Good evening, West Orange. This is Joe Fagan, your Zoom operator, and welcome to the Township Council meeting for February 10th, 2026. We are coming to you live from council chambers, you're certainly welcome to join us here in Town Hall 66 Main Street. Uh there will
be no public comment on Zoom and for the benefit of those in the Zoom audience. This meeting is being broadcast in closed captioning and closed captioning will appear on our screen here in council Jambers. At this time, I'd like to turn the meeting over to our council press.
>> Thank you. Welcome everybody. We have a very special conference agenda for you tonight. We're going to be welcoming um Oh, go ahead. This is to inform the general public that this meeting is being held in
compliance with section 5 of the Open Public Meetings Act, chapter 231, public law 1975. The notice for this meeting was emailed to the West Orange Chronicle in the Star Ledger on October 30th, 2025. Councilwoman Castelino, >> present. >> Councilman Koviaak,
>> present. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> here. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> Council President Scarpa, >> present. Mayor McCartney. Okay, so we do have a wonderful conference agenda. We are welcoming Harvey Slickovitz, a Jeopardy
contestant, and Robert Randolph, a Grammy award-winning recipient. So, Mayor McCartney, do you want to >> Thank you, Council President. Thank you. Welcome along. So, yes, and we're going to recognize February as being Black History Month as
well. Mhm. >> So, here we are tonight celebrating uh Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Har Harvey Silkovitz um our our Jeopardy uh champion Harvey was born to Arlene and Ron Silkowitz Silkovitz joining us today
on March 4th 1970 in Urbana Illinois. The family reco relocated to University Heights, Ohio in 1974 and then to West Orange in 1976 where parents and brother Andy remained in their family home. After being educated during his grammar
school years at nearby Jewish day schools, Harvey attended Lincoln Junior High School and graduated from West Orange High School, class of 1986. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from John's Hopkins University jurist doctor
degree with honors from Georgetown University Law Center in 1995. He has been practicing attorney for almost three decades. Has worked in New York City office of Cohen and Greser since 2005 where he specializes in litigation and
arbitration in complex commercial matters. Harvey is a worldwide karaoke singer. After first performing karaoke in West Orange Bar on his 21st birthday back in 1991, he has gone on to sing karaoke in
venues in all seven continents, 85 countries, and all 50 United States. Among his other core passions is the acquisition of knowledge obviously and participating in trivia competitions both online and in person including at
competitions throughout the United States. He harbored a long and intense desire to compete on the television quiz show Jeopardy. First taking the qualifying test back in 2001. When he finally got the call from the producers
in 2019, he missed the voicemail and timed out for the eligibility period that had followed that prior audition. But later in 2019, Harvey was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Harvey has valiantly fought this progressive
disease and he continued to practice law and pursue his defining interests. Neither his mis call nor his Parkinson's deterred him from the goal of playing on Jeopardy on the Alex Tbeck stage. His perseverance has was finally rewarded in
early 2025. He he became a Jeopardy contestant and traveled to compete in early 2025. His debut game aired in March. He won that game against an eightgame champion in a dominant
performance that by one popular popular metric ranks as the seventh best performance in a player's first episode in the show's 41 and a half season history. During that same episode, in the interview segment with host Ken
Jennings, Harvey stated that he has been living with Parkinson's and shared a message of hope and inspiration for all individuals who are afflicted with Parkinson's and other debilitating chronic diseases. Harvey had the misfortune of having been called to
appear on a taping date that hardcore Jeopardy alumni and hardcore fans have car characterized as extraordinarily stacked with strong players. He lost his second game in which he faced two strong opponents, both of whom would go on to
make the postseason. Nevertheless, his historically strong first game earned Harvey himself an invitation to participate in the Champions World Wildcard Tournament. That tournament, which aired in January 2026, had a roster loaded with tough
competitors, including the person whom Harvey had lost to in his second game. Taking his usual calm and methodical approach, Harvey won his quarterfinal game and advanced to the semifinals. In his semifinal match, he narrowly lost to
a player who went on to qualify for the 2027 Tournament of Champions. Harvey had arranged for his parents Arlene and Ron to be present in the Jeopardy studio audience in Cover City,
California for his 2022 25 debut episodes as well as a 2026 tournament. For all four episodes at Harvey's request, announcer Johnny Gilbert announced him as being originally from West Orange, New Jersey. Thank you for
that, Harvey. After his first episode aired, Harvey was contacted by the Michael J. Fox Foundation. He met with Michael J. Fox in person in late 2025. In the fourth annual Jeopardy honors ceremony, which Jeopardy posted on his
YouTube channel in January 2026, the show presented Harvey with the best interview initial, a best interview award. This award was given in recognition of his interview with the host during his initial episode in which he shared his message of hope and
perseverance. Arby's story including his professional identity has in animating passion his animating passions his resiliency and determination in the face of Parkinson's his advocacy for people
with Parkinson's and his competitive vagenial personality have captivated fellow fellow competitors multiple friends throughout the United States and the world and millions of viewers. His story has been publicized not only throughout the Jeopardy community, but
in multi multiple media outlets, including a nightly newscast on the national television network and CNN's website. So, we are here tonight because Harvey Silkovitz, whose nickname is Hbomb, continues to make West Orange,
his parents, and his extensive international community very proud. So, we welcome Harvey. I did tell him that was that was the first two-page proclamation that we have ever written. Well, I'm honored to be a president
sitter and I also want to say that I'm a proud product of the West Orange public schools just like people that I wouldn't try to
compare myself to like the Kelly brothers. Um, and I was very happy to rep the 07052 when I was out taping Jeopardy.
>> Thank you. >> And I I will always be proud to be from West Orange. >> God bless. council that everybody look this way. Okay.
Are we meeting the brakes here? >> Oh, very nice. >> Guess parents. Yeah. >> Yeah. hats on. >> We're official.
>> All right, look this way. Okay, you guys look great. Glad you guys did this before. Okay, Harley, what was General Lee's voice like? Mr. Faging, you're supposed to say who
is traveler. >> I watch. >> Congratulations. Excuse me, Council President. And thank you for all the excitement that you gave to the township during your run because >> such parties >> definitely made us proud.
>> Well, and I also just wanted to thank Mary McCartney and the members of the township council for bestowing this recognition on >> Oh, you're so welcome. You're so welcome. June black.
>> So you're here also um because we have a certificate in recognition of Black History Month for February whereas founded on work done beginning in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson to bring attention to the need for acknowledging and accurately representing black and
African-American history. Black United students and black educators at Kent State University used the foundation laid by Woodston to found Black History Month in 1970. And beginning in 1976, every president has declared the month
of February as Black History Month. Black and African-Americans have made innumerable contributions that have enriched America. And indeed, the lives of every American, and every American should acknowledge and express thankfulness for these contributions. Black and African-Americans have made
and continued to make America the better place and Americans a better people. And whereas throughout the arc of history to the present day, black and African-Americans have experienced and endured the inhumanity of injustices and inequities, not just from societal and
institutional biases and racism rooted in white supremacy, but also from other Americans. It is a moral imperative that each of us learns about, sheds lights upon, and continues the amount and condemns the inhumanity of injustices
and inequalities that black and African-Americans continue to experience and endure. But moreover, that each of us takes actions to realize true reforms. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Mayor Susan McCartney, and the township council do hereby recognize
February 26th as Black His National Black History Month, and call upon each one of us to listen to black voices, to learn about experiences of black and African-Americans throughout history and today. To shed light upon and condemn the inhumity of injustices and
inequalities that black and African-Americans experience and endure. to take ownership in each of our roles in perpetuating these, to confront and end biases and racism stoked by white supremacy, and to take action to realize true reforms in ourselves, our
community, our culture, and our institutions to abolish injustice and inequalities that black and Africanameans still endure today. And with humility and love for one another, take action from true reforms. May we
join hands as a united and diverse America. Thank you. >> Good evening. We have one additional proclamation this evening, but unfortunately Mr. Randolph got stuck in New York this
afternoon. Uh he sent me a text message. Hey, there won't be able to cancel this meeting with Madison Square Garden people tonight at 700 p.m. executives flew in for it. So after winning a Grammy award and being nominated for
several in the past, um certainly after you win, we understand when Madison Square Garden calls, uh you don't come to town hall to get your proclamation and acknowledgement. Um, so I'm not going to belver the point. I just want to say that Robert Randolph um is a
resident, longtime resident uh in West Orange. Uh if you don't know his family, Imani Randolph is the uh team president of Jack and Jill of America. She's also um a basketball player, a very uh wonderful basketball player. I think
she's getting a scholarship. Um so they come from a family of track stars, music stars as well as um just good wholesome people. Um so this was his first uh Grammy award that he's won. Um this was
in um he he has been in Roller Stone magazine. He's one of the greatest guitarists of all time and he's had an absolutely remarkable career and he's from West Orange. So, I think uh Joe Fagan has a little bit of info. Well,
here we are about him. Um and of course, we have his speech um on YouTube if you want to take a look at that and he did send some remarks. So, I'll share those with Mr. Fagan and perhaps we can get those online as well. Um but just his thank thanking the township for
acknowledging him tonight. Um but it's kind of cool to have a Grammy award winner that lives in your hometown. All right, thanks guys. Council President, with your permission, uh we have a few minutes and I'd like to
expand upon the uh Black History Month if I may. >> I am prepared, but just give me a moment. Okay, take your time. Uh, thank you, Council President. Thank you for your patience. Um,
yes, of course. Uh, as we know, February is Black History Month. And, uh, I'd like to, um, use this opportunity because not only is Black History Month, certainly, but it's the 250th anniversary of the United States uh, of
uh, declaring our independence on July 4th, 1776. And um I think it's appropriate for Black History Month to uh highlight some important uh aspects of the Revolutionary War as it relates to black soldiers. Now, black soldiers throughout
our history have always uh played a very important role in uh fighting this country's battles and very often their stories have gone uh either forgotten or untold. Now, in um in 1770, I'm sure you all heard of the Boston Massacre or what
became known as the Boston Massacre. And uh a little known fact or a well-known fact is that the first person actually killed in the Boston Massacre in the fight for independence, although war hadn't broken out yet. And he wasn't a a soldier. He was a whaler by trade, but
he was an African-American and he was cypress addicts. And uh he is portrayed here in this drawing, but he was the uh he can arguably be said the first person killed in the uh in the fight for independence. And um when fighting
actually broke out in April of 1775 uh at Lexington and Conquered, the so-called shot heard around the world, uh black militia men were there and they fought side by side with the white militia men. And um at the battle of Bunker Hill in 1775, the same is true.
Uh when the British uh stormed up the uh Bunker Hill, uh the uh black militia men were there and fought gallantly with white militia men. Uh and if we fast forward to uh 1781 on the Yorktown Peninsula in Virginia,
um Washington, General Washington had bought the war south and actually had uh with French General Rashambo actually had cornered Cornwallis on the Yorktown Peninsula. uh and a fierce battle broke out and it uh actually began in
September and on October uh 15 1771 I'm sorry 1781 uh by that time there was an all black regiment or I should say mostly all black regiment uh first Rhode Island and uh they uh led the assault on a British
fortification known as redout number nine and uh they were very successful and with bayonets's drone within 45 minutes they had cleared ed the uh the uh British fortification and two days later um Cornwallis surrendered to
Washington on the Yorktown Peninsula thus ending the uh American Revolution. Now um I have here a uh actually a lead musket ball from the Yorktown battlefield. It was fired from a brown best flint log m flint lock mus musket
and uh it's round when it leaves the uh the weapon but when it hits its mark tree stone it becomes deformed. Now this was found in the area of redout number nine. It could have been fired by the first
road island. We we'll never know. Uh but I do have it here and I will have it in a display case uh outside my office in town hall. Uh my point in this is not to give a history lesson uh but certainly to uh remind everyone that uh on the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary
War that black soldiers throughout our history have contributed greatly uh to the independence that we share today. Uh thank you very much, Council President. I'm a little too I'm a little short on time. I'm usually long-winded, but if anyone has any questions, I'll be glad to answer them.
>> Thank you. >> Is do you Okay. Do you would you want to do your information while you're up here? >> I would be glad to. >> Can we do that? >> Yeah. >> While I'm up here, let me just reset my
>> Okay. Oops. >> Mr. Fagan. >> Yes. >> What is Breeds Hill? >> Um, Breedill, >> you know, right? >> Wait, wait, wait. Let's Let's let the champion speak.
If I would have been referred to actually took place >> at >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> did it again. >> And I know Mr. I know Mr. Facen knows that too but >> that was absolutely correct. >> I know it is a fact. So thank you very
much Mr. >> is absolutely correct. >> You like those though, don't you? Thank you for confirming. >> So, okay, I'm going to continue with my report. Uh, I we all would like to give a hearty uh thank you to the Thank you
so much. See what I did there? To our DPW for keeping us safe and moving. It certainly was a it certainly was a challenging time and um you know it it was a several day event and uh we're we're grateful for the hard work and commitment that they
put into it and uh just in case anybody's wondering I put up on the uh e sign a countdown to spring. This was taken this morning, a screenshot. So, we're actually closer to spring uh than the clock currently indicates. Um, Mayor
McCartney's office hours will be uh February 12th. That's this Thursday here, 66 Main Street. No appointment necessary. Please stop in. The next council connection will be February 26th. We will have another council meeting in between. So, I will remind you then. Uh, but once again, no
appointment is necessary. you're able to stop in and uh talk to council members. And all the upcoming council connection dates are on uh the website at westge.org. And we also have uh open office hours with the West Orange tax assessor. He's
here on Mondays and Thursdays. Uh this information is on the website and no appointment is necessary. Uh this Monday, President's Day, February 16th, all West Orange municipal offices will be closed. Certainly the be legity service and regular garbage recycling
schedule. Uh this is something that's on the website too. Smart one. You can sign up for emergency notifications. Now this is a third party west and it's completely managed by the user. West Orange does not retain any of this information. Uh this information is on
the website. You can create your own account and you can opt in and out anytime. Um, I've mentioned this before, but I think it's worth mentioning again. Many times, uh, information appears on Facebook. Now, uh, sometimes in the Facebook groups, information can be
helpful, especially if it's shared between neighbors. Uh, but more often, unfortunately, misinformation goes out on Facebook, and that's where things begin in a rumor mill. So, if you have anything to report, please report it to the West Star uh Police Department
non-emergency line uh or police, fire, medical, please call 911. Um, also coming up, I'm actually very glad to see this because I'm sure we've all experienced it to some degree, some degree, the uh ebike. Uh there are New
Jersey ebike laws that are effective immediately. Uh however there is a grace period and full enforcement does not begin to July 20th and uh summarize those requirements and it'll be license registration insurance and age
restriction uh 15 and older. Um from our fire department I was asked to remind about space heater safety. This information is on our social media. Uh certainly we all want to be cozy and warm. uh but we don't want to let our uh
need for warmth to be overcome by uh or overwhelmed by safety. So please familiarize yourself with that and it makes basically is just rooted in common sense. Um February 17th there will be a meeting here in C council chambers uh for the
sanitary source system improvements meeting for the Hunter Road project. Uh no appointment is necessary. You can just show up here at the meeting. Uh February 22nd, uh the West Orange African Heritage Organization, community
partner, is hosting a um Black History Month program at the West Orange Library. That's February 22nd, 1 p.m. Uh Congresswoman Lmon Monica MacGyver will be the guest speaker. Um the West Orange Film Festival has
taken a hit the first two times out. Weather has not been on it side, so the new dates have been established. This is at westnarts.org. It starts this Sunday, February 15th, 2 o'clock. Uh AMC Dining Theater, Essex Screen. The first movie is Well, maybe I
shouldn't tell you. You should show up. No, it's Annie Hall. >> Uh the mobile MVC was coming was coming to West Orange. Uh but unfortunately because of the weather, uh there uh they had to cancel. New dates will be
determined. As of yet, they have not. uh West Orange recreation director Bill Ke has retired. He started um uh April 15, 1993. So he's been 30 something years and uh certainly he's going to be
missed. And Edwin Johnson, who just walked in the room, has been named as the interim director. Congratulations to Mr. Johnson. This past February, I'm almost on council president. It's I I mean I can go on and on, but I'm almost done. Uh
February 7th, we had uh the third annual Ramadan Crescent moonlighting. Now, it was so bitterly cold outside that the uh the uh DBW was able to pivot and move that event indoors where it was much more favorable for all those in attendance. And this uh past Sunday,
February 8th, uh there was the renaming of the Joseph A. Pelos Recreation and Parks Building. Uh there was a great turnout, great crowd, and it was so appropriate to name it after Joe. And the reason it was held on Super Bowl is because it was his favorite day.
And I talked about all this here. The only other thing I want to mention is uh there is a revolution 250 display uh in the lobby of the West Orange Public Library uh which with information and
artifacts specific to West Orange and uh I will have an upcoming uh presentation at the West Orange Public Library March 21st. It's a Sunday 2 o'clock and it's West Orange woman during the American Revolution Divided Loyalties. So much
good stories there, a few stories that we can h that I can highlight uh that you will actually be amazed and uh I urge you to mark your calendar and if you can attend and council president with that uh I will not go on any longer. I understand you have a meeting that you want to get on with. >> All right. Thank you. But we want to
welcome back Mr. Ply next. >> Oh yes, Mr. Start the meeting. >> Yeah. This is to inform the general public that this meeting is being held in compliance with section 5 of the Open Public Meetings Act, chapter 231, Public
Law 1975. The notice for this meeting was emailed to the West Orange Chronicle and the Star Ledger on October 30th, 2025. Councilwoman Castelino, >> present. >> Councilman Koviaak, >> present. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> here. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> present.
