

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their expertise. We go to them for help and we follow and we listen. And that's why we're, I think, very successful up here in containing the budget that we have. >> It could have been a lot more. >> Well, I I I'd like to point out too

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there several departments had significant cuts within their budget. >> A testament to the commitment of council and the department heads to try to keep costs in line. >> Barbara, if you want to hang around after the meeting, I I can discuss it with you. >> I I do have one question. You mentioned

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outside pressures. I'm not sure what you meant by that. So, could you clarify? >> Okay. Thank you. >> And I I'm happy to address any email that comes to me specifically on why I voted on a certain measure. If anyone wants to email me, text me, or talk to

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me after the meeting, I'll be happy to explain why I vote the way I vote. Um, but thank you. Thanks for coming forward and expressing your concerns. Okay. Thank you, Barbara. >> Yes, sir. Mr. Drazzio Dazzio,

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I'm a resident and taxpayer of Washington Township. The main question I have, has the budget being adopted? Did I >> You did adopt the budget tonight. >> Did it happen tonight? >> It did happen tonight.

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>> Okay. Well, I'm sorry because I wanted to talk about it. And uh did you vote? Obviously, you adopted it, >> Mr. Mr. Dazzio. At the beginning of the meeting, I I I don't know if you were here at the beginning of the meeting. I didn't see you. >> Make it in.

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>> Um I was so crowded I could make it in. >> Okay. I I made an announcement that we were uh having a hearing on the adoption of the budget tonight. Opened the floor as required for public participation. Yeah. gave an adequate amount of time for the public to walk up to the podium

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and nobody came up to respond. So, I'm sorry you weren't here to express your comments, but um within the allotted time for public participation, if you have some comments, we'll entertain it. Thank you. >> Well, I do have a few comments. >> Yes, sir. uh because I got I I got these

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numbers from uh the website, the official website, the numbers I want to recite. Uh but uh four years ago, three members of this council, Mr. Brown

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view or one of them uh that you have you stated that you were going to alone the line on property taxes and actually on multiple cases Mr. Dealo

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said the same thing. I need to admit that Mr. Balo ran the best uh political campaign at least municipalitywise the best I ever heard.

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But unfortunately he is a big a huge disappointment especially on the budget that you were mentioning that you are going to keep all the line on it but you did the exact

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opposite of that you did not deliver I supported the baro because he sounded really good Mr. Brown, I didn't know you and I don't know you. I did not support you.

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But Jack, I knew him very well and that's why I did not support it. I am not disappointed in Jack. I didn't expect anything different. But

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uh Mayor Gartali is known to be the most expensive mayor we've seen. She increased the budget about $9 million in seven years.

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You increase it close to $9 million 875 by8,750,000 in four years. Let me give you some of the numbers that I put together that I found. Let me know if you agree with them or disagree.

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Maybe we could sit down and uh look them over if you disagree. The tax levy in the last four years increased by 8,778,000. The surplus used

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15,700,000. the MUA contribution to the budget which when I served on council by the way we did away with that. I was very instrumental. I was the leazison to the MUA and we stopped that

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that corrupt message that they were sending that the MUA contributed to the municipal budget because I believed back then and I believe today

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that the MUA is in the business of delivering clean water, not in the business of collecting aid in taxes and contribute it to the municipal budget. You spoke about Mr. Yorki just spoke

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about the utility bills to skyrocketing but you indirectly increase the water rates because if the NUA gives money to you they have to make it up somehow. The only thing they do is

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send water out and they're going to have to increase their weights to make up the money. Altogether, the amount of money that you spend for

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balancing four budgets is 26,500,000 in the last four years. So I imagine increased by 9 million in seven years. You did it in four.

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You got to break the record big time. So when I drive around town, I don't see an upgrade of $26 million, $500,000. But if you do, I need to borrow your

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glasses cuz mine are not working. I uh I am a huge disappointment. You are up for reelection, the three of you. I don't know how you going to convince the people to vote for you again

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because you fool me once and that's on new. you for me again. That's not going to happen. I thank you for your attention and have a great night. >> Have a good night, Mr. Dazzium.