>> Council President Scorpa, >> present. Mayor McCartney. Will everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance? >> I pledge allegiance 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. >> The council is now in their public meeting. >> Okay, great. So, let's welcome back Mr. Paglesi. We've missed you. Hi, Anthony Paglesi representing County
Executive Joe Definenzo. Sorry I missed the last couple meetings. I was a little under the weather. Didn't want to get anyone else sick, so I stayed home. Um, really the only thing I had couple things about the South Mountain Recreation Complex. February 21st is our next job fair for uh the for summer
seasonal help. Um, thank you Joe for putting that up there. We do rely on seasonal help to keep that complex running. Uh, and then Joe had a slide up there about the fast approaching spring. On February 2nd, we all got the bad news when Lady Edwina,
our groundhog, said, uh, she saw her shadow, so there was a six more weeks of winter, which so far is true. Um, and she but she also forecasted the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl. Okay. Uh, so I think she's two for two this year. Um, that's really all I have tonight. Uh,
thank you. If you have any questions, I'm here. >> Okay, great. Um do any of my um council colleagues have any council leaison announcements before we start give them public comment? >> Uh we're going to do public comment and then we'll do later. Okay.
>> Okay. So this is a time for public comment. How many people in the audience could you raise your hand if you're going to be speaking to us tonight? Okay. Great. You may want to you well I'll invite you to wait make your way up front. Jackie would you like to start
with Good evening everybody. My name is Jacqueline Hendy, Six Beverly Road. I just had one quick question. Um, one of my friends had reached out to me um and had asked me about an immigration trust
um act and I was just curious where West Orange stood on that. I know that the mayor expressed that she was in support of it and also Councilwoman Ruden. Um and if I forgotten anybody else, please uh forgive the oversight. Um just want to know um if we've made any progress on that and when we might be able to see
that on the agenda. That's it. Thanks, guys. >> Okay. >> Good one. >> Okay. Would you like to come up? Kawaja, Ridgeway Avenue. So, last time I was here, I criticized a proposal for an
anti-semitism task force. In response, some speakers suggested that I was being insensitive to the dangers faced by Jews in West Orange. I don't agree, so I thought I would respond. So, last time I mentioned four alleged cases of anti-semitism. Two I've already
discussed, so consider the other two. One was a bomb threat to Temple Shalom in Livingston. The other was a terrorist scheme devised by two men in Montlair. Now, I think it's fair to call both of these anti-semitic and both threatening.
That said, both were handled by law enforcement, just as I said they should be. A task force can't predict or prevent crimes before they happen. can't respond during and can't mitigate the damage after. So, it's not clear to me what additional contribution a task
force would have made in either of these cases. Now, referring to the Montlair case, which was an attempted shooting, Miss Lecoitz back in November, raised the possibility that other attacks like it could happen. Imagine, she suggested an
attack on this very council meeting. Now, I don't dispute that such an attack is possible. What I dispute is that a task force would stop it. And if you think about it in more practical terms, I think you'll see why. If the worry is that someone might bring a weapon into
this meeting and start shooting, the solution is to check people for weapons for before they enter the building. It's not to let them enter at will and then hope for the best, which is SOP right now. So that's something to put on a to-do list. It was suggested last time
that Jews feel fear walking the streets of West Orange. If so, one thing the council could do is tell people explicitly that they have no obligation to divulge their street address at public comments. It makes no sense to
say, "I'm afraid to walk the streets of West Orange," and then have to broadcast your street address on a public Zoom archived on the internet. But that's the expectation. Finally, if the worry is that terrorists might attack synagogues or schools, I'm
fully alive to that threat. I lived across the street from Temple near Tamid in Bloomfield, which was attacked in 2023, and worked down the street from Congregation Beth L in Rutherford, which was firebombed in 2012. My family in
Pakistan has been on the receiving end of two suicide bombings and multiple death threats. And my father was a medical responder at 9/11. Half of my family is Muslim, the other half is Jewish. And security is an issue for both. So if you want to deploy the
police to guard sensitive locations, I'm all in favor, but I don't see what connection that has to a task force. Now, two members of the council responded to my earlier comment last month by saying that we need to get along as we do. But the council seems to
have some fixed ideas about what that means. It seems to mean that the council is permitted to rely on a controversial conception of anti-semitism, to use that conception to discredit political protest, to equate that with Jewish
security, and then to deny that it's doing anything controversial. Well, that's what I'm disputing. If the council wants to enhance security, there are practical things that it could do to enhance it. But if it intends to pursue this anti-semitism task force, it needs
to be clear about what beyond security it intends to accomplish like means and so far I don't think it has been. >> Thank you. Anybody else on this side of the room interested in making public comment?
Miss second. >> Welcome. >> Hi. Thank you. Um, Camille Dorenzo Warren Road. So, I apologize because I'm usually very prepared and now I only have this in my phone. My eyes are not so great. So I am
here not to speak on the details surrounding the Ospac site improvement project because there are other people in the room who will discuss those details and have much greater knowledge and of the big scope. Um but I am here to make mention that the improvements
listed on the bond ordinance aren't to make the facility look beautiful. They are make to they are to make the building functional. Ospac turns 25 years old this year and much of the equipment is actually original. Here are some of the
improvements that we have reported to the township since we began management in 2019. The stage floor which is in need of repair. It's actually in need of replacement. Boarded windows. The windows have been
boarded with plywood since 2022 when there was a breakin and that was the solution to board up all the windows with plywood that's now crazy been weathered and people comment on it every year people as in audience members
comment on what happened to your windows. So we're going on four four years with boarded windows. Um sorry let me get to my list. uh the cracking concrete stage extension. So at
Ospac there's a very small concrete stage extension. It's got a stone facade which was once beautiful and the stones are completely falling. And because the stones are falling and because in 25 years there's some settling the actual
stage extension is cracking. So there's no longer a level stage. So, the main stage goes like this. And the stage extension goes like this. Um, and the bent handrails, that was an
accident. A garbage truck jammed into the bent into the handrails and now they're bent. Siding is broken. Um, this has been a problem for the last 5 years. There's um been some broken siding. And when one crack occurs, then it just
continues to get worse and worse. Um, outdated stage lighting. The stage lighting is 25 years old. Pleasant Valley Productions has supplemented by borrowing and renting and doing all kinds of things to actually get that to
be more updated um, and more. So, I would just like it to be known that these are necessary improvements and they were supposed to be part of that original grant and they aren't because others can explain why that bid had to
be split, but um that's why I'm here. So, thank you. Please consider that. Thank you. Okay. Anybody else on the left side of the room? No. Okay, let's go to the right. Thank you, Mr. Goldman.
>> Sure. Um, good evening, Justin Goldsman, Moran Road. Um, we saw some of you over the week at the town's Black History Month scholarship and at Ramadan on Saturday. So, good to see everybody here. Um, just speaking on some of the agenda items tonight. Um, regarding the debt management plan resolution. Um, I know it's to serve as a guide for the
town council and its budgetary discretion. Um, and while downpaying our debt is important, I also think it's critical to consider our immediate short and long-term choices as well. Um, over the last year or so, I was talking about multi-year budget revenue projections, which we've had discussion at during the
council presentation. Um, this past week, newly elected Assemblyman Mccertie introduced legislation to have the state operate on such a basis. Something I've been advocating for for over a decade in Trenton. So, I do think that while we're downpaying our debt, we also need to be considering what 1 year, 3 years, and 5
years of our town budgets look like in advance. Um, on resolution 52-26, um, very excited to see the $75,000 grant from DCA for Lafayette Park. Just seeking some clarity. Um, I don't know
what a mini pitch is, so I'm just asking if we can shed some light on that. Very excited for new developments and projects there. It's awesome. Um on 5426 adopting the town's fair share housing plan, we had a pretty heated conversation as a council on Howard
Grul. Correct. Does anybody here from Howard Grul? >> No back and forth >> aware, but we have an agenda item where the council is going to move to adopt our fair share housing resolution and we pay experts, multiple consultants. So, if there is public comment tonight to
speak on issues regarding the housing plan, I do think our housing experts that we pay and contract out should be here to hear the concerns of the public. That would just seem like a no-brainer as an item that we're discussing tonight. Um, on the Downtown West Orange Alliance budget, an organization I truly
support, um, I notice budget projections for revenue generators or a fundraiser and promotional materials. Happy to see every effort in our town to support the downtown business alliance and to find additional revenues to do so. As you discuss PGO and the debt plan tonight, I
do wonder whether budgeting projections should be based on the fundraiser projections and if that's standard practice. Um if and hopefully those revenue fundraisers go better than they're budgeted for. How does our budget shift? Do we lessen the tax burden on our public or the overall
municipal budget? Do those funds get spent or are they currently um going to other things? Does it go towards additional revenue that they can be saved for for PGO? Um I ask these questions both for public knowledge. Um but also if there is participatory efforts to increase those fundraisers
that have additional precipitatory effects, the public should know that so that we can rally as a community to come and support those things. or if the goal is only a $5,000 goal to fill a budget gap. If it's as much money as we raise here, we can do all of these wonderful things. Or if that is a dedicated budget
line item, um we should just know how our budgeting practices work so that if greater community participation can help offset that, we can rally and be as supportive for our wonderful downtown businesses as we possibly can. Um amazing work on the grant funding for the pedestrian school safety down in
Gregory. I think that really is awesome. Um Regarding the cannabis discussion that we've had, new data came out today, 2025, showed a 20% increase in sales in cannabis purchases throughout the state. Almost every municipality that sells
cannabis has until 10 p.m. regulations. Think that's evidence that sales are going up and we could use that budget uh surplus. Hopefully uh snow is done for the season, but we do have emergencies that occur all year round. Given the diversity of our town, I would ask that our robo and emergency calls go out in
Spanish at minimum, if not other languages, because they currently do not. Um, and lastly, as a member of the environmental commission, but speaking in my private capacity, I do want to introduce, as I've mentioned to the commission on the commission, not the council, so credit no nothing ill
towards anybody. Um, I do want to issue this resolution that I hope the town will support. Um, Assemblywoman Kayasos Gil and Senator McKeen are the authors of the climate, sorry, it is no longer the climate super fund act. It is the New Jerseys New Jersey polluters pay for
a more affordable New Jersey. 73 towns and five counties including Essex across the state have adopted and endorsed this resolution. Um, we basically will pay to hold accountable those who extract and destroy our planet. Uh the state law would seek to do just that. Create
18,000 jobs, address fossil fuel extraction between 1995 and 2025, and over 20 years claims to claw back $50 billion to the state entirely dedicated to flood mitigation, pumps, grid upgrades, sewage, and drain drainage controls, heat island improvements, and
tree restoration. As we continue to entertain the disastrous West Essex Highlands program, this seems like a no-brainer. I will pass out the resolution and as well as a one-pager to answer any questions that the town council may have. Uh, our planet and our future deserves it. So, I thank you for your time tonight.
>> Thank you, >> Miss Sylvester. >> My stapler broke. Sorry. >> That's okay. Come on up. Good evening, Claire Sylvestri, Grand View Avenue. I'm following up on my comments at the January 20th meeting and the council's discussion that took place
during the matters pending new matters portion of that meeting. I'm in agreement with all of you that the meetings are running way too long and that it's detrimental to the ability of the council and administration to execute their duties and for the public to be able to view and contribute to the
process. But I thought the January 20th meeting itself was a good example of what I pointed out in my remarks. This responsibility of shortening meetings squarely rests on the shoulders of council members. And you'll have to modify behaviors if you want meetings,
especially those with executive sessions like tonight, to regularly adjourn before 11 p.m. For starters, I strongly recommend council members review the West Orange Municipal Code, Article 3, titled Rules of Council. Council
President has repeatedly stated that she does not intend to do anything unilaterally. The fact is that there is little a council president can do unilaterally according to our municipal code. The conference agenda, rules for public
comment, and adjournment are all set by ordinance, which require two public hearings and a majority of vote by council to change. Also, I'd suggest council members watch the video of the last meeting to get a better idea of the length and content of your remarks, both
responses to public comment and questions and comments during discussion of agenda items. For example, in response to a public comment session that lasted 26 minutes, council members spoke for nearly 34.
Councilwoman Castelino spoke for a total of 10 minutes. Councilwoman Williams, 8 minutes. Council President Scarpa, 6 and a half minutes. Councilwoman Ruden, 5 and a half minutes. Councilman Koviaak, 3 and 1/2 minutes. The discussion of
resolution 20-26 on the Greg Gregory Avenue delineators lasted 24 minutes. Discussion of resolution 226 on OPAC improvements, 14 minutes. and discussion of resolution 30-26 on the
debt management plan 7 and a half minutes. One of the council president's suggestions to shorten meetings is to eliminate the conference agenda and among other things do away with council liaison reports. However, one of the reasons council members response to
public comment exceeded the time of residents comments is that most shoehorned your liaison reports into your response to public comment and one spent close to two minutes detailing every public event she attended in the past two weeks. Limiting the conference
agenda to once a month might save a bit of time, but I strongly advise against reducing it to quarterly. Not only is that half hour a good time to recognize residents outstanding accomplishments, many conference agendas have provided valuable information to our residents.
Last year there were detailed presentations on the property RIAL, aging well senior programs, the blue envelope for autistic drivers, the dynamic parking study, proposed improvements to the library property, and the debt management plan.
Finally, whatever changes you plan to make to public comment should be adequately noticed so residents can come and express their opinions on the record. I can't understand why this issue hasn't yet been listed on a council meeting agenda. According to our
municipal code, council president has the ability to raise an issue without notice during the pending matters new matters council discussion portion of the meeting, which she did when she asked the council members in attendance to consider modifying public comment at
11:40 p.m. at the January 6th meeting. However, because the proposed change in public comment was discussed on January 6th, it became a pending matter. And if council president planned to continue the discussion on the 20th, it should
have been listed on the agenda so residents beyond the few who were still on Zoom that night had adequate notice to weigh in. And where does the issue stand today? At the end of discussion on the 20th, council presidents asked members to
quote sleep on it. There's nothing on the agenda again tonight. This is an issue of great concern to many residents. I hope council president can provide an update and that any intent to further council discussion on this topic
will be given adequate public notice. Thank you. Anybody else? No. >> Hi. Good evening. Welcome. Good evening, Jennifer Aorio, Belleview Terrace.
So, I may I may be wrong, but I'm under under the understanding that the fair housing plan has been approved in its first phase. However, it's hard to ignore that this past despite the clear opposition of many residents. That itself reflects a failure of leadership.
This town continues to struggle with smart, responsible planning for two simple reasons. First, we lack a dedicated town planner focused on thoughtful, substantial, and affordable development. Second, our leadership consistently acts without proper
education on the long-term impact and and a little disregard that the residents they serve. This plan appears as designed to benefit developers, not the community. Why? Because there is no visible long-term vision. It feels like a short-term
strategy. um that to build profit and leave. The people who remain will be left to deal with overcrowded schools, increased traffic and public safety concerns that have not been properly planned for. We
deserve to know the strategies. What is happening feels less like a thoughtful community growth and more like turning West Orange into your crowded city at the expense of the close-knit community so many of us value. Whether we all get along or not, long-term residents are the backbone of
this town. They carry the hit's history, character, and identity. If this continues, we risk losing all that, replaced by congestion, overworked public employees, and a declining quality of life that will push families out. So, I'm asking the mayor and the
administration, is there in fact a long-term plan? Are we pl are we planning uh to build another school to accommodate the hundreds of new residents who will be moving into these affordable housing units? Is there a plan to hire additional law enforcement? Is there a real traffic control
strategy? What is the actual vision of the new West Orange you are trying to build? Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else like to make public comment? Mr. Debie, >> good evening. Todd Deovi, Bernett
Terrace. Wasn't going to speak, but um there was one thing on the agenda that has me confused and have questions about uh is the resolution concerning 80 Main Street. Um
I'm confused. why there would be a need for a resolution to even consider entertaining such an effort. Um, it's an office building. I believe it's rented.
Um, I don't know what the vacancy rate is. Um, I've not seen a financial statement on it, much like having seen one on Rockspring, but that's a different issue. Um what would be the reason for
for even engaging in such an effort with with the town involved? That would be in my experience in this in the real estate business. Owners of properties, especially commercial properties, undertake rehabilitation of their properties on
their own out of the cash flow generated by that property. If the propertyy's not making money, it's not on the township to correct that or fix that or help that. That's on the owner to either do it right or sell the property and re
reset what the economics are for that asset. Um, so I don't know what this resolution really is about because it doesn't say a whole lot. So, if we can be educated about what this is contemplating and
what it involves in terms of township funds and what is even contemplated, if this exercise is in uh conducted and something is considered to be done, is somebody actually considering
contributing money from the township coffers towards this property? If the answer is no, as I see somebody shaking their head, no. If that's not the case, I'm all ears to hear that. Um, but that's why I'm asking. So, um, love to
hear more about that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? Miss Bennett, >> welcome. Uh, good evening, Michaela Bennett, Old Indian Road. Um, I don't know if one of you can help me
identify, there's pages and pages of information. If you want to um shorten your meeting time, you should probably have agendas that are manageable within a normal meeting time. But I'm looking for the resolution. I think it's a resolution regarding
affordable housing. Does anybody know the number? >> Thank you. >> 5426. >> So just as a matter of principle, anything that's on the agenda should have um documents.
Um, as a member of the public, I cannot adequately prepare myself without the underlying documents. So, if it's the contract for an employee that you're being expected to approve, that contract should be included um with the agenda.
And the same is true for an affordable housing plan. Um, you have many options. We have many options as a community. I'm not sure why um we have not um joined the dozens of communities that are
seeking um relief um from the obligations from a very old um affordable housing requirement. I'm not sure if we've explored that. I'm not sure what you're being asked to pass because I've had no opportunity to
review it. And I think you as a body should check um an administration. Um the McCartney administration is hallmarked by um as little information as possible, as late information as possible. This was a revised agenda. I
don't know when it was revised, but in this year alone, I know you've revi you've had revised agendas that have been revised within an hour or so. And I think that's also true when uh Councilman Koviaak was the president as well that there were issues that were
put onto the agenda with very little notice. The public, you know, limiting the public's ability to be heard. And I don't think that's a smart way to do business. So, anything that's not adequately noticed, I think you should just remove from the agenda. You'll you'll speed up your meetings. And I
think that, you know, there should be an expectation. And this is something the council and the administration can work together on and making sure that you have um a digestible, manageable agenda so that you're not put into a situation where you're here very late. Um I think
it's silly to be timing your comment. This is the only time in which you as a body can come together and communicate. So to have a stopwatch on your comment is quite silly. Um the public should be limited no doubt to
five minutes. Um but your um discussion and discourse, yes, you should be as tur as possible, but you certainly should have a robust dialogue. Um, but I would just ask that as a matter of principle, you do not
permit something to be moved forward on an agenda if it cannot be accompanied by the material necessary for any member of the public or any of you to be able to review. So that I can't comment on the affordable housing plan because I I
haven't seen it. Now I don't know if it's available somewhere but it should be linked and we shouldn't just expect that uh members of the public you know are going to follow links. there are plenty of people who cannot um receive
information digitally and so a copy of every single accompanying document should exist with and I'm not saying that you should make copies um equivalent to the number of agendas that you've got but there should be a binder
with everything that's on this agenda available to the public to review. So, I would just ask that you consider that um tonight and moving forward that you make that a practice. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much.
>> Welcome, Rachel. >> Rachel Klene, Howell Drive. Um, first I would um I wish I could speak with the hubris of a non-Jew telling a Jew and anti-semitism is, but I'm just me and I want to talk about the fair share
housing plan. I know you're going to probably pass it because you feel compelled to. We've missed opportunity after opportunity to get our town into a better place where we aren't being forced to urbanize by a halfbaked idea from 1975 that ended up just benefiting
developers while not helping towns or the poor people. It was supposed to help we um Perth Amboy towns like that or cities, they're exempted from these obligations. Why didn't we apply for that? Why didn't we apply to get our
number lowered from the number that it is? There were so many opportunities and now we're going to pass it. So, I just I'm begging you, don't trust these developers. They're going to tell you things that aren't true. They're going to sell you things that aren't true.
just be very wary with getting into these agreements, these settlements that they get locked in that then they hold over you because this is really just legal blackmail that developers are walking away with bags of money and the town is being left footing the bill.
Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else who'd like to make public comment? Okay, seeing none, we'll close public comment. It comes from the woods.
Take it away. >> Good evening, West. Thank you so much for everyone who came out this evening uh to express your concerns and your remarks. Uh start with the Immigration Trust Act. um certainly supportive and
the administration behind the scenes as well as uh members from the board of ed u myself um did meet to discuss different policies and procedures and things that we can do to support our residents with the increased ICE raids that we have been having. Um just spoke
to the mayor over the weekend, a resident was abducted in Norc. um that is a West Orange resident and again um family members just don't know what to do and how to respond. So, thank you to the administration for putting a tremendous amount of resources online so
that uh other others can use whatever information that might be suitable for them. Um it's a very difficult situation. Um and perhaps we can do more. Um, some towns do have a registry
uh where members who have been had incidents are able to um just put their names on the list so that if there are additional needs perhaps the town can support or whatever have you. Um what I see happening is a lot of times they're taking away the income winner uh in the
household and then the children and the uh other members of the household are basically left with no financial needs. So whatever we can do to support um definitely willing to work with the administration to do those things.
Um thank you for all the recommendations. Um most of the comments this evening were about the affordable housing plan. We will discuss that and come back um after executive session. Uh
area in need of rehabilitation the town's designation. The administration can certainly explain that in more detail. That was something that was a designation uh that was uh done in 2021.
great idea about the robo health also being in Spanish. Um something that I think certainly I don't know how it works but maybe if there's something where if you need to have it in Spanish or whatever uh one of our other prominent languages are maybe there's
some type of um key where you can push that and the information can be transferable. Um, but also note that just on our website, um, it does have the capacity to translate into, if I'm not mistaken, over 200 different
languages. I know that's not helpful when a call is going out. Um, but the important thing is that people have access to the information. So hopefully that is a resource that people will um, utilize. I did also hear from residents um the appreciation of the
administration continuing to put out um snow and traffic information um so that people uh would not be awakened at 2:00 in the morning to blaring sirens uh saying to move your cars. So again, thank you to the administration um for
just um working with our residents to get things done. um a lot of events around town. I want to acknowledge the Joe Palos renaming ceremony. Um again, Joe Palos was a
dear friend um to to all of us in West Orange. Um so that was just a great thing to see and be a part of Black History Month at the high school. um want to acknowledge our students and their talents and um just a wonderful opportunity to celebrate uh black
history. Uh and then of course um also >> um participating with the West Orange Chamber of Commerce today. I'm happy to share with the public that the township breakfast uh the state of the township is scheduled for March the 12th and
it'll be held this year at the Wilshshire Grand. Um ticket prices are still being f finalized um but we're looking forward to a wonderful event and hearing updates um from the administration. Also happy to share that the town council members will be
submitting a half-page ad uh in their St. Patrick's Day parade. I'm looking forward to that. Um and then um crescent lining ceremony uh also brought inside and thank you to our uh community for
continuing the third year with this um wonderful program. Um that completes my response to public comment. Uh again trying to shorten it so that we can be held accountable and responsible um for our comments and not
continuing uh with a long meeting. If I omitted any direct responses, I apologize, but I think I covered the meat and potatoes and yield everything else to the administration for their response. Thank you, Council President. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, Councilwoman Rudy.
>> Sure. Um, there were comments on both 80 Main Street and fourth round of housing approval, and I have to agree very, very strongly with Miss Bennett who said the documents are not up online. This is not fair to our citizen citizens and it is
certainly not fair to us as a council. Um, we should not be dealing with hidden documents. Even as a council person, I sometimes have to, you know, go down the the uh spiderweb to try and find what I need to find when it should be directly
online and accessible. For that reason, and there are so many more, I really think that both of these issues, both 80 Main Street, which I personally consider spot zoning and inappropriate in our town when we have zoning uh zoning board
that should be dealing with an issue like this and also for um fourth round of housing because the documents have not been presented openly to the public and no document could be more critical than the affordable housing.
plan. This document is going to set the stage for all of us as residents in West Orange forever. And even though there was one meeting where the residents came out on mass against this plan, it still
has not penetrated to the majority of citizens who have no idea what's coming. Particularly those who live along the Pleasant Valley Way corridor where there will be 1,200 new not affordable but but mostly not affordable luxury rentals.
And how is that going to impact us as a community? How is that going to impact our storm water, our infrastructure, our traffic, our schools? No studies. Bad plan. Plan is not up on on the agenda. We really need to to to do more
education in town until this is brought to a a vote. As far as some other issues, um the issue of of ICE being in our town, I I think that, you know, I've spoken in the
past that I am supportive of us as a council passing a supportive measure in for the immigration trust act. It is now again before the um the New Jersey state assembly and
senate. They both have bills that that they are looking at. Unfortunately, former Governor U. Murphy did not pass it, but I think it is a very important statement that we need to make. We cannot allow ourselves to be a police community. Um, we must demand that the
government respect the laws of West Orange and and that we not resort to in our town strong armed tactics and violence that we have witnessed in other communities. This is not an example of what our country is. This is not our
character and this is not America. So I do think that even though it is symbolic that we do need, it's symbolic right now to urge the resolution go forward, but it is very important that the state pass this and we should join on as West
Orange residents saying that the directive that that was passed years and years ago should be codified and we need to support the immigration trust act. Um, as far as the need for an anti-semitism task force that um, the
gentleman raised, um, I think that, you know, we must always take sides. We cannot be neutral. Um, we should never allow never allow communities to escalate in into hate. If
this body decides that we need to examine anti-semitism in the form of a task force, I don't see the harm of that. I think that it can protect people before trouble happens. So, I I really don't understand um the opposition to a
task force that would be looking at measures that would make not just Jews safe, but the entire community safe. Um, as far as timing our own remarks, I think that we should be prudent in terms of how how we respond. But I also agree
that this is our deliberative moment. We don't get many more moments than this. And we are not allowed to speak as a group outside of this except as a three people, right? Two people. Two people. Um, so you know, I think that we need to
take the time to talk about issues. And I know I've been criticized a lot for going on about small issues in bills and big issues in bills. I think it's important. I think the community actually does care about whether we're wasting $4,000 or 40,000 or 4 million.
And, you know, I'm going to continue talking about this and I don't think that that we should be timed um or limited. Uh, let's see. Justin, you do such a thorough job in examining our agenda that I I really
give you a lot of a lot of credit. And I also agree that another point that you raised about this fair share housing being on the agenda without having the experts here to address residents who might have concerns is extraordinarily
important. Um, Miss Dorenzo, you spoke about OPAC. OSPACT is a jewel in West Orange and I hope that that we can um build it back to what it was. But I am concerned that we are having to bond to
do this. I think that what we should have done was use the million-doll grant that Senator McCain um gave got for us and it should have been used towards staging and sound and all of the things. And I'm really confused about why all of this just went to roads and other things
and not to help the real issue, which is to help the arts community and making a better stage and sound system. I think I hit on on everything. Thank you so much and thank you everybody for who came out tonight and those in the audience who are listening.
>> Hold. >> Thank you. uh tur as possible. I think that should be our golden rule. It makes it easier for residents to participate in their government to give us input and hold us accountable and shorter meetings
will do that. So I am all in favor of all of us up here making their comments as efficient and direct and short and tur as possible. I think we should give priority as as one of the speakers said about making documents available and
giving adequate notice of our agenda. Transparency builds accountability and allows residents to provide input and builds trust in your municipal government. I'll let the town attorney give whatever explanation he thinks he needs to uh in response to the question
about 80 Maine, but the township is not giving any money. Actually, in the resolution, uh it in authorizes the uh applicant to make a $15,000 escrow to cover all of the township's costs of
developing this plan. The developer wants to make major improvements to the property at 80 Maine. right next to us here at Town Hall and it's projected uh to be a much more vibrant uh retail uh opportunity for this part
of Main Street. Uh he wants the the developer wants to use the uh rehabilitation law that that uh a previous council passed in 2021 which speeds up the planning process and reduces its costs and it while also getting complete oversight by the
council, the planning board and our experts. And I agree completely with the criticism of the affordable housing law and the Mount Laurel doctrine. It is the most coercive law I have ever seen in my
adult life and it is completely destructive to our township in particular. The law does not respect our responsibility to our residents uh to make this place as livable as possible and it needs to be thrown out. End of
story. Thank you, Council President. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Castle. >> Thank you, Council President. Um, so a couple things. Um, regards to, you know, you want to start the clock on me with my comments, fine. But I I >> I'm not going to cut spending my council
colleagues, so you just go ahead. >> No. And and I and I appreciate the meetings, you know, running late cuz guess what? I'm the one driving home at 1 2:00 in the morning with not a soul on Main Street and it's a little and it's a little creepy. So I I would love to wrap
it up a lot sooner, trust me. But we have work here. We have a lot of work to do and a lot of work is repetitive. We have a lot of items on the agenda that a lot of times get um tabled and we have to do it again the following week. And here we go. Here we go. We talk about 80 Main Street. This uh developers been
very patient and has uh come to see us multiple times. The downtown Alliance will be supporting that uh uh this evening. We got to get we got to get really big projects moving in this town and redevelopment is not a dirty word in other uh municipalities, but for here
for some reason um it is and that's a shame. So um we'll leave it to our attorney to explain that later. That's why he's getting the big uh big bucks uh for us and why he came to West Orange. In regards to the affordable housing, I'm a little lost on the conversation tonight. Maybe I missed something. Um I
believe we're going in close session to discuss more details. Is miss school in uh is she here tonight? >> She is waiting in line online for us in the executive session. >> Yeah. So so the the initial plan was presented to the planning board because that is the process.
You know a lot of people was well noticed and you know no secret you know we have five lawsuits uh out on us and we have litigation. Litigation is not going to be on the website. I mean this is the hardest part of our job. And that
is when we have these kind of situations, we we can't share all the documents with you. And and so but when we can, we will. And trust me, I I'll be single like a bird when it time comes. But right now, we have to really make some tough decisions. I I agree with a
lot of sentiments said by my uh colleagues in regards to it's been really really frustrating. U Mount Laurel has not, you know, it it it developed. It didn't even start out this way. um the past couple years with the legislation and it's really been you
know I know the need I understand the need but it is crippling towns and it we you know we I was supportive of a full-time planner I've been stating that for many years now uh unfortunately one of our consultants I did not agree and
could not support them uh to be rehired um because we weren't fighting the number and um because of this we we are where we are and um you know Um, we're going to get information tonight and hopefully we could come out here and see
where that brings us. But it is heartbreaking. It really is heartbreaking if we see a bunch of of buildings popping all over town. But we're going to have to deal with it. Um, and and that's all I'm going to say for that now. And I look forward to the attorney uh jumping in later um when we
have the opportunity to to talk about it. Um, but I do appreciate everybody coming down and with your comments and hearing your frustration. Justin, a lot of great ideas tonight. Um, folks, with the resolutions, you know how I feel about these resolutions, so I won't be
supporting uh the resolution. Um, and in regards for the anti-immigration, I appreciate the administration. I'm all for helping our residents and being there to support them in their time of need when they're having these um situations. Um, but I keep in constant
contact with the schools and and thank God we haven't had any situations. I also right here in the township's very sorry to hear about a resident. Um but again we don't know the backstory on these cuz the situations I've heard there's people with um arrest records
and that's a shame too. But um but again, I I'm not, you know, I'm going to be always supportive of our police department and if they have to take care of a situation, but um we do not uh we follow the attorney general's guidelines
and they've been doing that and um hopefully we I know everybody's fearful because you turn on the TV and you see what's going on in Minnesota, but I would never be supportive of that happening here. So, we just all have to keep our a cool head about us. We all have to make sure that we're what we're
posting on Facebook because there are a lot of uh businesses in town that are suffering because people are free to go out and support them because of what's going on uh in the world today. So, we all just have to be mindful of that. But always will be supportive of our community. But um there's something one
of my colleagues I jotted down stated about as far as division. And I got to be honest with you, I've been on the council since 2015. division started when we started doing various resolutions and um and whatnot. So, I'm
that's why I'm just going to worry about, you know, direct township business because as you could see, we have a lot of it. Our main street is suffering. We had another business close. Nicholas Anthony, we thank them for their their business for uh many
years and um you know, they they closed this past year. It hasn't been easy for small business owners. Miss Bril and Miss McCamill, our downtown alliance, they are uh down in Washington DC. I couldn't get away this week to go with them to advocate for uh ma funding for
main streets and um so we and that's why the resolution got pulled. Miss Burl cannot be here this evening uh regards to the downtown budget because there are questions. the uh the process is it goes on first reading on second reading is that's when she comes in and she does uh
her uh hearing for the public and gives her presentation. Um but my colleagues wanted it this evening which I don't blame them and so that's why her budget was pulled today but I appreciate uh uh Mr. Goldman's with the supportive words for the downtown because our our
downtowns are hurting so we have to be mindful of that. Um, with that, I'm just going to say one more thing. Uh, and conference agenda. I thought tonight was great. We had, um, I was really
happy to see our residents here. Uh, you know, Jeff, pretty tough show. I never get anything right uh, when I watch that. So, um, really Silka Vistage must be very proud. I was really happy for them because they're longtime residents that have been very supportive of of our
community and and volunteering and and really sweet sweet family. So, I was glad to see them uh get a little recognition tonight and and as our Grammy winner uh with I know Camille was here earlier with I look forward to to speaking about your resolution when we
get to it. Uh maybe uh you could ask Mr. Randall, if he could help you with Jazzfest, God bless him. He, you know, really proud. And and that's why we we may take a little bit longer. We may not do what other towns do and just rush through meetings and clock and oh, I got
done at 8:15. That's great for you. But, you know, we're going to be proud of our residents and we're going to take our time and we obviously all don't agree on everything all the time, but one thing we all do have in common is that we all care and we're going to take our time to get it right. Um, last but not least, I
it'd be remiss of me if I did not, you know, we talked about the snow, Mr. uh, it was in your report. Um, and I want to thank the county for all their extra support with with that storm. Um, but, um, my board of ed leaison report real
quick. You know, on the phone with Mr. Moore, I got to thank uh, Mr. Alroino who after 29 years has just retired this past week. Uh he was uh office emergency management for us. Um always there with our storms. He was the guy through CO
that uh slept uh and really kept everything going um in a really really time of crisis in this township. Uh again um you know Mr. Smaldo I got to thank you Mr. Lour. This was a really tough snowstorm, especially right before
when the school board uh reached out because they had uh something occurred and uh they did not have their vendor to plow for them. And you know, our our team stepped up stepped up and was able
to um get that done in this storm that doesn't come around for what 12 years. We haven't seen a storm like this. And I really have to commend our DPW crew and uh and all the gentlemen I had just
mentioned many many years of uh expertise in our township and we need to celebrate that and and we wish them all the well uh Mr. Algrino in in your retirement and uh and uh you know our guys for stepping up along with always
our police and fire were out there as well and congratulations Mr. Johnson. Uh I I you know Mr. Key I talked about him last week you know after all his years of service and I'm glad you had a picture of him last night uh and and did
staff support uh celebrated him last week just you know all the years of service you know and you know Mr. Mr. Trump, I know you do well. We worked together for many years. It is not easy that when you have our recck department and our board of education and the
amount of use and shared services that we have for the township with those fields, we don't have like other towns where you have a whole other than PIL field that they own and take care of. You don't have uh all these fields and buildings that other townships has for
rec departments and they work very well in the scheduling. I can't tell you the amount of scheduling that has to get done. So, I know you're going to run a tight ship and do well and uh just service our our our young our young and elder adults well in the township. So,
thank you, council president. >> Okay. Thank you. And I want to thank you for pointing out um that a lot of what's going on with ICE globally is not happening here in West Orange. I want to thank the mayor for all she's done to support our residents and chief. I know
the sensitivity with which you know your department always handles um all of our residents. We don't have the kind of things going on here that we see globally. I know because I'm at Washington School and I know the love and the nurture ring and the nourishment
that we give to all of our residents there. I think it's probably unparalleled. So with that, I just want you to know that as council president, my main concern is to advance the business and the well-being of the township. The governing body and the
administration are often asked to advance policies or special interests that are not specifically focused on the business and well-being of the township. I've consulted with the mayor and we are collectively of the same mind that the
focus of the council and administration should be on those particular issues that are particular to the township and avoid embroiling the township into policy disputes that are either exclusively or best suited to be dressed
by the federal or state government. As such, we may receive from time to time requests to endorse various social or political issues. It is our preference not to get embroiled in such disputes if at all possible. One such issue that has
surfaced over the past several council meetings has been associated with the township's position with respect to ICE activities. While we are certainly understanding of the public's concern, our police department is obligated to follow the direction of our New Jersey
attorney general. Mayor McCartney has actually posted on the town's website the mandates from the attorney general with respect to the same. Consistent with the attorney general guidelines, our police department will cooperate and coordinate itself with federal agents in
this regard as required by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office and no more and no less. As such, there's no need for a local resolution. We are following the law as mandated by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office. This
does not mean that we are any more or less sympathetic to any particular group's concerns. We are obligated to follow the law and that is what we intend to do and feel that the governing body's attention is best focusing on the
governance of the township and matters that we can actually control. So that's my the way I feel about that. Um to Miss Bennett, um I really do agree with you. You know, for a while we have said that we weren't going to
take a look at any items that were not put on our agenda by Friday. And unfortunately, the business has gotten so overwhelming that we have been doing that. But it is unfair to the public for us to be talking about these issues when
the information is not available to the public. So, I agree with you and I will it's my responsibility to work with the administration to make sure that we get information to the public by Friday and
that we have as much information as required on the agenda for you to view. Um, and as terms of um, our conversations with one another, I think up here they're really important and I'm not going to put any time limits on the
uh, conversations we have among among the council. Uh, with respect to the fair housing sh and 80 main street, I'm going to ask our administration to speak briefly about that. But before I do, I have a letter from a resident in the
Gregory neighborhood who has five children. I promised her she did not have to come here and bring her neighbors and that I would read her letter and it's about safety um in the Gregory neighborhood. She Here it is. Mayor McCartney and West Orange Town
Council members. My name is Christa Peninsulum. I'm a mother of five, a West Orange freshman, Roosevelt sixth grader, and three children at Hazel. I am writing with an urgent request to address the growing danger at the intersection of Mitchell and Gregory.