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>> Any other members of the public wishing to speak? >> Hi everyone. I'm Mike Dillio. I live on Solderbrook Drive. I'm just speaking on behalf of uh some of the things going on in the school district just to echo some of what Gianna was saying, but uh just take it a little step further for some

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of the things coming up. Um we have um yesterday we pulled the numbers for the preschool. Um we are we have a lease agreement with uh walls which is in in Pitman but u through the um no cost to the taxpayer but the preschool um

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preschool aid that we get from the state we have um attracted our whole universe that means everybody in the town who applies and registers who lives in the town and has a preschool age child three or four has access to free preschool. So that's a wonderful thing that we have. Um but we still have a lot of seats

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available. So if if anybody knows um young families who have young children um we still have I encourage them to call my office which is the registars's office at Washington Township School District and um we can kind of give you uh give you a number and um try to get

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you into the school that we need. But um just want to let everybody know that. Also, um we have a WTEF Washington Township Education Foundation golf outing on June 22nd, 2026. It's um at

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the White Oaks Country Club in Newfield. If you're a golfer or if you just want to support education, we would love to have you. There's a lot of prizes at various holes such as like $5,000 or a flat screen TV or a set of Callaway golf clubs, things of that nature. the money

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raised on that night or that day goes um specifically to the classroom where we we give teachers uh who apply um and are successful many grants so that they can enhance their instruction in the classroom. So um whether you golf or not or just want to engage in some

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fellowship or if you want to sponsor a whole um you can also contact my office my secretary and my uh former colleague and and still friend Mr. Charlie Dow. So, um, just wanted to plug those two things for the school district. Thank you for your time. Appreciate it. >> Thank you, Mr. Dillio.

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>> June 22nd. >> Would any other member of the public wish to speak? Can I get a motion to close to the public? >> Mr. President, can I respond to something that was said? >> No, let's move on.

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>> My name was mentioned, so like Make it very quick. I'd >> like to respond to a comment made by the previous uh public participant. About 14 years ago, I sat in the audience and the former chairperson of

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the MUA brought forth a check to a mayor three times removed um for $5 million. $5 million. Mr. Dazzio said nothing. No one said anything but me. I stood up,

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went to the podium. They said, "What you're doing is illegal. That's the MUA's money. They were paying the township back supposedly for the sewer lines that were put in Grenlock, Terrace, Cross Keys, and Gardenale.

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The deal that council and Mayor Lango made back when those lines were put in was that taxpayers were paying for it. The MOA was not to pay back the township, but they still insisted on doing it.

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Nothing was said by anyone but me. I stood up and said, "This is illegal. You're not to do it." Nothing was said. So, if you're going to come up here and accuse me, my running mates, number one, I'm not up here to run a political

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campaign. He's trying to do it, but he didn't do anything about it when he was on council and that was 14 years ago. Everyone has been hit with increases in

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the past two years with inflation. I'm not going to lay blame at one administration or the other, but when you have bills to pay, you pay the bills. And you have to go out and do what you have to do to make it ends meet. Sometimes you have to cut things, which we've done.

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But everyone has moved to Washington Township for a great way of life. They move here for the lifestyle and the camaraderie that we we experience. And yeah, we're all going to face tough times. We're going through it right now. You work through

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it. You do the best you can, but there are some times when you got to spend the money to make things happen. If your car breaks down, needs new transmission, you can walk, take public transportation, or you can get it fixed.

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You have a choice. But, um, I don't think this council has gone out of their way to increase your taxes. We've done everything we can along with the mayor and the administration that he's put together and it's a damn good one to do the best

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job we can for each and every one of you so we can look you in the eye and say we've done the best we can with what we were given and I know the people that work in this building are doing the same thing because we've all spent a lot of time here talking to them reviewing with them which is something the previous

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council did not do. That's a fact. You can come in here any day and ask them, "Before we showed up, did anyone come in here and care about the township and how this organization was run?" And they'll say, "No,

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we have." We're doing our best for you. Anyone has a question, please stay afterwards. I'll be happy to answer it. >> Thank you, Councilman. Can I have a motion to close to the public? >> I'll make that motion. >> Councilwoman Pascal, do I have a second?

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Councilman Harris. All in favor? >> I. >> Can I have a motion to adjurnn? >> I'll make that motion. >> Counciloman Pascal alone. Second by Councilman Harris. All in favor? >> I. >> Next meeting is May 20th at 2026 at 6

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PM. push.