Many children take this route to walk from their homes below Gregory to Roosevelt Middle School. And each time they do, they are at risk of being hit by a speeding, distractive, or aggressive driver. On Thursday, September 18th, 2025, there was a crash at that intersection with the crossing
guard present as our children were walking home from school and incidents happened daily. My daughter stepped off the curb with the crossing guard in the street holding her stop sign and a car honked and drove between the kids and the crossing guard. I have taken to
dropping off my daughter in the mornings because I do not believe this intersection is at all safe. And most mornings I witness some kind of aggressive driving, including speeding, to get by the crossing guard before she gets to the middle of the road and
driving through the crosswalk behind the crossing guard as she is in the middle of the road. This is a tragedy waiting to happen. Helen Morrow, the longtime crossing guard at the intersection, agrees speeding is a serious problem and would like to see improvements made. She
has some great feedback and would be a vital resource to any traffic study that's done. Having the police monitor that intersection is not a solution because the second they are not there, the driving becomes reckless again. As people speed down Gregory coming from the direction of South Orange, there is
a blind turn that leads directly to the Mitchell Gregory crosswalk directly in the path of our children crossing. The Essex County Engineer stated that West Orange has the authority to add blinking flashing beacons to existing pedestrian
crossing signs. That should be an immediate initial step followed by a four-way stop, sign, or traffic light to slow the flow of traffic as determined by a traffic study. According to the Federal Highway Administration, a rectangular
rapid flashing beacon is applicable many types of pedestrian crossings, but particularly effective in multi-lane crossings with speeding limits less than 40 miles an hour. Research suggests that RRFBS can result in motorist yielding rates as
high as 98% at marked crosswalks. This would be improved safety for our children walking to and from school and also any pedestrian walking without the benefit of a crossing guard. There is nothing controversial about keeping our West Orange children safe and action
needs to be taken now before a tragedy happens. I look forward to working together to make this happen. So, um I just when um Miss Carbalo comes up later, I know there's a lot going on on Gregory maybe can address this. And um I
think I'll just ask the administration to address the fair housing and the 80 Main Street to the extent that they deem appropriate. >> Would you like me to run? >> I would think so. >> Sure. Okay. Uh so let's start with 80 Main Street. The owner uh as Councilman
Koviaak pointed out uh appropriately uh is seeking an expansion in uh the permitted uses. Uh they're looking to uh have uh the uses expanded to include uh some retail on the ground floor. They haven't been looking uh nor have they
asked for an expansion in the building footprint. uh the funding of the expenses associated with this uh redevelopment task of assigning a planner to prepare a plan and all
related services thereafter are going to be funded by the developer through escrow agreements. In fact, the resolution requires them to front $15,000 for the plan. uh and if it proceeds there will be subsequent uh funding schedules for uh anything else
that the the township may have to do. Uh importantly because I know that this is going to come uh out next uh the administration as well as governing body have expressed absolutely no interest in providing any sort of tax exemption for this property. This is just a resoning.
Uh and the reasonzoning uh is something that uh is beneficial for municipalities to consider uh because if the building becomes more successful and it does currently from some uh increased vacancies but when a building becomes
more uh successful then tax revenue uh becomes more expense uh uh increased because the building becomes more valuable. Uh so uh the reason why a developer would want to seek uh the redevelopment process is so that he has
or she has the certainty of zoning in place uh without rolling the dice of of going before the zoning board and not knowing if they're going to get the approval. Uh so the uh uh request has been made, the funding has been agreed to and at this point in time all we're
doing is asking the governing body uh to place a a planner to draft the plan. Uh this is nothing to uh complain about transparency at this juncture. uh because what's going to happen is that a
planner makes a plan and then that plan uh gets introduced. It gets uh sent back before the planning board for a consistency hearing uh which is a public process where uh the planning board
compares the proposed redevelopment plan to the master plan uh and determines whether or not it's consistent with the master plan and then it comes back before the governing body again for an additional public hearing. So this is the most transparent process that's
available. Uh there are, you know, two uh different boards that are publicly reviewing the plan. Uh and the public gets to participate in the adoption uh as it does with any ordinance. Uh so uh once the plan's developed, there'll be
plenty of opportunity for the public to hear what's being considered for the site and to weigh in on on it and let the governing body know your thoughts. Uh so that's all that's being done. Uh and again, nothing is done at the township's expense or the taxpayers's
expense and there's no contemplation. In fact, there's been an expressed disinterest in any sort of tax exemption of being uh extended to this property and that's 80 main street. >> Okay. >> Um so now the fourth round plan
I'd like to start uh by simply saying that and the governing body is aware of this. uh I was retained because this governing body did not want to have unnecessary development uh with regard
to the affordable housing mandate. Um I was hired to resist it as much as we can but at the same time obviously we have to maintain our obligations uh to provide a constitutional affordable
housing plan. Uh so there are a couple different ways uh that you could try to resist uh the affordable housing mandate. Uh but the township did uh at a point in
time at the beginning uh of the year uh accept the uh affordable housing number and now we are in a position where we have to develop an affordable housing plan that
best satisfies that particular number. There was a delay in establishing the fourth round affordable housing plan. That plan was supposed to be adopted no later than June 30th of last year. That plan was not adopted by that point in
time. And I and I understand that the reason why it wasn't developed and adopted is because there was a whole lot of disagreement about what that plan uh was to accomplish. And the reason why there was a whole lot of disagreement is because
no one likes affordable housing. No one likes well I I can't say likes affordable housing. What they don't like is the attentive overdevelopment that's associated with it. No one wants overdevelopment in their town. No one wants the impacts on the school system.
No one wants the impact on the infrastructure. I get that. The governing body got it. uh and that was one of the reasons why they had hired me uh to to uh serve in this role and to scrutinize this. Uh but the problem is
that because no plan uh plan was adopted in a timely fashion, the township lost the ability to seek immunity from builder's remedy lawsuits. And when the town loses its immunity, like it did here, and builders file
builder's remedy lawsuits, they are deciding where development goes. And they are asking the court ultimately to make a decision as to what the density is going to be and what the project's going to look like. And we lose control
to some degree certainly as to where the affordable housing uh inclusionary projects because they are mixed, right? There's a a 20% inclusionary uh factor. um we lose control as to what properties
are being considered because in this particular case because we did not secure immunity. We had builders essentially put their foot in the door from closing and now there are additional properties. There are five different builder remedy lawsuits that
are criticizing the constitutionality of the plan uh for the sake of trying to prove that it should not be accepted by the court and that their property provides a solution to the shortcomings
in the plan. So the reality is if the affordable housing plan was adopted in June and no one objected to the plan, we would be in a situation where we now have immunity and we wouldn't be having to deal with
builder's remedy lawsuits. But we do. Now, my charge has been that we have to try to negotiate the best affordable housing
plan for West Orange, which means try to get the density as low as possible and try to get the development, which is inevitably coming to be in the least impactful pro uh areas as possible
because there's build a remedy lawsuit. We are somewhat compromised in doing that compared to where we would be otherwise. But that is still nonetheless the charge of what I am to try to accomplish. The
affordable housing plan that was adopted by the planning board in November was a very transparent process by statute. Uh I believe under the MLUL it has to be public noticed twice not even
just once and then there's a hearing and at that hearing the plan is discussed the planner is present and answers questions and explains the rationale behind the thought processes of the property selected and the densities
proposed. So, I understand that there were some criticisms from the public about the fact that that isn't being done here tonight, but that was already done and it was done by the entity, the the board that's charged with that tax.
Now ordinarily the governing body it doesn't have to endorse a plan but there was a program put in place for affordable housing particularly which requires that the endorsement of that plan go forward
as a as a a step to try to secure immunity. Right now we don't have immunity. that plan may very well change. And if you look at the resolution, the resolution does indicate that the plan
may be changed. So, I can't and I'm not I'm not going to mislead anyone into thinking that there's going to be some miraculous change. I didn't pronounce that right. Miraculous change to the plan that's
going to make someone extremely happy. But there is flexibility. And the bottom line is we know that we're contending with five lawsuits that are also going to be impacting that plan.
Now, because we didn't secure immunity last year, I can't promise that we're going to secure immunity now. But I am prepared to file an action, a de another declaratory judgment action in
the Superior Court of Essex County tomorrow if this endorsement goes through this evening to try to secure immunity for the township. And that will give us a it's not going to be a lot of breathing room because the time frames
are in incredibly difficult, but it'll give us some breathing room during a period of time where we hopefully will not be receiving additional builder's remedy lawsuits because we kind of have to put our
finger in the hole in the dam before we start figuring out how to deal with the water that leaked through. So, I want to secure the declaratory judgment. I'm going to ask the court to give us interimm immunity and part of that process would entail endorsing this
plan. So again, the public had the opportunity through greater transparency and greater notice than it would otherwise even for something before this body before the planning board. And the
MLUL and the legislature spoke about what that process is and and everything that was being complained about this evening. While I'm not casting any dispersions or disagreeing with people wanting transparency, I'm all for it. It was afforded and it was
done at the planning board level. So this evening, all we're doing is endorsing there. There's no modification to the plan. All it is is an endorsement that's necessary for me to go before the court sec try to secure immunity and
then try to contend with negotiating the best affordable housing plan and settlements of these lawsuits as best I can. And again, there's no agenda up here, not with anybody that I spoke
about, to cowtow, to trust, or to deal favorably with developers. The goal is to represent West Orange and defend the character of this community as best I can. I take that charge very
seriously, and that's the uh the goal that I'm going in this with. And you I just promise that I'm going to do my best to try to get there as best I can with the least impact for this community. I understand what the what the goals are and we're going to try to
get there, but there is no silver bullet. Um, I know that one resident came up and made a comment about Perth Amboy, uh, and why didn't we do something along the lines of Perth Amboy and and and I get that there are certain
communities that take urban aid and those urban aid communities are exempt. It isn't like they did anything that qualified that municipality to be in a particular position that's beneficial to them that you failed to do. you're just
not eligible. Um, there are 500 and I'm sure if I had to guess, Mr. Pagan probably knows how many towns there are. Uh, but 500 some odd municipalities in the state of New Jersey. Uh, the law has been around since the early 1970s.
No one has come up with the silver bullet to invalidate Mount Laurel housing. It's gone up to the Supreme Court half a dozen times. uh as I'm sure everyone's familiar with, it's gone up to the Supreme Court uh as a result of
Chris Christie not uh staffing the uh COA board and then Governor Murphy came in and disbanded it and came up with these regulations that are incredibly damaging for municipalities such as yourself. But
this is a a creature of the Supreme Court of New Jersey and it's a creature of our legislature. Not anything the governing body in West Orange is doing, not anything that the county is doing. Uh we're simply puppets in this process
and it is very distasteful. I've represented, I think, four communities through this process. Everyone has the same complaints uh and they're justifiable, but the way that the regulations were put in place in this fourth round made
every one of the last three rounds look like child's play. They put in deadlines that weren't even realistic. >> Uh you've had a process where retired judges were put essentially in a mediation process.
They didn't really care what the arguments were. It was mediation, which means you try to bring the sides together as best you can. Uh, sure, at some points in time, they considered arguments. And I've been fortunate to have probably some of the best uh,
retired judges preside over the cases that I was involved in. But there's only so much that they could do because they ended up having to have a written decision by December 31st and they couldn't possibly do everything
that they would have done if they didn't have an unrealistic time frame to vet things. Um, and everyone was complaining about it, but it's a numbers game. Uh, the legislature put this mandate ahead of municipalities concerns. Uh there are
issues with traffic, there are issues with schools. None of those arguments are winning arguments to invalidate this constitutional mandate. In fact, the constitutional mandate assumes that you're going to end up having to build schools. So assumes that
you have to do infrastructure improvements because they're they're essentially urbanizing the suburbs. And and that's what this goal is. >> In the first round of affordable housing, there used to be these things
called regionalized credits, RCAs, where uh suburbs were able to pay a price to the urban centers. The urban centers needed the money, they would take the money and they'd build affordable housing where people didn't have to worry about getting mass transit because
the jobs are in the uh in the urban centers already. and uh the court found that that was unconstitutional. So they invalidated the regionalized credits. Uh so it's clear whatever uh whether it was the Supreme Court and that was the
Supreme Court uh or the legislature that the intent was to create this this urbanization of uh the the rest of the state and and and that's what we're contending with. Uh we do have the right to make
arguments and we intend to do that as best we can to preserve our communities. But if we don't make a plan that's going to rely upon a selection of the property where our
experts feel that they are the least impactful, you could rest assure that we're going to have development in the more impactful locations and at densities that we would never find tolerable. uh at least if we uh engage in this process
and we re reach certain settlements and and certain inclusions in the plan, we could hold the line to densities that we could tolerate. Uh and that's a that's a bad word. It's a gray word. There are
different levels of tolerate. Uh, but I can tell you that I I don't think that this community has a pallet for 60 units per acre or 75 units per acre anywhere. Uh, and if we don't start to settle these cases and get them closed, they're
going to be going before a judge and they're going to be asking for that and they're going to go through our plan with a fine tooth comb because we did not negotiate with them and reach a compromised solution.
So we can maintain a philosophical position and say we're going to fight and we could put things off and we could fight and if that's what the governing body wants me to do that's what I'll do. But I could tell you I've looked at these things seven ways of Sunday and other municipalities and that's not
going to give you the best result. The best result is to negotiate. The best result is to adopt a plan. The pieces are in place. We have the endorsement tonight. I would suggest that we do that. And then let me try to secure immunity and try to negotiate the best
solution. >> Thank you very much. That was really thorough and I think everybody has a a much better understanding. >> I don't >> Yeah, >> for the record, there are 564 municipalities in 21 counties. >> Thank you, Mr. Fagan. As always, go ahead. >> I would I would like a response from you
as to why the mayor waited so long to create a plan. I wasn't here and I don't know what I I I I I don't know what was said or not said between different parties. Uh I
understand that there's some tension between members of the governing body and the administration and I'm here I I can tell you that the administration and the governing body have the same goals today that I articulated and I would rather just work towards
that solution than look in the rearview mirror on something that I'd just be guessing at Councilwoman and it it ultimately isn't going to get me to the finish line any sooner. What do you think your chance of success is it with asking for immunity from the
judge? >> I think that we're entitled to it if we end up doing what I'm asking for. Uh and I prepare to I I mean I can't tell you what what what on a percentage basis and even if I could predict that I don't wouldn't do it publicly.
>> Okay. And if if you not by your own doing, but if if the request that you make to the judge is not successful, can we request that we not give that we call
back this claw back this permission for you to go to to the judge? >> Excuse me, council president. >> I think I'm sorry. Well, I was speaking to the council president. Um, I don't mean to interrupt you, but I think you're treading a line. We're going into
close session and I don't I don't want to risk we have enough litigation. Yeah, >> you may want to say >> let's hold the questions until we go into executive session. I think >> we want to win cases. >> Thank you. I I agree. >> Yeah. As soon as we're treading on some type of uh trial strategy, we should discuss on close session. >> Yes.
>> Okay. So, thank you very much. Um before we do get to the consent agenda, I just want to thank you, Mr. Samero. Uh, we had some action items for you. I know how busy you were preparing all of this and 20 million other things and I really
appreciate your working with Councilman Koviaak on 3026 which was tabled the resolution approving the debt management p uh policy that's going to guide us. We've got uh that taken care of now. Um,
thank you for putting the ordinance status report together. And there was just one other thing that we had asked you to weigh in on, and that was the uh one-year contracts. Um, do they need to be consistent with the mayor's term?
>> The uh the Yes, the ex the exception is the police department. >> Okay. >> Okay. Because that's governed by the civil service. >> I'm sorry. >> Empire department, >> right? Okay. Yeah. Fire department, too. Correct. Uh but all other department heads uh their terms
>> are to run concurrently with the mayor's term and since there's I guess 11 months left in this term >> uh any uh we could do contracts if we wanted to but the contracts have to expire at the end of the year. >> Okay, great. And then the only other thing was Mr. Smaldo
um we wanted to some kind of a timeline on the um the permits for the alphabet street or the program that we're putting in place to uh deal with the the problems on the alphabet streets. >> Finish girls. >> I no that's an action item. What I'm
going to do is I'm going to review the action items that we have at the end before we jump into the consent agenda. So, so Council President, you know, prior conversation yesterday, the the director Carbalo and a lot of and the police department, the chief under the
chief's uh guidance, we're still working on a lot of the plan itself. Um they just recently, the director of Kabala just recently tabulated all the information uh from the study that we sent to the alphabet streets. We only
had I think it was either 37 or 39% response from the the 194 letters that we sent out and um we were asked to out of the out of that number I think we were asked to supply about 178 permits or something that we have the numbers we
have we can display it if you want later um but um but the fact is that we're still working on this uh process um we did and to tie into the Mitchell and and Gregory section that was also being addressed by our professionals. Um we're
looking at um that that was received I think around the end of January and we've been having conversations for the last week and a half, two weeks. We're looking at whether we should install safety lights, uh pedestrian lights, um consideration of purchasing speed trailers, um and things of that nature.
And um our our our police department has been out um monitoring that area as well. But as far as just implementing any permit process without a a a finalized plan, I think it's premature. I spoke to you about this yesterday. I think we need to have the consideration
of getting this done. We have we've tackled this issue in over like the last 9 or 10 months or so. Um in the past, uh this and we've heard from many of our residents that this has been a 15-year project. um we're moving at a the speed
of government um which is allowing us to um you know to to do what we're doing and so we're asking for the consideration you know um of of giving us the latitude of of putting together a final plan. Um we actually have uh had a a meeting today a director's meeting
where that was a topic of discussion. I'm not going to discuss that now. I think that's something that we should probably talk to the council in in our next exe next meeting. We can discuss in executive session for your consideration. Um so we're we're coming up with ideas and plans on how we should implement this and what is going to be
best for the uh the residents and the township as a whole. And um so it's not falling on deaf ears. I I you know I know we say this at every meeting. Um and we're listening. I I can tell you this that the chief told me today that the program that we uh purchased he he
first of all he believes it's a great tool to assist his officers. Um it is much more um um inclusive than just parking. He has a lot of assets with this particular program that we didn't even realize when we first looked into
it. And um the initial training was done with the the staff that needs to to send it out. As of I believe it was Friday. He stated that every officer in the department has received instructions on how to access this program. So, they're moving forward. So, we're moving forward
and it's a collaborative effort amongst all our departments and um so we ask for a little time. We ask for a little latitude. Um we're not forgetting about it. As I stated to you on the phone, I'll stay here. This is a priority of the administration. This is a priority of the mayor. We want to get this fixed just as much as you do. But we want to
do it right. We want to we don't want to do a peace meal. I will say this today and I'll say this. I I am not in favor of doing peacemeal implementation. What I'd rather do things on a on a whole on a global situation where we identified the areas, the weaknesses and and this
and the strengths and develop a program that or a process and a and a parking plan that is suitable to the many. >> Okay. Great. >> All right. And that's that's what we're looking to do now. And so that's one of the things I wanted to comment. I also want to comment before and I know we
have a pack agenda, but it would be remiss of my duties as the business administrator to recognize the um the herculean efforts of our staff uh during this last snowstorm. Um TPW taking the uh the biggest kudos. Um but not far behind was the remainder of the
township. Um and that includes the police, the fire, OEM, and and our our non-uniform staff because believe it or not, they still had to do daily functions. Um, we had some people, unsung heroes that are sitting in the in uh dark offices for 24 hours or so who
were, you know, taking phone calls and doing things that they don't always get the same recognition as everybody else. Um, but it's important that we recognize the entire staff because it was it really was a big effort. In fact, we received a uh we had received a email
from the county administrator, Mr. Robert Jackson, who was the former mayor of of Montlair, who made it a point to write to the mayor um that of all the towns in Essex County, this was the by far the best town to walk drive through
after the fact. Um which was very appreciative. Um >> um and and you know and and I I will apologize to those who were inconvenience later, but our our staff, we know we're limited in size. we have contractors and vendors. So, for those who didn't get the service right away,
we apologize. Um, but we had to make our priorities and we so we did it and and I got to tell you these the we're still assessing how much it cost and the total ban hours and and everything else, but this was nothing uh less than than a um um you know, like I said, herculean
effort. In fact, I had went away last week to a warmer climate. people that people told me that they were cold where I was at >> and then I showed him a picture of one of the one of the employees standing in front of the 25 foot snow mount which was a lot higher than that and I said
that's cold this is chilly. So so you know so it it was a big difference. So I I can go on on about them but I you know it's just I want to say thank you to them. Um so that was important. Um, and um,
so I I don't know if there's really much else that I could say other than um, I think everything else has been either covered by the council or Mr. Seero. I could think I could have done a better job than him, but where is he? He did a he did a fine job and I I
appreciate him u doing that. So um, >> here he is. You can thank him. >> We were just saying what a great job you did. So probably yesterday, >> but he was talking about you leaving. >> Yeah, >> that's what it was. >> Yes. Yes. He thought you did. >> But anyhow, so so I just wanted to make
sure we we we covered all that. So uh and if I missed anything else, if anybody else has a question for me, I'd be happy to answer it right now. So, >> yes. Uh, I would like to know what the deadline is for you to submit something that our residents will have parking
permits. And why are we waiting for this mechanism of of scanning all of the license plates instead of just giving stickers to the residents who have come before us for 20 years? >> I I think I articulated that before.
Maybe you didn't understand what I said. However, um what it is is that we are going to implement it when it comes into play. Um the police department is set up for it. Um and once we decide what we're going to do, it's going to take going to take cooperation with the council
because we just can't implement a parking permit without an ordinance. We need to establish ordinances. We need to establish um regulations and rules and and policies and procedures. So, this is not going to happen overnight. I can't say that we're going to do it uh next week. I going to tell you it's not going
to be ready by next council meeting. You can ask me again and I'll repeat myself one more time. Um it's not going to be ready by next week, but it doesn't mean that we're not going to be two weeks closer to implementing it. So we're we're working on it and we're not forgetting it. Um and we we want to get it right the first time. So that's
that's about as best as I can state on that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Right. I would just like to make a comment that it just seems that in this town some things get done very very quickly when there is motivation and in this particular issue on getting permits
for our residents who are below Rollinsson it is moving just so sluggishly and and it just seems very unfair and that's my comment. You don't have to respond to it. >> I can I will respond. It's insulting because this this this body this
administration takes everything serious. whether you're down the hiller or an up the hiller, which I'm a down the hiller originally and I live up the hill now. This is my town and I take it seriously and that's insulting. So, we take it seriously and if you don't want to believe it, that's your business, but I
will tell you my opinion. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Yeah, I want to make a statement because I don't appreciate that, sir. And no, because you you want to have the conversation, you're going to have the conversation. So, this has not been an easy task. And you know, you have
residents that that you're letting them think they're probably going to get about like three to five permits per house. And that's not going to be the case. We're lucky if there's a permit per each house. There's fire hydrants on the street. You know, we're not, you
know, I'm curious to see how this is going to work with with our engineer. Uh what she's going to recommend. I'm really curious the information when it comes back because I don't see there more than one spot per household uh being able to receive a permit. So, this
should be very interesting when the information comes back. Um and um that's all I'm going to say there. But it does require a council vote because when we've done uh this exercise on uh other streets that aren't nearly impacted the
way that this is or as complicated, >> it it's it was it's done by ordinance. Thank you. >> I'd like to respond to that. I'd like to know how long it took to get other areas permits, particularly those that are above Roland. >> I can't answer that. I don't know. I
don't >> You were on the council. It didn't seem to take 20 years when people came to the council and said we're having parking issues due to Satan Hall students they got parking permits. So this this taking 20 years does seem a bit elongated and
unfair because the solutions given by prior administrations when I was sitting there was not approved by the council. So again so you didn't then that was the one that's not true. They asked for one way street copies of them. The permits
were always authorized by the council. >> Council president, could you could you just require them to speak one at a time, please? So that I can follow it, not to mention everybody out here. One at a time, please. Please. >> I think we made our Can we move on? >> Yes. >> Okay, great. Let's go on with the
consent agenda. >> Okay. Approval of minutes of previous meeting, none. Report of township officers, none. Reading of petitions and communications and bids. The 2026 contract for food and beverage concession at West Orange Jinny Duncle
Pool season with option to extend two one-year periods. Is there consent? >> Consent >> and the rebid for EMS apparatus. >> Consent >> billist none resolutions. Uh, Councilwoman be uh, Council President,
before I ask if any are being pulled this evening, we are going to, um, pull for a vote 54-26, the resolution endorsing the fourth round housing element and fair share plan as adopted by the Township of West Orange Planning Board on November 10th,
2025 as we have to go into executive session to discuss. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, are there any other resolutions being pulled? Councilman, >> can we just step back a minute? I'd like to ask why there is no bill list and why there was no bill list at the last
meeting. >> Well, I'll let Council Moviac go first and then >> Yeah, I you asked for for uh exceptions to the to the uh consent agenda. I was going to do that. Is that okay? Mhm. >> So, uh, 3026,
uh, I'm going to move to table because what's up on the line is not the the correct, uh, resolution wording that we should be using and we'll just bring table it and bring it back uh, next uh, next council meeting. That that would be
my plan. >> So, I 3026. >> There is no 30 26. Yeah, you I gave everybody a brand new It's the red on the re. Okay. >> All right. So, we need to sec We need a second to that. >> Wait, wait, wait.
>> No, no. We're just resolution. >> Pull that and then take a vote after. >> Oh, that's a debt management, >> right? Policy. >> Yes. I have a uh >> I just I think you request
>> I have some questions about 58-26 the resolution authorizing an emergency contract for the purchase of road salt and >> are you pulling that councilman or you just have questions? >> I just have questions. >> Okay. Okay. >> And that's that's it for me.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Do we need to make a motion to do >> No, no, no. We're going to do afterwards after everybody >> have a comment on 58. >> 58. Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I'd like to know why there's no bill list in this in this agenda and in
the prior agenda. >> Uh yes, Councilwoman. So, we don't have a bill list because the software system that we're still using, the Munidex Zenggov, um until we finalize 2025, we cannot roll into 2026. So, we can't
generate a 2026 bill list. So, we can't generate 2026 checks. So, we're basically pushing everything off until we can roll into 2026, which we should have for the next meeting. >> Did you say that you're not generating
checks? >> Well, we we can't generate a bill list. Um, if we have to make checks, pay checks in an emergency basis, we can do them manually, but systemwise, we can't generate checks like we do when we do like a 100 check bill. So,
>> so several retirements have been mentioned. Have there been any retirement payouts up till now? And to whom and how much? >> Yes. Um, we we did have some retirement payouts in 2026. I'm not going to say
their names here because their names are not listed on the bill list. Um, but we can give you the listing of who we paid. Um, so you want to ask me something else or go ahead. >> How many how many retirement payouts
have you made? So, we had let's see I think we had one from a previous year retirement that we paid in 2026 and we have ones coming up for
um the end of February retirements. They'll they'll be in March and then we'll have in the beginning of March the there's a January retirement that we're gonna make a payment for. >> So the list we're not going to talk about it here in names. We'll give you
the the the payouts. Um we'll provide that internally. >> Okay. Can we see both the payouts and the backup for all of the payouts? >> Yeah. Right. the executive session.
>> I think we discuss executive session. >> Okay. Well, we >> when we have employment council coming, there were a number of questions that you had that were was related to that, Councilwoman. So, I think that I understand where you're going and I think that we'll have answers to
questions with council press. >> Okay. Do you want to pull? >> Yes. I would like to pull resolution 4726 having to do with reimbursement to private communities. I I guess
5026 is being pulled. >> No, it was not pulled. Okay, then I'm going to pull 5026. I'd like to um
pull to ask questions 52 26. >> Okay. So, are you pulling it for a separate vote or are you just asking questions? >> Well, I will I'm going to pull it. >> Okay. >> Because I will get the answers and then I'll make a decision.
>> Um we we're tableabling 5526. >> Mhm. that was reveal already removed. So that's it. >> Okay, >> that's what we >> um I just had a question if I can
regarding uh the 10 resolutions authorizing the release of escrow. uh in the resolutions it indicates that if I can just get to one of those I'm telling indicates that it was inspected
by uh but it does not indicate in the final inspection has been completed and the restoration work is satisfactory. Is it possible to note who completed the
final inspection? I only asked that question because when we went down to the resolution for site inspection at the Montlair Golf Club, it's very specific as to and that one is 4526.
It's very specific that um the work the site inspections were performed by CME Associates for the Montlair Golf C Club halfway house project. So, I just wanted to understand if we could be more specific in who signed off on the final
site inspections. I don't know that it needs to be part of the resolution. I'm just asking the question. Okay. >> So, all of them are CME as well. >> A lot of them are CMs are
gotta go. For example, the one that you brought up for the Monontlair Complete Club, um, that one actually is CME Associates. A lot of the other release for escros, there are some of them are actually escrow accounts for road opening permits
for residents and if there's any money left, we just return it. So, is it important to note who did the final site inspections? Um, I don't know that it's necessary in the resolution,
>> but I'm just curious. It was just in one and then not in the others. >> Just for consistency, >> is there checks and balances on the back end that say signed off on? I did submitted all of the u correspondence that was provided by the consultants who
did the inspections and some of them if it is let's say for a homeowner who gets a road opening permit sometimes we do it internally we will go there and do the inspection and make sure that the surface looks proper otherwise we go
back to them and tell them that they got a fix or we just not return the escrow. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> That's it. Well, I would just make the recommendation that we I don't know if it's necessary and that's what I'm saying. I don't know what the back
paperwork looks like and we just maybe identify whoever does the site inspection. >> Do you want it on the resolution for the future? Because I I believe I submitted it all of the >> paperwork that we received from the um consultants. >> Okay.
>> Whether it was Matrix New World or made that decision, I think that can be an administrative recommendation if that's how they feel. I just noted that it it could be included. >> I'll put it in the letter next one. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Okay. Council Gle. >> Yeah. Just on number 58. I just, you know, I had mentioned earlier um the um service that um we worked out with with the school district. And I'll just let Mr. Smaldo if you could just speak to
>> Well, first I wanted to see what's being pulled. >> 58. Well, this is 58 but with the rolled salt. So, I'm not pulling anything now. >> Right. So, we're not getting >> just have a comment on 58. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Are you pulling? >> No, I'm good.
>> Okay. So this is what I have as far as uh where it was pulled. 30 26 4726 50 26 52 26 5426 and then questions on 5826.
Is that correct? >> I move for consent of the remaining of the agenda. >> Second. Did C did uh Councilwoman um pull 47 >> 4726. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Okay. Did we have that? I don't Maybe. >> Yeah, it's on there. >> Yeah, she Okay. Okay. >> Um Okay. So, is there Oh, so we have the motion and the second. Um all in favor? >> I Any opposed? The consent agenda is
implemented. Okay. First item up is 3026, Councilman Koviaak. >> It's It's really simple. We're We've uh are trying to uh get this draft of the resolution across the finish line. It's
It's not there yet. The one that's up there now is the previous one. We need to get this uh signed off and we'll just do it at the next council meeting. So that's that's why I I wanted to uh just ask my colleagues to consider tableabling this again.
>> So no problem. You making a motion? >> Yeah. So that'll be an action item for the next time to complete that. >> Well, we'll have to we'll have to actually take a vote now. So >> yeah, we're going to you want to take a vote table? Okay. Is there a motion table? >> Second. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilman Kakoviaak. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Council President Scarpa. >> Yes. >> The motion carries >> and that will be listed for February 24th.
>> 4726 resolution authorizing the 2025 reimbursement for services to private communities street lighting. Councilwoman Ruden, you pulled that. Yes. Um I asked questions on this is the just so that the public understands what
this is. We reimburse private communities in West Orange for their lighting and we have a number of communities that we reimburse. There are over a thousand street lights that we are paying for in private
communities. I asked for what the how this fee was determined because each light is being charged at $145.80. And I did a little bit of of research um with PSCG to find out how much this
actually costs. And I'm really would like to see the bill before we approve this because if there could be we don't know exactly how many lights there are. I did ask if the lights in the
communities have been counted and the response that I got was that they have not been counted. The other question I have is that the these lights are not all le LED lights and I'd like to understand why they are not all LED why
we are using traditional highpressure sodium lights which are more expensive and what is the process to get PSEG to make all of the lights in all of these communities and throughout town LED so that we can save money.
So typically the process in order for us to be able to reimburse every single one of the private communities in the township is that I put together this solution. I typically ask or email PCNG which they do on a yearly basis and they provide us
with the monthly rate for each one of those lights. Multiply that by 12 months which I believe is what I explained on my answer. It comes out to the $145.80 80s based on a rate of $12.15 per light.
When was the last time that this were checked on this individual private communities? I cannot give you that answer. All I can tell you is that it is the number of lights that have been accounted by my predecessor in the engineering department and those are the
number of lights. Now the one thing that everybody needs to understand is it doesn't mean that because that number that you see in there that's the number that the private community is going to be reimbursed. What they typically do they
submit a package to our department with an application and in that application they also submit all of the monthly bills from PCNG. We review those bills and if the amount is less meaning they spended less than what we have
calculated to be reimbursed we give them less. If the amount they have expended on lights turns out to be more than what we have calculated then we just give them the amount that is calculated.
What I don't understand is that you have numbers of of lights and then you're you're calculating that by a monthly figure and then and then up to a yearly figure, but we don't know how many lights really there are in the community
and are you seeing every every bill that is coming in? We have 21 communities that we're reimbursing. >> Yes. and the 21 communities does submit a package this big that we actually have to sit down and go through it and actually ensure that what they're giving
us makes sense. Like last year, somebody I guess by mistake gave us like some of their gas bills. So, we showed them all out and we told them like this this doesn't belong here and we calculated what the amount needed to be based on the table. Since you're using both since
these communities are using both traditional lights and LED lights, shouldn't there be differences in the amount that each instead of a flat rate for each pole? >> That's a question that would be for PCG. I do my due diligence which is every year before I put the resolution
together I contact the PCNG representative and he emails me exactly the amount that it is regardless of whether it's LED or highress sodium lights. The entire town is a mis mismatch.
>> How do we get to the point where we are using only LED lights in these communities and throughout because we'll save a lot of money. We typically will have to request a survey and because I don't have it it is
timeconuming okay you have to get the number of each one of the polls you have to get a list the addresses and give it to them also you need to understand too not every single light can be just I want to say this retrofit to be LED so I
had that looked at actually in Kelly drive okay the amount amount of money that would down the township would have to spend to go from the traditional high-pressure sodium lights to LED was
substantial. And if we are to do that, then I guess the council is going to have to be ready to put out a lot of money if this is what we want to do. >> Doesn't the each of these communities have a count on how many lights they
actually have? I'm sure the lights or the number of lights are coming probably from their PCNG because every single time that I ask PCNG to upgrade or change from high pressure sodium to LED or maybe to a
brighter light, I have to review an agreement and in that agreement they give you the number of lights. >> Thank you. >> Just thank you. I have a quick question. So, so because I know when the lights
are out, we tell the the residents to look on the pole or the light. So, every light should be numbered, right? Correct. >> Every single one of them has an a specific number just like a utility pole also has an specific number. >> Okay. So, they all they all should be tracked then.
>> Yes. But how would I say this? If a resident just tells me let's say for example just recently Curtis Avenue, right? I asked the police department to assist me with that and they actually went out there and they got all the different um
numbers for each one of the lights because they were experiencing some breakins. So we're going to be upgrading and supplementing what is already there. >> Got it. >> So it's you know. >> Okay. So you added a light >> and sometimes after we do that we do get residents saying that now it's too
bright. So then we have to call PCNG again for them to actually to come out and put a lower LED light. >> So it's a process. >> That's a test to the neighbor calling and saying the light is too bright right
by the firehouse. Uh yes, definitely that. Definitely. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you very much, Mr. Garbala. >> Is there a motion to approve 47-26? Councilwoman Castelino, yes. >> Councilman Kakoviaak, yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Karpa, the motion carries. >> Okay. Next is 50-26. Resolution authorizing the planning board to draft a redevelopment plan for
block 88 lot 80 Main Street pursuant to NJSA4A12A-1. Councilwoman Ruden, you pulled this. >> Yes. In the resolution that was put up on our on the public agenda, it said that the documents related to this uh
housing not this h this project were would be appended and they were not. So for that reason because the public has not had a chance to see what this plan is. I am requesting that this be pulled from the agenda. >> We don't have a plan.
>> There's no plan. They're going to develop it. They're going to develop the plan. >> This No, it said it says in there in the resolution. Let me pull it up. >> No, I have I have a draft development. >> That's what
>> So So that Yeah, I don't know why it says it that way because there was a draft of a mockup. >> This is the money for that. It says, "The township here by hereby desires to
direct the township of West Orange Planning Board to prepare a redevelopment plan for the property after reviewing and considering a package of materials appended here too." >> That's the
new on-26 that was in our package that was printed for us today. Um, can we just amend the resolution? >> Yes. If you wish, you can amend the resolution to reflect that
uh they'll consider documents that were submitted by the applicant and remove the appended here too. >> Okay. Um, I think that that's a good idea because uh those documents aren't indicative
necessarily of what the planner is going to provide as a plan. And there is not a public hearing for this for uh hiring the planner to prepare a plan. Once the
plan is prepared, there will be a public hearing for for short. Um so if you wanted this uh to go forward, uh and uh I know that it would be beneficial to the developer because you'd like to see zoning in place sooner than later. Um
you can do exactly what was suggested or you could carry it and you can depend. But um I I think that we'd just be inviting a whole lot of discussion on something that our planner may >> change >> change or Yeah, >> I know. Yeah, I know it is important to
the public though. >> Um I'd just like to amend the resolution and remove appended here too. Um so that that fourth whereas paragraph will read whereas pursuant to the New Jersey statute. The township hereby desires to commence the process to prepare a
redevelopment plan for the property after reviewing and considering a package of materials from the property's ownership concerning the property. >> I'll second that motion. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Hold on. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilman Koviaak.
>> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. Absolutely not. Councilwoman Williams. >> Council President Scarpa. >> No. >> Okay. The motion carries. >> I'd like to move for the U. >> Council, >> if I could, in the same paragraph, the
first reference in this in this resolution, and it was revised, I guess within the last 24, 48 hours. I'm not exactly sure when. It references the word board. It says, uh, rules and standards that the board deems proper because of the amendment. Uh there's no
first reference to who the board is. So >> uh yeah, actually no, could we could we speak to that? I just realized that there was an error and and I think that we should speak to it uh for clarification. Uh the original resolution that was uh
prepared uh by redevelopment council uh indicated that the uh planning board would be authorized to retain a plaintiff. Uh and then based upon some conversations uh I had with
him and knowing uh the uh the sentiment of the board, I had uh asked that he provide an alternative that allowed the
governing body to send it to the planner uh directly. So the planner is answerable to you and that's why we're appending the documents to it. Um >> if that was a concern >> and I I I don't know that's the one that was ultimately adopted.
>> Yes, that's the one that that is uh on the uh township website agenda page, but we have a redline copy. >> Let's remember let's remember that red line. Yeah, >> very important. >> The new document was uploaded. So the old the old one was taken down.
>> Okay, good. So we can see what was changed. >> When was that uploaded? >> Today. >> Yeah, it's not really enough time for us. >> Go ahead. >> The redline copy did not include a paragraph, an entire paragraph that was in a previous resolution. And I I emailed that to you to to show you that
it was not in there. >> Save copies to everyone. >> I understand, but this is not in enough time for >> I distribute it when I get it. So that's not on me then. >> Right. Regardless, this is kind of what the public was talking to us about before
where there needs to be significant time for us to absorb and digest information that is this important. >> Council President, so all right, so this has been looming within this body for quite some time. And you know, we have a
very rare situation here where we have someone that bought one of our antiquated buildings in the in the downtown quarter that is desperately needing um some new life in it. And we're not
asking he's not ask for a pilot, ask for a little assistance. It's been explained over and over again. And I appreciate I know the attorney has come on board and we've been bogging down with a lot and so there's a little mishap here but again the plan is is is the public's
have full access to the plan after the planner reviews it and we have full control which is always important to this body. So again, it's not perfect this evening, but I highly recommend you move forward with it because like like the attorney
or attorney said earlier, you know, once this building gets revamped and moved forward, it it not only does it increases the revenue uh for the tax base, it also brings needed uh uh people to our downtown. So, I'm I'm going to
urge you to >> Are there any more corrections or changes? >> I just be patient and >> I can try to do. >> So, the the document um Councilwoman Ruden that you sent me that said that this paragraph is missing.
>> It's here. >> What's the one about the pilot? >> It's be further resolved. >> There's there's no mention of a pilot. >> There's no mention of a pilot in there. No, it was redlined. >> That was from another document. That was another document that was referred to.
>> This one did. It had It was redlined. >> Resolutions that were put before the governing body for this evening never had a reference to a pilot. >> No, that was true. But the earlier one did. >> I never I never did a resolution previously, so I'm not of it. But the reality is
>> it was from November >> and I confirmed this with the redevelopment council that nothing uh that you do this evening >> is opening the door to a pilot. And uh when we end up sending this
resolution to the redeveloper, uh I can in uh draft a letter to go with the resolution telling him in advance uh that we have no intention on granting a pilot. So you know proceed at your own
election. you know, you could uh fund the escaro and we could proceed with the redevelopment process, but don't come back and ask us for a pilot because we're I could do a letter like that for certain, but nothing you do here this evening uh >> opens the door for a pilot. It doesn't
indicate that there's the pilot. It doesn't obligate you for a pilot. And in point of fact, uh the person uh by operation of law may be eligible for a pilot, but they'd have to make a separate application and a request at
which time you say yes or no. So if it's your intent never to grant a pilot, there's nothing that you have to do today to prevent that. You just say no when they make the application. >> Could that be stated in the resolution? >> It's there. It's
>> it's it's not necessary. It's It's not necessary. >> Um it simply isn't necessary. Red the redevelopment law is one statute. The long-term tax exemption law is another statute. It's not even the same act.
>> Okay. >> Okay. I understand what your concerns are. >> Yeah. Because you know, you don't know what the future holds, >> but we do. >> Well, you control >> you control it. 100% if they come back and they say we would like a pilot
>> answer >> okay you know >> what would be the time frame are they going to come back to us in a month or two months or how long could this drag out we may have a different council >> and if we do then that's the right of that body to make that decision
>> yeah they may that body is is the is in at that time >> I I I would I would venture uh I I don't want to avoid the answer to your question. >> Um, first of all, the the >> Could they come back up a year later? I
I if if they start doing the improvements that are necessary to make the change at that point in time, it really doesn't make sense that they're going to go for a pilot because the improvements that they're going to claim that they need some sort of incentive are already in the way,
>> right? So, I would presume that a developer that's hot and heavy to get these changes in so that they can make retrofit their building to open the door to new revenue aren't going to be waiting. Um and certainly if we tell them that they're not going to uh that
the governing body has no interest in considering a pilot, I would think that that carries a lot of weight. Uh the last thought that I have is uh saying anything about a pilot in this resolution I don't know is is binding.
It isn't. If a governing body in the future was inclined to give them a pilot, >> this is only a resolution. They could say, "Well, change the resolution." So, there's nothing that you're going to do here today that would really prevent
>> Mhm. >> or change what the long-term options are, >> right? >> But the reality is >> and I think the public sees that this governing body is not interested in giving them a pilot >> and I don't think that that's going to change anytime soon.
>> So, you control the cards, >> right? >> That we adopt this resolution. I second. >> As amended. >> As amended. Thank you. >> I second. As amended. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilman Kovia. >> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Ruden. >> No. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Yes. >> Council President Scarpa. >> No. >> Motion carries. >> Before we move on, if I could I'm sorry, Council President, could I just >> I just want to follow up before we move
on on uh Ada. I had asked some questions about the use of the rehabilitation ordinance or resolution or whatever it is in the town since 2021 since uh it
was approved and my the answer back was Mr. Samero will need to appine to the above questions. I just want to get this information. And it's basically looking at what has been the use of the rehabilitation law in town. And one of the reasons I'm
interested is that, as you probably know, the uh ordinance allows for half of the first five years of property taxes >> that are marginally increased because of the rehabilitation
go back to the property owner. Mhm. >> In this case, that's that at least at this point from my understanding in discussions with one of the owners, that's not the case. They they are not going to be asking for that. But I do
want to have a better understanding of how much the rehabilitation uh law has been used in town because I'm sort of thinking maybe if nobody's using this that uh maybe we consider uh taking it off the books. Anyway, I can I don't
know whether you got my questions, but I can send them to you. But I just wanted to flag it while we were talking about it. >> And that was a concern. I don't I don't have that historical knowledge. Um and I don't think that it would make sense for me to research historical knowledge. Uh Mr. Beckman has undoubtedly handled
them. Uh so I could ask Mr. Becklman to provide an opinion. Um, under the uh short-term tax exemption law, a rehabilitation zone may be eligible for the 5-year short-term pilot
that you discussed. Um, but there's no obligation uh for this body to grant any applicant for a short-term uh pilot application that approval. Uh, and I did confirm that with Mr. Beckman an email prior to
uh the meeting this evening and he agreed. >> Yeah, the law's pretty clear, but I just want to know if in West Orange whether any property owners have used this uh since 2021. That's >> and it's a valid question. I I'll ask Mr. Benton. Okay. >> And I just wanted to say that was a concern of mine, which is why I voted
no. And you know, I kind of would have preferred that this go through the zoning board and through the regular channels because there are some unknown risks and we don't know how fast this will go and if there'll be a new council that you know the developer might lobby to do something differently. So
>> thank you. >> That was my concern. Go ahead. I I don't share that concern and I do realize that the uh area in need of rehabilitation um when we've had different reports from the zoning officials and different uh pending applications um there was
indication that there had been an increase in renovations uh that homeowners are doing to their homes um year after year after year in addition to an increased amount of new homeowners buying properties in West Orange and
then seeking to do renovations. Um so that is some data that we do have um from the planning and zoning department. >> Okay. Anybody else? I think we beat that one to death. >> 5226 resolution authorizing submission
of an application and execution of a grant agreement for the installation of a prefabricated mini pitch that includes lighting and would allow for different sports to be played, including soccer and basketball. Councilwoman Rudin, you pulled this. >> Yes, >> Edward.
>> I was hoping to get you out of here, too, as soon as possible. >> Thank you, Mr. Johnson, and congratulations on your interim appointment. Wish you the best of luck. >> Thank you. >> Um, I have some questions about footsel. Sure.
>> Is Fell a small soccer? >> Yes, it's a smallsided soccer that's played on a hardcourt surface. >> Okay. So will this involve more hardscaping? >> This this structure requires a concrete or aphalt pad to house to house it that
gets anchored on. And then the surfacing they put on uh they recommend recommend acrylic, rubber or turf, but we're talking with recognition of acrylic. >> And why acrylic? >> It helps with drainage and that's the big thing. So that way you have more access to play and it's more durable and
it's uh lasts longer than the other surfaces. What is the size of the imperous coverage that you're >> We were specul we the facility we specked out was 50 by 104 >> 55 >> 50 feet by 104 feet that's kind of a
midsize which is still acceptable for u foot play like a smallized soccer field it's 80 by 50 so it's a little bit uh about the same size as that >> has engineering evaluated what sort of impact this would have in terms of water runoff >> not at this time
>> and should we have that evaluation before we approve this. This is an area that floods quite a bit. >> It does. And we've done um she can speak better about that, but we've done studies in Lafayette many times about I mean before my tenure. Um this is not a
park that we just decided like we need to do work. This is a long-term project cuz Lafayette uh it's really underutilized and you know it's it's to put it bluntly, it's not a dog park and right now in the current format it's kind of turning into a dog park which is discouraging active recreation in that park. So, um, couple years ago, we had a
multiaceted plan where we're going to do a new playground, which you guys have supported, and that's going to go in in spring of this year. And then we had a multi-, uh, focused plan. We're going to put Foots on volleyball, which would have met the needs of the community, what we see being played there. >> So, I I'm still concerned about water
runoff since you're creating more hardscaping. We could, but then we would not have the opportunity to apply for this grant in this calendar year because the deadline either has passed or is quickly approaching. >> Okay. So, do do you want to address that?
>> Going to bail me out. >> So, this is just for a grant application. So, when the time comes, I'm sure we could do some drainage design, whether it might be with some under drains, uh, perforated pipe, whatever. where we might need to and
evaluate the soils in order to, you know, do some drainage and tie into the nearest um storm water system which we do have drainage out there. >> Exactly. So, would that be included in the 75,000 or is the footsil going to take the entire 75,000?
>> I don't know, but one thing is for sure, we will evaluate with recreation and one thing we can do is maybe have it designed in house if we have the right personnel to do it. Okay. I'm I'm worried about running into more costs because we don't know what we
don't know right now. >> Yeah. This this project is more than $75,000. As part of the capital budget 2023, we did have funds for it. So, the part of the person's goal was to use offset the money that we need out of capital budget to complete this project. So, it's not going to pay for the
project completely, but it's going to not require us to use as much capital budget bud budget money as possible. >> And would there be a way to create a soccer field without it being hardscaped? >> It wouldn't be as durable or as appealing or as safe >> because there's no structure there.
>> Will the acrylic field need to be replaced? >> From what I've been told by the manufacturers of this, not for a very very long time. 20 plus years. Councilwoman, >> so to to the point there, the field itself is a disaster. It hasn't been
maintained, but the way and for a field in that long a time. Uh what about turf? Would that be better served there or that's more expensive? >> It's more expensive. >> It's more expensive. And with this type of soccer and plus also plan to use it
for multiports, a hard surface would be the best option. >> Yes. Because you can have multiple things there like, you know, while we could set it up for football and basketball, kids could, you know, play street hockey. We can have them use our imagination and have this great recreational opportunity for kids and adults and families to play. And so, uh,
hard service hard surface gives us the most flexibility in terms of playing. >> Now, you've had this this court in um, Colgate Park for many years and it's it's constantly used. >> And the one at Colgate Park um, you know, that's not a pre-fab structure. Those are tennis courts as some of may
remember. And all we did there was uh resurface them, recoat them, and put netting in. And we've learned a lot in that process. That's what led us to this modular structure. >> Great. That's my point. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Can we >> Yeah. Yeah. Can we move?
>> Is there a motion to approve 5226? >> Second. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. >> Uh, yes. >> Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Yes. Council President Karpa. >> The motion carries.
>> Resolution. Nope, not that one. Okay. There were questions on resolution 5826, resolution authorizing an emergency contract for the purchase of road salt from an alternate supplier due to two long duration snow and ice storms on
January 17th and 18th, 2026. Councilman Koviaak and Councilwoman Castleino both have questions on this. >> Please go ahead. >> Sure. I I just have two comments. First is I want to thank Mr. Smaldo and his team for securing the salt in the first
place because a lot of towns were without ran short and so that was a a great job there. Uh second um as far as the school district, did they have to tap into this salt? And you know, I know with all that that we picked up, I just
wanted to let the, you know, you share with my colleagues because I know the answer to this how the how they're going to uh reimburse us for the uh this the snow removals. >> So, what we did with as far as the
procurement for this the um the salt, we originally put a order in for 1,500 tons. Um, everybody including us was held up at the ports for whatever reason. I can't tell you what goes on at the ports. Um, we were waiting probably
10 to 12 days and at that point we were down to about 3 to 400 tons of salt in our shed and our sheds are somewhere around like I think about 23 or 2400 tons, something like that. Um, so we placed the order well in advance of like
the the previous storm to replenish the salt that we used at that storm. At that point when we were not getting any confirmation from our vendors to supply it, um, we went to go seek an alternate route. It turns out one of our residents
who owns a trucking business was able to secure um, uh, the salt for us cuz that was a the price we were going to pay originally was I think $60 a ton. delivered. This gentleman offered to help us out under the emergency to change it up to u if we picked it up,
we'll go $50 a ton and he would pick it up for uh for $20 a ton for us. And if we had done the procurement through a third party, it would have cost us $120 a ton. >> So, thank you. >> So, thank you. >> So, we were So, this resident um and I don't know if he wants to be named um
but he stepped up. He helped us out and we were able to get our salt the very next day. And that's why we got ahead of this storm when we did. we were able to get out and do the the work that we had in regards to the schools. So, we worked it out. Um our um superintendent um
Lour, he worked out um he was contacted by the schools who then contacted us and the administration and they advised us they had a situation that we would reach out to help him. um he negotiated or he he spoke with um the contractors that we
have on board right now and they actually concentrated on the schools and they're going to pay the contractors through us at the rate that we would pay them to do the hourly rate that we have. So the bill will be coming to us but they're going to be reimbursing us for the cost. It's it it was at no cost to
the municipality um in the sense of um you know the the labor that was involved. Traditionally in the past the schools we have a um um an agreement that they will utilize our salt as part of the township. So uh the
tonnage that's used is actually was was better for us to have the vendor um because the vendor put it down and we knew how many tons that were being uh taken out because they have to put it down. So, we were allocated that was allocated to their trucks. Each truck, my understanding is if I and and correct
me if I'm wrong, Mr. Lour, but I believe each truck holds about 25 tons of salt. So, when they go out, that's that's a significant amount of tons. Most are larger trucks, >> the max the real big ones. The smaller ones are probably I think what 10 to 15 something like that. It's somewhere
around that that um so that they these guys when they they go out and they salt you know there's a lot of weight in these trucks and there a lot of salt being applied where where it's necessary >> and I had asked Mr. uh Diniac and and Mr. Smaldo and and Mr. Moore if we could
look into doing a share service agreement for the uh snow plowing. We tried to do it with the uh garbage uh pickup uh couple times and we just didn't, you know, no one uh cuz they do their uh garbage pickup so much
different than ours, we couldn't get someone to bid on both contracts. So hopefully we'll be able to be more successful with snow removal. >> And with the from what I understand, Councilwoman, even with the garbage contracts, the renewals are coming up at the same time. So that may be an opportunity for us to review that shared
services. think we should do that. >> Well, well, again, they the way they do their services, but yes. Yes, it it took a lot of time. Yeah, it's an opportunity maybe rework the way we do it. >> Okay, >> thank you. >> Okay, council.
>> Yes, Councilman. >> Thank you. So, I have basically two questions. one, as you recall, a year ago, we had another I don't know how to describe it, but an unusual uh experience with needing salt and we had
to go to an emergency contract. That appears to be what we did this time as well, a year later. Do I understand that correctly? >> No, it's totally different. We've This is I think our ninth or tth snow emergency. We've been continu He could
tell you how much we paid. Um we we've had to go full up more salt as we need it. We our our staff looks at the amount that's needed, what is anticipated. Um nobody I think anticipated the uh the volume of what this storm dropped on us
in in the way it did. Uh we had we had probably about 1,800 tons of salt on hand prior to the storm, but we utilized it and and just like and and we weren't the only ones. If you looked around on the news, all these different towns, larger towns than us, smaller towns than
us, they ran out, they ran out of salt and you saw the mayors or the BAS on TV saying, "Yeah, we can't get any." We were able to get ours. So it was so we were able to replenish what we used. We It's not that we mismanaged or missed out when we had you have nine or 10 emer
snow emergencies since the beginning of December. >> It's it's been a pretty nutty winter season this year. >> Okay. >> It's an unusual winter season from the typical W >> and Councilman. So, you know, we place our orders with Morton's. We as a municipality cannot drive down to the
port and pick up. So, we rely on the delivery services that Morton contracts out with. Um but you know we were doing everything we could just to shore up the supplies we borrowed from the county. You we took a 100 tons from the county.
You know we called our our partners uh you know that we utilize for snow plowing services and asked to borrow any excess salt that they have in their yard. So, you know, we're always working the phones and and trying to get more and it's just every municipality
um has had a difficult time getting salt just using so much of it. >> As I stated by, you know, from Mr. Jackson, you know, he was surprised how well we did because our staff really went distance to get this this for us. And as Mr. the dateniac pointed out, we
don't have the the paperwork to get down there, nor do we have the equipment to really go pick up our salt. So, I mean, that's a discussion, you know, where when we start talking capital, do we buy more trucks and more staff or do we utilize services? That's a whole different, you know, u thing that we could discuss, but that's not for
tonight. So, >> well, again, I have two questions. One having to do with the process to obtain the salt and the second one is the use of emergency contracts under the stat under the statute where the council is not being told sometimes not until weeks
later that there's this emergency contract that has to be done at a much larger cost than normal. So I just want to make sure I understand because I I did ask that I did get information. I just want to make sure I understand our our our contract rate for a ton of salt is like $63.80. 80s,
>> right? >> And for this to get the salt that kept the streets open. And again, I'm not trying to criticize anybody. I'm trying to see if there's an issue with the process so that we can avoid this in the future. But my understanding is that the
contract that the the price that we paid for this salt to keep the town open and running was $121.80. Is that correct? >> Yes. That was the correct number, but we cancelled we wound up canceling that order. Right.
>> And that's when we were able to get the original order back. >> That was >> the American Asphalt board. >> Yeah. The American >> That's that's what put in the resolution. >> Right. So, but to answer your question about the emergency, the reason that we're under the local public contracting law is allowed to do the the emergency
is so that we can get it done without getting prior approval because what if for whatever reason we cannot get together whatever the case may be. We have the ability where the the QPA has the ability to make that decision. We don't make emergency I think we're pretty on you know upfront here. We
don't we don't do too many emergency procurements around here. we do a lot through through the process that we're supposed to, but in a situation such as that, we're under a state of emergency, which was declared by the mayor. Um it it permits us to do things um a little bit different outside the norm of every
single day of everyday operations. So with with that in mind, under the state of emergency, we were able to handle the situation. So, you know, there was no other emergency procurements at that time. We didn't uh purchase additional fuel. Our fuel supplies um were steady
um because we we get I believe we receive two shipments of fuel a week for our fleet. That's and the total gallonage between diesel and gasoline is is in the thousands. So So >> so so the emergency contracts law is
pretty simple, pretty straightforward, pretty sharp and it does not allow the governing body to get involved. What I I brought this up, this may be the third time I brought it up about the use of emergency contracts and no notice to the
council about it. I'm not talking about approval. I'm talking about so that we know about major expenditures that are being required and we don't find out about it until the next council meeting when when we're asked to approve, you know, the emergency the the emergency
expenditure. All I'm asking is this is the second question. If do we need to and I guess throw into Mr. Sombrero, do we need to make an ordinance that says every time the administration uses the public the emergency contract law that
they make a notice to us just like you make a notice under the law to the various people in the administration just so we can know what's going on. I'll defer to the the uh the legal, but I think you just answered your own question by we're permitted to do this under the emergency. So why will we why
will we have to notice you in that sense? So I not saying we can't have the conversation or communication. I'm not I'm not disputing that with you. >> But I I don't know about establishing ordinance and I'll leave that to the uh the legal but the law is clear on emergency procurement.
>> Yes. The law says you have to communicate with certain designated people and you guys, the administration does that with an email. It would be so easy to just put the five members of the council on that same email and we don't have any say over it. But at least we
know what's going on instead of we have to instead of coming to a council meeting and trying to figure out what happened and that sort of thing. >> Council um Councilman Kovak, we don't need to debate this tonight. We'll we'll we'll send you the emails. We'll we'll we'll make we'll make those notifications. That's all. That's all. >> That's all we need. We We could just say
sexto labor in this whole conversation. >> Yeah. >> I I think that's great and I I think I've asked for it before and it didn't happen. So that's why I brought it up again. So I appreciate this and I'm sorry to uh make extension back to my first question which is how much this cost us. Now I just got some my initial
answers said that under our contract a ton of salt is $63.80, 80. But my reading of the response says that we spend $121.80 a ton to get this salt. So is am I wrong? >> No, you're you're correct. So then
that's the reason for the emergency is that we did not buy it at our state contract price. So, we paid uh the vendor for 500 tons at a marked up rate and then we had them pick up a 1500 ton order that's been sitting at
the port because they had, >> you know, I don't know how far down in the queue West Orange was to get the delivered. So, they took their their port sticker and went and picked up our our 1500 tons for us. That's the $20,000
that's part of this resolution. So, >> and council president I mean councilman um I apologize um the there was a second delivery I'm just remembering now what Mr. Koviac said we did have Mr. the Tiniac. I'm I'm like, "What time is it? Is it 12 on vacation?"
>> Is it 12? Yeah. Um >> it's only 20. >> Um there was an init another purchase that we had to have was This is how much salt we had to go through. Um the first one was for 121. The second one was the 1,500 tons that we ordered that were at
$60 ahead. We were going to have to order another emergency cuz we weren't getting that. And that's when the other residents stepped up and helped us out. So that saved us basically on that 120. So I apologize. I I just remembered that we did have that second. We've we've ordered a ton of salt.
>> Okay. So here's my bottom line question. Is this is I asked it a year ago. Is there any way in our analysis that we think we can change the process so that we don't keep doing it that we lessen the chances that this comes up again? And I know you
were talking about they everybody was trying to get the the salt because there was so many so much snow, but based upon your analysis and you know you know this a lot more than I do, is there anything we can do to to fix this process or at least to change the process so that we
reduce the chances we keep getting hit with these big numbers? >> That was the only emergency that was the only emergency procurement we had in the nine storms. Um so our staff is is on top of it. We unfortunately got caught like everybody else. We got caught between storms where you know we order I
mean some of these orders were placed on Saturdays and uh because that's when our staff was there. They were working around the clock. Um so this wasn't taken you know where was it was uh you know oh we forgot to do this. This is basically we used it and we had to use it and there were some storms we had to
use more than we anticipated because the way the the weather changed and everything else. So that that's that's the unfortunate with weather. We don't know. Okay, I don't want to belver the point. I just wanted to raise the issue because it's now happened twice. Totally different circumstances, but it's happened twice. >> But it's it's also it's also fair to us
that it's it's unfair to us to say that we're not doing it because that that that's what it makes it seem like. We're we're on top of this stuff. It's just we can't predict the weather and sometimes we have to make these order. We've made some orders like within days of each other and we just we use it. So, I can't tell you that I'm going to do that for you and I don't want to promise to you
because I can't predict the weather. If I could, I'd be a weatherman and I'd probably be making a lot of different money because they're always wrong, too. So, >> maybe I'm I'm not clear, Councilman. >> No, I'm trying to understand what you're saying. I I truly understand what you're saying, but what I'm telling you is I can't predict that. So, that's what I'm
telling. So, Councilman, I I I I think though to address your question with with, you know, potential s I don't want to say improvements, um maybe some policy changes, having the ability to have a vendor go out and pick
up at the port rather than relying on on Morton's delivery teams. um I I think is a useful tool to have in in the bag because, you know, maybe we are paying a little bit extra over the
$60, but we're we're getting the order that we placed at the $60 versus having to go and, you know, I want to say we were overchar pay a lot more than than the state contract price. So, I think
having someone prepared to go and pick up our orders and and and do it for a nominal fee is is is a good thing. I'm sorry. What? >> The nominal fee was how much? >> Um on the 1500 that they picked up, it
was it was a pretty small >> 6380 was the contract rate. >> That was that was Yeah. >> And then the 500 tons was 12180. So, it was >> that was buying 500 tons from the vendor. They picked up 1500 tons or 1400
tons um for $20,000. So, you know, we do the math. Whatever it was per ton, you know, that's we paid them to pick up our order. So, we bought 1,400 tons or 1500 tons at $60
and then Morton will subtract a a delivery fee because they didn't deliver it and we would pay the vendor basically that fee or a little bit more whatever it worked out to be. Um, so but
the point was we were able to get the the salt that we ordered because we weren't getting any delivery confirmations from from Morton's >> able to be open. >> Yeah, >> that's fine. Council person, I'm finished. >> Oh, okay. I would say like maybe, you know, one more thing would just be to
increase our our capacity and if we could look at potentially another salt dome so that we would have more uh capacity to deal with >> multiple storms. Councilwoman Williams, you had >> I just want to understand you paid
somebody to deliver the the salt $20,000. >> Yes. Well, they have to go and send, you know, dozens of trucks and load up 1500 tons and then they're bringing it to our yards and taking it out and putting it
in the domes. Um, so we get a credit from Morton's because the $60 includes delivery. So $60 per ton includes the salt and delivery. Because they didn't send it out with with their delivery team, they gave us a credit. So we just, let's say we paid
$50. I don't know what it is off the top of my head. And now we're paying a vendor an amount per ton. So >> why wasn't that vendor built included in this? >> It's part of the resolution. It's in the bottom section of the resolution where
they talk about the $20,000 delivery. >> And who is the vendor? >> It's uh it's a American Asphalt. Uh $20 a ton they charged us to deliver. I'm sorry.
>> And and you got to remember too at 500 tons, that's 20 trucks, 20 trips, whatever they they do it, that's 20 >> eight hours, labor hours to, >> right? And then when you add when you add 1,500 and now we're talking 60 trips. >> I have See, I haven't seen the credit for Morton's, but let's just say it
netted out to be we're paying an extra $10 versus what we would have paid to Morton for salt and delivery. and we were able to keep the schools open and roads safe. >> Yeah. >> And and that's that's you know when we
were discussing paying for the 500 tons because you know it was we were desperate you know we we didn't have enough salt and we were worried about the storm and and worried about safety and the welfare residents traveling around. You know it wasn't an easy decision to to pay 121. I mean I I don't
like it. I you know >> and the prediction was we were getting another storm which we're lucky didn't hit. So there was that too. Sounds like there were not a lot of choices here. >> No. >> Correct. >> You know and and a lot of things we take into account too. It's just not just we have the school safety. We was hoping schools safety and the other part is
that we have to get the schools open. People have to get to work. We our transports our jitneys we we got people moving. We got people back not taking time. So you know these are things that keep the community going. And that's really what we had to do. you know, even our even our jitney drivers, we didn't, you know, we mentioned them, but they
were out the next day. They were out. They were transporting people the next day. So, we we did it, you know, we were able to keep the town moving. So, Councilwoman Williams, >> um, how did we get the wrong signature on the resolution? >> Signature on the resolution. What
>> it says? Joe Palos >> under under signature that Mr. Smeiraldo signed. >> It's probably just not updated. We were >> on the purchase order >> on the first page of the resolution. We have the
>> Yeah. 58.6 yours. >> It has his signature. >> Yeah, I got to change it. >> Council. >> Oh, it must be the uh the burg. >> No,
>> I don't know. >> What number is this? >> It's the cover letter. >> Cover on the front. >> Show it to them. This is this was a this was a letter that was sent out >> by DPW
um from our staff and I guess the um this was >> honestly I I didn't see that and I apologize but it has my name on >> the system. >> Yeah, we can take >> Yes, I will speak to make sure that happens. too.
>> Okay. Council, >> just wanted to follow up with one more question and you can keep the answer as short as possible, but could you clarify what the the the salt purchase transport relationship is between the township and
the schools, the school district? >> Yes, he said. >> Do we regularly buy their salt? >> We they they we get the salt through them. The same thing with Llewellen Park. We we give the salt to Llewellen Park. This is the contracts we have with them and we and we um share the salt with them. We have a contract with them
and and uh we have going to plow the road. So they we give them the salt. >> We sell it to them, but we give them I've never seen a contract. >> No, it's it's part of the agreement we have with Well Park maintaining the roads and things of that nature >> with the schools >> and and the schools and and not so much. No, it's schools. I don't think we have
a contract with them. >> Should they pay you? They should be paying >> they they re they go with the the contract. >> Let's find out. >> Yeah, we'll find out. that as an action item, >> I believe. >> Yeah, I believe that was done through the contract when they they they did the
plowing itself. We'll find out. >> But what what they did this year was we used our third parties. They filled up at our salt domes >> and we measure what they take and then they went out and and plowed the the
school properties and salted. So, not only will the reimbursement be for the the $550 an hour or the $570 an hour, but it'll also be for the salt at the tonnage that we pay the state contract rate.
>> We move right along. I'm hoping for 10:00. >> Yeah, we need executives going at 10:00. So, let's move. >> I'll make a motion to approve 58 session. >> No, no, no. You got to finish the >> No, there is no motion. It was just No worries.
>> Yeah, got to get her out of here. >> She just left. Nothing >> ordinances on second and final reading 2949-26 an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 7 traffic article 2 subsection 7-37.1
regulation for the movement and parking on municipal and board of education property of the revised general ordinances of the township. Did we vote on the >> You don't vote on that. It was just for folks. >> It was in I just had questions. We went in and approved it on consent. >> Right.
>> Okay. >> Uh is there a motion to introduce on second and final? >> I make a motion. >> A second. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Coun Councilman Kovia. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> I'm sorry. Is this for 2019
to introduce on second and final? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Council President Scarpa. Yes. The motion carries. >> Okay. All right. Is there anyone in in the public? Correct. >> Yes. Is there anyone in the public who would like to speak on 2949-26?
>> Seeing none. >> Any make a motion to close the public hearing. Remember >> I make a motion to close the public hearing. >> Okay. Second. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Councilwoman Castelino. Yes. >> Council. I'd like to now say something.
>> We're not there yet. >> Okay. >> Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Is this voting? >> This is to close talk about it. >> Okay. >> Fine. >> Yeah. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Yes. >> Council President Scarp. >> Yes. The motion.
>> Any of my colleagues want to discussion on this? Um I I was contacted by a resident whose mother lives in um Stone Stonehill and was told that that they were told that that parking lot um that
that we're talking about um that that's their that's their guest parking. The residents are being told that number one. So, I'd like to know is there any communication with Stonehill to let them know that this is not their visitor parking lot? Number two is they have a
charging station in this parking lot which we own. >> And when you get the bill for charging your car, it goes to Stonehill. Why would it go to Stonehill and not to West Orange? >> That's not true.
We had to before we took ownership of the property, we had to painstakingly get that changed over to us. So, whoever gave you that information is incorrect. Um uh we had to they wouldn't close until we were had the the electric charging stations um turned over to us
and so so they they we receive all the funding and the property is ours. Um, I don't know what Stone Hill is doing telling their their their residents they're parking there. That is our property. And the reason this is before you tonight is
because of the snowstorms that happened in September uh December because our trucks could not go plow there and people are parking there overnight. So I and I I spoke about this I think at the last meeting and the chief is here. I had a conversation with the chief and Captain Matulo. Um they confirmed that this ordinance was not on the books.
They cannot enforce it. We had 20 some odd trucks in that lot that night um that we could not plow and we could not get around. So, we need a mechanism to take control of our lot. This is what this mechanism is. >> Can you provide to the council the revenue stream that we are getting from
that charging station because I >> at this moment? No, >> I didn't mean at this moment. >> No, we'll do an action item. >> I would like to have that. >> We could >> because the resident got a bill that went to that said on it that it was going to Stonehill. So, I'd like to know what the revenue stream is that we're
getting from that charging station. >> Yeah, we we do get statements from Tesla because it's a Tesla. >> Oh, is that Tesla? >> Yeah. >> Oh, you know >> and and perhaps perhaps the statement says the charging station at Stone Hill. I don't know. That may be an internal
thing from Stone. But that that is ours. That is ours. And we said we could not close on that. Tesla bill go to anybody other than the person that's charging their car. That's not how Tesla works. >> I have no idea. >> So, if I go somewhere at in a Tesla to
charge my car anywhere I go, the bill goes to my card that's on my Tesla account. So, I'm not understanding how it could even go to the municipality. The municipality may pay a fee. >> Paying them though, aren't they?
>> No, no, no, no, no. You're saying something completely different in how Tesla works if it's a Tesla charging station. The money is not even coming to the municipality. It's coming off of my credit card and going to Tesla. >> Yeah. And then Tesla pays us. We We get
the revenue share from the connection. >> It's It can't go directly to the municipality or Stonehill. You as the owner of the vehicle get charged first. says identify the location of the charging station cuz this would probably be identified as
>> Okay. All right. So that Yeah, but you're not we're not charging. >> No, no, >> the individual is being charged. >> The individual being charged. Okay. >> But >> and then we get compensation for having it, >> correct? >> Okay. That's how that works. >> Yeah. And it's probably located. It's probably called the Stone Hill.
>> Well, yeah. It's wherever you go, it's going to identify. >> Exactly. Exactly. So that's let's just clarify that information shelters. That's not how it works. >> Yeah. No, now I do a comment. I was up at the library today and that lot, you know, was filled with cars. So, you
know, again, that's I know that's why we're doing it, but it it's constantly filled up by these >> res. Well, we we were asked the last meeting that would we notify said and so we will notify Stone Hill that this is going to effect, but not until if this
is if this is passed, then we'll let them know. We weren't going to cause a problem up there if this doesn't pass. If you, if the council decides to pass this tonight, in 20 days, we will, you know, we could start enforcing it, but we could let the we can let Stone Hill know that this passed. >> I would just like to pause on
enforcement and give them notification. >> No, we're not. We're going to let we're going to give them notification. We're going to give notification. That's what I'm saying. If you pass this tonight, we'll let them know that this has been passed and they have they we're going to be start enforcing after the 20 days. >> I move to pass it. So, so
whatever the date may be, you know, we can we can work with the date. We can work with them and say, "Hey, we'll give you 30 days or whatever the case may be." >> Let's give let's give um I recommend that we give warnings before we start just issuing tickets, please, >> Chief. Please.
>> Just say yes. >> Just say yes. >> The council wants you to hold issue for some. >> Thank you. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Is Is there a motion to approve 2949?
>> Second. >> Second. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Counciloman Koviaak, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> abstain. >> Uh, Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Scarpa, >> yes. The motion carries. Council
President, how how would we identify the directive since this has passed now that we issue um just warnings for the first amount of period? >> I'm going to let the administration work. >> That's an administrative function. We heard you. We'll we'll we'll listen to that. We'll give them some time and
we'll I'll speak to the chief and we'll figure out what works best. >> Okay, great. But we got we got to keep in mind though that >> snow if if we have problems with the snow, you know, we got to we got that's that that's the main reason that this was put through. >> Okay. Okay. 2950- Oh, I have 24
26 an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 7 traffic subsection 7-32.2 restricted parking zones of the revised general ordinances of the township of West Orange. Is there a motion to introduce on second? Second.
>> Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilman Koviac, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Council uh Councilwoman Williams, yes. >> Council President Scarpa, >> yes. >> The motion carries. >> Anyone in the public have any >> comment?
>> Public comment on 2950-24. Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. >> Is there a motion to close the public hearing? >> Make a motion to close public hearing. Councilwoman Castleino, yes. Councilman Koviaak, yes. Councilwoman Ruden, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Council
President Scarpa, >> yes. >> Okay, the motion carries. Is there any discussion? >> No. >> No. >> Okay. Is there a motion to approve 2950? >> To approve 2950. >> Second. >> Councilwoman Castelino? >> Yes.
>> Councilman Kovia? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams? >> Yes. >> Council President Scarp? >> Yes. The motion carries. >> I believe that's it for uh 2952. >> No, for director Carbalo. I think that's it.
>> Good night, directors. >> Oh, you guys. We're done. >> Oh, I'm sorry. The I apologize. >> Sorry. I tried. 2952-26 capital ordinance providing for the cost
of preliminary engineering expenses in connection with the Greg Grey Avenue >> and Lowel Avenue safe routes to school project by and in the township of West Orange appropriating $387,4759 therefore to pay for the cost thereof which amount will be funded by a grant
in the amount of $387,4759 received or expected to be received received from the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Is there a motion to >> second? >> Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilman Kovia, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams,
>> yes. >> Council President Scarpa, >> yes. >> The motion carries. >> Okay. Is there anyone in the public who wants to make public comment on 295226? >> Seeing none. >> Okay. Is there a motion to close? >> Second.
>> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. Yes. >> Councilman Kovia. Yes. Councilwoman Ruden. Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Council President. >> Yes. The motion carries. Is there any discussion? >> Ju just just, you know, safe roots of
school project. Um, thank you to the school district for supplying the information that was needed to apply for the grant and um, this is a great uh, you know, great thing for the Gregory School District.
>> That's it. >> Is there a motion to approve 2952-26? >> So move second. >> Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilman Koviaak, yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. Council President Scarpa. >> Yes.
>> The motion carries. Ordinances on first reading 2953-26 bond ordinance providing for various improvements to the Oscar Schindler Performing Arts Center buying in the Township of West Orange appropriating $1,250,000.
Therefore, including a grant received or expected to be received from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Corona virus Corona virus state fiscal recovery fund in the amount of $1 million and authorizing the issuance of $238,000
bonds or notes of the township to finance part of the cost thereof. >> Make a motion. >> I move for introduction on first reading. >> Thank you. Um Councilwoman Castelino, >> I second. No, I you did that first and she did second.
>> I'm like automatic pilot. Yes. Now I'm doing the vote. >> You're moving the meeting now. Okay. Councilman Koviaak. Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Council President Scarpa. The motion carries. >> Okay. Is there anyone in the public that >> No, no, no. There's no hearing on this.
The first meeting. Okay. >> I I I just can I just I just want to make a statement just thanking Senator McKon for bringing this to us. um the original grant and um all the work that uh the OSPAC board has done up there and
organizing their needs and celebrating 25 years. Hopefully um you know we'll be able to accommodate this uh this little uh jewel of ours that we have up on Prospect Avenue. Yeah. I just want to say too, I had been um on the board of
OPEC and this really is something that is a safety and an improvement that is absolutely necessary. >> Okay. >> Do we recess? >> I no I' I'd like to say something. I I
think we were we were um given a million dollars for this project and this project was intended for the stage and the sound and instead it ended up being spent on roads and lighting elsewhere
and now we're being asked to bond 200 almost a quarter of a million dollars for something that should have been included in the $1 million. So, I'd like to know why this is not being included in the $1 million and what we can remove
from that so that we are not bonding. We we are already $172 million in debt and this should be part of a capital project. I see that it is on the capital project, but it's it's it's listed as $1
million and then there's $238,000 in debt. Isn't there some way to fund this without bonding for this? >> Well, then you don't do the road. >> Miss Kavalo, >> we talked about this at last in our last meeting,
>> I think. >> Yeah. >> So, let's recall, right? So, at the last council meeting, I brought to your attention that we had to basically separate the projects because the first time around >> we didn't get any bits. So we decided to
separate the project into site improvements and structural improvements. So structural improvements basically everything in the building the siding the windows the um extension of the staging etc. The sign improvements
in order to attract some biders. Okay, you need to also have quantities that are actually how do I say this? >> Interested in >> larger than the amount of just doing the driveway, right? I I don't have a problem with the expenditure. What I'm concerned about is
further bonding and this should be part of a capital project instead of us bonding more money. That's the only thing I I I applaud OSPACT. I think it's great. I want to see improvements to OSPACT. I just don't want us to bond for
it. I would like it to come out of a capital budget. But councilwoman in like theoretically you they did receive the grant and you're actually paying for the road because she had to add the road to the
project in order to get somebody to bond to do the project. The road needed to be done. We have to take care of our roads which you would you would bond in capital anyway. And that's in essence what you're doing here. >> Not only that like the road is in not in
good condition. constantly receiving um how would I say this our report of concerns that we get they have to constantly DPW has to go out there and fill in the potholes. >> Is there some way that we can pay for this without bonding >> a residential neighborhood?
>> We we are pulling from existing um OPAC improvement accounts to to complete this project. So, we sort of exhausted all of those um already authorized OSPAC accounts and
this is why we needed to do a new ordinance to to bridge that financing gap. So the only other way to do it without financing it would be you put the full amount in the operating budget which
um you know it's a pretty substantial appropriation and we'd have to wait until we'd have an adopted budget to do that and and sort of timing is of the essence here. Um >> wouldn't we also lose the grant? Yes.
Now, the grant specifically was for the stage, correct? Is that why we now have to bond for it? Because, >> as a matter of fact, the grant had nothing to do with the stage. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, why wasn't this >> the fishing docks?
>> Sorry. Go ahead. >> Why wasn't this included in the whole million dollar expenditure so that we're not bonding extra money? >> Nobody. I I think I I think we went um you probably speak better to this. We
went to CME and well first we we got together and as a group developed uh a project idea and we remember the docs were part of the project idea and then that was out and and so we came up with a project idea. We had CME
um for a significant amount of money developed the specs and the plans and we put it out on the street and like the the engineer said, you know, we just we didn't get a bite on on it as a total project. Um, and and CME, I'm sure
in in their specs provides estimates, construction estimates, and what we got back from from our vendors significantly exceeded those construction estimates. Am I correct in saying that? >> Yes. The also the thing that
what we need to understand too is the smaller the amount of quantities that you have for a bid item in a bid, the more money it's going to cost you. If you have larger amounts, the lower the bid price per item,
>> economies of scale. Yeah. >> So, we only have maybe, you know, one window, a little bit of sighting here, uh, a shed. So, all of that is not in large quantities. Therefore, they're
going to charge you more for the labor and the cost of the material. >> I call for the vote. It already was voted on. No. >> Then what are we doing? >> You're discussing it. >> Oh, okay.
So then we can end discussion. >> Can we let Miss Carbalo go home? I know she has an early morning. >> Yes, >> I think we should do that. >> All right. So, can we end discussion and can we recess into executive sessions? >> Do we just want to go real quick to penny matters and get that done? >> No, that's going to take too long.
>> We have to come back into session. Let's that goes last. I rather use right on. >> Don't worry. Okay. Yes. So, let's make a motion to enter into an executive session, please. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. Any opposed?
>> Meeting is recessed for a moment. >> Now, they're not all laid in. Oh yes yes we're ready. >> Welcome back. As you can see the town council has returned from executive session. Uh at this time I'd like to
turn the floor over back to our council president. Council president. >> Okay. Thank you. Um >> so council president I need a motion to adjourn the executive session. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor.
>> Any opposed? The motion carries. Um, >> resolution >> 54-26. >> I move for the adoption of 54-26. >> I want to read the title. I'll second it. >> Resolution endorsing the fourth round housing element in fair share plan as
adopted by the Township of West Orange board on I'm sorry, West Orange Planning Board on November 10th, 2025. >> I move for the adoption of resolution 5426. >> I'm going to second it. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. Council Councilman Kovia,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> no. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Scarfa, >> yes. >> Okay, the motion carries. >> Move to adjurnn. >> Okay, move to adjourn. >> Second. >> Okay, all in favor. Any opposed? The
meeting is adjourned. >> Okay.